Fill Up That Idea Piñata You Call A Brain

Some people are simply more interesting than the rest. You can attempt to deny that, but will eventually reach acceptance during TEDxSMU, the locally licensed branch of the global idea exchange. It returns to the Wyly on Saturday with its 2013 edition, “And Then …” where it will delight a full house, thanks to a well-curated crop of speakers and sold-out seats. This year’s talent pool is as deep as it is diverse. Your orators range in backgrounds from robotics and cyber security to global health initiatives, arts activism, storytelling and jet propulsion — and that’s just scratching the surface. There’s also a neuroscience researcher and sleep gene genius on this ticket. And a former Blue Angels pilot. There’s even a professor of internal medicine who, in addition to being a teacher and award-winning doctor, has climbed the seven highest summits in the world. Here’s where you say: “But I don’t have a ticket,” then get a sad basset-hound face. To that we say, “Who cares? Tickets are for rich people!” There’s a completely free watch party happening at Union (5622 Dyer St.) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so you can kick back on a couch and absorb the day o’ learning via live feed. Plus, you might meet other non-rich but socially minded folks in this more intimate environment. What’s that? You hate human contact? You enjoy philosophy and theory but simply loathe situations where you might awkwardly touch elbows with other people? The live feed works from your couch too, so deadbolt the latch, brew a pot of coffee and pull up the thing at tedxsmu.org.

Sat., Oct. 19, 2013