Dearest all,
How often and fast do you change your thoughts and beliefs? Your actions?
How flexible are you to adapt to different ideas, places, people, circumnstances and so on?
Is this important or not?
The series of TED.COM videos presented below will show some kind of change. Can you say which kind? Choose 1 or more videos to discuss here.
Let's make the most of this blog to exchange ideas with your virtual friends, in English, of course!!
Hope you all like it!
See you here.
Flávia
1) Mark Pagel: How language transformed humanity (20:10')
Using biological evolution as a template, biologist Mark Pagel wonders how languages evolve.
Mark Pagel builds statistical models to examine the evolutionary processes imprinted in human behavior, from genomics to the emergence of complex systems -- to culture. His latest work examines the parallels between linguistic and biological evolution by applying methods of phylogenetics, or the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups, essentially viewing language as a culturally transmitted replicator with many of the same properties we find in genes. He’s looking for patterns in the rates of evolution of language elements, and hoping to find the social factors that influence trends of language evolution.
When watching him speak, have in mind his definitions and stataments below to find out what he meant by saying those:
1) (...) cumulative cultural adaptation.
2) ' (...) Social learning is visual theft.'
3) ' (...) Language is the voice of our genes.'
4) ' (...) Communication, connectivity around the world, globalization now raises a burden.'
A magician and illusionist for the 21st century, Marco Tempest blends cutting-edge technology with the flair and showmanship of Houdini.
Marco Tempest’s imaginative combination of computer-generated imagery, quick-cut video and enthusiastic stage presence has earned him a place in the pantheon of great illusionists. At 22, the Swiss magician won the New York World Cup of Magic, launching him into international prominence. Tempest's award-winning television series “The Virtual Magician” airs in dozens of countries worldwide.
When watching him speak, have in mind this question:
How do you think he can do those tricks? Do you think you can do it?
3) Nathan Myhrvold: Cooking as never seen before (10:05')
Nathan Myhrvold is a professional jack-of-all-trades. After leaving Microsoft in 1999, he's been a world barbecue champion, a wildlife photographer, a chef, a contributor to SETI, and a volcano explorer.
Since leaving his post as Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer in 1999 (with fortune in tow), Nathan Myhrvold has been a professional exemplar of the spirit of the "Renaissance Man," proudly following his interests wherever they've led. His dispersed passions have triggered an impressive list of accomplishments, including world barbecue championships, major archeological finds (several Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons), prize-winning wildlife photography, building a section of Babbage's Difference Engine #2, s, and a new and consuming interest in the sous-vide cooking technique.
When watching him speak, have in mind this question:
What do you think drove him into developing this cookbook?
