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Have you ever caught a cab and had the driver rant and rave at you ? It happened to BourbonBird on the weekend when a driver, not me I might add, deemed to lecture her on motherhood. Or something he had no right to.

In Victoria the State Government is looking at penalising cabbies who rave to passengers on politics or religion. So much for freedom of speech. I can just imagine the ensuing court case involving, 'yes he did/no I didn't..'. In a word, pathetic.

Personally I'd rather engage passengers on a level which makes them comfortable. Only then can the 'gold' shine through. For example, last night I carried a young Brisbane woman who is a promising musical talent. She was thoroughly pleasant and carried an air of quiet self-assuredness, without a hint of pretension.

So I interviewed her. It quickly became apparent she was no ordinary struggling muso. Indeed being Conservatorium trained and a proficient guitarist/singer/songwriter, I'm predicting Leica McPhail-Bell has truly got what it takes. Additionally she has just produced her first CD.

Check out samples of Leica's tunes and a cool video, on her equally cool website. Remember, you heard her here first !

Comments

[Francis Xavier Holden]

There are some crazy cabbies but I usually enjoy a debate and chat with most of them. One memorable was a Canberra nong who regaled me with proof of how the Jews were controlling banks and the world and UK Queen was a drug dealer. Not that I didn't encourage him just a bit injecting a subtle few hints obtained through my knowledge of right wing conspiracy nut web sites

[BourbonBird]

How can the government ever regulate this consistently? How can you tell someone they're not supposed to talk about something they believe in if it comes up in normal conversation?

My cabbie went on about family and Allah and God and the importance of my 9mo stay in the womb.

Thanks for that, a lecture from a complete stranger when I was in the best of moods. And he wouldn't give us our change until his haranguing was done. Psh.

[randwickbelle]

I have had many loony cab drivers over the years, the insane arab guy who wanted to put me out in the middle lane of the harbour bridge in peak hour because he did not like women (especialy fantastic blondes like me lol) he ranted and raved about how awful our society was and many other things, truely awful. (I didnt pay him) I lived in North Sydney in those days about 1980, and worked a late shift in the city so I caught a lot of taxis, the sad part is it was actually the secont time I havd travelled with him , I did not recognise him until it was too late.

Then there was the chinese national who wanted to come back and kill me because I asked him to go directly down my street and not make a turn to who knows where, another politically inspired tirade, I got out a block before my place and walked at right angles to where I live, I really was scared of him.

There have also been some good chats with logical sane humans in taxis too, I hope this silly attempt at thought control does not cramp your style Adrian.

[Phil]

FXH - nice tot see that the theories of Mr LaRouche are finding a congenial home here in Oz. Getting someone to sprout them to captive audiences - even better.

[adrian]

Interesting yet not surprising encounters from BB and Belle. I'd advise folks to report such idiots. Reassuringly though they are in the minority.

FXH and Phil, the drug dealing Queen is an interesting one. From memory the allegation goes back to the Opium Wars with China thence washing the money generated via the Hudson Bay Trading Company of Canada. An oldie but a goodie.

[Huggies]

One thing I've learnt in customer service and that is don't talk about Politics or Religion.