Each passerby had a quick choice to make, one familiar to commuters in any urban area where the occasional street performer is part of the cityscape: Do you stop and listen? Do you hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation, aware of your cupidity but annoyed by the unbidden demand on your time and your wallet? Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite? Does your decision change if he’s really bad? What if he’s really good? Do you have time for beauty? Shouldn’t you? What’s the moral mathematics of the moment? —Gene Weingarten —Pearls Before Breakfast (Washington Post)
Fascinating story about what happens when a world-renowned violinist fiddles a free concert during rush hour. In a sophisticated city like Washington, will the commuters take notice or completely ingore him?