Alas Commons, I have descended from Paradise.

The last adventure I got to have before leaving Hawaii was an accidental hike to the top of a mountain.  We had planned to do a hike along the river in the Iao Valley, but in typical island fashion a lone handwritten note taped to a fence post informed us that the road was flooded and to go no further.  Deflated, but not defeated, we drove along the coast and found another trail.  It was an exhausting climb up, and since we had no idea where this consolation hike would lead we pressed on in the manner of loyal dogs and feckless children on the hem.  As it just so happened this particular trail went all the way to the top.  Above is the last picture I snapped before camera gave up the ghost.  Occasional helicopters would dart through the valley below us.  Up in the cloud (monolithic and single tense) it was often impossible to see more than 10 feet beyond.  I realized when we reached as far as we could climb that I was simultaneously at the height of the island and the apex of summer.  In a few scant days I’d be on a plane barreling towards New York and, together, we’d all be shuffling papers and combing through dog-eared books to prepare for the coming semester.

Sure enough, it looks like fall is on many minds around the Commons.  Maura Smale made a wonderful post about how the NYCCT library turns game mechanics to their advantage in the overwhelming student rush of Orientation. The intersection of games, technology and learning is a powerful site of growth in the academy and the CUNY Games Network Blog has diligently kept the CUNY community informed with their enthusiasm and great posts.

The Welcome New Students blog continued with their borough testimonials and sales pitches.  This week it was Brooklyn’s time to represent.  Gwen Shaw sold us on why Brooklyn’s the greatest city in the world.  I’ll bet anyone on the Commons 50 bucks that Marty Markowitz shows up in the comments.  That guy loves his job.

Over at Associations Jessica Yood was also catching us up on some adventures abroad.  This latest post finds its author dealing with mindfulness in writing and experience, with some keen insights into pith and wit.

Helldriver spent some time with a small ensemble.  These posts are such gems, man.  Thanks.  Part of the work at Footenotes is to steer people towards post they might have missed during the week, but if you’re missing Helldriver posts by now what can I do?  This guy could write about what happened on America’s Got Talent and I’d be there.

Finally this week, Bruce Rosenbloom posted A Vision for Academic Technology at CUNY.  In light of so many people’s passion here on the Commons for technology and it’s potential to help better educate the people of New York and around the world, it’s good to see our goals here.  Their exemption from the CUNY Strategic Plan doesn’t necessarily mean that they are absent from our intentions, hopes, or vision as educators.