Archive:Monthly Write-a-Thon: Difference between revisions

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imported>Chris Day
(start afresh for october)
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== When? ==
== When? ==
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month.  The next Write-a-Thon is '''Wednesday, September 3, 2008'''.  September 3rd starts on September 2nd, 1200 UTC, when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on September 4th, 1200 UTC, when it finishes being Wednesday in Hawaii.  Save The Date!  Put it on your calendar!  Set yourself a reminder!
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month.  The next Write-a-Thon is '''Wednesday, October 1, 2008'''.  Starts on October 1st, 1200 UTC, when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on October 2nd, 1200 UTC, when it finishes being Wednesday 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 during that time period will count, though to be a ''bona fide'' partier, you have to write your new articles when it's that day in your part of the world.
Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article during that time period will count, though to be a ''bona fide'' partier, you have to write your new articles when it's that day in your part of the world.
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==This month's Party Theme==
==This month's Party Theme==


===Wednesday, September 3, 2008===
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 --
<center><font color="red"><big><big><big><big>'''My Favorite [[band (musical ensemble)|Band]]!'''</big></big></big></big></font></center>
<center><font color="red"><big><big><big><big>'''Spring Cleaning!'''</big></big></big></big></font></center>
Or your favourite [[Genre (music)|Music Genre]]...your favourite [[orchestra]]...[[recording artist]]--their best [[song]] ''(I may shudder, but hey, it's up to you!)''  If it's [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=music&fulltext=Search musical], and it's your fave, write about it!
Or (or “housekeeping”, for those of you for whom it’s not Spring)  


''(You can also be inspired by some of the future theme suggestions, below.  Or propose one yourself--just scroll down. Or write about something that takes your fancy--or the first thing that comes into your head--JUST DO IT!)''
Let’s mass-attack some of our outstanding chores, particularly “lists”, such as:  ''Common words with multiple uses'' (in need of disambiguation), e.g. as in [[CZ:List of words with multiple uses]]. * Further suggestion: [[Special:Wantedpages|Wanted pages]] * [[List_of_people_who_made_conceptual_breakthroughs_in_computer_science|computer science biographies needed]] * Redirects * Write a subpage
(feel free to add in your own pet peeves)
 
''(You can also be inspired by some of the theme suggestions, below.  Or propose one yourself--just scroll down. Or write about something that takes your fancy--or the first thing that comes into your head--JUST DO IT!)''


== The Partiers ==
== The Partiers ==
*[[user: Aleta Curry|Aleta]] was late to the party room, and found it empty!  Time to go ''knock, knock, knocking on people's doors!'' Came back and started with what might well be the [[The Jackson 5|world's most famous brother act]] and [[Chanticleer (choir)|another boy band]].  Hmm...there'll be more... [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:56, 2 September 2008 (CDT)  Aleta returned to [[Genesis (band)|the beginning]] to do some editing to count herself among the bona fide partiers.  Today, since it's still Wednesday in the U.S., listening to [[user:Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro|Marcelo's]] interesting [[bossa nova]] inspired your M.C. to change the red link for the great [[Ella Fitzgerald]].  I notice that CZ has started a [[band]], but we've got no [[choir]]!  Horrors!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Okie, I've made an edit to [[Chanticleer (choir)|another boy band]], although not a very major one.  When I finish today's input into my new article about the glorious, *glorious*, GLORIOUS [[The Weavers|Weavers]], I'll have become a full-fledged partier.  (And right now, to prove it, I am just about to take my last sip of a 5-to-1 Plymouth Gin/Noilly Prat martini -- how nice to know that there is a '''second''', nearly frozen glass of same in the freezer waiting for me to go downstairs and retrieve it -- the Weavers will thank me for the effort!) [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 21:08, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] started the page on ''[[Google Chrome]]'' and disappeared to celebrate ''Vinayaka Chaturthi'' or ''Ganesha Chaturthi'' - a Hindu Festival that starts today.
::Hi Supten!  'Bye Supten!  Ah, me...''Alone Again, Naturally!''  (Yes, I'm going to keep this up) [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:53, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
:::[[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] was back the day after and couldn't resist Larry's call to [[Education|educate]] all, especially adults and distant learners! [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten Sarbadhikari]] 05:01, 4 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] edited [[The Jackson 5]] and started [[The Hudsons]]. [[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] 23:14, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
:: How embarrassment!  I thought you meant [[The Hudson Brothers]] till I read your article! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 05:16, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*Is it a bird, is it a plane?  Chris made a start on [[Capercaillie (band)|Capercaillie]], but don't [[grouse]] when you find out the truth. :) [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 01:01, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
**No clue what it means or even how to pronounce it, but the name of this band makes me smile.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 16:39, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
***Kap-er-kay-lee is the correct pronunciation. The band is named after a species of grouse that lives in the Scottish highlands. [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 16:58, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*Favorite band, hmmm....[[Citizen's Band]], [[Gastric band]]...I think I'll go for [[Genesis (band)]] -[[User:Derek Hodges|Derek Hodges]] 04:47, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
**This reminds me of a great line I heard on television the other day. "What's your wife's favourite flower?" "[[Flour||Self-raising]]!" [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:53, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel]] started [[Ari Babakhanov]], edited [[education]] and added videos to [[Kawir]].
*[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] started and worked on three articles since the last Write-a-Thon, namely [[Photosynthesis]], [[Cognitive science]] and [[Hormesis]]. He may ask that they count something in relation to today's activity, though he finds himself reluctant to set such a present and has high hopes of starting something new today (2:16 p.m. here in San Francisco as I key this).  --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 16:19, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Yes, of course that all counts.  I suppose we have to write about [[Tony Bennett]] or (I Left my Heart in) [[San Francisco]], now.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
:::Nah, I did get a chance to start a new article. (See farther down for entry on that.) --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 23:27, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*While being shaken mightily on the rough tracks of Amtrak, [[User:Pat_Palmer]] is endeavoring, during her evening commute, to further flesh out [[abc (music notation)]].  She won't be able to finish it tonight due a meeting but she will be watching the festivities during breaks and will continue tomorrow.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 16:36, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Aleta is very impressed that Pat can write about music notation. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
:::Hey, I was using abc notation back in 1996...if you're familiar enough with it, you can "sight-read" music in a whole new sense! --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:36, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
* [[User:Mal McKee|Mal]] was out chasing cars, missing most of the party. Open your eyes though, and you'll see that Mal started an article on [[Snow Patrol]]. Anyway, he has to run as he has to shut his eyes. This is beginning to get to me - we could make this go on forever! --[[User:Mal McKee|Mal McKee]] 17:35, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Hi Mal!  Glad to see you, even with your eyes wide shut.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Anthony Argyriou|The other Anthony]] wrote about [[scientific notation]], which has nothing to do with bands, but it was something he could do while at work. [[User:Anthony Argyriou|Anthony Argyriou]] 19:10, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise]] dashed in to kick off an article on [[Joy Division]] and will get back to the write-a-thon when she gets home from work--it's a hectic day out here! ''It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog'' ... so I'll be back soon. [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 21:21, 2 September 2008 (CDT) Let's waste time chasing cars ... becoming a bona fide partier this month with an edit to [[Snow Patrol]].[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 19:10, 3 September 2008 (CDT) Meanwhile, birds and planes go through the rainbow--it's so [[Divine Comedy (band)|divine]] to get a chance to write about some favourites ... like [[Sigur Rós]], [[Franz Ferdinand (band)]], [[Arctic Monkeys]] ... and to meet [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry's]] challenge about bands I should be embarrassed to admit that I liked, let's go for [[Hanson]]. I'm not sure yet if reality TV show rejects should count ;)
::::Wait a second--Larry actually said we should admit to liking bands we're embarrassed to admit to?  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 23:21, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
:::::Well, it was a variation suggestion that he made in our reminder email: ''I have a slight variation on the monthly topic: bands you loved as a youth, but which you are now embarrassed by.'' And this question happened to lighten up a very tense day at work, as well as prove very revealing: answers range from [[George Michael]], [[Wham!]], [[Def Leppard]], [[Portishead]], [[Slade]], [[Englebert Humperdinck]] ... [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 23:33, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
:::::: Well, I guess I can think of a few of those! Let's see if any pop up red... [[Adam and the Ants]], [[Iron Maiden]] and early [[Marillion]] I suppose would be considered a bit passé these days, and I (still) like some [[ABBA]] songs. How's that for three or four very different genres and the bravery to admit to them? There's probably more that I just haven't thought about yet. --[[User:Mal McKee|Mal McKee]] 08:01, 4 September 2008 (CDT)
::[[A-ha|Aha]]! (a band, for those too old or too young to know, tee hee) Lou's in da house! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:45, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Tom Morris|Tom]] brought [[pop music]] and [[Stevie Wonder]] to the party, and danced to [[heavy metal (music|heavy metal]] while tapping away at [[education]]. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 19:52, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] finally wandered in, listening to [[Altan]], who were playing [[reel (music)|reels]], as usual.  And he is about to start making small edits to everybody else's articles.  [[a-ha]], I see one; Norwegians!; and here I thought they were Americans; no wonder the weird grammatically awkward "Take On Me"; uh, ;-) .  Bopped with [[The Jackson 5]] (I remember a small Michael Jackson dancing on TV...from when I was even smaller) and tackled a little [[education]] (life-long, don't you know).
*[[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford]], finishing his second martini (see above, Chez Aleta) finished off his initial article about [[The Weavers]], and, having edited Aleta's article about those Irish boyos, achieved '''Full Partier Status'''. What a sacrifice!  I gave up watching that Eskimo woman give some sort of speech or other.  Oh, well, I can read about it in the NYT tomorrow.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 21:47, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] did get a chance to start a new article, on that ancient Greek surely everyone has heard of, [[Alcmaeon|Alcmaeon of Croton]].  I hope others will help elaborate on the biography of that important person in the history of medicine.  --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 23:23, 3 September 2008 (CDT)


==Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun==
==Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun==
* Because I'll do anything to avoid actual work (or worse yet, grading papers), I've started my September ''composition'' (he he): [[Abc_(music_notation)]][[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 18:36, 18 August 2008 (CDT)
:: "Composition" - ha, ha.
:: Wow! jumping the gun already!  Will one of you wizards please archive the August page so we can get September's up if people are going to be so johnny-on-the-spot?  Wow!
:: [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:40, 19 August 2008 (CDT)


== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
*Alex begins his rocking wednesday with [[Blind Guardian]]. -- [[User:Alexander Wiebel|Alexander Wiebel]] 04:11, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro|Marcelo]] was distracted composing [[Bossa nova]]... "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars". [[User:Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro|Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro]] 08:16, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Howard C. Berkowitz|Howard C. Berkowitz]] 09:08, 3 September 2008 (CDT) is never quite sure how to respond to the write-a-thon. There are several specific articles in Internet networking and security that I have in progress, may be review for a new contract/job. That creates a whole web of related articles, with at least one colleague/collaborator involved.
::In going through military things, I variously stopped and filled in several magenta links, as well as "oh, that reminds me" additional articles. In some cases, I've identified things I can't answer, which may be addressable by a collaborator with the time, may actually be holes in the logic, or may have deliberately obscure and classified answers.
::I have several "capstone" article  trying to organize a topic but still very experimental, such as "locality of networks"..
:::Oh, but there's only one way to respond to the Write-a-Thon, Howard:  ''write something!''  :)  All the above counts!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 16:58, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Patrick Brown|Patrick Brown]] created [[Ulaid]].
*[[User:Marc J. Dziezynski|Marc]] got his thrash on, creating [[Metallica]]. He plans to source/expand/etc. it soon, though he definitely won't mind if someone else gets to it first! --[[User:Marc J. Dziezynski|Marc J. Dziezynski]] 20:18, 3 September 2008 (CDT)


== Party crashers--article contributors who didn't create a new article ==
== Party crashers--article contributors who didn't create a new article ==
* It's 4am in the [[United Kingdom]], and instead of being asleep like normal people, [[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] has been editing articles on [[The Jackson 5]], [[Google Chrome]] and [[education]]. Once he has finished abusing his [[circadian rhythms]], he may write some articles. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 22:06, 2 September 2008 (CDT)


==The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures==
==The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures==
*[[Sarah Palin]] isn't a [[musician]], but [[user:John Stephenson|John]] gets credit just the same.
::Travel(l)ing through North America at the moment and it's wall-to-wall Sarah Palin on CNN, so... [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 22:05, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*I was going to write an article but ... [[User:Catherine Woodgold|Catherine Woodgold]] 22:13, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Awww..you're forgiven.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:06, 7 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[Bariatric banding]], after all, involves a band (assigned to health sciences, but should biology get it as well?) Will check on [[wedding band]]. Must think of name for constricting metal band used to reinforce the barrels of cannon. All bands. Drink more coffee. [[U.S. Marine Corps]] band, "the president's own". [[U.S. Army band]], probably responsible for the creation of more national anthems than any other organization. [[User:Howard C. Berkowitz|Howard C. Berkowitz]] 09:43, 23 September 2008 (CDT)


== The total party poops ==
== The total party poops ==


==Special Requests==
==Special Requests==
This is the Month of September and our first [[CZ:Biology_Workgroup/Workgroup_Week|Workgroup Week on Biology]] is just round the corner. Please lend a helping hand. [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten Sarbadhikari]] 20:30, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
:Hear hear! --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:15, 2 September 2008 (CDT)


== Questions ==
== Questions ==
Today (or was it yesterday?) the new browser ''[[Google Chrome]]'' has been launched. I'm using that for this post. Shouldn't we fill up that page? [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]]
:For the moment, it's Windows only, leaving me with nothing to comment. [[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel Mietchen]] 03:26, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*I want to know if anyone over the age of 30 can think or write about [[The Jackson Five]] without singing?  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 22:19, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
**Me, Me, Me!  I don't even know who they flippin' '''are'''! And I certainly never '''hoid''' them, except, I suppose, in my deepest nightmares.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 23:09, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
***Stop lying!  That's like crusty octegenarians who claim never to have heard of [[The Beatles]]!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 23:15, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
****Not so! I'm certainly an overbaked baguette of a sexagenarian, and I've *hoid* of the Beetles, and even heard, mebbe, four of their songs, but I ain't never *hoid* of the Jackson 74, or listened to them. Michael Jackson I *have* heard of, but, thank God, never actually, hoid.... (Ludwig von Peirce, who, thank goodness, is now 100% deef) [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 23:21, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
***[spit-takes her tea]  Whad've you been livin' in a ''cave'' for the past 30 years?? How could you avoid this with kids?  Peirce, you're one helluva funny guy, I'll say that fer ya! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 23:39, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
Just after discussing someone else's mixed Greek/Filipino wedding plans at work ... What cultural traditions have you seen at a wedding that you find particularly interesting? [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 23:47, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Good one, Louise!  Among my favourites are the hoisting of the happy couple up into the air on chairs and dancing about with them at jewish weddings (although a couple of my friends have looked like they were hanging on for dear life!)
::Another is the exchange of "a token" at Irish weddings, like a penny--my particular fave was a clever bride who gave a NYC subway token!
::I like when people raised in the West but with strong ethnic traditions change into national costume for the reception; I've seen that a few times.
::I also like the Orthodox custom of holding crowns over the couple's heads to signify that they're king and queen for a day.
::I've quite an international circle--can you tell?
::[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 00:00, 4 September 2008 (CDT)
== [[CZ:Big Collaboration|Big Collaboration]] topic ==
All, we did a credible job with [[Sports]] last month.  I'd like to try another [[CZ:Big Collaboration|Big Collaboration]]--I hope you'll be interested.  The topic I've put out there is
:::'''[[Education]]'''
We may not all know the theory and history, but we sure know a lot about it in other respects, I think! --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]]
:[''singing''] We don't need no Education, we don't need no thought control....


==It's a wrap!==
==It's a wrap!==
Thanks, everyone.  Once again, a successful, rip-roarin' rollickin' good time!  So nice to catch a glimpse of people I haven't seen in a while, like ''The Other Anthony'', and meet some new ones, like Mal.  See you next month, same Bat time, same Bat channel. (Some of you are old enough and young enough to get that, right?) [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:05, 7 September 2008 (CDT)


== Previous shindigs ==
== Previous shindigs ==
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* July - [[Sherry]]
* July - [[Sherry]]
* August - [[pineapple]] [[juice]]  Well, that's all right, I guess!
* August - [[pineapple]] [[juice]]  Well, that's all right, I guess!
* September - none--gasp!  What's with us???
* September -


==Bonus point winners==
==Bonus point winners==
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===New Suggestions and Discussion===
===New Suggestions and Discussion===
''Go ahead and propose one!''
''Go ahead and propose one!''
* '''National Parks''' - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.


* I had a thought the other day - why don't we have a Subpages day - either separate or as a Write-A-Thon theme? There's tons of them Bibliographies, Related Articles and Definitions that need writing. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 11:48, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
* I had a thought the other day - why don't we have a Subpages day - either separate or as a Write-A-Thon theme? There's tons of them Bibliographies, Related Articles and Definitions that need writing. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 11:48, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
Line 183: Line 95:
::[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:25, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
::[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:25, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
:::''Edited to add:'' Actually, why don't I add this in to October's spring clean?  The more options, the more likely people will find something they like doing.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:33, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
:::''Edited to add:'' Actually, why don't I add this in to October's spring clean?  The more options, the more likely people will find something they like doing.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:33, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
::::Yes, I like the general idea too. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 07:24, 3 September 2008 (CDT)


* Could fall under the category of 'Attractions', and 'National Parks' also covers some of these too. Most countries also have at least one UNESCO Heritage Listed location--could well be worth a shot, as these locations would have a rich history as well as artistic/cultural significance. [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:16, 6 August 2008 (CDT)
* Could fall under the category of 'Attractions', and 'National Parks' also covers some of these too. Most countries also have at least one UNESCO Heritage Listed location--could well be worth a shot, as these locations would have a rich history as well as artistic/cultural significance. [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:16, 6 August 2008 (CDT)


===Future Theme Schedule===
===Future Theme Schedule===
*September - '''My Favorite Band!''' - Or your favourite Music Genre...your favourite orchestra...recording artist--their best song ''(I may shudder, but hey, it's up to you!)''  If it's [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=music&fulltext=Search musical], and it's your fave, write about it!
*November - '''National Parks''' - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.
*October – '''Spring Cleaning''' (or “[[housekeeping]]”, for those of you for whom it’s not Spring) Let’s mass-attack some of our outstanding chores, particularly “lists”, such as:  ''Common words with multiple uses'' (in need of disambiguation), e.g. as in [[CZ:List of words with multiple uses]]. * Further suggestion: [[Special:Wantedpages|Wanted pages]] * [[List_of_people_who_made_conceptual_breakthroughs_in_computer_science|computer science biographies needed]] * Redirects * Write a subpage * Check [[:Category:Approved Articles|Approved articles]] for completeness of subpages
 
(feel free to add in your own pet peeves)
*November - '''[[National Park]]s''' - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.
: [http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/ UK], [http://www.nps.gov/ USA], [http://www.atn.com.au/parks/parks.htm AU], [http://www.pc.gc.ca/ CA], [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/NationalParksLanding.aspx?id=38405 NZ], [http://www.parks.it/world/FR/Eindex.html FR]
::May I suggest a separate theme for each workgroup, and a campaign to obtain a commitment from each member of each workgroup to start a new article, however stubby, but thoughtfully and excellently stubby.  A rhetorical question.  Incidentally, CZ has no article on [[Rhetoric]], a fascinating subject with roots in antiquity and above-ground branches and fruit in the 21st century.  --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 19:31, 19 August 2008 (CDT)
::May I suggest a separate theme for each workgroup, and a campaign to obtain a commitment from each member of each workgroup to start a new article, however stubby, but thoughtfully and excellently stubby.  A rhetorical question.  Incidentally, CZ has no article on [[Rhetoric]], a fascinating subject with roots in antiquity and above-ground branches and fruit in the 21st century.  --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 19:31, 19 August 2008 (CDT)



Revision as of 09:53, 30 September 2008

Template:TOC-right

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 party hardy; to exchange ideas with people we might not "meet" otherwise.

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 1, 2008. Starts on October 1st, 1200 UTC, when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on October 2nd, 1200 UTC, when it finishes being Wednesday 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 during that time period will count, though to be a bona fide partier, you have to write your new articles when it's that day in your part of the world.

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 subpages template!), 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, sign in as a porch-sitter, party-crasher, or total party poop.

This month's Party Theme

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 --

Spring Cleaning!

Or (or “housekeeping”, for those of you for whom it’s not Spring)

Let’s mass-attack some of our outstanding chores, particularly “lists”, such as: Common words with multiple uses (in need of disambiguation), e.g. as in CZ:List of words with multiple uses. * Further suggestion: Wanted pages * computer science biographies needed * Redirects * Write a subpage

(feel free to add in your own pet peeves)

(You can also be inspired by some of the theme suggestions, below. Or propose one yourself--just scroll down. Or write about something that takes your fancy--or the first thing that comes into your head--JUST DO IT!)

The Partiers

Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun

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

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

The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures

The total party poops

Special Requests

Questions

It's a wrap!

Previous shindigs

Official libations

2007

  • Inaugural - beer!
  • September - champagne
  • October - we were refurbishing the bar and only had coffee!
  • November - made up for last month with more vodka than was good for us and plenty of rum.
  • December - eggnog and wine

2008

  • January - Whisky and the Cocktail of the Month, a pharisee
  • February - schnapps and the Cocktail of the Month, the caipirinha (considered the national drink of Brazil)
  • March - port wine (which should probably live at port (wine), no? (Someone put that on their list, please....Oh, *someone* did--thanks, Ro) and the Cocktail of the Month, a Dead Aunt
  • April - Akpeteshie hot and fresh from Ghana. And cool shandies and spritzers if that took your fancy. Lotsa staggering around the bar after this party!
  • May - Was it champagne? No, we were dry, I think.
  • June - Were we abstaining yet again?
  • July - Sherry
  • August - pineapple juice Well, that's all right, I guess!
  • September -

Bonus point winners

Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions

New Suggestions and Discussion

Go ahead and propose one!

  • National Parks - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.
  • I had a thought the other day - why don't we have a Subpages day - either separate or as a Write-A-Thon theme? There's tons of them Bibliographies, Related Articles and Definitions that need writing. --Tom Morris 11:48, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
It's a good thought, Tom, and I can see where the subpages need doing. Trouble is, whenever the Write-a-Thon has been too narrowly restricted, particularly when the suggested 'theme' is really a codename for 'work', it doesn't go over well. The WaT's great success is the fun, write-what-you-want atmosphere.
Maybe a separate subpages initiative?
Aleta Curry 18:25, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
Edited to add: Actually, why don't I add this in to October's spring clean? The more options, the more likely people will find something they like doing. Aleta Curry 18:33, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
  • Could fall under the category of 'Attractions', and 'National Parks' also covers some of these too. Most countries also have at least one UNESCO Heritage Listed location--could well be worth a shot, as these locations would have a rich history as well as artistic/cultural significance. Louise Valmoria 20:16, 6 August 2008 (CDT)

Future Theme Schedule

  • November - National Parks - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.
May I suggest a separate theme for each workgroup, and a campaign to obtain a commitment from each member of each workgroup to start a new article, however stubby, but thoughtfully and excellently stubby. A rhetorical question. Incidentally, CZ has no article on Rhetoric, a fascinating subject with roots in antiquity and above-ground branches and fruit in the 21st century. --Anthony.Sebastian 19:31, 19 August 2008 (CDT)

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