bigvalboy

I agree, it was a foolish decision on his part, to quite a job with benefits and a steady income, but that decision was made in part because Uber promised things that were not true and that they could not deliver on. In that respect, Uber bears responsibility for misleading him. On a recent run to the airport, my limo driver (who owns the company) told me that info provided to him from Uber promised him many things. He took a different route however and kept his business running and bought an SUV (which was needed anyway for his business) to do a trial run first to see if indeed Uber was as profitable as the claim...It was not. After subtracting all of his 'actual' expenses, he found that he was making under the minimum wage. He abandoned the project and returned to building his own business, but never gave up his day job, as it were. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Not everything is coming up roses... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/uber-drivers-are-running-on-empty_56031619e4b00310edf9e8a7?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592&ref=yfp Uber Drivers Are Running On Empty One driver says he earns $2.64 an hour after expenses. Capital & Main By Seth Sandronsky Posted: 09/23/2015 05:23 PM EDT http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3141508/original.jpg Twenty-six-year-old Takele Gobena is part of the “on-demand” economy, working full-time as a driver for Uber and part time for Lyft. The Ethiopian immigrant quit his job at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and purchased a new car to drive for the ride-hailing firms, believing it would make him a better provider for his one-year-old daughter. Instead, Gobena now finds himself in debt and, after expenses, making well below minimum wage. But because Uber and Lyft drivers are classified as independent contractors, Gobena is not protected by minimum wage laws. Gobena’s plight is an increasingly familiar one. A new report from the National Employment Law Project, “Rights on Demand: Ensuring Workplace Standards and Worker Security In the On-Demand Economy,” highlights the problems so many on-demand workers face: “Characterizing workers as non-employees has serious negative consequences for them: non-employees have no statutory right to minimum wage, overtime pay, compensation for injuries sustained on the job, unemployment insurance if involuntarily separated from employment, or protection against discrimination.” The authors of the report, Rebecca Smith, NELP’s deputy director, and Sarah Leberstein, senior staff attorney, call for workforce-wide enforcement of current and developing labor standards. “New technologies should not be allowed to displace existing protections for the many on-demand workers who are, in fact and in law, employees.” Gobena is inclined to agree. In a phone interview with Capital & Main, he spoke about driving for Uber and Lyft. Capital & Main: Why did you leave your job at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to drive for Uber and Lyft? Takele Gobena: I thought that I could earn a better income driving for these companies. Their ads led me to believe my pay would be $25 an hour. Capital & Main: How does your airport job compare with working for Uber and Lyft? Gobena: At the airport, I earned $9.47 an hour as a dispatcher and had health-care benefits. With Uber and Lyft, driving 37,000 miles in 2014, after all my expenses (vehicle financing, fueling, insuring and maintaining) I earn $2.64 an hour and have no health-care coverage if injured. Capital & Main: Are you an Uber employee? Gobena: No. I am an independent contractor for Uber. I work without company benefits, and when passengers phone me. Capital & Main: Has Uber or Lyft retaliated against you for vocalizing displeasure with your treatment? Gobena: On August 31, I shared my personal experience as an Uber and Lyft driver before the Seattle City Council, which the press reported. [seattle Councilmembers Mike O'Brien and Nick Licata have introduced city legislation that would allow on-demand transportation drivers to bargain collectively with their employers.] Uber deactivated [my account]. Capital & Main: What happened next? Gobena: I took a screen shot of the deactivation account [notice] and sent it out to the media. They called Uber about it. Then Uber reactivated me. Capital & Main: How did you become a labor advocate? Gobena: I worked with the immigrant Ethiopian community in Seattle, then with employees pushing to increase the minimum wage at Sea-Tac. I saw how difficult it is to live on the minimum wage, and began to speak out about that. Capital & Main: In addition to NELP, who are your political partners? Gobena: I do not have any. I speak for myself and the other on-demand workers like me who receive unfair treatment. Capital & Main: Describe feedback that Uber and Lyft give you on your job performance. Gobena: If customers complain, Uber gives me a warning that I must improve. However, the company does not tell me how or what needs improvement. Capital & Main: Are you looking for another job? Gobena: No. I have invested $14,000 in buying my car that I drive for Uber and Lyft. I must continue driving passengers in it to recoup my investment. Capital & Main: What needs to happen next for on-demand workers employed with Uber and Lyft? Gobena: We like the ride-hailing innovation and transportation for our city, but Uber and Lyft drivers need better treatment and livable wages. This issue affects riders and drivers alike.

I posted this in the Political Section, but it is apropos here as well.... You don't have to agree with Bernie, but his plan has substance. https://berniesanders.com/issues/fighting-to-lower-prescription-drug-prices/

Absolutely incredible!!...Again I have to say that I love the marks of the flogger that wrap around his lats and his pits..damn damn damn....OK double damn!

Thanks FF...excellent article. After reading it, perhaps I misspoke about being grateful that it made it to the screen at all.

Oh yeah...he's smiling WG. And even with his arms and chest outstretched, you can still see that he is a big boy!! Ab-so-lute-ly love how the flogger is resting on his nip, and you can see the red marks wrapped all the way around his lats. (but what's that pole thingamajig in front of the flogger in the first pic, but gone in the second?) OK...I'll shut up now.

It will be interesting to here your take on the accuracy of the movie. There are other members who post here (some not as often) that have mentioned they lived in the same neighborhood as Stonewall, and were around the night of the riot. I would love to here from them also. Movies rarely are an accurate reflection of true events, for that I would not fault them. The product has to sell and appeal to a wide range of people. I'm grateful that it is making it to the screen at all. We shall see...

At this moment... Lena Horne and Etta James, with a splattering of Billy Holiday and the 'Platters'... suffering from nostalgia as of late. "Above all will let me, walk in the sun once more" Dedicated to Ms. "T"...thinking about you today.

HOT DAMN!!!!! http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/831202/fireworks-o.gif just what the doctor ordered.... "Grazie"

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I don't suppose you would believe me if I told you that Jason (my favorite bartender of all time) from the BW looked liked this, only bigger and sexier, and he doesn't wear underwear......I know, one of these days it's going to happen.

Thanks WG...running out the door to get ready for "Erika" ...the bitch is threatening to come this way..BUT...I will take this image with me all day. Bless you sir!! And forgive me if I substitute the guy in the middle for our friend.

http://33.media.tumblr.com/b0449d2dd199026f066d5cac7bf42e15/tumblr_nh3v1aWXoe1rl3xhwo1_250.gif This is hands down some of your finest work. I will never ever forget this one WG....:p :p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p...well you get the idea. Does anyone happen to know the video this is from????

36K....who knew. Nice to know that so many people took a peek, and in some small way their day was just a little bit better.

OUTSTANDING!!!!! http://cristinanualart.com/wp-content/gallery/frontpage/fireworks2013.gif You might want to sit down for this one, but I have found myself this year venturing away from the "vanilla" and into more of the erotic elements of this nipple fetish...who knew http://33.media.tumblr.com/1cb3c1824cacc908e475e6ba5838e27e/tumblr_npzs3wfKZu1uocdxao1_r2_250.gif :D:D:D:D

What's not to like? LOL...

How did I miss this? ...well played Mr. Smith.

After attorney fees, the divorce, restitution, and money that he will need to be put on his "books" in the Big House, my guess is that Mr. Fogel might need that job after all.

Very 70's...yes, but I always liked the lyrics.

What happens to those assets while he does 5 plus in the big house?

Now here's a man who clearly needs our help...

So many great songs, rock, soul, classical....and this

Well you got me at "Lady Marmalade"...... (and no, I'm not finished, but I'll need a minute)

Hopefully Dr. Huxtable will be next.