Hasta La Ideas

Chef and activist Jamie Oliver has won the 2010 TED Prize, joining a diverse list of past winners such as Bill Clinton, Bono, E.O. Wilson, and controversial mentor James Nachtwey. Awarded annually by nonprofit braintrust TED, the award typically goes to three exceptional individuals who each receive $100,000 and “One Wish to Change the World,” but due to a dearth of remarkable people or, more likely, prize money, TED has named Oliver the first solo winner. “After discussion with various wise souls in the community, we are moving to a new format of one new winner every year,” wrote TED curator Chris Anderson and TED Prize director Amy Novogratz in an e-mail announcing the 2010 winner. “At the same time we’re increasing our capacity to facilitate your amazing efforts on the existing [TED Prize Projects].”

You may know 34-year-old Oliver as “the naked chef,” the rather misleading name of the television show that first propelled him—fully clothed but enamored with stripped-down fare—into the public eye in 1999. Today, after helming a dozen TV series and selling 24 million copies of his ten books (translated into 29 languages), he’s developed into a raffish British amalgam of Rachael Ray and Alice Waters, one day sharing a recipe for a “killer chocolate mousse” and the next crusading for healthier school lunches. Anderson and Novogratz describe Oliver as “the chef who’s transforming the way we feed our children,” noting that his “School Dinners/Feed Me Better” campaign pressured the U.K. government to invest $1 billion to overhaul school lunches. Oliver also founded the Fifteen Foundation, a social enterprise and chef apprenticeship for 18- to 24-year-olds. Originated in London, the program has been replicated in Amsterdam, Cornwall, and Melbourne. Next stop: America. The new TV series Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution USA is slated to debut in 2010 on ABC. Meanwhile, Oliver will reveal his TED Prize wish on February 10 during the the 2010 TED Conference, which takes place February 9-13 in Long Beach, California.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The Ghostvillage Project was created over 3 days on the west coast of Scotland. 6 artists – Timid, Remi/Rough, System, Stormie Mills, Juice 126, Derm – were given free reign to paint in an abandoned 1970s village. Working together on huge collaborative walls and individually in hidden nooks and crannies all over the site the artists realised long held dreams and were inspired by the bleakness and remoteness of the site. Drawing on the history of the village the artists’ stated intent on completion of the project was to populate the ghostvillage with the art and characters that it deserved.

–> Wooster

Most of us consider an uncluttered workspace to consist of an office with well-executed organization and minimal distraction. Peter Daniel Frazier, architect of the “Cube,” has taken the entire uncluttered workspace concept in a new, upward direction with his innovative home office:

The minimalist office is fully integrated into the surrounding forest. Frazier’s “Cube” serves not only as an office, it does triple duty as a meditation room and guest house.

The picture that appears here, and Frazier’s entire set are open for viewing on Flickr. Each image also has wonderful descriptions detailing his construction.

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Don’t forget! If you’re in the Chicago area, join Erin and some of the Unclutterer staff (including me) at The Book Cellar on Monday, December 28, any time between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Also, set your DVRs to record Erin on WGN Tuesday, December 29, during the Midday News programming. She’ll be talking about her book and handling sentimental clutter.

Regular contributor to UPPERCASE magazine, Andrea Jenkins gives us a tour of her holiday-decorated home. Look for great photography by Andrea in the upcoming issue, where she shares images from her experience at Squam Art Workshops.