2 05/21/2009 05/21/2009 39 When a friend asked Buck Heim if he could use his garage to finish building his boat Buck said sure why not. This simple accommodation set off an epic Pacific northwest tale of friendship, love, hate, fear, mystery, deception, redemption and ultimate triumph of the human spirit. In five minutes you will be led first hand through the inter-workings of a stagnating mind as it evolves with each phase of the first time boat building experience. See how a simple man who likes simple pleasures battles the gravitational pull of a well worn but perfectly functional futon to create a magnificent sea worthy vessel. Buck Heim is a Bend resident who struggles to balance the isolation of a tele-commuting software development job with the natural outdoor wonders of Central Oregon. Buck Heim 05/21/2009 2 05/21/2009 05/21/2009 38 What are those white contrail-like lines we see in the sky on a pretty regular basis? Is it jet exhaust? Why do they persist and spread out, often turning the sky milky white? I have experienced this phenomenon in California. There are eyewitness reports about this subject from around the world. Other cities in Oregon, such as Ashland, have been reporting on these "contrails" for some time now. I would like to inform the nature lovers of Bend and the surrounding area about this phenomenon and follow up with action on the effect they are having on our environment. I recently moved to Bend from California. I have worked in social services for many years and am semi-retired. I have information on the subject of weather modification. Sandy McNamara 05/21/2009 2 05/20/2009 05/20/2009 37 Old school: You give money. Non-profits use it. Change happens. Simple, right? Too bad it doesn't always work. New school: You give money. You stay involved. Non-profits work with you. You help them make change happen. New models for social and environmental initiatives have popped up across the country, even here in Bend. They've moved non-profits towards for-profit business models, and they're helping you to do more with your money. A quick look at how changing the world might mean both changing how we give money and changing what happens once we give it. Brett Golden is a tomato plant murderer and non-profit dilettante with too many ideas. He is fabulously under-qualified to speak on this subject. In his free time, he enjoys falling off his bicycle. Brett Golden 27 05/20/2009 2 05/20/2009 http://virtualteahouse.com/ 05/20/2009 36 Sometimes we have to 'fake it 'til we make it', and learning to engage the spirituality of everyday life takes that kind of attitude. If we begin to look at everything that happens to us as if it is a 'wake up call' to pay attention, we begin to find all manner of synchronicities, connections, and delight. This talk is about a way of grounding our search for spiritual engagement in everyday, ordinary life, not some mountaintop ephiphany! As part of the presentation, we'll do a short experiential exercise that will show how simple and profound this work is. I have been a devoted seeker of spiritual wisdom since a child. I've worked 20+ years in hospice and other non-profits. The dying have taught me to live with at least one eye open! I've lived in Bend for over 5 years, and am delighted to call it home. I have a MA in Religious Studies and a BA in Elementary Education. Beth Patterson Host of Virtual Tea House 05/20/2009 2 05/20/2009 05/20/2009 35 Do you have a friend who never seems to make it to parties? A buddy who speaks rarely but wisely? You might be lucky enough to have an introvert in your life. Not to be confused with being shy, introverts aren't scared of social interaction, but simply spend a lot of time in their heads, thinking things through. They also tend to spend a lot of time at home, where it's quiet, so you may not have had an opportunity to observe one first-hand. This presentation will introduce you to the manners and customs of the elusive introverted, eschewers of small talk and lovers of earplugs. Librarian, foodie, occasional smartass and inveterate introvert. Kate Gronemyer 05/20/2009 2 05/20/2009 http://beezelbarb.blogspot.com/ 05/20/2009 34 People often wonder why I would choose to deprive myself by eating a Vegan (plant-based) diet. In 5 minutes and 20 slides I will illustrate why I feel a Vegan diet is not a deprivation, but a great choice for our world, our health, and for showing compassion for farm animals who are as smart, friendly, loving and as capable of feeling pleasure and pain as our family pets. I will address the most common questions and comments I get about my plant-based diet, such as: - If you don't eat meat, dairy, and eggs, then what *DO* you eat? - What is Vegan/Vegetarian anyway? You still eat fish and chicken, right? - Why not eat dairy and eggs since no animals suffered or died for those? - Don't tell me what I'm eating - I don't want to know. - Why do you care more about animals than humans? - How do you get enough protein? - I could never give up cheese! - Human bodies were designed/ evolved to eat meat. - I only eat meat, dairy, and eggs from non-factory farms where the animals are treated well. - I couldn't eat Vegan or Vegetarian because I travel/ eat out a lot. I've always loved animals - from family pets to ravens and sea lions, and have a keen interest in animal cognition. I share my home (read: zoo) with a husband, 3 step-kids, 6 cats, 3 dogs (retired racing greyhounds, pug), and a parrot. For work I'm a SharePoint specialist, UI and graphic designer, IT consultant, and geek. In my spare time I'm an avid reader (sci fi, novels, animal behavior texts, you name it), a wannabe writer, and a flybaby. I have an enormously useful Writing and Literature degree, and once ran a forensic science training company - I do not watch crime dramas. I have no use for organized religion. I'm both a cynic and an idealist. I see the forest but not the trees. I laugh at things many people don't find funny. Barb Troyer 28 05/20/2009 2 05/20/2009 05/20/2009 33 I will talk about what Global Warming is and how it has affected our environment and earth, share different arguments on the subject, and suggest how the people of Bend and Oregon can help the environment, using humor and being current (I hope). I am thirteen years old and I go to Westside Village Magnet School. I enjoy writing, reading, drawing, directing my own movies, and, of course, public speaking. I am concerned about Global Warming, which is what I'm planning to talk about. Dealing with Global Warming and helping the environment is really important to me. Marlee Norr 05/20/2009 2 05/20/2009 http://www.cjgraphix.com/ 05/20/2009 32 There is the odd job, sure... like breath odor evaluator, beer tester (they spit it out), or filling the cracks in Mt. Rushmore. What about the thing you do because you love it? In five minutes I'll look at some of the oddest jobs out there and then highlight some local business owners who have taken the things they love and made full time businesses out of them. coffee drinkin', beer enjoyin', tattoo havin', soccer playin', @superjenny lovin', template hatin', mac usin', freelancin' web designer and developer. Collin Robinson 6 05/20/2009 2 05/17/2009 05/17/2009 31 I have a business degree. I have a healthy start on my MBA. But really, all I needed to know about being the president of a software company I learned from playing Dungeons & Dragons. In 5 minutes and d20 slides I will reveal these mystical secrets so you to can emerge victorious from cubicle dungeons and slay its dragons without becoming one yourself. I'm a father, husband, nerd, and the President of EllisLab. I love life and help people. Leslie Camacho 26 EllisLab Inc. 05/17/2009 2 05/18/2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N06zoq-pI3k 05/15/2009 30 Making a case for Twitter using 19 of the best tweets ever tweeted. Updates from Twitterville dive into politics, philosophy, relationships and food. They reach for the pinnacle of higher thought and slump into muddy gutters. They are life, condensed into tiny nuggets of word bliss! I'll strive for funny, inciteful, irreverent, touching, inspiring...but mostly funny. You can see a speech I gave last fall at the URL provided above. If accepted I'll send a message into Twitterville in an attempt to gather some original tweets for this event. The collaborative nature would be very exciting. But either way, there is plenty of great material available. Thanks for the consideration! Cheers! CEO of Apex Development Network. husband.dad.speaker.artist Professional coach of storytelling for better business and life. Robert Killen 25 Staying open minded. 05/15/2009 2 05/14/2009 http://www.votealution.com/ 05/12/2009 29 I believe strongly that we the average citizen must develop a way to remove the Political Parties from our system so common, ordinary, decent citizens can be chosen to make decisions that are best for all. I fault no current or past politicians as I feel they were trained and or bribed (conscious of unconsciously) into believing they were what was best for all. However we now know that it is not working. We need statesmen or stateswomen serving us to return us to a Republic form of government run according to firm and enforced laws. I am an 84 year old wounded veteran of W-_II. I retired early from GM as a carburetor designer, traveled for 2 years in a 5th wheel trailer before settlng in Payson, AZ for 26 years. Moved to Bend in 2002 to be near our daughter and grand daughter. Hoby Herron None 05/12/2009 2 05/11/2009 http://donatelifenw.org/ 05/11/2009 28 Don't believe the Hollywood hype! Your decision about registering as an organ donor is highly personal and has the power to change lives and impact communities. 5 minutes = education, communication, altruism. Program Director, Donate Life Northwest. Our mission is to educate the general public in Oregon and SW Washington about organ, eye and tissue donation and how to register as a donor. Judith Trujillo 23 Donate Life Northwest 05/11/2009 2 05/10/2009 http://www.broofa.com/ 05/10/2009 27 There is a long and storied tradition to the art of building bicycles by hand. It is a profession associated with some of the most important figures in history; Leonardo De Vinci invented a bike made entirely of wood; the Wright Brothers were bike builders before they were aviators. Yet today's bicycle industry is dominated by a handful of companies that churn out millions of mediocre bikes every year, none of which reflect any of the artistic passion or technical innovation that has defined this industry through the ages. Fortunately in small workshops and garages around our country the art of building bicycles by hand is not only still alive, it is thriving! Today's independent framebuilders are pushing the limits of what is possible with modern technology and are rediscovering the techniques and materials of this trade's venerable past. They are creating masterpieces of engineering and artistry. This presentation will explore a bit of the bicycle's history and provide a visual tour of some of the more amazing work being done today. It is hoped the audience will come away with a new appreciation for what it means to "build a bike". Mr. Kieffer has an irrational passion for bicycles. Although a life-long cyclist, this passion really took hold 12 years ago when his Bridgestone XO-3 bicycle was stolen. In his quest to find a comparable replacement he found himself disappointed with the inadequate offerings from production bike makers, and drawn into the fascinating world of handmade bicycles. Eventually this led to his attending the United Bicycle Institute (UBI) framebuilding class, where he designed and built his own mountain bike, which he now rides on the trails of Central Oregon. Robert Kieffer 9 The Glorious and Subversive Culture of Irrational, Irreverent, Irrepresable Bicyclists 05/10/2009 2 05/04/2009 05/04/2009 26 A George Carlin style presentation without the profanity. A rapid fire walk through the evolution of computer programming and its challenges focusing on the type of people do it. 35 years as an IT professional. Software developer, system manager, desktop support. RICH LOVIN 05/04/2009 2 05/06/2009 http://searchengineoptimizician.com/ 05/04/2009 25 How to use keyword research to entice more readers/visitors to your website. How it is done, how and why it works. Real world examples. What tools you can use. It's so easy even a caveman can do it. Gary Pool "web maestro" & "search engine optimizician", a person whose uncanny sense of the art and science of website optimization comes from his natural talents in music and math. Fear of algorithms isn't in his vocabulary. In fact he begins each work session with the Algorithm March... As the "Web Maestro" at White Rose Productions, Gary is passionate about SEO. His fast-loading, W3C validated, search-smart sites win rave reviews from business owners and website users alike. His latest site, created for a Chinese company, has resulted in an invitation to China for the dedication of their latest recycling plant. Gary is the Search Engine Optimizician at SEOPDX and he can be reached through his blog. Just search Google for the phrase "Search Engine Optimizician" to find it. Gary Pool's internet experience began in 1998 with completion of the Multimedia Certification from the New Media Center, San Diego, a sister program to the one at MIT. Gary Pool 22 SEOPDX 05/04/2009 2 05/03/2009 http://www.whatsupnah.com/ 05/03/2009 24 Eggs. Pretty spectacular. Let's take a tour, focusing on food for the majority of the presentation, but also getting into the biological, evolutionary, and biochemical properties that make our little life-propagating capsules so amazing. And yummy. Former zoologist, naturalist, ESL teacher, chef, and network analyst; and current SEO/social media guy. Brad enjoys long walks on the beach, candle lit dinners, and enjoying a nice Barbera d'Alba while watching Footloose. Brad Cohen 20 05/03/2009 2 04/29/2009 http://www.joshcordell.com/ 04/29/2009 23 If we are honest about what we believe, other people are going to think we are crazy. Most people don't share their "crazy" beliefs, but I will. And I'll challenge you to do the same. I'm a longtime Bend resident. Highly uneducated and a man of little consequence. Josh Cordell 04/29/2009 2 04/18/2009 03/20/2009 20 "You're not an Atheist!" That's the first thing they say. Everyone. Almost everyone. Yes I am. At 9:30, on April 17th, 2009-I don't believe in God. I would quickly-gladly-happily change my mind if his Michael-Angelic face appeared in the sky, but really...right now...all signs point to NO. The violence, ignorance and misogyny perpetuated in the name of religion are not in the past. We've all studied the crusades, the inquisition, colonization (the list is endless) and remember religion's dark and bloody past. It's a dark side. not a dark past. Right now "mainstream, non-threatening" church groups; those smart Christians, enlighted Muslims, non-practicing Jews create a safe environment of tolerance for their lunatic-extremist bretheren. One example: If a child were denied medical care and died, because his parents were mentally unbalanced or uncaring there would be swift action; prosecution and the other children removed from the home. If the same is done in the name of religion the shouting begins about gray areas, tolerance, cultural diversity, ect. Why do we fear discourse on this subject and grant this terrified respect to religion? We believe in the right to bear arms and we shout ourselves hoarse over that one, but, God forbid (pun intended) we show disrepect to someone's sprituality. We can argue about taxes all day but don't you question someone's god. There are nuts who strive for religious law in this country, long for nuclear war (rapture), want to legally discriminate homosexuals, or call for death to writers, cartoonists and publishers. They are tolerated! Intolerance and violence are tolerated in part, due to these "safe-sane-smart" religious people. Religion belongs in the infancy of mankind not the future. All religion does is group us into tribes. Us against them. I've recently been called an aggresive atheist. I am. Many atheists are quiet, almost embarrassed to admit they don't believe in God. It is a little lonely and more than a little frightning being an atheist. But it is important. Do you think the fundementalists are not striving daily to teach creationism in schools, negate a woman's right to an abortion and force-convert the entire world? People say, as a atheist you have no grounds for morality, or if we didn't have God the world would go crazy. Religion has proved itself uniquely delinquent on morals and ethics. The world will not fall into amoral chaos if we read those "holy" books as what they really are; not God's word but as flawed histories, written by men, with both good and bad lessons. Let's place these bronze age morality tales behind us and take the next step in human evolution. My parents were Roman Catholic; Irish Catholic actually, with it's own lovely brand of guilt. I confessed, communed, was confirmed and catechised. At a catholic university in New York I opted out for good. I got my degrees, spent a decade as a military officer, and currently work and live in Bend. Robert Flanagan 18 none 03/20/2009 2 03/17/2009 http://ofrunning.blogspot.com/ 03/17/2009 19 How the evolution of my running has followed the evolution of becoming comfortable in my own skin. What are we capable of acheiving once we acknowledge that we *are* good at something? How does this impact other areas in our lives? 30-something Bendite, wife to one husband, mom to one kiddo, owner of one dog, caseworker to many. Addicted to running. Fawn M. Sybrant 03/17/2009 2 03/10/2009 http://lilberger.blogspot.com/ 03/10/2009 18 While pregnant with her first child, Shannon had all of these day dreams about eating healthy, exercising, green toys, organic clothing, cloth diapers, breastfeeding and making baby food. Can it be done or thrown out the window when baby arrives? Shannon Hinderberger is a 30 something wanna be hipster mom. She grew up in Nebraska and often gets the question "So you're a liberal, green hippie since moving to Oregon." The answer ... Liberal. Yes. Hippie. No. Shannon Hinderberger 17 03/10/2009