Driving Trainigs

U2 Driving a Limousine? U2 drives a limousine?

<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>U2 Driving a Limousine?</b></span><br /><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Isn't it odd, every former yellow taxi driver being involved around ground transportation claims to be driving a limousine? I recently confronted an old acquaintance, and after 15minutes of conversation, I asked him, �so are you still driving a yellow cab for Linden Maintenance?� This acquaintance replied, � I am drive limousine, pronounced as -�Lemo Zeen�. I said, �oh cool, your'e probably a bit more relaxed now, however which company are you working for?� This acquaintance replied �KAAR MEL.6 6 6�. And today I came across another individual, when asking him, what line of business he was in? He informed me that he started a limousine company and his customers were struggling to pay him tax on cash rides. I was confused about the term �limousine�, associated with companies who are cheaper than taxi cabs, and customers who are struggling to pay tax? It is my impression that limousine is a exclusively private & higher form of professional transportation, where in most cases demanded by affluent clientele or anyone seeking top notch service? So, to clear this confusion, I Googled the term, �limousine� and here is how <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limousine">Wikipedia.</a>Defines the term limousine.</span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> A</span></span><span lang="en"></span><span lang="en"><b>limousine</b></span><span lang="en"> (or </span><span lang="en"><b>limo</b></span><span lang="en">) was originally an "enclosed automobile with open driver's seat," and was named from the French </span><span lang="en"><i>limousine</i></span><span lang="en">(in the <a href="file:///wiki/Occitan_language">Occitan language</a>) that was originally an adjective referring to a <a href="file:///wiki/Limousin">region in central France</a>.The automobile meaning evolving from a type of cloak and hood that was worn by the inhabitants of the Limousin region that later resembled the covering of a carriage and much later used to describe an automobile body with a permanent top that extended over the open driver's compartment.</span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en"> The term now refers to a <a href="http://www.limousine-rental.net/">luxury sedan </a>or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a <a href="http://www.limousine-rental.net/">chauffeur.</a> The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent <a href="file:///wiki/Coachbuilder">coachbuilder</a>. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally <a href="file:///wiki/Black">black</a> or <a href="file:///wiki/White">white</a>. Limousines are usually <a href="file:///wiki/Livery">l</a><a href="http://www.limousine-rental.net/">iveried vehicles,</a> </span><a href="http://www.limousine-rental.net/"><span lang="en"><b>driven by professional chauffeurs.</b></span></a><span lang="en"> </span><span lang="en"><u><a href="http://www.limousine-rental.net/">As the most expensive form of automobile ground transportation, limousines are culturally associated with extreme wealth or power and are commonly cited as examples of conspicuous consumption.</a> </u></span><span lang="en">Among the less wealthy, limousines are often hired during special events (most commonly wedding, proms, bachelors parties)</span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en"> While some limousines are owned by individuals, many are owned by governments to transport senior politicians, by large companies to transport executives, and by broadcasters to transport guests.</span></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> So after reading the above cited, it is pretty clear that many of these beat up old Lincoln Town Cars operated by owner operators are �car services,� �Black Cars� or �Mini Cabs� and not limousines. All of these companies which are nothing more than a clearing house-call centers such as �Dial 7up�, �Dial Car Cab�, �Karmel 6's�, �YOU-BUR�, �All State�, and including �Malcolm car Limo� are nothing more than just  alternative taxi services who use loose term �Lemo ZEEN�.  The question is, are these individual owner operator drivers confused with the term �limousine� or does it make them feel better about themselves? I have seen the term �limousine�used  in every car services advertisement. All of these self claimed limousine companies neither own nor do they have access to quality cars, qualified professional chauffeurs. In matter of fact, all of these confused limousine drivers and confused limousine companies are nothing more than hustlers. One hustles on a small scale and other hustles on a  large scale.</span></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I have seen these companies make false promises about being reliable, and having an exaggerated fleet of over 450 cars operated by professionals. However, the customers who have dealt with them here in New York have learned from experience missing their flights, rude drivers, unskilled-unqualified drivers,c filthy vehicles and with trash in trunk. Just 2 days ago, a client came to us for service after a horrible experience with WoodCrest Limo. The Woodcrest owner operator driver had 4 used tires in trunk along with his personal household groceries in trunk. This client was unable to put their gear in trunk. I have also heard complaints from clients about a company LimoRees who gives false promises about VIP  guaranteed limousine service and failed to show up for pickup. In addition, LimoRees intentionally kept their phone line busy to avoid the stranded customers. The old beat up driver owned Lincoln Town cars which are affiliated with these and equivalent  companies can be spotted illegally picking up street hails. So what can we say, �U2 driving a limousine?�.</span></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The companies which are qualified to be called limousine companies do not advertise coupons, or taxi equivalent prices. To summarize it, to determine the difference between a taxi cab alternatives and a limousine company- it is best to use the companies prices as a reference. Most legitimate limousine companies have 1.5 hour minimum on sedans, and 2 hour minimums on SUVs and 3 hour on stretch limousines. The airport rates are priced out on an average of total time a company takes to perform the job. For example,to have an idea of charges for a limousine to and from the airports, I suggest that one navigate websites for �London Town Cars, Farrells Limousine, Boston Coach, Carey, Davel, Bermuda Limousine, and  CSL Transportation�.</span></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> This article was written to clarify that some car services of low quality and owner operators with old equipment are defining themselves as limousine service providers, when they should using the term car service. This confusing usage of term almost brings bad spotlight on limousine industry and the legitimate limousine company brands are not to be confused with hustlers. </span></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Sorry to be cut clear and perhaps offensive in this article however clarification is required about U2 driving a limousine?</span></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div>

U2 Driving a Limousine? U2 drives a limousine?

U2 Driving a Limousine? Isn't it odd, every former yellow taxi driver being involved around ground transportation claims to be driving a...

Poppies

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favorite views from the highways of the Balkans are the poppies that grow wild all over the place. They brighten my mood and feel like a bit of hope on an otherwise dusty shoulder. I think the American VFW recognizes the simplicity of their beauty, as well. And the fact that they can grow in what seems to be infertile land. I bought one of their poppies a few months ago. The seeds of freedom are just as hopeful and definitely as prolific as the poppy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXChLNDH76QCsIFIej1eLM-9oSHbtyWSOsDLf5LfrCL7CSB8gBqj89hDYq-f5SMhBCT0y5oA-8uZRiWPfIZbhQaLRl_3kMsd2OP3dV-xK_ilV1Y2D_YYZzsRIdD_KUkOEcLjWkXR5vWpE0/s1600/poppies+in+Skopje,+Macedonia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXChLNDH76QCsIFIej1eLM-9oSHbtyWSOsDLf5LfrCL7CSB8gBqj89hDYq-f5SMhBCT0y5oA-8uZRiWPfIZbhQaLRl_3kMsd2OP3dV-xK_ilV1Y2D_YYZzsRIdD_KUkOEcLjWkXR5vWpE0/s400/poppies+in+Skopje,+Macedonia.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>

Poppies

One of my favorite views from the highways of the Balkans are the poppies that grow wild all over the place. They brighten my mood and feel ...

A Taste of Crazy: Driving In Belgrade

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My daughters and I are currently visiting Belgrade, Serbia, the home of our beloved former exchange student Jovana. We rented a car to get around but the first day, I wasn't comfortable driving. It is definitely different driving here than at home.<br /><br />Streets are narrow and cars park on the sidewalk. Those backing up don't always yield to traffic on the street. Sometimes 5 roads intersect at the same point and collisions are barely avoided. But everyone seems to be ultra aware of their surroundings and able to react at a second's notice.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAouKZuGFYkgrzS4zLbrEwC9Whtcm88BN9U-SaEdxEan17MU6IyYbeMHwrVSpc8mk-4PxEeuTOnReGo5HMwfvAml4dwL9SIWwWhXM1Wm-NrtiVUJi7dLLeHGuQAlavf16TNj8poWgHdc0/s1600/DSC_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAouKZuGFYkgrzS4zLbrEwC9Whtcm88BN9U-SaEdxEan17MU6IyYbeMHwrVSpc8mk-4PxEeuTOnReGo5HMwfvAml4dwL9SIWwWhXM1Wm-NrtiVUJi7dLLeHGuQAlavf16TNj8poWgHdc0/s400/DSC_0399.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy Belgrade street</td></tr></tbody></table>Jovana explained the rules to me. Stop signs are like stronger yield signs. Sometimes, you stop at stop signs, but never if there isn't anyone around. But some are like super strong yields so you definitely need to stop. If you want to change lanes, you turn on your blinker and move over...the other guy will slow down. If you need to stop somewhere and there's nowhere to park, you just pop on your hazard lights (even if that means blocking a lane of traffic) and you run in. No one likes it, but everyone does it.<br /><br />Last night, we went for pizza and my girls fell asleep in the back seat. Chubby's Pizza is on a busy avenue with two lanes of traffic in each direction. Jovana pulled up behind someone in the right lane with their hazards on. She turned hers on and got out to go in and order. Sitting in the car, I noticed two more cars stopped in back of us to run in as well. When the guy in front of us left, two more cars pulled into the impromptu parking lane. Jovana was gone about 10 minutes and then we were on our way.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO65Iww5TqHEoFWRzqGr4SZuMxTn-P2H1-G67GS8dwZe6-FPnnpeCcLx4JTvvvT1F5Nj4AdGl_EM_cAUv4NGSZCpGJO1_m20l0FuyLqnxbac3Uncwf4RIhQcqY8atXGBzhN1J6ydfGa94/s1600/DSC_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO65Iww5TqHEoFWRzqGr4SZuMxTn-P2H1-G67GS8dwZe6-FPnnpeCcLx4JTvvvT1F5Nj4AdGl_EM_cAUv4NGSZCpGJO1_m20l0FuyLqnxbac3Uncwf4RIhQcqY8atXGBzhN1J6ydfGa94/s400/DSC_0509.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The woman in the maroon car popped on her hazards and ran into the store. Red car is going around her.</td></tr></tbody></table>We've been staying in Jovana's family's second home and driving to her apartment daily using gps. While I appreciate the device and technology, I've been frustrated because it takes anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes to traverse between the two homes. Anyone from Seattle would chalk that up heavy traffic...but it's not that. The gps is taking me a different way each time. It's been difficult for me to learn my way by memorizing landmarks. Yesterday, I got a tour of some country road with fields. I'm supposed to be in an urban area, not rural. A couple of nights ago, the gps had to keep "recalculating" my route because I thought the streets it mentioned were driveways...not even wide enough to be an alley.<br /><br />Thankfully, Jovana wrote down some instructions for me so that it'd be easier. And the past few trips have been much better.<br /><br />One of the hardest parts of Belgrade driving for me is that the traffic signals are maybe 12 feet off the ground and placed on both sides of the intersection. I'm working on retraining my brain to see them since my automatic response is to look high above each lane for signal directions. I don't think I've run any lights. But if I have the Serbians around me have adapted well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XR9fiNvHSGdIWW4bAgMIqd9qPcn5FxA2QXAhDsE7QJxHBVMoSlxItuS6rWYAKhHMrNpkIHzgLyxZENMooiYWFXl3TiDpG80NYb5HLB-LbLnSJVXxWWqYROflHbW14YmYdwtVgFEGc20/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XR9fiNvHSGdIWW4bAgMIqd9qPcn5FxA2QXAhDsE7QJxHBVMoSlxItuS6rWYAKhHMrNpkIHzgLyxZENMooiYWFXl3TiDpG80NYb5HLB-LbLnSJVXxWWqYROflHbW14YmYdwtVgFEGc20/s400/DSC_0298.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the motorcycle going the wrong way?</td></tr></tbody></table>While driving in Belgrade is crazy and often like an obstacle course or driving video game where you try to avoid the hazards popping out all over, it's got an upside, too. Here, my mind has been 100% on the driving task. Part of what keeps me present and in tune with the car and road is driving a manual transmission. The other part is that there is no friendly allowance for zoning out. You zone out and you've crashed or maybe hit someone. It's intense.<br /><br />I believe Americans are too comfortable behind the wheel. Traffic is well regulated and roads are wide and smooth, making driving too easy. Our brains insist on being active (or falling asleep - not good for the driving task) so we look to our phones and other distractions to stay engaged. While dodging other cars, pedestrians and potholes may not be ideal, I do believe these drivers are more focused on driving than we are at home.<br /><div class="yj6qo ajU"><div aria-label="Show trimmed content" class="ajR" data-tooltip="Show trimmed content" id=":15i" role="button" tabindex="0"><img class="ajT" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" /></div></div></div>

A Taste of Crazy: Driving In Belgrade

My daughters and I are currently visiting Belgrade, Serbia, the home of our beloved former exchange student Jovana. We rented a car to get a...