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Sam Bach PDX

@sambachpdx

Gay, married, oldish, tax professional, siaradwr Cymraeg (tipyn bach). Politically, economically and environmentally aware, so lean very far left by American standards, but basically Democratic socialist by European standards.

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25.02.2024
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Latest posts by Sam Bach PDX @sambachpdx

It wasn't that unusual here. The Republic in Chinatown has an interesting bar. Along Lombard, Lung Fung (now long gone, though new owners kept the bar name Tiny Bubble Room), Wishing Well (which burnt down last week), and the former Northside all had bars of some rΓ©pute. Last 2 didn't do Tiki tho.

24.02.2026 06:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Yes, we do.

23.02.2026 06:52 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Rail Passengers Statement on Proposed Amtrak Restructuring | Rail Passengers Association The Rail Passengers Association issued a statement on early reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation is directing Amtrak to undertake a significant organizational restructuring.

A very good overview of what is known so far and what the benefits and risks may be. But I don't believe privatization isn't in mind here.

Rail Passengers Statement on Proposed Amtrak Restructuring - Rail Passengers Association share.google/pqNVsDmj3DAS...

22.02.2026 08:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I've been proposing that equal amounts should be required to be paid to the government of the jurisdiction of the candidate they donate to (over a preset limit). Not quite as severe as 95%,but the money will hopefully go where it's more useful (like not the military-industrial complex).

11.02.2026 02:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It never was on my phone. There's a new store 3 blocks from home that I have no plans to go into until such time as it's unionized, there's a contract, and they agree to refuse service to ICE agents.

04.02.2026 08:01 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

T, who hired people on Craigslist to attend his events, keeps saying we're paid agitators. But that's what big repositories of power do, and that's all they can see (even if they aren't there). We, in the little ones, have other motivators like love and survival.

03.02.2026 21:08 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

So... buildings are people now?

02.02.2026 07:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

As we all should.

01.02.2026 01:12 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Hmm, a significant proportion of MAGA supporters 65+ & T promised to stop taxing SS, but couldn't get that. They did this (temporarily) AND started indexing the formula for when SS becomes taxable for inflation (starting 2026) as a substitute. Then there are the mo' babies perks....

31.01.2026 22:47 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

That's the bill passed by the Repuglicans, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Yes, it's new.

31.01.2026 21:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I meant the OBBBA's $6K additional tax deduction for those 65+.

31.01.2026 20:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Don't forget the extra "senior deduction!"

31.01.2026 04:16 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I think it's being able to grab attention and hold it for a while. That happened at Stonewall, but also with ACT UP some 18 years later without becoming violent themselves.

That said, in a brutal country, the only way to get attention is through brutality.

31.01.2026 04:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

If the feds owe YOU, file as early as possible.

28.01.2026 02:02 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

SF/NAS doesn't necessarily mean low carb when it comes to sweet snacky stuff. Compare Russell Stover candies to Brachs, for instance. It's why I tend more towards sovory snacks these days. LΓ©gume-based chips like chickpea papadums.

28.01.2026 00:44 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Democratic Leaders still haven't said Abolish ICE.

That is complicity.

25.01.2026 17:38 πŸ‘ 560 πŸ” 129 πŸ’¬ 24 πŸ“Œ 9

1) Queen
2) Shriekback
3) Ride
4) Book of Love
5) Peter Gabriel
6) Emerald Web

19.01.2026 06:28 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

"Civil defense is a system of emergency relief/protective measures that civilians carry out in response to natural disasters, sabotage, or hostile attacks. It encompasses all phases of emergency response, including preparation, immediate response, and long-term recovery."

Call them what they are.

18.01.2026 18:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Or read Street Roots for the real thing.

17.01.2026 07:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Don't forget Andrew Sullivan.

17.01.2026 06:44 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This is what happens with these "omnibus" funding bills. They produce 2,000 pages of law - often behind closed doors and with lobbyist wishlists in hand - then rushes them to a vote before anyone can read the whole thing.

That said, the bills should be searchable... like the Epstein files.

17.01.2026 06:12 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Several times almost a year ago, I had considered a hasty rewrite of this song for karaoke, using the tagline, "Detained at Home Depot."

07.01.2026 22:59 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Accurate πŸ‘‡

06.01.2026 06:54 πŸ‘ 660 πŸ” 119 πŸ’¬ 18 πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Former New York Times Editor Says Paper's Anti-Trans Slant Came From the Top β€œI think he saw this as a political project, that he could take a stance that the hard right would like, that the Trump campaign might like.”

Every decision that normalizes hate is a brick in the fascist wall.

03.01.2026 23:13 πŸ‘ 229 πŸ” 63 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

I don't think they'll wait 6 weeks.

03.01.2026 23:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Just for fun, donations to any US-based government entity is tax deductible, and the first $1,000 of charitable deductions can be deducted even if taking the standard deduction. It's a bit more complicated for itemizers. But if you have a bit of cash burning a hole in your pocket....

03.01.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

As the great Suketu Mehta wrote in the accompanying essay, "By 1643, only nineteen years after the first Walloon settlers founded New Amsterdam, 18 languages were already being
spoken in the cityβ€”among a population of a mere 500." To hell with fictions of a homogenous past, linguistic & otherwise.

03.01.2026 03:30 πŸ‘ 930 πŸ” 188 πŸ’¬ 13 πŸ“Œ 2

Wilfred Owen was Welsh, and this writer did justice in responding to the query (you might need to center the attached post to see the context). Seems Mamdami knows British poetry better than a London college professor. 🀷

03.01.2026 03:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

You might want to hire a good cleaner....

31.12.2025 21:44 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0