Google, Vint Cerf and #OurWeb

To friends I haven't met yet,

I just received an email from the father of The Internet - Vint Cerf.  My former boss (when we both worked at MCI). I have lost touch with him in the last 10 years, sadly, and it was such a pleasure to see his email grace my inbox.

I am so grateful to see all the folks on Twitter talking about #OurWeb

I love love The Internet!!

I love to think about Paul the apostle in The Bible - using the roads the Romans built.  You see, the roads were the internet in their day.

The Romans built the roads from West to East; so their soldiers could get to where they wanted to conquer more easily.  Paul the apostle walked those roads from East to West - and founded churches. Such a remarkable and inspiring story!!  Those roads connected people and cultures.

Then ... centuries later ... another internet began - the US Postal Service.  You see, the American Revolutionary War was about to start. And the British came to the shores of NY ... and met some resistance.  The British Red Coats (the formidable army of their day), went back in their ships to go get reinforcements. What happened? Well, word spread through the brand new postal service - one person on a horse, landing in town, sharing the word, then more people on horses - like spokes going out to tell the next towns around ... then more people on horses & those spokes to tell the next towns...

When the British Red Coats came back, they were greeted with hoards of people. They did not expect that! This had connected our country.  The internet of its day.

And now we have The Internet! The one and only! Made of the dreams in Star Trek! (Did you know that Vint Cerf was a technical advisor for Star Trek? His office has Tribbles in it - no joke. Oh, and Dilbert cartoons.) (Another side note - I once did a bitty yoyo show for his birthday at the office. You know, the toy that goes up & down on a string.)

What I love about The Internet is that it's once again connecting people far and wide - in a whole new way! Introducing us to friends we haven't met yet, keeping us in touch with relatives we cannot see as often as we'd like to. Even Skype helps us with that! (No Internet means no Skype.)

I'm pondering having a concert at my home with Alex Cook - he's staying with me for a few nights -- having the concert over Skype tonight!

I love that I can share my daily adventures and inspirations and even the moments when I need some helpful tips and inspiration from the people I love and trust - thanks to the Internet and ways that I use it.

May The Internet Live Long and Prosper.


Please drop me a note in the comments so I know you've come & visited. I love to e-meet you.  "Well met by monitor light."

Blessings to you all & thank you for visiting my Cherry Blossom corner of the world,

-Jodi Crump Beatty, CS
Christian Science Practitioner / Christian Healer