When I first moved here I quickly learned about the Boston Now and Boston Metro. They're free journalism type papers, and they have hawkers. Though I can't help thinking they're a bit annoying, I also think it's fantastic that they bring back the old tradition of hawking the news. There's a woman hawking Boston Now at the stop I get off for work who does it in a sing song way. She seems so proud of what she does. That is likely a good thing.

The other day I got off the train and was greeted by a new guy hawking the Boston Metro. Fascinating gentleman, really. "Read da news!" he yelled in my general direction, but he wasn't really looking at me. "Read da damn news, yo!" Well, I was sold. But a few days later he really won me over. A woman with a whole lot of bags dropped something with a terrible crash. She stood there picking things up. I moved to go help but Mr. Read Da News was there faster. Not only was he helping her pick up her stuff, but he also offered to carry some of her bags up the stairs for her. So far as I'm concerned, that's class. So, Mr. Read Da News, you have won me over. Well done.