By now I'm sure you've heard about and seen the latest from our friends in Cupertino. I'm speaking, of course, of the new U2 iPod and the new iPodphoto. That's all fine and well and sure they're cool and sure Apple stock closed at a four year high of $50+ a share yesterday. But, what not been said yet follows.

During the "special press event" on Tuesday, Steve Jobs began with extolling the state of all things Apple. Before getting to all things iPod, Jobs touched on the iMac G5 and then moved on to the state of Apple retail noting that there are 90-some Apple stores currently open and ringing up $1.3 Billion dollars a year in sales. I know, great, but excuse me while I yawn. What caught my ear was when he announced the opening of Apple mini-retail stores. Sure, every time I hear the word "mini" my ears perk up, but stick with me here. Jobs then proceeds to say that since the full size Apple stores have been so successful they were looking for ideas on how to expand on that. He went on to say how a couple of years ago the MINI Cooper came on the scene and everyone fell in love with the car and how it wasn't just because the car was small but because it was engineered and designed so well. He said, specifically, that Apple used the MINI Cooper as inspiration to design a mini-Apple store and opened six of the mini-stores last week.

Once again, two great things come together like peanut butter and chocolate, like Pizza and Beer, like Homer and doughnuts - mmmm... doughnuts, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, MINIs and all things Apple go together quite nicely - as if I didn't already know that...

These are the latest press photos from MINI UK and I have to say that I'm flattered that they are using a MINI virtually identical to mine for advertising purposes. : )

I love these motion views of the MINIs. Makes me want to motor!

Here's a motion view of me in my MINI for comparison.

All photos, except the third one, are Copyright ®MINI UK 2004. Click on each picture for a larger view.

In it's bid to remain on top of all things cool, which isn't hard when the competition is run by this guy, Apple has posted it's latest iPod ad featuring U2 performing the new single Vertigo. There is a short 30 sec. ad online with the full length video/ad available exclusively at the iTunes Music Store.

Enjoy.

Today, not unlike many Mondays, I fielded a phone call from a potential client with questions on a MINI roof flag. Said phone call was from gentleman in Northern California who wants to put a Union Jack on a 2005 MINI with a sunroof. He tracked me down from my gallery of MINI work. As it turns out, this client happens to be a member of a 60's psychedelic band with a couple of hits. In our conversation I mentioned that his name was familiar and asked if he was, in fact, the same guy. He laughed a little and said, "Yeah, that's me."

We had a nice conversation and if all goes well I may be shipping him the goods to dress up his new MINI.

It all made me smile on a cold and rainy Monday.

This past Sunday was the second year for the Baron MINI benefit rally. This year, donations were collected for Harvesters, a local food bank. With three canned goods, each person was treated to a continental breakfast at Baron and then a police escorted drive through the city ending at Worlds of Fun amusement park where everyone got in for free.

About 170 MINIs turned out for the event and it was great to meet a lot of new owners. I gave out more than 40 business cards so I'm sure I'll be cranking out loads of more MINI graphics before the end of the year.

One of the highlights was having the I-435 freeway blocked off as nearly 200 MINIs screamed by - and I mean screamed by as in I hit 95 MPH at one point as we did our best to keep up with Kansas City's finest.

We didn't stay very long at Worlds of Fun - long enough to ride a roller coaster and get wet on the whitewater raft ride among a couple of others. I'm amazed how the place hasn't changed much in the almost 20 years since my last visit. It's dangerously close to being a state fair with more asphalt and fewer horses. Come to think of it, I didn't see a single horse so a state fair (pick a state, any state) probably has a leg up on WOF. I guess I'm an amusement park snob. Too many trips to Disney World and Universal Studios will do that to you.

A gallery of photos from the day can be viewed here.