User talk:BabelStone/Archive 2010

Mercia Project change

Metabaronic has redefined the scope and changed the name of the Mercia Wikiproject to included the rest of Anglo-Saxon England, please consider directing your support again to Wikiproject Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. Sadads (talk) 00:56, 30 April 2010 (UTC)

Just in case you haven't noticed, we have moved to a project page Wikipedia:WikiProject Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. Sadads (talk) 13:20, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Stephen Wootton Bushell

The DYK project (nominate) 16:03, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for creating this article. I'm a Chinese history fan and am so glad to learn about this fascinating figure.--达伟 (talk) 17:04, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the thanks, I'm glad you liked the article. BabelStone (talk) 21:23, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

WPASK Assessment Drive

Hey all, our assessment process is raring for moving out, and just needs a little bit of help from you. First and foremost, our Quality and Importance scales need to be completed per consensus, please check them out at Wikipedia:WikiProject_Anglo-Saxon_Kingdoms/Assessment and comment. Next, we have, as of my most recent assessments, 1122 articles that have not been assessed. All I ask is that each and every one of us assess ~10 articles each day you get on Wikipedia to speed up the process and let us really know what we have in our scope. Remember, we have Category, Template, Redirect and Disambiguation classes along with our more traditional stub through FA ratings, please use all of them and look for pages which fall within our scope. Thanks for all the help, Sadads (talk) 22:02, 10 June 2010 (UTC)

Frome hoard DYK

I've just noticed that the Frome Hoard DYK isn't due to go on the main page until 1am tomorrow morning, to be replaced at 7am. I think the timing's a bit of a shame seeing as those most interested in reading it will be in bed and in all likeliness miss it completely! – B.hotep •talk• 07:38, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

I mentioned this to Rodw (talk · contribs) as well. By the way, I couldn't find anything to add to Shrewsbury Hoard – well done! :) – B.hotep •talk• 09:10, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

I saw that too, and thought of asking for it to be rescheduled ... but then thought that maybe that would be making an unnecessary fuss. But if you think the same way, maybe it would be worth asking for a more appropriate time slot.BabelStone (talk) 09:58, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

I think the answer's most likely to be the same as Peter Vardy got when he mentioned it before. (see Rod's talk). – B.hotep •talk• 10:00, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

Shrewsbury Hoard

Hi, I've nominated Shrewsbury Hoard to be included in the DYK section, you can find the nomination here if you can think of a better hook. Thanks Smartse (talk) 20:49, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, glad you thought it was good enough. BabelStone (talk) 20:51, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

It's sourced and long enough so therefore is good enough - it got me a bit confused at first though when I thought it was about the Frome Hoard! DYK that there was an earlier hoard called the Shrewsbury Hoard (see this)? It might be worth adding one line to the article about it. Smartse (talk) 20:57, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

Yep, there are so many hoards that there is enough to keep a small task force busy for a few years. But I think that it is definitely a worthwhile topic for to work on. BabelStone (talk) 21:11, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Frome Hoard

— Rlevse • Talk • 00:03, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

From this to this and to DYK in five days! Well done. Pleasure working with you. – B.hotep •talk• 08:41, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, it was good working with you and Rodw and everyone else who contributed. BabelStone (talk) 00:07, 14 July 2010 (UTC)

Seax of Beagnoth

Not sure I can help you. To be honext I remember looking at this and thinking it would never to big enough for a DYK article! How wrong. You've done brilliantly. I was thinking you may go for Frome Hoard for GA being as you have Hoxne as a model? Victuallers (talk) 20:56, 15 July 2010 (UTC)

Thanks anyway. I've never done a GA or FA, so I might just nominate the Seax and see what happens. As to Frome, I think it'll be worth expanding once more details become available, but I guess that won't be until next year. The Staffordshire Hoard is one article that may benefit from the Hoxne experience, and could aim for GA or better once the publications start flowing. BabelStone (talk) 21:23, 15 July 2010 (UTC)

Maps

Hi: I'll fix Silchester on the map. There are three things you can do to avoid clashes a) look at the em value (it adjusts height) b) look at position value - you can have text to left or right etc c) You can add two together ... e.g. Hoxne & Eye where they are basically in the same place. Hope that helps Victuallers (talk) 16:45, 18 July 2010 (UTC)

I've worked that out now (see latest edit), but it is a real pain to do manually (half a dozen previews to get it right). BabelStone (talk) 17:23, 18 July 2010 (UTC)

Trout!

Not to be confused with Cod throwing.

Whacking with a wet trout or trouting is a common practice on Wikipedia when experienced editors slip up and make a silly mistake. It, along with sentencing to the village stocks, is used to resolve one-off instances of seemingly silly behavior amongst normally constructive community members, as opposed to long term patterns of disruptive edits, which earn warnings and blocks.

Example

Whack!

The above is a WikiTrout (Oncorhynchus macrowikipediensis), used to make subtle adjustments to the clue levels of experienced Wikipedians.

To whack a user with a wet trout, simply place {{trout}} on their talk page.

Please re-review Manufacturing in Hong Kong. It was moved to the mainspace on 16 July; I started writing in my userspace on 2 July. When I finished the article and moved it, DYKCheck also shows that it's OK. Kayau Voting IS evil 09:01, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Shrewsbury Hoard

-- Cirt (talk) 12:03, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

Chairman Mao badge

What an excellent article, and fun to read. Congratulations! Drmies (talk) 15:21, 24 July 2010 (UTC)

Thanks! I was so surprised that the article did not already exist, even as a stub, that I felt I had to do something. BabelStone (talk) 15:26, 24 July 2010 (UTC)

You run into surprises, sometimes. I was somewhat surprised to find that Julie von Massow, who started a worldwide (well...) prayer movement in the 19th century, didn't have an article, not even on the German wiki. I gotta say, though, your article looks really nice too, and I envy you! Later, Drmies (talk) 15:54, 24 July 2010 (UTC)

All Mao badges on Commons have been nominated for deletion by User:Sandstein. If anyone wants to participate in the deletion discussion, please check out Commons:Commons:Deletion_requests/File:Mao_Badge_12.jpg. BabelStone (talk) 11:32, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

Glad to see you got this sorted. I'm useless with image copyright status, so sorry I couldn't assist. :) – B.hotep •talk• 23:04, 27 July 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, but it's not sorted until the deletion discussion is closed, and I hope it closes soon otherwise the pic can't be used in the DYK, and I think it would get a lot more views with it that without. BabelStone (talk) 00:10, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

Ah, I thought it was all sorted. Surely Sandstein can finish the discussion – either a withdrawal as the nominator, or a closure as a Commons administrator? – B.hotep •talk• 18:45, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

I don't know. Commons:Commons:Deletion_requests states that everything except obvious speedy deletes "should be left until at least seven days have elapsed". But at the current rate the DYK queue is moving there's still plenty of time. BabelStone (talk) 21:56, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

Absolutely. I now know why the DYK limit is 5 days. Because it takes at least 5x that to get on the main page! That's fine by me, though. Plenty of time for fine tuning. I will say (as a Wikipedia admin) that sometimes the deletion discussion time regulations are ignored, but I've heard Commons is a whole different kettle of proverbial fish. – B.hotep •talk• 22:04, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for your comment on the picture at DYK, but it looks like it may take weeks before the deletion discussion closes (I asked Sandstein, but he said he could not close it because he initiated it), and so it has been put in the DYK queue without a picture (poor quality b/w picture of Henry Nicholas Greenwell instead ... yuk), which is a shame as I think the shiny picture would have attracted a lot of hits. BabelStone (talk) 08:22, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

DYK for List of hoards in Britain

The DYK project (nominate) 18:03, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

DYK for List of hoards in Ireland

The DYK project (nominate) 18:03, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

WP:3K

• I suppose you've noticed WP:3K, though it's pretty quiet at the moment... • Ling.Nut 01:01, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the pointer, but I tend to avoid 3K articles as I'm too close to the subject. I watch Romance of the Three Kingdoms and it seems to me that very few people are interested in the actual book, and most people just want to add more manga and video game trivia, which is a shame as the article is missing so much important information -- the history of the book and different versions of the text is hardly touched upon. BabelStone (talk) 07:39, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

The wikiproject brought Battle of Red Cliffs to FA, and deemphasized the gaming aspect as much as possible. Anyhow, maybe one day we'll work together on something. later! • Ling.Nut 07:49, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Chairman Mao badge

The DYK project (nominate) 00:07, 6 August 2010 (UTC)

Excellent. Well deserved even though the picture wasn't included, and hope to see it at WP:DYKSTATS soon. – B.hotep •talk• 00:09, 6 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks. I went to bed early last night and missed it -- my DYKs always seem to end up on the UK night watch. BabelStone (talk) 07:35, 6 August 2010 (UTC)

A disappointing 3.9k. It's hard to get more than 5,000 without a picture -- I am amazed that Copper Bull got almost 10,000 views with no picture or mention of sex in the hook. BabelStone (talk) 09:12, 7 August 2010 (UTC)

Me too ... (I wonder if its a bug in the stats). Meanwhile maybe we can think of a reword of below with the word concubine in it??

• ... that the British Museum's copy of the Chinese Admonitions Scroll (pictured) is missing two scenes which are recorded in a museum in the Forbidden City?

Do reword the hook. The article is a treat. etc Victuallers (talk) 08:14, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the nom -- I had been thinking about a suitable DYK hook but just couldn't come up with one that was worthy of the scroll, which was why I had delayed self-nomming. If only some of the ladies were just a little less dressed ... BabelStone (talk) 22:39, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

Thx 4 nom .... I add you as a co-author as you should be creditted for all the copyeditting you did. Victuallers (talk) 11:47, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Your GA

Pleased to see you have a GA. I was particularly impressed as I remember looking at the article in its first few days and thinking that it would never get the 1500 chars to be a DYK nom. Well done. Also very pleased to see the 30,800 views for the reindeer. So it is possible to get views without a sexual reference! Cheers

Oh, I don't know, reindeer can be fairly enticing. Did I just say that out loud... Erm, anyway, Digging for Britain is on tonight - featuring the Frome Hoard I believe. – B.hotep •talk• 16:55, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Admonitions Scroll

The DYK project (nominate) 00:03, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

James Conder

Hi BS, Ipswich Hoard is in for DYK, but I saw you had discovered a better hook. I have expanded (5x?) James Conder to make a better double hook. Something like

DYK ... that James Conder who collected and and made his own coins (pictured) never knew he had a Ipswich Hoard buried beneath his doorstep?

I'm off on a wikibreak. Can you see what you can do? Victuallers (talk) 09:16, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

I did the best I could, but I'm off on a wikibreak in a few minutes as well, and it was a bit of rush -- picture of token should probably be modified to show only one side but I don't have time to do that. BabelStone (talk) 10:01, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Witham Shield

The DYK project (nominate) 00:02, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Sæbø sword

The DYK project (nominate) 06:04, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Excellent. Shame the view checker is on the fritz again! – B.hotep •talk• 08:59, 28 August 2010 (UTC)

Totally fried as far as I can tell -- all the pre-August stats have disappeared as well. BabelStone (talk) 01:33, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Good job getting Arild to re-licence the picture, thank you for your efforts!

Thanks, and thank you for creating the derivative images for the article (which was something I thought needed doing, but did not have time to do myself) -- the two juxtaposed images of the inscription are just what was needed. I'm on a wikibreak with only occasional internet access so I won't be doing much editing for the next week or so, but I think the article needs to address the other side of the blade as well. BabelStone (talk) 01:33, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Ipswich Hoard

— Rlevse • Talk • 06:02, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Khanhoo

Hello Babelstone, I recently stumbled upon a major expansion on the article Liubo. I wonder if you could help me find any historical information on the game Khanhoo in Chinese language once you can speak Chinese and are part of that Wiki comunity. Any reference regarding this game would be also greatly appreciated. Actually I've been thinking about expanding the article a bit and wonder if it could be blessed with your magic touch as well. Regards, Krenakarore (talk) 12:20, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Sorry, I can't help at the present time as I am on a semi-wikibreak, and know nothing about Chinese card games. BabelStone (talk) 20:49, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Helmets

Fancy a double nom? You have the "in the news" and I suspect I have the picture? Victuallers (talk) 16:17, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

I thought about that as well -- go ahead and change the DYK nom for the Crosby Garret helmet to a double nom. How about:

• ... that the Crosby Garrett Helmet, discovered in May 2010, has a figurine of a winged griffin on top of it, whereas the Ribchester Helmet, discovered in 1796, may originally have had a sphinx attached to it?

BabelStone (talk) 18:26, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

If you hold until Oct 7th then the logical hook is "on auction today". I suggest you run with double hook now and investigate "in the news" in parallel... Victuallers (talk) 16:00, 16 September 2010 (UTC)

Yeah, you're right, I've withdrawn the suggestion. Could even do a triple nom with Newstead Helmet. BabelStone (talk) 20:09, 16 September 2010 (UTC)

Good idea if it has no picture. Actually I thought! (ie I may be wrtong) that there were three Newstead helmets? Victuallers (talk) 16:07, 17 September 2010 (UTC)

There are three and half Newstead helmets, all described in the article, but the one with the face mask seems to be generally referred to as the *the* "Newstead Helmet". BabelStone (talk) 23:05, 17 September 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Crosby Garrett Helmet

— Rlevse • Talk • 06:02, 25 September 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Ribchester Helmet

— Rlevse • Talk • 06:02, 25 September 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Newstead Helmet

— Rlevse • Talk • 06:03, 25 September 2010 (UTC)

Ain't and amn't

Would you look into the naming dispute here? -- Evertype·✆ 08:22, 25 September 2010 (UTC)

Well, I did take a look yesterday, but did not want to get involved in a naming dispute that is outside my wiki-interests. But as you pressed me I have added my opinion ... which I'm afraid may not be to your liking. BabelStone (talk) 13:52, 25 September 2010 (UTC)

I'm stubborn and all, but your suggestion with Angr's title would make a better article, so thanks. An outside opinion was useful. -- Evertype·✆ 06:06, 26 September 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Waterloo Helmet

— Rlevse • Talk • 12:02, 26 September 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Meyrick Helmet

The DYK project (nominate) 00:02, 27 September 2010 (UTC)

Categories

I saw Category:Archaeological artefacts from the River Thames. I was adding to Metal-detector yesterday, & I thought a list or category of m-d finds would be useful - maybe just UK initially, as that is where they all seem to be. Perhaps a category, as we have the hoards list already, which covers many of them. Johnbod (talk) 16:55, 27 September 2010 (UTC)

Sounds like a very good idea. I think a category is more suitable than a list -- how about Category:Metal detecting finds or Category:Archaeological artefacts found by metal detecting? BabelStone (talk) 18:42, 27 September 2010 (UTC)

Or Category:Archaeological finds by metal detector is shorter - maybe "in the UK" initially, then with a general parent, & so on. Johnbod (talk) 03:08, 28 September 2010 (UTC)

There definitely should by scope for "by country" classification, but at the moment I cannot think of any non-UK metal detecting finds with articles. Category:Archaeological finds by metal detector in the United Kingdom is still rather long-winded, so maybe Category:Metal detecting finds in the United Kingdom would be better (especially as potentially there could be significant metal detecting finds of non-archaeological items); but I'm not fussed, so go ahead and create the category with whatever name you feel is best and we can start populating it. BabelStone (talk) 11:28, 28 September 2010 (UTC)

I've gone with Category:Metal detecting finds in the United Kingdom, but feel free to rename the category if you think it is not the best name. BabelStone (talk) 10:50, 3 October 2010 (UTC)

Akan Drum

I've put this in Queue 1, it should show on MP at 1pm 4Oct, UTC. Lead with pic. — Rlevse • Talk • 00:56, 3 October 2010 (UTC)

Thanks! BabelStone (talk) 01:16, 3 October 2010 (UTC)

• - thanks for that BS. Two points. 1. I created some stuff for the Russian Revolutionary Plate - but without an image its not interesting. However, I did find a free image for another plate which I have put in commons and used "the stuff" to illustrate Mikhail Mikhailovich Adamovich which is at DYK (Oct 2nd). Could you check over the license? I'm guessing a plate is OK even though he died in 1947 as it isn't the original design (but I don't know!) and then I've used a "press image" and presumed the license as attrib only. What do you think? and 2. Are you going to this GLAM conference at the BM? Victuallers (talk) 11:44, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

1. Almost certainly not OK for Commons, unfortunately, but you'd best ask User:Sandstein because he'll be the one who'll take it to deletion if it does infringe anyone's theoretical copyright.

2. I thought about it, but I've used up my holiday allocation for this year, and so it would be difficult for me to take a day off work for it; and anyway I need to try to spend less time on Wikipedia and more time on my primary interests (currently the computer encoding of the Tangut script). 12:19, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

A plate would normally be done as "work for hire" with all the rights belonging to the factory not the designer. That it is not the original design is not important - it could still be under copyright. I think in the UK it wouldn't be, but in Russia who knows. Normally corporate rights expire after a fixed term from "publication", typically before artist-style rights. Johnbod (talk) 12:28, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

Thanks

Thanks for adding the much better ref to Gymnophyllum wardi and for approving the DYK hook. Ruhrfisch _><>°^° 23:17, 3 October 2010 (UTC)

You're welcome. Thanks for the pretty flower. BabelStone (talk) 23:59, 3 October 2010 (UTC)

DYK for Wandsworth Shield

— Rlevse • Talk • 00:02, 7 October 2010 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Admonitions Scroll

The article Admonitions Scroll 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:Admonitions Scroll for things which need to be addressed. Redtigerxyz ^Talk 09:15, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

Hello. I have a few queries about the article. Please reply to them so I can complete my review. Thanks. --Redtigerxyz ^Talk 17:32, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

Unfortunately, I had to fail the article. The article with some modifications can certainly be a GA. All the best for improving the article. --Redtigerxyz ^Talk 15:58, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for reviewing it. I'm sorry that I have been unable to respond to your concerns in a timely manner, but I have been a little busy this week. I think that, on reflection, it was not really ready for GAR; but I will try to improve it when I get the time. BabelStone (talk) 20:38, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Showing Unicode

I start a fresh new thread about this.
So the template {{unicode}} and <class ="unicode"> are no covering enough. That is very bad, because that is the only thing they are supposed to do. We could create a sort of {{unicode2}} that does the non-BMP characters. That one would have different list of fonts families (maybe only by sequence). But on second thought I still do not trust this. It smells like a compromise: there are no fonts that cover this well enough. We'd still loose browsers (even major ones) that don't show want we expect. It's too much, eh, looking for an average.
Why not try this: we add a parameter that specifies the Unicode block name. Depending on that block name, we should find a font or font family that covers that block best, over all browsers. So we prescribe the font block-specific.
Details:  • This could work for the template (say {{unicode2}}), but howto do this with class?  • Instead of block name, a something else might be used. Like 1st code point. Or script name.
Worth trying? Do you know these fonts? -DePiep (talk) 20:51, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

Unfortunately trying to do it at this end is always going to be a clumsy workaround that will only work for users if they happen to have the correct fonts installed. Browsers should be able to automatically choose a suitable font for any Unicode characters or allow the user to manually configure fonts for any Unicode block, but as yet they don't. The best fonts for Plane 1 are Code2001 and Symbola. {{unicode2}} is as good a name as any, but I have never created a template before, so I'm not quite sure how to do it. BabelStone (talk) 21:10, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

Sure, we cannot depend on users installing fonts. No way. There's only default fonts per browser. Are Code2001 and Symbola quite available in the browsers? I'll take a look at the template aspects. What would be a good block in plane 1 we for our tests? -DePiep (talk) 21:20, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

I have created {{unicode2}}. For now, no block- or script-refinement (can be done later). Tests are at Template:Unicode2/testcases, add more if you like. I asked for a check here at village pump - tech. I saw a negative result in my FF and Safari. -DePiep (talk) 23:01, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

There was a mistake in {{unicode2}} which I have fixed now, and Template:Unicode2/testcases now displays 𝍰​ correctly for me (using IE8). How about you? BabelStone (talk) 23:38, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

Also OK with Chrome. BabelStone (talk) 23:46, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

Well done (I can predict my typos). But my Ff and Safari do not show the testcases correct. The rod is not shown by font. I see the square symbol, twice. Our goal should be, that those four browseers should show correct with their default font, I'd say. (Do you have extra fonts installed? I am an editor, and even I don't like a "you should install such and such". Let alone out readers!). So: no positive test in FF and SAF. What to do? -DePiep (talk) 23:54, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

Well, if you don't have a suitable font installed on your system (Code2001 or Symbola in this case) then it is impossible for any browser to display the character correctly. I know that it is annoying to have to tell readers "You must install such and such a font" (see for example Phaistos Disc#Inscription text), but really that is the only way for obscure Unicode blocks/scripts that vendors such as Microsoft do not provide pre-installed fonts for. BabelStone (talk) 00:03, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

Of course I could install them, but that does solve it for only one reader. I was looking for a more general, if elaborate for us editors, a more general solution. If that really is not feasible, as you indicate (and I can not improve on this), then I end up with my earlier proposal: if the browsers fonts fail us, we insert images. -DePiep (talk) 00:11, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

I will vigorously oppose replacement of text with images in the templates, but as a compromise I would accept a template that includes both text and images, and allows the user to choose whether the text-based table or the image-based table is displayed. This could be done in the same way that the Show/Hide feature works by hiding one of the tables. I would suggest having the text-based table shown by default, and a "Display as images" option that would hide the text-based table and unhide the image-based table. What do you think? BabelStone (talk) 08:43, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

I'd like to point out that many people have been objecting to usage of these kinds of classes, because they use different fonts (wether needed or not) for little pieces of text, breaking text flow. I guess on a char by char situation it doesn't matter much. This idea might improve it "a little bit", but this is a problem that all in all simply cannot be solved at our side. —TheDJ (talk • contribs) 12:40, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

I understand TheDJ refers to template {{unicode2}} with (again) different fonts. For text flow it is not good indeed. But if that would be the option: to show the character in another font or show nothing at all, the choice would be easy. We already do so with {{IPA}} and {{math}} texts. But alas, it is not an option, I understand. -DePiep (talk) 13:07, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

If the CSS and font route does not help us, we could close this and delete the experimental {{unicode2}}. -DePiep (talk) 09:23, 12 October 2010 (UTC)

_{The idea of a double-showing template is below in a subthread with prospects. -DePiep (talk) 09:23, 12 October 2010 (UTC)}

Well, I think the {{unicode2}} template is useful as it does allow people with Unicode SMP fonts installed to see characters that they would not otherwise be able to see (I believe that no browser allows the user to configure fonts for SMP blocks client side), and I do not think that it is harmful as people without these fonts won't see anything anyway. If you don't object I would like to try it out on the Unicode chart templates for Symbol blocks (1D000-1F77F). I think that the template is less useful for script blocks as specialist fonts are often required to render these. BabelStone (talk) 21:55, 12 October 2010 (UTC)

I am also happy to try out the dual text/image template for counting rods if you like, or if you want to take it to VP or somewhere for technical advice on how to make it better that's also OK with me. BabelStone (talk) 21:55, 12 October 2010 (UTC)

Template with double showing

_{Created subthread with prospects. -DePiep (talk) 09:23, 12 October 2010 (UTC)}

Here is an example of one way we could combine a text-based table and an image-based table in order to allow the user to choose whichever display they prefer. I think it would be possible to make the two tables mutually exclusive so that hiding one would automatically unhide the other, but that would probably involve javascript magic, and we would need technical expertise for that. BabelStone (talk) 22:02, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

Counting Rod Numerals Unicode.org chart (PDF) Unicode characters as text   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F U+1D36x 𝍠 𝍡 𝍢 𝍣 𝍤 𝍥 𝍦 𝍧 𝍨 𝍩 𝍪 𝍫 𝍬 𝍭 𝍮 𝍯 U+1D37x 𝍰 𝍱                             Unicode characters as images   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F U+1D36x U+1D37x

Very nice indeed. -DePiep (talk) 22:12, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

BS, after your font edit in unicode2 my Firefox shows less good boxes (full cell height, U+number in lower half). -DePiep (talk) 05:07, 13 October 2010 (UTC)

• Started Can we toggle Show-A/Show-B (~show/hide) at VP/technical. Also a Counting Rod Numerals/sandbox. -DePiep (talk) 05:07, 13 October 2010 (UTC)

Unicode 6.0

When updating Unicode pages to 6.0, could you leave a note like "As of version 6.0" or so. I think that would greatly enhance the quality of our pages. Could also be "{{As of|2010|10}}". -DePiep (talk) 22:34, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

Unicode 6

Is it worth keeping the historical data? Rich Farmbrough, 01:45, 18 October 2010 (UTC).

Which historical data in which article -- could you be more specific please? BabelStone (talk) 07:54, 18 October 2010 (UTC)

In regard to updating items for Unicode 6 in general, it strikes me that a significant amount of information that is changed, whether it's the number of planes or specific detail will be of interest to those studying the development of Unicode. I don't have the detailed knowledge to make specific suggestions - but I am imagining such pages as "CJK in Unicode" - if it exists - could be copied to "CJK in Unicode 5.2" before being updated and after being fixed "CJK in Unicode" could be renamed "CJK in Unicode 6.0". If this is plain crazy, just ignore it. Rich Farmbrough, 15:26, 18 October 2010 (UTC).

OK, I misunderstood you -- I thought you meant that there was already too much historical data in some article. I don't think it is necessary to created versioned editions of individual articles, but I have long considered that it might be useful to have separate articles on each version of Unicode, summarising the changes and additions made in each version; or perhaps a single article such as List of Unicode versions that would present summary historical data such as this. BabelStone (talk) 21:53, 18 October 2010 (UTC)

Happy BabelStone's Day!

User:BabelStone has been identified as an Awesome Wikipedian, and therefore, I've officially declared today as BabelStone's day! For being such a beautiful person and great Wikipedian, enjoy being the Star of the day, dear BabelStone! Peace, Rlevse 00:03, 22 October 2010 (UTC) A record of your Day will always be kept here.

For a userbox you can add to your userbox page, see User:Rlevse/Today/Happy Me Day! and my own userpage for a sample of how to use it.

For a user ribbon you can use, see

Awesome Wikipedian

— Rlevse • Talk • 00:03, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Wow, very many thanks, although I can't think what I've done to deserve such an honour !!! BabelStone (talk) 00:19, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I fear that barnstar uses Comic Sans… -- Evertype·✆ 08:48, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I love Comic Sans ... BabelStone (talk) 09:01, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Congrats on BS day, oh... see Charles F. Newcombe ... I'm trying to create a totem pole article Victuallers (talk) 21:43, 24 October 2010 (UTC)

Thanks. I took a peep at the totem pole article in your sandbox -- looks promising, nice pic ;-) I'm still hanging around Wikipedia, but not working on any articles at present as I am too busy in real life (or at least in a different virtual life). BabelStone (talk) 22:47, 25 October 2010 (UTC)

Yes, congratulations! Johnbod (talk) 23:24, 25 October 2010 (UTC)

Victuallers has given you some caramel and a candy apple! Caramel and candy-coated apples are fun Halloween treats, and promote WikiLove on Halloween. Hopefully these have made your Halloween (and the proceeding days) much sweeter. Happy Halloween! If Trick-or-treaters come your way, add {{subst:Halloween apples}} to their talkpage with a spoooooky message!

Thx for the tipoff re RLevse - it took me a while to work out what has happened. Its amazing how many experts there are in hindsight when an error has been identified. We must find a way to protect people. Victuallers (talk) 20:53, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Proposed Tibetan naming conventions

A few months ago, I posted a new proposal for Tibetan naming conventions, i.e. conventions that can be used to determine the most appropriate titles for articles related to the Tibetan region. This came out of discussions about article titles on Talk:Qamdo and Talk:Lhoka (Shannan) Prefecture. I hope that discussions on the proposal's talk page will lead to consensus in favour of making these conventions official, but so far only a few editors have left comments. If you would be interested in taking a look at the proposed naming conventions and giving your opinion, I would definitely appreciate it. Thanks — Nat Krause^{(Talk!·What have I done?)} 22:04, 11 November 2010 (UTC)

ogham stones in wales

Hello BabelStone, I recently came across your blog page on the ogham stones of Wales and noticed your comment on the number of ogham stones in North Wales, which you mention should be 3 rather than the 11 shown. I put up the image (and provided the references), and I'll go back through the sources and correct the map as necessary. Thank you for finding my possible (? probable) error.

I made the map over a year ago and I'm a little hazy on the details, but I seem to recall that some stones classified as 'having ogham' long ago have degraded so that the ogham is no longer visible; if the re-check bears that out, I'll give them a different color and note them as 'questionable' (and if you can shed some light or offer suggestions here, the information will be appreciated); if I've patently made a mistake I'll simply correct it by removing the red color and uploading a fresh map (then I'll try to figure out how the I could have gotten things so wrong). Again, thanks for noting the possible error, and if you find possible mistakes in anything else that I've contributed to wikipedia, please let me know. Best Regards, Notuncurious (talk) 01:56, 16 November 2010 (UTC)

Quiero

Quiero eso a ISO. Fast & good. So it is not my table anymore? :-) -DePiep (talk) 18:29, 22 December 2010 (UTC)

I'm afraid that I did not really understand a word of that, but I'm sure no-one has ever owned that table. If I recall correctly, I created the original scripts table at Unicode scripts in July 2008, and a year later you templatized it and expanded it to cover non-Unicode ISO 15924 scripts, which is the way of Wikipedia. BabelStone (talk) 22:36, 22 December 2010 (UTC)

It says: "I like this at ISO". The English text afterward is to be read as a compliment. The sequence ":-)" is an expression of enjoyment: 'I like this'. -DePiep (talk) 23:07, 22 December 2010 (UTC)

Now, of course someone created a scripts-table. How great you recalled it was you. But I cannot remember the ISO<-->Unicode connection was there when I started editing it into the current template table.

To be clear: the Unicode scripts (as you named and linked it) is useless and quite a mess. Both in name and in text. Really, there is not a concept of "Unicode scripts" in the world. Is why I changed it into "Scripts in Unicode". And so on.

No need to feel pissed of. It was a compliment. -DePiep (talk) 23:07, 22 December 2010 (UTC)

I'm not pissed off or angry with you, quite the contrary -- I was just saying that it is the way of Wikipedia that one person creates something, and then somebody improves it. That is good. BabelStone (talk) 23:38, 22 December 2010 (UTC)

I understand. Added too much weight on this side. Nuances read & gotten. I suggest we drop it, except for the 'compliment' thing. :-) -DePiep (talk) 23:52, 22 December 2010 (UTC)