Sometimes when a smart person is talking, it feels good to feel dumb. That is what happens at Smoke Farm: Civilized ant colonies, labor-union tactics, and the genesis of Occupy Wall Street all filled the agenda last year. But rather than a soporific classroom, these talks are delivered in a barn. There is hay. This year’s speakers include Elizabeth Van Volkenburgh (plant behavior), Blaise Aguera y Arcas (machine intelligence), and Charles Mudede (a writer for The Stranger we all admire). (Smoke Farm, 12731 Smokes Rd, Arlington, strangertickets.com, 11 am, $15 suggested donation)