Includipedia Blog

As part of the upgrade, Includipedia is likely to be down for part of today.

The MediaWiki software that runs Includipedia is currently being upgraded to the latest stable release (1.14.0). Users may experience some lack of functionality while this essential maintenance takes place.

Microsoft BizSpark is a scheme whereby startups can access a load of Microsoft software without paying any money up front (but they’ll have to pay later, of course).

This is obviously attempting to compete with Linux-based server software (which is free as in beer as well as free as in speech). As Glyn Moody says: “If You Can’t Beat Them… bribe them”.

So what does BizSpark involve? The Program Guide (PDF link) explains the details. But I’ve read it, so you don’t have to. Read the rest of Microsoft BizSpark for startups »

I’ve recently come across this very funny video criticising Wikipedia (and by extension, Includipedia):

(from Good Day Sunshine)

Just to let people know, I’ve modified Includipedia so people can edit it without being logged in.

I’ve added articles for Britblog Roundup and Scottish Roundup to Includipedia.

I’ve also added an article on my blog, Amused Cynicism.

because Includipedia is inclusionist, unlike Wikipedia, there are few restrictions on what sort of material can be added there. So I’d like to take this opportunity to remind my readers that if you have a blog, you can create an article for it on Includipedia.

(this article also appears on Amused Cynicism)

The Encyclopedia of Life is is an open content web repository of information on all 1.8 million catalogued species. They also have a blog.

(via Memex 1.1)

Includipedia now has two mailing lists — a read-only announcements list (for announcements, obviously), and a discussion list where you can discuss the Includipedia project and any related subjects, for example Internet-based open content repositories.

Announcements list: subscribe | archives.

Discussion list: subscribe | archives.

Over at Crooked Timber, Eszter Hargittai notes that the Wikipedia article on Joe the plumber is being considered for deletion:

Can anyone help me understand why some people are so vehemently opposed to certain people (or topics) having entries on Wikipedia? Why do people get so worked up about the mere existence of certain entries? Currently, an entry for Joe the Plumber is being debated. Does it really dilute the value of Wikipedia to have entries like that? I remember when some people contested my entry (I wasn’t the one to put it up), it felt like some amateurish tenure review, except with not quite the same consequences. Would anyone care to defend the practice? I’m eager to understand the motivations better.

In fact, Wikipedia’s admins decided to keep it for now. But they may of course remove it later. So I’ve copied it over to Includipedia: Joe the plumber.

I’ve recently added a new video file to Includipedia’s download area. The video is a walkthrough of building the MultiMachine. MutliMachine is an open source machine tool, that can be built inexpensively by a semi-skilled mechanic with common hand tools, from discarded car and truck parts, using only commonly available hand tools and no electricity. Eventually they plan to design and build a CNC version.

You can get the video from the MultiMachine page, either as an http download or via BitTorrent.

Timothy Schmidt, who’s involved with both the MultiMachine and RepRap project, provided me with the video. He has also announced it on the RepRap builders blog.