User talk:Moni3

Wikipedia hosts numerous battles between ignorance and information. Who is winning today?

Blue Tilapia

Just a quick heads up for you: I am working on fixing that redlink for Oreochromis aureus in the Restoration of the Everglades article; I'm attempting to get a WP-compliant and licensed photograph to go with it. I'll let you know when I push it into article space. (It's currently in one of my sandboxes getting developed and referenced.) Horologium (talk) 20:41, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Sweet! Well done! Due to a peer review, for which I am very thankful, I just created three more red links in Geography and ecology of the Everglades. They're rather like whack-a-moles. Someone created an article for Charles Torrey Simpson based on the red link in the Draining and development of the Everglades article, and harumph—copied my text for it. Hmmmp. --Moni3 (talk) 21:01, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Okay, I think I'm done; just waiting for the image to come through. Can you take a look at User:Horologium/sandbox3 and tell me if there are any glaring omissions or errors that leap out at you? I'd like to run this through DYK when I push it into article space, so any hooks you see or can think of would be a good thing too. BTW, I'll see what I can do about the Crown conch redlink you ginned up. (grin) Give me about a week on that; my plate is going to be full for a few days. Horologium (talk) 23:50, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Hey, that article looks awesome. Well done! They're pretty popular aquarium fish. I'm surprised the article didn't already exist. --Moni3 (talk) 23:56, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

OK, It's live at Oreochromis aureus. I got an awesome picture off flicr, after asking the photographer to give it a CC-BY-SA license. Horologium (talk) 18:05, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Nice job. Thanks, Horologium! Good pic, too. (What, they're not blue??) --Moni3 (talk) 18:37, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. Next up is Melongena corona, which might be easier; I am actually familiar with them. (I have a shell stored away somewhere; I collected one at Fort Myers Beach while it was still legal to collect live specimens.) And Blue Tilapia are blue, but only on their ventral fin. Horologium (talk) 20:51, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

backfill?

Moni, did your sources use the word "backfill" in the sense of "the canal backfilled"? Websters, AMHER, Wiktionary, the pocket OED, and a few other dictionaries don't have that sense. All but two of them say it's transitive. Webster's will let you say "it was backfilled" or "he backfilled with silt" intransitively, but not "it backfilled". What do your sources say? - Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 22:36, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

They say "...it was backfilled". Does the Restoration article leave that word out? Off to go see. --Moni3 (talk) 22:40, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Ah, nevermind, I had been looking at an earlier version that said "it backfilled". It's fixed now. - Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 23:00, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm just checking, because I might be too heavy-handed here. I'd like to replace "state and federal agencies worked at finding solutions to balance the needs of the natural environment" with "...agencies looked for ways to balance...", or "...have tried to balance..." If state or federal agencies actually did any work every time they said they did, we wouldn't have these problems. What do you think? - Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 00:18, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

That reads well. Do you think it implies mission accomplished? Or is that not a concern since the rest of the lead explains it's an ongoing effort? --Moni3 (talk) 00:30, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

I don't think it implies mission accomplished, it's just that "have tried to find ways" sounds neutral, while "worked at finding solutions" just sounds like something a bureaucrat or politician might say...maybe...and if so, it lowers the credibility of the information. I'll make the change; feel free to revert. - Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 00:36, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Mercury Pollution

I recently had a chat with my aunt, who works for the EPA, about the Everglades. She said that she had done some work regarding the mercury levels in the Everglades region, and even mentioned the very same panther episode that you discussed in Restoration of the Everglades. I asked her if she had any advice on where to find more information about mercury, and she gave me a few experts (including herself) to contact:

• Rochelle Araujo, my aunt, EPA Office of Research and Development: araujo.rochelle@epa.gov
• David Krabbenhoft, USGS Scientist, Co-Chair of the 2006 International Mercury Conference: dpkrabbe@usgs.gov
• Cynthia Gilmour, Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: gilmourc@si.edu

She said that of the people she's worked with, Krabbenhoft and Gilmour know the most about mercury in the Everglades. I suggest contacting them either to find more information or to try to get them to review the articles. --Cryptic C62 · Talk 02:03, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

It's worth considering. Though, walk with me in my mental groves here... I just nominated the article for FAC. I've contacted the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension in Belle Glade, the Audubon Society of the Everglades, the South Florida Sierra Club, and Friends of the Everglades, inviting them to review the set of articles, though I haven't noticed any external edits, and I got two responses from groups saying they would try to read them. The mercury section is small compared to the scope of the article as a whole. And the source I used, Lodge's Handbook of the Everglades is pretty much the best (and only?) comprehensive view of Everglades geography and ecology. I wonder - would these sources be able to review the article for more than mercury? Or did you have a specific concern about the content in this section? --Moni3 (talk) 02:25, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

The mercury section is quite small, but Rochelle seemed to think it to be a fairly large issue. We came to the conclusion that perhaps there could be a Pollution in the Everglades article or some such. One way or the other, you could simply find out what they think about mercury in the Everglades. --Cryptic C62 · Talk 02:42, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Hi, Cryptic. I'm not ignoring you. I hope you understand I'm really tired from writing those four articles, going through GAs, FACs, Peer reviews, and such. I don't have the energy right now to write another article. I'm not saying it won't ever happen, but I'll put it on a shelf for now. I'm just really tired. --Moni3 (talk) 14:41, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm falling apart

My heart is broken and will never be able to be put back together. I am so sorry to vother you but I just don't know what to do.

I made this video for Isaac for our 15th anniversary. I just wanted somebody to see it. The last pictures are from our wedding day. Please forgive me for bothering you. Jeffpw (talk) 22:41, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Once when I saw my brother's response of "No" to one of those ubiquitous myspace questionnaires asking (intended for someone 15 years old or so) "Have you ever had your heart broken?" I wondered how on earth that could be. No one but a stone cold asshole could go through life and not have his or her heart broken, I thought. What breaks our hearts changes our outlooks, forms our beings for better or worse. I've not been so unfortunate as to lose a spouse, and I wish I knew exactly what to say to comfort you, but I know even if I had the experience there's nothing I could do to make you feel better. For that, I'm sorry. I can only imagine you feel lost and rudderless, unsure of who you are. If I have any suggestion, it's a poor attempt I know. When you're ready, work to honor him, even somewhere as small as here on Wikipedia. Work on the topics he loved: textiles? Shirley Bassey? I would have a need to stay busy until I had the frame of mind to come out of my grief. Once again... I know it means nothing. I wish I could do more. --Moni3 (talk) 23:00, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

I watched the video. My Dutch is rusty.

I love you, Moni. Jeffpw (talk) 23:47, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Jeff, there is nothing you can do; the only way around grief is through it. You can't hide from it, you can't get away from it, but it will let up ... some day ... some day, you will be able to live with it. For now, please allow yourself to cry and scream and despair. I don't know how to imbed the video, but I'm sure someone will. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 23:51, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for your boundless compassion, Saady. I am now very highly sedated and going to bed. Tomorrow I must translate all the speeches from America into Dutch, so I must go to bed to face another (empty) day. I wish I was not so pathetic, and I hope you and God can forgive me for my weakness. Jeffpw (talk) 23:56, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

I hope you can get some rest; there is no way to be anything but pathetic when facing the depths of despair and loss. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 00:01, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Mmmm. Sedation... Love you too, darlin'. And you too, Sandy. --Moni3 (talk) 00:09, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

At the risk of being the only straight person in the grouphug, I wanna hug too (see my talkpage for context as to how I arrived here - I promise I'm not a stalker...). Okay, now I'm really going offline...it's amazing how therapeutic Wikipedia(ns) can be when you need them...Keeper | 76 | Disclaimer 00:12, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Wha? Sandy's not straight? Then, how you doin'? --Moni3 (talk) 00:17, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Last time I checked, I was straight; should I check more often? Love and hugs to all, SandyGeorgia (Talk) 00:19, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

I'd like to help with the embed, but I don't think I can as the song is copyrighted... Gary King (talk) 00:27, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

You don't know me from Adam, Jeff, but as a widow, all that I can tell you is that time won't heal, but will dull the pain. You must, as Sandy says, allow yourself to cry and scream and be angry and upset. Do it at your own pace, don't let people tell you you shouldn't be upset any more, either. Everyone takes grief differently. (hugs) to you too. (sorry Moni for hijacking) Ealdgyth - Talk 01:23, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Michael Jackson Peer review

Hello there, the Jackson article is at peer review at the moment, I plan to take it to FA soon. Would you be able to give me some advise on the article or consider helping with a copy edit? Its a very good article, it just needs a brush up, something I'm not sure I can provide it. Hope you have some time to spare on it, regards. — Realist² (Who's Bad?) 14:15, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Ficus aurea

Thanks. And I'd love pictures, especially if they are natural habitat pix. Guettarda (talk) 15:18, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

I shall do my best to find some for you. --Moni3 (talk) 15:40, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Newsletter

I see you've started a new edition of the newsletter. I tried to fix the section headers so we wouldn't need the "no toc" (spacing so it doesn't work here) command which then affects the whole page. For some reason though, it didn't work properly, even though it looks like how we've done that before. I posted something about it on the the talk page of the workpage. Aleta ^Sing 20:42, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

I saw it =). I was just going to post a note on the LGBT talk page, but dang...you're fast. Thanks. I'll look at it over the next several days. --Moni3 (talk) 20:44, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Happy Birthday, America!

I made this as my birthday present to America. I hope you enjoy it. Jeffpw (talk) 12:28, 4 July 2008 (UTC)

Armchair quarterbacking

In Talk:Homosexuality, you wrote: "my comments may be both helpful and aggravating." I think the best comments are often both of those things, and I just wanted to say I appreciate yours. I avoided this article for a long time because I too was wary of getting sucked in, and now the risk is becoming all too real. Thanks for being a voice of reason. Rivertorch (talk) 21:04, 4 July 2008 (UTC)

Yeh. I appreciate yours, too. I hope we can salvage the article to appease the masses... or at least keep it off the ANI page. --Moni3 (talk) 21:17, 4 July 2008 (UTC)

Give a holler

...if/when you're ready for a copyedit of Everglades. Looks like we've got no static at Restoration, and Geography looks very good to me. - Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 00:38, 5 July 2008 (UTC)

Possible newsletter idea

The absence of Satyr has meant Satyrbot is disabled thus new articles not being tagged, etc. I wonder if it makes sense to convene a cabal meeting to see what makes sense to sort it out (force Satyr back, temporary other user, replacement bot request, etc.) Banjeboi 02:17, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

What sort of form might this meeting of the cabal (which does not exist) take? I agree with you. If you can get interested participants, keep me filled in. --Moni3 (talk) 12:14, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

Maybe just direct those who don't exist to the project talk page and we'll see if anyone steps up. If nothing else I can follow up with bot people to see if some (very basic and technically unchallenging) bots can be set up to myself. I believe all bots have to be associated with a user but the whole subject is a bit of a mystery. Banjeboi 15:27, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

Ok. I'll put it in the newsletter inviting those knowledgeable about bots to give input. I'd like to recharge the article improvement drive. I'd like to see more editors work to get GAs and FAs. I can't do much else but that for the project. Maybe I can help others who need a direction. --Moni3 (talk) 15:30, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

Well I'm in the category of those working on the front lines of generally nurturing the stubbies from getting deleted and rarely go through the processes of getting them bumped up in status. Perhaps you could also add a few of your favorite links to inspire those who may be interested. Banjeboi 15:45, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

Trip

Sorry to hear about your trip (or lack thereof). Luckily for us, there are no deadline in Wiki-world :) (Sub-)Tropical plant pix are always welcome. I'm sure I can find something to do with them. And, btw - thanks for the link that led to my first FA since 2005. Guettarda (talk) 16:35, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

WR

Interesting of you to mention WikiReview; kind of Awadewit to provide "abuse of authority" charges so I can be smeared there. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 17:49, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

Just after I posted that comment I went to the forums to see it for the first time. I saw the issue at ANI: should it be promoted at DYK if it has "outed" editors? I actually don't know, because I didn't stay too long, if FAC—or you, for that matter—have been discussed. I think a discussion about how you go about making the decisions you do would alleviate abuse of power concerns. I'm, honestly...I don't know quite what to say about it. I find the FAC page the last refuge of the intelligent (HELLO! judge much?) and this discussion is rather like a horrible accident I cannot look away from. Having a stake in it because I like and trust you both gives me the feeling that I should step in and do something. Or perhaps this is a fortuitous circumstance to prompt me to concentrate more on my art. I'm very confused. --Moni3 (talk) 17:59, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

It's naive to think that some discussion about how I make decisions can prevent someone from lodging false accusations against someone who puts their neck on the line to do a service to the community, and then can end up smeared on WikiReview as a result. Anyone can say anything on the internet, and it will be replayed to advantage of those who seek to undermine Wiki. Clearly, I can only serve if I have the support of the community, and I have no interest whatsoever in doing this job if one decision in 1,000 is questioned in such an egregious manner. The "abuse of authority" charge is a clear AGF violation, and it hasn't been retracted or amended. Who do you think wants to serve the community under such circumstances? Your last refuge of the intelligent just went down a very black hole, and I didn't take it there. I'm not at all confused. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 18:16, 9 July 2008 (UTC) And by the way, do you really think charges that I "abuse of authority" need to be "alleviated"? I'm surprised. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 18:20, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

Every job on wiki, not matter how big or small, brings the risk of improper accusations. I've been accused of some things I find quite offensive, including anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, anti-<fill in the blank>, and that's just because I participated in a discussion. Having decision-making power by definition will open you up to more, equally spurious and likely equally offensive, accusations. Sandy, I think it is quite clear from the responses on WT:FAC that you do have the support of the broad community. I am unable at the moment to figure out what Awadewit is thinking but it seems very clear that the rest of the FAC community is likewise confused. We think you are doing a terrific job, but in a job like this you can't please everyone all of the time. Don't let one editor who acted very uncharacteristically for her make you lose faith in everyone else. Karanacs (talk) 18:28, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

I have no doubt that the accusation upset you, particularly coming from Awadewit. However, I have the sense that nuttier editors have accused you of wackier things. Reading some of the rather uninformed comments when the ANI page has something to say about FAs or the main page article, makes it seem as if very few Wikipedians are intimate with the details of how FAC works, and I know virtually no one outside of Wikipedia has any clue about article assessment, right down to stubs. I understand that trust between FAC editors and you is a significant component of your job. So far, it has worked well in my favor for the articles I've brought forth—and it has appeared to work for the system as a whole. If I was not an active participant at FAC, however, and I did not know you, and I visited as an outsider wanting to know how main page articles appear where tens of thousands of people can read them and be influenced by them...this is why clarity should be precise.

I know you can't really help taking it personally, but I think what you have to do is divorce the job you do from the job description. Wikipedia has been such hot shit so fast and now for so long, and has the potential to form more of public opinion, that it is a situation that is begging to be dragged down by baseless accusations from strangers. I know you'll take care of FACs, and I know you'll do the best job you can, but I don't know how that can be portrayed as an infallible system. If I didn't know you, I wouldn't believe it. I'm not confused about the fact that I trust you, like you, have enjoyed interacting with you, and have enjoyed the FAC process (except for the times I almost threw my laptop out the window), but sites like WikiReview, the growing number of blocked users, vandals, and dissatisfied retired editors, and the increasing press Wikipedia gets indicates that scrutiny about the FAC process may be coming. Providing skeptics as close to a formula, rubric, or description of your process (which also may not seem infallible) as you can makes it seem less like you do what you want is the explanation. --Moni3 (talk) 19:14, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

hello lovely

If you get a chance in the next day or so, would you mind skimming over Whitman-Walker Clinic and telling me how far you think it has before it could be a GA? Muchas gracias mi amiga lesbiana. APK like a lollipop 02:52, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

I'll take a look at it this weekend. I'm about to hide from the carnage of my article appearing on the main page... I think I'm going to log out and bury my computer. --Moni3 (talk) 02:59, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

Which article? I'll watchlist it so you can hide. APK like a lollipop 03:01, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

The, err, main page article today, darlin'. To Kill a Mockingbird. --Moni3 (talk) 03:06, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

I blame the blonde highlights I got 2 weeks ago. APK like a lollipop 03:07, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

Newsletter bit

Benjiboi is a a bit of a WikiFaerie, a WikiGnome and also a member of the Article Rescue Squadron in addition to being a LGBT project member. A few of Benjiboi's favorite links for making the wikiverse more fab are:

1. Manual of style, a must for anyone redecorating an article.
2. Reliable sources in content review processes, a wonderful and fully linked essay about sourcing and why we need more and better sources.
3. Google scholar, which also searches Google books, is a great help in finding reliable sources.

Hope this works! Banjeboi 03:22, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

Moni, I posted a long response. Feel free to edit and cut mercilessly. I deliberately included a lot so you could chose what works. See here: User:Becksguy/Temp — Becksguy (talk) 03:42, 12 July 2008 (UTC)

Please revisit a FAC

I'd be grateful if you could revisit Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Jack the Ripper royal conspiracy theories, and either strike or confirm your objection. Thanks. DrKiernan (talk) 11:06, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

TFA and ETC

Hey there.. Congrats on the TFA! I hope it's not been too stressful with vandalism etc. I forgot to bring my email login info on my trip, so I haven't been able to read any messages while we've been away. Hopefully you still have the cell number I provided earlier; I hope the plan we discussed still works for you? Gimme a ring on Saturday afternoon and we can nail down specifics. Cheers! – Scartol • Tok 16:44, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

Hope you guys had fun yesterday; I was for the most part stuck in Palatka, being held hostage by the boyfriend's extended family. Fuuun. Oh, and congrats on your newest FA! Very impressive and admirable work. María (habla conmigo) 12:29, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

We did and we missed you. What a bummer, but still. Palatka. I don't think I've ever seen so many neo-Confederate displays in Florida as I have there. Since it's an absolute must to get to St. Augustine through Palatka I am unfortunately more intimate with the town than my comfort allows. Perhaps in one of our treks to Jacksonville (some of my family lives there) we will have the opportunity to meet with you. We recently went to Guana Park on Memorial Day via Ponte Vedra, and my partner and I have been trying to get to Little Talbot Island for a few months now. Best beach in Florida (don't tell). --Moni3 (talk) 12:48, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

Little Talbot is fantastic, I agree: one of NE Florida's best kept secrets and the best spot for a picnic. I also love Fernandina, especially Amelia Island, although parts of it are too touristy. Palatka, on the other hand, is unfortunately unavoidable for me. My love was born and raised there, and every time we visit and I'm forced to smell that horrible sulfur stench, I have to ask myself how the hell he turned out the way he did (i.e. atheist-liberal-nerd, just the way I like them). Whatever Kool-Aid they're drinking down there in Smellatka, he didn't partake. We'll definitely have to meet up sometime, though, it would be a shame not to. María (habla conmigo) 13:20, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

Re: American alligator information in Restoration of the Everglades

It's from the main American Alligator article, but it's not actually sourced there. I've found a source from the FWS website (and put it in the article). Thanks for pointing it out. 02:41, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

God, when do we let the bastardss get us down?

lord, what a tempest in a teapot. Jeffpw (talk) 19:16, 15 July 2008 (UTC)