LugRadio Live UK – LRL: IRC IRL
Popular podcast goes out with a gong but will return with a new mascot.
ByFive years and more than one-hundred episodes later, the popular LugRadio podcast has turned off the microphones. The 2008 LugRadio Live event in Wolverhampton, England, was set to be their last live show. Fortunately, and thanks to its very loyal community, the annual shenanigans will continue and LugRadio Live 2009 is already in the planning stages.
LugRadio Live, the original edition, is a true community event. It does not take place in a hot zone of technology such as London or San Francisco – its home is The Midlands of England. From authentic curries and late-night metal music at The Gifford, LugRadio Live gives you the opportunity to visit a town that's off the tourist radar and well worth experiencing. The event itself is enthusiastically supported and hosted by members of the "Wolves" LUG, with additional core volunteers being pulled in from across the British Isles and Ireland.
Expect to be Surprised
Part LAN Party and part conference, LugRadio Live also boasts unique features such as The Gong-a-Thong Lightbulb Talk Extravaganza, The Mass Debate, and a live recording of the popular podcast, LugRadio. In addition to the usual amusements, LugRadio Live attendees were also treated to a new, life-sized raccoon. Although its origins are a bit fuzzy, the Chinny raccoon is well loved and is seen as a tribute to the British expression, "chinny reckon," which means, "I think you're lying." One of the listeners brought the mascot to life with a donation of a brand new furry costume. Throughout photos of the event, you will see a loyal community member in various states of undress.
Ultra-Low-Tech Features
Posted around the venue were fun, paper-based community boards. The first was a traditional sign-up sheet for the Gong-A-Thong five-minute lightening talks. The Ultra-Low-Tech Wiki allowed delegates to have a bit of fun over the course of the weekend. The photos taken by attendees act as an informal revision control system to show how the content developed over time. Near the venue's entrance was also a Low-Tech OpenStreetMap, where locals added their favorite spots for food and drink within the surrounding area.
Conference Talks
Of course, proper conference sessions took place as well! Many of the talks were delivered by experts and were of the caliber one would expect from a larger industry conference. Robert Collins' talk on bzr was well attended, and the discussion lasted beyond its alloted time. Benjamin Otte's talk on swfdec gave an excellent look into the future of the Flash plugin. The Mass Debaters, Jeremy Allison (Google), Matthew Garrett (Red Hat), Max Spevack (Fedora), and LugRadio community member Ben Thorp, gave a passionate and thoughtful look at the inner workings of the FOSS industry. True to the spirit of the event, however, some talks did veer off into the realm of the sublime (Neuro Linden's talk on Second Life had a surprise appearance by the raccoon waving a sign, "Furries for Justice").
Looking Forward
The annual LugRadio Live event will continue in Wolverhampton next year. FOSS enthusiasts looking to let down their hair, sing some karaoke, and have a bit of fun are encouraged to attend in 2009. To participate in the event and be part of the planning process, people should head to the forum and stay in touch with this true-to-life community.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.