Entitled. Narcissistic. Lazy. Coddled. Generation "Me". These words and many more have been used to describe Generation Y. But are we ALL really that bad? Or are we the result of expectations gone wrong? Hear from a real live millennial who is looking to quash this stereotype without using childhood participation ribbons or her parents' money.

Satirists, poets, novelists, journalists -- just go ahead and call us "jerks." Some of history's greatest wordsmiths have been drunkards, womanizers, recluses, and misanthropes. Yet, without us, you'd still be communicating with grunts, growls, and weird scribbles in the dirt. (Maybe you do anyway.) So what gives? What's the connection between words and whining, and how can you shut us up long enough to get us to actually write something? I grudgingly give you some answers. You're WELCOME.

Three years ago, I walked away from everything I knew and came to Raleigh. It all started while playing bingo. Eating sliders and sharing a pitcher of Sam Adams. This is all about what i learned, lost and changing fear into a motivator. 20 slides in 5 minutes might not be enough, but it's something I've wanted to share.

The Triangle is one of the best places on earth. Raleigh was recently named America's Best City. Downtown Durham is emerging as a start-up force to be reckoned with. Chapel Hill is home to the nation's oldest public university.

That's all great, but all of that is at risk if we don't play nice in the sandbox.

You'll have to vote and come to Ignite to hear the rest...

Picking up 1,100 pounds of ice, ejecting a stowaway District Attorney, and shining shoes in your sleep — it's all part of my job as a volunteer bartender on a 1930s Pullman railroad car. Vote for me today and you'll learn how to be an architect of memorable experiences on February 16th.

Adolescence. We’ve all been there, and our parents have the gray hair, ulcers and old restraining orders to prove it. So why are we surprised when our own teenage kids turn out to be just as demonic as we were? (Actually, let’s go ahead and agree that they’re worse.) This speech will give you a helpful new paradigm through which to view those little monsters – er, miracles – and in the process, hopefully create some peace between generations. That will free us up to then tackle easier problems, like peace in the Middle East.

Back in 1874, a math professor named Georg Cantor suggested that infinity might be more than just a really big number, and what he had to say was so freaky that it got him officially kicked out of the International Association of Really Smart Math People, and also contributed to his bouts with chronic depression and mental illness. Come find out what got all those 19th century math geeks so upset.

What do fuzzy logic, quantum physics, and Pop art have in common?

Hint: The Situationist philosophers grokked it. Here is my video homage to their concept of Drift: http://bit.ly/A0WTrA

Allow me to elaborate?

Vote 'Fuzzy quantum pop'!

Football, Basketball, Baseball... seriously aren't you ready to try something new? There are a number of fun and quirky sports and recreational activities in the Triangle. I know, 'cause I've tried 'em. Let me introduce you to Steampunk Balls, Dragonboats, Shinty, Roller Derby and more.

You've heard a lot about open source being a great development model for software, but how can open source be applied to government and the culture of a city?

Raleigh is a growing city that brings new people in everyday. Some people move here after reading about us being "The Best Place" on a list. These lists have some good information but what what should new residents know about the City of Oaks? These 11 observations will help them quickly understand why Raleigh is the best place to live in the USA!

Proprioception (pro-pree-o-SEP-shin) is our “sixth sense” of balance, body position, and movement. Tonight, you will learn a brand-new proprioceptive illusion and a way to mold your body schema. Learn this cool trick to amaze your family, friends, and maybe even yourself.

We are small business owners and civic-minded residents who want to share the real Rocky Mount. We are an affordable, turn-key destination less than an hour east of the Triangle. We will share with you how our current strengths and future potential can facilitate opportunity and prosperity for you, your family and your business.

Let's talk about starting a business, shall we? It's rewarding, liberating and fun. Unless it isn't, in which case it's draining, smothering and dreary. I've picked up a thing or two along the way that might help you get started and I'm happy to share my bad experiences in the hope you have some good ones. Vote for this or I'll shoot a panda.

Tired of having no idea what those colored lines on the ice mean? Been made fun of for asking, "aren't those guys cold wearing shorts down there" during a game? Want to know why there are only 3 "quarters" in a game?

Learn what you need to know about hockey to enjoy the sport and be able to drop knowledge at a game such as; "The Hurricanes need to go with the box-plus-one in their own end or the Sedin Twins are going to camp out in the slot all game."

The way we pay for things has gradually evolved over the course of history. Now, however, we are in a period of incredible change. This presents us with the opportunity to embrace new ideas and new technology, as well as some challenging decisions about phasing out dated parts of our monetary system. Join me for a glimpse at the possibilities, and an opinionated look at what should become obsolete in the next decade.

Tales of handshakes from my travels around the world, and 7 tips for using your hands to build community.