This morning's New York Times has a delightful article on New York taxi cab drivers who wait by Kennedy Airport for more lucrative fares to Manhattan and the opportunity to socialize with other cab drivers of the same ilk. For example, the article mentions Muslim cab drivers who will pray together, or Punjabi cab drivers who often play a certain game.

The Times should be commended for exploring the lives of these honest workers who have braved rising gas prices, slower business after 9/11, and often the insults of unruly passengers. It is important for New Yorkers to remember that the people who perform this thankless job are, at bottom, hard workers looking to make an honest living. The Kennedy Airport location, where some of New York's cab drivers congregrate, almost provides these workers with a sanctuary. Indeed, the article notes, "'When we come here, we feel human again,' said Eli Mizrachi, an Israeli-born driver."

In addition to the well-deserved profile of these drivers, the article is accompanied by a slideshow containing several interesting pictures.