I first heard about TED 5 or 6 years ago. I fell in love immediately, and it has been a wish of mine to somehow go to TED. Unfortunately, I don’t have the importance or money to get myself an invite. So, I had to be satisfied just dreaming of TED and reading what little was published about and from TED. The world has changed and TED has embraced the change, and I am pleased. TED now offers much of the goodness via streaming video on the web!

What is TED? Well, it’s this amazing gathering of some of the smartest, most creative, most inspirational people on Earth. They come to TED and share anything from research they are working on to comedy routines to insights on humanity. It is amazing! So, in the last 10 days, since I discovered TED’s online videos I’ve been addicted. I’ve watched probably 50 so far, and thought I’d highlight several of my favorites. If you get hooked, post a comment on your favorite vids.

Awesome – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/204
Bewildering amazement – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/197
legacy by the written word – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/201
timely – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/51
motion – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/195
optimism – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/177
violence over time – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/163
poverty – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/140
Janine! – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/18 (a longtime hero of mine)
Jane! – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/11 (a longtime hero of mine)
redemption – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/189
wow (second and third are awesome) – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/60 – must find more of her stuff
happiness, violence, women – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/64
military – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/33
doing stuff, motivation and why – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/96 (I’m not a huge fan of this guy, but I liked this speech)
africa – rethink it – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/159 and http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/127
dreams – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/182
mystery, intrigue, curiosity – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/205
pandemics – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/58 (a longtime hero of mine)
simplicity – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/172

Here are the speakers of the 2008 TED meeting – http://blog.ted.com/2008/01/the_big_questio.php