Nerd Nite Fargo

…because we have a Twitter account!  Find us on the blue bird @NerdNiteFargo, or track the hashtag #nerdnite to see activities from Nerd Nites worldwide.

You’ll only be mildly offended.  Promise.

🙂 T

Happy Monday, Nerds!  I would like to extend a hearty thank you to everyone who came out last Wednesday, and to our speakers Shay, Zac, and…uh…me- for enlightening us all on Magic the Gathering, the History of the Antivaccination Movement, and the various techniques employed when piercing the parts unknown (I think the Chakra Shay was referring to is the root Chakra.  Hooray- we all know how to find it now. :S)  For further reading/activities, there are links here:

• The >>book<< Shay mentioned (if you’re interested in learning more about body modifications).
• Greg’s website for >>Operation Smile<< (if you’re interested in getting a bomb-ass headshot for only $24 and doing some good while you’re at it). http://www.lightmastersguild.com/smile.html
• My favorite >>video<< that I found while researching the Antivax movement, which focuses more on Edward Jenner and the very beginnings of vaccinations and the accompanying controversies.

Details are still developing for April’s show (Monday the 17th, 7:30, Fargo Billiards and Gastropub), but here’s a little >>hint<<, if you’re interested.

Until then, stay nerdy, stay curious, and stay awesome, my friends.

🙂 T

Good afternoon Nerds, and the happiest of hump days to you.  I am very pleased to announce details for our March show!  Check it:

1798 to Present: the History and Repercussions of the Anti-Vaccination Movement. Think the antivaxxer movement started with Wakefield and his infamous 1998 paper?  Think again.  Vaccinations have been the target of public scrutiny since [the first] Blossom the cow.  The question is, are we stuck in a time loop? –Tracy Kurtz, semi-professional nerd, and wannabe political activist.

Holier than Thou: Secrets of a Body Modifier.  No crevasse left unpierced; all the horror and magic of body art, summed up into twenty minutes.  With pictures!  –Shay Rasmussen, Professional needle sticker at Almost Famous Body Piercing.

Stalking the Planes: A Quick and Dirty Intro to Competitive “Magic: The Gathering”.  For over 20 years, the world’s first trading card game has fostered a competitive aspect, which is partially responsible for its growth into the industry it is today. In an effort to scratch the surface of this gaming colossus, Zac will give a basic introduction to the world of competitive Magic. From the kitchen table to the spotlights of the Pro Tour, he will take a deeper look at the game that brings joy, stress, and frustration to over 20 million people worldwide.  –Zachary Duval, writer, master of none, desperately seeking Grimbal.

There you have it!  Join us Wednesday, March 22nd, 7:30 PM, at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub for Thinks, Drinks, Games, and Prizes.  No cover, free and open to the public.  Bring your friends, and see you then!

🙂 T

Happy Friday Nerds,

Unfortunately, two of our speakers for Monday backed out on us, and we’re not going to be able to fill up that space on such short notice.  Also, the other Fargo Bosses and I realized that there’s a good chance that 3/4 of us wouldn’t be around for our scheduled date of March 20th. 🙁

…LUCKILY, the Gastropub was nice enough to let us shift the March event to WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND instead of our usual Monday slot.  Look for event updates soon.
I’m sorry if I just ruined your Monday night plans, but please try and console yourself with the fact that Bill Nye is coming back to Netflix in April.

Stay tuned for updates, and stay nerdy, y’all.

🙂 Tracy

I’ve really got nothing for you today, other than thanking our fantastic speakers and everyone who came to the show on Monday, and this article about a new species of moth being discovered.   Details about our February show (Monday, Feb 20th, 7:30PM, at the Gastropub) coming soon.

Happy Thursday, Nerds.

🙂 T

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/blondehaired-moth-with-small-genitals-named-after-donald-trump/

Happy Friday, Nerds.  Celebrate the incoming 20-degree jump in temperatures (your car will probably even start!) with some quality Think&Drink, this Monday the 16th, at 7:30PM, Fargo Billiards and Gastropub!  Featured speakers and topics:

3D Printing & You – What It Is and Why You Should Care: 3D printing isn’t just hype, though there is plenty of that to go around. Learn about 3D printing and how organizations and individuals are using this technology to change the world around them.  -Mr. John Schneider, co-owner and founder of Fargo 3D Printing.

No person left behind: Fighting neglected diseases and building sustainable development goals.  -Dr. Jenn Bath, founder of the Concordia College Global Vaccine Institute, whose mission is the fight against neglected tropical diseases that afflict impoverished individuals living mainly in tropical climates.

Fantastic Squirrels and Where to Find Them: Squirrels are one of the few groups of wildlife that thrive in an urban setting and display a variety of adaptations and behaviors that captivate us human observers. We started conducting radio telemetry on gray and red squirrels at Concordia College back in September 2014 and have captured 54 squirrels and documented almost 700 locations to study squirrel movement patterns, behaviors, and habitat use on campus. –Dr. Joseph Whittaker, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, Concordia College.

…plus games, prizes, and general awesomeness.  See you there!

🙂 T

Hey Nerds,

We’re all glad that 2016 ended with Betty White still on this side of alive, so Happy New Year to us all.   However,  I’d be remiss if I didn’t wish Mr. JRR Tolkien a happy birthday today, considering that I spent the better part of my early 20s engrossed in one volume of Middle Earth lore or another, and still have a map of ME hanging on my wall.

Additionally, thanks to everyone that showed up for the December showing of the Star Wars Holiday special.  It was so bad I left my copy of the movie on the bar we went to afterward to try and wash away the memory of that horrible, horrible ‘film’.

Our speakers for January are all lined up and we are just waiting for the juicy details before we can announce topics.  We are presently still looking for presenters from February and onward, so if you know someone with a yen for the podium, please send them to our fancy new gmail address: , or to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/nerdnitefargo/)

As usual, FNN is on the 3rd Monday of the month, which falls on the 16th of January, at 7:30PM, Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.  Until then, stay tuned and stay warm.

🙂 T

Greetings all,

As usual, we are taking December off because the holidays are a real audience stealer.  HOWEVER, if you need your nerdy fix, we have arranged a screening of the beloved and dreaded Star Wars Holiday Special in lieu of regular Nerd Nite.  Join us at the Prairie Den in downtown Fargo (above King House Buffet) on Friday Dec 16th at 7:30PM.  There is no cover to get in and you can BYOB, but beer or wine only please.  We will also have access to their kitchenette, so bring some snacks if you want!

Regular Nerd Nite will resume on MONDAY JANUARY 21st next year.  Thank you all for a super 2016, and we wish you a joyous Christmas/ Hannukah/ Kwanza/ Festivus/ Holiday season.

• When: Monday, Oct 17 @ 7:30 PM.
• What:  Thinking & Drinking
• Where: Fargo Billiards & Gastropub.
• Who: Nerds 21+.
• Cost: $0.
• Nerdtastic Topics:
  • Looking for Life in the Universe (Heidi Manning): The universe is a very large place, and as scientists search for life off of Earth, they need to focus their search. How and where do we look for life in the solar system?
  • OK if I Rant? (Mary Jane Haugen): A non-political view of a political upheaval: Ukraine’s Orange Revolution.
  • The Real Nightmare and How Animals Will Save Us (Larry Reynolds): Despite having been given a bad rap in the Developed World, animal products (milk, meat, seafood, etc.) are an important component of a healthy diet, especially in the Developing World.  Moreover, animals are critical to agricultural sustainability. Given the projected increase in the world’s population, animals will be critical to achieving food security: providing an adequate and healthy diet for all.
• Plus, don’t miss the Halloween Costume Contest! Wear your best tricked out costume and win sweet loot, like nerdified paintings, inappropriate embroidery, and more!

• When: Monday, Sept 19 @ 7:30 PM.
• What:  Thinking & Drinking
• Where: Fargo Billiards & Gastropub.
• Who: Nerds 21+.
• Cost: $0.
• Happy Hour: Join us beforehand for games, featuring Telestrations against Humanity.   (It’s like Telephone + Pictionary + Cards Against Humanity.  Not for tender hearts or weak stomachs.)
• Nerdtastic Topics:
  • “How I Learned to Stop Worrying about the Stigma and Love Dungeons & Dragons.”  by Warren Christiansen
  • “Slaying the Dragon – The Quest to Defeat Cancer.”  by Steve Dekrey
  • …followed by Gaming Breakout Sessions!