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, November 7.'''  November 7 starts on November 6, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on November 8, 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!


Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article, when it's that day in your part of the world, will count.
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.
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.
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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, you're just 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:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] got off to an early start and brought some [[vodka]] for everyone. You shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, so after playing with Aleta's [[marbles]] (Ooh er!) he called the local Chinese restaurant and got some [[Chinese cuisine]]. Went to [[Wales]] to relax then upped sticks and went to [[Denmark]] instead. He left the party a little late, but not before opening a brand new bottle of [[rum]] for everyone.  
*[[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)
: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)
::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)
* 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]] ...
::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)
*[[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]].
::Ian's here!  [''punches air''] '''Yessss!!''' [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:09, 6 May 2008 (CDT)
:::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]].
*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)
*[[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]].
*[[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]].
*[[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.
::[''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)
* [[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)
 
== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==


*[[user:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]] thought she was early, but found [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek]] already on the party floor (literally--must've been all the vodka!)  Fortunately, Aleta had [[banana]]s, so what with those and the [[vodka]], maybe [[user:Hayford Peirce|Hayford]] will share his [[daiquiri]] receipt?  Oh, wait--that takes [[rum]]--don't we have any [[rum]]??! (Aleta knows bananas are not normally party fare, but didn't want to hear [[user:Larry Sanger|Larry]] sing that song again, so ''Yes!  We now have bananas--we have some bananas, todaaaaay!!!'') Decided to raise the tone by wearing a [[ball gown]], but hubby prefers [[jeans]] and he says I've lost my [[marbles]]! ''Psst!  pass me the vodka!''  Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for you, so made [[stew]].  Now dancing a [[waltz]] and singing [[lullaby|lullabies]]--must be the vodka!
:I got about 6 kinds of rum at home: which kind do you want? As [[Don the Beachcomber]] described his Perfect Breakfast:
::*One bunch bananas
::*One bottle of rum
::*One parrot
::*The parrot is to eat the bananas
:::[[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 17:12, 6 November 2007 (CST)
::Bacardi, extra dark, since you ask! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:20, 6 November 2007 (CST)
:::I've got Bacardi White and Bacardi Golden, but for extra dark I use only Meyers, which is clearly superior. Or at least so I've been led to believe.  If you put all three of them, plus a couple of others, into the same drink, plus various other goodies (see [[Zombie (cocktail)]], it becomes hard to tell them apart, particularly by the third drink.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 18:55, 6 November 2007 (CST)  I've never actually tried this--a Zombie, I mean--I've had Myers Rum-never to old to learn--pass a glass! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 19:09, 6 November 2007 (CST)
*[[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] was wandering through the [[CZ:Core_Articles/Applied_Arts_and_Sciences]] and found that there is no entry for [[Bio engineering]] yet. So, he thought of earning some [[CZ:Core Articles/Scores|''bragging rights'']]. Loving to jump among various topics, he found [[banana]] as an ideal source for [[nutrition]] as in the [[primates]]. He would love if the partiers (or others) can help in enriching the other pages he had started long time back - viz., [[Clinical decision support system]], [[Evidence-based medicine]], [[Hemispheric lateralization]], [[John Snow (physician)]] and, [[Biochemistry]].


*[[User:Clinton N. Jenkins|Clinton]] took a trip down to [[Everglades National Park]], where he wished he had a [[margarita]] to drink while he pondered how to make an infobox in CZ. A picture or two of the wildlife would be nice as well, perhaps a [[panther]] or [[alligator]].
== Party crashers--contributors who didn't create a new article ==
Cleaned up [[Gerald Ford]]. 
:Your friendly neighbourhood write-a-thon MC will see what she can do about getting your a margarite.  My word, do I love those! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 00:54, 7 November 2007 (CST)


Rum?  Try [http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com//images/products/0400000001234_xl.jpg 15 year old Barbancourt]. :-) [[User:Stephen Ewen|Stephen Ewen]] 23:52, 6 November 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)
:All I know is that [[Maximón]], who I've been neglecting, prefers [http://www.rum.cz/galery/cam/gt/zacapaneca/img/gt_8.jpg Venado] but is usually happy with [http://www.rum.cz/galery/cam/gt/zacapaneca/img/gt_7.jpg Quetzalteca]. I'd better get back to him soon or I'm going to be in a world of trouble... --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 00:52, 7 November 2007 (CST)
: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)
:Now you're talking, Stephen!  The charity auction of the last [[role-playing game]]s convention I was had a very rare [[Scotch whisky]] up for auction - it went for a cool €1000! [[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton Sweeney]] 04:46, 7 November 2007 (CST)


*[[User:Christian Liem|Christian]] created ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (basic information, dramatis personae, plot synopsis, incomplete list of adaptations). Today is also his first anniversary at Citizendium.
[[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)
:Happy Anniversary! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 00:54, 7 November 2007 (CST)
:Learned something else new!  Thanks!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 05:31, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
::Thank you :) --[[User:Christian Liem|Christian Liem]] 09:17, 7 November 2007 (CST)


*[[User:John_Stephenson|John Stephenson]], while chewing thoughtfully on a [[banana]], thought that a trip to [[Wales]] was in order. He doesn't know how to ask for a banana in [[Welsh language|Welsh]], though.


*[[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton]] suggested that everyone play a [[Live-action role-playing game|party game]], then had some [[vodka]]. [[User:Anton Sweeney|Anton Sweeney]] 05:20, 7 November 2007 (CST)
[[User:Joe Quick|Joe]] showed up to the [[Cinco de Mayo]] festivities two days late but felt compelled to expound on its history anyway.


*--[[User:Martin Baldwin-Edwards|Martin Baldwin-Edwards]] 05:34, 7 November 2007 (CST) decided to write about the place where he lives (Athens), although it is a bit stubby...
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)


*I have risen. --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 07:55, 7 November 2007 (CST)
==The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures==
**Another partier with divine aspirations. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 08:52, 7 November 2007 (CST)
***Edits for the WAT so far: [[Vodka]], [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Image:Tennis_court_dimensions_image.jpg A tennis court image to replace the invalid one], [[Drinking game]], [[Cyberpunk]], [[Metaphor]], [[Simile]],  


* [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] remembers watching ''[[The Odd Couple]]'' as a child, when he didn't get the jokes and never dreamed he would have the opportunity to write an article (a stub) about it--for [[CZ:Stub Week|Stub Week]].  He watched ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' but still doesn't get the jokes because Shakespeare is Deep.
** Hey, do you think you know Shakespeare's plays?  Then write up one-sentence "precisissisises" (what's the plural of "precis"?) on the new [[William Shakespeare/Works]] page.  Then...take your precees, and put use them to start [[CZ:Stub Week|new stubs]]...
** Off to buy [[trenchcoat]].  No, really.  I expect to see a stub about trenchcoats by the time I get back.  ;-) --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 14:35, 7 November 2007 (CST)


*[[User:Dan Nachbar|Dan Nachbar]] will get off the ground by making stubs for [[aircraft]] related topics.
== The total party poops ==
''Go ahead, admit it!''


*[[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford]] rubbed the sleep from his eyes and warmed up by inserting a mouthwatering image at [[Bolognese sauce]]. So now that he's had his high-carb and protein breakfast, he can get down to work.[[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 10:43, 7 November 2007 (CST)
==Special Requests==
:Then he decided that it was time for lunch (dinner hour in Lisbon) and whipped up a tasty dish of [[Portuguese pork stew with clams (ameijoas con carne de porco à alentejana)]], probably the longest name of a new article in quite a while, but one well worth the trouble. [[User:Ro Thorpe|Ro Thorpe]] is probably eating a big plate of it right now, the lucky devil! [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 11:38, 7 November 2007 (CST)
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)
::Next he had a sip of rum and edited the new article about [[Rum]]. [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 11:58, 7 November 2007 (CST)


*[[User:Joe Quick|Joe]] is waging an epic battle against a loaf of [[apricot]] bread that refuses to bake all the way through while he reads for a morning class.  He took the time to snap a shot of a [[banana]] flower, but he'll have to come back in the afternoon to do any more. 
:I'll reply on the page. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 12:27, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:Hmmm...wrong proportion of [[sodium bicarbonate|baking soda]]...too much water...oven too high...turn it all the way down, and plan on a trip to the local [[delicatessen|deli]] for a muffin--just in case!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:05, 7 November 2007 (CST)
::Nah. I usually bake it in two small metal bread pans but all I had on hand yesterday was one big glass one.  The material shouldn't make a huge difference but the size of the pan sure did.  It worked out in the end - the outside is a little crunchy, but the whole thing is delicious. I just need to procure the proper pans. --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 12:47, 7 November 2007 (CST)
:With bananas on the brain, Joe decided to create a stub for the [[United Fruit Company]].  He hopes that our resident historians will help him expand it, because he knows a lot about the company's interference in Central American governments but only knows a little about the company itself. --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 13:39, 7 November 2007 (CST)


== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
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
[[User:Yuval Langer|Yuval Langer]] is rocking back and forth on the porch while pondering how [[explosives]] are used in the construction of [[bomb|bombs]], but to no avail.
clear enough. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 12:27, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
:It's all about thermal expansion of gas. --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 09:03, 7 November 2007 (CST)
 
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)
 
:Okay, I'll go take a look.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:26, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
 
:I came, I saw, I commented.  I answered the question "no"... --[[User:Larry Sanger|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. [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 17:13, 7 May 2008 (CDT)


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


== The total party poops ==
::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)
:''Go ahead, admit it!''


== 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) 


*  '''Can''' two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 19:11, 6 November 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)
:: Why do we suspect that there is a story to tell here? --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:27, 6 November 2007 (CST) Aw, Larry, now I've got that theme song in my head!  ''[[The Odd Couple]]'' [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:02, 7 November 2007 (CST)
:::Right now it is totally not Wednesday. Damn the aussies! --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 22:00, 6 November 2007 (CST)  Now, now! If you ''edit'' something an Aussie has done, it'll count! :)  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:02, 7 November 2007 (CST)
::::Well, I just had to create [[The Odd Couple]]...stub.  :-) --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 08:23, 7 November 2007 (CST)


*Can an undergraduate housemate be trained to wash his dishes or clean the crud off the stove.  My [[magic 8 ball]] says prospects are dim. --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 00:31, 7 November 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)
::Oh dear, oh dear, it's not looking good.  I don't have an answer for this!  Threaten to hire a cleaner and charge the extra to his share? [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 01:02, 7 November 2007 (CST)
 
:::Yes.  You commit to each time collect up the dirty dishes and stove-crud and deposit them upon his bed. [[User:Stephen Ewen|Stephen Ewen]] 01:11, 7 November 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)
::::It has been known for university students to prefer to throw away dirty dishes [of the non-disposable variety] and buy new ones in preference to washing them. The prognosis is not good for your training program. --[[User:Martin Baldwin-Edwards|Martin Baldwin-Edwards]] 08:03, 7 November 2007 (CST)
 
:::::The cure for cancer is not in the rain forests. It is in fact in one of the undiscovered mold cultures in a freshman's fridge. Probably on either the tomato (I think that's what it was anyway) or the half eaten slice of pizza. We shall not loose the cure to deforestation, but rather to the drunken midnight snack of the student. With their bear goggles on, the pizza might look eatable and the cure will be lost forever. Given the choice of research in the rain forests of Costa Rica or looking inside the freshman's fridge, most researchers opt for the forest. Ergo the cure may lie undiscovered form many more terms. [[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] 08:32, 7 November 2007 (CST)
==It's a wrap!==
::::::Would you be discovering ''the cure'' or ''the new disease''... --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 09:05, 7 November 2007 (CST)
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)  
:We went for a couple of days without toilet paper at one point and without a shower curtain for almost two weeks as a part of my program, but I finally got tired of doing my business on campus and caved.  I don't think these guys even recognize the conditions that they're living in.  Fortunately, I also bought all the furniture for the livingroom and they seem to be afraid of using it, so I sort of got a free office out of the deal. --[[User:Joe Quick|Joe Quick]] 12:55, 7 November 2007 (CST)
::The implications of the two are hilarious. --[[User:Robert W King|Robert W King]] 14:37, 7 November 2007 (CST)


== Previous shindigs ==
== Previous shindigs ==
* [[/August 1, 2007|August 1, 2007]]
{{CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/Previous_shindigs}}
* [[/September 5, 2007|September 5, 2007]]
 
* [[/October 3, 2007|October 3, 2007]]
== 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 (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 113: 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!

See also


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

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