User talk:Dank

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This Month in GLAM: August 2011

This Month in GLAM – Volume I, Issue VIII, August 2011 USA report • UK report • Canada report • Spain report Germany report • Mexico report • Israel report • Event calendar To assist with preparing the newsletter, please visit the newsroom. Past editions may be viewed here.

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YF-23, thanks

Thanks for your efforts to improve the YF-23 while it's at FAC. If it wasn't for you, I'd have no idea how to address the issues. Sp33dyphil ^{"Ad astra"} 00:22, 4 September 2011 (UTC)

I'm just sorry it's been an off-and-on thing ... I should be able to finish up right away. - Dank (push to talk) 01:07, 4 September 2011 (UTC)

Edit War Help

I am having an edit war with on Revolution (song) with an unconfirmed user who is repeatedly adding unsourced or in one case falsely sourced material to the good article. I don't know what actions I should take next so any help would be great. Thanks --MOLEY (talk) 04:21, 4 September 2011 (UTC)

The note you left on the user's talk page was a good start. Also try a note on the article talk page asking for second opinions. At some point, WP:3RR may be necessary. - Dank (push to talk) 04:32, 4 September 2011 (UTC)

Kurt Hummel FAC #2 redux

The current Kurt Hummel FAC seems to be stalled. The last comment was on August 26, and there hasn't been any further action on the prose (or anything else, for that matter) since then. I appreciate the offer you made on the 30th; if you could take a look soon, that would be wonderful. Many thanks. BlueMoonset (talk) 05:58, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

I'd like to see the article pass a check on the sourcing before I copyedit ... it's not a big deal, it happens all the time that the little numbers don't match up exactly with the words, but I'd still like to see it pass that hurdle. - Dank (push to talk) 11:49, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

Brianboulton, who seemed to be leading the sourcing check, is currently away from Wikipedia until the middle of the month, and hadn't responded to the latest fixes made at his request in the days before he took the break. Do you know of anyone else who might be able to do the check? I'm worried that the FAC will close if there isn't any activity and it will all be to do over again. Thank you. BlueMoonset (talk) 13:27, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

It's a necessary job but not a popular one, so I'd rather not ask, I'd rather leave it to whoever's willing to do it. Best would be to post what you just told me in the FAC. You might also post on a couple of wikiproject talk pages. - Dank (push to talk) 13:54, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for the advice. I wanted to let you know that we've done as you suggested, and will see if anything develops. I appreciate your willingness to undertake the copyedit, and hope that the sources are passed soon. BlueMoonset (talk) 02:44, 9 September 2011 (UTC)

Advice requested at List of castles in England

• Hi, you may remember you contributed to the peer review for this page around 1st August. A problem has now arisen, not with an edit war but with an editor using WP policies and guidelines as a means to attack the page - and me - relentlessly. In particular, he is now using WP:SIZERULE to demand the page be split. Because the guidelines can be read as recommending splitting at 100k, my expectation is that he will never give up whilst the page exceeds that size, without an authoritative ruling that a larger size is acceptable.
• I am working on means to reduce the size from its current 256k - as it was when you edited it - to 180k or less. I'd be very glad to have your view as to what an acceptable size would be.
• I have put out a request for opinions on the article's talk page. If you feel able to support the work I have done on this page, that would be very welcome. I did ask Woody for his advice, and he promptly retired, not sure if there was a connection! Paravane (talk) 16:25, 5 September 2011 (UTC)
  • Woody's tenure as a Milhist coord is up this month, so I don't think it was your fault :). I rarely participate at WP:FLC, so I'm really not the guy for disputes about lists. If I were in this position, I would ask for help at WT:FLC. - Dank (push to talk) 16:48, 5 September 2011 (UTC)
    • Thanks for your advice, I'll try that. Paravane (talk) 16:53, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

RfA Reform update

Hi. It's been a little while since the last message on RfA reform, and there's been a fair amount of slow but steady progress. However, there is currently a flurry of activity due to some conversations on Jimbo's talk page.

I think we're very close to putting an idea or two forward before the community and there are at least two newer ones in the pipeline. So if you have a moment:

• Have a look at the min requirement proposal and familiarise yourself with the statistics, I'd appreciate comment on where we should put the bar.
• Any final comments would be appreciated on the clerks proposal.
• Feedback on the two newer proposals - Pre-RfA & Wikipedia:RfA reform 2011/Sysop on request. Both are more radical reforms of RfA and might run along side the current system.

Thanks for reading and for any comments that you've now made.

Delivered by MessageDeliveryBot on behalf of RfA reform 2011 at 21:39, 6 September 2011 (UTC).

Mentorship Program

Dank, I am currently participating in the Guild of Copy Editors September 2011 backlog elimination drive. I feel I could improve in certain aspects of my copy editing skill. You might notice that we are both members of the Military History project and the Guild of Copy Editors. Considering that we have some mutual interests, I would like to know if you are willing to serve as a mentor under the Guild of Copy Editors Mentorship Program to help improve my copy-editing skills. I look forward to your reply. And as an aside, good luck in your Coordinator election. LeonidasSpartan (talk) 11:10, 8 September 2011 (UTC)

Sure, I'm happy to review any copyediting work anyone does in history-related articles that are currently being reviewed ... either point me to your work, or pull up any of the reviews in the "Military history WikiProject articles for review" box at the top of this userpage; I work on most of them, eventually. Also, your question at the election page gave me an idea; more later. - Dank (push to talk) 13:44, 8 September 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for agreeing to take a look at some of my articles. I've included links to two article that I think would give you a general idea of the quality of my copy editing skills: Anglo-Spanish War (1625–1630) and History of Christianity in Hungary. I look forward to your feedback. LeonidasSpartan (talk) 08:59, 16 September 2011 (UTC)

Also what was that idea you said I inspired which you mentioned?LeonidasSpartan (talk) 08:59, 16 September 2011 (UTC)

I think that was WT:MHC#A-class and FAC reviewing. First, I'd like to see how you do with copyediting your entry for the current coordinator elections. Also please see yesterday's request for copyediting at WT:MIL#Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628. - Dank (push to talk) 12:40, 16 September 2011 (UTC)

Since you're asking for copyediting mentoring, here's a sample: if I were copyediting your first paragraph on the elections page, it would go something like this. Feel free to use any of this, or none of it:

My name is Andrew Ryan Dunbar; on Wikipedia I go by the handle LeonidasSpartan. I have been a contributor on Wikipedia since 2007 and a member of the Military History Project since April 16, 2010. As a contributor to Wikipedia I have made enough edits to reach Journeyman Editor status. My contributions to the Military History Project include clearing backlogs of unassessed articles, writing new articles, copyediting, and participating in talkpage discussions. I believe I can assist with the continued smooth operation of this project and I believe that I can help improve the project as a whole. (I intended to nominate myself as a candidate on September 14th, but a broken engine mount and faulty alternator had other ideas. I hope the delay in adding my candidacy will not negatively influence your vote.) - Dank (push to talk) 19:28, 16 September 2011 (UTC)

If you're looking for copyediting work, I'm hoping people will add a request or two to the last section I just added below. - Dank (push to talk) 21:23, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

We did it!

	Featured Article promotion
	Because you were a major contributor of the article Northrop YF-23, I'd like to tell you that the article is now an FA! Thank you so much for helping me out, and I think that you should feel as proud as I am right now. Once again, thanks! Sp33dyphil "Ad astra" 23:02, 10 September 2011 (UTC)

Sure thing. Demiurge1000 and HJ Mitchell have been helping with aviation articles, and I noticed over at WP:GOCE/FA that SynergyStar did a great job with Boeing 767, so it looks like we've got a critical mass of aviation writers! Let's go nuclear. - Dank (push to talk) 01:03, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

Have a look at this. Sp33dyphil ^{"Ad astra"} 01:46, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

Looks great. - Dank (push to talk) 02:18, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

unit conversions in linked articles

Dank, where in WP:MOSNUM does it say not to convert units if the article is linked, like for guns? I looked through it and couldn't find anything that specific.--Sturmvogel 66 (talk) 05:07, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

"When inserting a conversion would make a common or linked expression awkward (The four-minute mile)." It's a little vague, but that's the best wording I was able to get inserted, about a year ago. Since then, I haven't gotten reverted to my knowledge when I removed a conversion from any link (on the theory that if the reader wants a conversion, all they have to do is click). - Dank (push to talk) 12:29, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

XF-85 gremlins

Don't apologize, it's totally unnecessary. Mistakes are known to happen. :) (And I've been known to make more than my share. 8o ) TREKphiler ^{any time you're ready, Uhura} 16:00, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

I just hated to make a language mistake while complaining about language :) - Dank (push to talk) 16:50, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

The Bugle: Issue LXVI, August 2011

Your Military History Newsletter Project news: From the editors; medal recipients; contest results Articles: The month's featured and A-class Milhist content Book reviews: Nick-D looks at Carthage and Australia in Palestine Op-ed: Remembering 9/11

To receive this newsletter on your talk page, join the project or sign up here. If you are a member who does not want delivery, please go to this page. EdwardsBot (talk) 17:46, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

Aircraft articles

Judging by your contributions during the last few days, I think you should join me at improving some aircraft articles. I think WP:AIR needs someone who is willing to revamp and expand articles, for which I'm happy to do. But, for my work to succeed, I'd dearly love a group of users around me who would clean up after myself and offer comments and reviews about my work. There are a few people who'd got their hands dirty, such as Kyteto (Avro Vulcan), SynergyStar (Boeing 767), Bzuk, BilCat, Demiurge1000, Fnlayson, and yourself. I think if everyone works together as a team, we can achieve a lot and "go nuclear". I'd appreciate it if you, because of your connections with others, get them to come along. If you wanna chat to me, please go to [1], if you haven't already. Sp33dyphil ^{"Ad astra"} 10:26, 13 September 2011 (UTC)

Didn't see you there. To expand a little bit on what I said at WT:AVIATION#WP:Featured article candidates/McDonnell XF-85 Goblin/archive1, I've been running into two problems over the last year (with most of the aviation articles at the military history A-class review, not just yours): I've having a hard time with the copyediting (there's a lot to do and I'm not sure how to do it), and it's not even possible yet for me to rewrite for clarity ... because that involves judgment calls about your writing style, and I'm not sure yet what your writing style is. My suggestion would be more collaboration before an article shows up at A-class. I'll try to look at every article that shows up at A-class with fresh eyes. - Dank (push to talk) 17:07, 13 September 2011 (UTC)

And on your specific request ... I'm trying to recruit new copyeditors, and I think the best time for me to encourage more people to visit A-class would be when (and if) I succeed with that. - Dank (push to talk) 18:44, 13 September 2011 (UTC)

What do you mean by "writing style"? Sp33dyphil ^{"Ad astra"} 05:58, 14 September 2011 (UTC)

It means, I don't have a sense yet of what words I expect to see in your articles; when a writer gets comfortable with their writing, I usually start to get a sense of familiarity with their articles ... which is important for a copyeditor, because it doesn't do you any good if I help you to sound like me, I want to help you sound like you (or rather, how you'd sound as a successful "scholarly" writer.) - Dank (push to talk) 11:36, 14 September 2011 (UTC)

A-class review

Dear Dank, thank you for your comments on the recent copy-edit of Boeing 767. I have since been encouraged to take the article to FAC review. At present though, the article is in need of comments for its A-class review; I've already advertised at WP:AVIATION for days now, but had few takers. As someone who's frequented A-class reviews before, and commented on its copy-edit, if you have the chance to drop a comment, suggestions, etc. of any kind, positive, negative, or neutral, that would be appreciated. Regards, SynergyStar (talk) 02:26, 15 September 2011 (UTC)

Sure thing, I'm going to start looking at everything that shows up at WP:AV's A-class review. I'll be there as soon as I finish with the current FACs. - Dank (push to talk) 02:40, 15 September 2011 (UTC)

A cookie for you!

Hello Dank! I hope you enjoy this home-made cookie of mine as a warm greeting from a fellow military historian. Sp33dyphil "Ad astra" 03:42, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

Butter gives me a stuffy nose ... do you have something non-dairy? - Dank (push to talk) 12:05, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

Fine, next time I'll give you whale fat :P Sp33dyphil ^{"Ad astra"} 04:46, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Ugh

Do you think I'm being excessively demanding of Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil at FAC? Malleus Fatuorum 04:17, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

(talk page stalker) Knowing Dank, I'd think it's because he's now committed to copyediting another article (or something similar). I'm sure it was nothing against you. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 07:10, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

Actually ... thanks Malleus, that "ugh" was a bad idea (since it's uncharacteristic and people won't know what I meant), I've struck it. I don't know if you were being tough, but I plan on being tougher. - Dank (push to talk) 12:10, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

It's a tiny article really, and no excuse for it not being top notch. Glad to see that you're sorting it out. Malleus Fatuorum 02:30, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Thanks, I'm done, feel free to fiddle with it. - Dank (push to talk) 02:36, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

I perhaps find it more difficult to compromise than you do. For instance, I very much do not like the repeated "Pedro II" in this article, and the stonewalling I've experienced during the review makes me disinclined to work on it further. Malleus Fatuorum 03:31, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Some baklava for you!

In lieu of Sp33dyphil's cooke, which i almost ate, I present you <russian accent> ouvr national treazur of thi mutherland</russian accent>, baklava! Enjoy! Buggie111 (talk) 04:51, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

That's more like it! - Dank (push to talk) 11:39, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

You're invited! Wikimedia DC Annual Membership Meeting

DC Meetup 23 & Annual Membership Meeting

Wikimedia District of Columbia, the newest officially recognized chapter, is holding its Annual Membership Meeting at 1pm on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library. Agenda items include: election of the Board of Directors for the next two years approval of a budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year report on the activities and accomplishments of the past year social gathering afterwards at a nearby restaurant Candidate nominations are open until 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, September 24. We encourage you to consider being a candidate. (see see candidate instructions) The meeting is open to both the general public and members from within the DC-MD-VA-WV-DE region and beyond. We encourage everyone to attend! You may join the chapter at the meeting or online.

---

Note: You can remove your name from the DC meetup invite list here. -- Message delivered by AudeBot, on behalf of User:Aude

Titan's cross nomination

Hello, Dank. I see that you are a member of WP:OMT. I am reminding you that there is a discussion [here] about whther or not to award Bahamut0013, a member of OMt who passsed awsay a short while ago, the Titan's Cross in silver. your opinion will be welcome. Thanks, Buggie111 (talk) 14:03, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Thanks, I supported. - Dank (push to talk) 14:19, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Prince Afonso

Dank, as usual, you've been doing a great job. You've always very helpful and volunteered to aid even when you were not asked to and that's something which I regard as a very nice trait of yours (I mean it). Unfortunately, I have less and less motives to stay on Wikipedia. FAC seems like a war to me, and not a place where Wikipedians can help each other.

For some reason which I'm not aware, Malleus Fatuorum has grown hostile toward me even though I was not rude to him. Astynax has the right to argue that he believes some changes are not needed. That's not supposed to be an offense. It is true that Astynax did not make a few (I repeat: a few) of the changes Malleus asked for. However, I fixed all remaining issues raised by Malleus which had not been corrected by Astynax nonetheless. Every single edit he made into the article I supported (I even said that I supported the changes in his talk page). Not a single moment I turned to Malleus and said that I would not cooperate. But some of his words were harsh (to say the least) and unnecessary [2][3][4][5] It's sad that for some reason he has shown animosity toward me. I have none to him.

John's behavior can be described as inappropriate at least. He has been vague from the beginning even though I asked him repeatedly to point out what was wrong. He made several changes to the article. By doing that, he removed entire senteces without a a reason and added another one which had no source (into a FAC!). I opposed only the last move he made.

All this is frustrating. Very, very frustrating. Sorry to bother you about this, but I had to talk to someone. Astynax has clearly stepped back seeing how hostile some of the reviewers have become and I'm pretty much by my own (as usual) now. Thnaks for everything, anyway. --Lecen (talk) 18:41, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Understood. For the future, if you're interested in working on articles involving any heads of state during a time of conflict, we can handle those at Milhist's A-class review, which will go more smoothly. I know that there's interest in Brazilian articles among Milhist regulars. For the current FAC ... it's too early to run up a surrender flag, let's see how it goes. - Dank (push to talk) 21:19, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

All you had to do Lecen was to fix the article. But I see it's now promoted, which it now deserves. Malleus Fatuorum 21:38, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

Copyediting give and take; Milhist coordinator elections

Several people have asked to work with me on copyediting, including some running in the current Milhist coordinator elections, and some have asked for copyediting help. Rather than assigning work, I'm pointing several people to this notice so that people can ask for help and offer help if they want to. - Dank (push to talk) 21:17, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Battle of Vukovar

I've taken your advice and posted an A-class review request at Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/Battle of Vukovar. If there's anything you can do to get it off the ground it would be much appreciated. Prioryman (talk) 22:32, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Be happy to help ... there are a few articles ahead of yours, but I'll get to it soon. - Dank (push to talk) 22:41, 18 September 2011 (UTC)

Our military family

Is in morning. I don't know how well, but I presume you knew User:Bahamut0013. Condolences are compiling if you have a thought to share. Damn!--My76Strat (talk) 23:55, 19 September 2011 (UTC)

Thanks. - Dank (push to talk) 02:17, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

	The Civility Barnstar
	From the beginning to the very end of the FAC process in the article which I nominated you were polite, helpful and reasonable. You certainly deserve this small token of gratitude. Lecen (talk) 23:09, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

I find that rather insulting. Your mileage may of course vary. Malleus Fatuorum 23:22, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

It seems like a compliment to me, I'm going to add it to my list of shinies. - Dank (push to talk) 23:40, 20 September 2011 (UTC)