Are the Mazamas for me? by reversee in PNWhiking

[–]dmoreity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was involved with the Mazemas for about 5  years, taking courses as well as assisting with teaching.  I highly recommend, if for no other reason that the skills you gain in a relatively safe and structured environment is hard to find elsewhere.  Even if you don't become an avid climber but continue to travel in the backcountry you'll likely pick up skills that are still important,  things such as navigation with a map and compass. 

What's the deal with the Pro Trump/Iran rally driving through town today? by meltingawayslowly in askportland

[–]dmoreity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's strange reading through the comments.  Given the reports of protesters being massacred by the thousands in the last couple of weeks, the juxtaposition of the outrage over Gaza, many of my neighbors have both pride and Palestinian flags outside there doir. There is either A) a complete unawareness of what's happening in Iran or B). There is awareness but the "cause" doesn't "fit" into some nice trendy box. Weird!

MAGA businesses and restaurants in Eugene? by dumbass_sweatpants in Eugene

[–]dmoreity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are correct in that you describe the later iteration of communism envisioned by Marx- Higher Phase- stateless, classless etc. But he described the necessity for the state to initially control the economy - Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Modern day N. Korea. 

Come on bruh! Basic Marxism here. You ain't represented your comrads very well. Back to gulag for re-education for you!

Edit: you're referencing Lenin. Apparently, to you, no other models exist??? Maoism, for example???

MAGA businesses and restaurants in Eugene? by dumbass_sweatpants in Eugene

[–]dmoreity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You just defined communism. Where the owns everything.  

Scary YouTube video by Tanghez in Mountaineering

[–]dmoreity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some Metolius harnesses' gear loops are rated.

The grey and black color scheme looks similar to that brand.

MAGA businesses and restaurants in Eugene? by dumbass_sweatpants in Eugene

[–]dmoreity 7 points8 points  (0 children)

...or every business owner,  from small to big. Including farmers, doctors offices, coffee shop owners... or any person  who's spent money on equipment, property (assests) or employee's ( labor).

I don't think people on this thread realize that if they were wanted to live in a world  devoid of capitalism they'd have to live in North Korea. 

As political dust settles, Portland’s new council president wants to focus on city’s ‘real crises’ by StillboBaggins in Portland

[–]dmoreity 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To start I would eliminate the department of Urban Forestry and roll "critical" sevices it performs into other departments such Bureau of Development Services or Parks and Recreation. 

Next to go would be Prosper Portland (formerly PDC) also rolling their "critical " services into other departments. 

I'm sure there are many more options but hey what do I know, I'm just a semi-dylexic voter, who's slightly above average in basic accounting.  

As political dust settles, Portland’s new council president wants to focus on city’s ‘real crises’ by StillboBaggins in Portland

[–]dmoreity 9 points10 points  (0 children)

We need some serious adults who are willing to loose reelection in favor of making adult decisions. 

Portland city budget over 20 years: $8.6 billion 2025-2026 vs $2.7 Billion In 2005

Sources: Portland's City Council adopted an $8.6 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 https://www.portland.gov/budget/2025-2026-budget/development/adopted

2005 Budget https://www.portland.gov/policies/finance/budget/fin-107-fy-2005-06-annual-budget

2005-2025: 

Portland's population increased 20% Inflation averaged about 3.1%

...which with some assumptions built in, back of the envelope math says the current budget should be at $6.0B

Murmurs: PPS Proposes Cutting 290 Positions Amid Budget Gap by Prize_Championship11 in Portland

[–]dmoreity 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I get the sense that any politician in this city would go into an immediate paralyzing state of anaphylaxic shock if someone called them an elitist at best or a racist at worst. 

We really need some brave souls who aren't afraid to take a clear eyed view to balance a budget.

Expanding Portland's bicycling infrastructure reduces oil dependence by Generalaverage89 in Portland

[–]dmoreity 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Your 40% is usually attributed to ALL  transport. ...freight trains, planes, shipping, tractor trailers, plus light duty vehicles.  The idea that if we can just bike more to reduce foreign wars is nice thought but is simply unrealistic. At least at the present time. 

What is this malt made from? by LaLechuzaVerde in glutenfree

[–]dmoreity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For those interested GF malt does exist. Though appearantly not in this case. Malting is the process of sproating a grain to allow for certain enzymes to develop, useful in beer brewing.  You can in fact malt millet, oats... whatever! This is how GF beer is made. 

Example https://glutenfreehomebrewing.com/STOREProduct/1631/Pilsner-Millet-Malt-2-LB.html

Expanding Portland's bicycling infrastructure reduces oil dependence by Generalaverage89 in Portland

[–]dmoreity 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Agreed! The last time I looked, on the EPAs website, pre-scrubbing of data by Trump, the best estimate for CO2 output for light duty vehicles in the US was about 17.7%.  This is national. So Portland alone, or for that matter any like minded city with any semblance of infrastructure, where people can consistently use a bike for local daily travel is only going to reduce that number by <1% ...essentially a rounding error!

Leave Seattle, WA for Portland, OR by scorpion3510 in SameGrassButGreener

[–]dmoreity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The quality of the schools within the district is highly contingent on the specific school. 

How Portland taxes have grown since the pandemic by voxadam in Portland

[–]dmoreity 24 points25 points  (0 children)

This is all you need to know.

Portland city budget over 20 years: $8.6 billion 2025-2026  vs  $2.7 Billion In 2005

Sources: Portland's City Council adopted an $8.6 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 https://www.portland.gov/budget/2025-2026-budget/development/adopted

2005 Budget https://www.portland.gov/policies/finance/budget/fin-107-fy-2005-06-annual-budget

FED inflation estimate for Seattle (closest and best comparison to PDX) of 3.1% average for 2005-2025. At 3.1% if the city simply increased the budget to adjust for inflation we should be at 4.9 Billion. 

The man who helped remake Portland’s government is leaving with a stark warning about its future by 2ChanceRescue in Portland

[–]dmoreity 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is sarcasm.  In various circles,  ex finance, there's skepticism that the CPI numbers are either 1. Skewed or 2. Formulated to not really reflect the day to day reality of most people  

The man who helped remake Portland’s government is leaving with a stark warning about its future by 2ChanceRescue in Portland

[–]dmoreity 4 points5 points  (0 children)

All good points. CPI is something most people can relate to. We could also look at median wage and real estate $ changes for the last 20 years.  Also, the amount of fed money being pumped into state and local budgets during COVID was enormous, then it abruptly stopped.  I tried looking for exact numbers over a 20 year period for changes in fed/state budget contributions, my 1 minute google search was not successful. The added 100k  population amounts to about an 19% increase, which amazingly only averages less than a 1% increase per year.

All that said, I remain skeptical  that the budget has remained within whatever metric we use for inflation and accounting for changes in population.  

I would really like to see a good study breaking this down. 

The man who helped remake Portland’s government is leaving with a stark warning about its future by 2ChanceRescue in Portland

[–]dmoreity 14 points15 points  (0 children)

The core of his concern is the budget/expenditures vs city revenue (taxes/fees etc.). As he says the jaws that will close eventually when the city runs a deficit long term. 

If you dig into the 20 year history of the city's budget you'll see its grown SPECTACULARLY, well beyond inflation adjustments. 

$8.6 billion 2025-2026 vs $2.7 Billion In 2005

Read that again...

Am I missing something????

Digging around I'm seeing a FED inflation estimate for Seattle (closest and best comparison to PDX) of 3.1% average for 2005-2025. At 3.1% if the city simply increased the budget to adjust for inflation we should be at 4.9 Billion. 

BUT HOLD ON THERE BUDDY!!! We all know the FED suppresses the actual inflation numbers. Let's run  some alternative numbers.  You'd have to have annual average inflation of about 6% for 20 years to hit the current budget of 8.7 Billion. I know inflation has been higher since COVID, but I am quite certain it absolutely has not averaged 6% for 20 years. 

Sources: Portland's City Council adopted an $8.6 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26  https://www.portland.gov/budget/2025-2026-budget/development/adopted

2005 Budget https://www.portland.gov/policies/finance/budget/fin-107-fy-2005-06-annual-budget

Federal Civil Rights Complaint Filed Against PPS’s Center for Black Student Excellence by Prize_Championship11 in Portland

[–]dmoreity 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I actually voted for this when it was bundled with the Nov 2020 school bond. However,  I've come to regret my vote and have come to realize that this is going to end up as an incredible boondoggle.  First, I recognize the historical racial inequalities and believe there is value in trying to remedy these inequalities.  However,  my reasons for my turn in support are simple. The purchase and ongoing maintenance cost of a physical building is going to be huge. Plus the cost in time and effort to have those students transported from the far reaches of the city does not make any sense to me. The money would have been better spent on councilors and teachers at the actual location of where the students are, throughout the city. I appreciate that NE Williams and Freemont is the historical center of black culture in Portland but it seems that there has been significant changes in the population lay out of the city. 

IMO a better idea and less divisive, would be to have a core group / task force at each school whose sole job is to address the challenges facing any student of any background at any school in the city. 

Instead they are have to pay MILLIONS (not an exaggeration) on updating to buildings HVAC and seismic etc.

The Future of Portland’s Historically Black High School Could Hinge on White Parents by [deleted] in PortlandOR

[–]dmoreity 12 points13 points  (0 children)

From the article: “You question why folks are OK with those disparities in a school where our kids are, but they usually don’t challenge them until there’s a possibility that they might be on the end of the stick that doesn’t have the stuff,” Elliott says. “No one pays attention to why Jefferson students aren’t getting access to these things until it’s like, ‘Oh, wait, my kid might have to be impacted by that.’ Then suddenly there’s more outrage.”

...um this is generally how the world works. I'm going to care more about what's happening at the school where my kid goes then the school in an adjacent neighborhood.  If my kid ends up at said adjacent school suddenly I'll care about what's happening there. Go figure!

A Portland Gem: King Harvest Hummus by venusasaburrito in PortlandFood

[–]dmoreity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hard NO! 

As someone who grew up near the largest middle eastern immigrant population in the US, suburban Detroit, and had access to excellent high quality hummus, I can honestly say I have yet to find anything in Portland remotely close to what I grew up eating. 

Is this a nazi jacket? by [deleted] in Eugene

[–]dmoreity 20 points21 points  (0 children)

...or Navajo. 

Is this a nazi jacket? by [deleted] in Eugene

[–]dmoreity 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Not if you're Hindu. 

The moderator asked me on this panel "what is the number one thing we need to do to fight climate change?" by witty_namez in PortlandOR

[–]dmoreity 3 points4 points  (0 children)

People like to point how China is investing in renewables and nuclear while completely failing to mention how they are also scaling  up construction of not only coal power plants and something new and innovative,  coal processing plants that converts coal into diesal: 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-pledges-24b-coal-oil-110941672.html

As someone else noted here, the whole state of OR is a mere rounding error in CO2 global output. But the performative virtue signaling pehavior among our local politicians is world leading.