I’m always amused when I stop seeing wild turkeys in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and then they’re back out and in flocks of a dozen or more birds immediately afterwards. Just wanted to share.
A few items I have noticed:
Colorado drivers have formed a worker-owned ride hailing app to challenge Uber and Lyft. This comes from the Denver Post, but it should be a gift link. I found this story about how some Colorado drivers who have been working for Uber and Lyft are trying to help the majority of the fares go into their pockets rather than into that of the big corporations. From the article:
More than 4,000 drivers have downloaded the app since its soft launch in August, motivated by a platform built by drivers, for drivers. As opposed to Uber and Lyft, where companies take a large percentage of every ride, the Drivers’ Cooperative guarantees drivers 80% of each fare. The remaining 20% goes to the cooperative.
Another key difference: No surge pricing. A ride home from the bar won’t be jacked up just because it’s late at night.
…
More than 10,000 riders have downloaded the app thus far, and Ji said the cooperative hopes to attain a 10% market share within three years.
“This is revolutionary,” said state Rep. Stephanie Vigil, a Colorado Springs Democrat who, in 2022, became the first gig app driver elected to the Colorado legislature.
Stephanie Vigil is one of my favorite legislators in Colorado.
For an additional eye-opening take on the business model of delivery apps like Door Dash, Grub Hub and others, you might want to spend less than half an hour and be entertained by John Oliver, from April of this year.
I don’t know how many of you may have been, may be, or may be considering working for a food or person delivery company, but you might be interested in these stories. I know people do it from necessity, but it’s good to get an opinion from those who are doing it. I consider those who do it as successful survivors of this gig economy.
On another note, from ColoradoPolitics.com 'A mistake': Colorado Democrats Jared Polis, Michael Bennet and Jason Crow slam Hunter Biden pardon our governor seems to like posting friendly comments about the incoming administration, though whether it’s out of a desire to not make them angry or whether it is from a genuine, but deeply naive desire to work with people from all political standpoints even though they may not want to work with him, I don’t really know. Today, he was joined by Michael Bennet (not my favorite Senator) and Jason Crow (a good Democrat in my opinion) in dissing the Hunter Biden pardon. Those criticizing the pardon are (imo) still living in a fictitious world where the rule of law is supposedly applied to all equally. All one has to do is look at the highly unequal prosecution of Hunter Biden compared to that applied to anyone else who is charged with these same crimes, if they’re even charged at all. The Republicans would have continued to flog Hunter again and again, plus they’re probably going to go after Joe Biden for lots of made-up crimes like that loan to his brother, proven false accusations about Chinese business dealings and whatever else they can get one of their media outlets to raise outrage about.
Other Democrats pushed back on the criticism, including Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison, who lamented that Biden and fellow Democrats face "the highest standard" while there was "no standard for Donald Trump."
Harrison noted that the pardon came after Trump's Saturday night announcement that he intended to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray with Kash Patel, who has boasted that he plans to pursue further prosecution aimed at the younger Biden.
This is an attempt by Joe to help his son survive, but I don’t expect it to work. We’ll hear about this whenever one of Trump’s family gets into trouble instead of learning what real crimes the Trump crime family commits.
My last point for this evening has to do with the change in state law in 2022 that allowed grocery stores to sell full strength beer, wine and alcohol. Also from Colorado Politics: Dozens of liquor shops shuttered after voters OK wine sales in grocery stores; hundreds more expected
From the article:
In the two years since 50.6% of state voters passed the measure, dozens of independently owned liquor stores have closed, a Denver Gazette analysis found. The way they described it, with Proposition 125 in place, they were (forced — sic) to the edges of fiscal solvency by grocery store chains that sustained penny profits until their competition was emaciated.
And the likelihood that scores more are expected to shutter in the coming year — a handful of industry watchers estimate that as many as 400 additional liquor stores will be forced to close by 2026 — appears by some to be a conservative guess.
I haven’t changed my buying habits in years — I don’t buy liquor, wine or beer from the local Safeway. I buy it from the liquor stores, but I used to and still do buy from Costco, which now has more of their outlets selling the various beverages. I do enjoy Costco, but I also want to support the small liquor stores which provide a much wider selection than Safeway does, and usually at a lower or similar price. I’ve occasionally looked at Safeway’s prices, and maybe we’re unique up here in Estes Park where we have just one supermarket, but when I’ve known the price of things specifically, I usually find Safeway has a higher price. The convenience is what supports the store so it doesn’t have to compete with the small businesses.
I was busy this past weekend with the Estes Park “Catch the Glow” parade where I rode on the float as Santa Claus and then was him the next day at the EP Wine festival. This weekend, Friday and Saturday will again be playing the jolly old elf. This helps keep me positive and in a spirit to somewhat match the season. Kids give the best hugs.
I hope you’re able to enjoy the holiday season — whatever holiday you might wish to enjoy — I hope you have friends and family to help you have a good winter in some fashion. Please feel free to comment down below — the floor is yours.