User talk:Michael Snow/Archive (May-Sep 2007)

Westford
Why is Westford locked down? I spent some time adding to the new "Transportation" section. I'm not going to bother contributing anymore if my work is being blocked. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.192.43.33 (talk) 01:50, 1 May 2007 (UTC).

Jack Thompson photo
Thanks for your support. As for the photo, the real person to thank is GuardianV, who was willing to release the photo under the GFDL. I found the photo on Flickr and realized it would be perfect. --Maxamegalon2000 01:23, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

Signpost
Hi. Since you started the signpost, could you please answer my question on its talkpage, about how one could recieve it? Thanks. – A  stroHur  ricane  00  1 ( Talk + Contribs + Ubx ) ( + sign here + How's my editing? ) 13:15, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia Weekly in the Signpost
Hey Michael, I've created a page with a summary of this week's episode of the Wikipedia weekly podcast here: WikiProject WikipediaWeekly/Signpost. If you want to, please include it in the next episode (May 7) by copy/paste from the "edit page" version. Feel free to edit the formatting to fit with the signpost style and place it in whichever section you feel would be best - as a standalone, as part of "news and notes", bundled with WikiWorld, etc. etc.)

For future editions, please tell me the best place to notify The Signpost or add my section. I don't know how/where you collaborate on the next episode.

Thanks, Witty Lama 14:42, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Michael? Please confirm that you've received this ok and tell me what to do in the future. Witty Lama 08:07, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Catherine de Castelbajac
My apologies. I did eight solid hours yesterday on the WP:CSD backlog, so perhaps one bad call is not too bad. But please accept my apologies.--Anthony.bradbury 09:50, 7 May 2007 (UTC)


 * No, that's ok. I am eager to pick up on anything that will improve my performance.--Anthony.bradbury 16:48, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

The key to Wikipedia
Perhaps you should tale a look at the deletion reiew on May 2, 2007. SYSS Mouse 12:42, 7 May 2007 (UTC)
 * It probably matters because the admin chose to speedy delete and oversighted article where the policy is unclear. SYSS Mouse 01:25, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Ralph Schoenman
Thank you VERY much for the in-line citations. Please know that your effort is genuinely appreciated. Mwelch 23:41, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

Community news
i would like to make a note:
 * The Estonian Wikipedia has reached 35,000 articles and 4400 users on May 12th 2007. Avjoska 10:13, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Essjay controversy
I just noticed that your article on this was cited in this article. I was curious what your opinion was on the citation; personally, I've been against citing the Signpost, since it's hard to distinguish when we're a primary source and when we're a secondary or tertiary source. Ral315 » 06:31, 22 May 2007 (UTC)

Charles Bennison
Michael, thank you for your excellent rewrite of the Charles Bennison article. I have made some changes and would like your input. Fredmarch 02:05, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

RfC
Just wanted to let you know that I opened an RfC on myself in response to the concerns raised during my RfA over my actions in the Gary Weiss dispute. The RfC is located here and I welcome any comments or questions you may have. CLA 09:40, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Runcorn
That's fine; I planned to continue it earlier today, but I seem to be getting involuntary Noon to 10 shifts every Monday, without any warning :) Ral315 » 02:18, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Note placed in the wrong place
Please see here. I commented before realising that it was an old article that no-one might be watchlisting any more. Carcharoth 08:48, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

signpost
Hi Michael, many thanks for this article, Wikipedia Signpost/2007-06-04/Dutch government. Very well written and to the point. Ellywa 22:49, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

Could you take a look at this?
, britty redirected me towards you. Thanks. &rArr;   SWAT Jester    Denny Crane.  22:20, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks. &rArr;    SWAT Jester    Denny Crane.  13:43, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia Signpost suggestion
Hi,

I have come up with a possible new feature for the Signpost. In order to widen users' editing horizons, help broaden the mind of the casual browser and just for general interest, I thought I could write an A-Z of Wikipedia articles related to the date on which the issue is published (i.e. 'today'). A draft for June 11 can be found here. I am afraid I can only answer feedback at the weekend, so please have a look and see what you think. Carrot Man  16:12, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Questions for the Wikipedia Signpost
Hi! My name is Ral315, and I'm the editor-in-chief of the Wikipedia Signpost, a weekly newspaper on the English Wikipedia. I'm sending out an optional questionnaire that I hope you'll respond to. These questions will be published in next week's issue, and hopefully translated into many languages and copied to the Meta-Wiki prior to the election. (So, if you speak multiple languages, it'd be fantastic, though certainly not required, if you'd be willing to translate your answers into any languages you speak fluently.)

There's no word limit on any of these questions, but I suggest that brevity (maybe about 300-400 words per answer) is best. If at all possible, answers should be submitted by 16:00 UTC on Monday, June 25 (though late responses will also be accepted).

I'm posting these to your talk pages because they don't really fit well on question pages (since many will repeat questions you've already answered). You can reply to me by e-mail, or at my English Wikipedia, English Wikinews or Meta talk pages.

Thanks again for answering these, and good luck in the elections.

Sincerely, Ral315


 * 1) Do you have any other usernames or pseudonyms?


 * 1) What current or former user rights or positions do you have, and on which projects? (i.e. administrator, bureaucrat, arbitrator, developer, steward, board member, etc.)


 * 1) Outside of Wikipedia, what do you do for a living?


 * 1) What languages do you speak?


 * 1) Why do you want to join the Board?  What qualities do you feel you can bring to the Board?


 * 1) About how much time do you think you'll put into the role?


 * 1) Ideally, where do you see the Wikimedia Foundation in 5 years?


 * 1) As a board member, how will you ensure a balance between openness and necessary privacy in board matters?


 * 1) Recent discussion has centered around the Wikipedia and Wikimedia brands.  How do you feel the Wikimedia brands should be used, or changed?


 * 1) Wikimedia projects in developing nations are growing in popularity, but still lag far behind the more popular projects.  What steps would you suggest to improve the quality, readership, and number of editors on smaller wikis?


 * 1) What do you feel should be done to increase participation on non-Wikipedia projects?


 * 1) As a board member, what strategies would you consider to raise money for the Foundation?


 * 1) What else do you want to say to voters?  (This is a good place to answer a question specific to your candidacy that you think should be answered)

starter home
Hi, I noticed that you are a real estate expert. I recently started an article on starter homes and I was hoping you would be interested in contributing to it. Right now it's just a stub article and I'd like to add more content to it. Cheers. Wl219 02:14, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Requests for new languages
Dear Mr. Snow,

I am addressing this to you, because of the article you posted under "Committee proposed to screen new Wikipedia languages". If this should be sent to any other person, I would appreciate your advice as to who is competent to handle this matter.

Actually, I would like to request the creation of a Wikipedia in Moldovan. This issue was previously discussed, but there are new developments. Moldovan is a form of Romanian, with few differences. For this reason the Romanian wikipedia covered the needs of both countries where Romanian is spoken, i.e. Romania and Moldova. The difference is that, besides minor differences in the speach, the Moldovan and Romanian ortography is different. Until recently, the Romanian Wikipedia accepted both ways of spelling. However, recently the administrators of the Romanian Wikipedia have decided to accept only the Romanian version and to refuse the alternate Moldovan spelling. This denies the Moldovans the possibility of having a Wikipedia written in their own language.

The issue is similar to the case of English. There are minor differnces in United Kingdom English and american English though it is not claimed that they are different languages. Both types of spellings are acceptable in the English language Wikipedia. However, imagine if, at a certain moment, one part, say the americans, decide that only american spelling is acceptable and would deny the persons using british english to use Oxford rules. I would consider such a move to be abusive, but if it is accepted, the other party, in the case of the example the british, would normally be entitled to have their own version of the Wikipedia.

I would kindly request you to consider the matter and to indicate if there is anybody who is entitled to overrule the decision of accepting only one version of a language. In case the decision is final, I would appreciate if you could direct me to where I can request the opening of a new Wikipedia.

Sincerely. 22:39, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

Good luck from an old wiki-friend
Just thought I'd pop out of the dark shadows I normally lurk in to wish you the best of luck. I can't think of a better choice than you, and I wish I had the time and energy you do to keep at things in the thick of the fight here. I keep hoping I'll find the groove again, and yet I'm still a bit gun-shy after my months in the stress pit, lo those many years ago now. Anyhow, you may well have almost forgotten my name and face, but I thought I'd give you a note of encouragement since I saw your name and was delighted. All my best, as always, Jwrosenzweig 10:13, 3 July 2007 (UTC)

WP:OFFICE pages on WP:MFD
Two pages presumably protected under the WP:OFFICE policy have been nominated for deletion here. You have been contacted either as an office contact or as someone involved in the editing or maintenance of the nominated pages. If you with to comment, please see the deletion discussion. Thank you, — xaosflux  Talk  14:14, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

Orphaned non-free image (Image:BlockSwithTree.gif)
Thanks for uploading Image:BlockSwithTree.gif. The image description page currently specifies that the image is non-free and may only be used on Wikipedia under a claim of fair use. However, the image is currently orphaned, meaning that it is not used in any articles on Wikipedia. If the image was previously in an article, please go to the article and see why it was removed. You may add it back if you think that that will be useful. However, please note that images for which a replacement could be created are not acceptable for use on Wikipedia (see our policy for non-free media).

If you have uploaded other unlicensed media, please check whether they're used in any articles or not. You can find a list of 'image' pages you have edited by clicking on the "my contributions" link (it is located at the very top of any Wikipedia page when you are logged in), and then selecting "Image" from the dropdown box. Note that any non-free images not used in any articles will be deleted after seven days, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. Thank you. fuzzy510 03:42, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Stanford logo
My apologies - I didn't notice the color difference. Since the current logo certainly was fine in all aspects except for file type, I have converted the GIF version and uploaded it over the image I had just added, while also copying over the licensing info you got from Stanford's marketing department. As such, I'll add the link to the PNG version back, since this one is the appropriate color, and orphan the GIF agian. Thanks!

Ral315 RfB
Michael, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to address the concerns that myself and others raised about Ral315's RfB. I hope you saw the comments that User:Cecropia made at the RfB here. Not only do I agree with Cecropia's assessment that this story was biased, but I am disappointed that both of the story's writers voted to support the RfB. I, personally, do not think that this is at all an example of "striving for reasonably detached, objective journalism." Hopefully, even if you disagree, you realize that my concern is motivated because I have deep respect for the Signpost. --JayHenry 03:05, 11 July 2007 (UTC)

signpost article
Hi. I'm not sure if this is the right place, but I'm planning to write a story for the signpost, draft here. Any suggestions? What can I do to improve the story? Thanks. ~ A H  1 (TCU) 22:00, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

E-mail sent
As above. Ral315 » 04:06, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

Board election result
Just wanted to drop you a note to say congratulations on getting a large number of votes in the Board elections, and commiserations that you missed out on the top three. Carcharoth 00:17, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

It must be simultaneously very gratifying and somewhat disappointing to finish with such widespread support and yet just short of your goal--I offer you my sympathies if you are at all downcast about the result (and my solemn nod of agreement if you begin to feel that you have perhaps dodged a bullet in not being positioned on the firing line this time around). I wish you better fortune in whatever next awaits you here. All my best, as always, Jwrosenzweig 07:58, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

On my own, sure, but....
If I see a minor grammatical error in a Signpost article, is it kosher to correct it, or does it count as 'published'? --Thespian 10:18, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia talk:Wikipedia Signpost/2007-07-16/Blogger rescue
Signpost should be NPOV. Corvus cornix 17:29, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

Duplication
Wikipedia Signpost/2007-07-16/WikiWorld: the Charles Lane (actor) comic already featured in signpost: Wikipedia Signpost/2007-04-02/WikiWorld `'Míkka

Citizendium and the Signpost
I don't know if you or Ral is publishing this week, but I wanted to run this by you: I thought it might be useful if Mike Johnson (Citizendium Constable and a blogger on open.wikiblogplanet) wrote up a short piece to run alongside my report, describing the current plans and changes happening at Citizendium. I pitched it to him (here), but he's worried about whether it might too many feathers. Thoughts or editorial dictates?--ragesoss 22:46, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia Signpost?
Hi, I'd like to volunteer to help write for the Signpost. I have a bit of school journalism experience, but nothing more than that, but I figure it's not much different then writing an unbiased encyclopedia article, just in a slightly different format. Anyway, if I come across anything that could get a story, I'll write about it, but otherwise, if you ever need a story done, just come to me and I'll be glad to do it, just give me what it is, and when you need it by, and I'll be happy to do it. Cheers. -- HAL2008 TK CT 16:15, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

signpost & wikimania
Hope to hear from you. Witty Lama 06:46, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Hey there, Do you plan to talk about how Wikimania is kicking off next week? It starts on the 3rd (with hacking days etc. before that) so it falls within the scope of this upcoming edition. We over a Wikipedia Weekly are going to Taiwan to cover the event in twice daily shows and were wondering if we could get a mention in the Signpost pointing to our plans? The participants will be Users: Fuzheado (Andrew Lih), Tawker, DaveyDweeb, MessedRocker and myself Witty Lama. We'll also be having interviews with known and not so known wikipedians, daily "wrap-ups", vox pops, and descussions on some of the presentations. We'll also be running "the lounge" for people at the conference to drop in, chat and participate in some interactive training sesssions we hope to run.

Are three view drawings of aircraft PD-ineligable ?
A deletion discussion is taking place at which appears to be arguing that three view drawings of aircraft are ineligable for copyright. Since you have expertise in the area - I thought you might be able to contribute. Megapixie 23:25, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

This week's Signpost
Hey, Michael. I guess you'll probably have to do the Signpost again this week. I assumed that the "free wi-fi" at our campground didn't mean "hook up to the owners' router, which has a range of about 40 feet." Sorry for the trouble. Ral315 » 14:54, 30 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Another note: Make sure to check Shalom's article and see if there's any problems with it.  I'm not sure the "checkuser all admin candidates" note is that important unless major discussion came from it.  Ral315 » 14:59, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

Hi Michael,

Thanks again for the Signpost invite, and do let me know if you ever need anything from Citizendium-land. --Johnsonmx 16:44, 30 July 2007 (UTC)


 * If Ral315 isn't able to deliver it, just leave me a note and I can get HermesBot to deliver it. Thanks! ~   Wi ki  her mit  16:49, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

Notability of Bill Cleary (businessman)
Hello, this is a message from an automated bot. A tag has been placed on Bill Cleary (businessman), by another Wikipedia user, requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. The tag claims that it should be speedily deleted because Bill Cleary (businessman) seems to be about a person, group of people, band, club, company, or web content, but it does not indicate how or why the subject is notable: that is, why an article about that subject should be included in an encyclopedia. Under the criteria for speedy deletion, articles that do not assert the subject's importance or significance may be deleted at any time. Please see the guidelines for what is generally accepted as notable. To contest the tagging and request that administrators wait before possibly deleting Bill Cleary (businessman), please affix the template to the page, and put a note on its talk page. If the article has already been deleted, see the advice and instructions at WP:WMD. Feel free to contact the bot operator if you have any questions about this or any problems with this bot, bearing in mind that this bot is only informing you of the nomination for speedy deletion; it does not perform any nominations or deletions itself. --Android Mouse Bot 2 12:39, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Wikimania jury
You don't seem to be around, but in case you get here before you get to your emails, I'm waiting for your ok for your Wikimania 2008/Jury participation. notafish }&lt;&#39;;&gt; 09:24, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia Signpost
Hello my name is michael geheren i am a wikipeian and i was interested in writing for the newpaper. I am a journalist in real life i write for the KV Chronicles. I was thinking of writing a section called everthing wiki it is tons of things that relate to wikipedia. If you are interested please email me back. Thanks

Michael Geheren

AKA: mgeheren (WIKINAME) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mgeheren (talk • contribs) 00:41, August 25, 2007 (UTC)

Image for deletion
A tag has been placed on Image:Space Needle and logo.jpeg, requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done for the following reason:

unauthorized use of wikimedia logo

Under the criteria for speedy deletion, articles that do not meet very basic Wikipedia criteria may be deleted at any time. Please see the guidelines for what is generally accepted as an appropriate article, and if you can indicate why the subject of this article is appropriate, you may contest the tagging. To do this, add  on the top of the page and leave a note on  explaining your position. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag yourself, but don't hesitate to add information to the article that would confirm its subject's notability under the guidelines.

For guidelines on specific types of articles, you may want to check out our criteria for biographies, for web sites, for bands, or for companies. Feel free to leave a note on my talk page if you have any questions about this.  F3rn4nd0 (Roger - Out) 14:29, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia Signpost
I am interested in writing for the Signpost, perhaps about articles and users, or I could write about WikiProject developments. I might be interested in other fields as well. Thanks for your consideration, Laleena  16:38, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

Photo permissions
Hello, Michael Snow. I sent a garden variety "Once you have received a written/email confirmation that permission has been given, you should forward that written/email confirmation to the Wikimedia Communications committee at the e-mail address "permissions-en AT wikimedia DOT org" (an OTRS address), where it will be securely archived." per Wikipedia:Requesting copyright permission. I received this so I sent the permissions for it and three other photos. They are in non-standard format but I don't want to bug the subjects with any more permssions mail unless absolutely necessary. My question is how long does it take to receive a reply? Thanks. -Susanlesch 13:52, 16 September 2007 (UTC)
 * I also asked User talk:Angela and User talk:UninvitedCompany. -Susanlesch 14:02, 16 September 2007 (UTC)


 * Dear Michael Snow. On reflection, I am going to tag all five images db-author and remember that Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Communications Committee cannot handle their own guidelines. What a rook. -Susanlesch 02:18, 17 September 2007 (UTC)