Meetup/Oxford/46

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Oxford Wikimedia Meetup Number 46 edit

Date and time: Sunday 22 January 2017. 1.00 pm onwards. edit

Location: The Four Candles, 51 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2BE. edit

Attendees edit

Add your name to this list if you can make it to our forty-sixth meeting. Note that people of all ages and all Wikimedia projects are welcome!

Please also invite any Oxford Wikimedia people you know (or have had wiki dealings with) – spread the word!

  1. Redrose64 (talk; at English Wikipedia) 23:57, 6 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  2. Hopefully. Thryduulf (talk: meta · en.wp · wikidata) 01:27, 11 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  3. --Rubbish computer (HALP!: I dropped the bass?) 23:09, 27 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  4. I'll be there, but I'll arrive late. Maproom (talk) 12:19, 3 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
  5. This time, I hope to be able to make it! − Pintoch (talk) 11:16, 5 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
  6. Something something no underground to go on strike.Geni (talk) 00:58, 10 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
  7. argotechnica - longtime "minor editor" now gathering ideas for a scholarly app to integrate with Wikidata
  8. Yes -- John of Reading (talk) 09:52, 21 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Apologies edit

  1. I won't be abe to attend. Rubbish computer (HALP!: I dropped the bass?) 13:23, 21 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The Scarab Hunt edit

Hello everyone, Redrose64, Thryduulf, Rubbish computer, Maproom, Pintoch, sorry to tag you all but I have an important request for Wikipedians based in Oxford. I am a member of the Wikiproject Ancient Egypt, and I have been in touch lately with both the Wikimedia UK foundation and the Ashmolean museum concerning an item in their collection, of which we need a photography. This item is an ancient Egyptian scarab bearing the only known attestation of pharaoh en:Sekheperenre. According to the museum curator and legal advisors, the museum can only release a photography of the seal under fair use licence, which is not sufficient to upload and use on Wikipedia. The only alternative is that someone goes to the museum to take a picture of the scarab. Thus, I am looking for an Oxford-based Wikipedian willing to go to the museum, find the scarab (I will soon have the info on its exact location but it is currently on display) and upload the photography on Wikicommons. Please let me know if one of you or someone you know is/would be willing to do this for the sake of Wikipedia. I then will provide the photograph with further details on the artefact. Iry-Hor (talk) 15:36, 9 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Iry-Hor, I could go to the museum to do so but only if it is not too far from the Four Candles. Thanks, --Rubbish computer (HALP!: I dropped the bass?) 15:41, 9 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Rubbish computer It is very close, in fact it is 0.2 miles from the Four Candles, I guess a 4/5min stroll see here.Iry-Hor (talk) 16:24, 9 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Iry-Hor: Okay thanks, I guess can do it. --Rubbish computer (HALP!: I dropped the bass?) 16:43, 9 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Hi Iry-Hor, that's an exciting request! If for some reason Rubbish computer cannot do it in the end, I am based in Oxford and have a flexible schedule, so it would be easy for me to do it, except that I don't have any decent camera… If necessary, I can probably borrow one from a friend though. − Pintoch (talk) 18:07, 9 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
The shortest route betwixt The Four Candles and the Ashmolean is across Gloucester Green. Turn right out of the Four Candles along George Street, then turn left at the Odeon into St George's Place, continue along the right-hand side of Gloucester Green and into Gloucester Street; you pass the Burton Taylor Studio (part of the Oxford Playhouse) on your right and then turn immediate right into Beaumont Street, and the Ashmolean is along there on the left, opposite the Randolph Hotel. Without my mother trailing along, and considerate traffic on Beaumont Street, I can do it in three minutes.
Or there's Geni (talk · contribs) who has been to Oxford before, and is known to visit museums in order to wield a bagful of lenses. --Redrose64 (talk; at English Wikipedia) 00:52, 10 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Ashmolean doesn't allow rucksacks but if we can get a location I should be able to get a pic.Geni (talk) 00:57, 10 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks everyone for so much enthusiasm! I am currently in touch with the lady responsible of the Picture Library of the museum in order for her to indicate me precisely where the scarab is on display in the museum. Indeed, it is a very small item so easy to miss, especially if one does not know where it is. As soon as I have further precisions I will communicate them here. In any case, you might want to know what a scarab is, so see here. I hope the ventral side of the scarab will be the one displayed as it is the side bearing the hieroglyphs with the pharaoh's name. The exact catalog number of the scarab is "AN1935.100.a Scarab".Iry-Hor (talk) 09:25, 10 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Hello everyone and bad news: after further enquiry the museum informed us that the item is in fact not on display but in storage. I have asked that a photograph be accompanied to the storage rooms to have the item photographied but the museum complained that given that this would involve no fee, they would rather not proceed like that (!). They have instead offered a low-resolution photograph that they will take themselves for an increased fee. The curator responsible for the item will be back from field work in February, at which point, if WMUK has not paid the fee, a last round of negotations will take place. If this is finally successfull, the photograph would be accompanied in the storage by the curator.Iry-Hor (talk) 15:22, 11 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Agenda edit

Informal chitchat with no set agenda.

If you have some ideas for discussion topics, please put them below.

About the meet up edit

The Four Candles, Oxford.

A social gathering for Wikimedia enthusiasts, where we...

  • Drink coffee and/or beer and some of us have Sunday lunch.
  • Chat about Wikipedia and any other topics we fancy.
  • Exchange books, maps and other source materials.

Mainly a casual social event. You can expect to meet some very keen Wikipedians; however, this is also an open invitation to anyone interested in finding out more about Wikipedia, other Wikimedia projects, projects re-using Wikipedia, and other collaborative wiki projects. Feel free to come along and raise these discussions over a beer. Alcohol consumption is optional.

Location edit

Look out for these people

The Four Candles is a Wetherspoons pub (Coordinates: 51.7534°, -1.2620°), the name based on the memorable Two Ronnies comic sketch Four Candles. Wifi and food are available.

How to spot us edit

A banner like this should be on our table

It's usually easy to find us, look for anyone with a laptop out or a Wikipedia T-shirt, lapel badge or similar. We aim to secure one of the two bench seats behind the stairs, but failing that we'll probably be at one of the high tables between the stairs and the entrance. Bear in mind that we could be upstairs.

Getting there edit

Location of The Four Candles, Oxford.

George Street is in the centre of Oxford not far from the station and very close to the bus station and (for millionaires) the Worcester Street car park.

The nearest railway station is Oxford (10 minutes walk) with frequent services from various places including: Banbury; Birmingham New Street; Didcot; London Marylebone; London Paddington; Oxford Parkway; Reading; Southampton Central; and Worcester Shrub Hill. Didcot is served by trains from various places including: Bristol Temple Meads; and Swindon.

Express coach services also run from Victoria and other points in London to central Oxford, on the "Oxford Tube". Stay on the coach all the way to Gloucester Green, it's just across the road from The Four Candles, which you can see out of the right-hand side of the coach just as it turns into Chain Alley/Gloucester Green.

There are Park-and-Ride car parks at points around the Oxford Ring Road, served by buses along main roads into the centre, on routes 300 (Redbridge - City Centre - Pear Tree) and 400 (Seacourt Oxford railway station - City Centre - Thornhill). The nearest stops are:

  • A5 on George Street (Route 300 inwards from Pear Tree and outwards to Redbridge), which is almost outside the front door
  • B1 on George Street (Route 300 inwards from Redbridge and outwards to Pear Tree), which is right opposite
  • D1 on Park End Street (Route 400 inwards from Seacourt Oxford railway station, outwards to Thornhill)
  • D5 on Park End Street (Route 400 inwards from Thornhill, outwards to Seacourt Oxford railway station)
  • E5 on Castle Street (Route 400 inwards from Thornhill, outwards to Seacourt Oxford railway station)
  • M3 on Castle Street (Route 400 inwards from Seacourt Oxford railway station, outwards to Thornhill)

Stop B1 is also served by buses from Oxford railway station: route 7 from stop R5; routes 14/14A from stop R4. The same routes operate back to the railway station from stop A5.

Reconstruction of the bridge at the south end of Oxford railway station means that the eastern end of Botley Road is closed for six months from 11 April 2023. As a result, bus route 400 is running as a split service: Seacourt – Osney Island; and Oxford railway station (stop R1) – City Centre – Thornhill.

On Sundays there is car-parking from £5 in some streets about 1 mile from the centre (e.g. Norham Gardens), and for few pounds more, a little further in. You may need to hunt for a space. Car-parking in town is almost prohibitive for any significant length of time.