Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Facebook shuttle drivers unionizing


 Protesters who blame tech companies for the soaring rents and a rash of evictions have targeted tech company buses.


Protesters who blame tech companies for the soaring rents and a rash of evictions have targeted tech company buses.






  • The shuttle drivers who take Facebook employees to work in Silicon Valley are unionizing

  • Drivers are unhappy with their wages and long days

  • Tech shuttles have become a controversial symbol of income inequality in the Bay Area




(CNN) -- The drivers who ferry Facebook employees to and from work are unionizing.


Shuttle drivers at Loop Transportation, the contractor Facebook and other tech companies use for their shuttles, have voted to join the Teamsters union, the Los Angeles Times reported. The drivers who work the Facebook route voted 43 to 28 to join the union on Wednesday.


The shuttles that take technology workers to their jobs at companies like Google, Facebook and Apple have become symbolic of income inequality in the Bay Area. Protesters and activists who blame tech companies for the soaring rents and a rash of evictions have targeted the buses.


Drivers make between $17 and $25 an hour, Loop Transportation told the LA Times. They are paid hourly for their shifts, often one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but not for the in-between wait time.


Major technology companies offer shuttle services as a perk for their full-time employees so they do not have to drive or take public transit from their San Francisco homes to Silicon Valley. Service employees such as security workers, drivers and food staff are often contract workers who make lower wages and don't enjoy the same benefits as full employees.



The world's best beer city is ...






Baerlic Brewing co-founders Ben Parsons (left) and Richard Hall illustrate the spirit that helps Portland maintain prime position in the brewing world, even as the beer gap closes.Baerlic Brewing co-founders Ben Parsons (left) and Richard Hall illustrate the spirit that helps Portland maintain prime position in the brewing world, even as the beer gap closes.

Portland-designed uKeg is the latest in growler tech. It keeps beer cold and carbonated. Growlerwerks LLC hoped to raise $75,000 on Kickstarter. Nearly 5,000 people have donated $665,000 so far.Portland-designed uKeg is the latest in growler tech. It keeps beer cold and carbonated. Growlerwerks LLC hoped to raise $75,000 on Kickstarter. Nearly 5,000 people have donated $665,000 so far.

Portlanders clearly love the idea behind GrowlerWerks' uKeg.Portlanders clearly love the idea behind GrowlerWerks' uKeg.

More than 15,000 attend the Holiday Ale Fest in December. There's no official count, but experts say Portland hosts more than a hundred beer-related festivals a year.More than 15,000 attend the Holiday Ale Fest in December. There's no official count, but experts say Portland hosts more than a hundred beer-related festivals a year.

With its exposed bow-truss ceiling, Ex Novo is among the most atmospheric brewpubs in town. With its exposed bow-truss ceiling, Ex Novo is among the most atmospheric brewpubs in town.


Ex Novo's beer flight, tap list and warm counter tops have earned it a loyal following.

Ex Novo's beer flight, tap list and warm counter tops have earned it a loyal following.

"Our tap system uses Blichmann Beer Guns," says Alex Kurnellas (pictured), co-owner of Imperial Bottle Shop. "It's a system I designed. It allows us to fill 16-, 32- and 64-ounce bottles off our taps. We're the only place in the world I know of that fills pint bottles to go, (so) we feature specialty draft beers not normally available in bottles or cans.""Our tap system uses Blichmann Beer Guns," says Alex Kurnellas (pictured), co-owner of Imperial Bottle Shop. "It's a system I designed. It allows us to fill 16-, 32- and 64-ounce bottles off our taps. We're the only place in the world I know of that fills pint bottles to go, (so) we feature specialty draft beers not normally available in bottles or cans."


A lager, pale ale and an IPA are part of the Omission lineup of beers, brewed specially to be gluten free.

A lager, pale ale and an IPA are part of the Omission lineup of beers, brewed specially to be gluten free.

BridgePort IPA made Portland an IPA town 20 years ago. The brewery's flagship beer is best enjoyed inside its original brewpub in Northwest Portland. BridgePort IPA made Portland an IPA town 20 years ago. The brewery's flagship beer is best enjoyed inside its original brewpub in Northwest Portland.

Kurt (left) and Rob Widmer of Widmer Brothers Brewing, Oregon brew pioneers, inventors of American-style Hefeweizen and stalwarts of the brewing community. Widmer Brothers Brewing and Deschutes Brewery are Oregon's two largest breweries.Kurt (left) and Rob Widmer of Widmer Brothers Brewing, Oregon brew pioneers, inventors of American-style Hefeweizen and stalwarts of the brewing community. Widmer Brothers Brewing and Deschutes Brewery are Oregon's two largest breweries.

The Widmer pub in Northeast Portland was remodeled in 2014, increasing the number of taps from 15 to 24. Hefeweizen remains a favorite pull.The Widmer pub in Northeast Portland was remodeled in 2014, increasing the number of taps from 15 to 24. Hefeweizen remains a favorite pull.

What's a bowl of smoked duck wonton doing in a story about Portland beer? It's from BTU Brasserie, a new Portland Chinese restaurant/brewery where you can get house-brewed rice lager.What's a bowl of smoked duck wonton doing in a story about Portland beer? It's from BTU Brasserie, a new Portland Chinese restaurant/brewery where you can get house-brewed rice lager.

What's a growler? A re-fillable bottle (usually 64 ounces) that allows you to take large amounts of freshly tapped beer to go. Stations like this one at Clinton Market don't get any more typically Portland. What's a growler? A re-fillable bottle (usually 64 ounces) that allows you to take large amounts of freshly tapped beer to go. Stations like this one at Clinton Market don't get any more typically Portland.

With so many great beers available, why drink anything else? Bartender David Hall serves a pint of Boneyard's RPM IPA, one of many rotating beers at White Owl Social Club.With so many great beers available, why drink anything else? Bartender David Hall serves a pint of Boneyard's RPM IPA, one of many rotating beers at White Owl Social Club.

No, you're not that far gone yet. You really are about to drink a beer in an institutional learning facility from Portland beer touchstone McMenamin's, which converted Kennedy School into a pub, hotel, theater and restaurant.No, you're not that far gone yet. You really are about to drink a beer in an institutional learning facility from Portland beer touchstone McMenamin's, which converted Kennedy School into a pub, hotel, theater and restaurant.

Local beer-tour companies include Brewvana bus tours, which also conducts Japanese-language tours.Local beer-tour companies include Brewvana bus tours, which also conducts Japanese-language tours.

Pedalounge is another way to do a Portland beer tour. Don't worry, after a few stops, you won't feel so conspicuous. Pedalounge is another way to do a Portland beer tour. Don't worry, after a few stops, you won't feel so conspicuous.

Finished already? Nah, you got time for one more. Finished already? Nah, you got time for one more.

Belmont Station's covered and heated outdoor patio allows beer lovers to sample more than 1,300 bottles and cans and 23 rotating taps year-round. Belmont Station's covered and heated outdoor patio allows beer lovers to sample more than 1,300 bottles and cans and 23 rotating taps year-round.

Breakside Brewing set a goal of brewing 100 different beers in 2013 and made it, brewing everything from Apizza Alt to Old Woody. Of course, it wouldn't be Portland without an IPA.Breakside Brewing set a goal of brewing 100 different beers in 2013 and made it, brewing everything from Apizza Alt to Old Woody. Of course, it wouldn't be Portland without an IPA.








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  • Portland, Oregon, has led a worldwide craft beer revolution, but other cities have closed the beer gap

  • Even so, Portland's scene continues to grow, evolve and lead the field

  • There are more than 60 brewing establishments in the city

  • Local breweries make beers celebrating pretty much anything ... including Evel Knievel




(CNN) -- It used to be as plain as a beer-foam mustache.


Portland, Oregon, has more breweries and brewpubs than any other place -- in the sixties now -- ergo, it's the world's greatest beer city.


And none of those breweries makes swill.


But the world is changing for the better -- and catching up to a movement pioneered by Portlanders.


Craft beer is worldwide now and other cities nip at our Birkenshod heels in the crucial best-beer-city-in-the-world race.


Denver and San Diego are contenders without a doubt.


Milwaukee.


Brooklyn.


Various Asian capitals -- Beijing, Bangkok, Tokyo -- all have thriving beer scenes.


MORE: 10 of Asia's best beer bars


Berlin, where Stone Brewing is building a big beer hall and brewery.


England, where craft breweries are sprouting even as traditional Brit pubs close weekly.




Portland\'s Commons Brewery started with a seven-barrel system brewing farmhouse ales.

Portland's Commons Brewery started with a seven-barrel system brewing farmhouse ales.



Prague, of course, where golden lager was born.


Dublin indubitably.


Even Asheville, North Carolina, which rather noisily voted itself Beer City USA a few years back, is now in the running for real with an impressive roster of local breweries and big new production breweries built by New Belgium, Oskar Blues and Sierra Nevada.


Bless 'em all, for the rising tide of craft beer floats all boats, and we Portlanders welcome the company.


As long as all acknowledge that there's just one best beer city in the world: Portland, aka Beervana.


Here are 23 reasons, a number you'll recognize as a prime, of which there are an infinite number.


Which is really big.


Almost like being the best beer city in the world.


MORE: Around the world in 10 great beers


1. According to supermarket tracking services, Portland leads the United States in percentage of craft beer sales with nearly 40% of beer purchases being craft beer.




More than 85,000 people attended last summer\'s Oregon Brewers Festival in Portland, Oregon. Many come from around the world for the event.

More than 85,000 people attended last summer's Oregon Brewers Festival in Portland, Oregon. Many come from around the world for the event.



2. Oregon breweries brewed 53% of all the draft beer served in the state.


3. We keep finding new places to serve beer, such as growler-fill stations, which have opened in major grocery stores, as stand-alone establishments and in a Southeast Portland mini-mart that anywhere else would sell fried chicken and half-racks of Milwaukee's Best.


4. Speaking of growlers (large, re-fillable bottles that allow you to take large amounts of freshly tapped beer to go), the Portland-designed, Steampunk-styled uKeg keeps beer cold and carbonated and people love the idea: Growlerwerks LLC hoped to raise $75,000 in its Kickstarter campaign and so far nearly 5,000 people have donated $665,000 -- with about three weeks to go.


5. It's hard to imagine the critical mass of more than 60 brewing establishments in a town.


In close-in Southeast Portland, a dozen breweries and brewpubs populate just a few square blocks.


Toss in pubs such as the Basement, Apex, White Owl Social Club, Blitz and the BeerMongers, and you have a walking beer tour that could fill a couple of days.


6. If you don't want to walk, there are several beer-tour companies including Brewvana beer bus tours (with Japanese-language tours, as well) and the u-pedal aerobics of Pedalounge, which is a sort of 12-person pedal-powered bar with stools and an awning, except you can't drink on the road.


MORE: 10 of London's oldest, greatest pubs


7. We have the biggest outdoor beer party on the continent, July's Oregon Brewers Festival, which attracts more than 85,000 people a year -- many of whom are out-of-state or international beer tourists -- to its five-day run at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.


8. Missed the OBF? No problem.


Beer festivals happen year' round in Portland, such as December's Holiday Ale Festival, when thousands of big-beer fans drink can't-find-'em-anywhere-else winter beers in large, heated tents in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square.




A covered, heated patio at Belmont Station means ample year-round seating for beer lovers.

A covered, heated patio at Belmont Station means ample year-round seating for beer lovers.



It's a rare day in Beervana without a beer event, thanks to great bottle shops such as Belmont Station, BeerMongers, By The Bottle, Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom and others that organize a couple hundred beer releases, meet-the-brewer events, tap takeovers and the like every year.


There are also brewers dinners, beer tastings and Roscoe's monthly beer summits.


Nobody's done an official festival count, but Portland hosts more than a hundred a year, including specialized events such as an organic beer festival, a fruit beer festival, Peche Fest (only peach beers and ciders on tap) and Biketobeer Fest.


9. Portland is the site of the national 2015 Craft Brewers Conference. Can thousands of brewers and industry types be wrong?


10. Portland created the fresh-hop beer category, when brewers trek to local hop farms for just-picked hops and make special beers.


Oregon celebrates its hop bounty with several fresh-hop beer festivals every fall, and pubs such as the Lucky Labrador Brewing Company hold hop-picking parties harvesting backyard hop plants.


11. Portland has a dedicated gluten-free brewery, Ground Breaker, where no barley malt nor wheat shall ever tread.


MORE: Sister Doris: Germany's last beer-making nun


They brew a variety of G-F beers with roasted chestnuts and the like.


Nationally distributed Omission is also brewed in Portland, with traditional ingredients and a special process to remove gluten.




Baerlic Brewing: Great beer with a sometimes eclectic sensibility.

Baerlic Brewing: Great beer with a sometimes eclectic sensibility.



12. Anything qualifies as an excuse to pour special beers: recently opened Baerlic Brewing celebrated the life of Evel Knievel one night and Ecliptic Brewing, owned by longtime Oregon brewer (and avid astronomer) John Harris, opened its first-anniversary week with an eclipse-viewing party on an overcast Thursday. (The clouds did open briefly.)


13. In 2010 Mike Wright opened a one-barrel nanobrewery called Beetje in his Southeast Portland garage.


In late 2011 he took the plunge and opened The Commons Brewery in a commercial space with employees, a tasting room and a seven-barrel system brewing farmhouse ales.


At the end of this year, he's moving to a space three times as big and adding a 15-barrel brewhouse.


Who says you have to brew an IPA to make it in this town?


14. But it doesn't hurt: BridgePort IPA is the beer that made Portland an IPA town 20 years ago, and is still a great beer and the brewery's flagship, though its 60- bitterness units of hoppiness is a modest number these days.


15. As part of marriage preparations, some Portland couples brew their wedding beers with pro brewer Jay Webb at Portland U-Brew & Pub.


16. Homebrewing is big in Portland with a number of homebrewers clubs and a dozen or more homebrew supply shops in the area, including America's oldest homebrew shop, F.H. Steinbart, founded in 1918.


Plus, Widmer's Collaborator program brews homebrewers' winning recipes on a commercial scale, giving Oregonians beers that'd otherwise never make it to market and donating part of the profit to an Oregon Brew Crew scholarship fund.


17. Ben Edmunds and his brew crew at Breakside Brewing set a goal of brewing 100 different beers in 2013 and they made it, brewing everything from Apizza Alt to Old Woody.


18. Two Portland breweries -- Widmer Brothers Brewing and BridgePort -- celebrate 30th anniversaries this year.


Widmer celebrated with 30 Beers for 30 Years -- reprising beers from its brewing history such as 1994's Ur-Alt.


MORE: Beijing's craft beer boom




Two Portland loves (bikes, beer) join forces at The Lucky Lab\'s Tour de Lab, a multi-pub bike event.

Two Portland loves (bikes, beer) join forces at The Lucky Lab's Tour de Lab, a multi-pub bike event.



19. Being a sports fan doesn't mean settling for an industrial lager.


There are no fewer than four places to get Portland-brewed beers at a Trail Blazers NBA home game; Widmer and Lompoc Brewing each make special beers for the Portland Timbers soccer team and BridgePort brews a special beer for the Hillsboro Hops minor league baseball team.


20. Portland breweries and brewpubs continue to evolve into interesting new shapes, such as Ex Novo Brewing Company, a nonprofit brewery that donates part of its revenue to selected causes.


BTU Brasserie is a fine new Chinese restaurant/brewery where you can get smoked duck moo shu and house-brewed rice lager.


21. Nearly everybody barrel-ages and brews sour beers these days, thanks to Oregon pioneers such as Alan Sprints of Hair of the Dog Brewing and Deschutes Brewery.


22. Mike and Brian McMenamin helped create Oregon's pivotal brewpub law of 1985 and have since built a quirky empire of nearly 60 pubs, breweries and hotels, each different and artist-decorated.


Along the way, they've saved dozens of historic buildings such as the Crystal Ballroom and Edgefield, and have contributed mightily to Oregon's thriving beer culture.


23. Nearby is an expanding universe of other great Oregon beer towns, including Bend, Eugene, Hood River, Corvallis, Astoria, Ashland, Baker City and more.


Fortunately, there's an infinite supply of prime numbers ...


Is Portland the world's best beer city? Got another pick? Share your best bar stool perspective below.


John Foyston is a longtime Portlander, where for more than 20 years he's written a weekly craft beer column for The Oregonian newspaper. Read his beer writing at Oregonlive.com/beer.



Lawyer: Tracy Morgan has brain injury






Actor Tracy Morgan is still recovering from injuries suffered in a six-vehicle accident in New Jersey on June 7. The former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and "30 Rock" star was riding in a limo bus when the accident occurred. Actor Tracy Morgan is still recovering from injuries suffered in a six-vehicle accident in New Jersey on June 7. The former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and "30 Rock" star was riding in a limo bus when the accident occurred.

Morgan got his start as a stand-up comedian, working at Harlem's Apollo Theater before landing his gig with "Saturday Night Live." He was a cast member from 1996 until 2003. In the October 3, 1998 "Big Bernard" skit, Morgan performs with basketball star Shaquille O'Neal.Morgan got his start as a stand-up comedian, working at Harlem's Apollo Theater before landing his gig with "Saturday Night Live." He was a cast member from 1996 until 2003. In the October 3, 1998 "Big Bernard" skit, Morgan performs with basketball star Shaquille O'Neal.

Tracy Morgan with Maya Rudolph in the "On The Subway" skit on April 13, 2002. Tracy Morgan with Maya Rudolph in the "On The Subway" skit on April 13, 2002.

In 2003, Morgan left SNL to start "The Tracy Morgan Show," but it ran for only one season before it was canceled. In 2003, Morgan left SNL to start "The Tracy Morgan Show," but it ran for only one season before it was canceled.

Morgan's acting career branched out from television to include movie titles such as "30 Years To Life." Director Vanessa Middleton, left, appeared with Allen Payne and Morgan at the premiere on March 27, 2002. Morgan's acting career branched out from television to include movie titles such as "30 Years To Life." Director Vanessa Middleton, left, appeared with Allen Payne and Morgan at the premiere on March 27, 2002.

Actor Tracy Morgan and his wife Sabina pose on the red carpet during the premiere of "Are We There Yet?" at the Mann Village on January 9, 2005 in Los Angeles. The couple divorced in 2009 after 23 years of marriage. Actor Tracy Morgan and his wife Sabina pose on the red carpet during the premiere of "Are We There Yet?" at the Mann Village on January 9, 2005 in Los Angeles. The couple divorced in 2009 after 23 years of marriage.

Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey worked together after SNL on the show "30 Rock." Morgan played Tracy Jordan, a character that was loosely based on himself. Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey worked together after SNL on the show "30 Rock." Morgan played Tracy Jordan, a character that was loosely based on himself.

Members of the cast of "30 Rock" joke around with their award for outstanding comedy series backstage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 21, 2008. Morgan was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Members of the cast of "30 Rock" joke around with their award for outstanding comedy series backstage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 21, 2008. Morgan was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Morgan starred with Bruce Willis in the 2010 movie "Cop Out."Morgan starred with Bruce Willis in the 2010 movie "Cop Out."

Morgan has stirred up controversy with some of his comments in his comedy acts. "I hurt people with this, so from the bottom of my heart I apologize to everybody who I offended with my words on stage," he said in 2011 after an anti-gay rant in one of his shows. Stand-up comedy should "heal people, not hurt."Morgan has stirred up controversy with some of his comments in his comedy acts. "I hurt people with this, so from the bottom of my heart I apologize to everybody who I offended with my words on stage," he said in 2011 after an anti-gay rant in one of his shows. Stand-up comedy should "heal people, not hurt."

Tracy Morgan promotes his new book "I Am The New Black" at Barnes & Noble Union Square on October 22, 2009 in New York City.Tracy Morgan promotes his new book "I Am The New Black" at Barnes & Noble Union Square on October 22, 2009 in New York City.









  • Tracy Morgan's lawyer says the actor sustained "severe" brain injury in June crash

  • Morgan also suffered broken ribs, a broken nose and a broken leg

  • Lawyer: Morgan is fighting to get better




(CNN) -- Five months after being injured in a deadly limo bus crash, Tracy Morgan is fighting to return to the person he once was, his lawyer said Tuesday.


And it seems the "30 Rock" star's injuries weren't just the broken ribs, broken nose and broken leg that were previously reported. According to attorney Benedict Morelli, the 46-year-old comedic actor also suffered a "severe brain injury."


"Mr. Morgan is a fighter," Morelli said, according to NJ.com. "He's fighting to get better. And if there's a chance for him to be back to the Tracy Morgan he once was, he's going to try to do that. But we just don't know because of the severity of the injuries that he sustained and the fact that he had such a severe brain injury."


Police: Driver charged in Tracy Morgan crash was awake 24 hours





Tracy Morgan speaks out after crash




Walmart: Morgan should've worn seat belt

On June 7, Morgan was a passenger on a limo bus that was rear-ended by a Walmart truck on the New Jersey Turnpike. The crash killed Morgan's friend and fellow comedian James McNair, and left Morgan and his other companions with injuries.


As previously reported, a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board showed that the Walmart truck was traveling 20 mph over the speed limit, and that its driver was almost at his drive-time limit.


In July, Morgan and three others filed suit against Walmart, stating in a complaint that "the defendants' negligence was a substantial contributing factor in causing plaintiffs' injuries."


Tracy Morgan sues Walmart over deadly crash


The retailer responded in September by placing part of the blame on Morgan and the other passengers, saying that the injuries sustained were "caused, in whole or in part, by plaintiffs' failure to properly wear an appropriate available seat belt restraint device."


The driver who was operating the Walmart truck, Kevin Roper, has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges that include vehicular homicide and assault by automobile.


Tracy Morgan: I can't believe Walmart is blaming me


On Tuesday, as representatives for both sides in the lawsuit arrived in court for a scheduling conference, Morelli said that "the jury is still out" on whether Morgan will be able to fully recover.


"When you have a traumatic brain injury, it takes a very long time to find out how you're going to do and how much you're going to recover," Morelli said. "So that's where he is. He's still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he's just not better. We're hoping and praying to get him back to where he was."


Morgan, who spent weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation following the crash, showed gratitude to his fans in September for their continued support.


"I want to thank my fans for sticking with me during this difficult time," the "Saturday Night Live" veteran said. "I love you all. I'm fighting hard every day to get back."