Category Archives: TedX Van

along with my own TEDx talk (filed elsewhere) i was #TEDXVan’s exclusive official fancypants live Twitter-er in 2009 and, along with Bob from Vancouver is Awesome, live-blogger for 2009 – archived here

Ted X Vancouver ~ Recap and Review Round-up

Round-up of Wrap-ups

TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BCA week after the event at West Vancouver’s Kay Meek Centre, I’m wrapping up my coverage of Ted X Vancouver with a collection of coverage by myself, stranger and my media-making co-conspirators. Per policy, laptops were not allowed in the auditorium but plenty of folks Twittered their #TEDXVan thoughts in realtime to augment the live video stream (which seemed to have a large audience based on the chatter). TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BCAdditionally, as part of the event media crew, Bob Kronbauer and I provided live-blog-esque coverage of the specific talks (links included below). What follows below are reviews, remarks and documentation of the event by the people who were there in various forms – mostly blogs, videos and photos. Where handy, I’ve included a sample quote or photo to show a bit of the flavour of the artifacts which are arranged in no particular order or selected without any subjective criteria. Did i miss your blog post, photoset, video or slidedeck? Drop a comment below for the record.

Blog Articles

Vancouver is Awesome: Ted X Coverage by Bob Kronbauer

As I said in my introductory post, I’m not here to make light of these important and potentially heavy talks but I’ll definitely be providing a different perspective than one you might not see unless you were here. Heck, even if you were here you might not even take note of it: my blog posts today are going to focus on our presenters shoes. If you watched Nazanin Afshin-Jam‘s talk, she discussed human rights violations, the Stop Child Executions Organization and how “We can be a voice for the voiceless”. Her talk is deep, with some heavy slides, it is revealing and it is inspirational to say the least.  photo by Kris Krug Her shoes reflect the freedoms she talks about, the freedoms and opportunities of living in Canada that she has “never taken for granted” after escaping an oppressive life with her family in Iran. Today Nazanin wears incredibly fashionable, shiny black Burberry pumps that feature a black and white check on the side. She talks about her mother and how a change in government went from her wearing “the latest fashions off of Paris runways” to having to cover her face. Our freedoms, her freedoms, are reflected in her selection of shoes that she has the right to wear today. Her overall message is “Use your blessings to advance humanity in your own way” while not taking your freedoms for granted, and the audience receives it loud and clear.

TedX Vancouver live blog: various by Dave Olson – Also at: TEDXVancouver.com

I saw Josh Fox on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show so am a little aware of Gasland – a film about natural gas companies who contract property owners around the US to put pumps on their land. For impoverished folks, this can be a windfall but there are huge consequences with polluted ground water, ill health and all sorts of problems. He was just nominated for an Academy Award, let’s see what Josh Fox has to say. Here he comes… with a banjo! {overdub: “I’m not a pessimist”… says the film.} This is gonna be good! ”It’s gonna be a bit of an adventure today.” says Mr. Fox. Noted.

Design is Philosophy: TEDX Vancouver 2010: A Lengthy Review by Morten Rand-Hendriksen

…Rayher and Mahoney based their talk on the generational theories of social historians William Strauss and Neil Howe. At the centre of Strauss and Howe’s theory is the recurrent cycles of generations. The basic idea is that each generation takes on one of four archetypes. They are the Prophet generation, the Nomad generation, the Hero generation and the Artist generation. These theories are based on historical analysis of generations past. The last Hero generation (considered to be transformative and world-changing) was the G.I. generation born between 1901 and 1924. That means if the theory is correct, the next Hero generation should be Gen Y. And that was the foundation of Rayher and Mahoney’s talk.

RickChung.com: Massive TEDxVancouver 2010 Wrap Up: The Fine Line

I had some great conversations with the likes of Dave Olsen from HootSuite as well as photographer and event organizer Kris Krüg (pictued above eating pizza) in addition to music writer Mikala T. from Backstage RiderAriane ColenbranderKelsey DundonKimli Welsh, travel journalist Robin Esrock, and many others.

TEDxVancouver 2010 | Kay Meek Centre photo Rick Chung

The music by Don Alder and rapper Kyprios was impressive. Alder’s cool guitar stylings set a vibrant mood in the auditorium, while Kyprios’ intense rhymes rocked the crowd. His rap on racism and stereotypes set off a few alarms with its fowl, blunt language that surely rangled some, but its artistic merit and value were clear. At the end of the night, the two collaborated on a rather amusing freestyle guitar and rap jam session that was pretty cool.

Beyond Robson: TEDxVancouver by Darko Sikman

As the day went on we saw a wide array of speakers from Yael Cohen, young founder of F**k Cancer to Dr John “Jack” Horner, one of the best-known paleontologists in the United States. Vancouver celebrity interviewer Nardwuar did what I’m sure is TED’s first stage dive into the crowd at the end of his speech and managed to crowd surf all the way to the top of the auditorium. During the breaks the speakers and the attendees mingled and new friendships and future collaborations were born.

delicious juice dot com: Right Said Ted by Kimli

The Good:

  • Registration was a breeze
  • Dr. Jack Horner‘s talk on dinosaurs
  • The idea behind Yael Cohen‘s “Fuck Cancer” movement
  • Watching Mike Rowe‘s talk from TED2009
  • What I saw of Devdutt Pattanaik‘s talk from TEDIndia 2009 that included a simple, two word phrase that could quite seriously inspire me to do great things: “BE SPECTACULAR”
  • Don Alder‘s incredible guitar playing
  • Nazanin Afshin-Jam‘s talk about the atrocities that go on in her homeland of Iran and how we can help
  • Josh, who brought me some desperately needed Diet Coke at 2:30 – he is the best
  • Greg Power‘s talk on Storytelling

Product with Purpose: Water Bottles from China by Denise Taschereau/fairware

Take Tedx Vancouver for example, last year FIJI water sponsored the event, and had their product out for grabs. From what I heard organizers got grief about it (refer back to the Story of Bottled Waterif you’re still wondering why). In making products to change behavior, cool helps – if people like the product, they use it  (we thought we’d do glass because it’s unique and different, just like Tedx even though rumor has it that glass has a bigger footprint than steel).

photo: Jeremy Lim

Wendy Hartley Digital: TEDxVancouver 2010

My final thoughts: While I was there and on my way home, I thought of all of the many individuals I know who would benefit from sharing ideas at this event. Real thought-leaders when it comes to environmental change especially. Many of my Main Street neighbours and people like Lorne Craig from Green Briefs http://unicyclecreative.com/, Clay Yandle from Sharkbite Art & Design www.sharkbite.ca and Clint Mahlman, Senior VP of London Drugs www.greendeal.ca.  So many of us are working toward the same goal particularly when it comes to sustainability. It will be great to see TED grow so change can.

Vancouver Observer: Ideas on the move at TEDx Vancouver by Pravin Pillay

Jeet-Kei Leung, spoke on Transformational Festivals, and the new evolutionary culture that they have spawned. Across the Pacific North West and down to San Francisco, people have been gathering in the wilderness to dance, celebrate and deepen their connection with nature and themselves. Temporary Autonomous Zones are generated through events like Burning Man in the Nevada desert and BC’s own Intention. People are seeking ways to evolve themselves in community through unbridled artistic creativity and workshops ranging from permaculture to meditation.  The industrial mind-set has imbedded the idea that change must be hard and painful. However, Jeet-Kei reminds us that joy and celebration are innate to our humanity. Learning through community amongst fellow creatives is another way to transform one’s world and, perhaps more importantly, oneself.

Inside Vancouver Blog: Vancouver talks TED by Julia Spitale

Last year’s event was the first time I was in a room full of individuals with philanthropist entrepreneur spirit. An inspiring group to say the least! While we shared a similar outlook on life it didn’t take long to notice I was up social media creek without the help of iPhone, Twitter or HootSuite. This group is packing heavy social media weight and there I was with my pen and notepad.

Not an idea worth spreading? This year’s theme, “The Fine Line”, represents the ‘space’ where ideas are born and a platform to share diverse points of view. Amongst the attendees, I was in the room chatting about an idea I think is worth spreading – the fine line between existing and living.

StayFitAnywhere’s Blog: TEDxVancouver: The Fine Line… Part and TEDxVancouver: The Fine Line… Part 1 by Josh Neumann, BHK, PTS, TSCC-1

Kyprios: There is a reason this guy won the Peak Performance project, he knows how to perform! He is also a wizard with words… I’d share one of his songs with you here but it is very strongly worded, if you are up to hearing it you can find “Hate” on youtube, be sure to listen to the end. I haven’t been able to stop listening to his music, in particular the one below… which lyric do you think is my favourite?

Brian Peters: TEDxVancouver 2010 and A Few Ideas

11. Dr. Jack Horner – A gifted old school story teller. The most engaging man of the day got a ton of laughter from the crowd with his straight faced humorous reflections on the vanity of science. Dr. Jack brought us all up to speed on why science overlooked baby dinosaurs and how that related to an incorrect assertion that there were more varieties of dinosaurs than there actually is. Essentially Dr. Jack spearheaded the discovery of baby dinosaurs and broke some scientific hearts out there through cutting the number of dinosaur names. Was briefly in a conversation circle with Dr. Jack and felt a little bad that he was not getting the level of engagement befitting a man of his accomplishments. He definitely has some charm. Title: Shape-Shifting Dinosaurs: The Cause of a Premature Extinction Live Notes – AKA: Scientists like to name things. Why does everyone like dinosaurs? They’re big, different and gone. Translation – None needed.

Photo Sets

Static Photography: PHOTO ESSAY: Vancouver Comes Together to Celebrate Ideas & Community at 2nd Annual TEDxVan – Kris Krug and Danielle Sipple

Das Humans - TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC Das Humans - TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC

TEDx Vancouver Attendees: dynamic musical duo Das Humans and the official TEDx Vancouver lawn gnome – photos by Kris Krug (another KK set)

TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC

Three of the awesome TEDx Vancouver photographers from the media team: Jeremy LimMaurice Li and Mola Shahsavari by Kris Krug

TEDx Vancouver: photo set by Komail Naqvi (Facebook) Photo: Moni Habib by Komail Naqvi Mola Shah: TEDxVancouver 2010 photoset on Flickr TEDxVancouver-47-2 Photo by Mola Shah Maurice Li: TEDx Vancouver 2010 photoset on Flickr TEDx Vancouver 2010 Photo by Maurice Li Jeremy Lim: TEDxVancouver 2010 photoset on Flickr TEDxVancouver 2010 Photo by Jeremy Lim Vancouver is Awesome: DAILY FLICKR PICKR – DAY 328 By Dano Pendygrasse

In case you missed it, Ted happened in West Vancouver yesterday. Here is Narduar making his “presentation“. Thanks to kk+ for the shot. (VIA photo pool)

NOTE: TEDX Vancouver photo group on Flickr & tedxvan tag on Flickr

Videos

TEDX Vancouver Teaser Video Gen

Why TEDxVancouver video
This video accompanied the Gen Why TEDx Vancouver talk in November 2010.
The poem is written by Jonathan Reed.

TEDx Vancouver: Future Shop vs. Nardwuar the Human Serviette

Future Shop‘s Elliott Chun gets the skinny from Nardwuar, the Human Serviette, at TEDx Vancouver.

TEDx Vancouver by thewanderingdumpling

TED talks featured at TEDX Van: Mike Rowe celebrates dirty jobs

Speaker Info

More Information on the Presenters at TEDx Vancouver 2010 (mostly via Static Photography)

Even More

@kk‘s TEDX2010 Twitter list @tedxgoose @tedxvan I was pleased to chronicle the talks for the 2nd year (my TEDX Van 2009 Twitter coverage). Thanks for the invite. Again, if i missed a post, photoset, video etc. post a comment so all can enjoy your coverage. — daveo, Lynn Valley, Dec. 4th 2010

See also at: Dave at Ted X Vancouver TedXVancouver.com

Josh Fox – Frac’ing, Flaming Water and Banjos

Dossier:

Twitter: @gaslandmovie

Web: gaslandthemovie.com

Youtube: gaslandmovie (note: HBO © content blocked in Canada)

Welcome To GASLAND

Set-up

I saw Josh Fox on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show so am a little aware of Gasland – a film about natural gas companies who contract property owners around the US to put pumps on their land. For impoverished folks, this can be a windfall but there are huge consequences with polluted ground water, ill health and all sorts of problems.

He was just nominated for an Academy Award, let’s see what Josh Fox has to say.

Here he comes… with a banjo! {overdub: “I’m not a pessimist”… says the film.} This is gonna be good! “It’s gonna be a bit of an adventure today.” says Mr. Fox. Noted.

This story is personal

He comes from the inter-connected watershed of Delaware River basin… {talks while banjo riffs}… Back in the 1970s, Nixon administration produced EPA and major environmental laws to protect America from pollution, {riffs}, in 2008 April, {riffs}… my family received a letter from a natural gas company saying, “Your land is atop of a shale with natural gas uses a technique called “hydraulic fracturing (fracing)”” The gas industry assured them “no big deal” just like a fire hydrant {riffs} and came with a “signing bonus.” It turns out 65% of Penn, 50% of NY, 35 states … received these letters. So i went out to ask questions.

{go banjo!}

“My neighbours told me about the process … They inject massive water amount and chemical mix into the ground.” {banjo riffs} … Josh continues (paraphrased): “I went to a nearby town where they’d been drilling for only 4 months and water wells had exploded!” {banjo} “The people said, “My water is bubbling and fizzing, my kids are getting sick, cats are loosing hair.”

{audience captivated – Fox rolls on, bespectacled and comfortable… }

“I began hearing about these stories of exploding wells and fizzing water, so I loaded up the car – with a banjo – to go to Colorado to see someone light their water on fire.

{cue film clip – comment: boom – whoa dude!}

“Next, I went to Wyoming to see the air problems.” {banjo riffs, film plays} A rancher says, “They cut the land to pieces – they do it different on every hole, nobodies watching, it’s a free for all.” Rancher goes on, “The venting tanks are everywhere, surrounding the house with brown air.”

Josh goes on, “I went to 24 states and heard the same story: cancer, brain damage, air, water, strange illnesses…”

{bring it down}

Yoko Ono Lennon & Josh Fox
Yoko Ono Lennon & Josh Fox

Around this point, Josh realized he was making a film and this was the best way to help. He rushed the project into production as time is of the essence. Assembled team of  4 people (editor, 2 producers, director(him)).

Then, accolades at Sundance and pick-up on HBO (note: and a LennonOno Grant for Peace). Film just opened in Australia (authour question: Did you jam with banjo and didjeridoo?) where the practice is rampant as well. (another note: just seeing via Twitter that this frac-ing on leased private land is common in NE BC).

{bring finish}

Josh took the movie on tour to the affected towns expecting dozens but seeing thousands – huge crowds needing release and recourse. Many brought water samples to confirm their fears. The gas industry came out with counter messaging… But despite the pushback and challenges,… He’s got faith! {riff that banjo!} “because in every town, there is a grassroots organization which has sprung to life…” {oh yeah!} “Indeed in the midst of David vs Goliath battles which are arduous and hard, it’s easy to forget that David won.”

Thanks {riffs} Standing O

##

Nick Molnar – Make Webs Better

Nick Molnar Dossier

* Blog: the Future is Now
* Twitter @nickmolnar
* Project: Adopt a Band
* Job: Thirdi
* Pic: Nick at UW40 by /bmann

Nick Molnar eats a forelimb

Topic: (paraphrased) How do Web “things” Affect our Lives

Note: He somewhat looks like a 1972-era Cat Stevens (AKA Yusef Islam)

Experimental Questions:

What if your fave social network started ranking you by how different you are from your friends?
What if your website was suddenly mostly Icelandic?
What if your music site thought you should listen to country music?

How do decisions get made:

Measurement – change things, if works, do more
What are web dev bizes measuring? Engagement (any action, click, Tweet, interaction)

What important? Gossip or health advisory?
When is “driving engagement” bad for us?

3 Problems:

1) They know you too well (holy grail of personalization)

Example: Netflix recommendation engine … Problem: “But nobody asked which bucket you really belong in” – personalization gets “polluted” with your guilty pleasures and biases

2) They’re really fun (addict-able) but “sticky” does not mean meaningful

Explain: “game designers take fun seriously” people feel pleasure when completing a series of steps – add variables like timing and amount of rewards to spur behaviour

3) All your friends are there

Explain: desire for connections and “a place to hang out” … (in these games) “who you know is more important than what you know” & “status is everything” (which requires significant time investment) … each new player validates existence of this place

Tools Can Get Better (Used for Good)

Examples:

* Nike running program (motivates to run more)
* ReMission (Cancer fighting game)
* Chore Wars (looks like WoW)
* Save my Life (lower the risk of cancer)

Outro:

Gist: We’re building things which have people’s attention, what can we make to make them better?

Michael Green – Notes on Sustainable Housing

Dossier:

* Interview on Vancouver is Awesome
* MGB Architecture Firm
* Observations: drives vintage Land Rover; 2 kids; casually mentioned riding bike across Japan

Caption: Michael Green is the founding principal of McFarlane Green Biggar
Architecture + Design in Vancouver. (Image: via Vancouver is Awesome)

Set-up: What 3 things do all humans need? Food, water, shelter. As an architect, i don’t talk about “shelter” because most in developed world don’t have to worry about “shelter” have luxury of choice.

Thought: (paraphrased) When working on design process, am responsible to client, environment, and community – but there are 2 “unclimbed mountains”

1) world housing
2) climate change

World Housing

Reality: 3 billion will need new affordable housing in next 20 years – 100,000,000 effectively homeless worldwide. Means 100,000 new houses per day.

Note: Modular, containers, rammed earth, are great ideas but… these are rural or suburban solutions, but need solution for 50% which live in urban (mostly in developing world) 70% of 2050.

Climate Change

Reality: Building causes lots of waste, water, energy, carbon, …and energy solutions are diverse around the globe

Note: Need regional solutions, however cities are the same/simliar around the world.

Note: Concrete – heavy and dirty (5-8% of carbon footprint) and world make 3 tonnes per person per year – and Steel (one of most enery intensive materials to produce) are two main materials for urban construction

Alternatives:

Needs: 1) Reduce carbon emission & 2) Remove carbon from system

Idea: Wood does both… {author note: hmmm i’m listening} one cubic meter stores 1 tonne of carbon… But… deforestation is a problem… So wood must come from sustainably-produced forests and we need to change the way we work with wood (read: innovate). So, Innovation and Ambition FTW – “It’s in our nature to build things tall and big, we (architects) need to build them better.”

Example: In Vancouver, wood building limit was only 4 stories tall – now can build to 6 storeys. In London, up to 9 stories. In Japan, visited a 19 storey tall wood building built 1400 years ago.

Anecdotes: What if Egypt only allowed stone building a certain height or Paris only allowed short wrought iron buildings? In Russia, a guy build a giant ramshackle wood building (world’s tallest-ish). Norway and Austria are building big in wood ushering in a new era of “building race” – a competition to problem-solve. And Canada should be part of this. We know these things. But we’re not doing fast enough and not investing in these things.

Big Problems = Big Opportunities

“The nation who chases these problems are the ones who’ll experience the economic reward.”

The way the kids answer, “Food, Water and Love” Or, “Love, laughter, sushi”

Nardwuar – Courageous, DIY Interviews (Doot Doot)

Nardwuar - TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC

Dossier:

* Nardwuar in Granville’s TedXVan Preview and full interview with Nardwuar

* Nardwuar video interview on Vancouver is Awesome

* @Nardwuar on Twitter

Mint Records

Evaporators (site)

Evaporators band (wikipedia)

Nardwuar wikipedia

* Nardwuar CiTR show (profiled in Austin Chronicle

Intro: He’s the Human Serviette: CiTR radio guy, Evaporators front man, show promoter, Much Music correspondent, media hacker, mud racker, etc.

Topic: Dood doodle-doot-Do-it-Yourself

Anecdote: At CITR you are a writer, producer, operator – you can do whatever you want within CiTR guidelines. My vision to put on a show with Mudhoney (authour note: i was there!), and started handing out pennies, however the people threw them back, I didn’t know what to do so i asked the people to psit at me

Example: cue graphic video, not for squeamish

Anecdote: Photo opp with Snoop Dogg, (he says “Scchnoop Doggie Dogg”). N says, “The less you know the better… for interviews… I was wondering what to talk about it with SDD, … maybe he likes Redd Foxx?

Example: cue video, Snoop bidding up the Redd Foxx doll to $40

Anecdote: Nardwuar wit Kurt Cobain. How did i pull that off? I asked! Ergo (paraphrased): Showed up early at PNE, hid in bathroom, caught but left cassette tape hoping Kurt would find it. Went home empty handed. Next morning, call and learned Nirvana was at 4 Seasons. Saw Dave Grohl,.. got on guest list but couldn’t get in. Kurt and Courtney saw me, let me in. Next thing, backstage with Kurt… and it happend. There is a fine line how that works out… Each interview is different.

Example: Henry Rollins (cue video of manic barrage of questions to clearly unamused curmudgeonly Henry Rollins)

Anecdote: Nardwuar and Jay Z – “How? I Asked!”

Awesome: @Nardwuar and his vinyl #tnmh
 Nardwuar and Governator (in vinyl) by @johnbiehler

Example: cue video of NERD Pharrel sexpressing pleassure with Nardwuar’s interview.

Anecdote: Chretien and G2o rally – “Interviewers job is to make the interviewee exciting” So Nardwuar asks Chreiten about the fictional punk band “The Nomads” and their song “Suroharto Stomp” … While crowds were getting maced/pepper-sprayed outside, Nardwuar cut his hair and attended press conference and asked questions about whether the PM would consider being a protestor and participant in a punk band if he was 20+ years younger. Put JC in a squirmy situation, ergo:

Example: cue video of press conference, Nardwuar asked, “Does Mace = Freedom?” Baffled PM says, “This technique did not exist when i was young,” and (famously, “For me, the pepper goes on the plate.”

Anecdote: He bagan taking a “Hip Flip” (a participatory game in which two people work together to rotate a toy). First, N asked Paul Martin (did), then Jack Layton (he did + nice ‘stache), then Stephen Harper (he declined). Next, asked Stephane Dion (former Federal Liberal leader)…, security takes away the Hip Flip, and security says asks, “isn’t this embarrassing for you?”

Check the embarrassment and hack the town hall by asking Dion, “Why not Hip Flip?” to delight of the crowd.

Example: “When security is hauling you away, lift your legs so you are crowd surfing rather than being dragged.” Chretien did the hip flip too and called him a “dummy.”

Nardwuar!
Nardwuar and Bev. Davies by @jmv

Anecdote: Back to Snoop,… (Snoop hands blunts to cameraman), Nardwuar says, “The minute you think you know everything, is when you should stop doing it.”

Example: cue video of Snoop rolling a blunt and putting it in a microwave for :05 seconds. Snoop says N has “personality and courageousness.”

Note to self: Check the credits on Snoop Dogg’s album to see call out for Canuck Cousin, Nard “stay hard” Wuar.

Anecdote: Lady Gaga. Nardwuar says, “Who cares if you have an audience at all” … “the Internet never forgets” … “in 8 months Gaga went from Nardwuar to Larry King”

Remember: Doot-it-yourself And a stage dive … all the way up to the last row. DootDoot!

Nardwuar owns TedX. This is all.

Note to Nardwuar: Here are the artifacts from “Rock n Roll Photography” panel with Kris Krig and Bev Davies thought you’d enjoy.

Tara Mahoney and Fiona Rayher – Youth Media Revolution

Gen Why Media Project is up next… and they are funny and charming already.

Owly Images
Photo by @Leigh_Christie

First, gauging audience age with applause

  1. Boomers: Golf clap
  2. Gen X: little more (me included)
  3. Gen Y: most by far

Gen Why isn’t the work one of person, this narrative can only be delivered collectively

Gen Y is born 1977 and 2001 – shared beliefs and values based on history they’ve lived through

Five key factors on how Gen Why can change the narrative:

1) Historical context: Every so often comes a “hero” generation – Examples: GI generation, Thomas Jefferson’s generation. Most recently is: Silent gen, Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y (the new heroes?) Name checked: Gen Y writer/researchers: Willam Struass, Neil Howe

2) Size: Largest generation ever (thanks for Boomers and their LSD, Rolling Stones, plastic surgery etc….) who influenced society with women’s movement, civil rights, and anti-war plus introducing environment as a topic

Geny X isn’t big enough to fill power vacuum from boomers, but Gen Y is, and this filling will happen fast and permeates all facets of culture

“We don’t have to accept the rules of the past, we can start a new game.”

The world is young  and globalization means Gen Y Is everywhere

3) Diversity: Asia, Africa, India, South America, Middle East has most Gen Ys. As such, can use diversity to solve complex problems. Environment is common cause. And these groups have ability to communicate.

This generation will be judged on what we share instead of what we own. Ex: Open Source movement – a clear shift from individual to collective. This idea permeates into mainstream culture, Ex: Freecycle movement. Imagine is this was an “official” public system like garbage collection. An interccoencted network to reduce waste and provide for needy.

4) Connectivity: Most connected generation but the digital revolution hasn’t really happened yet. When previously  silent voices into the conversion, that is the real digital revolution.

Next, bring social networks into institutions – change democracy and media with tools like Twitter and SNS to organize rallies and document police abuse Ex: Iran Election. Backlash cause government to take evasive action to shut down attempt to quell noise.

“Imagine if we structured the UN like Wikipedia?”

5) Crisis: They’ve come age during a time of crisis – catalyzes needs for action and change of system. Like previous “hero” generations, crisis is backdrop, indeed Gen Y is coming of age in a time of convergent catastrophe – living in a media scape dominated by fear. But changes are possible …

Cynicism vs Optimism is a key dichotomy – knowledge is rebellion.

“Optimism is a potitically revolutionary act.”

Recap

  1. Destined for greatness
  2. Unprecented power
  3. Diverse culture
  4. Inherently connected
  5. … and Future of humanity depends on their Gen Y’s choice

Twitter: @genwhymedia

Blurb:

we are the change we’ve been waiting for.

Gen Why is you. We are the spawn of globalization, technology, connectivity, environmental crisis, and have more questions than the authorities can answer. We believe in independent thinking, cultural alternatives, progressive politics, racial integration, art, music, creativity, peace, compassion, intelligence and respect for all living things.

Right now over half of the world’s population is under 35. We are the largest, most connected, most educated, most diverse generation in history. We have the collective power to create whatever we want.

What do you want to create?

TEDxVAn 2009: Don Alder and Dr. Seuss’ Guitar

Meet the Champ:

Now up, Don Alder and a stringed instrument which i don’t know quite how to describe. A guitar with a harp/lute mutated out of the top (reminds me a VW buses welded to the top of school buses but i digress…).

The MC says, “it’s the the Bjork of guitars” – Don is playing this thing in ways i can’t quite fathom and having a good time doing it: using the guitar as a percussive instrument; playing over top of the neck; striking poses and flying up/down the fret board while also letting the guitar ring in this theatre. Don speaks: everyone has a way to make difference, not necessarily leading, but can be supporting a leader

Noteworthy: Pals with Rick Hansen (Man in Motion tour) Touring, touring, touring 2007 International Fingerstyle Champion… and more competitions from the web:

1st – 2007 Inernational Fingerstyle Championships Winfield, Kansas 2nd – 2006 International Fingerstyle Championships Winfield, Kansas 1st – 2004, 2005, 2006 Winfield Song Showcase“Best Instrumental” Category 1st – 2005 Best 30-second Guitar Solo Contest – Acidplanet.com Finalist – International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) 3rd – 2005 Vancouver BC Star Discovery 1st – 2004 Vancouver Folk Slam 1st – 2004 Winfield Intl. Fingerstyle Championships “Best Instrumental” Category 1st – 2004 Vancouver Guitar Show “Shred Contest” using just an acoustic guitar 3rd – 2004 Vancouver BC Star Discovery 4th – 2004 Openstrings International Fingerstyle Competition, Germany

Lunch Report Back from lunch at TedXVan with patio conversations, pizza, sliders, coffee, photo shoots, deconstructed talks and so on … Evidence of most of these activities simultaneously: b1j0.jpg

Underway at TedX Vancouver

Today, Bob Kronbauer, culturalist and curator of the charming chronicle  Vancouver is Awesome, and me Dave Olson (i’m a mixed media story maker by weekend, renegade social web community builder by day), will be bringing behind-the-scenes play-by-play to the day. Have questions? Tag your tweets #TedXVan and we’ll find em and bring you into the West Vancouver theatre filled with chipper folk despite the early hour.

TEDx Vancouver 2009 - EA Sports - Burnaby, BC
Dig into to Ted X Van!
Dave Olson and Bob - TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC
Diligent bloggers

Ace photographer Kris Krug is on-site with a squad of photo-geeks and of course, we’ll work the photos into the post but be sure to track the #TedXVan tag in Flickr as well.There is a great batch of photos from last year and i’m seeing a lot of the same faces after a quick look through the photos. I was at last year’s TedXVan but this is Bob’s first foray into this format.

The theme is The Fine Line – we’ll figure out what that means as we go along. Now the MC is up and giving the line-up and mentions of the after party (which seems like a long time from now, right now ;-).

Meet your Speakers – Morning Photo Catch-up

While we are taking notes about the talks, a gang of photographers are capturing the speakers in their native environment. Here is a quick collection of this morning’s presenters – follow TedXVan Flickr tag and Photo Pool & Ted X Vancouver Flickr stream for more.

TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC
Famous @TedXGoose


Fiona Rayher (@genwhymedia)


Tara Mahoney (@genwhymedia)


Don Power


Nazanin Afshim-Jam


Joe Nickolls (MC)

20101126-tedx-vancouver-kk--2000-10
diligent bloggers at work

TEDx Vancouver Live Blogging

Today (Nov. 27, 2010) , Bob Kronbauer, culturalist and curator of the charming chronicle  Vancouver is Awesome, and me Dave Olson (i’m a mixed media story maker by weekend, renegade social web community builder by day), will be bringing behind-the-scenes play-by-play to the day.

Have questions? Tag your tweets #TedXVan and we’ll find em and bring you into the West Vancouver theatre filled with chipper folk despite the early hour.

TEDx Vancouver 2009 - EA Sports - Burnaby, BC
Dig into to Ted X Van!
Dave Olson and Bob - TEDx Vancouver 2010 - West Vancouver, BC
Diligent bloggers

Ace photographer Kris Krug is on-site with a squad of photo-geeks and of course, we’ll work the photos into the post but be sure to track the #TedXVan tag in Flickr as well.There is a great batch of photos from last year and i’m seeing a lot of the same faces after a quick look through the photos.

I was at last year’s TedXVan but this is Bob’s first foray into this format. The theme is The Fine Line – we’ll figure out what that means as we go along. Now the MC is up and giving the line-up and mentions of the after party (which seems like a long time from now, right now ;-).