TED talk by Skeptic Magazine founder Michael Shermer

What's TED? "It's like going back to college for three or four days a year, and you get all the best professors, and they can only talk for fifteen minutes."
-- Walt Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal

To err is human. This talk demonstrates the ease with which our biases deceive us. Hang in there for the reprise of "Stairway to Heaven," and you'll soon realize that even you aren't immune. Science recognizes our flaws while charting a course beyond them. It's not perfect, but it's darn better than the alternative.

Michael Shermer is the founder of Skeptic Magazine and author of the book Why People Believe Weird Things. Unfortunately, it isn't as entertaining as this talk though I found it enjoyable. You'll get more bang for your buck, however, if you pick up a copy of The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan. This is a great book on critical thought and society.

LINKS GOOD ON 2006-12-14

NOVA is undoubtedly the single most important television show in my life. Since before I can remember, I was a viewer, and I credit it with introducing me to science. Interestingly, PBS directly produces only a fraction of each season's episodes. The rest are repurposed documentaries from around the world. This global lens and an unflappable commitment to quality production, both in and out of house, have established NOVA as an iconic member of the PBS lineup.

Today they are pushing the bounds of traditional programming, provided rich online content for each broadcast episode through their in-house online division, NOVA OnLIne.

Only a small collection of programs are available for streaming over the web, but the list is sure to grow. So go ahead; check them out.

LINKS GOOD ON 2006-12-14