Tag Archives: Commiefornia

Google Glass targeted as symbol by anti-tech crowd

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“The $1,500 device, which displays Web content on a tiny screen, signals its wearer as a likely member of an affluent tech elite. And Glass also can discreetly shoot photos or video, which some people view as invasive.  That’s caused unease for some folks and, in some cases has led to arguments, altercations and even attacks against people wearing the technology.  It’s relatively new for Glass to be targeted, either over privacy concerns or as a presumed symbol of the tech industry as a whole.  In late February, a woman says she was attacked at a bar on San Francisco’s famous Haight Street after fellow patrons began heckling her and trying to rip Glass off of her face.”

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/14/tech/mobile/google-glass-attack/

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Union’s Pay Negotiations Play Big Role In Protests Over ‘Google Buses’

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“As it turns out, many of the fights are actually being stoked by the politically powerful Service Employees International Union, which represents thousands of San Francisco city workers. Coincidentally they are also in the midst of negotiations with the city for a new proposed contract.  What is the union’s pitch? ‘We want a program that makes the city a place not just for the wealthy can thrive, but where low, moderate, middle income people can also thrive,’ said Larry Bradshaw of the SEIU. That contract would include a 15 percent pay raise over the next three years. The city would pay 85 to 100 percent of medical coverage, and a $21 an hour minimum wage for full and part time city workers.”

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/04/16/union-plays-big-role-in-san-francisco-protests-over-google-buses-tech-tax-breaks/

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Protesters target Apple for offshore tax shelters

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“SEIU USWW, the union that organized the march, represents security guards and janitors at many companies, not just tech, in San Francisco and the East Bay.  But Tuesday’s event appealed to tech companies’ moral goals, which have become more relevant as other activists call for the rapidly growing companies to give back to the cities they affect, ranging from other union demonstrations outside of Twitter to activist-led marches on Google employees’ houses.  ‘We’re trying to have a little fun on Tax Day and show how Apple’s unpaid tax revenues could help Bay Area infrastructure,’ said Alfredo Fletes, the union spokesman.”

http://blog.sfgate.com/techchron/2014/04/15/protesters-target-apple-for-offshore-tax-shelters/

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SF tech bus program could be stalled by environmental appeals

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“The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency approved the pilot program for commuter shuttles, which are commonly referred to as tech buses, after years of rising tensions. Any delay would leave many unanswered questions for the workers and students who use the shuttles, along with police and parking control officers. The pilot was born in response to complaints about the impacts of the shuttles and lack of traffic-violation enforcement.  The opponents of the SFMTA proposal are appealing for the shuttle program to undergo a rigorous environmental study.  A successful appeal of the environmental review could derail the plan.”

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-tech-bus-program-could-be-stalled-for-months-by-appeals/Content?oid=2728133

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California’s anti-game senator Leland Yee arrested for corruption

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“In a bid to become Secretary of State, Yee apparently ‘solicited money from undercover FBI agents’ and engaged in ‘a discussion with the undercover agents about an illegal gun-trafficking deal.’   Yee represents District 8, which includes video game development hotbeds like San Francisco and San Mateo County. Gamers know him as the man who put forth the much-publicized violent game law that the United States Supreme Court struck down in 2011.  ‘Gamers have got to just quiet down,’ Yee said at the time. ‘Gamers have no credibility in this argument. This is all about their lust for violence and the industry’s lust for money. This is a billion-dollar industry. This is about their self-interest.'”

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/report-california-s-anti-game-senator-leland-yee-arrested-on-corruption-bribery-charges/1100-6418563/

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California DMV Investigates Potential Large-Scale Data Breach

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“California drivers who recently avoided a trip to the DMV — and instead opted to renew licenses and ID cards online — might be in store for a bigger headache than they would have gotten from the long lines they tried to dodge.  The California Department of Motor Vehicles is looking into a potential credit-card data breach related to the online transactions made on its website between August 2013 and January 2014.  The department is ‘performing a forensic review of its systems and seeking information regarding any potential breach from both the external vendor that processes the DMV’s credit-card transactions and the credit-card companies themselves,’ the statement said.”

http://mashable.com/2014/03/23/california-dmv-data-breach/

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Company fined for smog-forming compounds in ‘Gorilla Snot’ hair gel

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“It was the styling product’s smog-forming compounds that prompted California air regulators to take action against Midway Importing Inc.  The Houston-based company, which distributes health and beauty care products nationwide, paid $213,000 in fines for selling the line of hair gel in violation of consumer product regulations designed to protect air quality, the California Air Resources Board said Monday.  During routine inspections in 2010, state investigators bought Moco de Gorila Gel Estilo Galan hair gel.  The state board estimated the hair products contributed an additional 23.9 tons of pollutants into California’s air and fined the company $8,900 per ton.”

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/12/science/la-sci-sn-hair-gel-gorilla-snot-smog-fine-20130812

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Beaten, Thrown in Solitary After Calling 911 To Help Crashed Bicyclist

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“I live in a new gilded age in a golden city. But sometimes the cracks show, even here. The façade crumbles and you find yourself naked, in solitary confinement, in a wretched, feces-stained prison.  How? As a result of my efforts to help injured bicyclists by calling 911, I was, in short order: separated from my friend, violently tackled, arrested, taken to county jail, stripped and left in a solitary cell. I am writing this story because, if it could happen to me, it could happen to you, and I feel the need to do something to help prevent this brutality from propagating.”

https://medium.com/human-parts/9f53ef6a1c10

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Supreme Court Rejects NRA’s Bid to Block Sunnyvale Gun Law

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“The Supreme Court announced this afternoon that Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, who handles emergency appeals from California and other states in the 9th Circuit, rejected the National Rifle Association’s bid for an injunction to block enforcement of Sunnyvale’s ban on large-capacity firearms magazines.  Last week’s decision by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Whyte of San Jose, an order rejecting the NRA’s challenge to the magazine ban and upholding the Sunnyvale law, will stand. The NRA, representing five Sunnyvale residents, argued that the ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition violates the Second Amendment-guaranteed right to bear arms.”

http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2014/03/07/nra-appeals-sunnyvale-gun-law-to-supreme-court

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Google ‘Donates’ Millions For San Francisco Kids’ City Bus Fares

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“San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced Thursday that Google has donated almost $7 million to the city so that low-income children can have free rides on city buses for two years. The move comes as the Mountain View, Calif.-based tech giant’s luxury buses have become a symbol of stratification in the Bay Area.  Lee’s office touted the $6.8 million gift as ‘one of the largest private contributions towards direct City services in San Francisco history.’ San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu said ‘it’s good to see Google support the next generation of Muni riders.'”

http://nation.time.com/2014/02/27/google-bus-controversy-san-francisco-donation-youth-city-buses/

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