User talk:Michael Snow/Archive (Oct 2007-Oct 2008)

Signpost/2007-10-08/Myanmar to Burma
Thanks for a good summary of the debate, but it seems you missed this clear proof of strong preference for B in reliable sources (especially in running text, which shows that M is mostly used only once as in "also/officially called M") and the following point/discovery i made at the end:

What's ironic about this B/M debate is that it is apparently a traditional, clear UK/US divide, and these are known to cause much more interest in WP naming discussions than the sufferings or the wish of an entire people. Most of those discussion members accused of being political activists were probably just defending their regional speech preference. It's also quite funny that it took so long to find out that this is a UK/US difference. If someone had bothered to contact a professor in both a UK and a US university, we could have saved huge amounts of time and energy. If this is such a clear regional English difference, we should of course consider renaming the article Burma/Myanmar, but we should definitely consider the declared wish of the elected B government and of the majority of Burmese people in deciding which to use mainly in the article. The biggest irony is namely that the fervent defenders of M basing their arguments mainly on Google news hits and ignoring more reputable sources (the ones i documented) also blindly or dishonestly ignore the fact that most experts quoted in the news and most Burmese demonstrators in those same news sources use mostly B. The US news stories also regularly have things like "who wrote a book on B" or "the Open Society Institute's Burma Project/Southeast Asia" which clearly demonstrate what experts on B say and use. --Espoo 09:32, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Templates
That's fine. I was tinkering around trying to find a way to get the bullet points restored easily, but haven't been able to find one yet. Ral315 » 16:32, 9 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Take a look at the archives now for 10-01...I think I've got it worked out. The only thing is that it's spaced out a little more because I had to use an extra space to avoid a bug.  Ral315 » 16:48, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Michael Fuchs
I don't recall it was when I had just joined wikiepdia. So much has happened in 18 months I can barely remember creating it. I am sure I got the info from a more official HBO site not this. In fact have you considered the yahoo might actually be a copy of wikipedia? ♦ Sir Blofeld ♦      "Talk"? 21:01, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps but 83,000 odd edits later I wouldn't dream of wiping a whole web page. I am pretty sure I used a more official site like HBO or something as a source. Maybe I should give it a quick rewrite to reduce the similarity with this yahoo page perhaps  ♦ Sir Blofeld ♦       "Talk"? 23:33, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Its odd because this is completely not the sort of article I even read let alone create. Now I have contributed a huge range of topics since my time here but I can't think why I created this anyway -it must have been to fill a red link or something. I've cut out some phrases and adjusted some wording but it is pretty similar - but I've now added reference tags as the article should be written from several sources in our own text. ♦ Sir Blofeld ♦      "Talk"? 23:47, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Moving (ice hockey b. 19xx) to middle name disambiguations
Is this a widely accepted move, or something you have just done on your own? I have been working under the impression that when two ice hockey players have the same name, their pages are disambiguated using the (ice hockey b. 19xx) method. I have posed this question on the talk page of WP:HOCKEY as well, in an attempt to gain a consensus. Thanks.

I ask because there are many other pairs of hockey players who are disambiguated using (ice hockey b. 19xx) and only a few who are disambiguated using middle names. The middle name disambiguations are considered special cases: for example, Steve Smith (ice hockey) and James Stephen Smith (who went by "Steve Smith" in his playing career) are disambiguated thusly because they were born not only in the same year, but in the same month. Skudrafan1 19:40, 24 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Update to save your time: consensus is with you. The only reason other hockey player disambiguations have the (b. 19xx) is because some players' middle names are difficult to track down.  Good work finding the Bolands', however you did so. :) Skudrafan1 19:55, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

German location template
Someone has imported the German location template from the German Wikipedia, but it has several glitches: The area (Fläche) shows up as population density, and there is no way to enter coordinates without seconds. How do I go about notifying the appropriate person(s)?

Ksnow 16:48, 5 November 2007 (UTC)KSnow

==My dear Sir, Your user talk page looks like "it's also quite funny"...it's slick, now. Which entire people, I wonder, is Esppoo [orthographos sic] talking about when he speaks of their sufferings? The British people or the American people? Love, --Dsnow75 05:59, 10 November 2007 (UTC)David

Template:Signpost footer
A you created, Template:Signpost footer,  been marked for deletion as  deprecated and orphaned template. If, after 14 days, there been no objection, the template will be deleted. If you wish to object to deletion, please list your objection here and feel free to remove the  tag from the template. If you feel the deletion appropriate, no further action is necessary. Thanks for your attention. Bryan Derksen (talk) 10:20, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Signpost
Re:Wikipedia Signpost/2007-12-03/Staffing features - very good explanation. Not a single mistake or omitted fact. Raul654 12:27, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

E-mail
If you haven't seen it yet, I sent you an e-mail. Ral315 (talk) 22:07, 10 December 2007 (UTC)


 * And, another e-mail sent to you on another subject -- please reply. Ral315 (talk) 03:23, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Invitation to discuss a revert
Hello Michael,

Regarding this edit, I would like to invite you to this discussion.

JackSparrow Ninja (talk) 10:10, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Signpost disclaimer
Hi, don't you mean to say the opinions "...do not necessarily represent...[etc]..." ? Just a suggestion; keep up the yeoman work! {  JGHowes talk  -  18:20, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

WikBack account created
Someone, perhaps you, recently created an account at the WikBack. If the account was created by an imposter, please let me know as soon as possible so that it can be disabled. Otherwise, welcome! The Uninvited Co., Inc. 19:55, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

Disputed fair use rationale for Image:CardSeal-1.gif
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Why it matters
Because iff it is true, then he has edited the article about himself.

More importantly, apparently Jimbo had good reasons to suspect it, and I'm very curious to learn who else might have known those same reasons. Some have been vigorously defending him/them, including blocks and threats of blocks. If anyone has done so knowingly, or at least while in possession of the same reasons that led Jimbo to make the wikback comment, then several admin bits are at stake.

I for one wouldn't want to see this swept under the rug to protect people who have abused their admin tools to enable a long-term violation of COI. This needs to go to ArbCom. Iff the allegations are true. User:Dorftrottel 18:45, February 13, 2008

Board.
Grats! Avruch  T 19:03, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Block/unblock of User:Samiharris
Per precedent, I have unblocked Samiharris to allow him to participate in the pending request for arbitration if he wishes, and I have removed the sockpuppet tag on his userpage without prejudice until the request is resolved. I trust that you will understand why these steps were desirable given that it appears the arbitration case is going to be accepted and the issues will be addressed in that forum. Newyorkbrad (talk) 22:04, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

thought crime
First, congrats on being a new Board of Trustees member. I'm sure you'll do a fine job.

Second, you said "Most likely any account that clearly sides with this person in the future will be automatically suspected as a sockpuppet, rightly or not."

"Clearly sides". How is that not a thought crime? So now we can ban anyone who is either for or against naked short sales because either position is that of a convicted sock master? Please help move the community away from the direction of using "agrees with" or "disagrees with" as a criteria for blocking/banning. WAS 4.250 (talk) 23:15, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Great piece at the signpost!
Michael, thank you for this. I am very interested Wikipedia's impact on journalism and media, and if I can help in any way, please let me know. WNDL42 (talk) 14:05, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

G'day Michael......
I don't think we've crossed paths 'on-wiki' before - but I've enjoyed reading, and occasionally responding to, your posts over at wikback.com. I've recently become interested in the concept of 'real life' conversations between wikipedians who are interested in chatting - you can see it at NotTheWikipediaWeekly. So far, we've had conversations between folk including Raul654, Durova, and what I hope was a fair discussion with Danny Wool too - people have been very generous with their time. I hope what we've been trying to do is both interesting and just generally a 'good thing'.

I thought I'd drop a note here to see if you might be at all interested in joining a 'round table' discussion at some point - obviously it would be wonderful to have a board member available (and congrat.s on your recent appointment!) - the intention of the format is to allow any interested wikimedians to engage, either by joining the virtual 'room' (we use skypecasts to facilitate the discussion).

Let me know if you've got any thoughts, or questions, or just generally what you think about maybe coming on and saying hello!

thanks! - Privatemusings (talk) 02:24, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for your response, Michael - and if you do get the chance to have a listen to some of what we've been up to, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.... If you'd like any advice on your technical setup, I'd like to offer to help also, but suspect it would be the blind leading the less-blind-than-I (but I have done battle with Skype on many occasions now, and come out ok... so do ask if you like....).

I haven't edited the conversations at all (which both makes life easier, and keeps the thing honest, I hope! - warts 'n all...) - and as you'll hear the whole thing takes about 45mins or so. If you are able and interested to engage in such a process, we could certainly figure out the topics of interest ahead of time - and as you'll see from the wiki page, I would envisage this being a wiki effort! - Thanks for taking a look, and I hope to twist your arm and bend your ear at some point (if that's not too tortuous a turn of phrase...!),

best, Privatemusings (talk) 10:03, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

ps. I've dropped Sue Gardner a line to see if she might have the time and inclination for such a conversation, and if it's ok with you, I'll let you know if she gets back to me, because I think you'd be a very good additional to that particular 'panel' - cheers, Privatemusings (talk) 10:35, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Signpost
how can I join the signpost to help write articles-- King Rock Go 'Skins! 00:06, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Interesting Discovery
Hi Michael, I went back and read the hard copy Forbes article you removed and you are correct. The body of the article does not mention Joe and neither does the online version of the sidebar.

But Joe WAS on the cover and profiled in the sidebar of the physical issue.

So here's my question: What is the Wikipedia policy where the statement is true but there is no reference available on the world wide web. Certainly Wikipedia is not limiting reference/authority of knowledge to only what what can find on the web?

How should we handle such problems?

Tks

btw: if you want to see some self-promotion and specious claims, check out Tim O'Reilly's personal page. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ffilcnoyl (talk • contribs) 14:37, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Modernista notice
Code that works is at the bottom of User:Random832/common.js. I'm not going to put it in because I'm not convinced it has consensus (and Jimbo's said that this is nothing to do with WMF), but if you want to fight that fight, go ahead. Implementation-details: Works by referer detection, so it'll show up on whatever wikipedia page is first loaded in Modernista's frame. The notice is placed above the article title [via jsMsg] so it does not appear to be part of the article. --Random832 (contribs) 03:15, 12 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Right - and to see its effect you need to clear your browser's cache of the JS page (view source for the full url) whose url includes "?title=-&" --Random832 (contribs) 01:18, 16 April 2008 (UTC)

Expand tags and placeholders
Hi Michael, your question about placeholders is a good one, but is covered extensively in another section of the discussion (the one about WP:SELF). I hope you don't mind if I move your question to that section -- we're trying to keep the discussion as structured as possible, so it's easier for newcomers to figure out what's been discussed...not always successful I know, but we're trying... -Pete (talk) 17:21, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

Max Freiherr von Waldberg
I can certainly try! The stub was created to fill a red link in Joseph Goebbels and the sources and citations are taken from there. Hopefully he is notable enough that the stub will expand in its own right. It seems like it could. SGGH speak! 07:39, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Cheers SGGH speak! 16:45, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

Jack Thompson
Hello there. I think gamesindustry.biz serves as a reliable source to the article. I've put a wired article there too though. Hope that's ok! =) Fin©™ 23:32, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Redirect of Global insurgency
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Seattle meetup this thursday (6/19)
Hi Michael, just a reminder that you've signed up to attend the Seattle meetup this Thursday (6/19). This one's going to take place at 7:30PM at Thaiku -- a restaurant\bar in Ballard. See the meetup page to add more agenda items, see attendees, etc. Hope to see you there! Bestchai (talk) 02:30, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

Cary Bass
Please read the last section called "one sided" here. Is Cary acting as if BADSITES were Foundation Policy? Is Cary overstepping his authority? Can you talk to Moulton and sort this out? I think you would enjoy talking to him. WAS 4.250 (talk) 11:56, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

I am concerned that Cary might be acting as if BADSITES were a policy. His behavior in this case and in the Durova case make me concerned. Not being clear about what actions he takes as a Foundation official and what actions he takes outside that role is another concern. As he acts though emails and such (back channels) I don't know if my concerns are warranted or not. This BADSITES waring really needs to be put to rest. So I contacted you out out of those concerns.

Now the problem with Moulton and his obviously disingenuous questions is another matter. That is part of his style as an educator - asking questions he knows the answer to. His so called "outing" is in dispute. People can falsely claim outing as a tactic. Moulton claims he has not knowingly broke rules. Maybe so. Maybe not. I don't know. I do know he was treated unjustly and responds to things like that with creativity and persistence. My role here is to try to direct that energy in a positive direction. I think I am succeeding in that. WAS 4.250 (talk) 13:11, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

BLP, FM, Jimbo, Moulton Are BLPs more important than the cabal or not? WAS 4.250 (talk) 17:27, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Database freezes
Is anything underway to get more server power to stop these constant database freezes? Ksnow (talk) 15:16, 22 August 2008 (UTC)Ksnow

MfD nomination of Requests for comment/Theresa knott
Requests for comment/Theresa knott, a page you substantially contributed to, has been nominated for deletion. Your opinions on the matter are welcome; please participate in the discussion by adding your comments at Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Theresa knott and please be sure to sign your comments with four tildes ( ~ ). You are free to edit the content of Requests for comment/Theresa knott during the discussion but should not remove the miscellany for deletion template from the top of the page; such removal will not end the deletion discussion. Thank you.  MBisanz  talk 14:19, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

For your efforts
I see your user page is conspicuiously devoid of barnstars. Let me change that.