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.

Tom Fasano

Tom, I don't know how to reach you. I have sent your brother numerous emails, he doesn't answer me either. I have known Tim for over ten years, before I got sick, I have COPD and am no oxygen 24/7 we used to talk a lot. He got me into putting stuff on his blog before we got our own, even then I would comment on his. The last time I saw or spoke with Tim was maybe 6 months ago when he came out to my house and helped me with my new digital camera. My addy is jewetttampa@aol.com put something in the subject line so I will know it is you. In the mean time I will make some phone calls and see what I can find out.

AMERICA

This post is not about cab driving or a sporting event. The following was sent to me and I would like to share it.



Will you give this to my Daddy?

As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support
'Red Fridays.'

Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference.
While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several
people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately
turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of
patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their
camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well
almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their
hands waving and cheering.


When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being
applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm
not the only r ed-blooded American who still loves this
country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for
these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives
on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work
and home without fear or reprisal.


Just w hen I thought I could not be more proud of my
country or of our service men and women, a young girl,
not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male
soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi.'


The little girl then asked him if he would give something
to her daddy for her.


The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22
himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to
her Daddy.. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck
of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster
and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name
was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a
Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom
was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her
father, the young soldier began to tear up.


When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her
situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief
second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a
military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with
the device and talking back and forth on it.

After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked
back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I
spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He
then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave
her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy
told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and
he is coming home very soon.'

The mom a t this point was crying almost uncontrollably and
as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney
and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from
this entire event.


As the soldiers began to leave, heading towa rds their gate,
people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding
and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including
my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness,
turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling
down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their
families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At
the end of the day , it's good to be an American.

RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people
wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support
our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no
longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and
home in record breaking numbers.


We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no
liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our
opinions.. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends,
simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America
supports our troops.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with
dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and
every Friday until t he troops all come home, sending a deafening
message that.. Every red-blooded America n who supports our men
and women afar will wear some thing red.

DID YOU KNOW

There have been 20 sweeps in the 99 best of seven World Series in baseball history. All other things being equal the odds are 8-1 The Yankee are the only team that have back to back sweeps. They have done it three times, 1927-28,1938-39,and 1998-99.
Lou Gehrig was on the winning ide of five sweeps. Fellow hall of famer Gabby Hartnet was on the losing side twice. TDhe Yankees are also the only franchise to be swept in three World Series.
You won't believe this but the first team to win four world series games without losing one is the Cubbies in 1907 over the Tigers. Ty Cobb went 4-20 for the Tigers and three fingers Brown won the clincher.
After the Red Sox beat the Rockies Denver based Frontier Airlines ran ads in boh local papers saying "Now you know why we don't fly to Boston." "That's all folks."

A little humour

But first to the person who said something about idiot, but didn't have the nerve to leave a name. I was going to publish it but I hit the reject button by mistake. If you want me to publish your dumb statement, send it again, I doubt that you will. Most people who don't want to be known send stuff without a name.
Now for the humour.
A man returns home a day early from a business trip. It's after midnight.
While en route home he asks the cabby if he would be a witness. The man suspects
his wife is having an affair and he wants to catch her in the act.

For $100, the cabby agrees.

Quietly arriving home, the husband and cabby tip toe into the bedroom. The
husband switches on the lights, yanks the blanket back and there is his wife in
bed with another man!

The husband puts a gun to the naked man's head.

The wife shouts, 'Don't do it! I lied when I told you I inherited money.
HE paid for the Corvette I gave you.
HE paid for our new cabin cruiser.
HE paid for your season Pittsburgh Steelers tickets.
HE paid for our house at the lake.
HE paid for our country club membership, and HE even pays the monthly dues!'

Shaking his head from side-to-side, the husband lowers the gun. He looks over at
the cabby and says, 'What would you do?'

The cabby replies, 'I'd cover his butt with that blanket before he catches a
cold.