I've heard people complain variously that a) the US requires European
airlines to share private data about passengers for security
screening, b) the US stores passenger name records centrally, "for an
indefinite period of time", and c) the visa process is prohibitive,
and can't be trusted to let people into the country. In response to
each:
a) True; also true in Canada. Canada and the EU this month signed an
agreement to share passenger info (including phone #s and credit card
#s), similar to, if somewhat more limited than, the one signed with
the US last year:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8D0JK80E.htm?campaign_id=apn_…
b) Not at present. The US CAPPS/"Secure Flight" program, which would
involve centrally storing information about passengers from all
airlines, had its "testing phase" first postponed and then suspended
indefinitely, following criticism from many government and private
groups. It also had its technology budget cut last week.
http://www.epic.org/privacy/airtravel/secureflight.htmlhttp://www.compliancepipeline.com/171202490http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20051018-075400-1017r
Both the US and Canada (see a, above) store some passenger information
for 3.5 years.
c) Sometimes time consuming, but fairly reliable. I wrote/spoke to
three people who run regular international conferences in the US. Two
independently pointed me to the office of the local Senator. Sure
enough, Senator Kennedy has an active and competent immigration group.
The woman in charge spent 10 minutes asking about Wikimania's subject,
history, timing, and international scope; and offered good advice on
how to prepare visa applications.
She suggested that for this kind of conference, venue, and
audience[1], there should not be extensive visa trouble[2]. She added
that she was there to help with the trouble, including cutting through
red tape and salvaging visa rejections ("if an application is
rejected, call me immediately and we'll work to get it overturned").
You can see a summary of the advice here:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2006/Boston/Visas
[1] With the caveat that she wanted to look at more information and
give a better-detailed answer next week.
[2] What she could say for certain : Attendees from a few countries
(Iran, Libya) will have a difficult time getting a visa, and will need
particularly strong supporting documents and local connections. Those
from other countries (China, Colombia, India, other parts of the
Middle East) will usually have to wait for over a month and should
apply well in advance. Other difficult cases will be single young
men residing in non-visa-waiver countries, out of school and
unemployed, with few family ties or financial resources; these will
need extra support from our end (in the US). All of this should apply
in Canada as well, to some degree.
++SJ
Hi!
Looks like Wikipedia could fit into the education section. The ceremony
for the price is in the Stockholm City hall where also the Nobel banket
takes place - this is our direction, isn't it? Anyone willing to sketch
a description of Wikimedia projects that includes ICT,
life-long-learning, education and all these buzzwords?
Greetings,
Jakob
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Stockholm Challenge Award 2006 is open for entries
<http://www.stockholmchallenge.se/news_right.asp?IdNr=150>THE STOCKHOLM
CHALLENGE AWARD 2006 invites excellent ICT projects from all over the
world to compete for the prestigious Challenge trophies. The Challenge
is searching for the best initiatives that accelerate the use of
information technology for the social and economic benefit of citizens
and communities. The objective is to help local entrepreneurs, who work
to close the digital divide, by bringing in research communities,
development organisations and strong corporate initiatives.
THE AWARDS WILL BE HANDED OUT IN SIX CATEGORIES
<http://www.stockholmchallenge.se/show_facts.asp?IdNr=9>in the City Hall
- on May 11, 2006. Special focus will be on projects in countries and
regions with the greatest needs. There will also be an international
Challenge conference in Stockholm on issues related to the role of ICTs
in global development work.
*THE AWARD IS OPEN FOR ENTRIES until December 31st 2005*. The
application form
<http://www.stockholmchallenge.se/omtavling_index.html>is easily
accessible on the home page.
The Stockholm Challenge is headquartered at the IT University
<http://www.it-univ.se/?lang=en>- a joint initiative by KTH
<http://www.kth.se/eng/> (The Royal Institute of Technology) and
Stockholm University <http://www.su.se/english> . It is managed by a
consortium that also includes the City of Stockholm, Ericsson and Sida,
the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
For more information, please contact:
Project Manager
Ulla Skidén
ulla.skiden(a)stockholmchallenge.se <mailto:ulla.skiden@stockholmchallenge.se>
Telephone: + 46 8 7904469
Cell: +46 70 678 72 82
www.stockholmchallenge.se <http://www.stockholmchallenge.se/>
*Rules for participation in the Stockholm Challenge Award 2006
<http://www.stockholmchallenge.se/show_facts.asp?IdNr=3>*
These are the basic rules for the participation in the Stockholm
Challenge Award. All competing projects must:
1. Include ICT
Illustrate how ICT is used to create new or better traditional services
and/or products, which are beneficial for human and social development.
2. Be implemented
All competing projects must be up and running. They should be
implemented/piloted since no less than three months. The Stockholm
Challenge Award does not accept drafted concepts and ideas only. The
jury will only evaluate and compare projects that can show measurable
outcomes and impact.
3. Be linked to and/or supported by an established private or public
organisation.
4. Be verifiable, i.e. able to present credible references.
5. Be free from religious, political or other personal beliefs.
/*To be noted:*/
/*Projects that have won one of the Challenge categories in previous
years cannot enter the competition again.*/
/*All applications must be in English*/
*Evaluation criteria
<http://www.stockholmchallenge.se/show_facts.asp?IdNr=4>*
Innovation, creativity and the convergence of ICT with many different
disciplines are some of the qualities that are looked for in the
competing projects. The jury, a group of international senior experts,
base their evaluation on the following criteria, most of which all
Challenge projects should meet:
_Innovation_
Competing projects should illustrate new and innovative ways of using
ICT to improve the living and economical conditions especially of those
with great needs.
_Convergence_
The addition of ICT as a tool to traditional development work can
improve and widen the scope of the project impact. Projects should show
successful convergences of different disciplines and sectors.
_Inclusion_
It is favourable for the competing projects to show that they bring
individuals, groups and local organisations into larger communities –
national and global - such as medical, government, educational and
cultural networks, as well business environments.
_Equal Opportunity_
It is important that the initiatives counteract inequality related to
the likes of gender, origin, age, physical and/or mental disabilities.
_Sustainability_
An important factor is sustainability. Not only economic sustainability,
i.e. how long the project will last and bring benefits to its users.
Sustainability also includes the contribution of the project to a
sustainable society and environment at large.
*Opportunities <http://www.stockholmchallenge.se/show_facts.asp?IdNr=2>*
To enter a project in the Stockholm Challenge Award is not only to
participate in a prestigious international ICT competition - it is also
a way to join networks of some of the best ICT entrepreneurs and
pioneers in the world. Testimonials from many of the projects, which
have competed in their respective categories over the years, say that it
is the inspiration, the new ideas, contacts and partners that are the
greatest rewards for a Challenger.
The Stockholm Challenge represents excellent marketing through the
exposure to media, and to private and public organizations that are
involved in ICT work and implementations. It gives promotional
opportunities for entrepreneurs, universities, cities, cities and
regions. The Stockholm Challenge Final Events include a Best Practice
Exhibition and a Conference. It is a meeting place for some the world's
most successful IT entrepreneurs.
Winners and finalists of the Stockholm Challenge are global role models
for cities, companies, organisations, schools and others who are
involved in adapting and spreading the use of ICT.
I've started a proposal page for a project called "Wikitour" that would lend
itself directly to Wikipedia. Whereas Commons hosts individual images of
places that have articles on Wikipedia, Wikitour would host "virtual tours"
of these places, such as castles, museums, galleries, caverns, mountains,
college campuses, typical mosques or churches, archaeological sites, etc.
The main point is to provide visual detail to accompany the other projects'
textual detail.
The basic idea is as follows: a user submits numerous photos of a notable
place, which are organized into pages/subpages to create a navigable
environment similar to that in Myst, Riven, or other graphical adventures;
the navigation system would be on Wikitour, while the files themselves would
be on Commons, with a link in the respective article on WP. Basically, any
topic that has an article on Wikipedia has the possibility of its own entry
in Wikitour. Users could also submit photos of an object from various
sides/angles/distances, rather than a place.
Please leave your impressions/suggestions at [[meta:Talk:Wikitour]].
Thanks.
en:User:Brian0918
brian0918(a)gmail.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: shi zhao <shizhao(a)gmail.com>
Date: Oct 21, 2005 10:20 PM
Subject: [Wikizh-l] Re: Wikipedia banned in China, news from Taiwan
(translated)
To: Zheng Xiaoyun <zhengxiaoyun(a)gmail.com>
Cc: wikizh-l(a)wikipedia.org
wikipedia�϶�����һЩ���ڴ�½��˵��Щ���е����η���۵㡣�������Ļ�����ʵ���й���������������ֻ����ࡣ
Ŀǰ���Ѿ��ݽ���������IJ��ϣ���������Ļ���1����֮��Ӧ�û���������
���ڷ���wikipedia���ȽϿ�ķ�������ʹ��wikimedia��ŷ�ķ�������Ϊ������
145.97.39.132:80 <http://145.97.39.132:80>
�� 05-10-21��Zheng Xiaoyun<zhengxiaoyun(a)gmail.com> ���
> ������ǹ��Ұ�ȫ�������������ǻ���ʲô���ݵ����أ�����ܲ�ȡʲô�Բ��أ�
>
> Zheng
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Cathy Ma <cathyma(a)gmail.com>
> Date: Oct 21, 2005 6:24 PM
> Subject: Wikipedia banned in China, news from Taiwan (translated)
> To: Andrew Lih <alih(a)hku.hk>, Ying Chan <yychan(a)hku.hk>, Lokman Tsui
> <lokman.tsui(a)gmail.com>, Andrea Leung <andrea.leung(a)gmail.com>,
> "isaac.mao" <isaac.mao(a)gmail.com>, zhengxiaoyun(a)gmail.com, Kenneth
> Farrall <kfarrall(a)asc.upenn.edu>, Titan Deng <theodoranian(a)gmail.com>
>
>
> Thanks Titan for the source:
>
> ���ľS�� �����ꑷ��i
>
> ��ӛ��ꐂZ�ΨM̨����
>
> ȫ������Y�ϵľ��ϰٿ�ȫ���S���ٿƣ�wiki pedia�����İ�پW��19�������ٶ����ꑟo�A�����i
> ���W��һƬ�e㵡�
>
> Wikipedia was banned without forewarnning on the 19th and shocked
> internet users.
>
> ���˽⣬�@�η⚢�����й����Ұ�ȫ��λ���ԭ�������ɰ��W�ѓ���ԓվһ�������÷��i�����ɞ顸����֪�R�۷e�������Σ�C��
>
> No conclusive rationals were drawn for this move, but it was believed
> to be an order issued by the National Security Unit of the government.
> Users from both Mainland and China worried that if this website is
> banned for good, it would be the biggest crisis for 'Chinese knowledge
> accumulation'.
>
>
�W��ԭ�Ԟ��@�Ρ��⚢��ֻ�Ǿֲ������^�ɰ����ؾW�Ѵ�̽�؈�֪�ı���ʮ���������𣬰����������ؑc���V�|���Ϻ������K�ȵ���m�o���������ľS���ٿƣ�������ꑎ���ȫ����i��
>
> Internet users originally thought that this was only a partial
> suspension, however after investigations by various users, it was
> found that most provinces in China could no longer access to Wikipedia
> since the 19th.
>
>
���c��ꑾS���_�����lĿ�ľW�ѣ�ԭ�Ԟ�����������Ϣ���W·����ġ�������������W·�����̣�ISP�����C����֪���LJ��Ұ�ȫ��λ������ִ�ꑾW���ԡ��|�S�\���l������ԓ��λ��
>
> Mainland users thought that it was again the 'masterpiece/great work'
> by the Central information Networt (CERNET?), however further
> verification with the ISP revealed that it was the National security
> unit who made the order. Some mainland users described the unit as
> 'Secret agency from the "eastern unit" (note: used to be the unit in
> imperial China Great Palace of which only castrated men worked there'
>
>
�@���Ǵ�ꑹٷ�ȥ����������ȷ��i���ľS���ٿƣ�ȥ������찲�T�¼���ʮ������o��ǰϦ���й���Ϣ���ȟo�A�����iԓվ���L�_���ܡ������ľS����ȫ����Ո�£��ԡ������_�������Ї��˅��c�������Lƫ��̨�����f�����S��ԓ�ٿ��ϡ���ƽ��ɰ��������ɣ��@�ٶ��_�š�
>
> This was the third time Wikipedia got banned in China. Last year it
> was right before the 15th aniversary of the June fourth incident when
> the CERNET banned the site without any forewarning. It lasted for 3
> weeks, not until the appeal 'If you do not open this website,
> information on this encyclopedia would gravitate more toward
> pro-Taiwan stance' by the Wikipedian crew that site got reopen again.
>
>
ȥ����£��������BBSվ����һ̤���T��վ���W���ھ��ϙzӑ���\�c�ĸ��ƶȣ��ȫ���վ������BBS�����Pվ�⣻֮��ԭ�ڡ�һ̤���T����Ԓ�ČW�����Z�����ľS���Wվ�c����BBS������S��չ�_�W·���飬���ľS�����ȱ����i���졣
>
> Last September the bigger BBS in China SMTH was banned when students
> discussed about social movements and reform. After that these
> students migrated to Wikipedia and BBS to continue their discussion
> and caused Chinese Wikipedia suspended for 3 days.
>
> ��2005/10/21 �ψ� '
>
> --
> MPhil Candidate,
> Department of Sociology,
> The University of Hong Kong
> http://cathyma.net
>
> --
> ------------------------------------------------
> // Zheng XiaoYun
> + http://www.cnblog.org
> + http://www.klogs.org
> // 0598-8654540
>
_______________________________________________
Wikizh-l mailing list
Wikizh-l(a)Wikipedia.org
http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikizh-l
(warning, cross post to many lists, thank you for not replying to all
- thank you for forwarding to the relevant lists)
Boston (http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2006/Boston) and
Toronto (http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2006/Toronto) have
been shortlisted to host the 2006 edition of Wikimania.
Wikimania 2006 will be the second international Wikimedia conference
and will gather members of the Wikimedia community acorss projects as
well as participants and speakers from different horizons to talk
about wikis and more. An overview of the 2005 edition can be found at
http://wikimania.wikimedia.org.
Contrarily to what was announced on the Wikimania page
(http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2006), and due to tight
schedules of the jury from 3 corners of the planet, the jury might not
be able to meet and give its answer on the 15th october as was
planned.
This will only be delayed a day or two, please stay tuned for an update.
In the meantime, participants and others are free to ask/answer
questions on the talk pages of the Boston
(http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimania_2006/Boston) and
Toronto (http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimania_2006/Toronto)
bid.
Best,
Delphine
--
~notafish
Since the jury has been speculating on why or why not people would go
to one or the other of the two shortlisted cities for Wikimania, a
page was started on meta to actually stop speculating and finding
reasons why *you* (not your neighbour, not your dog, not your
grand-mother) would go (or not go) to Boston or to Toronto. This is
not a vote, this is not even really a poll. Please help us by stating
your reasons on this page:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2006/Why_and_why_not%3F
[[m:Wikimania 2006/Why_and_why_not?]]
Thank you :-)
Delphine
--
~notafish
scy_hk and theodorian, on irc, just reported at least
part of China was not accessing all Wikipedias today,
starting around 17:30(UTC+8)
Shizao put a mail about it :
http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikizh-l/2005-October/000217.html
Chinese editors are right now having a chat about it
and a report page was set.
Ant
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com
So...
I have worked a bit in the past 2 weeks in refactoring the Foundation Home Page, to merge it with Quarto.
PLEASE, do not consider the graphical aspect of it, it can LOOK different. I am very bad at graphics, so do not take this as the final look.
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/User:Anthere/home
What I would like to have feedback on is
* the content of the new page
* the way information is organised
* adding logos of sponsors or not (depending on how much they gave or how recently it was...)
* etc...
The main idea is to merge Quarto in the Foundation site, in such a way that
* most big categories are kept (so, it is not too difficult to "create" a pdf Quarto from the content from time to time if we have the will and energy...)
* topics normally edited by board members or officers will be directly editable on the website. Each officer will for example have a report page associated and this one will always be the same.
For example : for the hardware officer : http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Hardware_and_hosting_report
I kept Jimbo's letter (and whatever big messages he wishes to share with the community), while the board letter may contain a overview of WMF over time (organisation, collaborations etc...)
Each officer will have his own report page, which he can edit alone or with anyone he wishes (some links might be missing right now; I mostly want to give the idea)
* topics which can be created/offered by anyone will be created on meta. So fully editable. They will be later copied on the Foundation site or not.
For example, by Alterego (copied on the WMF site) : http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Projects/An_exciting_growth_%21
We can also include here all Specials, which might be report on Wikimania (no one feels like doing it it seems though) or Interviews etc...
I would love to see there stuff like [[How to use and reuse our content]] or [[All you ever wanted to know on our licences...]]
* A controversial point to validate : I would like that we introduce a "opinion area" or a "essay area" for personal texts of some of our proeminent members. These will be clearly labelled "not Foundation approved"... but naturally, we'll not let crazy text settle here :-)
* I left a prize and award which might be nicely featured in a special area with what often goes with it.... a picture of the prize... Currently, it is just a paragraph to suggest it should be here
* The road ahead will be mostly to announce major events (such as Wikimania, or WSIS ?) and planning.
* Controversially, I added a special area for donations and sponsorship... with some logos....
* And I finished with a little bit of corporate details, which might certainly be improved.
The right side is still allocated with current news...
---------------
When you go down in reports, you'll notice a [[archive]] link, which allow to go back in the past. See for example : http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Finance_report
As well as put some atemporal links (such as the link to the budget).
All reports might be categorized to better find them back as well.
Of course, all officers will be free to fill these quartely reports in the way that seems best to them. Imho, in most cases, a global report per quarter is best, but in some cases, adding information little by little when new stuff get done might be good as well.
I mostly wish/hope that information gets there...
Of course, most content is right now outdated. This is mostly to show what it could be. So do not complain about that please :-)
----------------
Now, I would love some feedback on all this. If no one says anything (as most of the time :-(...), I'll consider it an agreed and will put it on the main page soon (likely next week end).
Otherwise, please comment here, or on irc, or on the talk page if you can or wherever...
Thanks
Ant
---------------------------------
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To answer Gerard's concern ("why only these two sponsors and not others")
I only put two to show how we could feature them. That does not mean others could not be featured as well, Yahoo and Kennisnet being the two obvious ones.
But I did not want to lose my time looking for Kennisnet logo... while I am not certain putting logos in the main page will be acceptable.
So, I want to first test the reactions to the idea of putting their logo on the main page. Quite obviously, it implies us asking ourselves the question
* who do we feature there ?
* for which amount ?
* how long ?
If these questions are too hard to answer, then no logo should be on the first page.
--------------
To answer Dan comments ("there should be an explanation of what the board is at the top")
Why not... I feared it was a bit too boring for the top possibly....
What do other people think ?
To answer Dan comments ("I think the existing front page is quite good, and the oldQuarto material could have it's own page within the site. A lot of thematerial is already very dated, and shouldn't be on the front page.Or just cut out the bits more than a couple of months old...maybe...")
This is correct. As I said in my email, I mostly used some previous content to show what could be done. Obviously, before putting it in the front page, the old content will be removed and archived. Only new content will be left... However, it is very difficult to put new content before it exists... and right now, I do not have a lot of new content to put :-)
I am *waiting* for new content mostly
------------
To answer Dan comments ("I do not think it is a good idea to merge the main page with Quarto")
I would like to be crystal clear about something, and I *really* mean it.
It is my belief there should be information in that website. This information is basically the information which is currently in the Quarto.
As far as I can see it, we have three options
* Option 1 : keep things as they are (ie, Quarto slowly built in meta, then slowly translated, then slowly copied in WMF, only when fully translated)
* Option 2 : move Quarto entirely to the Foundation website and dig it in the website (ie, keep the main page of the Foundation as it is now) (this implies a Quarto no more accessible to most editors and completely hidden)
* Option 3 : merge at least the main features of Quarto in the Foundation website. The main benefits I see is improving the speed at which the information is offered to editors. Giving the information even when not translated. Making it easier to edit the articles as each is independant.
I am not sure everyone realise, but doing Quarto is taking a lot of time. Clearly Sj is no more willing or does not have enough time any more to participate to its edition. It is not a reproach to him, but only a fact. I understand. But I was nearly alone to set up the whole structure of the last edition. I contacted at least 15 people at least one time to get articles done. How many answered ?
Jimbo was suggested twice to add a letter. Nothing was done.
Amongst officers, only one has taken the time to put a text (Delphine).
Only two chapters have added a small report.
I have I believe 4-5 texts from the projects (thank you very much to the editors who took the time to update us, me included :-)).
Not even ONE line was written about the last Wikimania, which I find absolutely of the latest sadness. I think it would not be difficult to the organisation team to draft even a 40 lines reports to give direct links to presentations, to movies, etc... but nothing nothing nothing was done. And *I* will not do it.
I know I would have to write myself the entire general report, as well as a good part of the officer reports if I ever want the issue published.
There is no more update of planning done.
Other editors consider it is enough to put 5 words in the draft page saying "adding information about blablabla". But it still requires somebody to understand what is this blablabla, explore the issue not to write stupid things, and then write the report.
Now, this would not be very bad... if to publish a quarto, all these sections had to be mandatorily filled up. As long as one section is missing, we wait for publishing, ask again to editors, then wait, then ask again, then wait again, then finish writing ourselves a poor and bugged approximated text. And when all is finally done, only then, we can start translating.
Consequently, there is absolutely NO chance a Quarto can be published in less than 6 months.
And I can *not* do that alone.
For one editor who make the effort to write all by himself an article, there are 5 editors we have to contact several times to ask again and again for content.
And 5 others who just put 5 telegraphic words and expect someone else will miraculously do the job. This is just NOT an option.
I raised, I believe, the issue, several times. The last time was really the last.
The change I suggest is at least
* making it easier for people to edit on the spot and be published within a week.
* not blocking the whole information procedure because we are constantly waiting for others to put their own stuff
* allowing an information to be published in a non english language, even though other information is not translated.
* makes the current main page a little bit more alive than it is right now.
So, to make myself very very very crystal clear, there will no more Quarto in the current form, because I am not a cop and I am tired of constantly waiting for people to put information for others. I do not want to ask them over and over and over again. I *intimately* feel that we should inform others, but it seems not everyone is intimately as convinced as I am. So... in the current structure, people have room to put information. But if they do not put information, at least that does not impair others to do so.
I am ready to discuss the current state of my proposal, more stuff, less stuff, different stuff on the main page. Whatever.
But you must *know* that if we keep the *current* structure of the main page and the current structure of Quarto, I will not take care of Quarto any more, either dispersed on meta, or hidden in the website. This is not a threat to push you in a decision, just a bare fact. I do not want to be treacherous here :-)
ant
PS : Now, if you have another solution, please give it. I will fully listen.
---------------------------------
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