716...Elmo Is Now A Panhandler In New York City

PBS cutbacks have forced Sesame Street star Elmo to work the streets outside Planet Hollywood in the Big Apple.

Cut and paste from the New York Daily News:

Elmo no like tourists, tightwads - or photographers.

At least a rogue version of the lovable "Sesame Street" character hassling passersby outside Planet Hollywood in Times Square Friday night didn't.

The dirty and creepy character demanded money from people and, when he didn't get it, swore and jostled them.

"No picture. No picture. You have to tip Elmo. You have to tip Elmo or Elmo gets angry," the imposter shouted as he stuck a filthy red paw over a Texas tourist's camera lens.

"What the hell, Elmo? Keep your hands to yourself," shouted Victoria Vought, 47, pulling away.

Wide-eyed at the loud to-do, Vought's son, Dylan, 4, asked, "What's wrong with Elmo, Mommy?"

"That's not the real Elmo. That's a bad Elmo," she quickly explained.

The explanation stuck because any kid will tell you the real Elmo, a furry red monster with large white eyes and an orange nose, is very upbeat and giggles a lot. And he's clearly not grungy.

Friday night's cut-rate imitation nearly got his orange nose bloodied by Ken Ross, a 32-year-old insurance agent from New Mexico, after he grabbed at Ross' camera.

"It's just a picture. Don't be rude, and don't touch me," Ross warned, adding, "Somebody should rap you."

The phony's temper finally got the best of him when a Daily News reporter and photographer tried to find out who he was.

He angrily lunged at the photographer but came up empty and then apologized.

"Look man, Elmo needs to make a living, too," he said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/08/22/2009-08-22_what_the_helmo_man_surly_man_dressed_as_sesame_street_character_hassles_times_sq.html#ixzz0Ovxw4fMc

WFDS

128...Speaking of Beggars and Crackheads

I live off Elgin Street in Ottawa, Ontario and if there is a world wide epicentre for crackheads, drunkheads and panhandlers, downtown Ottawa has to be it. When I go on infrequent trips to Montreal, Toronto and elsewhere it takes a while to adjust to not being constantly asked for change. It is non stop here in Ottawa.

I realize that if you are addicted to crack, booze, whatever it is a struggle but it does start to wear.

Usta be, back in the day, say, oh, April 2009, one could leave the core, go to the 'burbs of Ottawa-Gatineau and escape the non stop harassment by beggars.

No more.

In the last two weeks I have been approached by, for wont of a better word, crack heads in the most suburban of places: the Loblaws at Merivale and Baseline [sir, do you have four loonies; I do like ambition]; by a toothless woman who is also a regular on the Market and Elgin street at the South Keys box store configuration [she just mumbles the words "...money, money, money..." with her hand out; brevity is a nice touch] and; four losers, two couples, one pregnant which is always nice, operating out of an old Toyota at the SuperC in Hull, near the casino [their approach was very interesting; if you refuse, like I did, one of the crack heads's boyfriends, wearing a UNC TarHeels shirt btw, similtaneously threatens you and runs away which is at once perplexing and a relief].

I love living in the cosmopolitan capital that is Ottawa. Love it.

WFDS

127...You know how when...

...a panhandler asks you for money for food, he is usually/probably going to spend it on booze, dope or nicotine?

Same thing with A Channel and CTV Ottawa. They are running these ads talking about how important local TV is [it is] and how they are there for the community and so on.

Imagine my surprise when, today, Monday May 18, 2009, I turn on CTV Ottawa for the noon news to keep in touch with my community and so on and see some band I never heard of in concert. For the full newshour. So, it seems, like the aforementioned panhandler, they say one thing but do quite the other.

Guess holidays are not for the community.

WFDS