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Celerity
Celerity's Journal
Celerity's Journal
February 19, 2020
Whatever the company might wish to call it, Uber’s relationship with its workers is one of employment.
https://www.socialeurope.eu/uber-employment-and-the-gig-economy
The emergence of digital technologies as intermediaries between producers and consumers of goods and services has led to a significant change in the labour market. Globalisation of the economy has drastically increased competition and caused the number of atypical labour forms to grow. The expansion of these new forms of employment entails the creation of new kinds of contract, and in many cases the circumvention of employment law, as workers are turned into ‘entrepreneurs’.
Take the legal relationship between Uber and the company’s drivers, as an example of the connection between the term ‘worker’ and the gig economy. The platform makes it possible to request transport services via a smartphone with the Uber app installed. The app detects the location of the user and finds the nearest available driver, who has entered into a contract with the company.
Uber bills the user on behalf of the provider of the transport service, then pays part of the sum to the (non-professional) driver—reserving the right to change the general terms and conditions at its sole discretion, without requiring the driver’s consent. For his part, the provider of the service (the driver) has the right, independently and at his own discretion, to accept or reject the request, thus serving his own economic goals. The app has the option to rate drivers. The company thus exerts indirect influence over them and can deactivate the app for the driver at any moment if there are several low scores.
Legal relationship
These features can lead to the prima facie conclusion that the legal relationship between Uber and its drivers is in essence civil, as in civil-law relationships the party performing the contract is independent of the party requesting the work. The latter is not interested in the organisation of labour, nor in its creation.
snip
Uber, employment and the gig economy
Whatever the company might wish to call it, Uber’s relationship with its workers is one of employment.
https://www.socialeurope.eu/uber-employment-and-the-gig-economy
The emergence of digital technologies as intermediaries between producers and consumers of goods and services has led to a significant change in the labour market. Globalisation of the economy has drastically increased competition and caused the number of atypical labour forms to grow. The expansion of these new forms of employment entails the creation of new kinds of contract, and in many cases the circumvention of employment law, as workers are turned into ‘entrepreneurs’.
Take the legal relationship between Uber and the company’s drivers, as an example of the connection between the term ‘worker’ and the gig economy. The platform makes it possible to request transport services via a smartphone with the Uber app installed. The app detects the location of the user and finds the nearest available driver, who has entered into a contract with the company.
Uber bills the user on behalf of the provider of the transport service, then pays part of the sum to the (non-professional) driver—reserving the right to change the general terms and conditions at its sole discretion, without requiring the driver’s consent. For his part, the provider of the service (the driver) has the right, independently and at his own discretion, to accept or reject the request, thus serving his own economic goals. The app has the option to rate drivers. The company thus exerts indirect influence over them and can deactivate the app for the driver at any moment if there are several low scores.
Legal relationship
These features can lead to the prima facie conclusion that the legal relationship between Uber and its drivers is in essence civil, as in civil-law relationships the party performing the contract is independent of the party requesting the work. The latter is not interested in the organisation of labour, nor in its creation.
snip
February 19, 2020
The most surreal vacation I ever took was to Kyrgyzstan. If you’ve never heard of Kyrgyzstan, don’t feel bad -- I hadn't either until a friend, who had read about it on Reddit, texted me a few Googled photos of the place. I remember thinking, “That’s what Kyrgyzstan looks like?” before promptly booking one of the most satisfying trips of my life.
If you’re in Kyrgyzstan, you’re probably on top of a mountain. A range called Tian Shan (“Heaven Lake” in Mandarin Chinese) covers about 80% of the country, and most of it is at least 1,000 meters above sea level. Its geological features vary from peak to peak, but the landscape is tied together by its exquisite, swoon-inducing beauty -- an extraterrestrial vastness that really clears the brain.
The serene, lake-spotted mountain hikes are why people come here, and they're still seared in my memories. It’s so damn pastoral and pristine that my mind has now permanently coupled these two adjectives with this one country. It’s sometimes referred to as “the Switzerland of Central Asia,” but I personally think the comparison sterilizes the nomadic spirit of Kyrgyzstan. If you’re an adventurous traveler who’s desperate for total immersion in crushingly beautiful landscapes, who delights in exploring destinations that aren’t all over your Instagram feed, who’s down to push outside your comfort zone and encounter a welcoming culture that’s nothing like back home, you need to book this trip ASAP.
Kyrgyzstan is a place that rewards a challenge
Kyrgyzstan is sandwiched between Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China: countries and cultures I was super unfamiliar with. When I got to Manas International Airport, I was instantly pushed beyond my comfort zone by a lack of English-language signage. Outside, cab drivers offered rides in Russian and I groaned at my lack of linguistic preparation. Fortunately, my friend had arrived the day before and scheduled a cab for my arrival.
snip
The Absurdly Beautiful Mountain Country You've Probably Never Heard Of
https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/visit-kyrgyzstan-tourism-travel-what-to-doThe most surreal vacation I ever took was to Kyrgyzstan. If you’ve never heard of Kyrgyzstan, don’t feel bad -- I hadn't either until a friend, who had read about it on Reddit, texted me a few Googled photos of the place. I remember thinking, “That’s what Kyrgyzstan looks like?” before promptly booking one of the most satisfying trips of my life.
If you’re in Kyrgyzstan, you’re probably on top of a mountain. A range called Tian Shan (“Heaven Lake” in Mandarin Chinese) covers about 80% of the country, and most of it is at least 1,000 meters above sea level. Its geological features vary from peak to peak, but the landscape is tied together by its exquisite, swoon-inducing beauty -- an extraterrestrial vastness that really clears the brain.
The serene, lake-spotted mountain hikes are why people come here, and they're still seared in my memories. It’s so damn pastoral and pristine that my mind has now permanently coupled these two adjectives with this one country. It’s sometimes referred to as “the Switzerland of Central Asia,” but I personally think the comparison sterilizes the nomadic spirit of Kyrgyzstan. If you’re an adventurous traveler who’s desperate for total immersion in crushingly beautiful landscapes, who delights in exploring destinations that aren’t all over your Instagram feed, who’s down to push outside your comfort zone and encounter a welcoming culture that’s nothing like back home, you need to book this trip ASAP.
Kyrgyzstan is a place that rewards a challenge
Kyrgyzstan is sandwiched between Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China: countries and cultures I was super unfamiliar with. When I got to Manas International Airport, I was instantly pushed beyond my comfort zone by a lack of English-language signage. Outside, cab drivers offered rides in Russian and I groaned at my lack of linguistic preparation. Fortunately, my friend had arrived the day before and scheduled a cab for my arrival.
snip
February 19, 2020
New NBC/WSJ poll, in a 1 on 1 primary race, Sanders 57%, Bloomberg 37%
This is not a result I expected
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6779408/200085-NBCWSJ-February-Poll.pdf
here is the headline number
February 18, 2020
A year ago I debuted my very own brew, Piano Keys Imperial Stout. It’s made with Ugandan vanilla beans and Nicaraguan cocoa nibs with an ABV of 10%. I created it at the invitation of New Belgium when they invited me to be a consultant of their new diversity program. New Belgium not only loved the idea for my stout, they granted me creative control down to the Piano Keys name, concept, branding, and ingredients.
And not only was the collaboration successful (we’re planning a second run in spring 2020), but every turnout for the draft-only releases throughout Atlanta, Asheville, and Fort Collins brought together the most diverse crowds each venue has ever hosted. We followed with a symposium in Atlanta featuring a panel of minority beer influencers and entrepreneurs alongside New Belgium's executives to strategize more progress in the industry.
This collaboration leads into a very important topic. I believe beer brings everyone together to whet the palate, and this New Belgium collaboration truly did that, Now let's talk about getting more Black breweries actually making and selling their own lagers and ales.
Kofi Meroe and Amado Carsky of Sankofa | Courtesy of Sankofa
Within the past several years, the craft beer industry has flourished. It’s produced a plethora of styles and has become a lot more accessible in bars, restaurants, and even airlines. But when it comes to the people who actually own the breweries, who produce the plethora of sours, pilsners, IPAs, stouts and other varietals, we’re not seeing the same amount of diversity. African Americans own roughly one percent of the independent breweries throughout the US.
snip
These Black-Owned Breweries Give Us Hope for the Future
https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/black-owned-breweries-us/food-and-drinkA year ago I debuted my very own brew, Piano Keys Imperial Stout. It’s made with Ugandan vanilla beans and Nicaraguan cocoa nibs with an ABV of 10%. I created it at the invitation of New Belgium when they invited me to be a consultant of their new diversity program. New Belgium not only loved the idea for my stout, they granted me creative control down to the Piano Keys name, concept, branding, and ingredients.
And not only was the collaboration successful (we’re planning a second run in spring 2020), but every turnout for the draft-only releases throughout Atlanta, Asheville, and Fort Collins brought together the most diverse crowds each venue has ever hosted. We followed with a symposium in Atlanta featuring a panel of minority beer influencers and entrepreneurs alongside New Belgium's executives to strategize more progress in the industry.
This collaboration leads into a very important topic. I believe beer brings everyone together to whet the palate, and this New Belgium collaboration truly did that, Now let's talk about getting more Black breweries actually making and selling their own lagers and ales.
Kofi Meroe and Amado Carsky of Sankofa | Courtesy of Sankofa
Within the past several years, the craft beer industry has flourished. It’s produced a plethora of styles and has become a lot more accessible in bars, restaurants, and even airlines. But when it comes to the people who actually own the breweries, who produce the plethora of sours, pilsners, IPAs, stouts and other varietals, we’re not seeing the same amount of diversity. African Americans own roughly one percent of the independent breweries throughout the US.
snip
February 17, 2020
It’s Pancake Day on February 25th.
And as with every other holiday, the supermarkets have already had their shelves stacked with eggs, milk, and flour for months.
But if you fancy having someone else make your stacks for you, then we humbly suggest you go to one of the best places in town. And these are those places:
Where the Pancakes Are | London Bridge
This seems like a reasonable place to start. The menu here is just pancakes: American ones, French ones, Dutch ones, vegan ones; you name it, they make it. And on Pancake Day itself they’ll be spilling into Flat Iron Square to make sure everyone gets a seat, as well as serving half a dozen of their favourite recipe stacks (blueberries & bacon; pear & caramel; lemon & sugar, etc.) plus cocktails. And they’re open until 9.30pm.
Details: Open from 7.30am-9.30pm on the 25th, no reservations | Flat Iron Square, SE1 1TD
Christopher’s | Covent Garden
On any other day of the year, Christopher’s makes pancakes for London. However on Pancake Day, London has to make pancakes for itself. Meaning you can top your own pancakes with bacon and ice cream, should you wish…
…or you could just get them to make you their lobster Benedict pancakes. With Oreo-loaded ‘Honey I Cookied the Pancakes’ for dessert.
Details: Open 11.30am-Midnight on the 25th, book here | 18 Wellington Street, WC2E 7DD
snip
Your Official Pancake Day Guide 2020 - Pancake Day London 2020 25th February
https://thenudge.com/features/official-pancake-day-guide/It’s Pancake Day on February 25th.
And as with every other holiday, the supermarkets have already had their shelves stacked with eggs, milk, and flour for months.
But if you fancy having someone else make your stacks for you, then we humbly suggest you go to one of the best places in town. And these are those places:
Where the Pancakes Are | London Bridge
This seems like a reasonable place to start. The menu here is just pancakes: American ones, French ones, Dutch ones, vegan ones; you name it, they make it. And on Pancake Day itself they’ll be spilling into Flat Iron Square to make sure everyone gets a seat, as well as serving half a dozen of their favourite recipe stacks (blueberries & bacon; pear & caramel; lemon & sugar, etc.) plus cocktails. And they’re open until 9.30pm.
Details: Open from 7.30am-9.30pm on the 25th, no reservations | Flat Iron Square, SE1 1TD
Christopher’s | Covent Garden
On any other day of the year, Christopher’s makes pancakes for London. However on Pancake Day, London has to make pancakes for itself. Meaning you can top your own pancakes with bacon and ice cream, should you wish…
…or you could just get them to make you their lobster Benedict pancakes. With Oreo-loaded ‘Honey I Cookied the Pancakes’ for dessert.
Details: Open 11.30am-Midnight on the 25th, book here | 18 Wellington Street, WC2E 7DD
snip
February 17, 2020
Michael Gove’s acknowledgement that trade between the UK and the EU after 1st January 2021 will be far from frictionless is a watershed in the Brexit process. The claim that Brexit would not significantly impinge upon British trade with the European Union was central to the 2016 Leave campaign. So central indeed that government ministers spent the three years thereafter repeating this dishonest assurance in the face of ever-mounting evidence to the contrary.
With its 80-seat majority safely secured, the British government has concluded that now it is safe to begin the process of gradually accepting the negative consequences of Brexit, so vigorously denied hitherto. Naturally, this acceptance of reality remains only grudging and partial. Michael Gove spoke as if the imminence of border formalities were an uncontroversial prospect long accepted by all parties. He also seemed wholly unembarrassed by the short length of time available for preparation until the end of December and the five years at least it will take for the government’s new frontier trading regime to be in place. There is a bitter irony in the fact that the government has begun its painful journey towards at least partial European realism by announcing the imposition of extensive paperwork and similar formalities. It was a repeated trope of the Leave campaign that bureaucracy and “red tape” disfigured and delegitimised whatever may have been the original and commendable goals of the EU’s founders .
The enduring denial that Brexit would involve customs and other checks at the border(s) of the EU was not merely a political and rhetorical convenience. The equivocation about the objective implications of Brexit for cross-border trade reflected a continuing disagreement among Leave voters and later within government itself about different models for quitting the EU. Campaigners for a Leave vote knew that there is not and never has been a majority within the British electorate for any specific form of Brexit. Any serious discussion during the referendum campaign of realistic alternatives to current British EU membership would have risked splintering the Leave coalition. Post-2016 government ministers have been forced to realise that any concrete form of Brexit, be it “hard” or “soft,” brought with it highly unpalatable consequences which they have been reluctant to discuss honestly with the electorate. Until now.
It seems from the recent rhetoric of Michael Gove and other ministers that the British government has now intellectually resolved the Brexit conundrum by tilting decisively towards a “hard” Brexit. All the ‘inverted pyramid of piffle’ about “having our cake and eating it,” about “exact same benefits” and about the UK’s “having the upper hand” in negotiations with the EU has melted abruptly in the first heat of this new phase of negotiations. The warnings of “Project Fear” have now become the acceptable discourse of ministerial pronouncements .
Hard truths
snip
Brexit: The British government starts to recognise reality
https://fedtrust.co.uk/brexit-the-british-government-starts-to-recognise-reality/#more-4404Michael Gove’s acknowledgement that trade between the UK and the EU after 1st January 2021 will be far from frictionless is a watershed in the Brexit process. The claim that Brexit would not significantly impinge upon British trade with the European Union was central to the 2016 Leave campaign. So central indeed that government ministers spent the three years thereafter repeating this dishonest assurance in the face of ever-mounting evidence to the contrary.
With its 80-seat majority safely secured, the British government has concluded that now it is safe to begin the process of gradually accepting the negative consequences of Brexit, so vigorously denied hitherto. Naturally, this acceptance of reality remains only grudging and partial. Michael Gove spoke as if the imminence of border formalities were an uncontroversial prospect long accepted by all parties. He also seemed wholly unembarrassed by the short length of time available for preparation until the end of December and the five years at least it will take for the government’s new frontier trading regime to be in place. There is a bitter irony in the fact that the government has begun its painful journey towards at least partial European realism by announcing the imposition of extensive paperwork and similar formalities. It was a repeated trope of the Leave campaign that bureaucracy and “red tape” disfigured and delegitimised whatever may have been the original and commendable goals of the EU’s founders .
The enduring denial that Brexit would involve customs and other checks at the border(s) of the EU was not merely a political and rhetorical convenience. The equivocation about the objective implications of Brexit for cross-border trade reflected a continuing disagreement among Leave voters and later within government itself about different models for quitting the EU. Campaigners for a Leave vote knew that there is not and never has been a majority within the British electorate for any specific form of Brexit. Any serious discussion during the referendum campaign of realistic alternatives to current British EU membership would have risked splintering the Leave coalition. Post-2016 government ministers have been forced to realise that any concrete form of Brexit, be it “hard” or “soft,” brought with it highly unpalatable consequences which they have been reluctant to discuss honestly with the electorate. Until now.
It seems from the recent rhetoric of Michael Gove and other ministers that the British government has now intellectually resolved the Brexit conundrum by tilting decisively towards a “hard” Brexit. All the ‘inverted pyramid of piffle’ about “having our cake and eating it,” about “exact same benefits” and about the UK’s “having the upper hand” in negotiations with the EU has melted abruptly in the first heat of this new phase of negotiations. The warnings of “Project Fear” have now become the acceptable discourse of ministerial pronouncements .
Hard truths
snip
February 14, 2020
https://www.thelocal.se/20200213/sweden-sees-sharp-rise-in-gender-dysphoria-among-teenagers
A new report by Sweden's Board of Health and Welfare examines mental health and the rise of gender dysphoria – a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because they feel that their gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth do not match – in the past decade.
The 1,500-percent rise was seen among teenagers defined as girls at birth and aged 13-17, but other groups also saw an increase according to the report. In the same period, between 2008 and 2018, the number of registered men aged 18-24 and diagnosed with gender dysphoria grew by 400 percent.
"There is no doubt that there is a clear increase, but we do not know what causes the increase," Peter Salmi, analyst at the Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), said in a statement. Almost 6,000 people had some kind of gender dysphoria diagnosis in Sweden in 2018. But the report also shows widespread mental illness within the group, with the majority also being diagnosed with for example depression or anxiety, especially young people registered as girls at birth.
Autism, self-harm and suicide attempts were also more common compared to the population as a whole, with people diagnosed with gender dysphoria running a higher risk of dying from suicide. However, the report also suggests that people with other psychiatric diagnoses are also more at risk of suicide, which the report concludes makes it hard to determine which diagnosis causes the higher risk.
snip
Sweden sees sharp rise in gender dysphoria among young people
The number of teenagers registered as girls at birth who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria has increased by almost 1,500 percent in ten years in Sweden, according to a new report.https://www.thelocal.se/20200213/sweden-sees-sharp-rise-in-gender-dysphoria-among-teenagers
A new report by Sweden's Board of Health and Welfare examines mental health and the rise of gender dysphoria – a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because they feel that their gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth do not match – in the past decade.
The 1,500-percent rise was seen among teenagers defined as girls at birth and aged 13-17, but other groups also saw an increase according to the report. In the same period, between 2008 and 2018, the number of registered men aged 18-24 and diagnosed with gender dysphoria grew by 400 percent.
"There is no doubt that there is a clear increase, but we do not know what causes the increase," Peter Salmi, analyst at the Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), said in a statement. Almost 6,000 people had some kind of gender dysphoria diagnosis in Sweden in 2018. But the report also shows widespread mental illness within the group, with the majority also being diagnosed with for example depression or anxiety, especially young people registered as girls at birth.
Autism, self-harm and suicide attempts were also more common compared to the population as a whole, with people diagnosed with gender dysphoria running a higher risk of dying from suicide. However, the report also suggests that people with other psychiatric diagnoses are also more at risk of suicide, which the report concludes makes it hard to determine which diagnosis causes the higher risk.
snip
February 12, 2020
POLL METHODOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHICS
This survey of 496 likely Arkansas Democratic primary voters was conducted Feb. 6-7, 2020, and has a margin of error of +/- 4.3%. Respondents were contacted via text message and given a unique link to complete the survey online.
Age
Under 30 8.1%
Between 30-44 18.2%
Between 45-64 40.3%
65 and over 33.4%
Race
Black 17.5%
Asian 0.3%
White 80.5%
Hispanic 0.3%
Native American 0.6%
Other 0.8%
Gender
Female 51.5%
Male 48.5%
Poll: Bloomberg holds slim lead among logjam in Arkansas Democratic Presidential primary
https://talkbusiness.net/2020/02/poll-bloomberg-holds-slim-lead-among-logjam-in-arkansas-democratic-presidential-primary/POLL METHODOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHICS
This survey of 496 likely Arkansas Democratic primary voters was conducted Feb. 6-7, 2020, and has a margin of error of +/- 4.3%. Respondents were contacted via text message and given a unique link to complete the survey online.
Age
Under 30 8.1%
Between 30-44 18.2%
Between 45-64 40.3%
65 and over 33.4%
Race
Black 17.5%
Asian 0.3%
White 80.5%
Hispanic 0.3%
Native American 0.6%
Other 0.8%
Gender
Female 51.5%
Male 48.5%
February 12, 2020
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will likely drop out of the Democratic presidential race on Wednesday, a person familiar with the matter told CBS News on Tuesday night.
Patrick is expected to announce his decision in an email to supporters. He joined the race late, entering the fray in November, and did not gain any traction. Patrick received little support in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary; with 77 percent of precincts reporting, he has 0.4 percent of the vote.
snip
Deval Patrick is reportedly dropping out of a race people forgot he was in
https://theweek.com/speedreads/895362/deval-patrick-reportedly-dropping-race-people-forgotFormer Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will likely drop out of the Democratic presidential race on Wednesday, a person familiar with the matter told CBS News on Tuesday night.
Patrick is expected to announce his decision in an email to supporters. He joined the race late, entering the fray in November, and did not gain any traction. Patrick received little support in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary; with 77 percent of precincts reporting, he has 0.4 percent of the vote.
snip
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: London
Home country: US/UK/Sweden
Current location: Stockholm, Sweden
Member since: Sun Jul 1, 2018, 07:25 PM
Number of posts: 43,330
