Patrons of the Absurd

Apparently, romantic relationships are now among the services that can be distributed via the Internet. And I'm not talking about Match.com. For about $45, ImaginaryGirlfriends.com will arrange to have one of its professional freelance girlfriends send you letters, photos, poetry, and other trappings of amorous entanglement. A significant, yet virtual, other. It's just like dating, but without the hassle.

Sounds pretty good to me. I could use an imaginary career.

More information on this novel service is available here. This is my favorite snippet from the frequently asked questions:

Q: Do I have to write back to my Imaginary Girlfriend?

A: No! You do not have to write back or acknowledge your Imaginary Girlfriend. You will receive all promised letters and services as normal per your order.

Two questions come to mind immediately. (1) Why no imaginary boyfriends? (2) Can you order an imaginary girlfriend for somebody else, as a gift? Imagine a future where we are all spamming each other with imaginary girlfriend correspondence, to the point where it becomes difficult to distinguish between letters from our actual girlfriends and those from our faux flames. We will all need imaginary girlfriend filters.

Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Boboli. This is, to put it mildly, bizarre.

I just returned from dinner at a popular French restaurant on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles, where I was seated next to a party that included comedian Andy Dick, as well as Taylor Hanson of Mmmbop fame. As if a double celebrity sighting weren't enough for one evening, Andy Dick and Taylor Hanson then began kissing. Extensively. For several minutes. They also giggled intermittently, which made me think they might just be giving us something to talk about. So how about it? Do any POA readers know if these two Hollywood hipsters are an item?

There are so many things wrong with this reality TV show, I don't even know where to start. From today's LAT.