The PayPal-owned app Venmo has very quickly become easiest way to pay back your friends if you don't have cash. It's lightweight, simple, frictionless, and it always works. Unless you have any Middle Eastern friends.

Venmo is a little app for your little phone that makes it easy to beam money from your bank account to someone else's. It's very handy! It's also seen terrific success through word of mouth. So why, why oh why, is the company plastering New York with these universally hated ads?

Silicon Alley during the morning commute. Photo submitted by anonymous Valleywag reader.

From Venmo's live-updating homepage, just now. Everyone is finding new ways to integrate this useful service into their lives. [Thanks, Eileen!]