Less is A Lot More Money - San Francisco Housing

source: youtube
San Francisco SOMA studio loft apartment

Apartments like the one pictured above can usually be found in big cities where space is a premium such as Tokyo, New York, Paris, Moscow, London, Hong Kong, and where I live, San Francisco.

The unnamed apartment complex is located in the SOMA (South of Market) neighborhood. Rents begin at $1500 with 441 square feet of living space. In another pricey city like New York, that'd be considered a bargain.

Currently, the median rent for a studio in San Francisco is about $2700 (source: RentJungle). One-bedrooms, $3096. The first studio apartment (1983) I rented in the Outer Sunset was $350.

Fortunately, the rent for the 1300 square foot, 2-bedroom, 2-bath house I currently share with 1 other person in San Francisco's Lakeside neighborhood is about equal to the median rent for a 1-bedroom. As it is not eligible for rent control, how long it stays reasonable is another story.

In case you're wondering: no, I won't move out of San Francisco.

Rickie Lee Jones - It Must Be Love

source: allmusic.com
Rickie Lee Jones

A few days ago, a former high school classmate posted a picture on his Facebook page posing with singer Rickie Lee Jones. Immediately, I thought of her song, "It Must Be Love" from her 1984 album, "The Magazine" (track #4). Since seeing Chuck's picture, I haven't been able to stop playing the song on YouTube.

The song was featured in the movie "Frankie and Johnny" starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer, and in the ABC TV series, "Thirtysomething". If you were one of those who read lyrics and album credits off the record jacket, you'll notice the musicians who played for Ms. Jones are/were some of the best in the business.

Without further ado, here's the YouTube video (really, it's the audio) of my weekend's earworm:

ESPN 30 for 30 - Fantastic Lies - Duke Lacrosse Team Scandal

source: Variety.com

Tonight I watched ESPN's latest 30 For 30 segment, "Fantastic Lies", directed by Marlena Zenovich. Like so many other sports documentaries in the series, it's an excellent, compelling piece on 3 lacrosse players: Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann and David Evans being accused of rape and assault by Crystal Mangum in March 2006.

Even if you aren't a big sports fan but enjoy well-told documentaries, I recommend you watch. And if you'd like to catch up on previous stories (all very well done) for a small fee, go to ESPN's 30 For 30 You Tube page. 

Congratulations Madison Stiffler, Whitehall Rams - Ohio High School Girls Bowling Champion

source: Whitehall Yearling Rams Athletics Facebook Page
2016 Whitehall Rams Varsity Girls Bowling Team

I am elated to hear my alma mater, Whitehall Yearling High School, now have boys and girls bowling teams. Had there been bowling as a team sport when I attended, I definitely would have tried out. Though the scores I'm seeing from the teams, I'm not sure I would have made varsity.

Thanks to updates from former neighbor and assistant volleyball coach Teresa Flesch-Netotian, I learned the girls bowling team made it to the state tournament this weekend. They bowled well, but missed the championship round by 9 pins.

Best of all, sophomore standout Madison Stiffler (pictured 3rd from right) finished as Individual Girls State Champion with an eye-popping 719 series. Congratulations Madison!