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LugRadio Decides To Call It Quits

Posted by timothy on from the an-excellent-run-by-smart-folks dept.

[vmlinuz] writes "After four years, 100+ shows and over 2 million downloads, the guys behind LugRadio, the irreverent Open Source podcast from England have decided to call it a day, with the desire to 'go out on a high.' The last ever show will be recorded at LugRadio Live UK 2008 on the 19th and 20th July in Wolverhampton, England. There are also blog entries from the two long-standing members of LugRadio, Jono Bacon and Stuart 'Aq' Langridge." I hope the back catalog will remain available — LugRadio has since its start been one of the best online audio offerings out there.

60 comments

  1. LP! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    LAST POST!

    1. Re:LP! by Mikkeles · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Further details here.

      --
      Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
  2. shame! by QX-Mat · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I went to the first LRL and loved it, after following the banter for a while. sadly i was a poor student then, and didn't make the last one.

    Thanks to LRL I met Mark Shuttleworth :D Thanks to LRL I watched about 20 people order a desert at an Indian confusing it with the main mean :D

    I guess this gives the community a chance to reciprocate? Perhaps a new UK-based (humours of course!) Linux radio show with slightly more knowledgeable (on-topic?!) hosts? Unfortunately I find the show is too long for me to back jump into nowadays.

    (I didn't mean to say they're not knowledgeable folk btw - only that each and every paintball I fired championed KDE and Slackware in return for all the bashing! :D)

    Matt

    1. Re:shame! by Zwicky · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Perhaps a new UK-based (humours of course!) Linux radio show with slightly more knowledgeable (on-topic?!) hosts? Unfortunately I find the show is too long for me to back jump into nowadays.

      I agree with this. While the show, I felt, has always been mostly enjoyable to listen to, the inane banter can become tedious and I found myself skipping chunks of it so as to get to the good stuff.

      In the end I stopped listening to it by deferring it indefinitely. I still downloaded them though which means I now have a backlog.

      The humor of Mr. Bacon et al is quite puerile which I didn't see as a bad thing initially (it was actually quite refreshing to begin with) but as time wore on it got more and more tiresome.

      Nevertheless I'm still sad to see it go 'off air' but I do think it was the right decision.

      --
      "Three eyes are better than one" -- Lieutenant Columbo
    2. Re:shame! by QuasiEvil · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually I found the fact they would go off on personal tangents or rants to be one of the more endearing parts of the show. There are other podcasts out there that cover Linux / F/OSS news and have guests, but most of them are far too sterile and professional as hosts. They'd do great on a *real* radio network or some such (aside from their content being fit to a niche), but they're not that much fun to listen to. The LR guys were funny as hell, and I've listened to most of the back episodes on various long road trips lately. I damn near ran off the road near Paducah because I got to laughing so hard.

      Sorry, though, to the parent poster - Mr. Procter will remain my favorite of the hosts.

    3. Re:shame! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I watched about 20 people order a desert at an Indian confusing it with the main mean :D

      I can see how that would be confusing:

      I'd like to order the Gobi please.
      mmmm. The Sahara sounds delicious...

    4. Re:shame! by nhaines · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree. I discovered the show after meeting Jono at SCaLE6X in February, and enjoyed it very much as I prepared to be at LRL USA to run the Ubuntu booth. I'm really going to miss the podcast, not to mention the LRL events. Where else can I make my mother proud by getting up on stage and being introduced by a pasty need in a thong? But seriously, it have me a vgance to hang out with a lot of other Ubuntu and Free Software enthusiasts, and I was looking forward to next year. I wish the four of them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

    5. Re:shame! by QX-Mat · · Score: 1

      heh,

      the Funky Pie phenomenon was disguised on the boards a few years ago

      http://forums.lugradio.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=306&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

      It's an "out of the box" ice-cream tart that many Indians have nowdays :D

      Matt

    6. Re:shame! by QX-Mat · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm definitely with you - the personal tangents make LR work so well! I guess after a while I began to notice gaps in the presenters' knowledge. They slowly became more and more evident, and I feel that many of the "i don't like"s are really "don't understand"s. Most shows will have the comical genius and the technical expertise, yet i find LR is group of like-minded comical hobbyists without a strong technical personality directing things.

      Just imagine how balanced the show would be for the technical folk and the like-minded enthusiast if Jonathan Corbet was British and an LR presenter! (nb. I am an LWN fanboy)

      The only problem is that I kind of disagree with what I'm typing, when I reread it back. LR is LR - it's hard to fault something so uniquely special. Having listened to a few perl related podcasts a few years ago to 'sample' the podcasting world (pardon the pun), I was a little dismayed by what the internet had to offer then: generally the more technical the cast and subject, the more boring and mundane they are presenting it. LR is great because it's like a Friday night chat show (after 9pm, you are permitted to swear on UK TV) a la Jonathan Ross, combined with the indefeasible personality like traits of Jeremy Clarkson. It's great comedy at the same level as it's technical representation.

      Maybe I'm just a little too moany. Regardless, LR shall be sadly missed come next month!

      Matt

  3. Back catalogue by oojah · · Score: 5, Informative

    I mirror the back catalogue and have no intention of getting rid of it. I know other mirror maintainers have said the same thing. Talking to Aq on irc today he gave the impression that the main archive will be sticking around as well, so don't worry too much :)

    Roger

    --
    Do you have any better hostages?
    1. Re:Back catalogue by dotwaffle · · Score: 2, Informative

      Same here, I'm keeping my mirror running forever more :(

      Will have to turn off bashpodder updating it though!

  4. LugRadio Live by oojah · · Score: 5, Informative

    Don't forget that you still have the chance to get some of the LugRadio vibe at LRL UK in July.

    Details are at http://lugradio.org/live/UK2008/

    Roger

    --
    Do you have any better hostages?
  5. Speaking of podcasts, by Ossadagowah · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Please bring back Geeks in Space. You could have a group conference over skype (or ventrillo), record it, clean it up some, and then save it as an mp3 and upload it to the interwebs.

    --
    anata sekai o kakumei surush ga nai deshou? Anata no susumu michi wa yoi shite arimasu.
    1. Re:Speaking of podcasts, by k_187 · · Score: 3, Informative

      This.

      GiS was podcasting before there was a pod to cast to.

      --
      11 was a racehorse
      12 was 12
      1111 Race
      12112
  6. Why do I... by kiehlster · · Score: 2, Funny

    always find out about good things when they all call it quits? Unfortunately I found out about Windows well before Bill Gates called it quits, and I'd envy anyone who found out otherwise.

    1. Re:Why do I... by camperdave · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You're not the only one. I wonder what other cool websites people have been holding out on us?

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    2. Re:Why do I... by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      http://xkcd.com/ Spend and afternoon reading the entire back catalog.

      *Some people may not have seen it yet...

    3. Re:Why do I... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      marriedtothesea.com

    4. Re:Why do I... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would be amazingly suprised at any /.ers who don't know xkcd. It would just be.. wrong.

      One site I'd recommend though is The Scene. It's a nerdy-soap-opera-type-thing. Pretty damned fun.

    5. Re:Why do I... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some people may not have seen it yet...

      Those people need to spend more time on Slashdot.

    6. Re:Why do I... by MadMidnightBomber · · Score: 2, Informative

      http://www.basicinstructions.net/

      http://www.mnftiu.cc/mnftiu.cc/war.html

      --
      "It doesn't cost enough, and it makes too much sense."
    7. Re:Why do I... by Jellybob · · Score: 1

      It may be wrong, but I only discovered xkcd 6 months ago, when I started my current job and was suddenly surronded by bona-fide geeks, rather then dayjob web developers and designers.

    8. Re:Why do I... by BertieBaggio · · Score: 1

      I second xkcd. Randall Munroe posts on here too, occasionally.

      If we're doing webcomics...

      I also quite like the off-the-wall humour of ctrl-alt-del, which isn't as Windows oriented as it sounds. It's a bit like Penny Arcade (another recommendation) but with slightly different eccentric wit.

      --
      If all you have is a grenade, pretty soon every problem looks like a foxhole -- MightyYar
  7. Sigh... by jejones · · Score: 1

    First Linux Reality, now LugRadio. Darn it.

  8. Pretty Crass by TheModelEskimo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sorry to rain on the parade, but I found the show unlistenably crude at times. There's no way I would recommend this podcast to anyone except perhaps Linux users in the Navy with some spare time on their hands and a tendency to giggle at long-in-the-tooth inside jokes.

    I actually gave up searching for Linux-related podcasts because of this show.

    In fact I started using a Mac a year ago and I'm very happy with where I'm at right now.

    (Actually that last sentence was a complete lie, but it felt appropriate somehow).

    1. Re:Pretty Crass by superslacker87 · · Score: 2, Funny

      (Actually that last sentence was a complete lie, but it felt appropriate somehow).

      It's better than saying you run Vista willingly!

      --
      I run Ubuntu skinned to look like a Mac on a PC. Go figure.
    2. Re:Pretty Crass by yankpop · · Score: 1

      I agree, the crass humour and inside jokes meant there was no-one I would have been comfortable suggesting this to.

      It's also unfortunate that the last show will be a LugRadio Live broadcast. The regular shows generally have enough interesting content to compensate for the often tiresome gags. But the live shows are a different story. It seems they take special delight in insulting not only each other, but their guests and sponsors as well.

      And the segment bashing unions for stifling open source was just pathetic. I know they were annoyed by the inconvenience, but if I'd travelled any distance to see them live, I'd have been pissed that they chose to focus on this instead of something that actually relates to Linux. I just turned it off.

      yp.

    3. Re:Pretty Crass by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      I use Vista willingly, you insensitive clod. :-). Yes, it came pre-installed, and yes I would have preferred XP, but went ahead and got the machine anyway, holding my nose.
      Can I redeem myself by saying I run Linux on a PS3 (and on a PS2)?

      That said, I hadn't heard mention of this podcast before.

    4. Re:Pretty Crass by EllynGeek · · Score: 1

      Thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks they were about as much fun as your average drunken sports bar dorks. It wasn't worth wading through the noise to get to the occasional good stuff.

      --

      we will end no whine before its time

    5. Re:Pretty Crass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree with you, LugRadio is not really suitable for anyone other than teenage schoolboys. Personally I miss "The Linux Show" with Eric Raymond, Jeff Gerhardt, ...

    6. Re:Pretty Crass by steevc · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think of them as the Top Gear (UK car show) of Linux podcasts. Personally I could have done with an edited version without all the inane chat so that I could listen to just the good bits. It was always meant to be like a chat you would have at a LUG, but also included some great interviews with prominent people.

      I would also say that it was generally better produced than many podcasts. Jono and co are good speakers and it was well recorded, so was easier to listen to some others that were full of hesitations and hard to make out. I think general quality has improved over the last few years.

      I haven't made it to a LRL and won't this time, but would have liked to. The range of speakers and low cost were attractive even if you didn't like the presenters.

      So I will need to find some other podcasts to listen to now. The Ubuntu UK one is pretty good. I also listen to Stack Overflow for general programming stuff. It helps pass the time on my journey to work.

    7. Re:Pretty Crass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be fair having travelled and exhibited in the US your union rules are a little antiquated. And I say that coming from the UK!

  9. Hashlugradio - the podcast about the podcast? by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

    http://planet.lugradio.org/hashlugradio/

    They're only quitting because we haven't released for about three months.

  10. Geeks in space! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, it lasted a lot longer than Geeks in Space, and they even interviewed a geek who went into space on a few occasions :)

    --jcm

  11. Why is this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    the first time I hear about them!?

    What's (other?) good listening for a blue-eye'd rms-follower?

    1. Re:Why is this by popeydotcom · · Score: 3, Informative

      http://www.thelinuxlink.net/ has a comprehensive list.

    2. Re:Why is this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know how closely you follow rms, that is, if you are offended by "freedom haters" (a running joke among FLOSS podcasters who stoop to using non-free drivers etc.), but I find so much content I can hardly get through it all from the links at:

      http://www.thelinuxlink.net/

      I hope you like it!

  12. A high note? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Going out on a high note? Sounds like someone's been studying at the George Costanza school of business :-)

  13. Great podcast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, they sure are leaving on a high. LugRadio was the best Linux podcast out there. Way better that the Linux action show ;) Man, now I'm going to have to listen to some Americans who are even 10% as funny...

  14. hmm... by impur1ty · · Score: 0

    How very BBC of them

  15. This is sad by RPoet · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've listened to them for years and have had some good laughs. Their style is crude, yes, but authentic and funny. Now we're left with The Linux Action Show, with the glossy, family-friendly, foolsafe "hysterical morning crew"-style humour which is so typical American. I will miss the bullocks that LugRadio was.

    --
    "Oppression and harassment is a small price to pay to live in the land of the free." -- Montgomery Burns.
    1. Re:This is sad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, sad is the fact you mistake their mocking "morning crew" style as being serious.

    2. Re:This is sad by Squozen · · Score: 2, Funny

      The word is 'bollocks', sir.

  16. Well, that's fooked. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I will be hard placed to find an entertaining and educational (modestly) a source as LUG radio. Now lads, go fook yourselves.

  17. crazy brits by Sam36 · · Score: 1

    I listened to the show once and the cussing ran me off.

  18. Rather use Vista than listen to Linux Action Show by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nm

  19. And the next music video will be: by mikael · · Score: 1

    Streaming video killed the podcast radio star?

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  20. Which means that ... by mdavids · · Score: 1

    Now, more than ever, we need the return of Geeks in Space.

  21. My favorite line in the show (ironically): by Fortun+L'Escrot · · Score: 1

    Adam: And Eh just for people that who are going to listen to the rest of the show, its the end of the show!

  22. wow by rastoboy29 · · Score: 1

    If slashdot had had an article about it a year ago, I might have heard of it before now.

    --
    expandfairuse.org
  23. jumped the shark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I started with LugRadio after they released only a few shows. Damn funny, the lads were. I specifically liked when they strayed off topic. This and last season have been difficult to listen to, however. They guys just don't seem like they're having that much fun and there is entirely too much time spent pimping the live shows. If anyone knows where I can hear comedy gold like Open Source Street Fighting on another podcast, please (please, PLEASE) post a link.

  24. you're all... by sparkes · · Score: 2, Funny

    *bbbeeepppp* *beeep* *beeeep*

    But I'm proud to admit I was there at the very start, in fact I was there before the start. ;)

    --
    blog and junk
  25. Never knew of this podcast by SimonTheSoundMan · · Score: 1

    .. And I live in Wolverhampton.

    1. Re:Never knew of this podcast by bil · · Score: 1

      Then I should point you to http://www.wolveslug.org.uk/ just in case you aren't aware of the lug from which it emerged either :)

      --
      Where you stand depends on where you sit...
    2. Re:Never knew of this podcast by SimonTheSoundMan · · Score: 1

      I went to a couple of meets a few years ago with a friend, stopped after getting thrown out of the pub because I was ~16. I'm now 23, so erm.

    3. Re:Never knew of this podcast by sparkes · · Score: 1

      I went to a couple of meets a few years ago with a friend, stopped after getting thrown out of the pub because I was ~16. I'm now 23, so erm.

      Hey I remember you :)
      That was one of the reasons for the move to the Curry House (funky pie may have been involved) not sure where the guys meet now I presume the meeting room the current lugmaster has access to in Heath Town.

      No idea who bil is though are you from Wolves LUG?

      --
      blog and junk
  26. thanks guys! by spectre_be · · Score: 1

    Argh,

    I just heard their latest ep this afternoon which contains the 'announcement'.
    Finally I've got a decent iPod 'n all and they're calling it quits.

    _WHY_ :'(

    Loved the humour, loved the topics, loved the discussions and loved it all. In short nothing but love!

    Good luck to you all and something tells me we'll hear LugRadio again after the live event anyway :)

    And of course there's still the linux action show, linux outlaws, tech link show & apparently the uk ubuntu podcast by (iirc) alan pope goes recommended by jono so I suppose there'll still be plenty to listen & subscribe to :)