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Friday, April 28
 

16:00

Sorting Ceremony
Everyone dreams of getting into Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Didn't get that letter? That's ok! Come join us as we unofficially sort you into a house. But instead of sitting down for a feast, we've made four different treats to represent each house. After your house is picked you'll be given your very special treat and be able to talk to others in your house as well.
Speakers
JL

Johnathon Lugg

BL

Becky Lugg

avatar for Bonnie K. Salvatore

Bonnie K. Salvatore

MS

Morgan Statkus


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

16:00

Yoga: A Science of Humanity
A discussion and workshop on the physical, mental, and social benefits of Yoga. Come learn how this ancient practice can foster positive change in the world.
Speakers
avatar for Thad Bogert

Thad Bogert

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

16:00

Career Building Workshop: Kick-Off Session!
This is the first (and only required) session to participate in the Career Building workshop. Bring your resume and one or more recent cover letters. Our volunteers will help you edit them to show off your best, and provide typesetting assistance. This session is required in order to participate in mock interviews and wrap-up sessions. Participants should be ready BEFORE Penguicon with a resume or CV and cover letter, as well as two examples of the type of job listings they would typically respond to. You'll also want to bring a set of grown-up business clothes to set up a time for mock interviews later in the convention. Overleaf has agreed to sponsor by providing three-month Pro accounts for all participants.
Speakers
AN

Adam Nuwer

avatar for Susan Sons

Susan Sons

Interests: Infosec, software engineering, infrastructure tech (ICS/SCADA, infrastructure software), OSS, martial arts, strength training, search and rescue, startups (interested in advising, not becoming a founder or employee at this time), swing dancing, scientific CI, boardgames... Read More →
KW

Keane Wolter


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - 17:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

16:00

Library of Laomis (Netherstorm)
6 players | The Sidhe city of Laomis was said to be cursed by the gods and has been lost since ancient times. Now, the League of Boot and Trail claims to have found the lost city's library, but they've lost contact with their researchers. What wonders will the party discover as they attempt a rescue?
Speakers
PJ

Paul Jones


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - 19:50
That Room Gaming - Table 4 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

16:00

Paint and Take
Come paint a miniature and take it home! If help is needed we can give ideas and show how things are done. Please, no attendees under 13 without parental supervision.
Speakers
avatar for Anderyn

Anderyn

DM

Dean Martelle


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - 21:00
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY   Gaming

16:00

An Experiment in Collaborative Art
This will be an event running all weekend, as a collaborative effort. Each participant will paint a 4 inch square canvas as a part of an overall larger piece. Each canvas will have points that connect to its neighbor. Each canvas will have the same points. Final placement will be decided by a dice roll. Since each participant is meant to take their individual canvas home, the completed piece of art will only be seen at the one moment when it is all brought together at Penguicon.
Speakers
avatar for Stacy Louis/Saltygirl

Stacy Louis/Saltygirl

Owner, Louis Cosulting

Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 14:00
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

16:00

Borg Assimilation
We are the Borg. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile.
Speakers
X

Xanthia


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Everywhere Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

Chaos Machine
This customizable marble roller coaster is a perennial favorite, serving as a metaphor for the open source development process. The Chaos Machine is available all weekend for Penguicon attendees to tinker with!
Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

Forba Fates Fortunetelling Booth
Find a token, bring it to the booth, and receive a free individual fortune with your lucky numbers and more!
Speakers
VH

Valerie Hibbard


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

Guess Who - Once Upon a Time Edition
Join us for a game of guess who. Are you a fan of the show Once Upon a Time? Do you know your fairy tale characters? You will be given a character at random and you can only ask yes or no questions till to know the answer. Think you know the answer? Find Xanthia to find out.
Moderators
X

Xanthia


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Everywhere Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

Ribbon Fairy
Keep your eyes open for the Ribbon Fairy. If you find her, you can trade her a ribbon for a ribbon!
Speakers
BT

Becky The Ribbon Fairy


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Everywhere Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

Scavenger Hunts
Be on the look out for the different scavenger hunts happening all around the con throughout the weekend. Watch for our flyers to tell you what to look for!
Speakers
X

Xanthia


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Everywhere Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

W.O.W. Live
Hello fellow online gamers! We understand your fear of withdrawal and hope to keep you busy with your own live action quest to keep the symptoms away all weekend. Come and join in this year's live-action World of Warcraft themed game. Keep your eyes open for the gold "!" to start your quest.
Speakers
X

Xanthia


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Everywhere Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

Wreck It!
Our Wreck It journal and other interesting activity books will be floating around for you to enjoy. Help us finish the books by the end of the convention!
Speakers
X

Xanthia


Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Everywhere Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Mayhem

16:00

Recharge in the Reset Room
Need a break from the hustle and bustle of Penguicon? The Reset Room is a quiet space available all weekend for anyone to use to relax and recharge. Come chill for a while!
Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Reset Room [Room 321] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Penguicon

16:00

Raspberry PI Playtime
Come to the Computer Lab to spend some time checking out the Raspberry PIs that will be available all weekend long for in lab use! The Raspberry PI is a small, inexpensive computer that allows you to build hundreds of cool projects. If you want to learn more, join us for the session "Build a File Server with your Raspberry PI."
Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 15:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

16:00

Musical Slinky Forest
A forest that's musical and also made of slinkies. Need we say more? The forest will be an ongoing installation for most of the weekend, closed from time to time due to its creator being human and also being on other panels.
Speakers
avatar for David Erik Nelson

David Erik Nelson

Award-winning science-fiction author and essayist. His stories and novellas regularly appear in ASIMOV’S, THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, anthos like BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR, and elsewhere. Author of DIY books like SNIP, BURN, SOLDER, SHRED: SERIOUSLY GEEKY STUFF TO MAKE... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 16:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 16:00
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

17:00

Anime In Spaaaace!
Are you a hard-SF fan who can't watch a movie without picking it apart and yelling at the screen? We'll survey some great anime set in the vacuum of space and made with with an attempt at accuracy. No space fighters banking around making vroom vroom noises here!
Speakers
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.
avatar for Paul Kemner

Paul Kemner

Paul's a bit older than Godzilla, watched the original broadcast of | the Astro Boy series, and has been a fan of anime ever since. When | he's not writing and tuning SQL, he enjoys geeky hobbies, studies | ancient & modern polytheist relgions, plays exotic instruments, and | writes... Read More →
SS

Scott Scheraga


Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Anime

17:00

Let's Eat Weeds!
Do you like eating new things? Maybe you'd like to supplement your diet? What will you eat when **** hits the fan? Did you know that many weeds in the US were introduced from Europe originally as food sources? Many weeds are also high in vitamins and minerals you're not getting from normal store-bought foods. We'd like to introduce you to the wonderful (free) world of weeds! Your backyard is an untapped resource of possibilities!
Speakers
avatar for Kristoffer Marshall

Kristoffer Marshall

Cyber Defense Engineer
I'm a former Linux admin who has weird hobbies. Electronics, hacking, hiking, camping, eating weeds... | | Twitter: @CrunkComputing

Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

17:00

How to Write a Novel in a Month
You've probably heard of the challenge, maybe you've even tried it already... writing a novel in just one month (November)! Join the Metro Detroit Municipal Liaison of National Novel Writing Month to learn the ins and outs of winning what can seem like an impossible challenge. Learn the tips and tricks to rock out the rough draft of a manuscript in just 30 days.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Bondono

Beth Bondono

OB

Owen Bondono

CF

Carol Flynt

Lit Crit major and speaker of 4 languages, I have had grammar classes up the wazoo. Emerging writer, just made my first professional sale (short story) Have reached the point where writing flows more often and I am understanding how the craft works a bit more. Still get an epiphany... Read More →
JM

Julia Marsh

avatar for Jeff Pryor

Jeff Pryor

Jeff has been writing and telling stories all of his life, but recently decided to get serious about it. His debut novel, 'Chosen of Trees and of Talons' was published in November by Journalstone Publishing. This begins a five-book epic fantasy adventure unlike any other. The sequel... Read More →
avatar for Erika Wagner

Erika Wagner


Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

17:00

So this is Your First Penguicon?
So, this is your first Penguicon! Come find out what to expect and meet some people who are involved in the making of this awesome convention that so many of us call home.
Speakers
avatar for cassinator

cassinator

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P
avatar for Nuri Gocay

Nuri Gocay

Sr. Technology Manager, Expedia Group
Nuri has been involved in the IT industry since 1996, when he, at the tender age of 14, was able to pester the local IT firm into his first intern job. In 2000, Nuri took his first call center job, and after pestering the IT guys into giving him a job, he launched a career in contact... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Penguicon

17:00

CANCELLED How to Survive in the Middle Ages
Your elbow hit the chronograph in your time machine. You are now in 1350 instead of 2350. How will you survive famine, plague, war, and that other horsemen? Come find out!
Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

17:00

Pai Sho
2 players | Based off of the Japanese ancient art of flower arranging, kadō, and originating from "Avatar, The Last Airbender", fans all over the world have come together to bring us a real game, and many variants. It is a game of both strategy and chance. Players attempt to line up their flower tiles on a grid on the table and create harmony for their pieces while attempting to create disharmony and chaos for their opponent. Play with real wooden tiles and board.
Speakers
avatar for Dana Nelson

Dana Nelson

Gaming/Geeky Burlesque, Track Head

Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 18:00
Lobby Gaming - Table D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

17:00

Get Plastered--How to Make a Foam Dress Form Part 1
This workshop will show attendees how to create a dress form using plaster bandages to make a custom cast which is then used as a mold to create the foam dress form. This is part 1 of 3. Drying and curing takes time, so there will be multiple parts for the different steps over the course of the weekend.
Speakers
JH

Jan Henry

DH

David Henry


Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 18:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay   DIY

17:00

Lord of the Rings Card Game (FF LCG)
Learn to play Fantasy Flight's Lord of the Rings Living Card Game
Speakers
K

Kelly

KW

Kevin Wozniak


Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 18:50
Lobby Gaming - Table G Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

17:00

Mysterium
2-7 players | Unable to talk, the amnesic ghost communicates with the mediums through visions, which are represented in the game by illustrated cards. The mediums must decipher the images to help the ghost remember how he was murdered: Who did the crime? Where did it take place? Which weapon caused the death? The more the mediums cooperate and guess well, the easier it is to catch the right culprit.
Speakers
MH

Matt Hrabosky


Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 18:50
Lobby Gaming - Table B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

17:00

Engineered Self Defense
This session will focus on preventative measures as well as last resort measures in scenarios that deal with an armed or unarmed aggressor.
Speakers
avatar for Derek Newland

Derek Newland

I enjoy being a technician, from cars and computers to welding and electrical motors. Fixing and building things has always been fun for me.

Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 18:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

17:00

Legends of Kalidasia: Siege of Albion
3-6 players | Board game where you explore a spooky house, tile by tile, to defeat a traitorous fellow player.
Speakers
JR

Jason Rutherford


Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - 19:50
Lobby Gaming - Table E Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

17:00

Artemis – Starship Bridge Simulator
Space: the ultimate target-rich environment. These are the voyages of the Starship Artemis, and its sister vessels, whose ongoing mission is seek out aggressive life forms, marauders and even each other, and blow 'em all to space-smithereens! Lansing Makers Network will be bringing their version, with sound and lighting effects, of the popular starship bridge simulator game, Artemis! Join us for this co-op starship sim for up to six crew members.
Speakers
MF

Michael Flaga


Friday April 28, 2017 17:00 - Saturday April 29, 2017 00:00
Artemis [Room 301] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Muscle Testing: Human Lie Detection and More
Come learn how to use the energy and impulses of your own body to tell if something is good for you or not. This technique can also be used fairly accurately to tell if someone is lying about something. This can be a great tool for anyone with kids or teenagers. Audience participation welcome.
Speakers
avatar for Daniel

Daniel

Muscle Testing: Human Lie Detection and More | Come learn how to use the energy and impulses of your own body to tell if something is good for you or not. This technique can also be used fairly accurately to tell if someone is lying about something. This can be a great tool for anyone... Read More →
avatar for Amie Lynn

Amie Lynn

Mom
Amie has over 11 years experience teaching art, dance and preschool. This will be Amie’s 18th year attending ConVocation, having taught Kids Programming for at least 10 of those years (She has lost count). She has explored many aspects of various traditions on the Pagan path, and... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY   Life   Science

18:00

Mrs White, in the Kitchen, with Assistive Technology
We will discuss and demonstrate assistive technology that can help work around physical limitations that impair food prep and cooking.
Speakers
MS

Mistress Sassypants


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

18:00

Carcassonne
2-5 players | Welcome to the tile and worker placement game where cooperation or possible competition leads to high scores. The proper placement of cities, roads, monasteries, pennants, and fireworks will lead to big points or a tiny score. This set is built with customization of my own design, including tiles across many expansions, as well as a few unique unseen ones. The game will involve basic meeples as well as a brief pre-game tutorial.
Speakers
JW

Jon Wallace

Video game design hobbyist who spends his time on rapid prototype design events both for the thrill of the challenge and in order to develop a portfolio and one day start his own video game company

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Lobby Gaming - Table A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Fun With NESBot
A NESBot can replay pre-recorded playthroughs of certain video games, including Super Mario Bros 1 and 3, Blaster Master, and Rad Racer. Watch as an Arduino NESBot plays the Nintendo Entertainment System in such ways as "warpless walkathon" and "maximum coins". Feel free to ask questions or for suggestions on making your own.
Speakers
avatar for Mike

Mike "Whiplash" Arnos


parts eBay Micro SD module jpg
parts eBay Arduino Nano jpg
NESBot diagram png
NESBot movies zip
NESBot v4 ino
strip lag frames for FCEUX lua
Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Making Chip Tunes With Famitracker
Want to make a soundtrack for a throwback video game project? Want to make music that will play on an actual NES? Just want to goof around with neat music making software? Learn how to quickly make chiptunes for showing friends, putting online, or just listening to for fun.
Speakers
AV

Andy Velasko


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Gender Non-Conformist Round Table
This session will provide a safe space for gender non-conformists and allies to get together and discuss their gender nonconformity and how it affects their lives.
Speakers
N

Nikki


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

18:00

Timelapse Photography with the Pi Zero
This talk will be a quick introduction to the PI Zero and how it can be used for time lapse photography.
Speakers
TC

Tim Callahan


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media   Tech

18:00

Opening Ceremonies
Join our Con Chair, Cylithria Dubois, the Con Committee, and our Guests of Honor as we open Penguicon for its 15th year!
Speakers
AA

Allison Anderson

Registration
avatar for cassinator

cassinator

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P
avatar for Ben Churchill

Ben Churchill

Guest of Honor
Ben Churchill is the producer and director of The Tommy Edison Experience and Blind Film Critic series and a documentary filmmaker focusing on pop culture and unique lifestyles.
avatar for Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow

Guest of Honor
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist — the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of many books, most recently WALKAWAY, a novel for adults, IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; INFORMATION DOESN’T WANT TO BE FREE, a book about earning... Read More →
avatar for Lithie Dubois

Lithie Dubois

Just me; no more, no less. @Penguicon Program Ops. @ConFusionMI 2020 Conchair. AASFA Board of Director... Read More →
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.
avatar for Dan Eckerd

Dan Eckerd

Penguicon 2012
Hungry? Thirsty? Brand new to Penguicon? In need of a respite? Then why are you standing around reading this blurb instead of heading directly to the Penguicon ConSuite located on the Fourth Floor -North Suites; Rooms 401 & 402 of the Hyatt Hotel? | | Seriously, you’re not here... Read More →
avatar for Tommy Edison

Tommy Edison

Guest of Honor
Tommy Edison, who has been blind since birth, is the Blind Film Critic reviewing movies from his point of view, the host of The Tommy Edison Experience on YouTube and Amazon where he uses humor to answer the most popular questions about living without sight, and worked in radio for... Read More →
JF

Judy Foley

Maker Market Coordinator
avatar for Nuri Gocay

Nuri Gocay

Sr. Technology Manager, Expedia Group
Nuri has been involved in the IT industry since 1996, when he, at the tender age of 14, was able to pester the local IT firm into his first intern job. In 2000, Nuri took his first call center job, and after pestering the IT guys into giving him a job, he launched a career in contact... Read More →
avatar for Janet Gocay

Janet Gocay

Planner of Penguicon. Teacher and event planner. Maker of pretty things.
EG

Eric Guy

avatar for Sumana Harihareswara

Sumana Harihareswara

Guest of Honor
Sumana is a programmer, technology executive and open source expert who practices and teaches technical and people skills. She is also a comedian, author, and holds a master's in technology from Columbia University
avatar for Peter Jansen

Peter Jansen

Hack of Honor
Peter Jansen, PhD is the developer of The Tricorder Project, which aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can’t normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see... Read More →
GL

Geralyn Lance

AL

Amanda Long-Adams

Board of Directors, Penguicon 2017 Treasurer, Penguicon
avatar for Kevin MacLeod

Kevin MacLeod

Guest of Honor
Kevin MacLeod is an international award-eligible composer and copyright activist, known for his Creative Commons licensed royalty-free music available on incompetech.com. He is an avid Twitch Streamer, showcasing his music production skills and scintillating* personality. Kevin's... Read More →
avatar for Jeff Marraccini

Jeff Marraccini

Registration, Penguicon 2016-2019 Con Com
I am looking forward to welcoming everyone to Penguicon! Thank you to Paul Keyes, Allison, our Registration Team, and the Penguicon Con Com for all their help as well!
HE

Hannah Eberle and Odie

avatar for ada palmer

ada palmer

Guest of Honor
Historian. Author. Composer. Teacher. Blogger. Ada Palmer does considerable research on everything media, from historical texts to anime and manga. She writes both science fiction and fantasy novels, and composes music in the same genres. Ada teaches in the History Department of... Read More →
AR

Amanda Robinson

avatar for Chelle Silas

Chelle Silas

Head of Ops 2019
Head of Ops for 2018

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Penguicon

18:00

Strange New Worlds
Exoplanets are a relatively new addition to the field of astronomy, but have been part of sci-fi for far longer. We'll take a look at what they are, how we find them, a few popular media examples, and things to keep in mind if you want to make some of your own for your own works.
Speakers
avatar for Brian Hudson

Brian Hudson


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

18:00

What's New in the Universe?
New news about old stuff! A panel discussing about recent news and discoveries somewhere in a galaxy far away (or nearby) with Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors.
Speakers
CL

Constance L. Martin-Trembley

BT

Bob Trembley


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

18:00

Character Sheet Personas: Using Your Gaming Experience In Software Development
Imagine that a big hulking barbarian asks you for a scroll of cure poison so they can save the king from death. Even if you give them the best scroll ever, they will fail at their quest because they can't read magic. That is the situation we are all too often presenting our users with when we build software for the wrong persona. This session will be a hands-on workshop for anyone in the tech industry exploring how and why we can use personas in a meaningful way. To make it more tangible, we'll frame the concept of users as characters in an RPG. We'll center the lessons learned around a fictitious project, and will include take-home materials. At the end of the workshop you'll have experienced how to effectively bring a human element to your project through character sheet personas.
Speakers
avatar for Jonathon Baugh

Jonathon Baugh

Experience Architect, Pillar Technology
Jonathon has been designing and building digital experiences for over 20 years. His unique ability to understand and balance people, technology, and business has proven instrumental across companies of all shapes, sizes, and industries. He has designed experiences for everything from... Read More →

Personas for Gamers pdf
PersonaCharacterSheet docx
Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

18:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 19:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

18:00

Abyss
2-4 players | Use all of your cunning to win or buy votes in the Council. Recruit the most influential Lords and abuse their powers to take control of the most strategic territories in this game of undersea empire.
Speakers
JM

Jason Miller


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 19:50
Lobby Gaming - Table E Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Betrayal at House on the Hill
3-6 players | Board game where you explore a spooky house, tile by tile, to defeat a traitorous fellow player.
Speakers
CO

Cheryl Orosz

Application Developer
As a longtime games afficianado, I strongly believe in the power of play to enlighten and entertain.

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 20:00
Lobby Gaming - Table F Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

The Bet (D&D 5e)
6 players | After a night of drinking and bad decisions, you've got a contract to fulfill! Too bad it's with Asmodeus.
Speakers
LZ

Luke Zondervan


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 20:50
That Room Gaming - Table 2 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Grand Circus: Intro to Coding Workshop
This Intro to Coding workshop is a free workshop designed for folks who are curious about coding, but who have little to no experience. This workshop is the perfect class to learn the programming foundations needed to eventually build a website or mobile app. While you won't leave the workshop a developer, you will leave with an understanding of code needed to learn any programming language. We'll cover (using JavaScript) common terms used by programmers, data types, boolean expressions, and conditional statements. Don't know what any of these things mean? Perfect - this workshop is for you.
Speakers
CB

Christie Birtie

avatar for Anna Farr

Anna Farr

Program Manager, Grand Circus
avatar for Jessica Ann Roland

Jessica Ann Roland

Product Owner, Lead, Fathead LLC
Volunteer Chair Penguicon 2018, ConChair Penguicon 2019I love all things science especially neurobiology, Doctor Who, Wolverine, volunteering, and building communities.

Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 20:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

18:00

Savage Rifts: The Tomorrow Legion Needs You!
6 players | Come play in one of the oldest tabletop settings ever, now translated into the Fast, Furious, Fun style of Savage Worlds game system! The future is a dangerous place where literally ANYTHING can happen!
Speakers
WM

Wyl Majure


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 21:50
That Room Gaming - Table 3 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Call of Cthulhu: Bury Your Dead Arizona
6 players | CoC 7th edition Bury Your Dead, AZ is set in the 1930s. The players have just stolen a large amount of cash and escaped. But things go wrong and the players must survive long enough to escape BYDA! Rated R for violence, gore, and adult themes.
Speakers
MC

Mike Caldwell


Friday April 28, 2017 18:00 - 23:50
That Room Gaming - Table 1 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

19:00

Crochet 101
Learn to use a hook to turn string into a useable object.
Speakers
avatar for Zena Jasenak

Zena Jasenak

DP

Dawn P

JQ

Jeanette Quirk

AR

Amanda Robinson

avatar for Kelly V

Kelly V

Call management, AAA
I love knitting, crochet, yarn (anything....), jewelry making and I do a bit of sewing and cross stitch. Beyond crafts, I hoard yarn (oops, thats crafts), have an odd sense of humor, am LGBT (asexual and agender), love cats, dogs, and penguins, and my favorite color is purple.

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

19:00

Ask a Baker
What does creaming really DO? What causes browning? Why does bread...bread? Why did my thing do that thing? If you've ever had a baking question, or just want to shoot the breeze about butter, come in. Have a chat, have a snack, and leave with a few recipes that won't let you down.
Speakers
avatar for Erika Wagner

Erika Wagner


Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

19:00

Decentralized Organizing
Groups like Occupy in the US and Podemos in Spain have created large-scale movements without a traditional, top-down leadership structure. But are they successful? (Spoiler: yes, just in unexpected ways.) These leaderless -- or more accurately leaderful -- movements have been able to grow quickly and create large-scale action without needing grants or full time staff. How'd they do that? Come learn techniques you can use, and how they can be applied within the free/open software community.
Speakers
EL

Edward L. Platt

Researcher, Author, University of Michigan School of Information
I'm Ed. I create technology for communities and communities for technology. I'm also an artist, a hacker/maker, and a neuroscience fanboy. I'm currently a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan School of Information.

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

19:00

How to Determine What to Focus On
Have too many neglected projects? How about that to-do list? Learn how to find what's essential for you to do and how to focus on it to get things done!
Speakers
avatar for Toni Conn

Toni Conn

Owner, Normal Not Found
I make pinback buttons for geeky businesses and organizations so that they can spoil and grow their community.

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

19:00

Project Managing Your Creative Self
What do you do when your muse doesn't show up, or potentially worse, when too many muses show up? Learn goal-setting techniques (how am I going to get these projects done?), cost-benefit analysis methods (what am I going to work on next?), and set up your own productivity pipeline for yourself.
Speakers
avatar for Merrie Haskell

Merrie Haskell

Author
Merrie Haskell’s novels are The Princess Curse, Handbook for Dragon Slayers and The Castle Behind Thorns. She won the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle Grades) and the DetCon1 Middle Grade Speculative Fiction award, and she was twice a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

19:00

Of Gods and Heroes
Are you looking forward to WONDER WOMAN and JUSTICE LEAGUE? Did you enjoy DOCTOR STRANGE and LOGAN? Are you intrigued by THE INFINITY WARS? Or are you burnt out from the deluge of superhero-type of films? Do you think they can keep up their momentum or do you believe the public is tired of the same plot as a backdrop to fancy CGI? Will the superhero genre be able to survive? We will talk about recent successes and failures of the comics and movies alike. All these questions and more will be the subject of this grand venture of the superhero comics and movie panel!
Speakers
L

LadyAna

PX

Professor X


Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

19:00

Digital Identity: WTF?
Our digital identities have never been more important, and we have never been more "out of touch" with what we look like in this bizarro alternate reality. Please join me for an eye opening discussion about our digital selves, what we give up when we click "I agree", and why everyone has something to hide. Most importantly, come hear about progress on products and business models designed to flip the existing "pay for a 'free' app with your data" model on its head. Do you think it's time for Google, Facebook, and Amazon to start clicking "I Agree" to our terms and conditions? If so come to this talk!!
Speakers
CB

Claudio Bryla

Software Engineer, DCW LLC
From Canada, eh? Recently graduated from WSU with a degree in CS. Currently a Software Engineer at DCW. Perl is my favorite programming language (blame Mikey). Come talk to me about pretty much anything.
avatar for Mikey G

Mikey G

Systems Architect, CTO, Founder, Wayne State / DCW LLC / mg2.org
Linux user since 92. Started off programming MERC-based MUD (C) in 94. Favorite programming language is Perl. Don't hate. Talk to me about: Parenting, Identity Management, Perl, Privacy, Cryptography, Cryptocurrencies (Trading and Mining), Cigars, Vaping, Rocket League, Embedded... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

Fun with (WiFi) Pineapples
This presentation will be a demonstration of how a Pineapple can be used perform man in the middle attacks while masking itself as a legit access point. We will also include a basic rundown of the auditing features.
Speakers
avatar for William Bowen

William Bowen


Fun With (Wi Fi) Pineapples pptx
Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

Linux Command Line tools
Clif will describe some of the Linux command line tools ranging from the traditional shell scripting like tr and cut to web tools like wget and scripting with lynx.
Speakers
avatar for Clif Flynt

Clif Flynt

President, Noumena Corp
I'm a techie nerd. Unix/Linux user since the early '80s and programmer since the early '70s. I also write filks, humorous fiction (Well, I think it's humorous), and play guitar. My renewed interest in writing fiction led me to studying how to write well which led to Editomat (www.editomat.com... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

No Gods, No Servers: Decentralized Darknet Communication on Freenet
Darknets. The deep web. What exactly are they? Despite the buzz around these words, the technology itself remains a mystery to most people. Forget the hype and dive in head first by learning how to write code that runs on Freenet, a scalable friend-to-friend datastore. You'll learn to write applications that are decentralized, encrypted and extremely scalable - with no need for a server to keep things going.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Grube

Michael Grube

Hey everybody! I'm a developer who has a pretty strong interest in decentralization and hacking.

No Gods, No Servers pdf
Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

Things I Wish I'd Known About Open Source in 1998
Help Guest of Honor and open source leader Sumana Harihareswara give a talk about what she's learned about open source. She'll give you topics to choose from and you will choose what she speaks about!
Speakers
avatar for Sumana Harihareswara

Sumana Harihareswara

Guest of Honor
Sumana is a programmer, technology executive and open source expert who practices and teaches technical and people skills. She is also a comedian, author, and holds a master's in technology from Columbia University

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 20:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

19:00

Tricorder Project Demo
Our Hack of Honor, The Tricorder project, aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can't normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see colour. These devices are designed to be inexpensive enough that they are affordable to all those who want to use them to learn about the world around them. Join Peter Jansen of the Tricorder project to check out these devices first hand!
Speakers
avatar for Peter Jansen

Peter Jansen

Hack of Honor
Peter Jansen, PhD is the developer of The Tricorder Project, which aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can’t normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 20:00
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

Carson City
2-5 players | You can take various actions that earn you victory points for your plots, pistols (the hired help), and buildings. At the end of the game, your buildings, houses, mountains, and money contribute to your victory points, and the person with the most points wins. So, go round up your posse of gunslingers and get ready for some Wild West action in Carson City
Speakers
MD

Mike Dudash


Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 20:50
Lobby Gaming - Table C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

19:00

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Traditional Printmaking
This will be a two hour presentation discussing the four traditional printmaking processes: serigraphy, intaglio, relief and lithography. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, interact with the demonstration materials, and need only bring their curiosity.
Speakers
BS

Bill Stolpin


Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 20:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

19:00

RANGE 15 Movie
A group of hard-partying soldiers are tasked with saving mankind after a zombie apocalypse grips the globe. Together, they have to transport the possible cure for the outbreak across America to a safe zone filled with scientists known as Range 15. RATED R (Language, Gore)
Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 20:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

19:00

Ubuntu 17.04 Release Party
Come join the rest of the Ubuntu Michigan Loco as we celebrate the release of Ubuntu 17.04, nicknamed Zesty Zapus. We'll be meeting in the bar to raise a glass (or two) to those who helped with the release of 17.04. Come on down to the bar and say "hi".
Speakers
avatar for Craig Maloney

Craig Maloney

Programmer
Just another random hacker.

Friday April 28, 2017 19:00 - 20:50
Westin Bar Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

20:00

Anime Fanservice - Where Do You Draw the Line?
Discussion of fanservice in anime. Lately, serious discussion of fanservice in anime is taking place. "Gratuitous sexual titillation" is one aspect. Is it appropriate in some anime genres but not others? Is it possible to have too much fan service? This also includes a discussion of 'non-sexual' fan service as well.
Speakers
avatar for cassinator

cassinator

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P
avatar for Paul Kemner

Paul Kemner

Paul's a bit older than Godzilla, watched the original broadcast of | the Astro Boy series, and has been a fan of anime ever since. When | he's not writing and tuning SQL, he enjoys geeky hobbies, studies | ancient & modern polytheist relgions, plays exotic instruments, and | writes... Read More →
avatar for A. Carina Spears

A. Carina Spears

Author, A. Carina Barry
I'm one of the Shinigami Kami. I know way too much about something most people probably aren't familiar with. If you want to talk about Shinigami/Grim Reapers, awesome. | I write horror, romance, and fantasy. I also enjoy writing challenges and to that end am playing with fan-fiction... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Anime

20:00

Found-Item & Closet Cosplay
Having troubles sewing a costume from the ground up? Maybe you don't feel like creating everything from scratch? Never fear! Found-Item Cosplay can help! This seminar focuses on advice and suggestions on how to make costumes out of garments and supplies you find in your house, the thrift store, and more!
Speakers
avatar for Kristie Good

Kristie Good

DP

David Pratt


Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

20:00

Vegan Junk Food: Delicious and Not at All Nutritious
Think vegans are waifish, pallid folk who munch broccoli all day? Join a Fat Vegan who totally knows what she's talking about and enter the tasty world of naughty vegan treats! We'll sample many yummy chips, cookies, candy, and more until your guard is down and the Vegan Army recruits you. Kidding! We will also talk about hidden animal-based ingredients, sugar processing, and how you can make decadent vegan goodies at home.
Speakers
AW

Amy Wilkins

Half of the Amy wondertwins, I am a fat happy vegan with a great love for vegan cheeze.
AW

Amy Wright

Half of the Amy wondertwins! I've been a vegan for 7 years and I'm looking forward to sharing my expertise and enthusiasm for the wide world of non-dairy cheeses.

Penguicon17VeganJunkFood (1) pdf
Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

20:00

Overworld
2 to 4 players | Discover dungeon entrances by exploring pixel-art forests, mountains, reefs, and whirlpools. Lay L-shaped tiles and claim them with your ships and your rideable flightless birds. Dungeon doors are placed into the spaces where no tile could ever fit. The player whose three dungeon doors are farthest apart has discovered the largest dungeon, and is famed as the greatest explorer. This will be Kickstarted by Magic Meeple Games in Summer 2017.
Speakers
avatar for Matt Arnold

Matt Arnold

Over the past 14 years, Matt has served at almost every level of leadership in Penguicon. For five years, he has alternately served as a Board Director and Officer at i3Detroit hacker space. Professionally, Matt designs and publishes board games, develops websites, and makes custom... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Lobby Gaming - Table D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

20:00

Sentinels of the Multiverse
2-5 players | A cooperative, fixed-deck card game with a comic book flavor. Each player plays as one of ten heroes, against one of four villains, and the battle takes place in one of four different dynamic environments.
Speakers
ME

Mike Emerson


Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Lobby Gaming - Table A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

20:00

Smash Up
2-4 players | During play, Base cards (each with their own difficulties and abilities) are in play. You attempt to have the most power on the Base from your minions when the base is smashed. Sounds easy? How easy is it when an opponent's alien-ninja decides to beam up your minions to other bases - or flat-out assassinate them?
Speakers
JF

Josh Finley


Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Lobby Gaming - Table G Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

20:00

Take Your Heart: A Persona Panel
Grab your masks, enter the Palace, and talk Persona! This interactive panel will focus on the themes of all the games in the popular series, debates, discussions, trivia challenges, Arcana, and more. We may even invite you to...The King's Game!
Speakers
avatar for EmCat Cosplay

EmCat Cosplay

., .
Heya! I'm a panelist hosting 4 panels this year w/friends: Out of the Vault, Into the Wasteland: A Fallout Panel, Avatar State: An Interactive Korra (and ATLA) Panel, For Fun or For Glory?: A Super Smash Bros Panel, and Morals in Gaming! I'm going to be cosplaying from Persona 5... Read More →
VC

Vico Cosplay

CS

Cody Sharp


Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

20:00

Poly Perks
Poly-we don't have time for sex we have to talk about it-amory. Poly-no really, what are we having for dinner-amory. Poly-there are four people living in this house why is the trash still full-amory. There are a lot of things that NEED to be talked about for practical polyamory... But this panel isn't about those. This is about all the fun times to be had with non-monogamy. Come share your favorite moments, or just listen to ours!
Speakers
KN

Katherine Nix

avatar for Mitch Duckman Peters

Mitch Duckman Peters

Well, I'm the Duckman, I'm a kinky bastard,a professional pirate, and the longest running admin at the SCP Foundation. I'm super open about all things, pansexual, polyamorous, and curious about how people interact.
JR

Jennifer Reisbig


Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

20:00

Never Run Out of Writing Topics Again
Need topic ideas to beef out your editorial calendar? Join us for this session!
Speakers
avatar for Toni Conn

Toni Conn

Owner, Normal Not Found
I make pinback buttons for geeky businesses and organizations so that they can spoil and grow their community.
CF

Carol Flynt

Lit Crit major and speaker of 4 languages, I have had grammar classes up the wazoo. Emerging writer, just made my first professional sale (short story) Have reached the point where writing flows more often and I am understanding how the craft works a bit more. Still get an epiphany... Read More →
avatar for Mary Lynne Gibbs

Mary Lynne Gibbs

I'm an author of (mostly) fantasy for YA - Adult audiences. I love crafts, my violin, & my pets (dogs, chickens, & bearded dragons). I have an obsession with Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and The Flash. I'm a pretty darn good cake decorator, too!
avatar for Brian Hudson

Brian Hudson

avatar for Jeff Pryor

Jeff Pryor

Jeff has been writing and telling stories all of his life, but recently decided to get serious about it. His debut novel, 'Chosen of Trees and of Talons' was published in November by Journalstone Publishing. This begins a five-book epic fantasy adventure unlike any other. The sequel... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

20:00

Opening Eyes With Blindness on YouTube
How does a blind person surf the web, watch movies and TV, and find braille signs in public? These are just a few of the popular questions that Tommy Edison, who's been blind since birth, and Ben Churchill, who makes documentaries, answer through their YouTube channel, The Tommy Edison Experience. In this session, Tommy and Ben share their experience creating videos about Tommy's life without sight, the importance of educating people about accessibility, making content that is both informative and entertaining, and why they answer unique questions like, 'How do blind people know when they're awake or asleep?', 'Do blind people cry?', and 'What happens when a blind person gets drunk?' Attendees are welcome to ask questions during the Q&A that follows.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Churchill

Ben Churchill

Guest of Honor
Ben Churchill is the producer and director of The Tommy Edison Experience and Blind Film Critic series and a documentary filmmaker focusing on pop culture and unique lifestyles.
avatar for Tommy Edison

Tommy Edison

Guest of Honor
Tommy Edison, who has been blind since birth, is the Blind Film Critic reviewing movies from his point of view, the host of The Tommy Edison Experience on YouTube and Amazon where he uses humor to answer the most popular questions about living without sight, and worked in radio for... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

20:00

Astronomy 101
Join us as we explore size and distance in the Universe, star life-cycles, and supernovas.
Speakers
BT

Bob Trembley

avatar for Bob Trembley

Bob Trembley

Astronomy & Space Blogger / Web & IT-Guy / Media Creation, Vatican Observatory Foundation
Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador | Former outreach officer for the Warren Astronomical Society

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

20:00

Help! Someone Dissembled My 3D Printer!
I think a gang of penguins teamed up to disassemble my 3D printer. Now I have to put it back together. This is a great opportunity to talk about how they work, what can be done with them, and calibrating new machines!
Speakers
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

20:00

Beyond Proprietary: The Code You Can Go to Jail for Writing
Software has eaten the world, and all too often, that code is a black box not just designed to be unauditable, but to be illegal to audit, to improve, to reconfigure. Software freedom is human freedom: not because 'information wants to be free,' but because people can't be free in an information age when their information technology is designed to control them.
Speakers
avatar for Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow

Guest of Honor
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist — the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of many books, most recently WALKAWAY, a novel for adults, IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; INFORMATION DOESN’T WANT TO BE FREE, a book about earning... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

20:00

Bots You Should Look At
Twitter bots, Minecraft levels, and more -- let's talk about underappreciated computerized art that is doing really interesting things with narrative, interactivity, and language.
Speakers
avatar for Leonard Richardson

Leonard Richardson

I'm a software developer and science fiction author. I work for the New York Public Library on SimplyE, a project to improve the experience of borrowing ebooks from public libraries. I wrote the Beautiful Soup screen-scraping library for Python. | | I like talking about the creative... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

20:00

Industrial Robotics, the Next 10 Years
Detroit may be Motor City, but it's also Robot City -- a center of excellence in Factory Automation that customers worldwide come to. Industrial robotics is poised to explode into entirely new markets involving unprecedented processes and technologies. The next decade promises to be Very Interesting....
Speakers
avatar for David McMillan

David McMillan


Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

20:00

Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) - Past, Present, and Future
This presentation will explore what it was like when MOOCs were first emerging in 2012 and talk about what we have learned from the experience so far. Today, MOOC providers are increasingly focusing on becoming profitable and this trend is changing both the nature of MOOCS and university relationships with MOOC platform providers. Also, we will look at how a university can scale the development of MOOCs and use knowledge gained in MOOCs to improve on-campus teaching. We will also look forward at how the MOOC market may change and how MOOC approaches and technologies may ultimately impact campus courses and programs.
Speakers
avatar for Charles Severance

Charles Severance

Professor, University of Michigan
Charles is the author of the book, "Using Google App Engine" from O'Reilly and Associates. He also wrote the O'Reilly book on High Performance Computing. Charles is currently the IMS GLC Affiliates Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Information at the University... Read More →

2017 04 28 Penguicon MOOC pdf
Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

20:00

The IT Road Warrior - Staying Mobile
What does it take to become an IT road warrior? How should you negotiate contracts, what should you consider in travel arrangements, what kind of gadget do you need and maybe most importantly what are your luggage requirements? Prepare for living life on the road.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Haynes

Mark Haynes

Scrum Master/Agile Team Facilitator, Strategic Staffing Solution
As an IT professional with a multidisciplinary perspective and over 20 years of experience I can help your organization meet its agile, quality or software processing needs. I have managed teams locally, remotely and off-shore. I have transitioned teams to Agile/Scrum and bootstrapped... Read More →
DJ

Douglas Johnson

QA Test Lead, University of Cincinnati IT
Master in Computer Information Systems and Aeronautical Management. 20 year veteran of US Air Force. QA Test Lead at University of Cincinnati IT. Adjunct Instructor for computer classes for 10 years. Helped run a Science Fiction Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio for 16 years. When my... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 20:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

20:00

Captain Sonar
6-8 players | | You and your teammates control a state-of-the-art submarine and are trying to locate an enemy submarine in order to blow it out of the water before they can do the same to you. Every role is important, and the confrontation is merciless. Be organized and communicate because a captain is nothing without his crew: the Chief Mate, the Radio Operator, and the Engineer.
Speakers
BS

Bryan Snell


Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 21:00
Lobby Gaming - Table B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

20:00

LN2: Standards and Practices Ice Cream
For the opening session of Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, we'll start out with some familiar flavors, as well as some offbeat "practice" batches. (As a reminder, we make inclusive ice cream. We always have non-dairy mix bases available, juices for sorbets, and sugar-free sweeteners on hand. We're prepared, and want everyone to be able to enjoy!)
Speakers
EB

Elizabeth Basala

avatar for Amy Castner

Amy Castner

avatar for Sarah Elkins

Sarah Elkins

Configuration Manager
Sarah Elkins works in DevOps and makes liquid nitrogen ice cream. In her spare time, she dances, plays board games, and sings with the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra.
JH

Jen Hamilton

AL

Ariel Landau

avatar for Lew Reynolds

Lew Reynolds

Q’Plah guys.
PS

Phil Salkie

avatar for Susan Sons

Susan Sons

Interests: Infosec, software engineering, infrastructure tech (ICS/SCADA, infrastructure software), OSS, martial arts, strength training, search and rescue, startups (interested in advising, not becoming a founder or employee at this time), swing dancing, scientific CI, boardgames... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 22:00
ConSuite Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

20:00

Dreamchaser: A Game of Destiny
2-4 players | This is OUR story, a story of pursuing our dreams. Work together to imagine a purpose and the characters to fulfill it. Immerse yourself in the story YOU want to experience. Be rewarded for creativity and roleplaying your character. Just imagine all that we could achieve together! Enjoy interactive storytelling that is fun for the whole family. New players welcome!
Speakers
avatar for Pete Petrusha

Pete Petrusha

Creative Director, Imagining Games
Pete is Imagining Games and so can you! Beneath the banner of Imagining Games, Pete is working to share and grow the hobby he holds dear. Role playing games have been a force of creativity, an exercise in analytical thinking, and an opportunity for self-expression in Pete’s life... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 20:00 - 23:50
That Room Gaming - Table 4 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

21:00

Littles, Middles and Bigs, Oh My! Age Play Roundtable
Come join the discussion! Bring your questions and experiences. Everything from daddy/little to caregiver/elderly and every dynamic in between. We will discuss the challenges of living the lifestyle, having families, jobs, and being adults when we really don't wanna or being the only big in a family of 5... How exactly do you work a 9-5/ raise a family and still get your needs met ?
Speakers
avatar for Daniel

Daniel

Muscle Testing: Human Lie Detection and More | Come learn how to use the energy and impulses of your own body to tell if something is good for you or not. This technique can also be used fairly accurately to tell if someone is lying about something. This can be a great tool for anyone... Read More →
E

Emily

avatar for Frannie

Frannie

Amateur Burlesque Bunny
avatar for Amie Lynn

Amie Lynn

Mom
Amie has over 11 years experience teaching art, dance and preschool. This will be Amie’s 18th year attending ConVocation, having taught Kids Programming for at least 10 of those years (She has lost count). She has explored many aspects of various traditions on the Pagan path, and... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

21:00

The Joy of Tickling
Tickling can range from light sensual play for some to non-stop ecstatic giggling to a hard limit for others. This event will cover safety basics, types of tickling, what's in it for tickLERs and tickLEEs, tickle event descriptions, toys, and other play that combines well with tickling. May include silliness and laughter with the audience.
Speakers
S

Sarah

The Joy of Tickling

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

21:00

Turning Up the Heat in Your Fiction
Sometimes romance alone isn't enough for your novel; sometimes, your characters have just got to get down and do it. This panel will discuss erotica in fiction, ranging from the romance which doesn't quite tip over into erotic romance, all the way to smut. It's open to fans of the genre as well as authors!
Speakers
avatar for Erin Onslow

Erin Onslow

I am a retail employee, parent and make a hobby of my art and writing. I love to talk about the craft! I am also queer: genderqueer and also just generally queer.

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

21:00

Behind the Costume: Tales from Cosplay
Ever wonder what it's like to be a cosplayer at a convention? WONDER NO MORE! This is an open-forum styled panel, featuring cosplayers who are here to share their stories from the front lines. General cosplay discussion will be had, but audience questions are encouraged. Come for the information, stay for the hilarious stories!
Speakers
avatar for Kristie Good

Kristie Good

DP

David Pratt


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

21:00

CANCELLED Fuzzy Cosplay: Mascots, Furries, and You
What goes into being a furry or cosplayer, why we fursuit, and the performance aspect of it all.
Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

21:00

A Cheesy Competition
Let's battle! Test your abilities to build the most epic cheese creation using the fondoodler (a cheese hot glue gun!) Win the tastiest victory of the convention! Please sign up in advance at Ops.
Speakers
avatar for Lithie Dubois

Lithie Dubois

Just me; no more, no less. @Penguicon Program Ops. @ConFusionMI 2020 Conchair. AASFA Board of Director... Read More →
avatar for Alyssa Farver

Alyssa Farver

avatar for Sarah Lynn

Sarah Lynn


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

21:00

Cash n' Guns
4-6 players | A gangster band is splitting its loot, but they can't agree on the split! It's time to let the guns talk, and soon everyone is aiming at everyone. The richest surviving gangster wins the game!
Speakers
SB

Steve Benson

avatar for Eric McGlohon

Eric McGlohon


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Lobby Gaming - Table B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

21:00

Duck Tales, Whoo-Hoo!
Everyone's favorite fowl weather poly-cule are here to talk about... well, everything! Geek social skills, renaissance faires, consent culture, and all the other fantastic fun topics they've become known for over the years.
Speakers
KN

Katherine Nix

avatar for Mitch Duckman Peters

Mitch Duckman Peters

Well, I'm the Duckman, I'm a kinky bastard,a professional pirate, and the longest running admin at the SCP Foundation. I'm super open about all things, pansexual, polyamorous, and curious about how people interact.
JR

Jennifer Reisbig


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

21:00

LGBTQ* Alphabet Soup!
Ever wonder what demisexual means? What gender fluid means? Ever wonder if pansexual means attracted to pans?? Well then this is the panel for you! Come learn common and some not so common LGBTQ* terms and definitions. There will also be a Q&A session for you to ask any question you like.
Speakers
avatar for Alison C.

Alison C.

Head of Logistics, Penguicon
My favourite colour is blue. My pronouns are they/them or she/her. I like pescetarian food, logistics, and urban farming.
avatar for cassinator

cassinator

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P
avatar for Kelly V

Kelly V

Call management, AAA
I love knitting, crochet, yarn (anything....), jewelry making and I do a bit of sewing and cross stitch. Beyond crafts, I hoard yarn (oops, thats crafts), have an odd sense of humor, am LGBT (asexual and agender), love cats, dogs, and penguins, and my favorite color is purple.

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

21:00

Thoughts on RANGE 15
RANGE 15 was crowd founded and sponsored mostly by veterans and veteran owned companies. The movie may be a comedy but many veterans relate to it. From the military inside jokes to the mindsets of transitioning veterans, there is a lot that can be talked about.
Moderators
avatar for Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Videographer / Editor
Videographer, Audio Visual Specialist, Youtuber, Podcaster, Video Editor, all around Social media geek. | www.Toaden.com | www.MediaLitterSandwich.com

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

21:00

Telescope Observing- Cresent Moon
How does the man in the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it.
Speakers
BT

Bob Trembley


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Outside Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

21:00

Basic Design of 3D Printed Firearms
This talk will teach the basics of engineering structural parts to be fabricated using extruded plastic from a 3D printer nozzle. Simple design concepts such as tensile strength, flexural modulus, and stress risers will be explained and used to demonstrate how to make optimal material, shape, and functional choices. Particular attention will be paid to the peculiarities of parts made with layers of extruded plastic and destined for the high-stresses imparted on parts destined for use in 3D-printed firearms.
Speakers
Z

ZhuangZi


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

21:00

Build a File Server with Raspberry PI
Come learn how to build a file server with Raspberry PI. Several Raspberry PIs and some disks will be provided for participants to create a file server with a Raspberry PI.
Speakers
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.
GN

Gibson Nichols

Local computer clubs

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

21:00

Moving Open Source Beyond the Developer-Centric Solutions Model
Open source is a culture-method that focuses on creating community to solve problems with code. This produces a developer-centric solutions model. It would be interesting to consider if this is the only solutions model we could use. What it, for example, we created user-centric solutions models for open source projects. What would this look like and how would such projects operate? This talk will explore this this in context of one project that is successfully experimenting with this - the Collaborative Knowledge Foundation - and discuss the method used by the org (The Cabbage Tree Method). https://coko.foundation https://www.cabbagetree.org https://www.adamhyde.net
Speakers
AH

adam hyde

Coko

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

21:00

Open Source Hardware and Libre Silicon
Open Source Hardware (OSHW) designs are made publicly available so that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make or sell designs or hardware based on that design. This talk will explore the shared values with Open Source software and the specifics of publishing a hardware project under an Open Source license. It will include examples of Linux running on OSHW with projects like BeagleBone, CHIP, MinnowBoard and more. The role of the Open Source Hardware Association and annual Open Hardware Summit will also be discussed, along with important OSHW projects for scientific researchers. There are exciting new developments within the last year for OSHW at the chip level. Projects like lowRISC, J-Core, OnChip and SiFive are working to produce true Open Source silicon processors. The FOSSi Foundation and LibreCores are helping to organize and promote this exciting new ecosystem.
Speakers
avatar for Drew Fustini

Drew Fustini

Member of Board of Directors, BeagleBoard.org Foundation
Board member of the BeagleBoard.org Foundation. Embedded Systems Engineer at OSH Park ("Perfect Purple PCBs"). Embedded Linux support for Adafruit Industries. Maintainer of Adafruit BeagleBone Python library. Member of Open Source Hardware Association.

penguicon17 oshw fustini pdf
Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

21:00

The OpenBSD Web Stack
OpenBSD is best known for security and networking. But they also have a highly secure web server and load balancer. This talk will take you through the OpenBSD web stack, presenting its strengths and disadvantages. We'll cover the httpd web server, free globally valid SSL certificates through ACME, the Common Address Redundancy Protocol for two-server clusters, and the relayd load balancer. Many of the security issues common on web servers are simply not an issue on OpenBSD. Come find out why!
Speakers
avatar for Michael W. Lucas

Michael W. Lucas

Author
I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato. | | Latest tech books... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 21:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

21:00

LEGO BATMAN
In the irreverent spirit of fun that made THE LEGO MOVIE a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble - LEGO Batman - stars in his own big-screen adventure: THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker's hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.
Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 22:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

21:00

Time Stories : The Asylum
2-4 players | The T.I.M.E Agency protects humanity by preventing temporal faults and paradoxes from threatening the fabric of our universe. As temporal agents, you and your team will be sent into the bodies of beings from different worlds or realities to successfully complete the missions given to you. Failure is impossible, as you will be able to go back in time as many times as required.
Speakers
avatar for Curtis Lithgow

Curtis Lithgow


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 23:00
Lobby Gaming - Table F Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

21:00

Tyrants of the Underdark
2-4 players | You know what is better than deck-building? Deck-building plus area control. Battle your opponents for control of the Underdark in this D&D themed masterpiece.
Speakers
JM

Jason Miller


Friday April 28, 2017 21:00 - 23:00
Lobby Gaming - Table E Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

22:00

Bedtime Stories
As the day begins to draw to a close, we start to think about all those things that makes us happy. All those, naughty, inappropriate for public consumption things. So come join us, as we share our favorite kinky and otherwise adult-related tales, and even just discuss the kinky stuff we all love.
Speakers
KN

Katherine Nix

avatar for Mitch Duckman Peters

Mitch Duckman Peters

Well, I'm the Duckman, I'm a kinky bastard,a professional pirate, and the longest running admin at the SCP Foundation. I'm super open about all things, pansexual, polyamorous, and curious about how people interact.
JR

Jennifer Reisbig


Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

22:00

CANCELLED Ruff Stuff: Pup Play 101
This covers the pup lifestyle and what goes into it. Come learn about what it is to be a pup, participate in puppy play, and get answers to any questions you may have in regards to the puppy play lifestyle.
Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

22:00

Negotiation and Consent
Learn practical skills for negotiating in order to get your emotional and sexual needs met. Whether it be a long term relationship, or just one night, these skills will help you and your partners communicate clearly, effectively, and consensually.
Speakers
AD

Allison Demars

avatar for Becky Hill

Becky Hill

avatar for Jennifer Schwartz

Jennifer Schwartz

Licensed Clinical Therapist
Jennifer Schwartz is a licensed clinical social worker, and has worked as a therapist specializing in serving the LGBTQ community, and specifically people living with HIV/AIDS, for the past five years. Additionally, Jennifer is a speaker, group facilitator, educator, and advocate... Read More →
avatar for Ryan Souder

Ryan Souder


Negotiation and Consent PenguiCon 2017 docx
Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

22:00

Primal and You: Understanding the Inner Beast
Do you identify as Primal? Are you curious about Primals and want to know more? This will be and informative talk on Primals and how they fit into the Kink community and society at large. Learn more about other Primals, and share your story.
Speakers
avatar for George Allen

George Allen


tmp 19825 Copy of Primal Presentation 1880367436 pdf
Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

22:00

CANCELLED Get to Know Your Local Society for Creative Anachronism!
The Barony of Cynnabar is a chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Cynnabar hosts several events and demos throughout the year where we recreate the Middle Ages. In addition to these events we also have regular practices where we teach and learn our skills.
Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

22:00

BoF: Talk About the Hundreds of Low Budget Sci-Fi YouTube Videos
Come talk about the hundreds of YouTube videos now available about Sci-fi. Have you seen Harlock Space Pirate, or Space Janitors? How about MisDrop or Hybrids, The Gift, Abiogenesis, Helio and THE SIGNAL?
Speakers
GN

Gibson Nichols

Local computer clubs

Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

22:00

TV -- Resurgence of the Dark Stuff
Between perennial favorites like The Walking Dead and American Horror Stories and numerous newcomers, there seems to be a lot of horror on the small screen. What shows are can't miss and which ones miss the mark? Most importantly, what does this mean for the horror genre?
Speakers
avatar for Michael Cieslak

Michael Cieslak

Editor in Chief, Dragon's Roost Press
Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he still lives within 500 yards of the city with his wife and their two dogs Tesla and Titus. The house is covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the... Read More →

Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

22:00

Telescope Observing - Jupiter and Mizar
When do astronauts have lunch? At launch time.
Speakers
BT

Bob Trembley


Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
Outside Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

22:00

The C.U.P.S. Project - Past, Present, and Future?
No, I'm not talking about printing! This "C.U.P.S." was the "Consortium for Upper-Level Physics Software," a multi-million dollar project to develop instructional materials and software simulations for college physics in the mid-1990s. I have been working to resurrect this code base, with ultimate hopes of making it open-source. I'll talk about the history, my work-in-progress, and do some demos via emulation.
Speakers
avatar for Frank Palazzolo

Frank Palazzolo


Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 22:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

22:00

Live Podcast: Getting Drunk with Shannon and Maggie
Shannon and Maggie are best friends who make a ruckus by drinking, overeating, and talking about life. They will take live questions from audience members while sharing stories and generally being ridiculous. This is their fifth year live recording at Penguicon.
Speakers
MM

Maggie Maiville

avatar for Shannon Marshall

Shannon Marshall

Rockstar
Sexual Health Educator. Podcaster. Drink and Cheese lover. @ShannonsParty (everywhere). ThatMoreThing.podbean.com ShannonsParty.com

Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 23:50
Podcast Studio [Room 1017] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark   Life

22:00

Whiskey Tasting 2017 - Let's Get the Taste of 2016 Out of Our Mouths!
Whiskeyologist Greg Williams will present a few select expressions to the group, give some educational background on whiskey in general, and focus on the unique characteristics of the expressions being tasted in the room. 21+ and ID will be required. Please sign up in advance at Ops.
Speakers
avatar for Greg Williams

Greg Williams

My passion for distilled spirits began in college, when I realized that beer was an extremely inefficient way to get drunk. Over time I learned to appreciate the fact that some liquors tasted better than others. I have been expanding that learning over the last 30 years, and now... Read More →

Penguicon 2017 Whiskey Panel pdf
Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 23:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

22:00

Mysterium
2-7 players | Unable to talk, the amnesiac ghost communicates with the mediums through visions, which are represented in the game by illustrated cards. The mediums must decipher the images to help the ghost remember how he was murdered: Who did the crime? Where did it take place? Which weapon caused the death? The more the mediums cooperate and guess well, the easier it is to catch the right culprit.
Speakers
MH

Matt Hrabosky


Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - 23:50
Lobby Gaming - Table C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

22:00

The Bet (D&D 5e)
6 players | After a night of drinking and bad decisions, you've got a contract to fulfill! Too bad it's with Asmodeus.
Speakers
LZ

Luke Zondervan


Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - Saturday April 29, 2017 00:50
That Room Gaming - Table 2 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

22:00

Savage Rifts the Tomorrow Legion Needs You
6 players | Savage Rifts The Tomorrow Legion Needs You! Come play in one of the oldest tabletop settings ever, now translated into the Fast, Furious, Fun style of Savage Worlds game system! The future is a dangerous place where literally ANYTHING can happen!
Speakers
WM

Wyl Majure


Friday April 28, 2017 22:00 - Saturday April 29, 2017 01:50
That Room Gaming - Table 1 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

23:00

SUMMER WARS Movie
OZ, a virtual world connected to the internet, has become extremely popular worldwide as a spot for people to engage in a large variety of activities, such as playing sports or shopping, through avatars created and customized by the user. OZ also possesses near impenetrable security due to its strong encryption, ensuring that any personal data transmitted through the networks will be kept safe in order to protect those who use it. Because of its convenient applications, the majority of society has become highly dependent on the simulated reality, even going as far as entrusting the system with bringing back the unmanned asteroid explorer, Arawashi. Kenji Koiso is a 17-year-old math genius and part-time OZ moderator who is invited by his crush Natsuki Shinohara on a summer trip. But unbeknownst to him, this adventure requires him to act as her fiance. Shortly after arriving at Natsuki's family's estate, which is preparing for her great-grandmother's 90th birthday, he receives a strange, coded message on his cell phone from an unknown sender who challenges him to solve it. Kenji is able to crack the code, but little does he know that his math expertise has just put Earth in great danger.
Friday April 28, 2017 23:00 - Saturday April 29, 2017 00:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Anime

23:00

Demon Lobster Presents: Sanity Claws Radio Live!
Join in on the mayhem as Demon Lobster presents a live recording of Sanity Claws Radio the podcast. Bring your wacky and irreverent pop culture questions as we play an audience driven round of our Q&A Game "I Can Top That!" Our panelists will try to answer your questions, regardless of what they are. Mature audiences only!
Speakers
MB

Mike Brintnall

ZC

Zac Cieslinski

avatar for Jonathon Hickey

Jonathon Hickey

Podcast Host, DemonLobster
Host of Sanity Claws Radio from DemonLobster.com.
SL

Steve Licavoli

SM

Scott Markwart

KQ

Karen Quinn


Friday April 28, 2017 23:00 - Saturday April 29, 2017 23:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

00:00

LN2: After Hours Ice Cream
We'll make ice cream with everyone's favorite ingredient - booze! 21+ and ID will be required. (As a reminder, we make inclusive ice cream. We always have non-dairy mix bases available, juices for sorbets, and sugar-free sweeteners on hand. We're prepared, and want everyone to be able to enjoy!)
Speakers
EB

Elizabeth Basala

avatar for Lew Reynolds

Lew Reynolds

Q’Plah guys.

Saturday April 29, 2017 00:00 - 02:00
ConSuite Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food
 
Saturday, April 29
 

08:00

Tux Run/Walk 2017
Come out for the first ever Tux Run/Walk! Get physically active and meet other attendees with similar interests!
Speakers
avatar for William Bowen

William Bowen

avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

Saturday April 29, 2017 08:00 - 11:00
Algonquin Foyer Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

08:00

Career Building Workshop: Mock Interviews! SIGN-UP REQUIRED!
Be interviewed for a hypothetical job by two or three real hiring managers, and receive feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement to help you boost your career. To participate, attend the Career Building Workshop: Kick Off Session! and sign up for an interview time. You will need to prepare before Penguicon with a resume or CV, cover letter, and two examples of job listings you would typically respond to. You'll also want to bring a set of grown-up business clothes to wear for your interview!
Speakers
DF

Daniel Franke

JH

Jen Hamilton

AK

Andrew Kirch

AN

Adam Nuwer

PS

Phil Salkie

avatar for Susan Sons

Susan Sons

Interests: Infosec, software engineering, infrastructure tech (ICS/SCADA, infrastructure software), OSS, martial arts, strength training, search and rescue, startups (interested in advising, not becoming a founder or employee at this time), swing dancing, scientific CI, boardgames... Read More →
KW

Keane Wolter


Saturday April 29, 2017 08:00 - 22:00
EMC VI Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

09:00

Loving Your Cosplay Body
Do you worry about trying different cosplays because of how the characters look? Join us for a talk and audience discussion about ways to embrace your body type in cosplay.
Speakers
JB

John Belden

Writer and editor with The Eagle, Indy's LGBTQ-focused newspaper and blogger at PlaysWithJohnAndWendy.com, focused on the games we play and the stage plays we see.
avatar for Wendy Carson

Wendy Carson


Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

09:00

The Allergies of the Few Outweigh the Hungers of the Many
Do you have an allergy to something that is found in everything (gluten, dairy, eggs, etc.)? Or a dietary lifestyle that makes cooking a challenge? Come to a panel about food substitutions for cooking and learn some tips, tricks, and trade resources. There may be some samples to prove it.
Speakers
HH

Hope Howell

As a lover of food and cooking is my favorite hobby I strongly believe there should be tasty food for all. With a family filled with allergies and growing up in a "health nut" home there is so much more about food to know. Community is built around food, I think one should be for... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

09:00

Backpacking with a Hammock
This talk will discuss backpacking with a hammock and lightweight camping gear, and include a hands on gear demonstration.
Speakers
T

Timm

Backpacking with a Hammock

Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

09:00

Listening to Your Character
Sure, it's actually your subconscious speaking, but occasionally your characters act in ways you don't expect them to. This panel will discuss the importance of allowing your characters free reign to follow their paths.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Cieslak

Michael Cieslak

Editor in Chief, Dragon's Roost Press
Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he still lives within 500 yards of the city with his wife and their two dogs Tesla and Titus. The house is covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the... Read More →
avatar for Mary Lynne Gibbs

Mary Lynne Gibbs

I'm an author of (mostly) fantasy for YA - Adult audiences. I love crafts, my violin, & my pets (dogs, chickens, & bearded dragons). I have an obsession with Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and The Flash. I'm a pretty darn good cake decorator, too!
avatar for Cassandra Morgan

Cassandra Morgan

Author, White Whisker Publications
Author, Writer and Speaker Extraordinaire! | | Cassie is the author of the YA Epic Fantasy series the Kingdoms of Chartile, and the brand new Paranormal Cozy Mystery series the Silver Fox Mysteries. | She has participated in a number of small films including Shadows of the Shadows... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

09:00

Writers and Traditional Publishing
So you want to sell a book to a publisher. How do you do that? What should you expect? How do you optimize your chances of getting not just a deal, but the deal you want? What gets some people into traditional publishing, and keeps others out? Come hear authors discuss the good and bad of the publishing biz!
Speakers
avatar for Michael W. Lucas

Michael W. Lucas

Author
I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato. | | Latest tech books... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

09:00

CANCELLED Illustration - My Process Combining Traditional & Digital Techniques
A multimedia presentation with Q&A from Clifford VanMeter, a genre illustrator and comics artist with more than 30-years experience. Cliff's work combines digital and traditional techniques to create striking black & white art.
Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature   Media

09:00

Cemetery Iconography and Why the Victorians Loved Death
For ages and ages, societies have used symbolism and iconography to decorate the final resting places of ancestors. Pervading gloom and grand-scale mourning epitomized death practices in the Victorian era. Find out how Queen Victoria made #grieving trend in the 1800's.
Speakers
AS

Anne Stevenson


Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

09:00

How to Kill a Character, Part 1: I Don't Do Drugs, But My Protagonist Does!
Join us for a medically based primer for authors on booze, drugs and all the potentially deadly results of bad decision making.
Speakers
M

MD

KZ

Kat Zechar


Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

09:00

Introduction to Debugging in Python
Ever since a moth was stuck in a relay in the Mark II machine programmers have been dealing with bugs in their software. But programmers have developed tools for eradicating these bugs in their software. In this talk, Craig will show different methods for determining what the code is doing. We'll start with the lowly print statement and work our way to more advanced forms of logging. We'll also cover several Python debuggers and talk about best practices for debugging and preventing bugs in Python code.
Speakers
avatar for Craig Maloney

Craig Maloney

Programmer
Just another random hacker.

intro debugging python master zip
Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

09:00

My Journey with the Udacity Artificial Intelligence Nanodegree
Join us for a discussion of the AI training available through Udacity.
Speakers
MG

Michelle Greb


Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 09:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

09:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - 10:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

09:00

Artemis – Starship Bridge Simulator
Space: the ultimate target-rich environment. These are the voyages of the Starship Artemis, and its sister vessels, whose ongoing mission is seek out aggressive life forms, marauders and even each other, and blow 'em all to space-smithereens! Lansing Makers Network will be bringing their version, with sound and lighting effects, of the popular starship bridge simulator game, Artemis! Join us for this co-op starship sim for up to six crew members.
Speakers
MF

Michael Flaga


Saturday April 29, 2017 09:00 - Sunday April 30, 2017 00:00
Artemis [Room 301] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

10:00

Off-Road Meet Up!
Like off-roading? Want to pick the brain of other off-roaders? Please leave the mud and rocks outside :)
Speakers
GM

Greg Mason


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

10:00

Needle Felting 101
Join us for an intro to needle felting. Learn how and why felting works, and make a penguin to bring home. Limited space available. Sign up in advance at Ops.
Speakers
avatar for Bagel Garrison

Bagel Garrison

Bagel makes a lot of things and watches a lot of movies. She crafts and Warcrafts. She prefers bagels to donuts (but will eat either). :)

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

10:00

Kitchen Hacks
We will be presenting some easy time and money-saving ideas for common kitchen chores, as well as covering some basic terminology & techniques.
Speakers
JB

John Belden

Writer and editor with The Eagle, Indy's LGBTQ-focused newspaper and blogger at PlaysWithJohnAndWendy.com, focused on the games we play and the stage plays we see.
avatar for Wendy Carson

Wendy Carson


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

10:00

Dealing with the Paranormal
Come discuss the paranormal and learn ways of dealing with it and ridding yourself of it.
Speakers
SN

Shetan Noir

Apocalypse Theatre
Shetan Noir is a published author and has had several articles published in Circle Sanctuary magazine. Shetan is a Belly Dancer, she has performed and taught belly dance for over 12 yrs. | | Shetan is also a workshop presenter, Hoodoo and Folk Magic practitioner. She teaches... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

10:00

Panels/Presenters and AV Technology - Look and Sound Good!
This panel will discuss how presenters and panelists can best work with the AV gear they find in a typical breakout room, including microphone technique, connecting to projectors, anything you need to get your point across.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Doubleday

Ben Doubleday

FL

Flora le Fae

avatar for Scott Helmke

Scott Helmke

Systems & Projects, TC Furlong, Inc.
I've been working in professional audio on and off all my life, most recently for an audio production and design company in Chicago.

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life   Media   Tech

10:00

Make Good Art: Using Creativity to Fight Depression (in Trying Times)
We've all seen Gaiman's University of the Arts commencement address. Now more than ever it is important to create good art, be it literature, film, television, paintings, needlework, etc. This panel will discuss how to concentrate on your creativity when the world seems to be falling apart around you and how to use your art to make the world a more beautiful place.
Speakers
avatar for Nicole E. Castle

Nicole E. Castle

Nicole e. Castle preferred to play by herself as a child, and out of her alone time, sprang a rich, vibrant imagination that loves all manner of monster. Her step-mother once said that Nicole would wake up screaming after seeing a scary movie, but it never stopped her from wanting... Read More →
avatar for Michael Cieslak

Michael Cieslak

Editor in Chief, Dragon's Roost Press
Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he still lives within 500 yards of the city with his wife and their two dogs Tesla and Titus. The house is covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the... Read More →
avatar for Mary Lynne Gibbs

Mary Lynne Gibbs

I'm an author of (mostly) fantasy for YA - Adult audiences. I love crafts, my violin, & my pets (dogs, chickens, & bearded dragons). I have an obsession with Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and The Flash. I'm a pretty darn good cake decorator, too!

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

10:00

How to Navigate News Sources
We live in an age with unlimited sources of information. To manage it all, we tend to want to stay with those we trust. This risks creating a bubble of reinforcing information that may or may not be objectively true. How can we navigate it all without creating our own confirmation bias?
Speakers
DH

Dave Hogg

GS

George Sipple

JS

Jeannie Szarma


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

10:00

Perfection in Creativity
How perfect do you need your song, movie, comic, graphic, story, anything to be? How do you know you are done with your creation? Come explore this idea with Guest of Honor Kevin MacLeod, known for his Creative Commons licensed royalty-free music, and Featured Guest Tom Smith, well-known filk musician.
Speakers
avatar for Kevin MacLeod

Kevin MacLeod

Guest of Honor
Kevin MacLeod is an international award-eligible composer and copyright activist, known for his Creative Commons licensed royalty-free music available on incompetech.com. He is an avid Twitch Streamer, showcasing his music production skills and scintillating* personality. Kevin's... Read More →
TS

Tom Smith

Music

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

10:00

Astronomy 102
Join us as we explore electromagnetic radiation, Doppler shift, and cosmic microwave background radiation.
Speakers
BT

Bob Trembley

avatar for Bob Trembley

Bob Trembley

Astronomy & Space Blogger / Web & IT-Guy / Media Creation, Vatican Observatory Foundation
Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador | Former outreach officer for the Warren Astronomical Society

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

10:00

20 Years of MAME Development
The presenter has had the privilege to work on the amazing MAME emulator project, on and off, since it began over 20 years ago! It is a good example of a "successful" open source project. Come hear about its architecture, history, and development from the presenter's personal point of view.
Speakers
avatar for Frank Palazzolo

Frank Palazzolo


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

10:00

An Inside Look at the History of the Internet
This session looks at the history of the Internet and World-Wide-Web paying particular attention to some of the moments where it was not assured that things were going to work out and produce the user experience we have today. Via video interviews, we meet a number of the innovators of the Internet and World-Wide-Web and focus on what might have happened if things had not worked out the way they did. While much of the research in Internet protocols and technologies was very deliberate, until 1994 it was not clear that either the Internet nor the World-Wide-Web had any purpose beyond connecting academics, scientists, and computer scientists. In many ways, both the Internet and World-Wide-Web were lab experiments that escaped into the wild. We look at those moments where the lab experiments escaped and imagine possible alternate realities if things had turned out differently.
Speakers
avatar for Charles Severance

Charles Severance

Professor, University of Michigan
Charles is the author of the book, "Using Google App Engine" from O'Reilly and Associates. He also wrote the O'Reilly book on High Performance Computing. Charles is currently the IMS GLC Affiliates Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Information at the University... Read More →

Internet History Short pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

10:00

Censorship and Information Control
Since long before the Inquisition, both institutions and individuals have been trying to control access to information: sometimes by destroying it, more often by seeking to restrict its circulation, whether for financial gain or social power. Such efforts at information control are likely to keep happening in any possible future. The ways this has been done historically, and the effects it has had, are not always those we'd expect. We will discuss how information control has happened historically, how it is happening right now, depictions of it in fiction, and how it might play out in the future.
Speakers
avatar for Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow

Guest of Honor
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist — the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of many books, most recently WALKAWAY, a novel for adults, IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; INFORMATION DOESN’T WANT TO BE FREE, a book about earning... Read More →
avatar for ada palmer

ada palmer

Guest of Honor
Historian. Author. Composer. Teacher. Blogger. Ada Palmer does considerable research on everything media, from historical texts to anime and manga. She writes both science fiction and fantasy novels, and composes music in the same genres. Ada teaches in the History Department of... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

10:00

Test Driven Programming
Writing tests before writing code makes the work go faster and the final results more reliable. It's also counterintuitive and hard to start on your own. This workshop will introduce you to this revolutionary practice and give you the skills to take it back to your day job. Participants should bring a laptop configured to do Python development.
Speakers
avatar for Clay Dowling

Clay Dowling

Journeyman Developer, Pillar Technology

Test Driven Development pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

10:00

What If Free and Open Source Software Were More Like Fandom?
Join Guests of Honor Sumana Harihareswara and Coraline Ada Ehmke for a discussion envisioning a new future for open source. What would a transformational, rather than affirmational, open source movement look like? What would a gift economy in open source look like if we optimized for hospitality and nurturing and plurality? How would it be genuinely, even shockingly different from what we have now?
Speakers
avatar for Sumana Harihareswara

Sumana Harihareswara

Guest of Honor
Sumana is a programmer, technology executive and open source expert who practices and teaches technical and people skills. She is also a comedian, author, and holds a master's in technology from Columbia University
avatar for Leonard Richardson

Leonard Richardson

I'm a software developer and science fiction author. I work for the New York Public Library on SimplyE, a project to improve the experience of borrowing ebooks from public libraries. I wrote the Beautiful Soup screen-scraping library for Python. | | I like talking about the creative... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 10:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

10:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 11:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

10:00

Ascension
2-4 players | Welcome to the deck building card game where acquiring heroes and defeating monsters leads to gaining honor. The center row could flip over a well timed fate, multi faction hero, strange construct, or transform into something else. This set is built with customization of my own design, including only one of copy of each card in the center row. The will involve CotG, RotF, SoS, RU, DoC as well as a brief pre-game tutorial.
Speakers
JW

Jon Wallace

Video game design hobbyist who spends his time on rapid prototype design events both for the thrill of the challenge and in order to develop a portfolio and one day start his own video game company

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 11:00
Lobby Gaming - Table A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

10:00

Author Meet and Read, Vol. 1
Come meet your favorite authors all in one place! Authors will be doing book signings, as well as having short reading sessions. Bring your own book to get signed, or pick one up right here!
Speakers
ZZ

Zig Zag Claybourne

Obsidian Sky Books
avatar for Clif Flynt

Clif Flynt

President, Noumena Corp
I'm a techie nerd. Unix/Linux user since the early '80s and programmer since the early '70s. I also write filks, humorous fiction (Well, I think it's humorous), and play guitar. My renewed interest in writing fiction led me to studying how to write well which led to Editomat (www.editomat.com... Read More →
avatar for Mary Lynne Gibbs

Mary Lynne Gibbs

I'm an author of (mostly) fantasy for YA - Adult audiences. I love crafts, my violin, & my pets (dogs, chickens, & bearded dragons). I have an obsession with Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and The Flash. I'm a pretty darn good cake decorator, too!
avatar for Jen Haeger

Jen Haeger

Pupal writer [Author of the veterinarian meets werewolf, paranormal romance trilogy, Moonlight Medicine: Onset, Epidemic, Inoculation and the U.P. MI paranormal thriller, Miles from Manistique], intermediate apiarist, board game enthusiast, ex-veterinarian with a Masters in Forensic... Read More →
avatar for Christian Klaver

Christian Klaver

This author of Science Fiction and Fantasy lives in the suburbs just outside the sprawling decay of Detroit, Michigan. There he resides with his wife (Kimberly) his daughter (Kathryn) and a group of animals he refers to as 'The Menagerie'. He has been selling short stories since... Read More →
avatar for Jim Leach

Jim Leach

I write darkly speculative stories, poetry and drama, most recently "Til Death: Marriage Poems" (Raw Dog Screaming Press: 2017) which I co-authored with my Dearly Beloved Janice Leach. I also am Chief Fear-Monger at the website and Youtube channel DailyNightmare.com. I love making... Read More →
avatar for Michael W. Lucas

Michael W. Lucas

Author
I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato. | | Latest tech books... Read More →
avatar for David Erik Nelson

David Erik Nelson

Award-winning science-fiction author and essayist. His stories and novellas regularly appear in ASIMOV’S, THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, anthos like BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR, and elsewhere. Author of DIY books like SNIP, BURN, SOLDER, SHRED: SERIOUSLY GEEKY STUFF TO MAKE... Read More →
avatar for John Scalzi

John Scalzi

Author, "The Consuming Fire", 1969
John Scalzi is a fan of pie and oxygen, not necessarily in that order.

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 11:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature   Penguicon

10:00

NTPsec Annual F2F Meeting
Open meeting for participants in the NTPsec project (https://www.ntpsec.org) and other interested persons to meet face-to-face. We discuss the past year's progress, plan the next year's activities, and brainstorm. Details available at https://blog.ntpsec.org/2017/01/04/announce-f2f.html
Speakers
avatar for Mark Atwood

Mark Atwood

Director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
I'm the Director of Open Source Engagement at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and am involved with HPE's relationship with OpenSwitch, OpenStack, the Linux Foundation, and other open source conferences and meetups.
avatar for John D. Bell

John D. Bell

random IT dude, The University of Toledo
Professional sysadmin, occasional hacker, wannabe writer, instigator-in-training. | | Nearly everything in the world interests me!
DF

Daniel Franke

avatar for Gary Miller

Gary Miller

President, Rellim
Time is of the essence.
HM

Hal Murray

ER

Eric Raymond

avatar for Susan Sons

Susan Sons

Interests: Infosec, software engineering, infrastructure tech (ICS/SCADA, infrastructure software), OSS, martial arts, strength training, search and rescue, startups (interested in advising, not becoming a founder or employee at this time), swing dancing, scientific CI, boardgames... Read More →
KW

Keane Wolter


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 11:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

10:00

Put Your App in Amazon Web Services
This panel is a working demonstration, including code samples and scripts, that will walk the participants through the process of deploying an application into Amazon Web Services (AWS). There will be 3 different applications to choose from as part of this workshop: iPython Notebook, a "Breakout" clone in Python, and a simple Web Application (webserver, application server, database). Topics Covered: 1. Setting up an EC2 instance (The hell is an EC2?) 2. Load Balancers (Do I even need one?) 3. Automating software installation & configuration (Mash the keyboard once, run a hundred times) 4. Testing, Hardening, & Validations (It's not working... oh wait! It is working!!) All code samples, scripts, and materials will be made available via GitHub.
Speakers
KK

Kent Kovac


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 11:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

10:00

Lords of Waterdeep
2-5 players | You take on the role of one of the masked Lords of Waterdeep, secret rulers of the city. Through your agents, you recruit adventurers to go on quests on your behalf, earning rewards and increasing your influence over the city. Expand the city by purchasing new buildings that open up new actions on the board, and hinder or help the other lords by playing intrigue cards to enact your carefully laid plans.
Speakers
CO

Cheryl Orosz

Application Developer
As a longtime games afficianado, I strongly believe in the power of play to enlighten and entertain.

Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 12:00
Lobby Gaming - Table D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

10:00

Machi Koro
2-4 players | Armed only with your trusty die and a dream, you must grow Machi Koro into the largest city in the region. You will need to collect income from developments, build public works, and steal from your neighbors' coffers. Just make sure they aren't doing the same to you!
Speakers
JF

Josh Finley


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 12:50
Lobby Gaming - Table F Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

10:00

Orleans
2-4 players | During the medieval goings-on around Orleans, you must assemble a following of farmers, merchants, knights, and monks to gain supremacy through trade, construction and science in medieval France.
Speakers
JM

Jason Miller


Saturday April 29, 2017 10:00 - 13:00
Lobby Gaming - Table E Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

11:00

Ya Gotta Have Blue Hair - The Basics of Cosplay Wigs
Come learn about wig application, wig types, and the best places to shop for them.
Speakers
avatar for Zophael Ray

Zophael Ray

Freeport Mercantile
Costume Designer and Cosplayer.

Blue Hair pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

11:00

Dadaism and Collage
Before there was surrealist art, there was dada. Join this workshop to learn about this art movement, notable artists, and learn to create your own dada style collages. The first quarter of this workshop will be dedicated to the history and the rest of the time will be dedicated to creating. Anyone may drop in at any point!
Speakers
avatar for Sam Letvin

Sam Letvin

Art Educator
I have been an art educator for 10 years. Talk to me about anything, because I love to learn, but I especially enjoy talking about art and music.

DadaPresentation pptx
Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

11:00

Fun with Origami
Origami is the art of folding paper into various shapes without using scissors or glue. Join us for this introductory workshop where we will learn to fold a balloon, a crane, and more! Materials will be provided but spots are limited, so sign up in advance at Ops!
Speakers
avatar for Janet Gocay

Janet Gocay

Planner of Penguicon. Teacher and event planner. Maker of pretty things.

Fun with Origami pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

11:00

How to Change a Tire
Just the basics: how to change that flat when you're stranded. Plus some "cheats" to make it easier and tips for doing it alone versus with a friend. We'll be demonstrating for real, on a real car, in front of the real hotel. Please meet in the Algonquin Foyer.
Speakers
GC

Gail Christopherson


Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Algonquin Foyer Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

11:00

Are You a Supertaster?
There are those in the world with more taste buds than the average person. There are also those who are can pick up on one of three bitter compounds. Then there are folks like Bill Putt who (as a self professed level foure super taster) has more taste buds and can pick up on all three of the bitter compounds. Come learn about the different tests, get tested, and get ribbons based on your supertaster level!
Speakers
avatar for Blasted Bill Putt

Blasted Bill Putt

Tech, Network Services Group

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

11:00

How Game Titles Work
Where do the names of video games come from? Leonard Richardson, author of "Constellation Games", had to come up with dozens of plausible game titles, so he broke it down! He will present his findings and analyze how video game titles have changed over time.
Speakers
avatar for Leonard Richardson

Leonard Richardson

I'm a software developer and science fiction author. I work for the New York Public Library on SimplyE, a project to improve the experience of borrowing ebooks from public libraries. I wrote the Beautiful Soup screen-scraping library for Python. | | I like talking about the creative... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

11:00

Avoiding Burnout as a Busy Person / Activist
Feeling like you're constantly on the go and never able to slow down? Juggling too many activities and unable to prioritize or say no? Trying to balance work, social life, activism, and your health and always coming up short? Let's talk about how to cope and not flame out! This is a marathon, not a sprint. We'll talk about time management, self-care, saying no when needed, tools, and best practices to avoid burnout and still be effective.
Speakers
avatar for Hannah Davis

Hannah Davis


Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

11:00

The Key to Time Management
Can't get done what you want to get done? Have lists of shows, books, and movies you want to watch? Not sure where to start first? Come find focus to get it all done!
Speakers
avatar for Toni Conn

Toni Conn

Owner, Normal Not Found
I make pinback buttons for geeky businesses and organizations so that they can spoil and grow their community.
avatar for Hillary Rettig

Hillary Rettig

writer, teacher, coach, Infinite Art
As me about productivity (especially creative productivity), and overcoming procrastination, perfectionism, and other blocks to success. Also, values-based time management. And social justice! Also: veganism, foster parenting, being a living kidney donor, and dogs. | | The core of... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

11:00

Leading Questions Live
Do you have leadership questions? Do you wonder how to become a leader or how to improve your leadership skills in general? Join the Leading Questions Podcast team as they answer your queries and explain how to employ coaching and mentorship techniques to improve your work and life. This session will be audio-recorded and posted as a live version of the Leading Questions podcast at a later date.
Speakers
YK

Yanni Kuznia

avatar for Jer Lance

Jer Lance

Board of Directors, Penguicon
I've served Penguicon as a staffer, member of the concom, and/or board of directors for more than a decade. In real life, I'm a software engineer, leader, and coach. I'm the lesser half of the Leading Questions Podcast duo (http://questionscast.com). | | @jer_ on Twitter and Wandering.shop... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Podcast Studio [Room 1017] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life   Media

11:00

Cory Doctorow Reads From His New Book WALKAWAY
Join Cory Doctorow for a reading from his new book WALKAWAY, an "optimistic disaster novel" which just came out on April 25th! The reading will be followed by a book signing so be sure to bring a copy with you!
Speakers
avatar for Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow

Guest of Honor
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist — the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of many books, most recently WALKAWAY, a novel for adults, IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; INFORMATION DOESN’T WANT TO BE FREE, a book about earning... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

11:00

Exploring Themes in Zen Cho's Work
Now that Zen Cho has published her first novel (SORCERER TO THE CROWN), we're learning more about themes in this feminist Malaysian-British author's work. In her postcolonial novella THE PERILOUS LIFE OF JADE YEO, her short story collection SPIRITS ABROAD, and in SORCERER, Cho depicts adventurous, mercenary, or blase women who use, disregard, or otherwise play with expectations of femininity -- British and Malaysian. She illustrates how both mundane and magical institutions use gatekeeping to prop up their own status hierarchies, and how that affects people trying to make their way in. Intersectionality, diaspora and immigration, the culture of British education, and queer relationships also appear in Cho's stories over and over; let's discuss those and other themes.
Speakers
avatar for Sumana Harihareswara

Sumana Harihareswara

Guest of Honor
Sumana is a programmer, technology executive and open source expert who practices and teaches technical and people skills. She is also a comedian, author, and holds a master's in technology from Columbia University

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

11:00

Journalism Today
Veteran journalists from the worlds of print, radio and television discuss the state of journalism. Where it's been, where it's at and where we see it going.
Speakers
avatar for Mari Brighe

Mari Brighe

Writer/Editor/Speaker/Educator
Professional scientist and healthcare pro turned queer academic, essayist, editor, and speaker.
DH

Dave Hogg

SR

Scott Ryan


Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

11:00

Live Audio, as a Professional Sound Engineer
Talk about live audio: microphones, speakers, everything in between, and techniques. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and maybe get some ideas for solving your audio problem at work/church/band/etc. Get rock concert sound, from inputs to outputs and everything in between!
Speakers
avatar for Scott Helmke

Scott Helmke

Systems & Projects, TC Furlong, Inc.
I've been working in professional audio on and off all my life, most recently for an audio production and design company in Chicago.

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media   Tech

11:00

Hobbyist Gamedev Strategy Guide: Make Games and Don't Die
Do you have a burning desire to start making games? Have tons of abandoned projects? 18 months into writing your own engine? We'll share the hottest tips and tricks on making (and finishing) video games without dying. This talk will take a holistic approach to game development, focusing on how to start a project, what engine is right for you, where to find resources, and how to stay motivated.
Speakers
avatar for Paul Harju

Paul Harju

Software Developer & Hobbyist Gamedev. Has strong opinions about Unity, Renpy, & Web Development. 日本語が下手です

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

11:00

Women in Tech
With just 25% of IT jobs being filled by women, it can be difficult to navigate the male-dominated field. There will be 1 million unfilled computer programming positions by 2020, and women are going to be an important piece of filling this gap. Our panel will share real-life experiences on what it is like to be a women in tech, ways to start your career for those newbies out here, and resources to grow both personally and professionally. We'll have a lively panel discussion followed by an audience Q&A.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Cline

Jennifer Cline

DETSW Marketing Lead, Grand Circus
LE

Laura Eagin

DR

Darcy Rhoden

AS

Antonella Solomon

avatar for Jeseekia Vaughn

Jeseekia Vaughn

Engineer, Whitelabel

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 11:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

11:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 12:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

11:00

Captain Sonar
6-8 players | You and your teammates control a state-of-the-art submarine and are trying to locate an enemy submarine in order to blow it out of the water before they can do the same to you. Every role is important, and the confrontation is merciless. Be organized and communicate because a captain is nothing without his crew: the Chief Mate, the Radio Operator, and the Engineer.
Speakers
BS

Bryan Snell


Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 12:00
Lobby Gaming - Table B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

11:00

Tricorder Project Demo
Our Hack of Honor, The Tricorder project, aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can't normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see colour. These devices are designed to be inexpensive enough that they are affordable to all those who want to use them to learn about the world around them. Join Peter Jansen of the Tricorder project to check out these devices first hand!
Speakers
avatar for Peter Jansen

Peter Jansen

Hack of Honor
Peter Jansen, PhD is the developer of The Tricorder Project, which aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can’t normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 12:00
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

11:00

Terraforming Mars
2-5 players | In the 2400s, mankind begins to terraform the planet Mars. Giant corporations, sponsored by the World Government on Earth, initiate huge projects to raise the temperature, the oxygen level, and the ocean coverage until the environment is habitable. In Terraforming Mars, you play one of those corporations and work together in the terraforming process, but compete for getting victory points that are awarded not only for your contribution to the terraforming, but also for advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar system and doing other commendable things.
Speakers
SO

Sam Orosz


Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 12:50
Lobby Gaming - Table G Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

11:00

Creating Webcomics: Plot and Character Development
Erika and Laura's comic, Sidekick Girl, has been running for TEN YEARS! Come hear their thoughts on getting your own comic off the ground. Planning your plots, developing your characters, choosing an art style and a hundred other decisions go into starting a comic. Learn what works and what pitfalls to avoid.
Speakers
LC

Laura Cascos

avatar for Erika Wagner

Erika Wagner


Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 12:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

11:00

Legacy Code Rescue
We've all got a code base we inherited, often with a horrible snarl of static objects, global variables and hidden dependencies between sections. In this multi-hour workshop, learn the tricks to safely un-snarl your code, increase your productivity ,and reduce your stress. Participants should bring a laptop suitable for development and be prepared to write some Java code.
Speakers
avatar for Clay Dowling

Clay Dowling

Journeyman Developer, Pillar Technology
avatar for Mark Henke

Mark Henke

Software Consultant, Pillar Technology
I am a Consultant at Pillar Technology specializing in Architecture and Intent-driven leadership.

Dealing with legacy code pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 12:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

11:00

Retro Gaming!
Join us for Retro Gaming! Including systems from Atari to Gamecube and (almost) everything in between, join us and relive your childhood!
Speakers
avatar for Les Orchard

Les Orchard

Staff Engineer, Mozilla
{web,mad,computer} scientist; {tech,scifi} writer; home{brew,roast}er; mozillian
avatar for Angie Rush

Angie Rush


Saturday April 29, 2017 11:00 - 15:00
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Penguicon

12:00

Beginning Cosplay
A lively interactive discussion of various tips and tricks to get you started off participating in cosplay.
Speakers
JB

John Belden

Writer and editor with The Eagle, Indy's LGBTQ-focused newspaper and blogger at PlaysWithJohnAndWendy.com, focused on the games we play and the stage plays we see.
avatar for Wendy Carson

Wendy Carson


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

12:00

Cross Stitch Workshop
Try a new (old) craft. Learn the basics of counted cross-stitch. Patterns and supplies provided.
Speakers
avatar for Anna Carey

Anna Carey

bibliophile, HIT career, con-runner, mother, crafting & creating, geek, possibly a velociraptor.

Avengers 1 x stitch pattern pdf
Daleck xStitch Pattern pdf
HP Scar x stitch pattern pdf
HP x stitch Pattern pdf
I Heart Science xStitch pattern pdf
Mario Block xStitch pattern pdf
SWNoTry x stitch pattern pdf
Tardis x stitch pattern pdf
Totoro Stitch pattern pdf
StitchWorksheet pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

12:00

Entomophagy: You Want Me to Eat WHAT?!
Learn about the field of entomophagy with anthropologist Julie Lesnik as she discusses the basics of insect consumption. There will be snacks!
Speakers
JL

Julie Lesnik


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

12:00

Engine Room
2 to 4 players | A co-op deck-building game of designing your own cards. Players are engineers in the engine room of a Steampunk vehicle. They encounter machine parts laying around in Junkyard World, which they could weld onto their vessel. Players take slide transparencies and sleeve them into a card in their hand to add points or card instructions.
Speakers
avatar for Matt Arnold

Matt Arnold

Over the past 14 years, Matt has served at almost every level of leadership in Penguicon. For five years, he has alternately served as a Board Director and Officer at i3Detroit hacker space. Professionally, Matt designs and publishes board games, develops websites, and makes custom... Read More →


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Lobby Gaming - Table A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

12:00

Hey! That's My Fish!
2-4 players | Penguins at Penguicon? Of course! Use your penguins to collect fish and become the last penguin on the ice.
Speakers
avatar for Ska

Ska


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Lobby Gaming - Table D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

12:00

Cryptozoology of the Great Lakes
Come discuss Bigfoot, Dogman, Lake monsters, Nain Rouge and more.
Speakers
SN

Shetan Noir

Apocalypse Theatre
Shetan Noir is a published author and has had several articles published in Circle Sanctuary magazine. Shetan is a Belly Dancer, she has performed and taught belly dance for over 12 yrs. | | Shetan is also a workshop presenter, Hoodoo and Folk Magic practitioner. She teaches... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

12:00

Foster Care and Adoption
Have room in your home and love in your heart? Consider opening your home to a foster child in need! All types of foster and adoptive families are needed. Learn more about what it takes to be a foster and adoptive parent from a family that has adopted from Michigan's foster care system.
Speakers
KD

Kristina Delgado

QA Analyst, 365 Retail Markets
SE

Scott Elliott

VS

Vyctoria Sanborn


Foster Adopt Presentation Penguicon pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

12:00

Furries!
Find out all about your fabulous fuzzy furry friends: anthropomorphic characters, art, and costumes!
Speakers
avatar for Gnora Ford-Lepthien

Gnora Ford-Lepthien

Graphic Designer, Legged Fish

Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

12:00

LGBTQ Identities
This facilitated group discussion will encourage panelists and participants to learn from one another by discussing their sexual orientation and gender identity in a safe, affirming space.
Speakers
AD

Allison Demars

JH

Jillian Hawkins

AH

Abigail Hill

avatar for Becky Hill

Becky Hill

avatar for Jennifer Schwartz

Jennifer Schwartz

Licensed Clinical Therapist
Jennifer Schwartz is a licensed clinical social worker, and has worked as a therapist specializing in serving the LGBTQ community, and specifically people living with HIV/AIDS, for the past five years. Additionally, Jennifer is a speaker, group facilitator, educator, and advocate... Read More →
avatar for Ryan Souder

Ryan Souder


LGBTQ Intentities PenguiCon 2017 pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

12:00

Sustainable Living & Suburban Farming
Talk about DIY plans for feeders and watering systems for poultry and sources for free plans for chicken coops and local laws to keep your suburban farm legal.
Speakers
avatar for Stacy Louis/Saltygirl

Stacy Louis/Saltygirl

Owner, Louis Cosulting

Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

12:00

CANCELLED Copyright 101
Are you interested in the legal side of Copyright? Come speak with a real lawyer to get a crash course on copyright law!
Speakers
MM

Matthew McHale


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life   Media

12:00

John Scalzi Reads
John Scalzi can not only write amazing, award-winning Science Fiction, but he can read it, too! Come listen to the author read excerpts from his own work. Perhaps he'll let you ask questions at the end, as well, if you're lucky.
Speakers
avatar for John Scalzi

John Scalzi

Author, "The Consuming Fire", 1969
John Scalzi is a fan of pie and oxygen, not necessarily in that order.

Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

12:00

Is Marvel Ruining Hollywood Film Making?
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe expands, they incorporate more and more of the upper echelons of Hollywood creators and actors. As this has been happening, independent and smaller movies have become rare in your neighborhood cineplex. Is this the fault of the MCU and other franchises?
Speakers
avatar for John Bruske

John Bruske

Owner, Podbros Network LLC
John is the owner of the Podbros Network. He loves covering events in the Metro Detroit area, helping to promote great causes, and entertaining. He's also a big fan of the comic and geek pop culture scene.
avatar for Michael Cieslak

Michael Cieslak

Editor in Chief, Dragon's Roost Press
Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he still lives within 500 yards of the city with his wife and their two dogs Tesla and Titus. The house is covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the... Read More →
JS

Jeannie Szarma


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

12:00

Telescope Observing - The Sun
A neutrino walks into a bar; and keeps right on going!
Speakers
BT

Bob Trembley


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Outside Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

12:00

Using Your Android Phone as a Sensor!
Recording tilt, audio, light, temperature, and barometer readings with Google Science Journal.
Speakers
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.

Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

12:00

Distributed Game Development: The Benefits of Open Source
Open source technology brings developers together, enabling them to achieve greater results. There is a diverse open source game development community out there that is creating and consuming all sorts of projects, from small code snippets to fully featured games and engines. This talk will explain some of the ways open source software can improve game projects. We hope you walk away with a better understanding of available resources and inspire you to create and contribute to your own open source projects to benefit others.
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Lange

Amanda Lange

Technical Evangelist, Microsoft
Technical Evangelist at Microsoft in the Philadelphia, PA area. Love game dev and IoT, and open source on Azure!
avatar for Adina Shanholtz

Adina Shanholtz

Technical Evangelist, Microsoft
Adina Shanholtz (aka the Fey Technologist) is a Technical Evangelist for Microsoft based out of New York City. She uses her passions for Virtual/Mixed Reality, Game Development, and Wearable Technology to empower others through programming. Adina has spoken in front of thousands of... Read More →
avatar for Rachel White

Rachel White

Technical Evangelist, Microsoft
Rachel is a self-taught developer and designer who is interested in new uses for old hardware, robots, VR/AR/MR and bots. She’s spoken internationally about JavaScript Robotics, Twitter Bots, browser based video games and Node.js. Rachel is currently working on multiple video game... Read More →

Open Source Gaming2 pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

12:00

Never Sleep Again: Introduction to Rootkit Design
When you log on to a computer, do you trust what you see? How do you know you're not being watched? That every keystroke isn't being logged? That your microphone isn't recording? Come and learn the hard way that anti-virus can't save you. This talk is a technical exploration in making malware that lives at the same level as the operating system kernel. We'll discuss the anatomy of a rootkit and methods for staying hidden.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Grube

Michael Grube

Hey everybody! I'm a developer who has a pretty strong interest in decentralization and hacking.

Never Sleep Again pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 12:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

12:00

Eryndor Dagorhir: Your local LARP
Dagorhir combines fast-paced full-contact combat simulation with elements of live action role-playing. Get a summary of the rules and pick your weapon! Several people from the local realm of Eryndor will be on hand to spar and answer questions. We will raffle off a weapon every half hour to panel attendees. Check us out at http://eryndor.com !
Speakers
KD

Kalika (Dave)


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 13:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

12:00

Paint and Take
Come paint a miniature and take it home! If help is needed we can give ideas and show how things are done. Please, no attendees under 13 without parental supervision.
Speakers
avatar for Anderyn

Anderyn

DM

Dean Martelle


Saturday April 29, 2017 12:00 - 18:00
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY   Gaming

13:00

Off-Roading for Geeks
This talk will go over off-roading for nerds. Topics we will cover include an overview of equipment such as primitive tractor beams, camping, how it's unique from RVs, backpacking, and tent camping, off-road etiquette, and busting some common myths.
Speakers
GM

Greg Mason


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

13:00

The Open Soda Guy Tells You to Stop Drinking Pop
Bill Putt (one of the founders of Open Soda) discusses his weight loss journey. He was pushing the scales at 400 pounds and is an extremely picky eater. He will talk about what inspired him, things he learned on the way, challenges of losing weight as a super taster, and simple ideas that made big impact. He will attempt to inspire all who come hear him talk to make changes to their life as well.
Speakers
avatar for Blasted Bill Putt

Blasted Bill Putt

Tech, Network Services Group

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food   Life

13:00

Codenames
4-8 players | Two teams go head to head as their spy masters attempt to give them one-word clues to find their own agents the fastest.
Speakers
avatar for Ska

Ska


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Lobby Gaming - Table B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

13:00

Miniature Wargaming, An Introductory Primer
Miniature gaming can seem like an intimidating hobby to get into. The walls of little figures and shelves of rule books can make it daunting for those who have never done it to get their feet wet. Now is a brave new time in miniature gaming with a shift to smaller games and independent companies. This is a panel for those curious about starting into miniature gaming or those who do play who are looking to possibly learn something new.
Speakers
avatar for John Patrick

John Patrick

I like to consider myself a "Nerd of All Seasons." I play and collect many board games, card games, RPGs and miniature wargames. I read almost anything that seemes interesting but especially love sci-fi, cyberpunk, and local history. I am a bit of a tinkerer and enjoy conversation... Read More →

Miniature Gaming Primer pdf
MiniatureWargamingPrimerOutline pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

13:00

Splendor
2-4 players | As the leader of a merchant guild, you invest in mines and recruit the most renowned artisans. Build a commercial empire and receive the visit of wise monarchs to acquire glory and prestige.
Speakers
CO

Cheryl Orosz

Application Developer
As a longtime games afficianado, I strongly believe in the power of play to enlighten and entertain.

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Lobby Gaming - Table G Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

13:00

Critical Analysis: How to Make Fruitful Discussion
Are you the type of person who likes to watch movies, read books, or listen to music? Do you like to discuss your recent media with friends, coworkers, or strangers? Do you hate short answers and want to really talk about why you feel the way you do, and have them reciprocate? Then this panel is for you! Come listen to me talk about how to talk about popular media in a way that engages, or at least starts discussion instead of arguing.
Speakers
CS

Catherine Stafford


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

13:00

The End of the World as We Know it
Join us to learn how to prepare for disaster large or small. What preparations do you need to make? What tools should you buy? What skills will you need? How will you save your family?
Speakers
avatar for Bruce Price

Bruce Price


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

13:00

Ada Palmer Reads and Signs!
Join Guest of Honor Ada Palmer as she delights the audience by reading from her works of science fiction and fantasy. The reading will be followed by a book signing!
Speakers
avatar for ada palmer

ada palmer

Guest of Honor
Historian. Author. Composer. Teacher. Blogger. Ada Palmer does considerable research on everything media, from historical texts to anime and manga. She writes both science fiction and fantasy novels, and composes music in the same genres. Ada teaches in the History Department of... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

13:00

Parts of Editing
What do I need the editor(s) for? What does the editor do to my book? Should I pay someone to copy edit my fiction before I send it to publishers (short answer: NO) or not? What is copy editing as compared to proofreading? What tools exist to help me revise/edit before I submit my work?
Speakers
RV

Rosemary Van Deuren

avatar for Clif Flynt

Clif Flynt

President, Noumena Corp
I'm a techie nerd. Unix/Linux user since the early '80s and programmer since the early '70s. I also write filks, humorous fiction (Well, I think it's humorous), and play guitar. My renewed interest in writing fiction led me to studying how to write well which led to Editomat (www.editomat.com... Read More →
AS

Anne S. Zanoni


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

13:00

Self-Publishing in 2017
Self-publishing is an increasingly important channel for authors to reach their readers. It also changes constantly, with new tools and distributors opening daily and existing platforms changing. This panel brings together veteran self-publishers to share their experiences, discuss the changes of the last year, and give new authors an edge in the business.
Speakers
avatar for Christian Klaver

Christian Klaver

This author of Science Fiction and Fantasy lives in the suburbs just outside the sprawling decay of Detroit, Michigan. There he resides with his wife (Kimberly) his daughter (Kathryn) and a group of animals he refers to as 'The Menagerie'. He has been selling short stories since... Read More →
avatar for Michael W. Lucas

Michael W. Lucas

Author
I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato. | | Latest tech books... Read More →
avatar for Cassandra Morgan

Cassandra Morgan

Author, White Whisker Publications
Author, Writer and Speaker Extraordinaire! | | Cassie is the author of the YA Epic Fantasy series the Kingdoms of Chartile, and the brand new Paranormal Cozy Mystery series the Silver Fox Mysteries. | She has participated in a number of small films including Shadows of the Shadows... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

13:00

Creating Webcomics: Logistical Nonsense and Shameless Self Promotion
Creating your webcomic is only the beginning. Now you have to get it to your readers. And interact with your readers. And get some readers! We'll talk about advertising, maintaining your website and schedule, surviving cons as a vendor, and all the other bits of nitpicky nonsense that can make your comic a success.
Speakers
LC

Laura Cascos

avatar for Erika Wagner

Erika Wagner


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

13:00

Penguicon Board of Directors Meeting
You've done the convention, you've met the staff, and you've even socialized with the ConCom. But what about those *other* Penguicon people? Those shadowy figures that create the multi-year rules, have their fingers on the money, and cause a ConChair to mysteriously appear every year in a puff of penguin-scented smoke? Ever wonder what the Penguicon Board of Directors does in their secret sanctum, and where they are taking Penguicon? Come to the Board of Directors meeting and see!
Speakers
avatar for Matt Arnold

Matt Arnold

Over the past 14 years, Matt has served at almost every level of leadership in Penguicon. For five years, he has alternately served as a Board Director and Officer at i3Detroit hacker space. Professionally, Matt designs and publishes board games, develops websites, and makes custom... Read More →
RB

Randy Bradakis

avatar for cassinator

cassinator

I'm the Conchair for 2018. I love Penguicon. I like Anime and Programming. I also tend to wear panda hats, so look out for that :P
SG

Steve Gutterman

avatar for James Hice

James Hice

GJ

Gini Judd

avatar for Jer Lance

Jer Lance

Board of Directors, Penguicon
I've served Penguicon as a staffer, member of the concom, and/or board of directors for more than a decade. In real life, I'm a software engineer, leader, and coach. I'm the lesser half of the Leading Questions Podcast duo (http://questionscast.com). | | @jer_ on Twitter and Wandering.shop... Read More →
AL

Amanda Long-Adams

Board of Directors, Penguicon 2017 Treasurer, Penguicon

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Penguicon

13:00

The Future of Net Neutrality
Net neutrality guarantees that your internet provider can't block your access to competing web sites, or censor content they disagree with. In 2015, the FCC created strong protections for net neutrality by reclassifying broadband internet providers as common carriers. But telecom companies are still fighting to overturn the rules. Where is net neutrality headed? And what does the new presidential administration mean for net neutrality?
Speakers
EL

Edward L. Platt

Researcher, Author, University of Michigan School of Information
I'm Ed. I create technology for communities and communities for technology. I'm also an artist, a hacker/maker, and a neuroscience fanboy. I'm currently a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan School of Information.

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

13:00

Wearables: What's the 'Secret Sauce'?
With so many wearable devices on the market already, and more coming out constantly, it seems like everything we do will be via wearable soon. But a lot of companies are finding it harder than expected to make a "killer app" wearable. Let's discuss what works, what doesn't, our experiences, and what we'd like to see from the market.
Speakers
avatar for Hannah Davis

Hannah Davis


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 13:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

13:00

Navigating a Career in IT
Is your career stalled? Not sure what to do next or maybe you do but you're not sure how to get there? Let's explore some career transition techniques and navigation strategies. Come with your dreams and aspirations and lets explore the possibilities.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Haynes

Mark Haynes

Scrum Master/Agile Team Facilitator, Strategic Staffing Solution
As an IT professional with a multidisciplinary perspective and over 20 years of experience I can help your organization meet its agile, quality or software processing needs. I have managed teams locally, remotely and off-shore. I have transitioned teams to Agile/Scrum and bootstrapped... Read More →
DJ

Douglas Johnson

QA Test Lead, University of Cincinnati IT
Master in Computer Information Systems and Aeronautical Management. 20 year veteran of US Air Force. QA Test Lead at University of Cincinnati IT. Adjunct Instructor for computer classes for 10 years. Helped run a Science Fiction Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio for 16 years. When my... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 14:00
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

13:00

Get Plastered -- How to Make a Foam Dress Form Part 2
This workshop will show attendees how to create a dress form using plaster bandages to make a custom cast which is then used as a mold to create the foam dress form. This is part 2 of 3. Drying and curing takes time, so there will be multiple parts for the different steps over the course of the weekend.
Speakers
JH

Jan Henry

DH

David Henry


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 14:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay   DIY

13:00

Embroidery 101
Come learn the basics of hand embroidery! You'll learn some stitches and have plenty of time to practice. Materials will be provided, but spots are limited, so sign up in advance at Ops!
Speakers
avatar for Janet Gocay

Janet Gocay

Planner of Penguicon. Teacher and event planner. Maker of pretty things.

Embroidery 101 pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 14:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

13:00

Tea Tasting and Discussion
We make tea, we drink tea, we have a nice discussion, everybody profits! Or at least gets somewhat caffeinated.
Speakers
PC

Pete Cerra

avatar for Lithie Dubois

Lithie Dubois

Just me; no more, no less. @Penguicon Program Ops. @ConFusionMI 2020 Conchair. AASFA Board of Director... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 14:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

13:00

Lord of the Rings Card Game (FF LCG)
Learn to play Fantasy Flight's Lord of the Rings Living Card Game.
Speakers
K

Kelly

KW

Kevin Wozniak


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 14:50
Lobby Gaming - Table E Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

13:00

Ships
2-4 players | The game is divided into three ages, marked with different ship types. The first age is that of the galley, followed by the age of the galleon, then finally the steamship age. The board combines a track showing the development of ships, similar to that in Automobile, with a map of Europe and an area representing the rest of the world.
Speakers
MD

Mike Dudash


Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 14:50
Lobby Gaming - Table F Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

13:00

Grand Circus: Intro to Coding Workshop
This Intro to Coding workshop is a free workshop designed for folks who are curious about coding, but who have little to no experience. This workshop is the perfect class to learn the programming foundations needed to eventually build a website or mobile app. While you won't leave the workshop a developer, you will leave with an understanding of code needed to learn any programming language. We'll cover (using JavaScript) common terms used by programmers, data types, boolean expressions, and conditional statements. Don't know what any of these things mean? Perfect - this workshop is for you.
Speakers
CB

Christie Birtie

avatar for Anna Farr

Anna Farr

Program Manager, Grand Circus
avatar for Jessica Ann Roland

Jessica Ann Roland

Product Owner, Lead, Fathead LLC
Volunteer Chair Penguicon 2018, ConChair Penguicon 2019I love all things science especially neurobiology, Doctor Who, Wolverine, volunteering, and building communities.

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 15:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

13:00

Dreamchaser: A Game of Destiny
2-4 players | This is OUR story, a story of pursuing our dreams. Work together to imagine a purpose and the characters to fulfill it. Immerse yourself in the story YOU want to experience. Be rewarded for creativity and roleplaying your character. Just imagine all that we could achieve together! Enjoy interactive storytelling that is fun for the whole family. New players welcome!
Speakers
avatar for Pete Petrusha

Pete Petrusha

Creative Director, Imagining Games
Pete is Imagining Games and so can you! Beneath the banner of Imagining Games, Pete is working to share and grow the hobby he holds dear. Role playing games have been a force of creativity, an exercise in analytical thinking, and an opportunity for self-expression in Pete’s life... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 13:00 - 16:50
That Room Gaming - Table 3 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

14:00

There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
Second half of the end of the world as we know it. Further adventures in a world gone mad. What would a post TEOTAWAKI world look like?
Speakers
avatar for Bruce Price

Bruce Price


Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States

14:00

Retro Anime: Classics that Still Shine!
Talk about some of the best retro anime series out there. This will be a highlight of the classics. We'll explore what is great about them and why they remain must sees even to this day.
Speakers
avatar for Paul Kemner

Paul Kemner

Paul's a bit older than Godzilla, watched the original broadcast of | the Astro Boy series, and has been a fan of anime ever since. When | he's not writing and tuning SQL, he enjoys geeky hobbies, studies | ancient & modern polytheist relgions, plays exotic instruments, and | writes... Read More →
avatar for Myla Riffle

Myla Riffle

avatar for Star Stramel

Star Stramel

I am an artist and an author who loves to research, it is my life! I am also an avid anime fan as well as a person who enjoys various fandoms. Currently, I am working on an epic tale of Fanfiction to take place within the world of Black Butler. So then, if you have ever wondered about... Read More →

RetroAnimeRecommendations png
Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Anime

14:00

Smite
2 to 4 players | A fast-paced wargame without dice. Players resolve conflicts by drawing from their own bags of discs. Decide which conflicts to win and which to lose. War discs have a distinct shape you can feel in your bag, so you can choose to pull one to attempt to win a fight. (War Discs are uniquely numbered to break ties.) Or, concede the conflict by drawing a Wealth or Politics disc to strengthen your collection. When you are too weak to win, choose when and where to fight which forces your opponents to squander their strength on the rewards which they need the least.
Speakers
avatar for Matt Arnold

Matt Arnold

Over the past 14 years, Matt has served at almost every level of leadership in Penguicon. For five years, he has alternately served as a Board Director and Officer at i3Detroit hacker space. Professionally, Matt designs and publishes board games, develops websites, and makes custom... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Lobby Gaming - Table A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

14:00

Takenoko
2-4 players | A long time ago at the Japanese Imperial court, the Chinese Emperor offered a giant panda bear as a symbol of peace to the Japanese Emperor. Since then, the Japanese Emperor has entrusted his court members (the players) with the difficult task of caring for the animal by tending to his bamboo garden.
Speakers
ME

Mike Emerson


Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Lobby Gaming - Table G Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

14:00

Exploring the World of Ethical Non-Monogamy
This panel presentation will provide an introduction to consensual non-monogamy in its many forms, as well as providing resources for those who identify as non- monogamous and those wanting to learn more.
Speakers
DC

David Case

AD

Allison Demars

JH

Jillian Hawkins

DH

Darek Hawkins

AH

Abigail Hill

avatar for Becky Hill

Becky Hill

avatar for Jennifer Schwartz

Jennifer Schwartz

Licensed Clinical Therapist
Jennifer Schwartz is a licensed clinical social worker, and has worked as a therapist specializing in serving the LGBTQ community, and specifically people living with HIV/AIDS, for the past five years. Additionally, Jennifer is a speaker, group facilitator, educator, and advocate... Read More →
avatar for Ryan Souder

Ryan Souder


Exploring the World of Ethical Non monogamy pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

14:00

JAC3D G33K Fitness Boot Camp
A heart pumping, high adrenaline full body training experience designed to trim and sculpt you for the hot months ahead. Includes strength training using various options including body weight, resistance bands to the keep the body guessing along with cardio intervals to maximize calories burned. This training session will also be accompanied by some of the greatest video game and nerdcore music.
Speakers
avatar for William Bowen

William Bowen


Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

14:00

Joyful Productivity: Overcoming Procrastination and Perfectionism
Inspiration exists, and is available to everyone at nearly any time. Underproductivity, procrastination, and blocks are solvable problems. The secret to achieving a state of near-perpetual inspiration (a.k.a. "flow") is to switch from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and also from a shame/blame mindset to one focused on problem-solving. In this workshop by Hillary Rettig, author of the best-selling The 7 Secrets of the Prolific, we'll delve deep into the heart of under-productivity so you can see, once and for all, what forces are holding you back. Then we'll discuss solutions -- lots of them -- that you can start using immediately to boost your productivity and reduce stress. This workshop is for all writers, artists, academics, activists, and anyone else seeking to get more joyfully productive.
Speakers
avatar for Hillary Rettig

Hillary Rettig

writer, teacher, coach, Infinite Art
As me about productivity (especially creative productivity), and overcoming procrastination, perfectionism, and other blocks to success. Also, values-based time management. And social justice! Also: veganism, foster parenting, being a living kidney donor, and dogs. | | The core of... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

14:00

90-Second Reads
Join a handful of Penguicon authors as they read 90-second passages from their novels. The selections will be thematically linked based on keywords, such as sorrow, fury, funny, love, etc. Timing is crucial! After, there will be a Q&A with the authors.
Speakers
avatar for Nicole E. Castle

Nicole E. Castle

Nicole e. Castle preferred to play by herself as a child, and out of her alone time, sprang a rich, vibrant imagination that loves all manner of monster. Her step-mother once said that Nicole would wake up screaming after seeing a scary movie, but it never stopped her from wanting... Read More →
avatar for Michael Cieslak

Michael Cieslak

Editor in Chief, Dragon's Roost Press
Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he still lives within 500 yards of the city with his wife and their two dogs Tesla and Titus. The house is covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the... Read More →
avatar for Merrie Haskell

Merrie Haskell

Author
Merrie Haskell’s novels are The Princess Curse, Handbook for Dragon Slayers and The Castle Behind Thorns. She won the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle Grades) and the DetCon1 Middle Grade Speculative Fiction award, and she was twice a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award... Read More →
avatar for Michael W. Lucas

Michael W. Lucas

Author
I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato. | | Latest tech books... Read More →
avatar for Ken MacGregor

Ken MacGregor

I'm a speculative fiction (mostly horror) author with two story collections and an impending novel I co-wrote. | I've lived in Michigan most of my adult life, with a brief stint in St. Louis where I was a professional actor part-time. | You can talk to me about anything! I love books... Read More →
avatar for Cassandra Morgan

Cassandra Morgan

Author, White Whisker Publications
Author, Writer and Speaker Extraordinaire! | | Cassie is the author of the YA Epic Fantasy series the Kingdoms of Chartile, and the brand new Paranormal Cozy Mystery series the Silver Fox Mysteries. | She has participated in a number of small films including Shadows of the Shadows... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

14:00

BoF: Old Woman Yells at the Cloud
Back in my day, smut was called lemons, fluff was called shmoop, and authors' notes were all throughout the fanfic. Come talk about the weird stylistic tropes you remember, whether you miss it or are glad it's gone out of fashion.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Bondono

Beth Bondono


Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

14:00

Finding Your Creative Niche
There are many mediums for creation. Join this diverse group of creators as they talk about how they picked their projects. Speakers include well known podcasters Bob Waltenspiel and Dave Phillips from IT in the D (Podcast Detroit), youtubers and filmmakers Tommy Edison and Ben Churchill, composer/musician Kevin MacLeod, and moderator youtuber/podcaster/filmmaker Scott (Toaden) Maiale.
Moderators
avatar for Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Videographer / Editor
Videographer, Audio Visual Specialist, Youtuber, Podcaster, Video Editor, all around Social media geek. | www.Toaden.com | www.MediaLitterSandwich.com

Speakers
avatar for Ben Churchill

Ben Churchill

Guest of Honor
Ben Churchill is the producer and director of The Tommy Edison Experience and Blind Film Critic series and a documentary filmmaker focusing on pop culture and unique lifestyles.
avatar for Tommy Edison

Tommy Edison

Guest of Honor
Tommy Edison, who has been blind since birth, is the Blind Film Critic reviewing movies from his point of view, the host of The Tommy Edison Experience on YouTube and Amazon where he uses humor to answer the most popular questions about living without sight, and worked in radio for... Read More →
avatar for Kevin MacLeod

Kevin MacLeod

Guest of Honor
Kevin MacLeod is an international award-eligible composer and copyright activist, known for his Creative Commons licensed royalty-free music available on incompetech.com. He is an avid Twitch Streamer, showcasing his music production skills and scintillating* personality. Kevin's... Read More →
avatar for David Phillips

David Phillips

Co-Founder, IT in the D, Podcast Detroit
Networking, podcasting, IT in the D, Podcast Detroit...
avatar for Bob Waltenspiel

Bob Waltenspiel

Founder, IT in the D
Founder IT in the D, co-host of the IT in the D Show, co-owner Podcast Detroit, co-owner Falling Down Beer Co.

Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

14:00

Science as Leisure - Citizen Science, Science Pubs and Science in Other Leisure Venues
People who are working in citizen science, science pubs, or programming at leisure science venues like aquariums, museums, parks or zoo talk about how they got started and how you can help.
Speakers
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.
avatar for Mary Fitzpatrick

Mary Fitzpatrick

Graduate Student, Miami University
Grad student in Project Dragonfly thought Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. My focus is improving science literacy and engagement for adults through programming at leisure learning venues. I've been a volunteer at CZBG since I was a teen, and now work... Read More →
JL

Julie Lesnik

avatar for David Erik Nelson

David Erik Nelson

Award-winning science-fiction author and essayist. His stories and novellas regularly appear in ASIMOV’S, THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, anthos like BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR, and elsewhere. Author of DIY books like SNIP, BURN, SOLDER, SHRED: SERIOUSLY GEEKY STUFF TO MAKE... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Trudell

Heidi Trudell

Regional Coordinator, Washtenaw Safe Passage
Dead-bird picking-upping (for Science!) since 2003: research has included window collisions, wind farms, cars, cats, and over 130 species of birds across three states. Founder of Dead Birds (...for Science!) and The Auk-ward (Facebook groups).

Leisure Learning and Adults docx
Classifying Citizen Science How Different Classifications for Citizen Science Projects Impact Biodiversity Awareness docx
List of Science Cafes docx
Some citizen science links docx
Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

14:00

Marching Toward the World Brain: Chaos and Self-Organizing Networks
What if a computer network behaved like a brain? What if, based on activity and resources, a network re-arranged itself to the optimal configuration for a goal? I'll talk about my experiments in creating self-organizing decentralized computer networks that are programmable and have goals. We'll discuss issues like scalability, security and consistency and what networks like this could provide humanity in the future. We'll talk about how networks of this kind can help ordinary humans with information overload and provide intelligence to communities. A simulation and very basic demo will be shown for the first time demonstrating how we can implement these concepts today.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Grube

Michael Grube

Hey everybody! I'm a developer who has a pretty strong interest in decentralization and hacking.

Swarms, Chaos and Self Organizing Networks pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

14:00

Network Firewalls for Fun and Profit
What is a firewall and why do you need one? This and much more will be answered by Tony Bemus as he walks you the through basic setup of a firewall, writing your first firewall rules, and how to make money deploying open source firewalls for small and medium sized businesses.
Speakers
avatar for Tony Bemus

Tony Bemus


Network Firewalls for Fun and Profit pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

14:00

Systems Infrastructure as Code
Do you have systems? Did you click to configure them? You should probably have coded them.
Speakers
avatar for Phil Porada

Phil Porada

Supreme Bit Flipper, MI Tall Guy
Beer | Raspberry Pi | Bash | Beer | Food | Linux | Food | Beer

penguicon 2017 infrastructure as code odp
Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

14:00

What's Watt - Power to the People!
We often use words like "Volts", "Amps", "AC", "DC", "Watts", "Power", and "Energy", but few of us have a good, intuitive understanding of what these terms really mean. This is a mildly technical talk which breaks down some of the mysteries of electric power by creating analogies with physical things we're more familiar with (like water being pumped through a pipe.) Topics include the difference between AC and DC power (and where and why they're used), what Voltage, Amperage, and Wattage are, how different types of motors work, and how electric power is converted between different forms in various ways.
Speakers
PS

Phil Salkie


watts outline pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 14:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

14:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 15:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

14:00

Tricorder Project Demo
Our Hack of Honor, The Tricorder project, aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can't normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see colour. These devices are designed to be inexpensive enough that they are affordable to all those who want to use them to learn about the world around them. Join Peter Jansen of the Tricorder project to check out these devices first hand!
Speakers
avatar for Peter Jansen

Peter Jansen

Hack of Honor
Peter Jansen, PhD is the developer of The Tricorder Project, which aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can’t normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 15:00
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

14:00

Hacking Love? 36 Questions To Create Lasting Connections
First devised years ago, this experiment entails pairing up with a partner, friend, or even complete stranger, and opening up to each other with 36 questions of varying intimacy. We'll be exploring if this technique actually works. Who knows? You might even find your soulmate in the process! Due to the potential romantic nature of the workshop, 18+ only.
Speakers
EM

Edward M Fleece


Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 15:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

14:00

Alien Frontiers
2-4 players | Do you have what it takes to be a deep space colonist? An alien frontier awaits the brave and daring! This new planet will be harsh, but if you have the skills to manage your resources, build a fleet, research alien life, and settle colonies, the world can be yours.
Speakers
avatar for Eric McGlohon

Eric McGlohon


Saturday April 29, 2017 14:00 - 16:00
Lobby Gaming - Table D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

15:00

Fire and Lights
Members of Band-Ayd will be discussing special effects. We have pyrotechnic licences through the city of Detroit and have worked many events throughout the state. This talk will include information about static lighting, intelligent lighting, pyrotechnics, and CO2 effects. We will be focusing on the effects available for an event without diving into the technical details. A lot of times people can see a vision but don't know how to describe what they want. We will also take some stigma away from indoor pyrotechnics. It is our job to turn a vision into a reality and take the fear out of asking for that bad ass dream.
Speakers
avatar for Rachael Sullivan

Rachael Sullivan

Pyrotechnician, Band-Ayd
I've been in the show production industry for almost 10 years. At Band-Ayd, I will run the lights and pyrotechnics for our various types of shows. I wanted to do this talk because I've been finding people don't know what to ask for when talking about special effects and they will... Read More →
SV

Steve Vanderheyden

Owner of Band-Ayd

Fire and Lights pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

15:00

Guns and Martial Arts
This will be a firearms retention course based on the presenter's experience with Aikido and carrying a firearm. A unique course focused on the Tuller Drill (if someone is 21 feet away they can attack you before you can draw your firearm), this defense course covers how to avoid the first attack, giving you time to draw your weapon.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Doubleday

Ben Doubleday


Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

15:00

Beyond the Binary
Learn about non-binary identities, and explore the concepts of sex and gender as a continuum. Panelists will share their experiences and encourage participants to think outside the box!
Speakers
AD

Allison Demars

AH

Abigail Hill

avatar for Jennifer Schwartz

Jennifer Schwartz

Licensed Clinical Therapist
Jennifer Schwartz is a licensed clinical social worker, and has worked as a therapist specializing in serving the LGBTQ community, and specifically people living with HIV/AIDS, for the past five years. Additionally, Jennifer is a speaker, group facilitator, educator, and advocate... Read More →
avatar for Ryan Souder

Ryan Souder


Beyond the Binary pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

15:00

BOF: Watch This Next!
Join us to discuss what to watch next based on genres and group dislikes and likes.
Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Anime

15:00

Hands-on Jewelry Making
In this class, you will have the opportunity to create your very own necklace, bracelet or earrings! There will be a few styles to choose from, or you can come up with your own. Instuction will walk you through the process from laying out your design to stringing it together and ending with a beautiful piece to treasure or give as a gift. Limited space available. Sign up in advance at Ops.
Speakers
avatar for Amie Lynn

Amie Lynn

Mom
Amie has over 11 years experience teaching art, dance and preschool. This will be Amie’s 18th year attending ConVocation, having taught Kids Programming for at least 10 of those years (She has lost count). She has explored many aspects of various traditions on the Pagan path, and... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

15:00

Multiple Ways to Make a Grilled Cheese
Let's experiment! Come learn a few ways to make a grilled cheese sandwich, and discover what works (and what doesn't!) in our quest for yummy, cheesy bliss!
Speakers
JW

Justin Winkelman

GM, Elba Labs
I've been cooking from a young age and have a lot of tips and tricks I've picked up over the years. Is there anything more simple than making a grilled cheese? Yes and no. Professionally, after spending nearly a decade in finance, I transitioned into the the aesthetics services industry... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

15:00

Hey That's My Fish!!!! Life Size Edition
We will be playing Hey! That's My Fish! but with a LIFE SIZE BOARD!!! No need to know the rules as we will go over it quickly, and you'll also have people yelling at you, Price is Right-style. Our game pieces will be ourselves with penguin t-shirts on (size XXL for everyone, already provided).
Speakers
avatar for Matt Arnold

Matt Arnold

Over the past 14 years, Matt has served at almost every level of leadership in Penguicon. For five years, he has alternately served as a Board Director and Officer at i3Detroit hacker space. Professionally, Matt designs and publishes board games, develops websites, and makes custom... Read More →
avatar for Dana Nelson

Dana Nelson

Gaming/Geeky Burlesque, Track Head

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Algonquin Foyer Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

15:00

Impostor Syndrome: What it is and How to Handle it
Do you ever secretly worry that others will discover you're not intelligent? Like you're in a position where you don't belong or don't deserve to be? These could be signs of Impostor Syndrome, a condition that results in self-doubt and feeling a lack of importance. Impostor Syndrome is something that many of us face, but so few talk about or know how to navigate through. Our discussion will introduce you to the concepts of Impostor Syndrome, signs you may be facing it and practical steps you can take to overcome your self-doubt. You're amazing, and we want everyone to recognize this! Join us for this collaborative conversation.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Cline

Jennifer Cline

DETSW Marketing Lead, Grand Circus
avatar for Kimberly Driscoll

Kimberly Driscoll

Director of Education, Grand Circus Detroit LLC

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

15:00

Romance in Sci-fi/Sci-fi in Romance
Join Guest of Honor Sumana Harihareswara for an exploration of the intersection of romance and sci-fi. How does a Happily Ever After/Happy For Now promise make it easier for us to explore wild new frontiers? Got any recommendations?
Speakers
avatar for Sumana Harihareswara

Sumana Harihareswara

Guest of Honor
Sumana is a programmer, technology executive and open source expert who practices and teaches technical and people skills. She is also a comedian, author, and holds a master's in technology from Columbia University

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

15:00

Why So Tense?
Are different tenses better when writing in different genres? What about POV? Or can a good story be told from any perspective?
Speakers
CF

Carol Flynt

Lit Crit major and speaker of 4 languages, I have had grammar classes up the wazoo. Emerging writer, just made my first professional sale (short story) Have reached the point where writing flows more often and I am understanding how the craft works a bit more. Still get an epiphany... Read More →
avatar for Jen Haeger

Jen Haeger

Pupal writer [Author of the veterinarian meets werewolf, paranormal romance trilogy, Moonlight Medicine: Onset, Epidemic, Inoculation and the U.P. MI paranormal thriller, Miles from Manistique], intermediate apiarist, board game enthusiast, ex-veterinarian with a Masters in Forensic... Read More →

Why So Tense pptx
Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

15:00

Intro to Podcasting
A panel of podcasters will provide helpful tips about starting and continuing podcasts.
Speakers
KH

Karen Hubbard

BM

Bob McPherson

CP

Chad Perkins

avatar for David Phillips

David Phillips

Co-Founder, IT in the D, Podcast Detroit
Networking, podcasting, IT in the D, Podcast Detroit...
avatar for Bob Waltenspiel

Bob Waltenspiel

Founder, IT in the D
Founder IT in the D, co-host of the IT in the D Show, co-owner Podcast Detroit, co-owner Falling Down Beer Co.

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

15:00

E-Nable 3D Printed Hand Update
Local volunteers will update attendees on progress on 3D printed hands and arms. Soft 3D printed plastics, myoelectric integration and brain-to-machine solutions will be covered.
Speakers
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.
KK

Kent Kovac


Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

15:00

FreedomBox, Libre Personal Server
The FreedomBox project aims to enable everyone to run their own personal server. It runs on a number of low-power single-board computers, such as the Raspberry Pi. FreedomBox features a web interface that allows simple installation of apps including wiki, chat server, voice chat, news reader, and calendar. We are approaching our first stable release, in Debian Stretch, suitable to keep running over the long term, with minimal maintenance.
Speakers
JV

James Valleroy


FreedomBox Penguicon 2017 pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

15:00

Own Your OS
The purpose of this session is to convince you that you NEED to be running a Freedom respecting Operating System! Do it before it's too late and your choices vanish! We will review of current directions and subtle pushes to limit the end user's choices in the name of security and how supporting FOSS projects helps make sure our best interests are kept in focus.
Speakers
avatar for Craig Hibbard

Craig Hibbard

Sr. Project Mgr., Atos
Linux, Gaming, Classic Rock, and most things Geek.

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 15:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

15:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 16:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

15:00

Viticulture
2-6 players | The players find themselves in the roles of people in rustic, pre-modern Tuscany who have inherited meager vineyards. They have a few plots of land, an old crushpad, a tiny cellar, and three workers. They each have a dream of being the first to call their winery a true success.
Speakers
MD

Mike Dudash


Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 16:50
Lobby Gaming - Table C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

15:00

LN2: Saturday Matinee Ice Cream
For this session, we will be focusing on soda sorbets and candy mix-ins. (As a reminder, we make inclusive ice cream. We always have non-dairy mix bases available, juices for sorbets, and sugar-free sweeteners on hand. We're prepared, and want everyone to be able to enjoy!)
Speakers
EB

Elizabeth Basala

avatar for Amy Castner

Amy Castner

avatar for Sarah Elkins

Sarah Elkins

Configuration Manager
Sarah Elkins works in DevOps and makes liquid nitrogen ice cream. In her spare time, she dances, plays board games, and sings with the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra.
JH

Jen Hamilton

AL

Ariel Landau

avatar for Lew Reynolds

Lew Reynolds

Q’Plah guys.
PS

Phil Salkie

avatar for Susan Sons

Susan Sons

Interests: Infosec, software engineering, infrastructure tech (ICS/SCADA, infrastructure software), OSS, martial arts, strength training, search and rescue, startups (interested in advising, not becoming a founder or employee at this time), swing dancing, scientific CI, boardgames... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 17:00
ConSuite Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

15:00

Keysigning
In this hands-on event, participants will learn how the web of trust model works and perform identity verification with fellow attendees. We will do so in a manner compatible with CAcert.org, so you can use the resulting identify assurance to issue your own free SSL certificates, code signatures, etc. With a little additional work, you can also become an assurer of your own right at Penguicon. We will also exchange OpenPGP keys if you have them, so bring your key fingerprints with you! Participants need to bring at least two forms of ID, at least one of which must be a government issued ID showing birthdate. Having your own notebook computer able to output PDFs files greatly simplifies things, too. New users are expected to show up at the start, but returning participants from Penguicon Keysigning events and any CAcert.org assurers may show up one hour in.
Speakers
RH

Rick Houser


Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 17:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

15:00

Call of Cthulhu: Bury Your Dead Arizona
6 players | CoC 7th edition Bury Your Dead, AZ is set in the 1930s. The players have just stolen a large amount of cash and escaped. But things go wrong and the players must survive long enough to escape BYDA! Rated R for violence, gore, and adult themes.
Speakers
MC

Mike Caldwell


Saturday April 29, 2017 15:00 - 20:50
That Room Gaming - Table 1 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

16:00

Introduction to Parkour
Phoenix Freerunning Academy will be offering instruction on some basic movements found in parkour, including jumping and landing/rolling, balancing on rails and vaulting, over objects.
Speakers
avatar for Jesse Harrison

Jesse Harrison

Phoenix Freerunning Academy
AR

Anthony Rembisz

EZ

Eric Zimmerman

Owner, Phoenix Freerunning Academy
We are a parkour and freerunning gym based out of Livonia, MI. We teach parkour and freerunning classes to both youths and adults.

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

16:00

Whose Geek Are You Anyway
Everyone gets to join in for Whose Line Is It Anyway hijinks! Participation is not only actively encouraged, but generally required for the full level of fun. Audience suggestions are also encouraged, from a Superman/Wonder Woman/Lex Luthor love triangle on Jerry Springer, to the world's worst Redshirt. Expect adult content.
Speakers
avatar for Derek Newland

Derek Newland

I enjoy being a technician, from cars and computers to welding and electrical motors. Fixing and building things has always been fun for me.

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

16:00

Polyamory and Kids
Raising children in today's world is hard enough. Throw in polyamory and it adds on a whole new set of challenges. Our guests all live in different poly configurations and have children. Come visit with them as they share their stories.
Speakers
DC

David Case

JH

Jillian Hawkins

DH

Darek Hawkins


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  After Dark

16:00

Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board
For those who want to learn how to subtly alter their nerdcrafts (or general crafts) to maintain structural integrity while making them not so bleeping heavy!
Speakers
MS

Mistress Sassypants


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay   DIY

16:00

Cosplay Contest Muster & Judging
Did you bring your cosplay A-game this weekend? Come join us to sign-up and be judged before the Cosplay Contest at 5:00!
Speakers
avatar for Lithie Dubois

Lithie Dubois

Just me; no more, no less. @Penguicon Program Ops. @ConFusionMI 2020 Conchair. AASFA Board of Director... Read More →
avatar for Kristie Good

Kristie Good

avatar for ada palmer

ada palmer

Guest of Honor
Historian. Author. Composer. Teacher. Blogger. Ada Palmer does considerable research on everything media, from historical texts to anime and manga. She writes both science fiction and fantasy novels, and composes music in the same genres. Ada teaches in the History Department of... Read More →

Volunteers
AP

Alex Page

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay   Penguicon

16:00

Knitting 101
Learn how to knit! Learn a few basics of how to use two sticks and some string to create functional items. Space is limited. Sign up in advance at Ops.
Speakers
avatar for Christina Fayz

Christina Fayz

AF

Anneliese Freiny

avatar for Zena Jasenak

Zena Jasenak

DP

Dawn P

avatar for Kelly V

Kelly V

Call management, AAA
I love knitting, crochet, yarn (anything....), jewelry making and I do a bit of sewing and cross stitch. Beyond crafts, I hoard yarn (oops, thats crafts), have an odd sense of humor, am LGBT (asexual and agender), love cats, dogs, and penguins, and my favorite color is purple.

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

16:00

Open Soda Demo
We're going to make soda, and we need you to help! Learn how to make your own soda pop, and make your own flavors to boot! Don't be afraid to ask questions or suggest something crazy!
Speakers
AD

Anthony Distel


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

16:00

Friendship at the Speed of Sound
This is a speed friending event where participants will pair up and get to know one another with the hopes of finding a Con Buddy. Questions to keep conversation going are provided.
Speakers
RL

Rich Langan

avatar for Jessica Ann Roland

Jessica Ann Roland

Product Owner, Lead, Fathead LLC
Volunteer Chair Penguicon 2018, ConChair Penguicon 2019I love all things science especially neurobiology, Doctor Who, Wolverine, volunteering, and building communities.

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

16:00

CANCELLED Crowdsourcing - First You Need a Crowd
Patreon, Kickstarter, Indiegogo: these have all become popular ways for creatives to finance their creations. Before you can crowdsource, you need a crowd. What do you do BEFORE you start your campaign to ensure that you'll get traction? The moderator, Clifford VanMeter, is the author of two books about online marketing.
Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

16:00

Cleaning Your Prose: Editomat
Editomat is a tool to improve your writing. It highlights weak words, finds repeated words and helps focus your vocabulary. After almost 3 years of development and testing, it's making its way into the great outside world.
Speakers
avatar for Clif Flynt

Clif Flynt

President, Noumena Corp
I'm a techie nerd. Unix/Linux user since the early '80s and programmer since the early '70s. I also write filks, humorous fiction (Well, I think it's humorous), and play guitar. My renewed interest in writing fiction led me to studying how to write well which led to Editomat (www.editomat.com... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

16:00

Promptapalooza
A fun, laid back, prompt-based writing workshop meant to help spur creativity and sharpen writing tools. Come with laptops charged and ready to type or pencils sharpened and ready to scribe.
Speakers
avatar for Jen Haeger

Jen Haeger

Pupal writer [Author of the veterinarian meets werewolf, paranormal romance trilogy, Moonlight Medicine: Onset, Epidemic, Inoculation and the U.P. MI paranormal thriller, Miles from Manistique], intermediate apiarist, board game enthusiast, ex-veterinarian with a Masters in Forensic... Read More →
avatar for Ferrett Steinmetz

Ferrett Steinmetz

Ferrett Steinmetz is a noted polyamory writer and author of the books FLEX, THE FLUX, and the finale to the series, FIX. He is everywhere on FetLife as @theferrett, and can be found on Twitter at @ferretthimself.

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

16:00

The Impact of Tabletop Gaming on Fantasy Fiction
This panel focuses on the relationship between tabletop gaming, such as Dungeons & Dragons, and fantasy fiction. Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of D&D, also wrote fantasy fiction. Gaming environments, such as Forgotten Realms, Darksun, and Dragonlance, have been the focus of numerous works of fiction. Many writers, Raymond E. Feist is an example, cite gaming as a huge influence on their writing. Fantasy fiction broke many barriers over recent years with the popularity of franchises such as Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Tabletop gaming has also risen in popularity recently. How much are the two related? What does the future hold for this connection?
Speakers
avatar for Brian Hudson

Brian Hudson

avatar for Jeff Pryor

Jeff Pryor

Jeff has been writing and telling stories all of his life, but recently decided to get serious about it. His debut novel, 'Chosen of Trees and of Talons' was published in November by Journalstone Publishing. This begins a five-book epic fantasy adventure unlike any other. The sequel... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

16:00

Podcasting Networks Talking About Podcasting Networks
Representatives from Podcast Networks: Slack Jaw Punks, Podcast Detroit, and Podbros talk about Podcasting Networks, including what they are, if you should join them, and what makes networks different. Moderated by Scott (Toaden) Maiale.
Moderators
avatar for Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Videographer / Editor
Videographer, Audio Visual Specialist, Youtuber, Podcaster, Video Editor, all around Social media geek. | www.Toaden.com | www.MediaLitterSandwich.com

Speakers
avatar for John Bruske

John Bruske

Owner, Podbros Network LLC
John is the owner of the Podbros Network. He loves covering events in the Metro Detroit area, helping to promote great causes, and entertaining. He's also a big fan of the comic and geek pop culture scene.
BM

Bob McPherson

CP

Chad Perkins

avatar for David Phillips

David Phillips

Co-Founder, IT in the D, Podcast Detroit
Networking, podcasting, IT in the D, Podcast Detroit...
avatar for Bob Waltenspiel

Bob Waltenspiel

Founder, IT in the D
Founder IT in the D, co-host of the IT in the D Show, co-owner Podcast Detroit, co-owner Falling Down Beer Co.

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

16:00

Ancient Egypt: Q&A
Join U of M Egyptology professor Dr. Terry Wilfong and Egyptology geek and author Paul Kemner as they answer questions and chat about one of their favorite subjects. Dr. Wilfong has published and lectured extensively on topics relating to gender, sexuality, and religion in ancient Egypt. (Hint: Stargate is not a documentary!)
Speakers
avatar for Paul Kemner

Paul Kemner

Paul's a bit older than Godzilla, watched the original broadcast of | the Astro Boy series, and has been a fan of anime ever since. When | he's not writing and tuning SQL, he enjoys geeky hobbies, studies | ancient & modern polytheist relgions, plays exotic instruments, and | writes... Read More →
DT

Dr. Terry Wilfong


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

16:00

Making AI Easy: Building Intelligent Applications with Cognitive Services
The rise of machine learning has produced an explosion of APIs to make your applications more intelligent. In this session, you will learn about 20+ different Cognitive Services APIs that provide object recognition, face detection and identification, emotion recognition, OCR, computer vision, video services, speech and speaker recognition, language understanding, text analytics, sentiment analysis, knowledge exploration, search services, and more. These REST-based services work on any technology platform. You can also leverage these services in conjunction with the Microsoft Bot Framework to build an intelligent assistant. You will see powerful demos of these capabilities, experience the simplicity of calling this code, and walk away with ideas on how to leverage this functionality in your own applications.
Speakers
JM

Jennifer Marsman

Tech

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

16:00

The Rise and Sudden Fall of the Jupiter ACE Computer
In 1982 two well-known ex Sinclair Research employees (Richard Altwasser and Steve Vickers) formed a company called Jupiter Cantab. They created and sold two versions of their computer: The Jupiter ACE and the Jupiter ACE 4000. This was the first home computer to boot directly to the FORTH language. By 1983 the company was bankrupt with under 6,000 units sold. What happened? Find out more about this unique machine, the short history of Jupiter Cantab, and why, 30+ years later, there's still more story to tell.
Speakers
avatar for Craig Maloney

Craig Maloney

Programmer
Just another random hacker.

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 16:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

16:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 17:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

16:00

Captain Sonar
6-8 players | You and your teammates control a state-of-the-art submarine and are trying to locate an enemy submarine in order to blow it out of the water before they can do the same to you. Every role is important, and the confrontation is merciless. Be organized and communicate because a captain is nothing without his crew: the Chief Mate, the Radio Operator, and the Engineer.
Speakers
BS

Bryan Snell


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 17:00
Lobby Gaming - Table B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

16:00

Star Trek 5 Year Mission
3-7 players | Dice. The Final Frontier. Voyage to explore strange new expansions-- to seek out new victory points and new challenges-- to meet the game's designer -- to boldly go where no player has gone before! This is a cooperative dice placement game in which you can take roles from original or Next Gen. Players try to cooperatively solve a series of alerts to score points without failing five times and without the Enterprise being destroyed. Urgent events must be completed on a timer, the Prime Directive. Yellow & red alerts force additional alerts cards to come into play, pushing you and your fellow crew-members closer to failing!
Speakers
avatar for Curtis Lithgow

Curtis Lithgow


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 17:00
Lobby Gaming - Table A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

16:00

Teaching Python Informatics to Everyone: AKA: The End of Dilbert
People will look at old Dilbert comics in 50 years and will no longer understand why they are funny. The word "nerd" will simply be a "funny arcane word" like the word "flapper". In this presentation we look past the time where technology was the domain of the elite few and instead technology skills become basic skills that all educated people must posses. We will look at how a completely new set of courses, curricula, books and teaching methods are needed to reach the point where we all possess necessary technology skills. Examples will be drawn from the new undergraduate Informatics program at the University of Michigan as well as the graduate programs in the School of Information.
Speakers
avatar for Charles Severance

Charles Severance

Professor, University of Michigan
Charles is the author of the book, "Using Google App Engine" from O'Reilly and Associates. He also wrote the O'Reilly book on High Performance Computing. Charles is currently the IMS GLC Affiliates Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Information at the University... Read More →

2017 04 28 Penguicon Dilbert pdf
high school 01 pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 17:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

16:00

Round the Jolly Old Bend (7th Sea 2e)
You've got precious cargo and bad enemies! Get to La Bucca to sell it off without getting caught!
Speakers
LZ

Luke Zondervan


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 18:50
That Room Gaming - Table 2 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

16:00

Flight of the Lost Boys
Join us for this adventure that takes place in the Peter Pan universe. (Thunderhead 1-Off System)
Speakers
PJ

Paul Jones


Saturday April 29, 2017 16:00 - 19:50
That Room Gaming - Table 4 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

17:00

Cosplay Contest
Come check out the awesome cosplays in our annual Cosplay Contest! Cheer for your favorites and enjoy the show!
Speakers
avatar for Lithie Dubois

Lithie Dubois

Just me; no more, no less. @Penguicon Program Ops. @ConFusionMI 2020 Conchair. AASFA Board of Director... Read More →
avatar for Kristie Good

Kristie Good

avatar for ada palmer

ada palmer

Guest of Honor
Historian. Author. Composer. Teacher. Blogger. Ada Palmer does considerable research on everything media, from historical texts to anime and manga. She writes both science fiction and fantasy novels, and composes music in the same genres. Ada teaches in the History Department of... Read More →

Volunteers
AP

Alex Page

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay   Penguicon

17:00

How to Make a Pinback Button (and Take One Home!)
Learn how to design a pinback button and make one to take home with you! This panel covers the basics of pinback button designing, making, and troubleshooting. Materials are limited, so please sign up at Ops in advance.
Speakers
avatar for Toni Conn

Toni Conn

Owner, Normal Not Found
I make pinback buttons for geeky businesses and organizations so that they can spoil and grow their community.

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

17:00

Personal Mandalas for Fun and Relaxation
Come get your craft on as we create mandalas that represent ourselves. You can add sequins, glitter or sand to create a permanent piece of art, or draw a representation of a dark time in your life, then rip it up and destroy it. Mandalas can be therapeutic and a great way to express yourself! I will provide paper, markers, colored pencils, glue and a number of things to embellish your creation with.
Speakers
avatar for Amie Lynn

Amie Lynn

Mom
Amie has over 11 years experience teaching art, dance and preschool. This will be Amie’s 18th year attending ConVocation, having taught Kids Programming for at least 10 of those years (She has lost count). She has explored many aspects of various traditions on the Pagan path, and... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY   Life

17:00

Mystic Vale
2-4 players | A curse has been placed on the Valley of Life. Hearing the spirits of nature cry out for aid, clans of druids have arrived, determined to use their blessings to heal the land and rescue the spirits. It will require courage and also caution, as the curse can overwhelm the careless who wield too much power.
Speakers
SO

Sam Orosz


Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Lobby Gaming - Table F Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

17:00

Let's Get Down to Bluesness
Have you always wanted to do partner dancing, but find keeping yourself within a set pattern constraining? Blues dance is an American idiom of partner dance that is freeform with limitless possibilities for creativity, including throwing out the partner bit and going solo. While blues dance gave rise to hip hop dancing, it also survives in modern culture as the awkward high school slow dance. Except real blues dance has more, well, pizzazz and a lot less awkwardness. No need for special shoes or a partner, comes as you are and we'll help you learn to groove.
Speakers
KK

Kent Kovac


Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Algonquin A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

17:00

Queer Representation in Our Work
It's important to see ourselves in the media we consume. As a creator, how do we represent people different from ourselves? Join this panel of LGBTQIA people to learn how to make your work more diverse.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Bondono

Beth Bondono

OB

Owen Bondono

avatar for Mari Brighe

Mari Brighe

Writer/Editor/Speaker/Educator
Professional scientist and healthcare pro turned queer academic, essayist, editor, and speaker.
JM

Julia Marsh


Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

17:00

Writing About Forensics
Whether you're writing a thrilling crime drama or a cozy whodunit, here are some useful tips for including forensics in your story.
Speakers
avatar for Jen Haeger

Jen Haeger

Pupal writer [Author of the veterinarian meets werewolf, paranormal romance trilogy, Moonlight Medicine: Onset, Epidemic, Inoculation and the U.P. MI paranormal thriller, Miles from Manistique], intermediate apiarist, board game enthusiast, ex-veterinarian with a Masters in Forensic... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

17:00

Writing High-Performance Nonfiction
Writing nonfiction is not merely reciting facts. It's a specialized form of storytelling, very different from your college essays and book reports. Whether you're writing memoirs or computer texts, using storytelling techniques transforms your work for the better. This talk takes you through making your nonfiction not only readable, but memorable.
Speakers
avatar for Michael W. Lucas

Michael W. Lucas

Author
I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato. | | Latest tech books... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

17:00

Fictional Corporations/Entities - How Far Fetched Are They?
Is Weyland-Yutani really that far off the scope? Is it possible the Federation will ever happen? What about the Blue Sun corporation? Come join in an open discussion about your favorite fandom and see how it compares to real life.
Moderators
avatar for Derek Newland

Derek Newland

I enjoy being a technician, from cars and computers to welding and electrical motors. Fixing and building things has always been fun for me.

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

17:00

Tom Smith Concert
The Nifty Guest In Perpetuity, Tom Smith, is back with the usual assortment of catchy tunes and lousy puns. Come hear the next iteration of the March of the Penguicon.
Speakers
TS

Tom Smith

Music

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media   Penguicon

17:00

Dead Birds for Science!
To save birds, we need to save their habitats. But birds have wings, can't read maps, and don't stay where they're safe. So how can we create a more bird friendly world beyond parks and refuges? We need to know how they die. What kills birds tells us where we can make changes to prevent bird deaths in the future. Explore the preventable causes of avian mortality that put so much pressure on the birds we know and love, and learn about how valuable dead birds are to science.
Speakers
avatar for Heidi Trudell

Heidi Trudell

Regional Coordinator, Washtenaw Safe Passage
Dead-bird picking-upping (for Science!) since 2003: research has included window collisions, wind farms, cars, cats, and over 130 species of birds across three states. Founder of Dead Birds (...for Science!) and The Auk-ward (Facebook groups).

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

17:00

The Great Eclipse of 2017
Aug. 21, 2017, American skywatchers will be treated to a rare and spectacular celestial show: the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States in nearly four decades. We'll explore historical solar eclipses and when, where, and how to watch eclipses safely.
Speakers
KB

Karen Burnham

BT

Bob Trembley


Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

17:00

Continuous Delivery with Octopus Deploy
We will dive into the concepts of Continuous Delivery and demonstrate these concepts with an example application using Octopus Deploy. You will be able to see how you can apply Continuous Delivery concepts like config management and push button deployments to your own projects.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Henke

Mark Henke

Software Consultant, Pillar Technology
I am a Consultant at Pillar Technology specializing in Architecture and Intent-driven leadership.

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 17:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

17:00

NUET Pirate Escape
ARR! Come join the Nearly Useless Entertainment Team as they host the first ever Penguicon Escape Room. You and a crew of ye friends will get to test ye skills in a series of puzzles to acquire a vast treasure. Designed for a crew of five to ten participants ages 14 and up, ye will have 45 minutes to solve all the puzzles and beat the room. Sign up at ye crew of buccaneers at Ops and see if ye can escape the room. Be sure to have ye crew arrive 5-10 minutes before ye schedules time, for a briefing on the rules and scenario.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Drummer

Alex Drummer

avatar for Kevin McLeod

Kevin McLeod

Eco

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 18:00
Escape Room [Room 323] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

17:00

Tricorder Project Demo
Our Hack of Honor, The Tricorder project, aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can't normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see colour. These devices are designed to be inexpensive enough that they are affordable to all those who want to use them to learn about the world around them. Join Peter Jansen of the Tricorder project to check out these devices first hand!
Speakers
avatar for Peter Jansen

Peter Jansen

Hack of Honor
Peter Jansen, PhD is the developer of The Tricorder Project, which aims to develop handheld devices that can sense a diverse array of phenomena that we can’t normally see, and intuitively visualize them so we might see temperature or magnetism or pressure as naturally as we see... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 18:00
Lobby Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

17:00

Implementing an Agile Software Requirement Management Process
A major pain point with agile development teams is keeping your Product Backlog (todo list) filled full of User Stories (requirements). In our effort to streamline software development using agile techniques it seems as if we have also extracted a disciplined approach as well. We will discuss how to implement a Requirements Definition Management process into a Scrum Agile team.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Haynes

Mark Haynes

Scrum Master/Agile Team Facilitator, Strategic Staffing Solution
As an IT professional with a multidisciplinary perspective and over 20 years of experience I can help your organization meet its agile, quality or software processing needs. I have managed teams locally, remotely and off-shore. I have transitioned teams to Agile/Scrum and bootstrapped... Read More →
DJ

Douglas Johnson

QA Test Lead, University of Cincinnati IT
Master in Computer Information Systems and Aeronautical Management. 20 year veteran of US Air Force. QA Test Lead at University of Cincinnati IT. Adjunct Instructor for computer classes for 10 years. Helped run a Science Fiction Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio for 16 years. When my... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 18:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

17:00

Istanbul
2-5 players | There's hustle and bustle at Istanbul's grand bazaar as merchants and their assistants rush through the narrow alleys in their attempt to be more successful than their competitors. Everything must be well organized: wheelbarrows must be filled with goods at the warehouses, then swiftly transported by the assistants to various destinations. Your goal? Be the first merchant to collect a certain number of rubies.
Speakers
JM

Jason Miller


Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 19:00
Lobby Gaming - Table D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

17:00

The Smithee Awards
A B-Movie awards ceremony in which clips from movies are organized in typical bad movie categories (Worst Science, Stupidest Looking Monster) and the audience votes on which is the worst.
Speakers
AC

Amy Conlon

B-movies, Peep Sushi, Books (especially of the weird or science fictional or fantastical kind), anime (especially of the feminist or surreal kind; Revolutionary Girl Utena or Puella Magi Madoka Magical gets you a free squeeze), food, intersectional feminism, and competitive college... Read More →
avatar for Kevin Hogan

Kevin Hogan

I like movies (good and bad). I also eat food (good and bad).
MQ

Matthew Quirk

JQ

Jeanette Quirk


Saturday April 29, 2017 17:00 - 22:50
Windover Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

18:00

PowerPoint Improv
This annual Penguicon event was originally inspired by GoH Sumana Harihareswara's Powerpoint Karaoke, and now she's here to do it with us! Volunteers pick a slide deck they've never seen before from a list of titles, and improvise a comedic or serious presentation for up to 5 minutes. You don't have to stick to the slides, as they're just a prop! Other audience members can improv, too, during each follow-up Q&A. As improvisations accumulate, we can build off each others' topics and Q&A sessions. Come play with us!
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Elkins

Sarah Elkins

Configuration Manager
Sarah Elkins works in DevOps and makes liquid nitrogen ice cream. In her spare time, she dances, plays board games, and sings with the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra.
avatar for Sumana Harihareswara

Sumana Harihareswara

Guest of Honor
Sumana is a programmer, technology executive and open source expert who practices and teaches technical and people skills. She is also a comedian, author, and holds a master's in technology from Columbia University
PS

Phil Salkie


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure

18:00

EVA Foam Tips & Tricks for Cosplay
EVA Foam is an easy to get, easy to work with material when it comes to making cosplay pieces. Maybe you aren't sure where to start or how to work with it? Join Karmada Cosplay for a seminar about how to use EVA foam for items such as wearable armor and props large and small! Topics include tools of the trade, foam cutting & shaping, painting, and more. For cosplayers of all levels!
Speakers
avatar for Kristie Good

Kristie Good

DP

David Pratt


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

18:00

Butter Churning and Compounding
Through the course of human history, it has been essential to preserve commodities that are capable of spoiling. In this workshop, we will gain an understanding of dairy a we briefly discuss its separation and distribution. The highlight of this course will be making your own butter from cream and compounding it. Compounding is the process of adding herbs, spices, and fruits to yield a flavored butter. This workshop requires mild physical exercise of the upper body. Please sign up in advance at Ops. Dairy tentatively supplied by Calder Bros. Dairy.
Speakers
avatar for Joseph W Baumann

Joseph W Baumann

Culinary Bad Boy

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Food Room [Room 317] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Food

18:00

Spyfall
3-8 players | Spyfall is a party game unlike any other, one in which you get to be a spy and try to understand what's going on around you. It's really simple!
Speakers
ME

Mike Emerson


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Lobby Gaming - Table C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Where the &#% Are My...?
Wish the Accio spell actually worked? Learn how to organize your physical and digital life.
Speakers
avatar for Toni Conn

Toni Conn

Owner, Normal Not Found
I make pinback buttons for geeky businesses and organizations so that they can spoil and grow their community.

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

18:00

Subterranean Press Chat Session
Join production manager Geralyn Lance to learn more about what makes Michigan-based Subterranean Press so special to the SFF field. Ever want to know what goes into producing a limited edition or selecting art for a dust jacket? Geralyn's got you covered. She'll also be previewing what books SubPress has coming in 2017 and giving away a few special books to lucky audience members. Don't miss this chance to get the inside scoop on a unique publisher.
Speakers
GL

Geralyn Lance


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

18:00

Giving Work Away for Free
GoHs Kevin MacLeod and and Cory Doctorow talk about having a career while giving away works for free. Does this help? Does this hurt? Is it a waste of time? Why give things away?
Speakers
avatar for Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow

Guest of Honor
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist — the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of many books, most recently WALKAWAY, a novel for adults, IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; INFORMATION DOESN’T WANT TO BE FREE, a book about earning... Read More →
avatar for Kevin MacLeod

Kevin MacLeod

Guest of Honor
Kevin MacLeod is an international award-eligible composer and copyright activist, known for his Creative Commons licensed royalty-free music available on incompetech.com. He is an avid Twitch Streamer, showcasing his music production skills and scintillating* personality. Kevin's... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

18:00

Q&A About Online Video with the Blind Film Critic Team
Guests of Honor Tommy Edison and Ben Churchill from The Blind Film Critic and The Tommy Edison Experience answer questions about themselves, their work, and online video. Moderated by Youtuber Scott (Toaden) Maiale.
Moderators
avatar for Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Scott (Toaden) Maiale

Videographer / Editor
Videographer, Audio Visual Specialist, Youtuber, Podcaster, Video Editor, all around Social media geek. | www.Toaden.com | www.MediaLitterSandwich.com

Speakers
avatar for Ben Churchill

Ben Churchill

Guest of Honor
Ben Churchill is the producer and director of The Tommy Edison Experience and Blind Film Critic series and a documentary filmmaker focusing on pop culture and unique lifestyles.
avatar for Tommy Edison

Tommy Edison

Guest of Honor
Tommy Edison, who has been blind since birth, is the Blind Film Critic reviewing movies from his point of view, the host of The Tommy Edison Experience on YouTube and Amazon where he uses humor to answer the most popular questions about living without sight, and worked in radio for... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

18:00

Star Wars in the Wild
ROGUE ONE was a commercial success, but do you think it lived up to the original Saga of Star Wars? What do you hope to see in the upcoming film, EPISODE VIII? Do you feel the films' recent tone of inclusiveness and darker version of the Rebellion reflect the Star Wars we know and love? What are you hoping to see created, such as comic books and novels, in this alternate version? Will there be any more super-weapons? Come to our panel and let's talk about the direction Star Wars is taking, now that it is free of George Lucas and in the hands of Disney and crew. See you there for the lively discussion!
Speakers
L

LadyAna

PX

Professor X


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

18:00

TK2 Films Presents: RUNAWAY
Filmed locally in eastern Michigan, RUNAWAY is a 20-minute sci-fi western short film that was fully crowdfunded on Kickstarter in June of 2016. Runaway is an original story. Falsely accused of murdering her master and Pursued through the forest by ruthless bounty hunters, Maria struggles to reach the Free States and maybe discover her humanity along the way.
Speakers
TF

TK2 Films

Co-Founder, TK2 Films

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

18:00

How to Get a Job with NASA and What is it Like Working There
NASA, the world's leader in space and aeronautics, is always seeking outstanding scientists, engineers, and other talented professionals to carry forward the great discovery process that its mission demands. Once you get there, what can you expect?
Speakers
KB

Karen Burnham


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

18:00

Penguicon Battery Lab
Convert pennies into make-shift batteries that can drive small current devices like LEDs and calculators. Yep! You read that right. The penny battery is a voltaic pile which uses various coinage as the metal disks of a traditional voltaic pile. Let's power LEDs, calculators, and other small devices with pennies!
Speakers
GL

Greg Less


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

18:00

A Dance with Intelligent Dragon Drones
Drones are increasingly used in various commercial and consumer scenarios, from agriculture drones (providing farmers with crop and irrigation patterns), to consumer drones (that follow you around as you engage in action sports), to drone racing. Drones are outfitted with a large number of sensors (cameras, accelerometers, gyros, etc.), and can continuously stream these signals in real time for analysis. This talk introduces the landscape of the various drone technologies that are currently available and shows you how to acquire and analyze the real-time signals from the drones to design intelligent applications. We will demonstrate how to leverage machine learning models that perform real-time facial detection along with predictions of age, gender, emotion, and object recognition using the signals acquired from the drones. You will walk away understanding the basics of how to develop applications that utilize and visualize these real-time insights.
Speakers
JM

Jennifer Marsman

Tech

Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

18:00

Scientific Linux: Science from the Penguin
Scientific Linux is an "Enterprise" Linux distribution created at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). For over 15 years, Scientific Linux has played an important role in Scientific Computing and in the worldwide High Energy Physics community. Connie Sieh, founder of Scientific Linux, and Bonnie King will discuss SL's history, how it's built and maintained, and its applications at Fermilab and beyond.
Speakers
avatar for Bonnie King

Bonnie King

Sysadmin/Group Leader, Fermilab

sl penguicon pdf
Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 18:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

18:00

Eminent Domain
2-4 players | Survey the galaxy to expand your civilization - will you colonize nearby planets, or take them over by force? Harvest resources for trade, and do research to improve your technology. Build the best civilization and win the game!
Speakers
avatar for Curtis Lithgow

Curtis Lithgow


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 19:00
Lobby Gaming - Table A Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

18:00

Hacking and Upgrading your Penguicon Badge
Come join the mad scientists of All Hands Active for some embedded programming fun. Using the Arduino programming environment, we will take the ESP8266-powered, wifi-enabled "mktwo" badge and hack on its code! These sessions will consist of a brief overview of the mktwo and its features, an intro to the libraries and methods used to program it, and then a whole lot of "sandbox" time for you to hack away on your badge using our demo programs as reference, and the creators of the mktwo as your mentors. Scroll your twitter feed in full RGB-LED matrix glory! Host a webpage on your person! Send silly messages to your friends with the press of a button! You are the master of your internet-enabled, badge-shaped destiny! Arduino programming experience is helpful, but not required. Not one of the lucky few to snag our surprise-limited-run mktwo badge last year? Fear not: we will have more ready to go this time around.
Speakers
NR

Nick Ristow

NY

Nathan Yost


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 19:50
Computer Lab [TC's] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

18:00

Savage Rifts the Tomorrow Legion Needs You!
6 players | Come play in one of the oldest tabletop settings ever, now translated into the fast, furious, fun style of Savage Worlds game system! The future is a dangerous place where literally ANYTHING can happen!
Speakers
WM

Wyl Majure


Saturday April 29, 2017 18:00 - 21:50
That Room Gaming - Table 2 Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

19:00

Ukulele 101
This will be an introductory class for ukulele. Ukulele is fun and easy to play! Come and learn the basic chords and a simple song because who can't have a good time strumming a ukulele!
Speakers
avatar for Ben Doubleday

Ben Doubleday


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Montcalm Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Action Adventure   Life   Media

19:00

CANCELLED The Works of Miyazaki Part 2
We'll cover the rest of Miyazaki in a continuation for last year's Miyazaki panel! Come on an adventure with us while we discuss some of Miyazaki's latest work (1990 to present).
Speakers
avatar for Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Bioinformatician, Genomenon
I got into Penguicon in 2015 through e-nable. I work for a startup. I do weird things in and around Michigan. I have an awesome daughter. I make stuff.
MD

Maria Dugan

Hi everyone I'm excited to see and talk with you all this year at any and all of my anime panels. Join me for discussions and laughs!

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Nicolet Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Anime

19:00

Ask Local Cosplayers
We are a small group of local cosplayers that can answer questions on wide variety of different cosplay techniques and how to get into cosplay. We have people who have made cosplays from scratch to those who piece things together, and some who specialize in props. We are all from the area and most of us are younger than most cosplayers (18-23) so we also promote that you can cosplay from any age, and not to be intimidated by older cosplayers.
Speakers
MG

Maggie Golinske

EI

Ethan Ivey

TM

Tyler Moylan

VZ

Victoria Zaharia


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC III Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Cosplay

19:00

Frankenstuffies
Come join us in playingmad scientist as we deconstruct stuffed animals and reconstruct them into new and glorious creations! We have even more test subjects to choose from this year! Everyone is welcome, though parents/guardians do need to stay with children. Basic sewing skills are a plus, but not mandatory. This is a limited attendance event. Please sign up in advance at Ops.
Speakers
avatar for Daniel

Daniel

Muscle Testing: Human Lie Detection and More | Come learn how to use the energy and impulses of your own body to tell if something is good for you or not. This technique can also be used fairly accurately to tell if someone is lying about something. This can be a great tool for anyone... Read More →
avatar for Amie Lynn

Amie Lynn

Mom
Amie has over 11 years experience teaching art, dance and preschool. This will be Amie’s 18th year attending ConVocation, having taught Kids Programming for at least 10 of those years (She has lost count). She has explored many aspects of various traditions on the Pagan path, and... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
FiberLab [Room 315] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY

19:00

Sci-fi and Fantasy Card Making
This session will discuss the various techniques and possibilities for making some awesome SF and fantasy themed greeting cards, including watercoloring a galaxy background and die-cuts of fantasy creatures. There will be examples. Then there will be an opportunity for participants to make either a Tardis watercolor card or a die-cut wizard/dragon/unicorn scene or an alien/spaceship scene from provided supplies.
Speakers
avatar for Anderyn

Anderyn


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
CraftLab [Baldwin Board Room] Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  DIY   Media

19:00

All About Tattoos
Interested in getting a tattoo? How does that even work? We are here to discuss the inking process including how to select an artist, the physical application and procedure, aftercare and safety, and general Q & A concerning tattoos.
Speakers
avatar for S.K. Buck

S.K. Buck

Artist, Tipp of the Mitt
A freelance illustrator and tattoo artist in northern Michigan that dabbles in parkour, weightlifting, and physical training, I am happy to discuss/answer questions about tattoos and tradition medium fine art, as well as chat about fitness and nutrition.

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Hamlin Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

19:00

Lessons Learned From First-Time Event Organizing
The presenter just put on the first event in an ongoing series, organizing a community potluck that funds grants for local projects (named SOUP). Come learn from the presenter's experiences as a first-time public event organizer: what it took to find other organizers, plan the event, keep the momentum going, market it, execute it, and what to do and not do. Come share your experiences too!
Speakers
avatar for Hannah Davis

Hannah Davis


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC IV Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

19:00

The Tale of Detroit's Own Nain Rouge
Come hear the story of Detroit's most infamous imp, the Nain Rouge
Speakers
SN

Shetan Noir

Apocalypse Theatre
Shetan Noir is a published author and has had several articles published in Circle Sanctuary magazine. Shetan is a Belly Dancer, she has performed and taught belly dance for over 12 yrs. | | Shetan is also a workshop presenter, Hoodoo and Folk Magic practitioner. She teaches... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Algonquin D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

19:00

Why Doesn't Everyone Just Self-Publish Their Work?
From bloggers who tell you it's easy to the hybrid authors you're fascinated by, self publishing looks attractive. But IS it that easy? What work does that route entail? Learn some tips for places to learn more about publishing, how to check on the publishers, and discover possible markets.
Speakers
avatar for Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow

Guest of Honor
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist — the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of many books, most recently WALKAWAY, a novel for adults, IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; INFORMATION DOESN’T WANT TO BE FREE, a book about earning... Read More →
avatar for Merrie Haskell

Merrie Haskell

Author
Merrie Haskell’s novels are The Princess Curse, Handbook for Dragon Slayers and The Castle Behind Thorns. She won the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle Grades) and the DetCon1 Middle Grade Speculative Fiction award, and she was twice a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award... Read More →
avatar for John Scalzi

John Scalzi

Author, "The Consuming Fire", 1969
John Scalzi is a fan of pie and oxygen, not necessarily in that order.
AS

Anne S. Zanoni


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Algonquin B Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Literature

19:00

Improv Comic Jam
Come watch artists take cues from the audience in an improv comic jam! Each artist will begin a drawing then pass it on to another!
Speakers
LC

Laura Cascos

avatar for Katie Erickson

Katie Erickson

Head Artist & Founder, Pocket Demon Creations
Hey there! I'm Katie, an illustrator and graphic designer that mainly draws everything furry! I currently am enrolled at Washtenaw Community College in the Graphic Design program. I absolutely love anything art related: comics, illustration, animation, graphic design, DIYs, prop-making... Read More →
avatar for Crystal Mielcarek

Crystal Mielcarek

Crystal Mielcarek is a contemporary painter and illustrator from Hamtramck Michigan. A graduate of the College for Creative Studies with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration, she’s been included in more than 20 groups shows and 3 solos shows across the country... Read More →
avatar for Erika Wagner

Erika Wagner

avatar for Emily Zelasko

Emily Zelasko

Emily Zelasko is a Metro-Detroit Based comic book illustrator and creator. Many of her own comics are stand-alone slightly fantastical, Sci-Fi short stories.

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Portage Auditorium Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Media

19:00

Science of SCUBA
This will be a high level overview of the basic science behind SCUBA diving, including buoyancy and gas compression, gas toxicity, affected physiology, and safety equipment.
Speakers
RH

Rick Houser


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
Algonquin C Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

19:00

Space Travel Woes, with and Without Potatoes.
Obviously, life in outer space would be no vacation -- you're out there braving the final frontier, battling meteors and malfunctioning airlocks, and you'll die horribly in the abyss of space if some tiny thing goes amiss. That is what's so awesome about it -- it's an adventure, baby!
Speakers
KB

Karen Burnham

BT

Bob Trembley


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC I Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Science

19:00

Bash on Ubuntu on Windows
Windows 10 now provides developers with a familiar Bash environment. This environment will allow users to run native Linux binaries including grep, sed, and awk, navigate a new Linux based file system using these commands, and run bash shell scripts which rely on supported command line utilities. Windows accomplishes this through the Windows Subsystem for Linux which allows Ubuntu user-mode binaries provided by Canonical to run on Windows 10. This means that the command line utilities are the same as those that run within a native Ubuntu environment. In this session we will showcase scripting, code editing / compilation, and execution of X11 apps compiled for Linux using a local X11 server from within the Bash on Ubuntu on Windows environment. We will then discuss the implications of these features as they relate to existing developer workflows. This will include a demonstration showcasing compilation of various programs using node.js, python, c++, asp.net, ruby, and even a port of the original first person shooter Quake. We will also include a demonstration showing how to build and deploy a Ruby based web application from within Visual Studio Code using Bash on Ubuntu on Windows as an integrated terminal. Finally, we will show how to obtain the latest bits for Bash on Ubuntu on Windows that are shipped in the upcoming Windows 10 Anniversary update.
Speakers
avatar for Paul DeCarlo

Paul DeCarlo

Cloud Advocate, Microsoft
Paul DeCarlo is a Microsoft Cloud Advocate and Professor for the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. His current technology interests focus on Internet of Things, Cloud Applications, and Cross-Platform mobile app development. He keeps a steady supply of video games... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

BSD Operating Systems in 2017
I'll be discussing the current options in BSD-based operating systems, the big news from recent projects, new developments, and where we're going from here.
Speakers
avatar for Michael W. Lucas

Michael W. Lucas

Author
I pay the mortgage writing novels and nonfiction books. Best known for BSD tech books, the Immortal Clay series, and (heaven help me) satirical Linux erotica. Talk to me about BSD operating systems, pet rats, martial arts, writing and publishing, and gelato. | | Latest tech books... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 19:50
EMC V Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Tech

19:00

Ticket to Ride Card Game
2-4 players | Players collect sets of illustrated train cards, which are then used to complete routes between cities. Before their train cards can be used, players must face the risk of "train robbing," where another player may force them to lose their hard-earned cards.
Speakers
CO

Cheryl Orosz

Application Developer
As a longtime games afficianado, I strongly believe in the power of play to enlighten and entertain.

Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 20:00
Lobby Gaming - Table F Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

19:00

Unexploded Cow
2-6 players | France is overrun with unexploded bombs left over from the world wars and mad cows. The only solution is to use the cows to blow up the bombs! Recruit only the finest of cows into your herds while stuffing your opponent's herds with the castoffs.
Speakers
JM

Jason Miller


Saturday April 29, 2017 19:00 - 20:00
Lobby Gaming - Table D Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Gaming

20:00

Ada Palmer Talks About Weird Things in European History
Why are Saint Thomas Aquinas's bones purple? How did cantaloupe contribute to the French Revolution? Why did the Duke of Ferrara used to walk around his domain buck naked? Ada Palmer tells bizarre stories about real incidents in European History far too implausible to be believed in fiction, and answers your history questions about anything from how the Inquisition really worked to Machiavelli's sex advice for corrupt priests.
Speakers
avatar for ada palmer

ada palmer

Guest of Honor
Historian. Author. Composer. Teacher. Blogger. Ada Palmer does considerable research on everything media, from historical texts to anime and manga. She writes both science fiction and fantasy novels, and composes music in the same genres. Ada teaches in the History Department of... Read More →

Saturday April 29, 2017 20:00 - 20:30
EMC II Westin Southfield Detroit, Southfield, MI, United States
  Life

20:00

Sexual Safety
This panel will present material on sexual risk reduction or safer sex, as well as a 101-level introduction into the basics of risk-aware, consensual BDSM.
Speakers
AD

Allison Demars

avatar for Becky Hill

Becky Hill

avatar for Jennifer Schwartz

Jennifer Schwartz

Licensed Clinical Therapist
Jennifer Schwartz is a