The Speakers

At long last, the IB7 speaker list is out.  Talks marked with an (*) were chosen by YOUR votes!

The Zen of Innovation

by Caleb Chung

If you blend art and science you get innovation. When you allow these dissimilar elements to mix and blend, without urgency, without expectations, magic happens. Innovation sort of explodes out of the process.  You get crayons with new colors.  You get new types of toys that listen to you,  robots that have emotions, sculpture that learns and evolves and schools that redefine education.   Lets innovate together, right here and now.  Ready?

Live Deliberately*

by Kristie Wolfe

I do social experiments as a means to “live deliberately,” as Thoreau famously stated. I’ve gone a year without sweets, I went 3 years without meat, I set out to do a year without sex that unfortunately spiraled into an embarrassing length of time, I haven’t had a TV for 4 years.  My current experiment is living in a fabulous 97sq ft. home that I built (with lots of help from Mom) out of 80% reclaimed materials. I would be happy to speak about any or all of the above mentioned.  What these challenges have in common is that they interrupt your daily life and bring you back to the present. Not letting you auto pilot through life.

Imagine*

by Nathaniel Eggleston

So I was in Paris, eating lunch with a few colleagues when out of the blue one of them turned to me and said, “You know you Americans, you aren’t the smartest people out there, but you certainly are the most creative!” That conversation has stuck with me for over a decade. Albert Einstein said something similar, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Businesses like Google and FaceBook are thriving on the productivity that “free time” and imagination are giving them. It’s time that we embraced imagination in education and government. It’s time that we unleashed the boundless imagination of young people and gave them the ability to transform our world and their future.

Beards: A Time of Need*

by Nik Bjurstrom

This talk will start off by looking at the history of the beard through ancient societies and finding its significants.  We will then explore the modern view on face fur and how the perception has changed.  This finally takes us to why the concept has changed and what we can do to help revive the once majestic beard.

You Look Thinner In Person!*

by Stacey Skrysak

Working in the TV News business, you really do hear it all! The negative comments on everything from your looks to your weight can really weigh you down.  I’d like to talk about the humorous viewer comments (yes I’ve heard several times” You look thinner in person”) and how the criticism has actually helped me become who I am.

Did you mean Ignore Noise? How auto-correct & typos are running are world

by Kelsey Jacobson

Weave all been their — your texting, or tweeting, and the smartest phone on the block seems to think its smarter than you.

“Booo!” is quickly transformed into “Biopsy!” changing the entire meaning of you’re VERY important and obviously urgent text message.

And its’ not just auto-correct… People make they’re own mistakes too, and I feel its unacceptable for an adult not too understand the difference between “their,” “there” and “they’re.”

A professional proofreader puts it all on the table and explains why proper use of the English language is still important

We Only Speak American

by Emily Walton

I want to explain how prejudice against Americans who speak English in addition to, or as, a second language is dividing our country, and is based in some misconceptions we have about the nature of language itself. I argue that language should be a protected class much like national origin and skin color.

The Hawaiian Shirt: Pros and Cons

by Chris Ennis

Listen, I wouldn’t be wearing Hawaiian shirts if I were single and on the prowl, but let’s face it, a Hawaiian shirt screams, “This middle-age guy knows how to party.” And what better way to get through a workday, an office event or mandatory seminar than looking like you’re headed to the beach. And this same attire… nothing humiliates your teenage kids more than one of the many Hawaiian shirts you have hanging in your closet. And for impressing the CEO of your company…not so much, but the guys in the mail room idolize you. I takes a confident man to venture into society looking like he walked off the set of Magnum, P.I.  There are many pros and cons to the Hawaiian shirt, it just depends on how desperate you are for attention.

The Subtle Art of Winging It

by Daniel Johnston

Here’s the premise for my presentation: I will create four slides to begin, allowing myself 1 minute to explain to the audience that the following 16 slides have been created not by me, but by several close friends, AND I have no idea what’s on them. Then, as each slide comes up I’ll attempt to weave a coherent monologue based on the images I’m seeing for the first time. I won’t lie, this could go horribly awry… But it could end up being fabulous.

Bitcoin: The Digital Currency of the 21st Century?

by Joshua Watkins

Bitcoin is a online, anonymous, peer-to-peer currency that’s not backed by a government or central banking system. It represents a push to make money safer and less reliant on the political and financial landscapes. But can it survive being introduced in a harsh economic climate? I would briefly discuss the background of Bitcoin, and focus on the implications (benefits and drawbacks) it has to offer.

The Cylindrical God

by Justin Boggs

The karma surrounding a seemingly simple food, the burrito. Central theme is a story concerning my brother eating a left over burrito of mine, the 15 year bitterness that ensued, and the avenging angel of the burrito that finally set karma straight.

Bicycle Town USA–Not Yet!

by Steve Burns

Boise is considered one of the best bicycle towns in the country.  Imagine if you could actually ride all over town (and not just in the foothills) safely!  It’s time to do for the roads in town what we did for the trails in the foothills–come up with a plan and fund a comprehensive system of bike paths so you can travel all over town.  This talk will show how that could be done.

The Birds and the Bees, a Fathers Talk With His Teenage Daughters

by Kurtis D. Leatham

If you have two teenage Daughters, like I do, you understand how difficult discussing the facts of life can be.  In this preso I will attempt to cover all of the bases so when my daughters allow some (dumbass worthless piece of crap) dude to make it around all the bases they will have an understanding of the difference between sex and love.  We will talk about protection, experimentation, communication, rejection, and most importantly love.  Sure to make one or more conservative parent blush!!!

Passive Television: Light Jazz in a Death Metal TV Landscape

by Brock Frazier

Passive television a unique and uncommon TV genre where the goal is a picture somewhere between what is normally on your TV and what is framed on your wall. I wanted to see more passive TV, so I decided to create two new original series. Introducing the TV equivalent to light jazz in a death metal TV landscape is interesting. Some get it, others not so much. For the last five years, I’ve been sharing cycle rides with friends and family with my rickshaw, and now with the series “TV Cycle” I get to share the bicycle rides of myself and guest riders with Boise (TVCTV public access channel 11) and the world (youtube in 1080p). “This Is Ambient” has provided a chance to further explore passive TV, and get a feel for what’s too much or not enough action. In a media world full of words, passive TV stands out with very little dialog.

Kindles and Nooks and eBooks Oh My! (From Borders closing to eBook millionaires)

by Aaron Patterson

I want to talk about eBooks and the changing publishing world. How right now is the best time in history to write. Through social media and blogs authors can reach people from their home. This is the age of the author. It is time to take control of your own future and embrace the change, not hide your head in the sand.

Remove the Step

by Annella Kelso

What word first comes to mind when you hear the word the  Stepmother?  “Wicked?”

Stepparenting is possibly one of the hardest things ever.  Imagine raising children, being a mom (in my case) but never hearing the word mom.  So often being labeled in category with fairtale mothers who are less than loved.  Being a stepparent and/or stepchild is more and more a reality in today’s society.  Most people can relate in some way or the other.  I urge that we “Remove the Step” for Stepparents are Parents too!