Altruistic World Online Library

by **admin** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 4:17 am

Uber Driver in California Will Be Considered Employee, Not Contractor (Updated)
by Kate Knibbs
Reuters
6/17/15

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

An Uber driver is an employee, not a contractor, according to a ruling from the California labor commission. This is horrible news for Uber but good news for anyone concerned that the ruthless ride-hailing service is building a corporate empire by dicking over its drivers.

Uber insists that it’s a merely a tech company peddling a mobile platform that happens to connect drivers with riders, not a driving service. That’s a convenient way to think about the service, since it means Uber can shrug off the responsibility of treating is growing supply of drivers like they work for the company.

Semantics aside, this ruling makes it clear that Uber is a service that employs drivers.

“The defendants hold themselves out as nothing more than a neutral technological platform, designed simply to enable drivers and passengers to transact the business of transportation,” the commissioner wrote. “The reality, however, is that defendants are involved in every aspect of the operation.”

The ruling came after a San Francisco-based former Uber driver Barbara Berwick filed a claim against the company. Uber will have to pay her $4000 in business expenses for her stint driving for them.

Even though Uber tries to paint itself as a matchmaking platform for riders and drivers, it sets strict controls on how drivers conduct their business. Uber sets fare rates and prohibits drivers from collecting tips, and it has rules about what kind of cars they can drive. It’ll also boot drivers who receive low ratings on the app. As the ruling pointed out, that heavy level of control fits the profile of an employer.

While this ruling is just about Berwick, it will give drivers ammo in other cases, especially in California. This isn’t the first time Uber drivers have tried to get employee status; some Uber drivers have filed a class action lawsuit in order to be considered employees instead of contractors. And in May, a Florida agency ruled that a former Uber driver injured on the job was an employee.

That doesn’t mean that every Uber driver will be happy with this ruling. Many people driving as a side gig could be hemmed in by an “employee” designation, since 1099 workers have more flexibility. The divide between agreeing or disagreeing with the ruling may come down to whether a driver is picking rides up as a side gig or extra cash, or whether they’re attempting to eke out a living.

This is bad news for Uber because it’s in the company’s best interest to stay a “tech” company. The current model maximizes how much money Uber can make without being saddled with employment responsibilities.

This ruling means Uber may have to start doing stuff like paying for social security and medicare taxes for eligible drivers in California, and it could incentivize drivers in other states to make claims for similar employee standing. It’s a blow to the contractor economy.

Uber is appealing the ruling.

Update: Uber pointed out that the ruling only applies to one driver. “Reuters’ original headline was not accurate. The California Labor Commission’s ruling is non-binding and applies to a single driver,” a spokesperson said. “Indeed it is contrary to a previous ruling by the same commission, which concluded in 2012 that the driver ‘performed services as an independent contractor, and not as a bona fide employee.’ Five other states have also come to the same conclusion. It’s important to remember that the number one reason drivers choose to use Uber is because they have complete flexibility and control. The majority of them can and do choose to earn their living from multiple sources, including other ride sharing companies.”

by **admin** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 4:20 am

Mitch Williams Ejected From Child's Baseball Game For Arguing, Cursing
by Timohy Burke
5/11/14

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

MLB Network analyst Mitch Williams was ejected Saturday from a baseball game for 10-year-olds after a profanity-laced tirade in which he called an umpire a "motherfucker" in front of the children, observers tell us.

Williams coaches his son's 10U Jersey Wild team, which was participating in a Ripken Baseball tournament in Aberdeen, Md. We've confirmed through several sources that Mitch Williams—who was once tossed from his daughter's youth basketball game for cussing at the ref—had complained about numerous calls throughout the game, ranging from balls and strikes to a close play at the plate that ended a Jersey Wild rally. This led to repeated arguments with umpires on the field.

One umpire finally confronted Williams after the former MLB pitcher shouted something to a parent in the stands about getting that umpire fired. The confrontation sparked a face-to-face argument that, one parent told us, was "just like the major leagues." Two different observers told us Williams had to be physically separated from the umpire by other coaches. Williams then refused to leave the field, causing a 10-minute delay in play; as a result of his antics, he was initially banned from the tournament.

Williams discussed the incident on Twitter this morning:

We've attempted to access the video of the incident, but the game in question is curiously unavailable from the service providing feeds from the rest of the tournament. An individual familiar with the situation informs us that after hearing Williams's explanation, Ripken Baseball officials lifted the ban—saying the umpire failed to act professionally. But according to our witnesses, the umpire's "unprofessional" behavior came well after Mitch Williams had been ejected and refused to leave. (Ripken Baseball "monitored" Williams closely during his team's two games today. Jersey Wild did not win the tournament.)

Here's how other people in attendance described the incident.

There's nothing worse than the Bad Sports Parent, and Williams has a bit of a history playing this role. In 2008, he was tossed from his then-10-year-old daughter's youth-league basketball game for dropping f-bombs on a referee. "I'm emotional when it comes to my kids," he explained later. "What I saw happening was completely unfair."

To contact the author of this post, write to tim@deadspin.com or find him on Twitter @bubbaprog. Photos used by permission.

by **admin** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 4:24 am

Witnesses: Mitch Williams Called Child "A Pussy," Ordered Beanball
by Timothy Burke
5/16/14

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

The fallout continues from MLB Network analyst Mitch Williams's meltdown at a Ripken Baseball youth tournament this past weekend, as parents and coaches tell Deadspin that "The Wild Thing" called one child "a pussy" while ordering one of his own 10-year-old players to hit the opposing pitcher with a beanball.

While video of the Saturday ejection is still suspiciously unavailable, we were able to acquire footage from Sunday's championship game between the Williams-coached Jersey Wild and SJ Titans, another elite 10U baseball team from New Jersey. The film at the top of this post shows an interaction between Williams and some SJ Titans players. Multiple witnesses report that interaction consisted of Williams calling the SJ Titans pitcher "a pussy." Children on the team heard this, and one asked his parent on the ride home what it meant. The comment sparked a meeting behind home plate between SJ Titans coaches, umpires, Williams, and a handler (one witness called him a "babysitter") assigned by Ripken Baseball to keep Williams in line after Saturday's ejection.

Even in this interaction, you can see Williams being aggressive and argumentative.

Here's video of an incident that happened in the fifth inning, when the SJ Titans pitcher came to bat in the leadoff position. Watch as Williams says something to his catcher, after which the catcher goes out to the mound to say something to his pitcher. SJ Titans coaches and players overheard this interaction, and report that Williams ordered his pitcher to intentionally hit the SJ Titans batter with the first pitch. One witness told us it was in an attempt to knock the SJ Titans pitcher out of the game.

Sure enough, the first pitch hits the SJ Titans player square in the ribs. (The home plate umpire, who had been made aware of the upcoming beanball, warned both benches.) One SJ Titans assistant coach confronted Williams about the pitch after the game, and reported that Williams stated, "I told him to throw it inside."

Other witnesses—a number of parents, coaches, and other observers contacted us about Mitch Williams's behavior—state that Williams was heckling SJ Titans coaches throughout the game, repeatedly calling one a "squirrelly little teapot," and making harassing comments about the appearance of 10-year-old baseball players on the opposing team. (Lest you think these reports come from a team of sore losers, know that SJ Titans defeated Jersey Wild in the championship game.)

We've noted Williams being a Bad Sport Parent for years, and numerous sources reported to us on his various behaviors both at the most recent Ripken Baseball tournament and in other sports, in other cities. Here's a sampling of what they told us.

We contacted several Ripken Baseball representatives. They have not responded to our questions, though one individual familiar with the situation informs us the organization is "taking matters quite seriously." Mitch Williams works alongside Bill Ripken at MLB Network.

Update (5/17, 12:41 p.m.): Several observers of today's Jersey Wild game at the Diamond Nation tournament note Mitch Williams, while in attendance, is not coaching the team.

To contact the author of this post, write to tim@deadspin.com or find him on Twitter @bubbaprog.

by **admin** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 4:42 am

Actor James Woods Gloats Over Death Of Random Twitter Troll He Sued To Unmask [Updated]
from the stay-classy dept
See the update at the end...
by Mike Masnick
October 21, 2016

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

Actor James Woods is an asshole. Let's just put that front and center. As you may recall, a little over a year ago, Woods sued a random Twitter user who went by the pseudonym "Abe List." "List" frequently mocked Woods, including calling him "clown-boy" and a "cocaine addict." Woods then sued for defamation, demanding $10 million, and tried to unmask List. This was ridiculous for any number of reasons, not the least of which is calling much more attention to what a thin-skinned jackass Woods is from anonymous Twitter users. But, more importantly, such hyperbolic statements in an internet forum are not defamation -- rhetorical hyperbole certainly doesn't meet the standard for defamation of a public figure. On top of that, trying to unmask an anonymous speaker is really, really sketchy, and there's a very high bar.

Oh, and did we mention that Woods himself has a long history of similar rhetorical hyperbole on Twitter, including making statements about others smoking crack?

James Woods @RealJamesWoods
@stevmg Well, put down your crack pipe, and retread my timelines. You'll find plenty there.
11 Oct 2013

California, of course, has a strong anti-SLAPP law, and Abe List, with the help of lawyers Lisa Bloom and Ken "Popehat" White, sought to use it to get the case kicked out. While the judge initially agreed that Woods' lawsuit was a SLAPP suit, he eventually changed his mind, and said that Woods could find out who Abe List really is. List appealed to California's 2nd District Court of Appeal soon after that ruling earlier this year. Since then the case had moved forward with both sides filing opening briefs.

However, apparently "List" just died. There are no details, but List passed away -- and with it, the case is over. The court docket shows that on Thursday, his lawyers filed for the case to be dismissed based on List's death and the court quickly dismissed the case and closed it. No matter what you think of anything, this is not a great situation. Someone died.

And total asshole James Woods decided to not just gloat about it, but to rub everyone's face in it. First, he pretended that the dismissal was because he was going to win the case:

James Woods @RealJamesWoods
The slime who libeled me just dropped his appeal contesting my victorious SLAPP motion. Perennial loser @LisaBloom isn't yapping so much now
20 Oct. 2016

That's so obnoxious that you might even overlook the fact that Woods here flat out admits he filed a SLAPP lawsuit.

Bloom, quite reasonably offended, pointed out that her pseudononymous client had died and it's pretty obnoxious to gloat over a default victory like that.

Lisa Bloom @LisaBloom
Hi James. As you surely know, my client died. Have a nice day and stay classy!
20 Oct 2016

Just to put an exclamation point on what a total and complete jackass he is, Woods responded to others pointing out that the client died by gleefully celebrating his death and hoping it was "in agony."

James Woods @RealJamesWoods
@theangrymick @LisaBloom Hopefully screaming my name. In agony.
20 Oct 2016

He doubled down on that with another person, talking about how he'll follow people "to the bowels of hell."

James Woods @RealJamesWoods
@ByYourLogic Screaming my name, I hope. Learn this. Libel me, I'll sue you. If you die, I'll follow you to the bowels of Hell. Get it?
20 Oct. 2016

That's sickening. Like, literally. I feel ill. What kind of person would celebrate anyone's death? Even someone they dislike? I have no idea if James Woods is a "cocaine addict" but he sure is an extreme asshole.

Oh, and kinda creepy too.

James Woods @RealJamesWoods
Dear @LisaLoeb. I mistakenly tweeted your name. If I could have the honor to take you to dinner and apologize in person, I would be honored.
James Woods @RealJamesWoods
@LisaLoeb So sorry, I had an auto spell snafu and your name was mistakenly in my tweet! I adore you and am so sorry for the mistake!
James Woods @RealJamesWoods
Not @LisaLoeb (typo) @LisaBloom! The perennially loser loudmouth diet guru masquerading as an attorney. She lost to my lawyers once again.

I asked Ken White if he had anything to say about this and he replied:

Update: And, of course, James Woods has now deleted many of those tweets I have above, but added a new one, attacking the lawyer, Lisa Bloom, for mentioning Abe's death. You know, the one he was gloating over.

James Woods @RealJamesWoods
@LisaBloom Having spent time listening to you, he's no doubt in a better place. Keep losing, dear
James Woods @RealJamesWoods
@LisaBloom And how classy of you, dear, to announce his death on @Twitter. Slinking into the spotlight at his family's expense? #Lovely

Another update: According to Eriq Gardner at THResq, despite Abe's death, Woods and his lawyers are going to continue the case to try to unmask who Abe really was.

by **admin** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 6:13 am

Exposing the self-proclaimed 'inventor of email'. Gizmodo has published a profile of Shiva Ayyadurai, debunking his claims to be the "inventor of email."
by Sam Byford @345triangle
The Verge
Mar 5, 2012

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

Last month the Washington Post published a profile of Shiva Ayyadurai, describing him as the "inventor of e-mail" based on a program called EMAIL that he wrote in the late 1970s as a New Jersey high school student. This sparked a firestorm of controversy, with many readers pointing out that electronic messaging predated Ayyadurai's work by several years, and the Post eventually posted a lengthy correction. So, is this Ayyadurai a chancer, trying to claim credit for a revolutionary invention he had nothing to do with? Not if you believe his convoluted side of the story, which Gizmodo ran today. Ayyadurai claims that after he exposed corruption in a local R&D organization, the Indian government is trying to discredit him with smears against his character.

Unfortunately, the fact that Ayyadurai seems all too willing to be profiled as the inventor of email in major news outlets — and that he owns and runs the domain inventorofemail.com — would seem to heavily undermine his defense. What he could have a claim to is the first use of the term "email," and he was indeed awarded the copyright for his EMAIL software in 1982. He's less than clear about the distinction on his site, though, using semantic maneuvers such as dismissing Ray Tomlinson's groundbreaking first message via ARPANET in 1971 as "pre-EMAIL," while claiming that the iPhone uses "EMAIL" to this day. As Gizmodo notes, "creating a type of airplane named AIRPLANE doesn't make you Wilbur Wright." Like many other technologies, it's difficult to ascribe a single inventor to email, but it's safe to say that Shiva Ayyadurai would not be our first choice.

by **admin** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 6:20 am

Did MIT Professor V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai Really Invent Email, Or Is He Just a Fraud?
by Lauren Landry
Bostinno.streetwise.co
3/6/12

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai’s been referred to as “the man who invented email” by TIME. Last month, he traveled to Washington D.C. to donate the original code for his email system to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, according to the Washington Post. He holds four degrees from MIT -- where he is now a lecturer for the Department of Biological Engineering -- and, among other things, is being called a “nut,” “fraud” and “loon” by his colleagues.

Gizmodo dived into “the crazy story of the man who pretended to invent email,” tracing back to 1978 when Ayyadurai was 14-years-old and living in New Jersey. Enamored by the communication system being used at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, Ayyadurai began began building what he’d soon copyright as “EMAIL.”

Electronic messaging predates V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai’s work in 1978, however, and his copyright to “email” establishes him only as the creator of the “computer program for [an] electronic mail system.” When Gizmodo first brought this up, claiming Ayyadurai might be an “impostor,” he claimed he was really just the “victim of international character assassination.”

Ayyadurai worked for the Indian government in 2009, helping to run CSIR, a national research and development incubator. Ayyadurai calls it “corrupt,” telling Gizmodo patents were plagiarized and anyone who tried to speak up was canned. Ayyadurai couldn’t sit by and watch, and so he relinquished his title and called “for freedom of speech among colleagues.” The Indian government clamped down. He was fired, evicted from his government housing and urged to flee the country. And flee he did -- right to MIT.

“Don’t know him, but [he] didn’t invent email,” said an anonymous MIT coworker to Gizmodo. “If he claims to have done so, he’s a dick.”

Ayyadurai’s convinced the Indian government is slandering his name, though. So, to compensate, he’s created dozens of domains to affirm his title, including InventorOfEmail.com, DrEmail.com and EmailInventor.com. If that’s not enough, Gizmodo reports Ayyadurai has 100 more sites to push the claim home.

Raymond Tomlinson is someone people look to as an actual pioneer of email. He’s best known for known for having sent the first text letter between two computers on ARPANET in 1971. Even the “To,” “From,” “CC” and “BCC” fields Ayyadurai claims to have created were really developed and documented a full year before Ayyadurai’s project even began.

Back then, however, those emails weren’t called “emails,” but rather “messages.” So, actually copyrighting “email” is the only thing that made much of a difference. “But creating a type of airplane named AIRPLANE doesn't make you Wilbur Wright,” writes Sam Biddle of Gizmodo, and he couldn’t be more right.

So -- is it all just a big scam? Looking at Ayyadurai’s personal website, it's hard to tell. That’s some PR.

by **admin** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 4:03 am

THE TECH DIRT LAST SUPPER (POOP EATERS)
by Tara Carreon

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

Dedicated with affection to the Number-wun Poop-Eater, Mister "Anonymous Coward" at TechDirt. Does the concept of hive mind heaving with hostility mean anything to you?

If you got a load to drop,
Well you know you oughta to drop it at
TechDirt
'Cause they appreciate that excretate
That comes with a gush of unbridled hate at
TechDirt
Yeah when you got to poop,
It's hard to find a snoot
That's gonna part your cheeks
And dig in deep like they do at
TechDirt
They get the tongue in good,
They clean you out just right,
They leave you satisfied at
TechDirt
It would have been a waste
To leave it in the bowl
When they were just waiting to eat it whole at
TechDirt

by **admin** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 4:41 am

How The Guy Who Didn't Invent Email Got Memorialized In The Press & The Smithsonian As The Inventor Of Email
from the damn-you-wikipedia dept
by Mike Masnick
February 22, 2012

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

Late last week, the Washington Post reported that The Smithsonian had acquired "tapes, documentation, copyrights, and over 50,000 lines of code from V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai, who both the Smithsonian and the Washington Post insisted was the "inventor of e-mail." There's just one problem with this: It's not actually true. Lots of internet old-timers quickly started to speak out against this, especially on Dave Farber's Interesting People email list, where they highlighted how it's just not true. As is nicely summarized on Wikipedia's talk page about Ayyadurai, he was responsible for "merely inventing an email management system that he named EMAIL," which came long after email itself. The Washington Post eventually offered the following "clarification":

Except... that "clarification" seems to confuse copyright with patents. Copyright is only over the specific copyrightable work created -- which would be the specific code he used. It does not, in any way, establish him as "the creator" of "the" electronic mail system -- merely an electronic mail system -- and hardly the first one. I could write some sort of email management software tomorrow and copyright that... and it would no more make me an "inventor" of email than Ayyadurai.

There's a detailed history of email over at the NetHistory site, and you'll note that Ayyadurai doesn't warrant a mention -- which isn't surprising since his work comes way after most of the important stuff was done. Thomas Haigh sent a detailed email to the SIGCIS list, breaking down what happened. Apparently, Time Magazine ran a profile of Ayyadurai a few months back, calling him "the man who invented email," which resulted in the Smithsonian's interest. But even that article notes at the beginning that Ayyadurai actually just holds a copyright on EMAIL, rather than email itself. It even asks about the fact that Ray Tomlinson is often credited as being the inventor of email -- and his efforts came much earlier.

Either way, it appears that Ayyadurai has played up this idea that he's the inventor of email, despite little to back that up (apparently frustrating many people who actually know the history). Yes, he copyrighted a particular bit of code, but there's little to support the idea that he had very much to do with "the invention of email" in any way. But, that's not what the Washington Post (or, apparently, the Smithsonian) will tell you...

by **admin** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 5:29 am

Shiva Ayyadurai, inventor of a program named "EMAIL"
By Rob Beschizza
Boingboing
Mar 6, 2012

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

At Gizmodo, Sam Biddle takes a long look at Shiva Ayyadurai, the MIT lecturer who snookered Time, the Smithsonian Museum and The Washington Post into believing he invented email. Ayyadurai appears to be a brilliant, paranoid huckster.

Ayyadurai registered a program called "email" with the copyright office in 1978, but email itself is older. While he details specific aspects of email that his program introduced, Biddle finds these claims just as suspect. Moreover, in the video of Ayyadurai below, he talks of "my inventing the email system." In other words, he's willing to fill whatever container is put before him.

The Post's fixed its story, but Time hasn't.

by **admin** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 5:37 am

Internet Hall of Fame Recognizes Internet Leaders and Luminaries
by Internet Hall of Fame
March 8, 2012

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

INTERNET HALL OF FAME TO RECOGNIZE LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS OF INTERNET PIONEERS, INNOVATORS, AND GLOBAL LEADERS

Internet Society convenes distinguished international panel to select inaugural inductees

[Washington, D.C. and Geneva, Switzerland – 08 March 2012] – The Internet Society today announced that in conjunction with its 20th anniversary celebration, it is establishing an annual Internet Hall of Fame program to honor leaders and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the global Internet. Inaugural inductees will be announced at an Awards Gala during the Internet Society’s Global INET 2012 conference in Geneva, Switzerland, 22-24 April 2012, http://www.internetsociety.org/globalinet.

The Internet Society has convened an Advisory Board to vote on the inductees for the 2012 Internet Hall of Fame inauguration. The Advisory Board is a highly-qualified, diverse, international committee that spans multiple industry segments and backgrounds. This year’s Advisory Board members include:

• Dr. Lishan Adam, ICT Development Researcher, Ethiopia
• Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, WIRED
• Alex Corenthin, Directeur des Systemes d'Information, University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar; Chair, Internet Society Senegal Chapter
• William Dutton, Professor of Internet Studies, Oxford Internet Institute
• Joichi Ito, Director, MIT Media Lab
• Mike Jensen, Independent ICT Consultant, South Africa
• Aleks Krotoski, Technology Academic/Journalist/Author
• Loic Le Meur, Founder & CEO, LeWeb
• Mark Mahaney, Internet Analyst, Citigroup
• Dr. Alejandro Pisanty, Professor at National University of Mexico; Chair of Internet Society Mexico Chapter
• Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project
• Jimmy Wales, Co-founder, Wikipedia

ABOUT THE INTERNET SOCIETY

The Internet Society is the trusted independent source for Internet information and thought leadership from around the world. With its principled vision and substantial technological foundation, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy, technology, and future development among users, companies, governments, and foundations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet for everyone.

For more information, see: http://www.internetsociety.org

Altruistic World Online Library

Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Didn’t

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Re: Shiva Ayyadurai suing TechDirt over Stories Saying He Di

Who is online