Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-08 Thread David Gerard
2009/9/7 Bod Notbod :
> On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 2:42 PM, David Gerard wrote:

>> That would describe the person who started this thread, who has stated
>> elsewhere that anything whatsoever he does on any WMF site is only for
>> the purpose of trolling.

> Was that the form of words used?
> I'd be interested to know the exact quote.


Citations emailed.


- d.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-07 Thread Gerard Meijssen
Hoi,
The one reason why I read the Signpost is because it posts a table of
contents on a blog that is aggregated.  Advertisement works, it gets
it more readers 
Thanks,
GerardM

2009/9/8 Michael Snow 

> Sage Ross wrote:
> > On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 4:05 AM, Domas Mituzas
> wrote:
> >
> >> Gerard,
> >>
> >>> Remember, the Signpost is an en.wp publication. It is not really the
> >>> place
> >>> to announce such things.
> >>>
> >> it is up for Signpost editors if they want to include it or not. Not
> >> your business :)
> >>
> >> BR,
> >>
> > I guess I shouldn't have stopped reading this thread so early on.
> >
> > I wrote "News and notes" this week but I didn't end up mentioning the
> > sub-lease/move in this week's Signpost because it just didn't seem
> > very important. But I do consider it part of the Signpost's mission to
> > report on Foundation matters, and more than that, to help push for WMF
> > transparency and accountability to the community.
> >
> > I don't like the idea that what the Signpost does is "our" business
> > and not "your" business, for various intracommunity values of us and
> > you.  Despite being based on en.wp, we're trying to become more useful
> > to the broader Wikimedia community/communities.  (To that end,
> > OhanaUnited is reviving the Sister Project Interviews series:
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:OhanaUnited/Sister_Projects_Interview
> > .  And both news reports from other projects and reflective pieces
> > about what it's like to work on individual non-English projects versus
> > their English counterparts are very welcome.)
> >
> > The "we" of the Signpost is anyone from the Wikimedia community who
> > wants to contribute.
> >
> Just to chime in, figuring my perspective from the early days of the
> Signpost might be useful. From the beginning I knew that we had people
> reading from outside the English Wikipedia, and there's always been
> interest in building off that framework for cross-project exchange of
> news, whether it's the English-speaking audience learning about the work
> in other languages, or getting news from English out to those languages.
> That was, is, and should always be encouraged.
>
> This simply reflects that the Signpost is for the benefit of the
> community, however broadly that may be defined, and should look to that
> for guidance in its coverage. In that sense, if Gerard reads the
> Signpost, it is his business what he wants to hear about. I would hope
> that was mostly focused on making it more thorough and comprehensive,
> though. Strictly speaking it's correct that the Signpost is not the
> place for us (in this case, "us" meaning the Wikimedia Foundation) to
> announce things, because it's independent of the foundation, but the
> implication that it's not something people should expect to read about
> in the Signpost would be a mistake.
>
> Finally, as valuable as both the Signpost and Wikizine are, along with
> this list and all other ways to disseminate information, no single
> source can be the magic bullet to reach everyone. In working toward
> that, we need to exercise our cultural value of sharing knowledge, so if
> you have information that is appropriate to share, pass it on to those
> who would like to know about it.
>
> --Michael Snow
>
>
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-07 Thread Michael Snow
Sage Ross wrote:
> On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 4:05 AM, Domas Mituzas wrote:
>   
>> Gerard,
>> 
>>> Remember, the Signpost is an en.wp publication. It is not really the
>>> place
>>> to announce such things.
>>>   
>> it is up for Signpost editors if they want to include it or not. Not
>> your business :)
>>
>> BR,
>> 
> I guess I shouldn't have stopped reading this thread so early on.
>
> I wrote "News and notes" this week but I didn't end up mentioning the
> sub-lease/move in this week's Signpost because it just didn't seem
> very important. But I do consider it part of the Signpost's mission to
> report on Foundation matters, and more than that, to help push for WMF
> transparency and accountability to the community.
>
> I don't like the idea that what the Signpost does is "our" business
> and not "your" business, for various intracommunity values of us and
> you.  Despite being based on en.wp, we're trying to become more useful
> to the broader Wikimedia community/communities.  (To that end,
> OhanaUnited is reviving the Sister Project Interviews series:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:OhanaUnited/Sister_Projects_Interview
> .  And both news reports from other projects and reflective pieces
> about what it's like to work on individual non-English projects versus
> their English counterparts are very welcome.)
>
> The "we" of the Signpost is anyone from the Wikimedia community who
> wants to contribute.
>   
Just to chime in, figuring my perspective from the early days of the 
Signpost might be useful. From the beginning I knew that we had people 
reading from outside the English Wikipedia, and there's always been 
interest in building off that framework for cross-project exchange of 
news, whether it's the English-speaking audience learning about the work 
in other languages, or getting news from English out to those languages. 
That was, is, and should always be encouraged.

This simply reflects that the Signpost is for the benefit of the 
community, however broadly that may be defined, and should look to that 
for guidance in its coverage. In that sense, if Gerard reads the 
Signpost, it is his business what he wants to hear about. I would hope 
that was mostly focused on making it more thorough and comprehensive, 
though. Strictly speaking it's correct that the Signpost is not the 
place for us (in this case, "us" meaning the Wikimedia Foundation) to 
announce things, because it's independent of the foundation, but the 
implication that it's not something people should expect to read about 
in the Signpost would be a mistake.

Finally, as valuable as both the Signpost and Wikizine are, along with 
this list and all other ways to disseminate information, no single 
source can be the magic bullet to reach everyone. In working toward 
that, we need to exercise our cultural value of sharing knowledge, so if 
you have information that is appropriate to share, pass it on to those 
who would like to know about it.

--Michael Snow


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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-07 Thread Sage Ross
On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 4:05 AM, Domas Mituzas wrote:
> Gerard,
>
>> Remember, the Signpost is an en.wp publication. It is not really the
>> place
>> to announce such things.
>
> it is up for Signpost editors if they want to include it or not. Not
> your business :)
>
> BR,

I guess I shouldn't have stopped reading this thread so early on.

I wrote "News and notes" this week but I didn't end up mentioning the
sub-lease/move in this week's Signpost because it just didn't seem
very important. But I do consider it part of the Signpost's mission to
report on Foundation matters, and more than that, to help push for WMF
transparency and accountability to the community.

I don't like the idea that what the Signpost does is "our" business
and not "your" business, for various intracommunity values of us and
you.  Despite being based on en.wp, we're trying to become more useful
to the broader Wikimedia community/communities.  (To that end,
OhanaUnited is reviving the Sister Project Interviews series:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:OhanaUnited/Sister_Projects_Interview
.  And both news reports from other projects and reflective pieces
about what it's like to work on individual non-English projects versus
their English counterparts are very welcome.)

The "we" of the Signpost is anyone from the Wikimedia community who
wants to contribute.

-Sage

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-07 Thread Bod Notbod
On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 2:42 PM, David Gerard wrote:

> That would describe the person who started this thread, who has stated
> elsewhere that anything whatsoever he does on any WMF site is only for
> the purpose of trolling.

Was that the form of words used?

I'd be interested to know the exact quote.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-07 Thread David Gerard
2009/9/7 Bod Notbod :

> I wonder what motivates this kind of thread. Do those who regularly
> seek to pick out any inconsistency or "failure" to communicate
> actually /like/ Wikipedia, or do they have some grudge against the
> whole enterprise?


That would describe the person who started this thread, who has stated
elsewhere that anything whatsoever he does on any WMF site is only for
the purpose of trolling.


- d.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-07 Thread Bod Notbod
On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 1:06 PM, David Gerard wrote:

> Too many people attribute to malice what is completely explained by
> fuckups. WMF actually does better than most charities of comparable
> staffing and funding ...

Yes, that's the way I view it too.

Most of these attacking threads could be answered with something like
"the WMF hasn't quite found its feet and hasn't yet come to terms with
the expectations of some members of the community as regards
transparency of its internal workings".

I wonder what motivates this kind of thread. Do those who regularly
seek to pick out any inconsistency or "failure" to communicate
actually /like/ Wikipedia, or do they have some grudge against the
whole enterprise?

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread Geoffrey Plourde
Why not the Signposts, Wikizine, and the SF mailing list? No need for 
"exclusives". 







From: geni 
To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List 
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2009 1:43:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009/9/6 Gerard Meijssen :
> Hoi,
> It is not my business what they care to write about ... what I ment is that
> it is not a publication that is read by all our projects. At that Wikizine
> would be a better choice. :)
> Thanks.
> GerardM

The signpost has versions in 19 languages. I think that can be said to
provide a reasonable level of coverage.

-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread effe iets anders
Ok, not replying to anyone in particular, but please, can we stop this
thread? If it has ever been useful, it has lost that little bit by now I
guess. Thank you.

-- eia

2009/9/6 David Gerard 

> 2009/9/6 Anthony :
> > On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 8:06 AM, David Gerard  wrote:
>
> >> Too many people attribute to malice what is completely explained by
> >> fuckups.
>
> > Perhaps you should rethink this analysis.  You might be attributing
> > accusations of the latter for accusations of the former.
>
>
> I think it's pretty clear in the case of the start of this particular
> idiot thread.
>
>
> - d.
>
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread David Gerard
2009/9/6 Anthony :
> On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 8:06 AM, David Gerard  wrote:

>> Too many people attribute to malice what is completely explained by
>> fuckups.

> Perhaps you should rethink this analysis.  You might be attributing
> accusations of the latter for accusations of the former.


I think it's pretty clear in the case of the start of this particular
idiot thread.


- d.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread Anthony
On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 8:06 AM, David Gerard  wrote:

> 2009/9/6 Anthony :
>
> > I just have to say that I think it is utter and complete nonsense for
> anyone
> > to ever accuse the Wikimedia Foundation in any serious way of being the
> kind
> > of organization that tries to hush things up.
>
>
> Too many people attribute to malice what is completely explained by
> fuckups.


Perhaps you should rethink this analysis.  You might be attributing
accusations of the latter for accusations of the former.


> WMF actually does better than most charities of comparable
> staffing and funding ...


I've never bothered comparing with regard to funding.  Which organizations
would be comparable?  And which comes first, the funding or the competence?

As for staffing, that's part of the problem.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread Anthony
> > The move itself will be
> > newsworthy and I'm sure there will be a press release about it, but it
> > hasn't happened yet.
>
> As Wikimedia (or.. Wikipedia!) office address isn't publicly announced
> or published, the press release would be fantastic:
>
> "Wikipedia is moving from undisclosed location office to new
> undisclosed location office" :)
>
> Very useful.
>
> Domas


I just have to say that I think it is utter and complete nonsense for anyone
to ever accuse the Wikimedia Foundation in any serious way of being the kind
of organization that tries to hush things up.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread David Gerard
2009/9/6 Anthony :

> I just have to say that I think it is utter and complete nonsense for anyone
> to ever accuse the Wikimedia Foundation in any serious way of being the kind
> of organization that tries to hush things up.


Too many people attribute to malice what is completely explained by
fuckups. WMF actually does better than most charities of comparable
staffing and funding ...


- d.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread David Gerard
2009/9/6 geni :

> If you want to get seriously formal there are signpost or signpost
> like publications in 19 languages on wikipedia which means that
> informing them is likely to result in significantly wider information
> distribution among the wikimedia than "wikizine".


Wikizine does pretty well for readership (particularly as it's now posted here).

The various Signposts are no more affiliated than the various Wikipedias.


- d.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread geni
2009/9/6 Gerard Meijssen :
> Hoi,
> As there is no "signpost" in Dutch, it may be one reason why I did not
> notice that there are links to other publications. I checked out the one in
> German and it is not a translation of the en.wp Signpost. Consequently the
> assertion that there are 19 versions is suspect and my point stands.
> Thanks,
>  GerardM

If you want to get seriously formal there are signpost or signpost
like publications in 19 languages on wikipedia which means that
informing them is likely to result in significantly wider information
distribution among the wikimedia than "wikizine".

-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread Gerard Meijssen
Hoi,
As there is no "signpost" in Dutch, it may be one reason why I did not
notice that there are links to other publications. I checked out the one in
German and it is not a translation of the en.wp Signpost. Consequently the
assertion that there are 19 versions is suspect and my point stands.
Thanks,
  GerardM

2009/9/6 geni 

> 2009/9/6 Gerard Meijssen :
> > Hoi,
> > It is not my business what they care to write about ... what I ment is
> that
> > it is not a publication that is read by all our projects. At that
> Wikizine
> > would be a better choice. :)
> > Thanks.
> > GerardM
>
> The signpost has versions in 19 languages. I think that can be said to
> provide a reasonable level of coverage.
>
> --
> geni
>
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread geni
2009/9/6 Gerard Meijssen :
> Hoi,
> It is not my business what they care to write about ... what I ment is that
> it is not a publication that is read by all our projects. At that Wikizine
> would be a better choice. :)
> Thanks.
> GerardM

The signpost has versions in 19 languages. I think that can be said to
provide a reasonable level of coverage.

-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread Gerard Meijssen
Hoi,
It is not my business what they care to write about ... what I ment is that
it is not a publication that is read by all our projects. At that Wikizine
would be a better choice. :)
Thanks.
 GerardM

2009/9/6 Domas Mituzas 

> Gerard,
>
> > Remember, the Signpost is an en.wp publication. It is not really the
> > place
> > to announce such things.
>
> it is up for Signpost editors if they want to include it or not. Not
> your business :)
>
> BR,
> Domas
>
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread Domas Mituzas
Gerard,

> Remember, the Signpost is an en.wp publication. It is not really the  
> place
> to announce such things.

it is up for Signpost editors if they want to include it or not. Not  
your business :)

BR,
Domas

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-06 Thread Gerard Meijssen
Hoi,
Remember, the Signpost is an en.wp publication. It is not really the place
to announce such things.
Thanks,
   GerardM

2009/9/6 Geoffrey Plourde 

> Correct, I meant announcement not press release. Announcing this move by
> placing a blurb on the foundation site, asking for assistance on the sf
> list, and letting the signpost know all would have headed this discussion
> off
>
>
>
>
> 
> From: geni 
> To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List 
> Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2009 4:43:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?
>
> 2009/9/6 Thomas Dalton :
> > 2009/9/6 Geoffrey Plourde :
> >> The plan may have been mentioned ages ago, but a press release about the
> move would have eliminated the opportunity for trolling.
> >
> > Why would the press be interested in the WMF putting the offices they
> > are about to move out of on the market? The move itself will be
> > newsworthy and I'm sure there will be a press release about it, but it
> > hasn't happened yet. A plan to move isn't worthy of a press release -
> > it would only cover a single sentence ("The WMF has more staff than it
> > has room for desks, so it is planning to move to new, larger
> > offices.").
>
> I'm sure signpost would be interested. It usually is. Press release is
> probably the wrong term though.
>
>
>
> --
> geni
>
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Domas Mituzas
> The move itself will be
> newsworthy and I'm sure there will be a press release about it, but it
> hasn't happened yet.

As Wikimedia (or.. Wikipedia!) office address isn't publicly announced  
or published, the press release would be fantastic:

"Wikipedia is moving from undisclosed location office to new  
undisclosed location office" :)

Very useful.

Domas

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Geoffrey Plourde
Correct, I meant announcement not press release. Announcing this move by 
placing a blurb on the foundation site, asking for assistance on the sf list, 
and letting the signpost know all would have headed this discussion off





From: geni 
To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List 
Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2009 4:43:57 PM
Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009/9/6 Thomas Dalton :
> 2009/9/6 Geoffrey Plourde :
>> The plan may have been mentioned ages ago, but a press release about the 
>> move would have eliminated the opportunity for trolling.
>
> Why would the press be interested in the WMF putting the offices they
> are about to move out of on the market? The move itself will be
> newsworthy and I'm sure there will be a press release about it, but it
> hasn't happened yet. A plan to move isn't worthy of a press release -
> it would only cover a single sentence ("The WMF has more staff than it
> has room for desks, so it is planning to move to new, larger
> offices.").

I'm sure signpost would be interested. It usually is. Press release is
probably the wrong term though.



-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Anthony
On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 7:55 PM, Thomas Dalton wrote:

> 2009/9/6 Anthony :
> > On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 7:27 PM, Thomas Dalton  >wrote:
> >
> >> A plan to move isn't worthy of a press release -
> >> it would only cover a single sentence ("The WMF has more staff than it
> >> has room for desks, so it is planning to move to new, larger
> >> offices.").
> >
> >
> > Is that all they have, a plan?  They're offering to sublet their place
> based
> > on nothing but a plan?  They've only got a month to move out, and they
> > haven't even found the place they're moving into yet?
>
> Of course not. They have begun implementing that plan. At no point
> during that implementation until they actually move is there anything
> particularly newsworthy.


I'd consider their signing of a lease on a new place to be "newsworthy".  By
the time they actually move I'd consider the move to be "old news".  And if
they haven't yet signed a lease on a new place, I'd be quite surprised.  In
fact, I'm not even sure if they've started to "actually move" yet.

The completion of the move is what isn't worthy of a press release.

Personally I don't care whether the WMF tells us about its move or not.  But
waiting until after the move is completed to announce it is strange.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Thomas Dalton
2009/9/6 Anthony :
> On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 7:27 PM, Thomas Dalton wrote:
>
>> A plan to move isn't worthy of a press release -
>> it would only cover a single sentence ("The WMF has more staff than it
>> has room for desks, so it is planning to move to new, larger
>> offices.").
>
>
> Is that all they have, a plan?  They're offering to sublet their place based
> on nothing but a plan?  They've only got a month to move out, and they
> haven't even found the place they're moving into yet?

Of course not. They have begun implementing that plan. At no point
during that implementation until they actually move is there anything
particularly newsworthy.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Anthony
On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 7:27 PM, Thomas Dalton wrote:

> A plan to move isn't worthy of a press release -
> it would only cover a single sentence ("The WMF has more staff than it
> has room for desks, so it is planning to move to new, larger
> offices.").


Is that all they have, a plan?  They're offering to sublet their place based
on nothing but a plan?  They've only got a month to move out, and they
haven't even found the place they're moving into yet?
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread geni
2009/9/6 Thomas Dalton :
> 2009/9/6 Geoffrey Plourde :
>> The plan may have been mentioned ages ago, but a press release about the 
>> move would have eliminated the opportunity for trolling.
>
> Why would the press be interested in the WMF putting the offices they
> are about to move out of on the market? The move itself will be
> newsworthy and I'm sure there will be a press release about it, but it
> hasn't happened yet. A plan to move isn't worthy of a press release -
> it would only cover a single sentence ("The WMF has more staff than it
> has room for desks, so it is planning to move to new, larger
> offices.").

I'm sure signpost would be interested. It usually is. Press release is
probably the wrong term though.



-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Thomas Dalton
2009/9/6 Geoffrey Plourde :
> The plan may have been mentioned ages ago, but a press release about the move 
> would have eliminated the opportunity for trolling.

Why would the press be interested in the WMF putting the offices they
are about to move out of on the market? The move itself will be
newsworthy and I'm sure there will be a press release about it, but it
hasn't happened yet. A plan to move isn't worthy of a press release -
it would only cover a single sentence ("The WMF has more staff than it
has room for desks, so it is planning to move to new, larger
offices.").

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Nathan
On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 7:19 PM, Geoffrey Plourde wrote:
> The plan may have been mentioned ages ago, but a press release about the move 
> would have eliminated the opportunity for trolling.


They haven't moved yet. I bet we can safely let this topic drop, though.

Nathan

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Geoffrey Plourde
The plan may have been mentioned ages ago, but a press release about the move 
would have eliminated the opportunity for trolling. 



2009/9/5 Thomas Dalton :

> The Foundation has been sufficiently transparent. The reasons for
> leasing office space from Wikia were explained in detail when that
> deal was done (I think Sue [could have been someone else from WMF]
> explained it on this mailing list after people [probably me] drew
> attention to the need for an explanation). The plan to move into a
> single, larger office was mentioned ages ago. I don't see any need for
> an announcement of the old office going on the market, it is an
> obvious part of the process.



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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread David Gerard
2009/9/5 Thomas Dalton :

> The Foundation has been sufficiently transparent. The reasons for
> leasing office space from Wikia were explained in detail when that
> deal was done (I think Sue [could have been someone else from WMF]
> explained it on this mailing list after people [probably me] drew
> attention to the need for an explanation). The plan to move into a
> single, larger office was mentioned ages ago. I don't see any need for
> an announcement of the old office going on the market, it is an
> obvious part of the process.


Indeed. There's transparency, and then there's answering every piece
of gibbering from someone who's announced elsewhere that there is
nothing he does on any WMF site that is not intended as trolling.


- d.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Thomas Dalton
2009/9/5 Geoffrey Plourde :
> Its a serious charge that is difficult to prove. The publicly released 
> financial statements are too general in nature to be useful. The only way to 
> prove/disprove this allegation and head off others is for the Foundation to 
> become more transparent. It is natural for people to come to assumptions when 
> information is not available to them. The currently available financials are 
> simply not transparent enough to prove what is going on.

The Foundation has been sufficiently transparent. The reasons for
leasing office space from Wikia were explained in detail when that
deal was done (I think Sue [could have been someone else from WMF]
explained it on this mailing list after people [probably me] drew
attention to the need for an explanation). The plan to move into a
single, larger office was mentioned ages ago. I don't see any need for
an announcement of the old office going on the market, it is an
obvious part of the process.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Geoffrey Plourde
The best way to end this in the future is to give the community a brief heads 
up along the line of "Hey y'all, we will be moving to NEW ADDRESS effective 
DATE" This lets us know beforehand that the business address is going to 
change, and allows the Foundation to leverage moving support from SF 
Wikimedians. 





From: geni 
To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List 
Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2009 6:50:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009/9/5 Gregory Kohs :
> I reported that the Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to sub-let space that it
> itself is renting.  I have an e-mail from the property management firm
> confirming "the Wikimedia sublease".  Erik Moeller has confirmed that the
> Foundation is seeking to sub-let space.
>
> Which "accusations" do you speak of?

"Now, only eight months later, are we to understand that instead of
having “outgrown” its office space on Stillman Street, the WMF is
swimming in surplus floor space, that they need to hire Grubb & Ellis
to sub-let it out to someone else?"

WMF is swimming in surplus floor space?

> Why in the heck would I "apologize" for scooping the story that the
> Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to sub-let office space, if only the
> speculative intentions were a little off-base (I did not realize that the
> WMF does not intend to stay at Stillman Street a while longer, since the
> Foundation failed to communicate any significant "We're Moving Soon!"
> announcement to the community).

Spectacularly off-base. You threw in a bunch of accusations and
innuendo based on a complete misunderstanding of events.

The foundation doesn't talk about the particulars of it's office much
but descriptions and photos do exist and It wouldn't have taken much
work to realize that the amount described was pretty much consistent
with the foundation's entire office.


  
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Geoffrey Plourde
Its a serious charge that is difficult to prove. The publicly released 
financial statements are too general in nature to be useful. The only way to 
prove/disprove this allegation and head off others is for the Foundation to 
become more transparent. It is natural for people to come to assumptions when 
information is not available to them. The currently available financials are 
simply not transparent enough to prove what is going on. 





From: Thomas Dalton 
To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List 
Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2009 7:54:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009/9/5 Anthony :
> On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Thomas Dalton wrote:
>
>> 2009/9/5 Gregory Kohs :
>> > Which "accusations" do you speak of?
>>
>> "That's curious, considering they had "outgrown" space in January 2009,
>> such
>> that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's
>> accounts receivable to expand their footprint."
>>
>> That is an accusation of illicit dealings for personal gain. It
>> doesn't matter than you didn't explicitly accuse them, no reasonable
>> person could interpret that sentence (in the context of your previous
>> comments) as anything else.
>
> Perhaps, but that part hasn't been disproven.

Nor has the existence of a teapot in orbit. We do not disprove
accusation, we prove them or shut the hell up.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Thomas Dalton
2009/9/5 Anthony :
> On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Thomas Dalton wrote:
>
>> 2009/9/5 Gregory Kohs :
>> > Which "accusations" do you speak of?
>>
>> "That's curious, considering they had "outgrown" space in January 2009,
>> such
>> that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's
>> accounts receivable to expand their footprint."
>>
>> That is an accusation of illicit dealings for personal gain. It
>> doesn't matter than you didn't explicitly accuse them, no reasonable
>> person could interpret that sentence (in the context of your previous
>> comments) as anything else.
>
> Perhaps, but that part hasn't been disproven.

Nor has the existence of a teapot in orbit. We do not disprove
accusation, we prove them or shut the hell up.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Austin Hair
On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 10:29 AM, Gregory Kohs wrote:
> When the Watergate story broke, it was felt to be a largely "contained"
> story.  Leslie Stahl once commented, *"*CBS sent me. It was a measure of how
> unimportant CBS thought the story was in the beginning."  As more
> information seeped out, it became clear that it was a story with much wider
> implications.  Consider me a Leslie Stahl, circa 1972.

Hi Greg,

I'm sorry to tramp on your Pulitzer aspirations, but it seems that
we've once again encountered a disconnect between your world and the
one the rest of us live in.  Far be it for me to stop you from
exposing WMF Inc.'s insidious real estate plans, but this has gotten a
little too crazy even for this list.  I've placed you on indefinite
moderation with the goal of improving the signal:crazy ratio.

I'm flying home today after attending Wikimania 2009 and a few days of
post-conference traveling, and will be out of contact for the next 36
hours or so.  Ryan may be available this weekend to tend to the
moderation queue, but I'm afraid that you might find some delay in
posting for the next few days.

Have a great weekend.

Austin

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Anthony
On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 9:50 AM, geni  wrote:
>
>  WMF is swimming in surplus floor space?
>

Well, yeah, that's been confirmed actually.  They have 11000 sq ft, plus
3000 sq ft, plus whatever they have at Wikia, and they only need the 11000
sq ft.  Maybe they haven't moved in on the 11000 sq ft yet, but surely
there's a deal signed already?  Or is that too speculative?

Personally, I think the tone of the piece was overly accusatory.  It
suggested that the WMF was compounding on its Wikia self-dealings, when in
actuality, according to Brion, it is correcting them.

Anyway, I see Greg has added an "author's note" to the piece, and an
apology.  I'm glad to see that.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Anthony
On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Thomas Dalton wrote:

> 2009/9/5 Gregory Kohs :
> > Which "accusations" do you speak of?
>
> "That's curious, considering they had "outgrown" space in January 2009,
> such
> that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's
> accounts receivable to expand their footprint."
>
> That is an accusation of illicit dealings for personal gain. It
> doesn't matter than you didn't explicitly accuse them, no reasonable
> person could interpret that sentence (in the context of your previous
> comments) as anything else.


Perhaps, but that part hasn't been disproven.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Yann Forget
Gregory Kohs wrote:
> Consider me a Leslie Stahl, circa 1972.

We should stop feeding the troll, especially this particular species of
novice self-made spy.

Yann
-- 
http://www.non-violence.org/ | Site collaboratif sur la non-violence
http://www.forget-me.net/ | Alternatives sur le Net
http://fr.wikisource.org/ | Bibliothèque libre
http://wikilivres.info | Documents libres

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread geni
2009/9/5 Gregory Kohs :
> I reported that the Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to sub-let space that it
> itself is renting.  I have an e-mail from the property management firm
> confirming "the Wikimedia sublease".  Erik Moeller has confirmed that the
> Foundation is seeking to sub-let space.
>
> Which "accusations" do you speak of?

"Now, only eight months later, are we to understand that instead of
having “outgrown” its office space on Stillman Street, the WMF is
swimming in surplus floor space, that they need to hire Grubb & Ellis
to sub-let it out to someone else?"

 WMF is swimming in surplus floor space?

> Why in the heck would I "apologize" for scooping the story that the
> Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to sub-let office space, if only the
> speculative intentions were a little off-base (I did not realize that the
> WMF does not intend to stay at Stillman Street a while longer, since the
> Foundation failed to communicate any significant "We're Moving Soon!"
> announcement to the community).

Spectacularly off-base. You threw in a bunch of accusations and
innuendo based on a complete misunderstanding of events.

The foundation doesn't talk about the particulars of it's office much
but descriptions and photos do exist and It wouldn't have taken much
work to realize that the amount described was pretty much consistent
with the foundation's entire office.

> I have issued a clarifying statement in the
> blog comments field, and that should be sufficient, unless someone feels
> they've been libeled by the Internet Review Corporation.  I've received no
> such legal complaint.

So only in the face of lawsuits will you ever consider apologising?
Thats... impressively amoral.

> When the Watergate story broke,

The people involved were far better at what they did than you are.
Investigative journalism is hard and involves more than grabbing a
factoid then coating it with acusations and spin which support your
world view.

-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Thomas Dalton
2009/9/5 Gregory Kohs :
> "Geni" wrote:
>
> ++
> Given how spectacularly incorrect your published accusations were
> that's a pretty pathetic defense. Are you going to apologise?
>
> --
> geni
>
> ++
>
> I reported that the Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to sub-let space that it
> itself is renting.  I have an e-mail from the property management firm
> confirming "the Wikimedia sublease".  Erik Moeller has confirmed that the
> Foundation is seeking to sub-let space.
>
> Which "accusations" do you speak of?

"That's curious, considering they had "outgrown" space in January 2009, such
that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's
accounts receivable to expand their footprint."

That is an accusation of illicit dealings for personal gain. It
doesn't matter than you didn't explicitly accuse them, no reasonable
person could interpret that sentence (in the context of your previous
comments) as anything else.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread Gregory Kohs
"Geni" wrote:

++
Given how spectacularly incorrect your published accusations were
that's a pretty pathetic defense. Are you going to apologise?

-- 
geni

++

I reported that the Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to sub-let space that it
itself is renting.  I have an e-mail from the property management firm
confirming "the Wikimedia sublease".  Erik Moeller has confirmed that the
Foundation is seeking to sub-let space.

Which "accusations" do you speak of?

Why in the heck would I "apologize" for scooping the story that the
Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to sub-let office space, if only the
speculative intentions were a little off-base (I did not realize that the
WMF does not intend to stay at Stillman Street a while longer, since the
Foundation failed to communicate any significant "We're Moving Soon!"
announcement to the community).  I have issued a clarifying statement in the
blog comments field, and that should be sufficient, unless someone feels
they've been libeled by the Internet Review Corporation.  I've received no
such legal complaint.

When the Watergate story broke, it was felt to be a largely "contained"
story.  Leslie Stahl once commented, *"*CBS sent me. It was a measure of how
unimportant CBS thought the story was in the beginning."  As more
information seeped out, it became clear that it was a story with much wider
implications.  Consider me a Leslie Stahl, circa 1972.

Greg
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-05 Thread geni
2009/9/5 Gregory Kohs :
> So, not having known that 3,000 square feet was the sum total of the
> current WMF space on Stillman, my original but unpublished hunch was
> correct.

Given how spectacularly incorrect your published accusations were
that's a pretty pathetic defense. Are you going to apologise?

-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Anthony
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:51 PM, Gregory Kohs  wrote:
>
> A little bird suggested I ask if the Foundation will be filing a Form
> 990-T once it finds a tenant, as it would be a business activity over
> $1,000 unrelated to a non-profit mission and would thus possibly
> trigger IRS rules regarding Unrelated Business Income Tax (which are
> rather strict).  Among other things, the 990-T is a public form, so it
> would force the Foundation to disclose further information on its
> operations.
>

Ah Greg Greg Greg.  You should have run this one past me first.  Rents
generally are not subject to UBIT.  This is not, however, a reliance
opinion, and can't be used to avoid penalties.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Gregory Kohs
So, not having known that 3,000 square feet was the sum total of the
current WMF space on Stillman, my original but unpublished hunch was
correct.  I'll quote an e-mail I wrote Sept. 3rd, at 4:39 PM:

"...If I had to formulate a theory, I'd say [Sue Gardner] thinks that
she's hired enough [personnel] that they now have the gravitas to move
into a new, bigger place of their own in San Francisco.  Stillman
Street was initially held up as a 'starter' home in San Francisco, so
this is just the logical next step now that grant money is pouring
in."

A little bird suggested I ask if the Foundation will be filing a Form
990-T once it finds a tenant, as it would be a business activity over
$1,000 unrelated to a non-profit mission and would thus possibly
trigger IRS rules regarding Unrelated Business Income Tax (which are
rather strict).  Among other things, the 990-T is a public form, so it
would force the Foundation to disclose further information on its
operations.

Then again, Wikipedia offers a very curious, opinion-based "original
research" assessment of this factor here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrelated_Business_Income_Tax#UBIT_in_an_IRA

"This is possibly a myth."

The sum of human knowledge, folks.

-- 
Gregory Kohs

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Anthony
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 7:05 PM, Mark Williamson  wrote:

> On 9/4/09, Anthony  wrote:
> > I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or
> > guess at it myself.
>
> I'd rather go through a thread without seeing a one-word message
> indicating bewilderment at what was quite obviouisly a joke...


Sorry about the one line response.  Can we move on now?
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Mark Williamson
On 9/4/09, Anthony  wrote:
> I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or
> guess at it myself.

I'd rather go through a thread without seeing a one-word message
indicating bewilderment at what was quite obviouisly a joke... but
then, the world revolves around me about as much as it revolves around
you (=not at all).

Mark

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Brion Vibber
On 9/4/09 3:27 PM, Anthony wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Tim Starlingwrote:
>>
>> Chad's analysis was correct. The SF staff have been looking for a new
>> office for some time, and last I heard they were in the process of
>> negotiating a lease on a prospective space. Subletting the old office
>> will be desirable at least until the lease there expires.
>>
>
> Thanks, I also see it was in the annual report that you're moving from the
> 3,000 sq ft place to an 11,000 sq ft one.  I had been told (incorrectly)
> that the 3,000 sq ft was only a portion of the Stillman location, but after
> reading that this makes sense.

The building we are currently in is physically subdivided into two 
spaces. Wikimedia occupies one part (3,000 sq ft) and another company 
occupies the other (I'm unsure the exact size, but it's larger than ours).

> Is the staff currently using the Wikia
> sublease space going to move too?

Yes; the purpose of finding a larger space is to have enough room for 
our current and forseeable future staff.

-- brion

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Anthony
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Tim Starling wrote:
>
> Chad's analysis was correct. The SF staff have been looking for a new
> office for some time, and last I heard they were in the process of
> negotiating a lease on a prospective space. Subletting the old office
> will be desirable at least until the lease there expires.
>

Thanks, I also see it was in the annual report that you're moving from the
3,000 sq ft place to an 11,000 sq ft one.  I had been told (incorrectly)
that the 3,000 sq ft was only a portion of the Stillman location, but after
reading that this makes sense.  Is the staff currently using the Wikia
sublease space going to move too?
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[Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Mike.lifeguard
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

> Another possible explanation for what's happening at the WMF HQ is
> that the whole operation is preparing to move to new digs, and rather
> than break their lease, they're seeking to find a subtenant to avoid
> some financial penalty for early exit.  I sort of set that aside,
> because I would have expected an "open" and "transparent" organization
> such as the WMF to have announced at some point that they were looking
> for an entirely different office home.

Perhaps making such assumptions is the real problem here.

While I'm not aware of any official announcement (and does that really
warrant an announcement in any case? It's an open question) I had known
for a while now that a relocation was planned. IIRC, I saw that in the
latest annual report or something, and domas confirmed that when I asked.

- -Mike
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Tim Starling
Anthony wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM, Chad  wrote:
>> "Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
>> a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
>> into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space..."
>>
>> This part was serious (I think).
>>
> 
> I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or
> guess at it myself.
> 
> 
>> "...once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair
>> of doom and
>> despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology."
>>
>> This part was a joke (I think). Specifically, he was joking about some
>> people's
>> tendencies to find conspiracy theories when none exist.
> 
> 
> Right, yeah, that part was a joke, but does that mean the part about "hoping
> to sublet the Stillman space" was, serious, a joke, something else?  It was
> an incredibly unprofessional answer.  Unless the WMF's purpose is to confuse
> the issue, it should come up with a serious response.

Chad's analysis was correct. The SF staff have been looking for a new
office for some time, and last I heard they were in the process of
negotiating a lease on a prospective space. Subletting the old office
will be desirable at least until the lease there expires.

-- Tim Starling


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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Anthony
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM, Chad  wrote:
>
> "Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
> a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
> into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space..."
>
> This part was serious (I think).
>

I think so too, but I'd rather hear it from Erik than hear your guess or
guess at it myself.


> "...once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair
> of doom and
> despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology."
>
> This part was a joke (I think). Specifically, he was joking about some
> people's
> tendencies to find conspiracy theories when none exist.


Right, yeah, that part was a joke, but does that mean the part about "hoping
to sublet the Stillman space" was, serious, a joke, something else?  It was
an incredibly unprofessional answer.  Unless the WMF's purpose is to confuse
the issue, it should come up with a serious response.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Chad
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:20 PM, Anthony wrote:
> By the way, the rest of your "quotes" were misquotes, as I followed up my
> other "Huh"s with a comment.
> But in this case, I felt it was more courteous to ask Erik to clarify his
> comment rather than for me to try to guess what he meant by it.
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"Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space..."

This part was serious (I think).

"...once we've covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair
of doom and
despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology."

This part was a joke (I think). Specifically, he was joking about some people's
tendencies to find conspiracy theories when none exist.

-Chad

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Anthony
By the way, the rest of your "quotes" were misquotes, as I followed up my
other "Huh"s with a comment.
But in this case, I felt it was more courteous to ask Erik to clarify his
comment rather than for me to try to guess what he meant by it.
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Chad
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:10 PM, David Gerard wrote:
> 2009/9/4 Erik Moeller :
>
>> Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
>> a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
>> into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've
>> covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and
>> despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology.
>
>
> Godommit, Fronk, you were only meant to reveal that on WR, where
> people might believe it! Now people will think you're just joking, and
> that I am too. How are we supposed to get a good price to benefit
> Wikia *now*?
>
>
> - d.
>
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I'm guessing this means our inside guys at the DOJ and DOD have
done their jobs and can be disposed of now?

I'll be on the next plane to Bangkok to meet with our friend about the
thing.

-Chad

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Anthony
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:09 PM, Brian  wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Anthony  wrote:
>
> > On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 2:59 PM, Erik Moeller  wrote:
> >
> > > 2009/9/4 geni :
> > > > 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's
> entire
> > > > office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more
> > > > consistent with a general move.
> > >
> > > Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
> > > a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
> > > into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've
> > > covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and
> > > despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology.
> >
> >
> > Huh?
> >
>
> Is that really a useful contribution to a discussion?


I think it was.  It succinctly expressed the fact that Erik's comment made
no sense whatsoever. Why waste all those words when a simple "Huh?" does the
trick?
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Brian
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Anthony  wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 2:59 PM, Erik Moeller  wrote:
>
> > 2009/9/4 geni :
> > > 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire
> > > office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more
> > > consistent with a general move.
> >
> > Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
> > a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
> > into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've
> > covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and
> > despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology.
>
>
> Huh?
>

Is that really a useful contribution to a discussion?

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Anthony  wrote:

> Huh?
>

 On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 3:13 PM, Anthony  wrote:

> Huh?


On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 6:23 AM, Anthony  wrote:

> Huh?


On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 10:22 AM, Anthony  wrote:

> Huh?



On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 9:37 PM, Anthony  wrote:

>  Huh?


On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:06 PM, Anthony  wrote:

> Huh?


 On Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 7:24 PM, Anthony  wrote:

> Huh?


 On Sun, Nov 25, 2007 at 6:53 PM, Anthony  wrote:

> Huh?
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread David Gerard
2009/9/4 Erik Moeller :

> Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
> a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
> into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've
> covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and
> despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology.


Godommit, Fronk, you were only meant to reveal that on WR, where
people might believe it! Now people will think you're just joking, and
that I am too. How are we supposed to get a good price to benefit
Wikia *now*?


- d.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Anthony
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 2:59 PM, Erik Moeller  wrote:

> 2009/9/4 geni :
> > 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire
> > office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more
> > consistent with a general move.
>
> Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
> a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
> into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've
> covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and
> despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology.


Huh?
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Erik Moeller
2009/9/4 geni :
> 2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire
> office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more
> consistent with a general move.

Yes, as noted in our 09-10 plan, we are relocating to a new space, as
a consequence of which the current satellite office will be re-merged
into the new HQ. We're hoping to sublet the Stillman space, once we've
covered up the entrance to our secret underground lair of doom and
despair, and removed all artifacts of alien technology.
-- 
Erik Möller
Deputy Director, Wikimedia Foundation

Support Free Knowledge: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Donate

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread geni
2009/9/4 Gregory Kohs :
> It would appear that the Wikimedia Foundation is actively seeking to sub-let
> some of its office space?
>
> http://akahele.org/2009/09/wikimedia-foundation-subletting-space/
>
> That's curious, considering they had "outgrown" space in January 2009, such
> that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's
> accounts receivable to expand their footprint.  Sue Gardner, Jimmy Wales,
> Michael Snow... someone please set us straight!  Comment on the blog that
> scooped this story!

Nice try. Problems:
1)I don't think the WMF is the only occupant of the building
2)The amount described is pretty much consistent with the WMF's entire
office there which means if it was the WMF subletting it is more
consistent with a general move.


-- 
geni

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Dennis During
Perhaps you could direct me to the WP article that explains why should they
handicap themselves in any negotiations by making a public commitment to a
future action. Maybe the landlord has pledged not to peek at this list? Or
maybe the cunning folks at WMF have so many sock-puppet floating different
stories that the landlord no longer pays any attention. (See *Bodyguard of
Lies*.)

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:38 PM, Gregory Kohs  wrote:

> Gerard "Hoi" Meijssen writes:
>
> ++
> What would be more obvious then looking for other premises when the current
> ones are no longer sufficient.. Gee.. hiring new premises .. with
> sufficient
> elbow room for some time ??
> I wonder.. Gee Gregory, you already mentioned that ... are they really
> looking for something new ? Then again, I am not asked to answer your query
> am I ..
> Thanks,
>  GerardM
> ++
>
> Sometimes, Gerard, your inability to comprehend even the most basic of
> principles, such as how a sub-lease works, is amusing and endearing.
>
> This may help you:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublease
>
> I'm afraid there's no "Simple English Wikipedia" article to assist you
> further.
>
> It may be in your own best interest to refrain from any further
> commentary on this thread and leave discussion to those of us who
> understand basic property management fundamentals.
>
> Another possible explanation for what's happening at the WMF HQ is
> that the whole operation is preparing to move to new digs, and rather
> than break their lease, they're seeking to find a subtenant to avoid
> some financial penalty for early exit.  I sort of set that aside,
> because I would have expected an "open" and "transparent" organization
> such as the WMF to have announced at some point that they were looking
> for an entirely different office home.
>
> We'll have clarification when Sue or Jimbo or Michael or Erik or Kat
> or some other WMF'er responds.  Probably best that we just wait for
> some "official" explanation, rather than continue speculating about
> elbow room, which is what seems to be a problem, not a benefit.
>
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-- 
Dennis C. During

Cynolatry is tolerant so long as the dog is not denied an equal divinity
with the deities of other faiths. - Ambrose Bierce

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cynolatry
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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Gregory Kohs
Gerard "Hoi" Meijssen writes:

++
What would be more obvious then looking for other premises when the current
ones are no longer sufficient.. Gee.. hiring new premises .. with sufficient
elbow room for some time ??
I wonder.. Gee Gregory, you already mentioned that ... are they really
looking for something new ? Then again, I am not asked to answer your query
am I ..
Thanks,
  GerardM
++

Sometimes, Gerard, your inability to comprehend even the most basic of
principles, such as how a sub-lease works, is amusing and endearing.

This may help you:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublease

I'm afraid there's no "Simple English Wikipedia" article to assist you further.

It may be in your own best interest to refrain from any further
commentary on this thread and leave discussion to those of us who
understand basic property management fundamentals.

Another possible explanation for what's happening at the WMF HQ is
that the whole operation is preparing to move to new digs, and rather
than break their lease, they're seeking to find a subtenant to avoid
some financial penalty for early exit.  I sort of set that aside,
because I would have expected an "open" and "transparent" organization
such as the WMF to have announced at some point that they were looking
for an entirely different office home.

We'll have clarification when Sue or Jimbo or Michael or Erik or Kat
or some other WMF'er responds.  Probably best that we just wait for
some "official" explanation, rather than continue speculating about
elbow room, which is what seems to be a problem, not a benefit.

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Re: [Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Gerard Meijssen
Hoi,
What would be more obvious then looking for other premises when the current
ones are no longer sufficient.. Gee.. hiring new premises .. with sufficient
elbow room for some time ??
I wonder.. Gee Gregory, you already mentioned that ... are they really
looking for something new ? Then again, I am not asked to answer your query
am I ..
Thanks,
  GerardM

2009/9/4 Gregory Kohs 

> It would appear that the Wikimedia Foundation is actively seeking to
> sub-let
> some of its office space?
>
> http://akahele.org/2009/09/wikimedia-foundation-subletting-space/
>
> That's curious, considering they had "outgrown" space in January 2009, such
> that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's
> accounts receivable to expand their footprint.  Sue Gardner, Jimmy Wales,
> Michael Snow... someone please set us straight!  Comment on the blog that
> scooped this story!
>
> --
> Gregory Kohs
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[Foundation-l] WMF seeking to sub-lease office space?

2009-09-04 Thread Gregory Kohs
It would appear that the Wikimedia Foundation is actively seeking to sub-let
some of its office space?

http://akahele.org/2009/09/wikimedia-foundation-subletting-space/

That's curious, considering they had "outgrown" space in January 2009, such
that they needed to shuttle Ruth and Frank Stanton's money over to Wikia's
accounts receivable to expand their footprint.  Sue Gardner, Jimmy Wales,
Michael Snow... someone please set us straight!  Comment on the blog that
scooped this story!

-- 
Gregory Kohs
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