John R. Bennett
@johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Assistant professor of public administration, biking and walking advocate, community radio DJ, and bird feeder attendant in Savannah, Georgia.
Leaf blowers are especially troublesome for people who travel by bicycle because:
1. They are used to move debris into bike lanes/portions of streets used by people on bikes.
2. It's no fun to get blasted in the face with dirt/dust. This happened to me yesterday and I had to stop to wipe my eyes.
1. They are used to move debris into bike lanes/portions of streets used by people on bikes.
2. It's no fun to get blasted in the face with dirt/dust. This happened to me yesterday and I had to stop to wipe my eyes.
Everyone hates gas-powered leaf blowers. So why is it so hard to ban them?
Everyone hates gas-powered leaf blowers. So why is it so hard to ban them?
Cities and states are trying to ditch America's most hated appliance. They're running into challenges.
dlvr.it
November 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Leaf blowers are especially troublesome for people who travel by bicycle because:
1. They are used to move debris into bike lanes/portions of streets used by people on bikes.
2. It's no fun to get blasted in the face with dirt/dust. This happened to me yesterday and I had to stop to wipe my eyes.
1. They are used to move debris into bike lanes/portions of streets used by people on bikes.
2. It's no fun to get blasted in the face with dirt/dust. This happened to me yesterday and I had to stop to wipe my eyes.
Reposted by John R. Bennett
Apologies for the (unpaid!) advertisement, but if you've been tempted to subscribe to the Criterion Channel, I just learned that you can use the code BLACKFRIDAY25 to get 25% off an annual subscription—$75 rather than $100. It's one of the few streaming channels I never regret paying for.
The Criterion Channel
A movie lover’s dream, the Criterion Channel offers classics and discoveries from around the world, thematically programmed with special features, on a streaming service brought to you by the Criterio...
www.criterionchannel.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Apologies for the (unpaid!) advertisement, but if you've been tempted to subscribe to the Criterion Channel, I just learned that you can use the code BLACKFRIDAY25 to get 25% off an annual subscription—$75 rather than $100. It's one of the few streaming channels I never regret paying for.
Morning walk. It's warm today in Savannah.
November 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Morning walk. It's warm today in Savannah.
Reposted by John R. Bennett
Not to start any debates, but dressing is superior to stuffing in every way and and all self-respecting Southerners must agree.
And some of y'all have no idea what I'm even talking about. 😂
And some of y'all have no idea what I'm even talking about. 😂
November 26, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Not to start any debates, but dressing is superior to stuffing in every way and and all self-respecting Southerners must agree.
And some of y'all have no idea what I'm even talking about. 😂
And some of y'all have no idea what I'm even talking about. 😂
I gave my father-in-law a copy of this book back in 2007 and I sure hope he still has it.
I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagon's Black World - Paglen, Trevor: 9781933633329 - AbeBooks
They?re on the shoulder of all military personnel: patches that symbolize what a soldier?s unit does. But what happens if it?s top secret? Shown here for the first time, these sixty patches reveal a s...
www.abebooks.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I gave my father-in-law a copy of this book back in 2007 and I sure hope he still has it.
Bluesky friends, what's your favorite shoe oil? I'm a Huberd's man, myself.
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Bluesky friends, what's your favorite shoe oil? I'm a Huberd's man, myself.
Volunteered with my Rotary club at a turkey giveaway this morning. I was paired up with a friend to place turkeys in people's cars. We parted ways after, but unexpectedly ran into each other again at the falafel place, which gave us more time to congratulate each other on being true heroes. 🦃
November 25, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Volunteered with my Rotary club at a turkey giveaway this morning. I was paired up with a friend to place turkeys in people's cars. We parted ways after, but unexpectedly ran into each other again at the falafel place, which gave us more time to congratulate each other on being true heroes. 🦃
Over the weekend, I watched an episode of The Lawrence Welk Show on South Carolina Public Television. By doing so, I'm afraid I unwittingly allowed beings from another dimension to enter my home. Example:
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Over the weekend, I watched an episode of The Lawrence Welk Show on South Carolina Public Television. By doing so, I'm afraid I unwittingly allowed beings from another dimension to enter my home. Example:
A guy has been parking his motorcycle so that it blocks the bike racks at the neighborhood shopping center. I finally reached my breaking point and left a Post-it® note on the gas tank that read, "Please don't block the bike rack. Thank you!" I am sure he will be filled with rage when he reads it.
November 24, 2025 at 10:14 PM
A guy has been parking his motorcycle so that it blocks the bike racks at the neighborhood shopping center. I finally reached my breaking point and left a Post-it® note on the gas tank that read, "Please don't block the bike rack. Thank you!" I am sure he will be filled with rage when he reads it.
After driving a Starcraft/Ford E-450 12-passenger shuttle bus for several days, my 2009 Subaru Outback feels like the world’s most nimble sports car.
November 22, 2025 at 3:38 AM
After driving a Starcraft/Ford E-450 12-passenger shuttle bus for several days, my 2009 Subaru Outback feels like the world’s most nimble sports car.
Reposted by John R. Bennett
So great to see college radio in all its glory featured in today's NYT. I interviewed for the piece (WFUV is at Fordham, WFMU is independent, formerly of Uppsala--such is the way with radio, which has more acronyms than the New Deal): www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/s...
College Radio Keeps Its Cool
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
So great to see college radio in all its glory featured in today's NYT. I interviewed for the piece (WFUV is at Fordham, WFMU is independent, formerly of Uppsala--such is the way with radio, which has more acronyms than the New Deal): www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/s...
I did some consulting work for a state agency years ago. Today, the accounts payable department called to say they discovered I had never cashed a check from back in 2021. They asked if I would like a new one. Yes, please! Friends, I will soon be one hundred American dollars richer. 💰
November 21, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I did some consulting work for a state agency years ago. Today, the accounts payable department called to say they discovered I had never cashed a check from back in 2021. They asked if I would like a new one. Yes, please! Friends, I will soon be one hundred American dollars richer. 💰
Finally, a local roofing company that shares my appreciation for the 1970s science fiction show SPACE: 1999.
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Finally, a local roofing company that shares my appreciation for the 1970s science fiction show SPACE: 1999.
Seen on my morning walk: Benches made of reclaimed wood from two giant live oak trees that once stood in Savannah's McCauley Park. Beloved by neighborhood kids, who named them "Spider Web” and “Twister,” the trees came down in 2022 and 2024. The third photo is of one of the trees from June 2022.
November 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Seen on my morning walk: Benches made of reclaimed wood from two giant live oak trees that once stood in Savannah's McCauley Park. Beloved by neighborhood kids, who named them "Spider Web” and “Twister,” the trees came down in 2022 and 2024. The third photo is of one of the trees from June 2022.
Reposted by John R. Bennett
Now is the time to prepare to not set your house on fire this Thanksgiving.
November 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Now is the time to prepare to not set your house on fire this Thanksgiving.
Watched part of a men talking about college football program on teevee yesterday and I’m unsure what the image visible through the “window” behind the men is supposed to evoke. Looks like an interior view of a collapsing parking garage to me. 🤷♂️🏈
November 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Watched part of a men talking about college football program on teevee yesterday and I’m unsure what the image visible through the “window” behind the men is supposed to evoke. Looks like an interior view of a collapsing parking garage to me. 🤷♂️🏈
Reposted by John R. Bennett
Technical question: around 1912, how many Americans would have known or been able to transcribe Morse Code? How saturated was that knowledge — or, where would I look to get some sense of that? Any ideas very appreciated! I haven’t dug into it yet…
November 16, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Technical question: around 1912, how many Americans would have known or been able to transcribe Morse Code? How saturated was that knowledge — or, where would I look to get some sense of that? Any ideas very appreciated! I haven’t dug into it yet…
A half marathon was routed through our neighborhood this morning, so we spent some time on the front porch observing how drivers reacted to street closures. I'm pleased to report that most behaved like adults, but some expressed their frustration via their accelerator pedals.
November 15, 2025 at 10:55 PM
A half marathon was routed through our neighborhood this morning, so we spent some time on the front porch observing how drivers reacted to street closures. I'm pleased to report that most behaved like adults, but some expressed their frustration via their accelerator pedals.
Reposted by John R. Bennett
What an experience for all of us.
November 15, 2025 at 10:15 PM
What an experience for all of us.
Arrived early for the honor society induction ceremony this evening, so I got to check out the exhibition by local artist "Panhandle Slim" in the library.
November 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Arrived early for the honor society induction ceremony this evening, so I got to check out the exhibition by local artist "Panhandle Slim" in the library.
Free Item Friday at the neighborhood grocery store is a wild ride. Two weeks ago, it was a gravy mix packet, which usually sells for $0.59. Last week, it was a frozen pizza, which usually sells for $5.99! This week, it's a box of four (4) crayons.
November 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Free Item Friday at the neighborhood grocery store is a wild ride. Two weeks ago, it was a gravy mix packet, which usually sells for $0.59. Last week, it was a frozen pizza, which usually sells for $5.99! This week, it's a box of four (4) crayons.
One of the fun things about welcoming a new robot vacuum into your home is discovering which pieces of furniture absolutely wreck it. This chair is its nemesis.
November 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
One of the fun things about welcoming a new robot vacuum into your home is discovering which pieces of furniture absolutely wreck it. This chair is its nemesis.
🚲 + ☕ + 🥯 = Friday
November 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
🚲 + ☕ + 🥯 = Friday
Reposted by John R. Bennett
papa joe's fireworks, pink elephant, route 17, hardesville, south carolina, 2004
November 14, 2025 at 11:36 AM
papa joe's fireworks, pink elephant, route 17, hardesville, south carolina, 2004