"Whether or not McNamee is interested in making money from Wikipedia - for himself or for someone else - the facts remain: He's donated a hefty wad to the Foundation, and he has the ear of Jimmy Wales."

Yeah, that about sums this non-story up. Someone's donated a large sum of money to an extremely prominent non-profit. There's no evidence that there were any untoward favours given in return, let alone plans put in place to convert Wikipedia to a professional encyclopaedia as some mediocre rock star suggested. Although that might be beneficial (Reg readers would presumably be in favour), it would be a huge change in strategy, result in a massive backlash, and would generally take more than a mere $1m to achieve before Wales even considered it. But Jimmy's had some (well, one) strange bedfellows and likes to test the limits of his expense account, so, er, wooooooo (spooky hand waving).

Incidentally, nothing like naming yourself after a rock song to inspire investor confidence. Any venture capitalist fans of Cannibal Corpse out there?

I'm surprised you folks missed the story in the BBC last week about Wales accepting a donation in exchange for editing a bio: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7291382.stm. The story starts out:

"Wiki boss 'edited for donation'

Wikipedia creator Jimmy Wales has been accused of agreeing to edit a page on the online encyclopaedia in exchange for a donation.

Former Novell chief scientist Jeffrey Merkey says he donated $5,000 to the Wikimedia Foundation in exchange for changes to his Wikipedia entry."

Go ahead, search Google on the phrase "Representative governing body factor" and IRS Publication 557 won't be far behind. Then, you can learn that for an organization to claim "public support", it should be mindful of the following:

PUBLIC SUPPORT includes:

Direct or indirect contributions from the general public, including contributions from an individual, trust or corporation, but only to the extent that the total contributions from such individual, trust or corporation, during the 4-year period immediately before the current tax year (or substituted computation period) are not more than 2% of the organization's TOTAL SUPPORT for the same period.

I'm not sure how $1.3 million is going to be 2% of the Wikimedia Foundation's four-year total support, unless 2008 sees a $59 million grass-roots fund-drive MIRACLE. Not likely!

Not to worry, though. I'm sure Jimbo and his accountant Michael E. Davis (yeah, the guy who was found by an Illinois court to owe over $800,000 to a jilted investment partner) have figured out a way to make this all appear to be "gentle, loving" support from a disinterested philanthropist. Move along, now. Get back to writing Jimbo's encyclopedia, everyone. Don't you worry about the financial authenticity of the Foundation.

A fanboy, snubbed by Bono and kicked out of board meetings...

Wool continues "I arranged to meet the Pope - that's the kind of important high flyer I am. I got dressed and went out onto the street where his people said he'd be. But as I walked towards him I noticed 2.5 million other Irish people were in the same street, I can't think why, but a few of them claimed to be there to meet the pope. 'Feck off, you eejit' said one as I tried to explain they should leave because I was there to see the pope. I tried shouting to the pope that I'd booked a restaurant but he didn't hear me. From my vantage point I thought I saw Jimmy Wales taking a brown envelope from the Holy See...I cut my losses and retired to the pub, but the Milky Bar kid was coming so the landlord told me to piss off...dejected I went home thankful that the dog didn't have any visitors this week, so I'd be allowed to stop..."

He really had his finger on the pulse and knew what was going on... :)

Or are there more facts and revelations in Idle's Knudge, Knudge, Wink, Wink sketch?

At least you haven't run the Jeff Merkey crap...

The problem with that story is that story is that it is hard to trust Merkey about anything, given his previous conduct (google his name for details, especially the outcome of Novell's lawsuit against his company).

If someone else corroborated his claims then there might be a story. If it is just Merkey's word against Wales's, then it is difficult to say one way or the other: neither party seems to be that reliable or trustworthy.

I think the article is a fair comment, but then I'm not a Wiki-wally. It's fair to show an interest in where the money comes from for an information source which claims to be independent.

I think it's also right to keep running articles showing the problems with Wikipedia while there are still sufficient idiots around who think it supplies authoritative information.

The Wiki is a powerful tool for propaganda. It has been used for various US politicians. One of it's editors has been highlighted in Michael Moore's own propaganda as a fellow given to misrepresenting him.

It regularly appears at or near the top of the first page a "search" turns up. I don't doubt that Google could reverse such tendencies but given the owners of Google too are rich and no doubt want to remain so...