A Compliment at TED

I attended TEDxAtlanta this week (for those of you who aren't familiar with TED, it's an international nonprofit devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading" via lectures, and is becoming increasingly popular in the technology, entertainment and design worlds.   It's featured speakers ranging from business giants like Ray Anderson and Steve Jobs to artists like Boston Philharmonic conductor Benjamin Zander and Radcliffe Bailey.   There are "TEDx" events across the world, including in Atlanta where I live).   TED promotes ideas that make the world a better place, be it a cool technological solution or the creative process of a songwriter.

People who know TED typically love TED and seek out its content by attending these events or watching simulcasts on the web.   The event in Atlanta this week had a sold out crowd of about 300, and had about 15,000 simulcast viewers watching from 50 countries.   That's a decent reach! I was excited to be there, but excitement turned to sheer glee when the first speaker, Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones keyboardist, tree farmer, conservationist, and author of "Growing a Better America" on smart growth), mentioned Las Catalinas' founder, Charles Brewer, as someone who knows how to develop communities in the right, responsible way -- by balancing density with nature, promoting human interaction and opportunities for fun, and making things walkable.   Great compliment.   All reasons why I'm happy and humbled to be on the Las Catalinas team -- it's the kind of place I'd design, and the kind of place where I want to live.

- Tucker Berta