2009

know it's been a few days since I posted but you know how it is with the holidays and all. You'll definitely see many more posts in the new year. Hopefully 2009 will bring much more luck and happiness. Not sure about that with these hard economic times but one can hope...right?! For now here's a New Year's ... Plus your favorite two writers have been under the weather. I just got out of the hospital with problems at both ends. Wow lost 13 pounds, now a low 321. Not a good way to do it Tim. My co-author is also in the hospital. I am hoping all of you had a better Christmas than we did. But have no fear when Larry is here. Better days are coming.

Hard times for Cabby's

Hi Everybody, yeah I know its been a while since I last posted, I just read something that made me want to post.

OK gas price's have returned to earth so cabby's problems are all gone right? Wrong, things are bad enough with the economic situation, but cabby's getting beat up and stabbed just to make things interesting.

In Southport, UK a taxi driver was repeatedly punched by a drunken passenger who tried to climb out of the window of his moving car, the driver was left with a black eye, cuts on his lip and eyebrow and bruising.

In Auckland NZ, a taxi driver was stabbed several times by a man he picked up in downtown Auckland and drove to Mt Wellington on November 28.

He had only been in the job for a couple of months. Bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds to his chest, neck and back, the driver drove himself to a service station where an ambulance was called.

The driver had major emergency surgery at Auckland Hospital, also had a stab wound to his hand which has been immobilized.Speaking from his Auckland home on Christmas Eve, he was glad to be out of hospital in time for Christmas, but it will be several months before he is fully recovered.

One last thing Ill bet the insurance from his boss will pay all his medical bills, and other expenses and feed his family while he can't work, yeah right.

While doing a Google search for the story's above I also read about University of Mississippi men's basketball coach Andy Kennedy who got int a fight with a cabby in Cincinnati, he punched the driver in the back of the head and hurled racial slurs, this should keep him in good standing with Old Miss.

Merry Christmas to all

74 Zone

I really thought things would be picking up for the cab business by, especially considering that the price of gas is down to $1.60 and lower in some places. Look out United Nancy may want to increase the lease. I had a appointment at the VA Hospital, located at 130th and Bruce B. Downs. I was early so I went to Micky D's on 122 and Fletcher, which is the 74 stand and what is known as the gate. Sure enough there 3 cabs sitting in the parking lot. Ponch, a nickname, and two drivers I didn't know. Just as well as I couldn't understand them anyway. Shame. The point being that at 11:00 in the morning there were no calls in the eastern park of the city. Also a shame. I may drive down to the south part of Tampa and talk to some of the 21 drivers. I may try and try to locate "Gloom and Doom" Tony but hell it is always slow for him. He has been driving close to 30 years and has never had a good day.

The rough times are here

Well folks just checked Tim's blog of the "meter is running". Poor guy needs a pair of shoes. I guess he will just have to put newspaper in them. Regarding his five mile walk to work, he could make a sign and work it on the way to and from work. I guess the days of six pack of Bud is history. Read where Cracker only showed a profit of $280.00 for 70 hours of work. I knew a guy who made that much working 4 hours a day holding a sign. But this are different now, but just as tough.

Winter Baseball Meetings

On Monday, baseball's winter meetings will commence in Las Vegas. Brian Cashman will be there, just like every other GM in the league. Tonight, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao are fighting in Vegas. CC Sabathia will be there to watch the fight. Because Cashman's Yankees are trying to procure Sabathia's services for the forseeable future, he's set up a meeting with the free agent pitcher in Vegas.

I don't really know what Cashman is planning on talking about in this meeting, unless he's just trying to get a handle on whether CC has any plans to accept the Yanks' massive 6-year/$140 million offer that's been on the table for a month now. As the linked Daily News article says, it's rather unlikely that anyone is going to offer Sabathia more than the Yanks have, even with three other offers (the Brewers and two mystery teams) allegedly on the table.

The question for Sabathia at this point is really "Does he want to be a Yankee, or doesn't he?" They've made their big offer and there's not much more to be added to it. Does Cashman trying to horn in a meeting when Sabathia wants to take in a fight hurt or help their chances? I don't really know, but it seems to me the Yankees are getting nervous that Sabathia is taking so long.
This would be a great meeting if the Rays of Tampa would put their two cents in, but I am wondering if any picther is worth $729,166 plus change and minus tax's for B.O. per start?? Any comments on this??

Tim

I emailed him.

Now folks what do any of you think of the Prezz taking his mother-in-law to the white House,. Are we as tax payers going to foot the bill. I guess the elect guy will pay her out of his income? Did I read some where they have a staff of 80 people working their. Do I have some thoughts on this most delicate matter.