User talk:Finlay McWalter/archive3

Archives

• User talk:Finlay McWalter/archive1 (September 14, 2003 → August 14, 2004)
• User talk:Finlay McWalter/archive2 (August 15, 2004 → August 23, 2005)

New talk at the bottom, please

Game Maker edit

I have every right to post a link! that is not spam you are just being a jerk to me. If you look at the list that is all ready there they are all sites that relate just as much as my site. All I ever did was post help and a link to my site IN the extenal links spot! It is not "spam" at all if you look at the freaken POST! You JERK STOP! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by WordWiz (talk • contribs) 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Jebel Akhdar

Thanks for digging out the extra info (not sure the feet equivalent is necessary, do they use that archaic imperialist cr@p there?! :-); just to be different, the Times Atlas or the World gives 3018m. I can see what you mean about the length of the range, I was going by the entire strip of high ground from about the the UAE border down to the Nazwa/Muscat gap, but the central 100km of higher altitude (>1500m) is more relevant I guess - MPF 17:24, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

It's best to give every measurement in both imperial/standard and metric, as there are still lots of people for whom one or t'other is inaccessible. I'm doing more research now, and I'll reply regarding what is and isn't the JA at its talk page momentarily. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:28, August 27, 2005 (UTC)

The Caltrain terminal

Actually, I was en route to register with a staffing firm in the City (I'm been looking for a job since graduating from law school). I've been carrying around a digital camera when driving just in case I see anything interesting (you'll notice if you look at my Contributions list that I've been uploading a lot of photos recently). When I was stuck in traffic on the 6th Street off-ramp, I took advantage of the opportunity to get a good shot of the terminal. --Coolcaesar 20:40, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

edinburgh

Thanks for your message Finlay, I will go to talk. --MarSch 08:49, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

Thanks ...

... for reverting my user and talk pages! <KF> 11:48, August 30, 2005 (UTC)

Yeah

I'm using w3m at the moment and it spawns nedit. Could you please redo my edit instead of removing it? Then the template will be up to date. Dysprosia 23:20, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

I was in the process of redoing it when someone else beat me to it. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:31, August 30, 2005 (UTC)

Thanks, no worries. Dysprosia 00:23, 31 August 2005 (UTC)

Louise Fletcher

Thanks for the update. I was surprised that I seemed to be the first Wikipedian to become aware of her supposed death. Interesting how such erroneous postings on other websites leads to spreading of erroneous information, unless there is a filter such as dedicated Wiki members. This is part of the phenomenon of the imparting of information. Anything that appears on a printed page or a website is somehow given more credibility in humans' minds than oral messages. I've had no reason to distrust IMDB until now, particularly about birth/death details of important actors, but there you go. Cheers JackofOz 01:15, 31 August 2005 (UTC)

Yes, it's generally very reliable. I noticed it was at variance (regarding place of birth) with other sources when I was writing Skipp Sudduth, which shook my confidence in it somewhat. At least with someone as famous as Louise Fletcher we can assume that other media (and all the trekkies) would pick up news of her death; for a lot of the lesser known people IMDb covers that wouldn't necessarily be true. IMDb, btw, no longer shows her to be dead. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 09:48, August 31, 2005 (UTC)

66.207.101.66

I removed some linkspam while on RC patrol and noticed that you had previously banned the IP for spamming the same page. Tagged him (User talk:66.207.101.66) with another spam1. --GraemeL ^(talk) 17:57, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on him. If he spams again I'll block him - he's been warned many times already. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:59, September 1, 2005 (UTC)

Wiki Thanks

if anyone thought I was supposedly pro-Bush, just check out this link on the interview: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/01/BL2005090100915.html

I really appreciate your re revert. I think elsewhere from Current Events Bush's interview is going to fuel the talk.Kyle Andrew Brown 21:35, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

More Thanks

Hey! I just noticed you fixed up and wikified my pithy little prison article to look worthy of an encylcopedia. Thanks a lot for that. Just out of curiosity, did you come across that from my user page? Anyway thanks again and keep up the good work. Banes 15:54, 3 September 2005 (UTC)

No problem. Actually I was watching a BBC program the day that shook the world about Mandela's release, so I added the info from it. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:04, September 3, 2005 (UTC)

Tron

Thanks for adding the photo to the Tron article. That's great. Unfortunately it comes over as a little dark on my screen, so it would be super if you were able to doctor it up a little so that we can see the details of this fine building. I don't suppose you know why it's called the "Tron", do you?--Doric Loon 16:47, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

Hey, that's MUCH better. It's a very interesting structure and now we can see all the details. Well done. --Doric Loon 07:06, 8 September 2005 (UTC)

Clipart

You're right, the link itself doesn't work. Have you got any idea how to figure out whether a particular image can be commercially redistributed? - Mgm|^(talk) 20:16, September 7, 2005 (UTC)

You can read the article by hitting the fourth link in the google search (it must be set up to be visible when google is the referrer). It's legalistic and unhelpful, and refers you to less helpful sources. It's cheaper to hire a graphic artist (struggling art students always need money) than a lawyer. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:23, September 7, 2005 (UTC)

Thank you

Finlay, thank you for reverting the vandalism from my user page recently. Cheers, SlimVirgin ^(talk) 20:51, September 9, 2005 (UTC)

Thanks awfully

Ta for supporting my RfA, much appreciated. I'll endeavour to contribute more to those necessary tasks and hope to bring the benefit of years of experience of tactfully sorting out recalcitrant contractors to bear in the gentler arena of wikipedia....dave souza 23:09, 13 September 2005 (UTC) p.s. the addiction is mutual - see my user page....dave souza 00:47, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

There's really no reason whatever to actually do anything different to what you'd normally be doing. I've been an admin for years and all I really ever do with it is to rollback vandalism, speedy a few nonsense pages, block some obvious vandals (really quite rarely) and the very occasional history merge (shudder). The whole point of having people like you as admins (people who don't hang out on AfD and ViP and stuff like that) is, I suppose, for "strength in depth". I really wouldn't go on some "doing admin stuff" spree, as its mostly a stressful and thankless task. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 11:56, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

Mediawiki on a PC

Dear Finlay, many thanks for the info about this. Using a text editor for regular WP contributions is no problem, but with the EB project on WS it is a chore because of the bullk of some of the texts. I am just now preparing lists of contributors which have to be coded, and it very easy to make a mistake. Cheers. Apwoolrich 18:23, 15 September 2005 (UTC)

Photographs on Single malt Scotch

Hello McWalter. I'm QBay in Japan. I'm interested in your photographs on 'Single malt Scotch'. Because I'm preparing an article about Whiskey distillation for ja-Wikipedia. You mention "to move (them) to commons". When you move them to Wiki, please tell me the filenames of them. I'd like to use them for my article. I'm longing for you to upload them to Wiki-Commons. --QBay 06:28, 16 September 2005 (UTC)

Barnstar

I, Flcelloguy, do hereby present the RickK Anti-Vandalism Award to Finlay McWalter for his combat against the GORF vandalism.

Here's a barnstar for your quick and speedy work! By the time I had noticed the GORF (WoW?) move vandalism, you had already reverted all the page moves and had deleted all but one of the pages. Keep up your good work! Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk 23:14, 20 September 2005 (UTC)

Thanks, but I only reverted maybe 70% of the moves (long live firefox tabs) and user:Curps did about 70% of the deletions. I definately don't deserve a barnstar because I forgot to check the "move the talk page too" box for the first five or six moves (I think I was lucky and didn't leaving a trailing GORF talkpage). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:24, 20 September 2005 (UTC)

Well, I'm presenting you the barnstar anyways (and I do believe that you deserve it) :-). I'll head over to Curps' now... Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk 23:46, 20 September 2005 (UTC)

Windows Picture and Fax Viewer

Thanks for tweaking the subject article. I wrote it. I appreciate it. I am a newbie and have lots to learn. Phil ^talk 18:02, 21 September 2005 (UTC)

No problem. It looks like you're off to a good start. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk

Image:Wfm area51 map en.png promoted

Your Featured picture candidate has been promoted Your nomination for featured picture status, Image:Wfm area51 map en.png, gained a consensus of support, and has been promoted. If you would like to nominate another image, please do so at Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates. ~~~~

~ Veledan • Talk ^{+ new} 00:36, 24 September 2005 (UTC)

A request

Please do not block the IP address I am editing from or I will not be able to make legit edits. I am not a vandal/troll, just intent on making some legit edits. Thanks. --Nidome ^talk 22:23, 25 September 2005 (UTC)

Greetings!

I will continue editing Wikipedia as I see fit. I find the "editing" aspect of this site completely pointless. I can assure you that several users will continue to edit you pages, vandalising and so on. I suggest you administrators/admins removing the editing feature for all users, as it is doing yourselves no good whatsoever.

Farewell!

Rollback at Talk:Obesity

I'm confused why you rolled back Longboy69's question at Talk:Obesity. It seemed to me to be an honest question, not vandalism. --Angr/_{tɔk tə mi} 10:01, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

Never mind, just found your note at WP:VIP#Manchester / obesity / Girls Aloud vandal. --Angr/_{tɔk tə mi} 10:06, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

Munro maps

On my talk page you wrote:

I have to ask - what are you using to render the topographic info? I'm stuck using Panmap (which is horrid), so I'm looking for something more full-featured. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 19:38, August 29, 2005 (UTC)

Sorry not to reply before, I only just noticed your question.

I too have never found a commercial map drawing tool that I like, so I'm using my own Perl scripts to produce the maps.

I start with a list of the munros with names and grid references etc. This is a list I created (by hand) myself from the SMC guidebooks and have subsequently checked against other internet sources.

I also have a series of files defining the shapes of the coast lines, the lakes, sorry lochs, roads etc, and the contours. These are all from various publically available sources. The contours are from the SMC's own website. They distribute them in the form of maps that can be loaded into a GPS receiver, but they are derived from the Nasa SRTM data originally. I used the (free) tools that the SMC used to create the maps to extract the contour shapes out into plain text files that I could read in my script.

My script reads all this stuff and creates a PostScript program for each map. I then use GhostScript to render this as a full colour PNG file, which is what is displayed on wp.

Toby, Thruston 15:29, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

Re: Captcha

Hi, thanks for the pointer. I am subscribed but do not read the list very often. I will follow that discussion. Sam Hocevar 18:43, 30 September 2005 (UTC)

Chevrolet Apollo

I have added this to Afd, see Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Chevrolet Apollo -- Curps 16:39, 2 October 2005 (UTC)

West of Scotland photos

Thank you very much for your message of welcome. Re photos, could you (if possible) please add them to St Columba's Church, Glasgow and Hamilton Old Parish Church. --Matthewross 19:32, 4 October 2005 (UTC)

flower

hm... are you sure that fixed it? it seems to have just inserted blank space between each line (the old one looked right to me). kate

Sorry, I should have tested it better. The brs are needed for the classic skin, but they insert double-lines in the classic skin. I've reverted. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 10:27, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

hm, strange. that sounds like a bug. i'll have a fiddle with it... kate.

Pick a card. Any card

I see that I'm not the only one with magic articles watchlisted to prevent parts of them mysteriously disappearing. Keep up the good work! --GraemeL ^(talk) 14:31, 13 October 2005 (UTC)

Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962

Regarding your Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 suggestion, you are absolutely correct. I will adjust the blurb nomination on Template Talk:Did You Know. Thanks! Mark in Historic Triangle Vaoverland 00:21, 15 October 2005 (UTC)

barry?

who are you, barry the observer?

Mercury, Nevada

Sorry, don't know if it is open to the public. The last time I drove by I could not see any guard post or any warning that you could not enter. Try asking on the article talkpage. This is someting that should be included in the article. Vegaswikian 18:14, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

Warm Sprs., Nevada Cleanup

Your welcome, I have learned about Warm Springs, NV as being planned for construction, and I herd as it being abanded...so I tried to sketch it out, thanks for fixing it more. Crew29 23:20, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

Re: Glasgow

My bad, I thought I was reverting "End End" to "East End". Thanks for fixing it. --GraemeL ^(talk) 12:13, 19 October 2005 (UTC)

Yeah, I make that mistake all to often myself. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:20, 19 October 2005 (UTC)

Girls Aloud tag

In response to your question on User talk:El Marino de Ruasceyi, this account is the latest in a long line of vandal accounts (probably WoW, now that his movebots don't work terribly well). His current M.O is to put NPOV, expert, and disputed tags on random articles. He's particularly fond of Obesity and Girls Aloud, but he'll do a fairly random selection of articles. He's blocked, but expect to see another incarnation soon enough. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:54, 21 October 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for the tip about the serial tagger. Lol. Ill be sure to keep an eye out. Oran e (t) (c) (@) 21:58, 21 October 2005 (UTC)

Palo Alto

Hi,

would you mind putting on Commons this picture :

• Image:Wfm palo alto.jpg

Thanks in advance

Poppypetty 21:17, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

Done, under the same name (but full size). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:46, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

Thanks. Poppypetty 06:00, 23 October 2005 (UTC)

Elevator levitation

I'm not an expert, but it reads like a hoax. Opinion? --GraemeL ^(talk) 22:42, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

I really don't know anything about magic, but that stuff with magnets is clearly baloney. A google shows there is a trick of this title, but I doubt this is how its done. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 22:50, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

I'll remove the gimmik and turn it into even more of a stub then. --GraemeL ^(talk) 22:52, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

Gjøa

Great work on the Gjøa article! I am just curius about one statement:

By the time Gjøa returned Norway had gained its independance, Christiania had regained its ancient name of Oslo, and he and his crew were among the new country's first national heroes.

Are you referring to when the ship eventually returned in 1972 (long after everyone on the expedition was dead) or when Amundsen and the crew returned to Norway in 1906(?) (which would make more sense, as they surely became heroes then, but was long before Christiania regained the Oslo name in 1925)?

And, btw, that Helmer Hanssen "was to accompany Amundsen on all his subsequent expeditions" isn't true. He didn't accompany Amundsen on the Airship Norge, for one. I'll fix that. Shanes 02:04, 23 October 2005 (UTC)

Thanks, yes, you're quite right about Oslo. I've fixed that. I'd forgotten entirely about the airship thing. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 11:33, 23 October 2005 (UTC)

Twitterpated

You delted this, with no explicit reason given in the delete log. It doesn't seem to me to quite fit any of the CSDs, although it would be very unlikly IMO to survive an AfD unless drastically rewritten. What was your reason for deletion? Would you consider restoring and listing on AfD? DES ^(talk) 17:39, 25 October 2005 (UTC)

The text was :

"I'd like to see this included, can't seem to follow your undelete request path... don't understand deletion of this entry."

To my mind that falls cleanly within CSD 1.2#1 "Very short articles providing little or no context". I didn't delete the initial version (user:Postdlf did). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:47, 25 October 2005 (UTC)

Evangeline Lilly

If you can, you might want to think about locking the aforementioned article on top as I'm sensing a possible edit war and/or vandalism, though I have no idea what the cause is of the article being thwacked by non-credible edits. Anyway, you should think about putting a 2-month lock on Evangeline Lilly to deal with uncalled-for "NPOV" markings. — Vesther 00:08, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

The vandal is a recurring problem on many articles; he's not specific to that article at all. I block him every day, and this morning Dave Gerard blocked a huge swathe of his sleeper accounts (see all the "hotrocks" blocks in Dave's block log). I believe further steps are underway to curtail him further. For cases like these (where the vandal is essentially random) there's no point in protecting an article - he just moves to different ones (yes, someone already tried that, despite my telling them it wouldn't work). Protecting pages is always a measure of last resort, as it interferes with the workings of the overwhelming majority of well-intentioned, legitimate users. So if you see an unjustified (on the talk page) NPOV tag there or anywhere else, take it off. There's far more of us than of him, so really there's no reason to worry. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 00:17, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Commercial links

Finlay - I noticed you'd removed an anonymous poster's link from the Newcastle page earlier. I'm just wondering (as a fairly newbie) what constitutes a "commercial link"? The two links immediately above the one you removed are both to the Metro Radio group, so surely also class as commercial?

I'm not arguing or trying to start a flame war or anything daft! I just can't see what's "wrong" about the link that the other chap(ess) posted :) Mosh (talk) 12:20, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

It's always a judgement call. For me the giveaway is someone applying the same link (or link from the same website) to a big bunch of articles. There are a only a few websites which are so useful that they make for a good exlink from a large number of articles (IMDb is the only one I can think of offhand), and most mass-additions point to something obscure, which sure seems more like advertising than a genuine attempt to enhance Wikipedia. This particular person (195.82.122.111 (talk · contribs)) did just that, and it's really difficult to believe that his website is "of valuable service to our readers" (in the words of Wikipedia:External links) to each of those articles. I think his additions are a classic case of point #5 of WP:SPAM#How_not_to_be_a_spammer. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:27, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

A fair point and I'll try not to fall foul of the same thing. It can be hard to find useful external links, though, which aren't commercial in some way. But I suppose when the same person is putting links to the same site on umpteen articles it's a different kettle of fish! Thanks for the response :) Mosh (talk) 12:47, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

There's really nothing wrong, per se, with commercial links. Wikipedia certainly isn't a free-software or non-commercial-only advocacy site, and often the best site for a job is commercial (particularly if you're writing a page about a commercial entity). As long as each commercial link is considered, specific, and added with good intentions I don't think you'll have too much trouble. That said, there are a few wikipedians who do consider it their duty to clense the wiki of capitalism, and to my mind they're just as bad as the spammers. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:55, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Craigellachie Bridge

Nice photo, you get a good view of the arch ribs. If I'm not mistaken it's the east abutment, taken looking south on a rare sunny day. Leithp 19:54, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Also, cheers for the copyediting on the WP:DYK entry. My grammar is sometimes pretty clunky, as you could probably tell from the article. Hopefully the second best looking bridge in the north (after the Glenfinnan Viaduct of course) will get a wee moment in the sun. Leithp 20:42, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

I have a photo of the new concrete one too, but it's surely not the best looking bridge anywhere. I don't think I'll upload that photo :( -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:45, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Hotrocks Vandal

It\'s OK, he\'s given up now. The blocking of User:82.42.151.164 was unfair, it blocks legit users. Patrick. 70.84.51.234 20:44, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

I didn't block that address. Complain to whomever did. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:48, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

You didn't Finlay, but D.Gerrard did. BTW, I have caught the vandal and he has metaphorically surrendered the white flag and has given up. He says he doesn't want to come here any more, he's got a new life away from Wikipedia. I have caught the vandal and saved you a lot of time, Finlay, D.Gerrard, Curps, et.al! So worry no more!!! This vandal has stopped indefinitely after troll negotiations worked!! The vandal, 'Hotrocks' said he was extremely sorry, and got so over-apologetic in his email he said sorry 10 times!!! Maybe I should post it on here!!

So worry no more, you no longer have a persistent vandal on your hands!! Patrick AKA Paddy the Trollhunter --213.186.50.247 20:57, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

Question

You wouldn't know where I could sell 40 tonnes of oranges, would you? --GraemeL ^(talk) 14:27, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

RfA guidance

Firstly, thanks for your sage advice above about not overdoing it as an admin, which I've been endeavouring to follow. I have become a little more involved, and when someone who'd helped with editing was nominated for admin and his RfA went very sour resulting in his vowing to leave the project, found that others were developing a Wikipedia:Guide to requests for adminship and a Mini-Guide to avoid such unpleasantness. They look well worthwhile to me, but a downside is that someone like myself could be deterred. In case you'd not seen this, thought I'd alert you (at the last minute) while the guides are still developing....dave souza 09:50, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Teapot

Not sure what has happened to your teapot that was on the POV-Ray page. It doesn't seem to appear!

It works okay for me. There have been issues with some images not appearing (the wiki page shows red, as if the image had been deleted), due (I think) to the image server(s) being overloaded. Clearing your cache might fix things for you, but it might not. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 22:31, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

Reverting user page vandalism

Thanks for fixing the vandalism on my page! - CHAIRBOY (☎) 17:29, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Terrorism Bill

Excellent work Finlay, thank you! --bodnotbod 20:20, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

It's very surprising that the article didn't exist before this evening. If the Harry Potter team had been working on it, by now we'd have an article dedicated to the spots on John Prescott's ass and how they impacted the matter. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:12, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Terrorism Bill, 2005

At last!!!! I'm afraid I got fed up adding in these things so I decided that others can do it for once. (I'm also a bit pissed off right now with WP over heavy handed deletion of images. Three features articles of late have been cut to ribbons by needless deletion where the only problem was that an old image had information that though adequate when deleted doesn't fit our current descriptions, or where the wrong description had been used. If the deleter had spent 10 seconds they could have fixed the problem. Instead I have spent my time lately cleaning up their mess. If the people doing the deleting don't know what they are doing they shouldn't be doing it. Unfortunately a lot of the deleters don't know what they are doing, or are to lazy to fix problems, preferring instead to delete valid images and then not even fix the mess left behind in article. Sorry for the rant: I had trace back 6 perfectly valid images downloaded by people in recent days (usually get them from some other source that copied them from us), then found one of my own featured articles had had all the images deleted even though they were my images, all correctly supplied to Wikipedia under GFDL. So I'm mega pissed off!!! Hence I left the Terrorism Bill article for someone else to do!) FearÉIREANN\^(caint) 22:51, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Ah, well I trust you're currently quite fond of me then. --bodnotbod 03:29, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Extraterritorial law

Ah, interesting. Thanks. I have to say, this isn't the sort of thing I usually spend my time looking at. However, I've found reading all the source documents pretty fascinating and I'm gaining a greater appreciation of all sorts of things (Parliamentary procedure included).

At the moment I'm just leaving a mass of notes everywhere. My reading may not help the article for some time, since I'm only half way through the second reading at the moment and even then I'm wondering whether I should hold off most possible additions until the entire passage of the bill is complete. But I think - once I've waded through everything, I might be well-placed to tweak all sorts of articles relating to the UK/terrorism.

I'm proud of the document timeline: anyone ploughing through that could make themselves something of an expert on all the issues with a bit of dedication. --bodnotbod 03:29, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks!

Hi there! Just wanted to thank you for reverting the vandalism to my user page! Regards, CHAIRBOY (☎) 22:19, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Images of Distillery

Hello, Finlay McWalter. I'm QBay, in Japan.

I uploaded some GFDL images to Commons. They are Image:Sjb whiskey kiln.jpg, Image:Sjb whiskey wash.jpg, Image:Sjb whiskey still.jpg and Image:Sjb whiskey bond.jpg. They are good photos and must be useful for many wikipedians in other languages. Indeed, I would like to use them for an article of Scoth Whiskey in Japanese Wikipedia (ja:スコッチ・ウィスキー). Thank you. --QBay 03:05, 3 December 2005 (UTC)

Pic of the day

Hi Finlay,

Just to let you know that your diagram Image:Wfm area51 map en.png is due up for Pic of the Day tomorrow. If you get a chance, you can make any improvements or corrections to the caption at Wikipedia:Picture of the day/December 8, 2005. -- Solipsist 07:51, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

Well done. Let me be the first to congratulate you! A good map, too. Bruce, aka Agendum | Talk 17:48, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

Thanks. All I can see in it is things that need fixed - I still have a "to do" list for it with two dozen things to fix. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:52, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

Cry Me A River

<<<Your comment at User talk:Jtdirl is inappropriate. If you look at the dates of the warnings above, you'll notice they occurred on December 1st. They were directed to the user who used your IP address before, who made a bunch of stupid edits like this one. Clearly Jtdirl was doing a good job of fixing vandalism and warning off vandals - if you don't want to receive messages intended for other people, I suggest you register for an account (registered users don't share talk pages with anyone, even if they're on the same computer as you). Additionally, your comment "You should really calm down and take something for that, I'm serious." is inappropriate. Apologise. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:46, 7 December 2005 (UTC)>>>

WAAAAHHAHAHAA I'm sorry I'm sorry I've been a bad boy please please let me keep updating entries on your webbysite!!! You babies.... Let me ask you something, and I'm being totally serious. Have you ever even met Jtdirl? Better yet, how long is it since you’ve gotten your presumably fat and ugly ass out of your chair and gotten a piece? And I’m not talking about pie. Well, sort of.

I thought this website was pretty cool until I discovered limp dicks like you. And the edit that my coworker did? His brother got a purple heart, and is still recovering from his shrapnel wounds in Iraq. Stupid edit indeed. And your asking me to “apologise”? Hilarious! You’re not my mommy, and my mommy had the brains to teach me how to spell apologize.

Anyway, if you want to block this IP address, go for it baby. There’s 100 computers where I work, so I’ll just move over 3 feet. It’s on baby! Hahahaahaa…. http://www.wikipediasucks.com/

ps- If that's your real name, I really am sorry. I'm a proud Irish-American, but Finlay McWalter?? It sounds like an Irish porn star! "Ahh lassie, take off yer britches!"

Chinese linking rings

It has just been linked from /. (slashdot): http://developers.slashdot.org/developers/05/12/08/1317246.shtml?tid=156&tid=185&tid=3 I thought the name of the template is self-explanatory, but it seems that it has been reworded to be more general. --Vlad 16:12, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

Sorry.

I realize that only an administrator can block. I thought a bluff couldn't hurt since he was only adding silly things.Joe12569 21:57, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

We need to go through the normal pattern of {{test1}}, {{test2}}, etc., although it's sometimes appropriate to skip some (or in very extreme cases all) when the vandalism is worse than average. Frankly his vandalism was rather less nasty than average. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:59, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

I just used the sandbox.

There- are you happy now?Where There's News, There's Action 22:39, 9 December 2005 (UTC) Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Sandbox&oldid=30763979

Tera Patrick

Discussion moved to Talk:Tera Patrick#More on ethnicity for more public comment

from Supercool Manchu

Thank You, I made the Bill Sienkiewicz pic, and I have added my permission in the image. It is the first time that I put a image in wiki, if I put bad the image permission, please tell me. User:Supercool Manchu | Talk 23:14, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for your revert on my article about Compassion Over Killing. I realise the abbreviation is sort of asking for it! Archer7 19:37, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

Thanks For Your Help

Thanks for your help in blocking that one vandal on the featured article on the Yuan. It was kind of hairy seeing so many instances of vandalism in so short of a period of time. Thanks for helping to revert versions of the article and thanks for blocking that one vandal, once again. Boneheadmx 19:54, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

No problem; it's rather more for a non-admin like you to revert than for we lazy admins. This is perhaps slightly more vandalism than the average featured article generally gets, something that's probably more a function of Wikipedia's recent publicity than anything to do with the specific article. Some folks preemptively add the forthcoming front-page stories (listed at Wikipedia talk:Tomorrow's featured article) so you get a jump on the vandals. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:01, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

Revert

Thanks for reverting Flarn2005's edit to my userpage. I only noticed it today... - Mgm|^(talk) 12:06, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

KarateKid7/John79 - and now - "Bill the Bear"

You might want to have a look at User_talk:Bill the Bear and his "contributions". I reckon that the dead have arisen again... Camillus^{talk|contribs} 20:21, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

I am not this person, and I think that this sneaky behaviour is quite low. I saw this issue being discussed on another website and felt that a user was unfairly blocked. No doubt I will be blocked to prevent the truth from appearing.Bill the Bear 20:45, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

Please provide a link to this other website. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:56, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

Bil the Bear is not my sockpuppet. Jtdirl abuses his admin powers. Karatekid7 18:48, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

Let's examine the evidence:

KK7 edits only articles related to Celtic and "Catholics" (with a slight foray into Mark Walters from May to 02:12, December 13th, 2005. blocked.

83 minutes later, John79 arrives and edits only articles related to Celtic and "Catholics" from 03:25, December 13th, 2005 to 17:39. blocked.

67 minutes later, B the B arrives and edits Jock Stein, with the same dubious slander from 18:46, December 13th, to 0:30, 14th. blocked.

The next day, KK7 re-appears, and edits only articles related to Celtic and "Catholics" from 0:28 15th Dec.

Notice: no overlap between edits.

If these three are not sock-puppets, I guess we can only assume they share a brain. Camillus^{talk|contribs} 16:46, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

here we go snitching to admins and personal attacks, Camillus's speciality. Karatekid7 17:22, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

Atonement!

I've edited another page with a helpful change. Does this help atone for my vandalism?

Tony Blair - picture vandalised

Finlay, the photo of Tony Blair is currently that of a VW Polo or something. I'm assuming some funtwit has uploaded a photo with the same name and overwritten the original. Have to admit it's one thing I'm not sure of how to fix yet! IainP (talk) 23:13, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

Never mind - I notice you just replied on the Blair Talk page! IainP (talk) 23:17, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

You can fix this yourself, pretty easily. Go to the image page, find the good revision, and hit the "rev" link beside it. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:19, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

Note that you can't watch an image (which I think is a bug), but you can keep a tab open with the upload log for that page - like this. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:23, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

Ah - handy. Thanks for that. I may use it on some of the pages I'm watching IainP (talk) 09:53, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

User 69.73.36.233

Please see User_talk:69.73.36.233 for more information, more vandalism from this user. --ORBIT 06:33, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

Tri Nations Series/Point Sheet

Hi Finlay,

I have moved the points worksheet to Talk:Tri Nations Series/Points Sheet.. I hope that smooths out the rough edge in your report. :-) --Stormie 14:07, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

Thanks. Every little helps (but man, there's a lot of rough edges). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:13, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

Glasgow Uni

Hi! I saw you have taken a picture of the Computing Science buildings for the Glasgow Uni page. I was wondering if you could help me in my decision of what university to go to to study computing. I've applied to Glasgow and Strathclyde, but I would love to talk to someone who has been to Glasgow for their feedback. It'd be great if you could help with this. If you can please reply to this comment or catch me on MSN at email address now removed by authour. Much appreciated! Thanks.

2006 honours

Hi. I see you had same idea as I had, but before ;) Do you think it would make sense to make a tabulated list of all honours granted in the article namespace?

Morwen - Talk 18:03, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

I do think there should be an article in the namespace, but not an exhaustive one. Most of the recipients are worthy, but not notable, types: dinnerladies, quangocrats, and more than a few cronies. For an exhaustive list we might as well put the PDF's contents at Wikisource (but that's not really something I'm interested in making look nice), although I imagine the list could be considered to be crown copyright. I think our Wikipedia article should be rather different than my current sandbox thing, perhaps something like:

• An introduction describing the "character" of the awards (in this case, it's characterised by having so many people connected with the underground bombings, and by the ashes team)
• A section listing the underground bombing recipients (with no expectation that 95% of them will ever have an article)
• A section for the cricket thing (the team and the associated folks who got awards) - and an incidental mention of the women's captain who also got an award, I think
• A section listing the political awardees (only listing those who have, or might reasonably expected to get, an article)
• A section listing the entertainment awardees (ditto)
• A section listing the business, education, etc. folks (ditto). Of this only Teasdale (no article) and Bill Gammell stand out to me.

I confess I'm not overly interested in honours etc., but instead viewed the list as an opportunity to spot some folks who really are notable (Teasdale, Una McLean, cricket selector David Graveney and maybe Peter Clarke (police officer) in particular). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:19, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

Yep, agree. I'm not proposing we have articles on everyone, but having accidental discovery of bluelinks would be good. Morwen - Talk 18:23, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

Fundació Joan Miró

I've created a stub. Illustrate, expand or edit as the spirit moves you. --Dystopos 18:49, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Your attacker

Has been blocked for 48 hours. Feel free to increase that if I was too lenient. --GraemeL ^(talk) 18:29, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. It's altogether better if someone else makes that call. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:33, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

User page

Thanks for reverting my user page. Someone seems to be pretty busy putting sockpuppet tags. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 13:54, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

License Question

Got you note about the picture on the Brandy Alexandre page. The only choices I saw for a tag didn't quite fit it. What should I put in for one of my own personal pictures of myself? I am the copyright holder, but I don't want to grant global use for it. It's for Wikipedia.  :) --SavvyCat 15:54, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

I've replied at User talk:SavvyCat -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:06, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

why did you add a edit button to your pages

Sorry for the DELAY

• You posted a note on my talk on Dec 16th asking for action that I don't understand. I'm afraid I've been down (volunteering) helping clean up after Katrina (there are so many homeless now, and the city is soooo cripled still) and haven't been active on Wiki, but the query suggests that a copy of an item of interest in my name space is somehow in public space. You'd best see my Talk page, vice a lengthier text here. If you still have a problem, email me and I'll see what I can do. As far as I know, this is not in article space, and the copy is for ease of reference in policy discussions, currently suspended during my inactivity. Happy New Year. Frank <font color="blue">Fra[[User talk:Fabartus|<font color="green">nkB]] 01:32, 14 January 2006 (UTC)
  • DaOH! re: "... didn't have the space between user and talk originally" !!!
• (Damn Computers would be great if they simply did what you wanted without taking you literally!) Have a great year! (Sorry for the typo and trouble)
  • User:Fabartus (My 'SIG' appears to be broken, so I'll spare you!)

Elevator levitation

Please contribute to the discussion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Elevator levitation. Uncle G 03:31, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

Area 51

See:[1] and [2].--Arado 12:01, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

Apology

We are sorry for the 'hotrocks' (User:Hotrocks) vandalism - instead we agree to become good contributors - and we have decided that we don't get any entertainment out of it.
This is a genuine apology and we are sorry.
We will instead use Uncyclopedia where it is legitimate to make hoax articles. Apologies again,
--Hutracks 11:49, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Fair use photos

Finlay, I would appreciate your input on a couple of photos I uploaded under fair use (one of which, Adele Stevens, I have since received permission directly from the site to use) which I believe shouldn't be up for deletion. The second photo, Lexie Karlsen, I am awaiting a response on from the assistant publisher, but either way I feel it is acceptable under fair use as well (I uploaded it under Promotional, another editor has called it a magazine cover, and if need be it could be listed it under a more general fair use template). Wikipedia:Images and media for deletion/2006 January 31 --Alsayid 08:57, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

Well, they can't be fair use without a detailed fair-use rationale, specific to a given article, on the image page. Secondly, a "permission" isn't really good enough, as these generally come in the form "yes, it's okay to use this on wikipedia". For an image to be free, it has to be available for use in any context, and available in a wikipedia friendly licence (GFDL or CC-BY-SA), which frankly is something commercial copyright owners are (understandably) loathe to do. As to what is and isn't a promotional image, I'm generally rather more inclined to be believe DVD covers or IMDB promos (released by a film company) are more likely to be undeniably of a promotional nature. The Adele Stevens TGP is undoubtedly promotional, but it can certainly be argued that it's promotional of Danni.com, not of Adele Stevens, so the case is a bit weakened there. The Stuff image case is weaker still. In both you'd be much better to get an image from the relevant model's own website, rather than that of some third party. If you do intend to claim these as fair use, I'd certainly 1) add a detailed fair use rationale to each image page, and 2) downsize them to the actual size they're used on the relevant webpages (and include them there using the "framed" rather than "thumbnail" markup). But I'd first search image sites like Flikr, as you'll often find normal-person-taken images of models and actors taken at public appearances - even if the Flikr photographer has licenced the image in a Wikipedia-unfriendly manner (such as cc-by-nc) I've found that people are often flattered by a polite email asking to use their image on Wikipedia, and I've had good luck getting images released by Flikr contributors under cc-by-sa or gfdl. We vastly overuse and abuse fair-use, and I suspect 99% of our uses of it would be laughed out of court if anyone actually bothered to sue us over it. We should certainly be doing whatever we can to avoid their use. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:25, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for your detailed response. Regarding DVD covers I have seen some argue (I believe too strictly) that they shouldn't be used at all unless an article itself is about the DVD. I've seen others argue that it should be acceptable, as long as mention of the actor or actress in that DVD is made. Regarding IMDB images, I've seen some put up for deletion under the claim that IMDB images should be off limits. Others still seem to just not like the concept of fair use to begin with. I have looked at some of your photo uploads, and while they would be fine by me, I can't help thinking much of whether or not a photo is nominated for deletion (and possibly deleted) is based on random luck and caprice. :( One of the main problems, as I see it, is that the various templates on fair use were first created and expanded upon to help explain usage, but unaware of this, many editors have since assumed them to be ironclad limitations on usage.

Regarding my first image, I didn't mean to imply that I used the Permission template, which I understand has been phased out, but that I received the approval of Danni.com to use the image, provided that a link back to the site is given. For this I used the accepted CopyrightedFreeUseProvidedThat. Sorry to have not been clearer. Regarding the second image, I took your advice and uploaded a reduced size image, placed it in the article using "framed" instead of "thumbnail," and provided a detailed rationale on why the image is fair use on the image page. Another member objected to it being under Promotional, so I changed it to Fair Use In|article. I have done what I can, and I hope this is satisfactory enough for a keep. --Alsayid 19:07, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

They did it again and earned a block

User talk:194.126.204.12 continued to ad-spam. Alienus 22:58, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

first single........!!!!!!

- - hi....... - - my band has just released its first single....... and if its possible please download it and listen to it.....and rate it if you can...... if you like the song please send the link to your friends.... Please dont hesistate to ask for more details about the band or the lyrics.... - - [[3]] - - Thanks a lot.... - - Jayant, 17 Years, India|^(Talk) 07:17, 13 February 2006 (UTC) == Deleting an article? -- - Billlion I have no idea how to go about contacting an admin to delete an artice. Can you explain how this works so we can fix the I14 and Ifourteen pages? Thanks.

Walace Stevens Poll

This is to invite you to respond to the editors poll on the Wallace Stevens talk page at Talk:Wallace_Stevens#Editors_Poll. You have either contributed to the talk page or have made a substantial contribution to the encyclopedia page within the past three months. Thank you. --Halcatalyst 01:43, 25 February 2006 (UTC) Thanks for experimenting with Wikipedia. Your test worked, and has been reverted or removed. Please use the sandbox for any other tests you want to do. Take a look at the welcome page if you would like to learn more about contributing to our encyclopedia. Thanks.

Afd

Dont you love censure? How about joining my guild? --Striver 20:30, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

Help for newcomer

Looking for some guidance concerning this article Crissy Doll...sorry I dont know how to add a link.

I am new to Wikipedia and not sure if this should be edited or recommended for AfD since the author of the article Crissy Doll also authored the book and website that are the only references listed.

It could be the author was not aware that Wikipedia is not intended to be a means to garner more hits to a website, or promote a publication even if the article contains sound information -- however by listing only references to their own published material and not other Crissy Doll publications when they do exist and are available seems to smack of deliberately excluding others and is not in the community spirit of Wikipedia.

Checking History you can see the author's name, and Google searches reveal that this same person wrote the referenced book and also runs the only referenced website.

How would you judge this? I will check back for your reply. Thanks.

User:Harry Potter and the Gold Fires

User:Harry Potter and the Gold Fires (talk) is a reincarnation of exactly how many accounts? Are you aware of the number? Please respond on my talk page. —Eternal Equinox | talk 00:26, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

I suppose you're right. I'm not an administrator, so I cannot help with blocking the reincarnation accounts, however, if I ever appear to come across an account that seems suspicious, I will notify you. —Eternal Equinox | talk 00:31, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

I see, I see. Whatever the situation may be, I'll keep a close-eye on the several vandalism pages, and as I've mentioned, your page. —Eternal Equinox | talk 00:35, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

I blocked the 'Hotrocks' vandal from accessing Wikipedia using the HOSTS file. Now he can't vandalize Wikipedia anymore. --Craig Whitford 13:57, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

Tryptophan synthase scientific name

Sorry to disagree with you but this article is spoof and so is Methionylglutaminyl...serine, I have two reasons for that, first it is not a practice to name a protein by it's residue sequence there are rules to name enzymes; my second reason is that if it was an accepted way of naming such a protein, its name would be a rather short name compared to many proteins and is therefore inacurate. In addition, it is not possible to name a protein by its sequence because it varies from one species to another not only in sequence but in length. I checked Tryptophan synthase it varies between 300 and 700 residues. User:Lord Roghen added some references in the article coming from the Guiness Book of World Records, I doubt this reference is correct and looks more like a prank. It was not my intention to bite a newbie, my suspicion is that User:Lord Roghen is in fact a sockpuppet. Please feel free to discuss that matter with me. Blastwizard 12:58, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

If you think Methionylglutaminyl...serine is a hoax, please nominate it for deletion on WP:AFD. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 13:54, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

User:Reindeer

I thought you might be interested to know that Reindeer, who you gave a rather stern 'this is the last warning you will ever get' warning to has been vandalising again [4]. All I can do is warn him (again!)... perhaps an admin such as yourself could do something more pro-active now? Cheers Robdurbar 20:35, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

Hellinterface

Just dropped by to say thanks for the welcome note. Cheers! Hellinterface 10:57, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

3 posting rule

Thanks for the warning on the three posting rule. I am attempting to follow established guidelines with my edits but did not know about the three post rule. Thanks, I will keep it under three!

User:Photosynthesis Man

I have a suspicious feeling that Photosynthesis Man (talk) is a reincarnation of User:Harry Potter and the Gold Fires (talk). Their contributions are similar, and both added tags to the Kelly Clarkson article when unnecessary. Also, both accounts edited Girls Aloud. I've also reported this incident to WP:AN/I. —Eternal Equinox | talk 23:05, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Situation sorted out. User has been blocked. —Eternal Equinox | talk 23:42, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

?

Just curious but what was the point of the Shetland revert/unrevert?

Revert: misclick (the rollback button is right beside another link). Unrevert: fixing mistake. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 01:50, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

?

I don't understand what you refered to. What vandalism? Ricardo Lagos 22:11, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

I have seen what you were referring to. It was a hack. On another note, please visit my RfA.

Thanks !

Finlay, many thanks for fixing the problem with my image. Very much appreciated. Angus McLellan 15:20, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Peer review/Forth Road Bridge/archive1

Firstly, I'd like to thank you for your constructive criticism - not the first time you've lended a hand to one of my projects too and I appreciate that.

Regarding the specific points, I'd be delighted if you could add the suggeted east central Scotland map (even if it takes a month) and the toll table wheel. I'll be honest; the only reason the current table is left-aligned is because I was struggling with the table syntax for borders, making it look poor when right-aligned!

The photographs I will endeavour for, next time I am in the area, which might be this Friday, fingers crossed. Hopefully I can also gleam some info about the economic impact, but it's tricky to source, certainly with a basic Google search anyway.

I can't get a toll levy history for your planned annual traffic numbers vs. tolls graph - if you can, the FETA website has all the traffic level info needed. Actually, a quick double check shows it doesn't have year-on-year statistics, this sub-page does instead.

Again, ta muchly. Erath 17:13, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

CSD versus PROD (with regard to Iq content)

Are you unfamiliar with Proposed Deletion? Both myself and Mithent proposed the article Iq content for deletion. This is not the same as CSD, so deletion proposals are not limited to the CSD criteria as you suggest in your reversion comments.

Proposed Deletion.

Hynca-Hooley 00:17, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

• Further to this comment, the article concerned has now been through the AfD process and was deleted. Hynca-Hooley 00:52, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

TGN1412

Thanks for your info from Channel 4 News. Are you able to confirm the date (2006-03-16?) and perhaps even the name of the spokeperson? It would be good to add a "cite news" references for this comment. Colin°^Talk 23:32, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

Yes, it was today. I didn't note the spokesman's name. While C4News's website has an article about TGN1412, they haven't updated it with the info from that interview. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:38, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

Successful RfA

Thanks for your support and kind words on my recent RfA, which I am pleased to say passed with a final tally of 80/1/1. If you ever need any help, or if I mess something up as an admin, please let me know. Cactus.man ✍ 07:30, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

Smackbot escaping apostrophies

In this edit Smackbot inadvertently escaped the apostrophies in the title "Appearances in Playboy special editions". I've reverted this one, but I guess it's likely the same snafu has occurred elsewhere. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 16:30, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for telling me, it's only in some of the playmates articles. I promised to fix this, and am now doing so. Thanks again. Rich Farmbrough 00:09 19 March 2006 (UTC).

All fixed. If you see any more problems, please let me know.Rich Farmbrough 11:19 19 March 2006 (UTC).

From Sanka123

Please do not mess with my talk page. If you keep defacing my talk page I will make sure you get banned from wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sanka123 (talk • contribs) ==Islay links== Yes, that's fine with me. One relevant link is useful; twenty added regardless of relevance is linkspam. Thanks for letting me know! Warofdreams talk 21:21, 26 March 2006 (UTC)

Magic

Hello,

Sorry for the vandalising, I did not know what else do to.

I very strongly disagree that magic secrets should be revealed here. Magicians sell effects for money and in return provide someone with the effect. The fact that wikipedia is so big now makes it an easy source for people to find the secrets to effects.

As a magician, I hate the idea of the internet becoming an easy source to find secrets. You claim that wikipedia has decided to allow this to happen, but were magicians involved there?

Apologies again for the vandalising, i honestly did not know what else to do.

Please reply and help me here, I think this is very wrong.

Marc (Magicmarc)

Magic

I am in the process of talking to many many magicians and we all very much strongly disagree that magic secrets should be revealed here.

It it NOT vandalism and I am NOT the only one doing this.

Magicians make a living selling these secrets. No props, but secrets. It may not be in breach of copyright, but you must understand, magic is an art and doing this ruins the art.

I will soon link you to forums of many magicians discussions regarding this.

This is URGENT. Its not just my opinion, but this is very wrong.

Thanks

Please reply with your opinion !

Marc --marc 07:16, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

Request

Hi Finlay,

My name is Fernanda Viégas and I have been studying Wikipedia for a while now (you can see a paper I published on the subject here). I would like to ask you a few questions about your activities as a Wikipedia photographer. I am fascinated by the pictorial side of Wikipedia and it would be great to hear about this community from one of its members. Would you be available for an email interview? Thanks, — Fernanda 00:29, 4 April 2006 (UTC) | talk

Hi again, Finlay. I have started sending out the questionnaire to participants in the study and it would be great if you could participate too. If you'd like to get in touch with me via email, please use the "Email this user" feature on my page. Thanks! — Fernanda 20:44, 4 April 2006 (UTC) | talk

HEEEY

You deleted "It's really big", I just cannot believe someone would do that. I was correct in the edit and you were horrible. —This unsigned comment was added by Spiderdan (talk • contribs) .

Ouch you have sliced my heart in two

AND my essential Cobble Hill Tunnel edit; what are you, stalking me?! —This unsigned comment was added by Spiderdan (talk • contribs) .

I'm terrified

"Oh god no!" blurted Daniel, sarcastically petrified. —This unsigned comment was added by Spiderdan (talk • contribs) .

date format

Just noticed your revert on George Best - I thought the date worked both ways. Jooler 21:50, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I just tested it and you're absolutely right. I'm fairly sure only the December 4 style used work. Or perhaps I've just lost yet another marble. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 01:52, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

Specify an email

Hello, just a casual note. Could you please specify your email address so that users can email you about Wikipedia stuff. Thanks. --Terence Ong 10:00, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Donald Rumsfeld "Blanking" Photo

The image I edited out of the article had clearly been edited so that Mr. Rumsfeld appeared to be wearing a ridiculous pair of boots. One of the boots (if you choose to inspect the image) is not quite in line with his foot. Also, in order for Mr. Rumfeld to have been wearing the boots in the photo, one of his legs would have to be significantly longer than the other.

Thank you for your Concern.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by SubTACanWor (talk • contribs) 14 April 2006 (UTC)

If I can trouble you for a little feedback

I got sidetracked into this 'gem' (Ahem) and we haven't touched base for a while. Actually, a long while -- July or August, iirc.

It's not quite a party, but...

You are cordially invited to pick on Frank:
(Beats handling problems!<G>)
re: Request some 'peer review' (Talkpage sections detailing concerns)] on new article: Arsenal of Democracy This post is being made Friday 14 April 2006 to a double handful (spam?) of admins & editors for some reactions, and advice (Peer Review) on this article, and it's remaining development, as I'd like to put it to bed ASAP. (Drop in's welcome too!) Your advice would be valuable and appreciated. Replies on talk link (above) indicated. Thanks! FrankB 20:30, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

• I just ripped this off my talk cleaning up for a WikiDayOff tomarrow, and realized you weren't an invitee on the above. Apologies. I've gotten some good input, but can use more. Bear in mind to go to the talk section link first for the brief, then the article. The issue is really how to design an article covering the topic. This 'draft' just sort of 'happened', as is explained. (btw- if you don't like history, don't bother! <G>)

Best!

Hello

I believe that there were a few other registered users with the same intention as those that had vandalized Kelly Clarkson and the girl group whose name I cannot remember. However, I don't believe it is really worth keeping track of this saga any longer. Any comments? —Eternal Equinox | talk 14:19, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

I can't help it

I can't help it i've got some very important info on wikipedia but it deletes it not adds it x —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bob200607 (talk • contribs)

Huh

Why do you think they are others' comments?

Because your IP has no contribs before today. If you are someone else, sign in. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:02, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't want to sign in.

I don't believe you're Anthony anyway. Change his comments again and you're blocked. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:05, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Well I am. Continue to violate the 3RR, and you'll be blocked.

By whom? Certainly not by you. User:Zoe|^(talk) 02:18, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

More thanks!

Thanks for keeping an eye on my talk page! -- Arwel (talk) 02:12, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Hi. McWalter.

Hi McWalter. I'm DAniel5127. Thanks you for giving him or her warning who vandalized the page on Homosexuality. Anyways, I was going to give him or her warning. But you did it immediately. Anyways, Thanks you for catching him or her. Daniel5127 03:28, 26 April 2006(UTC).

Thanks re: PGO neologism

Just curious .... did I miss something obvious how I could have done this myself? Also, the message about "This is a candidate for speedy deletion" could be improved by having a neologism link. I tried to find this message and Be Bold to add such a link, but couldn't find it. ---Lynn 14:12, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

No, you couldn't have retrieved it yourself - only an administrator can see and undelete deleted files. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 16:08, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

National anthem of Scotland

The proposed new National anthem of Scotland article sounds an excellent idea. --Mais oui! 13:48, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

user:John79

Could you unblock this account please? I do not intend to use it and fully accept that it is an alternative account. --Karatekid7 16:37, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

Help with GCOS pages

Thank you for fixing my mistake. I have some problems with redirects. Hopefully, now that I have the proper instructions, it won't happen again. --Tone 14:10, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

Ok, another question about redirects. I am just moving all the Futurama episodes articles to names XX (Futurama episode). Now I came across Space Pilot 3000 that is already a redirect from Space Pilot 3000 (Futurama episode). How to proceed in this way? Would I need admin tools to fix it? Thanks in advance. --Tone 17:50, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the reversion

Thanks for reverting my little joke page. Mr. Lefty _{Talk to me!} 16:24, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

Vandalism of talk pages

I know that they are alternative accounts but I would prefer that you did not vandalise the talk pages of my alternative accounts. thank you. --Karatekid7 04:19, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

Karatekid7 has smiled at you! Smiles promote WikiLove and hopefully this one has made your day better. Spread the WikiLove by smiling to someone else, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past or a good friend. Smile to others by adding {{subst:smile}}, {{subst:smile2}} or {{subst:smile3}} to their talk pages. Happy editing!

Thanks

For doing the chopping of the Melanie Slade pic url - forgot about that!!! Robertsteadman 13:20, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

User:WillyfromWavertreeMerseyside

It's definitely a Willy on Wheels vandal, I've just warned my friend not to do any more Willy-style vandalism on the public terminals. He's not Hotrocks, whoever he is! Just posting for confirmation. --Sunwood 11:13, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Re: Welcome.

Hi there, Thanks for the welcome, I shall try and keep an eye out for any "Un-noteworthy" adds to the notable alumni list, though at the moment, (to me at least) most of those people hold some standing in the scottish arts scene.

I'm not really sure how notable someone really has to be to be included, so any help there would be appreciated.

Hopefully I've posted this correctly. Slipmesomething 20:53, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

The Edinburgh article

Please see Talk:Edinburgh. --Sunfazer | Talk 12:25, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

Quorn

You've certainly spent some time on the Quorn page! Looking good. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.43.213.28 (talk • contribs) 23 May 2006 (UTC)

My "inappropriate" Edits

Ok, even though I'm telling people what they need to hear, and it should be allowed, I'll stop doing it. But these stpid vandals and grammar n00bs need to hear stuff like that EVERY DAY. They deserve it, and it SHOULD be allowed. Nothing pisses me off more than vandals and people who are too lazy to try to use proper grammar. I mean simple stuff like amount of spacing, apostrophes. I don't expect everybody to have perfect grammar, I don't, but at least try.--WatchHawk 04:33, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Glasgow Subway

Just to say i have created articles on all the stations of the Glasgow Sub but they need vast expansion. Also see Talk:Glasgow Subway. Simply south 22:34, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Interesting username

Patsy Ramsey

I noted your comment on the Miss West Virgina USA talk page - here is my reply:

The AP obit for Patsy Ramsey (mother of JonBenét Ramsey) says Patsy "was born in Parkersburg, W.Va., on Dec. 29, 1956. She was crowned Miss West Virginia in 1977.". I see we list a (redlink) Pat Brown, so I think we should probably make that link point to Patsy (who is a redirect to her daughter, but who should probably have her own article). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 23:27, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Wrong competition. This page is for Miss West Virginia USA (feeding into the Miss USA contest), Patsy Ramsey was Miss West Virginia (which feeds into Miss America). As yet there is no Miss West Virginia page (I'm currently working on all the Miss America state pages) but I'll try and get it up asap. Patsy's name when she won the pageant was "Patricia Ann Paugh" and her sister was "Pamela Ellen Paugh" -- PageantUpdater • talk | contribs | esperanza 00:06, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for checking up on that (now I'm super glad I didn't just make the change). Darn, these beauty pageant names make my brain hurt - I had similar problems with Miss Great Britain and Miss United Kingdom. Perhaps, like boxers, beauty queens should hold "unification bouts" :) -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 00:09, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

Shetlopedia.com

Finlay. I notice you've made some additions to the Shetland Islands pages, including a map of Shetland. Would it be possible for the map you created to be re-used on another site Shetlopedia.com. Shetlopedia.com is a Shetland Specific Encyclopedia, and it needs a map. Would that be OK?

Regards GRJ

Sure. I see Shetlopedia is GFDL licenced, as the map is (so you really didn't need to ask me, but I appreciate it anyway). Additionally, I'd welcome comments and corrections to the map (are all those thing shown as separate islands really so, and those things shown as peninsulas really so? Are the towns shown the appropriate ones? Are the ferry routes shown correct and complete? Stuff like that. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:20, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you. I know I didn't have to ask, but thought that it was polite to do so. The map looks fairly accurate, but I'll ask people to make any comments on it and pass them back to you.

Thanks again. GRJ

Images of Scotland

Hello, I found your name on the Press Corp Meta site while looking for images of Scotland. If you're ever in Perth and Kinross (or know somebody from that area), could you upload some images of Glen Shee (scenes from the actual glen, not the ski centre). Some articles about that area that need images are Glenshee, Shee Water, Finegand, Spittal of Glenshee and probably a few others. Thanks.--WilliamThweatt 04:17, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

delisting

hi there, i just want to tell you that the this image:

is being nominated for delisting--Vircabutar 20:00, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Area 51 Anonymous

Now has a name. At your suggestion. Thank you, and thank you. (Renyseneb 06:56, 8 August 2006 (UTC))

Melrose, Scotland

This is a while back, but you added Latterly the town became home to many textile mills to this article. I was wondering what your source is, as it sounds rather like 1991 EB. I've only visited Melrose once, but I didn't notice any mills, unlike say Galashiels. --JBellis 18:24, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Gosh, that was a long time ago (in the dark days before the innovation of the "reference"); I've really no idea what the source was (I was there a few months before that, and I added a bunch of stuff based on touristy-handout type things). A check of Undiscovered Scotland explicitly says Melrose wasn't a mill town, as you say. I'll remove that; I don't think anything else I added is cobblers. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:23, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

The confusion may have arisen over the Abbey's role in the wool industry - at one point I believe it had a huge flock of sheep, but the mills were, as you say, elsewhere. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 20:44, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Commons FP nomination

I have nominated one of your maps on area 51 for commons FP hope you dont mind. Commons:Featured pictures candidates/Image:Wfm area51 map en.png --Gnangarra 01:05, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

This nomination is actually encountering some stiff resistance (partly from those who object to maps as FP candidates in general, but also from those who would prefer to see a SVG version). I wonder if you've ever uploaded the SVG source file (here or in Commons)? QuartierLatin1968 00:36, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

Thank you!

Thank you for pointing out my mistake! EldaW

Much needed reformation

Glad to see someone turning their hand to the Reformation: the complexity and misleading myths surrounding it were made clear to me by RCpaterson who would be of terrific assistance here had he not been rather put off by certain incidents. I'm trying to push for a small reformation here but, as you'll see from the comments and sections that follow that heading, those that are keen on criticising don't much seem to like criticism. Your comments would be welcome, or if it's not your scene, can you suggest anyone else who might think this is worth pursuing? ...dave souza, talk 21:56, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

Hmm, not really. Nothing fills me with a more visceral "back in highschool" dread than Scottish history. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 22:16, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

Your wisdom in keeping clear of bunfights is appreciated. You'd probably not be interested in Taynuilt having the first Nelson monument, a diversion I'd just been diverted from. Get me head down and back to constructive editing... dave souza, talk 14:01, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Stata Center

Sorry, issue resolved.

24.6.63.156 22:34, 15 September 2006 (UTC) Edited: 24.6.63.156 22:42, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Revert

I reverted your user page. A sockpuppet of user:Robertjkoenig, who despises USAA seems to have thought that you and I are the same person so he posted the same message on both of our user pages. I figured you probably wouldn't want it there, so I took the liberty of reverting your user page to the way it was before he messed with it. --Swizzlez 22:54, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Reference desk:PC Speaker

Hi, you referred me to an old discussion about audio drivers and directsound, which was answering one users questions about getting sound of his computer which did not have any soundcard or chip of any kind, after I answered another users question about using his PC speaker to process sounds from his (I presume) inboard sound processing device. Although I can see clearly that the program I suggested Computing#Internal_Speaker is only supported up until WindowsME, there are no indications that I can find online that show it will not work for WindowsXP. Regardless of if it will work for him or not (he didn't specify his OS, so I can only do with what I have), I fail to see how the discussion you forwarded me to has any connection with this PC speaker issue, nor how it explains why support was "dropped", and why it was a "stupid idea". Lastly, I'm not sure why you resort to strong words to refer to the fate of something as simple and minor as using a PC speaker to produce sounds instead of speakers, something that I would think is a perfectly convenient thing to want to do.  freshofftheufoΓΛĿЌ  15:10, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Thanks!

Thanks for taking care of that abnoxious user. Too bad it didin't work out for him. HP 50g 22:04, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Tapas

Hi Finlay - having belatedly read the rules I note that "A website that you own or maintain, even if the guidelines above imply that it should be linked to. This is because of neutrality and point-of-view concerns....etc." It is a fair point of view and I shall therefore abide by your decision to remove the link. Frazer Sheppard

ADD - I notice other external links have reappeared and trust you will deal with them in an even-handed manner?

Finlay...Tnx for that Info on England Scotland and Wales--

April 15

why was it then , that when I searched for 15 april , I did not find it?

Trouserdemon 21:00, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

update: thankyou for your time ,questions answered

User:Dikdik

Gosh, I was just about to add that to Netsnipe's page, but you beat me to the punch. I was incredulous that user was only given one week block earlier. -Patstuart^{(talk)(contribs)} 21:22, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

It's nice that we continue to hope that bad editors can turn out good; it rarely if ever happens, but we can't give up. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:33, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

richsky

well thanks, i was flying back to san francisco from vancouver when i noticed i was flying over my hometown, and luckily i had like 2 pics left on my memory card so i snapped em and added em here, thanks for the improvements. Qrc2006 00:58, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Gummybearsgonewild

I've noticed that Gummybearsgonewild has blanked his talk page several times, which had warnings on them. He has also replaced them with lewd content among other things. I have added several warnings, including a final one. I'm wondering what to do next, if he blanks again should I file a RFC, or should I just take it to administrative action? Just wondering.

Thanks, 5aret 00:50, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Gummybearsgonewild (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) is already permanently blocked. I'd recommend you remove him from your watchlist and leave him to rot. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 08:40, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Will do. Thanks. 5aret 19:36, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Vandalism on Croatia article

I am not experienced with the dealing of vandalism. I warned him multiple times and left a note on the wikipedia vandalism page; but User:Srbin13 still continues with his vandalism, so it would be kind if you could take action. --David Liuzzo 19:54, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

He's already permanently blocked. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 19:55, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for the encouragement, Fin. I had a Wiki account several months ago but have long since forgotten the handle much less the password, so in re-learning the formatting and whatnot I've realized I'm sort of a...er...re-noob? So once again thanks for the warm welcome (and the two quick corrective edits to my new add). Mount Molehill 22:28, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

WikiProject Paranormal

Hi! I saw you've been actively making a lot of good edits in an article covered by our project, so I wanted to invite you to join us! The project is undergoing a large expansion right now, and we need quality editors! We are a WikiProject with the goal of improving the quality of articles having to do with Ufology, Cryptozoology, the Supernatural, and other topics. We provide a centralized forum for concerns that effect multiple articles within our scope, as well as methods to rate and categorize articles by quality, get input on how to improve an article from our other members, and a collaborative project once a month where the whole project pitches in to make an article great. You won't be required to do anything special once you join; all that we ask of members is that they sign our participants page, though if you do join you may also find it useful to add some of our pages (especially our main talk page to your watchlist to keep yourself apprised of what we're up to. If you have questions about any of this, please don't hesitate to contact me directly. Thank you for your time, and happy editing! --InShaneee 14:56, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

Santorum fecal matter page

Clearly you have not read the vandalism standards, guidelines for living/political figures, or even weasel words. You side with a user using bots to force politcal warfare on a pedia meant for neutrality. Be part of the solution, not the problem Finlay. If you call people trying correct abuse vandals then wikipedia will become less and less respected each day.

Sorry about that

I thought it was the discussion page...I'm new to this...thanks for removing the template.--Saavak123 17:34, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Calling edits and dispute tags (constantly removing them without addressing them)as vandalism repeatedly isn't vandalism. It is an edit dispute, which User:Freedom skies refuses to address. Calling people vandals and sock puppets because they are disputing edits and gross factual inaccuracies which are pointed to in the discussion page Buddhism and Hinduism, is abusing editors and users.--Saavak123 17:49, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

also noted, YOU ARE NOT AN ADMIN so stop calling people trolls and threatening bans, unless you want to be reported as well.--Saavak123 17:52, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm sure that's a matter your next sock puppet will get right on :) -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:04, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Requests_for_checkuser/Case/Green23 - please see this, just for confirmation.Bakaman _Bakatalk 18:18, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for restoring sanity in Buddhism and Hinduism article by addressing the actions of Sockpuppets User:Green23, User:Saavak123 and User:216.254.121.169 (last found using Saavak123 account). The unexplained, incessent reverts by the user were as unwanted as the bad faith AfD nomination and the use of Sockpuppets to vote in it. Your timely intervention is much appreciated. Freedom skies 08:36, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Thank you for catching the vandalism on my user page. It is much appreciated. Stealthound 13:33, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for informing me about the copyright problem. I have taken the pictures from a website and am unsure of the copyright tag. If you could help me it would be great! Thanks again. Amanbis

New York meetup

Hmmm ... good point ... I hadn't thought about that. I'll take the risk anyway, but I know there are those who wouldn't. Insofar as the legal threat goes, we can always change the date to Sunday: service of process on Sunday in New York is void. Regards, Newyorkbrad 17:18, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure if you can help me, but I'm going to ask anyway

I noticed that two pages with approximately the same information are currently under 2 names and I would like to propose a merge of the pages. Do you know how I can go about that?--Dleav 14:04, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

you so mean to me

you make me cry

RESPONSE TO CAMEL TOE

This image is not copyright violation. I found it at wikimedia commons. ---Cnguyen

Wikipedia has reached the top of inhumanity

I don't know wether user Duja has mobilized serb nationalist for this ridiculous vote, or if these supposedly non-serbian voters actually are serbs hiding behind wikipedia accounts. No matter what, you are all voting for the removal of a page listing devilish people - and in doing so you do not less than support them! Some call this page POV just because it lists? It's unbelievable - well it wasn't me or any other editor that killed the children or women which earned the criminals a place on the list of serb criminals. Becasue of your scandalous denial and the belief that commited war crimes should be hidden away and forgotten, your deeds will be answered with consequences. I'm sure these consequences allready are present in your lifes to an extent - how can anyone who votes for denial feel good inside there damaged souls? But like I said time will catch up with anyone who does so. Truth always prevails and those who work against it will regret it deeply with time. The moral equivalence that wikipedia's extremely amateuristic writers are trying to follow is horrible, being neutral does not apply when it comes to choosing between the evil and good side, anyone who thinks so automatically has chosen the evil side. Being equivalent in the Bosnian "war" (aggression!), is like being neutral and equivalent to the Holocaust of Jews. We are talking about peaceful human beings killed by humans possesed by evil forces - and you are neutral?, well keep on dreaming..neutral is the last thing you are. I and every peace loving man or women whish you no good, for people like you are the reason of war and misery, sorry but that is the truth - it's an evil path you have choosen for yourselves. My suggestion to you is to try to save yourselves before it is to late and you will regret all you bad acts. (This will probably be removed sooner than I wrote it, obviously another example of denial and injustice) Ancient Land of Bosoni

You're Welcome (Sioux Falls and EROS)

In reply to your remark on my Talk page, I was happy to be able to update that link in Area 51. It was good going on your part to have listed Sioux Falls on the Area 51 page -- I found the issue because Area 51 was listed under "What links here" for Sioux Falls. ;-) --orlady 00:08, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Stephen King Vandalism

The article keeps being vandalized- I've sent a request for semi-protection, but can you please keep watching the article and help me revert the vandalism? Thanks! Nwwaew(My talk page) 18:53, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I blocked the 2nd IP, and I'll keep an eye on the page. Hopefully we can avoid semiprotection . -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:55, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

OK, looks like its clear, so I'm going to pull that semi-protection request (if not already done). Thanks for your help! Nwwaew(My talk page) 18:58, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

And I just posted a message saying the article has returned to normal. Nwwaew(My talk page) 19:02, 3 December 2006 (UTC)