User talk:Dennis Bratland

If you post here, I will reply here. I'll reply to posts elsewhere elsewhere.--Dbratland (talk) 00:49, 17 August 2009 (UTC)

DYKs

DYK for Motorcycle training

On June 14, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Motorcycle training, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Mifter (talk) 11:28, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

DYK for Ducati 98

On July 12, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Ducati 98, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

BorgQueen (talk) 15:35, 12 July 2009 (UTC)

DYK for Thomas Krens

On August 5, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Thomas Krens, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Wikiproject: Did you know 14:14, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

DYK for The Art of the Motorcycle

On August 12, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article The Art of the Motorcycle, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

WP:DYK 08:15, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

DYK for Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club

On August 19, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club, which you recently nominated. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Wikiproject: Did you know? 22:01, 19 August 2009 (UTC)

DYK for Honda DN-01

On September 19, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Honda DN-01, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

NW (Talk) 16:07, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

DYK for Suzuki Hayabusa

On October 23, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Suzuki Hayabusa, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Gatoclass (talk) 15:03, 23 October 2009 (UTC) 19:07, 23 October 2009 (UTC)

Boozefighters

Thank you for cleaning that up. 10truck (talk) 04:19, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

The Breed

Please explain why you think that is vandalism. As far as I am concerned, there are reasonable references. I was only trying to improve an article that has little info. - User talk:90.208.53.1 —Preceding undated comment added 16:23, 8 September 2009 (UTC).

I've already explained that citing an indictment against one individual is not the same as proof that the entire group is guilty. Then there are the facts that you inserted with no citation at all. Mafia NJ is obviously not a reliable source. And so on. Don't expect me to spend time trying to analyze every one of your edits. Nobody is obligated to play games with you every day. Have you actually read WP:RS or WP:V or WP:BLP?--Dbratland (talk) 16:31, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

The Breed are one of the MCs that are undoubtably a crime group. Grow up. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.208.53.1 (talk) 16:33, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

The Breed are also smaller and lesser known than the Hells Angels, Bandidos, etc. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.208.53.1 (talk) 16:55, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

Our gang-interested IP

Do you know what is up with this IP? Some of the person's edits are obviously good ([1], [2], [3]), some create nothing but wasteful category churn ([4], [5], [6]) because Category:Gangs in Chicago, Illinois is a child category of Category:Gangs in Illinois which is itself a child of Category:Gangs in the United States, and other edits are clearly quite disputed ([7], [8]). Any clarification you could add would be much appreciated. Thanks, — Kralizec! (talk) 18:59, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

It's kind of hard to follow the back and forth on two different talk pages, but I had a conversation with this person on my talk page and on theirs today: User_talk:Dbratland#The_Breed and User_talk:90.208.53.1#The_Breed.

They were just blocked again today at this IP: 90.208.53.1 (talk · contribs). Yesterday they were blocked at 90.211.53.217 (talk · contribs) and the day before at 90.202.94.12 (talk · contribs). Before that they were blocked at 90.208.53.17 (talk · contribs). I don't know if the blocking is getting through to them or not. I get the feeling they did not read any of the help pages I suggested. I don't think they care what Wikipedia's policies and guidelines are and so they don't bother to look at them. They seem to have their own ideas about what articles should look like and they doggedly persist in reverting them every day.

My last suggestion was for them to focus on only one topic and try to do a good job, instead of editing 50+ pages a day with low-quality edits. I don't know if that message sunk in or not.

If this keeps up I'm going to try to get advice from somewhere. It's the same thing every day, over and over. Perhaps there is a better solution.--Dbratland (talk) 19:57, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

The two most recent blocks were from me. Much like you, I am not sure where to go from here as the person behind the IP has moved to another address very easily. While page-protection is certainly an option, I do not relish semi-protecting 50+ articles. — Kralizec! (talk) 22:20, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

Indeed. And without an account to tie it to, it's hard to understand why it's happening. tedder (talk) 22:26, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

While I personally care a lot more about motorcycles than I do about motorcycle gangs, I think the gangs/clubs/whatever, and any other group of living people, should be given the same consideration we give to all living persons. Wikipedia should not accuse an entire group of living people of regularly commuting murder, arson, rape, etc. without very strong, solid and verifiable proof. Currently we have 50+ articles which I believe blatantly violate the standards WP:BLP, and one or more anonymous users who work hard every day to make them worse.

I tried an RFC to improve the situation a little, but it got sandbagged with other editors piling on so many additional issues that it has a snowball's chance of passing now. Before that I tried the BLP noticeboard but that went nowhere too.

I see potential for flagged revisions being the solution here.--Dbratland (talk) 22:33, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

I would not recommend that you start holding your breath just now for that particular saviour. — Kralizec! (talk) 23:22, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

And how were my edits "unconstructive"? I believe them to be just as constructive as the edits you keep adding to the Virago 535 page. Just as biased and without a shred of sourcing to back up the false claims. So excuse me for trying some eye for a eye Mr. Power Trip. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.137.135.77 (talk) 05:58, 11 September 2009 (UTC)

LSR

That appears to have been the product of an edit conflict. My apologies. TREKphiler ^{hit me ♠} 21:05, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

OK. No problem.--Dbratland (talk) 22:09, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

DYK nomination of Honda DN-01

Hello! Your submission of Honda DN-01 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! ≈ Chamal ^talk ¤ 08:07, 16 September 2009 (UTC)

DYK for Honda DN-01

On September 19, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Honda DN-01, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

NW (Talk) 16:07, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

cleanup please

Foo. I made one pass at it, it's still being self-promoted and has crappy sources. But I'm frustrated to deal with it any more :-) tedder (talk) 01:07, 20 September 2009 (UTC)

Sheesh. What a showboat. I wish I could have found a review of his book somewhere. --Dbratland (talk) 03:20, 20 September 2009 (UTC)

Thanks. Yeah, it's .. annoying. Both User:Miamireporter and Kike San Martin are somehow related, I can't figure out why/how though. tedder (talk) 03:58, 20 September 2009 (UTC)

Rocker jacket

• Hi, you initiated the hoax discussion about Rocker jacket in August 2009. I have created an AfD for this article at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Rocker jacket. Best, Cunard (talk) 07:43, 22 September 2009 (UTC)
• See answer to User talk:Anthony Appleyard#Rocker jacket. Anthony Appleyard (talk) 05:48, 2 October 2009 (UTC)

Motorcycle Land Speed Record

Thanks for fixing Cal Rayborn/Don Vesco mixup. I should have noticed that the page is updated regularly - and thus someone helpful (like you) would see a question about the 1975 record if I had placed it on the "Talk" page rather than in the article. No 'heckle' intended... I just failed to pay attention. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jmg38 (talk • contribs) 03:06, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

Benka Pulko

I see you changed the references to Benka Pulko from Benka, back to Pulko. I have a question in regard to Wiki policy on this. According to the policy link you sent, as I read it, the legal surname should be used. This would mean her name should be changed to Carr, not Pulko. But this would make absolutely no sense, as she does not use Carr professionally. Any suggestion? Thanks. --Pocestnik (talk) 09:53, 11 October 2009 (UTC)

barnstar for you

		The Original Barnstar
		For your fantastic work and expansion of Suzuki Hayabusa. tedder (talk) 21:51, 14 October 2009 (UTC)}}

Wow, thanks!--Dbratland (talk) 22:14, 14 October 2009 (UTC)

still using the workpage?

Why are you still using the Hayabusa workpage? Shouldn't it be deleted, so the changes occur on the main page? tedder (talk) 06:06, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

DYK might still have questions, and if there's something I lost track of I might want to find it in the earlier versions. After it goes up I'll blank the workpage and a bot should get it then.--Dbratland (talk) 15:36, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

Sounds good. Once you are done, don't blank it, just let me know and I'll delete it. tedder (talk) 16:04, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

DYK nomination of Suzuki Hayabusa

Hello! Your submission of Suzuki Hayabusa 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! Materialscientist (talk) 09:36, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

Re: accusation of original research, Yamaha YZF-R1

It might seem like something is better than nothing, but adding your opinions, recollections, and experiences to this article only makes it worse. Having to verify even more uncited material just increases the work involved in cleaning up the article. If you want to help, it is far better to add one sentence that has a solid citation rather than multiple paragraphs of unsupported material. --Dbratland (talk) 17:23, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

Do you not think I took all of that into account? Wait a bit for the references! Rgds, --Trident13 (talk) 17:29, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

You should expect to have your edits tagged or simply reverted if you add them to articles first and come along with citations later, expecially when you edits are very obviously somebody's subjective opinions. Doing it that way is exactly backwards. Please try to finish your research before editing the article. And yes, I know the article was in poor shape to begin with, but don't make it worse.

Workpages, sandboxes and user pages are the way to go if you need somewhere to edit drafts. --Dbratland (talk) 18:15, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

g-book

Need me to walk six blocks to the library and check out the 2000 Guinness Book? Just tell me what to look for. tedder (talk) 12:49, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

It looks like they have up to 2000 but I think we need 2001. The closest one to me is in Renton, 20 miles away. I'd ride over there but I don't have a sidecar to put the baby in or a wife that would stand for it. The Seattle Public Library now charges $5 to request it on Interlibrary Loan, but Amazon sells it used for $0.01 plus $3.99 shipping. So I ordered one. But if you want to look that would be great.

I kind of wish I'd never mentioned it. Fastest of the 20th century is kind of meaningless. Why not fastest of the millennium? Fastest motorcycle of the last ONE MILLION YEARS! Should have just stuck with eating blackbirds.--Dbratland (talk) 15:49, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Where in Seattle are you? We were in Rainier Beach (yeah, I know) before moving to Portland. Still come up occasionally for Wetleather events.

So you/we need the 2001; what EXACTLY are we looking for? Speed records? tedder (talk) 16:57, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

In Ballard. You should stop by and look at the motorcycles I wish I had time to work on. We're looking for what title Guinness has bestowed on the Hayabusa. The 2008 Guinness Book calls the 194mph bike (presumably they mean the 1999 version) the "fastest production motorcycle." But in 2001 (or 2000), did they use the title "Fastest motorcycle of the 20th century"? DYK is satisfied that it is, and simple logic tells us it must be. So this is an entirely academic question of which specific title was given by Guinness in 2000/2001 at the end of the century/millennium. --Dbratland (talk) 17:16, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Oh, you aren't even in the USA then :-) I'll definitely let you know next time I'm up that way. I can get the 2000 one local, but not the 2001;. You ordered the 2001 from Amazon used, right? Should I wait until you get that or do you want me to check the 2000 now? tedder (talk) 17:18, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

I wouldn't bother, because the 2000 version probably went to press months before the last bikes of that model year were released. Any declaration of which is the fastest would have to be published after Dec 31 2000. Unless the publication dates and/or model year dates of bikes were fudged out of those bounds, but I doubt it. The 2001 Guinness Book is subtitled the "Millennium Edition", so that's the one that would sum up the events of the century/millennium. I think I'll try an online chat or email with a librarian in Renton and see if they can just tell me what's on that page. --Dbratland (talk) 17:25, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Gotcha. That makes sense. tedder (talk) 17:28, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Help watching Honda Unicorn

Can you help me watch for vandalism to Honda Unicorn?? It seems to attract a lot of random changes to the specifications — especially horsepower figures for some reason. IP editors, maybe one guy switching around. Thanks. -- Brianhe (talk) 05:54, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

I think it will be easier to maintain now -- I like to avoid having a second stats section unless the infobox:motorcycle is wholly inadequate. I'm adding some refs.--Dbratland (talk) 18:06, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Agree or disagree

I always try to make my decisions and comments based on the arguments presented, without regard to who is presenting them. So of course if we happen to disagree, and you take it personally, it's not going to go well, and vice versa.

Keep up the good work with well-reasoned arguments like that one (or even half as good), and you'll keep getting the kind of comments you like from me.  ;-) --Born2cycle (talk) 00:18, 20 October 2009 (UTC)

M-72 is not a Dnepr.

The M-72 was a Soviet motorcycle made at four seperate plants. MMZ, IMZ, GMZ and KMZ, at no time was it ever called a Dnepr (a brand name that only come into effect for KMZ motorcycles with the K-650 in 1967) and certainly never the Ukrainian Dnipro. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.206.159.142 (talk) 02:44, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

What? I'm guessing you are unhappy with some article? Which one? If you have a citation to support whatever you're talking about, the article can be fixed. If there is no citation, then the article has to remain wrong. --Dbratland (talk) 02:50, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

I'm guessing it's about this [9]. -- Brianhe (talk) 05:14, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

Yes, that's after I figured it out. This and this too. Maybe it's true but what sources I could find seemed to say not. Maybe they can cite something.--Dbratland (talk) 05:20, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

Agreed, a citation would be helpful. -- Brianhe (talk) 05:22, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

Read the cited sources to the article. The Dnepr name was first used for the K-650 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Great Socialist October Revolution in 1967. The M-72 was long out of production by then. KMZ did not build M-72 motorcycles until 1951, ten years after MMZ, GMZ and IMZ so quit your ignorant vandalism. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.206.159.142 (talk) 00:45, 5 November 2009 (UTC)

Helmet standards

Dbratland:

Thanks for paying attention to the helmet standards debate, and posting my New York Times piece.

You might be interested to know that Arai and Shoei had me fired at Motorcyclist--for writing that New York times piece.

Funny world...

Dexter Ford dexter.ford@verizon.net —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dexterford (talk • contribs) 00:06, 23 October 2009 (UTC)

DYK for Suzuki Hayabusa

On October 23, 2009, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Suzuki Hayabusa, which you created or substantially expanded. You are welcome to check how many hits your article got while on the front page (here's how) and add it to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Gatoclass (talk) 15:03, 23 October 2009 (UTC) 19:07, 23 October 2009 (UTC)

Who made this guy an expert?

I would like to know...is Dbratland a member of a club or affiliated in order to determine what is creditable, reliable or even dubious. I used information, a review of sorts, from an accrettited website, gave a reference, and it was deleted cause you felt it was dubious? Isn't most media? What is wrong with adding a noteworthy review approved by an actual member to be mentioned. It was stated as a quote, a review and because you, one person, thought it was dubious and killed it. Also, Zaroff wasn't a member of this club at the time of the arrest in 2005,Dbratland he was sentenced in 2006 so why would any club want that mentioned? The other guy mentioned in the same paragragh, is not thrilled about his name being used as a world wide reference, children and all. Guy's got grandkids. IThere are hundreds of newspaper articles on line to reference from and somebody places one of the lamest on there and it keeps coming back. They don't want it on there, please leave it alone. f it ain't your business and you are unassociated, go somewhere else and try to be an expert. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.249.59 (talk) 07:16, 24 October 2009 (UTC)

The answers to all your questions are found at WP:5, WP:V and WP:RS.--Dbratland (talk) 16:14, 24 October 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for your recent changes!

Thanks for your recent edits!! - More people in the world should do things constructive like you. 189.217.171.135 (talk) 01:57, 31 October 2009 (UTC)

Reversion of banned edits

I appreciate your remarks on the Steve McQueen talk page, but the editor I reverted is banned for life and according to WP:Ban, "Anyone is free to revert any edits made in defiance of a ban. By banning a user, the community has decided that their edits are prima facie unwanted and may be reverted without any further reason.... A banned user who evades a ban, may have all of their edits reverted without question... Any edits made in defiance of a ban may be reverted to enforce the ban, regardless of the merits of the edits themselves. As the banned user is not authorized to make those edits, there is no need to discuss them prior to reversion." This is a particularly incorrigible individual, and I believe strict reversion of all his edits is not only proper but called for. Thanks. Monkeyzpop (talk) 22:15, 31 October 2009 (UTC)

COI heads up

In dealing with Motorcycle ambulance we need to be mindful of the COI that exists with Pete.sonderskov (talk · contribs). He is the director of marketing for eRanger, the company which makes the sidecar ambulances that he seems so keen on promoting within the article. I have suggested through a discussion on my own talk page that he read WP:COI but the situation needs watching. --Biker Biker (talk) 22:08, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Yes, I first noticed when the pages he created The Ranger Production Company and ERANGER were up for speedy deletion. I explained that I supported deleting those in favor of broader coverage in Motorcycle ambulance. On balance his contributions have been positive, I think, keeping in mind that he is trying to promote a company. Someone should put Motorcycle ambulance up for DYK.--Dbratland (talk) 22:19, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Please accept in good faith that my interests are not "totally self serving" to the exclusion of what is good for developing countries. Motorcycle (sidecar) ambulances (whoever makes them) are making a massive contribution to the reduction of maternal mortality when applied in the correct context. May relationship with The Ranger Production Company, (btw something I have never tried to hide, although I could have) ensures that I am knowledgeable in this area through the work I do with NGO's, charities and national governments. I welcome the rigoure required of WP both as a newcomer and also as someone who has an interest in promoting the use of motorcycle (sidecar) ambulances to save lives, please don't let that that point be missed. (Pete 10:26, 6 November 2009 (UTC))