Hello? Are you out there? Or are you trudging across the Brooklyn Bridge as we speak? (Er, we're not really speaking). The MTA is officially on strike - as of 3am this morning - which, you know, isn't at all inconvenient at this time of year. Kind of a crazy day - hope you've all got your contingency plans in place and that your bosses are letting you work from home. With luck it won't last long, considering that ever day the transit workers are on strike they're docked TWO days pay. As if the city needed more people with less money to spend right now - this is going to kill retail.

We'd say we'll keep you posted, but if you're reading this you've got internet access and presumably can monitor the situation effectively yourself. But if our intrepid reporter Bucky Turco has some more exclusive pics for you, we're on it. Stay warm!

p.s. 124th reason to love New York, apparently: "New Yorkers always come together in times of need" (according to the perky blonde in the fuzzy pink hat on WCBS - Kirsten Cole, to be exact). Right now she is flogging that theme by interviewing a mom with two kids schlepping over the bridge from Bushwick. "So, how has the generosity of New Yorkers affected you today?" she asks. Er, lady, the woman just walked from BUSHWICK. I don't think she's gonna be jumping on your soundbite gravy train anytime soon.

p.p.s. Ed Koch is talking right now - last transit strike was 11 days. Hunker down, people, hunker down.