MotoPlastiBility: January Nerd Nite.

We describe Nerd Nite like the Discovery Channel (or like a Ted Talk, for those of you that don’t have the Discovery Channel), but with beer. Three speakers will present for ~20 minutes each about their particular nerdery, while the audience drinks along. Learn. Eat. Drink. Be entertained. Topics for our January show:

**Defining (Dis)ability**

What is disability? How has the definition of the term changed over the years? How do you think about disability? How should you think about it? How do you *want* to think about it? Jed will lead us through several exercises to challenge our beliefs and lead us to a better understanding of our fellow humans.

*Dr. Jed Locquiao hasn’t sent me a biography yet, but his LinkedIn profile says he is an assistant professor at MSUM who supports professionals and answers questions in special education/ higher education as a teacher/ researcher. He is also a regular trivia player and owns a pretty snazzy renaissance period bard costume.*

**The Evolution of Motorcycles, Motorsports, and Moto-Culture.**

No matter the industry, invention is merely the starting line. In motorsports, competition was immediate, and racing began as soon as there were two machines to pit against one another. Innovation fueled an industry and a fan-base. We’ll take a quick journey from motorcycle beginnings to present day and the various cultures and subcultures that followed rooted in motorsports.

*Jim Bolluyt is a husband, dad, creative, and rider of motorcycles. Despite not being allowed to own a motorcycle growing up, he was heavily influenced by motorcycle-riding/loving Grandfather and Uncle. As soon as he was released from parental restraints, he got into motorcycling of all kinds.*

**Plastic Assassin! Finding Creative Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste**

Single use plastic sucks! It takes thousands of years to degrade, is difficult to recycle, and it’s killing our planet. We’ve been over-enjoying this decadent, disposable convenience for a long time, so join me to retrain your brain in how you think about plastic packaging, learn some painless ways to reduce your plastic waste, and save some MFin turtles.

*Tracy Kurtz is a has been chemist living in a microbiologist’s world, and a prime example of the Attenborough effect. Interests include aerial acrobatics, horses, chubby pitbulls, and exactly four other things.*

So join us on **Wednesday January 18th, 7PM** (doors at 6:30)**, at Fargo Billliards and Gastropub** to become a better human, guaranteed. 😉

ALSO please note one big change to the show: after all these years, the time has come for us to convert to capitalism and start charging to attend Nerd Nites. We have so many ways we want to improve the show and frankly we can’t bankroll it anymore without help, so we’re asking you to contribute. From here on out, **admittance to the show will be $10 cash at the door**. Fancy setups through Eventbrite will follow soon, but for now, bring a Hamilton with you to the Gastropub and know that you’re helping to build a bigger, better Nerd Nite.

Thanks so much for hanging with us all these years, and I can’t wait to see you next week.

🙂 T