Archive for the 'Geek Gatherings' Category

PodCamp: come co.create an unconference

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on October 9, 2007
in Geek Gatherings, edutainment and events
. 3 Comments

Brainchild of formidable online community developer Chris Brogan and fellow Chris, Chris Penn of Financial Aid Podcast - Podcamp has blossomed in all sorts of places around our planet where there are communities flourishing around new media.

Podcamp Cape Town unconference for newmedia

There are 7 rules that help form the framework of a Podcamp:

  1. All attendees must be treated equally. Everyone is a rockstar.
  2. All content created must be released under a Creative Commons license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
  3. All attendees must be allowed to participate. (subject to limitations of physical space, of course)
  4. All sessions and events must be free of charge to attend.
  5. All sessions must obey the Law of 2 Feet - if you’re not getting what you want out of the session, you can and should walk out and do something else. It’s not like you have to get your money’s worth!
  6. The event must be new-media focused - blogging, podcasting, video on the net.
  7. The financials of a PodCamp must be fully disclosed in an open ledger,except for any donor/sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous.

I’m helping Mr Podcast ZA - the wonderful Glen Verran of the ZA Show to get South Africa’s first PodCamp rocking. It’s an unconference like Barcamp. Which means that it’s FREEE - content, venue, equipment, T-shirts, foodies and all manner of good things are sponsored and shared by those who come to the conference.

We have a few adored sponsors - Zoopy.com (again! - is there no end to theirfor the rockstars & superheroes of tomorrow : Podcamp! community support? thank you guys x) picking up the bill for the venue & name tags. Henk Kleynhans’ Skyrove (you know I’m a fan!) hooking us up with free wi-fi, prolific podcaster Nico Baird will be shipping in a dataprojector & snacks P-:, T-shirt giveaways from Rudra and Keyjam hooking up the coffee (thank heavens - no tech event would be complete without caffeine!)

There are a couple more sponsorship opportunities (Apple where are you?! Media24? we know you have podcampers coming) - jump in and support the growth of the New Media community while it’s a baby here. It’s a wonderful marketing and networking opportunity, especially at these playful educational gatherings: to speak to the content-creators and experimenters. We’d love someone to take care of AV, bring some fun equipment to play on, bring/sponsor lunch or.. offer some fabulous fun prizes :-D

Remember that collaboration is what makes our unconferences magic.If you’re in Cape Town & love to know more about creating your own content online (especially but not exclusively podcasting) come join the fun.

Register for Podcamp here. If you want to speak, share tools/tips, help with logistics on the day, bring a flipchart or post-its, or sponsor some aspect to make the day more fun - you will get huge respect, link-love and connect in with a some of the best & brightest & bravest in SA’s tech community.

Wiki: http://podcampcapetown.pbwiki.com
Blog: http://podcampcapetown.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=6472716436

Join us at Podcamp & grab ideas to give voice to your genius/ rockstar/ superhero >>

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Event: Geekdinner. GardenRoute. George. Goodie!

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on June 19, 2007
in 27dinners, Geek Dinner, South Africa and event posts
. 4 Comments

geekdinner It’s so wacky how our world has changed! My mom mailed me today to remind me politely that I haven’t blogged here in 10 days :-/ ..kind of like those subtle suggestions that it may be advisable to tidy your room before guests arrive when you’re a kid.

Does it mean that our relationships are any less close with friends & family if we connect with each other through facebook, IM, twitter? I may be wrong, but from what I’ve seen, I think Facebook for one should be held responsible for a huge resurgence of global love. All this reconnecting with lost buddies; getting a deeper sense of our friend’s quirky characters through their odd status messages, the groups they join/start, stream of photos from their adventures, films they love.. and for those of us who are crap at remembering birthdays, we need never fear the stony silence again!! the joy the joy :)

I’m a happy little digital native and spend a huge amount of time talking paranoid people out of the trees of terror when they’re presented with new technology. Yes, there are still people who have never heard of a blog. These self.same people denounce technology as the devil of our time and the reason for the sordid state of our planet; but haven’t been around to say hi to the next-door neighbour on the other side of the 8foot wall keeping them safely separate. [LOL - better catch myself quickly so this won't be another technology is neutral punt] Continue reading ‘Event: Geekdinner. GardenRoute. George. Goodie!’

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dinner with digital demigods

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on April 23, 2007
in Geek Gatherings, edutainment, networking and networthing
. 3 Comments

OMG I had dinner with Jimmy Wales & Prof Lessig .. and partied with them afterwards! (thank you iCommons team) I am such a geek groupie :-P

The hunter of genius was stopped in her tracks when confronted with deep genius ..and was mostly just in goofy awe.
I’ll post through the week on the funtimes and fundamental techtonic-shifts these internet icons brought our ZA way.

  • 1st @SARocks! on how both slammed the telecomm’s stranglehold in South Africa
  • 2nd :’-D Justin Nurse of Laugh It Off from his intro at the iCommons conference (where Justin certainly laughs something off! LOL)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgsaSDK2r8c]

I LOVED meeting more of the online crew like the Muso’s, the brilliant Buckland, the Apache founder fellow from SF, it was FUN and educational … more edutainment to come in the week >>

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Monogamy not an option for web entrepreneurs

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on April 20, 2007
in 27dinners, Cape Town, Geek Gatherings and South Africa
. 4 Comments

http://www.extreme-hotels.com/Speed dating for entrepreneurs in the gorgeous little Mother City* last night >> zoomed into the ubersexy Extreme Hotel for about 28.3nanoseconds >>

because I couldn’t bear to be left out of at least a little of the fun at the new OpenCoffeeClubopencoffee.jpg
South Africa’s first - started in London by powerhouse Saul Klein. Introduced to our shores by Eric Entrepreneur Edelstein.

Speed dating yields the quick & dirty blink instinct assessment. Maybe not perfect for business, but a whole lot more invigorating than the usual networking rounds of intro’s & pitches. For accelerated times it’s a relief to have the room moving at the same pace as you are. I didn’t have time for much more because I had to dash to a Toastmasters session. Not that there were all that many faces I didn’t recognise, all the usual suspects were in the house

… but I believe this one’s going to grow wildly and attract many more bravehearted entreneurs & serial start-up pioneers as 27 has.

Vinny Lingham’s right, in many ways this feels just like web1.0 .. the etherware salemen are shining their shoes and confuddling those who are in the rising panic that they’ll be left behind. [Even if the fundamentals don't bear out fair value in the financials, the big numbers have a gravitational force that equally defies scientific understanding].Hmm.. but we learnt a great deal the first time. And I am determined not to burn out another set of adrenals this time. South Africa has some lag time on the global upsurge but we’re in for a fun ride.

What in the world has this got to do with monogamy? If you happen to be one of the usual suspects at these kind of events anywhere in the world right now, you’ll know exactly what I mean. This is our lifestyle. A serious case of work ADD.

Chris Brogan did a post about this that I giggled at in complete recognition and realised that almost everyone I know has the same quirk. We new media types HAVE to have our fingers in multiple project pies, simultaneously.

We’re meeting, sparking, creating, conceptualising and innovating at a blur of speed that commitment to just one project is a foreign concept. Sound familiar?

As you read this how many projects do YOU have an interest in right now?

*(motherless for some I hear after the free drinks generously laid on by Vinny the VC and Anton Gillis).

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27dinner gathers force for FreedomDay

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on April 17, 2007
in 27dinners, Cape Town, Gatherings and Geek Gatherings
. 6 Comments

27dinner capetown

The 27dinner has outgrown itself again.
The Cape Town dinner has popped its seams due to demand :)

Marketing Geek Dave found us a gorgeous spot looking out over the Atlantic Ocean & Robben Island - how appropriate for Freedom Day! Clever fellow.

The lineup for the talks has been confirmed :

Greenman Ian Gilfillan, the awardwinning ZAshow podcaster Glen Verran, the wild & wonderful cartooning sire of Bru and Boegie Mike Scott… and maybe if we’re very lucky my mate Rus Nerwich (world class muso & wildman of jazz) will swing some beats for us.

It’s going to be yet another cooking night of engaging with the brightest minds of new media, marketing and technology in the Mother City.

Oh did I almost forget? Just in case you weren’t convinced by the quality of the company : the legendary Graham Knox will be bringing on free Stormhoek wine AGAIN! (aaaargh.. hope I behave this time)

There are now 20 more seats that can be snapped up due to the new venue (click pic) so dash to the wiki to avoid feeling left out if you missed the first ones >>

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B’School course for Executives in Web2.0

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on April 13, 2007
in Cape Town, Economic Factors, GSB, Geek Gatherings, South Africa, corporate education, edutainment and executive education
. 2 Comments

Dave Duarte (the Marketing Geek) announced the brand new course that we’re producing (thrilling!) for UCT’s Graduate School of Business
- Nomadic Marketing - scheduled 17 - 19 JulyUniversity of Cape Town
uctgsb1.jpg

This 3day executive course will focus on marketing strategy that embraces leading-edge technology. By now even those deep in digital denial have had to pay attention to the economic and social impact of the internet and mobile technologies. The course is geared as an immersive introduction with real world case studies, and practical application that you don’t have to be a geek to get! Certification included.

For us the pressure is on to craft a program of world-class quality to live up to UCT’s Graduate School of Business’ impressive stature. They have consistently ranked as one of the Global Top 100 MBA programs by the Financial Times. More appropriately for us though: in the Top 10 for Executive Education internationally! The challenge is energising.

Brain-based learning practices will be built in to more effortlessly enjoy the intensity of the course (without the overwhelm that would otherwise accompany this volume of knowledge). If you ever thought academia was dry and theoretical, you are in for an invigorating surprise.

Naturally we’ll be putting up a blog to get feedback and suggestions from you, to shape and clarify the syllabus. It will also offer introductions to some of the leading thinkers who will be contributing their knowledge.
[In the meantime we can confirm that mover and shaker in the SA web2.0 space Mike Stopforth is charging in to set the keynote. There'll be an economist, a futurist, podcasters, bloggers, respected marketers, pioneers and proponents of the new enterprise space who will lend their heft].

PS. you know Dave & I can’t resist community-building fun - so to ensure some solid edutainment - there’ll be an celebratory afterparty where you’ll be able to network with fellow course delegates; and also have the opportunity to connect with some of the bright & visionary technologists we respect
.. it’s not called social media for nothing.

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Overclocking vs. Maximizing ..do I have a problem?

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on March 28, 2007
in Cape Town, Geek Dinner, Heisenberg, Mixed Reality and creative genius
. 8 Comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw]

Easy to smirk at this, but I had many moments of disturbing recognition (my fave part is the MC Escher bit.. Weird Al is utter nutter genius without a doubt). I know we’ve all seen it 10^3 of times already, but I had to: in celebration of all things geeky to get in the mood for tonight’s geekmeet.

… I think I’m in trouble. GeekDinner tonight and I am suffering the effects of overclocking my processor - bioware not keeping up. It’s ridiculously easy to go into a temporal warp in front of a screen and unless you have a spouse who keeps you in check (LOL for Stii!! Belinda told me about YOU bru)
.. you too could become a sleepcamel.

I learnt the term a few years ago from an ex-Micro(not-so)softie from the heavyduty coding coalface. It’s not well, I think I have a problem. I’m currently on a sleepless stretch of 63.5 hours, and starting to get a little deranged & experiencing major data.loss. The fact that geekdinner is tonight, and I’m speaking (supposedly lucidly) is a concern.

Not sure that I’m going to be a safe driver. Don’t want to be the poster child of stern warnings that humans are NOT MACHINES. No matter how well you think you can override the default settings. I’m not feeling too well at all. ooops 8-/

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It’s been coming.. time to play indoors again

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on March 27, 2007
in Economic Factors, Geek Dinner, Heisenberg, Mixed Reality, South Africa and Trust
. 4 Comments

What does it take for Scoble to stop blogging for a week?

The rate of change has accelerated to the point where we’ve come to a critical inflection point. Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer spoke of three stages of truth:

  1. it is ridiculed
  2. it is violently opposed
  3. it is seen as self-evident.

Blogging and social media has been teetering at the tipping point of the ridicule phase. Everyone has laughed/cringed at the absurdity of “blog” ..I spotted a tweet (twitter post) come through from Twitter founder Evan Williams reinforcing the idea :

ev.jpg

as an academic the crux of formidable social and economic disruption can’t be seen to have such a ridiculous name! Bloody hell, best to head back to the safety of weblog. Earlier today in the Financial Times: “YouTube was funny until it was worth $1.65bn to someone”

Continue reading ‘It’s been coming.. time to play indoors again’

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the geek shall inherit ..the GeekDinner

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on March 25, 2007
in Cape Town, Geek Dinner, Mixed Reality and South Africa
. 3 Comments

Geekdinner 2.0 (I know I know, it’s so difficult to resist) is reloaded & ready to go >> I’m not organising this one, it’s in the logistically-gifted hands of Joe Botha of Frogfoot this time. And it’s looking pretty swanky, all kitted out at Barbarella’s in the heart of sophisticado style in Constantia.

I’ll be up front & centre at some stage getting geekdiners to wrap their heads around “What Makes Geeks Hot” - em, hot property that is - & what we need to do to support & nurture our talent here in South Africa. I have been contemplating flipping it & sharing my freshest social media wonderland discoveries.. esp. Twitter. I’ll see what’s gonna be most valuable on the night.

If you’re a power user you’ll want to be here to see what’s evolving at the edge and if you’re a developer this is the place to come & show off your projects!

It’s gonna be deep boys & girls: so make sure you get in some cerebral yoga ahead of the sparky synaptic crackle & pop this Thursday Wednesday. Are you a geek, who coincidentally happens to be in Cape Town this Thursday Wednesday, 28 March? - then get thy geekly self to the wiki posthaste >> gijima wena!!

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.. the cool kids at play

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on March 10, 2007
in Cape Town, Geek Dinner, Geek Gatherings, Heisenberg, Mixed Reality and South Africa
. 11 Comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g3m1squogs]

.. just in case you needed convincing :-P to get your ass to one of our dinners

PS. if you’re a new kid on the blog, no matter where you find yourself on the planet, brace yourself, once you fire it up, whether personal or business .. blogs change lives unquestionably (and I believe will shift the global economy in ways unimagined too - watch the fractal pattern throughout history: culture precedes commerce). Get connected to others exploring the edge >> in your neighbourhood
Continue reading ‘.. the cool kids at play’

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