Small World

Life is not easy for a genetically enhanced human prototype on the run in the bleak 21st century. Loss and fear and corruption seep through the world in which Max, a 20-year-old bicycle messenger, tries to survive. Possessing a wounded beauty that stops men--and women--dead in their tracks, she doesn't suffer fools lightly. She has attitude, the kind that angry teens drape themselves in for protection, and deadly martial arts skills that she's unafraid to use.

It has become increasingly apparent with the globalization of fashion that talent resides far beyond the traditional style centers of Manhattan, Milan, Paris and London. Not satisfied to wait at home to be discovered, a large number of fledgling designers from far-flung countries have come here this week to present their clothes during the premiere showcase of American spring fashions.

Don't take anything away from Tim Thompson. The pitcher with a no-frills delivery and no-nonsense countenance has compiled the most gaudy four-year won-loss record in state history. Thompson notched his 52nd career victory Wednesday when Grace Brethren High defeated Faith Baptist, 10-0, in five innings, breaking the nearly 30-year-old state record of Scott McGregor of El Segundo.

In still small-town-feeling San Diego, it's not surprising that the two men who were voted into the mayoral runoff, Dick Murphy and Ron Roberts, have much in common: Both are 57-year-old Republicans who got appointments from a mayor named Pete Wilson. Two who didn't make the runoff cutoff among the dozen candidates also first met in the San Diego of the early 1970s--but under different circumstances. As a young Bank of America employee, Peter Q.

You just never know when you are going to see people again. Dr. Daniel Stone, an internist and geriatric specialist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, used to be Amanda Susskind's doctor. Now they are running against each other in the Democratic primary of the 42nd Assembly District. Susskind said she did not change physicians because of a conflict of interest. Their doctor-patient relationship ended years ago. "It's just one of those weird coincidences," she said.

Curator Toby Kamps nods toward the view from his second-story office window at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, to make a point about the new exhibition "Small World: Dioramas in Contemporary Art." The cars in the parking lot below "seem tiny, just that big," he says, nearly pinching his fingers together.

To limit its risk, Walt Disney Co. took no ownership position when the first foreign Disneyland opened in 1983 in Tokyo. But by doing so, the company wound up limiting its return on what turned out to be the world's most popular theme park. To avoid repeating that mistake, Disney took a large stake in Disneyland Paris, but overbuilt and overloaded on debt, losing a fortune and seeing its ownership fall from 49% to 39% by the time the damage was contained.

On a Sunday visit to Walt Disney World, 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez could not escape reminders of the harrowing trip that brought him to the United States or the attention surrounding his international custody battle. Led by a Disney escort, he got into the rides without a wait. But some attractions clearly brought back bad memories. He was tense at the beginning of the "It's a Small World" boat ride, gripping the knee of his great-uncle Lazaro Gonzalez and asking "Is the boat going to sink?"

There's a world of dolls, their houses, clothes and accessories in an unlikely location--a former bank. It's the Doll Shoppe in Sherman Oaks, where the priciest dolls are kept in the bank vault, along with those in for repairs. Since the store moved from its smaller location on Ventura Boulevard, the selection has tripled and a whole new emphasis has been placed on miniature houses, some of which are created in the building's basement by artisans who also make doll furnishings.