User talk:Pingswept/Archive early 05

Man, I'm addicted to this Wikinews thing.

I think I could spend a lot of time on this. Pingswept 03:03, 14 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Time to join Wikiholics Anonymous :-) -- IlyaHaykinson 03:25, 14 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for contributing

I just noticed that you had corrected some mistakes in the Japan defense story I posted this evening, and then found that you have done a lot of work to improve quite a few articles.

Thank you for all of your copyediting contributions.

Wikinews' quality is noticeably improved when so many mistakes are caught and fixed.

Regards,

— DV 03:21, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Help in English Language

I would like to thank you because you corrected some of my texts. I have some doubts about certain things in English and I would appreciate your comments.

1. "USA" or "the USA"? Which one is correct?
2. "FARC" or "the FARC"? Which one is correct? "FARC" and "USA" are not both the same case?
3. What is the difference between "covering" and "harboring"?
   

Thank you very much. -- Carlosar 20:53, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC)

---

Hi Carlosar,

I'm not really an authority on professional journalistic standards, but I'll give it a try.

RIGHT: "The event happened in the US." You could write "the USA," but I think "the US" is more common. "Kobe Bryant lives in Los Angeles, California, USA."

WRONG: "The event happened in US." "Kobe Bryant lives in Los Angeles, California, the USA."

I have seen both "FARC" and "the FARC" used. I did add "the" to at least one of your FARC articles, but I was just trying to make it consistent-- you had used "the FARC" elsewhere in the article. I think just "FARC" is more common.

"Covering" describes a blanket put over a baby or snow on the ground. It usually describes an outer layer, like a jacket. It can also describe the topic of an article, as in, "The article covered news of the kidnapping."

"Harboring" means "giving protection to." In the past few years, it has been used frequently in the media to describe countries that are friendly to terrorists.

Sometimes you hear people talk about a "cover-up," which means a scandal, in which, for example, the government tries to hide the truth from the people. I also noticed that you used the word "coverture," which was not a word I had seen before, but I think you used it correctly. Pingswept 01:11, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

---

I need another help in Capture of FARC member creates crisis between Venezuela and Colombia at the line:"On September 19, 2004, the FARC killed Luis Eduardo Duque Varon, Antonio Jose Duque Varon, and Alfonso Lopez Nivia, a move supposedly motivated by the involvement of the victims with an other terrorist group, the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)."
I would like to write that this was the last incident stated by MIPT page, so the text would be more accurate. I didn't write this before because I didn't know how to write it in a proper way. Do you have some suggestion? What do you think? Thank you again. -- Carlosar 21:11, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC) I am not sure if this was the last incident envolving the FARC. I am sure it is the last incident registered at the MIPT site. According to the site the registers Last updated were on Dec. 14, 2004. Please, see the FARC register at the MIPT page and see if everything is ok. Thank you again. -- Carlosar 21:36, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC)

---

I'll see if I can fix it in the article. Pingswept 01:11, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

User comment moved from User:pingswept

Hi! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the Romanian news! I'll be adding a few everyday, just to let people know about this interesting part of the world :) Ronline 08:07, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Need help in revision

I need someone revise the article Heart attack kills brother of Brazilian president. I modified just the last phrase:

• before : President Lula had 17 brothers and sisters ...
• after  : President Lula had between 17 and 25 brothers and sisters...

I made this change because, according to my last research, there is some uncertainty about the exact number of Lula's brothers. One of the Lula's brother says Lula's father had 17 children. Another Lula's brother says Lula's father had 19 children. Another brother says Lula's father had actually 25 children. They don't agree because Lula's father had many children with many women. My reference is an article I found in a newspaper. I have not found something about Lula's brothers in internet yet. If you think it is necessary I can take a copy of the article and send you(it is in Portuguese, however). --- Carlosar 23:37, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Just for curiosity: Lula's brother(the one who passed away) lived in my city for some time, and near my house. --- Carlosar 23:37, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Thank you.--- Carlosar 23:37, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Hey Carlosar, I found an English source and added it to your Lula article. It looks like it's from an AP report, but I don't think any other English papers have picked it up yet. I also replaced "brothers and sisters" with "siblings." By the way, do you have access to the #wikinews IRC channel? I'm there most of the time recently if you have English questions. Pingswept 01:55, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I will do that. Thank you. -- Carlosar 11:00, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Would you please see the article Brazilian President meets President of Colombia? Off course case you are not too much occupied with something else. Thank you very much. -- Carlosar

Hi Carlosar,

Have to go to work right now, but when I get a chance, I'll go over it.

Pingswept 15:05, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Good catch

with the G7 article, thanks! Dan100 (Talk) 16:27, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Nice work!

Thanks for your help editing the Gates article. I pulled a lot of it from Wikipedia, and I was starting to reshape it into a news article when I was pulled away unexpectedly. It looks great now!

Ex-priest Shanley sentenced to 12-15 years for child rape

The image is a wee bit big! CGorman 23:10, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Beat me to it! CGorman 23:19, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Admin status granted

Congratulations, you have just been made a sysop! You have volunteered for boring housekeeping activities which normal users sadly cannot participate in. Sysops basically can't do anything: They cannot delete pages arbitarily (only obvious junk like "jklasdfl,öasdf JOSH IS GAY"), they cannot protect pages in an edit war they are involved in, they cannot ban users except in cases of obvious vandalism or excessive edit warring (24-hour "cool down" ban). What they can do is delete junk as it appears, ban vandals, remove pages that have been listed on Deletion requests for more than a week, protect pages when asked to by other members, and help keep the few protected pages there are up to date.

Note that almost everything you can do can be undone, so don't be too worried about making mistakes. You will find more information on Wikinews:Administrators, please take a look before experimenting with your new powers. Drop me a message if there are any questions or if you want to stop being a sysop (could it be?). Have fun!--Eloquence 07:31, 25 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Congratulations! - Amgine 02:25, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Not that silly article

Hi. Although I don't care you've removed the requested article, I don't know if you actually read the Spanish version. The main point is not the "joke" played by those Paraguayan journalists, the main point is how in Paraguay important documents -marriage, birth and decease certificates- can be faked so easily. Anyway, it's an opinion. Cheers. Julián Ortega 18:06, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Hi Julián

I did look at the Spanish version, but my Spanish isn't good enough to tell whether it is a joke or not. From the English headline, it looked silly. Can you provide a link to an English description of what happened? It sounds like it was a real story. Pingswept 18:11, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Hi. I couldn't find any English site with the news, although it was published by AFP and AP on Thursday. I provide some links in Spanish -to prove its veracity- and I hope someone can help with translation (Carlosar, who used to be the Latin American reporter, is working hard at Wikinews in Portuguese), 'cause I can't do it by now...

• El País (Uruguay)
• Univision
• El Nuevo Herald, Miami

Cheers! Julián Ortega 19:41, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Jambo OpenOffice

Thanks a bunch for the article First Swahili office suite released in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Great reporting, cheers! -- Matt Crypto 16:53, 3 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Ironic comments

You posted a comment in your update of my article about Firefox 1.0.1 'bet this came from ben goodger'. Ironically, it did, but not from Mozilla top-hat Ben Goodger. It came from me, Ben Goodger (Cornwall, England resident.)

Wow. That is very weird. Well, you are the real Ben Goodger from now on in my book. Thanks for the story. Pingswept 23:27, 5 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I should stick to the weather.

Hi Pingswept,

I appreciate the sentiment in your recent remarks which were intended to shut down a potential "flamefest", but I have no intention of bickering with anyone.

Paulrevere2005 seems to be earnestly looking around to uncover some story that no one else has yet heard of.

He could use more effective methods to accomplish that goal, but who knows, maybe he will uncover something big.

I was kind of surprised when I googled "Fourth Reich", and discovered how well developed an alternative theory of the September 11, 2001 attacks had become, and the comparisons that are being made to the Reichstag fire.

It's kind of scary.

I have no fundamental disagreement with Paulrevere2005's politics. I just wish he could point to better evidence to support some of his claims.

I apologize if you feel that any of my actions were a provocation.

I should stick to the weather.

Regards,

— DV 02:52, 6 Mar 2005 (UTC)

No hard feelings. Pingswept 03:38, 6 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Gah!! Three typos??

Three typos in one sentence at Ash and steam reported over Mount St. Helens?? What's wrong with me today? Thanks for the cleanup; I guess I was in a hurry to get it in before an edit conflict set in. -- JohnOwens 03:15, 9 Mar 2005 (UTC)

No problem. I felt the edit conflict fear correcting them too. Pingswept 03:17, 9 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Please, fix protected article

There is a small error in 2005 World Social Forum-Brazil coverage which must be corrected. The error is related to the name of one of the participants of WSF. Please, do the required changes. Thank you. --Carlosar 17:26, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC)

January 31, 2005

• the President of the CUT labour union Marine Luiz [WRONG], and the managing director of the monthly periodical Le Monde Diplomatique Ignacio Ramonet. [14]

• the President of the CUT labour union, Luiz Marinho [RIGHT], and the managing director of the monthly periodical Le Monde Diplomatique Ignacio

You can check with the sources right here.

Hi Carlosar,

Do we have a policy on corrections to articles that have been archived? I'm wary of setting a precedent here, though your correction seems like an obvious good thing. My fear is that I would be asked to make corrections that I disagree with to other articles, and I don't want to make me (or any single person) the sole arbiter of any decision on Wikinews. So, do we have policy? Suggestions anyone? Pingswept 22:31, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Credentials

Pingswept, with community approval you are now our first accredited reporter. Congrats! I'm anxiously waiting for your first story using those credentials! -- IlyaHaykinson 07:27, 14 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Congrats Pingswept! You are now part of history; the first officially accrediated Wikinews reporter - that will sound good when Wikinews is the 1# news site in the world (yes ahead of CNN, BBC, Google News)! CGorman 21:08, 14 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Wikinews writing contest launched

Dear Pingswept,

thanks for registering for the Wikinews writing contest! It now begins officially. Every day, I will try to make a tally of who has and who has not managed to fulfill their story/day requirements. If you do, however, believe I am missing something, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best of luck in the contest!--Eloquence 06:20, 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Northern hemisphere summer.

Re: UN Secretary General Annan cleared of influencing oil-for-food contracts by Volcker report, thanks for the all hard work, my non minor edit should have a semi-major flag :). Please see it's talk page for question on final report date. — Jeandré du Toit, 2005-03-30t15:33z

That time of the year again

This is a form letter that I am putting on the talk page of every admin: As you may know, we are approaching April 1. In many cultures, this is a time for pranksters to pull w:April Fools jokes on others. Because of the ease of editing, wiki projects tend to fall prey to these types of pranks rather easily. Let this be a reminder to us all to keep a special lookout for hoaxes, rampant fiction and other random acts of content vandalism between now and April 2. Good luck, and hopefully not too much damage will be done. -- Davodd | Talk 07:02, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Prefetch

Hi, I replied on my talk page Dan100 (Talk) 16:20, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Pope

NB: Im giving this message to the 10 or so people I suspect may be on Wikinews when the event occurs.

I've created a story announcing the Popes death - when the Vatican or BBC/Reuters announce he is actually dead please insert the date & time and publish - we will be the 1st news group to break this story (besides our source)! The story is located here User:CGorman/Sandbox. Whilst waiting please improve the story. → CGorman (Talk) 22:46, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Wikinews:Story preparation

Seeing how well preparations have gone for the Pope story, i've created Wikinews:Story preparation. Instead of users preparing stories on their own computers and saving them on their own hard drives, they can place them here to allow other writers to add to them before the event. This will help eliminate duel coverage of the same story - Teeks99 had spent some time yesterday evening writing a Pope story - but did'nt load it onto wikinews resulting in his version being made redundent. Hopefully by allowing users to collaborate on a story from an earlier date, our article quality will be dramatically improved. → CGorman (Talk) 15:11, 2 Apr 2005 (UTC)

MGM vs. Grokster

Thanks for straightening out the copyedit I did. I was getting a little carried away! -edw 23:52, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

No problem. Overall, the article is now much better than it was. Pingswept 23:57, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

accreditation page changes

I've made some changes to Wikinews:Credential verification to sync it with the suggested changes on the water cooler — if you get a chance, send me your interests and locations and I'll add them to the page. -- IlyaHaykinson 02:46, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Did it myself. Filter if you wish. Pingswept 03:02, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Looks good — thanks! -- IlyaHaykinson 07:17, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Video cameras

If you do choose to buy a camera, I recommend going with a miniDV tape model (even the cheapest miniDV models are sufficient for web video). MiniDV tape is a widely-used format that makes it easier to exchange tapes and is also quick to edit, because it doesn't use any interframe compression.

(Some cameras generate a variant of MPEG that can be too slow to work with if the "keyframes" are spaced too far apart, to the extent that many editors are compelled to convert it to another format for productive editing. An exception to this is the new HDV format which uses an MPEG format specially-designed to be editable, but I'm assuming you're not going to spend thousands for a camera, so I won't get into that one.)

Watch out for older "Digital 8" cameras. I advise staying away from those because Digital 8 is an obsolete format which has fallen out of use. Also, Digital 8 tapes are a different size than miniDV tapes, and so we wouldn't be able to exchange them. — DV 07:34, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Hold on a minute-- what is this DV/miniDV conspiracy! The NPOV cabal is going to have a word with you about this!

But I'll look into the cameras, and maybe ask you some questions later. Pingswept 14:24, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Disclaimers

• Wikinews:General disclaimer
• Wikinews:Risk disclaimer
• Wikinews:Medical disclaimer
• Wikinews:Legal disclaimer
• Wikinews:Content disclaimer

I noticed that the disclaimers link at the bottom of all pages links to nothing. I've copied Wikipedia's set of disclaimers, changing "Wikipedia" to "Wikinews", fixing up the otherwise incorrect hyperlinks, and removing Wikipedia-specific content and GFDL references. I think that it might be wise to protect these articles as soon as possible. Uncle G 23:39, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Visiting students detained in Louisiana, USA, while photographing ExxonMobil chemical plant

If you get a moment, could you add the OR note to the talk page? - Amgine 22:00, 13 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Cambridge, Mass., city council recommends construction firm W. R. Grace remain under DEP supervision for asbestos contamination

Hi Pingswept,

could you add a note on the talk page about the original reporting component of the article? Thanks,--Eloquence 07:31, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC)

We heard you!

I was tuned in on the audio webcast tonight, good work :) Dan100 (Talk) 00:24, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Sweet! I didn't even realize I was being broadcast until after the meeting ended. Hope I didn't sound like an idiot. Pingswept 03:07, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Categories

This message is being given to several people, so please forgive the formality.

I've created a list of categories that must be included in ALL articles to ensure the DPL system works correctly. Adding the revlevent categories from this list will ensure complete site-wide relevent article listing. It is located at User:CGorman/Categories and you can easily cut & paste out of it. I urge frequent writers to bookmark this page to help save themselves time with categorization. Thanks for your attention. → CGorman (Talk) 19:38, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC)

A moment of your time?

We have had a series of vandalism attacks today... Just thought you might want to be aware. CGorman stayed as long as he could, and it has been quiet since, but I'm a bit on edge about the whole day. - Amgine 01:52, 17 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Simeon's changes

As you have probably noticed, Simeon is intent on competely re-writing almost all the Wikinews namespace articles. I object to this on a number of fronts: there's no consensus for such changes, the pages have existed as they were for a long time which I believe is a sign the community accepts them as they are; the existing pages have all been carefully written and constructed by several editors to be the best they can be; and Simeon's changes are to make them grossly longer and harder to read. And I must be honest - a couple of the pages were written by me. I obviously don't mind people altering them, but I do object to them being destroyed. Dan100 (Talk) 08:27, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Hi Dan100,

I think the best way to respond to this is to use the discussion pages, and ask Simeon to do so as well. Maybe if Wikinews had been around for longer, the pages would be difficult to improve, but I don't think they're perfect yet, so I'm glad someone is working to improve them. If his changes make them worse, we should discuss it as a community. Pingswept 16:07, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Winding down the Wikinews writing contest

Hello Pingswept,

I'd like to ask you to comment before Monday on Wikinews talk:Writing contest#Winding down. Thanks!--Eloquence 02:39, 24 Apr 2005 (UTC)

'Till the end of April

Greetings Pingswept, from sunny Houston, home of the Lap-Dance Law! Pingswept and Simeon have both agreed to split the prizes. How 'bout you guys split 1/2 and I take the other half!

But really, there are three winners here and I am honored to be among them. If someone can do the math and divvy it all up (I will yield my share of G-mail invites since I have amassed a few of them already on my own) then I think we should continue thru the end of the month, one article a day as we have been doing. If one of us bows out before then, so be it. If we all survive, we split. --HiFlyer 15:23, 24 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Pingswept's offer

I accept Pingswept's division of goodies, and would write one a day through the end of the month. Competition has been fun, but it's time to congratulate each other for a good job and wind down, IMO. --HiFlyer 14:27, 25 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Jimmy Wales' Speaks at Harvard Law School

Someone who works for a newspaper asked me about Jimmy's talk on Tuesday. I told him about it. He seems really interested in Wikipedia and its community. I told him about some other Wikimedia projects. Then I said his publication didn't have to cover the talk because Wikinews already did. --Anonymous 20:49, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Letter to the editor

Last Fridays edition of The Economist magazine had a major story about the future of journalism, intrigingly it mentioned wikipedia.org in very favourably terms but did not mention us. This provides an excellent chance to write a letter to the editor about Wikinews. I am asking a few people to do this before thursday afternoon (5/6pm) in the belief that if they receive several letters about wikinews, they will publish at least one. I have already sent a letter (email). The Economist sells on average 1 million copies a week - thats a lot of readers, so this is worth our while.

To do:

• Read the article (or at least the relevent part) at: Click here
• Write a short email in the form:

Sir -

(your text),

(Your name)

(your town and country)

(space)

(Your postal address)

• Send it to letters@economist.com
• Delete this message.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, this is just a request, not a demand, don't feel underpressure. (p.s. don't quote our article count, as i've already done that and it would look suspicious if they received several similier emails on the same day). → CGorman (Talk) 21:55, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC)

your commons user page

hi - I added a link to your page here on your commons page. Have a look and change it around as you like... -- commons:User:Duesentrieb 23:19, 29 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Thanks, Duesentrieb. Pingswept 23:24, 29 Apr 2005 (UTC)

==URGENT! Your attention and input is needed regarding a crucial issue facing wikinews.== Please go to the water cooler policy discussion at http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Water_cooler/policy#creating_.2F_deleting_dispute_flag_templates

Please participate in this discussion,regardless of your opinion. Paulrevere2005 12:56, 30 Apr 2005 (UTC)

PaulRevere2005: I commented, as requested. Please don't use such a headline on my talk page unless the servers are on fire. Pingswept 17:47, 30 Apr 2005 (UTC)

You forgot to sign your comment :) Dan100 (Talk) 17:51, 30 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Settling up

Please help me to settle my pledges to the Writing contest prize offerings.

I feel obligated to settle my pledges before I focus on the Original reporting contest, so please review my comments on the Writing contest talk page at your earliest convenience. — DV 06:40, 2 May 2005 (UTC)

Its over at last!

I, CGorman, hereby give Pingswept this trophy for having won the Spring 2005 Writing Contest

Congrats on being a winner! Check out Contest Ending. → CGorman (Talk) 17:22, 2 May 2005 (UTC) BTW: I know the trophies very tacky! → CGorman (Talk) 18:16, 2 May 2005 (UTC)

ro.wikinews 31 articles

Thanks! We have a great new user (User:Federals) who is contributing a lot lately - 31 articles on May 5 and 10 articles on May 6. The great thing is that the news is very comprehesive, covering not only Romania but also worldwide (as far as Australia!). He's contributing the "raw" articles and I'm supplementing them with photos and links. Overall, the ro.wikinews is starting to look very nice! We've also started a writing contest at ro: which we hope will further boost growth. Our aim for the end of May is to reach 300-400 articles. Ronline 05:32, 7 May 2005 (UTC)

Send me an email

Hey - send me an email: davodd (at) davodd dot com -- so I can send you the prize money for winning the writing contest. -- Davodd | Talk 06:06, 7 May 2005 (UTC)

FYI you may wish to comment

at the water cooler 1.8 DV and Hi-Flyer left + Administrative Abuse

[[1]] Paulrevere2005 12:43, 9 May 2005 (UTC

You forgot

to sign your recent comment on the dispute resolution page :) Dan100 (Talk) 18:59, 10 May 2005 (UTC)

I suck so much. Thanks for catching this--AGAIN! Pingswept 19:01, 10 May 2005 (UTC)

submit a story moved

Good day, I noticed that a well-intentioned new user moved Template:Submitted stories to World's Tallest Geyser Erupts . What is the best way to re-establish everything to the way it should be? DoubleBlue (Talk) 03:50, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

Press pass

Pingswept, did you get my email about my new press pass design? NGerda 03:59, May 24, 2005 (UTC)

Block 216.127.82.99

thankyou for blocking 216.127.82.99, i was getting tired of reverting the ip's edits.--Ryan524 20:06, 25 May 2005 (UTC)

Hiya!

Hiya Pingwept! I'm glad to see that you're an active admin once again. Wikinews needs more admins like you, which is why I am asking you to vote for Ryan524 and me. Thank you! NGerda 18:04, Jun 2, 2005 (UTC)

Thanks but voting is already over for me and I have been Sysopped! yay! and NGerda's probably gets over soon too.--Ryan524 18:06, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Food for thought

Great to see the original reporting effort is ensuring that the vital news from Massachusetts is presented on a world stage ;). → CGorman (Talk) 09:27, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)

offer to help

Thanks for the offer, if you're able to add any of the other reports and add the it would be really good - I know there was something in the Herald Tribune (the incident refers to our forum but doesn't say so) but i'm not going to be able to trawl anything else. If you can that would be really good. ClareWhite (none of the right keys here for signatures!)

Hi Clare,

I tracked down the Herald Tribune article here: http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/16/news/wolf.php and I'm adding it to the article.