On the cover of today’s paper is a picture of the two hedge fund managers from Bear Sterns who are responsible for losing 1.3 billion dollars and triggering the financial meltdown, an image of the levees breaking, Jetblue raising the prices on all its tickets, and Israel is preparing to attack Iran.

Of course I’m an intellectual snob who reads the New York Times. But on the cover of today’s Santa Cruz Sentinel “Firework Plans Are Up In Smoke.” Apparently the sleepy little Northern Californian town has to cancel its 4th of July fireworks because of the increased forest fire dangers.

I only mention it because today is Day 5 of the 5 Day Challenge, and earlier this morning I received a picture of a young woman, naked, holding a copy of today’s Santa Cruz Sentinel. I have to say, I’m impressed. I actually never thought she would do it.

Of course this now raises a couple of dilemmas for me. The most obvious is that by honoring the challenge and revealing my identity, I might be opening up the door to a potential Selena stalker who will break into my apartment, sniff my boxers, chop me up into little pieces, and then stuff me into her teddy bear Courtney Love style so she could keep me forever. Granted, that might be a little overdramatic, but you never know after all, they did just find another woman locked in a basement dungeon and I thought that was never going to happen again.

The other concern I have came from one of my readers, who told me that she liked reading the observations and not knowing who I was because it allowed her to create her own image of me.

It was a great e-mail to receive because I had forgotten that when I created this website the entire reason I didn’t post a picture of myself was because past the people who already knew me, I didn’t want readers to be corrupted with a predetermined image of who I am. It taints the writing, my honesty, and your ability as a reader to actively engage your own imagination.

But a challenge is a challenge, and to not honor it would be wrong. So after careful thought, I have decided to invite the girl with the Santa Cruz Sentinel to join my Facebook page, but for the rest of you, keep reading. I am whoever you want me to be.

-dylan

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