User talk:Theshibboleth

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Welcome!

Hello, Theshibboleth, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

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:Where to ask a question, ask me on my talk page, or place {{helpme}} on your talk page and someone will show up shortly to answer your questions. Again, welcome!  SaltyPig 06:04, 2005 Jun 12 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Talk:English plural

I'd advise you not to 'correct' people's spelling or grammar outside of articles. It's a good way to irritate people, and some could get really upset if you keep doing it. Just a friendly suggestion.  :-) -- Damezi 21:15, 16 July 2005 (UTC)


[edit]

Here are some tasks you can do:

[edit] LA Wiki

See WikiCities: http://losangeles.wikicities.com/ BlankVerse ∅ 08:06, 19 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] photos

Thanks for your contributions of photographs. Nicely done. -Willmcw 19:02, 16 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Jimbo Wales to Attend San Diego Meetup on October 18 2005

Hello, Jimbo Wales will be in San Diego to attend OOPSLA and has agreed to come by and visit with the San Diego wikipedians. If you are interested, you will find more info on my talk page. Johntex\talk 00:54, 13 October 2005 (UTC)

User talk:204.108.96.10

[edit] 204.108.96.10

re: your comment at user talk: 204.108.96.10. Most of the problem edits and the resulting temporary blocks are the result of the edits by a single editor who usually edits from that IP (and a few other LAUSD IPs) during the morning hours, and then uses his Wikipedia user account or edits anonymously from the ISP o1.com during the afternoons. From the edits, it is someone very interested in radio and TV stations, and he may have a learning or behavioral difficulty such as OCD or Asperger's. I'd really like to get some help with this individual, just to help him become a productive editor, but I also don't want to get him in any sort of trouble. Do you think you would be able to help, and could you tell me a little more about the computer associated with that IP (is it in a computer lab or library, for example)? BlankVerse ∅ 08:02, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

Unfortunately it looks like that IP is a proxy for ALL of LAUSD because an edit from that IP later in the same day came from an administrator at the Van Nuys Community Adult School. My problem editor who has edited from the same IP is, I am pretty sure, somewhere in East Los Angeles. It looks like I may have to go through the system administrators and try to bring them up to speed on what the Wikipedia is all about, plus the explain the consequences of having problem editors (i.e. regular temporary blocks of the IP), unless you might have some connection to LAUSD.net, or can try to find some help from your end. I do have a name and birth year plus a little more biographical information, which should help. BlankVerse ∅ 14:45, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
Because the problem editor edits from several IPs from LAUSD, plus dial-up IPs from o1.net and also from his own Wikipedia user account (user:Ronald20), doing a watch on the IPs is pretty useless. It is best just to put a bunch of Southern California radio and TV stations (LA, San Diego, and even the Palm Springs area) on your watchlist, and then trace his most recent edits after you see that he has been editing. I have a page where I've been tracking the editor at User:BlankVerse/RonaldWatch. Old info in on the discussion page, and then the info on his more recent edits is on the main page.
The IP that you edited from (204.108.96.10), does seem to get a fairly large number of Wikipedia edits (with about half the edits being minor vandalism), so you still might want to keep a watch on the IP. The IP block for LAUSD.net is 204.108.64.0 - 204.108.127.255. If you look at this page [1], you can see all of the other LAUSD IPs in that IP block that have also had various warnings and temporary blocks.
One thing that I haven't done yet is look at the rDNS (reverse DNS) of the various LAUSD IPs to see if there is any pattern to the naming of the IPs that get the most edits from LAUSD. The rRDNS for 204.108.96.10, for example, is la-ce3.lausd.net. BlankVerse ∅ 18:53, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Making maps

See Wikipedia:Maps. Also, if you see that someone has created some maps that you like (e.g. the map at Los Angeles, California), then check to see who created the map and ask them for help. BlankVerse ∅ 19:08, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Ian Punnet

Hey dude. It was accually the Coast to Coast AM article, the last time it appeared was in the "Revision as of 13:02, 4 May 2005". --Schalicto 03:21, 25 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Your RfA

Hi. I'd recommend that you answer all of the questions at the bottom of your RfA, and work a little more on the answers you've already given. Your edit count is pretty low, and the answers to your questions are going to have to be pretty dazzling or a lot of people are likely to oppose your nomination. It'd be especially helpful if you can give some examples of times that you've used good judgment in the face of some sticky problem. Best of luck. —Cleared as filed. 07:38, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] reply

Hi, I'm not sure what you mean by linking RSS feed and RSS (protocol) directly to RSS (file format) as they are already redirecting to that article. Martin 15:49, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

My bot has done all the main namespace ones. thanks Martin 14:40, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Page move

Hey, I saw your comments on Talk:Los Angeles, California and thought you might be interested to know I've put in a formal request for it to be moved to Los Angeles. I think I've listed the arguments in favor, but feel free to add to or refute them and weigh in. Thanks. Jibbajabba 07:49, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Ongoing wars: Great job!

Hi Shibboleth,

I'm glad someone picked up the bits and pieces I threw into this article and made them into something that looks really great. Must have been a hell of work. Thanks for the great job!

I wonder, should we include into the page also the wars that are over but technically going on, the article once ([[2]]) listed WWII, Chinese Civil War and Korean War. They're all not quite that over, like, tensions still subsist respectively between Russia - Japan (perhaps less than in the other two cases), China-Taiwan and North-South Korea (in the latter cases it is quite violent tensions that keep cropping up in the news.

But perhaps this would be for "global tensions", which however, would be a list where no bounds can be found.

Regards,--Robin.rueth 17:40, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Image Tagging

Greetings. From the description and use of Image:Victoria_and_Albert_Museum_courtyard.jpg , it appears you intended this image to be freely available. I took the liberty of applying a {{GFDL}} tag to the image. If that's not what you intended, my apologies, and please amend the tag. Regards, Dethomas 06:32, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Image Tagging

Greetings again. From the description and use of Image:Unkownsong.ogg, it appears you intended this media to be freely available.

I took the liberty of applying a {{GFDL}} tag. If that's not what you intended, my apologies, and please amend the tag. Regards, Dethomas 02:10, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks

Thanks for adding the Thomas Nast 1863 image of Santa Claus to Christmas it slipped my mind! (UKPhoenix79 23:58, 16 February 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Nietzsche comment

Hi, I've taken the liberty of moving your comment on Nietzshe from the censorship talk page to the eugenics talk page (diffs: [3], [4]). Feel free to revert if the move was in error. --Muchness 10:15, 24 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Another LA-area Wikipedia meetup?

There is a proposal for a 3rd LA-area meetup at Philippe's on Saturday, 24 June 2006. If you are interested in another meetup, please visit the proposal and comment on the date and location. BlankVerse 08:47, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] AFD

Help save Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of relationships with age disparity

[edit] Foodborne illness

In regards to a comment you made almost a year ago to foodborne illness and the response, that is pretty much accurate. Any person can report a case of foodborne illness to their local health department, and in some circumstances, any hospital can report a case of foodborne illness that they treated to their local health department for review. In and of itself, the term foodborne illness and foodborne illness outbreak are different - illness can occur in any case or person, an outbreak occurs when two or more people get the same type of illness in the same timeframe from the same restaurant. Outbreaks generally get more attention than illness reports since they involve more people eating from the same source - but all in all, it's pretty common to get a minor foodborne illness, even from your own kitchen if you don't follow the proper sanitation and food preparation procedures. Even having your refrigerator set too high or leaving your groceries in the car too long can lead to temperature abuse, which can lead to illness in some cases. CQJ 02:15, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Elvis Presley Article

Hi. I saw that you removed my reference to the visit by Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, to Graceland. Personally, I think it's a fairly cool piece of trivia given that Koizumi is rather fanatical about Presley and the fact that we mention the visit on Koizuimi's own article. Just wanted to let you know why I added it back in so you didn't think I was doing some random edits! Lochdale 01:58, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Your solution looks good to me. Made one slight change. I hope you stick around this article. As you might have seen on my Talk Page, it's a very contentious article with one particular user pushing a very strong agenda. Thanks. Lochdale 04:57, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Move of table of explosive detonation velocities

This is really not a Wikipedia "list" article; those are collections of similar things. This really is a table of data, about a list of things sure, but it's not just a list. We don't have many such tables, but it really isn't a list. It should go back to the old name... Georgewilliamherbert 02:41, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Beagle

Beagle is not the "...default desktop search tool for Ubuntu as of Edgy Eft". I am running Edgy myself, and beagle is not installed by default. I have removed this statement from the Beagle (software) article. Anyway, the Ubuntu article is now at Ubuntu (Linux distribution), not Ubuntu (Linux) bruce89 13:30, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] CTEA / opposition references

Hi,

I added a note to the CTEA talk page explaining my confusion regarding your "weasel" comment. I'm all in favor of references, but I'm a little unclear at the way you're using the reference indicators in this article -- one after virtually every sentence in the one paragraph, and none in other paragraphs in the opposition or support sections. I'm just curious about the disparity in your request. (Although obviously the article needs a lot of work including references.) -- LQ 13:46, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

...thanks for getting back to me; that makes sense. In fact I haven't really touched that article because it would be a major project. But I agree it needs a fair amount of work, not least of which is references. --LQ 23:20, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] LA satelite image - cleanup request

Hi, I'm looking at Image:Riverslosangeles.jpg satellite image of L.A. You tagged it for cleanup, suggesting that the file format (jpg) isn't right. What would you suggest instead? Please reply in the image discussion page. manu3d 01:49, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

Hi again, thanks for your reply. You state that it should be PNG because it has text in it. Unless you know something that I do not (which is very possible), the text doesn't really matter. What matters is that most of the picture is a (satellite) photo, which is correctly encoded as JPG as it is the best format for most photographic images. A PNG could be useful if most of the image was text or graphics. JPG indeed tends to blur text, potentially making it unreadable. But when I resaved this picture with a proper compression setting I made sure to keep the text sharp. Was this your concern? manu3d 20:38, 14 November 2006 (UTC)
I see what you mean, you are thinking the image might be coming from a software such as [Nasa World Wind]. Well, it might very well be! Anyway, what I'm seeing are definitely satellite photos, which are best handled via JPG compression as with any photographic image. I'd recommend removing the cleanup tag, but it was worth to put it because it gave me the chance to look it up and reduce the file size by 75%, which is a good thing: the previous version of the image was unnecessarily uncompressed. Is this ok for you? manu3d 23:57, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Orphaned fair use image (Image:Nibbler's Shadow in Futurama "Space Pilot 3000".png)

Thanks for uploading Image:Nibbler's Shadow in Futurama "Space Pilot 3000".png. The image description page currently specifies that the image is non-free and may only be used on Wikipedia under a claim of fair use. However, the image is currently orphaned, meaning that it is not used in any articles on Wikipedia. If the image was previously in an article, please go to the article and see why it was removed. You may add it back if you think that that will be useful. However, please note that images for which a replacement could be created are not acceptable under fair use (see our fair use policy).

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[edit] Blank US Map.svg

Hi. I was wondering if you would mind dual-licensing Blank US Map.svg with a cc-by-sa license as well. The reson for why I'm asking is that GFDL and cc aren't totally compatible so a combination of your map and a cc map is technically impossible. Many thanks./Lokal_Profil 06:03, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Maitreya in Nairobi.JPG

Thanks for uploading or contributing to Image:Maitreya in Nairobi.JPG. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is not a suitable explanation or rationale as to why each specific use in Wikipedia constitutes fair use. Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale.

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[edit] Replaceable fair use Image:Maitreya in Nairobi.JPG

Replaceable fair use

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[edit] Disputed fair use rationale for Image:Swiss Miss Logo.png

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[edit] Disputed fair use rationale for Image:Exposé blob.png

Thanks for uploading Image:Exposé blob.png. However, there is a concern that the rationale you have provided for using this image under "fair use" may be invalid. Please read the instructions at Wikipedia:Non-free content carefully, then go to the image description page and clarify why you think the image qualifies for fair use. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to ensure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If it is determined that the image does not qualify under fair use, it will be deleted within a couple of days according to our criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot (talk) 21:52, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Blank US Map.svg again

Hi. I know I've asked before but since I got no reply I figured I should try again. I was wondering if you would mind dual-licensing Blank US Map.svg with a cc-by-sa license as well. The reson for why I'm asking is that GFDL and cc aren't totally compatible so a combination of your map and a cc licensed map wouldn't be allowed. Many thanks./Lokal_Profil 12:59, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] June 2008

Welcome to Wikipedia. Everyone is welcome to contribute constructively to the encyclopedia. However, talk pages are meant to be a record of a discussion; deleting or editing legitimate comments, as you did at Talk:Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is considered bad practice, even if you meant well. Take a look at the welcome page to learn more about contributing to this encyclopedia. Thank you. ~QuasiAbstract {talk/contrib} 13:16, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Editing other's comments

I can understand trying to protect someone from their own stupidity, but even if we deleted their IP address from the comment, if the FBI happens across that comment, it's a simple matter of looking through the history and finding their IP address. Also, if you have a especially thorough or bad-tempered person who is looking through and sees that another editor attempted to cover up the IP address, it may lead to unneccessary questioning. This may seem a bit over the top, but I've seen scenarios that are similar pan out. Someone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time trying to cover for the wrong person is the one who gets accused.

However, here's the policy from Talk Page Guidelines:

[edit] Editing comments

[edit] Others' comments

It is not necessary to bring talk pages to publishing standards, so there is no need to correct typing errors, grammar, etc. It tends to irritate the users whose comments you are correcting. Do not strike out the comments of other editors without their permission.

Never edit someone's words to change their meaning. Editing others' comments is sometimes allowed, but you should exercise caution in doing so. Some examples of appropriately editing others' comments:

  • If you have their permission
  • Removing prohibited material such as libel and personal details
  • Deleting material not relevant to improving the article (per the above subsection #How to use article talk pages).
  • Removing personal attacks and incivility. This is controversial, and many editors do not feel it is acceptable; please read WP:ATTACK#Removal of text and WP:CIVIL#Removal of uncivil comments before removing anything.
  • Unsigned comments: You are allowed to append {{unsigned}} or one of its variants to the end of someone's comment if they have failed to sign it. The form is {{subst:unsigned|USER NAME OR IP|DATE AND TIME}}, which results in —The preceding unsigned comment was added by USER NAME OR IP (talk • contribs) DATE AND TIME.
  • Interruptions: In some cases, it is OK to interrupt a long contribution, either with a short comment (as a reply to a minor point) or with a heading (if the contribution introduces a new topic). In that case, add "<small>Heading added to (reason) by ~~~~</small>"). In such cases, please add {{subst:interrupted|USER NAME OR IP}} before the interruption.
  • When a long comment has formatting errors, rendering it difficult to read. In this case, restrict the edits to formatting changes only and preserve the content as much as possible. Generally, page formatting can be fixed as well (i.e. to move a new comment from the top of a page to the bottom and adding a header to the comment).
  • On your own user talk page, you may remove others' comments, although archiving is generally preferred.
  • If a signature violates the guidelines for signatures.
  • In the past it was standard practice to refactor talk pages, although this practice has fallen somewhat into disuse.
  • If a thread has veered off its original subject, it may be desirable to split threads, especially if the new topic is deemed to merit extensive discussion. When part of a discussion is made into its own thread, the new thread should include an opening sentence or paragraph explaining the reason for the move and containing a link to the original thread. As well, a note should be placed at the location the discussion was moved from, with a link to the new thread. It is also important that the format of the existing discussion remains essentially the same. Simple cutting and pasting will not always ensure that this happens; a bit of reformatting may be necessary. When splitting a thread, always preview how your changes appear and check to see whether the flow of the thread remains the same as it was previously (i.e. that all replies are in the correct places.) Splitting a thread should not in any way alter the meaning of any comments therein; hence the need for links, proper formatting, and an explanation.

[edit] Own comments

It is best to avoid changing your own comments. Other users may have already quoted you with a diff (see above) or have otherwise responded to your statement. Therefore, use "Show preview" and think about how your amended statement may look to others before you save it.

Altering a comment after it has been replied to robs the reply of its original context. It can also be confusing. Before you change, consider taking one of the following steps:

  • Contact the person(s) who replied (through their talk page) and ask if it is okay to delete or change your text.
  • use strike-through or a place-holder to show the comment has been altered.
    • Strike-through is typed <s>like this</s> and ends up like this.
    • A placeholder is a phrase such as "[Thoughtless and stupid comment removed by the author.]". This will ensure that your fellow editors' irritated responses still make sense. In turn, they may then wish to replace their reply with something like, "[Irritated response to deleted comment removed. Apology accepted.]"
    • Please do not apply strike-through to other editors' comments without permission.

I hope this helps. I don't think that removing an IP address because of a potentionally self-incriminating comment is covered, though. I did see the comment, and it could be removed as it has nothing to do with improving the article, however. That would be acceptable by these guidelines. ~QuasiAbstract {talk/contrib} 09:21, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Also, I don't think that the comment was entirely truthful, as I seriously doubt that anyone would be stupid enough to mention that their version is illegal or that they would even take the time to type that they just happen to have an "illegal cam version". Now, they might just be that stupid or careless, and then (in my opinion) I think they deserve whatever they get. Cheers! ~QuasiAbstract {talk/contrib} 09:28, 4 June 2008 (UTC)
I think it's just a matter of always being prepared, in case of a long discussion with more than one person. Or even, in the rare case, of an anonymous editor who actually needs help and it makes it easy to post on their talk page. As for the legality or ethnics of posting one's IP address, I really don't have a clue. There might be a better way that doesn't expose the IP address to the whole community, but would still be unique. At the same time, though, it's a simple matter of creating an account to hide one's IP address. Most of the anonymous posters either know this or don't care. New users probably don't know about it or the editors who don't take the time to log in, but I think posting the IP address is Wikipedia's way of urging people to create accounts. ~QuasiAbstract {talk/contrib} 07:43, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
The only difficult thing would be creating an idenitifcation system that wouldn't be too easily deciphered, but easy enough to be able to use a formula to create. Since there are a possible of 4 097 152 081 combinations of IP addresses, it definately would have to be carefully crafted. Maybe this should be proposed to an admin or someone higher. ~QuasiAbstract {talk/contrib} 08:49, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
Looks like you've already have a few replies. ~QuasiAbstract {talk/contrib} 13:51, 5 June 2008 (UTC)