User:Sam Barsoom

Sandbox

{{Cite news 
  | last       = < Author's last name >
  | first      = < Author's first name >
  | coauthors  = < If applicable >
  | title      = < Headline >
  | newspaper  = < Paper name >
  | location   = < Location of the newspaper >
  | pages      = < If available >
  | language   = < English I suppose or I cannot read it >
  | date       = < Date of publication >
  | url        = < Link to story, if link is prevented give a link to a search page where the information in this template can lead them to it >
  | accessdate = < The date you saw the article on the web >
}}

Now a template for The New York Times movie reviews

<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|title=|newspaper=The New York Times|location=New York City, New York, USA|date=|url=http://www.google.com/search?q={{urlencode:site:movies.nytimes.com/movie/review "New York Times" "<Movie name>" <year>}}|accessdate=~~~~~}}</ref>

I am Sam, hear me roar! Please do not hesitate to talk to me, I try not to bite.

If you are wondering what I am doing or why I am doing it, my log may reveal that information.

Articles I have improved

I have improved the following articles in no particular order:

• XMMS
• Knoppix
• 1940s in film

Articles I want to improve

• Credit card - This is what I would consider to be a core subject, yet its talk page history shows very little activity in the last year and the article is in sore need of re-writing and referencing. Much opinion and original research needs to be removed. I may have time for this soon...

What I like about mediawiki software

I have used mediawiki both here and on other projects(Mostly online docs for software).

• I like how you can create a link to a new page that does not exist and then use that link to create it.
• I like how the table of contents is automatically made with multilevel headers.
• I like how it automatically handles footnotes.
• I really like how it keeps every revision and makes any damage easy to repair.
• I like how each document has an associated talk page.

Links

• Wikipedia:Citation templates (WP:CITE) - Templates for citations (and standards)
• Wikipedia:BOLD, revert, discuss cycle - BRD is best used by experienced wiki-editors, I will try this later
• Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion
• Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Null Physics

Five pillars

• • • • •

This is my non-expert interpretation of what I have read on the five pillars.

• Wikipedia is an encyclopedia

• Wikipedia:No original research - Use previously published reliable sources to justify claims because personal opinion is not appropriate for an encyclopedia.
• Wikipedia:Verifiability - Facts must be sourced to a reliable source or removed if they are challenged.
• Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not - This is an encyclopedia, not anything else. It is not paper so it can be larger.

• Wikipedia has a neutral point of view

• Wikipedia:Neutral point of view - Show all significant views without bias based on reliable sources weighted based on their significance.

• Wikipedia is free content

• Wikipedia:GNU Free Documentation License - Text posted here is automatically licensed under the GFDL.
• Wikipedia:Ownership of articles - While I hold the copyright on my contributions, I have licensed them in a way that prevents me from controlling them.

• Wikipedia has a code of conduct

• Wikipedia:Civility - Be excellent to each other.
• Wikipedia:No personal attacks - Name calling and threats are not allowed. Polite criticism of content is allowed. Discuss content, not the person.
• Wikipedia:Consensus - Consider all parties opinion, come to something we can all agree to abide by even if we don't agree. Consensus can change. (still a little unclear about this one)
• Wikipedia:Edit war - Instead of arguing back and forth by changing the article over and over to your version, discuss the matter on the talk page with the person opposing.
• Wikipedia:Three-revert rule - Repeatedly undoing the action of another person is against the rules, there is a hard limit of 3 per day per article, but less can be seen as disruptive.
• Wikipedia:Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point - If you need to prove a point, do it in a manner that is not disruptive.
• Wikipedia:Assume good faith - Assume good motives in people unless it is not reasonable to do so.

• Wikipedia does not have firm rules

• Wikipedia:Ignore all rules - Don't let the rules prevent you from helping here.
• Wikipedia:Be bold - Edit boldy, but not recklessly. Don't take it personally if what you add is changed or removed. Be careful with templates and categories.
• Wikipedia:Editing policy - An addition need not be perfect before it is added, it can be improved by others. Try to improve, rather than remove others content if it is reasonable to do so. Major changes may require discussion.