User talk:Sluzzelin/Archive 9

Identification

Did this happen to you in school, too, where you would wave your hand, bounce up and down in your seat, whisper "It's me, teacher; it's me" and still not be recognized?. Rabbit, this is Little Bear, Sluzzelin Redux, as it were. I hope some of your travel is for amusment. Bielle (talk) 02:52, 30 October 2009 (UTC)

(very belatedly) Thank you, Bielle. My travel was full of amusement, and your comment still amuses me (more than did that surreal experience which prompted your message :). I liked Rabbit Redux, though not as much as ... Run, ... at Rest, and particularly ... is Rich. ---Sluzzelin talk 12:28, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

Late is okay, even with birthdays. In fact, at my great age, "never" is better for birthdays. I have forgotten the contretemps which prompted my initial message, though it must have involved the Ref Desks' resident rabbit -memory loss being yet another sign of aging. It is cheering to see your signature again and to read your words. Are you back for more than a survey? Bielle (talk) 22:04, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

In my next incarnation, I'll be a different animal too. I can't blame your memory; it's all snow from 2009. Hey, I always come back for more than a friggin' survey! What fun is a survey? ---Sluzzelin talk 23:54, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

Where I live, it is also all snow for 2010, and more on the way. I shall watch for your bons mots on the Ref Desk. They are much more fun than a survey. Bielle (talk) 02:40, 18 February 2010 (UTC)

***Barnstar for Above-&-Beyond*** goes here

Your exemplary response humbles as well as helps me. However much I've learned in the past 10+ years, these recent 3.5 here have contributed enormously to my Holocaust archives work, and just the beginning of what I can yet contribute to the Information Revolution that is Wikipedia. You do us all proud, and I hope this succeeds in communicating some of my appreciation and admiration. -- Deborahjay (talk) 11:52, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

Thank you, dear Deborahjay. It succeeded. ---Sluzzelin talk 12:05, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

Va, Sluzzelin, sull'ali dorate

Pity Verdi didn't know about you. He could have squeezed a Sluzzelino (opera) in between Otello and Falstaff.  :) -- Jack of Oz ... speak! ... 03:32, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

Something between Otello and Falstaff, how apt!

Be warned though, Sluzzelino's song is not very pleasant to your spoiled classical ears. Il pazzo Sluzzelino, seguendo Otellino, fa come l'uccellino, fa Ciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!!!!! ---Sluzzelin talk 14:05, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

Thanks

The rabbit who has somewhat usurped my initials has been bounding from bad to worse on the RefDesks, as far as I am concerned. Thank you for remembering what I had said and quoting it. I haven't seen a general change in the RefDesks' tone, to be honest. BrainyBabe (talk) 12:40, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

In my view, the general tone, as well as Bugs's style in particular, oscillate. I guess it's a matter of taste — hard to resolve objectively. I hoped for your over-the-shoulder plea to be persuasive enough to make an impact. I think the best we can do is lead by example. Each desk seems to be capable of providing the necessary signal amidst the noise. Sometimes barely. ---Sluzzelin talk 16:26, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

Campionato di calcio della Città del Vaticano

Thank you Sluzzelin for your answering my question on the soccer championship in the Vatican. I guess being polyglot like you seem to be allows you to help many Wikipedia users. Ciao, Brinvillier —Preceding unsigned comment added by Brinvillier (talk • contribs) 19:09, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

I knew nothing about this Cup, and thank you for evoking the image of the Sistine Chapel Choir's defense fouling the Servizi Economici!

As for languages, I often assume the asker has already googled for keywords in English. Though I adore the English language for so many reasons, it is also comforting to discover stuff out there that cannot be found in English. That our sister sites, despite being dwarfed in sheer number of articles, bear information you cannot find on English Wikipedia. Auguri. ---Sluzzelin talk 21:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

Rollback

Removed, per your request. Drop me a line anytime if you'd like me to flip the bit back on. Cheers! TenOfAllTrades(talk) 17:24, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

David Beigelman

Why, thank you, dear Sluzzelin, for bringing this to my attention! Time allowing, I'm only too delighted to pitch in. You couldn't know (but perhaps intuit) how many topics that matter to me are touched upon in a bio such as David Beigelman's, and what great access I have to material. (e.g. 8 entries in the English edition of The Chronicles of the Lodz Ghetto, of 19 in the 4-vol. Hebrew! though for now I've managed to just check the index of each). Keep watching the page! Meanwhile, enjoy where you're at, and be safe! -- Deborahjay (talk) 11:27, 3 June 2010 (UTC)

My oft-too-hurried writing

My very dear Sluzzelin, let's not let that infernal anacoluthon thingie bother our respective, mutual, and reciprocal [self-]esteem. What I wrote at last was my attempt at cluing in User:Mr.Bitpart, who may be a newbie of the trollish persuasion; I was tempted to write on "his" Talk page suggesting he post his queries in his native language if failing to communicate in ELF, but thought better of rising to what might after all be bait. In contrast, I'd say your bit on Little-f "fascism" was spot on and enlightening in more of a thread than I'd anticipated. Besides, you mustn't disparage your reading when it's my writing that requires improvement; I'm a professional with responsibilities, after all. Also, please accept my apologies for the tardy responding: my workplace insists on a very respectable ratio of work:WP or I risk having the plug pulled. That having been mentioned, please feel free to chime in at any time! -- cheers, Deborahjay (talk) 15:46, 12 June 2010 (UTC)

Rollback

Done! TenOfAllTrades(talk) 13:01, 23 June 2010 (UTC)

Pure nosiness

In what languages are you fluent and in what others can you "get by"? Being stuck at one-and-a-half, I have tremendous respect even for a full two! If this is just too personal, please forgive me and pretend I did not ask. Regards, Bielle (talk) 01:50, 25 June 2010 (UTC)

(Which is the half?). I only feel comfortable in English and various varieties of German. I do read and speak Italian and French regularly but often find myself switching to English for convenience. Spanish is ok, but I rarely read it. Hungarian is a love I've neglected for years. Russian is an on-and-off lover, I hear him well but struggle with reading him. With all other languages (Bulgarian, Kazakh, Romansch etc.), my knowledge is very spotty and purely based on intant-gratification-type interest. ---Sluzzelin talk 02:00, 25 June 2010 (UTC)

French is the half, though probably a quarter would be more truthful; I am much better at reading than at either writing or speaking. It has always been more than a little embarrassing to me that, unless we grew up in a household where English was not the common language, very few Canadians ever learned any other language. This is a bilingual country, officially, but except for federal documents and a few isolated communities, you never know it to be true in the vast reaches from eastern Ontario to western British Columbia. Did you hear the head of the Vancouver Olympic Committee murdering the portions of his speech supposedly in French? He was so awful I had to turn off the sound! And Jacques Rogge was gracious enough not even to wince.

Thank you for responding. I never know when I might need a gloss in Hungarian or Kazakh. :-) Bielle (talk) 04:15, 25 June 2010 (UTC)

lol, I missed the Olympic speech. I am so not used to Canadian French that hearing it always makes me smile. To my biased ears, it almost sounds like they are speaking an acquired tongue . Officially, my country is supposed to be at least tri- if not quadrilingual. My generation (and many previous ones) started learning at least one of the other languages (usually French or German) in sixth or seventh grade, but that doesn't mean we can actually speak it fluently, and nowadays it is not uncommon for a Genevois to choose English when communicating with a Zürcher. ---Sluzzelin talk 14:03, 25 June 2010 (UTC)

The rollback in Jerusalem article

It's fine, I understand you. I just hope people will understand that Jerusalem is integral part of Israel. Some people just get me mad when they edit by no understanable reason (like the one who removed the country listing). Have a great day! --Sipio (talk) 19:44, 29 June 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for understanding :-) Since I was the one who screwed up, I probably shoudn't be giving you advice, but please don't let a website get you mad, and don't panic! Don't get me wrong either; I've gotten mad and panicked countless times. I just find life more pleasant and meaningful when I remain disinterested with regards to Wikipedia. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:19, 29 June 2010 (UTC)

Hi

Hello Sluzzelin :)

I find it easier if I quote from your important post at the Ref Desk:

• "you often pose questions which look highly specific, full of all sorts of restrictions regarding an acceptable answer".

Yes, because I ask my questions from a linguistic point of view, not often from a practical point of view. Fortunately, this Ref Desk is full of people, some of whom understand my linguistic point of view, and give me answers I find satisfactory, as happened in my thread at the Ref Desk. Anyway, I really don't blame anybody, I just read all the answers and indicate whether they meet the requirements indicated in my question. If the answer has met these requirement, then that's wonderfull (as has already happened in my thread at the Ref Desk), and if it hasn't met the requirements, then I just explain why I don't find it satisfactory, but I don't think that anything bad happens if the answer doesn't meet the requirements. I appreciate every answer, even when it doesn't meet the requirements.

• "unclear as to what you are actually asking".

Ok, some users may find my questions unclear, while others find it quite clear. Again, I appreciate everyone, including those who've found my question unclear. The diffrenece between the users who understood my question immediately and the other users who didn't, is probably rooted in the user's expectations. A user who expects practical questions, may have found my question unclear. It's Ok, and whenever any user notifies me, I try to answer them as best as I can, including by quotations from previous clarifications of mine the user may have skipped.

• "when we ask for clarification, you order us to read again".

"Order"? I think the better word here should be: "ask", or "beg". Can't I ask you to read again some clarifications of mine you might have skipped? If you think the quotations didn't help you understand me better, you're always welcome to notify me, and I'll try to make myself clearer, as I'm trying to do that now.

• "When we attempt to interpret what you are asking and give our best response, you rigidly quote yourself and argue why that answer is incorrect".

"Rigidly"? I think the better expression here should be: "in a precise manner". I'm trying to quote the exact words (the user may have skipped), just because I have no better words. However, whenever the user notifies that my quotation is not satisfactory, I try to explain more (as I'm doing now), although I think that what I had written in the quoted words is clearer than any more clarifications. Anyways, I don't accept your saying that the answer is incorrect: I just notify that the answer does not meet the original requirements (if it really doesn't), but I appreciate every answer, even when it doesn't meet the requirements.

• "You also often take us far too literally".

I apologize if I ever did.

• "Your paragraph beginning with "Not all of you have done the best ..." comes across as extremely petty)".

You may have taken me far too literally. by "to do the best" I mean "to give an answer that meets the requirements indicated in the question". However, I never meant that any user who gave me such an answer hasn't tried to do their best to help, and I appreciate every effort, even when it does not result in a satisfactory answer.

• "We're just a couple of volunteers at a reference desk".

So am I, when I answer questions at the Ref Desk, so all of us are in a good group, thanks God... :)

• "not MENSA test candidates, not classmates or professors on whom you can hone your logical and argumentative skills in debate".

I'm not looking for any of those guys you've mentioned, I'm seeking an answer for a question asked from a linguistic point of view, rather than from a practical point of view. Fortunately, some users here understood my point at once. Had I made it clear since the beginning, our misunderstanding would have disappeared since the beginning. Anyways, I appreciate every user here, including those users whose point of view is practical rather than linguistic.

Have a nice day, all the best.

HOOTmag (talk) 16:18, 21 July 2010 (UTC)

So? HOOTmag (talk) 06:50, 23 July 2010 (UTC)

Uhm, thanks, acknowledged. ---Sluzzelin talk 05:49, 24 July 2010 (UTC)

You're welcome, it's my pleasure, but...uhm...If I may ask...what did you mean by your summary line of this version of yours? HOOTmag (talk) 18:35, 24 July 2010 (UTC)

I was referring to flexibility and also empathy. For example, I recommend accommodating people who in good faith don't understand your question, pausing for a second and trying to come up with another way of phrasing or structuring your question, rather than being rigid and insisting that all the information is there. Yes, I'm guilty of using hyperbole, I guess I was a bit frustrated after having read a long and pointless talk page discussion about your Math question. You didn't seem to be understanding the general point, and I was seeing constructive and helpful volunteers getting frustrated with the way you feedback into the thread of your question. Look, it's not a big deal, I just shouted, which I probably shouldn't have done on the desks themselves. Sorry about that. I bear you no ill will and certainly wouldn't want to discourage you from asking questions. I just think you might be getting better answers and doing so in a friendlier atmosphere if you learn to bend a little :-) Have a wonderful Sunday! ---Sluzzelin talk 06:11, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

Hi Sluzzelin :)

I find it easier if I quote from your important recent post:

• "I was referring to flexibility"

I recall a joke :) HOOTmag meets a cop. Hootmag: "Hello, where is 214th Avenue? Cop: "It's right up there, and...it's not 214th Avenue, it's Fifth Avenue". HOOTmag: "But I was asking about 214th Avenue!" Cop: "So try another way of phrasing or structuring your question". HOOTmag: "Sorry, but I'm not looking for Fifth Avenue at all, but rather for 214th Avenue!". Cop: "Oh young man, please try to be more flexible"...:)

• "I was referring to empathy".

As I've already said: I appreciate every answer, even when it's about the Fifth Avenue while I'm asking about 214th Avenue. However, I find nothing non-empathic in indicating that the answer was not about my question :)

• "For example, I recommend accommodating people who in good faith don't understand your question, pausing for a second and trying to come up with another way of phrasing or structuring your question".

Oh, I forgot to go on in my tale about the cop. The cop added: "I recommend accommodating cops who in good faith don't understand your question about 214th Avenue, pausing for a second and trying to come up with another way of phrasing or structuring your question"... :)

• "rather than being rigid and insisting that all the information is there."

"Rigid"? As I've already said in my previous response to you, I think the better expression here should be: "in a precise manner". I'm trying to quote the exact words (the user may have skipped), just because I've got no better words. However, whenever the user notifies that my quotation is not satisfactory, I don't insist that "all the information is there", but I rather try to explain more (as I did later in the thread), although I've thought that what I had written in the quoted words is clearer than any more clarifications.

• "Yes, I'm guilty of using hyperbole",

And I'm guilty of not being clear enough.

• "I guess I was a bit frustrated after having read a long and pointless talk page discussion about your Math question".

Oh, so we are in a good group :) I, too, was frustrated after having read that long and pointless talk page discussion. Whoever took a part in this duscussion - referred to my Math question - without being aware to the basic details of the sequence of events! for example, they thought by mistake that I was asking about a riddle whose full solution I knew, or that I could have given an unhidden response to a hidden post, or that I could have changed other users' posts (not my posts) which included time delays, and so on. I really was frustrated after realizing that the discussion went nowhere, just because the users who took a part in that discussion were not aware of the sequence of events!

• "You didn't seem to be understanding the general point, and I was seeing constructive and helpful volunteers getting frustrated with the way you feedback into the thread of your question".

Which "thread of" my "quesion"? the thread about my Math question, or the one about my Syntax question? Anyways, I, too, was frustrated just because of the same reason! Nevertheless, I answered all - as politely as I could, trying to explain my point as clear as I could.

• "I just think you might be getting better answers and doing so in a friendlier atmosphere if you learn to bend a little" :-)

Oh, that's exactly what I was asking about: what did you mean by "to bend a little"? Did you mean that I had to change my question about 214th Aventu - into another question about Fifth Avenue?...Or, that I had to avoid indicating that the answers (which I fully appreciate) about Fifth Avenue did not refer to my original question about 214th Avenue? :)

• "Have a wonderful Sunday!"

You too! Take care, good luck, all the best:)

HOOTmag (talk) 08:46, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

As much as I appreciate the analogy, I'm nobody's cop here or anywhere. But if I were, you'd now be under arrest and you'd have the right to remain silent. ---Sluzzelin talk 09:19, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

The original joke is about cops, and I didn't want to change it:) HOOTmag (talk) 10:41, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

Congratulations

This magnificent trophy is now yours, to treasure always.  Giacomo  13:00, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

The Giano architectural prize for Emu-eyed observance is presented to Sluzzelin

Magnificent trophy

[Bishzilla feels sorry for the homely little thing. Tucks it safely away in pocket, out of sight. Solicitously: ] Sluzzelin wish to join User:Little Ugly in pocket? bishzilla _ROARR!! 15:38, 25 July 2010 (UTC).

He is magnificent, thank you so much, Giano! You go on calling him "Little Ugly", 'Zilla, just because he doesn't resemble an early tetrapod. One day he will grow up to be a fabulous Rag Thief and scare 'Zilla out of her own pocket. (/me runs away with Little Ugly). ---Sluzzelin talk 16:32, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

Ha! Poor little creature resemble early teapot! bishzilla _ROARR!! 18:28, 25 July 2010 (UTC).

Aww, keep him in your pocket then, and when he gets all steamed up, hear him shout! ---Sluzzelin talk 18:53, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

This is my handle and this my spout! Tee-hee, I see Welcome Wagon! Little Ugly (talk) 20:23, 25 July 2010 (UTC).

OMG, I just realized you look like Gareth Keenan. I love Gareth!!! ---Sluzzelin talk 21:53, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

[Little Ugly studies good-looking emu-type Gareth. Is faintly encouraged. ] You may call me Little Handsome from now on! [His big brother Little Stupid falls over laughing. ] Little Handsome 18:36, 26 July 2010 (UTC). 

• Mrs Bishonen! This nasty and unpleasant jealousy of yours is becoming tiresome. You can only have an "Emu Award" if you earn one; so please desist in your belittling of it. The Emu Award , like the Emmy Award, has been modelled on a beautiful, carefree goddess and a woman in her prime - in this case myself. Darlingest Giacomo had my finely honed and bred features interpreted by no less a genius than Epstein. So enough from you, Mrs Bishonen, now please don't let us detain you from your duties - which I'm sure are many and very pressing indeed. Good day to you. Lady Catherine de Burgh (the Late) (talk) 19:02, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

[Thoroughly alarmed, Little Ugly jumps into Bishzilla's pocket, from which he can be heard timidly squeaking at the Late Lady : ] 'Shonen menagerie go walkies soon with Lady? Little Ugly 22:00, 26 July 2010 (UTC).

You must be referring to "The Rock Drill", dear Lady Catherine? ---Sluzzelin talk 20:24, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

Ukrainian stringed instruments R us  :-)

So this is twice now - wasn't this torban your pickup too? That Flickerista takes nice photos and goes to exotic places; I'd be happy just to hear these instruments played. (Live, of course.) Are you an aficionado of ethnic music? Get to hear much? Something I hope to access in my future, if I can ever get my priorities straightened out (and work no more than, say, a 50-hr. week). -- Cheers, Deborahjay (talk) 20:40, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

You're very welcome, of course! I don't think it was me with the torban, I would remember that (I hope). Yes I love music anthropology and I'm always looking for unheard stuff. It's part of why I travel a lot. (I'm not that into what is often marketed as "World Music", though one shouldn't generalize just because of a label). There must a be a lot opportunities to listen to folk music from former Soviet Republics near where you live or work. Live music always burns itself into my brain forever, as opposed to listening to music at home or even watching video recordings. I hope you find the time, even better, the time to travel outside of business trips! ---Sluzzelin talk 20:51, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

(Just to show you how much of my time here I spend doing useful things such as improving articles) Oddly, I couldn't find your torban question (none of the archives or current desks link to the article, nor does the word "torban" appear unlinked anywhere in the archives. ---Sluzzelin talk 21:56, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

Pulled thread

Thanks. Good call. Edison (talk) 03:59, 31 July 2010 (UTC)

Happy Sluzzelin's Day!

Sluzzelin has been identified as an Awesome Wikipedian, so I've officially declared today as Sluzzelin's Day! For being a great person and awesome Wikipedian, enjoy being the star of the day, Sluzzelin! Signed, Neutralhomer A record of your Day will always be kept here.

For a userbox you can add to your userbox page, click here. Have a Great Day...Neutralhomer • Talk • 04:23, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

Thank you, Neutralhomer. I'm not sure what I did to deserve my own day (but the fact that I'm sharing it with the patron saint of mad dogs might be a clue :-) At any rate, much appreciated! ---Sluzzelin talk 19:24, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

Nah, but I do know now another Patron Saint's day. My only one I knew was Saint Swithun and that was cause of a George Carlin bit. :) But the reason you got picked is for your work here on the project. I pick people who pop up on my watchlist mostly though. Congrats! :) - Neutralhomer • Talk • 19:47, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

Thank you, Sluzzelin, for your welcome message~!! ^^ --Keguligh (talk) 12:58, 8 August 2010 (UTC)