User talk:Raul654

For your tireless work in making Wikipedia better, for keeping Template:Feature up-to-date, for doing the grunt work of cleaning up Wikipedia:Featured article candidates, for mediating in disputes, for adding lots of really nice pictures, and for still finding the time to work on articles! In a few months you've already become a highly valued member of the community. Stay with us and don't burn out, please. --Eloquence Apr 10, 2004

• Archive 1: August 2003 - July 2004
• Archive 2: August 2004 - July 2005
• Archive 3: August 2005 -

ArbCom Clerks, tiny suggestion

Hi,

I may be the only person who nitpicks about this, but (whereas it's April) I think it is time that the conditional sentence regarding the March re-evaluation of the Clerks Office is modified. Personally, as someone who was initially skeptical of the Office, I must admit it seems to have performed well. The final judgment is reserved to you ArbCommers, obviously, and I have contacted you because you added the text regarding the re-evaluation originally. My concern is especially that newer editors might find the outdated text confusing. Best wishes, Xoloz 04:48, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

And, on a completely different matter, I'm trying to figure out the implication of your having User:David Gerard played by a dead man, Vincent Schiavelli, in Wikipedia: The Movie. :) Xoloz 18:48, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

My opinion of the clerk's office is that it has been a limited success, and that the limiting factor is the small number of clerks (who are now swamped, as is much of the arbcom). Raul654 10:30, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, there are plenty of pending applications remaining. Either ArbCom could do the job of choosing them, or a new Head Clerk could be appointed. I might suggest former Arb. Mackenson for the position, since he has the advantage of recent community approval; or, alternatively, ArbCom could open the position of Head Clerk to willing b'crats, to expand the pool of potential holders for that office. Xoloz 13:04, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Oh, and about Vincent Schiavelli - he's the only person who could successfully replicate the self-image David Gerard tries to project ;) Raul654 10:32, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Microsoft as a front-page FA?

Probably a crazy idea (think of the vandalisms!) but I have managed to clean up all the daughter articles, and the main one is even 200% better then it was a FA time. Any thoughts? If not, could you critique the article for me? I could use some more suggestions on how to improve it :). Just another star in the night ^{T | @ | C} 23:12, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I have nothing against putting this article on the main page, although there's a relatively large backlog of computer-related main page FA requests (Rule of thumb - computer, sci-fi, and war related requests are always backlogged). Raul654 10:28, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Oh, OK - sorry about that - I didn't know :). In that case feel free to take your time, no rush :). Just another star in the night ^{T | @ | C} 14:37, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Arty Spotting

Not to be confused with spotting a stain.....

Article request - Artillery spotting

You said: "I saw your comment to Looper5920. I have an article request that seems right up your alley. I'm putting the finishing touches on Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima (it will soon be promoted to featured article). On the FAC page for that article, it was mentioned that we don't have an article on artillery spotting. Would you be interested in writing one? Raul654 02:55, 15 April 2006 (UTC)"

SimonATL 05:24, 15 April 2006 (UTC) replies in a stream of consciousness, multi-tasking sort of way: Looper - Yes, I'd be interested but Artillery spotting is only part of a much larger picture. What used to be called in WW-II, "artillery spotting" today is considered under a much larger category of Fire Support Coordination (FSC). This would be a much more useful article and here's why. FSC includes traditional "artillery spotting," Naval Gunfire (NGF)and forward air control (FAC). So you can clobber the "bad guy" from land, sea or air and such an article could be broken up into 3 separate parts plus a part on how all three are put together. We could put a redirect for "artillery spotting" right into that article. What do you think? I take it you're a historian, but perhaps, not formally trained in some of these things? I slaved through a friggin YEAR in the classroom at Quantico, VA and then out at the US Army's School of Artillery at Fort Sill, OK. I've been out of touch with some of this stuff as I retired in 98 with 22 years. But the good thing is that the Arty School puts out a GREAT technical mag on Artillery topics and since it's government property, I could draw heavly on it. Also, the same for the other areas. Another thing to consider is the evolution of the whole deal. From some little turk gunner with his little quadrant in a direct fire mode poundin the walls at Constantinople to the Napoleonic age, when things got better organizationally, to the US Civil war with its Federal (Yankee) iron rifled artillery kicking the crap out of Confederate brass canons with their defective fuses at Gettysburg, to the late 19th century when (yes, its hard to believe) the dang French (although they're quite clever in the engineering field historically, right?) invented a pneumatic recoil mechanism that allowed a cannon to recoil, recover from that and go back into almost the same position, allowing for much better control, to target acquisition by binoculars and balloons to locating the enemy by sound ranging, flash ranging and finally modern radar. So, its a fairly complex subject. But looking at your background in engineering, you'd really get off on it cause its a perfect melding of science, technology, mathematics (gunnery) and "violent execution" by artillery, the "King of Battle" as the "red legs" out at Fort Sill are called. Lots of rambling here, but you get my point. A quite interesting topic. Another consideration. To do this right would really require extensive graphics - you know, parabolic arches and stuff and maps of the spotter, the target, the battery and how all that comes together in the Fire Direction Center (FDC). By they way, looper, with your great math/tech/science background you would have been like #1 in your class at Fort Sill in the Basic Officer Course (BOC) and the Field Artillery Cource (FAC). Seriously, you would have sailed thru that stuff. They take the math brainiacs and put them RIGHT in that FDC where they call the shots and the Army LOVES the HELL out of good gunnery officers. You have NO idea how much and how FAR these guys can go. I was more music/art than math/science, so I had to "make" myself study the stuff, but I got good at it, actually and became an FDC inspector for a time, double-checking for their accuracy.

So, let's discuss the breadth and scope of this stuff. By they way, I couldn't help but notice that you're kind of at the top of the wiki food chain and probably inhabiting some secret temple on Wiki Mt. Olympus. Just how did this stuff evolve as far as it has? Its really quite sophisticated, IMHO (well, Marines have a hard time being humble) anyway, how do people become editors, admins and the like?

I've written a fair number of articles, including some totally new stuff and my background in ancient civilizations, Latin, some Greek, etc, has been helpful - dude - even Wiki articles in Latin! Anyway, as a medieval (sp) dude stuck in the 21st Century, Wiki is right up my alley, and unlike too damned many people, I can actually write a coherent English paragraph and some Spanish and French too boot.

Do you dudes have like Wiki conventions where you wear like the wiki version of Star Trek costumes and have Wiki groupies and hangers on? I mean what's the extent of this wiki culture? Call me some time. You can email me at SimonATL (at) yahoo.com cause I'd like to take about 20 minutes to get my hands around this whole wiki universe. I've been too busy editing in English, Spanish and Latin to notice much of the background wiring in the walls and cultural/political stuff like that.

Hey, you're the featured article guy. Then you'll notice how much I've expanded the Theodore Roosevelt article and ALL the TR-related articles, subject matter wise, much more interesting photos. Others like that Lee guy did the footnoting. I also added the entire section on his trip up the River of Doubt in 1913. And know what, because of all that work, and my writing an article on the Theodore Roosevelt (TRA) organization and on TR's great-great grandson, Tweed Roosevelt, I came to the attention of the Roosevelt family and they invited me to become a member of their Strategic Advisory Board to look at how IT and the Web can help them. So, you see, sometimes there are unintended consequences and I'm SURE you've had yours. Do like have Wiki groupies? Just kidding! Anyway, I'll help, but I've burned up so much time, I'll have to allot my hours, dig? thanks SimonATL 05:20, 15 April 2006 (UTC) All I understand at this point is that this dude had a great idea. I think Wikipedia is right up there as on of THE single great invention - as in the IP protocol, the Web, Web browser and Google/search and people like Bill Gates and Larry Elison (sp), ok, I'm lying about those two!.

PS - Dude, I clicked on your fan club link and nearly fell off of my chair laughing my proverbial ass off - that's funny as hell!

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:SimonATL"

First, I think you might have me confused with Looper5920 - he's a totally different user ;) The reason I mentioned him in my message was your comment, where said to him that you were an artilleryman, is why I thought my request would be up your alley.

I'll defer to however you want to write the article - you're the expert so it's only proper that way. As I said on the featured article candidates page, I know vanishingly little about the subject, so I will not be of much help in writing it. I wasn't even aware the term itself was dated, but your idea of making artillery spotting a redirect to the more modern concept of Fire support coordination strikes me as a good one. If you think structuring the article chronologically would be the best way of doing it, that's the way it should be done. However, scope should definitely be a consideration - you don't want to replicate the contents of, for example, the artillery article. Now if you want illustrations and diagrams, you *cannot* go wrong with Inkscape - it's free, powerful, and fairly easy to use (especially if you spend 15 or 20 minutes doing the interactive tutorials). I'd be willing to try my hand at doing the illustrations for such an article, if you provide me with descriptions of what the illustrations you want.

To answer your other questions - I'm not a historian, but american and (modern) military history is a hobby (Besides CNN/MSNBC, the history channel is probably the one I watch most). And yes, I've been to Wiki-meetups. With one exception ("Wikimania" - the world-wide Wikipedia meetup organized by the Foundation) they tend to be small affairs of about 5 to 15 people, usually done at a restraurant over lunch or dinner. You can see a list of previous ones at wikipedia:meetup. Nobody dresses up, unless wearing my Wikipedia hoodie counts.

As far as the culture, Wikipedia has evolved as a true meritocracy - someone who shows himself to be capable of doing a job well tends to be left in charge of that job (And, as David Gerard noted - "On Wikipedia, the reward for a job well done is another three jobs.") In my case, for example, when we switched over to the current main-page layout in early 2004, the featured articles suddenly went from being a rather obscure backwater area of wikipedia to being very prominent. There were the obvious short-term needs (like some way of saying which article was going to be on the main page for each new day) and then there were the less-forseeable long term needs (for one person who could offer an authoritative opinion on featured-article related issues). I sort of "fell into" that role - I started doing it, no one complained, so I kept doing it. Wikipedia's culture has been influenceed by a multitude of other factors too, some philisophical, but many stemming from the specific experiences of the project (case and point - the arbitration committee). I'd be happy to go on about the subject in private.

When I put it on the main page, I did notice the TR article was quite good, although I didn't check to see who was responsible. Excellent work - I'm glad to hear they like it too. Raul654 08:26, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Featured Article

When the Joan of Arc article is featured on the main page on the 16th, I assume it will be protected from editing? The current main-page article, Equal Protection Clause, is being swamped with vandalism which began promptly after it was put up on the main page at 0:00 UTC.

I thought the procedure was to lock such articles during their 24 hours of fame, in order to prevent this problem?

No, we avoid protecting the main page featured articles (unless it is absolutely, positive necessary). See user:Raul654/protection for the explination. Raul654 12:30, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, I think it may be necessary for the upcoming Joan of Arc article, which receives a fair amount of vandalism, insertion of strange ideas, etc, even under regular circumstances.

Well, that's par for the course. Absolutely, positively necessary means something along the lines of 5 or 10 vandalisms per minute using the log-in-log-out vandalism technique, sustained for the better part of an hour. (And if that sentence doesn't make sense, trust me, it's not a common situation) Raul654 13:13, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

• Would have to agree about the definite increase in vandalism. The minute the article on Theodore Roovevelt was featured, ka-blam, a zillion vandalizations. Equally interesting, on the next day, the vandalism was greatly reduced. I think its some juvenile, "look what I can do!" thing. SimonATL 01:34, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Do you feel actual physical nausea every time this comes up again, Mark, or is it just me? ;-) —Bunchofgrapes (talk) 17:42, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

• Probably just you BoG. You're not feeling nauseous are you Marcus Pelargonium (as we don't say in the old homeland). Anyhow, you know my views on the subject - I just shudder with horror when I envisage what will happen to BP on the 21st, is it fair to an old lady like HM? - ("God Save Her" indeed - she will need all the help she can get) which brings me neatly to Sanssouci can we have it soon - it's a real Wiki collaboration of minds and strangers. All that Wiki should be! Per favore. Li elemosino (as we do say in the old homeland) ;>D Giano | talk 18:38, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

BoG - repeatedly typing "No, see user:Raul654/protection" has caused me one type of physical pain ;) Raul654 00:24, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

TfD nomination of Template:Fpopages

Template:Fpopages has been nominated for deletion. You are invited to comment on the discussion at the template's entry on the Templates for Deletion page. Thank you. (I am telling you because you have edited it). Batmanand | Talk 22:38, 15 April 2006 (UTC) Sorry rush of blood to head. Ignore it. No longer listed. Batmanand | Talk 23:33, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Please come up with some award like the Purple Heart

But not the actual award. Think about it! It always given from a wound to a US service member and, unfortunately, it often is given for some horribly agonizing injuries suffered by good men and women in the service of the US military. Can't we use something else? I don't think its continued uses says much for our sensitivity to other people's pain. Sure, we use the word in the course of everyday conversation, but let's not trivialize it. No amount of Wiki "pain" and "suffering" can even approach what I've actually seen in the lives of some of these people. Consider our own article (that I assisted in developing), for example on Lewis Puller the triple amputee son of Marine, Chesty Puller who, despite his best efforts, couldn't overcome his Vietnam war wounds or the other scars that experience gave him. Let's come up with something LIKE it, but not it. Maj Simon USMCR. Thanks. SimonATL 01:50, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't necessarily agree with your assertion that it trivializes others' pain, but I have gone ahead and removed it anyway. Raul654 18:36, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Happy Spring celebration / Easter (as your preferences and beliefs dictate)

Here's hoping that if the bunny leaves you any beans they're this kind! ++Lar: t/c 15:04, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Guqin Recordings II

I've recorded and added three of my recordings to the guqin article. Hope they are fine. I might add more later when I get the time. --Charlie Huang 【正矗昊】 16:50, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Exellent. Raul654 11:05, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Learning to use Vandalproof

I just didn't catch it! I was reviewing the VandalProof recent changes screen & this edit popped up so I reverted it. I have a dial-up (=very slow) connection because of which I didn't probably didn't see that edit in the recent changes refresh.

Thanks

Srikeit^{(talk ¦ ✉)} 18:04, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

(P.S I think your talk page archiving is long overdue. I just say this as my dial-up took nearly a minute to load your page!)

Torchic FAC

Dear Raul, an article I nominated recently (which has received a lengthy debate) was removed from the nomination page, among others. I was rather suprised, I didn't find out myself, someone actually told me. The nomination was too short to reach consensus and, after shorting out some problems, was beginnning to receive support. Apologies if you feel like I'm blaming on you, I noticed your never left an edit summary so it easily could have been a mistake, but it just isn't right. If you could please revert this it would be deeply appreciated. Cheers, Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 10:57, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Sorry about the the lack of an edit summary - I occasionally forget to leave one when promoting or removing nominations from the FAC. Also, about notification - I usually leave facfailed tagging to others.

Beyond that, the discussion was on the FAC for 5 or more days, which is the standard length of time an article stays on the FAC before being removed. I also must disagree with your assertion that it was reachign a consensus - there were numerous objections, and I didn't single a single support. Consequently, I do not think putting it on the FAC would be productive. I suggest you resolve the objections that have already been made (to the various objectors' satisfactions) and then renominate it at a later date. Raul654 11:05, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Did you actually see how many of the objections were "this isn't notable"? Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 11:12, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

I did see those, and I didn't take those into account. There were, however, numerous legitimate criticims made. Raul654 11:14, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

The remaining objects were by Titoxd, who is on wikibreak, and the others were all being discussed. Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 11:16, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Yes, those problems might be under discussion, but suffice it to say, there are a lot of them and the article is apparently in need of a fair bit of editing. Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Torchic is already one of the longes,t most drawn outpages I can ever remember seeing on the FAC. FAC is not the place for doing significant overhauls of articles. So, as I said, please address teh problems that have been cited, and then renominate it again later. Raul654 11:22, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

All the problems had been fixed. Fine, I don't care, apparently Pokémon FACs only pass on the third attempt. Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 11:28, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Featured List canidate

Hi. Raul, could I ask you take a gander at Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/List of Mega Man weapons (2)...? I seem to have fixed everything wronf that's been brought up with the list, and I see no one has changed thier vote. I contacted them both on thier talkpages, but no sucess. Could I ask you to intervene...? I truly believe this list to be fit for featured list status. -Zero^Talk 11:11, 17 April 2006 (UTC)