The Speakers

*It’s raining inside and the taxidermy is talking: this is my job in the theater!

Matthew Cameron Clark

After 15 years as an actor & director in Boise, I have more than enough evidence to prove that my job is one of the strangest jobs anyone could have. You have no idea what goes on in a windowless theater late at night, but I’ll give you a few glimpses into my weird and lovely little world.

*French-American Romance

Oescar French

Relocated to Boise from France, I keep experiencing America’s interest for my country. Besides the accent, the last Google ad during the superbowl and clichés  I think there is a deep connection between our two countries and cultures. I would like to share my understandings and revelations regarding the matter at Ignite “Les Bois” 4.

*Cheep: Live well, cheap.

Jessica Holmes

In today’s world, how can you live both well and frugally? Cheep is a concept and a lifestyle that combines creativity and coincidence to help people do more with less. Cheep tips improve your daily life, your environmental impact and your pocketbook. I offer tips in five categories: food, fashion, decor, place and mind. Learn more at www.cheeptips.com.

Cycle Thru – Other people can use your junk

Andrew Hanson

Who doesn’t have a closet or a garage full of junk that still works but they don’ t use?  Unlike Christmas fruit cake chances are somebody else would actually put your junk to good use or could actually use that box of baby clothes sitting under your bed.

Spend 5 minutes exploring ways to cycle your junk through to somebody else who could use it… and maybe move one step closer to actually parking a car in your garage.

A Positive Case for Aging

Mike & Rhonda McGrath

The common dread of  growing old is seldom balanced by the numerous benefits offerred by the aging process. Come join me for an unique look at how positive the aging process can be!

You’d do it for a Mouse-Why not an Elephant?

Steve Burns

Animals are everywhere.  They’re on our televisions, they star in movies, they are corporate logos and we name sports teams after them.  We have created a culture for our children that is based on animals.  But many of the world’s most famous animals are perilously close to extinction.  For example, there are only 3,200 tigers left in the wild.  All conservation challenges all have a common demoninator–they all need money.  This presentation will raise the idea of creating a wildlife royalty on any and all products that use the image of an animal.  People are willing to pay a royalty if they have an image of a (certain) mouse on their t-shirt, why not the same for an elephant (or rhino, gorilla, tiger, etc.)

Going Feral

Wendie Green

Going Feral is a lifestyle, it’s about finding who you are, loving  it, living it, owning it. Not in a self help kind of a way but in the way that you’ve returned… partly or wholly to your wild state. A state of being that never knew “should.”

Revenge of the Nerds

Megan Egbert

“Geek Culture” “geek squad”  “geek chic” there is an overwhelming amount of “geek love” going around these days. Suddenly it’s hip to be a geek. But what about the nerds? The ones who prefer to bury their head in a book instead of glue their eyes to a screen. The ones who would rather study a foreign language than master a programming language. I’m sick of the geeks getting all the attention! I’m bringing nerdy back.

My Platypus Can Kick Your Eagle’s Butt

Mike Winsor

In a world that holds the eagle, rhinoceros and lion up as icons of dignity, power and virtue, the platypus is somehow mysteriously overlooked.

I will demonstrate, with indisputable clarity, that of all the creatures in the vast expanse of the earth, one stands out as the model to which all should aspire:  the enigmatic platypus.

Urban Gardening

Carol Crosswhite

Urban Gardening.  Local – your backyard; fresh – pick it and eat it; Organic – you control the soil, water and fertilizer.  You don’t need an acre to grow a garden all you need is sunlight, soil and water, any size space or container will work.

The basics will also be included in the presentation, i.e. when to plant, what to plant and where to plant.
I hope this timely message, on earth day and before the growing season, will encourage others to sow, cultivate and reap the rewards from a plant or whole garden during 2010.

Geeking Out in the 21st Century… B.C.

Ryan Woodings

Forget Twitter, Facebook, the Internet and even electricity! Let’s roll back the centuries and geek out about high-tech in the time of the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese Emperors.

The Evolution of Edward 40 Hands

Travis Graybeal

I will demonstrate and describe the rules and the etiquette of Edward 40-Hands.  I will cover everything from proper clothing to taping techniques.

You Might be a Refugee If…

Glenn Rummler

A 5 minute glimpse into the life of an Idaho refugee.

The Politics of Power

Don Bush

Politics is no longer the common citizen working to make life for the community better, it is about power. Unfortunately, our system of government has been twisted to resemble the monarchy’s of old than of the Constitutional republic that revolutionaized the world. So, what can we do about it now?

Mind Lies: How our brains conspire against us.

Jeff Reynolds

Consider this:

  • Of the 200+ people exonerated by DNA evidence, over 75% were originally convicted on the basis of erroneous eyewitness identification.
  • In blind taste tests, most prefer Pepsi. But Coke is the #1 selling soda hands down. Why? (hint: it’s not simply advertising).
  • When your boss gives you a 3% raise, you’re happy – even when inflation is 4%.

The point is this: as amazing as our brain is, it fails (or fools us) all the time. Even worse, this mutiny actively works against our own best interest.

I’m going to explore some of the psychological phenomena and how we can be conscious enough to overcome it.

People-Powered Radio

Jeff Abrams

Boise is the biggest area in the country without community-based, people-powered radio!  We are getting the shaft.  The presentation will incorporate a creative way, perhaps using an interview-type format, as though the two presenters are actually on the air talking about Radio Boise and all the great things this resource will do for OUR town!

*Selected by public vote