Why Are TED Talks Deceiving Us?

As the creative class suffers, TED Talks and books about creativity are on the rise; scientists have hit a turning point in Alzheimer’s research with a new discovery; meanwhile, while Americans are becoming increasingly obese, so are their pets. These discoveries and more below.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that have found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

TED Talks Are Lying to You The creative class has never been more screwed. Books about creativity have never been more popular. What gives?

There’s an International Plan to Censor the Internet in the Works — Let’s Stop It in Its Tracks That’s the time left before the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could become a finalized agreement. For those who are drawing blank looks — and understandably so — the TPP is a highly secretive trade deal involving 12 nations around the Pacific Rim.

The Tyrant as Editor Joseph Djugashvili was a student in a theological seminary when he came across the writings of Vladimir Lenin and decided to become a Bolshevik revolutionary.

Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Hailed as ‘Turning Point’ The discovery of the first chemical to prevent the death of brain tissue in a neurodegenerative disease has been hailed as the “turning point” in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

What GOP-Tea Party Risks With Block of New New Deal The Republican-Tea Party alliance operates a weapon of mass deflection, protecting capitalism from criticism.

2013 Nobel Prize in Literature Laureate Alice Munro on the Secret of a Great Story The question of what makes a great story has occupied the minds of some of our most celebrated storytellers.

Two Kinds of Countries: Israel’s Dangerous Path There are two kinds of countries or societies or places to live.

Is Your Pet Too Fat? Why Many Millions of Animals like People Are Now Overweight Everyone knows Americans are fat and getting fatter, and everyone thinks they know why: more eating and less moving.