Tampa Taxi Shots

Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission yesterday sent Uber a stop order. Their legal division was advised that criminal prosecution was the next step if they do not comply. This is a wonderful way to close out 2014 and hope that 2015 will be the year when law and order are restored. A contact I have with the commission gave me the copy of the letter above. Remember people of Tampa - if you use Uber you are using an illegal business with no insurance. You will also be charged tonight 10 times the normally rate. They call it "surge pricing." The law calls it gouging which is illegal in Florida. This is today's front page in the TBT exposing the Uber rip-off.

Lim James on the left and blogger Genti on right Lim James, the Diary of a Singapore Cabby blog was recently let go by the largest taxi company in Indonesia. It seems out of the 50,000 customers he has picked up over the years, one of them put in an exaggerated complaint. His blog is very successful worldwide and he has a large readership. He let his fans know what happened on his blog but first lamenting how he is getting older (he is 67) and how life is an injustice we never asked for, but must face on our own terms. "Sometime I felt a tinge of sadness and misgivings. I wonder and so do many elderly people, how did time sped away so quickly? Wasn't it just yesterday that my eye sights and legs were stronger? My hair is still reasonably black but my skin is crumpled with age spots. Yesterday, my memories were like daylight. And climbing, running, jumping and squatting were taken for granted? Today, aches, pains and comatose are my un-welcomed friends. I learn to be ph...

Its been a while since I did a dog with his head out of the window post. This pooch may be named Fast Max, at least that was the name on the side of the car. For whatever reason, dogs love to do this. Even Norman use to stick his head out the window. Max looks like a friendly dog. posted from Bloggeroid

"Sukka" now has a collar. The wound on her neck was not healing because she kept scratching it. It happened when she got stuck trying to get under a fender. Elena hopes this will prevent her from digging at it. I hope so for Sucka is a sweet cat. She does hunt small game and is quit skilled at it. It's hard to get angry at her when she leaves dead birds at the front door. She thinks she's contributing to the dining room table. Just put it in the rotisserie oven.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just won the Marcus Mariota Sweepstakes!!!!!! Losing to the Saints gives the Bucs the first pic in the 2015 NFL Draft. Let the party begin!! The pick above shows how impressive his stats were two years before he won the Heisman Trophy. "Suck For The Duck" has woked in Tampa Bay. This is Josh McCown who will he towed to the ash pile of sucking QB in Tampa history. Ironically, Tampa has DRAFTED great quarterbacks that won Super Bowls for other teams...Doug Williams, Steve Young, Trent Dilfer have won the Lombardi trophy. I believe Mariotta will do that with the Buccaneers. A happy day today in Tampa Bay. posted from Bloggeroid

This is me by the fire pit in Kevin's backyard by the lake. It was not really cold but it was the holiday party and this helped set the mood. There was even a fire in the living room. Computer generated but still cool A nice glow from the fire. You could have fried an egg on my face. Too bad it was not a clear and cold winter night. Too bad one of Kevin's friends chose to offend me about looking for Bigfoot and Kevin would not defend me. It gave me no choice but to leave. I believe my friendship with Kevin is in major jeopardy. This is his dick head friend Steve sitting on the right. He is also a believer in flying saucers. A UFO guy should be more objective. Perhaps he is jealous that I have a modicum of fame. posted from Bloggeroid

This is the campfire with MUFON and Bigfoot researchers at our annual party. The candles on the boat dock. It was a tranquil sunset tonight.

Teri and Kevin are holding the annual holidays party and she is a major prayer candle person. This looks like I'm in church! Imagine that. I'm hoping the sky clears so I can use my new stargazing app. We will have the campfire no matter what. This is going to be fun. Relaxing for the holidays while others cab drivers work like coal miners. I work to live.

I hope everyone has an amazing Christmas with love one's and friends. Don't lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas. Enjoy good food and a little indulgence is not bad either...whatever that may be.

Santa Tim After the reindeer came down with Kennel cough, Santa was in a jam. He must get those presents out under all circumstances. He had heard of Uber and decided to give them a try. The problem was the "surge pricing" they wanted for the night of the 24th. So he called United Cab after negotiations with Uber fell through. All I needed was cookies and milk, a tank of gas, and we are on the way. If you don't get your presents by morning, call dispatch. You might have trouble getting thru. I suspect the lines will be jammed.

Kevin and I were in the old growth section Starkey in Pasco. Down by the river, we found this giant oak. It could be centuries old. Anyway, it was a beautiful day for winter time here in Florida. posted from Bloggeroid

When the new management took over in 2011, we have had a Christmas party every years for the drivers and shop mechanics. It was always a huge spread of food. The fellowship with the drivers was important, and allowed you unwind in a social setting. That is something severely missing from many drivers lives. This year, United Cab has decided not to have it. The reasons are not clear to me. Poor turn out by drivers, too much of a mess to clean up, save money. I also heard they did not want to offend Muslim drivers because there would be ham on the table. I can only  guess. Jean did tell me she would try to get me a dish of her outstanding eggplant Parmesan. Wow! That stuff is good. Anyway, I have good friends and we had our Christmas party last night, with a boat dock and campfire. Life moves on folks. I really will miss the party. Don't get me wrong, United Cab of Tampa has been very good to me over the years. That is one of the things I am actually grateful for this ho...