User talk:John/Archive 2022-2024

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Gerda Arendt, BilCat, MONGO, Martinevans123, Victoria, Modernist, Drmies, MastCell, filelakeshoe, User:Serial Number 54129, Sarah777, User:Ritchie333, Ealdgyth, Axisroi

Thank you for the kind messages. I have decided to return to editing here. I missed it too much to give up entirely. I don't know how active I will be. I'll see how it goes. John (talk) 20:34, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

Welcome back, John! BilCat (talk) 20:48, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

Welcome back! Ealdgyth (talk) 20:52, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

• • Welcome back...Modernist (talk) 23:29, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

A friendly "face" returns - Great to see you back mentor! I have so many questions to plague you with... Sarah777 (talk) 00:20, 14 August 2022 (UTC)

I might add you are doing great work - I haven't been blocked in a decade :) Sarah777 (talk) 00:21, 14 August 2022 (UTC)

Thanks for the note, John. I hope you’re doing well—you know we appreciate you here. Drmies (talk) 02:19, 14 August 2022 (UTC)

Yes, thanks for the note. Good to see you back, good to hear from you, hope you enjoyed the break. I'm in and out - more out than in, but am somewhat around. Victoria (tk) 19:34, 14 August 2022 (UTC)

Good to see you back, John, thanks for your encouragement for the music articles I've worked on in this past - I still want to write over 200 GAs so there is work to do. You should be able to request admin rights at WP:BN if you want them, otherwise I'm sure somebody can run an RfA for you. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 10:56, 15 August 2022 (UTC)

Actually according to Wikipedia:Administrators#Restoration_of_adminship a period of over two years with no edits requires a new RfA. -- Pawnkingthree (talk) 14:47, 15 August 2022 (UTC)

Thank you both. I have no immediate plans to seek restoration of my admin bit. John (talk) 15:11, 15 August 2022 (UTC)

This is good news, welcome back! – filelakeshoe (t / c) 🐱 11:45, 18 August 2022 (UTC)

Welcome back! Bastun^{Ėġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ!} 08:46, 24 August 2022 (UTC)

August songs

August songs

pics and thoughts on 13 August - If you click on songs you find what I last week - or this year - in case of interest. Martinevans is blocked over copyvio, better go to him in person. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:51, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

Thanks, I saw. Thank you for all the support Gerda. I missed you too. John (talk) 20:54, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

Thank you for saying that, and for letting Martin know you are there! - Today "my" concert of the year (so far) is on the Main page, but not pictured, and I don't understand why --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:58, 15 August 2022 (UTC)

Thank you for improving articles in August! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:25, 20 August 2022 (UTC)

It's a pleasure! John (talk) 13:31, 20 August 2022 (UTC)

thank you + the church where I heard VOCES8 and more discoveries --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:52, 27 August 2022 (UTC)

Welcome back

	The Welcome Back Barnster
	Glad to notice you are back editing Wikipedia again. Iggy (Swan) (Contribs) 21:26, 14 August 2022 (UTC)

Hey there!

One good new thing for editors ... Wikipedia Library. You'll have to stick around for a bit to get access, probably, but it's a great resource for editing articles. Welcome back! Ealdgyth (talk) 15:16, 15 August 2022 (UTC)

Flags

Hi! Why are you removing all flags from the articles? I read the rule and it seems that the flag with the country name in the infobox is fine. Cofcorpse (talk) 06:50, 24 August 2022 (UTC)

MOS:INFOBOXFLAG. John (talk) 06:51, 24 August 2022 (UTC)

You may also want to see this RfC while you were gone... Ealdgyth (talk) 12:58, 24 August 2022 (UTC)

Oakbank Primary School

Waaaaay back in 2012, you redirected this school stub to the Perth article. The redirect came up as a speedy this week, which I had to decline as it's too old. As schools can't be speedied under A7, I've raised it at AfD. Just letting you know as your redirect was based on notability. Discussion is at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Oakbank Primary School. Thanks. GedUK  11:46, 25 August 2022 (UTC)

Thank you for your courtesy in informing me. John (talk) 21:16, 25 August 2022 (UTC)

Wikiproject Military history coordinator election nominations opening soon

Nominations for the upcoming project coordinator election are opening in a few hours (00:01 UTC on 1 September). A team of up to ten coordinators will be elected for the next coordination year. The project coordinators are the designated points of contact for issues concerning the project, and are responsible for maintaining our internal structure and processes. They do not, however, have any authority over article content or editor conduct, or any other special powers. More information on being a coordinator is available here. If you are interested in running, please sign up here by 23:59 UTC on 14 September! Voting doesn't commence until 15 September. If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the current coord team. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 17:51, 31 August 2022 (UTC)

Joan of Arc

I was going to wait until the FARC on Joan closed before sharing the compliments, but your barnstar touched me, John, thank you! I may have expressed this before, but I want to state it again. Your joining the Joan FARC project was one of the greatest gifts to me. I feel you complimented my weakness regarding the proofreading well. You cleaned up flow, created more felicitous grammar, provided insight into difficult to resolve problems.

Somewhere about two or three months ago, I had finally gotten to that point where I was unsure how to move forward. I felt I had addressed the original concerns, and it felt like most of the follow-up criticism was becoming non-productive. Then you and SandyGeorgia joined in to help out in a way that was truly collaborative and brought life back to the project. You two created a great energy, and when Sandy in her stone-soup way invited some great FARC reviewers, who have jumped in, the whole process transformed into a positive, dynamic, and productively focused on making this article one of the best. It has also invigorated me, as it has brought that sense of collaboration that I was looking for in a FARC. Moving forward, I will keep in mind that your joining this was one of those turning points that made working on the article brought back that spirit that is one of the driving forces for why I chose to work on Wikipedia articles.

Your ability to project patience and kindness through what is an essentially functional process is a true strength that creates a positive enviroment that is enjoyable to work in. Sometimes I caught myself looking forward to seeing what you edited and what insights you had to share, as it often pointed out next steps for me. Who knows, even though Wikispace seems almost infinite, we may find ourselves working together on another FAR or FARC in the future. If so, I look forward to it. Thank you so much! Wtfiv (talk) 15:57, 1 September 2022

Thanks a lot for the nice comments! Working this FARC with you, Sandy, Victoria and the others, has been absolutely delightful. It should absolutely go without saying that if there is any other piece of collaborative work needing done, you should ping me. I have to be a bit judicious with what I focus on; it has to be something that interests me at least a little, and where I see realistic possibilities for improvement. But keep me in mind. Very best wishes, John (talk) 17:55, 1 September 2022 (UTC)

Things

Great to see you back, and its encouraging to have an editor of your ability around again. Hope you had a good and safe covid. Ceoil (talk) 09:05, 4 September 2022 (UTC)

Thanks, glad you're still here. I survived Covid, twice. Not great but I'm still here too. John (talk) 10:24, 4 September 2022 (UTC)

At my age, just being is a pleasure. In your absence, I finally took Cut the Crap to FAC. Bernie Rhodes, who edits here quite a lot, was not pleased, and there were long conversations via numerous ips and usernames. He's a gas and extremely verbose man; liked him a lot and it was a rare pleasure as he almost never gives interviews. Ceoil (talk) 11:46, 10 September 2022 (UTC)

Wow! So you have. Nice work. John (talk) 18:00, 10 September 2022 (UTC)

John, welcome back! I missed seeing you around (although lately I haven't been on here as much—though I do hope to be back more regularly at some point). I appreciated your help and support on a number of articles. For this article [[1]] your vote of confidence, and Ceoil's, seemed to be key supports that helped promote the article, and I was grateful. I hope we can cross paths again soon on some article or others. Cheers! Moisejp (talk) 00:03, 18 September 2022 (UTC)

Wikiproject Military history coordinator election voting opening soon!

Voting for the upcoming project coordinator election opens in a few hours (00:01 UTC on 15 September) and will last through 23:59 on 28 September. A team of up to ten coordinators will be elected for the next coordination year. The project coordinators are the designated points of contact for issues concerning the project, and are responsible for maintaining our internal structure and processes. They do not, however, have any authority over article content or editor conduct, or any other special powers. More information on being a coordinator is available here. Voting is conducted using simple approval voting and questions for the candidates are welcome. If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the current coord team. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 22:26, 14 September 2022 (UTC)

Correction to previous election announcement

Just a quick correction to the prior message about the 2022 MILHIST coordinator election! I (Hog Farm) didn't proofread the message well enough and left out a link to the election page itself in this message. The voting will occur here; sorry about the need for a second message and the inadvertent omission from the prior one. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 17:41, 15 September 2022 (UTC)

Disambiguation link notification for September 18

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September music

September songs

Thank you for improving articles in September! Yesterday, we sang old music for two choirs at church, pictured, scroll to the image of the organ of the month of the Diocese of Limburg (my perspective), and if you have time, watch the video about it. And today I wrote an article about music premiered today, Like as the hart. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:47, 19 September 2022 (UTC)

Thank you Gerda, it always cheers me up to hear from you. John (talk) 23:57, 19 September 2022 (UTC)

you said that so nicely --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:46, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

seeing you going over the TFAs: could you do that please for BWV 56 before the date (23 October)? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:05, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

Of course Gerda, that would be a pleasure. John (talk) 15:59, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

looking forward to that - perhaps look at others also beforehand, going by the archive? - some improvement made in the 16th hour doesn't help those readers who looked earlier --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:18, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

Alles scheint in Ordnung, Gerda. John (talk) 20:26, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

Danke! - What makes Leipzig a city? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:29, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

Its size and importance. I don't think that distinction exists in German. Our article says: "Leipzig has been a trade city since at least the time of the Holy Roman Empire." John (talk) 20:31, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

thank you - for project Germany, it's just size, and sure the present Leipzig is a city by that standard. While I understand importance, we have Town privileges, therefore I came to use city for modern places of enough population, but usually town for historic ones. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:27, 23 September 2022 (UTC)

It's a very beautiful city. I visited for the first time in 2017. It is sacred to me as the place where the revolution started, giving us all hope that unjust states do not last forever. John (talk) 22:28, 23 September 2022 (UTC)

Thank you. I visited with "my" Idstein choir, hearing the Thomanerchor three times. At Bach's time, they sang cantatas in the church where the demonstrations started (but the present interior design was installed later). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:45, 23 September 2022 (UTC)

That's fascinating! I also visited that church. I was really charmed by Leipzig, and also Halle. John (talk) 22:59, 23 September 2022 (UTC)

travel and strings sound --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:07, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Fascinating. I was never there, but it looks beautiful. I can't wait to go back to Germany, though I don't know when that will be. John (talk) 19:01, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Let me know when you come - 20 minuted by car from Frankfurt airport. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:08, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Thanks for the thanks

Thank you for thanking me. Thank you kindly for the thank you notification, for my small edits to the T-90 article, 2022 September 18 Sunday. Jerryobject (talk) 09:28, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

Not at all. The thank procedure is a really nice functionality of the wiki software, isn't it? John (talk) 16:00, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

A.C. Monza

Hi, thanks for the small copyedit. I think replacing "journey" with "season" doesn't give the same meaning ([2]). I'm trying to convey the message that Monza began in the Serie A (in general) with a 2-1 defeat, since this is their first ever season. What other word do you think might work? Nehme₁₄₉₉ 15:17, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

Well, not "journey", because a journey involves movement. Their journey was the process that led up to their presence in Serie A, not their first season there. John (talk) 16:02, 20 September 2022 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

	The Copyeditor's Barnstar
	Good work on Fiona Watt, Theroadislong (talk) 19:00, 21 September 2022 (UTC)

Thank you! John (talk) 19:05, 21 September 2022 (UTC)

Between vs. Among

Between applies to two items. Among is used for 3 or more items. That's not my rule; it's what the words mean. RationalPedant (talk) 23:57, 21 September 2022 (UTC)

A lot of people think that. But it isn't true. Grammarly describes it as a "myth". John (talk) 06:08, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

Soham murders

Thanks John. Some meandering content needed trimming. Enquiry as opposed to inquiry is more formal in British English? Different sites convey conflicting messages. Could you check this for me when you have a few moments. Thanks again. Kieronoldham (talk) 20:42, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

No, thank you for writing such a comprehensive article. I'll look into "enquiry" versus "inquiry". John (talk) 20:43, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

Thanks. British English and American English seem to overlap at times (even on reputable sites). Best regards, --Kieronoldham (talk) 20:46, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

They are interchangeable but "inquiry" seems to be favoured for uses like this, so I changed it back. "Inquiry" is the spelling the government used. Thank you for your vigilance. John (talk) 20:49, 22 September 2022 (UTC)

Featured Article Save Award

On behalf of the FAR coordinators, thank you, John! Your work on Joan of Arc has allowed the article to retain its featured status, recognizing it as one of the best articles on Wikipedia. I hereby award you this Featured Article Save Award, or FASA. You may display this FA star upon your userpage. Keep up the great work! Cheers, Nikkimaria (talk) 02:14, 25 September 2022 (UTC)

Thank you! John (talk) 09:49, 25 September 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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Unhelpful, unexplained

I note that you didn't respond to a post here complaining about your nonresponse to a post elsewhere complaining about your post regarding someone's post complaining about yet another person's post relating to an earlier post commenting on a post of one of the persons complaining about the post responding to the other post. Care to comment? EEng 23:30, 25 September 2022 (UTC)

(talk page stalker) I have PGSD from that lot. (Post Gramatic Stress Disorder) -Roxy the dog 00:17, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Yes, that's about the size of it, User:EEng. Here's the original post:

(start of quote)

I note that, while actively editing [3], you did not reply to my post [4] regarding your intrusive post on my talkpage. I therefor consider your post unhelpful, and not contributing to any improvement at all. I advise to refresh your knowledge of basic talk habits, for example this and this section. I judge your post to be on a scale from uninformed pateralistic to gaming the system—unhelpful and undesired. Altogether, I state that you are not welcome to edit on my talkpage. DePiep (talk) 10:03, 25 September 2022 (UTC)

(end of quote)

I did read DePiep's response to (what was meant to be) a friendly note on his talk page, considered replying, then noticed he had deleted the conversation. I'm not a great fan of having conversations split across multiple places, so when I saw their message here I deleted it, with my best attempt at a conciliatory edit summary.

I think I stand by my original advice to DePiep, that templating someone who is experienced here is unlikely to effect a positive change in their behaviour. But I can also see that my own intervention has not really helped anyone either. Sorry about that; my intentions were good and what I said was sincere. DePiep is probably not the only one who thinks I am "uninformed [and] pateralistic", as I have three daughters who might doubtless say the same. Luckily I am no longer bound by the provisions of WP:ADMINACCT nor ever likely to be, so it doesn't really matter. It's been an interesting reminder that folks who sign up to write a free encyclopedia can get passionate about the strangest things. I include myself in that. Take care, John (talk) 11:33, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

I'm trying to decide whether or not you realize my OP was made in jest. Years of experience have shown that DePiep consistently misinterprets social interactions, always in the direction of seeing dark motives in others' actions -- see David Eppstein's bullet near the bottom of WP:Administrators'_noticeboard/IncidentArchive1018#EEng_agression, and WP:Editing_restrictions#DePiep. So don't beat yourself up. EEng 14:55, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

No, I totally understood that your OP was humorous, but like all your best comments, there was a serious point behind it, which I tried to answer. Interesting that DePiep is under these restrictions; a more thin-skinned person than myself might have reported him to AN/I. Never mind; I'm just here to improve some articles these days. Thanks for your continuing ability to remind us of the deep silliness that sometimes manifests when we are passionate. We all need that sometimes. John (talk) 16:08, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Even though he annoys the hell out of me, there's something sad about him that prevents me from making trouble for him. EEng 17:26, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

I think I met him on some Chemistry article back in the day. I agree, I forgive him a lot for his 200k edits. He's been here even longer than I have. John (talk) 21:39, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Wikiproject Military history coordinator election voting closing soon

Voting for the upcoming project coordinator election closes soon, at 23:59 on 28 September. A team of up to ten coordinators will be elected for the next coordination year. The project coordinators are the designated points of contact for issues concerning the project, and are responsible for maintaining our internal structure and processes. They do not, however, have any authority over article content or editor conduct, or any other special powers. More information on being a coordinator is available here. Voting is conducted using simple approval voting and questions for the candidates are welcome. The voting itself is occurring here If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the current coord team. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 20:13, 26 September 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: Maths, science, and technology request for comment

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Nonmetal

Hi John; I noticed you'd returned recently. Nice to see you're active again.

Some years ago you helped me with some copyediting which resulted in an elements-related article (I forget which one) being promoted to FAC.

Would you be able to bring your CE talent to the nonmetal article? I rec'd help from Sandy Georgia with copy editing the early part of it and then copy edited the rest of it on the basis of what I learnt from her. The article has been through five unsuccessful FAC's, and 2 PR's. It seems the only thing missing is a final CE check and top up. I'd be surprised if the CE work involved would be particularly onerous.

Thank you, Sandbh (talk) 06:20, 29 September 2022 (UTC).

Of course. Thank you for asking. John (talk) 06:25, 29 September 2022 (UTC)

G'day John. Are you still in long, hard thinking mode or could I proceed and implement the proposed changes set out at the talk page? I know you don't appreciate a moving target. Thank you. — Sandbh (talk) 05:52, 21 October 2022 (UTC)

Sandbh, sorry I haven't been as active as I had hoped, I've been unwell, and I took a few days off. I've read the discussion there, and I support what you are doing. I will check in as and when I can. John (talk) 19:29, 21 October 2022 (UTC)

Hi John. I've implemented the changes discussed on the talk page. Per your comment, I hope you'll be pleased to learn that I've removed mention of electronegativity from the lede. First mention of EN now doesn't occur until section 2.1 on chemical properties. Tremendous regards, Sandbh (talk) 03:34, 26 October 2022 (UTC).

Hi John, it has been a little while since I’ve heard from you. How are you travelling? Well, I hope :) Sandbh (talk) 02:10, 8 November 2022 (UTC)

October music

October songs

Today is Erntedank in Germany, thanksgiving, and we celebrated our village's 650th anniversary, and had the dress rehearsal for Verdi's Requiem with an interesting band of marimba, piano, horn, bass, timpani and drum, - concert tomorrow, our national holiday. Seeing a pic I took on the Main page was also a nice harvest. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:20, 2 October 2022 (UTC)

That's lovely! I am glad you had a good day. I didn't sleep well, and unlike the protagonist in Rilke's "Herbsttag", woke up early and copyedited an article. Now winding down towards sleep. Gute Nacht! John (talk) 22:20, 2 October 2022 (UTC)

same winding here, - look for Rilke on my talk after sleep --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:25, 2 October 2022 (UTC)

new day, another pictured DYK (but not pictured by me this time): look at power work tensions (if you translate) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:55, 13 October 2022 (UTC)

Beautiful! And another thing I want to see in summer 2023! Reminds me of this, closer to home for me. John (talk) 22:11, 13 October 2022 (UTC)

thank you! - today's DYK: two facts from the two concert of this years Rheingau Musik Festival I liked best, both a cappella singing. If you follow the songs, you see a circus, where I performed singing, and in the end the whole tent joined for Dona nobis pacem. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:25, 19 October 2022 (UTC)

who shall separate us --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:53, 22 October 2022 (UTC)

spa wellness: last day of BWV 56, and two great musicians who died --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:50, 26 October 2022 (UTC)

Beautiful! John (talk) 22:37, 26 October 2022 (UTC)

thank you - today a woman in red, cellist Ella van Poucke, with a video in the article --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:33, 28 October 2022 (UTC)

... followed by the new hall where she played - I always like to see my pics on the Main page, - then the mezzo of our Verdi concert, finally don't miss Hannah Pick-Goslar, - met a cat today, pictured --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:02, 30 October 2022 (UTC)

What a sad story! Thank you. Where's the cat? We have two and they are as lazy and entitled as you can imagine, but still somehow lovable. John (talk) 21:09, 30 October 2022 (UTC)

The cat is hiding under songs above the tree. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:29, 30 October 2022 (UTC)

leaving the month with reformation and a cat treat (same cat) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:07, 31 October 2022 (UTC)

Andrew Jackson needs a barber, a clean up and maybe a bit of extra trimming.

Hi John! I pinged you on the Talk:Andrew Jackson page, but I'm not sure it may have popped up. Here's what I put:

You had mentioned you'd be open to copy editing Andrew Jackson. I've recently finished with a major trim and edit of the the biography sections (i.e., the sections between the lead and the legacy) and I was wondering if you have the time and energy to put your talents to work cleaning this up. I've done a first-pass trim, but there are still weeds that need plucking. You are used to my ability to torture prose, so it shouldn't be too bad on your side, and I think Joan of Arc shows we can do a pretty good job together. And who knows, maybe it'd be fun to do. Please let me know, and if you are game, please just jump in and go at it!

The page has calmed down, and seems to be a positive working space. I'm now working on the legacy, and at the end I'm hoping to get a team to do a reworking of the lead. But those sections I edit could use a serious clean up, maybe even more trimming. (As will the legacy, when I work it out). If this article is not something you're interested or able to take on, I more than understand. It was contentious, and it is long, but I thought asking you was worth a try. Thanks! Wtfiv (talk) 20:59, 5 October 2022 (UTC)

Thank you for asking. I'll be delighted to take a look. John (talk) 21:01, 5 October 2022 (UTC)

That's wonderful! thank you so much for taking a look at it. Wtfiv (talk) 21:03, 5 October 2022 (UTC)

It might be a day or two, Wtfiv. Things are busy here. But I'll get to it. John (talk) 02:23, 8 October 2022 (UTC)

I get it, there's so much to be done in Wikipedia land, and then there's our personal life! I'll still work on legacy while waiting, but I'm so glad you'll take a look! Wtfiv (talk) 02:37, 8 October 2022 (UTC)

I'm so sorry, User:Wtfiv, that I have not really got to this yet. It isn't because I've forgotten. A family member has been ill, and then another. And now I am going away for a few days to recuperate. When I come back, at the weekend, I should be able to give this the attention that it deserves. I thoroughly support the work you are doing there. See you in a few. John (talk) 22:02, 16 October 2022 (UTC)

Hi John, It's good to hear from you, though I am sorry that family has been ill. I'm glad you are still interested in looking at the article! There's no rush. I'm glad you are taking care of yourself. Wtfiv (talk) 23:46, 16 October 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: Maths, science, and technology request for comment

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Elizabeth II

At the talkpage, I'm assuming you meant regular editors, rather then regular articles. GoodDay (talk) 17:28, 9 October 2022 (UTC)

Thank you! I am not well rested, nor am I getting any younger. John (talk) 17:53, 9 October 2022 (UTC)

BrE

You're changing orthography that's already British English, claiming it's to make it British English. Just stop. — kwami (talk) 06:15, 10 October 2022 (UTC)

You seem highly confused on the subject of spelling. Having spent almost a month debating the subject, I now consider the matter closed. Thanks a lot for your interest in spelling variants, but it's time to move on to something more interesting like improving the article to try to get through FAC. Doesn't this interest you? This will make interesting reading for you, perhaps, if you want to learn even more on the topic of spelling variants. John (talk) 06:19, 10 October 2022 (UTC)

Disambiguation link notification for October 13

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In appreciation

		The Reviewers Award
		By the authority vested in me by myself it gives me great pleasure to present you with this award in recognition of the thorough, detailed and actionable review you carried out for Ceres (dwarf planet) at FAC. This work is very much appreciated. Gog the Mild (talk) 13:29, 15 October 2022 (UTC)

Thank you! That was very kind of you. John (talk) 13:31, 15 October 2022 (UTC)

It was well earned. I notice that this is the first FAC review from you for a while. Hopefully there will not be such a long wait before the next. Gog the Mild (talk) 14:16, 15 October 2022 (UTC)

Always precious

Ten years ago, you were found precious. That's what you are, always. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:51, 20 October 2022 (UTC)

Thank you! Keep being you. John (talk) 19:35, 20 October 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: History and geography request for comment

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Sca blocking

John: On my talk, I wrote and attempted to post (file) an appeal, but somehow it doesn't look right. Could you please take a look at it and see if I made some formatting mistake? Thanks. – Sca (talk) 20:23, 26 October 2022 (UTC)

It looks great, Sca, both technically and in the request you have posted. You are now on Category:Requests for unblock and could reasonably expect an admin to look at it within an hour or two. Good luck, again. John (talk) 20:45, 26 October 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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The Signpost: 31 October 2022

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November music

November songs

celebrating GW60 or: the birthday of my first subject -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:20, 2 November 2022 (UTC)

3 concerts in 3 days can now be found together: a Ukrainian chamber choir, my cellist and composer friend's 60th birthday music (with a world premiere and that overview about his career), and Bach's ultimate statement about life and death --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:11, 7 November 2022 (UTC)

and now back from vacation in the U.S., visiting friends --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:24, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Thanksgiving in the U.S. - Bach said it in music for peace --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:07, 24 November 2022 (UTC)

Stay off my talk page.

Stay off my talk page., please. Meters (talk) 21:59, 2 November 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: History and geography request for comment

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Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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Featured Article Save Award

On behalf of the FAR coordinators, thank you, John! Your work on Josquin des Prez has allowed the article to retain its featured status, recognizing it as one of the best articles on Wikipedia. I hereby award you this Featured Article Save Award, or FASA. You may display this FA star upon your userpage. Keep up the great work! Cheers, Nikkimaria (talk) 04:51, 26 November 2022 (UTC)

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Feedback request: Wikipedia style and naming request for comment

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Tune for the week ahead

Life is hard, with all the Tories and what have you, so leaving this here to tide over with an uplifting voice of hope. Ceoil (talk) 14:10, 4 December 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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December greetings

December songs

happy new year

Latest pics, with an opera discovery and some snow. Today my talk has a DYK that was planned for 22 November, among the recent deaths the author of Duck, Death and the Tulip, and now a choir pic of "our" concert last Sunday, likely to become next year's lead image. Enjoy. Best wishes for the season! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:05, 15 December 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: History and geography request for comment

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Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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Merry Christmas!

~~~ Merry Christmas! ~~~
Joyeux Noël! ~ Buon Natale! ~ Vrolijk Kerstfeest! ~ Frohe Weihnachten!
¡Feliz Navidad! ~ Feliz Natal! ~ Καλά Χριστούγεννα! ~ Hyvää Joulua!
God Jul! ~ Glædelig Jul! ~ Linksmų Kalėdų! ~ Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus!
Häid Jõule! ~ Wesołych Świąt! ~ Boldog Karácsonyt! ~ Veselé Vánoce!
Veselé Vianoce! ~ Crăciun Fericit! ~ Sretan Božić! ~ С Рождеством!
শুভ বড়দিন! ~ 圣诞节快乐！~ メリークリスマス！~ 메리 크리스마스!
สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส! ~ Selamat Hari Natal! ~ Giáng sinh an lành!
Весела Коледа!

Hello, John! Thank you for your work to maintain and improve Wikipedia! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Iggy (Swan) (Contribs) 21:22, 21 December 2022 (UTC)

Spread the WikiLove and leave other users this message by adding {{subst:Multi-language Season's Greetings}}

Another year gone

		Best wishes for the holidays
		Wishing you and yours the best over the holiday season, and here's hoping 2023 won't bring as much global trauma as 2020, the worse 2021[5] & fecking 2022! Ceoil (talk) 04:09, 23 December 2022 (UTC)

Another Link Gone

Hi John on this wet Christmas Eve in Dublin. My "Watchlist" appears to have disappeared! Can you figure out why? Merry Christmas! Sarah777 (talk) 16:23, 24 December 2022 (UTC)

Feedback request: History and geography request for comment

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Happy Kalends of January

		Happy New Year!
		Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year, from the horse and bishop person. May the year ahead be productive and distraction-free and may Janus light your way. Ealdgyth (talk) 13:52, 1 January 2023 (UTC)

Feedback request: Maths, science, and technology request for comment

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Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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Feedback request: History and geography request for comment

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January music

January songs

happy new year

-- Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:07, 26 January 2023 (UTC)

Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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SA Nuclear weapons

Hi there, I am contacting you because you made some significant edits to the "South Africa and weapons of mass destruction" wiki page and I am doing research into South Africa's nuclear weapons history for my thesis. If you know more about South Africa's program or have done research into it and are willing to share information with me I would really appreciate it.

Regards Arran Superwood (talk) 16:01, 1 February 2023 (UTC)

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Speedy deletion nomination of User:Larsro/sandbox

Hello, and welcome to Wikipedia. A tag has been placed on User:Larsro/sandbox requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under section U5 of the criteria for speedy deletion, because the page appears to consist of writings, information, discussions, and/or activities not closely related to Wikipedia's goals. Please note that Wikipedia is not a free web hosting service. Under the criteria for speedy deletion, such pages may be deleted at any time.

If you think this page should not be deleted for this reason, you may contest the nomination by visiting the page and clicking the button labelled "Contest this speedy deletion". This will give you the opportunity to explain why you believe the page should not be deleted. However, be aware that once a page is tagged for speedy deletion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag from the page yourself, but do not hesitate to add information in line with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. If the page is deleted, and you wish to retrieve the deleted material for future reference or improvement, then please contact the deleting administrator, or if you have already done so, you can place a request here. --Minorax^«¦talk¦» 08:52, 11 February 2023 (UTC)

Minorax, why is this here? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:29, 11 February 2023 (UTC)

@Gerda Arendt: John copied and pasted the article there and is deemed to be the creator of the page by the twinkle tool. --Minorax^«¦talk¦» 09:36, 11 February 2023 (UTC)

so an admin John copied the content of a deleted page by a different user into the user's sandbox, in 2008, and get's a welcome to Wikipedia? ... and that is suddenly in for speedy deletion? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:41, 11 February 2023 (UTC)

Almost, but not quite. John is not an admin. Bishonen | tålk 11:28, 11 February 2023 (UTC).

Feedback request: Biographies request for comment

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Feedback request: Maths, science, and technology request for comment

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Feedback request: Maths, science, and technology request for comment

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Feedback request: History and geography request for comment

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You've been unsubscribed from the Feedback Request Service

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July thanks

July songs

my story today

On today's Main page, you can find a cantata that Bach first performed 300 years ago, and an iconic saxophonist from East Germany. Also: a bit about the history of QAI on my talk. Thank you for being part of it, at times! - A new member designed a user box that I adopted. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:58, 18 July 2023 (UTC)

While today's DYK highlights Santiago on his day, I did my modest share with my story today, describing what I just experienced, pictured. I began the article of the woman in green. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:00, 25 July 2023 (UTC)

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my story today

Today, it's a place that inspired me, musings if you have time. My corner for memory and music has today a juxtaposition of what our local church choirs offer. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:47, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2024!

Hello John, may you be surrounded by peace, success and happiness on this seasonal occasion. Spread the WikiLove by wishing another user a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past, a good friend, or just some random person. Sending you heartfelt and warm greetings for Christmas and New Year 2024. Happy editing, ‑‑Neveselbert (talk · contribs · email) 17:24, 25 December 2023 (UTC) Spread the love by adding {{subst:Seasonal Greetings}} to other user talk pages.

‑‑Neveselbert (talk · contribs · email) 17:24, 25 December 2023 (UTC)

Happy New Year

		Happy New Year!
		Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year, from the horse and bishop person. May the year ahead be productive and distraction-free and may Janus light your way. Ealdgyth (talk) 14:38, 31 December 2023 (UTC)

Orphaned non-free image File:Cutleraflatmancover.jpg

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		The Botswana Barnstar
		thanks for clearing up the term Botswanan. 48JCLTALK 00:45, 4 June 2024 (UTC)

July music

story · music · places

Nice to see your name on my watchlist! - Today's story is about a photographer who took iconic pictures, especially View from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Manhattan, 9/11, yesterday's was a great mezzo, and on Thursday we watched a sublime ballerina. If that's not enough my talk offers chamber music from two amazing concerts. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:44, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks Gerda. Nice to be back. Good to see you. John (talk) 14:16, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

Nice to see you back also from me, and tks muchly for the edits on the Corleck and Corraghy heads. I'm amused that the talk on the Brighton hotel bombing infobox is essentially between an Irish, Scots and an English man. And so ironic that we all hate infoboxes! Maybe we should we should walk into a bar sometime. Ceoil (talk) 21:53, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks Ceoil. I'm camping in Germany with the family and it's pissing with rain. It's a pleasure to see you. I'm always up for a drink or a chat with anyone, even those I disagree with. I'm glad the feet thing got sorted out, that was a bit embarrassing. Take care of yourself, John (talk) 22:03, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

Re feet: there are reasons why skilled writers/copy editors are so highly valued in the project. Hens teeth; like drummers for indie bands. Ceoil (talk) 22:11, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

Where in Germany? I could offer shelter if it rains too much - as right now ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:27, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

By the Mosel river. Rißbach. Lovely place but it looks like global warming has kicked in. Never seen weather like this in Germany in July. John (talk) 22:30, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

Bit too far for just escaping rain, sadly. You know where I am per my "places". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:42, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

That was very thoughtful of you. The weather seems to have broken now. Ceoil, belated thanks for your compliment. Between feet and potatoes, I'm remembering how truly toxic some of the editing environments here can be. Fortunately I am relatively indifferent to insults, but you can see how some people are driven away. Ah well. It's a beautiful day and I'm off to Trier for the day before turning homewards. Look after yourselves. John (talk) 08:21, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for standing on your feet. Enjoy the day in Trier! Remembering Bach (see my talk), - I had a cantata article to GA yesterday, BWV 178. The one for today, BWV 94, needs improvement, but I'll enjoy Bensheim. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:35, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Main Page history/2024 July 30b had a baritone, a violinist, a composer and a Bach cantata, yes the new GA - almost too much, and the composer's article, Wolfgang Rihm, improved much over the last days, could still grow. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:26, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

Good to hear, and that's an interesting article. Back home and exhausted. It was fun, but I am getting old for long road trips... Let me know if there are any copyediting or reviewing tasks you need done, but I need a day or two to recuperate. John (talk) 16:46, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

August

story · music · places

Welcome home! Recuperate! Still the same article, in case of interest after recuperation. It's on the Main page, still. On the talk are some open tasks, and the names of the two who helped the most so far. It's great collaboration, and I love it. A breakthrew came today with the opening of the New York Times article. - Listen into the interview at the bottom = meet the person even if you don't understand all the German ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:53, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

I have now two articles open for review, FAC for Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist, and GAN for a Bach cantata = my story today, - recommended listening, #4 for fury and surprise, #6 for exquisite lament; the music turns 300 years today per liturgy but on 13 August per calendar. Ceoil, thanks for being already at the FAC, and you will want to listen to the Bach, too! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:27, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

Thanks Gerda. I promise to look and listen. John (talk) 01:31, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

Thank you John. Today I have two "musicians" on the Main page, one is also the topic of my story, watch and listen, - I like today's especially because you see him at work, hear him talk about his work and the result of his work - rare! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:26, 7 August 2024 (UTC)

Danke sehr Gerda. Das freut mich. John (talk) 14:59, 7 August 2024 (UTC)

Es ist mir eine Freude! - ... and a third, like 22 July but with interview and the music to be played today at the Proms --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:30, 8 August 2024 (UTC)

On 13 August, Bach's cantata was 300 years old, and the image one. The cantata is an extraordinary piece, using the chorale's text and famous melody more than others in the cycle, - perhaps listen if you haven't when I mentioned it (with a 2011 DYK hook) 9 days ago. It's nice to have not only a recent death, but also this "birthday" on the Main page. And a rainbow in my places. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:17, 13 August 2024 (UTC)

You are so productive. All I can manage these days is shuffling the odd semicolon. Thanks for sharing and for being such a hard-working editor. John (talk) 15:24, 13 August 2024 (UTC)

Well, I'm reaping now what I sowed in 2010/2011 when week by week - the speed Bach took - I looked at a cantata. Many of them had no article, and those that had one consisted of little insight, the complete text (!) in German (!) and a list of recordings linking every soloist and repeating "soprano", "alto", "tenor", "bass" (which is always the same) for every recording (!), which was easy because the source had it that way, and one copy did it all. (example pictured) We came a long way since. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:04, 13 August 2024 (UTC)

today's story is about education, 10 years OTD after lecturing our founder). Music for today's feast is Monteverdi's, the best concert we ever did (so pictured again on my talk), but it wasn't recorded, substituted with a "Pacific" one that comes with subtitles line by line in Latin and English: I learned something! - The latest "placed" must have been on one of the rainy days you experienced in Germany, pics taken the few minutes it didn't rain. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:15, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

new pics about a green nature protection valley - what do you think about the recent edits on Vivaldi (not by me)? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:29, 19 August 2024 (UTC)

new pics with looks into valleys --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:35, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

Sunday story about another of Bach's chorale cantatas, listen, as I listened to two impressive very different choral concerts, - music by 16 composers. In the latest cloudy pictures: a hidden deer, a cat and a blaze of a sunset. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:37, 25 August 2024 (UTC)

Thank you Gerda. John (talk) 15:52, 25 August 2024 (UTC)

Help? My story today is about a woman, nominated for RD but needing support as I write this. A composer died whose article is long and mostly unreferenced. And some articles open for review, always. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:10, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

Request

John, while you are around I would gratefully ask you to look at Troika (1969 film), a recently failed FAC on a strange and unusual film that badly needs a skilled and astute copy editor. It's out of print, and I see it in punk rock terms; more Wire than Sex Pistols. As said many times before, skilled writers are hen teeth here. Ceoil (talk) 20:51, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

An honour to be asked! I took a quick look and it passes the interest threshold. John (talk) 22:58, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

What an interesting film. I did a quick lookover. It seems OK, would just need a bit of a tidy I think. John (talk) 23:44, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

If it goes towards PR shortly, I hope you will do your worst; as said before am a big fan of clarity, demanding as little words as possible. I look forward to engaging if you have time and best. Ceoil (talk) 00:57, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

ps the film is obviously borrowing from the The Disasters of War, but well get to that eventually. Thanks a bunch for the help so far. Ceoil (talk) 01:12, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

It sounds fascinating. Wish I could see it. You are entirely welcome. John (talk) 11:50, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

I am really impressed by your edits, thanks so much John :) And please (!) stick with the page as it goes through the various process. Will reply to the talk query soon. Ceoil (talk) 13:04, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

Not at all, it's nice to be back. Wouldn't it be more Siouxsie and the Banshees than Wire though? Also reminds me of cherished favourites from that era like Zardoz and The Prisoner. The late 1960s and early 1970s were a goofy time. John (talk) 13:12, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

Haha well spotted, yes Suouxie! Nonetheless, here is what should have happened if Freddie Mercury joined Wire; joy[6]. Ceoil (talk) 15:32, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

Thank you so much for such a full and solid run through the film article. You did more in a day than I could do in a year :) Ceoil (talk) 03:31, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for noticing it. I think it's almost there. John (talk) 10:44, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

And thanks Ceoil for the praise here. Re intermittency; I was here pretty much every day from 2006 to 2019 when my dad died. It was as awful as I knew it would be; he was like a brother or a soulmate to me, it's hard to explain. In the context of my mental state at the time, I got over-frustrated by the dumb groupthink that sometimes operates in a project like this. I recognised that I was not enjoying it, and took some time out to take care of myself and my family, then looked in a couple of years ago, but it was too soon. I never stopped reading Wikipedia and in the end I missed editing too much, and I've decided to come back again. I intend to be back for a while, though I'll see how it goes obviously. But I think I am well and strong enough to contribute regularly again. I agree with you that I'm a strong copyeditor and I think I'm also a gnome and a decent reviewer. Sorry this is so long, but I want to reiterate what a pleasure the VvG process was for me. The memory of that is part of what has brought me back. To more collegial and amicable editing in the future a chara! John (talk) 01:50, 7 August 2024 (UTC)

Judging by your start date here and similar taste in music, I guess we are around the same age, and going through that stage in life where we unfortunately have similar losses. I have one of those big families that make parental loss easier to cope with, just about, but do hear your pain...have two other close brothers, but my better half is an only child of only child families, and she is going through a very hard time in the last 18 months as both dies within months just after covid. Its a very difficult and at times dark stage of life, and thank you for sharing.

Re your return here, I hope you feel appreciated; you (a) are not shy of giving your opinion and (b) roll up your sleeves when your interest is peaked. Without wanting to be fanciful, as a content rather than a polish person, I do learn a lot from you and your kind is a dying breed here...often I let things slide on reviews (especially songs and films artciles) only for the next nom to say...but that FAC passed what cant I? Ceoil (talk) 00:25, 9 August 2024 (UTC)

PS, re Vincent, the satisfaction in article building only comes from collaborations and relationships; we all have our strengths and then they cometogether are more than the parts. The extent that you step up there was ...trilling. Ceoil (talk) 00:37, 9 August 2024 (UTC)

Many thanks for that. I change and grow slowly but I am what I am. I was born a few weeks before the death of Winston Churchill, so I was lucky enough to see the Clash, Damned, Stiff Little Fingers etc when they were hot and fresh. It was a good time to be alive. I recently reclaimed my record collection from storage after 17 years. My daughter had never seen such a thing nor imagined it. Growing older has many dark sides but it can bring acceptance and wisdom, sometimes. Take care of yourself and keep sending me editing ideas. It's always a pleasure. John (talk) 00:48, 9 August 2024 (UTC)

Interesting...so I'm about 10 years younger so; my early gigs were My Bloody Valentine, Pixies and that sort of thing, and early Acid House from about 1989 on. Funnily enough discovered during the week that my American wife was a fan of Stiff Little Fingers when a teenager; "Alternative Ulster" and "Suspect Device" now on heavy rotation in our household and car. We are both significantly into the Undertones of course. Ceoil (talk) 21:54, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Re editing ideas, and I hope I'm not overextending your favour here, but am slowly working up Tomb effigy as a next "broad" FAC, though think I'm a bout a year from taking it to PR...its a huge topic covering 1000s of years with an extensive literature. Its at 4184 words currently; aiming to cap it at 8000. It does badly need to be copyedited though. Ceoil (talk) 21:58, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

I'll be happy to take a look tomorrow. SLF were my first gig in 1980. Undertones yeah but I preferred That Petrol Emotion. I was in my mid-20s for the SoL and TPE enriched it greatly. Stuff like "Hey Venus", "Groove Check" really did it for me. John (talk) 23:08, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Re SLF IN 1980, wow. Without wanting to nerd out too much, the recored versions never captured the raw anger of the live versions[7]. In total contrast, I like some of the English prod, punk views, eg The Exploited's "Army Life", though it is obviously far less nuanced or informed. The line "Went the Belfast where there is fucking fun, walking about with a tommy gun" is haunting in its ignorance and obedience, but they overall reflect a working class and anti-Thatcherite world-view I can get behind. Ceoil (talk) 23:49, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

We always believed "Hey Venus" was about Thatcher, perhaps because of this remix. The Exploited were always too Oi for me; I met them once and wasn't impressed. I got a great impression of the Clash and the Damned from meeting them, also Siouxsie and the Banshees. John McGeoch was a particularly nice guy. John (talk) 09:10, 12 August 2024 (UTC)

Am impressed. Living in a backwater, never got to interact with a first wave punk icon, so mad jealous. Closest I got was bickering with Bernie Rhodes here[8] and elsewhere, which was sort of fun; he is very sharp and articulate, alas we were talking about Cut the Crap so it was a bit sensitive. Ceoil (talk) 04:04, 19 August 2024 (UTC)

ps, Budgie is a hero of mine. Just for the backwards beat snare/high hat thing in happy house[9] if nothing else. Ceoil (talk) 05:02, 19 August 2024 (UTC)

Bit more obscure but I also met Penetration just before they split up. Murray wouldn't come out of the tour bus but I remember Robert Blamire was good to talk to. John (talk) 15:17, 19 August 2024 (UTC)

Bassists are usually pretty chill and down to earth. It's (male) singers and lead guitarists you need to watch out for. Drama! My only real interaction with an NME level singer was with Stuart Staples back in 1994 and 1996, when he played in a Cork venue a few times I was associated with, and we met him again when they were playing in Stockholm. A disarmingly genuine and charming man who in those days like a whiskey or two. Ceoil (talk) 20:38, 5 October 2024 (UTC)

You flatterer! I used to be a bass player myself in my youth. And I too like a whisky now and then... John (talk) 06:41, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

Recent FAC comments

My apologies for barging uninvited onto your talk page. Please let me know what you think the best course of action is for the following issues arising from the Brighton hotel bombing FAC. It is quite impressive how FAC coordinators do not consider the following statement a provocation or intent to edit war: "I do not think links should be added and I will remove them if you add them". Also, as you said, nobody owns a page on here. FAC criteria warns against edit wars, at the very least this is un encyclopedic behavior and at least deserves a tap on the back. By now, if any other editor had made such a comment at an FAC nom with so many reviewers, the nom would have been archived immediately and there would have been a warning on our talk pages. Do you think this should go to ANI, since coords are either ignoring or allowing this behavior? And what would be the consequences of that for the nom? If I were petty I would have added links and checked if SchroCat would have the gall to do an edit war; that would have bogged the article in the dispute resolution stages for 3-6 months and disqualified it from FAC for that period. But fortunately I am not petty and would not want what is overall a good article to suffer such a fate for an issue which is comparatively not so big. What do you think? Matarisvan (talk) 18:02, 10 August 2024 (UTC)

No apology necessary. I'm not sure; I've written on my user page about it. When we see others behaving badly, rudely or in an arrogant or entitled way, sometimes it helps to just walk away and do something else. User:Schrocat gets away with a lot because he is a very talented writer and reviewer. Try to see the good in him, however difficult it may be sometimes. As far as process goes, this is not something ANI would take an interest in, and there could even be a WP:BOOMERANG effect. One has to trust the coordinators not to promote an article with unaddressed actionable points. To the degree that the process works, it has credibility. Like a lot of things on this project, the whole FA process is amazingly good compared to nothing at all, but highly imperfect compared to a peer-review process one might see in a professional context. Sobeit. Remember this the next time you hear someone pissing on about civility though. Take care, and try not to let it ruin your evening. John (talk) 20:25, 10 August 2024 (UTC)

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September music

story · music · places

What do you think of my short version of the life of Alexander Goehr? Our DYK team would probably want that he worked in a training kibbutz, while I was happy to include a link to an article by Brian Boulton, - we sang the Monteverdi Vespers on 1 September 2019. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:18, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

I like it. What a fascinating life he led. Good article. John (talk) 16:08, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

Thank you. I guess I'll try GA, if you say so ;) - Did you see it before he died, when I remembered him for his birthday? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:30, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

Today's story has 3 composers, I couldn't decide for the one on the Main page or the one who didn't make it on his bicentenary, so took both, and the pic has a third. Listen if you have a bit of time. The music, played by the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra in Germany in April 2022, impressed me. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:51, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

Thanks Gerda. I will listen when I get a chance. It sounds amazing. John (talk) 18:59, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

The Berezovsky piece in bright C major, sounding pretty much like early Mozart, came as a surprise opening a concert by a Ukrainian orchestra on tour to major halls in Poland and Germany, organised to make a statement of culture in response to aggression. The final piece of the program was highly appropriate. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:17, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

Recommended reading today: Frye Fire, by sadly missed Vami_IV. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:20, 6 September 2024 (UTC)

Happier topic: Bach's cantata on the Main page on its 300th birthday (per calendar), my story! Incredible piece. Promised myself to make it FA. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:34, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Bach was amazing, the Einstein of music. And what a horrible end he came to. Thanks for all your hard work. FA is as good as it gets here, and it isn't always very good. Viel Gluck! John (talk) 21:25, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Thank you! - It will be a long-term project, 3rd in line the soonest, but among Bach's works some pinnacle I just discovered. DYK was refused because it appeared on OTD, - teh rulez. What do you think of another DYK on its way to be refused (the hook this time) or not? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:35, 11 September 2024 (UTC)

Three stories related to today in memory, 11 September, 20 July and 20 June, the latter piece of art also pictured on the Main page. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:21, 11 September 2024 (UTC)

Today is Schoenberg's 150th birthday! On display, portrayed by Egon Schiele, with music from Moses und Aron, and with two DYK hooks, one from 2010 and another from 2014; the latter, about his 40th birthday, appeared on his 140th birthday, which made me happy then and now again. - See places for a stunning sunrise, on the day Bruckner's 200th birthday was celebrated (just a few days late). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:05, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

Today a story about one of the people behind the peaceful revolution. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:44, 15 September 2024 (UTC)

That brought back memories. I was in Germany for the first time in November 1990 just after unification. Interesting article. Thank you. John (talk) 22:33, 15 September 2024 (UTC)

Article by many, of course. My story today is about a man who played jazz when it was banned by the Nazis, - you can listen to how they played it later. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:14, 17 September 2024 (UTC)

My story today features a pic I took from my position in the choir, I can also offer varied delightful music, some from Venice, also with pics I took, - note the rose in the clarinet ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:39, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

• I was just in Trier a couple of months ago. Beautiful city, but I'd forgotten that supermarkets close on a Sunday in Germany. Had to stock up on German beer and wine in Luxembourg instead... John (talk) 20:52, 26 September 2024 (UTC)

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Proposed deletion of Steuart Campbell

The article Steuart Campbell has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:

Non-notable writer.

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Speedy deletion nomination of Steuart Campbell

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A tag has been placed on Steuart Campbell requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under section G4 of the criteria for speedy deletion, because the page appears to be a repost of material that was previously deleted following a deletion discussion, at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Steuart Campbell. When a page has substantially identical content to that of a page deleted after a discussion, and any changes in the content do not address the reasons for which the material was previously deleted, it may be deleted at any time.

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Thanks for your two notices here. I have posted at article talk. I suggest an AfD would be the way forward rather than speedy or ProD. John (talk) 15:40, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

I hadn't realized that it was deleted previously when I first nominated it. I'm amenable to an afd rather than speedy deletion.--User:Namiba 15:53, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

Nomination of Steuart Campbell for deletion

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Troika (1969 film)

Troika passed FAC on 2nd nom earlier, in no small part because of your extensive copyedits. Here is a live version of a tune I'm sure you already know in thanks[10], and sound once again. Ceoil (talk) 04:58, 19 September 2024 (UTC)

That's great news! And I love the music, thank you for that. John (talk) 06:45, 19 September 2024 (UTC)

Great work

	The Copyeditor's Barnstar
	Brilliant work on clearing up and refining my edits to Mohamed Al-Fayed. No Swan So Fine (talk) 12:04, 22 September 2024 (UTC)

Thank you! John (talk) 12:46, 22 September 2024 (UTC)

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October music

story · music · places

You may remember Maryvonne Le Dizès, my story today as on 28 August. Some September music was unusual: last compositions and eternal light, with Ligeti mentioned in story and music. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:03, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

I do. It's looking good. Well done. John (talk) 23:13, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

Thank you - today Rohan de Saram - unbelievable story --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:35, 7 October 2024 (UTC)

Very cool. Another fascinating biography. John (talk) 18:17, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

Thank you! - Today I remember an organist who was pictured on the Main page on his birthday ten years ago, and I found two recent organ concerts to match, - see top of my talk --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:00, 11 October 2024 (UTC)

Today brought a timely promotion of Helmut Bauer to the Main page on the day when pieces from Mozart's Requiem were performed for him. - Thank you for copy-editing! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:18, 12 October 2024 (UTC)

I made Leif Segerstam my big story today. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:35, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Would you have time to look at a user's (short) first FAC, Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/December 2017 North American winter storm/archive1? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:53, 19 October 2024 (UTC)

• I took a quick hack at it. John (talk) 12:16, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

  Thank you for improving articles on October, - I noticed that particular "hack" with pleasure! - My story today is a cantata 300 years old, based on a hymn 200 years old when the cantata was composed, based on a psalm some thousand years old, - so said the 2015 DYK hook. I had forgotten the discussion on the talk. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:21, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

  new pics close to home, and a new song - come some day! - I never had a TFA moved (have too few), but am quite conservative in move cases. A DYK article was once moved (while on the Main page) without leaving a redirect, which I thought was crazy, and - not on the main page - a composer's article became a dab page because some singer had adapted his name as a stage name, and now the original was no longer the primary topic, which I found kafkaesque. Nobody died, - you are right. Dealing with three articles of people who died three days in a row again, first Barbara Kolb. What do you think about Kaoli Isshiki. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:34, 24 October 2024 (UTC)

  Taxonomy is always reductive by its nature and naming articles is worth getting right fairly early on in an article's evolution. I read the AfD discussion and had a quick look at sources without finding anything great. It looks like a borderline case and nowadays I'm an inclusionist, so I would weakly keep it. John (talk) 21:54, 24 October 2024 (UTC)

  Thank you. - I came because I saw your comment on the TFA: feel free to boldly make the changes, - the principal editor hasn't edited for the last two years, and I see nobody with more authority in these matters than you. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:07, 27 October 2024 (UTC)

  About the weak keep: could you say it there? (I haven't read the last comment yet that I saw on my watchlist, - I have an article to write.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:36, 27 October 2024 (UTC)

  Thank you for that! - Happy whatever you celebrate today, - more who died, more to come, and they made the world richer. Greetings from Madrid where I took the pic of assorted Cucurbita in 2016. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:29, 31 October 2024 (UTC)

Heller SA

"would subsequently move" --> "moved", that's one of my pet peeves also. Drmies (talk) 21:45, 7 October 2024 (UTC)

Hah. There's no shortage of bad writing on Wikipedia. Chipping away at it one page at a time for a third of my life now, on and off. How are you keeping, old friend? John (talk) 21:54, 7 October 2024 (UTC)

I'm reading way too many obituaries, and writing too few articles. I crossed the 400,000 edits barrier but I'm wondering what the point is--yep, it's clear, I need to be writing, not blocking and deleting and whatnot. Good to see you: I'm glad you are still here! Drmies (talk) 22:04, 7 October 2024 (UTC)

I ducked out for a few years, burned out and beset by bereavement. I came back to find the place much as I left it. All the same problems with dodgy promotions, vested contributors, lousy peer reviews, and dreadful writing. I've only survived by greatly lowering my expectations. Maybe that's a facet of wisdom coming with age, maybe not. I wish you well, and I hope you will think of me if you have any article improvement suggestions. Take care, John (talk) 18:16, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

Some advice

Greetings John, I just wanna thank you for your copy edits to help Troika pass Featured Status. I have been meaning to ask you about how I can master Copy editing. I am aware a lot of that is flow and condensing what is written in articles, however some of these articles that show me how to do so seem to go over my head. I am currently working on some massive projects (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Begotten, Stephen D. Richards, etc.) and am having trouble figuring out how to properly condense without complete removal of material. If you are willing to mentor me on this I would appreciate it. If not, some pointers. Happy editing mate! Paleface Jack (talk) 17:17, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Gosh, that's a flattering suggestion! Let me think about it. I'm away in the wilds just now on holiday with family but when I get back I can have a look at some of those articles. Thanks for thinking of me. John (talk) 17:31, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Of course! Your copy edits are spot on and I plan to work my way to being as good as that some time, might as well ask one of the best for mentoring/advice etc. Be warned, the Texas Chain Saw is quite messy as I am still pulling everything together and adding things. It is one of my most ambitious articles as there is a vast amount of information to process and filter.--Paleface Jack (talk) 18:19, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Butting in the spirit of learning to walk before you can crawl, Begotten should be PFJ's next nom as it is relatively short with a limited body of sources, while Texas Chain Saw is a beast, widely written about and known to all. Would like to see PFJ more experienced in the FAC process before he undertakes such a massive cultural milestone, and with more eyes having reviewed at GA/PR before he gets in final copy editors. John, you are a scarce resource; thinking of your time allocation :) Ceoil (talk) 23:54, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Apologies for the presumption Paleface; just don't want you to be disappointed/frustrated if you reach too soon re TCS. Best. Ceoil (talk) 23:59, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

@Ceoil: No worries mate. I was thinking that or something even smaller like Lake Michigan Monster as that one has the same number of sources as Troika. Working my way up to articles over 100 citations is something I want to gradually do. In terms of Begotten I have been having troubles filtering down essentials on the Themes/Analysis to rewrite it, as sources are often frustratingly vague on specifics on what motifs and themes pertaining to the religious/occult aspects of the film. That will be my 3rd project to work on though I do want to focus on honing and perfecting my ability to copy edit as that is a weakness of mine that I require fine-tuneing.--Paleface Jack (talk) 03:00, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

• Still thinking about how best to engage with this request. Meanwhile, what do you think of this? John (talk) 13:17, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

Take your time, no rush. As to that edit, it looks good to me.--Paleface Jack (talk) 21:32, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

@John: Just a little update, I have chosen to work on a smaller article for FA instead of TCM and Begotten for now. The article in question is called Lake Michigan Monster, and I have been going over copy editing it with Ceoil for the better part of a month. If you are still busy, thats ok. My only real concern with the article is prose being as perfect as possible through multiple vetting through different users. Yout assistance was, and is always valued in your contributions to Troika. Good luck on your continued endeavers.--Paleface Jack (talk) 16:27, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

I like it. John (talk) 20:33, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

@John: Thanks, the more I looked at it, the more I felt it was a good pick me up for all the current things going on in the world. Readers might find it interesting enough--Paleface Jack (talk) 16:06, 13 November 2024 (UTC)

(talk page stalker) "Be warned, the Texas Chain Saw is quite messy...". Quite an understatement, I think. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:27, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

Martinevans123 With the scope of the article that massive, the "mess" will be there until the information is all added and copy edits/splicing starts.--Paleface Jack (talk) 16:06, 13 November 2024 (UTC)

Sorry. I meant the bit where Leatherface dismembers Kirk. Martinevans123 (talk) 17:58, 13 November 2024 (UTC)

Martinevans123 Funny. Had to transfer all that and effects stuff into a future article to cut down on everything. Cutting things apart and stitching things together in my own work of art is fun but a welcome challenge. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Paleface Jack (talk • contribs)

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A barnstar for you!

	The Copyeditor's Barnstar
	Thanks for helping out in resolving and fixing copyediting and formatting issues on the article December 2017 North American winter storm. It's also a FAC at the moment, so I appreciate the aforementioned effort you put into it! :) ~ Tails Wx 02:26, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

Thanks! It still needs a little work but I'm confident it can reach FA standard. John (talk) 09:27, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

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November thanks

story · music · places

Thank you for improving articles in November! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:43, 20 November 2024 (UTC)

I uploaded pics of a trip that was a 10-day celebration of a 16 November event, but the day was also when a dear friend died. We sang Hevenu shalom aleichem at his funeral yesterday, and it was good. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:25, 30 November 2024 (UTC)

struggle

I struggle with online editing would like to add header November thanks to last message but can't. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:47, 20 November 2024 (UTC)

Many thanks Gerda. I hope you are well and I appreciate the messages. John (talk) 17:03, 20 November 2024 (UTC)

Lake Michigan Monster

Just want to thank you for your copy edits on Lake Michigan Monster, I don't know if you are done with it or not, or if you feel it is complete enough. At the moment I am working on bringing up anther article I put off int the GA status club. I don't know who else could take a look at Lake Michigan Monster to make sure the nomination goes smoothly. Any suggestions? Paleface Jack (talk) 00:55, 22 November 2024 (UTC)

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Tone on FA's

Hi John

You were referred based on this discussion: Wikipedia:Featured article review/Byzantine Empire/archive3#Byzantine Empire

If you scroll down, you can see the discussion of a sentence rewrite about Christianity. It's representative of several issues, but the one you can help with (other than your own suggestion) is tone: should feature articles be written formally to be more objective? Or should we use a more direct style to make the content more engaging? This and anything else you have to say would be much appreciated. Biz (talk) 21:12, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for the message. I have read the discussion and I will consider posting an opinion there after I think about it a little. John (talk) 22:21, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

December music

story · music · places

On the Main page today Jean Sibelius on his birthday. Listening to Beethoven's Fifth from the opening of Notre-Dame de Paris. We sang in choirs today. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:25, 8 December 2024 (UTC)

It's great that it's open again. Such a shock when an old building burns. Congratulations on Sibelius. Might just go and read it, I don't know much about him. ----

Sibelius - as my user page says today - is the work of many. I wrote about several of his compositions when his birthday was celebrated in 2015. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:04, 8 December 2024 (UTC)

Listen today to the (new) Perplexities after Escher. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:58, 12 December 2024 (UTC)

Listen today to Beethoven's 3rd cello sonata, on his birthday - it was a hook in the 2020 DYK set when his 250th birthday was remembered. I picked a recording with Antônio Meneses, because he was on my sad list this year, and I was in Brazil (see places), and I love his playing. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:44, 16 December 2024 (UTC)

I come to fix the cellist's name, with a 10-years-old DYK and new pics - look for red birds --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:35, 18 December 2024 (UTC)

Today is a woman poet's centenary. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:54, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

Today it's another great woman, soprano Sigrid Kehl, and I found a 1963 Christmas Oratorio detail. 10 years earlier than that cycle, Bach wrote seven cantatas for the 1724 season, based on seven songs, - my focus this year. Expect three stories for the three days they celebrated in Leipzig ;) - Enjoy the season! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:07, 23 December 2024 (UTC)

Many thanks! A fascinating story. The same to you! John (talk) 21:17, 23 December 2024 (UTC)

My first Christmas story is about Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, 300 years today, and its song, 500 years old. Enjoy! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:21, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

You are so untiringly productive Gerda! I hope you are having a pleasant Christmas. Very best wishes, John (talk) 19:02, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

Thank you, - this article began in 2010 ;) - Christmas is pleasant, singing yesterday (pictured on my talk, but with an image from last year), company today, and now listening to a WDR version of the Christmas Oratorio (on yt). We have another day tomorrow, and there will be a new story. How about you? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:27, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

That sounds lovely! I'm having a reasonably mellow family Christmas. John (talk) 19:51, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

Thank you. - Similarly, my second Christmas story is about Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121, 300 years today, and its song, 500 years old. An aria is inspired by a baby leaping in his mother's womb. Enjoy! - Do you notice differences between the two cantata articles? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:16, 26 December 2024 (UTC)

My third Christmas story is different. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:57, 27 December 2024 (UTC)

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Io Saturnalia!

		Io, Saturnalia!
		Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season, from the horse and bishop person. May the year ahead be productive and distraction-free. Ealdgyth (talk) 15:16, 17 December 2024 (UTC)

Thanks! Same to you! John (talk) 00:51, 18 December 2024 (UTC)

Nadolig Llawen

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda.
Happy Christmas and Best wishes for a peaceful 2025: "Gabriel's Message" performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir.
("Birjina gaztetto bat zegoen", Basque folk carol)

---

Martinevans123 (talk) 15:55, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

Thanks Martin, that's beautiful. Same to you. John (talk) 17:03, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

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