text:
Category:March 29, 2005

de:Kategorie:29.03.2005 es:Categoría:29 de marzo de 2005 pl:Kategoria:29 marca 2005 pt:Categoria:29 de março de 2005 sv:Kategori:29 mars 2005

title: Category:March 29, 2005


text:
Category:March 30, 2005

de:Kategorie:30.03.2005 es:Categoría:30 de marzo de 2005 fr:Catégorie:30 mars 2005 pl:Kategoria:30 marca 2005 pt:Categoria:30 de março de 2005 sv:Kategori:30 mars 2005

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Category:March 30, 2005


text:
Category:March 31, 2005

de:Kategorie:31.03.2005 es:Categoría:31 de marzo de 2005 it:Categoria:31 marzo 2005 pl:Kategoria:31 marca 2005 pt:Categoria:31 de março de 2005 sv:Kategori:31 mars 2005 uk:Категорія:31 березня 2005

title: Category:March 31, 2005


text:
Bomb blast kills Iraqi police, army recruits

March 1, 2005

A suicide car bombing in al Hilla, south of Baghdad, has killed 125 people, mostly Iraqi applicants for police and army waiting for medical exams becoming the worst single event since the initial invasion. At nearly the same time another car bomb exploded in Musayyib, 30km north of Hilla.

The attack occurred about 8:30 a.m. local time Monday, in a crowd of mostly Shi'a recruits applying for positions with the country's security forces, and as citizens were arriving at the nearby outdoor market.

The recruits were waiting for required medical exams at a clinic across from the mayor's home and the market. Shoppers in the market, men, women and children, were among the dead from the blast.

There are conflicting reports regarding the Musayyib explosion, with some reports indicating only the bomber died and others suggesting a police officer also dying from the blast.

Babil province police released a statement regarding the blast, reporting several arrests were made after but not elaborating further.

Attacks by the insurgency forces appear to have increased in deadliness. Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib said Monday at a news conference in Baghdad "the number of casualties is much more than before."

al Hilla was the scene of a major battle in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, with several hundred Iraqi forces reported to have been killed in fierce fighting. The city is now included in the Polish military zone under the occupation of Iraq.


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Crosswords/2005/March/5

March 5, 2005

Quick crossword
{| border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 0em 0em 1em 1em;"
 * colspan=2|

{|align="left"
 * valign=top style=width:50%|
 * valign=top style=width:50%|

Across
{|align="left"
 * 1. Gathers (5)
 * 8. Trumpet-like instrument (6)
 * 9. Device to untangle and neaten hair (9)
 * 12. Pariah (7)
 * 13. Bird twitter (5)
 * 14. Sick (3)
 * 15. Garden device (3)
 * 16. Regular stop; train or bus boarding place (7)
 * 19. Device once called "the wireless" (5)
 * 22. Burn lightly (5)
 * 24. Flask (7)
 * 27. Greek letter (3)
 * 29. Cooking dish (3)
 * 30. Malice (5)
 * 31. Player piano (7)
 * 32. Place to pay one's fares for crossing bridge, road, etc. (9)
 * 34. Strong whisky (colloq.) (6)
 * 35. Response (5)
 * }
 * valign=top style=width:50%|

Down
Answers next week.
 * 2. The importance of being (7)
 * 3. Good golf score (3)
 * 4. Learned person (7)
 * 5. Bubbly liquid (5)
 * 6. Flag (9)
 * 7. Small packet (6)
 * 10. Collective of workers (5)
 * 11. Navigate (5)
 * 17. Repetition of vowel sounds (9)
 * 18. Tavern (3)
 * 20. Noise (3)
 * 21. Whinge (5)
 * 23. Ability to feel others emotions (7)
 * 24. Narrow waterway (5)
 * 25. Fertile dirt (7)
 * 26. Body; unit (6)
 * 28. Adolescence (5)
 * 33. Falsehood (3)
 * }
 * }

title: Crosswords/2005/March/5


text:
New version of Firefox web browser released

The Mozilla Foundation recently released an update to Mozilla Firefox. According to the developers, Mozilla Firefox 1.0.1 patches 17 security flaws and improves stability. The update is available from Getfirefox.com by clicking 'Download Now' or 'Other Systems and Languages'.

Windows users should currently be seeing a small icon on the menu bar of the browser indicating that an Automatic Update to the new version is now available for installation.

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.1 is available at the time of writing in US English, French, Spanish (Latin American), German, Italian, Dutch, Finnish and Polish, among many other languages.

However the updated Windows version has a flaw affecting anyone who previously installed Firefox as a 'zipped' build, rather than using the standard automatic installer method. (Zipped builds are often customized versions designed for increased speed or development work). If version 1.0.1 is installed over a zipped build, users are reporting that the browser crashes when attempting to enter text into the location or search boxes.

Anyone encountering this problem is advised to delete their Mozilla Firefox folder in 'Program Files', then re-install. Their bookmarks, extensions etc will not be affected.


text:
Wikinews:Water cooler/policy/Archive/2

What is Policy and where do I find it? I.e What should we be discussing here? I assume it is The Stuff that everyone has agreed upon but what is it that has and what has not been agreed upon andh ow do I know what to look at to find this out? -- Huttite 23:42, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Policies and guidelines help Wikinews avoid conflicts, and to resolve them. Another item which is really vital is the Style guide, which helps us work together on the layout and appearance of Wikinews articles. One of the ways we can reach consensus is through judicious use of polls, as well discussion on talk pages.
 * Here on the Water cooler we can bring up ideas for policies, new things which have come up or changes to existing policy. But we need to keep in mind that most "policy" is not written down anywhere; it is just the way we have learned to do things which works. (see How are policies created? on the policy page.) - Amgine 23:50, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Date/Timezone etc
Is there a policy on dating of articles? It's February 2nd down here, but according to my calculations it's still Feb 1st in Seppoland, and no doubt many other places. Can I give my article the date that it is here, or is there some other standard? - Borofkin 22:01, 1 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * also relating to time and dates, are we meant to put 01 or just 1 in the byline? The bellman 03:15, 2 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I strongly urge the use of single-digit days under 10, for the following reasons: I think the reasons for having a zero do exist, but are less strong than these reasons not to use it. -- IlyaHaykinson 10:07, 2 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * It is more natural
 * Humans don't say "January zero-first"
 * It's more common
 * Search google for "January 1" vs "January 01" (or for any other day) and you'll find many times more mentions of the former
 * It's the Wikipedia way: It's January 1 there, not January 01
 * It's compatible with 29 which we already use for article editing
 * It's consistent with Wikinews to date
 * See Category:December 1, 2004, Category:January 1, 2005.
 * Consistency imporant for linking.

UTC
We need to standardize on UTC for deciding when each new day starts. Otherwise we will have the ridiculous situation of never having less than two days being edited. Dan100 (Talk) 20:21, 2 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * I am not convinced that this is the best way to move foward. As soon as Bug 1411 is implemented, this might become moot anyway. For now though, I think it's a lot more user-friendly to simply write the story from your own point of view. Thus if you're in Asia and it's already Thursday February 3, but it's still Wed Feb 2 UTC, then you should be reporting as Feb 3. News needs to remain as local as possible, and from that point of view it should probably be the original reporter's timezone. -- IlyaHaykinson 23:53, 2 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Are you serious? UTC is the standard time for pretty much any international organisation, from NASA to the BBC. I think the majority of internet users are used to the fact that all (truly) international website uses it. The idea that there can be two days being appended with new items is farcical. Dan100 (Talk) 19:58, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * I also note that the new main page displays the current UTC date and time. Dan100 (Talk) 20:18, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * The Wikinews servers use UTC, thus the date/time are UTC. But a user can change that in their personal settings, and it will be localized to their timezone. Which is the wikimedia way - the user comes first. So, articles can and will continue to be written from the local point of view time, will be stored in UTC, and may be served back up in either local time or UTC. - Amgine 20:38, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * UTC is user unfriendly.-- Davodd | Talk 02:26, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Given New Zealand is +13 UTC (and Chatham Islands are +13:45 UTC) during Summer there is never less than 3 possible days that a story could be written in - if it is written on the date it occurs. I think the following convention should be used. The story should be written on the date and with times that it occurs locally. UTC dateline should later be appended as (Date UTC) or the +/- UTC time zone. indicated. I say this because local stories are most relevant to local readers. Local time should be assumed unless UTC is clearly indicated. NASA used UTC because it is the astronomical standard and local time is meaningless in space. BBC used UTC because it is their timezone, so easy for them to convert. Most people use local time and are mathematically challenged by the 24 hour clock, let alone UTC time conversion. (And Zulu time as used by the military is out of the question.) -- Huttite 22:01, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Yes, there are a variety of issues; for example a person at UTC-12 writing an article at 2330 local time appears to have written it two days ago for a Chatham Islander when it gets submitted. And the reverse, an article appears to have been written two days in the future.
 * Using the local date is fine under the current set up. Using the main page link to add it to the current day's archive will bring the contributor to the server's current day, or the contributor may add a link to the archive day which is local for them - their choice. But it is not unexpected for another user to "correct" the date, based on their local day. - Amgine 22:18, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)

The date and time should be based on the date and time where and event occurred. This should be clearly marked as being the local time with the UTC equivalent given in parenthesis. --Maveric149 11:51, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Editorials & Opinion Columns
The poll conducted on wheter or not Wikinews should have opinion columns was flawed. There are several "yes" options, but only one "no" option. This lead to vote-splitting among the "yes" people. The poll should have been conducted with 3 options: Yes, No, and Delay. Then, if "yes" won (and it would have), there would be another poll on what the opinion poll policy would be (with disclaimer, without disclaimer, only admin users, etc.) This way, the people who voted "no" could still have a say in the policy, and the decision would be more fair, as the majority of "yes" votes would be grouped together. --Munchkinguy 20:14, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Re-start it; anyone can start a poll. Dan100 (Talk) 20:20, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Opinions by definition violate the Wikimedia NPOV policy. Opinions in Wikinews namespace should be limited to the discussion pages, and user pages. -- Davodd | Talk 22:49, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * This is not, in fact, the case. An ascribed opinion does not violate the NPOV; it is in fact the example used. Editorials and opinion columns, however, are not news; they are either commentary on news, or analysis of news, and I agree with Davodd - opposed to either at this point in the main namespace. - Amgine 22:54, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Let me amend what I meant: please replace the first word of my above statement to read: "Wikinews-published opinion articles". -- Davodd | Talk 22:59, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Most newspapers have clearly marked sections for News, Features, and Commentary. It's only the News portion (and, to the extent that that's possible, the Features) that's supposed to be fair, accurate, etc.  I wouldn't mind seeing commentary on Wikinews if it is clearly identified as such.  That could mean a separate namespace, a template tag, or some other mechanism.  It may also mean that commentary should not placed into the public domain, because the commentator may wish to be identified.  If so, commentary would have to be licensed as cc-by or more restrictive. --MarkSweep 07:46, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * We are under mandate by the site owner, the Wikimedia Foundation to have all of our content to be neutral in point of view. Added to this, articles on Wikinews are not the work of one person - but are a collaborative work done by everyone here, which means that all the articles must be agreeable to every one of us. This means that any opinion article that we create must: 1. give equal treatment to every perspective (liberal, conservative, moderate, radical, fundamentalist, anarchist, etc.), and 2. be representative of each and every Wikinews contributor. In essence, Wikinews cannot be the right forum for editorializing or opining - I suggest those who wish to write reviews or share personal thoughts on the world should look into creating a blog on some other service that specializes in that sort of content. -- Davodd | Talk 09:50, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)

What about Wikisource? There are several "non-neutral" pages there, such as The Book of Mormon, The Communist Manifesto, The Bible, and The Holy Qur'an. Nobody would argue that these texts should have a neutral point of view. --Munchkinguy 21:07, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * The problem with Opinion articles is that they kind of have to be the poin of view of one person: you can't create an opinion article by consensus. Therefore I think that the only logical place for these kinds of articles is in the User space. We can have an index to those articles if we wish, but they would then be in a particular user's space and not get edited by others. -- IlyaHaykinson 21:03, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)

We can have opinion columns, just not editorials (what does that mean?) I just read the What Wikinews is not page, and it says:
 * "Wikinews articles are not editorials. Although opinion columns are likely to be an element of the Wikinews site, articles in the main namespace should restrict themselves to reporting news and not commenting on the news or newsmakers." --Munchkinguy 21:23, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * An editorial is the opinion of the editors or publishers. The specific element of the above quote is "in the main name space". We might be able to request a special namespace, such as "Commentary:" or "Opinions:" at some point. In the meantime, opinion columns can be made in the "User:" namespace. - Amgine 22:55, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I'll refer back to the [|Embrace The Wiki] article I wrote. The only place where it is possible to have columns or editorials in is user space, and then we need to close userspace for editing for other user (except Administrators). What have we then done? Well, we have basically created a Wiki-based blog for the Wikinews users. That is *doable*. It it DESIRABLE? Well, only three people voted for that option, so I guess not.

In short: All things that are the beneficial effects of a Wiki prevents editorials. To be able to have editorials and columsn, we must create a space (by changing userspace) that for all intents and purposes are not a Wiki at all. What's the point of that? No, peoples: Get a blog. Really. I have. It's lots of fun. --Regebro 13:47, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)

This poll is so obviously designed to produce a desired result the term "flawed" does not apply. In fact, this poll beautifully illustrates the orwellian concept of making the peons feel as if they have influence over their intellectual environment when nothing could be further from the truth.paulrevere2005

 * Again, Paul, re-start the poll if you feel that way. My own 2p is, as said by others - use a blog for opinions pieces. Blogs are very, very good for that sort of thing - publishing the point of view of one person.

Wikis, however, are all about collaboration, which lends them beautiful to pieces which have a neutral point of view. Anything that gets posted in the main article space is open to editing by anyone; even if we did allow you to post an opinion piece, you might come back an hour later and find someone has completely reversed the sentiments of your article. Dan100 (Talk) 17:30, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Protecting old articles
I believe that we should start protecting articles older than seven days to prevent vandalism and reduce the pressure on any Recent Changes patrolling. News has a sell-by date of only a couple of days; after that, people aren't interested (except for research) so I doubt old articles are viewed much. Further, anything that hasn't been added to a story within a few days probably isn't worth adding, and (I hope) all copy-editing will have been done by then. If there are major new developments to a story, that probably deserves a new article, rather than revising an old one. Dan100 (Talk) 10:40, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I agree, archived news are valuable because of their historical value. People might look at old news to see what the opinion was on topics at the time. 66.185.85.74 16:29, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * I disagree about the protections. Edits to very old articles are rare, and are usually valid things (like spelling fixes, changes to make URLs work, etc). Old articles should be edited when problems in them are discovered, even if it's a week too late (especially for local stories with less exposure). Some articles are aggregate pages about ongoing events that need to be edited as the story develops (i.e. like the tsunami main page was). If we do have protection, we need an easy way for people to tell the admins when the changes do need to be made. -- IlyaHaykinson 00:58, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I believe most article-fixing is done within a day or two of creation, as at the moment new articles tend to come under quite intense scrutiny as soon as they are created.

Proposed changes to protected pages could be made on the article concerned's talk page, then highlighted on a page for suggested changes that admins would check regulary.

Although vandalism isn't a problem now, as we become more popular it will almost certainly become an issue and we should be prepared. Dan100 (Talk) 16:15, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Vandalism is not as great a concern as POV pushing. For example, the history of Soldiers sue U.S. government over 'stop-loss' policy shows a user reverting to their position a month after the last previous edit, and willing to revert-war over it. Similarly, United States anti-drug efforts in Latin America criticized by WOLA report has content edits a month after publication, and Department of Defense report lambasts communication failure in US War on Terror was posthumously published (after its own death) with a byline fully a month and a half after its creation. Old articles should be protected to prevent attempts at re-writing of history. - 24.85.65.249 18:09, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * I would be OK with protection, if there's very clear policy on making changes to protected articles. Amgine, please put that together if you're protecting articles. Otherwise we're not friendly to newbies who want to fix spelling errors. -- IlyaHaykinson 20:23, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Page protection should be rare
Protecting old stories, as a matter of policy, is a bad idea for a number of reasons.

First of all, protecting articles establishes a hierarchy of editors.

With the exception of the Main Page and the site-wide banner, I shouldn't have to attain status as an Administrator to edit any of the articles on Wikinews, unless that article has been subject to edit warring or repeated vandalism, in which case the protection should be temporary.

Is this proposal to put aside section two of the Foundation issues for convenience, or for a real, tangible problem that is making the site unviable?

Unless there are too many cases of bad edits to old articles for us to deal with in a timely manner, let's stick to the "wiki process" (section three) as the guiding authority for article content.

Regards,

— DV 22:36, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Protecting old articles as historical documents was part of the initial agreement to set up Wikinews (meta). The goal was for Wikinews articles to become static, citeable sources.
 * As linked above, it is a real, tangible problem which is affecting our archives. - Amgine 22:44, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Which set of policies has precedence, the Foundation issues or the Wikinews proposal?

 * In any case, I see links to a handful of articles which have been problematic. So protect those articles.

 * A number of older stories are still rife with spelling mistakes and typos. From time to time, I will fix those mistakes if a story I am working on has reason to link to an older article.

 * Were we really being overwhelmed by bad edits to older stories?

 * As a compromise, could you wait for a longer period of time before enforcing this protection?

 * At a minimum, please clearly state what the deadline shall be, so I know when I'll have my last chance to fix an article.

 * — DV 23:02, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * I support protecting archived stories for historical value - but I think 7 days is too early. It should be at least 2 weeks or a month. We can always update or do major corrections with a new article. -- Davodd | Talk 22:28, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Well, yeah, I do think we should set aside point 2 of the Foundation Issues. For one, they were written with regard to Wikipedia, and secondly we should be making our own policy.

While we certainly aren't getting many bad edits to old articles (or plain vandalism), I don't think that's a good reason for leaving the door open to such things. Why not take pre-emptive action?

To sum, I would support page protection after two weeks. However, we would NEED to have an effective and timely manner for getting admins to fix old mistakes anyone spots. I suggest an admins' noticeboard page. Could also be used for reporting vandalism etc. Dan100 (Talk) 17:43, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Multiple stories on one topic or event
One of the beauties of Wikinews is that it allows the telling of a story and its impact from multiple angles... and to keep our stories focused, this means we may have more than one story covering different aspects of a particular event. Not duplicate stories, but related stories. -- Davodd | Talk 22:32, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * I agree. Aggregating a whole bunch of stories together starts to create something more like an encyclopedia article than a news story. I hear we have another project for that. :) --Maveric149 11:38, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Amgine thinks my submission re; Afghan opium production skyrocketing under our watch is "opinion".
I completely disagree with Amgine's curt assessment. USA Today ran a similar cover story with not nearly as much background. I think my story (concerning Afghanistan opium production) is just too political and the facts are too controversial for "don't rock the boaters" to intellectually deal with; hence,a few seconds of unwarranted censorship prevents readers from having the opportunity to make up their own minds about whether afghan opium production increasing 1,000+%(as verified by the UN's office on drugs and crime) since we took it over is news or opinion.

 * I understand your disagreement with my assessment your article is a commentary, opinion, or editorial about news and not reporting of news. Having re-read your article, I would also add the assessment that it is not written in the neutral point of view, uses sources in an inappropriate manner (out of context quotes, lack of citation, etc.) and would benefit from some copyediting. None of which indicate my underlying agreement or disagreement with what is written.
 * If you wish to write an article on the subject, your article should address What is the event/circumstance, When did it happen/is it happening, Who is involved, Where does it begin/happen/affect, and possibly Why and How the event occurs. You may wish to look at Content guide, What Wikinews is not and What Wikinews is for some more extensive discussion. - Amgine 15:37, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)

User:paulrevere2005/Afghanistan opium production keeps skyrocketing while the administration says "Drugs Fund Terrorists"
Perhaps there is less censorship at this venue.

[article, including hotlinked images, is currently available in the user's space - Amgine]

paulrevere2005, The water cooler policy section is for discussing policy questions and ideas. It is not for publishing columns and opinions. Please do not break Wikinews to make a point. You're welcome to bring the discussion of columns and opinions back up here, however. - Amgine 15:08, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * This episode suggests that we need a 'requests for comments' page. Dan100 (Talk) 17:51, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Inconsistant Wikinews copyright policy
On #wikimedia Ausir pointed out that Wikinews versions other than English and German are licensed under the GNU FDL. Was this intentional? I understand that the PD status of the German and English Wikinews versions is temporary pending a final decision on licensing. However, having different language versions of the same project under different licenses is, well, insane since it makes some translations illegal (for example, translating a story from an FDLd Dutch article into a PD English Wikinews article). Something needs to be done to fix this train-wreck in progress. --Maveric149 11:36, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * This needs to be done by the local sysops of the project, by editing MediaWiki:Copyright and MediaWiki:Copyrightwarning.--Eloquence 12:47, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Removed crossword link from front page banner
I removed the crossword link from the front page top banner being that it is niether news nor a user aid. Maybe a more appropriate place exists for it. -- Davodd | Talk 23:02, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Please replace the crossword link. It is a feature of the site, there is no other place it is or reasonably could be linked from, and it is popular. - Amgine 23:12, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Oh, and people have posted about this on the Talk: Main Page, since it isn't really a policy question. - Amgine 23:13, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I put it back. I think there is consensus for it - many people like the crossword, and as far as I know only one person objects. Dan100 (Talk) 08:01, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * I have yet to see any consensus that Wikinews should alter its mission to be a publisher of games. -- Davodd | Talk 11:15, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Come on... This is Wikinews, and crosswords are found in newspapers. Since the idea for wikinews seems to be an open source newspaper, the crossword abseloutley makes sense. --Munchkinguy 20:53, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * I think that this is exactly what you said: Wikinews — nowhere does it get called Wikinewspaper. Wikinews is a source of news, which does not involve games. Nor does it involve classifieds or advertising, also commonly found in newspapers. I object to the crossword puzzles, as good as they are, and would like this put to a vote. -- IlyaHaykinson 20:57, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Sorry, that's not what I meant. I am defending the crossword. Newspapers have crosswords. There may not be a classsified section in Wikinews, but there are Obituaries. Anyway, look at the temporary wikinews logo. It's a newspaper. Look at the Main Page. It looks like a newspaper layout. --Munchkinguy 21:16, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Most people agree that the temporary wikinews logo is bad. What Wikinews is not explicitly states that Wikinews is not paper. The main page isn't really newspaperish: those generally don't have lists of stories or editor tasks.
 * Either way, please see Crossword poll for a slightly more structured version of the debate and a potential way to form consensus. -- IlyaHaykinson 21:38, 5 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Let me get this straight: a discussion addressing the substantive issues and concepts is not the way to gain a consensus. Selecting one of three options on a biased survey question is a way to reach consensus. Can you explain that to me, addressing the points of "structured" and "consensus" in particular? - Amgine 05:45, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Yes, Newpapers have crosswords. They also have comics, TV listings, reviewes of local theaters, personals, ads for cars and suspect massage institues. Should Wikinews have that too? No. This is not a newspaper. It's a Wiki. Embrace The Wiki --Regebro 14:03, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)

This is my first visit to wikinews, and I was extremely surprised to see a link to a crossword puzzle up there. Since when have news and crossword puzzles been linked, outside of newspapers? Maybe if the crossword puzzle was about the current news items, but I don't believe it is. Take it out. 205.251.106.251 00:43, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Conspiracy theories on Wikinews
[Moved to section by Amgine]

The exchange below among myself,fastfussion,and amgine is food for thought as to the acceptability of conspiracy theories on wikinews. My own opinion is that most major crimes in real life involve a conspiracy (e.g.9/11 involved a conspiracy among the hijackers) and that solving a crime usually begins with a theory (who done it?).The leporization of the term "conspiracy theory" is quite orwellian in that from a criminal group's perspective, the best investigation is the one that never begins(because noone wants to investigate a "conspiracy theory").paulrevere2005 Its funny how we have become so brainwashed that we only think words like conspiracy or sabotage or terrorism or subversive apply to the people our government leaders tell us they apply to. Maybe,sometimes these words apply to people who are in high places within our government..ala President Nixon.
 * February 24,2005 (revised)

All I know is that Hunter Thompson's most recent book was aggressively anti-Bush and anti-war in Iraq and even with his death being the #3 story of interest on the internet today,NOBODY...I MEAN NOBODY.....even mentioned that fact. Nor did anybody mention that the other author that went after the Bush clan so viciously(according to George Sr.),and was one of the first to report Jr.'s cocaine habit and cover-up, James Hatfield, also supposedly killed himself. Has everybody forgotten that George Sr. ran the CIA? Wouldn't he have had access to professional killers over the years?..or, maybe its just a coincidence these 2 guys did themselves in.

The wiki-news crash happened within minutes of when my article "Another Author of "anti-bush" Books Dies of Apparent Suicide" first hit the "developing stories"section of the main page.If the site wasn't sabotaged, then please tell me; what did shut it down??? paulrevere2005

 * Wikinews is not the place for conspiracy theories. Please stop posting them—you are wasting our time and hurting our credibility. (and please learn the difference between the words "vicious" and "viscous" before posting any more stories, regardless of their conspiracy-content) --Fastfission 14:13, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Watergate was a "conspiracy theory"...is this a conspiracy theory>>>In a Jan. 2003 interview Thompson gave on KDNK in the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado Thompson railed at the state of America; (source;democracynow.org) "Bush is really the evil one here and it is more than just him. We are the Nazis in this game and I don't like it. I am embarrassed and I am pissed off. I mean to say something. I think a lot of people in this country agree with me -...we'll see what happens to me if I get my head cut off next week -- it is always unknown or bushy-haired strangers who commit suicide right afterwards with no witnesses."

 * Watergate was authored by two journalists willing to put their credibility on the line in case they were wrong, and would have suffered consequences had their research proved faulty (compare with the Dan Rather/Killian incident not too long ago now). You, on the other hand, are just an anonymous Wikinews editor. You have done no research except to combine two hair-brained ideas into one. You have no credibility. You personally suffer no real consequences for posting nonsense. The only credibility you can hurt is that of Wikinews as a whole. As such, please refrain from trying to be an investigative journalist. If you had built up a reputation for good work, and were really bringing some new information to the table, it would be one thing (perhaps such a thing is never really possible on Wikinews). As it is, you're just another anonymous internet person who seems to have a minimal control over the English language and absolutely no concerns over presenting balanced journalism. Woodward and Bernstein you ain't. --Fastfission 23:44, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Yet. Let's try to keep a perspective; very few of us have written professionally - and if we were highly successful as professional journalists we would probably not be writing for Wikinews now. At Wikinews we have the opportunity to learn some of the requirements of journalism, and perhaps learn some of the techniques required for investigative journalism.

One thing I have seen is reporters interested in the heavy research required of investigative journalism often begin by doing the work on their own time. Very much the wiki way. But their stories won't get published if they are not verifiable. And like most research - the end story is based on what is found, not what the reporter went out looking to prove. Start with with questions, report the answers. - Amgine 00:01, 24 Feb 2005 (UTC)

"Objective journalism is one of the main reasons that American politics has been allowed to be so corrupt for so long."-Hunter Thompson.

It burns my ass that old guys like me and Hunter have to still be the rebels..the hell raisers; while all of you young politically correctos talk about "control" of the english language and "balanced" journalism.You just don't get it. Events and their causes are usually NOT controlled and are usually UNbalanced so the language that reports them is best when IT'S uncontrolled and unbalanced.Why? Because the words should spring to LIFE;and LIFE is wild! You just don't get the essence..the soul of TRUTH and the fact that truth is not sitting on the side of the road like a dead raccoon; its way the hell up on the top of a mountain like an eagle and you have to scratch and claw your way up to where its at to get a good clear look at it! Amgine is right about one thing; the answers are all that count..the real and true answers like "where are the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?" "Where were they?""Why,BEFORE we invaded, when weapons inspector,Scott Ritter,was on TV saying over and over again that there was no wmd,does everyone now pretend that everyone before thought Saddam had'em?Scott Ritter didn't think so.Why has he not been heard from since?" Why?why?why?...Can you even imagine going to print with an anonymous source known as "deep throat"???? GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!paulrevere2005

 * anyone criticizing someone for crossing a line they consider legitimate really should refrain from commenting in a pedantic way about specific advantages they enjoy, such as knowledge of how to spell a particular word. how childish

title: Wikinews:Water cooler/policy/Archive/2


text:
Wikinews:Water cooler/technical/Archive/2

New web-based IRC chat client for #wikinews
For those of you who don't want to the hassle of setting up a stand-alone IRC client to read what's being said on #wikinews, go to ChrisW's user page, and give his new demo client a whirl. Dan100 16:15, 12 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Extension
I have an extension in the works which will retrieve a number of the most recent articles based on how many you ask for, and and which two categories they belong to.

The reasoning is this: by creating a category Category:Published we can tell the article is considered "main page ready" (this satisfies the "flagged" requirement.) And we can use Ilya's categories to create main page sections which have nothing but the most recent articles in each section. We can adjust how many articles to list by making it variable; the latest 3 for a compact main page, but the top 15 for a page devoted to that category for examples.

The way it is likely to be used is as a custom "tag", like 3,Published,World would insert a list of the most recent three articles posted in the World category.

 * A category such as 'Published' would be the ideal page to produce a RSS feed for Wikinews. Dan100 (Talk) 10:31, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Potential feature: Crossword puzzle
User:The_bellman brought up the idea of a Wikicrossword, which led to a discussion in #wikipedia, and a couple people announced they liked the idea so much they were going to run with it. So, we may soon have a daily crossword puzzle-type feature! Thanks loads to The_bellman for coming up with such an instant hit idea! - Amgine 05:21, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Maybe I'm missing something, but what does offering a crossword puzzle have to do with building a premiere collaborative Internet news source? Maybe the energy spent on that project would best be used building up actual news content for the site. Secondly, following the newspaper model may not be the right course for us since Wikinews is not paper - additionally, we should think very carefully about blurring the focus of our mission by including non-news entertainment features such as fill-in-the-blank word games, advice/humor/chess columns and comic strips that are paper-oriented features. -- Davodd | Talk 07:29, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * I'm with Davodd on this. I have no problem if The_bellman wants to publish crossword puzzles on his user pages, but I think it has only a marginal connection to the wikinews goals. -- IlyaHaykinson 07:57, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * I've created one to start off at Crosswords/2005/January/27. I don't see any harm in having crosswords at least - many other online news sources have crosswords available. Dysprosia 09:38, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * But many other online news sources also have cartoons, advertising, paid archives, and individual author attribution. Just because other publications have it doesn't seem to imply that we should have it. I suggest that crossword puzzles are not news articles, feature columns or editorials: they're games for the readers. They make a lot of sense in a paper format (helping to keep the readership subscribing to the newspaper), but don't make much sense on this site. Perhaps WikiSource is a better place for this. -- IlyaHaykinson 19:14, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * As Dan100 points out below, they attract traffic. Second, they tend to be related to current events of the time. Third, news online is infotainment, no matter how else you look at it. Users will visit this site primarily because they want to because they have the option of finding their news just as easily as elsehwere. Fourth, it was an instantly massive meme across all wikimedia channels when it was brought up; it created instant discussions about Wikinews, and several hundred hits within minutes. These are my reasons to be excited and positive about it as a possible feature. - Amgine 19:30, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I actually think it's quite cool. Granted puzzles aren't a feature of many web-based news sites, but they are a long-running tradition in the print media. I can't think of a magazine or paper that I read that doesn't have a games section. It could be a kinda link with old and new on Wikinews. From a slightly more devious point of view, it could well provide an attraction and hook for internet users, and boost our hits :). Dan100 (Talk) 19:16, 27 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * The major flaw with them is that they are not news. I also vote no on horoscopes and comic stips, which also are popular in most newspapers and magazines, for the same reason. -- Davodd | Talk 08:16, 28 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Can we get some firm acknowledgement whether we are to have them or not? I suggested adding it on the main page, so there would be a bit more traffic towards them, but no one's responded to that request. I'd like to know whether they're welcome, or, more pertinently, how many people exactly are actually doing them, so I know whether to bother creating more or not at this frequency. Dysprosia 00:50, 30 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * I'm surprised by some of the negative comments.

 * It's healthy to have a mix of the deadly serious news stories with more light-hearted fair.

 * When I saw the crossword puzzle, it brought a smile to my face, both for the entertainment value, and also for the sheer technical achievement of devising a script that could automatically generate such a nicely formatted table from such a simple data set.

 * Some people throw out the comic strips and only read the hard news sections of their newspaper. Other people enjoy the comics and sports sections, and wrap their fish with the rest.

 * However, crosswords aren't comics - the reader can't be passive about them. To solve the puzzle requires the reader to stop and think. If the crossword has a few topical references, it can also help the reader to better absorb the stories of the day.

 * Dysprosia has made a fine contribution. I endorse adding these puzzles as a regular feature.

 * Regards,

 * — DV 07:26, 31 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I have to admit I'm suspicious that this puzzle is within the confines of the goals of Wikinews or is anything that will be worth the effort put into it. I also think that its value as helping the reader "better absorb the stories of the day" is fairly speculative. As someone who does the NYTimes crossword quite frequently, I would also note that I'm suspicious of any puzzles that aren't done by sources which are known to be entertaining and clever (and I imagine I'm not alone on this) before investing my time—and I find it very unlikely that this will "attract traffic". One other thing is that it seems very incorrect to have an online crossword that requires you to print it out before completing it. I don't know what the answer is to that, but it seems like a poor use of technology, and could easily lead to the interpretation that Wikinews is feeling "print-inferiority", when we ought to be celebrating our differences. Putting in a non-interactive, non-collaborative puzzle that you have to print out to use seems antithetical to this project on a number of levels. I'm not rabidly anti-crossword (it's your time, you spend it how you choose, I don't think it's going to hurt anything), but I feel like there might be other "amusements" which would be more suited for our goals. --Fastfission 17:47, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Is it possible for the crossword to be editable, to type in letters into the crossword. 66.185.85.74 16:36, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)

As noted in otehr places, like the poll and on the policy page, I think crosswords are a bad idea, that has nothing to do either with wiki or news. --Regebro 14:06, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Linking to Wikipedia articles
Surely a better way can be devised to link to Wikipedia articles than the w: prefix. The great advantage of Wikinews, it seems to me, over other news sources is that anything in an article can be instantly linked up to a full encyclopedia article on the subject, and I find having to create constructions like Condoleezza Rice to be more typing than it's worth (and prone to error). Maybe if some sort of new syntax could be developed, so that something like this would work: Condoleeza Rice ? I don't know if this is a worthwhile place to post something like this, but I wasn't sure where else to do it. --Fastfission 17:51, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * There is a method already in place, almost exactly as you suggest: Condoleezza Rice, which will be expanded on save to Condoleezza Rice . Also, the interwiki for other wikimedia sites work similarly, such as m: for meta.wikimedia.org, commons: for commons.wikimedia.org, etc. - User:Amgine
 * Well that's brilliant. Thanks! Nice to know that I wasn't alone in thinking that... --Fastfission 00:44, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)

source template
Something that I do not like with the template is the impossibility to link to a Wikipedia description of the news source. Not everybody is supposed to know that the BBC is the British Broadcasting Corporation, or that INSEE is the French national institute for statistics. Submarine 09:23, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * I don't quite understand - the 'pub' (publisher) field of the source template produces a link to Wikipedia. Dan100 (Talk) 16:24, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Dan100 is exactly right. The pub field creates a link to Wikipedia, linking to the publisher's name. "British Broadcasting Corporation" or "BBC" will link to the correct article on Wikipedia. Is there something we could add to the template to make it more useable? - Amgine 18:17, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Woops. I guess I wasn't really awake. :-) Submarine 09:40, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I have written amrked up article how to get it to publish on site


text:
Talk:New version of Firefox web browser released

Citation needed

 * The flaws include domain spoofing by using international (foreign language) script and making it look like the real site's name, erasing files on Windows using .lnk (shortcut) files and erasing directories on Linux and other UNIX systems.

These assertions require support/sourcing. - Amgine 06:34, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

 * The phishing one is a problem in 1.0 bodge-fixed in 1.0.1 but the rest is FUD. Dan100 (Talk) 23:38, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Technically-speaking, it's just a bugfix, not new "version"
In case people are confused.. Only Firefox 2.0(+) should be regarded as new "version", just like you can't call Windows XP SP2 as new Microsoft OS King Ho Cheung 23:33, 2 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Public service announcement
Is it just me or does this article seem to be more of a public service announcement than news. The fact that a new version/bug fix/whatever is out is news, but then some of the stuff about zipped files and what not, feel like they arent news. Im not quite sure what im getting at here, but im sure that there is a point somewhere. Maybe we should have a public service announcement section, with i dunno, missing people, responses to disasters, virus warnings and what not some time in the future (when we have the peoplepower to do such things), or maybe im just rambling. Anywho the network is back up, so its all good The bellman 01:37, 3 Mar 2005 (UTC)


text:
Wikinews:Water cooler/proposals/Archive/3

RSS feed for Wikinews articles
Hi,

Is it possible to have RSS feeds of Wikinews articles like the Reuters and BBC RSS feeds?

Thanks.

Currently, no, as the software this site runs on does't offer a satisfactory RSS system. However, in the meantime, I'm operating a very simple off-site blog: Wikinews Latest News, which does have a RSS feed. Dan100 (Talk) 22:14, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Homepage lead story edit link
To curb some recent vandalism, I think we should remove the "edit lead article" link from the homepage, and put that link in the Workspace or into The Newsroom. This will still be open enough to users who look around even just a bit, but limiting enough so that "edit the front page" isn't quite one of the first links people see. -- IlyaHaykinson 05:00, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Agree it should be moved. I think the Workspace should be best. - Amgine 05:01, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * I also agree. --Handyteeth 21:11, 11 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Done. Dan100 (Talk) 10:32, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Thematic templates
There are some articles which can be easily said to be in a "theme" with other articles, and can utilize the same categories and stock illustrations. Perhaps we could set up a section of Wikinews to have thematic templates which could be inserted both to guarantee consistency and to make certain things easier. For example, Iranian President vows to maintain nuclear program and Iran Agrees to Suspend Uranium Conversion and Iran Close to Decision on Nuclear Program are all about Iran and the controversy over its nuclear program. A simple template for this might include the Iran-atom graphic seen in the first article and the categories for "Iran" and "Nuclear proliferation" and "Middle East". This new template (named, say, "Template:Theme/Iran_nuclear") could then be easily inserted into any new (or old) articles on the Iranian nuclear issue (the page "Template:Theme" could contain links to all of the others and serve as a reference). Anybody opposed to this? Anything like this already exist? I would be happy to make up a few "stock" illustrations for some initial templates along common themes which would perhaps inspire others to create them as they came up (North Korea nuclear issues, Iranian nuclear issues, genetics and GMO issues, church/state issues, Israel-Palestine issues, etc.). The goal to this would be that after a month or two, one would have a pretty good set of stock "article enhancers" to immediately drop in, improving at least the initial quality of an article in progress (if someone has a better image, they could of course substitute it. There might be some clever way to do this automatically even with the templates, though I've no experience with this). Thoughts? --Fastfission 00:40, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Actually, instead of "themes," perhaps "Issues"? If someone was good at tables they could make a nice little template with which you could have an issue title ("Israel and Palestine conflict") and then a link to a page which would contain a link to all articles in the series, and then perhaps a few Wikipedia links. You could then drop this in to any article on the subject for ease, convenience, and professionalism. I can't seem to make the table work well, though, but if someone else wants to give it a stab... --Fastfission 06:37, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)

That's an excellent idea, go for it. I think a good simple starting point would be for the template to add a public domain image and the appropiate categories, then we can test it out and see how well it works. Users could use the categories to find other related stories. Dan100 (Talk) 12:24, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Fastfission created the Template:Issues page, take a look! Dan100 (Talk) 17:55, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

In-Depth Article proposal
I wrote up a proposal for adding a new section to the main page for "in-depth articles". It's basically an elaboration of an idea I presented here not long ago, that seemed to have some support. I assume the next step would be to set up a poll, but first I'd appreciate feedback on the idea. - TalkHard 16:18, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * We could, but there should be demand for it first. Anyone is welcome to write in-depth feature articles, but I just don't think anyone is doing them at the moment. When they do, we can add a seperate section. Dan100 (Talk) 17:57, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * I have considered this twice before - I considered writing an in depth article on The long term economic implications of the tusnami disaster and more recently The economic implications of the Kyoto Protocal. But the amount of work invovled would be massive for something a) would only be in the limelight for a few days, b) only appeal to a small preportion of vistors and c) WikiNews does not yet have a huge following - I'd bet the majority of our vistors at present are meerly curious wikipedia editors or our own wikinews editors. Perhaps we could revcisit this in a few months time. CGorman 18:41, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * It is however something better suited to the wiki model than normal articles, which normally have one main editor, then a couple of copyediters. Here would be a good chance for real collaboration. I agree with the others that maybe it is beyond our current means, but if you want to have a go at one as a proof of concept, then i dont think anyone would try and stop you. The bellman 04:16, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Great idea. And many of us share it. -- Davodd | Talk 05:49, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * I don't know if any of you are familier with the Collaboration of the Week (COTW) idea on wikipedia. It works very well. We could have a Feature/In-Depth Coverage of the Week system where we nominated an idea on a Sunday and by the following week publish the result as a Special Report. In wikipedia, COTW has ensured the work load is well spread on each project. Any comments? CGorman 15:27, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Put a synopsis of a second story on the main page
I've noticed that theres a lot of white space below the lead story on the main page, which looks amateurish. Why not put a secondary story synopsis on the main page, with a smaller headline and perhaps 20 words. This would also give greater exposure to other stories which are excellent but not as important as the lead story.
 * Too much work involved in keeping two leads updated. PS new comments should go at the bottom of discussion page, not the top, else people won't see them. Dan100 (Talk) 10:34, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Central vs. South vs. Latin America
I've created the Latin America topic to be all inclusive of the Spanish/French/Portuguese-speaking countries in the Western Hemisphere. (Cuba, a North American country, really has more in common with Nicaragua and Colombia than it does with Canada). -- Davodd | Talk 05:58, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * I think we'd be better off sticking to North/Central/South, as I feel people are a bit more likely to know which country belongs where than with 'Latin America'. It also breaks step from using purely geographical categories; I wouldn't like to see 'Muslim World' or 'Developing World' springing up in a similar manner. Dan100 (Talk) 18:01, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I agree with Dan, stick with specific geographical areas such as north, south, central. CGorman 18:34, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * hmmm... i dunno about this one. While i think that i agree with dan that i would not like to see 'muslim world' or what ever, we have to admit that europe, the middle east, and even central america, have more to do with social/political/cultural divisions than geographic. Why is mexico in central america and not north america for example. As for where europe begins and ends, thats a very tricky question. its supposedly the ural mountains, but many would say that Cyprus is not geographicaly part of europe (we have included included it), and that kazakhstan, which is geographicaly part of europe, should not be included. Then there is also the problem of turkey, which some people believe is part of europe, and others believe is part of the mid east. Speaking of which, the mid east certainly isnt a contienent, but we have a section for it. So whats my point? That maybe this geography stuff is already highly politicised, and no matter what naming conventions we choose, they will be cultural aswell as geographic. The bellman 04:36, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * "Central America" doesn't really exist (It is a subregion of North America). The second reason is that Cuba and Mexico (North America) are in the same category as Canada -- but not in the same category as Costa Rica and Chile-- even though Mexico, Cuba, Chile and Costa Rica are closer to each other, share the same language and popular culture... "Central America" is a fiction. IN the Western Hemissphere, you have basically 3 main goe-cultural groupings: US/Canada/EU-Possessions, Spanish/Portuguese-speaking countries, and Tribal/Inuit/Native Americans. -- Davodd | Talk 05:47, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Must the lead story have an image?
I don't think the lack of an image should stop us changing the lead story. Obviously it's great to use one if we have one, but many articles, for one reason or another, lack images. It seems a bit odd to leave a two day 'lead' story up on the Main Page because even though other major stories have broken, we don't have images for them. I don't think the Main Page looks at all bad without a picture either - white space ain't bad :) Dan100 (Talk) 16:25, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Images are not always possible, so I think such a requirement is unworkable. -- Davodd | Talk 20:44, 6 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Generally, an image of some relationship is possible, if only a flag or a map. en.wikinews main page is described by other language WN as "just lists". An image, except in the case of a breaking story of strong international interest, should be a criteria for the lead article template. - Amgine 19:49, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Someone has just removed the image from the G7 article, stating that it wasn't public domain. I'm not too up on the image copyrights issue, but as I understand it we can't claim 'fair-use' for images from another news provider, as we are a direct competitor. Is that right? The removed image was from 'voanews.com'. Dan100 (Talk) 12:44, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

''2.All text, audio and video material produced exclusively by the Voice of America is public domain. However, some images and graphics are licensed for use and covered by all applicable copyright laws. See below for Specific Restrictions.''
 * I've done some research and the anon editor who removed the image (which was an AP photograph VOA was using under license) appears to be correct:

''Associated Press: VOA has a license from Associated Press to use AP photos and graphics. All AP material is copyrighted and the property of Associated Press, and may not be copied, published or redistributed without the written permission of Associated Press. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. AP will not be held liable in any way to the User or to any third party or to any other person who may receive information in the Service or to any other person whatsoever, for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing or occasioned thereby.''

Dan100 (Talk) 12:54, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Why not have a breaking news image, where no actual image is availible? --Handyteeth 00:37, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Good idea; exactly what the BBC uses. Dan100 (Talk) 22:16, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * That's a great idea! Maps and possibly flags would also give many options. Samaritan 00:15, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)

 * Done. You can see it in action on the current main page story.

Noclip 19:05, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)

WikiNews lite
Perhaps we could have an alternate, printer-friendly template for every page? The lite template wouldn't have the big bar on the top and left and could be very simple. Making it a template would allow it to be applied it to any page via a "Printer Friendly" link.
 * Actually, the default skin on Wikinews (Monobook) already has a built-in printing utility which will only print the article, removing the top and left bars. - Amgine 23:38, 27 Feb 2005 (UTC)


text:
Wikinews:Water cooler/assistance/Archive/3

Newsletter
The Foundation newsletter Wikimedia Quarto translation is now going on. Besides some languages like French, most of major languages (German, Japanese, Spanish ...) need more translators: also Wikinews report. If you have an interest, please check your mother langauge workspace on Translation requests/WQ/2 and join our translation team. Cheers. --Aphaia 12:39, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)


text:
New flood warning system introduced in Romania

Hidroelectrica, Romania's largest hydroelectricity company, has introduced a new flood warning system, according to the Romanian Ministry of the Economy and Commerce. The system will be installed at the hydroelectric power station in Bistriţa, and will include 52 sound flood warning stations on the Bistriţa River Valley. They will warn individuals by code signals in case of a flood alert. The system will be tested on in the following two days.

Especially in the Bistriţa region, floods continue to be quite a frequent problem, even though they are not particularly severe.


text:
British investors are increasingly interested in Romania

The number of businessmen from the United Kingdom who intend to invest in Romania has doubled this year in comparison to 2004, showing that the country is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for British investors.

Quinton Quayle, the UK's ambassador in Romania, said at a conference held by the Romanian-British Chamber of Commerce that there are approximately 20 British companies investing in Romania this year, but would not reveal more information.

Brian Davies, president of the British company Sanders Polyfilms, which currently has operations in Romania, claims that investors from the UK come to the country not only for the local market, which is the second-largest in Central and Eastern Europe, but also because Romania could be a great export centre to other markets in the region.

Other factors that make Romania attractive are a low flat tax rate of 16% on personal income and corporate profits, as well as a skilled, English-speaking workforce.

So far, companies from the United Kingdom have invested $1.2 billion in Romania. Romania's total foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2004 was 4.1 billion euro. Besides the UK, other large investors in Romania are Austria, Italy, Germany and France.

Relations between the UK and Romania have been boosted recently as a result of the Romanian president, Traian Băsescu, making a visit to London earlier in the year. During his election campaign last year, Băsescu said that he wanted to create a London-Bucharest-Washington axis, accenting the importance of Romania's relationship with the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Romania's ties to the UK are also important as the UK will hold the EU's rotating presidency from July to December 2005, at a crucial stage of Romania's preparations for EU accession, which is expected to occur in 2007.


text:
Wikinews:Water cooler/miscellaneous/Archive/3

Slashdot comment on Wikinews
I'm kind of new here on Wikinews in that i have been watching the site carefully for a while but haven't contributed much yet. In any case I just wanted to alert people that I wrote a comment on Slashdot promoting Wikinews. If anyone reading this has moderation points they could mod my post up ;) Maybe we should be thinking about setting up a community like Spread Firefox to promote Wikinews and Wikipedia? Jacoplane 06:52, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Jacoplane, there's an old saying that goes something like, "all publicity is good publicity, as long as they spell the name correctly". — DV 06:29, 12 Feb 2005 (UTC)

1,500 Wikinewsies and counting...
According to Special:Statistics, we passed 1,500 registered users this weekend. -- Davodd | Talk 09:00, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * A shame there have been "0 page views" though :) Dan100 (Talk) 16:07, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Main Page design
I'd like to highlight the on-going discussion on the design of the Main (front) Page, and invite comments from interested users. Dan100 (Talk) 16:07, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

A webcast we might be interested in
Read here. Thanks to j Baumgart for the tip. Dan100 (Talk) 14:58, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Ugly box on every page
Can we get rid of it? I understand that we have to have the fundraising drive text, and I guess the design contest text too, but we don't need the feedback/chat line. It all takes up value page source and distracts from Wikinew's content. Plus the box is ugly! Dan100 (Talk) 14:10, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)


text:
User talk:4.27.130.83

Welcome
4.27.130.83, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! -- IlyaHaykinson 10:21, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * Audio Wikinews could always use more contributors
 * And of course, stories need writing!

title: User talk:4.27.130.83


text:
User:Derbeth

I study computer science at Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.

I am a sysop at Polish Wikinews.

See my account at Wikipedia for more details about me: Derbeth

My work
I created bot automatically updating RSS feed for Polish Wikinews. RSS and bot source can be found at http://knf.us.edu.pl/~derbeth/

I also made Template:Regional portal in order to create new regional portals fast. You just type   and become working portal.

Sometimes I translate some news from English and German to Polish, especially original reporting.

Links

 * Category:Original reporting

de:Benutzer:Derbeth pl:Wikireporter:Derbeth

title: User:Derbeth


text:
Jermaine Pennant jailed for drink-driving

The Arsenal F.C. midfielder Jermaine Pennant, currently on loan to Birmingham City, has today pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance by Aylesbury magistrates court. Pennant received a sentence of three months imprisonment. Pennant's lawyer, Bary Warbutton, has said that the footballer will appeal against the severity of the sentence.

The incident occurred on January 23 of this year, Pennant was arrested after crashing teammate Ashley Cole's car into a lamppost. The 22-year-old claimed that he crashed the car after attempting to operate the car's Satellite navigation system.

Despite the claim by Warbutton that imprisonment "could completely destroy his career", Birmingham City have said that they will stand by the player, and help to rehabilitate him. Arsenal released a statement saying that the sentence would not impact the player's future with the club; his contract with club expires in the summer, at the same time as his loan-spell with Birmingham ends.


text:
Controversial melatonin supplements confirmed as sleep aid

An analysis of melatonin studies has upheld the controversial supplement's effectiveness as a sleep aid.

The analysis, which included 17 peer-reviewed scientific papers, was aimed at determining whether supplements of the hormone can improve sleep among insomniacs, older adults and others.

"A meta-analysis essentially tells 'yes' or 'no'—that a treatment does or does not have a significant effect," says Richard Wurtman of MIT, the study's principal investigator. "When a meta-analysis says 'yes,' there should no longer be any controversy about whether the treatment works."

Previous studies by Wurtman and colleagues showed that small doses of melatonin, about 0.3 milligrams, are necessary for restful effects. The researchers found, however, that commercially available melatonin pills can contain 10 times the effective amount.

At that dose, says Wurtman, the hormone's effects end after a few days because melatonin receptors in the brain become unresponsive when exposed to too much of the hormone.

Such inadvertent overdosing, say the researchers, has contributed to controversy over melatonin's efficacy.

But the new meta-analysis shows that melatonin does indeed have positive effects on sleep—even though some of the analyzed studies also involved high doses of the hormone.

The research is reported in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.


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Green tea component protects heart cells

March 1, 2005

UK — may protect against damage from and.

Researchers from the UK have shown that a chemical in the tea reduces cell death following such incidents, which in turn could fight tissue death and organ failure.

Led by Anastasis Stephanou, the researchers showed in heart cells that the chemical (EGCG) inhibits cell death, apparently by blocking the action of a protein called Star 1.

This protein is activated in cells after a stressful event and contributes to inducing cell death.

EGCG also appears to speed recovery of heart cells to spur tissue recovery.

Stephanou says that while the researchers are "extremely encouraged" by the findings, more research is necessary before people are advised to drink green tea after heart attack or stroke.

The research is reported in .


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User talk:149.101.22.4

Submission
This is a fabulous article. Can you tell me if this came from another site, or was it an original article written by yourself?

- Amgine 21:07, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

title: User talk:149.101.22.4


text:
U.S. Supreme Court: Death penalty for juveniles is unconstitutional

March 1, 2005

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled today, in Roper v. Simmons, that it is unconstitutional to impose capital punishment on those who committed crimes while juveniles. Justice wrote the majority opinion to overturn the death penalty for juveniles, which was also supported by Justices John Paul Stevens,, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Dissenting were Justices Antonin Scalia, William Rehnquist, and Clarence Thomas, with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor providing a separate dissent.

Christopher Simmons received the death sentence for brutally kidnapping and murdering Shirley Crook as part of a burglary. The case worked its way up the court system, with the courts continuing to uphold the death sentence. However, in light of a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in Atkins v. Virginia, that overturned the death penalty for the mentally retarded, the Missouri Supreme Court reconsidered Mr. Simmon's case. It concluded that "a national consensus has developed against the execution of juvenile offenders" and sentenced Mr. Simmons to life imprisonment without parole.

The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, where it was argued on October 13, 2004. The constitutionality of capital punishment for juveniles was put into question, citing the Eighth Amendment that protects individuals from cruel and unusual punishment.

Previously, a 1988 Supreme Court decision Thompson v. Oklahoma barred execution of offenders under the age of 16. In 1989 Stanford v. Kentucky brought into question the constitutionality of execution for those under age 18. At the time the Supreme Court upheld the possibility of capital punishment for offenders who are 16 or 17 years old when they committed the capital offense. The same day in 1989 the Supreme Court ruled it was permissible to execute the mentally retarded in Penry v. Lynaugh. However, in 2003, the decision was reconsidered in Atkins v. Virginia citing that decency standards had evolved and execution of the mentally retarded was now considered to be cruel and unusual punishment and thus unconstitutional.

Roper v. Simmons brought the age issue to the table again. In question is whether it is Constitutionally permissible to execute an offender who committed a capital crime while under the age of 18. As in the issue of executing the mentally retarded, the Supreme Court has now decided that society’s standards have evolved since the 1989 case and that it is indeed cruel and unusual punishment to execute a juvenile, under age 18.

Supporting this ‘’evolving standard’’, is the body of scientific and sociological research1 that finds juveniles have a lack of maturity and sense of responsibility, compared to adults. Adolescents are overrepresented statistically in virtually every category of reckless behavior. In recognition of the comparative immaturity and irresponsibility of juveniles, almost every State prohibits those under age 18 from voting, serving on juries, or marrying without parental consent. Juveniles are also more vulnerable to negative influences and outside pressures, including peer pressure. They have less control, or experience with control, over their own environment. They also lack the freedom that adults have, in escaping a criminogenic setting.

Another key basis to support the “national consensus” on the death penalty for juveniles, is the increasing infrequency that it is applied at the state level. While 20 states have the juvenile death penalty on the books, only six states have executed prisoners for crimes committed as juveniles, since 1989. And, just three states have done so in the past 10 years: Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. Furthermore, five of the states that allowed the juvenile death penalty at the time of the 1989 case have since abolished it. Thus, the execution of juveniles is indeed becoming increasingly unusual in the United States and a “national consensus” has developed.

In evaluating whether penalties violate the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, the Supreme Court has taken guidance from the law of foreign countries and international bodies. Since 1990, only seven other countries – Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and China – have executed juveniles. Since then, however, each of those seven countries has either abolished the death penalty for juveniles or made public disavowal of the practice. Now, one finds the stark reality that the United States stand alone, as the only country in the world that continues to allow execution of juveniles. Furthermore, only the United States and Somalia have yet to ratify Article 37 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (September 2, 1990), expressly prohibits capital punishment for crimes committed by juveniles.

In drawing the line at 18 years of age for death eligibility, the Supreme Court considered that is also where society draws the line between childhood and adulthood for a multitude of other purposes.

Both the Scalia dissent, joined by Rehnquist and Thomas, and Justice O’Connor’s separate dissent put into question whether a “national consensus” had indeed formed among the state laws. In addition, Scalia also objects to taking guidance from foreighn law in interpreting the Constitution.

Implications of this ruling, are particularly felt in the State of Virginia, where it is now most certain that will not face the death penalty. He is responsible in-part, along with, for the Attacks that terrorized the Washington, DC area in October 2002. He had already been spared the death penalty in his first trial, for the murder of FBI employee, Linda Franklin, outside a Home Depot store in Falls Church, Virginia. However, Mr. Malvo is also set to face trial in Prince William County, Virginia for another murder, and yet to face trial in Louisiana and elsewhere for other killings. In light of today's Supreme Court decision, the prosecutors in Prince William County may not pursue the charges against Mr. Malvo, after all. The primary reason for extraditing these two suspects from Maryland, where they were arrested, to Virginia, was in fact the differences in how the two states deal with the death penalty. While the death penalty is allowed in Maryland, it is only applied to adults, whereas Virginia had also allowed the death penalty for juvenile offenders.


text:
User talk:69.105.37.254

Welcome
69.105.37.254, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! CGorman 22:00, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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title: User talk:69.105.37.254


text:
User talk:80.45.208.110

Welcome
80.45.208.110, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! CGorman 22:02, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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title: User talk:80.45.208.110


text:
User talk:Derbeth

Welcome
Derbeth, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! CGorman 22:04, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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Thanks!
Thank you for the help with categories. International 08:39, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

rss icon
I responded to some of your critisim of it. I just don't think the polish solution is reconizable. Bawolff ☺☻ 06:10, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

Pope's visit
I don't suppose there was any Original Reporting in that? I've placed the article into a develop state and added one source, any of the sources on the corresponding Polish artice have an English language version? --Brian McNeil / talk 19:43, 27 May 2006 (UTC)
 * All that's needed is to source stuff, I'm not going to hold you to a particularly high standard on that (I assume done on pl.wikinews), just make sure the main points in the story are mentioned in sources. There was a pile on Google and I just picked the first wire report I found.  You might want to use other sources, or at least add one.  I'll probably make a couple more edits to make it flow better in English, but it ain't too shabby to start with. :-) --Brian McNeil / talk 20:32, 27 May 2006 (UTC)

title: User talk:Derbeth


text:
User talk:80.236.113.205

Welcome
80.236.113.205, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! CGorman 22:04, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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title: User talk:80.236.113.205


text:
User talk:62.194.20.101

Welcome
62.194.20.101, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! CGorman 22:04, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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title: User talk:62.194.20.101


text:
User talk:Jan Pedersen

Welcome
Jan Pedersen, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! CGorman 22:05, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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title: User talk:Jan Pedersen


text:
User talk:69.34.23.222

Welcome
69.34.23.222, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! CGorman 22:05, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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title: User talk:69.34.23.222


text:
Talk:U.S. Supreme Court: Death penalty for juveniles is unconstitutional

Story scope
The discussion regarding the planning and enacting of the initial crime is not actually relevant to the decision of the supreme court in this case; they are strictly ruling on the constitutionality of death penalties for minors under a previous decision of the supreme court: Atkins vs Virginia. - Amgine 22:11, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Sources and citations
Every factual statement must be supported by a citation or source. I'm working on some of that, but you'll need to add citations as well. - Amgine 22:25, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

In particular, I really like the paragraph regarding the science arguments agains juvenile execution, but there are no sources to support it which means it is only conjecture on your part at the moment. It will have to be removed to the talk page here until it can be sourced. - Amgine 02:32, 2 Mar 2005 (UTC)
 * Supporting this ‘’evolving standard’’, is the scientific and sociological research that finds juveniles have a lack of maturity and sense of responsibility, compared to adults. Adolescents are overrepresented statistically in virtually every category of reckless behavior.  In recognition of the comparative immaturity and irresponsibility of juveniles, almost every State prohibits those under age 18 from voting, serving on juries, or marrying without parental consent.  Juveniles are also more vulnerable to negative influences and outside pressures, including peer pressure.  They have less control, or experience with control, over their own environment.  They also lack the freedom that adults have, in escaping a criminogenic setting.  As well, since Stanford in 1989, only six States have executed prisoners for crimes committed as juveniles.  Only three States have done so in the past 10 years: Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.  Thus, the execution of juveniles is indeed becoming increasingly unusual.   As for deterrence, it is unclear whether the death penalty has any measurable impact on juveniles.

Dissenting opinions
Reasons that I feel the dissenting opinions are worth mentioning, in a sentence, what their reasoning is: I'll have to read the entire dissenting opinions, before knowing what's appropriate - if anything - to add to the article. If anyone else is up to the task, I welcome that too. - kmf164
 * This was a divided opinion, and while I might personally agree with one opinion or another, a news article needs to be balanced and provide both sides.
 * While I personally think it is likely that this decision will hold firm for a long time to come (I find both the sociological/scientific research compelling, along with the international consensus), a change in the composition of the Supreme Court could result in revisiting of some opinions - possibly this one, and others.

 * By all means include them! I was a close follower of the Justices until the 2000 cases, at which a couple of them effectively destroyed their litigious legacies. Now I am merely an interested bystander. I'd offer to help but am distracted by other edeavours. - Amgine 04:07, 2 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Supporting scientific research
The justices go into substantial detail, supporting their reasoning that a national consensus has developed. While the Justices are not scientists, I am sure their arguments are well grounded in the substantial body of scientific and sociological research that recognizes the mental/developmental differences between adults and adolescents. While not cited specifically by the Supreme Court, a specific study conducted recently, I think by Columbia University's School of Public Health, determined that the human mind and its capacity for judgment do not fully mature until age 25. The study was published in a major science/public health journal - I'm trying to find it, and was reported in the Washington Post (sometime in the past two weeks). The Washington Post article discussed the implications for teenage driving and higher rate for accidents. But, one can certainly link immature judgment capacity, to other behaviors including juvenile crime. - kmf164
 * I'm somewhat familiar with the researchers, but not the specific article. "Secret of the Adolescent Brain" or something like that, as I recall. - Amgine 04:04, 2 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Specific article
What I read was in the Washington Post, and I can't find it - but maybe in their archives. But, this article from Detroit Free Press discusses the same research about brain development. Surely there have been many more studies, prior to this one, that also build this case that juveniles do not have the same level of judgment as adults. - kmf164


text:
Elan; Biogen withdraw multiple sclerosis drug after death

March 1, 2005

Élan, the largest Irish pharmaceutical company, and its US partner Biogen have withdrawn the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri from clinical trials after the death of a patient. The drug was seen by many as a possible blockbuster drug with the potential to alleviate much of the suffering of the millions of multiple sclerosis suffers worldwide. However it is now quite unlikely that it will ever make it to market.

The news has seen the shares of both companies fall steeply, with Élan having lost almost 70% of its value after Monday's announcement. Two years ago Élan was the largest Irish PLC, with a value in excess of $20bn, but an accountancy scandal saw its shares fall from over €73 to €1.50 within a few weeks. Since then the stock had risen back to trade between €16 and €18 a share on the back of good restructuring news. However the withdrawal of Tysabri leaves Elan with almost no potential future revenue streams.

Biogen shares which had hit a 52 week high of $70 just two weeks before the announcement have since fallen to just $41.26. Combined equity losses on Monday for the two firms was over $17.8 billion.

The paitent who died had been taken in combination with another drug - Avonex - for the last two years. If it emerges that the death was as a result of taking Avonex, then it is possible Tysabri could be re-introduced to the market. However for the moment rivals will be seeking to steal a lead in the potentially lucrative MS drug market.


text:
Britain unveils flu pandemic preparedness plan, buys 14m courses of treatment drug

March 1, 2005

The government of the United Kingdom has unveiled their strategy to deal with any future influenza in their Pandemic Influenza Contingency Plan.

The document, based on the World Health Organization's framework for responses, explains how the UK would respond to a major outbreak of flu.

Any flu pandemic would differ from the seasonal outbreaks of flu observed worldwide every year. While seasonal flu kills 12,000 Britons annually, a pandemic would affect far more people and could result in the deaths of up to 50,000 people in the UK if there were no medical intervention.

The government will have the power to cancel events where large numbers of people gather, such as football (soccer) matches. It could also advise travel restrictions to and from areas of high infection, but would not be able to enforce any such measures.

Schools might be closed in the event of a flu pandemic, and infected people would be asked to remain at home, although again no measures could be imposed by the government.

Further plans include education of the public to recognize symptoms of the flu and how to avoid infection.

Measures will be made to maintain basic services in the event of a pandemic despite staff absences through illness.

A major cornerstone of the plan is the prescription of oseltamivir, an oral neuraminidase inhibitor drug that combats influenza. The drug is currently marketed by Hoffman La Roche under the trade name Tamiflu®.

The UK Department of Health intends to stockpile 14.6m courses of the drug over the next two financial years, giving enough to treat one in four of the population - the ratio recommended by the WHO.

Canada and Australia have also bought the equivalent amounts of anti-viral drugs. The U.S. has also bought large amounts of similar drugs.

The total cost of the acquisition was not published by the government, but the BBC estimated the cost to be £180 million.

Unlike a vaccine, oseltamivir can be used to treat any strain of the influenza virus. Many new variants of the influenza virus are seen every year, and combined with the long lead times associated with the development of vaccinces, mass vaccination is frequently impractical.

Some parts of the newly-revealed plan already exist. The UK government recently gave £500,000 to the WHO for survellience of so-called 'bird flu' in South East Asia, a possible source for any future pandemic. The Department of Health will also continue to monitor flu-like cases seen by doctors and hospitals.

Background on Influenza, from Wikipedia
Influenza is an extremely variable disease; similar viruses are found in pigs and domestic fowl. In areas where there are high concentrations of humans, pigs and birds in close proximity, such as parts of Asia, simultaneous infections across species enable genetic material to be exchanged between the various strains of flu. This appears to be the principal method by which new infectious strains arise.

It is believed that sooner or later, a recombination may occur to produce a strain as lethal as the 1918 virus. In late 1997, a new strain of avian influenza (also known as bird flu) originating from chickens infected 18 people in Hong Kong, of whom 6 died. This strain did not appear to be readily transmissible from human to human, but such a high mortality rate, and the possibility of a further recombination to make it more infectious, meant that the risk was considered so great that all domestic poultry in Hong Kong was slaughtered. Avian influenza transmissible to humans resurfaced in January 2004 in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

There were several serious outbreaks of influenza in the 20th century. The most famous (and the most lethal) was the Spanish Flu pandemic (type A influenza, H1N1 strain), which lasted from 1918 to 1919 and is believed to have killed more people in total than World War I. Lesser flu pandemics included the 1957 Asian Flu (type A, H2N2 strain) and the 1968 Hong Kong Flu (type A, H3N2 strain).

Although there were scares in New Jersey in 1976 (the Swine Flu), worldwide in 1977 (the Russian Flu), and in Hong Kong in 1997 (Avian influenza), there have been no major pandemics subsequent to the 1968 infection. Increased immunity from antibodies and the development of flu vaccines have limited the spread of the virus and so far prevented any further pandemics.


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User:JB82/Hunter S. Thompson, author and jounalist, dies at 67

Hunter S. Thompson, the author famous for his 1972 book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, died Sunday, February 20 in his home in Colorado. He was 67 years old.

Thompson is famous for the advent of gonzo journalism, in which the reader is put into a story as it unfolds.

In 1972, Thompson published a book entitled Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which covered Thompson's attempt to cover a motorcycle race there.

As per his wishes, Thompson's remains will be shot out of a cannon rather than buried.