I joined Instagram in June to promote a small business I am preparing to launch. Two weeks ago I hit 140 followers. Obviously, this is peanuts to Meta who seems to prioritize only the biggest, most influential companies and personalities on their platform. I tried to log in, and saw my account was suspended with no ability to appeal or take action. Then 24 hours later, the message turned into "permanently removed" or something to that affect. This time, the help page I was directed to was clear in claiming that the account could not be recovered nor could any appeal be made. Ironically, I got an email from Instagram yesterday celebrating the new followers that I had gained in October. Clearly, the account isn't fully removed. Still, I have yet to find any way to reach out to support (other than the help pages that say the account is suspended/disabled/removed). I am not aware of anything I can do, and I am sure there are thousands of people in the same position.
It's an infuriating experience to say the least. I've lost the account name that matches my business name, followers who were genuinely interested in my product, and all the time and effort that went into putting posts together.
The whole experience has really made me rethink marketing though the platform and how to advertise a small business in today's digital world.
I recently listened to the 5-4 podcast episode "Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1" that covered the 2007 US Supreme Court decision. It discusses using race in public school choice and discusses two different interpretations of the 14th amendment.
"If you take 14th Amendment, or have any sort of class that talks about desegregation in public schools, there are two different ways of thinking about the holding in Brown versus Board of Education. One is that Brown versus Board of Education is an anti-classification case, and the other is that it's an anti-subordination case." [1]
As a member of the public with no background in law, I suspect that this distinction may be what SCOTUS will rule on in these upcoming cases. If you're interested in the topic and enjoy podcasts, I highly recommend this episode.
I received a set of these pens (the retractable colored ones) when starting my first job out of college. I was teaching high school students. Unlike the early generations of erasable pens, these really do leave no trace on the page when erased. As a new teacher, it was excellent for grading -- students couldn't tell when I inevitably mismarked an assignment. Better still, the ink is heavy and dark, so my students couldn't tell that their assignments were graded with erasable ink. I can't recommend them highly enough as a hybrid between pencils and pens.
But if they happen to see them on your desk they could start changing their grades. Though I suppose high schoolers are less likely to bring every grade home.
I also tend to print anything substantial that I plan on reading. It's just easier on the eyes (though Firefox's reader mode and usejournal.com also help) and I can re-use the blank side of the paper for my notes. After that, it makes an okay fire starter.
I've also started subscribing to magazines and newspapers again. Most of the 'online' content I read is available in print form.
I am very much a fan of the printed word. I've been thinking about it like this: Online, text delivers itself to you, almost always in short-form streams, everything is ephemeral. With a physical book, you have to bring yourself to the text. Language, dialog, form, typography all come together on the page in a way that is highly satisfying. The act of reading printed pages is an "event" of sorts.
I really enjoy both the Economist and the New Yorker. They tend to take very different stances on the same issues, but both have really excellent long-form articles that I enjoy. I also recommend hobby magazines (like Shutterbug or Adventure Kayak) that fit with your interests.
A few that affected me and haven't already been mentioned (in no particular order)
Anything by John Twelve Hawks, but especially The Traveler: his works got me thinking about the role technology plays in the world and especially the balance among surveillance and privacy.
Pure by Linda Kay Klein: perhaps only interesting if you were raised in the Church's purity culture, but this also talks about the role religion plays in society as a whole.
14 Lessons in Yogi Philosophy: really opened my mind to Eastern ideas about living a spiritual life.
reply