The View from the Street

Since I work in Manhattan, and I'm aware of the fact that so many of you rely on this blog for most, if not all, of your information, I felt obligated to give you a feel for how things are going here today, amidst the financial turmoil.

I just returned from the store, where I purchased a bottle of Diet Sunkist Orange Soda. Perhaps I shouldn't call it a "store." When you pay that much for something, the place at which the purchase is made should probably be referred to as a "dealership." Then again, Diet S.O.S. is pretty cheap for an energy drink, and at least as effective, so I shouldn't complain.

Anyway, having been out and about for a few minutes, I can tell you that there is definitely a pervasively downbeat mood in Manhattan today. In fact, I think I saw a guy sitting on the Street, wearing a suit, and holding a sign which said "Will securitize, for food."

Of course, the reality is that the failures - and pending failures - of our large financial institutions is no laughing matter. Tens of thousands of people will lose their jobs, which is incredibly sad. The aftershocks will be felt far and wide, perhaps in the form of higher taxes, as municiplities attempt to close the budget gaps they will most surely face. This is clearly not our happiest time.

Despite the gloom, it appears as though the tourists are still around. They chat loudly as they walk through midtown Manhattan, still amazed that their stinky little Euros (or pesos, or whatever) can buy them so much here in America.

Now, I don't have a problem with that. Certainly, now more than in a very long time, New York needs the money that tourists pump into our economy. There's only one little issue.

Why do they walk so darn slowly?

If you've ever been stuck behind a pack of tourists, walking t a snail's pace, seven abreast down the street, so as to completely block everyone else's path, you'll know what I mean.

Listen here, Jean-Luc and Ghislaine, we've got a certain pace here in New York, and we'd appreciate it if you didn't come here, and attempt to impose your ways upon the rest of us, by slowing us down.

Look at it this way, we don't show up in your country and make you take showers or anything.

So pick up the pace, Umberto. And feel free to take advantage of our wonderful hotels and restaurants. Oh, and you must try the orange soda. It's excellent here.