iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Happy Fall to everyone but the Houston Astros 🍂⚾

2026 MLB World Series Preference order:
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Cleveland Guardians
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Tampa Bay Rays
6. San Diego Padres
7. Chicago White Sox
8. Boston Red Sox
9. Philadelphia Phillies
10. Los Angeles Dodgers
11. New York Yankees
12. Houston Astros

James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Guy who thinks it's a pitch meeting and gives multiple answers to each prompt like he's trying to find the one the moderator will agree with.

Andy Richter and Kyle Gass in Elf (2003) playing childrens book authors pitching story ideas to their editor.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

When you don't want people to do something, one strategy could be not paying them to do it.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

No one does Parking Day better than East End.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Both mayors had plans to add public restrooms. Both mayors took action. One mayor had a better study.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This pilot comes after years of advocacy, a study, and a law passed over a year ago calling for a plan that is now past due. And they say they're going to study the pilot. The pilot is a good thing, I'm glad it's being recognized and celebrated, and I hope we can do something similar.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

It looks that way despite mostly maintaining the clearance standards. That's part of the point!

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Observation from the Twin Cities: all these scenic, shaded tree-lined streets are possible because they run power lines down the alleys

The view looking down a sidewalk on a street lined with mature trees on both sides

A view down an alley with power lines overhead

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Also worth pointing out: "Below Expectations" is the official label for one of the four TCAP performance levels. The percentage on MNPS 3rd-8th graders who fall into that category for ELA is 31.0% (not 68.5%).

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

As far as we know, this is the first time in his life our dad has ever requested to have his picture taken, and it's to prove he actually met Dana Rettke.

a 5'5" man standing next to a 6'8" woman, both wearing red

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The women's 100m hurdle and men's 400m hurdle world records both fell within 40 minutes of each other in Zurich: a hurdle crew performance that may never be equalled in our lifetimes. I hope they celebrated late into the night.

a track official staggering hurdles on the baackstretch

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Excellent article that hopefully raises awareness of several critical points. But why do we keep doing this? Claim: Roadway deaths have only increased since we adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan in 2022. Evidence: Fatalities trending up, mostly prior to 2022. Not pictured: What happened 2024-2026

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

For anyone unfamiliar with the pod who might be following this thread, the voice we're hearing is that of Braden Gall.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This is what a "Proficient"-level question looks like for 8th-grade reading. 37% of TN 8th-graders got full credit for their written answer to this prompt.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

35% of Tennessee 8th graders are proficient in reading (NAEP 2024). 90% of Tennessee 8th graders got this question right. What percentage of Tennessee 8th graders can read?

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It's pretty similar to the route I'd take to most of my friends' houses in 4th-6th grade. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It's an abbreviation for "Wide Outside Lane." I'm joking about this being classified as a bike facility (it's not, officially), though with the rumble strip the paved shoulder is like a buffered bike lane with all but the extra striping.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Briley has a "WOL" between Two Rivers and the Opry Mills Dr exit. More comfortable than McGavock in my experience.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

June sales tax figures are in. $84.6M in local option sales tax for Davidson County means $15.4M for transit. We end FY26 with $172.6M in transportation funding from the tax surcharge, within 1% (100.96%) of the $171.0M projected over two years ago. Use the difference to give that analyst a bonus.

Screenshot of the TN.gov Department of Revenue website showing $84,590,687 in monthly sales tax collections from Davidson County.

Screenshot from Appendex A of the Choose How You Move plan proposal from 2024, which projected $170,992,000 in tax surcharge collections for Fiscal Year 2026.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Suddenly closing the one bike lane on KVBB for a sign to tell drivers one of their three lanes ends in 0.2 miles adds 8 times as much delay for a cyclist as banning right turn on red adds for a driver.

A sign blocks a bike lane. The sign says "RIGHT LANE CLOSED 1000 FT"

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

As for what percentage of TN students we should expect to be Proficient or College Ready, the most helpful context I have is that one of Haslam's signature policy goals--his "moon shot" from his 2013 State of the State--was for 55% of Tennesseans to have a college degree or certificate by 2025.

Screenshot of the announcement of Governor Bill Haslam's "Drive to 55" initiative: "Governor Haslam has challenged our state with a critical new mission: the Drive to 55 - the Drive to get 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025."

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

That's enormously important information for students and families to have because the decision to go college or not has such major financial, time, logistical, and life implications. Similar to this general guidance from ACT scores, you can plan better if know where you're likely to stack up:

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

And the thing is, even "Grade Level" is not a minimum competency standard. Look again at the quote from the National Assessment Governing Board which goes on to say that "Grade-Level" is a norm-referenced standard:

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

In many testing regimes that include "Proficient" as an achievement level, the levels below make clear that Proficiency is not a minimum expectation or supposed to represent Grade Level performance. See Florida and Mississippi, for example:

A chart showing scholastic performance in Florida, with a scale of Level 1 - Inadequate, Level 2 - Below Satisfactory, Level 3 - On Grade Level, Level 4 - Proficient, Level 5 - Mastery.

A chart showing scholastic performance in Mississippi, with a scale of Level 1 - Minimal, Level 2 - Basic, Level 3 - Passing, Level 4 - Proficient, Level 5 - Advanced.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

That didn't mean 65% of kids nationally or 80-85% of kids in Tennessee were "failing." Proficiency is a high standard. The governing board that sets and reviews NAEP achievement levels standards explicitly says it's not intended to reflect "grade-level" performance expectations:

Highlighted text reads: "In describing the NAEP Proficient level, reports shall emphasize that the policy definition is not intended to reflect “grade level” performance expectations."

Source: https://www.nagb.gov/content/dam/nagb/en/documents/policies/ALS-revised-policy-statement-11-17-18.pdf

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Closing one side of the KVB Bridge sidewalk (while no work is being done) adds 7x as much delay for a pedestrian as no right on red adds for a motorist. Placing the closure sign halfway across the six-lane bridge makes that 19x as much delay for a pedestrian as no RTOR adds for a motorist.

A "sidewalk closed" sign 1100' into a 2200' long bridge with six lanes of traffic and no crosswalks.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Love too summarize academic research for a lay audience

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Headways on the #4 were more tolerable when the bus stops had shade. Tree policy is transit policy.

A bus stop underneath full sun and powerlines with 15' of clearance from the recently-sawed branches of trees with proven resiliency to generational ice storms.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Lodge even does the enamel. I'm a homer since they make these 25 miles from my hometown, but it's the same product. Ours was under $100, we've got over 200 cooks out of it so far, and it's not slowing down any time soon.

Lodge enamel cast iron Dutch oven sitting on a stovetop

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dane_El...

Screenshot of the Wikipedia page for Dane Elkins, person featured in the first photo representing Des Peres, MO. The page identifies him as a decorated professional racquetball player who went missing in 2020 at the age of 21.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Ages 4 & Under: Ride for free Ages 6 & Up: Youth/Student ticket Age 5: a secret third thing

Screenshot of the Wego discount card application with text highlighted for one of the discount categories reading "Youth/Student (Ages 6 to 19. Children 4 years of age or younger ride free with a fair paying adult)"

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

The drop cited here is -0.29 acres per 1000 residents since 2017. This 300 new acres is +0.41 new acres per 1000 residents. It more than closes the gap. So we can now say that park expansion has outpaced population growth.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

They don't know the men's mile record could fall for the first time in 27 years tomorrow.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Hmmm that one didn't come up in their discussion.

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

What dictates these lists but rarely gets named: separation from traffic. If your restaurant is on a two-lane road or patrons can get to the back of the building, you're two picnic tables and a $100 garden center gift card away from having a great patio. If not, you'll never be on this list.

Screenshot from Spotify for the citycast Nashville episode on patio season

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

It's worth less than half of the worthlessness it was worth when he was elected in 2023. So just over twice as worthless?

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James Guthrie @jeguth.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Big thanks to everyone who's helped and supported the East End tactical urbanism project! It's already making a big difference and still getting better every day. The first bike racks start going in tomorrow. Hit me up if you can come help any time btw now and Saturday!