User talk:Parrot of Doom/Archives/2010/November

Dark Side of the Moon

Parrot of Doom: I would just like to apologize on my behalf for the error I seem to have made on the article, Dark Side of the Moon. Thank you for correcting me, as no doubt I would've continued this throughout many other articles if not corrected. Thanks, Yipyapper10 (talk) 16:25, 1 November 2010 (UTC)Yipyapper10

No need to apologise but I appreciate the kind gesture. The album's ranking is something I'd like to clear up, but I haven't yet seen anything which leads me to believe that it is the world's 3rd best selling album. Parrot of Doom 17:53, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

It's raining thanks spam!

• Please pardon the intrusion. This tin of thanks spam is offered to everyone who commented or !voted (Support, Oppose or Neutral) on my recent RfA. I appreciate the fact that you care enough about the encyclopedia and its community to participate in this forum.
• There are a host of processes that further need community support, including content review (WP:GAN, WP:PR, WP:FAC, and WP:FAR). You can also consider becoming a Wikipedia Ambassador. If you have the requisite experience and knowledge, consider running for admin yourself!
• If you have any further comments, input or questions, please do feel free to drop a line to me on my talk page. I am open to all discussion. Thanks • Ling.Nut (talk) 02:28, 3 November 2010 (UTC)

Thomas Percy

I've reviewed the article and left some comments here. Very minor points and a pleasure to read. --Sarastro1 (talk) 22:02, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

Passed it now. --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:15, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

Gunpowder plot - well done!

I see that you were a significant contributor to the article Gunpowder Plot, and just wanted to commend you on a well-written article - truly one of the best I've seen. Good work! Sincerely, Ruby2010 (talk) 04:44, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

"Here here" Motmit (talk) 08:31, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

Thank you both, however I just added most of the history, it was Malleus that wielded the prose hammer. Parrot of Doom 08:38, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

You are a great team - as on Dick Turpin. Motmit (talk) 11:26, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

I also wanted to say great job on the article. Fascinating stuff. Remember (talk) 12:47, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

Me too. Great work, not just on Gunpowder Plot, but on the plotters' articles as well! the wub "?!" 22:41, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks again. Parrot of Doom 23:01, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

..and non-historians

For heaven's sake. I provided plenty of sources yesterday for these claims. Luton Borough Council, for example. You contested them on the grounds that they were not qualified to make the claims. OK. They are not historians. It is simply bizarre for you to suggest that we cannot say that they make the claims. It is blindingly obvious that many of those making the claims are people with all sorts of backgrounds. You may not like the fact that they make the claims. But you cannot deny that they do make the claims. Do you think we should cite all those who do claim that there are links with earlier rituals? I really fail to understand what your point is or why you are insisting on it. Ghmyrtle (talk) 22:31, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

Why should any attention be given to the claims of people who aren't experts in the field? Isn't Cressy's line good enough? Parrot of Doom 22:36, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

FAR for Gunpowder Plot

I have nominated Gunpowder Plot for a featured article review here. Please join the discussion on whether this article meets featured article criteria. Articles are typically reviewed for two weeks. If substantial concerns are not addressed during the review period, the article will be moved to the Featured Article Removal Candidates list for a further period, where editors may declare "Keep" or "Delist" the article's featured status. The instructions for the review process are here.) --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 16:41, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

Ha. I saw this on my way here to congratulate you on a great article... Savidan 18:15, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

• I don't see it happening, but it wouldn't trouble me at all if the FAR was restarted in a couple of days time and resulted in the article being delisted. Rather that than revert to the teenage fanboy nonsense so prevalent elsewhere in this project. Out of curiosity I just checked the Britannica article on the Plot;[1] 'nuff said I think. Malleus Fatuorum 19:33, 6 November 2010 (UTC)
  • Me neither, I'm quite happy to stand my ground. Parrot of Doom 19:35, 6 November 2010 (UTC)
    • I'm almost tempted to write a decent article on V for Vendetta, which the present one isn't, one that makes it clear how superficial these links with Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot really are. Almost, but not quite yet. Malleus Fatuorum 19:55, 6 November 2010 (UTC)
      • You could start with the opening scenes, showing Fawkes struggling while hanging from the rope. I think that's about 30 seconds in! Parrot of Doom 19:57, 6 November 2010 (UTC)
        • Anyway forget that nonsense, how about helping to get Guy Fawkes NightDay up to GA? Most of what's remaining is just tidying up the start, and then getting reliable cites for the rest. Parrot of Doom 20:03, 6 November 2010 (UTC)
        • Eh? Fawkes jumped and ... but you know all that. :-) I'd prefer to have left Guy Fawkes Day/Night for a few days yet to let the dust settle, but I suppose in for a penny in for a pound. Malleus Fatuorum 20:38, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

It looks like Piotrus has the knives out for Fawkes. – iridescent 21:12, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

Knives and forks, very good. Perhaps that's another one of the important pop. culture references that's allegedly missing. Malleus Fatuorum 21:17, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

lol. Parrot of Doom 21:46, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

What a transformation!

Guy Fawkes Night is coming along really nicely, hardly recognisable from what it looked like only a few days ago. All you need to do now is to include the customary mention of V for Vendetta. Malleus Fatuorum 22:59, 7 November 2010 (UTC)

I'm trying to get the central theme of "went from this, to this" sorted out. That isn't quite there yet. I also have to decide what to do with the whole effigy thing, it doesn't fit right now. Parrot of Doom 23:06, 7 November 2010 (UTC)

Very brief "and they burn Guy on the bonfire" in this article, a separate subpage for Guy (effigy). That'll allow space to discuss the various traditions and how they evolved (and provide a dumping ground for everyone who wants to upload photos of the hilarious David Cameron/Simon Cowell/George Bush they made), without it swamping the main page. You could pretty much cut and paste the entire last chapter of Fraser. – iridescent 23:30, 7 November 2010 (UTC)

They can't really be separated. Burning bonfires was a tradition, used also to commemorate the event. Effigies didn't appear for 70 years or so, eventually the two became intrinsically linked.

Mind you I haven't been to a bonfire in years (bores me stupid tbh), so I don't know if burning a guy is still the done thing. I seem to recall one venue not bothering with a fire, and just using a big screen and a projector. Parrot of Doom 23:35, 7 November 2010 (UTC)

I used to go to the big bonfire at Wythenshawe Park (haven't been for the last few years mind you), and I don't recall ever seeing a guy being burned there. Malleus Fatuorum 23:40, 7 November 2010 (UTC)

You must be the only person in Wythenshawe never to have seen a guy burned. Parrot of Doom 00:04, 8 November 2010 (UTC)

Main page apperance

Hello! This is a note to let the main editors of this article know that it will be appearing as the main page featured article on November 18, 2010. You can view the TFA blurb at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/November 18, 2010. If you think that it is necessary to change the main date, you can request it with the featured article director, Raul654 (talk · contribs). If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page so Wikipedia doesn't look bad. :D Thanks! Tbhotch^{Talk C.} 06:46, 9 November 2010 (UTC)

Dick Turpin (bap. 1705 – 1739) was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin may have followed his father's profession as a butcher early in life, but by the early 1730s he had joined a gang of deer thieves, and later became a poacher, burglar, horse thief, and murderer. He is best known for his fictional 200-mile (320 km) overnight ride from London to York on his steed Black Bess, a story that was made famous by the Victorian novelist William Harrison Ainsworth almost 100 years after Turpin's death. Turpin's involvement in the crime for which he is most closely associated—highway robbery—followed the arrest of the other members of his gang in 1735. He then disappeared from public view towards the end of that year, only to resurface in 1737 with two new accomplices. Later that year moving to Yorkshire and assuming the alias of John Palmer. While he was staying at an inn, local magistrates became suspicious of "Palmer", and made enquiries as to how he funded his lifestyle. Suspected of being a horse thief, "Palmer" was imprisoned in York Castle, to be tried at the next assizes. Turpin's true identity was revealed by a letter he wrote to his brother-in-law from his prison cell, which fell into the hands of the authorities. On 22 March 1739 Turpin was found guilty on two charges of horse theft and sentenced to death; he was executed on 7 April 1739. Turpin became the subject of legend after his execution, romanticised as dashing and heroic in English ballads popular theatre, film and television. (more...)

Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal restoration images

Hi PoD - this is regarding the "Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal restoration images" category - on Commons. Would you mind if that was renamed "Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal (2000s restoration)". While it is admittedly unlikely that we will get videos or voice documents, we might get diagrams etc... and I think the proposed name would be a bit more in line with Commons syntax. Feel free to suggest alternative names, especially if you know the exact timeframe of the canal restoration. Regards Ingolfson (talk) 02:17, 9 November 2010 (UTC)

No problem. Parrot of Doom 18:02, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

Just musing

Do you ever look back at stuff you've worked on here and thought "yeah, I'm still quite pleased with that"? My watchlist lights up sometimes with the Cottingley Fairies, and I get a nice warm feeling about it every time I'm dragged back – maybe it's just the subject. Can't say that about everything I've worked on though; some of them have been, and occasionally still are, battlegrounds. Malleus Fatuorum 22:13, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

It makes me smile to know that when people all over the world want to know about Billy Tipton, much of what they see comes from me. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 22:18, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

It's a scary thought in general that much of what many people find out about anything if they search the web probably comes from loonies and malcontents like us. I count myself as a malcontent btw, not a loonie. :-) Malleus Fatuorum 22:23, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

Actually sometimes I look back and grimace. Some of the articles I was once quite proud of could do with a fair bit of copyediting. Cock Lane Ghost will certainly get tarted up before it goes TFA (I think it will do at some point, enough people know about it now). I think doing these Gunpowder conspirator articles has really improved my writing, Guy Fawkes Night doesn't look too bad now. I quite like being able to smoothly flow from one section to another, like the bit about George Washington for instance. Quite chuffed with that. Parrot of Doom 22:31, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

The Wrights

Me again, I'm afraid! I've reviewed the Wrights for GA. Another really interesting article and I've put it on hold but only minor details again. --Sarastro1 (talk) 22:02, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks once again. Parrot of Doom 22:45, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Passed it now. --Sarastro1 (talk) 23:20, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

metric units

Hi Tom, I refer to your recent edit. As a cameraman, you'd be aware that the UK now pumps out its documentary programs in metric units alone, let alone with conversions.

On WP, the guideline is in no doubt: where imperial units are used, metric conversions must be supplied. Please see MOSNUM. Tony (talk) 10:21, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

Actually I'm aware of no such thing, since much of my work is in broadcast sports; I've never heard anyone refer to the 18-yard box as the 16.4592 metre box. I think one or two conversions is fine but adding them at every single instance is ridiculous, and I will therefore revert your changes. By the way, a guideline cannot specify that something "must be supplied", since it is a guideline only. Parrot of Doom 10:36, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

Nor such things as an 8-foot organ stop expressed in metres, of course. WP:MOSNUM expressly accounts for such issues, and they are no argument for unilaterally removing conversions to metrics, which are needed by most readers in the rest of the world. I have difficulty in conceiving what "5 miles" looks like without mental arithmetic. If we're going the anti-clutter way, I can suggest lots of other things we could get rid of. Now, if you want to argue that an exception to the styleguide should be made for this article, you will need to raise it on the talk page. Please do so now. Tony (talk) 14:16, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

That would be the MOSNUM in which you appear to have a heavy involvement in formulating? Its a guide and I'm quite entitled to ignore it if I feel that doing so improves an article. Its this kind of insistence on following the "rules" that annoys so many here, especially when the "rules" are enforced by those who invented them. Parrot of Doom 14:39, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

Anna of East Anglia

Hi Parrot of Doom, I've changed Anna of East Anglia according to your comments (many thanks for these) and added a few more snippets I found that I felt were needed. Let me know if it still needs some work, but I thinks the article now looks quite polished and I'm actually feely pleased with it...--Amitchell125 (talk) 20:15, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

Its probably better that you respond on the review page so others can keep track of what's happening, but I'll take a look tomorrow. Parrot of Doom 20:24, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

Roger Waters FAC

FYI, I have re-nominated Roger Waters for FAC, and we could use your input at the FAC page. — GabeMc (talk) 23:11, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

Picture thanks

It's just as I described it. Many thanks, Rambo's Revenge (talk) 15:13, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Glad to be of help. And no, I'm not allowed to say who this year's nominees are :) Parrot of Doom 15:19, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Shame. Tony McCoy according Betfair, although my money's on Lee Westwood or GMac, unless Swanny has wrapped up the series a day early down under (wishful thinking). Rambo's Revenge (talk) 15:33, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Blackbeard

After looking through the article's history I was wondering why today's been so busy. Well it turns out the article is featured in the on this day... section of the main page. As most of the edits were unhelpful, I've semi-protected the article until tomorrow to keep away the worst of the anon edits. Nev1 (talk) 19:40, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks pal. For some reason wiki is slow for me tonight so I can't patrol changes as I usually do. Parrot of Doom 21:50, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Log in on the secure server and it works fine—seems to be some kind of UK-wide fault – iridescent 22:13, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

That fixed it, thanks Iri. Parrot of Doom 22:22, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Wow, it managed 64,000 views which easily beat the TFA (Jordan River (Utah)). Nev1 (talk) 20:36, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Did you see the 5 November figures for Guy Fawkes and Guy Fawkes Night - here? I backed the wrong horse with Gunpowder Plot. Unfortunately the GFN article was in a very poor state on 5 November, nothing like the reasonable article it is now. Parrot of Doom 20:41, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Manchester Martyrs

Just a reminder that the article is under a 1RR restriction as it's troubles related. You know how trigger-happy some admins can be. Malleus Fatuorum 20:30, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the reminder, I might have fallen foul of that. How silly, to suggest that "rescue" is somehow biased. Parrot of Doom 20:39, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

I think that technically I may already have fallen foul of it, but don't tell anyone. I really didn't get that "rescue is glorification" stuff. I can only think that the American education system leaves even more to be desired than our own. Malleus Fatuorum 20:45, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Speaking of keeping things quiet, did you notice something about Dick Turpin that didn't get changed on its TFA? ;) It was the cause of a long argument the last time it came up. Parrot of Doom 20:47, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

I watched the discussion with some detached amusement. Last I saw it had been changed to "he shot another man's cockerel", which was at least better than "rooster". Malleus Fatuorum 20:56, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Not that. It had to do with the long version of something :) Parrot of Doom 20:57, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

His name, to Richard? You might need to give me a clue. :-) Malleus Fatuorum 21:03, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

BTW, I've just seen this. We're doomed! Malleus Fatuorum 21:06, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Well, read the quote in the article about King's death :) I was amazed it was left alone. Mind you, you never know who's watching your talk page.... Parrot of Doom 21:15, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Ah, gotcha! It's the "Piſtol". Malleus Fatuorum 21:26, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

As for these elections, I was surprised by this. The same person who had a big whinge about me at ANI, for using a few rude words. That was the incident that led to you and Roux having a fight, and which led to Roux telling me to "go fuck yourself with a chainsaw" for pointing out what I saw as his hypocrisy. Parrot of Doom 21:45, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

There are quite a few candidates I'm very surprised to see, not just that one. Looking on the bright side though I think that Iridescent could be one of the best arbitrators ever, and I think that perhaps Giano might turn out to be a dark horse as well. Malleus Fatuorum 21:55, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Anyway, for a laugh, I've decided to improve mince pie. I want to find out if eating them on Christmas Day is illegal still. Parrot of Doom 23:14, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Apparently it is! Along with taxi drivers being required to ask if their passengers have plague or smallpox. Weird. AD 23:22, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Miss Moppet

After The Story of Miss Moppet was promoted at FAC, it was discovered that the primary contributor had closely paraphrased or copied many sentences in many articles, and that in some cases facts presented were not backed up by the references cited. The user was indefinitely blocked as a sockpuppet of a banned user - for more details, please see Wikipedia:Contributor copyright investigations/ItsLassieTime.

Truthkeeper88, with help from Ruhrfisch, has since made sure that the language used in Miss Moppet does not closely paraphrase or copy that in the original sources, and checked almost all of the sources used to make sure the facts cited are backed up by the sources. We are now asking all editors who contributed to the FAC to please review the article and comment at Talk:The Story of Miss Moppet#Post-FAC cleanup review comments on any concerns or issues they have with the current cleaned-up version of the article. Thanks in advance for any help, Ruhrfisch _><>°^° 21:10, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Guy Fawkes Night

The article Guy Fawkes Night you nominated as a good article has been placed on hold . The article is close to meeting the good article criteria, but there are some minor changes or clarifications needed to be addressed. If these are fixed within seven days, the article will pass, otherwise it will fail. See Talk:Guy Fawkes Night for things which need to be addressed. Jezhotwells (talk) 23:32, 24 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, I've replied on the GA review page. Parrot of Doom 23:45, 24 November 2010 (UTC)

Thank you!

Thank you for your support at my RfA last week. I'll do everything I can to live up to your expectations and if you ever need help from a janitor please feel free to drop me a line! Panyd^{The muffin is not subtle} 21:38, 29 November 2010 (UTC)

Let's just drop the janitor pretence. You're now armed with anti-editor weapons Panyd, so I hope you use them wisely. Malleus Fatuorum 21:47, 29 November 2010 (UTC)

The only expectation I have is that you be entirely honest and open, and fair. That's it, really. Parrot of Doom 00:31, 30 November 2010 (UTC)