I have lived in Manhattan most of my life. For the last decade, I take about 2 taxi rides a day (minmum). It's cheaper than owning a car, paying for parking, insurance, gas, time looking for parking, etc.

Since the cell phone became affordable to the average user, 99% of every taxi ride I take, the driver is on the phone. In fact, 1/2 the time that 1% is not on the phone, they receive a phone call halfway through the ride. They talk loudly in french (the drivers from Africa) and other middle eastern languages.

Because of this, i have to ALWAYS pay attention to where we are going. I have had to repeat my destination 3-4 times durring the trip. I have had drivers swap the street and avenue addresses (resulting in them trying to take my cross town in the wrong direction). Even worse, if I see that there is traffic on a certain street, and I want to advise them NOT to turn there, they don't hear me or don't react fast enough while on their phone.

Even WORSE, last year I jumped into a taxi and told the driver I had to make a stop to pick up food from a diner that was already made and paid for along the way. He said ok. We got there, I jumped out, leavin my backpack in the taxi and said I'll be back in 30 seconds. Do NOT leave. I repeated this as well as telling him that I left my backpack in there. The backpack containing external hard drives and my laptop. I have done this routine hundreds of times. In the beginning I took my backpack with me, but it got the drivers anxious that I was running from the fare. Anyways, as I walked away, I noted the taxi car number. I was in the diner for 10 seconds. The owner actually walked halfway to the door when he saw me waking in. I turn around, and the taxi was gone.

I almost had a heart attack. I immediately called the police, the taxi commission, and 311. Everyone was useless... the cops took an hour to come there. And they were useless as well, refusing to even take a report. My tax dollars at work. Anyways, the taxi driver came back about 1 hour and 5 minutes later. He said he was halfway to Queens when he saw the backpack in the car. I screamed at him why he left, and he said he never heard me to stay. I was like "didn't u notice I left the car without paying u". he said he was distracted by being on the phone. I almost threw him into the street when he asked me to pay him for the ride back from Queens. I just took my stuff and walked away.

So, yeah.. I'm not allowed to use my cell phone at work.. Most people aren't. It would affect my job greatly.

You don't?? It's the best way to cyber. It keeps your hands free to hold the papertowel.

Sorry to nitpick... it was a enjoyable show... BUT... I was watching on my DVR.. And I saw one very noticeable glitch.. Did anyone else notice when the pickup truck was racing those two brothers to the lighthouse.... Firt it would have one headlight out... then both working.. then 1 out again. Same for the brothers' car.. Their taillight is out.. then not out... MAKE UP THEIR MINDS!! It is a very noticable thing, and i can't believe no one caught it on the editing room floor. Besides, that... If the light was supposed to be out... Who would race a car like that?? That's one of the biggest things cop stop car's for..

Anyways, I'm done complaining.

http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com

Hey man.. No offense meant. I am disabled too. I was born an assh0le... After 10 unsuccessful surgeries, I am still one.

Um..it's broken links because the Myspace pages were removed by those users back in June. Besides, the link should point to http://www.evanwashere.com/StolenSidekick. Much easier to read story line there. And if you don't feel like reading, u can watch me on 20/20 Feb 9th.

Thanx for remembering my 5 min of internet fame.
Evan

I have bought from http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com before. Their sales team are very knowledgeable and very patient. They answered every question I had and then some. My wife wanted an engadgement ring different than just an ordinary diamond. The ring we got with a 2 sapphires surrounding the diamond is the talk of all our friends. And the price was low enough that our friends who just got engaged are bying from them too.

I want one... NO TWO... Now how do I get rid of the Dell 24" I just got???

Evan
http://www.SapphireReview.com

I'm a New Yorker...been living in Manhattan the last 10-15 years... In the last month, the TLC has SCREWED all New Yorkers like me. My fare every day to work, from 53rd and 1st to 45th and 5th before December was about $6. Now the fares are $13-$14. How is this possible you ask? Well, the TLC added a new way to bill people for $.40 for every minute you go under a 12 mph... I don't know about other cities of the world..but in midtown NYC, u will never go above that speed. So.. What the TLC promised would only increase fares by a dollar, not is MORE than doubling my fare. On top of that, traffic has gotten WORSE because taxis are no longer in a rush to get their destination...they can just go slowly down a route and get paid no matter what.. yesterday I was in a taxi and the taxi was leisurely driving behind a guy pushing a hot dog stand..... for 5 blocks!!! I was screaming to the cabby to pass him, but he was too busy yakking on his phone.. And if this is not bad enough, in the last 10 taxis I took, half of them went down the wrong route, just so they could take longer getting to my stop... And it's not just me... Everyone I know is complaining about this. And if you ask why I don't just take a subway? The subway (#6) is 4 blocks from my apartment... And 4 blocks from my work... So I would have to walk 8 blocks (not including all the underground tunnels and stairs I'd have to walk) just to take a train. The taxi used to be a place I could get prepared for work..start my business day making calls to clients... Now I need to always be watching, making sure the taxi isn't purposely going the wrong way.. I wish there was somewhere to complain.. to make ourselves heard by politicians who take private car service everywhere (did I mention that its now the SAME price to take a Lincoln Town car to my work as it is now to take a yellow cab?)

LOYALTY DISCOUNT??? WHat is that? I've been a Sprint subscriber for over 10 years (about a month or 2 when their cell service came out). I have the $80 free and clear plan, but after all the addons and taxes, I pay about $130 a month (with no overages). That includes: 1,400 minutes, unlimited 7 p.m. nights and weekends, Sprint to Spring, insurance, Power Vision Plus Pack, and first incoming minute free (grandfathered). I wish I could get my bill lower.

You're a lawyer??? I would have never guessed..

Don't u hate it when you have nothing to reply back with?

I agree on some of your points. I agree that patent holders SHOULD be protected. But I am worried that the USPTO is too easy going with giving out patent approval. The idea of patenting wireless email is ridiculous in any shape or form.

Evan