Necessity is the Mother of Invention -- maddog's Challenge

Last year, during Jon "maddog" Hall's footnote to Penguicon 7.0, he issued a challenge. The challenge came in two parts: 1.) envision the near-term world as you would like to see it 2.) figure out how to use free software to reach that near-term goal The plan was for those of you that are interested in helping shape the path of the world to come to spend the year developing the software plan, to present at Penguicon, where we can vote on which vision to follow, and all collectively create that software. That's right, even if you are not a programmer--even if you hate computers--you can bring the inspiration to a group of coders, developers, hackers, and makers and potentially see your vision created. Basically, anything goes, the important part is for you to bring your unique vision--your unique path--to the rest of us. Sign up at Ops before 12noon Sunday. Sunday at the convention, we will get together and vote on the plan that the convention as a whole will take on. Make sure to show up for your time slot, or come observe this game show style contest. Prizes will be awarded to our most favorite entries.

PDF from maddog's footnote presentation.

Rock Band Rock Off

Hey... do you like to ROCK?

Introducing, new to Penguicon:
The ROCKBAND ROCK OFF
From 5:30pm - 7:30pm, with finals taking place from 7:30pm - 8:30pm in the big top!

Sign your band up @ Ops, limited slots available, bring your band and your style to this competition of attitude, band costuming, style, and game accuracy and ROCK OUT ON STAGE.

Suck at Rockband? Don't fret, dress up, play your hearts out and give the judges a show and you could STILL win!

Judges include: The Jer, Sheryl Bradakis, Gini, and The Ferrett!

Penguicon's Chaos Machine

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!

OpenSoda

Speaking of metaphors that help to explain how the free and open source development model works: Penguicon's former Guest of Honor Cory Doctorow and Nifty Guest Karl Schroeder used to be involved with a company named OpenCola. In addition to creating open source software, they sold a soft drink with a public recipe that anyone could use or modify to brew up the black waters of corporate imperialism in their own kitchen.

Well, we did just that. We made a Penguicon build of the OpenCola recipe and served it in our hospitality suite. Never fear, the bathtub was still full of ice and complimentary cans of Coke and Pepsi for all Penguicon attendees. But thanks to the expertise and craftsmanship of our food chemistry team, there was just as much demand for Open Cola as name-brand cola. In subsequent years we expanded to original non-cola flavors and became the OpenSoda project. We now partner with other cola brewing clubs in England and Switzerland to exchange information.

This year the OpenSoda project is expanding to reverse-engineer more sodas and develop new flavors, including:

• Open Dew
• Open Up
• Ginger Ale with real ginger
• Butterbeer
• Eric S. Raymond's request for cranberry soda, (now with less sweet and more tart)

Computer Lounge

Feel free to drop on by to check your mail, browse the web, and perhaps find out a little bit more about open source software. You can also check out some technology demos that help show off the real power of Linux.

Artist Alley

Are you attending Penguicon and are artistic? Do you have something you created that you'd like to offer to the Penguicon attending audience? Use our Artist Alley! Table rate is $5 per half table. For questions or to reserve your space, please use our contact form.

24 Hour Fitness Area, Pool, and Hot Tub

Enjoy our 24-hour access to the fitness area and all amenities that go with it, including the pool and hot tub. From Friday at 3pm until Sunday at 5pm, we have complete access to the newly remodeled area!

Ice Cream Made With Liquid Nitrogen

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream is a Food Track event that takes place many times over the weekend in the hospitality suite. Homemade ice cream is instantly created, in a variety of custom flavors, by adding liquid nitrogen to the recipe at negative 320 degrees Farenheit. The nitrogen boils off and goes out the window, leaving behind the other ingredients frozen into a smooth, creamy dairy dessert. It is truly a spectacle to behold! And the range of strange and imaginative flavors that work with this process is much wider than with normal ice cream. Bring your own crazy combo of flavor ingredients and challenge us! This year we are asking our Guests and Nifties to each design an ice cream flavor named after them. See demos on our video page.

Masquerade

The Masquerade returns! This year we have a special theme of Vintage Video Games to delight and inspire. The Whizbang Theatre Federation will expertly guide you through this year's Masquerade. Check out our rules for more information.

Drag Show

The amazing world of Drag King and Drag Queens! Ever wonder how they pull it off? Whether you're a first timer, a seasoned regular, or just curious - come join us at the Drag 101 workshop and find out! For those interested - you'll get a chance to strut your stuff on the runway at our very own Drag Show. Any money that is raised by the drag show will be donated to a charity that is still to be determined.

Donations of all sizes of mens and women's clothing for costumes are being accepted. If you have any questions or are willing to lend your expertise to our workshop, please don't hesitate to contact us at DragShow @ Penguicon.

Writing Workshop

I bet you thought we had this all figured out, didn't you? Guess again boyo! New, more exciting, and certainly more relevant information to come shortly!

Morton's Miraculous Random Reality Machine

(brought to you by Morton's List and a grant by the Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association.) 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.