Regular readers know that I am passionate about TED, bring him here to Anne of Carversville whenever it seems appropriate. I do believe in the always-challenging relationship state called monogamy, and TED puts me to the true-test of what makes for real love.

Now the unthinkable has happened. TED has a rival: Academic Earth. I am positively swooning with delight and anticipation at spending time with Academic Earth, which delivers concepts and educational lectures that I could only dream of attending on my own.

I will be honest with you, dear friends. I’ve never been happy with the scope of my intellectual learning. Brains impress me so much, and I cut myself no slack in not developing mine fully. The world of PBS has enriched my mind palate immensely, and TED has moved it another notch or two. But now, I am entering a brave new world on Academic Earth.

At the same time I’m embarking on a serious look at tantric sex, over on Sexy Futures, I will ‘attend’ “Introduction to Ancient Greek History”, tracing the development of Greek civilization as manifested in political, intellectual, and creative achievements from the Bronze Age to the end of the classical period.

Trust me, I am not one of those psychic types for a moment — although I do believe in a sixth sense and possess strong intuition. But I’m fascinated with so many coincidences coming at me this week, and now I land on Academic Earth with no effort, and the opportunity to revisit pre-fifth-century Greece.

If you know anything about tantra, it’s very focused on the power of feminine principles.

Evidence of a matriarchy and goddess worship was the subject of my honors thesis at New York University, decades ago. Immersed in tantra, goddesses before the patriarchy turned our lives inside out have been front and center this week. And now — bingo — I discover Academic Earth, and an opportunity to ‘attend’ lectures offered in America’s elite universities.

If Greek history is too esoteric for you, then how about Entrepreneurship? This economic meltdown is forcing so many of us to become caretakers of our own lives. Academic Earth gives you the best minds from the Stanford University’s Entrepreneurship Corner.

Why read all those Dummies books, when you can attend classes available only to those who can afford an Ivy League education?

As for me, I don’t know how I will juggle these two loves in my life, when I’m also learning tantra massage. I’m happy to say that Anne has her hands full! And so can you by meeting up with TED and now Academic Earth.

As for the tantra, give me a couple weeks, and I’ll have that ready for your private consumption as well. No massages, though. There’s a waiting list for those.

xoxo Anne

More from Anne, my sailing vacation in the Ionian Sea: Sailing Towards Athaca 2-17-09