[reposting]

[sorry if this is a duplicate; i tried once before to post, not sure if it worked]

Dearest Nerds & Friends of Nerds,

Thanks for two things. First, thanks to everyone who came to the Nerdtacular a few weeks ago…it was crazy…I still can’t believe the turnout! Second, thanks to those who filled out my survey about how to proceed with Nerd Nite. There was a surprisingly overwhelming consensus that upcoming Nerd Nites should be held on the second Friday of each month, so our new schedule will start next Friday October 10 at 8pm at our new permanent home, Galapagos Arts Space in DUMBO. This new space is not only aesthetically stunning, but practical in the sense that you’ll now be able to sit during the presentations. Yay sitting!

So join us on October 10 for a presentation about Coney Island, Luna Park, and the rise of leisure by Sarah Brockett, one about your brain on drugs by Kira Signer, and our first ever nerd comedian, Dan Nainan. What a great way to start another chapter of Nerd Nite.

As they say in Boston, “Nerd Nite is like the Discovery Channel with beer.”

Nerd Nite NYC
Galapagos Arts Space DUMBO
16 Main Street in DUMBO Brooklyn (F train to York St. or A/C train to High St.)
Friday October 10, 2008 at 8:00pm
Cover charge $7
http://www.nerdnite.com (it’s actually updated!)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/nyregion/thecity/01nerd.html
http://www.facebook.com
http://www.inklingmagazine.com/articles/nerds-just-wanna-have-fun/
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN1146949520070612

Back To The Lecture(s) At-Hand:

*Presentation #1:
From the Big Top to Coney Island: The Rise of Leisure
By Sarah Brockett
Description: Historically, circuses, world’s fairs, and amusement parks did much more than entertain. They educated Americans on class and race hierarchies, reinforced gender roles, and schooled them in nationalism during an imperial age. At the same time, they helped Americans adapt to an increasingly modern era and urban lifestyle, pushing Victorian middle-class boundaries and producing some of the most impressive technological advances of the time. And oh yeah, they were fun too. This presentation looks at how leisure evolved in the United States at the turn-of-the-century and how it spawned local landmarks such as Luna Park and Coney Island.

Bio: Historian and grant writer by day, rock star by night, Sarah ‘Brockett’ Brockett has a Master’s in Public History and a history of rocking out as the bassist for Palomar and Overlord. While TA’ing for a class called Popular Culture in America she discovered two things: her utter distaste for leading discussion groups and her absolute fascination with the rise of leisure time at the turn of the century. Though she has coolly performed in venues as large as Irving Plaza alongside the likes of Luna, she’s infinitely more nervous when it comes to riding the Cyclone and talking about Luna Park to a group of mostly drunk smart people. Palomar at http://www.myspace.com/palomar

Presentation #2
This Is Your Brain on Drugs
by Kira Signer
Description: Drugs acting on the central nervous system account for almost $100 billion in sales in countries like the US, EU and Japan. Around 6% of the US population takes an antidepressant, and the use of sleep aids has doubled in this country in the past five years. Have you ever wondered what happens when you pop that little blue pill? Join Kira Signer, pharmaceutical market researcher and brain geek, for a brief guided tour of the basic neurochemistry of brain medications.

Bio: Kira has been working in healthcare for two years, and has been picking up random facts about biology for 30.

Presentation #3
Dan Nainan, Comedian
As a senior engineer with Intel Corp. in the late 1990s, Dan Nainan designed and presented highly technical demonstrations on stage with Intel Chairman Andy Grove and other senior executives at high-profile events all over the world. Nainan took a comedy class to help get over the fear of public speaking at these events, at which the audiences numbered in the thousands or sometimes in the millions on television. After retiring from Intel to pursue comedy full time, Dan has toured as a feature act with Robert Schimmel and Russell Peters. Dan has appeared on network television including “Last Comic Standing” as well as in feature films and in radio and television commercials.