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ProperGanderPusher posted:I've been told lack of jobs is the number one issue. Unless you like outdoor activities, there really isn't as much to do as Seattle either once you've browsed Powell's enough times and sampled enough microbrews (but you'll still be far from bored). You could always sample food carts, which (unless it's changed dramatically since 2011) they don't have many up in Seattle. Cultural Imperial posted:waaaaait a minute. You guys aren't saying Portland has less rain than Seattle or Vancouver (CANADA) are you? Maybe it only seems that way, due to latitude? We do get pretty much the same weather. Hedera Helix fucked around with this message at 05:23 on May 4, 2014 |
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May 4, 2014 05:21
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Hedera Helix posted:Maybe it only seems that way, due to latitude? We do get pretty much the same weather. Being more inland probably makes the drier days seem drier. I'd bet Seattle is more prone to fog than Portland
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May 4, 2014 05:56
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It may just be my skillset, but this town (Portland) seems to be flooded with tech jobs. Not IT jobs, but software and technology jobs.
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May 4, 2014 06:08
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800peepee51doodoo posted:My biggest problem driving in Portland is that none of these nice guy assholes could figure out how to work a 4 way stop if you put a gun to their head. Its comically rage inducing watching everybody waving at each other for like 8 minutes until someone works up the courage to just loving go. Ah, another victim of the "too nice to use a 4-way properly"  . I live in the yuppier part of town where I'm at and this problem happens constantly, though it may be a common occurrence everywhere. You pull up to a 4-way at the same time as the person to right of you, then you wait several seconds for them to go even though they have the right of way until they wave you forwards. God help you if it's dark outside and you can't see them waving, in which case it then just turns into a big clusterfuck.
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May 4, 2014 11:05
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Ah, thank you for the insights on living in Portland compared to Seattle. I did wonder about how all those four way stops would hold up in rush hour traffic. I probably won't be moving anytime soon, but if I did those food carts would be a big part of my motivation. I can also report that on the drive back to Seattle there was a bizarre vehicle going about 45 mph that looked like someone had converted a UPS truck into a old-fashioned train car, complete with fake giant wheels on the side and a cow catcher up front. Slogans painted on the back of this vehicle reminded drivers that this is one nation under God, and that this should be one country with one language. Why yes, the front of the vehicle DID have "Vancouver, WA" printed in huge letters!
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May 4, 2014 15:20
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Mojo Threepwood posted:I can also report that on the drive back to Seattle there was a bizarre vehicle going about 45 mph that looked like someone had converted a UPS truck into a old-fashioned train car, complete with fake giant wheels on the side and a cow catcher up front. Slogans painted on the back of this vehicle reminded drivers that this is one nation under God, and that this should be one country with one language. Why yes, the front of the vehicle DID have "Vancouver, WA" printed in huge letters! Admittedly, having a truck mocked up as a steam locomotive is kind of neat. If only someone who wasn't a wingnut had done it first...
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May 4, 2014 17:22
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Hedera Helix posted:You could always sample food carts, which (unless it's changed dramatically since 2011) they don't have many up in Seattle. Portland actually has more average total rain days, even though it gets slightly less precipitation than Seattle. Irradiation fucked around with this message at 18:02 on May 4, 2014 |
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May 4, 2014 17:57
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The problem with driving in Portland isn't the traffic, necessarily. Not for me, anyway. I mean, yeah, stay off the freeways around rush hour if you can avoid it. It's that the city is a goddamn maze of narrow one-way streets and major arterials that still want to be Main Street, USA with parking on both sides. Hope you like blind corners and making unlighted left turns into oncoming traffic! Signs tend to be unreadable or nonexistent and all maps are from a slightly different parallel universe (not the same one, though). Don't miss your turn, or the Minotaur will get you! What lane should you be in? YOU DON'T KNOW THAT'S THE FUN. You'd better merge left, though, 'cause that's a parked car in front of you. Yes, in your lane. Not on the side. Just in the road, being a parked car.
Pope Fabulous XXIV fucked around with this message at 18:59 on May 4, 2014 |
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May 4, 2014 18:48
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Yes, but the city is better for everyone who isnt presently driving because its worse for cars. As a biker and walker, I appreciate the lower car speeds and reduced noise and danger to myself and others because of it.
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May 4, 2014 19:15
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I like the roads inside Portland more than those inside Seattle. Nice big grid with good areas for parking. Seattle can be a mess and a royal pain in the rear end to find parking in some areas. Anyone else looking forward to the Seattle Film Festival in a couple weeks? The list of movies is out here: http://www.siff.net/festival-2014 I live for the festival each year and am looking forward to this one. The midnight movies and short films are my favorites, but there's such a huge mix you are sure to find something you'll like. If you've never been to SIFF before one word of advice is to buy your tickets well in advance. Shows will sell out and tickets usually cannot be purchased at the theater. You might get lucky and wait in standby for a chance to get in, but for a popular show you won't make it. Also show up to each screening at least 30 minutes early, and maybe even more before popular shows. There will be a huge line out front, but don't worry as long as you're there 30 mins or so before you should get in. If you get there too late, there's a risk you won't make it in because they don't know how many pass holders vs. ticket buyers want to go to each show so they can be sometimes oversold.
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May 4, 2014 19:44
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Pope Fabulous XXIV posted:The problem with driving in Portland isn't the traffic, necessarily. Not for me, anyway. I mean, yeah, stay off the freeways around rush hour if you can avoid it. It's that the city is a goddamn maze of narrow one-way streets and major arterials that still want to be Main Street, USA with parking on both sides. Hope you like blind corners and making unlighted left turns into oncoming traffic! Signs tend to be unreadable or nonexistent and all maps are from a slightly different parallel universe (not the same one, though). Don't miss your turn, or the Minotaur will get you! What lane should you be in? YOU DON'T KNOW THAT'S THE FUN. You'd better merge left, though, 'cause that's a parked car in front of you. Yes, in your lane. Not on the side. Just in the road, being a parked car. Some of it is purposeful since they needed a way to basically graft both a light rail and a streetcar system on a pre-existing grid and that obviously caused some weird issues, especially downtown. Also, there has been some "experiments" with developing one-way couplets especially on East Burnside that are pretty notoriously frustrating. Also, I think a good amount of it is just Oregonian small government weirdness about not wanting to spent money on signs. It seems ridiculously but a lot of the state budget and local budgets are run on a ridiculous shoestring. (Also, it might just be to confuse and annoy Californian transplants). Anyway, the MAX system itself was almost entirely funded by the federal government because Trimet and local governments basically figured out a way to game the federal grant system. Also then there are just the bike lanes and other random improvements that add another layer on top of it. As far as getting bored in Portland, it depends on what you want out of life pretty much. I think it is a nice mix if you are looking for a rather specific type of lifestyle but if want to live in a real metropolitan area, Seattle would be a better pick that also comes with its own downsides. I think the transportation system is almost LA quality and corporate influence on life is far more striking.
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May 4, 2014 20:55
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Pathfinding in Seattle is much more difficult, but at least when youre lost you know the name of the street youre on. Portlands sign situation is comically bad.
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May 4, 2014 22:44
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FRINGE posted:Pathfinding in Seattle is much more difficult, but at least when youre lost you know the name of the street youre on. Portlands sign situation is comically bad. Its not that hard, once you remember that Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest.
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May 4, 2014 23:09
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FRINGE posted:Pathfinding in Seattle is much more difficult, but at least when youre lost you know the name of the street youre on. Portlands sign situation is comically bad. I do like that a few years ago on April Fools Day someone switched the Pike and Pine street signs through the Capitol Hill business district and nobody noticed until like 3 PM.
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May 5, 2014 00:26
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Ardennes posted:
On a semi-related note, somehow over the last decade or two Eugene has gotten downright awesome with streetsigns. First all the alleys started getting their own streetsigns. Then they started replacing the old streetsigns with newer ones with a larger, clearer font and proper capitalization. Once I noticed them, it was incredible how much more clear and easy to read at a glance they are. I'll post old versus new pics if I remember to take some when I'm out and about. CaptainSarcastic fucked around with this message at 01:09 on May 5, 2014 |
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May 5, 2014 00:28
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...Alleys can have street signs?  Does anybody here know how much it costs, usually, to add street signs to intersections? I know there are a lot in Portland where only one corner has them, and they're partially obscured by trees or other signs, and/or it's almost impossible to find them in the dark unless you already know where they are. It can't be that expensive to add more, can it?
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May 5, 2014 00:43
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Ardennes posted:Also, I think a good amount of it is just Oregonian small government weirdness about not wanting to spent money on signs. It seems ridiculously but a lot of the state budget and local budgets are run on a ridiculous shoestring. (Also, it might just be to confuse and annoy Californian transplants). Anyway, the MAX system itself was almost entirely funded by the federal government because Trimet and local governments basically figured out a way to game the federal grant system. Also then there are just the bike lanes and other random improvements that add another layer on top of it. My understanding was that MAX construction basically got funded with the federal dollars that would have gone to freeway construction. It's kind of cool driving on the I-5/405/84 interchanges and seeing the little dead-ends where they planned to link up with a new freeway. There's a part of me that thinks it would be hilarious to set up a little folding chair on one of those and just hang out there for a couple of hours, but there's probably some law that makes it a misdemeanor or some bullshit like that.
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May 5, 2014 00:47
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Farmer Crack-rear end posted:My understanding was that MAX construction basically got funded with the federal dollars that would have gone to freeway construction. It might have been just the initial segment of the blue and the rest was put together with smart grant writing. I have heard that before as well, but I wonder if it was just meant that money that was eventually going to spent on the freeway system just happened to be put into starting the MAX through a different mechanism. Even so, the Portland metro area and Oregon actually put very little money in building it out. It isn't a bad thing though, why shouldn't the federal government built out infrastructure if it fits their rules? I am really glad the Hood Freeway was never built, just think it they had literally bulldozed through the residential neighborhoods of the SE for it and I don't know if it would have really made much of a different as far as traffic since the really bottlenecks are around downtown and the I-5.
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May 5, 2014 01:07
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Ardennes posted:I am really glad the Hood Freeway was never built, just think it they had literally bulldozed through the residential neighborhoods of the SE for it and I don't know if it would have really made much of a different as far as traffic since the really bottlenecks are around downtown and the I-5. They did demolish much of the south side of Powell east of 52nd avenue in preparation, though.
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May 5, 2014 01:09
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As we hoped, Sawant scares CEOs into submission. Murray got $15 from business by doing the following tactic: "I've got a reasonable plan to phase-in the new minimum wage and get you a few concessions. But you need to agree now because time is running out and people are getting impatient, and I have absolutely no idea what Sawant is capable of. She's a bit of a loose cannon and is already mobilizing support to bypass us entirely with a ballot initiative." For better or worse it worked and business have theoretically agreed to $15.
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May 5, 2014 01:32
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Those concessions are pretty lovely though. I hope this movement is strong enough to reject the compromise and go for the ballot initiative. And now Tacoma is getting in on the act!
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May 5, 2014 02:12
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Freakazoid_ posted:Those concessions are pretty lovely though. I hope this movement is strong enough to reject the compromise and go for the ballot initiative. They are pretty lovely, but they are so much better than they could be. I was expecting "total compensation" to be a permanent thing. Don't get me wrong, doing it right now with just a three-year phase-in for small businesses would be better, but you're never going to get that passed on a ballot initiative now.
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May 5, 2014 02:16
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The ballot fight would have been extremely difficult and might have failed. These are awful concessions but considering the relative weakness of labor this is a tremendous victory from any angle, and it would not have happened if it had just been friendly, progressive Ed Murray negotiating with the businesses without the alternative of a scary socialist talking about nationalizing Boeing waiting in the wings. Her election is already paying off. Three thousand miles away, De Blasio is allegedly trying to get a similar wage increase passed after seeing the success in Seattle.
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May 5, 2014 02:20
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OwlBot 2000 posted:As we hoped, Sawant scares CEOs into submission. Murray got $15 from business by doing the following tactic: "I've got a reasonable plan to phase-in the new minimum wage and get you a few concessions. But you need to agree now because time is running out and people are getting impatient, and I have absolutely no idea what Sawant is capable of. She's a bit of a loose cannon and is already mobilizing support to bypass us entirely with a ballot initiative." For better or worse it worked and business have theoretically agreed to $15. Just to add to this and plug these awesome organizations, 15 Now is trying to start up pushes for a higher minimum wage everywhere they can, not just in Seattle. If you're interested in starting a local 15 Now branch or joining one in your area, check them out. Or, if you're in Seattle, the petition drive to get the stronger $15/hour without all the lovely loopholes and phase-in is starting in a few weeks. They could use all the help they can get. Also, if you don't have time to spare, even small donations help because they don't have a ton of resources. If you're interested in getting more people like Sawant elected to push these kind of progressive issues, try Socialist Alternative. Full disclosure, I joined them a few years back. They're a solid group doing good stuff. Ideally, the 15/hour minimum wage is just a starting point for a larger social and economic justice movement that starts advancing other progressive goals. How far it gets and how successful it is depends completely on the support they can get and the amount of people they can mobilize.
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May 5, 2014 03:11
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Thanatosian posted:They are pretty lovely, but they are so much better than they could be. I was expecting "total compensation" to be a permanent thing. Did you ever post on the Penny Arcade forums as "thanatos"? Uranium Phoenix posted:Just to add to this and plug these awesome organizations, 15 Now is trying to start up pushes for a higher minimum wage everywhere they can, not just in Seattle. If you're interested in starting a local 15 Now branch or joining one in your area, check them out. Or, if you're in Seattle, the petition drive to get the stronger $15/hour without all the lovely loopholes and phase-in is starting in a few weeks. They could use all the help they can get. Also, if you don't have time to spare, even small donations help because they don't have a ton of resources. Are you SEA or PDX SA?
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May 5, 2014 04:11
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Are there any good papers on raising the minimum wage in large cities? Trying to explain to people the correlation between wage stagnation and productivity increases along with cost of living increases and other factors doesn't seem like enough to convince people. I don't understand how working class people actively hate other working class people -- who are often lower socioeconomically -- for winning minor wage increases. edit: english im gay fucked around with this message at 04:20 on May 5, 2014 |
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May 5, 2014 04:12
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Freakazoid_ posted:Those concessions are pretty lovely though. I hope this movement is strong enough to reject the compromise and go for the ballot initiative.
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May 5, 2014 04:23
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SyHopeful posted:Are you SEA or PDX SA? I'm in SA's Whatcom County branch, where we're trying to get our own 15 Now started, as well as working on other issues.
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May 5, 2014 04:29
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800peepee51doodoo posted:As a transplant from southern Cali, I have to laugh every time I hear someone bitch about Portland traffic. Freeway traffic is sorta bad for about 1-2 hours every morning and evening but otherwise its fine. Stay off the freeways or ride a bike and its fine. My biggest problem driving in Portland is that none of these nice guy assholes could figure out how to work a 4 way stop if you put a gun to their head. Its comically rage inducing watching everybody waving at each other for like 8 minutes until someone works up the courage to just loving go. Yeah the four ways are sometimes pretty bad. I'm also baffled by how many people I've heard about getting into accidents because they get t-boned thinking a flashing yellow for a left means they just get to go whenever and not watch for oncoming traffic. Turtle Blogger posted:Yes, but the city is better for everyone who isnt presently driving because its worse for cars. As a biker and walker, I appreciate the lower car speeds and reduced noise and danger to myself and others because of it. This is pretty much how I feel on it too. The kinds of 'improvements' people who drive a lot tend to put out there would be an immense detriment to the people who actually live/work on those roads. Some of the newer mixed-purpose road infrastructure is great. I love the bioswales going in. They look lovely, are good for storm water management, and are constructed in such a way as to be traffic calming too!
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May 5, 2014 04:42
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Uranium Phoenix posted:I'm in SA's Whatcom County branch, where we're trying to get our own 15 Now started, as well as working on other issues. Good luck on motivating a city that's one half college aged skibums and one half non-union rig pigs, you'd need it.
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May 5, 2014 04:43
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Gerund posted:Good luck on motivating a city that's one half college aged skibums and one half non-union rig pigs, you'd need it. Yuuup.
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May 5, 2014 04:45
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What are SA's monthly dues? I'm on their mailing/calling lists now, anyway. If anyone's a member of the Portland chapter (which exists?) then I may just see you around.
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May 5, 2014 04:47
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Pope Fabulous XXIV posted:What are SA's monthly dues? I'm on their mailing/calling lists now, anyway. If anyone's a member of the Portland chapter (which exists?) then I may just see you around. Whatever you can afford.
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May 5, 2014 04:52
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im gay posted:... I don't understand how working class people actively hate other working class people -- who are often lower socioeconomically -- for winning minor wage increases. Probably Last-Place Aversion bias. Issues like pride and relative social-standing get wrapped up in wage differentials and so the wage increase presents existential threat and presents as a net negative. I haven't had a good opportunity to test this but I suspect pitches to such opponents would go down easier if the concept were linked to increased mobility and economic health. Twist around their own right wing notions and give them something comforting to replace what's comforting them already.
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May 5, 2014 04:59
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Hooters Etailer posted:Some of the newer mixed-purpose road infrastructure is great. I love the bioswales going in. They look lovely, are good for storm water management, and are constructed in such a way as to be traffic calming too! Trash tends to collect in them, though, since they're lower than the sidewalk level...
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May 5, 2014 05:12
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If that actually gets any traction I worry for my boss's health.
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May 5, 2014 05:25
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Accretionist posted:Probably Last-Place Aversion bias. Ive explained this so many times the last couple years that I keep this on hand: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/occupy-wall-street-psychology/ Its probably tied with explaining how marginal tax rates work for things I have repeated the most times.
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May 5, 2014 05:48
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Portland is nice to visit and all, but seriously, you guys voted down fluoridated drinking water. It's one thing for folks to freak out about GMOs or even vaccines (neither WA or OR are great on those counts) but fluoridated drinking water? That's really loving nuts to be against.
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May 5, 2014 06:05
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Solkanar512 posted:Portland is nice to visit and all, but seriously, you guys voted down fluoridated drinking water. It's one thing for folks to freak out about GMOs or even vaccines (neither WA or OR are great on those counts) but fluoridated drinking water? That's really loving nuts to be against. Do you drink pure grain vodka or rainwater?
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May 5, 2014 06:14
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Pope Fabulous XXIV posted:What are SA's monthly dues? I'm on their mailing/calling lists now, anyway. If anyone's a member of the Portland chapter (which exists?) then I may just see you around. I am just as soon as I set up my dues.
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May 5, 2014 06:14
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