The Barber of Seville is closing up shop after 45 years of operation—more than 30 of them in downtown University Heights. George gave me a final cut this afternoon. His last customer will be a local priest, sometime on Dec. 11, 2024.
While waiting outside for my turn, I observed something, or more appropriately someone, across the street. You can judge for yourself from the Featured Image. Homelessness is a San Diego fixture, and I see street dwellers sprawled on sidewalks every day. But this gent is the first with an inflatable woman.
Loneliness manifests many different ways. Is this one of them? Or am I being naive, not seeing something darker and sexual? You tell me. AI girlfriends are a thing, and they’re but the newest fad. Their analog counterpart, while perhaps not as pretty, personalized, or humanly responsive, is the blowup doll.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra made the moment, I couldn’t have surreptitiously shot with a camera and telephoto lens. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/800 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 1:14 p.m. PST.