As the dawn of the iPhone approaches, the media is becoming saturated with photos and mentions of Greg Packer, serial first-in-liner who will be the first to get an iPhone Friday at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in NY.

Packer, a 40-year old highway maintenance worker from Huntington, Long Island was the first in line to see Ground Zero, to sign the condolence book for Princess Diana at the British consulate, to greet President Bush after his inauguration , and at various signings and appearances has been the first in line to see the Pope, Bill Clinton, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Hillary Clinton, Garth Brooks and many more. Plus he's been there for Parades, Harry Potter book releases, and more.

Back in 2003, the Associated Press put out a memo asking its reporters to try to avoid quoting him in any of their articles after Ann Coulter outed him as being the "man on the street" in over 100 media publications.

Mr. Packer has his own wikipedia entry of course where you read about some of his many other line-waiting performances. He's also got a fairly meager blog that he's keeping while waiting for the iPhone. He's looking for Paypal donations for something but he's also been getting advertising offers from some businesses eager for his prime seat in the media spotlight.

Is it opportunism? Fame-seeking? Performance art? Some sort of undiagnosed illness? What makes Greg Packer tick?

via Gizmodo