This last week felt like a month of Mondays; not Sundays, Mondays. So, since I am out of new books to read, I looked for escape online (the internet isn’t just for porn after all). Instead of my usual blither blather, I am sharing some old and some new TED links. (Don’t jump up and down now, y’all. At some point I’ll get back to the written navel gazing.)

Some of these talks are hard to watch, and even harder to hear. Some seem stilted and could possibly have been framed more eloquently. However, the underlying kernel of all of them should be chewed, slept, and thought on.

A note on the formatting – the first part, in italics, is directly from TED.com. The lines that spoke to me are my take away quotes. If I have more to add it will be right after that. And then? The link.
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At TEDIndia, Mallika Sarabhai, a dancer/actor/politician, tells a transformative story in dance -- and argues that the arts may be the most powerful way to effect change, whether political, social or personal.

My take away quote: “You have treated the arts as the cherry on the cake. You need to treat it as the yeast.”

I love her idea of arts being a vehicle for change. Sadly, I was a bit underwhelmed at her presentation. In parts it seemed that she was beating me over the head, and in others the clips she chose made me think, “aroo?” Either way, the underlying concept is one that should be explored.

http://www.ted.com/talks/mallika_sarabhai.html
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And just because I love They Might Be Giants:
http://www.ted.com/talks/they_might_be_giants_play_at_8_30_am.html
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For five years, young Emmanuel Jal fought as a child soldier in the Sudan. Rescued by an aid worker, he's become an international hip-hop star and an activist for kids in war zones. In words and lyrics, he tells the story of his amazing life.

My take away quote(s): “Forced to sin to make a living … it’s like I’m living a dream/First time I felt like a human being.” “It’s where I actually see heaven … music is the only thing that has power …”

He’s founded a charity, GUA Africa, which focuses on bringing education to the children of Africa. The genesis came about because of just ONE teacher. That teacher was named Emma McCune. She helped him escape being a child soldier and introduced him to education.

http://www.ted.com/talks/emmanuel_jal_the_music_of_a_war_child.html

(As a side note, if you want to read a first-person account of being a child soldier, pick up this book by Ishmael Beah. Not only is it lyrically written it is also heart wrenching. I cannot recommend it enough.)
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At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data -- including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop." In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all.

My take away quote: “Rather than getting your camera out of your pocket you can just do the gesture of taking a photo and it takes photo for you.”

Good lord, that? I would LOVE! I can also see this as information overload, in a way.

http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html 
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Novelist Amy Tan digs deep into the creative process, looking for hints of how hers evolved.

My take away quote: Sorry folks, I can’t pick just one quote. Just watch the whole thing. No, really. It’s only a few minutes. (Okay, I lied, here’s the quote – “With everything in life there’s a place of balance.”)

Never have I read one of her novels, but I have read many of her essays; she has had a constant place on my “to read” list. Especially since my English professor could not get enough of her and we read excerpts quite often. After listening to this talk, her books are now on my “MUST be read” list.

Good lord, this woman is funny and biting.

http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_tan_on_creativity.html

And you know what? Uncertainty really IS a good thing.
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Mike Rowe, the host of "Dirty Jobs," tells some compelling (and horrifying) real-life job stories. Listen for his insights and observations about the nature of hard work, and how it’s been unjustifiably degraded in society today.

My take away quote(s): “Castration is going to be an absolute part …”  “And suddenly this thing started to seem like a German porno.”

(To take this to a base level? This man is SO on my “list”.) I grew up in a blue-collar, dirty-job, type of family. Were we fucked up? Oh yes. Did we find happiness in the everyday? Yes we did. Growing up in Orange County, was my family looked down upon? You betcha. However, I can bet you dollars to donuts that my family may have joked about “work”, but I can tell you we smiled, and laughed, a hell of a lot more than some of those white-collar families that we knew.

Safety third people. Safety third. (Note – the first part may be hard to listen to, since he talks about castrating sheep. Just stick with it.)

http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html
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Poet Rives does 8 minutes of lyrical origami, folding history into a series of coincidences surrounding that most surreal of hours, 4 o'clock in the morning.

My take away quote: “What do a Polish poet, a British dame, a country music hall of famer all have in common besides this totally excellent Google ranking?” I don’t know. Click the link and find out.

I just love this piece. Love, love, love it! However, I think he got it wrong. It’s not 4 a.m. It’s 3 a.m. (At least, that is my time when everything connects.)

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/rives_on_4_a_m.html
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Benjamin Zander has two infectious passions: classical music, and helping us all realize our untapped love for it -- and by extension, our untapped love for all new possibilities, new experiences, new connections.

My take away quote: “No, the music pushed me over. Which is why I call it ‘one buttock playing’.”

I love his passion. There isn’t much that I (choose) to remember from my grade school days, but I do remember writing a report on Chopin for my 5^th grade music class. And that? Introduced me to classical music. Granted, Classical is not my go-to music, but that class, and report, did give me an appreciation for it I probably wouldn’t have today. So, thank you Mr. Hermann, even though you were/are a weird, weird man. Your musical tastes, however, were superb.

Follow the line, from B to E. You’ll hear everything … and possibly, maybe, just shed a tear.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html
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In this soaring demonstration, deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie illustrates how listening to music involves much more than simply letting sound waves hit your eardrums.

My take away quote(s): “By holding it more tightly I feel more detached.” “Please experience that whole journey of the sound.”

This is one of the longer TED pieces I have come across, but it feels like the shortest. She grabbed me at the beginning and didn’t let go through the entire piece. She speaks of experiencing music not just through your ears, but through your body. How many of us can say that we have felt, and heard, music through all of our senses? I think most, no? She is able to put into words that visceral feeling.

http://www.ted.com/talks/evelyn_glennie_shows_how_to_listen.html
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Sensing the motives and feelings of others is a natural talent for humans. But how do we do it? Here, Rebecca Saxe shares fascinating lab work that uncovers how the brain thinks about other peoples' thoughts -- and judges their actions.

My take away quote: “Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! I love cheese sandwiches!”

The brain? Is fascinating.

http://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_saxe_how_brains_make_moral_judgments.html
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Sunitha Krishnan has dedicated her life to rescuing women and children from sex slavery, a multimilion-dollar global market. In this courageous talk, she tells three powerful stories, as well as her own, and calls for a more humane approach to helping these young victims rebuild their lives.

I really have no quotes for this. This is the clip that made me decide to do this round up for all y’all. It made me sad, and angry. But it also gave me hope. So …

http://www.ted.com/talks/sunitha_krishnan_tedindia.html
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Ohh, look! Fiddle music! This is the clip I will leave you with.

One very rainy night, when I was living in the Oakland hills, I had a chance to see Buddy MacMaster, Natalie MacMaster, and Martin Hayes play at Ashkenaz. The day before I was in an accident that totaled my car. Tempted as I was to stay home, I just couldn’t. So I wrangled with public transportation and walked a mile through a downpour to see these three fiddle master perform. I am glad I did, because that night? Still makes me smile. (Even though I did smell like wet sheep, thanks to wearing a wool pea-coat out in the elements.)

I wish there were a pocket sized Natalie, so I could take her with me everywhere.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/natalie_macmaster_and_donnell_leahy_play_the_cape_breton_fiddle.html

Happy watching!