Burger King just revealed their new logo, and it might look really familiar. That’s because it is. It’s basically the same logo they used in the 90's.

Like many brands, Burger King is leveraging the power of nostalgia. It’s a psychological phenomenon that can be used to evoke positive feelings. This makes it a marketing tool, and it’s particularly associated with millennials. As this generation ages into their late twenties and thirties, their dollar is becoming important in the consumer market.

There was a time when nostalgia was considered a serious mental disorder: a form of depression akin to homesickness. Symptoms were typically identified in servants or soliders who longed for the days for freedom. Some became suicidal or manic, but they were also in very restrictive environments. In hindsight, we’re able to see their symptoms were justified and we know 17th century psychology isn’t scientifically sound. …

On January 8, 2021, Twitter made the decision to permanently suspend Donald Trump from their platform. This news come two days after rioters stormed the Capitol Building in an attempt to halt the confirmation of Joe Biden’s presidential win.

The day Trump was suspended, Twitter cited two of his tweets as rationale:

The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!

To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th. …

There was a time when Facebook was reserved for students. Then Facebook grew, offered new features, and became overran with applications. By this point in time it seemed like Facebook users didn’t want to be students; they wanted to be farmers.

In 2009, Farmville became a surprise internet sensation. Released on Facebook, the game had over 30 million active users by the end of the year. Anyone who got caught in the craze remember their weeks of planting crops, watering them, and watching them grow. …

New years often encourage personal growth. Not all people choose to establish a resolution, but there are some unavoidable parts of life. One of those aspects is money. Anyone who isn’t going into the New Year with goals to lose weight or hit the gym should make a goal to build financial strength in 2021. After 2020, we have more reason than ever to get a better understanding of finance.

After all, you’re going to have financial commitments in the coming year. We begin with tax season, you will be paying bills throughout the year, and all of your goals have a financial obligation. …

Christmas Day has brought us some high profile movie releases, but they won’t be coming to a theater near you. Instead, streaming is the best way to watch new movies this year. HBO Max is streaming Wonder Woman 1984, Disney+ is streaming Soul, and Netflix is streaming We Can Be Heroes. It seems blockbuster films are no longer reserved for the big screen. To the dismay of Hollywood, this is going to have a longterm impact.

Movies with A-list celebrities and enormous budgets have been forced to delay their releases or settle for a streaming releases. …

It’s been a hard year for many businesses, but some places have withstood the challenges of 2020. Restaurants have been hit particularly hard with capacity limitations, but fast food restaurants are built on a model that can adapt to these changes. Among the fast food market, Chick-Fil-A stands out as a glowing success.

The Atlanta-based chicken restaurant began 2020 on a strong note. It now holds the title of third most profitable restaurant in the United States, passing chains like Burger King, Subway, and Taco Bell. This shouldn't be surprising. Prior to 2020 the restaurant was experiencing a great amount of growth and was poised to continue to grow. Consider this fact alongside the fact that Chick-Fil-A earns more per restaurant than any other chain. …

We live in a time where marketing and brand identity are just as important as the product itself. Without these principles, major brands are going to flex their resources and undercut newcomers. Among these major brands, Amazon may be the biggest culprit and the most likely to try to steal customers from emerging brands.

In 2019 Amazon was selling the 206 Collective Wool sneaker. This shoe was clearly inspired by the design of the Allbirds brand, particularly their Everyday Running shoes. Both were made of wool, machine washable, and designed to be comfortable for daily wear.

206 Collective copied a lot from Allbirds, but they didn’t copy one thing: they weren’t sustainable. Part of Allbirds’s identity is their eco-friendly practices. When co-founder and co-CEO Joey Zwillinger saw the Amazon product he responded in the most tasteful and brand-conscious way possible. …

It’s no secret, COVID cases are surging and the CDC has advised people not to fly. So what did I do for Thanksgiving? I flew from California to Massachusetts. I knew the experience would be different than my prior air travel, and I knew I would need to take precautions prior to the trip. Clearly, I’ve survived the flight, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’d advise others to fly during the pandemic.

In the weeks leading to the trip, I was hyper aware of the news and COVID updates. As the trip approached, there were many changes and I had to adapt to new regulations. …