Old talk in archive: User_talk:Dysprosia/Archive -- User_talk:Dysprosia/Archive_(2) -- User_talk:Dysprosia/Archive_(3)(most recent)


Still finding my way around - thanks for the edits and redirects ;) richard


Thanks for the kind words Dysprosia. I hope I'm doing all of this right. I'm trained as a journalist, so hopefully that'll be put to good use. :-)


Thanks for the note -Voyager640.


In regards to Annisa, that article had a list of "Trivia" at the end of it. My intention was to move those bits of information into the main article. It reads better. Kingturtle 06:50, 5 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Yes, I did so as well, (I think some weirdness happened since I reverted and you plain-edited). If you didn't see my edits before you did edit, let me know, I'm going to remove the stuff on the schooling since it's not really necessary. Dysprosia 06:52, 5 Nov 2003 (UTC)

How is it not relevant? The page is about who she was, where she lived and what she did...jeez can't we compromise? I allowed you guys to reformat my writing because your way was better... Shawn

It's not relevant because it's just trivia. It's not really notable. If something interesting happened at those schools, then it should be mentioned and the links put back in, but an article isn't a resume :) But good work otherwise! Keep it up Dysprosia 07:08, 5 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Hi Dysprosia, I see you edited the article Cambodia: A Book For People Who Find Television too Slow I just created. Thanks. But I fear you've made it innaccurate by removing some of the biblio detail I put in. I've allready changed 1998 back to 1988, but you made it sound like the ISBM I gave was for the first publication. It appeared twice in 1988, same edition, but once with a Canadian publisher and then with an American. It was the US version that I read the ISBN off of, so the one on the page is not the one of first publication. (It's OK to tell me I am fretting over miniscule details.) Thanks, vanden 08:12, 5 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Hiya :) Yes, I was trying to clean up some of the excess, I don't think too much bibliog. info is really necessary. I'll just make a short note on the article to reflect your points :) Dysprosia 09:11, 6 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Hey again, Saw the change and I am much happier with it now. I agree in retrospect that I had too much there too. (New and still getting a sense of the place.) Just wanted to let you know I'd seen your reply. Thanks, vanden 08:55, 8 Nov 2003 (UTC)

masculism edit

Thanx for your edit, it exactly what was needed (I was thinking when I made my edit that someone would hopefully make mention of places where women are conscripted). I was also trying to think of how to phrase it to place a link to Conscription. Also, you were EXTREMELY quick! Like a falcon diving in, you were there just after my edit, and left it better than you found it. Thank you. JackLynch

Thanks for being so kind! Yes, I keep an eye on Recent Changes and fix/tidy stuff up a lot :) Dysprosia 06:16, 8 Nov 2003 (UTC)

IRC client edit

Great and timely job! Well done - looking at it, I wonder whether IRC client should be folded into IRC, since it basically just duplicates the info there?2toise 14:28, 8 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Excellent suggestion, I've just done it :) Dysprosia 14:31, 8 Nov 2003 (UTC)


Dysprosia, could you please take a look at my comments on the Talk:Scientology page? Thanks.

-- ChrisO


thirty eight edit

I think you proved my point on Thirty-eight. It is not even the smallest such number: 27=52+12+12=32+32+32. I think my entry is justified, as the "interesting numbers" paradox arises whenever you start trying to list interesting properties of numbers, which seem to be the point of these "list of numbers" pages. It leads the observant reader in an unexpected direction -- IMO more interesting than any of the interesting properties. Maybe my version was too flippant. I seem to be in the habit of this - a "two-bit" pun put in quaternary was also excised. 8-)

More seriously, I was wanting feedback on the structural overhaul of Twenty and Thirty -- as noted in the talk, it was to provide anchors for linkage with the option of a fork later on. The pages after this get pretty sparse (more boring numbers) so I haven't got any further.

Cheers, AndrewKepert 22:03, 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I remember a quote by Ramanujan that said something or other like "No number is never interesting" (or something like that), and I happen to agree with him :)
But if you read my edit comment, I said that it'd do for now. I'll keep looking again for somethign a bit more thrilling when I have some time on my hands. Dysprosia 22:35, 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)
The Ramanujan quote might have had to do with Hardy's anecdote about Ramunjan and 1729 = 13+123 = 93+103. For instance, http://www.google.com/search?q=ramanujan+1729 throws up http://www.jimloy.com/number/hardy.htm
I was serious in my suggestion that rather than trying to find something interesting about every number listed (ho hum) it is valid to comment on the process of looking for interesting things to say about numbers. Since this relates something quite simple and mundane to some really interesting and deep stuff (Gödel, etc) it is worth doing. The only real problem with it is practical, in that it will become a "moveable feast" as more "interesting" facts are found about dull numbers such as 38!
The funny thing (IMHO) is that the connection to the deep stuff actually proves the assertion that all numbers are equally interesting, as any such ranking leads to a version of this paradox. Actually it doesn't quite prove that such a ranking can't be done -- just that it is not interesting in itself, or has no interesting consequences! Berry paradox is a more well-defined version of this which has more tangible implications for information theory.
So my criticism of your efforts on 38 was only 8-7
Maybe I will rewrite such ideas into something more coherent and direct (sans flippancy) and make a page for 1729
AndrewKepert 02:32, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)
Okay, 1729 lives. AndrewKepert 05:47, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)
Kudos, looks great. What will happen if there is something really neat after all for 38? What would be the next uninteresting number after that? Dysprosia 05:51, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)
Ta. The "first dull number" issue is best resolved via an extension to mediawiki to track numeric articles. 8-) ... and an american roulette wheel has 38 slots anyway. AndrewKepert 06:13, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

What now? edit

As you kindly gave me some advice when I first ventured here, can I please ask for more?

I recently edited a page dealing with New Zealand's highest mountain, changing the former name of Mount Cook to its now official name. Aoraki/Mount Cook. I also did a redirect of Mount Cook to a new page headed Aoraki/Mount Cook, and changed various links in Wikipedia. User:Popsracer reverted my work, using a totally erroneous rationale. I left a message on User talk:Popsracer informing him of the official advice I received from the New Zealand Geographic Board, c/o Land Information New Zealand. That advice, from the body responsible for place names in NZ, supports me and denies his claim. I don't want to get into a silly war where pages are changed daily, so where do I go now? Incidentally, I have prepared material to add to the Aoraki/Mount Cook page to explain the whys and wherefores of the name change which happened FIVE years ago. Moriori 23:25, 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Ok. Firstly, judging by the edit histories, you did a cut and paste move (you should really use the Move this page feature in future, as it preserves edit histories). Popsracer was probably also trying to fix that too, perhaps.
If everyone in NZ and elsewhere refers to the place at Mount Cook, it should stay at Mount Cook - articles here usually stay at the name where most people refer to it - and add your paragraph explaining why the name change. If not, you should raise the issue about moving the page on Talk:Mount Cook - and I wouldn't add your paragraph about the name change until you get a few opinions on the talk page.
For the moment, perhaps you should think about adding something like "Mount Cook, named after Captain James Cook, (also called Aoraki)," or something like that.
Hope this helps, and get back to me if you're having more trouble. Dysprosia 23:37, 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)

> Hi :) Great work you're doing! Why don't you get a login name so
> you can have your name tied to your edits?

> In any case, keep contributing :) Dysprosia 01:05, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Thanks for the kind words :)

Some people jump into the pool all at once, while others go in an inch at a time. I was always the second kind :)

12.233.149.168


> Hi Isomorphic :) I hope you like the place and choose to stay. (I love your > username! What are you isomorphic to?)

> Thanks, and keep contributing :) Dysprosia 07:40, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Thanks :-) I've actually been lurking for a while, but a couple of my contributions were accidentally made when I was logged off. Seems to log me off automatically rather frequently.

As for my screen name, I just like how it sounds... never wondered what it is I'm isomorphic too, exactly. However, it does bring to mind a funny quote: A mathematician was asked if he believed in one God. His response was "Yes, up to isomorphism."

Isomorphic 09:30, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)


Sorry: will try to remember to preivew in future. Bmills 09:36, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)


Thanks for the welcome, Dysprosia! chocolateboy 13:02 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I see you moved binary Golay code to Golay code. There is also a ternary Golay code which is important in connection with the Mathieu groups M11 and M12. I thought it made more sense to have two separate entries since the two are mainly connected through having a common discoverer (though the binary Golay code is also connected to the little Mathieu groups). Michael Larsen 20:48, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I thought as such, but I've never heard the binary Golay code referred to as the "binary Golay code", so I saw fit to move it. Do you see anything wrong with having a link to the ternary code on the Golay code page? If you do, I'll move it back and disambig on Golay code. Thanks Dysprosia 22:11, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I just did a MathSciNet search on "Golay code" in Title and looked at the 20 most recent hits. Five are "ternary Golay code". Two are "binary Golay code". One is "binary Golay codes". Five are "(the) Golay codes". One is "a Golay code". Five specify more exotic Golay codes (mod 4, 8, or 9). I'm missing something, but you get the idea. The default meaning of "Golay code" is binary, but there are various kinds which have attracted interest, and most people specify. Michael Larsen 11:53, 12 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Okeydokey, I'll go back and disambig. Thanks for the info :) Dysprosia 11:55, 12 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Dysprosia - I just filled out your stub on Farey sequences, then noticed you had a note in your to-do list to do that yourself. Hope I have done you a favour rather than taken away something you were positively looking forward to doing ! I would be interested to hear your comments on my contribution. Gandalf61 22:24, Nov 11, 2003 (UTC)

No that's fine, no probs, it looks really good. Might add some more stuff later :) Dysprosia 22:30, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Thanks for the constructive comments... my first day here and I'm already hopelessly addicted. The incorrect formatting was due partially to the fact I was editing another newbie's article.

BTW, is there any way to send a message to a user that doesn't show up for everyone to read on their Talk page?

Anyway, we need more friendly people in this world =) Keep it up.

No problem Michael (Don't forget to sign with 4 tildes ~~~~ in future :)
Yes, you can send them an email if they have listed one. There should be a link down the bottom of that users page with something like "Email this user" or something. If they don't have one listed, they may have an instant messenger contact (I can't remember off the top of my head where the page is with people's IM listings), but if they haven't otherwise, then there's no other way... Thx Dysprosia 06:51, 12 Nov 2003 (UTC)
Ooh, didn't know about the signing feature. MichaelGensheimer 16:26, 12 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I've been puttering on the MetaWeb, I put an alternative public domain page up over at [[Joseph (the dreamer)] on the talk page. Feeling gung ho -- but not evil. Sparky 13:16, 12 Nov 2003 (UTC)


"Santorum" wasn't mine, I just cleaned it up. (So to speak.) I do think it's funny tho. :)

Cleanup link edit

Ah, thanks :)
Tualha 14:54, Nov 13, 2003 (UTC)


Hi Dysprosia. Thanks, first, for drawing my attention to an element that I'd never heard of! By extension from the name of the element, is 'dysprosia' the state or property of being "'hard to get at'"?

Anyhow, regarding your recent message to 130.102.128.60 on the addition of irrelevant information to pages... Unfortunately, I can only assume that this IP is a proxy for an unknown number of people at my university -- (sadly) I haven't made any contributions myself since August. Your message was certainly warranted (I checked out 130.102.128.60's "contributions"). However, it would be a personal tragedy for me if that IP got blocked and the wikipedia server thought that it was me!

Still, I see that Wikipedia is still a great place, and I'll have to make an effort to keep contributing! Ben Cairns 22:24, 13 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Yes! That's precisely my name and why I chose it... I can be a bit difficult to understand &/c so I think the name's appropriate...
Of course, many IPs are shared, and people often go around shoveling junk to the Wikipedia. Luckily it can be removed just as easily. Naturally, the best defense against a block against unsavory people like that is to get a username, and to stay logged in with the name, which you've done.
Keep contributing! :) Dysprosia 03:57, 14 Nov 2003 (UTC)
I am inspired :) Ben Cairns 04:30, 14 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Could you shed some light @ Village Pump, seeing how you've recently used it? Thanks. --Menchi 05:54, 14 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Your wish is my command :) Go, look! Dysprosia 05:59, 14 Nov 2003 (UTC)
Thank you, Genie! You're one helpful supernatural being! It doesn't hurt that you're wearing exotic semi-transparent wardrobe either! :-} --Menchi 00:09, 15 Nov 2003 (UTC)

With regard to VfD and Hanna Holborn Gray, I'm glad you think it's improved, and I'm sorry that you felt you had to apologize, I didn't mean anything bad. And listing it on VfD got the copyright problem cured<G> -- Someone else 23:52, 14 Nov 2003 (UTC)

It's all good... All happy stuff came out: Hanna's fixed, no copyright probs :) Dysprosia 00:56, 15 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I don't think its necessary to note that calculus is mathematics; except at the calculus page. Lirath Q. Pynnor


I think the reader will either be able to instantly know that this is a page on mathematics; or else, they will be so confused as to be unable to really understand any of it. Lirath Q. Pynnor

Yeah, I don't think it should be too much of a problem... Dysprosia 00:51, 17 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Hello. It seems that you are an extremely valuable contributer to Wikipedia, but I have not made your acquaintence yet, so I will now say, "Nice to meet you!".

Best wishes! --Alexandros 02:21, 17 Nov 2003 (UTC)
Tx, Alexandros :) Dysprosia 02:22, 17 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Hi Dysprosia! Thanks for the help with npov on that one. I was just about to go back and change it, then found that you were there already. I might have another quick go when you are done, and would welcome your review for consistency. Humanist 10:05, 17 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I'm done for now, go ahead :) Dysprosia 10:08, 17 Nov 2003 (UTC)