Wikipedia talk:WikiProject The Beatles/Outreach/Newsletter/Issue 003

Note to contributors

A note to any (potential) contributor - the layout of the newsletter is not set in stone. Improvements, or just preferences, are at the discretion of the editors; although the application of concensus is heavily encouraged. On a personal note, I would like someone else to be lead editor (or whatever title suits) although I would be pleased to contribute to this issue. Have fun!LessHeard vanU 10:15, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

I really like the layout as it is, but if it can be improved... hey, it's a wiki! I do not want to be lead editor (I like that term better than editor in chief for what it's worth) but will be happy to copyedit and deliver as I did the last two issues... Oh, and LHVU, GREAT job on issue 002 man! ++Lar: t/c 22:14, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

Billy Preston

What a bummer, I liked Billy Preston a lot. Should we suggest pushing this article to FA??? ++Lar: t/c 19:16, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

He deserves a better article than he's currently got (although it's not at all bad). Could suggest it at Colloboration of the Week perhaps? I think as an Apple artist and Beatle colloborator he's well within our remit, bit using this bad news to gain impetus on a wider Wikipedia scale might not be a bad idea. --kingboyk 19:21, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I've not done a CoTW yet so I don't know, but I like the sound of that idea, that's for sure, and it gets things done faster... perhaps if it were taken it would be written up in the newsletter as a success rather than a plea. ++Lar: t/c 19:29, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

It's too long an article for WP:COTW it would seem, but it's eligible for WP:AID. Let's nominate it tommorow. Having recently acquired the 2 DVDs I've mentioned elsewhere I really feel for Billy Preston, I'd love to see him get an FA standard article. --kingboyk 22:09, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Done. See Wikipedia:Article_Improvement_Drive#Billy_Preston_.281_vote.2C_stays_until_June_15.29. --kingboyk 16:34, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

"what exactly does the chief dish-washer of a newsletter do?"

Washes dishes, of course. Or: suggested the Project in the first place and has been involved in just about every development since then :) I prefer the first interpretation (except I hate washing dishes)! :) --kingboyk 22:07, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

However, it's the second one that's probably closer to the truth, though. And by the way, thanks! ++Lar: t/c 22:25, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

(enter Graham Chapman in Army Officer uniform) - "Now look here! I have been asked by Mrs Winnipeg, South Shields, to remind your that this is an encyclopedia! There is far too much silly stuff going on, especially regarding Dish Washing. Dish Washing is an important part of the training of a young officer, and shouldn't be used in a humurous manner. I trust things will be more serious around here from how on! That is all! Carry on!" LessHeard vanU 12:53, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

"Drip Dry or Wipe"?? In Kingboyk's case I'd say "hot air dry" ... ++Lar: t/c 15:16, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Lead editor needed

Apply within. Next issue ought to go out this weekend I think? If nobody else volunteers I'll do it but it'll be very light. (i.e. someone else please do it!) --kingboyk 12:59, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

Would I have to do anything special? I don't actually know how a lead editor differs from a normal editor.... —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 20:46, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

It doesn't really. I suppose the lead editor should have final say for what is in or out, and at least decide on what should be in the "from the editors section" - but it is a matter of choice how you arrive at that final say. I did it by concensus and badgering people. My hint would be to go to the Projects Log page and check the history - noting who did what for the month of June. I really should help again, but The World Cup keeps dragging me to the telly.

If you want to be lead, do it! I found it to be good fun and a learning experience. As this is such a friendly bunch of people there should be no anxiety in what finally comes out - and anyone who wants to make suggestions/comments is obviously a candidate for editorship next time... LessHeard vanU 22:08, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

An alternative would be to have me wrap this one up (as the deadline is drawing near and it just needs a tinkering anyway) and Gordon could do the next if he'd like? It would be easier if he knows in advance he'll be doing it so that he can take notice of what happens throughout the month :) Either is OK by me, just a suggestion. --kingboyk 11:21, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

Either is OK by me, as well. But everything relevant to the newsletter would be listed on one of our project pages, right? I wouldn't want to have to go searching around Wikipedia for new and relevant articles or changes, because I don't think I'd be very successful. —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 19:08, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

There are three major sources of info relating to the Project, Project Log (which is good for things like articles being adopted, new articles and other things - mostly done by Steelbeard1 and a couple of others who are good enough to record their deeds), Project Page (new participants - covered this month) and any of the active editors. Lar and kingboyk can be tapped for extra info, and there has been a pretty active editor by the name of Gordon P. Hemsley just recently - don't forget to include everything you have done! Have fun!LessHeard vanU 19:34, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

Indeed. Remember, it's a Project newsletter so the idea is to drum up interest. Outside-world stories are nice but not essential. Really it's a case of filling in the blanks in the templated newsletter with info acquired from the sources just listed and from general observance of the Project over the month. I'd recommend watchlisting all of the WikiProject pages plus The Beatles and each 4 members, to get a feel for what's happening. LessHeard didn't mention a new page which should also be monitored (watchlisted and reviewed regularly) - Wikipedia:Version 1.0 Editorial Team/The Beatles articles by quality log. If an article is listed on there as "added", I'd go check the article's history. If it's new since the Project began add it to the Project Log as a new article and up the counter by one :) --kingboyk 11:42, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

so where are we on this issue?

Today's the day I was thinking it would need to go out but it's not looking quite ready to me. ++Lar: t/c 18:49, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

Well I did some editing on it to work on the article classification stuff. Comments welcomed. Not sure what to do if no one else turns up today to commment. Go out a day or two late I guess, but that's a bad precedent... ++Lar: t/c 20:18, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

I agree... if no one comments before midnight UTC, I'd say send it out as-is. —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 21:29, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

My only commment is that it should be sent out "on time". If it is a little thin, then we should try to make next months a little fuller - providing that there is the news to report.LessHeard vanU 00:01, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

Alright, it's after midnight UTC (as per above timestamp). Send it out. I think it's ready. —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 00:54, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

Sorry about not replying before. Looks fine to me too. --kingboyk 11:33, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

I did the todolist substitution I do just before I go live with the newsletter and deliver it, and prepped my delivery list to feed WP:AWB, but ran into some technical problems with AWB... it wil have to wait till first thing in the morning unless I can get them sorted quickly. ++Lar: t/c 04:36, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

added some more content based on Kingboyk's suggestions on what to watch, and tried another run based on a workaround Martin suggested, no joy, AWB is still not working for me. I guess that serves me right for not testing AWB earlier. If the issue with AWB is not sorted by end of day today, I'll deliver by hand... ++Lar: t/c 14:49, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

Still not resolved at AWB and ran out of time last nite to deliver by hand. I will write a bit of .js code to semi automate this and then deliver it later today. Sorry for the delay. ++Lar: t/c 14:58, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the delivery Lar. Looks like a nice issue to me. --kingboyk 23:16, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

That last addition to the articles list could have waited, considering it was done July 3 and our next newsletter will list additions since July 1.... But oh well, we'll just duplicate the count for one article. No one's going to notice, anyway.... —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 23:53, 3 July 2006 (UTC)