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Chaos Machine * Computer Lounge * Artist Alley * Open Soda * LN2 Ice Cream * Geeks with Guns * Masquerade * Writing Workshop * Random Reality Machine
Penguicon's Chaos Machine
This customizable marble roller coaster will be open all weekend for Penguicon attendees to tinker with. It serves as a metaphor for the open source development process. We used to have a giant room-sized version of the contraption, at great expense, but in 2008 Penguicon got one of its very own. Each year, we plan to purchase additional Chaos Toy kits until one day we will match the size of the one which, in the past, was shipped in boxes to Penguicon from across the country. This popular attraction will live right here in Michigan and be available for your use every year!
OpenSoda
Speaking of metaphors that help to explain how the free and open
source development model works: Penguicon's former Guest of Honor Cory
Doctorow and Nifty Guest Karl Schroeder used to be involved with a
company named OpenCola. In addition to creating open source software,
they sold a soft drink with a public recipe that anyone could use or
modify to brew up the black waters of corporate imperialism in their
own kitchen.
Well, we did just that. We made a Penguicon build of the OpenCola recipe and served it in our hospitality suite. Never fear, the bathtub was still full of ice and complimentary cans of Coke and Pepsi for all Penguicon attendees. But thanks to the expertise and craftsmanship of our food chemistry team, there was just as much demand for Open Cola as name-brand cola. In subsequent years we expanded to original non-cola flavors and became the OpenSoda project. We now partner with other cola brewing clubs in England and Switzerland to exchange information.
This year the OpenSoda project is expanding to reverse-engineer more sodas and develop new flavors, including:
- Open Dew
- Open Up
- Ginger Ale with real ginger
- Butterbeer
- Eric S. Raymond's request for cranberry soda, (now with less sweet and more tart)
Computer Lounge
This year's computer lounge is brought to you once again by the Greater Lansing Linux User Group. Feel free to drop on by to check your mail, browse the web, and perhaps find out a little bit more about open source software. You can also check out some technology demos that help show off the real power of Linux, and use our CD burning station "The Burn Unit" to take home your very own copy of Linux to try on your computer at home.
Artist Alley
Are you attending Penguicon and are artistic? Do you have something you created that you'd like to offer to the Penguicon attending audience? Use our Artist Alley! Table rate is $5 per half table. For questions or to reserve your space, please use our contact form.
Ice Cream Made With Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream is a Food Track event that takes place many times over the weekend in the hospitality suite. Homemade ice cream is instantly created, in a variety of custom flavors, by adding liquid nitrogen to the recipe at negative 320 degrees Farenheit. The nitrogen boils off and goes out the window, leaving behind the other ingredients frozen into a smooth, creamy dairy dessert. It is truly a spectacle to behold! And the range of strange and imaginative flavors that work with this process is much wider than with normal ice cream. Bring your own crazy combo of flavor ingredients and challenge us! This year we are asking our Guests and Nifties to each design an ice cream flavor named after them. See demos on our video page.
Geeks with Guns
Have fun with your fellow Penguicon attendees by attending the most fun side-event at Penguicon. Whether you are an expert shooter who wants to make sure they don't miss weekly practice, or a novice who has never shot before, there will be something for you at Geeks with Guns.
If you are a beginner, Penguicon will be providing introductory instruction into handgun operation. You will learn basic handling, safety and range rules. If you are an experienced shooter, you will enjoy the 25-yard climate-controlled indoor pistol range.
Your attendance fee of $20 gets you up to 2 hours of range time and targets. If you don't have your own equipment, or don't want to bring it, the range will rent out firearms to Penguicon attendees for only $5 if you are at least 21 years of age. All attendees get to rent eye and ear protection free of charge. If you have never shot before, we recommend that you budget $20 for ammunition. For more information on the range and it's policies, please check out http://firinglineguns.com/range.php
Participants should download, complete, and bring the range's registration form with them to the event. Attendees will meet at Penguicon at 10:00 AM on Friday and car pool to the range for an 11:00 AM start.
Signup for Geeks with Guns is available through the Penguicon online registration form when you get your convention badge.
Masquerade
The Masquerade returns! This year we have a special theme of Steampunk to delight and inspire. The Whizbang Theatre Federation will expertly guide you through this year's Masquerade. Check out our rules for more information.
Writing Workshop
May 1-3 Penguicon will be hosting a Writer's Workshop led by Jim C. Hines and Catherynne M. Valente.
Due to space limitations - only 15 spots are available on a first come first served basis to New and Unpublished writers in the genre fiction field. Submissions are now OPEN!
Submissions should be no more than 5000 words, either a short story or the opening of a novel. Submissions should be e-mailed to 
Stories must be received by March 15.
Submissions should be sent as RTF attachments documents in standard manuscript format. See http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html Yes, this is a test.
Stories will be e-mailed to all participants before the convention. Everyone is expected to have read and prepared a critique for the other participants' work. If you'd like more info on critiquing see http://www.sfwa.org/writing/turkeycity.html
For more info on the Pro's leading this workshop see their web sites at www.jimchines.com and www.catherynnemvalente.com
Morton's Miraculous Random Reality Machine
(brought to you by Morton's List and a grant by the Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association.) This is a capsule toy vending machine that dispenses destiny. Your random adventure, designed by the creators of Morton's List, will send you off into the convention to have strange experiences you wouldn't have otherwise, with people and things you may have overlooked.