Category: Reblogged

Lazy Sunday CCCLXXXIII: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

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It’s tax-o-rama here in the States, and yours portly has done his fair share of grumbling.  Here are some recent posts on that most onerous of topics:

A sign that democracy does not reflect the will of the people is that few things are more popular than eliminating the income tax, but we still have it.  It seems like it would be a political slam-dunk to get rid of this ridiculous form of taxation, but I guess too many tax attorneys and H&R Block seasonal workers would be out of a job.  But, hey, we could enjoy Easter again!

Happy Sunday!

—TPP

TBT^4,294,967,296: End the Income Tax

The Portly Politico3 Comments

Once again it’s tax season in the United States.  I won’t bore you—again—with the details of our bizarre, nightmarish tax situation, but to suffice it to say that, at the time of writing, yours portly and his dear Dr. Wife are about $5500 poorer and Uncle Sam is probably paying for a federal inmates gender reassignment surgery.  Next year will be much easier, but it’s always a pain.

I think what I resent most is that the federal government is now party to every economic exchange I make outside of purchasing a brownie from a sidewalk bake sale.  Any money I earn gets reported.  Indeed, I probably report more than I really need to, because I do take seriously Jesus’ instruction to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.”  I just wish Caesar was spending my money in the national interest, not in the niche interests of some special interest group or immigrant group that got here fifteen seconds ago.

But it is—for another year, at least—done.  Now I’m free to enjoy Spring Break and to wait, watchful and eel-like, for next year.

With that, here is 10 April 2025’s “TBT^65,536: End the Income Tax“:

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TBT: Held Hostage by a Trans Autist at McDonald’s

The Portly Politico10 Comments

In looking for a piece to reblog for this installment of TBT, I stumbled upon this piece involving some late-night McDonald’s shenanigans.  I really should compile a short collection of essays about my various misadventures at McDonald’s—and other fast food joints.  Slapping together fifty pages musing about fast food in the 2020s would be much like the food itself—cheap, reprocessed garbage that costs too much and is unfit for human consumption.

And yet, the cheap flavor and saltiness of such a volume would entice just as a nocturnal cheeseburger might.  What say you, dear readers?  Should I put together such a lofty tome?  Leave a comment and let me know.

With that, here is 2 April 2025’s “Held Hostage by a Trans Autist at McDonald’s“:

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Lazy Sunday CCCLXXXII: First Week of Spring

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Spring is springing and sprunging, and here are some recent posts that seem fitting for this new season:

Happy Spring!

—TPP

TBT^256: The Joy of Spring

The Portly Politico2 Comments

Spring has sprung, and we had a gloriously toasty weekend in South Carolina.  Then temperatures plummeted again, so who knows what’s going on.

Of course, spring is a time of renewal and rebirth.  It’s a fitting season for Easter, which is coming up quite soon.  Dr. Wife has been wearing beautiful floral dresses to church and for the various family get-togethers we’ve been and will be attending, and I’m making the slow transition from long-sleeve button-ups to breathable polos.

The koi are also far more lively now that temperatures are rising.  We’ve had great fun catching glimpses of them, and I think we have at least nine or ten.  I’ve seen a few of the rosy red minnows, too.

Let’s hope the weather stays warm but not humid for awhile longer.  Spring in South Carolina really only lasts for about two weeks in April (even in March we get snatches of winter again) before it gets hot and sticky, and it stays that way until at least November.  I’ll be dreaming of autumn soon enough.

With that, here is 20 March 2025’s “TBT^16: The Joy of Spring“:

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Lazy Sunday CCCLXXXI: Kulturkampf

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

The Based Book Sale‘s short stories niche sale is still in full swing!  You can pick up The One-Minute Mysteries of Inspector Gerard: The Ultimate Flatfoot—and a lot of other great books!—for just $0.99.

The sale really got my creative juices flowing about the need to nurture, cultivate, 

Who are some conservative creators you’d recommend, dear readers?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Happy Sunday!

—TPP

TBT^2: Support Culture, Not Political Machines

The Portly Politico4 Comments

This week I’ve really been banging the drum (really, really banging it) about folks on the Right supporting their fellow conservatives who create art—books, music, long-form essays, fiction, etc.  We are phenomenally bad about supporting anything that isn’t bog-standard conservative commentary (which is kind of what I used to do here on a more regular basis).

It was serendipitous, then, that when looking back for today’s TBT, I found this piece, which I’d reblogged from a prior piece.  In the original, I argued that donating to the RNC is a waste of money, and that dollars are better allocated to conservative creators.

I stand by that assessment.  Indeed, the intervening years have only deepened that conviction—the conviction for you to send your money to me (and other awesome conservatives), not Mitch McConnell.

With that, here is 27 March 2025’s “TBT: Support Culture, Not Political Machines“:

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Lazy Sunday CCCLXXX: Musical Instruments

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Between the SCISA Music Festival, my little saxophone gig, and playing with my old Yamaha PortaSound PSS-50, it’s been a week for musical instruments of all stripes.  As such, I thought I’d look back at those very same posts:

Now, go out and make some music!

Happy Sunday!

—TPP

TBT: Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation

The Portly Politico8 Comments

Note:  this post contains several Amazon Affiliate links.  I receive a portion of any purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you.

My students and I are back at the SCISA Music Festival this morning, and yours portly has a saxophone gig tonight.  As such, it seemed like a good time to look back at my “Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation” post from 12 March 2025—one year ago today!

The thrust of last year’s post was that, for under $400, you can purchase a decent—not great, but serviceable—alto saxophone.  Indeed, I’m playing at this very same saxophone tonight:

Here are the updated prices for the items I listed last year; remarkably, the price is lower than a year ago; however, Slade seems to be phasing out the horn, as there is only one sax available at the time of writing:

Grand Total:  $290.67 (down $33.18 from the typical price in 2025) before taxes

With that, here is 12 March 2025’s “Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation“:

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Lazy Sunday CCCXLXIX: Moving Weekend

The Portly Politico1 Comment

By the time you read this post, dear reader, yours portly should have all of his worldly possessions (and Murphy) relocated to the new house.

I’ve come to realize how much I despise moving.  It’s not that I’m not good at it—as a big dude, manhandling boxes is what I’m designed to do—but it is tedious and exhausting.  It also seems to take forever.

I’ve opined on this many, many times lately, to the point that I’m sure all of you are tired of reading about my quotidian problems.  But I write about what’s going in my life, and right now, moving is the major theme of it all.  Indeed, I’m offering 90% off my Bandcamp music with the promo code that sums up my life right now:  moving.

It’s shocking how much crap I’ve accumulated over the years.  I’m finding clothes I haven’t worn in nearly a decade (which tend to get donated to Goodwill).  For some reason, I’ve saved weird gift bags and empty tins (and not cool, decorative ones).  Having lived in a relatively small house of roughly 1000 square feet, most of this stuff ended up shoved into closets or cabinets, never to be seen again—until I’ve had to sort through them.

It’s a Sisyphean task.  Now that everything is (God Willing) moved, I have to unpack it all.  At least this process can take its time to unfold.

With that, I’m subjecting my readers once again to posts about moving:

  • “Midweek Moving” – This post details how I rented a massive truck to move a tiny recliner from my in-laws’ house.
  • “Moving Pains” (only on SubscribeStar) – My devastating takedown of the moving broker SafeShip Movers (do not use them).
  • “More Moving” – A quick post featuring my car packed to the gills with junk (see below) before the piano mover arrived.

The sad thing is, these are only some of the posts I’ve written about moving.  I think I’ve tortured my readers enough!

Happy Sunday!

—TPP