American Airlines: an Atrocious Accident?

Scandal over fonts, lines and styles. Is that all it takes to break a company? 
American Airlines (www.aa.com) has been experiencing hard times, along with many other airlines. In the midst of this, they have created an all new look, which effects all of their airplanes and also changed their logo. Many sources are claiming that their re-do is atrocious (like this blog from vanity fair http://vnty.fr/Sy45Kd). But when you look at that blog– scroll down. It doesn’t seem like customers really care about this  “disastrous” redesign at all.

Everyone has an opinion.
Strange but eye-catching, is their new look helping or hindering their situation?

It’s not like they had a choice about their redesign.
According to industry standard, they had to move on from their silver planes- so their new color scheme was inevitable.
Here, executives talk about how they have been serious about completely reframing their iconic design, and how much they believe in its new imagery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-KD0PdI1Ek.

The bottom line? They’re name is being said.
Forbes goes as far as to congratulate American Airlines for their bold step forward (Forbes http://tinyurl.com/akte7y2)

American Airlines couldn’t have asked for more publicity from a so-called mistake! If they decide to change their design, so be it. Until then, they’re boldly displaying their new look on their website (http://tinyurl.com/b23y8vj) and are unafraid to talk about why they have made their changes.

Time will tell whether or not their big switch  was worth it, and polls seem to be essentially be 50/50 (http://bit.ly/YbMFGj)
The real question is whether they will follow through with their change and help their business stand the test of a tough economy.

Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog, KariTheLight! I previously used it to store articles I had written for the Liberty Champion. I plan to share my personal reflections as well as my professional work. Also, I will be blogging about crisis from the standpoint of a Communications major.
So take a look around and tell me what you think!

Sandy’s Destruction Opens Door

• By Karin Thompson
• Published: November 13th, 2012

The storm’s devastation gives Christians everywhere the chance to lend a helping hand.

Shouts of excitement rang through study zones and residence halls at Liberty University upon the announcement of canceled classes because of Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane — Sandy went down as one of the worst on record. KAKELA, Creative Commons

That extended weekend was a blessing to many students cramming for tests or craving a few more hours of sleep.

Some considered it silly that classes were canceled when the there was hardly a drop of rain in Lynchburg. But for many students, not having classes could hardly resolve their problems, although it gave them time to contact their family and wish that they could help out.

In a storm of this proportion, we all must pitch in to the recovery effort.

CNN reported that Hurricane Sandy affected more than 24 states along the East Coast, and many students’ families and homes were hit. Lynchburg scarcely showed any signs of a hurricane, but the rest of the East Coast can attest to Sandy’s beatings. Our nation’s most populated city, New York, was afflicted by some of the harshest weather.
Many subway systems flooded, and rats floated in the stagnant water.

According to the NY Times, Sandy caused more than $50 billion in damages and more than 100 deaths. Many homes remain without power, and relief efforts are still seeking to rebuild.

Liberty student Claire Rudd is one of many students affected by the hurricane. Her home in Fairfield, Conn. is about 15 minutes from Long Island. Rudd’s family was evacuated from their home for 10 days.

“I had to deal with a lot of doubt, envisioning my house being crushed by the giant trees that surrounded it,” Rudd said. “It was good to know that my parents were safe in a hotel inland, but not knowing was scary. Our neighbors weren’t answering their phones, so we had no idea what was going on or if something had happened to them.”

In the end, God showed his provision to Rudd’s family, and their house was spared despite many downed trees and power lines in their heavily-wooded neighborhood.

Although Rudd’s story has a happy ending, there are many who are still hurting and mourning their losses. As Christians, we should hold to the example of Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

We live in a great country, where neighbors look out for one another. There is a great need for relief throughout the East Coast, and for those of us who were not affected by this disaster, it offers us a great opportunity to lend a hand. Although we may have enjoyed that extra day of homework and rest, there are people who must rebuild their homes and some who must bury their loved ones.

A blessing is never as great as when it is shared with another person. We are blessed to not have felt the effects of Sandy, and since we were not hurt, we have the opportunity to get involved and help those who were less fortunate.

A simple and effective way to help the relief effort is with the American Red Cross, who has already sent almost 6,000 volunteers to the aid of those in need. To donate or get involved in the efforts of the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org.

At Liberty’s last home game, the university donated $1 for every person in attendance to Gleaning For The World, a non-profit organization based in Central Virginia, so they could send supplies to those in need. Gleaning For The World is still accepting donations at their website, gftw.com.

The time to act for Liberty students is now. The winds of a hurricane are powerful, but they are no match to the intense might of a student body following the calling of Christ.

CA: This is Personal.

“This is Personal” uses gray terminology to promote their black and white agenda. The organization, which is owned by the National Women’s Law Center and primarily funded by Planned Parenthood, uses social media to advocate their cause. According to their Facebook page, the campaign was started in September and has since gained almost 150,000 likes as of Oct. 17, 2012.

Their website makes sweeping claims like “Restrictions on my reproductive health? I won’t stand for it. Join the cause,” and directly link their claims to sites where people can vote with the click of a button. This powerfully persuades viewers to act upon their feelings and seek out their information later, if at all. One button that says “Fired Up?” will take your browser to a list of ways that you can donate and become more involved.

First, the organization claims that they are not affiliated with politics, only with people. This bipartisanship is appealing to the average person who is likely annoyed with politics during this election season. On their website, however, a list of sponsorships reveals a different story. Along with Planned Parenthood are numerous liberal pro-abortion groups, including the Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Masking their agenda and omitting Planned Parenthood’s name from their website is the group’s way of trying to encourage a pristine viral image on the Internet.

“This Is Personal” has also made outlandish statements in what amounts to an attempt to rile up its supporters through false means. One quote found on their website is particularly aimed at incorrectly portraying the acts of medical personnel.

“Pharmacists and pharmacies have refused to dispense birth control or sell emergency contraception to women due to their moral objections. Women in at least 24 states have reported being turned away at the pharmacy when seeking birth control.”

Those at “This Is Personal” would make it so that all pharmacists and pharmacies are required to distribute the “day after pill.” Not only are they promoting abortion, but they are trying to take away the pharmacist’s right to abstain from a sale.

As proven by the Oct. 16 presidential debate, women’s health issues are currently one of the hottest determinants of the election. According to the National Abortion Federation, the abortion rate of women with Medicaid coverage is three times as high as that of other women. The largest and most central box on the “This is Personal” website is a petition to provide coverage for all women. The Alan Guttmacher Institute has determined that in 2009, the average cost of a nonhospital abortion with local anesthesia at 10 weeks of gestation was $451. Not only would enacting the goals of “This is Personal” expand the outrageous number of abortions already being performed, but it would greatly add to our national debt crisis.

Votes will decide what direction our country takes on these decisions. All of us have the opportunity to impact our world, whether it is through becoming an activist or talking to a friend about what you believe in. Mother Teresa put it best when she said that “it is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”

“This is Personal” is right about one thing: these are issues that should cut straight to the heart and get us “Fired Up.”