[notacon-announce] Round two speaker selections now posted!

[Paul Schneider]

We have posted our second round of presenters for Notacon 6!  To date we 
have received a slew of excellent proposals on interesting topics that cover 
the whole spectrum of hackerdom.  This round of releases demonstrates two 
trends that have seen a real re-emergence in the community as of late.  The 
first involves hardware hacking from synthesizers to reverse engineering.

The Arduino microcontroller has really taken the community by storm.  Droops 
and Morgellon the Lowtek Mystic will be your guides to understanding and 
programming the device.  From hardware synthesizers to RFID and games, learn 
of new possibilities using this neat little chip!  For those interested in 
reverse engineering, Travis Goodspeed would love to show you how to have fun 
with the MSP430 MCU.  Similar to Arduino, the MSP430 also offers a host of 
opportunities for exploration and good, clean hackerly fun and Travis is 
just the guy to help you figure it out.

The second emergent theme is more an umbrella topic I can only describe as 
"body hacking".  When most people think of hackers, nerds and geeks, the 
image of chips and wires often comes to mind.  However, a lot of interest 
and research is being devoted into the one set of hardware and software that 
is as old as we are and just as enigmatic; our bodies and minds.  Michele 
Martaus will be presenting on how cubicle dwellers everywhere can avoid 
injury and keep our bodies strong.

To cover the other side of the equation, Tottenkoph and Selkie will discuss 
cognitive function, stress, caffeine and other topics as well as their long 
and short-term effects on the body.  Likewise, Jason Viers will be 
revisiting a very popular topic at past Notacons and a centuries old game 
that we can still enjoy to keep our brains sharp in his introduction to Go. 
Mr. Viers will also be the lead wrangler for our new game room!

Games and diversions have always been an important part of our culture and 
history.  Who better to dissect that history than the estimable Jason Scott, 
who returns to Notacon to present a retrospective on the history and 
importance of the groundbreaking work done in Super Mario 64.  As many know, 
Jason keeps himself busy with numerous projects including our sister event, 
Blockparty.  However, like most of us, he also has a keen interest in games 
and their significance in the bigger picture.  Those familiar with his 
presentations know that the unexpected should be expected, but that in the 
end you will leave, at a minimum, entertained!

Of course, our community is all of those things and so much more.  While we 
are excited to support those particular threads of interest, we are equally 
thrilled to include presentations on good old fashioned computer and network 
security!  To that end, CG and g0ne will present on client side penetration 
testing.  The talk will focus on justifying why one should allow client side 
penetration testing as well as giving penetration testers a basic 
methodology to conduct client side attacks during their penetration test.

We still have many, many more opportunities for presenters and Notacon and 
we want to hear from you!  Our call for proposals closes in little more than 
a month and a half, so time is running out!  Remember Notacon presenters 
receive complimentary admission to Notacon for themselves and a guest as 
well as other nifty goodies.

If presenting is not your speed, then make sure you register for Notacon and 
book your room soon!

As always, we are getting psyched about Notacon 6 and remind you to join us 
every Thursday at 8 PM on IRC for Notacon Lounge.

- Froggy