Penguicon 7.0
× Close
Register Now News Penguicon Events Calendar This Year at Penguicon
Celebrities
Events
Features
ConSuite
Film Room
Throw A Room Party
Masquerade
Gaming
Charity Auction
Contests
How To Attend?
Volunteering
Hotel
Registration
Rules
Local Business Map
Contact
Staff Info
Mailing Lists
Businesses
Advertise
Dealer Room
Sponsor
Media
Audio
Video
Pictures
Links Current Sponsors FAQ
Monster Energy Drink
tux

Charity Auction


Updated: 14 November, 2023 @ 06:41pm

Penguicon 7.0 Charity Auction Benefiting the Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Penguicon staff is very proud to announce the return of the Charity Auction to this year's convention. This year's auction beneficiary is the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Who is the EFF, you ask? Well to use their own words:

From the Internet to the iPod, technologies are transforming our society and empowering us as speakers, citizens, creators, and consumers. When our freedoms in the networked world come under attack, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is the first line of defense. EFF broke new ground when it was founded in 1990 — well before the Internet was on most people's radar — and continues to confront cutting-edge issues defending free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights today. From the beginning, EFF has championed the public interest in every critical battle affecting digital rights.

Blending the expertise of lawyers, policy analysts, activists, and technologists, EFF achieves significant victories on behalf of consumers and the general public. EFF fights for freedom primarily in the courts, bringing and defending lawsuits even when that means taking on the US government or large corporations. By mobilizing more than 50,000 concerned citizens through our Action Center, EFF beats back bad legislation. In addition to advising policymakers, EFF educates the press and public.

EFF is a donor-funded nonprofit and depends on your support to continue successfully defending your digital rights. Litigation is particularly expensive; because two-thirds of our budget comes from individual donors, every contribution is critical to helping EFF fight —and win—more cases.

In other words, they exist to stand up for our rights, yours and mine, on technology-related issues when no one else will.

The EFF will receive 100% of the proceeds from the auction. No funds are held back as administration fees or for cost recovery. The auction will be held Saturday, May 2nd as part of the regular Penguicon programming, and it is always a good time.

For Donors

If you would like to donate an item or items to the auction, please contact for information on how to donate. Upon request in recognition of your generous donation, a link will be added from the image of your auction item back to your company/personal web site.

For Buyers

The auction committee is working on setting up a no-cost system for taking electronic payments. However, until noted specifically on this site, assume cash is the preferred payment method. Please preview the auction items before arriving at the auction to ensure that you have enough funds to cover any purchases. Please remember that the proceeds are going to a very worthy cause and bid generously. Thank you.

Auction Items

Atari Flashback Unit

Atari Flashback Video Game Console

Donated by Linux Journal.

But this isn't any ordinary video game console! This is, in fact, one of the very consoles that Wil Wheaton and Shawn Powers will use for an epic Atari Combat battle to determine who deserves the title of best celebrity blogger! The console will be autographed by combatants and could be yours!

Atari Flashback Unit

Atari Flashback Video Game Console

Donated by Linux Journal.

But this isn't any ordinary video game console! This is, in fact, the other console that Wil Wheaton and Shawn Powers will use for an epic Atari Combat battle to determine who deserves the title of best celebrity blogger! The console will be autographed by combatants and could be yours!

Cory Doctorow

Appear in Cory Doctorow's New Book

Donated by Cory Doctorow.

The winner will have his name appear in FOR THE WIN, Mr. Doctorow's next young adult novel, a book about macroeconomics, goldfarming and MMOs: you're bidding on the chance to have a character named for you in this book, to be published by Tor Teens in 2010

Cory Doctorow

MAKERS Manuscript

Donated by Cory Doctorow.

Winner receives the first manuscript printing of MAKERS, a novel about free hardware hackers who save the economy and destroy the Disney company, coming from Tor in Oct 2009. Includes dirtiest sex scene Cory has ever wrote!

Big Brother... the book that never was

Big Brother Outline

Donated by Cory Doctorow.

Outline to the lost LITTLE BROTHER sequel. From Cory:

"Originally, Little Brother was to be two books, LITTLE BROTHER and BIG BROTHER, with the second volume set in LA, involving Yippee safe-houses, Disneyland and geocacheing. My agent talked me out of it (whew). You get the original final chapter of LITTLE BROTHER and the outline for BIG BROTHER. All printed on lovely A4 bond, and signed by yers truly."

Atari Flashback Unit

Descent: Journeys in the Dark

Donated by the folks at Slightly Off-Topic.

In Descent: Journeys in the Dark, you play one of these daring adventurers. Armed with mighty weapons and powerful abilities, you venture into the dungeon to battle monsters, escape deadly traps, discover lost treasures, and ultimately, confront and defeat the evil masters that dwell in the hidden places. Can you survive the dark? Descent: Journeys in the Dark is a game of dungeon-crawling adventure for 2 to 5 players, playable in 2 to 4 hours.

Misc Toon Items

The 'Toon' Grab Bag

Donated by Anonymous

A grab bag of miscellaneous cartoon-related items. Unlike most grab bags, we're letting you see inside... but only if you squint!

Misc Naruto Items

The Naruto Grab Bag

Donated by Anonymous

A grab bag of miscellaneous Naruto-related items. Unlike most grab bags, we're letting you see inside... but only if you squint!

The Schlock Set

The Schlock Mercenary Collection

Donated by Howard Taylor

It's time to expand your graphic novel collection, folks! Thanks to the generosity of the Taylor Corporation, we're ready to offer you the Schlock Mercenary dead-tree editions. Not only is every edition signed, but the Terraport Wars is a numbered sketch edition!

The Atlas Games Pack

The Atlas Games Pack

Donated by Atlas Games

A collection of games, buttons and books from our good friends at Atlas Games! I took a peek in the 40 Years of Gen Con book, and it is pretty cool! Don't let this one get away from you!

ST:TNG Interactive VHS Game

The Atlas Games Pack

Donated by Matt Arnold

Star Trek Collector? Here's a copy of the ST:TNG Interactive VCR Game in excellent condition! Donated by none other than the concom chair himself! What's that? Don't have a working video player? No problem, we'll throw one in to sweeten the deal!

Autumn Lake Gift Pack

The Autumn Lake Gift Pack

Donated by Mark Savary

A Penguicon-special gift pack put together by Mark Savary of Autumn Lake. Includes a poster, t-shirt and the official Autum Lake cookbook!

In the Land of Invented Languages

In the Land of Invented Languages

Donated by Arika Okrent

I know what you're thinking. This book isn't even available until May 19th. True, but the people behind Penguicon want to go the extra mile to put good things in your hands before it reaches anyone else. The author inscribed this book as well... but in what language(s)? If you want to find out, you'll just have to place a bid!

Ready-Made Warhammer Army

The Ready-Made Warhammer Army!

Donated by One Panel Comix

Have you been wanting to get started in Warhammer at the local shop, but just don't have the time to put together a starter army? Boy have we got the item for you. The fine folks at One Panel Comix have donated their personal set. It's ready to play, but feel free to repaint as you wish!

The Essential Blender

The Essential Blender

Donated by No Starch Press

Upgrade your Blender skills with this excellent reference donated by our friends at No Starch Press!

...and yes, I imagine it *will* blend...

The Manga Guide to Databases

The Manga Guide to Databases

Donated by No Starch Press

Okay, so databases aren't the most exciting topic in the world, but add a manga spin, and any topic becomes entertaining. A fun way to learn.

The Manga Guide to Electricity

The Manga Guide to Electricity

Donated by No Starch Press

Well, same Manga goodness, but with the opportunity to get your Mad Scientist on!

Forbidden Lego

Forbidden Lego

Donated by No Starch Press

Think your Lego Kung-Fu is good? Well, anyone can build a kit. Forbidden Lego introduces you to the exciting world of Freestyle building where the only limit is your imagination!

Hacking, The Art of Exploitation

Hacking, The Art of Exploitation

Donated by No Starch Press

A fascinating read... for informational purposes only, okay?!?

Vapor's Gambit

Hacking, The Art of Exploitation

Donated by TrollandToad.com

Love playing board games, but just don't have the time? This exciting game is for 2-6 players and only takes 20 - 30 minutes per game. At last you can sit down to the gaming table and still have time to do the dishes!

Dragon Lance 18-book Collection

The DragonLance 18-Book Collection

Donated by TrollandToad.com

Holy cow is someone about to start an epic campaign, and hey, save a spot at the gaming table for me! This collection contains 18 hard- and softcover books for the DragonLance 3.0/3.5 d20 gaming system. Place a bid so we can start rolling characters!

Dreamweaver CS4: The Missing Manual

Dreamweaver CS4: The Missing Manual

Donated by O'Reilly Media

Let's face it, Dreamweaver is great, but it's hard to know everything about the program. This book will clue you in on all the subtle bits you've been missing.

Learning Rails

Learning Rails

Donated by O'Reilly Media

Don't know where to get started in the world of Rails? Place a bid and you will.

Visualizing Data

Visualizing Data

Donated by O'Reilly Media

Data is only as good as your understanding of it. This book will guide you through the manipulation and presentation of data in the free Processing programming environment.

Dreamweaver CS4: The Missing Manual

ScreenOS Cookbook

Donated by O'Reilly Media

Timesaving tips and recipes for ScreenOS. Useful to the administrator as well as the layman!

Photoshop CS4: Photographer's Handbook

Photoshop CS4: Photographer's Handbook

Donated by O'Reilly Media

You may be great with the camera, but how good are you at processing those digital images. This guide will show you the best ways to make the most of your work!

The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

Donated by O'Reilly Media

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments. Really what more must be said. Pull out your goggles and labcoat and let the experiments begin! Mwuh ha ha ha...

Sci-Fi Book "Grab Box"

The daughters of long-time SF fan and book dealer Howard DeVore are generously donating an entire box of titles from Howard’s extensive collection of SF paperbacks, which he left behind on his death.

And if someone outbids you, don't worry. His daughters are selling the rest of his collection. You can find the details here.

Atari Flashback Unit

Canon Rebel T2 Camera Kit

Donated by the folks at Slightly Off-Topic.

Digital is great, but so is film. This kit contains one slightly used (as in maybe four rolls of film) Canon Rebel T2 35mm SLR, a Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens, a Tamron 28-80 zoom lens, a Promaster FTD 5950 flash (with off-camera mount), and 11 rolls of unexposed Kodak Max 35mm film all packed in a Tamrac Photog Backpack! An excellent kit for the photographer on the go. Camera uses two 1CR2 3V batteries. Flash requires 4 AA batteries. Off-camera mount requires 4 C batteries.

Y2CL Gift Pack

Y2CL Gift Pack.

Donated by the folks at Y2CL

Gotta love this! The fine folks at Y2CL have donated a gift pack for your bidding pleasure. The pack includes the Y2Christ Lite comic collection, a Y2CL bookmark, a Y2CL postcard, two Y2CL buttons and a custom Y2CL custom sketch card! What's a custom sketch card, you ask? Well, that's for you to decide. You tell him what to sketch, and it will be included when your pack is shipped!

Apple of Dischord Gift Pack

Apple of Dischord Gift Pack.

Donated by Adam Smithee

This pack contains one of the funniest t-shirts your going to find at the con and the first three issues of the Apple of Dischord Comic. You don't want to miss this one!

The Handy Haversack

The Handy Haversack

Donated by Off-World Designs

The Handy Haversack is a backpack with style! The Haversack design is printed on a black army-style backpack for all your toting needs.

Sarah Hoyt Gift Pack

Sarah Hoyt Gift Pack

Donated by Sarah Hoyt

This pack contains four Sarah Hoyt classics and one t-shirt (2x) for her new book due this January.

Caldera Linux

2001 Caldera Developer's 2.4 Kernel Technology Preview

Donated by Limey

Ah, 2001... a simpler time... We got our hands on a complete Caldera Linux distro. Caldera? Didn't they play an interesting role in linux history? What did they change their name to? Well, in any case, place a bid for a few quid and it's yours to do with as you will!

3m 5.25" diskettes

5.25" Floppy Diskettes

Donated by Limey

Remember floppy disks? Have a C64 or some other vintage box in your playroom? Need some disks (some new some used)? Well, here you go!

OLPC

OLPC Laptop

Donated by Red Hat Linux

Netbook, shmetbook! The OLPC is where it all started! Thanks to our friends at Red Hat, you can now get your hands on one! Buy it for your kids or for use in the field and in the process help out a noble cause!

massage

OLPC Laptop

Donated by Kris Blanchett

Convention beginning to wear on you? To much fun and too little sleep? You're tensing aren't you? Feel it? Yeah, right there. Well, here's the answer. Penguicon's own Kris Blanchett is offering a certificate for a 30 minute massage. You can claim the massage here at the con or arrange to take it later at her place of business!

Sins of Commission 2

Tom Smith: Sins of Commission 2

Donated by Red Hat Linux

You know him, you love him, he's a perennial Penguicon favorite! He's also donated a copy of his brand new album Sins of Commission 2! It's signed and ready for you to take home.

 

More Items coming soon. Why not make a donation today? Contact the auction chair at auction @ penguicon dot org!

Penguicon is Copyright © 2002 – 2025 Penguicon Inc.