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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Get your mind out of the gutter. That means there are no free samples.
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!
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!
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.
Derek Newland, a 3rd degree brown belt in Judo, explains how to turn simple principles of leverage and movement into powerful self defense techniques.
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.
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.
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.
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??!!??
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.
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.
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!
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.
Not that anything compares to the one you're currently attending... but if you really wanna talk about the competition.
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.
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.
Why do we love b-movies? What makes a fun b-movie?
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.
Let's talk about Jer and how boring... er, uh, bored he can get!
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..."
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.
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.
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.
