Is this news?

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:43 pm

Capital W stands for WashU and Wikipedia
St Louis Beacon, 18 September 2013 link

Lots of teachers tell students to stay away from Wikipedia. At Washington University, Joan Strassmann has her students write articles for it.

Her undergraduate course in behavioral ecology is an officially designated Wikipedia course, where students learn not only about subjects like social insects but also about how to translate their scientific knowledge into terms the Wikipedia-using public can understand.
...
“It’s really the perfect venue. It’s very energizing for students to see their work elsewhere, where their siblings or their grandmother or their roommate can see it. They see it makes a difference.”

They also can see how critical outsiders can be, like when one of her students saw an article trashed as “vandalism” and taken down. Strassmann and the class disagreed, and a spirited back-and-forth ensued that helped reinforce the point of using Wikipedia in the first place.

“You just can’t buy the positive outcome of that kind of energy for the intellectual process,” she said. “This is like a free real-world intellectual experience. It’s fantastic.
...
Student Grant Schalet said he used to have a vague notion of how Wikipedia worked, but the class has changed that.

“I always had this perception that Wikipedia was modified and articles were overseen by some knowledge base,” he said. “When Dr. Strassmann guided us through the way you could just go in and edit, it was empowering for undergraduates.
...
“A lot of them will take rejection well, take the comments and go back and fix it. Sometimes it’s not clear, and it’s a little more difficult. Someone may delete all their work and they don’t understand why that happens. It’s hard to understand it’s a group forum around the world.”

And at this point, that worldwide feedback, from people who may be even more expertise than someone on the faculty, doesn’t seem to be scaring anyone, said TA Jason Scott.
...
In a way, Strassmann said, that kind of sharing is what Wikipedia is all about, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t be part of any student’s academic experience.

“Everyone should embrace it and educate people about it,” she said. “That’s where students are going to go first. You may tell them not to, but that’s where students go, so you might as well use that to their advantage and help them understand how to use it. If there’s a problem with Wikipedia, it should be fixed.

Joan_E._Strassmann (T-H-L)

Now I know where to go for a free real-world intellectual experience.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:58 pm

...people who may be even more expertise than someone on the faculty...

..."If there’s a problem with Wikipedia, it should be fixed." (Joan E. Strassmann)

Strassmann -- typical University of Michigan product. If anything should be "fixed", it's Strassmann.

Joan E. Strassmann (T-H-L) was created in 2005 from an IP address at Rice University. At that time, Strassmann was employed by Rice University. The IP's other major contribution of content to Wikipedia was a new article about David C. Queller (T-H-L), who was also teaching at Rice University at that time, and he is now Strassmann's husband.

About the publisher of this "news":

The St. Louis Beacon is a non-profit news organization dedicated to creating a better St. Louis powered by journalism. Founded by veteran journalists in Spring 2008, we focus on news that matters to people in our region. We combine rigorous commitment to high journalistic standards with vigorous innovation in digital and community engagement.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 4:29 pm

Was Wikipedia the Start of Big Data?
How many times a week do you use it?
CIO, 18 October 2013 link

Wikipedia has a wonderful definition of Big Data. It's complete and full of examples, all backed up by 89 source references.

If you think about it, Wikipedia is Big Data. Thanks to Wikipedia (and search engines), you can find expansive definitions and spellings for just about everything.

For all it's vastness, I chuckled when I saw it cannot keep up with itself. It's own definition says it has 365 million users and is the #6 popular web site in the world. It's own page for "most popular web sites" also ranks it #6.

But the appeal for donations plastered on all its pages says it has 500 million users and is now the #5 web site. Time to update its own definitions, I would think.

"Dear Wikipedia readers: We are the small non-profit that runs the #5 website in the world. We have only 175 staff but serve 500 million users, and have costs like any other top site: servers, power, programs, and staff. Wikipedia is something special. It is like a library or a public park. It is like a temple for the mind, a place we can all go to think and learn. To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We take no government funds. We survive on donations averaging about $30. Now is the time we ask. If everyone reading this gave $3, our fundraiser would be done within an hour. If Wikipedia is useful to you, take one minute to keep it online and ad-free another year. Please help us forget fundraising and get back to Wikipedia. Thank you."

For journalists like me, Wikipedia is a godsend (I donated). I cannot explicitly attest to the overall accuracy of its 30 million articles in 287 languages, but the ones I have accessed over the years have generally been on the mark. I have heard few challenges to its accuracy although researchers and students are discouraged from using it as a primary source.

It's just too easy to use Wikipedia just like it was to do math with electronic calculators in the 1970s. We knowed how that worked out.

Here's what the respected science journal "Nature" said about Wikipedia's accuracy in 2005:

"Wikipedia is often cited for factual inaccuracies and misrepresentations. However, a non-scientific report in the journal Nature in 2005 suggested that for some scientific articles Wikipedia came close to the level of accuracy of Encyclopædia Britannica and had a similar rate of "serious errors."

I have some sympathy about how current its definitions are given the challenge of keeping up. It need look no further than the pages about itself to understand the impossible race against time.

Besides citing producers of Big Data like Walmart, the Large Hadron Collider, the human genome and Facebook, the Wikipedia Big Data page offers critiques, sizes up the market, runs down research-related projects and architectures. It's more a white paper sans vendor bias than a definition! Indeed, Wikipedia is more encyclopedia than dictionary.

I have read the "editing" section of Wikipedia's definition of itself several times and I am still not sure how these encyclopedic segments come together so coherently given that they are compiled by outside contributors. Consider:

"In a departure from the style of traditional encyclopedias, Wikipedia is open to outside editing. This means that, with the exception of particularly sensitive for vandalism-prone pages that are "protected" to some degree,[25] the reader of an article can edit the text without needing approval, doing so with a registered account or even anonymously."

Now in its 13th year, Wikipedia is an amazing demonstration of how Big Data works for everyone.

By the way, there's 175 staffers at Wikipedia and I bet more than a few know a thing or two about Big Data.

This drivel was excreted by John Dodge. You can read about him at "File:John Dodge Enterprise CIO Forum community manager and former PC Week editor.jpg": link

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 4:53 pm

thekohser wrote:
...people who may be even more expertise than someone on the faculty...

..."If there’s a problem with Wikipedia, it should be fixed." (Joan E. Strassmann)
Strassmann -- typical University of Michigan product. If anything should be "fixed", it's Strassmann.

Spoken like a typical Michigan State University product!!!

RfB

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:00 pm

Wikipedia, per i fondi in arrivo è allarme corruzione: la risposta di Wikimedia Italia
Prima di lasciare Wikimedia Foundation, l'executive director Sue Gardner si toglie qualche sassolino dalla scarpa. Downloadblog raccoglie la risposta di Wikimedia Italia.
Downloadblog, 18 October 2013 link

Google-translated from Italian:

Wikipedia, the funds for incoming alarm is corruption: the response of Wikimedia Italy

Before leaving Wikimedia Foundation, the executive director Sue Gardner takes off some pebble in the shoe. Downloadblog collects the response of Wikimedia Italy.
...

We collect gladly answer Wikimedia Italy Article published by us today concerning the declarations by Sue Gardner on the danger of corruption within Wikipedia. Frieda Brioschi, President, has returned to the official press release of WMI, within the which reads as follows:

"The donations made by the users also Italian "to Wikipedia" do not go to Wikimedia Italy, but the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF). Wikimedia Italy is sustained with the revenue of 5 per thousand and the donations made specifically to the association. Since 2010, we no longer receive funds "rain" from WMF, in 2011 and 2012 we have not received even one euro, while this year we got a refund for the cost of organizing the Wikimedia Conference, the annual meeting of all the chapters in Wikimedia world. Now only a few local chapters are subsidized by the WMF for their general budget; most of them are only reimbursed for specific projects.

In fact, therefore, Wikimedia takes away from the words of Gardner and the danger corruption, specifying that it is not among the few chapters (so called local entities) subsidized by funds from the Wikimedia Foundation, dealing instead with their expenses for the 5 thousand and donations made explicit association.

As regards the payment of the editor, here is the position of Wikimedia Italy:

"As an association we do not believe neither technically feasible nor useful to pay the volunteers who contribute to the encyclopedia. Would risk a race to quantity over quality, perhaps by people who had never before approached in Wikipedia. For us, as the rest of the articles of association states, funds should rather be used for initiatives that increase awareness that anyone can contribute to expansion and the free use of knowledge."

Gianfranco/Wikimedia_Italia_sued_for_20,000,000_%E2%82%AC (T-C-L)

Frieda Brioschi: link

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 11:45 pm

New Celtics Forward Gerald Wallace's Wikipedia Page Has One Really Depressing Line
BostInno, 21 October 2013 link

. That said, a quick examination of his Wikipedia page (don't scoff, we know you check Wikipedia too) reveals one really sad line.

It's taken from the part that's talking about Wallace's time on the only playoff team that the Charlotte Bobcats have ever known, during the 2009-2010 season, when they were swept by the Orlando Magic.

It reads:

"In the first-ever playoff game for the Bobcats, Wallace led the team with 25 points. This thus stood as a playoff single game scoring record for the Bobcats until game 2 of the series, when Stephen Jackson broke the record by scoring 27 points."

First of all, "This thus"? Are we watching Lincoln? (No seriously, Daniel Day-Lewis uses that exact phrase in the movie, though in a joking way. Even in fake-1865, they would be laughing at this.)

And beyond the questionable syntax, they – whoever the hell "they" is here – actually take to time to state that he held the record for playoff-scoring ... for one game? Was that necessary? Has he accomplished so little in his career that a record which lasted an anti-DiMaggio streak of one measly game is worth mentioning?

I know, what was I expecting from a Wikipedia page? I guess that's true; but I definitely wasn't expecting that.

Gerald_Wallace (T-H-L)

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:10 am

UT Libraries Wikipedia Editathon kicks off Open Access Week events
The Daily Texan, 22 October 2013 link

Sitar said students who are intimidated by the idea of jumping right into editing Wikipedia pages can ease themselves in slowly. Editing for grammar is a great place to start, she said.

“Because this is an international community, you see a great deal of ambiguity and places where you can refine the language,” Sitar said. “You’re making contributions without defining your area of expertise.”

In recent years, Wikipedia has become an international, collaborative Internet encyclopedia. Since its inception, Wikipedia pages have accumulated more than 132 million edits. Sitar said anyone can participate in the information gathering — even students.

“The transformation of social media and social software has empowered things like this to happen,” Sitar said. “It’s allowed for the crowdsourcing of information and the creation of knowledge in a more social and democratic fashion online.”

Sitar said although the growth of Wikipedia has increased access to information, students should be wary of the credibility of the content.

Colleen Lyon, digital repository librarian, said many professors prohibit citing Wikipedia in papers, but students can still use the online encyclopedia as a gateway to credible references listed on the Wikipedia page.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:28 pm

Wikipedia is the (not so) wicked witch of the web
Inklings, 6 November 2013 link

Whether you’re looking for an explanation of political efficacy or an overview of “The Great Gatsby,” one website is almost always the top choice.
Wikipedia.
You try to resist the urge to click on that glorious blue link just below the search box, even though it has the exact information, word for word, that you are looking for.
Despite its questionable reputation, Wikipedia is not the wicked witch of the web. According to Staples teachers and staff, it’s not bad at all– if its powers are used correctly.

“Wikipedia has a tremendous amount of information,” Staples librarian Robin Stiles said. “So it’s a great jumping off point for research.”
Stiles explained that Wikipedia is constantly checked and updated by experts in various fields, and that she has personally never seen or heard of anyone receiving false information from the site.

[... interviews with pig-ignorant high school students and their teachers ...]

But regardless of how many experts check it and how difficult it is to stumble upon a piece of false information, Wikipedia still has a reputation for unreliability.
“Some people don’t like the idea of crowdsourcing,” D’Amico said. “They think it’s all crazy people. But that’s just not the reality of it.”
D’Amico explained that all sources have bias in them, and Wikipedia is just as accurate as many other non-primary sources.
Despite the fact that technically anyone can edit it, the image that some people have in their minds of evil Wikipedia hackers plotting to provide false information to world– is just not real.

But that is not to say that Wikipedia is always completely correct.
According to physics teacher Sarah Gifford, cross referencing information is crucial for all types of research. While Gifford is no stranger to the side of Wikipedia that explains the phases of planetary nebulae, she values the importance of questioning the credibility of any resource.
“I think a lot of students take Wikipedia as absolutely factual, which is a problem,” Gifford said. “It would be like a little kid picking up a leaf and saying that they have found what all leaves look like.”

D’Amico said that forbidding students from using Wikipedia for information would be like forbidding them from cracking open an encyclopedia at the public library to brush up on some European history terms. While it’s not a citable source, it has an enormous amount of information that students can take advantage of.
“Our job is not to say you can’t use that source but to teach you how to use it responsibly,” D’Amico said.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:51 pm

Mancunium wrote:Wikipedia is the (not so) wicked witch of the web
Inklings, 6 November 2013 link

I had to leave a comment on that one!

"Stiles explained that Wikipedia is constantly checked and updated by experts in various fields, and that she has personally never seen or heard of anyone receiving false information from the site." Robin Stiles must live in a cave, then. How sad, that a high school librarian would be so ill informed and delusional.

enwikibadscience · Unread post by **enwikibadscience** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:52 pm

thekohser wrote:
Mancunium wrote:Wikipedia is the (not so) wicked witch of the web
Inklings, 6 November 2013 link
I had to leave a comment on that one!

"Stiles explained that Wikipedia is constantly checked and updated by experts in various fields, and that she has personally never seen or heard of anyone receiving false information from the site." Robin Stiles must live in a cave, then. How sad, that a high school librarian would be so ill informed and delusional.

Uh, oh, not a very careful research.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 2:10 am

Burnaby mayor’s Wikipedia page hit by online troll
Burnaby NOW, 7 November 2013 link

[...]

As previously reported by the Burnaby NOW, the city decided to strengthen its breed-specific legislation, which directly contrasted all the delegations that presented to council calling for the opposite.

Someone wrote a few paragraphs outlining how the city’s decision was “not based on fact.”

“The report not only failed to consider peer-reviewed studies, successful dog legislation from other communities, and the opinions of the local SPCA, but it also presented questionable data,” the altered Wikipedia post states.

The post is written with five references, which would allow it to get through Wikipedia’s filter by meeting the guidelines of how to post.

“Flaws in the city’s study were pointed out by several (debates), both in-person and in print, including an associate professor of mathematics,” the post states. “Burnaby city council disregarded the advice of both the delegates and the general public, who were overwhelmingly opposed to breed-specific legislation.”

The extra post also mention’s how all the Burnaby councillors and mayor are from the same political party.

“His councillors, all members of the same NDP-affiliated Burnaby Citizens’ Association, ended up voting unanimously in favour of the changes proposed in the report, each one in turn coming up with a different reason (not based on fact) and not providing delegates the opportunity to refute,” the post states.

Corrigan is not the only local politician whose online presence has been toyed with.

[...]

As of press deadline, Corrigan’s Wikipedia post had not changed.

Sorry, Your Worship. Once something's in your Wikipedia BLP it can never ever be removed. In fact, it's only going to get worse.

Versus · Unread post by **Versus** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 5:10 am

thekohser wrote:
Mancunium wrote:Wikipedia is the (not so) wicked witch of the web
Inklings, 6 November 2013 link
I had to leave a comment on that one!

"Stiles explained that Wikipedia is constantly checked and updated by experts in various fields, and that she has personally never seen or heard of anyone receiving false information from the site." Robin Stiles must live in a cave, then. How sad, that a high school librarian would be so ill informed and delusional.

Sadly, as someone who does a lot of reading and research inside libraries, including university libraries, I've met a number of librarians who are totally clueless. Stiles isn't the only one.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:11 am

Edit local Wikipedia information at Laurel History Edit-a-thon
Baltimore Sun, 12 November 2013 link

At Saturday's event, Dominic McDevitt-Parks, the Cultural Partnerships Coordinator for Wikimedia DC, will briefly train volunteers on how to edit Wikipedia entries. Wikimedia DC is the local chapter of a handful of groups across the country that organize Edit-a-Thons and Scan-a-Thons, where volunteers come together to work on Wikipedia articles and media.

[...]

Lindsey Baker, director of the Laurel Historical Society, which manages the museum, hopes partnering with the online encyclopedia will bring more visitors to the museum's archives.

According to Baker, the Historical Society so far has had little involvement as an organization with the task of editing Laurel's various Wikipedia articles, something she hopes to change. Both McDevitt-Parks and Baker said they want to bring information available at the museum's archives online to improve access to the museum's information about Laurel.

As is usual, those undertaking the dreary task are promised a free lunch.

There_ain't_no_such_thing_as_a_free_lunch (T-H-L)

Mr Dominic McDevitt-Parks: Dominic (T-C-L)

His barnstar tattoo:

His girlfriend:

I'm also lucky to call Lori Byrd Phillips my girlfriend—true GLAM-Wiki love.

She lives in Indianapolis: LoriLee (T-C-L)

The distance from Washington DC to Indianapolis is 492 miles (ten hours by car): link

They both have LinkedIn accounts which indicate that Wikipedia is their only source of income. True GLAM-Wiki love.

Vigilant · Unread post by **Vigilant** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 2:58 am

That is so, so sad.
Can you imagine what their parents think?

Heart breaking.

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:46 am

Mancunium wrote:Edit local Wikipedia information at Laurel History Edit-a-thon
Baltimore Sun, 12 November 2013 link
At Saturday's event, Dominic McDevitt-Parks, the Cultural Partnerships Coordinator for Wikimedia DC, will briefly train volunteers on how to edit Wikipedia entries. Wikimedia DC is the local chapter of a handful of groups across the country that organize Edit-a-Thons and Scan-a-Thons, where volunteers come together to work on Wikipedia articles and media.

[...]

Lindsey Baker, director of the Laurel Historical Society, which manages the museum, hopes partnering with the online encyclopedia will bring more visitors to the museum's archives.

According to Baker, the Historical Society so far has had little involvement as an organization with the task of editing Laurel's various Wikipedia articles, something she hopes to change. Both McDevitt-Parks and Baker said they want to bring information available at the museum's archives online to improve access to the museum's information about Laurel.
As is usual, those undertaking the dreary task are promised a free lunch.

There_ain't_no_such_thing_as_a_free_lunch (T-H-L)

Mr Dominic McDevitt-Parks: Dominic (T-C-L)

His barnstar tattoo:

His girlfriend:
I'm also lucky to call Lori Byrd Phillips my girlfriend—true GLAM-Wiki love.
She lives in Indianapolis: LoriLee (T-C-L)

The distance from Washington DC to Indianapolis is 492 miles (ten hours by car): link

They both have LinkedIn accounts which indicate that Wikipedia is their only source of income. True GLAM-Wiki love.

They've had adventures in places like Amsterdam:

What more do you need when you're young?

EricBarbour · Unread post by **EricBarbour** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 4:12 am

Zoloft wrote:What more do you need when you're young?

How about a "real job"?

Vigilant · Unread post by **Vigilant** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 7:10 am

EricBarbour wrote:
Zoloft wrote:What more do you need when you're young?
How about a "real job"?

A direction in life?

These guys are digital bums.

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Wed Nov 13, 2013 7:43 am

Vigilant wrote:
EricBarbour wrote:
Zoloft wrote:What more do you need when you're young?
How about a "real job"?
A direction in life?

These guys are digital bums.

I spent eight years as a metal sculptor. Did not earn more than mac-and-cheese money. But man was it fun and wonderful to hang out in the fine arts community.
Then I got a decent job and settled down.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:11 pm

Shields Library to host Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
The California Aggie, 14 November 2013 link

With a dulled piece of chalk, a professor scratches a harrowing message across the blackboard for the hundredth time: “Wikipedia is not a credible source.”

OK. So why are University of California, Davis, students wasting time on this?

“You don’t have to be an expert in a subject to be a Wikipedia editor,” said Phoebe Ayers, a librarian at the Physical Sciences & Engineering Library on campus. “You just need interest and a willingness to research.”

Ayers will lead the workshop. She’s been editing Wikipedia for 10 years, and currently is a member of Wikimedia Foundation’s Board of Trustees. ... “There’s lots to be done that doesn’t require knowing about a subject,” Ayers said. “You just have to be committed to doing enough research.”

Original research? For shame, Phoebe (T-C-L). Ms Ayers directed the Aggie reporter to what she considers to be the preeminent example of Wikipedia scholarship:

On the discussion page for an article about pencils, Wikipedia editor Fritz Jorn attached a photograph of two pencils resting on the edge of a protractor. The caption reads:

“I noticed that Americans tend to sharpen pencils a lot sharper than Europeans. Looking into this I found typical sharpeners here in Europe with a 23° point, or even 30° in case of softer color pencils.”

Pencil (T-H-L)

Fritz_Jörn (T-C-L)

Which leads, as curiosity about a random Wikipedian so often does, down another dark rabbit hole...

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:13 pm

I'll always associate Phoebe with the killing of the optional porn filter, but really she was just the messenger.

EricBarbour · Unread post by **EricBarbour** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 3:42 am

thekohser wrote:I'll always associate Phoebe with the killing of the optional porn filter, but really she was just the messenger.

Oh, there's more darkness and incompetence to Phoebe than most of the people on this forum are even aware of.....

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:23 am

Dominic has racked up all of about 50 edits in a two month period. If his job really is creating content, I sure hope he's an NARA employee and not a WMF employee...

RfB

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 12:22 am

Brown Inspires ELA Wikipedia Edit-a-thons
EdSurge, 22 November 2013 link

GETTING "WIKI" WITH IT: We’ve all heard of Wikipedia. So how about hosting a Wikipedia edit-a-thon? Inspired by an event at Brown University, Edcetera’s Kristen Hicks walks us through the process for creating a student project that involves editing and researching out-of-the-limelight topics. After all, Stephen Colbert shouldn’t be the only one encouraging the public to make changes to Wikipedia articles (especially when his propositions are somewhat ridiculous).

Wikipedia:Wikiality_and_Other_Tripling_Elephants (T-H-L)

Wikipedia Edit-a-Thons Give Students a More Active Role in the Research Process
by Kristen Hicks
edCetera, 11 November 2013 link

[ ... the rules of The Game ...]

Kristen Hicks, edCetera: link

Kristen Hicks is an Austin-based copywriter and lifelong student with an insatiable interest in learning and experiencing new things. She turns that interest to researching and exploring innovations and untraditional approaches to education for edCetera.

Kristen Hicks, LinkedIn: link

I'm an Austin-based copywriter and content marketer specializing in helping small businesses build their online reputations to gain consumer trust and increase online visibility. ... I help businesses strengthen their reputation online, improve SEO, and attract new customers. I've helped multiple businesses in a variety of industries develop a content marketing strategy, produce effective website copy and maintain blogs with quality information to attract and impress customers.

Who do I know in Austin, Texas? link

Wiki-PR Hiring a talented Project Manager in Austin, TX! Apply today!

Do you think Ms Hicks would like to share the names of those multiple businesses she's helped, so I can look them up in Wikipedia?

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sun Nov 24, 2013 11:21 pm

Aurélien Bellanger : “J’adore la page Wikipedia consacrée aux prothèses de la hanche”
Les Inrocks, 24 November 2013 link

Did you know that, in France, intellectuals are considered sexy? Academic and essayist Aurélien Bellanger has mercifully been denied an English Wikipedia BLP; his French WP article is here: link. Bellanger's best-selling 2012 novel, La Théorie de l'information (Information Theory link) is a Balzacian montage of geek culture.

In this interview he describes the influence of the internet on his writing. The Google-translation is here: link

translation:

My favorite Wikipedia article is "Prothèse totale de hanche" It relates the entire history, the protocols developed concurrently by the United States and Europe in the 80s, the increasing use of titanium as opposed to other substances. I may never write about the subject, but it fascinated me.

Prothèse totale de hanche: link

Aurélien Bellanger: "Google is the third hemisphere of my brain."

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:03 pm

Mancunium wrote:Edit local Wikipedia information at Laurel History Edit-a-thon
Baltimore Sun, 12 November 2013 link

The Laurel Historical Society has reported the results of its brazen Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest (T-H-L) editing.

Laurel Historic Society updates city’s history on Wikipedia
Gazette.Net: Maryland Community News, 28 November 2013 link

[...] The first Laurel History Edit-A-Thon took place Nov. 16, according to Abram Fox, a society board member and one of the organizers of the event. ... “We gave the material we had to the Wikipedia editing experts and let them go to town on it,” Fox said. Additionally, Wikipedia editors were able to instruct the volunteers in the Wikipedia editing process, Fox said.

[...] The team created four new articles for Wikipedia on the Laurel Mill, the Patuxent Iron Works, the Laurel Sanitarium and Edward Phelps, Laurel’s fifth mayor, who served seven terms in office and for whom the Phelps Community Center is named, Fox said. The team also updated Wikipedia articles on Snow Hill, the Laurel Park race track and the list of Laurel mayors, Fox said.

Obviously, articles about a town written by its residents will fail Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view (T-H-L). The tainted Wikipedia articles on Laurel Mill, Patuxent Iron Works, Laurel Sanitarium, Edward Phelps, Snow Hill, and Laurel Park Race Track should be deleted until an objective resident of the other side of the world recreates them. Even better: Template:Salt (T-H-L).

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 10:29 pm

More urgently-needed Wikipedia articles are on the way!

Wiki Rockaway Updates Wanted
The Wave, 21 November 2013 link

It’s a Wiki world, and Queens, especially the Rockaways and Broad Channel, needs their updated place in it. The Queens Library is ready to help make that happen. Millions and millions use Wikipedia every year as an all-purpose reference tool. Unfortunately, according to a release by the library, some of the most prominent people and places in Queens history are not well represented. To balance that out, the Queens Library is hosting a Wikipedia Edit- A-Thon to enrich the record. It will be held on Friday, December 6th from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Queens Library-Central at 89-11 Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica.

The Queens Library, according to a media release, has targeted these particular topics to highlight with more complete and up to date information: “Richard George and the Beachside Bungalow Association; former Queens Councilwoman Julia Harrison; Emil Lucev, Far Rockaway historian; photographer Frederick Weber; the Women's Industrial Service League, an organization based in Far Rockaway; The Store Front Museum; local historian Robert Friedrich; photographer Eugene Armbruster; The Parsons Family of Murray Hill; LIRR historian and photographer Ron Ziel; the Long Island Daily Press and the Sunnyside Gardens Arena.”

Why do the Edit-A-Thons never add information to the unsatisfying Wikipedia articles on Cosmogony (T-H-L) or the Meaning_of_life (T-H-L)?

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 10:57 pm

Icelandic Wikipedia is 10 years old today
News of Iceland, 5 December 2013 link

The Icelandic Wikipedia, free encyclopedia, is 10 years old today. The website was opened on the 5th of December 2003, close to two years after the English version. The Icelandic Wikipedia contains almost 37 thousand articles about all possible subjects and as with the English version, users can write and edit articles as they see fit.

I'm sure it's a very nice Wikipedia. Thirty-seven thousand articles is about enough to cover all possible subjects, and it's wonderful to hear that users can write and edit as they see fit.

Icelandic Wikipedia: link

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 6:12 pm

'East of Borneo' Editors Bring Art to All
Los Angeles Confidential, 4 December 2013 link

[...] How does one then go about uncovering, connecting, and essentially “unforgetting” what is such a rich but elusive narrative? It starts with Lawson’s keen and forward-thinking notion that this is not a task for one; that, particularly in the Internet era, learning isn’t just the solitary act of reading a single voice, but rather engaging in a conversation and welcoming insight and perspective from many. [...] In this participatory vein, EoB culminated its Summer Issues Cooperative—a three-week, free, pop-up art newsstand at Greene Exhibitions—with a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon event this past July. Themed “#UnforgettingLA,” about 60 art fans and 10 editors armed with laptops created a crowd-sourced list of cultural omissions from Wikipedia, which has noted gaps in arts and female contributions, plus new pages for local artists like Noah Purifoy and William Leavitt. The second Edit-a-thon on December 14 at the MAK Center will accompany a Pauline Schindler exhibition, and focus on building Wikipedia content for West Coast women in architecture and design. The timely topic coincides with EoB’s first title, Piecing Together Los Angeles: An Esther McCoy Reader, a book about author and architecture historian (and champion of California modernism) Esther McCoy, edited by Susan Morgan.

“It seemed like a good fit, because so much of the architecture and design community is interested in corrective measures. Which, Wikipedia is, in a sense,” says Allan, articulating what could similarly be viewed as East of Borneo’s mission. “It’s a chance to put things on the record that otherwise are known by a very small group of people, but not by a larger community.”

Free lunch: Stacey Allan and Thomas Lawson, founders of the groundbreaking online art publication
and book imprint 'East of Borneo', are hosting their second Wikipedia Edit-a-thon on 14 December.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:47 pm

Further to the preceding post:

5 Artsy Things to Do in L.A. This Week, Including a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
LA Weekly, 11 December 2013 link

After the prestigious Pritzker Foundation failed to recognize Denise Scott Brown, even though she'd collaborated on the work for which her husband, Robert Venturi, won the Pritzker Prize, the Design Observer Group published an essay calling for the "unforgetting" of influential women architects. They said one way to do this was to write or expand these architects' Wikipedia entries. This weekend, the MAK Center for Art and Architecture hosts a get-more-women-architects-on-Wikipedia edit-a-thon, organized by the journal East of Borneo. Participants should create their Wikipedia accounts in advance.

I'm sure that if the artsy admirers of Denise_Scott_Brown (T-H-L) organize enough meatpuppetry, the Pritzker Foundation will be forced to award her the Pritzker_Architecture_Prize (T-H-L).

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:27 pm

More news from the bizarre world of sports journalism:

For Colorado State's Weston Richburg and Crockett Gillmore, there's no place like home
ReporterHerald, 12 December 2013 link

If you're searching for quirky little facts, it's hard to top Wikipedia. According to the site, Bushland, Texas is the direct center point between Chicago and Los Angeles, both 1,062 miles away from the small town in the upper northwest of Texas in Potter County. Bushland has a population of 1,058 -- a far cry from either one of those two major markets -- but it is a boomtown of sorts. In 2000, it was estimated 130 people lived in the town 14 miles outside of Amarillo.

Thanks to George Strait, everybody knows about Amarillo. Thanks to Weston Richburg and Crockett Gillmore, every Colorado State football player knows about Bushland, too. "We take a lot of pride in where we're from and what football means to Bushland, Texas," Richburg said. "Everybody on our team knows where Bushland, Texas is now because the way we do things. Like I said, we take pride in how we play, how we work, and you'll find a whole bunch of kids back in Bushland who were raised the same way. It's really special."

As is the attachment the two Ram standouts have with their hometown. Neither one of them has to be coaxed, either. For them, it's always been about representing Colorado State, the school that gave them each a chance, and Bushland, the town and upbringing that made it possible. As any teacher will tell you, some facts on Wikipedia are to be questioned. So if you're not inclined to gauge mileage as you drive from LA to Bushland to Chicago, maybe their story will work for you. [...]

Bushland,_Texas (T-H-L)

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 4:27 pm

Mancunium wrote:Further to the preceding post:

5 Artsy Things to Do in L.A. This Week, Including a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
LA Weekly, 11 December 2013 link
After the prestigious Pritzker Foundation failed to recognize Denise Scott Brown, even though she'd collaborated on the work for which her husband, Robert Venturi, won the Pritzker Prize, the Design Observer Group published an essay calling for the "unforgetting" of influential women architects. They said one way to do this was to write or expand these architects' Wikipedia entries. This weekend, the MAK Center for Art and Architecture hosts a get-more-women-architects-on-Wikipedia edit-a-thon, organized by the journal East of Borneo. Participants should create their Wikipedia accounts in advance.
I'm sure that if the artsy admirers of Denise_Scott_Brown (T-H-L) organize enough meatpuppetry, the Pritzker Foundation will be forced to award her the Pritzker_Architecture_Prize (T-H-L).

The AIA Finally Gave A Medal To A Female Architect. She Died In 1957.
Gizmodo, 19 December 2013 link

[...] When the AIA revised its rules this past summer so that a duo, not just a single practitioner, could win a Gold Medal together, everyone assumed that the organization was prepping its own heroic response to a media firestorm about another architecture award, the international Pritzker Prize. Last spring, Harvard architecture students had just launched a petition demanding that Denise Scott Brown, wife and architectural partner of 1991 Pritzker winner Robert Venturi, also be acknowledged by the Pritzker jury, retroactively. The Pritzker committee said no. [...] I ran into one of those design legends at the farmers market Saturday morning: Gere Kavanaugh, an industrial designer who worked at GM in the 1950s before moving to L.A. to design furniture, textiles and interiors. "I just found out I'm not on Wikipedia," she told me, so she was headed to an event organized by L.A.-based online art magazine named East of Borneo called Unforgetting LA. It was a hackathon of sorts, inspired by an article by Despina Stratigakos, one that hoped to populate Wikipedia with more female designers and architects, namely those working and practicing in Los Angeles.

A dozen volunteers gathered at the MAK Center, housed in the former home and studio of modernist architect R.M. Schindler, where they were briefed on Wikipedia's style and coding language. "Everyone there had brought their own laptop and was hard at work," architect Rachel Allen told me. "Once you start poking around a bit, it's pretty shocking the women who don't have even a nominal presence on Wikipedia." Designer Louise Sandhaus, who is working on a book about California design, was impressed by how much she got out of the day. "There was this group working together proactively to get this rich history of women architects and designers included and accessible," she said. "But there was also the 'live feed' of finding out about designers I didn't know about." Kavanaugh showed up at the event just as MAK Center director Kimberli Meyer was editing her entry.

Thanks to the efforts of this group, Kavanaugh now has a Wikipedia page. So does Sussman. So do many other female architects, like Brenda Levin and Dana Cuff. Once upon a time, like Bestor said, people discovered designers and artists and architects and other creative types through books, and maybe the odd magazine or newspaper. Discovery is different now. Now, unless a designer's work happens to be published on a design blog, or pinned to a Pinterest page, or posted in an influential Instagram account, it doesn't have a visible foothold in contemporary culture. It doesn't stay top of mind. And it never gets introduced to a new generation. In today's search-optimized world, if the first page of hits doesn't give a complete picture of who the designer is, the searcher is likely to move on.

Morgan—who does have a Wikipedia page, by the way—absolutely deserved the Gold Medal. She deserved it much sooner, but it is a good first step by the AIA to try to correct this oversight. [...] But another by-product of awards like the AIA Gold Medal and the Pritzker Prize is to vault these winners into the highest echelons of the contemporary media conversation—back into collective online consciousness. [...] These awards and sharable links of legitimacy—including that all-important Wikipedia page—will help keep these practitioners alive long after they've left us. But these things have to start happening while these designers are still here.

Gere_Kavanaugh (T-H-L)

Kimberli Meyer, Louise Sandhaus, and Gere Kavanaugh at Unforgetting LA

Poetlister · Unread post by **Poetlister** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 6:54 pm

If you're searching for quirky little facts, it's hard to top Wikipedia. According to the site, Bushland, Texas is the direct center point between Chicago and Los Angeles, both 1,062 miles away from the small town in the upper northwest of Texas in Potter County. Bushland has a population of 1,058 -- a far cry from either one of those two major markets -- but it is a boomtown of sorts. In 2000, it was estimated 130 people lived in the town 14 miles outside of Amarillo.

Wikipedia indeed says "Bushland, Texas is the halfway point between Chicago and Los Angeles, 1,062 miles from either city." Ther eis no sorce for that, and it's clearly wrong. The halfway point needs to be on a straight line (or, for pedants, a great circle) joining the two places, and that midpoint is just SE of Denver. Of course, to find that out I did some original research, so it isn't valid for Wikipedia.

Curiously, the article does not give a population estimate for a date later than 2000. I'd say this article is a candidate for the crap articles thread.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:30 pm

Poetlister wrote:
If you're searching for quirky little facts, it's hard to top Wikipedia. According to the site, Bushland, Texas is the direct center point between Chicago and Los Angeles, both 1,062 miles away from the small town in the upper northwest of Texas in Potter County. Bushland has a population of 1,058 -- a far cry from either one of those two major markets -- but it is a boomtown of sorts. In 2000, it was estimated 130 people lived in the town 14 miles outside of Amarillo.
Wikipedia indeed says "Bushland, Texas is the halfway point between Chicago and Los Angeles, 1,062 miles from either city." Ther eis no sorce for that, and it's clearly wrong. The halfway point needs to be on a straight line (or, for pedants, a great circle) joining the two places, and that midpoint is just SE of Denver. Of course, to find that out I did some original research, so it isn't valid for Wikipedia.

Curiously, the article does not give a population estimate for a date later than 2000. I'd say this article is a candidate for the crap articles thread.

The reference is to this post: link

Bushland, if it exists, is said to be "approximately 14 miles west of Amarillo in southwestern Potter County."

The distance from Amarillo, Texas, to Chicago is 894 miles: link

The distance from Amarillo to Los Angeles is 937 miles: link

So one could not even correct Bushland,_Texas (T-H-L) to say "Bushland is equidistant from Chicago and Los Angeles".

I suspect Bushland has a population of about 100, but usually casts about 1000 votes in elections.

Cedric · Unread post by **Cedric** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 2:18 am

Mancunium wrote:So one could not even correct Bushland,_Texas (T-H-L) to say "Bushland is equidistant from Chicago and Los Angeles".

I suspect Bushland has a population of about 100, but usually casts about 1000 votes in elections.

Which, if true, would place Bushland much closer to Chicago.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:01 am

Wikipedia Brown: A Parody of Encyclopedia Brown
Media Bistro, 27 December 2013 link

Writer Adam Cadre has created a parody of the popular kids book Encyclopedia Brown for the digital era. It’s called Wikipedia Brown. Like the original character, Wikipedia is a very knowledgeable fellow. Here is an excerpt from The Case of the Captured Koala: “Leroy Brow’s head was like Wikipedia. It was filled with facts he had learned there. He was like the entire Wikipedia web site walking around on sneakers. Simon Baron-Cohen had written a paper about him.” You can read the story for free at this link.

The Case of a Captured Koala link

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:49 pm

Browns' Wikipedia Page Has Been Updated After Team Fired Coach
BleacherReport, 29 December 2013 link

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:06 am

Dies sind die meist gelesenen Artikel bei Wikipedia 2013
Die freie Online-Enzyklopädie Wikipedia hat die eine Liste mit den meist gelesenen Artikel 2013 veröffentlicht. Die Liste überrascht. Auf Platz zwei steht zum Beispiel der Buchstabe "G". Und auch Platz eins ist verwunderlich.
Hamburger Abendblatt, 2 January 2013 link

Google-translated from German link

[...] However, the top 10 list shows especially that the Germans are increasingly looking for popular TV series. Thus, at number four to seven in the order The Big Bang Theory, Games of Thrones, How I Met Your Mother, and to find Breaking Bad. The term Wikipedia itself is in tenth place. "Europe" was called by 2,506,932 times, so occupied ninth place. 230 199 times more number portability was sought. Patriotism or search for the parliamentary elections: Third place in Germany can be found by calling 5157733. Positions one and two, however, are less well understood. Second place with around 5,509,899 calls, and so much more visitors as Adolf Hitler, sex and FC Bayern Munich together: the letter G. As a single letter comes to so many calls? Presumably, this is the quick search via search shortcuts owed that support most browsers. Whoever types the letter G in their browser, automatically comes to Google. There the Wikipedia article appears to G. [...]

The story is based on this:
Most viewed articles on Wikipedia in 2013 link

Also covered here:
Wikipedia 2013: Das interessierte die Nutzer in der Online-Enzyklopädie - Nekrolog 2013, Deutschland und Big Bang Theory
Die Wikipedia ist quasi die allwissende Macht im Internet. Wer sich informieren will, landet in sehr vielen Fällen bei der Online-Enzyklopädie. Deren Auskünfte sind zwar nicht immer hundertprozentig korrekt, aber für einen ersten Überblick reicht es immer. Im Jahresrückblick 2013 stellte man nun die beliebtesten Suchbegriffe vor.
PC Games Hardware, 2 January 2013 link

and here:
Wikipedia: Die Top-Suchanfragen im Jahr 2013
Chip Online, 2 January 2013 link

These are the things that interest Germans the most.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:15 am

Allein in Deutschland spenden 300.000 für Wikipedia
Allein in Deutschland spenden 300.000 für Wikipedia
Balaton Zeitung, 1 January 2014 link

Google translated form German 1 January 2013 link

In Germany alone, around 300,000 people have donated in the last 48 days of the year for Wikipedia. This was announced by Wikimedia Germany eV with New Year's Day. It had come together 6.1 million euros. "So much support we have never experienced," said Wikimedia board member Pavel Richter. Is fascinating that there were no major sponsors, who made this sum, but hundreds of thousands of readers. The average donation was thus around 20 euros. Traditionally Wikipedia calls in recent days to make donations. This unmistakable calls are displayed on all articles. (Dts News Agency)

The Joy · Unread post by **The Joy** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:46 am

Would the English Wikipedia be better if it were run by the Germans?

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 12:49 pm

Mancunium wrote:Dies sind die meist gelesenen Artikel bei Wikipedia 2013
Die freie Online-Enzyklopädie Wikipedia hat die eine Liste mit den meist gelesenen Artikel 2013 veröffentlicht. Die Liste überrascht. Auf Platz zwei steht zum Beispiel der Buchstabe "G". Und auch Platz eins ist verwunderlich.
Hamburger Abendblatt, 2 January 2013 link

Correction: 2 January 2014

Poetlister · Unread post by **Poetlister** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:13 pm

The Joy wrote:Would the English Wikipedia be better if it were run by the Germans?

The trains would be more punctual.

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:29 pm

Poetlister wrote:
The Joy wrote:Would the English Wikipedia be better if it were run by the Germans?
The trains would be more punctual.

They've already had two chances. Didn't work.

TungstenCarbide · Unread post by **TungstenCarbide** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:56 pm

The Joy wrote:Would the English Wikipedia be better if it were run by the Germans?

Germans Rock!

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:49 pm

Wikipedia Ambassador: Evangeline Han
Astro Awani, 6 January 2014 link

In 2009, Malaysian Evangeline Han began contributing to Wikipedia from her home computer at the age of 15. Being home-schooled, her computer and Wikipedia were a gateway to sharing knowledge with others who were also learning outside the classroom. Evangeline has since made close to 10,000 edits among the most edits for anyone her age.

Video embedded.

Uniform worn by Wikipedia's myriad Online, WikiProject, Regional,
and Campus Ambassadors when performing their official duties

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:00 am

Importante el uso de Wikipedia en el aula de clase: egresado UDLAP
La Jornada de Oriente, 8 January 2014 link

Google-translated from Spanish link

Important to use Wikipedia in the classroom: a graduate UDLAP

Jose Flores, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Communication and a masters student in Digital Media speaker at the General Audience of the Polytechnic School of the Coast in Ecuador, during the "Using Wikipedia in the Classroom Class" organized by Wikimedia Ecuador. After a year of volunteering at Wikimedia Mexico, in the local chapter, students represented the foundation to share the work being done in Mexico for the use of this Free Encyclopedia. "It's our job to focus on improving the quality of information found in Wikipedia, for that we are working hard to include books, journals, trade publications and journals that can be transformed into reliable to all items" said student UDLAP. [...]

Regarding the importance of the participation of universities in the encyclopedia project, the student said it is important to incorporate educational institutions, as this is where safe, effective and reliable research that are supported by experts in the field are brewing. "Puebla is a virtuoso to information as well as having a great cultural heritage is the second state with the most universities in the country, which every day is closer to this type of tool. Currently UDLAP was the first university that has opened its doors to the foundation allowing different activities with students and professors who are reporting not only through the encyclopedia, but are also creating and editing information." [...]

José Flores, egresado de la Licenciatura de Ciencias de la Comunicación
y estudiante de la Maestría en Medios Digitales

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:52 pm

English press caught out by Wikipedia error that claims new West Bromwich Albion Pepe Mel managed Corinthians in 2004
Sambafoot, 11 January 2014 link

Sections of the English media have been caught out by a Wikipedia error that claims new West Bromwich Albion Pepe Mel managed Corinthians in 2004. The oversight was noted by several journalists on Twitter, after numerous reports suggested the Spanish tactician had previously worked at the São Paulo-based club.

Pepe_Mel (T-H-L).

Not his only problem with Wikipedian biographers: link

This page is currently semi-protected and can be edited only by established registered users.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:12 pm

Burns Night celebrations around the UK
The Telegraph, 24 January 2014 link

Anybody but Burns Wikipedia edit-a-thon

What: An event celebrating the many talented Scottish poets who live in Burns’ shadow. Guests are encouraged to create or edit a Wikipedia page about any notable poet except The Bard. Bring your own laptop, internet access and lunch provided.

Where: National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh
When: 25 January, 12pm – 5pm
Cost: Free (booking essential)
Contact: 0131 623 3748; scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

Robert Burns wrote:O, wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:22 pm

The Malaysia news media continue to report on the achievements of home-schooled prodigy and ambassador Evangeline Han (link)

Quiet CNY for Wikipedia ambassador studying in US
The Star, 31 January 2014 link

It’s Chinese New Year but Evangeline Han, 20, who is studying in the United States, is celebrating it in an understated fashion this year – with a video call to her family and some hours on Wikipedia, her primary passion. She began editing the online encyclopedia in 2009 when she was 15, and has since made nearly 10,000 edits – what Wikipedia says is among the most edits for anyone her age in Malaysia. There are currently around 100 Malaysian “Wikipedians”.

Han even became a Wikipedia ambassador, which requires that she mentor university students from around the world on how to edit Wikipedia. “We have professors from many universities in the United States, Brazil and the Middle East among others who require their students to create or expand Wikipedia articles,” she said. “Since many of these students and professors are not familiar with the editing aspect of Wikipedia, my role is to help them edit in a way that is acceptable. That might mean checking their articles to ensure they are properly formatted or explaining a Wikipedia policy to them.”

Han said that because she was home-schooled, she had plenty of time to work on projects like editing Wikipedia – spending up to five or six hours on the site daily when she was most active. Currently studying English in the United States, Malacca-born Han still spends time on Wikipedia but less these days. “Now, school takes precedence. I spend about two hours a day editing now.” Han, who hopes to become a teacher, usually corrects grammar and repairs vandalised pages, but has written articles as well. “Editing Wikipedia has taught me to use innovative ways to garner sources based on my limited resources. A method I use is Googling for reliable sources and using the information in those to cite the facts in my articles.” A voracious reader, who regularly reviews books and interviews authors for her blog, Han credits Wikipedia with aiding her academic achievements, urging other youths to join the site as editors as well.

And of her quiet new year celebrations, Han said she would be missing not just her family, but the food as well. “This will be my first time missing a reunion dinner. I will be in class while everyone else celebrates the New Year. I will definitely miss the cookies, especially the Peranakan pineapple tarts," she said.

Pineapple_tart (T-H-L)

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 4:23 pm

T.J. Oshie’s Wikipedia Page Lists Him As ‘American Hero’ Following Shootout Heroics
NESN, 15 February 2014 link

St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie became one of the best-known American hockey players on Saturday. He also apparently became an American hero in the process. Oshie played a huge part in Team USA’s shootout win over Team Russia on Saturday in Sochi. Olympic shootout rules state that after the first three rounds, teams can reuse shooters they used in those first three rounds.

Mancunium · Unread post by **Mancunium** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 7:24 pm

Mancunium wrote:

T.J. Oshie’s Wikipedia Page Lists Him As ‘American Hero’ Following Shootout Heroics
NESN, 15 February 2014 link
St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie became one of the best-known American hockey players on Saturday. He also apparently became an American hero in the process. Oshie played a huge part in Team USA’s shootout win over Team Russia on Saturday in Sochi. Olympic shootout rules state that after the first three rounds, teams can reuse shooters they used in those first three rounds.

4 Must-Read Edits To T.J. Oshie's Wikipedia Page Included Trotsky, Wrestlemania, America
Huffington Post, 16 February 2014 link

T.J. Oshie etched his name into American hockey history with his 4-goal shootout performance in the United States' 3-2 win over Russia but some of his fans apparently didn't think that was enough. They wanted to temporarily etch references to Wrestlemania and Trotskyites into his Wikipedia page. Following the 27-year-old forward's unforgettable effort on Saturday, several short-lived edits were made that captured the euphoria and jingoism inspired by the U.S. win in the preliminary round Group A game.

Defeater of Communism

Badass Scourge of Trotskyites

An American Hero Headed For Wrestlemania