Dreamways

The topsy-turvy lunacy generated by e-networking is humorously poked fun at by Joel Stein in his essay "You Are not My Friend“ (Time magazine, 15 Oct 07). He starts off by, in effect, noticing that the very definition of friendship has morphed with the advent of e-networking sites. "In the pre-internet days, neither of us would have even thought of calling each other friends.  read more »

The virtual world of virtual friendships in the somewhat more real literary world is humorously looked at by Noam Cohen in his article, “Even in MySpace, a Friend Has to Qualify” (The New York Times, October 15, 2007). It turns out that even the dreamy world of on-line personas attracting on-line buddies and fans can present very emotionally real and painful obstacles for (presumably) flesh-and-bone humans!
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"After suffering a devastating stroke four years ago, Susan Brown was left in a wheelchair with little hope of walking again. Today, the 57-year-old woman has regained use of her legs and has begun to reclaim her life, thanks in part to encouragement she says she gets from an online virtual world where she can walk, run and dance.“

"Robert Salvatierra, long imprisoned in his home by his terror over going outdoors, has started venturing outside more after gaining confidence by exploring the three-dimensional, interactive world on the Internet."
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A middle-aged woman conducts her going-to-bed ablutions in front of a bathroom mirror. She talks out loud: “Okay. I know I’m getting WAY ahead of myself here…"

Her pajama-ed husband is in bed, listening. She, in the other room: “…but is it insane to hope Hillary might pick me for attorney general?” Husband: “Not at all. You’d be great.”

She: “Oh no…” He: “What?”

She: “My hair! It’s all wrong for attorney general!” He, turned with his back to us: “Just like that, a dream denied.”
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"Abstinence Programs Downgraded – Washington: Programs that focus exclusively on abstinence have not been shown to affect teenager sexual behavior, although they are eligible for tens of millions of dollars in federal grants, according to a study released by a nonpartisan group that seeks to reduce teen pregnancies.“  read more »

"The Return of the Sweet Dreamer.“ These poignant words headline an article about pop singer Annie Lennox (Jon Pareles, The New York Times, 30 Sep 07). The article was prompted by the release of Ms Lennox‘s new album and its promotional concert tour. Appropriately enough, the article touches upon aspects of Dreamfulness.

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"Speed-Dating Test Reveals the Truth: Men Go for Looks“ (Randolph E. Schmid, The Denver Post, 04 Sep 07). This attention-grabbing headline is followed by amusing information. "Science is confirming what most women know: When given the choice for a mate, men go for good looks. And guys won’t be surprised to learn that women are much choosier about partners than they are.“  read more »

"I’ll Have That Dreams Beckon“ is the headline for Deb Acord’s 04 Sep 07 column ("On Colorado“, Rocky Mountain News). The author explores the importance of daydreams.

"'I’d like to go to Italy,' my husband said over lunch the other day. 'I would, too,' I answered. We continued to eat, both lost in daydreams of another lunch an ocean away." A passing, shared daydream that could simply evanesce.

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"Botox Appointments Faster Than for Moles, Study Finds“ reads the disturbing headline of a disturbing article by Natasha Singer in The New York Times (20 Aug 07). The article goes on to explain that a study published in The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported that "dermatologists in 12 cities offered a typical wait of eight days for a cosmetic patient wanting Botox to smooth wrinkles, compared with a typical wait of 26 days for a patient requesting evaluation of a changing mole, a possible indication of skin cancer.“  read more »

We are on a smoothe, beige-sand beach with small waves washing onto the shore. In the middle of the scene stands an attractive blond woman. To her right, on the ground, we see the tips of numerous white surfboards fanned out out the sand. The blond is of a solid athletic build, with a boyish haircut. She is standing legs apart, her left hand on her hip, her lowered right hand holding a black and white megaphone. She has a whistle around her neck. She is wearing a balck wet suit, with a patch of blue fabric under her left arm.

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