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WikiProject Ice Hockey/League assessment

As an active member of the WikiProject Ice Hockey, you should be aware that there has been a discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Ice Hockey/League assessment concerning how NHOCKEY will be interpreted. Dolovis (talk) 14:37, 2 January 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 01 January 2014

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  • In the media: Does Wikipedia need a medical disclaimer?
    On New Year's Day, an article by Tim Sampson published in The Daily Dot and republished shortly after on Mashable covered the currently ongoing medical disclaimer RfC.
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GOCE 2013 Annual Report

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Please comment on Talk:Paul Singer (businessman)

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Please explain?

Please elaborate on this edit [1]. The deceased has articles in ten languages. Thanks, WWGB (talk) 04:46, 8 January 2014 (UTC)

The Turkish and Dutch ones were both created after his death, which puts the number under 10. Hot Stop 04:51, 8 January 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 08 January 2014

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Please comment on Talk:Đorđe Pelinović

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The Bugle: Issue XCIV, January 2014

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New England Patriots

Why do I even bother editing if everything is just reverted by a troll mod/BOT? I cleaned up a mess under the roster section of the New England Patriots but as you reverted it it seemed to fix itself...I wish I could explain more, but I have no idea what the point of that all was. All I know is it was messed up, so I deleted it thinking some troll just left junk there. As it was reverted it was fixed... Theroux721 (talk • contribs) 06:30, 18 January 2014

Please comment on Talk:Broadway (New York City)

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The Signpost: 15 January 2014

  • Technology report: Architecture Summit schedule published
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  • Op-ed: Licensed for reuse? Citing open-access sources in Wikipedia articles
    It is heavily ironic that two decades after the World Wide Web was started — largely to make it easier to share scholarly research — most of our past and present research publications are still hidden behind paywalls for private profit. The bitter twist is that the vast majority of this research is publicly funded, to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide each year.
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    We now can get a far more accurate picture of which short surges in popularity are likely natural and which are not.
  • WikiProject report: WikiProject Sociology
    This week, we studied human social behavior with the folks at WikiProject Sociology.

Please comment on Talk:Robert Spitzer (political scientist)

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The Signpost: 22 January 2014

  • News and notes: Modification of WMF protection brought to Arbcom
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  • Featured content: Dr. Watson, I presume
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  • Special report: The few who write Wikipedia
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  • Traffic report: No show for the Globes
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Please comment on Talk:Don Benton

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The Signpost: 29 January 2014

  • Traffic report: Six strikes out
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Please comment on Talk:Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute

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Request for comment

Please comment on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Sri Lanka

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The Signpost: 12 February 2014

  • In the media: WikiVIP; Art Feminism; Medical articles; PR manipulation; Azerbaijani Wikipedia
    As reported in various media outlets this week, including The Next Web and The Daily Dot, this past week, Wikimedia Commons and various language Wikipedias are working together to encourage subjects of Wikipedia articles to record a 10-second clip of their voice to be appended to their Wikipedia article.
  • Technology report: Left with no choice
    Software evolution does not always mean that features are being added. It also means that old fat is being trimmed. It is no different for MediaWiki.
  • News and notes: WMF bites the bullet on affiliation and FDC funding, elevates Wikimedia user groups
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Please comment on Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style/Images

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The Signpost: 19 February 2014

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The Bugle: Issue XCV, February 2014

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Please comment on Talk:Charles R. Burton

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The Signpost: 26 February 2014

  • Forum: Should Wikimedia modify its terms of use to require disclosure?
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  • Traffic report: Snow big deal
    The 2014 Winter Olympics had more of an impact on the Top 25 than the Top 10, which had to shoulder old stalwarts like the death list, Reddit threads, TV shows and the eternal presence of Facebook; still, with four slots, it's the most searched topic on the list.

Mosquito County closure

I see that yesterday you performed a non-admin closure of the move request for the Moquito County article, but I think there's good reason to see that closure as problematic and inappropriate, and would ask that you please consider reverting it.

Firstly, closures should be undertaken by objective editors who are uninvolved in the subject under debate. In this case, the subject was the appending of the state to the title of a US geographic article covered by the USPLACE convention... and you've previously participated in multiple USPLACE debates on that very point (e.g., 2012, 2013), taking a strong position against the convention, and in particular against its requirement to append the state to certain US place titles. It should be clear that for someone who's publicly taken a strong stance against a convention to then close a request centering on that very same convention raises serious concerns about conflict of interest.

Secondly, your closure provided no rationale. In this case, it seemed that none of the opposing minority advanced any reason for why this one particular county should be exempted from the convention when all others follow it, but instead mostly made broader statements like "concise is policy", which ignores the fact that all five naming criteria (including conciseness) have already been discussed and weighed a number of times at USPLACE... and there's been no consensus to change the convention (as I noted). Closers must evaluate arguments and give due consideration to the consensus of the broader community, and you provided no indication that that was done in this case.

I again strongly urge you to withdraw your closure. Thanks, ╠╣uw [talk] 13:50, 2 March 2014 (UTC)

I won't be withdrawing my close. In my opinion, there was no consensus to move the article from its well established title. Both sides of the argument (those citing CONCISE and those USPLACE) both made valid points. And the fact that you had to dig through two years of my edits in a pathetic attempt to discredit me just shows me how weak your argument is. Take me to MR if you'd like. I'm not sure you'll be happy with the result. Hot Stop 16:23, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
There's no need for accusations about "pathetic attempts to discredit" anyone. I just wanted to come to you first and raise what I think are very valid concerns: that you didn't explain your closure, and that (since you've already chosen to stake a clear public position on USPLACE) it's a conflict of interest for you to close a USPLACE-based move request.
I ask that you please reconsider withdrawing your closure, and allow another editor unconnected to the USPLACE debates to consider the request. Thanks, ╠╣uw [talk] 17:16, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
Were this move to be reopened as you request, I or another admin would just need to close it again for the same rationale as the existing closure. Let's move on. Andrewa (talk) 18:54, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
Thanks for those links, and for posting them at the article talk page where they are very relevant.
But I don't think they are relevant here. If we were to pursue this line of argument to its logical conclusion, anyone who ever commented on major policy decisions would then need to be de-sysoped and/or disqualified from admin, oversight, arbcom etc. functions, on the grounds that they then are involved in any discussion that depends on these policies. Clearly that's not practical! Andrewa (talk) 18:52, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
Andrewa: Thanks for the response, but please note that no one's talking about admin disqualification, arbcom, etc. In a nutshell, it's inappropriate for someone who's previously argued strongly in multiple public debates against the convention to close a request that's so closely tied to it. It suggests conflict of interest.
Per WP:RMCI, "if any question of conflict of interest does arise, the best solution is for the potentially conflicted editor to recuse him or herself from closing the discussion, and leave it to someone who is more clearly neutral." Given Hot Stop's vocal opposition in previous debates, I suggest that's appropriate here. ╠╣uw [talk] 19:22, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
So, you are appealing to Wikipedia:Requested moves/Closing instructions#Conflicts of interest? The only clause I can see that might justify this is the rather vague one Conflicts of interest may arise, or appear to arise, in many ways, and it is good to be alert to these possible circumstances. It seems a bit of a stretch to me to go from there to saying that a person who has previously expressed an opinion on a policy or guideline matter can't then express the same opinion in an RM to which the policy or guideline is relevant.
And if that's true, then surely they are equally entitled not to be involved in that particular discussion, and therefore to be elligible to act as closer? To disqualify them from this is not the intent of this section at all, as I read it. And I note that there's no mention of involvement in policy/guideline discussions either past or even ongoing at WP:RMNAC which is the section immediately following this one, and the other half of WP:RMCI#Who can close requested moves.
My mention of arbcom etc. was I admit something of a straw man, I just wanted to highlight the consequences of where you seemed (and still seem to me) to be heading.
And in any case, bear in mind that I came to this as an uninvolved admin, and came to the conclusion that had it not been already closed as it was, I would have done so with the same rationale.
And you could have appealed that close too. But I think we need to move on. Andrewa (talk) 19:50, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
AndrewA, participating in a discussion with an opinion is one thing. That's expected. But coming in and closing it is essentially a supervote, since this editor has a clear position on this subject. It was inappropriate. Omnedon (talk) 20:32, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
Disagree that it's a supervote. The whole point is, it's not a vote at all. That is important.
Do you really think there was any hope of consensus? If not, surely it was a valid rationale, and a valid close? Andrewa (talk) 23:35, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
AndrewA: Please don't misrepresent my position. Like any of us, Hot Stop is entirely free and welcome to "express an opinion" on this topic – and he has in previous debates, strongly opposing the convention. Closing is what's at issue. It's inadvisable for someone who's vocally asserted a strong public position on a topic like this to then attempt to act as an impartial closer in matters related to it.
When I said saying that a person who has previously expressed an opinion on a policy or guideline matter can't then express the same opinion in an RM to which the policy or guideline is relevant that was an intermediate step. I wasn't accusing you of saying it. You could argue by contraposition that I was saying that you should think that too, in order to be consistent. But I wasn't saying you do think that. I was quite confident that you don't. Andrewa (talk) 23:35, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
To perhaps make it a bit clearer, consider: would I be an appropriate choice to non-admin-close the next USPLACE-related move request that comes along so long as I don't actually participate in the discussion? No. Like Hot Stop, I've made my position clear in previous debates and (again like Hot Stop) could not reasonably be considered an uninvolved editor on this topic.
It depends. If it was a WP:pointy close, or if there were even a suspicion of that, then it would be inadvisable. But this one doesn't seem pointy to me. It seems quite valid, as I said in the first place, [2] and the extra rationale above seems to settle any doubt of that. I think we need to assume good faith in the lack of any evidence to the contrary.
As for someone with no connection to all of this (neither you nor I nor HS, at this point) coming along and examining the request and offering a closure with a clear rationale, that'd be fine. It's what I recommend.
Exactly why are you disqualifying me too as a potential closer? I'm fascinated. Andrewa (talk) 23:35, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
Anyway, if you feel differently on any of this, that's fine. I really don't want an argument, I simply wanted to voice my concerns to Hot Stop in good faith and try to seek a constructive solution. (Unfortunately, his less-than-civil reply has dampened that hope...) ╠╣uw [talk] 20:35, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
Having (falsely I believe) accused me of misrepresentation, you can hardly complain of a less-than-civil reply, in my opinion. And I don't want an argument either. Andrewa (talk) 23:35, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
Having made a civil request of Hot Stop on what I felt were legitimate grounds, he's unfortunately rejected that and is not participating in this conversation, so it's probably best to conclude this thread. Thanks, ╠╣uw [talk] 00:30, 3 March 2014 (UTC)
Agree that this thread should cease. Their current non-participation is entirely justified. They have replied to you, and pointed out that once the possibility of reversing the close has been discussed here the next step is to open a move review - as the guidelines clearly state. My opinion (and theirs as stated above if I understand it) is that neither this nor reopening the move will produce consensus to move. If you disagree with this then you should now go to MR, and if not then there was never any point in this thread. Andrewa (talk) 13:49, 3 March 2014 (UTC)

In all honesty I didn't respond only because I was away from internet access the last 24 hours. Being asked to justify my decision doesn't bother me. (And I was probably a little too harsh in my prior comment.)

Regardless, I don't plan to change my mind and would welcome a more thorough review of the decision at MR if that's desired. In the end, I think anyone who sees a consensus to move the article is simply counting votes, which we don't do. Hot Stop 16:51, 3 March 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Talk:Ronn Torossian

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Malaysian IP vandal

The recent vandalism you encountered on A Good Day to Die Hard is by a Malaysian IP hopper who has been vandalizing film articles since December. Please visit the Sockpuppet investigation and post your comments. - Areaseven (talk) 12:47, 3 March 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Talk:Persecution of Hindus

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The Signpost: 10 March 2014

  • Traffic report: Brinksmen on the brink
    There's nothing like a good old bit of Cold War nostalgia, combined with a suitably scary international incident, to focus our attention on the real world. That said, nothing could stem our outpouring of affection for the beloved comedian Harold Ramis, whose death managed to top the week in the face of those international concerns.
  • News and notes: Wikipedia Library finding success in matching contributors with sources
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  • Featured content: Full speed ahead for the WikiCup
    The WikiCup competition is ongoing, while six articles, three lists, and ten pictures were promoted to "featured" status of the English Wikipedia this week.
  • WikiProject report: Article Rescue Squadron
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The Signpost: 12 March 2014

  • News and notes: Wikimedians celebrate International Women's Day, Women's History Month
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  • Traffic report: War and awards
    An intensely busy week, as a confluence of celebratory, curious and urgent topics pushed typical residents like Facebook and Deaths in 2014 out of the top ten entirely.
  • Featured content: Ukraine burns
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Please comment on Talk:Ted Nugent

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Please comment on Talk:Ukraine

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The Signpost: 19 March 2014

  • WikiProject report: We have history
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The Bugle: Issue XCVI, March 2014

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Please comment on Talk:Anita Sarkeesian

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The Signpost: 26 March 2014

  • Comment: A foolish request
    April Fools' Day is rapidly approaching. Every year, members of the community pull pranks and make (or attempt to make) humorous edits to pages across the project. Every year, the community follows April Fools' Day with a contentious debate about whether or not it is necessary to impose limits on April Fools' Day jokes for future years. It is a polarizing issue.
  • Traffic report: Down to a simmer
    Topics like the 2014 Crimea crisis or the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 eased down the list, making way for such traditional topics as St Patrick's Day, Reddit threads and even Google Doodles, which have reappeared after a long absence.
  • Recent research: Wikipedians' "encyclopedic identity" dominates even in Kosovo debates
    Have you wondered about differences in the articles on Crimea in the Russian, Ukrainian, and English versions of Wikipedia? A newly published article entitled "Lost in Translation: Contexts, Computing, Disputing on Wikipedia" doesn't address Crimea, but nonetheless offers insight into the editing of contentious articles in multiple language editions through a heavy qualitative examination of Wikipedia articles about the Kosovo in the Serbian, Croatian, and English editions.
  • News and notes: Commons Picture of the Year—winners announced
    Results for the two-stage 2013 Commons Picture of the Year have been announced. This year's winning photograph (above) shows a lightbulb that has been cracked, allowing inert gas to escape—and oxygen to enter, so that the tungsten filament burns. From the flames rise elegant curls of blue smoke.
  • Op-ed: Why we're updating the default typography for Wikipedia
    On 3 April, we will roll out some changes to the typography of Wikipedia's default Vector skin, to increase readability for users on all devices and platforms. After five months of testing, four major iterations, and through close collaboration with the global Wikimedia community, who provided more than 100 threads of feedback, we’ve arrived at a solution which improves the primary reading and editing experience for all users.
  • Technology report: Why will Wikipedia look like the Signpost?
    As you have probably read on this weeks op-ed, or via various other channels of announcement, 3 April will see the introduction of the Typography refresh (or update) for the Vector skin on all Wikipedias. Other projects like Commons will have this update rolled out a few days prior.
  • WikiProject report: From the peak
    This week, the Signpost interviewed the English Wikipedia's Mountains WikiProject.

Hillary Rodham Clinton move request

Greetings! A proposal has been made at Talk:Hillary Rodham Clinton#Requested move 8 to change the title of the article, Hillary Rodham Clinton to Hillary Clinton. This notification is provided to you per Wikipedia:Canvassing#Appropriate notification, because you have previously participated in a discussion on this subject. Cheers! bd2412 T 10:27, 1 April 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, I've already commented. Hot Stop talk-contribs 22:57, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

GOCE March drive wrapup

Guild of Copy Editors March 2014 backlog elimination drive wrap-up newsletter
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Guild of Copy Editors March 2014 backlog elimination drive wrap-up

Participation: Thanks to all who participated in the drive and helped out behind the scenes. 42 people signed up for this drive and 28 of these completed at least one article. Final results are available here.

Progress report: Articles tagged during the target months of December 2012 and January 2013 were reduced from 177 to 33, and the overall backlog was reduced by 13 articles. The total backlog was 2,902 articles at the end of March. On the Requests page during March, 26 copy edit requests were completed, all requests from January 2014 were completed, and the length of the queue was reduced by 11 articles.

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Please comment on Talk:2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine

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The Signpost: 02 April 2014

  • Special report: On the cusp of the Wikimedia Conference
    The annual Wikimedia Conference is about to start in Berlin, hosted by Wikimedia Germany, which won the bid to hold the event over three others. This will be the fifth time the chapter has hosted the Wikimedia Conference—it did so from 2009 to 2012, with attendance ranging from 100 to 180 Wikimedians. This year 160 people are expected at the four-day event, which is mainly for representatives of affiliated Wikimedia organisations. The conference has been built around two themes: Organisation, structures, and grants and Success and impact.
  • Featured content: April Fools
    The Signpost's "Featured content" writers had a bit of fun this week.
  • Traffic report: Regressing to the mean
    The mysterious fate of MH370 still tops the list, but in all other respects our readership has retreated from the real world into its pop-cultural happy place: TV, movies, music, Reddit and Google Doodles all made an appearance.

Please comment on Talk:Euromaidan

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The Signpost: 09 April 2014

  • News and notes: Round 2 of FDC funding open to public comments
    Community review is open for the four applications in the second and final round of applications to the WMF's Funds Dissemination Committee for 2013–14. Three eligible organisations have applied for funding under the newly named "annual program grants": Wikimedia France, Wikimedia Norway, and the India-based Centre for Internet and Society, which last November was recognised as eligible to apply for FDC funding purposes.
  • WikiProject report: WikiProject Law
    This week, we interviewed the Law WikiProject.
  • Special report: Community mourns passing of Adrianne Wadewitz
    "I remember laughing and talking and laughing and talking at Wikimania 2012. I took this picture of her that she used for a long while as a profile pic. Someone on Facebook said it looked 'skepchickal', which she loved."
  • Traffic report: Conquest of the Couch Potatoes
    Television has always been a topic of choice on this site, but it exploded this week. Fully six slots were devoted to television shows, as the final episode of How I Met Your Mother, one of the most popular Wikipedia searches of the last few years, coincided with the season finale of The Walking Dead and the upcoming fourth season of Game of Thrones. The number rises to 8 if movies released on video and new TV tech are are included.
  • Featured content: Snow heater and Ash sweep
    Five article, five lists, and ten pictures were promoted to 'featured' status on the English Wikipedia last week.


Recent edits on "Progressivism in the United States"

With a conservative majority in the United States, it makes sense that most Americans feel threatened by Progressive or liberal ideas. That is not bias, that is fact.Gvnkenney14 (talk) 03:21, 15 April 2014 (UTC)

Should I point you to Conservapedia, or is that the bookmark on your browser? Calidum 03:24, 15 April 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Talk:Bacula

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The Bugle: Issue XCVII, April 2014

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Please comment on Talk:Narendra Modi

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The Signpost: 23 April 2014

  • Special report: 2014 Wikimedia Conference—what is the impact?
    The annual Wikimedia Conference wound up last Sunday, 13 April—a four-day meeting costing several hundred thousand dollars, hosted in Berlin by Wikimedia Germany and attended by more than 100 Wikimedians.
  • Op-ed: Five things a Wikipedian in residence can do
    Hey you—yeah you, the Wikipedian! Do you want to help a museum, a library, a university, or other organization explore ways to engage with Wikipedia? Great—you should offer your expertise as a Wikipedian in residence!
  • News and notes: Wikimedian passes away
    Cynthia Ashley-Nelson, who edited as "Cindamuse" on the Wikimedia projects, passed away in her sleep at the Wikimedia Conference in Berlin on 10 April.
  • Wikimania: Winning bid announced for 2015
    After just over a month of deliberation, the Wikimania jury has selected Wikimedia Mexico's bid to host Wikimania 2015 in Mexico City, with a proposed date of 15–19 July.
  • Traffic report: Reflecting in Gethsemane
    If I were the kind of person who made snap judgments based on flimsy evidence, I'd say our readership is in a funk.
  • Featured content: There was I, waiting at the church
    Fourteen articles, four lists, seven pictures, and one topic attained "featured" status on the English Wikipedia over the last two weeks.

Please comment on Talk:List of Ukrainian elections

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Wikimedia Highlights from March 2014

Highlights from the Wikimedia Foundation Report and the Wikimedia engineering report for March 2014, with a selection of other important events from the Wikimedia movement
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The Signpost: 30 April 2014

  • News and notes: WMF's draft annual plan turns indigestible as an FDC proposal
    Like hammering a square peg into a round hole, the Wikimedia Foundation has submitted a draft annual plan for 2014–15 to its own Funds Dissemination Committee. Unlike the WMF's submission to the FDC's inaugural round in October 2012, the "proposal" does not seek funding.
  • Traffic report: Going to the Doggs
    Not much to report this week. The same post-Easter celebrations (4/20, Earth Day) were popular again this year, except last year we were still reeling from the Boston Marathon bombing.
  • Breaking: The Foundation's new executive director
    The Wikimedia Foundation has announced that its new executive director will be Lila Tretikov, until now a chief product officer in Silicon Valley.
  • WikiProject report: Genetics
    This week, we unraveled the mysteries of WikiProject Genetics.
  • Featured content: Browsing behaviours
    Four articles and sixteen featured pictures were promoted to 'featured' status on the English Wikipedia last week.

MV vandalism

Hi, I'd like to discuss this matter to get some guidance. You and I have both recently reverted edits to the Martha's Vineyard article. I want to tell you more about the person trying to vandalize the article (as another editor aptly put it).

There is a man going around scamming local businesses into believing he is a non-profit radio/tv station, "MVPBS". He takes money for advertising that never materializes on his non-existent stations. Sadly, such scams are a common thing that island businesses have to contend with every spring alongside the coming tourist season.

Anyway, he seems to be vandalizing the page in order to make his scams seem more legitimate. What should we do when he continues putting up more of this fake stuff?

ASK472k (talk) 13:54, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

WP:ANI would be the best place to report him if he continues to post links on Wikipedia. Otherwise, you should also get in touch with local law enforcement. Calidum 21:35, 2 May 2014 (UTC)
Thanks for that advice. And we are indeed working with police; however there is no physical evidence surfaced as of yet (no paper trail!), and you'd be surprised (or frustrated as in my case) at how much even the people he stole from are reluctant to pursue justice. ASK472k (talk) 22:51, 4 May 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Template talk:Tq

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The Signpost: 07 May 2014

  • News and notes: New system of discretionary sanctions; Buchenwald; is Pirelli 'Cracking Wikipedia'?
    The English Wikipedia's Arbitration Committee (ArbCom) introduced the first form of what are known as the "discretionary sanction" (DS) in 2009. A new DS regime, called Discretionary sanctions (2014), is the result of an elaborate review process involving both the community, since last September, and the committee, for more than a year.
  • Traffic report: TMZedia
    For all the claims of Wikipedia bringing the world's knowledge to all who want it, it seems the human race most wants is a tabloid newspaper; a quick source for TV listings, pop culture facts, celebrity gossip and, above all, scandal—with some nice juicy racism thrown in too.
  • In focus: Foundation announces long-awaited new executive director
    In a live video stream on 1 May, the Wikimedia Foundation announced that Lila Tretikov will be replacing Sue Gardner, its executive director. Gardner, who has been in the position since 2007, declared her intention to leave more than a year ago.
  • In the media: Google and the flu; Adrianne
    Boston Children's Hospital postdoctoral fellow David McIver and a team have determined that using page view statistics from Wikipedia, they can track flu progression better than the Center for Disease Control can using Google searches.
  • WikiProject report: Singing with Eurovision
    Formed in 2003, the Eurovision WikiProject boasts four featured articles and 22 good articles. The Eurovision Song Contest 2014 is currently taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, so we went to the stage to talk with one of the project's members.
  • Featured content: Wikipedia at the Rijksmuseum
    Four articles, two lists, and five pictures were promoted to "featured" status on the English Wikipedia last week.

Please comment on Wikipedia talk:Notability (geographic features)

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Jews and Communism re-nominated for deletion

Since you contributed to or were otherwise involved in the original afD nomination, you may or may not wish to comment on the new afD nomination, found here: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Jews and Communism (2nd nomination) I intend on leaving this note to everyone who edited the first AFD and has not yet contributed to the new discussion or been otherwise notified. Thanks! :) Flipandflopped (Discuss, Contribs) 16:26, 10 May 2014 (UTC)

Battle of Imphal and Kohima Image

Hello, I left a quick explanation on the WWII talk page… regarding the image change, please comment on whether you may agree with this approach. --Factor01 (talk) 18:24, 10 May 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, I'll comment there. Calidum Go Bruins! 18:24, 10 May 2014 (UTC)

This week's article for improvement (week 20, 2014)

Hopetoun Falls in Beech Forest, a forest in Australia
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Forests of Australia

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Please comment on Wikipedia talk:Editor review

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The Signpost: 14 May 2014

  • WikiProject report: Relaxing in Puerto Rico
    This week, the Signpost jumped over the ocean to chat with the Puerto Rico WikiProject.
  • News and notes: 'Ask a librarian'—connecting Wikimedians with the National Library of Australia
    Editors of Australian-related topics on the English Wikipedia may have noticed an odd addition if they viewed the article's talk pages. For example, on Talk:Darwin, Northern Territory, they might be drawn in by the question mark, nested within what is often a sea of WikiProject templates: "Need help improving this article? Ask a librarian at the National Library of Australia, or the Northern Territory Library." Just what is this?
  • Featured content: On the rocks
    Six articles, seven lists, and four pictures were promoted to 'featured' status on the English Wikipedia this week.

This week's article for improvement (week 21, 2014)

The Battle of Varoux, part of the French Revolutionary Wars
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French Revolutionary Wars

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Move review notification

Because you participated in the most recent discussion regarding the proposed move of Hillary Rodham Clinton, you are hereby notified per Wikipedia:Canvassing#Appropriate notification that the administrative determination of consensus from that discussion is being challenged at Wikipedia:Move review/Log/2014 May. Please feel free to comment there. Cheers! bd2412 T 19:20, 20 May 2014 (UTC)

The Bugle: Issue XCVIII, May 2014

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Please comment on Talk:Plutocracy

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User:Macktheknifeau

Hi Calidum. I noticed your message here. Was it addressed to me rather than to User:Macktheknifeau? If it was I would be happy to discuss the matter but would rather discuss it here than on another user's talk page. --John (talk) 17:36, 22 May 2014 (UTC)

It was at you. I see an issue when an editor has managed to edit Wikipedia for 7+ years with a clean block log, only to have one admin issue a series of escalating blocks over the course of a couple months. If his edits were truly disruptive, someone else could've indeffed him. Calidum Talk To Me 20:53, 22 May 2014 (UTC)
Thanks for the comment then. WP:INVOLVED says "...an administrator who has interacted with an editor or topic area purely in an administrative role, ...is not involved and is not prevented from acting in an administrative capacity in relation to that editor or topic area. This is because one of the roles of administrators is precisely to deal with such matters, at length if necessary. Warnings, calm and reasonable discussion and explanation of those warnings, advice about community norms, and suggestions on possible wordings and approaches do not make an administrator 'involved'." and I think I am well within both the letter and the spirit of that at the moment. I have only blocked this user very reluctantly because he seems unable to change his behaviour, which is in various ways disruptive to the project. However if you can find anywhere where you think I have been unfair specifically in the admin actions I have performed in respect of User:Macktheknifeau I would be very keen to see it. If you have any other questions I am happy to answer them. --John (talk) 22:02, 22 May 2014 (UTC)
I hate advocating for other users (especially one I admittedly don't know), but I do feel an indef block is over the top here. But him or others pursue an appeal, if they wish. Calidum Talk To Me 22:55, 22 May 2014 (UTC)
Fair enough. I appreciate that you take an interest in the matter and that you wish fairness to prevail. Please feel free to read the history at Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (Football in Australia) where I went in as a completely uninvolved admin responding to shenanigans at AN/I and have certainly tried very hard to be neutral. If there's anything there, ever, which gives you pause or raises your hackles, please ping me here or at my talk. And let me add I admire that you would stick your neck out for someone being blocked. Earlier today I helped negotiate an unblock from an indef and it was one of my finest moments on here. Take care, --John (talk) 21:40, 23 May 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 21 May 2014

  • News and notes: "Crisis" over Wikimedia Germany's palace revolution
    Last Sunday the board of Wikimedia Germany passed 9–1 a vote of no confidence in the chapter's executive director, Pavel Richter, who has held the position since 2009. With more than 50 employees, an annual budget approaching $10 million, and the right to conduct its own fundraising through the Wikimedia Foundation's (WMF) site banners, Wikimedia Germany is the second-largest organisation in the movement after the WMF itself. The decision was announced on the Wikimedia mailing list by the chapter chair, Nikolas Becker.
  • Traffic report: Doodles' dawn
    It's a relief to see Google Doodles having an impact again; their wide coverage means that they inspire curiosity on many subjects which, for reasons of nationality, ethnicity or gender, might not be known in the English-speaking world. It's a shame then, that Wikipedia so often fails to keep up; articles on Google Doodles are almost invariably C-class, and seldom do justice to their subjects. Still, interest in Google Doodles has been waning in recent months—Audrey Hepburn last week was the first to top the list since December—so any rise in popularity is worth celebrating.

This week's article for improvement (week 22, 2014)

Roger Ebert, well known for his contributions to film criticism.
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Film criticism

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May 2014

Information icon Please be careful about what you say to people. Some remarks, such as your addition to United States can easily be misinterpreted. Wikipedia is a supportive environment, where contributors should feel comfortable and safe while editing. I know it can be trying, but please try to not use profanity on wikipedia, especially in page edit summaries, which cannot be readily edited or deleted. Benboy00 (talk) 15:01, 27 May 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Talk:Zinedine Zidane

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Wikimedia Highlights from April 2014

Highlights from the Wikimedia Foundation Report and the Wikimedia engineering report for April 2014, with a selection of other important events from the Wikimedia movement
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Thanks so much

Hey I'd just like to say thanks for the help on the move of the article Jaylene Redhead... 173.176.113.118 (talk) 13:14, 31 May 2014 (UTC)JJTM2014

You're welcome. All I really did is relist the request to let more people see it. Calidum Talk To Me 16:29, 31 May 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 28 May 2014

  • News and notes: The English Wikipedia's second featured-article centurion; wiki inventor interviewed on video
    With the promotion to featured article of Grus (constellation) on 17 May, Casliber became Wikipedia's second featured-article centurion, following Wehwalt's groundbreaking achievement last December. Cas's first FA, Banksia integrifolia, a group effort, was promoted on 16 November 2006. His first solo project, Diplodocus, followed in January 2007; he has rarely been off the FAC since. In a second story, Ward Cunningham, an American computer programmer who invented the wiki, was interviewed by the WMF.
  • Featured content: Zombie fight in the saloon
    Wikipedia editor Sven Manguard's work is quite underappreciated a lot of the time, most likely because people haven't heard of it yet: He's developed good relationships with game companies, and is thus able to get full-resolution screenshots released under a Creative Commons license for use on Wikipedia and elsewhere. This week's trove of new featured items on the English Wikipedia comprises seven articles, three lists, and four pictures.
  • Traffic report: Get fitted for flipflops and floppy hats
    In the US, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer, and summer is definitely on people's minds this week, with summer films Godzilla and X-Men: Days of Future Past, the apparently designated summer song "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea, and summer TV show, Game of Thrones.
  • Recent research: Predicting which article you will edit next
    Wikipedia in the eyes of its beholders; "Chinese-language time zones" favor Asian pop and IT topics on Wikipedia; and bipartite editing prediction in Wikipedia.

This week's article for improvement (week 23, 2014)

The Amazon Basin, pictured in yellow, holds the largest rainforest in the world.
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Amazon Basin

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Please comment on Talk:Stefan Molyneux

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Recent removal

Hey, just got your message about a recent removal from Richard Sherman. I can see why that reference appears promotional considering they were built into an infographic on the page. I'll try to make sure my future edits have a much cleaner source. But can you clarify why the citation for Madden NFL 15 was removed? In regards to the new gameplay trailer released. Thanks mate! P.S. Full Transparency I do run and own the site. It covers Madden from a journalistic perspective nearly year-round. DLight03 (talk) 13:51, 7 June 2014 (UTC)

I appreciate you being straight forward and saying you own the site, but that's the issue here. Per WP:SELFPROMOTE and WP:SELFCITE, it's generally considered a conflict of interest to cite your own work in an article. The reliable source noticeboard may be a place to seek information about whether your site is considered a reliable source for Madden articles. Calidum Talk To Me 14:05, 7 June 2014 (UTC)

June 2014

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your poutine edits made the post way less accurate

source: i'm a born and raised montrealer and a trained chef.

some of the things you reverted back to were quasi-accurate, ie just accurate-ish to get away with it, but i put down a more precise post. not sure what your motivation would be aside from preventing trolls but, yeah, i'm for real. here's the second part of it:

Sauce or gravy (in Canada outside of Quebec): Traditionally, a light and thin stock with a base of chicken, veal, or turkey combined with a roux and mildly spiced, with a hint of pepper. The sauce brune common to most poutine in Quebec is a combination of beef and chicken stock. Broadly, a poutine sauce should be thin enough to filter easily down into the mass of fries and cheese curds. Mass market and factory-made poutine sauces (mélange à sauce poutine) are sold in Quebec, Ontario, and Maritime grocery stores in jars or cans and in powdered mix packets. Recently, some outlets have begun to offer a vegetarian gravy as an option to cater to vegetarians — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.94.29.63 (talk • contribs)

I would advise you to find a reliable source to base your edits on. You may be a chef, but personal experience isn't enough to go off of. Calidum Talk To Me 02:59, 8 June 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 04 June 2014

  • Special report: IEG funding for women's stories: a new approach to the gender gap
    Individual engagement grants (IEGs) are announced twice yearly by a volunteer WMF committee, the most recent of which we covered last December. The scheme, launched at the start of last year, awards funds to individuals or teams of up to four to produce high-impact outcomes for the WMF's online projects. It favours innovative approaches to solving critical issues in the movement.
  • News and notes: Two new affiliate-selected trustees
    New trustee Frieda Briosch from Italy: we face "a couple of headaches", she says: "how to boost editors, which includes the development of the next strategic plan, and how to keep our project always 'glamorous'."
  • Op-ed: "Hospitality, jerks, and what I learned"—the amazing keynote at WikiConference USA
    I never feel quite adequate trying to paraphrase Sumana's words: she is so articulate. I highly encourage every person who reads this article to directly watch her keynote—it directly speaks to a lot of Wikimedia's most significant issues, made with great eloquence. We have a serious issue with retaining editors, and parts of her speech could serve as a pretty good partial blueprint towards how we could begin to fix that problem.
  • Featured content: Ye stately homes of England
    David Iliff, or Diliff, as he is known on here outside of the file pages for his many, many, excellent photographs, is one of Wikipedia's longest-standing professional-standard photographers. This week, the Signpost salutes him.
  • Traffic report: Autumn in summer
    The northern summer is a time when one is meant to celebrate the exuberance of life; instead, commemoration of the dead was a significant theme this week.

Henry Grossman and Paul McCartney 2012 book

Hi Calidium. Could you please have a look at the references and provide your opinion about inclusion of the following text in the Beatles article? Note the NY Times and CBS 60 Minutes sources:

Also in 2012 Henry Grossman and Paul McCartney published Places I Remember: My Time with the Beatles, revealing more than 1000 previously unpublished photographs.[1][2][3][4][5]
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/arts/music/henry-grossmans-photos-of-the-beatles.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/capturing-history-jfk-beatles

Thanks, TheProfessor (talk) 04:25, 8 June 2014 (UTC)

This would be better off discussed at Talk:The Beatles. Calidum Talk To Me 04:26, 8 June 2014 (UTC)

This week's article for improvement (week 24, 2014)

File:Elmo-cockpit xltn.jpg
The Tickle Me Elmo toy was based on the Sesame Street character Elmo
Hello, Calidum.

The following is WikiProject Today's articles for improvement's weekly selection:

Tickle Me Elmo

Previous selections: Amazon Basin • Film criticism

Get involved with the TAFI project! You can...
Posted by: MediaWiki message delivery (talk) on behalf of EuroCarGT (talk) 00:10, 9 June 2014 (UTC) • Opt-out instructions

Please comment on Talk:East Germany

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Wtf Mate

yo dawg, why you delete meh page. It stated that Tom Watson is a lad and u go head and delete it, it is true Tom Watson is a lad and the sickest lad out man!!!!!!! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sir swagalot69 (talk • contribs) 04:14, 13 June 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 11 June 2014

  • News and notes: PR agencies commit to ethical interactions with Wikipedia
    Eleven public relations agencies have declared their intention to follow "ethical engagement practices" in Wikipedia editing. The results were published last Tuesday: a joint statement from the participating PR agencies—representing five of the top ten global agencies and all but one of the top ten in the United States—clarifying their views and practices with regards to the Wikimedia projects.
  • Traffic report: The week the wired went weird
    It seems that, more than commemorating the great moments in our history, more than even anticipating great sporting events, what our audience wants is the weird.
  • Paid editing: Does Wikipedia Pay? The Moderator: William Beutler
    William Beutler (WWB), author of the blog The Wikipedian, is a long-time editor and community-watcher. He is also a paid editor (WWB Too). Well—not anymore—because he gave up direct editing of articles in 2011. Instead, for the past three years he has followed Jimmy Wales' Bright Line rule in acting as a researcher and consultant for companies and clients that want to suggest changes to Wikipedia articles and engage on the Talk page.
  • Special report: Questions raised over secret voting for WMF trustees
    Last week we reported the announcement of two new affiliate-selected WMF trustees. The board of trustees is the most powerful and influential body in the movement, and chapters have been permitted to select two of the 10 seats since 2008, for two-year terms that start in even-numbered years.
  • Featured content: Politics, ships, art, and cyclones
    Five articles, one list, twelve pictures, and one topic were promoted to 'featured' status last week on the English Wikipedia.

Discussion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Joseph Avellone (2nd nomination)

You are invited to join the discussion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Joseph Avellone (2nd nomination). Thanks. Hirolovesswords (talk) 22:50, 14 June 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Talk:List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, February 2014

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This week's article for improvement (week 25, 2014)

The old buildings of the National Library of China house historical and ancient books, documents and manuscripts
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The following is WikiProject Today's articles for improvement's weekly selection:

National Library of China

Previous selections: Tickle Me Elmo • Amazon Basin

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The Bugle: Issue XCIX, June 2014

Full front page of The Bugle
Your Military History Newsletter

The Bugle is published by the Military history WikiProject. To receive it on your talk page, please join the project or sign up here.
If you are a project member who does not want delivery, please remove your name from this page. Your editors, Ian Rose (talk) and Nick-D (talk) 15:08, 21 June 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Talk:Chris McDaniel

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The Signpost: 18 June 2014

  • Featured content: Worming our way to featured picture
    Five articles, five lists, 22 pictures, and one portal were promoted to 'featured' status on the English Wikipedia last week.
  • Special report: Wikimedia Bangladesh: a chapter's five-year journey
    The Bangladesh chapter of the Wikimedia movement was formed in 2009. They received official local registration from the national authorities on 10 June 2014. The long road in between was subject to much persistence, patience, and luck—along with a good deal of worry.
  • Traffic report: You can't dethrone Thrones
    To the surprise of absolutely no one, the 2014 FIFA World Cup was the main draw this week, taking four slots. People appeared desperate to bone up on their trivia; checking not only this year's World Cup, but the last one. Even so, they still couldn't push Game of Thrones from the top ten. It will be interesting to see what happens come next week's season finale.
  • WikiProject report: Visiting the city
    This week, the Signpost came in from the hinterland to interview members of the Cities WikiProject.

Stingray

Hey, I just figured out how to send you a note. So please reverse my Undo on the Stingray page (didn't know how to send you a note otherwise).

I think there are two questions being discussed on whether to include the people in charge And I disagree with your comment that I am the only one pushing this. Two of us have stated in favor for inclusion. Three people have stated against. And one person said it is relevant but the sourcing is problematic. My own opinion is the relevance is pretty clear (see last statement). But the sourcing is tricky. The last sources I posted in response to comments showed direct responsibility - but I think that is only about 70% of the way there.

As for WP-SPA, I am not active here. But I think this issue is interesting (I don't really have a clear opinion on it). And I know alot about corporate info and sources (am in public company business). So when people respond, I go get more information. A pretty fun discussion I think. Cheers.Pepsifree11 (talk) 15:54, 22 June 2014 (UTC)

I've commented at BLPN as to why it shouldn't be included. Calidum Talk To Me 21:25, 22 June 2014 (UTC)

This week's article for improvement (week 26, 2014)

Anubis, the jackal headed god of ancient Egypt
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The following is WikiProject Today's articles for improvement's weekly selection:

Anubis

Previous selections: National Library of China • Tickle Me Elmo

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WW2 Info Box

Please do not change WW2 article again. The fact is Wikipedia is predominately edited by USA. I am not at all suggesting this is biased action. However the reasons on the talk page are not valid. This is why I have taken the liberty of giving you the facts.

  • UK joined before US and Soviet Union
  • If it wasn't for UK encouragement USA would likely not of joined WW2.
  • UK participated in more individual stages of the war.
  • The Battle of Britain is widely considered the turning point for the Allies and the star of the fall of the Axis.
  • UK is why Australia, New Zealand, Canada and British India joined WW2. Without them Allies would of probably lost.
  • UK was primary contributer on D-Day (UK was on every beach and Naval Support for Omaha.)
  • For More information contact me on my talk page!

Thank you, please don not change again WARNER one 9999 — Preceding unsigned comment added by WARNER one (talk • contribs) 13:24, 27 June 2014 (UTC)

Your claims are so outrageous I can't help but think you're trolling here. Calidum Talk To Me 16:22, 27 June 2014 (UTC)

Please comment on Wikipedia talk:Proposed deletion of biographies of living people

Greetings! You have been randomly selected to receive an invitation to participate in the request for comment on Wikipedia talk:Proposed deletion of biographies of living people. Should you wish to respond to the invitation, your contribution to this discussion will be very much appreciated! If in doubt, please see suggestions for responding. If you do not wish to receive these types of notices, please remove your name from Wikipedia:Feedback request service. — Legobot (talk) 00:03, 28 June 2014 (UTC)

Talk:Nothing to My Name#Requested move

It's closed as "no consensus", so how many months must I re-propose it? --George Ho (talk) 06:56, 28 June 2014 (UTC)

I would guess a month or so, but that's not really my call. Calidum Talk To Me 07:02, 28 June 2014 (UTC)

Soliciting comment...

Hi! Would you care to review my FA nomination for the article Of Human Feelings? The article is about a jazz album by Ornette Coleman, and the criteria is at WP:FACR. If not, feel free to ignore this message. Cheers! Dan56 (talk) 22:16, 28 June 2014 (UTC)

I appreciate the request, but I haven't done a review like that before. I don't think I have the time for it either. Calidum Talk To Me 03:00, 29 June 2014 (UTC)

The Signpost: 25 June 2014

  • News and notes: US National Archives enshrines Wikipedia in Open Government Plan
    The US National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) have committed to engaging with Wikimedia projects in their newest Open Government Plan. The biannual effort is a roadmap for how the agency will accomplish its goals in the digital age.
  • Traffic report: Fake war, or real sport?
    Despite the interest generated by its season finale, Game of Thrones still couldn't top the World Cup, which still dominated interest, as evidenced by the fact that this top 10 is virtually identical to last week's, just with a different dead celebrity.
  • Featured content: Showing our Wörth
    Ten articles and eleven pictures were promoted to "featured" status on the English Wikipedia this week.
  • WikiProject report: The world where dreams come true
    This week, the Signpost visited the land of Disney, blockbusters, explosions, dream sequences, and cultural masterpieces: film.
  • Recent research: Power users and diversity in WikiProjects
    In a recent paper, Jacob Solomon and Rick Wash investigate the question of sustainability in online communities by analysing trends in the growth of WikiProjects.

This week's article for improvement (week 27, 2014)

Reconstruction of the head of Java Man
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The following is WikiProject Today's articles for improvement's weekly selection:

Java Man

Previous selections: Anubis • National Library of China

Get involved with the TAFI project! You can...
Posted by: MediaWiki message delivery (talk) on behalf of EuroCarGT (talk) 01:45, 30 June 2014 (UTC) • Opt-out instructions
  1. ^ Koziin, Allan. 2012. The Beatles, seen from unusual angles. New York Times, December 31, 2012, accessed 7-June-2014.
  2. ^ Henry Grossman and Sir Paul McCartney. 2012. Places I Remember: My Time with the Beatles. Curvebender Publishing. ISBN 978-0978520021.
  3. ^ CBS. 2013. Capturing history. 60 Minutes. Correspondent Morley Safer.
  4. ^ Haglage, Abby. 2013. Four years with the Beatles: Beatles Photographer Henry Grossman on ‘Places I Remember’. The Daily Beast, March 27, 2013, accessed 7-June-2014.
  5. ^ Michalak, Jodie. 2014. My Time with the Beatles: Exclusive Interview with Photographer Henry Grossman. About.com, accessed 7-June-2014.
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