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A different filter for Instagram

Posted on by Emilie Buckman

I always have to preface these types of posts with this statement:  my feelings towards social media and technology vary greatly when talking about personal versus business use.

It’s fair to say I can be rather dismissive when it comes to the latest and greatest technology, gadgets, and all around high tech offerings.   Not because of some arbitrary feelings of nostalgia, but rather, it’s my need to avoid pointless fads.  (I can say with pride I escaped the pitfall of MySpace.)

A few months ago I wrote a fairly pretentious and completely judgmental post about the phone app and social media site Instagram.   Now I rejected joining long enough but, being that I work in social media, I wasn’t able to avoid it for too long.  So I broke down and started my new life with Instagram.  But if you are expecting this post to be a complete retraction to my less than enthusiastic evaluation, you will be sorely disappointed.

I will say, now I see the filters are amusing and how truly creative people can use the medium in ways that will impress even the most cynical of photography snobs. With all my reservations, I finally get that it is just plain and simple fun, even if you use the app to document your entire caloric and caffeine intake for the day. (It’s still annoying but I guess I can forgive it.)

What I won’t concede about is the necessity of a site in and of its self.  Using it on your phone is one thing but to trying to connect on a computer is useless.  You have to use an outside site, like Webstagram, which I don’t get.  And the best mediums to showcase your pictures are still Facebook and Twitter.  So I still have a separate site is pointless.

So at the end of the day my views might have softened towards Instagram but I am definitely not a convert.  But let’s be real for a second; I’m just salty no one wants to follow me and all the pictures I post of beers at the terrace.

Penn State and the NCAA

Posted on by Brian Lee

I’ve read a lot of columns and letters-to-the-editor calling for the NCAA to hand Penn State Athletics the death sentence. I’m against this, because why should the innocent athletes and coaches be punished? That solves absolutely nothing. Imagine your dad committed a crime, but you had to go to jail. Is that fair?

Instead, the Penn State leadership who participated in the cover-up should be–and likely will be–punished. But their punishment is beyond the reach of the NCAA.

The NCAA is making matters worse by not saying anything to the public. Its silence is causing people to reach their own conclusions about what punishment is warranted.

The NCAA should come forward and explain its limitations in this matter. I’ve never been a fan of the NCAA–for example, its supposed focus on academics is a crock–but it isn’t the bad guy here. However, its silence is stupid and baffling.

An organization that doesn’t come out ahead of the public storm only gets battered by it.

Sore loser

Posted on by Brian Lee

Please note, this is not a post about which side of the political aisle is better than the other.

Today, democrat John Lehman was sworn in as a state senator in Wisconsin. His opponent, Van Wanggaard, lost in a recall election last month but ordered a recall and then cried foul about the voting process.

In an op-ed titled “Why I asked for a recount,” Wanggaard claims “suspect activities at polling places” and “many (laws to prevent fraud) were disregarded,” among other allegations. However, he doesn’t provide any evidence, leading the GAB to dismiss his allegations.

This is a clear case of being a sore loser. What I don’t understand is why would he make up excuses? This only damages his reputation. Wanggaard obviously did not receive sound counsel on this matter.

Like other candidates who lose, he should have gracefully accepted defeat and vowed to keep fighting for the people. Who can trust him going forward after he’s shown he’s willing to lie to the world? That’s what I would tell my client.