Archive:Monthly Write-a-Thon/May 7, 2008: Difference between revisions

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{{initiatives}}
<center><font color="red"><big><big><big><big>'''[[Holiday|Holidays, Festivals and Fetes]]</big></big></big></big></font></center>
 


<center><font color="red">''Anything having to do with a celebration.  Or a commemoration (sometimes memories are sad, too).<br>Bonus points if it's an event that takes place in the month of May!''<br></font> </center>
== 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 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 party hardy; to exchange ideas with people we might not "meet" otherwise.


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


== When? ==
== When? ==
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month.  The next Write-a-Thon is '''Wednesday, January 9th, 2008'''.  This month's Write-a-Thon was delayed to better accomodate vacationers and partiers! {{smile}}.  <!-- January 2nd starts on January 1st, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on January 3rd, 1000 UTC, 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, May 7th, 2008'''.  May 7th starts on May 6th, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on May 7th, 1200 UTC, in Hawaii.  Save The Date!  Put it on your calendar!  Set yourself a reminder!
 
On another note, ''this is the first Write-A-Thon of 2008''! Let's make it a good one!


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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Well, OK, maybe there are a couple rules:
Well, OK, maybe there are a couple rules:
* 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 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, sign in as a porch-sitter, party-crasher, or total party poop.
* 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:Subpages|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==
 
<center><font color="red"><big><big><big><big>'''[[Holiday|Holidays, Festivals and Fetes]]</big></big></big></big></font></center>
 
<center><font color="red">''Anything having to do with a celebration.  Or a commemoration (sometimes memories are sad, too).<br>Bonus points if it's an event that takes place in the month of May!''<br></font> </center>
 
 
''(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!)''


== Create an article, already! ==
== Create an article, already! ==
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== The Partiers ==
== The Partiers ==
*[[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]] was pleasantly surprised to find she wasn't alone, as eager beavers in other parts of the world [[false start|jump the gun]].  She borrowed a [[trench coat]] from [[user:Denis_Cavanagh|Denis]] to go do the [[weed|weeding]], since the [[Calla Lily|Calla Lillies]] and [[wild rose]]s are getting out of hand.  Leaving to have [[breakfast]], but ''I'll be back''--bwah, ha, ha.... [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 16:53, 4 December 2007 (CST)  Having too much fun and haven't left yet, maybe I'll only make it to [[morning tea]]. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:21, 4 December 2007 (CST) Had to go to town; just got back, reading the questions and p*ing myself laughing!  I made [[eggnog]], but since so many of you are still sleeping, I'm drinking it all myself. Seems to be causing [[hallucination]]s; there are [[jackaroo]]s and [[Crested Crane]]s in my garden! Better go lie down--see you all in the morning!
*[[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]] found her way into the party room, despite not feeling in the party mood due to [[intestine|intestinal]] upset.  Oy!  Where is everybody???!! [''Searches for [[party hat]]''] Decided to start at the beginning with [[New Year's Eve]] before moving on to my beloved [[agricultural show|shows]].  More--I *did* actually do my edit, to [[Cinco de Mayo]] so I count as a bona fide partier.  I did some other stuff, too, but this was an awful internet connection week and I've forgotten what.  Like Pat, I've jumped the gun on [[biography|biographies]].  Probably gonna jump the gun on '''Olympics''', too. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 03:49, 11 May 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta]] went to the user page of [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] and dragged him in here. Before he could start a new article, he'd rather have some [[breakfast]], albeit it is rather the time to have [[lunch]] at his place! [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry]]'s fourth question in the designated section gave him a cue to create a stub on [[akrasia]] and take leave from the party on the basis of that (akratic to write-a-thon)!
:Aleta, don't these things include [[tractor pulls]]? No ''American'' fair I've ever attended has failed to have one of those![[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 21:30, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] received a message form Aleta asking him to bring a bottle. He wonders why Aussies never by a round as he swills down a nice shiraz [[wine]]. Added some pictures form his holiday snaps to [[Hong Kong]], edited his current place of abode - [[Anshan]], and then, because the Beatles are in the course book for tomorrows lesson and he has to prep the lesson plan, he corrected a very minor grammar mistake on [[Ringo Starr]]. He then relaxed and watched a US Discovery channel program about the Great Wall of China. This was so inaccurate and missleading that he decided that CZ should do better. Which explains why he wrote [[Hadrian's Wall]] instead. He then remembered that he now lives in China, not the UK, so edited the [[Great Wall of China]] a bit. More to follow on that one. Before heading for bed, he wonders why nobody is dinking the [[wine]].
::You know, I don't think so.  I think that *might* be an element at a field day, but I'm not entirely sure. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 03:49, 11 May 2008 (CDT)  
:::'''No one's wining the drink??! Ya don't say!'' [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 13:55, 5 December 2007 (CST)  
* Waves to [[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]]. [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] has wandered onto the porch outside, with lots of work in hand--busy day on the roads today. Still buzzed from some low-key [[Cinco de Mayo]] celebrations, she is wondering who else is around to join the [[masquerade]] ...
:[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise]] thinks that's probably a hint to break out the [[beer]], especially as this month's beverage of choice hasn't been decided yet. Also, she has made a mental note to check this page more often now that she knows how this write-a-thon lark works! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta]] seems to be asleep and the Australian day has an hour and twenty minutes left, so Louise is breaking out the [[cognac]].--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 05:42, 5 December 2007 (CST) (... but reckons [[wine]] is better. Happy Write-A-Thon all, Wednesday is almost over here!--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 06:43, 5 December 2007 (CST))
::Hi Louise! Haven't stopped by the bottle shop yet, but I will! (Where's [[user:Derek Harkness|Derek]] when ya need him??) ;) [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 19:27, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
:::''Pssst!  Louise!''  [[user:Nereo Preto|Nereo]], [[user:Derek Harkness|Derek]] and I decided ''ages'' ago that editing would count when it was Wednesday ''anywhere'', otherwise we would always get left out.  We seem to have won by default; must've been all the booze. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 13:55, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*[[user:Ian_Johnson|Ian]] got right into the groove with [[Madonna (performer)|Madonna]], and spent more than '4 minutes' on edits to [[New Year's Eve]].
::::Really? Awesome. I'm back in the party, then! And [[wine]] it is! Cheers--literally. Heh.--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 16:00, 5 December 2007 (CST)
::Ian's here!  [''punches air''] '''Yessss!!''' [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:09, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
:::::Derek know this, however his students don't. They still think it's Thursday morning and demand that he should be teaching class. By the time he gets home form work at five to eight in the evening in China, he realises that there is only 4 minutes left before the end of party time hits the international date line. [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 06:01, 6 December 2007 (CST)
:::In honour of Aleta's unbridled exuberance [[user:Ian_Johnson|Ian]] got excited and went off to [[Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras|Mardi Gras]].
*[[User:Todd Coles|Todd]] emerged from his cave to write a stub about the [[Jamestown Colony]] and a pretty minor edit to [[False start]]. Hope to be back for more later! --[[User:Todd Coles|Todd Coles]] 08:40, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*Dave here, a bit early, but also leaving early, since I turn into a pumpkin at midnight... Mulled cider all around...and good night! [[User:David L Green|David L Green]] 22:53, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
*As [[User: Regina Bouillon|Regina]] was in a dark mood because of the grey German December sky, she wrote down the sad story of [[Catherine Quaque]]. Then she turned to another tragic figure, [[Lord Byron]]. That’s enough sadness today, maybe too much for a party. She promises to be more cheerful next time.
*[[User talk:Chris Day|Chris]] noticed [[Auld Lang Syne]] mentioned in Aleta's [[New Year's Eve]] and thought an Ode to a [[Haggis]] was needed, so started on [[Burns supper]].
To [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta]]: Thanks a lot to the Mistress of Ceremonies for the reminder.
*[[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] was late this time and decided to inform all about [[Rabindra Jayanti]]. However, he found that there wasn't any article on [[Rabindranath Tagore]], so he created a stub and tried to find out which new articles to edit. Finally, he added an external link to [[New Year's Eve]].
:::Any time, mon amie! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 13:55, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*[[User:Derek Hodges|Derek Hodges]] (Guess I'm not going to be on a first name basis around here, not even Derek H.) just got back from a couple of days with family and the [[Canadian Tulip Festival]]. A festival! and in May.
*[[User:Stephan Burn|Stephan]] is new here, and hopes he can do more work on the [[National DNA Database]] this evening.
::[''Edited to say--exactly *how* mixed up can one woman get?? See comment immediately below.'']  What on earth we're going to do with all these folks with the same first name...bunch of nicknames?  Don't know why all your parents couldn't have named you something sensible, like Aleta....though I've been mixed up with other Aletas on the very rare occasion, believe it or not.... [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 05:44, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
::Hey, welcome to the party, [[User:Stephan Burn|Stephan]]!--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:10, 5 December 2007 (CST)
* [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] thinks Aleta's getting worked up over nothing. It's not that common a name. Just think of the problems if we were called John Smith. Thinking of which, do we have any Smiths here? Derek started earlier today with a new article at [[Inner Mongolia]] then added some history to [[Liaoning]]. He was going to do holidays but he'd already done [[Chinese New Year]] and [[Shrove Tuesday]] on a previous write-a-thon.
::But...but...it was Derek! The other Derek!  Well, first it was Robert, because we've got a lot of Roberts, as well. Okay, so I'm a twit and I responded to one Derek by talking to the other one.  I'll leave, now.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:56, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
* [[User:Bruce M.Tindall|Bruce Tindall]] started an article about [[Juneteenth]], which, because it originated in Texas and occurs in the summer, may make ''very sweet iced [[tea]]'' eligible to become this Write-a-Thon's official libation.  But, because Aleta started the day with [[New Year's Eve]] (to which I added a few sentences), it may be difficult to avoid enshrining [[champagne]] this month.
:Australians don't make iced tea, more's the pity. Interesting you wrote about Juneteenth, because I was recently reading about the connection between Juneteeth, New Year's and Watchnight. African American slaves did not *invent* [[Watchnight]]s, but the New Year's Eve of 1863 was so very important because the Emancipation Proclamation would take effect, that they participated in the Watchnight. There's an article in here somewhere.... [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:06, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
* [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] added to the [[New Year's Eve]] revelry...and then lo, his mouth opened, and he spoke [[truth]]!  Then he danced a [[reel]]--OK, no, he ''played'' a reel, the dancing you don't want to see.  By the way, it sure would be nice to include a recording or two of a reel...  Anyway, also started some [[Celtic music]]...appropriate for May Day as any, I'm sure...
* Embarrassed by not turning up with anything more bountiful, [[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] rustles up a quick stub on [[Harvest Festival]], a rather reserved and British version of [[Thanksgiving]]. Being an author in [[CZ:Philosophy Workgroup|the realm of eternal, transcendent ideas]] makes it rather difficult to think about the day-to-day. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 17:13, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
* [[User:Pat Palmer|Pat]] has been meddling with Larry's [[Celtic music]] article. This is a milestone: my very first opportunity to participate in a WriteAThon. Whoopeeeeeeeeeee![[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 21:28, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
** Welcome, Pat!  Thanks for the edits! --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:49, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
**It's still Wednesday and I have yet to create an article.  Well, here goes: in keeping with the theme, I'll create the [[World's Biggest Fish Fry]].[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 22:25, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
* [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford]] wandered into the party with a smug expression on his face as if [[Butter|butter]] wouldn't melt in his mouth, having already created [[Butter, homemade/Recipe]]; [[Clarified butter]]; and then, just for kicks, [[Clarified butter/Recipe]]. Then he remembered that '''supposedly''', true Partiers were supposed to not only '''create''' an article, they were '''also''' supposed to '''edit''' someone else's newly created article. So he zoomed off to Larry's latest article and, in [[Truth|truth]] wrought a couple of edits. So at least '''he''', with a glass of single-malt Scotch currently in hand, is a true partier. But is anyone else?  Or is the Must Edit rule now being observed only in its abeyance? Not that that actually makes the other Partiers bad human beings, I suppose.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 21:32, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
::Ha, ha--no, you're right.  I ''suppose'' I should '''really''' move a whole lot of people over to the ''porch sitters'' list.... [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 03:49, 11 May 2008 (CDT)
::Very impressive, Hayford.  I wasted 20 minutes trying to think of something useful to add to [[butter]] but then realized I was tired and needed to quit.  Signing off soon, I really mean it this time.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 23:08, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
* [[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]], steeped in working on [[Hippocrates]], succumbs to [[User:Brian P. Long|Brian P. Long]]'s urging to start an article on [[Galen]]. Bare bones.  Help. --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 22:12, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
 
==Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun==
* No way am I going to have time for the Write-A-Thon in July ("Biographies"), so I've gone ahead and started the article on [[Claude Shannon]] right now.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 11:00, 9 May 2008 (CDT)
:Good on ya, girl! Accepted with pleasure.  (Someone remind me to copy this to the July W-a-T! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 03:41, 11 May 2008 (CDT)


*Although [[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis]] jumped the gun, he added more the [[History of the United States]] article, including a chunk about the Civil Rights Movement. He'll move on to [[Malcolm X]] and the [[Black Power]] movement when he gets a chance. [[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis Cavanagh]] 09:39, 5 December 2007 (CST)
== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==


* [[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton]], after his [[wine]], recovered enough to write about the [[Irish Census of 1911]].


*After taking a catnap to sleep off the [[wine]], and mightly pleased at [[User:Russ McGinn|Russ]]'s excellent contribution to [[Antoni Gaudi]], [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise]] has added a bit about Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory in [[Developmental psychology]]. That's not going to stop her from asking silly questions, though ... --[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:07, 5 December 2007 (CST)
== Party crashers--contributors who didn't create a new article ==


*[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]], with characteristic over-ambition, started a new article on [[Oxidative stress]], hoping to reach a high-school or undergraduate college readership without boring the real experts. A bit of resveratrol-rich red wine helped him relieve some of his own oxidative stress in making the attempt. --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] [[User talk:Anthony.Sebastian|(Talk)]] 21:55, 5 December 2007 (CST)
Its 2AM in Ireland and [[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis]] was getting pretty tired of looking at a very short [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]] page, so he made it a little bigger. Anyone else up for one of the most influential thinkers of European History? [[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis Cavanagh]] 20:02, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
:Rousseau area of my brain has cobwebs, I'm afraid.  Go get some sleep.  Come back.  Wait--you're young--stay up, what the heck! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:11, 6 May 2008 (CDT)


* [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] was late to the party but managed to import, linkify, expand, etc., an old Nupedia article: [[Donegal fiddle tradition]], and then moved [[akrasia]] to [[weakness of will]], which he probably exemplified by not going to bed when he knows he should...  :-) I'm back by the way!
[[User:David E. Volk|David]] is still busy importing musician pics for the [[Stingaree Music Festival]], but hey, its not quite Weds where I live, so I still have a chance to party tomorrow. [[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] 23:03, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
:Learned something else new!  Thanks!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 05:31, 7 May 2008 (CDT)


*[[User:Joe Quick|Joe]] read [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta]]'s comment about [[jackaroo]]s and thought she had said "[[jackalope]]," then decided to write a stub about a [[hoax]] (which might not be a hoax) from his own state: the [[Kensington Runestone]].  Then he added a shot of a whole bunch of stones, which Hadrian had made into a [[Hadrian's Wall|wall]] to keep out the Scots, who were ''very'' fond of hoaxes.


*[[User:Jochen Wendebaum|Jochen]] played a bit with [[Excavator|his favourite toys]] and lit a [[Advent|candle]] which [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta]] forgot to do. [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=User_talk:Jochen_Wendebaum&diff=0&oldid=100181770 Thanks to her] I write this down here.
[[User:Joe Quick|Joe]] showed up to the [[Cinco de Mayo]] festivities two days late but felt compelled to expound on its history anyway.


==Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun==
Have been busy coding this afternoon (in [[Python (programming language)]]), and before that was getting an eye test at the [[Opthalmology|opthalmologist]] after a week of severe computer monitor-induced headaches. Now too tired to put an article together, but glad to see [[Special:Recentchanges|others have been busy]]. Opts for a tall, cool glass of cloudy lemonade, pops some [[Big Beat]] tunes on and parties. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 16:43, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis]] decided to give Larry what he wanted, and so created [[Trenchcoat]] (It's only a stub mind) He also later created the section on US Popular culture in the [[Cold War]] article (http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Cold_War#American), though got too lazy to include the [[Civil Rights Movement]] in any serious detail, he does plan to spend some time later working on the [[Sexual Revolution]] (I'm sure it won't take a psychologist to work out what mood I'm in :-O) [[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis Cavanagh]] 07:36, 3 December 2007 (CST)
:''[[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]] compares Denis's first statement with his last, decides it's none of her business.''
::''[[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton]] ROFLs!''
:::''[[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denny]] blushes!''


*[[user:Louise Valmoria|Louise]] is reading the above statements and just beginning to realise the fun she missed out on last time by working on the write-a-thon without stopping by this page. She has started an article on the [[Montcada family]] (currently a stub, but she will extend it), intends on working further on [[Albrecht Dürer]], and continuing on the medieval / art area will be working on [[Peter Parler]] and [[Adam Kraft]]. --[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 15:59, 4 December 2007 (CST)
==The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures==
: Blending in with the Write-a-thon crowd in a [[trench coat]], Louise is now [[accommodation|getting the idea of this]] (and enjoying it!) and has continued on with her art history theme with [[Dieric Bouts]].--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 00:23, 5 December 2007 (CST)
: After checking out the [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Core_Articles/Arts Core Articles for the Arts] and still rather much on a [[Catalan]] bent, Louise is going to work on [[Antoni Gaudí]]. Also, there isn't any [[beer]] in the house and Derek is wondering where the drinks are, so is offering [[cognac]] 'cause that's the only thing she has at the moment! --[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 05:49, 5 December 2007 (CST)


'''''Waking the dead'''''
* [[User:Pierre-Alain Gouanvic|Pierre-Alain]] was considering the idea of honouring a few medical pioneers when he received an invitation from [[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]] for the Write-a-thon. An epic battle against the forces of death and oblivion is about to take place. --[[User:Pierre-Alain Gouanvic|Pierre-Alain Gouanvic]] 19:57, 4 December 2007 (CST)
: Dear Catherine!
: "''Catherine Kousmine (September 17, 1904 in Hvalynsky, Russia - August 24, 1992]] in Lutry, Switzerland) was a scientist, physician and thinker who devoted her entire life to understand and treat diseases of civilization...''" as editing advances, she's coming back to life!! --[[User:Pierre-Alain Gouanvic|Pierre-Alain Gouanvic]] 20:21, 4 December 2007 (CST)
:: I did not edit another author's article!! OOOps. I'll take care of this ''manu militari''... --[[User:Pierre-Alain Gouanvic|Pierre-Alain Gouanvic]] 20:33, 4 December 2007 (CST)
::: Done. Added the French touch to the [[breakfast]] article. --[[User:Pierre-Alain Gouanvic|Pierre-Alain Gouanvic]] 23:28, 4 December 2007 (CST)
*[[User: Roger Lohmann|Roger]] did his best one-trick write-a-thon pony routine this month, and concentrated exclusively on the development of a major new article on [[Hull House]] which no longer automatically redirects to the still-wonderful article  on Ms. [[Jane Addams]].


== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
== The total party poops ==
''Go ahead, admit it!''


==Special Requests==
While every one is here. Does anyone have any opinions on the proposal at: [[CZ:Proposals/Should we allow article specific subpages?]] [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 12:04, 7 May 2008 (CDT)


== Party crashers--contributors who didn't create a new article ==
:I'll reply on the page. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 12:27, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
Steve is busy behind the scenes getting some fab photos for your new starts! [[User:Stephen Ewen|Stephen Ewen]] 03:05, 5 December 2007 (CST)


Again, [[User talk:Chris Day|Chris]] has been editing other peoples articles [[Calla Lily]] and [[Ascorbic acid]]. So others know, [[User:Alexander_N._Alexandrov]] is making a start on the latter. He's a new kid on the block, so old hands feel free to help him find his feet. [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] [[User talk:Chris Day|(talk)]] 03:06, 5 December 2007 (CST)
I have a special request of my own.  Any feedback on the developing [[Archive:Workgroup Weeks|Workgroup Weeks]] plan?  It's not entirely finished, but there's enough there that should make the general idea
clear enough. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 12:27, 7 May 2008 (CDT)


[[User:Russ McGinn|Russ]] finally got to add an image to [[Antoni Gaudi]] and a little note on [[Modernisme]].
Also, while everyone is here, can they have a look at my new proposal: [[CZ:Proposals/Should we remove the educational prequisites in place in order to be considered for the Constabulary?]] (P.S- Look at my main summary also.) [[User:Denis Cavanagh|Denis Cavanagh]] 16:50, 7 May 2008 (CDT)


Bruce just came for the [[wine]], bringing a bunch of Norwegian party-crashers with him. He also seems to be confused about which holiday season it is: Hanukkah (for which the fluid du jour is oil), not Passover! [[User:Bruce M.Tindall|Bruce M.Tindall]] 13:20, 6 December 2007 (CST)
:Okay, I'll go take a look.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:26, 7 May 2008 (CDT)


==Shy Boys==
:I came, I saw, I commented.  I answered the question "no"... --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:47, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:''If you notice(d) any, please add them in so they can get credit--and we can invite them to next month's party!


*[[user:Michael J. Formica|Michael]] evidently understands Aleta, with articles on lots of problems, including narcis... narsis...[[narcissistic personality disorder|it's all about me, me, ME!]]
OK, i have set up an experiment.  There is now a definition subpage tab (Def) at the top of the page. Also talk pages will have instructions in the todo box. Feel free to play with it. Or complain, it might be buggy. [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 17:13, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
*[[user:Ro Thorpe|Ro]] made lots of minor edits, and taught us all about T.  No, I said '''"[[T]]"''', not [[tea]]!
*[[User:Alexander N. Alexandrov|Alexander]] worked away quietly and modestly on improving our health with [[ascorbic acid]].
*[[user:Paul Wormer|Paul]] jumped the gun introducing us to [[Amedeo Avogadro|Avogadro]], then continued with all sorts of [[atomic mass constant|numbers]] the rest of us don't get.
*[[user:Richard Jensen|Richard]] jumped the gun and gave us a [[U.S. History]] lesson; then he worked away diligently for the duration and said nothing about it.
*[[user:Robert Badgett|Robert]] led us in [[exercise]], and taught us about many health issues, including [[sinusitis]] and [[geriatrics]].
* [[User:Joris Rombouts|Joris]] was keen; he waited up till midnight to tell us about the [[Cursus honorum]] .
* [[User:Giovanni Antonio DiMatteo|Giovanni]] surveyed his [[Dedekind domain|domain]].
* [[user:David E. Volk |David]] got a little [[Carboxylic acid|caustic]] .
*[[User:Harald Helfgott|Harald]]  threw us  [[Hyperelliptic curve|a curve]], by being shy, sitting on the porch and jumping the gun.
*[[user:Yi Zhe Wu|Yi]] sobered us up with an article about the [[Columbine Massacre]].  Then he donned a [[trench coat]].
*[[user: Jitse Niesen|Jitse]] was  [[Topological space|spaced out]].


== The total party poops ==
:I tried it accidentally.  Seems to work fine.  Here's a queston:  when I start definitions, I've been just launching into it, rather than opening with the actual name.  In other words, I write, Def. Tea: a drink with jam and bread.  As opposed to Def. Tea:  Tea is a drink with jam and bread.  This work for everyone? [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:26, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:''Go ahead, admit it!''


*I will be a party poop until this evening, because I'm about to leave for [[Graceland]] (no, really!) and then the airport.  But [[Elvis Presley]] and I will be with you, drinking wine (or other [[beverage]], in spirit (so to speak). --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 07:45, 5 December 2007 (CST)
::That's what I do to, no need for redundancy. Just out of interest, how would you feel if we had the definition in the metadata template rather than on a subpage? Would that be more or less complicated/confusing? [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 23:03, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:"In spirit" ha!  You really think there's gonna be wine left by the time you get here?
*Argh! ergh! dog ate invitation, looking after sick girlfriend, work commitments until early evening.......but then! woohoo [[Mumtaz Mahal]] away.......--[[User:Russ McGinn|Russ McGinn]] 11:01, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:I heartily approve of looking after sick girlfriends.  We'll see you when we see you. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 15:47, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo]] today was submerged by boureauocracy and the likes. Shees... thanks Aleta for your kind invitation, but today I can't really do it. So sorry! But I am with you all. Please forgive me... --[[User:Nereo Preto|Nereo Preto]] 11:05, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:Apology accepted.  There's always next month!  :)  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 15:47, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*[[user:ZachPruckowski|Zach]] had a major league excuse involving schoolwork, so we'll see him next time.
*[[user:Hendra I. Nurdin|Hendra]] also sends apologies.
*[[user:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] returned from two weeks away from his desk to discover that his @#$%^&* motherboard had died during his absence (from lack of its daily ration of [[Navy Grog]] most likely) and it was only within the last half hour that he has been able to get back online after an absence of one entire week. Believe me, being without an Internet-connected computer for a week is like having your right arm cut off....[[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 16:25, 9 December 2007 (CST)


== Questions ==
== Questions ==
''You ask--we answer.  Ask anything.  Keep it clean, now.''
Test yourself, an be honest, no books. Can you name one country for each letter of the alphabet. Then, can you name the capital city of each of those countries? [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 07:00, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:Honest answer (tried this in the last 15 minutes): <s>I'm stuck on 'W' and 'X' for countries.</s> Oh, I am naff. Now I'm only stuck on X. I know the capital city for only about half of those. Of course, if I went back to my country list and filled it in with country names with capital cities that I know, instead of listing the first ones that come to mind, my hit rate might be higher (why do I think of 'Finland' immediately instead of 'France'? ... oh, I just remembered what the capital is, but still, not the first that comes to mind), but even then my capital city knowledge would probably be only be about 65%, max. Need to improve my knowledge on African and Middle Eastern countries. Nice challenge, Derek. Now, I wonder if we have articles on each of the ones we come up with? [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 09:16, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
::Ohh, I think I cheated.  I used whatever name I thought of first, either in English or in that country's language.  You didn't say we had to stick to English. I used old names too. I also named the first country that came to mind and then if the capital didn't pop into my head I picked another country.  Stuck on "W" and "X".  Okay, okay, going back and eliminating foreign names and names of countries that no longer exist.  Still stuck on "W" and "X". Thinking of cities, states, territories, districts, everything but a COUNTRY with those initials!  Aaaargh!!! Not able to let this go--I HAVE to get it!!!  Aaaargh!!!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:36, 7 May 2008 (CDT) 


Why is the South's food so good?  Is it mainly the spices, or is it the fat? --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 19:32, 4 December 2007 (CST)
:Hmm, are we allowed to use the pinyin romanization of the Chinese name for a formerly independent country now occupied by China that has been in the news a lot (re: Olympic torch, violent repression, etc.) recently?  Oh.  I didn't think so.  Oh well, so much for my candidate for "X".  [[User:Bruce M.Tindall|Bruce M.Tindall]] 10:51, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:Both. --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 21:08, 4 December 2007 (CST)
If you could tell a rich old guy the best way to spend his millions to improve [[U.S. public school system|American public education]], what would you tell him? --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 19:32, 4 December 2007 (CST)
:Stop granting tenure to bad teachers and fire the ones that can't perform and teach acceptance of differences, not hate. --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 21:08, 4 December 2007 (CST)
::Bring back [[uniform]]s and learning by rote.  Also, the millionaire can't do it without societal changes: put the teaching of ethics back in the home, not the school, and stop expecting teachers to be baby-sitters and social workers with all the responsibility and no authority.  Overhaul the welfare system.  Stop graduating illiterate people.  And parent's first question in response to "teacher did such and such to me" should be "what did you do to upset teacher?" not "how *dare* s/he?!"
[[Progress]] isn't really inevitable, is it? --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 19:32, 4 December 2007 (CST)
:Impoverished nations might argue otherwise. --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 21:08, 4 December 2007 (CST)
Is [[weakness of will]], or what the ancient Greeks (and pretentious contemporary philosophers) call(ed) ''[[akrasia]],'' really possible?  Is it possible to do the wrong thing knowingly, or is every wrong act explainable in part in terms of a failure to understand what is right (as Socrates seems to have thought)?  In short, is knowledge virtue, and is vice always an indicator of some special kind of ignorance? --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 20:01, 4 December 2007 (CST)  [P.S. maybe you should move me to the party poops right now just for asking that question.  :-)  :-) ]
:You can do the wrong thing on purpose for some certain means; you can also do the wrong thing because you don't know the difference between right and wrong (it was never ingrained in you as a child). --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 21:08, 4 December 2007 (CST)
What is it with the Write-a-Thon and Australian women?  Ah, well, it's because they get to go first (it's Wednesday there before anywhere else!). --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 20:05, 4 December 2007 (CST)
:Loaded question. --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 21:08, 4 December 2007 (CST)
:: I think 'getting to go first' might have been a loaded answer! --[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 22:57, 4 December 2007 (CST)
:::[snorting I'm laughing so hard]  I would say something, but dashed if I can think of a good comeback! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:30, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*Where is everyone?  Isn't it Wednesday in the U.S. ''yet??!!'' Oh, yes, all gone sleepy sleepy and I'll have to wait till you wakey wakey.  Better go send out some more invitations, just in case....[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:30, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*What's the official alcohol this time round?? [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:30, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:We've done [[beer]], and I think [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek]] has got the right idea with starting his writing day with [[wine]] ... mmm, shiraz.--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 06:26, 5 December 2007 (CST)


How much wood ''could'' a woodchop chop if a woodchop could chop wood? I theorise that it relies on several factors: among these, bulk and strength of the woodchop, sharpness of the blade, the grain of the wood, and [[precipitation]] levels in the air (does [[humidity]] affect the ease of woodcutting?)--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 06:31, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:Can't come up with anything for X.  Surprised myself with how well I did on capitals.  Now here's another question: can you come up with a capital city for each letter of the alphabet and then name the country? --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 11:49, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:Methinks Louise has already started hitting the wine.  That's [[woodchuck]], right?  Size of the axe, too.  Couldn't be a very big axe, or else it would have to be a very big woodchuck.  We clearly need to have reference articles on these important topics --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 07:42, 5 December 2007 (CST)
::Excellent point, Larry. Slept on it for a bit and realised that we also need to factor in the material of the axe--[[steel]]? [[iron]]? Some kind of [[alloy]]? And, experimentally, one would also need to give a time duration in which to determine how much would a woodchuck could chop. Otherwise, lifespan notwithstanding, this amount could actually be infinite. And are we looking at one individual woodchuck, or could one effect [[experimental control]] and work from [[statistics]] of a population of woodchucks? Also, is the [[pun]] actually 'how much wood could a woodchuck chuck?' because if he's chucking, that's a completely different story.--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 15:58, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:::Louise swears to drunk she's not God.  I learned it as ''how many chucks'', in school and at home, but if you think I'm writing an article on [[vomiting|chucking]]...! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 16:06, 5 December 2007 (CST)
::::Haha! Probably! So if it's a [[woodchuck]] chucking wood that would make it a whole different experiment to a woodchop chopping wood, wouldn't it? That's a whole other bag of chips ... wood chips at that ...--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:20, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:::Ouch!  You know what's really cool about [[woodchop]]?  It's a sport that one can enjoy right away, you don't have to know a whole bunch of mad rules to get it! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:52, 5 December 2007 (CST)
*Which is correct: "Is either of your parents studying Chinese?" or "Are either of your parents studying Chinese?" or both or neither. Also why? After that, tell me to you say either and neither or either and neither. (the first sounding like 'eye there' the second sounding like 'Eee there') or do you mix and match as the mood takes you. [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 08:09, 5 December 2007 (CST)
**I say "are either." And I switch back and forth on the pronunciation of either/neither.  I use whichever sounds better, which is usually determined by the first syllable of the next word, though I'd have to think about it to figure out which pronunciation goes with which syllables. --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 13:12, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:::I would ''say'' "are either", too.  But I think that would be incorrect.  So on a test, I would ''write'' "is either".  Where are the grammarians?  Need to know the answer to this one!  I usually rhyme to 'eye-thur', but I do switch. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 14:38, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:::I would say "are either", because it ''sounds'' right, parents being plural, but if we're selecting from one or the other I've a feeling it would "is either" because we're focusing on one. (I'm not a grammarian, I'm just particular). AlsoI say 'eye-thur' ... ingrained habit, I can't think of a time when I've switched.--[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 15:58, 5 December 2007 (CST)
::::Do either of your parents study Chinese?  No, neither does.  Yes, both do.  Yes, one does. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:59, 5 December 2007 (CST)
::::Answer, both are wrong. While it is normal for English speakers to use 'Are' here because 'your' and 'parents' are or may be plural, The error is actually in the use of 'either'. The word either requires the choice between two separate answers. This one or that one or neither. Both is not acceptable with 'either'. Since one possible answer is 'Yes, both...' the word 'either' shouldn't really be used. A different word such as 'Are any of...' or 'Is one or more of...' should have been used. [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 06:10, 6 December 2007 (CST)
:::::Eliminate forms of the verb 'to be'.  "Do your parents, or does one of them, study Chinese?" --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] [[User talk:Anthony.Sebastian|(Talk)]] 16:30, 6 December 2007 (CST)
::::::Changing the verb 'to be' into the verb 'to do' doesn't solve the problem or subject verb agreement. You are still left with the question of 'Do' or 'Does' instead of 'Are' or 'Is'. [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 19:30, 6 December 2007 (CST)
:::::::Are any of your parents fluent in the Chinese language?  Are any of your parents studying chinese?  Yes, one of them is.  No, none of them are.  Neither of them are studying chinese.  Do both of your parents study Chinese?  Does one of your parents speak chinese?  Yes, One does.  Yes, they both do.  --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 22:34, 6 December 2007 (CST)


*What would Rousseau think about Citizendium's take on the wiki model? I thought at first that he would be slightly disapproving (préférences and all that - the sort of stuff that Wikipedians tend to dislike about how we organize the community) but now I'm not so sure because I think he would quite like the real names policy... Can you tell I'm knee deep in finals papers? --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 13:12, 5 December 2007 (CST)
:''Hungry? Is that a country? I thought [[Europe]] was a country.'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANTDkfkoBaI] --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 16:56, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
** Been a long time since I read Rousseau so I can't really tell you there, Joe. :-)  He was a crazy, vain, radical egalitarian. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:59, 5 December 2007 (CST)


*Is [[user:Hayford Peirce|Hayford]] ''ill??''  Where is he? And where's [[user:D. Matt Innis|that Matt]]?? [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 15:50, 5 December 2007 (CST)
==It's a wrap!==
May was a whirlwind, so I didn't wrap things up properly, sorry folks. Still, we had a success with informative new articles, as always. Thanks, folks! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 19:39, 27 May 2008 (CDT)  


==It's a wrap!==
I call upon the Editor-in-chief to declare the December write-a-thon a success.  And the official drink was, without a doubt, [[wine]]! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:14, 7 December 2007 (CST)
== Previous shindigs ==
== Previous shindigs ==
* [[/November 7, 2007|November 7, 2007]]
{{CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/Previous_shindigs}}
* [[/October 3, 2007|October 3, 2007]]
* [[/September 5, 2007|September 5, 2007]]
* [[/August 1, 2007|August 1, 2007]]


== Official libations==
== Official libations==
Line 172: Line 132:
* October - we were refurbishing the [[bar]] and only had [[coffee]]!
* 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]].
* November - made up for last month with more [[vodka]] than was good for us and plenty of [[rum]].
* December - [[eggnog]] and [[wine]]
* January - [[Whisky]] and the ''Cocktail of the Month'', a [[pharisee (beverage)|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 [[shandy|shandies]] and [[spritzer]]s if that took your fancy.  Lotsa staggering around the bar after this party!
== Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions==
===New Suggestions and Discussion===
''Go ahead and propose one!''
====Great Men (and women too)====
What do you say we get some biographies started. No matter what workgroup you belong to, there will be a ''Great Person'' for your group so this is one that everybody can work on. You might do a famous scientist, maybe an actor or actress, perhaps a national leader, or whatever takes your fancy. [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 07:20, 31 March 2008 (CDT)
:Ooh!  Love this idea, moi! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:04, 31 March 2008 (CDT)
====Re: Olympics====
* If we do '''Olympics''' in May, how do we handle the passionate and possibly justifiable views of those who regard them as the 'Genocide Olympics' (thinking of Darfur) or the 'Cultural Genocide Olympics' (thinking of Tibet) or the 'Pulmonicide Olympics' (thinking of air pollution)?  Suggest we adopt theme(s) from Charles Darwin's works, to get ahead of the crowd planning activities etc. to celebrate the bicenntenial of Darwin's birth, Feb 12, 2009, less than a year away.  CZ knows a good idea when it sees it. --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 18:58, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
:We don't even have an article on Tibet yet! We know China has blocked Wikipedia. Has China blocked Citizendium? [[User:Meg Ireland|Meg Ireland]] 19:15, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
::Citizendium is not blocked in China. Also, the English Wikipedia is not blocked at the moment either. We don't have articles about most places yet. We don't even have a completed article about China let alone smaller places. [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 20:16, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
:::I'm happy to add a Darwinian theme to a future write-a-thon--but...but...Anthony, are you nay-saying The Olympics??  Surely not! 
:::Meg and Derek--yes, but that's all right.  I think it'll make people ''want'' to get rid of red links!
:::[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:50, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
====Why not themes on holidays?====
[[May Day]] is that week after all. We can getting cracking on [[Maypole]] and [[Moriss dancers]] and of course [[Fete]]s. Possibly tie in other [[pagan]] themes, [[stonehenge]] and such.  Or even go with the obscure maritime connection and make a start on the [[Titanic]], (may day may day). Of course there is the [[labor movement]] too and the [[Haymarket riot]] for those who want to stick to politics.  Anyway, you get the idea.  [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 22:29, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
:What a great idea, Chris! ''Cinco de Mayo'', May sickness, St Joseph--I think we could work this.... [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 22:45, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] suggests '''My Favorite Band or Music Genre''', because everyone has one! [[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] 12:37, 5 May 2008 (CDT)
===Future Theme Schedule===
* May - '''Holidays'''
* June - '''The Olympics!''' (Need Olympic Rings here) (and a sub-theme for July and August too, I would think)
*July - '''Biographies!''' The Good, the bad, and the altogether ugly.  Also: The Olympics, because I will well and truly have Olympic fever by then!
**Computer authors please note the list of [[List_of_people_who_made_conceptual_breakthroughs_in_computer_science|people needing biographies]]
*August - '''Attractions''' - Someplace you always wanted to go/something you always wanted to see. And/or a local attraction--go ahead and plug something wonderful about your city, county or village. AND...you guessed it...The Olympics!!!
*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 musical, and it's your fave, write about it!


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 177: Line 170:
* [[CZ:Weekly Wiki|Weekly Wiki]]
* [[CZ:Weekly Wiki|Weekly Wiki]]
* [[CZ:Article of the Week|Article of the Week]]
* [[CZ:Article of the Week|Article of the Week]]
* [[CZ:New Article of the Week|New Article of the Week]]
* [[Archive:New Draft of the Week|New Article of the Week]]


<!-- The categories - saving for Sept. 5
{{initiatives}}
 
== 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 ==
-->

Latest revision as of 05:02, 8 March 2024

Holidays, Festivals and Fetes
Anything having to do with a celebration. Or a commemoration (sometimes memories are sad, too).
Bonus points if it's an event that takes place in the month of May!

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, May 7th, 2008. May 7th starts on May 6th, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on May 7th, 1200 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 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

Holidays, Festivals and Fetes
Anything having to do with a celebration. Or a commemoration (sometimes memories are sad, too).
Bonus points if it's an event that takes place in the month of May!


(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!)

Create an article, already!

Check it out: Start an article!

Now (this time anyway) easier than ever! Stubs are not only permitted they are encouraged!

The Partiers

  • Aleta found her way into the party room, despite not feeling in the party mood due to intestinal upset. Oy! Where is everybody???!! [Searches for party hat] Decided to start at the beginning with New Year's Eve before moving on to my beloved shows. More--I *did* actually do my edit, to Cinco de Mayo so I count as a bona fide partier. I did some other stuff, too, but this was an awful internet connection week and I've forgotten what. Like Pat, I've jumped the gun on biographies. Probably gonna jump the gun on Olympics, too. Aleta Curry 03:49, 11 May 2008 (CDT)
Aleta, don't these things include tractor pulls? No American fair I've ever attended has failed to have one of those!Pat Palmer 21:30, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
You know, I don't think so. I think that *might* be an element at a field day, but I'm not entirely sure. Aleta Curry 03:49, 11 May 2008 (CDT)
  • Waves to Aleta. Louise Valmoria has wandered onto the porch outside, with lots of work in hand--busy day on the roads today. Still buzzed from some low-key Cinco de Mayo celebrations, she is wondering who else is around to join the masquerade ...
Hi Louise! Haven't stopped by the bottle shop yet, but I will! (Where's Derek when ya need him??)  ;) Aleta Curry 19:27, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
Ian's here! [punches air] Yessss!! Aleta Curry 20:09, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
In honour of Aleta's unbridled exuberance Ian got excited and went off to Mardi Gras.
  • Dave here, a bit early, but also leaving early, since I turn into a pumpkin at midnight... Mulled cider all around...and good night! David L Green 22:53, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
  • Chris noticed Auld Lang Syne mentioned in Aleta's New Year's Eve and thought an Ode to a Haggis was needed, so started on Burns supper.
  • Supten was late this time and decided to inform all about Rabindra Jayanti. However, he found that there wasn't any article on Rabindranath Tagore, so he created a stub and tried to find out which new articles to edit. Finally, he added an external link to New Year's Eve.
  • Derek Hodges (Guess I'm not going to be on a first name basis around here, not even Derek H.) just got back from a couple of days with family and the Canadian Tulip Festival. A festival! and in May.
[Edited to say--exactly *how* mixed up can one woman get?? See comment immediately below.] What on earth we're going to do with all these folks with the same first name...bunch of nicknames? Don't know why all your parents couldn't have named you something sensible, like Aleta....though I've been mixed up with other Aletas on the very rare occasion, believe it or not.... Aleta Curry 05:44, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
  • Derek Harkness thinks Aleta's getting worked up over nothing. It's not that common a name. Just think of the problems if we were called John Smith. Thinking of which, do we have any Smiths here? Derek started earlier today with a new article at Inner Mongolia then added some history to Liaoning. He was going to do holidays but he'd already done Chinese New Year and Shrove Tuesday on a previous write-a-thon.
But...but...it was Derek! The other Derek! Well, first it was Robert, because we've got a lot of Roberts, as well. Okay, so I'm a twit and I responded to one Derek by talking to the other one. I'll leave, now. Aleta Curry 20:56, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
  • Bruce Tindall started an article about Juneteenth, which, because it originated in Texas and occurs in the summer, may make very sweet iced tea eligible to become this Write-a-Thon's official libation. But, because Aleta started the day with New Year's Eve (to which I added a few sentences), it may be difficult to avoid enshrining champagne this month.
Australians don't make iced tea, more's the pity. Interesting you wrote about Juneteenth, because I was recently reading about the connection between Juneteeth, New Year's and Watchnight. African American slaves did not *invent* Watchnights, but the New Year's Eve of 1863 was so very important because the Emancipation Proclamation would take effect, that they participated in the Watchnight. There's an article in here somewhere.... Aleta Curry 21:06, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
  • Larry Sanger added to the New Year's Eve revelry...and then lo, his mouth opened, and he spoke truth! Then he danced a reel--OK, no, he played a reel, the dancing you don't want to see. By the way, it sure would be nice to include a recording or two of a reel... Anyway, also started some Celtic music...appropriate for May Day as any, I'm sure...
  • Embarrassed by not turning up with anything more bountiful, Tom Morris rustles up a quick stub on Harvest Festival, a rather reserved and British version of Thanksgiving. Being an author in the realm of eternal, transcendent ideas makes it rather difficult to think about the day-to-day. --Tom Morris 17:13, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
  • Pat has been meddling with Larry's Celtic music article. This is a milestone: my very first opportunity to participate in a WriteAThon. Whoopeeeeeeeeeee!Pat Palmer 21:28, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
    • Welcome, Pat! Thanks for the edits! --Larry Sanger 21:49, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
    • It's still Wednesday and I have yet to create an article. Well, here goes: in keeping with the theme, I'll create the World's Biggest Fish Fry.Pat Palmer 22:25, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
  • Hayford wandered into the party with a smug expression on his face as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, having already created Butter, homemade/Recipe; Clarified butter; and then, just for kicks, Clarified butter/Recipe. Then he remembered that supposedly, true Partiers were supposed to not only create an article, they were also supposed to edit someone else's newly created article. So he zoomed off to Larry's latest article and, in truth wrought a couple of edits. So at least he, with a glass of single-malt Scotch currently in hand, is a true partier. But is anyone else? Or is the Must Edit rule now being observed only in its abeyance? Not that that actually makes the other Partiers bad human beings, I suppose.... Hayford Peirce 21:32, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
Ha, ha--no, you're right. I suppose I should really move a whole lot of people over to the porch sitters list.... Aleta Curry 03:49, 11 May 2008 (CDT)
Very impressive, Hayford. I wasted 20 minutes trying to think of something useful to add to butter but then realized I was tired and needed to quit. Signing off soon, I really mean it this time.Pat Palmer 23:08, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun

  • No way am I going to have time for the Write-A-Thon in July ("Biographies"), so I've gone ahead and started the article on Claude Shannon right now.Pat Palmer 11:00, 9 May 2008 (CDT)
Good on ya, girl! Accepted with pleasure. (Someone remind me to copy this to the July W-a-T! Aleta Curry 03:41, 11 May 2008 (CDT)

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

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

Its 2AM in Ireland and Denis was getting pretty tired of looking at a very short Jean-Jacques Rousseau page, so he made it a little bigger. Anyone else up for one of the most influential thinkers of European History? Denis Cavanagh 20:02, 6 May 2008 (CDT)

Rousseau area of my brain has cobwebs, I'm afraid. Go get some sleep. Come back. Wait--you're young--stay up, what the heck! Aleta Curry 20:11, 6 May 2008 (CDT)

David is still busy importing musician pics for the Stingaree Music Festival, but hey, its not quite Weds where I live, so I still have a chance to party tomorrow. David E. Volk 23:03, 6 May 2008 (CDT)

Learned something else new! Thanks! Aleta Curry 05:31, 7 May 2008 (CDT)


Joe showed up to the Cinco de Mayo festivities two days late but felt compelled to expound on its history anyway.

Have been busy coding this afternoon (in Python (programming language)), and before that was getting an eye test at the opthalmologist after a week of severe computer monitor-induced headaches. Now too tired to put an article together, but glad to see others have been busy. Opts for a tall, cool glass of cloudy lemonade, pops some Big Beat tunes on and parties. --Tom Morris 16:43, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

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

The total party poops

Go ahead, admit it!

Special Requests

While every one is here. Does anyone have any opinions on the proposal at: CZ:Proposals/Should we allow article specific subpages? Chris Day 12:04, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

I'll reply on the page. --Larry Sanger 12:27, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

I have a special request of my own. Any feedback on the developing Workgroup Weeks plan? It's not entirely finished, but there's enough there that should make the general idea clear enough. --Larry Sanger 12:27, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

Also, while everyone is here, can they have a look at my new proposal: CZ:Proposals/Should we remove the educational prequisites in place in order to be considered for the Constabulary? (P.S- Look at my main summary also.) Denis Cavanagh 16:50, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

Okay, I'll go take a look. Aleta Curry 21:26, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
I came, I saw, I commented. I answered the question "no"... --Larry Sanger 21:47, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

OK, i have set up an experiment. There is now a definition subpage tab (Def) at the top of the page. Also talk pages will have instructions in the todo box. Feel free to play with it. Or complain, it might be buggy. Chris Day 17:13, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

I tried it accidentally. Seems to work fine. Here's a queston: when I start definitions, I've been just launching into it, rather than opening with the actual name. In other words, I write, Def. Tea: a drink with jam and bread. As opposed to Def. Tea: Tea is a drink with jam and bread. This work for everyone? Aleta Curry 21:26, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
That's what I do to, no need for redundancy. Just out of interest, how would you feel if we had the definition in the metadata template rather than on a subpage? Would that be more or less complicated/confusing? Chris Day 23:03, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

Questions

Test yourself, an be honest, no books. Can you name one country for each letter of the alphabet. Then, can you name the capital city of each of those countries? Derek Harkness 07:00, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

Honest answer (tried this in the last 15 minutes): I'm stuck on 'W' and 'X' for countries. Oh, I am naff. Now I'm only stuck on X. I know the capital city for only about half of those. Of course, if I went back to my country list and filled it in with country names with capital cities that I know, instead of listing the first ones that come to mind, my hit rate might be higher (why do I think of 'Finland' immediately instead of 'France'? ... oh, I just remembered what the capital is, but still, not the first that comes to mind), but even then my capital city knowledge would probably be only be about 65%, max. Need to improve my knowledge on African and Middle Eastern countries. Nice challenge, Derek. Now, I wonder if we have articles on each of the ones we come up with? Louise Valmoria 09:16, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
Ohh, I think I cheated. I used whatever name I thought of first, either in English or in that country's language. You didn't say we had to stick to English. I used old names too. I also named the first country that came to mind and then if the capital didn't pop into my head I picked another country. Stuck on "W" and "X". Okay, okay, going back and eliminating foreign names and names of countries that no longer exist. Still stuck on "W" and "X". Thinking of cities, states, territories, districts, everything but a COUNTRY with those initials! Aaaargh!!! Not able to let this go--I HAVE to get it!!! Aaaargh!!! Aleta Curry 17:36, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
Hmm, are we allowed to use the pinyin romanization of the Chinese name for a formerly independent country now occupied by China that has been in the news a lot (re: Olympic torch, violent repression, etc.) recently? Oh. I didn't think so. Oh well, so much for my candidate for "X". Bruce M.Tindall 10:51, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
Can't come up with anything for X. Surprised myself with how well I did on capitals. Now here's another question: can you come up with a capital city for each letter of the alphabet and then name the country? --Joe Quick 11:49, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
Hungry? Is that a country? I thought Europe was a country. [1] --Tom Morris 16:56, 7 May 2008 (CDT)

It's a wrap!

May was a whirlwind, so I didn't wrap things up properly, sorry folks. Still, we had a success with informative new articles, as always. Thanks, folks! Aleta Curry 19:39, 27 May 2008 (CDT)

Previous shindigs

empty form

Official libations

  • 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
  • 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!

Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions

New Suggestions and Discussion

Go ahead and propose one!

Great Men (and women too)

What do you say we get some biographies started. No matter what workgroup you belong to, there will be a Great Person for your group so this is one that everybody can work on. You might do a famous scientist, maybe an actor or actress, perhaps a national leader, or whatever takes your fancy. Derek Harkness 07:20, 31 March 2008 (CDT)

Ooh! Love this idea, moi! Aleta Curry 18:04, 31 March 2008 (CDT)

Re: Olympics

  • If we do Olympics in May, how do we handle the passionate and possibly justifiable views of those who regard them as the 'Genocide Olympics' (thinking of Darfur) or the 'Cultural Genocide Olympics' (thinking of Tibet) or the 'Pulmonicide Olympics' (thinking of air pollution)? Suggest we adopt theme(s) from Charles Darwin's works, to get ahead of the crowd planning activities etc. to celebrate the bicenntenial of Darwin's birth, Feb 12, 2009, less than a year away. CZ knows a good idea when it sees it. --Anthony.Sebastian 18:58, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
We don't even have an article on Tibet yet! We know China has blocked Wikipedia. Has China blocked Citizendium? Meg Ireland 19:15, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
Citizendium is not blocked in China. Also, the English Wikipedia is not blocked at the moment either. We don't have articles about most places yet. We don't even have a completed article about China let alone smaller places. Derek Harkness 20:16, 3 April 2008 (CDT)
I'm happy to add a Darwinian theme to a future write-a-thon--but...but...Anthony, are you nay-saying The Olympics?? Surely not!
Meg and Derek--yes, but that's all right. I think it'll make people want to get rid of red links!
Aleta Curry 21:50, 3 April 2008 (CDT)

Why not themes on holidays?

May Day is that week after all. We can getting cracking on Maypole and Moriss dancers and of course Fetes. Possibly tie in other pagan themes, stonehenge and such. Or even go with the obscure maritime connection and make a start on the Titanic, (may day may day). Of course there is the labor movement too and the Haymarket riot for those who want to stick to politics. Anyway, you get the idea. Chris Day 22:29, 3 April 2008 (CDT)

What a great idea, Chris! Cinco de Mayo, May sickness, St Joseph--I think we could work this.... Aleta Curry 22:45, 3 April 2008 (CDT)


Future Theme Schedule

  • May - Holidays
  • June - The Olympics! (Need Olympic Rings here) (and a sub-theme for July and August too, I would think)
  • July - Biographies! The Good, the bad, and the altogether ugly. Also: The Olympics, because I will well and truly have Olympic fever by then!
  • August - Attractions - Someplace you always wanted to go/something you always wanted to see. And/or a local attraction--go ahead and plug something wonderful about your city, county or village. AND...you guessed it...The Olympics!!!
  • 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 musical, and it's your fave, write about it!

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