Taxi

since it is now april 16 and i live in the US. i have filed my taxes with the IRS. i do not have to think about taxes anymore for awhile, and instead can think of more interesting things, such as travel. travel to most cities in the world involves at least occasional taxi rides. in some places this is a pleasure; the taxi driver speaks at least a little of some language that you also speak at least a little of, and she or (usually) he is happy to talk to you and point out interesting sites/sights. if you are even a little lucky this person will take you to your destination safely, and by a more or less direct route.

then there are the others.

My associations with »taxi«
1)Taking a taxi/cab ride in New York is an experience everyone should get. You're never sure if the griver got your destination right. But not because of your pityful english, but because of his unknowledge concerning this language.
2) I don't have a car; and the last buses in my town (in my direction) are going at 20 to midnight.Normally, I would take my bike; but, honestly, the winters are too cold. I don't like the winters because then I have to take a taxicab quite often and that's SO EXPENSIVE!
3) There are two films that I associate with »taxi«: One is » Taxi« (or was it »Taxidriver«) by Luc Besson, which I didn't like. The other one is »Night on Earth«. This one is very interesting. The episode in New York pleases me most...

Riding a taxi cab is far too expensive. Riding the bus is cheaper, but you are not allowed to talk to the driver.

I've always particularly admired the taxi-driver who turned to Bertrand Russell in the back of his cab and asked the perfectly legitimate question, »Well Guv, what's it all abaht then...?« And answer came there none. Never ask a philosopher, especially one who hasn't paid his fare yet.....

Dani Davito, Taxi bars (English chocolate) being moved while being talked at. Yellow in New York, Black in London. »The Knowledge«. Tight turning circles. Stupid but knowledgable drivers – like philosophers educated far beyond their capacity for analytical thought (quote from Richard Dawkins in the endnotes of »The Selfish Gene«).

The book say taxi is short for taxi cab which is short for taximeter cab, and the taximeter is an automatic contrivance fitted to the cab to indicate to the passenger the distance travelled and the amount of fare due.
Just now it came to me that I too am fitted with a contrivance that indicates the distance I have travelled and the fare I have paid (with this contrivance, the fare is collected as I go) and it is me, my own body, myself. I am the driver, the passenger, the taxi and the contrivance all in one.