I think I just earned a vendor pushcart permit for New York City!  Why?  I have the same answer when Nancy asks me why I continue  watching past the first few minutes of ill-starred movies.  She can make a no-go decision based on previews, theme music or opening titles. My approach is that I continue because almost any effort shows promise.

In high school I was on the wrestling team and did quite well, going to the state tournament in my senior year.  At Cornell registration, I went to the wrestling/fencing table and signed up.  At my first practice I found out that when I signed up the wrestling coach had taken a break and I was on the fencing team.  I continued, because the effort showed promise.

Visiting Cathie Mahon, a colleague gone good, now Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Financial Empowerment at the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. 

As soon as I got off the City office elevator, I was wordlessly handed a 3x5 card numbered "5" and hustled to a seating area.  At my protest, the attendant said "consumer affairs doesn't open until 9am, please take a seat. "

Number Six is wearing a robe and Kaffeya, reading a small arabic script text (scripture?) over and over again.  Number One is a portly older fellow, excited because he has $3000 in his pocket, which no official will accept.  Staff scurry in and out of doors that lead to bullet proof glass enclosed booths.

At one before nine, our numbers are called and we arrange ourselves along a corded line.  In turn, they take my fingerprints and hand me an exam.  I'm wondering, "Aren't fingerprints excessive for a coffee visit, and are these regulatory questions relevant to financial services?"  I answer myself, "This effort shows promise" and wonder where I can locate a pushcart.