#OpenLearning2019…once more unto the breach

…of yet another connectivist #MOOC that is

… and my first post for  Open Learning 2019 because I have to post to have a feed to complete sign-up. This procedure guarantees that I will have written at least one blog post for Open Learning 2019, which puts me ahead of Open Learning 2017, although at least I came away from it with a Hypothesis account and another MOOC feed in my reader.

I've participated in MOOCs since 2010, including the occasional x-version.  The past few years, participation has not matched intentions, and I've been on an extended blogging hiatus as well. When I missed most of Open Learning 2017, I told myself next year but missed that too.

So here I am following #openlearning19 tweets, reading blog posts and collecting links. And if it helps kick starts a return to blogging? Lagniappe.

#SCOTUS update on @Ballotpedia : #Kavanaugh completes committee questionnaire

Almost a month ago, I posted this update newsletter to drafts by email but didn't get around to editing and publishing. Usually an update will be too stale to use by then. This one is not, especially for those who haven't read the preliminary documents before the media wars tsunami hit. Democrats are divided -- resist or go along to minimize effect on midterms elections. Republicans tentatively predict confirmation around October 1st.

There's time to catch up and make your own decision instead of succumbing to political PR and Kabuki theater. After you've caught up with the basics, then check out more recent stories and discussions.

This Week's Top Stories from @COIndependent

…Massive police response breaks up protest blockade at ICE headquarters in Colorado…public lands, campaign finance, Manny Salzman obit, Denver public schools, tariffs, Colorado history… As the divide over immigration policy escalates, Indy reporter Alex Burness was on the scene Thursday as demonstrators began blockading entrances to an ICE field office just south of Denver. Law enforcement officers dressed in full tactical gear arrived to break up the protest.

What happened in the #Colorado governor’s race this week @CoIndependent

The week that was in the Colorado governor's race: Speed dating, money-raking, and a campaign 'under new management' This week found the candidates reveling— or not— in their new fundraising numbers, which became public. Meanwhile, one gubernatorial hopeful went through a campaign staff overhaul, and most of them spent a day speed dating (no, really) with unaffiliated voters as TV cameras rolled. There are 46 days until the June 26 primary and the race hasn't yet captured national attention. It was four months ago when Frank Bruni of The New York Times dropped in and left Colorado saying our race is "the country's most interesting, bringing together an eclectic cast whose fates will speak volumes about what kind of candidate — young or old, male or female, entrepreneur or technocrat, affluent or not — voters want in the aftermath of Trump's election." That will likely change in the coming weeks as national reporters train their eyes on our square, swing state to see what kind of Democrat and Republican is catching fire. Reminder: Keep an eye on our entire page dedicated to the 2018 governor's race

Top stories this week in the @CoIdependent

…THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Former Anadarko brass slam company, alleging safety risks, callousness & more   Editor Susan Greene broke the story on allegations made by six former Anadarko employees claiming the oil and gas giant ignored safety concerns leading up to last year's fatal home explosion in Firestone. Data journalist Sandra Fish does the numbers — the campaign finance numbers, that is. And they're eye-popping. It's all there, right now, on our 2018 Governor's Race page. Don't miss it.

A #sol18 Tuesday: last dental, an April blizzard & the tumbled tumbleweed

snow covered tumbleweed

…just past midnight, unimaginable to be starting a blog post so early. Writing later in the day is even more unimaginable. Today is major dental day ~ the last extraction (3 incisors) and bridge installation. But for the inevitable follow-up, it's the final step in a long procedure.

So here's the 3-part, minimal word plan:  fill the page with Friday 13th April blizzard pictures, the latest episode in tumbleweed saga. Close with slice footer. Voilà! My first and last early morning slice...

Tuesday already #sol18

…feels like only a few days I was doing this every day, maybe because it was. I had a few days of watching evening TV while not simultaneously working the laptop keyboard. It's been too windy here to walk much. Sunday, Easter dinner with family, pranked my grandsons with fake eggs. As mentioned in my last post, I put rocks in the plastic Easter egg shells so they wouldn't blow away. Oops, forgot to tell the boys. April Fools!

Monday I spent some of the day loafing, some setting up April writing, Camp NaNoWriMo. I'll let you know how that's going next Tuesday.

Today, was catching on curation backlog and general blog-keeping. I re-purposed (or would that up cycling?) one, deleted three blogs too long out of use and pains and hard to format the way I want for what I need -- still have too many blogs though.