Toadfish Monastery

Quote from: BobAt least, that's the rule here in the USA...

It's the rule here, too, but enforcing it is another matter!  All kinds of people and agencies have tried with no result.  It's not uncommon; I knew of a far worse case here in the village which dragged on until the tenants finally moved out.
Not all landlords will even take on DSS tenants (those whose rent is paid direct by the government) and those who do can afford to be pretty awkward.

That's too bad, David.

Here in Oklahoma?  In an odd turn-on-the-head against the landlord, if it's a private residency?  The tenant has the right to effect repairs, and automatically deduct that from the rent.

The only real rule, here, is that the landlord has the right to first try (to fix).  But in the case of heat?  24 hours is all he gets, then the renter can hire his own repairs, at whatever cost they may be--and deduct said repairs from the rent. All he needs is proper receipts.

Even if the landlord >is< claiming to be repairing things?  If they are not timely, the renter can purchase supplementary heating devices (so long as they are properly rated for indoors) and still take these off the rent-- it behooves a savvy landlord to maintain temporary heaters, lest the renter purchase deluxe models on his dime.   And the renter gets to keep them, for afters.

You could check into this-- if your freezing friend can happen into a propane, indoor-rated heater?  Propane is much cheaper than electricity, if you buy it in bulk...  but she'd likely need help investing in the heating system.  Just make certain it's properly indoor-rated, carbon monoxide is serious, even if her creaky house >>does<< leak like  sieve.

A call to the local renters association might give you info-- or barring that, the local Better Business Bureau often has the local renter's rights (codes) on hand.  

Sometimes people are simply afraid of being evicted, and refuse to stand on their rights-- even if those rights exist. 

In Oklahoma, it's difficult, but not impossible, to evict a  non-paying renter-- but it has to go past 90 days >>after<< being warned...

... as I said?  In this most red of the reddest states?  Our rent laws are oddly protective of the renters-- unless you're commercial. Then it's all bets are off....

Thanks for the ideas - we'll keep trying.

Cycled 80+ km.  Commando. 

No wonder you're having trouble sitting at your computer! 

Went to the (un)employment agency to get an update on foreign work opportunities

So, when you comin' over to the States? 

Not before sanity becomes an acceptable state of mind (at least in Congress and WH).
Since it will take a major catastrophe, this is unlikely to happen.
I might make an exception if the fraction of Congress bought and owned sinks below 1/3 in both houses.
OK, that is even more unlikely than the first condition absent a revolution.

Job opportunities for my profession in Canada seems to be almost exclusively connected to Tar Sands (i.e. the dirtiest natural oil known to man). Also the madness from South of the 49th parallel is too close for comfort (and iirc has partially infected the government too).

I'll stay in Europe. Maybe one day Scandinavia has use for my modest (professional) (cap)abilities.

You are good at languages which should help............

Started writing my essay. Not much of a start, but a start nonetheless. Whether I continue remains to be seen.

Quote from: Griffin NoName on July 06, 2011, 04:37:18 PM
You are good at languages which should help............

No, I am not. English is the only foreign language I am able to communicate in. And even that took many a year.
My tentative attempts at Norwegian and Icelandic are not overly promising. If my experience with English is repeated, ask me when I am 50 about my progress there.

Nobody sane ever migrates to the United States, darn it. C'mon, we the nearly-sane need you guys here to help balance out FOX News!

I think we already reached the point where nothing can balance the guys behind the faux cartel. Wealth has been transferred so successfully to the rich and corporations that everybody else would have to agree on a counterweight and loose everything in the process.
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But this is the significant things thread! Griff, you can continue, have some positive thinking (ie: don't be like me... )

Quote from: Swatopluk on July 06, 2011, 08:59:06 AMJob opportunities for my profession in Canada seems to be almost exclusively connected to Tar Sands (i.e. the dirtiest natural oil known to man). Also the madness from South of the 49th parallel is too close for comfort (and iirc has partially infected the government too).

Politically, Alberta is the closest in spirit to the US, but with 0.01% of the rabidity. I'm actually now longing for the good ol' incompetent, incorrigible, right-wing, blatantly-in-the-pocket-of-Big-Oil government of Alberta; at least they were relatively honest about how business was being conducted*.

I am not surprised that most of the available work is related to bitumen extraction / upgrading.  With natural gas prices low and oil prices high, that will be a major resource play in Alberta for a while. IMHO, the modern subsurface methods of production are much less destructive in terms of releasing contaminants to the environment (i.e. land, surface water and - if properly monitored - groundwater), although terrible in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and nonsensical if you consider how many units of energy are used to net a single barrel-equivalent of heavy oil. 

OTOH, working conditions for professionals are quite good, and Calgary in particular is a nice, clean little city by Canadian standards if you manage to live and work downtown. 

_{*BC politics is disgustingly corrupt, dishonest and the politicians here (municipal through provincial) have zero respect for the will of the people.  When the people oppose what the government wants, the government just finds another way to push it through and lies to our faces about it, tries to buy us off with hush money and/or throws millions into propaganda campaigns to confuse the issue.  All of BC's elected Premiers since 1986 have resigned under dishonourable conditions. DO NOT let me get going about the HST saga here...  I need to completely ignore the political situation lest I find myself running as an independent in the next provincial election.}



The most significant thing I did today was take a nap.  I never find time for those things.

Energy utilities are putting prices up by as much as 19% here - ouch! Choice between food and heat for many people.

Did another couple of sentences of my essay. At this rate it will take a year to write............... and miss the dealine in a few weeks time........ still, even one sentence is better than none I suppose.