Living in virtual reality

I don’t need to leave my apartment any more: all I want to know about the world, I can learn from my spam. Here’s some recent subject headers:

Singing next to the police station isn’t a lot of fun
The photographer dislikes talking
Castro up and talking in new Cuban video
Pentagon halts sales of F-14 parts
Now or later, up to you
New, fresh and optimistic symbol
‘Kidnap plot’ behind terror raid
Second witness contradicts Libby
Four die in gas station blast | Video Video
Joe’s girlfriend is not practicing skiing in London
Opera star, underwear tossing:Nope
Shootings kill sheriff’s wife, deputy, two suspects
That we can do without
US Airways told to cut out some alcohol sales
Basic choice Fish

Now that I think of it, some of these sound like sample phrases from a language instruction audiotape: “The photographer dislikes talking.” “Il photographer ha antipatia per la comunicazione.” (I love Babel Fish.)

I couldn’t resist linking to this: the Globe has an article about author Michael Keren, who claims “[I]ndividuals who bare their souls in blogs are isolated and lonely, living in a virtual reality instead of forming real relationships or helping to change the world.” Well, I happen to disagree with Mr. Keren. And so does my giant invisible rabbit best friend, Mr. Pookie.