Awkward passing moments

Due to my inclination to observe and analyze virtually everything, I tend to pick up on the smallest of social interactions and amplify them to feel like they are an inauguration speech.  One of these nuances of our time in the presence of others is when we're going to be walking past someone one-on-one, but you've both seen each other from a considerable distance away.  It's too far to converse with them, and still near enough that both of you have seen each others' faces.  This situation is generally the most awkward when you've seen the other person before, may/may not know their name but have never really said anything to one another.  It makes me laugh because usually I just break eye contact, give a nod and/or smile as I walk by, but some other people seem to really get out of place.  As I am a fan of categorization (must be the inner psychologist in me) I decided to give names to the common responses.

The Cowboy
Also known as the "Walks Cooly Away From Explosion".  This is the asshole who saw you from 50 feet away but when he gets in range of you just stares off into the distance straight ahead of him.  He's a troubled man- he just held a dying friend in his arms in his cubicle.  These guys are generally the guys who think they're "Alpha as Fuck".  If it's a chick, then we just call her a "Bitch."

The Timid Basement Dweller
These are the people who hunch down a bit, give a fake half-smile and duck out of your way as soon as they can.  They act as though they have been abducted and locked in a basement a la Silence of the Lambs and forget how to act in society.  So instead of risking tarnishing their reputation with saying something stupid or looking dumb, they try to duck out of your way as quickly as possible.  It puts the lotion on its skin or it must interact with people again.

The Tom Cruise
This guy is the type that will greet you, give what he considers his most charming smile and  a pat on the shoulder; as if trying to say "I have charisma- you can tell by my Dawson's Creek smile."  He may even stop and try to small talk you with a "How's it goin", or a "How 'bout them Yankees?" or an "I fucked your sister."

The Celebrity
I know you've all seen them- these are the ones that take out their cell phone when they know you're about to start talking to you and they begin pretend-texting.  It goes something like this, "Oh, I see you fellow real life person sharing this current existence with me, but I have Tweedle Dum texting me at this very second asking me what's up and naturally I'm obliged to respond in a timely fashion.  But actually I don't have anyone on the other end of this conversation, I'm actually just punching random numbers on my calculator."  We know your tricks, you sly fox you.

The Fuck-I-Forgot-Something
Cousins of the Celebrities, these guys will change their walking trajectory in order to avoid interaction...even if it means that they do a 180 to go back from wence they came.  Obviously there's a chance they did actually need to go back to their desk for a paper, or maybe they did need something in the copy room, or maybe they were really thirsty and went to the water fountain- but the majority of the times they only do these things to avoid the awkward situation. 

The "Helicopter"
These guys must really have a fine appreciation of aviation simulation.  They will walk with such ferocity and enthusiasm- their arms in right angles at their sides, exaggeratedly long strides, torso contorting with each step... all while staring at the ground.   It's like they think they're watching the Armageddon helicopter scene on the ground and pretending they're the helicopter.  Maybe they should make some whooosh-ing noises too while they traverse the jungle of civilization while saying "I'm a helicopter".

Sometimes I wonder if while these people are still walking towards me if they start thinking of these things as well- like if each step forward is getting closer to conflict or resolution.  Anyway, how do you guys generally deal with these situations?  Seriously, post comments below or I may stare you in the eyes the entire length of the hallway.