Members Nick B.

Aug 13 2009: This reminds me of a chilling episode of a podcast I listen to, called This American Life. One of the four stories is of "Tony", a British man who has been stuck in Broadmoor (home of the worst serial killers) for a decade. As a teenager he committed a violent crime, under the influence, that would have received 3 or 4 years in a normal sentence. Instead he faked insanity (using cues from movies like A Clockwork Orange) to get into a comfy psychiatric hospital. As I've said, his plan backfired, and now he's facing the tougher job of convincing skeptical doctors that he's sane. Surely he's not the only one with this predicament. Could this new (?) knowledge be a better predictor of mental health than what psychiatrists can offer?

Aug 13 2009: Just because we've developed the right technology doesn't mean we've solved the problem. In fact, it is merely the first step of the solution. The next step is the tough part: convincing governments to take an interest in the project. The 12 billion pounds that the UK spends on foreign aid is already promised to several large relief organizations (think Red Cross) that are going to need their government backing. Therefore what we need are small donations to the cause from an entire coalition of countries. Education is important too, but four kids a minute won't die without one. First lets cut through the red tape and get this program into actual action.

Aug 12 2009: "One day two impostors arrived who gave themselves out as weavers, and said that they knew how to manufacture the most beautiful cloth imaginable. Not only were the texture and pattern uncommonly beautiful, but the clothes which were made of the stuff possessed this wonderful property that they were invisible to anyone who was not fit for his office, or who was unpardonably stupid."

Jul 2 2009: I've also read that pleasure- wise, orgasms equate to a shot of heroin. So conceivably, trying to go cold turkey on heroin is like taking a vow of abstinence. Add to that the withdrawal pain, and you've got one hell of an incentive to not take drugs.

Jul 2 2009: Good points, Srinath. I especially liked your comment about the Indian temples; although they exist entirely out of my culture, they also give me an inexplicable warmth- as you said, they have a nurturing feel.

When Libeskind delves into democracy vs. authoritarian, I also found myself disagreeing. The Indian temple, for example, feels much more democratic to me than the chaotic, anarchical feel of his architecture. Despite his assurances that his works are symbols of liberty an hope, I feel a bit uncomfortable around them.

One modern structure that I do like is Spaceship Earth at Epcot, AKA the giant golf ball. This building, however, incorporates symmetry and intricacy, two features that are important to me in architecture.

Jul 1 2009: As newspapers downsize and shut down, and as an increasing number of people turn to Twitter for the bulk of their news, media (esp. mainstream) quality (namely, coverage of foreign issues) is going to go down the tubes. As long as the economy is in the crapper, TV and Newspaper coverage will give the lion's share of the attention to- domestic issues, as . Alisa pointed out, because resources dictate it. If you get a local paper or local channel, you've probably noticed this trend- more opinion, more human interest, less news (and FOX news, I'm looking at you). Fortunately, Murdoch doesn't own all the newspapers, and there are plenty of bucks to the trend. The NY Times, for one. NPR, for another. News sources that will give breaking news like Michael Jackson's death a decent spot, but won't recklessly abandon developing stories in foreign countries. I think it's important that a person is educated about foreign issues- lets buck the (well deserved) uneducated American stereotype.

Jun 30 2009: Have you ever heard of the program Odyssey of the Mind? I used to be involved in it when I was younger; basically, kids design a project to solve a problem. There is an adult coach/supervisor, but adults aren't allowed to physically help. An example of a challenge is Green Rover- design a vehicle that can help you transport yourself, without touching the floor, to a designated spot (about ten meters away). The "Green" aspect comes from the regulation that you can't use a motor- it has to be kid powered. Also you need to transport a "product" with your vehicle, so you make several trips back and forth. All this was incorporated in a skit, which was of course written by the kids-us. It was loads of fun, and our end result involved time travel, the Beatles, and a wheelchair with spinners. A lot of the things you're doing at your camp reminded me of this- trusting kids with the spray paint or the power tools, and letting them make their own decisions.

Jun 29 2009: Honestly that's great if you were inspired, but I don't see this speech's relevance. TED is about new ideas and new directions- not pep talks and first lady formalities. I fail to see it's importance as a TED speech (the somewhat mystical process of designating talks eludes me). I'm sure she has some interesting things to say, but I don't think TED is the right forum for this kind of talk.

Jun 28 2009: ted.com/talks/lang/eng/vusi_mahlasela_s_encore_at_tedglobal2007.html

Jun 26 2009: Kudos for your talk, Mr. Childs (if you happen to read this). A lot of the things you said resonated with my experiences, too. Climbing is definitely a thought process, a way of life. The emphasis on balance, preparation, and technique are concepts useful in real life.

I'd like to see this idea fleshed out more, and see you back at TED again.

Jun 24 2009: In regards to the Marshmallow Experiment, I agree with Zimbardo and Mischel.

It is good that people question their conclusions, but personally, I couldn't agree more with their findings. The common critique seems to be that those who delay their gratification may not always be rewarded. Although this is most emphatically true, it is not nearly what happens most of the time. Usually, those who eat the marshmallow end up with "lower self esteem and were viewed by others as stubborn, prone to envy, and easily frustrated" (Olen "Marshmallows and 'Grit'").

Inner fortitude is just as important as intelligence as a predictor of success. Whether or not the child is gratified in the short term, I think they will reap the benefits of patience in the long run.

Jun 22 2009: Speaking of Rumsfeld...

In his book, Zimbardo describes the way the Abu Ghraib photos were exposed. Joe Darby, a reserve officer, was given a CD of the photos, and decided to do the right thing: show the photos to the authorities. In the end, he helped to end the abuse; the pictures spoke to people in a powerful way, and military commanders immediately stepped in and ended the atrocities.

The officer wanted to preserve his anonymity, fearing that the revelation of his identity could endanger his relations with his fellow men. This was 2004, remember, and "patriotic" feelings among troops and civilians were running high. His reputation and life (perhaps) were at stake.

I quote:

"He was able to maintain his anonymity until Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld unexpectedly "outed" Darby during the 2004 congressional hearings...while he was in having dinner with hundreds of soldiers in the mess hall."

Jun 22 2009: What a great talk- my new favorite. He is clearly passionate about music, and inspirational to me and many others, I'm sure.
As a sidenote- I thought he sounded just like Bob Boilen (All Songs Considered) at 6: 48.

Jun 22 2009: Those are good some points, Helene. One thing I've thought of is basing the system on NPR's. On the NPR website, people can also freely comment on articles, videos, or podcasts and are encouraged to share their opinions. But the system they use is different. They have a reccomend option, which allows you to vote that you liked what they said. You cannot lower someone's score. If the no one has reccomended a comment, it stays at zero. There is also an option to report abuse. It seems like a better system than TedCred.