User talk:Nihil novi

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When you write a message here, I will respond to it here. Likewise, when I write a message on your Talk page, I will watch that page for your response. That will maintain continuity of discussion.


Welcome!

Hello, Nihil novi, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your name on talk pages using four tildes (~~~~); this will automatically produce your name and the date. If you need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or ask your question and then place {{helpme}} after the question on your talk page. Again, welcome!  -SpuriousQ (talk) 23:32, 11 April 2007 (UTC)


Contents

[edit] Thank you for your Poland-related contributions

Hello Nihil novi! Thank you for your contributions related to Poland. You may be interested in visiting Portal:Poland/Poland-related Wikipedia notice board, joining our discussions and sharing your creations with us.

-- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  03:11, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How to move images to commons; de.Diskussion:Bolesław Prus

Witam Nihil novi,

i think it is described on Wikipedia:Moving images to the Commons - in short; download the image from de on your computer. Next go to commons and upload it there; done ;o) .... of course dont forget to name the uploader and the source (a link; not just de-wiki ;o) ) - the best is; just copy every information from de to commons; so nothing can get lost ... after you did this is would be nice if you would inform me. Than i could delete the image on de and use the commons-version as well. .... Ansers please on my german talk page ...Sicherlich Post 18:11, 18 April 2007 (UTC) PS: maybe you could give on de:Benutzer:Nihil novi a link to your english page. Would be more compfortable to find you here ;)

[edit] Boleslaw Prus ...

... has moved. Regards, 149.229.98.21 16:26, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

I thank you, dear anonymous Samaritan, and Bolesław Prus thanks you! I am much more adroit at writing, editing and translating than at the more arcane Wiki-procedures. I will learn more of them eventually, if I live long enough. For now, your generous help has added a useful illustration to this article. Thanks again! Nihil novi 06:59, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The wiki way

Fine fine fine, have it your way, Copernicus is Polish, Alexander is Greek and Leonardo is Italian, right - way to educate the masses. A lead is supposed to introduce the subject right? In the book I'm looking at, what I added is in the first sentence. It isn't an "unnecessary intrusion" but then I'm now so mad with this pile of inaccuracy, I'll take my input elsewhere. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 163.1.147.29 (talk) 08:12, 22 April 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Marie Curie

Sorry for my imperfect revert there. It's fixed now. --Guinnog 18:20, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Joseph Conrad

I do not understand why you remove from Joseph Conrad´s article the fact that he witnessed as a small boy the decline and dramatic death of his mother and later the death of his father. Andreanrc —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Andreanrc (talk • contribs) 07:40, 4 May 2007 (UTC).

Did I? When?
Your textual additions of today require editing for correct English idiom, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Nihil novi 07:54, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cloth Hall

You made far reaching edits to article Sukiennice. However, the term "Drapers' Hall" means not what you intended. It is mostly the Herbert James Draper Hall in London or a male dorm at Oklahoma University.[1] Meanwhile, the previous well established term used to describe Sukiennice can be traced back to other similar structures written about in Wikipedia, such as:

I don't want to get entangled in reverting your creative edits, so please bring the "cloth hall" back by yourself. Thanks. --Poeticbent  talk  15:03, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

Sukiennice is also often called the "Cloth Guild Hall." According to the Wikipedia article, it also sold goods other than cloth, much like the old-fashioned draper's establishment: "Draper... the now largely obsolete name for a merchant in cloth or dry goods... The drapers were an important trade guild."
The White Cloth Halls in Leeds, by contrast, reportedly specialized in (undyed) cloth; and the Cloth Hall, Ypres, in wool and cloth.
The term "Drapers' Hall," which I used, in no way resembles "Draper Hall," a dormitory at Oklahoma University; and I don't understand the reference to Herbert James Draper.
Nihil novi 18:43, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] History of the world

Why did you revert the article? J. D. Redding 04:20, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Because you're making an awful hash of it. Nihil novi 04:28, 2 June 2007 (UTC)
Any specific point? I was trying to get the beginning cleaner and get rid of the [citations needed] ... please state specific point of concern ... 04:31, 2 June 2007 (UTC)
An appropriate inline citation would have sufficed to get rid of the "citations needed." Nihil novi 04:35, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Chopin's name

My bad. Could have sworn I'd recently seen it written "Frantiszek"...but maybe I've just gone all Czech again. Anyway, thanks for clarifying. K. Lásztocska 01:15, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] University of Warsaw

Some time ago I corrected the wrong form "Warsaw University" to "University of Warsaw", providing extensive explanations in the Talk page, why one is wrong and the other is right. You have undone my correction and the reasons you give for your change show that you have not read my explanations. I do not want to engage into any kind of editing wars, but please, read my explanations and would you please revert your change yourself? Yours Fon 21:48, 6 June 2007 (UTC)


Please consider the following statement, which comes from the official website of the University:


[edit] Warsaw University changes its official English name

We kindly inform you that in accordance with the new Statute of Warsaw University of June 21, 2006, the English name of our institution has been changed as of October 1, 2006 to the University of Warsaw. Both names ( Warsaw University, University of Warsaw) are equally valid and may be used on information materials/symbols etc., until the end of academic year 2006/07 - that is, until September 30, 2007.

Other explanations are provided in my request for the moving of the article. Fon 21:16, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Krzywicki

Thanks for the copy edit. Much better now. Dr. Dan 13:30, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Edit summaries

Hello. Please don't forget to provide an edit summary. Thank you. -- Doctormatt 19:17, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] AfD nomination of List of Poles

An article that you have been involved in editing, List of Poles, has been listed for deletion. If you are interested in the deletion discussion, please participate by adding your comments at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of Poles. Thank you. -- Jreferee (Talk) 17:15, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] PTSD

Hey, Nihil, I just wanted to drop you a note and say good edits on the PTSD article. I undid just that one that noted punctuation and commented to the reason on the Talk page, but wanted to let you know that I appreciate the other edits and didn't mean to sound negative to you or your edits; I don't think I did either. Anyway, thanks for contributing... it reads a lot better now! VigilancePrime 21:44, 17 August 2007 (UTC)
Moreover, I just wanted to point out that, in the last almost week, you and I have made virtually every un-reverted change. Check this comparison out, with 59 intermediate edits. Of course, when I say "you and I" what I really mean is a tiny bit of me and a whole lotta you. Excellent work and dedication and amazing string of improvements to the PTSD article; very much appreciated. VigilancePrime 05:03, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
It's a pleasure helping to edit "PTSD." Especially as there has been no anonymous fanatic there like the one we've been contending with for the past week at the "Translation" article.
The "PTSD" "Veterans and politics" section seems to me reasonably neutral. Couldn't the "disputed-neutrality" tag be removed?
I appreciate all the work you and your colleagues have been putting into this important topic, and your willingness to entertain suggestions.
Nihil novi 06:08, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
On the one hand, I do agree that the section is reasonably neutral (as a veteran and one that could be borderline for military-related PTSD, I hold back a little so as to keep my own comments on it as neutral as possible), but at the same time the section is a total mess, from unreferenced statements to poorly-formatted references to more unreferenced statements. I think that, in order to preserve the section's credibility, the Neutrality-dispute tag can come off but needs to be replaced with a does-not-cite-sources tag for now, at least until the section is better-written/referenced. I don't challenge any major parts of it (though a couple parts I find doubtful or, at the least, minimal) and would like to see better referencing. Yes, I do realize how labor-intensive that is, which is why I'm not volunteering to do it! (at least not right now) My $.02 ... and probably overpriced at that. :-) VigilancePrime 06:53, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Translation quality standards

Hi Nihil novi, I just wanted to tell you that the same annoying (un-)discussion on the relevance of standards and on a readable and informative way of mentioning them is going on in the German article on translation... I'll try to find the time to write a new section on the standards for the German version asap and see whether this will work as a compromise. If it does, I'll let you know so you can put it here. All the best. --Margit Brause 06:08, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

I've got a first German version now, you can check it out at de:Übersetzung (Sprache). (If it's still there by then, that is...) I don't know yet when I'll get around to researching the relevant standards for the English text (ASTM etc.). --Margit Brause 08:24, 20 August 2007 (UTC)
Now there's a first Englisch version, which promptly got undone by VoA Bot II as vandalism... :-) I'm not quite current on the standards situation for English-speaking countries, but I hope this is at least better if not good. --Margit Brause 13:45, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Spiritualism

I like your user name (regardless of whether it means "nothing new without the consensus of all" or "nothing new under the sun"). I've appreciated your edits to the Spiritualism article, but I would like to undo a few of those in the current round. I'm happy with the new headings, but not so happy with some of the images. Spiritualism was an historical movement, with millions of ordinary people, and I picked out a few images to show that. I was very fond of the Swedish painting, since it showed a group of ordinary middle-class people, and the painter Richard Berghe managed to convey the excitement they felt. The images of Swedenborg and Mesmer leave me cold, they are just static and formal portraits, with little hint of the person inside. I like the Fox Sisters, Podmore, Price, and Houdini images, I'm willing to accept the Conan Doyle image, but I would drop the Mary Todd Lincoln and Frederick Douglass portraits. All kinds of people inveighed for or against Spiritualism, and the article should avoid simply cataloging the celebrities. If you would like to leave the Lincoln story in the text, you should add a source, since before your edit everything in the text was sourced. Douglass doesn't belong here--if you wish to add a celebrity critic, Henry James would be the obvious choice.

I also have an issue with the captions. I wrote captions to encourage the reader to look more closely at the images, and also to give some hint of why the image was important. I would like to retain the original captions on the Chicago women image and on the Swedish mesmerist image. I also liked the "practical jokes" line in the first image.

In my opinion, the article's most pressing need is to eliminate the red links. We need to make stubs for the Seybert Commission, Amy and Isaac Post, and Achsa W. Sprague.--Anthon.Eff 15:31, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

Henry James (1843-1916) was too young (18-22 years old) to be of any account during Abraham Lincoln's tenure in office. Frederick Douglass was prominent and active in this period.
Well, yes. But the article isn't restricted to Abraham Lincoln's tenure in office. It's restricted to the heyday of Spiritualism. And Henry James made some famous mocking comments about Spiritualism (his brother William was much more sympathetic). Anyway, I don't think Henry James really belongs in the article either. History is not a catalog of celebrities. But I can tell that you already know this. --Anthon.Eff 23:29, 26 August 2007 (UTC)
Emphasis on broad public interest in Spiritualism is justified. However, naming well-known individuals who were on either side of the controversy brings the movement out of the penumbra of oddity. Nihil novi 22:46, 26 August 2007 (UTC)
I believe, where possible, in using short captions and headings, which intrude less into an article's text. I had moved "Spiritualism was mainly a middle- and upper-class movement, and especially popular with women" from the 1906-Chicago-photo caption into the adjacent text paragraph. Nihil novi 23:03, 26 August 2007 (UTC)
Yes, I saw that you had moved it into the text. Perhaps WP needs some style guidelines on captions. My own view is that one shouldn't worry much about intruding into the text--if that's the concern, then no caption, or even no image, would be optimal. I think a good caption is one that prompts the reader to look at the image, and provides enough information that one knows why the image is relevant. --Anthon.Eff 23:29, 26 August 2007 (UTC)
Why not add the information about Henry James and his brother William? It certainly would not detract from the article. In fact, it would highlight what the article says about Spiritualism being "mainly a middle- and upper-class movement."
I understand about encouraging readers to examine illustrations more closely. But exactly what "tricks" do you see being played in the Spiritualist-séance drawing at the top of the article? I see only a fidgety boy who seems bent on getting away from the table. Given his position between chair and table, I don't think his mother (?) could be using him to make rapping sounds with his chair legs. Nihil novi 23:49, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] See also solar worship

See WP:PUNC#Brackets. Stylistically, punctuation should be used outside parentheticals when not enclosing a quotation or for less than a sentence. It's also house style on Wikipedia. —Viriditas | Talk 22:11, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

The text within the parentheses currently begins with a capital "S" and constitutes a complete sentence. Nihil novi 22:31, 26 August 2007 (UTC)
Gaming the grammar rule doesn't make for correct usage. To wit: the parenthetical fragment in quesiton is classified as a cross-reference. According to Wikipedia house style and grammar rules and those found in Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors, cross-references do not end in periods. And according to those rules, when a "see also" is enclosed in parentheses, the "s" is lowercased. —Viriditas | Talk 23:16, 26 August 2007 (UTC)
I've reverted the capitalization and period location to accord with the convention you cite. Nihil novi 23:49, 26 August 2007 (UTC)
It reads better if we just incorporate the cross-ref into the text. I'm not convinced your usage was entirely inaccurate, as the same grammar rule states there is some ambiguity. What I would like to establish is how to best use inline cross-references on Wikipedia. I'm assuming that this hasn't been addressed because most editors either use the {{seealso}} headings or integrate the cross-refs as inline links. I think we need to settle this issue once and for all on the appropriate Manual of Style guideline page because I have run into this problem many times, but I've never altered the guidelines to address it. —Viriditas | Talk 00:07, 27 August 2007 (UTC)
If by "inline links" you mean footnotes, that would be one way to handle it. I think, though, that there may be many ways to skin a cat, and perhaps editors should be able to use more than one. Nihil novi 00:35, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Semantics

Thanks for correcting the spelling error on the Copernicus talk page. Guldenat 03:06, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

My pleasure. Nihil novi 03:09, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Translation

I've put in for a 3RR intervention, but it's so slow! Just thought I'd let you know. Maybe we should take this to elsewhere on WP:ANI. This is ridiculous. Dreadstar † 08:24, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm convinced that we're dealing with a case of genuine mental illness. Wikipedia attracts its share, and I don't know that it really knows how to cope with them. If it does finally bestir itself and finds against the anon., what sanctions can it impose? This protean polynumeric keeps changing his numbers, though he cannot change his illiteracy or irrationality. Perhaps the only workable solution will be to bar all anonymous editors from the "Translation" article. Nihil novi 08:36, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
There's definitely something wrong there, it's unusual that I'm totally unable to...translate...what an editor is trying to accomplish, and getting the person to at least slightly swerve from a destructive course of action...(unless they're a pure vandal), but this one was impossible to do anything with.
The 3RR report got some attention and now the article is protected from ip editing and the last ip the editor was using is also blocked - for at least a short time, anyway. Hopefully, this will cause him to give up his course of action. Yeah, I believe that one too...;) I understand the same article on the German Wikipedia was protected in the same manner from the same individual... I'll keep the article watchlisted, but let me know if it starts up again...Dreadstar † 04:36, 6 September 2007 (UTC)
Thanks for your help, which I expect was decisive in bringing this runaway situation under control. I'm curious what was the subsequent history with the irrational anon., on the German Wikipedia.
The one positive aspect to this experience was how a fair number of individuals were able to become involved and work together constructively for the mutual benefit of Wikipedia and its readers and editors.
Thanks again! Nihil novi 05:41, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Hello Nihil novi, thanks for the update on my German talk page. The German article had to be put under protection as well, which seems to have stopped the trouble. I'm sorry I haven't been able to do anything constructive for the English article these last few weeks. --Margit Brause 07:05, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Hello Nihil novi, I am going to back off of Translation for now so that I am not in danger of 3RR myself, but Eurominuteman is probably not going to back off. From my point of view, his current edits are very similar to his previous ones. In what I think must be his form of compromise, he is changing the title of sections he disagrees with to "Quick and Dirty methods", and adding in a section entitled "Enhanced Methods". If you can help, that'd be cool or I'll wait until tomorrow and remove this blatant POV (also persistant linkspam). Thanks Man It's So Loud In Here 17:28, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Will do. Any chance of at least slowing him down by getting him blocked for 3RR? (And his continual reversals make it impossible for anyone else to edit — their contributions get expunged in the next revert.) Nihil novi 17:35, 15 September 2007 (UTC)
You better watch out that you don't get sued for your tort. Eurominuteman 19:45, 15 September 2007 (UTC)
I just submitted this for 3RR, but I don't think I filled out the form properly.Man It's So Loud In Here 17:59, 15 September 2007 (UTC)
"Eurominuteman has been blocked indefinitely due to legal threats." Suitable congratulations sent to Man It's So Loud In Here. Nihil novi 18:52, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

How about making some substantial contributions to the discussion? --Itskoolman 10:28, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

Our friend is back, and constructive as ever. Man It's So Loud In Here 16:50, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
So I noticed. Thanks for the link. The admin made a mistake unblocking him; he is clearly incorrigible. Nihil novi 19:05, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

An anonymous editor with periodically mutating IP addresses, aka Eurominuteman, aka Itskoolman, was blocked from editing Wikipedia on September 20, 2007, at last bringing peace to "Translation." Reportedly he had earlier created the same chaos at the same article on the German Wikipedia, with the same ultimate result. It is remarkable how much turmoil and enervation can be wrought by one person. Nihil novi 07:20, 1 October 2007 (UTC)


The discussion over at Talk:Translation#Images is somewhat circular; can I entice you to join the conversation? Naturezak (talk) 19:56, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for joining the discussion. I also enjoyed the historical images, but realized that they really are merely ornamental. And maybe the impression of "fullness" that they gave obscured the fact that the article is very much in need of good, rigorous editing and reorganization. Naturezak (talk) 03:52, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Dziewanowski and M-morze

I see you have access to that publication - that's great; the more you can reference and expand this article, the better :) -- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  18:34, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

Aha, rozwaz wlaczenie poczty. Chyba, ze sprawdzasz stara...? Powinienem miec twoj dawny adres gdzies w archiwum, chyba...-- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  23:45, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Copernicus

¿Why does Copernicus was not a Polish and Dürer and Beethoven were Germans? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Nationalism Patrol (talk • contribs) 13:17, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] DYK: Kazimierz Palace

Updated DYK query On 15 September 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Kazimierz Palace, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Thanks! --PFHLai 14:52, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Thank you for this most pleasant bit of news! Actually, I'm still in the midst of rewriting and augmenting "Kazimierz Palace." The "Did you know?" mention will be an incentive to complete the job. Nihil novi 15:10, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Question

And what that means: Minoritenkirche, Vienna, Französischer Dom, Stadtschloss, Berlin, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Zoologischer Garten Berlin, Berliner Dom, Rotes Rathaus, Votivkirche, Augustinerkirche, Jesuitenkirche, Vienna, Ruprechtskirche, Kapuzinerkirche, Dresdner Frauenkirche, Grünes Gewölbe, Palais Strousberg, Schloß Pötzleinsdorf, Palais Königswarter, Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Could you please translate me this? My English is terrible, as you probably noticed when you corrected some of my articles. I'll be very grateful. Polaco77 23:13, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Congratulations on the articles that you've started or expanded!
My German is lousy. Maybe someone else can help out both of us.
I think I understand your point, and — believe it or not — I sympathize. I've fought some battles to preserve authentic names, and I've lost to uncouth ignoramuses. But I think that, except for some universally familiar foreign names, the practical thing to do is to translate whatever can be translated, in order not to place disheartening demands on readers' energy. Nihil novi 23:30, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] AfD

Hello. Nontheism and List of nontheists have been nominated for deletion. As an editor of one or both of these articles, I thought you should know. See Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of nontheists. Thanks. Nick Graves 19:24, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Why keep?

Hello Nihil novi! How are you? Why did you voted for keep? Was that because of your friendship with Nick Graves? Please reconsider your decision. Thank you. RS1900 02:50, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

I doubt that in a matter of principle I would be swayed by friendship.
Partly my support for "nontheism" is due to the ballast that "atheism" has been loaded down with by bigots.
Also "nontheism" seems an apt umbrella term that covers the others — "atheism," "agnosticism" — and seems more appropriate in reference to Asian nontheistic belief systems.
Nihil novi 04:13, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GDL and federal

Yup, you've got me right. Not only self-counscious but also with separate foreign policy, treasury, army and most other official institutions. If the federal formulation seems too confusing, we might discuss it. Con-federal maybe?--Lokyz 19:32, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

Regarding that, there are arguments to be made for both. PLC was part federation, part confederation, per definitions today. I have not seen a special word for it, but I believe it is touched a bit in some older articles I wrote on PLC.-- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  23:55, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
How would you suggest Lokyz phrase it in this context? Nihil novi 02:03, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Semi-protection (note to self)

Yesterday, due to chronic vandalism, "Perfection" was semi-protected for 2 months, with possibility of 4-month extension if warranted; and "Marie Curie," without expiration date. What a relief! Nihil novi 02:50, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Henryk Józewski

Another link from Prometheism. Perhaps you could proofread / expand a little? -- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  22:29, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

I have edited "Henryk Józewski," an interesting article that helps flesh out "Międzymorze" and "Prometheism."
Hereafter, however, I shall do my best to avoid editing any article containing the words, "voivode" or "voivodeship." Nihil novi 05:58, 19 October 2007 (UTC)
Thanks. Why? -- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  07:01, 31 October 2007 (UTC)
1. "Voivode" and "voivodeship" are exceptionally ugly words, neither fish nor fowl, neither Polish nor English.
2. They are unnecessary words. Nearly all countries in the world make do, in English, with "governor" and "province." The fact that the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth idiosyncratically used "prowincya" (generally spelled with the "y") to designate a few large regions (Greater Poland, Lesser Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; also sometimes cited is Royal Prussia) is in itself no compelling reason to call these entities "provinces," when "Regions" would be more appropriate in English.
3. Fortunately, I don't have to be complicit in such inappropriate uses of language. Nihil novi 02:05, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Prometheism

Please don't add this link into every article which is mentioned in Prometheism. If we start adding each term ino each article mentioned in the article about the term, we will have a complete mess. The "see also" section is for things essentially expanding the current subject or for siimilar topics. We don't write fork in "see also" for beefsteak, do we? `'Míkka 06:14, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

A more germane "see-also" here than "fork" might be "slaughterhouse." Nihil novi 01:51, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] You may be interested in

Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Józef Piłsudski, since you copyedited the article and work on related subjects. -- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk 17:53, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Leon Schiller

Welcome, and thank you for experimenting with Wikipedia. Your test on the page Leon Schiller worked, and it has been reverted or removed. Please take a look at the welcome page to learn more about contributing to our encyclopedia. If you would like to experiment further, please use the sandbox. Thank you. ZacBowlingtalk 21:20, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Sorry... over zealous on the vandal patrolling :-) you put text in that said "Example.com" which is very common with vandals. You are on my white list now. ZacBowlingtalk 21:32, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bolesław Prus

Hello Nihil novi. Why did you add {{TOCleft}} in the article 'Bolesław Prus? Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 10:35, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

To close the blank area that now glares at the reader from beneath the lead; and to place the table of contents handily at the top of the article, analogously to the location of a book's table of contents at the head of the book.
Why did you remove {{TOCleft}}?Nihil novi (talk) 19:38, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

To close the blank area that now glares at the reader from beneath the lead? What do you mean by that? Look, almost all biographies do not have the table of contents at the top. That's why I removed {{TOCleft}}. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 04:28, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Maybe biographies with fairly long tables of contents should have them nearer the top. Nihil novi (talk) 04:43, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cracow is Kraków

Regarding your recent edit (revert) at the Copernicus article. May I ask your opinion regarding the continual reverting of Vilnius to "Vilna (modern Vilnius)", by several (I believe biased) editors? Their rationale is that Vilna has been the earlier English language geographical toponym, and therefore must be used on WP. Your honest opinion on the matter and the difference between applying the same logic with Cracow (modern Kraków) would be greatly appreciated. Dr. Dan (talk) 21:56, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Thank you

WikiThanks

For copyediting Józef Piłsudski article. -- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk 23:53, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Glad to help. Nihil novi (talk) 02:37, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Copernicus edit reverts

Dear Nihil novi:

Why did you revert, without explanation, these 2 edits of mine: [2] and [3]? You reverted my edits in this edit of yours: [4]. Finell (Talk) 16:31, 26 November 2007 (UTC) (I will watch for your reply here on your Talk page.)

The reversions of your changes were largely collateral damage. I was principally concerned about reverting the wholesale deletion of the "Origins" section.
I must admit, though, that I do find it easier to read boxes when items end in a period. And I don't like large blank areas – perhaps due to having at one time read newspapers and associating such blanks with interventions by censors. I would most gladly see the TOC at the top left, where it once was and where it would be easiest to find.
Yours truly, Nihil novi (talk) 04:01, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Dear Nihil novi: Thank you for replying. I do not want to make a big issue of this, as there is FAR too much edit warring and incivility on Nicolaus Copernicus and its Talk page, which I refuse to be a part of (and I hope you will not allow yourself to be goaded into it). However, as editors, we all have a responsibility not to overlook intervening edits when we revert vandalism, which you dismiss as "collateral damage". Please consider how you would feel if the situation were reversed, and your work was reverted carelessly. It would have been simple for you to have copied and pasted the deleted section, rather than reverting over good faith edits. Also, when I discover that I have inadvertently done damage, or when someone calls it to my attention, I fix it myself and apologize; I do not simply dismiss it, or leave it up to another editor to fix my mistake. I believe that is a more responsible approach to collaborative editing on Wikipedia. As to the matter of periods, it is not a matter of personal preference, because it is generally regarded as wrong to end something that is not a sentence with a period; when I did it one FA candidate (now FA) article (before I knew), someone taught me that and also referred me to the MoS. Also, there were only two stray periods, so most of the entries did not have them and the inconsistency cannot be justified. As for the TOC, there is too much white space in either position, so tucking the TOC partly out of sight is not a good solution. Thanks again. Finell (Talk) 05:23, 28 November 2007 (UTC)
I LIKE your TOC solution. Thanks! I was experimenting at the same time, and wound up floating it as a table immediately to the left of the infobox. By the time I saved mine, you had saved yours. Even though mine was saved after yours (I did NOT know that you were editing it; I was NOT trying to override your edit), yours evidently has priority in the parser. I like your solution better than mine. Thanks again! Finell (Talk) 06:07, 28 November 2007 (UTC)
I'm glad it meets with your approval. I think a TOC positioned near the top of the page functions more nearly like a book's TOC, which appears at the opening of the book rather than after the foreword.
I don't know whether you have a large share of authorship in the final three major sections of the article, but as they now read, I would favor dropping "Copernicanism" and "Nationality," and transferring the contents of the "Quotes" section into the Nicolaus Copernicus Wikiquote, where a number of the quotes, or portions of them, already appear. Do you have any opinions? Nihil novi (talk) 08:17, 28 November 2007 (UTC)
I have NO authorship in the article (I would be embarrassed if I had), only some editing and some unsuccessful efforts to stop the edit warring and vitriol over nationality. By Wikipedia's standards, this article is disappointingly poor for such an important subject. My reaction when I first looked at the article (doing research, not to edit) is here: Talk:Nicolaus Copernicus#Shame on you. (Oh, I now see that you read my post and agreed.) I agree with both of your proposals, in principle. One of the projects on my to-do list is to lay out a plan to improve the article (hopefully to FA someday, but probably not anytime soon) and propose it on the talk page. Eliminating the quotations gallery (possibly working some of them into appropriate sections of the article) and very significantly reducing (but not eliminating) "Nationality" are high on my list. However, the LONG history of nationality warring (you really should study the talk page and its archives and the subpage on nationality and its archives) must be considered if one is to have any hope of making constructive improvements. Some of the article's problems derive from the nationality warring. These include adding historical accounts to support various pro-German or pro-Polish nationalist views (but which that do not belong in an article on Copernicus), some of the quotes (inserted for the same purpose), and the "Nationality" section. Therefore, I think that the agenda should be, first, to make improvements that do not relate to nationality (that leaves a lot of room), and only address nationality-related problems when the rest of the article is in better shape. By the way, realize that your background may make your edits suspect in the eyes of some partisans, especially on nationality-related issues. Finell (Talk) 16:58, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Chopin in pop culture

I noticed this edit : I hope you didn't take my comment too seriously? I was grateful for your (and Folantin's) support, but it didn't help in the end, given Honorkell's refusal to be convinced by my logic. I fully support your move to get random cultural references removed. Best wishes, RobertG ♬ talk 07:45, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

If you had overlooked my comments, I could hardly blame you, given my penchant for laconism. For my part, I take encouragement from encounters with voices of reason such as yours. Nihil novi (talk) 08:43, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Nobilitation vs. Ennoblement

Perhaps you could comment at Talk:Nobilitation.-- Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 21:35, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Perfection" protection

On December 7, I requested a further 4 months' semi-protection for "Perfection," which since its de-protection on November 30 had undergone 18 changes (vandalizations and their reversals) with no net change in text. Semi-protection was granted by User:Piotrus. "Expires 00:00, December 15, 2008." Nihil novi 05:42, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Hello!

Hello Nihil novi! How are you? Are you a Pole? Many of your edits are related to Poland. You have made lots of edits to Frédéric Chopin, Bolesław Prus, List of Poles, Józef Piłsudski, Nicolaus Copernicus, Marie Curie, History of philosophy in Poland, etc. I think you are an interesting person. Why don't you mention few things about you in your user page? I wish you all the best. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 13:36, 8 December 2007 (UTC)

Nice to hear from you. I do edit on Polish subjects, among others.
The details of my life are not particularly notable. As to my views on age-old or current concerns of humanity, I usually prefer to minimize openings for needless controversy in this public forum.
However, I do have some biases:
I think that, in general, knowledge is preferable to ignorance—if only because knowledge can make our lives more efficient.
I favor clarity, precision and concision of expression—it is rude to make excessive demands on readers' energy.
I think that the chances of our species' destruction from a variety of causes in the short and medium terms is substantial, and in the long term—virtually certain; and I think that, for the duration, our species should try to make life as bearable as possible for all its members, if only so that the less privileged will be less likely to develop destructive resentments against the more privileged.
It's nice to make your acquaintance. Welcome to Wikipedia! Dasvidania—I hope our paths continue crossing. Nihil novi (talk) 02:55, 9 December 2007 (UTC)
Hello Nihil novi. I am not asking about the details of your life. I just fell that you should mention few things about you on your user page. You are a good guy. And, thank you for the reply. I also hope our paths continue crossing. Let's hope we will work together in the future. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 12:17, 9 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Clarification

Hello, Nihil novi. I hope you are well. I would like to request a clarification regarding this, as you did not produce it during your automated revert. I intuit that you may think that following words are my interpretation It was highly significant that Piłsudski could boast of not being a member of the Polish nation, but a Lithuanian of Polish culture. It is not, these are similar words taken from Norman Davies history book Heart of Europe: A Short History of Poland. Exact quote would be as follows: It was highly significant that Piłsudski could boast of not being a member of the Polish nation - which he once derided as "a nation of morons" - but a Lithuanian of Polish culture (Heart of Europe: A Short History of Poland p.139). Please take a look that in my version I did not included a nation of morons part (despite a fact that I think it is very useful to describe Pilsudski’s beliefs). By your revert and simplification of presented material (which is Piłsudski sometimes spoke of being a Lithuanian of Polish culture) we lost valuable information, mainly parts It was highly significant and could boast of not being a member of the Polish nation, in other words your edited text hardly represents main aspects of original quote and probably could be seen as original research. What is also important that in your interpretation of provided original quote is weasel-worded , which is not good for Future Article candidate. For these reasons I restored my original formulation of words.M.K. (talk) 14:17, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

This has been addressed in the text of the article, by Piotrus. Nihil novi (talk) 01:14, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Translation merging

It's going to be a bit of work to get a new translation article in order, and port that material from Formal and Dynamic Equivalence to other relevant pages. Any thoughts before I begin to plot the course? Naturezak (talk) 20:45, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

You've already done a lot to make the "Translation" article better organized and more rigorous.
I think the essence of the "Dynamic and formal equivalence" article is now summarized reasonably well in the "Translation" article's "Equivalence" section.
The "Fidelity vs. transparency" and "Literary translation" sections might bear looking at again for content and clarity.
There is a "Bible translations" article which might be a natural venue for Bible-translation material from "Dynamic and formal equivalence."
I'm wondering whether it wouldn't make sense to separate out the "Translation" article's "Translating for legal equivalence" and "Accreditation of translators" sections as separate articles. (If South Africa and Mexico, then why not Mozambique and Panama, and so on?)
Perhaps, also, "Translation"'s "Religious texts" section should become a separate article or series of articles, more adequately covering more of the world's major bodies of religious writings? Nihil novi (talk) 00:29, 15 December 2007 (UTC)
The "Literary translation" section is top-heavy with discussion of "sung texts" (over half the volume of that section). Nihil novi (talk) 02:50, 16 December 2007 (UTC)
I've put in a subsection on the general history of literary translation. Nihil novi (talk) 02:33, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] edit summaries

Hi can you please provide a more meaningful edit summary other than "Edit." as you did on this edit. That you did edit the article is self-evident - even putting no edit summary in reports that you edited the article - but if you can put something in which identifies what or how you edited the article that would be great.

Garrie 23:01, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

Sorry. I sometimes feel too rushed for time to analyze and detail what I've done; and sometimes my edits are so massive, there's no way to detail them. I'll try to do better. Nihil novi (talk) 01:06, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Nicolaus Copernicus

Hello Nihil novi. Why did you reverted my edits? Please see the biographies of most people. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:58, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

Look, I understand what you are trying to do. However, if you want to promote the biography of Nicolaus Copernicus to GA status, certain changes have to be made. And, please assume good faith. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 10:06, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
Regarding birth and death dates in the lead, I had understood that you were highlighting only the respective years, which are not highlighted on Wikipedia. If you wanted the complete dates there, that's all right. Nihil novi (talk) 10:10, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
Regarding my putting the table of contents back into the upper left corner of the article, I think that prevents the article from looking as if it had been worked on by a censor who left a huge blank space on the page. Nihil novi (talk) 10:16, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
By the by, why did you move the "Translation" table of contents to the bottom of that article? Nihil novi (talk) 10:17, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
Well, that was a minor error that happens sometime. Thanks for correcting that error. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 10:21, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
Actually, I pressed 'Enter' at a wrong time! Masterpiece2000 (talk) 10:28, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wesołych!

User:Piotrus and friends, in the midsts of Wigilia, wish you to enjoy this Christmas Eve!
User:Piotrus and friends, in the midsts of Wigilia, wish you to enjoy this Christmas Eve!

[edit] Your move of Polish Biographical Dictionary‎

Welcome to Wikipedia. Everyone is welcome to contribute constructively to the encyclopedia. However, articles should not be moved, as you did to Polish Biographical Dictionary‎, without good reason. They need to have a name that is both accurate and intuitive. We have some guidelines in place to help with this. Generally, a page should only be moved to a new title if the current name doesn't follow these guidelines. Also, if a page move is being discussed, consensus needs to be reached before anybody moves the page. Take a look at the welcome page to learn more about contributing to this encyclopedia. Thank you. --Francis Schonken (talk) 12:32, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

Spoken like a bureaucrat. "Polish Biographical Dictionary" is not accurate. It is the name of The Polish Biographical Dictionary, an English-language publication. Nihil novi (talk) 13:32, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
Just how do you envision citing this reference work as a source in an article? Under its real, Polish name—or under this contrived English version? Nihil novi (talk) 13:40, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
I believe it's time for a new RM to see if we can reach a consensus on move this time. When we cite PWN, we don't translate it as Encyclopedia of Polish Science Publishers, nor is WIEM Encyklopedia a KNOW Encyklopedia, and Brockhause is not Brickhouse :) --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 11:11, 25 December 2007 (UTC)
Nor is Pravda, The Truth. Or L'Humanité, Humanity. or Osservatore Romano, The Roman Observer. Nihil novi (talk) 20:49, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I read the biography of Nicolaus Copernicus and there are some useful information about him. Thanks for your contributions to the biography of Copernicus. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:12, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re:Międzymorze

I haven't yet researched M-morze properly; it is still on my 'to do' list; hence I can speak with much confidence about the naming variants :( --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 11:10, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Chopin

Why did you put the first image on the Chopin article on the LEFT side of the screen??? All of the Wikipedia pages in Polish and English (and French) have the FIRST image on the RIGHT side of the screen? Charvex (talk) 09:56, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

I've moved the TOC to top-left; the Chopin photo is now at top-right. Everyone should now be happy. Nihil novi (talk) 09:28, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] WP:BABEL

This useful template will tell other users what languages you can speak. You can also add an infobox from WP:PWNB that will tell them you are a member of our little project :) --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 20:43, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll think about it. Nihil novi (talk) 09:09, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Nihil novi

Perhaps you'd like to edit and expand this article one day, considering it served as an inspiration to your Wikipedia nickname :) --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 21:25, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

Done. Also revised the corresponding Wikiquote entry. Nihil novi (talk) 09:06, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Happy New Year!

Hello Nihil novi. Happy New Year! Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:10, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Spiritualism

I think Spiritualism might be ready for nomination to GA status. Since your work on the headings and adding new images, very little has been added, so it seems that it has hit a period of equilibrium. What do you think--should I nominate it? --Anthon.Eff (talk) 03:11, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

I think that's a good idea. "Spiritualism" is a fine article. Nihil novi (talk) 08:23, 10 January 2008 (UTC)
What a mess! I've requested the assistance of an administrator (User_talk:Dekimasu#Spiritualism), who specializes in move-related issues. Unfortunately, he is on vacation, so this might take some time. If you can think of some other way to handle this, let me know, via email (there's a link on my user page) or here. --Anthon.Eff (talk) 17:42, 19 January 2008 (UTC)
While there are similarities between the "Spiritualism" (capital "S") that began in 1848 in New York State with the Fox sisters and spread to Europe and elsewhere, and earlier "spiritualisms" (small "s") in various parts of the world, it appears to have become established usage to reserve the capital-S term "Spiritualism" for the former. It would save confusion if other entities were designated by another term, such as "animism," which appears to describe them quite well.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2003, vol. 11, p. 104, states:
"Although spiritualistic practices seem to be widespread, they were virtually unknown in modern civilized society until March 1848, when odd happenings were reported at the house of a farmer named Fox in a small town in New York state.... The practice of having sittings for communication with spirits spread rapidly from that time."
On a technical note, I wish the "Spiritualistic topics" template had not been stuck into the article in the disruptive way that it has been.
If you wish to use email, I have an account linked to my user page. You might alert me here, though, since I don't necessarily check that account daily.
I suppose we could reorganize everything on our own (as our colleagues have), restoring the article's original title and changing various other article and template titles. But perhaps we should first settle definitively the question of nomenclature. Nihil novi (talk) 20:21, 19 January 2008 (UTC)
The strangest thing about the template is that User:Midnightblueowl already created a template, and placed it at the bottom of the article on December 9. Lucy and Espoo are not normal editors. They are not trying to build on others' work, they don't listen to anyone, and I am sure that they will not participate with good faith in a discussion about nomenclature. Anyway, we can't just take the space back, since they've already written quite a bit--policy says that we have to get an administrator to take care of it. The administrator I asked seems very fair, and I think he will settle this in a way good for WP, even if we don't get the title back.
Personally, I would like to keep the title of Spiritualism. It says something that English WP got to over 2 million articles, and not until now did anyone think that we needed a distinction between spiritualism and Spiritualism. The name Spiritualism should go to the most common use of the word. Anyway, it will be amusing to see what Lucy makes of her article. --Anthon.Eff (talk) 23:08, 19 January 2008 (UTC)
Good point about the duplicative templates. Our colleague has indeed made a hash of it. Nihil novi (talk) 23:31, 19 January 2008 (UTC)
I am here to talk guys, so please don't keep saying I wont listen. The dispute appears to be exactly what Nihil states above Capital 'S' versus lower case 's'. If you go through the citations I am providing, I think you will find that it is commonly used in both manners and "Modern Spirituals" as the proper title for the movement. Thanks--Lucyintheskywithdada (talk) 03:34, 22 January 2008 (UTC)
In fairness, I did revert your mass deletion. I do think it was a bad faith reversion. I also corrected a statistic.
Please be reasonable and discuss such major deletions of another work.
I am trying to understand the strength of feelings you have over this topic. The citations clearly refer to and mention a much broader use of the world. Even Athon's. You appear to agree above. So, please, don't be unnecessarily provocative until we can resolve matters reasonably. --Lucyintheskywithdada (talk) 21:08, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Barnstar

The Polish Barnstar of National Merit, 1st Class
I, Tymek (talk) 01:37, 11 January 2008 (UTC), am awarding you this Barnstar, as a gesture of appreciation. Your good work on Poland-related articles is highly regarded. Keep it up!

[edit] Piłsudski

Thank you for copyediting and expanding the article. Could you add citations for the new facts you've added? Particularly for the considerations about the museum in Belweder; I'd like to read more about it. Aren't there plans for a museum in his mansion in Sulejówek? --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 18:59, 14 January 2008 (UTC)

I seem to have found the information about a planned museum, in the "Belweder" article. (I had thought of this idea independently, myself.)
Piłsudski's daughter Wanda, who died in 2001, wanted to turn the family cottage (it is certainly not a "mansion") at Sulejówek into a museum dedicated to her father. It's a good idea; but the Belweder is a better one, should it be necessary to make a choice. (I recently started an article about Wanda, based on the Polish Wikipedia article; her sister Jadwiga probably should also get an English-Wikipedia article.)
I know about the Piłsudski coin "z autopsji"—I have one; if I find it, I might make a photo.
Any other questions I might answer? Nihil novi (talk) 06:52, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
While I don't doubt the authenticity of the information, in a FA-class article we should have inline cites. Could you try finding and adding refs for that?
Looking forward to Jadwiga article. And the coin, too - around summer I should be able to upload stamps/postcards/postmarks from '35.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 22:21, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Nicolaus Copernicus

Hello Nihil novi. I am a little confused about the nationality of Nicolaus Copernicus. I think the following statement should be verified:

"Indeed, he might have considered himself to be both at the same time."

In many books Copernicus is regarded as Polish. However, at that time, there was no Polish State. Can you explain me why Copernicus is commonly regarded as Polish? I am not from Poland. However, I am interested in Poland and Polish history. You can reply on my talk page. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:35, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Previewing edits

Thank you for your contributions to Wikipedia. In the future, it is recommended that you use the preview button before you save; this helps you find any errors you have made, and prevents clogging up recent changes and the page history. Thank you. Regards, High on a tree (talk) 08:42, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Copernicus

Thank you for your reply. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 10:32, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] MOS#Images

Hi. MOS#Images clearly says that Specifying the size of a thumbnail image is not necessary and list cases where the image width should be included. If there is something wrong, try to reconfigure thumbnail size in your user preferences. Visor (talk) 14:28, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Józef Piłsudski Featured Article

Couldn't have done it without help from you and other good editors! --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 03:49, 21 January 2008 (UTC)


[edit] TfD nomination of Template:Spiritualism small

Template:Spiritualism small has been nominated for deletion. You are invited to comment on the discussion at the template's entry on the Templates for Deletion page. Thank you. — Anthon.Eff (talk) 18:55, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

Oh, I noticed that you engaged with Anthon.Eff is edit-warring over the infobox and voting for its deletion. Any good reason for this you care to discuss?
Looking over the history, it appears to related to the page move which I dont understand as we appear to be agreeing on the different uses of the word.
I replaced it, let's discuss on the topic page. Please don't be drawn into editing-warring on Anthon's behalf.
Thanks --Lucyintheskywithdada (talk) 03:30, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Topic changes

Any reason why http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/4.79.230.76 might have removed the sizing on the images and TOC tab?

I do not know ... is it a Wiki thing? --Lucyintheskywithdada (talk) 03:27, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Congratulations!

Hello Nihil novi. Congratulations! Today I noticed that Józef Piłsudski has achieved FA status. You made significant contributions to the article. Well done. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:30, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Thank you. It was good to be able to help Piotrus. He did a fantastic job with this important subject. Good to hear from you! Nihil novi (talk) 08:40, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Attention span"

Your comment about "limited attention span" was rude and sophomoric. For my part, I actually have read a lot about Piłsudski and find him a fascinating personality. But in the grand scheme of things, Piłsudski is not a major historical figure, globally speaking.

BTW, I also have lived in Poland, however briefly, and Lithuania.

Sca (talk) 02:01, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

"Wikipedia:Article size" speaks specifically of "attention spans." I don't see why my mention of it should be seen as "rude" or "sophomoric." Nihil novi (talk) 07:45, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Re:Polish Museum, Rapperswil

Always a pleasure. In the future don't hesitate to nominate yourself, it's common practice - and I have so many things to do... :) --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 18:39, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

Please see a comment at Template_talk:Did_you_know#Articles_created.2Fexpanded_on_January_24. I have also nominated Kasztanka above, see if you like the hook (it could use an inline reference, too).--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 02:34, 28 January 2008 (UTC)
Updated DYK query On 28 January 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Polish Museum, Rapperswil, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 18:04, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Perhaps we can find and cite an old version of the page in the Internet Archive? --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 18:04, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

It might be worthwhile. Thanks. I didn't know about the Internet Archive. Nihil novi (talk) 10:18, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Talk:Kasztanka

Your input would be appreciated. Is the horse notable or not? --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 16:36, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] The war is over?

Looks like Lucy has been blocked indefinitely (User_talk:Lucyintheskywithdada#Blocked). Don't forget to respond to the survey at Talk:Spiritualism#Requested_move. Thanks! --Anthon.Eff (talk) 19:26, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Spoke too soon, she'll be back (User_talk:Lucyintheskywithdada#Blocked). But now that she's on everyone's radar, she will need to work with us instead of trying to have her own way. --Anthon.Eff (talk) 13:16, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Biography of Prus

Hello Nihil novi. I have added Infobox Writer to the biography of Prus. You can add some information. And, I think we can promote the article to GA status. Can you please find some more information about Prus? You can reply on my talk page. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:19, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for your contributions! Should I nominate the article for Good Article status? Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:45, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
If you think it's ready for that.
As to adding more biographical material to the article, while there have been a number of full-length biographies, it has been said that his real biography is to be found in his writings rather than in the facts and dates in his life; so it's hard to know what more to put in without going into minute discussions of his stories and newspaper columns. Maybe the GA process would stimulate further specific research.
Thanks for your interest in Bolesław Prus. Nihil novi (talk) 03:55, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
Hello Nihil. I have created Template:Bolesław Prus. What do you think of the template? You can also added few stuff. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:04, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
The template is quite impressive. How did you learn to make them?
The Most General Life Ideals is, however, a nonfiction work of pragmatic philosophy, so I've set up a third section for "Nonfiction."
Thanks for your efforts on behalf of Prus. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for, or questions concerning, the article. Nihil novi (talk) 08:28, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
I have also nominated the biography of Prus for Good Article status. I think you should also inform Piotrus about this. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:10, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
Done. Thanks for the nomination and the suggestion. Nihil novi (talk) 09:27, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you. I asked you to inform Piotrus about this because he is from Poland. I made the template by studying other similar templates. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 05:21, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Hello Nihil. I didn't know that in Poland, the movement was called simply "Positivism," not "Polish Positivism". However, the term Positivism is generally associated with Sociology. It will be confusing to non-Polish person like me. And, I didn't know that in Polish, women's names take feminine endings. Few things in the biography will be confusing to non-Polish people. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 07:39, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for your help in the editing. Your questions and comments also help me focus my own editing.
Polish "Positivism" took its name and some of its inspiration from the broader Positivist philosophical movement (which, of course, included the sociological variant). The link to "Positivism in Poland" will provide readers some background. Nihil novi (talk) 07:50, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
Ok. Please see the biography. The biography is fine. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 07:56, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
Survival of the fittest is a phrase. It was a minor error. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:13, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

Hello, Nihil. I think we should discuss about Prus on the talk page of Bolesław Prus. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:38, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Citation

Hello Nihil novi. You citied the references and notes in an incorrect manner! You should have used the citation template. See: Template:Citation. I also believe that the biography of Prus can achieve FA status. We have to correct the references and notes. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:49, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Please see the talk page of Prus. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:54, 11 February 2008 (UTC)
And, I must say, your contributions to the biography of Prus are quite outstanding. The biography of Prus on the English Wikipedia is probably the best biography of Prus on the Internet! Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 04:13, 11 February 2008 (UTC)
"Bolesław Prus," as it now stands, owes a lot to you. You have really pushed it along in the last few days. A writing endeavor benefits from benevolent interest and constructive criticism, and I have rarely encountered so much of either on the Wikipedia. Thank you! Nihil novi (talk) 04:26, 11 February 2008 (UTC)
Actually, you deserve 95% credit. I am not from Poland. However, I am interested in Poland and Polish culture. I know about Prus because of the novel Pharaoh. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 04:47, 11 February 2008 (UTC)
Oh? Have you read it in translation? Or read about it? Nihil novi (talk) 04:57, 11 February 2008 (UTC)
Well, I have read about it! I also know about the film based on the novel Pharaoh. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 05:17, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

I'm a bit puzzled about the "retrieved [date]" information-items for The Polish Review sources, in the new citation templates. Are these articles actually available on-line? Or are these simply errors? Nihil novi (talk) 05:23, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Well, when you use citation templates, you get these dates. I have also added volume. I am a little confused about the following:
  • The experience may have caused his subsequent lifelong agoraphobia: Stanisław Fita, ed., Wspomnienia o Bolesławie Prusie, p. 113, note 7.

What is Wspomnienia o Bolesławie Prusie? Book, journal, or article? And, What do you mean by "note 7"? What was the volume? Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 05:37, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for asking. Wspomnienia... is a one-volume book, edited by Stanisław Fita. On p. 113 of this book is a note, I think at the end of its chapter, which provides some additional information, much as a footnote might. The complete bibliographical information about this book is in the References section, and includes translation of the book's title: Reminiscences about Bolesław Prus. Nihil novi (talk) 08:18, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Hello Nihil. You added the following:

Prus was not alone in advocating the development of science and technology. It was part of the spirit of the times. The great Polish mathematician Kazimierz Kuratowski writes that in the period when Poland was under complete foreign rule (1795–1918) "It was a common belief that the cultivation of science and the growth of its potential would somehow guarantee the maintenance of the [Polish] nation." (A Half Century of Polish Mathematics: Remembrances and Reflections, Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1980, p. 2.)

Did you modify the text? We have to modify the text to avoid copy-right violation. What is the name of the author? Masterpiece2000 (talk) 04:43, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

There is no copyright violation. The only text directly quoted is what appears in quotes (which comes from Kuratowski's book, A Half Century of Polish Mathematics), and we are certainly allowed to quote that much directly. Nihil novi (talk) 05:02, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
Thank you for the reply. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 07:26, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Hello Nihil. According to the article "Eventually released on account of his youth, in 1866 he completed secondary school and enrolled in science at the University of Warsaw." However, according to this website, Prus graduated in 1868. Which one is correct? If the information provided by the website is false, I will remove it from the section External Links. Did Prus studied Physics and Mathematics at Warsaw? And, do you have books that are citied on the article? The article is nominated for the GA status. Many users are watching the biography. We have to get all correct information. And, are Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy and Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej publishing companies? Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:31, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

The website is wrong. He graduated from secondary school, and enrolled at Warsaw University, in 1866. The dates when he attended the University (1866–68) are correctly stated on the Kazimierz Palace plaque near the bottom of our Wikipedia article. He studied in what in English might be termed the Department of Natural Sciences—or, more simply, he studied "science." I have access to all the major sources about Prus. The two institutions you quote are indeed publishing firms. Nihil novi (talk) 22:57, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
The Polish Wikipedia (here) likewise states that Prus graduated from secondary school in 1866. Nihil novi (talk) 01:29, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
Thank you for the reply. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:53, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
Are the two institutions that I quoted above are located in Warsaw? I have also send you an e-mail. I think the artile Bolesław Prus can achieve FA status. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:26, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
The two publishers are in Warsaw. Nihil novi (talk) 09:48, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for the reply. I think you should see the article. The article is very good and it is probably the best biography of Prus on the Internet. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:58, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Hello Nihil. ISBN number for some books are missing. I think you can help. Please see the the talk page of Bolesław Prus. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 10:14, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
I'll try to check. Some of the books are probably too old to have had an ISBN. Nihil novi (talk) 20:43, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] A real tireless contributor

The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
I, MusicalConnoisseur, award you this barnstar for your tireless work on the Frédéric Chopin article. It is an article that deserves such serious attention, and I thank you for it! ~~MusicalConnoisseur~~ Got Classical? 05:04, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

P.S.: You might want to add a few of these awards onto your userpage...it might spruce it up a bit. :) --~~MusicalConnoisseur~~ Got Classical? 05:04, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Wow! I love it! Thank you!
Another reward of working on "Frédéric Chopin" has been the chance to hear the elegant level of discourse conducted by the Wikipedia's music editors! Thank you again! Nihil novi (talk) 09:37, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
I heartily approve this award, by the way. Thank you for your work on the article, Antandrus (talk) 05:09, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
Your discussions have been a convivial symposium, and a source of encouragement amid the sometimes Sisyphean labors on the Wikipedia.
After I get past some urgent commitments, I'll review my sources for any further material of use for "Frédéric Chopin."
A question: Did Chopin in fact obtain French citizenship? (If he did, it wouldn't be surprising, given his views on Russian governance in Poland.) Nihil novi (talk) 06:57, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
Greetings again: I don't know for certain--I think he did become a citizen. The specific event is not mentioned in the Grove article. This sentence applies to 1834-5: "But despite the official amnesties he was nervous of renewing his Russian passport and placing himself at the mercy of Russian officials in Warsaw." (Kornel Michałowski, New Grove) Since I think it also would have been unsurprising for him to have become a French citizen, I did not revert the latest visitation by you-know-who. Doing just a bit of forbidden "original research", I'd say he got the French passport in order to be able to return to Poland, at some future time, at minimal risk. Unfortunately he never had the chance. Cheers! Antandrus (talk) 14:55, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
The Szulc passage I quoted on the talk page solves this: "Because Chopin’s Russian passport restriction allowed him to remain in Paris only ‘in passage’ to London, Paer wrote the French authorities requesting a more permanent status for 'this young man…who is a Pole deported from Warsaw as a result of the revolution [and] who was in Vienna where the press and the society elite received him with great consideration. Chopin is an educated man’.
“Chopin of course had not been deported and was not a political refugee, but the French granted him permission to stay in Paris indefinitely ‘to be able to perfect his art’. Four years later, Fryderyk became a French citizen and a French passport was issued to him on August 1, 1835. He is not known to have discussed his decision to change citizenship with anyone, not even his father. It is unclear whether he did it to avoid renewing his Russian passport at the Russian embassy for patriotic reasons or simply as a matter of general convenience”. (Tad Szulc “Chopin in Paris” p.69 )
Basically, Chopin was left in limbo as far as passports were concerned when he decided not to return to Poland in 1831, but later on he needed one to travel abroad (to London). This meant obtaining either a Russian passport or a French one (since obviously a Polish passport was unavailable in that era) and he preferred the latter.
So it was merely a matter of making travel easier rather than a deep sense of his own Frenchness that made Chopin adopt French citizenship. Of course, our friend has selectively truncated the Szulc quotation I provided to suggest otherwise. "[Chopin] became a French citizen like his father" implies he was following in his father's footsteps, whereas everything we know about Chopin's father shows he had turned his back on France completely and wanted his children to be brought up thoroughly Polish. Our persistent editor friend is trying to reverse the process and force Fryderyk Chopin to be French against his father's wishes! Cheers. --Folantin (talk) 23:06, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
Thank you. That is very enlightening. We may want, at some time in the future, to adjust the pertinent sentence in the article's lead to make it less misleading—and possibly cite Michałowski and/or Szulc in extenso. Nihil novi (talk) 23:40, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Thank you

Hello Nihil novi. Thank you for the award. And, I think you are a great editor. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 06:57, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism

I am not going to be an ass about this ... but that was pure vandalism. --Lucyintheskywithdada (talk) 10:09, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Apollo Korzeniowski

Hello Nihil novi. I noticed that you created the article Apollo Korzeniowski. Great job. The biography is very good. I have nominated it for DYK. I think the name of the book is Apollo Korzeniowski. Correct? Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:43, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for noticing. It is an article about Apollo Korzeniowski (the father of Joseph Conrad), based chiefly on the "Apollo Korzeniowski" article in Polski słownik biograficzny (Polish Biographical Dictionary). Nihil novi (talk) 03:48, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
Thank you for the reply. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:52, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] List of Polish novelists

Hello Nihil novi. I have created a new list called List of Polish novelists. I know that a list called List of Poles already exists. However, the list is simply too long and thus, I felt that it would be better to create a seperate list. The list provides many information that a category cannot provide (such as the name of novel written by a novelist). I would like you to see the list. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 14:12, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

Looks good. I'm surprised there hasn't been such a dedicated list until now. To be sure, there is a List of Polish-language authors, but it is an indiscriminate listing that disregards the authors' genres of work.
Where do you find the time and energy to do so much work on the Wikipedia? Nihil novi (talk) 19:54, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
Well, I edit Wikipedia whenever I have time. Thanks for appreciating my work. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 13:55, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Apollo Korzeniowski DYK

Updated DYK query On 21 February 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Apollo Korzeniowski, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--BorgQueen (talk) 15:20, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Thank you

Hello Nihil novi. Thank you for your note. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 02:38, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks

Thanks for the Barnstar, I will cut it out and wear it when I go somewhere. Thanks again Tymek (talk) 17:32, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Places of Birth

I noticed that you didn't like my recent edit concerning Milosz being "Lithuanian born", and I prefer, if possible, to iron these things out on the talk pages before getting into an edit war. What knowledge do you have concerning the Polish demographics in Šeteniai (right in the heart of Lithuania) that might explain your edit summary? Also, would you agree that following your logic, it would open a "can of worms" as so many "Polish persons of notability" were not born in Poland, but in the Russian, German, and Austro-Hungarian Empires? Should we change the Joseph Conrad article and make him a Ukrainian born English writer, and the Pilsudski article to his being Russian born? And Marie Curie and all the rest? What's your opinion? I prefer not to cherry pick out certain personalities, but to keep a consistency in the articles one way or the other. I believe that even in the Russian Empire the geographical area known as Lithuania, was called that. Just the same, looking at the whole picture, how do you perceive this in an objective manner? Dr. Dan (talk) 13:32, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

The Wiki-Lithuanians themselves number "Česlovas Milošas" with the "Lenkai" (Poles). I would happily concede Miłosz, Nobel Prize and all, to Lithuania, but honesty forbids it. He was born into a Polish family, spoke and wrote Polish, did not know Lithuanian, completed his university education in what was then a Polish city (Vilnius), and conducted his subsequent career as a Pole, in Polish. Calling him "Lithuanian-born," without proper qualification, will suggest that he was Lithuanian. Nihil novi (talk) 21:18, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
I have no reason to impune your honesty, only your knowledge. When I personally met Milosz, I made it a point to converse with him in Lithuanian, it delighted me that he could, and we both got a chuckle out of it. Since that is for your information only, rather than an attempt to instill WP:OR into the article, take a peek at this again [5]. Sorry it's not linking. But it does link at the Milosz article. Check out NY Times Obituary from Aug 15, 2004 (fourth one down). The part of your argument regarding Milosz's linguistic ability, (did not know Lithuanian) doesn't wash, he spoke Lithuanian and honesty forbids denying it. I too would happily concede that point to you if it were true. But it's not so. Dr. Dan (talk) 23:30, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
I'm not sure what reference you wish me to see, or where to find it. As for knowledge of Lithuanian, he specifically denied it to me. Nihil novi (talk) 23:39, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
I know we disagree on a variety of things, but I have never questioned your ability to grasp things. In fact, I consider you to be one of the more intelligent Polish contributors to the project. Therefore even though your above post puzzles me, I will WP:AGF and try to help you. Go to the Milosz article, then scroll down to Obituaries, then scroll down to the fourth one (NY Times), click on it and you will get the information. Best Dr. Dan (talk) 01:39, 25 February 2008 (UTC).
Nihil, Lithuanian can mean Polish from Lithuanian region. I will gladly provide reference.--Molobo (talk) 23:49, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
Do you mean, Lithuanian language or Lithuanian person? References might be of interest. Thank you.
I think Dan may be referring to a conversation between himself and Miłosz in broken (?) Lithuanian. For my part, I'm capable of asking about a restaurant in a number of languages that I don't speak at all.
In any case, Miłosz was quite clear and straightfoward, when I asked him whether he knew Lithuanian. The answer was, "Nie" (in Polish). Nihil novi (talk) 02:33, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
Here's another one that does [6] link for you then. And Molobo, thank you for joining in, I'm sure everyone will appreciate your interpretation of what the meaning of the Lithuanian language "is". Hopefully it will not be too reminiscent of what the meaning of is depends on. Dr. Dan (talk) 00:10, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
Which goes to show that publications like The Economist can be mistaken.
I propose that we adjourn and reconvene at a more public venue where others may more readily participate, and which is more indulgent of windiness. Nihil novi (talk) 02:33, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
This is what Milosz said in Stockholm, receiving the Nobel prize: "I chociaz moja rodzina juz od XVI wieku poslugiwala sie jezykiem polskim (...) wskutek czego jestem polskim, nie litewskim poeta, krajobrazy i byc moze duchy Litwy nigdy mnie nie opuscily". Tymek (talk) 19:20, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
"And while my family has been using the Polish language since the 16th century [...] which is why I am a Polish and not a Lithuanian poet, the landscapes and perhaps the spirits of Lithuania have never left me." Thank you. That is interesting. Nihil novi (talk) 04:45, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
Are we adjourning here and reconvening at a more public venue, or are we going to continue indulge in windiness here? Dr. Dan (talk) 00:08, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Milosz

I am curious to what exactly this unsourced anecdote brings to the article? Ostap 00:37, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

Nothing. Dr. Dan (talk) 01:26, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Tadeusz Bobrowski

You can edit this article, replacing the link by your text.Xx236 (talk) 14:43, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

When you select Tadeusz Bobrowski you see a link on the top of the Conrad article to Tadeusz Bobrowski one.Xx236 (talk) 08:54, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for the explanation. I've started the Bobrowski article. Nihil novi (talk) 10:39, 3 March 2008 (UTC)
Completed the article. Nihil novi (talk) 03:36, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Award

The Polish Barnstar of National Merit, 1st Class
I award Nihil novi "The Polish Barnstar of National Merit, 1st Class" for his outstanding contributions to Poland-related articles. Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:32, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
this WikiAward was given to Nihil novi by Masterpiece2000 (talk) on 09:32, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Few more things

Hello Nihil novi. You have received "The Polish Barnstar of National Merit, 1st Class" award twice. This shows that your contributions are quite outstanding. I also think that you should mention few things about you or your contributions on your user page. You have made significant contributions for Wikipedia. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:32, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for your favorable notice of my efforts. If I do not place decorations on my user page, it is partly from concern about attracting the unfavorable notice of individuals who do not share your benevolent attitude.
I may have to cut back for a time on my wiki-work. A full-time day job and a substantial night-time wiki-job leave little time for sleep or the obligations of ordinary life.
I would like to recognize your distinguished work. Which country's decoration may I nominate you for? Nihil novi (talk) 02:51, 3 March 2008 (UTC)
Well, you have already given me an award. That's good enough. Thank you for appreciating my award. I may also have to cut back for a time on my wiki-work. We all have to deal with our 'real life'. And, you are a great wiki-friend. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 06:24, 3 March 2008 (UTC)
And, one more thing: We have to make sure that the biography of Bolesław Prus achieve the Featured Article status. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 06:33, 3 March 2008 (UTC)
"Bolesław Prus" is the same length (40 kilobytes) as "T.E. Lawrence," who is a Featured-Article-worthy subject.
Your friend, Nihil novi (talk) 08:05, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

Great news! You deserve most credit for this. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:31, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Clumsy English"

In reverting the Page Move I made for Triple Cross Square by declaring Three Crosses Square to be "clumsy English", you neglect to take into account:

  • The "triple" is an incorrect translation of the Polish"
Why?
  • I cited a published source of a historical account of the WWII period, a book that has been reprinted several times over the decades, whose title in English translation is Three Crosses Square. Please note that professional translators in our "Age of Information" will commonly use an existing translation (if it is correct) to sustain coherence in information management and retrieval.
"If it is correct..." It isn't correct.
  • You offer no substantiation nor credentials for your authorative judgment of proper vs. so-called "clumsy" English, and suggest your judgment is superior to mine.
I believe that in this case my judgment is superior to yours.
Nihil novi (talk) 09:37, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Kindly relate to the above remarks ASAP so we can proceed with appropriate editing. -- Thank you, Deborahjay (talk) 09:14, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

If you have substantive information to add to this article, don't let me stop you. Nihil novi (talk) 09:41, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Time for FA

Hello Nihil novi. The article Bolesław Prus should be promoted to the FA status. I have created a new list called List of works by Bolesław Prus. Please help me. Please add information about the work of Prus on the list. The list is modeled after List of Max Weber works. You can add all the information that we cannot add in the biography of Prus. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 04:54, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Thank you. I've added some items to the List. I'm not sure we need to include all the fiction he ever wrote. Some of it is rather obscure now, and in some cases (not having seen the pieces) I'm not even sure how to render the title in English.
I wonder whether the title of the List should be modified to "List of fiction by Bolesław Prus"? Most of what Prus wrote was nonfiction newspaper columns, a number of which remain interesting. Over his 40 years as a journalist, he must have written some 2,000 of these "Weekly Chronicles." I see no possibility or need to include them all; and I'm not sure there's much point to including any.
As to English translations: I believe they are largely covered in "Bolesław Prus" and "Pharaoh," and I see little point to repeating that information in this List.
Thanks again for setting up this list, which unburdens the main article and allows us to provide more information about Prus's literary work.
Nihil novi (talk) 11:59, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, we need to include all the fiction he ever wrote. And, if they don't have English title, just Polish name will do. According to you, Prus must have written some 2,000 of these "Weekly Chronicles." Some notable "Weekly Chronicles" can be included. You can also include some obscure stuff. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 13:09, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Hello Nihil novi. I created a new section 'Notable works by Bolesław Prus' and redirected the list 'List of works by Bolesław Prus' to 'Notable works by Bolesław Prus'. You can add information in that section. The biography is ready for the FA status. What's your views? Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 13:50, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Tadeusz Bobrowski

Updated DYK query On 13 March 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Tadeusz Bobrowski, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--BorgQueen (talk) 10:48, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] DYK: Stanisław Jackowski

Updated DYK query On 14 March 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Stanisław Jackowski, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--PFHLai (talk) 08:57, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Ziemia obiecana

Ziemia Obiecana -> redirect to The Promised Land (about a 1974 movie). I've just created a stub on The Promised Land (novel) - but I think the novel should be under the generic title, not the movie. What do you think? --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 02:52, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree. The novel is primary; the film is derivative of the novel. Theoretically, there could be any number of other, subsequent derivative works (stage plays, more movies, visual-arts representations, etc.); but there will, in all likelihood, never be found more than the one original novel, and the deceased author will never produce more new versions. Nihil novi (talk) 05:04, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Prus FA

Hello Nihil novi. Thank you for your contributions to the article Boleslaw Prus. Now, the article is even better. I think the article should be nominated for the FA status after one month. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 02:59, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks, your questions and suggestions prompted me to look up further information. I think the result is an improvement. Nihil novi (talk) 04:55, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Illegitimacy in fiction

Another editor has added the {{prod}} template to the article Illegitimacy in fiction, suggesting that it be deleted according to the proposed deletion process. All contributions are appreciated, but the editor doesn't believe it satisfies Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion, and has explained why in the article (see also Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not and Wikipedia:Notability). Please either work to improve the article if the topic is worthy of inclusion in Wikipedia or discuss the relevant issues at its talk page. If you remove the {{prod}} template, the article will not be deleted, but note that it may still be sent to Wikipedia:Articles for deletion, where it may be deleted if consensus to delete is reached. BJBot (talk) 01:59, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

The article doesn't need to be deleted, but expanded. I've added material. Nihil novi (talk) 04:28, 22 March 2008 (UTC)
I think this is unlikely to ever lead to a good article but feel free to prove me wrong. My principle concern is the indiscriminate nature of the list. I have explained my objections in more detail on the talk page. --DanielRigal (talk) 13:31, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fading Voices

Updated DYK query On 22 March 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Fading Voices, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--BorgQueen (talk) 09:59, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Copyedit request

Perhaps you could read through and see if there is anything to improve in Armia Krajowa (soon to be a FA candidate) and Polish culture during World War II (a current GA candidate). Thanks, --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 07:06, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

"Polish culture during World War II"—I've completed editing this.
"Armia Krajowa"—I'll look at this when time permits. Nihil novi (talk) 16:46, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Palladino and others

Stories grow. Please list a PRIMARY source for the Palladino levitation story. The date may have some importance. Primary source :After Death-What by Cesare Lombroso, the father of Phrenology, Experiments with Palladino, 1908 p 49-50, tells us the levitation took place in the dark. The only proofs seem to be that Palladino says she will rise in her chair and land on the table, her hands were held and the feeling of hands on the top of the investigators' heads. Nothing is seen. Look at Uri Geller and my boy Ingo Swann. They did their tricks in the light before modern day scientists and the CIA. The belief in magick and superstition is alive and well. It always will be too! That is why the critical investigations of magicians who specialize in deception and fraud is important. Just as it was when people were being executed for being witches. Drop by and say hello.Kazuba (talk) 21:50, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

I hold no brief for undocumented claims. Nihil novi (talk) 16:48, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] DYK

Updated DYK query On 29 March 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Delfina Potocka, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--Wizardman 02:23, 29 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] DYK

Updated DYK query On 4 April 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Ambroży Mieroszewski, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Cheers, Daniel (talk) 06:20, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Updated DYK query On 4 April 2008, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Wacław Szymanowski, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--Daniel Case (talk) 21:05, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Hello!

Hello Nihil novi. How are you? I hope you are doing well. Nihil, the article Boleslaw Prus is still not ready for the FA status. The lead of the article should be expanded and there are other flaws. We have to correct those flaws.

And, nice to know that you have contributed to so many DYKs. You have also contributed to one FA article, one GA and received three awards. I think you should mention that on your user page. It will help other users to know your great contributions for Wikipedia. Keep up the good work. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 13:56, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Thank you. I would welcome suggestions to improve "Bolesław Prus."
I don't know that I'll be decorating my user page. I don't expect to be running for a Wikipedia political office. In any case, I like a simple user page, and an empty one is as simple as it gets.
Please let me know if I can help bring "Richard Dawkins" to "Featured Article" recognition. The article deserved it long ago. You might also ask himself to help. Nihil novi (talk) 08:14, 6 April 2008 (UTC)
Thank you for the reply. Yes, your help will be required. Please follow the article and help whenever you can. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 08:37, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] More GAC stuff

I'd appreciate you reading through the Łódź insurrection (1905). See comments on talk. Thanks, --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 18:25, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

I guess it's a season for GAC: check Forced labor in Germany during World War II (GAC reviewer's comments on talk).--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 19:14, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Few things...

Hello Nihil novi. How are you? I hope you are doing well. I have nominated the article Richard Dawkins for the FA status. Your contributions and comments will be helpful. And, after this FA, I will focus on Bolesław Prus. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 03:51, 18 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Elusive east of Europe

A couple of years ago I was at a party and a Polish girl I was talking to was adamant that Poland wasn't in "Eastern Europe". No, no, no ... it was in "Western Europe" she insisted (she didn't say "Central Europe"). She told me Poland was Catholic and had a great monarchy a few centuries ago as if this somehow proved it was in Western Europe. Anyways, I asked "What then is in Eastern Europe ... just Russia?" She said "No, Russia is in Asia", leaving me wondering exactly where Eastern Europe was. I mean, is eastern Europe supposed to be confined inside a line thinner than a pencil a little west of Brest-Litovsk? Anyways, seriously, it's just an arbitrary border ... used commonly in English to refer to those countries that were Communist. Western Europeans are extraordinarily self-centered and insular. The center of Europe for them lies in Belgium and the Franco-German border. It's nothing you should get worked up about. Regards, Deacon of Pndapetzim (Talk) 00:13, 20 April 2008 (UTC)elusive

"Central Europe" is a reasonably well-defined concept, even if some of its outer edges — as with any concept — may be a little ragged. Poland is definitely part of Central Europe. The vague blatherings of a semi-educated girl at a party do not change that. And we are long past the bipolar Cold War. Nihil novi (talk) 01:19, 20 April 2008 (UTC)
So is Eastern Europe. I'm not denying it is sometimes classified as being in Central Europe, that's true, but more often it is classified as being in "Eastern Europe". This is determined by usage alone, as there is no other criteria. It's simply meaningless to claim this view is wrong, because it's from the very usage you are selectively rejecting that any such classification has to emerge. Deacon of Pndapetzim (Talk) 02:17, 20 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Let's stop arguing, Stefan Banach is European

The wise way to address the controversial claims of our Polish partners to Stefan Banach is to acknowledge his European Ukrainian origins and background. Europe is our common home and Poles should have their say too. Let's stop arguing. As a citizen of Ukrainian Lviv, Banach is both Ukrainian and European. Let's call him a European mathematician. I hope Poles would agree. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.210.14.5 (talk) 09:01, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] About the Chopin article (don't worry, it's not serious) ;-)

Hi, Nihil Novi! Congrats on the Chopin article so far, but I think this sentence: "Chopin was born in the village of Żelazowa Wola, in the Duchy of Warsaw, to a Polish mother and French-expatriate father, and came to be regarded as a child-prodigy pianist." in fact does need a "he" between "and" and "came." See this question raised at the reference desk. --LaPianísta! 21:44, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

I've deleted the comma, instead. Putting in a "he" may make the sentence sound pedestrian. Sometimes a text may read better with a comma, and without a "he." Nihil novi (talk) 18:38, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Category:WikiProject Poland participants

Hello Nihil novi. How are you? I have created Category:WikiProject Poland participants. You can add the category on your user page. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 09:56, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

It's a nice category, and I imagine will be useful. It's a generous initiative on Masterpiece's part. I probably should add myself to it.
Why do I hesitate (to overtly affiliate myself with anything, for that matter)? Nihil novi (talk) 18:52, 27 April 2008 (UTC)
I've added myself to the category, thereby creating its letter "N." Nihil novi (talk) 04:24, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
Hello Nihil. I have a bad news. The FA nomination of Richard Dawkins has failed. I would like to thank you for your contributions and your support. Nihil, you are an experienced editor. Do you have any suggestions for the article? Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 04:25, 28 April 2008 (UTC)
I'm sorry I couldn't help address the critics' concerns since I haven't read Dawkins' writings. One of your colleagues apparently has. Maybe he could help track down whatever it is that was missing. Overall, I've thought for weeks that the article was well-structured, well-written, well-documented. Sometimes the problem is not so much with the article as with the critics, who nit-pick it to death. I think this article has every chance of receiving FA status, with just a little help from colleagues and critics. Nihil novi (talk) 08:03, 28 April 2008 (UTC)
Thank you for your helpful comment. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 10:01, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] List of atheist RfC

Hello. Your views here would be much appreciated. Thanks. Rohirok (talk) 17:29, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Please stop vandalising and censoring Talk:Stefan_Banach and Stefan_Banach

Please stop vandalising and censoring Talk:Stefan_Banach and Stefan_Banach.

This discussion page contains discussions of Stefan Banach, including his important contributions to Ukrainian mathematics and his work in Lviv, Ukraine.

You initiated a new discussion topic at Talk:Stefan_Banach by suggesting to delete the section from an article on Stefan_Banach describing his contributions to Ukrainian mathematics. Immediately after initiating this discussion, you moved the entire body of the earlier discussions into the archive. You repeated this censorship attempt several times, after the discussion was restored.

The section Contributions to Ukrainian mathematics contains important facts on Banach's contributions to Ukrainian science and Ukrainian mathematics in particular. There are substantial plans to continue the work on expanding this particular section, as well as other sections of the Stefan_Banach article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.210.14.5 (talk) 05:33, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

During your most recent censorship attempt, along with archiving the previous discussion on Talk:Stefan_Banach, you deleted the section from this discussion that documented and condemned your censorship.

Please cease your censorship attempts and desist from them in the future. Respect the spirit of Wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.210.14.5 (talk) 05:30, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

The earlier discussions were not archived by me but by another editor. They were brought back from the archive unnecessarily by you, who then proceeded to move my latest entries without my consent.
Please desist from harassing me and from attempting ill-advised changes in the "Stefan Banach" article. Nihil novi (talk) 05:41, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
Your opinions stated on Talk:Stefan_Banach are well-preserved and they were never censored. You created the new section on Banach's contributions to Ukrainian mathematics. Such section already exist in the previous discussion. Your comments were moved into this existing section and the discussion was de-archived.
During your most recent censorship attempt, along with archiving the previous discussion on Talk:Stefan_Banach, you deleted the section from this discussion that documented and condemned your censorship. Please stop doing it.
The entire discussion on Talk:Stefan_Banach is very informative and it is not a bulky page at all. There is no way to justify hiding this discussion into the archive. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.210.14.5 (talk) 05:47, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
98.210.14.5, please stop attacking Nihil novi and pushing your POV. I don't think Nihil novi is trying to censor anything. If you don't stop your disruptive editing, you will be blocked from editing Wikipedia. Masterpiece2000 (talk) 05:56, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Sociology in Poland

You may be interested in contributing to this new article I created. I plan to expand it soon; for now I concentrated on collecting sources for expansion (hence the long list of elinks and books and such).--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 00:18, 15 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] WikiProject Poland participant list

I thought you may want to add your name to Wikipedia:PWNB#Participants_list.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 14:33, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Done. I've signed in. Nihil novi (talk) 04:16, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Pharaoh (film)

Can you please write a plot summary for this article? Otolemur crassicaudatus (talk) 00:31, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

I have not seen the entire film and have therefore passed the request on at Portal talk:Poland/Poland-related Wikipedia notice board. Nihil novi (talk) 05:12, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Tadeusz Puszczyński

Hi, thanks for creating the article about Tadeusz Puszczyński. I was going to do it, but I have been busy recently. Anyway, I will try to expand it. BTW I have noticed your work on the Wawelberg Group, good job! I see you are interested in this unknown part of Polish military history. Tymek (talk) 01:17, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

I wrote a stub on Tadeusz Puszczyński because I didn't want his name appearing in red in the "Wawelberg Group" article. Janusz Meissner from 1915 attended a school named for H. Wawelberg and S. Rotward — is that perhaps where Puszczyński took his nom de guerre from?
I very much appreciate your work on this long-neglected period in Polish military and intelligence history.
Was Ryszard Puszczyński, who worked at the Polish General Staff's Section II before World War II, a relative of Tadeusz Puszczyński? Nihil novi (talk) 01:33, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
Frankly, I have no idea where Puszczynski's nom de guerre came from. I lived in Opole for a few years, when I come back there, I will check at the Instytut Slaski library, if I have some time to do so. As for the two Puszczynskis - again, no idea. Greets. Tymek (talk) 01:39, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Hello Nihil! Your new article Tadeusz Puszczyński is very good! Great job! Can you add some more references in the article? It might qualify for DYK. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 05:56, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

It was User:Tymek who added the new information, to what I had adapted from his article on the "Wawelberg Group." He could probably give you more sources. Nihil novi (talk) 06:31, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
Nihil, I am confused about the ISBN of the book The Order of the Virtuti Militari and Its Cavaliers. Do you have the book? Can you please check the ISBN? Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 06:14, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
Nihil, it is an important article about Polish military and intelligence history. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 06:25, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
ISBN 0-934-527-00-9. Nihil novi (talk) 06:29, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
Thank you for your reply. Well, actually, there is no need to add quotation marks or wikicode brackets of any kind! See: Wikipedia:ISBN. Regards, Masterpiece2000 (talk) 06:49, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Stop archiving the on-going discussion on Stefan Banach

You will need to stop archiving the on-going discussion of Stefan Banach.

This discussion page is not large enough to justify archiving.

You will not be allowed to censor the discussion by moving it into the archive. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.210.14.5 (talk) 00:19, 9 June 2008 (UTC)