h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Two things:

- My h2g2 university project on Golf in Hershey is soon to be active again. I was waiting for a major development that just took place this past week (all the courses have been sold!). So you can expect these entries in a few weeks!

- Secondly, are you guys so low on entries that the itallics are helping to fill the Guide? I noticed a whole slew of new entries in PR from your colleagues and wondered if you needed me to kick into high gear for a few days to get some entries written to help fill the barrel.



- Jimi X

Good news about golf in Hershey

We decided that really we should all be contributing to the Guide more than we do, so we're writing one a week. Each Thursday we're all adding an anonymous topic to a hat, and picking another out. I was away last week, but I've got one for next Thursday. Watch this space!



Anna

Looking forward to your entry! I think that's a brilliant idea - leading my example!


So there is a suitably long queue waiting for the front page?

And as a sort of random question, how do the number of Subs relate to the number of Scouts...

Is it a 1:1 ratio, or a little higher since Scouts pick three and Subs can opt for 1, 2, or 4 entries at a time?

I'm curious because I've been thinking about the whole Update scheme, especially since Sam just wrote an entry that was covered in less depth in the Edited Guide.

Hey Jimi,

There's a reasonably long backlog of entries for the front page. The ComingUp page gives you a rough idea... At the moment I've got 33 active Subs (and a few taking a break) and 34 Scouts (though I'm about to recruit a few more). So it's about equal, but numbers fluctuate all the time.

I'm still working on thoughts on the updating scheme, but have got to hand it on on Tuesday, so if you want to share anything, let me know!

Have a good weekend

Anna

I was thinking of a scheme where we could 'borrow' a few willing subs.

As far as the actual updating - have it be sort of like a variant of Peer Review where people re-write entries using the 'old' Edited version with their new material in a new entry.

Then, having the community review it for any more information before shipping it out to the Subs who volunteered to update.

Included in this scheme should be a mechanism where the original author(s) would be notified on their personal space that someone has submitted their Edited Entry for an Update.

In terms of size, I reckon we ought to start small (perhaps four or five Subs).

The big problem will be copying the over Updated information into the existing Edited Entry. I don't know if you can devise any internal tools for this as I reckon that this process is manual for you italics at the moment.

However, retaining the original Edited Entry's A-number is critical because otherwise, all our relative links would get wonky.

The Update HQ isn't a bad idea. It's just so overwhelming!

I think involving the community in the updating process at 'Update Review' would be a Good Thing as it would give people new ideas for contributing to the Guide.

I know this is rather vague, but I think this general notion might work. We've already got the architecture for PR and PR notification. I think the real sticking point would be copying the Updates into the existing Edited Entries.

What do you think?

Ooo, Jimi, thanks for this

An updating peer review type thing had crossed my mind. It seems like the best way forward as it gives the Community the chance to 'vote' for entries that need updating most, so we'd probably need update Scouts to officially and impartially nominate entries that should be updated.

I like the idea of a mechanism where the original author would be notified on their personal space that someone has submitted their Edited Entry for an Update. Or even an email - perhaps will get back a few awol Researchers that way!

Better get on with the proposal then

Anna

Of course to run it properly, you'll need an additonal full-time staff member. And to help with time zone difficulties, perhaps a branch office for him to work out of in say...
...Pennsylvania?

Good luck with the proposal.

and I'd have to come and visit!

Thanks Jimi

You are all welcome at any time!

Just give me a few hours notice to stock up on

My little one would just love Dom. She's going on 3 and adores babies.

My sister-in-law just gave birth last week and my little Meredith is so excited by this that she's puffing out her belly and saying she's got a baby brother inside.

Dom's growing up so fast, I feel like he's not going to be a baby much longer! Isn't it amazing how kind little children can be to babies? At nursery, Dom gets looked after by some of the children who are a little bit older than him. They're only about 18 months but they baby him! A new little girl of seven months has just started so he's not the youngest any more, and he been known to nick toys and books off her. Oh dear, he's started early!



Anna

It sounds a bit like your office doesn't it?

Too true!