User:Andrew-King







Welcome to my userpage
First of all “Hi!” and thanks for visiting my Wikipedia userpage. I hope you like it and maybe even find parts of it useful, interesting, informative or amusing. I'm still developing it, so it's very much a "work in progress". I've used Wikipedia for some time, but I only started contributing to Wikipedia fairly recently. I'm still a real newbie when it comes to editing, but then you've got to start somewhere... — Andrew-King )

A few "bits" about me
Directly below this text is a collapsible frame – click the "show/hide" control – containing "Everything you need to know" about me. However, if you wish to know even more than I've listed below, I suggest that you either stop being nosy and get a life ;-) or, better yet, check-out one or all of the following: If you happen to find yourself in the frankly bizarre position that your curiosity's still not satisfied [seriously, though, you may have a problem: not even I'm that interesting...] please feel free to post me a message on my talkpage. I'm always happy to chat to whomever about whatever: absolutely no standards here! :-) All views expressed within my userspace are personal opinion and not endorsed by Wikipedia. If you find anything objectionable, or suspect vandalism, please notify me via my talkpage.
 *  my userbox page for "my personal Wikipedia userbox collection", some of which I made myself – feel free of course to copy any userboxes you like;'''
 *  my interests page for "a list of my personal interests", both academic and general – for more see my userbox collection;'''
 * my views page for "a list of my personal views", predominately philosophical in nature – for more see my userbox collection.

¸ Citizenship
 * Wikipedian; kind of obvious.
 * Wikimedian; Wikimedia RULES!!!

" Websites
 * Reader of DistroWatch Weekly: if you're into FOSS, it's the biz.
 * For FOSS tech news, I primarily use Phoronix.
 * For a mashup of the Linux web, I mainly use TuxMachines.
 * For a fuller list of the websites I use, see my resources.

L Searching
 * Mostly use Google, especially Google Scholar for medical & academic stuff.
 * Unhappy Google user (too close to spyware) looking for a good FOSS substitute.
 * Why can't a Google-like web service suite be created based on an open and collaborative FOSS/Wikimedia styled non-profit model?

ã   Surfboards
 * Prefer web surfing using Firefox/GNU IceCat but also use Chromium, Epiphany, QupZilla, Arora, Konqueror & Rekonq (among others).
 * Just to prove I'm not a complete FOSS-only addict, I previously used Opera as my primary web browser, and still keep it installed; I also use Mathcad for study stuff and propriety hardware drivers if I have to.

@ Tools
 * Looking at setting up my own mail and cloud server using ownCloud or similar.
 * Designed a (very) rudimentary website for my parents using the KompoZer WYSIWYG HTML editor.
 * Currently checking out the BlueGriffon WYSIWYG HTML editor and BlueFish HTML editor at the moment.
 * Looking for a good FOSS Wikipedia editor and offline reader for Linux.

Õ Software


 * Big FOSS user and fan; especially GNU/Linux, KDE4, E17 & Mozilla. (Not only is free software free as in freedom, it's also nearly always free as in freeware.)
 * Prefer to use free software when I can, but I also use open source too. (When FOSS isn't available, I reluctantly use closed source & proprietary software.)
 * Perpetual distro hopper and multi-booter that simply loves rolling releases.

¿ Hardware
 * Custom built PC / Homebuilt computer / Barebone computer enthusiast.
 * Still using my >5 year-old single-core Dell Inspiron laptop PC; I really must upgrade!
 * Oh, and frustrated mouse owner — RSI's a real pain in the ... err ... hand.

ƒ Tech
 * Self-confessed technophile (or "tech-head") and all-round gadget geek.
 * Mad about smart TVs, 3D TVs and Tablet PCs; but then who isn't these days?

⚙ Technology
 * Technology enthusiast and interested in open source, coding, 3d printing and biohacking.
 * Strongly pro scientific and technological research, development and progress.
 * Believer in and pro technological singularity and strong AI and seed AI.

⚛ Science
 * Institute of physics student member.
 * Into all things math, science, philosophy, technology & futurology.
 * Scientist and ardent believer in the scientific method.

Ï Academia
 * Undergraduate student studying an MSci in Mathematics & Theoretical Physics.
 * Studying Stanford, Yale, Berkley, MIT, Oxford University (and other) courses via YouTube and OCW (open course ware); also currently studying via distance learning with The Open University due to ill health.
 * Plan to switch to a different university should my health improve and then go on to get my PhD at Oxbridge and become a Mathematical physicist.

® Reading
 * New Scientist, Scientific American and Physics World reader.
 * An avid reader of open access journals and a firm believer in open access to academic literature and knowledge in general.
 * A user and proponent of the open course ware open university courses initiative.
 * A major fan of the arXiv pre-print server and freely available pre-prints in general.
 * Own more textbooks than I could ever hope to read; kind of like some women and shoes.

È Disability
 * Severely disabled victim of chiropractic-induced spinal injury.
 * Long-time (13 years and counting) chronic pain sufferer & patient. Hell's living every day bed-ridden and physically and mentally incapacitated with pain, despite the morphine – at least that's mine. :-|
 * Please take into account with my editing that I'm in continuous severe pain, on powerful opiate and opioid analgesics and chronically sleep deprived — as well as being a total newbie to boot!

My activity on Wikipedia

 * See My contributions for my edit history, though I edit my userspace so much you'll have to wade through the entries!
 * See this tool for a statistical breakdown of my editing. Note: I previously used a different account, so most of my edits don't show up; also, as this is a new account, I'm spending a lot of time and edits setting up my new userspace.
 * See My to-do list for a current list of my plans, and goals, on and off Wikipedia.

Pages I'm working on

 * Rolling release article
 * List of rolling release software distributions article (does not yet exist)
 * Comparison of rolling release software distributions article (does not yet exist)
 * Table of Rolling Releases for Rolling release article

Pages I've edited

 * Rolling release article & discussion page
 * List of Linux distributions article page
 * Various Linux and FOSS article & discussion pages
 * Various math, science & philosophy related discussion pages
 * See Special:Contributions/Annoyamouse for history of recent edits
 * See Special:Contributions/User2357 for history of older edits

Pages I've discussed

 * Rolling release (See Talk:Rolling release)
 * Pioneer anomaly (See Talk:Pioneer anomaly )
 * Problem of future contingents (See Talk:Problem of future contingents )
 * Twin Earth thought experiment (See Talk:Twin Earth thought experiment)
 * Holographic principle (See Talk:Holographic principle )
 * Holonomic brain theory ''(See Talk:Holonomic brain theory)
 * Compiled sofware / Compiled software redirect pages (typo fixing)

Pages I've fixed-up

 * Compiled sofware (added redirect Compiled software and tagged Compiled sofware redirect with typo template) — thanks to Jenks24 for help & advice in this.
 * WikiProject Physics/Members (fixed mangled Table listing WikiProject Physics participants in WikiProject_Physics/Members sub-section)

Pages I've created

 * My user pages & sub-pages
 * Compiled software (re-title of mis-titled redirect page Compiled sofware)

Pages in the pipeline

 * Comparison of rolling release software distributions
 * List of rolling release software distributions (at some point in the future, see here for work done so far) — very messy rough draft, still in its early stages of being written.
 * Redirect pages to List of rolling release software distributions article (once created)
 * #REDIRECT Table of rolling release software distributions
 * #REDIRECT List of rolling distributions
 * #REDIRECT List of rolling Linux distributions
 * #REDIRECT List of rolling distros
 * #REDIRECT List of rolling Linux distros


 * Redirect pages to Rolling release article
 * #REDIRECT Rolling software distribution
 * #REDIRECT Rolling distribution
 * #REDIRECT Rolling Linux distribution
 * #REDIRECT Rolling distro
 * #REDIRECT Rolling Linux distro

My thanks to fellow Wikipedians

 * Jimbo Wales — For founding this wonderful, wonderful website, which is so much more than just a website.
 * Jenks24 — For going out of the way to help a newbie Wikipedian (that'd be me) and for offering further help with any future queries I might have; a Wikipedian who really makes newbies feel welcome! Awarded a special barnstar for taking the time to help others.
 * Machine Elf 1735 — For a useful reply to my Talk:Problem of future contingents post, and Machine Elf 1735's work on the Philosophy WikiProject.
 * G.Ceara — For contributions to the Rolling release article & discussion page.
 * Thanks to all those editors that write Wikipedia, for helping me learn more and making me think more.
 * Thanks to all those editors that maintain Wikipedia, for keeping it running smoothly and free of vandalism.
 * Thanks to all those coders and hackers that write MediaWiki, not only for making all of this possible, but better and better as well.
 * Thanks to all the others who without which Wikipedia would not exist, and I wouldn't be writing this.
 * Finally, thank you to the Wikipedia community for making it great, and great to be a part of it. :-)

My contact details
See my talkpage at User talk:Andrew-King for more info on getting hold of me, either by clicking this link or the Talk button at the top of this page.

If you would like to contact me, please feel free to leave me a message on my user talkpage here. If I've done something to upset you (always a good assumption for a newbie editor! ;-) I'm  really  sorry and I hope it's not too bad. Please be patient with me, and I'll be sure to do everything I can to help fix whatever I've f'd up.

I haven't put my email address in plain text as I really hate email spam & phishing scams. However, beneath (first userbox, with "@" symbol) there's a "reach by email" link (which commits the same action as clicking this one) if anyone wants to contact me by email, instead of via the user talkpages. If you email me, please post a short message on my talkpage to let me know I need to check my inbox, or simply post your message there as well.

I'm also happy to chat on IRC, Google Talk or on Google+; just let me know via my talkpage and I'll give you my details. I'm always glad to make new friends, especially if they share any of my interests. :-) Andrew-King )

My Wikipedia image of the month

 * So, you thought it was going to be a pic of a cute little baby, and instead you just got given the most awesome astronomical photograph in the history of the universe.



My favorite Wikipedia articles
The subpage User:Andrew-King/articles will eventually contain a list of my favorite Wikipedia articles. This is partly for my own benefit, as a Wikipedia reader and editor, but also for any others who wish to visit the page. They will be predominantly academic and scientific articles (mostly math, logic, physics, philosophy), along with tech, GNU/Linux, FOSS, computing and Wikipedia related stuff. Part of the reason I'm setting the page up is that I use my watchlist as more of a bookmarking facility. For now, the page is mostly blank, but watch this (and that) space...if you want to.

If you're a new Wikipedian and Wikimedian like me, then I highly recommend reading this article on Meta-Wiki as the definitive non-PC introduction to Wiki etiquette.

In the meantime this article made me smile. Why? Because it's got the redirect "Cute Little Farts"; and no, I guess it doesn't take much to make me smirk. :-D

On a (slightly) more intellectual note, for anyone who seriously thinks that mathematics isn't cool (yeah really they exist!) I raise you the tesseract (a 4-dimensional hypercube or "4-cube"; i.e. the analog of a cube in four dimensions) — try not to get dizzy :-s



My personal computing preference

 * If you haven't discovered GNU/Linux and FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) yet, there's only one question you need to ask yourself:

“Do you waddle the waddle?” :-)


 * — Penguin & Proud!


 * P-P-Pick up a penguin: See Linux distribution, List of Linux distributions & DistroWatch (distrowatch.com) for a guide to GNU/Linux-based software distributions.

My Userspace
The Wikimedia sites listed in my Wikipedia Userspace Navigator (see top of page) are the only ones I've created userpages on so far. I think it unlikely that I'll contribute to those left off the navigator, either due to a lack of relevant skills, knowledge and expertise or simply that I don't foresee myself having sufficient interest in contributing to those sites. Although I've created userpages on the listed Wikimedia sites, I've not written much on these userpages other than a welcome message — the obvious exception to this being my Wikipedia userpage. Once I've copied and tailored my Wikipedia userpage to my userspace on the other Wikimedia sites, I'll update this text to reflect such. I don't currently check my talkpages on the other Wikimedia sites much, so I suggest leaving a message on my Wikipedia talkpage and I'll then copy it across to the relevant talkpage once I've read it. Also, if you email me, please leave a message on my Wikipedia talkpage so that I know to check my mail; thanks. :-) Andrew-King )
 * See Special:PrefixIndex/User:Andrew-King — a current & complete navigable list of my Wikipedia userspace subpages.
 * See Wikipedia Userspace Navigator and Wikimedia Userspace Navigator (top of page) to navigate my Wikipedia userspace and Wikimedia userspaces.