TED's Chris Anderson honored by WITNESS tonight

TED 20/11/2008 23:24

Tonight, WITNESS' 4th annual Focus for Change benefit honors TED's Chris Anderson. WITNESS was founded by Peter Gabriel to harness the power of video to make change. Watch Peter Gabriel's TEDTalk about his work with WITNESS -- a powerful, personal story. And watch Chris Anderson's own TEDTalk to understand his vision for TED. Pictures and reports from the night are coming soon ...

Pondering the design of the universe: George Smoot on TED.com

TED 20/11/2008 15:45

At Serious Play 2008, astrophysicist George Smoot shows stunning new images from deep-space surveys, and prods us to ponder how the cosmos -- with its giant webs of dark matter and mysterious gaping voids -- got built this way. (Recorded May 2008 in Pasadena, California. Duration: 19:00.)

Watch George Smoot's talk from Serious Play 2008 on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 300+ TEDTalks -- including more talks about what or who designed the universe.

Get TED delivered:
Subscribe to the TEDTalks video podcast via RSS >>
Subscribe to the iTunes video podcast
Subscribe to the iTunes audio podcast
Get updates via Twitter >>

Subscribe to the TED Blog >>

A new phase opens tomorrow for the Charter for Compassion

TED 19/11/2008 21:35

You have 8 hours left to contribute to the Preamble of the Charter for Compassion. Tonight at midnight EST, writing begins on the next phase: the Affirmations.

In the Affirmations section of the Charter, you can contribute by writing short descriptions of the eight core elements of compassion:

Compassion as empathy, not pity.
Compassion as concrete action.
Compassion as a lens for scripture.
Compassions role as a spiritual tool.
Compassion as fundamental to all faiths.
Compassion as an urgent global need.
Compassion as concern for everybody.
Compassion and the Golden Rule.

The response so far to the Charter has been moving and powerful. Thanks to all who have contributed, and we'll see you tomorrow in the next phase.

Welcome to Nollywood, Nigeria's gonzo film industry: Franco Sacchi on TED.com

TED 19/11/2008 16:45

Zambia-born filmmaker Franco Sacchi tours us through Nollywood, Nigeria's booming film industry (said to be the world's 3rd largest). Listen for stories of guerrilla filmmaking and brilliance under pressure from crews that can shoot a full-length feature in a week. (Recorded June 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania. Duration: 17:34.)

Watch Franco Sacchi's talk from TEDGlobal 2007 on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 300+ TEDTalks -- including more talks about film.

Get TED delivered:
Subscribe to the TEDTalks video podcast via RSS >>
Subscribe to the iTunes video podcast
Subscribe to the iTunes audio podcast
Get updates via Twitter >>

Subscribe to the TED Blog >>

We've got captcha

TED 19/11/2008 11:50

This past weekend, we added a captcha system to TED.com's "Send this user an email" feature. We're using reCaptcha, which harnesses the mighty power of captcha to help digitize old books and newspapers. Right now, reCaptcha is decoding texts from the Internet Archive (watch Brewster Kahle talk about the Internet Archive on TED.com).

We take our users' privacy and security really seriously. If you've gotten unwelcome email or spam through the TED.com member email system, please forward the whole email to me, including the header information with the date, to contact@ted.com.

Fashion, passion, and about a million other things: Isaac Mizrahi on TED.com

TED 18/11/2008 15:00

Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi spins through a dizzying array of inspirations -- from '50s pinups to a fleeting glimpse of a hole in a shirt that makes him shout "Stop the cab!" What else keeps him creative and passionate about everything? His TV chatfest, his work with Mark Morris, his cabaret act, and his ... cooking show? Inside this rambling, chatty talk are real clues to living a happy, creative life, from a man who has perfected the art. (Recorded February 2008 in Monterey, California. Duration: 14:16.)

Watch Isaac Mizrahi's talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 300+ TEDTalks -- including more talks about creativity.

Get TED delivered:
Subscribe to the TEDTalks video podcast via RSS >>
Subscribe to the iTunes video podcast
Subscribe to the iTunes audio podcast
Get updates via Twitter >>

Subscribe to the TED Blog >>

The Clock of the Long Now, and where to put it: Stewart Brand on TED.com

TED 17/11/2008 16:00

Futurist Stewart Brand works on the Clock of the Long Now, a timepiece that counts down the next 10,000 years. It's a beautiful project that asks us to think about the far, far future. Here, he discusses a tricky side problem with the Clock: Where can we put it? (Recorded February 2004 in Monterey, California. Duration: 23:23.)

Watch Stewart Brand's talk about the Clock of the Long Now on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 300+ TEDTalks -- including more talks about the future.

Get TED delivered:
Subscribe to the TEDTalks video podcast via RSS >>
Subscribe to the iTunes video podcast
Subscribe to the iTunes audio podcast
Get updates via Twitter >>

Subscribe to the TED Blog >>

Investing in a free press: An archive talk from Sasa Vucinic on TED.com

TED 14/11/2008 14:10

A free press -- papers, magazines, radio, TV, blogs -- is the backbone of any true democracy (and a vital watchdog on business). Sasa Vucinic, a journalist from Belgrade, talks about his new media fund, which supports free media by selling bonds. As one TED member writes: "The opening clip is full of power and meaning. It is sufficient to get you hooked for the rest of this amazing talk." (Recorded July 2005 in Oxford, UK. Duration: 18:12.)

Watch Sasa Vucinic's talk from TEDGlobal in Oxford on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 300+ TEDTalks -- including more talks about Media That Matters.

Get TED delivered:
Subscribe to the TEDTalks video podcast via RSS >>
Subscribe to the iTunes video podcast
Subscribe to the iTunes audio podcast
Get updates via Twitter >>

Subscribe to the TED Blog >>

Write the Charter for Compassion

TED 14/11/2008 11:00

By recognizing that the Golden Rule is fundamental to all world religions, the Charter for Compassion can inspire people to think differently about religion.

This Charter is being created in a collaborative project by people from all over the world. It will be completed in 2009. You can help write the charter. Or inspire others by sharing your own story of compassion.

Learn more on the Charter for Compassion site, or:

dive in and start helping to write the preamble >>

join the Facebook group >>

help translate the 3-minute video >>

watch and discuss Karen Armstrong's TEDTalk >>