User talk:Sam

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[edit] Sichuan EQ

Next time you may want to take your own advice and check the discussion page before wiping out work that has been carefully pieced together with consensus. You really screwed things up, without even realizing it, I'm sure. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.73.94.131 (talk) 09:27, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Can't say I see any consensus that it made sense to list the countries that felt the earthquake as those that "were affected". Often discussions polarize when what is needed is a totally different tact entirely. In those cases, it is appropriate to be bold. I don't think I screwed anything up. No information has been lost. All the countries that felt the quake are listed in a section down below. Who felt it and when is of relatively minor importance. -- ☑ SamuelWantman 09:39, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Almost 24 hours have gone by, and all of my changes have remained, and there are comments to support them. So it appears I did not screw anything up, but instead solved a problem. -- ☑ SamuelWantman 06:41, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Please join the conversation

Hello Sam. First, I have to offer my apologies for edit warring over the picture that you are trying to add to Marat/Sade. I have self reverted my last change. You will want to join the conversation that I have started here [1] to make your case for the inclusion of this pic. I know that you are trying to improve the page. My interpretation of the current picture policy, which is highly restrictive, is that the picture would be removed now or latter. However, this is just one editors opinion. If the consensus is that it can be included I would only ask that the size of it is reduced. What I really wish is that you had a picture of the actor Ian Richardson recreating David's pose from the film. Again apologies and happy editing. MarnetteD | Talk 00:46, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

I am not aware of the policy that you are talking about, but from your own comments above, you contradict your objections to the picture. I think the best reaction to my adding this picture would be additional text which describes how Ian Richardson recreated the pose in the picture. I'd be happy to take a sreenshot of the pose from the film it as it is in my netflix cue. It would qualify as fair use. No doubt that the pose was recreated in several productions. Is this much different (albeit smaller in scale) to Sunday in the Park with George?.. -- ☑ SamuelWantman 07:10, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

Discussion moved to Talk:Marat/Sade#Image --☑ SamuelWantman 07:14, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Photo use

Sam, I hope this message finds you well. I work for a New York advertising agency called Korey Kay & Partners and a client of ours would like to use an image you shot of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. The link to the image is as follows: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Newburgh-Beacon_Bridge_2.jpg

I would appreciate an email so we may discuss more about how we would like to use it as well as compensation. I can be reached at pwarkolla@koreyaky.com. Thank you for your time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.166.235.180 (talk) 14:41, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] WikiProject Films May 2008 Newsletter

The May 2008 issue of the Films WikiProject newsletter has been published. You may read the newsletter, change the format in which future issues will be delivered to you, or unsubscribe from this notification by following the link. Thank you.
This has been an automated delivery by BrownBot (talk) 20:21, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Consensus on reasoning for LGBT Project Articles

A new discussion you may be interested in:Consensus on reasoning for LGBT Project Articles. The Bookkeeper (of the Occult) 07:29, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] WP:Village pump (proposals)/FritzpollBot

Thanks again for your great work on the poll at WP:GA: the result has really engaged editors to question many issues and improve process.

The above is another example of a discussion that would benefit from the comments of an uninvolved expert on consensus building with a fantastic ability to interpret a discussion in the light of previous consensus and policy. You are the only person I know who fits that job description, so I'm afraid I'm asking for your help again.

The summary, in case you didn't look into it already, is as follows. A bot was approved to create stubs for places around the world. It had the potential to create 2 million stubs, but also had the goal to address Wikipedia's systemic bias towards the Western World in the area of human settlements. The issue was questioned at WP:VPP, and a debate insued based partly on misunderstanding, but also on genuine problems with the proposal. The bot operator revised the proposals in the light of this, the earlier discussion was archived to WT:Village pump (proposals)/FritzpollBot, and a new discussion was started at WP:Village pump (proposals)/FritzpollBot. The new proposals scaled back the original ones and clarified quality control issues. The resulting discussion has received a lot of comments, and desperately needs an impartial editor to assess them.

I really hope you can help again. My own involvement here is slight. I tentatively questioned the original proposal, but tentatively support the new one. The summary above is intended to help you decide if you want to help, not to influence your view. I hope you can help. Geometry guy 22:16, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Excellent analysis. xenocidic (talk) 00:30, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

For what it's worth, as one of the parties who will be doing a lot on this project, I can tell you that I will do all I can to ensure that only articles that would meet standard notability will be created. Thank you for the work, and let's all hope that this works out soon. I've asked that we maybe start with American Samoa, as some of the setup work is already done there. With any luck, we won't disappoint you or anyone else. John Carter (talk) 02:30, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

• Nice close - but I have a question ... Would this sentence in your third paragraph Because they have the power to create bad edits as fast as they can create good edits we don't let anyone use them. read better if it added the word *just* as in - Because they have the power to create bad edits as fast as they can create good edits we don't *just* let anyone use them? Not a criticism just a question of clarification. Best wishes.--VS ^talk 07:48, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

  Yes, just. Thanks for catching that. Sometimes I think a word and forget to type it. -- ☑ SamuelWantman 07:55, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

  My pleasure. Cheers--VS ^talk 07:59, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks Sam - the quality of your close exceeded even your own high standards (in my view). Your closing statements often provide a great reminder what Wikipedia is about, and reading them rekindles my enthusiasm for the project. Geometry guy 09:29, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Hi Sam. Thanks for taking the initiative to make the decision on one of the most important decisions in the history of wikipedia when there is a lot of pressure to do so. I believe you have evaluated it exceptionally well and neutrally and shown a solid understanding as to what wikipedia is about. In a project that strives to achieve the "sum of all human knowledge" ignoring 95% of the planet was not a good idea even if the articles begin as stubs. We want to make this website the best reference site imaginable and can at least set it on the right path to achieving what many consider "impossible". Nothing is irreversible, and if it doesn't work out and we are "stuck with zillions of perma substubs" it can always be undone. I'm sure most people can see that a lot of thought will go into each country and we will try to achieve the best initial result possible, and also work at expanding those that can be expanded to make the encyclopedia flourish. I'm certain that once people begin to see it in action and how much content it can add in such a small timeframe under monitoring then people will realise the potential of this new ambitious project. Regards ♦Blofeld of SPECTRE♦ ^$1,000,000? 11:37, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

• I should probably let you know that there will be a short (94s) segment on Radio Wikipedia covering this decision. You can preview the segment here. best, xenocidic (talk) 13:12, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Just wanted to say thanks to you, Sam, not for coming to the "right" decision (although, it is clearly one I am pleased with) but for actually doing what must have been a very difficult piece of closing. Thank you very much for the time and effort you have expended on this. Best wishes Fritzpoll (talk) 14:15, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

LegoK^ontribsT^alkM 23:44, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] LGBT WikiProject Newsletter

The LGBT studies WikiProject Newsletter

The LGBT studies WikiProject Newsletter! Issue XV: June 11, 2008 Hello, members and friends of WP:LGBT! I'm not one to be writing newsletters, but I miss our cruise director, Miss Julie, and our project is drifting along with a few leaking plugs in the bottom of the boat. Hey, it happens. Every group we join goes through changes. If Wikipedia weren't so interesting it wouldn't also be so frustrating sometimes. And vice versa. More than one Wikiproject has tumbleweeds blowing through it, but this is one that can't afford to let that happen. Even if you pop in to the talk page of the project, you can let us know you're still around. [edit] WP:LGBT's Role in HIV / AIDS articles It wouldn't be a proper gay community without a li'l bit o' drama! That's right. If we aren't arguing about something, then we should be asking if we're still queer. Maybe that's for the best, since we know we're still kicking. Our most recent topic is how far the role of our project should go in dipping our toes into HIV/AIDS articles. The main AIDS article was delisted as a Featured Article last month, sadly. (Sending a swift kick to WP:Medicine.) A spirited discussion is available for your entertainment on the WP:LGBT talk page about just how much of HIV and AIDS should we take on. As ever, we'll take your opinions under advisement. We're going to have to, because it doesn't seem to have been settled. [edit] Is Pride POV? We have a pretty cool sidebar that identifies core LGBT articles. Its symbol is the iconic gay pride flag, much like other Wikiprojects have iconic symbols denoting the topic is a core subject in a series of articles. However, a question recently arose asking if the symbol itself is not neutral. Should a pride flag show up at the top of the article on Conversion therapy? How else would anyone know the article is about queer issues? Is there another symbol that is as widely recognized and that includes all our many splintered facets? At what point do we stop asking ourselves all these questions and just go have a mint julep on the verandah and stop caring? [edit] Harvey Milk and Jim Jones For the love of all that is holy, no Kool Aid jokes. However, an editor involved in pioneering San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk's article has included a section about the late supervisor's support of Jim Jones and the People's Temple. While it may be accurate, there is a Request for Comment regarding how much emphasis the section places on Milk's support in light of his overall political influence on the city, and indeed the rest of the United States. Milk's article is a sad one in more ways than one. It lacks the detail and heart that honors its subject. Anyone want to do a barter with me? I'll bring Harvey Milk to featured status (give me a month or two so I can read stuff), if you do something of equal value to WP:LGBT?? Make me an offer... [edit] Queer Studies is offensive! The established branch of study known as Queer studies was brought up as an category for deletion because an editor was offended by the use of "queer" in the title. It was overwhelmingly rejected mostly by the usernames I see here on our Wikiproject page. (A clue that I know you are out there, hiding...biding your time...) So, I wish I could congratulate you, but now I'm all confused by my sympathy for the editor who was offended. So, if you're reading this, Moni has a short memory and can't remember your username. Don't be put off by our demonstrative pushiness. Join us. We can always use involved editors. [edit] Lambda Literary Awards What can you do to help the project out? Be a wiki-fairy, on many levels. There are all kinds of articles that need help. Why, just this morning I removed those ugly wikify and cleanup tags from four articles at random. If you can put [[ ]] around stuff, you can clean up articles. There's a list of articles that need attention at the top of the WP:LGBT talk page. Or you can start with the Lambda Literary Awards, where the goddess of my altar received a pioneering award, and was "reduced to rubble" by Katherine V. Forrest's wonderful speech. The 20th ceremony of the Lambda Literary Awards, which celebrates LGBT literature, took place in West Hollywood on May 29th [2]. The page needs to be updated with the new winners, to be found on the official website [3]. [edit] Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Arthur C. Clarke and Bernard Montgomery Why on earth would someone want to delete material about homosexuality? 'Tis truly a mystery. But these embattled articles have some random evil gnomes removing information that places these folks under our queer umbrella. Help us keep an eye out for the deletions. Take a peek at the articles, familiarize yourselves with the info, and be handy with the undo function in the article history. If tempers flare, take it to the Hall monitors and let them sort it out. Best solution is to make sure your sources are immaculate. [edit] This month's Wiki stars This is what I get for opening my big fat mouth and suggesting the newsletter should be revived. Here I am writing it. So, to pat self on back (*cough*) Mulholland Dr. became a featured article in May. This is A Good Thing since it is my personal declaration that there is no such thing as lesbian porn. I don't care what Benjiboi says about the video collection at goodvibes. Instead, we have hot women who connect on a deep, personal, soul-touching level, so this film should qualify as some of the skankiest porn available for lesbians. Plus, it's completely confusing and surreal! D'you think Laura Harring would care that the article is featured? I don't think so either... (Call me, Laura!) [edit] Compulsive hoarding of templates Once I saw a harrowing episode of Animal Planet's Animal Cops where this guy had, like, 250 cats in his house and it freaked me right out. I'm drawing a parallel between 250 cats and, well...three, really, templates in articles involving LGBT issues. Can we stick to one, maybe? In the aforementioned Harvey Milk's article there's a core LGBT template, a link to the LGBT portal, and a sidebar for LGBT rights. Jiminy! You'd think we weren't the folk to set industrial grey carpeting and track lighting in vogue. An LGBT footer was designed to link to articles of interest that aren't the aforementioned core articles. What do you think, can we have either an LGBT template for core articles, a footer for LGBT articles that are high profile but not core, or an LGBT rights template? As ever, anything's up for discussion on the WP:LGBT talk page. [edit] The Violet Quill and magazines Zigzig20s suggests we create an article on The Violet Quill, as it seems such a milestone in the advancement of gay/queer literature. Members of the Quill all have pages of their own (Edmund White, Christopher Cox, Robert Ferro, Michael Grumley, Andrew Holleran, Felice Picano, and George Whitmore). We need to find more info on the Quill per se to reference the page that we create. Perhaps Google Books - and libraries? - can help. A number of magazines also need articles, perhaps most notably QW, LGNY, and Lesbian Feminist Liberation. [edit] Mom's nagging for Pride Month It's June, Pride month. Wear sunscreen, stay hydrated, get a designated driver, then go half-dressed in the streets find a girlfriend or boyfriend, or some homo who's standing there looking lonely and kiss 'em up real good. Remember, it all started 39 years ago when a bunch of drag queens just got fed the f*ck up by the cops raiding the bar and dragging them all out to the pokey again. Rock on, queens! Enjoy your celebrations. My town's is in October, and 200 people attend. I miss Denver. [edit] Fresh faces to brighten our pages Hey, I've seen you around! Sorry there seem to be so many—it's been a while. But we welcome you all: Cheezisyum21, Taineyah, Dustihowe, Avesta69, RachelSummers77, Vivekgopinathan, AMK1211, Staffwaterboy , Ted Ted, Joe5150, Leahtwosaints, Robapalooza, Arthomure, Confusionball, Affinity likely, PrinceOfCanada, Yobmod, Npd2983, Neagley, Bvlax2005, Bvlax2005, Rhullsf, Textorus, Kieran.casey, Tyciol, Meojive, Sappho'd, Bookkeeperoftheoccult, Gaywarrior, Aujourd'hui, maman est morte, and Balin42632003. It looks like we've picked up a lot of talent lately. We have no doubt you'll be making your indelible mark on LGBT knowledge as we know it, here at Wikipedia. In the immortal words of Miss Julie, "May all your Wiki days be bright, and may your Love Boat never turn into a Poseidon." We miss you, Miss Julie, as well as all the others who have graced our project and are on wiki-breaks or just got fed up with all the nuttiness and went to live their lives. Get your stupid houses built and hurry up and come back. --Moni3 (talk) 16:52, 9 June 2008 (UTC) To stop receiving this newsletter, or to receive it in a different format, please let us know here. If you have any news or any announcements to be broadcast, do let Moni3 know.

This newsletter was delivered by §hepBot around 16:02, 11 June 2008 (UTC). ShepBot (talk) 16:23, 11 June 2008 (UTC)