One of the quirkier elements of the old TV series, The West Wing, was Chief of Staff Leo McGarry's practice of scheduling top White House officials with ... individuals or groups that held unusual beliefs - that wouldn't normally find an ear in the halls of higher political power. They called it Big Block of Cheese Day, after an apparent Andrew Jackson practice of keeping a big block of cheese in the main foyer of the White House for anyone who might like some.
In McGarry’s words (from West Wing Transcripts:
It is in the spirit of Andrew Jackson that I, from time to time, ask senior staff to have face-to-face meetings with those people representing organizations who have a difficult time getting our attention. [beat] I know the more jaded among you, see this as something rather beneath you. But I assure you that listening to the voices of passionate Americans is beneath no one, and surely not the peoples’ servants.
More below.
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The first appearance was in the fifth episode of West Wing: The Crackpots and These Women, on 10/20/1999.
Josh Lyman called it Total Crackpot Day. At the end of the episode, however, President Bartlet noted that the meetings had a distinct and lingering impact on his team, even if they didn’t take them that seriously when in the room with them.
I have never participated in a Big Block of Cheese Day, but I have done perhaps the next best thing in our everyday world. I have attended TEDx events.
Most of us have some experience with ‘TED Talks,’ in which people give fairly short presentations about an area of interest or passion. ‘Ideas Worth Spreading.’
There is a huge international TED event each year, which is where many of the most popular TED Talks on YouTube originate. But there are also regional, independently organized TED events, tagged TEDx.
From a TED.com page on the subject:
In the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” the TEDx program helps communities, organizations and individuals produce TED-style events at the local level. TEDx events are planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis, under a free license from TED.
TEDx is on my mind tonight because Kathy and I went to a TEDx event on Saturday, at Furman University.
Our speakers included a young man who wanted to talked about language, uniting v. dividing aspects, conflict terms compared to cooperative terms. Another was by a lovely Furman student who discussed racial ambiguity. A Furman philosophy professor spoke about the power of the journey compared to the destination. Another young student spoke about her brother’s fight with addiction, and the ramifications of that. Stunning. Courageous!
And those (with two more) were just in the first HALF of the four hour event!
None of our speakers were crackpots. They were all engaging, passionate human beings, using language and some video to express a message.
Like all of the TEDx events we have attended, the experience was intense and surprising. Eye-opening, mind-boggling. Educational, informative, expanding, illuminating. Fun, mostly, but also hard at times, even disturbing. Comfort isn’t the clearest path to growth.
I told Kathy about an experience I had in my first days of life as a student in (what was then West) Germany. The language was amazing! But it also demanded a level of mental engagement that I had never experienced before to that degree. The concentration it required, the focus, the energy … I finished every day completely exhausted from the effort and the commitment.
TEDx does not make the same linguistic demands, but the intensity is quite comparable, with the diversity of ideas, with the level of stimulation.
I don’t know if you have ever attended a TEDx event. If you have, please share your thoughts tonight!
And if you haven’t, please consider trying to attend. I don’t think you will be disappointed. And if you can attend the big TED conference, I am quite jealous! But enjoy!
This link is to a TED locator for locally organized, independent TEDx events. I hope you can find one near you!
On to tonight’s comments! Formatted by one of my best friends, brillig!
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Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
From MikeTheLiberal:
I’m recommending Catte Nappe’s comment from teacherken’s diary ...on behalf of others. Because somewhere out there, some parent or parents raised their boy right. Read it and try not to cry. [says brillig: I tried, but it was really really dusty in here...]
This comment from world lotus in teacherken's diary Dereliction of Duty is good, because it has two good cites and one link to an article.
From Hinoema01:
AmericanIdeal‘s comment is the perfect response to a near-GBCW diary best left unlinked.
From belinda ridgewood:
Is this comment by first-time Daily Kos commenter, beninnc (seriously!), about his changing goals in an unpredictable life, in Kerry Eleveld’s fine diary about celebrating the life Kerry’s mom lived.
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Top Mojo for yesterday, February 18th, 2018, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Pictures for yesterday, February 18th, 2018. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!