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BDSM as business: Interviews with Dominatrixes In the second installment of our two part series on the S&M industry, Wikinews interviews three dominatrixes about both the mundane and shocking aspects of their profession. See: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/BDSM_as_business:_Interviews_with_Dominatrixes Wikimedia fundraiser highlights webcomic community's frustration with Wikipedia guidelines Wikinews reporter Brian McNeil approached Howard Tayler, creator of the Schlock Mercenary webcomic, to see about advertising the Wikimedia fundraiser on his website. Tayler's response was not as McNeil expected.

Wikipedia Current Events
Argentine general election, 2007: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is elected President of Argentina. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia claims that the Government of the United Kingdom failed to act on intelligence given to it by the Government of Saudi Arabia which could have prevented the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert announces that he has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. Salim Aliyow Ibrow becomes Prime Minister of Somalia in the Transitional Federal Government as the embattled Ali Mohamed Ghedi resigns. The UK embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, is closed as a precaution after a terrorist attack in the city is prevented. The US embassy also closes its doors after reports of the thwarting of a "large-scale, horrifying terror attack" The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China announces that new Politburo Standing Committee member Li Keqiang has left his post as party secretary of Liaoning and is succeeded by Liaoning Governor Zhang Wenyue. An earthquake with magnitude of five on Richter scale shakes central Nepal. All banks and post offices in Borlänge, Sweden, are kept closed by the local police for undisclosed security concerns. Kasereka Kabamba, a Mai Mai militia leader in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, surrenders to Nord-Kivu Army Chief Vainqueur Mayala. Kabamba maintains his forces fought against rebels loyal to Laurent Kabila, in the service of the government. One of two men alleged to be involved in a gay-sex-and-drugs blackmail plot against a minor member of the British Royal Family will appear in court this week.

Wikimedia fundraiser highlights webcomic community's frustration with Wikipedia guidelines
On Monday, October 22, as the latest Wikimedia fundraiser started up, Wikinews reporter Brian McNeil thought his own small donation could be turned into a bigger donation by his buying some advertising on a popular website and encouraging others to contribute. With this in mind he approached Howard Tayler, creator of the Schlock Mercenary webcomic.

Tayler's response was not as McNeil expected, prompting a Wikinews investigation. Tayler refused to help the foundation raise money although he conceded that he does sometimes use the site. Instead he explained that the webcomic community feels slighted by Wikipedia since over 50 articles on webcomics were deemed not to meet the notability guidelines and were deleted from Wikipedia during January and February of 2007. Some members of the webcomics community considered this unacceptable. Whilst some of the comic related articles deleted did not qualify for inclusion in the encyclopedia under Wikipedia guidelines, the deletion of a large number of articles in such a short time period struck some webcomics writers and fans as a selective purge.

Much of the criticism has been focused on Wikipedia editor Dragonfiend, who describes notability as "whether a topic has been noted by independent reputable sources". She has said that "If we include every article that anyone wants to write, then the encyclopedia becomes useless because nobody can find the actual needle of worthwhile information on a topic hidden in that hay stack of trivia." She believes Wikipedia should only have articles on webcomics like Penny Arcade, Get Your War On, Fetus-X, and Achewood.

This deletion of webcomics articles has not set well with many in the webcomics community. Modern Tales editor and Websnark blogger Eric Burns has written that "There are people -- and Dragonfiend is clearly one of them -- who are clearly going through Wikipedia looking for articles that should be weeded out as non-notable. and they're doing it in fields they clearly -- I mean, clearly -- have no interest, experience or knowledge."

Erfworld and Attitude 3 artist Rob Balder has expressed similar viewpoints, calling the deletion of webcomics a "goddamned crime" and describing a "deletionist jihad" by "the politest bunch of book-burning assholes on the planet". Balder also labeled "Deletionism" as a form of "naughtymancy" magic in Erfworld. Deletionism refers to the Wikipedia ideology that favours clear and relatively rigorous standards for accepting articles.

There is concern among many webcomic groups that these notability guidelines are too high for the typical webcomic. The standards usually require the publishing of an anthology or other physical event achieved by its popularity, which is rare since even comics with dedicated followings are not always profitable enough to provide for mass publishing. This could be seen to alienate webcomic artists and fans of webcomics and discourage them from contributing to Wikipedia.

Conflicts such as this are not uncommon. Members of a Wikimedia Foundation mailing list pointed to other examples where the application of rules has been perceived to be in a selective manner which has left other communities disgruntled with a variety of Wikimedia projects, not just Wikipedia. To some extent the issue is just the Internet reflecting similar situations within the real world. A variety of terms such as WikiLawyering have been coined to describe some of the approaches to conflict.

$1m offer for NBC to include U.S. presidential candidate Gravel in TV debate
Currency hedge fund operator Gregory Chase was alerted by internet sources that Former Senator Mike Gravel, a Democratic presidential candidate in the race for presidency, will be excluded from the latest upcoming debate (that will be held this Tuesday at Drexel University and broadcast on MSNBC), Chase immediately took action by contacting NBC executives, who are charge of the debate.

The letter was sent and it includes an explanation as to why NBC should not censor Gravel, and also holds an offer of US$1,000,000 to include Gravel. The US$1,000,000 offer could be given to NBC in exchange for allowing the senator to participate in the 2-hour debate, by either Chase purchasing a million dollars worth of advertising space on their network, donating the million to NBC's favorite charity, or giving the million dollars to NBC's parent company, General Electric.

The decision made by Chase to give the million dollars to NBC is due to criteria that Gravel did not meet, which includes the following; having campaigned in New Hampshire and/or Iowa at least 14 times in the past year, not polling high enough in national polls, and Sen. Gravel's campaign had not raised more than US$1,000,000.

According to the Gravel for President campaign, Gravel reportedly visited either New Hampshire or Iowa at least 14 times since his announcement on April 17, 2006, and according to a recent poll by CNN, Gravel is tied with fellow candidates Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Sen. Joe Biden, and Sen. Chris Dodd and 1% behind Gov. Bill Richardson.

The fundraising requirement is the only criteria not achieved.

Below is the letter in full that was sent to NBC and Democratic National Committee executives....

“Dear NBC Executives,

My name is Gregory Chase, I live in New Hampshire, and I run a hedge fund that trades currencies. On a personal basis, separate from Senator Mike Gravel's campaign, I am making an independent expenditure of a greater magnitude than what some other candidates' campaigns will spend in the state through the primary. I am sending statewide direct mail, installing lawn signs, and running ads supporting Senator Mike Gravel every day between now and the New Hampshire primary in the state's three largest newspapers: The Union Leader, The Concord Monitor, and The Nashua Telegraph.

It was with great disappointment that I learned that NBC decided to exclude Senator Gravel, and only Senator Gravel, from the field of Democratic candidates for their October 30th 2007 debate at Drexel University in Philadelphia. I learned about Senator Gravel by watching televised debates earlier this year. In my opinion his ideas regarding foreign policy, military spending, and energy independence are advanced relative to the other candidates. I would like Senator Gravel’s ideas to be heard.

NBC cited fund raising as a criteria for inclusion in this debate, stating that a candidate must have raised $1 million to participate. Most current and aspiring politicians, along with the general public, believe money and special interests play too large a part in elections. I don't understand why a certain level of fund raising is a requirement to participate in a presidential debate. Senator Gravel is proud of the fact that that his candidacy is built on ideas, not cash.

As you know, polls taken at this point in the primary measure name recognition more than where votes will actually be cast. The public is just starting to focus on the upcoming primary. Once New Hampshire voters learn about Senator Gravel, and they will, I believe that a substantial number of voters will decide that Senator Gravel's ideas are more in line with their own than with any other candidate's. NBC is doing New Hampshire and the nation a disservice by excluding Senator Gravel. Your company is censoring a multi-term United States senator, a veteran, and a patriot.

If it would help get Senator Gravel back into the debate, I offer to purchase $1 million of advertising from NBC, or simply pay NBC $1 million in exchange for the service of allowing Senator Gravel to participate in your debate”

As of October 26, 2007, Chase has not received a response from NBC regarding the offer.

Hunter says he caught 'Bigfoot' on camera
A hunter from Pennsylvania says that he managed to snap photographs supposedly of the legendary Bigfoot, but this one is said to be a juvenile.

Rick Jacobs says that he snapped the pictures in September of 2007 when he set up an automatic camera in a tree in the Allegheny National Forest in northwest Pennsylvania for hunting deer. Bait was used to attract animals which consisted of a "aromatic deer attractant" and various mineral in the form of a block that the deer would lick. Jacobs says that he will not reveal the exact location of where the image was taken because he believes hunters and tourists will flood the area in an attempt to get a glimpse of it.

The Bigfoot Field Research Organization says that the photo is of a Bigfoot, but they state that this one appears to be very young. On their website they list the discovery as an "Unclassified primate?"

In all, three images were captured. The first image is of bear cubs, and in the second and third images are what appears to be a "juvenile sasquatch." Some say that it is likely a bear. There are several minutes, at least 30-35, from the time the bears left to when the unidentified animal arrived. The animal appears to have two arms and two legs, but appears to walk hunched over, with its knuckles dragging on the ground.

"We are seeking comparative images of a skinny, mangy bear, bent over and smelling the ground, as you see in this image. The people we have spoken with so far who have spent a great deal of time with both primates and bears (mainly zoo people) say this figure looks much more like a primate smelling the ground than like a skinny bear smelling the ground," said a statement posted on the organization's website.

The organization states that the images are being examined by experts in Canada and the United States and that more information will be available in a few days.

Despite the organization's claim, the Pennsylvania Game Commission says that they have seen this before and it appears to be a bear with a possible skin disease.

Boston Red Sox are World Series Champions once again
For the second time in four years, the Boston Red Sox have won the World Series Championship sweeping the Colorado Rockies in four games. They won the deciding game 4 on Sunday night, 4-3.

The Rockies, who went nearly undefeated in their final 21 games with just one loss and claimed the National League wildcard, seemed poised to put up a fight in the series after sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, 3-0 and the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-0 in the NLCS, and enjoying eight days of rest after beating the Diamondbacks.

However, the Red Sox dominated the series from the outset. They earned their place in the series after coming back from a three games to one deficit against the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. They managed to win their second World Series title in four years, after their nearly historic comeback in 2004 in which they won their first championship in 86 years and ended the "Curse of the Bambino".

Mike Lowell received the World Series MVP Award which included a hybrid Chevy Malibu and a hybrid Chevy Tahoe. It is currently unknown at the moment if Lowell will resign as he has attained free agent status now that the season is over.

Prime Minister Ghedi of Somalia resigns
The Prime Minister of Somalia, Ali Mohammed Ghedi, has submitted his resignation to President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament, Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe.

However, he was asked to give a formal resignation before Parliament. "Today, I want to state that I am going to resign, that I am leaving the government," he told the legislature. Members of Parliament, who had been close to voting on a motion of no confidence on Ghedi, applauded the resignation.

A feud between Ghedi and the President has long been blamed for the lack of progress and inability of the government to deal effectively with the armed conflict with the Islamic Courts Union. The rift has often has been cited as frustrating for Western diplomats who support the government.

According to BBC's East Africa correspondent, Karen Allen, Ghedi agreed to step down under political pressure from within Somalia, as well as the United States and the international community.

US turns security for Karbala over to Iraqi forces
United States forces in Iraq have today turned over control of Karbala Governorate over to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). It is the eighth of eighteen provinces to be returned to local control since the US-led invasion in 2003.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki spoke at the handover ceremony, which took place a at sports stadium in the city of Karbala. "Allow me to say that we are late, very late, to reconstruct, to rebuild our forces for reasons that I do not want to mention here," he said.

Reaching out to those who have left the Iraqi insurgency and turned against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Maliki said: "We welcome those returning from committing wrongs who wish to correct their course and actions to participate in building Iraq."

The governor of Karbala praised the efforts of the ISF to take over command.

In a joint press release, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker said, "Iraqi Security Forces in Karbala have been successfully operating independently, maintaining their own security for the past three months. Working with local government officials, they have demonstrated their readiness to assume responsibility for the province. Today this responsibility is theirs."

ElBaradei says no 'concrete evidence' of Iranian nuclear weapons program
Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Sunday that he had seen no "concrete evidence" that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

ElBaradei discussed Iran's nuclear program in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Sunday. When asked "Do you believe there is a clandestine, secret nuclear weapons program right now under way in Iran?" ElBaradei said "We haven't seen any concrete evidence to that effect... We suspect that Iran might have the intention, but I don't think I have seen anybody saying Iran today is working actively on a weapon program. And if there are such information, I would be very happy to receive it."

Tensions between the United States and Iran have been on the rise recently, with U.S. President George W. Bush warning of the potential for "World War III" should Iran develop a nuclear weapon. On Thursday, the United States imposed new sanctions on Iran in an effort to pressure it to stop enriching uranium.

ElBaradei recommended entering negotiations with Iran as soon as possible to resolve the conflict. "The earlier we go into negotiation, the earlier we follow the North Korean model, the better for everybody," he said.

Today in History
1470 – Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, restored Henry VI as the King of England during the Wars of the Roses.

1863 – Seventeen-year old Danish Prince Vilhelm arrived in Athens to become George I, King of the Hellenes.

1938 – The radio drama The War of the Worlds, based on the science fiction novella by English writer H. G. Wells, frightened many listeners in the United States into believing that an actual Martian invasion was in progress.

1961 – The Soviet hydrogen bomb Tsar Bomba was detonated over Novaya Zemlya Island in the Arctic Sea as a test. With a yield of around 50 megatons, it was the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated to date.

1975 – Prince Juan Carlos became Spain's acting head of state, taking over for the country's ailing dictator General Francisco Franco.

Quote of the Day

This is a terrific outburst. And since it doesn’t have a tail right now, some observers have confused it with a nova. We’ve had at least two reports of a new star. ~ Brian G. Marsden

Word of the Day

supple; adj

Pliant, easy to bend.

Lithe and agile when moving and bending.

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