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New Contest: Fun With Wikipedia’s Pledge Drive

If you’ve used Wikipedia over the past few days then you probably know that they’re asking for donations again. I strongly urge you to donate some money to this worthy cause, but once you’ve done that it’s time to have fun with the donation requests.

Up until this morning, all Wikipedia pages had a banner ad across the top with a plea from the founder as well as his photo. This created some hilarious opportunities to show Jimmy Wales' face next to any number of inappropriate topics. For example, The Oatmeal (who first turned me on to the idea) have Jimmy’s mug over the entries for sex offender, anal wart, and douche.

If you have a low sense of humor then this is very funny, yes.

But today it gets better. Wikipedia swapped out Jimmy’s plea with another one, this time by a rather scary looking programmer named Brandon Harris. I’ve been entertaining myself by reading the entries on cannibalism, blackmail, serial killer, and redneck.

At first I was just going to snicker about this, but then I realized that this would make a fun little contest. Can you think of any other articles where brandon belongs? Please leave your ideas in the comments. I’ll pick the best several suggestions and the winners will get an E-ink ball. (US only, sorry)

Update: Wikipedia swapped out Brandon with another person’s picture. Since the pledge drive is still going on I will extend the contest.

Update: Now that interest has died down, I’m ending the contest. The Winners are:

  • Alanna Coca
  • Eric
  • curiosity killed the…

 

 

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Comments


Eric November 23, 2011 um 1:57 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Rasputin

Nate Hoffelder November 23, 2011 um 2:03 pm

LOL

+1 bonus point becasue the guy actually looks like Rasputin


Peter November 23, 2011 um 8:01 pm

Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories

The billboard is a nice touch


Chris November 23, 2011 um 9:35 pm

These all work: Asshole, Douchebag, Moron, Jackass


curiosity killed the… November 24, 2011 um 1:18 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awkward_silence
Awkward silence cause hiding your hands will make it go away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger_management
Anger management because if you dont have anything nice to say stare darkly into their eyes and wonder where your going to hide the body…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology
Scientology yes..the ruler of the Galactic Confederacy blew up your alien body and stole your cookie >.>

Peter November 28, 2011 um 9:00 pm

Awkward silence is pretty hilarious-

But shouldn’t that wikipedia entry just be blank?


typity November 24, 2011 um 1:21 am

Looks like the scary looking programmer has brought enough money to end the fund raising – or you scared them into taking the banners off.


Sweetpea November 24, 2011 um 6:31 am

Well, not in the Dutch version of Wikipedia…

I was looking at Child in Time… Fits perfectly with Jimmy’s puppy-dog eyes!


Alanna Coca November 26, 2011 um 11:30 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crew_cut

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_loss_in_men

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying

Okay, I could probably go on. Might have just as much fun with Jimmy Wales' pic up there 🙂


Eric November 29, 2011 um 11:34 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_the_Devil

Teehee!


curiosity killed the.. December 1, 2011 um 12:31 am

so nate did you ever pick the winners for this?

Nate Hoffelder December 1, 2011 um 8:04 am

The pledge drive is still going on, but they switched the pictures. The new one is almost as funny when paired with the right wiki article.

curiosity killed the… December 1, 2011 um 6:34 pm

alrighty then.. the new lady

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Lady
who needs towels when i have 1000 cats that ll rub me dry every time i walk out of the shower.(yes the cats are filled to the ceiling)

now i’m picturing a revolving mass of kitties spinning like in a carwash lol

Nate Hoffelder December 1, 2011 um 7:27 pm

LOL. That’s a good one.


Eric December 2, 2011 um 9:34 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Snafu

I’m having entirely too much fun with this…


curiosity killed the… December 9, 2011 um 10:43 pm

thanks cant wait to get the e-ink snowglobe do they move around in their or are they fixed on the top and bottom? i cant seem to find any other video with them but that 1 talking about the displays and he keeps it perfectly still in front of the camera and only moves it around behind his arm lol.

Nate Hoffelder December 9, 2011 um 11:48 pm

The white pebbles float and the black ones sink. But you can shake it up and watch them move.


Alanna Coca December 9, 2011 um 10:51 pm

Awesome. I’m an author of electronic books, so an e-ink snowglobe will go with me to all of my conferences. Very excited. Thanks!

Nate Hoffelder December 10, 2011 um 11:25 am

I’d like to send you one but I need your address first.


Alanna Coca December 10, 2011 um 12:41 pm

Oh of course. I was waiting for an email from you. I can’t see your email from here, and I don’t want to post my home address on the web.

Do you mind emailing me?

Nate Hoffelder December 10, 2011 um 1:21 pm

I did. It went to that address.


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