Nerd Nite 62: SUMMER SHORTS

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It’s the end of the Nerd Nite Lawrence 2016-2017 series. Join us for our annual Summer Shorts event!

Instead of three twenty-minute presentations we will have fifteen* three-minute* presentations.

Get ready for some fast-paced nerdery. We’ll let you in starting at 7 so you can grab a chair and an icy beverage before presentations start at 8. Dollar cover.

*approximately 😛

 

Wednesday JULY 12 at 8 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

Nerd Nite 61: Man Stuff

Nerd Nite 61

Bog men. Men wearing skirts. Men fighting wars of roses. What could be more manly? Let’s find out together on June 14th. The doors open at 7. Presentations begin at 8. The cost is a dollar. Kilts are optional.

 

 

Wednesday JUNE 14 at 8 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

Presentations:

“Game of Roses: How the Yorkists Kicked Ass and Stole Crowns Before it was Cool,” by Will Averill

Real life Westeros happened all over England in the 15th century, and culminated in a battle with the largest loss of English life in any battle up until the Somme. The Wars of the Roses were an epic period of British history that while largely untaught in schools have battles, betrayal, strong women, and really awful men. Learn how the Lannisters and Starks may have borrowed some history from the Yorkists and Lancastrians, why it’s so important to whack your enemy’s bastard children, and marvel at the chaos that can ensue when Good Kings Gone Mad.

 

“For Peat’s Sake! Unintentional Mummies (and Intentional Human Sacrifices) From the European Iron Age,” by Lisa Baker
Mummified bodies are amazing because they are like opening a present from the past – they are humans in time capsules. The mummified bodies found in the peat bogs of Northern Europe are especially fascinating, as the unique environment of the marshes preserved their tissues with incredible detail. Many hailing from the Iron Age look as though they died recently, their fingerprints and eyelashes perfectly preserved. The preservation is so remarkable that the specific details of their deaths are almost meticulous – lending a voice to their fates. Did their violent delights have violent ends? How and why they wound up in the swamp is subject to interpretation, and not every body is what it seems!

“Men in Skirts,” by Carla Tilghman
Every semester, when my college classes are delving into issues of gender, we talk about skirts. The young males in class often squirm at the thought of wearing them. Yet skirts have often been male garments in cultures around the world. It seems as if the only skirt ‘manly’ enough for American men is the kilt (thank you Sean Connery). Skirts, ‘men’, comfort, virility, the utilikilt, dancing in skirts all crammed into 20 minutes.

Our speakers:

Will Averill is a writer, actor, producer, and a Director of Community Engagement at the Willow Domestic Violence Center in order to pay for all of that. A fan of both history and fantasy, Will learned about the Wars of the Roses from a friend with whom he co-wrote a series bible for a Wars of the Roses based series, Kingmaker. Will is also Artistic Director of Card Table Theatre, a Lawrence-based independent theatre company, admin at the Kansas based Facebook page F*ck You I’m From Kansas, and a moderator of the really depressing Sad Lunch Club. Will is married to Jaq, and has a son, Oliver, both of whom are cooler than he.

Having been a registered nurse for over 10 years, Lisa Baker is passionate about her work in caring for the living. In her spare time, she focuses on the dead. Anthropology and archaeology make her mouth water. In addition, Lisa enjoys being a sci-fi geek with a penchant for Star Wars and secretly wants to go Comic Con. While she loves and admires Princess Leia, she admits she is more Ripley – sweaty and badass. Finally, she is trying to overcome her fear of public speaking, so please be gentle.

Carla Tilghman learned to spin and weave when she was 12 and has been fascinated with textiles in general and weaving in particular ever since. After a career as a paramedic (you never know where life will lead you), she earned my MFA in Studio Arts from Kent State University and is working on a PhD in American Studies from KU. In her copious spare time, she chases after her child, hangs with her husband, plays with the cats and watches “Chicken TV” in her backyard. Oh, and she weaves like mad, because weaving is amazing.

NERD NITE 60: H U M A N S

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This month we’ve got presentations on the inner workings of the brain, the inner workings of the body, and the ways in which we learn about and construct identity. Mind, body, self – sounds like humans to us! Come learn all about what makes humans so gosh darn fascinating. As ever, doors are at 7 and we will begin at 8. One US dollar is the price of admission.

Wednesday MAY 10 at 8 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

Presentations:

“Neural Networks” by Jon Lane
One of the biggest challenges for AI has been mimicking the way the human brain learns. Everyday that gap seems to shrink. From learning how to beat experts at complex games to diagnosing cancer, neural networks are being used to model the human brain and use powerful computing processing to solve complex problems.

“The Biochemistry of Love and Herbal Aphrodisiacs” by Shannon Ryan
Part of the human experience involves feelings of love, lust, romance, arousal, orgasm, connection, trust, and bonding. What is going on chemically in our brains during these various human experiences? And how can we enhance it with herbal medicine?

“Culture Vulture” by Sydney Pursel
Sydney will discuss Culture Vulture, a one night only, performative event that occurred at TeePee Junction in Lawrence, Kansas on Earth Day, April 22, 2017. Culture Vulture mirrored Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and explored personal identity and factors, which contribute to identity construction including history, geography, biology, collective memory and personal fantasy.

Our speakers:

Jon Lane has a degree in Mathematics from KU and teaches high school math and computer science. He has 3 cats and can hold his breath for 45 seconds.

Shannon L. Ryan holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and has extensive training in Western and Chinese Herbalism. Her passion is bridging the gap between Eastern and Western approaches to mind-body medicine.

Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel is an interdisciplinary artist specializing in socially engaged, activist, performance, video and new media arts. Through art she explores contemporary Indigenous issues and personal identity. Her work has been shown at public parks, universities and alternative spaces in Santa Fe, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Lawrence, Kansas City, Columbia, MO and White Cloud, KS. She is an enrolled member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska.

NERD NITE 59: BEST LAID PLANS

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This month’s theme emphasizes design and planning – what makes a design successful and what happens when a good plan has unexpected negative consequences. Nerd Nite is here again – we’ve built it. Will you come? Doors open at 7 and presentations begin at 8. Dollar cover. Tool belts and hard hats optional

Wednesday APRIL 12 at 8 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

The presentations:
“Medieval Heraldry and Good Signage Design,” by Larry Brow
In medieval warfare people needed to be able to identify each other through visual symbols and the field of heraldry was developed to create and regulate those symbols. Coats of arms had to be very distinctive visually so that only the enemy archers would shoot at you. The same rules inform good sign design today, whether for a business sign or a protest march sign. Come learn how to design a good sign.

“Asbestos: A Better Building Material,” by Allison Puderbaugh
A look at what makes/made asbestiform great for building materials, rules and regulations surrounding using it, and some pesky health concerns.

“Meet Me Downtown: Why Downtown Lawrence is a Place You Like to Be,” by Pat Trouba
We all love Downtown Lawrence, but why? This presentation talks about the urban forms that keep Downtown relevant in the age of suburbia.

The presenters:

Larry Brow is a graduate of Lawrence High School, Grinnell College, the University of Iowa, and KU, with degrees in History, Ceramics, and Museum Studies. He is a lifelong member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and a former Lawrence Arts Center Ceramics Instructor. He currently works at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library at KU and is a Certified Archivist.

Allison Puderbaugh is a licensed asbestos inspector and supervisor. She is one of the final OG members of PBR Book Club to do a 20-minute presentation, because while she claims to speak in paragraphs in reality it is more like 140 characters. You may recognize this speaker from the internet under the nom de guerre Classy Moonshine.

Pat Trouba is a grad student at KU working toward a Masters of Urban Planning degree. He’s also a Nerd Nite veteran who has presented on flags and U.S. dollar coins. He enjoys swing dancing, beer, and always finding a spot to park his bike when he’s downtown.

 

Nerd Nite 58: CREATURE FEATURE

This month we’re shifting back to life, but not necessarily back to reality. We’ll be learning about animals both real and fictive. As usual, doors will be at 7 and we’ll start at 8. Dollar cover.

Wednesday MARCH 8 at 8 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

The presentations:
The Biology of the Creatures in Star Wars, by Lucas Hemmer
The Star Wars movies are George Lucas’ vision about a story told over six movies (for better or worse) in another galaxy showing us different worlds, beings, and technology. Many fantastic and strange creatures are also introduced giving us a peak into these strange worlds. However, much about the weird aliens is based on real biology we see here on planet Earth. This talk will introduce these strange creatures from the movies and the biology that inspired their designs and characteristics.

The Circle of Life-Cycles: Parasitic Mind Control and the Weird Sex Lives of Worms, by Kaylee Herzog
Parasitic worms want what anyone wants: to grow up, have sex, and send the next generation out into the world successfully. While these objectives may seem rather unexceptional to us free-living animals, parasites are up against a “host” of unimaginable difficulties that can make getting it on successfully seem almost impossible. From host-switching and mind control to snail snot and bovine bile ducts, in “The Circle of Life-Cycles”, we’ll delve into the life histories of several parasitic worms and learn about what it takes to make it as a parasite.

Madagascar Tortoises by Ashley and Luke Welton

The presenters:

Lucas Hemmer is a graduate student in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology department at KU specifically researching how genes for reproduction evolve in fruit flies. He grew up in the middle of a cornfield near You-Have-Never-Heard-of-This-Town, Nebraska with a population of 300 and graduated high school with 14 other people, half of whom were related to him. He went to college for a degree in Biology in Lincoln, Nebraska before moving to Lawrence five years ago. When he is not doing research or teaching at the university he is aimlessly reading stuff on the internet or eating too much food.

Kaylee Herzog is a New York native, but a happy Kansas transplant since she moved here to pursue a graduate degree three years ago. She completed her bachelor of science in biology at a State University of New York college in 2014, and is now a doctoral student at the University of Kansas studying the diversity and evolution of the parasites of sharks and stingrays. Outside of parasites, her passions include spending time outdoors, trying out new recipes, and pursuing good coffee and good beer.

Ashley and Luke Welton are life-long lovers of reptiles and amphibians (herps). They have decades of experience with the care and husbandry of captive herps, and have been active participants in a number of conservation initiatives for a variety of species. Prior to recently relocating to Lawrence, Ashley was the primary reptile keeper at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, where she played integral roles in conservation breeding programs for Boreal toads, Siamese crocodiles, and Madagascar tortoises. Ashley is currently a facility supervisor for laboratory animal research at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Luke is the collections manager for the Herpetology Division at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute. His research focuses on reptile and amphibian diversity in Southeast Asia, including the impact of trade in protected species like monitor lizards. Ashley and Luke are passionate about spreading positive conservation messages through education and engagement.

Nerd Nite 57: In the Time of Read Across Lawrence

This month we’re partnering with Lawrence Public Library for NEA Big Read/Read Across Lawrence. Our book this year is “In the Time of Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez. On February 8th, we offer you three presentations related to the book that will hopefully inspire you to get reading! We’ll open the doors at 7 so you can get a drink and make a friend. Presentations will begin at 8. $1 cover. No hundies.

Wednesday FEB 8 at 8 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

The presentations:

“Hispaniola: Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Complex Neighbors” by Cécile Accilien
This talk will briefly highlight the complex history of Hispaniola, the island occupies by two countries, Haiti (in the western one third) and the Dominican Republic (in the eastern two thirds). It will provide an overview of the colonial history (Spanish and French) and how it continues to affect current relations between the two countries.
“Women Revolutionaries in the Caribbean” by Jennifer Abercrombie Foster
This presentation will provide you with a brief overview of the evolving role of women revolutionaries in the Latin American Left from mid 20th century. Focusing primarily on Cuban women’s experiences, we will talk about how women had to negotiate traditional gendered norms (whether by breaking with or conforming to those norms) in order to participate in overthrowing an intolerable status quo.

Our third presentation will be from Monarch Watch, a nonprofit education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration. Spoiler alert: “In the Time of Butterflies” is not literally about butterflies. But this presentation will be!

The presenters:

Cécile Accilien is Associate professor in the Department of African and African-American Studies. She is also director of the Institute of Haitian Studies and Associate Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Her primary areas of interest are French-speaking Caribbean and Africa, Film Studies and Women’s Studies. She is originally from Haiti and grew up in Newark, New Jersey.

While traveling abroad, Jennifer Abercrombie Foster tells people that she is from Lawrence, KS. After 7 years of graduate school, she now has a diploma that says she’s a doctor of philosophy, which sounds a wee bit silly, but she’s okay with that. She first got involved in Latin American culture when she moved to Honduras to live for one year as a volunteer among 500 kids. Since then, her research, travels, and interests have taken her to exciting places like the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Des Moines and she is thrilled to get to participate in Lawrence’s Nerd Nite!

Nerd Nite 56: Coups, Canoes, and Pooches

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It’s a new year and everything is changing. Here’s one thing you can count on: Nerd Nite. We’re still here, still nerdy, and still cost one wee dollar. See you soon. Doors at 7. Presentations start at 8.

Wednesday JAN 11 at 8 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

The presentations:

“The 1933-34 Plot to Oust FDR and Install a Fascist Dictator” by Earl Schweppe
In 1933-34, General Smedley Butler was involved in an attempted fascist putsch known as the ‘Business Plot’, which he went along with to collect evidence and then exposed to the press and a congressional commitee. The group of wealthy financiers and industrialists were planning a military coup to overthrow Franklin D. Roosevelt, with Butler selected to lead a march of veterans to become a dictator, similar to other fascist regimes at that time. The individuals involved all denied the existence of a plot and some related media also ridiculed the allegations. A final report by a special House of Representatives Committee confirmed Butler’s testimony and the plot failed.

“Change Your Life While Sitting On Your Butt and Going Backwards. (AKA the Sport of Rowing)” by Heather Moore.
A brief introduction to the sport of rowing – a quick history, features of the modern sport, terminology and a how-to demonstration on a rowing machine.
“Baby, I Was Born To Run…and Sleep” by Erin Schramm.
One of the original dog breeds and the only one mentioned in the Bible, greyhounds have long been revered for their speed, grace, loyal companionship, and lovable personalities by both royalty and commoners alike. Hear about the history of this extremely unique animal and their incredible speed, what makes them so different from most other breeds of dogs, and why they are such amazing companions. Also, get ready to have one of the biggest myths about greyhounds dispelled (hint: there’s a reason they make good apartment dogs).

The presenters:

Heather Moore: Nineteen years ago, Heather Moore happened to be walking by the Scioto River in Columbus, Ohio, as a rowing regatta was being held. Intrigued, she soon joined her local rowing club and not only learned to row, but also raced competitively and eventually coached juniors teams in Ohio and Texas. When she’s not on the river rowing, Heather can often be found walking alongside it with her three beagles.

Erin Schramm:  Erin Schramm has been a lifelong bibliophile, pickle fiend, and dog lover. She currently works as the school librarian at Prairie Park Elementary School, where her favorite thing is cracking up her elementary school kids. Erin has a soft spot in her heart for rescue/shelter dogs, which led her to adopting her retired racing greyhound Atticus in 2015. When not competing with Atticus for the title of Best Napper, Erin enjoys reading (of course), playing Settlers of Catan, seeing tons of movies, and trying to find the best pickle in LFK (right now it’s between Limestone and Merchants).

Earl Schweppe:

At 12 Vacuum Tubes, Radio, and Morris Code
At 14 Started taking math courses by mail
At 16 Graduated HS to MO Valley College
At 17 Joined the Navy V5 Program. In 16 mo
At 20 Earned BS in Math. Wed Mary Woolston.
At 21 Was Plumbing and Heating Salesman
At 22 To Illinois for Math + much on computers.
Joined USNR Security Group (NSA)
At 26 Programmed Illiac during last graduate year
At 27 PhD in Math. Taught Math 10 years total
At > MVC, Illinois, Nebraska, ISU, Maryland
At 31 In charge of Programming ISU Cyclone
At 33 Moved to Maryland to work at NSA
At 35 To U. MD to discern what Computer Science would be
At 40 To KU to create CS Department
At 60 Retired USNR. 18 with Security Group
At 73 Retired from KU EECS after 32 years.
*At 89 Became oldest presenter in Nerd Nite Lawrence history!
Lost wife in 2013. One daughter and two sons.
Three grandsons.
(*editors note)

Nerd Nite 55: Nerds & Recreation

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From friendly competitions to fitness, we’re bringing you games, gaming, and personal training this December. Join us! Doors are at 7 and admission is, as ever, one dollar.

Wednesday at 8 PM  Doors open at 7 PM
Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering
1031 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

 

The presentations:

“Pie’ing the Friendly Skies: How a failed dessert item gave rise to a global family of sports, games, and competition” by Justin Atwater-Taylor.
From the long-defunct Frisbie’s Pie Company to the burgeoning multitude of disc sports disciplines uniting cultures globally, we’ll fly through the life of the Frisbee beginning with a throw-away pie tin that floated magically between friends along to the present day and beyond where the toy of the future is starting to realize its destiny.

“Game On” by Scott Barber
A brief overview of the history of tabletop games, and the recent boom in game design.

“Manias, Mobility, and the Martial Arts” by Thomas Thatcher.
In this presentation, Former USMC Scout Sniper and Professional Cage Fighter Thomas Thatcher will explain how he uses a few simple tips, tricks, and a little “VooDoo” to help himself and his clients improve their qualities of life, both physically and mentally.

The presenters:

Justin Atwater-Taylor is a yoooge Frisbee nerd. Part thinker, part do’er, he turned his Industrial Design thesis at KU into Grip Equipment – a Lawrence-based brand of disc golf backpacks and gear distributed locally across 4 continents and 9 time zones which earned a 2014 Emerging Business of the Year award from the Kansas Legislature. Having competed in ultimate frisbee a bit and heavily in disc golf he’s spent the last 15 years learning, meeting, and playing with the history and culture of the magical flying toy that’s brought together millions as one family and provided the basis for a multitude of professional (and not-so-professional) sports and competitions whirled-wide.

Scott Barber is a shiftless layabout that has aspirations of one day being an adult. Like with an actual career and stuff. He knows a lot about teaching art to kids and even more about drinking beer.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Thomas Thatcher started a functional fitness facility with his younger brother Kyle out of his back yard in the fall of 2010. This adult playground, which has since grown into a 6000 sf facility, allowed Thomas to observe human movement in a way few have seen. Over the years, Thomas has developed a deep passion for helping himself and others develop a sense of continuous self improvement through consistent training and self experimentation.

Nerd Nite 54: Nerds vs the World

Nerd Nite Nov. 09 2016

 

Imagine the future – November 9th. The election will be over. Survivors will be welcome. Our theme for the evening will be epic showdowns. Yes, it’s Nerds vs the World! Dollar cover. Doors at 7.

Presentations:

“Ms. Pac-man vs the Patriarchy” by Paul DeGeorge
Ms. Pac-man vs the Patriarchy explores the creation and legacy of the greatest game of the arcade age. Discussed: female protagonists, video game enhancement kits, the Bozeman Think Tank, gameplay tips, bluetime, and The Pretzel.

Paul DeGeorge is an artist, activist, entrepreneur and wizard. He plays in the pioneering wizard rock band Harry and the Potters and co-founded the Harry Potter Alliance, a non-profit organization that connects fans to social justice movements. Paul co-owns Wonder Fair, where he helps to run Lawrence’s best-promoted secret society, the Secret Order of the Black Diamond. He also created a Twitter bot to remind you that it’s time to visit the dentist at 2:30 each day.

 

“Man vs. Machine: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work” by Kris Adair
For 11,000 year humans have toiled and labored to build the future. We are now entering an era where machines are capable of doing repetitive and labor intensive jobs faster, better and cheaper than human beings. This presentation will talk about the implications of automation on labor and the future of work.

Kris Adair is a long-time Lawrence resident, USD 497 School Board member, and co-founder of Mycroft AI, an open-source artificial intelligence company. In addition to running several companies with her husband she is also a military spouse and fantastic mother.

 

“People vs. Profits: The Political Ecology of Water and Oil in South America” by David Cooper
The activities of oil and mining companies in South America displace and disrupt the lives of those who live near extraction sites, while destroying local biodiversity and natural systems. Yet, despite these costs, the extraction industry continues unabated; and, in fact, is expanding. This presentation discusses recent events in Ecuador that culminated in the opening of new oil wells in the Yasuni National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions of the world and home to two of the last tribes living in isolation.

David Cooper is a sociology PhD student at KU. His research focuses on Indigenous movements in South America – specifically in the Andes – and the links between natural systems and social systems. He also has an interest in organizing and is the acting president of the graduate teaching assistants’ labor union at KU.

Nerd Nite 53: Nerdier Things

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October is here, fall is upon us, and our theme for the month is appropriately sinister. Join us for murder, horror, tricks, and treats. It may not be the Upside Down but it will absolutely be Nerdy. Dollar cover. Doors at 7.

Presentations:

“The Bloody Benders” by Rachel McCarthy James
The Benders made murder a family affair. The German family had at least eleven victims who had the misfortune of stopping through their inn during the 1870s in Labette County, KS. This presentation will cover the context and culture of southeastern Kansas (more exciting than it sounds), the psychic powers of the young Kate Bender, the Benders’ seat of honor and what befell all who sat upon it, and their escape.

Rachel McCarthy James has written for Broadly, Bitch Magazine, LitHub, The New Inquiry, and Robot Butt. Her first book, titled The Man from the Train, is due out in August 2017 from Scribner. It is about the serial killer behind the Villisca axe murders of 1912.

“Rasputin?! Damn near killed him!” by Courtney Shipley
How the grizzly murder of a Russian priest affects every movie you’ve ever seen.

Courtney Shipley is a Nerd Nite alum. She is a part of the Death Positive movement and a proponent of home funerals. She also has the largest collection of Garbage Pail Kids that she knows of.

“‘Stop, Hammer Time’: A History of Hammer Studios” by Abby Olcese, and “Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet” by Amy Schweppe
Two Nerd Nite co-bosses will regale us with insights about horror movies and Halloween.
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