Yes, but that's because they have money rolling in to fund the physical and legal move. And I'm sure there's different things involved with a charity and what essentially is a small business.
It wouldn't be smart to burn money like that, right after the world hears "Wikipedia to close in three months".
Nick
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 06:07:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Daniel Mayer maveric149@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] Wikimedia Job: Volunteer Coordinator
Place of incorporation did not stop Wikia from moving.
On 3/1/07, Nicholas Moreau nicholasmoreau@gmail.com wrote:
Yes, but that's because they have money rolling in to fund the physical and legal move. And I'm sure there's different things involved with a charity and what essentially is a small business.
Wikia is incorporated in Delaware - it doesn't mean the office needs to be there.
Is it really sensible to be looking for more staff in St. Pete when most of the people who used to be based there now aren't? Last time I was in the office, it was inhabited by Jimmy, Michael, Terry, and Danny. Michael and Terry now work from home. Jimmy is usually travelling and rarely in that office. That just leaves Danny, who only moved there because the office was there, and Carolyn and whoever joined since. I know Brion is moving there, but again *because* the office is there, so that's not a reason to keep the office there. Unless Wikimedia becomes more accepting of remote working, I think it is disadvantageous to keep it based in St Pete, especially now the search for a CEO is on.
Angela
Angela wrote:
That just leaves Danny, who only moved there because the office was there, and Carolyn and whoever joined since. I know Brion is moving there, but again *because* the office is there, so that's not a reason to keep the office there.
But that would also be true of just about everywhere else being proposed. Some people are proposing San Francisco, but neither Brion nor Danny (nor Jimmy) lived in SF, either, so if the headquarters were there they would've had to move to get to it. We're an international organization, and even our U.S. members are scattered across the U.S., so *anywhere* will be somewhere the vast majority of us don't live.
-Mark
On 3/1/07, Delirium delirium@hackish.org wrote:
Angela wrote:
That just leaves Danny, who only moved there because the office was there, and Carolyn and whoever joined since. I know Brion is moving there, but again *because* the office is there, so that's not a reason to keep the office there.
But that would also be true of just about everywhere else being proposed. Some people are proposing San Francisco, but neither Brion nor Danny (nor Jimmy) lived in SF, either, so if the headquarters were there they would've had to move to get to it. We're an international organization, and even our U.S. members are scattered across the U.S., so *anywhere* will be somewhere the vast majority of us don't live.
I was going to suggest a more global-warming-proof location, given both sea level rise and hurricane issues for St Petersberg, but I'm typing this from the San Francisco region having already lived through several earthquakes and waiting for another major one on the fault 4 miles from my house... Something about glass houses comes to mind 8-)
On 3/1/07, George Herbert george.herbert@gmail.com wrote:
I was going to suggest a more global-warming-proof location, given both sea level rise and hurricane issues for St Petersberg
I believe the sea level rise is scheduled to happen slowly enough that there will be plenty of time to move, so I assume that's more of a joke.
But the hurricane issues for St. Petersburg are very serious. From what I've read on the matter, St. Pete would be devastated by a direct hit from a big hurricane. Low lying, relatively large population, connected to the rest of Florida mostly by bridges. It'd be really bad.
The good thing about hurricanes, as opposed to earthquakes, is that with proper planning and adequate insurance, losses can be kept to a minimum. If the WMF doesn't already have a detailed plan in place, there are still a few months left to make one. Anyone in Zephyrhills got a really big living room and a T1? If you let me join the fun I'll bring the chips.
Anthony
On 3/1/07, Anthony wikilegal@inbox.org wrote:
On 3/1/07, George Herbert george.herbert@gmail.com wrote:
I was going to suggest a more global-warming-proof location, given both sea level rise and hurricane issues for St Petersberg
I believe the sea level rise is scheduled to happen slowly enough that there will be plenty of time to move, so I assume that's more of a joke.
There's a schedule? All the climatologists and oceanographers and marine engineers I know want to see it, if you have a copy ;-)
There are some ranges estimated, but nobody knows for sure. Catastrophic events such as relatively sudden loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet, or West Antarctic Sheet, would cause a relatively swift rise.
But the hurricane issues for St. Petersburg are very serious. From what I've read on the matter, St. Pete would be devastated by a direct hit from a big hurricane. Low lying, relatively large population, connected to the rest of Florida mostly by bridges. It'd be really bad.
The good thing about hurricanes, as opposed to earthquakes, is that with proper planning and adequate insurance, losses can be kept to a minimum. If the WMF doesn't already have a detailed plan in place, there are still a few months left to make one. Anyone in Zephyrhills got a really big living room and a T1? If you let me join the fun I'll bring the chips.
From an IT management perspective, this is Business Continuity.
I know some of the answers to this, but a BC analysis asks:
Where is the data duplicated? Where are the servers duplicated? What will the impact be to users of a cutover to the disaster recovery site(s), in terms of performance and lag and downtime? Are administrative and technical staff in the affected zone, and if so, how do you get them to the DR site, and who handles their houses and families and so forth? What are the risks of building flood, wind damage, and complete collapse? How long could power be out? Are there generator refueling plans? Do the refuelers have disaster access permits from the local government?
I could keep going. There are lots of issues.
I am not aware of there being anywhere that is completely safe from significant natural disasters. Some places are more prone than others, and the ones you get in some areas are more regionally catastrophic (big earthquakes, big hurricanes, 15 feet of snow across a whole state, etc) than others (tornados, etc).
On 3/1/07, George Herbert george.herbert@gmail.com wrote:
There are some ranges estimated, but nobody knows for sure. Catastrophic events such as relatively sudden loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet, or West Antarctic Sheet, would cause a relatively swift rise.
Are there any reasonable predictions that a significant sea rise could occur in a matter of days or weeks? If so, I'd certainly like to hear about this. I always thought "incredibly swift" in terms of this situation meant a couple feet a year.
Where is the data duplicated? Where are the servers duplicated? What will the impact be to users of a cutover to the disaster recovery site(s), in terms of performance and lag and downtime?
Are the servers in a hurricane evacuation zone? I thought it was only the office (and staff) that had to be *really* worried about.
Angela wrote:
On 3/1/07, Nicholas Moreau nicholasmoreau@gmail.com wrote:
Yes, but that's because they have money rolling in to fund the physical and legal move. And I'm sure there's different things involved with a charity and what essentially is a small business.
Wikia is incorporated in Delaware - it doesn't mean the office needs to be there.
Is it really sensible to be looking for more staff in St. Pete when most of the people who used to be based there now aren't? Last time I was in the office, it was inhabited by Jimmy, Michael, Terry, and Danny. Michael and Terry now work from home. Jimmy is usually travelling and rarely in that office. That just leaves Danny, who only moved there because the office was there, and Carolyn and whoever joined since. I know Brion is moving there, but again *because* the office is there, so that's not a reason to keep the office there. Unless Wikimedia becomes more accepting of remote working, I think it is disadvantageous to keep it based in St Pete, especially now the search for a CEO is on.
Angela
foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
You may not be aware but there are 7 interns/volunteers in here daily, Barbara, Sandy, Danny, Brion and Rob (the server guy who lives here and works between the servers in Tampa and the office here & myself and we are about to hire two more......just fyi
Nicholas Moreau wrote:
Yes, but that's because they have money rolling in to fund the physical and legal move. And I'm sure there's different things involved with a charity and what essentially is a small business.
It wouldn't be smart to burn money like that, right after the world hears "Wikipedia to close in three months".
Nick
Maybe we could argue the slip of tongue....
"oh, but I was not talking of closing the website, but only of closing the office !"
ant
Florence Devouard wrote:
Nicholas Moreau wrote:
Yes, but that's because they have money rolling in to fund the physical and legal move. And I'm sure there's different things involved with a charity and what essentially is a small business.
It wouldn't be smart to burn money like that, right after the world hears "Wikipedia to close in three months".
Nick
Maybe we could argue the slip of tongue....
"oh, but I was not talking of closing the website, but only of closing the office !"
ant
foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
The office is closing??? Who was to inform the people who run the office.......and the servers......and the banks??????????????? This is VERY disconcerting as everyone is about to walk out in frustration anyway. Where shall the phones be forwarded to?
On 3/2/07, Carolyn Doran cdoran@wikimedia.org wrote:
The office is closing???
Florence was joking.
Carolyn Doran wrote:
Florence Devouard wrote:
Nicholas Moreau wrote:
Yes, but that's because they have money rolling in to fund the physical and legal move. And I'm sure there's different things involved with a charity and what essentially is a small business.
It wouldn't be smart to burn money like that, right after the world hears "Wikipedia to close in three months".
Nick
Maybe we could argue the slip of tongue....
"oh, but I was not talking of closing the website, but only of closing the office !"
ant
foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
The office is closing??? Who was to inform the people who run the office.......and the servers......and the banks??????????????? This is VERY disconcerting as everyone is about to walk out in frustration anyway. Where shall the phones be forwarded to?
I.....
/me tears her hair apart, cover head with ash, dip her fingers in holy water and add a pinch of ketchup sauce
wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org