Tampa Taxi Shots

Ocklawaha River Restoration Area

Most people that live in Florida are not aware that the Sunshisne State almost suffered an environmental disaster in the 1960's and that Richard Nixon prevented it from happening.  After many years of planning, the Army corp of engineers decided to make a canal from the east coast of Florida to the west coast, effectively cutting the state in half like the Panama Canal.  Before they were stopped, they created a Dam, along with the canal, in the Ocala National Forest that stopped the flow of the Ocklawaha and the Silver Rivers.  Marsh land, that was a natural habitat for migrating birds, was drained. 

The effect on the eco-system was disastrous.  No longer could boats flow up the drained rivers while the Dam created a flood plane that killed over 9,000 acres of forest.  To this day, they call the area, "Chernobyl."

In short, Richard Millhouse Nixon signed a "Cease and Desist" order that stopped the Army Corp of Engineers in their tracts.  The Ocklawaha Prairie is now being restored and I recently visited this area.  It is one of Florida's true treasures.  Who said Republicans do not like the environment.

Watch this video I took and see the beauty of this area.

A Black Cat, Friday The Thirteenth, Water on The Moon

I knew something like this would happen.  Today was Friday the Thirteenth and on my way to my first call after sunrise, a black cat shot out of the bushes on Palmetto street and ran under the fence going into the Arbor Ponds apartments.  Man, I did not need that. 

You see, luck is vital to a cab driver.  We are not paid a salary or an hourly wage.  It is pure commision.  If we get bogged down with short fairs, we are screwed.  We owe our company a lease not matter the quality of our fares.  I was a little nervous after this very black, without any white chest hair, made his dramatic move in front of my cab.  He seemed to bring me luck, however,  I had a very interesting day despite the cat.  I also made a little bit of money.

The only weird thing that happened was I had a time call going to the airport and when I got there, I could see the customer had a vanity license plate.  It dealt with the subject of UFO's.  Never seen that before. 

The customer explained that he was part of the UFO community and that he had been abducted 20 years ago in North Florida.  He did not seem nuts, he lived in a nice south Tampa neighborhood and his story seemed credible. 

Considering that NASA just announced that the missile fired into the moon last month did, in fact, find water on the moon, and lots of water.  I think that pretty much nails down that the potential for life elsewhere in the universe is limitless.  The mans story seems less nutty than it would have been yesterday.

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.