--- rose.parks@att.net wrote:
Hi,
I am writing this without even looking atQuatro 2. I saw it last 2 days ago. I am, however, reading today's e-mail about the release of Quatro 2 and getting rather disturbed. I was Chief Copyeditor of Quatro 1. At that time I was put in contact with Sj+, in case I had any questions or comments. When Quatro 2 was being written, I began as the Chief Copyeditor and somehow became a "Proofreader." I let this go.
Yes, sorry, it was I who simplified. Not to diminish the quality of your work, but simply to recognise the work of others. What I mean is that you are the chief proofreader in english, but how different is it from those who translated the whole issue in one language ? They also were chief translator and chief proofreader in their language. I just do not know how to make this difference :-(
I have slowly been copyediting Quatro 2. I amnot finished. I stopped a few weeks ago because so many parts of Quatro 2 were actually not even in good Engliish, and contacted Sj+. He told me to stop for a while, and he would clean it up a bit. After a week or so, I contacted him again, to see whether this clean-up was done. He never answered. I started copyediting,again. By now, I am totally confused. It seems like Aphaia is more in charge of Quatro 2 than Sj+.
You are correct. Aphaia is in effect the leader of this version.
Further, although there are a number of Proofreaders listed on Quatro 2, I rarely see any changes except my own.
Others work in other language versions.
To publish a newsletter properly, first all thecontent should be complete. Then, it should be "copyedited," then translated, and then published. Quatro 2 has gone from 6 to over 30 pages, while I have been copyediting it. This is not right.
I am confused. Except for the interview Sj took so long to add to Quarto, all content was fixed in january. I spent 2 long weeks fixing everything, because very little had been done in the previous weeks. Just when I finished fixing all texts, Riorio worked a lot on the pictures and Aphaia started helping a lot with the translations and announcements. Text (but for an update on technical part and the interview which was only added long after) was done.
Further, I have no one to contact who responds. Further, if discussions are being held about publishing parts of it, I think I might have been included or at least told. Today I am reading, on a mailing list, how selective parts of it are due to be published March 15. Fine - has anyone checked them to see if they are copyedited. I haven't had the time yet.
Actually, I read this proposition at the same time that you, and just commented what I thought to Aphaia... I understand why she proposed it, but I do not support it. I mentionned I would prefer that parts not yet translated be left in english, and so be it.
I would appreciate it if you would wait forsome input from me, include me as member of the Quatro team, or tell me that I am not needed and remove my name.
You are giving input right now Rose :-) And you are needed.
Every contact I made with Sj+ is
availble on his en.wikipedia.org user page on the Talk part. My user page on the same site, has mostly a lack of responses on the Talk part. If you choose to check these pages, they will confirm what I have told you.
Then, I am most sorry to be crystal clear, but here is the point. I think it was an error to keep the same person as an editor in chief, simply because someone has time at a moment, and not time at another moment. I think Sj had very little time to give for the second issue of Quarto unfortunately :-( I would have preferred that he told us before hand, but very likely he just did not know. We can not always predict our availability. He spent a huge lot of time on the first issue, but far less on the second.
So, when I came back from Christmas holidays, I spent hours everyday to try to fix it all myself. And fortunately, many others came after me to help as well. But Aphaia is currently the nearest one to be the editor in chief, as she has both time and energy for this. Sorry, but I was again on holidays, then with a very tough week at my job which left me in a pretty bad shape, but I will try to help tomorrow morning.
I am glad to review the sections you want topublish, given a day or so to look them over, or alternatively, to resign from this "position." But, as a contributor, I expect to be kept informed of new deverlopments and be given someone to contact (who responds,) or I cannot do this job properly. I await your decisions.
As Ever, Ruth Ifcher
Please, consider Aphaia your contact Ruth.
Additionaly, I will add that I have been thinking over the last days how we could reduce the burden over the translators, as it is too much work.
I still think it is important that we regularly give information over what the Foundation is doing, and how the projects are progressing; However, we'll have to think over the current form of it. It is too much work for a too limited number of people.
I think a good part of what is currently on Quarto should be removed of it in the future, and only placed as ongoing information on the foundation site. If there are translators for it, great, if not, too bad.
For example, we could keep doing regular interviews of people, but only put them on the site. And generally leave them in the original language plus english.
The quarto could limit itself to strict report of board activities.
Possibly, one idea could be to favor the creation of a small weekly newspaper, a bit as Michael Snow did, and invite people from all projects to publish in it.
Translation is not so fun for everyone. Everyone is volunteer here, and we can only do according to our possibilities Ruth. I am very sorry you got upsetted, I hope you understand the problems and have suggestions of how best we can move on.
I just know too much work and publishing 2 months late is just not the solution.
Ant
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