Zcom_simple

Hello,

Blogs are a familiar feature on the internet - where users post content in an accumulating manner, with comments, and search options, etc. They facilitate expression and exploration, and via attached comments, also debate and synthesis.


Reading and
Navigating Blogs

Our blogs are quite powerful. Each writer can post, as is typically the case. Sustainers who have the option can also post, however. All Blogs appear in the blog system, and sometimes also in content boxes the top page of ZNet - and always via the left menu of the top page - and can be found via searches, etc.

Commenting on blogs follows the blogs, attached at the bottom, and blog comments, like all others, are also visible in many places that show comments including in the forum system. In addition, the entire blog system gathers content for everyone - but one can look at the accumulating content in many ways.

  • For example one can look at one writer's efforts - so one is seeing what is effectively a blog system for that one writer, or Sustainer.
  • One can also look at the content by topic, seeing blogs that are tagged as being about a certain topic - or place, as well. Thus, when doing that, it is a blog system about a topic, or a place, with many contributors.
  • One can look at only writer blogs, or only sustainer blogs, as well.
  • One can look at blogs for particular Groups, too.

All this is easily done using the left menu. Searches allow even more variables and refinements.


Creating Blog Posts

If you are a Sustainer with permission, and are logged in, you will see a link in the left menu for you to post a blog - and you can use that to post one, and then tag it various ways (such as with a topic or place, or a group tag), and once you do, it is in the system with you as the author.

You can also use the console button to the left to post a blog - anytime and from anywhere in the site, as long as you are logged in.

Meanwhile, enjoy the blogs - and, by the way, if you are a Free Member or a Sustainer with a ZSpace page, of course you can put one or more content boxes on it, pulling blog links of any sort you may want to filter for, for example, by you or by your friends or by others - and by topic, about places, for groups, etc.

Blogs

An Update of Parsoc, Newcastle 2012

By Jack Johnston at Oct 04, 2012


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After attempting to galvanise enthusiasm for the creation of a parsoc advocacy group a little over 12 months ago through the organising of talks on participatory economics and politics and associated meetings i turned away from such advocacy per se in favour of increasing my involvement with existing instruments of local democracy, namely my parish council and my social club, despite their lack of participatory ideals as understood through the collection of parsoc works.  Despite the lack of this open advocacy, their defence is of great importance; the social club has been threatened by corruption, whilst the parish council, as relic of an era before my village was incorporated into Newcastle Upon Tyne, serves as an important check on developments affecting the local area.

I have applied to be ‘co-opted’ onto the parish council, a decision is to be made after i have attended the next two meetings.  It has a budget of 2000 pounds per annum, half of which is spent on the employment of a clerk.  It functions primarily as a lobbying body, having the ears of city councillors and established links with the police etc.  The ongoing development of the green belt adjacent to Hazlerigg is something the Parish Council can influence, to some extent.

I have been involved with the reopening of my social club under new management, a process through which i have come to know many of the members.  The Club represents community assets in the region of 500,000 pounds and lies at the heart of Hazlerigg Village.  I am concerned that part of the club is going to be sold to pay debts, as has happened in the past, and intend to make sure other options are pursued.

In addition i have moved into a Housing Coop nearer the centre of Newcastle where i intend to live whilst maintaining a role in Hazlerigg through the above institutions.  The fact my rent now goes to the development of a community asset gives me a great deal of satisfaction.  Other than that i have ordered 20 T-shirts from a friend, who advocates Parecon values: “One T-Shirt Closer to Revolution” with the pps logo.  I am working towards a MA in Latin America and intend to specialise in Food Security, an issue which I believe is very much entwined with participatory economy.
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