Wikinews:Water cooler/miscellaneous/Archive/7

We're too good damnit
I was just reading a bbc article, and wanted to find out more, so i went to the bottom of the article to click on the external links and sources....  AND THERE WEREN'T ANY!!!! I got quite a shock - then remembered that i wasn't in part of the wikiweb. Damnit, wikis have spoiled me; now i expect everywhere else to be as good. :( ~The bellman | Smile 05:29, 30 July 2005 (UTC)


 * I've tried to double-click on MSNBC and BBC stories so many times it's not funny. Or scrolled to the top of the article to try to click on a name for more info, but alas it wasn't linked to Wikipedia ;) -- IlyaHaykinson 06:02, August 2, 2005 (UTC)


 * I saw an "edit" tag at the top right hand corner of Google News. Looks like ours, but it doesn't seem to do anything other than edit our own view settings :-p. Lucky they haven't gone for a patent :-/ Wisty 19:30, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

wget user-agent in access statistics
Just noticed in the access statistics that the second most popular user agent is wget, with 38,000 hits (or unique users, or whatever), behind Firefox, with 50,000. As far as I know wget is a non-interactive command line http/ftp client. What could explain such a large number of hits from such a client? - Borofkin 03:59, 2 August 2005 (UTC)


 * It could be some site mirroring our content, and using wget to check for any updates. -- IlyaHaykinson 06:06, August 2, 2005 (UTC)

Crossword returneth
After a long hiatus, the crossword will soon be returning (I haven't had much time to make any more recently, but in a fit of spare time I'm writing one now). Dysprosia 03:12, 8 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Fantastic! --Chiacomo (talk) 03:14, 8 August 2005 (UTC)
 * August 11th's is up. Hopefully I can crank one out one per week, maybe slightly more. We'll see. Dysprosia 23:24, 10 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Crosswords all also avalible on Portal:Culture and entertainment page Bawolff 21:24, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

where to apply for adminship?
Tdxiang 08:02, 9 August 2005 (UTC)


 * here --Dčabrilo 08:46, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

Do a lot of Wikinews articles get re-published?
Just noticed this one.[]..does it happen a lot? Just wondering. Paulrevere2005 12:45, 10 August 2005 (UTC)

Well, maybe. I mean we did get accepted to Google News last month mind you. ;) --TUFKAAP 13:25, 11 August 2005 (UTC)


 * We seem to have lost this again, based on recent results. Ambi 15:20, 11 August 2005 (UTC)
 * We never really "had" it. Google has a very odd way of adding news stories to it's service.  Only around 4 articles, picked at random times, ever made it to Google News.  --Mrmiscellanious 15:23, 11 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Please have a look at this message on the mailinglist. It explains a lot --SonicR 15:41, 11 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Oh my, please do have a look at SonicR posted link. -Edbrown05 16:03, 11 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Yes! Aside from many source who only link to wikinews, some of them often use everything that public domain allows :) e.g. or . I think that's great. --Dčabrilo 13:39, 11 August 2005 (UTC)

This 'Story propagation page' seems to have been forgotten since May. It is a useful way to spread Wikinews stories.

But perhaps more importantly, there could be a distinction between Wininews and Wikipedia in that we treat news as a 'breaking event', whereas Wikipedia treats current events on a subject as an evolving event. We can and maybe should cut off a story from further edits after the story broken. That would satisfy Google. Then when there are further developments on the story, it is new article time for Wikinews. I beginning to believe we must break from the Wikipedia evolutionary approach on this matter. -Edbrown05 16:03, 11 August 2005 (UTC)
 * The current mechanism in place for this is to 'protect' the page. -Edbrown05 16:04, 11 August 2005 (UTC)

Restarting the writing contest
It was a big success last time and I think we could do with the increased output of stories, so I've suggested getting the writing contest going again here. Any thoughts? Ambi 15:20, 11 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Absolutely a good idea! We've been kinda stale on some days, perhaps this is just what Wikinews needs to push out more articles.  --Mrmiscellanious 15:23, 11 August 2005 (UTC)

I'm in. However I wonder whether another writing contest will be the solution to our problems. Growth seems to have dropped off. Any ideas why? - Borofkin 23:12, 11 August 2005 (UTC)
 * News story creation traditionally falls off in Summer and peaks in the fall - it is not just WN. -- Davodd | Talk 07:14, 16 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Because everybody is tired or rehashing the same old shit that happens everyday in the news. Because everyday I read the same crap that I read and write about here. Because it's really not news.


 * Why not write our own news, like the dead tree in my neighbor's yard that is an eyesore. I'd be fascinated. Oh, i'm talking about that tree 20 feet from me, why not. -Edbrown05 06:07, 14 August 2005 (UTC)

I'm waiting to hear about that tree. Geopolitics will change when the facts are OUT!


 * Go for it Ed - I want to hear about that tree too. Of course we'll need your neighbour's take on it too, though, in line with Wikinews NPOV policy... Maybe there's a whole side to the story none of us knows. Maybe he'd like to get rid of it but can't afford to call in a tree surgeon because he works in an industry that's just been decimated by Globalisation? Or maybe the tree has some kind of sentimental value to your him, dry and lifeless though it is? Have you any idea what kind of tree it is and what killed it? Could there be some kind of tree epidemic starting?!

Rcameronw 21:39, 16 August 2005 (UTC)


 * It could be. A tree in my garden died this summer, for no apparent reason.
 * It would be great to restart the writing competition, I would lose on the first weekend as I don't have sufficient access, but the shiny reporter medals that Davodd's been handing out are also a good incentive for those of us that need a push ClareWhite 10:07, 17 August 2005 (UTC)

Can we get some more cities on that weather map?
There are no inland U.S. Cities being listed

I live in Wyoming, while I am not asking that Torrington, Wyoming's weather be listed, Denver Colorado's temp could. Omaha or Lincoln Nebraska would also a good addition as that area gets hit with severe storms that brew from dangerous hot tempretures.


 * Ha! Get in the queue - nowhere in Britain's on at all! Mind you, we don't have dangerously hot temperatures very often... ClareWhite 09:35, 17 August 2005 (UTC)

Babel templates
Hello! Not so long ago, I requested speedy deletion for all "babel templates" I uploaded. My requests were refused, the reasons were that people wanted them to be kept. My reasons to request speedy deletion for those templates were, that I don't think any more that they are under the Public Domain, because they seem to come from an Wiki-Project where the content is under the terms of the GNU-Licence. Even if they can be used under the Public Domain, I would like to have them deleted, as a matter of principe and to make sure that the content I upload here is really free in the sense of freedom. So, to cut a long story short: Please delete the Babel templates I uploaded, even if you find that senseless.

Best regards, Mg22 10:19, 18 August 2005 (UTC)

p.s: I really know that you will think I am crazy but, as I already wrote, I woud be happy if a sysop deleted the babel templates I uploaded (German and English, I believe), just as a matter of principe. I hope you respect that.

Regards, Mg22 13:30, 20 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Oh, alright then - if I can find them... Dan100 (Talk) 15:22, August 24, 2005 (UTC)

Done. Dan100 (Talk) 15:24, August 24, 2005 (UTC)

Point of wikinews?
I've wanted to post this for a while, and I'm not really sure if this is the right section, or if this has been discussed endlessly. Apologies if either of those are true. But...

What is the point of wikinews? Wikipedia works great, because loads of people who know a bit about a subject can come together, add their knowledge, and you end up with an article which is a lot more htan the sum of its parts. How does this work with news? By its nature, only a few people are going to know what's going on, and very few of them, if any, are going to be on wikinews. The way articles get written, (as far as I can see), is essentially a recycling of a couple of other news sites. Which is all very well and good, but how exactly is this site any better than, say, bbc news? It's not less biased, because the facts are taken from the other news sites, and nobody can really tell which is more or less true. It's not more comprehensive, for pretty much the same reason. Why is wikinews necessary? Inebriatedonkey 22:32, 20 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Good question. The advantage Wikinews has over other news sources, is that not only do we summarize from their stories and use their knowledge of an event, but we also add original reporting to those articles. So, in a nutshell, Wikinews is the sum of all news sources plus the knowledge Wikinews journalists.  Another distinction between us and Main Stream Media (MSM) is which articles are more prevalent and are lead stories. With CNN, Fox News and others, it is the corporate entity that chooses which stories become the talk of the nation.  Take the Michael Jackson trial, the Wendy's chili finger incident, Natalie Holloway, and the Cub Scout who got lost in the woods in Utah. In our case, the readers themselves choose which articles are most important to them.


 * In the future, as we grow and have hundreds or even thousands of reporters across the globe, as a news story breaks, we can have multiple accounts of the event merged together with the Main Stream Media's account, to depict the event more accurately, and with less Point of View. Also, the media is so crucial in world politics and domestic and international decision making so much that the issues world leaders attend to are decided in part by the media.  When the media is owned by the same corporations that lobby in the government for certain policies, there is a conflict of interest.  Wikinews has the great potential of putting the media in the hands of the people, thereby choosing the most important issues to them to press upon their elected officials.  -- NGerda 22:48, August 20, 2005 (UTC)


 * What is the point of wikinews? - it gives me something to do. Dan100 (Talk) 17:07, August 22, 2005 (UTC)


 * A wiki is more than the sum of its parts, a weblog with comments is less than the sum of its parts. Why have blogs that talk about the news?  Most independent news is so hopelessly biassed that you never read that which you don't agree with, and hence you never reach outside your limited sphear of influence, but Wikinews allows everyone to communicate through an unbiassed news source, with the price that someone will edit out your bias.  Nyarlathotep 14:02, 25 August 2005 (UTC)

Automatically Generated RSS Feed
This is my first post on Wikinews. I have been a long time reader of both Wikinews and Wikipedia, but I have been somewhat hesitant to post while I really do want to contribute. I have been using the manually maintained RSS feed on the home page, and I am thankful for the user who takes the time to update that, but I was noticing a substantial lag between updates on Wikinews and updates on the RSS feed.

My first contribution to Wikinews is an automatically generated RSS Feed. The source code is released as public domain. You can take it and modify it all you like and even use it on your own website if you'd like. The script generates a valid RSS 2.0 feed from articles within the last five days.
 * Goober99 05:07, 21 August 2005 (UTC)


 * I'm no longer going through Feedburner to avoid the lag caused by their cache. Make sure you have your feed reader pointed to http://www.swingthesickle.com/wikinewsrss/feed. That link is redirected the the generator script, so it will never change. -- Goober99 20:29, 21 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Thank you very much for your valuable contribution. It's great you want to help out at Wikinews, we need all the help we can get!  We mostly need article writers (especially submissions).  Ask me or another Wikinewsie if you have any questions; we'd be more than glad to assist you.  Happy writing!  -- NGerda 04:37, August 21, 2005 (UTC)

Missing article
I tried to publish the article Gastric bypass surgery performed by remote control and it not only didn't publish but also disappeared from "articles under development". Do you know what I did wrong ? StuRat 20:23, 21 August 2005 (UTC)
 * I don't think you did anything wrong. The article is published but because the date set in the article is August 17, it is listed on the main page under that date. You should be able to see it there, at least I do. --Deprifry 20:33, August 21, 2005 (UTC)

Yes, that's the problem. I changed to today's date and it moved. I thought this was the date on which the article was started, so shouldn't be changed. However, for non-time sensitive news like this, I suppose it should be viewed as the publishing date, and the date should therefore be updated when it is published. StuRat 20:51, 21 August 2005 (UTC)
 * The date an article bears should be the date it's published (think of it like being a newspaper). Dan100 (Talk) 17:09, August 22, 2005 (UTC)

Forbes Global CEO Conference in Sydney
I can't think of a more scenic place for a protest. The sunset viewed across Sydney Harbour through the haze of tear gas is expected to be something very special indeed.

Project Forbes Global CEO Conference in Sydney

- Borofkin 05:06, 23 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Take lots of pictures! -- NGerda 05:42, August 23, 2005 (UTC)
 * wish I was there;can't wait for your report. Paulrevere2005 00:58, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

New monthly user stats:
-- Davodd | Talk 23:28, 23 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Wikinews now has more registered users than Wiki Source. We still continue to outpace other wikiprojects in percentage of new users and percentage of new content.

A Wiki For original writings
Is there a wiki for original writings out there, sort of a wiki version of kuro5hin.org? Maybe an op-ed for wikinews? Wiki's are just much cooler than weblogs. Nyarlathotep 14:15, 25 August 2005 (UTC)
 * If you mean for fiction try W:Wikipedia:Once upon a time... and Proposals_for_new_projects and i think there is something at http://wikicities.com/wiki/Wikicities also. and of course you can't forget http://pleonasm.saewyc.net/index.php/Home where lots of wikinews users (DV and Amgine) seem to end up. Pleonasm sounds most like what your talking about. Bawolff 21:49, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Category turned to redirect to Portal
In my opinion it is somehow inconvinient (e.g. for interlang) and better to be resolved. If no one oppose, I would like to resolve it and keep the category as was again. Your opinion on Talk:Palestine will be appreciated. Aphaia 00:23, 26 August 2005 (UTC)
 * I am having a little bit of trouble understanding what you mean exactly. Can you please clarify?  -- NGerda 02:05, August 26, 2005 (UTC)

Well, I'd oppose you changing that. Category views are useless to us - we're a news service, and news services don't list pages A-Z, they list by time, which is what our DPL topic pages do. Therefore it's more logical just to bypass categories completely. Dan100 (Talk) 07:30, August 26, 2005 (UTC)
 * The only thing I was thinking - what if people do want to see all the stories on a particular category? The DPL usually lists a limited number doesn't it? Is it worth active page having an archive of all stories in date order? I agree that's better than an a-z listing. ClareWhite 08:56, 26 August 2005 (UTC)
 * The DPL system does not require it to display a limited number, we only use it that way to prevent clutter :) --Cspurrier 11:52, 26 August 2005 (UTC)

Ah fine, well maybe that's something Aphaia can use if he's very keen to have an archive on the category page. ClareWhite 12:22, 26 August 2005 (UTC)

Please don't redirect all categories to portals. Redirecting categories to a topic page makes it impossible to get a full list articles in a particular category. It is the point of the category system that such lists can be generated, and not just for the DPL generation feature (which is very handy, I agree, but is not the only reason for categories). Often users will want to be able to see all articles published under a particular category. I often do this to see what kinds of categories are used for different articles and to see which categories are underpopulated, and as reader to find older articles that have scrolled off the end of the DPL. Most news sites have a browseable "archive" by subject so there is a precedent, redirecting categories means Wikinews becomes less functional. Lexor 12:30, 27 August 2005 (UTC) (also posted comments at Wikinews talk:Categories and topic_pages)


 * If viewable categories are not to be, perhaps a standard, "ordered-by-date published" list be an automatically generated subpage or somesuch linked from the Portal page, see for example: User:Lexor/Sandbox. Lexor 12:40, 27 August 2005 (UTC)