#PacificPower's grid is broken in NE PDX, something in a substation broke. It was something big, since 15,000 people don't have service, probably one of those bus-sized transformers.

Incidentally, most of the substations on the west coast are really old, like 50 years or more. They last a long time, but they don't get replaced if they aren't broken.

Unfortunately all of the electricity price increases lately have gone into wildfire insurance, not grid maintenance, so expect more outages.

My in-laws retired to rural Kansas. They exclusively drink bottled water, but say there’s nothing wrong with the tap water.

Our hotel gives us a pack of complimentary bottled water every couple days, but says there’s nothing wrong with the tap water.

Pay fill stations for water jugs, just like… along the sidewalk on the main drag. They’re busy all day.

I read the city’s water report, there’s nothing wrong with the water.

Everyone is fracking; no one trusts anyone to be doing it right?

Achievement unlocked!

Ever since I moved to #pdx a year ago, one of my "Portland goals" has been to go across the Tilikum Crossing bridge on foot -- or by bike. Today it happened.

This lovely cable-stayed bridge spans the Willamette River, leading to the downtown south waterfront area. It's closed to vehicular traffic!! Only train, bus, bike, and pedestrian are allowed.

Wow, crazy how small our baby groots were last year at this time. They've quickly gone from two-foot-tall sprouts (growing from the roots of our fallen Honey Locust tree) to over 12 feet now. It might not be that many years that we have to live without shade in the backyard after all.

#Portland #HoneyLocust

Sorry but the #Robotaxi safety drivers are in the passenger seat with no controls other than a button to stop the car?!

https://www.jalopnik.com/1949941/tesla-austin-robotaxi-rollout/

Once again #Tesla is putting people's lives in danger just so they can look marginally better.

This week I switched my primary mode of transit from car to bike, and it's been eye opening.

Yesterday it was somebody coming to a stop at a stop sign, but then just plowing ahead as I was approaching the intersection with right of way.

Today it was somebody doing a right turn on red right in front of me, cutting me off.

This has been my first experience with urban bicycling, and although #pdx seems to be a great cycling town ... oy vey with the dumshit drivers.

#BikeTooter