[MD] Intellectual activity

[Khaled Alkotob]

[Arlo]
Gentlemen and ladies, we are the third party, and we are already
involved.
Because, you see, Nike would not value paying the athlete $10 million
dollars
if it did not KNOW that such a product endorsement will likely manipulate
the
"value" consumers place in buying Nike products.

Here is where Pirsig's assessment of the "vendors of style" from ZMM is
most
accurate. Little has changed since Pirsig wrote those words, and I'd
argue that
they have gotten worse.

Khaled, is this what you mean by "synthetic value"?

[Khaled]
Yes, and if you notice I used the word Synthetic and not artificial.

It's all about the emperor's new cloths. No one is willing to see that he
is butt naked.

You are right, if Nike did not see the value of the athlete's
endorsement, they would not pay it.

What is more interesting, is we keep hearing about companies being FORCED
to go overseas to stay competitive, yet no comments about the celebrity
endorsements.

Khaled