Give the 'Net credit

If my son is really interested in an information dissemination career, I’d encourage him to strike off on his own. Create his own information channel. Disregard the rules the legacy media has arbitrarily set. If he does, I think he’ll be far more successful and fulfilled.

It just goes to show you that you can’t get to know someone from TV, and you can’t celebrate a birthday with virtual chocolates. I can’t wait until I get home tomorrow so we can eat the 12-pack I bought.

It is Sunday, so I thought I’d briefly highlight an interesting combination of user-generated content and editorial control. The new Mormon.org, the site for those who are interested in learning more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been asking me for months to visit the site and add my profile. I didn’t accept until today after a friend at church strongly encouraged me to. I found a valuable collaboration between church members and leaders that coveys the church’s official position in a personal and relatable way.

I wasn’t in a great mood on the way to church this morning. We were running late. Merilee stayed home with the baby, so I had the other three in the back of the Volkswagen, and they were fighting as usual. I made a simple and rather gruff suggestion that they sing a song or something, thinking that would shut them up. Instead, the songs they chose made me realize the best part of being a dad. I get to introduce my children to some of the interesting things the world has to offer.

I can’t tell you how much it softened my heart when all three kids, including Alex, who’s not even two yet started, belting out “Dougy Giro,” a rather obscure old ditty that my friend Scott Richard got me hooked on in 10th grade. I just have to add the lyrics here so Lincoln can find them later. When you really look at it, it’s quite a heart-warming tale.

Many Internet scholars that I respect say the Internet needs more rules and the second decade of the 2000s is the time to do it. Grudgingly, I agree, but the best rules will be those that respect the audience and the history of the medium. Paying for loyalty or convenience fits. Charging for using something too much doesn’t.

Greta Elisabeth Meyer joined my family Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 at about 8:30 p.m. She was nine days early and gave Mom her toughest labor yet, but she’s happy and healthy and shaping up to be a fiery red head. She weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and I’m guessing was about 19 1/2 inches long. The nurses dubbed her the next great swimming sensation thanks to her long fingers and webbed second and third toes on both feet. (No, I am not making this up. It sounds freaky, but I think it’s sort of cute.)

I own an original Laugh-Out-Loud Cats panel because I love the comic, and I think it represents what someone who understands the ‘Net can do with an old medium.

Instead of making New Year’s resolutions this year, I’m making schedules. If blogging every day for a month as part of NaBloPoMo has taught we anything, it’s that I need to make time for the important things in life.

I know now my kids won’t remember the Hot Wheels cars or Little Pets. They will remember the baking kits because I’m going to make sure they know how much their mother sacrificed to ensure they had a good Christmas. I also want them to know the value of working for what you want rather than just picking it up at the store.

I know I’m rambling a bit because I’m tired and I still have a lot to do before morning. But if the purpose of this blog is partly to recognize organizations that use the Internet effectively to communicate information (even if that information isn’t necessarily “news”) I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention NORAD tracks Santa again. As I eluded in my headline, this is a government military project I can wholeheartedly support.