#eol will be the next project for #translatewiki.net

It is a proud moment when you can announce that the Enclyclopedia of Life is the next project for translatewiki.net. We are ready to make the messages available today but, we are going to wait a bit.

As the software is undergoing massive changes at the moment, we were asked to wait a few weeks. This does impress us because the time and effort our localisers will put into it is considered. It is a valuable resource that will be optimally used.

At the question what the next formalities are, we found no need for them. We are willing and happy to start. We agree with EOL and the Library of Alexandria that it will be motivating to our communities when new localisations become often and regularly available.

Anolis carolinensis Voigt, 1832

There will be challenges ahead, one of them will be the static content that is maintained in a CMS. They are the things that describe what EOL is about, how to donate, how to cooperate ... Technically this will be interesting. As there is not the same structure in such text, making sure that we get the updates in and the translations out will be more of a challenge.

The Wikimedia community will find in the Encyclopedia of Life many references to Wikipedia articles. The fusion of many sources is what makes the EOL so interesting. I wonder if the EOL will eventually also support Wikipedia information in other languages. When it does, it will bring even more sources to the Encyclopedia of Life.
Thanks,
        GerardM

One website to inform about them all

The Dutch government announced "rijksoverheid.nl". It is the website where all Dutch governmental departments will provide data to the Dutch people. The roll-out started today and should be finished by the fourth quarter of 2010.

The information is available under a CC0 license. This is just another thing that makes me feel good about being Dutch.
Thanks,
      GerardM

Two bonuses for FUDforum

FUDforum, one of the applications localised at translatewiki.net, announced that they provide a bonus to the first two people who do a full localisation for their language. I quote their rules:

1. Pick a language that has less than 50% of its messages translated from here (new languages can be added).
2. Translate the remaining messages on the TranslateWiki website (let me know if you need help to get started).
3. When done, announce your claim to the bounty here.
4. The first two valid claims will be awarded US$100. 
5. Our decision if final. We will have full discretion to disqualify anyone who in our opinion acts outside the intentions of this bounty.

 Thanks,
       GerardM