Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
I recently had the opportunity to appear on OPB for Think Out Loud. I’m always pleasantly surprised when I don’t put people to sleep while babbling about the Portland startup community. Not only did the host stay awake, but several listeners did, as well. Several.
That’s what Abraham Hyatt and Michelle Rafter of We Make The Media will be discussing, this morning, on OPB Think Out Loud: Rebirth of local journalism.
I’ve said it once or twice, I’ll probably say it again a few more times: Portland is a pretty darn bloggy town. In fact, blogging is probably right up there with brewpubs and restaurants in the “per capita” standings.
But what happens when those blogs stop being personal pontifications and navel gazing and become something more? What happens when they move from the realm of online diary to online media outlet? When the writing becomes journalistic?
That’s what Abraham Hyatt and Michelle Rafter of the We Make The Media project will be discussing, this morning, on OPB Think Out Loud: Rebirth of local journalism. Read More
Last Friday was podcast day for me. And for as nervous as I was, I think they turned out pretty well. No doubt thanks to the talented people actually managing the whole podcast thing and me just having to spout off every now and again.
So, I thought I’d share the links, in case you were interested in listening.
Jim Zemlin, Raven Zachary, Audrey Eschright, and I had the opportunity to chat about open source and the open source scene in Portland. Topics include OSCON, how we all use open source software and may not even know it, corporate adoption of open source, Portland’s culture as a complement to the open source community, open-source rockets, and NTEN.
Download the mp3 of OPB Think Out Loud: Open-source City
Cami Kaos and Dr. Normal invited me over for a tech edition of Strange Love Live (if you’re not watching/listening, you should be). And we were lucky enough to command a live studio audience as well, featuring Michelle Anderson (mediachick), Amber Case (caseorganic), Bram Pitoyo, and Kelly Guimont (verso). Topics included the reasoning behind Silicon Florist, the Portland tech scene, Vidoop, Intrigo, OSCON, the Open Web Foundation, and more.
Download the mp3 of Strange Love Live Tech Edition with Rick Turoczy
[Update] If you’re interested in streaming the podcasts—instead of downloading them—Cami Kaos has posted the streaming audio files to her blog.
Once the serious Strange Love stuff is done, the cameras keep rolling for the #afterhours discussion. We continued talking about some of the tech topics, discussed my sleeping habits (or lack thereof), talked about and lightsaber-ed with the iPhone, made some tech predictions including hinting at Marshall Kirkpatrick‘s upcoming internet brain implant venture, thanked our luck stars for OurPDX, introduced folks to Planet PDX, talked about upcoming guest Melissa Lion, and got into a pretty serious bidding war for sponsoring Strange Love Live.
Download the mp3 of Strange Love Live #afterhours with Rick Turoczy
Suffice it to say, this was a trial by fire for me and audio. So I’d love to hear feedback as to a) whether I was intelligible at all and b) if I was intelligible, if you’d be interested in more podcasts from yours truly.
Looking forward to your feedback.
I got an interesting call this week from Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). Specifically from the Think Out Loud team. They knew that OSCON was in town this week and they were interested in doing a show on 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, Scott Kveton, and 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, or business, or democracy?
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. 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?
(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. Let’s just call this freaky Friday.)