A quick mea culpa on the Ken Robinson talk. You know what, I messed up. I confused Robinson’s TED Talk with another talk that Robinson later gave at UCLA. I’ve included a link to the UCLA piece below, and you’ll see that it is much less tight. I’ve never had an issue with Robinson’s message; I just recalled his presentation being baggy, a little tiresome actually. When you review hundreds of pieces of audio/video, as I do, you’re bound to get something wrong. But thanks for taking me to task.

http://bit.ly/7UxzAN

Dan

and the related one about the ritual that keeps young priests sequestered for 18 years: http://www.ted.com/talks/wade_davis_on_the_worldwide_web_of_belief_and_ritual.html

and bacteria communication: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/bonnie_bassler_on_how_bacteria_communicate.html

just a few that came to mind

I’m not sure what to make of your commentary on Ken Robinson’s enthralling talk other than to point to the nerve that it continues to strike amongst a wide variety of people who can identify with it’s positive approach to a difficult subject.

Overrated?

Tell that to the legions of curious, creative youngsters who’ll be unknowingly fed into the soulless morass that passes for K-12 in the U.S. only to come out newly minted members of the walking-wounded unable to grasp why they’re so ill-prepared for a rapidly changing world.

I’m not an education expert which, perhaps, is why I’m willing to let certain generalizations pass.

In terms of both inspiration and humor it can’t be matched. It’s like inspiring stand-up comedy with lots of interesting ideas.