When I got up this morning, I saw this story on CNN about a company handing out free money in NYC. I thought Wow, we really are in a depression. The other thing I thought was this: Dang, if I were in NYC right now, I'd consider swinging by to collect that free Starbucks money.

An online classified ad company, Bailout Booth , decided that instead of spending money on advertising, they'd  set up in Times Square and see what sort of attention they could get by handing out $50 or more to people willing to stand on line and ask for it. Bailoutbooth.com allows people to list things they want to sell along with videos showing the items. Initial listings will be free, Mr. Tybus said, with subsequent listings costing advertisers $9.95 apiece.

The company rented a storefront space near the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 46th Street that most recently had housed free public bathrooms sponsored as a promotion by Charmin, the toilet paper company. Then they had out fliers promoting the cash giveaway. The booth consisted of a desk occupied by company?s founder, who refused to give his real name, preferring to be called Bailout Bill. On CNN, he appeared to be going incognito wearing a skull cap and dark sunglasses...

The Robinhood of the crisis.

I'll let you know if Mr. Bailout comes to Paris...and maybe the folks from Louis Vuitton will start handing out free bags? And maybe the sky truly is falling.

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