Recently, while researching something else entirely in a newspaper archive, I discovered a reference to what was probably the first-ever use of the automotive speedbump. (Is that cool, or what?) I went to Wiki to see what they had to say on the matter. Their first attribution was over three decades after the date of my discovery. So I added my findings to their entry, complete with cites.
(I also sent word to AAA, who I hope will act on the news. I mean, the centennial birthday of the speedbump is only a few months away and somebody should do something to celebrate, right?)
I expanded a stub about Yanni into a full-fledged article. Basically I summarized his autobiography into four or five paragraphs. Later editors have since rearranged my paragraphs, excised a few sentences, changed some words here & there, etc. But for the most part, everything from the paragraph that begins “Although many fans and critics…” through the paragraph that ends “…biggest commercial success to date” is my own contribution.
The same can be said about the article for the movie The Ring. Excluding some rearrangements, excisions & wording changes, almost everything below the spoiler warning through the last paragraph of the summary is my work.
I’ve done a few very small edits, most as mundane as correcting broken links or bad spelling. And yes, IMHO is probably better. Just for future reference.
There are somewhere between 600 and 700 administrators (we promote about a dozen new ones each week); administrators have the special abilities to temporarily block other users from editing, protect pages from editing, and delete articles and media. They’re vaguely equivalent to moderators on the SDMB. There are twelve Arbitrators; acting together in committee we have the authority to ban people entirely from the Wiki (for up to a year at a time) or impose such other conduct restrictions as are appropriate to deal with behavioral problems. Bans of over one year are beyond our mandate and require an appeal to either Jimbo Wales or the Board of the Wikimedia Foundation.
I would encourage all of you who edit the English Wikipedia to update your listing in Wikipedia:Teeming Millions. Someone adventurous editor might even feel the urge to create a userbox template for SDMB members (similar to the Advogato userbox that I already have on my user page).
I’m not sure what Polycarp is saying about me being involved in this “Wiki movement”. I’m just an editor who got into conflict resolution over there, and, due to being successful at that, was asked to serve on the Arbitration Committee. Other than that, I don’t have that much to do with this “movement”, whatever it is.
Finally, I wish vB accepted Wiki markup. Wiki markup makes SO much more sense than the nonsense vB uses.
“Wiki movement” in my mind was a way to condense “the whole idea of creating a massively-multiple user-produced encyclopedia and the methodology to put that idea into practice.” And I knew you played a significant role in the management of the Wikipedia, though not what that role was, exactly, until now.
Made some corrections here and there, most notably to the article about Benedict Arnold (article said he won the Battle of Valcour Island, which, well, he didn’t :rolleyes: ).
Also added some stuff to a couple of Honor Harrington related articles that were much expanded on by other editors.
Oh, and I also added the entry for AggieCon (the science fiction convention that I work at).
Mostly, it’s just minor grammatical corrections and such.
I’ve got an account there, but I did a fair number of edits before I set it up. I’ll correct grammar and syntax on anything. I wrote almost all of the Gregg Allman entry and almost all of the Derek Trucks entry.
I wrote most of the Television article’s sections on Television Broadcasting, Color Television, and Television Sets. Originated articles on Mount Mary College, Selznick-International Pictures, the Death Master Index, James Morasco, Long Acre Street (in London), School Sisters of Notre Dame. Did a lot of writing and editing of the Ray Bradbury article and on his individual works, and the Technicolor article.
I’ve forgotten even my username on Wikipedia now. I think that the editing back and forward of the entry on my home town (Strabane) may have prompted others to have a look and more successfully edit out some nonsense someone else was posting about the town.
I added to the entry on Barbara Hambly - updated her books published list and included her often overlooked first novel. I’m thinking of going back and adding synopses for each of the books (is it sad that I own them all? Probably.) I’ve also thought of adding an episode list and character description to Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, as that is my newest addiction.
