Join us for another nerdy nite as we discuss why every font is a work of art worth appreciating, take a trip to the end of America, and learn about ancient gods in a modern world!

Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking talks across many disciplines – all while the audience drinks along in a casual bar atmosphere. Speakers present for 20-25 minutes each on a fascinating subject of their choice, often in an uncanny and unconventional way.Following the presentations is a brief Q&A with the audience.

It’s like the Discovery Channel – with beer! Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!

EVENT INFO:

EVENT IS FREE!

PRESENTATION DETAILS:

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“Highway to Helvetica: Why Every Font is a Work of Art Worth Appreciating” by Daniel Koster

Mona Lisa. Bach’s Concertos. Times New Roman? Fonts are the sets of letters that appear in a list on our word processors. Some fonts are good for setting specific tones, and some don’t seem to be good for much of anything. But how do these letters get on our computers? Who are the shadowy figures designing them? And what’s the deal with Comic Sans? Join us as we discover the human stories behind the fonts we use every day. Explore the surprisingly complex anatomy of a letter, see what happens when type goes horribly wrong, and learn how a font won the presidency… twice! It will be nerdy, and yes, it will be bold.

Daniel Koster is too young to remember a time without computers. Most of the school papers, posters, and love letters he has composed have used type. Over time, curiosity got the best of Daniel, and he went on to learn everything he could about fonts. He is a second-year at UCF, where the official font is Gotham. When he is not typing, he is out saving the world from theocracy.

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“West of West: The End of America” by Robin Cowie

Think you know US geography? Ever thought about where might be the most isolated place in the country, or maybe even the world? While researching a script about a pandemic, Rob Cowie discovered an underground military base in Adak, Alaska — the furthest place you can go in the western United States. Once home to 150,000 people, today there are roughly 50 inhabitants making Adak one of the largest ghost towns on the planet. This will not be your typical history or geography lecture. Join us on a trip back to Adak to hear the story of what Rob discovered while investigating there.

Robin Cowie is a feature film and television producer with 8 films and 2 TV series behind him. He is currently the Creative Director for the Dr. Phillips Center with several projects in development.

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“The Orisha Pantheon: Ancient Gods in a Modern World” by Danielle McKinley

Move over Zeus! There are some new gods in town….well, not exactly. The Orisha pantheon of West Africa predates Christianity and the African Diaspora. Despite the impacts of slavery, religious infusion, and geographical distance, the Ifa religion has survived centuries of change and continues to grow throughout the modern world. This Nerd Nite talk will introduce you to a new yet ancient pantheon of bad-ass gods and goddesses who refuse to die, in a historical and anthropological context.

Danielle McKinley is a self-proclaimed grassroots anthropologist, dedicated Ifa practitioner, and avid nerd. When she’s not huddled over a text on African theology, she models, acts, and actively blogs at YouAreTheTruth.com. Did we also mention that she’s an actual priestess?

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If you have any questions about Nerd Nite or are interested in being a future presenter, email us at