heather, monday, getting ready to enjoy some Sandy's ice cream cones.
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"Great people are those who make others feel that they, too, can become great."

hi hi!
Sorry it's been a while, I have five weeks left until i'm a college graduate, so as you can imagine I've been quite busy. Once school finishes up I'm hoping i'll have more time to update this thing!
I was introduced to the TED videos through a class and was shocked and upset to discover these videos have been available for a few years, all without my knowledge! TED stands for "Television, Entertainment and Design" and it's devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading." On TED.com, what once started out as something open to only the smartest and most talented of their fields, is now available to the world for free. I seriously encourage everyone to visit the site--whether it's a moving musical performance, a fascinating new discovery or a humbling talk about the best way to go about political change, you'll end up leaving the site a bit more enlightened. I'm posting a few links to some videos that I was required to watch for a class, as well as a video I stumbled upon that I can't stop thinking about.

-Aimee Mullins talks about growing up without a normal pair of legs and gives an empowering talk. I've always been aware of the power of language and the power each person has to change the way someone else sees themselves. The quote at the top of this post is by Mark Twain and something I strongly believe in. I think it ties well into what Aimee talks about. Check out the video here
-Barry Schwartz (cleverly) points out our society's loss of wisdom, watch it!
-Natalie Merchant stuns me with what she's been working on for the past 5 years: a rich body of work, full of history and stories unheard. She adapts both classic and contemporary poetry into beautiful songs. In this TED clip, she "brings back to life" a collection of 19th century poems. I've never been more inspired or amazed by her talent as from the clip--she is truly a professional at what she does!

-->I posted two poems that Natalie sings that I found really beautiful.
-at 7:35 on video
maggie and milly and molly and may
by E. E. Cummings

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea
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-at 16:20 on video
Spring and Fall: to a Young Child
Gerard Manley Hopkins

Margaret, are you grieving 

Over Goldengrove unleaving? 

Leaves, like the things of man, you 

With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? 

Ah! as the heart grows older 

It will come to such sights colder 

By and by, nor spare a sigh 

Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie; 

And yet you will weep and know why. 

Now no matter, child, the name: 

Sorrow's springs are the same. 

Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed 

What heart heard of, ghost guessed: 

It is the blight man was born for, 

It is Margaret you mourn for.
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hope you enjoy!
x