> I just said I'd be ordering pizza for anyone interested in staying after work to hack on Linode-related projects. I was willing to pay for the pizza, in part

> I just said I'd be ordering pizza for anyone interested in staying after work to hack on Linode-related projects. I was willing to pay for the pizza, in part because I didn't want to risk being shut down by asking. I did this (paid out of pocket, for a refreshments draw) while a poor grad student, for a department-wide interest group meeting series that I started. There was some silly barrier getting funding, and I didn't have time for silliness, so I just paid. I made the refreshments theme simply "chocolate", a different form each meeting. Which not only had some novelty appeal, to students accustomed to scavenging free food, but also the cost per person was pretty low. Remarkably good attendance, and people seemed in a good mood.