Return to the Source within....

No, this is not going to be a metaphysical treatise to remind you of the value of prayer and meditation; or on the Oneness of all Life. This column was inspired by the advertising graphics hugely adorning the Dasani vending machine at Fashion Valley.

After leaving my personal One on One coaching session at Apple Computer, I was thirsty and wanted something cold to drink before my next errand. I knew there were two vending machines at the mall and that I could get something healthy and resist my inner nudging to go to Starbucks. I have purchased water from these machines before but I admit, I had never noticed the cosmetic casing. This time, the slogan was so large and looming, I could not have missed it. Ah. What was I to learn from this reminder? Shucks, nothin' I didn't already know-- pack a water bottle when leaving the house.

And speaking of all things Apple (Mac)... in addition to being a major MacEvangelista I am also a big fan of the creative and witty PC vs. Mac ad campaigns. Most people are familiar with the burgeoning career of the young actor, Justin Long representing the Mac side of things. As Mac committed as I am, I am quite taken with the other guy. Recently, I have had the pleasure of catching the actor playing the Walter Mitty-esque version of a human P.C. as he does correspondent reports for Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show." Sooooo, I googled John Hodgman and within his extensive credits was this personal little tidbit that gives me great delight:


"Get a Mac" ad campaign--John Hodgman appears in the Get a Mac advertising campaign for Apple Inc., which started in May 2006. In the ads he plays an anthropomorphised PC, vaguely resembling Bill Gates, alongside his Mac counterpart, played by actor Justin Long. While he plays the role of a PC in the campaign, Hodgman is actually a diehard Mac user: "I bought the very first Mac, or convinced my father to buy it, in 1984."

Oh happy day! I can add Mr. Hodgman to my list of celebrity MacHeads along with the likes of Douglas Adams; Carrie on "Sex and the City"--need I go on? And Mr. Hodgman's performance as the PC advocate is along the lines of Jon Lovitt as The Thespian--"Acting!"

Kudos to my new favorite celeb, Uno the Westminster Champion! He is by far the finest looking Beagle I have ever seen. And for those of us who watched the competition, Uno earned and deserved Best in Show. This little guy exuded confidence and style.

In keeping with my celebrity report, I saw a recent interview with Leonard Nimoy on "The Colbert Report." Mr. Nimoy has a new coffee-table art book out called, The Full Body Project. He has taken professional art photographs of nude plus size women. By putting these women in various poses to replicate famous art pieces, Mr. Nimoy said he hoped that these photographs would help to give young girls a more accurate perspective of what body image and beauty is all about.

It will be interesting to see how this book sells because these women do not match our culture and media-driven standards for female beauty.

And speaking of television and commercials: Are you ready to let it all out? Kleenex is encouraging you to do that. Their current T.V. advertising campaign shows a series of commercials where a psych-type guy shows up with a couch in the middle of metropolitan city streets and lets passer-bys talk...and let it all out--with the box of Kleenex at hand. The idea is that we just need a space, a place and maybe a face to just listen to us and let 'it' out.

So, if you return to the source within and it gets emotional, Kleenex will be there for you.