I said yesterday that I would have more to say regarding the book ‘America Alone.’ But time out.
One of the most important sites I can tell anyone about is the TED site, and I want as many people as possible to know about it. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and each year the TED organization invites some of the world’s greatest thinkers in those areas to “give the talk of their lives” in under 20 minutes. I’ve listed three of my favorite talks here (you’ll have to copy and paste because I don’t know the correct html yet):
‘National Geographic’ Explorer-in-residence Wade Davis presents through incredible stories and stunning photos some of the rapidly vanishing indigenous tribes of the world.
Biologist E.O.Wilson, a Harvard biologist, discusses his vision for an Encylopedia of Life, an interactive, open-source catalog of all living things on earth. This vision was presented in March of 2007. In May, the Encyclopedia was unveiled (eol.com)
My favorite TED talk. Rev. Tom Honey, vicar in the Church of England, discusses “How could God have allowed the tsunami?” It is about that, but so much more.
I truly believe that awareness of the TED Talks are among the greatest gifts I can give you. Please, try one. It feels good to think; it feels especially good to be motivated to think about topics that we might have previously have passed over. But the presenters here are experts for a reason: their knowledge, coupled with their enthusiasm, make for some of the greatest 20 minute chunks of time you will spend anywhere. And you don’t have to agree with some of the more controversial ideas; you only have to agree to ponder them.
The First Morning 
I’ve only listened to Wade Davis’ talk (will get to the others next) It is so incredible to realize how little of the world I know. It’s easy to lull myself into believing that the world revolves around my job, church, Dallas Mavericks and family. No wonder people struggled with the idea that the earth wasn’t the center of the universe.
Thanks for sharing.
Steve
Well, we know for sure it doesn’t revolve around the Mavericks! (I’m still disappointed)
I love this talk because it reminds us that while we have a lot of reasons to be happy about where and when we live, we will never be able to hear “plants sing.”
Refreshing