User talk:Walkerma/Archive15

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This is the November 2006 archive of Martin Walker's talk page.

iPod article for Wikipedia CD (version 0.5)

Hi, on 11 October 2006, you tagged the iPod article for inclusion to the Wikipedia CD (version 0.5). I just wanted to ask which version of the article will be used? The iPod article tends to get vandalised a lot, and the latest version, as of 15 October 2006, is a bit bloated and has a few inaccuracies. Also, what is the deadline for it to be copied onto the CD? --IE 18:15, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

If you think a particular version is the best choice for us to use, please let me know and I'll tag that version for inclusion.

Hi, I think this version here is best. It's ID is 78335752 and it's from 28 September 2006. It's concise, fairly accurate, and has all the info about the recent iPod updates of September 2006. Plus, it has been copy edited a lot. Also, I will try to copy-edit and trim down the current version of the article, since that is your preference for article selection --IE 18:14, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Hi. The amount of vandalism the iPod article (and even its talk page) is getting is now becoming too much. Can we get it semi-protected for a while? It's getting difficult to improve it when bits and pieces become deleted/changed after editing. If it can't be protected, do you have suggestions on how to make it easier to edit? --IE 11:25, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

Hi. This version here is now the best one. It's ID is 87975969 and it's from 15 November 2006. It's more up to date, more accurate and concise and had lots of copy-editing.--IE 17:58, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

Hello. This version here is quite good (ID=97402239, from 30 December 2006). It's the one I tagged for the peer review. However, the main image at the top doesn't appear now because the image was moved to Wikimedia commons (by User:HereToHelp) with a different filename (Image:IPod 5G, nano 2G, shuffle 2G.jpg becomes Image:Image-IPod 5G, nano 2G, shuffle 2G.jpg). Also, this version doesn't have any info on the recent announcement of the iPhone. What is the deadline for submission to CD? I would like to tag a more recent version, but the current revision needs lots of copy-editing.--IE 09:29, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

plaudits!

		The Barnstar of Diligence
		I, JoeSmack, award you the Barnstar of Diligence for your earnest and persistent work towards Wikipedia 0.5. I'm here to tell you you've made a difference. Thank you, and keep it up. JoeSmack Talk(p-review!) 06:34, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

IRC meeting

There will be an IRC meeting on Saturday. See Wikipedia talk:Version 1.0 Editorial Team for more details. Eyu100^{(t|fr|Version 1.0 Editorial Team)} 16:32, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

WP:FAC for Lead(II) nitrate

Yoh, Martin, I just put the lead(II) nitrate article up for FA-class. Feel free to contribute your support. Wim van Dorst (Talk) 20:55, 2 November 2006 (UTC).

• Hi Martin, Would you care to add your support to weigh into the discussion? Wim van Dorst (Talk) 16:32, 10 November 2006 (UTC).

Martinbot

What algorithm is the bot using, addition or multiplication, and what are the values? Eyu100^{(t|fr|Version 1.0 Editorial Team)} 01:13, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

Irc SAT

Thanks for invite. Unfortunately am away then. --BozMo talk 10:29, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

Assessment BOT - Core Topics Follow-up

Thanks for your note and follow-up. I have also been away and inactive on this issue. I did though remove my entry from the core topics board on Friday and was considering a next step. I would like to move forward and would appreciate your assistance. Let me know what I can do to support next-steps on this. Internazionale 19:06, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

New template

Hi! You might want to take a look at this template, which is something to post on a talk page when contacting Wikiprojects. This might make contacting Wikiprojects a little bit easier. Eyu100^{(t|fr|Version 1.0 Editorial Team)} 01:47, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Repository

I have submitted a project proposal to SourceForge for a repository. The project is called wikipediacd. Wizzy will probably be the main person using it. Do you think this was a good idea? Eyu100^{(t|fr|Version 1.0 Editorial Team)} 18:01, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like a good idea to me, though I don't know enough about the technical issues to be sure! I'd say that if we could get Emmanuel (Kelson on fr), Polimerek (on pl), Wizzy and yourself all to pool resources there then it would be great. I like the compatibility with Concurrent Versions System. If we can get the Germans to help too, even better - they are the experts in this area, but we don't seem to have good contacts with them. In the meantime we can share things at m:Static version tools, we should be doing this anyway IMHO; I see Wizzy and Emmanuel have already begun to post there. Cheers, Walkerma 06:10, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

You should get a SourceForge account too. I already have one for Flcelloguy's Tool, and it isn't very difficult to obtain or use. Titoxd^(?!?) 23:09, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

I'll look into it after Christmas when things quieten down. Right now, I'm dealing with a dead laptop (hence I couldn't easily help you with reverting Madbot more even if I'd wanted!). Walkerma 16:29, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Hi Martin

Could you tell me EXACTLY where to get all the 0.5 approved articles in a list? Have you finished now? Can I take the list and run with it? --BozMo talk 14:21, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

We will include your final list at the weekend and then do a first run. What are you doing for images in your version?--BozMo talk 22:58, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

Portal:Chemistry

Hi Martin, I noticed that you were the last person active on Portal:Chemistry. I was wondering whether a DYK section would be appropriate - a lot of portals seem to have them, and I've seen many interesting articles added when I'm on NPP. Feel free to get back to me here or on my talk page. Cheers! riana_dzasta 11:42, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for getting back to me! I'm definitely leaning towards organic chemistry at this stage :) As for the Portal, I'll try to take some time out on the weekend, and try moving stuff around/putting stuff in. Take care! riana_dzasta 16:38, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia Weekly (again)

Heya! We're now up to recording for episode 5, and we're finally in a position to talk to you about Wikipedia 0.5. Would you be able to nominate some times, preferably in UTC, when you would be available to talk to us about it? That said, when you do think the launch will be? Thanks! :) Daveydweeb (^chat/_patch) 10:37, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

I originally placed this on your user-page, not here. Apparently my brain no worky at one in the morning. Daveydweeb (^chat/_patch) 01:04, 10 November 2006 (UTC)

Hey, thanks for the reply! Generally we record things all at once for simplicity, but always do the interviews first in order to make it easier on our guests. On the other hand, since it's done out of order anyway, there's no trouble in recording the interview at a totally separate time, and we'll be releasing it at some point on Monday (my time). It would probably be a group discussion between you, User:Fuzheado, possibly User:1ne or User:Tawker (the latter likely won't be around) and I, plus User:Buickid if we can get him. Hope that suits you.

Anyway, this might be easiest to organise if you come on to either IRC or Skype whenever you're ready (or an hour or two before), so we can work out precisely when we'll be able to record. If you add me to your Skype contact list, username "RandyWang", I can add you to a running chat we've been having in which we organise everything. Alternatively, there's always email (daveydweeb@gmail.com) or IRC (#wikipediaweekly). Thanks! --Daveydweeb (^chat/_patch) 23:43, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

E-mail

I didn't see the email that you sent to me a long time ago. After cleaning up spam, I found it and replied to it. This is a reminder to look at it in case it went off your first page. Eyu100^{(t|fr|Version 1.0 Editorial Team)} 16:48, 10 November 2006 (UTC)

Bioguide articles

Hello, I noticed one of your postings on a talk page re: the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress and saw that you are working on 1.0, etc. I wanted to let you know that I've created a whole bundle of articles that are basically copy-and-pastes of Bioguide articles with some formatting to bring them in line with WP style standards (plus the addition of categories, templates etc.) These articles are usually short, but they are also usually 100% verified by the Bioguide, so they are reliably "good articles." All U.S. Congressmen are notable, but of course, not all are notable enough to be put into a CD release or a print edition, so I wouldn't expect that every one of these articles would be graded and selected for inclusion. However, I just wanted to let you know of the presence and generally consistent quality of these articles. I love the 1.0 project and wish that I could do more to contribute - it's truly the future of WP. Regards, Paul 19:49, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

Woah, totally forgot that we did in fact collaborate on Dow. The Rally went superbly well - I didn't make it to Mongolia but I got as far as Tashkent, which, frankly, was good enough for me. I heartily congratulate your progress on the 0.5/1.0 project - please keep me in mind if you think I can be of use to it in the future. Paul 20:17, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

Biglist complete

The final list has been assembled from the category. The category might not have updated everything, so add anything to the biglist that is missing. Otherwise, we shouldn't need to update it. It would be a better idea to use a bot to check for discrepancies so we can do something bots can't do. Eyu100^{(t|fr|Version 1.0 Editorial Team)} 03:28, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks! I'll try and update the big list tonight. Do you have a bot we can use for the comparison? Walkerma 03:46, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

You can have MediaWiki do the comparison. Look here, I already did a chunk of it... :) Titoxd^(?!?) 04:32, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Do you have a list of important redirects? It would improve navigation a lot. Offline search could be very easy or not depending on what software you can reasonably assume a user has (we assumed just a browser). We've run a few tests and decided a live search isn't practical for someone running it but a keyword (pre-indexed) search seemed more likely ? --BozMo talk 09:08, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

I do think this is important, but I do not know how to get those redirects. For instance, on BozMo's original CD China was not on the list - it was People's Republic of China. Without a search, I was stuck. Wizzy…☎ 10:52, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

GAR

Please see [Wikipedia_talk:Good_articles/Review#Using_templates_in_the_GA_review.3F]] Rlevse 11:08, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

Re: RVN

Thanks for the poke, I've replied there now. By the way, get better soon, ok? Titoxd^(?!?) 07:09, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

One thing which bugs me about Wikipedia

Is the way that things which have been discussed and decided sensibly get over-turned over by some developer without any kind of answerability. See [[1]] for example. I am torn between thinking "who cares" and thinking "how dare they". Hmm. --BozMo talk 21:09, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

I'd guess that the Mediawiki software probably has it in by default, and when someone upgraded the Wikipedia software running Wikipedia they just forgot to disable it! So I wouldn't ascribe any dark motive to the secret developers' cabal, I expect it was just an honest mistake! By the way, how are things going on WPCD2? Can I give you a ring this week to talk about this and Version 0.5? We may have some software useful to you (still a bit up in the air as of today). Walkerma 21:18, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Cock-up versus conspiracy? Could be. In general I am pretty busy through to this weekend but next week is much better. Is this indexing software? Or something even better? --BozMo talk 00:01, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

No, this was discussed a while ago on the mailing lists and in meta, but I can't remember which one. It's not a conspiracy, it was pretty conspicuous... Titoxd^(?!?) 03:40, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

So is this the autocratic developers trampling roughshod over the masses? If so, that is very sad. I don't know enough to say, I must have missed the discussion in the mailing lists. I like to think of Wikipedia as the community, namely us, and although sometimes annoying things happen, it's pretty incredible that we have built and are maintaining the world's major source of reference information - I think you have to remember it that way, and remember in any venture there are a lot of bumps in the road. The software does searches while offline, I'll email you the demo I got today (which uses WPCD1 as the test dataset!). I'll give you a ring next week - Tuesday is best for me, would that work for you? If you have Skype, we could perhaps do a 3-way or 4-way conference call? Walkerma 04:50, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

Well, there was actually some support for the <nofollow> idea, at m:Nofollow. This post by Jimbo to Wikitech-l comes to mind, because they did have reasons to disable it. As for giving a ring - were you asking that to me or BozMo? ;) Titoxd^(?!?) 04:56, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

I want to talk with BozMo about sharing scripts/readers and also where our two projects are going, but when I mentioned Skype I was thinking of seeing if BozMo wanted to widen the conversation to include one or more of the other active people (you(Tito)/eyu100/Emmanuel/Wikiwizzy). However, if you're available to talk, Tito, I'd love to have a chat one on one about what still needs to be done on V0.5, where you think things should go, etc. - our time zones are closer, so it's easier for us. We can do this via Skype (I'm listed as Martin Walker) or traditional phone. Walkerma 05:33, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

I have just written out a long and boring explanation of my view on this at User_talk:Pascal.Tesson#Nofollow, including some vague data about me. I don't think it is worth getting sad over mind you.

Meanwhile

Can I ask a small favour/question of you? It relates to physical chemistry (to do with polythene, hot CaCl solution and various types of water-proofed paper)? I am just after a brain dump?--BozMo talk 13:55, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. Here is my bucket chemistry problem. CaCl2 seems to be used in most household dehumidifiers as it is hydroscopic and only mildly nasty. (At least I think its CaCl2: I got as far as a flametest only). Often it is held in place (first as a solid and gradually as a solution) by some form of porous waxed paper glued to polythene. The air generally gets dried after going through the paper slowly. Surprisingly I have found this combination can build up enough pressure of acquired water behind it to burst spectacularly (especially odd as there is no vapour phase so the burst energy must come from the thick polythene container): the waxed paper can keep pressure back well (again, that surprised me). I want to use one of these upside down (so the liquid in the contained is always in contact with the paper) in a coolish (110C say) non-food oven (basically a quick drying oven). I could explain why when I've got time. Will hot CaCl2 solution do anything corrosive to waxed paper or polythene or glue (say I reglue with epoxy-resin)? On the waxed paper side (if I have to replace the waxed paper) does it matter what kind of waxed paper it is? It is pretty blue Peter (or at least the project is for something with my kids). I could just run some tests of course but an educated guess would save me a load of time. --BozMo talk 10:24, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

Re: MartinBotII

Thanks for the congrats! I'm going to put in a request now (though I belive I did a "pseudo-request" at one point, no one did much about it :( (see WT:BRFA)). I'll put a proper request in now and hopefully see an approval soon! Thanks - Martinp23 19:15, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

OK, I will wait impatiently for approval! Walkerma 04:48, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

Next Week

Are you happy with the outcome of the naming discussion you sent me to? Would you like to improve 2006 Wikipedia CD Selection? I could provide a photo of the CD cover if you could help me put it up.

Next week I have time and effort to start doing some work on the CD versions. First steps are

(1) to re-run the existing script and sort out the TeX problem with it
(2) to see what else has been broken by WP changes in the meantime
(3) to see what can be done about image attribution where we think the last script was inadequate
(4) to run the script on the new article list and stick it somewhere for people to look at/ check
(5) to try the script on your article list for 0.5 and stick is somewhere for you to look at
(6) to have a serious think about navigation, redirects etc (jointly with you)

That sound about right? --BozMo talk 12:53, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

As we say in Newcastle, it sounds "champion"! Should I give you a ring on Tuesday (my quiet day)- and should we discuss calcium chloride then too? Walkerma 01:15, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

Tues is generally very busy; especially by the time you guys get out of bed. I could do then maybe but I work from home on Wednesdays if that works better for me. MSN messenger is good for me too? --BozMo talk 08:48, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I think the CD names are fine, though I'd still like to change the name of the project from "Test Versions." Wednesday is busy for me, but I could get up early and talk to you before work - around lunchtime your time (~13:00 UTC), would that be OK? I don't have MSN, though IRC or Skype are possible alternatives. Walkerma 15:38, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

Ok for 1300 UTC. Might have to phone otherwise. Will email a number.--BozMo talk 21:45, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Shall we rename Test Version "CD Selection" and divert all the pages>--BozMo talk 21:49, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Funny Old World

Our CDs are now being flogged on India eBAY: http://cgi.ebay.in/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150053577830

--BozMo talk 20:16, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

POV flag

Someone (anon) has POV flagged 2006 Wikipedia CD Selection and added a stub section on comparison with other WP CD projects. Any chance you could put something on the Release Series versus the selection series into the article? POV is apparently a lack of neutrality ref the other projects, so you should be qualified to be neutral. --BozMo talk 13:41, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for doing that.--BozMo talk 07:49, 30 November 2006 (UTC).

Grab

Apparently we have done a grab of all your images and articles last night. Will have a check through first Wikpedia 0.5 is 1962 articles and 19004 images 578 Megabytes. Hmm.--BozMo talk 15:20, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Of course a lot of this is boilerplate packing which we can try to slim down a bit. --BozMo talk 16:33, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Topright corner pics

Any reason why wikipedia could put in the corner of release version selected articles like FA and Spoken articles? It'd give some public notice, maybe encourage more vigorous editing for the articles too. JoeSmack ^Talk 05:57, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

You probably would want to avoid the issues with {{Good article}}... Titoxd^(?!?) 06:00, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

• (edit conflict) Great idea in principle, but there are problems in practice. First is a technical problem - having an image that links to a page like the star does is apparently problematical (the star is a very rare exception). Secondly, there is great political resistance to putting things like that on the article page itself. I think the WP:GA folks would LOVE to get their icon on pages too, but there would be howls of protest from Abijan to Zanzibar. I suspect people would react in a similar way with Version 0.5/0.7 etc. Once the project becomes well established, we may be able to make a case for something like that, but at this point we could end up in megabytes of heated discussion about a little icon instead of working on making CDs/DVDs! Walkerma 06:14, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
  • It's not like it hasn't happened before... Titoxd^(?!?) 06:31, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
    • Durn. Well, thanks for the thorough explanation. :) JoeSmack ^Talk 14:17, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
  • Outsider's point of view. There needs to be a hard-copy which is commecially available before you will be able to break through the opposition on this one (and not from me, I quite like the stars...). All the time that WP 1.0 is an editorial project, the general consensus is to keep it to the talk pages. Physchim62 (talk) 18:03, 1 December 2006 (UTC)