Poetry Time

Dear All,

Poems can be used for basically anything - from trying to grasp and communicate philosophical ideas or insights into the mysteries of life to capturing important emotions and memories, from criticizing existing problems of a society or culture to simply playing with words and sounds for their own sake.

Please choose a poem you like and tell the rest of us why you like it and what it means to you - or write your own poem and tell us a bit about the background of when and where and  why you wrote it. If you choose someone else's poem, please let us know the name of the poet and the title of the poem - and if it's a poem by someone who is not so well known, please tell us also where we can find it (website, anthology, etc).

Thank you!

Gudrun

Your Turn to Speak

Dear All,

Now it is your turn to give a speech or talk - or a little performance. Any topic is fine. You can either record yourself and upload your speech/talk/performance on youtube and just paste the link into the comment box, or you can transcribe your speech and post a written version.

This is your opportunity to share your important ideas and/or skills with the world - or at least with some of the people in it :o)

I am looking forward to what your speeches/talks/performances!

Gudrun

Some Talks and Speeches

Dear All,

Here the links to the clips I showed you the other day - as well as some more that I find really interesting. Please watch these talks, speeches, and performances and let yourself be inspired by them.

Please also comment on some of these talks and/or performance - or other talks and/or performances that you find particularly good. If you choose other talks or performances, please add the relevant links.

Thank you,

Gudrun

Here my little list. Please note some of the talks/performances (9 to 12) are given by kids and teens!

1) Elizabeth Gilbert, "Creative Genius":
http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

2) Chimamanda Adichie, "The Danger of a Single Story":
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

3) Thelma Golden, "How Art Gives Shape to Cultural Change":
http://www.ted.com/talks/thelma_golden_how_art_gives_shape_to_cultural_change.html

4) Robert Gupta, "Between Music and Medicine":
http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_gupta_between_music_and_medicine.html

5) John Bohannon, "Dance vs. Powerpoint - a Modest Proposal":
http://www.ted.com/talks/john_bohannon_dance_vs_powerpoint_a_modest_proposal.html

6) John Maeda, "How Art, Technology, and Design Inform Creative Leaders":
http://www.ted.com/talks/john_maeda_how_art_technology_and_design_inform_creative_leaders.html

7) Joseph Lekuton, "A Parable for Kenya":
http://www.ted.com/talks/joseph_lekuton_tells_a_parable_for_kenya.html

8) Sugata Mitra, "How Kids Teach Themselves":
http://www.ted.com/playlists/24/re_imagining_school.html

9) Adora Svitak, "What Adults Can Learn from Kids":
http://www.ted.com/talks/adora_svitak.html

10) Zoya Jiwa, "Simply You":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1y4W0cKb_U

11) Sarah Kay, "If I Should Have a Daughter":
http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html

12) Francis Arevalo, "Speak! (Poetry form the Heart)":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJelApKyMac

Ideas for a Better World

Dear All,

Welcome to a new year and a new term. I would like to invite you all to do the following:

1. Think about "what is wrong" with this world. [You will probably come up with a whole list of things.]
2. Think about what you love doing. [This can be anything from playing soccer or taking care of your little sister to cooking, solving puzzles, painting, dancing, playing the flute, or listening to your friends.]
3. Try to figure out a way of using what you love doing to change what is wrong with this world - or in any case, one particular aspect of what is wrong - and to make the world a better, healthier, happier place.

Please post your ideas in the comment line! In order to be allowed to comment, you need to create a (free) gmail account.

Thank you,

Gudrun