The New York city cab drivers are threatening to strike for a few days. This is an interesting situation, because although I am not really a fan of unions in general, I am certainly a fan of the taxi driver’s union. This is an industry that is so overregulated it should be sent into space to explode.
Ms. Desai, 34 year old head of the union.
The issue here is that the city wants to install gaudy GPS tracking systems in every cab, which is something along the lines of the most retarded thing I’ve ever heard.
What is the real reason they want this technology inserted into taxicabs?
The G.P.S. that will go in cabs will not be used to navigate routes, but will be connected to meters and track the vehicle’s movements. Commission officials have called it an “electronic trip sheet” and said it could be used to help recover lost property.
But Ms. Desai said the systems amounted to an invasion of privacy. “The Taxi and Limousine Commission wants to spy on drivers,” she said, a contention the commission has denied.
Ms. Desai said drivers had also complained that they were required to pay 5 percent of credit card fares to their garages as a service fee, and that meters sometimes malfunction when they are connected to global positioning systems.
Mr. Mateo praised the credit card systems, saying they would encourage more trips and higher tips. He dismissed concerns about the tracking systems.
“We don’t have to be radicals,” he said. “You want privacy, you don’t drive a cab.”
A strike could have wide-ranging effects. A one-day strike in 1998, organized by the Taxi Workers Alliance, stranded some commuters and caused the city to hastily arrange for private buses to drive to and from airports
Nor are these GPS systems particularly reliable, and if they go out, so does the meter.
Shins covering Pink Floyd and a bunch of other cool Shins tracks. (Sixeyes)
Dreaming new good music.
The thought of upscale McDonald’s excites me to no end. My refusal to watch Super Size Me has kept me eating from this American franchise for a long time. You would probably need something like that awful KFC video to stop me at this point.
I think I had a dream about this, except the woman was ScarJo, but I was still an old man.
The tango in Washington Square Park.
iPhone gets unlocked.
Venus Williams faux pas.
If you have to pay for text message spam, you can recoup.
If you have dumb friends, this might keep them going for awhile.
Tribute to Fats Domino.
It’s the fortieth anniversary of the American Conservatory Theater.
Are You Embarrassed Easily? went to Boston.
He needs a cuddle.
“I Need You” — The Stands (mp3)
“Over and Over” — Morcheeba (mp3)
“Northern Sky” — Nick Drake (mp3)
Tracks from Blair and the Jealous Sound.
Jessica Alba does the Jessica Biel thing.
Tony and Eva can’t bear to be apart.
The Yankees game on Friday went until very late, as they got started at 11 and went into extra innings. Jorge Posada, the Yankees catcher, got thrown of the game at about 2:30.
Alien vs. Predator was one of my favorite films of whatever year it came out, I’m going to say 2012. News of a sequel.
Get ready for the Veronica Mars movie.
Remind me not to fly in a hot air balloon:
This innocent guy is being imprisoned for murder in Nicaragua.
Rather harsh horoscope for me today.
VIRGO (August 22-September 21): Avoid all arguments and differences of opinion today because you could inadvertently blurt out something that you wish you had never said.
The message you send to the world with those sweatpants.
It’s been that kind of a week.
Someone didn’t like Vampire Weekend. We aired our views here.
TigerDirect unlawfully detains a customer for refusing to show a receipt. If you don’t think that’s important, I envy you.
The sound of Star Wars.
THE TOP BLOGS OF THE MOMENT SHARE THEIR JUNK WITH THE WORLD
Scramble Network is a must read. Here’s their Friday Tour Diary.
David Byrne’s blog has its moments for sure.
PREVIOUSLY ON THIS RECORDING
We went to the premiere of Hannah Takes the Stairs.
Molly examined Jose Gonzalez.
This Recording 