* I had my first fight with a cabbie today. I was going to a client in SoHo (which will remain unnamed because I'm pretty sure that I signed an NDA) and the idiot cab driver started to go down Fifth. After about three blocks it was clear that he planned on crawling down Fifth all the way to my destination on Charlton. I asked him very nicely if he didn't think it would be better to take Seventh. He muttered something at me in a tongue I didn't recognize. I asked again and he yelled that Seventh would be just as bad. I firmly insisted that we cut over to Seventh. Whadya know? The rest of the trip was a breeze. He clearly thought he was picking up at tourist at Grand Central and was hoping for a $30 fare. It was also the first time I gave a tip of less than 20%.

* Just exactly who are the really aggressive young guys selling M&Ms? You know who I mean. They're always around. They'll literally run beside you down the street. They even tried to get into the restaurant where I was having dinner. Beyond annoying.

* Washington Mutual Banks are the new Starbucks. They're popping up on every corner.

* Is exterminating tourists en masse unlawful? Just asking.