Blog PostsFriends | BlogThe Lecture Hall: TED Talk LinksTHATS HOW WE ROLLHetain Patel: Who am I? Think again www.ted.com/talks/hetain_patel_who_am_i_think_again.html Derek Sivers: How to start a movement www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html Charlie Todd: The shared experience of absurdity www.ted.com/talks/charlie_todd_the_shared_experience_of_absurdity.html Kathryn Schulz: On being wrong www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong.html Jessi Arrington: Wearing nothing new www.ted.com/talks/jessi_arrington_wearing_nothing_new.html HAPPINESS Stefan Sagmeister: 7 rules for making more happiness www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_7_rules_for_making_more_happiness.html Jane McGonigal: The game that can give you 10 extra years of life www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_the_game_that_can_give_you_10_extra_years_of_life.html Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html Neil Pasricha: The 3 A's of awesome www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome.html Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed www.ted.com/talks/ric_elias.html THE WORLD WE LIVE IN Eve Ensler: Happiness in body and soul www.ted.com/talks/eve_ensler_on_happiness_in_body_and_soul.html Graham Hill: Less stuff, more happiness www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness.html Rose George: Let's talk crap. Seriously. www.ted.com/talks/rose_george_let_s_talk_crap_seriously.html Paul Pholeros: How to reduce poverty? Fix homes www.ted.com/talks/paul_pholeros_how_to_reduce_poverty_fix_homes.html Bono: The good news on poverty (Yes, there's good news) www.ted.com/talks/bono_the_good_news_on_poverty_yes_there_s_good_news.html The LobbyThis hotel lobby is a throwback to the seventies, featuring decades old carpeting. There is strange mix of missionary architecture and googie-design from the sixties by way of fixtures flowing with wild curves and atomic shapes. The desert highway outside seems lonely except for its promise of destination Los Angeles. A din of bells outside barely register your attention.Welcome to the Hotel California. Main Banquet Hall (aka The Master's Chamber)Keynote address: "It's Only Chat"To our ephemeral visitors: Welcome in. Enjoy your stay. Enjoy what lies after. It's only chat and you won't be long, so there's probably little to sentimentalize. But to quote an interesing line from an interesting movie, "some people live a lifetime... in a minute". In short, the presence you bring, however fleeting, may very well bring a smile to someones day. In life, if you have been good friend to others, then you undoubtedly have good friends - people who place an emotional investment in your future happiness. Surely, these friendships have origins that involved communication, and did not involve an expectation of building friendsihp. These friendships began somewhere without plan. It was probably only chat. Some food for thought. Thank you, and good night. Oh, and please don't feed our immortal pet , whom we affectionally call "Beast". -The Captain August 17, 2012 |