User talk:Brianboulton/Archive 85

Peer review
Hi Brian. I recall after noting that nobody commented on my peer review for the Murder of Leigh Leigh article, you stated you were happy to receive requests for peer review. I have currently nominated Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (which was the first article I ever nominated for GA) for peer review, see here. I nominated the article for peer review over a week ago, and it has yet to receive any comments (though this may be just because it's the holidays). Anyway i'd very much appreciate it if you could have a look at the article and let me know if you think anything is lacking by FA standards, as i'd like to list it at FAC asap. Thanks, and let me know if you would like a hand with something. Freikorp (talk) 04:36, 1 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Well done in getting the Leigh Leigh article through the FAC process and later to the main page. In December I was appointed as a TFA coordinator for WP main page scheduling, and this is currenrtly eating into my reviewing time  as I have taken responsibility for January 2015. The workload should ease by mid-Jan, but I will be away from 16th to 26th, so you can see that my opportunities for reviewing will be rather restricted. I'll make a note to   look at your article if I get the chance. Brianboulton (talk) 17:42, 1 January 2015 (UTC)

Happy New Year!
 Dear, HAPPY NEW YEAR Hoping 2015 will be a great year for you! Thank you for your contributions! From a fellow editor, FWiW  Bzuk (talk) 21:12, 1 January 2015 (UTC)

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Extensive edits on Mark Satin page by Colonies Chris
Hi Brian, - I am not sure this note should be directed to you or Dank, so I'm sending it to both of you (see next para.). It was going to be a joyous New Year's note telling you that everything has been perfected; alas, nothing comes so easy in this world. ...

Hi Dank. I was looking forward to telling you and Brian that I had finished "perfecting" and updating the Mark Satin page (for its appearance as the FA article on the home page January 10), when I discovered that literally dozens of changes have just been made by a long-time Wikipedia editor calling himself "Colonies Chris."

Except for one change of a hyphen to a dash, ALL his edits involved removing my internal links from book publishers.

Since many of my updates (which occupied my last four days) involved updating internal links to book publishers, I felt it would be wise to confirm with you that it is now Wikipedia's policy to not provide internal links to book publishers.

A couple of things suggest to me that Colonies Chris's edits may be inappropriate. First, as you may recall from 2011-2012, I was very careful to only link to book publishers on first mention - there was nothing random about my links. Second, Chris did a sloppy job - for all the dozens of internal links to publishers that he eliminated, he failed to eliminate at least 15 such links (see, e.g., footnotes 6, 17, 21, 37, and 93). Finally, he seems to have gotten himself into an edit war with someone else; see his talk page.

Obviously, with only nine days to go until the Satin page goes up on the home page, I cannot get into an edit war with a senior Wikipedia editor. Are his edits wise? If so, I will eliminate the 15+ remaining links to book publishers. (It will certainly make updating the Satin page easier in the future!) Are they unwise? If so, I would appreciate if you or Brian reverted his edits and communicated with him on his talk page. Thanks so much! - Babel41 (talk) 02:00, 2 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Brian, - Dank has now responded, with a vote of confidence in Colonies Chris and advice to contact him with any questions. So that is what I'll do.  Best, - Babel41 (talk) 07:39, 2 January 2015 (UTC)

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Hmm?

 * I think that was a mistake, since removing the template from the main TFAR page would work better (IMHO). Otherwise what's the point of archiving? — Crisco 1492 (talk) 14:28, 4 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Please feel free to revert/correct whatever I did wrong. Brianboulton (talk) 14:30, 4 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Alright, done. Removing the text portion of the archives is of little benefit as it ensures that casual readers being linked there will be confused (not thinking/knowing how to check the history), and means that the discussion is not searchable through the search bar. AFAIK, such removals of content are generally for things which could have real-world consequences or for similar courtesy reasons (Arbcom being a common one). — Crisco 1492 (talk) 14:45, 4 January 2015 (UTC)

Constitution TFA for Jan 18th
Please see my response Brad (talk) 03:16, 5 January 2015 (UTC)

Gary Cooper peer review
Hello, Brian. Yesterday I created a peer review request for the Gary Cooper article that was promoted to GA last month. I know you were involved in recent reviews of the John Barrymore article and thought you might be interested in this one. If you have the time, please review the article and leave any feedback at the peer review page in preparation for FAC nomination. Regards, Bede735 (talk) 14:37, 5 January 2015 (UTC)
 * I've recently taken over the role of WP:TFA coordinator, and that's eating into my review time. And I'm away for most of the second half of January. I'm sure I'd enjoy reviewing Cooper (one of the great bad actors) but at present I can't promise anything. Brianboulton (talk) 23:54, 5 January 2015 (UTC)
 * I understand, Brian. Thank you for responding. Oh, and regarding your "one of the great bad actors" comment—to quote Coop in The Virginian, "If you wanna call me that, smile." :-) Bede735 (talk) 01:34, 6 January 2015 (UTC)

What are the chances?
While doing some housekeeping work for MilHist, I just made the astonishing discovery that the article SS Arctic disaster now exists, and that you wrote it. I nearly fell out of my chair! Arctic is a long-held interest of mine; in 2007–8 I started sandboxing my work in an outline, as well as a list of sources and a draft article. I got sidetracked with other projects and it fell by the wayside (although later, in 2012, I received the amusing notification that my crude userspace draft had been cited in a book).

For many years now the article has been my personal albatross, #1 on my list of Things I Must Write Someday. I am delighted that you have written it! Sometime soon when I'm a bit less giddy, I'll look over my old notes and see if I have any additions to propose. Maralia (talk) 06:51, 8 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Ah, if only I had known – this could have been a wonderful joint project. The disaster is practically unknown in this country, and searching for sources was a real problem. My initial interest was piqued by seeing the title Women and Children Last in a second-hand bookshop; I bought it and took it from there. Wehwalt sent me masses of contemporary extracts from the NYT and the Baltimore Sun, which were a fantastic resource. Please feel free to embellish as you feel appropriate; one possibility might be a subarticle on the ship itself, since I concentrated on the disaster rather than on the particulars of the vessel. I am sure you will use your material wisely, and will be interested in what you decide to do. Brianboulton (talk) 10:13, 8 January 2015 (UTC)
 * PS: you may be interested to know that – when I can find the time – I am curently working on another, rather less stressful maritime article: Girl Pat (1935 trawler), an account of a caper which did very little harm but evidently kept the British public diverted for months in 1936, at a time when rather more important events should perhaps have claimed their attention. Brianboulton (talk) 11:23, 8 January 2015 (UTC)

Books and Bytes - Issue 9
 The Wikipedia Library Books & Bytes

Issue 9, November-December 2014 by, ,

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 * New donations, including real-paper-and-everything books, e-books, science journal databases, and more
 * New TWL coordinators, conference news, a new open-access journal database, summary of library-related WMF grants, and more
 * Spotlight: "Global Impact: The Wikipedia Library and Persian Wikipedia" - a Persian Wikipedia editor talks about their experiences with database access in Iran, writing on the Persian project and the JSTOR partnership

OHMS
- SchroCat (talk) 08:30, 9 January 2015 (UTC)

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TFAR Summary chart
Hi Brian, Just to let you know that when you remove an article from the TFAR summary chart you need to leave behind the table boxes (or replace them afterwards) comme ça. Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 22:12, 9 January 2015 (UTC)

Mischief Makers
I was thinking of holding off on TFA until 2017 (its 20th anniversary). Does that sound all right? czar ⨹   23:55, 9 January 2015 (UTC)
 * I can delay it if you wish. Whether such anniversaries really register I'm not sure, but it's your call. Brianboulton (talk) 00:07, 10 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Czar, should I go ahead and write the TFA paragraph for this one? - Dank (push to talk) 21:37, 10 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Appreciate the offer (and thanks for the ping), but I'd prefer to hold off until 2017, if that's okay czar ⨹   22:30, 10 January 2015 (UTC)

OK, I have removed Mischief Makers from 27th. Czar, it might be a good idea to leave a note on the article's talk about the 20th anniversary, so that it isn't inadvertently scheduled before then. Dank, would you remove Mischief's move protection? See here for replacement. Brianboulton (talk) 23:31, 10 January 2015 (UTC)
 * TFA paragraph for the new article written, move protection cancelled. - Dank (push to talk) 01:15, 11 January 2015 (UTC)

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For your next pub quiz
Since you mentioned the less-known Franklin, the only US president and the only British prime minister with the same last name is "Wilson". I impressed my teammates on my recent (unfortunately brief) cruise by getting it after forty seconds of very hard thought.--Wehwalt (talk) 10:13, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Here's another: What is the only name which is the surname of an American president and the first name of a British prime minister? It may take more than 40 seconds.... Brianboulton (talk) 12:44, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Less than 40 seconds for me - if it's the gent who was twice Prime Minster - SchroCat (talk) 12:54, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Remind me to cram if I ever end up in a pub with the three of you. Mind, I'd probably be too interested in my beer... — Crisco 1492 (talk) 14:00, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * To SchroCat – who did you have in mind? My fella was only PM once (and very unsuccessful he was, too). I bet Wehwalt has it. Brianboulton (talk) 14:17, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * I know why you're thinking that: you're plumping, rightly, for Balfour. I was going, also correctly, for Wellesley who was two to Balfour's one. - SchroCat (talk) 14:24, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Yes, you're right, too. I always assumed Wellington's first name was Duke. Brianboulton (talk) 15:09, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * No, you're thinking of Ellington now! Sorry...couldn't resist! Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 15:14, 13 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Arthur/Arthur Wellesley was what I came up with too (about a minute and a half after chasing some false leads). The moronic cruise director asked a question on Thatcher which I nailed to the wall, but the reason I call him moronic is that the question said as part of it that she was the longest-serving prime minister.  I confronted him afterwards about it and named four longer serving ones (there are actually six) and he was supposed to look it up and send me a bottle of bubbly if I was right, which he did not do. Thus, i shall file in maritime court to impound the ship until I get my bottle of two quid bubbly. I also scared a poor member of the cruise staff when she asked a question about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and I said "that's not the title". By the way, Horace Greeley is at FAC.--Wehwalt (talk) 22:00, 13 January 2015 (UTC)

LO at PR
Following a recent overhaul by Tim riley and me, we now have Laurence Olivier up for comments and suggestions at PR. Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated. Cheers – SchroCat (talk) 20:32, 14 January 2015 (UTC)
 * A great subject. Unfortunately the timing is a bit awkward for me, as on Friday I am off to subtropical parts (to recover from the stresses of TFA coordination) and won't be back until 26th. I have quite a bit to do before I go (including getting my own article ready for PR – more of that anon) but I will try to at least take a look. My main comments, though, will have to await my return. Brianboulton (talk) 21:27, 14 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Absolutely no rush: happy to wait until you have some free time, and if PR goes better and more quickly than aticipated there's always FAC instead! Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 21:31, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

Wikiproject
I've been giving a lot of thought to this, and although Bencherlite and Raul took most of the burden on themselves to write or vet the TFA text, I'd like for us to nurture a small wikiproject to help with that job. I can see a few potential downsides and a bunch of potential upsides. Bencherlite will probably give me an earful over this, but I wanted to run the idea by you and Crisco first. Thoughts? (I asked Crisco too, feel free to reply here or there.) - Dank (push to talk) 04:49, 15 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Could you perhaps spell out in a little more detail the objectives of the proposed project? "To help with that job" is rather vague. Brianboulton (talk) 15:27, 15 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Sure ... before I saw this, I gave a long response to Crisco at User talk:Crisco 1492. He wants to wait, and I'm fine with waiting, for now. You want details, and so do I ... but generally, when I'm trying to get people on board with something, I invite the people first and give them a chance to say what they're looking to do. Then if it seems like there are details that are being overlooked, I fill in the cracks. - Dank (push to talk) 18:08, 15 January 2015 (UTC)
 * That is ... one person might be a great copyeditor, another might have the spare time to document what others are doing, another might have useful technical skills, and someone else might be really good at explaining to people why copyeditors make the choices they make, and have the time to do it. I'm hoping the three of us would evaluate everyone individually, and look at their skills and track record. The Main Page is a big deal for a lot of people; I think we'll get a range of volunteers if we ask. - Dank (push to talk) 20:13, 15 January 2015 (UTC)

Map found from Last voyage of the Karluk
Brian, thought you might interested to learn of the discovery of the map Captain Bob Bartlett used while on the ill-fated voyage of the Karluk. It seems unclear if it was a recent discovery as the map and other items were donated to the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum in Maine in 2012 while the news story from CBC is dated today. See the news story here!

I always look forward to reading your articles on Wikipedia, they are interesting and well researched. HJKeats (talk) 12:32, 15 January 2015 (UTC)


 * Thank you for the information and link re the Bartlett map. The map is (understandably) a bit of a mess, and some of the details in the report are a little awry, but the discovery is certainly worth at least a footnote in the Karluk article. I'll attend to this when I return from a short wikibreak, beginning tomorrow. In the meantime, if you enjoy seafaring articles, I'm just finishing work on Girl Pat (1935 trawler), an account of a somewhat less perilous maritime adventure, which you may like to read. Brianboulton (talk) 13:43, 15 January 2015 (UTC)

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Benjamin Tillman
I hope you are someplace warm for your holiday. Some time after you get back, could you run your eyes over Benjamin Tillman, now at PR? You may recall him as the "other" pro-silver speaker at the 1896 convention, the one who was not William Jennings Bryan, and it showed. No hurry.--Wehwalt (talk) 12:32, 19 January 2015 (UTC)

Today's featured article/requests/Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria
Brian, I'm working on the assumption that if someone else writes a TFA paragraph based on one of your FACs, it's okay for me to fiddle with it ... let me know if you'd like more (or less!) than what I'm doing. In this one, it seemed to me that the reduction to three acts happened very early, so the fact that it was originally five probably shouldn't survive the paring process at TFA. I made a few minor tweaks, as usual, to make it a little more accessible for the broader Main Page readership. - Dank (push to talk) 15:37, 19 January 2015 (UTC)


 * @Dank: danke! I left it sort of too long and open to have the master prune it - who is away, which made me think it might be to late if we wait with a nom for Carnival for his ritorno. I also thought that perhaps the triumvirate has a problem suggesting their "own" articles ;) - I joined project opera again, btw, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:53, 19 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Fantastic that you've rejoined that wikiproject ... I think having people who know what they're doing to assist and encourage the wikiprojects active at FAC is important. I see your point about the timing. Feel free to nominate anything in any shape you like; it's not like we don't have people available to pick over the prose :) - Dank (push to talk) 15:58, 19 January 2015 (UTC)

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Bramshill House
Hi. Any chance you could look at this and post some pointers at the peer review? I'll definitely be taking it to FAC so I'd prefer that most issues are settled before it is nominated.♦ Dr. Blofeld  12:08, 24 January 2015 (UTC)
 * I will get to this, but (see below) I have acquired a small backlog of review duties because of my inexcusable desertion of duty during the past couple of weeks. Give me a few days and I'll be there, but if you wish to nominate soon I'll pick it up at FAC. Brianboulton (talk) 11:19, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Peer reviews outstanding
(Reminders to self) Brianboulton (talk) 16:59, 26 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Laurence Olivier
 * Benjamin Tillman
 * Bramshill House
 * Casino Royale (novel)
 * Recommend doing Tillman first, after whom Sir Laurence and Le Chiffre will both seem angels by comparison. Welcome back, sir! I hope all was feasting and fun.  Tim riley  talk    21:14, 26 January 2015 (UTC)

*passes baton*
I've finished up February, as I fly back to Indonesia tomorrow and will be more or less incommunicado for three or four days. The baton is yours! — Crisco 1492 (talk) 14:38, 29 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Great work Crisco, there's something for everyone in your picks. - Dank (push to talk) 15:00, 29 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks, Dan. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 15:20, 29 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Yes, some great selections there. I won't start scheduling March for a week or so – have you updated the notepad with recent FA promotions, and deleted your selections? If you don't have time before your break, I'll do it. Brianboulton (talk) 15:43, 29 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Not yet; I guess I'll do that now. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 16:47, 29 January 2015 (UTC)
 * And it's all yours. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 19:20, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

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Bramshill House
Good evening. Many thanks for your valuable input into the peer review. The article is now at FAC. All further comments and input will be much appreciated, cheers.♦ Dr. Blofeld  20:31, 30 January 2015 (UTC)