Tampa Taxi Shots

United Cab Christmas Dinner

For the second year in a row, Rob Searcy has hosted a massive Christmas dinner. There was turkey, ham, pasta, egg plant, stuffing, salad, cake, fruit and on and on. For dri ers that have been living off gas station food, this was great. I even won a $50 gift certificate, and took a plate home. HOW COOL IS THAT!

Tampa Bay Economy Recovering

The economy in Tampa seems to be making a comeback, at least the tourist economy. There has been an improvement that is noticeable. Events and conventions seemed to be lined up well into the spring. These are all good signals. In 2008 when the economy collapsed there was no hope. There were no good days; all days were bad. Hope was gone; the suffering was on. I mean that. The tourist economy reached a flat line and it was going to take years to recover. 

Weekends are now rocking and rolling. The expansion of the cruise industry has been a benefit for us. Tourist are now calling United Cab from many hotels for rides to the port. This is something they were not doing in the last three years. Multiple trips on Saturday and Sunday can be expected. 

Now that our GPS dispatch system is working well, we are getting our regular riders back. The business people that use us to go to the airport in the early mornings are coming back. They had left us last year. Now, when they call for a cab, one shows up. 

I talk to people that work in the hotels and they say advance bookings are way up and they are full through March. Major conventions are booking now through the Republican National Convention in August 2012. 

I am knocking on wood becasue I may now get my life back and stop living like life was on hold.

John Morgan Lawyer Pulls No Punches On Political Correctness

John Morgan or Morgan and Morgan is known for not pulling punches. He tells it like it is. I can see by his new billboard advertisement that he is not politically correct. We have a holiday coming up called Christmas. It has always been Christmas. People today are afraid to call it that. They refer to it as the 'holidays.' As if someone will be offended. 

Publix supermarkets will never use the word Christmas. They avoid it and only say holidays.' They say they 'will be closed on December 25th' instead of saying Christmas. This is a cowardly position for a company to take. John Morgan is not a coward.

His billboards say CHRISTMAS! That is, after all, what they holiday is about.  It is also about family and notice he uses his dogs Emma and Ali...how cute.

Tampa Police Trying To shut down Epoch Newspaper

I saw this scene at Kennedy and Westshore. It seems this Tampa cop does not like people selling newspapers. Tampa Florida has yet to be informed that Newspapers are protected by the constitution. You would have thought this was on the streets of Havana with Castro's thugs (Castor's thugs) shutting down freedom of expression and the press. I thought this cop was going to use his taser on these homeless guys. He should have used his pepper spray, right? Maybe he should just go out and right a speeding ticket.

After all, cops in Tampa are only hired to raise revenue for the city. Their time would be better served by just holding a telethon.

How embarrising for a city that is going to host a major political convention next year that they don't even know what peoples rights are. 

Liberty and freedom are important to most people. It is too bad that the Tampa police have never heard of  the Bill of Rights. I see them violating peoples rights all the time. This is nothing new. 

Bob Buckhorn and Chief Castor are not our dictators. I wish they would start behaving and representing the people of Tampa. 

Since  the City of Tampa has outlawed panhandling a newspaper was stated that will allow homeless folks to collect one dollar on every copy of Epoch they sell. It is legal and protected by the Constitution.

This is a drop point by the Army Navy store downtown where they can come and pick up their newspapers. This is how all newspapers are distributed. 

The sellers work hard. They have to ride a bike, or take a bus to the part of town where they work. And they work all day. It is not easy work. If a person was willing to do this, I am sure they would go to a real job if they had one to go to. That is the problem in this economy - There are no jobs.

I hope the publisher of Epoch will not take this sitting down. He needs to get his lawyer involved. This harrasment by the cops should not be tolerated.

Could the JFK Assassination have been in Tampa?

Tampa has played an important role in the JFK assassination. From the connection of Santo Trafficantie too Jack Ruby in Cuba, Tampa has been important in JFK lore.

Many of us drive by the University of Tampa every day and may never of seen this stature of the late President Kennedy. If we have, we may of wondered why there was a monument here in Tampa.

On November 18, 1963 only 5 days before his assassination JFK made a visit to Tampa! His limousine was unloaded off air force one at Mac-dill Air force Base and his motorcade traveled Thur Tampa.

The route proceeded up Dale Mabry, East on GRAND CENTRAL (Kennedy blvd was once called Grand Central. It was changed after his murder to honor the slain President) Into downtown, north on Franklin past the old Mass Brothers and Kress building, left on Tyler over the Cass Street bridge and ended up at the Armory on Armenia where he gave a speech.

Tony Zappone was a 16 year old high School student who took a series of award winning photos for his school project. He was chosen by the Tampa Tribune, given a press pass, and had access to the president.

The image on the right is haunting to me. Zappone's image is very smiler to the one taken in Dallas at the moment the shots rang out. Who knows, maybe in some alternative universe the assassination happened in Tampa!

As you can see presidents no longer travel in open air convertibles with cheering crowds on the sidewalks. To bad it has to be that way.

The image on the left is Franklin Street today taken from the very spot Zappone was standing. Some of the buildings are still there.

At UT there are several commemorative plaques that surround the statue of JFK and they have quotes from the late president. One of them I believe is relevant to us in light of recent events. It comes from his inaugural address:

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

I could not add a thing to that.

Tampa Epoch Newspaper Helping The Homeless Get Around Bob Buckhorn's Ban

A street newspaper in Tampa

"This is a noteworthy time for the Tampa community." - proclaims the publisher of Tampa Epoch.

A new Newspaper is now being circulated in Tampa by the homeless community. The newspaper has a unique business arrangement with them. They get to keep the profits off the street sales and the publisher keeps the profits off the advertising. This is a legal (ethical and moral) way for homeless people to make an income, without panhandling.

The publisher of the newspaper is Bill Sharpe. I have not been able to interview him yet, but I would believe that his main concern is first amendment rights. The homeless have been marginalized by local politicians who have made it illegal for people to express their right to free speech. They said that holding a sign informing others of  your plight was a crime. It is free speech; It is protected by the Constitution.

Now, homeless (and formally homeless) can get around what Bob Buckhorn wants, and still find a way to make a living - the only way they can right now with an unemployment rate close to Great Depression levels.

The newspaper I bought today was from a vendor at the 'Occupy Tampa' sight. I felt the dollar was worth it and in twelve pages it had more content then the Tampa Tribune (which will soon be out of business). I support this effort and wish them well. The vendor seemed very happy to make a sell and I was happy for him to provide a service to me.

Street newspapers work well for the homeless and there are over 100 world-wide. They provide employment for the unemployed (something Obama has been promising for years). They provide information to the public that they will not get anywhere else. The main thing is they financially help people. Tampa Epoch is sort of a stimulus plan.

Way to go Bill Sharpe. You are one guy that is trying to make a difference by helping people that others have giving up on.

Keven White Is no Santo Trafficante Jr.

Keven White once referred to himself as part of Tampa's "Black Mafia." Unfortunately, he had a few things backwards. He should 0f modeled himself after the Tampa Don himself - Santo Trafficante Jr.

The Trafficante family ruled the underworld in Tampa Bay for decades. The thing that set him apart from White was that Santo was known in mob parlance as "The Bank." He was the juice. People had to come to him to fulfill their needs. Keven White was dependent on others...bad mistake.

In 1959 the Feds brought Santo Trafficante jr up on federal corruption and illegal gambling charges stemming from a vast bolita operation throughout Florida. They had, what seemed, an airtight case. They had tape recordings of Trafficante offering payoffs to cops. They had a film of him giving money to law enforcement. How could they not get a conviction?

Does this sound familiar? it does, but Keven White did it backwards. He was the one receiving the money. That meant he was needy.

Trafficanate was not convicted in court; Keven White was convicted. White had no juice. Trafficante had the juice.

When you are the "Bank" very few people will testify against you and no jury will convict you (if they know what's good for them). Trafficante was operating from a base of power. This was something Keven White never bothered to develop.

It takes a  lot to be the Teflon Don. Santo was never convicted of anything ever in a court of law. He essentially has no record and would be considered a first offender. 

Remember folks, develop power first and operate from strength. Don't be a pathetic broke ass who is taken down by $5,000. Geeez, how weak.

Mike and Nancy are going to enjoy living in your house after you go to prison. Why? Because they built the juice first. A critical leason in life.

Taxi Medallions Outperform Stocks, Oil and Gold In New York

Taxi medallions are now being traded on the stock exchange

A taxi medallion recently sold for over one million dollars in New York City. There is a reason for that and it underscores how the dynamics are so different in New York that to try and bring that to Tampa would be foolish, for the drivers. There is a year round demand for thousands of cabs in New York. Taxicabs are a vital part of the city's infrastructure. They are not in Tampa. Read this article from Bloomberg and you will see how investors will eventually own every damn medallion there is. The hack will still remain poor.

The surging price of New York’s taxi medallions and their promise of steady cash flows have sparked investor interest in the licenses and bolstered shares of a company that finances their purchase to a four-year high.

Investors are pooling funds to buy the six-inch-wide aluminum disks affixed to the hoods of cabs after two of them sold for a record $1 million each last month, said Andrew Murstein, president of Medallion Financial Corp. (TAXI) Shares of the New York-based firm have climbed 17 percent since the Oct. 19 sale, compared with a 6.4 percent gain for the Russell 2000 Financial Services Index.

“A lot of people have been loading up recently on medallions because they think it’s a safe asset,” Murstein said in an interview last month. The New York-based company owns about 300 medallions and plans to buy “several hundred more” in New York and other cities, he said. “These are little cash cows, constantly taking in fares and spitting out money to the owners.”

A regulated supply has helped taxi permits outgain equities, oil and gold for the past two decades. With New York City unemployment at about 9 percent for over a year, more drivers will fill shifts and pay garages to drive cabs, giving medallion owners a profit of about $2,500 a month, said Simon Greenbaum, a broker at NYC Medallion Brokers Inc. That’s about a 3 percent return for a $1 million medallion.

via www.bloomberg.com

The video states that taxi cabs are a vital part of the New York city infrastructure. Taxis are not that vital in the Tampa Bay area. They seem to be the transportation of last resort. The culture is very different down here. That is why having a medallion system in Tampa is madness. Eventually, the rich people will own them and have even more power over the little hack.

Occupy Tampa Movement Is Not Giving Up Under Police Harassment

Occupy Tampa Protesters before sunrise

Ronald Reagan once saw a hippie holding a sign that said "Make love, not war." Reagan said to Nancy that he did not believe that man was capable of either. He was no threat, and either are the Occupy Tampa protestors. 

I know harassment when I see it. I was driving by Curtis Hixon Park at six in the morning, on my way to the Howard Johnson's to drop off a fare. There were police lights in front of the park - where an hour earlier I saw protesters sleeping. They were not disturbing anyone. The police were now disturbing them.

They do this every morning. Lets just say they are an over paid wake up service. This is a shame.

I dropped my fare off and went right back and parked across the street and pulled my camera out. With all the humidity in the air, my lens fogged. Too bad. I go some great shots of the cops harassing the kids. Unfortunately, the images were too blurred to see anything.

After the cops finished their civic duty for the day, they left in a hurry. They know people have digital devices with them and they don't want any images going viral. Plus, it was a Saturday morning and that is when the cops like to set up speed traps to right cheap tickets to make their quota's. I wonder if these guys can actually earn their pay by having a shootout with a real criminal.

What Dennis told me was after the cops made them get rid of all their water and food Friday, they came back latter and said they could now have this stuff again. The cops are not following any city ordinances. They can't site any code violations. They are not civil rights lawyers. They are mealy people who are paid to screw with the public.

These kids will not be deterred. We have been dealt a bad hand, and they know it. These movements will not just go away. They were 'flyiing their signs' as soon as the cops left. It was cold; it was wet; I felt a little sorry for them. However, they are more determined then ever.

Occupy Tampa May Be Over With Police Clearing The Park

The police went to downtown this morning and cleared Curtis Hixon Park of the Occupy Tampa crowd (there was only a dozen of them). This movement may have taken hold if the people who showed up for the marches actually 'occupied Tampa.' I guess they had to get back to their jobs and continue to be exployeted by the corporete world.

This is what I saw last Sunday when I interviewed many of the crowd.

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I stopped by the Occupy Tampa movement downtown at Curtis Hixon Park. I wanted to talk to the demonstrators and find out some of their views. Where they a bunch of liberals hanging out in the park? Where they a bunch of unemployed college students who voted for Obama in 2008, and now, can’t find a job? Speaking of Obama, why do none of the signs across America not mention Obama? I wanted to find this out for myself.

Notice the red tape on the sidewalk

I found a parking space (Sunday the only day you can do that) and walked over. I met a group of people who had set up a make shift open air office and logistical center on the sidewalk in front of the park. The people seemed friendly and easy to talk to.

I noticed the amount of food, sandwiches, and bottle water they had. They said many people come by all day long and give them supplies. Without that, they would not be able to camp out. I asked them if they needed anything and blankets was something they could really use. The last few nights have been cold. That was not their primary concern, however. It was the Tampa police.

They told me they were clearly the victims of police intimidation tactics. The police were making up the rules as they went along. There were clearly maked boundries on the sidewalk where they must sleep. The protestors don’t like sleeping there because they are afraid a car might jump the curb at night and kill someone. They have had a beer bottle thrown at them which hit a girl. They want to be able to sleep further back on the grass, but for some reason, the cops won’t let them. Someone does not want them there.

Most of the people had an individual story of being under employed or out of work. Many had large student loan debt and were finding it hard to make payments on a seven dollar an hour job. They were frustrated with an economic system they felt was corrupt with the deck stacked for the privileged.

Nick with a hot coffee donated by the publc

I talked with this young man Nick, who after college found himself delivering pizzas. His belief was that the pizza company was raising the price of delivery (which cut into his tips) to cover the cost of insurance that Obamacare was requiring him to pay. Nick believed all companies would only pass the cost of doing business onto the customers, so nobody benefits. He clearly did not have good things to say about Obama. That surprised me. They 'End the Fed' signs they had are from the Ron Paul Alex Jones playbook.

some of the signs they are using

I asked him why none of the signs mentioned Obama. Another guy interrupted by saying the ‘illuminati’ runs people’s lives. Nick and others were Ron Paul supporters and he believed that was true nationwide. Obama has been marginalized by other forces, and is a non-player at this point. Interesting.

Nick, and others, are followers of Alex Jones and his website Prison Planet. This was not what I expected.

Tampa Nature Trail Closed Due To Toxic Waste From Military

Pam Callahan Memorial park Town & Country

I have enjoyed the Pam Callahan nature trail for years. I never knew that it was once part of an old Army Corp. bombing range and that there were toxic chemical in the ground. That may explain why I got very sick the last time I went when I took these photographs. 


Between 1940 and 1947 it was part of the Drew Field bombing range. According to the Army corps of engineers the surface water and soil sediment now pose a "human health and ecological risk." In fact, test show there may be unexploded ordinance in the park! I never knew that while I was enjoying a very peaceful fall day on the hiking tail.


The trial head in on Memorial Highway but it is not easy to see. Many people live and commute for years and never know it is there. I have never seen anyone else out there. 


You have to park on the side of the road and there is a gate that is locked but you can easily go around it. This seemed to be a maintained trail. It looked freshly mowed. The trail goes strait into the wet lands that are along the bay. One thing you notice is after only a few hundred feet off the main road, you think you are in the middle of nowhere. There is an apartment complex to the right and a major airport nearby, but you still have that isolated feel.degrees, a very nice day. I took a lot of pictures on the 0.7 mile hike out to a plaque the memorializes the lady that the trail is named after. It is posted on a large granite rock and points out that she spearheaded a grass roots efforts to save this part of Tampa from the land developers. She was able to "Fight city hall." Unfortunately she passed away in 1993 and did not live to see this trail named in her honor. I could look around from the end of the trail and still could not believe how close I was to civilization.

Taxi parked at the trail head

 

I noticed fiddler crabs on the path (I am glad I had on hiking boots). I also saw a hawk swoop down, but I did not have my camera ready to take his photo.  There are several side trails that expose hardwood pine areas. I got some photos of some interesting flora. I have no real idea what it is. I am sure there is poison ivy out there. so be careful.

 

If you are driving by and have some time. This is a real peaceful hike. Just watch out for the fiddler crabs!

I have made a new photo album of this shoot. You can go below and see the images of the trail.

Tampa Loses Bid For 2015 Super Bowl To Arizona - That Sucks

Arizona was awarded the 2015 Super Bowl today. This sucks in many ways for cab drivers and local business. There is nothing like a Super Bowl to stimulate a local economy. I have worked two of them, and made big money. I wish it was here every year, but we are not the only location that has good weather.  Tampa has been a player in Super Bowls from the early days of the event. In fact, we have hosted four, including the famous "Black Sunday" game when the Raiders killed the Redskins in 1984.

Al Davis receiving the Lombardi Trophy in Tampa 1984

There is nothing like winning a Super Bowl. Tampa won one once in 2003; that seems like so long ago. The big game has now become an unofficial American holiday. The specticle that surrounds it makes it the biggest sporting event in the world. In 1984 it was not that big. Players used cabs to go to the stadium and the game was on at 1:00 in the afternoon like any other normal game. It is now the most watched event on television and on during prime time. It is so big that advertisers launch campaigns with the now famous "Super Bowl" commercials. 

I expect we will get the game again,in the future. I hope to be long gone from the taxi business by then. I just don't have the energy to keep kicking this dead dog called the cab business in Tampa Florida. The fact that Arizona gets it really reminds me of how poor things are.

I used to go to Arizona twice a year to attend the AZshootout. I have not been able to go since 2007 because there just is not money. I never could have imagined it would have gone on this long. 

We do, however, have the 2012 Republican Convention coming to Tampa. My understanding is that the economic impact is the same as a Super Bowl. So, that will be something that could be of a real help  next August during the slow season for tourism. 

I am just tired of putting my life on hold and waiting for a better day. I need to find a way to make the days better myself without waiting for things to just magically turn around. 

Thanks, but no thanks NFL. 2015 is too far off to even matter at this point. 

 

Flugtag In Tampa Bay Only United States Event In 2011

I have no idea why 100,000 people showed up for an evnt called Flugtag produced by Red Bull. I guess there is not much to do in Tampa during October when the weather is getting cooler. Flugtag is German for "flying days." That's the problem; nobody flies. All they do is crash off the end of a pier into the water without ever getting airborne. Red Bull says their product "gives you wings." Yea. Seems like a waste of time.

This was the only United States event this year. There were teams from all over the world at this event willing to launch their crafts off a diving board for five seconds. Some of them took months to build their flying machines. The wind was gusting today up to 20MPH; I was hoping some of these planes would catch big air and take off. That did not happen.

It really does not matter to Red Bull. As long as they can draw these crowds, they will continue to sell hugh amounts of energy drinks that people have been brainwased by advertisers to buy. they have convinced an entire generation that they are out of energy, and need the Red Bull product.

I don't know how the people got down to the Convention Center becasue we got very few calls at United Cab today. I did not even put 100 miles on the cab. I was hoping to make money. That really sucked.

They should go save the whales or something or "Occupy Wall Street."

Occupy Tampa Takes Over Downtown Tampa Protesting Wall Street Greed

The protesters began to show up after the lunch hour. I thought they would be out all day; I thought they would be camping in Gaslight Park. I hear the police will not let them, so they have to leave and return the next day. No problem, this means they can drink in the bars all night.

Most of them seem to be coming from the University of Tampa. Could it be they are just young, bored and looking for a little excitement? They should be studying finance so they can become part of that 1% they are railing about.

Hippy protesters seen from the taxi downtown Tampa

I picked up a fair that wanted to go downtown Tampa and see the protesters. At the time we were there, we really had to look hard to see them. I think for this demonstration to work, they will have to really "Occupy" the downtown area but that would mean they cannot drink, screw and order pizza. Protesting comes with sacrifice.

The movement is new and perhaps it will work, with time. I am already making some money off of this event, so that is cool. I shot a video and put in up on Youtube. You can see it here.

Tampa Bay Bucs Football May Sell out for A Monday Night Game?

The best situation for a Tampa taxi driver is a sold out stadium. You simply get more action. More people go to the games and more people go to the sports bars to watch on television because the games are not blacked out. Cab drivers can make more money. That is what it is all about. 

I also believe the more any product is put in front of a possible customer base, the more tickets they will sell in the future. Success feeds on itself. The best thing about the Buccaneers going to London this season, is that game counts as a home game and it will be telecast. The things you have to do to avoid a blackout. 

Personally, I think the blackout rule is arcane and was invented in a time when most televisions were in black and white and people used rabbit ears to see only three channels. Today, with alternative media and internet, people can pick up streaming video of the blacked out game, and any other game they want to watch. There is just to much competition now for the NFL. They need to reconsider what they are doing and become more creative and developing fan bases.

 "Might the Tampa Bay community stain of blacked out Bucs games come to an end in 10 days when the Colts come here to face the Bucs on Monday Night Football?

Rick Stroud, of the St. Pete Times, apparently is hearing that good things are on the horizon, so he Twittered this morning.

@NFL Stroud - With a good week of ticket sales, Bucs Oct. 3 Monday Night Football game vs. the Colts will most likely be a sellout and televised locally

 

As Joe has written, there’s something dreadfully wrong if a “football town” with a good team can’t sell out a Monday Night Football game early in the NFL season. That might happen here, and Joe expects this will come down to 11th-hour sales. But Team Glazer really would be missing the boat if it didn’t do whatever needs to be done to make sure Monday Night Football is available for the many hundreds of thousands of locals who will sit home and watch it.

 

Joe’s desperately hoping it gets done by any means."

via www.joebucsfan.com

I was wondering how long this blackout would last. That would be nice on a national televised game, that we could sell out so the announcers will stop talking about how poor Tampa Bay sports fans are.

Mohamed Atta Had A Hack License For United Cab Of Tampa And A Commercial Pilots License

Mohamed Atta knew how to land a plane. In fact he had full instrument rating and could fly any plane. He also once had a hack license issued by the Hillsborough County Transportation Commission of Florida when he was in Florida training to be a pilot.

Atta never came back to pick it up. He had applied to work at United Cab of Tampa, but never showed up for work either.

My research shows he was living in the Tampa area for some time while taking flying lessons in Venice Florida and Jones aviation in Sarasota.

Most people were told that he only had a few hours on a simulator and was not interested in knowing how to land. This is not true.

The owner of Huffman Aviation in Venice said Mohamed Atta and a friend walked in the front door one day in late 2000 and wanted to know about getting pilots license and how much that would cast. They were told the cost was $18,000 with $1,000 down and $1.000 a week for the entire 18 week course. They paid with a check drawn on First Union Bank.

All did not go smooth as their first instructor found them arrogant and hard to teach. Atta and his friend often tried to take over the lessons and often spoke over the instructor. He was very irritated with them. They switched instructors and were able to finish the course and Atta earned his "Temporary Airman's  license" with a score of 90 of a 122 possible points during a five hour exam.. This allowed him to rent out planes on his own which he did on many occasions.

Proof Mohamed Atta Know how to land and take off in an airplane

Atta did not stop at this, he went on December 21, 2000 he earned a full instrument ratting and a COMMERCIAL PILOTS LICENSE. ("airplane multiengine land/ instrument airplane/ private pilot privileges/ airplane single engine land"). (Source) He earned these credentials in a rather short period of time. 

I believe he was running out of money and It was during this period that he applied for a hack license in Tampa. The TPC still has his license on file. It is unknown what his intentions were about driving a cab, considering he had goals of altering world history for ever. He flew planes to Miami from Venice and from Jones aviation to Tampa. He knew how to take off and land. Skills that he really would not put to much use.

It was from Tampa where he flew American Airlines to Spain to meet with representatives from Iraq.

Lee Roy Selmon - The Greatest

Lee Roy Selmon left the world better then he found it. That is an indisputable fact. It was not just football that made him great, even though without it, we would not have had him as ours.

Lee Roy Selmon was the greatest ever to play in a Tampa Bay Buccaneer uniform. Lee Roy Selmon had the greatest impact on the Tampa community then anyone in recent memory. Lee Roy Selmon leaves a legacy of giving to causes that made us all better. Lee Roy Selmon set an example of how all of us should conduct our affairs. Because of Lee Roy, the bar will be at a mythical height. That is why he will be missed.

He was a mild mannered man. That reflected the wholesome family structure that he grew up in in rural Oklahoma. He was a great football player as a youth, and went on to be the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer inducted into the Hall Of Fame.

He was a beast in the NFL, and one of the only players in football history to have never been called for a personal foul. That reflected his 'gentle giant' nature. He never wanted to hurt anyone. He simply wanted to do his job and make a tackle.

The measure of any man is what they say about him after his passing. The outpouring has been remarkable - what would you have expected. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about Lee Roy Selmon. That is so rare today. Most narcissistic athletes think the world owes them something, and they don't really care about the fans or the community. They are ready to flee for a better contract in any city. We are better for Lee Roy hanging around all these years.

Most people remember his stature as a man, and his humble nature. He did not have to contribute to this community. He could have gone back home to Oklahoma, where he was a hero. He adopted Tampa and we adopted him. All of us are better for him being just who he was.

He was one of those rare people,that when they pass, you wonder how the world will replace him. You can't. All you can hope for is his legacy will inspire others to dream of things they did not think were possible.

When Leroy helped establish the USF football program, they printed a tee shirt that day that said "USF 53 -Notre Dame 0."  The day before he died, it was USF 23 - Notre Dame 20. Dreams really do come true.

Leroy left the world better then he found it.

So long buddy.

A New Tampa Bay Blog

I am proud to announce my new web blog about Tampa Bay called Tropic Of Tampa. It will have many post about sports and events happening in Tampa. There will be many links for people to like, including hot babes and such.

It is a work in progress and I am finding my way. This should give me more lattitude in subject mattter instead of just posting about drunks that throw up or just misehave. Who cares.

People want to know what is going on in Tampa expecially since the Republican Convention will be here in 2012. 

Tampa has a reputation for being a very fun town. I do not want the tourist being dissapointed in any way. They can contact me and I will show them how they can have a good time. That is whatever they want. Tampa is the place to be.

Do you love golf? you have come to the right place. Do you love beachers? Of course. Tampa has everything you could want.

Don't Give Money To This Guy - He Is Running A Scam

If you live in south Tampa or drive North on Howard avenue at the intersection of Kennedy and Howard, you have seen this guy. He is doing what they call on the streets "flying a sign." In short, he is begging for money. He has been on this corner for over a year. That is ridiculous.

Hell, I remember last Christmas season he was wearing a Santa hat (What cedar chest did he pull that out of?)

He is out here all day long. he never misses a day. I know this for a fact because O never miss a day of work. If a guy can show up every day to do this, can he not hold a job? He is older then me, so I am sure he is getting a Social Security check. This must be his supplemental income plan.

His sign claims he is homeless, looking for work, hungry, and other things. None of this is true.

The Shell station on this corner has tried to get rid of him. He is aggressive with their customers. He ask for money and cigs. He won't leave people alone. 

They have called the cops on this guy  They do not want a permanent fixture in front of their store being this guy claiming to be a bum and in need of money.

HE IS NOT HOMELESS....HE LIVES IN A NICE APARTMENT IN SO HO...HE HAS A MAC IPHONE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE ON HIS PLAN A(i know this for a fact..I'm a cab driver..I hear things).

He is running a scam. Plus, his is an asshole. He calls the Shell station and insults the people working there because they have had him tresspassed from the property. 

He waves at people and smiles.he thinks he is being charming. I think he is high. I see this type of behaviour and mannerisms all day long as a cab driver. 

There are real homeless people but he has a claim to the most lucrative corner in Tampa. This is wrong. I know for a fact construction and lawn service guys have offered him a job and he said he cannot work for ten bucks an hour. WTF!

Please Tampa...Stop giving this con man money.

United Cab Has A New Gas Policy

This notice is posted on the front door to United Cab: "All drivers be aware you will need to bring money for gas.Due to the fact that 95% of all cabs come back empty. We are changing our policy of FULL TO FULL when leasing a cab to a EMPTY TO EMPTY GAS POLICY. All drivers should bring money for gas when changing a cab and when leasing one."

Wow! I can tell you what is going on here. The economy sucks, and drivers come in to work a tweleve hour shift, and at the end, they have $40 left. They realize it will take $40 to fill the tank but they need the money; so they turn it in empty (They are also dirty...they guys don't have the 75 cents to use a vac). 

Take a look at the photo of the United Cab lot and it is full of cabs. I don't think they can get another one on it. Just remember, none of them have any gas in them and they are dirty as hell. I think the general public expects and should get better then a cab on empty and dirt all over the floor, and a driver wearing dirty clothes. 

This is clearly a sign of the times we live in. It has never been this bad. The stimulas plan has failed to stimulate anythiing down here. I am glad the Republican Convention will be down here next year. I will like to ask those Republicans what they plan to do to get things moving again. No matter what you think, the economy is stuck on empty, just like the gas tanks at United Cab.

Location of downtown Tampa surveillance cameras will be kept from the public

The city of Tampa will be hosting the 2012 Republican Convention that will nominate Gov. Rick Perry of Texas.

The city of Tampa is very concerned with security, but they are making certain assumptions about the guest. They believe that many of the people who will be expressing their constitutional rights to assemble will be criminals. That is why they are installing cameras in secret because they don't want anyone to know they are there.

This is an outrage and I have a license to drive a cab and I have the right to NOT have a fucking camera aimed at me. This totalitarian thinking cannot be allowed. I hope the people assemble in mass.

I know that if a riot breaks out, they will want to be able to identify the perpatrators. Of couse, we all want that. But you can't put cameras up to film people without thier consent. Sorry Republicans, this is the United States of America and I have certain rights. Even Alex Jones on his website Prison Planet picked this story up.

"Whether it's the Republicans or the Democrats, conventions are almost always a flashpoint for police and protestors. At the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in 2008, some 800 protestors, reporters and bystanders were arrested.

Our local law enforcement is hoping for much less conflict when the GOP comes to Tampa next summer. Toward that end, Tampa police will be employing a ring of surveillance cameras to be installed around downtown and the convention center.

"There are going to be a lot of people in downtown and we don't have enough police officers to keep eyes everywhere, so we think the cameras will assist us in keeping people safe by giving us more eyes to view what's going on," said assistant Tampa Police Chief, Mark Hamlin."

via www.abcactionnews.com

The problem I have with this is they are hiding the cameras and they are assuming that there will be trouble. It is a political convention and you have police and secret service patrol. The real reason for these cameras in downtown Tampa is to use facial recognition to shake down innocent citizens. The people of Tampa should be outraged and no more tolerate this then the "traffic" cameras they use to raise revenue.

Searching For Communication Along Deep Swamp Powerlines

On the Animal Planet hit show Finding Bigfoot, it was mentioned by the BFRO founder Matt Moneymaker that Bigfoots use powerline routes as pathways to move into new areas without detection. When the finding Bigfoot crew was in North Carolina they were investigating two prints found on a cul-de-sac. Moneymaker noticed the high tension wires behind the houses. He said they home had been built on a Bigfoot transition zone. This may be true but I believe the powerlines may be used for something else. I believe they are used for communication.

They have discovered that the high tension lines can sent knocks for miles along these systems. It is sort of like a "Bigfoot Cell Phone." Many researchers have reported hearing these sounds on powerlines. I have no doubt about that because I have heard and recorded these communications on video and posted them on YouTube.

On Saturday I got an opportunity to get into an area near the Hillsborough River that leads into the watershed area going into the Green Swamp. I can hear two knocks and a metallic scrape. Many people are  now figuring these creatures out.

 

Casey Anthony Was A Victim Of Sex Abuse - Caylee Drowned In A Pool

Casey Anthony's defense attorney Jose Baez has dropped a bombshell in the courtroom by stating Caylee Anthony drowned in the family swimming pool and her parents covered it up. Children falling into swimming pools in Florida is common. It is very tragic.

Baez states that because of a dysfunctional family that included sex abuse, Casey is the victim. Baez claims that George Anthony repeatedly raped his daughter all of her life. Baez claims that even her brother abused Casey and the FBI was beleived he may have fathered his sisters baby, and had him submit to a paternity test. This is one screwed up family.

The look on Mr. Anthony's face in court looks like a man that is guilty (If anyone accused me of raping my daughter, I would hit hin the mouth, I don't care if it was in court or not). 

Baez claims that the meter reader Roy Kronk planted the body close to the family in a wooded area that was repeatedly searched by the police. Mr. Kronk was banging Casey and I find it strange that he was the one that found the body when teams of cops with dogs could not. Mr. Baez is presenting a formidable case at this point to get his client off. 

This issue is reasonable doubt in a court of law and Mr Baez seems like a master of constructing reasonable doubt. The accusations he is making are formidable in nature. He is claiming that Mr. Kronk carried the skull in his truck for months and he was the one that put the duck tape on the skull. Mr Baez is asserting that the police were complicit in framing this girl to cover up their terrible investigation.

If all this turn out to be correct, nobody shuold ever trust the police again and never talk to them at about anything. Thre were cops wanting to collect the reward! Orange County even hired an attorney for Mr. Kronk to protect him from Casey's lawyers. I can only say wow.

In a capital case, from what I am hearing, I see a not-guilty verdict coming on.

What Is The Breaking Point?

Here are the facts and it has nothing to do with George Bush: Oil is traded in dollars and tends to rise when the greenback falls and makes crude cheaper for investors holding foreign currency. Oil also climbed to $112 per barrel because of violence in Nigeria ahead of the national elections which could lead to a supply interruption. If crude prices keep rising, experts say, gas could go over $4 a gallon across the U.S by summer. I believe it will be here sooner. 

At what point will taxi drivers, who buy their own gas, not be able to operate the cabs? I think we are very close to that event. The only hope we have is that the cab companies will lower our lease (never happen) or the meter will be increased (the companies will then raise our leases). I see no hope. I can be homeless without working these many hours. For ten bucks I can buy a vest and fly a sign. At least I wont owe the taxi company or the gas station a dime.

I don't want to turn this into the "gas price" blog but this is about the only thing on my mind right now and I can see no real way out of this crisis. I am open to suggestions.

Tampa Blogs

People often ask the taxi drivers questions. They want to know what time you started your shift, how long you have been driving a taxi and what is the most interesting thing that has ever happened while driving a taxi. I do not know if they think it is a romantic adventure, but they sure seem to romanticize cab driving. 

People always enjoyed my stories, and they were not hard to think of. Just about every day something happens that probably does not happen to the average Joe. Where else can you go from taking a physicist downtown to a Relativity conference and five minutes later picking up an urban drug dealer? Stimulation occurs all day long.

Cab drivers also like stories. When we would sit on stands waiting for the next call, we would tell the other drivers what happened on the last call, or the one yesterday that everyone had heard about. You would think this was just about taking people from point A to point B, but it is not. It is much more than that. 

Often, people would suggest that I write a book about all that. Most people seem to have seen the HBO show Taxi Cab Confessions and think that is what happens to cab drivers. Yes. That is what happens to most cab drivers. 

I had thought about doing a book, but never really knew how to approach the task. In the last twenty years, I had written nothing more complex then a grocery list. Then I heard about something that seemed exciting. 

In 2005 a new phenomena was taking off on the internet called web logs - commonly called blogs. At that time, these online journals were growing exponentially in just a few short months. In addition, cool software was available to the average person, so anyone could start a blog. 

I never thought what I did was very important but starting a blog would allow me to communicate even the most trivial of things instantly to anyone on the web. I came up with a name called Tampa Taxi Shots.

Originality is important to me and I did not want to copy what someone else was doing. The concept of taxi driving experiences was now going to hit the web and I was hoping people would visit my blog. I was correct on that.

There was a growing online community of local Tampa Bloggers. They were growing in numbers and putting out great content. They were reporting on local matters ignored by local newspapers. The St. Pete Times began to notice. 

They did an article in TBT about the local blogging scene. In fact, that article inspired me to get into this. It validated that anyone with a keyboard could get started. In fact, I still have that TBT. 

Unfortunately, many of the blogs profiled in that article are not published anymore. Sticks Of Fire was the biggest casualty. I guess life moves on and people move on.

Blogs are now a source of information that we can access anywhere, even on mobile devices. There is no telling how many there are now. 

I know that I miss some of the early ones. I kind of wish they would come back.

 

White got mortgage from A Taxi Company - Whats Your Point St. Pete Times?

Mike Salinero wrote an article that seems to imply that Michael J. Moses and Nancy Castellano were involved in a criminal act involving a private mortgage to a friend. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Just because you write for a newspaper Mr. Salinero does not give you insight into what peoples motives are. I have seen first hand the generosity and concern Nancy had for her company and the drivers that drove for her at United Cab when she and John Castellano owned it. They were driver owners and would take Care of good drivers. It is not against the law to give someone money. They know they have a slim chance of being paid back, but it is in their nature to help people (Mike Moses got it in writing, which you do when large sums are involved). 

The Times claims this:

"The mortgage was from Moses Investment Holdings LLC, whose owner, Michael J. Moses, also owns cab, limousine and van companies. When he bought the companies, Moses had to get approval from the county PTC. White was chairman at the time.

Records also show Moses' partner in the transit companies is Nancy Castellano, a longtime taxicab executive, who has given money to White's political campaigns.

Moses and Castellano did not return phone calls. White declined to comment but his attorney, Michael Laurato, said Moses should be commended, not stigmatized, for the loan.

"Everybody knows Mr. White is going through tough economic times," Laurato said. "I think it's admirable that someone was able to get him into something affordable and give him a second chance."

via www2.tbo.com

I worked for Nancy Castellano for sixteen years as a cab driver for United Cab. I never had a problem with her ever. She was always more then fair with me. I know for a fact that she is a very giving person with a kind heart. Is she a tough business women? Yes! The toughest I have ever seen.

She also has carried financially older drivers that were having trouble and let them live in her rental properties with only a promise to pay. Many could not, and she let them stay anyway. She also paid for final arrangements of long time drivers that had passed and their families could not afford to do it. She never bragged about this. I just know for a fact it was so. She was a "drivers" manager for United and would get rid of 'bad apples'. Things began going down hill when accountants, with no long range vision (only spread sheets in front of them) took over the company.

Her and Mike Moses have more money then they could ever spend. Their helping a brother out that they were friends with is consistent with their good nature. Understand that Mr. White was out of office and they had no compelling reason to help him at all. Why would they? He can't do a damn thing to help them at this point.

I now work for a new management at United. I like Mr. Searcy and Mr. Hinton. They are good guys but they work for a corporation, and have to protect it in a detached way. That is fine, the world moves on, things change. 

I have no vested interest in this. I don't work for Nancy or Mike. If things go the way I wish, I never will. I just wanted to add some perspective about two really good people.

The Right To Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed..

  Former Miss Tierra Verde Meghan Brown Shoots Dead Home Invasion Ex-Con Albert Hill with 4 slugs. In nature the female of any species isdeadlier then the male. Again folks, why was thisscumbag with multiple arrest and incarcerations doing back out on the streets?

 DAILY MAIL UK NEWS….Meghan Brown opened door to intruder at 3am in Tierra Verde Florida thinking he was a friend.  But she claims the 42-year-old, 200lb man named Albert Hill (ex-con) grabbed her from behind and covered her nose and mouth with his hand, before heading straight to the bedroom.

As she screamed, her fiancé emerged, later telling the St Petersburg Times: ‘My number one objective is to get this guy off my fiancée.’ Detectives said the intruder then ordered him to give him money.
 

The fight between the two men broke the dining room table and chairs but, as they tussled, Miss Brown produced her pink gun from her bedside table. ‘I had my gun drawn, focused in on him – as he moved, my gun moved. I waited for my shot and when I saw an opening, I fired,’ she told the newspaper.  Miss Brown said she was ‘glad’ it had been her, because not everybody else would have been as prepared as she was, MORE FROM THIS SOURCE….

Albert Hill was a life long criminal who only robbed people to make a living. His arrests and convictions include, Cocaine Sales-Dealing, Burglary, Resisting Arrest, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer for which he got 10 years in prison and Grand Theft.

The Brown family is rich. That is good becasue they will be able to hire Barry Cohen or some other great lawyer to help them. This sounds like simple self defense. Look at how beat up Mr. Brown was after the fight with this dirt bag.

 

Information for post gathered from Private Eye Bill Warner Blog

From Hope And Change To Shock And Awe: Obama's Bay Of Pigs

The purpose of the Libia bombing attack was to establish a no-fly zone and support a group of rebels lead by the Muslim Brotherhood. Comments by President Obama and other world leaders make me conclude a disaster is at hand. President Obama and the British Prime Minister have now stated that the objective is the ouster of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi.  Is it a coincidence that Libya is rich with oil? Obama lied, people have died. Did they not say that about George Bush?

No military objective is known and the future prospects are unclear as Obama says there will be no "boots on the ground."  We can only hope that this engagement does not become blown up and entangled like recent wars in the Middle East. I can see no reason to think otherwise. If Qaddafi and his supporters are fighting the rebels in close range combat, how can you send in missiles? This concept is not even tactically sound. You may have a "no-fly zone" but be unable to risk killing innocent people.

"While Obama’s action is being widely compared to the Bush-Cheney 2003 attack on Iraq, parallels to the April 1961 Bay of Pigs fiasco are also strong. In that instance, a force of anti-Castro Cubans organized by the CIA was militarily defeated in an attempt to take over Cuba, resulting in calls from Allen Dulles to President Kennedy for air strikes and a ground invasion. Kennedy rejected those calls and fired the Dulles CIA leadership. Obama, faced by the military collapse of a CIA force in Libya, has ordered such bombing, opening a second phase of the present US debacle."   Inforwars.com

I have not seen any information that the CIA was supporting the rebels. I don't think Obama is that clever. That would be something Ronald Reagen would have done. This is a guy that promised us that he would not use American forces unless our vital interest were at stake. I did not know he would continue in following the Bush Doctrine.

Rose Ferlita Is a Conservative Republican..

Rose Felita is a conservative Republican, a fact not commonly known by many (Sue Carlton of the St. Pete Times knows this). Its not like Ferlita is trying to hide that knowledge. She puts it out publicly. The photo above is from her roadside billboard.  Her campaign is working and her support is widespread and cuts across many demographics. This seems to be because of a brilliant marketing campaign by her to appeal to many who are not aware of her status. 

What is odd is I have picked up many customers in my cab who are gay or liberal and support her because they think she supports these issues. One fare of mine, when informed, by me, that she was a Republican, wanted to go back to his house and remove the yard sign he had out front. How could people not know this? Its not like she was trying to hide this fact. 

Pam Iorio gave her support to Bob Buckhorn today because he is a Democrat. Rose does have the Tea Party behind her and seems to be at least 10 percentage points ahead of Buckhorn. Good. The voters have found their minds. Too bad many have not even looked at a roadside billboard.

Farm Workers Have Labor Issues With Publix

Its seems many other people are private contractors not just taxi cab drivers. I saw this group of people (hundreds of them) marching down Kennedy blvd in Tampa Saturday. They were protesting unfair labor policies by the Publix supermarket chain. Publix does not want to pay them a fair amount for their labor. What is strange is these people really don't look like migrant vegetable pickers. Just an observation. 

In America today it seems if you have a union you strike, if you don't have a union you strike, people are not being treated fairly, there is no doubt about that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This line of people went for several blocks. They had drums and signs and were chanting. They were organized and very angy with Publix Supermarkets. I guess Publix wishes them a very "Merry Holiday" like they do everyone else In December because the hicks that started this comany can't even use the word Christmas. As they say, they are closed on "December 25" scared to call it what it is. I suggest many more people boycott Publix for this reason alone. There are no Jews that are offended by people observing Christmas..

Borders Books Is Closing...I Take My Coffee Black

The meter is running and the taxi is in park. Normally I’d be outside of a strip club or message parlor, this time it’s a book store. I’m waiting for my passenger to return. 

The large poster declaring 20% - 40% off looms over my cab parked outside of Borders Books on N Dale Mabry which is closing as soon as they sell all their stuff. This well publicized sale has brought customers to this store in record amounts. The idling of my engine cuts through the conversations of happy patrons leaving with newly prized possessions. 

It’s just after sunset. I’d normally be home drinking beer at this hour - a well ingrained habit since the economy fell apart like a two dollar watch.  Habits are hard to change as you get older. 
I turn the radio down as a motorist asks if I can move up a bit. In over fifteen years of coming to this store I’ve never seen it this busy. I guess I’m not the only one that read the newspaper article about the store closing.

Then it hits me - Why does Tampa (whose economy is supposedly tied to tourism) have so many people that read books. We are not supposed to be Boston? 

I think back over the last decade or so. I have spent a lot of time in Borders. Coffee, reading, chess, browsing, music, liberal lap toppers, this place had it all, a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon and relax. You could have a bit of a repose from the ‘real world’ as books took you to other places and experiences that you one day planed to get around too, one of these days. 

The Seattle’s Best Café. Yes, that was the first thing you saw as you walked in the door. Get your espresso and stare at twenty thousand square feet of wonder, knowledge and entertainment. In the next couple of hours, you would walk out smarter and more at peace with yourself then when you walked in. All of this augmented by a fresh cup of Joe (I take my mine black). 

Coffee in a book store is Popcorn at the movies. Would in not be a shame if one day all things are by Amazon or Kindle? To me it would be like going to a prostitute for love or eating steak with a balloon on your tongue. You would still get the same knowledge and nutrition - so what’s your problem? 

I do think it is a problem.

In the future they say you will just take a pill for everything you need or pick you kids out of a test tube (I prefer the old fashion way).

I once met Jack Harris at a book signing here. I once saw happy kids at Harry Potter night with expressions on their faces not seen since the family trip to Disney World. Do we really want all this to just go away?  It is just all about the discount? What ever happened to smelling the roses? 

Anyway, my fare comes back to the taxi and tells me there were at least eighty people in line with all the cash registers ringing. You hear that Borders….You finally figured out how to get Amazons money.  Perhaps there is hope for Western Civilization.