User talk:David Vasquez/April archive

Policy Question

Do we have a policy to use CPC or CCP for the Chinese Communist Party? (e.g. on yesterday's chlorine spill piece). Thanks! Dpr 14:42, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Dpr's user talk page. — DV 22:39, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

More information please : Kuomindang-China deal

• Taiwan Nationalists leader visits Beijing

I just read than Kuomindang delegation made a deal in 10 points with china, but Taiwan official gouvernement not agree that. Have anyone some informations about that ? thanks (<-- anon IP?)

I'm still researching the 10-point agreement. There are more developments being reported today, related to the legality of any signed documents. Please feel free to start a story if you would like to write about it right away. I'm holding off until I have better information about it. — DV 22:43, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Pope

NB: Im giving this message to the 10 or so people I suspect may be on Wikinews when the event occurs.

I've created a story announcing the Popes death - when the Vatican or BBC/Reuters announce he is actually dead please insert the date & time and publish - we will be the 1st news group to break this story (besides our source)! The story is located here User:CGorman/Sandbox. Whilst waiting please improve the story. → CGorman (Talk) 22:39, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Wikinews:Story preparation

Seeing how well preparations have gone for the Pope story, i've created Wikinews:Story preparation. Instead of users preparing stories on their own computers and saving them on their own hard drives, they can place them here to allow other writers to add to them before the event. This will help eliminate duel coverage of the same story - Teeks99 had spent some time yesterday evening writing a Pope story - but did'nt load it onto wikinews resulting in his version being made redundent. Hopefully by allowing users to collaborate on a story from an earlier date, our article quality will be dramatically improved. → CGorman (Talk) 15:13, 2 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for the thanks

Thanks for your kind words on my input on DST and PEI restaurant articles. There is some interesting info on the web concerning DST that could be added as well concerning the pros for energy savings and cons for farmers and sleep deprivation as well as the history. Did you know the States went on DST for a couple of years during WW2? I ran out of interest in editing the article, however :-) DoubleBlue 13:43, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I was shocked by the user's attack on DST

And most honored by your explanation of the simplicity of the article. Thank you, DV. I will continue to try to help Wikinews grow and become a most versatile news source for readers who would enjoy news of all kinds. I guess the community will ultimately decide on the fate of that story. I wrote it because I was reminded of the DST event while visiting a major news site: Yahoo News. Thank you again. I hope we all can become useful contributors to each day's events and less contentious. I plan to keep on keeping on...Know a man by his acts... --HiFlyer 16:15, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Alan's user talk page. — DV 16:36, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Well I wasn't exactly attacking DST! I was objecting to the idea that a twice-annual time-piece adjustment warrants a news story. However the WN:DR discussion shows a clear keep consensus (no I am not CarrKnight!), so DV I invite you (or anyone else) to remove the delete tag from the story (an open invitation I've also made on WN:DR). Dan100 (Talk) 17:37, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Changed headlines

DV, thanks for your quick help. They are now updated. Maurreen 17:34, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Can I invite you to

Lay off the "personal/political agenda" thing for a bit? I'm beginning to lose count of the times you've accused me of having one! I can only give you my personal assurance that I do not have such an agenda. Dan100 (Talk) 17:45, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Sure, right after you accept my invitation to embrace contributors with a diverse set of perspectives and collaborate instead of dismissing those you disagree with out of hand. I'll accept your invitation after you accept my invitation to tolerate stories even when they don't fit your personal view of what's important in the world.

This is an old argument with the m:Cabal and their minions the m:Young Jacobins. But the opposing view, that of the m:Red Faction, is simply deleted over and over again. This is what "they" do. It won't change.

"They" even delete the m:Red Faction from the m:Category:Wikipedian_associations list, though it's mentioned on the m:Cabal page in the graphics.

You've stated in the past that you don't give a damn about what others think of the news. Your true colors are showing today.

And those colours ain't Red!  ;-)

I invited you first. Why won't you accept my invitation?

— DV 18:30, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I've responded on my talk page Dan100 (Talk) 20:22, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Hunter Thompson

Hi, surely I can report the same info re; his son that the Rocky Mountaujn news reported? There is no speculation here at all, just a bunch of weird facts.

I know its incredible but there was NO forensic examination of the crime scene, officer DiSalvo freely admits he allowed the son to contaminate it, and there was no ballistics done to confirm the bullet came from that gun....so you tell me who's speculating..I say its the police.(speculating its an open and shut suicide)Paulrevere2005 00:31, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Ok i took out the references to the son,Juan..but I think those incidents go to show how sloppy the police investigation was.

I agree with your other deductions; there would have likely been an intruder, if it was a murder' but we'll never know because they will never do a ballistics check on the bullet..because if its NOT from a gun that was in that house; what in the world are they going to do then? Paulrevere2005 00:49, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Paulrevere2005's user talk page. — DV 14:03, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Chillis

ummm... why? ive never had any probs with that up till now... ~The bellman | Smile 06:44, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

lol, ah yes indeed. A very important rule which i will live by. ~The bellman | Smile 12:24, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

mediation

Dan has requested that i act as a mediator in the dispute between him and yourself. I've never done wiki-mediation before but am willing to give it a go if you agree ~The bellman | Smile 10:29, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

DV, I hope you'll agree to this. Please bring to The bellman's attention anything you feel needs addressing! I know I'm not perfect by any means so I hope we can use this opportunity to work through our differences and move forwards. Dan100 (Talk) 12:13, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Dan100's page and on The Bellman's page. I have placed myself at The Bellman's service to help in whatever manner he sees fit. — DV 12:17, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Wikinews:Dispute resolution. Hope i can help. ~The bellman | Smile 13:07, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for setting that page up. I'll start gathering material for the "Statement by DV" section for submission later on today. — DV 13:55, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Time conversion

I noticed the error in time conversion, becouse I was writing an article for the same argument for the Italian Wikinews and I notice that there was something strange when I converted in European D Central Time AnyFile 14:59, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

until there's a m:spacetime DTD there will be lots of these problems

User Page

I shamelessly stole the format of your user page for the first couple of sections of my user page.

How dare you!... only kidding, I shamelessly copied it off a guy at Wikipedia sometime last year! → CGorman (Talk) 20:06, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Padding around the third lead

My change was completely unintentional! I was cut n' pasting from the first lead to the third lead, I was rushing the job (as usual) and probably forgot what I was at. → CGorman (Talk) 20:10, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Please update meta map stuff

Of interest to you given your focus on maps:

• m:maps
• m:spacetime_DTD
• m:ecoregion_DTD
• m:the first useful map
• [[1]]

Updating the meta pages with your great graphics on User:David Vasquez to show people how to use maps, would be really helpful on those pages. (<-- unsigned comment by 142.177.97.148)

Thanks for stopping by, 142.177.97.148. I've looked at some of those map pages before, but thanks for the links. I'm still learning about the issues with obtaining data for political boundaries and how to best plot such data.

It's interesting how the positioning logic for cities is being discussed. I've chosen to allow the map-maker to simply click a Left or Right button to affect justification, along with a global scaling slider to determine the size.

I appreciate the more ambitious efforts you are pointing to, but for now I simply want a quick way for Wikinews contributors to create maps for explosions, fires, earthquakes, and the weather, so I am limiting my ambitions to simple topo maps with cities and capitals, with an option for a big dot (and emanating circles for earthquakes and explosions).

I'll check in with the meta map discussions again after I have more progress on the basic map extension I am developing for near-term use here on Wikinews. — DV 07:21, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Material

Japan spaceflight - Amgine 22:51, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Thanks! (I replied on Amgine's user talk page.) — DV 23:13, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)

No problem, I saw that come in just after you'd started your article, so I thought you'd want to know about it. Hope to have time to read your article soon... - Amgine 06:00, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Bay Bridge

So, just to save a little money they took shortcuts on the welds. Who needs terrorists when our own contractors are making sure stuff falls down all by itself?

I hope they get to the bottom of this before the whole thing falls down on some boater out on the bay. I won't be driving on that bridge anytime soon.

Thanks for the story. — DV 07:39, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Yeah - the joys of the living la vida South Bay - no need for a bridge commute unless you're going to Napa. ;-) -- Davodd | Talk 07:43, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)

DST

Good article DV...and I love that picture don't you? --HiFlyer 20:57, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Wendy's finger and Dog attack

Glad you will plan to attend the Ayala trial if it comes to that. I am keeping an eye on the woman's whose dogs killed an elderly lady near me.

I am too tired to pursue this shooting spree case news story. Perhaps you or someone else is interested. -edw 19:00, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Class act!

I just took some time to really read over your User page. I wanted to commend you on a class act. And ask where I can get one of those right side tables with the map of Texas and the flag on it, DV? If you can build one with your existing code please put it on my User page when you get a minute. Thanks in advance --HiFlyer 20:52, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

He cut and pasted the code from me, and I cut and pasted the code from a guy at wikipedia. Just C&P the code and fill in your own details. Use the preview feature regurally to ensure your editing the correctly. → CGorman (Talk) 20:55, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Alan's user talk page. — DV 06:18, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Las Vegas police raid story

Sorry! I had no idea it was such a big story (1,360 results at google versus my 574)! The thing is i'd seen noting about it in any other media besides wikinews - it has had no coverage in UK or Irish media at all. Im sorry for removing the story; change it back if you feel its still relevent. My comment DV's getting carried away was ment in a humorous manner, because I had thought that the whole Wendys story was just some local news event up until now (because of the lack of international coverage). Please accept my humble apology - we all make mistakes. → CGorman (Talk) 11:37, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on CGorman's user talk page. — DV 19:09, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

A day for protests!

As I logged back in earlier I noticed your story, then proceeded to Google News only to notice another protest, now in Baghdad! What a day! -edw 00:56, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Edbrown05's user talk page. — DV 01:14, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Thanks muchly for the input

On Sesame Street's Cookie Monster sent on a diet :) I had thought to put it in the Wackynews category, but wasn't quite sure about it. While it is not (by far) my first contribution to the Wikimedia project, it was my first article on Wikinews. --Hooloovoo 10:33, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Perfect

Now thats a model article if i've ever saw one! 11 categories, 7 sources, 5 related stories, 12 paragraphs and one image. Nice bit of work. → CGorman (Talk) 21:09, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Wikinews broadcast

I cannot wait to see this. I might have to buy a video camera and start an east coast bureau. Pingswept 07:05, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Pingswept's user talk page. — DV 07:35, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Where are you hefe?

Your Wendy's lady gave the finger to police -- and waved goodbye to the lawsuit. I didn't want to sKooP ya! I'll put a few more paras in the story to do my second for today. --HiFlyer 20:15, 13 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Here's the link I was using

I didn't do anything with the story yet. Glad you're here! Take it away, maestro: MercuryNews.com | 04/13/2005 | Finger-finder decides not to sue

Categories

This message is being given to several people, so please forgive the formality.

I've created a list of categories that must be included in ALL articles to ensure the DPL system works correctly. Adding the revlevent categories from this list will ensure complete site-wide relevent article listing. It is located at User:CGorman/Categories and you can easily cut & paste out of it. I urge frequent writers to bookmark this page to help save themselves time with categorization. Thanks for your attention. → CGorman (Talk) 19:37, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Newscast

I can only think of one word to describe it, however, Warner Brothers and Keanu Reeves would probably sue be for trademark violation if I said it (wh**). I'm interested in knowing how some of it was put together, things like the studio, the on-screen stuff, the editing, etc., and I imagine I'm not the only one. In the spirit of Wiki, any chance you could share some of the behind-the-scenes details somewhere? I'm doing similar production work on radio ATM, as well as brewing up some mock TV presentation stuff at home.

There were some things about it I thought were a bit naff, but they're easily fixable.

1. The title music could do with re-recording on a better instrumentation and MIDI output.
2. No offence, but you look just a little rigid and wooden (for want of a better word), and you don't really have the voice of an anchor, but that's not important for a proof of concept.

<Simon Cowell mode off>

Besides these, it was great work well executed. It's a brilliant idea, and I hope that Wikimedia as a whole can go further with this. Keep it up 8-) Chris (reply here, I'll come back). 06:09, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for offering your feedback, Chris.

Tai Tai was laughing the whole time I was shooting this thing, so I appreciate that you are taking this project somewhat seriously!

I definitely am up for finding better onscreen talent. It's kind of ridiculous for me to do everything myself. We need to divide up the work.

As for my own performance, I was trying to stand absolutely still because I was trying to avoid getting the mic stand, which was inches to my right, in front of my arm. That was just poor planning. I went out and bought a lavalier today, so I can now move freely about, which will solve that issue. The green screen is actually big enough that I can take a few steps from side to side. (It's about 6' by 7'.)

As for the "anchor's voice", genetics only take me so far on that one, but I also did a lousy job on mic selection and placement - an SM58 on a mic stand simply picked up way too much room tone to be usable in the studio, so I'm re-recording with the lavalier for the studio shots. Also I didn't do anything to sweeten the audio yet - you're listening to the raw audio from the camera. I still need to add post-processing to make the voice track more like what one would expect an anchor to sound like. (Off the air, television anchors don't really sound the way you hear them on the air - there is quite a bit of audio processing going on.) But the good ones have some native voice talent, so I agree that I can't fix everything in post to the point that I will sound like your favorite TV anchor.

I only spent an hour or so on the "theme song" - it's just a placeholder. I'm using Propellerhead's Reason 2.5 to generate the music, so I could definitely do much better. In my opinion, a newscast calls for something with a much richer orchestral sound to it. I'll start posting more versions of the theme song for critics to offer feedback on, but if you or anyone else with musical talent wants to jump in and contribute your own concept of a theme song, I'm all for it.

As for showing how the post-production work is done, I'll take photos of each step to show the setup that was used, but there really isn't too much rocket science involved for anyone who is interested. If anyone else wants to shoot themselves against a chroma key green screen to appear as an anchor, a cheap screen can be had for as little as $99. The lights are the most expensive part. To evenly light the set, I use a Photoflex softbox with a keylight - the cheapest lighting system to make a good key is at least four or five hundred dollars. I'll post some recommendations on the Wikinews Broadcast page for some inexpensive screens that are in the correct color, as well as the lighting system I use.

If you or anyone else wants to supply field reports to be edited into the broadcast, a very cheap miniDV camera is quite adequate to shoot footage. I am eager to collaborate with other contributors to give the show a diverse cast, so please let me know if you're interested in jumping in to contribute video. — DV 06:56, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

To follow up, I updated the Wikinews Broadcast page with numerous sub-pages to explain more about the production in detail. I structured the page to encourage collaboration, so I'm crossing my fingers that at least one other Wikinewsie will eventually show up with a video camera. — DV 14:28, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

DV, without a doubt, this is the most ambitious Wiki project in the guts of all the other Wikis I have ever seen. I have a camera, but all the rest of it may be generated, as you know, as on-scene reporting and delivered by internet to you to anchor. You are one of the Wright bros in internet news reporting. I know this will work. I hope to give you a story or two to run with, i.e.,

"Wikinews' reporter Joe Smartguy gives us this report from Anywhere, USA...I know you can dig it...Can you dig it?!? --HiFlyer 03:34, 17 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Very exciting stuff DV!! Kudos to you :} -Edbrown05 07:17, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Bravo!

I see you met the challenge of WoW/Beano again today. Thanks again! (and if I can offer any help on any of your projects, ask!) - Amgine 20:35, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Yeah you had to put up with him for 20 mins, what a pain! As amgine loves saying - he deserves electroshock (i forget how amgine actually puts it) → CGorman (Talk) 20:38, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Station clock...

The latest jest regarding the broadcast video (and they are *still* talking about it everywhere, it has really created a stir!) is that every newsroom needs a clock. I believe a few people are now working on cute clocks for you. Here's one link someone just posted - it doesn't work for me though, but the user (ChrisCF) is working on fixing it. (I have this feeling it will be a Betty Boop clock or something!) [2] - Amgine 23:09, 17 Apr 2005 (UTC)

With a little bit of crappy compression, it now works. Like I say - no respectable TV station goes without an on-screen clock to show before the programmes start :) 2 minutes, 200k, still. Took about 5 minutes of fiddling with the WN logo, 5 minutes with a little program called "Clock Generator" (Windows only, I'm afraid), and then 20 minutes to realise that clearly XviD doesn't like me for some reason. Like the rest of the project, this clock is not to be taken too seriously. Runs for 2 minutes, and usable for a "9 o'clock" junction, assuming you can decide what timezone that should be. :o)

Like the main clip, there are things about this I'd change - better (less sucky) compression, a better-scaled version of the WN logo, etc. As a guide, it's possible to do the clock without an hour hand, or second-hand only to count into the start. In fact, I might try a bunch of Wikinews VT clocks simply as an excuse to try something along those lines. Chris 04:37, 19 Apr 2005 (UTC)

But won't it dilute the Wikinews trademark to also use the logo as a clock? :)

A logo'd clock would look nice hanging in the background, and also shown briefly fullscreen to start and end the broadcast - but I'll definitely need to render it at higher resolution for broadcast quality.

If you have a URL for the "Clock Generator" program, please post it. I'll look for it on Google. However, rather than use the software, one of us might want to redo the animation with anti-aliased clock arms.

Thanks for such a creative idea. — DV 16:45, 19 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Wikinews Exclusive logo

Hi,

upon seeing the latest chili finger story as a lead, I thought that it might be a good idea to label stories including original reporting, or part of a series, as "Wikinews Exclusive" on the frontpage. This would help to explain why we feature stories even though they are of relatively minor global significance. What do you think? Could you design a logo for that purpose?--Eloquence 11:31, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)

music

hi david, this is me too, and if i can help out with composing a theme i'd be happy to :-) what i would like to gather is some "headlines" of what the music should express. btw, this is my main talk-page. oscar 12:50, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Video Award

I, CGorman, hereby award David Vasquez the Wikinews Trophy for this!

I could use your help

Hi, David, I am so upset. I spent hours working on and researching the story; Pope Benedict XVI's opposition to the Masonic Order and other "religious mysticism" goes back at least 22 years and amgine hits it with a bullshit, completely non-applicable dispute without discussion or even reading it and then tells me he is too busy to deal with it. i'm getting the feeling that this site is being hijacked by parrots of non-controversial news who censor anything that they haven't seen on major media unless its a local puff piece. Can you help me get this article out??? I really spent a lot of time writing it to avoid all the pov and other censorship excuses so now amgine's just making stuff up. i am really upset. Paulrevere2005 20:21, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)

OK; I was blocked for breaking a rule. Please advise where the rules are so I can read them. thanks. Paulrevere2005 00:52, 25 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I replied on Paulrevere2005's user talk page. — DV 00:59, 25 Apr 2005 (UTC)

ok,Amgine has removed the Pope story and I don't know where he put it, could you please tell me where the wikinews rules are so I can read them and not get suckered into another block? Paulrevere2005 01:50, 26 Apr 2005 (UTC)

having trouble with process

Dan100 put this on the pope article and removed it from main page."This article's topic is not news, or otherwise not Wikinews content, and will be listed on Deletion requests." I can't find it in disputes or deletion requests? What can I do ? also, I don't see {{notnews}} in the article flag section?? or as a deletion reason?? Paulrevere2005 13:00, 28 Apr 2005 (UTC)

disturbing discussion?

Please see if this is a problem at the bottom of Uncle G's discussion page; "Disputed article on the day page". it seems to me this is about the Pope/Masonic story and it appears as if the 3 of them, or at least 2 of them actually designed a new article tag specifically to circumvent the available ways of dealing with the article.; i.e.,if a rule is not being broken,just make up a new one. Is this in keeping with the wiki spirit/attitude? Paulrevere2005 02:39, 29 Apr 2005 (UTC)

unfortunately, the shoes do fit

I just checked "http://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Wikinews:Template_messages/Disputes&action=history" and saw that the {{notnews}} tag was indeed created on April 27th by Amgine, 9 minutes after he promised Dan100 in the discussion at http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/User_talk:Uncle_G#Disputed_article_on_the_day_page (quotes below) concerning how to deal with the pope/mason artice.

Also,even more worrisome,is how they wanted to come up with a way to bury the Pope article without it going in for deletion discussion because; "it might be kept of course, which would be a worring precedent"..this flies in the face of the very essence of a collaborative platform,I think. Anyway,sorry for bringing such negative stuff up. I sent the info for admin action and Amgine has reacted(I assume its a reaction) on my talk page. Paulrevere2005 11:31, 29 Apr 2005 (UTC)

"I agree with Uncle G - the story is still disputed. However I couldn't think of a suitable tag for the objections - the lack of anything news worthy. Dan100 (Talk) 17:48, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC) <chuckle> I believe the two of you... I'm building a template {{NotNews}}<nowiki> for this type of dispute. - Amgine/talk 17:58, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC) I think the best solution here would be a listing on Deletion requests. Not being newsworthy is really something you can fix - either a reportable event has happened, or, erm, it hasn't. However I'm mildly allergic to DR and the ensuing arguments, so I haven't listed it. And it might be kept of course, which would be a worring precedent. PS Sorry to Uncle G for replying to Amgine here, but I hate scattering conversations across user talk pages. PPS Why are we using bullet points?! ;) Dan100 (Talk) 18:05, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC) <Laughing> I agree; I'm putting that into this template (the deletion request link). Thanks to Uncle G for hosting this discussion - Amgine/talk 18:09, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC)" :I replied on [[User_talk:Paulrevere2005#Fighting_city_hall|Paulrevere2005's user talk page]]. — [[User:David Vasquez|DV]] 11:51, 29 Apr 2005 (UTC) ==URGENT! Your attention and input is needed regarding a crucial issue facing wikinews.== Please go to the water cooler policy discussion at http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Water_cooler/policy#creating_.2F_deleting_dispute_flag_templates Please participate in this discussion,regardless of your opinion. [[User:Paulrevere2005|Paulrevere2005]] 12:51, 30 Apr 2005 (UTC)