TED & TEDx talk videos – My baker’s dozen of favourite videos

Inspired by all the TEDxHongKong chatters I had last night with some attendees, I’ve finally done my version of top nth TED videos that inspired me. So here is my baker’s dozen (12+1) of TED and TEDx talk videos that I love and enjoy over the years. Some are popular and some are not.

May be we share a few common ones and we can chat about them in the comments. And if you see a few new ones that you haven’t watched, thats cool too and we can chat in the comments. And may be most important of all, please do share some of your fav! I love to check them out and hear why you love them!

In no particular order, the following are my baker’s dozen (12+1) tweets of my favourite TED & TEDx videos (with links added):

#1 tweet) In no specific order: #TED Malcolm Gladwell, UT alum & best selling author’s Choice, happiness & spaghetti sauce is great

#2 tweet) #TED Malcolm Gladwell‘s “The strange tale of the Norden bombsight” talk is better but unloved because of the harsh message

#3 tweet) A great #TEDxCaltech talk on Richard Feynman by Leonard Susskind. If u never heard of Nobel Prize winning funny man physicist Feynman, try this, you may start to love him.

#4 tweet) #TED Susan Cain is so cool & insightful. Here “The power of introverts” is a must watch for fellow introverts (me INTJ)

James Cameron at sea (deepest known point in any of the world’s oceans)

* National Geographic, “James Cameron Completes Record-Breaking Mariana Trench Dive“

* National Geographic, “First Look: James Cameron’s Sci-Fi Sub for Deepest Dive“

* CBC News, “James Cameron ventures to ocean’s deepest point – Canadian’s footage to be shared in 3D documentary“

* CNN, “James Cameron emerges from ‘alien world’ at ocean’s depths“

* NYT, “Exploring Our Own Alien World“

* NYT, “Filmmaker in Submarine Voyages to Bottom of Sea“

““Just arrived at the ocean’s deepest pt,” Mr. Cameron said in a Twitter message earlier on Sunday. “Hitting bottom never felt so good. Can’t wait to share what I’m seeing w/ you.”

Mr. Cameron’s vehicle is unique among submersibles, its vertical axis meant to speed its descent and maximize time on the bottom. His goal is to explore the dark seabed for six hours, taking pictures and extracting samples of the fauna, before returning to sunny realms. Mr. Cameron, 57, practiced yoga to train for what is likely to be about nine hours of keeping his knees bent and body largely immobile.

Five people have died in submersible accidents over the decades, and Mr. Cameron said the risks he faced were acceptable given the testing that his craft’s parts have undergone and its backup gear for such critical systems as electrical power and life support.”

* NYT, “Rocket Plunge to Deep End of the Planet” (emphasis added)

“In a stroke, James Cameron has upended the field — literally and figuratively. A man known for imaginative films (“Titanic,” “Avatar”), he has reinvented the way that people explore the deep ocean.

Interesting articles: Disney withdraws ‘Seal Team 6′ trademark app, PaylPal vs. Google, James Cameron 3D Michael Bay, Kristin Scott Thomas

* THR, “Disney Withdraws Application to Trademark ‘Seal Team 6′“

* CNN Money, “PayPal vs. Google: A timeline of ‘stolen’ secrets“

* THR, “Michael Bay Reveals James Cameron’s Secret Role in the Making of ‘Transformers’“

* UK Guardian, “Kristin Scott Thomas: ‘It’s the most amazing feeling of liberation’“

“”I was used to cinema questions – you know, ‘what’s it like to work with Robert Redford?’, all that kind of nonsense. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like the way people approached me after films, with this image in mind, made to look perfect through a beautiful lens, my hair blowing in the wind, perfect shade of lipstick, all huge and magnified. People would be scared of that idea. I could see it in them. But the great thing about doing theatre is that people just see you as human, not this vast image. You know my mascara is down here, and my nose is running. No tricks. I really wanted that.”

Having established herself in particular in The English Patient and Four Weddings and a Funeral as a kind of inaccessible beauty, did she discover a new way to connect?

Worth Reading: iPhone keeps record of everywhere you go in secret file, Terrorism alert less colourful, Sheen’s court, Filmmakers Opposing Premium VOD

* Guardian, “iPhone keeps record of everywhere you go – Privacy fears raised as researchers reveal file on iPhone that stores location coordinates and timestamps of owner’s movements” Here is an excerpt (emphasis added),

“”Apple has made it possible for almost anybody – a jealous spouse, a private detective – with access to your phone or computer to get detailed information about where you’ve been,” said Pete Warden, one of the researchers.

Only the iPhone records the user’s location in this way, say Warden and Alasdair Allan, the data scientists who discovered the file and are presenting their findings at the Where 2.0 conference in San Francisco on Wednesday. “Alasdair has looked for similar tracking code in [Google's] Android phones and couldn’t find any,” said Warden. “We haven’t come across any instances of other phone manufacturers doing this.“

Simon Davies, director of the pressure group Privacy International, said: “This is a worrying discovery. Location is one of the most sensitive elements in anyone’s life – just think where people go in the evening. The existence of that data creates a real threat to privacy. The absence of notice to users or any control option can only stem from an ignorance about privacy at the design stage.” [...]

The iPhone system, by contrast, appears to record the data whether or not the user agrees. Apple declined to comment on why the file is created or whether it can be disabled.

CAMERON – PACE Group NAB Show 2011 press conference & keynote video clips

I found the following insightful CAMERON – PACE Group Press Conference clips and short excerpts of the Jim Cameron & Vince Pace‘s keynote at NAB Show 2011. Enjoy.

Thanks NABShow for posting these videos. Love them.

NABShow 2011 tidbits of info

Following is a collection of NAB Show 2011 info that caught my eyes so far. I will add more later.

* James Cameron and Vince Pace NAB Show 2011 Opening Keynote

* Dejero Demonstrates Live HD Wireless Broadcasting Using Panasonic Toughbook at NAB Show 2011

* Studio Daily, Sony Spotlights F65 4K Camera at NAB (Sony press release)

* Some more hints about the Next Final Cut Pro at 2011 preNAB meetup with video (starts around 3 minutes point) (also see this older news New Apple Final Cut Pro at NAB 2011)

* ThunderBolt Products Starting to Roll Out at NAB

* Apple Insider, “New MacBook Pro Thunderbolt port gets attention at NAB 2011“

* Quantel, NAB 2011 build up diary from the team in Vegas

* [via @Quantel], Ian Vertovec, DI Colorist at Light Iron, will be on the Quantel booth at #NABShow today & Tuesday at 3pm talking about “The Social Network“. (see also “Five Questions: Ian Vertovec, Colorist, Light Iron Digital”)

James Cameron and Vince Pace NAB Show 2011 Opening Keynote – Launched CAMERON – PACE Group (CPG)

Update: Check out video clips of the keynote and extensive clips of the press conference. Official NAB Show Daily news, “Cameron, Pace Keynote Sets Tone for the Show“

***

Screen capture source: NAB Show 2011

Photo source credit: @ReubenLangdon (photo)

I wish I could be at NAB Show 2011 and attending James Cameron and Vince Pace’s NAB Show 2011 Opening Keynote to see they launched CAMERON – PACE Group.

“James Cameron and Vince Pace Form New Venture to Accelerate 3D Solutions Across All Entertainment Platforms“, April 11, 2011 Official press release,

““Our goal is to banish all the perceived and actual barriers to entry that are currently holding back producers, studios and networks from embracing their 3D future,” said James Cameron, Co-Chairman of CAMERON – PACE Group. “We are dedicated to building a global brand that is synonymous with high quality 3D and spans multiple channels, from features to episodic television, and changes the boundaries of what is understood to be 3D material.”

“CPG‘s mission is to step up industry-wide efforts to help filmmakers realize 3D’s full potential as a creative and powerful storytelling medium and accelerate the growth of the next generation of 3D solutions across all platforms,” said Vince Pace, Co-Chairman and CEO of CAMERON – PACE Group. “Through our expanded reach and new generation of 3D solutions, we will deliver a variety of creative tools including SLATE2SCREEN™ 3D production services, educational workshops for industry professionals in FUSION 3D and FUSION 3D Mobile Workflow Units that support end-to-end solutions for both the live and recorded production environments. CPG will deliver CAN DO solutions.”

CAMERON – PACE Group already has an extensive list of current and upcoming projects, including “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” [Kempton: Cool!] “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” [Kempton: Cool!] “The Three Musketeers,” “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” “Life of Pi,” and “47 Ronin.” For a more extensive list of CPG projects, as well as a comprehensive overview of CPG’s available products and services, please refer to, www.cameronpace.com.”

Also see news from NYT, Reuters, PC magazine, and Hollywood Reporter,

““Broadcasting is the future of 3D,” Cameron said, predicting that in as few as two years, “everything will be produced in 3D” and 2D versions will be extracted from that.”

On a personal note, the more I read about Jim (see “The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron“), the more I admire him as a determined artist, filmmaker, and businessman.

***

Apr 12, 2011 Update:

* Studio Daily, “ARRI Teams with CAMERON-PACE Group on Alexa M Development“

* Guardian, “James Cameron expects 100% 3D within the next five years – All film and TV will be made in 3D soon, says Avatar director as he launches venture promoting industry take-up of technology“

James Cameron, storyteller & Avatar director, puts focus on Alberta Oilsands

Whether you agree with Avatar director James Cameron or not, it is good to see him spending time trying the understand the issues related to the explorations of Alberta oilsands. Lately, there has been much media attention and some misunderstanding of the benefits and challenges.

It will be a serious miscalculation for the Alberta and Canadian governments to not take Cameron‘s concerns seriously as he is smart, has the abilities to study hard problems and push for advances (scientific deep sea explorations, special effects, 3D filmmaking, etc) and most important but possibly overlooked by some is that he is one great storyteller that can shape and change people’s minds.

Here are some news stories,

- Oilsands need more regulation: Cameron, CBC News with videos

- Q&A: Avatar Director James Cameron on Oil Sands and Environmentalism, TIME magazine

- Cameron vows to watch over oilsands, Toronto Sun. Here is a very telling quote,

“”I know sometimes Hollywood people get accused of drive-by environmentalism,” Cameron said Wednesday at an Edmonton news conference with aboriginal leaders, and the tail end of a three day visit to Alberta.

“This is a lifelong commitment for me at this point.

“I was active in environmental causes and energy policy and so on before Avatar, it’s 10 times that now.

“Now it’s personal. So many people have approached me for help.”

While Cameron described the oilsands as an important resource, he said it’s also critical to look at “the fallout from this.”"

- Premier Ed Stelmach dismisses James Cameron’s oilsands critique, Calgary Herald. Here is a telling quote (emphasis and comments added),

With Alberta’s oilsands in the spotlight like never before, Premier Ed Stelmach said Wednesday “quiet diplomacy” is the province’s best counter to negative publicity — rejecting a Hollywood director’s warnings the resource could become “a curse.”" [Kempton's note: "Quiet diplomacy"? Sadly, I am not sure if Premier Stelmach is getting the seriousness of what Cameron can and will do. I am afraid Premier Stelmach and his advisers really have no idea of how far and how determined Cameron was for him to get Titanic and Avatar done and be as successful as they were. As a proud Albertan, I think Premier Stelmach really need a rethink/change of mind and get some serious help. Not to "battle" Cameron, but take the concerns posted by Cameron and others serious and have answers or have plans to address the concerns.]

- ‘Avatar’ director Cameron now in the Alberta tarsands picture, MarketWatch

- Cameron pledges help ‘until it’s fixed’ – Movie director commits legal, financial support to aboriginals, Calgary Herald. Here is an excerpt (emphasis and comments added),

“When asked after the meetings what his long-term commitment to the issue was, Cameron said: “Until it’s fixed.” He said he’ll do what it takes. [Kempton's note: There, coming from Cameron, are not empty words. Cameron is not the types that will randomly say stuff for the publicity and then forget about his promises. Time will tell.]

“The next step is get to the problem, talk to the premier about it tomorrow, talk to government about it tomorrow and then follow up. Follow up with the non-profits, follow up with the leaders that came with me today and with the leaders here in Fort Chip and just stay on it.”"

- Cameron is gone, but the battle is just beginning, Don Braid, Calgary Herald

- Cameron admits awe at scale of Alberta oilsands operations – Province made its green points, Renner says, Calgary Herald. Here is an excerpt (emphasis and comments added),

“Outfitted in a green hardhat, fluorescent vest and rubber boots, Cameron said he had not yet formed any firm conclusions on his “fact-finding mission” about the oilsands. His initial plan was to have conducted his visit more “stealthily,” but the increased media attention around it has been good because it has given people in the region, including aboriginal groups, the opportunity to have their perspectives heard on a wide stage, he said.

“I’m still in sponge mode, finding out how all this works and getting my arms around it, conceptually,” he said over the background sound of noise cannons, which fire every so often to scare birds away from the tailings ponds. [Kempton's note: "sponge mode"]

“The reclamation task is on the one hand quite daunting, and on the other hand absolutely necessary.”"

- Avatar’s Cameron doesn’t slag oilsands – Sounding at times like a cabinet minister, director gives measured response, Edmonton Journal. Here is a telling excerpt (emphasis added),

“Cameron talked for 30 engaging minutes without notes or a teleprompter, proving he knows this topic better than many cabinet ministers and he hit all the important issues without sounding like he was giving Albertans a lecture.

He politely argued for a moratorium on any new open-pit mines or new tailings ponds. He believes the future of the oilsands lies with an experimental method of in situ mining where bitumen is extracted by injecting relatively cold solvents — not heated water — underground. At times he sounded like a Syncrude executive.

Afterwards, in a sit down interview with The Journal, Cameron acknowledged his black eye comment last April was “ill-informed” and this trip has changed his opinion: “I understand one thing clearly that I didn’t understand before, the upside of this thing is enormous, financially. That gives me a little bit of hope. It also scares the hell out of me because it means we’re going to stampede after those profits as fast as possible.”

Not a black eye now, perhaps, but it could be: “It has the capacity to be the biggest black eye in Canadian history or it’s got the capacity to be a place in which Alberta and Canada rise to a challenge and show leadership.”

What difference will this make to the oilsands? Not much if Premier Ed Stelmach’s defensive comments are any indication: “We are doing our part to move the world toward a clean energy future.”"

- Q&A – James Cameron talks oil sands with the Globe, Globe and Mail

- Collective shrug greets Hollywood mogul – Fort McMurray residents skeptical of what will come of James Cameron’s visit, Edmonton Journal.

Q&A – James Cameron talks oil sands with the Globe, Globe and Mail

For the record.

Q&A – James Cameron talks oil sands with the Globe, Globe and Mail

By appearing here, are you effectively lending your name to the people of Fort Chipewyan who have long complained about water quality, in an effort to get them some more attention?

I don’t know if you lend your name. I think you have to lend your energy. You’re not lending, you give your energy, give your personal resources, in the sense that if I call a press conference and people show up, and I can do that in a way that’s helpful to the plight of first nations people who really need that voice, I’m going to do it. As long as people keep showing up, why not?

Your visit was greeted with some hostility; namely, Wednesday’s Edmonton Sun featured your photo on its front page above the word “Dipstick!” Some have suggested this is Hollywood eco-tourism. Were you surprised by that reaction?

Pretty surprised, pretty surprised. You know, I don’t think it’s just about me showing up here. I think it’s the fact an outsider showed up to form an opinion. And I think everyone was leaning forward to find out what would happen there, what would oil say, what would government say, what would first nations say, what would the scientists say. Everyone had a story to tell and it was fascinating. And I want to be clear – I don’t feel that I’m some independent arbitrator, you know, completely unbiased, coming down from some Tibetan mountaintop to arbitrate on this thing. I’ve got my own opinions. I don’t want to say an agenda, because I didn’t really come here with a strategy per se. But I did come here with a very, very strong set of opinions – you might even say passions – about what we need to be doing to save ourselves, and to save the natural world around us. Everything I learned I had to fit into that framework, and nothing that I saw challenged it.

failure is an option but fear is not – New Quote I Love

I’ve added this part to Quotes I LOVE, (start of time code for this bit)

“Don’t put limitations on yourself. Other people will do that for you. Don’t do that to yourself. Don’t bet against yourself. And take risk.

NASA has this phrase that they like, “Failure is not an option.” But failure has to be an option.

In art and exploration, failure has to be an option. Because it is a leap of faith. And no important endeavour that required innovation was done without risk. You have to be willing to take those risks. […]

in whatever you are doing, failure is an option. But fear is not.” – James Cameron at this 2010 TED talk [time code 16:11]

July 31, 2010, Update: Added two links to Businessweek articles about James Cameron here.

“Your imagination … creating a reality” – James Cameron: Before Avatar … a curious boy

Here is a great TED talk by James Cameron (TED website),

James Cameron’s big-budget (and even bigger-grossing) films create unreal worlds all their own. In this personal talk, he reveals his childhood fascination with the fantastic — from reading science fiction to deep-sea diving — and how it ultimately drove the success of his blockbuster hits “Aliens,” “The Terminator,” “Titanic” and “Avatar.”

[HT Matt]

update: I added James‘s ”failure is an option but fear is not” to my – Quotes I LOVE

Avatar pictorial review – I love Avatar and why box office records will be broken

This is a pictorial review of Avatar with lots of pictures and only a few well-chosen comments and links. After the review, I will write a few words about why I think the box office records will be broken this weekend and later. I’ve written about Avatar previous “Avatar reviews are good“.

Warning: there are spoilers in this review but I’ve alphabetized things so you won’t know when exactly things happen.

Lets start with the pictorial review! (Images from the amazing Avatar HD trailer.)

1) The Air Battle is simply spectacular. The story telling rules supreme over the well tuned and used special effects. You care about the characters and are following the story. Unlike some other big budget films where you go to watch the special effects with completely silly characters who you don’t care.

2) I was rooting for this scary monster and was excited when it took out this soldier.