This year's model: fruit of your loins didn't turn out the way you intended? Time to get your own personal Mini-Me.(purchasing management)

Publication: Texas Monthly

Publication Date: 01-JUN-08

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Texas Monthly, Inc.

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American commerce is generally so good at matching product to aspirations. The happy car consumer, to name one fine example, can usually calibrate his message down to the subtlest nuance. You want to tell the world that you care about the environment and are just the tiniest bit morally superior? You buy a Prius. If your message is "I made partner" there's the Infiniti G35 in platinum graphite to herald your success. If you want to convey "Not only did I make partner but I'm having a midlife crisis and will probably divorce my wife if you, yeah, you over there in the baby tee and Juicy sweatpants, give me enough motivation," you're gonna go for that Porsche Targa 4S. In red.

Thanks to the merchandising monolith, not only your car but your house, your clothes, your music, and the very food you eat are all networks broadcasting just one channel: Me 24/7....

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