March yourself right in to No Name Bar on Wednesday, March 25th at 7:30pm to hear some great talks at Nerd Nite #53, including:
Talk #1: “Self-addressed stamped emotions: Why I collect autographs of former ballplayers.” by John Casper
John politely asks retired athletes to sign old cards. They keep saying yes. Hundreds of them, and he can’t get enough. A talk about nostalgia, memorabilia, history and the U.S. Postal Service. There will be giveaways!
John Casper is a former journalist and current school communications professional who loves that he’s found a hobby where he can be reminded of what it’s like to be 10 years old. He encourages you to find your old cards and join him.
Talk #2: “Pneumothorax as a Predatory Goal for the Sabertooth Cat (Smilodon fatalis)” by Ted Wilson
Sabertooth is always shown graphically slashing the throat of its prey, but that’s impossible because their fragile teeth were rarely broken. Learn how sabertooth won and then lost its pneumothorax arms race to become extinct soon after humans arrived in North America with a better pneumothorax delivery method (spears and arrows).
Ted Wilson is a physiologist at the WSU Biology Department whose 8 year old son Dirk (Now a WSU Nursing Student) identified the problem and earned his first co-authorship in 2013 (doi: 10.4236/ojas.2013.31006).
Talk #3: “Pole 101: From Strip Clubs to Sport” by Ashley Wagner
Pole dancing has a long and complicated history rooted in strip clubs and sex work, but it has also evolved into a global fitness movement and competitive sport. In this talk, we will look at where pole came from, how it transformed into the athletic art we see today, and why it is far more inclusive than people expect. From strength and artistry to the supportive community around it, pole is for anyone willing to give it a spin.
Ashley Wagner is the owner of Perception Body & Pole, a pole dance and fitness studio in Winona. She has been pole dancing for 9 years and teaching for 5, and loves sharing the strength, creativity, and confidence that pole can build.