Measure What Matters: Chapter 11

Contrary to what Joan Jett would have you believe, reputation is something you absolutely should care about. That being said, you have to be able to come up with a way to make that reputation work for you and your product. A boy band like One Direction may strive to have a goody-two-shoes reputation whereas a deathcore band like Winds of Plague may strive to look tough and anarchistic. Though the latter is not what someone may view as a traditionally positive reputation, it aligns with their image.

In order to gain and maintain a reputation, you have to pay attention to what people are saying about you and respond to it accordingly. If you want your audience to see you in a certain way, you have to do what they like- or at least convince them to like what you are doing by backing it up. That is why stars can get away with so much that the average person could not. An athlete may break the law, but they are respected for their talent. Of course, I would suggest abiding by the law at all times, but being reliable with the quality of your output can sometimes say more about you than your individual actions.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Puppy Fever

I promise she's as excited as I am.

As a child, I was not much of an animal person, much to the dismay of my mother. She had worked for a veterinarian throughout high school and college and had kept pets consistently ever since. Even though I always had dogs growing up (as well as hermit crabs, a cat, guinea pigs, a rabbit, a hedgehog, and countless goldfish...) I never formed a close connection with them. Though I was fond of them, they were just bodies around the house.

One of the changes I have gone through this year is realizing how much I took my dogs for granted. The more I see 4-Paws therapy dogs around campus, the more I miss my own pup. Over spring break, Easter, and my sickness, my dog has sat loyally by my side and offered me unprecedented comfort. Deeka is a pure bred mutt, with no discernable features from any particular breed. She is extremely gentle and loves affection. Her hobbies include but are not limited to: sleeping, lying in the sunlight, getting her belly rubbed, and chasing groundhogs. She is the smallest dog I have ever had, weighing in at a meager 45 lbs, but thinks she is big enough to get in fights with her late sister, a Rottweiler twice her size. I firmly believe that, if I were a dog, I would be just like her.

Nowadays when I'm feeling down, I seek out the therapy dogs on campus (Babs is my favorite but please do not tell Primrose). When that does not work out, I look up pictures of puppies or other cute animals to help cheer myself up. I have not quite pinpointed what it is that changed my attitude towards animals, but I am certainly not complaining.

Do you all have pets? What are they? What are their names? I want to hear all about them!

Until next time!

Kathryn

Kanye: Genius or Mad Man?

Um... if you say so, Yeezy.

A little over a week ago, Kanye West released his newest album, The Life of Pablo, on several platforms, including Spotify, Google Play Music, and Apple Music. Previously, it was only available on Tidal, an exclusive high fidelity streaming platform. This move was surprising because West had previously sworn against releasing the music anywhere else.

Even with the limited streaming source, TLOP soared on the charts, reaching 250 million streams in the first 10 days of its release. In addition, it was downloaded illegally an estimated 500,000 times the day after its release. The last week of March, Kanye released a single (controversial!) track, Famous, on Spotify, Google Play Music, and Apple Music. This release sparked a new wave of new listeners and downloads. Suddenly, on April Fool's Day, TLOP is released for sale and full streaming. As of this week, TLOP has reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, Kanye's seventh consecutive album to do so. However, it is the first album to reach this spot primarily through streaming. 

So what made TLOP so famous? In fact, what makes Kanye himself so famous? Kanye West is the embodiment of "bad publicity is still publicity." Between his hatred for paparazzi and his crazy antics, he is constantly in the news. Ever since 2009, when Kanye butted in on Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech, he has been in the spotlight, usually doing something crazy and controversial. He sparked the shutter shade revolution and various other trends. His clothing line is arguably out of left field, as well as his Yeezy shoes, but continue to sell. Kanye also changed the album title several times within the few weeks preceding its release. However, the quality of his music and production is undeniable. Above all, Kanye is now a household name.

Though Kanye does not have the best reputation, he at least has a reputation. His PR is a nightmare, but as a brand, he stands strong. Is it truly that he is out of his mind or has he created a persona that will continue to earn him followers and a place in the news? We may never know. Regardless, Kanye West is here to stay, and I am sure he will continue to keep us all on our feet.

Until next time!

Kathryn