This is the second part of our participation in the Carnival of Journalism going on today.

My grandfather is a pretty sharp guy. Even at 84, he’s still ploughing through books about physics – everything from wormholes and quantum mechanics to super-massive black holes and the recent steps taken in nanotechnology.

Yet every year for Christmas my family insists on getting himself from the latest wave of technology – something we think will help him. Last year we got him an all-in-one PC with a built-in webcam so he could Skype me while I was abroad (guess how that went). This year we’re getting him a Kindle (sorry Pop if I spilled the beans).

Whatever we end up getting him, I usually have to set it up. That process usually goes from patient, to wanting to tear my hair out for whatever reason. There is a pretty clear age gap and how well our generation has adapted to new technologies.

Sometimes I’m amazed by how hard it might be for some people to set up their remote control. But looking at how quickly everything has changed since I started my undergrad six years ago, I’m beginning to feel like my grandfather and am struggling how to use the remote control.

So Santa, if you’re out there, and if I’ve not been a dick, this is what I want from you, your devs and programmers sitting under my sad and sparse Christmas tree:

Firstly, please, please, please make something available for us pick up the basics of data journalism or programming. I know there are great sites out there with some crash courses. I still can’t wrap my head around most of it. Maybe I’m just thick. I want more collaboration, just as The Entrepreneur touched on earlier today.

Secondly, please make the US government drop SOPA. I know it’s a tough ask and maybe a bit out of your power, but screw it. You’re the big guy. The man in red. You can surely talk some sense into the politicians, the recording industry and the entertainment moguls… Give them coal!

Thirdly, I’d like more ingenious apps like the 5-0 police scanner app for iPhone. I’m not as smart as all the developers out there and certainly can’t make my own apps. I’m happy to pay whatever you’re charging. I like the idea of me never listening to music again because I’d be too busy eavesdropping on the fuzz. That would also prevent me from violating SOPA. There’s that too.

Lastly, I’d love to see more Wannabes taking it upon themselves to start their own projects. Things are moving so fast and not all of us are going to get jobs right off the bat. We’ve got the technology and ingenuity, but sometimes we need a swift kick up the ass. I did when I started my project about Occupy Philly. There are tons of great projects like Gaby Dunn’s project. I want to see more of that. I love the revival of the vignette, especially Slate’s Interviews 50 cents.

So those are my wishes. Let’s hear yours!

Tweet us @wannabehacks and use the hashtag #jcarn