Archive:Monthly Write-a-Thon/October 3, 2007: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Eric M Gearhart
m (Text replacement - "CZ:New Article of the Week" to "Archive:New Draft of the Week")
 
(196 intermediate revisions by 33 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
== What's a Write-a-Thon? ==
== What's a Write-a-Thon? ==
It's a bunch of people getting together on a wiki at a particular time to do a bunch of writing.  It's like an online party!  Heck no, it ''is'' an online party!  It's also an excuse for infrequent wikiers to show up and <s>actually pitch in</S> party hardy.
It's a bunch of people getting together on a wiki at a particular time to do a bunch of writing.  It's like an online party!  Heck no, it ''is'' an online party!  It's also an excuse for infrequent wikiers to show up and <s>actually pitch in</S> party hardy.
But hey, why not show up in between the write-ins, too!


== When? ==
== When? ==
Our first Write-a-Thon is taking place '''Wednesday, August 1.'''  Any new article you create, and any edit to a new article that you make, when it's August 1 in your part of the world, will count.
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month.  The next Write-a-Thon is '''Wednesday, October 3.'''  October 3 starts on October 2, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on October 4, 1000 UTC, in Hawaii.  Save The Date!  Put it on your calendar!  Set yourself a reminder!
 
Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article, when it's that day in your part of the world, will count.


August 1 starts on July 31, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on August 2, 1000 UTC, in Hawaii.
Our first Write-a-Thon took place Wednesday, August 1, 2007 and was considered a roaring good time--we had about 30 partiers creating something like 50 articles, and editing lots.


== What are the rules? ==
== What are the rules? ==
Line 11: Line 15:


Well, OK, maybe there are a couple rules:
Well, OK, maybe there are a couple rules:
* If our first one goes all right, we'll have a Write-a-Thon the first Wednesday of every month.
* We'll have a Write-a-Thon the first Wednesday of every month.
* To participate, you only have to do two things: (1) start a ''new'' article (even just a stub will qualify, if not ''too'' short), and (2) make a substantive edit (not just a copyedit) to somebody else's new article.  Then you can list your name here as a partier.
* To participate, you only have to do two things: (1) start a ''new'' article (even just a stub will qualify, if not ''too'' short - and please remember to include the [[CZ:The Article Checklist]]!), and (2) make a substantive edit (not just a copyedit) to somebody else's ''new'' article.  Then you can list your name here as a partier. Until then, you're just a porch-sitter, party-crasher, or total party poop.
 
== Create an article, already! ==
 
Check it out: [[CZ:How to start a new article|Start an article!]]
:Acer vs. Maple reminds me: How about an article called "Why, when, and where did the noble old Brontosaurus turn into today's pedestrian apatosaurus, or whatever it is that I refuse to learn?" That would be a very interesting one. [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 21:13, 2 October 2007 (CDT)


== The Partiers ==
== The Partiers ==
* [[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta "any excuse for a party" Curry]].  Edited [[ABBA]], started [[Grevillea]]. Yeah, babyCreated [[A Christmas Carol]] and [[reading (performance)|reading]]
*[[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]], after discussions with the biology department, got things kicked off in the Land Down Under with [[Maple]] (or should that be ''Acer''?  Better redirect!)I've saved all my ''Acer Palmatum var. Painus in the Buttus'' from the [[drought]], but now there are [[Gall wasp]]s in my [[lemon]]! Husband wanted to know why [[dinner]] was late, so I may have a few choice words to say about [[marriage]] later!!Party is lonely, so stopped to plant a [[specimen tree]].  Wonder if things are any better over at [[bar|Hayford's Bar and Grill?]]  Passed a [[church]] [[christening]] on my way over to [[user:Robert_W_King|Robert's]] to play with his [[toy]]s.  Maybe things will liven up if we start to [[dance]]?  Alas, it's getting late and an [[owl]] outside is telling me to go to bed.  Party on, everyone!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:31, 2 October 2007 (CDT) Bummer!  write-a-thon over!  Kinda gives me [[Blues|the blues]] [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:47, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] created [[Hemispheric lateralization]], edited [[Reading_%28performance%29|Reading]]
:The Bar & Grill is going to kick into action tomorrow -- stay tuned! In the meantime, let me say that as I guy who grew up in Maine using locally produced maple syrup on my pancakes every Sunday morning for umpteen years, I am *far* to old to learn to say "Acer syrup, please, there's not enough on my pancakes." [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 21:06, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:Ion Alexandru Morega|Ion Morega]] created [[Debian]] and [[HTTP]]; edited [[Python programming language]]
::Ha!  I don't wonder!  Well, you need to explain that to the bio folks over on their workgroup.  I'm sure they think I'm just picking on them and they hate me now....[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:27, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] created [[musical instrument]] and [[fiddle]], and edited [[ABBA]], [[A Christmas Carol]], [[Reading (performance)]], and [[Household]], and needs help with [[Musical instrument/Related]]
:::Well, they're gonna stir up a hornet's nest -- there'a already a long article called [[Maple syrup]] -- I doubt if the folks who wrote it will want to see it retitled [[Acer syrup]] hehe.  Also, none of the companies in Canada (particularly) or New England will even understand what they're talking about.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 23:40, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:Todd Coles|Todd Coles]] - created [[Joe Louis]], edited [[Treaty of Union (1707)]], [[ABBA]], [[Richard I]]
*[[user:Robert_W_King|Robert]] made a whopping '''15''' stubs out of a planned '''20''' from the [[CZ:CORE|core subjects]]!  All totalled he started: [[Socks]], [[Toy]], [[writing]], [[sculpture]], [[wristwatch]], [[necktie]], [[hat]], [[ship]], [[belt]], [[bowling]], [[symbolism]], [[collage]], [[murder]], [[tools]] and [[painting]].  Admittedly, it is not as large of a dent into the total but he went for guts and glory...
* [[User:Roger Lohmann|Roger Lohmann]] created [[Household]], [[Rural poverty]], edited [[Civil Society]] entry big-time and added some subpages
*[[User:John_Stephenson|John]] surveyed [[volcanically active worlds]], then went to a [[bar]]. Staggered over to [[applied linguistics]] to try sorting out a bit of a mess.
*[[User:David Hoffman|David Hoffman]] created the [[Hebrew Bible]], a perfect site for collaboration during a [[write-a-thon]], since there's so much to fill in and everyone's an expert ;)      Be kind to yours truly, [[User:David Hoffman|David Hoffman]] 09:23, 1 August 2007 (CDT) I didn't read an article on [[Editing]], but I did edit one on  [[reading]], another great topic for expansion! [[User:David Hoffman|David Hoffman]] 10:18, 1 August 2007 (CDT) Scratch that, so to speak. Created [[editing]] -- authors of the world unite!
* [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] was strolling through the [[Special:Wantedpages]] and found that there is no entry for [[Biochemistry]] yet, while it is already linked from 60 articles! Then he visited the [[CZ:Biology_Workgroup#Core_article]] and found that at last it has been listed there too! So, he tried his hand at it. Out of nowhere an ''Approval Template'' cropped up, leading to [[drought]] of ideas on how to proceed, so he deserted the [[Party]]!.He would love if the partiers (or others) can help in enriching the other pages he had started long time back - viz., [[Clinical decision support system]], [[Evidence-based medicine]], [[Hemispheric lateralization]], and, [[John Snow (physician)]].
** Hail D*v*d, creator of the Hebrew Bible!
* [[User:Ian Johnson|Ian]] came to the [[party]] but started out (sadly) sitting on the porch. Happily though he lifted his [[socks]] up and moved onto the [[dance|dancefloor]]. --[[User:Ian Johnson|Ian Johnson]] 03:16, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
*[[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis Cavanagh]] created [[Richard I]], [[John I]] and [[Henry III]]. They're all pretty bad, but its a start!
* What is the [[Soviet legacy]]?  Trotskyite or Thatcherite, you are welcome to contribute. --[[User:Bohdan Leonid Shmorhay|Bo Shmorhay]] 07:40, 3 October 2007 (San Diego)  Also, added a section on Computerized text analysis to the [[Applied linguistics]] article being worked on by John Stephenson.  (Python remains my personal favorite scripting and programming tool -- give a kid a hammer, and everything becomes a nail...)  --[[User:Bohdan Leonid Shmorhay|Bo Shmorhay]] 08:40, 3 October 2007 (San Diego)
* [[User:Paul Derry|Paul Derry]] - Rewrite of [[Adder (electronics)]], Good Morning Sunshines! I just added the [[Amateur radio]] article :)
*[[User:Roger_Lohmann|Roger]] is still giddy from the approval this week of the Theodore Lohmann (no relation) article! This is a real beat for Citizendium; well known social reformer virtually unknown to English-speakers who aren't historians of Germany! He created a new article - or at least a stub - on Social Work. It isn't much yet, but the real prize is on the [[Social_Work/Related_Articles|related articles]] page where a listing of about 100 topics suggest where this is heading. Also added two additional catalogs to the [[Civil Society]] Related Articles page listing organizations associated with [[Art Nouveau]] and [[Arts and Crafts]] Movements - which haven't been created yet. If no one from the Arts workgroup creates these, I'll do it myself! (Meanwhile, I love those subpages!)
* [[User:Ian Johnson|Ian Johnson]] - created [[ABBA]], edited [[Grevillea]] and created [[Gay bar]], to re-establish a [[gay]] reputation after the initial macho foray with [[ABBA]] earlier today, and also created [[Beer]] ([[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton Sweeney]] seemed to be looking for [[beer]])--which is often a popular beverage at many parties. And on porches. And at [[Gay bar]]s.
And I just couldn't stop partying, so I started a new piece late last night on the economist [[Simon Patten]] after I ran across some intriguing comments (which I quote) in a new book I was reading by Brink Lindsay. (Anyone important to the history of both those right wingers in the Wharton School of Business and those lefties in social work is intriguing, ya gotta admit!)
*[[User:Andrew Staroscik]]: created [[Microbial ecology]], made minor edits on the [[microbiology]] main page.
 
* [[User:James F. Perry|James F. Perry]]: Created [[Treaty of Union (1707)]], edited [[Musical instrument]]
* [[User: David E. Volk]] started [[Ideal gas law]], which includes [[Boyle's law]], [[Charles's law]] and [[Avogadro's law]], with two example problems and edited [[ship]], stopped by the [[bar]] and got the [[blues]]. Then he laid down the [[law of cosines]] and the [[law of sines]].
* [[User:Greg Woodhouse|Greg Woodhouse]]: created [[Scheme (language)]], edited [[HTTP]]
 
* [[User:Martin Baldwin-Edwards|Martin Baldwin-Edwards]]: restarted [[Race]]
* [[User:Hayford Peirce]] created [[Blockheads]] and made some edits to [[Maple]] and [[Blues]]. And then, for good measure, he wrote a footnoted article about [[Tom T. Hall]].[[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 20:28, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] created [[William Haggard]] and edited [[Fiddle]]
*[[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton]] brought some music to party in the form of [[U2]] (and wondered how to claim his [[CZ:Core Articles]] points!) and marvelled at the fact that our [[bar]] didn't actually have any [[beer]] till he got there! (''The pub with no beer''Sounds like a tune Larry might know!) [[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton Sweeney]] 17:23, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton Sweeney]] created [[World of Warcraft Trading Card Game]], because what's a party without games.  Or [[beer]].  Why do we have no [[beer]]?  (That's a hint).  After finding some beer, he may try and edit something else.  (Later: I did - I edited [[Beer]]!  Thanks Ian!)
:There's a country song by the well-known [[Tom T. Hall]] called "A Bar with No Beer". [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 17:59, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
** That's one huge article for a card game, Anton. ;-) Don't let it be said that CZ lacks articles about pop culture!  (Which are good to have of course!) --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 08:53, 1 August 2007 (CDT)
::Hmmm, there apparently isn't a [[Tom T. Hall]] article, so I will just have to find a bar with some beer in it, refresh my brain buds with some, and then, like Tom T. himself ("The Story Teller") sit down and compose an ode to Tom.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 18:53, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
:::Wait till I get started on [[Poker]] and [[Texas Hold 'Em]] :P (Though that won't be today!) [[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton Sweeney]] 09:01, 1 August 2007 (CDT)
 
* [[User:David E. Volk]] created [[Hayes Carll]] and [[Texas Hold 'Em]], and edited [[Musical instrument]].
* New rule! It is Thursday already here in [[Italy]], but still Wednesday in the US! I have started a new article and I hereby state it counts! So I am partying with you! Don't believe me? Check out [[Italo Calvino]]! And don't forget I edited [[Writing]]. And, following my new rules, also edits on [[Solar power]] and [[CZ:Core Articles]] count. Oh yes, this is [[fun]], but where is [[fun]] anyways? --[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] 18:24, 3 October 2007 (CDT) Ok, sorry, but I must go now. Enjoy the rest of the evening folks, but here it's almost 2:00 in the morning and later today I am supposed to work... good night. --[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] 18:34, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:Aleksander Stos|Aleksander Stos]] was [[IDLE (Python programming language)|IDLE]] for a while, but came here after having a little of [[beer|pilsner]].
 
* [[User:Michael Underwood|Michael Underwood]] created a [[free particle]] and proved [[Euclid's lemma]].
*[[User:Michael Underwood|Michael]] wrote about [[eigenvalue]]s and tidied up the laws of [[law of cosines|cosines]] and [[law of sines|sines]]. [[User:Michael Underwood|Michael Underwood]] 18:42, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
 
* [[User:Anthony.Sebastian]], straying a bit from his usual biology-related work, wrote an article by way of reviewing a book by the Nobel Laureate economist, Robert William Fogel: [[The Fourth Great Awakening and the Future of Egalitarianism (book by Robert William Fogel)]]. A scholarly work (the book), with many biology-related issues, somewhat controversial, but generally regarded as fruitfully thought-provoking.  Hoping [[User:Richard Jensen]] will give it a look-see (the article) and correct any aberrancy in my thinking.  --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] [[User talk:Anthony.Sebastian|(Talk)]] 19:50, 3 October 2007 (CDT)


* [[User:Eric M Gearhart|Eric M Gearhart]] created [[Virtualization]] and added the reason why there's a Deb in [[Debian]] (and why there's a sid too...)
*[[User:Eric Winesett|Eric Winesett]], very gently prodded by [[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]], tipped his toe into the Write-a-Thon with a new opening paragraph for [[user:Robert_W_King|Robert's]] still-warm [[collage]] article, then jumped head first into a new, if short, [[watercolor]] article. Said the author: "This is the first time I've been labeled a 'partier' in any context." - [[User:Eric Winesett|Eric Winesett]] 23:14, 3 October 2007 (CDT)


== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
* [[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] created [[Rock (geology)]] and then edited it. Well, I suppose this doesn't work, isn't it? :)
*[[User:Kris Roose|Kris Roose]] 15:30, 1 August 2007 (CEST) created an article on [[Integration]], supposed to be a high order intellectual and communication process


* [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] invited online collaboration on his new article, [[online collaboration]] (after begging forgiveness for arriving so late to the party!)
* [[User:Petréa Mitchell|Petréa Mitchell]] started [[Immortelle]], which maybe should be moved to "Xeranthemum", but it was a regular part of her [[User:Petréa Mitchell#New_Year.27s_resolution.21|New Year's project]], so maybe it shouldn't count here at all anyway.
== Party crashers--contributors who didn't create a new article ==
[[User:D. Matt Innis|Matt]] was getting antsy while waiting for the party to heat up and kept [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta]] from killing those [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Gall_wasp&diff=100180158&oldid=100180157 Gall darn wasps].  AH, Bummer, Matt just realized it is only Tuesday over here!
<strike>[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo]] could not figure out how to start, so he did a great deal of study on [[Writing|how to write]]. He was able to learn something eventually, but he will never become like [[Gabriel Garcia Marquez]] or [[Italo Calvino]]. Too bad, he's now planning to go somewhere, the [[Dolomites]] probably, or the [[Alps]]. Ah, and did a tiny little change in [[Drought]].</strike>
:<strike>Whoa! This guy (I mean, [[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]]) now wants to make up his own rules! He modified an article from the prevoius Write-a-Thon, [[Solar power]], and wants it to have some value here! Or, maybe, he did right? Well, anyways...</strike>
::<strike>Ah! I did another rule of mine! Only for this [[October]], editing [[CZ:Core Articles]] counts! And I did it, terrific! --[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] 09:12, 3 October 2007 (CDT)</strike>
:::Fully into it now! Thanks to my new rules! Eh eh... --[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] 18:27, 3 October 2007 (CDT)


== Party crashers--article editors who didn't create a new article ==
[[User:Joe Quick|Joe]] took a stroll through the [[maple]]s on his way to class this afternoon.  He spent the week digging around for clues about [[Kennewick Man]] but he thinks he might have one more article in him for this evening. How about a lengthy stub, is that a [[Fair trade]]?
* [[User:Morten Juhl Johansen|Morten Juhl Johansen]] edited [[Open source software]], added a bit to [[Python programming language|Python]] and started nagging about the structure of the [[Linux_(disambiguation)|Linux]] articles. Also, finally put something into a stub made a long time ago about [[Andrey Andreyevich Vlasov]]. Please comment on that text, by the way.
:Mmm.  Sorry all but it's been a rough day.  Looks like I'll have to stay here this time around. Will add my article sometime in the next few days...[[User:Joe Quick|--Joe Quick]] ([[User talk:Joe Quick|Talk]]) 20:44, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
* [[User:JeromeDelacroix|JeromeDelacroix]] edited [[Wiki]]. Hey, does editing [[Monthly Write-a-Thon]] count as my second edit ;) ?
* [[User:Stephen Ewen|Stephen Ewen]] was at first a party poop, busy all by his lonesome writing a how-to document just for new constables.  He has now crashed the party and added material to [[Beer]] about its ancient history.


== The total party poops ==
== The total party poops ==
:''Go ahead, admit it!''
:''Go ahead, admit it!''
<small><small>[[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] [[User talk:Chris Day|(talk)]]</small></small>
<small><small>[[User:Aleksander Stos|Aleksander Stos]]</small>,  created pretty many  [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Latency&diff=prev&oldid=100180660]
[http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Soviet_Union&diff=prev&oldid=100180673]
[http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Rock_and_roll&diff=prev&oldid=100180668]
[http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Wetware_hacker&diff=prev&oldid=100180674]
[http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Totapuri&diff=prev&oldid=100180675]
[http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Wavenumber&diff=prev&oldid=100180676]
[http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Atlantic_History&diff=prev&oldid=100180667]
CZ Live articles, though ;-)</small>
== Questions ==
''You ask--we answer.  Ask anything.  Keep it clean, now.''
* I have a sinking feeling [[Gall wasp]] should be [[Gall Wasp]], so a) am I right and b) if I move it, does it mess up that whole metadata page thingy?  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 19:59, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
#Try it and we'll all find out.
::No, I'm scared! The computer might blow up or something!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:02, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
:::If you move the main article page, I am pretty sure you have to move all the other pages by hand.  :-( --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 14:03, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
* Why is it that the average heterosexual male will lift something heavy for you without complaint, and generously fish an earring out of the toilet with his bare hand without flinching, but ''cannot'' put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket?[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 19:59, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
#Can't you read, Larry said keep it clean. :D --[[User:D. Matt Innis|Matt Innis]] [[User talk:D. Matt Innis|(Talk)]] 20:11, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
#the answer is, convenience.  Why should I go and put it in a container when 1. it's already dirty, and 2. I'm going to wash it eventually! --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 20:19, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
*Me, again.  Why can't the partiers' input count when it's Wednesday ''anywhere in the world''?  Honestly, it's all right for you lot in the U.S., but poor me!  We can always limit it again once we have thousands of users all over the globe. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:24, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
**It is an unfortunate consequence to live in the Southern Waamisphere, particularly Austwailia. ;-)
::LOL--you know, you have a serious attitude problem!
:::I'm harmless, I kid, I kid.  Sorries =[.
::You can make it all better by letting me play with your toys!
:::I'll let you play with my lego blocks.  I still own them.
*What you guys are talking about??? Anyhow, I am with Aleta. I woke early in the morning to party today, and all the best stuff will happen tonight for me. [[Coffee]] in the evening might keep me awake, but hey, don't you mind for my healt? :) --[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] 01:36, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
:Nereo, considering the amount we all drank last month--you're worried about a little java?  Puh-LEEZE!  :)  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 05:38, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
::...and, indeed, I just had a lot of beer. I mean, real beer. It works! --[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] 17:44, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
*Don't you really really want to subscribe to [http://mail.citizendium.org/mailman/listinfo/sharedknowing SharedKnowing,] my new general mailing list about "the nature of online knowledge production communities"?  It's not just for Citizens, it's for everyone.
*Seeing little red dots in front of my eyes, I have to wonder what do they mean?  Are they equivalent to [[belt]]s in [[martial arts]]? These'd be the dots on pages with the subpages template. [[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton Sweeney]] 17:36, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
*Is there such a thing as spare money?
*If suddenly everyone went colorblind, would colors still exist?  How do you describe red to someone that has never seen it?
:Well, after seeing a certain [[Calvin and Hobbes]] strip, I too have tried convincing children that colour was only invented in the 1950s and before that the whole world was black and white...
::Anton, only do boring things!  They build character!
===Article #3000===
*What counts as 3,000th article? Do we only count articles tagged 'live'? If so, I'd like to claim that [[Earth]] is our 3,000th article, created 02:20 UTC, 3rd October 2007 (by me!) [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 22:26, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
==Other Shindigs==
{{CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/Previous_shindigs}}
== See also ==
* Larry Sanger, [http://blog.citizendium.org/2007/08/09/why-the-write-a-thon-worked/ Why the Write-a-Thon worked], Citizendium Blog, August 9, 2007
* [[CZ:Weekly Wiki|Weekly Wiki]]
* [[CZ:Article of the Week|Article of the Week]]
* [[Archive:New Draft of the Week|New Article of the Week]]
<!-- The categories - saving for Sept. 5
== The Partiers ==
== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
== Party crashers--contributors who didn't create a new article ==
== The total party poops ==
-->
{{initiatives}}

Latest revision as of 04:02, 8 March 2024

What's a Write-a-Thon?

It's a bunch of people getting together on a wiki at a particular time to do a bunch of writing. It's like an online party! Heck no, it is an online party! It's also an excuse for infrequent wikiers to show up and actually pitch in party hardy.

But hey, why not show up in between the write-ins, too!

When?

Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month. The next Write-a-Thon is Wednesday, October 3. October 3 starts on October 2, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on October 4, 1000 UTC, in Hawaii. Save The Date! Put it on your calendar! Set yourself a reminder!

Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article, when it's that day in your part of the world, will count.

Our first Write-a-Thon took place Wednesday, August 1, 2007 and was considered a roaring good time--we had about 30 partiers creating something like 50 articles, and editing lots.

What are the rules?

Rules? This is a party! There are no rules!

Well, OK, maybe there are a couple rules:

  • We'll have a Write-a-Thon the first Wednesday of every month.
  • To participate, you only have to do two things: (1) start a new article (even just a stub will qualify, if not too short - and please remember to include the CZ:The Article Checklist!), and (2) make a substantive edit (not just a copyedit) to somebody else's new article. Then you can list your name here as a partier. Until then, you're just a porch-sitter, party-crasher, or total party poop.

Create an article, already!

Check it out: Start an article!

Acer vs. Maple reminds me: How about an article called "Why, when, and where did the noble old Brontosaurus turn into today's pedestrian apatosaurus, or whatever it is that I refuse to learn?" That would be a very interesting one. Hayford Peirce 21:13, 2 October 2007 (CDT)

The Partiers

  • Aleta, after discussions with the biology department, got things kicked off in the Land Down Under with Maple (or should that be Acer? Better redirect!). I've saved all my Acer Palmatum var. Painus in the Buttus from the drought, but now there are Gall wasps in my lemon! Husband wanted to know why dinner was late, so I may have a few choice words to say about marriage later!!! Party is lonely, so stopped to plant a specimen tree. Wonder if things are any better over at Hayford's Bar and Grill? Passed a church christening on my way over to Robert's to play with his toys. Maybe things will liven up if we start to dance? Alas, it's getting late and an owl outside is telling me to go to bed. Party on, everyone! Aleta Curry 18:31, 2 October 2007 (CDT) Bummer! write-a-thon over! Kinda gives me the blues Aleta Curry 17:47, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
The Bar & Grill is going to kick into action tomorrow -- stay tuned! In the meantime, let me say that as I guy who grew up in Maine using locally produced maple syrup on my pancakes every Sunday morning for umpteen years, I am *far* to old to learn to say "Acer syrup, please, there's not enough on my pancakes." Hayford Peirce 21:06, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
Ha! I don't wonder! Well, you need to explain that to the bio folks over on their workgroup. I'm sure they think I'm just picking on them and they hate me now....Aleta Curry 21:27, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
Well, they're gonna stir up a hornet's nest -- there'a already a long article called Maple syrup -- I doubt if the folks who wrote it will want to see it retitled Acer syrup hehe. Also, none of the companies in Canada (particularly) or New England will even understand what they're talking about.... Hayford Peirce 23:40, 2 October 2007 (CDT)

And I just couldn't stop partying, so I started a new piece late last night on the economist Simon Patten after I ran across some intriguing comments (which I quote) in a new book I was reading by Brink Lindsay. (Anyone important to the history of both those right wingers in the Wharton School of Business and those lefties in social work is intriguing, ya gotta admit!)

There's a country song by the well-known Tom T. Hall called "A Bar with No Beer". Hayford Peirce 17:59, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
Hmmm, there apparently isn't a Tom T. Hall article, so I will just have to find a bar with some beer in it, refresh my brain buds with some, and then, like Tom T. himself ("The Story Teller") sit down and compose an ode to Tom.... Hayford Peirce 18:53, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
  • New rule! It is Thursday already here in Italy, but still Wednesday in the US! I have started a new article and I hereby state it counts! So I am partying with you! Don't believe me? Check out Italo Calvino! And don't forget I edited Writing. And, following my new rules, also edits on Solar power and CZ:Core Articles count. Oh yes, this is fun, but where is fun anyways? --Nereo Preto 18:24, 3 October 2007 (CDT) Ok, sorry, but I must go now. Enjoy the rest of the evening folks, but here it's almost 2:00 in the morning and later today I am supposed to work... good night. --Nereo Preto 18:34, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
  • Eric Winesett, very gently prodded by Aleta, tipped his toe into the Write-a-Thon with a new opening paragraph for Robert's still-warm collage article, then jumped head first into a new, if short, watercolor article. Said the author: "This is the first time I've been labeled a 'partier' in any context." - Eric Winesett 23:14, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article

Party crashers--contributors who didn't create a new article

Matt was getting antsy while waiting for the party to heat up and kept Aleta from killing those Gall darn wasps. AH, Bummer, Matt just realized it is only Tuesday over here!

Nereo could not figure out how to start, so he did a great deal of study on how to write. He was able to learn something eventually, but he will never become like Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Italo Calvino. Too bad, he's now planning to go somewhere, the Dolomites probably, or the Alps. Ah, and did a tiny little change in Drought.

Whoa! This guy (I mean, Nereo Preto) now wants to make up his own rules! He modified an article from the prevoius Write-a-Thon, Solar power, and wants it to have some value here! Or, maybe, he did right? Well, anyways...
Ah! I did another rule of mine! Only for this October, editing CZ:Core Articles counts! And I did it, terrific! --Nereo Preto 09:12, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
Fully into it now! Thanks to my new rules! Eh eh... --Nereo Preto 18:27, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

Joe took a stroll through the maples on his way to class this afternoon. He spent the week digging around for clues about Kennewick Man but he thinks he might have one more article in him for this evening. How about a lengthy stub, is that a Fair trade?

Mmm. Sorry all but it's been a rough day. Looks like I'll have to stay here this time around. Will add my article sometime in the next few days...--Joe Quick (Talk) 20:44, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

The total party poops

Go ahead, admit it!

Chris Day (talk)

Aleksander Stos, created pretty many [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] CZ Live articles, though ;-)

Questions

You ask--we answer. Ask anything. Keep it clean, now.

  • I have a sinking feeling Gall wasp should be Gall Wasp, so a) am I right and b) if I move it, does it mess up that whole metadata page thingy? Aleta Curry 19:59, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
  1. Try it and we'll all find out.
No, I'm scared! The computer might blow up or something! Aleta Curry 21:02, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
If you move the main article page, I am pretty sure you have to move all the other pages by hand.  :-( --Larry Sanger 14:03, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
  • Why is it that the average heterosexual male will lift something heavy for you without complaint, and generously fish an earring out of the toilet with his bare hand without flinching, but cannot put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket?Aleta Curry 19:59, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
  1. Can't you read, Larry said keep it clean. :D --Matt Innis (Talk) 20:11, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
  2. the answer is, convenience. Why should I go and put it in a container when 1. it's already dirty, and 2. I'm going to wash it eventually! --Robert W King 20:19, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
  • Me, again. Why can't the partiers' input count when it's Wednesday anywhere in the world? Honestly, it's all right for you lot in the U.S., but poor me! We can always limit it again once we have thousands of users all over the globe. Aleta Curry 21:24, 2 October 2007 (CDT)
    • It is an unfortunate consequence to live in the Southern Waamisphere, particularly Austwailia. ;-)
LOL--you know, you have a serious attitude problem!
I'm harmless, I kid, I kid. Sorries =[.
You can make it all better by letting me play with your toys!
I'll let you play with my lego blocks. I still own them.
  • What you guys are talking about??? Anyhow, I am with Aleta. I woke early in the morning to party today, and all the best stuff will happen tonight for me. Coffee in the evening might keep me awake, but hey, don't you mind for my healt? :) --Nereo Preto 01:36, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
Nereo, considering the amount we all drank last month--you're worried about a little java? Puh-LEEZE!  :) Aleta Curry 05:38, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
...and, indeed, I just had a lot of beer. I mean, real beer. It works! --Nereo Preto 17:44, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
  • Don't you really really want to subscribe to SharedKnowing, my new general mailing list about "the nature of online knowledge production communities"? It's not just for Citizens, it's for everyone.
  • Seeing little red dots in front of my eyes, I have to wonder what do they mean? Are they equivalent to belts in martial arts? These'd be the dots on pages with the subpages template. Anton Sweeney 17:36, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
  • Is there such a thing as spare money?
  • If suddenly everyone went colorblind, would colors still exist? How do you describe red to someone that has never seen it?
Well, after seeing a certain Calvin and Hobbes strip, I too have tried convincing children that colour was only invented in the 1950s and before that the whole world was black and white...
Anton, only do boring things! They build character!

Article #3000

  • What counts as 3,000th article? Do we only count articles tagged 'live'? If so, I'd like to claim that Earth is our 3,000th article, created 02:20 UTC, 3rd October 2007 (by me!) John Stephenson 22:26, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

Other Shindigs

empty form

See also


Citizendium Initiatives
Eduzendium | Featured Article | Recruitment | Subpages | Core Articles | Uncategorized pages |
Requested Articles | Feedback Requests | Wanted Articles

|width=10% align=center style="background:#F5F5F5"|  |}