Mountain View
Michael Beausoleil
California Roads Are Looking Bad. Are They Getting Worse?
Driving around California, you might notice two things. Firstly, gas prices are rising. Secondly, the roads look like trash. Over the course of the past fifteen months, we’ve seen some major changes in traffic patterns and daily lifestyles. Many people have been staying indoors and filling up their tanks less. Yet it would appear this time has taken a toll on the roads.
Award Shows Are Losing Ratings Fast, but They're Not Dead Yet
On May 23, 2021, 2.33 million people tuned into the Billboard Music Awards. This is over 1.25 million fewer viewers than the 2020 show. A month earlier, the Academy Awards dropped by 58% when compared to 2020. In March 2021, the Grammy’s hit a historic low with only 7.88 million viewers.
New Job? Here Are 8 Ways School Didn't Prepare You
When I graduated from school, I looked at employment with rose-colored glasses. Finally, I was going to be spending my time earning a paycheck rather than building debt. I had my degree, a Master's in my case, and felt ready to get my feet wet. Then, it didn't happen right away. I spent about two years trying to get into a decent position. It was a battle to get into the workforce, and the end result didn't seem like a reward. I landed my first "professional" role and was surprised that this is what I fought for.
Six Years Later People Still Struggle With the Apple Music App
2015 marked a turning point for music. Apple officially launched Apple Music and entered the streaming game. About six years later, they have tens of millions of subscribers worldwide and continue growing at an impressive rate. It’s not a shocker to see Apple perform so well, but the Music app itself still leaves a lot to be desired.
Reopening California: Is the State Ready for June 15th?
June 15th will be a big day for California. Businesses can reopen at 100% capacity. Now, this is also the day when officials are issuing relaxed mask regulations. In most settings, both indoors and outdoors, a mask will not be required for fully vaccinated individuals.
How Rihanna Changed Beauty Standards and Conquered the Business World
Fans of Rihanna’s music have been eagerly waiting her ninth album, affectionately called “R9.” It has been a long time since she released new music: over five years since Anti dropped in 2016. The album still receives love, and was recognized as the first album by a Black woman to spend 200 weeks on the Billboard 200.
Will New Jersey Ever Be Able To Fully Embrace The American Dream?
There’s not a lot of places in the worlds where you can find skiing, a waterpark, and new Sketchers under one roof. If this combination excites you, you’re probably familiar with the American Dream mall in New Jersey. While there’s certainly a lot to do inside this mall, its early life has been marred with complications and setbacks.
Keeping the Magic Alive: Ten Ways Disney Keeps Their Experience Flawless
Magic Kingdom in Disney World is known as “the most magical place on earth.” Visitors go there to disappear from reality and live in a fairy tale. All of Disney’s parks exude the feeling of magic. There’s excitement in the air and adults can roam the parks with a sense of childhood wonder.
Ten Ways Chubbies Shorts Used Social Media to Appeal to Millennials
Fashion can be a challenging field to break into. Brands either follow trends, focus on the basics, or in rare cases they become trendsetters. Often, the trendsetters don’t even focus on the fashion itself. They focus on the marketing, social causes, or celebrity endorsements. In the 00’s, everyone wore inexpensive rubber bracelets such as Livestrong bands. They were cheap and ugly, but the social awareness erased the faux pas.
People Are Leaving San Francisco. How Will It Impact Southern California?
San Francisco has noticed a trend over the past couple of years: its population is shrinking. In both 2019 and 2020 more people left the city than moved into the city. This isn’t exclusive to San Francisco. The entire Bay Area has been impacted by population movement.
What Amazon’s Discontinued Dash Button Says About their Customer Experience
Amazon has revolutionized the shopping experiences in many ways. They’ve streamlined the shopping experience in such a way that has allowed customers to place an order in under a minute. Their shopping experience has gone through so many revisions that some of their innovations have been phased out of the shopping experience. One example: the Amazon Dash Button.
Love True Crime? The Truth Behind the Obsession and the Judgements
Americans seem to have an obsession, and it has been growing over the past couple of decades. If you look at the popular podcasts or television shows, you’ll know what we love: true crime. Docuseries continuously top the streaming charts, and each week we seem to get a new podcast centered around murder and deceit. Yet we can’t seem to get enough.
Vuori: The San Diego Brand that Went Big
If you’ve spent any time walking around Southern California you’ve likely seen someone with a “v” on the left leg of their shorts. Brand names are splashed across a lot of the clothing you’ll find in this part of the country, but the locals know the “v” is for Vuori. This Encinitas-based athletic line has built a strong following, and has been experiencing stready growth since it was found in 2015.
Money Pits to Avoid When Becoming Financially Independent
When you’re trying to become financially stable, you need to look out for money pits. These are the things that look like a good idea in the moment, but a series of manageable transactions accumulate and produce bigger expenses. When you’re young, companies want to exploit your lack of financial knowledge and take your money. Plus, you’re getting your first paychecks. This sudden influx can lead to some costly impulse buys.
Despite Worries, Corona's Beer Sales Were Just Fine in 2020
A lot of brands needed to make some adjustments while the world was transforming in 2020. Consumer behaviors changed, restaurants closed, and confusion guided our behaviors. In the middle of the hysteria and misinformation was the brand Corona, known for their Mexican lagers.
Why Books Never Experienced a Digital Revolution
When it comes to media consumption bamong young adults their older counterparts, what do they have in common? They like physical books. The past decade would probably paint a picture telling a contrary story. Borders closed, the eReader craze came, Barnes & Noble started looking like a toy store, and every YouTube creator advertises Audible. It seems as if the world is trying to kill books, but they remain a form of physical media that won’t die.
Google Won the Super Bowl with a Smart, Sad Advertisement
If you watch The Super Bowl, you know you’re in for a series of massive advertisements. They’re usually bold, humorous, over-the-top, or inspirational. Advertisers know they’re reaching a huge audience, so they want to fit the tone of the game or provide some lighthearted relief.
Michael Beausoleil
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Writer, educator, and a few other things.
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