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Web-Based Cab Competitors Hit City Streets
by Melissa Bailey | May 5, 2014 3:13 pm
(34) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Business/ Economic Development, Transportation
To get from East Rock to East Grand Avenue, I downloaded an app, tapped a smartphone screen, and tracked Alva Jeffreys' Hyundai Sonata on a Google map until she showed up at the curb.
To return, I dialed seven sevens and jumped into a minivan with an "old school" Indonesian taxi driver named Yunus.
One trip, with a new Web-based service in town called Lyft, represented the future. The other, with an old-school taxi, represented the past—a past that some feel is threatened by the emergence of new, as-yet-unregulated smartphone-savvy car services sweeping the city and the nation.
Two new services, Lyft and Uber, recently debuted in New Haven. The services work like this: Instead of calling for a cab, customers take out a smartphone, drop a pin on a map and request a ride. The driver, who is not a licensed cabbie, shows up in a personal car and gives the customer a ride. The customer pays a "donation" and hops out. The two companies are quickly expanding across the country: Since its launch in 2010, Uber has spread to over 100 cities. And in just 22 months, Lyft has offered over 1 million rides in 60 cities.
Uber hit New Haven on April 24. So did Lyft. New Haven was one of 24 new cities Lyft expanded to on that day, bringing a new wave of drivers to the streets.
A "Pioneer"
Drivers like Jeffreys (pictured), a 29-year-old Bridgeport native who now lives off of Foxon Boulevard in New Haven. Jeffreys works as a part-time security guard at a school in Orange. She signed up last month to try out a second gig: taking passengers around town in her 1995 silver Sonata.
I met Jeffreys Friday morning. She showed up to give me a ride to 65 East Grand Ave., where the Independent had heard someone would be mounting a church steeple to knock down a bee nest with a broom.
To summon Jeffreys, I took out my Samsung Galaxy S4 and called up the Google app store. I downloaded the Lyft app. After waiving all sorts of personal privacy rights, including access to my contacts and communication patterns, I began to create the required user profile. I typed in a credit card number—a requirement of the service, and a key way the company keeps track of its passengers—and created an account.
"Congrats, you are now a Lyft Pioneer!" a text message announced. I learned that as an early adopter, I would get 50 free rides in 15 days.
I went to order my first "lyft." Though the GPS on my phone was turned off, Lyft pegged my location within half a block through cell signal triangulation. I pressed "request a ride."
Instantly, a little car icon popped up on a Google map, along with the photograph of my driver, Jeffreys. She was just seven minutes away.
The whole process flew by so quickly that I could barely get my boots on before she rolled up.
I had been expecting her car to bear the iconic fuzzy pink mustache that Lyft drivers hang on their grills. Jeffreys went incognito. She rolled down the window and greeted me wearing white Air Jordans and a gray sweat suit. I checked my phone: Her face matched the photo. It was her sixth day on the job. She was so new at the job, she explained, that she hadn't had time to unwrap her mustache and strap it onto her car. She had found time to unpack other company-issued accessories, such as several phone chargers passengers can use for free.
Instead of putting me in the rear, Jeffreys welcomed me into her passenger's seat—another feature of Lyft's program, which touts a friendly customer experience. Hits from KC101 played softly as we made our way towards Fair Haven. Jeffreys said she is getting the hang of the job. So far, most of her passengers have been Yale students, she said. Just before picking me up Friday morning, she had taken a passenger from Chapel Street to Pepe's Pizza.
As we chatted, Jeffreys took directions from her iPhone 5, which was clipped to the A/C vent. She missed her turn onto Humphrey Street and, following her iPhone, looped down Trumbull, and back on State, to get back to Humphrey—an error few seasoned cabbies would make.
Jeffreys said she was looking for a second job on Indeed.com when she came across Lyft.
"What is this Lyfting?" she recalled asking. She was "skeptical at first" because "it didn't seem official." She decided to check it out. She put in an application and got a call back. She met a Lyft manager at a Stamford Starbucks for an interview. She took him around in her Sonata so he could check out her car and her driving skills. Then she went through a criminal background check and a driving record check.
On Sunday, April 27, she hit the road. She said she started out strong, with four requests—including two people from California, where Lyft debuted. Jeffreys sets her own hours. She submits her availability into a computer system, doing split driving shifts between her evening security job.
She said she could see this turning into a regular, long-term job: So far, all of her passengers have been friendly and nice. She finds it fun to drive around town, and "it helps out with a little extra cash in your pocket."
Jeffreys was asked if she sees herself as competition to taxi cabs.
"We would become a big competitor to regular taxi drivers," she reckoned, because her service is "cheaper" and "more customer-friendly." Regular cabbies don't always want to chat; they don't have you ride in the passenger seat; and they run the meter, she noted.
At the end of the ride, Jeffreys pulled over and tapped a button on her iPhone to indicate the ride was done. A screen popped up on my phone, too, with a suggested "donation." The price is generated by the app, based on the distance and duration of the ride (see rates here). The trip cost me $10, paid by credit card (no cash allowed).
Not A "Fee"
Technically, the payment is a "donation"; passengers pay what they want, with a minimum donation of $6. Calling it a donation is part of Lyft's philosophy, said national spokeswoman Katie Dally.
"Lyft is about creating community and strengthening community," she said. "Lyft is really a neighbor giving you a ride somewhere. ... This is not a taxi service. This is not someone who's giving you a ride for profit. This is someone who wanted to give you a ride."
"We do pay all applicable taxes" on the money that exchanges hands, she said.
After I submitted my "donation," a prompt popped up to rate the driver on a scale of one star to five stars. That's one feature—common in other goods-sharing services, such as Airbnb—that aims to ensure that people don't rip each other off. Jeffreys rated me, too, as we sat in the car.
Then, with no new requests for rides, she drove off in the direction of her home, passing a Metro taxi on the way.
I stayed to check out the bee situation at the church. I spotted a nest on a steeple, but nobody swinging any brooms.
Two guys drinking Sierra Nevada in a nearby construction van with Maine license plates said they didn't know anything about the bees.
"Are you with PETA?" one asked.
I sat on the curb, took out my phone, and looked for a ride back to East Rock. I downloaded the app of Lyft's competitor, Uber. Three searches revealed there were no UberX cars, no Uber "black cars," and no Uber SUVs available to ferry me home. I waited a moment as a bee circled me.
I searched again. There were no Uber cars available. No Lyft cars, either.
Yunus Arrives
So I summoned a ride the old-fashioned way, by dialing seven sevens (now preceded by the inelegant 2-0-3). The call took 1 minute and 45 seconds. After 13 minutes, I got a text message that Taxi Number 372 was on the way. The driver, named Yunus, showed up in a minivan emblazoned with Metro Taxi's hard-to-miss orange and white.
Yunus greeted me with a smile. When I gave him an address on Willow Street, he swung around in a confident U and headed in that direction, consulting only the map in his mind. Originally from Indonesia, he worked all kinds of manual labor jobs—in construction, at the New Haven Register—before switching to taxi-driving because of a bad back. Now, at 62 years old, he has been driving cabs for 20 years. I told Yunus I write for an online newspaper.
"I don't do the Internet computer," Yunus said. "I am old school."
I told him about the new Web-based car-service program that people could summon from their smartphones, in which everyday citizens can drive strangers around town.
Yunus replied that the service sounds "dangerous."
"If somebody have their own car, you don't know if they're psycho," he said.
With Metro Taxi, on the other hand, "we are monitored by the company." He said he passed a doctor's physical, an FBI national background check, and a check of his driving record before getting on the road. He said he has higher class of driver's license, class P. The P stands for "public service." If anyone has a problem with his behavior, he said, they can call his company and get him fired.
He said his taxi is equipped with a camera, which is constantly recording passengers, in order to monitor any belligerence or crime.
He further said he would be concerned for the safety of an unwitting citizen who signs up one day to start driving strangers around. He has been robbed three times, he said. One time, as he was responding to a late-night call on Fitch Street, two gunmen came in from the side and held him up. They took everything—including the car key, he said. His car had to be towed.
"That's the risk you're taking with the public," Yunus said.
Yunus said he takes measures to keep his own customers safe, waiting in the car until they walk into their homes.
He said he isn't threatened by the competition—he likes the idea of other people being able to make money.
"My concern is the safety of the people," Yunus said.
Who's Driving You?
Yunus added that for people who like to type into phones, Metro Taxi now offers text-based services. (The company offers three new options: hailing a cab through its Web site, through text-messaging and through a smartphone app.)
He dropped me off and bid me well. The trip cost $13.68, including a 20 percent tip.
Metro Taxi officials could not be reached for comment Friday. A trade association representing taxi companies nationally has created a website that summarizes concerns taxi companies have with their new, high-tech competitors. The website, called Who's Driving You, attacks Lyft and Uber, citing concerns that "amateur" drivers in an unregulated business put passengers at risk.
The state Department of Transportation (DOT), which regulates taxi drivers, liveries and household movers, has no power to regulate companies like Lyft and Uber, according to spokesman Kevin Nursick.
"The way it stands right now, we really don't have any regulatory authority over them," Nursick said.
Lyft spokeswoman Dally said Lyft takes its own measures to ensure safety, including background checks, driving checks, vehicle inspections and ensuring proper insurance. And though the company is not regulated by the state, the user rating system provides a form of crowd-sourced regulation that is not typical of traditional taxi companies.
Uber and Lyft both said they don't aim to drive cabbies out of business.
"Uber supplements the taxi industry with a better, safer, more reliable alternative," offered spokeswoman Natalia Montalvo.
"We actually think that having more options" other than driving a personal car "ultimately leads people to take advantage of existing transportation options"—such as public transit and cabs—more often, Dally said.
"If people choose not to drive themselves" to work or out to dinner, they won't be driving themselves home, she noted. "If they take one [form of] transportation in, they may take another option home."
Tags: Lyft, Uber, Metro Taxi, web-based car services
Post a Comment
posted by: mm on May 5, 2014 3:23pm
While the concept of Lyft is good, I would be wary of the insurance coverage carried by the individual drivers. In fact some insurance would be invalid when a passenger vehicle is used for commercial purposes. Calling the fare a donation may get around state regulations, but won't hold up to insurance company scrutiny in case of an accident and a passenger's claim.
posted by: connecticutcontrarian on May 5, 2014 3:36pm
Yeah this sounds like a crime waiting to happen.
posted by: flash_demo on May 5, 2014 4:24pm
I enjoyed reading this story. Lyft sounds pretty awesome. However, after reading about old school Metro, I see it has its advantages as well.
Good story, good information.
posted by: anonymous on May 5, 2014 5:16pm
There's no way that ridesharing will undermine taxi companies' profits.
If anything, it will get more people to give up their cars—something that is already happening within dense, livable communities like NYC, New Haven, and Boston.
However, people will be asking government to regulate these types of activities once they see what happens vis a vis car insurance when crashes take place (there are already some anecdotes).
The background checks and insurance coverages need to be adequate, which ultimately means that the fares may go up significantly. But that's a good thing too - people should have to pay for the cost of private automobile use, including the cost of crash investigations, and they should be able to have transit, walking, or biking options if they can't afford it.
Maybe car sharing options will help us to fill in some of the downtown parking lots with new development - and use that increased tax revenue to fund better public transit.
posted by: Jones Gore on May 5, 2014 5:23pm
Although I am very pro entrepreneurism and think the only way people are going to be able feed themselves is by working for themselves, this has be regulated for public safety.
posted by: Carl Goldfield on May 5, 2014 5:23pm
The regulation of cabs didn't happen by accident; it was necessary. Sometimes circumstances change and once legitimate regulation becomes ossified and unnecessary. I don't believe this is such a case. There have been some pretty horrible attacks on women by gypsy cab drivers, the insurance concerns are certainly legitimate and there are safety features in cabs absent from a layperson's auto. And just think about the potential for some ugliness if there is disagreement over the "donation". For $2 extra I'd stick with the old tried and true.
posted by: Carl Goldfield on May 5, 2014 5:31pm
P.S. Its also a drive (pun intended) to the bottom of the wage scale. Its not as if there is a shortage of cabs and I doubt this will create new demand for cab rides. It will simply put professionals who drive as their sole source of income out of work if they can't compete with part time drivers desperate to pick up a few buck and willing to provide rides for squat. After all no minimum wage here. I don't see this as some progressive "share economy" thing. I see it as the "walmartization" of the cab industry.
posted by: DingDong on May 5, 2014 6:53pm
I would be more hostile towards Lyft and Uber if Metro taxi hadn't provided such terrible dispatching service to me so many times before. I don't know how many times I've called a taxi, been told a taxi is on the way only for one never to show up. I stick with Ecuamex—-a small company and sometimes they are too busy; but if they say they are coming, they really are coming.
posted by: Walt on May 5, 2014 7:06pm
Right. mm
—-and these national operators will be no where near CT if Alva happens to have an accident while being a fake cabby ,and winds up with her insurance company justifiably refusing to cover the damages, and has to pay some complainant almost everything she earns for the rest of her life for damages
CT should act to assure regulation of these plans before both drivers and riders get screwed
Editor, use a synonym if you wish)
posted by: anonymous on May 5, 2014 9:52pm
Carl: Comparing local, sustainable entrepreneurs to Walmart CEOs' pillaging of the global economy while earning $30,000 per hour, is absurd.
posted by: SafetyFirst on May 5, 2014 9:55pm
Wow! I fear for young Alva Jeffreys! She's trying to earn extra money by taking such a HUGE safety risk. She's using her own car and personal insurance DOES NOT provide commercial coverage if she gets into an accident while using her car as a taxi service. Mr. Goldfield is right – the regulation of taxis evolved over time and with careful consideration for ensuring fair pricing, public safety and equal community-wide access. Does Alva Jeffrey's Hyundai Sonata have wheelchair-accessible access and has she been given the proper ADA-compliant training to transport those with disabilities? If not, does that mean that people who need to travel with a wheelchair or walker can't use Lyft? And Lyft says it's about "strengthening community." Huh? While I'm all for innovation that creates new business options and consumer choices, entrepreneurship should NEVER come at the cost of public safety or discrimination. As for Lyft's fee being called a "donation," give me a break!
posted by: robn on May 5, 2014 10:16pm
1) Security and safety aren't issues because drivers and passengers are vetted though background checks and peer reviews.
2) Insurance isn't an issue (with Lyft) because they carry insurance.
3) The existing taxi system stinks. Its ineffective and as the NHI has reported in the past, it's exploitive if drivers.
4) Its about time that the democracy of transportation is accomplished through trust building and merit with a goal of comfort and safety.
posted by: downtown dweller on May 6, 2014 2:34am
This is great news for all of us.
The resistance to these ride-sharing companies has come exclusively from taxi monopolies. They're playing the public safety card while trying solely to protect their earnings. Consumers should be able to choose for themselves whether they want a modern, friendly service, or a cartel. This is America, not Soviet Russia.
posted by: Bradley on May 6, 2014 5:21am
Carl, I would distinguish between safety, where there is a compelling argument for regulation, and fare-setting, where the need for regulation is less apparent. Riders need to know that the vehicles used to transport them are safe and that the drivers are not dangerous. So far, the ride sharing companies have taken steps to address these issues, but some state regulation will probably be needed.
On the economic side, I think Anonymous is right that in some cases ride sharing is a substitute for people driving themselves. In addition, as the proportion of carless or one-car households increases, there will hopefully be enough business to support both ride sharing and the cabbies.
posted by: yim-a on May 6, 2014 6:57am
In mid-December, during one of the first big snows of the year, I needed to take a taxi. I waited on hold for metro taxi for near 30 minutes without success. Ditto for the other local cab services. And the dispatchers at 777 7777 have never been known for courteous and timely service. I've lived abroad, in cities where most anyone with a car and moxie can pick up fares, and taken many a "taxi" without incident. I hope this service does well and helps other new haven cab companies to up their game.
posted by: robn on May 6, 2014 8:19am
Accessibility is a red herring. I've never seen a wheelchair accessible taxi in New Haven.
What critics fear here is that in some cases the private market might actually know what they're doing and do it better than a highly regulated system. I write "highly' because even with ride sharing, there is significant regulation leading up to the moment someone uses their service. Drivers must be licensed (have you ever noticed that a taxi driver is somehow more skilled at driving than yourself?). We pay police to constantly be on the lookout for faulty equipment and bad driving. All automobile construction, delivery and sale is highly regulated from the federal level to the local level.
And back to the subject of being fair to consumers, I've never seen a New Haven taxi in half as good condition as Ms. Jeffrey's car. If cleanliness is too much to ask of taxis, they shouldn't be asking us to give them a monopoly on service.
posted by: Carl Goldfield on May 6, 2014 9:00am
@anonymous- Jeez ....its obviously not Alva who I'm comparing with Walmart- the comparison is to the founders and venture capitalists behind Lyft and Uber. Just as Walmart skims profits off the labor of underpaid Asian workers these guys are skimming their vig off the labors of your so called "local sustainable entrepeneurs" The "locals" will make squat and the money guys will cash out big time when these companies go public.
posted by: Eddie on May 6, 2014 9:04am
I know some people who have had very good experiences with airbnb, and I have enjoyed using the service myself. Perhaps lyft could provide something equivalent, and who hasn't had a bad experience with the cab companies in New Haven.
Still I'm skeptical of this service. I hate the idea of a donation and Katie Dally's philosophy is junk. I'm guessing she does not work for optional donations. I'm guessing that the lyft owners are not working for donations. Dally states, "This is not someone who's giving you a ride for profit. This is someone who wanted to give you a ride." The problem with this is that someone in San Francisco stands to make a lot of money from the community spirit of others. Plus who has the time and money to be driving around giving out rides? These community spirit slogans could easily rationalize labor exploitation.
However, it would be interesting to compare the average wage of a lyft driver to that of a taxi cab driver, factoring in all of the maintenance costs that the cab companies cover and lyft does not. I honestly don't know which driver would come out on top. On one hand lyft has this silly donation system and it really increases the size of the labor pool. On the other hand, it does away with a lot of management overhead costs and allows people to take advantage of their cars, which is capital that is accessible to quite a few people. Of course, once a lyft system is in place it may provide a means for extreme exploitation, but that is hard to say given that it is so new. Currently it certainly does seem that the lyft employees have no power in the company, but this isn't much different from most modern cab companies.
Lyft should not get an advantage by skirting regulations that ensure safety and accessibility. But it could also be a positive force in pushing against outdated regulations.
posted by: Razzie on May 6, 2014 9:13am
"The way it stands right now, we really don't have any regulatory authority over them," Nursick said.
I find it incredible that the regulatory agency adopts the position that by calling a fee a "donation", that takes the company out from under the intended regulatory scheme. In other words, if Metro Taxi adopted a "suggested donation schedule", then licensure as a taxi company would be unnecessary. Go figure. Same thing with banks, securities industries and real estate agents.
I share Goldfield's concerns, that we are glibly passing over a history of problems and industry abuse that was the original catalyst for regulation in the first place. I have no problem with Alva picking up a few extra bucks, but I have no illusions that people like Alva will be the prime beneficiaries of these regulation evading schemes. Where does the money from "donations" go? My bet is that the credit card payments go straight into the "owner's" bank account, and then parceled out to the drivers on some ridiculously low scale.
posted by: KDeeJay86 on May 6, 2014 10:49am
Check out this story about an Uber driver assaulting a passenger. The driver had a criminal record, had served prison time AND passed Uber's background check. You telling me that's safe? I'll be waiting for a traditional cab and get a safe ride before using one of these rideshare apps.
posted by: RNJeannette on May 6, 2014 10:54am
So Uber and Lyft rates are "donations"… how cute; can I deduct this donation from my taxes at the end the year?! In this article I see that Uber/Lyft "partners" are accepting "donations" for the same rate as the taxi fare of $13.68 with a 20% tip. The perk for me of using a traditional taxi is that this ride is legal with legal insurance rather than whatever goofy type of insurance Alva "might" offer. If I got in an accident in Alva's car would her insurance company tell me, "Sorry, you're not considered Alva's 'community friend'". Would Uber and Lyft tell me, "sorry we're not the driver, we just collect the $, you need to call Alva"?? This sounds like a scheme designed for the stupid college kid who might think "partners", "donations", and "extra money" are "so kewl". I hope the colleges/universities and the D.O.T , are paying close attention, their priorities should be legalities and public safety; if not they're in for some tragedies, we may find out that "community friends" and "partners" are capable of robbery, rape and stalking in a short time. I hope this ride is that meaningful to these college kids - one can not turn the clock back after the damage is done.
posted by: HuskiGirl on May 6, 2014 10:58am
Being a young woman of college age rideshare programs are alarming. Although Uber and Lyft say that their drivers go through a background check, but a "background check" conducted by the FBI and one done on the internet are very, very different. I personally wouldn't feel safe with an Uber or Lyft "partner" driving me around – they could be a rapist for all I know. "Old school" cabbies go through FBI background checks, DMV approves them, they have a specific license, and cab companies are regulated. Getting into an Uber or Lyft car is the equivalent to getting into a stranger's car or hitchhiking. Frankly, I refuse to take that kind of risk.
posted by: Mark Oppenheimer on May 6, 2014 12:13pm
With respect to my friend Carl Goldfield and others, what you're basically saying is that there should be a guild of drivers who control who gets to enter the field; solo practitioners, people who want to enter the biz on their own, get squeezed out. In most places, this artificial scarcity just means big corporate control: Metro Taxi in New Haven, or the big conglomerates in NYC, those that can afford the $1million+ taxi medallions. Ask the drivers what it's like to work for THEM.
What's more, I actually find that most "strangers" are pretty trustworthy; that most people don't try to cheat me; and that a system like this one, based on some modicum of trust, can probably work well. But keep in mind: THEY HAVE THE DRIVER'S CREDIT CARD NUMBER. So random attacks from passengers on their drivers are pretty unlikely. And vice versa, since the drivers are registered with Lyft. In fact, isn't this SAFER than cab passengers, who are pretty well always anonymous?
Anyway, Metro Taxi is slow to arrive, it's a disaster when I try to book in advance, etc—all the problems you'd expect with corporate (near-)monopoly.
posted by: robn on May 6, 2014 12:33pm
Its unlikely that serial killers and rapist will wholeheartedly adopt rideshare programs to find victims because, unlike picking up a hitchhiker (or a cab fare for that matter), rideshare programs have a mile long paper trail that guarantees jail time.
For every rideshare crime (so far there's a link to one) I'll find you one perpetrated by a cabbie…here's one.
I would re-emphasize that rideshare programs leave a papertrail which cabs do not; cab rides are often random and undocumented.
Sorry; its just logic.
posted by: Carl Goldfield on May 6, 2014 2:43pm
With all due respect to my friend Mark Oppenheimer - it's not about a guild it's about some necessary regulation. I want my doctor, my plumber and my electrician to be licensed. Why? Because these are professions providing services which if performed incorrectly can lead to disaster (fires, illness etc.) Regulation of the profession reduces the danger.
It seems to me that problem you are having is with the poor regulation of Metro Taxi. They need to have their license pulled if they won't or cannot provide the service. But that doesn't mean that the purpose of the regulation is misguided.
And you don't address the issue of what I think will be a race to the bottom for fares, with a few folks at the top becoming very rich.
The only guild like organizations I'm aware of are some of the trade unions, where becoming an apprentice and obtaining membership requires you to have a father, grandfather and great-grandfather in the trade. Sort of like Yale used to be.
posted by: Razzie on May 6, 2014 3:15pm
"...I actually find that most "strangers" are pretty trustworthy; that most people don't try to cheat me; and that a system like this one, based on some modicum of trust, can probably work well. " - M. Oppenheimer
I too am a trusting soul, and don't for one minute mean to imply that EVERY ride with a Uber/Lyft "partner will end in disaster. But unfortunately, all it takes is 1 tragedy to tip the scales. For instance, what happens when Alva's auto insurer refuses coverage because she was participating in a commercial endeavor, and Lyft/Uber's insurer declines coverage also because they have no coverage for the "partner" or the event. Who know's what limits of coverage the parties have, and whether it meets CT standards for commercial carriers.
The point you fail to acknowledge is that the RISK of tragedy is too great for most reasonable consumers to take on an unregulated conveyance. And BTW..what happens when the user decides that the $30 suggested donation is only gonna get met at the $15 level. (Or the $0 level because service wasn't as good as expected). There you have another tragedy in the making.
posted by: LookOut on May 7, 2014 7:42am
competition almost always improves service. Assuming that the businesses have not considered insurance issues seems weak. The real issue is that the cab system in almost all system uses regulation as an excuse to limit licenses. This allows the regulators to charge huge amounts for the licenses (look up the cost of a medallion in NYC) and through scarcity and cost of licensing, creates high costs for the end user.
Bravo to the new guys. Let's have some competition.
posted by: RNJeannette on May 7, 2014 11:31am
A friend of mine at the D.O.T shared this CT State Statute Section 13b-101 which clearly states that a motor vehicle in livery service includes "every motor vehicle used by any person, association, limited liability company or corporation which represents itself to be in the business of transporting passengers for hire." Yet, Uber & Lyft flagrantly don't abide by the laws regulating taxi companies that ensure fair pricing, public safety and equal community-wide access; regulations to which your local transportation companies must and do adhere to.
posted by: SafetyFirst on May 8, 2014 10:16pm
Robn—You must not get out much, if you've never seen a wheelchair-accessible taxi in New Haven. Thanks to the City of New Haven's Dept. for Persons with Disabilities partnering with Metro Taxi and other concerned disability advocates, Greater New Haven finally has close to 75 accessible cabs. For far too long CT's Disability Community didn't have the same freedoms and access to immediate response taxis as others who take such service for granted. I find it reprehensible that Uber and Lyft are shutting out our state's large Disability Community, as well as the elderly and low-income folks who cannot afford a Smart Phone. They posture themselves as "strengthening community," but it's clear that they are discriminating against specific populations!!!!
As for Uber and Lyft's threat to our public's safety, look at what happened in other states where they have side-stepped protective state regulations and insurance precautions: the tragic death of a six-year-old, sexual assaults, DUIs, drug trafficking, insurance fraud and more. Look at what NBC Investigators found when they went under-cover, utilizing ex-convicts who quickly and easily got jobs with Uber http://bit.ly/1rSEpoe. Do you need more evidence that these illegal ridesharing services offer "risky rides?"
Innovation should never over-ride pubic safety!
posted by: downtown dweller on May 9, 2014 3:37am
Razzie, the "risk" of these new services is pure speculation on your part. But even if there were a greater risk than using a regular taxi, which seems patently false, other consumers can still choose whether to accept that risk on their own. Clearly, Melissa Bailey didn't think that it was unacceptably risky.
RNJeanette, what is the "fair pricing" that the laws guarantee? By "fair," don't you actually mean "not set by the market"? If fares come down because of Lyft, either taxi drivers will keep driving, in which case they're demonstrating the price is fair, or they'll move to a more productive line of work, which will be beneficial for society.
All of the complaints against Lyft and Uber are just excuses for monopoly-style behavior in the guise of public welfare.
posted by: robn on May 9, 2014 8:26am
Except that all people, including the disabled, aren't really entitled to prompt service in well kept cars because that's not what taxis in New Haven provide.
I can't verify or deny your number 75 but if its true, that's not 75 accessible cabs for New Haven; Metro Taxi touts its accessible service for 13 towns and cities, a huge population; it may be better than nothing but not ubiquitous as you suggest.
posted by: DingDong on May 9, 2014 2:26pm
@Safety First. I applaud your concern about not discriminating against the disabled. Why are you not equally concerned about discrimination against people with criminal convictions though?
posted by: SafetyFirst on May 11, 2014 10:08pm
RobN - Metro Taxi and Yellow Cabs fleets of wheelchair-accessible taxis, at long last provide immediate response, affordable service to CT's large Disability Community. Ubiquitous? Definitely not! About 170,000 residents in Connecticut report having a mobility disability. It was a long and hard win to get CT's first wheelchair-accessible taxi here in 2009, which unleashed pent-up consumer demand that led to both Metro Taxi and Yellow Cab stepping up to the plate and enhancing their fleets with ADA-compliant cabs. Given this progress, my point is that the last thing our State needs is a transportation service that flagrantly flouts the Americans With Disabilities Act by discriminating against people who need a wheelchair or walker when they travel. I find it ironic that Uber and Lyft posture themselves as being more progressive than "traditional" taxi service.
posted by: leibzelig on May 12, 2014 8:22am
We just returned from a trip where we needed a cab to the train station. We called Metro, and a car with space for two wheelchairs pulled up, with plenty of room for our two large suitcases. The cab was propelled by gas, not gasoline. I doubt that our luggage would have fit into a Hyundai Sonata. Very pleasant trip, $5 less than a Horizon cab that took us home from the train station. I have nothing but good things to say about Metro. So, friend RobN, there are more things in heaven and Earth than are…


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Loss of smell ...
In Dec. I fell and hit the back of my head .. a concussion. My once very acute sense of smell is gone and I so miss the smell of perfume, flowers,fresh air, etc. plus it is dangerous too as I no longer can smell smoke, gas from the stove, etc. and just briefly a hint of ammonia or vinegar when I try them. The neurologist said he doubts I will ever recover this sense even though I have tried zinc and Vit.B as it is not a malfunction of my nose but the back part of the brain I'm told so these things probably won't help.
Has anyone else experienced this problem and has anything helped?
Hi vieja,
I don't have any suggestions for you, but did want to commissurate with you. About 17 years ago, I had a virus for several days with a high fever. When it was over, I had lost most of the sense of taste and smell. A little of it has come back, but not much.
For a long time, I smelled smoke or something electrical quite often.....even when there was no smoke around. It is a bit disconcerting to not be able to smell those things around you (when they're there). I was relieved when my children got old enough to tell me if they smelled smoke too.
Fortunately, I think I smell smoke more when it's not there, than when it is and I can't smell it.
Hopefully, you will regain some of it.
Back when I lost mine, I heard of a smell/taste discorder clinic in Chicago, but I never pursued it. Maybe you could look into something like that. You could always get a second and third opinion. I would research the heck out of the topic....which you probably have already done. Many times there are solutions out there, but doctors just aren't up on them.
Are you sure it was the fall that caused it and not a virus? I guess there are viruses that just attack those parts of us (smell and taste). I understand your sadness at what you've lost. I soooooo miss walking past people, and getting a whiff of their perfume, and having wonderful flashbacks from my childhood! And I miss smelling freshly cut grass. And there are many flowers I can't smell anymore.
Good luck finding a solution to this. Perhaps time will help. If it doesn't, you will adjust. But I do sympathize and empathize with you!
Yes, you can understand my problem exactly !! Oh, the smell of freshly mown hay, rain,fresh smell of clothes drying on the clothesline, perfume of my peony flowers ....! Yes, the loss of smell occurred right after the fall;the MRI I guess showed a portion of the brain in back that sends scent messages over the top of the brain to the nose was bruised/damaged when I hit the back of my head and the neurologist doubted any scent would return though he said, like you,sometimes strange, non-exisitant scents will arise later that may be worse than no scent at all! Years ago I did had a loss of smell after a viral infection but that returned fully in time and with mega zinc and Vit. B which can bring back the sense if it is just the nerves in the nose that were affected but seemingly not when it is the part of the brain I damaged but I am still taking both in hopes ...! I always had such an acute sense of smell before and it surely does affect one's outlook in so many wonderful ways.
I, too, got info. from a clinic in the Midwest that almost guarantees success in restoring sense of smell but when theneurologists doubt it I am reluctant to spend so much $$ and travel so far on just advertisement.
If yours was a loss after a viral infection (though it was years ago and that might be a problem) you might try zinc and Vit.B: I'm still taking both just hoping ...
Thanks you for your response .... hopefully we both can regain this powerful sense we formerly took too much for granted! It is so important : smell with memories!
To whom it may concern;
i also lost my sense of smell and taste. for two years i tried to find something or someone to help improve my senses. i came apon Esodynamics (corrective Health Care), they have helped me regain about 75% of my senses through about 6 or 7 sessions now. google it for more info, i hope i have been of some help. please let me know, thanks; Jessie
I posted the original question re: loss of sense of smell after a brain concussion/fall to the back of the head. After about one year now I have a very slight sense of smell returning .... I get a whiff of something but it doesn't last long. This little bit of recovery makes me hopeful that more will come back in time. I still take zinc & Vit. B injections. Was your loss of smell due to a head injury? Wonderful your smell is returning!
thanks for writing back,
Yes my loss was also from falling straight back and cracking the back of my head. i was hospitalized for a week, being told my brain was bleeding. not a good time in my life. i have recover now, everything seems to be fine, the headaches stop after about 3 months. i know what you mean when you say you smell something but then it goes away and you really can't tell what it was to begin with. i found that it didn't much improve from there. Where i said to go in my first note really does work. i was a little sceptic at first but i recommend you try it at least three times. you will be amazed Vieja. this loss of smell due to head injury is alot more common than i thought and from what i here nobody has recovered like i have. it is so beautiful to smell a womans perfume again and taste a home cooked meal. i have another appointment next week in Sudbury Ontario, can't wait, improves every time.
Wonderful that after such a bad fall you have recovered so much! No, for some odd reason (the neurologust said) I didn't lose the sense of flavor ... which is a combination of taste & smell. The faint smells I have recovered are the true smells but just faint & doesn't last when I smell the vinegar bottle or the ammonia bottle or when I spray perfume. At least it is something & hope it will improve. I will investigate the website you mentioned but is the place in Ontario, Canada? We surely can understand the previous responder 'caterinet' & her missing all those wonderful aromas, can't we?!
Hi, I got into a car accident about 2 yrs ago. I was thrown from the car and had a very bad concussion. I wasn't able to taste or smell at all after I got out of the hospital. I still can't tell a banana from a strawberry and I smell weird smells like smoke or something burning. Is there hope that I will ever get my senses back? Anything I can do, to try and get them back? I heard mentioned that zinc and vitamin B help with that. What do they do? Is there anything else that can help? I have a 5 month old baby and I love the way babys smell, but ever since he was born I haven't been able to experience that and it makes me very sad. I am home by myself with him and can't tell if there is a fire or gas is leaking and that scares me. Someone please help me out if you can. Thank you so much. :)
I too have what is called anosmia. I don't ever remember
having a sense of smell. When my son was a baby the only
way I knew he did his business was by the time of day and
the look on his face. Because I work in a nursing home my
coworkers think I'm lucky not smelling certain things but
I wish I could. I have missed out on the good smelling
for years. Perhaps I had a bad cold as a child...I really
don't know. Thank goodness I have an alright sense of
taste. My GP states nothing can be done so I'll check in
here from time to time. Lastly, I have come to realize that
when you lack in one sense you can make it up in another.
I feel my 6th sense is heightened because of this.
I fell 2 months ago and Loss the sence of smell..
What dose of zinc and vitamin B do I take?
I will try anything to get my sence of smell back...
I miss the smell of Fresh air, Rain, The woods, Roses
or easting a good Steak dinner with my family...Please!!
Though I rather feel that maybe the zinc & the Vit. B MAY have helped the slight return of my sense of smell I'd for sure check with your doctor regarding taking these & the amounts. My neurologist had said these two were the only suggestions he could think of to advise me to try. I do now & did before the fall take quite a few other alternative things (lutein, ginkgo biloba, etc.) but have no idea if any of those had helped.
Have others here tried that clinic one of the previous people on this e-mail mentioned that helped? Think it was in Ohio or Canada??
I just went back to my neurologist because of another fall & hit to the back of my head (:( !! ). He was amazed that I had a sense of smell return x the first fall n 2006 but as I never lost the sense of taste he said the nerve then was probably just bruised & not torn- as if it had been torn, the sense of smell would have not returned & I would have been left with only the four things the tongue alone would taste: sweet, sour, salty, bitter. I'm now hoping further smells return in time. He said his suggestion of zinc & Vit. B may have helped also but couldn't really be sure.
I too developed anosmia and loss of flavor following a fall and concussion to the back of my head. A neurologist told me it was permanent due to injury to the olfactory nerve. Thankfully he was wrong, and I regained my smell after about 1-2 years. Doctors should refrain from absolute statements-they're smart but not omnicient! My smell recovered gradually--I remember the first thing I could smell was gasoline. I went to a taste and smell clinic at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. It was primarily a research program, but they did prescribe a medication called Theophylline (an asthma medication) which I took until I recovered my sense of smell. This was an experimental, off-label use of this medication. I have no idea if it was effective, or if I would have recovered anyway. Check with your doctor. This was 30 years ago, and I don't know if the clinic still exists. Google "taste and smell clinic" for more info.
Good luck.
Wonderful you got your sense of smell back after you had lost BOTH the sense of smell and taste! It has been two years now for me since my fall/concussion & it seems it still is coming back even more but not as acute as before the accident---yet!, but I still have hopes & am so grateful for what I have regained so far. Could you only taste the four that the tongue alone senses (sweet-sour-bitter-salty) or could you even determine most other tastes/flavors after the fall? I am amazed at how many persons have experienced our same problem after a fall & how we don't realize until we lost it how important the sense of smell is to us both as far as danger & for pleasure. Interesting about the Theophylline! Like me, I don't really know if my taking Vit.B & zinc really helped or not.
I think there is a misunderstanding about the difference between "taste" and "smell". Sense of "tastes" (sweet, salty, bitter, sour) are percieved by organs on the tongue (so-called "taste buds"). You don't need smell to percieve "taste". The ability to appreciate "flavor" is dependent on a sense of smell. So in my case, I lost flavor as a result of loss of smell. I never lost "taste" sensation. For example, I could taste sour, but couldn't discriminate whether it was lemon or lime (see link below). I thought I had it bad until I met people at the clinic who complained that everything had a terrible taste or smell. What a nightmare that would be! Most of the research I did indicated that it takes at least a year before you begin to regain the sense of smell (when due to head injury). It can take much longer to fully recover sense of smell. The fact that you have regained even partial smell (and therefore partial "flavor") seems very encouraging to me. If you had gone 2 years without any improvement, then the outlook would be more grim. By the way, are your falls pure accidents, or do you have a balance/equilibrium problem? Perhaps you should discuss that with your neurologist. Good luck and be patient!
Here is a link that might be useful: Exploratorium.edu
russar: Hmm, I thought the difference was pretty much understood- maybe in different terms? I never lost the sense of 'taste' (tongue: salty,bitter, etc.) nor the sense of much 'flavor' (could distinguish between foods: lemon, coffee, cokes, chocolate, etc. in my mouth .. all 'tasted' the same). But I just could not 'smell' ammonia, vinegar,chocolate, cinnamon when blindfolded & placed to my nose by the neurologist. Thus, it later seemed when the sense of 'smell' returned 2 years later that the nerve had probably not been severed from the fall but just bruised & I thankfully have most of the sense of smell (not as acute though ..yet!)back. When it first started coming back I smelled the slight smell of smoke ... though none was there;guess that happens sometimes. Now the smells are real thankfully!
Thanks everyone for all the info. in-put to a situation I had no idea was rather common. Every bit is of help for those of us that have experienced it & hope the info. continues!
No reason (yet) for the falls I've had & MRI's don't indicate any reason for them or show any results from the two falls.
Sorry, I don't remember the doses of zinc I took each day but I got the Vit. B by injection (hubby gave them to me).
Now almost 6 yrs. after the fall, I still can smell things as it gradually returned but certainly not as acute as before the fall. But I am so grateful that it has returned a bit but have had no further improvement for the past couple of yrs. I do remember though what that earlier acute sense of smell was like... & miss it! Now I have arthritis in the back of my skull... probably a result of the fall.
So good we still are keeping n touch with some new ideas!
I never lost the sense of taste ... only that of smells. Though I feel so fortunate that I did get back some sense of smell it is fleeting & not as acute as it was before the concussion. I remeember the smell of the air after a thunderstorm, the rain,the peony & lilac flowers & realize it is just a fraction of what it was. Don't appreciate what you had until you lose it I guess. I hope yours 'joyingspring' will also return. When it first returned I smelled things that were not there.. like smoke, coffee.. but it was a start at least as before I couldn't smell vinegar or ammonia.
Good luck & kep us posted!
On August 23, '11 I suffered a mild concussion (fell onto my back and struck the back of my head). Four days later I was recovering quite nicely, but realized I had lost my sense of smell. Nearly seven weeks later (October 9) I began to "get" whiffs of familiar odors. Tuna, barbecue, Shalimar, and the most frequent visitor has been rotten tomatoes (I have a garden and have been picking the dregs of the garden--sometimes there's a rotten one in there). It's a little disappointing that these whiffs are so few, fleeting and very far between. At about the same time, I began to experience the "ghost" scent which I've labeled "fried powdered stone." That smell-taste was fairly persistent and unpleasant for awhile. Now it's not always present, and often smells-tastes not too bad. (Strange, too, that when I take a deep inhalation over the coffee bag, the ghost smell appears, as if that's what it smells like.) I liken this odor to the smell of smoke and/or coffee that some of you have described.
I have very much appreciated the posts you-all have left here. The similarities to my experience are comforting, and in many ways hopeful. (Having any kind of change in my condition, i.e. the appearance of the whiffs and the ghost scent, gives me hope that something is happening, hopefully some healing, and not deterioration of the olfactory bulb.)
It is a strange sort of handicap, isn't it? I do thank God that the results of the concussion were not much much worse. I never even lost consciousness! And here I am walking and talking--no one would guess that I've lost one of my five senses. It has a huge impact on my quality of life, but nowhere near as huge as it would have been to lose sight, hearing, mental function or mobility. So I get to feel sorry for myself, but I have to temper that with gratitude. Sympathy from others is another story, and varies as widely as there are personalities and life experiences. I have refrained from telling most people, except family and close friends. I'm not sure why. Don't want to play the victim? Or, saving it for an eventful Christmas letter?
Still, thanks to you all for your stories. It is "nice" to know I'm not alone in dealing with this. Who could've imagined what turns our lives can take in an instant?
God bless us all, and help to restore to us this gift which first came from Him. Or, give us the grace and strength to deal with the loss, taking whatever lessons come along the way.
It has now been 5 months since I have lost of taste and smell. Lately I have developed this awful taste in my mouth when I eat something, not sure how to describe it but it is "foul". Maybe it is a sign of some senses returning. I am waiting for a CT scan on my sinuses to see if there is any damage. Just a waiting game.
When I first posted this way back in 2006 I had no idea how many people have suffered this same loss of smell! It seems most were a result of falling & hitting the back of the head as I had done. I guess a sensory nerve runs in that area to the sensory part of the brain & can be damaged or even severed.
I fell on two separate occasions & hit that back portion of the skull with concussions. I now have regained 'most' of the extremely acute sense of smell I once had & am so grateful! I still miss the smell of the freshness after a rain & some more subtle things that I could before but am thankful for what has come back. I can smell & use my favorite perfumes but wonder if what I think now is just a subtle use may really be too much for others around me with normal senses! I no longer take the zinc or Vit. B shots & am not sure if they helped or not but the neurologist said it was worth it to try & no harm from doing it. Oddly, I never lost the sense of taste : I could not smell ammonia, vinegar, chocolate, etc. but could discern salty, sweet, bitter, etc. & foods seemed to taste the same as always & I could tell one food from another by the taste... but not the smell! Guess 'flavor' is the combination of taste & smell? Difficult meanings as the terms seem to get confused.
What I have now as a result I'm told of the fall is arthritis in my upper neck & dull aches/pressure in the area of the skull where I hit; MRI's don't explain it.
I hope this posting will continue with others who have experienced the same trauma & loss of smell & can give hope & info. to the seemingly many with this similar experience!
It has been a long time but I believe it was the Vit. B12 liquid prescription x my Dr. that I injected for several months. The zinc was the OTC 50 mg tabs. & I think I took 2 tabs. twice a day... but I'm not really sure now. Your Dr. would know what was an OK amount and not toxic dose to try I'm sure. My daughter-in-law believes in & uses many herbs, acupuncture, 'tapping', hypnotherapy, etc. as her degree is in behavioral therapy but my work background was western medicine... so I think that influences how these things work on different people also!
enjoyingspring: did you fall & hit the back of your skull & concussions as I did? No, I didn't have any strange or unpleasant tastes that I can recall. I have had many MRI's of my head as well as EEG, muscle tone (poor) & developed non-diabetic neuropathy of both legs/calfs but not a CAT scan of the head. No conclusive results! Hopefully, the odd tastes when you eat something is a good sign that perhaps the nerves are healing & normal taste & smell will return! Keep us all posted, please!
No I didn't hit my head. I had a bad virus and my loss of smell and taste resulted from that. I will start taking the zinc and ask my doctor about the Vit B12 shots. Every once in a while I can smell cleaning fluids but it doesn't last. I can taste sweat and sour but no flavors.
The doctor is having me use Nasonex right now but I haven't seen any difference maybe he is just humouring me until I have the CT scan. I find I have to force myself to eat I have lost 12lbs since this has happened. One thing I really miss is the taste of is my morning coffee.
enjoyingspring: did you notice the much earlier posting on this above (by 'russhar' Sept. 28, 2008) on my original post here about someone taking theophyline? Sense of smell returned but ? if due to the theophyline or not. Interesting! I'd say 5 months with some kind of smell/taste now returning mught be encouraging... something seems to be going on?!
I now wonder if the non-diabetic neuropathy in both my legs below the knee is a result of the fall/concussion also... neurologist doesn't think so ... or maybe it caused the fall ... but I hadn't noticed it prior to the fall. Guess we all have lots of questions!
Yes, I did notice that post about the theophyline. It is really hard to tell what might work, I am now taking the zinc tablets. Tonight now I was eating brussel sprouts and got that foul taste again, I couldn't eat them. Last week I could eat brussel sprouts without that taste, I just wonder what is causing that.
Now almost 6 years after the fall/concussion to the back of my skull & complete loss of smell, I seem to have come to what may be the best recovery I can achieve. I can smell things now (not as acutely as before)& for some odd reason it doesn't last as long. Guess with time we thankfully forget what it was like before & don't miss the loss we are left with SO much! I am so lucky I guess that some sense of smell has returned. I have had numerous MRI's & CAT scans w & w/o contrasts & conflicting reports depending on what radiologist reads the scans done at the same radiology lab! My doctor says most modern machines are all good but it is the radiologist who reads them that is important! I hope some of you who earlier here had similar experiences with loss of smell have had some improvement & will keep the rest of us in touch!

subset: commoncrawl


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Warner Archive has announced pre-orders are now available for The Adventures of Superboy Season 4 (the final season of the show). As a special bonus, while supplies last, orders will be filled with copies signed by Gerard Christopher, who played Superboy. Orders will ship on or before October 29 (Tuesday), which is the official release date.
Warner Archive has previously released The Adventures of Superboy: The Complete Third Season and Superboy: The Complete Second Season.
Yay!! Love this show, its goofy at times but isn't ashamed of itself for being so.
[…] stooping to their level or angsting over his powers. For a limited time, orders will receive copies signed by Gerard Christopher. (The studio provided a review […]


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AWSM has their Spring 2013 line on Krush.com ready to be rated and shared. Rate all the products int eh line for a chance to win an AWSM prize pack.
AWSM's Spring 2013 line up is now available to view on Krush.com. Now
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where to buy it. AWSM is excited to have the line previewed by the end consumer
and the Facebook "Likes" are already piling up on the AWSM page, which really
speaks to the power of Krush.
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BaronJon is a cutting edge UK menswear retailer, based in Letchworth Hertfordshire and looked to Harmony to create their first online presence in 2008, which is now their largest store
With a strong high street investment in shops across the UK, BaronJon were sceptical about the web's ability to deliver the brand ideals, and defensive of the impact it could have on the established stores.
BaronJon.com is now considered the largest store in the chain, has grown from strength to strength and in the past 12 months alone online purchases have increased by over 300 per cent.
Consumer confidence on the high street may be waning in some sectors due to the economic slowdown, but online fashion sales are proving highly resilient.
"The website has allowed us to understand our market better than before, with keen insight into buyer purchasing behaviour"Lewis Selt, BaronJon Partner
Harmony designed and developed BaronJon.com to accommodate a growing business from menswear to include womenswear, and children's clothing from multiple brands.
Sales initially were only through BaronJon.com, using Barclays as a payment portal to match up with stores, but as the site took off the payment system was replaced for SagePay and later PayPal.
A second portal, SoulLeather.com was developed in 2010 with an entirely different front-end design to promote the leather products, managed from the same back end manager.
"Only the very largest high street stores could ever stock and sell 300 leather jackets of the same size and colour in a single week. For BaronJon.com this level of turnover occurs ever more frequently as the customer base grows and our brand extends online."Lewis Selt, BaronJon Partner
With the introduction of selling on Amazon, Priceminister, eBay and Play.com, the manager underwent an upgrade to allow for control across many platforms, starting with SoulLeather.com.
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All of this is communicated through the API system. This enables them to be as efficient as possible thus giving their customers a very quick and reliable service.
BaronJon.com customers are frequent return purchasers via the website, as well as visiting the stores, proving that the initial fears that an online presence would divert sales, has in reverse, supported them, and extended sales to over 18 different countries.


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Investing Advice from the Onion
It's quite a world we live in. The (satirical newspaper) The Onion earlier this week proffered investing advice as good as anything I've seen on any financial news source this year: Report: Only .00003% Of Things That Happen Actually Matter.
This is so true for investing it's almost (ahem) a joke. People fret over so much nonsense and minutiae each day in the market. For long-term investors trying to build wealth over time, the simple reality is at least 99.99% of what gets reported out there is mere noise or beside the point. And in the focusing on noise, it's easy for folks to simply overlook what matters: stocks up nicely this year as earnings increase, in the context of what's been a strong and long bull market, seeing new all-time highs in many spots.
Always and everywhere with financial and economic news, ask yourself if what you're reading really matters.
After Pessimism, before Euphoria: Investor Fatigue
Legendary investor Sir John Templeton has a famous quote that still rings true:
"Bull markets are born in pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism, and die of euphoria."
I have a new wrinkle. For today's hyper-media-inundate-you-with-data-all-day-every-day era, somewhere between skepticism and optimism comes fatigue. And it's bullish.
Stories have recently asked why CNBC's ratings have tanked. In my view, you watch CNBC for two reasons:
1. You're terrified of seeing what bad thing will happen to your investments next, but you can't look away. Like a train wreck. (Hello, Financial crisis and Eurozone meltdown.)
2. You're euphoric, and want to see how much your account will rise today. (Hello, tech boom, housing boom, etc.)
Investors aren't any of these things right now. I think they're just…fatigued. Fatigued of Middle East fears, Fed QE fears, of US debt/deficit fears, of Eurozone ills, of all of it. These things have been around for years now, and have lost much of their bluster power. Many aren't so bullish, they're just tired of spending so much energy worrying.
In my opinion, fatigue in this environment is bullish. It means there's plenty of room for markets to rise and most still haven't appreciated record earnings, and other meaningful positives out there.
If China sneezes…
…the world gets a cold.
I've read some version of this notion off and on in the financial media for the last week. Which reminds me of decades past where folks would speculate that if the US didn't do well economically then the rest of the world wouldn't either. We seem to be getting a new version of that with China now.
Don't let it fool you. China continues to contribute nicely to global growth and that'll help prop equity prices. From MarketMinder this week:
"…slower growth" is something of a misnomer. Yes, if China hits the full-year target, in percentage terms, growth will be slower than 2012's 7.8%. But in dollar terms, it will accelerate—a $339 billion increase, compared with 2012's $327 billion rise. Should China match the target for the next few years, the dollar-based gains get bigger and bigger—and higher than the dollar gains seen when the growth rate exceeded 10%. The slower growth rate isn't a sign of weakness. It just means China's growing off a much bigger base. In fact, China could miss the target and still add significant value to the global economy and be a key source of revenue for developed-world companies—what ultimately matters for stocks." – Cracks in the China?
Strong Dollar, Weak Dollar: Which One Is "Right?" Neither.
Through most of the last decade, I answered an interminable number of investor questions about whether the weak dollar would destroy the very foundation of our world. (I exaggerate, if only slightly). Now that the dollar is showing some ballast, we get this: P&G to Apple Hurt by Strong Dollar Keep S&P 500 Profits in Check.
Look, I don't care which way you fall but someone needs to cry foul when we perceive both a strong and weak dollar to be bad. In reality, we've had plenty of bull and bear markets in both strong and weak dollar environments, and in my view dollar direction doesn't generally tell you much about what stocks are likely to do.
Currencies matter. A lot. But don't get too far lost in this quagmire when it comes to judging the stock market.
Please, No More "Downside Risks" for Central Planners
If you're like me, you get annoyed ubiquitously by the clichéd, overused, nonsense, nondescript lingo central bankers, central planners, politicians, and guru economists routinely employ. My current most peevish is "downside risk." As in, "Currently downside risks for the economy are stronger than a month ago." Or, "We see downside risk abating in the intermediate term."
What does this mean? It means nothing. It's gibberish. In the era where central bankers claim to be more open kimono, what they really are doing is just saying more words. The opacity is the same, as depicted by the current—and bizarre—speculation over "tapering" clogging today's financial headlines.
When you see this stuff, don't try to read tea leaves. Just ignore it until there is something concrete to form an opinion.
Demographics Is the Next Investing Fad
Looking at history and the long waves of demographics is a great and fine thing. It can tell you a heck of a lot. It's frequently the case that history is driven by large, abstract, impersonal forces rather than singular decisive events. But…
…to start forecasting equity markets using these metrics is a perilous thing. And it's becoming all the rage lately.
The problem with demographics as equity market forecasters is that, first, in order for you to be right, you might have to wait, you know, a generation or more. Also, even if you can shoehorn a theory to explain all, at best you only have a few good data points to support the correlation tied to equity markets. That's not much to stake a +20 year forecast on.
Thinking Back, Looking Forward
It's an old adage: Investors have short memories. Another: the market discounts the future.
Here's some interesting psychological research as to one reason that may be: Yesterday came suddenly
"Because future events are associated with diminishing distance, while those in the past are thought of as receding, something happening in one month feels psychologically closer than something that happened a month ago."


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So, yesterday I did my first all-grain brew, and that was my second brew overall. I have a 9gallon kettle, turkey burner, 10gallon home depot mash tun with ss braid, and ale pail style fermenter. My biggest "problem" was low efficiency(63%). It was a rather large grain bill, 17bs for a 5gal batch. I followed beersmith's batch sparging directions without any problems and ended up with just the right volume. My big issue was that beersmith told me to sparge with 168F water for a single sparge and I did just that. I think that only got the grain up to 150F or so. Would that bring down my efficiency much or should I search elsewhere in my methods? I always read about proper milling having a big impact but I ordered my grain from austin homebrew and I assume they know how to properly crush their grain. I think I will still get the beer I wanted since I threw a couple pounds of DME in to the boil and ended up with the OG that I was shooting for. My other problem is that I forgot to make a starter with my liquid yeast the day before. Unfortunately I only had one vial of yeast, so i pitched that. I plan to stop at the store and grab another one or most likely two vials to pitch this afternoon. Does that sound like it will work ok? I plan to start washing yeast from now on and doing proper starters. I quickly realized that I am going to need a better thermometer or two. I got by yesterday using my floating thermometer that seems pretty accurate. Anyone have a good suggestion for a good thermometer that won't break the bank? Thanks
You needed to get your grain up to 168+ not sparge with 168 water. Think that was some of your problem.
I think you're right. I questioned what I was doing but figured the first time around I would follow beersmith's directions to the letter and use 3.3gal of 168F water to do a single sparge. Is there a temperature that I don't want to exceed for fear of extracting some unpleasant things from the grain? What temperature water do other people use to sparge with?
I may have read your first post wrong....what was your initial strike temp for your mash?You want to mash around 150-154 depeding on the style of beer. When you batch sparge is when you want to add hotter water to rinse the grains. So beersmith was probably right, but you adjust your water temp to hit your target temp. My strike temp is usually 170-175 depending on the temp of the equipment and grain. Then my mashout water is is 185+
Beersmith did a great job of calculating my strike temp(171F) and I ended up just a couple degrees over my target(156F). Nothing a bit of ice and stirring couldn't fix. Beersmith specifically says to batch sparge with 3.3gal of 168F water but obviously that is too low to get the temperatures I need in the tun. We'll see how well I do with a much hotter sparge next time. Thanks for the tips.
yea i have never had much luck with 168...i brewed on a cold weekend and didnt even consider my equipment temp and i only got to 148. If its cold i look at my equipment temp instead of my grain. That should help.
You will probably tend to get relatively lower efficiencies with higher grain bills. If you wanted to try to keep the efficiency the same for a higher grain bill you can proportionately increase the amount of sparge water you use. The down side to this is that you will collect extra wort and have to boil longer to get down to your 5 gallon batch size. This may also require a larger pot for boiling.


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We welcome your testimonials...
Veronica Lewis (Joined 2011)
Shortly after I retired, my friend, Susan Roberts, told me about the NIneteenth Century Club and it's many offerings. Although I live in Oak Brook, the programs seemed interesting and charitable activities worthwhile, so I went ahead and joined. I was not disappointed! I enjoy the Monday programs, the field trip to the Aqua building, and the Chinese New Year party. Susan even got me involved on a committee! The members are interesting and friendly. I encourage all to join; even if you're not from Oak Park!
Jerry Hills (Joined 2008)
When I announced to my friends in 2008 that I was retiring from my marketing career, Debb Hammond said "Now you can join the 19th Century!" So I did, and was promptly 'volunteered' to be on Debb's committee. (New members - I encourage you to get involved! It's the best way to expand your circle of acquaintances.) I have made so many new friends whom I'd never have met otherwise. I rarely miss a Monday lunch and program, and continue to be impressed with the quality of these outstanding offerings.
Herb Zobel (Joined 1998)
Why I joined the 19th Century? Short answer is Lee Brooke twisted my arm. He thought that the 19th Century needed more male members and I had retired from Peoples Gas. I had become acquainted with the building through a former bookkeeper, who was also the Scoutmaster of Troop 16 at First United Church. My youngest son, Doug, became an Eagle Scout in that troop, so I saw a lot of him on T-16's monthly campouts. He also had an engineering background and showed me the 19CC building from the boiler room to the roof. That is my long answer.
Evelyn Krueger (Joined 2004)
A short while after retirement and knowing no one at the 19th Century, I had been seeing the local notices in the Oak Leaves about programs at the 19th Century which sounded intriguing. The one that actually got me interested was a one-act Shaw Chicago presentation. It was so interesting then, and has been ever since.
Pat Leavy (Joined 1988)
Why I joined? I think I have told my story many times. Just in case you haven't heard it-here goes. I was invited to join by Faye Devine in 1988 when I was President of the Garden Club of Oak Park-River Forest. Faye said they met every Monday and she would call me to set up a date. I decided to take a walk over one Monday in January of 1988 not knowing that it was the midwinter business meeting, which is for members only. I didn't see anyone on the first floor so I went up to the auditorium. Lo and behold the room was filled with ladies. I snuck in and sat down in the back of the room. I listened as one after another read their reports on the Benevolence. I was so impressed with the amount of support this organization was (and still is) to the community that I really couldn't wait to become a member. I also found that many of the members were also members of the garden club, of which I was the president. It didn't take long before I was a regular at serving lunch along with the others who served each week. I was welcomed by some of the older members and soon took the position of Personal Chair.
I could go on forever about the friendships I have made in the organization. There are many reasons one joins a group and mine was simply the opportunity to be involved with a group that has and continues to make a difference in so many lives through its philanthropic works. I am proud to be a member of such a fine organization.
Vicki Bartlett (Joined 2006)
A couple of reasons for joining the 19th Century . . .
Meeting interesting people.
Attending informative and entertaining programs.
Debb Hammond, Literature Chair (Joined 2002)
It's fun lunching out with friends and new acquaintances. Our programs are a great way to expand one's horizons by hearing interesting speakers in person and having the opportunity to not only meet them "up close and personal," but to question them. As a program chair, I enjoy bringing people I want to hear to the 19th Cenury.


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A few words about the apartment…
Previous (very respectable) owners of this piso on prestigious Gran Via might not believe the refurbishment that turned their elegant, if dark and dusty, apartment into a paragon of modern design. Loads of light, sleek fittings, art prints, and excellent space and distribution? Impossible! The resulting apartment is homelike, but has a luxury touch that should put a smile on your face.
Check-in / Check-out
The standard check-in time is from 15:00 and the check-out by 12:00.
Arrivals and departures outside this standard time are always tried to be accommodated depending on other guests.
Payment method upon arrival : cash
Refundable damage deposit upon arrival : € 250.00 cash. The damage deposit will be returned at check-out.
City tax : please check details after clicking the "book now" button
For a late check-in after 22:00 or an early check-out before 08:00 there is an extra cost of € 30.
Please note : non smoking, pets are not allowed, no parties please, no young groups
Facilities and amenities
- Internet
- Pets allowed
- Smoking allowed
- International TV
- Air conditioning
- Heating
- Fan
- Bed linen
- Towels
- Baby cot
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Oven
- Complete kitchenware
- Balcony
- Terrace
- Garden
- Swimming pool
- Parking
- Lift (apt. is on 6th floor)
Back to the top


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Jogging can boost your fitness, improve your mood and help keep those kilos at bay, but it could be doing you damage if you're doing it the wrong way.
According to Lee Saxby, running coach and author of Proprioception: Making sense of barefoot running (PDF), many joggers he sees have poor posture and strike the pavement heavily with their heel.
"Human beings will naturally walk, sprint or run," he told Reuters. "Walking is a heel strike, running is a forefoot strike. Jogging is not a slow run. Jogging is actually a different biomechanical behaviour, a hybrid between a walk and a run. Distance runners never land on their heels."
According to Saxby, the three most important things to think about when jogging are keeping a good posture, having a bouncing, elastic rhythm and making sure your forefoot lands first.
Dr Mark Cucuzzella, associate professor of family medicine at West Virginia University in the US, agrees.
"So if you land on your fore and mid-foot you use the recoil aspect of the foot, which is designed to return energy," he told Reuters.
"The benefits of a daily walk or jog are enormous, but we need to teach people good mechanics, which is not landing hard on the heel."
According to Health & Wellbeing fitness expert Dean Piazza, also wearing the worn-out shoes can lead to injury. "If your shoes are more than six to eight months old I suggest getting a new pair of running shoes," he said.
"Not only does it motivate you to train more it also gives you a lot more 'bounce' as you step. Running shoes start to lose their shock absorption qualities after about six months. So while they can still look new, they won't be as comfortable or as kind on your joints."
' + '


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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - View original article
Owner | Dr Pepper Snapple Group |
Country | Canada |
Introduced | 1904 |
Markets | Canada, United States, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Europe, Japan, the Middle East |
Previous owners | Cadbury (1986 - 2008) Canada Dry Ginger Ale Inc. (1923 - 1986) John J. McLaughlin family (1904 - 1923)[1] |
Website | CanadaDry.ca, CanadaDry.com |
Owner | Dr Pepper Snapple Group |
Country | Canada |
Introduced | 1904 |
Markets | Canada, United States, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Europe, Japan, the Middle East |
Previous owners | Cadbury (1986 - 2008) Canada Dry Ginger Ale Inc. (1923 - 1986) John J. McLaughlin family (1904 - 1923)[1] |
Website | CanadaDry.ca, CanadaDry.com |
Canada Dry is a brand of soft drinks owned since 2008 by the Texas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group. For over a century Canada Dry has been known for its ginger ale, though the company also manufactures a number of other soft drinks and mixers. Although Canada Dry originated in its namesake country, it is now produced in many countries around the globe, including the United States, Mexico, Colombia, the Middle East, Europe and Japan.
The "Dry" in the brand's name refers to not being sweet, as in a dry wine. When John J. McLaughlin, who first formulated "Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale", originally made his new soft drink, it was far less sweet than other ginger ales then available; as a result, he labelled it "dry".[2]
In 1890, Canadian pharmacist and chemist John J. McLaughlin of Enniskillen, Ontario opened a carbonated water plant in Toronto.[1] McLaughlin was the oldest son of Robert McLaughlin, founder of McLaughlin Carriage and McLaughlin Motor Car.[3] In 1904, McLaughlin created "Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale"; three years later the drink was appointed to the Royal Household of the Governor General of Canada, and the label featuring a beaver atop a map of Canada was replaced with the present Crown and shield.[4]
When McLaughlin began shipping his product to New York in 1919, it became so popular that he opened a plant in Manhattan shortly thereafter. After McLaughlin's death, the company was run briefly by Sam. P. D. Saylor and Associates who bought the business from the McLaughlin family in 1923 and formed Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc., a public company.[1]
Canada Dry's popularity as a mixer began during Prohibition, when its flavor helped mask the taste of homemade liquor.[5] In the 1930s, Canada Dry expanded worldwide. From the 1950s onward, the company introduced a larger number of products.
Norton Simon took an interest in the company in 1964, and it merged with Simon's other holdings, the McCall Corporation and Hunt Foods, to form Norton Simon Inc. Dr Pepper bought Canada Dry from Norton Simon in 1982.[citation needed] In 1984, Dr Pepper was acquired by Forstmann Little & Company, and Canada Dry was sold to R. J. Reynolds' Del Monte Foods unit to pay off acquisition debt.[citation needed] RJR Nabisco sold its soft drink business to Cadbury Schweppes in 1986. Today, Canada Dry is owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which was spun-off from Cadbury Schweppes in 2008.[1]
In 2008, Cadbury Schweppes became part of Grupo Peñafiel in Mexico. Soon after, Canada Dry, along with Dr Pepper, Snapple and Schweppes began to be sold there.[6]
Limited availability flavors are produced in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey by Pepsi-Cola/National Brand Beverages, and are distributed in southern New Jersey, Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, and eastern Maryland. At one time the flavors all had uniquely designed labels, but now all use the standard Canada Dry crest logo.[citation needed]
Brands with limited availability in the United States include:
Nylon Studios produced the song used in the Rabbit's 'Jack's Farm' commercial featuring Canada Dry Ginger Ale.[9][10] A Cantonese version of the ad was also produced.[11]
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2008) |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canada Dry. |


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Latest News
Music education organisations respond positively to Ofsted report
5 March 2012
Music education's various organisations have responded positively to Ofsted's latest music report, which many have perceived as critical of the standard of music education in England's schools.
The National Association of Music Teachers (NAME) said: 'NAME welcomes Ofsted's report on music education because it places music firmly at the heart of high quality music education.'
James Garnett, chair of NAME, said: 'This report has wide-ranging implications for the way that music is taught and for the training and development of music teachers. It empowers music teachers by stating unequivocally that music teaching must be musical. Music cannot be taught and assessed in the same way as English or maths if children and young people are to engage with music and make progress in music.
The Incorportated Society of Musicians (ISM), which was praised in the report for its advocacy work, issued the following statement from chief executive Deborah Annetts: 'This is a critical time for music education, with the implementation of a National Plan, and this clear signal from Ofsted of how music education needs to improve is welcome. All music educators and headteachers must work together to ensure that the use of technology in music is encouraged, and the striking inequalities in provision – particularly by gender – are tackled. The real message here is for headteachers and music educators to engage with the ISM and other bodies to ensure that their staff are able, and confident enough, to teach music to the highest standard.'
The Federation of Music Services (FMS) also welcomed the report, which it saw as stressing 'a need for better partnership working between music services and schools for more music-making in classrooms, better integration between outside initiatives such as whole-class teaching programmes and continuing class music, and for planning for pupils' musical progression.'
Maureen Hanke, chair of the FMS, added: 'The strength of successful hubs will be their ability to work together to embrace the recommendations of the report - especially making music musical, reducing the gender gap and challenging poor quality.'
Read the full story on the report here.
Gloucestershire Music teachers threatened with redundancy
2 March 2012
There are fears that dozens of peripatetic music teachers could lose their jobs after Gloucestershire County Council launched a restructuring consultation in preparation for the National Plan for Music Education's development of local hubs in the autumn.
Around 200 staff, including teachers and administrators, are involved in the consultation which began at the end of February. All staff have been invited to apply for posts in the new structure or to apply for voluntary redundancy. The new structure will be in place from September 2012 so any redundancies are likely to be made in the summer.
The council is proposing to stop providing individual and small-group tuition and plans to 'maintain and develop all other current services with a range of partners' as the basis of its music hub bid.
The new hubs will have to ensure that every child, aged five to 18, has the opportunity to sing and learn a musical instrument, as well as perform as part of an ensemble or choir. There will be more group teaching and it is believed that peris without classroom experience may not fit in the new style of teaching.
Gloucestershire Music, the county council's music service, currently provides tuition to more than 10,000 pupils in schools and to around 1,000 pupils through music centres, orchestras and bands. If the council's bid is successful, the new hub would develop from this service.
Cllr Jackie Hall, cabinet member for education and skills, said: 'The idea behind these new music hubs is that all children will have opportunities to learn a musical instrument and sing, not just those who can afford individual lessons.'
Jo Grills, operations director for education, learning and libraries, said: 'The way the government provides funding for music education is changing. The new music hubs will need to meet new priorities set out by government to continue to secure this funding.
'This means that while more children will benefit from whole-class tuition and other opportunities to make music, the county council will no longer be able to provide tutors for individual and small-group music lessons from September 2012.
'Staff will be employed by the music hub to meet the new priorities and while there will be some job losses, mainly of part-time tutors, demand from schools for their services will continue to be high. The county council will support tutors undertaking individual tuition to make new arrangements directly with schools or parents.'
Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), told MT: 'The ISM is concerned that music services are making redundancies at this critical time when they should be concentrating on delivering a quality music education along the lines envisaged by Ofsted.
'It bodes ill for the National Plan for Music Education and the government's aspirations for music education if, as a result of the introduction of hubs, we are losing highly experienced music teachers who could meet Ofsted's challenge for greater musicality, access and diversity.'
An executive member of the Federation of Music Services said that councils had to deal with a cut in funding in the past two years and could expect further cuts in the next two years.
'There has been a reduction in income so we can expect a reduction in staffing, but I don't expect there to be a reduction in one-to-one teaching as a result of the introduction of hubs.
'Children in urban areas are generally not going to have a problem finding a teacher but in rural areas a lack of provision from the music services could make it difficult for some students to find a teacher.'
ABRSM becomes major sponsor of Music for Youth
1 March 2012
ABRSM has announced a new partnership with Music for Youth (MfY), the music education charity which provides free access to performance and audience opportunities for young musicians across the UK. ABRSM will become one of six sponsors supporting MFY.
ABRSM's sponsorship will support the ongoing promotion and expansion of MfY's Regional Festival Series, the world's largest youth music festival which began in February and continues until April, and involves over 50,000 musicians and singers.
'Music for Youth and ABRSM have been working together since 1995 to support young musicians across the UK,' said Lincoln Abbotts, MfY's chief executive. 'This is a significant development for our longstanding relationship and we see huge potential with this new sponsorship agreement.' Abbotts will be leaving MfY to work for ABRSM later this year.
This year ABRSM's support will help fund around 70 festivals in over 50 different venues throughout the UK from Truro to Inverness. The festivals will be attended by musicians of all levels, from school choirs to punk bands, duos to county youth orchestras. Some of the performers will have had experience of performing in large venues while others may be performing for the very first time.
'We're extremely proud to be one of Music for Youth's key sponsors this year, and in particular to give our support to the Regional Festivals,' said Guy Perricone, chief executive of ABRSM. 'We want to inspire as many people as we can to participate and progress in music. Giving young musicians the opportunity to perform live and receive feedback from the mentors at MFY is something we applaud loudly.'
Purcell School celebrates 50th birthday with Festival Hall concert
1 March 2012
The Purcell School is to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 19 March at 7.30pm.
Works will include Holst's The Planets, Beethoven's Triple Concerto and a
new concertante work by Joseph Phibbs, all conducted by Paul Daniel.
The concert will feature a line-up of alumni soloists from the school,
including Robert Cohen, cello, Nicholas Daniel, oboe, Jack Liebeck,
violin, Catrin Finch harp, Tim Thorpe, horn and Jianing Kong, piano,
accompanied by current students Purcell School Symphony Orchestra.
The school, the first specialist music school of its kind, was founded
in 1962 by Rosemary Rapaport and Irene Foster. There are currently 180
musicians at its present site, in Bushey, Hertfordshire. It takes both
boarders and day pupils and accepts students by audition, based on
talent, regardless of background and experience. The school remains
predominantly funded by the government's Music and Dance Scheme but also
has its own scholarship fund.
The school's President, Sir Simon Rattle CBE, said he is 'blown away by
the commitment, skill and infectious energy of the remarkable young
musicians. The school is a vibrant place where creativity and discipline
go hand in hand, providing specialist training for musicians of the
future, alongside an excellent general education. It gives me great hope
for the future of the music profession when I hear what these young
people are capable of. I send my very best wishes to the school for its
50th Birthday!'
Tickets for the concert are priced at £40, £20 and £10 and are available
by calling 0844 847 9910 or by visiting www.southbankcentre.co.uk. VIP
packages are available by calling 01923 331131 or by emailing
Oxford University receives £26m humanities bequest
1 March 2012
Music is one of the subjects to benefit from the recently announced Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Scholarships in the humanities at the University of Oxford.
The £26m bequest is the biggest in the University's 900-year history and will be launched immediately with 15 scholarships a year. It will eventually be endowed in perpetuity to award at least 35 graduate humanities scholarships annually.
Leading humanities students from throughout the world will compete for full graduate scholarships in fields as diverse as literature, history, music, archaeology, art history, Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies. The recipients of the award will be able to use Mica and Ahmet Ertegun House for the Study of the Humanities, a five-storey Georgian building in the heart of Oxford, which will be fitted with state-of-the-art technological capability and serve as a base for study and research by the Ertegun Scholars, and also for concerts.
The chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten, said: 'This kind of support for postgraduates is vital for the future of research and human understanding, and vital for the future of great universities like Oxford. It allows us to ensure that the very best minds are supporting the university's research endeavour now and will be the cutting edge researchers of the future.'
Mica Ertegun, the Romanian-born widow of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, now lives in New York City, and said that music was 'one of the great joys of life'. She added: 'In these times, when there is so much strife in the world, I believe it is tremendously important to support those things that endure across time, that bind people together from every culture, and that enrich the capacity of human beings to understand one another and make the world a more humane place.'
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