I have been lucky enough to attend TED twice now and one of the common questions I get is "What's your favourite TED talk?". It's an impossible question, because there's so much content, and I'm a Gemini. I like a bit of this and a bit of that. It simply depends. Sometimes the very best talks for me are on topics way outside of my knowledge area that expand my mind so much my brain hurts (and I need one of those cleverly constructed TED breaks by way of some equally mind blowing performance).

So, in true Gemini mode today I present a pair of recent favourites. One, an extremely clever data visualisation expert who use his data patterns to uncover new information relating to language; and the other a pupeteer. No ordinary pupeteer - these guys make a life-size puppet of a horse breathe, snort and trot just like the real thing.

First, for your left brain, enjoy the incredible work of Deb Roy, an MIT researcher talking on tracking the birth of a word in human speech. I played an extract from his talk at my presentation to our team here when I first got back from TED (so he made it into "my highlights"). Not only is the data visualisation incredible, but what he does with it is sensational - really, watch it to the end for an emotional climax. 

Enjoy that? Good. Now let's give your right brain a wee tweak. Sit back and enjoy the fine work of the Handspring Puppet Company. These craftsmen make you completely forget that you're watching a puppet perform - a life-size horse becomes very life-like indeed. 

 This is the first in a wee series of pairings that I think you'll enjoy.