The cosmetic touch

I have before me the local "pick up at the grocery store for free" "lifestyle" magazine, which is mailed to us, like a book of discount coupons, every so often. On one page of ads, a maternity apparel shoppe shows a picture of an expecting blonde model. Another page features a plastic surgeon, clad in a suit and somewhat image-undercutting patterned tie, advertising for "body contouring", with "financing options available". A model, blonde and behatted, seated, barefoot, on a sofa below the caption "Pretty in Pink", advertises a free candle with the purchase of a hand creme and a bubble bath. "Summer's here! Cool off with a pool!". "Let our Landscape Architecture staff turn your yard into a dream garden". "Beautiful Canvas Awnings". "Our Concrete Borders look and feel like Genuine Brick and Stone".

I keep meaning to read the article "Bite Your Tongue--10 Ways to be an Effective Listener" although I keep by-passing the article with the inset quote which begins "In another amazing way, God divinely orchestrated events to allow me to become part of this conference". I will not buy from the man who discusses "minimally invasive facial plastic surgery" with an article entitled "lunchtime cosmetics". I am not surprised when the article which begins "What makes someone beautiful on the outside is often reflective of what they put on the inside" turns out to be about recipes for foods with lots of skin-preserving anti-oxidants, rather than living a caring life.