User talk:Brianboulton/Archive 106

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2016 Year in Review

 The WikiChevrons 
For your contributions to the Featured Article Nelson's Pillar, I hereby present you with the WikiChevrons. Congratulations! For the Military history WikiProject Coordinators, TomStar81 (Talk) 05:23, 3 January 2017 (UTC)

Do you have any time for a review at FAC?

Hi, I have an article (very) slowly going through the FAC process: Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Henry Morgan/archive1. It relates to the 17th century privateer and politician Sir Henry Morgan. If you have any time to have a look, I would be very grateful, but I understand if your time is too limited to take part. All the best, The Bounder (talk) 12:25, 3 January 2017 (UTC)

I regret I am unable to undertake reviews at present. Brianboulton (talk) 17:11, 3 January 2017 (UTC)
Thanks for letting me know, and all the best. - The Bounder (talk) 23:31, 3 January 2017 (UTC)

Valley View

Brianboulton, I wanted to let you know that I finally found time to incorporate the changes you suggested in Valley View (Romney, West Virginia). I apologize for it taking me so long to incorporate these changes, but I wanted to touch base with you now that they have been made. The William & Mary Quarterly asserts Fairfax inherited the land grant in 1722 but every other source states it was 1719. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can incorporate this inconsistency into the text? Any guidance you could provide would be incredibly helpful. Once everything is in order, I will be incorporating these changes into other Northern Neck articles and will resubmit Valley View for FAC. Thank you again for everything! -- West Virginian (talk) 16:20, 4 January 2017 (UTC)

Thank you for the notification, but I regret that I am unable to help at this time. Brianboulton (talk) 17:31, 4 January 2017 (UTC)

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The Signpost: 17 January 2017

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Books and Bytes - Issue 20

The Wikipedia Library

Books & Bytes
Issue 20, November-December 2016
by Nikkimaria (talk · contribs), Ocaasi (talk · contribs), UY Scuti (talk · contribs), Samwalton9 (talk · contribs)

  • Partner resource expansions
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The Signpost: 6 February 2017

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"not lost"

Precious
Five years!

... was the header five years ago, - thank you for staying with us, and best wishes for your health! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:28, 8 February 2017 (UTC)

Thank you for Bessie Braddock, which you introduced: "She was a tough Liverpool lass with a natural affinity for the poorest in society. She made herself their champion, and woe betide those who stood in her way, whether in parliament, the Liverpool council chamber or (controversially) Welsh villages whose land she needed to build a reservoir for her beloved Liverpool. Formidable rather than "nice", I'd say, and I dare say she'd have agreed." Formidable writing, I'd say. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:51, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Thank you and Tim for major influence and prolific writing on GBS, meeting the "challenge to cover Shaw's 94 years, 62 plays and innumerable opinions"! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:49, 17 March 2017 (UTC)


Bessie Braddock for TFA

Hi Brian. This is just a friendly note to let you know that the Bessie Braddock article, which you nominated at FAC, has been scheduled as today's featured article for March 8, 2017. If you're interested in editing the main page text, you're welcome to do so at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 8, 2017. Thanks! — Chris Woodrich (talk) 06:28, 22 February 2017 (UTC)

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Hello! This is a final reminder that the Wikimedia Foundation survey will close on 28 February, 2017 (23:59 UTC). The survey is available in various languages and will take between 20 and 40 minutes. Take the survey now.

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About this survey: You can find more information about this project here or you can read the frequently asked questions. This survey is hosted by a third-party service and governed by this privacy statement. If you need additional help, or if you wish to opt-out of future communications about this survey, send an email through EmailUser function to User:EGalvez (WMF) or surveys@wikimedia.org. About the Wikimedia Foundation: The Wikimedia Foundation supports you by working on the software and technology to keep the sites fast, secure, and accessible, as well as supports Wikimedia programs and initiatives to expand access and support free knowledge globally. Thank you! --EGalvez (WMF) (talk) 08:25, 23 February 2017 (UTC)

The Signpost: 27 February 2017

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George Bernard Shaw for TFA

Hi Brian. This is just a friendly note to let you know that the George Bernard Shaw article, which you nominated at FAC, has been scheduled as today's featured article for March 17, 2017. If you're interested in editing the main page text, you're welcome to do so at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 17, 2017. Thanks! — Chris Woodrich (talk) 01:53, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

This is *very* good news to me :) Thank you Crisco. Ceoil (talk) 02:40, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
Thanks for the notice. I've tinkered with the blurb but it's not adequate as it stands, with only a glancing mention of his political activities - nothing about the Fabian society, the Labour Party, or Socialism for which he was a controversial polemicist and pamphleteer for fifty years. I'll have a go later this week and try and get Tim's view on the matter. Brianboulton (talk) 08:59, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
Bit more tinkering - contacting Tim for an opinion. Brianboulton (talk) 21:55, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
Tim's OK with the present version and so am I. Brianboulton (talk) 14:17, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

File:Widmerpool crop.jpg listed for discussion

A file that you uploaded or altered, File:Widmerpool crop.jpg, has been listed at Wikipedia:Files for discussion. Please see the discussion to see why it has been listed (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry). Feel free to add your opinion on the matter below the nomination.

ATTENTION: This is an automated, bot-generated message. This bot DID NOT nominate any file(s) for deletion; please refer to the page history of each individual file for details. Thanks, FastilyBot (talk) 23:50, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

Shackleton–Rowett Expedition scheduled for TFA

This is to let you know that the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition article has been scheduled as today's featured article for 5 April 2017. If you're interested in editing the main page text, you're welcome to do so at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/April 5, 2017. Thanks! Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 11:25, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  • I'm a bit surprised that this downbeat expedition should be selected for a second TFA appearance. It really was a drab little affair, essentially a vanity project for Shackleton, who was restless and bored in the post-war environment. He died before the thing really got under way; what followed was a somewhat pointless sail in Antarctic waters, with minimal geographic or scientific achievements. I've not even glanced at the article since its original TFA eight years ago, but I'll read it through in the next couple of days, and also check out the blurb. May I gently point out that this is "my" third TfA in a month, following Bessie Braddock and George Bernard Shaw, which is either an honour or a burden, depending on one's point of view. Brianboulton (talk) 17:54, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
    Sorry, hadn't realized how closely this was following some of your others. You personally account for something like 2% of all featured articles, so they are going to be a bit more frequent than for others. I agree this needs another look but will probably leave it in. As for significance: I try not to take that too much into account when I schedule -- I think it's good to showcase how well Wikipedia covers lesser-known material as well as high-profile FAs like Bob Dylan. As I started to schedule the repeat TFAs this month I realized that we should update the TFAR instructions to indicate that articles can be nominated for a second appearance. I'll post something to the talk page there and once that's in place we may find people prefer to renominate the high-profile articles. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 18:15, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
I see from the article history that, in fact, I updated and polished the article a couple of years ago, as part of Sandy's project for bringing older FAs up to present standards - I had forgotten that. So the prose looks in reasonable nick, and I think all external links are working, but I'll check it all out again in the next week or so. I intend to suggest Noye's Fludde as TFA for St Swithun's Day (14 July), but perhaps I could be "rested" until then. Brianboulton (talk) 10:48, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
Jim will be scheduling May, and Chris will be scheduling June, so pinging them to let them know. I'll be scheduling July. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 12:58, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Alright, I'll do my best to avoid any BB articles.  — Chris Woodrich (talk) 03:29, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
Appreciated Brianboulton (talk) 08:52, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Books and Bytes - Issue 21

The Wikipedia Library

Books & Bytes
Issue 21, January-March 2017
by Nikkimaria (talk · contribs), Ocaasi (talk · contribs), UY Scuti (talk · contribs), Samwalton9 (talk · contribs), Sadads (talk · contribs)

  • #1lib1ref 2017
  • Wikipedia Library User Group
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I couldn't help but notice...

That you seem to be gathering some bits and pieces about Donald Crowhurst. I was thinking along similar lines myself in a vain attempt to escape from cricket articles, so let me know if I can help in any way! It's a very, very peculiar story. Sarastro1 (talk) 16:55, 1 May 2017 (UTC)

Well spotted. I'm (sort of) thinking about a modest return to content editing, and am considering doing something on the disastrous Golden Globe race of 1968-69. This might be more interesting than a straight Crowhurst bio, although obviously his plight will figure prominently in the article. I can actually remember the race and its attendant dramas, which I followed with some avidity as a youngster. I have had the Tomalin/Hall book on my shelves since the 70s, and have recently asssembled further source material. More than happy to collaborate with you, if you're interested in a relatively slow-moving project – my powers of concentration aren't yet what they were. If you have access to the Times/Sunday Times archive, that would be a big boost. Brianboulton (talk) 22:20, 1 May 2017 (UTC)

TFA dates

Looking at TFA dates: as much as I understand that you favour Noah's Flood for 2017, it's quite close to the 100th anniversary of Nikkimaria's Leningrad première of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7, and Percy Grainger has a 135th birthday this year. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:05, 7 May 2017 (UTC)

I gave up the 14 July slot last year in favour of an anniversary, but will definitely nominate Noye's Fludde again this year. The Grainger anniversary is not significant and I hadn't thought to nominate that. The Leningrad premiere is nearly a month distant from St Swithun's Day and there is absolutely no reason why it and the Britten opera can't both run – we have often had several "warship" articles at TFA within the same month, and classical music articles are relatively rare. I doubt anyone will complain, but the coordinators will decide if there is a conflict. Brianboulton (talk) 07:16, 7 May 2017 (UTC)
Thank you for explaining, and thanks again for having given up last year for Reger's Requiem 16 July! - Do you suggest Grainger a year later, or wait for 140, or 150?--Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:16, 7 May 2017 (UTC)
ps: You may want to change the Grainger date on top (still 2017), and possibly others. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:14, 7 May 2017 (UTC)

The window is now open to nominate the Fludde, again, - will you? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:41, 30 May 2017 (UTC)

Yes. Brianboulton (talk) 12:43, 31 May 2017 (UTC)

Received and passed on

Done. I don't know if it will be possible to extend my stay but will look into it.--Wehwalt (talk) 14:18, 31 May 2017 (UTC)

Message received and understood (and regretted). I'm hoping G. will be up for a lunchtime meeting à deux on Monday, te absente, and I'll certainly be on hand on Saturday 10th along with the usual suspects and some other offenders. I'll email you both once I've posted this. (Feels rather good editing WP again, however tangentially!) Meanwhile, kindly look after yourself! Tim riley talk 14:37, 31 May 2017 (UTC)
I've managed to extend my airline reservation until Monday 12 June. Any longer and I fear the bamboo shoots in the back garden will win our perennial battle. So I shall be there on the 10th regardless. and will be delighted to meet your daughter.--Wehwalt (talk) 15:19, 31 May 2017 (UTC)
That is fantastic news! Tim: I probably won't have access to email for another 8-10 days, then with a revised address, so please use this page as a forum meantime as necessary. As things stand I hope to be at the WA, with chaperone, at around 1 pm on 10th. Brianboulton (talk) 15:23, 31 May 2017 (UTC)
Your relationship with IT seems uniquely disaster-strewn. I shall keep any portable devices I happen to have with me well away from the field of destruction that clearly follows you around. You have, I trust, warned your daughter that she will be among rough working men, uncultured though well-meaning? Good. Happily there will be at least one other lady present, so we shall all have to be on our best behaviour. We shall be on the next floor up from usual, meeting in the Loft Bar. There is a lift, as I mentioned, from concourse to pub entrance (to right of main steps up to the front door), and then, on entering pub, turn right toward gents' loo and there is a lift to the next floor up, where the coven meeting will take place. Has my mobile phone number (just in case) vanished along with your other lost data? I'll post it here if wanted. Tim riley talk 16:28, 31 May 2017 (UTC)
Yup, gone with the wind and weather, alas. The number would be useful in the event of last-minute hitches. Brianboulton (talk) 16:43, 31 May 2017 (UTC)
'Tis o7896 2513o9 (but with zeros rather than the two Os shown here). Tim riley talk 08:05, 1 June 2017 (UTC)

The Signpost: 9 June 2017

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Promoting Sarawak to featured article status

I noted you have extensive experience in contributing to Wikipedia feature articles. Therefore, I am requesting your help in this one. Sarawak, located on the northwest Borneo, was a former British crown colony from 1946 to 1963. This article is just a few steps away from becoming the featured article status. Do help to do either a general review/source review or an image review for this article so that it can achieve the featured article status as soon as possible. Any help is very much appreciated, thank you. Cerevisae (talk) 11:04, 15 June 2017 (UTC)

Thank you for dropping by. I am currently in recovery mode after a long period of illness which has severely restricted my participation in Wikipedia for the last nine months. I do occasional FAC reviews in areas in which I'm knowledgeable, but I'd struggle with the unfamiliar territory of Sarawak, so regretfully must decline your request. However, I did note from a swift glance at the article that several paragraphs end with uncited sentences, e.g. in the History section: "In 1839, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II (1827–1852) assigned his uncle Pangeran Muda Hashim the task of restoring order but his inability to do so caused him to request the aid of British sailor James Brooke. Brooke's success in quelling the revolt was well rewarded with antimony, property and the governorship of Sarawak." There are a few others, and you would be wise to look at all these. Also, there could be problems from posting on the FAC page what could be interpreted as a request for supports, and I'd advise you to get rid of that. Brianboulton (talk) 13:01, 15 June 2017 (UTC)
Thanks for your advice :-) Cerevisae (talk) 18:30, 15 June 2017 (UTC)

Books and Bytes - Issue 22

The Wikipedia Library

Books & Bytes
Issue 22, April-May 2017

  • New and expanded research accounts
  • Global branches update
  • Spotlight: OCLC Partnership
  • Bytes in brief

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The Signpost: 23 June 2017

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