Why we need to end the era of orphanages

From the TED.com YouTube channel: Could it be wrong to help children in need by starting an orphanage? In this eye-opening talk about the bad consequences of good intentions, Tara Winkler speaks out against the spread of orphanages in developing countries, caused in part by foreign donors, and details the harm done to children when they are separated from their families and left to grow up in institutions.
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Activism needs introverts (inspirational video)

From the TED.com YouTube channel: For the introverts among us, traditional forms activism like marches, protests and door-to-door canvassing can be intimidating and stressful. Take it from Sarah Corbett, a former professional campaigner and self-proclaimed introvert. She introduces us to “craftivism,” a quieter form of activism that uses handicrafts as a way to get people to slow down and think deeply about the issues they’re facing, all while engaging the public more gently. Who says an embroidered handkerchief can’t change the world?
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USAF Band WWII Holiday Flashback

A special holiday musical presentation by the USAF Band from Union Station in Washington, DC.

The global learning crisis — and what to do about it (educational video)

From the TED.com YouTube channel: The most important infrastructure we have is educated minds, says former Tunisian government minister Amel Karboul. Yet too often large investments go to more visible initiatives such as bridges and roads, when it’s the minds of our children that will really create a brighter future. In this sharp talk, she shares actionable ideas to ensure that every child is in school — and learning — within just one generation.
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We all need a good laugh from time to time:-)

From the TED.com YouTube channel: Suspicious emails: unclaimed insurance bonds, diamond-encrusted safe deposit boxes, close friends marooned in a foreign country. They pop up in our inboxes, and standard procedure is to delete on sight. But what happens when you reply? Follow along as writer and comedian James Veitch narrates a hilarious, months-long exchange with a spammer who offered to cut him in on a hot deal.
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Everything is Connected - Here’s How

From the TedX YouTube channel: Tom Chi has worked in a wide range of roles from astrophysical researcher to Fortune 500 consultant to corporate executive developing new hardware/software products and services. He has played a significant role in established projects with global reach (Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo Search), and scaled new projects from conception to significance (Yahoo Answers from 0 to 90 million users).
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I was held hostage for 317 days. Here’s what I thought about

From the TED.com YouTube site: Vincent Cochetel was held hostage for 317 days in 1998, while working for the UN High Commissioner on Refugees in Chechnya. For the first time, he recounts the experience — from what it was like to live in a dark, underground chamber, chained to his bed, to the unexpected conversations he had with his captors. With lyricism and power, he explains why he continues his work today. Since 2000, attacks on humanitarian aid workers have tripled — and he wonders what that rise may signal to the world.

Comedians sing and rap about life:-)

Very cool and cleverly edited video called The Big Electron featuring iconic comedians Bill Hicks and George Carlin. Lyrics posted below video.

Is this real?
Or is this just a ride? Read more

Gorgeous portraits of the world’s vanishing people (inspirational video)

From the TED.com YouTube site: When Jimmy Nelson traveled to Siberia to photograph the Chukchi people, elders told him: “You cannot photograph us. You have to wait, you have to wait until you get to know us, you have to wait until you understand us.” In this gorgeously photo-filled talk, join Nelson’s quest to understand — the world, other people, himself — by making astonishing portraits of the world’s vanishing tribes and cultures.

A realistic vision for world peace

From the TED.com YouTube.com site: Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams brings tough love to the dream of world peace, with her razor-sharp take on what “peace” really means, and a set of profound stories that zero in on the creative struggle — and sacrifice — of those who work for it.

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