B AM JAM B AS K ETB ALL
FIND YELLOWJACKET PHONE CASE
C HR IS M AC K ENTHU N
Boise basketballers of all ages will take to the streets with Bam Jam.
Catch mesmerizing moves—like this one by Jason Hartley and Frank Affrunti—at the inaugural performance of the Boise Dance Co-Op.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY AUG. 4-5
SATURDAY AUG. 4
ballin’
dance
BAM JAM
BOISE DANCE CO-OP
Bam Jam—the huge basketball competition in downtown Boise now in its fifth year—brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “takin’ it to the streets.” After outgrowing its BODO digs, the 2012 Bam Jam three-on-three tournament moves to city streets, blocking off asphalt for basketball courts near the State Capitol Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5. This year, the plan is to take over the streets of eight city blocks with more than 20 basketball courts placed side-byside, adjacent to center court at the intersection of Sixth and Bannock streets. With more than 300 teams registered for last year’s event, Bam Jam has historically drawn as many as 10,000 people, according to event organizers. B-ball events include the three-point challenge, half-court shoot-off and slam dunk challenge, requiring a mix of panache and skill. But the main event at center court is the three-onthree, with adult teams for women, men 6-feet and taller and men less than 6-feet tall. There’s also a co-ed adult team, and kids’ teams are divided by grade and gender. Teams will be put in brackets, with a three-game guarantee and a champion named for each division. According to Bam Jam’s Vince Hordemann, the three-point and slam dunk challenges will take place on the steps of the Capitol. Hordemann said the flat concrete had to be measured to ensure there’s enough space for all the action. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Idaho Select Player’s Fund and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ada County, with Bam Jam raising thousands of dollars for local causes in its five-year history. Basketball enthusiasts can bask in all the chances to watch games, and even the non-sporty can enjoy the bustling, lively weekend in downtown. Want to get involved? Hordemann said volunteers are needed down to the last second. See the website for more info. Various times, FREE to watch. Downtown Boise. More info at bamjamboise.com.
saved and grows up not knowing her royal heritage, falls in love with the son of falsely accused king/best friend and craziness ensues. ISF Director of Marketing Hannah Read said the production will have the distinct feel of a fairy tale— neither modern nor period but a bit dreamy. For fans of
S U B M I T
traditional Shakespeare, this is definitely a production to catch. Friday, Aug. 3-Saturday, Aug. 4, and Tuesday Aug. 7-Wednesday, Aug. 8, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 5, 7 p.m. $12-$40. Idaho Shakespeare Festival, 5657 Warm Springs Ave., 208-336-9221, idahoshakespeare.org.
Boise must have been blessed by the fouette fair y; the city boasts myriad dance companies, which provide enthusiasts with a healthy dose of dance. And while pop culture would have us believe that dance is a world of conniving, competitive, creative types looking to stab each other in the back, Boise dance companies are bringing about a different perspective. The Boise Dance Co-Op is a new project founded by Ballet Idaho principal dancer Phyllis Rothwell Affrunti and former Trey McIntyre Project dancer/rehearsal director Jason Har tley, featuring talent from many of the city’s dance companies. The co-op will give its inaugural per formance Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Esther Simplot Per forming Ar ts Annex Auditorium. In the roughly five-month-long off season, Boiseans have been left anticipating the arrival of new work from the companies, and apparently, dancers have as well. According to Har tley, “There is quite a large amount of ar tists out there that are hungr y … the co-op really came out of need. … I’m discovering hidden talent that for no reason should be hidden. These ar tists have a lot to offer.” Har tley said audiences can expect “quite a variety of a show,” with ever ything from classical ballet to brandnew work. “It’s ever ybody that you’ve already seen in the dance community coming together,” Hartley aid. “It’s not just Idaho Dance Theatre dancing its part, then Ballet Idaho— we’re mixing together all these dancers. It’s a melting pot.” But what happens when companies begin their next season? “We continue,” Har tley said. “You can work your full-time job and still want to do more. These kids are what, 21? They have plenty of energy. They’re hungr y.” The biggest challenge, Har tley said, was learning the “other side of the ar ts,” such as marketing and adver tising. The group took the ever-popular Kickstar ter campaign route and exceeded its $5,000 goal. As for future per formances, Har tley said the sky is the limit, and welcomes ideas and feedback from Co-op members and audiences. “There’s 1,000 ways it could go. We can put on anything. We can mold into any avenue that is needed,” Har tley said. Purchase tickets by calling 208-867-3275. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., $10 general admission, $20 reser ved seating. Esther Simplot Per forming Arts Auditorium, 516 S. Ninth St., 208-345-9116.
Anthropologist Amber Case has made a career out of studying the ways people interact with technology. She claims in Ted Talk that since the smart phone is essentially an augmentation of our mental selves, smart-phone users are now cyborgs. If that’s so, then it’s now time to realize the dreams of sci-fi nerds everywhere and weaponize our cyborg selves. How? Meet the Yellow Jacket, the world’s first iPhone case that doubles as a stun gun. The case dispenses yellowjacketcase.com 650,000 volts of electricity, enough to drop a fully drunk Russell Crowe. That is like putting the power of Zeus in your iPhone. No longer just a cyborg, you can now be a god. For those worried about putting that much juice next to your noodle, the case comes with a double-safety. “In less than two seconds, both safety mechanisms can be deactivated and the Yellow Jacket stun gun is ready for action. Compare this to a regular stun gun, which can take five to 10 seconds to find and deploy,” reads the Yellow Jacket website. In a product demo video, Yellow Jacket’s inventor says it is most effective as a self-defense tool because it’s something people almost always have within reach. And if that wasn’t enough, Yellow Jacket’s battery will also provide one complete charge for an iPhone 4. The Yellow Jacket hasn’t actually been released yet but is available for pre-order online. Android models are also on the way. —Josh Gross
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