Wikipedia gets competition...
When I started this blog in 2005 I did what you probably do now and that's click on Wikipedia for any information you might be searching for. I started out by using various sources, bios for those I was writing about, newspaper articles and history sources for important dates and events and then...I found Wikipedia and my life changed. What a great source of information on anything or everything until lately. Wikipedia uses the honor system for information which can be contributed by anyone. Since we know there are a couple of dishonest people in this world and those who like to screw around with the establishment, a lot of the information culled from Wikipedia was questionable, requiring some double and triple checking (something that should be done routinely by the way) but we might be getting a more reliable source soon and it will be started by one of the co-founders of Wiki, Larry Sanger...
Sanger is starting Citizendium with more safeguards built in to prevent vandalism and erroneous information. It should be known that there are thousands of experts at both companies who provide accurate information but it's what happens to that information once it's posted. Citizendium contributors must confirm their identities and submit a short biography (hopefully an honest one) in order to provide information. Wiki does not require that now but with a competitor surfacing you know that Wikipedia will add safeguards and produce a more reliable product...
Wikipedia with 3 million member accounts was started 6 years ago. Citizendium is an experimental new Wiki project in its baby stages and is being officially launched this week. Sanger hopes "to be able to create a credible competitor for Wikipedia within not too many years" and eventually end up attracting more people than the information source he helped to found...
The Citizendium (sit-ih-ZEN-dee-um) is defined as a "citizens' compendium of everything." To view, click on: http://en.citizendium.org/ ...
There are 2 video links that can be found in the 'Popeye the Sailor Man' and 'Bed-in' timelines...
Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 2003] Former New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan dies from complications suffered from an emergency appendectomy one month earlier. Moynihan was 77...
Roll 'em: 1885] Eastman Kodak (Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co.) produces the 1st commercial motion picture film in Rochester (NY)...
Popeye the Sailor Man: 1937] Crystal City (TX) unveils America's 1st Popeye monument. The 6-foot-tall, brightly colored concrete statue is unveiled in 'Popeye Park' during the city's 2nd annual Spinach Festival. Ready to sing along with 'Popeye the Sailor Man"? Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B4w4lafinU ...
'Doctor Feelgood": 1953] Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine against polio...
Another opening, another show: 1964] "Funny Girl" starring Barbra Streisand opens on Broadway...
Musical guitars: 1965] It's announced that Jeff Beck will replace Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds...
Bed-In: 1969] John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their 'bed-in' for peace at the Amsterdam Hilton. In this preview of the bed-in, cartoonist Al Capp interviews the pair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra5_9GtX374&mode=related&search= ...
Woodstock on the big screen: 1970] The classic documentary "Woodstock", the 1969 concert premieres. The film will win an Oscar for "Best Documentary"...
But does he make house calls?: 1969] The TV movie "Marcus Welby" runs on ABC-TV and will later be made into a highly rated weekly series...
Bird vs. Magic: 1979] Michigan State contains Larry Bird of Indiana State with Magic Johnson outscoring him 24 to 19 and the Spartans win their 1st National Collegiate title 75-64...
Vietnam remembered: 1982] Ground breaking ceremonies are held in Washington (D.C.) for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial...
Where's the spaceship?: 1997] The bodies of 39 members of the "Heaven's Gate" cult who'd committed suicide are found in Rancho Santa Fe (CA)...
Guilty as Charged: 1999] Dr. Jack Kevorkian is convicted of second-degree murder for giving a lethal injection to an ailing man whose death was shown on "60 Minutes". After serving some time Kevorkian was released because of a terminal illness...
A real election in Russia?: 2000] Vladimir Putin is elected Russia's 2nd democratically chosen president...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
The sad case of 21-year old North Carolina Ramses mascot, Jason Ray has taken a turn for the worst. Ray was hit from behind by an SUV on Rte. 4 in Fort Lee (NJ) over the weekend and is on life support. Doctors hold out little hope for his recovery. In town for the NC elite 8 showdown in the Meadowlands, Ray was walking back to his hotel after picking up some food at a convenient store when struck. The driver immediately called 911 for help and Ray was rushed to a nearby hospital...
"Happy Trails" to Channel 11 longtime sportscaster, Jerry Girard who died from cancer yesterday afternoon at 74. Jerry had a wise-cracking personality but was very accurate with his information. He had been in New York starting as a news writer in the late 60's before moving into sports in 1974...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Keira Knightley (22), Kenny Chesney (39), Michael Imperioli (Chris on "Sopranos") (41), Jennifer Grey (47), new 'Dancing with The Stars' contestant Leeza Gibbons (50), Curtis Sliwa (53), Martin Short (57), Teddy Pendergrass (57), Vicki Lawrence (58), Steven Tyler (59), Diana Ross (63), Bob Woodward (64), James Caan (68), Fred Paris of The Five Satins (71), Alan Arkin (72), Leonard Nimoy (76) and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (77)...
Timeline Countdown: 5 days until The Final Four, 6 days until Opening Day, 7 days until the NCAA Championship game, 7 days until Passover and 13 days until Easter Sunday...
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