If, like me, you happen to be blessed to count a few smart people as your amigos -- solid four, I reckon -- you’ve undoubtedly heard over and again that TED talks are the actual reason the Internet was invented. The slick, succinct talks featuring camera-friendly experts highlighting “ideas worth sharing” are a well of forward-thought and (usually) more provoking than kitten videos.

In the last several years, the format has been extended to the TEDx brand -- smaller, self-organized events meant to provide TED-ish experiences at a local level. And guess what: we’s got one coming up!

This Saturday, Dec. 2, fill your noggin with TEDxEureka being held at the Arcata Theatre Lounge (ahem) at 1 p.m. Fifteen local speakers -- authors, scientists, artists -- are scheduled to expand on the theme “I found it!” Here’s the list of your neighbors doing the finding:

Barry Evans, former NPR science commenter and our North Coast Journal Field Notes columnist.

Monica Stephens, assistant HSU professor specializing in geography.

Lynette Mullen, local Native American historian.

Scott Greacen, former executive director of EPIC and current ED of Friends of the Eel River.

Ray Raphael, author of A People’s History of the American Revolution.

Sheri Woo, civil engineer and environmental science writer.

Garth Johnson, local artist and author of Creative Reuse.

Jennifer McMahon, founder of Humboldt Roller Derby and owner of Primal Decor.

Ellen Johnson, Northern California representative of Safe Kids Now.

Scott “Q” Marcus, “thin”spirational speaker.

Dr. Michael Fratkin, palliative medicine physician.

Brent Eviston, architectural drafter, illustrator and figure drawing artist.

Forrest Lewis, Arcata High senior and editor of the AHS Pepperbox.

Tami Matsumoto, professor of mathematics at College of the Redwoods.

Michael Fields, founding member of Dell’Arte.

That’s a lot of finding! Tickets have likely sold out at this point, but thanks to the series of tubes you’ll be able to stream the talks online at tedxeureka.com.