|>THIS IS FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RUBI CON 1999. IT WANTS TO BE YOUR FRIEND<|
 

This is version 1.4.1d of an actual invitation to Rubi Con 1999, or an
official statement as to what it is and why you should spend perfectly good
money getting into it. Last updated 04-06-1999


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First Annual Data Systems Technology Data and Network Security Conference 

AKA,

RUBI CON 1999
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THE QUICK VERSION:

WHAT: Conference and party weekend for the computer conscious  
WHO: Anyone with an interest or stake in electronic systems  
WHERE: The Detroit-Fairlane Holiday Inn in Dearborn, Michigan  
WHEN: May 28, 29, and 30, 1999 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)  
COST: $35 in advance, $40 at the door.  
WHY: To learn, to teach, to understand.  
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THE NOT-SO-QUICK VERSION: 

WHAT: Rubi Con is a gathering for anyone who is interested in or depends on
electronic systems and modern technology. Rubi Con will be a place where
diverse groups of people can come together under one roof to learn from each
other, about their tested techniques and their mistakes. IT professionals,
programmers, government employees, security consultants, and the
"underground" hackers and phreakers can mingle as one. We will be hosting
parties and contests alongside technical discussions from expert speakers,
so that people who can't sit through eight straight hours of technical
content will have something to do. Attendees will come away with a clearer
understanding of various vulnerable aspects of modern technology, such as
cell phone cloning, cryptography, methods for breaking past different kinds
of secure computer systems, computer viruses and more, as well as creative
solutions for some of these problems. We present these and other topics in
both the interest of open-mindedness and so that organizations and
individuals might reduce their vulnerability to electronic attacks and other
"failures" of the technology which they rely on. We will not advocate any
sort of illegal activity, only the free flow of information. The technology
that shapes and maintains (some might say "controls") life in the modern 
world is the highlight of the conference. Attendees will develop a more
realistic interpretation of these systems. Data and network security is our
primary focus, but computers and technology in general will be our foundation.

WHO: We welcome anyone and everyone with an interest or a stake in digital
systems. Hackers, phreakers, phrackers, lamers, wanabes, crackers, and conf
whores, feds, sysops, sysadmins, programmers, and hapless bystanders.

WHERE: Rubi Con 1999 will occur at the Fairlane-Dearborn Holiday Inn in
Dearborn, Michigan. The Holiday Inn is located on Southfield Road near Ford
Road, and still has rooms available. Attendees of Rubi Con will receive
$20.00 off per room at the hotel if they mention that they are there with
the conference. More information about the hotel is available at our web site
at http://www.rubi-con.org/location.html. The hotel can be reached at (313)
336-3340.

WHEN: Rubi Con will occur over Friday, May 28 1999, Saturday, May 29, 1999,
and Sunday, May 30, 1999. It will go on 24 hours a day, except for people who
think they HAVE to sleep. Registration begins at noon on Friday, and we are
going to forcibly eject everyone who is still hanging around after 8:00 pm on
Sunday.

COST: Tickets will cost $35.00 if you purchase them in advance, and $40.00 at
the door. You can get advanced tickets on our web site in order to save
yourself that $5.00. We might add that in this case the word "advanced" does,
in fact, mean "advanced." We will not accept ticket forms after April 28,
1999. The price of your ticket gets you into the con for all 3 days, and the
ability to attend all functions associated with it. You get a swanky ID
badge, and maybe some other goodies. We're still working out details.

WHY: No one really knows. We think just because Michigan is boring and what
better way to spend time than on planning a big con? We should throw in the
standard issues regarding the free flow of information and eternal quests for
knowledge, too ("information wants to be $1.99!"), but when you factor alcohol
into the equation that stops being so important. Rubi Con is, we suppose, also
about having a good time with cool people. You can finally meet in person all
the people you have been BBSing with and IRCing with for years, or otherwise
find out who else lives around you with the same interest in technology and
computing. Technical content aside, attendees of Rubi Con *will* have a good
time, we'll make sure of it. In truth, this is perhaps the main reason it is
being organized. Distributing technical knowledge is important, but if no one
has fun, than how useful will the event have been? 

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OTHER INFORMATION: 

Rubi Con web site: http://www.rubi-con.org

If you just want to bother someone about the con, if you have any questions,
or if you want to participate in some other way, you can contact someone at:
info@rubi-con.org

For information on tickets, how to get advanced tickets, and other such
Ticket Questions, send email to tickets@rubi-con.org

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CALL FOR SPEAKERS: We are always looking to provide more substance at Rubi
Con. Content, if you will. We are always looking for mildly to highly qualified
individuals to get up for an hour or so and talk about a topic with which
they feel comfortable. There are no rules, and we have no real topic
requirements, although we might ask that it involve technology in some way or
another. As an official speaker you can get into the con for free, and if
need be we might be willing to arrange for airfare and lodging to get you to
stay in Dearborn for a few days. Speakers, of course, get to act condescendingly
to all the other attendees, ordering them around and making them go get you
another beverage.

If this sounds like fun to you, or if you otherwise have something you would
like to get up in front of a room full of people and spew words about, you
can contact our operations director at tantalo@rubi-con.org.

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1999-04-10