User talk:Sharktopus

I am the Wikipedian formerly known as Sharktapus. You can see old talk messages here. Sharktopus talk  19:16, 19 February 2011 (UTC)

Mark Midei DYK
Hello. I saw this but I don't see the article at T:TDYK under August 14th and I don't see what BLP issues were raised for discussion. Thanks. Jesanj (talk) 01:15, 23 August 2011 (UTC)
 * I did find Wikipedia_talk:DYK though. Jesanj (talk) 01:16, 23 August 2011 (UTC)
 * I will ask there for help getting it back on T:TDYK, sorry if I flubbed it.   Sharktopus  talk  01:44, 23 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Ah no problem. You could have done it perfectly fine as far as I know! There's a bone or two I'd like to pick with you though. At blpn you say the article is "overwhelmingly focused on one doctor's legal troubles". That's my impression of what reliable sources have done. Also, I think I've reflected reliable sources. I've included Midei's POV, his praise, an exculpatory explanation from a guy at the Cleveland Clinic, and a whole section on his medical publications. You're concerned the article is negative, but in order for there to be a NPOV violation, the article would need to unduly favor a POV. I quote from here, "Probably the only grounds on which there could be an NPOV dispute over an article that actually conformed to the NPOV is when one or both of the parties to the dispute did not understand either the NPOV policy, or enough about the subject matter to realize that nothing favoring one POV had actually been said". I'm concerned the article is being called "negative" while there isn't any evidence people have been reading the sources. It is possible for reliable sources to have an overall "negative bias" towards a living individual after all. Thanks for listening. Jesanj (talk) 02:31, 23 August 2011 (UTC)
 * It's late and I am tired so let me start by saying I believe you acted absolutely with GF in working on the article. My criticism of the article is not meant as a a criticism of you. I agree it is possible for RS to have an overall negative bias. I do not know much about BLP, so that is why I asked for advice from people who do know more about it here. If there is going to be a debate about it, that is where the debate will occur. I don't consider myself a competent judge of BLP policy.   Sharktopus  talk  02:38, 23 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I'm not an expert either. But I looked over WP:BLP and it looks like it just says to get WP:NPOV right. But I didn't see any special section at NPOV for BLPs, for what it's worth. Thanks again. Jesanj (talk) 14:22, 23 August 2011 (UTC)


 * Thank you for your explanation here. That really clears things up for me. Sorry for the confusion. Jesanj (talk) 17:12, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Comma after New Jersey
I re-added the comma you removed. Such commas still look a bit strange to me too, but those who write about punctuation unanimously recommend them, as far as I know. So if you know something I don't, please change the copyediting page in my edit summary. Art LaPella (talk) 05:24, 23 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Watching, trying to learn. In this case, New Jersey being part of the link, the comma is not needed to understand, but otherwise I would find "... New Jersey in his van", and for consistency it's probably better to have the comma. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:10, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Autopatrolled
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DYK 29

 * Thank you so much, Gerda! I look forward to doing more with you and with DYK.   Sharktopus  talk  14:12, 28 August 2011 (UTC)


 * Oh yay, let me add my congratulations :-) Only 21 more to go! '-) Yngvadottir (talk) 21:43, 28 August 2011 (UTC)

Write more
With pleasure I read that you want to write more. I started Hofmeister Leipzig, just to fill red links and make the access to de and their web possible. But perhaps you could do more than that? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:44, 30 August 2011 (UTC)
 * That was fast! I merged a bit from the "lead" (not meant to be) to history, sourcing to come, the typical way when you translate from de. For more music: a new author started Zoltán Gárdonyi, mixed bits at present. I started to use the PumpkinSky referencing there, less clutter in the article. The new one also started 5 other composers, I worked on Winbeck so far, nominated. Tired @night, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 23:21, 30 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Dear Gerda, who can resist your suggestions. I am looking for good references because my impression is the the German Wikipedia version does not have very useful ones I could cite. It often surprises me how excellent and thorough are the articles in de.wikipedia but how hard it is to find the references to reconstruct them in English.   Sharktopus  talk  00:58, 31 August 2011 (UTC)
 * How charming! - The German seems to rely - in this case - on the history of the publisher (external link), which (the history) is probably correct - in this case - with so much public attention given. For the composers it's more difficult, and the one for Gárdonyi is written by his son (psst), so I really hope to find more on him, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:02, 31 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Source or fun: Beethoven to Hofmeister, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:46, 31 August 2011 (UTC)
 * To not forget over the weekend, I nominated, knowing that there's still room for improvement. Did you follow the link to @night? Good company to Mahler, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:39, 2 September 2011 (UTC)
 * appr already, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 23:15, 3 September 2011 (UTC)
 * and to prep, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:05, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

Rollbacker
You are now one! Please use the tools responsibly. PanydThe muffin is not subtle 16:24, 3 September 2011 (UTC)

Whoopee cushion
Hey Sharktopus, I'm sorry you got such a rough ride there, but I think you could have seen that coming. And I don't really have a real whoopee cushion for you, since my daughter is having too much fun with ours. Your feathers are ruffled a bit, perhaps, but they'll be fine as long as you keep trimming them. I hope you have no hard feelings. Take care, Drmies (talk) 05:14, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
 * No, I really didn't see it coming. I thought I was making a civil reasonable request, not to prevent MF from enjoying and sharing his anti-DYK opinions 'most anywhere but just to prevent him from dominating attempts at on-topic discussion by people who really do want to improve DYK, not burn it to the ground. But it could have been worse, your kind words made me feel better, and at least I now have this fine cushion! Whoopee!   Sharktopus  talk  05:21, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
 * A friend died, I missed all this. Does it relate to Lo dicono? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:53, 6 September 2011 (UTC)

Sharktopus, when Drmies says "I think you could have seen that coming", he's referring to the outcome of the massive number of ANI reports filed by other editors regarding the civility of MF. Search through the ANI archives to see what he's talking about. Viriditas (talk) 06:52, 6 September 2011 (UTC)


 * I wouldn't have used the intensifier "massive", and would point out that this particular report wasn't about civility but about muzzling a point of view that the nominator disagrees with. Really not very healthy. Malleus Fatuorum 13:28, 6 September 2011 (UTC)


 * I would say you should have seen that coming because your complaint was not only spurious, but because several others have engaged in seriously bad conduct at WT:DYK (Malleus isn't one of them), and you also need to familiarize yourself with WP:TALKNEW (sequalae, WP:BOOMERANG). It would be most helpful if some of the vested contributors to DYK would begin to address the issues rather than attack the messengers.  (I'm not aware if the first has begun to happen since I've been mostly absent, but I am aware that the second continues unabated, because I saw your post about Malleus that was wisely removed by Yomangani, and noted that you didn't highlight the attacks and personalization coming from admins and oversighters-- the whole situation is rather shameful.)  Sandy Georgia  (Talk) 13:35, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
 * OK, let's not pile it on. Viriditas, you read me correctly. My caption "You knew this was coming", however, actually referred to the whoopee cushion, since I like to think I keep my word. Sharktopus, MF has been brought to the civility court at ANI (which doesn't actually preside there) a few times before, yes. And while I have no intention of getting on your case, I do believe that MF has a point to make in that discussion, and he does so based on extensive experience, more than you and I together, and Sandy, BTW, knows more about DYK problems than most people. I propose we move on; I think Sharktopus knows what we're trying to say. Happy days to everyone, Drmies (talk) 14:34, 6 September 2011 (UTC)


 * My goodness, I wake up to a house full of company, and me not shaved yet. I have some cookies that Anna Frodesiak left me, and we can take turns with Drmies's cushion. It's really nice to see all of you, especially after my public learning experience. Malleus, thanks for not biting my head off. I did not mean to hurt your feelings but I imagine I did, for which I sincerely apologize. I'm not such a dope before the second gin and tonic. Sandy, thanks for dropping by to put in a good word for Malleus, of whom I also have a high opinion. Goodness, who else needs coffee? I certainly do.    Sharktopus  talk  17:38, 6 September 2011 (UTC)[[Image:Chocolate chip cookies.jpg|thumb|right|Offering delicious cookies to SandyGeorgia and others]]
 * You didn't hurt my feelings in the slightest, so need for any apologies. Malleus Fatuorum 18:09, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
 * One of the nicer typos above. - Please get shaved and look if "our" Hofmeister can be improved before appearing. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:25, 6 September 2011 (UTC)

What kind of cookies ???? Sandy Georgia (Talk) 18:33, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
 * These cookies, and please have all of them you want. I am trying to cut down for fear my sharkskin suit will need letting out at the waist.   Sharktopus  talk
 * I got here first, so there's only two left. Thanks!  Sandy Georgia  (Talk) 18:40, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
 * ((Replenishing the plate for future visitors and not sneaking more than one more for myself. Okay, two more.))   Sharktopus  talk  19:41, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
 * What are we celebrating here, Kill the diabetic day? (There's a DYK waiting to happen.) Drmies (talk) 04:40, 7 September 2011 (UTC)

Flowers
You celebrated by giving me flowers, Thank you! - I would like a second opinion on the Blume nom, concerning quotes or not. They add life to an otherwise dry list, imo. (You have to go down in the history to my last edit of yesterday.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:59, 7 September 2011 (UTC)

I tweaked it and find it acceptable now, actually a better translation of the original in places. So please just read for improvements, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:35, 7 September 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag
Casliber (talk · contribs) 08:04, 7 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks for your part in this, don't play it down, the Liszt episode really adds life to it! - If you are hungry for more food, healthier than too many cookies: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. Deserves better! For some reason even bach-cantatas has nothing, not text, not tune! Whereas the article on the author rightly states: "is generally regarded as one of the greatest hymns of praise of the Christian church". I need to finish the cantata BWV 137 and then write the Messiah program, real life, so can't do it, hint, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:30, 7 September 2011 (UTC)
 * The last few weeks have seen quite an onslaught of real life tasks and teaching, but I hope to get back to helping out on Wikipedia in the many weeks ahead. I did find one more good source for you, Gerda, on that hymn, so I will just add the reference there for you, if you want to go further.   Sharktopus  talk  14:08, 18 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Thank you! Real life for me as well, just sang a glorious Messiah, and as soon as I had finished writing that program, I was asked to write one on the The Creation, concert 3 October. You will meet our Messiah soloists on DYK, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:19, 18 September 2011 (UTC)
 * I found quite a bit of interesting stuff about that hymn -- do you want to add a few words about Bach's use of it? Then let us send it to DYK. At least then I will have produced something useful for Wikipedia this week. I wish I could have heard your Messiah. I have never seen anything of Frankfurt but the airport.   Sharktopus  talk  21:01, 20 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Started, should be ready, back to BWV 25, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:29, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Orlady (talk) 10:08, 25 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Do you feel prepared by this Praise to have a look at the oldest of all nominations about nothing less than eternal life? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:31, 27 September 2011 (UTC)

Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist
In case you are interested, I started a new hymn, - nothing yet on translations, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:11, 24 October 2011 (UTC)

Insert witty heading here
Hey! Welcome back! Yngvadottir (talk) 22:12, 16 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Did you know that you were my last word and already archived? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:28, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

Merry Christmas


Mayhem Mario  is wishing you a Merry Christmas! This greeting (and season) promotes WikiLove and hopefully this note has made your day a little better. Spread the WikiLove by wishing another user a Merry Christmas, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past, a good friend, or just some random person. Don't eat yellow snow!

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Precious

 * Passion: He was despised --Gerda Arendt (talk) 23:00, 5 April 2012 (UTC)
 * More than a year ago, you recieved my PumpkinSky Prize, you are an awesome Wikipedian! - I miss you, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:37, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

Precious and missed
 * Two years ago. you were the 30th recipient of my PumpkinSky Prize, - I still miss you, reading the Achtliederbuch every now and then, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:57, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

WikiProject Plants Collaboration of the month
I'm attempting to revive the Plant article COTM, and since you're a member of WikiProject Plants, you're being notified about this hopeful revival. Please feel free to propose articles for collaboration, and thanks for your consideration! Northamerica1000(talk) 13:43, 16 April 2012 (UTC)

David Rothenberg
You added two images to David Rothenberg back on June 21, 2011, but the files appear to be missing. I've commented them out for now. --Offenbach (talk) 03:41, 24 May 2012 (UTC)

Missin' ya
Hey Shark, I realize the odds are that you no longer check this page, but I came across one of your old talk page comments today and just wanted to say that your presence here is still missed. Hope to see you around again someday! Cheers, Khazar2 (talk) 18:42, 29 March 2013 (UTC)

Hi and goodbye again
Dear Wikipedia friends Khazar, Gerda, Yngvadottir -- just popping by in response to an annoying email from yet another wikilawyer with the fun mission of deleting work by others. Wishing you all the best in a project which could be an even greater benefit to humankind if there were powers-that-be who cared about reining in the destructive arrogance of those whose obsessive work here "entitles" them to crap on others, repeatedly, and laugh with their buddies about anyone who objects. The situation reminds me of the historical use of rogue troops by generals who could not pay much and so let them pay themselves with sadistic oppression. Sorry if I sound bitter -- I really enjoyed being part of the small but productive community we once shared.  Sharktopus  talk 03:40, 9 June 2013 (UTC)


 * Thank you for a sign of life!!! Did you see my red cat? (bottom line of my user) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:43, 9 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Yep, good to hear from you! I've found a happy new Wikipedia base of operations at GA, which has a good collegiate atmosphere, focuses on content improvement, and generally lacks the drama of DYK. (DYK's drama has also moved on to new targets anyway, such as the Gibraltarpedia mess.) I'll keep a seat warm there for you if you're ever interested in joining me. In the meantime, if there's anything I can do, don't hesitate to let me know. Cheers! -- Khazar2 (talk) 13:09, 9 June 2013 (UTC)

Sharp shark song
'tis the season Did you know ...
 * ... that the song "Ermutigung" by Wolf Biermann, encouraging people not to become hardened in hard times, was written for Peter Huchel, then under house arrest?
 * that Louisa Venable Kyle wrote a children's book on The Witch of Pungo ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:53, 5 November 2013 (UTC)

Sharktopus
That article popped by on Recent changes and made me think of you. Hope you're doing well out there among the English, as a wise old man said it in a movie. No whoopee cushions around the house anymore--and given the particular phase my four-year old is in, we don't need one, since they fly frequently and are always announced afterward, as if that were necessary. All the best, Drmies (talk) 05:16, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

You vs. Pteracuda
What have you done? 66.168.160.62 (talk) 02:31, 3 August 2014 (UTC)

Precious anniversary
<div style="margin: auto; max-width: 60em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba( 192, 192, 192, 0.75 ); border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #a7d7f9; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0.5em 1em 1em; color: black;" class="ui-helper-clearfix"> <div style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; background-color: #ddd; border: 5px solid #ddd; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0.75); border-radius: 0.5em;"> collaboration

Thank you for inspiring work together on articles, hooks and higher altitudes in prep assembly! - You are an awesome Wikipedian!

--Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:20, 19 February 2012 (UTC)

Five years now, and I am dealing with the songs of the Achtliederbuch, thinking of you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:19, 19 February 2017 (UTC)

Always precious
Ten years ago, you were found precious. That's what you are, always, remembered and missed --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:18, 19 February 2022 (UTC)