Nerdnite May 30: Psychopaths and slot machines
Dear Friends of Nerdnite,
There’s no better way to wrap up your memorial day weekend than with a beer and some nerdy infotainment. So join us on Monday May 30, 8pm at the Middlesex, for the next Nerdnite, and learn a thing or two about psychopaths and beating slot machines with math.
Before we get to the talks, I just want to direct everyone’s attention to our new Facebook “Page.” In the past, Nerdnite Boston has used a Facebook “Group.” For some reason, Facebook has seen fit to encourage folks like us, who use “Groups” for announcing events, to switch over to “Pages.” So head on over and give our Page a try — you can “Like” us and sign up through RSS or “page favorites” to receive updates on our events. For now, you can follow announcements and happenings related to Nerdnite Boston on both the Group and Page, but we’ll be looking for feedback from you to see which everyone likes better.
And with that, here is the lineup for Memorial Day Nerdnite:
Talk 1: “Free Money: The Art and Science of Beatable Slot Machines”
by Zach Alexander
Zach is a cook at the Beacon Hill Friends House by day and an aspiring web entrepreneur by night. He was formerly a neuroscience lab administrator and research assistant at Harvard, until spring 2010 when he quit to embark on a road trip across the U.S. and Canada as a professional advantage gambler, or as he likes to say, “freelance applied mathematician.” He is considering writing a book about the experience, and competing for the Guiness World Record for “Most Hilarious Career Path Ever.”
Talk 2: “Stalking the Sasquatch; Or, Are There Psychopaths Among Us?
by John Fennel
If you ever wanted to know what happens to failed philosophy Ph.Ds, here is one sad case. After giving up philosophy, John Fennel became an attorney who represents convicted sex offenders at lifetime civil commitment hearings. Young nerds heed his sorry example! In this talk, John will discuss the science behind that staple of detective novels and movie thrillers — the psychopath — and how this science is applied in our legal system. John hastens to emphasize that he doesn’t spend *all* his time with sex offenders — he is a true bicycle geek (owner of 6 1/2 bicycles who once, inadvertently, blew his nose on Viatcheslav Ekimov during a bicycle race in South Carolina).
Be there and be square!
Monday May 30, 8pm
Middlesex Lounge
315 Mass Ave, Cambridge
$5
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