Talking TED

Have you heard of TED talks? No, not a talking Ted, but TED talks. TED stands for . . . well, I don't know, and its not really important what the letters stand for so much as what the talks stand for: Ideas worth spreading. But before you think a symposium about oleo would be painfully mind-numbing, the ideas being discussed are very thought-provoking, to say the least. Other adjectives used by people who have viewed the talks or who have been fortunate enough to attend a talk are beautiful, funny, inspiring, fascinating, ingenious, courageous, persuasive, and jaw-dropping.

Information from the official TED website describes it as such:

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

"But what IS it?" you demand. Basically, it's and annual conference in Long Beach, California where 50 super geniuses and other influential people who are experts in a field stand on stage and talk about their expertise for 18 powerful minutes. It would be like me holding forum to an intelligent, captivated audience discussing how to write mediocre blogs. . . but much better. With more than 200 talks , there is something that can appeal to and resonate with even the most callous curmudgeon, from art, biology, climatology, design, economics, invention, poverty, religion, technology, mathematics, sex, psychology, philosophy, motivation, and even oleo.

The purpose of the talks are simply to spread ideas, and not just ANY ideas, but ideas worth spreading. With the belief in the power of ideas to transform lives, each and every TED talk is available for FREE viewership on their website. I guarantee that if you need a little inspiration in your life, a steady dose of TED talks will lift your spirits and make you look at the world through fresh eyes. But let me warn you that they ARE very addicting! Nonetheless, TED talks is definitely an idea worth spreading.

To get you started, here are a few of my favorites, listed in no particular order, but with the first being one of my most favorites.

• Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?
• Brian Greene on string theory
• Arthur Benjamin: Lightning calculation and other "Mathemagic"
• Johnny Lee: Creating tech marvels from a $40 Wii remote
• JJ Abrams' mystery box
• Hans Rosling reveals new insights on poverty
• Steven Levitt analyzes crack economics
• Erin McKean redefines the dictionary
• Larry Lessig says the law is strangling creativity
• Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce
• Carolyn Porco: Fly me to the moons of Saturn
• Seth Godin on sliced bread
• David Gallo shows underwater astonishments
• Deborah Gordon digs ants

Go ahead. Fill those idle time at the office with TED and find yourself being transformed from a productive employee to an enlightened unproductive one . . . or just watch them at home.