User talk:Brianboulton/Archive 81

Pierce and Seward (reminders)
(moved to here, otherwise too easily overlooked) Handsome but stupid, rather like Kennedy in that regard. He's now at FAC. Dare I mention that I have left William H. Seward at Peer Review? He is perhaps best known for his folly, but he did quite a bit more than that. There is no hurry whatsoever. He's waited 142 years, he can wait a while longer.--Wehwalt (talk) 21:24, 29 August 2014 (UTC)
 * I'll get to Pierce at FAC quite quickly, Seward at PR little later. There will be reciprocation requests in due course. Your industry is astounding. Brianboulton (talk) 21:45, 30 August 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 27 August 2014

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More FA congratulations, etc
Just a quick note to congratulate you on the promotion of Noye's Fludde to FA status recently. I know you know all about WP:TFAR (specific and non-specific date slots) and the "pending" list, so this is just a reminder to use them as and when suits you. Many thanks.

Fludde as TFA for 15th July, perhaps?

Re TFA notices, I've scheduled up to 22nd September now if you want to send some notes out (no urgency, most of the last batch are either primary editors nominating at TFA or inactive/deceased editors). I emailed the botop yesterday and will get the ball rolling on a replacement botop if I don't hear by the end of the week. Best wishes, BencherliteTalk 14:03, 1 September 2014 (UTC)


 * 15th July would be a nice joke – I'll note it in my "remind to nominate" list. I will begin sending out TFA notifications later today, to extant editors. Brianboulton (talk) 14:37, 1 September 2014 (UTC)

Today's Featured Article: Notification
This is to inform you that Gustav Holst, which you nominated at WP:FAC, will appear on the Wikipedia Main Page  as  Today's Featured Article on 21 September 2014. The proposed main page blurb is here; you may amend if necessary. Please check for dead links and other possible faults before the appearance date.

Holst TFA
The link-checker is up the Swanee at the moment (something very peculiar going on that I don't understand), but I'll plough through the links manually and make sure they all work before the page goes up for the coconut shy.  Tim riley  talk    21:36, 3 September 2014 (UTC)
 * I'll do a prose check to identify any unwelcome addenda. Brianboulton (talk) 13:11, 4 September 2014 (UTC)
 * I see you are helping Bencherlite with reminders to FA noms about TFA nomination. I have volunteered to help. Tell me what to do and I'll do it.  Tim riley  talk    19:13, 4 September 2014 (UTC)
 * What I do is send a standard message I've devised, here, in conjunction with TFA: this month's queue, to the nominators of the chosen TFAs. Care has to be taken that the links in the message are the right ones. If the nominator is retired, blocked or deceased I don't send the message. I have cleared up to 22 September; to avoid us tripping over each other's feet, I will handle any further notices until I go to Sweden on 13 September, after which I shall be incommunicado for a week. If you can take up the reins for a bit then, I'm sure the other Tim will be delighted. Don't forget to send me a note if one of my noms turns up, as I am mightily forgetful of these things. Brianboulton (talk) 15:32, 5 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Brian and, I've scheduled to 8th October in a burst of enthusiasm, so as and when you get a chance to let people know, I would be most grateful. BencherliteTalk 13:09, 9 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Aha! A coincidence! BB and I have just lunched together and I have been appointed Lord High Substitute in his absence on hols from Saturday.  Tim riley  talk    16:10, 9 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Updated the three added since, viz 9 to 11 Oct.  Tim riley  talk    09:18, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 03 September 2014

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Disambiguation link notification for September 8
Hi. Thank you for your recent edits. Wikipedia appreciates your help. We noticed though that when you edited Women's Labour League, you added a link pointing to the disambiguation page Margaret MacDonald. Such links are almost always unintended, since a disambiguation page is merely a list of "Did you mean..." article titles. Read the FAQ* Join us at the DPL WikiProject.

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TFA reminders

 * 27 September SS Arctic disaster
 * Warlock nominated, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:04, 9 September 2014 (UTC)
 * (that's 30 October)

September 2014
Hello, I'm BracketBot. I have automatically detected that [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=624862375 your edit] to George Lansbury may have broken the syntax by modifying 1 "[]"s. If you have, don't worry: just [ edit the page] again to fix it. If I misunderstood what happened, or if you have any questions, you can leave a message on [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?action=edit&preload=User:A930913/BBpreload&editintro=User:A930913/BBeditintro&minor=&title=User_talk:A930913&preloadtitle=BracketBot%20–%20&section=new my operator's talk page].
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 * George Lansbury pleads for peace at League of Nations] Clip from a Paramount Newsreel, circa 1935

A general invitation to page watchers
My most recent expansion, Margaret Bondfield, is at peer review. This is a general invitation to comment here, and I will be grateful for any attention, however fleeting. Brianboulton (talk) 17:48, 10 September 2014 (UTC)

PR for the Wigan Nightingale
Evening squire,

After the son came the father is all very much in the cart-before-the-horse territory, but the little clean up of the Formby Snr article got a little out of hand and turned into an overhaul. For better or worse, the Wigan Nightingale is now at PR for comments, criticism and complaints. If you have the time or the will I'd be delighted to hear your views, but I appreciate that your Wiki time may be limited. Pip pip – SchroCat (talk) 22:42, 12 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Well, I am off to Sweden tomorrow – back 20th, and if it still needs comments then I'll be pleased to oblige. Brianboulton (talk) 00:05, 13 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Have a great time—a great, if expensive place to visit. Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 08:24, 13 September 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 10 September 2014

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One hundred years ago today ...
... the Revenue Cutter Bear arrived in Nome, carrying the survivors of the Karluk. Thank you for writing The Voyage of the Karluk. JKBrooks85 (talk) 03:17, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Great music
I read that on Ernst Roth? See also. I couldn't help thinking of. No trivia were added to Roth, or Gardiner, for another example. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:17, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

Formby Snr
Hi Brian, a well-timed holiday has meant you managed to miss the PR on George Formby Snr, but you don't get to escape entirely, as he is now at FAC, if I can persuade you to pop over for a review? I hope you had a good time in Sweden? Cheers – SchroCat (talk) 20:29, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 17 September 2014

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Minor grumble
During my week's absence, something has happened to change the means of access to image pages. Whereas until now I merely had to click on the image in an article to reach the image page, I now find that clicking on the image takes me to another version of the image, on a funereal black background, and I have to find other links to take me to the image page where I can view source information, licensing etc. Try the image opposite. Does anyone know the purpose of this change of procedure, and why it is deemed to be an advantage over the former system? I'd love to know. Brianboulton (talk) 14:02, 21 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Hi Brian. Quick answer: Go to your Preferences. Under the Appearance tab scroll down to Files and uncheck the box "Enable Media Viewer". I agree, it's an absolutely awful non-improvement. There's been an enormous brouhaha about it. Best, Voceditenore (talk) 15:32, 21 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Background reading: Wikipedia Signpost/2014-08-13/News and notes. Best, Voceditenore (talk) 15:39, 21 September 2014 (UTC)
 * PS I forgot to say that the disabling only works if you're logged in and doesn't work if you're accessing the file from another project, e.g. Italian Wikipedia. You have to disable it in your preferences for each individual project. Another way round it is when you want to click on the image, choose to open it in a new tab. Voceditenore (talk) 15:49, 21 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Thank you for all this help. I have successfully disabled the awful "Media Viewer" in accordance with your instructions. The RFH image is still trapped, presumably because it is from another project, but your new tab advice works, too. I've looked at some of the angry reactions to this intolerable imposition – can't understand why people aren't even angrier. The pussyfooting responses of our lords and masters at WMF leave me incredulous, but at least I have a way out now. Brianboulton (talk) 16:49, 21 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Well, pussy-footing is putting it mildly. The WMF's goal was "to improve the viewing experience for readers and casual editors". That says it all—completely forgetting to even think whether it would improve the "experience" of the editors who actually write the encyclopedia. That's mainly because none of then have a clue how to build an article, neither the developers nor their bosses who cook up these ideas, and they see no problem with that. But if you think this was bad, take a look at their latest gift in development WP:FLOW. Their responses on the talk page as editors continue to bang their heads on a brick wall are utterly depressing. Best, Voceditenore (talk) 18:26, 21 September 2014 (UTC)

Hunger Marches
Wilson says that Ellen Wilkinsion was against rearmament and building warships in the Jarrow ship yards and so was partly to blame when the government closed the ship yard whixch could have stayed open with defence contracts and saved many jobs. See page 326. The idea for the march came from the communist leader Wal Hannington. 2.26.117.171 (talk) 21:23, 25 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Hmm, Wilkinson became MP for Jarrow in 1935, after the closure of Palmer's yard, and anyway would have had no influence over what ships were built there. And "defence contracts " were non-existent at the time. And Hannington had nothing to do with the Jarrow crusade, which took place years after the main hunger marches of the 1920s and 30s. But I'll read what Wilson says if you email it. Brianboulton (talk) 22:07, 25 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Having said that about Hannington, I've just read what Betty Vernon has to say about him re the march, which I will incorporate into the article in due course. Incidentally, I wonder if anyone who is familiar with Jarrow can tell me if the old town hall is still standing? Brianboulton (talk) 15:32, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

SS Arctic

 * Thank you for the disaster ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:26, 27 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Thanks. i hope you realise I'm responsible for the article, not the sinking. Brianboulton (talk) 15:00, 27 September 2014 (UTC)
 * A great article - very nicely written and researched. Hchc2009 (talk) 15:42, 27 September 2014 (UTC)
 * The first time in ages that I've read a main page article from start to finish. Brilliant work. Giano    (talk) 17:41, 27 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Thanks to the two above for kind comments. Brianboulton (talk) 19:21, 27 September 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 24 September 2014

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