---
title: 'Think Out Loud about open source'
date: '2008-07-24T23:38:31-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 481
char_count: 2852
tokens: 626
categories:
  - Broadcasting
  - OPB
  - Open
  - OpenSource
  - Oregon
  - OSCON
  - Portland
  - public
tags:
  - OPB
  - 'open source'
  - 'oregon public broadcasting'
  - OSCON
  - 'think out loud'
---

# Think Out Loud about open source

[![OPB](https://i0.wp.com/siliconflorist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/imgopb.jpg?w=925)](http://opb.org "OPB")I got an interesting call this week from [Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)](http://www.opb.org "OPB"). Specifically from the [Think Out Loud](http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/ "Think Out Loud") team. They knew that [OSCON](http://en.oreilly.com/oscon2008/ "OSCON") was in town this week and they were interested in doing a [show on open source](http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/posts/list/1356610.page "Open Source").

“Oh! No problem,” I said. “I can recommend plenty of really, really smart people to whom you can speak.” (Because I always try to use proper grammar, no matter how antiquated it may sound.)

So I did just that, recommending they talk to folks like [Raven Zachary](http://portlandonfire.com/ravenzachary "Raven Zachary"), [Scott Kveton](http://kveton.com "Scott Kveton"), and [Audrey Eschright](http://portlandonfire.com/audreyeschright "Audrey Eschright").

And sure enough, they talked to those folks. And I know that most of them—if not all of them—will be appearing on Think Out Loud live, this morning at 9 AM.

> Do you buy the argument that if you want to make a living as a programmer in Portland, open source software is both a blessing and a curse?
> 
> Are you a part of the movement more broadly? What’s your take on where it came from, where it is now, and where it’s going? What lessons does the open source philosophy have for life outside the digital world—for [research](http://www.bios.net/daisy/bios/home.html), or [business](http://www.paulgraham.com/opensource.html), or [democracy](http://www.demos.co.uk/publications/opensourcedemocracy2)?

Great! Should be a really interesting show, right?

Well, yes. But with one slight hitch.

“We want you on there, too,” they said.

Um. People get to read me thinking out loud practically everyday. Do they really need to **hear** me thinking out loud, too?

Well, apparently, according to OPB, they do.

So, [I’d appreciate your tuning in, this morning at 9 AM](http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/listen/ "Listen to Think Out Loud live"). To hear what these truly interesting proponents of open source have to say.

And maybe, just maybe, you could ask those intelligent guests some really interesting and detailed questions? I mean, I’d be willing to give you some of my time. [In fact, why not head over to Think Out Loud—right now—to post your open source questions?](http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/posts/list/1356610.page "Think Out Loud")

(Oh, so you think it’s humorous that I got roped into this gig? Then you’ll love this. [I’m honored to be the guest on Strange Love Live, tonight, too](http://www.camikaos.com/2008/07/time-is-folding.html "Strange Love Live"). Let’s just call this freaky Friday.)