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Sunday, January 29, 2017

Uber Responds to Rage over Alleged "Strikebreaking" During Immigration Protests

Uber Driver Crashes Party

On Saturday night, Ubers New York City Twitter account notified riders that the company was turning off surge pricing for trips at JFK Airport, the site of protests against President Donald Trumps executive order blocking some Middle Eastern travelers and refugees.

Critics swiftly accused the ridesharing company of attempting to undermine or profit from a work stoppage by taxi drivers that had been called by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, an AFL-CIO affiliate that represents many immigrants, and whose work has been largely focused on stopping the encroachment of ride-hailing companies like Uber.

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What followed was a firestorm of online anger and calls for a boycott of Uber. Well into Sunday morning, #deleteuber was a top trending topic on Twitter, with many commenters sharing screenshots of their deletions or account cancellations.

A spokesman for Uber, however, has told Fortune that the decision to turn off surge pricing was made specifically to avoid profiting from increased demand during the protest. The company has previously made a similar commitment to limiting surge pricing during disasters, after being accused of taking advantage of riders in times of need.

Ubers notification regarding surge pricing went out at 7:36 Eastern Time, after the end of the taxi drivers announced work stoppage.

In addition to the taxi stoppage, transit to JFK was roiled on Saturday by temporary restrictions on the AirTrain system that connects the airport to the citys subway. At least some protesters reported using Uber to get to the protests while train access was restricted. If those riders had experienced unusually high fares, Uber could have risked accusations of attempting to either suppress or profit from the protest.

Some promoting the Uber boycott also criticized Uber CEO Travis Kalanicks decision to serve on an economic advisory panel to President Donald Trump. However, Kalanick swiftly issued a strong response to the Trump administration order, saying that dozens of Uber employees and thousands of drivers who use the platform could be affected. He said Uber will offer direct financial support for drivers impacted by the travel restrictions.

Some promoting the uber boycott said they would give their business to either traditional taxis or to Uber competitor Lyft. Lyft co-founder and CEO Logan Green voiced his companys opposition to the immigration ban on Saturday, and the company announced a $1 million donation to the ACLU, which has successfully obtained a court injunction against the travel restrictions.

While the current anger at Uber may have been triggered by a misunderstanding of the companys motivations, it was also fueled by a succession of disputes the company has had with city governments, taxi drivers, and its own workers. That includes accusations that its business model drives down wages and erodes worker protections, claims for which the evidence is mixed.

More #deleteuber tweets:

Source: http://fortune.com/2017/01/29/uber-immigration-protests/

Pro Bowl 2017: Game time, TV schedule, live online stream for NFL"s All-Star Game

PROBOWL 2017 DRAFT!!! - Madden 2017 Draft Champions

It"s Pro Bowl day! Try not to get too excited because the San Francisco 49ers will not be represented in todays game. You would think someone would be found as an alternate, but the 49ers season was plenty bad that nobody got the call. The game kicks off at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN. Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden will be calling the game. I am curious to see how much Gruden can pump this game up. You can watch the game via live online stream on WatchESPN.

How many folks will actually watch the game without any 49ers to watch? Would that even impact your viewing decision in the past? I have no plans on watching it, especially with an 8 p.m. ET kickoff out here on the east coast. Ive been watching Downton Abbey for the first time, so I might just watch two or three episodes of that instead. But dont let that stop you from enjoying the NFLs All Star Game!

How to Watch

When: 5 p.m. PTWhere: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FLTV: ESPNCommentators: Sean McDonough, Jon GrudenOnline: WatchESPN

Source: http://www.ninersnation.com/2017/1/29/14427010/2017-nfl-pro-bowl-time-tv-schedule-free-live-stream

Steve Bannon says media should "keep its mouth shut" after it was "humiliated" by surprising election result

RACHEL MADDOW SHOW Racist red flags follow Trump Breitbart hire, Steve Bannon

Donald Trumps senior adviser Steve Bannon said the media should "keep its mouth shut"after being "humiliated"by a surprising election outcome.

"The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for awhile," Mr Bannontoldthe New York Times.

"I want you to quote this,"Mr Bannon added.

"The media here is the opposition party. They dont understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States."

Mr Bannon, who said last July that he had founded Breitbart as a "platform for the alt-right", was propelled into the White House as Mr Trumps right-hand man, and has been a key adviser on appointees to the cabinet and policy.

He said the media got the election "dead wrong"and they represented the "opposition party"to Mr trumps administration.

mr bannon rarely gives interviews - apart from to Breitbart - and tends to stay out of the spotlight.

His comments come off the back of press secretary Sean Spicers angry rant at the media on Saturday, blaming them for accurately reporting Mr Trumps relatively small inauguration crowd size.

"It was the largest crowd size in American history. Period," he said.

Mr Trumps senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, defended her colleague and said Mr Spicer had just provided reporters with "alternative facts".

In a heated interview with NBC, Ms Conway said the government "might have to rethink its relationship with the press".

Mr Trump, during his first official stop at the CIA headquarters, said he had a war with the media, labeling them as the "most dishonest people"he had ever met.

During the campaign and after the election, the President has routinely called individual reporters "sleazes" and "liars".

He has called BuzzFeed"a failing pile of garbage", CNN is "fake news", and ranted against Vanity Fair for giving his restaurant a bad review.

Reuse content

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-bannon-donald-trump-war-media-transparency-liberal-elite-interview-new-york-times-a7548406.html

Pro Bowl 2017: Game time, TV schedule, live online stream for NFL"s All-Star Game

Odell Beckham Jr Mic"d Up at Pro Bowl Practice (2017)

How to Watch

When: 5 p.m. PTWhere: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FLTV: ESPNCommentators: Sean McDonough, Jon GrudenOnline: WatchESPN

Source: http://www.ninersnation.com/2017/1/29/14427010/2017-nfl-pro-bowl-time-tv-schedule-free-live-stream

FedEx driver will keep his job after saving American flags from being burned

FedEx Hero Takes American Flag From Traitor

A FedEx driver who saved two American flags from being burned in protest will be able to keep his job, the company said Saturday.

On Thursday, Matt Uhrin while still wearing his FedEx uniform walked into a group of protesters in Iowa City, Iowa and grabbed an American flag before it could be burned. When the protesters attempted to light a second flag on fire, Uhrin returned with a fire extinguisher and took that flag as well.

Following the incident, Uhrin did not issue a comment to the Iowa Press-Citizen, except to say his actions were not related to his employer.

After a scuffle, two protesters were arrested for violating the citys burn ordinance. The protestors say they were demonstrating against American imperialism, racial and social injustice and the threat of Fascismunder President Trump. They maintain they were not protesting military veterans.

uhrins actions prompted social media reaction from all sides of the political spectrum.

I will only use Federal Express now. THANK YOU, FED EX MAN! https://t.co/ZYTWJ8szdk

Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 27, 2017

I applaud @FedEx for standing behind driver Matt Uhrin. What he did was right and American.

Pastor Greg Locke (@pastorlocke) January 28, 2017

@sgrubermiller He should be arrested for assault. If they fire him, that"s his fault. I def don"t want a psycho delivering to my house.

Blake Biller (@blake_biller) January 27, 2017

An online petition also circulated, urging FedEx to continue to employ Uhrin. It quickly reached its goal of 10,000 signatures.

On Saturday, FedEx tweeted that they had reviewed the incident and had no plans to terminate Uhrin.

We have reviewed the matter in Iowa City involving driver Matt Uhrin. He remains a FedEx employee & we have no plans to change his status.

FedEx (@FedEx) January 28, 2017

Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/national/fedex-driver-will-keep-his-job-after-saving-american-flags-from-being-burned

Senior Bowl 2017

OJ Howard in the 2017 Reese"s Senior Bowl
(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Brendan Langley #31 of the North team breaks up a pass intended for Travin Dural #83 of the South team during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Lorenzo Jerome #22 of the North team intercepts the ball as O.J. Howard #88 of the South team defends during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: AP / Brynn Anderson)

North squad wide receiver Zay Jones of East Carolina (7) catches the ball against the South during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in Mobile, Ala.

ADVERTISE HERE (Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

John Johnson #9 of the North team tackles Freddie Stevenson #43 of the South team during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: AP / Butch Dill)

North squad wide receiver Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington (10) carries the ball as he gets around South squad defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon of Villanova (92) during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

(Credit: AP / Brynn Anderson)

South squad quarterback Josh Dobbs of Tennessee (11) runs the ball as North squad cornerback Aarion Penton of Missouri (11) attempts the tackle during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in Mobile, Ala.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Taywan Taylor #82 of the South team is tackled by John Johnson #9 of the North team and Desmond King #14 during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: AP / Brynn Anderson)

South squad safety Damarius Travis of Minnesota (7) and South squad inside linebacker Alex Anzalone of Florida (34) tackle North squad running back De"Veon Smith of Michigan (44) during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in Mobile, Ala. (

ADVERTISE HERE (Credit: AP / Brynn Anderson)

South squad running back Donnel Pumphrey of San Diego State, center is tackled during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game against North, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in Mobile, Ala.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Amara Darboh #82 of the North team catches the ball as Dwayne Thomas #23 of the South team defends during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Josh Reynolds #81 of the South team celebrates a touchdown with Jon Toth #72 during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl against the North team at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: AP / Brynn Anderson)

South squad inside linebacker Harvey Langi of Brigham Young, right, celebrates with South squad defensive end Keionta Davis of UT-Chattanooga, left, after Davis sacks a North squad quarterback during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in Mobile, Ala.

(Credit: AP / Butch Dill)

South squad running back Matt Dayes of North Carolina State (20) fumbles the ball as he is tackled by North squad outside linebacker Vince Biegel of Wisconsin (47) and North squad inside linebacker Ben Gedeon of Michigan (42) during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

ADVERTISE HERE (Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Zay Jones #7 of the North team attempts to catch the ball during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl against the South team at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: AP / Brynn Anderson)

South squad wide receiver Travin Dural of LSU (83) misses the ball against the North squad during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in Mobile, Ala.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Josh Reynolds #81 of the South team catches the ball for a touchdown as Brendan Langley #31 of the North team defends during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Davis Webb #7 of the South team throws the ball during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl against the North team at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Nate Peterman #4 of the North team throws the ball during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl against the South team at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Bachman)

Mike Roberts #80 of the North team catches the ball as Dwayne Thomas #23 of the South team defends during the first half of the Reese"s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama.

(Credit: AP / Butch Dill)

South squad quarterback Josh Dobbs of Tennessee (11) throws a pass against the North squad during the first half of the senior bowl ncaa college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

Source: http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/senior-bowl-2017-pictures-1.13029769

Pro Bowl 2017 TV: What time, channel is Pro Bowl on Sunday (1/29/17)? Live stream, how to watch online

Von Miller Mic"d Up at the 2017 Pro Bowl Practice "That"s that Peyton Manning" | NFL

The2017 Pro Bowl will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 8 p.m. from the orlando citrus bowl in orlando, florida.

jerome Bettis, Ray Lewis (AFC) and Tony Gonzalez and Charles Woodson (NFC) will lead their respective teams in theNFL all-star game.Giants representatives include Odell Beckham Jr., Janoris Jenkins, Landon Collins and Dwyane Harris.

Here"s what you need to know:

Who: AFC vs. NFC All-Stars

When: Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017

Where: Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida

Time: 8 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN

Live stream: WatchESPN

Pro Bowl replacements

The NFLand its players were looking for ways to spice up the Pro Bowl, so they decided to have San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers throw b***s at opponents.

Dodge b***s.

After moving the game to Orlando this year and returning it to the traditional AFC-NFC matchup, the NFLalso is bringing back the skills competition, with some activities that might be more closely associated with elementary recess than NFLskills.

The "competitions" include made-for-television activities like the drone drop, power relays and dodge ball - yes, dodge ball - as part of Pro Bowl Week at Disney"s sports complex.

In keeping with the unusual, 20 players representing the NFC and AFC went head-to-head in dodge ball. The winner received a monetary prize, though only fans who attended Wednesday"s workouts know who that is, everyone else will have to wait until it airs on Thursday night.

NFC Pro Bowl roster

There were some actual football skills competition fans m might remember from a decade ago, including quarterback challenge and a hands competition for receivers.

But dodge ball?

Rivers was among the players who competed, though the 35-year-old said he hadn"t played since he was in elementary school.

"We use to play on Fridays and we called it "bombardi,"" he said. "It was fun."

Maybe Browns lineman Joe Thomas is onto something with this dodge ball thing. "Fun" is not a word often used to describe any on-field activities associated with arguably one of the worst all-star games in sports.

Fun and making it more exciting for the fans was the point when a players focus group led by Cleveland"s left tackle tossed out the idea of the players competing in non-football related events such as dodge ball. A dunk tank was also proposed but it didn"t make the NFL"s chopping block.

AFC Pro Bowl roster

Thomas wanted to have skills events that even offensive and defensive linemen could get involved in.

"People will definitely tune in to watch stuff like dodge ball," Thomas said. "You can find some skills for linemen that aren"t going to get them hurt."

Not that this dodge ball was completely safe. There was mixture of size, quickness and agility, ranging from Rivers, to Thomas to Colts speedy T.Y. Hilton. All 20 of the competitors were jammed in a fenced-in area and the yellow b***s became virtual projectiles as players were not holding back in the made-for-TV spectacle.

ESPN, which brought in its Monday Night Football crew to film the activities, captured nearly three hours of footage that it will breakdown to 47 minutes to be shown Thursday night.

Peter O"Reilly, the NFLsenior vice president of events said believes it will be compelling TV.

"The players are into, the fans are into it," he said Wednesday. "It"s a win-win."

Orlando residents Juan and Marisol Rodriguez, proudly decked out in Raiders gear, enjoyed the show - at least in person.

"It was nice to see the personalities out here," Marisol said, adding she took off work to be there Wednesday. "You see them on television but it was actually nice to see their personalities showing up in person."

New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham, Jr.enjoyed himself, even lifting his self-imposed no media policy.

"We got to do the hands competition, the drone drop and we get to play dodge ball so it is cool to be able to do these things," he said. "Everybody wants to see the skills."

While it might stretching it to call dodge ball a skill, at least when it comes to NFLplayers, there were some activities fans associate with football, including a passing competition and a receiving challenge, but even they had a twist. Instead of throwing at stationary targets, quarterbacks including Rivers, Andy Dalton, Drew Brees, and Dak Prescott threw footballs at spinning and moving targets that had varied points attached depending on the difficulty of the throw.

Receivers like Beckham and Jarvis Landry took part in a hands competition where they had to catch footballs one handed, two handed and sideline passes without stepping out of bounds.

The drone "competition" was developing. It took quite a while for the drone to pick up a football and hover starting at 75 feet above the field before dropping the ball to an awaiting player. The height increased in increments of 10 feet, until only player remained standing. That sounds painful, though not as painful as it was waiting for the drone to reach its height.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/01/2017_pro_bowl_what_time_channel_live_stream.html