User talk:John

A Note on threading: Interpersonal communication does not work when messages are left on individual users' talk pages rather than threaded, especially when a third party wishes to read or reply. Being a "bear of very little brain", I get easily confused when trying to follow conversations that bounce back and forth, so I've decided to try the convention that many others seem to use, aggregation of messages on either your talk page or my talk page. If the conversation is about an article I will try to aggregate on the article's talk page. If the conversation is on your talk page or an article talk page, I will watch it. If the conversation is on my talk page or an article talk page and I think that you may not be watching it, I will link to it in a note on your talk page, or in the edit summary of an empty edit. But if you start a thread here, please watch it. I may mess up, don't worry, I'll find it eventually. Ping me if you really need to. please note this is a personal preference rather than a matter of site policy

(From User:John/Pooh policy)

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July music story · music · places Nice to see your name on my watchlist! - Today's story is about a photographer who took iconic pictures, especially View from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Manhattan, 9/11, yesterday's was a great mezzo, and on Thursday we watched a sublime ballerina. If that's not enough my talk offers chamber music from two amazing concerts. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:44, 20 July 2024 (UTC) Thanks Gerda. Nice to be back. Good to see you. John (talk) 14:16, 20 July 2024 (UTC) Nice to see you back also from me, and tks muchly for the edits on the Corleck and Corraghy heads. I'm amused that the talk on the Brighton hotel bombing infobox is essentially between an Irish, Scots and an English man. And so ironic that we all hate infoboxes! Maybe we should we should walk into a bar sometime. Ceoil (talk) 21:53, 26 July 2024 (UTC) Thanks Ceoil. I'm camping in Germany with the family and it's pissing with rain. It's a pleasure to see you. I'm always up for a drink or a chat with anyone, even those I disagree with. I'm glad the feet thing got sorted out, that was a bit embarrassing. Take care of yourself, John (talk) 22:03, 26 July 2024 (UTC) Re feet: there are reasons why skilled writers/copy editors are so highly valued in the project. Hens teeth; like drummers for indie bands. Ceoil (talk) 22:11, 26 July 2024 (UTC) Where in Germany? I could offer shelter if it rains too much - as right now ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:27, 26 July 2024 (UTC) By the Mosel river. Rißbach. Lovely place but it looks like global warming has kicked in. Never seen weather like this in Germany in July. John (talk) 22:30, 26 July 2024 (UTC) Bit too far for just escaping rain, sadly. You know where I am per my "places". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:42, 26 July 2024 (UTC) That was very thoughtful of you. The weather seems to have broken now. Ceoil, belated thanks for your compliment. Between feet and potatoes, I'm remembering how truly toxic some of the editing environments here can be. Fortunately I am relatively indifferent to insults, but you can see how some people are driven away. Ah well. It's a beautiful day and I'm off to Trier for the day before turning homewards. Look after yourselves. John (talk) 08:21, 28 July 2024 (UTC) Thank you for standing on your feet. Enjoy the day in Trier! Remembering Bach (see my talk), - I had a cantata article to GA yesterday, BWV 178. The one for today, BWV 94, needs improvement, but I'll enjoy Bensheim. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:35, 28 July 2024 (UTC) Wikipedia:Main Page history/2024 July 30b had a baritone, a violinist, a composer and a Bach cantata, yes the new GA - almost too much, and the composer's article, Wolfgang Rihm, improved much over the last days, could still grow. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:26, 31 July 2024 (UTC) Good to hear, and that's an interesting article. Back home and exhausted. It was fun, but I am getting old for long road trips... Let me know if there are any copyediting or reviewing tasks you need done, but I need a day or two to recuperate. John (talk) 16:46, 1 August 2024 (UTC) August story · music · places Welcome home! Recuperate! Still the same article, in case of interest after recuperation. It's on the Main page, still. On the talk are some open tasks, and the names of the two who helped the most so far. It's great collaboration, and I love it. A breakthrew came today with the opening of the New York Times article. - Listen into the interview at the bottom = meet the person even if you don't understand all the German ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:53, 1 August 2024 (UTC) I have now two articles open for review, FAC for Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist, and GAN for a Bach cantata = my story today, - recommended listening, #4 for fury and surprise, #6 for exquisite lament; the music turns 300 years today per liturgy but on 13 August per calendar. Ceoil, thanks for being already at the FAC, and you will want to listen to the Bach, too! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:27, 4 August 2024 (UTC) Thanks Gerda. I promise to look and listen. John (talk) 01:31, 5 August 2024 (UTC) Thank you John. Today I have two "musicians" on the Main page, one is also the topic of my story, watch and listen, - I like today's especially because you see him at work, hear him talk about his work and the result of his work - rare! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:26, 7 August 2024 (UTC) Danke sehr Gerda. Das freut mich. John (talk) 14:59, 7 August 2024 (UTC) Es ist mir eine Freude! - ... and a third, like 22 July but with interview and the music to be played today at the Proms --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:30, 8 August 2024 (UTC) On 13 August, Bach's cantata was 300 years old, and the image one. The cantata is an extraordinary piece, using the chorale's text and famous melody more than others in the cycle, - perhaps listen if you haven't when I mentioned it (with a 2011 DYK hook) 9 days ago. It's nice to have not only a recent death, but also this "birthday" on the Main page. And a rainbow in my places. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:17, 13 August 2024 (UTC) You are so productive. All I can manage these days is shuffling the odd semicolon. Thanks for sharing and for being such a hard-working editor. John (talk) 15:24, 13 August 2024 (UTC) Well, I'm reaping now what I sowed in 2010/2011 when week by week - the speed Bach took - I looked at a cantata. Many of them had no article, and those that had one consisted of little insight, the complete text (!) in German (!) and a list of recordings linking every soloist and repeating "soprano", "alto", "tenor", "bass" (which is always the same) for every recording (!), which was easy because the source had it that way, and one copy did it all. (example pictured) We came a long way since. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:04, 13 August 2024 (UTC) today's story is about education, 10 years OTD after lecturing our founder). Music for today's feast is Monteverdi's, the best concert we ever did (so pictured again on my talk), but it wasn't recorded, substituted with a "Pacific" one that comes with subtitles line by line in Latin and English: I learned something! - The latest "placed" must have been on one of the rainy days you experienced in Germany, pics taken the few minutes it didn't rain. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:15, 15 August 2024 (UTC) new pics about a green nature protection valley - what do you think about the recent edits on Vivaldi (not by me)? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:29, 19 August 2024 (UTC) new pics with looks into valleys --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:35, 20 August 2024 (UTC) Sunday story about another of Bach's chorale cantatas, listen, as I listened to two impressive very different choral concerts, - music by 16 composers. In the latest cloudy pictures: a hidden deer, a cat and a blaze of a sunset. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:37, 25 August 2024 (UTC) Thank you Gerda. John (talk) 15:52, 25 August 2024 (UTC) Help? My story today is about a woman, nominated for RD but needing support as I write this. A composer died whose article is long and mostly unreferenced. And some articles open for review, always. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:10, 27 August 2024 (UTC) Request John, while you are around I would gratefully ask you to look at Troika (1969 film), a recently failed FAC on a strange and unusual film that badly needs a skilled and astute copy editor. It's out of print, and I see it in punk rock terms; more Wire than Sex Pistols. As said many times before, skilled writers are hen teeth here. Ceoil (talk) 20:51, 3 August 2024 (UTC) An honour to be asked! I took a quick look and it passes the interest threshold. John (talk) 22:58, 3 August 2024 (UTC) What an interesting film. I did a quick lookover. It seems OK, would just need a bit of a tidy I think. John (talk) 23:44, 3 August 2024 (UTC) If it goes towards PR shortly, I hope you will do your worst; as said before am a big fan of clarity, demanding as little words as possible. I look forward to engaging if you have time and best. Ceoil (talk) 00:57, 4 August 2024 (UTC) ps the film is obviously borrowing from the The Disasters of War, but well get to that eventually. Thanks a bunch for the help so far. Ceoil (talk) 01:12, 4 August 2024 (UTC) It sounds fascinating. Wish I could see it. You are entirely welcome. John (talk) 11:50, 4 August 2024 (UTC) I am really impressed by your edits, thanks so much John :) And please (!) stick with the page as it goes through the various process. Will reply to the talk query soon. Ceoil (talk) 13:04, 4 August 2024 (UTC) Not at all, it's nice to be back. Wouldn't it be more Siouxsie and the Banshees than Wire though? Also reminds me of cherished favourites from that era like Zardoz and The Prisoner. The late 1960s and early 1970s were a goofy time. John (talk) 13:12, 4 August 2024 (UTC) Haha well spotted, yes Suouxie! Nonetheless, here is what should have happened if Freddie Mercury joined Wire; joy[1]. Ceoil (talk) 15:32, 4 August 2024 (UTC) Thank you so much for such a full and solid run through the film article. You did more in a day than I could do in a year :) Ceoil (talk) 03:31, 5 August 2024 (UTC) Thanks for noticing it. I think it's almost there. John (talk) 10:44, 5 August 2024 (UTC) And thanks Ceoil for the praise here. Re intermittency; I was here pretty much every day from 2006 to 2019 when my dad died. It was as awful as I knew it would be; he was like a brother or a soulmate to me, it's hard to explain. In the context of my mental state at the time, I got over-frustrated by the dumb groupthink that sometimes operates in a project like this. I recognised that I was not enjoying it, and took some time out to take care of myself and my family, then looked in a couple of years ago, but it was too soon. I never stopped reading Wikipedia and in the end I missed editing too much, and I've decided to come back again. I intend to be back for a while, though I'll see how it goes obviously. But I think I am well and strong enough to contribute regularly again. I agree with you that I'm a strong copyeditor and I think I'm also a gnome and a decent reviewer. Sorry this is so long, but I want to reiterate what a pleasure the VvG process was for me. The memory of that is part of what has brought me back. To more collegial and amicable editing in the future a chara! John (talk) 01:50, 7 August 2024 (UTC) Judging by your start date here and similar taste in music, I guess we are around the same age, and going through that stage in life where we unfortunately have similar losses. I have one of those big families that make parental loss easier to cope with, just about, but do hear your pain...have two other close brothers, but my better half is an only child of only child families, and she is going through a very hard time in the last 18 months as both dies within months just after covid. Its a very difficult and at times dark stage of life, and thank you for sharing. Re your return here, I hope you feel appreciated; you (a) are not shy of giving your opinion and (b) roll up your sleeves when your interest is peaked. Without wanting to be fanciful, as a content rather than a polish person, I do learn a lot from you and your kind is a dying breed here...often I let things slide on reviews (especially songs and films artciles) only for the next nom to say...but that FAC passed what cant I? Ceoil (talk) 00:25, 9 August 2024 (UTC) PS, re Vincent, the satisfaction in article building only comes from collaborations and relationships; we all have our strengths and then they cometogether are more than the parts. The extent that you step up there was ...trilling. Ceoil (talk) 00:37, 9 August 2024 (UTC) Many thanks for that. I change and grow slowly but I am what I am. I was born a few weeks before the death of Winston Churchill, so I was lucky enough to see the Clash, Damned, Stiff Little Fingers etc when they were hot and fresh. It was a good time to be alive. I recently reclaimed my record collection from storage after 17 years. My daughter had never seen such a thing nor imagined it. Growing older has many dark sides but it can bring acceptance and wisdom, sometimes. Take care of yourself and keep sending me editing ideas. It's always a pleasure. John (talk) 00:48, 9 August 2024 (UTC) Interesting...so I'm about 10 years younger so; my early gigs were My Bloody Valentine, Pixies and that sort of thing, and early Acid House from about 1989 on. Funnily enough discovered during the week that my American wife was a fan of Stiff Little Fingers when a teenager; "Alternative Ulster" and "Suspect Device" now on heavy rotation in our household and car. We are both significantly into the Undertones of course. Ceoil (talk) 21:54, 11 August 2024 (UTC) Re editing ideas, and I hope I'm not overextending your favour here, but am slowly working up Tomb effigy as a next "broad" FAC, though think I'm a bout a year from taking it to PR...its a huge topic covering 1000s of years with an extensive literature. Its at 4184 words currently; aiming to cap it at 8000. It does badly need to be copyedited though. Ceoil (talk) 21:58, 11 August 2024 (UTC) I'll be happy to take a look tomorrow. SLF were my first gig in 1980. Undertones yeah but I preferred That Petrol Emotion. I was in my mid-20s for the SoL and TPE enriched it greatly. Stuff like "Hey Venus", "Groove Check" really did it for me. John (talk) 23:08, 11 August 2024 (UTC) Re SLF IN 1980, wow. Without wanting to nerd out too much, the recored versions never captured the raw anger of the live versions[2]. In total contrast, I like some of the English prod, punk views, eg The Exploited's "Army Life", though it is obviously far less nuanced or informed. The line "Went the Belfast where there is fucking fun, walking about with a tommy gun" is haunting in its ignorance and obedience, but they overall reflect a working class and anti-Thatcherite world-view I can get behind. Ceoil (talk) 23:49, 11 August 2024 (UTC) We always believed "Hey Venus" was about Thatcher, perhaps because of this remix. The Exploited were always too Oi for me; I met them once and wasn't impressed. I got a great impression of the Clash and the Damned from meeting them, also Siouxsie and the Banshees. John McGeoch was a particularly nice guy. John (talk) 09:10, 12 August 2024 (UTC) Am impressed. Living in a backwater, never got to interact with a first wave punk icon, so mad jealous. Closest I got was bickering with Bernie Rhodes here[3] and elsewhere, which was sort of fun; he is very sharp and articulate, alas we were talking about Cut the Crap so it was a bit sensitive. Ceoil (talk) 04:04, 19 August 2024 (UTC) ps, Budgie is a hero of mine. Just for the backwards beat snare/high hat thing in happy house[4] if nothing else. Ceoil (talk) 05:02, 19 August 2024 (UTC) Bit more obscure but I also met Penetration just before they split up. Murray wouldn't come out of the tour bus but I remember Robert Blamire was good to talk to. John (talk) 15:17, 19 August 2024 (UTC) Bassists are usually pretty chill and down to earth. It's (male) singers and lead guitarists you need to watch out for. Drama! My only real interaction with an NME level singer was with Stuart Staples back in 1994 and 1996, when he played in a Cork venue a few times I was associated with, and we met him again when they were playing in Stockholm. A disarmingly genuine and charming man who in those days like a whiskey or two. Ceoil (talk) 20:38, 5 October 2024 (UTC) You flatterer! I used to be a bass player myself in my youth. And I too like a whisky now and then... John (talk) 06:41, 8 October 2024 (UTC) Recent FAC comments My apologies for barging uninvited onto your talk page. Please let me know what you think the best course of action is for the following issues arising from the Brighton hotel bombing FAC. It is quite impressive how FAC coordinators do not consider the following statement a provocation or intent to edit war: "I do not think links should be added and I will remove them if you add them". Also, as you said, nobody owns a page on here. FAC criteria warns against edit wars, at the very least this is un encyclopedic behavior and at least deserves a tap on the back. By now, if any other editor had made such a comment at an FAC nom with so many reviewers, the nom would have been archived immediately and there would have been a warning on our talk pages. Do you think this should go to ANI, since coords are either ignoring or allowing this behavior? And what would be the consequences of that for the nom? If I were petty I would have added links and checked if SchroCat would have the gall to do an edit war; that would have bogged the article in the dispute resolution stages for 3-6 months and disqualified it from FAC for that period. But fortunately I am not petty and would not want what is overall a good article to suffer such a fate for an issue which is comparatively not so big. What do you think? Matarisvan (talk) 18:02, 10 August 2024 (UTC) No apology necessary. I'm not sure; I've written on my user page about it. When we see others behaving badly, rudely or in an arrogant or entitled way, sometimes it helps to just walk away and do something else. User:Schrocat gets away with a lot because he is a very talented writer and reviewer. Try to see the good in him, however difficult it may be sometimes. As far as process goes, this is not something ANI would take an interest in, and there could even be a WP:BOOMERANG effect. One has to trust the coordinators not to promote an article with unaddressed actionable points. To the degree that the process works, it has credibility. Like a lot of things on this project, the whole FA process is amazingly good compared to nothing at all, but highly imperfect compared to a peer-review process one might see in a professional context. Sobeit. Remember this the next time you hear someone pissing on about civility though. Take care, and try not to let it ruin your evening. John (talk) 20:25, 10 August 2024 (UTC) The Signpost: 14 August 2024 In the media: Portland pol profile paid for from public purse Recent research: STORM: AI agents role-play as "Wikipedia editors" and "experts" to create Wikipedia-like articles, a more sophisticated effort than previous auto-generation systems In focus: Twitter marks the spot News and notes: Another Wikimania has concluded. Special report: Nano or just nothing: Will nano go nuclear? Opinion: HouseBlaster's RfA debriefing Traffic report: Ball games, movies, elections, but nothing really weird Humour: I'm proud to be a template * Read this Signpost in full * Single-page * Unsubscribe * MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 22:48, 14 August 2024 (UTC) Notice of noticeboard discussion There is currently a discussion at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard regarding an issue with which you may have been involved. Thank you. The thread is WP:AN#Is reverting alleged OR from an FA exempt from the 3RR brightline? DeCausa (talk) 17:26, 22 August 2024 (UTC) Thank you, I appreciate that. John (talk) 17:45, 22 August 2024 (UTC) Orphaned non-free image File:FatFreddiesCat.jpg ⚠ Thanks for uploading File:FatFreddiesCat.jpg. 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 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 for use on Wikipedia (see our policy for non-free media). Note that any non-free images not used in any articles will be deleted after seven days, as described in section F5 of the criteria for speedy deletion. Thank you. --B-bot (talk) 02:18, 29 August 2024 (UTC) Voting for coordinators is now open! Nominations for the upcoming project coordinator election have opened. A team of up to ten coordinators will be elected for the next coordination year. The project coordinators are the designated points of contact for issues concerning the project, and are responsible for maintaining our internal structure and processes. They do not, however, have any authority over article content or editor conduct, or any other special powers. More information on being a coordinator is available here. If you are interested in running, please sign up here by 23:59 UTC on 14 September! Voting will commence on 15 September. If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the current coord team. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 06:41, 1 September 2024 (UTC) September music story · music · places What do you think of my short version of the life of Alexander Goehr? Our DYK team would probably want that he worked in a training kibbutz, while I was happy to include a link to an article by Brian Boulton, - we sang the Monteverdi Vespers on 1 September 2019. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:18, 2 September 2024 (UTC) I like it. What a fascinating life he led. Good article. John (talk) 16:08, 2 September 2024 (UTC) Thank you. I guess I'll try GA, if you say so ;) - Did you see it before he died, when I remembered him for his birthday? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:30, 2 September 2024 (UTC) Today's story has 3 composers, I couldn't decide for the one on the Main page or the one who didn't make it on his bicentenary, so took both, and the pic has a third. Listen if you have a bit of time. The music, played by the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra in Germany in April 2022, impressed me. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:51, 4 September 2024 (UTC) Thanks Gerda. I will listen when I get a chance. It sounds amazing. John (talk) 18:59, 4 September 2024 (UTC) The Berezovsky piece in bright C major, sounding pretty much like early Mozart, came as a surprise opening a concert by a Ukrainian orchestra on tour to major halls in Poland and Germany, organised to make a statement of culture in response to aggression. The final piece of the program was highly appropriate. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:17, 4 September 2024 (UTC) Recommended reading today: Frye Fire, by sadly missed Vami_IV. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:20, 6 September 2024 (UTC) Happier topic: Bach's cantata on the Main page on its 300th birthday (per calendar), my story! Incredible piece. Promised myself to make it FA. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:34, 10 September 2024 (UTC) Bach was amazing, the Einstein of music. And what a horrible end he came to. Thanks for all your hard work. FA is as good as it gets here, and it isn't always very good. Viel Gluck! John (talk) 21:25, 10 September 2024 (UTC) Thank you! - It will be a long-term project, 3rd in line the soonest, but among Bach's works some pinnacle I just discovered. DYK was refused because it appeared on OTD, - teh rulez. What do you think of another DYK on its way to be refused (the hook this time) or not? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:35, 11 September 2024 (UTC) Three stories related to today in memory, 11 September, 20 July and 20 June, the latter piece of art also pictured on the Main page. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:21, 11 September 2024 (UTC) Today is Schoenberg's 150th birthday! On display, portrayed by Egon Schiele, with music from Moses und Aron, and with two DYK hooks, one from 2010 and another from 2014; the latter, about his 40th birthday, appeared on his 140th birthday, which made me happy then and now again. - See places for a stunning sunrise, on the day Bruckner's 200th birthday was celebrated (just a few days late). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:05, 13 September 2024 (UTC) Today a story about one of the people behind the peaceful revolution. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:44, 15 September 2024 (UTC) That brought back memories. I was in Germany for the first time in November 1990 just after unification. Interesting article. Thank you. John (talk) 22:33, 15 September 2024 (UTC) Article by many, of course. My story today is about a man who played jazz when it was banned by the Nazis, - you can listen to how they played it later. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:14, 17 September 2024 (UTC) My story today features a pic I took from my position in the choir, I can also offer varied delightful music, some from Venice, also with pics I took, - note the rose in the clarinet ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:39, 25 September 2024 (UTC) I was just in Trier a couple of months ago. Beautiful city, but I'd forgotten that supermarkets close on a Sunday in Germany. Had to stock up on German beer and wine in Luxembourg instead... John (talk) 20:52, 26 September 2024 (UTC) The Signpost: 4 September 2024 News and notes: WikiCup enters final round, MCDC wraps up activities, 17-year-old hoax article unmasked In the media: AI is not playing games anymore. Is Wikipedia ready? 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Please consider improving the page to address the issues raised. Removing {{proposed deletion/dated}} will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and articles for deletion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. User:Namiba 15:18, 18 September 2024 (UTC) Speedy deletion nomination of Steuart Campbell If this is the first article that you have created, you may want to read the guide to writing your first article. You may want to consider using the Article Wizard to help you create articles. A tag has been placed on Steuart Campbell requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under section G4 of the criteria for speedy deletion, because the page appears to be a repost of material that was previously deleted following a deletion discussion, at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Steuart Campbell. When a page has substantially identical content to that of a page deleted after a discussion, and any changes in the content do not address the reasons for which the material was previously deleted, it may be deleted at any time. If you think this page should not be deleted for this reason, you may contest the nomination by visiting the page and clicking the button labelled "Contest this speedy deletion". This will give you the opportunity to explain why you believe the page should not be deleted. However, be aware that once a page is tagged for speedy deletion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag from the page yourself, but do not hesitate to add information in line with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. If the page is deleted, and you wish to retrieve the deleted material for future reference or improvement, then please contact the deleting administrator, or if you have already done so, you can place a request here. User:Namiba 15:20, 18 September 2024 (UTC) Thanks for your two notices here. I have posted at article talk. I suggest an AfD would be the way forward rather than speedy or ProD. John (talk) 15:40, 18 September 2024 (UTC) I hadn't realized that it was deleted previously when I first nominated it. I'm amenable to an afd rather than speedy deletion.--User:Namiba 15:53, 18 September 2024 (UTC) Nomination of Steuart Campbell for deletion A discussion is taking place as to whether the article Steuart Campbell is suitable for inclusion in Wikipedia according to Wikipedia's policies and guidelines or whether it should be deleted. The article will be discussed at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Steuart Campbell (2nd nomination) until a consensus is reached, and anyone, including you, is welcome to contribute to the discussion. The nomination will explain the policies and guidelines which are of concern. The discussion focuses on high-quality evidence and our policies and guidelines. Users may edit the article during the discussion, including to improve the article to address concerns raised in the discussion. However, do not remove the article-for-deletion notice from the top of the article until the discussion has finished. User:Namiba 16:12, 18 September 2024 (UTC) Voting for WikiProject Military history coordinators is now open! Voting for WikiProject Military history coordinators is now open! A team of up to ten coordinators will be elected for the next coordination year. Register your vote here by 23:59 UTC on 29 September! MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 18:34, 18 September 2024 (UTC) Troika (1969 film) Troika passed FAC on 2nd nom earlier, in no small part because of your extensive copyedits. Here is a live version of a tune I'm sure you already know in thanks[5], and sound once again. Ceoil (talk) 04:58, 19 September 2024 (UTC) That's great news! And I love the music, thank you for that. John (talk) 06:45, 19 September 2024 (UTC) Great work The Copyeditor's Barnstar Brilliant work on clearing up and refining my edits to Mohamed Al-Fayed. No Swan So Fine (talk) 12:04, 22 September 2024 (UTC) Thank you! John (talk) 12:46, 22 September 2024 (UTC) The Signpost: 26 September 2024 In the media: Courts order Wikipedia to give up names of editors, legal strain anticipated from "online safety laws" Community view: Indian courts order Wikipedia to take down name of crime victim, editors strive towards consensus Serendipity: A Wikipedian at the 2024 Paralympics Opinion: asilvering's RfA debriefing News and notes: Are you ready for admin elections? Gallery: Are Luddaites defending the English Wikipedia? Recent research: Article-writing AI is less "prone to reasoning errors (or hallucinations)" than human Wikipedia editors Traffic report: Jump in the line, rock your body in time * Read this Signpost in full * Single-page * Unsubscribe * MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 20:09, 26 September 2024 (UTC) October music story · music · places You may remember Maryvonne Le Dizès, my story today as on 28 August. Some September music was unusual: last compositions and eternal light, with Ligeti mentioned in story and music. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:03, 3 October 2024 (UTC) I do. It's looking good. Well done. John (talk) 23:13, 3 October 2024 (UTC) Thank you - today Rohan de Saram - unbelievable story --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:35, 7 October 2024 (UTC) Very cool. Another fascinating biography. John (talk) 18:17, 8 October 2024 (UTC) Thank you! - Today I remember an organist who was pictured on the Main page on his birthday ten years ago, and I found two recent organ concerts to match, - see top of my talk --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:00, 11 October 2024 (UTC) Today brought a timely promotion of Helmut Bauer to the Main page on the day when pieces from Mozart's Requiem were performed for him. - Thank you for copy-editing! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:18, 12 October 2024 (UTC) I made Leif Segerstam my big story today. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:35, 16 October 2024 (UTC) Would you have time to look at a user's (short) first FAC, Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/December 2017 North American winter storm/archive1? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:53, 19 October 2024 (UTC) I took a quick hack at it. John (talk) 12:16, 20 October 2024 (UTC) Thank you for improving articles on October, - I noticed that particular "hack" with pleasure! - My story today is a cantata 300 years old, based on a hymn 200 years old when the cantata was composed, based on a psalm some thousand years old, - so said the 2015 DYK hook. I had forgotten the discussion on the talk. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:21, 20 October 2024 (UTC) new pics close to home, and a new song - come some day! - I never had a TFA moved (have too few), but am quite conservative in move cases. A DYK article was once moved (while on the Main page) without leaving a redirect, which I thought was crazy, and - not on the main page - a composer's article became a dab page because some singer had adapted his name as a stage name, and now the original was no longer the primary topic, which I found kafkaesque. Nobody died, - you are right. Dealing with three articles of people who died three days in a row again, first Barbara Kolb. What do you think about Kaoli Isshiki. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:34, 24 October 2024 (UTC) Taxonomy is always reductive by its nature and naming articles is worth getting right fairly early on in an article's evolution. I read the AfD discussion and had a quick look at sources without finding anything great. It looks like a borderline case and nowadays I'm an inclusionist, so I would weakly keep it. John (talk) 21:54, 24 October 2024 (UTC) Thank you. - I came because I saw your comment on the TFA: feel free to boldly make the changes, - the principal editor hasn't edited for the last two years, and I see nobody with more authority in these matters than you. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:07, 27 October 2024 (UTC) About the weak keep: could you say it there? (I haven't read the last comment yet that I saw on my watchlist, - I have an article to write.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:36, 27 October 2024 (UTC) Thank you for that! - Happy whatever you celebrate today, - more who died, more to come, and they made the world richer. Greetings from Madrid where I took the pic of assorted Cucurbita in 2016. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:29, 31 October 2024 (UTC) Heller SA "would subsequently move" --> "moved", that's one of my pet peeves also. Drmies (talk) 21:45, 7 October 2024 (UTC) Hah. There's no shortage of bad writing on Wikipedia. Chipping away at it one page at a time for a third of my life now, on and off. How are you keeping, old friend? John (talk) 21:54, 7 October 2024 (UTC) I'm reading way too many obituaries, and writing too few articles. I crossed the 400,000 edits barrier but I'm wondering what the point is--yep, it's clear, I need to be writing, not blocking and deleting and whatnot. Good to see you: I'm glad you are still here! Drmies (talk) 22:04, 7 October 2024 (UTC) I ducked out for a few years, burned out and beset by bereavement. I came back to find the place much as I left it. All the same problems with dodgy promotions, vested contributors, lousy peer reviews, and dreadful writing. I've only survived by greatly lowering my expectations. Maybe that's a facet of wisdom coming with age, maybe not. I wish you well, and I hope you will think of me if you have any article improvement suggestions. Take care, John (talk) 18:16, 8 October 2024 (UTC) Some advice Greetings John, I just wanna thank you for your copy edits to help Troika pass Featured Status. I have been meaning to ask you about how I can master Copy editing. I am aware a lot of that is flow and condensing what is written in articles, however some of these articles that show me how to do so seem to go over my head. I am currently working on some massive projects (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Begotten, Stephen D. Richards, etc.) and am having trouble figuring out how to properly condense without complete removal of material. If you are willing to mentor me on this I would appreciate it. If not, some pointers. Happy editing mate! Paleface Jack (talk) 17:17, 15 October 2024 (UTC) Gosh, that's a flattering suggestion! Let me think about it. I'm away in the wilds just now on holiday with family but when I get back I can have a look at some of those articles. Thanks for thinking of me. John (talk) 17:31, 15 October 2024 (UTC) Of course! Your copy edits are spot on and I plan to work my way to being as good as that some time, might as well ask one of the best for mentoring/advice etc. Be warned, the Texas Chain Saw is quite messy as I am still pulling everything together and adding things. It is one of my most ambitious articles as there is a vast amount of information to process and filter.--Paleface Jack (talk) 18:19, 15 October 2024 (UTC) Butting in the spirit of learning to walk before you can crawl, Begotten should be PFJ's next nom as it is relatively short with a limited body of sources, while Texas Chain Saw is a beast, widely written about and known to all. Would like to see PFJ more experienced in the FAC process before he undertakes such a massive cultural milestone, and with more eyes having reviewed at GA/PR before he gets in final copy editors. John, you are a scarce resource; thinking of your time allocation :) Ceoil (talk) 23:54, 15 October 2024 (UTC) Apologies for the presumption Paleface; just don't want you to be disappointed/frustrated if you reach too soon re TCS. Best. Ceoil (talk) 23:59, 15 October 2024 (UTC) @Ceoil: No worries mate. I was thinking that or something even smaller like Lake Michigan Monster as that one has the same number of sources as Troika. Working my way up to articles over 100 citations is something I want to gradually do. In terms of Begotten I have been having troubles filtering down essentials on the Themes/Analysis to rewrite it, as sources are often frustratingly vague on specifics on what motifs and themes pertaining to the religious/occult aspects of the film. That will be my 3rd project to work on though I do want to focus on honing and perfecting my ability to copy edit as that is a weakness of mine that I require fine-tuneing.--Paleface Jack (talk) 03:00, 16 October 2024 (UTC) Still thinking about how best to engage with this request. Meanwhile, what do you think of this? John (talk) 13:17, 20 October 2024 (UTC) Take your time, no rush. As to that edit, it looks good to me.--Paleface Jack (talk) 21:32, 20 October 2024 (UTC) @John: Just a little update, I have chosen to work on a smaller article for FA instead of TCM and Begotten for now. The article in question is called Lake Michigan Monster, and I have been going over copy editing it with Ceoil for the better part of a month. If you are still busy, thats ok. My only real concern with the article is prose being as perfect as possible through multiple vetting through different users. Yout assistance was, and is always valued in your contributions to Troika. Good luck on your continued endeavers.--Paleface Jack (talk) 16:27, 12 November 2024 (UTC) I like it. John (talk) 20:33, 12 November 2024 (UTC) @John: Thanks, the more I looked at it, the more I felt it was a good pick me up for all the current things going on in the world. Readers might find it interesting enough--Paleface Jack (talk) 16:06, 13 November 2024 (UTC) (talk page stalker) "Be warned, the Texas Chain Saw is quite messy...". Quite an understatement, I think. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:27, 12 November 2024 (UTC) Martinevans123 With the scope of the article that massive, the "mess" will be there until the information is all added and copy edits/splicing starts.--Paleface Jack (talk) 16:06, 13 November 2024 (UTC) Sorry. I meant the bit where Leatherface dismembers Kirk. Martinevans123 (talk) 17:58, 13 November 2024 (UTC) Martinevans123 Funny. Had to transfer all that and effects stuff into a future article to cut down on everything. Cutting things apart and stitching things together in my own work of art is fun but a welcome challenge. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Paleface Jack (talk • contribs) The Signpost: 19 October 2024 News and notes: One election's end, another election's beginning Recent research: "As many as 5%" of new English Wikipedia articles "contain significant AI-generated content", says paper In the media: Off to the races! Wikipedia wins! Contest: A WikiCup for the Global South Traffic report: A scream breaks the still of the night Book review: The Editors Humour: The Newspaper Editors Crossword: Spilled Coffee Mug * Read this Signpost in full * Single-page * Unsubscribe * MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 11:14, 19 October 2024 (UTC) A barnstar for you! The Copyeditor's Barnstar Thanks for helping out in resolving and fixing copyediting and formatting issues on the article December 2017 North American winter storm. It's also a FAC at the moment, so I appreciate the aforementioned effort you put into it! :) ~ Tails Wx 02:26, 20 October 2024 (UTC) Thanks! It still needs a little work but I'm confident it can reach FA standard. John (talk) 09:27, 20 October 2024 (UTC) The Signpost: 6 November 2024 From the editors: Editing Wikipedia should not be a crime News and notes: Wikimedia Foundation shares ANI lawsuit updates; first admin elections appoint eleven sysops; first admin recalls opened; temporary accounts coming soon? In the media: An old scrimmage, politics and purported libel Special report: Wikipedia editors face litigation, censorship Gallery: Why you should take more photos and upload them In focus: Questions and answers about the court case Traffic report: Twisted tricks or tempting treats? 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MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 00:09, 19 November 2024 (UTC) November thanks story · music · places Thank you for improving articles in November! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:43, 20 November 2024 (UTC) I uploaded pics of a trip that was a 10-day celebration of a 16 November event, but the day was also when a dear friend died. We sang Hevenu shalom aleichem at his funeral yesterday, and it was good. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:25, 30 November 2024 (UTC) struggle I struggle with online editing would like to add header November thanks to last message but can't. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:47, 20 November 2024 (UTC) Many thanks Gerda. I hope you are well and I appreciate the messages. John (talk) 17:03, 20 November 2024 (UTC) Lake Michigan Monster Just want to thank you for your copy edits on Lake Michigan Monster, I don't know if you are done with it or not, or if you feel it is complete enough. At the moment I am working on bringing up anther article I put off int the GA status club. I don't know who else could take a look at Lake Michigan Monster to make sure the nomination goes smoothly. Any suggestions? Paleface Jack (talk) 00:55, 22 November 2024 (UTC) Voting is now open for the WikiProject Military History newcomer of the year and military historian of the year awards Voting is now open for the WikiProject Military History newcomer of the year and military historian of the year awards for 2024! The top editors will be awarded the coveted Gold Wiki. Cast your votes here and here respectively. Voting closes at 23:59 on 30 December 2024. On behalf of the coordinators, wishing you the very best for the festive season and the new year. MediaWiki message delivery via MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 23:59, 29 November 2024 (UTC) Tone on FA's Hi John You were referred based on this discussion: Wikipedia:Featured article review/Byzantine Empire/archive3#Byzantine Empire If you scroll down, you can see the discussion of a sentence rewrite about Christianity. It's representative of several issues, but the one you can help with (other than your own suggestion) is tone: should feature articles be written formally to be more objective? Or should we use a more direct style to make the content more engaging? This and anything else you have to say would be much appreciated. Biz (talk) 21:12, 6 December 2024 (UTC) Thank you for the message. I have read the discussion and I will consider posting an opinion there after I think about it a little. John (talk) 22:21, 6 December 2024 (UTC) December music story · music · places On the Main page today Jean Sibelius on his birthday. Listening to Beethoven's Fifth from the opening of Notre-Dame de Paris. We sang in choirs today. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:25, 8 December 2024 (UTC) It's great that it's open again. Such a shock when an old building burns. Congratulations on Sibelius. Might just go and read it, I don't know much about him. ---- Sibelius - as my user page says today - is the work of many. I wrote about several of his compositions when his birthday was celebrated in 2015. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:04, 8 December 2024 (UTC) Listen today to the (new) Perplexities after Escher. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:58, 12 December 2024 (UTC)