Big deadline sparks controversy for Uber drivers in Oklahoma City | KFOR.com

Big deadline sparks controversy for Uber drivers in Oklahoma City | KFOR.com: "OKLAHOMA CITY — This week marks a controversial deadline that could impact hundreds of metro drivers.

Starting Thursday, ride sharing services like Uber will have stricter regulations than ever before.

Drivers for Uber will have to submit an application with the city to be considered a legal driver.

Some Uber drivers argue the changes are cumbersome and expensive, and could force many Uber drivers out of the business.

Last year, the city council passed an ordinance putting Uber drivers and taxi cab drivers on the same playing field.

“It’s not that hard to be permitted as a driver,” said Oklahoma City Police Lt. Leroy Dancy.

Police say their goal is simply public safety.

“We want to ensure drivers are safe, that they’re not sex offenders or have a violent history,” said Dancy.

Still, because a state law is in the works that if it passes would override the city ordinance, Uber driver David Glover says Uber has not gone out of its way to inform its drivers of this week’s deadline.

In fact, the company itself refused to sign off on the final paperwork David needs to stay legal.

“I’d say less than five percent know they need to get a permit because Uber hasn’t put the word out about what to do,” said Glover.

If Uber drivers are caught and not in compliance, they could face a ticket of over $700.

Taxi drivers are thrilled by the changes."



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Germany bans Uber's ridesharing service | Al Jazeera America

Germany bans Uber's ridesharing service | Al Jazeera America: "Brussels to a virtual standstill with their vehicles as demonstrations protesting Uber caused traffic jams. About 100 French taxi drivers traveled to Brussels to take part in the protest.

Uber's American founder Travis Kalanick has said the system will create 50,000 new jobs in Europe this year, and will help take 400,000 cars off the road by encouraging drivers to use Uber cars instead of their own vehicles. 

Late last year, authorities in Thailand and Spain ordered the company to cease its ridesharing operations in those countries. The decisions were made after Uber was banned in the Indian capital of Delhi, following accusations that one of the online taxi service's drivers raped a passenger.  "



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Sidecar CEO: Why our new same-day deliveries can beat Uber’s | Gigaom

Sidecar CEO: Why our new same-day deliveries can beat Uber’s | Gigaom: "How do you manage supply and demand for a company with as big a network of restaurants as Eat24? What if there aren’t drivers available to deliver food when customers order it?

We have a large network of drivers to start with. We have a large pool of resources. We are able to mix demand for rides with demand for packages or, in this case, hot food.

There are times when a driver might first give a ride to a rider and the next request might be a delivery and the next request might be for another delivery and that same trip combines with a rider. All three scenarios are possible; that’s how we’re able to get more capacity, magnify the efficiency of the network.

What about when things are really busy, like during rush hour? Who gets priority: Packages or people?"



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Lyft may not deliver on some of its $1,000 sign-up bonuses, angering drivers | Gigaom

Lyft may not deliver on some of its $1,000 sign-up bonuses, angering drivers | Gigaom: "After I published this story, Lyft responded to my request for comment with the following statement:

We saw a tremendous response to last week’s special invitation to applicants, resulting in the biggest wave of applications in Lyft history. This was a time-limited promotion and we’re working hard to process applications before the promotion ends, while continuing to maintain our core safety standards. We expect that thousands of people will qualify for the promotion.
We’re always exploring new ways to welcome drivers to the Lyft platform and will be in touch with updates for applicants who were not able to qualify for the latest promotion, after this promotion concludes."



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The War the U.S. Left Behind in Afghanistan | Afghanistan / Pakistan | FRONTLINE | PBS

The War the U.S. Left Behind in Afghanistan | Afghanistan / Pakistan | FRONTLINE | PBS:



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The War the U.S. Left Behind in Afghanistan | Afghanistan / Pakistan | FRONTLINE | PBS

The War the U.S. Left Behind in Afghanistan | Afghanistan / Pakistan | FRONTLINE | PBS:



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USA Today Columnist Cal Thomas: Gay Marriage Is A Sign of the 'End Times'

USA Today Columnist Cal Thomas: Gay Marriage Is A Sign of the 'End Times': "“I think it’s going to go 5-4 or even 6-3 in favor of same-sex marriage. All of these things are not the cause of our decadence, they’re a reflection of it,” he told me in an interview for SiriusXM Progress at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland on Saturday. He’d just moderated a panel that included right-wing radio host Dana Loesch and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and focused on what Christian conservatives view as a threat to “religious freedom,” mostly from the LGBT rights movement.

“If you read the Scriptures, as I do, in both testaments all of these things are forecast in prophesies, in the book of Daniel and what Jesus and Paul said, so I'm not worried about it,” Thomas continued, describing his surprising reaction to the Supreme Court possibly ruling in favor of marriage equality. “I say everything is right on schedule. I’m trying to shore up my own family first and, hopefully, that will be an example to other people… If you look at not only what Jesus said, but Paul the Apostle, about what things would be like in the end times, people will be lovers of lies rather than the truth. They will elevate things that are called abomination in scripture to normality… All of the prophesies up to the final ones have come true. And that’s why I say that everything is right on schedule.”

Listen to the interview here:
"



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