We refer to the pharmacy on the corner of 2nd Street and Avenue B as "The Ghetto Duane Reade". It's a throwback, a mini-sinkhole of depravity in a sadly over-gentrified neighborhood. Now, for at least the past month, the store has had the quintessentially appropriate beggar sitting out front and plying his trade (when he's not sleeping or nodding off on the job). And he has the best beggar's pitch line I've heard in a long time:

"Help the homeless help themselves."

Yes, empowerment by taking up space on the sidewalk!

The last really good begging line I heard was about ten years ago:

"Would you care to make a contribution to the United Negro Pastrami Fund?"