In the Loop: December 3, 2007 Archive

Alex Chadwick + Card Table =

Posted at 4:05 PM on December 3, 2007 by Jeff Horwich (4 Comments)

You know how it is...one link to another...one of Sanden's old blog posts to the Washington Post to a Slate article to...

Alex Chadwick (NPR host) evidently does this thing on the side for Slate where he sets up a card table out in the open in various cities with a sign saying "Interviews 50 Cents." (I admit, I initially clicked the little banner ad because I thought it was someone interviewing "50 Cent." But this is also interesting.)

In this one, he's at Union Station in DC, talking to a guy in a sharp suit who turns out to be formerly homeless. I gather Alex just sits around looking pleasant, and then does an interview with whoever is gutsy/stupid/curious enough to have a seat across from him.

I watched this one, and one other so far (a guy who just got divorced from his fifth wife). Not sure how many I could actually consume without wondering whether I've got better things to do with my life. But it's kind of amazing how you can instantly like one person (this guy here) and instantly dislike another (the fifth wife guy).

I wonder why anyone would sit down to do it. Even if they pay you 50 cents (or is it the other way around?) is it worth staking your reputation on the Internet to whatever impromptu thoughts come out of your mouth in those five minutes?

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