TED

TED (stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an annual conference of innovative thinkers and people with unique experiences and accomplishments. There are over 50 talks during 4 days that average about 18 minutes each.  This concept allows cross fertilization of ideas and creates an environment ripe for inspiration.

 

Attendance is by invitation only.  You must apply for a conference membership which costs $6000 annually. As they state on their web site, “Attendance at TED is by invitation only, and the attendees – CEOs, scientists, designers, intellectuals – are as extraordinary as the speakers, who in 2007 included former US President Bill Clinton, musician Paul Simon, author Isabel Allende, biologist EO Wilson, designer Phillipe Starck, and Virgin CEO Richard Branson. Indeed, TED's success is based on the extraordinary effect of bringing together 1,000 of the world's most remarkable people. The result? Unexpected connections. Extraordinary insights. Powerful inspiration.”

 

The six bills are a bit steep and I doubt they’d accept me anyway.  I am just not that deep of a thinker nor do I have any really unique experiences with the exception of that time in a hotel room outside of Toledo with the Illinois Women’s Rugby Club which was really nothing more than a gross misunderstanding I assure you, but I digress.

 

If you’re like me and lack the unique experiences or the six grand, you can see all the presentations of the past TED’s at their website www.ted.com.  The presentations run the gambit from pure entertainment to talks on technology, design, business, science, culture, the arts, and global issues.

 

I find them absolutely fascinating and recommend you log on to the site and give a few presentations a tumble.  Some of them can be a bit out there, so give more than one a shot.