Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Justanotherguyfromtennessee (talk | contribs) at 10:01, 15 November 2005 (→Signature: thanks, enceph). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

User:Encephalon/TalkTemp

Wikibreak owing to professional committments; will be editing lightly for a while. encephalon 06:13, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

εγκέφαλον: history

Template:Ent  20:05, 2005 August 5—22:32, 2005 September 18 Template:Ent  23:03, 2005 September 18—16:42, 2005 September 24 Template:Ent  16:42, 2005 September 24—19:38, 2005 October 11 Template:Ent  19:43, 2005 October 11—20:16, 2005 October 19 Template:Ent  20:21, 2005 October 19—23:22, 2005 November 5

On responses

I respond on my own page, unless there is good reason to respond on yours. Kind regards—encephalonεγκέφαλον

Re: Thanks

Hi Xerxes2k,

I saw what you di for the H5N1 article, and just wanted to say thanks! That was marvelously nice of you. I do wonder if the graph might not be the best way of representing that data, since they change so often—the same data are in the table, incidentally. Also, could you let me know what was your source for the (very beautiful) map? It's probably best that the source be stated at the bottom of the graphic itself. Thanks! encephalon 22:29, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

Hi Encephalon,

Thanks for your nice comment and your advice. I already added the source of information to the map. Regarding the graph - I think you are right that there might be better ways to represent the data... therefore I would suggest to remove it the next time the data will be updated :)
Xerxes2k 10:24, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

The map is great (although I think it should be re-titled). The graph however I am concerned with both redundancy and maintenance. Unlike the table, the graph has to be recreated afresh everytime the data are updated, meaning each revision will simply be discarded. It also does not add anything not already in the table. So I think we shouldn't use it. It would be great to use if the data become stable, but not now. encephalon 16:53, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

hello

It was nice to get a message from you, and saying happy diwali was perfectly right. I wish you happy new year in advance. And, the requested pages were already "gone' by the time I wanted to carry out your request. We shall meet more frequently. --Bhadani 10:34, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

LOL. Kinda hard to do as we're from different continents... jk. :) But thanks for the greetings. Regards. encephalon 16:53, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Whaaa...?

How can such a level-headed Metapedian not be an admin? Seriously, there's something wrong with Misplaced Pages, and it is that you don't have access to the mop and the flamethrower. I don't want to be beaten to nominating you, do you mind if I nominate you again now? Titoxd 21:50, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Hey Tito, you're being so kind that I feel really bad saying "is it ok to wait a bit". Do you think it would be ok for me to let you know when I'm ready? That way I won't feel like I'm being a jerk :). I'm also in a bit of a spot: you happen to be not the only kind soul who's asked, so I've had to behave this rudely to quite a few people (~10 times now :(). I'm going to be very busy this month and in January, so I was wondering if early December or February/March might be better? I think when I'm kinda-sorta ready I'll mail you and one other very nice fellow who's been making repeated, entirely undeserved, offers. Is this ok? Thanks once more buddy. encephalon 22:20, 6 November 2005 (UTC) NB. Metapedian, eh? Didn't know that word. Learn something from you all the time. I think I'm somewhere between exo and meta; pretty clueless both ways. :)

It's perfectly fine, man, tell me whenever you feel ready. Ideally, I would say that it's better to try in December, but it's your call. Also, you can tell the other user who wants to nominate you and me at the same time so we can co-nominate you, which is no big deal. And hey, thanks for fixing my talk page! I just switched to the new format today and I didn't think that would be a glitch. I was about to ditch the entire format when I saw your test worked. Thanks! Titoxd 22:51, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

No problemo. It was just an extra div tag. encephalon 22:55, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Just wondering... is it Blackcap who also wants to nominate you? Titoxd 23:10, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Hey. They've been about ~5-6 different people, Tito. You're all just being too kind, that's all. You and one other guy have been especially so, so I'll just let both of you know. :) encephalon 23:16, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Yeah... but there's others. I've piled on as well, but you can go right ahead and do the nom. I'm perfectly happy with my strong support vote. --Blackcap | talk 05:01, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks Blackcap :). See you guy's around some time. encephalon 16:56, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for keeping an eye on my user page! — Knowledge Seeker দ 06:07, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Hey, anything for a friend. But I've gotta admit, I felt bad about reverting an improvement. ;o encephalon 06:11, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Cricket matches articles

Certainly. I'm currently substing everything into user sandboxes to play with it there and checking everything - substing will probably happen (for the 2005 English cricket season anyway), when the latest AfD closes, so in two days. Then the South African ones will probably happen a bit after that (I'll have to talk it through with the guy who's written most of those articles). Sam Vimes 07:27, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Very gracious of you, Vimes. Thank you so much. Regards encephalon 08:02, 9 November 2005 (UTC) Ref AfD, Talk.

I ought to thank you as well, for being so polite about it! Much appreciated. :) Sam Vimes 08:11, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Don't mention it, Sam. My pleasure. encephalon 08:14, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Shauri

Dear Encephalon. I saw your message on Shauri's talkpage. She has asked me to tell you that she will be back one day soon :).--Wiglaf 07:52, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

That is very good news, Wiglaf. I am glad to hear it. Incidentally, I must mention that I received your brief email. I concur. Kind regards encephalon 08:10, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

PRueda29 RFA

Thanks for your support! Also, thanks for your comments. I've been reading up on admin duties lately (administrators reading list and such) and I won't really be getting out there until I've learned the trade, but then again, no one was born an sysop. Thanks again! -- PRueda29

Pleasure. :) encephalon 05:07, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Re: Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion/The Diary

There were a few valid "keep" opinions in this debate, by KiteMan and Termin8tor, and since Misplaced Pages is not a democracy, they contributed to the absence of consensus.  Denelson83  05:43, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

forgive me

you recently sent me this message:

"This message is regarding the page Norse mythology. Please stop. If you continue to vandalize pages, you will be blocked from editing Misplaced Pages. encephalon 06:07, 9 November 2005 (UTC)"

Well, I didn't have a user-name then, so really you sent it to my IP address, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I did not vandalize that page. I did edit it, but it was not malicious. See, I am reading Beowulf for my English class, and I wanted to learn about Norse mythology. So, i was reading through the page, and i got to a part I didn't think was right. It said something like, "Chris is a hick," in the middle of two sentences about Norse gods. I thought, "That looks like some pretty dumb vandalism, I should probably delete that." So I did. I made sure to not change anything except that one sentence. I'm sorry if that counts as vandalism. I was just trying to help make Misplaced Pages more perfect.

--ike

Dear Ike,

Please, do not apologise. It is I who should—I committed a grave error in posting that message, one of the standard vandalism "warning" messages in use on Misplaced Pages, to the Talk page of 68.80.155.160. I clearly intended it for another page—when "patrolling" for vandalism it is not unusual for Wikipedians to open several tabbed pages to investigate suspicious entries—and I must have misclicked a tab and placed that message on the 68.80.155.160 page by mistake. I am so very sorry, Ike, more so as you were in fact in the act of reverting vandalism when I intervened—you most assuredly deserved the very opposite of that message. I shall remove it forthwith, and be more careful next time.

Please accept a very warm welcome to Misplaced Pages. If there is anything that you would like help with, or do not understand, you have but to ask on my Talk page (in the manner you just did) and I will do all I can to help. Very sincerely yours encephalon 17:07, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for apologizing! everything is forgiven, keep up the good work

--ike

Emergency department

I wonder if you would consider supporting this article at Misplaced Pages:Article improvement drive. The ED is an important place we all go when we are ill, and I think it deserves a better article.--File Éireann 18:53, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks

Hi, thanks for getting rid of the vandalism from my userpage so quickly. :-) Sjakkalle (Check!) 08:53, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

No problem buddy. :) encephalon 08:54, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Copyvio experts

Other than BDAbramson and Kelly Martin, who are the experts on United States copyright and intellectual property law here on Misplaced Pages? Bahn Mi 09:50, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Hello Bahn Mi. I'm not sure why you believe BDAbramson and Kelly Martin are "the experts on United States copyright and intellectual property law here on Misplaced Pages." True, BDA is an exemplary WP editor who is also apparently "a budding intellectual property attorney working for an IP law firm in Coral Gables, Florida." Kelly Martin claims to be "a former law student" who holds "two general studies degrees from Indiana University." However, neither is (to my knowledge) employed by the Wikimedia Foundation as legal advisers/representatives, nor are they tasked with overseeing the legal aspects of content policy with respect to copyright. Legal matters such as complex copyright issues cannot be decided by regular editors in the course of AFDs: our policy on them should be formed by the Foundation (and Mr. Wales), in concert with legal advise received from the folks employed to study these matters and determine legality, and who will represent WP in court should problems concerning these issues arise. I'm personally not aware who Wikimedia's legal team are. I did post on Mr. Wales' talk page concerning the copyright of lists issue: it's probably best for him to decide if they can be carried on WP under GFDL, in accordance with any legal advise he may wish to obtain (alternatively, I presume he could decide that the benefits of maintaining such lists—many of which are easily available off WP from the legal/original source—are so miniscule that the risks of doing so do not justify their inclusion). Whatever the decision, it is really for him and the Foundation to decide, not us or BD or Kelly. In the absence of a clear decision, I think it is unwise to leave such lists on WP and so immediately tagged the two articles under discussion on that AFD (I believe Df has tagged some others). I'm sorry I'm not able to help you more with your question, but do let me know if there is anything else I can do, Bahn Mi. Very kind regards encephalon 10:40, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

NB. I have just seen your post; do note, Bahn Mi, that the articles under discussion were not "rearranged or otherwise modified"—they were copied verbatim, and titled "Newsweek's List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools ". They were wikified on WP, but the aspect of the lists that is most likely subject to copyright (Newsweek's ranking, which is the product of their creative work) remained unchanged. Sincerely encephalon 11:02, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

reply

sorry, just getting lazy. thanks for keeping me on my toes! Martin 09:22, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Thank you!

My dear Encephalon, I just wanted to drop by to thank you from my heart for your kindness, your concern and your support. All that you did was so special to me, that rest assured I'll never forget it. It is because of you and those who care about the value of kindness that I've decided to move on and be strong, and hopefully I will remain as long as people like you are around. You can always count on me, as you've proved over and over to be a great person and a true friend. A long overdue huggggggg! :) Your friend forever, Shauri smile! 23:27, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for your message!

Hey Encephalon, thanks for your message regarding my stress level. I've been stressed over the real world a lot (and maybe Misplaced Pages helped with that a little, with all the recent RfCs, vandals, etc.), but you've made me feel a bit better now! Thank you, and I'll be sure to take that aspirin before I end the day :). Robert 00:17, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Signature

What happened to the two-colored signature? ;) Titoxd 02:27, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

You rascal! You've come to gloat, haven't you? :) Well, you can't, because

• I actually stopped using that quite a long while ago, and
• even then the sig was simple and properly written, such that it wouldn't damage a page.

I confess to a penchant for minimalism (which has progressively gotten more pronounced!). Was a medblogger before I became a Wikipedian, and so have some (self-taught) knowledge of HTML and CSS; my own bias is to create stuff with extremely simple, lean code (if it can't be simple it shouldn't be done—just use the default). This minimalism led to foregoing the # in front of the number code, but since I'm very careful with properly closing tags etc the sig will never damage a page—the worst that will happen is its color would return to the default, which is what happened on this page. Ironically, I added an element to my sig about 24 hours ago before I became aware of the HTML Tidy shut down; hence, even the tiny hatch problem ceased to be an issue. Me pleased. :) However, it has become increasingly apparent that the sigs are not the only problem: there are all sorts of other issues floating about. I must say that the dev approach of enabling a feature in preferences that alerts users to html problems is a very smart move—it cleverly solves the problem without reducing to authoritarianism. I get more and more impressed with Tim Starling's team every day. encephalon 03:38, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

O.K., I learn something new every time I scan this page :). Where's this preference bit about the HTML notifications? I've gone through Special:Preferences, and I can't find anything like that. That's something I'd be interested in... so how'd you set it? --Blackcap | talk 04:18, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Hey buddy! I got a bit worried about you a few days ago when I realized I hadn't seen you around. So I swung by your talk to check it out: turns out you were beavering away as usual, just in places I don't watch. :) The HTML warning? I expect it's automatic: the reason you don't see it is your sig is fine. To see how it works, just place a dangling tag in the sig box, say, <b> ] | ] (this is the raw sig version). Then click save. You should see a warning in red now saying the sig is invalid. I think this is a good way to do things: it lets editors know there is a problem that they might not actually be aware of since HTML Tidy cleans up after them. There's nothing necessarily bad about having creative sigs as long as the code is written right (and of course as long as it's not 4 lines long, with a couple of Picasso's thrown in). Cheers encephalon 04:30, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Lol. Good to see you too, mate! I just tried what you said, and it certainly worked. That's completely brilliant. I love it when there's simple, utterly useful things like that in a program (or anywhere else, for that matter). The devs think of everything....

Say, I was wondering how you manage to have your timestamp be in italics. Assuming that you're typing ~~~~ for your sig, and not ~~~ ''~~~~~'', which I suppose would work, how do you do that? My guess is that, after your signature, you have ''~~~~~'' (so that the full string looks like ] ''~~~~~''), but then you'd have to reset it every time you didn't want the timestamp. --Blackcap | talk 05:17, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

<evil grin> How indeed? ;) I'm only allowed to tell you that the above is not how I do it (it wouldn't work, incidentally; if you place that string in the sig box and sign ~~~, what you'll get is that exact string, ie. no date but ~~~~~ at the end. Try it in a sandbox). There's a simple method that allows you to use the sig as normal (ie. you wouldn't have to reset it every time you don't want the time stamp, you don't have to edit twice, etc), but still retain properly closed tags/markup. However, any further information is going to cost you ;) encephalon 07:52, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

(after two edit conflicts) Why you little.... <gnashes teeth> O.K. I'll think about it, but in the case that I can't figure it out, what's the price? --Blackcap | talk 08:29, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

• Years of wikislavery. ;) encephalon 08:31, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

<laughs> O.K. I'll just have to figure it out myself. I'll come and prance around here once I do ;). --Blackcap | talk 08:34, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

O.K. I haven't tested this, but my new theory is that you have a page, maybe User:Encephalon/Signature, on which is the code ] ''~~~~~''. Then, in your signature box, you have {{subst:User:Encephalon/Signature}}. Am I right? --Blackcap | talk 08:44, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Just tested it, doesn't work, and has other problems even if it did (namely, that you'd have to edit out the timestamp every time you wanted to sign without it). I'm thinkin' again. --Blackcap | talk 08:58, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

• Whoa. You're actually toiling at it. I'm sorry, Blackcap, I was just kidding. Here, this is how you do it. Just place ]'' in the box, click raw, and sign ~~~~''. The '' in the sig initiates the italics; the '' that you append to the sig when you sign closes it properly. I never use transcluded sigs. I used to use the HTML italic tag; when I didn't want the timestamp, I simply had to type three tildes and close tag (I believe you should always write the html properly, even though mediawiki has HTML Tidy). However, I've decided to shift to Wiki markup after what happened with Tidy, despite my sig not having any tag problems. This does mean I'll have to manually sign in those very rare instances I don't want the timestamp, but that's a small issue. encephalon 09:23, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Got it! That's so completely brilliant that it would have taken me days to think of it ;). Don't worry about it, I knew you were joking, and anyway, I like trying to figure out puzzles. Well done. --Blackcap | talk 10:01, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

You know how the signature works? What I put into the sig-box on my preferences is

]] [[User_talk:Sjakkalle|<small>(Check!)</small>

and the result is... well... Sjakkalle ] 08:02, 15 November 2005 (UTC) with html code replacing the nice square brackets which would link up my talkpage. What did I do to deserve this?

Try putting the <small> tags on the outside of the string (i.e. <small>]</small>, resulting in (Check!)). If that doesn't work, I'm out of ideas for now... but maybe it will. --Blackcap | talk 08:13, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

• Actually no, Blackcap: that wouldn't cause it. In fact it's often better to nest those tags within the wiki markup (ie the brackets). Mediawiki isn't reading non-raw sigs properly, I think. encephalon 08:27, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

O.K. I didn't know one could have HTML inside a piped link using WikiMarkup. --Blackcap | talk 08:31, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

• Yes, I know! A lot of editors have had this problem since HTML Tidy went down (and whatever else went down with it): yourself, Rossami, Mindspillage, BD, Mike Halterman, JAranda... You poor things! I'm not exactly sure what's causing it, Sjakkalle, but it seems to me that Mediwiki is currently not reading non-raw signatures properly: when completing the string ]] ] ]; however, Mediawiki is converting [[ to &#91 ;&#91 ;, so that's screwing it up. Here's what you do: just paste the following string into the sig box, and click raw sig:

] ]

It should work fine! :) encephalon 08:18, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

• Thanks for your help! Signature back up and running. :-) Sjakkalle (Check!) 08:32, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

• Pleasure. encephalon 08:38, 15 November 2005 (UTC)