JARON LANIER: Oh, I think this is going to be so fun.

If you think about the "Avatar" movie, which many people are enjoying, imagine, in 10 years, that you will be able to make up stuff at that level of intensity yourself. And I think, in 10 years, no kid who can't make up something like "Avatar" in an afternoon is going to be able to get a date. And I think that is going to be just great.

The NewsHour put together an incredibly interesting program yesterday, closing with an interview with Esther Dyson, Paul Saffo, and Jaron Lanier on the future of technology. I think Lanier best captured the enthusiasm and the excitement and the promise that technology holds (as well as the obligation and the responsibility to learn it and use it well). Click through for video and transcript of what I think was a remarkable session. Google phone today, CES not too far away, and an Apple announcement later this month--it is going to be a lot of fun.

JUDITH JAMISON: They do. They have to. They have to -- otherwise, what are they dancing here for? There's no point.

If you're just here to see how many pirouettes you can do, or how high you can raise your leg, or how high you can jump, that's not what gives memories. I mean, people don't remember me for how high my legs went, even though they went up very high, and how many pirouettes I did. They don't remember me for that. They remember me and any other dancer because something touched them inside. It's an indelible memory on the heart and in the mind.

The passion theme popped up everywhere yesterday, this time in an interview with dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison

SOUND TRACKS: MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS, a new magazine show about the intersection of music with life, politics and culture around the world, premieres Monday, January 25, 2010 at 10 p.m. (check local listings) on PBS. Dedicated to reporting unheard stories that reveal how music is transforming politics and culture around the globe, the one-hour pilot crosses three continents and serves up a diverse menu of Russian pop, afrobeat, Portuguese fado, and symphonic work. Says executive producer Stephen Talbot, “Americans love eating the food of different cultures. We want to give people that same exposure to the world’s incredible music with great stories that transcend cultural barriers.”

My local PBS station doesn't have its schedule for January 25 posted, but this could be really good.

D. H. Lawrence (1885 - 1930) English Author, Poet and Playwright

 

“Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” – D. H. Lawrence

Did I write earlier today about Thomas Hoving speaking with energy and passion? Here's the theme reflected again, this time by @ZimmerJohn at Twitter.