User:The ed17/Archives/71

Top 10
I don't generate the info myself, and the list is compiled weekly, so I'd have to drop the week.  Serendi pod ous  19:33, 1 December 2013 (UTC)

Signpost
Hi, I am Benison. I would like to contribute to signpost in featured content section especially in featured picture section. Shall I?? Herald talk with me 14:55, 3 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes, please do. I'll finish the pictures for this week, but next week is right around the corner :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 02:02, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

Flow testing
Hey Ed :). As mentioned on the Milhist coordinators talkpage, we've opened Flow up for community testing. I'd be really grateful if you could hammer on the system (if you haven't already!), let me know any bugs you find, and leave a note at the 'first release' page explaining what you, as a member of Wikiproject Military History, would need to see to be okay with it being deployed on that wikiproject's talkpage.

Thanks! Okeyes (WMF) (talk) 20:02, 3 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks Oliver, I'll be sure to head over when I get some free time. :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 02:02, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

You have e-mail
Please check your in box.--Mark Miller (talk) 06:52, 4 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I'll reply later tonight after publishing! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 02:02, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

No Signpost?
Hi ed,

I noticed no Signpost for the week of 27 November. Do you know what the deal is? Was it lack of writers, thanksgiving, lack of interesting things to write about, etc? Best, Sports guy 17  (talk • contribs • sign) 12:41, 4 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Mainly the first, partly sort of the second, and a strong desire to publish on Thursdays at the absolute latest, not Saturdays and Sundays. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 02:02, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

The Signpost: 04 December 2013

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 * EdwardsBot (talk) 06:28, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

The Wikipedia Library's Books and Bytes newsletter (#2)
Books & Bytes Sign up for monthly delivery Welcome to the second issue of The Wikipedia Library's Books & Bytes newsletter! Read on for updates about what is going on at the intersection of Wikipedia and the library world. Wikipedia Library highlights: New accounts, new surveys, new positions, new presentations... Spotlight on people: Another Believer and Wiki Loves Libraries...  Books & Bytes in brief: From Dewey to Diversity conference...  Further reading: Digital library portals around the web...   Read Books & Bytes , 16:48, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

Tech report
Hi,

I've started Wikipedia Signpost/2013-12-11/Technology report. It would be great if some people could copy-edit it since I'm not a very good writer. Is there anything that needs to be done for this to get picked up for the next issue?

Thanks, Legoktm (talk) 07:11, 8 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks! We haven't had a technology report in far too long. The only thing I'd ask for is a little context—what is MediaWiki, for non-tech people, and just what are the "signup page interface messages that had previously been removed" and "patrolling interface"? (links would probably suffice) Thanks again, Legoktm! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 03:05, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
 * No problem. I've added links for interface messages and patrolling interface, though I'm not really sure how to fit in a better description of MediaWiki. Legoktm (talk) 18:58, 10 December 2013 (UTC)
 * We're published now. Thank you very much, and I hope I can tempt you into more contributions in the future! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 04:07, 12 December 2013 (UTC)

FA century
This landmark was passed by Wehwalt on 7 December. The promised Signpost material can be picked up from this page. Brianboulton (talk) 08:35, 8 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks! I'm planning on reformatting it to be consistent with our other normal interview section (example), but otherwise it looks good. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 03:05, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
 * That's fine - reorganise it as you need. Brianboulton (talk) 10:09, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Now published. Thank you! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 04:05, 12 December 2013 (UTC)

Should perhaps find another way to contribute
I am shooting out another e-mail to you in regards to ITM and collaboration efforts. Please check your in box.--Mark Miller (talk) 08:36, 8 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Looking now. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 03:05, 9 December 2013 (UTC)

The Wikipedia Library Survey
As a subscriber to one of The Wikipedia Library's programs, we'd like to hear your thoughts about future donations and project activities in this brief survey. Thanks and cheers, Ocaasit &#124; c 15:28, 9 December 2013 (UTC)

Top 10
I'm working on a draft now. This list takes a very long time to research and assemble. If you've ever wondered at the attempts at humour, they're not for the audience; they're to keep me from going insane with boredom. You must understand that since I'm not getting paid for the work I do, my commitment to any project depends on feedback, particularly to this one as I wasn't initially interested in doing it. The original creator of the list jumped ship unceremoniously and left me holding the bag. I have created or substantially contributed to 28 featured articles and I am far better suited to creating content in the mainspace than this kind of critique. In the absence of a new Wikipedia Weekly podcast (my usual source of positive feedback) I am particularly vulnerable to others' bad mojo. This being Wikipedia, I can't just cry, "Then you do it!", because they won't. A decade of editing here has taught me that if you don't do something, no one else will. So, I'm left with a choice; keep going and risk getting blasted like this every week for the foreseeable future, or stop. Which would you do in my place?  Serendi pod ous  19:59, 10 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I hear you. I've written 23 featured articles and now edit the Signpost practically full-time. ;-) How often are you getting blasted? I'm willing to put out some effort to defend you, but I don't often see criticism on your Signpost contributions. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 04:05, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
 * To date, this is the second time things have erupted, but given how much attention this spat got, I wouldn't be surprised if people took similar opportunities in future. Anyhoo, I'm OK now, back doing what I do, and seem to have dodged the bullet of discussing the deaths of two public figures simultaneously. BTW, would you be interested in an end-of-year report? I've asked the guy in charge of collecting the stats and he says it's doable.  Serendi pod ous  10:35, 13 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Good to hear, and please send me a link if anything happens in the future. I really liked your explanation as for why Walker beat Mandela. That's one reason why I really like having you writing this report. :-) A year in review section would be nice—we're doing one for News and notes, and FC should be doing one too (most likely). Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 23:34, 13 December 2013 (UTC)

Motion: Argentine History (MarshalN20)
You have made a statement in the clarification request relating to Argentine History. This message is to let you know that a motion amending the original decision has now been proposed. You are welcome to add comments on this motion underneath your original statement. Thanks, AGK  [•] 11:43, 11 December 2013 (UTC)

The Signpost: 11 December 2013

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 * EdwardsBot (talk) 04:03, 12 December 2013 (UTC)

Wikimedia Highlights from November 2013
Highlights from the Wikimedia Foundation Report and the Wikimedia engineering report for November 2013, with a selection of other important events from the Wikimedia movement About &middot; Subscribe/unsubscribe &middot; Distributed via Global message delivery, 04:46, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Wikimedia Foundation highlights
 * New support material for program organizers: Evaluation report about edit-a-thons, and a pattern library
 * "Beta Features" option allows users to test upcoming software changes
 * Open Source Language Summit in Pune, India
 * OAuth extension makes it easier to use third-party editing tools
 * Data and Trends
 * Financials
 * Other highlights from the Wikimedia movement
 * Tenth anniversary of Wikisource
 * Indian university releases encyclopedia under a free license
 * Diversity Conference
 * Photographer receives $17,000 Kickstarter funding to document video games on Wikimedia Commons

Talkback
Herald talk with me 12:34, 13 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Speaking of which ... I see Herald will be back for next week's Signpost, Ed, so I think this week's FC will be my last for a while. I've finished this week's "hook" and the FAs. - Dank (push to talk) 18:01, 14 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks for all of your help, Dank. :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 04:06, 16 December 2013 (UTC)

Re:Battleships
I finally had a moment to read through that link you left, and its a very interesting picture of what a combat scenario would have been like between the two of them. I also recognized a great many of the pictures given in the piece. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for more by the group, as there work appears to be tantalizing to the what-if people :) TomStar81 (Talk) 06:52, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
 * It's a fantastically interesting blog, most of the time. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 06:23, 19 December 2013 (UTC)

The Bugle: Issue XCIII, December 2013
The Bugle is published by the Military history WikiProject. To receive it on your talk page, please join the project or sign up here. If you are a project member who does not want delivery, please remove your name from this page. Your editors, Ian Rose (talk) and Nick-D (talk) 00:03, 17 December 2013 (UTC)

Signpost Opinion Article
Hey!

I'm interested in writing an article for The Signpost. The article would not be related to Wikipedia, however. My idea for the article is about the usage of "like" and "um" in modern spoken English. If you give the ok, I can have it done by next Wednesday!

Thanks! Newyorkadam (talk) 23:03, 18 December 2013 (UTC)Newyorkadam
 * Hi there, Newyorkadam! Thanks for your post. Could you elaborate more on what you're planning to write? Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 06:23, 19 December 2013 (UTC)


 * It would be about how in modern spoken English, many people say 'like' and 'um' during every sentence, and your brain just cancels it out as if it was never said. I have graphs that show how much a word is spoken through time, and both 'like' and 'um' are on the rise. I would write about how often 'like' is not used correctly as a simile; I would also use specific examples, such as record how many times a teacher says 'um' or 'like' during a class.


 * Thanks!
 * Newyorkadam
 * Hi Adam, unfortunately the Signpost does not publish items that are not of relevance to the Wikimedia communities. Is there some way this can be tailored as such? Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:25, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

Book review for The Signpost
I'm interested in writing a book review for The Signpost before the college Spring Semester starts in January. I'm looking at The Plugged-In Professor: Tips and techniques for teaching with social media by Ferris and Wilder. I'm not opposed to other books already on the list. Any recommendations? Chris Troutman ( talk ) 05:46, 19 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Hey Chris, it's really up to you—find a book that will intrigue and hook you. That's where the best book reviews stem from. :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 06:23, 19 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I messed up my ping to you, sorry! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:32, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

The Signpost: 18 December 2013

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 * EdwardsBot (talk) 06:19, 19 December 2013 (UTC)

Yo Ho Ho


 Ϣere Spiel  Chequers  is wishing you Seasons Greetings! Whether you celebrate your hemisphere's Solstice or Christmas, Diwali, Hogmanay, Hanukkah, Lenaia, Festivus or even the Saturnalia, this is a special time of year for almost everyone!

Spread the holiday cheer by adding to your friends' talk pages.


 * Thanks WSC! It's good to hear from you. Hope your season has been treating you well! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:19, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

Happy Holidays...

 * You too, Ealdgyth. Hope your Christmas was enjoyable, and I'm glad to hear from you! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:19, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

Seasonal Greetings

 * Thanks very much :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:19, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

MassMessage distribution
I hope we can take advantage of MassMessage to send the Signpost to talk pages of all recently active English Wikipedia users unless they opt out or have a setting listed on the subscription page. I think this would be especially good for engaging newly created user accounts and this would help with the overall editor engagement goals from the strategic plan. What do you think? --<span style="white-space:nowrap;text-shadow:#008C3A 0.1em 0.1em 1.5em,#01796F -0.1em -0.1em 1.5em;"><b style="color:#01796F;">Pine</b><sup style="color:#01796F;">✉ 00:30, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
 * (TPS) Using the MassMessage extension to message subscribers is on the to-do list, and it'll be a while before we're 100% happy with that. Regardless of their merits, opt-out newsletters will never fly with the community, I'm afraid -- this is a community that opposes automated welcome messages, you'll recall. - Jarry1250 [Vacation needed] 01:55, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Jarry1250 that discussion of welcome messages was some time ago and WMF has had good results from its new orientation for new users. Also it seems to me that using talk pages for their intended purpose isn't a problem so long as there's an opt-out and all-user messages are carefully limited in number. --<span style="white-space:nowrap;text-shadow:#008C3A 0.1em 0.1em 1.5em,#01796F -0.1em -0.1em 1.5em;"><b style="color:#01796F;">Pine</b><sup style="color:#01796F;">✉ 07:05, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
 * (User:Pine) I'm just saying, it's never going to fly as an idea. Besides, the Signpost is not written with newbies in mind, either in terms of understandability or in terms of making them feel part of a happy engaged community. WMF efforts have rightly been focussed on very careful interaction with new editors. - Jarry1250 [Vacation needed] 11:41, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I also have my doubts about turning the SP into an opt-out newsletter—the last people to try such a thing were trounced! That's not to say that a community discussion can't be held, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it voted down. Said that, I do disagree with Jarry on one point. I think the Signpost can be a helpful addition for new users, as it brings them items and ideas from the wider community that they would have otherwise missed. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:19, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * and can you point me to the last RfC that tried this? --<span style="white-space:nowrap;text-shadow:#008C3A 0.1em 0.1em 1.5em,#01796F -0.1em -0.1em 1.5em;"><b style="color:#01796F;">Pine</b><sup style="color:#01796F;">✉  22:37, 31 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I don't remember if it was an RfC, but there was a lot of hubbub and ANI discussion about a newsletter sent by Ocassi ... maybe the Wikipedia Library? Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 04:50, 4 January 2014 (UTC)
 * There was discussion about what looked like message forgery from the Wikipedia Adventure game. That wasn't a newsletter. The Wikipedia Library newsletter discussion was swiftly closed at ANI and should have been on a VP page in the first place. However, I agree that the Signpost might overwhelm new users. I'll try to think of an alternative that would reference the Signpost without including a standard subscription fully and automatically. --<span style="white-space:nowrap;text-shadow:#008C3A 0.1em 0.1em 1.5em,#01796F -0.1em -0.1em 1.5em;"><b style="color:#01796F;">Pine</b><sup style="color:#01796F;">✉ 06:06, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Traffic report
Yet another pileup in the comments section, with everyone adding their little jabs, some mutually contradictory. Apparently, I'm too biased and yet pretending to be unbiased at the same time. Look Ed, at this point I think you have three choices: either discontinue the traffic report in the Signpost, find someone else to do it, or be willing to act as my editor, because I obviously can't do it to anyone's satisfaction.  Serendi <sup style="color:#bb0000;">pod ous  12:05, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Hey, sorry that I've taken so long to get back to you. I'd be happy to take a more active role in editing the report, although I'm surprised at most of the comments revolving around a premise of neutral writing there. It never has been... Anyway, our first step will be to add a disclaimer saying that the report is a matter of opinion based around facts, and we will go from there. Does that work? Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:19, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I suppose it's a start. Clarifying that the list is based on non-neutral selection would be a good idea as well.  Serendi <sup style="color:#bb0000;">pod ous  10:28, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Good thinking—I'll make sure that's in there as well. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 16:07, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * , the WMF's top 100 viewed articles has been published, if you're interested in using it for a year-end roundup. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:15, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Thanks! I'll get on it.  Serendi <sup style="color:#bb0000;">pod ous  13:34, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

What do you think of this:

Please note: ''the Traffic Report is not, and could not possibly be, unbiased or neutral. It is a personal selection of data taken from a bot-generated list. As that list includes many entries that are likely due to botnets, spammers or DDoS attackers, personal judgments must be made as to which entries are automated, and which derive from honest human interest. Given the limited tools at my disposal, the selection of entries, and the reasons assumed for their popularity, are largely educated guesswork. As such, complaints about lack of neutrality are essentially pointless; the bias inherent in the selection process belies any attempt to adopt a neutral tone. If you wish to see the original list, free of selection or commentary, it is here. ''  Serendi <sup style="color:#bb0000;">pod ous  00:52, 31 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I used some of the words there; I wanted it to sound more formal. We'll see how this one goes. I didn't add anything about neutrality or bias, thinking that the current wording implies that, but if there are any problems I'll tweak it further. :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 04:50, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

Merry Christmas!
<div style="border-style:solid; border-color:red; background-color:fff; border-width:2px; text-align:left; padding:8px;" class="plainlinks">

 Pr at yya  (Hello!) is wishing you a Merry Christmas! This greeting (and season) promotes WikiLove and hopefully this note has made your day a little better. Spread the WikiLove by wishing another user a Merry Christmas, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past, a good friend, or just some random person. Happy New Year!

Spread the cheer by adding {{subst:Xmas2}} to their talk page with a friendly message.  Pr at yya  (Hello!) 04:49, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks very much :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:19, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

The Signpost: 25 December 2013
<div class="hlist" style="margin-top:10px; font-size:90%; padding-left:5px; font-family:Georgia, Palatino, Palatino Linotype, Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
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 * EdwardsBot (talk) 05:04, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

Shameless promotion
Here is a book you probably already read, cause you should have (and so should your pals in MilHist!). Hope you're doing well, Ed, and that Santa brought you lots of goodies. Remember, you're still young and beautiful, but that doesn't mean God doesn't place limits on how much chocolate you can eat. Happy days to you, Drmies (talk) 05:10, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Perhaps surprisingly, I haven't read it.... but that doesn't mean I can't order it with my new Amazon gift card. ;-) Santa brought me a few goodies, but the goodies I had for other people were stolen out of my car on Christmas Eve (what a Merry Christmas, eh?). Still, I should be thankful they didn't take the car. Hope your holiday was great and you managed to eat even more chocolate than me! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:19, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that. Sorry for the other people, of course. Yeah, Merry Christmas for someone with a slim jim. Well, enjoy the rest of your holiday, if you're having any, and good luck making oliebollen. Keep a fire extinguisher handy, of course, and save a couple for . Drmies (talk) 17:52, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Dutchies, eh? Haven't had one of those in a while. I've been having a lot of kapsalon though. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 23:32, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Pretty much, . There's a (rudimentary) ball drop here, if that counts as a holiday, and I'll be dragging my girlfriend to it... although probably without oliebollen, as I've never heard of them—blasphemy, I know., kapsalon looks delicious, although I suspect my heart would complain if I ate it. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:10, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I just tell mine to shove it :D. Better that form of heart disease than the other. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 07:04, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Merry Christmas

 * Most likely. ;-) Yeah, all of the presents I bought for my father's side of the family, plus a GPS, an AC-DC power converter, an expensive hunting jacket, and a pair of shoes were all stolen. On Christmas Eve. My hometown has gone downhill since I left. On the flip side, at least it's not Flint. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:36, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Flint, i.e. murder capital of Michigan? Yeah, could be worse... could be a lot better though. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 05:38, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Yeah—thankfully not my hometown! Hope you're having a decent holiday season, Crisco. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:40, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Decent, to me, is likely not decent for most of society. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 10:05, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I hear ya. Best of luck with that ongoing situation. Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 16:07, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks. When she tried to sabotage my research, that was it. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 23:36, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

A kitten for you!
Sounds like you had a rough holiday. I hope the New Year brightens your spirits.

–Mabeenot (talk) 06:45, 28 December 2013 (UTC) <br style="clear: both;"/>
 * A bit, but it could have been far rougher too. Thanks for the kitten! Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 16:07, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

New Signpost
Hi, I am back after exams and holidays. I went to the newsroom for the new signpost but couldn't find any?? What happened?? <font style="white-space:nowrap;text-shadow:#F8F8FF 0em 0em 0.8em,#FF4500 -0.8em -0.8em 0.9em,#90EE90 0.7em 0.7em 0.8em;color:#696969">Herald<font style="color:Green"> talk with me 09:56, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Hey Planet, it looks like you've now started this week's edition. :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 16:07, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

Hi Ed, Signpost-subscription is still showing last week's edition. Regards, Nick-D (talk) 00:00, 29 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Now fixed/working correctly Nick-D (talk) 06:56, 29 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks for letting me know. It was probably an issue with Wikipedia's cache. :-) Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 05:10, 30 December 2013 (UTC)