Last December we were strolling around Union Square with a few friends when we were sidetracked in front of Neiman-Marcus by two people bearing camera equipment and a microphone. "Would you mind telling our viewers your feelings about the holiday season?" asked the guy with the mike. Three of us instinctively backed away, but the braver (hammier) member of our group stepped up to the plate and said something eloquent to the camera lens and, presumably, the great wide world. "Cut! Perfect! Say, would you like to help support our station? A quarter would be great."