Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Tropical cyclones/Newsletter

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WikiProject Tropical Cyclones

WikiProject home (talk) Archives: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 Newsletter (talk) Archives: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 WikiProject statistics (talk) Article requests (talk) Merging discussions (talk) Vital articles (talk) Article tables by quality (talk) Assessment Main assessment page (talk) → Assessment tables (talk) → Assessment log (talk) → Assessment statistics (talk) Tropical cyclones portal

Contents 1 Content discussion 1.1 The title 1.2 Storms of the month 1.3 Members of the month 2 Formatting discussion 3 Straw polls 3.1 Title 3.2 Format 4 General comments 4.1 Mailing 4.2 Linking 4.3 Quotes 5 Feedback 6 Content for next edition 6.1 New Articles 6.1.1 Improved Articles 6.2 To-do List 6.3 Other content 6.4 Monthly Activity 6.5 Requested articles 7 Nominations for next edition 7.1 SotM 7.2 MotM 8 Draft of next edition

[edit] Content discussion

This isn't in any particular order. This is not for specific content for a particular newsletter, but discussion on what should be included in general

[edit] The title

Suggestions to date:

• The Tropical Times — Hurricanehink (talk) 01:30, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
• As The Cyclone Spins — RattleMan 02:40, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
• The Spinning Cyclone — Nilfanion (talk) 10:30, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
• The Fishspinner — Nilfanion (talk) 10:30, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
• The Hurricane Herald - Icelandic Hurricane #12_(talk) 17:57, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Storms of the month

• In depth description of SotM - comparable to what is written for a TFA description.
• A much briefer description of any other storms - but all linked to their article or section in seasonal article.

[edit] Members of the month

How should the format go? Should it just be, Member of the month:Random user Or should it be more in depth? Member of the month: Random user has been part of the Tropical Cyclone Wikiproject since December of 2005. He has written 5 tropical cyclone articles, and contributed to numerous others. Random user has also contributed to the various formatting issues that have arisen.

A barnstar-type award also needs to be made. Hurricanehink (talk) 17:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I say give a reasonable description on the users contributions to the project and concur on the award. How about like the Random acts of kindness star but with a (larger) generic tropical cyclone replacing the smiley?--Nilfanion (talk) 17:17, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

How about this for a concept, make the MotM a secret ballot? Would make it more interesting for all involved, I mean you don't know that you are going to get a barnstar.--Nilfanion (talk) 20:04, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

How would you make a secret ballot on Wikipedia? I suppose you could have a subpage, and as a rule, no one can sign their signature. Hurricanehink (talk) 21:16, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

What we could do is say "send your vote by email to ...." that way its only the vote-counter who will know in advance (perhaps they should not be allowed to get it). After the result is announced (in the newsletter) the numbers for each nominee could be given here. How does that sound?--Nilfanion (talk) 21:48, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

That sounds good. The recipient should be someone who was nominated, but also didn't nominate someone, just to ensure no problems will occur. Hurricanehink (talk) 22:26, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

How does this sound? "The vote-counter cannot be nominated for the MotM and cannot vote or nominate. However in the case of a tie, they have a tie-breaker vote (to ensure we always have someone). Nominees can vote, but not for themselves." Actually I wonder if I'm turning into a megalomaniac now, I'll withdraw myself from this round of nominations (I'm nowhere near as worthy as Jdorje or Tito), so I can do all the upkeep tasks for the newsletter (archiving, distributing etc).--Nilfanion (talk) 00:04, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

LOL, don't worry. That sounds great. I'm sorry to hear you're withdrawing, but I'm sure you'll get another nom in the future. Hurricanehink (talk) 00:11, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Nah, I'm satisfied doing it this way, this was my idea I'll suffer whats coming to me, lol... Can someone make up a cheesy barnstar? It needs to be standalone, so it can be be awarded even if you have opted out.--Nilfanion (talk) 00:32, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Try Image:Cyclone barnstar.png, just for this purpose. Titoxd^(?!?) 06:54, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Yep, that works (you could change your MotM award to it)--Nilfanion (talk) 09:42, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Formatting discussion

I've subst'ed the portal as a starting point for this, and added in some content. I think this is a fair starting point.--Nilfanion (talk) 17:45, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

I think this works. Can someone sort out the code? (if we go for this format, it will mess up our talk pages.--Nilfanion (talk) 23:23, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

It's simpler in appearance, and has messy code (template time?), but it works now. If someone who knows what they are doing can make a better format... all the better.--Nilfanion (talk) 00:12, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I suggest the content nominations be archived with each storm and that the more fundamental discussion is held here.--Nilfanion (talk) 13:03, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Straw polls

[edit] Title

Add your nominations to the top. We should start voting on Friday and close it when there's a majority. I don't think you should be able to vote for your own nomination. Hurricanehink (talk) 15:12, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Agree, though a concrete deadline makes more sense (0000 UTC Sunday, the probable publishing time?)--Nilfanion (talk) 16:04, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

OK. Also, any new suggestions have to be in by 0000 UTC on Friday (AKA midnight tonight). Hurricanehink (talk) 16:24, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Voting is open, we will run with whatever (I'll tie-break if needed).--Nilfanion (talk) 00:32, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

The Hurricane Herald was the selected name.--Nilfanion (talk) 09:10, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

• The Tropical Times

1. Titoxd^{(?!? - help us)} 01:58, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

• As The Cyclone Spins
• The Spinning Cyclone
• The Fishspinner

1. íslenska hurikein #12_(talk) 00:41, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

• The Hurricane Herald

1. Hurricanehink (talk)
2. Dr Denim

Yay! My title won! Thank's hink and Dr Denim for your votes! íslenska hurikein #12_(samtal) 11:51, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

no problem...now...about that political career ruining bribe...hahaDr Denim 12:22, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Format

• Current format is OK

1. Nilfanion (talk) 00:32, 2 June 2006 (UTC) I'm happy now, though the content still needs work
2. íslenska hurikein #12_(talk) 00:38, 2 June 2006 (UTC)
3. Titoxd^{(?!? - help us)} 19:05, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

• Current format needs changing

(please state how, this one works like an FAC: no actionable objections and enough support means we run with it)

• • Wikilink Main Page
  • Capitalize only the first word in each sub-section.
  • Wrap the statistics table in a div, for consistency with the other sections.
• Titoxd^{(?!? - help us)} 02:22, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

The table is in a div and the capitalization is consistent. However I left "Main Page content" as that as Main Page is always capitalized. Not sure what you meant by wikilinking to Main Page though; it was already linked each time it is referred to except for the section title - did you want the section heading to be Main Page content?--Nilfanion (talk) 11:11, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, that's minor, and doesn't really matter, as the other ones are fixed. Titoxd^{(?!? - help us)} 19:05, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] General comments

I'm prepared to do the admin side of things for the newsletter (its my idea, I should suffer the hatemail), the content is up to all of us to do though. The MOTM, in particular, and to a lesser extent SOTM (I doubt there will be much disagreement on it) should be done by simple voting.--Nilfanion (talk) 16:32, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

I put a reference to the newsletter on 2006AHS as well as on the WikiProject page. Hopefully that will generate enough interest for meaningful votes on the title and MotM for the first edition - unless we get a bit more interest I'm inclined to say we don't have a MotM for this edition.--Nilfanion (talk) 12:49, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Someone make up a star please? I'm not that kind of artistic person.--Nilfanion (talk) 21:43, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

If you want, you can send the one I made to WP:PUA... or to Wikipedia:Wikiproject awards. I never know which page is the correct one... Titoxd^(?!?) 05:03, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mailing

Some questions:

• How do we interpret no preference on mailing in future? Do we spam them, send them a link or do not mention it? My preference is to give them the links.--Nilfanion (talk) 09:30, 4 June 2006 (UTC)
• New members: I think we should have a WPTC welcome message, including a link to the previous edition of the newsletter and to the mailing list.--Nilfanion (talk) 09:30, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

That sounds good. I have given a welcome message to most new members, so we can use that format if you want. As to the first question, a link will do. Hurricanehink (talk) 13:33, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Yep, I agree - all I'm saying there is make a link to the previous edition and please sign the mailing list obvious in the welcome message.--Nilfanion (talk) 21:07, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Linking

What should we do about all the people who requested "link-me" or those who have not expressed a preference (IMO they should count as link-me's until explictly stated)? Should we make a similar message to what the Military History wikiproject use for their newsletter?--Nilfanion (talk) 18:53, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

How does this sound:

"The July issue of the WikiProject Tropical cyclones newsletter is now available. If you wish to receive the full newsletter or no longer be informed of the release of future editions please add your username to the appropriate section on the mailing list." Any objections?--Nilfanion (talk) 21:33, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Quotes

Any chance of getting a footnote from where the funny notes came from? I don't mean Cite.php or anything like that, something as subtle as <sup class="plainlinks">your diff here</sup> would work. Titoxd^(?!?) 16:47, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Well, when they come from on wiki sure. However if its an IRC quote...--Nilfanion (talk) 21:40, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Feedback

Well thats done. Let's not rush into work on number 2 just yet.... any problems?--Nilfanion (talk) 01:15, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Looks good. Perhaps adding a small box to credit whoever worked on the month's newsletter. NSLE _(T+C) at 01:16 UTC (2006-06-04)

I've archived all the discussion relating to the first edition to its talkpage.--Nilfanion (talk) 09:11, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Content for next edition

[edit] New Articles

• Storm articles.

• Cyclone Hollanda
• Hurricane Hernan (2002)
• Hurricane Darby (1992)
• Hurricane Ginny

• Non-storm articles.

• List of North Carolina hurricanes (1950-1979)

[edit] Improved Articles

• FACs.
• A cut-down version of the assessment log containing raises to GA/A/FA quality.
• Recently featured content.

TFA

• Hurricane Isis (1998) -- February 15, 2008

[edit] To-do List

• Cut-down version of the Project to do list.
• Wishlist FA's.

[edit] Other content

• Main page mentions: TFA or DYK.

[edit] Monthly Activity

[edit] Requested articles

• Tropical Storm Debbie (1965)- Costliest U.S. hurricane that does not have an article ($126 million 2006 USD)
• Outflow (meteorology) - Needed
• Tropical cyclone deaths - I think an article covering overall deaths from tropical cyclones could be useful

Hurricanehink (talk) 05:58, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Nominations for next edition

Note: Voting will be done purely on this talk page as with any other straw poll, the email thingy didn't work.--Nilfanion (talk) 01:11, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] SotM

[edit] MotM

[edit] Draft of next edition