User talk:SMasters/Archives/2012/January

Ribbon Templates
Hello there. I've noticed that you made quite a few 'Textured Ribbons' and I'm wondering if you used a GIMP/Photoshop template to do so, as there are more than a few people using 'Placeholder' ribbons for awards that we should Ribbon-ify. Thanks! Achowat (talk) 16:53, 30 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Hi, yes I use a template. I downloaded a plain textured ribbon and made it into black and white. Then I convert it back into colour and modify the colour to each part of the ribbon. I use Photoshop to do this. Hope this answers your question. Cheers. --SMasters (talk) 03:30, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

GOCE EOY newsletter
Hey SMasters, do you think you could deliver the end-of-year newsletter? It's ready to go. Thanks, The Utahraptor Talk/Contribs 14:26, 1 January 2012 (UTC)
 * OK, I'll do it today. --SMasters (talk) 03:31, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

2012 GOCE coordinatorship
Hi SMasters! I'd like to express my appreciation for your vote for me during the 2012 GOCE coordinatorship election. During the next 12 months, I will be looking forward to your input on how I can perform my role, so please be brutally honest regarding my actions.

Regards, and have a wonderful new year! --Sp33dyphil ©hatontributions 02:40, 2 January 2012 (UTC)
 * No problems, glad to support. Have a great year ahead and welcome on board! --SMasters (talk) 03:36, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

SP this week
Hi, Sko hasn't edited since last week's edition. Are you available if he's still not well enough? Tony  (talk)  05:54, 2 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes I am, and I will publish everything that is ready to go. Once again, please accept my apologies for the mix-up last week. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!! --SMasters (talk) 05:57, 2 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I'll do a bit of copy-editing. Looks like the edition will be on the thin side, which makes the Gardiner interview a good fall-back. What deadline do you have in mind? Tony   (talk)  06:11, 2 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm free most of today. I can do it later today my time (I think I'm a few hours ahead of you), or tomorrow after lunch your time. And yes, the interview will be item #1. Cheers. --SMasters (talk) 06:15, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

GOCE 2011 Year-End Report
Sent on behalf of the Guild of Copy Editors using AWB on 06:51, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 02 January 2012

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This Month in GLAM: December 2011
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Signpost question
Hey SMasters! I saw a request at the bottom of a recent Signpost Arbitration Report article about needing a permanent writer. Is the position still open? I worked on some of the articles earlier this year, as well as piece on case statistics. Cheers & Best Regards, Lord Roem (talk) 20:00, 30 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Hi, since last week, Steven Zhang has come on board. However, we could always do with extra help. Feel free to add your name to Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom. Thanks again for coming forward and hope to see you around the newsroom. --SMasters (talk) 03:35, 2 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I noticed that you put your name as a backup. There's no need to do that if you intend to be a regular contributor. Some sections have more than one contributor, and some articles credit several people in the byline. We particularly need people for the In The News section, so if you can help there it would be great. --SMasters (talk) 01:28, 3 January 2012 (UTC)

Signpost
I signed up as a contributor for the Signpost and I can't find anything that says if there is any requirements for individual editors. I think that I will be fine since I started editing in 2008 on my first account and became active again since early 2009 (this account). SL93 (talk) 17:09, 2 January 2012 (UTC)
 * There are no written requirements, but obviously, someone who is familiar with the workings of the community will handle it better than someone who is not. So, welcome on board! I look forward to working with you. --SMasters (talk) 01:21, 3 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I used old issues as a reference point for Wikipedia Signpost/2012-01-09/In the news which is in progress. I was wondering if you have any pointers and I was also wondering about length. SL93 (talk) 01:53, 3 January 2012 (UTC)
 * In terms of layout (only), I like this edition Wikipedia Signpost/2011-01-31/In the news. I think it works well – two or three main stories, followed by briefs, and a picture or two. In terms of pointers: create a Google news alert for yourself, and read through the comments in the archives over the last year to see how our readers have reacted to the coverage. It will give you a very good idea of what works and what to avoid. Cheers. --SMasters (talk) 02:04, 3 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Oh, in terms of length, I think the example I gave would be ideal. --SMasters (talk) 02:05, 3 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the information. SL93 (talk) 02:09, 3 January 2012 (UTC)

Wikimedia Foundation blog post on WEP class
Hi SMasters, I thought you might like to see this Wikimedia Foundation blog post on the course that you Campus Ambassadored. Thanks again. --Theredproject (talk) 23:05, 4 January 2012 (UTC)
 * WOW!!! Thank you so much! You were too nice to me! I'm a bit embarrassed as I don't really think I did that much. I wish I could do more to assist. Do let me know if you ever need any help. --SMasters (talk) 23:23, 4 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Oh, and I forgot to wish you a very Happy New Year. Have a great 2012! . --SMasters (talk) 23:25, 4 January 2012 (UTC)

No response to my opinion essay submission via email at wikipediasignpost@gmail.com
Hi SMasters-- I followed the writing guidlines carefully and submitted an opinion piece for Signpost 10 days ago asking for advice and help. After no response for 8 days, I sent another email and still no response. On the NEWSROOM page for Signpost, it states about this email address: "It is monitored by a handful of trusted Signpost editors." I'm a newbie, so please forgive me if this lack of response is normal, but it seems to me that at least one of the "handful of trusted Signpost editors" could have responded with some advice/help or a "screw you, your piece stinks". Is this just a busy time for all signpost editors? Have I violated some rule or done something else wrong? Thank you for your time,

Carmen Yarrusso (talk) 15:24, 7 January 2012 (UTC)


 * I got the same message and was on my way to alert you to it. Could you either respond to it yourself or forward me the email? I never planned on asking for access to the account, but that's also an option.  S ven M anguard   Wha?  15:30, 7 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately, someone changed the password, so I can't access it. I'm not sure who changed it. Give ma a day or two to see if I can get the new password to have a look at it. As an alternative, you can email it to me. --SMasters (talk) 13:18, 8 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I emailed you re: this.  S ven M anguard   Wha?  16:53, 8 January 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 09 January 2012

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Questions and confusion regarding submission of opinion pieces to the Signpost
Hi SMasters--

I’m very confused about the process of submitting opinion pieces to Signpost and hope you can explain what I don’t understand. The Opinion desk clearly encourages users to submit opinion pieces via e-mail so I did. Though the Signpost says this e-mail “is monitored by a handful of trusted Signpost editors", my submission was ignored for 10 days before I finally contacted the opinion piece coordinator and you. Incredibly, neither of you had the password to wikipediasignpost@gmail.com. Isn’t this at least misleading to potential opinion piece submitters? Some of us take our writing quite seriously.

A week ago, you stated: “Give ma a day or two to see if I can get the new password to have a look at it…”. But you haven’t got back to me on this. I know you’re probably quite busy, but am I wrong to expect at least a short response from you after a week? So I submitted my piece directly to the opinion piece coordinator via his e-mail. After no response from him for another 3 days, I contacted him only to find out he’s no longer the opinion piece coordinator (and that he didn’t think Signpost was a “proper place” for my essay). Why he didn’t show me the courtesy of contacting me to let me know my submission was in limbo, I don’t know.

So in desperation, I contacted the author of the previous Signpost opinion piece for help. He was courteous and treated me with respect. He said I should submit my piece “directly” (which I knew nothing about) and showed me how to create a subpage at the Opinion desk and how to link to it in the Signpost Newsroom. I thought I had finally successfully submitted my piece.

But a day later, I got this rather terse message from you posted at the Newsroom:

“You are supposed to create your piece in your own user space first and then link it at the Opinion desk for consideration. Work on such articles can take several weeks before they are published (if at all). --SMasters (talk) 06:05, 14 January 2012 (UTC)"

I certainly didn’t see these instructions at the Signpost pages nor did I see any ban on creating a subpage at the Opinion desk (however, I did link it at the Opinion desk as per instructions). If the experienced author of the previous Signpost opinion piece didn’t know this is what “you are supposed” to do, is it surprising to you that a newbie would not know either? But what are you really saying here?

“Work on such articles CAN [my emphasis] take several weeks before they are published (if at all).” Assuming you read my piece (or even a few paragraphs), I think you’re really saying, “Get lost”. Obviously work on such articles need not take several weeks. In fact, if an article is obviously clear, cogent, and well-written, it should take an editor less than 30 minutes to review it and approve it or disapprove it.

I have more than 20 years experience writing opinion pieces. I take my writing very seriously. The first op-ed I had published in a major newspaper was in the Boston Globe (back in 1998). I always have several qualified friends carefully edit my pieces before I submit them anywhere (two are essentially logicians/writers who check my arguments for logic flaws, one is the editor of an international journal, and one is an experienced newspaper writer).

I very much doubt any reasonable person reading my Signpost submission would think it needs any “work”, much less weeks of work. I have constructed an argument (at the essay page) explaining why I think my opinion piece easily meets your stated criteria for publication at the Signpost. Do you see flaws in this argument?

As you can see, I’m very confused and discouraged about this process, I just don’t understand your editorial policies at Signpost. Could you please address my confusion? Please take your time (I’m not used to getting prompt responses).

Thank you for your valuable time. Carmen Yarrusso (talk) 17:28, 15 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Firstly, I am sorry that you came across so many hurdles with your submission. The process is clearly described at the Opinion desk, but perhaps it could be worded better. My answers to your questions are as follows:
 * As I have explained before, someone changed the password to the email. I have not been able to get the new password, and nobody seems to know who changed the password. I had a lengthy discussion regarding this via IRC with a former EIC of the Signpost, and we know that this is something that has to be solved. But at this time, we are unable to rectify this situation. However, this is not the only way to submit a piece. The instructions start by saying, "If you have a submission or idea for one, you can list it below...".
 * It is quite OK to create a subpage at the Opinion desk, but it is not OK to link to it in the Signpost Newsroom. In the Opinions desk page, it says: "Submissions: Please link your letters to the editor, position pieces, and short opinion essays here." That is where you are supposed to link it, and not in the Newsroom. The reason is this – If you link it to the Newsroom, and we go into publication (tomorrow), when I click on the publication button, your article wil be published! No one has yet had the time to read the submission, no one has had time to comment on it, and no one has yet had time to review it. For instance, you can see that a submission from Fifelfoo was submitted a while ago and is still sitting there.
 * I am not saying "get lost". What I am saying is, you need to submit your piece at the Opinion desk. It then needs to be reviewed and considered for publication. We take Opinion pieces extremely seriously. The Opinion page is not a mouthpiece for anything and everything. There are times when such opinions would be better off published in another place, for example, as part of an ongoing discussion for a change of a particular process. In that case, we may point that out and decide not to publish the piece.
 * "I very much doubt any reasonable person reading my Signpost submission would think it needs any “work”..." We are a newspaper, and we publish for a wide audience. We need to i) edit your article (if it is published) to explain any abbreviations on the first mention; ii)Wikify the article; iii) Copyedit to comply with WP:MOS (it currently does not); etc., etc. All this takes time.
 * When I say "if it is published", I am not saying "get lost". I am reminding that a discussion process needs to take place before a decision can be made as to whether an article is suitable for publication. It has nothing to do with bans or censorship. In the past, we have published pieces that we may not personally agree with. It is more to do with whether the Signpost is an appropriate place for such an article to appear. The Opinion page is not a mouthpiece for all and sundry. It is not a Speakers' Corner. An editorial decision will need to be made as to the appropriateness of the article for publication.
 * I hope this clarifies. --SMasters (talk) 03:17, 16 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Yes it does, thank you. Carmen Yarrusso (talk) 16:50, 17 January 2012 (UTC)


 * SMasters, we need some executive decisions WRT the opinion piece, sister projects, and the as-yet unstarted ITN. I have no problem in not running NAN or ITN in a particular week if we're short of journalists; it is a pity in a week in which the SOPA thing is live and being talked about in the media and on blogs. But it could be discussed well next week, given that the actual protest will generate a lot more press coverage. Tony   (talk)  15:12, 16 January 2012 (UTC)
 * OK, I plan to publish in around 6-7 hours from now. I have to go to a meeting and will check everything when I return. Thanks for the heads up. --SMasters (talk) 23:36, 16 January 2012 (UTC)

Publish soon?
Given that there's a limited time before the black-out, and that after that will be after the even, it would be ideal to publish very soon. Tony  (talk)  04:26, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * If you feel that there's no need to amend the first paragraph of N&N, then I will publish now. --SMasters (talk) 04:58, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 16 January 2012

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2012 Wikipedia blackout
I've named you as the author of the Signpost article in the 2012 Wikipedia blackout article. Should you wish to reveal your real name and be credited as such, please feel free to do so. Otherwise, the author is linked to your user page. Assistance with expanding the article is welcome too. Mjroots (talk) 09:23, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks for letting me know, my username is fine. Cheers. --SMasters (talk) 09:31, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

hi this is natalia i have the message from skomorohk in hospital jasper deng wont let me post email but i cant put passwords in public its very important the critical surgery is tomorow i dont know who to tell thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.102.180.91 (talk) 13:04, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * OMG! You can email me at Special:EmailUser, and enter "SMasters" in the field. I'm really worried now about Skomorohk. Please extend to him our regards and I hope all goes well. He is in my prayers. --SMasters (talk) 14:45, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

yes in hospital in trouble for a month except after christmas. he was very impatient to go back working on wikipedia until lost consciousness on friday. your link says i need to be a user it doesnt work do you still want wikisingpost email i was supposed to give you please none of us want to think about this organizing rite now natalia — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.102.180.91 (talk) 20:13, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear about this, and frankly, I'm completely shocked! Yes, I do need the password. Do you have access to his Wikipedia email account? Because he has written to me there before. If not, I'm not sure quite what to do at this moment. Do you have any suggestions? --SMasters (talk) 23:41, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Very worried. Tony   (talk)  00:20, 18 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Instructions left at their talk page. Hurricanefan25  ( talk  ·  contribs ) 01:56, 18 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks for helping out Hurricanefan25. --SMasters (talk) 02:00, 18 January 2012 (UTC)

SP
Hi, NAN seems to have nothing in it, and ResMario is not doing it this week. I say leave it out and have a good one next week. ITN is a must, and is further advanced. Do you think publication should be within 12 hours (or 24?). Tony  (talk)  09:46, 24 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes, I agree. I will try to publish around 8 hours from now. If I can;t make that time, it will be in another 7 hours from then (hope that makes sense). I have to attend a meeting in 11 hours' time, and I won't be available for around 4 hours during that time, so I will have to do it before or after my meetings. --SMasters (talk) 15:22, 24 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I just had a look and ITN is incomplete. I need to go out soon and will only be back in around 5 hours from now. I will see if it's ready by then. --SMasters (talk) 01:12, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Signpost idea
Hello SMasters, In the past you said I cound inform you if I had an idea for the Signpost. See this message. Thanks! Romaine (talk) 19:55, 22 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I'll check it out. Thanks. --SMasters (talk) 15:17, 24 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I don't understand what you want The Signpost to do. Are you going to write a story about this? --SMasters (talk) 04:32, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Mid-drive newsletter
Hey SMasters, do you think you could use EdwardsBot to get the mid-drive newsletter out? Thanks, The Utahraptor Talk/Contribs 14:26, 23 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I've been on a short break for the Lunar New Year holidays. I'll send it out tomorrow. I think I need some time to set up EdwardsBot. Will get it sorted for the next newsletter. --SMasters (talk) 15:18, 24 January 2012 (UTC)
 * We can modify the mid-drive newsletter and use it as an end-of-drive newsletter instead. No point sending out a mid-drive newsletter when the drive ends on Tuesday of next week :) --Dianna (talk) 04:44, 27 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I agree. I put a note on Utahraptor's talk page about this. --SMasters (talk) 04:48, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 23 January 2012

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The first step is admitting you have a problem...
I saw your battle with the bot™ here. It reminded me of the famous Narcotics Anonymous quote about insanity. :-) It looks like HaeB came to your rescue. The Toolserver has been having some issues lately, obviously. More info [//lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/toolserver-announce/2012-January/ here] if you're interested. --MZMcBride (talk) 20:54, 26 January 2012 (UTC)
 * LOL, yes I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do except to keep trying to start it, which did not seem to work. I'm glad that it finally went out. :) --SMasters (talk) 00:35, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

New kid in town
Hi! I'm the new kid in town at Wikipedia and would love to learn more about WP style for copy editing. I've participated in other wikis, have professional writing experience, and have worked well with a professional copy editor in the past. Would love to work with one again. When you are free, could you please add me to your list of folks you'd like to mentor. Many thanks in advance! Quill and Pen (talk) 21:17, 26 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Welcome to Wikipedia! I don't have a lot of spare time at the moment, but I will be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have. --SMasters (talk) 04:51, 27 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the warm welcome! Quill and Pen (talk) 19:53, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

First attempt at WP copyedits
If you have time, could you please review and comment on my first attempt at copy editing at WP. See: []. There is more work to do, but I need a break. I joined the CE Guild too. Thanks! Quill and Pen (talk) 19:58, 27 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Great job, well done! My only comment would be that the last two sentences contains too much repetition of the word "company". "The couple owned the company until they divorced. The company was then sold to Gulf+Western and company officials renamed the company Paramount Television." I would re-write it to reduce the repetition: "The couple owned the company until they divorced. It was then sold to Gulf+Western and company officials renamed it Paramount Television." Otherwise, a very good effort indeed! --SMasters (talk) 07:56, 28 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks! The creative juices were gettin' tired. Will go back and try to think of something besides company :-). Am currently editing this article []. Don't know much about Milan history but at least I am going to try to break the article up in readable sections for others to edit. Thanks for the encouragement. Quill and Pen (talk) 19:15, 28 January 2012 (UTC)
 * See Desilu changes here: []. Also, can I remove the tags once I am done editing or should I leave them up for review? Need to know "company" policy :-) Many thanks! Quill and Pen (talk) 19:22, 28 January 2012 (UTC)

Requests for comment/F&aelig;
A request for comments has been opened on administrator User:F&aelig;. You are being notified due to your prior participation in ANI, RfA, or RfC discussions regarding this user. Thank you, MadmanBot (talk) 19:50, 28 January 2012 (UTC)

The Signpost: 30 January 2012

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