Portlandia

10 Weird Things About Portland

2013-02-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

--------10 Weird things about Portland

Portland is a city that plays by it's own rules. People migrate here from other states and either love it or hate it. If you love unique personalities, discussions about radical causes, home brewed beer and eating gourmet food from a food cart while watch a clown ride by on a double decker bike then Portland is the place for you. If you decide to raise your children here realize that they will know the bus and light rail system so well that they can get around town and may not ever decide to learn to drive.

1. We don’t honk. Seriously–it’s possible to go days and even weeks here without hearing a car horn. I told Jessica about this when I was in New York and she said, “But what if someone cuts you off?” Well, in that case you stew quietly in your car. There’s no need to use your horn. That would be rude.

2. It is not uncommon to see zip-off cargo pants in our fine dining establishments. For a really classy night out we might add a fleece jacket.

3. Recycling is the rule, not the exception.

4. Also? The recycling is complicated. Most establishments are equipped with at least 3 or 4 recycling and compost bins. As my friend Mike put it, “You need a freaking sustainability degree to know how to best dispose of your bendy straw at Whole Foods.”

5. We take brunch very seriously. Sunday brunch is like church but way more important, and with more house-made organic marionberry jam.

6. We freak out about the sun. When it’s sunny, no matter what time or day of the week it is, no matter the actual temperature, every single person in Portland will flock outside and post the following status update on their Facebook page: “SUN!!!!”

7. The bicycle lobby is a political force to be reckoned with. It’s like Big Oil without the oil.

8. Despite living in one of the rainiest states in the union, we take pride in not using umbrellas. We’d rather get smugly soaked, thank you very much.

9. Every menu at every restaurant in the entire city includes this sentence: “Gluten-free bread available upon request.”

10. We glamorize city service careers. Waste water treatment employees, for example, are regarded as environmental crusaders, saving the world one septic tank leak at a time.

Any Portland readers want to add to this list? And as for non-Portland readers–when are you coming to visit?

Exploring Sauvie Island

2012-09-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Typing Test

2012-06-29T13:01:00.001-07:00

did some research into typing test locations in the area for a customer that I think would be helpful to all. Just passing it on.

Clark College (only test during school year)

1800 East McLoughlin

Call for appointment – no cost

(Testing is available for Typing only)

Cheryl Poppe (360) 992-2229

Express Employment Professionals

11504 SE Mill Plain Blvd. #C-1

Call for appointment - $10

(10 key also available for additional fee)

Eric Schubert (360) 883-3600

NW Staffing Resources

315 W. Mill Plain Road, Suite 100

Call for appointment - $15

(10 key also available for additional fee)

Jennie Taylor (360) 695-4900

Beautiful Photo I shot last night from Skyline

2012-06-24T14:27:00.001-07:00

I'm not actually sure what the name of the mountain in the distance is... but it is beautiful...

Liner & Elsen Wine Merchants

2012-06-20T21:44:00.001-07:00

Ran into a Gay Pride celebration near Living Room Theater on Saturday night...

2012-06-20T21:43:00.001-07:00

Getting my car washed in Portland

2012-06-20T21:42:00.001-07:00

Statue near Powell's Books

2012-06-20T21:40:00.001-07:00

Seams to Fit. Awesome Store Name

2012-06-20T21:34:00.001-07:00

Sh&t Portlanders Say....

2012-02-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

--------http://vimeo.com/m/36377547

2012-02-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

-----http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Meat-glue-138831889.html?m=y&smobile=y

Restaurants are using the powdered blood of cows, pigs, and chickens to glue the leftover cuts of meat to make steaks and they are not obligated to tell the customer!

The Food and Drug Administration says meat glue is regarded as safe as long as fused food is cooked to at least 165 degrees.

The problem is that while a steak ordered well done will reach that temperature, anything ordered medium well and below could have bacteria growing at the glue points.

Restaurants aren't required to tell you if they're using meat glue, but some products are labeled as such, according to Jack Field with the Washington Cattleman's Association.

Did you know?

2011-10-19T01:43:00.001-07:00

Bicyclists in Portland

2011-10-10T22:52:00.001-07:00

Roll On, Oregon from Bicycle Transportation Alliance on Vimeo.

Portland Police Pose With Infant At Occupy Wall Street Protest

2011-10-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

Bicycling’s gender gap: It’s the economy, stupid | Bikenomics | Grist

2011-06-23T11:08:00.001-07:00

http://www.grist.org/biking/2011-06-20-bicyclings-gender-gap-its-the-economy-stupid

Portland Drains 8 Million Gallon Reservoir After Man Is Caught Peeing In It : TreeHugger

2011-06-20T20:45:00.001-07:00

The Mt. Tabor Reservoir Number 1 holds 8 million gallons of treated drinking water, which it provides to the residents nearby Portland, Oregon. A human bladder, at its fullest, holds around 16 ounces of urine. So, when a young man was caught on a surveillance camera releasing those few ounces of pee into said reservoir, how do you think the green-living, conservation-obsessed city of Portland reacted?

It flushed all 8 million gallons of treated drinking water down the drain.
The city ordered the discharge, and the ill-fated pee break is going to cost some $34,000. Which probably makes it one of the more expensive urination sessions to have graced Portland recently. But what amuses me most is the fact that even now, when we understand so well the composition of things like urine -- specifically, that it's almost certainly entirely, absolutely harmless in such minuscule quantities (and typically, in any quantity, since urine is sterile in healthy people) -- we're so quick to dispose of perfectly good resources so as not to offend anyone's delicate sensibilities.

The Straits Times reports:

urine is sterile in healthy people and ... the urine in the reservoir was so diluted - perhaps a quarter of a litre in millions of litres - that it posed little risk. Some people in the city, in the suburbs and around the world called the flush an overreaction, especially since animals such as ducks contribute waste routinely and, sometimes, die in the water.

'More than 1 billion people worldwide do not have reliable access to clean drinking water, and here we are tossing away nearly 8 million gallons of water just to appease the ignorant residents who believe their tap water will otherwise turn yellow,' read one comment posted on The Oregonian's Website.

I think that comment's pretty apt, as it reflects how deeply ingrained our sense of propriety is, and how we continue to let it dictate decision-making, even in a presumably progressive place like Portland.

That 8 million gallons were dumped for no good reason isn't really all that big of a deal. But it's still a reminder of how quickly we Americans -- who feel deeply entitled to extreme degrees of sterility and sanitation -- are willing to jettison our "green" ways when something grosses us out.

2011-05-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

'IF ALL GOES according to plan, a new kind of building will be born on SW 5th and Montgomery by 2013. Packed with offices and retail, the Oregon Sustainability Center (OSC) will generate as much energy as it produces and reuse every drop of water that flows through its taps (and, yes, even its toilets). A marvel of modern, green design, the center will inspire builders internationally to look to Portland as a beacon of innovative design. "

This is a beautiful building and its good to see Portland leading the way to building green. Even though it is entirely too too expensive we have to start somewhere. Being green in a society that idolizes currency is not going to be inexpensive. I say go for it! It should be less expensive to build & live green and someday it will be .

The center is aiming for a Living Building designation from the International Living Building Institute and is perhaps the world’s most stringent sustainable building standard. Thhttp://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/green-light/Content?oid=39171

Remember to Vote! Today is Oregon's Election Day!

2011-05-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

Remember to Vote! Today is Oregon's Election Day! It's not november so that means you probably completely forgot to vote. Take that ballot that showed up in the mail, fill out YES for the school bond and levy, then drop it off at a public library or the elections office. Go, go, go! SM
Multnomah County Elections Office, 1040 SE Morrison, 7 am-8 pm, FREE for registered voters, 18+

1st Thursday Urban Adventure Run eaving from NW Portland every first Thursday from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

2011-05-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

The run is similar to an urban adventure scavenger hunt, and the rules are simple:

At 6pm 2 large maps are shown that have a dozen or so checkpoints on them. These maps entail downtown Portland and some parts of the immediate east side of town.
Participants will be given an hour to hit as many checkpoints as possible by using their notes taken when the maps are revealed.
When you arrive at each checkpoint you will be given a raffle ticket good for prizes from our sponsors (link this to our sponsors and prizes for that month section) at the end of the race. How you get there is up to you, but the more raffle tickets you collect the more chances you have of winning prizes at the raffle drawing!

Cost: Free!

Portlandia: Hide and Seek

2011-05-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Dream of the 90s

2011-05-15T11:20:00.000-07:00