You probably don't understand this but every moving violation ticket ever issued to you remains a part of your permanent life record, transcending death. Imagine you are at the fabled Pearly Gates awaiting entry and that long forgotten speeding 35 MPH in a 30 MPH Zone is brought up. It is that bad, perhaps denying you eternal rest and the soothing songs of celestial beings caressing your once burning ears.
Dismissals, usually your only option other than paying the ticket, mean nothing because in any future case you can guarantee they will be held against you and used as further evidence concerning current guilt. Read, and listen closely when someone in the news is reported as having done this and that, and quite often you will be told, other than a few tickets, that the individual up to this juncture has never committed a serious crime. But for some odd reason, at least odd to me, the person's list of issued tickets are somehow now pertinent to his/her current status, coloring him/her a particular shade.
Just why, I ask, is an alleged traffic violation given such overwhelming value, a value that never, ever receives exoneration? You can be charged with murder and found not guilty. You can takeover a Federal Wildlife Refuge, armed with the most deadly weapons available, all the while threatening Federal employees and destroying public property and still be declared innocent. Yes, steal millions from clients, commit numerous war crimes, even sexually assault someone but you, innocent until proven otherwise, can walk free and clear when utilizing the best lawyers to defend you.
But attempting to get a verdict of innocence in traffic court is nearly impossible, a dismissal of charges usually your only chance at the slightest vindication. Just remember, that doesn't make you innocent of that alleged U-turn or speeding violation. Instead, it means, that by some technical point, attorney gymnastics or officer error you have been allowed to avoid the consequences of your terrible misdeed. But as I repeat, that doesn't mean that it will ever be forgotten or forgiven. That is not how it works.
And all this is true because those avenging angels called police officers have decided you are worthy of society's wrath despite reams of both recent and past evidence that police bias and misconduct has led to nearly countless questionable and illegal tickets and arrests, both here in Seattle and across the country. As the late Yellow Cab driver superintendent, and retired Seattle Police officer Barry used to tell us, when he was a cop, beating up suspects was a matter of course. What could they do about it was the general response. If they questioned why, the blanket excuse of resisting arrest worked every time to justify breaking an errant nose.
Transferring this to moving violations, of course this means that the officer's word is ironclad and irrefutable. How can you question the sainted? It isn't possible. Even if they lie in their report, saying you confessed on the spot, no matter how unlikely that is, it remains their word against yours. So how can you win? The truth is you never win, that ticket now part of your flesh and blood. Fun, huh?
As I implied in my heading, even those divine persecutors of all things evil, the nearly two millennium old Roman Catholic Church, offers more exoneration and relief than your average American court. What an improvement it would be if, instead of standing before a judge, you were allowed the benefit of the old-fashioned confessional, it working something like this:
"Yes, my son, you have some traffic sins troubling your automotive soul?
"Yes, father, I must confess I do."
"Then, go ahead, tell me all about them, remembering God is all forgiving, his son having died so you don't have to."
"Thank you father for your consoling words. I do feel reassured, and trust I will be forgiven. I must say it has been a rough week. Monday I did ten U-turns but always making sure there was no oncoming traffic. Tuesday I went ten over the speed limit on Aurora Avenue North at North 45th though any fool knows 40 MPH is not a just limit. Wednesday I blocked the south-bound lane of Broadway East & East Republican due to someone flagging me at the north end of the block. Thursday a passenger living near Northgate, at about NE 92nd and 1st NE, decided that leaving one solitary hour before his flight was somehow reasonable, meaning at times I exceeded 80 MPH more than once just to get the fool on time to Sea-Tac. Friday I screamed some profanity at some idiot who cut me off, making me slam my brakes, tossing all my stuff onto the floorboard. And finally, Saturday night, after repeatedly warning the drunk that he had to stop telling me how to drive, told the guy he just had to leave. And so he did, but not before telling me to go to hell!"
"There, there, my son, I can assure you will not be going to hell, not at least for the sins you have recounted. While yes, you have sinned, at the same time you were just operating normally in what we all know is an insane workplace. So, given the circumstances, all your sins are forgiven. Your penance today is to read Robert Frost's poem "The Code" and Gerald Manley Hopkins' "The Windhover." In addition, please read William Watson's "World Strangeness" at least 3 times. God knows he would have made a much better Poet Laureate than Alfred Austin. May you find peace and solace, my son. May God stay with you. You are forgiven and are free to go. And watch out for all those crazy drivers!"
"Thank you, thank you so very much father! I feel so much better!" Thank you for your kind understanding.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Crashes, Break-Ins & Springtime Baseball Has Sprung---A New Cabstand On Atlantic Street
Everything remains per usual in Taxicab Land----my taxi buddy E. destroys his cab on the freeway while swerving out of the way avoiding yet another collision, his cab hitting a wall. This after a month ago being hit head-on and damaging his cab's front end. And all this after he was rear-ended by an Uber driver. He is still trying to figure that one out after the Uber's operator's insurance carrier responded by saying he only held a personal not commercial policy. In other not-so-pretty words, the guy was providing Uber rides minus viable insurance.
Lately I have been telling passengers, once the topic is broached, that before you go anywhere in an Uber or Lyft, first request to see their COMMERCIAL insurance policy. If he/she can't, time to get out of the car. And after this conversation I ask my customer to guess how much I pay annually for insurance for me, Tom and Raymond? The answer is $6000.00, and this with clean MVRs. Again, another good reason to avoid all moving violation tickets because they hike up your costs.
At one point I believe Yellow's annual insurance rates were averaging ten-eleven thousand per car due to keeping on too many accident-prone drivers. So one could say that regulators nationwide are allowing Uber and Lyft to endanger everyone concerned because of very poor insurance accountability. As for my buddy E., he continues to have to pay and pay for the privilege of avoiding instant death while plying the taxi streets. Good luck is all I can say!
Lately I have been telling passengers, once the topic is broached, that before you go anywhere in an Uber or Lyft, first request to see their COMMERCIAL insurance policy. If he/she can't, time to get out of the car. And after this conversation I ask my customer to guess how much I pay annually for insurance for me, Tom and Raymond? The answer is $6000.00, and this with clean MVRs. Again, another good reason to avoid all moving violation tickets because they hike up your costs.
At one point I believe Yellow's annual insurance rates were averaging ten-eleven thousand per car due to keeping on too many accident-prone drivers. So one could say that regulators nationwide are allowing Uber and Lyft to endanger everyone concerned because of very poor insurance accountability. As for my buddy E., he continues to have to pay and pay for the privilege of avoiding instant death while plying the taxi streets. Good luck is all I can say!
And adding further outrage and to an already insulting business, you aren't even safe when your car is parked, as my 2012 Chevy Sonic was, at our taxi exchange point and broken into, the left-side passenger window smashed to smithereens. For the past year we have been exchanging the cab near the intersection of S. Hudson & Colorado S., just across from what once was the entry to the Yellow parking lot, the thieves getting nothing of real value except what is truly valuable to me as they quickly swept though the two glove boxes, taking what they found.
Oddly, they also grabbed the Sufi prayer beads an old Sufi Holy Man gave me during a 1999 visit to Istanbul, Turkey, something I kept on my floor-installed gear shift. All I can and will say is that I hate junkies, finding nothing amusing about addictive and destructive behavior. While safe "injection centers"are all the recent health rage, does anyone ever ask these folks where they got the money to buy the heroin?
I am now thinking of a good alternative to our current location. The corner around 12th & E. Jefferson used to be popular place to park your taxi. That might be a very good choice. If there is a positive to this incident, its that there is a very good chance, thanks to an adjacent business, All-City Fence and their 24-hour surveillance cameras, that the break-in was caught on film. I will be filing a police report tomorrow.
New SafeCo Field Cabstand a Home-Run!
Something logical finally occurred when the City of Seattle put a two car cabstand on the Northwest corner of South Atlantic Street & 1st Avenue South, placing it directly across from the Mariner baseball stadium. The only problem was Monday, after the game, I found two Uber operators parked there. Perhaps one of the police officers standing mere feet away will begin issuing tickets. Boy, would that be another kind of home-run!
Falling in the "what took them so long" category
A new Yellow computer-generated message is now telling everyone that there are now penalties for dumping calls, saying a third offense means termination. How many decades did it take for this to become official policy? Regardless, the newly stated stance concerning driver accountability is welcome, having personally grown tired of cleaning up another driver's transgression. As I always say, just serve the bell and see what happens, one ride often leading to another. Too basic a taxi equation, I know, for far too many of my fellow Yellow cabbies---now that I know my taxi ABCs----are you now proud of me? No, I am not, your taxi illiteracy hurting me and everyone.
A real case of blind injustice
Thinking about it, the cop who issued me the recent U-turn ticket also, in an inappropriate moment of generosity, gave me permission to further break the law by telling me I could proceed two blocks further north-bound on 3rd Avenue to take my right turn on Marion Street. The only problem with that advice is that during the morning and evening rush hours, all vehicles other than buses are limited to driving one block and one block only on 3rd, allowing you to take necessary turns. One could say then that his advice was totally contrary to his previous action of issuing me the ticket, and that it appears he felt an in-general permission to do whatever he wanted.
Unfortunately, that has been my overall experience with police in Seattle and King County, holding a discretionary permission to punish in one situation and in another, do nothing whatsoever. While it might be impossible to regulate human behavior, it cannot be called fair.
And yesterday, a District Attorney located in San Bernardino County announced that the killing of a blind and mentally ill man holding a knife and rock was justified by the City of Fontana Police. They knew he was blind and schizophrenic
How can a blind man holding a weapon other than a gun truly pose a threat to anyone? Why not take a broomstick and knock the knife away. Or just hit him in the head with the broom. How could he stop you? Instead he was shot dead with an AR-15 rifle. If interested, go on-line and look at the various AR-15 rifles. They look nothing like a broomstick.
No Longer a Hippie?
Over the weekend I picked up a woman originally from Germany who had written a book about Hippies and the 1960s. Obviously having a personal interest in the subject I gave her a card with my email address on it, telling her she should email me because I knew she would like to know about this book about New Mexico communes I have been reading.
So far, she has not contacted me, which makes me think that, while she maintains an interest, she herself is no longer a hippie because the hippies I have known, especially back in 1969 and the early 1970s, were incredibly open to new contacts and people. I personally have many stories, including ending up on a commune in 1970 while passing through Abbotsford, BC, Canada. Two of my fellow hippies, Rick and Micheal, were living in Canada due to the American draft wanting them, against their personal wishes, to join military service.
Regardless, here is the title of the book which might intrigue you. If new to the subject, the accompanying essays could be of great interest.
"Irwin Klein and the New Settlers---Photographs of the Counterculture in New Mexico," edited by Benjamin Klein. University of Nebraska Press 2016
It really brings a pretty much long, gone era back to life. As it turns out, "she-who-can't-be-named" moved to New Mexico and lived the rustic existence for a few years around 1970. When I was 12/13 I lived in Grants, New Mexico during the 7th grade in 1966/67, Grants a rough & tumble town located along the legendary Route 66 Highway.
As near as I can remember, I did not see one hippie in Grants during that period of time. In fact, contrary to peace and love, I was involved in 3 fights my very first day at Franklin Junior High. But I did learn how to drive when I was 12, certainly a kind of hippie sentiment, my father flaunting society's morals and standards.
No, Dad, wasn't a hippie in the usual sense, just alienated and crazy, and I mean really, really crazy. Fast forwarding to late 1969, Dad could be found driving a cab in Denver, Colorado. All I can say, he was eminently qualified.
Oddly, they also grabbed the Sufi prayer beads an old Sufi Holy Man gave me during a 1999 visit to Istanbul, Turkey, something I kept on my floor-installed gear shift. All I can and will say is that I hate junkies, finding nothing amusing about addictive and destructive behavior. While safe "injection centers"are all the recent health rage, does anyone ever ask these folks where they got the money to buy the heroin?
I am now thinking of a good alternative to our current location. The corner around 12th & E. Jefferson used to be popular place to park your taxi. That might be a very good choice. If there is a positive to this incident, its that there is a very good chance, thanks to an adjacent business, All-City Fence and their 24-hour surveillance cameras, that the break-in was caught on film. I will be filing a police report tomorrow.
New SafeCo Field Cabstand a Home-Run!
Something logical finally occurred when the City of Seattle put a two car cabstand on the Northwest corner of South Atlantic Street & 1st Avenue South, placing it directly across from the Mariner baseball stadium. The only problem was Monday, after the game, I found two Uber operators parked there. Perhaps one of the police officers standing mere feet away will begin issuing tickets. Boy, would that be another kind of home-run!
Falling in the "what took them so long" category
A new Yellow computer-generated message is now telling everyone that there are now penalties for dumping calls, saying a third offense means termination. How many decades did it take for this to become official policy? Regardless, the newly stated stance concerning driver accountability is welcome, having personally grown tired of cleaning up another driver's transgression. As I always say, just serve the bell and see what happens, one ride often leading to another. Too basic a taxi equation, I know, for far too many of my fellow Yellow cabbies---now that I know my taxi ABCs----are you now proud of me? No, I am not, your taxi illiteracy hurting me and everyone.
A real case of blind injustice
Thinking about it, the cop who issued me the recent U-turn ticket also, in an inappropriate moment of generosity, gave me permission to further break the law by telling me I could proceed two blocks further north-bound on 3rd Avenue to take my right turn on Marion Street. The only problem with that advice is that during the morning and evening rush hours, all vehicles other than buses are limited to driving one block and one block only on 3rd, allowing you to take necessary turns. One could say then that his advice was totally contrary to his previous action of issuing me the ticket, and that it appears he felt an in-general permission to do whatever he wanted.
Unfortunately, that has been my overall experience with police in Seattle and King County, holding a discretionary permission to punish in one situation and in another, do nothing whatsoever. While it might be impossible to regulate human behavior, it cannot be called fair.
And yesterday, a District Attorney located in San Bernardino County announced that the killing of a blind and mentally ill man holding a knife and rock was justified by the City of Fontana Police. They knew he was blind and schizophrenic
How can a blind man holding a weapon other than a gun truly pose a threat to anyone? Why not take a broomstick and knock the knife away. Or just hit him in the head with the broom. How could he stop you? Instead he was shot dead with an AR-15 rifle. If interested, go on-line and look at the various AR-15 rifles. They look nothing like a broomstick.
No Longer a Hippie?
Over the weekend I picked up a woman originally from Germany who had written a book about Hippies and the 1960s. Obviously having a personal interest in the subject I gave her a card with my email address on it, telling her she should email me because I knew she would like to know about this book about New Mexico communes I have been reading.
So far, she has not contacted me, which makes me think that, while she maintains an interest, she herself is no longer a hippie because the hippies I have known, especially back in 1969 and the early 1970s, were incredibly open to new contacts and people. I personally have many stories, including ending up on a commune in 1970 while passing through Abbotsford, BC, Canada. Two of my fellow hippies, Rick and Micheal, were living in Canada due to the American draft wanting them, against their personal wishes, to join military service.
Regardless, here is the title of the book which might intrigue you. If new to the subject, the accompanying essays could be of great interest.
"Irwin Klein and the New Settlers---Photographs of the Counterculture in New Mexico," edited by Benjamin Klein. University of Nebraska Press 2016
It really brings a pretty much long, gone era back to life. As it turns out, "she-who-can't-be-named" moved to New Mexico and lived the rustic existence for a few years around 1970. When I was 12/13 I lived in Grants, New Mexico during the 7th grade in 1966/67, Grants a rough & tumble town located along the legendary Route 66 Highway.
As near as I can remember, I did not see one hippie in Grants during that period of time. In fact, contrary to peace and love, I was involved in 3 fights my very first day at Franklin Junior High. But I did learn how to drive when I was 12, certainly a kind of hippie sentiment, my father flaunting society's morals and standards.
No, Dad, wasn't a hippie in the usual sense, just alienated and crazy, and I mean really, really crazy. Fast forwarding to late 1969, Dad could be found driving a cab in Denver, Colorado. All I can say, he was eminently qualified.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Beware! Emerald City Law Group Is Reaching Out For You!
It is never good getting a moving violation, in this case a U-turn ticket while serving a $5.50 HopeLink fare from 3rd & Cherry up to a First Hill methadone clinic---getting nabbed by a motorcycle cop when there was absolutely no other cars around. But, as I know too well, that certainly doesn't stop anyone from issuing an unnecessary ticket. There can be craziness upon the local roadways 24 hours a day but a simple and benign U-turn is somehow deemed worth the time and trouble, plus of course blocking the bus lanes while the ticket is issued.
One could call my attitude self-serving but I will never, ever understand the necessity because I know there isn't one. It simply doesn't exist, ticketing should be about public safety and nothing else; and not, as in this case, the iron-clad application of rules defying reason and commonsense. Seattle has been infamous for issuing jay-walking tickets at 4 AM. Why, the usual out-of-town visitor protests, why did you give me this ticket? To those of us whom are long-time Seattle residents, we know the answer, and it ain't a pretty one either.
And can you believe Officer C___ even offered me legal advice, telling me to check the middle box because the magistrate issues warnings every seven years. The only problem with his suggestion is that it equates to being an automatic admission of guilt to the alleged violation; meaning by checking that little box I was giving up every legal right I have to fight the ticket. Can police legally give legal advice while simultaneously issuing citations? Logic also dictates that if the officer felt what I did warranted only a warning, why didn't he just tell me just not to do it again and leave it at that?
But no, it wasn't the officer's suggestion rubbing salt into the wound, making me question just exactly what is going on here. Instead it was receiving a "solicitation of service" letter to my home address from an entity calling itself the "Emerald City Law Group," and its owner, who I assume is an attorney, Stryder Wegener. I am sure you have heard the pubic warnings about scams perpetuated through the mail and over the telephone. The alarm rang upon my opening the letter.
My very first thought was, "How in the world did these people have access to my private information?" And when I called them at the number provided, they refused to tell me. What the gentleman did repeatedly say to me was "Do you want us to represent you? all the while it being perfectly clear I was calling them because I was gravely disturbed by their unsolicited letter.
The letter itself, which includes my Seattle Municipal Court case and reference numbers, attempts to convince me that hiring them is my best option. One quote is particularly telling:
"You can always fight the ticket on your own. That costs you time to go to court (at least a half day off of work), time to prepare for court (several hours), and your changes of winning are slim."
If that isn't manipulative, I don't know the definition of the word. They go on to say that they have an excellent track record of winning cases, providing the figures of 1,857 winning cases to only 38 cases loss. Of course they provide no evidence proving this is true.
So what is true about about Emerald City Law Group and their attempt to sign on new clients? At the very least their actions appear to be a blazon invasion of personal protections, acting upon some mysterious permission that they can and will do anything they want. Whether they have broken any laws is something I hope will be determined by whatever responsible authority. I have already filed a complaint with the State of Washington's Attorney General's Office. They in turn referred me to the local bar association. I will also be filing a complaint with and/or against the City of Seattle as some important questions need to be answered.
Is what Emerald City Law Group doing permissible and legal?
Are the records of alleged moving and non-moving violations,including jay-walking tickets, public or private information?
If private, how did Emerald City Law Group access the information?
If public, just how and why is this kind of information, including addresses and telephones numbers, freely available to anyone who wants it?
As said, I and the driving public require real answers to these questions. That the letter from Emerald City Law Group is, to my way of thinking, predatory, is beyond any doubt. Did I in any manner voluntarily provide them with my private information or request they contact me? The answer obviously is not at all, having never heard of them before receiving their letter last week.
Again, that this is a serious invasion of personal privacy is clear. The only remaining question is whether Emerald City Law Group will be held accountable. I will keep you posted. I am looking forward to knowing their response. As should be clear, an issued ticket is never a trivial matter. And Emerald City Law Group's actions only underline this reality. Beware, and remain aware, is my advise upon this and other situations regarding traffic violations.
And if, like me, you get strange letters in the mail from unknown lawyers, whatever you do, don't sign up with them. Instead, like me, contact the City of Seattle and others, asking,"just what the hell is going on?" A good and pertinent question, I am sure you would agree.
One could call my attitude self-serving but I will never, ever understand the necessity because I know there isn't one. It simply doesn't exist, ticketing should be about public safety and nothing else; and not, as in this case, the iron-clad application of rules defying reason and commonsense. Seattle has been infamous for issuing jay-walking tickets at 4 AM. Why, the usual out-of-town visitor protests, why did you give me this ticket? To those of us whom are long-time Seattle residents, we know the answer, and it ain't a pretty one either.
And can you believe Officer C___ even offered me legal advice, telling me to check the middle box because the magistrate issues warnings every seven years. The only problem with his suggestion is that it equates to being an automatic admission of guilt to the alleged violation; meaning by checking that little box I was giving up every legal right I have to fight the ticket. Can police legally give legal advice while simultaneously issuing citations? Logic also dictates that if the officer felt what I did warranted only a warning, why didn't he just tell me just not to do it again and leave it at that?
But no, it wasn't the officer's suggestion rubbing salt into the wound, making me question just exactly what is going on here. Instead it was receiving a "solicitation of service" letter to my home address from an entity calling itself the "Emerald City Law Group," and its owner, who I assume is an attorney, Stryder Wegener. I am sure you have heard the pubic warnings about scams perpetuated through the mail and over the telephone. The alarm rang upon my opening the letter.
My very first thought was, "How in the world did these people have access to my private information?" And when I called them at the number provided, they refused to tell me. What the gentleman did repeatedly say to me was "Do you want us to represent you? all the while it being perfectly clear I was calling them because I was gravely disturbed by their unsolicited letter.
The letter itself, which includes my Seattle Municipal Court case and reference numbers, attempts to convince me that hiring them is my best option. One quote is particularly telling:
"You can always fight the ticket on your own. That costs you time to go to court (at least a half day off of work), time to prepare for court (several hours), and your changes of winning are slim."
If that isn't manipulative, I don't know the definition of the word. They go on to say that they have an excellent track record of winning cases, providing the figures of 1,857 winning cases to only 38 cases loss. Of course they provide no evidence proving this is true.
So what is true about about Emerald City Law Group and their attempt to sign on new clients? At the very least their actions appear to be a blazon invasion of personal protections, acting upon some mysterious permission that they can and will do anything they want. Whether they have broken any laws is something I hope will be determined by whatever responsible authority. I have already filed a complaint with the State of Washington's Attorney General's Office. They in turn referred me to the local bar association. I will also be filing a complaint with and/or against the City of Seattle as some important questions need to be answered.
Is what Emerald City Law Group doing permissible and legal?
Are the records of alleged moving and non-moving violations,including jay-walking tickets, public or private information?
If private, how did Emerald City Law Group access the information?
If public, just how and why is this kind of information, including addresses and telephones numbers, freely available to anyone who wants it?
As said, I and the driving public require real answers to these questions. That the letter from Emerald City Law Group is, to my way of thinking, predatory, is beyond any doubt. Did I in any manner voluntarily provide them with my private information or request they contact me? The answer obviously is not at all, having never heard of them before receiving their letter last week.
Again, that this is a serious invasion of personal privacy is clear. The only remaining question is whether Emerald City Law Group will be held accountable. I will keep you posted. I am looking forward to knowing their response. As should be clear, an issued ticket is never a trivial matter. And Emerald City Law Group's actions only underline this reality. Beware, and remain aware, is my advise upon this and other situations regarding traffic violations.
And if, like me, you get strange letters in the mail from unknown lawyers, whatever you do, don't sign up with them. Instead, like me, contact the City of Seattle and others, asking,"just what the hell is going on?" A good and pertinent question, I am sure you would agree.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Where Would You Be Taking A Cab From A Homeless Shelter On A Monday Morning 2 AM?
Okay, it was two in the morning and I was both done, and done in, ready to gas up 1092 and head home but, as cabbies are wont to do, and given that refusing a fare is against our religion, something akin to blasphemy, I accepted a call at the Pioneer Square Union Gospel Mission, thinking they couldn't be going much of anywhere at such an hour, more than likely to the Shell station down at 5th South & S. Dearborn for cigarettes and sodas. But where they actually wanted to go, and where I took them, was the Tulalip Casino in Maryville, Washington, a fare totaling $104.60, a lot of money for folks residing at an homeless shelter.
Who these people really were I couldn't truly tell you because I had almost zero conversation with the pair, a couple more intent upon themselves and their joint mission toward a successful gambling session. The woman was heavy, approximately 350-400 pounds or more heavy, upsetting the usual expected equilibrium making for a safe and manageable ride. She also left a strong fecal smell upon her departure, requiring a twice concerted wiping down of the rear seat. The male version of the two was mostly quiet, only occasionally coughing.
Other than the unusual starting point, the ride was usual and mundane, no argument about payment or anything else. As for me personally, I was exhausted but, as I said, I wasn't going to pass up $100.00 even if it meant an additional sixty minutes or so of suffering and fighting to get through, all too typical when it comes to taxi, driving cab just many versions and levels of hell-on-earth where guardian angels are too few and very far between.
"She-who-can't-be-named" comment upon the whole affair was "There is something wrong with this world!" Hard to disagree with that assessment, when the truly impoverished throw their money away, the good after the bad. I can only hope they hit the jackpot and zoomed to a better and kinder universe. I also can only wish and hope that indeed that was their early morning fate, winning a bunch of money and, in celebration, taking a much needed shower along with quickly heading to the nearest laundromat.
Uber Unleashed Upon the Unsuspecting
On the front page of the Monday, April 3rd, 2017 edition of the New York Times, there was a featured article by Noam Scheiber concerning Uber entitled "How Uber Pushes Drivers' Buttons," describing in detail how Uber, through its app, manipulates drivers to work longer hours, thus increasing Uber profitability. Two quotes from the article I find especially revealing, unmasking Uber's underlying motives.
""By mastering their workers' mental circuitry, Uber and the like may be taking the economy back toward a pre-New Deal era when businesses had enormous power over workers and few checks on their ability to exploit it."
Another is a quote from University of Washington law professor, Ryan Calo:
"Uber officials," he said, "are using what they know about drivers, their control over the interface and the terms of the transaction to channel the behavior of the driver in the direction they want it to go."
All I can say is that if you are an Uber driver, watch out! because Uber is out to manipulate the hell out of you! And if you don't think it is true, well guess what, Uber has already won, taking over not just your brain but your entire physical body, you suddenly no longer human but robotic, responding favorably to every Uber command. Scary, huh!?
Meanwhile, at the Airport
All along, the cabbies who transferred to Eastside to work Sea-Tac have been complaining that their dispatch system wasn't functional. Finally, Eastside admitted that it is true, saying it is now finally up and running. All I can say is, who if anyone amongst the Port Commissioners are overseeing Eastside operations? If there is said person, they might be due for a new set of eyeglasses.
Objective Criteria?
Yellow it seems is forging ahead toward a change to a new DDS-based computer dispatch system. My one question is why are so many owners interested in doing this? Can they provide objective criteria proving this very expensive changeover is necessary? And what about accountability? Will anyone be held accountable if it proves too be a very bad decision?
In other words, as usual, will all the consequences be felt solely by the lease drivers while those who made the decision will go asleep each night totally unaffected? If that is the plan, it is a poor one, one that should not be accepted. Instead, can we please consider all consequences before proceeding forward? That is all I request, little else.
Who these people really were I couldn't truly tell you because I had almost zero conversation with the pair, a couple more intent upon themselves and their joint mission toward a successful gambling session. The woman was heavy, approximately 350-400 pounds or more heavy, upsetting the usual expected equilibrium making for a safe and manageable ride. She also left a strong fecal smell upon her departure, requiring a twice concerted wiping down of the rear seat. The male version of the two was mostly quiet, only occasionally coughing.
Other than the unusual starting point, the ride was usual and mundane, no argument about payment or anything else. As for me personally, I was exhausted but, as I said, I wasn't going to pass up $100.00 even if it meant an additional sixty minutes or so of suffering and fighting to get through, all too typical when it comes to taxi, driving cab just many versions and levels of hell-on-earth where guardian angels are too few and very far between.
"She-who-can't-be-named" comment upon the whole affair was "There is something wrong with this world!" Hard to disagree with that assessment, when the truly impoverished throw their money away, the good after the bad. I can only hope they hit the jackpot and zoomed to a better and kinder universe. I also can only wish and hope that indeed that was their early morning fate, winning a bunch of money and, in celebration, taking a much needed shower along with quickly heading to the nearest laundromat.
Uber Unleashed Upon the Unsuspecting
On the front page of the Monday, April 3rd, 2017 edition of the New York Times, there was a featured article by Noam Scheiber concerning Uber entitled "How Uber Pushes Drivers' Buttons," describing in detail how Uber, through its app, manipulates drivers to work longer hours, thus increasing Uber profitability. Two quotes from the article I find especially revealing, unmasking Uber's underlying motives.
""By mastering their workers' mental circuitry, Uber and the like may be taking the economy back toward a pre-New Deal era when businesses had enormous power over workers and few checks on their ability to exploit it."
Another is a quote from University of Washington law professor, Ryan Calo:
"Uber officials," he said, "are using what they know about drivers, their control over the interface and the terms of the transaction to channel the behavior of the driver in the direction they want it to go."
All I can say is that if you are an Uber driver, watch out! because Uber is out to manipulate the hell out of you! And if you don't think it is true, well guess what, Uber has already won, taking over not just your brain but your entire physical body, you suddenly no longer human but robotic, responding favorably to every Uber command. Scary, huh!?
Meanwhile, at the Airport
All along, the cabbies who transferred to Eastside to work Sea-Tac have been complaining that their dispatch system wasn't functional. Finally, Eastside admitted that it is true, saying it is now finally up and running. All I can say is, who if anyone amongst the Port Commissioners are overseeing Eastside operations? If there is said person, they might be due for a new set of eyeglasses.
Objective Criteria?
Yellow it seems is forging ahead toward a change to a new DDS-based computer dispatch system. My one question is why are so many owners interested in doing this? Can they provide objective criteria proving this very expensive changeover is necessary? And what about accountability? Will anyone be held accountable if it proves too be a very bad decision?
In other words, as usual, will all the consequences be felt solely by the lease drivers while those who made the decision will go asleep each night totally unaffected? If that is the plan, it is a poor one, one that should not be accepted. Instead, can we please consider all consequences before proceeding forward? That is all I request, little else.
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