Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikimania-l] Thank you!
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 9:31 PM, phoebe ayersphoebe.w...@gmail.com wrote: - videos of all the talks As someone who is unlikely to be able to ever attend a Wikimania unless it comes to London I'd like to express my gratitude for all the effort that's gone into that. I've watched quite a few and intend to watch many more. There is, however, room for improvement on this front. So here's what I would like to see, in terms of video, from the next Wikimania: 1. Some of the videos have issues (eg, absent sound for part of the talk or audio track slowed down to the extent that people sound like orcs). It would be good if whoever uploads the video would view the content and try to solve such issues before making them available. If it's not possible to solve the issue it would be good if they could annotate the video (eg sound absent until 2:48) so people are forewarned and can fast forward to the watchable portion. 2. On many videos, if not most, it is impossible to see the content of the slides. Could videos be uploaded in higher resolution? Obvious downsides: larger file size, more bandwidth required. Or maybe all presenters could be encouraged to upload their presentation slides (I know some already do this) so people can view along as they listen to the audio of the talk. 3. On the videos with a QA segment the audience often doesn't have a microphone so the viewer can't hear the questions. Could more talks provide the audience with a microphone? And where this isn't possible, could speakers be encouraged to repeat or summarise the question for the benefit of the camera? 4. More of an observation than a recommendation: as I've watched the videos most of their respective talk pages have not yet been contributed to (they're red links). The same can be said for their entries in the Wikimania schedule. I thought more people would be wanting to discuss the content of the talks. Despite my various gripes it's really great to have so many videos, so thanks to everyone involved. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikisource-l] Universal Library
John Vandenberg wrote: The underlying problem is that OL is approaching this from a traditional library perspective, and so is opening up slowly, and progress is slow and methodical. But they are not. They are starting from the Internet Archive (Brewster Kahle) perspective. Real archivists and librarians have complained that the Internet Archive is not enough of an archive, and OpenLibrary is not enough of a library. This is of course very similar to people complaining that Wikipedia is not enough of an encyclopedia. Both OpenLibrary and Wikipedia are primarily Internet projects. Perhaps the most interesting criticism of OpenLibrary was launched by Tim Spalding, founder of LibraryThing.com (another Internet project, but a commercial one, albeit with some volunteer vibes). He meant (my interpretation) that OpenLibrary asks a lot from libraries (a copy of their catalog database) but doesn't give much back, and giving something back would help OpenLibrary to win more allies among libraries, http://mail.archive.org/pipermail/ol-discuss/2009-August/000638.html The first website to appear on the domain www.openlibrary.org was an online viewer for books scanned by/for the Internet Archive, so if being able to read is a requirement for a library, then it did have that function from the start. Later another website appeared on demo.openlibrary.org, containing catalog records. The demo website is what you now find as openlibrary.org. It is as if the online viewer and the bibliographic database are two different projects, and the Internet Archive put the new project under the old domain. But the online viewer is still there, for the books that have been digitized. To some, it seems that OL will reach the holy grail first, The OpenLibrary has a head start. Any project started now will have to spend much time to catch up. Any good ideas that might go into a new project, could be used in the existing Openlibrary. For example, a new project might download the database dump from OpenLibrary and start to weed out the junk records. But that junk sorting could also take place inside OpenLibrary. Why not? If a new project goes to a library to ask for a copy of their catalog, they might get the question we already gave (or didn't give) that to OpenLibrary, so how is your project any different? And what should the new project answer to that? I want to encourage wikipedians and wikisourcerers to join the OpenLibrary project, just like you should also join OpenStreetMap and other good projects for free knowledge and information. Bring your experience. If you get tired of one project, as I do sometimes, work on another one for a while. OpenLibrary has author pages for 6.5 million author names. Some of these are junk duplicates that should be merged, but still there are quite a large number of authors there. These have a field for a Wikipedia URL, but only 1100 records have a value. Connecting author pages in OpenLibrary to Wikipedia biographies is just one way where we can do a lot, without needing to start a new project. -- Lars Aronsson (l...@aronsson.se) Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikisource-l] Universal Library
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 7:21 PM, Lars Aronssonl...@aronsson.se wrote: ... For example, a new project might download the database dump from OpenLibrary and start to weed out the junk records. But that junk sorting could also take place inside OpenLibrary. Why not? Because metadata without digital objects are next to useless. Worldcat already provides a directory of where physical books are held. A database of metadata with lots of duplicates and no means for the reader to fix them, and discuss them, is disrespectful. If a new project goes to a library to ask for a copy of their catalog, they might get the question we already gave (or didn't give) that to OpenLibrary, so how is your project any different? And what should the new project answer to that? See above. I dont see any value in going back to the libraries. Doing that would only end up with the same result that OpenLibrary has; it would be simpler to take the OpenLibrary dump. I want to encourage wikipedians and wikisourcerers to join the OpenLibrary project, just like you should also join OpenStreetMap and other good projects for free knowledge and information. Bring your experience. If you get tired of one project, as I do sometimes, work on another one for a while. Tell me _one_ thing that I can do at OpenLibrary that I can not do at Wikisource. OpenLibrary has author pages for 6.5 million author names. Some of these are junk duplicates that should be merged, but still there are quite a large number of authors there. These have a field for a Wikipedia URL, but only 1100 records have a value. Connecting author pages in OpenLibrary to Wikipedia biographies is just one way where we can do a lot, without needing to start a new project. _Most_ of them are duplicates. http://openlibrary.org/search?q=Jules+Gabriel+Verne I have an account at OpenLibrary, and I am responsible for 0.2% of the Wikipedia links :P I am not keen on becoming attached to a project that is littered with so much crap, especially when I am not given the tools required to fix the crap, nor do I have any say in whether more crap can be imported. http://openlibrary.org/user/jayvdb These two need to be merged. http://openlibrary.org/a/OL2296708A/Charles-C.-Nott http://openlibrary.org/a/OL2544127A/Charles-Cooper-Nott Both of them look terrible, because I have no control over the presentation of the pages. Dups, lack of sorting, etc. I haven't found the OpenLibrary coolaid; I'll stick with Wikisource, for good or ill. -- John Vandenberg ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikisource-l] Universal Library
John Vandenberg wrote: I want to encourage wikipedians and wikisourcerers to join the OpenLibrary project, just like you should also join OpenStreetMap and other good projects for free knowledge and information. Bring your experience. If you get tired of one project, as I do sometimes, work on another one for a while. Tell me _one_ thing that I can do at OpenLibrary that I can not do at Wikisource. Are you suggesting that in addition to collecting free texts, Wikisource should also collect information about texts, free and nonfree, like OpenLibrary does? If so, that is a very interesting suggestion, and I support it. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikimania-l] Thank you!
re: the errors, I assume you added those to the talkpage of the files on commons? That way someone could actually see if it can be fixed :) thanks! eia 2009/9/4 Bod Notbod bodnot...@gmail.com On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 9:31 PM, phoebe ayersphoebe.w...@gmail.com wrote: - videos of all the talks As someone who is unlikely to be able to ever attend a Wikimania unless it comes to London I'd like to express my gratitude for all the effort that's gone into that. I've watched quite a few and intend to watch many more. There is, however, room for improvement on this front. So here's what I would like to see, in terms of video, from the next Wikimania: 1. Some of the videos have issues (eg, absent sound for part of the talk or audio track slowed down to the extent that people sound like orcs). It would be good if whoever uploads the video would view the content and try to solve such issues before making them available. If it's not possible to solve the issue it would be good if they could annotate the video (eg sound absent until 2:48) so people are forewarned and can fast forward to the watchable portion. 2. On many videos, if not most, it is impossible to see the content of the slides. Could videos be uploaded in higher resolution? Obvious downsides: larger file size, more bandwidth required. Or maybe all presenters could be encouraged to upload their presentation slides (I know some already do this) so people can view along as they listen to the audio of the talk. 3. On the videos with a QA segment the audience often doesn't have a microphone so the viewer can't hear the questions. Could more talks provide the audience with a microphone? And where this isn't possible, could speakers be encouraged to repeat or summarise the question for the benefit of the camera? 4. More of an observation than a recommendation: as I've watched the videos most of their respective talk pages have not yet been contributed to (they're red links). The same can be said for their entries in the Wikimania schedule. I thought more people would be wanting to discuss the content of the talks. Despite my various gripes it's really great to have so many videos, so thanks to everyone involved. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikisource-l] Universal Library
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 8:58 PM, Nikola Smolenskismole...@eunet.yu wrote: John Vandenberg wrote: I want to encourage wikipedians and wikisourcerers to join the OpenLibrary project, just like you should also join OpenStreetMap and other good projects for free knowledge and information. Bring your experience. If you get tired of one project, as I do sometimes, work on another one for a while. Tell me _one_ thing that I can do at OpenLibrary that I can not do at Wikisource. Are you suggesting that in addition to collecting free texts, Wikisource should also collect information about texts, free and nonfree, like OpenLibrary does? If so, that is a very interesting suggestion, and I support it. Yes, that is my vision. We should have bibliographic information, copyright details, list of chapter and summaries, list of older works which are referenced and list of later works which reference it, etc. However, the Wikisource community is not yet large enough to manage that. A year ago the English Wikisource community changed the restrictions on who can have an Author page. Previously our rule was: the author must have at least one free work. It changed to: the author must either have one free work, or they must be deceased. English Wikisource often includes modern works on the Author page of deceased people, listing biographies, posthumous collections, etc. As our community grows, managed by people who are focused on old works, we can relax the inclusion criteria. This is like the English Wikipedia becoming more inclusive as it has grown, because there are more people policing the edges. Organic growth. If this doesn't happen, I wont fret as there are more than enough public domain works to keep me learning for a few lifetimes. :-) I think it is much more important that we revive interest in old works which dont have a commercial publisher pushing new copies into bookstores. -- John Vandenberg ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikimania-l] Thank you!
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 12:04 PM, effe iets anderseffeietsand...@gmail.com wrote: re: the errors, I assume you added those to the talkpage of the files on commons? That way someone could actually see if it can be fixed :) On the one with absent sound I left a note beneath the video saying at what point the sound comes in. I thought it more helpful there than on the talk page as I felt a lot of people might navigate away thinking the sound would *never* arrive. I confess I didn't say anything on the one with sound so slowed down the video was unlistenable, which was remiss of me. I will if I come across it again. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
[Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
It would appear that the Wikimedia Foundation is actively seeking to sub-let some of its office space? http://akahele.org/2009/09/wikimedia-foundation-subletting-space/ That's curious, considering they had outgrown space in January 2009, such that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's accounts receivable to expand their footprint. Sue Gardner, Jimmy Wales, Michael Snow... someone please set us straight! Comment on the blog that scooped this story! -- Gregory Kohs ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
Hoi, What would be more obvious then looking for other premises when the current ones are no longer sufficient.. Gee.. hiring new premises .. with sufficient elbow room for some time ?? I wonder.. Gee Gregory, you already mentioned that ... are they really looking for something new ? Then again, I am not asked to answer your query am I .. Thanks, GerardM 2009/9/4 Gregory Kohs thekoh...@gmail.com It would appear that the Wikimedia Foundation is actively seeking to sub-let some of its office space? http://akahele.org/2009/09/wikimedia-foundation-subletting-space/ That's curious, considering they had outgrown space in January 2009, such that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's accounts receivable to expand their footprint. Sue Gardner, Jimmy Wales, Michael Snow... someone please set us straight! Comment on the blog that scooped this story! -- Gregory Kohs ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
Gerard Hoi Meijssen writes: ++ What would be more obvious then looking for other premises when the current ones are no longer sufficient.. Gee.. hiring new premises .. with sufficient elbow room for some time ?? I wonder.. Gee Gregory, you already mentioned that ... are they really looking for something new ? Then again, I am not asked to answer your query am I .. Thanks, GerardM ++ Sometimes, Gerard, your inability to comprehend even the most basic of principles, such as how a sub-lease works, is amusing and endearing. This may help you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublease I'm afraid there's no Simple English Wikipedia article to assist you further. It may be in your own best interest to refrain from any further commentary on this thread and leave discussion to those of us who understand basic property management fundamentals. Another possible explanation for what's happening at the WMF HQ is that the whole operation is preparing to move to new digs, and rather than break their lease, they're seeking to find a subtenant to avoid some financial penalty for early exit. I sort of set that aside, because I would have expected an open and transparent organization such as the WMF to have announced at some point that they were looking for an entirely different office home. We'll have clarification when Sue or Jimbo or Michael or Erik or Kat or some other WMF'er responds. Probably best that we just wait for some official explanation, rather than continue speculating about elbow room, which is what seems to be a problem, not a benefit. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
Perhaps you could direct me to the WP article that explains why should they handicap themselves in any negotiations by making a public commitment to a future action. Maybe the landlord has pledged not to peek at this list? Or maybe the cunning folks at WMF have so many sock-puppet floating different stories that the landlord no longer pays any attention. (See *Bodyguard of Lies*.) On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:38 PM, Gregory Kohs thekoh...@gmail.com wrote: Gerard Hoi Meijssen writes: ++ What would be more obvious then looking for other premises when the current ones are no longer sufficient.. Gee.. hiring new premises .. with sufficient elbow room for some time ?? I wonder.. Gee Gregory, you already mentioned that ... are they really looking for something new ? Then again, I am not asked to answer your query am I .. Thanks, GerardM ++ Sometimes, Gerard, your inability to comprehend even the most basic of principles, such as how a sub-lease works, is amusing and endearing. This may help you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublease I'm afraid there's no Simple English Wikipedia article to assist you further. It may be in your own best interest to refrain from any further commentary on this thread and leave discussion to those of us who understand basic property management fundamentals. Another possible explanation for what's happening at the WMF HQ is that the whole operation is preparing to move to new digs, and rather than break their lease, they're seeking to find a subtenant to avoid some financial penalty for early exit. I sort of set that aside, because I would have expected an open and transparent organization such as the WMF to have announced at some point that they were looking for an entirely different office home. We'll have clarification when Sue or Jimbo or Michael or Erik or Kat or some other WMF'er responds. Probably best that we just wait for some official explanation, rather than continue speculating about elbow room, which is what seems to be a problem, not a benefit. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l -- Dennis C. During Cynolatry is tolerant so long as the dog is not denied an equal divinity with the deities of other faiths. - Ambrose Bierce http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cynolatry ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
2009/9/4 Gregory Kohs thekoh...@gmail.com: It would appear that the Wikimedia Foundation is actively seeking to sub-let some of its office space? http://akahele.org/2009/09/wikimedia-foundation-subletting-space/ That's curious, considering they had outgrown space in January 2009, such that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's accounts receivable to expand their footprint. Sue Gardner, Jimmy Wales, Michael Snow... someone please set us straight! Comment on the blog that scooped this story! Nice try. Problems: 1)I don't think the WMF is the only occupant of the building 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more consistent with a general move. -- geni ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
2009/9/4 geni geni...@gmail.com: 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more consistent with a general move. Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. -- Erik Möller Deputy Director, Wikimedia Foundation Support Free Knowledge: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Donate ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 2:59 PM, Erik Moeller e...@wikimedia.org wrote: 2009/9/4 geni geni...@gmail.com: 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more consistent with a general move. Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. Huh? ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
2009/9/4 Erik Moeller e...@wikimedia.org: Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. Godommit, Fronk, you were only meant to reveal that on WR, where people might believe it! Now people will think you're just joking, and that I am too. How are we supposed to get a good price to benefit Wikia *now*? - d. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 2:59 PM, Erik Moeller e...@wikimedia.org wrote: 2009/9/4 geni geni...@gmail.com: 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more consistent with a general move. Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. Huh? Is that really a useful contribution to a discussion? On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 3:13 PM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 6:23 AM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 10:22 AM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 9:37 PM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:06 PM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? On Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 7:24 PM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? On Sun, Nov 25, 2007 at 6:53 PM, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: Huh? ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:10 PM, David Gerarddger...@gmail.com wrote: 2009/9/4 Erik Moeller e...@wikimedia.org: Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. Godommit, Fronk, you were only meant to reveal that on WR, where people might believe it! Now people will think you're just joking, and that I am too. How are we supposed to get a good price to benefit Wikia *now*? - d. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l I'm guessing this means our inside guys at the DOJ and DOD have done their jobs and can be disposed of now? I'll be on the next plane to Bangkok to meet with our friend about the thing. -Chad ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
By the way, the rest of your quotes were misquotes, as I followed up my other Huhs with a comment. But in this case, I felt it was more courteous to ask Erik to clarify his comment rather than for me to try to guess what he meant by it. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:20 PM, Anthonywikim...@inbox.org wrote: By the way, the rest of your quotes were misquotes, as I followed up my other Huhs with a comment. But in this case, I felt it was more courteous to ask Erik to clarify his comment rather than for me to try to guess what he meant by it. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space... This part was serious (I think). ...once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. This part was a joke (I think). Specifically, he was joking about some people's tendencies to find conspiracy theories when none exist. -Chad ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM, Chad innocentkil...@gmail.com wrote: Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space... This part was serious (I think). I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or guess at it myself. ...once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. This part was a joke (I think). Specifically, he was joking about some people's tendencies to find conspiracy theories when none exist. Right, yeah, that part was a joke, but does that mean the part about hoping to sublet the Stillman space was, serious, a joke, something else? It was an incredibly unprofessional answer. Unless the WMF's purpose is to confuse the issue, it should come up with a serious response. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikimania-l] Thank you!
But could they be uploaded afterwards? (assuming the source files are still available?) Lodewijk 2009/9/4 Brion Vibber br...@wikimedia.org On 9/4/09 1:01 AM, Bod Notbod wrote: 2. On many videos, if not most, it is impossible to see the content of the slides. Could videos be uploaded in higher resolution? Obvious downsides: larger file size, more bandwidth required. Or maybe all presenters could be encouraged to upload their presentation slides (I know some already do this) so people can view along as they listen to the audio of the talk. Higher-res versions would be very nice, but would have been much harder to get done and uploaded as quickly. :) Maybe next year, when we've got more of the new video upload support in place! I would definitely encourage everybody to upload slides and link them with the video versions; PDF slides can be uploaded directly to Commons and can now be viewed inline as well as downloading them. 3. On the videos with a QA segment the audience often doesn't have a microphone so the viewer can't hear the questions. Could more talks provide the audience with a microphone? And where this isn't possible, could speakers be encouraged to repeat or summarise the question for the benefit of the camera? Moderators/assistants from the local team were usually pretty good about getting the microphones around or else reminding the speaker to repeat questions, but of course this gets forgotten sometimes. -- brion ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
Anthony wrote: On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM, Chad innocentkil...@gmail.com wrote: Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space... This part was serious (I think). I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or guess at it myself. ...once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology. This part was a joke (I think). Specifically, he was joking about some people's tendencies to find conspiracy theories when none exist. Right, yeah, that part was a joke, but does that mean the part about hoping to sublet the Stillman space was, serious, a joke, something else? It was an incredibly unprofessional answer. Unless the WMF's purpose is to confuse the issue, it should come up with a serious response. Chad's analysis was correct. The SF staff have been looking for a new office for some time, and last I heard they were in the process of negotiating a lease on a prospective space. Subletting the old office will be desirable at least until the lease there expires. -- Tim Starling ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
[Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 Another possible explanation for what's happening at the WMF HQ is that the whole operation is preparing to move to new digs, and rather than break their lease, they're seeking to find a subtenant to avoid some financial penalty for early exit. I sort of set that aside, because I would have expected an open and transparent organization such as the WMF to have announced at some point that they were looking for an entirely different office home. Perhaps making such assumptions is the real problem here. While I'm not aware of any official announcement (and does that really warrant an announcement in any case? It's an open question) I had known for a while now that a relocation was planned. IIRC, I saw that in the latest annual report or something, and domas confirmed that when I asked. - -Mike -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux) iEYEARECAAYFAkqhkzYACgkQst0AR/DaKHs7HwCgxVtvxR6U9mzPAN/ZFYzKc2wI a5wAnjvlWBauR7im4J+vQmKnCYv1p93/ =lCJJ -END PGP SIGNATURE- ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Tim Starling tstarl...@wikimedia.orgwrote: Chad's analysis was correct. The SF staff have been looking for a new office for some time, and last I heard they were in the process of negotiating a lease on a prospective space. Subletting the old office will be desirable at least until the lease there expires. Thanks, I also see it was in the annual report that you're moving from the 3,000 sq ft place to an 11,000 sq ft one. I had been told (incorrectly) that the 3,000 sq ft was only a portion of the Stillman location, but after reading that this makes sense. Is the staff currently using the Wikia sublease space going to move too? ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On 9/4/09 3:27 PM, Anthony wrote: On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Tim Starlingtstarl...@wikimedia.orgwrote: Chad's analysis was correct. The SF staff have been looking for a new office for some time, and last I heard they were in the process of negotiating a lease on a prospective space. Subletting the old office will be desirable at least until the lease there expires. Thanks, I also see it was in the annual report that you're moving from the 3,000 sq ft place to an 11,000 sq ft one. I had been told (incorrectly) that the 3,000 sq ft was only a portion of the Stillman location, but after reading that this makes sense. The building we are currently in is physically subdivided into two spaces. Wikimedia occupies one part (3,000 sq ft) and another company occupies the other (I'm unsure the exact size, but it's larger than ours). Is the staff currently using the Wikia sublease space going to move too? Yes; the purpose of finding a larger space is to have enough room for our current and forseeable future staff. -- brion ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On 9/4/09, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or guess at it myself. I'd rather go through a thread without seeing a one-word message indicating bewilderment at what was quite obviouisly a joke... but then, the world revolves around me about as much as it revolves around you (=not at all). Mark ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] [Wikimania-l] Thank you!
Brion Vibber, 04/09/2009 20:51: I would definitely encourage everybody to upload slides and link them with the video versions; PDF slides can be uploaded directly to Commons and can now be viewed inline as well as downloading them. Yes, please! They'll be included also in the proceeding's page on Wikimania wiki (very nice). You can also upload here: http://wikimania2009.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Presentation_slides if you have copyright problems (e.g. copyrighted embedded screenshots or whatever). Nemo ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 7:05 PM, Mark Williamson node...@gmail.com wrote: On 9/4/09, Anthony wikim...@inbox.org wrote: I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or guess at it myself. I'd rather go through a thread without seeing a one-word message indicating bewilderment at what was quite obviouisly a joke... Sorry about the one line response. Can we move on now? ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
So, not having known that 3,000 square feet was the sum total of the current WMF space on Stillman, my original but unpublished hunch was correct. I'll quote an e-mail I wrote Sept. 3rd, at 4:39 PM: ...If I had to formulate a theory, I'd say [Sue Gardner] thinks that she's hired enough [personnel] that they now have the gravitas to move into a new, bigger place of their own in San Francisco. Stillman Street was initially held up as a 'starter' home in San Francisco, so this is just the logical next step now that grant money is pouring in. A little bird suggested I ask if the Foundation will be filing a Form 990-T once it finds a tenant, as it would be a business activity over $1,000 unrelated to a non-profit mission and would thus possibly trigger IRS rules regarding Unrelated Business Income Tax (which are rather strict). Among other things, the 990-T is a public form, so it would force the Foundation to disclose further information on its operations. Then again, Wikipedia offers a very curious, opinion-based original research assessment of this factor here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrelated_Business_Income_Tax#UBIT_in_an_IRA This is possibly a myth. The sum of human knowledge, folks. -- Gregory Kohs ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:51 PM, Gregory Kohs thekoh...@gmail.com wrote: A little bird suggested I ask if the Foundation will be filing a Form 990-T once it finds a tenant, as it would be a business activity over $1,000 unrelated to a non-profit mission and would thus possibly trigger IRS rules regarding Unrelated Business Income Tax (which are rather strict). Among other things, the 990-T is a public form, so it would force the Foundation to disclose further information on its operations. Ah Greg Greg Greg. You should have run this one past me first. Rents generally are not subject to UBIT. This is not, however, a reliance opinion, and can't be used to avoid penalties. ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Re: [Foundation-l] 31 august, 20 years of our national holiday Our romanian language in Moldova, mo.wikipedia still in cyrillic !
On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 8:36 AM, Chadinnocentkil...@gmail.com wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:07 AM, Andre Engelsandreeng...@gmail.com wrote: The foundation holds technical control over the wikipedia domains; nothing can be done but by the foundation to for example rename a wiki. A purely technical matter. As long as the community has consensus on the matter (and the change isn't just batshit crazy) there's no reason for the staff not to implement it. The real decision here is for the community. What Chad said. Bence Damakos writes: Previously it has also been stated that the Meta page for closing down projects is useless (there is no power behind it, nor is there any people or committe tasked with monitoring and implementing any community consensus that would come out from this page). This is regularly said, but a bit harsh. A fair number of people do care about improving how projects are closed, and work on updating that page; I'm sure they would appreciate help fixing the process. SJ ___ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
