In the beginning…
by Jim Groom
I’ve been blogging for the last five months on the CUNY Commons News blog. I’ve been getting a feel for the community and keeping up with what’s happening around the Commons. That said, I’ve been struggling a bit with how to best accomplish the task of highlighting the work in the community. Seems simple enough, I know, but for some reason it has come a bit harder for me than expected. So, this is my attempt to change up the process a bit and use Brian Foote’s blog as the model—something I should have done from the very beginning. My bad.
As community facilitator for the Commons, Brian did a phenomenal job of interweaving the news of the world with the weekly posts around the Commons. It was seamless. I must admit that I am reluctant to try and put the news of the world at this moment in any kind of focus for fear of being committed, but I’ve been reading his posts and he does a really nice job of walking the line—a balance I won’t necessarily be able to match but certainly will use it as inspiration. I’m not sure how the voice and focus on this site will evolve over the next 6 months, but I plan on giving it a shot. The plan is at least one post about what’s happening around the CUNY Academic Commons every Monday morning for the entire semester. I’m working on my first one for this coming Monday, which will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Citation Needed. I hope it works, because if it doesn’t I’ve been told I won’t get the antidote for the timed-release cyanide capsules the Commons team injected into my bloodstream.
One of the first things I need to change in my new role as Blogger extraordinaire is getting Giphy links to automatically embed!
In fact, I even tried wrapping the link to that GIF in the img tags, but I felt the long arm of Boone thwarting me. GIF Freedom Now! (And Pokemon Go)
You know, you could have just asked, instead of slinging mud. Commie! https://github.com/boonebgorges/bava-comments
I was wondering what it would take to get you to comment on this blog. I now know 🙂 BAVA COMMENTS 4LIFE! Thanks Boone, I love you!
This will be great. thank you, Jim!
Well, you can always release those cyanide capsules if not. Or you can just go around saying, “Jim Groom? I thought he was dead.”
If you say my name two times on the Commons I appear and grant wishes! I couldn’t be happier that Jim Groom, of all folks, is going to take up something like the old Footenotes. I can’t wait to read it.
I miss all of you on the team and on the Commons. I hope y’all are all doing well. I still check in on the member count to watch it grow! 6,850!
(Someone open a tag on Redmine to allow image embedding on comments. Chris?! Sarah?!)
I am so glad you came here granting wishing, I wish to blog like you! Also, I totally agree about the image embedding in comments, I just tried to embed both yours and Sarah’s images, but was rejected.
I really appreciate the comment, here and I am always open to pointers and advice, I’m finding your Commons blogging shoes intimidating—and that is because your work building community here for 3 or 4 years was quite impressive. May the blog gods grant me the power….
(I’m finding myself wanting a like button here, but since there isn’t one) Hi Brian! Hope all is well!
Wow, Brian Foote makes an appearance! Jim Groom, you do indeed work wonders.
Hey Brian, Great to hear from you, and that you’re still keeping an eye on us! I also hope all is well. Jim, I’m on board with your direction.