Jimbo Wales’ expense problems
p2pnet news | P2P:- It’s unlikely that Wikipedia founder and ex-trader Jimmy Wales is likely to escape any time soon from stories springing from his relationship with Canadian (ex-)girl-friend Rachel Marsden.
The couple’s bust-up has been making online headlines for days with, in the background, former-Wikipedia staffman Danny Wool attacking Wales over alleged expenses transgressions.
However, Wool’s claims have now hit the mainstream.
"A former lover – political pundit Rachel Marsden – let out steamy and embarrassing online chats with Wales, and dumped his clothes on eBay," says the Associated Press, going on:
"Wales, 41, also became the subject of an eyebrow-raising blog entry by Danny Wool, who until last year worked for the nonprofit, donor-supported Wikimedia Foundation that runs the encyclopedia.
"Wool wrote that Wales had asked the foundation to reimburse him for costly items like a $1,300 dinner for four at a Florida steakhouse. Wool alleged that at one point Wales was short on receipts for $30,000 in expenses before settling the matter with the foundation’s lawyer and paying the organization $7,000.
"Wool added that Wales’ foundation credit card was taken away in 2006."
In Wikipedia’s "devoted community of editors," this kind of conflict of interest, "is a huge no-no," says AP, going on, but, "It’s also happened before: Wales has been caught tinkering with his own Wikipedia entry to, among other things, excise generally accepted claims that Larry Sanger co-founded Wikipedia.
"But ultimately the Marsden affair likely will be notable for provoking Wool to speak up. Wool said he had previously kept the expense charges quiet so as not to hurt the foundation. With the Marsden episode leading to a fervent online discussion of Wales’ character, Wool changed his mind."
"This questionable use of Foundation funds stopped in 2006, largely because Jimbeau’s credit card was taken away. I do not believe, nor do I have any reason to believe, that it is continuing. If Jimbeau is still living the vida loca – and as you can imagine, he hardly keeps me posted – I have no reason to believe that it is at the Foundation’s expense.
"Now, let’s see if we can help those kids in Sri Lanka. If people can bid $100 bucks for a dirty t-shirt, they can give $10 to help a kid in need."
They can indeed.
And let’s not forget the Kapan Kids.
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Also See:
making online headlines – Psst! Want some Jimbo Wales-wear?, March 4, 2008
Associated Press – Wikipedia’s Wales Hit Over Expenses, March 4, 2008
Blogs Wool – Jimmy Wales’s "gold-plated washing machine", March 3, 2008
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