Have you been enjoying "Zombie Tag?" If you've been bitten, stop by for a chance to be made up by zombie effects expert Kat McConnell. She'll be stationed here intermitently throughout the weekend to provide proper zombification (check the room for availability).
Everyone loves building with plastic bricks of all shapes and sizes, so why not join the rest of Penguicon in creating a miniaturized version of the convention? Bring your creativity and structural engineering skills in a celebration of a childhood favorite at open building sessions throughout the weekend.
Ever get home from a convention and realize you not only have a new wardrobe of software-promoting t-shirts, but also 3 new Intel pens, numerous sheets of Ubuntu stickers, and a notepad of non-descript origin? Got spare buttons, keychains, CDs, stickers, posters, books, memorabilia, or clothing items that you've received in the past from related conventions, events, fairs, trade shows, expos, or concerts? Are you still wondering when you will ever get around to using that shoe horn from [insert obsolete software program here]? What about the innumerable key fobs that are stacking up on your Swiss laptop-carrying ultra ergonomic with dual padding back pack? Drop off your new/gently used former swag and pick up a shiny new bauble from the swap. Let's not be greedy, OK? Please share and be courteous to other swappers. You do not have to bring swag to swap, but must be respectful when taking part in this activity. Open from all weekend!
An elusive gentleman in a striped shirt has been seen wandering around in years past, and is rumored to be returning this year. Keep your eyes peeled, but beware of imposters!
Hello all my fellow on-line gamers! I understand your fear of withdrawal and hope to keep you busy with your own live action quest to keep the symptoms away. Come and join in this years live action world of warcraft themed game. Keep your eyes open for the gold ! to start your quest.
This customizable marble roller coaster will be open all weekend for Penguicon attendees to tinker with. It serves as a metaphor for the open source development process. We used to have a giant room-sized version of the contraption, at great expense, but in 2008 Penguicon got one of its very own. Each year, we plan to purchase additional Chaos Toy kits until one day we will match the size of the one which, in the past, was shipped in boxes to Penguicon from across the country. This popular attraction will live right here in Michigan and be available for your use every year!
This is a capsule toy vending machine that dispenses destiny. Your random adventure, designed by the creators of Morton’s List, will send you off into the convention to have strange experiences you wouldn’t have otherwise, with people and things you may have overlooked.
Video conferencing will again be available for Penguicon. A video conferencing solution has been set up for use of all Penguicon attendees. Please feel free to video-cast your event. Don't miss that event. Arrange with another attendee to broadcast the event so you can watch it while you attend another event. Broadcast your room party. Show everyone your music event. Display your vendor ware. Watch the computer lounge activity. Get your community on-line.
“Hold on a second, someone is wrong on the internet.” Ok, there are just some things that rile up the geek community more than others. When that boiling point is reached in a discussion of Kirk vs. Picard, Ubuntu vs. Fedora, or whether Han shot first, the result is nerd rage. Only at Penguicon, can this be tweaked into enjoying the tiny, tasty sugar morsels of similar nomenclature. Look for a MayHem official awarding Nerds candy to the feistiest con goers.
Practice the art of invisibility. Sneakily put yourself in the background of others' snapshots, and invite the unknowing victim to post your devious work on twitter. Yes, we're asking you to photobomb your friends, your enemies, your grandmas, or anyone else at the con. The trick is not your masterful appearance in the background of another's mementos, but getting them to upload the pic on twitter and mentioning it to the Official Penguicon Mayhem Twitter Feed (@pconMAYHEM) for a prize.
Tag, you're it. Enjoy eating braaaaaains! Look out for zombified con-goers trying to “bite” you (with a ribbon, not teeth). If you are so unlucky, you'll have the opportunity to get your own zombie make-up by special effect artists, and then start infecting others!
Want to play Minecraft while you are at your home away from home? Bring your computer to the lounge and hook up into our Minecraft server where you can let your creativity out and your blocky adventuring begin. Feel free to pop in anytime, it'll be running all con.
Mix, make, drink, enjoy the open soft drink treat
Enjoy a fun and relaxing session of painting miniature figures, even if you don't think of yourself as an artist. We are happy to demonstrate several painting techniques, including drybrushing, washes, and face elements, including the always tricky eyes.
Guided mead tasting with award winning Michigan meadery B. Nektar
So here I go it's my shot. Feet fail me not, this may be the only RPG that I got. You better lose yourself in the story, the moment. You own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo.
Arduino! Arduino! It's fun, it's a wonderful toy! It's fun for a girl or a boy!
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Come talk about what works for you... or doesn't.
Come watch Shetan Noir make easy beautiful hair accessories. This lovely hair decoration will feature silk flower blossoms, feathers, fabric, gems, and hair clips.
The wider culture has some negative idea about various fandoms. People can be viewed as obsessive and their fandom creations (art, fanfic, fanvid, etc.) as creepy. This panel will examine these assumptions and discuss the ways in which fandom allows people to focus and express their creativity. Other topics in this roundtable discussion may include how fandoms build communities, the manner in which "living legends" come into existence, and the creation of new material from original sources.
We all know epic fantasies are Big Honkin' Stories. Yet how do you write the Epic Fantasy without losing track of the relatable, human characters that make up the core of any good story... or getting so bogged down in your Sweeping Plot that you can't ever finish your series? Who does Epic Fantasy right, and wrong?
IPv6 For the Enterprise. Network security, organization and management. Includes: hardware and software compatibility, Internet access. Followed by Q&A to help with your enterprise deployments!"
Charm School is in session at Penguicon and you can participate! With Juju, services can be deployed, connected, upgraded and re-used by defining them as Juju charms. Come learn about Juju, charms, and how you can use it for the services you would like to see deployed to your private infrastructure or cloud providers like Amazon AWS or Openstack. Attendees can follow along by visiting
https://juju.ubuntu.com/CharmSchool to setup the Juju environment prior to the presentation.
While epoxy resin has been used in industrial applications for decades, recent advancements have made the mixing of resin easy and safe enough to use at home. One application for resin is the creation of beautiful jewelry, encasing small objects or photos for use in pendants, earrings, belt buckles and much more. In this panel, Dawn will teach you how to mix resin for use in jewelry, the different tools required and demonstrate the creation of pieces using bezels. The first 10 participants to sign up at ops will be able to participate in the hands on demonstration, although everyone is welcome to come and view
the panel.
What is a hackerspace? Learn about what they can do for you, what you can do for them, and the opportunities they offer! Members from the local spaces will be on a panel to answer your questions!
Everything Rots. It doesn't take a PhD to make it happen, even if the science behind it is really deep. This class will break the absolute basics of home composting down, with a focus on the laziest methods available.
Interested in simple, desired results from your body quickly? Come discuss straight forward ways to help change your mood or perk up your energy. Some featured characteristics will include body posture, clothing, and environmental factors.
Rag dolls, robots, and penguins, OH MY! Craft Cram with Captain Sparrow getting ready for Geek Prom. Corsages, boutenirs and decorations on the dockett.
A look at these styles of writing, the overlap and blurring between them.
Mayhem involves “the willful and unlawful crippling or mutilation of another person.” We don't endorse that sort of thing, so we'll instead rely on the more vernacular definition – utter chaos. This year, Penguicon will incorporate several “non-traditional” events, including scavenger hunts, twitter activity and random acts of randomness. Stop by this informal session to learn about the events going on throughout the weekend, or talk mayhem with others looking to cause some mischievous fun. A full list of mayhem achievements will be accessible here and throughout the con.
Open Sourcing your Album, Internet Promotion and Marketing, Recording and Editing, getting your music online in places people will find it.
Everyone starts out using jQuery for their web applications, but if you're building real online applications you should be looking into using the YUI Javascript framework. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools that are really well thought out to help you build modern web apps. We'll try to do a highlight of the great things that YUI provides you, the developer.
Ever wonder if there was a method behind the madness of the Linux directory structure? What's /bin, /opt, /usr? Learn about the origins of these directories, what they were intended for, and what they're used for in modern Linux distributions.
Learn the ins and outs of Penguicon TV.
What to do when the world comes crashing in. How to avoid, or recover from, the evil webcomic "hiatus". Time management for artists.
Need help prepping for the Drag Show? Want some extra tips on how to make the transformation run more smoothly? Planning on participating in the Drag Show tonight? This is the place to be!
Have you ever been invited to a halloween party and not had anything to go as? Ever wanted to dress up for a Con and not had a costume? Come find out about some quick ways to put together a costume in a hurry that you could use to make a great look. Between us we have over 30 years of costuming experience. Come with ideas of a costume you would want to do and we can discuss how you might do them. We will tell you all out tips and tricks for making something really quick that will look really amazing.
The zombie apocalypse will soon be upon us. Learn techniques to create the undead or be among the first to join the zombie hoard. Participants will be given the opportunity to be zombify others or undergo the transformation yourself. Prizes will be awarded for best creator and creature.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you... well, maybe just a nibble. Learn about the fine art of critiquing food for better eating.
Enjoy a lighthearted discussion about magical and mythical creature care. Consider topics such as feeding, grooming, breeding, urban inconveniences, as well as the benefits provided by creatures such as fairies, winged-horses, dragons, three-headed-dogs and more. The talk will include an open question and discussion session with those in attendance.
Come for the basics of surviving your first Penguicon! Learn the ins and outs, convention memes, and the secret handshake. You'll hear from con veterans on getting the most out of your experience and having an awesome time. Followed with a tour of the hotel, a trip up to the consuite for LN2 Ice Cream, and finally land at Opening Ceremonies!
"The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association are giving away micro-grants to enable more fun at Penguicon... come present your ideas to the AASFA Board!"
A reading by Johanna Gedraitis
A light hearted look at the evolution of organisms and their behavior (including those pesky humans), featuring videos and voluntary audience participation.
Its that time again! Time for another release of Ubuntu to hit the streets. This time our new friend, the Precise Pangolin will be making its debut the last week of April. (Find the bar in the DeSoto Foyer just across the hall.)
We all make mistakes in the world of Webcomics. Come here about our biggest mistakes and how we dealt with them.
We're serving up popular liquid nitrogen ice cream flavors from previous years like very vanilla, chocolate-chocolate, thai iced tea, etc. Watch us make it (and maybe learn how, or help out), and try some! Each LN2 theme block will also have some dairy-free flavor. Let us know if you want us to make a sugar-free flavor.
Beer. Nookie. Roommates. It's another Friday night at Chez Geek. Set up house with your friends – for as long as you can stand them. Get a job – they're all bad. Spend money and your precious spare time to accumulate Slack points. Drink cheap booze, hang out at the cafe, and play with the cats. Do unto your roomies before they do unto you. What other game gives you points for sleeping? Just remember, when your roommate and his S.O. keep you up all night: You can't throw them out. They live here.
Want to play some Gears with your friends, form a team and maybe get an epic prize? Come join us in the computer lounge with the MP Con crew and kill some grubs in a horde mode wave completion competition! Teams of 2 - 4, most waves on Normal win! Sign up at Ops to play.
Other local cons are talking about it, why don't we? Let's explore together to open source technology available inside the medical field through this birds of feather round table.
Come discuss the use, development, and future of using barcode scanning communication with database projects.
You can reboot your computer, why not your car?
Con is a great place to meet new people and reconnect with old friends, but sometimes, people can get a little overenthusiastic. Have you ever been the focus of unwanted attention at Con? Have you ever witnessed someone else in an uncomfortable situation? Have you heard some of the stories later about a situation that got out of hand? Want some practical tips on how to ensure everyone at Con has a good time and boundaries are respected? Then this is the panel for you!
Come one, come all, let the festivities begin! The official start of Penguicon 2012 kicks off with words from our Guests of Honor and a full welcome to all our attendees.
Inside each of us resides the strength and resolve to make it through conflict and danger. How do you call on this spirit when needed? What form does it take in you? What helps, or harms, your contact with it? This panel invites participants to discuss these questions and more about the nature of the warrior spirit.
The darker side of belly dance adds drama and excitement to your dance style. Discussed subjects will include music, make-up, costumes, slowing down and adding pop to your movements.
Linux distributions have become quite good at keeping us in beautiful graphical interfaces, but that doesn't mean the CLI is dead. In fact, a number of excellent tools are now available that go above and beyond
what you might have come to expect from your shell. Stop by and learn about some of the slicker things that have been happening to your shell like tmux, byobu, htop, and more!
The first 15 participants to sign up at ops will be able to build their own folding wings, although everyone is welcome to come and view the panel. Instructions will be provided for those who want to try this project at home.
You're an employee at a fast food restaurant and you have jobs to do, like make a cheeseburger or change a light bulb. Only one problem: you're a zombie. And there's only one brain to go around. Compete for the brain to empty your hand of tasks to win.
Come learn how to make delicious sangria from regular market fresh produce and little help from our friends from the vinyard! We will also be serving up Whiskey Cakes, recipes can be found at http://opcookbook.blogspot.com/
The Zeblorb have struggled to maintain peace on the Shifting Islands for years. Since Retinar Collusk was elected Gratermoff of Fultuga, poverty and ruin have escalated tension to the brink of revolution. The only hope for a resolution is for you to create a world in which it is possible. Come share tips for world building with fellow writers and hopeful authors.
Learn how we made the ribbon-sized blinky LED badge! We'll walk through how we thought of the ideas in our heads, captured the schematic in EAGLE, laid out the PCB, and ordered all the parts. A complete walkthrough from beginning to end!
What is the truth behind the stories and depictions of tarot? How does it work? Why do some readers do things one way, like not letting anyone touch the cards, while others do the opposite? What is the difference between different decks? Questions are encouraged!
What's involved in getting your private pilot's license and the use of technology in flying.
Share in the laughs at the expense of the bike-riding, beer connoisseur, the cross-dressing yoga master, the straight razor shaving, costume king and 2011 ConChair known as Limey.
A reading by Johanna Gedraitis
Continuous Integration (CI) has grown from simply building and testing software frequently, to a broadened reach into build, test, and deploy automation; deploys to VMs/""The Cloud""; and even predictive modeling. This presentation will cover history & elements of CI, implementation approaches, the rise and fall of some popular CI tools, and future direction. This topic is relevant to current trajectories in software engineering including Agile, DevOps, and large scale computing.
CCK and Views, now a core component in the Drupal CMS, makes it easy for anyone to create and maintain complex online directories of interrelated data. We'll cover the basics and create a real world example from fresh installation to finished product. No programming or Drupal experience necessary!
Nationally touring comedian Mikey Mason, the mind behind "She Don't Like Firefly" and "Best Game Ever" brings his high-energy nerd rock comedy to Penguicon for one show only! His act can only be described as contagious enthusiasm, ranging from the occasional twisted parody to his hilarious original comedy and songs about gaming, fantasy, sci-fi, comic books, and geek life in general. Truly a "Don't Miss" show.
Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a “King” for a day? Or maybe a “Queen” for a night? Well your opportunity has arrived.
Don your breath moss mask, grab your illumination gem, and head down into the murky water of an ancient Harlass Orn well. Breath Moss is an adventure for up to five 4th level Pathfinder Roleplaying Game characters. Each player will choose one member of a rescue team searching for the missing swamp diver Anselm "Harp” Harpending. The gamemaster will supply the player characters. The adventure also takes place in real time. One way or another, the mission will be completed before the game session ends.
Come learn how to (and how not to) flirt from some of our local fandom's biggest flirts. Not only is it laugh out loud funny, it's an irreverent and honest reflection of love, sex, and fandom. Find ways to woo, methods for making friends, and how to avoid being that creepy guy that we all talk about between conventions.
If candy is dandy and liquor is quicker. What do you call a combination of both?....Fun. Come see what Oxling has cooked up and learn to make your own fun filled treats. Tequila rose truffles, coconut rum cream and Bacardi 151 cherry cordials are a few of the examples . Samples and recipes will be available at the end. Make sure to bring your ID's with you to verify you are over 21, thanks.
Share recipes and swap tips on substitutions, finding ingredients and perfecting your baking skills in this culinary meetup.
Hack your sleep! Learn all about sleep and how to make it work for you. Topics include: the stages of sleep, sleep hygiene, alternative sleep cycles, monitoring your sleep, sleep disorders, and tips and tricks for hacking your sleep.
A panel discussion on techniques for campaign and adventure planning. What's worked, what hasn't, and how you help your players turn a page of dry statistics into the hero of your story.
How to reduce risk, improve your rate of return and outperform "investment advisers" while sleeping soundly at night.
Have you always wanted to try WordPress? Get a crash course in using the free WordPress blogging software. Learn how to set up a free blog on WordPress.com in minutes, how to customize the look, how to post, installing widgets, managing comments, and more.
Diversification or Dilution of audience. What role should social Media play in the webcartoonist's world.
Polyamory is the concept and practice of being in multiple romantic relationships at the same time, with the knowledge and consent of all parties involved. This diverse panel of poly educators and enthusiasts will share their experiences, and more importantly, answer your questions about polyamory!
We know all that hooplah about the end of the world coinciding with the end of the Mayan calendar is ridiculous. There's no way the world is ending on December 21st, 2012, right? Right?
We describe how to make mead at home with relatively few supplies. There will be samples of homemade mead for people to taste.
What was Tolkien thinking? Help me pick apart his brain in this Birds of a Feather, Tolkien fan Meetup.
From Arch Linux to Debian to Slackware to Fedora to Ubuntu and back again. Come talk about your favorite, or least favorite distro.
Bring your favorite Open Source movie and share with like-minded birds of a feather.
I would like to do a bellydance/drum jam session panel. Musicians of all types are welcome, but primarily drummers and people who play folk instruments such as woodwinds/flutes/recorders other types of percussion instuments etc...things of a more tribal nature if you will. Anyone is welcome and it would be a fun time especially for dancers and drummers! This isn't a "how to" workshop, it's just a get together to play music and jam, but is not a "filking" event, it's a "jam session."
The first things you should learn how to use in a scene, before buying or using toys, are parts of your body, like your arms, feet, legs and hands. This not only saves money, but it insures that you'll always be prepared to play, as you'll always have these body parts with you. We'll discuss the different things you can do, and illustrate techniques with a "hands-on" demonstration. Class participation is encouraged.
What did the penguin say to the tractor? That you need to work on your comedy. Maybe you're better suited to a live audience and ever-changing conditions. Make funny on the fly with others who want to improve their improv.
Don't you hate it when corpses line the sewer after a failed attack on your undead monarch? Get your friends together and keep that from happening.
Still awake? Big day tomorrow? Let Limey help you rest your brain. This class is offered late night in order to promote better rest and peaceful sleep. Learn how Yoga can help you de-stress and fall asleep easier. It does not guarantee results, but will help most people relax. All Levels Welcome - Just Bring Yourself!
Introduce your friends to Doctor Who and other science fiction characters!
Enjoy some after-hours liquid nitrogen ice cream flavors requiring adult IDs. Watch us make LN2 ice cream (and maybe learn how, or help out), and try some! Each LN2 theme block will also have some dairy-free flavor. Let us know if you want us to make a sugar-free flavor.
Have you heard of April Divilbliss? How about Bob Bashara? Ever wondered if you'd be fined for violating zoning laws for opening a dungeon in your basement? Worried that you might lose your job if anyone at work found out who you were dating? Tried to figure out how far out of the closet you can safely get without risking your kids or your income? Then this is the panel for you.
Get your mind out of the gutter. That means there are no free samples.
Brick Challenge is, to my knowledge, the first live Lego-based game show. The model is similar to Double Dare. Two two-man teams will compete to be the winning team of each show. One team red and one team blue will be challenged with a series of mini-games as well as quiz questions. Winners will be determined by whichever team receives the most points. We will have a mass qualification right at 11am, followed by taping 6 shows with the top 24 people from the qualification. This event is open to everyone so bring your building skills.
Thanks to smartphones and tablets, you can feed your creative muses anywhere. Make music, draw pictures, 3D modeling, it's all possible just by DL'ing some apps. A lot of them for free!
Come discuss the replicating rapid prototyper and implications for its use as a open design.
The inspiration of George Lucas has captured the imaginations of generations, the most recent being our kids and grandkids. The brilliant spiritual allegory of The Star Wars Universe is perfect for our aim, thus, our brand new four-day kids' camp, Camp Luminous! Camp Luminous is completely unique, it is a rustic camp with outdoor kitchen and shower. Camping is in tents. Our counselors will be bunking near tents housing younglings and padawans. Our children are the future. What better way to help guide them toward a personal code of honor and self-empowerment, than through the greatest adventure of their summer! Jedi Masters Camron Rogers, David Kennedy and Mason Hunt will be sharing stories and discussing next years camp as well as answering questions about the camp. The participants will be making either force masks or bopper lightsaber.
Rerap and other amazing tools for replicating parts with plastic.
With Windows 8, Microsoft has opened up the platform a bit, and you can now write Windows apps using HTML5/JavaScript. I'll demonstrate how to do this and dive into some code. We'll also discuss the Metro design style. Finally, we'll talk about the new Windows Store, which allows developers to make their apps available to the enormous numbers of people who use Windows; this gives developers the potential to easily make crazy money. This will not be a sales pitch for Windows 8; it's a tech talk for developers. But anyone who has a little HTML experience should be able to get something out of this talk.
Ad-hoc soldering workshops conducted as needed. Assemble your Makerspace badge, Arduino, or just learn how to solder in general!
Ron Demerino has been a metallurgical consultant, engineer, and professor for more years than he cares to remember. All that time, he's been collecting stories and anecdotes which are as rare and as precious as the metals he works with.
There's more crossover every day between the fandom writings and the published works. Does fanfic help you build your writer-muscles? How do you cross over... if in fact, you want to do so? What are the strengths and weaknesses of fanfic in general, and how does it intersect with the legalities of the publishing industry?
Cancer and heart disease are so hot right now, but you're way more likely to suffer from diabetes in your lifetime. Learn more about this stealth epidemic, what our health care "system" is throwing at it, and how a hack that was demo'd at DefCon last August totally hosed the medical device industry. Trypanophobics may want to avoid this session.
We all want to be more agile. We want a process that helps us deliver awesome code, but need to drag the rest of IT and the business along with us. How do you stop the nightmare of yesteryear, and sneak agile into your shop, right under the noses of the waterfall guardian trolls? We have five ways to be more agile without officially changing your process, or getting fired.
ReCellular - Saving 50e6 Pounds of Cell Phones from the Dump. Charles Newman, Founder and Director of ReCellular Inc, the world's largest recycler of and reseller of used cell phones and accessories will talk about the methods used to collect over 50 *million* pounds of used cell phones, plus the technical challenges associated with re-using these phones. Charles will also talk about the important environmental implications of e-waste, and how electronics recycling is critical for the continued health of our planet.
When evaluating possible scenarios to leverage cloud computing, many companies immediately think about situations whichwould provide the most 'bang for the buck' in terms of operational costs for a specific goal or task. Creating disaster recovery sites generally involve doubling your technology costs in order to be prepared for the worst. With cloud computing though, resources can be staged and ready to go with paying only minimal costs until a disaster occurs. This presentation will go over a real-life scenario where a cloud disaster recovery plan was created and we'll discuss the strategy and math behind what makes the plan beneficial. Also covered will be concerns with going this route and why cloud computing in not a panacea despite what marketing companies may want you to believe.
Kanban is a Japanese word that loosely translated means “signboard”, or “billboard”. Kanban uses signal cards at various points in the production process to indicate the amount of work completed. In this way the amount of work in progress (WIP) can be limited and the keep the system very “lean” and “agile”. Kanban is a means through which just-in-time (JIT) is achieved. Kanban is not an inventory control system. Rather, it is a scheduling system that tells you what to produce, when to produce it, and how much to produce.
Last minute costume cram!
What does GPS Technology, Nature, and PIRATES have in common? well come on down and learn all about the awesome world of Geocaching! A modern day treasure hunt using GPS technology. We will disscuss what it is and how to get started. as well as give helpful hints and tips!
Green principles are often considered a nicety and luxury for those who have already met the basic needs of their lives. But the green movement is actually equally or more important for people struggling to make ends meet. At the intersection of social justice and environmental development, WARM Training Center has been providing green solutions to Metro Detroit since 1981. We are changing the way sustainability is done in this region. Come find out why a green strategy that works in less obvious places may be the strategy that can save the world.
If you are a martial artist join in sharing and learning skills with other
martial artists! Please bring any source material and equipment you
have with you. If you're not a martial artist, come, watch, and ask
questions.
The Penguicon Board is not the same thing as the Convention Committee. The Board meets four times a year to elect a Conchair, approve a total budget figure for next year's con, and take care of multi-year ongoing expenses. The public is always welcome to Board meetings!
How much liberty should an author or film maker take when riffing off an iconic work of fiction? Did Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes cross a line? How closely does John Carter, the new release based on Edgar Rice Burroughs "Barzoom" series, stick to canon? What about The Walking Dead?
Human societies run on trust. Every day, we all trust millions of people, organizations, and systems -- and we do it so easily that we barely notice. But in any system of trust, there is an alternative, parasitic, strategy that involves abusing that trust. Making sure those defectors don't destroy the very cooperative systems they're abusing is an age-old problem, and we've developed a variety of societal pressures to induce cooperation: moral systems, reputational systems, institutional systems, and security systems. Understanding how these different societal pressures work -- and fail -- is essential to understanding the problems we face in today's increasingly technological and interconnected world.
Discussion of the importance of line work in graphic storytelling.
"LN2 Saturday Matinee"
Featuring liquid nitrogen ice cream flavors like soda sorbets, chocolate mint, candy mix-ins, and Buttered Popcorn (we've made this, it's better than it sounds!). Watch us make LN2 ice cream (and maybe learn how, or help out), and try some! Each LN2 theme block will also have some dairy-free flavor. Let us know if you want us to make a sugar-free flavor.
After battling to a stalemate in the Minex system, Surakari forces have expanded their war on the Heragul Empire by attacking a dozen more star systems. The planet Verlanda Four has three moons with each one being home to multiple mining facilities. Cutting off this flow of minerals to Verlanda Four would be almost as devastating as destroying the orbital ship yards which consume the raw minerals. Small Surakari attack fleets have begun launching hit and run strikes on the moons' defenders in hopes of breaking through to the mining facilities on the surface. Legends of Kalidasia is an abstract space combat miniatures game. The rules are fairly simple and players should be able to pick up the core rules within two or three turns. More information about the game can be found at http://www.kalidasia.com
Want to learn about power tools? What's a drill press, or a CNC mill? How do you use a table-saw without losing appendages? Figure out how to safely and effectively operate power tools to get your projects done!
Presenting a number of unusual materials that are being developed or are starting to be used in buildings to improve performance, especially energy performance. Possible items to discuss include: controllable glass, home energy generation appliances & home energy storage, insulation materials, processes for preserving wood for exterior use, alternatives and variants of concrete, wood-based plastics. Not necessarily a checklist of things you can buy and install today, but an introduction to some of the possibilities and the technology being used to create interesting materials that have application for homeowners as well as hardware hackers.
Open Concom Meeting for the brainstorming and organization of 2013. Not sure how to get involved in the convention? Let us show you how it's done! This is just the first step for opening up for next year. Come meet the Conchair for 2013 and tell her all of your brilliant ideas. All are welcome!
Everyone loves to laugh. How do you lighten up, as an author? What authors do humor in fantasy really well? How do you tell a good joke in prose?
Girls and guys come to this panel to hear some girl gamers talk about what its like in the gamer world for them, the fun and the not so fun.
A reworked "course" for webcomics beginners. Simplified structure, more time for Q&A
Enjoy a fun and relaxing session of painting miniature figures, even if you don't think of yourself as an artist. We are happy to demonstrate several painting techniques, including drybrushing, washes, and face elements, including the always tricky eyes.
How to use cardboard for creating creatures, yay!
Learn about the low-powered open source hardware single-board computer produced by Texas Instruments
Detroit is a difficult town in many regards -- and any attempt to simplify it as either a hell-hole or a pollyanna frontier are woefully inaccurate. Nonetheless, some exciting developments are happening in Detroit and they may hold some of the keys to showing the world the way to build the dream city of the 21st century. And they may not. Understanding the key issues at stake is part of what will determine whether Detroit can accomplish this goal. Jacob Corvidae has been working at the heart of Detroit's sustainability movement for over a decade.
Mix, make, drink, enjoy the open soft drink treat
Matching Game
Derek Newland, a 3rd degree brown belt in Judo, explains how to turn simple principles of leverage and movement into powerful self defense techniques.
Bestselling author John Scalzi reads from his new book, "Redshirts"! Nebula award-nominated author Saladin Ahmed reads from his new book, Throne of the Crescent Moon!
This reading has been combined with John Scalzi's reading at the same time in the Royale room.
Git is a popular open-source distributed revision control system created by Linus Torvalds to manage the Linux kernel. You can use Git to manage or back-up personal projects, class work and resources, local or system-wide configuration files, websites, and more. Git users of all levels of experience should find something of value in this talk, which will cover a brief history of Git, simple usage, core concepts, how to share and work with others using Github, tools for popular operating systems, and practical developer, non-developer and ops usage examples.
Want to learn more about OpenBSD?One of the "BSD" variants of UNIX, it is arguable one of the most secure operating systems around, and makes a great desktop OS-it's not just for firewalls! An overview will be given on some of its main features. An install-fest will occur later if there are folks interested.
Ever thought you might want to put together a podcast, but weren't sure where to begin? Craig Maloney, host of Open Metalcast (http://openmetalcast.com), and co-host of Lococast.net (http://lococast.net) will cover the basics of podcasting, including how to firm up your podcasting idea, how to find Creative Commons music, and what tools Craig has found work best to get your podcast out to hundreds, if not thousands of listeners. Craig will also put together the next episode of Open Metalcast (live, on-stage), and show how a handful of music clips can become a music episode.
Passive multiplayer for the masses. This yet to be released turn-based geolocation game for Android will pit the ubiquitous Zombie against humankind in an epic tug-o-war style struggle. Approach your enemies with caution - whether you're a Zombie out for brains or a human with a penchant for large axes. Attempting to off your opponent will leave you exposed, and depending on how many turns you have left you may want to save some turns for running. Dominate a local establishment by visiting it frequently and stay alive longer by teaming up with friends. Which side will win this epic struggle? Join Matt and Ann Marie, the organizers for Killer Android, as they share their development experiences and demo the game.
3 to 8 players, 1 hour to play, 1.5 hours total. Do you want to play a game where everyone acts like a loon for the amusement of the rest of the table? Have I got the game for you! You may end up
wearing tinfoil, singing, or pointing off into the distance while staring at the ceiling. Bring your sense of humor and prepare for the random.
Come learn to swing dance, or help us demonstrate, if you already know how! We'll show the basics, give some lead/follow tips, and play big band classics and more recent swingable hits. No partners necessary (come alone or bring your friends).
Don your breath moss mask, grab your illumination gem, and head down into the murky water of an ancient Harlass Orn well. Breath Moss is an adventure for up to five 4th level Pathfinder Roleplaying Game characters. Each player will choose one member of a rescue team searching for the missing swamp diver Anselm "Harp” Harpending. The gamemaster will supply the player characters. The adventure also takes place in real time. One way or another, the mission will be completed before the game session ends.
Gathering of local computer club leaders to discuss what works and what doesn't. If you are a leader for a local computer club please plan to attend.
Make cool stuff from old computer media! In this workshop, we will give new life to some obsolete but charming relics: participants can walk away with a notepad or pencil/storage cube made from salvaged 3.5" floppy disks, or a 5.25" sleeve for your next mix CD that will earn you major 80s retro cred. It's not hard (they're floppies!), but supplies may be limited, so signing up is recommended.
Want more performance out of your car? Looking for that little extra oomph without spending a ton? Or maybe you're looking to save money on fuel by increasing your vehicle's efficiency level. Find out how and why all these things are closely related, inexpensive to do, and easy enough that you can manage it with a $40 tool kit and an afternoon.
It seems that every writer has to have a blog. But how does a writer open up their personal lives without revealing too much... Or take stances on the political issues of the day without alienating fans? Or just becoming another annoying marketroid for their latest novel?
Jeff Beeler, a Sarnia, ON Librarian, and Janea Schimmel, a clerk at the Lansing Capital District Libarary, discuss the role of libraries in the information age, including physical and digital collections, programming, the changing role of librarians, and the changing needs of the public they serve.
This is a refrain parents all hear, and in return, we often yell to our kids: "Stop what you're doing so I can make a VOIP call!" Bufferbloat is (usually) the cause, and it doesn't have to be this way. You can avoid a suffering home, and there is a lot you can do to help us drain this world-wide Internet swamp. A little information goes a long way.
Come learn how you, too, can be Hercules, and help clean the Augean Stables.
Come hack on Bookie! It's an open source bookmark management application you might use as an alternative to Delicious or Pinboard. The author will help with testing, getting installed, or hacking on new features. Bookie uses lots of Python, JavaScript, and needs help with everything from client all the way to main website features.
A non-technical presentation that can be easily done as a workshop. Designed to point out flaws and strong points of webcomic websites.
"Molecular Gastronomy." "Modernist Cooking." No one's
quite sure what to call it, but restaurants and home cooks are
bringing science into the kitchen to transform the tastes and textures
of food. Tammy Coxen of Tammy's Tastings will demonstrate
spherification, foaming, and other fun science tricks for the kitchen.
What's more fun than mocking a bad film? Sitting back, relaxing, and letting Dawn and Greg do all the hard work! Come watch as they mock, retch and stare disbelievingly at the screen at this year's movie, too horrible to even mention in print.
Learn about 3D printing, and print something! Bring your own device (krunal note: If we start advertising this now, perhaps people will bring designs with them!), find something on Thingiverse to print, or design something using the skills you learned in an earlier class on Blender/Sketchup!
You've heard of composting, but what's the point, really? How does it work? Maybe you wish you could compost but you don't have a yard or anywhere suitable to keep a traditional compost bin/pit/barrel. Come learn about vermicomposting! See how easy it is to set up a small compost bin that you can stash under your sink or in a broomcloset that won't smell bad and will provide all the houseplants you know with super-nutritious fertilizer while reducing your contribution to the landfills.
Just for fun, we will pretend to perform cartomancy with Dominion cards. I have devised an intricate system for interpreting 10 randomly-selected cards to tell you the winning strategy for the next few days of your life.
Ready to jump into a live action Resident Evil and kick serious zombie butt? Or are you going to run away to Alaska and let the zombies freeze as they try to follow? Maybe you just believe in being prepared for every eventuality. Discuss and receive feedback on zombie plans, both literal and as a metaphor.
The good, the bad, and the ugly. Learn a bit about self-publishing.
Why is Lovecraft still popular after all these years, despite his tangled prose and very debatable racial undertones? What draws people to write (and read!) about Cthlulhu and its minions over and over again?
Although the title may suggest otherwise, this is not a speed dating, matchmaking, or in any way related to hooking up room. Rather, this room is devoted solely to the creation of music. In this room you'll find instruments, sheet music, and maybe even a lesson or two. So stop by, pickup or bring your own instrument, and play.
Brian looks back at 15 years of being a developer, consultant, and business leader. He will talk about the skills and wisdom that you need to be happy and successful in your career.
Been noticing a decline in FPS (First Person Shooter) game quality lately? So have we! We discuss why the FPS Genre has become a cloning machine and what developers are still bringing the innovation to this slowing genre.
You and your heroic friends are at the tavern after a long day of killing monsters, raiding dungeons and saving the day. What a better way to celebrate than by drinking and gambling. Keep your money and stay sober to find your way to victory in this game.
Costumes, costumes, everywhere, and not a chance to blink. Observe the Masquerade participants as they show off their work throughout the convention! Cheer them on or even join in the march to the Masquerade event, judging and award ceremony.
All Masquerade participants are to meet in this location at 4PM to confirm their entry and begin the parade route.
Learn to build your own BeableBoard - the low powered, open source hardware, single board computer
Hands-on learners, come and get your hands dirty. We're going to make compost using a cold-compost recipe, in a container that is safe for apartment dwellers and school classrooms.
Join us at tea time (4pm) for a selection of teas and finger foods. This panel will include information and samples of a variety of teas and things that taste good with them.
Christine Purcell and Stewart Sternberg read from their new novel!
Citizen Scientists are all around you, participating in projects that help further our understanding of the world. In this presentation, we'll learn what citizen scientists are, how to become a citizen scientist,and how you can take part in one of the many growing citizen scientist projects out there. Science is everywhere, and you can help!
An introduction to OpenDNS and the benefits of using OpenDNS at home.
This discussion focuses on the direction of open source development and its applications towards government and human societal development. The talk starts with current open source ideas and applications, then works towards the future discussing the benefits, directions and hazards facing the evolution of human society towards this goal.
A look at the popular RTS game
Self-published? Direct to Print? Kickstarter funding for large order? Discuss.
Guided mead tasting with award winning Michigan meadery B. Nektar
Learn about the popular micro controller platform that has become a favorite of hackers and artists alike!
Transportation for your survival after the world goes away.
When "gifted" children become adults there are no longer special programs designed to support their needs. But that doesn't mean those needs have disappeared. Come hear what effects these traits have on experiences and behavior in adulthood from a professional in the field of gifted education.
Find yourself spending more time in Azeroth than in the real world? Want to connect to your friends without the mask of your main? This group is here for you! Don't worry, you know you'll be right back in the heart of Orgrimmar with Garrosh soon. Better yet, what about those Pandaren Monks??!!??
So you've got an idea for how your new fictional world should work. How do you tease that crazy spark into a whole civilization? What can you do to make your worlds seem more realistic? And how do you cultivate the mad ideas that cause these worldbreakers to begin with?
ESR,Eric S. Raymond, author of The Cathedral and the Bazaar and The Art of Unix Programming, The New Hackers Dictionary, gpsd (Global Positioning System Software for Linux), enemy of the state of Iran, martial arts practitioner, and secret legal guru answers your questions about anything.
When discussion on hardening Linux systems occurs, usually someone will swear by a single feature or application to 'save the day'. In reality, a mesh of complimentary technologies, most of which are built-in or easily installable on a Linux box, is the bestway to go. Defense in depth is more than marketing lingo, it's a way of life for actual information security. Come see some of thetechnologies you may have ignored, never knew existed, or just weren't fully leveraging in some helpful ways to add layered security to your next Linux deployment.
Panel discussion with the Ubuntu Michigan Loco about what's new with Ubuntu 12.04 (aka Precise Pangolin). This is a long-term release from Canonical and the Ubuntu Community, and promises to be the most thoroughly reviewed release of Ubuntu yet! "Ubuntu's 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) release shipped this weekend, and the Ubuntu US Michigan Loco would love to tell you about it. Join us for this informal panel discussion about the latest and greatest features of Ubuntu 12.04, including the Head's Up Display (HUD), and why 12.04 is the most thoroughly tested Ubuntu distribution yet."
A panel on how to prepare yourself for entering rapid game prototype competitions. It will go over a variety of subjects including what to do weeks, days, and even hours before starting; including getting involved with the community, learning what types of tools are available, familiarizing yourself with rules, acquiring food type supplies, getting appropriate amounts of sleep, and making a rough schedule for the upcoming event. (Website: wally2069@blogspot.com. Twitter: @wally2069)
With DC Comics' latest comic universe reboot, what good and bad have come out of it?
A premiere event at Penguicon, the Masquerade showcases the dedicated and talented costumers in attendance and includes a full parade and judged contest. All costumes are welcome from the simplest newbie offerings to the most elaborate presentations. Honored judges will award prizes, but the real reward comes in the form of unending praise, unending glory, and unending lines of con goers wanting your picture!
The head of Scrub Club, MadHatter, speaks about the changes in the music industry and how independent artists and their supporters need to evolve to survive. In his opinion, the tired, greedy model of the industry has collapsed and thugs like the RIAA and larger labels are resorting to desperate measure to make independent artistry fail. Scrub Club Records considers themselves at the forefront of change, and the way they release albums and interact with their listeners truly makes them unique in the world. The presentation is followed by a question and answer panel where the crowd is encouraged to ask anything about music, Nerdcore in general, and even personal questions to the artists present:
MadHatter, Soup or Villainz, and King Pheenix.
Wanna be a zombie? We can make that happen. Come join the fun as our makeup artists start the Penguicon apocalypse! Have a special way you want to die? Ask our artists and they will work with you to create your unique zombification. If you would like to help with applying makeup, stop by and let us know. After hours of zombification we are ready to invade Penguicon looking for brrrraaaiiinnnsss!!! Join us in our zombie apocalypse! Our first stop is the Penguiconcert, where we will enjoy some awesome music by our own music track head and his band Sample The Martian, and our musical Guest of Honor Scrub Club Records! There will be all sorts of fun just for us there. We will have a small makeup station at the concert (for very quick zombification) just in case you couldn't make it to our zombie prep. After the concert we will walk to the room parties, where there might just be even more surprises for us!
Want to play some Gears with your friends, form a team and maybe get an epic prize? Come join us in the computer lounge with the MP Con crew and kill some grubs in a horde mode wave completion competition! Teams of 2 - 4, most waves on Normal win! Sign up at Ops to play.
Want a cool hair bow decoration? Learn a great method and several suggestions to embellish your creation. Bring your questions and creativity to this hair bow making lesson.
Did you know that the MSU Extension Office does research to find the best ways to keep your lawn green? Did you know that healthy lawns provide protection from flooding? Did you know that Michigan soil is high in Phosphorous because of old glaciers? Come hang out and pick up some tips on easy ways to take care of your lawn, and why it's important to do so.
Alternative energy systems such as wind power and solar panels have become so familiar they really have become mainstream. But these aren't the only alternative energy systems available. There are 'alternative' alternatives that offer other ways of harnessing energy from other sources and in other ways than the 'mainstream' alternative energy methods. Find out about river current power generation, wave power, kite wind power, etc.
Jeff used to be big. Now he's not. He'll talk about how he lost 100 pounds in a year and did it without wanting to blow his brains out. By mixing math and science with his personal story, he'll provide motivation and starting points for those that also want to slim up a bit.
Hear his story on writing, drawing, and publishing, with a healthy dose of zombies run amok.
Men look powerful and potent on fantasy covers. Women look... distorted. A panel devoted to analyzing the sexism inherent in book covers, as well as how to fix it, along with panellists (and perhaps volunteers) actually trying to pose like the models on the cover!
Joe Foo discusses the creation of Desmond plus gives you a sneak preview of a new character he has created for a secret project. Foo will break down the concept design of these characters and explain how these characters evolved.
Come ask questions about micro controllers! Maybe you have basic questions like what they're good for or what separates a PIC from an AVR. Or maybe you have more advanced questions, like how to use interrupts, ADCs, or programming C vs. Assembly. A panel of experienced micro controller developers/users will field your questions.
In this million-selling “non-collectable card game”, players start with the same simple deck, and use their cards to buy cards into their collection from the middle of the table. They go through their deck repeatedly to use their new cards to buy even more lucrative cards. Whoever buys the expensive victory cards first, wins. Winner will be in the Champion Invitational this weekend, and win the deluxe set of base cards with fancy new graphics. You can sign up at Ops to make it easier on me, but if not, please just walk in!
Smithee XXI, The Smithee Awards is an awards ceremony for bad cinema. We show clips of movies pitted against each other in classic B-movie categories (Worst Science, Stupidest Looking Monster, etc.) and the audience votes on which is the worst of the lot.
A meetup for all crafters, makers, and D.I.Y.ers alike!
Shhhhhhhhh! It's a secret! Looking for new places to seek out for crafting and costuming needs? Come learn about my favorite craft supply stores.
Whether you're growing strawberries, turf grass, or an apple orchard, the soil is going to define the quality of your plants. There are several ways to find out what your dirt is good for, and what you might want to add to it for a specific result. Don't Guess, Soil Test. This presentation will include instructions and a demonstration on how to send a sample of your soil to the MSU Extension Office for testing.
As Kim Stanley Robinson says of science fiction, "Anyone can do a dystopia these days ... but utopias are hard, and important, because we need to imagine what it might be like if we did things well enough to say to our kids, we did our best...". The world is actually full of people trying to create this better vision now -- and sure enough: it's no utopia! But these experiments offer important lessons and models as we try to figure out how humanity can craft a better future. Jacob Corvidae has been involved with the ecovillage movement since 1997 and is a former resident of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage and founder of EcoVillage Detroit. He'll share stories and provide ample time for Q&A.
Welcome to Lactomancy 101! Watch as cheese aficionado and amateur lactomancer Holly Richardson makes fresh, delicious mozzarella cheese in about 30 minutes right before your eyes - and you get to taste the results! Discover how you can make cheeses such as mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and queso blanco right in your own kitchen using simple, inexpensive, and easy to source ingredients.
Derek Newland gives examples and a general demonstration on how to pull off improv style stand-up comedy, and then lets audience members give it a try, May contain some mild language, parents please assume PG-13 content.
Writers are solitary creatures, so it seems like a slam-dunk to combine your talent with someone else's. But what can go wrong? How do you leverage the strength of two people to make something greater than the both of you?
Short term success and commoditization efforts drive closed approaches and proprietary data silos. We will attempt to prove that open approaches, such as Data Centric Security (DCS) are not only better for the consumer, but provide better security and better long-term economic viability. This paper introduces the Confidentiality/Integrity (CI) framework for DCS. The CI framework provides provably strong assurance of confidentiality and/or integrity. This framework allows automated/negotiation and control approaches because it encodes and packages data security requirements along with the data itself, instead of at network boundaries or on individual servers. Multiple levels of security are possible and necessary within the framework, depending on data confidentiality, integrity, and control requirements, and implementation technical requirements. More advanced levels of security within the framework including strong cryptography and executable smart packages which act as a virtual security device will become prevalent as data processing capabilities grow, and the need for decentralized security increases. We will briefly discuss previous investigations into DCS for Personal Information and Cloud Computing, existing open source projects including ccREL and vSmartCard, and discuss open approaches.Target audience: systems architects, information security professionals, cloud marketing or business managers, developers, and anyone interested in technical aspects of electronic privacy.
Quick bullet-point run-through of IPv6 basics, and running a server on an IPv6 network. Includes: system security, diagnostic tools, and software and service compatibility (Email, Web, DNS, SIP. Internet access.)
What podcasting is, and the different types, plus how to make your own podcast.
2 to 5 players, play time 2 hours, time needed 2.5 hours. Build up your economy to become the king's most favored Governor - but don't neglect to defend yourself from the monster attacks! Warning - dice.
2.0 rules, low CP (0-50) game. New players welcome!! Dragon Storm is a card-based RPG. Your character, their skills, abilities, spells, and equipment are all represented by cards. Did you use a spell? Just filp the card over! Characters in Dragon Storm are the mortal descendents of the Ancient Dragons. The dragon blood within the characters grants them the rare ability to shape-shift! However, life is not easy for shape-shifters with evil Necromancers trying to capture them to power their dark spells! Starter packs will be available in the dealer room.
In this panel we will demonstrate the process of making pudding shots, give tips from our own experiences, answer questions, and have a recipe booklet for different flavors people can make. There will be samples for attendees! "
Not that anything compares to the one you're currently attending... but if you really wanna talk about the competition.
Learn to build your own BeableBoard - the low powered, open source hardware, single board computer
If you own a deck (or two) and have done some readings and want to go beyond what you already know, this is the talk for you. I'll assume the audience is at least familiar with the basics of tarot decks and readings, and will go into topics such as creating your own layouts, uses for tarot other than readings, and making your own deck. Audience participation is encouraged!
Come watch the past Dominion tournament winners, including this weekend's winner, compete in one epic game!
Let's meet our Nifty Guests in a laid back setting. (Some Nifty Guests may not be available during this time)
Learn the basics of belly dance! This lesson will include the stomach roll broken down into easy-to-learn steps.
As an experience open-source software developer (Committer Apache Software Foundation), I have long experienced the pain of setting up and configuring my software development environment on new computers. To solve this, I created Atraxia Technologies, an open-source company whose goal is to create completely free (ASL 2.0 licensed) Virtual Appliances for software developers. I would like to tell the story of how the virtual appliances came to be, how they work, demonstrate the ease with which they can be used, and then provide DVD's with the Atraxia Blue Java software Development environment.
The longer times go on, life is going to become more like a game than we realize. With apps and games like Foursquare, Fitocracy, and MMORPGS invading our pop culture, we can already see the rise of "Gamification" in the way we do simple things. Here you will learn how to adjust and adapt to the idea before falling behind with the times. Don't be scared of gamers, because you probably already are.
Q: What is a PROM at Penguicon?
A march of guests into a ballroom constituting the opening of a formal ball. A high point. A formal dance. A memory chip whose contents can be programmed by a user or manufacturer for a specific purpose. ALL OF THE ABOVE! This will be the first year that Penguicon has hosted an official Geek Prom. We encourage formal attire, which includes ball gowns, suits, costumes, and formal costumes. It’s ok though, come as you are if you choose. Kelii Parsons will be hosting Free Prom Pictures that will be available online. Thank you to Luova Keliin Studios. We plan to have music, dancing, and who knows what else, you’ll just have to wait and see!
Are you a juggler at any level? Come an hang out for an hour, talk with other jugglers, make connections, learn new tricks, and just generally have fun throwing things around.
Bring your ideas and tricks for beating writer's block. How much creativity can one room hold? This might be the meetup to find out.
Looking forward in the transportation world of technology.
We welcome all who are interested in hearing about and participating in local computer clubs and especially those from local computer clubs to come to talk about their group.
I'm an artist but I'm bad at math so I can't program. I'm a programmer but I'm not creative so I can't make art. I've heard this said on both sides and its not true. Both worlds can easily meld with each other, with a numberof applications and programs that exist on the market. This will be a small workshop showing off three such examples: Processing, Scriptographer for Illustrator, and Rhinoscripting for Rhino. If you're a veteran programmer this may give you inspiration for creative work and if you're new it can show you how programming can be approachable, fun and creative. Bring: Yourself, your laptop, and check out and download Processing, Scriptographer, and Rhino if you can. Processing is free, Scriptographer requires Illustrator which has a trial option, and Rhinoscripting requires Rhino which is free on macs and has a trial version on windows.
In this talk, I'll talk about what cloud computing is, discuss the pros and cons, and give some scenarios where cloud computing really shines. Then I can talk briefly about some of the specifics of Windows Azure (which is Microsoft's cloud computing solution and works not only with .NET but also Java, PHP, and Ruby).
IPv6 Software pitfalls including connecting and listening, and hostname resolution, plus a look at the currently existing IPv6 software stacks available.
Join improv comedians and Scotch enthusiasts Dawn and Greg as they pop the bubble of snobbery surrounding Scotch whiskey and share some great tips on how to find your favorite expression of the "water of life". We'll discuss influences of ingredients, region, and aging process as well as how to identify and use a flavor profile. A limited number of "tasters" will be available - sign up at Ops for tasting. Others can join us for the interesting facts and entertainment.
Don't be afraid of circuits. We'll go over the basic circuit components, and basic math to help shed some of the mystery that governs the electronic world. Time and audience participation willing, we'll either stay basic and do some example circuits, or we can start getting more advanced and look at transistors and friends!
Meetup with other Eco Geeks and talk about Captain Planet! GO PLANET!
Like food? Come chat about delictable cuisine in all forms and functions.
Learn about Filk and Fump and good corners of the Internet to find more of it!
2 to 5 players, 30 minutes to play, probably better schedule an hour (if it takes a whole half hour to explain this I'm in real trouble). The revolutionary card game where when win my getting a head! Or the most impressive set of heads, to be exact. Can you bribe the guards and collet the head of Marie Antoinette? Or will the public shun you after you excite the Hero of the People? Come find out!
Why do we love b-movies? What makes a fun b-movie?
Drumming with Crystal Wolf
What is real, what is not, could this really happen?
Arduino is a small, powerful "physical computing" platform with many options for adding sensors, actuators, storage, and more. Come learn how libraries can help you make immediate use of your new hardware, and how you can write your own libraries for your own creations.
A panel on how to proceed once in the middle of the rapid game prototype competitions. It will include brainstorming before coding, knowing how to multitask, having some downtime to avoid burnout, resisting the urge to overextend, and letting go of ideas in order to complete the project. (Website: wally2069@blogspot.com. Twitter: @wally2069)
Come for an introductory conversation on the topic to introduce you to the idea, and hear from those with experience who can answer your questions
A birds of a feather where Eco Geeks can get together and talk about making Open Source Green!
Oh long johnson! Stop all your Faith Hilling and Taylor Swifting already. It's time that we prepare for the pending apocalyptic battle with cats, as foretold by the Ambassador of Humans.
Come and join other like and unalike minds to dicuss the best and worst of Android Apps available today.
Let's talk about Jer and how boring... er, uh, bored he can get!
Cinematic For The People, a live-action "open source" version of MST3K, presents a dastardly double feature! The team will be tackling Atomic Rulers from Outer Space and the world premiere of Invasion of the Bee Women, with games, prizes, and candy for all in attendance.
The Green Porno videos are a graphical representation of the sex lives of creatures big and small, done with a mix of puppetry and costuming by the incomparable Isabella Rossellini. We're going talk about why these films are important, and, if the internet allows, watch a few!
In polyamorous relationships, a break-up can mean more than parting ways. We discuss what happens when a relationship changes - from primary to secondary, secondary to just friends, and more. What can we do to help smooth this transition? What can it look like? When could it happen?
This one is about the present and future state of hacking, cybercrime, and information warfare.
Mix, make, drink, enjoy the open soft drink treat
Enter the 3rd year of this epic competition of Rock Band rockers to compete for this years Rock Off trophy! Your band (A minimum of two rockers needed) will rock off in a 2 song display in front of a panel of judges who will be looking at costumes, skill, accuracy, and most of all just how awesome of a show you can put on. Sign up at Ops with your band name and number of members.
Are you poly? Poly-friendly? Poly-curious? Want to see who else left a
white "P" on their badge ribbon? Stop by our meetup, and say hello!
\Whether it’s your first toy bag, or additions to your current, come get some fun and economical tips and tricks and possibly some new pervertables for your entertainment. Along with the standard floggers, rope, paddles and canes, there is a world of toys just waiting to be discovered. Home Depot and Dollar Tree is considered by many to be the Kinkster's holy ground of pervertable toys. Lets see just how many you have thought of and in what different ways they can be used.
Mat Enders, Tony Bemus, and Mary Tomich are the hosts of the Sunday Morning Linux Review http://www.smlr.us. At 6am they will talk about what got them into podcasting and what it took to start their podcast. They will also record a show in front of a live audiance at 7am. After recording the show Tony will talk about how they edit and post the show.
Rob Liefeld is notorious for his treatment of the human body. Come hear our panelists discuss what has gone right and wrong (very, very wrong) in the world of comics and how to deal with the reality of the human body.
"LN2 Sunday Brunch"
Enjoy some frozen brunch with liquid nitrogen ice cream flavors like Coffee, Tea, Orange Juice, and Toasted Bagel (surprisingly tasty!). Watch us make LN2 ice cream (and maybe learn how, or help out), and try some! Each LN2 theme block will also have some dairy-free flavor. Let us know if you want us to make a sugar-free flavor.
ReBoot was the first CGI television series, and had a cult following that helped bring it back to broadcasting, twice.
Put aside your stereotypes of sewing, and come learn about the cool things you can make with machine sewing! You may just find yourself a new medium to work with after this talk is done.
The presenter will highlight some of the work that EOS International (http://eosinternational.org/) is doing in Nicaragua. Started by young engineering grads, they are a great example of what keeping engineering local and appropriate means.
We'll be taking a look at some early examples of song mash-ups along with examinging some of the more modern mash-ups that have cropped up on Youtube.
If you've ever talked to a commercial vendor about installing a PBX or a call center ACD system, your first question has probably been, "Um... how much?" Whether it is a $100,000 office phone system or a three million dollar call center platform, vendor solutions are expensive! Come talk to a leading industry expert who used to sell million dollar call center systems but is now bucking this trend by integrating open source solutions next to and in lieu of expensive legacy commercial systems. He will talk about the current state of open source telephony in the enterprise, integrating closed source next to open source, "Hyper SIP", and where you can have instant savings in your company.
Software architecture and engineering culture converge at the Continuous Integration (CI) system. It is absolutely essential that a CI system be easy to understand. Every failed test is a context switch. Each test failure must be actionable, with a clear path to resolution. Unreliable or obscure tests will sow
confusion and degrade confidence. Building a comprehensible, usable CI is a problem space that is new
and largely unexplored by the User Experience community. I do not claim to have solved the problem. But I look forward to sharing screenshots, anecdotes, things that have gone wrong, and the story of how the color yellow turned out not to be as scary as I thought.
Draw one, play one. Easy enough right? Only until the rules change! Will you finally win with milk and cookies? How about trying to win the lottery? Or maybe all you need is love. Keep up with this card game of ever changing rules and objectives.
Move past the dice rolls and character development of an RPG, or consider the in-depth story-telling needed to plan RPG video games. Both rely on imaginative and creative processes to create new worlds, settings, and cultures. Come chat with others about the adventure.
Yeah, we talked about this yesterday. What's your point? Actually, I think I can invent an app for that...
Needle craft meet up hosted by Dara Allen. Meet other knitters and crocheters who enjoy the craft as much as you do. All experience levels welcome. If you're interested in learning the craft you can contact Dara at Shiny.Papillon@gmail.com to get info on what you should bring with you.
Talk about how to get a weather station set up and hooked up to the Weather Underground. Be part of a worldwide network of weather reporters! Also, learn how to access and utilize one of the best open source weather resources available.
You have questions, they have answers.
Did you enjoy the roving chaos and fun known as the 2012 MaYHem TRacK? Come and speak with others about what worked, what didn't, and what could be added to make next year's version even better. If you were a Master of Mayhem – one who participated in all the necessary events posted at the con – you can pick up your prize during this session.
"A presentation about presentations? Please." No, seriously! If you like to get up and talk, mobile devices can make those talks much more fun. I'll show you tools you can use to get away from the podium and maybe even interact with your audience a little.
Computers aren't the first thing that people think of when they think of Antarctica, but scientific research wouldn't be possible without them. Living and working at the South Pole has changed over the 50 years of the U.S. Antarctic Program, and over that time, so has the reliance on computers to make it all possible.
What is required to boot a computer from the Network? What is going on under the hood when it does? Come find out how easy PXE network boot really is! This talk will cover the infrastructure that will allow you boot an operating system, run an OS install or hardware diagnostic utilities without ever having to reach for removable media. After the foundations are in place, advanced uses will be covered including gPXE, booting from iSCSI, ATAoE or even the Internet, and considerations for large scale deployments.
Listen to recordings of Fred Pohl, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke. Learn about how we have captured the history of Science Fiction in the past, what we would like to do in the future, and how you can be a part of it... with a Special Guest appearance by teleconference. Presented by the Science Fiction Oral History Association, www.sfoha.org
Remember your first coloring experience and trying to stay "inside the lines?" Come for a demo featuring something a bit more advanced - coloring in Photoshop.
An introductory course to the world of podcasting.
A demo on homemade screen printing.
Ever wonder why products you use on a regular basis needs to have more chemicals than you can pronounce? Featuring Lush and Comfy Island, learn how to perform simple spa treatments that you can replicate at home. Start your morning off right with these natural, safe and amazing products. Participants will learn how to apply a professional facial treatment from start to finish. Getting your body eco-friendly and happy all at once!
TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Come hang out and watch the Eco Staff's favorites, and talk about the issues raised. We're going to be here specifically for this time slot, but we will probably be watching more around the clock in the Eco Room. Check the door for an expanded schedule, and write in your favorite talk for us to watch.
Who said vegetarian food has to be bland? Come talk to some of the most progressive vegetarian chefs in Fandom as they prepare their signature dishes that will make you forget that you're not eating meat! You'll get to sample each of their three meals, get to ask questions, and take home recipes!
Whether you're promoting books or belly dance performances, there are tactics that work for everyone. Discuss methods of self-promotion and learn about effective ways of promoting your work, with particular emphasis on grabbing people's attention.
Have you been coming to the local sci-fi conventions and wondered how you might be able to get involved? Come sit in on a ConFusion ConCom meeting and hear about the positions we have open and where we need help! Or feel free to just come listen, offer ideas and think about our pending immortality...
A system of accomplishing small, daily tasks that lead up to huge achievement. The motto of this system is a J.R.R. Tolkien quote "Little by little, one travels far..."
Demo of the gesture-based drawing software
Enjoy a fun and relaxing session of painting miniature figures, even if you don't think of yourself as an artist. We are happy to demonstrate several painting techniques, including drybrushing, washes, and face elements, including the always tricky eyes.
In ancient Egypt, you'd be carving for days. Let's find a way to communicate in under an hour.
Mix, make, drink, enjoy the open soft drink treat
Come watch the Finale of this awesome tournament!!! Brick Challenge is, to my knowledge, the first live Lego-based game show. The model is similar to Double Dare. Two two-man teams will compete to be the winning team of each show. One team red and one team blue will be challenged with a series of mini-games as well as quiz questions. Winners will be determined by whichever team receives the most points. Find out who rocks the bricks the hardest in this tournament championship match!
Everyone seems to be working on a game these days. And why not? You can make some great money, have fun building something, and become famous. Many new games, especially casual games, are using the cloud. Not just to reduce their startup costs, but to innovate. Come see how you can build a modern game that uses the cloud to startup and scale. Real world gaming scenarios included.
An evaluative discussion of the most important pieces of computer science literature.
This talk explains open source and its principles through pop culture references (mostly of the sci-fi and geek sort). For example, what better example to explain rapid prototyping than Iron Man? When forced to build weaponry, he instead solved his own problem (or in open source parlance, "scratched his own itch") by building the first Iron Man suit. Later he was able to build upon that and make subsequent iterations. In addition, the suit was copied by others--even enemies.
Come and sit in on an open discussion with the community of MMO players that attend Penguicon. We talk about game mechanics, recent releases, what games and companies to look out for, and how to better your MMO life.
Live Beacon Podcast
Ever heard of a serger? Neither has this editor. Come learn about what an advanced stitch, the overlock stitch can do for you, and what type of machine you need to make them happen!
Juggling has been shown to increase health and intelligence. In one hour, anyone who has the ability to toss a ball from one hand to the other will be able to perform a basic three-ball cascade, the "classic" juggling move! Hands-on instruction will be combined with a discussion of the neuroscience behind learning to juggle balls and the rest of life.
So you want to present at Penguicon 2013, eh? Interested in the leadership roles in the Penguicon staff? You've been enjoying your time at the con so much that you want to be part of planning all the fun. You have one or two or a million awesome ideas for panels, talks, demos, or events for next year. THIS is the place to share and talk about joining the beind-the-scenes fun as a staff member or panelist in the future. The convention is winding down, and everyone is packing up. I know you all had fun, and I hope to see you all again, REAL SOON! Come learn about our open positions on staff, how you can help with the convention, and how to get in touch with the Conchair for 2013 throughout the year.
Are you a bit crazy? Want to try and run IPv6 in the home? Mike will take a look at hardware support, Internet connectivity plus firewalls and system compatibility.
Learn to use AppInventor to write your own Android applications, either on your phone or in the emulator - so easy even Jar Jar Binks could do it! Hear about MIT Media Labs new Center for Mobile Learning. Walk through an app, and you will be able to say you understand object oriented design. How to install the Android SDK, cable up your phone, install your app, and use the ADB shell interface.
Ever wonder why your favourite (or least-favourite) singers sound the way they do? Steve will go over recording studio tech and reveal the method behind the madness that is studio mixing. He might even be able to explain the "Loudness Wars" that have claimed so many innocent ears.
After another successful Penguicon, join in the final ceremonies to close this year's event. Hear from those who put on the convention, our special guests, and those taking over for next year. Come say "so long, and thanks for all the fish."
More signage? More elevators? Less heat? More cow bell? We would love to hear constructive feedback on how you would like to make the convention a better place.
