Round-up of Wrap-ups
A 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).
Additionally, 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.
- Yael Cohen – Fuck Cancer
- Dr John “Jack” Horner – On dinosaurs being large, different and gone
- Kyprios’ (slam) Dunks
- Live Blogging and Shoe Connections
- Greg Power – Storytelling
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.
- Nick Molnar – Make Webs Better
- Underway at TedX Vancouver
- Nardwuar – Courageous, DIY Interviews (Doot Doot)
- Meet your Speakers – Morning Photo Catch-up
- Don Alder and Dr. Seuss’ Guitar
- Tara Mahoney and Fiona Rayher – Youth Media Revolution
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 Rider, Ariane Colenbrander, Kelsey Dundon, Kimli Welsh, travel journalist Robin Esrock, and many others.
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.
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.
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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
TEDx Vancouver Attendees: dynamic musical duo Das Humans and the official TEDx Vancouver lawn gnome – photos by Kris Krug (another KK set)
Three of the awesome TEDx Vancouver photographers from the media team: Jeremy Lim, Maurice 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
Photo by Mola Shah Maurice Li: TEDx Vancouver 2010 photoset on Flickr
Photo by Maurice Li Jeremy Lim: TEDxVancouver 2010 photoset on Flickr
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
- Christopher “moot” Poole: The case for anonymity online (aka 4 Chan)
- Sam Harris, Science can answer moral questions
- Nathan Wolfe, Hunting for the next AIDS
- Devdutt Pattanaik, East vs West, the myths that mystify
- Rives, On 4am
Speaker Info
More Information on the Presenters at TEDx Vancouver 2010 (mostly via Static Photography)
- Kyprios Twitter
- Kyprios Website
- Don Adler Website
- Fiona Rayher Twitter
- Tara Mahoney Twitter
- Nazanin Afshin-Jam Wikipedia
- Yael Cohen Twitter
- Fuck Cancer Website
- Josh Fox Twitter
- Gasland Website
- Dr. Jack Horner Wikipedia
- Nardwuar Twitter
- Nardwuar the Human Serviette Website
- Jack Horner: An Intellectual Autobiography
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