What's Wired.com got that nobody else does? Alexis Madrigal.

Yes, I'll say it again.  My son, Alexis Madrigal.

I make no attempt to claim objectivity here.  It is every parent's right to blatantly brag about their children's accomplishments.  (Hence, I will to listen to yours if you listen to mine.) After all, once we salmon have spawned, it becomes the responsibility of the next generation to save the world.  Certainly the one previously in power seemed intent on destroying it.

So here is why I feel so lucky about the person Alexis is and why I am so proud of him.  Nominees for the Magazine Publishers of America's third annual Digital Awards have been announced.  Not only did my son's magazine, Wired.com, get one of the three prestigious nominations for "Web site of the Year" (in the category of News, Business & Finance), but Wired Science (Wired's science and technology blog) was nominated for "Magazine Blog of the Year".

My son is the Staff Writer for that Science blog.  I think he deserves the blue ribbon, but again, please remember the caveat above.  If his blog doesn't win, I will spout the following.

The thrill is in the possibilities and the recognition; if you don't win, it is only somebody else's misguided opinion. 

This advice is right up there with my belief that if somebody doesn't like me, they must have something lacking in them.  Yes, I know, it sounds arrogant, but what's the downside? 

Certainly I know life isn't about awards and self-congratulation, so I will mention that there are lots of 'real life' reasons I can be proud.  Alexis is a great son, friend, brother, uncle and global citizen.  Secondly, he cares and it is evident that he can inspire others to care as well whether he's writing about wind turbines or funding for science research. 

Thirdly, he's writing a book on the history of green tech in America, which is going to be world class.    His work is out there on many fronts, but one of his Wiki posts on an "opportunity to leap headlong into a journalistic future" has pretty much gone viral, including making it to the Huffington Post and some overseas news outlets. http://is.gd/l13A  He called upon the rest of us to seize the day and create a new on-line news organization as newspapers across the country, like the San Francisco Chronicle, struggle or appear to be going under.

If you are interested in a new world of journalism, without the paper, or as he and Sarah Rich put it, a San Francisco "Post" Chronicle, here's the Wiki link to which to add your grand ideas: http://postchronicle.wetpaint.com/?t=anon

Life should be about taking time to enjoy the moment, innovation leading to human progress and how to give our gifts to the world, but a little recognition from your Momma and a hearty pat on the back?  I hope that's relevant as well.