The Morphing of a Blog
Dear Colleagues,
My four kids think I’m a geek. There is a famous picture of me (at least in our family) holding my daughter, Julie, so that she could “type” on the keyboard of the Heathkit computer I had built about 30 years ago. Julie was only a few months old at the time and dressed appropriately–just diapers. They posted this picture on Facebook and have been adding comments for the last several months. Mostly, their piffy little gems refer to the fact that they didn’t have a chance but to become geeks themselves. I’d consider it a compliment.
So, what does this have to do with anything? I admit the connection is obscure, but nevertheless, I was struggling with how to introduce the topic “Morphing of a Blog” and searching for background and context. First an admission, I’m a geek-wannabe. And the SFCC President’s Blog is evidence of guilt and now it is going away, or it is changing–morphing–into the ”President’s Message” in PantherTales.
For a couple of years, I’ve been writing blog posts at the SFCC President’s Blog about various topics related to and of some interest to the college community. I’ve enjoyed this and the comments and feedback has been generally positive. This last summer, we decided to transform PantherTales from a tree-killing newletter published monthly to an online eMagazine updated continuously and paperless. Since the old monthly edition always included a message from yours truly, the online version was to follow suit. I quickly realized a difference that I had not anticipated. When writing a monthly column, it seems fitting to touch on a number of different topics that might be of interest to readers reflecting on the previous month while anticipating the month to come. A blog post, on the other hand, tends to focus on a single topic, and it is more timely or relevant to the moment. Another difference is one of style. Blog posts tend to be less formal and more personal, while columns tend to be more academic or perhaps even stuffy.
From now on, the “President’s Message” in PantherTales will strive for relevance and timeliness. Each posting will relate to a single topic and postings will appear as often as needed, but more than monthly. When you go to the SFCC Web site and click on “President’s Message” it will bring you here. If you wish to refer to old blog posts, they’re all found under “President’s Message” archives in PantherTales with the most recent ones listed in order of appearance.
It’s the geek in me that enjoys playing with this stuff. My kids are probably right and my wife would definitely agree.
See you around the campuses.
Norm Stephens
Dad, you are my model Nerd. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t played with a Heathkit computer, or organic chemistry models instead of tinkertoys. Now I am the Chem nerd in the classroom, turning out future generations of chemistry nerds!
Friends and other visitors to the home werent just amazed that our Dad ‘had’ a computer in 1980, but that he actually ‘built’ a computer in 1980…Score one for the geeks!
And as a frequent pass catcher from ol’ Dr. Norm in a game of Street Football, I can tell you…this nerd can throw one tight spiral!
Awww, I never met a geek with a bigger heart than you, Dad! And to top it all off, my whole life I’ve ALWAYS felt secure in where I could find the correct, logical, scientific, and well-researched answer to any and all of life’s questions…Dad!
What a great picture! One can tell that Julie just can’t wait to get her fingers on that keyboard. I’m enjoying reading your blog. Keep up the good work! Michele DeVane
I like the pic. I have followed the morphing of a blog, even the morphing of a computer and the computer age. All of these are a part of the morphing process occuring in our lives. Just musing here but how about the morphing of mustaches? Mine morphed into a beard. Good thing you had foresight to teach your children about computers early. They got a good start!