Nerd Nite Fargo

Happy Saturday, nerds.  I hope you aren’t as salty about this BS weather as I am.  Take solace in knowing that even if it’s cold and snowy outside, it’s always good weather for thinking and drinking!  Nerd Nite returns on Wednesday April 18th, with a distinctly ethical focus- we’re still gathering details, but topics include:

• Moral perceptions among various religions: a recent study asked people of various religions how they perceived their morals compared to those of other religious affiliations. Ready to get judgy? Maybe you shouldn’t be.
• The positive aspects of Satanism: no, they don’t worship Satan or sacrifice goats over pentagrams, and they’re actually super nice people. Get to know the followers of maybe the most misunderstood religion ever.
• Ethical implications surrounding Artificial Intelligence.  Does Sophia the Robot freak you out?  Is SkyNet coming for us?  AI is taking off like a shot, but just because we can, does it mean that we should?

Neat, right?  PLUS it’s Fargo NN’s third birthday, so we’re bringing cake!  See you at the Gastropub, 7PM.  Until then, stay warm, drive safe, and keep dreaming of temps in the 50s.

🙂 T

Happy Sunday, nerds.  Unfortunately, our AI speaker Jed had to drop out this month, but don’t worry, because:

1. He’s rescheduled for April
2. We still have two fab speakers for you!  Details:

The FM Diversion – How did we get here and what is next?  The Fargo Diversion – if built – will be one of the largest projects done in the region in the last 40 years. The diversion is designed to reduce the chances of a devastating flood in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Because of its size, the process for planning and then implementing the diversion is complex. We will explore the complexity of such a large project and how that process has gotten us to this point and what is next.

Drs. Christina Hargiss and Jack Norland are professors in the Natural Resources Management Program at NDSU.  Dr. Hargiss teaches the National Environmental Policy Act class and her research focuses on urban ecosystems, impacts of energy development on natural resources, wetlands, and environmental education. Dr. Norland teaches watershed management and does research on restoration ecology and building resilience in socio-ecological systems. 

You heard right- we’re making shot glasses. ????   Plus games, prizes, and ALCOHOL!! See you Wednesday March 21st, 7PM (doors at 6:30), Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.  Be there and be square.

🙂 T

Happy Sunday, Nerds, and thanks so everyone who came out for Feb NN.  We’re still gathering the fine details for March’s event, but in short, we’ll be discussing:

• The FM Diversion and why people are so pissed off about it.
• Why exactly Sophia the Robot is GD terrifying, and the ethical implications surrounding artificial intelligence.
• All the hidden awesomes behind the door of FM’s most badass craft shop, Unglued.

So keep your calendar clear on Wednesday, March 21st, 7PM, and we’ll see you at the Gastropub.  Bring your green hat.

🙂 T

Happy Monday Nerds.  I feel like it’s been a long minute since the last FNN, so I’m excited to jump back in!  Check out this Wednesday’s topics and speakers:

Fake News – For Real! “Cat Summoned for Jury Duty”. Really? Every day people are bombarded with headlines that may or may not be real. From our President tweeting “Fake news!” to the National Enquirer claiming that “Bat Boy Lives!”, one must be vigilant in determining what is real. Nerd Nite participants will use the I’M VAIN method to play Two Lies and A Truth as they desperately attempt to get that Carly Simon song out of their head.

Kay and Steve Beckermann are not journalists, however, they do read a lot of news. Kay is pursuing a Ph.D. in communication at NDSU with a focus on media and society. Steve works in IT, whatever that means. Kay and Steve live in Fargo with their two daughters, and a cat that has not been called for jury duty.

Etymology of Sexy Terminology.  When it comes to getting it on, doing the nasty, bumping uglies, making love, having sex, or participating in the act of coitus, we use quite an extensive vocabulary. Where do these words come from? How did they originate and change over time? We’ll look at the fascinating history of some sexy terminology!

Clare Sojourner Harris Palmer studied Sociology at MSUM, focusing on the Sociology of Sexual Behavior. However, prior to that, she’d been an English major. She’s had a lifelong love of language. “Why do we say that?” is a question that pops into her head on an almost daily basis and is typically followed by research until she’s discovered an answer. She couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to merge two of her greatest passions (words and sex) for her third appearance at NNF.

 
What’s a teaching artist?  Teaching Creativity. Hayden Swenson is a ceramic artist from Valley City, ND who focuses on figurative sculpture, pottery that references cartoon animations, and personal experiences. He is currently a Teaching Artist at the Plains Art Museum teaching K-5th grade, and also teaches “Youth Pottery”, “Clay for Couples”, and the “Clay Sampler”.  He’ll be discussing what a teaching artist does, talking about teaching creativity, and choosing an unconventional path.

Hayden Swenson graduated college at Valley City State University with a B.S. in Fine Arts.  He became a STEM Fellow in sponsorship with the FIPSE Grant in 2013 from the Department of Education as a part of Valley City State University President Steven Shirley’s Undergraduate Research and Artistry program. Through the fellowship he created and designed two projects at the Rhodes Science Center at Valley City State University, including a bike rack in the shape of a double helix.  He has had two solo exhibitions “Kids From The Neighborhood” featured at McCarthy Gallery at Valley City State University, and #MillenialProbs featured at the Sprit Room in Fargo, ND  

There you have it!  As usual, we are running the gamut with topics this month- see you this Wednesday, February 21st, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.  Be there and be square.

🙂 T

Happy Sunday, nerds, and I hope you are all having a very happy New Year.  We are kicking off our fourth season with some super tasty topics- check it out:

Terroir + Fromage = Complex Flavor, Complex Cheese.  Although cheese is made up of four very basic ingredients, the flavor nuances and differences can be vast. But how? There are many factors that can affect the end-product, from milk type, aging style, and temperature. More interesting though, have you thought about the environment surrounding the animal? From the grass in the pasture, the herbs in the field, or the make-up of the feed, come and see how these factors play a huge role in the end flavor of cheese.

Megan Lewis is true Turophile. To say she loves cheese is a slight understatement. She graduated from culinary school in 2010 and in 2015 she had the opportunity to step behind the cheese counter for the first time and start a cut to order cheese program at a local boutique. Through cheese making and hands on experience she has decided to dedicate her life to the lifestyle of a Cheesemonger. She launched Milk Made, a cheese centric catering company in 2017.

Poetic Mathematics: Exploring the Aesthetics of Math.  In a world where mathematics is completely terrifying to the general populous, one major aspect of math is consistently overlooked: MATH IS BEAUTIFUL! In this talk, we will discuss the bold and slightly insane claim that math is beautiful and possesses a highly pleasing aesthetic nature. From taking com-parisons to high art, to showing the down and dirty tricks physicists use to explain the universe, we will take a journey to really look at the poetic nature of mathematics.

Kyle T. Strand is a doctoral student in theoretical physics at NDSU and is also a self-described (albeit untrained) aestheticist. Kyle enjoys absurd music, true communism, and minimalist art and literature. Oh yeah…he also has a hard-on for math.

Terroir? Terr-what?  Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand.  Chardonnay from California.  What is a Burgundy anyway? Oh, it’s also chardonnay?  We are going to attempt to scratch the surface on the wine world and explore the differences between wines based on where they come from and what the wine making process entails.

Dan Hurder is owner and operator of Boiler Room in Fargo and Wahpeton, Twist in downtown Fargo, The Otter Supper Club in Ottertail, MN and Chef’s Table Catering based out of The Sanctuary in downtown Fargo.  Over the years of building wine lists and working with wine distributors Dan has developed a love of, appreciation for, and fascination with wine and the processes involved in making it.

…And a little bird told me there miiiiiiight be some samples for us to try. 😉 So come think and drink (and nosh some rad cheeses) with us this Wednesday, Jan 17th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.  See you there.

🙂 T

Happy Wednesday Nerds!  Thanks everyone that game out for game night last week, and everyone that attended, donated their time/ swag, and/ or spoke at Fargo Nerd Nite this year.  Topics we learned the fuck out of:

• Neglected Diseases And Building Sustainable Development Goals
• 3D Printing
• Fantastic Squirrels And Where To Find Them
• The History And Repercussions Of The Anti-Vaccination Movement
• The Fabulously Unglamorous World Of Body Piercing
• Magic: The Gathering
• Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays,- “Vantablack (TM)”
• Jesus: A Superman Story
• Anal Glands In The Domestic Dog
• Botlink – Helping Everyone Fly Smarter
• Wonder Woman
• A Fungus Among Us: The Art And Science Of Homebrewing
• The Psychology Of The Dark Side
• Past And Present Climate Change: Distinguishing The Natural From The Unnatural
• The Science Behind Virtually Spectacular 360° Images
• Solar Energy
• Facts On Food Waste
• Fake News And Alternative Facts About GMOs!
• Sex And Violence: Human Behavior From An Evolutionary Perspective
• CAR-T Gene Therapy
• Cosplay: Capes, Masks & Grease Paint- Oh My!
• How to use Science to Buy the Best Sex Toys
• A Dominatrix And A Sociologist Walk Into A Bar… An S&M Q&A.
• Sciencing the Shit out of Zombies
• Mixed Martial Arts
• Non-Monogamous Relationships
• Polyamory 101

We learned how to pierce nether-regions [ ;)] and that expiration dates on food are BS.  We learned that you can spend your HSA dollars on lube, because it’s considered a medical device, and that Donald Trump has done more for Canadian forests than anyone else in the world.  We learned a new meaning of the word Munch, that a clever cosplayer caused the Marriot hotel chain to rip up and replace all of their carpet, and that Pre-GMOs, rennin for cheese making was harvested from goat stomachs (now, it’s made in yeast cells).  And we learned a ton of other awesome stuff that I can’t cram into one blog post.  Plus, we drank a lot of dranks.

…so nerds, I salute you for always staying curious, and for having iron livers, and I am STOKED to start next year on the same foot.  FNN will commence our fourth season on Wednesday January 17th, 7PM, at the Gastropub, as always.  Have a most glorious Festivus and a fabulous New Year.   Can’t wait to see you all on the other side.

🙂 T

https://xkcd.com/1779/

Happy Tuesday, Nerds!  Thanks heaps to everyone that came out to our November event, and to our speakers Clare, Andrew, and Ashton for filling us in on all things Non-monogamy, and perhaps the best closing line to the season that we could ask for (did you miss it?  Check out the live videos posted in our Facebook group for a recap of the night.)   Also, November’s crowd partied so late the GP had to ask us to vacate the room so they could finish cleaning, haha.  #welldone #winning

Anyway, as I’m sure you’re aware, the holiday season is stressful.  I already heard “Silver Bells” in a restaurant bathroom, I have no idea what gifts to get everyone, no one can confirm their party schedules, I still need to make my costume for NYE (yes, we costume party for New Years.  It’s legit- you should try it), and more than anything, I just want to take a goddamn nap.

????

As such, ain’t nobody got time to schedule speakers for December, so instead, we’re just going to hang out, drink some beverages, play some board games and/ or do some crafts.  Check it:

• Always wanted to do your own snarky needlepoint, a la Nerd Nite?  NOW’S YOUR CHANCE!!  We’ll have towels, hoops, needles and thread for you to use.  Make up your own design, or print one off the internet (we have a pretty sweet setup for this, if I do say so myself).  It’s super easy and we’ll show you how.  We will have to charge you for materials for this, so bring $5 if you want to embroider.  Everything is yours to keep, so if you don’t finish it right away, take it home and work on it later.
• OR, if you’d rather just chill out, we’re gonna bring some games.  My personal favorites are Pandemic, Settlers of Catan, and Werewolf, but you can totally bring your own to play too.

PLUS we’ll be at the Gastropub like always so you can lounge on comfy couches, order dinner and tasty beverages, and socialize with your fellow nerds, or heartlessly destroy them in a game of Catan.  Outside of the optional embroidery charge, this is free to attend, so come on out and meet up with us!  Wednesday, December 13th, 7PM, Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.  See you all there.

🙂 T

Happy Friday, Nerds!  I got frisked by airport security today, and tomorrow’s my birthday…overall, I’d say this weekend is off to a great start.  PLUS I have details about our next NN talks for you!  Check it:

Sex & Love: Not Just Escalators and Happily Ever Afters.  Have you ever heard of Relationship Anarchy? How about Cuckolding? How much do you know about Swinging? Open Relationships? Non- monogamy can take many unique forms. Utilizing her academic knowledge and personal experience, Clare Palmer will provide a general understanding of some lesser known relationship styles. Come learn about sex and the relationships in which we have it! -Clare Sojourner Harris Palmer

Clare Palmer’s venture into sex research began at the age of 15, when she surveyed 162 students at her high school about their sexual activity for a project. A decade later, she was studying Sociology at MSUM with a focus on the Sociology of Sexual Behavior. During that time, she presented her own independent research at 3 professional conferences and 2 student conferences. She loves studying sexual behaviors considered deviant, including kinks and the non-traditional relationships in which sex occurs. This is her second time presenting at Nerd Nite Fargo and she couldn’t be more excited to return.

Polyamory 101: the open, honest, and ethical practice of loving more than one person simultaneously. At this Poly 101 talk, you will learn more about the logistics of such relationship structures, as well as some of the growth that can come from working through the inevitable challenges they bring. Presenters from FM’s polyamory community will also give tips for success and pitfalls to avoid. You will think about relationships in a whole new way!- Andrew Tyson and Ashton Sheppard

Presenters Andrew Tyson and Ashton Sheppard from PolyAware have been active participants in and leaders in the local polyamory community for a few years. They have learned from personal relationship successes and failures along the way, some of which have even involved each other. Andrew has self-identified as polyamorous for 5 years, and Ashton has for 13, and together they bring a wealth of perspective, experience, and (hopefully) wisdom gained along the way.

…told you this would be awesome dinner conversation. 😉  Anyway, see you on Wednesday, November 15th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub for all this PLUS trivia and prizes!  Sadly, this will be our last Nerd Nite for 2017, since we take December off due to a Non-Compete we signed with Santa, so you better get your fix now or you’ll have to hold it until FNN returns in January 2018.

See you beautiful nerds there.

🙂 T

May all your candy bars be king sized and may the weather be good enough to wear your costume without a parka over it. 🙂 Thanks to everyone that came out this month (to what can only be described as full contact Nerd Nite), and to our speakers Mariah Prussia and Dan Novacek!

• Want to learn more about MMA from Mariah, or check out her personal training and self defense courses?  Head over to https://www.mpxfitness.com/.
• Interested in moar zombies?  Then watch the Walking Dead, now that it’s back. 🙂  Or invest in your own copies of “The Zombie Survival Guide” and/ or “World War Z”, both by Max Brooks, which one lucky NN attendee was lucky enough to win this month!

Secondly, if you’re into playing games and/ or raising money for a good cause, don’t forget that Extra Life’s game day to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network is coming up this weekend!

• Find out more and sign up your own fundraising team at https://www.extra-life.org/.
• OR join our friends at Paradox Comix N Cards/ FM Extra Life Guild on Saturday, November 4th for a day of extreme gaming in the name of charity.
• OR, if you’re not into 24 hours of D&D, Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, and God knows what else, donate to our own humble gaming effort  and rest easy because you contributed. 🙂 All donations go to Sanford Children’s Hospital, right here in the FM area.

Hopefully that should tide you over until I can post details about our next Nerd Nite, coming up on Wednesday November 15th, 7PM, at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.  See you beautiful nerds then.

🙂 T

Happy Tuesday, Nerds!  AT LAST I can share deets for our October event with you.  Check it:

Zombies on the brain: A look at how Zombies from the past have shaped and evolved through the years and taken a bite out pop culture. -Dan Novacek, DBI FIXER of all things benefits. Gamer at heart and Dog Father of two pugs.

What do your hands say about you?!?  Hands are used for many things, including handling/ overcoming challenges.  We’ll share stories on how our hands define our journeys, along with how nice it feels to use our hands to knock stuff out, in my case people (of course I’m paid for this and do not recommend it at home or in the bar).  We will be either hands in, or hands on.  See you there! -Mariah Prussia, Owner/President of MPX Fitness, the founder of the NOW Project (501C3), Fargo’s First Sanctioned Professional MMA fighter, ranked in the top 15 PFP Personal Trainer’s in the US, Youth Mentor/Coach, Coordinator of SkyFit at SkyZone, Corporate Wellness Coach, Motivational Speaker, Freelance Writer for AreaWoman Magazine and the proud mother of two boys with a niche of bringing innovative fitness to the health and wellness industry.

Plus, play NERD OLYMPICS (don’t worry-no lab skills required, but they might come in handy!), win door prizes, eat candy, and partake in that mother of all problem creators/ solvers, BOOZE.  Tomorrow, Wednesday Oct 18th, 7PM, Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.  See you there.

🙂 T