Coasty

Today TED was subject to a story so misleading it would be funny… except it successfully launched an aggressive online campaign against us.
The National Journal alleged we had censored a talk because we considered the issue of inequality “too hot to handle.” The story ignited a firestorm of outrage on Reddit, Huffington Post and elsewhere. We were accused of being cowards. We were in the pay of our corporate partners. We were the despicable puppets of the Republican party.

Here’s what actually happened.

At TED this year, an attendee pitched a 3-minute audience talk on inequality. The talk tapped into a really important and timely issue. But it framed the issue in a way that was explicitly partisan. And it included a number of arguments that were unconvincing, even to those of us who supported his overall stance. The audience at TED who heard it live (and who are often accused of being overly enthusiastic about left-leaning ideas) gave it, on average, mediocre ratings.

In which TED responds to National Journal’s latest Restoration Calls piece. Do you agree? 

Read the full speech that TED said was too controversial to post concerning income inequality. 

Read the email sent to Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer from TED curator Chris Anderson on why his speech would not be shown.

(via restorationcalls)

leaveobashar:

***GRAPHIC & DISTURBING ***LEAKED VIDEO*** ASSAD’S FORCES DRAG A MAN THROUGH THE STREETS TIED TO THE BACK OF A CAR. Homs: (Date Unknown) - This is what Assad’s forces are allowed to do in Assad’s Syria. Only they could drive through town with the body of a man being dragged behind it. Unfortunately, he would most probably have been alive when they started off.

As they drive through town they scream at people who attempt to get close “Back Off!” they shout. When they stop they exclaim “this is what happens to traitors!” in the unmistakable tone of Assad’s thugs.

They did this in order to terrorize the citizens into stopping their protests for freedom.

Only in Syria …

leaveobashar:

DEDICATED TO ALI OTHMAN - VEGETABLE SELLER TURNED CITIZEN ACTIVIST AND NOW A PRISONER OF ASSAD. HE WAS PARADED ON STATE TV (ADDOUNIA) LAST NIGHT. THESE ARE CLIPS OF HIS VIDEOS.

MAY GOD EASE HIS PAIN AS HE ENDURES ASSAD’S WORST TORTURE.

Thanks @Mou2amara

leaveobashar:

ASSAD’S FORCES REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO RETRIVE BODIES OF THE DEAD - THEY NEEDED THE U.N. OBSERVERS TO ACCOMPANY THEM. Homs (Bab Dreib): Apr 28, 2012 - The bodies had been laying in the street for 45 days. For one month and a half, these bodies lay in the street, murdered by Assad’s forces - they didn’t allow family and friends to retrieve the bodies, so they rotted and decomposed. The only way they were able to get the bodies was for the UN to literally shield them from Assad’s snipers.

Thanks @Mou2amara

Kiwi Bird in Heels: Globe to Globe

kiwibirdinheels:

I’ve been working with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London for a couple of years now, was part of the design team that developed their visual identity and would have to say it’s been an absolute dream job - great client, great creative and best of all I get to experience the Globe first hand….