I've been a contributor for a few years now, joining in May 2005. Despite having an account for over two years, I have less then 1000 edits. I wasn't the most active user "onwiki". I actually still remember my first time on Wikinews. Two years ago, I had an assignment where I was supposed to journalize the a news report every day, I never did, and would do it as a whole batch in one day. To make my life easy, I would use AP's Online Database and search for news by date. This worked most of the time. One day, however, AP's website was down, and the assignment due the next day... Remembering that Wikipedia had a current event's section, I checked it out... somehow navigating a link to Wikinews in the process. So I digested a news article from every day, breaking the license of the time (not attributing), and fixing a few spelling mistakes. I found a link to CGI:IRC and said "hi" to the channel, with Amgine responding with a cool "Nice edits". The warmth lasted until dinner was finished cooking (a few minutes time, if I remember) I got an "A" on the assignment. The next August I returned with editing on Wikinews, creating the now infamous, Wikinews Leet edition (which hasn't been edited since August 2005, so don't get your hopes up). A few days later, Katrina formed. I was active almost 24/7 until it landed, Amgine later saying that I "covered the storm, until the storm covered me", and the infamous Hurricane 2005 Season went through, including Florida's infamous "Wilma". (I had kept journal notes for both Katrina and Wilma, during the times I could report, however both didn't survive). I saw the raise of Wikinews, from a sideproject of Wikipedia, to a project that could really be something good (we still, at this time, IMHO, need Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation). I saw the end of the first generation of "Wikinewsies" (although I don't think the term was used at the time). I was around as the new crown came up. I might not have edited altogether much, but the community saw me (and still sees me, as I note with the salutes in the IRC channel) as a great contributor. I've been putting off this for the last couple of months, but I think it's been very similar to MrM's last days. I have a couple problems in real life that I need to deal with. Some of them I've put on myself, others are reactions of actions of others. In either case, I'm re-prioritizing them in my life, so that I can fix them. My leaving isn't because of the community, I'm not angry at Wikinews or any Wikinewsies. I hope to be able to return to the project, hopefully sooner rather than later. It might be 6 months, a year, maybe 2. Maybe longer than that. The current community on Wikinews (and without a doubt, the first generation as well), is an awesome community. Everyone knows each other, we aren't too small to be boring, but not too large to be confusing. I've developed relationship onwiki that will survive offwiki. I've already posted my last edit on Wikinews, this is my last posting on Wikinews-l, I'll be unsubscribing in a few days. Again, it's been a great time editing with this community, I will never forget the good times I've enjoyed with you guys. Most of you guys have my contact information, for others, Brianmc has stated that he'll be keeping my wikinewsie.org address (this one) active. I'll be keeping an eye onwiki. Don't be afraid to contact me. And keep an eye out for my Request for Reconfirmation, when it shows up, you'll know I'm back. Many newscasters through the years have signed off of their broadcast with it, and it seems fitting that I do the same here, as I sign off of Wikinews. "Goodnight, and good luck." -- [[User:Terinjokes|Terinjokes]] _______________________________________________ Wikinews-l mailing list Wikinews-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikinews-l