Interview with a Scavenger

To learn more about the Flea Market, it's a good idea to talk to some of the folk behind it. In this issue we interview Tavaron da Quirm.

Tavaron: Hi BB!

I feel honoured, and that after only 2 rescues...

Bluebottle: Would you like to tell me anything about any the articles that you have been involved in rescuing?

• Tiwanaku - Pre-Inca Metropolis, based on Dihybrid's article Tiahuanaco
• Model Railway: Scenery, based on Skinnylinny's Model Railways (under construction - about 85% complete)

Tavaron: I can't really remember how I got into the first one, the project about Model railways. It's a joint effort of you (BB), SashaQ, Florida Sailor and me. Everyone was responsible for a certain part of the project. I couldn't help much with the actual railway stuff but I know about model building, so I decided to help.

The second one was an Entry about Tiwanaku, a pre-Inca city in Southern America. I heard a bit about that at university, so I thought I could do it.

Bluebottle: Would you only rescue articles about subjects you know well?

Tavaron: Yes, just like I only write normal Entries about subjects I know.

Bluebottle: Have you approached a Flea Market Rescue any differently to how you write an article from scratch? Is it easier or more difficult?

Tavaron: I think it's more difficult because it started with finding out what the person who wrote the Entry wanted to tell and not always was everything clear to me. it's a bit like reading up a source for a new Entry.

Bluebottle: Would you recommend doing Flea Market rescues to other researchers?

Tavaron: oh yes, I'd certainly recommend it. There are some interesting topics in the FM and many are too good to disappear in oblivion. Although in other cases it may be better to start the Entry from scratch.

Bluebottle: How do you think you would feel about being on the other side, about someone else making changes to an entry you had written, if someone tried to rescue an entry you had abandoned?

Tavaron: I think I'd be happy if a project I started would be finished. On the other hand guess I might complain if the person makes changes that I don't agree with, but I guess that's what PR is for and I guess I give up my rights on an Entry when I put it into PR.

Bluebottle: Is there one that stands out as the most fun to write?

Tavaron: Well, I've only rescued two Entries so far, but the one about Tiwanaku was more interesting because the Railway project was almost complete and didn't need much work anymore.

Bluebottle: On the other hand, was there one that proved to be the most difficult to complete, if so, why?

Tavaron: Again, the one about Tiwanaku was more difficult. It's hard to find facts about the topic and I found the original Entry quite confusing.

Bluebottle: How much revision do you think proper in a FM Rescue?

Tavaron: I am pretty unscrupulous in this respect. I think the first thing you have to do is checking the facts and if you see something is not correct it has to be changed. Then you check if any sentences are unclear and change them too. there may also be changes in the order of things. Depending on how long or good the original Entry was you can then end p with something almost completely new. The model railways Entry for instance stayed almost as it was, but I have no idea how much is still there of the original substance of the Tiwanaku Entry.

Bluebottle: Are there any questions you think I should have asked, or anything else you'd like to say?

Tavaron: I'd like to say that I think we did a good job in cleaning up the Flea Market and I hope more people will rescue things now that the good stuff is easier to find.

Bluebottle: Would you consider doing another Flea Market Rescue in the near future?

Tavaron: I think I will rescue more Entries in the future, but there are a few other projects I want to do first and maybe also update a few Entries which already are in the Guide, so the flea Market will probably have to wait a bit. I don't write as fast as other people.

2013 Report

So what has happened in the Flea Market in 2013? Here we compare the Flea Market now with how it was this time last year?

Please note that the maths don't quite add up for a variety of reasons - mainly Bistromathics¹. It all goes to show how the Flea Market is a dynamic part of h2g2! So even though many articles have been added from Peer Review and the Writing Workshop and unsuitable articles have been returned Back to Entry, overall the number of articles in the Flea Market awaiting rescue has reduced while the number of successful rescues has increased.

Entries rescued this year:

• 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley by Bluebottle, based on BeowulfShaffer's article Brave New World.

• Buddy Holly - Singer/Songwriter by Florida Sailor, based on Tonsil Revenge's article Buddy Holly: Singer/Songwriter/Musician/Artist.

• Charm by Pheroneous II, based on Pheroneous's article Charm.

• 'Discworld Noir' - the Game by Bluebottle and Geggs, based on Discworld NOIR by [...].

• The Early History and Development of Film by Bluebottle, based on Oberon2001, Tonsil Revenge & Trout Montague's article History of Film.

• The Guy Paul Morin Case - a Canadian Wrongful Conviction by SashaQ, a rescue of Guy Paul Morin: justice fails by pyrotechnic4.

• How to make Nearly Bourbon Biscuits by SashaQ, based on FordsTowel's article
  Nearly Bourbon Chocolate Creme Biscuits - Recipe.

• How to Smell a Ponderosa Pine by Galaxy Babe, based on Mew Gull's article How to smell a Ponderosa Pine.

• How to Star Gaze by Florida Sailor, based on JadedGoddess's article How to Star Gaze by.

• James Bond: The Ultimate Film Guide by Bluebottle, based on toosmartforbond2's article James Bond: A Quick Film Guide.

• James Bond in the Cold War by Bluebottle, based on littlesimon1's article James Bond in the Cold War.

• Jim Henson - Storyteller and Puppet Master by Bluebottle, based on Jim Henson - Muppeteer, Filmmaker, Television Producer by Opticalillusion

• The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway by Bluebottle, based on Montyonthebonty's article Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

• The Mason-Dixon Line: Dividing a Nation by Florida Sailor, based on unremarkable's article The Mason-Dixon Line.

• Mersey Beat - From Newspaper to Sound by Bluebottle, based on Mersey Beat by merseybeat1961.

• The Millennium Dome by Bluebottle, based on Isabelle's article Millennium Dome.

• Night, and How to Cope With It by Florida Sailor, based on Pelegrhino's article Night.

• Plato - Eminent Greek Philosopher and Writer by SashaQ, part of the Plato project, inspired by Bearevan's article Plato.

• Quintus Sertorius - Roman General by Bluebottle, based on theenglishman101's article Quintus Sertorius.

• Rickenbacker - the Guitar Manufacturer by SashaQ, based on Cosmicdude's article Rickenbacker: The Guitar Manufactor

• The Sonic the Hedgehog Series and Spin-offs: 1991-1999 by Bluebottle, based on Jenny_Tablina's article The Sonic The hedgehog series,spin offs and secrets.

• The Sonic the Hedgehog Series and Spin-offs: 2000-2004 by Bluebottle, also based on Jenny_Tablina's article The Sonic The hedgehog series,spin offs and secrets.

• Speedy Bacon and Mushroom Pasta by SashaQ, based on GT's Brill Pasta by gandalfstwin.

• Walls by Bluebottle with bobstafford, broelan, Elentari, Florida Sailor, U151503, Malabarista, Nosebagbadger, Recumbentman, Tavaron da Quirm, Vip and Vogonpoet have rescued Think-Am's article on Walls, which Skankyrich had also unsuccessfully attempted to rescue as Walls.

• Warner Brothers' Wartime Animation by Bluebottle, based on Lt Thrace's article Wartime Animation and the Warner Bros..

Scavenger Badges Awarded To:

• Florida Sailor
• SashaQ
• Shagbark

New Entry to the Flea Market

This article has entered the Flea Market, ready to be rescued, since the last issue:

• Intergalaktischer Rumtopf by Deus_X - see the Flea Market Conversation.

Flea Market Rescues Currently in Peer Review

These are the articles being rescued from the Flea Market that are currently in Peer Review. Why not help by reviewing the new version of the article? Aricles in Bold are new entries which have been submitted since the last issue of SuperMarket was published. In exciting news, two University projects in Peer Review have been inspired by the Flea Market!

Everyone who reads through and comments upon these articles helps to make it the best it can be.

And Remember...

, the Flea Market needs You!

The Flea Market Archive

Bluebottle

06.01.14 Front Page

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