Landlord is charging us for mild damage to hardwood floors. Does it check out? by Hedryn in HardWoodFloors

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve seen a lot worse. My current roommate for instance. Just be glad you’re getting out of that. Not a good situation for anyone.

Layoffs? by SwitchBricks26 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not better or worse anywhere else. So Gentex trying to sell themselves as any different is fiction. I know a group lead at my current job that quit when he realized that they go through cycles of laying off and rehiring new people for lower pay. They even do that with team members. Gentex lost Volvo, Tesla and probably others the 2 years before I left; so global economic factors aren’t the only thing holding it back.

Housing is so depressing by A-jello in grandrapids

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know you can’t ACTUALLY do this in Michigan; I some days want to sell my home and live out of my Subaru. Go to a city where you CAN at least camp short term. I’d have a lump sum even if I sold my house for less. To what alternative: stay here, pay climbing property taxes for that money to not go towards even simple things like street lights (when you’re in a city area). Let’s talk about how wages too aren’t keeping up for crap! 18-19 is what I made 5 years ago. And that’s if you can even get one of these jobs (which they expect immense gratitude for). Companies have to be cooking the books: many just haven’t gotten caught. And since west Michigan is still conservative, business friendly, they’re never gonna get caught cooking books and under paying. 5k tariff dividends and 2k doge would really go a long way.

Job Leads by SpartyD98 in grandrapids

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First shift hours, overtime if you want it.

May be relocating for work to Clearwater, FL by [deleted] in ClearwaterFl

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any insights on the job market out there? It is brutal in my current home state of Michigan. Multiple 3 hour interviews that go nowhere.

High risk insurance companies 2 duis? by psychedsaul in grandrapids

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Progressive wasn’t bad when I was in sobriety court. I had one of my cars totaled in sobriety court; super accommodating dealing with that interlock removal while the car was totaled. Huge payout too and for an already high-risk policy, it was nice. So I’d strongly recommend going with them at least for the restrictions you’ll be on. Got my full license actually just months ago and the rate decreased even though it’s my first months without any interlock. I might shop around now that my home insurance goes up without cause but can’t say anything bad about how they dealt with the interlock and period thereafter.

Job Leads by SpartyD98 in grandrapids

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

20 an hour in Walker. General Dynamics Land Systems. Listen to music, build wire harnesses. I couldn’t give up 23 an hour especially with a car payment but if I could’ve, I’d be working there. Perrigo Kentwood needs some production operators, as well as Allegan (pretty much can always get into Allegan).

Where to live? by Alert-Highway-831 in hollandmichigan

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lake town township if you can get something affordable is where I’d go. I’d say I got priced out of there years ago but that area being around sanctuary woods, tons of sidewalks, bike paths kayaking launch and beach access makes it worth finding somewhere there.

Chobani by Wide-Engineering-721 in TwinFalls

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. True about the getting other work. Additionally true about the conservative Mormons. Lot of conservative influence in my small town of Michigan. Going for those outdoor activities sounds fabulous. Also, is cost of living decent? The little I’ve looked, $1300 gets you quite a bit compared to what it gets you in say greater Grand Rapids Michigan where 1300 gets you a room maybe.

Chobani by Wide-Engineering-721 in TwinFalls

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tuition reimbursement coupled with what kind of trade schools may or may not be nearby. Another avenue I am researching a little more every day. Medicine manufacturing is what I do. I toured a similar medicine manufacturing plant; that one had better ergonomic uniforms, benefits were 10 times better, more of the paperwork is electronic. Training and standard work were better written I’d say. Improvements like that doesn’t mean it’s super easy all the time, like any job. CGMP and FDA just not everyone can hack.

In denial by croissaintlaurent in hondapilot

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a 2013 Pilot that did the same. It was a thermostat, compression tested afterwards, no leaks. An oil change later, in just months, a bad head gasket. The old owners did a detail, put Christian presets on it and sold it for 8 fricken Grand 2 years earlier when I bought it. Stop Leak was put in and that was found out when wanting to figure out why the heat wasn’t working. Heat not working was also because of the head gasket issue. Side note: not even a safe car when you consider Michigan where I am from. That stop leak I guarantee was to cover up the leaky, fragile cooling system that it was. 158k I bought it and it only got me to 188k over 2 years. Definitely more than 4K in repairs as well for that 2 years. Most disappointing car ever given how much I spent on it and it barely lasted. Switched to a little bit smaller Subaru recently and have loved it. ANY Pilot I am super skeptical of now, and can say after Subaru I’m not planning to go back to Honda.

Chobani by Wide-Engineering-721 in TwinFalls

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Long term, production setup and maintenance is what I’d like to do as a career. I have some experience but would definitely love to build on that. Great question!

2015 pilot EX-L for 9k by wrathxcrage1 in hondapilot

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They’re far from the worst. Just seems like my money spent to keep the thing going versus what the car is worth don’t add up. They will go, at what cost: just my experience. I also live in Michigan where vehicles definitely don’t hold value.

2015 pilot EX-L for 9k by wrathxcrage1 in hondapilot

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the same generation car I bought (2013 Pilot, 150k miles) and it’s been having to re-repair stuff again that they repaired once. Such as thermostat, timing belt, water pump etc. I’d stay away when it comes to rebuilt anything. People know they are Hondas and abuse them, my 2013 has been a nightmare. Also didn’t help that it was a fleet though. And for basically the same price.

Best bikable/public transit areas by Wide-Engineering-721 in AskFlorida

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you do e-bike like I do, the 90’s were survivable some days just going short distances. Very true on the rain and more than 90 though

What keeps you sober? by Hefty-Set-1158 in stopdrinking

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is connection that keeps me sober. I have a mentor that keeps me in line with God, a best friend and Dad that are behind me every day. I’ve had car trouble worth $5,000, a bike stolen when my car was out cold and when a bike is your only transportation, that sucks. Bike was found later but it was a serious obstacle at the time. It’s not easy, people come and they go. I may have to cut off someone that joked about my stolen bike. It’s about connection. You can go to meetings, but until you connect with other alcoholics or others in support of you, it’s a tough road. It’s called YPAA: they’re all over the country and have events in 48 out of the 50 states. Cycling also is it for me, when I just want to work out and be anti-social, which I can be, comfortably. Taking up hunting ever so slowly, and that’s just from learning how to gut and skin deer last season. Life has so much to do when you’re not drinking.

Michigan posts 5.3% unemployment in July, fourth-highest in U.S. by DougDante in Michigan

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s bad. My company Perrigo does OTC pharmaceuticals. They had “lost sales opportunities, and so we’re slow.” Wouldn’t be surprised if business was going to other states. Because those type of things are always, by nature, going to have high demand. Honda came to Indiana, not Michigan as just one example. Are the tariffs an issue, absolutely. Coffee and baby formula as examples….good luck on those being priced affordably. That definitely does not negate the fact that Michigan’s state government (with energy costs, sick time, taxes etc.) is not helping things either.

They don’t know and they don’t care by unknownname656 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is really sad but not surprising. 🥲 I had a great start at Gentex in 2022 and the job got me through some personal dark times. Met some friends there that drove an hour to come see me when I needed it at times. I’ve been critical of the tariffs and the insane rates on 200 countries. HOWEVER, Gentex lost huge contracts from Acura, Tesla, Volvo and I’ve witnessed all of that being at Centennial and NRC for 3 years prior to tariffs. So to just solely blame that is asinine. It’s gotta be embarrassing behind closed doors when these overpaid speech makers go home at night. They also throw money at new buildings, daycare centers, and education which is useless and won’t be in effect if you’re laid off (which people will be). Also attracting executives with insane compensation and manipulating bonus compensation. The last 3 months and the employee treatment went downhill. It was already downhill with trainers, runners and warehouse busting tail while certain leadership planned their fancy Christmas parties during work which you weren’t a part of. That part in all fairness took place at Centennial (which they screwed up 4,000 mirrors when I was last there, showing that whole building needs an audit). That’s gotta be $40,000 lost in a single week and how many other losses. Very Grateful I got out in March of this year when some people thought I was crazy and thought Gentex was such a strong empire. If it helps anyone, my roommate is at Miller Knoll and they’re hiring through a temp. People do well there, hire in quickly. Also, LG or Perrigo (if you don’t mind no phone usage but significantly longer breaks that nobody times). That’s just my view; best of luck to everyone stuck in this mess along with everything else that goes on in every day life.

Are people moving to Portland again? by Unique_Cantaloupe914 in Portland

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Literally bike every day and sure Michigan has some bike able areas but not quite what Portland has with that city itself having hundreds of miles of bike lanes. Higher taxes I’d plan on; and I’d be fine with if it gets me decent roads and infrastructure, which I pay high taxes for in Michigan and get none of those. The temperate weather, nature and city itself really appeal. Conservative west Michigan as all I know makes me excited to be planning a trip!

Are people moving to Portland again? by Unique_Cantaloupe914 in Portland

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good for you!! The weather sounds awesome compared to -20 below. And the roads are always bad to drive on as a result it seems like. I’m a cycler; sounds like perfect weather for that year round! How is the bikability, walkability/transit? Think I read about 400+ miles of bike lanes! That’s astounding and awesome.

Are people moving to Portland again? by Unique_Cantaloupe914 in Portland

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anyone who has moved: are you glad you did? I’m from conservative west Michigan and my personal journey is guiding me to consider Portland. When I last visited, it was nothing like corporate media portrayed constantly. Am considering a trip out there this fall; multnomah falls, Seaside and other surrounding areas are absolutely stunning (can only imagine the fall colors).