If you have been keeping your head down, hiding from the rain, the recession, the deficit, unemployment, the collapse of the auto sector and news of political turmoil around the world… it’s time to fight back against the gloom and doom and face the world with the ultimate stimulus – fresh ideas.
It’s June! The sun is shining, the grass is green, the flowers are in bloom and ideaCity is less than two weeks away.
It’s the 10th Anniversary edition of our unique gathering and all the pieces are in place to present a very special "Meeting of Minds."
I want to make a last "pitch" to those of you who are still on the fence, and to those who have joined us in the past, but have yet to commit for this year. We still have a few seats left, so please do call Allison and reserve your spot while there’s still room. 416-362-IDEA (4332).
To further entice you, and to answer the queries of current registrants who have been champing at the bit, I offer, in no particular order, 17 more presenter names, amazing personalities, some familiar, some new, all of whom promise to entertain, engage and inspire you at ideaCity 2009.
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Albert Nerenberg Independent filmmaker, actor and journalist, Albert is at the same time both a self-described "Stupidity Expert" and a "Laughologist".
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Delhi 2 Dublin Electro-acoustic, world fusion ensemble, blending the traditional folk melodies of North India and Ireland.
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Randi Zuckerberg Facebook’s Director of Market Development. A fellow Harvard graduate who just happens to be the sister of Facebook founder Mark.
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Philip Rosedale Founder and Chairman of Linden Lab, creator of the virtual world of Second Life.
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Chris Adams CEO and President of View2gether, a leading video based Social Media platform.
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Jerry X. Mitrovica Researcher and Scientist who studies the Earth’s response to ‘forcings’ over time and the influence of the Earth’s responses on global change.
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Eric Yam A gifted 17-year-old Toronto high school student who just won NASA’s international Space Settlement Design Contest.
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Stephen Pautler Surgical Robotics Specialist; minimally invasive options for complex surgical procedures.
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Hod Lipson Cornell Engineering Professor working on bio-inspired robots, who asks the question, "can a computer ultimately augment or replace human invention?"
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Marcel Danesi A Specialist in Semiotics and Communication Theory, a world authority on the signs and symbols of communication.
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Ryan Adams Cambridge PhD candidate, probing the world of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
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John Raulston Saul Prolific author, and one of Canada’s, indeed the world’s, leading thinkers and philosophers (companion to former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson).
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Rick Miller Comedic Performance Artist, responsible for hit one-man shows including MacHomer and Bigger than Jesus.
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Tom Harpur Canada’s best-known Spiritual author, journalist, and TV host.
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Barth Netterfield Professor of Balloon Borne Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, researching Observational Cosmology, and the beginnings of the Universe.
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And two of our most appreciated (and rambunctious) past presenters are working on a secret project – of which they will not give me details – Jaymie Matthews and Terry Mosher will be joining me on stage; so watch out!
Our dates, June 17, 18, 19th are fast approaching. For those of you who have already registered, I look forward to seeing you soon. To those on the precipice, I encourage you to join in the exchange, the adventure and the stimulation of ideaCity.
Best,
