Ted Talks and DWTS

1. Found the Ted Talk by Nigerian novelist Chimanda Ngozi Adichieb, entitled The Danger of a Single Story to be very moving.

I discovered it via a sign on the chapel wall at the Unitarian church, where I'd attended a workshop today on "compassionate conversations". And being into stories, and the workshop being about telling and listening to stories with compassion, I felt drawn to it.

You have to watch all of it though -- it's not what it appears to be at first glance.

What hit me about it, and everyone takes different things from what they hear and see...is how similar we all are, regardless of where we come from. We are all curious about the world and each other, but tend to make judgements and assumptions based on limited information and perception. We yearn towards stories, telling, sharing, reading, watching them. The more varied the better.
When the availability and variety of stories are limited, our perception of the world is narrowed.
And the curousity diminished.

Anyhow it moved me and made me think. I half to admit I couldn't finish her novel Americanha, mainly because the characters irritated me. I liked her Ted Talk better, so may try something else that she's written.

2. Dancing with the Stars

I'm beginning to think I need to start voting for this. Because I've strongly disagreed with the eliminations or who is up for elimination. As the announcer stated to the lead dancer, "You said once that sometimes the best dancers go home."

OR give up on it again. At any rate, I was reminded of why I haven't watched this series and can't take it seriously.

( spoilers and rant )

I may need to stop watching. I don't know why I'm watching -- oh wait, yes I do. I'm charmed by Evanna, John Schneider, Pablo, and Bobby Bones.