TED^x Boston could have been a bit overwhelming. OK,it was a bit overwhelming. Luckily I have a trick up my sleeve for situations exactly like TED^x, where I’ll be bombarded by a large amount of data in a short amount of time. There is no way that I would be able to take standard, linear notes that would capture the richness of the experience. So, just as I did throughout undergrad part II and grad school, I mind mapped like crazy, prompting many an onlooker to comment.

Other folks have posted their own summaries of the day’s proceedings so I will not duplicate their work. I will link to them, though, at the bottom of this post. Please, take a look at the map I’ve created, and use it as I do, as a way to make concrete the shape and structure of the day, the interrelationships and resonances, the confirmations and contradictions between the ideas presented. So many of them are so compelling, I’m sure that many of these memes have infected my brain.

Please note, the mind map linked to is very, very large. Below the map is a translation of the map into a linear outline, all courtesy of Freeplane, an open source, java based mind mapping tool. I’m mostly happy with it, though it could stand some improving. For example, I could not find the spell check feature they swear is in there.

Anyway, the map is linked below. Have fun!

TED^x Boston Mind Map

TED^x Boston Mind Map

The map is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – Noncommercial – Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Please let me know what you think.

---

And now those Promised blog links.

• Ali Powell
• Bill Ives
• Kurt Eng
• Georgy Cohen
• The Twitter Feed
• The Facebook Page
• Flickr Photos
• HashAlbum
• Georgy Cohen
• Pete Bell
• Cesar Harada

More as I come across them.

---

I was not the only person drawing like mad during the presentations. Graphic Facilitators from Collective Next were busily illustrating the key ideas in each presentation. They were displayed en masse at the post-conference reception.

Today I spent all day at TED^x Boston. My brain is full of intriguing ideas; some I agree with, some of which I’m not too sure of, all of which have me thinking. Thinking more than usual.

If you know me, that’s a lot of thinking.

What is TED^x Boston? For that matter, what is TED? Well, you could just follow the link, but I’ll tell you. TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. TED originally stood for Technology, Entertainment, Design, but the conference has grown in scope far beyond that.

What then is TED^x? TED^xis a new program that enables local communities such as schools, businesses, libraries, neighborhoods or just groups of friends to organize, design and host their own independent, TED-like events.

If you know me, you know that I’m a mind mapper. For me it is the fastest way for me to record notes in high density, along with recording connections amongst and between ideas. Plus, the physical act of diagramming improves my recall. Re-drawing my notes improves my recall even more, in addition to allowing me to tease out even more connections / references / reflections / refractions / contradictions in the idea space presented and represented.

That’s why I’m not going to say anything more about TED^x Boston until this coming Sunday. The mind maps I generated are so huge, that it will take that long for me to straighten them out. They’ll be an integral part of my next post.

Until then, Keep Thinking. Share those Ideas.

“…Turn, and face the strange changes…”

This past Tuesday, with head spinning abruptness, I and my long time employer, Comcast, parted ways.

Rumors were rampant for a few days beforehand that Dec. 8th would be the day, and the day before our little group of programmers were warned that we might be impacted.

By the end of the day, our number had been reduced by almost 1/2, including me. Throughout our division, it is believe that headcount was reduced from approx. 7,000 to approx. 5,000. Because I was IT, and could actually do damage with a few keystrokes (hey, let’s give a different random .1% of customers free cable each month!), I was not allowed back to my desk, and after the hour long meeting with HR, I was escorted from the building. The acting director of IT packed up my personal belongings so I could pick them up at a later date, which I did yesterday.

The severance package is generous. Very much so. So I’m ok. The shock is wearing off. Bouts of depression and/or sadness have been mild and short lived. I’ve been reaching out to my fellow former co-workers so we can encourage and support each other.

I’m determined to use this time to re-assess my working life. I hope to figure out some way of combining my vocation with my avocations. I’d like for this next phase of my working life to be a joy. I believe I’m done with work being a daily grind, and I believe I have the skills and background to make this a reality.

The organism called Comcast did not mean to, but, it gave me a rather rough hewn birthday present, which I intend to carve and polish into a thing of beauty.

I’m actually feeling pretty empowered, even optimistic. I do, however, have my work cut out for me.

If you’d like an idea of what skills I bring to the table, please see my LinkedIn profile – http://www.linkedin.com/in/marlinmay

If you happen to hear of any career opportunities, I would greatly appreciate you passing them on to me.

I wish you Happy Holidays, peace, prosperity and happiness in the coming year.

On January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama II will take office as he 44th President of the United States.

That day, the day after the Martin Luther King holiday, providence willing, Ron, my sister and I will be in the crowd for Inauguration Day. Hopefully we’ll be able to get close enough to see, through the tears.

It’s hard to choke back the tears now, because my mom and dad did not survive to see this day.

I’m emotionally drained. It still feels like a dream. Truth to tell, I’d long thought that the first African American, or American of African ancestry, to be elected president would be a Centrist Republican like Colin Powell or a woman like Condolezza Rice, had they not tied their fortunes to the Bush administration.

This is breathtaking.

I think I’m going to cry again.

Chip Berlet over at PublicEye.org has written an excellent examination of the architecture of American Theonomy,  Dominionism and Reconstructionism

http://www.publiceye.org/christian_right/dominionism.htm