I'm not sure where I stand on flash mobs. My first instinct is this is just another symptom of a generation with too much time on its hands with another technology in search of a purpose. But this article (reg. req.-expires 8/11) in yesterday's New York Times contains a contender for quote of the year: "This is just the sort of thing that happens when you forbid New York to smoke. Said one Tobias von Schoenebeck, a Berlin tour guide, who "shook his head when he heard about how the phenomenon was traced back to Macy's" in NYC.

I think he's on to something. NYT followed that up with this AP story (reg. req.-expires 8/12) today. The end quote on this one is a little scarey though.