A lot of people seem to be missing the big picture surrounding Apple's iPhone. They're all talking about it like it's just an iPod mixed with a phone. BusinessWeek gets it right: The truly remarkable thing about this device is that it's practically a paradigmn shift in consumer electronics.

But even that is just a sideshow to the real news: Apple Computer Inc. has become simply Apple Inc. After all, when a company changes its name it tends to signal either a change in its mission or that it's a bank. Unfortunately, Apple Inc. is not a bank... and its mission has just changed from selling computers to remaking the world in shiny white plastic.

Personally, I'm happy about it. I look forward to the day when MacWorld doesn't refer to a PR spectacular but rather to the place where we all live. Hey, I'm not the only one: Wall Street seems to agree.

Mark my words, the singularity starts here. Kind of puts that old Superbowl spot in perspective, huh?

Hot on the heels of Time naming us the person of the year, Advertising Age shows up with more good news: We're also the advertising agency of the year.

After all, who understands the true appeal of a brand better than its consumers? Take me for example. I probably get Scion, Chipotle, Wii, and (despite the fact that I'm no longer drinking soda) Coke Zero just as well — if not better — than their respective brand managers. I know I'm not alone: all of those brands have active proselytizers on the internet. Think of your favorite brands, I bet you don't have to look too hard to find regular folks passionate about 'em, ready to preach the gospel in blogs, on MySpace or through YouTube either by creating their own ads, passing along good ones, or just spreading the word.

The reason for all this, I guess, is that we all want to belong to something bigger than ourselves. As such, consumers have a stake in the success of their favorite brands, especially in a long tail economy where there are so many niche products fighting for prominence.

You might say it's a pretty sad statement about modern life — or at least mine — that I'm advocating consumerism as a mechanism for community. The truth is, I have to agree with you. So what do you say we open up a couple bottles of Smirnoff Raw Tea and drown our sorrows?

So the other day my buddy tells me he didn't know which was "more accurate" -- me or my new avatar?

The only thing I could say was, "I know what you mean."

Daily Horoscope for Pisces
Friday, January 5, 2007

You are on an inward journey now with the planets stirring up enough memories that your feelings get pushed out into the real world. You are receiving signals to change direction, but it's not going to happen overnight. Pay attention to the details so you can make practical use of any opportunities that come your way.

Hmmm...

A lot of times, I read about the dangers of full-sugar soda and I wonder why folks don't just switch to diet. I mean, I used to think that diet soda tasted like poison but after a few years hitting the aspartame, choking down even a third of a can of full-sugared soda feels like a liquid candybar injection. (Which is not a good thing.) In fact, now I can't consume so much as a jelly bean without feeling sugar-sick.

Personally, of course, my favorite diet cola is Coke Zero. When they launched with a zen-like message about detaching yourself from worldly cares, I felt such a connection that I actively proselytized for the brand. (Well, that and I thought it tasted pretty good.) When they switched to lamer marketing, I only peeled back a little bit — still preferring the beverage if it was an option, but not trying to recruit any new Zero drinkers. And now even though it looks like they're taking a rather dumb approach to going after young men with their new "Coke-ness" campaign, its sexy new black can had already brought me back into the fold... at least in so far as I bought a 12 pack at Target last week. But then this AdAge article drops the mother of all bombs: Coke Zero will be on-tap at White Castle.

If that isn't high-concept, I don't know what is.

It's been far too long since I've blogged about the Ultimate Warrior but my buddy Charlie sent me a link to this video, which is a true reminder of the severity of that oversight:

Meanwhile, a visit to Warrior's blog yields the following gem:

Warrior Workout START kits are going to back up by tomorrow morning and ready for purchase, too. Great gift for the fat or out of shape or unhealthy person on your holiday shopping list. Make this the last year you have to be uncomfortable telling your fat relative (or spouse) to move their ass so you can [get] around it.

The START Kit is cheaper than the money you’re eventually going to have to spend on the tents you’ll have to buy for clothes or the cost of replacing broken furniture. And much, much cheaper than the back operation you’ll need after you act a pawbearer (sic) at the funeral when your fat relative has that massive, massive heart attack. Not funny? Too bad.

Even better is this exchange between Warrior and a fan on eBay just a few days ago:

Q: Warrior, You sir are HILARIOUS!! You are my hero. If I ever become famous I wanna go off my rocker just like you. Dave

A: What you mean is that you know will never become famous, but in your dreams when you fantasize that you might one day, you would want to have the confidence and belief in the staying power and value of your product like I do MINE. The difference between the truth you are ashamed to tell and the ridicule you find humor and comfort in, can be analogized like this: You run a pawn shop and I sell valuable collectibles. You have to sell 15-16 figures to make just at $300. I have to sell one. Our ads cost about the same, around $3-5. On top of that, your 15 figures, even given away for free, can never match the value of buying the SET for $300 from me with COA's and autographed 8x10's. If you think so, then you win the prize for hilarity, not I. Who's off their rocker? And who's the hypocrite? You bash me for capitalizing off the value I worked hard and sacrificed to build, and yet, you run out and buy my Intellectual Property, which I own the legal right to license, and, then, you turn around and resale it for a profit, yourself! For you, and others like you, I consider my highly-valued auctions charitable contributions to the study and practice of psychology. All you begrudging flops get to write and belittle my auctions and, therefore, have your self-esteems fed vilely the same. It makes you all feel bigger and more socially-conscious about yourselves: Is he nuts? $300 for action figures! Why, I wouldn't pay... Excuse me, Davey Boy, yes you would. That is, if you had it, you would. You want these figures, Davey Boy, but you can't afford the $300. You’re welcome for, both, the business lesson and my charity. And I must, in return, thank you for the laughs and the fun break of two minutes I spent scrawling this out for further public amusement. Have a great non-motivational, indebted life. W

The sad thing is, if Warrior were to read this post, I'm sure he'd have similar comments for me.

Speaking of old news (get it?) it looks like a fourth Indiana Jones film is set to go into production in 2007.

Since my big plan for 2007 has been to shoot Ohio Jones and the Search for Self, in which a washed-up, past-his-prime adventurer must unload his emotional baggage and discover his true place in the world, my sincere hope is that the plot of Indy 4 focuses on how virulent and psychologically uncomplicated the title character is.