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We all like to build castles in the clouds from time to time. That's harmless fun, unless we try to move into them and live there.

In our media-driven society, people are identifying more and more with celebrities. Celebrities are the "beautiful people," our icons of success. The latest scoop about their hang-nails has become more important than legitimate news about political, environmental, and cultural events. It seems easier to live in a bubble of fantasy than to pay attention to what is going on around us.

The trouble with bubbles is that they burst. Sooner or later, fantasies about the latest heart throb must give way to concrete concerns like preparing the next meal, paying the rent, and doing something about getting the washing machine repaired. In the ideal world of the celebrity, all these things are done by others who, like genies, perform their tasks perfectly and unobtrusively and never need to be supervised. Everything is beautiful, in perfect condition, luxurious, pleasant. Trapped in the harsh realities of the non-celebrity world, one has limited options. One can keep dreaming and ignore the demands of life as long as possible, or endlessly compare mundane life to the ideal one, and be consumed with envy.

As the celebrities loom larger and larger in everyday life, expectations become more and more inflated. One day, any one of us could be walking down the street and be discovered by a movie producer. A millionaire might pass by in his limo and fall hopelessly in love with Plain Jane's untutored innocence. A famous recording star may come jogging past Charlie's garage while he is practising with his neighborhood rock group, and realize that this is exactly the sound he needs to boost his career. From there, it's only a few steps to living happily ever after.

What's wrong with all this? It keeps people, especially vulnerable youngsters, from working consistently towards realistic, achievable goals. The myth of rocketing to stardom without training and effort is particularly prevalent in the arts. People are supposed to have this mysterious quality called "talent", which will magically catapult them to the top without any effort on their part. Instead of learning their craft and finding satisfaction in practising it as opportunities present themselves, aspiring stars sit and wait to be "discovered."

Parents want the best for their children. That is natural. But do parents instinctively know what is best? Many of them are in the position to seriously

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