User talk:Stoive

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[edit] CMD arete?

Well, your pic might be of one of the subsidiary ridges (it looks short for the CMD arete). I'll see what I've got in my picture books by way of comparisonLinuxlad 13:16, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] "Dry Period" vs. "Dry Season"

Thanks Stoive for your attention to the Pachypodium Project, which will receive a major revision into what I have been thinking as its second version of organization. Currently I am working at defining each species and, then the hard part, structuring "the species pages" into appropriate horizontal hierarchies divulging detail from a low general to a highly detailed resolution.

In any case, I wanted to respond to your comment as it raises a really good question that I have not articulated. In Southern Africa and Madagascar, the hydric to xeric biotic zones vary greatly and are influenced by the Southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans as well as topography (Mountain Ranges). Rapanarivo, Larvanos, Leuuwenberg, and Wöösli do not to the best of my knowledge use the term "dry season" to refer to the months in which various species experience a period without rain but not necessarily moisture. I mean it might not rain, but the dew point and fogs coming off the Atlantic Ocean into Namibia generate a lot of moisture that the spines collect and disperse more slowly to the soil level. So they are still getting moisture even in rainless periods possibly. But that too varies with the species. I know that in Southern Africa there is a Winter Rain Period (June to September) and a Summer Rain Period (December to March). I might have the two reversed as I do not have my notes in front of me; but I believe that the Eastern side of Southern Africa experiences Winter Rain and the Western side Summer Rains. There are unique habitats to certain species of Pachypodium that fall within these two zones. Also, the rain regiment varies in Madagascar. I believe the Indian Ocean is the key player here where the North and Northeast receive the most rain. After all, Madagascar has a Jungle on the east central coast. The South; however, is a lot drier than the North.

I am documenting these different rain periods for the propose of demonstrating that the months a species of Pachypodium experience rain varies greatly from other species. If this is the case, then, is it better to say "dry season" or "dry period" . . . ? I am not so certain on this issue as one could make arguments on both sides. Truthfully, I never thought about defining it as a dry season. The authors of the study that I base the Pachypodium Project on do not use "dry season" but "dry months" or "dry period." It seems that that is probably a better choice; because a "season" seems to infer a more standard period in the calendar; whereas a period can happen any time. A "dry period" would seem to reflect the habitats for the species vary significantly in their rain regiment. I think that is what the authors meant by not using "dry season." I do have to say; however, in cultivation the dormant period, which is associated with a dry "water" (simulated rain) regiment, occurs in one season, Winter, for all cultivated species except Pachypodium namaquanum. ---- What are your thoughts, given that I have tried to clear this point up . . .? In any case, when it comes time to revisit this article I will be more articulate with what is meant by either "dry" season or period. Also un the page where you left your comment, I did not observe any changes from "dry months" and "dry period" to dry seasons. Is there a mistake here? tdwin476 Tim Winchester 15:02, August 18, 2005 (UTC)

It would appear that you are much more familiar with the material than I am. I simply came to the page from Special:Whatlinkshere/Dry, as Dry is currently a (very incomplete) disambiguation page, unrelated to dryness. My sole change was to link the word "dry" in the first sentence to Dry season, an existing wikipedia article about the dry part of the year in tropical regions, as this seemed at first glance to be the intended meaning of "dry" in that context. I have now also updated the main Pachypodium article in a similar manner. If this interpretation was incorrect feel free to remove the link, or to replace it with a link to a more appropriate location. --Stoive 19:33, 18 August 2005 (UTC)

I must say I am at a loss on this point.

Having reviewed dry season and the Tropic of Capricorn, I see the inference of a "Dry Season" as reasonable to associate the "prolonged time" for which Pachypodium endure. Yet I still have some reservations: Why have none of the sources I have read not explicitly made reference to both the "Dry Season" and the "Wet Season" . . . ? The key word here is "season" because the sources do indeed say "period" or "months." But even this timeframe can vary from 6 months to 10 months or more for different species of Pachypodium. Rapanarivo et al. give considerable attention to the ecology, the landscape, and the habitat of Pachypodium species. Their words of choice, nevertheless, are "months", "dormancy", and "period". In fact their taxonomy is driven in part by ecology as being a unique character defining the species' habitat. Part of me feels uncomfortable by making an inference that Pachypodium experience a dry period;

  • The Tropical belt around the equator oscillates a "Dry" and "Wet" seasonal "belt" . . .
  • . . .for which Pachypodium species for the most part can be located right at the Tropic of Capricorn in Southern Africa and Madagascar
  • Therefore, this "prolonged period" that Pachypodium endure is the "Dry" and "Wet" season.

I mean it is a very strong argument and "intuitively logical"; but we have no authority to make that kind of inference, do we? I could review Rapanarivo et al again. . . Yet from a pragmatic point of view, I agree with your instinct, the inference of a "Dry season" is handy to tie together a better meaning of what is meant by "dry". Apparently, as you have stated, the Wiki: dry is not very informative whereas the Wiki dry season is. If only we know; however, with "authority." rather than intuitively. I do not know really what is the best course of action. Not to define "Dry" leaves it meaningless. To define "Dry" as "Dry Season" is a step that we are making intuitively without a reference. . . .

Perhaps we should ask an administrator? If you do not mind, I will ask a friend who is really good at figuring out issues like this one and who recently became an administrator. His username is JoJan. . . .

Much later

(8/2705)

Though it has been some time--I accidentally let this slide--I have post the question to JoJan, an administrator and a member of the tree of life. See he User Talk Page:

Tim Winchester 19:34, August 27, 2005 (UTC) tdwin476


This question has been a hard one to figure out because it is so tempting. It would add another level of richness to the article. After discussing the matter with JoJan, the aforementioned administrator and member of the the Tree of Life project, we came to the conculsion that, barring any "hard evidence," reference, or citation, it would be best not to make the connection between "dry" and "dry season" for Pachypodium. One of the main reasons is that I do know some "continental" macro-climatic tendencies that do not really make sense in light of this notion of a "dry/wet" season. Also the article is so grounded in fctual information that to make a very tempting speculation runs counter to it. What we need is hard eveidence of this cycle, and then we could include it. Until then it seems best to un-Wikify the link for dry all together, unless their is a Wiki for xeric, perhaps. As you stated the Wiki dryness is not very informative and as has been concluded, the Wiki Dry Season could lead us in the wrong direction. I reject having to make this decision; however. I would very much like to make the connection. Be sure that I will keep a steady eye out for any references to the dry season and Pachypodium. The pachypodium project needs a new structure with new ideas. It is comebersome now. I am working on it. But have yet to put anything out on Wikipedia. ---Anyway thank you for your interest in the article. If you would like to discuss this with me more please feel free to do so tdwin476 Tim Winchester 16:42, August 30, 2005 (UTC)

Thank you for your long and detailed consideration of the linking of this single word. It was certainly interesting to see how much debate was triggered by linking this to what appeared to be the most likely intended target. Sorry for my subtle misinterpretation. Stoive 22:09, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] TfD nomination of Template:Simon_Clarke_Tube_Map

Template:Simon_Clarke_Tube_Map has been nominated for deletion. You are invited to comment on the discussion at Wikipedia:Templates for deletion#Template:Simon_Clarke_Tube_Map. Thank you. —Gabbe 19:16, 19 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Your picture Image:Coracle Aug2002.jpg

Wikimedia has been contacted by Studio Imago who would like to get in touch with you about this image, which they would like to use in a Dutch book for children which they are producing. Unfortunately, you haven't confirmed an e-mail address on en.wp.

If you could forward an e-mail address to me at press@wikimedia.org (attention to Amgine) I could forward that to the company, or any other arrangement you would like (feel free to say you do not wish to be contacted if that is the case!) I'm sure they will be interested in a higher resolution image to work with if possible, but whatever information you can offer would be appreciated. - Amgine 04:39, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Image copyright problem with Image:Arthur Dent Livid.jpg

Thanks for uploading Image:Arthur Dent Livid.jpg. You've indicated that the image is being used under a claim of fair use, but you have not provided an adequate explanation for why it meets Wikipedia's requirements for such images. In particular, for each page the image is used on, the image must have an explanation linking to that page which explains why it needs to be used on that page. Can you please check

  • That there is a non-free use rationale on the image's escription page for each article the image is used in.
  • That every article it is used on is linked to from its description page.

This is an automated notice by FairuseBot. For assistance on the image use policy, see Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. --14:57, 9 May 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Babel Fish diagram.jpg

Thanks for uploading Image:Babel Fish diagram.jpg. You've indicated that the image meets Wikipedia's criteria for non-free content, but there is no explanation of why it meets those criteria. Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. If you have any questions, please post them at Wikipedia:Media copyright questions.

Thank you for your cooperation. NOTE: once you correct this, please remove the tag from the image's page. STBotI (talk) 17:40, 21 May 2008 (UTC)