The 24 Chaos Communication Congress (24C3) the annually hacker meeting organized by the Chaos Computer Club was finished in Berlin. Here you can find lots of inspiring talks, cool workshops and interesting people. Hacking (in the broadest sense), making, privacy and politic issues and many other topics are covered. The theme"Volldampf voraus" (German for "full steam ahead") is inspired by the retrofuture steam punk genre and you can see at some place of the conference related accessories.

 http://konradscons.blogspot.com/

First held in 1984, it since has established itself as "the European Hacker Conference". Lectures and workshops on a multitude of topics attract a diverse audience of thousands of hackers, scientists, artists, and utopists from all around the world. The 24C3s slogan is Volldampf voraus! - the German equivalent of "full steam ahead" - a particular request for talks and projects featuring forward looking hands-on topics. The Chaos Computer Club has always encouraged creative and unorthodox interaction with technology and society, in the good tradition of the real meaning of "hacking".

 http://events.ccc.de/congress/2007/Press_Review