Happy March, nerds! The days are getting longer and spring is right around the corner, so naturally we are expecting another blizzard. 🫠😂 BUT we are also expecting another Nerd Nite, so we’ve got that going for us. Incoming speaker and talk details:
Designed by Clowns and Monkeys: The Story of the 737 Max Disasters
In the span of less than six months between October 2018 and March 2019, Boeing went from a respected engineering firm to a complete joke. Two brand new aircraft, 737 MAXs to be specific, crashed shortly after take-off- killing many, thanks to nothing more than bad design. Part tragedy and comedy, Boeing created a plane that endangered so many all for the sake of making a quick buck.
Levi Magnuson is originally from South Dakota and moved to Fargo to attend Grad School in 2022. Since 2024 he has worked for the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at the Hjemkomst Center. History has always been his passion, but engineering has always interested him.
Walking Erect: Evolution, Aesthetics, and Architecture
Beauty feels transcendent — a window into something higher than ourselves. But evolution suggests a more grounded origin: we find things beautiful because our ancestors who did, survived. Symmetrical faces signaled healthy mates. Lush landscapes promised food and shelter. Our aesthetic sense wasn’t designed for truth — it was designed for survival. And that’s precisely the problem. In a world of fast fashion and abundant content, the same instincts that once protected us now routinely lead us astray.
With 25 years of experience shaping the built environment, Brent Behm has worked across a broad range of architectural contexts and client types. Nine years ago, he founded his own studio — a deliberate move toward a more intentional, design-driven practice. Brent holds a degree in architecture from Arizona State University and a graduate degree from Rice University. Outside the office, he channels his love of craft into woodworking, and searches for inspiration through travel whenever possible.
I Don’t Like Mondays: A Modest Proposal for a 6-day Week
Ever heard of someone talk about a 4-day workweek? Well, I’m here with an even better idea: a 6-day WEEK (not workweek). We can do it if we want. Nobody is stopping us. There would be some adjustments required, though.
Kellam Barta has an MA in Sociolinguistics from NC State University and teaches writing and linguistics at NDSU. He also enjoys talking to groups of folks in 20-minute chunks with 3-5 minutes for questions. Seriously.
…plus our usual laughs, shenanigans, and doorprizes. See your beautiful faces on Thursday March 19th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom. Tickets are available for advance purchase on Eventbrite, or you can just bring $10 to the door. Same price to you either way. We eat the fees to keep the monkeys from getting them.
🙂 T
