Below the Roots

           Recently, Nike introduced a campaign including the  Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. In launching this new campaign, Nike risked losing a large portion of its U.S. consumer base.  For example, a t the end of the first day of the campaign launch, Nike’s stock declined almost 3.2%.  So, why did they still use this campaign? They believed that by releasing this campaign they could gain more teen followers, who tend to be more involved in protest movements, particularly when political leaders and other authority figures are not aligned with their feelings and values.  Nike had many supporters of campaign, they also had many individuals who didn't support it. Supporters  see Kaepernick as a champion of individual rights, fighting for a sense of social justice, for not just people of color, but all minorities and people who feel at times like second class citizens.  However s ome people see him as a questionable cha...

     As more and more businesses appear in today's society, it becomes inevitably harder for current businesses to keep their doors open. The amount of competition in the business world is astounding and has caused many businesses to create unique products to prevent closure. For instance, Walmart invented  tropical-fruit-punch-flavored pickles, called tropickles, in response to one of their biggest competitors, Amazon, purchasing  Whole Foods. Once Amazon acquired Whole Woods, they were able to lower many of the prices, causing more customers to buy their groceries from there. This hurt many stores that also sold groceries, like Walmart, because they started to lose customers to Whole Foods. To gain their customers back, Walmart created the tropickle. While this new invention sound intriguing, I don't think I would ever actually buy it. C ombining two very different foods products to create one prod...

Whenever I am in need of groceries, I instantly think of Trader Joe's. Why? Trader Joe's has a one of a kind customer experience that causes customers to keep returning. For instance, Trader Joe's employees connect with customers on an emotional level. They chat with customers at the register and walk with customers to help find certain goods. Trader Joe's, also, is willing to take advice from customers on where to open new stores. And most importantly, the employees are not afraid of going the extra mile to help customers out. For instance, one employee delivered food, a process that they normally don't do, to an elderly at their home since they were snowed out and couldn't get necessary groceries. These actions have helped Trade Joe's preserve their customers and gain many more. 

Dear Virus, Thank you for giving me company these past few days. Without you, I would have been forced to do the chores that I LOVE the most, such as vacuuming rooms, doing laundry, and BEST of all washing dishes. I have had the most pleasure of being accompanied by you! You have become my best friend. But, just as with friends, you did come with your own side effects: soreness, mild fever, headache, and chills. Are you wondering what side effects normal friends give? Well, even if you are not, the answer is drama. Loads and loads of drama. But since you are my best friend you have only provided me with mild side effects. A little off topic, but what would you like for Christmas? I'm guessing you would like a body to leech off of. And for me? I expect thirty dollars from you. Because I spent too much time with you, I couldn't go to work on Friday. Oh, thirty dollars isn't the only thing I'm expecting, I would like some absence of you in my life! Maybe that way, I ...

What is all around us? What is used every day? What makes some laugh? What is the answer to these questions? The answer is satire. Satire is a form of criticism that can be used in many ways and in many different situations. Sometimes satire is easy to spot, other times it may be incognito. Satire is most commonly found in literary works, movies, and cartoons. The formal definition of satire is the use of humor to expose human follies. (Dictionary.com). Satire is mostly written because a certain issue bothered the author, and they wanted to express their stance or opinion. Through satire, these issues are brought into the sight of others so that issues could possibly be improved. I was strolling through “The Onion” and I came across an article titled “ Parents Gently Explain To Son Why Family Dog Had To Be Blown Up With Dynamite ”; I instantly was interested, so I started reading it. I urge you to read the article before you continue to read my blog; this way you will...

Currently, I'm on the longest, most annoying journey ever! This journey will take me to India, where I'll be attending my cousin’s wedding. It's crazy to think how modern technology is allowing me to connect with my family that lives almost 8,000 miles away. It allows me to talk to them on a daily basis and to travel quite frequently across the globe. If I imagine a time where such facilities were unable, I don't believe I would be as close to my family as I am now. Take a look at Milkman from Song of Solomon. He is on a quest to understand his familial connections and his own past. However, he faces many complications and obstacles during this journey. He has no technology to connect with people and to make his search easier. On the other hand, I could simply use websites such as Ancestry. com and quickly find the information I'm looking for. His only way is to blindly travel to places he has heard of from stories told by his father or Pilate, hoping he w...