A few days ago we walked by a condo in Oakland for sale (3904 Ruby Street, Oakland, California) that seemed very nice, but started asking around to people in the neighborhood and we found out all sorts of savory information! Turns out they ran out of money halfway through the building and let the scaffolding sit up over an entire rainy season so that all of the internal beams and boards got wet, and they weren’t even covered or protected from the elements! They also contracted the lowest paid construction workers, so there are a so many problems with the unit. Like, the water heater in the basement doesn’t work properly and you have to run the water for about 7 minutes before you can get hot water in the shower, washer or dish washer. They man said that the poor tenants can’t even do their dinner dishes without turning on the water ahead of time and letting it run forever! What a waste of water! It makes me sad.

I guess the heater was installed wrong too, and that they didn’t have heat for two months last winter. They didnt install it correctly, and couldn’t repair it right either because the pipes were the wrong kind? Then some of the windows don’t open or close, and if you look closely, the front door is falling off (the guy said the people who live there had to file the door jam down so that it would close but it doesn’t seal so it’s always cold around the door)!

Half of the power outlets don’t work in half of the house, and they don’t know why, and the phone lines don’t work either so they can’t have a phone except for cell phones. And there are silverfish infesting the upstairs! Ewwww! Gross!

I did some research and I guess it was built by the Ruby Street Development and they are trying to sell the condos so that they will get their money back. The building looks good on the outside but it sounds like it would be a money pit. Did  you ever see that movie the Money Pit from the 80s? Ha ha!

Let this be a warning to anyone else who considers buying it! Make sure you do your homework! Especially at 3904 Ruby Street in oakland!

http://www.formspring.me/notblueatall

We got our little puglet this weekend! What a joy! And what a lifestyle change! Whew! Puppies are so much work (and so little sleep)! Anyway, I wanted to share a short clip of him playing so you, too can be killed by his cuteness!

In Memoriam: Daddy the Pit Bull

Daddy, Cesar’s longtime friend and partner in canine rehabilitation, died peacefully surrounded by family on Friday the 19th of February. He was sixteen years old.

One of my regular customers often brings in old cookbooks and historical books and such and today he brought in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (which was signed by many nations, right here in S.F. on December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted. Which includes marriage as a human right (pay attention to the wording):
Article 16.

* (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
* (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
* (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State

If you notice, it does not stipulate marriage between a man and a woman, but that men and women of full age without limitation have the right to marry! This is fab! Full doc here: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
Please share!!!