I realise I haven’t posted here for a while, not since LugRadio Live that is. One of the reasons for this is the fact that I’m moving to a new place at the end of the month. I have also been very busy at work, trying to earn some extra money for some new furniture etc. The only personal free time I have left basically goes into research for and production of the show right now. Dan’s been very kindly helping out with editing the last few shows, but all this doesn’t leave me much time to do any other things nonetheless.

This has, some time ago, led me to the conclusion that I need to streamline my online presence a bit — I’m spread way too thin, so to say. I have therefore decided to close my personal blog since I don’t write much there anymore and am primarily using “micro-blogging” services like identi.ca these days anyway. Those are simply a way more time-efficent way to update people on what I’m up too. It’s also very liberating to write in these condensed 140-character blobs somehow. So, if you want to know what I’m doing right now, check out my identi.ca stream. There is also Dan’s presence and a general Linux Outlaws account where I post updates about the show’s production and aggregate Dan’s and my stream. Speaking of identi.ca, we have just recorded our second interview for the show, this time with identi.ca mastermind Evan Prodromou — it turned out really well, I think. Expect a release tomorrow. I am also working on setting up our own Laconica server so stay tuned for that as well.

In other news, we recently reached episode 50 as you might be aware. I have created a few torrents with all episodes up to #50 and some extra stuff to celebrate this, so check them out and seed the stuff if possible. I am also currently spec’ing out a project (I think I mentioned it once or twice in passing on the show) that will eventually play a big role in the re-organisation of this site, so please understand that I’m aware of the issues with the podcast feeds and the archive as far as access to older episodes is concerned and I am aiming to fix that in conjunction with the re-org.

As you can see, the show is continuing to go places and I expect to have more time for it again once I’ve moved into my new home. We are currently hovering at ca. 3,000 downloads per episode per week (mp3 and Ogg combined) and I am hoping we can increase this by further promoting the show and introducing some more interesting, new elements like the interviews. As always, please leave comments on any of this in the forums. I really hope you are continuing to enjoy the show and I’m looking forward to many, many more episodes and many, many new listeners. You’ll see more of me once I’ve settled into the new place. Until then, keep listening and stay free!

I recently created a simple, white Linux Outlaws wallpaper for my desktop because I wanted something LO-themed but more appropriate to the winter months. The design I came up with is nothing fancy but it ties nicely into the holiday mood, I think. It also goes well with any of those ultra clean & crisp glassy-looking themes that seem to be so popular right now. In fact, it is so simple, that it kinda fits any theme I could think of (it certainly goes well with the stock Ubuntu paintjob).

Since I have been enjoying this wallpaper so much the last couple of days, I have decided to release it to the public in the wallpaper section of the site for all of you to enjoy. Take it as a small Xmas present from your favourite Linux Podcast. Enjoy!

On a side note, Dan and I will record the last episode for this year tomorrow and release it on thursday night. We will then take a break over the holidays as I will absent myself to an isolated cottage on the windswept southern isles of the Netherlands that has no Internet connection whatsoever (I intend to bring loads of good, old-fashioned books). As I like to do from time to time, I am looking forward to spending a few days completely out of touch with the technology side of the world so that we can pick up the show fully refreshed in the first week of 2008. We will only miss one week, and I think that is legitimate over Xmas.

Unfortunately, there will be a slight delay in the release of this weeks show. Dan and I recorded it on wednesday, but I got hit with a pretty nasty cold soon after and stayed at home for the last couple of days to get over it. Since Dan has had a similar problem, neither of us was fit enough to edit the show on thursday or friday. Luckily, I feel much better today and I’m actually in the process of editing episode 12 right now — I will therefore release it ASAP. Just thought, I’d let you know…

On the upside, I managed to work on the designs for some Linux Outlaws t-shirts while I was recovering, so you can look forward to seeing those soon. As per popular demand, I am also looking into designing some coffee mugs to go with those. All of this will most likely be available through Cafépress soon. I’ll announce it here as soon as everything is finalised.

The other day, I suddenly felt like doing some design work and on a whim whipped up a wallpaper to promote the show. It's based on our beloved Outlaw Tux and the album art of the podcast. I basically took a photo from my trip around Australia earlier this year that has a nice outback feel to it, used my GIMP-fu to create some nice colour and lighting effects and then added Tux and the captions.

If you would like to show your allegiance to our podcast on your desktop, you can download the wallpaper (in several different resolutions from 800x600 up to 1920x1200) from our new wallpaper page. I would also be very happy if you'd take a picture of the wallpaper on your computer and send it to us, that way we could build up a listener gallery or something like that. I think that would be very cool! If you want to get in touch with me to do that, just use the Contact button at the top of the page and write me a short note; you could also use our regular feedback address that I mention every week on the show.

I hope you enjoy this little freebie and share it with your friends according to the corresponding license.