Sam Bach PDX
@sambachpdx.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
The thing to understand about this is that this catastrophe in the UK has redounded to the political benefit of the very same people and political movement that pushed for it! Extremely perverse.
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The thing to understand about this is that this catastrophe in the UK has redounded to the political benefit of the very same people and political movement that pushed for it! Extremely perverse.
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Damn. Never realized that Oregon fatal crashes are so closely tied to VMT. This is one reason why it's so vital that we make buses and bikeways as good as possible and do everything we can w land use & housing to lower our VMT. Drive more, die more. Drive less, die less. It's that simple.
November 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Damn. Never realized that Oregon fatal crashes are so closely tied to VMT. This is one reason why it's so vital that we make buses and bikeways as good as possible and do everything we can w land use & housing to lower our VMT. Drive more, die more. Drive less, die less. It's that simple.
All are welcome to the United States of America!*
*No fats, no femmes, no coloreds, no....
*No fats, no femmes, no coloreds, no....
The Trump administration has ordered visa officers to deny immigrants who are obese or have certain health issues, in yet another instance of the president’s strange obsession with physical traits. trib.al/b0AtL8r
Trump Says U.S. Visas Can Be Denied to Fat People From Now On
New State Department guidance encourages embassies and consulates to deny visas to people with obesity or other health issues.
trib.al
November 8, 2025 at 10:36 PM
All are welcome to the United States of America!*
*No fats, no femmes, no coloreds, no....
*No fats, no femmes, no coloreds, no....
Isn't this what Hitler started doing in 1936. AH also controlled wages, so I'm looking forward to that rearing its ugly head....
November 8, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Isn't this what Hitler started doing in 1936. AH also controlled wages, so I'm looking forward to that rearing its ugly head....
If the top income tax rate was 94% like in 1943-44, and the tax bracket started at $3.75M (1943$200K, inflation adjusted), the US would collect $257.5M/day or $94B/yr.
SNAP & WIC combined in the US cost $100.3B last year.
SNAP & WIC combined in the US cost $100.3B last year.
If Musk meets all the benchmarks of his new $1 trillion pay package from Tesla he will be paid $274 MILLION EVERY DAY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS
This is his part-time job
This is his part-time job
November 7, 2025 at 5:53 AM
If the top income tax rate was 94% like in 1943-44, and the tax bracket started at $3.75M (1943$200K, inflation adjusted), the US would collect $257.5M/day or $94B/yr.
SNAP & WIC combined in the US cost $100.3B last year.
SNAP & WIC combined in the US cost $100.3B last year.
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
The "anti-woke" backlash was always about white collar labor competition from nonwhites, not hr bullshit. bsky.app/profile/phil...
NBC News has reportedly eliminated its NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino and NBC OUT teams
NBC News’ 150 Layoffs Gut Black, Latino, Asian American and LGBTQ+ Diversity Teams
The cuts affected teams across the NBC News operation and came as the network no longer needed to support two different news operations. MSNBC has begun growing its own newsroom, hiring swaths of tale...
www.thewrap.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The "anti-woke" backlash was always about white collar labor competition from nonwhites, not hr bullshit. bsky.app/profile/phil...
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Travel Oregon's $400,000 partnership with Wheel the World has mapped over 750 tourism businesses for travelers with disabilities.
How Oregon became first state to earn ‘accessibility verified’ travel designation
Travel Oregon's $400,000 partnership with Wheel the World has mapped over 750 tourism businesses for travelers with disabilities.
www.oregonlive.com
October 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Travel Oregon's $400,000 partnership with Wheel the World has mapped over 750 tourism businesses for travelers with disabilities.
Another National Coming Out Day has arrived. Welcome to the newbies, but I'm thinking coming out and living as an anti-fascist is more important right now....
Let's all do something on the 18th!
#NoKings
Let's all do something on the 18th!
#NoKings
October 11, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Another National Coming Out Day has arrived. Welcome to the newbies, but I'm thinking coming out and living as an anti-fascist is more important right now....
Let's all do something on the 18th!
#NoKings
Let's all do something on the 18th!
#NoKings
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Hyperpop luminary Ash scored Portland’s latest Gillette-penned production.
Mikki Gillette’s New Musical “Magnetic Electric” Gives Audiences Two Shows for the Price of One
Brianna Wheeler
www.wweek.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Hyperpop luminary Ash scored Portland’s latest Gillette-penned production.
q.v. Quite how armed and masked government individuals qualify as "vulnerable" is beyond my comprehension. Quite how anyone in their vicinity is NOT vulnerable is absolutely preposterous!
Google has determined that ICE agents are a vulnerable group and has used this designation as pretext to delete an app that helped communities determine where ICE raids were happening
www.404media.co/google-calls...
www.404media.co/google-calls...
Google Calls ICE Agents a Vulnerable Group, Removes ICE-Spotting App ‘Red Dot’
The move comes as Apple removed ICEBlock after direct pressure from U.S. Department of Justice officials and signals a broader crackdown on ICE-spotting apps.
www.404media.co
October 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
q.v. Quite how armed and masked government individuals qualify as "vulnerable" is beyond my comprehension. Quite how anyone in their vicinity is NOT vulnerable is absolutely preposterous!
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Google has determined that ICE agents are a vulnerable group and has used this designation as pretext to delete an app that helped communities determine where ICE raids were happening
www.404media.co/google-calls...
www.404media.co/google-calls...
Google Calls ICE Agents a Vulnerable Group, Removes ICE-Spotting App ‘Red Dot’
The move comes as Apple removed ICEBlock after direct pressure from U.S. Department of Justice officials and signals a broader crackdown on ICE-spotting apps.
www.404media.co
October 3, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Google has determined that ICE agents are a vulnerable group and has used this designation as pretext to delete an app that helped communities determine where ICE raids were happening
www.404media.co/google-calls...
www.404media.co/google-calls...
I've not had much of anything to do with Apple since the Apple ][e. I'd considered getting an iPhone as my next phone as the insulin pump I'm planning on switching to doesn't currently have an Android version.
Nah, I'll wait... but I also don't honestly expect Google to be any less likely to cave.
Nah, I'll wait... but I also don't honestly expect Google to be any less likely to cave.
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration reut.rs/4mIfztt
Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration
Apple said on Thursday that it had removed ICEBlock, the most popular ICE-tracking app, and other similar apps from its App Store after it was contacted by President Donald Trump's administration.
reut.rs
October 3, 2025 at 6:11 AM
I've not had much of anything to do with Apple since the Apple ][e. I'd considered getting an iPhone as my next phone as the insulin pump I'm planning on switching to doesn't currently have an Android version.
Nah, I'll wait... but I also don't honestly expect Google to be any less likely to cave.
Nah, I'll wait... but I also don't honestly expect Google to be any less likely to cave.
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
"…and Magda Goebbels made a great strudel.”
September 13, 2025 at 3:27 PM
"…and Magda Goebbels made a great strudel.”
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
What I don't understand is people who aren't interested at all in democracy, don't see the point of it, but then swoon onto a divan when there's a political murder or act of terrorism. Do they get without democracy, that's what "politics" becomes? Power, violence, intimidation, murder, terrorism?
September 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
What I don't understand is people who aren't interested at all in democracy, don't see the point of it, but then swoon onto a divan when there's a political murder or act of terrorism. Do they get without democracy, that's what "politics" becomes? Power, violence, intimidation, murder, terrorism?
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Some (but not all) states have their own military force not part of the Natl Guard: CA/WA State Guard, NY Guard, etc.). Couldn't these be called to combat federal over-reach if military moves into Dem cities? Isn't that why state militias were allowed? It'd be a first, but get people thinking....
August 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Some (but not all) states have their own military force not part of the Natl Guard: CA/WA State Guard, NY Guard, etc.). Couldn't these be called to combat federal over-reach if military moves into Dem cities? Isn't that why state militias were allowed? It'd be a first, but get people thinking....
Because my spouse is going to be 40 and I'm 62, I'm not expecting anything as bad as that last example. But our monthly premiums will probably double, even after downgrading to a less costly plan That'd be about $25K, plus about $10K out-of-pocket.
Some examples of likely net benchmark Silver plan premium hikes in Hartford, CT:
acasignups.net/ira-subsidy-...
acasignups.net/ira-subsidy-...
August 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Because my spouse is going to be 40 and I'm 62, I'm not expecting anything as bad as that last example. But our monthly premiums will probably double, even after downgrading to a less costly plan That'd be about $25K, plus about $10K out-of-pocket.
I wonder how long it will be before T47 decides to do away with Megan's Law? It would be just like him to do so....
August 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I wonder how long it will be before T47 decides to do away with Megan's Law? It would be just like him to do so....
The Star Trek episode "Patterns of Force" (TOS S2:E21) seems rather relevant right now....
August 12, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The Star Trek episode "Patterns of Force" (TOS S2:E21) seems rather relevant right now....
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Trump sues South Park.
Jesus shows up in a streaming deal.
Satan dumps Trump over Epstein.
This isn’t satire. It’s prophecy.
And the regime is cracking.
Meanwhile:
They’re jailing unhoused people.
They’re suing sanctuary cities.
They call it “order.” It’s control.
It’s not creeping. It’s a blitz.
Jesus shows up in a streaming deal.
Satan dumps Trump over Epstein.
This isn’t satire. It’s prophecy.
And the regime is cracking.
Meanwhile:
They’re jailing unhoused people.
They’re suing sanctuary cities.
They call it “order.” It’s control.
It’s not creeping. It’s a blitz.
July 24, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Trump sues South Park.
Jesus shows up in a streaming deal.
Satan dumps Trump over Epstein.
This isn’t satire. It’s prophecy.
And the regime is cracking.
Meanwhile:
They’re jailing unhoused people.
They’re suing sanctuary cities.
They call it “order.” It’s control.
It’s not creeping. It’s a blitz.
Jesus shows up in a streaming deal.
Satan dumps Trump over Epstein.
This isn’t satire. It’s prophecy.
And the regime is cracking.
Meanwhile:
They’re jailing unhoused people.
They’re suing sanctuary cities.
They call it “order.” It’s control.
It’s not creeping. It’s a blitz.
Reposted by Sam Bach PDX
Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was cancelled.
If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.
If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.
July 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was cancelled.
If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.
If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.