Grateful for TED

This week when I was contemplating what I would include in my grateful post of the week I was sitting on the lounge relaxing after a long day of work (for him) and running around for therapy (for me). With just over 1 week passed in Project Aquarius (Toilet Training LittleMan) and only limited success (will write up more this weekend) I was lacking inspiration. My main thoughts were on disinfectant, nappisan, underpants and tiled floors and while I am grateful for them … They are not necessarily things I want to be *THAT* grateful for. KWIM. So searching for inspiration I look over at what my husband was doing on his iPad. He had just stopped playing his new favorite car racing game and had switched over to TED. I find it difficult even when you are occupied with a most engaging task or activity that is is hard not to switch my attention to TED.

What is TED?

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

TED main activities include

• Two annual conferences — the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring
• TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer
• TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations

The annual TED conferences, in Long Beach/Palm Springs and Edinburgh, bring together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes or less).

On TED.com, they make the best talks and performances from TED and partners available to the world, for free. More than 900 TEDTalks are now available, with more added each week. All of the talks are subtitled in English, and many are subtitled in various languages. These videos are released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license, so they can be freely shared and reposted.

TED other activities include

• TED Fellows
• TEDx programs (TEDx are independently organized TED like events held all over the world including in Australia. check out the website to find out about an upcoming event near you)
• Annual TED Prize

I find that it is very easy to get lost in TED and spend hours listening to experts in their fields talk passionately about something they are interested in.

Some interesting TED speakers have included

• Temple Grandin (ok we all know I love Temple)
• Bill Gates & Melinda French Gates
• Al Gore
• James Cameron
• Bono
• Bill Clinton
• Steve Jobs

But for me the best ones are from people that you don’t know. They are people who are experts in their field (sometimes multiple fields) and have something interesting to say. One of my favorites is by Marco Tempest. He is a magician/illusionist that works with iPods. His presentation is really interesting but there are just so many to enjoy, inspire you and give you a different perspective on the world that we live in.

I recommend that if you have time .. Even if it is just 20 minutes go and have a look at a TED presentation. I would be very suprised if you first was your last.

 Joining Maxabella loves…. in this weeks I’m grateful for…