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Amazon delivery drivers ordered to turn off safe driving monitoring app

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  • Some Amazon delivery companies are telling their drivers to turn off their monitoring apps.
  • The app scores a driver’s safety based on their speed, acceleration, and braking. 
  • The delivery companies are making these orders so their drivers can make faster deliveries. 

A report by Vice has revealed that some Amazon delivery companies are instructing their drivers to turn off Amazon’s safe driving monitoring app, which tracks their speed, and scores their safety while driving. 

The delivery companies are breaking the rules in the wake of faster deliveries. These drivers are employed by companies known as Delivery Service Partners. 

The app, made by a company called eDriving, scores the safety driving of delivery drivers based on variables like speed, acceleration, braking, and distraction throughout their 10-hour shift. According to several drivers, the score they get from the app is factored into their bonuses, and the bonuses and the incentives received by the delivery companies from Amazon.

According to Vice’s reports, some of the delivery companies order the drivers to use the app for certain few hours to trick Amazon and the app. One company even sent messages to drivers telling them to be “logged into Mentor for at least 2 hours no more no less.” A driver in Michigan also reported that the company wanted them to turn off the app for faster delivery, and were “harsh on drivers that weren’t going as fast as they wanted.”

According to an Amazon spokesperson, the behavior goes against the safety standards expected from the Delivery Service Partners. Amazon also said that “more than 90% of all drivers are able to complete their deliveries before the scheduled time while following all safety procedures.” Amazon is yet to reveal how they collected and validated that data. 

According to Vice’s report, Amazon’s software determines the delivery routes and sets the productivity targets that the drivers should hit for incentive. However, Vice also reports the app is sometimes buggy, sometimes dinging drivers for distracted driving even when they haven’t touched the phone. 

In the App Store, reviews for the apps are entitled “inaccurate and they don’t care,” “Frustration personified,” and “inaccurate data will cost us our jobs.”

Reports also allege delivery companies of asking employees not to report vehicle damages to Amazon to prevent them from being taken out of commission.

It remains to be seen how the AI-powered monitoring cameras recently introduced by Amazon will affect the working dynamics between the Delivery Service Partners and their drivers, but it’s clear that having a camera in the van would reveal if employees were turning off other monitoring devices. 

Amazon did not yet comment on whether it tracks which companies order their drivers to turn off their monitoring apps. 

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Source: The Verge

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Lactose Overload: Russian Cafe’s Breast Milk Latte Prank Stirred More Than Just Coffee

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In a Nutshell:

  • Coffee Smile, a cafe chain in Perm, Russia, caused a stir by advertising that they would serve coffee made with human breast milk, which resulted in widespread social media attention and mixed reactions from the public.
  • Owner Maxim Kobelev clarified that it was a marketing hoax intended to promote the business after the buzz escalated, attracting national interest and prompting investigations by the local food safety authority.
  • Despite the controversy, Kobelev reported an uptick in business, with patrons curious to try the unusual beverage. He served them a blend of goat and almond milk instead, stating that it had a similar taste to breast milk.

In the world of oddities, this one might make you squirm in your seat.

A cafe in Perm, Russia, recently created a frothy buzz after suggesting they were planning to add a rather controversial ingredient to their lattes: human breast milk.

Yep, we’re not kidding.

Coffee Smile, a local cafe chain in Perm, sparked a national uproar after posters advertising the unusual new addition to their beverages started popping up around their stores.

Soon after, the chain’s owner, Maxim Kobelev, released a promotional video.

In the video, a young mother and breast milk supplier for the café says, “I recently went on maternity leave and saw that a lot of breast milk is required.”

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“I have a lot of it. The child eats just a little, so I thought: why not earn extra money? I even made coffee with breast milk for my husband, he liked it.”

Talk about mixing business and motherhood!

Kobelev assured intrigued (and perhaps horrified) customers that the breast milk would be safely sourced, with all mothers tested for health assurance.

In the early stages, only about 40-45 breast milk-infused drinks were planned to be served.

However, they aimed to foam up the production to around 1,000 beverages by year’s end.

A drink would set you back 650 rubles, or about $8.

Once the video went viral, social media blew up like a well-steamed milk frother.

Many wondered if it was a hoax, or if Russia’s food safety authority, the Rospotrebnadzor, was going to get involved.

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A local deputy even conducted a poll asking if people were game to try these unique coffee drinks.

The results were frothy: 46% said ‘never,’ while 23% admitted they were ready to give it a try.

Just as things were beginning to boil over, Kobelev revealed the truth behind the entire spectacle.

There would be no breast milk lattes.

It was, in fact, a gimmick; a marketing ploy whipped up when a breastfeeding mother appeared at a company meeting.

“We did not prepare or sell coffee with breast milk,” Kobelev clarified in a press release, likely easing a few jittery nerves.

He added that using breast milk for coffee production was illegal, a handy fact he probably should’ve brewed on earlier.

As it turns out, the scandal was a good brew for business.

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Kobelev confessed that people started visiting his cafes asking for the unusual drink.

For those genuinely interested in the brew, Kobelev prepared a drink with a blend of goat and almond milk.

“The taste is very similar,” he stated, a knowledge he acquired as a father of two children.

While no actual laws were broken, this quirky news story has undoubtedly left a strong aftertaste in the public’s mouth.

At least for now, Coffee Smile has decided to stick with the usual milk options.

We’ll raise our plain, old lattes to that!


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For Sale: High School Listed as Single-Family Home in Oklahoma

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In a Nutshell:

  • An old high school in Burbank, Oklahoma, originally built in 1924, is listed for sale as a single-family home for a remarkably low price of $60,000.
  • The 17,408-square-foot property boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and even features an indoor basketball court, preserving its athletic heritage.
  • Prospective buyers have the opportunity to unleash their imagination and transform this historic building into their dream home or explore its potential as a unique commercial space.

In the realm of unusual real estate listings, a peculiar gem has emerged in the form of an old high school in Burbank, Oklahoma.

This historic 17,408-square-foot building, originally known as Burbank High School, has hit the market as a single-family home, listed for the surprisingly modest price of $60,000.

If you’ve ever dreamt of living in a quirky space with a rich history, this might just be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Constructed way back in 1924, this former educational institution has since transformed into a potentially unconventional living space.

The listing on Zillow proudly boasts of the property’s five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and, most intriguingly, an indoor basketball court.

Yes, you read that right—an indoor basketball court!

It seems the spirit of athleticism has lingered long after the school’s closure in 1968.

According to the real estate listing, the old high school presents a myriad of possibilities for its future owners.

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“There is plenty of opportunity to make this property your own,” the listing gushes.

“The large lot size and open floor plan provide endless opportunities. With some imagination, this could be the perfect home for you.”

Imagine the creativity that could be unleashed within those spacious walls—a home theater, an artist’s studio, or perhaps even an eccentric museum of oddities.

Not limited to residential use, the realty firm behind the listing suggests that the versatile structure could easily be converted into a commercial space.

So, for those entrepreneurs out there seeking a distinctive building to house their business, this peculiar property might just be the answer to your offbeat aspirations.

Situated at 450 McCorkle Ave. in Burbank, OK, this extraordinary residence has been on the market since May 19, beckoning curious buyers to explore its unconventional charm.

The listing emphasizes that the property remains active on multiple listing services, ensuring its continued presence in the real estate spotlight.

If you’re looking for a conversation starter or a home that breaks the mold, this old high school turned single-family home is a rare find.

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With its intriguing history, spacious rooms, and the potential for imaginative transformations, it holds the promise of a truly one-of-a-kind living experience.

So, if you’re in the market for a dash of quirkiness blended with an affordable price tag, this Oklahoma oddity might just be your dream come true.


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Woman Ditches Stressful Job to Become “Full-Time Daughter”

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In a Nutshell:

  • Nianan, a 40-year-old woman in China, traded her high-stress news agency job for the role of a ‘full-time daughter,’ accepting a monthly allowance of 4,000 yuan (US$570) from her parents and sparking substantial discussion on social media.
  • Despite critics labeling the decision as ‘ken lao,’ or relying on one’s parents, Nianan enjoys a fulfilling daily routine, including dancing, cooking with her parents, handling tech issues, driving, and organizing family outings, while still feeling the pressure to earn more.
  • This unconventional career path presents an alternative to the strenuous ‘996’ work schedule prevalent in China, resonating with digitally nomadic and financially independent youth seeking to escape traditional work constraints, but also eliciting debate about familial roles and responsibilities.

The day in, day out 9-5 grind can be too much to bear.

But have you ever considered becoming a professional family member?

One woman in China did just that, and it’s ruffled some feathers.

Nianan, aged 40, chucked in her stressful job at a news agency after a reshaping of her role left her on-call 24/7.

Finding solace in her parents’ words, “Why don’t you just quit your job? We’ll take care of you financially,” she stepped into a new, unconventional career.

With a monthly allowance of 4,000 yuan (US$570) from her parents’ pension, Nianan took the plunge and became a ‘full-time daughter.’

This isn’t a euphemism for her sitting on the couch all day, munching on snacks, and binge-watching dramas, though.

Nianan has embraced a routine chock-full of familial bonding.

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Mornings are spent dancing and grocery shopping with her parents, while evenings are reserved for communal cooking with her dad.

She’s the go-to tech guru in the house, the family chauffeur, and the organizer of monthly family outings.

Despite the laid-back lifestyle, the lure of financial independence is still a potent call.

Nianan acknowledges that her “biggest source of pressure is still the desire to earn more money.”

But her parents continue to offer comforting advice: find a more suitable job if you wish, or just enjoy being home with us.

Nianan’s ‘full-time daughter’ role offers a fresh twist on the pursuit of financial independence, voluntary employment, and liberation from the infamous ‘996’ grind (9am-9pm, six days a week) in China.

It’s a route that’s gaining traction with the digital nomads and the financially independent youth, in a society where the labor market is brutally competitive.

Of course, the internet’s verdict on this novel profession is a mixed bag.

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Critics label it as ‘ken lao,’ a Chinese term translating to ‘eating the old’ or relying on one’s parents.

Some argue it’s a euphemism for a cushy lifestyle, with one contrarian noting, “If evaluated in the labor market, the daughter’s [salary] would be overpaid by 4000 yuan.”

Yet, there’s a cohort that applauds Nianan’s decision.

If it brings joy to both the parents and their children, why not embrace it?

“If some people consider it ken lao, then why not exchange children to take care of the elderly in each other’s families?” one supporter commented.

In this case, the ‘job’ of a daughter takes on a whole new meaning.

With love as the primary KPI, and happiness as the ultimate ROI, perhaps we should be looking at our family roles through a different lens.

Now, would anyone like to join Nianan and start a ‘full-time son’ gig?

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