The contents of this year's TED will be posted online, as were last years, and in fact today one of the little interstital extras was the unveiling of the new TEDTalks site - elegant and useful it appears to be.
So, since the TEDblog is quite thorough and the talks will be viewable by all I'm just blogging here about my own small impressions before they fade. I'm talking voluminous notes this year too.
Day 1:
Philippe Stratck. I loved him. Basically the point: art (and design) is really only important during the times of humanity's "light" when other more "important" issues like war and famine and disease are on the wwane. Now, not sure if I agree because doesn't art help even in the dark ages? His contention that now is one of those shadow times was immediately countered by Stephen Pinker's uplifting talk about the overall decrease in violence in human history. Dramatic statistics. Pretty amazing when you think that voices for peace have only been allowed to speak for the past 200 or 300 years - before that, protest the Man and off with your head (or worse).
Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The humble quietness of this towering icon makes your heart go still and then open up like a lily pad. He talked about heroes, hard work, having a mentor, and growing up "standing on the shoulders of giants." I felt his childhood, his mother and father, shine through his eyes while he talked.
And then to wind up the day: oh my God, Raul Midon. I had heard his music but didn't really know where it came from. It made me swoon and sent chills up my spine - that trumpet-soloey thing with his mouth!!! BUY THIS ALBUM.
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