one life. not one point five. just one.: The Birth of TED @ HOME

Without a doubt, my favourite website to date is www.TED.com . Once you explore it, you will understand why i feel this way.

I love watching an inspiring TED talk just before i go to bed. Whenever i find really cool talks, i usually fwd them to my friends. butttt, i always feel unsatisfied because i'd like to be there when they've finished watching the talk and see their reactions and get their points of view and see if there is anything more to learn on the subject.

SO i did what any other Wael Jabi would do...i invited them over to watch some TED Talks together!

Beauty is in the details - HOW to do this? simple:
- Invite anybody and everybody - friends/colleagues/etc - the more diverse the better!
- Couch
- TV hooked up to my laptop that will play the videos from ted.com
- do-it-yourself sandwich snack bar with some drinks
- Start with something Entertaining to break the ice and get ppl comfortable
- Move on to more educational talks submitted by the audience and discuss after each one.
- End with one strikingly inspirational video to give them something to think about when they go home to sleep!

the result?

1- first and foremost, BEAUTIFUL discussions after each talk. we really go to bond and know each other much more. its amazing i cant explain it you just have to do it!

2- People felt INSPIRED - EDUCATED - ENTERTAINED, and will live the following day with a different perspective in-mind. one way or the other, they will be adding more value to life then before.

3- Attendance levels DOUBLED at every session. (index 200 vs. previous period)

4- more visits to TED.com and more videos being shared to other friends - the word of mouth machine at its best!

et voila....EUREKA! a new way of watching TED Talks is born....right out of the comfort of your own living room!

**its the people and the discussions that make this special, thank you all for coming**

NOTE THIS IS NOT A TED or TEDx EVENT - nothing to do with the organization themselves!

For those interested to know what videos we watched in our previous sessions, here are the links:

Session #1:

1- ENTERTAIN: Parrots are smarter than you think: www.ted.com/talks/einstein_the_parrot_talks_and_squawks.html

2- EDUCATE: How many ways flowers have sex: www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_drori_the_beautiful_tricks_of_flowers.html and Tales of Passion: www.ted.com/talks/isabel_allende_tells_tales_of_passion.html

3- INSPIRE: Do something for 30 days: www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

Session #2:

1. ENTERTAIN: Magic with iPods: http://www.ted.com/talks/marco_tempest_the_magic_of_truth_and_lies_on_ipods.html

2. EDUCATE:

a. The paradox of choice: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html

b. Empathic Civilizations: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jeremy_rifkin_on_the_empathic_civilization.html

c. Intelligence of Crows: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/joshua_klein_on_the_intelligence_of_crows.html

3. INSPIRE: Photos that changed the world: http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_klein_photos_that_changed_the_world.html

Session #3:

1- ENTERTAIN: The Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/julia_sweeney_has_the_talk.html