User talk:Dendodge

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Special:Log/block

Please don't do that. — μchip08 00:04, 4 May 2011 (UTC)

Dendodge!

Please please please PLEASE review the 'slavery' article ASAP, it's about to become stale, and the topic is kinda interesting IMO, it purely consists of direct translation of quotes, etc. It might be easy to review using Google Translater Thank you! :| アンパロ ^{Io ti odio!} 19:18, 27 May 2011 (UTC)

Template:N

Are you nutz? How do you expect someone non-tech-literate to use {{n}}?

Sure, it'll format per SG - maybe - but, the less markup newbies have to learn, the better. Just look at some of the disasters from Prof. Blackall's final year students. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 17:40, 3 June 2011 (UTC)

I'm not saying people have to use it. I just think it might be useful when dealing with certain large numbers - of course, it's purely voluntary. Besides {{N|1000|one thousand}} is hardly complex. But, yeah, it's mainly for us oldies, if we want to, to help us to differentiate between different kinds of billion. It's far less complex than using the <abbr> tags raw. DENDODGE 17:47, 3 June 2011 (UTC)

I'll bet it breaks MakeLead. :P --Brian McNeil / ^talk 18:05, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

I mainly made the template out of boredom. If Bawolff makes it work with MakeLead, that would be nice, if not it doesn't really matter. It was just something to do, and I think it might have some use some day. DENDODGE 18:25, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

I would recommend finding a better name for it. It seems neither primordial enough, nor obvious enough in its function, for a one-letter name. Imho.

Cf. {{km to mi}} and {{mi to km}}. --Pi zero (talk) 18:51, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

I just figured it would save typing to give it a one letter name, if it's to be used (eventually) for most of the numbers in our articles. However, I do see your point - feel free to rename it to whatever you like. (I suggest {{N ON WHEELS!}}) DENDODGE 18:53, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

Lol.

I used the lower-volume {{n on wheels}}. I did relativize the documentation, though, so from here on out it should take moves in stride :-)  --Pi zero (talk) 19:28, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, it's going to need a proper name before it ever gets used, though :P DENDODGE 19:56, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

┌───────────────────────┘
I'm thinking of writing {{number to words}} that converts an integer to verbal form. Using that, {{number}} could be made to work when missing its second parameter; actually, I'm not sure the second parameter wouldn't disappear in a puff of logic. --Pi zero (talk) 21:05, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

If you can make that work, that would be very cool. Alternatively, the two could be merged - there's a lot of overlap there. DENDODGE 21:38, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Unfortunately, although I could make it work, I shouldn't. Brianmc said it earlier: we shouldn't create templates that people will want to use in article text unless MakeLead can be made to not break on them. MakeLead was taught to handle {{w}} by just replacing the template call with its last parameter — but that doesn't always work with {{number}}, and would be even worse if we soup up {{number}} using {{number to words}}.

Oh well. --Pi zero (talk) 22:30, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Can't people just, I don't know, check the text of the lead before clicking "save"? Personally, I'm not a big fan of using the start of the article as the lead, anyway - where are people's imaginations? DENDODGE 22:33, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

using js

I see you are using UserMessages gadget, I enabled it but don't see any new interface (using Vector theme). Is there a guide or place you can refer me to, other than its source? --Gryllida 05:52, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Interesting. I just tried it in Vector, and it doesn't work there for me either. I use Monobook, and when I look at a user talk page there's a whole extra menu at the bottom of the left column, below "toolbox", called "notify". But not in Vector --Pi zero (talk) 06:04, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

I get it in the toolbox in Modern. If I recall correctly, in Vector it adds an additional drop-down next to the tabs at the top of the page. There should be two arrows. DENDODGE 16:23, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Hi

Thank you for welcoming me. That was very kind of you. -- Petru Dimitriu (talk) 16:02, 3 July 2011 (UTC)

Section Title

oh dear water cooler. Anyone have a way to WRITE as in pen and paper to both Willie Nelson and BobDylan?? Have message. Could make great story.

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand your question. We don't have addresses for either of those people, if that's what you're asking - you would be better off approaching their agents. DENDODGE George Watson 15:23, 9 July 2011 (UTC)

100,000

Uh, how can i sleep tonight knowing about having made such a mistake! But look that!:

• with Comma: 3.690 hits
• without space: 3.230 hits

So, i maybe sleep well... ^^ --Itu (talk) 21:53, 23 July 2011 (UTC)

I think some news organisations allow the adding of commas and stuff to comply with their own style guides, but I tend towards complete accuracy even about the little things like that. It's hardly a big thing, but it's best to be as true to the original as possible :) DENDODGE George Watson 22:04, 23 July 2011 (UTC)

Update: today i see 10.900 with comma, 3.550 with space, 9.890 close. --Itu (talk) 12:36, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

Apology

Your broadcast reporting notes were good. Weirdly, I have this distant memory of having known that earlier, and somehow managed to lose track of it. Maybe I was distracted by worrying about the bad atmosphere created by Mattisse's comments... which would be pretty ironic, since I ended up making it worse. Anyway, whatever the circumstances, I screwed up, and I apologize. --Pi zero (talk) 03:17, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

Apology to you

I deeply apologize for my comment of "piss poor" and sorry that one comment can cause such a commotion on wikinews. It was not meant a personal attack, but as I have had my competencies derided and been called "stupid" etc. on wikinews, I know it feels very bad and I am so very sorry.

As far as Norwegian speakers to over see machine translations, there are plenty on the other sister sites who are willing to oversee a translation. On wikipeida all translations, even those not machine done, must be verified by another speaker. Also, if you go to a Norwegian sister site, there is always someone willing to verify the translation. I have used this method myself.

I am sorry for all the anguished I caused you. I hope my apology helps you understand I regret my actions. I know I would have felt better if I had received an apology for the abusive comments made about me.

Best wishes, Mattisse (talk) 13:14, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

It's OK, I didn't really take offence to anyone in particular, and probably overreacted to the whole thing. You do raise some valid points. However, the only phrases taken from the source were "Nazi" and "hate ideology", one of which is the same in both languages, and the other of which is both very similar and short enough that a machine translation is not unreliable. Had I been taking an entire sentence, I would, of course, have consulted a native speaker.

Anyway, I accept your apology, and did not mean to make you feel responsible for anything. DENDODGE George Watson 13:23, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for your graciousness. I felt horrible because of the "the bad atmosphere created by Mattisse's comments" above. I guess I cracked wikinews! I wish others could be so generous. Regards, Mattisse (talk) 13:41, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

I apologize as well. It seems I was mistaken about what constitutes original reporting.--William S. Saturn (talk) 19:21, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

Statistics

"of whom 220 (0.08%) are active. 60 users are administrators, making up 0.02% of the total user base. There are more reviewers, as these 150 users make up 0.05% of the total number of registered."

I'm not good with math, but doesn't that mean that for every 3.7 active editors there is 1 admin (probably more like for every 2 active editors as some of those admin also presumably are an "active" editor themselves? And for every 1.5 active editors there is 1 reviewer (or more, since some number of reviewers also actively edit? Are my numbers way off? Mattisse (talk) 16:53, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, that's pretty much right. There's probably a lot of overlap, but that's a decent high-end estimate. What it says about Wikinews is obviously up to interpretation. DENDODGE George Watson 16:59, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

I think it says that there are about one to three of us who write numerous articles and who aren't an admin or a reviewer. No wonder we get no respect, eh? Mattisse (talk) 18:47, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

You'd probably pass a request for the reviewer right if you ran. Your time here hasn't exactly been free of controversy, and sometimes you come across the wrong way, but neither of those things will necessarily prevent you from passing. If you want it, that is. DENDODGE George Watson 19:08, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

It's my understanding there are lots of inactive users with the admin and/or reviewer bit. --Pi zero (talk) 19:15, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

Yes, and that is apparently Ok here. They can run for Arbcom though. It makes a nice fit since Arbocm apparently doesn't do anything. (I can't find a single arbcom case. I guess they are kept hidden.)

{respnse to Dendodge, as I was caught in an edit conflict) I wouldn't dare run. The fact that I used "piss poor" means that people are "worrying about the bad atmosphere created by Mattisse's comments" means otherwise. I think wikinews has lost its one editor that actually produces articles that isn't an admin or reviewer. I really have to reevaluate whether contributing to this site is worth the ugliness. It seems expressing honesty and trying to improve the standards here mark an editor as a trouble maker. I notice most of the editors that have left have tried to improve wikinews. Of course, most reviewers don't review, just as most admins don't seem to write articles. But they are great candidates for Arbcom! I feel like a fool for having hope for so long. Excuse my rant, it's just that there is no way to be honest on this site. And I don't mean hurting others, but any critcism means someone will take it to mean "the bad atmosphere created by Mattisse's comments". Again I apologize for the "piss poor" comment. But since it created such a bad atmosphere on the site, I am not encouraged. Or was it that I had questions about the (apparently nonexistent) OR policy? Another bad on my part. To hell I go! Respectfully, Mattisse (talk) 19:29, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

I overreacted, and contributed to the bad atmosphere as much as - or more than - you did. I don't write or review very often because, between my education and my personal life, I just don't have time. It is something I regret, and over the next month or so I hope to be significantly more active (thanks to the summer). Everyone has their own little excuses, but my point is that there aren't very many of us, and the ones there are aren't very active, so losing another editor isn't what the project needs. And while I may not agree with the way you say it, I do actually agree with you on some things, and certainly agree that the project needs to change dramatically if it is to grow to reach its full potential. Don't let yourself be discouraged. DENDODGE George Watson 19:38, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

My kind of article isn't wanted here. I was told right off the bat that any article that had more than two sources would have a hard time getting reviewed. I'm not interested in going for the headline grabbers. I would rather pull together many sources into a coheret article. That's not what is wanted here, although I am appreciative for the reader comments to the contrary. No one seems to have time here, and I certainly have other things to do than contribute here when my contributions are completely unappreciated and, rather, I am put down for "complicating" things. I would be a fool to continue putting the effort into writing articles when that is not what is wanted. I am not a good fit here. I am a journalist. I want to write substance for greater understanding, pulling together multiple sources, and I have been told that is not wanted here. Respectfully, Mattisse (talk) 19:57, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

Excess bolding

Thank you for your feedback. I learn everyday and welcome feedback; no body is perfect. When one feels passionate about an issue flow of thoughts need to be shared. Point noted. Thanks

The words should stand for themselves. Excess bolding gives undue weight to one person's comments, and looks ugly to boot. It's not something terrible, but it's best to avoid it so people's eyes don't hurt. DENDODGE George Watson 09:11, 27 July 2011 (UTC)

Vielen Dank!

Thanks for reviewing David Cameron responds to rioting, promises changes on policing‎! —Tom Morris (talk) 14:12, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

You're welcome! That kind of article is one of the reasons we need some kind of inline citation system... DENDODGE George Watson 14:44, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

On articles with many sources, I think a note from the author on the talk page, explaining broadly which information comes from where, could often be immensely helpful for review. Perhaps we should put that suggestion somewhere, for authors to see; any thoughts on where to put it? --Pi zero (talk) 15:42, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

Yay, jumping onto Den's talkpage. I'm thinking WN:CS is a good place to mention it. Wikinews:Hints, tips and tricks may be worth creating to pile misc. advice into. Blood Red Sandman ^{(Talk) (Contribs)} 16:01, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

Japan to use reusable energy

Apparently we were both working on renaming the article at the same time, but renamed it slightly differently, with the result that the original title was a double redirect without either of us being warned of such; it took me some moments to figure out what had happened.

Are you going to review the article? I was preparing to try to convince myself I'd have time to... --Pi zero (talk) 12:52, 14 August 2011 (UTC)

Nah, I'm just copyediting the review queue. If they haven't been reviewed later, I'll give a couple of them a shot, but that will be in at least a couple of hours, and I won't be able to do them all. So go do it now :P DENDODGE George Watson 12:57, 14 August 2011 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for the tip, I am sending the email to [email protected]. --Teemeah (talk) 14:16, 15 August 2011 (UTC)

Cambodia shuts down leading newspapers

I did it again, didn't I — reviewed an article that someone else was copyediting. Sorry about that. --Pi zero (talk) 13:16, 21 August 2011 (UTC)

Meh, it's fine. I was just about to start the review, and you've saved me a job. I'll move on to the next one in the review queue now. DENDODGE George Watson 13:19, 21 August 2011 (UTC)

HYS question templates

These go pretty much wherever you like.

It's just the standard no-question one goes at the bottom. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 15:20, 6 September 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, I know. I deleted the standard one, and I don't think I'm supposed to, but it looked ugly and seemed redundant. DENDODGE George Watson 15:28, 6 September 2011 (UTC)

There should be only one. Just that if that one is no-question, it should go at the bottom. --Pi zero (talk) 16:33, 6 September 2011 (UTC)

Cookie!!!

Having one right this very second! Thanks!!! Bddpaux (talk) 23:03, 9 September 2011 (UTC)

Oh, and by the way....I've requested accreditation as a Wikinews reporter.....would you mind looking at my application over at Accrd. Requests? I'd be highly thankful.Bddpaux (talk) 23:12, 9 September 2011 (UTC)

Crazy Italians

I'm pretty dumbstruck by the itWP thing too. your remarks in IRC were highlighted to me, so maybe get a chance to discuss them sometime.

I think the Foundation's hands are tied; this actually shows that NPOV may be a principle, but without surrendering their "no editorial liability", they can't enforce it on a determined, and united, community. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 07:43, 5 October 2011 (UTC)

Frankly, without NPOV, I might as well be a Daily Fail hack. The NPOV policy is what made us different, and the WMF evidently no longer values it. I wonder if they would take the same position if we were to redirect every page here to an editorial on the evils of the Tory government...

That isn't to say I won't return - I hope to, preferably soon, but the WMF will have to either admit that it was in error or otherwise prove that it still values NPOV first. I'll still hang around in IRC, though - I have friends there, and I still wish the project all the best - so you can contact me just as easily as before. DENDODGE George Watson 16:23, 5 October 2011 (UTC)