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Britannica Takes Over the Wikimedia Foundation

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the unexpected-turn-of-events dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Encyclopaedia Britannica has initiated a "semi-hostile" takeover of Wikipedia. Wikipedia administrators, members of the Wikimedia Board of Trustees, Arbitration Committee members and several other cabalists will receive free access. However, their adminship powers will be stripped permanently."

14 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!! by afree87 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It was a joke!! Haha, oh Slashdot, you got us good!

  2. damn it by nomadic · · Score: 5, Funny

    This really really sucks. Especially timing it for April Fools Day when people won't believe it's a real story.

  3. This, too, is great news. by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    I look forward to a salesman knocking on my door and selling me a 6 foot wide stack of Wikipedia volumes to fill my shelves.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  4. WikBritPedAnnica by FunWithHeadlines · · Score: 3, Funny
    Following completion of the takeover, the following steps will be taken:

    1. Reduce the number of articles online so that they will fit into a 27-volume set of printed books.

    2. The person making this list will be sacked.

    3. Reduce the use of fluffy language on Wikipedia, and make everything more stuffy.

    4. The person who sacked the person making this list will be sacked.

    5. More cheesey goodness!

    6. Sack everyone else.

    7. ?????

    8. Profit!!!!

    1. Re:WikBritPedAnnica by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 3, Funny

      7. Hire a bunch of Peruvian llamas to finish the edition at the last minute and at great expense.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  5. Some nice bits .... by gowen · · Score: 4, Funny
    I like the new board of directors at the end... excerpts include
    • Tony Blair, Director of Transparency and Accountability
    • Al Gore (inventor of the algorithm)
    • Robert Downey, Jr., Ambassador to Colombia and Jamaica
    • Dr. Who, Minister of Time Travel
    • Marty McFly, Vice Minister of Time Travel
    • Ron Artest and Miles O'Brien, security guards.
    • Bub the Zombie, Minister of NRRRGGGHH! BRAINS!!!!
    • Terri Schiavo, Personal Assitant to Bub the Zombie
    • Ian Brown, King Monkey
    --
    Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    1. Re:Some nice bits .... by tomstdenis · · Score: 2, Funny

      Terri Schiavo, Personal Assitant to Bub the Zombie

      Too soon, you have to wait 22.3 years before something like that is funny.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  6. Or this one: by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    Politics: "Through a glitch between Zimbabwe's election computers and Slashdot, Cowboy Neal was elected president of Zimbabwe yesterday."

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  7. Re:Cmon slastdot by calibanDNS · · Score: 5, Funny
    Otherwise, readers would carefully inspect every article.

    That would be a blessing any day of the year.
  8. Next story? by maxwell+demon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft buys Slashdot.
    Linus Thorvalds buys Linux License from SCO.
    Hubble Space Telecope observes Intergalactic Spaceship.
    Space Probe Reveals: There is No Intelligent Life on Earth.
    Harvard Researcher creates Dupe Detection Software. Soon to be Installed on Slashdot.

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
    1. Re:Next story? by BBird · · Score: 2, Funny

      the fourth is not fool's news...

  9. Re:Mod me down but.. by Jugalator · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm sure they'll post three articles about the Google space increase later to compensate. ;-)

    --
    Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  10. Re:Booriing by ReeprFlame · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ah man, I actually believed it was real until I saw the Seinfeld picture... Ugg

    --
    _

    Free 27" Sony WEGA TV

  11. Re:Retaliation against /. by bsd4me · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think I am going to configure my computer to give me an electric shock every time I try to read Shashdot today...

    --

    (S(SKK)(SKK))(S(SKK)(SKK))