Why it takes me an eternity to write something

Happens Every Freakin time...

My Ted Talk Picks

I'm pretty sure most of the people are aware of ted talks. I've started watching the videos recently, its a great way to kill time when traveling. Its also a great way to escape from my little bubble of life and the daily grind and routine.

The talks provides a new prespective and outlook to the world and things around us. Ideas forged out of passion and creativity, and their drive to do something. The stories are inspiring, innovations are ingenious and above all everyone of them is thought provoking.

The best part about the talks is of course the people. A diverse group from all walks of life. I can still remember the excitement when I discovered a woman who travels to the poles to take pictures of Icebergs. I could have never imagined a profession like that. Or a boy, who living in the middle of nowhere, built a windmill to save his family from famine. Or a Physicist who got his PhD in fusion phsycis, saw that science was too far away from the world's problems and turned to farming and founded Open Source Ecology. A computer guy who quit his job when he discovered his love astrophysics. The list goes on...

I have the utmost admiration for each of these people. They have dedicated themselves for the betterment of the people and world around them, sometimes putting everything on the line. They inspire you to stand up and be counted.

These videos have changed my way of thinking. I no longer think that a life changing idea will always occur to an elite section of people, it can come to anyone. And no idea is small. What inspires you can be as mighty as the sun or something as small as an ant. And its not just the big buildings and monuments that deserve the admiration, but also the little things that we take for granted.

So here are some of videos I've seen so far, that I found to be intesting, inspiring, innovative and thought provoking. This is a very small compilation, and by no means an exhaustive one. So please feel free to explore. (And I will also try to refrain from commenting on the video. I don't want to spoil the talk)

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Dale Dougherty: We are makers
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/dale_dougherty_we_are_makers.html

William Kamkwamba on building a windmill http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/william_kamkwamba_on_building_a_windmill.html

Marcin Jakubowski: Open-sourced blueprints for civilization http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/marcin_jakubowski.html

Matt Cutts: Try something new for 30 days
http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

Anil Ananthaswamy: What it takes to do extreme astrophysics http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/anil_ananthaswamy.html

Charlie Todd: The shared experience of absurdity http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/charlie_todd_the_shared_experience_of_absurdity.html

Dave Meslin: The antidote to apathy http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/dave_meslin_the_antidote_to_apathy.html

Kathryn Schulz: On being wrong http://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong.html

Richard St. John's 8 secrets of success http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html

Jeremy Gilley: One day of peace http://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_gilley_one_day_of_peace.html

Steve Keil: A manifesto for play, for Bulgaria and beyond http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/steve_keil_a_manifesto_for_play_for_bulgaria_and_beyond.html


Technology Innovation
-------------------------------
Pranav Mistry on the thrilling potential of SixthSensehttp://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html

Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos Photosynthhttp://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth.html

Amit Sood: Building a museum of museums on the web http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/amit_sood_building_a_museum_of_museums_on_the_web.html


Interesting ideas
----------------------------
VS Ramachandran on your mindhttp://www.ted.com/talks/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.html

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativityhttp://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

John Hunter on the World Peace Game http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/john_hunter_on_the_world_peace_game.html

David Christian: Big historyhttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/david_christian_big_history.html

Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashedhttp://www.ted.com/talks/ric_elias.html

Dyan deNapoli: The great penguin rescuehttp://www.ted.com/talks/dyan_denapoli_the_great_penguin_rescue.html

Robert Hammond: Building a park in the skyhttp://www.ted.com/talks/robert_hammond_building_a_park_in_the_sky.html

<sorry, couldn't refrain from commenting on this one. The last bit of sound is super cool. Be sure to catch the oldest song you will ever hear>
Honor Harger: A history of the universe in soundhttp://www.ted.com/talks/honor_harger_a_history_of_the_universe_in_sound.html

eye candy
----------------------
David Gallo shows underwater astonishmentshttp://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments.html

Marco Tempest: The magic of truth and lies (and iPods)http://www.ted.com/talks/marco_tempest_the_magic_of_truth_and_lies_on_ipods.html

Louie Schwartzberg: The hidden beauty of pollination
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/louie_schwartzberg_the_hidden_beauty_of_pollination.html

Mike Matas: A next-generation digital bookhttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/mike_matas.html

Camille Seaman : Haunting Photos Of Icehttp://www.ted.com/talks/camille_seaman_haunting_photos_of_ice.html

Paul Nicklen: Tales of ice-bound wonderlandshttp://www.ted.com/talks/paul_nicklen_tales_of_ice_bound_wonderlands.html


music
-----------
Robert Gupta and Joshua Roman duet on "Passacaglia"http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_gupta_and_joshua_roman_duet_on_passacaglia.html

Ahn Trio: A modern take on piano, violin, cello http://www.ted.com/talks/ahn_trio_a_modern_take_on_piano_violin_cello.html


Enjoy the videos..

Making 2012 count...

My 12 things to try for 2012 (with examples)

1. Make a new Habit\Hobby and drop an old Habit

    New year gives us a opportunity to start fresh. Lets start something. I'm sure there is at least on item in every body's todo list that is begging and pleading to be picked up, and an item in current list that is excess baggage.

    eg. make a habit to start at 6 in morning, or to go for a walk. Or may be start working out. In my case give up smoking and drinking alcohol.. (See I already went achieved one action item. Wow I'm awesome)

 

2. Learn

    Let Year++ imply you++. Pick up something you are passionate about, make time for it. Something that will give you relief from the daily grind and kick start your creative part of you.

    eg. Music people (you know who you are. Its time to brush the dust off of your instruments and start again), or learn a new language, Cooking (Why not. We can start a rodent poison industry if it doesn't workout), or maybe learn to fly and become Superman's kickaside..

 

3. Teach

    Let others stand on our shoulders and excel as we have been standing on shoulders of our previous generation. Teach them your lessons, stories, skills, don't let them repeat our mistakes.

    Which reminds me, I have to call up my Nephew and tell him that what we learn in school is mostly useless. And give him some tips on some real life skills like picking up chicks.. You guys can go and teach boring stuff like computers or ...

4. Experience

    Kick yourself out of your comfort zone and try something that'll new. Something daring or fun. Whatever will take an emotion and cranks it up to "Are You Nuts?" level.  In the process, you'll discover something new about yourself, and we evolve out of that.

    Eg. Wouldn't it be fun to jump off an airplane 10,000 feet above ground? or hang yourself upside down with the support of only a rope? Or even goto the top of your building in midnight and experience the silence and calmness in the air.

5. Share

    Feeling down or on top of the world? "Share" with someone you "care" (Wow that rhymed. I can rhyme, ignoring me is a crime, I'm in my prime, so look out or you'll be.. aah... Damn it was so close)

    Anyways, let you happy day light up theirs. Spam them, interrupt them when there are in the middle of something important, busy or DND mode. Make it count people.. Make your day count..

 

6. Express

   Let the world know that you are special, unique. Not for the sake of the world, but for yourself, because it makes you happy. Don't expect anyone else to stand by you.

   eg. Draw (on other people's white board), paint (on your neighbor's wall), Sing (drive people around you insane) or just let the music move you, dance. Scribble, move, write, scream.. you choose your weapon.

 

7. Stretch

   Set a goal and go beyond it. Stretch and go beyond, push yourself to the fullest. Feel the thrill of going past your limits. Challenge yourself a little more every day.

 

8. Surrender

    Give in to an idea or an idea or whatever inspires you, and give in unconditionally. Don't question, or think or judge. For a change take the back seat, and let life guide you.

    eg. Surrender to the idea of merry making and crack pj's at will. Might get you killed, but hey I didn't promise a happy ending..

9. Believe

    Believe in yourself or better something bigger than yourself. It could be your hard work, of for some their innate skill to screw up anything (thank you Lord for your insightful, amusing, and yet practical gift). When the world turns it back, all that remains and what keeps you going is what you believe in.

   eg. Is it still too late to believe in Santa? or believe that I can win a noble prize?? Or maybe I should start with believing in miracle. Maybe a couple, aah.. make it a couple dozen please..

 

10. Pray

    I know it may sound odd, but in lame man's terms, its called complaining to higher authority. Pray for yourself or for someone else. For all things in control of supernatural, all we can do is pray.

    eg. What there are no supernatural things you say? how about the price of petrol. Yeah you better pray. If you don't really have a cause, you can pray for my my favorite cause.. "WORLD PEACE BABY..." And I'll pray that someday this will be a reality and not a joke.

11. Love

    What can I say. The magic glue that keeps the world from shattering into a million billion pieces. The most lethal drug of all. Love yourself, love thy neighbor.

12. Celebrate

   What is life without party right? Celebrate every moment of life. the good, bad, ugly and awesome.. Every story is special, and every moment you survived is a moment worth celebrating. Only a fool will celebrate for little reason.  So the secrets out, I'm a fool..

Happy rest of the year everybody.. Let all your wildest dreams come true.. :)