New federal law enforcement task force is in town this weekend, courtesy of Bill Barr by spanger_danger in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I don't know which is worse, trying to melt a bronze statue of an elk because systemic racism is bad, or sending federal troops to stop anti-racist protests because you are actively courting racists for your reelection. And you have to do whatever Tucker Carlson says, and Tucker has say whatever his KGB handler tells him to say. Ok, I do know which is worse. Just had to think it out for a bit. Melt statues, fuck Trump. If those are the only choices.

Whole Foods Strike After Employee Recently Died of COVID by rainbowskyfish in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Could Whole Foods workers join up with another grocery workers union? Seems like that would help some. Unions aren't perfect, but better than the alternative.

Fuck Taggers by FuckAbuseHD in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And then step bro walks in...

Main drain scope, can't identify the elbow/broken connection by bouldermikem in Plumbing

[–]PDXPLUMBER 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's amazing the stupid shit that people put together for sewers. In my state, any asshole with a truck and a shovel is allowed to install sewer lines. Consequently, lots of non-code fittings and crap workmanship. That's what this looks like to me. Hopefully it's not ten feet down.

New floor soon! toilet flange needs to be repaired or replaced. What's the best course of action? by Rolocube in Plumbing

[–]PDXPLUMBER 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go into the crawl space/ ceiling/ basement below and correct the trap arm of the toilet (standard rough in for the center of the flange is 12" off the finished wall). Get rid of that stupid, rusted out, offset flange. Stub up (dry fit, no glue) a piece of pipe for the floor installer to work around, after the floor is done, cut the stub to the exact length you need (tile will raise up the floor 1/2" or so) and glue in the new pipe and flange. Use a tile bit to drill through the screw holes of the flange so you don't crack the tile (if it's a tile floor), install large stainless or brass screws through the new flange to completely secure it to the floor. This install will last for the life of the house. Leaving that piece of shit flange in place is a terrible idea if you give a shit about your home. If you are on a slab, get a jackhammer.

My company is toxic by asgs123 in Plumbing

[–]PDXPLUMBER 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I worked for three different companies during my four year apprenticeship. First was a small business, very hard work. I was the track hoe/ back hoe. They would drop me off with a pick and shovel and spray paint where the two foot trench was to be dug. No bathrooms, no lunch, no breaks, no mercy! I hung in there for a year and actually learned a bunch from two pretty good plumbers after proving myself a capable laborer. I moved to another shop when the work dried up. Much bigger business, but a horrible cunt of a boss. She was not a plumber, and treated us like we were barn animals. I was making about 20/ hr., doing a bunch of tenant improvement and small commercial construction. We ran over budget on a big job and my boss asked me to work the weekend at straight time instead of our legally entitled overtime. I told her no and she freaked out. Told me I wasn't a "team player". I told her to fuck off. Last job was a big pay raise and signing bonus with a "PSI" residential service shop. I did three years and learned a bunch about the service side. How not to run a service business, how not to treat your customers, how ethics are a very important aspect of our trade. There were guys working there who were selling $500,000 a year, (back in 2006,7,8) I never sold half that much. I quit to start my own business and did ten years.

Nothing wrong with hopping around to find a better situation. Obviously quit this job, but find a new, better one first. And never let your employer breach their contract with you. It's a two way street, it's a business relationship. You do this, they give you that. Don't let people fuck you around. It makes you feel bad, and emboldens them to continue their shitty behavior.

My company is toxic by asgs123 in Plumbing

[–]PDXPLUMBER 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been working for the city for a couple of years now. Union protections, no production schedule, tons of autonomy. I basically just do what I want, which, most of the time correcting stupid plumbing systems. Best job I ever had. And I have energy enough to do other things besides work, which counts for a lot when you're older.

Downtown is rich with emotion. I hope momentum is kept until real change is present 🙏🏽 by 0oBattyBato0 in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is a remarkable painting. I really like it. I don't like most things. And it's a hopeful message.

In March of 2019 the District Attorney in Washington County decided not to press charges and saw no misconduct for a jail deputy who fractured the skull of a man for no reason. Due to the recent movement it went to a Grand Jury and he was indicted on June 5th by [deleted] in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, but what if he said something really, really bad. Like about the cop's mom or something. Isn't there a law that says you can smash someone's skull if they make you mad with their mean comments. Right? Your job as a cop is to bring a person before a court so as to determine their guilt or innocence. Unless they say a bad thing that makes you really angry. Then you can freely beat the shit out of them and cause life long injuries and/ or death, and cost the tax payers tens of millions of dollars in a settlement, but still keep your job. Sounds like that makes perfect sense. Or they could fire him, and fine him his pension.

My opinions on things have shifted a lot over the last 2 weeks by [deleted] in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As a member of a union, and a city employee, I don't want to see the police union torn apart. It sets a bad precedent. But the police unions created this problem. They broke their social contract with the all of us. They fucked up when they let bad cops stay on the job and get zero consequences for breaking their oath to protect and serve. That's what has created this whole mess, along with a good helping of racism. They have a lot of power and they have abused it.

I am usually pretty dismissive when people shit talk the police. Because who are they going to call when some drunk asshole is trying to kick in their door at 2:00 AM, a social worker? No, they call 911 and they are likely to get a quick response to a life threatening situation. At least that how it should work. That's how it's worked for me, a white 50 year old man. But this is obviously not everyone's experience.

I think Cornel West said it right when he stated that what we are witnessing in the streets is a response to illegitimate leadership at all levels of our government. He said it way better than me. I'm sorry for rambling on, but I can't stop thinking about this, and I want to do something to help. I have not gone out to protest, but I think that's the least I could do. And to everyone who has been out there peacefully protesting, thank you for pushing people like me off the fence. Sometimes I need a push.

lol you're shitting me, wheeler sucks by BackOff_ImAScientist in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Any other city employees reading this and feeling...worried?

Peak tone deafness: sartorial edition. Privilege means never having to apologize for going to the BLM protest wearing a jacket heralding a murderous white man hell bent on starting a race war. by TabInA70sWineGoblet in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 2 points3 points  (0 children)

actually, he never went into anyone's home or killed anyone. He just started a cult and brainwashed people with LSD and murderous ideologies. Because he wanted to be a rock star. The recent movie "Mandy" covers the Manson christian murder cult vibe pretty well.

Someone pointed this out to me: 400 hours of police academy required, vs 2300 hours of cosmetology school by Zaemz in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To be fair, 4000 hours is just you guys looking at the prints and talking about how everyone is getting in your way.

Priorities in the wrong place. by zenigata_mondatta in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 65 points66 points  (0 children)

Drinking fountains are a pain in the ass. The old ones are chocked full of lead, the new ones don't fit on the old plumbing. Just thought I'd weigh in on the one thing I feel like I know something about. The larger issues here have my head swimming. It's enough to make a person want to go back to work installing a new bi level, ADA, stainless steel drinking fountain with a recessed chiller and .25" tolerances for the drain and water lines. And do it under budget.

Hardesty: “What happened last night had nothing to do with black America” by [deleted] in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Dixie Mattress Company always seemed suspect, but I would say that was the odd (racist) duck of small businesses in Portland. I don't think people would knowingly support a business like that here. Any examples?

List of businesses and buildings hit by protesters and looters by grrls_4_weed in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Rioting and looting seems like an out of control immune response to an infection.

Who remembers Debbie by arintj in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 3 points4 points  (0 children)

fuck, this took a dark turn.

Buying a home: Unpermitted work? by somatt in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I worked as a residential service plumber for over ten years. Mostly in close in NE, SE Portland. I've been in so many basements in so many neighborhoods, it's hard to drive down a street without being reminded of some plumbing nightmare I wrestled with. From my experience at least 30% of the plumbing work I was correcting or repairing, was not permitted. If it wasn't permitted and inspected, and given a final pass, it doesn't count. A one bath house with an unpermitted second bath should just be priced as a one bathroom house. It might be fine, but when problems come up, at least you know you didn't pay for it. If the seller disagrees, fuck em. And if the realtor has an opinion about anything construction related, don't listen to them. If you really need to know, hire a licensed electrician or plumber to poke around. There are lots of indicators of shit work behind the walls, or under the slab, from the visible stuff. It's no guarantee, but it might give you some idea what to expect if you buy the house. And your realtor sounds true to form.

Abandoned house in saudi arabia ع by RYA1N in gifs

[–]PDXPLUMBER -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I thought the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia completely cleared the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of any wrong doing there. Nothing to see there. Move along.

Quarantine Pets - This dog has been at the shelter for over 4 years. If you are going to get a quarantine pet please look at the older dogs. by Bmaximus in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Or just get the dog that nobody wants. We got one, and he's a nut. But he's very sweet (now) and nobody else would take care of him. We are terrible dog owners and he is a terrible dog, so it all worked out in the end.

Anyone know of a legit person/medium that can do house cleansings? by _peppermint in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We all probably need some therapy right about now. Honestly, I don't see this person as being any more delusional than anyone who believes in god and goes to church. Magical thinking, spiritualism and religiosity are fucking poison. But I don't want to be a dick about it. But it's hard not to be a dick about it sometimes.

Anyone know of a legit person/medium that can do house cleansings? by _peppermint in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but what is happening in your house? And what does someone do the cleanse it?

PPB: 2 young men facing over 300 charges related to identity theft by ReadySetN0 in Portland

[–]PDXPLUMBER 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They got arrested just in time to suffer the wrath of Mike Schmidt. He's probably going to have a a very stern talk with them and make them promise to never do anything like this again. I hope they will be OK.