So I voted on Wednesday.. for the DA. The queue was really short in Camps Bay.

I think the election results are.. not bad. The ANC did not get their 2/3 majority. The DA did very well and secured the Western Cape.

I hope that in the next 5 years the DA shows the rest of the country how a province can be run. I hope that in the next 5 years the bulk of this country matures to see the value of a more balanced democracy… and don’t just by default vote for the next muppet the ANC produces.

5 Years is a long time. A very long time for a 67 year old man with 4+ wives. A long time to live the lifestyle of a dictator. All that temptation for fraud and corruption. Good thing he has no hair to turn grey.

I attended the SA Blog Awards ceremony on Friday night.

Good fun.

Very well done.. Chris, Dave, Miguel and Tyler.

Many familiar faces, but also many new faces.. people I’ve not seen at any geeky events before.. oh, and a fair number of hot woman, can you believe it? (-;

I few comments and suggestions.. for improvements:

• I liked the dog-tags idea.
• The club venue worked well, the only negative was all the smoking and limited ventilation. Sure it’s a club, but it’s before 21:00 and it’s the blog awards people.. go outside.
• Chris was super successful in getting lots of sponsors this year, maybe a bit too successful. I’d suggest next year should have a bit more of a formal sponsorship structure.. silver, gold, platinum.. or something like that. Cap it at 10 or even 5. People get bored listening to 30 different sponsors who gave 3 tshirts each. Surely the value for key sponsors gets diluted if there are so many sponsors.
• The format/structure of announcing each winner in sequence needs some thought. It gets a little bit boring. Maybe less categories. Maybe some entertainment in between. Maybe something as simple as a good story to keep the audience focused and involved.

About the results:

I’m impressed that we have at least one pro blogger.. (not sure if hobos blog or if that would count).

I am a bit concerned about the result for the best blog award and the message this sends about South African bloggers.. though I know this is (in theory) more a message about South African blog readers. Then again the blog awards are for bloggers.. that’s just my “by the geeks for the geeks” kinda thinking. It should be about recognising the work of our peers.

The best blog result reminds me a bit of Epic 2014..

At its best, edited for the savviest readers, EPIC is a summary of the world — deeper, broader and more nuanced than anything ever available before. But at its worst, and for too many, EPIC is merely a collection of trivia, much of it untrue.

I know tabloids are probably the fastest growing and dependable print media business. I get the whole democracy thing.. it’s about popularity.. and it’s not perfect but it’s the best system we have, I get that “sex sells”, but.. I simply wish we could have a best blog focused on something like entrepreneurship or really cool new and innovative ideas.

I’m not against involving the general public in the voting process.. they are the readers, but maybe a more merit based (as opposed to popularity) voting system should be used for at least the best blog.

The blog awards have been going for a while. We have an idea who the leading bloggers are. I would suggest we ask them (previous winners and judges) for an OPML export each to see what the bloggers read (as opposed to what the readers read).

Should be very easy to parse, count and pop out a top 10. I’d love to see the results.

Keith has this theory that some people create hate to avoid other emotions.
I agree. This resonated again on Friday afternoon.

Makes me think of a trip to Joburg a long time ago..

One of my school friends had an interesting theory about love and hate (and taxi drivers). It comes down to: “too much love makes you gay, hate is healthy”.

I guess you know that “Wear Sunscreen” song.. “Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.”

I guess the same is true about Joburg and Cape Town.

Seems taxi drivers keep you straight.

Today I went for a haircut at Bianca’s.

As I park a parking fee collector (?) walks up to me, looks at me with a blank face and waits for me to say something. Interesting sales pitch.. a bit like that poker game where you hold a card to your head. Anyway, I pay R3.50 for 30min of parking time. Fine.

Nice haircut. Always good to catch up with B.

I get back to my car. The collector is sitting around. I walk by and get in my car. As I’m about to drive away, she stops me and points me at her big black electronic gizmo (the size of 3 Nokia 2110 mobile phones).. I exceeded the 30min I paid for. Ok, the device claims I need to pay for an extra 10min.

She wants R3.50 for 10min. I offer her R1. Nope.

Then I ask, don’t you think it’s wrong that I need to pay R3.50 for 10min. Yes, she answers. It’s wrong, but even 1min costs R3.50.

Ok. Then I ask, what exactly are you going to do if I don’t pay? She suggests she’s going to report me as a non-payer.

To which I respond. Well, you agree that paying R3.50 for 10min is wrong, so don’t do it. Bye.

A few things to ponder:

1) How do they get away with R3.50/30min minimum billing increments? They have an electronic device to work it out. Somebody wrote software for this.. surely the billing model should be more fair.

2) Who made that stupid looking traffic minute counter they carry around? It’s a joke. Maybe the idea is to keep them fit with some basic gravity resistance training.. or it could be some dodgy government contract. Please, you can do all of that math on a much smaller and cheaper device that’s not custom designed and manufactured.

3) R3.50 is expensive for a public parking space compared to what you pay in a mall. Nobody is paying rent for that parking space. In fact, I’m paying tax. Only 11% of people in this country pay income tax. I should park for free dammit!

4) If you want to program your drones with unfair billing logic you have to also equip them with some moral shielding systems. You simply can’t employ people that know right from wrong if you know you are doing wrong.

You could say that this is a form of civil disobedience.. but moral high ground trumps bureaucracy in this poker game.

So, I’m running from Bakoven to Bantry Bay this morning, along Victoria road and I spot a news poster: “Cape Town, the Greatest City in Africa”. I think, wow.. I’m very lucky to be living the the most beautiful part of the greatest city in Africa.

A few weeks ago I’m busy cooking up some figure for a press release and I randomly ask “How many provinces does South Africa have?”. I get an answer and.. “Joe, how can you not know that?” To which I respond.. “dude, I live it Cape Town, I live in the first world.”

What’s my point?

1) I love Cape Town. In my mind it’s a first world city. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The fact that it’s on the Africa continent is of minor importance to me.

2) The world has changed. It’s more about community, a sense of belonging and shared ideals than which country you live in.

I read things like these and I just think.. compared to what?

At a recent tuXlabs workshop I found this very interesting:

Only 33% of schools in South Africa have internet access. 25% of schools in the Western Cape do NOT have internet access.

That’s all I have to say about that.

Buy a Vespa GTV 250 for R89,950, join the cult.. and get a free helmet. No, you can’t have it in any other colour!

Does not sound like a very good deal right? Ok, let me start at the beginning, maybe you’ll change your mind.

Test Drive

A few weeks ago I was browsing around the Design Indaba and found a few pretty cool looking Vespa’s. I started talking to Mike. Mike sells Vespa’s.. but he also rides Vespa’s and he is very passionate about the Vespa lifestyle. He invited me to test drive a few Vespa’s one afternoon.

So, last week before soccer, I visit their showroom at the Waterfront, next to Audi. We find me a helmet that fits, shades on.. let’s roll.

I used to own a motorbike, a long time ago (when I was 17/18yo). Took me a minute or two to settle back into it. These Vespa’s were automatic (CVT). Very easy.

The first thing you notice: it’s fun. Second: freedom.. it’s not a car, you can navigate your way through traffic and you generally accelerate a lot faster than the other traffic on the road.

We took a drive through the Waterfront, to Mouille Point, to Camps Bay and over Kloof Nek. Beautiful day for a test drive. I started off on the 150 and swapped with Mike half way to try the 250, which had a bit more power. Feels a bit weird taking corners on a scooter.. I was not sure how far you can push them, but I guess owners have it waxed.

Back at the showroom I took a Bat-mobile looking scooter for a spin. 500cc, also good fun.

Which one is the best option?

The LX150 at about R50k will do most everything, but maybe not something you want to take outside of Camps Bay regularly.

The GTS 250 at about R80k is probably the best value, all round.

The GTV 250 at about R90k is way cool, retro styling, very groovy gadgets and true to Vespa breeding. The best investment.

I know what you are thinking.. “..for a little wire wind-pump?” (-:
It’s a SCOOTER? Are you nuts? I can buy a Moto Mia scooter for R10k!
That was Andrew’s response.

Who buys these things? Most of Mike’s customers are males in their 30s and 40s.

It’s an Icon

Vespa is a design icon. It’s a cult brand. Vespa was the first globally successful scooter. They were even used in World War II. People travel across continents on these things.

They are cool, but as Mike says.. you have to be very secure in your manhood to drive a little baby blue LX150, haha.

Also, you have to understand that Vespa is not in the business of selling motorcycles, it’s in the fun lifestyle business.

How do you sell a guy a Vespa that already drives a convertible?

The good..

• They are awesome fun to ride, in nice weather.
• I like the social element.. the Vespa runs sound cool. Though I’m a bit worried they will attract Mini Cooper driving dorks.
• Do they pull chicks? I don’t know. I guess so. Ladies?
• 35km / Litre, not bad.
• You have to love how the helmet fits under the seat.

The bad..

• I spend most of my weekends with a 3yo. She can’t go on a Vespa.
• We’re moving into winter soon.
• GTV 250 is only available in beige (this year). Beige! FFS.
• Oh, you should kinda get a bike licence, though this seems like a minor issue.

I think I’ll wait a year. Still a pretty cool toy.

Go for a test drive

Michael Eastaugh
Vespa Cape Town, Caltex Centre, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront
021 425 7944

This week’s post is a bit overdue, let’s see..

• Monday, woke up in Stellenbosch, took a drive to the end of the Jonkershoek road with the top down, had lunch with Mia, her sister and mom, discovered a very cool little beach between Bakoven and Camps Bay, awesome sunset, had frogurt on Camps Bay Boulevard, perfect night for a walk.

• “My word I’m hungover! Death warmed up.” — Debby

• “Some people spend their lives in the traffic and never smell the washing.” — Naulene

• “As soon as I have the perfect office everything will be OK.” — Naulene

• “Good taste without power has no impact.”

• Tuesday, meeting with Steve Song and Andrew Rens at TSF about Open Spectrum, soccer at La Med, kinda scored the winning goal.. drinks at La Med.. starting to like Camps Bay (even more), Waiting Room with Keith to see Julia Jacobsen and Nice. Really enjoyed the music.. so much life, you have to love Long Street in the summertime.
• Wednesday, blisters from soccer.. but not too stiff, haircut at B’s, Orms visit.. I think I found a new hobby in DSLR’s, Neighbourhood bar with Cath, the plan was to go see Lonesome Dave Ferguson at Julep but ended up at Cape to Cuba bar.. the one at the top.

• “..that’s one way to put it, another way would be that we were simply late”.

• Driving home, I figured I was pretty chilled on Wednesday night.. I call it “peaceful lost time”. You see, I had a (long) Amobia meeting planned but that did not happen, which kinda leaves you with this feeling.. oh, well.. bonus!

• “Got a light on you mate.. how can you start a revolution without a fire?” — Brandon at Cape to Cuba

• “multi tasking is for girls”

• “I am not as shallow as the two of you, talking about shallow…what’s green, wet, and doesn’t have a topless.. pool boy cleaning it (presumably because it’s overcast)…?” — Keith

• Thursday, a bit of pool cleaning, I was invited to go to the DA website launch but had to go and win a little personal battle at the ISPA GM to get joining fees removed for ISPA peering points.
• Seems I can still go 3 weeks without needing to do my washing, a good bachelor skill to master.
• Friday, shopping, Chinese bloggers braai.. sundowners at Beta Beach and a night out at Chevelle.. (yeah, the website sucks).. the hot cars, the hot clubs, the hot chicks.
• At least somebody seems to like my weekly bullet list blogging style.

• “Do you ever blog while on the loo?” — Keith asked Nikki

• “If you have to chase it, it’s running.” — Parri, about girls

• I figure it’s a good idea to start limiting blog posts to the 250 word range.

• “Life is slow when the groove is on,
  tripping lights fantastic disco show” — Groove Armada

• Saturday, dropped Andy off, fetched Mia, went shoe shopping with Mia.. we got two pairs each (Mia’s are almost as cool as Nikki’s), I have new trail runners and soccer boots, Beta Beach play park, dinner, watched Semi Pro, restless sleep.. Mia was a bit sick.
• “He fall down” — Mia, after throwing a cat in a bush
• Sunday, Monsters Inc., we made uber fruit juice, gym, swim, flapjacks at Knead, ice cream at Sinn’s, GP visit, took Mia home, Goldfish at La Med with Andy and Keith.. for about 10min I was a Cosmo VIP, Jules and the Fools at Joburg bar.. love the chorus on that “time after time” (video) song, nice Pixies cover, but the venue was a bit smoky.

• “Everybody Love Everybody” — Jackie Moon, Semi Pro

• Manage to not touch my laptop the entire weekend, that’s a first.
• Tunes of the week: Groove Armada, Best of.

Looking forward to soccer at La Med this afternoon.. have a fun week.

So, I recently moved, again.. 3rd time in 6 months. Maybe it’s a phase I’m going through. At the moment living in the same place for more than 1 year seems long.

We’re living in Bakoven now. Andy, Keith and Joe. Been here just over a week. I like it. Mia loves it. The kittens seem very happy.

I count 17 empty wine bottles in our recycling pipeline after week 1. This recycling thing is not all bad.. gives us some stats, haha.

Seems most people have a fear of moving. Sure, it’s stressful and disruptive.. but, I kinda like the idea of being a tourist in my own city. I call it: short attention span living. Why not?

“it use to be people lived in their homes, now they sleep in their houses” — unknown

I’m on first name basis with a number of rental agents in town by now. Searching for places to stay is maybe the most challenging part. Also, you need good movers. I have really cool movers (thanks Jonathan).

The first thing you’ll notice is that scale in important. Shopping for a two bedroom place is not really worth it. The value curve just looks a lot better for 3+ bedroom places.

This kinda implies you need a few similar thinking people to live with. People who handle change well and you get along with. Fun people.

Internet access is the next snag. It’s not always easy finding something with good Amobia coverage.

The most recent move was, well.. interesting. By the last weekday of the month we had not yet signed a lease for a new place.. but the movers were busy loading our stuff at 11am. Point of no return.. _really_ in between places. Then Mia’s mom phoned and asked me to look after her.. try moving while entertaining a 2yo.

At some point that afternoon the movers had been waiting for 2 hours with all our furniture in front of the new house while I did the final lease negotiations. Living on the edge.

You can see how the stress affects the cats (not my cats). I was pretty tired the next day from packing and unpacking. Lying on Llandudno beach that Sunday.. I figured it was actually all rather painless.

I love living in Cape Town. Let’s see.. I’ve lived in Vredehoek, Newlands fernwood, Newlands village, Somerset West (briefly), Gardens, Obs (briefly), Tamboerskloof and now Bakoven / Camps Bay.

I think I’d still like to live in.. Bishops Court, Llandudno, Kalk bay, Glen Beach, Higgovale and Oranjezight.

As a friend told me once, it’s all about service, lifestyle and experiences. The Straw Man lifestyle — as my cousin Jacques calls it.

“Ninety percent of all things, good or bad are done because of a mortgage, maybe more people should rent.” — Thank You for Smoking

A few weeks ago my friend Keith, the travel writer, asked me to write something about crazy blonds around Cape Town. Just for fun..

In summer months Cape Town becomes a playground for escapist world
travellers. Scandinavian binging bimbos with fatalistic party instincts.
Voracious monsters of moral corruption on brief third world holidays.

Could be a fun job.

Very interesting week.. most fun I’ve had in a long time. Started out spending time with Mia (~7 days).. a cycle of tea, rusks, Nemo, gym, swim, ice cream, nap, beach, chardonnay.. rinse, repeat..

• Monday, gym, swim, fetched Mia, got me a VitB shot, followed a police car that was in a hurry on the N2.. fun, very About a Boy, nap, Glen Beach, Pimms party with Rachel and Keith.. well Keith had Ginger beer and kola tonic (*wink* to Cath). Seems everybody is threatening to stop drinking.
• Neurobian, the Rolls Royce.. of Vitamin B injections, kicks ass, R65 at your chemist.. “That’s cheating” — Keith
• Tuesday, Mia and I had tea and rusks on a rainy morning, building a puzzle to some layed back jazz.. discovered Madeleine Peyroux (thanks to Rachel), gym, swim, Sinn’s ice cream, had Harrods Darjeeling no.25 tea from my Ritzenhoff cups with some cucumber sandwiches and more jazz. Mia manicure/peticure.. tried to catch up on my bloggging notes, felt like such a stay-at-home-dad.. kitchen drinking helps *grin*, nap, sunset on Beta beach, I would really not mind a house in Bakoven, watched the Illusionist (not bad) with a superb bottle of Paul Cluver Chardonnay. Watched some Simpsons.
• Mia’s baby sister was born on Tuesday night. I guess this makes her a half only child.. maybe a good balance.
• Wednesday, gym, swim, gourmet flapjacks at Knead.. try them.. Mia loves them, Sinn’s ice cream.. we always get the Turkish Delight flavour.. “the pink one”, did washing for the whole family (of two). Bakoven beach with Mia, Rachel and Keith.. awesome sunset followed by pizza in Camps Bay, drinks with Andy and Lauren (King), nice Springfield Sauv, brie and fig snacks and jazz.
• Looks like I’ve converted Andy into a Moloko/Roisin Murphy fan.
• Kinda figured out what inspired my bullet list blogging.. Rules of Attraction:
  Victor: [summarizing his vacation]..
• Tune of the week:
  You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go – Madeleine Peyroux,
  had this song stuck in my head for 3 days (new record I think).. turns out it’s a Bob Dylan song.
• The solution to the RT turned out to be a girl (cat) problem seems to be: swap names and change to “Princess Walker”.
• Mia asked to watch the Moloko DVD, I played her The Time Is Now, she thinks Roisin looks like Bianca. Figured out I have _all_ the moloko albums and the DVD.
• How cool is that Terry Richardson photo on the latest GQ?
• Thursday, woke up early and ended up with two purring balls of fur on my chest while working on my laptop, Nemo, we made uber-juice, dropped Mia off, worked though a big backlog of holiday photos.. about 1.5GB, watched Simpsons.

• Dory: Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you’ve gotta do? ..just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.
  Marlin: Now I’m stuck with that song… Now it’s in my head.
  Dory: Sorry. — Nemo

• “The New New Man is perhaps a better father than a husband. He loves his children with a passion that frightens him.” – January GQ

• My wine glasses seem to have a lower MTBF recently.
• I discovered dark chocolate covered goji berries. Yum.
• Modern conveniences.. getting you car back from the carwash and pressing one button to get your seat back just the way you like it. You have to love technology.
• I think I need a new enemy.. and “a code” (like the marines have.. God, Country, Corps).. hmm.. food, fun, friends, something like that.

• “Better to have flowers and not need them, than need flowers and not have them” — Joe.. when your date invitation (potentially) fails, *grin*.

• Friday, carwash, beer(s) at the Labia.. watched Pineapple Express.. not bad, Helga came over for drinks, Rafiki’s with Rachel and Candy, Kyoto Sushi Garden for tuna sashimi, Scott’s famous cocktails, Suntory Yamazaki 18yr old (R1k+/bottle).. good stuff, off to Jade (strange music, but fun, the older cape town goovy kids hangout it seems), ended up in the Shack (jeepers, how did that happen?), I think I like Kings of Leon.. when played really loudly, nice view of the CBD from there, the bartender was a bit drunk so I DJ’d (mostly Moloko), home, wine, nap (not much sleep at all).

• “Hey Bartender! Whose leg do I have to hump to get a dry martini around here? — Brian Griffin (Family Guy)”

• I think I may have ruined my Vivian Westwood shirt.. guess it was worth it.

• “Cowboy the f*ck up” — Rachel

  How is that Savanna going down?.. “Like an oyster milkshake” — Rachel

  “You say it all without.. ever speaking” — Moloko, in the Shack

  Winners come last — quote from Friday mayhem somewhere

• Saturday, woke up on the couch with memories of Leonard Cohen songs, off to Bettys with Rachel and Andy.. (I keep a spare toothbrush for days like these), a fun drive.. since I was not driving, swim, nap, nice braai with Cath and Parri, Ingi and Debs came over, a bit of Scrabble cheating, general mayhem (I think the lack of sleep got to me).
• Well, well. (*bite fist*) [ignore this bit]
• Sunday, woke up in Bettys (thanks Cath).. a bit dazed, swim, good brekki (thanks Andy), chilling, nap, we drove to Pringle for a swim.. which was awesome, pimpin drive home (Andy’s Throb mixes).. got a tad sunburnt, pizza and Tequila at Da Vinci’s, got home and played the song, grabbed a Rikki’s taxi to La Med (being sensible, how’s that working out for you?, we’ll see), had a beer with David (Goldfish), friends all around.. Rachel, Keith, Cams, Adin, Lauren.. met Rachel’s sisters, Goldfish rocked.. as always.. I was the guy with the jacSharp tshirt, Andy met a Scandinavian girl who hopped in the taxi with us to Asoka, got home and played the song. Another shit day in Africa. I just love Cape Town in the summertime.
• I met somebody, actually I’ve know her since about 2006ish, she loves jazz, reads Ayn Rand, she’s an engineer and she’s hot (yes.. go figure). I hope she does not discover this blog any time soon , I may have to cook my legendary Thai green curry for her.

• “A pot of honey is nice,
  but there is a moment just before you start eating,
  that’s even nicer” — Pooh Bear, something I remember from Friday

• I gave at least 4 massages this weekend, I think it’s a hidden talent.
• I may need another VitB shot after this weekend.
• I should really go see the new Woody Allen movie.

The holiday is over crazy kids.. I need to start being productive again.

I was asked to do a short write up on how the GeekDinners came about for a radio interview on SAfm tonight.

The origin of the GeekDinners.. well, this my version. I think Rob first told (me) the story of how the London GeekDinners (v1.0) started. Feel free to correct me if I get the details wrong.

GeekDinner v0.0

Geeks have been having dinners for a long time. I remember going to Cape Linux User Group dinners around 2000. The key ingredient has probably always been interesting conversation (and food, obviously).

GeekDinner v1.0 : London

Enter: Graham Knox (wine marketer) and Hugh Macleod (social media strategist and cartoonist).

Wine and wine marketing is the second most competitive industry, so Hugh and Graham (genius marketers) had an idea to use the internet (blogging) and word of mouth (social media) to market wine.

They sent wine to bloggers. Bloggers wrote about the wine and the Stormhoek brand spread through social networks and became know as the blogger or Web2.0 wine.

In June 2005 the first GeekDinners were held in London. Hugh and Robert Scoble were there. They used a wiki (a web page anyone can modify) as a way for guests to sign-up.

So now the ingredients became: interesting conversation, social lubricant (wine) and open (web-based) self sign-up.

GeekDinner v1.1 : Cape Town, South Africa

The Stormhoek farm is in Wellington, close to Cape Town. So Graham, Max Kaizen, Dave Duarte and Chris Rawlinson (I’m guessing) started a Cape Town GeekDinner in August 2006.

Same ingredients and wine as the London Dinner, but in the Mother City.

GeekDinner v1.2 : The 27 Dinners

At this point Dave and Mike Stopforth had started a marketing company and chose to re-brand the dinners. They called them 27 Dinners. They would be on the 27 of each month and I’m guessing 27 hints at the +27 dialling code or SA.

The idea spread to Joburg and Durban.

GeekDinner v2.0 : The New Original GeekDinners

..”by the geeks for the geeks”

Not everybody was happy when Mike and Dave “hijacked” the GeekDinners, renamed and controlled them.

I attended the first 27 Dinner in February 2007. I was less than happy with the change, so I did what any stubborn geek would do.. picked a fight and started the New Original GeekDinner movement.

Somebody said she would eat her hat if I pulled it off, or something like that. Good motivation.. well, we’re just gonna have to see about that!

So, the next day I registered the geekdinner.org.za domain, got a logo, setup a blog,
wiki and planet.. and started planning the first in the new series of GeekDinners which would be at Barbarellas in Constantia a month later (March 2007).

A few of my memories of the GeekDinners

How it all started.. searching for CaffeNeo’s details I found a blog post by Mike. I emailed him and we had a cup of tea at CaffeNeo. I then met Max and somehow I was invited to a small dinner at Sinn’s in Wembley Square (Nov 2006). This would be my first GeekDinner or bloggers gathering. I met Henk.. I think he said something like.. “blogging is just like writing an email, but a lot more people see it”. So two days later I installed WordPress and started blogging.

The last v1.1 dinner was in Hout Bay in December 2006 aka the Summer GeekDinner. This was the first time I met Nikki (probably the only blog(s) I’ve read start to finish) and Dave. I remember taking Mia along (oops, had to move those pics, no longer public).

GeekDinners vs. 27 Dinners

These days the GeekDinner and the 27 Dinner happily co-exist. In Cape Town they alternate monthly so they don’t compete.

So, how do they differ..?

Well, the 27 Dinners tend to a attract more of the marketing types and groovy geeks. The GeekDinners attract more of a techie geek community.. but a number of people attend both. There is no dress code for being a geek.

Traditionally the 27 Dinners have followed a more centralised and closed planning model for venue and speaker selection and sponsorships.

The GeekDinner takes a more open, decentralised and democratised approach. It’s kinda like an open source software project. There is no official committee. It’s anarchy in a sense.. order without leaders. It’s more of a benevolent dictatorship model.

The new original GeekDinners have been going for almost 2 years now. As long as they remain fun to plan and attend, the model works.

“We reject: kings, presidents and voting.
We believe in: rough consensus and running code.”
– David D. Clark