View Poll Results: Should the Federal Minimum Wage be Raised?
No, those jobs are for teenagers and 2nd incomes.
64
62.75%
Yes, to about $10/Hr.
18
17.65%
Yes, to about $15/Hr.
16
15.69%
Yes, to $_____/Hr.
4
3.92%
Voters: 102. You may not vote on this poll
Minimum Wage - Should It Be Raised? How Far?
#241
About 20 years ago, I was in Osaka, away from the English-language-friendly area at lunchtime. Found a sushi bar that had this trolley/conveyor that cruised by the seats at the bar. You grabbed the plate with what you wanted, then brought the plates to the register when you were done and they rang you up. All the Japanese I needed to know was "Asahi," and I ate with practically no human contact.
#244
About 20 years ago, I was in Osaka, away from the English-language-friendly area at lunchtime. Found a sushi bar that had this trolley/conveyor that cruised by the seats at the bar. You grabbed the plate with what you wanted, then brought the plates to the register when you were done and they rang you up. All the Japanese I needed to know was "Asahi," and I ate with practically no human contact.
#245
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,027
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Despite today's date, the following is not a gag:
Domino's pizza delivery robot is hot and autonomous
Lance Ulanoff, March 18 2016
Domino's, thy name is innovation.
Just months after announcing a pizza delivery truck with built-in heaters, the pizza purveyor is upping the ante with the world's first pizza delivery robot.
The company's Australian arm announced plans to deploy a Domino Robotic Unit (DRU). Essentially an autonomous vehicle, DRU can, according to Domino's, follow a map, navigate sidewalks, avoid obstacles and keep your pizza hot and fresh while delivering it to your front door.
It will even come bearing cold drinks.
While this sounds like an elaborate marketing stunt, a Domino's spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that the robot is real.
“DRU is cheeky and endearing and we are confident that one day he will become an integral part of the Domino’s family. He’s a road to the future and one that we are very excited about exploring further,” said Domino’s Group CEO and Managing Director Don Meij in a release.
Domino's reports it has been secretly testing the four-wheeled robot vehicle on the streets of Queensland, Australia, where it acquired the necessary permissions to operate the autonomous vehicle from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.
“The DRU prototype is only the first step in our research and development as we continue to develop a range of innovations set to revolutionize the entire pizza-ordering experience,” said Meij in the release.
DRU was built for Domino's by Australian defense robot company Marathon Robotics, a firm which, up to now, has primarily built autonomous "moving targets" for defense and law enforcement to use in target practice. So if customers start shooting at DRU, it's probably prepared.
In a brief release on its work for Domino's, the company notes, "We remain committed to the defense and law enforcement market, and look forward to applying our technology and our near-decade of experience of robots operating in challenging real-world environments to new markets."
While Domino's hasn't said where we'll see DRU next (it would have to pass regulatory hurdles wherever it operates), Marathon Robotics reports it has unveiled the autonomous pizza truck in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan and Germany.
Two big questions remain: When is it coming to one of the world's biggest pizza markets, the U.S.A., and — more importantly — when a robot delivers your pizza, do you have to tip it?
Domino's pizza delivery robot is hot and autonomous
Domino's pizza delivery robot is hot and autonomous
Lance Ulanoff, March 18 2016
Domino's, thy name is innovation.
Just months after announcing a pizza delivery truck with built-in heaters, the pizza purveyor is upping the ante with the world's first pizza delivery robot.
The company's Australian arm announced plans to deploy a Domino Robotic Unit (DRU). Essentially an autonomous vehicle, DRU can, according to Domino's, follow a map, navigate sidewalks, avoid obstacles and keep your pizza hot and fresh while delivering it to your front door.
It will even come bearing cold drinks.
While this sounds like an elaborate marketing stunt, a Domino's spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that the robot is real.
“DRU is cheeky and endearing and we are confident that one day he will become an integral part of the Domino’s family. He’s a road to the future and one that we are very excited about exploring further,” said Domino’s Group CEO and Managing Director Don Meij in a release.
Domino's reports it has been secretly testing the four-wheeled robot vehicle on the streets of Queensland, Australia, where it acquired the necessary permissions to operate the autonomous vehicle from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.
“The DRU prototype is only the first step in our research and development as we continue to develop a range of innovations set to revolutionize the entire pizza-ordering experience,” said Meij in the release.
DRU was built for Domino's by Australian defense robot company Marathon Robotics, a firm which, up to now, has primarily built autonomous "moving targets" for defense and law enforcement to use in target practice. So if customers start shooting at DRU, it's probably prepared.
In a brief release on its work for Domino's, the company notes, "We remain committed to the defense and law enforcement market, and look forward to applying our technology and our near-decade of experience of robots operating in challenging real-world environments to new markets."
While Domino's hasn't said where we'll see DRU next (it would have to pass regulatory hurdles wherever it operates), Marathon Robotics reports it has unveiled the autonomous pizza truck in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan and Germany.
Two big questions remain: When is it coming to one of the world's biggest pizza markets, the U.S.A., and — more importantly — when a robot delivers your pizza, do you have to tip it?
Domino's pizza delivery robot is hot and autonomous
#247
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,027
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Given that we already have Pizzabot and Pancakebot in wide deployment, it looks like the machines are finally winning.
So the question becomes, how to fund the coming deficit in welfare and related social services?
I fully expect some whiny SJW group to demand a special tax on FoodBots in the near future, to defray the costs associated with providing state benefits to talentless people who can no longer get paid $15 an hour to spit in my food. I also predict I'll be referring back to this post in a few years as an "I told you so" moment.
#248
Boost Czar
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,494
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Fight for $15!
In a move meant to offset higher minimum wages taking effect in states across the country, fast-food giant Wendy’s will be offering self-serve kiosks to many of its franchisees later this year.
Though some reports suggested the kiosks would be made available at all Wendy’s by the end of 2016, spokesperson Bob Bertini says it will be up to individual franchisees whether or not they install the kiosks.
Below, the statement from Wendy’s in full:
The majority of Wendy’s restaurants are franchise-operated. We are in pilot now with self-service order kiosks, which we expect to make available for installation by our franchisees later in 2016. Whether they choose to do so will be up to them. Earlier news reports were not quite accurate. We did not say kiosks would be available at every restaurant by end of year. We do continue to invest in technology to help mitigate the inflation we are seeing on the wage front.
Though some reports suggested the kiosks would be made available at all Wendy’s by the end of 2016, spokesperson Bob Bertini says it will be up to individual franchisees whether or not they install the kiosks.
Below, the statement from Wendy’s in full:
The majority of Wendy’s restaurants are franchise-operated. We are in pilot now with self-service order kiosks, which we expect to make available for installation by our franchisees later in 2016. Whether they choose to do so will be up to them. Earlier news reports were not quite accurate. We did not say kiosks would be available at every restaurant by end of year. We do continue to invest in technology to help mitigate the inflation we are seeing on the wage front.
#249
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,494
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More on Robot Pizza:
Inside Silicon Valley?s Robot Pizzeria - Bloomberg
watch the video in link.
Inside Silicon Valley?s Robot Pizzeria - Bloomberg
In the back kitchen of Mountain View's newest pizzeria, Marta works tirelessly, spreading marinara sauce on uncooked pies. She doesn’t complain, takes no breaks, and has never needed a sick day. She works for free.
#250
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,027
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Call me a luddite, but I still prefer that my pizza be tossed by a sweaty old man with hairy arms.
This one, specifically:
DiFara's may cost a little more, and it's inconveniently located out in Brooklyn, and the line is long, but it's worth it.
This is a man whose job is not at risk from automation:
This one, specifically:
DiFara's may cost a little more, and it's inconveniently located out in Brooklyn, and the line is long, but it's worth it.
This is a man whose job is not at risk from automation:
#251
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,494
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The pizza I had in Sorrento was hands down the best I've ever had:
DSC02930 by The Braineack, on Flickr
Pizzeria Tasso
DSC02930 by The Braineack, on Flickr
Pizzeria Tasso
#257
Looks like the financial sector will ultimately head to where? Berlin/Frankfurt? I'll bet the Germans see this as a positive.
#258
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,027
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I had a very interesting interaction a few days ago while in Chicago.
I'd been on the road all day, and was rushing from one realtor appointment to another. I was hungry, it was lunchtime, and so I popped into a McDonald's, something I haven't done in many years.
I quickly selected what appeared to be the most inoffensive item on the menu, a quarter-pounder deluxe. The hamburger which I was presented with was, to my surprise, not merely tasty but also very well-assembled. The presentation out of the box actually looked like something you'd see in an advertisement. The lettuce was crisp and whole, the tomato and onion slices were neatly arranged, and the overall alignment of the burger was perfect.
This merited a response, and so after finishing my meal, I went back up to the counter, showed my receipt, and said that I wanted to compliment whomever had prepared my order. The lady I spoke to (shift-manager type) seemed literally unable to process this concept. She began by asking me what was wrong, if I wanted a refund, etc. I assured her, no, there was absolutely no problem at all, that I was exceedingly pleased with the quality and presentation of the hamburger I'd been given, and that I merely desired that said gratitude be passed along to whatever person had prepared this meal for me.
Even towards the end of the conversation, I still got the feeling that she didn't know exactly how to deal with this request, and was able only to point me towards a web address printed on the receipt whereupon I could complete a survey and receive a two-for-one coupon good for a free Egg McMuffin. I again assured her that I did not desire a free Egg McMuffin, and simply wished to convey, in as direct a fashion as possible, the general sentiment to one specific individual in the kitchen that their work was both recognized and appreciated, and yet I didn't get the feeling that this action was likely to result from our conversation, having been again pointed towards the survey-and-muffin section of the receipt.
I'd been on the road all day, and was rushing from one realtor appointment to another. I was hungry, it was lunchtime, and so I popped into a McDonald's, something I haven't done in many years.
I quickly selected what appeared to be the most inoffensive item on the menu, a quarter-pounder deluxe. The hamburger which I was presented with was, to my surprise, not merely tasty but also very well-assembled. The presentation out of the box actually looked like something you'd see in an advertisement. The lettuce was crisp and whole, the tomato and onion slices were neatly arranged, and the overall alignment of the burger was perfect.
This merited a response, and so after finishing my meal, I went back up to the counter, showed my receipt, and said that I wanted to compliment whomever had prepared my order. The lady I spoke to (shift-manager type) seemed literally unable to process this concept. She began by asking me what was wrong, if I wanted a refund, etc. I assured her, no, there was absolutely no problem at all, that I was exceedingly pleased with the quality and presentation of the hamburger I'd been given, and that I merely desired that said gratitude be passed along to whatever person had prepared this meal for me.
Even towards the end of the conversation, I still got the feeling that she didn't know exactly how to deal with this request, and was able only to point me towards a web address printed on the receipt whereupon I could complete a survey and receive a two-for-one coupon good for a free Egg McMuffin. I again assured her that I did not desire a free Egg McMuffin, and simply wished to convey, in as direct a fashion as possible, the general sentiment to one specific individual in the kitchen that their work was both recognized and appreciated, and yet I didn't get the feeling that this action was likely to result from our conversation, having been again pointed towards the survey-and-muffin section of the receipt.