James P Bennett
@akjpb.bsky.social
An ordinary old guy trying not to have an ordinary life. Non-motorized outdoor things. Mediocre writer. Locavore. Alaska. Grandfather. 🚵♂️🥾⛷️⛰️🏕️🌊
A Few Choice Words
https://substack.com/@akjpb
A Few Choice Words
https://substack.com/@akjpb
Pinned
James P Bennett
@akjpb.bsky.social
· Dec 16
Gas Taxes & The “User Pay” Model: Who Damages Our Roads? Who Pays?
Making Anchorage Bicycle-Friendly
www.bikeanchorage.org
A good overview of how gasoline, property and other taxes pay for construction & maintenance of roads in Anchorage. Also included are comparisons of vehicles causing the most damage. Be sure to click on the full report imbedded in the article.
Full disclosure: I’m on the Bike Anchorage BoD #bike
Full disclosure: I’m on the Bike Anchorage BoD #bike
Kilian & I were rookies at the ‘15 Mt Marathon race; a mtn running legend & a mediocre outdoor dude. What we both did was push our bodies as hard as our bodies could be pushed. I’m ok with my mediocrity, it doesn’t prevent me from getting out there. We chatted as we picked up bibs. He’s a good guy
Kílian Jornet on What We Can Learn From Pushing Our Bodies to Extremes
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Kilian & I were rookies at the ‘15 Mt Marathon race; a mtn running legend & a mediocre outdoor dude. What we both did was push our bodies as hard as our bodies could be pushed. I’m ok with my mediocrity, it doesn’t prevent me from getting out there. We chatted as we picked up bibs. He’s a good guy
Reposted by James P Bennett
Winter Bike Fest is back! This year’s theme: Light Up the Night ❄️✨
Join our annual celebration of Anchorage’s winter biking community with a movie night, storytelling, commuting treats, and the return of the Big Fat Ride!
Get event info and tickets here: www.bikeanchorage.org/wbf26
Join our annual celebration of Anchorage’s winter biking community with a movie night, storytelling, commuting treats, and the return of the Big Fat Ride!
Get event info and tickets here: www.bikeanchorage.org/wbf26
January 16, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Winter Bike Fest is back! This year’s theme: Light Up the Night ❄️✨
Join our annual celebration of Anchorage’s winter biking community with a movie night, storytelling, commuting treats, and the return of the Big Fat Ride!
Get event info and tickets here: www.bikeanchorage.org/wbf26
Join our annual celebration of Anchorage’s winter biking community with a movie night, storytelling, commuting treats, and the return of the Big Fat Ride!
Get event info and tickets here: www.bikeanchorage.org/wbf26
Reposted by James P Bennett
We're kicking off Winter Bike Fest with a bike stoke movie night!
Filmed By Bike: Joyride! is a family-friendly mix of fun short films (who hasn’t had a chase through mountains over their lucky bike shorts?) and inspiring documentaries featuring young people.
Get tickets: buff.ly/F8bDQHO
Filmed By Bike: Joyride! is a family-friendly mix of fun short films (who hasn’t had a chase through mountains over their lucky bike shorts?) and inspiring documentaries featuring young people.
Get tickets: buff.ly/F8bDQHO
January 17, 2026 at 6:02 PM
We're kicking off Winter Bike Fest with a bike stoke movie night!
Filmed By Bike: Joyride! is a family-friendly mix of fun short films (who hasn’t had a chase through mountains over their lucky bike shorts?) and inspiring documentaries featuring young people.
Get tickets: buff.ly/F8bDQHO
Filmed By Bike: Joyride! is a family-friendly mix of fun short films (who hasn’t had a chase through mountains over their lucky bike shorts?) and inspiring documentaries featuring young people.
Get tickets: buff.ly/F8bDQHO
Nice collar in 6th grade. And what changes we go through in 4 years!
January 17, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Nice collar in 6th grade. And what changes we go through in 4 years!
With the exception of the Afro-American kids, most of us, including me, had at least one parent/g’parent that immigrated to the US. The Afro-American kids were part of the Great Migration, with parents/g’parents that came from the Deep South. All reasons why I care about the mess we’re in. Fuck Ice.
January 17, 2026 at 7:21 AM
With the exception of the Afro-American kids, most of us, including me, had at least one parent/g’parent that immigrated to the US. The Afro-American kids were part of the Great Migration, with parents/g’parents that came from the Deep South. All reasons why I care about the mess we’re in. Fuck Ice.
Peggy is 3rd from the right, bottom row. She would pass notes to me written in green ink.
January 17, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Peggy is 3rd from the right, bottom row. She would pass notes to me written in green ink.
PS # 33. Mrs Boeger’s 5th grade class ‘63/64. I’m the tall kid, top row, far right. It’s the same school both my parents attended. Mrs B was one of my 2 fave teachers ever. I had a crush on Peggy P, bottom row, 2nd from the right. Time for Swedish Death Cleansing? Does anyone want parental memories?
January 17, 2026 at 7:07 AM
PS # 33. Mrs Boeger’s 5th grade class ‘63/64. I’m the tall kid, top row, far right. It’s the same school both my parents attended. Mrs B was one of my 2 fave teachers ever. I had a crush on Peggy P, bottom row, 2nd from the right. Time for Swedish Death Cleansing? Does anyone want parental memories?
The Rolling Scones
January 17, 2026 at 3:16 AM
The Rolling Scones
Old Seward is a state maintained road, not a muni. Click on the link in my previous reply and it’ll show the progress on muni roads. The ones that are dark and show no action/record of plowing are state roads.
January 17, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Old Seward is a state maintained road, not a muni. Click on the link in my previous reply and it’ll show the progress on muni roads. The ones that are dark and show no action/record of plowing are state roads.
What street is that? Is it muni maintained or state?
That awful rain/sleet storm hasn’t been over for 8 hours yet. Give them a chance.
And we all know that under the previous mayor (who is running for Governor & has signed on a white Christian nationalist to be his Lt Governor) was much worse.
That awful rain/sleet storm hasn’t been over for 8 hours yet. Give them a chance.
And we all know that under the previous mayor (who is running for Governor & has signed on a white Christian nationalist to be his Lt Governor) was much worse.
Experience
experience.arcgis.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:50 AM
What street is that? Is it muni maintained or state?
That awful rain/sleet storm hasn’t been over for 8 hours yet. Give them a chance.
And we all know that under the previous mayor (who is running for Governor & has signed on a white Christian nationalist to be his Lt Governor) was much worse.
That awful rain/sleet storm hasn’t been over for 8 hours yet. Give them a chance.
And we all know that under the previous mayor (who is running for Governor & has signed on a white Christian nationalist to be his Lt Governor) was much worse.
Not that i drink that much beer, but any brewery that puts in a TV now will not get my business. I go for conversations or contemplations, not sports & faux news. Maybe every now and again for special events (Olympics?) but I don’t want an idiot box droning on all the time.
January 15, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Not that i drink that much beer, but any brewery that puts in a TV now will not get my business. I go for conversations or contemplations, not sports & faux news. Maybe every now and again for special events (Olympics?) but I don’t want an idiot box droning on all the time.
I think they already are able to do that. Ship Cr Brewery has pizza and Kenai River Brewery has bar food for 2 examples. I can think of a few more that also serve food. Having food trucks saves on space and avoids management headaches.
January 15, 2026 at 9:46 PM
I think they already are able to do that. Ship Cr Brewery has pizza and Kenai River Brewery has bar food for 2 examples. I can think of a few more that also serve food. Having food trucks saves on space and avoids management headaches.
Just for the record, any brewery that now puts in a TV will not get my business. I go for conversation, not sports or Fox News. Music events are fine as they only last an hour or so and feature/support Alaska musicians.
January 15, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Just for the record, any brewery that now puts in a TV will not get my business. I go for conversation, not sports or Fox News. Music events are fine as they only last an hour or so and feature/support Alaska musicians.
One more thing for Mary to run on: Sullivan’s warmongering
January 15, 2026 at 2:34 AM
One more thing for Mary to run on: Sullivan’s warmongering
Sadly, there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it. Our almost-250 year run of (mostly) good intentions/ideals appears to have run its course. As Pogo notoriously observed, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
January 14, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Sadly, there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it. Our almost-250 year run of (mostly) good intentions/ideals appears to have run its course. As Pogo notoriously observed, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
I became an empty nester the same year I semi-retired,
‘06. I dropped my youngest off UAA, caught a concert at the PAC & got on a jet that night to begin a 6-month Pacific Rim adventure. As I type this, I’ve noticed that will be 20 years ago this coming fall. Have tried not to slow down ever since.
‘06. I dropped my youngest off UAA, caught a concert at the PAC & got on a jet that night to begin a 6-month Pacific Rim adventure. As I type this, I’ve noticed that will be 20 years ago this coming fall. Have tried not to slow down ever since.
January 14, 2026 at 6:49 AM
I became an empty nester the same year I semi-retired,
‘06. I dropped my youngest off UAA, caught a concert at the PAC & got on a jet that night to begin a 6-month Pacific Rim adventure. As I type this, I’ve noticed that will be 20 years ago this coming fall. Have tried not to slow down ever since.
‘06. I dropped my youngest off UAA, caught a concert at the PAC & got on a jet that night to begin a 6-month Pacific Rim adventure. As I type this, I’ve noticed that will be 20 years ago this coming fall. Have tried not to slow down ever since.
Grok notoriously produces deepfake CSAM, so that tracks for tRump’s administration.
January 13, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Grok notoriously produces deepfake CSAM, so that tracks for tRump’s administration.
Fed/Ecc(lesiastic)
January 12, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Fed/Ecc(lesiastic)
That was a good read!
January 12, 2026 at 2:10 AM
That was a good read!
The Chugach National Forest signs have not changed a bit in 65 years!
January 12, 2026 at 1:10 AM
The Chugach National Forest signs have not changed a bit in 65 years!
Was tempted, but I didn’t race this year (test rode part of the course Friday, so knew it was going to be a suffer-fest). It was canceled last year (slick ice), but I raced the 25 mile course 2 years ago. Finished next-to-last in my age division. There were 2 of us in the over 70 category. 😎
January 12, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Was tempted, but I didn’t race this year (test rode part of the course Friday, so knew it was going to be a suffer-fest). It was canceled last year (slick ice), but I raced the 25 mile course 2 years ago. Finished next-to-last in my age division. There were 2 of us in the over 70 category. 😎
No one ‘normal’ would have been a fit with the Dead, but your point is well taken and accurate. The documentary “The Other One” kinda explores his unique style. I’ve been absorbing the Dead and Weir’s music all night. 💔
January 11, 2026 at 6:17 AM
No one ‘normal’ would have been a fit with the Dead, but your point is well taken and accurate. The documentary “The Other One” kinda explores his unique style. I’ve been absorbing the Dead and Weir’s music all night. 💔
…of protest suppression, in Mossad style using .22 pistols, off a few Ice goons and then fade away into the crowd.
*Other lone wolf/unaffiliated cells poison the breakfasts served to ICE at the hotels where they stay.
*IEDs
This is purely speculative, to help write fiction. Any other ideas? 2/2
*Other lone wolf/unaffiliated cells poison the breakfasts served to ICE at the hotels where they stay.
*IEDs
This is purely speculative, to help write fiction. Any other ideas? 2/2
January 11, 2026 at 6:02 AM
…of protest suppression, in Mossad style using .22 pistols, off a few Ice goons and then fade away into the crowd.
*Other lone wolf/unaffiliated cells poison the breakfasts served to ICE at the hotels where they stay.
*IEDs
This is purely speculative, to help write fiction. Any other ideas? 2/2
*Other lone wolf/unaffiliated cells poison the breakfasts served to ICE at the hotels where they stay.
*IEDs
This is purely speculative, to help write fiction. Any other ideas? 2/2
I write fiction as a hobby. Yes, I’ve had a few stories published. I’m working on an angle for a new one, when carrying signs & singing Kumbaya proves ineffectual.
What’s that going to look like?
*Lone wolf/small unaffiliated cells put on combat fatigues& masks, mix with ICE. During the chaos…1/2
What’s that going to look like?
*Lone wolf/small unaffiliated cells put on combat fatigues& masks, mix with ICE. During the chaos…1/2
January 11, 2026 at 6:02 AM
I write fiction as a hobby. Yes, I’ve had a few stories published. I’m working on an angle for a new one, when carrying signs & singing Kumbaya proves ineffectual.
What’s that going to look like?
*Lone wolf/small unaffiliated cells put on combat fatigues& masks, mix with ICE. During the chaos…1/2
What’s that going to look like?
*Lone wolf/small unaffiliated cells put on combat fatigues& masks, mix with ICE. During the chaos…1/2
They have a well-funded private army that acts with impunity. They have the tech bros monitoring us. They have the 5th column of NRA/MAGA wingnuts who want to kill us. They have the armed forces. They have control of the gov’t & most local police. Free press? They ignore it. What do you suggest?🤷♂️
January 10, 2026 at 8:08 AM
They have a well-funded private army that acts with impunity. They have the tech bros monitoring us. They have the 5th column of NRA/MAGA wingnuts who want to kill us. They have the armed forces. They have control of the gov’t & most local police. Free press? They ignore it. What do you suggest?🤷♂️