penguicon2.0:twothousandfour
This is an old revision of the document!
Schedule of Events for PenguiCon 2.0 in 2004
Friday, April 16, 2004
Beginning with Linux - Friday, April 16, 2004, 13:00 - Manitou - MDLUG
Get your feet wet with this introduction to Linux and OpenSource Software. Let the experts from the community break down what Linux is about and more importantly, how to get started. This panel will be repeated over the weekend.
Blogging for Fun and Profit - Friday, April 16, 2004, 14:00 - Manitou - RobCmdrTacoMalda
Web logs, or Blogs for short, are a popular means for people to form communities on the Internet. Discuss the future of blogging and how it has come from obscurity to the forefront of the web.
Nethack! - Friday, April 16, 2004, 15:00 - Manitou - CathyRaymond, RichClark
“In the morning you awake, collect your belongings, and set off for the dungeon. After several days of uneventful travel, you see the ancient ruins that mark the entrance to the Mazes of Menace. It is late at night, so you make camp at the entrance and spend the night sleeping under the open skies. In the morning, you gather your gear, eat what may be your last meal outside, and enter the dungeon...” You have just begun a game of NetHack. Your goal is to grab as much treasure as you can, retrieve the Amulet of Yendor, and escape the Mazes of Menace alive.
Tours with Tux - Friday, April 16, 2004, 15:00 - St. Clair - BillPutt, StarfleetTux
Take a tour of the convention with our MinisterOfSillyWalks, BillPutt, and convention mascot StarfleetTux! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Linux from Scratch - Friday, April 16, 2004, 16:00 - Manitou - RobLandley
Linux from Scratch is a project that takes you from a blank disk to a fully functional Linux installation you can boot into, just by downloading and compiling source code. You've assembled your own computer from parts, now do the same with the operating system. An indispensable tool for those that want to learn exactly how Linux works.
SPAM SPAM SPAM - Friday, April 16, 2004, 17:00 - Manitou - RichClark, RobCmdrTacoMalda, SethBreidbart
Unsolicited Commercial Email, aka Spam affects the entire Internet community. This panel will discuss the problems, and more importantly the solutions to keep your inbox clean.
Tours with Tux - Friday, April 16, 2004, 17:00 - St. Clair - BillPutt, StarfleetTux
Take a tour of the convention with our MinisterOfSillyWalks, BillPutt, and convention mascot StarfleetTux! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Field Trip: Geeks with Guns - Friday, April 16, 2004, 18:00 - St. Clair - Trip Leader: EricRaymond
Go afield with open source geek and handgan expert EricRaymond to a local shooting range. Eric will provide basic range safety instruction to all who attend. Please Note: There will be a charge for range fees, gun rental, and ammunition.
Knoppix - Friday, April 16, 2004, 18:00 - Manitou - KristaLeigh
The Knoppix Linux distribution is one of the most popular starting points for people getting started with Linux. Able to run on a host machine without touching the existing operating system, Knoppix is an excellent choice for those that want a commitment-free introduction to Linux.
Can We Kill Wesley Now? - Friday, April 16, 2004, 18:00 - Theatre - StevenPiziks, KathyMorton, TimRyan, JonMaddogHall
Talk to people about Star Trek: The Next Generation, and everyone has an opinion about Wesley. Come discuss whether Gene Roddenberry's dream son should be the character you love – or love to hate.
The Computer is Comment Blind - Friday, April 16, 2004, 18:00 - Interlochen - Dr. RobertMeier
Do you find it difficult to understand code you wrote last decade? last year? last week? Do you spend too much time, commenting your code? and then explaining your code to others who don't read the comments? The 7 W's is a step-by-step method for writing comments quickly that other's will understand, saving you both time and trouble.
Where's the Beef? A Look at Mad Cow Disease - Friday, April 16, 2004, 18:00 - Keewenaw - DanPeisach, MichelleBarney
What's BSE? How does it get from sheep to humans? What are prions? A discussion of the science and epidemiology surrounding Mad Cow Disease. (MOOO!!!!!)
Beginning with Linux - Friday, April 16, 2004, 18:00 - Kensington - MDLUG
Get your feet wet with this introduction to Linux and OpenSource Software. Let the experts from the community break down what Linux is about and more importantly, how to get started. This panel will be repeated over the weekend.
NeilGaiman Reads - Friday, April 16, 2004, 19:00 - Ballroom A/B - NeilGaiman
NeilGaiman is a mythic genius. His work is some of the hottest in a wide range of genres, from fantasy to graphic novels to horror. Come hear the author himself read from his current work.
Geek Break - Friday, April 16, 2004, 19:00
Go find the dealer's room in Ballroom C/D (nifty things to buy), the computer lounge in St. Clair (hangout for fellow geeks), and consuite (free food and beer)! Convention tour for those interested leaving from St. Clair.
Free Beer! Gaming! And Lots and Lots of Books! - Friday, April 16, 2004, 19:00 - Petoskey - MichaelAndaluz, BillPutt, SarahLewis
Get a chance to ask a few questions about what conventions are; then take a tour of the convention with our Minister of Silly Walks, BillPutt! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Give It Away to Make a Profit: AOL and OpenSource - Friday, April 16, 2004, 19:00 - Keweenaw - JohnRingo
No one respects AOL, but everyone knows their name. A lot of people use their software. More people use their CDs as coasters. Which of their tricks could be used to good effect by the open source community? Which ones should they avoid?
Sluggites Unite! - Friday, April 16, 2004, 19:00 - Kensington - PeteAbrams, RobBalder
Sluggy Freelance is to webcomics what Sandman is to graphic novels – artistic, mythic, well-charactered, and sometimes just plain odd. Come hear about the past years trials and triumphs from Sluggy creator PeteAbrams himself. See the Pete? Is he not nifty? Worship the Pete.
Opening Ceremonies - Friday, April 16, 2004, 20:00 - Ballroom A/B - Varied Cast of Characters
Come get introduced to our wonderful cast of Guests of Honor and Nifty Guests, and get a leg up on guest spotting for the weekend. The conchair has promised one of the most memorable opening ceremonies in local convention history. Knowing what I know, I believe him.
Website Security Auditing - Friday, April 16, 2004, 20:00 - Manitou - FlavioDaCosta, RayIngles, JimPharis
The web is a dangerous place, in this panel we will discuss how you can lock your website down and keep it out of the reach of blackhats.
Computers and HAM Radio - Friday, April 16, 2004, 20:00 - Kensington - Topher and LadySarah
Many people don't know what HAM radio really is, and it might surprise them to know that its not just a bunch of old fogey sending morse code on old-fashioned straight keys with radios that still use vacuum tubes. (Real Radios Glow in the Dark!) This panel will show some useful ways computers and HAM radio are used together, both for fun and in times of emergency. This panel will brefly cover digital modes such as PSK-31, APRS, CLOVER, PACTOR, AMTOR, SSTV and others. Hey, show up. You might learn something!
Keynote: Free and Open Source Software: Where Relatively Few Have Gone Before - Friday, April 16, 2004, 21:00 - Ballroom A/B - JonMaddogHall 2 hours
As a fan of Star Trek for over thirty-five years, maddog has noticed many, many parallel similarities between the software creation world and the world of the Star Trek future. This talk will bridge some of those similarities and perhaps show us where Gene Roddenberry was taking us.
Reading: Steven Harper-Piziks - Friday, April 16, 2004, 21:00 - Theatre - StevenPiziks
Published author of nine books, including In the Company of Mind, the Silent Empire universe, and Star Trek Voyager: The Nanotech War, Steven has a brilliant ability to unflinchingly combine human strengths and failings with the implications – and pitfalls – of future science. Come hear him read from his current work!
Sandman-The Endless Dream - Friday, April 16, 2004, 21:00 - Petoskey - TwilaPrice, KathyMorton, RachelSherman, DianeBerger
Sandman. NeilGaiman uses world mythology, pop culture, graphic violence, and explicit eroticism to convey a conceptual and metaphysical view of the world. Our panelists discuss which pieces they found compelling, which they found repulsive, and whether the two were truly separable in this epic work.
Schlock or Science? - Friday, April 16, 2004, 21:00 - Keewenaw - AntonVanderwyst
Many concepts commonly referenced in science fiction have a surprising connection with current research projects. Can we travel faster than light? Kind of. Can we communicate instantly? Sort of. Come and test your ability to separate theoretically doable space technologies versus popular, but impossible concepts.
Pics and Pixels - Friday, April 16, 2004, 21:00 - Kensington - DavidRozian 2 hours
Professional photographer, David "Davroz" Rozian, shares his 20 years of fannish photo experience. This is not your uncle's vacation slideshow! Learn how to compose like the pros, clever tricks and common mistakes, with applications to both film and digital picturetaking. Bring your costumes and models for a hands on session.
AnimeFu - Friday, April 16, 2004, 21:00 - Interlochen - RobCmdrTacoMalda
Are you an anime fan? Have an anime fan friend, and wish you knew what they were talking about? Thinking of exploring anime, but don't know how to tell gentai from Pokemon? Come listen to RobCmdrTacoMalda speak about AnimeFu, one of the finest anime review sites on the internet.
Party Tour - Friday, April 16, 2004, 21:00 - St. Clair - BillPutt, StarfleetTux
Come gather at the St. Clair - room and take a tour of the convention with our Minister of Silly Walks, BillPutt, and convention mascot StarfleetTux! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Four Musicians of the Apocalypse - Friday, April 16, 2004, 22:00 - Theatre - TomSmith, LukeSki, TonyGoldmark, TimShoeboxCrist
One guitar, two speakers, three mikes, four demented musicians...and a truly great time had by all!
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) - Friday, April 16, 2004, 22:00 - Keewenaw - NeilGaiman, JaneIrwin, JeffHemosBates, KatieMerritt, BillBaker
Our charity auction benefits the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Why? The CBLDF is the premier group for defending graphic and comic book artists and sellers of comic books in the U.S. Didn’t know they needed defending? Come hear a little of the history and the current news on censorship and freedom of speech from the authors and readers alike.
Journey to Heroism: Neverwhere - Friday, April 16, 2004, 22:00 - Petoskey - DianeBerger, TwilaPrice, SethBlumberg, ShallaSchmidt, VanessaCrum
Come on a journey into the mythology of London Below. If you haven't had the privilege yet, come find out about Mr. Croup and his brother Mr. Vandemar, the Angel Islington, and the Marquis de Carabas. Would Richard Mayhew have ever become a hero if he hadn't, on some level, become Lost himself? (Neverwhere will be shown at 2 a.m. - Saturday, April 17, 2004, and 11 a.m. Saturday.)
Stand-Up Comedy - Friday, April 16, 2004, 23:00 - Ballroom A/B - LukeSki, TomSmith, TonyGoldmark
Did you know their comedy is not limited to music?
Genre Bending - Friday, April 16, 2004, 23:00 - Interlochen - SandraBrewer, DianeBerger, JeffBeeler
Are genres useful categorizations of real distinctions between book styles, or artificial limitations which make it hard to find the works of your favorite authors? What do you do with an author who won't stay in one box?
Rocky Horror - Friday, April 16, 2004, 23:00 - Theatre - Rocky Horror Cast
"It's astounding...time is fleeting...madness.... takes its toll. PLEASE HAVE EXACT CHANGE..." A live performance of this 70s cult classic movie about transvestite trans-sexual Transylvanians. Come help us heckle and sing along to this vintage camp.
Gimme That Online Graphic Fiction...Pro Perspective - Friday, April 16, 2004, 23:00 - Petoskey - PeteAbrams, HowardTayler, RobBalder
What are the particular challenges and rewards of producing online graphic fiction? Our panelists tell you not only why what they do is fun and cool...they tell you who their daily favorites are.
Linux for Palm OS - Friday, April 16, 2004, 23:00 - Manitou - RayIngles
Find out how to make your Palm device a more effective symbiote for your Linux machine(s). Syncing, Development, Stupid Palm/Linux tricks, and more!
Debuggers: GDB, ADB, and What They Do - Friday, April 16, 2004, 23:00 - Kensington - MarcusWatts
Segmentation Fault (core dumped). Learn what to do next. Amaze your friends! Terrify your enemies! Diagnose and fix faster than ever before! Divide and conquer! Yes, all this and much much more can be yours!
Chocolate Ritual - Friday, April 16, 2004, 24:00 - Petoskey - LadySarah, Paula Handley, Topher, Andrea
Join us to worship the most wonderful substance in the world... CHOCOLATE! Donations accepted. Disclaimer: if you can't stand the parody, stay out of the ritual
Linux and Hardware - Friday, April 16, 2004, 24:00 - Manitou - RayIngles
Some hardware can be painful to use. Share tips and tricks from others in the community for “getting stuff to work right”.
Intro to Python - Friday, April 16, 2004, 24:00 - Kensington - RobLandley
Python is as easy to learn as Basic, as powerful as Perl, and as portable as Java. It's the only programming language named after Monty Python's Flying circus, and is used to write everything from arcade games (see www.pygame.org/projects) to the Zope application server. Come learn to program in it, no experience necessary.
Middle Eastern Drumming and Bellydance Jam - Friday, April 16, 2004, 24:00 - Ballroom A/B - Zahira
Drummers, bring your drums! Dancers, bring your feet! Zahira will begin with Middle Eastern rhythyms, but other styles are also welcome to come play!
Saturday, April 17, 2003
Neverwhere - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 02:30 - Theatre - 4 Hours
NeilGaiman's Neverwhere is a great story about one man's journey into the mythology of London Below. Come see this truly excellent four hour miniseries, and be introduced to Door, Mr. Croup, Mr. Vandemar, the Angel Islington, the Marquis de Carabas, and the most fascinating Gaiman creation of all, plain guy/hero Richard Mayhew. Come see NeilGaiman's four hour miniseries.
SAMBA and CIFS - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 10:00 - Manitou - ChrisHertel 2 hours
The Samba project, now at version 3, allows *nix clients to better communicate with Windows clients and Servers. ChrisHertel, a member of the Samba team, takes us on a tour of Samba technology and how it has evolved.
Neverwhere - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 11:00 - Theatre
NeilGaiman's Neverwhere is a great story about one man's journey into the mythology of London Below. Come see this truly excellent four hour miniseries, and be introduced to Door, Mr. Croup, Mr. Vandemar, the Angel Islington, the Marquis de Carabas, and the most fascinating Gaiman creation of all, plain guy/hero Richard Mayhew. Come see Neil's four hour miniseries.
Can a White Guy Write Real Manga? A Look at Megatokyo Sat 11:00 - Ballroom B - FredGallagher
Is it possible for someone who is not Japanese to write true manga? That question is hotly debated, but the worldwide acceptance of Megatokyo, FredGallagher's online manga-style comic, argues that it can. Come hear Fred talk about Megatokyo, things Japanese, and the fine art of successfully doing what people say can't be done.
Oh Pun Contest - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 11:00 - Keweenaw - TomSmith
Come prepared to compete in creating original puns on SF or computer related topics. Prizes awarded for Overall Winner and Audience Choice.
Gender of SF - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 11:00 - Interlochen - NeilGaiman, StevenPiziks, JaneIrwin, SarahZettel, JasonAhlquist
What makes an SF story masculine or feminine?...the sex of the protagonist?...the sex of the writer?...something else?...Do truly androgynous stories exist?...transgender stories? Come find out.
The Art of Command - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 11:00 - Kensington - SalSanfratello and CarynMalokofsky of AegisConsulting
Ever wanted to brush up your skills in leadership and command? Come listen to game designer, mayhem specialist, and entrepreneur SalSanfratello speak of this complex art and science.
Geeks Are Sexy: Flirting 101 - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 11:00 - Petoskey - LadySarah, SarahLewis, KathrynMorton, BrendanDurrett, CathyRaymond
People who find geeks attractive exist. Not everyone has it, but wouldn't you like to find out if the person you've been eyeing is one of the ones who has? If so, you might need this panel. Our panelists will introduce you to the basic verbal and nonverbal skills necessary to express your admiration for an attractive person, hopefully in a way they will a) notice, and b) appreciate.
What's New at SteveJackson Games? - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 12:00 - Ballroom B - SteveJackson, MiB
Our GoH, evil Stevie shows us his new toys and tells you why you need these new and soon to be released games.
Scientific Computation Using the PlayStation 2 Game Console - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 12:00 - Manitou - CraigSteffen
The Emotion Engine CPU of the Sony Playstation 2 game console has a unique architecture that makes it interesting for matrix calculations. Researchers at the University of Illinois have experimented with using this power (using Sony's Linux kit for the PlayStation 2 console) for scientific computation. The kits, the matrix multiply software, and the 70-node cluster of PlayStations 2s will be discussed.
Not Necessarily the Same Old Microsoft Versus Linux Debate - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 12:00 - Kensington - JohnRingo, KarlKuhlmann, EricRaymond, HowardTayler, JonMaddogHall
We've got two bright, articulate people who want to make a strong case for why Microsoft is a good thing. We've matched them up against three bright, articulate people who really, really disagree. Come see the clash of the titans.
Free Beer! Gaming! And Lots and Lots of Books! - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 12:00 - Petoskey - SarahLewis, BillPutt
You've never been to a convention before, and have some questions. Come talk to our experienced con-going panelists to answer all of your questions. Then take a tour of the convention with our Minister of Silly Walks, BillPutt, and convention mascot Tux! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Building a Detroit SF Hall of Fame? - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 12:00 - Keweenaw - JeffBeeler
Many cities are establishing SF landmarks, but no one has yet claimed a Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Should Detroit seize the opportunity?
Buffy: The Wake - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 12:00 - Interlochen - KathyMorton, LorrraineDonaldson, Susan Harris, TimRyan
Buffy: The Vampire Slayer spawned a rabid fan base, a board game, an RPG. We always knew that Buffy would never die. But the show has now passed on; come together to mourn.
Self-Defense for Geeks and Fen - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 13:00 - Ballroom B - CathyRaymond and EricRaymond
How not to be a victim, even if you're a klutz! In this workshop you will learn effective techniques for stopping and countering common attacks from Eric and CathyRaymond, who share more than two decades of martial-arts training. Women are especially welcome. Wear loose clothing.
Linux as a Trademark - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 13:00 - Manitou - Dr. RobertMeier
Linux, the latest corporate buzzword. What new vocabulary do you need as a developer, manager, or IT? Come learn what is and is not covered by the linux trademark. When someone says, "distro, package, linux, POSIX, man, info, or RFC", will you know what the buzz is about?"
Mozilla: The Future of the Web - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 13:00 - Interlochen - ScottCollins
The Mozilla Project is one of the cornerstones of the Open Source Community. In its 6th year of existence, Mozilla provides the community an entire suite of web tools, as well as the most standards-compliant web browser available. Where does Mozilla go from here? The Mozilla Foundation's Scott Collins talks about the future of the web.
Beginning with Linux - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 13:00 - Kensington - MDLUG
Get your feet wet with this introduction to Linux and Open Source Software. Let the experts from the community break down what Linux is about and more importantly, how to get started. This panel will be repeated over the weekend.
But Wait, There's More...Obscure Gaiman - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 13:00 - Petoskey - TwilaPrice, DianeBerger, KathyMorton, KatieMerritt
Think you own everything NeilGaiman ever did? You may be surprised. Everyone knows about Sandman & American Gods, but do you have Temps, Villians, the Babylon 5 script, and all the issues of Miracleman? Come learn about these and other little known works by NeilGaiman.
Mars Update - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 13:00 - Keewenaw - AntonVanderwyst, ChadOhlandt, DavidRozian
Get an update on the rover, current projects, and the future of the Red Planet from people who've worked at JPL and who currently have working equipment roving the surface.
Geek Break - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00
Go find the dealer's room in Ballroom C/D (nifty things to buy), the computer lounge in St. Clair (hangout for fellow geeks), and consuite (free beer)! Convention tours leaving from St. Clair.
Tours with Tux - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00 - St. Clair
Take a tour of the convention with our MinisterOfSillyWalks, BillPutt, and convention mascot StarfleetTux! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Autograph Session - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00 - Ballroom A/B
Come get autographs from all your favorite authors and artists...NeilGaiman, SteveJackson, EricRaymond, PeteAbrams, JohnRingo, FredGallagher, HowardTayler, SandraBrewer, VinceLocke, Steve Piziks, ClifFlynt, MarcelGagne, ChrisHertel
and JaneIrwin.
Swordfighting Demonstrations - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00 - Ballroom A/B - AegisConsulting
Come see a demonstrations of a variety of medieval sword (and other weapon) fighting styles – Florentine, single sword, sword and shield, just to name a few!
Future of Space - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00 - Keewenaw - AntonVanderwyst, ChadOhlandt
What is really possible and on technological tap in space 15-50 years from now? NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) outlines of projects that are feasible in the next 2-5 decades. Space electric propulsion rockets, fission and fusion, magnetic and solar sails, nanomaterials and more.
LGBT Issues in SF Media - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00 - Interlochen - LorrraineDonaldson, GailChristopherson, CynthiaRossi
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender characters show up in the work of a variety of SF writers, print and film. Who are some of the best at creating believable characters? Who works well at portraying the issues? Are they the same writers? If so, why? If not, why not?
Beginning Home Networking - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00 - Kensington - FlavioDaCosta
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) networking is becoming more popular. This panel will discuss home networking techniques, as well as give you an introduction to how networking works.
Aaargh....I Forgot My Costume! - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 14:00 - Petoskey - MattArnold, CathyRaymond
Didn't remember to bring your costume? Had no idea you'd need one? Come consult with our prize-winning costumers to figure out how to turn your found items into masquerade-worthy garb.
LukeSki Concert - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 15:00 - Theatre - LukeSki
Come hear the rhythmic talents of Filk's most famous rap artist. His comic talents are renowned. Come hear him. You'll laugh. You'll cry. He's funny. Trust us.
Network Security - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 15:00 - Manitou - Steve Campbell, FlavioDaCosta, ChrisHertel
Security continues to be an important issue on the Internet. Discuss theory, implementation, and solutions to keep yourself safe on the public Internet.
Intelligent Agents - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 15:00 - Kensington - SeanLisse
"Hello again, Mr. Anderson." Ever wonder what it would take to make an Agent Smith? We're not there yet, but this panel will provide a natural-language (American English) introduction to today's artificially intelligent agents and an overview of some different software agent technologies. Learn the difference between an expert system, a finite state machine, a neural network, and a genetic algorithm. Find out who Eliza is, what constitutes Artificial Life, and how a hive mind might work.
Web Research for SF/F Writing - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 15:00 - Petoskey - Michael Andaluz
Internet: Friend or Foe? The World Wide Web can be the biggest library or a tremendous waste of time when researching your fiction. Get a few pointers on effective internet research, and share what works for you.
Can't We Do This Again? Soon? - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 15:00 - Interlochen - JeffBeeler
Penguicon only happens once a year. But it is so much fun that you wish you could go every weekend. Come learn about other conventions which happen in the area and learn which ones you want to visit between now and Penguicon 3.0.
Dementia Unbound - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 16:00 - Theatre - TonyGoldmark and TimShoeboxCrist
Come listen to TonyGoldmark, #3 on the 2003 Dr. Demento Funny 25, with Teeth Clenched, and Tim Crist, aka Shoebox of Worm Quartet, #2 on the 2002 Dr. Demento Funny 25 with Frank's Not in the Band Anymore.
Books for Free?!? Baen Free Library - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 16:00 - Petoskey - Troy Belding, JohnRingo
Baen is giving dozens of books away. For free. Come find out the wheres, the hows, and the whys behind the innovative practice of giving books away to make money.
Endless Stories - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 16:00 - Interlochen - JasonAhlquist, SarahZettel, Bill Baker, JeffBeeler
Trilogies, series, serial fiction...where does it end? Should authors continue to write about the characters we love or create new and fascinating worlds instead? How much is too much? Should characters die with their creators?
Open-PGP: Securing Yourself By Giving Your Keys Away - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 16:00 - Manitou - Dr. RobertMeier, Scott Collins
As a preschooler you learned to put letters in envelopes and address them. You learned to use keys to unlock your home. You learned to sign your name, and check receipts. Despite the marketting hype, computer security isn't hard. The same practices you learned as a child apply to information security. Come learn the internet (RFC2440) analogs to envelopes, locks, signatures,and receipts.
Wireless: Knowing your ABGs - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 16:00 - Kensington - Steve Campbell, ChrisHertel
Wireless technology continues to get more popular. This panel will discuss the many wireless technologies out there, security, and implementations.
Moving Mars...Literally? - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 16:00 - Keewenaw - Dan Peisach, AntonVanderwyst, ChadOhlandt
Terraforming Mars in its current orbit would be a pain in the butt; the planet is still going to be damn cold. So, what would it take to move the Red Planet into Earth orbit? A panel of bioscience and aerospace scientists discuss what it might take, and what the particular challenges involved might be.
TomSmith Concert! - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 17:00 - Theatre - TomSmith
Come see fandom's fastest filker regale you with everything from classics (Fenton, the Death Sheep from Hell) to what he just wrote five minutes ago. We can almost guarantee you will hurt from laughing when you leave.
Tours with Tux - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 17:00 - St. Clair
Take a tour of the convention with our Minister of Silly Walks, BillPutt, and convention mascot StarfleetTux! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Cyber Age Mythology - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 17:00 - Interlochen - RachelSherman, MattArnold, SarahZettel
What are the new myths? Is Bill Gates the new devil...at least for some people? How does mythic thinking fit in with bleeding edge technology?
Tcl/Tk - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 17:00 - Manitou - ClifFlynt
What used to be the best kept open secret of Unix, and is now the best kept open source secret? What's the secret weapon of Cisco, Oracle, NBC, Deutsche-Telecom and more? Learn what Tcl/Tk is, and how easy it is to construct applications.
Gaming with Linux - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 17:00 - Kensington - Sean Harshbarger
Get your game on in Linux. The Linux gaming community continues to expand as we discuss current and future titles coming to Linux.
Spotlight on Slashdot.org - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 17:00 - Keewenaw - Jeff Bates, RobCmdrTacoMalda
Slashdot names itself as “News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters”. Unfamiliar with Slashdot? Come find out what it is, and why you might want to care. Familiar with Slashdot? Find out the insider details of what's been going on this year, and what's coming your way soon.
Linux on the Desktop - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 17:00 - Petoskey - CathyRaymond, JonMaddogHall
Linux continues to evolve on the desktop as the GNOME and KDE projects continue to mature. Discuss user applications and where work is still needed.
Michael "Freon" Andaluz Reading - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 18:00 - Theatre - MichaelAndaluz 2 hours
Blurb pending – this event is firm.
Principles of Swordsmanship - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 18:00 - Ballroom A/B - SalSanfratello, CarynMalokofsky of AegisConsulting
Have you ever watched the swordfights in the movies and wondered which of those moves would actually work? Come listen to a panel of trained martial arts swordsmen who can tell you what works, what doesn't, who it works for, and why.
Banquet - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 18:00 - Da Vinci's
Come share food and conversation with your friends, convention staffers, and....the guests of honor!
The Linux Kernel 2.6 - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 18:00 – Kensington - RobLandley
Introduced at the end of 2003, the 2.6 kernel brings many new features for Linux users. What's changed since 2.4? Learn what the new features are, what benefits you get for free just by upgrading, how to use the new options at your disposal, and how to migrate an existing 2.4 system to 2.6.
Geek Break - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 19:00
Go eat something, find the dealer's room in Ballroom C/D (nifty things to buy), the computer lounge in St. Clair - (hangout for fellow geeks), and consuite (free food and beer)!
Humanity 2.0 - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 19:00 - Keewenaw - SarahZettel, Steven Piziks, JasonAhlquist
Is humanity version 1.0 verging on obsolescence? How will science change humans? What bugs should we eliminate? What features should we add?
Humor: Can It Be Learned? - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 19:00 - Petoskey - TimShoeboxCrist, TonyGoldmark, RobBalder, HowardTayler
Is humor a skill which can be learned? Or is it a talent you either have or don't have? Are some people just not funny?
Tours with Tux - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 19:00 - St. Clair
Take a tour of the convention with our Minister of Silly Walks, BillPutt, and convention mascot StarfleetTux! Find out what's where, who's who, and where to find the fun.
Masquerade - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 20:00 - Ballroom A/B - CathyRaymond, JonMaddogHall, SandraBrewer, LukeSki
Whether you wish to parade your creativity, or admire the work of others, you want to be at the Masquerade. Trust me.
Introduction to EMACS - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 20:00 - Manitou - Dr. RobertMeier
From the [Help] menu, click on [Emacs Tutorial], and follow the instructions. Learn the basic "kernel" architecture of emacs. Emacs is a trivial editing engine with an easy scripting language, simple gui, searchable online help, and huge body of removeable macros. Learn how to find macros for mail browser, integrated development environment, info browser, ... then, try it yourself.
Beginning with Linux - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 20:00 - Kensington - MDLUG
Get your feet wet with this introduction to Linux and OpenSource Software. Let the experts from the community break down what Linux is about and more importantly, how to get started. This panel will be repeated over the weekend.
Charity Auction - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 20:30 - Theatre - NeilGaiman, WilWheaton
Wil Wheaton serves as our auctioneer for the wide array of fine products donated by guests, companies, and individuals. All proceeds go to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (www.cbldf.org)!
Dance with DJ Blasted Bill - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 21:00 - DaVinci's
Come down to Da Vinci's and dance to a variety of music! Requests gladly taken by DJ BillPutt and his dedicated and demented staff. Whether you come to costume watch or dance yourself, entertainment is required. Dance early, dance often!
SubGenius Holy Wars - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 21:00 - Ballroom A - 2 hours
The worshipers of Bob come forward to attack their own sacred cows, and those of others. Come, watch, revel in the mayhem. Or join in. Praise Bob!
Party Tour - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 21:00 - St. Clair
Come gather at the St. Clair - room to accompany our illustrious mascot StarfleetTux, on a tour of the best and brightest gatherings Saturday evening has to offer.
Limits of Computing - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 21:00 - Manitou - MarcusWatts
Everybody knows of Moore's law, whereby computers do twice as much every year. We all know computers are really run by tiny elves. How many elves can we pack into one dip? What are the limits on the compressibility of magic smoke before it implodes? When does Moore's law run up against the fundamental limits of the universe? Come and find out!
Mono and C# - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 22:00 - Manitou - AdamIsrael, SeanHarshbarger
Ximian/Novell's Mono project is an implementation of Microsoft's .NET framework for Linux. This panel will discuss common misconceptions, licensing, and the capabilities of Mono.
Deconstructing the SCO Lawsuit - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 22:00 - Kensington - EricRaymond, RobLandley
Join the authors of the OSI position paper on the SCO-vs-Everybody lawsuit for an anniversary update on the loudest and most shrill legal threat Linux has ever faced from a failed dot-con financed by Microsoft.
Celebrity Frag Fest - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 23:00 - St. Clair - JeffHemosBates, RobCmdrTacoMalda, HowardTayler
Come watch as our Guests of Honor and Nifty Guests gather to gird their silicon loins and go forth into bloody, explosion-ridden battle against each other...only the strongest and most cunning shall survive.
Maybe Logic Screening - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 23:00 - Theatre
Come see Maybe Logic: The Lives and Ideas of Robert Anton Wilson. Don't know who Robert Anton Wilson is? Author, magician, Illuminati, conspiracy theorist, father of Discordianism...the list goes on. NeilGaiman writes about magic. RAW reports he does it. Come see what you think.
Music Geeks - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 23:00 - Ballroom A - RachelSherman, ClifFlynt, EricRaymond
So many things to speak about. Why are so many geeks musicians? What impact has technology had on the evolution of music? Where is technology taking music today? What's a theramin, how does it work, and how can I get one?
LAMP: Saving Money with Linux in Business - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 23:00 - Manitou - AdamIsrael, ScottCollins
The Linux/Apache/MySQL/Perl/PHP/Python combination has been saving people money for years. Dig into the platform that put Linux on the map.
Regular Expressions - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 23:00 - Kensington - FlavioDaCosta, Kyle Rankin
Programmers who deal with text live and die by regular expressions. This panel deals with using regular expressions and its implementations.
Filk Jam - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 24:00 - Ballroom A
Music from all over the map, including topics technical, whimsical, literary, and metaphorical. Come to listen, or bring your instruments and join the circle!
Firewall Validation - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 24:00 - Manitou - ClifFlynt
So you think you're safe behind that firewall? Really? Let Clif tell you how to make sure
Transparent Distributed Computing - Saturday, April 17, 2004, 24:00 - Kensington - JohnCatherino
Java has long offered the promise of “Write Once Run Everywhere”; in this panel, the technology is raised to the next level, “Run Everywhere Spontaneously”. Imagine machines linking at will, dynamically creating greater functionality, with rich user interfaces transparently remoted. A simple, free, powerful approach to clustered computing, involving everything from mobile phones to mainframes.
Sunday, April 18, 2003
Night of the Vampires! - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 02:00 - Theatre
Night of the Vampires may be a candidate to become a B movie cult classic. Come see for yourself!
Novell, SUSE, Ximian, and the March of the Penguins - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 10:00 - Kensington - HowardTayler
In the last twelve months Novell has launched a new set of Open Source initiatives, and acquired both Ximian and SUSE. Apparently they're serious about somjething. Come find out what. Then grill the Novell insider mercilessly and see how many of the juicy secret details you can wring out of him.
Forty-Seven Things You Can Do With a Brick! - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 10:00 - Theatre - GailChristopherson
Can you think of three interesting things to do with a brick? Five? Eleven? Come see Gail meet the challenge of providing you with a recounting of 47 entertaining things you can do with your common household brick. Again, you'll have to trust me on this one...this is a panel you really don't want to miss.
Keeping up in Science and Technology - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 10:00 - Keewenaw - MichaelAndaluz, JeffHemosBates, StevenPiziks, SandraBrewer
So many technical advances, so little time. How can any individual keep up? How do you recognize real science from schlock, and hot trends from dead ends?
Future of the Divine - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 10:00 - Petoskey - RachelSherman, MattArnold, SarahZettel, Bill Diesenroth
Love it or hate it, religion has played a major role up to the present day. Our panelists speculate about the future possibilities for religion here on Earth, and in space. Will we have an Apocalypse? Will Gaia worship survive offworld? Can organized religion adapt to nanotechnology?
Blogs as Literature - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 11:00 - Ballroom A/B - NeilGaiman, SteveJackson, Jeff Bates
Blogging has become the new trend for people telling their stories on the internet. Do any of these stories qualify as literature? If so, which ones? What makes a blog a work of literary art?
Whither Comics? - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 11:00 - Petoskey - JaneIrwin, KatieMerritt, BillBaker
Technology and a changing market are having a profound effect on writers and the comic industry as a whole. Will changing technology bring all comics online? What has Ebay done to the collectibles market, and what has that meant for comic collectors and comic shop owners? What's the fate of individual issue comics in a world where slick graphic novels are more and more common?
Fire Bad! The Horrors of Technology - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 11:00 - Keewenaw - GailChristopherson, LorrraineDonaldson, BillDiesenroth
Learn all about the evils of technology, the joy of being a Luddite, and what new disasters new technological developments may bring. Y2K was nothing.
History of Timesharing - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 11:00 - Manitou - MarcusWatts
Timesharing is much older than Linux. Open Software existed long before Linux. It all came together in the same decade that gave us the summer of love, flower power, and the first moon landing. Come learn about the seeds of the revolution.
NeilGaiman Reading - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 12:00 - Ballroom A/B - NeilGaiman
Missed your chance to hear Neil on Friday? Need another taste? Come and get another hit!
Collaborating without Sending Money to Microsoft - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 12:00 - Kensington - HowardTayler, JonMaddogHall, EricRaymond
At Comdex, Bill Gates announced that Microsoft is "the email company". Maybe, maybe not. There are certainly plenty of alternatives, and lots of exciting research going on in the Open Source community. Come listen to the panel of experts discuss Open Standards, Open Source, and the future of collaboration software on Linux.
- CANCELED* More Than Just Wesley, Really - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 12:00 - Theatre
WilWheaton has 44 listed movie credits on IMDB. Come discuss WilWheaton's acting career since Star Trek: The Next Generation. From The Book of Life to Jane White is Sick and Twisted to over 40 television appearances, he's covered a lot of ground since TNG.
Can I Get a Hell Yeah?: Saving Farscape - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 12:00 - Petoskey - KathyMorton, DetroitFarscapers
Thousands of letters, emails and phone calls. Dozens of active local groups around the country and the world. Hundreds of bras on Bonnie Hammer's desk. And so much more. See how it all paid off and what those crazy Scapers want now.
Kerberos: Elliptical Key Encryption Sun 12:00 - Manitou - MarcusWatts
No, it's not a three-headed dog, yes, that is the correct spelling and no this has nothing to do with Machiavellian gold-digging aardvarks. Learn all abotu how it works, what it's good for, what the future holds, and why even MicroSoft does it.
Cryonics:Pop Me in the Freezer & Thaw Me in the Future - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 12:00 - Keewenaw - SteveJackson, DanPeisach
Can Cryonics enable us to see the far future? Learn about the Science of Cryonics. Can they bring you back to life or is it just a form of frozen death?
Sandman Jeopardy - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 13:00 - Ballroom A/B - NeilGaiman
"I'd like Matthew the Raven for $400, please..."
Comedy in SF - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 13:00 - Theatre - TomSmith, LukeSki, RobBalder, HowardTayler
Who is funnier, filkers or online comic artists? We have two of the funniest representatives of each group here. Come listen to them show you the funny side of SF. Who will win the battle of the funny guys? You, if you come to this panel!
Using Linux in a Microsoft Workplace - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 13:00 - Interlochen - JorgeCastro
Interoperability is an important part of using Linux. This panel will discuss how we can still communicate with our friends and colleagues using Closed Source products.
SandraBrewer Reads - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 13:00 - Manitou - SandraBrewer
You're not familiar with Clan Beltene, Michigan's premier clan of Druidic-Catholics, dwelling in fictional Brennen County, just north of Marquette? The come and get acquainted with local author SandraBrewer's collection of eccentric and humorous characters, as she reads from the pages of “Murder for Beltene” and it in-progress sequel, “Smuggling for Samhain”.
Heirs to Sandman - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 13:00 - Petoskey - JaneIrwin, LorrraineDonaldson, KatieMerritt
NeilGaiman revolutionized comics. What great new comics follow in his footsteps? Come learn about the very best in new comics including Neil's own newest comics.
What We Loved - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 13:00 - Kensington - StevenPiziks, BillDiesenroth, TimRyan
Okay, everyone loves to talk about how they hated it when Picard________ or when Janeway said _______ or when Cisco went ________. But now let's don the rose-colored glasses and talk about the best parts of Trek. What are the scenes you wish could go on forever? Who were your favorite characters and what were their best moments? No criticism here, folks...we want to fall in love again.
How Can I Help? Becoming a Secret Master of Fandom - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 13:00 - Keewenaw - KathyBecker, TracyWorcester, JeffBeeler
Learn how conventions really work and how you can help make PenguiCon (and other cons) even better. Learn what it means to be a SMOF (Secret Master of Fandom).
Gstreamer Multimedia Platform - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 14:00 - Keewenaw - SeanHarshbarger
Gstreamer is a library that allows the construction of graphs of media-handling components, ranging from simple mp3 playback to complex audio (mixing) and video (non-linear editing) processing. Applications can take advantage of advances in codec and filter technology transparently. Developers can add new codecs and filters by writing a simple plugin with a clean, generic interface.
Getting It Right: Writing Personal and Military Combat - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 14:00 - Petoskey - JohnRingo, HowardTayler, SalSanfratello
What does it take to evocatively write personal and military combat? Does it require a martial arts or military background? Or is a good imagination good enough? And is realism always a good thing?
Defending the 1st Amendment - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 14:00 - Kensington - CathyRaymond
How is the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution under attack? What is the CBLDF? What is the ACLU? What can you do to protect your rights and the rights of your favorite writers? Learn now or ***CENSORED***
Suggest Your Favorite Guest - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 14:00 - Theatre - SusanHarris
The name really says it all. Come propose the guests you'd like to see adorn next year's roster at PenguiCon.
APRS on Linux - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 14:00 - Manitou - Topher, LadySarah
APRS is a tracking system used on HAM radio to send messages and locations to other HAMs on the system. The location data (from a GPS) is sent over the airwaves and each side can use this data to plot locations of other stations on maps with the right software. This panel will show the basic setup of APRS ion a commercial vehicle (read: Big Truck) and how its used to send messages back and forth to other drivers, base stations, and "4-wheel" mobiles. Its a hoot. Don't miss this one.
Olympic Ribbon Acquisition Competition - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 14:00 - Ballroom A/B
So just what have you been willing to do to get yet another ribbon? Come. Compare your ribbon mastery to your fellow ribbon collectors. In case of a tie, the person with the best stories wins.
Darts and Flowers - Sunday, April 18, 2004, 15:00 - Ballroom A - Misc Con Comm
Tell us what we did right, and should do again. Tell us what didn't work so well, and how you'd suggest we should do it next time?
penguicon2.0/twothousandfour.1242881653.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/01/14 14:24 (external edit)