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Fwd: [Wmfcc-l] Senate staffer writes on U.S. law by day, Jewish law by night
by Nicholas Bashour 26 Sep '12

26 Sep '12

Potential WMDC member? :) Sincerely, Nicholas Michael Bashour Sent from my iPhone Anfang der weitergeleiteten E‑Mail: > Von: David Gerard <dgerard(a)gmail.com> > Datum: 26. September 2012 21:40:59 MESZ > An: Communications Committee <wmfcc-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Betreff: [Wmfcc-l] Senate staffer writes on U.S. law by day, Jewish law by night > Antwort an: Communications Committee <wmfcc-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > > See, this is what we want to encourage from political worker involvement! > > http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/26/3834774/senate-staffer-writes-on-us-la… > > > - d. > > Senate staffer writes on U.S. law by day, Jewish law by night > By DAVID GUTMAN > > WASHINGTON -- Bill Dauster spends his professional life drafting laws > for the U.S. Senate. He spends much of his free time studying a very > different kind of law - the Torah. > > By day, Dauster works as deputy chief of staff for Senate Majority > Leader Harry Reid. But in his free time, he has produced some of the > Web's most detailed explication and analysis of the Jewish Bible. > > Dauster has written Wikipedia entries for each of the Torah's 54 > chapters - or parsha - and he constantly updates them with new > information and insight. > > "It's like peeling off an onion," Dauster said. "There's always going > to be more out there." > > It's a process not dissimilar to crafting legislation on Capitol Hill. > > Thomas Jones, a senior adviser to Sen. Jim DeMint, attends a weekly > Torah study group with Dauster. > > "Sometimes the rabbi will be like, 'We're going to look at Exodus 15, > verse 3, and talk about that for an hour, and what does that mean?'" > Jones said of their study group. "That's what you end up doing up here > (at the Senate), is fighting over 'mays' versus 'shalls' and things > like that." > > The Wikipedia entries are not just simple summaries, but analyses and > interpretations informed by years of research. > > "This is an impressive scholarly achievement," said Richard Sugarman, > a professor of religion and Jewish philosophy at the University of > Vermont, of Dauster's Wikipedia oeuvre. "It provides an excellent, > comprehensive foundation for studying the parashot (plural of parsha). > It presents (a) broad, yet detailed overview. It shows evidence of > serious scholarship and erudition. It can be used as a springboard for > studying the Torah." > > Dauster cites from not just the Torah itself, but also the Talmud, > Midrash, Mishnah, and Haftarah, all traditional commentaries or > companions to the Torah. > > "My wife has been kind enough to let me get several Talmuds, so I have > it in four different translations," Dauster said. > > The Talmud, often referred to as the oral tradition of the Torah, is a > lengthy work, or, as Dauster calls it, "a big enterprise." One of the > versions Dauster owns contains 73 encyclopedia-sized volumes. > > "All these things accrue," Dauster said of his copious reference > material, lamenting that his small home library has been overrun with > Torah related books. > > Dauster has worked in Washington since 1986, entirely in the Senate > except for a stint in 1999 when he served as deputy assistant to > President Bill Clinton. He has literally written the book on budget > policy in the U.S. Senate - Budget Process Law Annotated. In fact, > he's written three versions of it. > > Dauster started studying the Torah in the early 1980s and began > attending study groups regularly in the 1990s. After reading about > Wikipedia in Tom Friedman's book "The World is Flat," he realized that > it could be an outlet for some of his knowledge. > > "I noticed that they did not have articles on the weekly Torah > portions and I thought, this is a little corner of the world that I > could contribute something to," Dauster said. "So in October 2005, I > started playing around ... and started writing those articles." > > After seven years of writing about the Torah, he's produced around > 400,000 words (about 800 single spaced pages) on Wikipedia. > > Although there may be a book's worth of information in Dauster's > Wikipedia opus, the collaborative nature of Wikipedia presents > challenges that a traditional manuscript does not. > > In July, a Wikipedia editor flagged one of Dauster's entries as not > meeting Wikipedia's notability standards. The editor also called the > entry repetitious and biased. > > The editor proposed that the entry, along with all of Dauster's > entries on the parashot, be deleted as redundant, because they were > too similar to other Wikipedia entries on the Bible and other > religious texts. > > The week-long discussion that followed was argumentative, tedious, and > filled with coded vernacular familiar to only a small subculture of > Wikipedia editors. What stands out, however, are the high praises for > Dauster's work from average, anonymous Wikipedia users with no history > of editing articles. > > "This article and those on the other Torah portions represent the best > of modern thinking applied to historic scholarship, encouraging us to > question, reexamine and study further. I have used them for Torah > study here in the middle of nowhere because they do not push a > particular agenda. I think this is a work of exceptional scholarship," > one anonymous user wrote. > > "As a Christian, I find the articles on the Weekly Torah Portions very > helpful in understanding and appreciating Judaism," wrote another. > > Ultimately all the articles survived, and although it wasn't the > decisive factor, commenters were 26-3 in favor of keeping the > articles. > > While they're obviously quite different undertakings, the same blunt, > straightforward prose flows through Dauster's policy books and his > writings on Torah. And, beneath the surface, there are similar themes > of law, discussion, and prudence. > > "The law governing the budget process resembles nothing so much as > sediment. It has accumulated in several statutes, each layered upon > the prior one," reads the wry introduction to Budget Process Law > Annotated. > > In his analysis of Bo, the parsha concerning the last three plagues on > Egypt and the first Passover, Dauster wrote, "Rabban Gamaliel once > reclined at a Passover seder at the house of Boethus ben Zeno in Lud, > and they discussed the laws of the Passover all night until the cock > crowed. Then they raised the table, stretched, and went to the house > of study." > > Dauster said that the subtle similarities between his Senate work and > Torah study make him better at his day job. > > Studying the Torah, "Allows me to study law in a removed environment," > Dauster said. "It allows me to do it in a more recreational way that > has less pressure and is intellectually diverting to me. As the > Sabbath allows us to sort of recharge our batteries, doing this > analysis of the Talmud and the Torah allows me to recharge my way of > thinking about how the law works." > > Every Friday afternoon, Dauster goes to a Congressional Torah study > group, organized by Jones, in the offices of Sen. DeMint. > > Shmuel Herzfeld, the rabbi at Ohev Shalom-The National Synagogue, > often leads the Friday afternoon Torah study sessions. > > "He'll nudge me," Dauster said of Herzfeld, "and say, 'Well, is this > in your article yet?'" > > Herzfeld played down his input. > > "Once in a while I'll make a suggestion," Herzfeld said. "But he's > really so terrific, he's a master of gathering a lot of information. > He's really good and thorough." > > Despite their bosses' vast political differences (Reid is leader of > the Senate Democrats, and DeMint represents the far right of Senate > Republicans), Dauster and Jones are good friends. > > "There's not a lot of 'I'm a Republican, he's a Democrat' type of > thing," Jones said. "We sometimes have different perspectives on > things, but I don't think that's partisan or anything like that, just > different people have different perspectives on parts of scripture. > Bill's great ... he really reflects all that's good about the > institution up here. He's a good guy and he gives a lot to the Senate > and to folks studying Torah." > > 2012 Capital News Service > > _______________________________________________ > Wmfcc-l mailing list > Wmfcc-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wmfcc-l

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'The Cloud Factories', New York Times
by Irene E Lynch 25 Sep '12

25 Sep '12

I would please like someone to edit Internet Storage/Concerns, referencing the series above, indicating that repeated server blackouts, cost, and the tremendous use of power to maintain these facilities presents a very serious threat to the Internet. I have not yet learned how to write nor edit an article <sigh> Irene Lynch

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Fwd: You are invited! Election Hackathon 2012 (Oct 6-7)
by Nicholas Michael Bashour 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

Might be of interest Sincerely, Nicholas Michael Bashour Anfang der weitergeleiteten E‑Mail: > Von: Zubedah Nanfuka <znanfuka(a)sunlightfoundation.com> > Datum: 20. September 2012 19:04:17 MESZ > An: press(a)wikimediadc.org > Betreff: You are invited! Election Hackathon 2012 (Oct 6-7) > > Hello press team at Wikimedia, > > Sunlight along with Washington Post and NPR is hosting Election Hackathon 2012 on Oct 6-7. If you are a developer with an interest in creating new tools to bring some transparency to the electoral process, you should definitely come! > > There's more information below. > > -Zubedah > > > This year's elections are promising to be the most expensive in U.S. history. With many candidates receiving hefty support from outside groups contributing unlimited amounts of money into their campaigns, everyone should easily know how these millions of dollars are spent. This is why we are teaming up with NPR and the Washington Post to create new tools and bring transparency to the electoral process at the Election Hackathon 2012. The moment seems ripe for politically-minded developers to get together and create some cool stuff. > > On October 6 and 7, join us and other DC-based developers in building innovative apps that will help citizens better understand how the voting system works. Participants will compete for $5,000 in prizes. > > Register for the Election Hackathon 2012 and help unlock our government [LINK: http://www.electionhackathon.com/] > > Hackathons are an informal but effective way for developers and civic hackers to collaborate on projects that educate the public on how government functions. Using data from Sunlight Labs, NPR and the Washington Post APIs, the Election Hackathon 2012 will inspire developers to make tools that will shed light on the 2012 Presidential election. > > What: Election Hackathon 2012 > When: October 6 and 7 > Where: The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington D.C. > Register: http://www.electionhackathon.com/ > > > > -- > Zubedah Nanfuka > Sunlight Foundation > >

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You are invited! Election Hackathon 2012 (Oct 6-7)
by Zubedah Nanfuka 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

Hey folks, Sunlight along with Washington Post and NPR is hosting Election Hackathon<http://www.electionhackathon.com/>2012 on Oct 6-7. If you are a developer with an interest in creating new tools to bring some transparency to the electoral process, you should definitely come! There's more information below. -Zubedah This year's elections are promising to be the most expensive in U.S. history. With many candidates receiving hefty support from outside groups contributing unlimited amounts of money into their campaigns, everyone should easily know how these millions of dollars are spent. This is why we are teaming up with NPR and the Washington Post to create new tools and bring transparency to the electoral process at the Election Hackathon 2012. The moment seems ripe for politically-minded developers to get together and create some cool stuff. On October 6 and 7, join us and other DC-based developers in building innovative apps that will help citizens better understand how the voting system works. Participants will compete for $5,000 in prizes. Register for the Election Hackathon 2012 and help unlock our government [LINK: http://www.electionhackathon.com/] Hackathons are an informal but effective way for developers and civic hackers to collaborate on projects that educate the public on how government functions. Using data from Sunlight Labs, NPR and the Washington Post APIs, the Election Hackathon 2012 will inspire developers to make tools that will shed light on the 2012 Presidential election. * What: Election Hackathon 2012 When: October 6 and 7 Where: The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington D.C. Register: http://www.electionhackathon.com/ * -- Zubedah Nanfuka Sunlight Foundation [image: Sunlight Foundation] <http://sunlightfoundation.com/> [image: Sunlight Foundation on Facebook]<http://www.facebook.com/sunlightfoundation>[image: Sunlight Foundation on Twitter] <http://twitter.com/sunfoundation> [image: OpenGov on Reddit] <http://www.reddit.com/r/sunlight> [image: Sunlight Foundation on YouTube] <http://www.youtube.com/sunlightfoundation> [image: Sunlight Foundation on LinkedIn]<http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Sunlight-Foundation-3210802?gid=3210802&trk=…> <http://sunlightfoundation.com/feeds/latest/>

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Comment period on the Wikimedia United States Federation
by Guerillero Wikipedia 17 Sep '12

17 Sep '12

Dear Wikimedians from the United States, There is a proposal for an an umbrella organization for chapters and other groups in the US called the Wikimedia United States Federation. A draft of the bylaws is now up at meta. <http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikimedia_United_States_Federat…> There will be an open comment period on the bylaws 17 September, 2012 to 1 October, 2012. The comments received given will be incorporated into the bylaws and they will be put up to a ratification vote from 8 October, 2012 to 15 October, 2012. Thank you, Tom Guerillero

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Re: [wikimedia-dc] wikimedia-dc Digest, Vol 164, Issue 1
by B Andersen 16 Sep '12

16 Sep '12

I'm sorry I missed all the excitement On Sat, Sep 15, 2012 at 8:32 PM, <wikimedia-dc-request(a)lists.wikimedia.org>wrote: > Send wikimedia-dc mailing list submissions to > wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-dc > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > wikimedia-dc-request(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > wikimedia-dc-owner(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of wikimedia-dc digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Test (Nicholas Bashour) > 2. Re: Test (Jeremy Baron) > 3. Re: Test (Nicholas Bashour) > 4. Re: Test (James Hare) > 5. Re: Test (Theo10011) > 6. Re: Test (Alex Stinson) > 7. Re: Test (Irene E Lynch) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:15:26 -0400 > From: Nicholas Bashour <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com> > To: "wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org" > <wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: [wikimedia-dc] Test > Message-ID: <5C597324-4DDA-4F3F-926E-AAD224CEA364(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > This is email is simply a test. In case of an actual email, further > information will have followed :) > > Sincerely, > Nicholas Michael Bashour > > Sent from my iPhone > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:16:48 +0000 > From: Jeremy Baron <jeremy(a)tuxmachine.com> > To: Wikimedia DC chapter mailing list > <wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: Re: [wikimedia-dc] Test > Message-ID: > <CAE-2OCZhwk_HoAi0UGUNoo-W9Us76gYuWZKMZ09dz= > PrfXd_5w(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > On Sat, Sep 15, 2012 at 6:15 PM, Nicholas Bashour > <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > This is email is simply a test. In case of an actual email, further > information will have followed :) > > Will these be scheduled monthly? > > -Jeremy > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:22:06 -0400 > From: Nicholas Bashour <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com> > To: Wikimedia DC chapter mailing list > <wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: Re: [wikimedia-dc] Test > Message-ID: <ABFBAE91-94BC-426C-9971-BA77D7688C3F(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > No, I just wanted to check if the list was still working :) > > Sincerely, > Nicholas Michael Bashour > > Sent from my iPhone > > Am 15.09.2012 um 14:16 schrieb Jeremy Baron <jeremy(a)tuxmachine.com>: > > > On Sat, Sep 15, 2012 at 6:15 PM, Nicholas Bashour > > <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> This is email is simply a test. In case of an actual email, further > information will have followed :) > > > > Will these be scheduled monthly? > > > > -Jeremy > > > > _______________________________________________ > > wikimedia-dc mailing list > > wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-dc > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:32:38 -0400 > From: James Hare <messedrocker(a)gmail.com> > To: Wikimedia DC chapter mailing list > <wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: Re: [wikimedia-dc] Test > Message-ID: <5FE0E1EF-4257-4BC4-BA8C-F30F96FC44B7(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > The list is not working. Sorry, Nicholas. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Sep 15, 2012, at 2:22 PM, Nicholas Bashour <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > No, I just wanted to check if the list was still working :) > > > > Sincerely, > > Nicholas Michael Bashour > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > Am 15.09.2012 um 14:16 schrieb Jeremy Baron <jeremy(a)tuxmachine.com>: > > > >> On Sat, Sep 15, 2012 at 6:15 PM, Nicholas Bashour > >> <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >>> This is email is simply a test. In case of an actual email, further > information will have followed :) > >> > >> Will these be scheduled monthly? > >> > >> -Jeremy > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> wikimedia-dc mailing list > >> wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-dc > > > > _______________________________________________ > > wikimedia-dc mailing list > > wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-dc > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:07:34 +0530 > From: Theo10011 <de10011(a)gmail.com> > To: Wikimedia DC chapter mailing list > <wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: Re: [wikimedia-dc] Test > Message-ID: > <CAP9+R97nBk8frhF4Acru+M= > 5tBuMab5j7DT3JqOJxo0v+NqHqQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Lazy list! > > BTW lots of iPhones around, does that need to be advertised, maybe you guys > can consider modifying "Sent from my iPhone" with every message. > > Regards > Theo > > On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 12:02 AM, James Hare <messedrocker(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > The list is not working. Sorry, Nicholas. > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > On Sep 15, 2012, at 2:22 PM, Nicholas Bashour <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com > > > > wrote: > > > > > No, I just wanted to check if the list was still working :) > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > Nicholas Michael Bashour > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > Am 15.09.2012 um 14:16 schrieb Jeremy Baron <jeremy(a)tuxmachine.com>: > > > > > >> On Sat, Sep 15, 2012 at 6:15 PM, Nicholas Bashour > > >> <nicholasbashour(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >>> This is email is simply a test. In case of an actual email, further > > information will have followed :) > > >> > > >> Will these be scheduled monthly? > > >> > > >> -Jeremy > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> wikimedia-dc mailing list > > >> wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-dc > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > wikimedia-dc mailing list > > > wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-dc > > > > _______________________________________________ > > wikimedia-dc mailing list > > wikimedia-dc(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-dc > > >

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Test
by Nicholas Bashour 16 Sep '12

16 Sep '12

This is email is simply a test. In case of an actual email, further information will have followed :) Sincerely, Nicholas Michael Bashour Sent from my iPhone

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Wikimedia DC small grants program now open!
by Kirill Lokshin 12 Sep '12

12 Sep '12

Hello everyone, I'm pleased to announce that the new Wikimedia DC small grants program is finally ready to accept applications. The program will provide small grants (of up to $2,500) to individuals, groups, and organizations that need funding for projects and activities which are aligned with Wikimedia DC's charitable mission. To apply for a grant, please visit http://wikimediadc.org/wiki/Grants and fill out the short questionnaire. We are currently prioritizing requests related to Wiki Loves Monuments and Wikipedia Loves Libraries, but all applications will be given full consideration. As always, any comments or questions are welcome! Cheers, Kirill -- Kirill Lokshin Secretary | Wikimedia District of Columbia http://wikimediadc.org | @wikimediadc

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Smithsonian archives & libraries planning ways to participate in "Wikipedia Loves Libraries 2012"
by Snyder, Sara 14 Aug '12

14 Aug '12

Did you know that the Smithsonian Institution doesn't just include our museums, but houses over a dozen archival repositories and 20 branch libraries? Of course you did (because it is all on our Wikipedia pages). Thus, we have lots of enthusiastic librarians and archivists among our staff who have been making plans to participate in Wikipedia Loves Libraries<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Loves_Libraries> this fall. We are seeking partners from the DC Wikimedia chapter who would be interested in working with Smithsonian Staff to event(s) in October or November. Possible ideas include edit-a-thons, training/orientation for first time editors among our staff, & content donations to commons, but we are open to any and all ideas! Please email me or leave a message on my talk page<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Sarasays> if you are interested in helping plan for this! Best, Sara Sara Snyder Webmaster, Archives of American Art Smithsonian Institution (202) 633-7987 | www.aaa.si.edu<http://www.aaa.si.edu/>

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August 13th at the Library of Congress: Cultural Institutions and Wikipedia: a Mutually Beneficial Relationship
by Ed Summers 08 Aug '12

08 Aug '12

My apologies if this has been announced already. I imagine the current Wikipedian in Residence at the National Archives is a known quantity to many of you already. Dominic graciously agreed to visit to the Library of Congress to talk about his experience working with Wikipedia at NARA. The talk is open to the public so please feel free to spread the word. I'm personally hoping that Dominic's visit will be an opportunity to talk about how LC (and ogs) can use and promote Wikipedia more effectively. //Ed Cultural Institutions and Wikipedia: a Mutually Beneficial Relationship Dominic McDevitt-Parks 1:30 - 3:00 6th floor, James Madison Memorial Building http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cultural_Institutions_and_Wikipedia.… Over the past few years, cultural institutions have formed partnerships with Wikipedia in order to increase their visibility on the web and connect with a vibrant community of online volunteers. As a purpose-driven, non-profit educational project, Wikipedia and its sister sites have shared values and interests with cultural institutions that are only now being fully realized. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has become an enthusiastic and vocal participant in this movement to build bridges with Wikipedia and its community in the past year. Using specific examples, McDevitt-Parks will discuss how NARA views the partnership as a vehicle for increasing access to holdings, citizen engagement, and openness, while addressing practical concerns and challenges institutions will likely face if they choose to become involved. Dominic McDevitt-Parks is the Wikipedian in Residence at the National Archives and Records Administration and has served in that role since May 2011. He came to NARA from the Archives Management program at Simmons College and also holds a B.A. in history from Reed College. He has been a volunteer Wikipedia contributor since 2004.

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