Nerd Nite NYC is excited to return to Lower Manhattan’s Caveat NYC on Thursday October 12, 2023 to bring you three fun-yet-informative presentations about howler monkey testicles and Shaft (can you dig it?) by Ramesh Laungani, a 1950-1970s Russian phenomenon called “ribs & bones records” where record albums were created using medical x-rays as material (one lead vest, please) by Stephen Pitalo, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park as told through jokes (that lava zings) by Ben Miller. Be there and be square – with lots of drinks!

Thursday October 12, 2023 at 9:30pm
Caveat NYC: 21A Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
$16 in advance, $21 days the 7 days before the show
Tickets here: https://www.caveat.nyc/events/nerd-nite-10-12-2023

Back to the Lectures At-Hand
*Presentation #1
Bad to the Bone: The Unbelievable True Story of How Russians Bootlegged Rock & Roll Records on Medical X-rays to Defy the Kremlin
by Stephen Pitalo

In the Cold War’s darkest days, Soviet authorities tried to regulate every musical note its people could buy or hear. Yet, in the shadows, a fervent group of rebels engineered their own recording devices and pressed contraband rock ‘n’ roll records out of recycled hospital X-ray film. Witness Stephen Pitalo’s exploration of “ribs & bones records” (known as roentgenizdat in Russian), revealing how cherished tunes from legends like Elvis, the Beatles, David Bowie and others arrived at the record players of passionate fans in this unconventional format. Today, the surviving X-ray records stand as witnesses to the enduring spirit of humanity and the power of music, even when faced with the most oppressive circumstances.

*Presentation #2
Howler Monkey Testicles: Should Barry Gibb have Sung the Theme Song to Shaft?
by Ramesh Laungani 

How howler monkey testicle size predicts how loud a howler monkey will be. That probably makes sense, right?

*Presentation #3
The Hilarious Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
by Ben Miller

Description: What happens when a comedian walks into a volcano? In 2023, Ben Miller was the artist-in-residence at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the first ever stand-up comedian ever selected, which was probably a terrible idea on their part. In this talk, Ben explores volcanology, entomology, Hawaiian history and more.

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