August 2025

Citation

Workers Installing Soft Water at Campus Power Plant 1963 UA024_PB01_0727N

Black and white photograph. A man in a welder's mask is holding up a welding wand, working on pipes in a furnace room. He is wearing a collared shirt and slacks. His glove has a single star on it. He is surrounded by pipes and valves. Behind him are two other men, both looking up at a bottle that one of them is holding up. A cart with tools sits to the left, along with a white storage locker with the door open, it has a couple of bottles in it.
Winning Entry!

Think it’s too dark in here for a selfie? - Sharon Mermelstein

Captions

While welding a new fitting, Ralph couldn't help but overhear Fred training the new guy:

"Well, that there is called a pipe..."

Submitted by keearle on Fri, 08/01/2025 - 08:00

INCIDENT REPORT #202508

[TRANSCRIPT]

 (Fred to Newman:) Most all pipes in this area contain highly flammable gases and liquids. It is of utmost importance that you do not smoke, strike a match, or do any metal work that might cause a spark while in..... EXPLOSION 

[END TRANSCRIPT]

Submitted by andjsmit on Fri, 08/01/2025 - 09:48

"... do you smell gas"

Submitted by mameen on Fri, 08/01/2025 - 10:22

Herb liked welding duty as he could pretend he was "The Rocketeer."

Submitted by setowne on Fri, 08/01/2025 - 14:17

"Yeah, I've always wondered where that pipe goes as well."

Submitted by cetomber on Sat, 08/02/2025 - 17:22

The smart restrooms are up there, but the “analogs” still get managed down here.

Submitted by mjhinsma on Mon, 08/04/2025 - 14:32

Who needs safety equipment when you have perservance?

Submitted by kamcmurr on Mon, 08/04/2025 - 14:40

"Been welding this thing for an hour—still feels pretty hard, boss."

Submitted by tdkleyn on Thu, 08/07/2025 - 15:20

But boss, isn't the leak over here?

Submitted by jeiszner on Fri, 08/08/2025 - 14:35

Think it's too dark in here for a selfie?

Submitted by spmermel on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 11:24

"See here Johnny, this is the spot that needs welded", "But Bob, why is Earl over there welding?", "Well Johnny, notice that the welder doesn't have it connected nor is there any spark coming out? We do that to make Earl feel important!"

Submitted by watsjenn on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 11:25

The secret to winning 24 Big Ten titles in men's swimming and diving — including every championship from 1961 to 1985 — is simple: perfectly heated pool water.

Submitted by saestewa on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 11:35

Welder by day, phantom (of the opera) by night!

Submitted by greinerb on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 11:37

"When your job is 10% fixing things and 90% pretending to know what all the valves do."

Submitted by kathlund on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 11:54

"You've got to tell the secretary the pipes down here can't handle just anything down them. I've had it up to here, Jerry, I'll tell her myself!"
"Why should we? Ralph's happy as a clam every time he cuts this thing open and gets his new free golf balls out."

Submitted by enejako on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 12:13

Campus Power Plant: where hydration meets higher education.

Submitted by shjaish on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 13:08

Check out our latest bottle of what we call 'MetroShine'. (In hushed tones...) Welding covers up the smell of the still.

Submitted by pasparks on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 15:50

See this leak here? The water from this leak produces the best homemade lemonade you’ll find on campus!

Submitted by kechammo on Sun, 08/17/2025 - 13:06

And here you can observe a welder in his natural habitat. We make sure to provide him plenty of enrichment activities in the form of these pipe fittings: they are specially engineered to spring leaks at a highly accelerated rate.

Submitted by gecolvar on Mon, 08/18/2025 - 12:01

"I gotta tell you Mort, that asbestos is the best insulation I've ever seen. It's just great and I don't se a down side.

Submitted by dlhallad on Tue, 08/19/2025 - 15:44

Student Jason Voorhees tackles a project for his welding class. After class, Jason will attend practice for the campus hockey club.

Submitted by kpetsche on Wed, 08/20/2025 - 08:44

"The Super Mario Brothers made this plumbing stuff look a lot easier, boss"

Submitted by abcarret on Wed, 08/27/2025 - 22:40