Archive:Monthly Write-a-Thon/May 7, 2008

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, April 2nd, 2008. 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

Core Articles At least one edit to the Core Article list in your main area of interest, or, if the list is complete, at least one edit to a Core Article.
Bonus points for starting a new article!
Super bonus points for significantly editing or completing a Core Article list for a workgroup!!!

(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 stumbles bleary-eyed into party room, finds evidence that people started early. Working on hobbies core article list in the corner. Going to wake up some lazy-a$$ Aussies. Be back soon--that's a promise! Aleta Curry 16:45, 1 April 2008 (CDT) It was awfully quiet in Aleta's little corner so she started singing to herself. Asked John who the fellow with the beard was. Aleta Curry 19:49, 1 April 2008 (CDT) I'm hungry, so helping myself to some of Todd's butter. Might as well grab some of Tom's wine while I'm at it. Need more sustenance. 1500 hours: I hear the rest of the girls from Oz are coming. Better open up the bar. Spritzers are up; shandies on the way. Aleta Curry 23:47, 1 April 2008 (CDT)
• Tom sits at the kitchen table in his pyjamas sipping wine, then doffs his philosophical hat to Aleta and ticks Continental philosophy off the list.

Hi there, Tom! So glad you could drop by! [Looks around for libations--where's Derek???] Aleta Curry 19:49, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

• the other Derek came in with Jane Austen and went straight for the shandy. -Derek Hodges 04:55, 2 April 2008 (CDT)
• Meg retires to the drawing room with a snifter of brandy in hand.
• Louise wanders into the party perusing her copy of the Nuremburg Chronicle, and seeing as it's been a really quite full-on day at work, goes for both a spritzer and a shandy. Looking for potato-based foods, she wants to cook some hash browns for dinner ... might also help out those who are just waking up to the day too! Louise Valmoria 05:39, 2 April 2008 (CDT)
• Supten liked the idea of potato-based foods and decided to try his hand in cooking an Indian favorite samosa. Then he didn't like that Aleta was singing alone so arranged for some company for her! Finally he remembered that he has now got a new Chair, in the CZ:Editorial_Council and decided to take a look there.
• In the spirit of slightly misplaced formality, Tom dons a more formal tone and tucks into a vegetarian samosa. --Tom Morris 08:39, 2 April 2008 (CDT)
• David Volk described the slippery soapy aspects of hydrophilic compounds, and imported/edited articles by User:Cheris Carpenter, including Hammerin' Hank Aaron and others. David E. Volk 10:37, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

The The "brise soleil" opened at the Milwaukee museum of art. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava

• Chris Day searched flickr for great photos of architecture in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and converted an article about Ralph Abernathy by Cheris. Populated some subpages to get rid of those red links. Currently contemplating proof reading our new Quantum mechanics article aimed at a lower level (Old high level article moved to the Advanced subpage). Now contemplating doing a similar move of DNA/Draft to DNA/Advanced and writing a new version that will be more exciting to read. Started on Norman Borlaug subpages and might take a shot at his biography tonight.

Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun

• David Volk wrote about Susan Criss, a local judge in Galveston County, Texas, on Monday, because Wed. will be hectic. David E. Volk 13:17, 31 March 2008 (CDT)

Go, David, go! Aleta Curry 18:05, 31 March 2008 (CDT)

Have now read very interesting article. Anyone who advocates for children is a friend of mine! Tell Sue she's welcome at the chez Curry anytime! Aleta Curry 23:43, 31 March 2008 (CDT)

• Noel suffered a bit of quantum uncertainty and tunneled through into Wednesday from Tuesday. J. Noel Chiappa 23:35, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

Going to go right now and see if I understand that. There was a TV programme called Quantum Leap--is that related?? Aleta Curry 23:47, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article

• John came back aching from a hike in the wilds of western Japan, but managed to get some info up on Kyushu and Kumamoto before collapsing on the porch. John Stephenson 22:23, 31 March 2008 (CDT)\

Aleta fully intended to pass John some water, but was distracted by his beautiful photos. Planning to drag John off porch later. Aleta Curry 23:41, 31 March 2008 (CDT)

John, still in a stupor, hammered on the window for the water, then headed off to get some more snaps elsewhere. He spotted Jimmy Wales heading the other way. John Stephenson 08:41, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

John still looks much the worse for wear. Aleta hands him a spritzer. Couldn't hurt.

• Todd is kickin' it on the porch with his.. um, stick of butter? --Todd Coles 19:29, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

Tasty. And it *is* mentioned in the bible. Who knew? Aleta Curry 22:40, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

Still being a party pooper until she has finished work (soz: will be raring to write once she gets home), Louise is unable to resist commenting at this point that *now* she knows why butterscotch cookies are so nice and crunchy. Learn something new every day, especially here!Louise Valmoria 22:55, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

Sweet! I'll have drinks ready--but what, I wonder? Hmmm...? Aleta Curry 23:00, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

• Louise is finally stumbling onto the porch after an extremely busy day's work (ironically--she really did get up late today so couldn't join the party before work this month and then sneak off to the office) and is currently unable to take off her legal theorist cap off. Which is just as well because it is a [[CZ:Core Articles|Core Article]. Hoping she doesn't fall asleep on the porch before the day is up, she is reaching for her legal reference books and her copy of the Nuremburg Chronicle to find out if a currently unconfirmed-source public domain image she spotted here on CZ the other day really is part of that work ... Louise Valmoria 03:41, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

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

• Anton was trying to think of a new article he could write when he heard the news that Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach of Ireland, had resigned, and thought he'd concentrate on that instead. Anton Sweeney 06:44, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures

• Eduzendium participants are a hive of activity at the moment. Chris Day 11:08, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

The total party poops

Go ahead, admit it!

My mind has too many neurons firing as a result of having to worry about so much going on today and this coming week that I simply do not have the mental patience to participate this month Template:Codefrown. --Robert W King 11:16, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

Special Requests

Be sure to stop by CZ:Article of the Week and CZ:New Draft of the Week and nominate/vote for your favorite articles! --Todd Coles 20:28, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

Questions

• Noel? Were you born on 25th December? Aleta Curry 23:47, 1 April 2008 (CDT)

No, about a week earlier. I was the 5th kid, and by the time I arrived, my parents were running out of ideas for names! So the date gave them a start. :-) Let me tell you, as a kid, having your birthday one week from Christmas sucks. A 11-month drought with no presents... :-( J. Noel Chiappa 02:08, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

Incidentally, Supten was indeed born on December 25th! Supten Sarbadhikari 06:07, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

• 2008 is the International Year of Languages, Sanitation, Green Earth and the Potato. Anyone want to recommend any good recipes based on that very important food staple, the potato? Louise Valmoria 03:43, 2 April 2008 (CDT) clearly needs to make dinner

From an old Irish/UK TV advert and to the tune of Que sera sera: "Oh, its chips, its chips, we hope its chips, its Chips!" Anton Sweeney 04:36, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

If anyone is interested in samosa, Supten may try! Supten Sarbadhikari 06:07, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

I'm making Irish Stew tonight: That's got potatoes in it. Just meat, potatoes, some tomato paste, fried onions and maybe some carrots boiled up in a good meat stock. Or you could do shepherds pie. I think I know over 100 ways to cook potatoes. A very versatile food. Derek Harkness 06:17, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

Tomato paste? Fried onions?! That's not Irish stew! :P Anton Sweeney 06:46, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

Irish stew is a stew made with the potatoes in the same pot as the meat. Beyond that you can stick in just about any vegetable you have to hand - depending on the seasons. I double checked and I can't find any recipes on thin that don'thave onions. I always fry my onions till lightly golden before adding to the stew as it gives better flavour. Tomato paste is not in every recipe but it is in many. You shouldn't use a lot. By which I mean, in my 8 pints of stew there is 4 ounces of tomato paste. It's just to enhance your gravy a little and make it less watery. Derek Harkness 10:06, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

Oh, I agree the onions are mandatory - just I've never seen a recipe that didn't say "throw 'em raw into the pot" :P Having to fry stuff up separately kinda defeats the purpose of a one-pot dinner, for me anyway. Anyway - enjoy! Anton Sweeney 10:42, 2 April 2008 (CDT)

Previous shindigs

• March 5, 2008
• February 6, 2008
• January 9,2008
• December 5, 2007
• November 7, 2007
• October 3, 2007
• September 5, 2007
• August 1, 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
• 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....) and the Cocktail of the Month, a Dead Aunt

Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions

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)

Future Theme Schedule

• 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!!!

See also

• Larry Sanger, Why the Write-a-Thon worked, Citizendium Blog, August 9, 2007
• Weekly Wiki
• Article of the Week
• New Article of the Week