Talk:Alton Brown

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Contents

[edit] MacWorld Article

The MacWorld article was listed in the external links section, and had language in the article body which referred to the article, but did not link. An anonymous editor made the word "article" in the text link. Flamurai (talk · contribs) reverted, pointing out that it was already linked. I have re-reverted for the following two reasons:

  1. I'm not aware of any rule against linking twice to the same thing in the same article. In fact, the guidelines I've seen suggest that you do link a second time when the second link is some distance from the first.
  2. I myself, upon first reading that text, went off to Google in search of the mentioned article, and only when I had read it and returned to Wikipedia did I notice the external link. I think when you refer to an external source, it makes perfect sense to link to the external source. It's much more user friendly.

--TreyHarris 21:06, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)

  1. If you want to get picky, he didn't write the article in Macworld either - will make the change after I register for an account!
  2. I, like TreyHarris, googled for the article - didn't see it in the external links which is why I added the link - will change that back when I am no longer anonymous as well!
You're applying internal link policy to external links. They're two totally different things. See Wikipedia:External links, specifically the section "How to link". Note that there is no mention of inline external links. It's customary to pull all external links to the end of the article, not to include inline external links in the article text. – flamurai (t) 23:08, Jun 6, 2005 (UTC)

I'm not certain I'm entirely tuned in to the discussion, but I keep seeing "not sourced" reverts, so I've sourced it (admitedly, too much). If someone else wants to clean up the sources, I encourage you to do so (or for that matter, though I hesitate to mention it, clean up potential copyvio that I haven't fully looked into). It's a start. — Chris ( t c ) — 10:02, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sourcing

All these additions need to be POV and sourced, especially if it is something like he is well known for so and so by so and so. Pegasus1138Talk | Contribs | Email ---- 03:45, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Motorcycle

Aplogies, I'm not a regular here, but I wanted to point out a probable inaccuracy. http://www.altonbrown.com/adventure/knowledge/motogear.html claims he's got a 2005 BMW 1200RT (the mention appears in an image, not in the text). This conflicts with the wiki page which says it's a BMW R1100RT. 216.231.3.166 19:13, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

I checked out www.bmwmotorcycles.com (which presumably has 2006 model names) and some motorcycle review sites (for 2005 models) and the most accurate description of his bike is "2005 BMW R 1200 RT" with spaces around the 1200 being consistent with BMW's usage. I'll make the change. 216.231.3.166 17:56, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

Made the edit as per immed. above. There is no wiki page for the R1200RT so I made it not a link. The link to the motorcycle picture was for an older model so I just pointed it at the picture of Brown's actual bike on his site. That's all for now. 216.231.3.166 18:08, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] JKR, Fred the monkey and Cubetoons

I've moved the info about JKR and Cubetoons to a new "In popular culture" section. I'm not sure they're notable enough (evidenced by my two reversions of it yesterday), but after Omallystwin made the change five times in 24 hours, I dug further (instead of reporting it as WP:3RR) and found that Cubetoons may, perhaps, have a slim chance of being notable enough. It does have a wiki article (although JKR isn't relevant, and Fred the monkey probably should be a candidate for deletion). Thoughts? Travisl 14:32, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

i belive that both fredthemonkey and omallystwin are both more than notable as they both have a fan base in the millions, fredthemonkey should be even more notable than cubetoons. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Omallystwin (talk • contribs).
The original entry needs to be pruned to meet the requirements presented by WP:V and WP:LINK. There has been no evidence that JKR is famous (no Wikipedia article and a Google search for him is flooded by references to J. K. Rowling) and with an Alexa rating of over 1,900,000 it is unlikely that Fred the Monkey would survive an AfD, let alone be considered notable. --Allen3 talk 15:17, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
Does the article really benefit from the fact that JKR is an Alton Brown fan? Hypothetically, if Tom Cruise mentioned that he liked the show, would that be significant enough to include in the article? I'm OK with whatever consensus we reach -- I could go either way -- but at this point I'm leaning towards removing it, per the Wikipedia:Avoid trivia sections in articles guideline. Travisl 16:06, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
I agree. Just because the article on cubetoons is (barely) notable doesn't mean that it's notable that JKR is an Alton Brown fan. Looks like all but one editor agree that it's dubious at best, so I took it out. Kafziel Talk 15:45, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

im sure alton would be more than happy to know that someone who themselves has a fan base in the millions (jkr) is a fan of alton. this will keep getting reposted as i belive that is is more than noteworthy. please stop trying to delete this post. also i am going to get round to making a fred the monkey wiki as you "so called experts" deleted the last one. go to fredthemonkey.com and check it out yourself and stop being so arrogant.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Omallystwin (talk • contribs) 20:48, October 24, 2006 (UTC) (UTC)

You appear to be missing the point of the above conversation. The suitability of the addition is based on the question of how important is JKR and can this importance be verified via reliable sources. In addition, Wikipedia policy requires the person wishing to add material be the one to furnish the citations to prove verifiability. Without the needed citations, there is no way to tell JKR from any other fan and the addition is either giving undue weight to a non-notable fan or serving as a means of promotion for JKR's websites. --Allen3 talk 21:45, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

regardless off that it is still a valid point and it is not promoting fredthemonkey, it is pointing out the fact that alton brown has influenced a lot of people including internet celebs.this is a positive thing so stop deleting it.

The consensus has convinced me. The fact that someone famous likes Alton Brown doesn't make it important enough to include the fact that they like Alton Brown. Let the continued reversions of Omallystwin's edits continue. Travisl


stuff the consensus, ill keep reposting it and so will all my friends, your all arogant and have no wider view other than your own. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Omallystwin (talk • contribs) 22:40, October 25, 2006 (UTC) (UTC)

Omallystwin: I'm offering a trim-down on the JKR addition as a comprimise. Please end this pointless arguing and reverting ... it is making you look like a troll, or somoone trying to promote a barely notable web-comic. BigFatDave 17:04, 26 October 2006 (UTC)
It looks like, in accordance with WP:DE, we've gone through the steps of
1. Reverting
2. Reverting and asking for discussion and sources on this page
3. Continued to attempt to engage in dialog, referring to WP:V, WP:LINK, WP:AVTRIV, WP:CITE, WP:RS, WP:NPOV, and WP:NOT.
I think this puts us at step 4, Request an WP:RFC or other impartial dispute resolution. Can someone who knows this better than I do get this ball rolling? Travisl 22:43, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Left or Right-Handed?

As is currently cited, Alton's plug for his knifes[1] does indicate that he's left-handed. However in the Good Eats episode "Soup's On", Alton is showing his "nephew", Elton, how to use a knife and he states "As you approach the board, we will take whichever hand we would ordinarily write with—mines the right, yours is the right—and we pick up the knife" and clearly holds up his right hand.[2]. Can anyone confirm which is correct? ShortBus 22:08, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Maybe he's left-handed, but uses his right when cutting. Lefties using their right hands like that is unusual, but not uncommon. Hey, check out the pic at the top of that page. If that's a pic of him cutting (and it probably is), he's using his right hand to hold the knife. I don't know why the plug seems to indicate he uses his left hand to cut, though. Could be an error. Someone might have to email him about that. Jinxmchue 07:03, 27 November 2006 (UTC)
No Need. In Good Eats episode "What's Up, Duck"[3], he clearly states that he is Right-Handed. Also, I have reviewed the Shun Knife video[4], and he clearly cuts with the knife in his right hand. In the entire video, I only see him holding the knives in his left had when displaying them, or in the one scene when he shows proper washing methods. NipokNek 12:11, 15 January 2007 (UTC)
However in his sandwich episode he asks his "sister" Marsha to pick up a left handed panini grill. He should be at least stated as ambidextous. 68.125.109.31 17:16, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
And in that episode, he's trying to keep her away so he can have some quality time with Elton in the kitchen. He wants her to look for a left-handed panini grill so she will be away that much longer. LafinJack 08:35, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Keep in mind that he went to culinary school and it is standard for professional chefs to be trained how to cut and chop with both hands. They do that so that if they cut themselves on one hand, they can continue with the other hand. So it's possible that he may have been seen to use his left hand for cutting as some point even if he is right-handed. (Biochemike 05:39, 20 March 2007 (UTC))

After chef school did he actively work full-time a while cooking in restaurants, and if so, under anyone particularly good? 18-24 months of culinary school itself, even with a well motivated student, is hardly sufficent to prepare an accomplished chef. You would have enough basic skills to begin as a prep cook in a fine dining restaurant, but it would still take several years and survival in the brutal trade to season and work up to a true chef level, if even. Speed, taste, presentation, short-cuts, buying, bugetary, and management skills(and in today's world good entreprenarial intuition) as the rites of developing bread and butter experience dosen't come easily or cheaply. Only after that, do signature dishes and reputation arrive. My guess is, he prepares carefully his homework and with the aid of tv prepares one dish extra-skillfully much like someone working properly with a Gilbert chemistry set. It does seem on the fly with Iron Chef that his commentary is brilliant and belies a great deal of culinary knowledge that dwelves into arcane and little known facts and techniques, but whether he could do them himself that fast and properly is an unknown. It sounds somewhat like the student with a fascination for organic chemistry who got A's but couldn't practically do a bunch of bench work on the fly mainly because that part wasn't his interest or experience. Just curious, as to his methods. Eitherway he accomplishes his intent in a most interesting and high energy if humorous way and is a genuine tv personality with all rights for his efforts. 209.101.236.168 (talk) 06:31, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

68.125.109.31 ... do you fall for the "go get me a left-handed hammer" trick a lot? BigFatDave 00:59, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

Agreed. the "left-handed panini grill" thing is along the same lines as making someone go hunt up a box of grid squares, or a bottle of round wax, or a fur-covered credenza. Its a practical joke. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.84.19.246 (talk) 01:52, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Naming Convention

I've noticed that the article variously refers to the subject by the names "Alton" or "Brown", depending on the section (and likely the author). I'm of the opinion that the article should be edited to use only one or the other (as well as the full name) for consistency. Personally, I'd lean toward "Alton" as that's what I would tend to use in discussing his show, but if people prefer "Brown", I won't object. --Beezhive 04:31, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

The use of his surname is the preferred option as per Wikipedia:Manual of Style (biographies)#Subsequent uses of names. --Allen3 talk 12:06, 26 February 2007 (UTC)
Thanks. I knew it had to be around somewhere, but I didn't stumble across it in my (admittedly short) search. ---Beezhive 22:51, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Apple products?

Additionally, Brown frequently features Apple-branded computers on Good Eats. Although the Apple logo is usually masked, the computers' unique appearance makes them quite noticeable.

While I haven't seen every episode, I've seen many of them, and I'm very familiar with Apple products, and I do not recall a single Apple product appearance on the show, covered up or not. Tool Time, sure. Good Eats, not so much. This sounds like an ad to me. LafinJack 06:45, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

I too have never noticed Apple products on Good Eats. Now, on Iron Chef America, the bank of monitors that Alton uses are definitely Apple flat panel monitors but the logos on the back are blocked out. Perhaps that is what the editor was referring to? Malson 17:47, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

I have noticed Apple products on a number of shows. . . usually laptops. An example is in "give peas a chance" where he shows the demonic little boy an animation about peas on his laptop, only to get peas tossed all over the machine. I read an interview (probably the same as the one referenced elsewhere on this discussion page) and he endorses Apple products wholeheartedly. All the same, I'm not sure if it's really that important to make a note of this in the article. I too have seen a number of episodes (probably over half. . . slightly addicted), and while Apple computers are present in many it's not exactly obvious all the time. By no means is it blatant product placement or advertising. In fact I'd say the show takes great care to avoid this, as evidenced by all product labels being hidden in refrigerators, cabinets, and even on shelves in the grocery stores, etc. --NTJ 14:10, 17 May 2007 (UTC)

Even some of the very first episodes of Good Eats have Apple products in them. In "Art of Darkness", the computer on the desk at the very beginning is an iMac G3 (pic here). -lee 08:13, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

You can see the apple logo decal on his car as it drives away in the pizza episode. Greg Bard 10:45, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Unitaskers/Multitaskers

I've removed the reference to "Milk Made" in the section listing the "unitasker" kitchen devices to be seen on Good Eats. The sentence in question cited his using a vanilla bean splitter—in fact, it is a bean frencher. Though this little gadget is not in wide use in most household kitchens, it is used (as its name suggests) to make, for example, French-cut green beans. —PaperTruths (Talk) 01:49, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

I don't think the piercing meat tenderizer is strictly a unitasker, as it can also be used for docking pastry. --68.230.227.230 (talk) 20:34, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] entitled

I've reverted the change of entitled to titled. Entitled was used properly, see http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/entitled -Superbeecat 07:15, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Shun Knives advocate?

Can someone more experienced with the whole Wikipedia thing add the fact that Alton Brown advocates Shun Knives? He went so far as to put out a Good Eats-esque informational piece advocating the knives and giving some tips on maintenance and suchlike.

71.105.240.19 19:25, 10 October 2007 (UTC)EL October 10th, 2007

Not sure that this is notable. He advertises for lots of companies, but I don't see anything encyclopedic in that. —bbatsell ¿? ✍ 19:30, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
Might be worth noting Alton's Angles -- a series of Shun knives bearing AB's logo. I have one, the 3.5" vegetable knife. While it's not citable, a clerk at a local cutlery shop said they were made to AB's specifications for what he wanted in a knife. Some additional research may be warranted. -FeralDruid 20:52, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
True enough; also might look into the line of GE appliances that he designed a few years back. —bbatsell ¿? ✍ 21:15, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
I've added a small section on Alton's Angles to the article. I'm looking for additional sources beyond the one provided. Oddly, the Shun web site provides a bio of Brown, but says nothing about the knives. (Rather, says nothing about why Brown designed the knives.) -FeralDruid 22:27, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
Found an article in which Brown comments on the oven he helped design for GE. -FeralDruid 22:31, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia section

Here's what was till a few minutes ago (when I deleted it) the trivia section. Most if not all of this strikes me as utterly superfluous, but somebody who disagrees about this or that item may wish to integrate it into the article. -- Hoary (talk) 08:51, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Tattoo Inclusion

I restored the information about Alton's tattoos, listed as "trivial and unsourced". While the triviality is debatable, the unsourced claim is not, as the information referred to the television shows where the tattoos are featured. Tattoos (and perhaps more importantly, what a person choses to have tattooed on their body) are an extremely important part of a person's personal life, and I think a one-to-two sentence inclusion of that fact in an encyclopedic article offers an important glimpse into said personal life without detracting from the encyclopedic nature of the article.Wyntyr (talk) 06:06, 26 May 2008 (UTC)