About Bauhaus

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  Huge apartment rent increase - is this legal?

  0 0 There really isn't any recourse in my opinion other than moving because the legal pathway is very pricey. Seattle landlords really, really take advantage of some of the weakest rental laws in the country (and oddly enough, Seattle has one of the highest renter percentages in the US - you'd think they'd storm City Hall). Seattle landlords would charge you for the air you breathe if they could get away with it. It was the first place I saw where a parking space was an additional charge and where just applying for an apartment costs $50-$100. It was the first place where I saw renters being charged for water and sewage...and pet rent. People who never thought they'd consider a roommate are changing their minds, and people under 30 are moving back in with their parents unless they have a great paycheck. You can blame - in part - the skyrocketing rent on diminishing vacancy rates brought on by the housing bubble. The housing crisis has taken millions of people who would have been homeowners - who were paying $2000 and up on a mortgage payment - and put them in the rental market competing with you. It will reverse somewhat when real estate starts to recover, but it's going to take a while before sellers realize that people don't want and can't afford to spend $400,000 to half-a-million dollars on some cracker box in West Seattle without "creative" financing - which mercifully has come to an end. Sorry I can't sound more optimistic, Kibbies, but in this case, I'm afraid that unless you want to spend beaucoup d'argent on a lawyer and court fees, you'll have to exercise your free market options and just say, "Fuck you, I'm out." Good luck finding a new place. Or with whatever you decide to do. Bauhaus answered in Renting about 11 hours ago Answer, comment & read 6 more answers »

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  Anyone else watch Less Than Kind?

  0 0 The first season was on CityTV before moving to HBO Canada for Seasons Two and Three. The great song that opens the show is One Great City! by The Weakerthans. The first season was available on CityTV's website, but has been removed. Probably would have been an international copyright issue watching it in the States from a Canadian TV website though. There usually is. I was fortunate enough to reside in Vancouver when it premiered. Still, ask a friend who is a computer nerd about where one might be able to watch all three seasons (wink,wink). I've checked out Indigo's website (the former Chapters in Canada) and a DVD is as of yet unavailable. Maury Chaykin's character, Sam Blecher, the father, was in hospital for much of Season Two (and in fact, Mr. Chaykin was pretty ill in real time). He passed away in 2010 before Season Three. There was a big gap in time between taping the end of Season Two and the start of Season Three. I assume it was because writers didn't know how to proceed with a series when its star had died. I'm very fond of this show, too. You have good taste, Griffin. Bauhaus answered in Television about 19 hours ago Answer, comment & read 2 more answers »

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  places to stay in Seaside & Canon Beach?

  1 0 About 13 years ago, I booked a weekend at the Hallmark Resort Inn in Cannon Beach. I booked, I believe, in March for a weekend in mid-to-late July. They demanded a deposit (which was exorbitant) and when my friend and I arrived, we weren't even given a room in the compound, not only was it not an ocean view room, but it across the street, behind a restaurant in a two-story building in the middle of a parking lot. Might as well have been in Phoenix or Dallas. I don't know why I didn't raise holy hell with them. Probably tired from the trip. Raising hell wouldn't have accomplished anything with these folks anyway. The place, they said, was booked solid. Cannon Beach was recommended by an acquaintance as a nice beach weekend getaway. When we got there and walked around, we saw smaller places that had vacancies that would have been maybe a lot more enjoyable. There was nothing to do at night, and we spent most of the weekend in our room watching HBO and Comedy Central. Anyway, Hallmark was a complete rip-off and Cannon Beach was a huge bore - a bunch of family-oriented, tight-assed Oregonians as far as I could tell. As I understand it, a lot of Cannon Beach is booked as much as a year in advance. It was an expensive lesson. I understand there's more happening in Seaside. We didn't check it out. We just wanted to go home (Seattle). Oh...and the restaurant. Seafood was OK. We arrived and had a couple of rounds of margaritas before mid-afternoon lunch. We got yelled at when we tried to order a third. Waitress gave us the Riot Act about how we have to order food if we want any more liquor. Many will disagree...but I would have just as soon stayed at home. Hope your trip is better. Bauhaus answered in Regional Trips about 20 hours ago Answer, comment & read 5 more answers »

• Comment on Bauhaus's answer…

  2 0 Moving in with his ex-wife sounds like a time bomb, but you know what? You get a get-out-of-jail-free card. Sounds like your brother is in a downward spiral and it is hard as hell to stop the spinning when you are down and out. Like the song says, no one wants to know you. I wish him the best. I wish you the best. Is there anything anyone in your family can do that'll give his some direction? Bauhaus commented 9 days ago

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  My unemployed brother wants to move in with me. Can I, in good conscience, tell him no, and if so, how do I go about doing it?

  1 0 I'm in a similar situation. I erred on the side of taking my relative in because I could not stand the idea of her on the streets. But make sure you say, for instance, that this is ONLY for three months (or whatever you can handle). Say that you function better living alone and can't handle roommates long term. There is a real possibility that once in, he won't kick into gear, look for work, etc. if he gets too comfortable. If he doesn't leave, there's really nothing you can do that isn't a huge hassle and your living space will become a war zone. You'll have to split on him...and what a drag, right? These are hard times. Harder than I've ever seen in my long lifetime. Family is family unless they prove otherwise. Help him out like a good brother but let him know a time limit will be enforced. Good luck and peace. Bauhaus answered in Other Family & Kids 12 days ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

• Comment on asteria's answer…

  0 0 Wonderful response, Asteria. Thanks so much. I think ADHD is a strong possibility. She's had trouble since late high school with completing tasks, etc., but in those days is was attributed to being stupid and/or lazy. Bauhaus commented 27 days ago

• Comment on Kip Waddle's answer…

  0 0 Also, to be real, the economy is horrible at best for most everybody. Know how many people want to hire someone over 60? Not very many. It's an extra struggle finding work when you are over 50. But, you are right, you don't give up trying, right? Bauhaus commented about 1 month ago

• Comment on Kip Waddle's answer…

  0 0 Thanks for the time and advice, Kip. I'm going to find it very difficult though turning my back on flesh-and-blood as she hits bottom. I'm thinking that I'll let a third-party help her see the light. Maybe it'll take. Maybe it won't. But if it doesn't, I'm out of it and can walk away. Bauhaus commented about 1 month ago

• Comment on RacerX's answer…

  2 0 Thank you for the input, Racer. I'm not sure I could convene enough people for a classic intervention. She (and I) have move around a lot over the years. She isn't an actor. She works through Central Casting as an extra (for $50/8hr.) but not very regularly. I agree with you that I can't turn my back on her and let her hit the skids, but I am going to seek counseling on how to ease myself out of this toxic situation. Again, many thanks! Bauhaus commented about 1 month ago

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  How to think about a world where Rick Santorum does so well in Iowa?

  6 2 89% white statewide (99% white in the caucuses), high school diploma or some college, petrified with fear that this country is moving away from a white, Euro-centric piece of Wonder bread to a multicultural, global, tolerant tapestry of many colors. They see their little Disneyland slipping away and they blame African-Americans and Hispanics and Asians and gay people because they are easy targets. Those groups no longer chose to assimilate and become slaves to White, Christian America's definition of moral and right and it's scaring the shit out of people who've never really seen the world. Their concern about the economy and immigration and big government is thinly-veiled racism. These people would vote for Hitler if he promised them a return to the 1950s. Let it slide and don't worry about it. There are many others in Iowa who are hip, etc. We don't hear about them. We only hear from Dumbfuckistan and the national media likes it that way. Bauhaus answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 month ago Answer, comment & read 7 more answers »

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