December 27, 2012:
Young boy in woolen cap drops a quarter on the sidewalk.
Hefty middle aged woman hears the sound, spins around, glues her eyes to the wobbling coin, tracks its motion as it winds itself down into tighter and tighter circles, until at last its owner scoops it up and moves on.
For those few seconds there's never been attention more rapt, anywhere or any time in the history of the world.