Linux on the Radio

[Jonathan Hutchins]

First off, Computer Depot is simply the sponsor of this program - they
don't have creative input.  If you want to do something about it, find out
who is _producing_ the show, and talk to them about getting better people
on it.

Second, while I haven't heard that particular show, I've heard a number of
them on NPR.  KCUR carries NPR's "Talk of the Nation", which will
occasionally bring in some "computer expert".  Since "computer expert" is
mainly defined as someone who knows more about computers than the show's
producers, the bar is pretty low.

KCUR's "Walt Bodine Show" also has an occasional feature called "The
Computer Guys", which has a local Apple fanatic and some Windows
consultant who give low-level advice.  These people have the level of
expertise you might expect of the average business manager.

The latter show is actually a place where we, as a Linux Community, might
do some good.  Not by "crusading to bring Linux to every desktop", but by
both letting people know that Linux exists as a tool to get around a lot
of the obstacles one encounters with Windows and Mac OS, but also by
giving some useful, knowledgable advice on general computing issues. 
After all, most of use have gotten a lot more than elbow deep in our
hardware, and most of us have run Windows enough to know more than the
guys currently doing the gig.

If you're really interested in this, if you have some credentials that
might get them to listen to you, and if you're not some raving fanatic
who's out to bash Microsoft, trash RedHat, and otherwise spread FUD (or
counter-FUD), I can get you in touch with the right people.  (Or you can
probably figure it out for yourself.)

Meanwhile, let's go ahead and let the kind of people who get their
computer advice off of AM radio shows run Windows.  They deserve it.