Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:36 pm**

I love Ted Talks. I've decided to start a thread to link the ones I (or anyone) like as they come up.

One of my absolute favorites is by Jill Bolte Taylor. She is a neuroscientist that had a massive stroke. She tells of the experience of being present in the moment when half her brain died or at least ceases to work.

www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_p ... of_insight

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:40 pm**

The power of vulnerability

Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.

www.ted.com/playlists/171/the_most_popular_talks_of_all

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:13 pm**

My problem with Ted Talks is that they take 15 or 20 minutes apiece to watch. But lots of people like 'em, so carry on.

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:18 pm**

aliantha wrote:My problem with Ted Talks is that they take 15 or 20 minutes apiece to watch. But lots of people like 'em, so carry on.

I don't know - to me that is just the right amount of time. Some things can't be said in 2 minutes. And I have done the heavy work, found the really good ones (IMO) worth the 20 minutes.

Some I have found that I loved were only 1 or 2 minutes.

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:37 pm**

You know me and TV watching.

Either I commit to a 2-hour chunk of knitting-and-movie-watching time or it needs to be less than 3 minutes long.

But like I said, that's just me. And we've already established that I'm weird.

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:28 pm**

I don't know it as Ted Talks, but I remember hearing the stroke story on NPR at some point (maybe that was the name of the program?). It reminded me of this time I was laying with my head downwards on an incline while camping and started to feel very funny in my head. It was actually a pleasant feeling, but after about 5 minutes I reversed my position because I was worried I might be messing myself up somehow.

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2014 12:25 am**

Holsety wrote:I don't know it as Ted Talks, but I remember hearing the stroke story on NPR at some point

A significant portion of Ted Talks people and/or topics end up on NPR as well [and the reverse].

I like them...quite a lot of them have sent me rushing madly around the web chasing links and info and education.

Not all of them are great, or even good...but they have a damn high average compared to other sources/aggregations.

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2014 12:36 am**

Vraith wrote:
Holsety wrote:I don't know it as Ted Talks, but I remember hearing the stroke story on NPR at some point
A significant portion of Ted Talks people and/or topics end up on NPR as well [and the reverse].

I like them...quite a lot of them have sent me rushing madly around the web chasing links and info and education.

Not all of them are great, or even good...but they have a damn high average compared to other sources/aggregations.

How about putting up some of your favs?

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:12 pm**

this one is pretty amazing and heartbreaking. worth the nine minutes....ali.

Zak Ebrahim: I am the son of a terrorist. Here's how I chose peace.

If you’re raised on dogma and hate, can you choose a different path? Zak Ebrahim was just seven years old when his father helped plan the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. His story is shocking, powerful and, ultimately, inspiring.

www.ted.com/talks/zak_ebrahim_i_am_the_ ... hose_peace

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:26 pm**

This is one of my favourites, even if it does bolster the liberal capitalist position!

u.

Posted: **Wed Sep 10, 2014 2:27 pm**

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story

www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_th ... ngle_story

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:08 am**

this is hysterical

Maysoon Zayid: I got 99 problems... palsy is just one

www.ted.com/talks/maysoon_zayid_i_got_9 ... s_just_one

I wish I knew if I was wasting my time with these and the This I Believe thread. Sometimes I just feel silly posting to the void.

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 4:04 am**

(shrug) People will take what they need and leave the rest.

I'm doing a similar thing in the Writer's Circle -- posting quotes about writing that I see on Facebook. Dunno if people like 'em or not -- most don't get a comment -- but *I* like 'em, and that's a good enough reason for me to keep doing it.

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 4:34 am**

aliantha wrote:(shrug) People will take what they need and leave the rest.

I'm doing a similar thing in the Writer's Circle -- posting quotes about writing that I see on Facebook. Dunno if people like 'em or not -- most don't get a comment -- but *I* like 'em, and that's a good enough reason for me to keep doing it.

of course, you are absolutely right....as usual

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 12:19 pm**

I haven't watched Ted Talks in a while. The Onion has a couple of great spoofs of them, but this is a good talk:

Game designer Jane McGonigal on the game that can give you 10 extra years of life.

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 7:17 pm**

This one, for me.

Eric Whitacre 2011

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:25 pm**

Menolly wrote:This one, for me.

Eric Whitacre 2011

THAT is pretty damn amazing!!!

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:33 pm**

The Museum of 4 O'Clock in the Morning. One that a friend pointed out to me this morning

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:42 pm**

Menolly wrote:This one, for me.

Eric Whitacre 2011

Absolutely beautiful, especially the first song. Thrilling!

u.

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2014 11:29 pm**

The Virtual Choirs are ongoing. The most recent Virtual Choir upload, Virtual Choir 4: Fly to Paradise was posted in 2013. Maestro Whitacre went pop with this one.

After Fly to Paradise, the Virtual Youth Choir debuted at this year's Glascow Commonwealth Games in July.

If anyone is interested in Virtual Choir 5, follow the Virtual Choir 5 Community. Details will be posted there, as well as on the Virtual Choir's Facebook page.