Citizens Journalism Project, the Response. UPDATED I've been inundated with kind words, questions and offers of assistance since the word went out last last week that I'm going to pull together a citizens journalism project. I'm working my way through the e-mail and will try hard to get caught up by tomorrow. Hope to have a few more details by mid-week as well. UPDATE: The folks from Korea's amazing OhmyNews, one of my inspirations in this project (and covered at some length in the book), interviewed me at a conference over the weekend. [Dan Gillmor's eJournal]

9:51:34 PM    

An Honor. I just had the honor of introducing some extraordinary people to a Silicon Valley audience. They were Jim Hake, CEO and founder of Spirit of America, which I wrote about last spring. His operation is bringing help from U.S. citizens to people who need it in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it's worth your time to look at it. The stars of the lunch program, however, were Omar and Mohammed Ali, two of three brothers who have been writing the Iraq the Modelblog for over a year. It's an on-the-ground look at conditions they're seeing in a nation that's seen so much horror. They're working on a citizen journalism project for coverage of the upcoming elections. I wish them well on that and hope I can help in some small way. They have a leg up on this project because there's a new Arabic-language blogging tool, funded by Spirit of America, which will host blogs -- free of charge -- for people in the Arabic-speaking Middle East. Nice work by all. [Dan Gillmor's eJournal]

9:51:00 PM    

Holiday Advice From My Father. 1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it.

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Finally, Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" [What Do YOU Think? Comment on this Post!] [Testify!] [Father Dan]

9:48:20 PM