User talk:Brian McNeil/Archive 01

 This is an archive of old talk page discussions! Do not add new comments to this page, please do so on my main talk page

Archives

Archive 01 &mdash; January 9, 2006 | Archive 02 &mdash; April 6, 2006 | Archive 03 &mdash; June 4, 2006 | Archive 04 &mdash; September 29, 2006 | Archive 05 &mdash; December 9, 2006 | Archive 06 &mdash; March 24, 2007 | Archive07 &mdash; May 30, 2007 | Archive 08 &mdash; November 4, 2007 | Archive 09 &mdash; March 25, 2008

Graner Article
Thanks for fixing my little mistakes on the Graner article :). The joy of wiki; even if I mess it up someone else will fix it! I hope you stick around and get writing new articles! BTW we're voting for a new logo on meta - Wikinews logo contest voting. Dan100 (Talk) 23:57, 15 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Special Forces in Iran
The only problem with your special forces in Iran article was that someone had already written it ;). However, I note yours had a better title and was considerably more NPOV. Dan100 (Talk) 19:14, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Since someone already have written your article (U.S. reported to mount covert operations in Iran) I will submit the article US Special forces operating inside Iran to deletion. Ok? -- Carlosar 09:18, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Lead Article
Thanks for putting up my story as the Lead Article. A first for me. :) Brianmc 13:33, 15 September 2005 (UTC)
 * No problem, it is an important story, very good article on the story, and the front page hadn't been updated since the 11th. Any other time you have something you'd like on the front, just go here, and go here. --  user:zanimum

Re: Audio
Have you tried looking at Audio Wikinews/Spoken Wikinews and clicking the "edit" link that is in the middle of the article? Messedrocker 23:31, 22 September 2005 (UTC)
 * At the time I asked about this, the link in the middle was broken. I figured out how to fix it, but I'm relatively new to wikicode so it took me some time. Brianmc 21:54, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

User: Rcameronw has been blocked for requesting de-admin vote and alleged "trolling"
Just wanted to let people know that, following yesterday's discussion, user rcameronw has been blocked for 24 hours. It was decided that rcameronw's request for a de-admin vote constituted "site disruption". (see article talk page for more info:)

Apology accepted
It's always a good idea to check things out first before making nasty comments. However, that is a good thing for me to remember as well...none of us is perfect. I'd urge you not to throw around the term "conspiracy theory" so inappropriately as I have never suggested anyone is involved in any kind of conspiracy. A conspiracy is something like the plots leading up to the Boston Tea Party or to the 9/11 attacks; that is a conspiracy; and I see nothing like that going on here at wikinews. Again, welcome to wikinews and your apolgy is accepted; thanks. Neutralizer 20:23, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

Editing lead article template
on main page click on "write/edit articles" on the left side under navigation. Then click on "update lead article" and then you can change the summary. Good article; if you feel the 2nd. para doesn't fit, please edit it or move it. Neutralizer 22:21, 12 October 2005 (UTC)
 * I responded on the user's talk page, this was a misunderstanding. I am aware how to change Lead Article, I was not prepared to use the relevant article's text on it. Brianmc 07:02, 13 October 2005 (UTC)

Tak Bai Anniversary
wow..what a story; very upsetting. I did what I could with it but it is definitely a story a person like you must write,imo. Neutralizer 22:49, 23 October 2005 (UTC)
 * The article, Anniversary of Tak Bai incident marked with lawsuits went up and stayed as featured article for about a day. BBC referenced the anniversary on October 27, 2 days after with this story. Brianmc 22:00, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

Adminship?
Would you be opposed if I nominated you for adminship? - Amgine / talk 06:39, 26 October 2005 (UTC)
 * At this time, yes. I don't know enough about wikicode and I want to be more settled in seeing how to deal with things like somewhat misguided contributions.  If I'm still around and contributing regularly in six months ask me again. Brianmc 07:51, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Map
Guess what, earlier I told you to have some more patience, now I did the map already. I already tried how it would look like in your template, and it seems the font is a little bit too small, or maybe I should crop a little bit more. But it's a good start I hope. BTW: I also have a blank map of course, but that one I haven't uploaded, if you need that one just leave me a note. Ahoerstemeier 21:21, 26 October 2005 (UTC)
 * As anyone who has seen the infobox on any of the articles will know, the map is in place and looks good. My wish-list for it is an inset of the area highligted on a map of Thailand or Asia, the latter would probably be illegible unfortunately. Brianmc 22:04, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

Thank you
For the suggestion and advise. I have said I will take a short wiki-break, but perhaps that work is something I can do; I will try to start tomorrow. Neutralizer 19:33, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Please advise
how I can actually see(to copy) the insides of the info box. Never done this before. Neutralizer 01:50, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

Wow:) I feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.
I know it's likely not complete, but have a look and tell me what to do next, please. Neutralizer 14:37, 27 October 2005 (UTC)


 * Please explain in more detail "You'll then need to create the new page for the category, just edit it and copy the template from a minimal one elsewhere"..Thanks, Neutralizer 14:15, 28 October 2005 (UTC)


 * It's quite gratifying to see it being used; to me it's like majic. Neutralizer 21:41, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

Incorrect copyright infringement
Hi Brian. Just wanted to let you know that the article you put under suspicion, Channel_Frederator_Launches_the_First_Cartoon_Podcast, was a press release written by my associates and is not under copyright violation. My apologies if this isn't Wikinews-worth. Thank you. -- Aquinas


 * This article ended up being deleted, press releases and Wikinews don't work well together. :) Brian McNeil / talk 23:00, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Editing others' signed comments
Hi there! I noticed over on Water cooler/policy that you modified two signed comments - one from Wolfrider and one from me. No matter the case, you should never modify others signed comments. Just to let you know, as it is a violation of policy. --MrMiscellanious (talk) (contribs) 20:01, 7 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Shown here not to have been an edit made by myself. Brianmc 21:32, 7 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Quite sorry about that. I really need to learn not to use multiple diffs on the history page. Apologies. --MrMiscellanious (talk) (contribs) 22:28, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

A380
Thanks! A story I've been following for a while. I probably won't write much, but when I find something to write about and is suitable for WikiNews, i'll put it up. --Skyring 23:21, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

Avian flu research

 * That is a cool idea because the avian flu story in particular looks like its not going away for a long,long time. Neutralizer 20:18, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Birds and asylum
Thanks for source-quote tip. I just got a call from a friend with an uncredible news tip. This story has not been noticed by the wires yet but I think it could be huge. It is only being reported by 1 newspaper in the world; but the paper is very relaiable/credible...the Prague Post. I will start it up and if you're interested, maybe you might want to edit. Neutralizer 22:10, 10 November 2005 (UTC)


 * This was posted moments before I went to bed, sill don't see the article... Brian McNeil / talk 22:58, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Hey
Hey Brian, thanks for movin that, i'm out of practice... suffered burn out a few months ago... but i'm back to try and hit the 150 article mark. → CGorman (Talk) 22:52, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks & Bird Flu

 * Thanks for comments on admin page. I too want to concentrate on writing stories..the one I was talking about before was published Nov.10th.


 * Please expand on the set up for the bird flu source info. By treating them as sources instead of just links will that protect our access to them? Also, I am running into about 10 alerts per day with lots of duplicates or partial duplicates with different titles so I am trying to thin them down. Also, I am wondering if we might consider writing a weekly feature story capturing all the developments in that week??? maybe publishing it on the Sunday or Monday???? Neutralizer 02:15, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Chatchua Thai
Hi! Just curious about your interest in Thailand. Have you worked out there? Rcameronw 10:06, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Article Deletion
Hi, Brian: Thanks for the welcome info. I'm new to wikis, and Wikinews. I submitted an article just a little while ago, and it was immediately deleted by Amgine. I have attempted to resolve the issue, and pleaded with Amgine to let the article be published. I have also attempted to enter a comment on the Culture and Entertainment section page, to seek help in resolving the conflict. That doesn't seem to have been published. So, maybe you could help me.

The article is entitled, http://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Recording_Studios_On_Your_Kitchen_Table&action=edit

As you know, it's difficult for news to be distinguished from press releases, especially concerning nonprofit organizations and the work they do. For example, announcing the Red Cross is in need of money. So often, those articles are written as press releases, and reporters for mainstream media report them. In our case, we want to announce our work, and don't have the money or clout to pay for exposure by mainstream media, in order to then convince one of you folks to take the time to report the press release gathered from some mainstream source. So, what do we do? I want to be given the deference of being associated with a nonprofit organization that upholds the highest ethical standards possible. I want to be given the deference of being associated with a nonprofit organization that doesn't have the budget available (never will) for a marketing department staff to work within mainstream media distribution channels. I want to be given the deference of being able to distribute news articles about our work, and trusted by those who hold editorial power at Wikinews, that I won't abuse my submission responsibilities. Can you help me get the deletion of my first article overridden, and publish it for me? Tompoe

Hi, Brian: Looks like I'll need to digress to the larger issue at hand, i.e., when is a press release from a nonprofit organization not a news item? Or, the converse, when is a news item from a nonprofit not a press release? Where do I go, in your opinion, to address this matter? By the way, here's the article: Recording Studios Now Sit On Your Kitchen Table From Wikinews, the free news source you can write! Jump to: navigation, search

November 15, 2005

Up until just a few years ago, recording studios, whether for music or broadcasting or film making, required huge investments in equipment and facilities. Today, with the advent of the Digital Age, all one needs is a low-end PC, appropriate software, a microphone and digital camera. Open Studios has organized an approach to building and operating community based recording studios, that require no money out-of-pocket. This extremely low-cost approach makes it possible for low-income neighborhoods and villages to compete with international corporations by allowing users to create CDs, DVDs, tv and radio shows, public service announcements, even full-featured films.

Tom Poe, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Open Studios, says, "We use low-end PCs and Free or Open Source Software (FOSS) from Stanford University's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, for a couple of reasons. First, it's free. There are no license fees. Second, the software will always be state-of-the-art, and allows users to progress from beginner to expert, without having to move away from the applications they learned." This approach has taken advantage of the Open Source movement, in that the users that become experts in the applications they use, tend to become contributors to improving those applications.

So often, even today, "we expect entertainment centers to be providing entertainment for us to watch or listen to, when, in reality, they can be used to create entertainment.", Poe said. He cited examples of people who like to take movies while they travel to new places. Those movies can now be edited on a computer, and graphics can be added, such as a title, credits, insertion of photos, text, all combining to create a tv show or film. A child can sit in front of one of these computers, and play a tune on her Kazoo. She then can bring up Rosegarden4, click and hear her tune played back to her. She can click and bring up her music displayed as a score sheet, edit the notes and change her tune. She can click, select an instrument, and her tune sounds like a piano, or trumpet. She can add tracks, and soon, an entire orchestra is playing her tune. "The best part, is the computer being able to let anyone participate, and not have to be restricted to an expensive recording studio facility. Just use your kitchen table.", said Poe.

It's nice to know that the day is coming, when every community will have such computers available for the residents. Culture is a community proposition, and certainly, with recording studios, our world community will benefit. Open Studios invites everyone to stop by and learn more about how your community can participate. [edit]

Sources

* "Open Studios". w:, November 15, 2005

* "[ ]". w:, Mmmmm DD, YYYY

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Recording_Studios_Now_Sit_On_Your_Kitchen_Table"

Categories: November 15, 2005 | Published

neutrality and nonprofits
Please read the submission to the discussion on neutrality and nonprofits. You folks have run me up to the gills with your wannabe news journalist crap! Please, though, should you all come to a consensus that you're living in a less than objective environment, email me with a sincere apology, and request that I reconsider my interest in participating with your site. tompoe@studioforrecording.org


 * This is the sort of hostility I can do without. Where's the Wikinews killfile? Brian McNeil / talk 23:23, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

pd bots
Thank you for advising re; that emergency situation. I really think we need some kind of alert system so the average users can see when this kind of stuff is going on..maybe some kind of "alert" topic on the water cooler? Just an idea.?

Change of subject; You know Brian, my son in law works for Merck; and after talking to him...this bird flu thing is starting to scare the shit out of me; not to mention the daily articles pouring in from all over the globe now. Neutralizer 18:28, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

npov tag
Brian, can you see how hard it is to concentrate and work on the stories? and hard it is for me to understand why, if someone has no time becuase they are fighting pd bots, do they find so much time to fight against a story which already has lots of other capable editors involved in it...do you see my point at all? Neutralizer 18:49, 16 November 2005 (UTC)


 * ok: thanks so much for taking the time. I will take some time later to absorb what you said and I will certainly incorporate your opinion and perspective into my own appraisal...maybe I am really off base; it would not be the first time. Neutralizer 19:48, 16 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Brian, I read and thought about what you said and I must agree with much of it.In addition, I feel that when people in authority act with hypocrisy by breaking the very rules they expect others to follow; that pollutes the establishment and keeps it from blossoming; which is why our readership chart looks like this . Perhaps the best thing I can do is concentrate on the bird flu story..that is something that you and I both can agree on. Neutralizer 23:38, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

Trek?
Yes :-) and let me to predict your next ask: is the remailer/nym donw? Yes sorry, it will be restarted the next week. c-ya! --Trek00 22:57, 17 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Thank you, the next time i'll register my nickname. :-) I've translated your articles Sony to suspend use of controversial CD software and EU's human rights court endorses Turkish headscarf ban in the italian wiki. c-ya! --Trek00 12:13, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Image you uploaded image:Greenspan.jpg
Is a PD image and not allowed on wikinews (and's about to get deleted). Do you remember where you got it from so I could put it on commons? Bawolff ☺☻ 01:24, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
 * I have deleted image:Minke Whale.jpg because it has been superceeded by Commons:Image:Minke.jpg. Bawolff ☺☻[[image:smile.png]] 02:20, 20 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Thank you for the information relating to image:greenspan.jpg. off to hunt through wikipedia now. Bawolff ☺☻[[image:smile.png]] 21:50, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

Adminship
You wouldn't be opposed to me nominating you for becoming an admin, would you? :) --Mrmiscellanious 03:21, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Alright. I'll be watching your editcount for a while, then :)  --MrMiscellanious (talk) (contribs) 15:22, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

The press release template
Looks like there's good support for your template. Have you moved it into the template namespace yet? It should also be added somewhere in Template messages so people can find it. - Amgine 06:25, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

pre-war intelligence infobox
How do I get a hold of the (deleted?) pre-war intelligence infobox? I would like to polish it up and use it. --vonbergm 19:21, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I saw it is scheduled for undeletion. I will take a look at the infobox as soon as it appears. Reading through the arguments from the deletion request right now to get a feel for the situation. This will be a tough one... --vonbergm 20:25, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the link. I did some cleaning, looks a lot better now (I think). As to the category, rather than removing the category I suggest cutting down on its excessive (and sometimes unjustified) use. Is there a way to remove the category from articles that are already archived? --vonbergm 21:33, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Children's charities
Hi Brian. Thanks for your help with UK children's charities announce merger, which I created before creating my account here. I've added a couple of extra paragraphs, including some (sourced) info you won't necessarily find in the press release. OpenToppedBus 17:42, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

Take another look at this
Specifically the "Related internet links" section :) --Deprifry|+T+ 17:15, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

Padilla article
"Bad faith"? Can you please specify exact changes?

Holon67 20:19, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

censorship
Your unspecific change requests are tantamount to censorship. I suggest you rethink your actions, or make productive statements. I am not backing down.

Holon67 20:24, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

Difficult keeping my pledge
Brian, I am really trying to stay away from us/uk articles but it seems at the very same time the pro-western government bias is escalating. Perhaps you can also ask MrM to take a breather. Would that be possible for you to do? Neutralizer 20:04, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Edit count
You have passed 1000 edits. What about now? --Chiacomo (talk) 23:43, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Nomination
I have nominated you to be an administrator. Please mosey on over to WN:A to indicate your acceptance (or refusal) of your nomination. --Chiacomo (talk) 17:49, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

Forsberg article
Hi Brian, yes you are right but actually the writer seems to have taken on the comments in good faith and after all, my comments although blunt, seem valid. On this occassion I decline any further assistance because the subject matter does not interest me and perhaps not doing Wiki work today :). Good on you though for encouraging the new user in the face of my heartless comments :) Cheers, --CitizenBruce 22:49, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

Unsolicited email from Neutralizer
I have now received three emails in the space of half an hour from the currently blocked user Neutralizer. The first was deleted, but I took action by trying to express the noted concerns on the relevant article's talk page (see here).

The second two are duplicates which I'd attribute to a mistake, but are quoted below:
 * Title: blatant pov
 * "just noticed this;...."'PROBABLY'" the work of suicide bombers" is a quote in the story. The title says "Suicide bombers blast two Bangladeshi cities" stating it as a fact that it was suicide bombers.....this is exactly my point Brian; we need to apply the same NPOV diligence when it comes to what the other side is accused of as we do to what our side is accused of. Please correct the title of this story if you agree with me".

I am not happy to act as proxy for a blocked user, and will place the content of this email on the appropriate article talk page. Brian McNeil / talk 15:57, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

Conference call facilities
I've had it confirmed that it is fairly trivial to set up a new extension on the TelePhreak system. It'd be a case of a host person calling in and then everyone else dials in with another number. The entire conversation can be recorded to a .wav file starting from when someone initially dials in. The software you'd use for something like that on Windows is SJPhone which you'd install and then get a number from somewhere like Vonage or FWD. It isn't quite as idiot-proof as Skype, but it does have the advantage of offering an unlimited number of participants. Brian McNeil / talk 16:16, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

Hi
Hi dude, thanks for the welcome message. I haven't written anything since that initial article yet, but I will do, when I have some more time.

One thing - I'm subscribed to the RSS feed, and I notice that the 1-line description for each item is just the title repeated. Any way we can change this? Frankie Roberto 17:11, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

SiKHi NEWS
'''Can you please create a new category like India etc. and then i will put news atticles over there as you told me. I will be very thankful to you.'''--Khalsa 21:09, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

Thanks
Thanks for your help on the Sharon story -- and your excellent edits on Australia related articles. --Chiacomo (talk) 21:42, 18 December 2005 (UTC)

Wikinews Today short infobox
I rather like the infobox and have inserted it into the newpage template beginning tomorrow. I'll probably be reverted, but... Thanks for the great template. --Chiacomo (talk) 20:54, 23 December 2005 (UTC)


 * As I say, beginning tomorrow (0000UTC) it will appear on all new article creations unless the editor removes it. --Chiacomo (talk) 21:00, 23 December 2005 (UTC)