User talk:Racepacket

Prior discussion have been archived here

Robert Latham Owen

Thank you for your review and comments. I will plan to work my way through them. Nandt1 (talk) 18:12, 16 January 2011 (UTC)

Hello, again, Racepacket. Thanks again for your feedback on Senator Owen. I think that, at this stage, I have perhaps done pretty much what I can on the basis of the comments you provided. As you will see from my comments at the Discussion page, I have tried to work my way systematically through each of your specific points and to make changes in line with your suggestions. More broadly, I drew from your review the larger message that the main area where the article needed substantive strengthening concerned the "other issues" (i.e., other than the Federal Reserve) that Owen addressed while in the Senate. So, as you will see, almost every para of that section has been reinforced, whether it is the League of Nations, the Department of Health, tariffs (and trusts), child labor, etc. (As I also mention on the Discussion page, I have ordered Owen's book on Foreign Exchange, just in case that might yield additional insight on international economic/financial issues).

So, at this point, I think it would make sense for you to do another careful review of the article as it now reads, and let me know where you think we stand.

Thanks again for your help with this. Nandt1 (talk) 18:56, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I have responded on the RLO Talk page to your latest review (for which many thanks). There are a couple of points where you'll see I'd welcome your advice on how to approach. Nandt1 (talk) 22:38, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Again, thank you for the feedback on the points mentioned above. I have, in turn, done a further round, and so it is back to you once more! Nandt1 (talk) 05:21, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Finally there! Thank you so much, Racepacket, for your support throughout this process. You have helped make this a better article. A pleasure to work with you! Nandt1 (talk) 05:27, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Re:WikiCup question

I've replied on my talk page, and will continue to do so for this topic in case someone else wants to join in. Thanks! J Milburn (talk) 23:35, 16 January 2011 (UTC)

/* Margaret Thatcher */

Hi Racepacket, Margaret Thatcher has been comprehensively edited by three or four experienced editors and has been nominated and is again currently a good article nominee, please see the template on Talk:Margaret Thatcher, if you have energy and time to review again that would be great ,no hurry, no worry, regards - Off2riorob (talk) 20:38, 17 January 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for your sterling suggestions there. I really appreciate the time and effort you have put into this. --John (talk) 05:20, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks from me too, and for having the courage to undertake the review of what might well have become a contentious subject. Malleus Fatuorum 15:48, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I will make this your hat trick - Many thanks for for all your efforts to improve the biography, quality contributions from all three of you, that has resulted in an article wikipedia can be proud of. Off2riorob (talk) 15:55, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

DYK nomination of Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

Hello! Your submission of Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the Did You Know nominations page has been reviewed, and there still are some issues that may need to be clarified. Please review the comment(s) underneath your nomination's entry and respond there as soon as possible. Thank you for contributing to Did You Know! Jrcla2 (talk) 00:44, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Hey, funny that I should have seen your DYK nom. I'm moving to Coral Gables in the near future (not for college though, I graduated a few years ago) and have already given myself numerous walking tours of the UMiami campus while down there (I'm from New Jersey). I loved the lake in the middle of the grounds, but I have yet to see a gator (or croc...whatever is rumored to be living at the bottom). Jrcla2 (talk) 03:54, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

I actually do not know anything about Miami and the Miami project and I usually tend to edit only high impact articles. I made those comments due to the presence of the article in GAN as I added the article to the medicine project. Therefore I do not think I will be able to help much. A few hints: try to find news or articles on the Miami project from national instead of local newspapers in google news. In addition you can try to search for the original scientific publications and then try to search for news, or scientific articles in pubmed that review those articles. I would also recommend a withdrawal from GAN. Bests.--Garrondo (talk) 07:16, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I am sorry, but I am not really interested enough in this article to invest the hours it would take finding all sources for a successful GAN.--Garrondo (talk) 11:03, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Bacon Ice Cream

Thanks for reviewing bacon ice cream so quickly. I've taken a lot of your suggestions on board, and left some comments on the other ones. From what I've read, the ice creams aren't "bacon-flavoured" but instead have bacon in them, which accents the flavour. I've tried to get this across in the recipe section, but I'm not sure how well I've done. Also, re: flavour encapsulation, I'll look into writing an article about it, I think it's going to require a bit of research. Having said that, I haven't seen anyone but Heston and his friends talk about it yet, so maybe no basis in science... Worm 10:29, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Well, I hope I've addressed you're concerns. I haven't found anything regarding Blumenthal creating bacon flavours or shortcutting his insanely long cooking processes, but I've written a bit more about what he does. Would appreciate any further comments Worm 14:26, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

thanks a lot for your help. Tempted to do a GAR but haven't done one yet, am quite intimidated by the whole idea. Still I've got 3 through GAR so I must be doing something right. A task for tomorrow methinks. Worm 21:18, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedia Ambassador Program is looking for new Online Ambassadors

Hi! I noticed your activity as a Good Article reviewer, and wanted to let you know about the Wikipedia Ambassador Program, and specifically the role of Online Ambassador. We're looking for friendly Wikipedians who are good at reviewing articles and giving feedback to serve as mentors for students who are assigned to write for Wikipedia in their classes.

If you're interested, I encourage you to take a look at the Online Ambassador guidelines; the "mentorship process" describes roughly what will be expected of mentors in the coming term. If that's something you want to do, please apply!

You can find instructions for applying at WP:ONLINE. The main things we're looking for in Online Ambassadors are friendliness, regular activity (since mentorship is a commitment that spans several months), and the ability to give detailed, substantive feedback on articles (both short new articles, and longer, more mature ones).

I hope to hear from you soon.--Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 20:04, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Awesome! I didn't realize it had made GA. Thanks! So are you interested in being an ambassador? --Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 20:11, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

WikiProject SUNY

Hello, it is great to see that you are a fellow runner and have lived in New York! WikiProject SUNY could certainly use your help, and I've mainly been doing what I can to work on article assessment and forming the project while keeping it active. Even so, this is the first WikiProject where I have taken such a leading role, and if you could assist, even with the basic formatting of the main page, I would greatly appreciate it. Even if it is only advice you have to offer, I would be happy to listen to a more experienced Wikipedian. Thank you! Adavis444 (talk) 05:28, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for your prompt reply! Do you know who we could ask about the debugging and general WikiProject formatting advice? And by the way, welcome to WikiProject SUNY! Adavis444 (talk) 05:42, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Your comment on WPUS

I wanted to let you know that I replied to your comment on the WPUS talkpage. --Kumioko (talk) 15:38, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

I also find it disappointing and innapropriate that you would go fishing for votes fro your proposal by leaving a comment on the pages of only the users who agree with you. This is votestacking and campaigning and is inappropriate so please stop. --Kumioko (talk) 15:47, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Talkback

Hello, Racepacket. You have new messages at Talk:Interstate 705/GA1.
Message added 00:03, 24 January 2011 (UTC). You can remove this notice at any time by removing the {{Talkback}} or {{Tb}} template.

I have replied to your comments. Admrboltz (talk) 00:03, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

DYK for New Harmony Toll Bridge

—HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 06:03, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Mentor

Help! I am just getting started in the MPA prgram at WCU. I am very new to Wikipedia so I need all the help I can get. Thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by Suzanne10 (talk • contribs) 20:01, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Mentor for school project

Hello RacePacket,

I'm a Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communications major at James Madison University. This semester I am enrolled in a Technical Editing course where the students will create, modify, and edit wikipedia pages on the subject of U.S. Public Policy. Would you be interested in mentoring me for this assignment? The course information can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_United_States_Public_Policy/Courses/Spring_2011/Professional_and_Technical_Editing_%28Cindy_Allen%29

Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Sam Patteson pattessm@jmu.edu

Hi

You sent me an email back after I asked you to be my mentor. I would like to sign up officially but as you can see I am not even sure how to respond to your message. Help please. Thank you — Preceding unsigned comment added by Suzanne10 (talk • contribs) 20:53, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Be my mentor

Hello Racepacket, I am in a Technical Editing class at James Madison University and we are editing for the United States Public Policy. I was curious if you could be my mentor throughout this experience?

Michalge (talk) 21:29, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

Inappropriate behavior

Your behavior recently regarding the scope of WPUS has been becoming more and more innappropriate. If you don't agree fine. If you want to discuss it fine. But don't startForum Shopping, votestacking and campaigning so that you can convince others that WPUS is on a mission to consume the other projects. We are not and never had that intention. Your acting like a dirty politician making up lies about their opponents and twisting statements in the hopes that whomever reads it is too ignorant to discover the truth. I did not dismiss you opinions or anyone elses. You tried to tell me we didn't have consensus and I explained to you and the others that with 180 members joining the project after the scope was established we did. Most of the projects that are active have already voiced their opposition to the proposal of consolidated use of {{WikiProject United States}}. Thats ok. The second question about collaboration on and getting help with the US Collaboration of the month, noticeboard and portal mostly went unanswered. Also fine. But to go around banging on doors and asking folks to join the hcause against the evil tyrant United States before they take over is completely unacceptable. In the cases of the projects that have been added to the WPUS template and added under the Umbrella of WPUS I have left messages on the projects talk page, contacted every member still active and anyone who made recurring comments or changes to it. IF they fall under WPUS in some capacity its because the projects agreed. We did not drag them in kicking and screaming and beat them into submission so STOP making it sound that way. --Kumioko (talk) 18:51, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for your comment. You obviously do not understand how your comments are coming across to others, and perhaps have overlooked that we are working toward a Wikipedia-wide consensus of interested editors and not some vote of 180 card-carrying members. Racepacket (talk) 18:56, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Your welcome but your comments are also having the same affect if you hadn't noticed. Just wondering but does WikiProject Maryland and Illinois require Wikipedia wide concensus to set their scope and mission? Or is that left up to the project members? I'd be curious to know if there has been precedence for a requirement for Wikipedia wide consensus for the scope of a project. --Kumioko (talk) 19:59, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

A good marine understands his area of operations, rules of engagement and overall mission, and then tries to stay in his lane. Let's define the mission and avoid unnecessary collateral damage by needlessly driving over state-level and specific-topic WikiProjects. Thanks, Racepacket (talk) 20:04, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Thats true but a good leader can also see beyond the immediate mission and see the over all strategy behind the operation at hand. Even seemingly meaningless training excersizes have an effect on the overall capabilities of the unit and its goals. The larger picture here that you are failing to see is an increased level of collaboration among US users and an increase in US related content being worked on. Whether you intend too or not you are fostering that by continuing your quest. It is at least partly because of you ongoing efforts that the project is drafting a new Scope statement so I thank you for putting us on that path. I still encourage you to join the project. Especially given the amount of effort and activity you have put forth lately to assist the project in developing new guidelines and project functions. I also fail too see how our project is creating collateral damage by needlessly driving over state-level and specific-topic WikiProjects. Can you name one state project we have driven over? How about a specific-topic project? Maybe show me some evidence of collateral damage maybe? Doubtful. I imagine if you take a step back and breath for a minute and start looking around you'll probably find more evidence to the contrary. An increase in collaboration and content. --Kumioko (talk) 21:11, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

BE MY MENTOR???

Hi there. My name is Garrett Pietrocola, and I'm pretty new to this whole Wikipedia thing. I've made this account for a college course and I need a mentor to fulfill the requirements for that course. If you're interested, I was wondering if you would be interested in being my mentor? Please let me know either way, and thanks for the consideration.

Pietrogpjmu (talk • contribs) 19:21, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, and thank you. Are you a college student as well?

Pietrogpjmu (talk) 19:29, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

It's no difference to me. Honestly, I doubt I'll bother you much; it's just a requirement for the class. And I'm in Cindy Allen's WRTC 240 course. We are working on the US Public Policy initiative, so your energy background could be insightful. I'll keep you posted on the status of the course and inquire for help as I need it. And again, thanks for the quick response. Pietrogpjmu (talk) 19:40, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

SWEET, it's like you're my shaman!!!

Pietrogpjmu (talk) 20:05, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Comment on User page

Did you mean to leave this comment on a user not talk page? And to answer your question, the course for Energy policy isn't starting until the beginning of next month, so as of right now they aren't going to be creating accounts for a short bit. You may want to hold off a couple slots for that course if you want to work with those students, Sadads (talk) 20:22, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Could you sign your posts please

It looks like a couple of the posts you made to talk:United States didn't get signed. Would you mind signing them. There is one at the very bottom and the other is the Importance rating suggestion you left. Thanks. --Kumioko (talk) 21:16, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Thank you very much. I think we had too many editors trying to make comments at the same time. --Kumioko (talk) 21:42, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Autopatrolled

Hello, this is just to let you know that I have granted you the "autopatrolled" permission. This won't affect your editing, it just automatically marks any page you create as patrolled, benefiting new page patrollers. Please remember:

• This permission does not give you any special status or authority
• Submission of inappropriate material may lead to its removal
• You may wish to display the {{Autopatrolled}} top icon and/or the {{User wikipedia/autopatrolled}} userbox on your user page
• If, for any reason, you decide you do not want the permission, let me know and I can remove it

If you have any questions about the permission, don't hesitate to ask. Otherwise, happy editing!HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 22:43, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Your WikiProject Messages

I suggest if you are going to leave messages for WikiProjects to comment you word them a little bit less POV. Perhaps something like this might be more appropriate:

Myself and a couple of other editors have concerns about the scope of WikiProject United States and its relationship with other WikiProjects. We have created an RFC and invite all interested editors to discuss it at: Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject United States#Mission statement for WikiProject United States. Thanks.

Lets not make the minority into the majority in the wording of details. It is being perceived as deceiptful and petty. --Kumioko (talk) 15:44, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Also, I have all 211 projects on my watchlist so I would be glad to follow you andn clarify each one. Or if you can agree to a neutrally worded message that doesn't favor either project and lets the readers decide for themselves the merits of the proposal I would be glad to do an AWB run though all 200+ projects and if you want the users as well (which would take a day or so). I doubt highly that most are going to be willing to mine through the discussions so a summery at the end may be more appropriate. What do you say? --Kumioko (talk) 15:46, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

ANI notice

I wanted to let you know that I have submitted an ANI notice for intervention in this matter. Its gone on long enough. --Kumioko (talk) 16:10, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Due to our ongoing "Slugfest" and based on comments by some other editors I have agreed to limit my comments to allow others a chance to talk this out. I recommend you do the same. --Kumioko (talk) 17:33, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

Mentor Request

I am an MPA student at Western Carolina University. Would you be willing to be my mentor? --BrickWallBartholomew (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 20:04, 26 January 2011 (UTC).

You can drop your campaign I left the project

I just thought you would be interested to know that I left WikiProject United States so I will not be actively participating anymore in the discussion or on the project. I also feel like I should inform you that this was primarily because of you and that I have lost all respect for you as an editor and I find your tactics and methods to get your way to be disappointing and innapropriate. I hope in time that will change. I also will not be participating actively in any other "project" or the Collaboration, noticeboard or portal. --Kumioko (talk) 20:29, 26 January 2011 (UTC)

File:Coral in Oil Spill 2010.jpg

It's a good photo, but it has nothing to do with RSMAS. It'd be better if a RSMAS researcher was involved with that particular project.—Ryūlóng (竜龙) 00:29, 27 January 2011 (UTC)

• Thank you. Racepacket (talk) 00:47, 27 January 2011 (UTC)

JMU Energy Policy Class

Hey there, unfortunately I don't have any students for you to mentor yet. I have not had a chance to meet up with the class and go over the basics and set up accounts. My fellow campus ambassador and I will be meeting with our class on Feb. 4th to set all of this up. Hopefully you'll still have some slots open that late, but I understand if that won't be the case. Cheers, Austin.dixon (talk) 01:23, 27 January 2011 (UTC)

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

Hello, I have reviewed this article for GA status and put it on hold for seven days to give you a chance to respond to the issues I have raised. Arctic Night 02:47, 27 January 2011 (UTC)

Talkback

Hello, Racepacket. You have new messages at Talk:Wheeling Tunnel/GA1.
Message added 02:21, 28 January 2011 (UTC). You can remove this notice at any time by removing the {{Talkback}} or {{Tb}} template.

I have replied to all of your concerns. Admrboltz (talk) 02:21, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

WikiProject United States. Its time to let it go

Listen man. I am going to try and say this as nicely and as calmly as I can. Obviously we have a problem with each other but those issues and the differences of opinion regarding WikiProject United States has gone on long enough and needs to stop. We are both tainting the soup with our continuous comments on the discussion. I recognized that and left and you need to be a man and do the same thing and walk away. Show that you can be a good mentor. Show your mentees how Wikipedians should act. Let the project do what the project thinks is right. Don't continue to try and steer the discussion the way you want and make comments like if knowone voices objection I am going to change your scope the way I want. Its obvious that ANI won't do anything and its just as obvious to me at this point that there is little chance that you are going to listen to my suggestions but try and think about whats best for Wikipedia and the US related articles and topics. Is it for us to continue this petty arguing? No. Its to stop this unending stupidity and move on. I have done it you should too. --Kumioko (talk) 02:27, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Again, I feel no ill will toward you, and I don't doubt the sincerity of your feelings. I wasn't the first person to express concerns, and I am not standing in the way of people on either side stating their views. I am careful to step back and give other people a chance to comment. I still don't understand why you feel that DJSasso, Ryecatcher773, Student7, KarlM, TwinsMetsFan, Markvs88, Otr500, Mudwater, Casliber, JonRidinger, Imzadi 1979 and I should not have just as much right as any other Wikipedia editor to express our views? Thanks, Racepacket (talk) 03:42, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

You do have the right as do they but frankly you have gone overboard with pressing your opinions and its time to stop and most of those users didn't comment on the scope of WPUS other than they didn't want their state projects pulled into WPUS which was perfectly ok and understandable. --Kumioko (talk) 04:00, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Since I see that you are unwilling or incapable of doing the right thing in regards to WPUS I see no reason why I shouldn't continue to participate in the discussions. Thanks for doing what was needed to keep my in the project and changing my mind about leaving. It was just the kick in the pants I needed to make sure that the future of the project and the best intentions of the articles is maintained. --Kumioko (talk) 12:07, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

—HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 12:04, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedia Ambassador Program Newsletter: 28 January 2011

The newsletter of the Wikipedia Ambassador Program – Volume 1, 28 January 2011 This is the first issue of the Wikipedia Ambassador Program newsletter. Please read it! It has important information about the the current wave of classes, instructions and advice, and other news about the ambassador program. Classes get active, students requesting mentors First mentor responsibilities Other news Things you can do

Delivered by EdwardsBot (talk) 00:34, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Wisconsin

—HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 06:03, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

—HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 18:03, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of New Harmony Toll Bridge

The article New Harmony Toll Bridge you nominated as a good article has been placed on hold . The article is close to meeting the good article criteria, but there are some minor changes or clarifications needed to be addressed. If these are fixed within seven days, the article will pass, otherwise it will fail. See Talk:New Harmony Toll Bridge for things which need to be addressed. Admrboltz (talk) 20:39, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

I have passed the article. --Admrboltz (talk) 18:00, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Gulet Mohamed

—HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 12:03, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Ivory trade

Thanks for your message - here's the text with refs that relate to the hook:

In 1979, the African elephant population was estimated to be around 1.3 million in 37 range states, but by 1989 only 600,000 remained. Although many ivory traders, with the support of some conservationists, repeatedly claimed that the problem was habitat loss, it became glaringly clear that the threat was primarily the international ivory trade.

Hope that helps. (Enviro2009 (talk) 13:23, 31 January 2011 (UTC))

WPUS Communications policy

I temporarily reverted your addition of a communications policy to WPUS for now. This might surprise you but I personally think the idea has merit but I don't agree with the exact wording (I have added a rephrasing to the Comm policy discussion) and I am not 100% if its even needed. I also think that we should do declinations of notification by exception for projects rather than force them to manually decline. I also think that if someone or some projects wants to be notified without actually being a member they should be free to do so. For those projects that don't want the notifications thats quite ok but since they will frequently contain updates and information about the US portal, Topic of the Month Collaboration and Noticeboard I recommend they get it even if they disregard it. --Kumioko (talk) 15:01, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

Rutherford Hayes FAC

With the GA finished up, I've renominated Rutherford Hayes for FAC. If you have any comments to add this time around, I'd appreciate it. Thanks, Coemgenus 15:56, 31 January 2011 (UTC).

Opinion at Wikipedia_talk:Online_Ambassadors/Mentors#Recommend_review_of_Racepacket_as_a_Mentor

Hey, I left something in response to Kumioko's comments, Sadads (talk) 16:58, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

WikiCup 2011 January newsletter

We are half way through round one of the WikiCup. Signups are now closed, and we have 129 listed competitors, 64 of whom will make it to round two. Congratulations to The Bushranger (submissions), who, at the time of writing, has a comfortable lead with 228 points, followed by Hurricanehink (submissions), with 144 points. Four others have over 100 points. Congratulations also go to Yellow Evan (submissions), who scored the first points in the competition, claiming for Talk:Hurricane King/GA1, Miyagawa (submissions), who scored the first non-review points in the competition, claiming for Dognapping, and Jarry1250 (submissions) who was the first in the competition to use our new "multiplier" mechanic (explanation), claiming for Grigory Potemkin, a subject covered on numerous Wikipedias. Thanks must also go to Jarry1250 for dealing with all bot work- without you, the competition wouldn't be happening!

A running total of claims can be seen here. However, numerous competitors are yet to score at all- please remember to submit content soon after it is promoted, so that the judges are able to review entries. The number of points that will be needed to reach round two is not clear- everyone needs to get their entries in now to guarantee their places! If you are concerned that your nomination will not receive the necessary reviews, and you hope to get it promoted before the end of the round, please list it on Wikipedia:WikiCup/Reviews. However, please remember to continue to offer reviews at GAC, FAC and all the other pages that require them to prevent any backlogs which could otherwise be caused by the Cup. As ever, questions are welcome on Wikipedia talk:WikiCup and the judges are reachable on their talk pages, or by email. Good luck! If you wish to start receiving or stop receiving this newsletter, please feel free to add or remove yourself from Wikipedia:WikiCup/Newsletter/Send. J Milburn and The ed17 22:40, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

Question

I've googled a few tutorials trying to figure out how to cite information to an official source. Not quite sure yet how to do so. Would you know of a good link that could easily runs me through that? Thank you. BrickWallBartholomew (talk) 03:27, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

GA noms

Is there a reason you obsessively work on promoting articles concerning my alma mater to GA status?—Ryūlóng (竜龙) 04:27, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

I don't understand your question. I have been working on promoting University articles to GA for some time. For example, in December 2010, I managed to get Syracuse University promoted to GA, and I first nominated RSMAS for GA on February 18, 2010. The process just takes a long time. Thanks, Racepacket (talk) 04:34, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

Well, you keep bringing the same articles to GA and they fail and you don't really do much else to them.—Ryūlóng (竜龙) 04:39, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

In addition to your many fine edits, there are my edits from November 14-17 for example. I believe that we addressed all concerns raised in the first GA review. Racepacket (talk) 04:50, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

You keep putting in unnecessary minutae into these articles. No one reading about RSMAS is going to give a shit about the refrigeration unit they replaced three years ago. Just because it happened there doesn't mean Wikipedia has to report on it, particularly when the RSMAS page mentions nothing about ecological stability as an economic move.—Ryūlóng (竜龙) 10:42, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

I understand how as an alumnus you might view it that way. However, my method is to do a Google search and then go through the results to find what has generated news coverage. WP:UNI has some guidelines that suggests what should go into articles, including a discussion of sustainability efforts. Wikipedia has a number of policies that drive the addition of more items not mentioned on the RSMAS webpage. First, the more non-RSMAS webpage items included avoids any claims that this is a "derivative work" based on the RSMAS webpage. Second, WP:V places an emphasis on secondary sources, and the RSMAS webpage is a primary source. If I were the decision-maker for Wikipedia I might do things differently, but I am working to make the RSMAS article "good" in the eyes of Wikipedia and its volunteer reviewers. Readers researching campus sustainability efforts might find the centralized chiller interesting. Thanks, Racepacket (talk) 20:10, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

I'm not looking at this as an alumnus. I'm looking at it as a reader. No one gives a crap what the chiller plant is and how it was removed from the RSMAS campus. You make no mention of any greening or anything else concerning the campus or why that is particularly important for overall coverage. You can't just add random crap you find that concerns the school. This isn't a DYK thing. It's an article on the school as a whole and coverage on the removal of an air conditioning unit is not relevant.—Ryūlóng (竜龙) 20:19, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

I have not tried to reintroduce the 2008 chiller replacement as an example of reducing RSMAS' carbon footprint. However, I disagree that I am "putting in unnecessary minutae into these articles." Any two editors will have different views on what will prove to be of interest to readers. So, let's work together to get through the GA process. Thanks, Racepacket (talk) 22:25, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Landis Report

—HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 12:02, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

Hello, Racepacket. You have new messages at Snottywong's talk page.
You can remove this notice at any time by removing the {{Talkback}} or {{Tb}} template.

The purple line

I know that you have been working steadily on some of the Metro articles and I thought I would let you know, in case you didn't already that there has been a flurry of news articles lately about the Purple line. It looks as though it might actually happen with a break ground sometime in late 2013 or early 14. If you look in google news you should see several links as well as the Washington Post. From what I can see one of the last hurdles is for the University of Maryland to agree on the proposal and they should be pretty much locked in. Anyway, I just thought I would let you know. --Kumioko (talk) 20:00, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

Blocked indefinitely

You have been blocked indefinitely from editing for continuing to violate copyright, apparently on a large scale, even after a prior CCI investigation. Context for third parties may be found here. If you would like to be unblocked, you may appeal this block by adding the text {{unblock|reason=Your reason here ~~~~}}, but you should read the guide to appealing blocks first. Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 06:43, 4 February 2011 (UTC)

I don't have any specific protest regarding the handling of this copyvio issue (I haven't been involved in any of these investigations or allegations) but as an editor who has participated in several article talk-page discussions with Racepacket, I've found his contributions and insights to be valuable, even when we have disagreed. In other words, it is not the case that he is simply a mute copyright scofflaw- based on these findings, it seems to me that he is a productive, collaborative editor whose work habits are flawed. Is it possible to limit a block such that an editor is only restricted from editing articles, but not talk pages or project pages? —Bill Price (nyb) 15:41, 4 February 2011 (UTC)

Here is the short sample of infringements and or plagiarisms from User talk:Bilby:

1. February 2, 2011: Diff, with content ripped from here;
2. January 27, 2011: New Article, with text with content ripped from here;
3. January 26, 2010: New article, with content ripped from (the subject) here;
4. January 12, 2011: Diff, with content ripped from here;
5. January 9, 2011: Diff, with content ripped from here (and here, from here);
6. December 20, 2010: New article, with content ripped from here;
7. December 19, 2010. Diff, with content ripped from here;
8. November 27, 2010: New Article, with content ripped from here;

--jpgordon^{::==( o )} 16:23, 4 February 2011 (UTC)

This user's unblock request has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without good reason (see the blocking policy).

Racepacket (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

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Request reason:

The blocking Admin gave his reasons on User talk:Bilby. He cites eight examples prompting his action. I believe that each edit was permissible. 1) The Feb 2 RSMAS edit - I inserted one paraphrased sentence, and it would be impossible to convey this fact without paraphrasing it in some fashion. 2) Landis Report - I incorporated a sentence from Administrative Conference of the United States which apparently is the same as a sentence on a public domain government webpage. 3) Phillips v. Wisconsin - When summarizing the background of the case, I paraphrased from a public domain court decision. 4) Mike Lee - I paraphrased one sentence from the source indicated, and it would be a distortion to depart much from this formulation. 5) Johnson Museum - I used two facts from a part of a sentence in the first example, I used the headings and four photographers' names in the second example to summarize the permanent collection. Again, it impossible to describe an art musuem collection without some similar text, and this small amount of discontinuous text is permissible. 6) Decerega - I paraphrased facts in a different sequence. One sentence is the same. 7) Mbata - paraphrased selected facts in a different order. 8) BlackRock Center for the Arts - I incorporated two sentences from Germantown, Montgomery County, Maryland#Culture, which is similar to one sentence cited by admin. An examination of the contrib history of the Admin for the period in question suggests he may not have been in a good mood, using edit summaries like "The hubris!" and "Damn, damn damn, piss and shit; I'm going to have to spend $30 to look at one article that i'm not even sure is the right one" during his recent edits. Again, I am aware of Wikipedia's policies and do my best to comply with them.

Decline reason:

Let's see:

1. Maybe six words changed in a lengthy cut-and-paste
2. Direct cut and paste, no alteration
3. More direct cut and paste, no significant alteration
4. Again, more cut and paste. Original: he has partnered with Champions for Children, a charity event that benefits Children’s Memorial Hospital. He has donated two ringside seats, air travel and hotel for Saturday’s event. Copy: Lee has partnered with Champions for Children, a charity event that benefits Children’s Memorial Hospital. He has donated two ringside seats, air travel and hotel for his November 2010 fight. That's not a paraphrase.
5. More cut-and-paste, entire sentence lifted unchanged
6. Entire sentences lifted unchanged
7. Changing the order of sentences is not paraphrasing

That you are "doing your best" to comply is not adequate; policy doesn't require attempts at compliance, it requires compliance. Your understanding of our copyright policies is very flawed, even though you assert your awareness of them. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 16:23, 4 February 2011 (UTC)

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If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

This user's unblock request has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without good reason (see the blocking policy).

Racepacket (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log))

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Request reason:

The blocking Admin gave his reasons on User talk:Bilby. He cites eight examples prompting his action. I believe that each edit was permissible. 1) The Feb 2 RSMAS edit - I inserted one paraphrased sentence, and it would be impossible to convey this fact without paraphrasing it in some fashion. 2) Landis Report - I incorporated a sentence from Administrative Conference of the United States which apparently is the same as a sentence on a public domain government webpage. 3) Phillips v. Wisconsin - When summarizing the background of the case, I paraphrased from a public domain court decision. 4) Mike Lee - I paraphrased one sentence from the source indicated, and it would be a distortion to depart much from this formulation. 5) Johnson Museum - I used two facts from a part of a sentence in the first example, I used the headings and four photographers' names in the second example to summarize the permanent collection. Again, it impossible to describe an art musuem collection without some similar text, and this small amount of discontinuous text is permissible. 6) Decerega - I paraphrased facts in a different sequence. One sentence is the same. 7) Mbata - paraphrased selected facts in a different order. 8) BlackRock Center for the Arts - I incorporated two sentences from Germantown, Montgomery County, Maryland#Culture, which is similar to one sentence cited by admin. An examination of the contrib history of the Admin for the period in question suggests he may not have been in a good mood, using edit summaries like "The hubris!" and "Damn, damn damn, piss and shit; I'm going to have to spend $30 to look at one article that i'm not even sure is the right one" during his recent edits. Again, I am aware of Wikipedia's policies and do my best to comply with them.

Decline reason:

Let's see:

1. Maybe six words changed in a lengthy cut-and-paste
2. Direct cut and paste, no alteration
3. More direct cut and paste, no significant alteration
4. Again, more cut and paste. Original: he has partnered with Champions for Children, a charity event that benefits Children’s Memorial Hospital. He has donated two ringside seats, air travel and hotel for Saturday’s event. Copy: Lee has partnered with Champions for Children, a charity event that benefits Children’s Memorial Hospital. He has donated two ringside seats, air travel and hotel for his November 2010 fight. That's not a paraphrase.
5. More cut-and-paste, entire sentence lifted unchanged
6. Entire sentences lifted unchanged
7. Changing the order of sentences is not paraphrasing

That you are "doing your best" to comply is not adequate; policy doesn't require attempts at compliance, it requires compliance. Your understanding of our copyright policies is very flawed, even though you assert your awareness of them. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 16:23, 4 February 2011 (UTC)

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If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

Note: Wikipedia policy allows copying/paraphrasing from public domain sources and from other wikipedia pages, which was not addressed by either admin.

Your unblock request must be retained. If you remove it again, you will lose the ability to edit your talk page. --Rschen7754 04:17, 7 February 2011 (UTC)

It is important to note that on 03:36, 11 December 2010 (UTC) User:Rschen7754 left the following comment for me on his review of Virginia State Route 27:

It's just tacky to quote in the second sentence, when it's pretty easy to paraphrase it yourself.

To which I replied, "I can't paraphrase it any better and don't want to be guilty of a close paraphrase." So on the one hand, the people who were failing GA reviews for failure to paraphrase are gleefully exploiting the situation as an "opportunity." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.173.140.100 (talk) 20:04, 15 February 2011 (UTC)

Unblock proposal

I have been contacted by User:Harej by email, who proposes in sum and substance, that you be unblocked on condition that you cannot make substantive contributions to articles unless they are vetted by a mentor and that you have agreed to this condition. What is concerning to me is that until the bitter end you were defending your edits, have never acknowledged you did anything wrong and, assuming the IP edit above is from you, you are still making excuses. I will nevertheless agree to this proposal, so long as the mentor is an experienced editor willing to take on the serious time obligation for this task (Harej did not tell me directly that he was agreeing to be that mentor, but if he is, he is obviously suitable), and that you further specifically state here that you will refrain from any further copying and close paraphrasing of content. It goes without saying that any further copyright infringements will result in a reinstatement of the block by any admin. If you respond appropriately and a mentor states their agreement here, I will unblock.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 15:41, 20 February 2011 (UTC)

Yes, I agree to be the copyright mentor. harej 04:00, 24 February 2011 (UTC)

Way to go Harej! Sadads (talk) 04:27, 24 February 2011 (UTC)

Just to restate the email traffic, I shall comply with Wikipedia's copyright policies. Racepacket (talk) 14:24, 25 February 2011 (UTC)

Responding in part to your emails, which I have just seen, I thought I was pretty clear above about what was required. In addition to a someone agreeing to serve in the capacity of a copyright mentor, I asked that you "specifically state here that you will refrain from any further copying and close paraphrasing of content" (emphasis added). You could have done that five days ago. Per your not very satisfactory statement directly above to that effect, I have unblocked you.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 05:04, 26 February 2011 (UTC)

DYK for Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006

—HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 06:03, 8 February 2011 (UTC)