Cablog

Inspiration Plus

One of the best things about driving cabs is the amount of quality radio I come across. Cabbies are a captive audience. Sunday is especially rewarding on ABC Radio starting with Grandstand Sport thence, The Coudabeen Champions followed by Sunday Profile. Last night I was fortunate to hear two outstanding interviews, both with Aussie boxers. 

Paul 'Hurricane' Briggs is a Queenslander who's been to hell and back. Abused as a child then, 'a hard man for most of his life; he used his anger and aggression to become the world kick boxing champion. But after a detour into the underworld as a drug dealer and standover man, Paul Briggs decided to turn his life around'. Listen to Briggs inspirational story as he talks to Richard Fidler.

Later on Sunday Profile I listened to Monica Attard interview Kosta Tszyu, '...he talks about his impoverished childhood in Serov, the physical and mental challenges of boxing, its negative impact on family life, the pain of defeat, and the thoughts that are going through his mind as he decides whether to return to the ring'.

If you have the time it's a humbling experience to hear two great fighters from difficult backgrounds reflecting on their respective lots. Both demonstrate levels of intelligence and insights not usually associated with boxers. Motivational speakers of the future.

A Fair Night

I kicked off the shift yesterday by electing to go to Rosehill and work the big Spring Carnival race crowd. This is always a gamble for one who likes to work close to the City. Fares from Rosehill can be either to the nearest hotel or Woop Woop. Fortunately I got lucky. After a 20 minute wait I scored a fare to Manly.

After an uneventful trip we rolled into Manly with the meter showing $70. And even better one of the passengers, a well dressed young woman presented me with a single stemmed pink rose, gift wrapped in a plastic tube, water container and pink sash. ‘Here, this is for your wife’, she said. ‘Umm, I don’t have a wife’, I replied. ‘You’re not gay are you ?’. ‘Not today, no’. What could I say but accept the gift, a nice touch...

Snaps

a) A butt ugly, shiny-nosed bush pig outside Sydney Hospital. b) Thanks to the new Cross City Tunnel, work continues on the narrowing of William Street. c) Fairfax returns of Saturday Heralds in Rozelle. d) Cab camera image of recent cabbie assailants. (images enlarge)

November Investigate

1) Were the Bali bombers dupes ?: International counter-terrorism expert David J. Ford investigates the possibility that the latest Bali bombers were tricked into carrying out their deadly mission – a terrifying harbinger of things to come. Plus: an in-depth interview with Abu Bakar Bashir spotlighting radical Islam's War on the West.

2) Inflation hasn’t reared its ugly head in Australia for years. But petrol prices are giving world stock markets jitters, and; economists are starting to fret. Are we headed for a spiral of skyrocketing inflation, interest rates and unemployment – combining to create what used to be called ‘The Misery Index’ ?

3) Weather Man, Family Man, HIS OWN MAN: Nicholas Cage speaks about his career, becoming a father again, and the Oliver Stone ‘9/11’ project.

4) The Great Kyoto Con: It was supposed to save the planet, but so far all it’s done is leave our next-door neighbours with a mountain of debt. As Ken Ring discovers, the Kyoto Treaty was the brainchild of none other than the boys from Enron who sought to make out big on carbon trading. Maybe John Howard was right after all ?

Last but not least, from the hallowed back page, is my piece titled, FEMALE TROUBLE - women, alcohol, and friends who don't look out for each other are a potentially tragic mix. Whilst my readers are smart enough to realise this, it surprises just how many bloody idiots there are out there.

Finally, hit this link to locate a newsagent near you carrying Investigate. And don't forget Investigate's new blog, The Briefing Room.

Not Worth It

Early Sunday evening in Potts Point a fella darted out from between parked cars to hail me. Immediately I noticed he was wearing dark sunglasses, which caused me to chuckle, so I mentally prepared for anything.

He was around 30 years old and looked decidedly underweight wearing non-descript, over-sized clothing. Hopping in the back he said, ‘Um...Chester Hill mate’. I groaned when I should have cheered...

First Impressions

It was a recent Monday evening peak hour, full of workers making their way home in Kings Cross. A common sight these days with the conversion of holiday accommodation to residential apartments. This has attracted an increasing number of young professionals  who consider the suburb a safe place to live.

A young woman standing on the Strip dressed in a long black coat and leather shoulder bag hailed me. Pulling over I figured she was just another office chick going home. Which she was - home to the northern beaches. ‘How was your day ?’, I asked. ‘Terrible’, she exclaimed, ‘I’m glad it’s over’. ‘Monday..’, I offered. ‘Well, that to’, she replied, ‘But also I’ve got trouble with a new girl at work’. ‘Oh, office politics..’, I said. ‘Not so much politics but rather theft. This girl’s been hustling my clients’...

A Note

Currently I'm experiencing a rare, slack blogging period whilst I consider a few changes. I've a couple of projects on the boil which are increasingly demanding my full attention. Coupled with Ramadan and approaching Christmas, resulting in extra work, I'm struggling to post daily. My apologies and I'll keep you posted. Cheers, Adrian. 

No Accident

Last week in San Francisco a cabbie and his passenger were killed by a pickup truck. Around the globe this happens on a regular basis, usually logged as a road accident. However according to San Francisco Chronicle columnist, C.W. Nevius,

We are calling this an accident. But it wasn't...what is hard to understand is how two such remarkable people were put in that truck's trajectory...Two good guys, kindred souls, whose paths somehow crossed a careening pickup one night in San Francisco.

In a cautionary tale on the futility of drink driving, Nevius presents a poignant report on the lives of the deceased. If you have the time it's well worth the read.

MSM Roundup

Famous Australian elite, David Williamson goes on a Pacific cruise, surrounded by bogans ! He returns very depressed for the future of the 'good ship Australia'.

Johan Norberg has a message for depressed elites, Don't Worry, Be Happy !  We are wealthier, healthier and happier than we have ever been. We live longer, we live more safely and we live more freely.

Still on holidays, a Bali bomber's brother reckons the atrocities were caused by the booze and bikinis of Aussie tourists. AUSTRALIANS had declared a moral war on Muslims in Indonesia.. Elsewhere, a Muslim woman speaks out.

Schapelle Corby judge denies reduced sentence. Just what we've come to expect from the Corby fiasco. Surely the girl deserves a break, from her advisors.

Finally good news for Kyoto fans - a taxi company in Kyoto Prefecture, has started a trial service to charge passengers' cell phones using the electricity generated by a wind turbine mounted on a taxi's roof. 

Why Do It

Late last night I carried a Navy fella from the suburbs up to Kings Cross. He was in his twenties and dressed for clubbing. ‘You going out or going home ?’, I asked. ‘Mate, I’ve gotta be honest’, he said, ‘I’m going out’. ‘What, no work tomorrow ?’. He started laughing, ‘I’ve gotta be honest - I am working, but a mate is going away tomorrow and I promised him I’d meet up for a drink’.

His mate sailed out this morning on the HMAS Parramatta bound for a six month deployment in the Persian Gulf. As a diver he’ll be clearing mines and locating unexploded ordinance. ‘Gees, that’s sounds like dodgy work’, I said to my passenger. ‘Yeah’, he said, ‘mines are so sophisticated now they can be programmed to detect the compression signature from a divers flippers. Still, my mate will come home with plenty of extra money in his pocket’. Danger money.

After dropping my passenger, I regretted not asking him why he joined the Navy. Was it the money, the adventure, an escape or pure altruism ? I suppose there are plenty of reasons why people join the Navy. Just as there are for people who elect to drive cabs. Recently in a cabbie forum, a wag posted these cheeky responses to such a question,

"It gives me the time to play golf 5 times a week."
"Well, money isn't everything. A man has to have a hobby."
"I have a private income from my Cabcharge shares."
"As long as I keep getting the dole, I'll be fine."
"Beats using a dating service and you can take them straight home."
"Well, I'm obviously not as bright as I look."

In responding to why I drive cabs, at present I’d have to go for #2. In this game you've gotta laugh. Actually I recall writing something serious on the topic in an early issue of Investigate magazine. Speaking of which, Investigate now has a blog, The Briefing Room.