Tampa Taxi Shots

Dead Is The Night, Hot Is The Cobbler

I have been coming out just after midnight to get some type of advantage on the day.  Even this is not working.  There is simply no business.  Nobody is going out; nobody is spending money.  That really sucks.  The night life in Tampa used to be great.  I guess many things used to be great.  Unemployment is sky high, with no real end in sight.  I guess at some point it will bottom out and just stay there. 

I really don't how much longer I can go on.  I was able to buy some Salisbury steaks for dinner, the banquet brand for $2.24.  Put them on some egg noodles and you got a meal.  That was about all the money I made today.

I used to buy the frozen dinners but the cobbler would be super heated while the Salisbury steaks would still be cold in the center.  This works out much better.

Nadir Hasan Is No Muslim

Nadir Hasan, the Fort Hood Killer, is no follower of Islam.  No more than Ted Bundy would have been a Christan. 

Since I have finished reading the Quran, I am convinced that Islam is a confirmation of the omnipotence of God.  It seems to be an extension of Christianity in that Islam theology believes that only God has the power over life and death.  Not Man. 

Most passages in the Quran of killing and retribution seem to be metaphors for the consequences of the individual aligning himself with the forces of evil, simular to the Book of Revelation.

 A true believer in Islam would have never committed those murders at Fort Hood.  Eternity is in the realm of God, not man.

  Islam acknowledges the power of Satan to corrupt men. That may be closer to what was going on here.   Sura 10.31 Yunas says (from the Quran)

"Who is it that provides you (for life) from the sky and from the earth? Or who is it that has power over hearing and sight?  And who it that brings out the living from the dead, and the dead from the living and who is it that rules and controls all affairs?"   It is Allah and you should show piety to HIm

The Quran is clear that Man cannot orchestrate the will of God....Only Allah can "originate creation and repeat it?"  Man has no ability and should not try.  Man has no ability over live and death and his only hope is to surrender with blind credulity to the power of the Lord.

If they accuse you with lies, say (to them): "My work is for me and yours is for you.  You are free from responsibility about what I do, and I am free of responsibly from what you do!"  Sara 10.41

Since you are free of any responsibility for what the United States Army does, you have no need to kill them.  Army personal's eternal salvation belongs to the Lord.  You have no say in that.  This is a lesson that Nadir Hasan should have learned.

Tropical Storm Ida Dampers Tampa Taxi Business

It was kind of slow today for a Monday.  The cab business is usually good on Monday's.  The only thing I can think is people are holding back because of the weather.  It was kind of windy in Tampa today.  They are predicting a couple inches of rain in the next 72 hours.  So we will see.  Not much to say, really.

Josh Freeman Is Good

As they used to say in the '70's..."This guy is good."...Boy ever.  Josh Freeman in his first start in the NFL led the Tampa Bay Bucaaneers to the first win of the 2009 season.  This guy is so green and was still able to make clutch throws for touchdowns shows you the future the Bucs have.  Raheem Morris staked his coaching future on the ability of Josh Freeman and it looks like he was right.  This is great.  The Bucs are real.  They will be a contender for years to come because of this kid Josh Freeman that stood up big today against the Green Bay Packers

 

Bucco Bruce Means Bucks For Tampa Taxi Drivers

Remember the good 'ole days when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sucked?  Well there back!  They suck bigtime and that means plenty of tickets available.  That actually stimulates the Tampa economy.  Thousands of Wisconson people have come down for this game.  Guess what?  They are using our cab service.  It's about time.  Today was almost like the good 'ole days when you could make a couple hundred for yourself. 

I am enjoying this because it may not last.  The economy...Josh Freeman.  Hell, he may turn this franchise around when he gets his first start as a pro against the fudge on Sunday..He might get us some positive mo-jo going for us.  Hope so.  Sucking does suck.

Islam And The Religion Of Peace

To help understand the Texas Massacre by the follower of Islam and his behavior, look at this image. This image, and others, were sent to me by a photographer friend from Canada who took them in London.  This shows the intent of Islam to destroy my country and the western world. There is no place for Islam in the modern world..It is primitive, and not worthy of respect..this confrontation has been in the works for several hundred years.

The pictures he sent me tell it all! Muslims have stated that England will be the first country they take over! DESTROY THEM FIRST! Pictures like this are not shown on American TV, the Keith Olberman or Rachal Maddow show or in American Newspapers (as they might help the war on terror), but were forwarded to me by my Canadian photographer friend who thought Americans ought to know!

These pictures are of Muslims marching through the streets of London during their recent "Religion of Peace Demonstration." Why would anyone think that we should be at war! with such nice, peaceful Muslims?! Americans need to Know - You need to forward this one to everyone in your address book! They are really not bad people...They only want to circumcise women, eliminate all civil rights, and kill anyone who does not believe that Muhammad was the great prophet. He was not.

His teachings have been discredited by MOST THEOLOGIANS.  HE WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE!!!  HE WAS A FALSE PROPHET. That is why to this day Islam defames Jesus by declaring him a prophet of God. HE WAS NOT. HE WAS THE SAME GOD THAT GAVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO MOSES. HE WAS ALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Along The Florida Trail

The Florida Trail is 1,300 miles in length and spans some of the most remote areas in North America.  I recently spent a weekend on the area north of the Green Swamp and along the Withlacoochee River State Forest.   I have never had such a good time. This trail is Florida's soul. This movie gets to me man...it gets to me.

 

Tampa Taxi Shots Is Four Years Old!

I started this blog on November 4th, 2005.  It has now been four years.  Man, alot has happened in those four years.  I got off to a great start with much local notice.  Unfortunately, the last 2.5 years have been the Great Recession and, as a result,  even had a seven month period of internet service interruption because I could not pay the bill.  That really sucked. I am just waiting for things to get somewhat better so I can start living my live again. 

The last two years have broken my spirit.  I am sure that fact was reflected on my blog post.  That was never my intention.  I don't want this anymore than you.  I just want things to get back to the way they were.  Maybe in the Five year anniversary things will be better.

Why Guavaween Is A Bust

It used to be Guavaween was the main Halloween event in Tampa.  Not anymore.  Take it from the cab driver himself.  This event is getting smaller and smaller every year.  I worked overnight Saturday night and not once went into Ybor City.  There are a few reasons for this.  The local politicians have made some very bad decisions about the direction of the event and Ybor itself,  price and security involved, and more competition in other areas such as So-Ho or Hyde Park.

At its zenith over 100,000 people would stream into Ybor for the event.  Saturday night they had only 15,000.  I know you can say the economy had an effect, of course, but part of the problem was the elemination of the motorized floats in the parade.  What our local politicians failed to understand is that was a big deal to the people who would go.  $17 to get in the gate did not help either.

Many people just don't do Ybor anymore.  In recent years, it has become a very unsafe place to go.  With the violence that happens on Saturday night from gangs and the Tampa Police slamming anyone to the pavement that looked the wrong way, nobody wants to go into that violent atmospher.  Way to much tension.  That is why as a cab driver, I stopped going there.

So-Ho is safe, has many bars.  AND YOU CAN WALK AROUND AT NIGHT without a thug or a Tampa Police officer slamming you to the ground and beating your head in.

In short, people just said fuck Ybor.

Is This Scary?

When did women start dressing like whores on Halloween?  After driving all night Saturday, almost every girl I picked up was dressed like a whore.  I am not exaggerating.  I saw a few women dressed in your traditional witch or goblin outfit, but not many.

I am wondering if this is the feminist ideal of the '60's that women would get noticed by their intellect, style and achievements, not simply putting their bodies on display. 

Somehow, I doubt it.  I thought it was going to be about being in a mans world and being treated with respect for you mind and talent, not just your body. 

Don't get me wrong, I did my share of looking....not in a very respectful way I should ad. 

I have picked up several men since Saturday and had this conversation with them.  Many of them have young daughters and they are worried that the pressure to be a slut and whore is just to great.  They are not worried about their education, it is how they will live their lives that worry these men.

It is not just the way they dress in the So-Ho area of Tampa, it is the way they act.  Sex is everywhere with absolutely no commitment.  That is they way I see it from the drivers seat of my taxi.

A generation ago these very women would have been taking their children trick-or-treating.  Now, NONE of them have babies.  That would mean they have to stop their narcissistic lifestyle, a true inconvenience.  How are womens lives better compared to my mothers generation?  You would be hard pressed to answer that. Society is clearly not better.

Hillsborough County Parks Closed Friday

The economy has affected Tampa's way of llife.  I went to Morris Bridge Wilderness Park Friday after work to go on a hike, and I was locked out.  The gates were closed and a sign had been put up saying that it was a furlough day to cut cost.  That sucks.  I read in the paper that I was not the only one taken by surprise,  People trying to return books to the publick librariies even found the drop boxes taped shut!  How could that be saving money?  Strange times we are living in.

I'm Glad "Season" is coming Soon

Business is bad.  Very bad.  Nobody in the Tampa cab business is making money.  I even think the companies are struggling.  The one thing that may save us in the next few months is the start of the traditional Florida tourist season.  It will be down from years ago, but it will still be enough to let us make a couple of dollars for ourselves.

What happens after April is unknown. 

The economy may get worse.  In that case, you will not be able to make any money during the summer months.  That is a fact.  Many of the drivers are starting to think about gearing up for are own change.  We cannot sit around anymore and wait for this useless President to do anything for anybody. 

The irony of all of this is that the poor, who he was supposed to help, are suffering the most. 

Hope And Change....

Gas is on the rise.  You know why?  Not Dick Chaney or George Bush.  That is what they used to say, and some people still blame the former regime for all of our problems.  No, this one lies right on the shoulders of Barack Obama himself.  Gas is rising because of a very weak US Dollar.  A weak dollar that is the result of quadrupling of the national debt, and not getting much to show for it. 

This one is on Obama, not Bush.  It is time to realize that we have an amateur as President and we are going to suffer because of our foolishness to elect this guy just to give a brother a break.

The United States Dollar will go the way of the Italian Lira.  You will need $100,000 to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks, if there are any left.

Cold Weather Visits Florida

The first cold front of the season is right on time.  The third week of October is historically when the first front makes it down to Florida, giving us some glorious weather.  It is nice to go outside without your shirt sticking to your back.  You can even sleep with the window open and save some money on the eclectic bill. 

What precedes the front is rain.  This image was taken on stand #21 which our Hyde Park stand.  There was a cloud to ground lightening strike that sliced this branch off of the tree.  We had some business Friday, and no cab was on the stand when this happened.  It could of been bad. 

I am liking the lower temps, for sure.

Thursday Night College Footbal #8 Cincinati at #21 USF

The big game is tonight.  Both teams are 5-0 and ranked in the national standings.  It should be a very good game.  I do, however, favor Cincinati.  Don't get me wrong, I am pulling for the Bulls but things must be considered before you put your money down.

Certainly the USF football program caught a break when Mat Grothe went down in a meaningless game against outclassed Charleston Southern.  Grothe was always thought of as a smaller and not as athletic Tim Tebow.  B.J. Daniels has shown real poise by beating FSU, the team that did not recuit him, and managing a very good game against Syracuse.  He may be a little outmatched tonight in a game that will stay close and require minimal mistakes.  I just think Cincinati is a little more "tight" as a program at this point.  The Bulls are getting there.

1. CIN has covered four of its last six road games
2. CIN has won its last six road games SU
3. CIN has played five of its last seven road games OVER the total
4. USF has won its last six games SU
5. USF has won five of its last six home games SU

Take the Cincinati and lay the 3 points.

Florida Skunk Ape Photographed

I know many people do not believe in the existence of a previously unknown primate.  You have seen the Monster Quest episodes on the History Channel, but you still have doubts.  I have always wondered about such things and that is why I got into a scientific approach to trying to find the Florida Skunk ape.  I have found footprints near the hopewell area, but I have not had a sighting.  That has changed.

Tuesday, I went into a SWIFT-MUD area north of Tampa.  It took 20 minutes to just reach the entrance by foot, then, 90 minutes to get to an old creek area where I found primate footprints and saw something moving across a clearing on the other side of the creek.  I thought I was video taping the beast, but what I got was a high rez image, and 18 seconds of video.  The photo above will be hard to explain.  The anatomical features of a primate are present and it was walking away from me.

I have a video compilation of my outing posted on Youtube.,  You can view it here.

 

 

My New Taxi And Its Hot Man!

Well, its not really new but it is new to me.  My other cab is on its last leg, so the office gave me 557 to drive.  It runs great, has a good tyranny and no vibration and no smoke coming out the end.  My customers will like this. 

This is me on the 23 stand which is our "strip" zone which is Dale Mabry just north of Kennedy blvd Tampa.  The famous Mons Venus is in this zone and about a million cabs stake it out at night. 

Its hot man with this heat wave.  Its 96 in the shade with a heat index of 110.  By this weekend we should get a break in this.  I hope the next six months are on the cool side so I can get out in the field.

 

Eagles 21 Bucs 7 At Halftime

Josh Johnson is playing a good game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  He is moble, he is hitting his recievers (even though they have dropped some passes) and the offense has moved the ball down the field.  The head coach, Raheem Morris has decided to not kick field goals but go for touchdowns.  That has cost them.  They have failed in three 4th downs on the goal and have left points on the board.  The second half should be fun.

Andy Reid has never lost after the bye week. He is a perfect 10-0 in his time with the Eagles.

The Buccaneers got the onside kick!!!  Now how cool is that ...Eagles 31 Bucs 14, 7:09 left in game.

U2 Bono, The Edge, Friends of Tampa Cab Drivers

Wow!  These guys from U2 rule.  I mean their music is great, their music has deep meaning, their music stokes an archetype with people all over the world.  People from almost every nation on Earth came to Tampa this weeked to enjoy this greatest of rock bands in modern times. It was fantastic having them in Tampa Florida at this time of year.  Yes, it was a little on the record hot side, and so was business. 

It has not been this busy since the Super Bowl was in Tampa.  The economy is getting a needed boost as the concert goers are staying on and spending their money in Tampa and on the taxi rides that they so desperately needed to get to and from the event.

I have never really been a fan of U2, but this Rock Band Rocks OUT!!!

 

 

U2 Tampa Concert Stimulates Economy

The liberal pacifist Bono is at least putting a few dollars into this taxi drivers pocket (I guess he is a capitalist).  Today was like the days we used to have before the economy tanked.  I took advantage of it. Imagine a boost to the economy that is not a dictate of the Federal government.  These guys are from Ireland anyway. 

I was driving by Tampa Stadium today and I could see this large, claw like structure rising above the top railings.  It was the mainframe stage superstructure for the U2 concert tonight in Tampa.  I had seen it on tv when it was used in Paris.  They must take it with them everywhere.

Speaking of everywhere, I was picking up people who where in town from all over the United States and from other Countries.  The hotels are full even that we are having record high temperatures of 95* with high humidity.  They opened the stadium at 7 this morning and people have been arriving all day.  Must be a great show.

Some people took a cab from the airport today and they were so excited they left there passports and U2 tickets on the backseat.  The driver was able to find them and return the items.  Man, I hope they gave him a big tip.

United States To Use Atomic Bomb On Moon Friday

NASA will impact the moon at its south pole with a BOMB Friday that will make the Atom Bomb on Japan look like a firecracker.  They really don't want you to know just how powerful this bomb is and that it cannot be a CONVENTIONAL bomb based on its energy output.  The plume of ignited debris will be visible from the Mississippi River to Hawaii, with the naked eye!  Its all in the Joules.  That is the measurement of energy that scientist use in rating output. 

The Centaur Rocket will strike at 7:31 AM and convert 2200 kg of mass into 10 billion joules of kinetic energy with a plume of debris that will rise to to over 10km.  Did you get all of this.   The bomb over Japan never got that high.  This is not a hand grenade. 

One of the fundamental differences between a nuclear and a conventional explosion is that nuclear explosions can be many thousands (or millions) of times more powerful than the largest conventional detonations.  They say it is a "kinetic" bomb...whatever that is?  Why the massive tonnage, and how is this thing like millions of times more powerful than a "daisy cutter?"

I saw this bumper sticker today and I thought it was appropriate.  Man has fucked up the Earth, now he wants to start fucking with the moon.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a LUNAR environmentalist, but there are risk we could not calculate.  Like the debris could come back onto us.  There is no atmosphere on the moon and only weak gravity to stop the plume.

What about the moon?  Do we have the legal right?  We have a treaty that most people do not know about.   We had one with the Indians.  Is Obama the next James Polk who will declare "Manifest Destiny" in that the United States can do anything it declairs in our best interest and screw any treaty we have entered into.

UNITED STATES SIGNED AN INTERNATIONAL MOON TREATY IN 1979

The treaty would apply to the Moon and to other celestial bodies within the Solar system, other than the Earth, including orbits around or other trajectories to or around them.

The treaty makes a declaration that the Moon should be used for the benefit of all states and all peoples of the international community. It also expresses a desire to prevent the Moon from becoming a source of international conflict. To those ends the treaty:

• Bans any military use of celestial bodies, including weapon testing or as military bases.
• Bans all exploration and uses of celestial bodies without the approval or benefit of other states under the common heritage of mankind principle (article 11).
• Requires that the Secretary-General must be notified of all celestial activities (and discoveries developed thanks to those activities).
• Declares all states have an equal right to conduct research on celestial bodies.
• Declares that for any samples obtained during research activities, the state that obtained them must consider making part of it available to all countries/scientific communities for research.
• Bans altering the environment of celestial bodies and requires that states must take measures to prevent accidental contamination.
• Bans any state from claiming sovereignty over any territory of celestial bodies.
• Bans any ownership of any extraterrestrial property by any organization or person, unless that organization is international and governmental.
• Requires all resource extraction and allocation be made by an international regime.

This bombing could not be happening Friday without the consent of Obama.  Manifest Destiny?  Ironic.

Robles Park Cab Robbery

There were four cab robberies in the area of Robles Park during the month of September.  All of them at night.  Two cab robberies occurred in the first week of September while another two cab robberies happened during the last two days.  In two instances, the same victim was robbed in a span of three weeks with the same MO and the same victim.  Three of the robberies occurred in Grid 95 (Robles Park) while another occurred in the area north of Robles Park.  The suspect is.....Are you ready for the surprise....A Black Male, 5' 6'' to 5' 8'', around 160 lbs 20-28 yp. and thin build. 

Our night dispatcher, John, said that the robber first called asking for a cab that had change for a fifty dollar bill....WTF...and they sent a cab to Robles.  Wow.  I hope the driver knew that he was responding to what we call a "condo" call.  That means the call is in a high crime area.  I never work those areas, even in broad daylight. 

Why any taxi driver would respond to that area at 3 in the morning is unknown to me.

The police eventually caught the guy because he was using his own cell phone!!!!!  FOX's Dumb Criminals!

Tony The Italian Has Died

I don't know if people heard that Italian Tony the cab driver has passed away.  Tony was a long time driver of over 25 years.  He was known for his sour outlook on life.  He was a nice guy, but he never had a good day.  Every day with Tony was the shits.  He always believed the dispatchers were out to screw him.  He would tell anyone that would listen that life sucked and he was getting the short end of the stick.

Nobody really knew why he was that way, but it was.  He lived  a pretty sad life.  All he did was work like a dog and he never had any money.  He never took a day off or a vacation. 

Perhaps death will give him the rest he needs.  I don't mean that in a bad way, but I have never known anyone that lived such a misserable, suffering life.  I will miss him.  He was a friend.  This may be a blessing

Grady Judd Sheriff Of Polk County And The Abuse Of Power

Charging that Craigslist remains a "one-stop shop for all your prostitution needs," Polk County Florida sheriff Grady Judd yesterday announced the arrest of 28 women who allegedly advertised sexual services on the popular on-line classifieds site. Dubbed "Operation Hot Date," the undercover police action also netted several pimps who worked with the alleged hookers, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

It would be a good thing for police resources to be used to capture criminals, unfortunately, the only criminal here is Sheriff Grady Judd.  This is an abuse of Power issue that seems to plague his term as Polk county Sheriff.  Judd "cleaned up" the smut industry in Polk county years ago by eliminating all of the XXX rated video stores and strip clubs, I mean ALL of them.  He was abusing his power to intimidate, threaten, and browbeat people.  Violating peoples constitutional rights without any court precedent makes his department corrupt since it is controled by the Religous Right in Polk County.  That was not good enough for Grady Judd, he is now going after the internet.  Even though web host servers are located in other State, because they send their signals into Polk county that makes them in violation of his laws, and the Christian Right, not the laws that the courts have imposed.

None of the women he arrested are from Polk County.  They are mostly from Tampa and Orlando and out of State.  He used the internet to beam his emails out of his County to entrap these women.  He is out of control  There is more

The women, pictured in the mug shots on the following pages, offered a variety of sexual acts carrying prices between $125 and $800. Two of the alleged hookers who arrived for appointments with undercover officers were pregnant, and a third arrived with fur-lined handcuffs. In announcing the sweep, Judd criticized Craigslist for "facilitating prostitution" and deriving proceeds from the illegal act, since the site charges for the placement of the adult ads. Judd added that he wanted to press charges against the web site, which has previously pledged to law enforcement agencies that it would crack down on ads promoting prostitution.

Now, he is going to track down the men who's phone numbers are listed on these women's cell phone. Does that mean he is going after Tampa Cab Drivers.  Many of these women have MY NUMBER and use the taxi service to get where they are going.  IS GRady Judd going to contact me? 

He can go to Hell. 

Unfortunately, most of these women will plead out for reduced sentences.  Too bad.  The ones that actually go to Court would win.

Gady Judd exhibits classic symptoms of a man that was sexually abused as a young lad in a homosexual way.  Grady Judd may have performed gay sex when he was young, and a way to purge himself from sin is to go after sinners.

Drivers License, Tire Tariffs, Price Of Gold, Football Picks

My drivers license was to expire on September 13 and it was Friday the 11th.  I went by the drivers license office on MLK, and thought I could just get in, and get out.  Boy, was I wrong.  The place looked like the waiting room at the welfare office.  I am not snob (a little bit), but nobody in this place looked like they had any money.  They looked like poor people.  Where are the middle class people?  There must be another way to get this done.  I ask the lady at the information desk if I could take care of this on-line.  She looked at me, and with broken English tried to tell me that my only option was to wait 5 hours in this line.  Honestly, I don't think she understood me at all.  Is this what the waiting room is going to be under the public option of the health care plan.  I went home and did it on-line for $48!  Wow.  At least my license will be current until 2015.

I heard on the news this morning that President Obama is imposing tariffs on Chinese Tires.  This is fantastic.  This President said he was going to protect American jobs, and tariffs are the only way to make things equal because the outsourcing scum who take their factories overseas are circumventing the US labor laws.  These laws define what is legal, right, moral, fair, and ethical.  You can get around all of this by going overseas.  Lets hear it for the Pres.  he is 100% correct on this.  Good job.

When I heard about the tariffs, I told the guy in my cab that the spot price of gold would go down today.  Reason?  The US dollar would now start to become stronger if investors know that this American President would use this tool to protect the country he is in charge of.. Gold went down today.

Lehman Brothers stated on their Website this afternoon that "underlying indicators were bearish for Gold."

NFL FOOTBALL PICKS WEEK ONE

I posted my NFL picks on Saturday on Youtube so that it would be proof that I was 75% against the spread on my four lead pipe locks.  Not bad for week one.  I plan to do this every Saturday.  Make money with the Taxi Man!