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
Greetings nerds! It’s been a minute since our last update, but don’t worry- we’ve got some hawtness for you in October! In the meantime, in case you haven’t heard yet, we are moving our monthly show to WEDNESDAYS, because a hangover towards the end of the week is entirely more tolerable. Still 7PM, still Fargo Billiards and Gastropub, just on Wednesday instead of Monday.
Stay tuned for updates about our October show (it’s next week already!), and stay curious, my friends.
🙂 T
…to answer all of your BDSM and “adult novelty” questions at our first ever Naughty Nerd Nite! Join us this Friday September 8th at 7PM, at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub for:
A Dominatrix and a sociologist walk into a bar… An S&M Q&A. BDSM: Bondage, Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadism, and Masochism – 6 terms rolled into one nifty acronym. It’s not exactly what’s depicted in 50 Shades of Grey and you’ll learn why. Merging the experience-based expertise of a former professional dominatrix and the academic research-based knowledge of a sociologist focusing on sexual behavior, you’ll get a multifaceted introduction to the immensely complex nature of BDSM. Curious about kink? Ask any question that comes to mind. Don’t worry, they won’t judge – nothing can shock them, they’ve seen or heard it all. –Clare Sojourner Harris-Palmer
Clare’s venture into sex research began at the age of 15, when she surveyed 162 students at her high school about their sexual activity or lack thereof for a school project. A decade later, she found herself presenting her own original, independent research on BDSM in popular culture at the annual conferences for the Midwest Sociological Society, the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction, and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, as well as two student conferences. Since then, she has given a guest lecture on BDSM every year for the Sociology of Sexual Behavior class at MSUM.
Our dominatrix has asked that her name be kept off of our promotional material, however has listed experience within the realms of sissification, humiliation, cuckolding, ball busting, trampling, edging, violet wand play, whip play, and body worship.
Is Your Sex Toy Trying to Kill You? Have you ever wondered if your lube is actually helping to improve your sex life and not harming you? Many often-overlooked properties of lubes and sex toys that have been found to be harmful to the body. Come learn how certain chemicals in these products can be harmful, and find out when it is time to replace your favorite private-time companion. Discover the what to look for in the future to assure your safety. –Jade Harveland, of Enchantasy’s Intimate Boutique
Jade is certified by the American collage of sexologists as expert of adult novelties and has been working as a sex-positive educator for four years. He worked with Enchantasy’s for over six years as their lead trainer and help build Enchantasy’s online presence with their YouTube based educational and review channel BASEX. Jade has also had multiple trainings under many large sex educators such as Jessica Drake from Wicked Pictures, Reid Mihalko from reidaboutsex.com, and Kira Manser from CSPH.
Additional info:
- Got questions but shy about asking? Never fear! Clare has kindly set up a Slido.com site where you can submit your questions anonymously, to be answered during the show. Use the event code #nerdnitefargo, and ask away!
- Wish you could come, but will be unable to attend? We’re now streaming our shows via Facebook live; follow our FB group and enjoy Nerd Nite from the comfort of your home, where pants are optional and the drinks are free.
- We were originally planning to have presenters from the Blue Belles Burlesque show as well, but life happened (like it do) and they had to drop out. However, they are planning to present at a future Nerd Nite, so stay tuned!
- We figured that it would be awesome to have a few extra drinks for these talks, so we put this event especially on a Friday, so you can tip back a few extras and sleep in the next day. 🙂 However, please remember that while you do not need to censor yourself unnecessarily, we ask that you be respectful and phrase your questions as professionally as possible.
- Lastly, while all Nerd Nites are billed as adults only, this one promises to be exceptionally risque- attend at your own risk.
SO, get those questions in via Slido, and gear up for an awesome, saucy Friday evening with us! As always, Fargo Nerd Nite is free and open to the public, so no ticket purchase is necessary- just show up and sit down. I can’t wait to see you there!
🙂 T
Happy Monday, nerds! Thanks heaps to everyone that came out last week for Cosplay, CAR-T gene therapy, and sex/ behavior/ evolution. And ofc, thanks so much to our speakers for lending their time and expertise. Miss it? No worries:
NEXTLY, important announcement: September Nerd Nite will not be on the third Monday of the month, because it’s going to be on Friday, September 8th, and it’s going to get naughty with presentations by
- Claire Sojourner Harris-Palmer, sociologist and sex researcher.
- Enchantasy’s Intimate Boutique (https://enchantasys.com/)
- Blue Belles Burlesque Show (https://www.facebook.com/bluebelleproductions/)
That’s right- a whole Nerd Nite devoted to sexy topics! And we put it on a Friday, so you can have a few extra dranks and sleep in the next day. We’re still gathering details from our speakers, but we’ll post them as soon as they’re ready. Until then, mark your calendars, and we’ll see you on Friday Sept 8th, 7PM, Fargo Billiards and Gastropub.
Stay curious, my friends.
🙂 T
Greetings, Nerds! Need a little pick me up for this catastrophic month? Look no farther, because topics for August NN are here!
Sex and Violence: Human Behavior from an Evolutionary Perspective.
Evolution by natural selection has shaped, and continues to shape, form and function of all organisms when genetically-based traits ultimately contribute to reproductive success. Behavior is a genetically-based trait, and given that all humans alive today are the product of a long line of ancestors who all managed to successfully reproduce, we can compare behavioral strategies in humans with behavior of non-human animals to examine the role of genes and “free will” in shaping human behavior.
–Brian Wisenden is a professor of animal behavior at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He has authored many scientific papers on the evolution of behavior and the behavioral ecology of fish. He teaches courses in Animal Behavior at MSUM and as a summer field course at the University of Minnesota Itasca Biological Field Station. Brian Wisenden has served on the editorial board of the academic journal Behaviour since 2001 and has served as managing editor of the journal since 2006.
How a Mythological Creature Helped a Little Girl Beat Cancer.
Like all industries, sometimes people in the pharmaceutical industry do the wrong thing. In spite of Martin Shkreli raising the price of a lifesaving drug by 4,000 percent, the pharmaceutical industry does some good things. One is the development of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T). The only thing probably scarier than Mr. Shrkeli is a chimera! Fortunately the treatment is far less scary. The first child dosed with this therapy was cancer patient Emily Whitehead, shown after and before the treatment. We will talk a little about this therapy, how it works, and what the future holds for an emerging area of medicine called gene therapy.
-James Brown realized after taking, and disliking, his first anatomy course as an undergrad that perhaps pre-med wasn’t his thing. After a graduate degree in chemistry he spent the next 25 years in the biotechnology industry. Two years ago he moved his entire family to Fargo, ND for the opportunity to work at what he thought was a great company, Aldevron, and live in a great community. He was right on both counts.
Cosplay: Capes, Masks & Grease Paint- Oh My!
Who among us hasn’t dreamed of being a super hero, a crime fighter, or an action adventurer? For many costuming, better known by most as cosplay, allows for a chance to slip out of our own lives and into a role we wish to play- if only for a little while. But what is cosplay? How did it begin, how has it evolved and changed over time, and what does it mean to those who play? Join us August 21stwhen Gigi, long-time cosplayer and enthusiast, discusses cosplay and what lies behind all the masks, capes, and grease paint.
-Nicole “Gigi” Kolbe. An avid cosplayer with 14 years of experience, Gigi has spent many hours crafting & honing costumes to present at various sci-fi/fantasy events around the country. She has participated in numerous charity events playing such characters as Effie Trinket, Alice in Wonderland, Indiana Jones, Blossom Powerpuff & many more. Gigi enjoys talking about the history of cosplay & its cultural significance with anyone who’s game to listen, but she is especially excited to share her passion with the Nerd Nite.
…all this goodness, plus prizes (we’ve been embroidering fools lately- check out the sweet kitchen swag we made below) and a special announcement for September NN. Come check us out on Monday August 21st, 7PM, at Fargo Billiards and Gastropub. As always, Fargo Nerd Nite is free and open to the public, so just show up and bring your friends. See all you beautiful nerds there, and remember: #noh8.
🙂 T
