Talk:Michael Palin

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Good article Michael Palin has been listed as one of the Arts good articles under the good article criteria. If you can improve it further, please do. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can delist it, or ask for a reassessment.
December 17, 2006 Good article nominee Listed

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[edit] Sheffield United and/or Sheffield Wednesday

Is it really very likely that any self-respecting fan would support both Sheffield United *and* Wednesday? Is there any evidence available to show which one he actually supports? Angmering 00:35, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

I did some searching and it does seem to be true. See [1] A message board on palin's travels. Not the most reliable source though. Garion96 (talk) 02:32, 4 January 2006 (UTC)
On the DVD commentary for the Ripping Yarns episode Golden Gordon, he mentions that the football team wear the same red and white striped strip as "Sheffield United, my team," so I'm going to change the article accordingly. Angmering 23:25, 18 February 2006 (UTC)

Yes i can also second that he supports Sheffield United, although he states 'I'm always happy to hear of any Sheffield success.' And that when he lived in Sheefield he was 'always a united fan, so thats what I've settled for." - Michael Palin Diaries 1969-79.

[edit] Michael Palin suffers from Aspergers Syndrome?

So it says here: List_of_recognised_people_with_autism_spectrum_disorders But this article doesn't mention it. Is it true or false, should it be added? --Commking 23:53, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

searched many internet sites for a ref to this. Could not find one. Also people with aspergers have normally a certain style of speech (monotonous + "geeky"-- Bill Gates like although his possible aspergers is only speculation and not fact ) and are often poor social communicators -- the exact opposite of palin infact.it was his very opposite behaviour that made me do search for it. Will search again ,think the mistaken link is something like Palin once wrote a story where one of the charictors had aspergers. if anyone knows of this would be interested....

if anyone wants to know more about people who others think have AS or autisum , see People speculated to have been autistic

--Ludek9 16:44, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

I removed it from that list. If its true, it needs to be sourced. Garion96 (talk) 19:27, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

Well it's obviously not true, the person who made that rumor up obviously doesn't know the first thing about autism/aspergers. As someone pointed out, Michael is in a way the very opposite of an autistic person, he's outgoing and soicial, doesn't have a problem adapting (as is obvious in his travel series), and seems very empathic and understanding, which is something that an autistic person often isn't, not because they're rude but as a result of their handicap.

[edit] Pre-Python collaborations

Could people please leave non-Python members of shows in the article, as well as "Monty Python" members. The non-Python members are as much a part of Michael Palin's comedy history as the Python members are. Figaro 01:48, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Infobox

Does this article really need an infobox? All the information (which is not much) is given in the lead of the aticle anyway? If people insist on one, isn't there a better one which could give more information from the whole article? (I prefer no infobox though). Garion96 (talk) 01:22, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

If you can make it, I can use it.--Crestville 15:10, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
Since Crestville has added userboxes for all the other members, there should be one for this article, if only for the sake of consistency. They don't hurt... well, to be honest, they don't help particularly either, but they tidy things up.--TrianaC 02:38, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, I just saw that too. My sentiment would actually be to remove all of them. :) I will look through featured articles and see if there is a better one to use. (if it has to have one). Garion96 (talk) 02:49, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, there are good info boxes for musicians, but I couldn't find a good one for comedians. They looks good, though and are a standard on comedians pages (even if I did put a lot of them there)--Crestville 13:38, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Sorry for the late response, totally forgot about it. How about this one? This one gives a bit more information than the other one. Garion96 (talk) 03:01, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] GA notes

Good article but no Fair use rationales for the images. Wiki-newbie 16:00, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, the following things need citations:

In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Don't wikify the Comedian's Comedian either.

After finishing university in 1965 Palin became a presenter on a comedy pop show called Now! for the television contractor Television Wales and the West. At the same time Palin was contacted by Jones who had left university a year earlier, and was writing a theatrical documentary about sex through the ages. He asked Palin to help him write it. Although this project was eventually abandoned it brought Palin and Jones together as a writing duo.

As Bugsy Malone, Palin once commented that Cleese had thought it amusing to give him a character who wouldn't shut up, when his character in A Fish Called Wanda hardly talked at all.

He also assisted Transport 2000 and others with campaigns on transport policy issues, particularly those relating to urban areas, and has now become president of Transport 2000.

Palin has also appeared as a "straight" actor in serious drama. In 1991 Palin worked as producer and actor in the film American Friends based upon a real event in the life of his great grandfather, a fellow at St John's College, Oxford. In that same year he also played the part of a headmaster in Alan Bleasdale's Channel 4 drama series G.B.H..

In honour of his achievements as a traveller (especially rail travel), Palin has a British train named after him. Virgin Trains' Super Voyager number 221130 carries his name externally and a plaque is located adjacent to the onboard shop with information on Palin and his many journeys.

Also, put the footnotes into the References section. Makes all the more sense, and whilst I'm aware some of the citations are pages, it may be confusing to others. Like I said, you got a week to sort it out. Wiki-newbie 16:42, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] GA passed

Worthy enough. Keep working. Wiki-newbie 21:43, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stowmarket?

Just to clear it up... Palin met his wife whilst on holiday in Southwold (see his diaries, it's in there). Also, if you think about the title of the film "East of Ipswich" and then look at a map, you'll see that Stowmarket lies to the NW of Ipswich. CPCHEM 17:54, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Flag Icon

The problem with your removal of the flag icon isn't so much that you removed it so much as it is that you cite an essay as a Wikipolicy. It's a discretionary move. Most of the articles I have read that are bios on Wikipedia (Pink Floyd is one that immediately comes to mind), as well as most of the football articles, use flag icons. The essay you quote says use discretion, and declares itself not to be policy or even a guideline. The Cross of St. George flag is not offensive, does not harm the article or its credibility, doesn't make it unnecessarily long or cause detriment in any other way shape or form. My answer to the essay would be, if there is nothing that a flag icon can add, then why why have the icons available in the first place? I put it there in the first place, and I don't really see a legitimate reason to remove it since it doesn't violate any policy. And since it doesn't, I also took the liberty to put it back. Ryecatcher773 04:58, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Infobox redux

See Talk:Michael_Palin#Infobox. User:Crestville and I looked for the best infobox for this article. This infobox is also in use (unless you changed it) on the articles of the other members of Monty Python. Garion96 (talk) 13:45, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

I won't revert again, but I'd urge you to reconsider. For a start, when you set font-size to 12px, is that intended to be bigger, than usual text, for someone reading at 9x, or smaller than usual text, for someone reading at 16? What are you trying to achieve, which is not available under "infobox actor", and why can that not be delivered by tweaking that infobox? Andy Mabbett 15:31, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
Perhaps just my personal opinion, but I just prefer the current infobox. It is consistent with the other Python members. It gives a bit more information, the occupation part. It's easier to read, website is at the bottom instead of in the middle, there are no annoying colours just white. But I have to admit, I would still prefer no infobox. They don't always add to the article.
I don't know about font size. When I compare both infoboxes, they look the same to me in matters of width and font size. The only difference in size is that the current infobox is a bit longer.
Why do you prefer the standard infobox? Garion96 (talk) 17:22, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Separate pages for the travelogue books

If nobody objects, I intend to create separate pages for the six Michael Palin travelogue books that were made in association with the six trips, and the four Basil Pao photography books that were made in association with four of the trips. I have all of these books, and can even provide cover photos.

The current coverage of the Michael Palin books is minimal, almost non-existent, and as far as I can see the Basil Pao books are currently not even mentioned. --RenniePet 09:46, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

So far so good. I'm more or less done with the 10 books (6 by Michael Palin, 4 by Basil Pao). I've also created a "template" with a table showing the trips and the TV programs and the books, and added this template to this Michael Palin page. Suggestions, criticism, etc. welcome.
My intention now is to go through the six existing pages for the TV programs and edit them so they don't attempt to cover both the TV program and the book. I'll also add my template to the bottom of each page.
Question: should I remove the "See also" sections, as they will be somewhat redundant? I.e., the "See also" sections contain the same links as in the template. --RenniePet 21:35, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
Yes, the see also can then go. But I can't say I am a fan of the template, the article is already overtagged as it as. Sometimes prose or a small list is just nicer. Also, I don't see the reason why for instance Pole to Pole Pole to Pole (book) and Pole to Pole - The Photographs shouldn't be merged to one article. Much of the information is now double and you would have a better more comprehensice article if it would be merged. The same counts for the other books/series. Garion96 (talk) 21:44, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
Just to add to Garion96's note . I know templates are fun to create but they really need to be kept to a minimum. Some pages have four or more and the eye just stops looking at them after awhile. I am more likely to use a see also section than trying to pick out what I want from a box. My aging eyes find the small print in the boxes difficult to deal with sometimes. In addition merging the three different articles ASAP is highly advised. There are wikipedians whose sole motivation is deleting things and having minimal info in three diff articles (I would actually put them on the pages for the show, but that is just me) makes them prime candidates for AFD nominations where larger articles are harder to justify putting this tag on. I know you put hard work into them and they may not be tagged in the near future but I am just passing on some of the things I have seen here over my two plus years of editing. Cheers.MarnetteD | Talk 21:57, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
Thanks for your comments, Garion96 and MarnetteD. Bit of a "slap in the face", after having done a lot of work on those 10 pages and the template and the article about Basil Pao and several other related pages.
I feel strongly that Michael Palins's books are sufficiently different from the TV programs that they should not be placed in the same article. That applies even more for Basil Pao's photography books. --RenniePet 09:58, 5 June 2007 (UTC)
No need to feel slapped, you did a lot of good work, which will be kept even if decided to merge. Why do you feel so strongly about it? To take the Pole to Pole example. If you remove the triple info and merge it into one article you will end up with a decent size comprehensive article. For instamce, right now Pole to Pole - The Photographs is a small but comprehensive article which isn't likely to get larger, so a prime candidate for a merge. Garion96 (talk) 15:54, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Places visited map

In the Himalayan series Palin went to Burma (Myanmar) but this is not shown on the map. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 218.101.3.40 (talk) 02:57, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

I don't think that's correct. I don't recall Palin being in Burma (Myanmar) in the Himalaya program, and it doesn't say that in Himalaya with Michael Palin or Himalaya (book). On this map http://www.palinstravels.co.uk/popup.php?name=him_061_104_map_003.gif it looks like he flew over Myanmar, but that doesn't count, does it? --RenniePet 15:37, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
According to this and this, he may have set foot in Myanmar at one point, in much the same way he set foot in North Korea in Full Circle. Patken4 (talk) 23:32, 28 December 2007 (UTC)
Reading a little more on this page, he says "I walk around the chief's hut, in and out of India, measuring its circumference as 250 yards.". It looks like List of countries Michael Palin has traveled to has Myanmar listed with this information already. Patken4 (talk) 23:39, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Honourary Degree

Palin was awarded an honourary degree from the university of edinburgh at the end of the 06/07 academic year - its a degree of doctor of letters...ive not done citations or anything before and am not too confident at getting it right so it could be best if i dont add it myself. the website is http://www.ed.ac.uk/explore/people/honorary/2006.html 79.68.93.9 (talk) 12:38, 10 February 2008 (UTC) James (talk) 12:40, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Michael Pallin

The intentional misspelling of Palin's name on the London Globe's wall of donors was here once. It was John Cleese's prank, as the tour guides are very fond of relating. Shouldn't this most valuable fact not be mentioned somewhere? elpincha (talk) 16:35, 1 May 2008 (UTC)