Tom's Top 3: August 13, 2024
Apple Card. Hit or Fool's Gambit?
Hi everyone! Welcome to this week’s installment of Tom’s Top 3 Tuesdays, where I highlight three pieces of content (Podcasts/Shows/Songs/Articles/etc.) that I found interesting or noteworthy from the prior week.
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Let’s get into it:
[Audiobook] Ed Zwick - Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions
This is the first audiobook that I’ve actually listened to from start to finish. While I often listen to podcasts (as you know), I’ve never made the jump to audiobooks. I think the narrators are so boring. No wonder people listen to audiobooks before bed; ten minutes in, and I feel like I just mainlined Ambien.
The difference with Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions is that the audiobook is narrated by its author, accomplished director Ed Zwick. Far from soporific, Zwick shares personal stories from the sets of his many films and shows, such as Glory, Thirtysomething, and Legends of the Fall.
But this book is not another personal puff piece from yet another white man in Hollywood. This story is part memoir, part instruction manual. In addition to the candid, often-critical review of his career, Zwick provides practical advice on filmmaking, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the industry. The audiobook serves as an approachable introduction to the book, and I’m sure I’ll buy a physical copy of the book to mark up with notes later.
[YouTube] MBA Maven - Understanding Apple’s Decade-Long Strategy to Become Your Bank
Own an iPhone? Chances are you’ve been “encouraged” to sign up for one of Apple’s services: Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, etc. I just bought an iPad recently, and I’ve been inundated with free 3 month trial offers of Apple Bullshit+ on the daily. Apple is thirsty for that sweet, sweet service revenue.
iPhone sales have been slowing, but services are seeing significant growth. This video details how financial services are a major strategic focus for Apple and has been for the last decade. Apple entered the fintech space with the Wallet app and Apple Pay, and they later made waves with the introduction of the Apple Card in conjunction with Goldman Sachs.
While the Apple Card has been a major headache for Goldman, it has been a worthwhile toe-dip for Apple. By tying up more of your finances in your iPhone, Apple is hoping that you will be more inclined to buy a new iPhone in the future. And Apple can achieve all of this through third-party arrangements, where they can effectively become a bank without having to deal with all of the regulations. Genius.
P.S. I am not proud to say that I am an Apple Card owner. I succumbed to the hype of the sleek white metal card (with no numbers!!) and the prestige of an Apple x Goldman Sachs brainchild. Truth be told, I don’t use this card at all. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad card; I do think Apple’s UI and fee transparency are valuable factors. But there are MANY other cards that I would rather use for everyday purchases.
[YouTube] Pete Holmes - Ex-Men: Gambit
Deadpool & Wolverine is taking the world by storm, proving that people still love going to the movies when they have a compelling reason to do so. This compelling reason happens to be the all-too-familiar combination of superheroes, nostalgia, and VFX. And you know what…
I. ATE. IT. UP.
I’m not the only one. Deadpool & Wolverine recently crossed one billion at the box office. While I loved Hugh Jackman’s performance, my favorite character by far was Channing Tatum’s hilarious portrayal of Gambit.
But this is not the only ridiculous depiction of the ridiculous comic book character. I stumbled upon this 10-year-old skit from The Pete Holmes Show, where Gambit (Tom Middleditch) is fired from the X-Men by Professor X (Pete Holmes) for having lackluster powers. Watch for a good laugh.
That wraps up this edition of Tom’s Top 3 Tuesdays. If you know anyone who would like this newsletter, please consider sharing. I’ll be back next week. ✌️