Inside Black Car

WORST CABBY EVER ON THE LOOSE IN NY

2009-03-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Meet Ramez Akladious, the worst - and most dangerous - taxi driver in the city.

He allegedly slashed a passenger with a boxcutter, drove drunk and, to cap it off, hurled ethnic slurs and lunged at a rider - who happened to work for the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Beware: Even though his taxi license was revoked Friday, he still could be rolling on the streets of New York.

Despite several arrests last year - and the fact that he had only a suspended probationary license - Akladious, 26, kept driving.

It wasn't until he crossed the wrong passenger - the TLC operations manager - that he was technically stripped of his cab license.

But even then, he didn't show up at the hearing to hand over his license, a source said. "He just blew it off," a source said.

The TLC worker, Phedra Braxton, who took her case to a city administrative law judge, said Akladious became enraged during a Jan. 5 ride down Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, screaming and cursing at a bicyclist in his way.

She also noticed he did not have his hack license properly displayed.

When she asked him to take her to an ATM - after he told her his credit-card machine wasn't working - he locked all the car doors and threatened to call the cops, Braxton said.

"He grabbed my jacket and bag through the partition window. I said, 'Get off me, what are you doing?' " she said. "He tried to spit on me . . . When I got out and started screaming, he said, 'I should have never picked your black ass up. You black people never pay.'

"Here I am, an employee for the TLC, and all the years I caught cabs, I never had an encounter like that before," Braxton said. "It's unbelievable that people like that are allowed to drive and deal with the public . . . The worst part of this is that he never should have been driving."

She warned that Akladious "will never get a license with the TLC again."

TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus upheld the administrative law judge's recommendation to revoke Akladious' probationary license - he'd never gotten a permanent one - and fine him $4,350.

Akladious never responded to the decision.

Efforts to reach him at home were not successful.

"The [judge] characterized your misconduct in this case as 'serious,' and I agree," Daus wrote Friday. "It is apparent you cannot comport to TLC rules."

Sources noted a check of the driver's credentials should have been done by the company leasing the cab to him. The TLC did not know what company Akladious drove for.

Akladious' arrest record began less than three months after his probationary TLC license was issued.

On May 15, he allegedly assaulted another driver by smashing his side-view mirror, then his face. That incident was followed June 7 by his alleged boxcutter-slashing of a cab rider who accused him of taking an unnecessarily long route, a source said.

On Sept. 22 in Queens, Akladious was arrested for allegedly striking a man in the face.

On Oct. 9 in Manhattan, he was slapped with a charge of DWI.

MTA fare hikes looming unless state Legislature comes to the rescue

2009-03-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Straphangers could get socked with another fare hike next year - an unprecedented third in a row - if the state Legislature doesn't come to the rescue, transit sources revealed Thursday.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects a $300 million budget gap in 2010 - even if it increases fares by as much as 30% in June and implements sweeping service cuts this spring.

MTA board members have been summoned to an emergency meeting at headquarters this morning to start grappling with the crisis.

The agency had hoped the Legislature would agree to a bailout, including putting tolls on the city's now-free bridges, but no deal has been reached.

Without a pact, double-digit fare hikes and deep service cuts are almost certain this summer. The MTA is ready to set new fares on March 25. A monthly MetroCard, now $81, could rise to $103.

The MTA today will start looking at worse scenarios for 2010 and beyond, sources said.

"I think they are doing the responsible thing," former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch said. "The public has a right to know - and the board has the responsibility to figure out - what kind of system it can operate with the revenues they have. They have to start thinking about shrinking the system."

Ravitch headed a state commission that recommended tolling the city's free East and Harlem River bridges, and enacting an employer-paid payroll tax.

The cash would enable the MTA to scale back fare hikes to 8% and avoid shutting some bus routes and subway lines.

The Ravitch plan also would help fund the MTA's capital program, which pays for day-to-day maintenance, upgrades and system expansion.

With Glenn Blain

Bailed-Out Bankers Still Prefer Cushy Car Service

2009-03-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

Paste Linke for a very good video on the recession and black car service. http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/Who_Foots_the_Bill_for_Wall_Street_Bankers__New_York.html

Four of the largest American banks received a total of $75 billion in the recent federal bailout, so it's safe to assume they're limiting some of their luxury expenses.
You'd assume otherwise if you spent Thursday in front of the offices of Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. If you'd have done that, you'd have seen suit after suit hopping into black car after black car, hustling off into the evening.

From Battery Park City to Midtown, the locations may have been different, but the scenes were similar. Buses and yellow cabs passed on by as fancier, roomier, more expensive modes of transport were snapped up by bankers in need of a ride to presumably a nice restaurant or a house in the suburbs.

Drivers told News4 that some of the rides were round-trip to and from bars or restaurants, others out to Westchester or Fairfield County at the end of another long day.

"It's not even cool, man," one taxpayer told News4. "They need to get me one."

A train to towns like Greenwich, Scarsdale or Garden City shouldn't cost more than $10, but the nicer cars to the same locations command a fare closer to $90.

Morgan Stanley issued a statement that said employees "are only permitted to use black cars for travel with clients or to client-related events, or if employees work past 9 p.m. in the office."
New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez said the banks might want to re-evaluate certain practices.

"When you have the taxpayers' money ... at the end of the day, you have to look at your entire operation and say, 'I need to be ... more responsible,'" he said.

Livery driver killed and 3 hurt in Bruckner crash

2009-02-28T16:52:00.001-08:00

A livery car driving into the Bronx from Manhattan careened into a family in a minivan on the Bruckner Expressway, killing the cab driver and seriously wounding three others.

A young girl who police said is either 4 or 5 years old was among the injured after the livery car driver smashed into the family of three around 8 p.m. Friday night.

A 22-year-old female driver in the minivan and a 28-year-old male passenger were also taken to area hospitals in serious condition, a police spokesman said.

City Council takes up livery cab passengers' bill of rights

2009-02-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

Passengers of the city's 40,000 livery cabs are finally getting a bill of rights of their own.

The list of what riders are entitled to in a livery or black car will be posted in the passenger section, under a bill set to be passed Wednesday by the City Council.

The exact language is yet to be determined by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, but some of the rights include: displayed driver's license; a safe and courteous driver who obeys all traffic laws; clean air in the vehicle that is smoke and scent free; a preapproved fare quoted by the dispatcher, and the right to decline to tip.

"Today when you get into one of these cars, passengers truly have no idea what their rights are, if any," said chief sponsor, Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan).

Yellow cab passengers have had a similar bill of rights since 1996.

Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) said passengers who summon livery cars may not widely know that they can complain about lousy rides or fare disputes to the TLC.

Even so, Garodnick said about 1,000 complaints are filed each year by passengers of for-hire cars.

TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus said, "We look forward to supporting the legislation that we crafted together, and seeing that it is properly implemented once the mayor signs it into law."

Too many NY taxi drivers, not enough cabs for them

2009-01-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

Many of the thousands of New Yorkers laid off in the financial crisis have turned to driving taxis, but now there are too many drivers and not enough cabs.

Garage owners say they're turning away drivers. Harlem Yellow Cab manager Syed Zahoori says on every shift people get sent home without cabs.

City officials say the number of hack licenses is at an all-time high of nearly 46,000. The number of new licenses is up 19 percent over the last three months compared with the same period last year.

There are about 13,000 taxis.

Taxi and Limousine Commission Chairman Matthew Daus says there's always an influx of drivers when the economy is bad but this period "appears to be setting some records."

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES NEW INCENTIVE / DISINCENTIVE PROGRAM TO REACH GOAL OF GREEN TAXI FLEET

2009-01-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has announced a series of initiatives to increase the use of fuel efficient and environmentally friendly taxicabs, though new financial incentives and legislative initiatives. The Mayor’s announcement follows a recent decision in Federal District Court that prohibited the City from mandating the use of cleaner, more fuel efficient taxicabs. The new program announced offers financial incentives for taxi fleet owners to purchase fuel efficient vehicles and financial disincentives for the continue use of less efficient vehicles. The Mayor was joined at the announcement by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Chairman Matthew W. Daus, Council Member David Yassky, Richard Kassel of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Meir Yakuel, Co-Owner of the Yakuel Taxi Garage where the announcement was made, and Rati Sharma, a taxicab driver.

MYSTERY LIMO THUGS TAKE WOMAN ON HELL RIDE

2008-12-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

A woman was abducted by two men in a black limousine outside a notorious Upper East Side bar and taken on a nightmare ride that ended with her being robbed and dumped on a downtown street, The Post has learned.

"It was really horrible. The cops are working on it," said the terrified 26-year-old New Jersey victim, whose name is being withheld by The Post.

Workers at Dorrian's Red Hand - where the victim's hellish experience began at about 12:45 a.m. on Dec. 2 - are warning patrons not to get into unmarked cabs, especially with the two thugs at large.

The watering hole, on Second Avenue at East 84th Street, is where "Preppy Killer" Robert Chambers met Jennifer Levin in 1986, before killing her in Central Park.

The limo victim's trouble began when she was unable to find a cab, and the black car pulled up, with the driver offering her a ride to the Port Authority, sources said.

She got into the back seat, where a man offered her a cocktail. She refused, but accepted a bottle of water, took a swig, and then felt as if she had been drugged, the woman said.

When the man told the woman she was "pretty" and asked for a kiss, she started yelling, "Let me out!"

When the stranger moved in closer, the woman bit him on the right hand. Enraged, the thug kicked the woman out onto the pavement on West 18th Street at Tenth Avenue.

Missing from her pocketbook were two iPods, a $250 Burberry scarf and a bank card.

Traffic Alert!!

2008-11-13T06:51:00.000-08:00

President Bush and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia will be meeting at the UN and New York Palace Hotel on Thursday morning and afternoon. This translates into shutdowns of the FDR Drive from the Battery to 63rd St. sometime in the late morning. In addition, the 42nd St. northbound exit from the FDR Drive will be shut most of the morning. First Ave. will have intermittent closures all morning.

Around noon, there will be a freeze of all avenues from First to Madison as the President and king head to the hotel at Madison and 50th St. Avoid that area from 11:30 p.m. to2 p.m.

From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., expect another freeze of the avenues and a shutdown of the FDR Drive as the President travels to Wall Street to Federal Hall National Memorial todeliver remarks on the economy at 2 p.m. Afterward, a helicopter likely will take the President back to Kennedy Airport (expect abrief closure of the lower FDR and Battery underpass).

Veteran's Day 2008

2008-11-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

The New York City Veterans Day Parade!

Tuesday Nov. 11, 2008

This parade is the largest of its kind in the nation, providing an opportunity for New Yorkers and visitors from across our country (and around the world) to honor those who have preserved our freedoms. The theme for 2008, "Legacy of Honor," pays tribute to veterans of all eras, and also serves to welcome home the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (a New York City icon and herself a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam).

This year's 2008 New York City Veterans Day activities will include:

* Mayor's Breakfast for Veterans
* Opening Ceremony
* New York City Veterans Day Parade
* Crosstown March - One time only event!
* Veterans Day Street Fair
* Commemorative Newspaper - New!
* Parade Program
* Thank You For Serving Video

Mayor's Breakfast for Veterans
8:30 - 9:30 A.M (by invitation only)
New York City's Veterans Day activities begin with an invitation-only breakfast reception hosted by the Mayor at Gracie Mansion. Through our relationship with the Mayor's Office, we offer tickets to our partners and their guests.

Opening Ceremony
10:00 - 11:00 A.M.
Eternal Light Monument, Madison Square Park
Fifth Avenue @ 24th Street > map

The parade is preceded by our traditional Opening Ceremony, at the Eternal Light Monument in Madison Square Park. This ceremony of remembrance and reflection features remarks by the Mayor, other senior elected officials, and special guests, as well as musical tributes and readings. It is open to the public, with preferential seating available for veterans.

The ceremony culminates in a wreath laying, 21-rifle salute and playing of "Taps." This year's ceremony will include a special moment of remembrance for the 90th anniversary of the end the First World War (Armistice Day, which later became Veterans Day).

Veterans Day Parade
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Fifth Avenue, from 26th Street to 56th Street
The New York City Veterans Day Parade features over 20,000 participants, including veterans of all eras, active duty military, ROTC and JrROTC units, civic and youth groups, all accompanied by music performed by a dozen of our nation’s best high school marching bands.

Floats, military and vintage vehicles and other special contingents add to the spectacle and excitement of the parade, which is viewed by over 400,000 spectators. The parade route is approximately 1.5 miles, and takes 30-40 minutes to complete. Participants march or ride in review past our official Reviewing Stand, located at 41st Street in front of the world-famous facade of the New York Public Library. Bleachers are available next to the Reviewing Stand for veterans and their guests who wish to sit and view the parade.

Crosstown March
From Intrepid Sea, Air Space Museum
42nd Street from 12th Avenue to Fifth Avenue

A special contingent will depart the Grand Re-Opening ceremony of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on the West Side Highway and march along 42nd Street, joining the main parade in progress on 5th Avenue.

More information on this one-time-only event will be available soon; check back here for updates!

Veterans Day Street Fair
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
56th Street between Madison & Sixth Avenues

Yes We Can America!!!!

2008-11-05T05:38:00.000-08:00

The transcript of the full speech follows.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Election Day: Mcain vs. Obama

2008-11-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

JetBlue Opens New Terminal 5 At JFK

2008-10-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today welcomes its first customers to Terminal 5, the airline's newly constructed home at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Commencing today, all JetBlue departures from JFK will operate from T5, as will all domestic arrivals and international arrivals that pre-clear U.S. customs prior to arriving in New York. The first flight scheduled to arrive at T5 was JetBlue Flight 358 from Burbank at 5:05 a.m. The first departure scheduled for T5 was JetBlue Flight 709 to San Juan, with a scheduled departure time of 6:00 a.m.

One of the first terminals in the U.S. to be completely designed and built post 9/11, T5 focuses on efficiency and customer comfort. The 635,000-square-foot terminal boasts 26 gates distributed throughout three concourses and includes a 55,000-square-foot central retail and concession Marketplace. T5 is designed to accommodate up to 20 million annual customers with up to 250 daily departures.

"From day one Terminal 5 will welcome more than 30 percent of JFK's annual customer traffic," said Dave Barger, CEO of JetBlue Airways. "The terminal is designed specifically with our customers in mind, and we have created a new standard in both comfort and service that everyone can enjoy. Its unique amenities will create a stress free on-the-ground experience for JetBlue customers that will match the innovative and award-winning experience JetBlue is known for in the air."

The design of T5 allows customers to control their own movement and experience through the terminal. There are two check-in areas with a total of 65 e-ticket kiosks and 40 traditional check-in counters, a large central security checkpoint -- the largest single checkpoint in the United States -- capable of accommodating 20 screening lanes, and an automated "in-line" baggage system that efficiently moves bags from the check-in lobby through screening and to the ramp for delivery to waiting aircraft. Customers will be able to enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, grandstand seating under a 40-foot-diameter digital ring of LCD monitors in the Marketplace, spacious gate areas with ample seating, expansive windows that bring in natural light and offer unparalleled runway views, a children's play space, and a lounge-like area in the East Concourse filled with whimsical and colorful furniture by Italian designer Moroso.

Twenty-two concessions, created exclusively for T5 by OTG Management, and 25 specialty retail stores present customers with unique dining and shopping options. T5 includes nine full-serve restaurants, bars and cafes; a gourmet food hall featuring eight quick-serve eateries; grab-and-go gourmet markets; three coffee bars; six bars/lounges; and an innovative gate area program called re:vive that allows customers to use touch-screen monitors to order meals for delivery to the gate areas.

T5, designed by Gensler and created in collaboration with Turner Construction Company, Arup, AECOM (as DMJM Harris) and Rockwell Group, provides operational efficiencies while offering a customer-friendly experience for today's traveler. The terminal was majority funded by and built in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Kennedy Airport's operator. T5 is located behind the iconic Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal, which remains under the control of the Port Authority. The Port Authority is rehabilitating and restoring the landmark structure in order to reopen it to the public under an adaptive reuse program. The design of JetBlue's new T5 began in March 2004 with groundbreaking occurring in December 2005.

About JetBlue Airways
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers Lots of Legroom and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft "BetaBlue," a first among U.S. domestic airlines. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 51 cities with 500 daily flights. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.

IBC NEWS: Stocks Fall Sharply on Credit Concerns

2008-10-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

The selling on Wall Street began at the opening bell on Monday and only intensified as the morning went on. Shares moved sharply lower as the banking crisis tightened its grip on the global economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell below 10,000 for the first time since 2004 after losing more than 500 points in the first hour. The index has lost more than 1,100 points — or about 10 percent — in slightly more than a week.

Shortly after noon, the Dow was down 450 points or 4.3 percent.

The broader American stock market was down more than 4.9 percent, as measured by the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, its worst decline since last Monday’s 8.8 percent drop. At the same time, oil dropped below $90 a barrel.

The precipitous declines, which accelerated as the morning wore on, came a day after European governments were forced to scramble to save several major banks and lenders from collapse. The moves reinforced the global reach of the current crisis and alarmed depositors and regulators in the United States and abroad.

European stocks fell even further, with the major indexes in London, Paris, and Frankfurt down nearly 7 percent.

The sharp slides came despite a morning announcement from the Federal Reserve, which said it would significantly expand the amount of money it makes available to major banks. The Fed will now lend up to $900 billion in credit, an enormous sum that officials hope will reassure banks that the government will provide them with adequate capital.

The moves were aimed at resolving a problem at the center of the current credit crisis: the reluctance of banks to lend. The healthy functioning of the world’s economy is dependent on the easy flow of short-term loans among banks, businesses and consumers, a stream that has been cut off as banks become more fearful of giving out cash.

Borrowing rates remained very high on Monday despite the passage of the American bailout plan, although proponents of that package argue that its longer-term benefits will take time to carry out. Still, some gauges of anxiety in the market again reached record highs as the week began, and a benchmark overnight borrowing rate, the Libor rate, moved higher. A measure of volatility, the VIX index, jumped to its highest intraday level ever.

“It’s not just a question clearing problem assets,” said Bob McKee, chief economist for Independent Strategy, a research consultancy. “If banks don’t have enough capital they will be paralyzed.”

Oil prices tumbled nearly $4 a barrel to below $90, the first time it has fallen that low since February, before recovering slightly to $90.90 around 10 a.m. The euro continued to fall against the dollar.

Falling oil prices provoked a decline of just over 1,000 points, or nearly 9.9 percent, on the Toronto Stock Market. The drop brought the S&P/TSX index below 10,000 points for the first time since May 2004.

Energy stocks drove the decline, falling 13 percent. Financial industry shares were down 7 percent in mid-morning trading with the Royal Bank of Canada, the country’s largest bank, down 8.43 percent. That drop came despite the fact that the Royal Bank, like most of Canada’s major banks, has relatively little expose to troubled debt in the United States.

Strong prices for oil and gas as well as commodities like metals, have allowed most of Canada to escape the economic downturn in the United States. But the Bank of Nova Scotia report released on Monday said that weakness in the manufacturing sector, which relies heavily on exports to the United States, will push likely Canada into a recession.

In Europe, governments worked over the weekend to prevent the collapse of two lenders, Hypo Real Estate in Germany and the Belgian operations of Fortis. The German government also said it would guarantee all private bank deposits as it sought to avert the spread of the financial contagion.

The FTSE 100 index in London fell 5.6 percent; the Frankfurt DAX was down 5.2 percent and the CAC-40 in Paris lost 5.9 percent.

A similar sell-off occurred in Asia, the Nikkei 225 stock average in Tokyo fell 4.3 percent, while the Kospi index in Seoul fell 4.3 percent. The Standard and Poor’s/ASX 200 index in Sydney fell 3.3 percent, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was down 5 percent.

“People are really disappointed by the inability of Europe to react on a concerted basis,” said Andrew Popper, a fund manager at SG Hambros in London. “It’s still very much a country by country approach. There is also a realization that we haven’t seen any effects on economic growth so far but that now is starting and that’s having an effect on non-financial shares.”

Two 26-year-old women struck and killed by taxis in East Village

2008-10-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

A pair of young women were killed after a night on the town - one hit by a yellow cab and the other struck by two, police and witnesses said.

Stephanie Dees and Ann Sullivan, both 26, left Bella's Famous Brick Oven Pizza about 3:30 a.m. yesterday and were trying to cross 14th St. near First Ave.

A yellow cab - traveling west on 14th St. - hit the women, bouncing Dees into the opposite lane of traffic, police said. A second taxi then plowed into her, police said.

"I saw the two girls standing at the intersection side by side in the middle of the road," said Dexton McKenzie, 37, who was a passenger in the second cab.

"The next thing I saw was a head fly into the windshield and another girl flying toward a garbage can," McKenzie said. "I ran out of the car and saw tire tracks on the one girl's body and blood coming out of her mouth."

The two friends were seen playfully taking pictures of each other at the restaurant shortly before the East Village accident.

Dees and Sullivan died at Beth Israel Medical Center. Neither taxi driver faces criminal charges, police said.
"They were just two girls having fun," said an employee at the pizzeria.

"They saw a guy asleep on a table and they went behind him and snapped pictures of themselves," the worker said. "They appeared real good-natured. This is such a shame."

Picture Of The Week

2008-10-03T05:53:00.001-07:00

"It Makes Cents" :)

BUSH SIGNS AUTO LOAN PACKAGE

2008-10-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC -- President George W. Bush on Tuesday signed into law
a mammoth spending bill that includes a $25 billion loan package for
troubled automakers.

The bill sets aside $7.5 billion in taxpayer funds needed to guarantee
$25 billion in low-interest loans to help General Motors Corp, Ford
Motor Co and Chrysler LLC produce more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.

U.S. automakers have said the taxpayer-backed loan package would give
them access to capital at a time when credit markets are shut and they
are being driven to invest in new technologies to meet tough new
federal fuel economy standards.

The $25 billion loan package, the biggest federal subsidy for the auto
industry since the 1980 bailout of Chrysler, cleared Congress last
weekend when the focus was on the debate over the $700 billion
financial rescue package.

Both presidential candidates, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican
John McCain, backed the auto loan package, which had strong support in
battleground election states like Michigan and Ohio.

Citigroup Buys Bank Operations of Wachovia

2008-09-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

Citigroup reached an agreement early Monday morning to acquire the banking operations of the Wachovia Corporation after making a daring bid that pulled the deeply troubled company from the brink of collapse.

Citigroup will pay $1 a share, or about $2.2 billion, according to people briefed on the deal.

Federal regulators worked around the clock this weekend to orchestrate the sale, finally reaching an agreement at 4 a.m. on Monday morning. In the end, the government agreed to provide Citigroup with a financial guarantee on Wachovia’s most risky assets. It is similar to the deal that the Federal Reserve established with JPMorgan Chase’s emergency takeover of Bear Stearns.

Citigroup will assume the first $42 billion on losses tied to Wachovia’s riskiest mortgages and will pay the Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation $12 billion in preferred stock and warrants. In exchange, the F.D.I.C. will absorb all losses above that amount.

Federal regulators said the move was necessary to stave off what could have been the second big bank failure in less than a week. On Thursday, the government seized Washington Mutual and sold the bulk of its operations to JPMorgan Chase.

“This morning’s decision was made under extraordinary circumstances with significant consultation among the regulators and Treasury,” said Sheila C. Bair, the chairwoman of the F.D.IC in a statement. “This action was necessary to maintain confidence in the banking industry given current financial market conditions.”

Wachovia customers should not notice any changes. “There will be no interruption in services and bank customers should expect business as usual,” Ms. Bair added.

The deal further concentrates Americans’ bank deposits in the hands of three banks: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup will control more than 30 percent of the industry’s deposits.

Together, they will have unrivaled power to set prices for their loans and services. The institutions would probably come under greater scrutiny from federal regulators, given their size and reach. And some small and midsize banks, already under pressure, might have little choice but to seek suitors in order to compete.

The deal highlights just how bad the banking industry’s problems have gotten as well as the progress that Citigroup after being one of the first to suffer huge losses. Citigroup’s chief executive, Vikram S. Pandit, has recently been making the case to employees and investors that Citigroup is a “pillar of strength” in turbulent times. If he is successful, this transaction could be an important milestone.

Under the deal, Citigroup will buy all of Wachovia’s assets and liabilities — a move that should protect Wachovia’s bondholders. It will also acquire Wachovia’s big retail operations as well as its corporate and private banking. It will also takeover Wachovia’s relatively small investment banking operations, which have catered to real estate and medium-size corporations. Citigroup is leaving behind the A.G. Edwards retail brokerage operations and Evergreen Investments, Wachovia’s money management arm. Senior management decision have not been worked out, according to people involved in the talks.

With Wachovia’s branch network, Citigroup will now have one of the biggest retail banking franchises in the country after years of false starts. That should give Citigroup a larger platform to sell home loans and credit cards, and would give it access to more than $400 billion in more stable customer deposits. The bank has been aggressively trying to reduce its dependence on outside investors for funds.

The risk is that Citigroup could be saddled with tens of billions of dollars in losses tied to Wachovia’s giant loan portfolio. Wachovia has been hurt badly by its 2006 purchase of Golden West Financial, a California lender specializing in so-called pay-option mortgages. And the bank also faced mounting losses on loans made to home builders and commercial real estate developers.

To pay for the deal, Citigroup expects to raise more than $10 billion by issuing new shares of its common stock. It will also slash its dividend to 16 cents a share, the second time in the last year.

Another risk is that Citigroup has had a poor track record of putting together mergers, although it now has a new management team. Citigroup shares were essentially flat in late morning trading on Monday.

Last week, Wachovia held discussions with Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Banco Santander of Spain, before the foreign bank’s interest cooled. But the talks intensified this weekend as lawmakers worked in Washington to hammer out the details of a $700 billion bailout plan. Wachovia executives, meanwhile, huddled in the Seagram Building offices of Sullivan & Cromwell on Park Avenue.

Robert K. Steel, a former top lieutenant of Henry M. Paulson Jr. at both Goldman Sachs and then the Treasury Department, who took over as Wachovia’s chief executive in July, arrived in New York to handle the negotiations in person, along with David M. Carroll, the bank’s chief deal maker. At 8:15 am. on Saturday, Citigroup and Wells Fargo took their first peek at Wachovia’s books.

Regulators pressed the parties to move quickly. Senior officials at the Federal Reserve in Washington, and its branches in New York, Richmond and San Francisco held weekend discussions with all the banks involved. Top officials at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Treasury were also in the loop.

Timothy F. Geithner, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, personally reached out to executives involved in the process to assess the situation and spur it along. Citigroup and Wells Fargo pressed regulators to seize Wachovia and let them buy its assets and deposits, as JPMorgan did with WaMu, or provide some sort of financial guarantee, as regulators did with JPMorgan’s acquisition of Bear Stearns, according to people briefed on and involved with the process.

Both Citigroup and Wells Fargo were deeply concerned about absorbing Wachovia’s giant loan portfolio, which is littered with bad mortgages, these people said. Bankers had little time to assess the risk.

Citigroup executives considered Wachovia a make-or-break deal for their consumer banking ambitions. With Wachovia, Citigroup would gain one of the pre-eminent retail bank operations after struggling to build one for years. It would also give Citigroup access to more stable customer deposits, allowing it to rely less heavily on outside investors for funds. If it failed to clinch a deal, Citigroup’s domestic retail operations would be far behind Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. Mr. Pandit, the Citigroup’s chief executive, was personally overseeing the talks

Now, the challenge for Mr. Pandit will be making the deal work. Citigroup said on Monday it expected the deal to add to earnings in the first year, excluding a $3.7 billion restructuring charge. It also expects to reap about $3 billion in annual cost savings, though it did not disclose possible layoffs. If Citigroup can pull it off, it would be a symbolic victory of sorts. For Citigroup, the deal is the largest acquisition since the merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group forged the company a decade ago.

Although Citigroup has racked up nearly $50 billion in losses since the crisis began last summer and has watched the value of its shares sharply decline, the bank was also among the first to raise large amounts of capital. Mr. Pandit may point to the Wachovia deal as a sign of progress and an indication that the worst for the bank is behind it.

The deal will also be seen as a stamp of approval from regulators. Only a few years ago, the Federal Reserve took the unusual step of banning Citigroup from making "significant acquisitions." Gaining their approval to do a big deal on such short notice will probably be viewed as a big vote of confidence in Mr. Pandit’s management team.

Traffic Advisory

2008-09-25T08:16:00.001-07:00

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES STREET CLOSURES AND EXPECTED TRAFFIC DELAYS RELATING TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The New York City Police Department today announced street closures and anticipated traffic delays relating to the United Nations General Assembly. The United Nations is located at 1st Avenue and 42nd Street. The use of public transportation for the duration of the General Assembly is highly encouraged.

For the first week of the United Nations General Assembly, the following streets will be completely closed to traffic beginning Saturday, September 20th at 7 a.m. until 11: 59 p.m. Thursday, September 25th:

· 49th Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue
· 50th Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue
Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:
* Park Avenue from 48th Street to 52nd Street
· Lexington Avenue 48th Street to 52nd Street

Traffic Advisory - The UN Summit

2008-09-22T06:44:00.001-07:00

Traffic Advisory

New York City Police Department Announces Street Closures and Expected Traffic Delays Relating to the United Nations General Assembly

The New York City Police Department today announced street closures and anticipated traffic delays relating to the United Nations General Assembly. The United Nations is located at 1st Avenue and 42nd Street. The use of public transportation for the duration of the General Assembly is highly encouraged.

For the first week of the United Nations General Assembly, the following streets will be completely closed to traffic beginning Saturday, September 20th at 7 a.m. until 11: 59 p.m. Thursday, September 25th:

· 49th Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

· 50th Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

• Park Avenue from 48th Street to 52nd Street

· Lexington Avenue 48th Street to 52nd Street

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST

The following streets will be completely closed to traffic beginning at 7 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 29th:

· 45th Street from Lexington Avenue to Madison Avenue

· 46th Street from Madison Avenue to Park Avenue

· Vanderbilt from East 44th Street to East 46th Street

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

· Madison Avenue from 44th Street to 46th Street

Additional closures to vehicular traffic for Sunday, beginning at approximately 7 p.m. are:

• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access.

• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2008

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access.

• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 49th Street from 3rd Avenue to Lexington Avenue

On Monday the FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:

• Southbound at 63rd Street

• Northbound at South Ferry

The following streets will be completely closed to traffic beginning at 7 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, September 27th:

• 50th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

• 51st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

· Madison Avenue from 44th Street to 46th Street

Additional closures to vehicular traffic for Monday, beginning at approximately 2 p.m. are:

• 50th Street from Park Avenue to 1st Avenue

• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

· 42nd Street from 1st Avenue to 5h Avenue

· 57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5h Avenue

· 2nd Avenue from 42nd Street to 57th Street

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2008

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open passenger cars but will be subject to intermittent closures. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access.

• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 49th Street from 3rd Avenue to Lexington Avenue

On Tuesday the FDR DRIVE will remain open, but at various times throughout the morning and early evening the FDR DRIVE will be subject to single vehicle traffic lane at:

• Southbound at 53rd Street

• Northbound at 34th Street

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

• 42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

• 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session

Additional intermittent closures to vehicular traffic for Tuesday beginning at 7 a.m. include:

• 50th Street from Park Avenue to 1st Avenue

• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street

· Lexington Avenue from 48th Street to 57th Street (morning)

· Park Avenue from 48th Street to 52nd Street (evening)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th, 2008

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access.

• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• 49th Street from 3rd Avenue to Lexington Avenue

On Wednesday the FDR DRIVE will subject to intermittent closures:

• Southbound at 63rd Street

• Northbound at South Ferry

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

• 42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

• The 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

• These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session

Additional intermittent closures to vehicular traffic for Wednesday beginning at 7 a.m. include:

Park Avenue from 50th Street to 68th Street
For the duration of the General Assembly, drivers should expect closures in different areas of the city related to security and increased motorcade traffic. Traffic in the vicinity of hotels and the U.N. will be especially heavy. This information may be subject to change.

IBC News: MTA bigs still have 20% of recalled MetroCards and E-Z Passes

2008-09-08T09:18:00.001-07:00

Former MTA honchos kept one in five lifetime passes that the agency recalled after a Daily News exposé - and their electronic freebies will be switched off within days.

Ex-Metropolitan Transit Authority big shots still have three free E-Z Passes, 10 MetroCards and at least 16 suburban rail passes more than two months after they were told to hand in a total of 143 perks, officials said.

"Our former board members have been very cooperative, and we expect to have all of the passes returned shortly," MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin said.

Soffin refused to name those who failed to return the passes and said some of them may not know about the recall because of summer vacations.

He noted that nearly 80% of the passes were returned.

The agency plans to pull the plug on the E-Z Passes and MetroCards by the end of the week, meaning some of the ex-bosses may find themselves stuck at bridge toll gates or subway turnstiles, officials said.

The passes for Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road are paper and cannot be electronically deactivated.

For decades, the MTA doled out the lifetime perks to board members and some of their spouses, which the MTA called a token of appreciation for unsalaried service.

A firestorm about the perks erupted in May when The News reported on the distribution of free E-Z Pass tags to nearly 60 past and present board members.

Former MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow, a multimillionaire with an extensive classic car collection, had been granted eight E-ZPass tags.

After The News report, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo told the MTA that the passes were illegal compensation because board members are supposed to serve for free.

The MTA disagreed but ultimately decided not to fight it out in court, calling the freebies a distraction from more pressing problems, like major gaps in its operating and capital budgets.

In a June letter, the MTA ordered dozens of pass holders, including ex-board members and their spouses and spouses of sitting board members, to return the freebies.

Former board member Warren Dolny on Friday reluctantly mailed his E-ZPass tag and MetroCard to the MTA.

"I'm disappointed," Dolny said, adding that he plans to file a lawsuit and wouldn't comment further on the advice of his lawyer. He previously said he worked hard for no pay, adding that at age 79 he was still working to pay the bills.

The MTA can't do much about the commuter rail passes because those passes are shown to conductors, not swiped or scanned like MetroCards and E-ZPass tags.

Current board members were allowed to keep their passes, but they are supposed to use them only on official MTA business.

Soul singer Isaac Hayes, 65, is dead

2008-08-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

Isaac Hayes, whose towering persona and musical brilliance on groundbreaking records like "Shaft" helped shape both the style and sound of his era, died Sunday in Memphis at age 65.

Steve Shular, a spokesman for the Memphis sheriff's office, said Hayes' wife found him unconscious at his home, near a treadmill that was still running. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hayes suffered a stroke last year that had left him with residual speech impairment. A devout Scientologist, he followed a health regimen that included a 30-day fast every 12 months.

Although Hayes was a singer, composer, musician, arranger and radio host, he was best known for his 1970s concert-stage role as "Black Moses," a hugely powerful man with a glistening bald head rising in massive chains he seemed capable of snapping like twigs.

He reached the peak of his popularity in the early 1970s after winning an Academy Award and a Grammy for his score to Gordon Parks' movie "Shaft."

"People don't appreciate what an achievement that was," said friend and fellow artist James Mtume on Sunday. "It wasn't just a breakthrough for a black musician. It broke composing for all films into the modern era."

"He was more than an artist, he was a trailblazer," said the Rev. Al Sharpton. "He was an innovator, a creative genius."

Bobby Jay, the former WCBS-FM host who met Hayes at WDIA in Memphis in 1970, noted that Hayes was a central creative force for Memphis' legendary Stax label, where he and David Porter wrote songs like Sam and Dave's "Soul Man."

Hayes remained active in the music business throughout his life. From 1996 to 2001, he was a high-rated morning host at WRKS (98.7 FM) in New York.

"He was a good brother," said Bob Slade, his newsman at WRKS. "Just a real good guy."

In more recent years, he was the deep voice of the dashing Chef on the TV series "South Park." He left after the show mocked Scientology.

Mtume said Hayes "opened up music," helping clear the path to Barry White and rap. Jay recalled how Hayes' 1969 "Hot Buttered Soul" was "one of the first concept albums."

Hayes said in 1996 that while he was ambivalent for a time about the "Black Moses" image, he came to see that it represented "a black man rising in chains, as we were for so many years, and breaking free."

Born in a tin shack in Covington, Tenn., Hayes was raised by his grandparents. His family moved to Memphis in 1948, and he decided to go into the music business after winning a ninth-grade talent contest with Nat King Cole's "Looking Back."

Largely self-taught, he worked his way up to Stax in 1964. His honors over the years included induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

"Where are you going to find someone to replace Isaac Hayes, as a musician, writer, composer?" asked Jay. "Someday, someone will, but I don't know if it will be in our lifetimes."

Survivors include his wife, Adjowa, and their 2-year-old son Nana. He had three older sons.

Picture Of The Week

2008-08-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

A large rock slide lies across the highway between Vancouver and the ski resort of Whistler in Porteau Cove, British Columbia, July 30, 2008. A small tour bus narrowly missed being crushed in a massive landslide in Western Canada that buried a highway that is scheduled to play a key role in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Tech Tuesday: BlackBerry Curve

2008-07-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

The feature that differentiates this from other Blackberries is UMA - unlicensed mobile access. In contrast to the AT&T Blackberry 8820, this T-mobile 8320 allows one to SPEAK over wifi. The 8820 can only use wifi for data.

It roams seamlessly between wifi networks and EDGE/GSM networks without dropping the call. I started a call from a Starbucks wifi network and walked out of its range. The phone switched over to the GSM network without dropping the call - no problem. I then walked into my office where there is wifi, and the phone switched over to wifi.

BUY BLACKBERRY CURVEHere.

Hand injury to keep Shia LaBeouf off 'Transformers' sequel for month

2008-07-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES - "Transformers" star Shia LaBeouf will need a month off to recuperate after getting hurt in a car accident that got him busted on drunk driving charges.

His reps say he'll that much time to heal the mangled mitt he received when his truck smashed into another vehicle and rolled across a West Hollywood intersection around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

"Shia is currently recovering from extensive hand surgery with plans to return to work on the set of Transformers 2 within one month," a statement from LaBeouf's publicist and lawyers said.

The "Transfomers" sequel was scheduled to resume filming Monday in Los Angeles with the notoriously hard-driving director Michael Bay at the helm.

Sheriff's officials said LaBeouf showed "outward sings of intoxication" after he turned left at the intersection of La Brea Ave. and Fountain Ave. and hit another vehicle with his giant Ford pickup.

Originally facing felony charges, LaBeouf was booked for misdemeanor DUI after Sheriff's deputies followed him to the hospital and determined the injuries to his unidentified female passenger and the driver of the other vehicle were minor.

LaBeouf, who also appeared in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," has had minor scrapes with the law before.

The onetime star of Disney's "Even Stevens" TV show, LaBeouf was arrested Nov. 4 in Chicago after a guard in a Walgreens drugstore said the actor was drunk and refused to leave. The case was dismissed.

He was cited for unlawful smoking in Burbank last February and temporarily was the subject of a bench warrant when he failed to make a court appearance.

Last month he was busted for illegal smoking in the bathroom of the Smithsonian National Air and Space in Washington D.C. during filming for "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

NTSB says signage, driver error led to Bluffton crash

2008-07-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON -- Investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board say confusing highway signs, driver error and a lack of passenger safety features contributed to the deaths of five college baseball players in an Atlanta bus crash last year.

The findings on the crash, which also killed the bus driver and his wife, were among several pending approval from the NTSB board at a Tuesday meeting.

Investigators said the bus driver thought he was getting on an HOV lane when he drove onto an elevated exit ramp, plowing through a stop sign at highway speed and hurtling from an overpass onto the interstate below.

The March 2 crash killed five members of Ohio's Bluffton University baseball team and injured 28 others.

NTSB investigator Dave Rayburn said Georgia officials changed the layout of the signs after having trouble with their mounting. The change deviated from federal guidance about placement of certain exit signs to make them more clear, he said, but the change did not amount to a violation of federal regulations, which allow for some exceptions.

Rayburn said nine accidents have occurred at the site between 1997 and 2007, including three fatal collisions. The drivers in all of the crashes were from outside the Atlanta area.

NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker called it "an accident that didn't have to happen."

"Had the appropriate investigation been done at the state level we might not be here today," he said.

Investigators also said the 65-year-old bus driver was partly at fault.

He had a good driving record and had been driving for only an hour before the early-morning crash, they said. But his medical certificate, which is required by law, was expired, and he had several risk factors for sleep apnea.

Still, they found no evidence that medical problems contributed to the crash.

Instead, "he missed what route guidance was available," said investigator Deborah Bruce, noting that 20 million drivers have successfully navigated the exit over 10 years. "He didn't decrease his speed as he came up the exit ramp," despite two signs notifying drivers of a stop ahead.

Parents of several of the crash victims appeared at the meeting to call for stronger regulations on bus safety, including for more driver training, stronger roofs, shatterproof window glazing and mandatory seat belts. The NTSB has made similar recommendations dating back to 1968, but the recommendations have never made it into law.

John Betts, whose son, David, was killed in the crash, said if the NTSB's proposals had been adopted, "our sons would be alive today."

"That's not a wish. That's not a fantasy. That's a fact," he said. "The apathy has gone on too long. These recommendations were made 40 years ago."

NYC taxi commission: No fuel surcharge

2008-07-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Matthew Daus says that “under no circumstances” will the TLC consider the $1 gas surcharge sought by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.

AP) - New York City taxi drivers want passengers to pay a $1 fuel surcharge. But the Taxi and Limousine Commission says it's not going to happen.

Commissioner and Chairman Matthew Daus says that “under no circumstances” will the TLC consider the gas surcharge sought by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. The Alliance is meeting Monday at the TLC’s Manhattan headquarters to propose the extra $1 on their meters, an effort to offset increasing gas prices.

Several other U.S. cities have implemented taxi fuel surcharges. Non-regulated industries have raised prices because of higher gas costs.

The taxi alliance says the city's 43,000 yellow-cab drivers each use about 20 gallons of gas per shift and lose more than $1,000 a month because the TLC won't help them. It says it proposed a fuel surcharge when Hurricane Katrina crippled refining capacity and pushed gas prices above $3 per gallon in 2005 but the TLC rejected the idea.

The TLC has granted taxi drivers two fare increases since 2004

IBC Monday: In The News

2008-06-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

TERRIBLE DRIVER ERROR

VANCOUVER, BC -- A three-year-old Calgary girl was rushed to hospital
in Vancouver on Thursday morning after she accidentally drank
windshield-washer fluid she thought was water.

The driver of the limo, operated by Richmond, B.C.-based LimoJet Gold,
offered his passengers a blue plastic bottle, which he believed to
contain water.

Three-year-old Olivia Kittson, who had the flu, had just arrived in
town with her mother, Elisha, when she was sick to her stomach in the
back of the limo taking them from the airport to the condo they had
rented.

Olivia took a sip. But when the two arrived at the condo, Elisha drank
from the same bottle and realized it contained a toxic chemical.

According to her husband, Kelly, Elisha called a doctor and was told
to bring Olivia to B.C. Children's Hospital. "A tablespoon of this
stuff is considered extremely toxic," said Kelly, who is still in Calgary.

"I called the limo company that drove them and they confirmed it was
window-washer fluid," he said. "Some of the drivers, I guess, when
they have a little bit leftover from the big containers, they pour it
into these bottles."

Olivia underwent blood tests and was discharged, he said, but likely
had a long night of vomiting ahead of her. "Her liver can't process
the chemical," Kelly said.

"They want my wife to keep an eye on her and if things change, to
bring her back to the hospital."

Elisha was certain she spat out all of the washer fluid after she took
a sip, he said.

Carolyn Bauer, operations manager for LimoJet, said she feels
"absolutely awful" about what happened to Olivia. "I can't apologize
enough for the terror they must be feeling and the pain of seeing
their child in the hospital," she said.

When she heard what happened, Bauer said she went to the airport and
removed every water bottle from each of the company's vehicles.

"I told (the drivers): If a customer asks for water, just pull over
at a store," she said. "Don't give it out."

The driver, who has children, is devastated, Bauer said.

She hasn't questioned him yet about what happened and said she plans
to wait until he is in a better frame of mind. "I'm just going to
continue on the investigation," Bauer said.

"I've spoken with the mother many times. She's going to keep me
updated about the little girl."

Kelly, who is at home with his nine-month-old son, said the company's
owner apologized to their family and he's satisfied with how they
handled the incident.

IBC Video Blog

2008-06-25T05:33:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this will be sooner than we think.

Tech Tuesday: Pioneer Universal Rear-View Camera

2008-06-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

Universal Rear-View Camera for use with Pioneer A/V and Navigation products featuring a Rear View Camera Input. Pioneer is a world leader in the consumer electronics industry and digital entertainment products. The confidence to innovate. The skill to harness the limitless possibilities of cutting-edge technology. The commitment to enhance the lives of its customers throughout the world. These are the qualities that have put Pioneer at the forefront of new product development. Also Compatible with older Pioneer models. Buy Product here: Pioneer Car NDBC2 Universal Rear View Camera

IBC: In The News - George Carlin Dies at 71

2008-06-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

Comic pioneer George Carlin dies at 71

George Carlin, an extraordinary standup comedian whose dark social satire won him multigenerational popularity and a starring role in the most famous broadcast obscenity case of modern times, died Sunday of heart failure in Los Angeles. He was 71.

The Manhattan-born comedian, who always said his often-cynical satire simply reflected his real-life disdain for mankind's greed, stupidity and inconsideration, had a history of heart problems. He also did a stint in rehab in 2003 for drug dependency.

The TV network Comedy Central in 2004 named him the second best standup comedian of all time, behind Richard Pryor.

Late last week the Kennedy Center announced he would receive its annual Mark Twain prize for American humor this November.

Carlin became one of the most popular standup comedians in America in the 1960s and early 1970s through programs like "The Ed Sullivan Show."

He seemed ambivalent about that success, though, and gradually shifted much of his act to a counterculture posture reminiscent of the late Lenny Bruce. Carlin admired Bruce and was in the building when Bruce was arrested for obscenity.

Carlin was one of the first comedians to dress "naturally" for a standup routine, in jeans and a beard, and his most famous routine became "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television."

The comic point of the bit was that everyone says the words, but that we hypocritically pretend to find them offensive in the media. He was arrested for performing that routine in Milwaukee in 1972. A year later the routine was broadcast by radio station WBAI in New York, which was sanctioned by the FCC for broadcasting obscene language during daytime hours.

The case eventually worked its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the sanction was upheld in a 5-4 vote that has continued to guide broadcast obscenity and indecency policy through today.

Carlin said that ruling simply reinforced the original point of the routine - and his own frustration with America. He stopped voting after George McGovern was defeated by Richard Nixon in 1972, he said, calling elections "the illusion of choice."

The "Seven Dirty Words" case did reinforce his stature as a counterculture hero, though, and he was the first host of a new TV comedy show called "Saturday Night Live" in October 1975.

A year later he unexpectedly quit live performing. He returned five years later with the acclaimed album "A Place for My Stuff" and began a series of HBO specials he would continue until early this year. He also performed regularly in Las Vegas.

He took a number of TV and movie roles over the years, introducing himself to a new generation of fans with the "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" series and an even newer generation with children's shows like "Thomas the Tank Engine."

He did voiceovers in films that included "Cars" and in 1993 he got his own sitcom on Fox, "The George Carlin Show." He played George O'Grady, a New York cab driver, and the show ran 27 episodes.

Carlin also wrote several best-selling books, including "Brain Droppings." Columnist Mike Barnicle, a big fan, was fired from the Boston Globe after borrowing too liberally from a Carlin essay there.

He was a frequent guest with radio host Don Imus, one of many performers who hailed Carlin as a deity of modern comedy.

Carlin grew up on W. 121st St., which he would later joke that he and his friends "called 'White Harlem' because it sounded tougher than 'Morningside Heights.' "

He attended Cardinal Hayes High, dropping out at 14. He was in the Air Force before he tried his hand at show biz.

While growing up he developed a lifelong love of New York street-corner rhythm and blues and remained a lifelong fan even after he moved to the West Coast.

Off-stage, he was married for 26 years to the former Brenda Hosbrook, until she died in 1997. They had one daughter, Kelly.

Weekend Dispatcher Blog

2008-06-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

(Weekend Dispatcher is my updates on my working hours from Saturday 7pm to Sunday 7am. Through out the night I'll just post various things that are taking place, so continue refreshing for new updates.)

7:30PM-Beginning my shift not much happening, seems like a pretty slow night.
I hope the night goes quickly and morning comes. There is just one reservation scheduled for tonight, I'm pretty sure that there will be a few live calls, but as I see I only have 1 driver working, not a good thing.

9PM- 3 Reservations, 0 Cars, Pissy passengers waiting to get picked up- Not Cool. I don't want to be apologizing the whole night...sheesh where are my drivers?!?

10:15PM - Hey!! 2 drivers appear out of nowhere, I'll take any drivers right about now. What I won't take is drivers going to the wrong location, when they already 30 minutes late. Bummer!

1:30AM - ZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ

Picture Of The Week

2008-06-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

Not to be anal about it but...

EPA DRAFT SAYS 38 MPG

2008-06-19T10:47:00.001-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says in a
draft regulation that automakers could improve fuel efficiency
standards to as high as a fleet-wide average of 38.3 miles per gallon
by 2020.

Meeting that standard could cost carmakers as much as $30 billion a
year, as stated in the 252-page draft of the EPA proposition. The EPA
sent similar versions of its proposal to other agencies, including the
Transportation Department, on Tuesday for final review amid a flurry
of meetings with the White House to finalize the draft.

The proposal comes on top of another unveiled in April by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that would raise fuel
efficiency standards to a fleet-wide average of 31.6 mpg through 2015.
The NHTSA plan is seen as the first step on the way to a congressional
mandate of 35 mpg by 2020, a 40 percent increase over current
requirements.

The EPA proposal, which will be unveiled Monday, lays out a broad
number of areas in which the agency could limit greenhouse gases,
including autos, ships, aircraft, nonroad vehicles such as farm and
construction equipment, along with solid waste incinerators. The EPA
will seek public comment before issuing a more formal proposal that
could come before year's end. A final regulation isn't expected before
the Bush Administration leaves office.

Carmakers haven't seen the proposal and declined to comment.

"When it is released, we'll review it and act appropriately," said
Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers, the trade group that represents Detroit's Big Three,
Toyota and six other automakers.

However, automakers fear that with the new proposal they could be
subjected to two sets of federal rules: One from NHTSA, which sets
requirements for fuel economy or miles per gallon. And the other from
the EPA, which has the authority to set limits on tailpipe emissions,
which can be equated to mpg, under the Clean Air Act.

According to the EPA draft, the agency is considering "establishing
standards for the 2020 or 2025 time frame, and even longer. The
establishment of a long-term road map could help ensure that the
billions of dollars in technology research and development are focused
on long-term needs."The proposal argues that automakers could meet a
new tailpipe emissions limit of 232 grams of carbon dioxide per mile,
which equates to 38.3 mpg by 2020. The EPA said about 40 percent of
the new vehicle fleet in 2020 would be using diesel engines and full
hybrid systems (including plug-in electric hybrid vehicles). The
agency assumes that plug-ins are "a viable technology beginning in 2012."

The EPA estimates that the cost per vehicle would be $1,927 or more
than $30 billion annually based on average yearly sales. It said the
payback for consumers in terms of savings from better fuel economy
would be from 3.4 to 7.4 years assuming $3.50-a-gallon gas. It
predicts an eventual net societal benefit of $2 trillion, based on the
benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The White House declined to comment on the EPA draft.

The proposal is certain to give fuel to environmental advocates who
think automakers can do more than Congress mandated in December.
Lawmakers ordered a 40 percent increase in fuel economy to an industry
fleet-wide average of 35 mpg by 2020.

David Bookbinder, chief climate counsel for the Sierra Club, said the
auto section of the EPA draft, if it remains, could lend support to
California and 13 other states' efforts to impose their own tailpipe
efficiency standards.

Tech Tuesday: Bose

2008-06-17T05:26:00.000-07:00

The innovation driving the Acoustimass® 6 speaker system is the powered Acoustimass module. Free from the audible distortion that can betray its location, the Acoustimass module can be placed anywherebehind furniture or drapes, for exampleand the rich, broad spectrum of music and movie sound appears to come from the small cube speakers. Innovative Bose technologies let you hear new details and nuances even in your most played favorites. The system's five Virtually Invisible® cube speakers deliver vivid and lifelike music and movie performance. Just 3 inches square, these small speakers faithfully reproduce the clarity and natural sound of a live performance. The Acoustimass 6 speaker system is designed to blend effortlessly with your décor. Accessory mounting options allow each small cube speaker to be mounted to your walls or elegantly displayed on speaker stands.

IBC Monday: In The News

2008-06-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

Oil prices steady ahead of Saudi meeting

VIENNA, Austria — Oil prices held steady Monday as traders weighed Saudi plans to boost production and new OPEC concerns about the high costs of crude.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery rose 76 cents to $135.62 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by noon in Europe. It fell $1.88 to settle at $134.86 on Friday.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, told U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon over the weekend that it would boost output by 200,000 barrels a day, or by 2 percent, from June to July. In May, the kingdom raised production by 300,000 barrels a day. That appeared to be largely ignored by traders amid sustained global demand.

However, traders believe that there is growing concern within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that high prices will suppress the global appetite for oil, and that the organization may take action to stabilize the market.

"This is not a one-way story now. The industry is becoming more jittery and beginning to respond. Saudi, and OPEC generally, fear permanent demand erosion at these price levels," said Mark Pervan, senior commodity strategist at Australia and New Zealand Bank in Melbourne, Australia.

Traders will be watching for outcome of a July 22 meeting of oil producing and consuming nations in Jeddah, called by Saudi.

"As we look ahead to this week, all eyes will be on Sundays 'oil price summit' in Jeddah," said analyst and trader Stephen Schork, in his Schork Report. "If the Saudis do not succeed in popping the balloon here, then off to $150 we go."

Crude prices have reached record highs, surpassing $139 per barrel on June 6 after surging nearly $11 in the biggest single-day price leap ever. The price of a barrel has swung back and forth by about $10 since then.

In its monthly market report, OPEC said market volatility reconfirmed the view that "current price levels do not reflect supply and demand realities."

The cartel cut its 2008 global demand forecast, saying it now expects demand to increase by 1.28 percent to an average of 86.9 million barrels daily, down from a previous forecast of 1.35 percent.

That downward revision follows similar moves by the U.S. Energy Department and the International Energy Agency earlier in the week.

Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago, said the revised forecasts suggest global demand for oil is slowing. That trend could accelerate, he added, if prices don't come down soon.

"It's a sign that maybe the bull run could come to an end. You don't want to say that for sure, but you're starting to see some shifts," Flynn said.

In other Nymex trading, July heating oil futures added 3.5 cents to $3.8719 a gallon, and July natural gas futures rose by more than 2 pennies to $12.647 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gasoline futures were up marginally at $3.4695.

In London, July Brent crude lost 66 cents to $134.45 on the ICE Futures exchange.

Picture of the Week

2008-06-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

IBC Featured Site: EasyAutoSales.com

2008-06-12T05:15:00.000-07:00

This blog is all about the new online car classified website, EasyAutoSales.com, that allows dealers and private owners to buy and sell new and used cars for free. This car buying and selling website is unique in that is fully embraces the social element of web 2.0, and plans to leverage the transparency of the new internet to make buying and selling cars online easier than its ever been before. Users of the site can create profiles and interact with each other allowing for a more seamless car buying process to take place. This blog will provide updates made to this car buying and selling service as well as commentary, reviews, and advice about online car classifieds and the auto industry.

IBC Video Blog:

2008-06-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

Tech Tuesday: The iPhone 3G Unveiled

2008-06-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

Almost a year after upending the mobile-phone world with its first wireless handset, the iPhone, Apple unveiled a souped-up second version of the device, the iPhone 3G.

Introduced by Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs in a June 9 keynote address in San Francisco, the iPhone 3G will sell for $199 for an 8GB version and $299 for a 16GB version. The new prices represent a departure from a year ago when the first devices sold for $599 on the upper end. The iPhone 3G will be available in 22 countries beginning July 11, and will eventually be sold in 70 countries in all.

The new phone derives its name from the faster Internet downloads available on advanced, or third-generation (3G), wireless networks. Jobs told the audience the new iPhone downloads Web pages as much as 36% faster than comparable phones from Nokia (NOK) and Palm (PALM). The new phone also sports a feature that lets users know their location using GPS satellites. Phones that run GPS technology are able to access an array of location-aware applications, including mapping within address books. Other improvements over the original device include improved audio quality on phone calls.

Juicing Demand
Improvements to the first version of the iPhone—the lower price in particular—will likely generate greater demand for one of Apple's most successful products to date. "If anyone needed proof that Apple was ready, willing, and able to go after lots of mobile-phone users, they got it today," says Gartner (IT) analyst Mike McGuire. "Apple is showing itself to be really serious about the phone market." Apple has sold 6 million units since the iPhone was introduced at the end of June, 2007. "More people desired to buy it, but they couldn't afford it," Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook says.

Demand for the iPhone also stands to benefit the wireless carriers on whose networks the device runs—although Cook says the lower price reflects a subsidy that will be absorbed by the service providers. The official iPhone provider in the U.S. is AT&T (T). "The launch of 3G iPhone will be another opportunity for [Apple's] exclusive providers to boost [revenue per user] and market share gains, continuing what 2G iPhone started," UBS (UBS) analyst John Hodulik wrote in a research report.

Apple's stock dropped during the keynote, falling as much as $7.25, or nearly 4%, by 2 p.m. Eastern time, though it later recouped losses. Apple shares had slipped $4.03, or 2.2%, to 181.61 by the close of trading.

Apple also added features designed to make this version of the iPhone more attractive to business users. These include the ability to read documents from Microsoft Office (MSFT), including documents in Word, spreadsheets in Excel, and PowerPoint presentations. "We sort of checked the boxes on everything the enterprise wanted," Cook says.

Several New Features
Another new feature is a service called MobileMe, an expansion of Apple's existing .Mac Web service, which offers hosted e-mail, online storage, and other services for users of Apple's Macintosh computers. During the presentation, Apple Senior Vice-President Phil Schiller described the service as "Exchange for the rest of us," referring to Microsoft's widely used corporate e-mail, calendar, and contact-list tools.

-mail messages, calendar updates, and contacts are updated live via a wireless Internet connection, and data are synchronized between the iPhone and a Macintosh or Windows PC.

Google's (GOOG) map application has been integrated into contact lists. The service also lets users update their online photo albums directly from iPhones. Users will also be able to store up to 20GB of data from both their computers or their iPhones via an application called iDisk. The service will be available for $99 a year, and also available for a free 60-day trial starting in July.

Apple is able to make such a large price cut because wireless carriers including AT&T will subsidize about half the price of the new phone. Under existing arrangements, Apple takes a cut of the revenue collected by carriers for iPhone service plans. Analysts have speculated that Apple's share is as high as 30%, though precise deal terms have not been disclosed.

Under arrangements for the new iPhone, Apple is relinquishing the revenue-sharing arrangements in exchange for subsidies it hopes will move more phones off shelves. "Higher unit volumes will offset removal of carrier revenue share payments," Piper Jaffray (PJC) analyst Gene Munster wrote in a June 9 research note. AT&T said in a regulatory filing that its bottom line will take a hit as a result of the subsidies. Earnings will be cut 10¢ to 12¢ through the end of 2009, the company said. Owners of iPhones tend to generate double the monthly service revenue as owners of other devices, AT&T added.

Apple also introduced several new software applications created by third-party developers. Earlier this year, Apple made available a kit that makes it easier for software writers to create applications for the iPhone (BusinessWeek.com, 3/6/08).

New applications include an auction program from eBay (EBAY), a series of games from Sega and Pangea Software, a friend locator from wireless startup Loopt, and a pair of medical programs from Modality. The Associated Press, the global news organization, also demonstrated a service called the Mobile News Network, which gathers news content based on the phone's location, but also gives iPhone owners the ability to send photos and text to the AP when they see news happening. The blogging service TypePad also debuted an application for blogging directly from the iPhone.

Widespread Apps
Jobs said applications will be available from Apple's iTunes store and will be available in 62 countries. Small applications that require 10MB of memory or less will be downloadable over the air, while larger ones will require either a Wi-Fi connection or installation directly from iTunes. Developers who sell their software through iTunes will set the prices and will be allowed to keep 70% of the revenue from sales.

Corporate customers will be able to distribute applications to employees. Corporate technology managers will have the ability to authorize phones on their networks, and then create an approved list of applications that can run on those phones.

IBC Monday: In The News

2008-06-09T04:59:00.000-07:00

Unprecedented: National Average Gas Price Hits $4

NEW YORK — The average price of regular gas crept up to $4 a gallon for the first time over the weekend, passing the once-unthinkable milestone just in time for the peak summer travel season.

Prices at the pump are expected to keep climbing, especially after last week's furious surge in oil prices, which neared $140 a barrel in a record-shattering rally Friday.

While Americans who have to drive will feel the biggest squeeze, the increased prices also translate into higher costs for consumers and businesses, who will be forced to shoulder increased costs for food and anything else that needs to be transported.

"I don't think we've felt quite the full impact of $138 or $139 a barrel oil," said Jason Toews, co-founder of fuel price research site GasBuddy.com.

Gas prices rolled past their latest threshold Sunday, increasing to $4.005 a gallon overnight from $3.988 the day before, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Of course, drivers in many parts of the country have already been paying well above that price for some time.

California has seen some of the highest prices; a gallon there now averages $4.436 a gallon, the most in the country. Missourians are paying the least at the pump, with a gallon in the Show-Me State selling for a relatively cheap $3.802 a gallon.

Prices have risen by about 20 cents in the past three weeks, according to a report by the Lundberg Survey released Sunday.

Truckers and others with diesel engines under the hood have it even worse off. A gallon of diesel now sells for $4.762, up nearly a penny overnight, according to AAA and OPIS. Prices hit a record atop $4.79 at the end of May.

Skyrocketing oil prices, which are trading at more than double their level last year, are largely to blame for the surge. Crude prices shot up more than 13 percent late last week in their biggest two-day price gain in history.

Benchmark light, sweet crude for July delivery officially finished the week at $138.54 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but at one point jumped as high as $139.12.

"This could be a real weight on the economy," James Cordier, president of Tampa, Fla.-based trading firm Liberty Trading Group, said of oil's jump Friday. "With every nickel that gas goes up, people are driving less and less."

Oil's latest surge caught some longtime petroleum industry veterans off-guard, and left analysts wondering if it represented a one-time spike or the beginning of a new wave of advances.

Yolanda Cade, managing director of public relations at AAA, said gas prices are likely to rise further, although the automotive club is waiting to see where oil prices head this week before making any new predictions.

"We've cautioned gasoline station owners against not recklessly increasing retail prices just because of one big jump in the crude market," she said Sunday. "One day of trading doesn't constitute a market trend."

A number of factors are behind oil's ascent.

Soaring demand in Asia and elsewhere is ensuring global supplies remain tight even as Americans cut back; recent figures from the U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration showed U.S. gasoline demand actually fell 1.4 percent over the last four weeks.

A tumbling dollar is also contributing to the increase. Many traders buy commodities such as oil as a hedge against inflation when the dollar is falling, and a weaker dollar makes oil cheaper for investors dealing in other currencies.

The rapid increase has also enticed speculators, frustrated by low returns elsewhere, looking to make a quick profit.

The influx of so much fresh money into energy markets has caught the attention of federal watchdogs. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently said it has begun a probe of U.S. oil markets focused on possible price manipulation.

For many drivers, the higher gas prices mean rethinking everyday habits.

Some are reining in gas consumption, either by cutting back on all but the most essential driving or looking anew at alternatives like public transportation. Sales of gas-guzzling vans and sport utility vehicles are down, while those of fuel-efficient compacts and hybrids are on the rise.

Others are getting creative.

Take Robert Torrey of Connecticut, the state tied with Alaska as the second most expensive for gas. After leaving work in the town of Windsor Locks last week, he drove across the border into Massachusetts to fill up his van with $100 worth of gas. He figures he's saving about $10 per fill-up by traveling the 18 miles north.

"I let it run all the way down to the bottom before I get here," said Torrey, while pumping gas at the Pride station off I-91 in Springfield, Mass. "I try to combine it with other trips while I'm up here, so that makes it worth the drive."

Picture(s) Of The Week

2008-06-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT ?

APPARENTLY AT THIS GUY WHO CLIMBED THE NY TIMES BLDG.

CAUSING THIS MESS

Mercedes-Benz Delivers 300,000

2008-06-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class with the splendid auto parts is grasping its long-term the success story of the predecessor model in the year since its market launch. Over 300,000 customers have bought either a sedan or station wagon option of the latest model since its official world premiere back on March 31, 2007.

“The sedan got off to an excellent start, and since its premiere at dealerships at the end of last year, the new C-Class station wagon has also been enjoying high popularity. Both models, in fact, have posted growth rates of 70 percent on the corresponding periods from the prior year since their respective launches. As a result, the new C-Class has been the worldwide leader in its market segment since the beginning of 2008,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Furthermore, according to reports, German clients are also very excited about the new-fangled C-Class. The model was once again the best-selling vehicle in the mid-range segment in April according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. The most significant market for the C-Class is Germany which accountable for the company’s 25 percent of overall sales, followed by the U.S., UK, Italy, and South Africa. A sum of 290,000 C-Class sedans from the 204 Series has been internationally distributed from the time when the market launch in the spring of 2007.

“In the first year of sales, one out of every two C-Class customers in Germany chose the Avantgarde line and in other core markets the share of total sales sometimes is even higher,” explains Maier. “The response of our customers to the sporty design of the C-Class Avantgarde even exceeded our expectations. This new product strategy makes the vehicle very attractive to the most diverse customers within the heterogeneous C-Class customer base, and it also enables us to win over new customers to the Mercedes-Benz brand.”

The C-Class customers are also fascinated by the vehicle’s even more dynamic chassis along with the new model’s distinguishing design and dazzling car parts, which showcases a discerning moisturizing system that provides superior comfort as well. The latest station wagon provides more legroom than any other first-class station wagon in its class with maximum cargo capacity of 1,500 liters. It’s not astonishing that the C-Class station wagon was also the top-selling model in its division in Germany last April given all these characteristics.

IBC Video Blog: The History of the Lincoln Towncar

2008-06-04T05:35:00.000-07:00

Tech Tuesday: TomTom GO 930 GPS

2008-06-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

When it comes to in-car GPS, TomTom has always been of the philosophy that its products should be about navigation first. The company doesn't spend much time fussing over extras like multimedia, but rather focuses energy on navigation tools that will help the driver. The TomTom GO 930 is a good example of this as it brings some new functions, such as advanced lane guidance, address entry via voice, and smarter route planning based on historical traffic data. Though there are some kinks that need to be worked out, they're all welcome and useful additions. Plus, the portable navigation system offers text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, and most importantly, accurate directions. If you're in the market for a high-end, feature-packed GPS, the TomTom GO 930 solid choice. The TomTom GO 930 is available now for $499.95.
Buy Now TomTom GO 930 4.3-Inch Touchscreen Portable GPS Navigator

IBC Monday : In The News

2008-06-02T05:50:00.001-07:00

Crane victim's last words to fiancee: 'I love you'

Donald Leo's last words to his fiancée were: "I love you."

The doomed crane operator reminded Janine Belcastro of their special bond on Friday as he headed out the door to the upper East Side construction site where he was killed.

"He told Janine he loved her before he went to work that day," her sister, Lynda Belcastro, said yesterday.

Leo, 30, was killed when a piece of the 200-foot Kodiak crane crashed onto E.91st St.

Since the tragic accident, Janine Belcastro has been so distraught she has refused to eat, a family friend said.

Construction worker Ramadan Kurtij, 27, also died after he was crushed by debris.

Leo's friends and relatives who were expecting to gather for Leo's June 21 wedding instead found themselves yesterday at his wake.

"We were looking forward to going to the wedding," Adriana Lusterino, 55, said. "It's tragic."

Janine Belcastro wore shades and wept as she left the Hanley Funeral Home in Staten Island. She was flanked by family and friends who hugged and kissed her.

"He was engaging, intelligent and modest," Belcastro's cousin George Guida said. "He was an all-around great guy. He would have been a great addition to the family."

Jay Plachinski, 29, a correction officer from Danbury, Conn., played high school football with Leo.

He learned of his friend's death on the TV news. "I was like, 'Not Don. He's too tough,'" Plachinski said. "Don's going to live forever."

About 200 people packed the wake, as crews continued to clear the remnants of the hulking crane from the street in front of 333 E. 91st St.

Prosecutors were investigating whether a damaged part was used to erect the crane, and could file criminal charges, officials said yesterday.

"Right now the real question is whether or not one of the pieces of equipment had been damaged and was reused," Gov. Paterso after a news conference with Mayor Bloomberg. "If that's the case ... it would really be a criminal violation."

Barbara Thompson, spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, said an investigator from the rackets bureau went to the site soon after the crane plummeted from the sky.

The rackets bureau looks into all construction fatalities, and usually quickly deems them accidental deaths. This time, the probe is more complicated.

Inspectors from the city Buildings Department and the federal Occupational Safey and Health Administration were trying to determine whether the turntable on the crane was damaged at another construction site.

The crane part may have been repaired and improperly reused at the E.91st St. site, said Kate Lindquist, spokeswoman for the Buildings Department.

Frank Lomma, whose New York Crane company owned the derrick, did not return calls for comment.

The toppled crane tore through a luxury apartment building across the street at 354 E. 91st St., destroying several apartments and a line of balconies.

Valerie Ackerman, a 37-year-old caterer, was sleeping but felt the reverberation from her fifth-floor apartment. By yesterday, she was worrying about the cost of boarding her dog and staying at a hotel. "We don't know whether they're going to reimburse or what," she said. "It's very frustrating. ... Nobody's telling us anything."

Larry Bliss, 35, and his wife Gina, 34, moved into their 13th-floor apartment a week before the incident.

Their nanny was in the apartment with their two children, Lainie, 2, and Sadia, 5 months, when the crane collapsed. The nanny was hysterical when she phoned her employer.

"I thought that the building was destroyed," Gina Bliss said.

Two days later, her own outlook was more pragmatic.

"It's life," Gina Bliss said. "We were lucky that our children got out safe. Some people have not been so lucky."

The deadly plunge came 2-1/2 months after seven people were killed in a midtown crane collapse.

That incident punctuated a string of safety violations - including falling objects - and fatalities at construction sites around the city.

Bloomberg said the criminal investigation into the latest collapse was "not surprising."

Despite the latest disaster, Bloomberg gave a vote of confidence to acting Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri.

"This guy's a real go-getter, he's proactive," Bloomberg said. "We want development in our city. But make no mistake, safety comes first."

BLOOMBERG CALLS CRANE COLLAPSE 'UNACCEPTABLE'

2008-05-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

May 30, 2008 --

This morning's crane collapse, the second this year, is "unacceptable and intolerable," said Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who promised to beef up safety and determine what happened.

"Every time there's a major thing we always say, 'We're going to do an investigation,'" he said on WABC-AM. "The real issue is, do you learn something and then change things? Or is it just, this is a way to stall by saying we're going to do an investigation. We're not going to stall.

"We did have something we did after the last one. I will be, you can rest assured, spending most of the rest of the day finding out was that enough? And in some cases it may just be that a piece of steel breaks and, you know, there's nothing you could have ever done about it but that's not a good comfort if somehow are you going to explain to somebody who's dead, their relatives, that oh, you know, accidents happen. That's not a good answer."

There are two confirmed deaths in this morning's collapse at 91st Street and First Avenue. Firefighters are searching the scene. The crane tumbled into the 23-story building before crashing onto the street below.

On March 15, contractors building a 46-story condominium near the United Nations were trying to lengthen a crane when a steel support broke. The crane demolished a four-story town house and damaged several other buildings. Seven people died in that incident.

Bloomberg acknowledged that the city has to grow, which means using cranes, but said safety comes first.

"We need to build high-rise buildings," he said. "But we have to find a way to do it safely. And you can rest assured, I don't care how much the industry says, 'Oh you're slowing down our construction or your jobs,' first comes safety and then we can talk about the rest. And ... I don't need any developer or union leader or anybody else telling me about the consequences of slowing things down. Nobody wants this economy to grow more than me. But we're not going to kill people."

BREAKING NEWS: Construction Crane Collapses in New York City, at Least Two Dead

2008-05-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK — DEVELOPING STORY:
A construction crane has collapsed on New York's Upper East Side, killing at least two people, FOXNY reported.
The crane smashed into a high-rise apartment building before crashing more than a dozen stories onto the street below.
The Fire Department said it has pulled people out of the wreckage at East 91st Street and First Avenue. The conditions of all the victims weren't immediately known, but officials confirmed to FOXNY that at least two were dead and one was critically injured.
The top floor of a nearby high-rise apartment building had been damaged. Firefighters and rescue workers were continuing to search through the wreckage.
The accident happened 2 1/2 months after a crane collapsed, killing seven people about two miles south.
In that March 15 accident, contractors building a 46-story condominium near the United Nations were trying to lengthen the crane when a steel support broke. The crane demolished a four-story town house and damaged several other buildings. A city inspector resigned after his arrest on charges of falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing.

Picture Of The Week

2008-05-30T04:43:00.000-07:00

I know I'm killing the joke, but these gas prices are insane!!!

IBC Featured Site: Heritage Coach Company

2008-05-29T05:16:00.000-07:00

Founded in 1980, Heritage Coach is in its third decade of service and commitment to the funeral industry. Owners, Mark Lankford and Bob Williams have built a reputation for their attention and patience in working to meet each customer’s individual needs. Mark’s experience in the Automobile business coupled with Bob’s thirty five plus years of funeral directing have given our company a unique ability to understand the special needs of our customers while also being able to handle all of their vehicle needs.

You will find us eager to meet with you at your funeral home and ready to show you one of our many stock, new and pre-owned vehicles.

Heritage Coach has won three of the last five Accubuilt Dealer of The Year awards. This honor is not based upon shear volume, but rather our customer satisfaction. We strive to be a support mechanism to our customers; we provide loaner vehicles to customers who may need a car to stay more than a day or two for service.

To learn more about the services and vehicles we provide, please enjoy and participate on our blog or visit our funeral limousine dealer site.

Wednesday: Video Blog: Top 5 Hybrid Cars for 2008

2008-05-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Tech Tuesday- Solar-powered Pod patent spotted

2008-05-27T05:21:00.000-07:00

Does this mean the sun shines out of Steve Jobs' bottom?

Don the green wellies and doff the proverbial ecological hat (if indeed there is a proverbial ecological hat, which on reflection we're pretty sure there isn't, but we digress) because if the MacRumours site is to be believed Apple has apparently filed a patent to bring solar power to its iPods and laptops.

In typical Jobs style, the design looks to be pretty unique as the company aims to fit the solar panels beneath the LCD screens of its devices to absorb ambient light, cleverly side-stepping the whole issue of having a surface area of light detectors big enough to power the gadget they're tacked on to.

Previous efforts from other manufacturers have seen them creating solar panels bigger than the actual product in order to make them effective.

In Apple's case though, some slightly misguided overenthusiastic types are already claiming the patent could reduce the footprint of the Pods and laptops, or even mean they would need no mains power at all. Though anyone who has used solar power to charge anything will know that's about as likely as Mr Jobs quitting Apple to champion the cause of the Zune.

Picture Of The Week

2008-05-23T05:38:00.001-07:00

2nd teen arrested in Mass. cabbie’s slaying

2008-05-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

BROCKTON - A second teenager has been charged in the slaying of a cab driver who was shot in the back of the head in his vehicle in Brockton.

Sixteen-year-old Antonio Fernandes was scheduled to be arraigned in Brockton District Court this afternoon. Fernandes was arrested on a warrant charging him with murder, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors allege Fernandes and 17-year-old Adilson Neves schemed to kill Edward Conley early on Feb. 16. The defendants are accused of luring the 56-year-old cabbie onto a dead-end street, where he was shot and killed. Neves and Fernandes face the same charges. Neves was arraigned in March.

CUSSER'S LAST STAND ... BLEEP! BLEEP! CITY FINES CRABBY CABBY FOR FOUL TALK

2008-05-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Cuss and be fined, a foul-mouthed Manhattan cabby discovered.

Zbigniew Sobczak dropped the f-bomb on another hack on the Upper West Side, jumping out of his cab at Central Park West and 65th Street and cussing a blue streak at driver Malik Rizwan.

The trigger for the outrage?

Rizwan apparently honked at Sobczak for 10 seconds after Sobczak cut him off, according to the testimony at an administrative-law hearing sparked by the incident.

"What the f- - -? You have problem? Why you beeping?" Sobczak allegedly said, later adding "motherf- - -er!"

Rizwan answered in kind, "You f - - -! You go in your car."

Neither of the drivers had passengers in their cabs, freeing them up to follow each other around and get into two more confrontations. Rizwan eventually called the police on Sobczak, and even accused him of assault. But as a result of the tirade, the days of the foul-mouthed New York hack are going the way of the Checker cab.

The Taxi & Limousine Commission promised to slap big fines on cabbies who swear and possibly revoke their licenses, The Post has learned.

Sobczak was suspended for 30 days and fined $1,000 - even though he was found guilty only of verbal harassment, not assault, after a hearing before administrative-law Judge Alessandra Zorgniotti.

Although Zorgniotti recommended Sobczak pay $350, the least possible, TLC Chairman Matthew Daus dropped a real f-bomb: a fine.

He ordered Sobczak be given the max penalty to set an example to any other cussin' cabbies. He also said that foul-mouthed hacks face the threat of losing their licenses if they cut loose with their lips.

"The time for more civilized drivers has come, as the industry has been radically transformed for the better since the 1980s," Daus said.

The old view on cursing dates back nearly three decades, to a time just a few years after Robert De Niro turned the character Travis Bickle into a legendary hack in "Taxi Driver."

A 1982 legal decision in a case called TLC vs. Baudin found that a "driver's use of profanity during a fight with a pedestrian was not misconduct given cognizance to the realities of life in New York City."

But Daus, in a May 9 letter to Sobczak, said, "To the extent that decisions issued before my tenure, such as TLC vs. Baudin, may be read to overrule the penalty of license revocation for verbal harassment or abuse, I would override those decisions."

Sobczak's lawyer, Cynthia Fisher, called Daus' decision unduly harsh since no passengers were involved and since her client was provoked.

"You're asking cabbies to be inhuman and not react to . . . things any one of us would react to," she said.

Red Wings' limo driver: I woke up, hit tree

2008-05-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

The moment a limousine carrying Red Wings hurdled a curb in 1997, the driver jolted awake just before the car slammed into a tree.

"I fell asleep behind the wheel," Richard Gnida, 38, of Taylor told a jury in U.S. District Court in Detroit on Monday, his first public statement about the crash in Birmingham that ended the careers of defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov.

Gnida is a key witness for lawyers of an Ohio car dealership who hope to persuade jurors that the driver and now-defunct Gambino's Limousine Co. in Belleville -- not inaccessible seat belts -- were responsible for the serious brain injuries to both men. Another player, Slava Fetisov, suffered minor injuries.

A Red Wings fan, Gnida said he was excited to pick up the players and even got their autographs after dropping them off for a golf outing to celebrate the Red Wings' 6-day-old Stanley Cup championship. Gnida said he felt a little tired on the trip back to Birmingham but didn't say why he kept driving.

Given the fact that he was driving without a license and had a history of drunken driving, Gnida should not have been behind the wheel in the first place, said lawyers for Findlay Ford Lincoln Mercury, the dealership that sold the limo to Gambino.

The limo company also had no policy to ensure that seat belts should be visible to riders, former owner John Gambino acknowledged in testimony Monday.

The wives of Konstantinov and Mnatsakanov sued the dealership, saying it should have known the limo had defective or inaccessible seat belts. The belts were tucked under the seats, attorneys for the wives said.

Gambino said seat belts weren't his responsibility because state law doesn't require backseat drivers to buckle up.

"I wasn't even thinking about seat belts," Gambino said of the day the Red Wings players climbed into the limo. "I just wanted to make sure the car was clean, and that was it."

The office manager for the limo company at the time of the crash, Dawn Council, 43, said that although riders often stuffed seat belts under the seats, drivers were never required to ensure the belts were visible to the next customers.

Attorneys for the car dealership grilled Gambino for not checking Gnida's record, which included two drunken-driving convictions and driving with a suspended license.

Although police said there were traces of marijuana in Gnida's bloodstream at the time of the crash, they said there was no evidence that he was high when the accident happened. And they said there was no trace of alcohol in his system.

For his role in the accident, Gnida served seven months in Oakland County Jail for driving without a license.

In July 1999, he was arrested for his third drunken-driving conviction after leaving a topless bar in Inkster. He was sentenced to a year in jail.

Konstantinov suffered head injuries that left his brain severely traumatized. He uses a walker or wheelchair to move around.

Mnatsakanov was partially paralyzed.

The trial continues today.

GM TO GET DRAMATIC REDESIGN

2008-05-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

DETROIT, MI -- After months of holding out hope that U.S. truck sales
would rebound, General Motors Corp. is accepting that the market shift
toward more fuel-friendly vehicles isn't likely to end.

The automaker . . . said Tuesday that it's been over-promoting its
largest vehicles and plans to change course. Instead, GM will
implement a "dramatic redesign" of its marketing strategy that places
a much greater focus on its high-mileage cars, new hybrids and other
fuel-efficient vehicles.

Through April, full-size SUV sales are down 30 percent and large
pickup sales are down 17 percent industrywide. GM's light truck sales
are down 17 percent through April compared with a year ago; car sales
fell 4 percent.

"There have been a lot of questions about whether the U.S. economy is
in recession," GM Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson told a
bankers' conference. "The U.S. auto industry is definitely in a
recession."

S.F Mayor Wants to Make E-Cars More Common Than Cable Cars By Chuck Squatriglia

2008-05-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

San Francisco could become the first city in America to put electric vehicles on the road in big numbers and create the charging infrastructure to keep them going, a move EV advocates say would push electric cars from the fringes to the mainstream.

Mayor Gavin Newsom is talking to Project Better Place about building a network of charging stations and automated battery-exchange stations similar to those the Silicon Valley startup is developing for Israel and Denmark. The mayor reportedly also is talking to several companies that would work alongside Project Better Place to develop the infrastructure.

"It would be terrific if this happened," said Paul Scott, co-founder of Plug-In America. "People will know that those of us who have been driving these cars for 5 or 10 years already know -- this technology works."

This is by no means a done deal, and anyone who knows San Francisco politics knows it can take forever to get anything done. But if Newsom pulls it off, EV advocates say, it would show people that electric cars are a viable alternative to internal combustion.

Newsom's office confirmed the mayor met with several of Project Better Place's top executives, including CEO Moshe Kaplinsky, last week in Israel. He reportedly is "very impressed" with the startup's plan to bring EVs to the masses and has offered to work with the company to bring electric cars to San Francisco.

Project Better Place is working with the Israeli government to roll out a nationwide EV charging infrastructure, and Renault has agreed to build the cars. It unveiled a prototype of the four-door sedan -- which will use a lithium ion battery with a range of 125 miles -- last weekend. Newsom was already back in the states by then, telling the audience at the New Yorker's "Stories from the Near Future" conference all about Project Better Place and saying San Francisco wants to be "the first city to adopt that strategy."

Scott says San Francisco is the perfect place for an electric car because it is compact, most people commute less than 50 miles a day and most of its electricity comes from natural gas, nuclear power and renewable sources like wind and geothermal energy.

That doesn't mean much if you haven't got the cars, but those are coming as well. Nissan, which is owned by Renault, plans to bring EVs to California by 2010. Several other automakers -- including BMW, Audi, Mitsubishi and Subaru -- are developing electric cars that will meet California's zero-emission vehicle mandate, which requires automakers to put at least 7,500 electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road by 2014.

Scott says Newsom's plan "absolutely" would hasten the development of electric vehicles by creating a market for them. Renault is already developing cars for Project Better Place to deploy in Israel and Denmark, and if it brought those cars to California, Scott says, it would encourage other automakers to do the same.

RACE TO PRODUCE GREEN CARS

2008-05-14T04:52:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC -- Spurred by the belief that the market for
fuel-efficient vehicles is about to take off, a slew of tiny car
companies are springing up in Europe and the U.S. They are racing to
produce the next "green" car, betting that soaring demand will allow
them to survive alongside the giants of Detroit, Stuttgart and Tokyo.

Most of the upstarts were founded in the last 12 months and have
financial backing from venture-capital firms. They are headed by
former top engineers and designers from the likes of Germany's
Volkswagen AG and storied U.K. racecar builder McLaren.

Responding to soaring gasoline prices and a tightening noose of
emissions regulations in Europe and the U.S., the companies are
working on a new generation of hybrid and electric vehicles.

One problem: Competition from the industry giants is real. Daimler AG,
Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Corp., Renault SA and Mitsubishi
Corp. are all developing new-generation electric vehicles. The
upstarts are entering a notoriously tough market.

But analysts say shrinking research-and-development budgets at the big
auto makers and their interest in outside help to develop key
technology may have opened up the road for smaller players.

FLYTE TYME WORLDWIDE INCREASES HYBRID FLEET

2008-05-13T04:57:00.000-07:00

MAHWAH, NJ -- Flyte Tyme Worldwide has announced that is has increased
it's fleet of alternative fuel vehicles this week with the recent
purchase of several Chevrolet Flex Fuel Suburban SUV vehicles to
supplement their existing fleet of flexible fuel vehicles. The move
is part of the company's initiative to supplement its current fleet
with more environmentally friendly vehicles. In early 2006, Flyte Tyme
Worldwide President Tim Rose saw the need to make his company
"greener" and has continued to explore all of the options available
this large scale transportation firm. Rose stated that while the
addition of more flexible fuel vehicles to his fleet is part of his
"total green initiative", he acknowledges the fact that there are
currently no green vehicles available that meet all of the needs of
his transportation firm.

In addition to these flex fuel vehicles added to the Flyte Tyme Fleet,
the company has also added 15 Mercury Mariner Hybrid vehicles to its
New York based fleet. "We will continue to replace our Fleet of 250
Lincoln Town Cars in our Black Car operation with Hybrids," stated
Flyte Tyme Worldwide President, Tim Rose. We also give our clients
the option of selecting a hybrid vehicle via our web booking tool and
our clients are taking advantage of this option. Flyte Tyme continues
to monitor hybrid related vehicle safety and reliability factors,"
added Tim Rose.

Flyte Tyme is working vigorously with its corporate partners to become
a more 'environmentally conscious' corporation .In 2008, Flyte Tyme
will roll out the Black Car industry's first paperless 'E-Voucher'
system developed in partnership with Aleph Computer Systems and Symbol
Technologies. It will enable travelers to sign on the screen of the
driver's PDA tablet to acknowledge final charges. A receipt will be
emailed immediately, thereby completely eliminating the need for paper
receipts.

According to Rose, Flyte Tyme has been developing a company wide
"green initiative' program by exploring all of the options available
to become greener. This program continues to evolve as more green
options become available to the company. Some of the current programs
being developed are: The installation of waste oil fuel heating
systems at its corporate locations in Mahwah, Princeton, Philadelphia
and New York City which will allow Flyte Tyme to heat its facilities
with the waste oil generated by its vehicles; installing fuel
conservation systems on all of its vehicles as part of a comprehensive
effort to cut fuel consumption of its non-hybrid fleet; installing an
Ethanol fueling station at its headquarters this year to allow the
company to gain the most benefit from these flexible fuel vehicles and
further offset the company's carbon footprint and Flyte Tyme is in
negotiations with several partners to purchase carbon offsets for its
fleet vehicles that are currently not eligible for replacement.

"These initiatives will enable us to better serve our clients and help
to offset our carbon footprint. "The company continues to evaluate
commercially available options to replace its fleet of over 550
vehicles. The company also continues to investigate the market for
fuel friendly vehicles which will best suit the needs of its clients
and the environment. While hybrid vehicles have presented the best
immediate option because they rely on an existing network of gasoline
stations, flex fuel and bio-diesel fueled vehicles present better
alternatives for the environment because they are powered by renewable
energy sources," continued Tim Rose.

In addition to increasing the number of fuel efficient vehicles in its
fleet, Flyte Tyme Worldwide has also moved to 'green' its corporate
practices through recycling, efficient energy use, paperless policies,
carbon offsets, and green partnerships.
About Flyte Tyme Worldwide

Flyte Tyme Worldwide is a provider of ground transportation services
in over 350 cities worldwide. For more information:

Flyte Tyme Worldwide
81 Franklin Turnpike
Mahwah, N.J. 07430
Contact: Maria Amorosso, Director of Account Development
Tel: (800) 920-5466 Ext. 7641

Things To Consider Before Getting A Limousine Rental

2008-05-12T07:00:00.001-07:00

A limo is a perfect service to a special event. Weddings, birthdays, prom nights, or a business event can be made to look stylish and elegant with the right limo to add to the touch.

But there are a lot of details to consider before you rent a limo. Aside from the model of the vehicle, you need to take into consideration the cost of renting one and the additional service that you get from the limo rental provider.

Do A Head Count

First, you need to do a head count of your entourage. The number of people who will be joining you on your limo escapade will help you decide on what model you will be suitable for the occasion.

If you have a large number of people in your entourage, around 6 to 12 or more, then you may need to go for a coach model to provide enough room to move around during your travel. For out of town trips, a hummer or an SUV would be the perfect model for your needs; and if you have a large number of people at your disposal, go for a coach or a bus.

Pick A Provider

Now that you have an idea on what limousine models you plan to rent out, you need to look for a limousine rental service to provide the vehicle. Check the local yellow pages or the Internet for a limo rental service in your area.

You can visit them one by one and check out their business credentials, as well as their business permits and licenses. Ask for some guarantee regarding the quality of their service and ask permission to check out their fleet. It would be advisable to check the quality of their limo, including the chauffer that will be driving it for you.

Before you pick out a limo rental firm, you need to know their cost for the service. Inquire on rental fees, discounts, additional hours and mileage charges, and so on. Don’t stick with one firm alone, try to browse different firms and compare prices.

Some limo company will charge for every hour so its only sound thinking to determine in advance how long you plan to be using the limo.

Book In Advance

Limousine rental is very popular, and you might be hard-pressed to rent right one out on the spot. Many limo rental services will require you to book in advance for the service, and some of them would even offer discount depending on how early you reserve a limo.

Knowing all these details in advance can help you determine the perfect limo for you and your needs. Also, a little advance planning can help you a lot in getting the best deals for your special occasion

ADDITIONAL GAS SUBSIDIES

2008-05-08T08:51:00.001-07:00

DETROIT, MI -- Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor
Corp. have no plans to match Chrysler LLC's offer to subsidize the
cost of gasoline for car and truck buyers, the companies said Tuesday.

Chrysler announced an offer that caps the price of gasoline at $2.99 a
gallon for three years for people who buy or lease new vehicles from
Wednesday through June 2.

The customer will be billed $2.99 a gallon, and Chrysler will pay the
rest. General Motors tried a gas payment promotion two years ago in
Florida and California with little impact on sales, company spokesman
John McDonald said Tuesday.

GM instead is focusing on making vehicles more fuel efficient because
that's what customers are demanding, McDonald said.

Ford spokesman Jim Cain said the company has tried similar programs
regionally but also has decided to focus on more efficient engines and
transmissions and other measures. "We know that fuel economy is
important to consumers," he said. "It'll be important whether gas is
$2.99 a gallon or $4.99 a gallon."

CONGESTION PRICING PLAN IS DEAD

2008-04-09T08:37:00.001-07:00

ALBANY, NY -- State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today that the
congestion pricing plan for New York City would not come to the floor
of the Assembly for a vote.

NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's ambitious dream to remake New York
with an elaborate plan for congestion pricing appeared to die today in
a private conference room on the third floor of the State Capitol.

It was there that Democratic members of the State Assembly, who
control the chamber, held one final meeting to debate the merits of
Mr. Bloomberg's plan, ultimately conferring, before Sheldon Silver,
the speaker, emerged to announce the outcome. The opposition was so
overwhelming, he said, that he would not hold an open vote of the full
Assembly, though many Republicans were supportive of Mr. Bloomberg.

"The congestion pricing bill did not have anywhere near a majority of
the Democratic conference, and will not be on the floor of the
Assembly," Mr. Silver, who represents the Lower East Side of
Manhattan, said after his meeting with fellow Democrats.

Today was the deadline for the Legislature to approve a congestion
pricing plan, a device that has been used in many cities worldwide,
like London, so that the city could qualify for $354 million in
federal grants for traffic mitigation and mass transit aid.

The collapse of the plan, which would have charged drivers $8 to enter
parts of Manhattan during peak hours, was a huge blow to Mr.
Bloomberg's environmental agenda and political legacy, and his second
major defeat at the hands of Mr. Silver and the state Assembly, which
in 2005 blocked the mayor's plan to redevelop the West Side railyards
and allow a big sports stadium to be built there.

"The word `elitist' came up a number of times," said Assemblyman Mark
Weprin, a Queens Democrat, who said his constituents overwhelmingly
opposed the measure. "The members who oppose it did so because their
constituents opposed it," Mr. Weprin said. He estimated that opinion
among Assembly Democrats ran four to one against the plan.

Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr., a Bronx Democrat, said it was "morally
reprehensible and unconscionable to subject the 1.4 million residents
of the Bronx to a potential double whammy consisting of a congestion
pricing tax with absolutely no guarantee that they will not be subject
to yet another transit fare hike in the near future and without
addressing traffic congestion concerns in any of the four boroughs
outside of Manhattan."

The mayor had furiously advocated the plan to state and city officials
for nearly a year and worked to assemble a coalition of business,
transportation, environmental and labor groups to support it. The
Legislature's approval was needed for the city to enforce the plan and
collect revenues and fines, money from which would have gone to the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital budget.

In recent weeks, the plan had seemed to gain momentum, as the mayor
managed to secure support from Governor Paterson and from the City
Council, which on March 31 voted, 30 to 20, to endorse it. But up
through this afternoon the fate of the plan had seemed uncertain. The
leader of the Republican majority in the State Senate, Joseph L.
Bruno, gave his support the plan, and even Mr. Silver, the Assembly
speaker, voiced partial support for it, while warning that he did not
believe the members of the Assembly's Democratic majority were convinced.

It was on April 22 last year, Earth Day, that the mayor unveiled his
plan for the traffic fees. Opposition quickly emerged, particularly
from residents and businesses outside Manhattan, but the plan won
support from Eliot Spitzer, the governor at the time, and from the
Bush administration. Mr. Silver was never really convinced, even
questioning the mayor's claim that his plan would reduce rates of
asthma and other respiratory ailments.

After weeks of keeping Albany guessing, on July 16, 2007, lawmakers
shelved the plan, for the time being. However, hope was kept alive,
and advocates of congestion pricing did not give up, as Albany agreed
to create a 17-member commission to study the issue and report back to
the Legislature.

The members of the commission held months of meetings, starting on
Sept. 25. The panel considered ideas like raising parking meter rates
and creating taxi stands, as well as imposing tolls on East River
bridges and also more fanciful ideas like license plate rationing,
under which cars would be barred from the area below 86th Street on
certain days, depending on their license plate.

On Jan. 31 of this year, the commission formally recommended a
congestion pricing plan substantially similar to what the mayor had
proposed nine months earlier. As he continued to lobby Albany before
today's deadline, the mayor offered sweeteners like a residential
parking permit program, but also encountered criticism from New Jersey
officials who feared that suburban commuters would bear a
disproportionate burden on the traffic fees.

Congestion Pricing: REST IN ETERNAL PEACE!

CONGESTION FEE APPROVED BY COUNCIL

2008-04-02T06:22:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK CITY -- The controversial proposal to charge drivers in the
busiest parts of Manhattan took a major step forward on Monday, with
NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Speaker Christine C. Quinn
wrenching approval from the City Council by an unusually slim margin.

Under intense pressure from the mayor, Ms. Quinn and their allies that
continued almost until the voting began, council members approved the
plan to charge most drivers $8 to enter a zone below 60th Street by a
vote of 30 to 20, with no abstentions and one absence.

At a news conference after the vote, where Mr. Bloomberg made a rare
appearance on the speaker's side of City Hall, officials sought to
play down the narrowness of their hard-won victory, among the closest
of this administration in a body that typically votes in near unanimity.

Approving the proposal, Ms. Quinn said, would send a message to the
Legislature that the "people who were elected to represent the New
Yorkers who live in our five boroughs are sick and tired of our
streets being clogged with traffic, we're sick and tired of the
children who live in our city literally having to fight to be able to
breathe, and that we see congestion pricing as a solution to this
problem."

But the ultimate fate of the proposal now resides in Albany, where the
intentions of lawmakers whose approval is needed remained unclear.
Gov. David A. Paterson and the Senate majority leader, Joseph L.
Bruno, have expressed their support. But Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver, who has derailed Mr. Bloomberg's ambitions in the past,
remained noncommittal, telling members of the Democratic conference on
Sunday night that he would not take the issue up until the state
budget was completed.

If the Assembly waits to act until after the budget, it could threaten
the bill's chances in the Senate, because it would come before the
Legislature as a stand-alone item, making approval more elusive.
Several council members complained as they voted that the mayor had
reneged on a promise that they would not be asked to take up the
measure until the State Legislature had agreed to support the proposal.

But other council members took the vote as a sign that Mr. Silver
would ultimately back the plan, since Ms. Quinn had said privately
that she would not call for a vote until she had an indication that it
would gain approval from the state.

But Mr. Silver said that he had made no such assurance.

"I told her it's not before us until they vote on it," he said. "And
we will deal with the issue after we pass a budget."

Speaking to reporters with Ms. Quinn, Mr. Bloomberg seemed
particularly defensive about Mr. Silver. Asked if they had any
indication that leaders in Albany would approve the proposal, Ms.
Quinn said that she had received calls from Mr. Paterson and Mr. Bruno
urging that the Council "move as quickly as possible and do what we
did today, so I thought that was a very good sign."

In response to a question about Mr. Silver, though, Mr. Bloomberg
approached the lectern, sidestepped the question and then cut off the
line of inquiry, saying they could not speak for Albany leaders.

Technically, the Council approved a measure known as a home rule
message, which is a request for the State Legislature to pass the plan
as outlined in a bill introduced into the Senate. The Legislature has
until April 7 to approve the program or risk losing roughly $350
million in federal money to help offset the costs of starting the
plan. Mr. Bloomberg has said that much of that money would go toward
increasing bus service in underserved areas.

Although the administration and the Council's leadership were able to
gain support with promises of programs, projects and political aid in
upcoming campaigns, as well as threats of taking those things away,
opposition remained strong. Several council members argued that it was
unfair to essentially tax residents to move around their own city,
that even after they voted to support the proposal, the Legislature
could approve a different version, and that revenues would not
necessarily go toward the promised transit improvements.

"This plan, while wrapped up in three incredibly important and
laudable goals," including cleaning the air, reducing traffic and
paying for mass transit, said Lewis A. Fidler, a Brooklyn councilman
who strongly opposed the plan, "is designed to deter people from
coming into a part of the city if they can't afford it."

He added: "What's next? We're going to charge a user fee to come into
Central Park because it's crowded?"

Monday We Are In The News: MLB Opening Day 2008

2008-03-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

So much of this New York baseball season will revolve around the past and the future, with the Yankees watching their state-of-the-art home for 2009 rising across the street from the one that has housed baseball's most storied franchise since 1923.

Yes, change is afoot in the Bronx.

Joe Girardi has replaced iconic manager Joe Torre. The brothers Steinbrenner have taken over the blustery owner's box from their Boss father. And the Yankees - the Yankees! - have taken on the novel approach of relying as much on some homegrown young arms as they are their veteran staples to vault them back to the top of their sport and their first World Series title since 2000.

"Clearly with the change in the managerial side of this thing, and closing out Yankee Stadium, there's a lot of new story lines, but we're feeling good about how we got out of spring training," general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday as the Yanks worked out at the Stadium before .today's season opener against Toronto. "We're hoping to try to rock the house here for one more season before we get over there (to the new Stadium).

"Or someone's going to rock my house."

Cashman drew laughs with that last crack, although general partner Hank Steinbrenner clearly will be watching closely as the GM enters his once unfathomable 11th season at the helm - and also the final year of his contract.

The Yankees' championship drought reached seven years when they were bounced by Cleveland in the AL division series last October. The laid-back Torre then was replaced by the no-nonsense Girardi, while Cashman and/or general partner Hal Steinbrenner basically talked Hank into sticking with the young guns and backing off a potential trade for Johan Santana, now a Met.

"I'm excited about this club. I like the character of this club and I like the heart of this club," said .Girardi, whose first camp ran smoothly other than some bad blood with the Tampa Bay Rays. "They showed me that in spring training and I was very proud of them . . . their work ethic.

"Whenever you have a change, there are going to be things that are done a little bit different. They embraced it and did it with open arms, and for that I'm thankful."

Girardi, who previously has served the Yankees as catcher, coach and broadcaster, was forced out after one season as manager of the Florida Marlins over clashes with owner Jeffrey Loria despite earning NL Manager of the Year in 2006.

He also is savvy enough to emit a keen sense of history and reverence for Torre, calling the new Dodgers skipper "a mentor to me" while discussing the "amazing run" of four championships in six seasons that began when both men arrived amid some controversy before the 1996 season.

TOP DRIVERS TO GET TOP HONORS

2008-03-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK CITY - The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission will
host its Sixth Annual Driver Recognition Ceremony to honor New York
City's best Taxi Drivers and For-Hire Vehicle drivers.

The TLC will join with it's partners NYC & Company, the city's travel,
tourism and marketing agency; and Tishman-Speyer, co-owners of
Rockefeller Center and operator of New York 's most outstanding event
venue "Top of the Rock."

Top honorees will include:
* "Driver of the Year" Charles Kabbani, whose quick thinking helped
save the life of a passenger suffering a seizure;
* "Matchmaker Cabbie" Ahmed Ibrahim, who is now famous for his "livery
love matches";
* Douglas Guldeniz, whose historic fare to Sedona Arizona earns him
the "Going the Extra Mile!" award
* And many more!

WHO: NYC TLC Commissioner/Chairman Matthew W. Daus and Tom Madden,
Managing Director, Tishman-Speyer.

Special Guest Speakers: Ben Bailey, Celebrity Host of TV's "Cash Cab"
and Tom Wopat, star of Broadway's "A Catered Affair."

WHERE: Top of the Rock
30 Rockefeller Plaza,
New York, N.Y. 10112
Tel: (212) 698-2000

Enter through the revolving doors on 50th Street , between 5th and 6th
Avenues, under the NBC/Observation Deck/Rainbow Room Marquee. Cross
the corridor to the up escalator for the mezzanine level. Private
elevators will take guests to the 67th Floor for check-in.

WHEN: Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 1100 a.m.

For more information, please contact:
Allan J. Fromberg
NYC TLC Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs
Tel: (212) 676-1013
Fax: (212) 676-1101

Tech Tuesday: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

2008-03-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Product Overview

-Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
-Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
-Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
-Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
-More than 110,000 books available, including more than 90 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.
-New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
-Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
-Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
-Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
-More than 250 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.
-Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
Holds over 200 titles.
-Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. -Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.
-Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.
No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.
-Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.
-Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.
-Included in the box: Kindle wireless reader, Book cover, Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable

Monday We Are In The News

2008-03-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

MUSCLE CARS RULE AT THE AUTO SHOW

NEW YORK CITY -- Here at the New York International Auto Show, nothing
is slowing down the parade of muscle cars taking the stage. Chrysler
is showing off its reborn Dodge Challenger, with a screaming V-8 hemi
engine. GM rolled out three hot-rod Pontiacs, including a pickup truck
inspired by the El Camino from the 1970s. Nissan rolled out a new
version of its smoking hot Maxima sport sedan, with a 290-horsepower
engine.

Every other auto show this year has been overrun with futuristic
plug-in electric Chevys and switchgrass burning Biofuel Ferraris. But
here, it's green be damned. Like an infamous Yankees pitcher, the New
York Auto Show is all about the juice. The only difference:
performance enhancement isn't denied, it's celebrated and glorified.

What are these guys thinking? Well, let's give them the benefit of the
doubt and say they planned these new model intros long before they
knew about bank failures, $100 a barrel oil and federal bailouts. But
shouldn't the car business, of all industries, be able to switch gears?

"We have both" green and mean, says GM vice chairman Bob Lutz,
standing near a Corvette and a hybrid Chevy Tahoe SUV. "Just because
vegetarianism is on the rise doesn't mean you shut down the meat counter."

The meat counter, though, is not getting a lot of business these days.
Sales for GM's ultimate muscle car, the Corvette, are down 18.6
percent to-date. And Detroit's meatiest models, pickup trucks and big
SUVs are tanking. Fold in the consumers' crisis of confidence and
you've got a guy sitting at an office desk that gets 100 Mpg.

J.D. Power and Associates this week forecast U.S. auto sales will
reach their lowest level since 1994, falling below 15 million vehicles
for the first time this decade. Just three years ago, Americans
purchased 17 million cars and trucks. "Autos have been a leading
indicator of what is happening in the rest of the economy now," says
Nissan executive Dominique Thormann. "Our industry has been in
recession for the last three years."

What models are those brave few buyers laying down deposits on? Small,
fuel-efficient cars. Just ask Honda. It introduced a new version of
its Honda Fit subcompact at the New York show Wednesday. Sales of that
little runabout, which gets 34 miles per gallon on the highway are up
87 percent so far this year. And the new version coming this fall
manages to be just a little bigger and yet improve its mileage by a
mile or two per gallon, says Honda senior vice president Dick
Colliver. Asked why Honda didn't flex a little muscle in New York like
the Detroit automakers, Colliver said, "We wanted to show a car that
people actually want to buy."

Don't try telling that to the folks at Pontiac, who provided the most
steroidal and surreal moment of the show when 50 Cent joined
76-year-old Bob Lutz on stage to introduce three new hot rods. "Hi 50,
how are you doing?" the white-haired senior statesman of the industry
said as he shook hands with Fiddy, dapper in red Harvard hat and track
jacket. The rapper is an automotive tastemaker who made a star out of
the Chrysler 300C by casting it in one of his videos. But he's working
for Pontiac now and by the looks of things on stage, he's earning his
money. "This Solstice if faster than a Boxster," 50 said, patting the
fender of Pontiac's little duce coupe.

Like two rock stars from alternative universes, Lutz and 50 stood back
to back on stage fielding questions from the media horde that
descended upon them after their press conference. And 50 sounded less
like his expletive-laced songs and more like an M.B.A. from that
school on his hat. "Where I come from, people equate quality with how
much you pay," said 50, a huge diamond-and-gold-encrusted cross
swinging from his neck.

Picture Of The Week

2008-03-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

Boeing 727 Limo

That’s correct, someone has taken a Boeing 727 and mounted it on a Mercedes bus frame. This 24,000-pound beast seats 50 and supposedly is street legal. Of course This Boeing 727 Jet Limo has all the luxury features you would expect in a super-sized limo including a sunken living room with a dance floor, big screen TV, fireplace, full bar, fog machine, tons of lighting, ceiling mirrors, and aerodynamic seats. Right now you canít rent it for a night out on the town with friends, but you can buy it over on ebay. (Current high bid $269,900)

New York International Auto Show

2008-03-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center 11th ave
between 34 & 39 Streets

Public Show Dates : Friday March 21st through Sunday March 30th
11am - 10:30pm (Sundays: 10am - 7pm)

Special Public Sneak Preview: Friday March 21st
11am - 10:30pm

Official Opening Day: Saturday March 22nd
Festivities begin at 9am
SHOW FLOOR OPENS AT 11am

Press Preview: Wednesday March 19th & Thursday March 20th
Credentials required

Dealer Preview: Thursday, March 20th from 4-10 pm
Credentials required By invitation only

Note: all information is subject to change

BostonCoach C.O.O. Mark Munoz Elected to National Limousine Association Board of Directors Munoz to Share Extensive Experience in Advancing Chauffeure

2008-03-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

BostonCoach, a leading ground transportation and transportation management company, today announced that Mark Munoz, the company's chief operating officer, was elected to an at-large seat on the National Limousine Association (NLA) board of directors for the 2008-2011 term. Munoz brings to this new role more than 25 years of management, operations and client-service experience.

"Our industry faces many challenges and opportunities, and I'm looking forward to playing a more direct role as an NLA board member," says Munoz. "Together with the rest of the board, I'll work hard to ensure that the NLA is addressing all the pressing needs and concerns of its members." The National Limousine Association was established in 1985, the same year in which BostonCoach was founded, to represent the worldwide, national, state and local interests of the luxury chauffeured ground transportation industry.

Members include limousine owners and operators, suppliers, manufacturers, and regional and state limousine associations.

"The NLA is committed to improving the chauffeured transportation industry and serving the interests of our members," says NLA president Jeff Greene. "Mark brings invaluable perspective and ideas to the organization, and we welcome his leadership." As chief operating officer at BostonCoach, Munoz is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company, which span 32 countries on four continents.

About BostonCoach BostonCoach provides ground transportation and transportation management worldwide. Operating a network of more than 21,000 vehicles ranging from sedans and SUVs to business-class vans and limousines, BostonCoach specializes in tightly choreographed, multi-stop road shows, major sporting events, trade shows and other complex events.

Tech Tuesday: Pioneer DEH-P6000UB

2008-03-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Pioneer DEH-P6000UB is a stylish car stereo with several sophisticated options for its as-standard iPod support, and a wealth of audio tweaking and processing options including its Advanced Sound Retrieval for compressed audio files.

If you want to purchase the Pioneer DEH-P6000UB click here .

Monday We Are In The News: NYC TAXI GPS LAWSUIT WITHDRAWN

2008-03-17T05:15:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK CITY -- The New York City Law Department announced today that
the plaintiffs seeking to stop the Taxi and Limousine Commission's
(TLC) program of taxi technology service improvements, including GPS
equipment, have withdrawn their lawsuit. The suit, brought last
September, sought to prevent the program from going forward as
scheduled. But the court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York, rejected the plaintiffs' request last September
to grant a preliminary injunction, finding that plaintiffs had failed
to demonstrate that they were likely to succeed on any of their
claims. Today, the Court signed off on a legal stipulation ending the
lawsuit.

The lawsuit had challenged the innovative program initiated by the TLC
to provide improved technology in taxicabs that enabled passengers to
pay by credit card, to monitor travel on video screens, and to provide
automated trip records through GPS equipment. The service enhancement
program has been in effect since October 2007, and is viewed by both
the TLC and the public as a success.

The plaintiffs, including the New York Taxi Workers Alliance,
continued to press their claims after their initial loss in court on
the preliminary injunction issue. However, after several months of
successful operation of the program, they agreed to withdraw their
complaint "with prejudice," meaning they cannot bring the suit again.
As noted, the Court today approved the agreement of discontinuance of
this litigation, in which it is agreed that the TLC will continue its
enforcement of its rules and regulations, including the requirements
for the GPS technology and customer service improvements.

"Just as taxi riders have embraced the conveniences of the new
technology, taxi drivers are now likewise seeing the benefits of the
systems in their own lives. Drivers are earning more money in tips on
credit card rides, and this payment option is growing more popular
every day," said TLC Commissioner/Chairman Matthew W. Daus. "It is
particularly gratifying that this comes within days of our having
achieved the milestone of seeing the 10 thousandth taxicab equipped
with the new systems and this victory will speed us on to see this
already successful project continue toward the goal of equipping every
taxicab in the city."

Paula Van Meter of the Law Department's Administrative Law Division
led the legal team, with input from Division Chief Gabriel Taussig.
"This is a complete victory for the City, and it will allow all taxi
passengers to enjoy the benefits of these service improvements,"
Taussig noted.

The New York City Law Department is one of the oldest, largest and
most dynamic law offices in the world, ranking among the top three
largest law offices in New York City and the top three largest public
law offices in the country. Tracing its roots back to the 1600's, the
Department has an active caseload of 90 thousand matters and
transactions in 17 legal divisions. The Corporation Counsel heads the
Law Department and acts as legal counsel for the Mayor, elected
officials, the City and all its agencies. The Department's 650-plus
attorneys represent the City on a vast array of civil litigation,
legislative and legal issues and in the criminal prosecution of
juveniles.

Picture Of The Week

2008-03-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

This after Gov. Spitzer resign from office because of the prostitution scandal.

How To Cut Car Insurance Costs By More Than 10%

2008-03-13T09:06:00.001-07:00

Fact: To drive legally in the UK, you are required to have car insurance to protect yourself and other drivers. It's one of the unavoidable expenses of owning and driving a vehicle on the road.

Whilst car insurance is a fact of life, high premiums are not. There are many ways to control the cost of your motor insurance premiums and even reverse recent increases in some cases. Here are just a few tips that can save you well over 10% on your car insurance this year.

1. Search online for the best quotes.

Often, car dealers work with a specific insurer "for your convenience". Before snatching the first motor insurance policy you find, do some research and shop around. Use a price comparison site to compare multiple policies side by side. Car insurance quotes can vary by hundreds of pounds for the exact same cover.

2. Buy online at the insurer's site.

Many, if not most, insurance companies offer hefty discounts when you buy your cover online. Why? They save money on time and agent commissions that way. It's standard to offer a 10% discount when you buy your car insurance online. While not everyone can buy online, there can be significant savings if you can and do.

3. Review when you renew.

Don't simply renew you policy when the time rolls around. Go over it to make sure that it still meets your needs and circumstances - and then request a new quote. Insurers will nearly always offer a lower quote when you're shopping around for policy than when they think they have you hooked.

4. Secure your car.

Since your premium is based on the risk of damage or loss of your car, every step you take to make your car more secure and safe will reduce your premium. Park it off street or in a garage, add a steering lock or an alarm and see your premiums go down.

5. Drive less.

The less you drive, the less your chance of being involved in an accident. If your mileage is lower than the norm, inform your insurer and find out if they offer a low mileage discount.

6. Be honest on your application.

While this technically will not lower your insurance premium, it can make a huge difference when you make a claim. It may be tempting to claim your auntie's suburban address as your garaging site and knock a few pounds off your premium - but if you need to make a claim, the insurance company could find out. If they prove you misrepresented the facts on your application, your claim will be declined and may end up liable for any damages from the accident to boot.

7. Pay in full at the start of the policy.

Check with your insurer to find out if you're charged more for paying in installments. In essence, when you pay in installments, you're taking a loan from the insurance company for your premium, and paying them back - with interest.

8. Pay by direct debit.

If you do choose to pay in installments, find out if your insurer discounts your premium when you pay by direct debit. Since direct debit greatly decreases the likelihood of late and missed payments, most insurers are happy to knock a few quid off the premium when you pay that way.

9. Add an extra driver to your policy.

In some cases, adding an additional driver to your policy will lower your premium, especially if that driver is older, female and has a good driving record.

10. Take a defensive driving course.

Many insurance companies will discount your premium if you complete a course in safe or defensive driving. In general, anything that reduces your accident or loss risk may lower your car insurance premiums.

Bad Credit Used Car Loans - adverse credentials no hurdle in owning car by Gary grobowski

2008-03-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

To buy a new car is often not that easy for every aspiring person because of financial constraints. He therefore settles for a used car but here also he faces one big hurdle as he is labeled bad credit in the loan market, making lenders suspicious in offering loan. Bad credit used car loans can take care of all the worries of such borrowers. The loan can be utilized in buying any type of used car.
Borrowers of bad credit used car loans need not to worry about their bad credit at all. Lenders do not take pains in doing extensive credit checks while such people intend to buy used cars. This is mainly owing to the fact that any car loan including used car loan is essentially a secured loan. Lender either asks the borrower for giving any property to secure the loan or he can ask for deal papers of used car. The deal papers are returned to the car owner when the loan is finally paid off. Meanwhile the owner can have and enjoy the car.

However despite the security, there are risks present in the loan offer for a lender. If the borrower fails to repay the loan, lender may not get back the entire loaned amount by selling used car, the price of which may have gone down sharply. To cover the risks, lenders charge higher interest rate on bad credit used car loans. But a loan seeker can take the loan at comparatively lower interest rate if he comparers different loan packages as each lender has own rate of interest on the loan.

When the lender approves you the loan, this allows you to buy used car. Take some precautions while buying the car. Used car may have mechanical defects. Repair those defects your self or in case you are not in a position to pay for repairs, better buy a used car with a warranty. There are many buy-here-pay-here car lots. Skip them as they generally have low quality used cars and they will not report the car deal to credit rating agency. Therefore this car deal will not be recorded in your credit report, depriving you an opportunity for improving credit score.

Numbers of lenders have displayed bad credit used car loans on their websites. Search these sites so to get an insight of the loan market and the prevailing interest rate or terms-conditions. Compare interest rates before settling for a lender. Apply to the lender on a online simple format giving required details. Lender will soon convey the loan worthiness and approval in no time after verifying the information about you.

Make sure to pay off the loan installments in time as this will improve credit score and help in avoiding debts. The loan gives you easy access to used car so get the best of opportunity.

Monday: We Are In The News

2008-03-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

Taxi van for disabled riders aces test - in a New York minute

A disabled-riders group showed off a specially equipped taxi van yesterday that takes seconds to load a passenger and wheelchair.

"It's a rear-entry vehicle ramp that can load and secure a passenger in under a minute," said Michael Harris, head of the Disabled Riders Coalition. "And that's from when you hail the cab to when your chair is secure and the driver is ready togo."

Harris contrasted that with the arduous process of getting a disabled passenger into a sedan and his or her chair into the trunk, which he said can take as long as 20 minutes.

Dozens of onlookers lined up at the demonstration site at 23rd St. and Seventh Ave. to try the system.

There are just two of the modified Toyota vans plying the city at the moment, part of a pilot program Harris hopes to see expanded as soon as possible.

"It's our hope that the Taxi and Limousine Commission will approve this for use as a taxicab soon," Harris said.

Once the design has the TLC's stamp of approval, "We could see as many as 50 or 60 on the streets in a matter of weeks, and over 100 in a few months," said Harris.

Harris said more wheelchair-accessible taxis would not only make life easier for the disabled, but would ease pressure on the city's overstressed Access-A-Ride system.

________________________________________________________
Upcoming Events

2008 International LCT Show
Mar 17, 2008 - Mar 19, 2008

Location: Las Vegas, NV
Contact:
Sponsored By: LCT Magazine

Description:
The 2008 International LCT Show will be held in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on March 17-19, 2008.

NLA members receive a 10% discount on Show registration fees.

For more information, please see the LCT Show's website.

Friday: Picture of the Week

2008-03-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Making The Most Of Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services

2008-03-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

Using the Internet to make reservations for Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services sent me on a fact-finding mission to find out about these services. Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services are located in all major urban centers of North America.

A Taxi Limousine Shuttle Service may save you up to 50 percent on eleventh hour limo rentals. You may likewise save upwards of 50 percent by hiring a limo Sunday through Thursday.

There are plenty of reasons to use limousine rentals. It is important to provide business travellers with a reliable chauffeur driven service. Each of the chauffeurs at My Chicago Limousine Rentals is professional, knowledgeable and very familiar with the needs of business travellers. They try their very best to get people to and from their meetings in the most efficient, timely and comfortable way possible.

Airport transports and Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services go together securer than you might surmise. Most top notch services allow you with experienced chauffeurs to transfer people safely from the airport to their intended destination. All a Taxi Limousine Shuttle Service needs is someone’s flight details. If you use a quality service, a fully uniformed chauffeur will meet you in the arrivals lounge at the correct time and will assist you to a waiting limo or executive car for your journey.

A limo for your wedding party is altogether different and merits unique attention. The more effective Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services provide a worry-free Limousine wedding party service for everyone. They treat weddings in the special way they should and some even provide a fresh red rose, complimentary drinks or a chilled bottle of bubbly for the bride and groom.

After a wedding party, Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services will take the lucky couple off to their next destination, whether it be the airport for their honeymoon or a hotel. The wedding bundle proposed by many Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services is usually popular and high quality so it’s well-advised that you make reservations for their services as soon as the wedding date is determined.

A special party evening in the city can be enhanced greatly with a quality Taxi Limousine Shuttle Service. Whether it’s a night on the town, a stag or stagette party, a sports event, an night at the theater or simply breaking it down at one of the cabarets in your city, A good Taxi Limousine Shuttle Service is the one service to call first. They provide the best of the night with quality, luxurious limousines and sedans with not a worry about drinking and driving. Taxi Limousine Shuttle Services offer a worry-free night out of drinking, partying, driving and parking.

My Chicago Limousine Rentals knows that there are some very special events for teenagers. They offer graduation and prom packages that include the lowest rate anywhere in Chicago with complimentary sodas and apples. They are the ones to call if you want to make the night special.

GAS PRICES SOAR

2008-03-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

problems became clearer Tuesday
with the release of figures showing that prices at the producer level
rose 1 percent in January from December, driven in large measure by
energy costs. Compared with a year ago, prices were up 7.4 percent,
the worst producer price inflation in the United States since 1981.

Other new figures showed that home prices around the country are
falling at an accelerating pace, suggesting no end is in sight for the
housing slump.

As of Tuesday, regular gasoline was selling at a nationwide average of
$3.14 a gallon, according to AAA, the automobile club, up from $2.35 a
year ago. The price has jumped 19 cents a gallon in two weeks.

Energy specialists predict that, as demand picks up further this
spring and summer, retail prices will surpass the high of $3.23 a
gallon set last Memorial Day weekend. That high fell short of the
inflation-adjusted record of $3.40 in today's money that was set in 1981.

On Tuesday, diesel prices rose to a record $3.60 a gallon, compared
with $2.62 a gallon last year.

For a decade, rising oil prices failed to dent global economic growth.
In the United States, consumers absorbed the higher costs because of
easy credit and rising prosperity, while in developing countries,
government subsidies helped ease the pain. The rise in energy prices
was a result of growing demand around the world.

The price of oil has quadrupled in six years, and the close Tuesday
was not far below the inflation-adjusted high set in April 1980, after
the Iranian revolution. That record, $39.50 a barrel, equals $103.76
in today's money.

As oil prices spiked last fall, low wintertime gasoline demand helped
keep prices in check. But now, experts say, the price of oil is
finally showing up at the pump.

Still, things are not quite as bad as during the 1970s and 1980s oil
shocks. In the early 1980s, at the height of the last energy crisis,
energy accounted for about 8 percent of household spending. As prices
fell and the economy became less energy-intensive, energy costs fell
under 4 percent of household spending in the early 1990s.

With the run-up in prices in recent years, economists say energy's
share of disposable income is slowly creeping up again. In December,
that figure reached 6.1 percent, the highest level since 1985. The
increase of two percentage points, amounting to $200 billion, is a
huge sum, a little less than half what Americans spend each year on
new cars and automobile parts.

"You're adding an oil shock on top of a crunch on credit and a housing
collapse," said Nigel Gault, an economist at Global Insight. "Even the
U.S. economy cannot withstand all of that at the same time."

American consumers have responded belatedly by cutting back on their
energy use. Oil demand in the United States grew by just 0.4 percent
in 2007 and is expected to be flat in 2008.

But global oil demand, the relentless driver behind higher prices, is
still expected to increase by 1.4 million barrels a day this year,
analysts estimate. That growth, from China and the Middle East, may
help keep prices up, whatever happens to the American economy.

According to the latest forecast by the Energy Department, gasoline
prices should peak near $3.40 a gallon this spring.

But many analysts consider the government's forecast conservative,
foreseeing a sharper spike as refiners come out of the seasonal
maintenance period and start producing summer-grade gasoline in March
and April.

"We've gone this high without the normal summer dynamics," said Tom
Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information
Service. "That's when I think we will have the big jump, of 50 cents
to 75 cents a gallon."

Mr. Kloza said he expected gasoline to peak around $3.50 to $3.75 a
gallon nationwide. Geoff Sundstrom, AAA's spokesman, echoed that view
and added that gas at $4 a gallon is possible this summer. "We've gone
from a worrying situation for gasoline to one that is quite alarming,"
Mr. Sundstrom said.

Oil prices are unlikely to drop anytime soon, analysts said. Barclays
Capital recently increased its long-term prediction, saying prices
could reach $137 a barrel in 2015, up from a previous target of $93 a
barrel.

"The remorseless move up in long-run prices has not yet fully played
out," Barclays analysts said in a note to investors.

While demand keeps growing, producers are struggling to catch up. They
are not replacing the oil they are pumping out of the ground fast
enough because of restrictions on access to fields, as well as rising
costs. Meanwhile, demand in China, India and the Middle East is
expected to push oil consumption up by more than one million barrels a
day, each year, for the next decade.

"An oil crisis is coming in the next 10 years," John B. Hess, the
chairman of the Hess Corporation, said at a recent conference held by
Cambridge Energy Research Associates. "It's not a matter of demand.
It's not a matter of supplies. It's both."

Fuel Cell Technology In NYC

2008-03-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

NORWALK, CT -- Virgin Atlantic, one of the world's leading long-haul
airlines, and General Motors, the world's largest automaker, today
announced that the airline will offer passengers a zero-emissions
Chevrolet Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell car as part of its Upper Class
limo service.

Initially passengers in Los Angeles will take part in the trial which
will not only enable them to experience the next generation of cars
but also reduce their carbon footprint. The hydrogen fuel cell limo
service is expected to be extended to New York City later this year.

Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, commented: "Our mission
to be the sustainable airline is clear, both on the ground and in the
air. Partnerships such as this with General Motors show that we are
pioneering in the aviation industry when it comes to reducing
emissions at every stage of our passengers' journey."

"We are calling upon governments worldwide, not just the UK and US, to
assist businesses by building hydrogen filling stations in key cities
so that drivers can fill up their cars more easily. As a first step,
existing filling stations could add renewable energy pumps alongside
other fuel pumps.

This new technology will only become commonplace if businesses and
drivers are motivated to adopt it quickly, and that's where
governments need to play a major role." As part of the Upper Class
flight experience, Virgin Atlantic travelers receive complimentary
transportation to and from the airport in Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell
vehicles.

Initially three Equinox vehicles will become part of the fleet of cars
used to transport Upper Class passengers to and from Los Angeles
International Airport.

The partnership is the latest in the airline's sustainability efforts.
Utilizing the Equinox Fuel Cell vehicle as part of the Upper Class
automotive fleet will not only reduce the airline's overall carbon
output, but more importantly, will serve as an important real world
market test. It will enable GM to get practical customer feedback from
drivers and passengers.

Dr. Larry Burns, Vice-President for Planning and R&D at General
Motors, commented: "This is a great partnership. Sir Richard Branson
and the Virgin brand are globally-recognized, and Virgin Atlantic
customers are educated and influential people concerned about the
environment.

This business partnership is an important piece of the Project
Driveway program. The Virgin Atlantic team will help us learn a great
deal about how fuel cell vehicles perform in an every-day commercial
environment."

Powered by GM's fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion system, the
Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle is a fully-functional crossover
vehicle. Fuel cell technology and hydrogen fuel represents a step
change for the automotive industry and will substantially reduce the
industry's impact on the environment.

This initiative is part of GM's Project Driveway, the largest market
test of its kind, which is currently launching 100 Hydrogen Fuel Cell
vehicles to streets and driveways in California, New York and
Washington DC. Additional market tests are planned for Europe and
Asia, beginning later this year.

In The News Monday

2008-03-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

Queens cabbie claims he did 'right thing' for abandoned baby
The cabbie who fooled New York with the heart-tugging tall tale of a baby deserted in his backseat remained unrepentant Sunday night, insisting, "I did the right thing."

Klever Sailema, who went from hero to fraud in less than 48 hours, insisted his big lie was only meant to mask a benevolent attempt to save the adorable 6-month-old girl from being ditched in the cold.

"I feel bad, but ultimately I feel like I did the right thing. My intentions were not to lie to the police," the 45-year-old livery cab driver, an Ecuadoran immigrant, told the Daily News.

The baby, now identified as Daniella Perez, was first abandoned by her 14-year-old mother, who bolted more than a week ago, leaving the brown-eyed little girl with pierced ears in the care of her father, Carlos Rodas, 27, Sailema said.

Sailema said he was dragged into the desperate situation by Rodas' sister - a waitress he's been dating for only two weeks.

The girlfriend, Maria Siavachay, 21, who also spoke to The News Sunday night, helped Rodas dress the infant in a pink outfit and begged Sailema to take her to a Queens fire station Thursday morning.

Sailema was asked to drop Daniella off because he was the only one in the country legally. He said Siavachay pleaded with him after Rodas, a construction worker, walked off, supposedly to go to his job.

"Finally, I said, 'Okay, I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it to help you, but above all to help the baby.' "

Sailema, who is divorced, said his heart went out to the child as he thought of his own three daughters, ages 26, 23 and 8.

"I was afraid the baby might end up abandoned in the bitter cold," he said "I felt so badly for the baby. She was left with no dad and no mom."

The night before Sailema took Daniella to Engine 289 firehouse in Corona, Rodas told his sister of his decision to abandoned the child.

"He said, 'I already thought about this. This is what we are going to do,'" Siavachay told The News.

Siavachay said her brother had revealed his employer of his predicament to his boss, who consulted two lawyers and concluded Rodas couldn't keep the baby because the mother was only 14.

"I felt like disappearing with the baby and not letting her go. But what would I do with the girl," said Siavachay, who left he own 4-year-old daughter with her mother in Ecuador last year to come to America.

Rodas even tried to give the baby to the 14-year-old's parents - but they refused, he told his sister.

Sailema was hailed as a "hero cabbie" when police and firefighters first went public with his concocted story of how he rescued the cute and cuddly child abandoned in the rear of his cab by a mystery man.

ALL BLACK CARS TO TURN GREEN

2008-02-29T05:23:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK CITY -- The long lines of sleek black cars that idle outside
corporate headquarters as they wait to shuttle executives from meeting
to meeting, will become more environmentally friendly under a plan
announced on Wednesday by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Under the plan, the entire fleet of roughly 10,000 limousines, mostly
black, that are used by businesses ranging from Lehman Brothers to
Condé Nast, would be required to meet fuel-efficiency standards,
attainable only with hybrid vehicles, of 25 miles a gallon in 2009 and
30 miles a gallon in 2010. Currently the cars average 12 to 15 miles a
gallon and add 272,000 tons of heat-trapping gases to the air each
year, or about 2 percent of the city's transportation-related
emissions, according to the city.

Officials expect the new standards to cut emissions in half, in part
because the more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles switch to battery
power when they idle.

"While yellow cabs are constantly on the move, black cabs actually
spend a decent amount of time just sitting and waiting for their
client to come out," Mayor Bloomberg said.

The plan, part of Mr. Bloomberg's overall program to make the city
more environmentally sound in the coming decades, is to go before the
NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission for approval at a hearing on
Thursday, April 10, 2008 and includes a requirement that the so-called
black cars be replaced every six years, a way of ensuring that almost
all of them would meet the new standards by 2013.

"It is to the great credit of black-car industry leaders that they
have collectively embraced Mayor Bloomberg's efforts to reduce harmful
emissions," said Matthew W. Daus, the taxi and limousine commissioner.

The city has already begun phasing hybrids into its fleet of 13,000
yellow cabs, and Mayor Bloomberg said officials were working to devise
a plan for the roughly 40,000 livery cabs that serve neighborhoods,
especially outside Manhattan, where other taxis are scarce.

Mayor Bloomberg said he expected drivers to support the proposal
because it would bring them more business and save them thousands of
dollars in fuel costs each year. Increasingly, he said, the companies
that use the cars, which are summoned to specific locations rather
than being hailed in the street, are demanding the greener vehicles.

The mayor's plan would also include incentives like tax breaks and
low-cost-financing options to make it easier for the drivers, many of
whom must buy their cars, to afford the higher down payments needed
for hybrid vehicles.

Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers are working with a black-car
company, Executive Transportation Group, to help provide low-interest
loans for hybrid-vehicle purchases. Best Ford Taxi and Hudson
Toyota/Penske Automotive Group have said they would offer favorable
financing packages to the drivers. And the city is asking the state to
approve the waiver of sales taxes on purchases

2008 Camry Hybrid

2008-02-28T07:11:00.001-08:00

Toyota Camry Hybrid Ranks #3 in Affordable Midsize Cars
Overall Score - 8.7 (Very Good)
Based on U.S. News editors' analysis of 39 leading automotive reviews and test drives, the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid ranks #3 of 26 in Affordable Midsize Cars and #1 of 6 in Hybrid Cars.

The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a comfortable cruiser with great fuel economy and plenty of interior features, but as a hybrid car it doesn't have the same performance capabilities of conventional sedans. If you're in the market for an affordable midsize car, you should also consider the conventional Toyota Camry. If you're interested in another hybrid model, consider Toyota's Prius.

The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid nicely balances performance, comfort and fuel economy, according to most automotive writers. Motor Trend says: "This may be the only car on earth able to satisfy performance junkies and ecoconservatives. It's a uniter, not a divider." Similarly, USA Today challenges, "Try to find some other nice car with honest room for five adults that will give you mid-30s real-world mileage."

However, reviewers say to expect anything but normal performance from the car when compared to other hybrid vehicles. When compared to the Toyota Prius, Newsday reports, "The Prius can't match the Camry's quietness and its elegant ride." The Camry Hybrid also provides more room inside than most eco-friendly vehicles. As the Chicago Tribune states, the car is perfect "for folks who put mileage first but need room for more than one munchkin and a diaper bag."

The 2008 Camry Hybrid is also considered a good value over time. CNN lists the car as one of the most-cost effective hybrids sold today, based on a value equation that weighs its premium against its annual fuel savings. IntelliChoice gives the 2008 Camry Hybrid an "Excellent" value rating, based on the total cost of ownership compared to other vehicles in its class. In previous years many have complained about the Camry Hybrid's inflated price, but for 2008 model has a lower manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Toyota considers the Hybrid the top-of-the-line trim for its conventional Camry; therefore, the car comes fully loaded like the Camry XLE.

Performance Review - 7.4 (Good)

The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid's green technology ups the ante for a competent sedan. New Car Test Drive says, "The Hybrid is a good performer and one of the most fuel-efficient mid-size vehicles anywhere." continue

Exterior Review - 7.6 (Good)

The Camry Hybrid's physical appeal lies in putting a hybrid vehicle in the conventional Camry's outfit. Newsday writes, "Wrapped around the Camry's gasoline-electric powertrain is a car so appealing - a not too big, not too small vehicle that does virtually everything right - that it's not difficult to understand its popularity." continue

Interior Review - 8.0 (Very Good)

Most report the 2008 Camry Hybrid is a comfortable vehicle that's packed with features. The Los Angeles Times describes the car as "loaded to the gills," while Forbes says its proportions "allow the interior to feel quite spacious, with decent space in front, a rather cavernous trunk and a backseat that's comfortable enough to seat two and just wide enough to fit three smaller folks in a pinch." continue

Safety Review - 9.8 (Excellent)

With a competitive list of safety equipment, the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid does very well in government crash tests. continue

Reliability Review - NA

We are still compiling data for the predicted reliability of the 2008 Camry Hybrid. However, Toyota offers a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty for the car. continue

Tuesday We In the News

2008-02-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

The city again could have a single-model taxi fleet as it did when Checker cabs ruled the road, officials said Wednesday as they sought design ideas from the auto industry.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission launched a drive to "bring the next iconic taxi to the city's streets" by formally soliciting input from the automobile industry.

Packages outlining design goals, technical requirements and other data were sent to industry leaders.

"The sky's the limit," TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus said.

The Ford Crown Victoria is the dominant cab on the streets, but its days are numbered.

The Bloomberg administration has imposed escalating miles-per-gallon requirements that will result in the phasing out of the Crown Vic over the next three to five years.

In its outreach, the city is raising the idea of a manufacturer designing and building a vehicle just for cabbies and passengers.

The TLC has a roster of acceptable passenger cars and vans that then must be outfitted with partitions, meters and other industry-specific equipment.

To Green or Not To Green By Frank Gallo

2008-02-25T04:48:00.000-08:00

After years of radioactive waste, nuclear power, and tons of other products that destroy the earth, now we are concerned. We do not want our children's kids to start coming out with 12 and three feet as the norm. Let's protect the environment.

The big push is to buy Hybrid vehicles. Save the earth and save money on gasoline right? Well Hybrid vehicles cost anywhere from $3 - $8K extra than the regular base model. For example, a regular base Lexus 350X is about $37,500 (MSRP) and a 400H is about $41,300 (MSRP). Add some options, forget about it. Now let's dig a little deeper. You pay $3,800 more so that you can save on gas money. At a savings of about $400 per year using a Hybrid vehicle, you are going to save $1200 over 3 years (regular driving and assuming you finance the vehicle over 3 years / 36 months).

I am sure that you are saying to yourself that there are so many other advantages to the earth. Did you know that you have to change the battery on your Hybrid vehicle every 3-4 years? Currently they do not know how to dispose of the batter in a way that does not damage the environment. More of a carbon imprint is left trying to dispose of the battery than driving a gas guzzler.

Finally, lack of accelaration (they do not perform the same) and the lighter weight of the vehicle does not make for the safest options, especially during bad weather. Bottom line (my opinion of course) Hybrid technology will evolve and they should be the cars of choice going forward. If you are looking to get a new vehicle in the black car industry, save your money and do not get a luxury Hybrid. A luxury vehicle (hybrid or not) might be beautiful but it is not worth doing the wear and tear for Black Car Rates. In the Black Car Industry, you will make the same exact amount of money using a Toyota Camry Hybrid full loaded as you will with a full loaded Lexus 400H. The rates do not change from Hybrid to regular.

One final note, I do not like that the government is pushing green but not helping individuals make it happen by reducing the other green ....the money it cost to get a Hybrid.

Messy Friday Commute

2008-02-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

If you think that driving into the city was bad before, look no further then todays weather in New York. Since 5am ten accidents have already been reported!!1 I've called over 20 drivers to cover reservations for me today with no luck. They are either home sleeping or plowing their driveway. The good thing about it is that passengers will call for to make a reservation and we let them know from the start that their will be delays and that we won't be able to guarantee on-time pick up. Just now we made a pick up in Queens, the passenger has been waiting since 8:15am and got picked up at around 9:30am. Its a perfect time to have an SUV. These luxury sedan fall victim to the weather quickly, and as a driver your car is your investment: So keep yourself home in these messy condition.

CREATING THE ROADMAP TO THE PERFECT TAXICAB

2008-02-21T06:59:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK CITY -- The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)
today began the distribution of a Request for Information (RFI) to
seek information on ways to bring the next iconic taxi to the City's
streets. The RFI was authored by the TLC and the Mayor's Office in
consultation with Ricardo, Inc., a worldwide authority on automobile
manufacture and design, which was recently engaged by the TLC to work
on the project.

The "Taxi of Tomorrow" project brings together a number of Bloomberg
Administration agencies working toward the initiative's common goals,
including the Mayor's Office of Operations (Jeffrey Kay, Director),
the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (Matthew Sapolin,
Commissioner), and the Economic Development Corporation (Seth W.
Pinsky, President).

The RFI's goal is to gauge from the auto manufacturing industry the
possibility of creating vehicles that incorporate and balance the
different needs of a taxi operating within New York City. NYC intends
to use the information gained from this RFI to inform a process that
will create a blueprint and timeline for bringing new taxicab vehicles
to the streets. This vehicle would meet key elements that would allow
it to serve New Yorkers and visitors alike in every way they seek to
be served by a taxicab. The RFI's executive summary characterizes the
aforementioned elements being explored as:

* Meets highest safety standards
* Superior passenger experience
* Superior driver comfort and amenities
* Appropriate purchase price and ongoing maintenance and repair costs
* Smaller environmental footprint (lower emissions and improved fuel
economy)
* Smaller physical footprint (with more usable interior room)
* Compliance with appropriate Americans with Disabilities Act
requirements, and Iconic design that will identify the new taxi with
New York City

The City is working proactively with all its taxi stakeholders,
including passengers, drivers, and the automotive industry, to develop
a better vehicle," said TLC Commissioner and Chairman Matthew W. Daus.
"We are on the road to building the perfect taxicab and this RFI will
help us to craft the roadmap for the City's 'Taxi of Tomorrow'."

The RFI comes in several parts, a Main Section, which explains the
form that a response should take and specific topics being explored.

* Appendix 1 is a Vehicle Technical Specification that highlights the
technical realities of operating a vehicle as a taxi in NYC and
suggests guidelines to engineers.
* Appendix 2 is a design document that examines the different design
challenges that must be considered when making a vehicle to serve as a
taxicab.
* Appendix 3 explores the value of New York City and highlights
potential upside marketing and brand building associated with having a
presence in the NYC taxi fleet.

The RFI will be heavily distributed among the automotive manufacturing
community and available to the public at: URL
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/news/taxi_of_tomorrow_intro.shtml.
(Click!)

Deadline for comment is 5 p.m. (EST) Friday, March 7, 2008. The
deadline for final response is 5 p.m. (EST) Monday, April 21, 2008.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) was created in
1971 and is the agency responsible for the regulation and licensing of
more than 150,000 vehicles and businesses, including 13,150 yellow
medallion taxicabs and more than 44,000 medallion taxicab drivers. It
is recognized as the largest and most active taxi and limousine
regulatory body in the United States.

To find out more about the TLC, or to review its rules, regulations
and procedures, we encourage you to visit our official web site at URL
http://www.nyc.gov/taxi (Click!) or call 311 in New York City or
212-NEW-YORK from outside of New York City.

For more information please contact:
Alan J. Fromberg, Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs
40 Rector Street, 5th Floor
New York N.Y. 10006
Tel: (212) 676-1013
Fax: (212) 676-1101

Disgruntle Drivers By Fausto Polanco

2008-02-20T05:56:00.000-08:00

As a dispatcher I'm in a delicate position when it comes to dealing with drivers. In any business car service business there's going to be drivers you like and drivers you dislike, but I cannot use that to determine what drivers get the good quality jobs compare to the quick local that pays alot less. So with drivers positioning themselves in the system I COULD determine which driver gets the best jobs and which drivers get those petty local jobs. Here is where the problem lies: Driver's believe in the conspiracy notion of getting screwed over from getting the good jobs. It is a theory that is partially true, but not all the time. I've seen it happen many times before: driver books into the midtown zone, position number 1, meaning that this driver is head out to recieve the next live call or reservation from this zone. Next thing you know a reservation comes in and POOF!! the job dissapears. Through our higher technology dispatch system drivers are able to check their position through the use of a black berry. So when they see that a reservation that was there , suddenly dissapear, believe me that driver will call to argue. There will always be discontent drivers because of quality jobs being limited. And drivers that do not trust their dispatchers makes the job alot harder. As a dispatcher you must set the order and distribute work accordingly in order to maintain a happy fleet, but sometime is beyond the control because not all could be happy.

But I Made A Reservation By Frank Gallo

2008-02-19T05:26:00.000-08:00

As a sales person in the limo industry for over 12 years I've seen and heard a lot of things. Some stories are unbelievable. Like the time one of the chauffeurs for a former company I worked for urinated outside of an office building of a large pharmaceutical company. The office building was made of windows where you can see out but you cannot see in. The driver did not know this and provided the secretary with a show and a natural window washing. Yeah....some of this stuff you just cannot make up.

Any way, in all the years I've been in the industry, there is one common phrase I always hear. "But I made my reservation yesterday, or last week, etc.". Who did you make your reservation with? I do not mean the operator. I mean which company did you make your reservation with? It is important to know your different companies and service levels. Each company has their own dispatch method and pricing structure. One thing to keep in mind is that when there is bad weather or the president is in town, it does not matter who you call or when you called them.

Below is a quick summary of each to help you. As simple as our industry sounds, there are different categories of service. Each category has a different dispatch method and price structure. Taxi, Car Service, Black Car Service, High end VIP service.

Taxi - Yellow cars - Cash fares. All fares come from the street.

Car service - Reservations are not needed - Identified by the yellow bicycle reflector looking gizmo in the back (also found on taxis). They are allowed to take calls over a radio from their base or a cash fare on the street. Car services must have cameras installed in their vehicle. They are mostly local services in the boroughs. Some famous "Car Services" are Dial 7 (the old Telaviv), Carmel, Olympic (Queens), Hoyt (Astoria). Prices are slightly higher than taxis but lower than Black Car Services.

Corporate Black Car Service - Reservations and car requests are made through a call center. All calls must get dispatched to a driver via a radio or dispatch unit. Black car companies cannot pick up cash fares off the street. With Corporate Black Car Service it does not matter if you call the reservation at the time needed or if you call one week in advance.
Pick-ups in New York City are dispatched 15-20 minutes prior to the scheduled time of the reservation (Out of town reservations are dispatched 1.5 minutes for every mile. For example, if a pick up location is 30 miles away, the vehicle will be dispatched 45 minutes prior to the pick up time). If a call comes up to be dispatched and there are no vehicles available, there will be a delay. Some examples of Black Car companies are Odyssey Transportation Group, Elite, Skyline, Executive Transportation Group, Corporate Transportation Group etc. Fares are higher than a car service and lower than a High-end Company. Keep in mind that since the taxis went on strike and raised their rates, taxi rates are very close to some black car company rates.

In order for you to receive the "guaranteed" on time service, you need a high end, pre-reserved company.

VIP / High-end service has a different dispatching method. Vehicles are taken out of inventory and pre-assigned to a specific reservation well in advance. The vehicle cannot perform other reservations until the new reservation is completed. The reservations are dispatched well in advance. The VIP service is "guaranteed". The VIP service is anywhere from 2 to 4 times the amount of a Black Car company rate. Some examples of VIP companies are BostonCoach, CAREY, DavEl, TriStar Worldwide, etc.

If you are using a black car company, the factors you want to look at to evaluate the company are 1. How long are their delays? 2. When I need a car, what is their availability. 3. How are their drivers and customer service? If you are using a high-end service and they are one minute late, you have every right as a customer to complain.

KNOW THE COMPANY YOU ARE USING AND YOU WILL SAVE YOURSELF TIME AND AGGRAVATION.

Monday We Are In The News

2008-02-18T06:10:00.000-08:00

Driver drops bid to sue family of boy he killed

HARO, Spain (CNN) -- A Spanish businessman withdrew a controversial lawsuit Wednesday against the family of a teenage boy he struck and killed while driving a luxury car.

Tomas Delgado had filed a suit asking the dead boy's parents to pay him €20,000 ($29,400) on the grounds that the collision that killed their teenage son also damaged his Audi A-8.

News of the case sparked outrage in Spain and generated deep sympathy for the parents of 17-year-old Enaitz Iriondo Trinidad. He was riding his bicycle home to a campground when Delgado's car hit and killed him in August 2004.

Hundreds of people descended on a courthouse in northern Spain in a show of support for the boy's parents Wednesday. They broke into applause when word came that Delgado had dropped the suit.

The businessman had insisted in a recent television interview that he was a victim, too. He was not present for a court hearing Wednesday. His lawyer told the court that Delgado felt that the extensive publicity amounted to a public lynching.

Outside the courthouse, the boy's father -- Antonio Iriondo -- told CNN he was content with the decision. Yet he also said his family will explore the possibility of criminal charges against the man.

"This is just the beginning," the father said.

His son was killed as he cycled back from a nearby village to a campground where his family was vacationing.

Iriondo Trinidad's father told CNN he heard the screeching of the car from the campgrounds. The teen was struck from behind and dragged 106 meters (347 feet) along the rural highway, the father said.

A traffic report said Delgado was traveling 113 km per hour (70 mph) in an area where the speed limit is 90 km (55 mph). An independent expert hired by Trinidad's family said Delgado was going 173 km per hour (107 mph).

Shortly after the collision, a judge dismissed criminal charges against Delgado after concluding that he had committed no criminal infraction, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.

The teen's mother, Rosa, told the newspaper that the family was given three days to appeal the judge's ruling, but they were too distraught to pursue it. She also told the newspaper that her family's lawyer advised her and her husband not to pursue criminal charges.

After the collision, Delgado's insurance company paid the family €33,000 ($48,500).

Two years after the wreck, Delgado sued the family for damages to his car and for car rental costs.

The boy's mother told CNN before the hearing that she was indignant that the driver would seek damages after killing her son.

A local prosecutor told reporters that he would take a second look at the case to see whether authorities can file fresh charges against Delgado.

The Lincoln MKX

2008-02-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

SAN DIEGO -- Can a Ford beat a Toyota in Total Value? Yes! Although Ford Motor Company obtained only four Total Value leadership positions over the past four years, in 2007 Ford has added three additional wins to its collection: the Lincoln MKX, Ford Edge and Expedition EL. The Lincoln MKX is especially worthy, as it outscored the undefeated Lexus RX350. Although the Lexus brand name offers its customers a stronger belief in reliability and durability, the MKX product characteristics and features, specifically in areas as interior design, quality and roominess, offered at a lower price, makes each dollar spent on the MKX a better choice than the RX350.

The San Diego-based research firm Strategic Vision today announced the 2007 Total Value Index[TM] (TVI) results, based on the ratings of new vehicle owners. The calculation of TVI incorporates explicit statements that owners make about value (e.g. expected reliability, expected fuel economy, price paid, expected resale value, etc.). TVI also incorporates the importance of the variables that make up the ownership experience, and it is here that Strategic Vision finds "True Value" - the worth of the attribute weighed against the costs.

Toyota Motor Sales is still the company to beat in customer value; they have had 20 leaders in Strategic Vision's Total Value Index[TM] (TVI) over the past four years. In 2007 they add four more, three for Toyota (Yaris, Yaris hatchback and 4Runner) and one for the Lexus LS430 (the leader in its segment since 2004). "Toyota has preached their foundational messages of quality and reliability consistently over many years, and customers have responded by placing their trust and their money into Toyota products, making Toyota the juggernaut it is today," says Dr. Darrel Edwards, Founder and CEO of Strategic Vision.
American Honda has taken more leadership positions this year than any other corporation with six leading vehicles in five competitive segments. Honda's Total Value winners are the Civic, Civic Hybrid, Accord Coupe, Odyssey, and Ridgeline for Honda and the TSX for Acura. At times Honda's strong quality cues were matched by other competitors, but it was Honda's brand name that was associated with resale value that provided the final reassurance, making Honda the better investment.

Hyundai earned two Total Value wins with the Hyundai Azera and Santa Fe. Although the Hyundai brand name currently does not carry the same level of reassurance that more established brands do, the Azera and Santa Fe both led their segments by providing products high in perceived quality, providing exceptional features, and being exceptionally priced - all supported with Hyundai's warranty.

Kia improved its overall perceived value even though it had no top spots in 2007. Models such as the Kia Amanti, Sedona, Sportage and Sorento all found themselves ranked 2nd or 3rd in Total Value. Executive VP and COO of Kia, Len Hunt has stated that he looks for Kia to be a brand that customers are passionate about - a passion based in integrity and confidence. "Kia products are inspiring its expectations among their customers, delivering security and passion that have allowed Kia to remain near the top in value even though Kia has raised the price of some models," says Alexander Edwards, President of Strategic Vision's Automotive Division.

Volkswagen of America was seen as the best full-line corporation in value overall with two Total Value leaders - Volkswagen Jetta and Audi A3. In addition, Volkswagen and Audi brands consistently delivered what their consumers have wanted for their money. They seem to have responded positively to Volkswagen's repositioning of their vehicle prices, equating the lower price combined with the ability to join the Volkswagen community in overall strong value.

For the second year, GM was the top domestic corporation presenting four 2007 Total Value leaders. The Chevrolet Corvette Coupe and Convertible, GMC Sierra 1500 and Sierra 2500/3500 led in Total Value in their respective segments. Most interesting is Sierra 1500's lead over the Toyota Tundra. As seen in multiple instances in 2007, the Toyota brand name stood for reliability, but the product cues were where the Tundra was slightly behind the Sierra. For the Sierra, GM's new warranty also had a strong impact in reassuring customers that their investment was more secure. Last year, Strategic Vision noted that as GM communicated the right quality cues with a reassuring warranty, it would be positioned for success.

"The customer can perceive exceptional value in vehicles that are more expensive. They get what they want in terms of quality, product characteristics and features, innovation and image," states Dr. Edwards. Value leader MINI Cooper leads its segment for the sixth year. Other winners were the Volvo V50 and Mercedes ML.

"Value isn't simply the cheap alternative, the choice with the largest incentive, or the option with the biggest warranty. Value begins with the promises inherently made by the brand name, is then supported by the economic implications of purchase, and is ultimately defined by and ends with the product quality cues," Alexander Edwards concluded. "With so many high quality choices today and new choices coming (perhaps) from places like China in the future, understanding how brand equity combined with the right product will be the keys to success in tomorrow's market."

Accessible Dispatch System - General Introduction

2008-02-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

What it is: In November 2007, the TLC approved the Accessible Dispatch System pilot project to try out a central dispatch system for wheelchair accessible vehicles. It is a two-year demonstration (pilot) project. Its purpose is to match passengers who use wheelchairs with accessible vehicles. This project is a chance to test dispatching technology, measure demand for wheelchair accessible vehicles, and determine how to best provide accessible service. During the project, there will be public updates monthly at Commission meetings.

How it works: This system links wheelchair passengers with accessible vehicles through a central dispatcher. Passengers call 311 to request the service. 311 connects the passenger to the dispatcher. The dispatcher collects the passenger's pick-up location and request for service. Then the dispatcher communicates electronically with participating drivers. The closest available driver accepts the dispatch and picks up the passenger.

Who is working on it: The TLC has partnered with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the Mayor’s Office of Operations, and the Department of Information Technologies and Telecommunications to create this program. Owners of wheelchair accessible vehicles, drivers, and passengers who use the system are crucial to the project.

When: The program will start in spring 2008.

Comprehensive Maintenance: A key to successful limo business By: Eliza Maledevic

2008-02-15T06:02:00.001-08:00

To become successful in this field, a livery operator must be
equipped with unrivaled marketing strategies, dedication, and a
strong passion to serve his customers to the fullest.

But first of all, he must determine which brand of limousine is
best suited for his business. Selection must be determined based
on the manufacturer's capability to deliver reliable units and
its ability to render after sales service. He must choose
limousine dealers who understand that in the limousine industry
time saves money so that service is a priority the unit once it
gets back to the shop for quick repair and be back on road the
soonest possible.

Being a successful livery operator does not end in having a
reliable fleet of limousines. He must have a keen sense of
customer service by giving his client a luxurious and dependable
transportation.

In order to do this, he must see to it that he has a superior
maintenance program that is highly organized and aggressive. It
is best if he employs a team of technicians to perform routine
maintenance 7 days a week. This includes rigid "bumper to
bumper" inspection and oil change every 2,500 miles. The team
must personally inspect each and every vehicle, pay special
attention to tires, suspension systems, interior lighting, cell
phones or 2-way radios and other paraphernalia that their
clients might need while in transport.

Aside from having mechanics to keep the fleet in top shape, he
must likewise have a team of detailers see to it that the
vehicles always look good inside and out.

In the limousine industry, a superior maintenance program,
combined with passion and dedication, can propel livery
operators to boundless success. As long as they recognize the
importance of surpassing customer expectations, they will
continue to perch in that pedestal of success.

Black Car Services Going Worldwide

2008-02-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

Consumers of the Black Car Industry are now looking at the type of services that they can receive. Many clients travel across the globe to meet their clients and with that,the black car industry is looking on getting affiliation across the globe. As a New York based company many clients request services in cities outside the tri-state including other countries on the other side of the globe. This expansion will allow the black car industry to keep their costumers and built relationships with other vendor of the same mind frame. This expansion will ultimate allow these black car companies to establish more coverage to other companies that aren’t even based in the city that they primarily service. Keeping the clients happy through worldwide service has become of an adjustment due in part to the September 11 attacks when many companies moved to other cities and even countries. So with an already establish connection adjustments had to be made. There are several successful businesses that deal in worldwide coverage. Here are links of a few.

www.odysseyny.com
www.tristarworldwide.com
www.bostoncoach.com
www.bookalimo.com

These are some of the successful services that will provide anything from a luxury sedan to a 57-passenger coach bus. Any limitation that a company is faced with should over extend their boundaries and built on greater, because today's clients are not conform to the idea that not everything is possible to attain, just like the world wide web, the black car industry has transportation expansion ahead of them.

Need transportation anywhere in the world? Send me an email at: insideblackcar@gmail.com

Road To Success

2008-02-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

Preparation is the key to a successful business. I always like to look at the phrase "failing to prepare, is preparing to fail" kinda of cheesy, I know. But in regards to a business, I take myself as an example, due to my lack of understanding on how to manage a fleet of car, I've been side tracked on being able to attain more cars, expand my business. I'm pretty sure if I were to point out my mistakes, (when I first started), I would be 5-6 cars into my business.

Through Trial and Error: Like my friends always tell me.

I understand now that in order to continue down this road I'll have to:

1. Learn from my early mistakes. (Whether they be bringing in an inexperience driver or putting down unneccessary money in my initial deal signing.)

and

2. Simplyfing things. I know that dealing with money isnt easy (specially to somebody that never dealt with much money), But regardless of the amount of money, common sense tells you if in an investment your losing money instead of gaining, Consider that a bad investment and count your loses.

PS...Sorry for the late Blog--> I PASSED my Driver's test---> My Road to Success continues :)

Hot in the bitter Cold

2008-02-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

As the Democratic primaries continues to boil, NY is in a bitter deep freeze. I woke up and it was eleven degrees!!! With wind chill factors setting conditions below zero!!!

Now I'm no meteorologist: But this Winter has been a disaster to say the least. I gotta stay on Theraflu, Halls, and herbal tea supplements. One day its upper 50's and the next day its in the single digits. Global Warming my Arse!!

This is very much relevant to the Black Car industry, because, honestly who likes to walk in the cold. What becomes frustrating is passengers that take cabs down five blocks. Not because they got a stack load of documents, not because of any handicap issues, its due to the cold weather.

This one lady who's name will remain anonymous, (wouldnt want to get myself in trouble with my employer), she only makes reservation when its cold or raining, adding to the already many reservation on the screen. Oh the life of a dispatcher!

I dont expect for today to be any different. God bless me with patience :)

Setting Up A Taxi Service In New York by: Vanessa Doctor

2008-02-11T17:32:00.000-08:00

Starting your own taxi or private vehicle rental firm, is by no
means a quite tough task, as there are a lot of regulations and
guidelines to follow in operating and running this type of
transport business, and the rules may differ with each state or
city.

In the city of New York , the famous taxicabs, with their
distinctive yellow paint, are a world-renowned social icon.
These taxicabs are operated by private companies and are
licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

New York's Taxi And Limousine Commission

Considering that the city of New York is a very large metro
area, there has to be a viable, and tough regulatory agency to
handle the city's really large transport sector. The New York
City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) was established in
1971, and was given jurisdiction over the city's medallion
(yellow) taxicabs, livery cabs, "black cars", commuter vans, and
some luxury limousines.

The TLC was organized to deal with the growing number of
drivers, as well as to address issues that are vital to the
well-being of the taxi and livery industries. The taxi
commission was formerly known as the New York City Hack Bureau,
and it operated under the control of the New York City Police
Department.

New,Eco-Friendly Trends In NYC's Taxis

New York city recently introduced new regulations, and offered
new incentives as well, to replace its current yellow cabs with
electric hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape
Hybrid.

In the spring of 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a
five-year plan to make the city's taxicabs switch to more
fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles as part of a plan to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Around 90% of New York's 13,000 yellow
cabs are Ford Crown Victoria types. This proposal will help to
reduce greenhouse gas emission equal to removing 32,000 private
cars from the road

Taxi Fares In The Big Apple

Taxi fares in New York City, as of 2006, have been pegged at
$2.50 ($3.00 after 8:00 p.m., and $3.50 during the peak weekday
hours of 4:00â€"8:00 p.m., and the increments are based on the
distance traveled and time spent in slow traffic. The passenger
also has to pay the fare whenever a cab is driven through a
toll.

The city's cab drivers are not allowed to use cell phones while
ferrying passengers, even if they use a hands-free headset. It
is estimated that around 241 million passengers rode in New York
taxis in 1999, and the average cab fare in 2000 was $6.

How To Start An NYC Taxi Service

Starting a taxi service is not as easy as it may seem. For
starters, there are a lot of important steps that need to be
thoroughly followed, to guarantee you will be able to properly
operate such a business. The first step towards running a taxi
business, Is to acquire a license to drive a taxi. This process
begins at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the department
issues a particular license to drive this types of vehicles.

Next, find out how the city regulates the taxi industry. The
only way to find out is to make a visit to city hall and ask
this question. By asking this, you will probably come away with
a great deal of information regarding this service.

Third, verify who licenses the taxi firms. New York requires the
units to have a medallion located on the outside of the car. You
also need to get in touch with someone from the Department of
Transportation, as they will be able to assist you with this
concern.

Once you've talked to the ones concerned, and fill in the
appropriate forms and get the permits, you're ready to roll out
and ready to join the rat race. The city's streets may look like
they're eternally clogged, however, with some deft maneuvering
and good management, you'll find out that operating a taxi
service here is worth the hassles associated with the Big Apple.

FINDING A GOOD MECHANIC by Tim Bryce

2008-02-08T06:20:00.000-08:00

Years ago we used to use the local "service station" for basic car repairs, such as tune-ups, lube jobs, tire rotations, oil changes, etc. There was usually a senior guy there who you trusted to take care of your car, and if he didn't know how totake care of a problem, he would know someone reliable who could. But local service stations disappeared as the price of gasoline escalated and replaced by mini-marts that also happento sell gasoline.
Today you basically have four choices for taking care of your car; do it yourself, dealerships, service centers, and independent mechanics. Sure, you can still repair your automobile yourself, if you have the time and inclination to do so, but cars have become more complicated over time, as well as over-engineered, making them much more difficult to work on than years ago. You can also take it to the dealership where it is typically "hit or miss" in terms of getting good workmanship. More troublesome to consumers though is when they go in for one thing to be fixed, and the dealership recommends five more things; I call this "harvesting" of the consumer by the dealership, others call it a "shakedown," but it is an expensive proposition nonetheless.
Service centers are usually run by tire companies who also try to "harvest" the consumer by selling new tires at every opportunity. I also don't find the mechanical workmanship to be very good at these places. I had a mechanic at one of the secenters replace a worn belt on my engine. Unfortunately, he puton a new belt backwards which caused the water pump to spin backwards causing the car to overheat and make a strange squeaky noise. It took me a long time to figure out what was wrong. I took it to an independent mechanic who appeared to be reputable.He thought the transmission was breaking down and that I should replace it, at considerable cost. I took it to another who thought there was a problem with the engine seals. I finally took it to a mechanic who studied the problem and discovered that the belt was simply on backwards and rather inexpensive to correct.
To me, auto repair is about trust. If I trust the expertise ofthe company or individual working on my car, I will gladly paythem whatever they ask. But if the trust is broken by either a mechanical snafu or harvesting of the consumer, I'm going to pick up my marbles and go somewhere else, and blacklist those who have wronged me, as well as tell my friends about them. I have seen a lot of mechanics come and go in my area. Those that are out to make a quick buck rightfully don't last very long. But those who are honest and conscientious about their work are worth their weight in gold (such as the mechanic who figured our my belt problem). If you find such a mechanic, hold on to him and tell your friends about him. Without such support, these craftsmen of the auto world will eventually disappear. When we go into service shops, we want to believe they will maintain our best interests like they did at the service stations of yesteryear. In reality, most are interested in only maintaining their own interests and consumers are crest fallen when we discover this, usually too late. Perhaps what is needed is an independent consumer rating system implemented over the Internet whereby we can grade the companies and people who service our cars. Without such a watchdog, we will inevitably goon spending good money for bad service.

NYC cabbies survive 'Operation: Secret Rider'

2008-02-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

Thursday February 07, 2008, 4:30 AM

Undercover inspectors are finding cabbies largely play by New York City's rules when it comes to cell phones.
Inspectors and police officers have taken more than 1,200 rides disguised as everyday passengers since "Operation: Secret Rider" began Jan. 23. Taxi & Limousine Commission officials said Wednesday that fewer than 100 summonses for cell-phone use have been issued so far.
TLC Chairman Matthew Daus said he is encouraged, but the initiative will continue.
The undercover agents look for drivers talking on cell phones while the cab is moving, refusing to accept credit cards or otherwise violating regulations.
Representatives of the Taxi Workers Alliance, an advocacy group, called the program sneaky and disrespectful to drivers