Pop Culture ✦ anika superstar

A woman crying dreaming about different popular gum brands from the 2000s.

Candystand and The Decline of Chewing Gum in America

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

I suspect the death of Candystand.com played a significant role in the fall of chewing gum marketing, causing the industry to lose its most engaged consumer base.

Mistletoe Madness: 395 Christmas Songs in the Ultimate Bracket

December 12, 2023August 8, 2024anika1 Comment

Introduction It’s that time of year again: Mariah Carey has thawed, Spotify has Wrapped, and Christmas time is here. One of my favorite parts of the season since childhood is hearing Christmas music playing on 96.5 (KOIT). The first holiday song I heard on the radio this year was someone’s rendition of “Do You Hear […]

The Israel-Palestine Crisis + 14 Books To Read About It

November 8, 2023August 8, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

Introduction Yesterday marked one month since the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas. Since then, there has been an unprecedented amount of violence in the region. It feels surreal that life goes on in the rest of the world. I still have to submit my work on time, I still have to take my car […]

Koffee with Karan S8E1: Ranveer Singh and Conformity

November 1, 2023November 1, 2023anikaLeave a Comment

Reading Time: ~7 Min This weekend, my Instagram feed started flooding with videos of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. As they canoodled on a fancy couch with an all-too-familiar voice in the background, I surmised that a new season of Koffee with Karan was starting. I had only seen the TV show before through the […]