So Twitter is now X. As most of you know by now, in a major rebranding effort, Twitter owner Elon Musk initiated a name change on July 24. It’s more than just a name change, though, as Musk wants X to be an app that can do “everything.”

“Twitter was acquired by X Corp both to ensure freedom of speech and as an accelerant for X, the everything app,” Musk said. 

“The Twitter name made sense when it was just 140 character messages going back and forth — like birds tweeting — but now you can post almost anything, including several hours of video. In the months to come, we will add comprehensive communications and the ability to conduct your entire financial world," he added.

Musk envisions a “super-app” that encompasses basically anything a person wants to do online like listening to a podcast, shopping, watching videos, etc.

Consumers aren’t sold on the change yet. In fact, many Twitter loyalists are downright angry. But can you blame Musk? Twitter was losing a few billion dollars a year before he bought it, and he forked out $44 billion to purchase it. That’s a lot of B’s, and he certainly was not going to proceed with business as usual, and none of us would either.

The man is brilliant, and he is a risk taker. There is no doubting those things. But his choice of X as the new name does seem odd.

I can’t help but think of Prince changing his name to that goofy unpronounceable symbol. Or Kanye West changing his name to Ye. Or the Dixie Chicks changing their name to The Chicks. Or Sean “Puffy” Combs changing his name to Diddy. Or Lady Antebellum changing their name to Lady A. And, of course, there is the Cat Stevens ordeal. I can’t keep track of my own name very well, let alone all these musical artist changes.

Meanwhile, Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta, but, realistically, who calls it that? I don’t even know the name of our phone company/Internet provider. Is it CenturyLink? Qwest? Lumen? Then again, we did learn to say Wells Fargo instead of Norwest.

It's all confusing, but if I had to bet my hard-earned money on whether the Twitter rebranding will work or not, I would have to side with Musk. A history of success is on his side.

Have a magnificent Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Bloody Mary

1. Early Bird

2. Mullets

3. Americana

SEE EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Head-turning wheels

His grandfather’s truck

By Chantel Boyd

Garret Von Stein of Bondurant is a go-getter and a handy guy, having been active in FFA and having won a lot of trophies for projects he entered. One big project he took on recently was restoring his grandfather's truck.

The truck is a 1979 Custom Deluxe 20k20.
“It is one of the coolest farm trucks you'll ever see,” says Garret....

After a year of working on it, Garret and his buddies are putting the finishing touches on it. Meanwhile, he continues to drive it during the summer and plans to drive it to school next year.

Read more in the July issue of Bondurant Living magazine 

Happy Birthday These celebrities were born on this date: David Duchovny, Bruce Dickinson, Wayne Knight, John Glover, Harold Perrineau

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do you call a well-behaved snake that works for the government? A CIVIL SERPENT! -  Carolyn Rogers, Gail Tomlinson, Rex Post, Linda Westergaard

Today's Riddle

What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com