Car2Go, Shared Life, and the Productivity of Possessions

Car2Go, Shared Life, and the Productivity of Possessions

Now there are company-run car-sharing services (Zipcar, who’ll give you $75 in driving credit if you sign up now; Car2Go, offering 30 minutes of drive time) and individual car-sharing services employing electronic thumbs: Sidecar matches drivers with passengers, who can tip if they want, as does Lyft (also coming to Seattle). RelayRides lets car owners rent their actual cars. Continue reading Car2Go, Shared Life, and the Productivity of Possessions

Washington’s Employee Unions Like Qliance’s Direct Primary Care Costs

Washington’s Employee Unions Like Qliance’s Direct Primary Care Costs

“This means,” explains Qliance helpfully, “all Sound Health & Wellness Trust members, including the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 21, Washington state’s largest employee union, can now choose to receive direct primary care from Qliance in addition to coverage from their current SoundPlus PPO benefit plan, and doing so will actually lower their individual weekly premium. For example, employee-only coverage premiums would be reduced from $9 per week to $5 per week.” Continue reading Washington’s Employee Unions Like Qliance’s Direct Primary Care Costs

From the Publisher: The SunBreak’s Progress, Chapter 3

From the Publisher: The SunBreak’s Progress, Chapter 3

What’s new-ish? We just anointed Tony Kay as our new music editor. Audrey Hendrickson is now our managing arts editor. Philippa Kiraly writes for us occasionally about classical music. I always feel like I need to get out there and interview more people just for being themselves, but you know Seattle–people are shy. I believe we’re in the double digits in actual paying subscribers now. It’s always thrilling to get that email from PayPal. Continue reading From the Publisher: The SunBreak’s Progress, Chapter 3

Earthquake Prep: Is the Northwest Tech Sector Ready?

Earthquake Prep: Is the Northwest Tech Sector Ready?

Bellevue does sit right on top of the Seattle Fault Zone, on a section that has broken the surface and thrust itself upward. As such, the area has experienced repeated very intense shaking, much larger than any of the earthquakes we’ve had since the city was founded. Are Eastside buildings ready for that earthquake? It is worth taking the time to work out how well the buildings you occupy handle quakes: Were they built with earthquakes in mind? Continue reading Earthquake Prep: Is the Northwest Tech Sector Ready?