User talk:BernardM

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Hi BernardM, welcome to Wikipedia!

Here are a few helpful links to start you off: Avoiding common mistakes, How to edit a page, How to write a great article, Naming conventions, Manual of Style, Policies and guidelines, Help, Merging pages.

If you need help or are curious about something, feel free to ask on my talk page or the village pump. You can sign your name and a date stamp on comments using four tildes (~~~~). If you have any further questions, feel free to ask, and I hope you enjoy being a Wikipedian!

Andre (talk) 03:46, Jan 9, 2005 (UTC)

Hi Bernard

Thanks for pointing out my error and fixing it!

You're right, Firefox gets this wrong. I've just looked at in in Exploder and it's fine.

Hangs head.

Clive 10:42, 1 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Devanagari/Arabic script

Bernard -- you're Elyaqim, right? -- the problem with adding Devanagari to some Bollywood names, and Devanagari and Arabic to others, is that you're using it as a pointer to "who's Muslim and who's not". In the context of Indian politics, this is inflammatory. Either you give Devanagari and Arabic for all of them, or for none at all. I would prefer none at all. I'll wait a day or so before deleting, in case you can change my mind <g>. Zora 02:38, 11 July 2005 (UTC)

  • No, I'm not Elyaqim and I don't even know who he is. I don't want to use Devanagari script to tell wether an actor is Hindu or Muslim. If we follow this principle, we should also add Gurmukhi script, because the actor could be Sikh, etc. I don't think we should be afraid of such things. Using Devanagari script just tells correct spelling (if you don't know Hindi, believe me, transcriptions are really messy). I can't add "Urdu spelling" too because I don't know it, but please don't remove Devanagari script since it would make the article lose information. BernardM 09:33, 11 July 2005 (UTC)
I'm caught right in the middle of you guys. The editor Elyaqim wants to add Arabic script versions of the actors' names. I complained when he did this, a long time ago. Lately he's returned, and added Arabic and Devanagari. Then you started adding just Devanagari, and I thought you two might be the same editor, with different usernames, using the Arabic script as a code to say "This actor is Muslim". I've got an argument going on with Elyaqim on HIS talk page, and discussions going on with YOU on your talk page, and you're both upset at me. We need a place where we can ALL talk. Maybe on the Bollywood article talk page? I'm also going to put this issue in Requests for Comment. I'd like to see what other South Asian editors think about this. Zora 20:25, 12 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The SPICE linkspammer

Dear Bernard, thanks for the work you did reverting the work of the linkspammer. We get that often in the Bollywood articles. If you have the time and energy, there are additional steps you can take.

  • Look at the contrib list for the spammer's IP -- it will point you to spammed articles that aren't on your watchlist
  • Post a warning on the talk page for the IP saying that the user will be banned if he/she doesn't stop linkspamming.

Usually the warning is enough to stop the spamming. When it's clear that the spam will be reverted quickly and that banning will follow, the spammer usually gives up. Sometimes you have to follow through with reporting vandalism on the WP:VIP vandalism page, but if you don't want to mess with that, message me. If I'm online (which I am all too much of the time) I'll take care of the details.

P.S. Someone from bharatmatrimony.com has been slowly, slowly posting links to various actors' articles. It's a commercial site, and the film links are clearly just there to attract customers, but they actually seemed useful. What do you think? Keep or delete? Zora 22:16, 18 July 2005 (UTC)

  • Can you show me an example of such link? BernardM 12:55, 21 July 2005 (UTC)
Here's one from the Amitabh article. [1]
As you see, the commercial content is front and center if you click to the link. The interview is interesting, but ... it must have been lifted from a newpaper or magazine article, which would be a better link. I think there are several more of these stealth ads, in various celeb articles. What do you think? Zora 21:54, 21 July 2005 (UTC)
You're right, direct links to the right sites would be better. I think those links to bharat matrimony are mainly spam and should be avoided. BernardM 22:19, 21 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks for corrections

Thanks for correcting my corrections. Devanagari is much better than just "Hindi". D'oh! Zora 18:58, 18 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks for anti-linkspam work

Patrolling for linkspam isn't a high-profile job, but it's an extremely necessary one. Thanks so much! Zora 01:13, 12 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Transportation in NYC

Hello Bernard - I notice you're a member of WikiProject New York City. Have a look at the Transportation in New York City sub article. It tells a fascinating story and it's been nominated to be a US Collaboration of the Week after lots of work over the last few weeks. Check it out and if you like it, please vote for it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:USCOTW We need all the votes we can get! Wv235 04:15, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ajay Devgan

Yes it seems अजय देवगन is correct as perGoogle-hindi-Bharatveer 04:06, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Hinduism

Links for Wikipedians interested in Hindu content

We need scripts for many Hinduism articles.--D-Boy 23:43, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

You might also consider joining Wikipedia:WikiProject India/Translation.--D-Boy 21:01, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Devanagari

Would you please tell me how to straight away type Devanagari script in wikipedia as I like to give exact Sanskrit quotation within English pages? – VMO 01:22, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia:Vernacular scripts

just incase you are interested in the discussion. No one else is really giving input.--D-Boy 03:19, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re:Map of Goa

Hi! The source maps is: [2]. Regards, =Nichalp «Talk»= 04:42, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Uh, its a PSD file 22 MB in size :( I suggest that the map be put up for vectorization instead. =Nichalp «Talk»= 14:28, 25 March 2007 (UTC)
I'm more interested in giving you a vector version. I've posted a query regarding the conversion. If sucessful, you could get a more useful SVG image. =Nichalp «Talk»= 16:02, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

I've forwarded the map of Goa to Planemad. He would be looking into it in May. Regards, =Nichalp «Talk»= 04:45, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re:Image:Indiastates&utnumbered.png

We've decrepated all png maps of India. I'm not sure if you want a districts map of India or the map of the states of India. Here is the numbered states Image:India-states-numbered.svg. If you need any more maps, please take a look at Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian maps. Regards, =Nichalp «Talk»= 11:05, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] hey there

Hi,

I've reverted your change of the spelling on Abhishek Bachchan. The spelling you inserted was incorrect. Just wanted to let you know so that we can avoid a revert war. In case of any questions, feel free to contact me on my talk page, or drop a note on the article talk. Regards,xC | ☎ 09:03, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

My bad. I just upgraded my comp, and it seems I've lost the ability to see devnagri script correctly:P I made two similar edits on Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. I'll fix them right now. Apologies for the extra work. Best regards, xC | ☎ 11:57, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re:Devanagari spelling

BernardM, thanks for your concern. I am able to fluently speak Hindi/Urdu but I am just a beginner with the scripts. My edits are viewable here. Once you have my contributions open, click on the Edit button on your toolbar and then click Find. In my edit summaries, I generally used added hindi/urdu scripts or added hindi. I hope this helps. With regards, AnupamTalk 03:16, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Can you tell me why have to taken up this self-policing job?

Do you even know what is spam? User:iamvolunteer

  • thanks bernard m for removing this spam from i am volunteer. I am reporting him to an admin. Wikipedia is not for advertising. It is an encyclopedia maintained by thousands of volunteers like bernard. Thanks again. Kaushal mehta 08:08, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

I don't know if you are mistaking creating awareness for advertising. The site in question is not-for-profit. It is just a database of people wishing to volunteer during emergencies which plague this country quite often. If you can't understand this than its fine. FYI - I am not the owner of the site. I am a volunteer myself.

The main reason why it was put on the pages of all major cities of India was on the assumption that people from these cities will register themselves to the site and this will create an even distribution of volunteers across cities. The site is not dependent on advertising on wikipedia, it is doing well through word of mouth.

And you gender biased people, how did you assume "him"?

  • Please see your message box iamvolunteer.

[edit] French

This document may prove useful for the page on Adivasi Cobra Force. However I dont understand french, can you please look at it and see if you can get any information on the ACF out of it?Bakaman 17:31, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

Hello. First I'm curious to know how you happened to think of me for such a job. I am a French contributer interested in India but I didn't know people were aware of that. The document you found is a reliable source since it comes from a French governmental web site. There's a presentation available in English on the site. Beside what's already written in WP's article, the document says the ACF hasn't been forbidden by the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). However it is listed among the active "persecution agents" of India which "commit massacres" and so on. I can give you page numbers or precisions if you're interested. BernardM 21:18, 26 June 2007 (UTC)
I edited a few times on Hindi Wikipedia and saw you were a sysop there. When looking through Category:User fr I found you. What would the pertinent information be, and which page numbers? Thanks for the help.Bakaman 22:51, 26 June 2007 (UTC)
Well, the ACF is considered as very dangerous group by French government but not targeted by POTA. Both infos on pages 23 and 51. BernardM 23:14, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Link removal from India

I have reverted your recent edit that removed valuable and long standing links from this featured article since none of the links seemed to qualify as Links normally to be avoided. If you disagree, please discuss the issue on the article talk page. Cheers. Abecedare 11:04, 11 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] You are invited!

New York City Meetup


Next: Sunday March 16th, Columbia University area
Last: 1/13/2008
This box: view • talk • edit

In the afternoon, we will hold a session dedicated to meta:Wikimedia New York City activities, and have salon-style group discussions on Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects (see the last meeting's minutes).

Well also make preparations for our exciting Wikipedia Takes Manhattan event, a free content photography contest for Columbia University students planned for Friday March 28 (about 2 weeks after our meeting).

In the evening, we'll share dinner and chat at a local restaurant, and (weather permitting) hold a late-night astronomy event at Columbia's telescopes.

You can add or remove your name from the New York City Meetups invite list at Wikipedia:Meetup/NYC/Invite list.

You're also invited to subscribe to the public Wikimedia New York City mailing list, which is a great way to receive timely updates.
This has been an automated delivery because you were on the invite list. BrownBot (talk) 02:23, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] NYC Meetup: June 1, 2008

New York City Meetup


Next: Sunday June 1st, Columbia University area
Last: 3/16/2008
This box: view • talk • edit

In the afternoon, we will hold a session dedicated to meta:Wikimedia New York City activities, elect a board of directors, and hold salon-style group discussions on Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects (see the last meeting's minutes).

We'll also review our recent Wikipedia Takes Manhattan event, and make preparations for our exciting successor Wiki Week bonanza, being planned with Columbia University students for September or October.

In the evening, we'll share dinner and chat at a local restaurant, and (weather permitting) hold a late-night astronomy event at Columbia's telescopes.

You can add or remove your name from the New York City Meetups invite list at Wikipedia:Meetup/NYC/Invite list.

Also, check out our regional US Wikimedia chapters blog Wiki Northeast (and we're open to guest posts).
This has been an automated delivery by BrownBot (talk) 23:24, 19 May 2008 (UTC)