User talk:Mike Christie

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Loch Muick Archives

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Promotion of Argosy (magazine)

Congratulations, Mike Christie! The article you nominated, Argosy (magazine), has been promoted to featured status, recognizing it as one of the best articles on Wikipedia. The nomination discussion has been archived.

This is a rare accomplishment and you should be proud. If you would like, you may nominate it to appear on the Main page as Today's featured article. Keep up the great work! Cheers, FrB.TG (talk) via FACBot (talk) 00:05, 7 December 2023 (UTC)

Happy Holidays

Peace is a state of balance and understanding in yourself and between others, where respect is gained by the acceptance of differences, tolerance persists, conflicts are resolved through dialog, people's rights are respected and their voices are heard, and everyone is at their highest point of serenity without social tension. Happy Holidays to you and yours. ―Buster7 ☎

And happy holidays to you too. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 16:24, 23 December 2023 (UTC)

Importing your Sci-fi library citations

Hi, Mike. Following up on our previous discussion about Template:Reflib: thanks to your Reference library, I've copied the science fiction citations and imported them into the template as a new reference library, which you can view at Template:Reflib/Science fiction. This means that one can import up to 20 citations at a time into the References section of an article with a single line of template code. I'd like to announce the availability of this function to WP:WikiProject Science fiction, but since you've done all the hard work of compiling the citations, I'd like to offer you the opportunity to be the one to make the announcement. I do recall from our previous discussion that you didn't feel too comfortable with templates, so we could also co-announce it, or if you prefer, I could draft and publish the announcement myself and credit you with creation of the content. I just wanted to make sure to give you the option to be involved in any way you wish, so please lmk what your preference is. Thanks again for this great resource, which should now be even easier to use in this new format. Thanks, Mathglot (talk) 10:01, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

Hi -- just had a look and that's a cool gadget you've assembled. Go ahead and announce it yourself -- I appreciate your thoughtfulness but you should take credit for it. You might also take a look at Wikipedia:WikiProject Science Fiction/References, which was assembled in the last year or so; it includes many of the books in my library, since I was part of the conversation that recommended it, but also quite a few I don't have. I wonder if other projects have a similar resources page? And one other question: how about an optional parameter on Reflib to add "ref=none" to all the citations? That would allow these references to be used in articles that don't use sfn without generating harv errors (I don't use sfn myself). Not a big deal though, since to be honest I usually just copy the existing citation from another article where I know it already exists, and it'll take a while to break myself of that habit. Have you announced the other library sections elsewhere? What kind of response have you had? Is this being used in articles yet? Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 11:38, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

Okay, I'll drop a note at the project sometime soon. Thanks for linking the Projects reference list; I should take a look at that first, and add them to the list before announcing the tool. That is a great question about whether other projects have such lists, and I'm going to go poke around to see what I can find, and please do let me know if you find any. I have made limited announcements to a few individuals (like yourself) but not yet to other projects; I wanted to hold off making a general announcement until I had ten or a dozen different domains handled by the template, so it had a bit more "meat" and didn't look like a toy, and also to make sure it scales well. So when you linked your list for me, that was hard to pass up, because you had already done all the hard work, and it just involved some standardization and importing into the template library. I'm still looking for another half dozen domains I can include, and if you have no objection, I might do so with your A-S history or mathematics libraries, unless you know of projects that have better lists than yours, either on those subjects, or any other.

As far as your method of copying citations from some article where you know it exists, by all means, that's a great solution, keep on doing that. The Reflib template is not intended to be a replacement for a process that already works for you or anyone else; rather, it's intended to be a one-stop shop where someone who doesn't know or remember what article might have the needed citation (that was my own case, and what got me started, with Vichy citations) or who is starting in on a topic new to them and has no idea what citations are out there or where they might be located (like me and ancient seafaring). And you don't have to use the template as a template: it can just function as a handy repository the same way as your library page does for you: you can just go there, and copy-paste the citations you want into your article. It the idea catches on and gets big enough, instead of having to hunt down libraries like yours all over user space, people can hopefully just come to Reflib and find a collection of citations there all ready to go (which they can also expand and improve, which they're more likely to do there than at someone else's user subpage). For those editors (like me) that don't like the tedium of maybe copy-pasting a dozen or more individual citations, or who want to make sure that citations across multiple articles remain in sync and always get the best, latest version of a citation, they can retrieve them via the template. But your method is fine, and there's no reason to move away from what works for you.

About your request for a |ref=none option: I've added this discussion to the Template talk page as an enhancement request. There are some technical issues involved which you may enjoy reading about it (or maybe it will make you gag ). There's also a slight XY problem here, because if I'm not mistaken, what you would like is to no longer see annoying harv errors when you include certain citations; the "ref=none" is an attempted solution for that problem, is that right? I.e., if there are other solutions that suppress unwanted harv errors just as well, you'd be open to that, I presume? There is one solution that might work for you, if you want to suppress all such errors everywhere, and not just for certain citations, or certain errors. I mentioned it at the linked discussion. I see that you are using User:Ucucha's script in your common.js page to create these warnings and error messages. That script is somewhat outdated; a more up-to-date one is at User:Trappist the monk/HarvErrors, and you might consider using that one instead. It offers the opportunity to fine-tune the colors and other appearance of the generated warning and error messages (there are four of them) including turning them off individually. The point being, rather than turn warning messages on by importing the script, and then overriding that later with |ref=none later in order to disable the warning, maybe just generate the ones you want in the first place? Trappist's script gives you more flexibility to do that than Ucucha's script. Even if that doesn't work for you, there may be other solutions, such as using {{sfn whitelist}}, which gives you the ability to fine-tune the warning/error display citation by citation.

Sorry this ran on so long; I wanted to make sure to address each one of your points. And do lmk about importing your Math or Anglo-Saxon library into the template (or anything else that occurs to you). Thanks, Mathglot (talk) 19:45, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

Thanks for the detailed reply; I really appreciate it. I wouldn't worry too much about the ref=none option; as you say there are other ways to skin that cat, and since I myself am likely to just keep copying and pasting, it's not going to be a problem for me. I think you should wait till you get a more urgent-sounding use case. I will definitely look at the updated harv errors script you link to. Mostly I use that script to stop myself doing things that will annoy *other* users; it's not something I need for myself most of the time.

By all means take my AS as the start of domains; I doubt my maths listings are going to be worth much for reflib. For AS history you should talk to Dudley Miles who has written quite a few articles on AS kings, and for maths you could try David Eppstein, one of the most prolific maths editors. Maths might be hard to do as an entire domain though; it's huge. You might have to do subdomains. I do also have a fair number of books on archaeology but they mostly focus on pre-Roman UK archaeology so again subdomains might be good. Dudley has some knowledge there too I think. Palaeontology (particularly dinosaurs) and hominid development are two other possibilities you could look into -- FunkMonk and Jens Lallensack would be good places to start though there are plenty of others who work in those areas. And how about birds?

I do also have quite a few books on magazines in general and pulp magazines in particular, many of which have nothing to do with sf. A book like the Tymn & Ashley encyclopedia Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Weird Fiction Magazines really falls into two categories, sf and magazines, so you might find the same book showing up in multiple domains. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 22:54, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

These are great tips, thanks! I'll start looking into these. Anytime you think of any others, either drop them here (I'm subscribed, so I'll notice) or if this discussion is archived, drop me a line at my Talk page any time. Cheers, Mathglot (talk) 23:10, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

The first version of a ref library for Anglo-Saxon history is now live, and linked in (from the top row of the table) to the main template {{Reflib}}; have a look. I'll mention it to Dudley, also. Mathglot (talk) 06:00, 14 December 2023 (UTC)

Reference library

Hi Mike: A Wikifriend just pointed me towards your reference list as an example of what we could do for a task force we're both involved with. I'm intrigued! I'm thinking about adding such a list of my own (I have a huge reference library) but am wondering how people would learn that it's available. How do people find your list? Or is it only stumbled across by accident? MeegsC (talk) 18:55, 14 December 2023 (UTC)

Hi -- as it happens I was just thinking about these questions too. I built the page listing my books years ago but I don't think anyone's ever asked me for anything from it, so I haven't kept it up to date. Mathglot's reflib idea, which I'm guessing is how you heard of my page, seems a great way to make use of this sort of resource. I think what would be helpful would be a combination of the reflib template that Mathglot is building with a list of which editors own (or have online access to) which resources. A bibliographic database, of sorts, in other words. Then if you are researching a topic, looking at the reflib for that topic would not only give you a list of sources that you might want to consult but would also tell you which Wikipedians have access to them. There's always WP:RX but it would be good to spread the burden of looking up resources so that the people who help out at RX don't have to do so much work. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 21:01, 14 December 2023 (UTC)

Pinging Mathglot in case they're interested in the above thoughts. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 02:08, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Oh my goodness, yes! Hi, MeegsC, can we work on this together? Are you talking about a physical library of print books, or a digitized list? If the former, have you ever tried to inventory it into a digitized list? There are some apps out there that can help—it's been some time, but I had one that worked off my phone, and scanned something, maybe the isbn bar code, maybe the book cover, can't remember, and extracted the bibliographic information from its database and made me a list on my phone that I could then process. The apps are probably even better now than when I tried it, and would save you a ton of work inventorying your library, and such a list of your holdings would be invaluable and serve a double purpose, as Mike points out: one, as a resource for the WP:RX project, and two, possibly for importing corresponding citations into {{Reflib}}, if the list falls naturally into some defined topic areas.

As far as WP:RX, I've had good success with it before, and can recommend it. If we follow Mike's idea and set up some kind of linkage between Reflib and RX, that might provide benefits all around; I can envision an enhancement to Reflib which, as Mike indicates, would lessen the burden on RX folks as well as the seekers who go there looking for stuff, by linking from a digitized citation library (such as Reflib incarnates) to a list of holders of that work, thus skipping the search process for books we already know have holders via RX, and which have corresponding citations in Reflib. Great idea, Mike.

In the meantime, MeegsC, have a look at the {{Reflib}} doc if you haven't already, and if you think your library holdings correspond naturally to one or more "article domains" that we could import into Reflib, I'd love to get a digitized list of your library and do so. I'll maybe make a separate overture to RX about the possibility of linking the two, unless you'd like to, Mike, as this is your idea. Thanks so much for the ping! Mathglot (talk) 02:48, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

No, you go ahead -- that's fine with me. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 05:15, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

MeegsC, I had a quick search for Home library apps, and there seem to be lots of good ones out there. The names "Library Thing" and "Libib" seem to be mentioned by all the "Best of" websites for home library apps, and after that MyLibrary, iBookshelf, and BookCrawler, and several others. Mike, thanks; will do. Mathglot (talk) 06:26, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

For the record: linking WT:RX discussion. Mathglot (talk) 08:33, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Merry Christmas!

	A very happy Christmas and New Year to you!
	Have a great Christmas, and may 2024 bring you joy, happiness – and no trolls, vandals or visits from Krampus! Cheers SchroCat (talk) 09:34, 18 December 2023 (UTC)

Thanks! And the same wishes to you; here's to a productive 2024. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 09:56, 18 December 2023 (UTC)

New message from Jo-Jo Eumerus

 You are invited to join the discussion at Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Guallatiri/archive1. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 10:19, 20 December 2023 (UTC)

I'm busier than usual off-wiki at the moment but will see if I can take a look. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 11:16, 20 December 2023 (UTC)

Merry Christmas!

~~~ Merry Christmas! ~~~
Joyeux Noël! ~ Buon Natale! ~ Vrolijk Kerstfeest! ~ Frohe Weihnachten!
¡Feliz Navidad! ~ Feliz Natal! ~ Καλά Χριστούγεννα! ~ Hyvää Joulua!
God Jul! ~ Glædelig Jul! ~ Linksmų Kalėdų! ~ Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus!
Häid Jõule! ~ Wesołych Świąt! ~ Boldog Karácsonyt! ~ Veselé Vánoce!
Veselé Vianoce! ~ Crăciun Fericit! ~ Sretan Božić! ~ С Рождеством!
শুভ বড়দিন! ~ 圣诞节快乐！~ メリークリスマス！~ 메리 크리스마스!
สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส! ~ Selamat Hari Natal! ~ Giáng sinh an lành!
Весела Коледа! ~ Meri Kirihimete!

Hello, Mike Christie! Thank you for your work to maintain and improve Wikipedia! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Jenhawk777 (talk) 15:44, 23 December 2023 (UTC)

Spread the WikiLove and leave other users this message by adding {{subst:Multi-language Season's Greetings}}

Jenhawk777 (talk) 15:44, 23 December 2023 (UTC)

Thanks, Jen -- and the same good wishes to you too! Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 16:24, 23 December 2023 (UTC)

Merry Christmas!

Hello Mike Christie: Enjoy the holiday season and winter solstice if it's occurring in your area of the world, and thanks for your work to maintain, improve and expand Wikipedia. Cheers, —Ganesha811 (talk) 07:00, 24 December 2023 (UTC)

Spread the WikiLove; use {{subst:Season's Greetings}} to send this message

Thanks, Ganesha; happy holidays to you. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 11:07, 24 December 2023 (UTC)

Happy New Year

		Happy New Year!
		Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year, from the horse and bishop person. May the year ahead be productive and distraction-free and may Janus light your way. Ealdgyth (talk) 14:42, 31 December 2023 (UTC)

And a Happy New Year to you. Hope you're not too busy to nominate again this year; I like reviewing your articles. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 16:49, 31 December 2023 (UTC)

Thank you and all who helped today for Daisy Bacon, about "the editor of Love Story Magazine for most of that magazine's life. (This is new territory for me, as I've never before nominated a biography of anyone born in the last 1,000 years.) Love Story was the most successful pulp of them all, reaching perhaps 600,000 readers, more than any of the western, detective, horror, or science fiction magazines. I found out about Bacon when researching Doc Savage and The Shadow, since she edited them for a few issues right at the end of their run."!

Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht

Happy New Year

2024

Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:53, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

My GAN stats

Hi Mike. I was pointed to this post of yours regarding updates to GAN stats. The stats show that I have 17 reviews (see number 7 under albums), but I've only reviewed 16 GANs. Is there a way to fix my stats? Thanks, voorts (talk/contributions) 17:10, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

Here's what I have in the database with you tagged as the reviewer -- can you tell me which of these is incorrect? Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 20:23, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

Stony Point railway line was moved to Stony Point line during the GAN process, leading to it being double counted. Thanks! voorts (talk/contributions) 20:26, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

Thanks -- I'll have to see if I can figure out a systematic way to clean up double counted reviews like that. Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 20:28, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for taking a look. voorts (talk/contributions) 20:48, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

Article	#	Review date
This Stupid World	1	2023-06-03 23:30:55
Love or Loved Part.1	1	2023-06-24 02:54:39
Sybil (cat)	1	2023-06-25 01:25:31
Outram Park MRT station	1	2023-07-02 14:03:45
Peter III (cat)	1	2023-07-06 22:10:41
Peter II (cat)	1	2023-07-08 14:02:35
Nelson (cat)	1	2023-07-15 13:07:34
Charles H. Jordan	1	2023-08-04 19:18:43
Joanne (album)	2	2023-08-04 19:50:10
Money Shot: The Pornhub Story	1	2023-08-06 15:26:29
Stony Point railway line	1	2023-08-09 23:12:09
Stony Point line	1	2023-08-09 23:12:09
Bipartisan Cafe	1	2023-08-27 22:02:08
Hollis v Vabu	1	2023-08-28 02:56:00
Loosey LaDuca	1	2023-09-24 14:03:44
The Redbury New York	1	2023-10-06 18:17:02
Cookie	1	2023-11-24 20:41:45
Let's All Go to the Lobby	2	2024-01-07 17:51:48