I'm sure that everyone who's ever worked a service job has wished that they could charge people extra for disrespecting or aggravating them. I have one of the few jobs that I can choose to do so at my discretion.
To explain a few things about the taxi business in my locality -- It can take upwards of 3-6 hours of waiting to get a fare from the airport -- which allows us to charge a minimum fare to or from the airport. My minimum charge is $25.00, to insure that I make a profit. After expenses, I actually make around $6.00 per hour.
In the rare occurence that I am the only cab available to serve multiple passsengers and destinations, I typically take the estimated total metered fare for the trip and divvy it up among the passengers equally, so no one feels that they are paying part of someone else's ride. Some people, however, will bitch even if hung with a new rope. The reason I came up with this idea is because invariably someone bitches that they are paying for someone else's ride.
Four people, three destinations. I offered to take them all for the minimum charge per stop -- a total of $75, since the metered fare for all three stops would have been close to $70 anyway.
Of course, they want to get stupid about it. "I paid $23 to come out here......" "Why should we each pay $25 when they're paying $25 for two people?" To bastardize a popular waltz tune..... Whine, whine, whine-complain.... bitch-bitch.... bitch-bitch! People really piss me off when they do this. They want convenience without paying for it.
To which I replied simply, "There are 10 companies in the telephone book that will gladly keep you waiting 20 or 30 minutes, and you are welcome to try them if you like." People do not realize that in this town, it is a 10 mile trip to the airport from just about anywhere. Nor do they really care.
Salvation showed up in the form of a second taxi returning to the airport. Three of them walked to the second cab, leaving the $23 lady to pay a metered fare by herself. I will add that the second taxi probly offered the same deal, or followed the ordinance by charging meter to the first destination, paid by the first person, at which point the meter is reset and the second passenger pays the metered fare to the second destination. Either way, I'd be willing to bet they felt pretty stupid by the time they got to where they were going. Six of one, half-dozen of the other in some cases.
So then the $23 lady told me to go completely the long way around, turning what would have been a $30-35 ride into thirty-nine and some change. I offered a discount, as some passengers will tip the difference anyway. Nope.
On to the next moron. Woman comes out and wants to go to a local hotel, to which the base fare was about $38 or so. As I mentioned earlier, extra charges are present on my posted rates, but I rarely use them unless I feel the situation warrants it (customer attitude or high fuel prices).
She didn't say it in so many words, but her tone made it clear that she felt like I was charging too much. I have one thing to say. Buy me a tank of gas, or pay the fare.
She made such an obvious fuss over this that while waiting on the bench in front of the terminal for another fare, I decided not to get mad, but to get even. She approached another taxi that was obviously already loading a passenger, and that combined with the general disrespect of insinuating I was overcharging ensured that $25.00 per person would be charged, no matter how many people entered the cab. The extra charges posted for night service, luggage loading and county pickup or destination came to $4.00.
So not only did the lights actually work in my favor for a change and catch me at nearly every one, she springs credit card payment on me. I love how people assume their plastic can get them through every situation in life. Anyway, we had to stop at an ATM so she could get cash to split the fare with the second passenger.
So then she makes a fuss about the extras, to which I replied that I quoted her the base fare before extras, that fuel is currently approaching $3.00 per gallon, and that she was actually getting the extras for half price by splitting the fare, so what was the problem?
Who knows, maybe she'll treat her next cab driver with a little respect. I don't ask for much. I just want to make a living without being called a crook when I don't even make minimum wage.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
My Letter To My Congressman Re: H.J. Res
Mr. Perriello,
I am writing to strongly urge you to vote against H. J. Res. 5, a bill that has recently come to my attention. Here is a link to a web page with information about the bill in particular....
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hj111-5
This bill would repeal the 22nd Constitutional Amendment, which is a very real step towards a dictatorship, and at the very extreme, towards communism. Please stand up for the Consitution and the rights of our citizens and vote against this bill. It goes against many basic principles that the US government is supposed to be based on. I have also just been informed of the NLE '09 (National Level Exercise) scheduled for July 2009.
The very thought of this troubles me, especially when agreements have been signed allowing foreign troops to supposedly "assist" US troops in restoring / keeping civil rest..... But who says when they are supposed to leave? Or IF they are supposed to leave? Is the US to be the first guinea pig of modern-day martial law?
I always understood that the US government was supposed to be "We The People, By The People, For The People." These developments would not show this to be true. It is bad enough that our taxes only pay the interest on loans made to the government by the Federal Reserve. Now our own government is attempting to perpetuate its incumbency?
Term limits should have applied to all elected and appointed offices in the first place. Instead, Washington is now attempting to allow the perpetuation of one person's way of doing things. That is as close as we can get to a dictatorship without actually having one, as there will always be those who are hampered or dissatisfied with current policy, whatever it may be at the time.
Now the government wishes to permanently empower those who are satisfied with whatever current policy may be. I urge you and all of Congress to rethink this bill. It can only lead to more problems, and I believe the US has more problems than it can really handle now.
Respectfully your constituent,
I am writing to strongly urge you to vote against H. J. Res. 5, a bill that has recently come to my attention. Here is a link to a web page with information about the bill in particular....
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hj111-5
This bill would repeal the 22nd Constitutional Amendment, which is a very real step towards a dictatorship, and at the very extreme, towards communism. Please stand up for the Consitution and the rights of our citizens and vote against this bill. It goes against many basic principles that the US government is supposed to be based on. I have also just been informed of the NLE '09 (National Level Exercise) scheduled for July 2009.
The very thought of this troubles me, especially when agreements have been signed allowing foreign troops to supposedly "assist" US troops in restoring / keeping civil rest..... But who says when they are supposed to leave? Or IF they are supposed to leave? Is the US to be the first guinea pig of modern-day martial law?
I always understood that the US government was supposed to be "We The People, By The People, For The People." These developments would not show this to be true. It is bad enough that our taxes only pay the interest on loans made to the government by the Federal Reserve. Now our own government is attempting to perpetuate its incumbency?
Term limits should have applied to all elected and appointed offices in the first place. Instead, Washington is now attempting to allow the perpetuation of one person's way of doing things. That is as close as we can get to a dictatorship without actually having one, as there will always be those who are hampered or dissatisfied with current policy, whatever it may be at the time.
Now the government wishes to permanently empower those who are satisfied with whatever current policy may be. I urge you and all of Congress to rethink this bill. It can only lead to more problems, and I believe the US has more problems than it can really handle now.
Respectfully your constituent,
The Great Dilemma....
Picked up my motorhome a couple days ago. I've dubbed it the EM-50, after the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle project, in true "Stripes" fashion. Long story, and hard to explain if you haven't seen the movie.
It's getting really easy to decide to convert my bus. EM-50 has problemS, plural. Nothing that can't be fixed, but I really think I'll spend just as much fixing it all as I would converting my bus, and I would have more room. (The motorhome has around 19 feet of usable space, whereas the bus has 26 feet.) Not to mention that I now have most, if not all, of what I need to convert the bus. I have already dubbed the bus "Cheese Wagon."
The motorhome has a few electrical problems, roof leaks, windshield leaks, minor interior damage from the leaks, and pending fuel system problems (possibly watered-down or bad fuel). I may spend close to $3500-4000 to fix all this, and I think I could convert the bus nicely for that amount. "Cheese Wagon" would stand up to bad weather, high winds, and wayward tree limbs and other foreign objects much better than the "EM-50", as well. More to come.....
It's getting really easy to decide to convert my bus. EM-50 has problemS, plural. Nothing that can't be fixed, but I really think I'll spend just as much fixing it all as I would converting my bus, and I would have more room. (The motorhome has around 19 feet of usable space, whereas the bus has 26 feet.) Not to mention that I now have most, if not all, of what I need to convert the bus. I have already dubbed the bus "Cheese Wagon."
The motorhome has a few electrical problems, roof leaks, windshield leaks, minor interior damage from the leaks, and pending fuel system problems (possibly watered-down or bad fuel). I may spend close to $3500-4000 to fix all this, and I think I could convert the bus nicely for that amount. "Cheese Wagon" would stand up to bad weather, high winds, and wayward tree limbs and other foreign objects much better than the "EM-50", as well. More to come.....
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wanderlust Strikes.....
The incident of May 30 (Blog Post: Whew!) has started me seriously thinking about a lot of things....
Mostly about how I've been wasting my time in this town. I can't believe it took an incident like this for me to see just how dangerous my profession can be. Someone can actually ruin my life and take away my freedom without even putting me in harm's way. All it takes is for some snobby, drunk college girl to holler rape and it may not matter whether I even said or did anything. If the cops hadn't had any sense (like most people in this town) I would have been locked up for whatever charge applied.
Fortunately, that didn't happen. But I have a whole new way of thinking, and a whole new plan. My taxi insurance and most of my permits are good until December or January. By spring of 2010, I plan to be ready to escape Charlottesville, or at least very close to ready.
I have really thought about this. I have a plethora of reasons to leave, and very few to stay.
In 1996, my world was turning upside down. My ex-girlfriend had a job opportunity that was going to take her 600 miles away or more. Because of tension towards me from her parents, I felt that it was best that she do what she had to do, without me. I never wanted for her to have to choose between me and her family, and I thought it might come to that.
Then there was the upheaval of parental divorce. No big surprise, I saw it coming.
Not to mention that I had friends here. Fast forward to 2009.
The majority of the reasons I had to stay here have in one way or another betrayed me. Most of the friends I had at the time have turned on me for stupid and (mostly) unfounded reasons, up to and including being errantly blamed for getting a couple of them thrown out on the street, which in turn made everyone they knew hate me for something I had nothing to do with. Not to mention these "friends" never paid back loans that I and several other people made to help them.
I hate to say it, but sometimes I even feel like my presence is inconvenient to family. I don't hear from them as often as I would like, and when I call them, if I don't get them directly, my calls may or may not be returned, whether I leave a message or not.
So, I bought a motor home recently. It runs and drives, but I am still up in the air as to whether it is roadworthy or not, and whether everything works. If not, I also have an old school bus that I have been using as a surveillance office, which has been paying for my studio time, and I think it could be converted fairly easily.
I think what pisses me off most about the time I have wasted in this town is that in 1996, I settled an insurance claim that would have been a big help in getting me out of this place. Now I am having to make my own luck. Come hell or high water, if nothing changes drastically for the better in my life between now and March of 2010, I will be leaving Charlottesville.
Mostly about how I've been wasting my time in this town. I can't believe it took an incident like this for me to see just how dangerous my profession can be. Someone can actually ruin my life and take away my freedom without even putting me in harm's way. All it takes is for some snobby, drunk college girl to holler rape and it may not matter whether I even said or did anything. If the cops hadn't had any sense (like most people in this town) I would have been locked up for whatever charge applied.
Fortunately, that didn't happen. But I have a whole new way of thinking, and a whole new plan. My taxi insurance and most of my permits are good until December or January. By spring of 2010, I plan to be ready to escape Charlottesville, or at least very close to ready.
I have really thought about this. I have a plethora of reasons to leave, and very few to stay.
In 1996, my world was turning upside down. My ex-girlfriend had a job opportunity that was going to take her 600 miles away or more. Because of tension towards me from her parents, I felt that it was best that she do what she had to do, without me. I never wanted for her to have to choose between me and her family, and I thought it might come to that.
Then there was the upheaval of parental divorce. No big surprise, I saw it coming.
Not to mention that I had friends here. Fast forward to 2009.
The majority of the reasons I had to stay here have in one way or another betrayed me. Most of the friends I had at the time have turned on me for stupid and (mostly) unfounded reasons, up to and including being errantly blamed for getting a couple of them thrown out on the street, which in turn made everyone they knew hate me for something I had nothing to do with. Not to mention these "friends" never paid back loans that I and several other people made to help them.
I hate to say it, but sometimes I even feel like my presence is inconvenient to family. I don't hear from them as often as I would like, and when I call them, if I don't get them directly, my calls may or may not be returned, whether I leave a message or not.
So, I bought a motor home recently. It runs and drives, but I am still up in the air as to whether it is roadworthy or not, and whether everything works. If not, I also have an old school bus that I have been using as a surveillance office, which has been paying for my studio time, and I think it could be converted fairly easily.
I think what pisses me off most about the time I have wasted in this town is that in 1996, I settled an insurance claim that would have been a big help in getting me out of this place. Now I am having to make my own luck. Come hell or high water, if nothing changes drastically for the better in my life between now and March of 2010, I will be leaving Charlottesville.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
About Posts Prior To This One....
My prior posts are actually transfers from MySpace, and may be out of order, and the dates are not corresponding with when the original posts on MySpace were made....... Keep this in mind.
Thought I Was Kidding About The Nursery School?
If you thought I was kidding about my line of work having become a nursery school, check this out.....
Five days ago, I discovered that someone had taken a knife and cut my new city taxi permit sticker off of my rear bumper. I called the police and made a report, just in case someone was really cheap enough to steal another cab's permit when they only cost $5-10. I also moved the cab to another location to park it.
Today, when I picked the car up, one of my tires was flat. Mind you, they are brand-new with less than 2,000 miles on them, and no history of leakage.
After filling it with fix-a-flat and topping off the air pressure, I carefully inspected it with a flashlight. No screws, nails, or other foreign objects in the tire. As a matter of fact, there was still air pressure in the tire before I filled it with fix-a-flat, which pretty much proves someone let the air out of it. I'm pretty sure I know who did it, and they will get theirs. That's the beautiful part about karma, it happens whether I do anything or not.
Now, I ask you, is there any reason for grown men to act this way?
Five days ago, I discovered that someone had taken a knife and cut my new city taxi permit sticker off of my rear bumper. I called the police and made a report, just in case someone was really cheap enough to steal another cab's permit when they only cost $5-10. I also moved the cab to another location to park it.
Today, when I picked the car up, one of my tires was flat. Mind you, they are brand-new with less than 2,000 miles on them, and no history of leakage.
After filling it with fix-a-flat and topping off the air pressure, I carefully inspected it with a flashlight. No screws, nails, or other foreign objects in the tire. As a matter of fact, there was still air pressure in the tire before I filled it with fix-a-flat, which pretty much proves someone let the air out of it. I'm pretty sure I know who did it, and they will get theirs. That's the beautiful part about karma, it happens whether I do anything or not.
Now, I ask you, is there any reason for grown men to act this way?
Turnabout's Fair Play....
LMAO -- I just had SOOOO much fun with this nursery school of taxi drivers we have servicing the airport. I sort of "forgot" to put my new taxi inspection sticker on the car.
So all afternoon the other drivers were bitching and whining to the Airport Police. Finally an officer comes out to talk to me about it. I showed him my sticker, and he told me I needed to put it on the car. I was really hoping they would let me wait until I was first in line....
But you should have seen the look on their faces when I calmly walked back to the car and retrieved the sticker, peeled it off the backing and put it in its place on the rear bumper...... LOL! That'll teach them to mind their own damned business..... :P But we all know THAT'S not gonna happen.
So all afternoon the other drivers were bitching and whining to the Airport Police. Finally an officer comes out to talk to me about it. I showed him my sticker, and he told me I needed to put it on the car. I was really hoping they would let me wait until I was first in line....
But you should have seen the look on their faces when I calmly walked back to the car and retrieved the sticker, peeled it off the backing and put it in its place on the rear bumper...... LOL! That'll teach them to mind their own damned business..... :P But we all know THAT'S not gonna happen.
Will The REAL Guns 'N' Roses Please Stand Up?
Just listened to some snippets from the new "17 years in the making" GNR album... sorry to say.... Nope. It's just not the same. Guns 'N' Roses was a truly great band in the 90s. But the only even somewhat original member is Axl Rose. This smacks of DaimlerChrysler reviving the Charger name on a car that just ISN'T a Charger. Just because it has a Hemi, doesn't make it a Charger....
I have to say I was a bit disappointed in 1991 when after a long series of put-offs and on-again-off-again release dates, the Use Your Illusion album set was finally released. It was by no means a crappy album, it really was good. But considering that G'N'R had kept their fans waiting for over three years to get their hands on it, expecting something truly epic, it was a slight letdown even though the music was good. And besides, just how long are you supposed to wait for music to be released that is played on-stage every night?
The only thing that really saved G'N'R Lies was "Patience", in my book. Live tracks generally just don't sound that good, no matter how they're mixed and mastered.
I have to give Axl Rose respect for having the guts to get back in the ring, but I think it's wrong to attempt to backbuild on a name made famous by musicians that aren't even in the band anymore.....especially when a different mix of musicians will never truly match the band's original sound.
I'm not saying that any one of Slash, Izzy, Duff, Steven Adler, or Matt Sorum singlehandedly made that band. It was a combination of all their talents. Now we have a whole new mix of musicians. I know Guns 'N' Roses. You, sirs, are not Guns 'N' Roses!
I may be wrong, but I think a lot of people old enough to remember this band, probably don't care anymore after the Use Your Illusion snafu, followed by the disaster "The Spaghetti Incident?".... c'mon guys....
Sorry to say, this is one album I won't be buying. Flame away..... Metallica may have altered their style a bit over the years, but sometimes you just change with the times. The only original band member not still with Metallica is dead..... pretty good reason, I'd say.
Personally, I think the original musicians let G'N'R die because it wasn't getting any better, and they probably felt the way I do... Better to burn out, than to fade away.
I have to say I was a bit disappointed in 1991 when after a long series of put-offs and on-again-off-again release dates, the Use Your Illusion album set was finally released. It was by no means a crappy album, it really was good. But considering that G'N'R had kept their fans waiting for over three years to get their hands on it, expecting something truly epic, it was a slight letdown even though the music was good. And besides, just how long are you supposed to wait for music to be released that is played on-stage every night?
The only thing that really saved G'N'R Lies was "Patience", in my book. Live tracks generally just don't sound that good, no matter how they're mixed and mastered.
I have to give Axl Rose respect for having the guts to get back in the ring, but I think it's wrong to attempt to backbuild on a name made famous by musicians that aren't even in the band anymore.....especially when a different mix of musicians will never truly match the band's original sound.
I'm not saying that any one of Slash, Izzy, Duff, Steven Adler, or Matt Sorum singlehandedly made that band. It was a combination of all their talents. Now we have a whole new mix of musicians. I know Guns 'N' Roses. You, sirs, are not Guns 'N' Roses!
I may be wrong, but I think a lot of people old enough to remember this band, probably don't care anymore after the Use Your Illusion snafu, followed by the disaster "The Spaghetti Incident?".... c'mon guys....
Sorry to say, this is one album I won't be buying. Flame away..... Metallica may have altered their style a bit over the years, but sometimes you just change with the times. The only original band member not still with Metallica is dead..... pretty good reason, I'd say.
Personally, I think the original musicians let G'N'R die because it wasn't getting any better, and they probably felt the way I do... Better to burn out, than to fade away.
Oof... A "Color Of Time" Moment
You ever have a deja vu moment, or run into someone you swore was someone you knew, but they weren't?
I ran into someone a few nights ago that looked identical to a girl I had a huge crush on in high school. Same name and all, I thought it really was her and she was messing with my head. It wasn't her, but if it had been her, wow, she had aged well :) LOL
Kinda bummed though. It made me think of a lot of what-if's, which is exactly what I was writing about when I wrote my song "The Color Of Time". Oh, well. A day or two and I'll forget about it. :P
I ran into someone a few nights ago that looked identical to a girl I had a huge crush on in high school. Same name and all, I thought it really was her and she was messing with my head. It wasn't her, but if it had been her, wow, she had aged well :) LOL
Kinda bummed though. It made me think of a lot of what-if's, which is exactly what I was writing about when I wrote my song "The Color Of Time". Oh, well. A day or two and I'll forget about it. :P
If You're In The Market For A new Computer.....
Okay, decided on a Sony Vaio to replace my neurotic Dell.....
However, I have some thoughts and warnings about the sales process, no matter who you deal with.
My main uses involve wi-fi at the airport, playing mp3s and watching movies while I wait for orders, and letting customers watch a movie on the occasional longer trip to DC or Richmond, so I needed something built for multimedia and InterNet.
I went to Best Buy, maybe not the best place, but it seemed reasonable enough. Had my eye on a Gateway with 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive and a 2.1 Ghz processor. Not a bad little machine for $699, I thought.
The sales girl told me that the Gateway wasn't a bad machine, but maybe not suited for what I wanted to do. When I asked why, she told me that the video card in the Gateway was parasitic to the CPU, and would basically force me to shut everything else down if I played back video. This is not something I want to deal with, so I asked for an alternative.
She showed me the Sony Vaio that I decided on. The only thing I really didn't like was the hard drive only being 250GB. However, she said that it would be much better suited for playing movies.
I could have stepped up to another with a 320GB hard drive, but I would have paid another $150 for 70GB of hard drive space and a Blu-Ray drive I didn't necessarily want or need. Still, I'm happy that the girl informed me that the machine I was looking at wasn't necessarily going to best serve my needs.
So I'm thinking I've gotten a great deal. $750 for a laptop that normally runs around $1000. Then I ask about a car adapter for use in the cab. $100.00 for a universal adapter. Then I'm informed that the system restore discs no longer come with the machine, apparently because Bill Gates doesn't think he makes enough money. (Greedy bastard -- if I had my way I'd run Linux. Unfortunately Linux doesn't really lend itself to my particular applications.)
So now I shell out another $60 for "burned" copies of the restore discs that, in my mind, should be part of the price of the computer. Why should I have to pay extra for discs to reinstall if something happens? I bought the operating system with the machine, didn't I?
Now I'm finding out that if something DOES happen, it's not simply wipe the hard drive and reload anymore. Sony apparently requires a "machine build" process in which you systematically load drivers to enable separate components of the machine.
So you REALLY have to know what you're doing in order to get it back up and running in the event of a problem. Not exactly confidence inspiring. I have a bad feeling I will be dumping this machine within a year, but we shall see.
So there you have it. Be very careful when buying a new computer. Things are not the way they used to be, and definitely not the way they SHOULD be in some cases.
However, I have some thoughts and warnings about the sales process, no matter who you deal with.
My main uses involve wi-fi at the airport, playing mp3s and watching movies while I wait for orders, and letting customers watch a movie on the occasional longer trip to DC or Richmond, so I needed something built for multimedia and InterNet.
I went to Best Buy, maybe not the best place, but it seemed reasonable enough. Had my eye on a Gateway with 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive and a 2.1 Ghz processor. Not a bad little machine for $699, I thought.
The sales girl told me that the Gateway wasn't a bad machine, but maybe not suited for what I wanted to do. When I asked why, she told me that the video card in the Gateway was parasitic to the CPU, and would basically force me to shut everything else down if I played back video. This is not something I want to deal with, so I asked for an alternative.
She showed me the Sony Vaio that I decided on. The only thing I really didn't like was the hard drive only being 250GB. However, she said that it would be much better suited for playing movies.
I could have stepped up to another with a 320GB hard drive, but I would have paid another $150 for 70GB of hard drive space and a Blu-Ray drive I didn't necessarily want or need. Still, I'm happy that the girl informed me that the machine I was looking at wasn't necessarily going to best serve my needs.
So I'm thinking I've gotten a great deal. $750 for a laptop that normally runs around $1000. Then I ask about a car adapter for use in the cab. $100.00 for a universal adapter. Then I'm informed that the system restore discs no longer come with the machine, apparently because Bill Gates doesn't think he makes enough money. (Greedy bastard -- if I had my way I'd run Linux. Unfortunately Linux doesn't really lend itself to my particular applications.)
So now I shell out another $60 for "burned" copies of the restore discs that, in my mind, should be part of the price of the computer. Why should I have to pay extra for discs to reinstall if something happens? I bought the operating system with the machine, didn't I?
Now I'm finding out that if something DOES happen, it's not simply wipe the hard drive and reload anymore. Sony apparently requires a "machine build" process in which you systematically load drivers to enable separate components of the machine.
So you REALLY have to know what you're doing in order to get it back up and running in the event of a problem. Not exactly confidence inspiring. I have a bad feeling I will be dumping this machine within a year, but we shall see.
So there you have it. Be very careful when buying a new computer. Things are not the way they used to be, and definitely not the way they SHOULD be in some cases.
WTF Else Could Have POSSIBLY Gone Wrong?!!!!
Recently, I was *THIS* close to saying "I'm DONE." I know that into every life a little rain must fall, but this week has been ridiculous. Some of it was no big deal, just helping friends, but it really seems like whatever could go wrong this week, DID.
This goes back a few months ago, over the course of a couple weeks. It sorta started with a good friend blowing the transmission in their car on their way to work. It didn't really inconvenience me in any way, but I worry about my friends when they have major problems, even if I don't voice those concerns.
Then, their significant other had a breakdown on the way home one night. Thus begins the real saga.
The car broke down exactly halfway home. The dipshit tow truck driver that picked up the car, instead of towing it 30 miles to Charlottesville where she lived, towed it 30 miles the opposite direction, to a shop specializing in transmissions (?) on Glenside Drive in fucking RICHMOND!!! He told them that the car's owner wanted a diagnostic, which from what I understand, was not asked for.
We went down to try to get the car moved a day or two later. They have the car locked in a shop bay for an $80 diagnostic fee (again, not asked for by the owner). So they had to dish out what little money they had to get the car out of the shop, and then had no money to have it towed.
The whole point of the trip was to try to get the car to move under its own power, but now we pretty much had to, because no money was left to have it towed.
Then a guy from the shop comes out and gives us what-for about working on the car in their lot. I understand their viewpoint, but the shop owner blamed it on a supervisor for the K-Mart store they leased their space from.
Turns out the manager knew nothing about it, and the shop owner couldn't give me a name or telephone number for the invisible man with no name from K-Mart who was chewing his ass for a customer working on their own car in the lot.
So then I finally went off, and it wasn't even my car. I was as calm as I could be, because I really don't like seeing shops take advantage of females just because most don't understand cars, especially when the female happens to be a friend of mine.
Suddenly the owner is as nice as can be, and offers to let me work on the car in their shop bay. Oh, hell, no. You're not holding her car for ransom again, you crook.
I told him exactly this. "Sir, I am going to put the wheel back on this car so it appears operable. It will be locked up. I am driving 55 miles one-way to get a pickup truck and a tow dolly, and this car will be towed out of here today. This car had BETTER be here when I get back, and it had BETTER be untouched, and it had BETTER not be inaccessible, and there had DEFINITELY better not be any additional bills owing in your mind on its release. This is not even my car, and you see I am not happy. Imagine if this WAS my vehicle."
The car was there when we got back, but I was still so mad from the way my friends were treated that I was towing the car at nearly 80, and the poor thing was swaying like a belly dancer on the dolly. It was in no danger of falling off, but damn it, there is no sense in shops treating people this way.
So we get the car back to Charlottesville, and we're pretty sure at this point that the timing belt is the problem. BIG problem with this particular car, 90% of the time results in valve damage.
I spent an afternoon changing the belt and retiming the camshafts (one of which was 180 degrees off, for those who know what I'm talking about -- this was NOT a good sign). Quite a frustrating afternoon, because this car is not designed with easy service in mind.
No dice. It appears that half of the valves in the engine are bent. It will not start, and despite resetting the timing, starting attempts sound no different than when the timing was out. I feel really bad for my friends, because now between a house of three females, none of them have a reliable car to their name between them, and none of them work within walking distance.
So this was not totally a big deal to me in terms of inconvenience, I just donated a little time to help a friend, and stupid people insisted on making things a lot harder than they had to be... but wait, there's more!!!
I upgraded the hard drive in my new(er) laptop this week. On my old one, I ran two external hard drives, one of which held my lyrics and music related files. The other held a mishmash of miscellaneous things. The second one failed without warning. No big deal, I had backups of this one, and so I simply transferred my lyrics and things to the new hard drive, cleared it, then used that drive to relay the miscellanous things, planning to clear it again and reload my lyrics and other related files (which are my life's work).
Well, the new hard drive failed within 24 hours, minutes before I was about to start a backup of those materials. So now, every lyric, rap rhyme, or song I ever wrote that has not been recorded in some form is gone, probably forever. I also lost about 3,500 MP3s......
I did manage to salvage some stuff that was halfway recorded and ready for vocal recording, but this is a total of nine songs, out of over 250 total.
To top it all off, my newer laptop is starting to have issues that were not present with the old one. I'm seriously considering stripping both of them, selling the parts on eBay, and using the money to buy a new one.
Now I know how someone feels when they say "Just Shoot Me".
This goes back a few months ago, over the course of a couple weeks. It sorta started with a good friend blowing the transmission in their car on their way to work. It didn't really inconvenience me in any way, but I worry about my friends when they have major problems, even if I don't voice those concerns.
Then, their significant other had a breakdown on the way home one night. Thus begins the real saga.
The car broke down exactly halfway home. The dipshit tow truck driver that picked up the car, instead of towing it 30 miles to Charlottesville where she lived, towed it 30 miles the opposite direction, to a shop specializing in transmissions (?) on Glenside Drive in fucking RICHMOND!!! He told them that the car's owner wanted a diagnostic, which from what I understand, was not asked for.
We went down to try to get the car moved a day or two later. They have the car locked in a shop bay for an $80 diagnostic fee (again, not asked for by the owner). So they had to dish out what little money they had to get the car out of the shop, and then had no money to have it towed.
The whole point of the trip was to try to get the car to move under its own power, but now we pretty much had to, because no money was left to have it towed.
Then a guy from the shop comes out and gives us what-for about working on the car in their lot. I understand their viewpoint, but the shop owner blamed it on a supervisor for the K-Mart store they leased their space from.
Turns out the manager knew nothing about it, and the shop owner couldn't give me a name or telephone number for the invisible man with no name from K-Mart who was chewing his ass for a customer working on their own car in the lot.
So then I finally went off, and it wasn't even my car. I was as calm as I could be, because I really don't like seeing shops take advantage of females just because most don't understand cars, especially when the female happens to be a friend of mine.
Suddenly the owner is as nice as can be, and offers to let me work on the car in their shop bay. Oh, hell, no. You're not holding her car for ransom again, you crook.
I told him exactly this. "Sir, I am going to put the wheel back on this car so it appears operable. It will be locked up. I am driving 55 miles one-way to get a pickup truck and a tow dolly, and this car will be towed out of here today. This car had BETTER be here when I get back, and it had BETTER be untouched, and it had BETTER not be inaccessible, and there had DEFINITELY better not be any additional bills owing in your mind on its release. This is not even my car, and you see I am not happy. Imagine if this WAS my vehicle."
The car was there when we got back, but I was still so mad from the way my friends were treated that I was towing the car at nearly 80, and the poor thing was swaying like a belly dancer on the dolly. It was in no danger of falling off, but damn it, there is no sense in shops treating people this way.
So we get the car back to Charlottesville, and we're pretty sure at this point that the timing belt is the problem. BIG problem with this particular car, 90% of the time results in valve damage.
I spent an afternoon changing the belt and retiming the camshafts (one of which was 180 degrees off, for those who know what I'm talking about -- this was NOT a good sign). Quite a frustrating afternoon, because this car is not designed with easy service in mind.
No dice. It appears that half of the valves in the engine are bent. It will not start, and despite resetting the timing, starting attempts sound no different than when the timing was out. I feel really bad for my friends, because now between a house of three females, none of them have a reliable car to their name between them, and none of them work within walking distance.
So this was not totally a big deal to me in terms of inconvenience, I just donated a little time to help a friend, and stupid people insisted on making things a lot harder than they had to be... but wait, there's more!!!
I upgraded the hard drive in my new(er) laptop this week. On my old one, I ran two external hard drives, one of which held my lyrics and music related files. The other held a mishmash of miscellaneous things. The second one failed without warning. No big deal, I had backups of this one, and so I simply transferred my lyrics and things to the new hard drive, cleared it, then used that drive to relay the miscellanous things, planning to clear it again and reload my lyrics and other related files (which are my life's work).
Well, the new hard drive failed within 24 hours, minutes before I was about to start a backup of those materials. So now, every lyric, rap rhyme, or song I ever wrote that has not been recorded in some form is gone, probably forever. I also lost about 3,500 MP3s......
I did manage to salvage some stuff that was halfway recorded and ready for vocal recording, but this is a total of nine songs, out of over 250 total.
To top it all off, my newer laptop is starting to have issues that were not present with the old one. I'm seriously considering stripping both of them, selling the parts on eBay, and using the money to buy a new one.
Now I know how someone feels when they say "Just Shoot Me".
Some People Just Don't Get It......
Okay, some jackass in Texas has filed a class-action lawsuit against Hooters because *HE* couldn't get a job there. Yeah, *HE*! You read that right. Granted, by only hiring females with large breasts, they do sort of discriminate, but Chris Rock was right ...... No one goes to Hooters for the wings. :P
A link to the video of this debacle is posted below:
In closing, I guess this could go a long way towards explaining George W. Bush...... Texas is next door to Mexico, maybe it's something in the water?
A link to the video of this debacle is posted below:
In closing, I guess this could go a long way towards explaining George W. Bush...... Texas is next door to Mexico, maybe it's something in the water?
Interesting Concept....
Recent development at the airport. The cafe inside the terminal has decided to remove its old ordinary entrance and set up a new entrance from the secure side, apparently in response to complaints from airline passengers that they cannot frequent the cafe from the secure side.
The problem with this is that those who are employees or vendors of the airport (cab drivers, ticket agents, rental car employees) can no longer get into the cafe because TSA apparently will not allow us through the security area. Apparently they feel that cab drivers and rental car agents pose a security risk, even though I've had to get a security badge to identify myself to all airport personnel. I guess the cafe feels that the airline passengers spend more money. Time will tell on that one. The only other way to get food or drinks is the snack machines or ordering delivery. A cooler takes up luggage space in the trunk, and likely any perishables will go bad on a typical 15 hour day, anyway. One of the cashiers told me recently to knock on the window and they will be glad to help me, but from what I see, they are only here for two of my shifts a week.
I can understand the business standpoint, but I would think that 35 permitted taxi vendors, 20-25 rental car employees, and 50 airline employees should be spending enough for this cafe to make money.
I can also understand that no one likes being in limbo for 45 minutes before their flight, but it might have been easier to build a wall to create a secure side of the cafe. Although, I digress.
But, seeing as my money (and other airport taxi drivers' money) is not good enough for the cafe at this terminal, I guess it's not good enough to buy fuel at any of their other locations. I don't know if any of the other drivers will join me on this, seeing as they can't agree on anything long enough to get an ice cream cone, but I myself buy at least 50 gallons of fuel a week between my taxi and my personal vehicle.
If the other 35 drivers here do join my boycott, and have the same fuel purchases, that is 1750 gallons of fuel we might have otherwise purchased from them. At an average profit of 5 to 10 cents per gallon (I've researched this), that's anywhere from $90 - $175 profit they would lose each week. Doesn't sound like much, but that, combined with the loss of what we have been spending in the cafe itself, aside from other purchases when off-duty...... hmmm.... could be as much as $300 a week or more they're losing.
Oh, well. If my money's not good enough for them, I guess I'll just spend it elsewhere.
The problem with this is that those who are employees or vendors of the airport (cab drivers, ticket agents, rental car employees) can no longer get into the cafe because TSA apparently will not allow us through the security area. Apparently they feel that cab drivers and rental car agents pose a security risk, even though I've had to get a security badge to identify myself to all airport personnel. I guess the cafe feels that the airline passengers spend more money. Time will tell on that one. The only other way to get food or drinks is the snack machines or ordering delivery. A cooler takes up luggage space in the trunk, and likely any perishables will go bad on a typical 15 hour day, anyway. One of the cashiers told me recently to knock on the window and they will be glad to help me, but from what I see, they are only here for two of my shifts a week.
I can understand the business standpoint, but I would think that 35 permitted taxi vendors, 20-25 rental car employees, and 50 airline employees should be spending enough for this cafe to make money.
I can also understand that no one likes being in limbo for 45 minutes before their flight, but it might have been easier to build a wall to create a secure side of the cafe. Although, I digress.
But, seeing as my money (and other airport taxi drivers' money) is not good enough for the cafe at this terminal, I guess it's not good enough to buy fuel at any of their other locations. I don't know if any of the other drivers will join me on this, seeing as they can't agree on anything long enough to get an ice cream cone, but I myself buy at least 50 gallons of fuel a week between my taxi and my personal vehicle.
If the other 35 drivers here do join my boycott, and have the same fuel purchases, that is 1750 gallons of fuel we might have otherwise purchased from them. At an average profit of 5 to 10 cents per gallon (I've researched this), that's anywhere from $90 - $175 profit they would lose each week. Doesn't sound like much, but that, combined with the loss of what we have been spending in the cafe itself, aside from other purchases when off-duty...... hmmm.... could be as much as $300 a week or more they're losing.
Oh, well. If my money's not good enough for them, I guess I'll just spend it elsewhere.
Has Anyone Ever Tried To Make You Feel Inferior?
A fellow artist on MySpace posted a blog a day or so ago that really struck a chord with me. It seems that an 11-year-old child committed suicide because of being harrassed and bullied in school.
I was in this same situation years ago, and I think a lot of us who were or are, don't talk about it. I generally don't. I will say that I, too, was suicidal at one point and time, for a plethora of things, including things that happened in school years. Fortunately, I didn't explode like some others have.
But on to the point. I was given a nickname that I hated in high school, and some of the idiots I went to school with still refer to me in that manner to this day, to which I give no reply. My philosophy is that is someone can't refer to me with my proper name, then they're not worth my time.
Well, it just so happened, that shortly after I started my business, one of these idiots saw me and started trying to get my attention by shouting that nickname that I hated. When I didn't respond, he approached and kept repeating it like a mantra.
I just looked up at him and said, "Do you even KNOW my real name?" Surprise, surprise, he didn't.
"So what makes you think you know me well enough to talk to me?"
Of course, he starts with the "Yeah, you bum, you drive a cab," blah, blah, blah.
To which I simply looked at him and said, "Yeah, well, who do you work for?"
He worked for a local construction company, which I will not name, since that's not the point.
"Well, here's a few questions for you," I said. "Do you make your own hours? Are you your own boss? Do you have to answer to anyone?"
He said nothing, to which I continued. "You see this car? I own it. You see the company name on this car? I own it. I'm my own boss, and I don't have to take shit off of anybody to keep MY job. Can you say that? Not to mention I'm working on recording music. I'm trying to do something with MY life besides just putting food on the table."
So, word up, Jeffree Star....... I may not be quite as unique as you, but you're an inspiration to all of us that don't quite fit the "template".
I was in this same situation years ago, and I think a lot of us who were or are, don't talk about it. I generally don't. I will say that I, too, was suicidal at one point and time, for a plethora of things, including things that happened in school years. Fortunately, I didn't explode like some others have.
But on to the point. I was given a nickname that I hated in high school, and some of the idiots I went to school with still refer to me in that manner to this day, to which I give no reply. My philosophy is that is someone can't refer to me with my proper name, then they're not worth my time.
Well, it just so happened, that shortly after I started my business, one of these idiots saw me and started trying to get my attention by shouting that nickname that I hated. When I didn't respond, he approached and kept repeating it like a mantra.
I just looked up at him and said, "Do you even KNOW my real name?" Surprise, surprise, he didn't.
"So what makes you think you know me well enough to talk to me?"
Of course, he starts with the "Yeah, you bum, you drive a cab," blah, blah, blah.
To which I simply looked at him and said, "Yeah, well, who do you work for?"
He worked for a local construction company, which I will not name, since that's not the point.
"Well, here's a few questions for you," I said. "Do you make your own hours? Are you your own boss? Do you have to answer to anyone?"
He said nothing, to which I continued. "You see this car? I own it. You see the company name on this car? I own it. I'm my own boss, and I don't have to take shit off of anybody to keep MY job. Can you say that? Not to mention I'm working on recording music. I'm trying to do something with MY life besides just putting food on the table."
So, word up, Jeffree Star....... I may not be quite as unique as you, but you're an inspiration to all of us that don't quite fit the "template".
Dude, You're Getting A Dell...... My Condolences, Dude.....
Okay, this is a warning to anyone who owns a Dell computer. Don't expect much.
I received a Latitude C610 laptop as a gift about five years ago, and while it has been a solid little machine, I have simply outgrown it.
I bought a Latitude C840 laptop through CSR Technologies on eBay, to replace it. Unfortunately, the machine has issues. It was not clear in the description that it was refurbished that I remember, and it is basically a time bomb. I am not saying in any way not to buy from CSR Technologies. Just be very certain of what exactly you are getting.
The 840 basically runs fine for two weeks or so, waiting until I get everything set up just as I need it, then begins crashing and corrupting Windows. It has been reloaded 12 times since purchase. I finally gave up and called technical support a few nights ago, only to be told that they can't help me because I am not the original purchaser and don't know the name of the original purchaser.
How exactly am I to know this when I bought it through a resaler off eBay? So I informed the technical non-support personnel that not only would I not be buying used or refurbished computers anymore, I would not buy Dell from now on, since Dell did not seem interested in standing behind what they manufacture.
I am not faulting Dell for the problem with the machine, I am sure this is an isolated incident. But when I am in the market for a new laptop, it is hard to justify buying a Dell when you can't get them to help you with one that you already own.
So after a few attempts to get advice from friends, some of which had time, some of which didn't, I went to Best Buy and bought a Sony Vaio. Nice machine so far, stay tuned. There is another blog about the sales process....
I received a Latitude C610 laptop as a gift about five years ago, and while it has been a solid little machine, I have simply outgrown it.
I bought a Latitude C840 laptop through CSR Technologies on eBay, to replace it. Unfortunately, the machine has issues. It was not clear in the description that it was refurbished that I remember, and it is basically a time bomb. I am not saying in any way not to buy from CSR Technologies. Just be very certain of what exactly you are getting.
The 840 basically runs fine for two weeks or so, waiting until I get everything set up just as I need it, then begins crashing and corrupting Windows. It has been reloaded 12 times since purchase. I finally gave up and called technical support a few nights ago, only to be told that they can't help me because I am not the original purchaser and don't know the name of the original purchaser.
How exactly am I to know this when I bought it through a resaler off eBay? So I informed the technical non-support personnel that not only would I not be buying used or refurbished computers anymore, I would not buy Dell from now on, since Dell did not seem interested in standing behind what they manufacture.
I am not faulting Dell for the problem with the machine, I am sure this is an isolated incident. But when I am in the market for a new laptop, it is hard to justify buying a Dell when you can't get them to help you with one that you already own.
So after a few attempts to get advice from friends, some of which had time, some of which didn't, I went to Best Buy and bought a Sony Vaio. Nice machine so far, stay tuned. There is another blog about the sales process....
The Truth About Males And Females......
Okay..... I am a big fan of the "Jay And Silent Bob" movies. For the uninitiated, these include: MallRats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Clerks, Clerks II, and Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, and perhaps another one or two that don't come to mind at the moment.
My favorite of all of them is Clerks Part II, for a multitude of reasons. My favorite scene in the movie didn't start out that way. At first I thought it was pretty fucked up. But the more I learn, the more I live, the more I see it is true. The two relative roles in the movie are those of Dante' and Becky. Food for thought.... here's a link to the scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK7jM55NCu4
In case the link does not work... the lines that say it all:
Becky: I do think that marriage goes against our basic nature.
Dante: To be loved?
Becky: No..... to FUCK as much as possible, spread the seed around and keep the species going. Flowers, cards, candy, relationships, marriage, that's all stuff the corporations dreamed up to keep the economy going.
Dante: Are you saying you don't believe in love, Beckalah?
Becky: No. Like, I love my car. I love my parents, I love you. But "true love"? "There's only one person out there that's right for me?" Come ON. Do you know how many people there ARE out there? Chances are, there's someone out there that's a better match for you than the one you wind up with.
Dante: So you're saying that based on your theory, there's someone out there that's better for me than Emma?
Becky: Oh, no. I'm not touching THAT one.
And the more I live, the more I learn, the more truth I begin to see in this. Personally, I believe at this point that no matter the species, males and females are put on this earth for the following reasons:
1) To drive each other crazy.
2) To make whatever higher power or being there may or may not be laugh its ass off at us thinking that there is more to it than reason #1.
3) The parts fit together
4) Having a means of reproduction.
I'm not saying that no one will prove me wrong, but it hasn't happened in 12 years :P
My favorite of all of them is Clerks Part II, for a multitude of reasons. My favorite scene in the movie didn't start out that way. At first I thought it was pretty fucked up. But the more I learn, the more I live, the more I see it is true. The two relative roles in the movie are those of Dante' and Becky. Food for thought.... here's a link to the scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK7jM55NCu4
In case the link does not work... the lines that say it all:
Becky: I do think that marriage goes against our basic nature.
Dante: To be loved?
Becky: No..... to FUCK as much as possible, spread the seed around and keep the species going. Flowers, cards, candy, relationships, marriage, that's all stuff the corporations dreamed up to keep the economy going.
Dante: Are you saying you don't believe in love, Beckalah?
Becky: No. Like, I love my car. I love my parents, I love you. But "true love"? "There's only one person out there that's right for me?" Come ON. Do you know how many people there ARE out there? Chances are, there's someone out there that's a better match for you than the one you wind up with.
Dante: So you're saying that based on your theory, there's someone out there that's better for me than Emma?
Becky: Oh, no. I'm not touching THAT one.
And the more I live, the more I learn, the more truth I begin to see in this. Personally, I believe at this point that no matter the species, males and females are put on this earth for the following reasons:
1) To drive each other crazy.
2) To make whatever higher power or being there may or may not be laugh its ass off at us thinking that there is more to it than reason #1.
3) The parts fit together
4) Having a means of reproduction.
I'm not saying that no one will prove me wrong, but it hasn't happened in 12 years :P
Read If You Care About Your Rights!!!! (HR 45)
Ok, everybody. Listen up. The government is once against sticking their nose where it does not belong. The "Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record Of Sale Act Of 2009 (HR 45)" is up for vote in the House Of Representatives. Under this act, any and all Americans who even OWN a firearm would require a license to even have it. This is part of what led to the formation of Hitler's WW II Germany.
Urge your representative to vote against this bill. It is infringing on our right to privacy at the very least. If you have no reputation or history of violent offenses, it is none of the government's business whether or not you own a firearm. If we let them get away with this, what else will they try?
Even if you don't care about this issue, or think it is a good idea, consider this. Criminals will get firearms whether they can license them or not. And then what will you do when an "unlicensed" firearm obtained by a criminal still manages to affect you or someone in your life?
I have also separately blogged a letter sent to my representative about this bill. Have a read, I think a lot of people would find it interesting and even entertaining.
Urge your representative to vote against this bill. It is infringing on our right to privacy at the very least. If you have no reputation or history of violent offenses, it is none of the government's business whether or not you own a firearm. If we let them get away with this, what else will they try?
Even if you don't care about this issue, or think it is a good idea, consider this. Criminals will get firearms whether they can license them or not. And then what will you do when an "unlicensed" firearm obtained by a criminal still manages to affect you or someone in your life?
I have also separately blogged a letter sent to my representative about this bill. Have a read, I think a lot of people would find it interesting and even entertaining.
Letter I Sent To My Representative Re: HR 45
Mr. Perriello -
Forgive my rather lengthy communication here, I have a great deal to say.
It has come to my attention that the "Firearm Licensing And Record Of Sale Act of 2009" (HR 45) has been introduced for consideration to become legislation. First and foremost I would like to point out that this could be interpreted as a direct violation of the second amendment.
While it cannot be reasonably argued what exactly our founding fathers meant when the Bill Of Rights was written, it CAN be reasonably argued that this bill will put more Americans at risk for being victims of gun violence than ever.
Why? Illegal guns are brought into this country every day through various means. This bill will have little, if any effect on gun violence. If criminals want guns, they will get them one way or another. And what will we "unlicensed" civilians do to protect ourselves then?
I know that the teenager for whom this bill was named met a tragic death by gun violence, and it is indeed sad. But it does not warrant leaving average citizens possibly unable to defend themselves because they may not qualify for a license under this legislation.
Example: Being a convicted felon would automatically constitute disqualification, I am sure. This is already in place by the majority of convicted felons' rights being revoked. Even DUI is considered a violent crime, and therefore a felony in the state of Virginia.
If someone is convicted of a DUI, they already are a felon, and therefore unable to vote, or buy/own a firearm. So the legislation isn't going to fix anything. It is simply going to ensure that the government knows which citizens legitimately have the means to defend themselves.
Want proof of this? The government has wasted tens of years and billions of dollars in manpower and resources fighting a so-called "war on drugs" that has only filled our jails to overflowing for non-violent drug offenders so that serious crimes such as rape, murder, and robberies cannot be properly punished. Not to mention the fact, that like the aforementioned illegal guns, illegal drugs are brought into and/or manufactured in this country everyday. So the "war on drugs" has failed.
Now, the government is proposing a war on gun violence, and along with it, our basic right to defend ourselves. I will not stand for this. Making it a crime to be an "unlicensed" owner of a firearm won't reduce gun violence. It will only allow those who get firearms illegally to hold this country and its citizens hostage.
This reeks of the government once again sticking their nose where it doesn't belong, and more importantly, into our pockets. Where is the revenue for the extra manpower and resources the ATF will have to have at its disposal to enforce this? The government could not balance its budget ten years ago, so how do they propose to do this?
Under this legislation, we will be treated like criminals for failing to disclose that we have the means to protect ourselves from a violent agressor. Quite frankly, it is no one's business whether or not I, as an average joe with no violent criminal history, possess or own a firearm.
I would like to point out that this is especially critical in these tight economic times. Jobs are tough to find, and are getting harder as smaller businesses are failing. In the past year, 14 have failed in the closest city to me alone.
As times get harder, people get more desperate and may be more likely to commit a violent crime such as armed robbery to ensure that their family is fed.
I know that this legislation is intended in some part to head this possibility off. But it will simply leave innocent civilians open to attack by criminals. As I stated, if these criminals want guns, they will get them, legal or not. If you want a demonstration of what this legislation's passing could lead to, you should watch a movie called "Demolition Man".
This is just allowing terrorists to win by taking away the freedoms that they hate our country for. It will allow criminals to win by leaving citizens open to violent attacks with illegal firearms. I urge you to vote against this bill.
Now, as an aside, Mr. Perriello, I'm going to take a moment to be frank and honest. This section is not necessarily meant for only you, feel free to share this with your colleagues, because I think everyone in government needs to see it.
I'm sure that you, as most who enter public office, do it because you want to serve the people of your community. Unfortunately, I have seen too much evidence that not only does our government sweep its citizens under the rug in most cases, it is also corrupt, and has been for decades. I personally do not think the government was trustworthy since before I was born.
From what I have seen the government no longer serves its citizens, it serves the purposes of its own agenda, regardless of whether it means crushing our freedoms.
Prove us wrong, Washington.....
Make those whose crimes really tragically affect the lives of others pay for their wrongdoing, instead of overloading our jails with those who simply use recreational drugs in the privacy of their own home, or make a mistake on their tax return.
Tax those who can afford it, instead of forcing working families and small businesses into Chapters 11 and 13.
Stop giving veritable bonuses to large corporations for not being able to balance their budget. It's "We The People", not "We The Corporations".
Stop taxation on top of taxation, such as "inheritance tax", "fuels tax", "meals tax", and various other taxes of this ridiculous nature. This country was founded to avoid unfair taxation, do you see the irony here?
Stop allowing large corporations to attempt to monopolize local industry and and muscle out smaller businesses and self-employed individuals.
Stop allowing our civil liberties and basic rights to be infringed and violated by those who think they have the right to do so.
Stop giving yourselves pay raises when there is potential for a surplus.
Ensure that government agencies in place to serve the public actually do so, instead of helping those who don't deserve it, leaving those in need out in the cold.
There is much more that I could mention, Mr. Perriello, but I do realize that you have many things to attend to. Yours is a big job, perhaps bigger than some realize, and I thank you for your time in reading this.
Sincerely and respectfully your constitutent......
Forgive my rather lengthy communication here, I have a great deal to say.
It has come to my attention that the "Firearm Licensing And Record Of Sale Act of 2009" (HR 45) has been introduced for consideration to become legislation. First and foremost I would like to point out that this could be interpreted as a direct violation of the second amendment.
While it cannot be reasonably argued what exactly our founding fathers meant when the Bill Of Rights was written, it CAN be reasonably argued that this bill will put more Americans at risk for being victims of gun violence than ever.
Why? Illegal guns are brought into this country every day through various means. This bill will have little, if any effect on gun violence. If criminals want guns, they will get them one way or another. And what will we "unlicensed" civilians do to protect ourselves then?
I know that the teenager for whom this bill was named met a tragic death by gun violence, and it is indeed sad. But it does not warrant leaving average citizens possibly unable to defend themselves because they may not qualify for a license under this legislation.
Example: Being a convicted felon would automatically constitute disqualification, I am sure. This is already in place by the majority of convicted felons' rights being revoked. Even DUI is considered a violent crime, and therefore a felony in the state of Virginia.
If someone is convicted of a DUI, they already are a felon, and therefore unable to vote, or buy/own a firearm. So the legislation isn't going to fix anything. It is simply going to ensure that the government knows which citizens legitimately have the means to defend themselves.
Want proof of this? The government has wasted tens of years and billions of dollars in manpower and resources fighting a so-called "war on drugs" that has only filled our jails to overflowing for non-violent drug offenders so that serious crimes such as rape, murder, and robberies cannot be properly punished. Not to mention the fact, that like the aforementioned illegal guns, illegal drugs are brought into and/or manufactured in this country everyday. So the "war on drugs" has failed.
Now, the government is proposing a war on gun violence, and along with it, our basic right to defend ourselves. I will not stand for this. Making it a crime to be an "unlicensed" owner of a firearm won't reduce gun violence. It will only allow those who get firearms illegally to hold this country and its citizens hostage.
This reeks of the government once again sticking their nose where it doesn't belong, and more importantly, into our pockets. Where is the revenue for the extra manpower and resources the ATF will have to have at its disposal to enforce this? The government could not balance its budget ten years ago, so how do they propose to do this?
Under this legislation, we will be treated like criminals for failing to disclose that we have the means to protect ourselves from a violent agressor. Quite frankly, it is no one's business whether or not I, as an average joe with no violent criminal history, possess or own a firearm.
I would like to point out that this is especially critical in these tight economic times. Jobs are tough to find, and are getting harder as smaller businesses are failing. In the past year, 14 have failed in the closest city to me alone.
As times get harder, people get more desperate and may be more likely to commit a violent crime such as armed robbery to ensure that their family is fed.
I know that this legislation is intended in some part to head this possibility off. But it will simply leave innocent civilians open to attack by criminals. As I stated, if these criminals want guns, they will get them, legal or not. If you want a demonstration of what this legislation's passing could lead to, you should watch a movie called "Demolition Man".
This is just allowing terrorists to win by taking away the freedoms that they hate our country for. It will allow criminals to win by leaving citizens open to violent attacks with illegal firearms. I urge you to vote against this bill.
Now, as an aside, Mr. Perriello, I'm going to take a moment to be frank and honest. This section is not necessarily meant for only you, feel free to share this with your colleagues, because I think everyone in government needs to see it.
I'm sure that you, as most who enter public office, do it because you want to serve the people of your community. Unfortunately, I have seen too much evidence that not only does our government sweep its citizens under the rug in most cases, it is also corrupt, and has been for decades. I personally do not think the government was trustworthy since before I was born.
From what I have seen the government no longer serves its citizens, it serves the purposes of its own agenda, regardless of whether it means crushing our freedoms.
Prove us wrong, Washington.....
Make those whose crimes really tragically affect the lives of others pay for their wrongdoing, instead of overloading our jails with those who simply use recreational drugs in the privacy of their own home, or make a mistake on their tax return.
Tax those who can afford it, instead of forcing working families and small businesses into Chapters 11 and 13.
Stop giving veritable bonuses to large corporations for not being able to balance their budget. It's "We The People", not "We The Corporations".
Stop taxation on top of taxation, such as "inheritance tax", "fuels tax", "meals tax", and various other taxes of this ridiculous nature. This country was founded to avoid unfair taxation, do you see the irony here?
Stop allowing large corporations to attempt to monopolize local industry and and muscle out smaller businesses and self-employed individuals.
Stop allowing our civil liberties and basic rights to be infringed and violated by those who think they have the right to do so.
Stop giving yourselves pay raises when there is potential for a surplus.
Ensure that government agencies in place to serve the public actually do so, instead of helping those who don't deserve it, leaving those in need out in the cold.
There is much more that I could mention, Mr. Perriello, but I do realize that you have many things to attend to. Yours is a big job, perhaps bigger than some realize, and I thank you for your time in reading this.
Sincerely and respectfully your constitutent......
Ok, I'm Done.......
After a few recent events and more recent conversations with friends (some rather blunt, others philosophical), I have decided that I am wasting my time pursuing a relationship of any sort. Simply put, males and females are simply on this planet to drive each other insane. Oh, yeah, and to make whatever higher power or being there may be laugh their ass off watching us. I'm done.
Funny thing is, I now have a fatal attraction thing going on. Someone has given my cell number to a woman I don't even know, and even though I have told her I'm not even remotely interested, she seems to have this idea now that I need to be "saved" or something. Blah. I don't mind friends, but she's pretty obvious about wanting more than that, and I don't even know her.
I don't want to be rude or hurt anyone's feelings, but I have told this woman I have nothing to offer, and all I can say is she must be REALLY lonely. :P I feel bad for her, but I've warned her repeatedly that I am not interested in pursuing anyone in a relationship. I am okay with a friends with benefits kind of thing, but I seriously doubt I will ever want a real relationship again. :P
Funny thing is, I now have a fatal attraction thing going on. Someone has given my cell number to a woman I don't even know, and even though I have told her I'm not even remotely interested, she seems to have this idea now that I need to be "saved" or something. Blah. I don't mind friends, but she's pretty obvious about wanting more than that, and I don't even know her.
I don't want to be rude or hurt anyone's feelings, but I have told this woman I have nothing to offer, and all I can say is she must be REALLY lonely. :P I feel bad for her, but I've warned her repeatedly that I am not interested in pursuing anyone in a relationship. I am okay with a friends with benefits kind of thing, but I seriously doubt I will ever want a real relationship again. :P
I Am SOOOOOO Bad.......
Okay, so it's that wonderful time of the year when all my permits and licensing are due for renewal. Which is usually an inevitable pain in the ass.
DMV requires a motor carrier permit, which basically is their certification that I am insured as a taxicab. My "special" taxicab-for-hire license plates are also due for renewal.
Then there are the local permits for the City Of Charlottesville. There are two. One to license the vehicle's for-hire status, and one to license me as a driver of such a vehicle ("hack" license, as it were).
Usually this entire process is one big headache. This year actually wasn't bad, and I was actually having a little fun with the local permits by the time it was over.
DMV was pretty much a breeze, after making sure that my ten-days-expired permit was renewable. In and out in 45 minutes. Wow. Is that why it snowed yesterday?
On to the local permits. Now, this started out as a wild goose chase. The city sets aside three days of three officers doing nothing but taxi cab inspections to insure that they are roadworthy and safe.
Due to some nomenclature confusion, I had to remove a NICE $200 window tint job, due in part to the fact that some competitors' drivers have been engaging in illegal activities while operating a taxi. So now, I'm already pissed off. I stayed up way later than normal just to make this inspection process.
Then, after losing more sleep for three hours removing the tint, I was told that my "borderline" front tires (that I planned to replace within the week anyway) would have to be replaced before I could be certified, and if not done by March 1st, I could not operate until it was done. If they had told me this in the first place, I would have just went home and slept, to deal with it later. GRRRRRRR.....
Anyway, after getting these issues taken care of, I returned to get the cab inspected. Surprise, surprise, these are no longer done on demand, they are done on designated days now. So I have to wait until March 3 (2 days past the deadline I was given) to try again. Does this make any sense to you?
Anyway, the cab passed this morning with flying colors. On to my driver's registration. The ladies in the office where this is done are a trip if you're nice to them. However, I had them laughing by the time I left. Even though I have already blogged before that I am "done", I actually find a couple of them attractive.
I had already picked and flirted with them before I even took my taxi driver's test. So when I didn't miss a single question, (and I was pretty sure of this) one of them told me they wanted my cheat sheet before I left. She actually made me laugh. Something I've NEVER done during this process.
I asked her what she meant, and she told me I was the first driver in two weeks to not miss a question on the test. To which I raised my eyebrows. It really is NOT that hard. Most of it is common sense.
She joked a little further about me having a cheat sheet, to which I took off my coat and turned completely around to show I didn't have one.
Then she asked if I had anything up my sleeve, and I told her, "Just my shoulder. But if you want to strip search me, SHE gets first dibs," pointing at one in particular.
Those poor women turned a brighter red than the color of this year's city permit, and laughed up a storm.
We got on the subject of relationships and such, and of course, the one I would definitely hang out with was married. Truthfully, the other lady I would hang out with also, but I haven't dealt with her as much :P
Oh, well. Besides, I haven't met someone in over 12 years that I could trust out of my sight for ten minutes. When I told her that, she said she felt the same about her husband.
Weird. Why be with someone you don't feel you can totally trust? Of course, some people think you're cheating on them whether they are or not, so that's food for thought too. Just affirms some of my observations in my time on this planet.
First, most people want what they can't or aren't supposed to have. Secondly, good people always wind up with the wrong person for them. Third, one of my favorite scenes from Clerks Part II has once again reaffirmed itself. Blog on this elsewhere.
DMV requires a motor carrier permit, which basically is their certification that I am insured as a taxicab. My "special" taxicab-for-hire license plates are also due for renewal.
Then there are the local permits for the City Of Charlottesville. There are two. One to license the vehicle's for-hire status, and one to license me as a driver of such a vehicle ("hack" license, as it were).
Usually this entire process is one big headache. This year actually wasn't bad, and I was actually having a little fun with the local permits by the time it was over.
DMV was pretty much a breeze, after making sure that my ten-days-expired permit was renewable. In and out in 45 minutes. Wow. Is that why it snowed yesterday?
On to the local permits. Now, this started out as a wild goose chase. The city sets aside three days of three officers doing nothing but taxi cab inspections to insure that they are roadworthy and safe.
Due to some nomenclature confusion, I had to remove a NICE $200 window tint job, due in part to the fact that some competitors' drivers have been engaging in illegal activities while operating a taxi. So now, I'm already pissed off. I stayed up way later than normal just to make this inspection process.
Then, after losing more sleep for three hours removing the tint, I was told that my "borderline" front tires (that I planned to replace within the week anyway) would have to be replaced before I could be certified, and if not done by March 1st, I could not operate until it was done. If they had told me this in the first place, I would have just went home and slept, to deal with it later. GRRRRRRR.....
Anyway, after getting these issues taken care of, I returned to get the cab inspected. Surprise, surprise, these are no longer done on demand, they are done on designated days now. So I have to wait until March 3 (2 days past the deadline I was given) to try again. Does this make any sense to you?
Anyway, the cab passed this morning with flying colors. On to my driver's registration. The ladies in the office where this is done are a trip if you're nice to them. However, I had them laughing by the time I left. Even though I have already blogged before that I am "done", I actually find a couple of them attractive.
I had already picked and flirted with them before I even took my taxi driver's test. So when I didn't miss a single question, (and I was pretty sure of this) one of them told me they wanted my cheat sheet before I left. She actually made me laugh. Something I've NEVER done during this process.
I asked her what she meant, and she told me I was the first driver in two weeks to not miss a question on the test. To which I raised my eyebrows. It really is NOT that hard. Most of it is common sense.
She joked a little further about me having a cheat sheet, to which I took off my coat and turned completely around to show I didn't have one.
Then she asked if I had anything up my sleeve, and I told her, "Just my shoulder. But if you want to strip search me, SHE gets first dibs," pointing at one in particular.
Those poor women turned a brighter red than the color of this year's city permit, and laughed up a storm.
We got on the subject of relationships and such, and of course, the one I would definitely hang out with was married. Truthfully, the other lady I would hang out with also, but I haven't dealt with her as much :P
Oh, well. Besides, I haven't met someone in over 12 years that I could trust out of my sight for ten minutes. When I told her that, she said she felt the same about her husband.
Weird. Why be with someone you don't feel you can totally trust? Of course, some people think you're cheating on them whether they are or not, so that's food for thought too. Just affirms some of my observations in my time on this planet.
First, most people want what they can't or aren't supposed to have. Secondly, good people always wind up with the wrong person for them. Third, one of my favorite scenes from Clerks Part II has once again reaffirmed itself. Blog on this elsewhere.
Service With A Smile.....
A couple nice folks got in my cab tonight from the airport, heading for a local hotel. During the conversation on the trip, one of them asked me if any local computer shops were open tomorrow, and being Sunday, not likely.
I asked her if she needed repairs or something else, and she had forgotten her laptop's AC adapter at home. Not a big problem then. I managed to track one down at the local Best Buy and took her there to pick it up along the way.
The lady was so grateful she tipped me $15.00 and asked for a card to arrange a ride back.
I love to get fares like this. Nice folks. I don't mind giving people service when they're that nice. Hopefully they will call me to bring them back to the airport.....
I asked her if she needed repairs or something else, and she had forgotten her laptop's AC adapter at home. Not a big problem then. I managed to track one down at the local Best Buy and took her there to pick it up along the way.
The lady was so grateful she tipped me $15.00 and asked for a card to arrange a ride back.
I love to get fares like this. Nice folks. I don't mind giving people service when they're that nice. Hopefully they will call me to bring them back to the airport.....
Dee-Dee-Dee!!!!!
I have heard rumors recently that the governor of the great Communist state of Virginia has formed a commission to create a statewide mandate to regulate all for-hire vehicles. This mandate is rumored to include age restrictions and rate limits.
Well.... I wrote myself a little email to the governor's office. A week later someone from the DMV phoned to inform me that no such mandate was or is being considered. I just received a letter from the governor himself stating it was his understanding that the DMV had phoned me to clarify this, and the letter was just to underline that.
This is just more game-playing by competitors. Why, oh, why do people have to be so f**king stupid?!!!
Well.... I wrote myself a little email to the governor's office. A week later someone from the DMV phoned to inform me that no such mandate was or is being considered. I just received a letter from the governor himself stating it was his understanding that the DMV had phoned me to clarify this, and the letter was just to underline that.
This is just more game-playing by competitors. Why, oh, why do people have to be so f**king stupid?!!!
Tell Me The Point Of This......
Okay, so tonight I get stopped by a city cop. For what, you may ask? Picking up a fare. That's all I did. Apparently, the police do not want us stopping in the street to pick up fares, even though there are often no spaces available to pull over.
I asked the officer why they were "cracking down on cab drivers" as he put it. Apparently, a cab was rearended by a DUI driver just last night, while stopped to pick up a fare.
Okay, so let me get this straight. Who was really breaking the law here, the cab, or the DUI driver? Would they rather the DUI driver have run over someone crossing the street a block or two later?
The cab driver that was rearended in all likelihood probably saved someone's life, and now we are being harrassed by cops that have nothing better to do.
I might add that even though the ordinance for vehicles for hire states that meters are required, there are rickshaws (bicycles converted to chariots, essentially) charging up to $10.00 a mile flat rate, depending on what the person operating the rickshaw comes up with. My taxi meter charges $3.90 per mile, metered.
These rickshaws are too wide for the bicycle lane, and too slow for normal traffic. They have a tendency to swing U-turns into oncoming traffic. They have no signalling devices whatsoever, and I would really like to know how you insure a bicycle to operate for-hire.
If you live in the Charlottesville area, I implore you to call the Chief of Police and ask him if his officers have anything better to do than hassle the working man for making a living.
I asked the officer why they were "cracking down on cab drivers" as he put it. Apparently, a cab was rearended by a DUI driver just last night, while stopped to pick up a fare.
Okay, so let me get this straight. Who was really breaking the law here, the cab, or the DUI driver? Would they rather the DUI driver have run over someone crossing the street a block or two later?
The cab driver that was rearended in all likelihood probably saved someone's life, and now we are being harrassed by cops that have nothing better to do.
I might add that even though the ordinance for vehicles for hire states that meters are required, there are rickshaws (bicycles converted to chariots, essentially) charging up to $10.00 a mile flat rate, depending on what the person operating the rickshaw comes up with. My taxi meter charges $3.90 per mile, metered.
These rickshaws are too wide for the bicycle lane, and too slow for normal traffic. They have a tendency to swing U-turns into oncoming traffic. They have no signalling devices whatsoever, and I would really like to know how you insure a bicycle to operate for-hire.
If you live in the Charlottesville area, I implore you to call the Chief of Police and ask him if his officers have anything better to do than hassle the working man for making a living.
The Longest Day Of The Year.....
Ah, Foxfield...... that wonderful time of year when the frat brats get all dressed up to go drink themselves silly in anywhere from 70 to 90 degree heat. Smart. Very Smart. Very Very Smart. BRILLIANT! I know from experience that alcohol and heat do not mix.
A friend of mine in the business has been working with Foxfield's management for the past two years to get extra taxis on hand, because quite frankly, there aren't enough taxicabs or buses available in the area for this event.
Anyway, long story short, this year was a Mongolian clusterfuck. Changes have been made to attempt to make things go smoother, and there were too many people that thought they were chiefs and not enough Indians. And I think everyone that you had to get past to get in was told something different by management. Long day, but not a bad one overall, I guess.
A friend of mine in the business has been working with Foxfield's management for the past two years to get extra taxis on hand, because quite frankly, there aren't enough taxicabs or buses available in the area for this event.
Anyway, long story short, this year was a Mongolian clusterfuck. Changes have been made to attempt to make things go smoother, and there were too many people that thought they were chiefs and not enough Indians. And I think everyone that you had to get past to get in was told something different by management. Long day, but not a bad one overall, I guess.
Another Here's Your Sign Story..........
One night this lady comes up to my silver and blue Grand Marquis with the company name down the side of it, top light blazing, and says, "Are you a taxi?"
I just looked at her and said, "Nope. Doctor says I should sit in the car more often. It's healthier."
Couldn't have gotten a better look on her if it had been planned. Nice lady, but she just wasn't thinking.
I just looked at her and said, "Nope. Doctor says I should sit in the car more often. It's healthier."
Couldn't have gotten a better look on her if it had been planned. Nice lady, but she just wasn't thinking.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Risk We Take......
Just got to thinking about an incident from when I leased from a 'MAJOR' company here in town. One of the many reasons I left and started out on my own....
Actually, there are two parts to this story.......
One night, I picked up a kid from a restaurant on Main Street. He was very vague about where he was going, and didn't really seem to know.
I was about to kick him out, and he decided to go to one of the seedier parts of town. I realized what he was up to when he had me stop near a group of thugs on a street corner -- he was there to buy drugs.
The thugs got a look at me and got all paranoid -- "Cab gotta pull over there, man...." I didn't know it then, but I resembled a man who had driven a cab for the same company and had been an informant for the local police. I could have been shot on sight that night for something I didn't even know about.
This kid was stupid on a whole new level. He then had me take him to a local store for adult books and such, even though I told him it was closed. He then wanted exact change back from a $100 bill on a $25.00 fare. I told him in no uncertain terms to never get in my cab again.
Months later, he called the same company, and guess who the lucky winner of the order was? My first mistake was not ditching him when I realized who he was. My second mistake was letting his supplier get in the car with him. I wasn't going to let there be a third mistake.
They started scrapping over money and I finally told them both to get out of the car. They didn't, so I finally said, "I'm getting out of this car for 30 seconds, and when I get back in it, you better not be. We can do this with or without police attention, and I prefer without."
The dealer got out of the car at the same time I did, and dragged the kid out of the other side, at which point six or seven of his buddies started kicking and beating on him. I tipped my hat and said, "Have a nice night, sir. I didn't see a thing." I then got back in the car and proceeded to lay rubber from where I was parked, 10 feet before an intersection, across the intersection and ending 15 feet on the other side.
10 blocks later, I parked and looked at the meter. I'd been stiffed for probably $9.00 in fare. $9.00 was worth my being alive, though.
Several weeks later, the owner of the company wouldn't credit my lease payment on a car that I couldn't drive safely. I had already bought a car and set it up as a taxi cab. I was going to put it into the 'MAJOR' company, but having my life endangered by a moron, and having it further endangered by someone else's vehicle not being properly maintained made me decide to put my own name on the car and work it for myself.
Actually, there are two parts to this story.......
One night, I picked up a kid from a restaurant on Main Street. He was very vague about where he was going, and didn't really seem to know.
I was about to kick him out, and he decided to go to one of the seedier parts of town. I realized what he was up to when he had me stop near a group of thugs on a street corner -- he was there to buy drugs.
The thugs got a look at me and got all paranoid -- "Cab gotta pull over there, man...." I didn't know it then, but I resembled a man who had driven a cab for the same company and had been an informant for the local police. I could have been shot on sight that night for something I didn't even know about.
This kid was stupid on a whole new level. He then had me take him to a local store for adult books and such, even though I told him it was closed. He then wanted exact change back from a $100 bill on a $25.00 fare. I told him in no uncertain terms to never get in my cab again.
Months later, he called the same company, and guess who the lucky winner of the order was? My first mistake was not ditching him when I realized who he was. My second mistake was letting his supplier get in the car with him. I wasn't going to let there be a third mistake.
They started scrapping over money and I finally told them both to get out of the car. They didn't, so I finally said, "I'm getting out of this car for 30 seconds, and when I get back in it, you better not be. We can do this with or without police attention, and I prefer without."
The dealer got out of the car at the same time I did, and dragged the kid out of the other side, at which point six or seven of his buddies started kicking and beating on him. I tipped my hat and said, "Have a nice night, sir. I didn't see a thing." I then got back in the car and proceeded to lay rubber from where I was parked, 10 feet before an intersection, across the intersection and ending 15 feet on the other side.
10 blocks later, I parked and looked at the meter. I'd been stiffed for probably $9.00 in fare. $9.00 was worth my being alive, though.
Several weeks later, the owner of the company wouldn't credit my lease payment on a car that I couldn't drive safely. I had already bought a car and set it up as a taxi cab. I was going to put it into the 'MAJOR' company, but having my life endangered by a moron, and having it further endangered by someone else's vehicle not being properly maintained made me decide to put my own name on the car and work it for myself.
The REAL Taxi Cab Confessions.....
As I'm sure anyone that knows me or reads my blogs is aware by now, I own and operate a small independent taxi cab service in Charlottesville, Virginia.
You would think that most industries, while would be a sense of competition, there would be some notion of comraderie amongst those of us in the same industry..... nope.
Unfortunately, you can't get any of these guys to agree on anything long enough to go get ice cream together. And most of them insist on blackballing each other with customers, and will seemingly stop at nothing to take each other's business.
I, for one, just come out to make a living. I'm not out to take any other company or operator down. But the majority of the drivers in this business act like four-year olds, especially when it comes to the airport. *shakes head*
The big issue that started all this is that neither the City Of Charlottesville, nor the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority, nor the County Of Albemarle regulate the actual rate of fare with taxicabs. It is left open to what the city calls 'open market competition', and unfortunately, everyone cuts their own throat in this business in the name of volume. It's completely stupid.
The reason I say that is because you can't count on getting thirty fares a day. Sometimes you can't count on getting three. I myself have had days (plural) where I sat around town for 15 hours and only took in thirty-five dollars. Of course, these were the days when I had just gotten in the business and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Now, through trial and error, I have figured out how to make the business turn a profit. Unfortunately, some changes never come easy.
On one plane, there are customers who raise eyebrows when one cab charges more for the same trip than another. I can understand this to a degree, as it is regulated in NYC and DC. But the expenses in this industry are so volatile and so necessary that I don't see how any locality could possibly regulate it fairly.
There are also customers that will not use your services over a few dollars. I have come to find that these folks generally are going to complain no matter what you charge them.
And then, last but not least, are the drivers who can't see the forest for the trees. I recently revised my rates when fuel shot up to $4.25 per gallon and continued to rise.
Of course, two months later, it dropped to about half of that. First, I don't expect this drop to last. Secondly, Obama is proposing a carbon-based fuels tax on top of the 36 cents per gallon taxes we are already paying. I'm changing nothing until I know what is going to happen.
One thing I simply will not tolerate is someone presuming to tell me how to run my business, especially someone who does not know my expenses, or worse, does not even know the business.
A lot of drivers at the airport have a tendency to mind everyone's business but their own. A lot of game playing goes on, such as complaining about petty things that may or may not be true to attempt to cause another operator to be suspended or barred.
I have heard countless snide remarks about my rate of fare, up to and including that my rates are running customers off, though I've never told anyone that they HAVE to take MY taxicab. I know that these remarks are simply an attempt to rile me into doing something stupid to get myself barred from the airport, or goad me into quitting working the airport, or changing my rates. None of the above. And I don't get mad, I get even.
I finally told one of these fellows that if I heard any more about it, I would work twice as much just to annoy them. Of course, they didn't take me seriously.
So I have made it a point to be at the airport way before anyone else is, and I work up until the airport closes for the night. This serves two purposes. I make more money, and I know it is driving them bananas, though none of them will admit it. I believe that if someone gets aggravated over something that is none of their business.... good for them! Give them more :) Which I am more than happy to do.
So now the rumor is that I'm homeless because I'm at the airport all the time.... ROFLMAO! I hope these guys don't actually believe the crap that comes out of their mouths. Does anyone have any cheese to go with their whine?
To be continued...... This is the REAL Taxicab Confessions!!!!
You would think that most industries, while would be a sense of competition, there would be some notion of comraderie amongst those of us in the same industry..... nope.
Unfortunately, you can't get any of these guys to agree on anything long enough to go get ice cream together. And most of them insist on blackballing each other with customers, and will seemingly stop at nothing to take each other's business.
I, for one, just come out to make a living. I'm not out to take any other company or operator down. But the majority of the drivers in this business act like four-year olds, especially when it comes to the airport. *shakes head*
The big issue that started all this is that neither the City Of Charlottesville, nor the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority, nor the County Of Albemarle regulate the actual rate of fare with taxicabs. It is left open to what the city calls 'open market competition', and unfortunately, everyone cuts their own throat in this business in the name of volume. It's completely stupid.
The reason I say that is because you can't count on getting thirty fares a day. Sometimes you can't count on getting three. I myself have had days (plural) where I sat around town for 15 hours and only took in thirty-five dollars. Of course, these were the days when I had just gotten in the business and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Now, through trial and error, I have figured out how to make the business turn a profit. Unfortunately, some changes never come easy.
On one plane, there are customers who raise eyebrows when one cab charges more for the same trip than another. I can understand this to a degree, as it is regulated in NYC and DC. But the expenses in this industry are so volatile and so necessary that I don't see how any locality could possibly regulate it fairly.
There are also customers that will not use your services over a few dollars. I have come to find that these folks generally are going to complain no matter what you charge them.
And then, last but not least, are the drivers who can't see the forest for the trees. I recently revised my rates when fuel shot up to $4.25 per gallon and continued to rise.
Of course, two months later, it dropped to about half of that. First, I don't expect this drop to last. Secondly, Obama is proposing a carbon-based fuels tax on top of the 36 cents per gallon taxes we are already paying. I'm changing nothing until I know what is going to happen.
One thing I simply will not tolerate is someone presuming to tell me how to run my business, especially someone who does not know my expenses, or worse, does not even know the business.
A lot of drivers at the airport have a tendency to mind everyone's business but their own. A lot of game playing goes on, such as complaining about petty things that may or may not be true to attempt to cause another operator to be suspended or barred.
I have heard countless snide remarks about my rate of fare, up to and including that my rates are running customers off, though I've never told anyone that they HAVE to take MY taxicab. I know that these remarks are simply an attempt to rile me into doing something stupid to get myself barred from the airport, or goad me into quitting working the airport, or changing my rates. None of the above. And I don't get mad, I get even.
I finally told one of these fellows that if I heard any more about it, I would work twice as much just to annoy them. Of course, they didn't take me seriously.
So I have made it a point to be at the airport way before anyone else is, and I work up until the airport closes for the night. This serves two purposes. I make more money, and I know it is driving them bananas, though none of them will admit it. I believe that if someone gets aggravated over something that is none of their business.... good for them! Give them more :) Which I am more than happy to do.
So now the rumor is that I'm homeless because I'm at the airport all the time.... ROFLMAO! I hope these guys don't actually believe the crap that comes out of their mouths. Does anyone have any cheese to go with their whine?
To be continued...... This is the REAL Taxicab Confessions!!!!
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