User talk:Jonathunder
| This user may have left Wikipedia. Jonathunder has not edited Wikipedia since February 2022. As a result, any requests made here may not receive a response. If you are seeking assistance, you may need to approach someone else. |
A barnstar for you!
[edit]| The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar | |
| Many thanks for all your hard work over the year. Best Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 00:16, 29 June 2019 (UTC) |
- Welcome back :-) Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 22:04, 11 July 2019 (UTC)
with thanks
[edit]| cornflowers |
|---|
some wildflowers of thanks and understanding --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:44, 29 June 2019 (UTC)
Mzmadmike
[edit]Hi, forgive me for being a busybody, but a couple of things about WP:CBAN. First, the ban is usually recorded at WP:Editing restrictions. Second, although not required, you can place a tag on the editor's userpage. A non-administrator did that, and I reverted because it's your call and because non-admins shouldn't be tagging other editor's userpages anyway.--Bbb23 (talk) 21:56, 22 July 2019 (UTC)
Regarding WP:Editing restrictions
[edit]Hi, I believe that Mzmadmike shouldn't have been placed in Editing Restrictions, because it states that "editors who are subject to site bans are listed at Category:Banned Wikipedia users instead". Feel free to ignore this if I'm incorrect, that's just how I understand it and I wanted to bring it up to you. Best, -- Rockstonetalk to me! 01:55, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- I think you're right, but I was just following the instructions in the above section. Jonathunder (talk) 02:01, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- Well, I would undo it, but I really don't feel like drawing any more ire against Bbb23 (They're also wrong about non-administrators not being allowed to place CBAN tags on users, but that's a separate issue). I guess maybe ask another admin? -- Rockstonetalk to me! 02:06, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- There's nothing to undo because Jonathaunder hasn't put the user in editing restrictions. However, you bring up an interesting point because editing restrictions does say what you said, but that conflicts with WP:CBAN. If you want to do something useful, I would go to the talk page of WP:CBAN and point out the discrepancy because it should be resolved. As for the category, when Jonathaunder undid my revert at the user's userpage the ban tag automatically places the user in the category, but it's a hidden category. Hope this helps a bit.--Bbb23 (talk) 02:16, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- Oops, I'm wrong, Jonathunder edited a section of it, and that doesn't show up in the history of the overall page. I'm not sure what I'd do at this point, but I think I'd undo the editing restriction edit, at least for the moment, but I don't see any of this as urgent, and I'm going off-wiki now.--Bbb23 (talk) 02:19, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- There's nothing to undo because Jonathaunder hasn't put the user in editing restrictions. However, you bring up an interesting point because editing restrictions does say what you said, but that conflicts with WP:CBAN. If you want to do something useful, I would go to the talk page of WP:CBAN and point out the discrepancy because it should be resolved. As for the category, when Jonathaunder undid my revert at the user's userpage the ban tag automatically places the user in the category, but it's a hidden category. Hope this helps a bit.--Bbb23 (talk) 02:16, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- Well, I would undo it, but I really don't feel like drawing any more ire against Bbb23 (They're also wrong about non-administrators not being allowed to place CBAN tags on users, but that's a separate issue). I guess maybe ask another admin? -- Rockstonetalk to me! 02:06, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- I'll go make a note on the talk page of WP:CBAN about it, thank you for the suggestion! I think the reason indefinite bans aren't supposed to be listed in Editing Restrictions is for the same reason we don't have LOBU anymore: basically they just amount to gravedancing. At least, that's how I understand it. -- Rockstonetalk to me! 02:25, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- Quick edit: I think the intent is that a community site-ban sanction be logged by adding the banned user template to the user page, which is what I was trying to do when I applied the template to Mzmadmike's userpage (which like you said, causes it to show up in the list of banned users category, which is what we would want). That's at least how I reconciled current practice (posting the CBAN template on a userpage) with what it says. Like I said, I'll make a post about it in the talk page. I almost think I should make a post at the village pump regarding revising the whole way we do community site bans. -- Rockstonetalk to me! 02:29, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
- I'll go make a note on the talk page of WP:CBAN about it, thank you for the suggestion! I think the reason indefinite bans aren't supposed to be listed in Editing Restrictions is for the same reason we don't have LOBU anymore: basically they just amount to gravedancing. At least, that's how I understand it. -- Rockstonetalk to me! 02:25, 23 July 2019 (UTC)
Ottavio Bottecchia has been tagged with needing ref improvement. Can you help remedy that? Otherwise, if I can't fix it myself, I may be forced to replace him. Thanks. --- Coffeeandcrumbs 15:34, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
- I replaced him with Kurmanbek Bakiyev (b. 1949) as this will be his 70th birthday and the article is better referenced. Feel free, of course, to undo that or replace with a third person if you find someone better. Jonathunder (talk) 16:41, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – August 2019
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (July 2019).
|
|
- Following a request for comment, the page Wikipedia:Office actions has been changed from a policy page to an information page.
- A request for comment (permalink) is in progress regarding the administrator inactivity policy.
- Editors may now use the template {{Ds/aware}} to indicate that they are aware that discretionary sanctions are in force for a topic area, so it is unnecessary to alert them.
- Following a research project on masking IP addresses, the Foundation is starting a new project to improve the privacy of IP editors. The result of this project may significantly change administrative and counter-vandalism workflows. The project is in the very early stages of discussions and there is no concrete plan yet. Admins and the broader community are encouraged to leave feedback on the talk page.
- The new page reviewer right is bundled with the admin tool set. Many admins regularly help out at Special:NewPagesFeed, but they may not be aware of improvements, changes, and new tools for the Curation system. Stay up to date by subscribing here to the NPP newsletter that appears every two months, and/or putting the reviewers' talk page on your watchlist.
Since the introduction of temporary user rights, it is becoming more usual to accord the New Page Reviewer right on a probationary period of 3 to 6 months in the first instance. This avoids rights removal for inactivity at a later stage and enables a review of their work before according the right on a permanent basis.
Administrators' newsletter – September 2019
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (August 2019).

Bradv • Chetsford • Izno
Floquenbeam • Lectonar
DESiegel • Jake Wartenberg • Rjanag • Topbanana
Callanecc • Fox • HJ Mitchell • LFaraone • There'sNoTime
- Editors using the mobile website on Wikipedia can opt-in to new advanced features via your settings page. This will give access to more interface links, special pages, and tools.
- The advanced version of the edit review pages (recent changes, watchlist, and related changes) now includes two new filters. These filters are for "All contents" and "All discussions". They will filter the view to just those namespaces.
- A request for comment is open to provide an opportunity to amend the structure, rules, and procedures of the 2019 English Wikipedia Arbitration Committee election and to resolve any issues not covered by existing rules.
- A global request for comment is in progress regarding whether a user group should be created that could modify edit filters across all public Wikimedia wikis.
Pete Buttigieg Protection
[edit]Hi there,
I see in the history of the article that you AC-ed it today for a week, but the padlock doesn't seem to have appeared - could you confirm that you added the {{}} bit of it? Or that there isn't another issue at play?
It may need EC-protection if another AC-permissioned editor vandalises it.
Nosebagbear (talk) 17:15, 13 September 2019 (UTC)
- Thank you for the note. When I've protected a page in the past, I think a bot or someone who attends to such things has applied the padlock, but to be perfectly honest, I haven't paid attention. Can anyone watching this page do what is needed or tell me what to do? Jonathunder (talk) 16:56, 14 September 2019 (UTC)
- Judging from a previous protection action, it looks like you have to add the Page protection template manually. | Uncle Milty | talk | 17:07, 14 September 2019 (UTC)
Disambiguation link notification for September 16
[edit]An automated process has detected that when you recently edited Minnesota State Highway 277, you added a link pointing to the disambiguation page Chippewa County (check to confirm | fix with Dab solver).
(Opt-out instructions.) --DPL bot (talk) 07:29, 16 September 2019 (UTC)
Dorsey at Lakewood
[edit]Today I made it to Lakewood Cemetery and came away with a not great but usable image. Maybe you can do better. I wondered if Lakewood accepts money for cleanup of graves. Most of her family is there but it's difficult to see exactly where. I couldn't find her brother Nebraska, the pianist. File:Dorsey_Lakewood_Cemetery_20190928.jpg. -SusanLesch (talk) 23:37, 28 September 2019 (UTC)
- So good to hear from you again, Susan. Could I ask what time of day the photo was taken? Perhaps an overcast day later this fall will provide more even light and good color. I can try. Do you have the specific location of this marker? Jonathunder (talk) 13:00, 30 September 2019 (UTC)
- Greetings, Jonathunder the Kind. Burial Search for "Ida Dorsey" will yield a link to "Print Map" which is a map of Section 11. She's in Lot 506 which can be inferred to be close to "Priene." Priene is a small monument and I never saw "Bulmer" that the map labels. The tree might be the best landmark to help you find the Dorseys. -SusanLesch (talk) 14:39, 1 October 2019 (UTC) P.S. I think I made this one around noon. -SusanLesch (talk) 14:51, 1 October 2019 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – October 2019
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (September 2019).
|
|
- Following a discussion, a new criterion for speedy category renaming was added: C2F: One eponymous article, which
applies if the category contains only an eponymous article or media file, provided that the category has not otherwise been emptied shortly before the nomination. The default outcome is an upmerge to the parent categories
.
- Following a discussion, a new criterion for speedy category renaming was added: C2F: One eponymous article, which
- As previously noted, tighter password requirements for Administrators were put in place last year. Wikipedia should now alert you if your password is less than 10 characters long and thus too short.
- The 2019 CheckUser and Oversight appointment process has begun. The community consultation period will take place October 4th to 10th.
- The arbitration case regarding Fram was closed. While there will be a local RfC
focus[ing] on how harassment and private complaints should be handled in the future
, there is currently a global community consultation on partial and temporary office actions in response to the incident. It will be open until October 30th.
- The Community Tech team has been working on a system for temporarily watching pages, and welcomes feedback.
Happy First edit day!
[edit]Invitation to join the Fifteen Year Society
[edit]
Dear Jonathunder,
I'd like to extend a cordial invitation to you to join the Fifteen Year Society, an informal group for editors who've been participating in the Wikipedia project for fifteen years or more.
Best regards, Chris Troutman (talk) 01:53, 6 October 2019 (UTC)
File:2019-10-07DanFeehan.jpg
[edit]Please remember to check Special:WhatLinksHere when moving a file without a redirect and update any links pointing to that file. In the case of File:2019-10-07DanFeehan.jpg, a redirect should have been left behind per WP:FILEREDIRECT and WP:PMRC. While you are the uploader and can change the file name to whatever you would like, "Overly long name" would generally fall under WP:FMNN unless the name was seriously approaching the 240 byte limit. --AntiCompositeNumber (talk) 11:21, 16 October 2019 (UTC)
- There's no need for a redirect to the overly long name you came up with, as it will never be used. For one thing, it's not a unique description: the file on Commons is also of Feehan at a campaign announcement. You might have asked me before moving the file. Jonathunder (talk) 13:07, 16 October 2019 (UTC)
Mia Native American Artists Edit-a-Thon
[edit]| Mia Native American Artists Edit-a-Thon | |
|---|---|
|
Hello Jonathunder. You are invited to attend a Native American Artists edit-a-thon at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) on Saturday, November 9, 2019, from 11am to 4pm. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, join in honoring Native American artists whose work is represented in Mia's collections by creating or enhancing Wikipedia articles.
| |
- Thank you for the invitation, but I will be attending the WikiConference North America 2019. Jonathunder (talk) 14:18, 23 October 2019 (UTC)
Public art in Boston
[edit]Happy to continue the discussion on the Statue of Leif Erikson (Boston), but in the meantime, just wanted to thank you for your work expanding the article. Just FYI, if you're interested in public art/sculpture in Boston in general, I am currently using the project page Wikipedia:WikiProject Sculpture/Boston to expand List of public art in Boston and create articles about public artworks in the city. I'll be creating a similar list for Cambridge as well. I doing this work ahead and of the upcoming WikiConference and hope to continue creating many more pages! Thanks again for your help. ---Another Believer (Talk) 16:02, 25 October 2019 (UTC)
- I plan to go to the same conference; perhaps I'll see you there. I found the monument when compiling a list of sites to visit and try to improve the photos, as I have long been interested in Leif Eriksson and Norse exploration in general, being from Minnesota and claiming descent from Vikings. Jonathunder (talk) 16:10, 25 October 2019 (UTC)
- Jonathunder, I'll be there!, so say hi if you see me around. I hope to visit some of these monuments as a walk around the city outside the conference. Whether or not you tackle any other public artwork articles, happy editing! ---Another Believer (Talk) 16:12, 25 October 2019 (UTC)
Edit rights
[edit]Hi there,
I see you made a change to my edit rights based on The SignPost article. I gave SmallBones the citation to the AN Closure Board of the ANI Review of all of these same allegations, but he did not use it. SoWhy, an uninvolved admin summarizing the admin consensus said Feinberg’s story was written by someone who “has no idea how Wikipedia works” and that I had not violated any Wikipedia policies or Terms of Use. [1]. Swarm, an admin who was involved in the discussion, did his own summary of the ANI review: "Eight admins have replied to the thread. All eight appear to be on the same page that the article is exaggerated sensationalism, and that the editor has not actually has done anything wrong. It has been suggested that the user should probably be more concise, but we haven't seen anything to support the notion that they're relentlessly argumentative or engage in "bludgeoning" behavior." [2] The ANI review included the PayTalk and bludgeoning accusations that Smallbones is bringing up again. Dozens of editors looked at every contribution I ever made and found no violation. My entire consulting practice is based on ethical behavior and strictly following Wikipedia policies.
Farrow says in the end notes to his book that the accusations against me are taken from the Huffington Post story. I don't see why changing my status is justified just because the press repeats the same accusations and finds Wikipedia's COI policies objectionable (that there is a sanctioned process for paid conflicted editors to propose changes and have them reviewed by independent Wikipedia editors).
Cheers, Ed BC1278 (talk) 19:02, 31 October 2019 (UTC)
- I simply don't see the need for the extended edit right on an account which is only used for paid advocacy. Jonathunder (talk) 19:08, 31 October 2019 (UTC)
- If it's something you want to propose to your fellow admins for all self-declared paid editors, then that's understandable. To be frank, I don't understand the full implications of what you've done yet. Maybe it makes sense. My point is that more than any other paid editor in recent years, my work has already been poured over. So why treat me differently than other paid editors? BC1278 (talk) 01:08, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
- And I certainly don't engage in WP: Advocacy. Much of my work consists of suggesting to other editors that they correct biased and inaccurate language and POV being flung at the subjects of articles. I often use the official channel just to ask for corrections. Some of the admins who actually looked at the accusations closely at ANI, like Swarm, said my work made Wikipedia more accurate. You're taking this action based on a newsletter column that's based on press accounts written by people who have no experience on Wikipedia. The columnist on Wired takes the position that anyone getting paid is engaging in "paid advocacy." He thinks he's making up a new term -- he doesn't know Wikipedia has its own policy with the same name. BC1278 (talk) 02:04, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
- Wikipedia actually does not have a policy with that name. And you are certainly engaging in paid advocacy on behalf of your clients as e.g. defined by Jimmy Wales. I think Jonathunder made the right decision here. Regards, HaeB (talk) 03:21, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
- Adding my +1 as an admin in support of removing the extended rights too. Personally, I'm fine with uncontroversial paid editing (rather, proposed edits on the talk page as you do), the controversial editing and back-and-forth about proposed edits is much more problematic. tedder (talk) 03:40, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
- Just wanted to weigh in here to note that BC1278 (talk) has repeatedly mischaracterized the discussions that took place around the propriety of his editing behavior (and he steadfastly refuses to link to the full discussion for that very reason). The consensus seems to be that he's either completely unethical but manages to violate the spirit of Wikipedia guidelines without violating their letter, or that he's blatantly breaking the rules. He has a history of scrubbing his talk page, but has been repeatedly admonished by other editors for his aggressive advocacy in the past. DaRonPayne (talk) 02:31, 3 November 2019 (UTC)
- Wikipedia actually does not have a policy with that name. And you are certainly engaging in paid advocacy on behalf of your clients as e.g. defined by Jimmy Wales. I think Jonathunder made the right decision here. Regards, HaeB (talk) 03:21, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
- And I certainly don't engage in WP: Advocacy. Much of my work consists of suggesting to other editors that they correct biased and inaccurate language and POV being flung at the subjects of articles. I often use the official channel just to ask for corrections. Some of the admins who actually looked at the accusations closely at ANI, like Swarm, said my work made Wikipedia more accurate. You're taking this action based on a newsletter column that's based on press accounts written by people who have no experience on Wikipedia. The columnist on Wired takes the position that anyone getting paid is engaging in "paid advocacy." He thinks he's making up a new term -- he doesn't know Wikipedia has its own policy with the same name. BC1278 (talk) 02:04, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
- If it's something you want to propose to your fellow admins for all self-declared paid editors, then that's understandable. To be frank, I don't understand the full implications of what you've done yet. Maybe it makes sense. My point is that more than any other paid editor in recent years, my work has already been poured over. So why treat me differently than other paid editors? BC1278 (talk) 01:08, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
I appreciate the advice from other admins. I have not examined BC1278's history in detail, much less taken a position on any disputes, so I think I remain uninvolved. I simply don't think an account for paid editing, which is mostly confined to talk pages, needs the extended edit right. I don't think what I did should really make much difference. Jonathunder (talk) 04:16, 3 November 2019 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – November 2019
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (October 2019).
|
|
- An RfC was closed with the consensus that the resysop criteria should be made stricter.
- The follow-up RfC to develop that change is now open at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/2019 Resysop Criteria (2).
- A related RfC is seeking the community's sentiment for a binding desysop procedure.
- Eligible editors may now nominate themselves as candidates for the 2019 Arbitration Committee Elections. The self-nomination period will close November 12, with voting running from November 19 through December 2.
A survey to improve the community consultation outreach process
[edit]Hello!
The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to improve the community consultation outreach process for Foundation policies, and we are interested in why you didn't participate in a recent consultation that followed a community discussion you’ve been part of.
Please fill out this short survey to help us improve our community consultation process for the future. It should only take about three minutes.
The privacy policy for this survey is here. This survey is a one-off request from us related to this unique topic.
Thank you for your participation, Kbrown (WMF) 10:44, 13 November 2019 (UTC)
ArbCom 2019 election voter message
[edit]A Dobos torte for you!
[edit]| 7&6=thirteen (☎) has given you a Dobos torte to enjoy! Seven layers of fun because you deserve it.
To give a Dobos torte and spread the WikiLove, just place {{subst:Dobos Torte}} on someone else's talkpage, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past or a good friend. |
7&6=thirteen (☎) 18:26, 19 November 2019 (UTC)
Speedy deletion nomination of Calvin Brown
[edit]Hello Jonathunder,
I wanted to let you know that I just tagged Calvin Brown for deletion, because it seems to be promotional, rather than an encyclopedia article.
If you feel that the article shouldn't be deleted and want more time to work on it, you can contest this deletion, but please don't remove the speedy deletion tag from the top.
You can leave a note on my talk page if you have questions. Thanks!
Message delivered via the Page Curation tool, on behalf of the reviewer.
Kingsif (talk) 15:19, 20 November 2019 (UTC)
Freedom Trail, license
[edit]Hey, figured I'd follow up here since I'm going off-topic.
Did you wind up doing the whole Freedom Trail? I took a lot of pics at the Granary Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Monument, and the Skinny House, but just a few elsewhere. I feel like there are a lot of opportunities at Faneuil Hall, etc. if only I had a better lens with me or the light were more cooperative. :) I lived in Boston for a while, but never actually got around to most of the touristy stuff, so it was nice to come back (frigid though it was).
Also just curious if there's a story behind your choice of license? I'm not used to seeing that on new files, so just curious (I'm not someone who's particularly passionate about choice of license FWIW). — Rhododendrites talk \\ 17:28, 20 November 2019 (UTC)
- I walked only part of the trail, as there was so much to see and photograph. I want to visit Boston again and get more. As for why I choose the GFDL, it's because I've found in practice Creative Commons gets treated as Public Domain and with it work all too often gets reused elsewhere without attribution. Jonathunder (talk) 22:34, 20 November 2019 (UTC)
- After Copp's Hill it's just the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument. Much longer walks to those than the others, so a sensible cut-off point.
- What about being GFDL leads people to either not use or actually provide attribution? Or is it by virtue of not being on Commons? I do see all manner of attribution (or non attribution) to my photos. Sometimes if I see that one's being used frequently I'll reverse image search it and find a bunch of low rent blogs, etc. using it without attribution (or e.g. "via Wikipedia"). Meh. It's annoying but I complain only when it's flagrant or a particularly high-profile publication (Huffington Post, etc. should know better). In a couple cases, nontrivial publications have even slapped their own name on it (!). Thankfully they're usually willing to fix their mistakes... — Rhododendrites talk \\ 23:26, 20 November 2019 (UTC)
The Signpost: 29 November 2019
[edit]- From the editor: Put on your birthday best
"We get by with a little help from our friends"
- News and notes: How soon for the next million articles?
And when will we get the second extraterrestrial edit?
- In the media: You say you want a revolution
Everybody wants to change Wikipedia.
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
A selection of good news and encouraging stories from the Wikiverse.
- Arbitration report: Two requests for arbitration cases
Important or imprudent? Pondering portals. And an editor gets transported off-wiki for good.
- Traffic report: The queen and the princess meet the king and the joker
Could this be the end of the Terminator?
- Technology report: Reference things, sister things, stranger things
The latest tech news and updates.
- Gallery: Winter and holidays
Some interesting and unusual winter and holiday images.
- Recent research: Bot census; discussions differ on Spanish and English Wikipedia; how nature's seasons affect pageviews
And other new research publications.
- Essay: Adminitis
Some humor about the otherwise serious subject of burnout.
- From the archives: WikiProject Spam, revisited
Veteran editor: Wikipedia is losing existential battle against spam.
- In focus: An update on the Wikimedia Movement 2030 Strategy
Coming to the end of a long road formulating the strategy.
- Special report: How many people edit in your favorite language? Where are they from?
Only now can we say!
Administrators' newsletter – December 2019
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (November 2019).

EvergreenFir • ToBeFree
Akhilleus • Athaenara • John Vandenberg • Melchoir • MichaelQSchmidt • NeilN • Youngamerican • 😂
Interface administrator changes
- An RfC on the administrator resysop criteria was closed. 18 proposals have been summarised with a variety of supported and opposed statements. The inactivity grace period within which a new request for adminship is not required has been reduced from three years to two. Additionally, Bureaucrats are permitted to use their discretion when returning administrator rights.
- Following a proposal, the edit filter mailing list has been opened up to users with the Edit Filter Helper right.
- Wikimedia projects can set a default block length for users via MediaWiki:ipb-default-expiry. A new page, MediaWiki:ipb-default-expiry-ip, allows the setting of a different default block length for IP editors. Neither is currently used. (T219126)
- Voting in the 2019 Arbitration Committee Elections is open to eligible editors until Monday 23:59, 2 December 2018 UTC. Please review the candidates and, if you wish to do so, submit your choices on the voting page.
- The global consultation on partial and temporary office actions that ended in October received a closing statement from staff concluding, among other things, that the WMF
will no longer use partial or temporary Office Action bans... until and unless community consensus that they are of value or Board directive
.
- The global consultation on partial and temporary office actions that ended in October received a closing statement from staff concluding, among other things, that the WMF
File:ChastenPeteButtigieg.jpg listed for discussion
[edit]
A file that you uploaded or altered, File:ChastenPeteButtigieg.jpg, has been listed at Wikipedia:Files for discussion. Please see the discussion to see why it has been listed (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry). Feel free to add your opinion on the matter below the nomination. Thank you. Magog the Ogre (t • c) 03:18, 11 December 2019 (UTC)
Happy Holidays
[edit]| Thank you for continuing to make Wikipedia the greatest project in the world. I hope you have an excellent holiday season. Lightburst (talk) 23:13, 21 December 2019 (UTC) |
If God played dice with the universe...
[edit]...and initially bet on snake eyes with Eve, sending his son down to Earth to play rock paper scissors with its primates for awhile was one of his better ideas. Happiest of Christmas and New Year's to you and yours, and a blessed 2020 to follow! Randy Kryn (talk) 13:33, 25 December 2019 (UTC)
Minneapolis RfCs
[edit]Your input at 1, 2, or 3 would be welcome. -SusanLesch (talk) 17:14, 30 December 2019 (UTC)
Precious anniversary
[edit]| Six years! |
|---|
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:39, 3 January 2020 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – January 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (December 2019).
|
|
- A request for comment asks whether partial blocks should be enabled on the English Wikipedia. If enabled, this functionality would allow administrators to block users from editing specific pages or namespaces, rather than the entire site.
- A proposal asks whether admins who don't use their tools for a significant period of time (e.g. five years) should have the toolset procedurally removed.
- Following a successful RfC, a whitelist is now available for users whose redirects will be autopatrolled by a bot, removing them from the new pages patrol queue. Admins can add such users to Wikipedia:New pages patrol/Redirect whitelist after a discussion following the guidelines at Wikipedia talk:New pages patrol/Redirect whitelist.
- The fourth case on Palestine-Israel articles was closed. The case consolidated all previous remedies under one heading, which should make them easier to understand, apply, and enforce. In particular, the distinction between "primary articles" and "related content" has been clarified, with the former being
the entire set of articles whose topic relates to the Arab-Israeli conflict, broadly interpreted
rather thanreasonably construed
. - Following the 2019 Arbitration Committee elections, the following editors have been appointed to the Arbitration Committee: Beeblebrox, Bradv, Casliber, David Fuchs, DGG, KrakatoaKatie, Maxim, Newyorkbrad, SoWhy, Worm That Turned, Xeno.
- The fourth case on Palestine-Israel articles was closed. The case consolidated all previous remedies under one heading, which should make them easier to understand, apply, and enforce. In particular, the distinction between "primary articles" and "related content" has been clarified, with the former being
- This issue marks three full years of the Admin newsletter. Thanks for reading!
Alexa Bliss file dispute
[edit]Would it be better for me to back the deletion nomination (which is seemingly lacking) of the current file in question and re-upload it with a free license to remediate the "fair use" issue causing the other user to disruptively edit the article? It is a far higher quality image and without anyone else in frame, far more fitting for the article, in my opinion. ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 08:31, 7 January 2020 (UTC)
- Where did you get File:Lexi Kaufman Wikipedia.jpg? When you uploaded it, you wrote "This picture was taken at a public event" but you did not say who took the picture. That's important. Did you get it off the Internet? Jonathunder (talk) 11:49, 7 January 2020 (UTC)
- No no, it's not off the Internet, the photo itself is mine. However, I am not in it and I felt it would be a better fit than the previous one which has others in the shot, appears grainy, etc ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 23:12, 7 January 2020 (UTC)
- If you took it yourself with your camera, please say that in the deletion discussion. It may help to say what kind of camera you used and other circumstances you are willing to share. If you are indeed the photographer, the photo should not be deleted and you deserve thanks for uploading it. Jonathunder (talk) 01:04, 8 January 2020 (UTC)
- Thank you for your input. If and when can the picture be restored to the article? Should I refrain from doing so until the deletion request is denied? ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 02:47, 8 January 2020 (UTC)
- UPDATE: I re-uploaded the file with a free use license along with more information and restored it to use in the article. I removed my prior comments in the deletion discussion fighting the nomination and stated it now meets the "redundant file" criterion for speedy deletion. If the user who took issue with the fair use license removes it again, I will report them for disruptive editing. Thank you for your earlier assistance! ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 06:09, 15 January 2020 (UTC)
- Thank you for your input. If and when can the picture be restored to the article? Should I refrain from doing so until the deletion request is denied? ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 02:47, 8 January 2020 (UTC)
- If you took it yourself with your camera, please say that in the deletion discussion. It may help to say what kind of camera you used and other circumstances you are willing to share. If you are indeed the photographer, the photo should not be deleted and you deserve thanks for uploading it. Jonathunder (talk) 01:04, 8 January 2020 (UTC)
- No no, it's not off the Internet, the photo itself is mine. However, I am not in it and I felt it would be a better fit than the previous one which has others in the shot, appears grainy, etc ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 23:12, 7 January 2020 (UTC)
Thank you for your photo. It's better for the article than what was there before and I'm glad what I wrote was helpful. Jonathunder (talk) 15:12, 15 January 2020 (UTC)
- No problem and thanks again! :) ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 19:12, 16 January 2020 (UTC)
- @Jonathunder: Just when I thought it was over...Etacarinaee is again replacing my image with the grainy one, now claiming that my photo is inferior because it's a few months older. I'm concerned that they won't stop because they remove any warnings I put on their talk page. They also added unreferenced controversial biographical info to the article and it appears disruptive editing behavior extends back to at least October. Perhaps they've already been sufficiently warned to be blocked? ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 17:38, 8 February 2020 (UTC)
- Seems silly to revert to an inferior image, but if it happens again, don't edit war yourself; let me know or post on the article talk page. Jonathunder (talk) 02:50, 9 February 2020 (UTC)
- @Jonathunder: Will do :) ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 03:08, 9 February 2020 (UTC)
- @Jonathunder: Etacarinaee reverted to that inferior image again. My image has since been moved from the infobox to a lower section after a newer quality image was uploaded, but I thought you should still know the problematic behavior is continuing. [3] ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 00:22, 8 April 2020 (UTC)
- @Jonathunder: Will do :) ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 03:08, 9 February 2020 (UTC)
- Seems silly to revert to an inferior image, but if it happens again, don't edit war yourself; let me know or post on the article talk page. Jonathunder (talk) 02:50, 9 February 2020 (UTC)
- @Jonathunder: Just when I thought it was over...Etacarinaee is again replacing my image with the grainy one, now claiming that my photo is inferior because it's a few months older. I'm concerned that they won't stop because they remove any warnings I put on their talk page. They also added unreferenced controversial biographical info to the article and it appears disruptive editing behavior extends back to at least October. Perhaps they've already been sufficiently warned to be blocked? ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 17:38, 8 February 2020 (UTC)
Since I agree your photo is better for the infobox I put it back there, but please don't leave the other editor messages implying they will be blocked. Instead, if reverted, please discuss on the article's talk page. Jonathunder (talk) 15:03, 8 April 2020 (UTC)
- @Jonathunder: Acknowledged :) ☧Catholic Laitinen ☧ (talk) 22:35, 11 April 2020 (UTC)
Happy Adminship Anniversary!
[edit]Mayo Clinic
[edit]Hi, Jonathunder! If you recall, several months ago you offered feedback to my requested updates to History at Mayo Clinic. Based on your thoughts and those of another editor, I updated my request. However, no one has yet had a chance to review the proposed improvements. If you are still interested in editing articles about Mayo Clinic, I would really appreciate your feedback. Thanks! Audrey at Mayo Clinic (talk) 04:06, 14 January 2020 (UTC)
Minneapolis
[edit]Hi Jonathunder, yesterday while you were making this photo I was right around the corner at HiFi records to see Steve McClellan. I remember walking by that building and seeing a wedding party gathered inside about 3pm. They were gone when I came back through a half hour later. Are you taking photos as a member of a WikiProject? -SusanLesch (talk) 13:00, 26 January 2020 (UTC)
- P.S. I was snooping around trying to close the Minneapolis RfCs. One down two to go. -SusanLesch (talk) 14:14, 26 January 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 27 January 2020
[edit]- From the editor: Reaching six million articles is great, but we need a moratorium
How long can we ignore Wiki-PR?
- News and notes: Six million articles on the English language Wikipedia
You ain't seen nothing yet.
- Special report: The limits of volunteerism and the gatekeepers of Team Encarta
How to survive the asshole consensus.
- In the media: Turkey's back up, but what's happening with Dot-org and a new visual identity?
Plus politics and other oddities.
- Arbitration report: Three cases at ArbCom
The new arbs have a big load.
- Traffic report: The most viewed articles of 2019
As only The Signpost can describe them.
- Gallery: Wiki Loves Monuments 2019, we're all winners
The top 15 international photos.
- News from the WMF: Capacity Building: Top 5 Themes from Community Conversations
Growing our community and our abilities.
- Community view: Our most important new article since November 1, 2015
Well, it's a bit subjective.
- In focus: Cryptos and bitcoins and blockchains, oh no!
Everybody needs to make a buck somehow — just not here, thanks.
- Recent research: How useful is Wikipedia for novice programmers trying to learn computing concepts?
And other new research publications.
- From the archives: A decade of The Signpost, 2005-2015
The first 10 years are the hardest.
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
A selection of good news and encouraging stories from the Wikiverse.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject Japan: a wikiProject Report
An interview with four members of the WikiProject Japan.
- Humour: Predicting the 6,000,000th article
I may fall in love all over again!
- Obituary: Remembering Wikipedia contributor Brian Boulton
A mentor to us all
Intellectual disabilty
[edit]Hi Jonathunder. I respectfully disagree with your restoring "mental retardation". Yes, articles are written for nonspecialists, but that doesn't mean excessive weight needs to be placed on outdated terminology. See euphemism treadmill. Mental retardation redirects to the article, and the terminology is explained in much detail in the article. Since this is a medical article, and with WP:BRD in mind, I ask that you revert your edit and discuss on talk page where medical editors can discuss. Thanks. Sundayclose (talk) 17:43, 28 January 2020 (UTC)
- Alternatively, the term could be placed in parentheses: "Intellectual disability (ID), also known as general learning disability (and sometimes the outdated term "mental retardation) ..." That would at least let the reader know immediately that the term is rarely used by professionals. But I much prefer that it be removed completely, or at least discussed. Sundayclose (talk) 17:58, 28 January 2020 (UTC)
- As the article discusses the term in detail, it should be mentioned in the lede and the brief mention there is not undue weight. But by all means go ahead and discuss further on the article talk page. Jonathunder (talk) 22:49, 28 January 2020 (UTC)
- Thanks for the reply. Actually, considering that ICD-11 (which does not use the term) won't be released until 2022 I think I'll wait for its release to revisit the issue. Sundayclose (talk) 01:23, 29 January 2020 (UTC)
- As the article discusses the term in detail, it should be mentioned in the lede and the brief mention there is not undue weight. But by all means go ahead and discuss further on the article talk page. Jonathunder (talk) 22:49, 28 January 2020 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – February 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (January 2020).
|
|
- Following a request for comment, partial blocks are now enabled on the English Wikipedia. This functionality allows administrators to block users from editing specific pages or namespaces rather than the entire site. A draft policy is being workshopped at Wikipedia:Partial blocks.
- The request for comment seeking the community's sentiment for a binding desysop procedure closed with
wide-spread support for an alternative desysoping procedure based on community input
. No proposed process received consensus.
- Twinkle now supports partial blocking. There is a small checkbox that toggles the "partial" status for both blocks and templating. There is currently one template: {{uw-pblock}}.
- When trying to move a page, if the target title already exists then a warning message is shown. The warning message will now include a link to the target title. [4]
- Following a recent arbitration case, the Arbitration Committee reminded administrators
that checkuser and oversight blocks must not be reversed or modified without prior consultation with the checkuser or oversighter who placed the block, the respective functionary team, or the Arbitration Committee.
- Following a recent arbitration case, the Arbitration Committee reminded administrators
- Voting in the 2020 Steward elections will begin on 08 February 2020, 14:00 (UTC) and end on 28 February 2020, 13:59 (UTC). The confirmation process of current stewards is being held in parallel. You can automatically check your eligibility to vote.
- The English Wikipedia has reached six million articles. Thank you everyone for your contributions!
The Signpost: 1 March 2020
[edit]- From the editor: The ball is in your court
How to stop abusive commercial editing.
- News and notes: Alexa ranking down to 13th worldwide
Falling behind Chinese websites.
- Special report: More participation, more conversation, more pageviews
A statistical insight into the English Wikipedia's very own online community newsletter.
- In the media: Mapping IP editors, Smithsonian open-access, and coronavirus disinformation
We're all over the map this month.
- Discussion report: Do you prefer M or P?
Wikimedia or Wikipedia?
- Arbitration report: Two prominent administrators removed
Arbitration Committee and the "blue wall of silence".
- By the numbers: How many actions by administrators does it take to clean up spam?
Numbers for vandalism and sockpuppeting included at no additional charge!
- Community view: The Incredible Invisible Woman
No more "Hidden Figures", let's work to make women visible on Wikipedia!
- In focus: History of The Signpost, 2015–2019
Covering Wikipedia for another five years!
- Recent research: Wikipedia generates $50 billion/year consumer surplus in the US alone
And other new research results
- From the archives: Is Wikipedia for sale?
How long has Wikipedia been for sale? When will it stop?
- Traffic report: February articles, floating in the dark
Kobe sets another record.
- Gallery: Feel the love
Renewing our vows.
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
A selection of good news and encouraging stories from the Wikiverse.
- Op-Ed: What I learned as Wikimedia UK Communications Coordinator
Getting across the Wikipedia experience to the press.
- Opinion: Wikipedia is another country
Or: how to best bite a newbie.
- Humour: The Wilhelm scream
WikiWorld is back.
Administrators' newsletter – March 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (February 2020).
- Following an RfC, the blocking policy was changed to state that sysops
must not
undo or alter CheckUser or Oversight blocks, rather thanshould not
. - A request for comment confirmed that sandboxes of established but inactive editors may not be blanked due solely to inactivity.
- Following an RfC, the blocking policy was changed to state that sysops
- Following a discussion, Twinkle's default CSD behavior will soon change, most likely this week. After the change, Twinkle will default to "tagging mode" if there is no CSD tag present, and default to "deletion mode" if there is a CSD tag present. You will be able to always default to "deletion mode" (the current behavior) using your Twinkle preferences.
- Following the 2020 Steward Elections, the following editors have been appointed as stewards: BRPever, Krd, Martin Urbanec, MusikAnimal, Sakretsu, Sotiale, and Tks4Fish. There are a total of seven editors that have been appointed as stewards, the most since 2014.
- The 2020 appointees for the Ombudsman commission are Ajraddatz and Uzoma Ozurumba; they will serve for one year.
RfC on Minneapolis city history
[edit]Hi Jonathunder. Your help would help at Talk:Minneapolis#RFC_on_city_history. Thank you. -SusanLesch (talk) 15:01, 5 March 2020 (UTC)
Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on religion
[edit]Dear User:Jonathunder, I hope this message finds you doing well. I note that you have uploaded many wonderful photographs related to WikiProject Christianity and was wondering if you know of any suitable images of traditional churches during the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic. It would be nice to have one or two of them for the Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on religion article. I hope this helps and look forward to hearing from you. With regards, AnupamTalk 20:04, 17 March 2020 (UTC)

- Thank you for noticing my photographs and for the barnstar. Here is a photo I took this Sunday morning of a sign on the red door of an Episcopal Church announcing it is temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Perhaps it will be of use. Jonathunder (talk) 22:38, 22 March 2020 (UTC)
- User:Jonathunder, thank you for taking this photograph. I really appreciate it and have added it to the article. Kind regards, AnupamTalk 23:26, 22 March 2020 (UTC)
A barnstar for you!
[edit]
|
The Christianity Barnstar | |
| Dear Jonathunder, I award you The Christianity Barnstar for all your hard work in WikiProject Christianity-related articles, especially the high-quality photographs you have added to various articles such as chalking the door. Keep up the good work! Your efforts are making a difference here! With regards, AnupamTalk 20:06, 17 March 2020 (UTC)) |
The Signpost: 29 March 2020
[edit]- From the editors: The bad and the good
Getting ready for anything.
- News and notes: 2018 Wikipedian of the year blocked
Wheel war on Tatar Wikipedia.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject COVID-19: A WikiProject Report
An interview with members of the COVID Project.
- Special report: Wikipedia on COVID-19: what we publish and why it matters
Wikipedia presents solid widely-consulted information on COVID-19 and related topics.
- In the media: Blocked in Iran but still covering the big story
COVID-19, Zika, edit-a-thons, and macrons.
- Discussion report: Rethinking draft space
Plus: geonotices, reliable sources, and job titles.
- Arbitration report: Unfinished business
A new case, a case returns from limbo, and an RfC being prepared.
- In focus: "I have been asked by Jeffrey Epstein …"
The twists and turns of Epstein’s portrayal on Wikipedia.
- Community view: Wikimedia community responds to COVID-19
Individually and in organized groups, Wikimedians stand up and make a difference.
- Recent research: Disease outbreak uncertainties, AfD forecasting, auto-updating Wikipedia
New research publications on "the fear of being erased" and other topics.
- From the archives: Text from Wikipedia good enough for Oxford University Press to claim as own
Five years ago with a different crisis.
- Traffic report: The only thing that matters in the world
Going to movies and sport stadiums is history, and readers turn to Wikipedia for crucial medical information and updates.
- Gallery: Visible Women on Wikipedia
Images from the Whose Knowlege? campaign.
- News from the WMF: Amid COVID-19, Wikimedia Foundation offers full pay for reduced hours, mobilizes all staff to work remote, and waives sick time
The WMF responds.
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
A selection of good news and encouraging stories from the Wikiverse.
Administrators' newsletter – April 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (March 2020).
|
|
- There is an ongoing request for comment to streamline the source deprecation and blacklisting process.
- There is a plan for new requirements for user signatures. You can give feedback.
- Following the banning of an editor by the WMF last year, the Arbitration Committee resolved to hold a
Arbcom RfC regarding on-wiki harassment
. A draft RfC has been posted at Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Anti-harassment RfC (Draft) and not open to comments from the community yet. Interested editors can comment on the RfC itself on its talk page.
- Following the banning of an editor by the WMF last year, the Arbitration Committee resolved to hold a
- The WMF has begun a pilot report of the pages most visited through various social media platforms to help with anti-vandalism and anti-disinformation efforts. The report is updated daily and will be available through the end of May.
The Signpost: 26 April 2020
[edit]- News and notes: Unbiased information from Ukraine's government?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pitches in.
- In the media: Coronavirus, again and again
Plus the importance of language.
- Discussion report: Redesigning Wikipedia, bit by bit
The Wikimedia community discusses modifying or hiding the sidebar on the left of every page.
- Featured content: Featured content returns
Movies, roads, awards and more.
- Arbitration report: Two difficult cases
Even our best editors sometimes disagree.
- Traffic report: Disease the Rhythm of the Night
Coronavirus, coronavirus, and Joe Exotic.
- Gallery: Roy is doing fine and sending more photos
A coronavirus cruise can't stop Roy!
- Recent research: Trending topics across languages; auto-detecting bias
And other new research results.
- Essay: Wikipedia:An article about yourself isn't necessarily a good thing
And it could get worse!
- By the numbers: Open data and COVID-19: Wikipedia as an informational resource during the pandemic
What COVID-19 data are available from the WMF?
- Opinion: Trusting Everybody to Work Together
In an increasingly factious world, Wikipedia's approach to collaboration and trust-building point to a brighter future.
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
A selection of good news and encouraging stories from the Wikiverse.
- Interview: Health and RfA's: An interview with Guy Macon
A Wikipedia editor reflects on his recent RfA and the health issues that became part of it.
- In focus: Multilingual Wikipedia
How to better integrate articles across language editions.
- WikiProject report: The Guild of Copy Editors
An interview with members of the WP:GOCE
Administrators' newsletter – May 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (April 2020).

- Discretionary sanctions have been authorized for all pages and edits related to COVID-19, to be logged at WP:GS/COVID19.
- Following a recent discussion on Meta-Wiki, the edit filter maintainer global group has been created.
- A request for comment has been proposed to create a new main page editor usergroup.
- A request for comment has been proposed to make the bureaucrat activity requirements more strict.
- The Editing team has been working on the talk pages project. You can review the proposed design and share your thoughts on the talk page.
- Enterprisey created a script that will show a link to the proper Special:Undelete page when viewing a since-deleted revision, see User:Enterprisey/link-deleted-revs.
- A request for comment closed with consensus to create a Village Pump-style page for communication with the Wikimedia Foundation.
Louis DeJoy - appointed Postmaster General
[edit]Jonathunder - thank you for your message and guidance regarding my edits to Louis DeJoy. I am an independant logistics consultant that follows logistics organizations extensively; an industry he was in for many years. That is how I know of Mr. DeJoy. Over the past few days, my Louis DeJoy google alert has exploded my inbox, which is how I learned of Mr. DeJoy's appointment for Postmaster General. When I found his Wikipedia page, I was disappointed that the content appeared to be mostly negative leaning which prompted me to provide edits.
Since the first paragraph only spoke to Mr. DeJoy's major donations to the President and to the Republican Party, which some readers may view as negative, I felt it important to also highlight his philanthropic endevours through his family foundation which I would think is also relevant. Additionally, since there was no photo of Mr. DeJoy, I contacted his office to get the photo which I uploaded. That is the same photo they provided for the Business Journal article you reference and is owned by Mr. DeJoy, not the business journal. They advised me that the same photo was recently provided to the postal service for their use. I can provide a contact in Mr. DeJoy's office if needed to validate.
I am not familiar with the process for requesting that my edits be approved, and would appreciate your guidance or acceptance based on the above.
Thank you, --SMLwriter (talk) 02:26, 13 May 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 31 May 2020
[edit]- From the editor: Meltdown May?
Or will it be meltdown June?
- News and notes: 2019 Picture of the Year, 200 French paid editing accounts blocked, 10 years of Guild Copyediting
Many of these accounts now blocked on the English-language Wikipedia.
- In the media: CBS on COVID-19, Sanger on bias, false noses, and five prolific editors
Worth Every Goddamn Second!
- Discussion report: WMF's Universal Code of Conduct
It's no April Fool's joke, but we discuss those, too.
- Special report: The sum of human knowledge? Not in one Wikipedia language edition
Cultural context, diversity, and the future of languages.
- Featured content: Weathering the storm
Battles, bombs, wars, and more storms.
- Arbitration report: Board member likely to receive editing restriction
Sanctions of multiple flavors, and a non-decision on the breadth of discretionary sanctions.
- Traffic report: Come on and slam, and welcome to the jam
Time to bring on the Bulls.
- Op-Ed: Where Is Political Bias Taking Us?
Straight down the tubes.
- Gallery: Wildlife photos by the book
Birds, insects, elephants, a macaque and more.
- News from the WMF: WMF Board announces Community Culture Statement
Enacting new standards to address harassment and promote inclusivity across projects.
- Recent research: Automatic detection of covert paid editing; Wiki Workshop 2020
New results from academic research
- Community view: Transit routes and mapping during stay-at-home order downtime
Hello Columbus.
- On video: COVID-19 spurs innovations in Wikimedia video and virtual programming
Community harnesses new technologies for remote participation in events and gatherings
- WikiProject report: Revitalizing good articles
Can our energy be turned into long-term change?
- On the bright side: 500,000 articles in the Egyptian Arabic Wikipedia
A selection of good news and encouraging stories from the Wikiverse.
- Obituaries: Dmitrismirnov, Kattenkruid, Muidlatif, Ronhjones, Tsirel
Rest in peace.
Administrators' newsletter – June 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (May 2020).

CaptainEek • Creffett • Cwmhiraeth
Anna Frodesiak • Buckshot06 • Ronhjones • SQL
- A request for comment asks whether the Unblock Ticket Request System (UTRS) should allowed any unblock request or just private appeals.
- The Wikimedia Foundation announced that they will develop a universal code of conduct for all WMF projects. There is an open local discussion regarding the same.
Disambiguation link notification for June 7
[edit]An automated process has detected that when you recently edited Craig Loya, you added a link pointing to the disambiguation page Bruce Caldwell (check to confirm | fix with Dab solver).
(Opt-out instructions.) --DPL bot (talk) 07:20, 7 June 2020 (UTC)
Orphaned non-free image File:ElmerLeeAndersonBW.jpg
[edit]
Thanks for uploading File:ElmerLeeAndersonBW.jpg. The image description page currently specifies that the image is non-free and may only be used on Wikipedia under a claim of fair use. However, the image is currently not used in any articles on Wikipedia. If the image was previously in an article, please go to the article and see why it was removed. You may add it back if you think that that will be useful. However, please note that images for which a replacement could be created are not acceptable for use on Wikipedia (see our policy for non-free media).
Note that any non-free images not used in any articles will be deleted after seven days, as described in section F5 of the criteria for speedy deletion. Thank you. --B-bot (talk) 02:29, 9 June 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 28 June 2020
[edit]- News and notes: Progress at Wikipedia Library and Wikijournal of Medicine
Plus Swedish biographies and the big oops!
- Community view: Community open letter on renaming
Reacting to the WMF's rebranding proposal.
- Gallery: After the killing of George Floyd
Protests and photos from around the world...
- In the media: Part collaboration and part combat
Racial justice, Facebook, LGBTQ+, Ryan Merkley, and a woman.
- Discussion report: Community reacts to WMF rebranding proposals
Many Wikimedia community members are upset about the WMF's plan to rebrand. Plus, a discussion of Fox News's reliability.
- Featured content: Sports are returning, with a rainbow
Battles, music, and animals feature prominently in this month's best content.
- Arbitration report: Anti-harassment RfC and a checkuser revocation
The RfC should keep everybody busy.
- Traffic report: The pandemic, alleged murder, a massacre, and other deaths
Plus Rajput, Musk, Epstein, Maxwell, Owens and Anonymous
- News from the WMF: We stand for racial justice
On these issues, there is no neutral stance.
- Recent research: Wikipedia and COVID-19; automated Wikipedia-based fact-checking
And other new research publications
- Interview: What is wrong with rebranding to "Wikipedia Foundation"?
Four signers of the open letter explain.
- Humour: Cherchez une femme
It's amazing what one can do.
- Opinion: Trying to find COI or paid editors? Just read the news
A scientific scandal and the Ronaldo of investment banking.
- On the bright side: For what are you grateful this month?
A selection of good news and encouraging stories from the Wikiverse.
- In focus: Edit Loud, Edit Proud: LGBTIQ+ Wikimedians and Global Information Activism
The history and impact of LGBTIQ+ contributions to Wikimedia projects.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject Black Lives Matter
How Wikipedia is covering racial injustice, both in the outer world and on-site
Administrators' newsletter – July 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (June 2020).
- A request for comment is in progress to remove the T2 (template that misrepresents established policy) speedy deletion criterion.
- Protection templates on mainspace pages are now automatically added by User:MusikBot II (BRFA).
- Following the banning of an editor by the WMF last year, the Arbitration Committee resolved to hold an
RfC regarding on-wiki harassment
. The RfC has been posted at Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Anti-harassment RfC and is open to comments from the community. - The Medicine case was closed, with a remedy authorizing standard discretionary sanctions for
all discussions about pharmaceutical drug prices and pricing and for edits adding, changing, or removing pharmaceutical drug prices or pricing from articles
.
- Following the banning of an editor by the WMF last year, the Arbitration Committee resolved to hold an
Administrators' newsletter – August 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (July 2020).

- There is an open request for comment to decide whether to increase the minimum duration a sanction discussion has to remain open (currently 24 hours).
- Speedy deletion criterion T2 (template that misrepresents established policy) has been repealed following a request for comment.
- Speedy deletion criterion X2 (pages created by the content translation tool) has been repealed following a discussion.
- There is a proposal to restrict proposed deletion to confirmed users.
The Signpost: 2 August 2020
[edit]- Special report: Wikipedia and the End of Open Collaboration?
Comparing Wikipedia to similar projects.
- COI and paid editing: Some strange people edit Wikipedia for money
And thanks for the photo, Ghislaine!
- News and notes: Abstract Wikipedia, a hoax, sex symbols, and a new admin
Plus lots of affiliations!
- In the media: Dog days gone bad
Pandemic, politics, and possibly paid editing.
- Discussion report: Fox News, a flight of RfAs, and banning policy
Plus a proposed massive invasion of privacy!
- Featured content: Remembering Art, Valor, and Freedom
soldiers, sports, and actors feature heavily this month.
- Traffic report: Now for something completely different
Death and Alexander Hamilton.
- Gallery: Photos of threatened species from iNaturalist
Sometimes you just have to ask.
- News from the WMF: New Chinese national security law in Hong Kong could limit the privacy of Wikipedia users
Privacy is critical to sustaining freedom of expression and association, enabling knowledge and ideas to thrive.
- Recent research: Receiving thanks increases retention, but not the time contributed to Wikipedia
And other new research publications
- Essay: Not compatible with a collaborative project
Some editors aren't.
- Obituaries: Hasteur and Brian McNeil
Rest in peace.
- In focus: WikiLoop DoubleCheck, reviewing edits made easy
Making Wikipedia the encyclopedia that anyone can review.
A Wiknic kitten for you!
[edit]
Hi to Jonathunder and Voidxor. I should have left the chat open to come back to Jonathunder after dinner but hey. Let me know if you wanna visit again. I see you've done Minnesota meetups and I've been to Rochester. :) — Smuckola(talk) 22:52, 16 August 2020 (UTC)
- Thank you. I've been travelling recently, but now that I'm back, I'd be happy to talk further. Please feel free to ask me for help in any way I can. Cheers. Jonathunder (talk) 16:07, 26 August 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 30 August 2020
[edit]- News and notes: The high road and the low road
Will the Scots language Wikipedia survive?
- In the media: Storytelling large and small
COVID, Fox, Kamala, Scots, cryptocurrency, and more.
- Featured content: Going for the goal
Sports, music, military and more
- Special report: Wikipedia's not so little sister is finding its own way
Wikidata's profound impact on Wikipedia
- Op-Ed: The longest-running hoax
Watch out for those Mustelodons!
- Traffic report: Heart, soul, umbrellas, and politics
More politics than usual.
- News from the WMF: Fourteen things we’ve learned by moving Polish Wikimedia conference online
Celebrating of our community in a different format.
- Recent research: Detecting spam, and pages to protect; non-anonymous editors signal their intelligence with high-quality articles
And other new research results
- Arbitration report: A slow couple of months
Everybody deserves a vacation!
- From the archives: Wikipedia for promotional purposes?
A question from 2005 that we still haven't answered.
- Obituaries: Marcus Sherman, Jerome West, and Pauline van Till
Rest in Peace.
Administrators' newsletter – September 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (August 2020).

- Following a request for comment, the minimum length for site ban discussions was increased to 72 hours, up from 24.
- A request for comment is ongoing to determine whether paid editors
must
orshould
use the articles for creation process. - A request for comment is open to resolve inconsistencies between the draftification and alternative to deletion processes.
- A request for comment is open to provide an opportunity to amend the structure, rules, and procedures of the 2020 English Wikipedia Arbitration Committee election and to resolve any issues not covered by existing rules.
- An open request for comment asks whether active Arbitrators may serve on the Trust and Safety Case Review Committee or Ombudsman commission.
The Signpost: 27 September 2020
[edit]- Special report: Paid editing with political connections
WE charity and Justin Trudeau, Bell Pottinger, Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs.
- News and notes: More large-scale errors at a "small" wiki
With inline parenthetical citations!
- In the media: WIPO, Seigenthaler incident 15 years later
A celebrity quiz, Scots, and a Crypto-hating Wikipedia editor
- Featured content: Life finds a Way
Animals, sports, military, and science feature heavily in this month's best content.
- Arbitration report: Clarifications and requests
Who is that guy JzG?
- Traffic report: Is there no justice?
Perhaps on the tennis court.
- Recent research: Wikipedia's flood biases
And other new research publications.
The Signpost: 27 September 2020
[edit]- Special report: Paid editing with political connections
WE charity and Justin Trudeau, Bell Pottinger, Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs.
- News and notes: More large-scale errors at a "small" wiki
With inline parenthetical citations!
- In the media: WIPO, Seigenthaler incident 15 years later
A celebrity quiz, Scots, and a Crypto-hating Wikipedia editor
- Featured content: Life finds a Way
Animals, sports, military, and science feature heavily in this month's best content.
- Arbitration report: Clarifications and requests
Who is that guy JzG?
- Traffic report: Is there no justice?
Perhaps on the tennis court.
- Recent research: Wikipedia's flood biases
And other new research publications.
Administrators' newsletter – September 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (September 2020).

Ajpolino • LuK3
Jackmcbarn
Ad Orientem • Harej • Lid • Lomn • Mentoz86 • Oliver Pereira • XJaM
There'sNoTime → TheresNoTime
- A request for comment found consensus that incubation as an alternative to deletion should generally only be recommended when draftification is appropriate, namely
1) if the result of a deletion discussion is to draftify; or 2) if the article is newly created
.
- A request for comment found consensus that incubation as an alternative to deletion should generally only be recommended when draftification is appropriate, namely
- The filter log now provides links to view diffs of deleted revisions (phab:T261630).
- The 2020 CheckUser and Oversight appointment process has begun. The community consultation period will take place from September 27th to October 7th.
- Following a request for comment, sitting Committee members may not serve on either the Ombuds Commission or the WMF Case Review Committee. The Arbitration Committee passed a motion implementing those results into their procedures.
- The Universal Code of Conduct draft is open for community review and comment until October 6th, 2020.
- Office actions may now be appealed to the Interim Trust & Safety Case Review Committee.
Happy First Edit Day!
[edit]Happy First Edit Day!
[edit]Minnesota Featured article review
[edit]Another editor has nominated Minnesota for a featured article review here. Please join the discussion on whether this article meets featured article criteria. Articles are typically reviewed for two weeks. If substantial concerns are not addressed during the review period, the article will be moved to the Featured Article Removal Candidates list for a further period, where editors may declare "Keep" or "Delist" the article's featured status. The instructions for the review process are here. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 21:43, 12 October 2020 (UTC)
Leif Erikson Day and SpongeBob SquarePants
[edit]Greetings! I recently made an edit in the article Leif Erikson Day, mentioning a reference to the holiday made on SpongeBob SquarePants. You reverted this edit citing WP:POPCULTURE which, on a first thought, made sense to me as well. However, despite its status as a holiday for quite some time, you have to admit that Leif Erikson Day is virtually unknown to non-Nordic Americans, and completely unknown to non-Americans. This is why I think that the reference made on SpongeBob (which has been on air for two decades and has a gigantic national and international audience), having been mentioned on several media outlets (National Geographic, The Philadelphia Inquirer and AM New York Retro), merits some sort of acknowledgement in this article. Otherwise, what stops us from, say, labeling the section about Groundhog Day (film) in the article Groundhog Day as "silly Hollywood cruft" and removing it? I believe this would near excessive deletionism. Therefore, I invite you to reconsider your opinion. Happy editing.
-- Demoxica (talk) 16:58, 15 October 2020 (UTC)
- I first learned about classical music from Bugs Bunny and his friends, but if I went and added those uses of music in the articles on composers, I'm sure I would be reverted. Yes, I'm sure some children first heard about holidays in cartoons, but do you find mention passing references in a TV show in the articles on any other holidays?
- Also, to have a mention in one episode as the only pop culture reference is undue weight. Jonathunder (talk) 17:46, 15 October 2020 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – November 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (October 2020).
|
|
- Community sanctions now authorize administrators to place under indefinite semiprotection
any article on a beauty pageant, or biography of a person known as a beauty pageant contestant, which has been edited by a sockpuppet account or logged-out sockpuppet
, to be logged at WP:GS/PAGEANT.
- Community sanctions now authorize administrators to place under indefinite semiprotection
- Sysops will once again be able to view the deleted history of JS/CSS pages; this was restricted to interface administrators when that group was introduced.
- Twinkle's block module now includes the ability to note the specific case when applying a discretionary sanctions block and/or template.
- Sysops will be able to use Special:CreateLocalAccount to create a local account for a global user that is prevented from auto-creation locally (such as by a filter or range block). Administrators that are not sure if such a creation is appropriate should contact a checkuser.
- The 2020 Arbitration Committee Elections process has begun. Eligible editors will be able to nominate themselves as candidates from November 8 through November 17. The voting period will run from November 23 through December 6.
- The Anti-harassment RfC has concluded with a summary of the feedback provided.
- A reminder that
standard discretionary sanctions are authorized for all edits about, and all pages related to post-1932 politics of the United States and closely related people.
(American Politics 2 Arbitration case).
- A reminder that
The Signpost: 1 November 2020
[edit]- News and notes: Ban on IPs on ptwiki, paid editing for Tatarstan, IP masking
Branding pause, birthday.
- In the media: Murder, politics, religion, health and books
A possible conspiracy and 2 infodemics!
- Book review: Review of Wikipedia @ 20
We made it this far, but where do we go from here?
- Op-Ed: Anti-vandalism with masked IPs: the steps forward
Getting input from editors.
- Discussion report: Proposal to change board composition, In The News dumps Trump story
Will editors be affected?
- Featured content: The "Green Terror" is neither green nor sufficiently terrifying. Worst Hallowe'en ever.
A hairy starfish flower might help!
- Traffic report: Jump back, what's that sound?
Here comes the judge.
- Interview: Joseph Reagle and Jackie Koerner
The co-editors of Wikipedia @ 20.
- News from the WMF: Meet the 2020 Wikimedian of the Year
Sandister Tei.
- Recent research: OpenSym 2020: Deletions and gender, masses vs. elites, edit filters
Ortega's hypothesis was right! (If you start with the right definitions and assumptions.)
- In focus: The many (reported) deaths of Wikipedia
The grove continues to grow – despite periods of dismal predictions.
ArbCom 2020 Elections voter message
[edit]The Signpost: 29 November 2020
[edit]- News and notes: Jimmy Wales "shouldn't be kicked out before he's ready"
Arbitration Committee elections begin.
- Op-Ed: Re-righting Wikipedia
Wikipedia deprecates more right-wing sources than left-wing sources ... but is it a problem?
- Opinion: How billionaires re-write Wikipedia
Billionaires are different from you and me.
- In the media: Relying on Wikipedia: voters, scientists, and a Canadian border guard
And yes, it does!
- Featured content: Frontonia sp. is thankful for delicious cyanobacteria
The Réunion swamphen is a lot less thankful.
- Traffic report: 007 with Borat, the Queen, and an election
Plus Alex Trebek and the Queen's Gambit.
- News from Wiki Education: An assignment that changed a life: Kasey Baker
Wiki Education and changing our encyclopedia.
- GLAM plus: West Coast New Zealand's Wikipedian at Large
Succeeding one step at a time.
- Wikicup report: Lee Vilenski wins the 2020 WikiCup
Gog the Mild and The Rambling Man in second and third!
- Recent research: Wikipedia's Shoah coverage succeeds where libraries fail
And other new research publications.
- Essay: Writing about women
Male is not the default.
Administrators' newsletter – December 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (November 2020).

Andrwsc • Anetode • GoldenRing • JzG • LinguistAtLarge • Nehrams2020
Interface administrator changes
- There is a request for comment in progress to either remove T3 (duplicated and hardcoded instances) as a speedy deletion criterion or eliminate its seven-day waiting period.
- Voting for proposals in the 2021 Community Wishlist Survey, which determines what software the Wikimedia Foundation's Community Tech team will work on next year, will take place from 8 December through 21 December. In particular, there are sections regarding administrators and anti-harassment.
- Voting in the 2020 Arbitration Committee Elections is open to eligible editors until Monday 23:59, 7 December 2020 UTC. Please review the candidates and, if you wish to do so, submit your choices on the voting page.
The Signpost: 28 December 2020
[edit]- News and notes: Year-end legal surprises cause concern, but Public Domain Day is imminent
New laws in the US and Europe might enable trolls; sad admin milestone for English Wikipedia, or not?
- In the media: Concealment, data journalism, a non-pig farmer, and some Bluetick Hounds
As 2020 draws to a close, this website has been splattered all over the headlines.
- Arbitration report: 2020 election results
Congratulations to the new Arbs!
- Opinion: How to make your factory's safety and labor issues disappear
Edit wars fought on the back of workers.
- Featured content: Very nearly ringing in the New Year with "Blank Space" – but we got there in time.
Texas amphibia, mongeese, and Normandy invasion plans grateful.
- Traffic report: 2020 wraps up
Punks and heroes, losers and winners, the bereaved and the deceased – they're all here.
- News from the WMF: What Wikipedia saw during election week in the U.S., and what we’re doing next
No evidence of large-scale state-sponsored disinformation.
- Recent research: Predicting the next move in Wikipedia discussions
Six million talk page threads analyzed, and other research.
- Essay: Subjective importance
Is not important to notability.
- Op-Ed: An unforgettable year we might wish to forget
The year that was 2020.
- Gallery: Angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity.
- Humour: 'Twas the Night Before Wikimas
And to all a good night!
Precious anniversary
[edit]| Seven years! |
|---|
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:50, 3 January 2021 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – January 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (December 2020).
|
|
|
- Speedy deletion criterion T3 (duplication and hardcoded instances) has been repealed following a request for comment.
- You can now put pages on your watchlist for a limited period of time.
- By motion, standard discretionary sanctions have been temporarily authorized
for all pages relating to the Horn of Africa (defined as including Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and adjoining areas if involved in related disputes)
. The effectiveness of the discretionary sanctions can be evaluated on the request by any editor after March 1, 2021 (or sooner if for a good reason). - Following the 2020 Arbitration Committee elections, the following editors have been appointed to the Arbitration Committee: Barkeep49, BDD, Bradv, CaptainEek, L235, Maxim, Primefac.
- By motion, standard discretionary sanctions have been temporarily authorized
Happy Adminship Anniversary!
[edit]Help wanted
[edit]Hi, Jonathunder. School started this morning for me. If you can contribute anything at Talk:Minneapolis#Continuing please do. Talk with you later. -SusanLesch (talk) 17:15, 19 January 2021 (UTC)
The Signpost: 31 January 2021
[edit]- News and notes: 1,000,000,000 edits, board elections, virtual Wikimania 2021
Who else but Ser Amantio di Nicolao?
- Special report: Wiki reporting on the United States insurrection
From the Hill to the news to Wikipedia in minutes!
- In focus: From Anarchy to Wikiality, Glaring Bias to Good Cop: Press Coverage of Wikipedia's First Two Decades
A new "wiki journalism" is needed.
- Opinion: Wikipedia's war against scientific disinformation
Are we getting lead by the nose?
- In the media: The world's press says "Happy Birthday!" with a few twists
Even the world's richest man is happy we exist!
- Technology report: The people who built Wikipedia, technically
Starting with trust, expanding, controversy, and opportunities.
- Videos and podcasts: Celebrating 20 years
Multimedia in many styles!
- News from the WMF: Wikipedia celebrates 20 years of free, trusted information for the world
Happy birthday!
- Recent research: Students still have a better opinion of Wikipedia than teachers
And other new research results
- Humour: Dr. Seuss's Guide to Wikipedia
With a special appearance by Senator Ted Cruz!
- Featured content: New Year, same Featured Content report!
...Well, except we did change the articles and pictures out. ...Mostly.
- Traffic report: The most viewed articles of 2020
The end of the world as we know it?
- Obituary: Flyer22 Frozen
RIP.
Administrators' newsletter – February 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (January 2021).
- The standard discretionary sanctions authorized for American Politics were amended by motion to cover
post-1992 politics of United States and closely related people
, replacing the 1932 cutoff.
- The standard discretionary sanctions authorized for American Politics were amended by motion to cover
- Voting in the 2021 Steward elections will begin on 05 February 2021, 14:00 (UTC) and end on 26 February 2021, 13:59 (UTC). The confirmation process of current stewards is being held in parallel. You can automatically check your eligibility to vote.
- Wikipedia has now been around for 20 years, and recently saw its billionth edit!
Workers building the Minnesota State Capitol page
[edit]Hi Jonathunder, Is there a chance I can get your assistance in review and ultimately getting an article out of Draft? Workers building the Minnesota State Capitol was flagged and deleted for copyright violations. However, the copy in question came from an articles in MNOpedia and obtained under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license. However, the exact same content (word for word) was also published in MinnPost by the same author Randy Croce. The MNOpedia article was published on June 19, 2019. The MinnPost article was published on June 24, 2019, five days later. However, I could not convince the either the person who flagged it for deletion due to copyright violation nor the person who deleted it a few days later and locked me out of the content. There were some other copyright issues but relatively minor and I have corrected them. I have also added addition content and sources (also obtained under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license in MNOpedia). I need help from someone that will actually do due diligence and look into the issues rather than just hit the delete button because Earwig Copyvio Detector bot returns a high copyright violation rating. If you feel there are issues, I will cheerly correct/work on them. Myotus (talk) 23:19, 10 February 2021 (UTC)
- Uffda. Don't use the DRAFT space. Just don't. I'd recommend starting over in a sandbox and then when ready move right into article space. Don't start a draft unless you really enjoy being subjected to silliness. Jonathunder (talk) 21:52, 16 February 2021 (UTC)
Some baklava for you!
[edit]| For being the photographer's photographer on Wikipedia, and being the guy who makes the encyclopedia a good place to see the Sun (down a long hallway). Randy Kryn (talk) 21:49, 16 February 2021 (UTC) |
The Signpost: 28 February 2021
[edit]- News and notes: Maher stepping down
UCC launch.
- Disinformation report: A "billionaire battle" on Wikipedia: Sex, lies, and video
Edits of the rich and famous.
- Opinion: The call for feedback on community seats is a distraction
Free as in Liberty.
- In the media: Corporate influence at OSM, Fox watching the hen house
Wikidata, Turkey, Valentine's Day and all sorts of bias!
- News from the WMF: Who tells your story on Wikipedia
You can!
- Recent research: Take an AI-generated flashcard quiz about Wikipedia; Wikipedia's anti-feudalism
And other new research publications
- Featured content: A Love of Knowledge, for Valentine's Day
Stealing your heart, and Charles Darwin's notebooks.
- Traffic report: Does it almost feel like you've been here before?
Watching the Super Bowl at the Cecil?
- Gallery: What is Black history and culture?
In paintings, photos, and recordings.
Administrators' newsletter – March 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (February 2021).

Interface administrator changes
- A request for comment is open that proposes a process for the community to revoke administrative permissions. This follows a 2019 RfC in favor of creating one such a policy.
- A request for comment is in progress to remove F7 (invalid fair-use claim) subcriterion a, which covers immediate deletion of non-free media with invalid fair-use tags.
- A request for comment seeks to grant page movers the
delete-redirectuserright, which allows moving a page over a single-revision redirect, regardless of that redirect's target. The full proposal is at Wikipedia:Page mover/delete-redirect. - A request for comment asks if sysops may
place the General sanctions/Coronavirus disease 2019 editnotice template on pages in scope that do not have page-specific sanctions
? - There is a discussion in progress concerning automatic protection of each day's featured article with Pending Changes protection.
- When blocking an IPv6 address with Twinkle, there is now a checkbox with the option to just block the /64 range. When doing so, you can still leave a block template on the initial, single IP address' talkpage.
- When protecting a page with Twinkle, you can now add a note if doing so was in response to a request at WP:RfPP, and even link to the specific revision.
- There have been a number of reported issues with Pending Changes. Most problems setting protection appear to have been resolved (phab:T273317) but other issues with autoaccepting edits persist (phab:T275322).
- By motion, the discretionary sanctions originally authorized under the GamerGate case are now authorized under a new Gender and sexuality case, with sanctions
authorized for all edits about, and all pages related to, any gender-related dispute or controversy and associated people.
Sanctions issued under GamerGate are now considered Gender and sexuality sanctions. - The Kurds and Kurdistan case was closed, authorizing standard discretionary sanctions for
the topics of Kurds and Kurdistan, broadly construed
.
- By motion, the discretionary sanctions originally authorized under the GamerGate case are now authorized under a new Gender and sexuality case, with sanctions
- Following the 2021 Steward Elections, the following editors have been appointed as stewards: AmandaNP, Operator873, Stanglavine, Teles, and Wiki13.
Quill
[edit]| Quill | |
| Back in 2010, you contributed a gorgeous image 3quills.jpg to Wikipedia page "Quill". I'm writing a book ("Hidden in Plain Sight", MIT Press) where I would like to use that image (with your permission) as an example of early capillary fluidic system. May I have your permission to re-print? If I do, I can include a credit line such as "Image courtesy of Wikipedia User Jonathanunder", or whatever suits you. Thanks! Albert Folch, (wikipedia user Albertff), Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle. Albertff (talk) 04:50, 27 March 2021 (UTC) |
- Thank you for asking. Sending an an email. Jonathunder (talk) 15:42, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
FROM ALBERT again: Did you send the email already? (I have not received anything at albertfolch@gmail.com) Thanks again! Albertff (talk) 18:50, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
The Signpost: 28 March 2021
[edit]- News and notes: A future with a for-profit subsidiary?
Or becoming more business-like?
- Gallery: Wiki Loves Monuments
2020 international winners
- In the media: Wikimedia LLC and disinformation in Japan
Plus CPAC misinformation
- News from the WMF: Project Rewrite: Tell the missing stories of women on Wikipedia and beyond
Telling women’s stories is a radical act.
- Recent research: 10%-30% of Wikipedia’s contributors have subject-matter expertise
And other recent research results
- From the archives: Google isn't responsible for Wikipedia's mistakes
Huge profits sustained by unpaid labor.
- Essay: Wikipedia:The Free Encyclopedia
As in "free software" and "free culture".
- Obituary: Yoninah
Barukh dayan ha-emet ("Blessed is the true judge.")
- From the editor: What else can we say?
What can we link to?
- Arbitration report: Open letter to the Board of Trustees
Let's do the UCoC right!
- Traffic report: Wanda, Meghan, Liz, Phil and Zack
Another royal bash!
Please check your email Re: quills image
[edit]
It may take a few minutes from the time the email is sent for it to show up in your inbox. You can at any time by removing the {{You've got mail}} or {{ygm}} template.— Albertff (talk) 06:16, 29 March 2021 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – April 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (March 2021).

Alexandria • Happyme22 • RexxS
- Following a request for comment, F7 (invalid fair-use claim) subcriterion a has been deprecated; it covered immediate deletion of non-free media with invalid fair-use tags.
- Following a request for comment, page movers were granted the
delete-redirectuserright, which allows moving a page over a single-revision redirect, regardless of that redirect's target.
- When you move a page that many editors have on their watchlist the history can be split and it might also not be possible to move it again for a while. This is because of a job queue problem. (T278350)
- Code to support some very old web browsers is being removed. This could cause issues in those browsers. (T277803)
- A community consultation on the Arbitration Committee discretionary sanctions procedure is open until April 25.
The Signpost: 25 April 2021
[edit]- From the editor: A change is gonna come
But not soon enough.
- Disinformation report: Paid editing by a former head of state's business enterprise
The Trump Organization's paid editors
- In the media: Fernando, governance, and rugby
Jimmy does OK too!
- Opinion: The (Universal) Code of Conduct
Explicit behavioral expectations are better than unwritten social norms
- Op-Ed: A Little Fun Goes A Long Way
Why do we work so hard to avoid having a sense of humor?
- Changing the world: The reach of protest images on Wikipedia
Wikipedia's retweet and share buttons
- Recent research: Quality of aquatic and anatomical articles
And other research publications
- Traffic report: The verdict is guilty, guilty, guilty
Plus Godzilla and Kong
- News from Wiki Education: Encouraging professional physicists to engage in outreach on Wikipedia
Even a Nobel laureate can learn more!
The Signpost: 25 April 2021
[edit]- From the editor: A change is gonna come
But not soon enough.
- Disinformation report: Paid editing by a former head of state's business enterprise
The Trump Organization's paid editors
- In the media: Fernando, governance, and rugby
Jimmy does OK too!
- Opinion: The (Universal) Code of Conduct
Explicit behavioral expectations are better than unwritten social norms
- Op-Ed: A Little Fun Goes A Long Way
Why do we work so hard to avoid having a sense of humor?
- Changing the world: The reach of protest images on Wikipedia
Wikipedia's retweet and share buttons
- Recent research: Quality of aquatic and anatomical articles
And other research publications
- Traffic report: The verdict is guilty, guilty, guilty
Plus Godzilla and Kong
- News from Wiki Education: Encouraging professional physicists to engage in outreach on Wikipedia
Even a Nobel laureate can learn more!
"Johnson Aviation" listed at Redirects for discussion
[edit]
A discussion is taking place to address the redirect Johnson Aviation. The discussion will occur at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2021 April 30#Johnson Aviation until a consensus is reached, and anyone, including you, is welcome to contribute to the discussion. Hog Farm Talk 04:16, 30 April 2021 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – May 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (April 2021).

Interface administrator changes
- Following an RfC, consensus was found that third party appeals are allowed but discouraged.
- The 2021 Desysop Policy RfC was closed with no consensus. Consensus was found in a previous RfC for a community based desysop procedure, though the procedure proposed in the 2021 RfC did not gain consensus.
- The user group
oversightwill be renamed tosuppress. This is for technical reasons. You can comment at T112147 if you have objections.
- The user group
- The community consultation on the Arbitration Committee discretionary sanctions procedure was closed, and an initial draft based on feedback from the now closed consultation is expected to be released in early June to early July for community review.
History Center of Olmsted County vs Olmsted County History Center
[edit]Hi Jonathunder, I changed the name back from "Olmsted County History Center" to "History Center of Olmsted County" on the List of museums in Minnesota page. The organization goes by "History Center of Olmsted County" and they just did a new logo with it! Is there reason for the other name? Myotus (talk) 01:10, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
- When I wrote them a check not long ago I was told to make it out to "Olmsted County History Center" but it does appear you are correct. Thanks for the note. Jonathunder (talk) 17:00, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
Why not FAL?
[edit]If you just want a free license that isn't Creative Commons, why not use the Free Art License ({{FAL}})? GFDL just scares off reusers who actually care about license compliance. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 04:39, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
- I use the GFDL because I have frequently seen images I uploaded under Creative Commons used outside Wikipedia without attribution because it is widely assumed to be equivalent to public domain. (The essay you linked on some random blog is hardly what I would consider a reliable source to the contrary.) The license you suggest, if anything, appears worse in that I don't see anything about attribution. I'm dismayed to see you pushing for the same policy that caused me to no longer upload to Commons. If you get it adopted here, which I really hope doesn't happen, I won't be sharing new photos on Wikipedia. Jonathunder (talk) 16:47, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
- @Notafish: Jonathunder called your blog "some random blog".
The blog isn't supposed to disprove that anyone treats Creative Commons as public domain, it is supposed to prove that GFDL scares off reusers who actually want to comply with license terms. On Commons there's c:Template:Not public domain. The text on {{FAL}} seems short indeed, but that could be changed. As another alternative there's {{Attribution}}. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 17:22, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
- Heh, thanks @Alexis Jazz: for the ping. My blog is indeed somewhat of a random blog, but 16 years later, the rationale I had then still holds and was one of the reasons why Wikipedia changed its default license from GFDL to CC-BY-SA en masse. There are a other writings on the subject that might be slightly less "random". I do not believe that using the GFDL actually solves your (legitimate) problem of people using content without attribution. If anything, either people won't use your content at all, or when you tell them they "forgot" attribution, they'll opt out and use content that has less constraining requirements. Adding attribution is easy, adding a multi page text isn't. In the end, it's everyone's choice. I choose to license my contributions with a license that both requires recognition (attribution) but also enforces free knowledge (share-alike), CC-BY-SA is easy to use and explain, and does the trick. Your mileage may vary. Best, notafish (talk) 19:46, 14 May 2021 (UTC)
- I just adopted c:Template:Not public domain for Wikipedia: {{Not public domain}}. I even added support for FAL. I don't want to chase you or your contributions away and I understand your frustration with reusers who don't care about attribution, but there has to be another way than GFDL. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 20:36, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
- And err, a bit silly I only just realized this, but you said that FAL
appears worse in that I don't see anything about attribution
. I don't see anything about attribution on {{GFDL}} either? Only the Creative Commons templates include four bullet points, and only on Wikimedia Commons. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 20:57, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
- @Notafish: Jonathunder called your blog "some random blog".
- I was really hoping there would be some room for conversation. I looked at your contributions to make sure you weren't on vacation or having a wikibreak or something, which is not an unusual reason for a delayed response. Couldn't help but notice that a few days ago you uploaded some more GFDL-only licensed photos. You don't want Creative Commons because of the reputation it has, I suggested FAL. You countered that {{FAL}} appeared worse because you didn't "see anything about attribution" despite {{GFDL}} not containing anything about attribution either. I offered {{Not public domain}} and added support for FAL to that because of your concerns about the reputation of Creative Commons. {{Not public domain}} results in a big extensive notice about license compliance, I'd have thought that was exactly what you were looking for. If you're not looking for a warning for re-users (which GFDL doesn't give you either), if you're not looking for a free license without the reputation Creative Commons has, what really is it that you're looking for? — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 01:19, 23 May 2021 (UTC)
- I have been travelling for business reasons and have not had time for Wikipedia conversations, though I did make a few uploads, as you saw. In driving across several states, I have photographed as many historic places as I can, which is a hobby I've long enjoyed. Honestly, though, I don't know if I will keep uploading them here. I've had many of my photos used elsewhere without attribution (though not nearly as much under the GFDL as under CC) and credit for my work is important to me. I do thank you for the template you linked and I may use some version of that. Jonathunder (talk) 20:55, 1 June 2021 (UTC)
- Thank you, I hope you will. Unfortunately it is true that if you publish a work at all, regardless of the license and even without a license, it will get used without attribution. Some Dutch TV shows sometimes credit images and video to "Google images" or "YouTube", regardless of license and whether it's free or not. That's national television! It makes me cringe every time. Maybe a small half-transparent watermark in a corner would help? — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 20:57, 5 June 2021 (UTC)
- 1 July has passed and the proposal, waiting for an uninvolved closure, seems like it has passed. It's not clear yet if the cutoff date will be changed due to closure taking so long, but it's probably wise to stop uploading (or switch to another license) until that becomes clear. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 10:52, 3 July 2021 (UTC)
- I was just asked about existing GFDL files and noticed you've uploaded some on August 1. Perhaps you forgot or you assumed a different timezone, but I think you'll have to relicense your most recent uploads. There has to be an acceptable license that isn't GFDL. If you don't like FAL, you could theoretically fork CC BY-SA with a new name. (not something I'd generally recommend, but in theory it's an option) — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 20:23, 1 August 2021 (UTC)
- I have been travelling for business reasons and have not had time for Wikipedia conversations, though I did make a few uploads, as you saw. In driving across several states, I have photographed as many historic places as I can, which is a hobby I've long enjoyed. Honestly, though, I don't know if I will keep uploading them here. I've had many of my photos used elsewhere without attribution (though not nearly as much under the GFDL as under CC) and credit for my work is important to me. I do thank you for the template you linked and I may use some version of that. Jonathunder (talk) 20:55, 1 June 2021 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – June 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (May 2021).

Ashleyyoursmile • Less Unless
Husond • MattWade • MJCdetroit • Carioca • Vague Rant • Kingboyk • Thunderboltz • Gwen Gale • AniMate • SlimVirgin (deceased)
- Consensus was reached to deprecate Wikipedia:Editor assistance.
- Following a Request for Comment the Book namespace was deprecated.
- Wikimedia previously used the IRC network Freenode. However, due to changes over who controlled the network with reports of a forceful takeover by several ex-staff members, the Wikimedia IRC Group Contacts decided to move to the new Libera Chat network. It has been reported that Wikimedia related channels on Freenode have been forcibly taken over if they pointed members to Libera. There is a migration guide and Wikimedia discussions about this.
- After a Clarification request, the Arbitration Committee modified Remedy 5 of the Antisemitism in Poland case. This means sourcing expectations are a discretionary sanction instead of being present on all articles. It also details using the talk page or the Reliable Sources Noticeboard to discuss disputed sources.
The Signpost: 27 June 2021
[edit]- News and notes: Elections, Wikimania, masking and more
Submit your candidacy today!
- In the media: Boris and Joe, reliability, love, and money
Will he hang it in the Oval Office?
- Disinformation report: Croatian Wikipedia: capture and release
Curious and curiouser!
- Recent research: Feminist critique of Wikipedia's epistemology, Black Americans vastly underrepresented among editors, Wiki Workshop report
Summaries of 26 new research publications
- Traffic report: So no one told you life was gonna be this way
We'll be there for you!
- News from the WMF: Searching for Wikipedia
How do our readers find us?
- Humour: Wikipedia's best articles on the world's strangest things
It's the wheel thing.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject on open proxies interview
Interview with volunteers at WikiProject on open proxies
- Forum: Is WMF fundraising abusive?
A calm discussion.
- Discussion report: Reliability of WikiLeaks discussed
WikiLeaks on multiple boards.
- Obituary: SarahSV
Requiescat in pace.
Administrators' newsletter – July 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (June 2021).
|
|
- Consensus has been reached to delete all books in the book namespace. There was rough consensus that the deleted books should still be available on request at WP:REFUND even after the namespace is removed.
- An RfC is open to discuss the next steps following a trial which automatically applied pending changes to TFAs.
- IP addresses of unregistered users are to be hidden from everyone. There is a rough draft of how IP addresses may be shown to users who need to see them. This currently details allowing administrators, checkusers, stewards and those with a new usergroup to view the full IP address of unregistered users. Editors with at least 500 edits and an account over a year old will be able to see all but the end of the IP address in the proposal. The ability to see the IP addresses hidden behind the mask would be dependent on agreeing to not share the parts of the IP address they can see with those who do not have access to the same information. Accessing part of or the full IP address of a masked editor would also be logged. Comments on the draft are being welcomed at the talk page.
- The community authorised COVID-19 general sanctions have been superseded by the COVID-19 discretionary sanctions following a motion at a case request. Alerts given and sanctions placed under the community authorised general sanctions are now considered alerts for and sanctions under the new discretionary sanctions.
Thank you for participating in my RFA
[edit]It's not how long you've been editing, it's how long you're willing to live your life under a microscope. So far, so food. Thanks again for supporting my candidacy. If I can be helpful please call on me, especially if you find I've made a mistake. BusterD (talk) 04:51, 17 July 2021 (UTC)
The Signpost: 25 July 2021
[edit]- News and notes: Wikimania and a million other news stories
And one new admin!
- Special report: Hardball in Hong Kong
Three strikes and you're out?
- In the media: Larry is at it again
Bias, propaganda and more murderous mistakes!
- Board of Trustees candidates: See the candidates
Watch the video!
- Recent research: Gender bias and statistical fallacies, disinformation and mutual intelligibility
And other recent research publications
- Traffic report: Football, tennis and marveling at Loki
But you can call it soccer if you'd like.
- News from the WMF: Uncapping our growth potential – interview with James Baldwin, Finance and Administration Department
Money, money, money.
- Humour: A little verse
Two poems of Wikipedia.
Administrators' newsletter – July 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (July 2021).
|
|
- An RfC is open to add a delay of one week from nomination to deletion for G13 speedy deletions.
- Last week all wikis were very slow or not accessible for 30 minutes. This was due to server lag caused by regenerating dynamic lists on the Russian Wikinews after a large bulk import. (T287380)
- Following an amendment request, the committee has clarified that the Talk page exception to the 500/30 rule in remedy 5 of the Palestine-Israel articles 4 case does not apply to requested move discussions.
- You can vote for candidates in the 2021 Board of Trustees elections from 4 August to 17 August. Four community elected seats are up for election.
GFDL is no longer accepted
[edit]Hi! As you know I proposed to restrict the use of GFDL and the proposal passed so per Wikipedia:Image_use_policy#GNU_Free_Documentation_License GFDL is no longer accepted if "The content was licensed on or after 1 August 2021". I have been trying to estimate the number of new GFDL-only files on all wikis and I noticed that you uploaded some files on August 1 per Special:ListFiles/Jonathunder. I guess you missed/forgot the change of policy or perhaps it is just the timezones. I hope you will be able to find another free license you can use. --MGA73 (talk) 13:21, 2 August 2021 (UTC)
The Signpost: 29 August 2021
[edit]- News and notes: Enough time left to vote! IP ban
Just do it!
- In the media: Vive la différence!
May Father Will forgive us!
- Wikimedians of the year: Seven Wikimedians of the year
With two musical celebrations!
- Gallery: Our community in 20 graphs
We just look at the pictures!
- News from Wiki Education: Changing the face of Wikipedia
Moving forward.
- Recent research: IP editors, inclusiveness and empathy, cyclones, and world heritage
A monthly overview of new research results.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject Days of the Year Interview
You can start with your birthday article!
- Traffic report: Olympics, movies, and Afghanistan
Winners and losers.
- Community view: Making Olympic history on Wikipedia
Higher, faster, stronger and more informative!
Administrators' newsletter – September 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (August 2021).

- Feedback is requested on the Universal Code of Conduct enforcement draft by the Universal Code of Conduct Phase 2 drafting committee.
- A RfC is open on whether to allow administrators to use extended confirmed protection on high-risk templates.
- A discussion is open to decide when, if ever, should discord logs be eligible for removal when posted onwiki (including whether to oversight them)
- A RfC on the next steps after the trial of pending changes on TFAs has resulted in a 30 day trial of automatic semi protection for TFAs.
- The Score extension has been re-enabled on public wikis. It has been updated, but has been placed in safe mode to address unresolved security issues. Further information on the security issues can be found on the mediawiki page.
- A request for comment is in progress to provide an opportunity to amend the structure, rules, and procedures of the Arbitration Committee election and resolve any issues not covered by existing rules. Comments and new proposals are welcome.
- The 2021 RfA review is now open for comments.
The Signpost: 26 September 2021
[edit]- News and notes: New CEO, new board members, China bans
And one new admin!
- In the media: The future of Wikipedia
And a bit about the past.
- Opinion: Wikimedians of Mainland China were warned
But just disregarded the warnings.
- Op-Ed: I've been desysopped
But not banned!
- Disinformation report: Paid promotional paragraphs in German parliamentary pages
Did German Wikipedia love parliaments a little too much? Plus fake-bacon and a ponzi scheme.
- Discussion report: Editors discuss Wikipedia's vetting process for administrators
Emotional injury and rising standards against a backdrop of a dwindling sysop cadre: the 2021 Requests for adminship review grapples with tough issues.
- Recent research: Wikipedia images for machine learning; Experiment justifies Wikipedia's high search rankings
And other new research publications
- Community view: Is writing Wikipedia like making a quilt?
Help us piece together WikiProject Craft!
- Traffic report: Kanye, Emma Raducanu and 9/11
Or is it Donda, Leylah Fernandez, and Flight 93?
- News from Diff: Welcome to the first grantees of the Knowledge Equity Fund
$4.5 million for equity.
- WikiProject report: The Random and the Beautiful
An interview with members of the Random Page Patrol.
Administrators' newsletter – October 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (September 2021).
- Following an RfC, extended confirmed protection may be used preemptively on certain high-risk templates.
- Following a discussion at the Village Pump, there is consensus to treat discord logs the same as IRC logs. This means that discord logs will be oversighted if posted onwiki.
- DiscussionTools has superseded Enterprisey's reply-link script. Editors may switch using the "Discussion tools" checkbox under Preferences → Beta features.
- A motion has standardised the 500/30 (extended confirmed) restrictions placed by the Arbitration Committee. The standardised restriction is now listed in the Arbitration Committee's procedures.
- Following the closure of the Iranian politics case, standard discretionary sanctions are authorized for all edits about, and all pages related to, post-1978 Iranian politics, broadly construed.
- The Arbitration Committee encourages uninvolved administrators to use the discretionary sanctions procedure in topic areas where it is authorised to facilitate consensus in RfCs. This includes, but is not limited to, enforcing sectioned comments, word/diff limits and moratoriums on a particular topic from being brought in an RfC for up to a year.
- Editors have approved expanding the trial of Growth Features from 2% of new accounts to 25%, and the share of newcomers getting mentorship from 2% to 5%. Experienced editors are invited to add themselves to the mentor list.
- The community consultation phase of the 2021 CheckUser and Oversight appointments process is open for editors to provide comments and ask questions to candidates.
Happy First Edit Day!
[edit]The Signpost: 31 October 2021
[edit]- From the editor: Different stories, same place
What Wikipedians can and cannot do.
- News and notes: The sockpuppet who ran for adminship and almost succeeded
And will the last person to leave the C-Suite please turn off the lights?
- In the media: China bans, and is there intelligent life on this planet?
Beam me up, Scotty – Matt Amodio for sure, and maybe just a few VIPs, billionaires, and Tucker Carlson.
- Opinion: A photo on Wikipedia can ruin your life
Section 230 in practice – this Black life should matter to us.
- Discussion report: Editors brainstorm and propose changes to the Requests for adminship process
Proposals to solve eight core problems – what many describe as a broken process – identified in the 2021 RfA review.
- Recent research: Welcome messages fail to improve newbie retention
And other new research results
- Community view: Reflections on the Chinese Wikipedia
Were the bans justified?
- Traffic report: James Bond and the Giant Squid Game
Plus German elections and movies galore.
- Technology report: Wikimedia Toolhub, winners of the Coolest Tool Award, and more
Now discovering and accessing Wikimedia tools will be easier.
- Serendipity: How Wikipedia helped create a Serbian stamp
Details can make all the difference!
- Book review: Wikipedia and the Representation of Reality
Or you could watch the video!
- WikiProject report: Redirection
An interview with participants at WikiProject Redirect.
- Humour: A very Wiki crossword
24 clues to chew on.
Administrators' newsletter – November 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (October 2021).
- Phase 2 of the 2021 RfA review has commenced which will discuss potential solutions to address the 8 issues found in Phase 1. Proposed solutions that achieve consensus will be implemented and you may propose solutions till 07 November 2021.
- Toolhub is a catalogue of tools which can be used on Wikimedia wikis. It is at https://toolhub.wikimedia.org/.
- GeneralNotability, Mz7 and Cyberpower678 have been appointed to the Electoral Commission for the 2021 Arbitration Committee Elections. Ivanvector and John M Wolfson are reserve commissioners.
- Eligible editors are invited to self-nominate themselves to stand in the 2021 Arbitration Committee elections from 07 November 2021 until 16 November 2021.
- The 2021 CheckUser and Oversight appointments process has concluded with the appointment of five new CheckUsers and two new Oversighters.
Thank you!
[edit]Hi Jonathunder, Thank you very much for the resources you posted to my talk page! I'm still trying to get the hang of Wikipedia so I appreciate any and all advice that can help me improve. Take care! Zoz0716 (talk) 05:21, 15 November 2021 (UTC)
ArbCom 2021 Elections voter message
[edit]The Signpost: 29 November 2021
[edit]- In the media: Denial: climate change, mass killings and pornography
Will they deny non-fungible tokens next?
- WikiCup report: The WikiCup 2021
15th annual event closes with hundreds of articles improved
- Deletion report: What we lost, what we gained
1,767 nominations in November... AN/Is... DRVs... The largest AfD in history, possibly ever!
- From a Wikipedia reader: What's Matt Amodio?
Wikipedia democratizes knowledge, but is it in Jeopardy?
- Arbitration report: ArbCom in 2021
We should have at least one of these every year!
- Discussion report: On the brink of change – RFA reforms appear imminent
Editors propose modifications to Wikipedia's admin-making process.
- Technology report: What does it take to upload a file?
How MediaWiki works with media files.
- WikiProject report: Interview with contributors to WikiProject Actors and Filmmakers
From the silver screen to your computer screen
- Serendipity: "Did You Know ..." featured a photo of the wrong female WWII pilot
A worthy pilot but the photo didn't match the article!
- News from Diff: Content translation tool helps create one million Wikipedia articles
Sharing the wealth of information!
- Traffic report: Reporting ticket sales on the edge of the Wiki, if Eternals should fail
Conjuring up the jesters again!
- Recent research: Vandalizing Wikipedia as rational behavior
And other recent research publications
- Humour: A very new very Wiki crossword
Answers to last month's puzzle included.
Administrators' newsletter – December 2021
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (November 2021).

- Unregistered editors using the mobile website are now able to receive notices to indicate they have talk page messages. The notice looks similar to what is already present on desktop, and will be displayed on when viewing any page except mainspace and when editing any page. (T284642)
- The limit on the number of emails a user can send per day has been made global instead of per-wiki to help prevent abuse. (T293866)
- Voting in the 2021 Arbitration Committee Elections is open until 23:59, 06 December 2021 (UTC).
- The already authorized standard discretionary sanctions for all pages relating to the Horn of Africa (defined as including Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and adjoining areas if involved in related disputes), broadly construed, have been made permanent.
Administrators will no longer be autopatrolled
[edit]A recently closed Request for Comment (RFC) reached consensus to remove Autopatrolled from the administrator user group. You may, similarly as with Edit Filter Manager, choose to self-assign this permission to yourself. This will be implemented the week of December 13th, but if you wish to self-assign you may do so now. To find out when the change has gone live or if you have any questions please visit the Administrator's Noticeboard. 20:06, 7 December 2021 (UTC)
- How pointless. Jonathunder (talk) 15:48, 8 December 2021 (UTC)
The Signpost: 28 December 2021
[edit]- From the editor: Here is the news
And wishing our readers a healthy, fortunate and bountiful 2022.
- News and notes: Jimbo's NFT, new arbs, fixing RfA, and financial statements
Wrapping up 2021 with a pair of auctions, activity surrounding administrators, and an audit.
- Serendipity: Born three months before her brother?
Wikipedia and the Oxford Dictionary of Music have different opinions.
- In the media: The past is not even past
Even for Wikipedia critics in nappies!
- Recent research: STEM articles judged unsuitable for undergraduates below the first paragraph
And other new research results.
- Arbitration report: A new crew for '22
Elections certified, bans unlifted, mailing lists restricted, but no new cases.
- By the numbers: Four billion words and a few numbers
Commemorating a milestone: word count comparisons with other Wikipedias.
- Deletion report: We laughed, we cried, we closed as "no consensus"
More hats than a rodeo: the best, worst, and gnarliest AfDs of 2021.
- Gallery: Wikicommons presents: 2021
Some of 2021's most dramatic moments through Wikicommons images.
- Traffic report: Spider-Man, football and the departed
We'll always remember the Greek alphabet!
- Crossword: Another Wiki crossword for one and all
Answers to last month's puzzle included.
- Humour: Buying Wikipedia
Helpful how-to for the prospective buyer. Why settle for a measly single edit, when you can buy the whole thing?
Merchandise giveaway nomination
[edit]A token of thanks
Hi Jonathunder! I've nominated you (along with all other active admins) to receive a solstice season gift from the WMF. Talk page stalkers are invited to comment at the nomination. Enjoy! Cheers, {{u|Sdkb}} talk ~~~~~
|
MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 23:50, 31 December 2021 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – January 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (December 2021).
|
|
- Following consensus at the 2021 RfA review, the autopatrolled user right has been removed from the administrators user group; admins can grant themselves the autopatrolled permission if they wish to remain autopatrolled.
- Additionally, consensus for proposal 6C of the 2021 RfA review has led to the creation of an administrative action review process. The purpose of this process will be to review individual administrator actions and individual actions taken by users holding advanced permissions.
- Following the 2021 Arbitration Committee elections, the following editors have been appointed to the Arbitration Committee: Beeblebrox, Cabayi, Donald Albury, Enterprisey, Izno, Opabinia regalis, Worm That Turned, Wugapodes.
- The functionaries email list (functionaries-en
lists.wikimedia.org) will no longer accept incoming emails apart from those sent by list members and WMF staff. Private concerns, apart from those requiring oversight, should be directly sent to the Arbitration Committee.
Precious anniversary
[edit]| Eight years! |
|---|
happy 2022! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:01, 3 January 2022 (UTC)
How we will see unregistered users
[edit]Hi!
You get this message because you are an admin on a Wikimedia wiki.
When someone edits a Wikimedia wiki without being logged in today, we show their IP address. As you may already know, we will not be able to do this in the future. This is a decision by the Wikimedia Foundation Legal department, because norms and regulations for privacy online have changed.
Instead of the IP we will show a masked identity. You as an admin will still be able to access the IP. There will also be a new user right for those who need to see the full IPs of unregistered users to fight vandalism, harassment and spam without being admins. Patrollers will also see part of the IP even without this user right. We are also working on better tools to help.
If you have not seen it before, you can read more on Meta. If you want to make sure you don’t miss technical changes on the Wikimedia wikis, you can subscribe to the weekly technical newsletter.
We have two suggested ways this identity could work. We would appreciate your feedback on which way you think would work best for you and your wiki, now and in the future. You can let us know on the talk page. You can write in your language. The suggestions were posted in October and we will decide after 17 January.
Thank you. /Johan (WMF)
18:13, 4 January 2022 (UTC)
Happy Adminship Anniversary!
[edit]Happy Adminship Anniversary!
[edit]

The Signpost: 30 January 2022
[edit]- Special report: WikiEd course leads to Twitter harassment
Education, deletion and social media can be a volatile mix.
- News and notes: Feedback for Board of Trustees election
Plus, the incredible shrinking admin cadre.
- Interview: CEO Maryana Iskander "four weeks in"
"Impossible ideas can be created, not just imagined."
- Black History Month: What are you doing for Black History Month?
Over 1,700 U.S. congressmen owned slaves. You can help document this.
- Deletion report: Ringing in the new year: Subject notability guideline under discussion
More than you wanted to know about the massive NSPORTS RfC.
- WikiProject report: The Forgotten Featured
Interview with volunteers at the Unreviewed featured articles 2020 working group.
- Arbitration report: New arbitrators look at new case and antediluvian sanctions
The spirit of 2006 is going strong.
- Traffic report: The most viewed articles of 2021
Royals, Freddy and movies.
- Gallery: No Spanish municipality without a photograph
How many more photos are needed?
- Obituary: Twofingered Typist
Rest in peace.
- Op-Ed: Identifying and rooting out climate change denial
Will this method apply to other sensitive topics?
- Essay: The prime directive
Just imagine!
- Opinion: Should the Wikimedia Foundation continue to accept cryptocurrency donations?
One editor doesn't think so.
- In the media: Fuzzy-headed government editing
Get down and party! But no COI editing!
- Recent research: Articles with higher quality ratings have fewer "knowledge gaps"
And other research results.
- Serendipity: Pooh entered the Public Domain – but Tigger has to wait two more years
Copyright is almost always complicated, but we break it down for you.
- Crossword: Cross swords with a crossword
Featuring an experimental on-wiki entry box.
Administrators' newsletter – February 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (January 2022).
- The Universal Code of Conduct enforcement guidelines have been published for consideration. Voting to ratify this guideline is planned to take place 7 March to 21 March. Comments can be made on the talk page.
- The user group
oversightwill be renamedsuppressin around 3 weeks. This will not affect the name shown to users and is simply a change in the technical name of the user group. The change is being made for technical reasons. You can comment in Phabricator if you have objections. - The Reply Tool feature, which is a part of Discussion Tools, will be opt-out for everyone logged in or logged out starting 7 February 2022. Editors wishing to comment on this can do so in the relevant Village Pump discussion.
- The user group
- Community input is requested on several motions aimed at addressing discretionary sanctions that are no longer needed or overly broad.
- The Arbitration Committee has published a generalised comment regarding successful appeals of sanctions that it can review (such as checkuser blocks).
- A motion related to the Antisemitism in Poland case was passed following a declined case request.
- Voting in the 2022 Steward elections will begin on 07 February 2022, 14:00 (UTC) and end on 26 February 2022, 13:59 (UTC). The confirmation process of current stewards is being held in parallel. You can automatically check your eligibility to vote.
- Voting in the 2022 Community Wishlist Survey is open until 11 February 2022.
Removed extended confirmed user rights
[edit]Hi, I got an alert that stated that you removed my account as an extended confirmed user. Could this have been an accident? My account passes the 30 days tenure and 500 edits requirement per WP:XC, and I cannot think of any reason why I would have my extended confirmed rights changed.--Righanred (talk) 04:35, 6 February 2022 (UTC)
- @Righanred: Since Jonathunder has edited since this and not replied, you might want to raise this matter at WP:AN. -- Tamzin[cetacean needed] (she/they) 22:20, 9 February 2022 (UTC)
- Thank you for the suggestion. I have done as such.--Righanred (talk) 15:25, 10 February 2022 (UTC)
Notice of noticeboard discussion
[edit]
There is currently a discussion at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard regarding an issue with which you may have been involved. The thread is Admin has removed my account's extended confirmed user rights. Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Righanred (talk • contribs)
"The Andrew formerly known as Prince" listed at Redirects for discussion
[edit]
An editor has identified a potential problem with the redirect The Andrew formerly known as Prince and has thus listed it for discussion. This discussion will occur at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2022 February 10#The Andrew formerly known as Prince until a consensus is reached, and anyone, including you, is welcome to contribute to the discussion. ValarianB (talk) 15:38, 10 February 2022 (UTC)
Adminship requires accountability
[edit]Hi Jonathunder, it's now been a week since Righanred's request for explanation above. Please reply both to them and at the AN thread before continuing to edit. ~ ToBeFree (talk) 12:56, 13 February 2022 (UTC)
Arbcom Request Notification
[edit]You are involved in a recently filed request for arbitration. Please review the request at Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case#Jonathunder's use of admin tools in content disputes and, if you wish to do so, enter your statement and any other material you wish to submit to the Arbitration Committee. As threaded discussion is not permitted on most arbitration pages, please ensure that you make all comments in your own section only. Additionally, the guide to arbitration and the Arbitration Committee's procedures may be of use.
Thanks, Eggishorn (talk) (contrib) 08:11, 20 February 2022 (UTC)
Response
[edit]Sincere apologies, all. I've been battling a long and serious illness for some time. I see a ton of messages but simply can't focus on Wikipedia now. I'll try tomorrow. Jonathunder (talk) 02:03, 22 February 2022 (UTC)
- Hi Jonathunder. I'm Worm That Turned, a member of the Arbitration Committee. I'm very sorry to hear of your illness and would like to give the same advice I give to everyone - this is just a website, real life comes first. You need to focus on yourself and the last thing you need is concern yourself with our online squabbles. With regards to the case, we have the ability to "accept and suspend" cases by motion, which may happen here - anything that passes at the same time would be temporary, until either you are well enough to focus on the matter, or sufficient time has passed to make it permanent. In other words, don't worry about time pressure - focus on yourself. Please, do reach out if I can be of further help, my email is always open. WormTT(talk) 08:38, 22 February 2022 (UTC)
Motions proposed at the case request Jonathunder's use of admin tools in content disputes
[edit]Several motions have been proposed by the arbitrators at the case request Jonathunder's use of admin tools in content disputes. Your comments are welcome in your section. You can view the motions here. For the Arbitration Committee, Dreamy Jazz talk to me | my contributions 23:49, 23 February 2022 (UTC)
Arbitration motion regarding Jonathunder
[edit]The Arbitration Committee has resolved by motion that:
The "Jonathunder" request for arbitration is accepted. This case will be opened but suspended for a period of six months.[note 1]
If Jonathunder (talk · contribs) should return to active editing on the English Wikipedia during this time and request that this case be resumed, the Arbitration Committee shall unsuspend the case by motion and it will proceed through the normal arbitration process. Such a request may be made by email to arbcom-en
wikimedia.org or at the clerks' noticeboard. Jonathunder is temporarily desysopped for the duration of the case.
If such a request is not made within six months of this motion or if Jonathunder resigns his administrative tools, this case shall be automatically closed, and Jonathunder shall be permanently desysopped. If tools are resigned or removed, in the circumstances described above, Jonathunder may regain the administrative tools at any time only via a successful request for adminship.
- ^ The case has been opened at Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Jonathunder.
For the Arbitration Committee, KevinL (aka L235 · t · c) 21:38, 26 February 2022 (UTC)
- Discuss this at: Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee/Noticeboard § Arbitration motion regarding Jonathunder
The Signpost: 27 February 2022
[edit]- From the team: Selection of a new Signpost Editor-in-Chief
Bye-bye 'bones!
- News and notes: Impacts of Russian invasion of Ukraine
Plus, the Steward Elections, Leadership Development Task Force and a contest.
- Opinion: Why student editors are good for Wikipedia
Who are the students and how do we assure quality?
- Special report: A presidential candidate's team takes on Wikipedia
Vive l'encyclopédie libre!
- In the media: Wiki-drama in the UK House of Commons
Plus, Wiki Unseen, the "Sports Wars", and much more.
- Serendipity: War photographers: from Crimea (1850s) to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022)
"The first casualty when war comes is truth".
- Technology report: Community Wishlist Survey results
Plus, DiscussionTools and dark mode.
- WikiProject report: 10 years of tea
Coffee in Teahouse and other secrets revealed in this interview with volunteers.
- Featured content: Featured Content returns
A fantastic diverse mix of a record-breaking amount of content.
- Deletion report: The 10 most SHOCKING deletion discussions of February
You WON'T believe #8!
- Recent research: How editors and readers may be emotionally affected by disasters and terrorist attacks
And other recent research publications.
- Arbitration report: Parties remonstrate, arbs contemplate, skeptics coordinate
The report on lengthy litigation.
- By the numbers: Does birthplace affect the frequency of Wikipedia biography articles?
Some evidence from people born in France.
- Gallery: The vintage exhibit
Some good-ol' posters, restored to its former glory.
- Traffic report: Euphoria, Pamela Anderson, lies and Netflix
Plus quarterbacks, half-timers, Olympians, and Hulu!
- News from Diff: The Wikimania 2022 Core Organizing Team
Meet the folks in charge!
- Crossword: A Crossword, featuring Featured Articles
Can you fill in the boxes with Wikipedia's best content?
- Humour: Notability of mailboxes
Does yours pass?
File:LittleFreeSchoolhouseLibrary.jpg listed for discussion
[edit]
A file that you uploaded or altered, File:LittleFreeSchoolhouseLibrary.jpg, has been listed at Wikipedia:Files for discussion. Please see the discussion to see why it has been listed (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry). Feel free to add your opinion on the matter below the nomination. Thank you.
This bot DID NOT nominate any of your contributions for deletion; please refer to the history of each individual page for details. Thanks, FastilyBot (talk) 10:00, 28 February 2022 (UTC)
Enough
[edit]...of being ill. Spring is about to be sprung upon an unsuspecting populace and pizza and Indian buffets for everyone! Randy Kryn (talk) 17:19, 28 February 2022 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – March 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (February 2022).
|
|
- A RfC is open to change the wording of revision deletion criterion 1 to remove the sentence relating to non-infringing contributions.
- A RfC is open to discuss prohibiting draftification of articles over 90 days old.
- The deployment of the reply tool as an opt-out feature, as announced in last month's newsletter, has been delayed to 7 March. Feedback and comments are being welcomed at Wikipedia talk:Talk pages project. (T296645)
- Special:Nuke will now allow the selection of standard deletion reasons to be used when mass-deleting pages. This was a Community Wishlist Survey request from 2022. (T25020)
- The ability to undelete the talk page when undeleting a page using Special:Undelete or the API will be added soon. This change was requested in the 2021 Community Wishlist Survey. (T295389)
- Several unused discretionary sanctions and article probation remedies have been rescinded. This follows the community feedback from the 2021 Discretionary Sanctions review.
- The 2022 appointees for the Ombuds commission are Érico, Faendalimas, Galahad, Infinite0694, Mykola7, Olugold, Udehb and Zabe as regular members and Ameisenigel and JJMC89 as advisory members.
- Following the 2022 Steward Elections, the following editors have been appointed as stewards: AntiCompositeNumber, BRPever, Hasley, TheresNoTime, and Vermont.
- The 2022 Community Wishlist Survey results have been published alongside the ranking of prioritized proposals.
The Signpost: 27 March 2022
[edit]- From the Signpost team: How The Signpost is documenting the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
We stand in solidarity with free knowledge.
- News and notes: Of safety and anonymity
The diff that resulted in arrest and jail time in Belarus.
- Eyewitness Wikimedian, Kharkiv, Ukraine: Countering Russian aggression with a camera
A Ukrainian Wikipedian volunteers to document the war.
- Eyewitness Wikimedian, Vinnytsia, Ukraine: War diary
Reporting from on the ground in Ukraine.
- Eyewitness Wikimedian, Western Ukraine: Working with Wikipedia helps
Holding up the elephants!
- Disinformation report: The oligarchs' socks
For whom do the Bells toil?
- In the media: Ukraine, Russia, and even some other stuff
Lenin did not say "Wow, check out those yachts"!
- Recent research: Top scholarly citers, lack of open access references, predicting editor departures
And other research publications.
- Wikimedian perspective: My heroes from Russia, Ukraine & beyond
The thought of cities being destroyed is unbearable.
- Discussion report: Athletes are less notable now
The Discussion Report returns with a diverse mix of community proposals.
- Technology report: 2022 Wikimedia Hackathon
Plus, Desktop Improvements and a new uploading tool for Commons.
- Arbitration report: Skeptics given heavenly judgement, whirlwind of Discord drama begins to spin for tropical cyclone editors
Unclear whether storm will make landfall.
- Traffic report: War, what is it good for?
Ukraine, Russia and Anna Sorokin.
- Deletion report: Ukraine, werewolves, Ukraine, YouTube pundits, and Ukraine
Things that go "boom" in the night.
- Gallery: "All we are saying is, give peace a chance..."
The once-seen beauty of Ukraine, in high quality.
- From the archives: Burn, baby burn
A look at when early backups of Wikipedia were recovered.
- Essay: Yes, the sky is blue
There is such thing as over-citing.
- Tips and tricks: Become a keyboard ninja
And other useful Tips of the Day.
- On the bright side: The bright side of news
Happy-er current events.
Administrators' newsletter – April 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (March 2022).
- An RfC is open proposing a change to the minimum activity requirements for administrators.
- Access to Special:RevisionDelete has been expanded to include users who have the
deletelogentryanddeletedhistoryrights. This means that those in the Researcher user group and Checkusers who are not administrators can now access Special:RevisionDelete. The users able to view the special page after this change are the 3 users in the Researcher group, as there are currently no checkusers who are not already administrators. (T301928) - When viewing deleted revisions or diffs on Special:Undelete a back link to the undelete page for the associated page is now present. (T284114)
- Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Procedures § Opening of proceedings has been updated to reflect current practice following a motion.
- A arbitration case regarding Skepticism and coordinated editing has been closed.
- A arbitration case regarding WikiProject Tropical Cyclones has been opened.
- Voting for the Universal Code of Conduct Enforcement guidelines has closed, and the results were that 56.98% of voters supported the guidelines. The results of this vote mean the Wikimedia Foundation Board will now review the guidelines.
The Signpost: 24 April 2022
[edit]- News and notes: Double trouble
The second case of Wikipedian persecution.
- In the media: The battlegrounds outside and inside Wikipedia
What's hot in the media this month.
- Special report: Ukrainian Wikimedians during the war
Writing Wikipedia, joining the armed forces, and volunteering.
- Eyewitness Wikimedian, Vinnytsia, Ukraine: War diary (Part 2)
"Our proud Sparta bleeds too."
- Technology report: 8-year-old attribution issues in Media Viewer
Plus, a new status page and Desktop Improvements.
- Featured content: Wikipedia's best content from March
We showcase the best content that Wikipedians offered this past month.
- In focus: Editing difficulties on Russian Wikipedia
A multi-national encyclopedia tries to move forward.
- Gallery: A voyage around the world with WLM winners
Wiki Loves Monuments 2021 winners announced.
- Interview: On a war and a map
How a war map predated Wikimedia's map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Serendipity: Wikipedia loves photographs, but hates photographers
Why not just link to an article to attribute famous photographers?
- Traffic report: Justice Jackson, the Smiths, and an invasion
Plus deaths, films, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.
- Recent research: Student edits as "civic engagement"; how Wikipedia readers interact with images
And other new research findings
- News from the WMF: How Smart is the SMART Copyright Act?
The deceptively simple Strengthening Measures to Advance Rights Technologies Copyright Act of 2022.
- Essay: The problem with elegant variation
An elegant Wikipedia essay.
- Humour: Really huge message boxes
A serious statement of Wikipedia policy.
- From the archives: Wales resigned WMF board chair in 2006 reorganization
A look at when the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees was reorganized.
Administrators' newsletter – May 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (April 2022).
|
|
- Following an RfC, a change has been made to the administrators inactivity policy. Under the new policy, if an administrator has not made at least 100 edits over a period of 5 years they may be desysopped for inactivity.
- Following a discussion on the bureaucrat's noticeboard, a change has been made to the bureaucrats inactivity policy.
- The ability to undelete the associated talk page when undeleting a page has been added. This was the 11th wish of the 2021 Community Wishlist Survey.
- A public status system for WMF wikis has been created. It is located at https://www.wikimediastatus.net/ and is hosted separately to WMF wikis so in the case of an outage it will remain viewable.
- Remedy 2 of the St Christopher case has been rescinded following a motion. The remedy previously authorised administrators to place a ban on single-purpose accounts who were disruptively editing on the article St Christopher Iba Mar Diop College of Medicine or related pages from those pages.
The Signpost: 29 May 2022
[edit]- From the team: A changing of the guard
Your two new Signpost Editors in Chief.
- News and notes: 2022 Wikimedia Board elections
Plus, Form 990, fundraising, RfA and UCoC.
- Community view: Have your say in the 2022 Wikimedia Foundation Board elections
Community shortlisting in an affiliate-based process, and a poll for you to speak your mind.
- Opinion: The Wikimedia Endowment – a lack of transparency
A little more information, please.
- In the media: Putin, Jimbo, Musk and more
A varied collection of "special operations", and interviews.
- Special report: Three stories of Ukrainian Wikimedians during the war
Tales of hope, perseverance and even a little humor.
- In focus: Measuring gender diversity in Wikipedia articles
A new approach at the article level.
- Discussion report: Portals, April Fools, admin activity requirements and more
We summarize the drama for you.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject COVID-19 revisited
March 2020 WikiProject report interviewees return discussing project's evolution and future.
- Technology report: A new video player for Wikimedia wikis
Plus, Growth Features configuration, the Hackathon, and more.
- Featured content: Featured content of April
Showcasing the very best articles, pictures, videos, and other contributions from Wikipedians last month.
- Interview: Wikipedia's pride
An interview with queer Wikimedians.
- Serendipity: Those thieving image farms
Stopping them from taking your photos from Commons.
- Recent research: 35 million Twitter links analysed
And other recent research findings.
- Tips and tricks: The reference desks of Wikipedia
Helpful advice from Tips of the Day.
- Traffic report: Strange highs and strange lows
Were Johnny and Amber exchanging blows?
- News from Diff: Winners of the Human rights and Environment special nomination by Wiki Loves Earth announced
Photos raise awareness for nature protection and human impact on nature.
- News from the WMF: The EU Digital Services Act: What’s the Deal with the Deal?
New regulations governing online censorship.
- Video: How the entire country of Qatar was blocked from editing
A lighthearted video recalling the 2006 incident.
- Gallery: Diving under the sea for World Oceans Day
Exploring Featured Pictures of the world's oceans.
- From the archives: The Onion and Wikipedia
A look at when The Onion published an humorous article regarding Wikipedia.
- Essay: How not to write a Wikipedia article
On creative works.
- Humour: A new crossword
Test your word-puzzle skills!
Administrators' newsletter – June 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (May 2022).
|
|
- Several areas of improvement collated from community member votes have been identified in the Universal Code of Conduct Enforcement guidelines. The areas of improvement have been sent back for review and you are invited to provide input on these areas.
- Administrators using the mobile web interface can now access Special:Block directly from user pages. (T307341)
- The IP Info feature has been deployed to all wikis as a Beta Feature. Any autoconfirmed user may enable the feature using the "IP info" checkbox under Preferences → Beta features. Autoconfirmed users will be able to access basic information about an IP address that includes the country and connection method. Those with advanced privileges (admin, bureaucrat, checkuser) will have access to extra information that includes the Internet Service Provider and more specific location.
- Remedy 2 of the Rachel Marsden case has been rescinded following a motion. The remedy previously authorised administrators to delete or reduce to a stub, together with their talk pages, articles related to Rachel Marsden when they violate Wikipedia's biographies of living persons policy.
- An arbitration case regarding WikiProject Tropical Cyclones has been closed.
The Signpost: 26 June 2022
[edit]- News and notes: WMF inks new rules on government-ordered takedowns, blasts Russian feds' censor demands, spends big bucks
Office actions to secretly delete stuff when told to? Well, at least not if they're Putin's.
- In the media: Editor given three-year sentence, big RfA makes news, Guy Standing takes it sitting down
Belarusian Mark Bernstein to serve 36 months of "home chemistry" for unapproved posting, Slate covers historically large adminship bid, UBI economist with goofy infobox caption thinks it's funny.
- Special report: "Wikipedia's independence" or "Wikimedia's pile of dosh"?
A review of Wikipedia's fundraising messages and financial status.
- Discussion report: MoS rules on CCP name mulled, XRV axe plea nulled, BLPPROD drafting bid pulled
Just three for the history books this month (or not).
- Opinion: Picture of the Day – how Adam plans to ru(i)n it
Famed FP ace steps up to run main page outfit. Millions tremble in fear, or something.
- Featured content: Articles on Scots' clash, Yank's tux, Austrian's action flick deemed brilliant prose
And who can forget the black-breasted buttonquail.
- Essay: RfA trend line haruspicy: fact or fancy?
Don't be dumb, says math whiz: avoid the gambler's fallacy. Illustrated for your pleasure.
- Recent research: Wikipedia versus academia (again), tables' "immortality" probed
Tables "like to socialize" and "share genes": ooh la la!
- Serendipity: Was she really a Swiss lesbian automobile racer?
What's the deal with Anita Forrer, redlinked woman of mystery who saved Schwarzenbach archives?
- News from the WMF: Wikimedia Enterprise signs first deals
Google and Internet Archive sold on new product, more customers hoped to follow.
- Traffic report: Top view counts for shows, movies, and celeb lawsuit that keeps on giving
Plus editing stampedes for cheery subjects: shootings, deaths, and virus.
- Gallery: Celebration of summer, winter
Lest Southern Hemisphere be forgotten.
- Humour: Shortcuts, screwballers, Simon & Garfunkel
Can we offer you a nice crossword in this trying time?
2022 Greater Minnesota History Wikipedia Edit-a-Thons
[edit]| 2022 Greater Minnesota History Wikipedia Edit-a-Thons | |
|---|---|
Location: Kandiyohi County Museum, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, 610 Hwy 71 Service Rd, Willmar, MN
Location: Blue Earth County History Center and Museum, Blue Earth County Historical Society, 424 Warren St, Mankato, MN
Location: Weyerhaeuser Museum, Morrison County Historical Society, 2151 Lindbergh Dr. S, Little Falls, MN
Location: Clearwater County History Center, Clearwater County Historical Society, 264 1st Street, Shevlin, MN
Location: Minnesota Discovery Center, 1005 Discovery Drive, Chisholm, MN
Location: Nobles County Historical Museum, Nobles County Historical Society, 225 9th St, Worthington, MN
Location: Winona County History Center, Winona County Historical Society, 160 Johnson St, Winona, MN
Location: Otter Tail County Historical Museum, Otter Tail County Historical Society, 1110 W Lincoln Avenue, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, MN
| |
Administrators' newsletter – July 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (June 2022).
|
|
user_global_editcountis a new variable that can be used in abuse filters to avoid affecting globally active users. (T130439)
- An arbitration case regarding conduct in deletion-related editing has been opened.
- The New Pages Patrol queue has around 10,000 articles to be reviewed. As all administrators have the patrol right, please consider helping out. The queue is here. For further information on the state of the project, see the latest NPP newsletter.
The Signpost: 1 August 2022
[edit]- From the editors: Rise of the machines, or something
The future of stuff? Who knows, but two articles were written by a computer this month.
- News and notes: Information considered harmful
Wikipedia and human rights, publishers and the Internet Archive, Russia and Wikipedia.
- In the media: Censorship, medieval hoaxes, "pathetic supervillains", FB-WMF AI TL bid, dirty duchess deeds done dirt cheap
Real news or silly season?
- Op-Ed: The "recession" affair
IGNORANCE IS NOT STRENGTH.
- Eyewitness Wikimedian, Vinnytsia, Ukraine: War diary (part 3)
"This year's victory was sad and dull."
- Election guide: The chosen six: 2022 Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees elections
Candidate op-eds, open question spaces, and more.
- Community view: Youth culture and notability
Was Minecraft YouTuber a GNG pass in life, or only in death?
- Opinion: Criminals among us
Mass murderers, sex criminals, Ponzi schemers, insider traders, and business people.
- Arbitration report: Winds of change blow for cyclone editors, deletion dustup draws toward denouement
The last three months of arbitration through the eyes of a GPT-3
- Deletion report: This is Gonzo Country
GPT-3 whips it out.
- Discussion report: Notability for train stations, notices for mobile editors, noticeboards for the rest of us
And when is 'today'?
- Traffic report: US TV, JP ex-PM, outer space, and politics of IN, US, UK top charts for July
The world shows its messy complexity.
- Featured content: A little list with surprisingly few lists
More lists expected next month.
- Tips and tricks: Cleaning up awful citations with Citation bot
It doesn't have to be a pain in the butt!
- In focus: Wikidata insights from a handy little tool
PAC2 explains the item documentation template.
- On the bright side: Ukrainian Wikimedians during the war — three (more) stories
Education, climate change, and journalism.
- Essay: How to research an image
Zoom and enhance.
- Recent research: A century of rulemaking on Wikipedia analyzed
And other new research findings.
- Serendipity: Don't cite Wikipedia
But Commons is a treasure trove.
- Gallery: A backstage pass
All the things about theatre that the general public misses out on.
- From the archives: 2012 Russian Wikipedia shutdown as it happened
Ten years ago, Russian Wikipedia went dark in protest of new Russian laws. Today...
- Humour: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Strange mysteries of our animal world.
Administrators' newsletter – August 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (July 2022).

- An RfC has been closed with consensus to add javascript that will show edit notices for editors editing via a mobile device. This only works for users using a mobile browser, so iOS app editors will still not be able to see edit notices.
- An RfC has been closed with the consensus that train stations are not inherently notable.
- The Wikimania 2022 Hackathon will take place virtually from 11 August to 14 August.
- Administrators will now see links on user pages for "Change block" and "Unblock user" instead of just "Block user" if the user is already blocked. (T308570)
- The arbitration case request Geschichte has been automatically closed after a 3 month suspension of the case.
- You can vote for candidates in the 2022 Board of Trustees elections from 16 August to 30 August. Two community elected seats are up for election.
- Wikimania 2022 is taking place virtually from 11 August to 14 August. The schedule for wikimania is listed here. There are also a number of in-person events associated with Wikimania around the world.
- Tech tip: When revision-deleting on desktop, hold ⇧ Shift between clicking two checkboxes to select every box in that range.
Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Jonathunder closed automatically
[edit]An arbitration case regarding Jonathunder has now closed. The Arbitration Committee resolved by motion in February to suspend the case, which could be unsuspended on request by Jonathunder within six months. Jonathunder has not requested that the case be revived, and therefore it has been automatically closed. The motion triggering this process is available to read here at the case page.
For the arbitration committee, firefly ( t · c ) 09:24, 28 August 2022 (UTC)
- Discuss this at: Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee/Noticeboard § Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Jonathunder closed automatically
The Signpost: 31 August 2022
[edit]- News and notes: Admins wanted on English Wikipedia, IP editors not wanted on Farsi Wiki, donations wanted everywhere
jimmy@wikipedia.org donate@wikimedia.org (not a typo?) wants a moment of your time.
- Special report: Wikimania 2022: no show, no show up?
Why the 'Festival Edition' was less than perfect, and what we can do better.
- In the media: Truth or consequences? A tough month for truth
But Annie Rauwerda is the real thing!
- Discussion report: Boarding the Trustees
2022 elections, new page patrol, Fox News, Vector 2022, Royal Central and external links
- News from Wiki Education: 18 years a Wikipedian: what it means to me
Change and stability.
- In focus: Thinking inside the box
All there is to know about userboxen.
- Tips and tricks: The unexpected rabbit hole of typo fixing in citations...
Sometimes Citation bot is not enough.
- Technology report: Vector (2022) deployment discussions happening now
Plus, the Private Incident Reporting System, and new bots & user scripts!
- Serendipity: Two photos of every library on earth
One exterior, one interior.
- Featured content: Our man drills are safe for work, but our Labia is Fausta.
Also includes a campaign to "Suck for Luck".
- Recent research: The dollar value of "official" external links
And other new research
- Traffic report: What dreams (and heavily trafficked articles) may come
Because there really is no real theme this month you can grab onto to give a catchy title.
- Essay: Delete the junk!
Some articles aren't worth saving
- Gallery: A Fringe Affair (but not the show by Edward W. Feery that was on this year)
Edinburgh in August.
- Humour: CommonsComix No. 1
Because the Signpost needs a cartoon.
- From the archives: 5, 10, and 15 years ago
The Signpost looks back on The Signpost: New reports, conceived in a spirit of collaboration, and dedicated to the proposition of information and, uh, more information for all.
Administrators' newsletter – September 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (August 2022).
- A discussion is open to define a process by which Vector 2022 can be made the default for all users.
- An RfC is open to gain consensus on whether Fox News is reliable for science and politics.
- The impact report on the effects of disabling IP editing on the Persian (Farsi) Wikipedia has been released.
- The WMF is looking into making a Private Incident Reporting System (PIRS) system to improve the reporting of harmful incidents through easier and safer reporting. You can leave comments on the talk page by answering the questions provided. Users who have faced harmful situations are also invited to join a PIRS interview to share the experience. To sign up please email Madalina Ana.
- An arbitration case regarding Conduct in deletion-related editing has been closed. The Arbitration Committee passed a remedy as part of the final decision to create a request for comment (RfC) on how to handle mass nominations at Articles for Deletion (AfD).
- The arbitration case request Jonathunder has been automatically closed after a 6 month suspension of the case.
- The new pages patrol (NPP) team has prepared an appeal to the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) for assistance with addressing Page Curation bugs and requested features. You are encouraged to read the open letter before it is sent, and if you support it, consider signing it. It is not a discussion, just a signature will suffice.
- Voting for candidates for the Wikimedia Board of Trustees is open until 6 September.
The Signpost: 30 September 2022
[edit]- News and notes: Board vote results, bot's big GET, crat chat gives new mop, WMF seeks "sound logo" and "organizer lab"
Candidates sign off and peel out – Sigalov is on and Peel is in.
- In focus: NPP: Still heaven or hell for new users – and for the reviewers
Just what is NPP? Why does it need the WMF? Why does it need YOU?
- In the media: A few complaints and mild disagreements
Was Katherine Maher a former encyclopedia salesperson?
- Special report: Decentralized Fundraising, Centralized Distribution
The latest from the Wikimedia Deutschland Movement Strategy & Global Relations Team.
- Discussion report: Much ado about Fox News
Source reliability, NPP, and appearance discussions.
- Interview: ScottishFinnishRadish's Request for Adminship
Find out firsthand what our newest admin, ScottishFinnishRadish, does with a chainsaw.
- Opinion: Are we ever going to reach consensus?
Some Articles for Deletion just drag on.
- Serendipity: Removing watermarks, copyright signs and cigarettes from photos
Suggestion: promote removal of visible copyright signs of images under a CC-BY license.
- Recent research: How readers assess Wikipedia's trustworthiness, and how they could in the future
And other research news.
- Traffic report: Kings and queens and VIPs
Repeat after me: I solemnly swear not to put "oh my!" in a headline.
- Featured content: Farm-fresh content
This month: A FACBot upgrade, a completed list of lists.
- CommonsComix: CommonsComix 2: Paulus Moreelse
When Commons gives you a blank space...
- From the archives: 5, 10, and 15 Years ago: September 2022
Yes, again.
Administrators' newsletter – October 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (September 2022).
- Following an RfC, consensus was found that if the rationale for a block depends on information that is not available to all administrators, that information should be sent to the Arbitration Committee, a checkuser or an oversighter for action (as applicable, per ArbCom's recent updated guidance) instead of the administrator making the block.
- Following an RfC, consensus has been found that, in the context of politics and science, the reliability of FoxNews.com is unclear and that additional considerations apply to its use.
- Community comment on the revised Universal Code of Conduct enforcement guidelines is requested until 8 October.
- The Articles for creation helper script now automatically recognises administrator accounts which means your name does not need to be listed at WP:AFCP to help out. If you wish to help out at AFC, enable AFCH by navigating to Preferences → Gadgets and checking the "Yet Another AfC Helper Script" box.
- Remedy 8.1 of the Muhammad images case will be rescinded 1 November following a motion.
- A modification to the deletion RfC remedy in the Conduct in deletion-related editing case has been made to reaffirm the independence of the RfC and allow the moderators to split the RfC in two.
- The second phase of the 2021-22 Discretionary Sanctions Review closes 3 October.
- An administrator's account was recently compromised. Administrators are encouraged to check that their passwords are secure, and reminded that ArbCom reserves the right to not restore adminship in cases of poor account security. You can also use two-factor authentication (2FA) to provide an extra level of security.
- Self-nominations for the electoral commission for the 2022 Arbitration Committee elections open 2 October and close 8 October.
- You are invited to comment on candidates in the 2022 CUOS appointments process.
- An RfC is open to discuss whether to make Vector 2022 the default skin on desktop.
- Tech tip: You can do a fuzzy search of all deleted page titles at Special:Undelete.
Happy Eighteenth First Edit Day!
[edit]| Hey, Jonathunder. I'd like to wish you a wonderful First Edit Day on behalf of the Wikipedia Birthday Committee! Have a great day! Chris Troutman (talk) 18:20, 5 October 2022 (UTC) |
Photo request
[edit]Hello, Jonathunder. Do you have time to make a photo of the Owamni restaurant at St. Anthony Falls? I also asked McGhiever who might be closer. I've looked through almost 2,000 images and think this one is the best quality but the photographer didn't answer my request for a free license (not surprising!). Can't hurt to ask. KUTGW. -SusanLesch (talk) 22:43, 25 October 2022 (UTC)
- Bobak might already have photos; he's eaten there. I've been advised to remove myself from the image discussion. -SusanLesch (talk) 15:04, 29 October 2022 (UTC)
The Signpost: 31 October 2022
[edit]- From the team: A new goose on the roost
Or maybe the spit -- only time will tell.
- News and notes: Wikipedians question Wikimedia fundraising ethics after "somewhat-viral" tweet
News from Twitter, Commons and the WMF C-Suite.
- News from the WMF: Governance updates from, and for, the Wikimedia Endowment
501(c)(3) application approved, Amazon donates another million.
- In the media: Scribing, searching, soliciting, spying, and systemic bias
Wading into several controversies.
- Disinformation report: From Russia with WikiLove
I can has Kremlin sockfarms?
- Recent research: Disinformatsiya: Much research, but what will actually help Wikipedia editors?
And other new research publications.
- Interview: Isabelle Belato on their Request for Adminship
The newest sysop speaks on the process that got them there.
- Featured content: Topics, lists, submarines and Gurl.com
Featured content from October.
- Serendipity: We all make mistakes – don’t we?
The strength of Wikipedia is the peer review afterwards.
- Traffic report: Mama, they're in love with a criminal
More serial killers than you can shake a stick at!
- From the archives: Paid advocacy, a lawsuit over spelling mistakes, deleting Jimbo's article, and the death of Toolserver
What tales echo in these hallowed halls.
Administrators' newsletter – November 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (October 2022).
- The article creation at scale RfC opened on 3 October and will be open until at least 2 November.
- An RfC is open to discuss having open requests for adminship automatically placed on hold after the seven-day period has elapsed, pending closure or other action by a bureaucrat.
- Eligible editors are invited to self-nominate themselves from 13 November 2022 until 22 November 2022 to stand in the 2022 Arbitration Committee elections.
- The arbitration case request titled Athaenara has been resolved by motion.
- The arbitration case Reversal and reinstatement of Athaenara's block has entered the proposed decision stage.
- AmandaNP, Mz7 and Cyberpower678 have been appointed to the Electoral Commission for the 2022 Arbitration Committee Elections. Xaosflux and Dr vulpes are reserve commissioners.
- The 2022 CheckUser and Oversight appointments process has concluded with the appointment of two new CheckUsers.
- You can add yourself to the centralised page listing time zones of administrators.
- Tech tip: Wikimarkup in a block summary is parsed in the notice that the blockee sees. You can use templates with custom options to specify situations like
{{rangeblock|create=yes}}or{{uw-ublock|contains profanity}}.
The Signpost: 28 November 2022
[edit]- News and notes: English Wikipedia editors: "We don't need no stinking banners"
Joe Roe's close sows dough woes, manifestos... vetoes? overthrows?
- In the media: "The most beautiful story on the Internet"
Ineffective altruism, return of the toaster, Jess Wade keeps wading through it, Russia censors searches, schools embrace Wikipedia.
- Interview: Lisa Seitz-Gruwell on WMF fundraising in the wake of big banner ad RfC
An interview with Wikimedia's Chief Advancement Officer.
- Opinion: Privacy on Wikipedia in the cyberpunk future
Oh, just one more thing... AI couldn't help but notice you use that punctuation a little bit more than most people...
- Disinformation report: Missed and Dissed
Are government goons prowling our fair encyclopedia?
- Op-Ed: Diminishing returns for article quality
Have we gotten past the point where better articles makes us a better encyclopedia? And what comes next?
- Book review: Writing the Revolution
Heather Ford's new volume on Wikipedia, knowledge and power in the 2011 Egyptian revolution.
- Technology report: Galactic dreams, encyclopedic reality
Facebook's Galactica demo provides a case study in large language models for text generation at scale: this one was silly, but we cannot ignore them forever.
- Essay: The Six Million FP Man
Okay, six hundred, but either way, the bionic editor speaks.
- Tips and tricks: (Wiki)break stuff
Productively doing nothing
- Recent research: Study deems COVID-19 editors smart and cool, questions of clarity and utility for WMF's proposed "Knowledge Integrity Risk Observatory"
And other research findings.
- Featured content: A great month for featured articles
Do consider joining FPC, though: we need you.
- Obituary: A tribute to Michael Gäbler
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
- Concept: The relevance of legal certainty to the English Wikipedia
A lost article from our deep annals
- Traffic report: Musical deaths, murders, Princess Di's nominative determinism, and sports
The weeks and weeks, as reviewed by Wikipedia's readers.
- From the archives: Five, ten, and fifteen years ago
Search upgrades, lawsuits, paid editing, and personal reflection.
- CommonsComix: Joker's trick
A toast to good health, a health to good hoax, a hoax to good toast.
ArbCom 2022 Elections voter message
[edit]Hello! Voting in the 2022 Arbitration Committee elections is now open until 23:59 (UTC) on Monday, 12 December 2022. All eligible users are allowed to vote. Users with alternate accounts may only vote once.
The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia arbitration process. It has the authority to impose binding solutions to disputes between editors, primarily for serious conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the authority to impose site bans, topic bans, editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail.
If you wish to participate in the 2022 election, please review the candidates and submit your choices on the voting page. If you no longer wish to receive these messages, you may add {{NoACEMM}} to your user talk page. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 00:26, 29 November 2022 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – December 2022
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (November 2022).
- Consensus has been found in an RfC to automatically place RfAs on hold after one week.
- The article creation at scale RfC has been closed.
- An RfC on the banners for the December 2022 fundraising campaign has been closed.
- A new preference named "Enable limited width mode" has been added to the Vector 2022 skin. The preference is also shown as a toggle on every page if your monitor is 1600 pixels or wider. When disabled it removes the whitespace added by Vector 2022 on the left and right of the page content. Disabling this preference has the same effect as enabling the wide-vector-2022 gadget. (T319449)
- Eligible users are invited to vote on candidates for the Arbitration Committee until 23:59 December 12, 2022 (UTC). Candidate statements can be seen here.
- The proposed decision for the 2021-22 review of the discretionary sanctions system is open.
- The arbitration case Reversal and reinstatement of Athaenara's block has been closed.
- The arbitration case Stephen has been opened and the proposed decision is expected 1 December 2022.
- A motion has modified the procedures for contacting an admin facing Level 2 desysop.
- Tech tip: A single IPv6 connection usually has access to a "subnet" of 18 quintillion IPs. Add
/64to the end of an IP in Special:Contributions to see all of a subnet's edits, and consider blocking the whole subnet rather than an IP that may change within a minute.
The Signpost: 1 January 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Wikimedia Foundation ousts, bans quarter of Arabic Wikipedia admins
Plus admin update and cool tools for the new year.
- In the media: Odd bedfellows, Elon and Jimbo, reliable sources for divorces, and more
Sometimes you need to read more than just the headlines!
- Interview: ComplexRational's RfA debrief
Interview of ComplexRational about their recent request for adminship.
- Technology report: Wikimedia Foundation's Abstract Wikipedia project "at substantial risk of failure"
Wikifunctions might drag it down.
- Essay: Mobile editing
Frustrations and successes.
- Arbitration report: Arbitration Committee Election 2022
Congratulations.
- Recent research: Graham's Hierarchy of Disagreement in talk page disputes
And other new research findings.
- Serendipity: Wikipedia about FIFA World Cup 2022: quick, factual and critical
How Iranian press agencies help Wikipedia to reflect football in a better way.
- Featured content: Would you like to swing on a star?
You head into the featured content report. Amongst the features you see astronauts, both Gilbert and Sullivan, Ursula K. Le Guin's incredibly talented mother, and Billboard charts. It is pitch black, you are likely to be eaten by a grue.
- Traffic report: Football, football, football! Wikipedia Football Club!
It is mostly about football!
- CommonsComix: #4: The Course of WikiEmpire
In which a couple sentences of text recontextualises an image.
- From the archives: Five, ten, and fifteen years ago
Photographers, Sandy Hook, the shocking use of Nazi symbols in articles about Nazis, and "You wouldn't recognise a fact if it bit you in the ass".
Administrators' newsletter – January 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (December 2022).
- Speedy deletion criterion A5 (transwikied articles) has been repealed following an unopposed proposal.
- Following the 2022 Arbitration Committee elections, the following editors have been appointed to the Arbitration Committee: Barkeep49, CaptainEek, GeneralNotability, Guerillero, L235, Moneytrees, Primefac, SilkTork.
- The 2021-22 Discretionary Sanctions Review has concluded with many changes to the discretionary sanctions procedure including a change of the name to "contentious topics". The changes are being implemented over the coming month.
- The arbitration case Stephen has been closed.
- Voting for the Sound Logo has closed and the winner is expected to be announced February to April 2023.
- Tech tip: You can view information about IP addresses in a centralised location using bullseye which won the Newcomer award in the recent Coolest Tool Awards.
The Signpost: 16 January 2023
[edit]- From the team: We heard zoomers liked fortnights: the biweekly Signpost rides again
It's not just a phase! Well, maybe it is.
- Special report: Coverage of 2022 bans reveals editors serving long sentences in Saudi Arabia since 2020
Long-time contributors imprisoned for 32 and 8 years after "swaying public opinion" and "violating public morals".
- News and notes: Revised Code of Conduct Enforcement Guidelines up for vote, WMF counsel departs, generative models under discussion
UCoC draws nearer, alongside the rise of the machines, in mainspace this time.
- In the media: Court orders user data in libel case, Saudi Wikipedia in the crosshairs, Larry Sanger at it again
Wikipedia's birthday, a cute dog, and nipplefruit.
- Technology report: View it! A new tool for image discovery
The depths of Commons, at your fingertips. Or eyetips.
- In focus: Busting into Grand Central
Debunking widely-told myths about New York's grandest and centralest railway station.
- Serendipity: How I bought part of Wikipedia – for less than $100
The economics of Wikipedia.
- Gallery: What is our responsibility when it comes to images?
When notability conflicts with what it might be used for.
- Humour: New geologically speedy deletion criteria introduced
7,000,000-year Landmasses for Subduction discussions considered "too long".
- Opinion: Good old days, in which fifth-symbol-lacking lipograms roam'd our librarious litany
Allow us to bring you back, back, back, to days of Wikifun rampant.
- Featured content: Flip your lid
...and your ambigram. Also: Boring lava fields, birds of Tuvalu, and commelinid family names with etymologies.
- Traffic report: The most viewed articles of 2022
War, sports, and all types of chaos.
- From the archives: Five, ten, and fifteen years ago
The editor with five million edits, the death of Aaron Swartz, and rollback.
Administrators' newsletter – February 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (January 2023).
- Following an RfC, the administrator policy now requires that prior written consent be gained from the Arbitration Committee to mark a block as only appealable to the committee.
- Following a community discussion, consensus has been found to impose the extended-confirmed restriction over the topic areas of Armenia and Azerbaijan and Kurds and Kurdistan.
- The Vector 2022 skin has become the default for desktop users of the English Wikipedia.
- The arbitration case Armenia-Azerbaijan 3 has been opened and the proposed decision is expected 24 February 2023.
- In December, the contentious topics procedure was adopted which replaces the former discretionary sanctions system. The contentious topics procedure is now in effect following an initial implementation period. There is a detailed summary of the changes and administrator instructions for the new procedure. The arbitration clerk team are taking suggestions, concerns, and unresolved questions about this new system at their noticeboard.
- Voting in the 2023 Steward elections will begin on 05 February 2023, 21:00 (UTC) and end on 26 February 2023, 21:00 (UTC). The confirmation process of current stewards is being held in parallel. You can automatically check your eligibility to vote.
- Voting in the 2023 Community Wishlist Survey will begin on 10 February 2023 and end on 24 February 2023. You can submit, discuss and revise proposals until 6 February 2023.
- Tech tip: Syntax highlighting is available in both the 2011 and 2017 Wikitext editors. It can help make editing paragraphs with many references or complicated templates easier.
The Signpost: 4 February 2023
[edit]- From the editor: New for the Signpost: Author pages, tag pages, and a decent article search function
Last issue's vow for "something to show for these efforts" revisited.
- News and notes: Foundation update on fundraising, new page patrol, Tides, and Wikipedia blocked in Pakistan
As well as the continued rise of the machines, and Amanda Keton's WMF departure.
- Section 230: Twenty-six words that created the internet, and the future of an encyclopedia
Section 230 before the Supreme Court in two cases, with broad implications for the web.
- Disinformation report: Wikipedia on Santos
Or Santos on Wikipedia?
- Special report: Legal status of Wikimedia projects "unclear" under potential European legislation
WMF issues salvo in latest battles of the Posting Wars
- In the media: Furor over new Wikipedia skin, followup on Saudi bans, and legislative debate
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
- Op-Ed: Estonian businessman and political donor brings lawsuit against head of national Wikimedia chapter
Isamaa party sponsor Parvel Pruunsild files claim in Tartu County Court against WMEE head Ivo Kruusamägi and Reform Party politicians.
- Opinion: Study examines cultural leanings of Wikimedia projects' visual art coverage
English Wikipedia among most "global" and Thai Wikipedia's among most "Western", but non-Western works neglected overall.
- Recent research: Wikipedia's "moderate yet systematic" liberal citation bias
And other new research publications.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject Organized Labour
An interview with those who pitch in together
- Tips and tricks: XTools: Data analytics for your list of created articles
Letting you find out about yourself (and others).
- Featured content: 20,000 Featureds under the Sea
An exceptionally good period for featured articles.
- Traffic report: Films, deaths and ChatGPT
Can we have a chat?
The Signpost: 20 February 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Terms of Use update, Steward elections, and Wikipedia back in Pakistan
UCoC Enforcement Guidelines pass, Wikimedia Enterprise financials, GPTs gone wild, and a speedy deletion criterion removed.
- In the media: Arbitrators open case after article alleges Wikipedia "intentionally distorts" Holocaust coverage
Also: Russ Baker's BLP, the digital commons, the NSA, and more on Pakistan.
- Disinformation report: The "largest con in corporate history"?
Gautam Adani and his companies possibly behind scheme featuring scores of socks, infiltration of articles for creation process.
- Essay: Machine-written articles: a new challenge for Wikipedia
GPT: friend or foe?
- Tips and tricks: All about writing at DYK
Your one-stop hooker's handbook.
- Featured content: Eden, lost.
But much else to be found.
- Gallery: Love is in the air
Lovey-dovey stuff for Valentine's.
- Traffic report: Superbowl? Pfft. Give me some Bollywood! Yours sincerely, the world
And maybe a side of AI.
- From the archives: 5, 10, and 15 years ago: Let's (not) delete the Main Page!
Also: let's delete images of Muhammed! Let's delete portals!
- Cobwebs: Editorial: The loss of the moral high ground
Yesterday's controversies, reported on today.
- Humour: The RfA Candidate's Song
A musical interlude.
Administrators' newsletter – March 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (February 2023).
- Following a request for comment, F10 (useless non-media files) has been deprecated.
- Following a request for comment, the Portal CSD criteria (P1 (portal subject to CSD as an article) and P2 (underpopulated portal)) have been deprecated.
- A request for comment is open to discuss making the closing instructions for the requested moves process a guideline.
- The results of the 2023 Community Wishlist Survey have been posted.
- Remedy 11 ("Request for Comment") of the Conduct in deletion-related editing case has been rescinded.
- The proposed decision for the Armenia-Azerbaijan 3 case is expected 7 March 2023.
- A case related to the Holocaust in Poland is expected to be opened soon.
- The 2023 appointees for the Ombuds commission are AGK, Ameisenigel, Bennylin, Daniuu, Emufarmers, Faendalimas, JJMC89, MdsShakil, Minorax and Renvoy as regular members and Zabe as advisory members.
- Following the 2023 Steward Elections, the following editors have been appointed as stewards: Mykola7, Superpes15, and Xaosflux.
- The Terms of Use update cycle has started, which includes a
[p]roposal for better addressing undisclosed paid editing
. Feedback is being accepted until 24 April 2023.
The Signpost: 9 March 2023
[edit]- News and notes: What's going on with the Wikimedia Endowment?
A lack of transparency.
- Technology report: Second flight of the Soviet space bears: Testing ChatGPT's accuracy
Using failed AI Galactica's worst mistakes to test a new AI.
- In the media: What should Wikipedia do? Publish Russian propaganda? Be less woke? Cover the Holocaust in Poland differently?
Probable answers: No, no, maybe?
- Featured content: In which over two-thirds of the featured articles section needs to be copied over to WikiProject Military History's newsletter
Seriously, even the chef has a major military history connection.
- Recent research: "Wikipedia's Intentional Distortion of the Holocaust" in Poland and "self-focus bias" in coverage of global events
And other new research publications.
- From the archives: Five, ten, and fifteen years ago
Wikizine, Wikipedia Zero, Single User Login, and Wales allegedly editing his girlfriend's article.
The Signpost: 20 March 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Wikimania submissions deadline looms, Russian government after our lucky charms, AI woes nix CNET from RS slate
Be part of the Wikimania 2023 program!
- Eyewitness: Three more stories from Ukrainian Wikimedians
One year in: volunteering, science, art, and candlelight.
- In the media: Paid editing, plagiarism payouts, proponents of a ploy, and people peeved at perceived preferences
Everything is broken, again.
- Featured content: Way too many featured articles
Seriously, it's only a fortnight's worth!
- Interview: 228/2/1: the inside scoop on Aoidh's RfA
An interview with Wikipedia's newest admin.
- Traffic report: Who died? Who won? Who lost?
All the pop culture that's fit to print, with a sprinkling of cocaine (bear).
The Signpost: 03 April 2023
[edit]- From the editor: Some long-overdue retractions
Errata regretted.
- News and notes: Sounding out, a universal code of conduct, and dealing with AI
Skynet believed to be in violation of the new Universal Code of Conduct.
- In the media: Twiddling Wikipedia during an online contest, and other news
Taking the phrase "gaming the system" to the next level.
- Arbitration report: "World War II and the history of Jews in Poland" case is ongoing
Desysop case request still in accept/decline phase.
- Featured content: Hail, poetry! Thou heav'n-born maid
Thou gildest e'en the Signpost's trade.
- Recent research: Language bias: Wikipedia captures at least the "silhouette of the elephant", unlike ChatGPT
And a dataset of article revisions to provide a corpus for promotional content.
- From the archives: April Fools' through the ages
A retrospective of the best and worst pranks.
- Disinformation report: Sus socks support suits, seems systemic
Do important banks sock? Maybe – but don't grab your money and run just yet!
Administrators' newsletter – April 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (March 2023).
- A community RfC is open to discuss whether reports primarily involving gender-related disputes or controversies should be referred to the Arbitration enforcement noticeboard.
- Some older web browsers will not be able to use JavaScript on Wikimedia wikis starting this week. This mainly affects users of Internet Explorer 11. (T178356)
- The rollback of Vector 2022 RfC has found no consensus to rollback to Vector legacy, but has found rough consensus to disable "limited width" mode by default.
- A link to the user's Special:CentralAuth page will now appear in the subtitle links shown on Special:Contributions. This was voted #17 in the Community Wishlist Survey 2023.
- The Armenia-Azerbaijan 3 case has been closed.
- A case about World War II and the history of Jews in Poland has been opened, with the first evidence phase closing 6 April 2023.
The Signpost: 26 April 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Staff departures at Wikimedia Foundation, Jimbo hands in the bits, and graphs' zeppelin burns
Plus: Wikipedians get own Mastodon account, and Wikiprojects move to uniform quality assessment.
- In the media: Contested truth claims in Wikipedia
Covering Russia, Poland, the Vatican, the U.S., and the "perilously thin" boundary between real life and Wikipedia.
- Obituary: Remembering David "DGG" Goodman
The prolific editor, former Arbitration Committee member and co-founder of Wikimedia New York City died in April.
- Arbitration report: Holocaust in Poland, Jimbo in the hot seat, and a desysopping
No news is good news, and this isn't no news.
- Opinion: What Jimbo's question revealed about scamming
The problem we haven't solved.
- Op-Ed: Wikipedia as an anchor of truth
Can Wikipedia help keep AI agents honest?
- Special report: Signpost statistics between years 2005 and 2022
In this article, we will look at The Signpost statistics. More precisely: Signpost article statistics by year, TOP 20 titles of Signpost articles, TOP 20 article authors, and the home wikis of article authors.
- News from the WMF: Collective planning with the Wikimedia Foundation
First of a two part series summarising the priorities for the Wikimedia Foundation's next fiscal year (July 2022–June 2023) including staffing, budget and other changes, and how to provide your feedback.
- Featured content: In which we described the featured articles in rhyme again
And somehow made it more readable than when it's not rhyming.
- From the archives: April Fools' through the ages, part two
2011 and on.
- Humour: The law of hats
The Selfish Hatnote, the Disambiguation Singularity, and other information-theoretic conundra of encyclopedic note.
- Traffic report: Long live machine, the future supreme
Wrestling bumps world-changing technology from the #1 spot, imagine that.
Administrators' newsletter – May 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (April 2023).
- A request for comment about removing administrative privileges in specified situations is open for feedback.
- Progress has started on the Page Triage improvement project. This is to address the concerns raised by the community in their 2022 WMF letter that requested improvements be made to the tool.
- The proposed decision in the World War II and the history of Jews in Poland case is expected 11 May 2023.
- The Wikimedia Foundation annual plan 2023-2024 draft is open for comment and input through May 19. The final plan will be published in July 2023.
The Signpost: 8 May 2023
[edit]- News and notes: New legal "deVLOPments" in the EU
... and at WP:Mastodon.
- In the media: Vivek's smelly socks, online safety, and politics
Fake fines, false alarms and faux headlines!
- Recent research: Gender, race and notability in deletion discussions
And other new research publications.
- Featured content: I wrote a poem for each article, I found rhymes for all the lists; My first featured picture of this year now finally exists!
...Layout lovers will hate this featured content's title.
- Arbitration report: "World War II and the history of Jews in Poland" approaches conclusion
There will likely be more to say next issue.
- News from the WMF: Planning together with the Wikimedia Foundation
The second article in a series describing the priorities and work of the Wikimedia Foundation. The article invites Wikimedians to collaborate with the Foundation.
- Special report: There Shall Be Seasons Refreshing – Stories from WikiConference India 2023
First national-level conference in the Indian subcontinent in seven years.
The Signpost: 22 May 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Golden parachutes: Record severance payments at Wikimedia Foundation
... and a referendum on Jimmy Wales' traditional role as a final court of appeal in arbitration policy.
- In the media: History, propaganda and censorship
Opposing scholars on ArbCom case.
- Arbitration report: Final decision in "World War II and the history of Jews in Poland"
Includes stronger sourcing restriction, and a nod to the UCoC.
- Recent research: Create or curate, cooperate or compete? Game theory for Wikipedia editors
And other new research results.
- Featured content: A very musical week for featured articles
Bird is the word for featured pictures.
- Traffic report: Coronation, chatbot, celebs
Celebs and Bollywood film dominated reader interest, as usual, but with a new persistent presence on the lists of a certain AI.
- WikiProject report: Wikipedians Convene for Queering Wikipedia 2023: The First International LGBT+ Wikipedia Conference
An online conference with 12 distributed trans-local in-person meetup "Nodes" on 5 continents.
The Signpost: 5 June 2023
[edit]- News and notes: WMRU director forks new 'pedia, birds flap in top '22 piccy, WMF weighs in on Indian gov's map axe plea
Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee Building Committee Commences Command By Convening.
- In the media: Section 230 stands tall, WP vs. UK bill, Miss Information dissed again
Also: Goog gets delist ask for en-wp yt-dl ar-ticle, wacky football fails.
- Featured content: Poetry under pressure
Now is not this ridiculous, and is not this preposterous? A thorough-paced absurdity - explain it if you can.
- Traffic report: Celebs, controversies and a chatbot in the public eye
Plus mortalities, and movies about mermaids.
Administrators' newsletter – June 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (May 2023).
- Following an RfC, editors indefinitely site-banned by community consensus will now have all rights, including sysop, removed.
- As a part of the Wikimedia Foundation's IP Masking project, a new policy has been created that governs the access to temporary account IP addresses. An associated FAQ has been created and individual communities can increase the requirements to view temporary account IP addresses.
- Bot operators and tool maintainers should schedule time in the coming months to test and update their tools for the effects of IP masking. IP masking will not be deployed to any content wiki until at least October 2023 and is unlikely to be deployed to the English Wikipedia until some time in 2024.
- The arbitration case World War II and the history of Jews in Poland has been closed. The topic area of Polish history during World War II (1933-1945) and the history of Jews in Poland is subject to a "reliable source consensus-required" contentious topic restriction.
- Following a community referendum, the arbitration policy has been modified to remove the ability for users to appeal remedies to Jimbo Wales.
The Signpost: 19 June 2023
[edit]- News and notes: WMF Terms of Use now in force, new Creative Commons licensing
Problems with emergency emails sent to WMF.
- In the media: English WP editor glocked after BLP row on Italian 'pedia
... and an AI writer explains why he just bought a paper encyc.
- Featured content: Content, featured
Poetry still present.
- Recent research: Hoaxers prefer currently-popular topics
And other new research findings.
Administrators' newsletter – July 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (June 2023).

- Contributions to the English Wikipedia are now released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0) license instead of CC BY-SA 3.0. Contributions are still also released under the GFDL license.
- Discussion is open regarding a proposed global policy regarding third-party resources. Third-party resources are computer resources that reside outside of Wikimedia production websites.
- Two arbitration cases are currently open. Proposed decisions are expected 5 July 2023 for the Scottywong case and 9 July 2023 for the AlisonW case.
The Signpost: 3 July 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Online Safety Bill: Wikimedia Foundation and Wikimedia UK launch open letter
... and a new Elections Committee.
- Disinformation report: Imploded submersible outfit foiled trying to sing own praises on Wikipedia
A few editors who fought many times to keep advertisements out.
- In the media: Journo proposes mass Wiki dox, sponsored articles on Fandom, Section 230 discussed
Are you now, or have you ever been, a Wikipedia editor?
- Featured content: Incensed
In which featured pictures have a pleasing orange/blue colour scheme for some reason.
- Traffic report: Are you afraid of spiders? Arnold? The Idol? ChatGPT?
Don't worry, they are mostly harmless.
- Humour: United Nations dispatches peacekeeping force to Wikipedia policy discussions
Mission to ensure stability in conflict-ridden area.
The Signpost: 17 July 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Big bux hidden beneath wine-dark sea as we wait for the Tides to go out?
Gitz666 unglocked, Wikimania scholarships given and a new admin anointed.
- In the media: Tentacles of Emirates plot attempt to ensnare Wikipedia
Ruwiki on the Ruinternet, Rauwerda on TEDx, and Jimbo on Fridman.
- Obituary: David Thomsen (Dthomsen8) and Ingo Koll (Kipala)
Philadelphians and Tanzanians say goodbye.
- News from the WMF: ABC for Fundraising: Advancing Banner Collaboration for fundraising campaigns
The collaboration process for the 2023 English fundraising campaign is kicking off now, right from the start of the fiscal year.
- In focus: Are the children of celebrities over-represented in French cinema?
Wikidata queries investigate nepo babies.
- Tips and tricks: What automation can do for you (and your WikiProject)
A summary of various tools designed over the years.
- Recent research: Wikipedia-grounded chatbot "outperforms all baselines" on factual accuracy
And various other research on large language models and Wikipedia.
- Humour: New fringe theories to be introduced
Bold move intended to "get some variety" into Wikipedia arguments.
- Cobwebs: If you're reading this, you're probably on a desktop
The annual report that tries to understand the Signpost through data, written in 2020, which never saw the light of day until now.
- Featured content: Scrollin', scrollin', scrollin', keep those readers scrollin', got to keep on scrollin', Rawhide!
In which choices have been made™.
- Traffic report: The Idol becomes the Master
Sex, drugs and violence, English, math and science.
File:Letelier-MoffittMonumentSheridanCircleWashDC.jpg listed for discussion
[edit]
A file that you uploaded or altered, File:Letelier-MoffittMonumentSheridanCircleWashDC.jpg, has been listed at Wikipedia:Files for discussion. Please see the discussion to see why it has been listed (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry). Feel free to add your opinion on the matter below the nomination. Thank you. — Ирука13 20:58, 31 July 2023 (UTC)
File:StateAssemblyChamberWI.jpg listed for discussion
[edit]
A file that you uploaded or altered, File:StateAssemblyChamberWI.jpg, has been listed at Wikipedia:Files for discussion. Please see the discussion to see why it has been listed (you may have to search for the title of the image to find its entry). Feel free to add your opinion on the matter below the nomination. Thank you. — Ирука13 21:09, 31 July 2023 (UTC)
The Signpost: 1 August 2023
[edit]- News and notes: City officials attempt to doxx Wikipedians, Ruwiki founder banned, WMF launches Mastodon server
And French gov't proposes legislation to slam Wikipedia, others.
- In the media: Truth, AI, bull from politicians, and climate change
Or just another brouhaha?
- Disinformation report: Hot climate, hot hit, hot money, hot news hot off the presses!
Hot damn, it's damned hot!
- Obituary: Donald Cram, Peter McCawley, and Eagleash
Three editors have departed.
- Tips and tricks: Citation tools for dummies!
You don't really want to do this stuff by yourself, do you?
- Humour: Does Wikipedia present neutral perspectives?
A serious visual investigation.
- In focus: Journals cited by Wikipedia
A compilation of over 3M citations.
- Opinion: Are global bans the last step?
Possible solutions after being re-harassed.
- Featured content: Featured Content, 1 to 15 July
Due to unfortunate events, this issue is published as is, in its unfinished state.
- Traffic report: Come on Oppie, let's go party
Oppenheimer, Barbie, and a couple other scandals.
Administrators' newsletter – August 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (July 2023).

Interface administrator changes
- The tag filter on Special:NewPages and revision history pages can now be inverted. This allows hiding edits made by automated tools. (T334338)
- Special:BlockedExternalDomains is a new tool that allows easier blocking of plain domains (and their subdomains). This is more easily searchable and is faster for the software to use than the existing MediaWiki:Spam-blacklist. It does not support regex (for complex cases), URL path-matching, or the MediaWiki:Spam-whitelist. (T337431)
- The arbitration cases named Scottywong and AlisonW closed 10 July and 16 July respectively.
- The SmallCat dispute arbitration case is in the workshop phase.
The Signpost: 15 August 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Dude, Where's My Donations? Wikimedia Foundation announces another million in grants for non-Wikimedia-related projects
Jimbo promises more transparency, Wikimania in Singapore, move away from Tides still planned, and Wikifunctions rolls out.
- In the media: An accusation of bias from Brazil, a lawsuit from Portugal, plagiarism from Florida
Harsh words from problematic fave Glenn Greenwald.
- In focus: 2023 Good Article Nomination drive is underway: get your barnstars here!
Rigorous Review of Content for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Wikipedia.
- Special report: Thirteen years later, why are most administrators still from 2005?
Damn kids need to get off our lawn and onto RfA.
- Tips and tricks: How to find images for your articles, check their copyright, upload them, and restore them
Because one gets some secondary skills when one has 645 featured pictures.
- Cobwebs: Getting serious about writing
The innards of the Signpost received a major overhaul in March/April 2019. Here's how we reduced behind-the-scenes busywork and improved writers resources.
- Opinion: Copyright trolls, or the last beautiful free souls on this planet?
For whom does the Creative Commons enforcement clause toll?
- Serendipity: Why I stopped taking photographs almost altogether
An announcement of 335,000 new images on Wikimedia Commons.
- Featured content: Barbenheimer confirmed
Some improvement on last week.
- Humour: Arbitration Committee to accept case against Right Honorable Frimbley Cantingham, 15th Viscount Bellington-upon-Porkshire
Case request cited misuse of tools by administrator who last used tools in 1661.
- Traffic report: 'Cause today it just goes with the fashion
Barbenheimer, Pee-Wee Herman and the Women's World Cup.
Image copyright problem with File:WelcomeAshburnGA.jpg
[edit]
Thank you for uploading File:WelcomeAshburnGA.jpg.
This image is a derivative work, containing an "image within an image". Examples of such images would include a photograph of a sculpture, a scan of a magazine cover, or a screenshot of a computer game or movie. In each of these cases, the rights of the creator of the original image must be considered, as well as those of the creator of the derivative work.
While the image description page states the source and copyright status of the derivative work, it only names the creator of the original work without specifying the status of their copyright over the work.
Wikipedia takes copyright very seriously. It may be deleted soon, unless we can determine the license and the source of the original image. If you know this information, then you can add a copyright tag to the image description page.
If you have uploaded other derivative works, consider checking that you have specified their license and tagged them, too. You can find a list of files you have created in your upload log.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them at the media copyright questions page. If the file is already gone, you can still make a request for undeletion and ask for a chance to fix the problem. Thanks again for your cooperation. — Ирука13 20:20, 20 August 2023 (UTC)
The Signpost: 31 August 2023
[edit]- From the editor: Beta version of signpost.news now online
News for the editoriat. Stuff that matters.
- News and notes: You like RecentChanges?
Wikipedia really comes into its own, editorially and artistically.
- In the media: Taking it sleazy
"Poli", which means "many", and "tics", which means "under-the-table Wikipedia article whitewashing campaigns".
- Recent research: The five barriers that impede "stitching" collaboration between Commons and Wikipedia
And other recent research publications.
- Draftspace: Bad Jokes and Other Draftspace Novelties
The good, the bad, and the nonsense.
- Humour: The Dehumourification Plan
A message from the Counter-Fun Unit.
- Traffic report: Raise your drinking glass, here's to yesterday
I just poured HOT GRITS down my pants ohh yeah
Administrators' newsletter – September 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (August 2023).
- Following an RfC, TFAs will be automatically semi-protected the day before it is on the main page and through the day after.
- A discussion at WP:VPP about revision deletion and oversight for dead names found that
[s]ysops can choose to use revdel if, in their view, it's the right tool for this situation, and they need not default to oversight. But oversight could well be right where there's a particularly high risk to the person. Use your judgment
.
- Special:Contributions now shows the user's local edit count and the account's creation date. (T324166)
- The SmallCat dispute case has closed. As part of the final decision, editors participating in XfD have been reminded to be careful about forming
local consensus which may or may not reflect the broader community consensus
. Regular closers of XfD forums were also encouraged tonote when broader community discussion, or changes to policies and guidelines, would be helpful
.
- Tech tip: The "Browse history interactively" banner shown at the top of Special:Diff can be used to easily look through a history, assemble composite diffs, or find out what archive something wound up in.
The Signpost: 16 September 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Wikimedia power sharing – just an advisory role for the volunteer community?
Plus: Africa news, funding report, U4C draft, roads fork and another ChatGPT block.
- In the media: "Just flirting", going Dutch and Shapps for the defence?
Plus a new judge, an "unimportant" record, and staying in the swim!
- Obituary: Nosebagbear
A Wikipedian and a friend.
- Serendipity: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no paywall, for thou, Wikipedia Library, art with me
Non-flammable, BPA-free, and really whips the llama's ass.
- Featured content: Catching up
Covering all of August. Pretty much.
- Concept: Strange portal opened by CERN researchers brings Wikipedia articles from "other worlds"
The Signpost brings you the latest from the source.
- Traffic report: Some of it's magic, some of it's tragic
Sports, film and singers. We've got it all!
The Signpost: 3 October 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Wikimedia Endowment financial statement published
Finances during Tides Foundation management of the endowment are shown for the first time.
- In the media: History is written by whoever can harness the most editors
Plus Harvard, Yale, Lords and Commons, partners and trolls!
- Recent research: Readers prefer ChatGPT over Wikipedia; concerns about limiting "anyone can edit" principle "may be overstated"
And other new research publications
- Featured content: By your logic,
The first issue to feature two poetry article
- Concept: Wikipedia policies from other worlds: WP:NOANTLERS
Material must be written with the greatest care and attention; the level of detail and commentary regarding the antlers of living persons is to be kept to a minimum.
- Poetry: "The Sight"
Tamzin reflects on the hunt.
- Traffic report: There shall be no slaves in the land of lands, it's a Bollywood jam
Taylor Swift with an NFL tight end and Lauren Boebert with a Democrat?
The Signpost: 23 October 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Where have all the administrators gone?
Long time passing
- In the media: Thirst traps, the fastest loading sites on the web, and the original collaborative writing
Also: High fives, Wikipedia as a guide for counterfeiters and crossword makers, and Iskander at the UN.
- Gallery: Before and After: Why you don't need to know how to restore images to make massive improvements
The benefits of research.
- Featured content: Yo, ho! Blow the man down!
These titles never make much sense even at the best of times, so why not be random?
- Traffic report: The calm and the storm
They are still fighting.
- News from Diff: Sawtpedia: Giving a Voice to Wikipedia Using QR Codes
Sounds good!
- Humour: New citation template introduced for divine revelations, drug use, and really thinking about it
"Cite altered state" to join the distinguished ranks of CS1 templates
The Signpost: 6 November 2023
[edit]- Arbitration report: Admin bewilderingly unmasks self as sockpuppet of other admin who was extremely banned in 2015
"Is this an ArbCom case request or an M. Night Shyamalan movie?"
- In the media: UK shadow chancellor accused of ripping off WP articles for book, Wikipedians accused of being dicks by a rich man
Plus Gaza bias, Speaker Johnson, Maher, the music of websites, and antisemitism.
- News and notes: Board candidacy process posted, editors protest WMF privacy measure, sweet meetups
And three new admins!
- Opinion: An open letter to Elon Musk
You should learn some of our rules!
- WikiCup report: The WikiCup 2023
The winner is...
- News from Wiki Ed: Equity lists on Wikipedia
Do you ever wonder where Wikipedia articles come from?
- Recent research: How English Wikipedia drove out fringe editors over two decades
And other new research findings.
- Featured content: Like putting a golf course in a historic site.
Only literally.
- Wikidata: Evaluating qualitative systemic bias in large article sets on Wikipedia
A systematic approach.
- Traffic report: Cricket jumpscare
Plus Kollywood, Killers of the Flower Moon, and ongoing war.
Administrators' newsletter – November 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (October 2023).

Interface administrator changes
- The WMF is working on making it possible for administrators to edit MediaWiki configuration directly. This is similar to previous work on Special:EditGrowthConfig. A technical RfC is running until November 08, where you can provide feedback.
- There is a proposed plan for re-enabling the Graph Extension. Feedback on this proposal is requested.
- Eligible editors are invited to self-nominate themselves from 12 November 2023 until 21 November 2023 to stand in the 2023 Arbitration Committee elections.
- Xaosflux, RoySmith and Cyberpower678 have been appointed to the Electoral Commission for the 2023 Arbitration Committee Elections. BusterD is the reserve commissioner.
- Following a motion, the contentious topic designation of Prem Rawat has been struck. Actions previously taken using this contentious topic designation are still in force.
- Following several motions, multiple topic areas are no longer designated as a contentious topic. These contentious topic designations were from the Editor conduct in e-cigs articles, Liancourt Rocks, Longevity, Medicine, September 11 conspiracy theories, and Shakespeare authorship question cases.
- Following a motion, remedies 3.1 (All related articles under 1RR whenever the dispute over naming is concerned), 6 (Stalemate resolution) and 30 (Administrative supervision) of the Macedonia 2 case have been rescinded.
- Following a motion, remedy 6 (One-revert rule) of the The Troubles case has been amended.
- An arbitration case named Industrial agriculture has been opened. Evidence submissions in this case close 8 November.
- The Articles for Creation backlog drive is happening in November 2023, with 700+ drafts pending reviews for in the last 4 months or so. In addition to the AfC participants, all administrators and New Page Patrollers can conduct reviews using the helper script, Yet Another AFC Helper Script, which can be enabled in the Gadgets settings. Sign up here to participate!
The Signpost: 20 November 2023
[edit]- In the media: Propaganda and photos, lunatics and a lunar backup
Comic-con, Media summit, and a classic!
- News and notes: Update on Wikimedia's financial health
Plus: Sockpuppet investigators asking for help.
- Traffic report: If it bleeds, it leads
Or if it's Indian sport or cinema.
- Recent research: Canceling disputes as the real function of ArbCom
And other new research findings.
- Wikimania: Wikimania 2024 scholarships
Scholarship applications for Wikimania 2024 are now open!
The Signpost: 4 December 2023
[edit]- News and notes: Beeblebrox ejected from Arbitration Committee following posts on Wikipediocracy
Just as his term was ending!
- In the media: Turmoil on Hebrew Wikipedia, grave dancing, Olga's impact and inspiring Bhutanese nuns
Plus Apple Pay, fiction, registration, expulsion, and elimination!
- Disinformation report: "Wikipedia and the assault on history"
An analysis of a literary mystery.
- In focus: Tens of thousands of freely available sources flagged
Continuing years of efforts to improve free-to-read access.
- Comix: Bold comics for a new age
"I think we ought to read only the kind of comics that wound or stab us. If the comic we're reading doesn't wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for?" — Franz Kafka
- Essay: I am going to die
And so are you.
- Featured content: Real gangsters move in silence
Quite literally, and other fascinating featured articles, pictures and lists
- Traffic report: And it's hard to watch some cricket, in the cold November Rain
If you don't fancy the sport that occupies over 25% of the slots in these lists, there's always movies, celebrities, and political follies to fall back on – or an unusual fired-for-the-weekend CEO.
- Humour: Mandy Rice-Davies Applies
This page in a nutshell: Whether or not someone has denied unsavory allegations — though such a denial may not merit being given equal weight in an article — a worthless shitpost should still be included.
Administrators' newsletter – December 2023
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (November 2023).
- Following a talk page discussion, the Administrators' accountability policy has been updated to note that while it is considered best practice for administrators to have notifications (pings) enabled, this is not mandatory. Administrators who do not use notifications are now strongly encouraged to indicate this on their user page.
- Following a motion, the Extended Confirmed Restriction has been amended, removing the allowance for non-extended-confirmed editors to post constructive comments on the "Talk:" namespace. Now, non-extended-confirmed editors may use the "Talk:" namespace solely to make edit requests related to articles within the topic area, provided that their actions are not disruptive.
- The Arbitration Committee has announced a call for Checkusers and Oversighters, stating that it will currently be accepting applications for CheckUser and/or Oversight permissions at any point in the year.
- Eligible users are invited to vote on candidates for the Arbitration Committee until 23:59 December 11, 2023 (UTC). Candidate statements can be seen here.

The file File:1185NorthConcordStreetSouthStPaulMN.jpg has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:
Unused and shouldn't be copied to Commons.
While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, pages may be deleted for any of several reasons.
You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the {{proposed deletion/dated files}} notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the file's talk page.
Please consider addressing the issues raised. Removing {{proposed deletion/dated files}} will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and files for discussion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. Queen of Hearts ❤️ (she/they 🎄 🏳️⚧️) 19:36, 18 December 2023 (UTC)

The file File:2020SeaburyHall.jpg has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:
Unused and shouldn't be copied to Commons.
While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, pages may be deleted for any of several reasons.
You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the {{proposed deletion/dated files}} notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the file's talk page.
Please consider addressing the issues raised. Removing {{proposed deletion/dated files}} will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and files for discussion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. Queen of Hearts ❤️ (she/they 🎄 🏳️⚧️) 01:07, 21 December 2023 (UTC)
The Signpost: 24 December 2023
[edit]- Special report: Did the Chinese Communist Party send astroturfers to sabotage a hacktivist's Wikipedia article?
Wikipedia article histories are public records that can be easily examined, so unlike other websites, we can answer this question thoroughly.
- News and notes: The Italian Public Domain wars continue, Wikimedia RU set to dissolve, and a recap of WLM 2023
Not the best of times for Wikipedians across the world, but there are still glimpses of hope...
- In the media: Consider the humble fork
Forky on forky on forky, plus a strange donation scheme and other interesting bits of news.
- Discussion report: Arabic Wikipedia blackout; Wikimedians discuss SpongeBob, copyrights, and AI
Wiki goes dark and adopts Palestine flag logo; intellectual property rumblings from the bowels of the law.
- In focus: Liquidation of Wikimedia RU
Wikimedia Russia closes after founder is declared a "foreign agent".
- Technology report: Dark mode is coming
No more must Wikipedia always be a lightbulb in the dark — except metaphorically of course.
- Recent research: "LLMs Know More, Hallucinate Less" with Wikidata
And other new research publications.
- Gallery: A feast of holidays and carols
Peace on earth, goodwill to all!
- Comix: Lollus lmaois 200C tincture
the dilution makes it stronger.
- Crossword: when the crossword is sus
The Signpost Crossword is a 2018 online multiplayer social deduction game that takes place in space-themed settings where players are colorful, armless cartoon astronauts.
- Traffic report: What's the big deal? I'm an animal!
Bollywood, Hollywood, and both kinds of football to close out December.
- From the editor: A piccy iz worth OVAR 9000!!!11oneone! wordz ^_^
The debugging will continue until performance improves.
- Apocrypha: Local editor discovered 1,380 lost subheadings in ancient Signpost scrolls. And what he found was shocking.
Heartwarming — MUST READ — You Won't BELIEVE #4!!!!!
- Humour: Guess the joke contest
Winner receives a special prize!
- BJAODN: Bad jokes and other deleted nonsense
Edit summary: "Only need this page for about 30 minutes to demonstrate to a friend how easy it is to create a Wikipedia page. Then it will be deleted."
Administrators' newsletter – January 2024
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (December 2023).
- Following the 2023 Arbitration Committee elections, the following editors have been appointed to the Arbitration Committee: Aoidh, Cabayi, Firefly, HJ Mitchell, Maxim, Sdrqaz, ToBeFree, Z1720.
- Following a motion, the Arbitration Committee rescinded the restrictions on the page name move discussions for the two Ireland pages that were enacted in June 2009.
- The arbitration case Industrial agriculture has been closed.
- The New Pages Patrol backlog drive is happening in January 2024 to reduce the backlog of articles in the new pages feed. Currently, there is a backlog of over 13,000 unreviewed articles awaiting review. Sign up here to participate!
The Signpost: 10 January 2024
[edit]- From the editor: NINETEEN MORE YEARS! NINETEEN MORE YEARS!
The Signpost can now drink beer and chant slogans in Canada. What slogans should we chant for the next nineteen years?
- Special report: Public Domain Day 2024
Mickey & You: What can you do?
- Technology report: Wikipedia: A Multigenerational Pursuit
A techie looks at the big questions.
- News and notes: In other news ... see ya in court!
Let the games begin! The 2024 WikiCup is off to a strong start. With copyright enforcement, AI training and freedom of expression, it's another typical week in the wiki-sphere!
- In focus: The long road of a featured article candidate
The first of two installments, regarding a process of many installments.
- In the media: What is plagiarism? Oklahoma Disneyland? Reaching a human being at Wikipedia?
Watch out for those space ships!
- WikiProject report: WikiProjects Israel and Palestine
What are the editorial processes behind covering some of the most politically polarizing and contentious topics on English Wikipedia?
- Obituary: Anthony Bradbury
Rest in peace.
- Traffic report: The most viewed articles of 2023
Around the world in 365 days (with many stops in India).
- Crossword: everybody gangsta till the style sheets start cascading
The good news is that I've perfected the templates that allow other people to make actually good crosswords.
- Comix: Conflict resolution
Getting down to brass tacks &c.
The Signpost: 31 January 2024
[edit]- News and notes: Wikipedian Osama Khalid celebrated his 30th birthday in jail
Plus WMF child rights impact assessment, Chinese Wikipedia changes admin rules
- Opinion: Until it happens to you
A stream of consciousness about plagiarism on Wikipedia from the perspective of a user who directly witnessed it.
- Disinformation report: How paid editors squeeze you dry
And how you can stop them!
- In the media: Katherine Maher new NPR CEO, go check Wikipedia, race in the race
Another wobble, more Ackman, our usual pathological optimist, and football in dirty pants!
- In focus: The long road of a featured article candidate, part 2
Everything you really wanted to know about writing featured articles.
- Recent research: Croatian takeover was enabled by "lack of bureaucratic openness and rules constraining [admins]"
And other new research publications.
- Comix: We've all got to start somewhere
Writing a good subheading for a one-sentence joke is basically like writing an entire second joke so I'm not going to do it.
- Traffic report: DJ, gonna burn this goddamn house right down
Job changes, death, sex, murder, suicide and a vacation!
Administrators' newsletter – February 2024
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (January 2024).
- An RfC about increasing the inactivity requirement for Interface administrators is open for feedback.
- Pages that use the JSON contentmodel will now use tabs instead of spaces for auto-indentation. This will significantly reduce the page size. (T326065)
- Following a motion, the Arbitration Committee adopted a new enforcement restriction on January 4, 2024, wherein the Committee may apply the 'Reliable source consensus-required restriction' to specified topic areas.
- Community feedback is requested for a draft to replace the "Information for administrators processing requests" section at WP:AE.
- Voting in the 2024 Steward elections will begin on 06 February 2024, 14:00 (UTC) and end on 27 February 2024, 14:00 (UTC). The confirmation process of current stewards is being held in parallel. You can automatically check your eligibility to vote.
- A vote to ratify the charter for the Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee (U4C) is open till 2 February 2024, 23:59:59 (UTC) via Secure Poll. All eligible voters within the Wikimedia community have the opportunity to either support or oppose the adoption of the U4C Charter and share their reasons. The details of the voting process and voter eligibility can be found here.
- Community Tech has made some preliminary decisions about the future of the Community Wishlist Survey. In summary, they aim to develop a new, continuous intake system for community technical requests that improves prioritization, resource allocation, and communication regarding wishes. Read more
- The Unreferenced articles backlog drive is happening in February 2024 to reduce the backlog of articles tagged with {{Unreferenced}}. You can help reduce the backlog by adding citations to these articles. Sign up to participate!
The Signpost: 13 February 2024
[edit]- News and notes: Wikimedia Russia director declared "foreign agent" by Russian gov; EU prepares to pile on the papers
"the exact extent of the obligations" unclear... many such cases!
- Disinformation report: How low can the scammers go?
Lower, trust me!
- Gallery: Before and After: Why you don't need to touch grass to dramatically improve images of flora and fauna
Finding the right bumblebee among all the bumblebees!
- In the media: Speaking in tongues, toeing the line, and dressing the part
The usual odd articles about Wikipedia.
- Serendipity: Is this guy the same as the one who was a Nazi?
The hunt for Bertil Ragnar Anzén.
- Traffic report: Griselda, Nikki, Carl, Jannik and two types of football
Plus films, Grammys and a rumble!
- Crossword: Our crossword to bear
&c.
- Comix: Strongly
That's more than weakly!
Administrators' newsletter – March 2024
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (February 2024).
- Phase I of the 2024 RfA review is now open for participation. Editors are invited to review, comment on, and propose improvements to the requests for adminship process.
- Following an RfC, the inactivity requirement for the removal of the interface administrator right increased from 6 months to 12 months.
- The mobile site history pages now use the same HTML as the desktop history pages. (T353388)
- The 2024 appointees for the Ombuds commission are だ*ぜ, AGK, Ameisenigel, Bennylin, Daniuu, Doǵu, Emufarmers, Faendalimas, MdsShakil, Minorax, Nehaoua, Renvoy and RoySmith as members, with Vermont serving as steward-observer.
- Following the 2024 Steward Elections, the following editors have been appointed as stewards: Ajraddatz, Albertoleoncio, EPIC, JJMC89, Johannnes89, Melos and Yahya.
The Signpost: 2 March 2024
[edit]- News and notes: Wikimedia enters US Supreme court hearings as "the dolphin inadvertently caught in the net"
Plus, the U4C Charter keeps planting seeds, the RfA process is set to become more sustainable, and more news from the Wikimedia ecosystem.
- Recent research: Images on Wikipedia "amplify gender bias"
And other new findings
- In the media: The Scottish Parliament gets involved, a wikirace on live TV, and the Foundation's CTO goes on record
Plus, naughty politicians, Federal judge not a fan, UFOs and beavers.
- Obituary: Vami_IV
Rest in peace.
- Traffic report: Supervalentinefilmbowlday
If you say it loud enough the views will come your way!
- WikiCup report: High-scoring WikiCup first round comes to a close
135 battle it out; 67 advance
The Signpost: 29 March 2024
[edit]- Technology report: Millions of readers still seeing broken pages as "temporary" disabling of graph extension nears its second year
Much effort was spent drafting a movement charter about becoming "essential infrastructure of the ecosystem of free knowledge". How much is spent maintaining it?
- Interview: Interview on Wikimedia Foundation fundraising and finance strategy
Signpost interviews Wikimedia Foundation leadership on fundraising banners
- Special report: 19-page PDF accuses Wikipedia of bias against Israel, suggests editors be forced to reveal their real names, and demands a new feature allowing people to view the history of Wikipedia articles
And does it have anything to do with the unusual decision to let a zero-edit user open an arbitration request?
- Op-Ed: Wikipedia in the age of personality-driven knowledge
Can we compete with social media? Will aoomers forget Wikipedia?
- Recent research: "Newcomer Homepage" feature mostly fails to boost new editors
And several papers look at climate change on Wikipedia
- News and notes: Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee Charter ratified
WLM winners announced, Wikimania 2024, a new Wikimedia movement affiliate, and active enwp admins reach a record low.
- In the media: "For me it’s the autism": AARoad editors on the fork more traveled
Worldwide women turned blue and controversies on Serbian & French Wikipedia.
- Traffic report: He rules over everything, on the land called planet Dune
Let me take you to the movies.
- Humour: Letters from the editors
The only worthwhile grievance is the one that prompts satire.
- Comix: Layout issue
margin: 0 auto !important;
Administrators' newsletter – April 2024
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (March 2024).

- An RfC is open to convert all current and future community discretionary sanctions to (community designated) contentious topics procedure.
- The Toolforge Grid Engine services have been shut down after the final migration process from Grid Engine to Kubernetes. (T313405)
- An arbitration case has been opened to look into "the intersection of managing conflict of interest editing with the harassment (outing) policy".
- Editors are invited to sign up for The Core Contest, an initiative running from April 15 to May 31, which aims to improve vital and other core articles on Wikipedia.
The Signpost: 25 April 2024
[edit]- In the media: Censorship and wikiwashing looming over RuWiki, edit wars over San Francisco politics, and another wikirace on live TV
Plus, tribute songs and shout-outs outweighing vandalism and hoaxes, a dispute about the real king of the platform and other bits of news.
- News and notes: A sigh of relief for open access as Italy makes a slight U-turn on their cultural heritage reproduction law
Plus, new updates on the privacy and research ethics whitepaper and the graphs outage situation, and an Iranian former steward is globally banned from Wikimedia projects
- WikiConference report: WikiConference North America 2023 in Toronto recap
Outcomes of the event including newly published videos and photos, the archived conference website and program, and some attendee reflections on its significance.
- WikiProject report: WikiProject Newspapers (Not WP:NOTNEWS)
A WikiProject report on the 📰🌍 globe's finest news source!
- Recent research: New survey of over 100,000 Wikipedia users
And other recent research publications
- Traffic report: O.J., cricket and a three body problem
Plus Godzilla meets Francis Scott Key!
Administrators' newsletter – May 2024
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (April 2024).
- Phase I of the 2024 requests for adminship review has concluded. Several proposals have passed outright and will proceed to implementation, including creating a discussion-only period (3b) and administrator elections (13) on a trial basis. Other successful proposals, such as creating a reminder of civility norms (2), will undergo further refinement in Phase II. Proposals passed on a trial basis will be discussed in Phase II, after their trials conclude. Further details on specific proposals can be found in the full report.
- Partial action blocks are now in effect on the English Wikipedia. This means that administrators have the ability to restrict users from certain actions, including uploading files, moving pages and files, creating new pages, and sending thanks. T280531
- The arbitration case Conflict of interest management has been closed.
- This may be a good time to reach out to potential nominees to ask if they would consider an RfA.
- A New Pages Patrol backlog drive is happening in May 2024 to reduce the number of unreviewed articles in the new pages feed. Currently, there is a backlog of over 15,000 articles awaiting review. Sign up here to participate!
- Voting for the Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee (U4C) election is open until 9 May 2024. Read the voting page on Meta-Wiki and cast your vote here!
The Signpost: 16 May 2024
[edit]- News and notes: Democracy in action: multiple elections
WMF trustee elections, U4C results, Italian ArbCom, WMF and Endowment annual reports.
- Special report: Will the new RfA reform come to the rescue of administrators?
We don't know yet, but there is some encouraging news, nevertheless.
- Arbitration report: Ruined temples for posterity to ponder over – arbitration from '22 to '24
Some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, few with much of a comprehensible explanation.
- In the media: Deadnames on the French Wikipedia, and a duel between Russian wikis
Plus, the WMF joins the Unicode Consortium, Chris Albon talks about AI tools on Wikipedia, communities address under-representation on the site.
- Op-Ed: Wikidata to split as sheer volume of information overloads infrastructure
More queries are failing, and more frequently, so what is to be done?
- Comix: Generations
It do be like that sometimes.
- Traffic report: Crawl out through the fallout, baby
With cricket and some cute baby reindeer!

The article Set Enterprises has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:
Fails WP:NCOMPANY, requires significant coverage in multiple independent secondary sources. The sources provided are either mentions in passing (Looney Laboratories) or based on primary sources (The Toy Book and Gizmondo) - interviews with the company's founder/owner.
While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, pages may be deleted for any of several reasons.
You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the {{proposed deletion/dated}} notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the article's talk page.
Please consider improving the page to address the issues raised. Removing {{proposed deletion/dated}} will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and articles for deletion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. Dan arndt (talk) 09:56, 22 August 2024 (UTC)
Hello, Jonathunder
Welcome to Wikipedia! I edit here too, under the username Викидим, and I thank you for your contributions.
I wanted to let you know, however, that I've proposed an article that you started, Itascatown, Howland Island, for deletion because it meets one or more of our deletion criteria, and I don't think that it is suitable for inclusion in the encyclopedia. The particular issue can be found in the notice that is now visible at the top of the article.
If you wish to contest the deletion:
- Edit the page
- Remove the text that looks like this:
{{proposed deletion/dated...}} - Click the button.
If you object to the article's deletion, please remember to explain why you think the article should be kept on the article's talk page and improve the page to address the issues raised in the deletion notice. Otherwise, it may be deleted later by other means.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment here and prepend it with {{Re|Викидим}}. And remember to sign your reply with ~~~~. Thanks!
(Message delivered via the Page Curation tool, on behalf of the reviewer.)
Викидим (talk) 06:45, 9 September 2024 (UTC)
Deletion discussion about Itascatown, Howland Island
[edit]Hello Jonathunder, and thank you for your contributions to Wikipedia.
While your contributions are appreciated, I wanted to let you know that I've started a discussion about whether an article that you created, Itascatown, Howland Island, should be deleted, as I am not sure that it is suitable for inclusion in Wikipedia in its current form. Your comments are welcome at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Itascatown, Howland Island.
Deletion discussions usually run for seven days and are not votes. Our guide about effectively contributing to such discussions is worth a read. The most common issue in these discussions is notability, but it's not the only aspect that may be discussed; read the nomination and any other comments carefully before you contribute to the discussion. Last but not least, you are highly encouraged to continue improving the article; just be sure not to remove the tag about the deletion nomination from the top.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment here and prepend it with {{Re|Викидим}}. And don't forget to sign your reply with ~~~~ . Thanks!
(Message delivered via the Page Curation tool, on behalf of the reviewer.)
Викидим (talk) 02:02, 15 September 2024 (UTC)
Monument to Crazy Horse
[edit]Hi, I am one of the administrators on Wiki Ligure (Genoese language from Genoa, Italy). It's such a pity that we could not keep the picture of the monument currently being built. For us in Europe it's a real hit and it's so right for Indians to be placed at the same level as white people on Mt. Rushmore. Believe me, if I could come all the way to that monument, I would take a pic and let it circulate free on every Wikipedia. It would be so just for the Indian people whom I respect so much. Any chance that you take one more pic and upload it free on Commons? All the best Luensu1959 (talk) 07:06, 25 September 2024 (UTC)
- Hello Luensu1959. As you can see Jonathunder hasn't edited for a longtime, and some of us hope he is well and will come back. May I ask, why can't you keep the image on your Wikipedia? I missed the discussion about the photo, can you link it? Thanks. Anothr good place to ask may be the Crazy Horse Memorial talk page. Randy Kryn (talk) 12:44, 25 September 2024 (UTC)
- Hello Randy, global sysops keep deleting images from our and from other Wikis, that's why. The file I'd like to put once again on Wiki Ligure is CrazyHorse.jpg on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Horse_Memorial
- Considering that the author might not be in a position to edit on Wikis anymore, why can't something be started to preserve pics that all wikis might benefit from? Be well, Luensu1959 (talk) 07:24, 26 September 2024 (UTC)
- I totally agree Luensu1959, but have little to do with Commons and its separate policies. Was surprised at the lack of images of the monument in the Commons collection. Maybe leave a note at the Wikiproject:Sculpture and Wikiproject:Visual arts talk pages, where people like Another Believer preserve and function (Another Believer and Johnbod are both active in images and data about statues). I left a note on the Crazy Horse Memorial talk page after reading your concern here. Randy Kryn (talk) 13:45, 26 September 2024 (UTC)
- It goes back to this commons deletion request, and more recently this one. I won't be able to help, I'm afraid. Johnbod (talk) 13:55, 26 September 2024 (UTC)
- I totally agree Luensu1959, but have little to do with Commons and its separate policies. Was surprised at the lack of images of the monument in the Commons collection. Maybe leave a note at the Wikiproject:Sculpture and Wikiproject:Visual arts talk pages, where people like Another Believer preserve and function (Another Believer and Johnbod are both active in images and data about statues). I left a note on the Crazy Horse Memorial talk page after reading your concern here. Randy Kryn (talk) 13:45, 26 September 2024 (UTC)
Happy First Edit Day!
[edit]| Happy First Edit Day! Hi Jonathunder! On behalf of the Birthday Committee, I'd like to wish you a very happy anniversary of the day you made your first edit and became a Wikipedian! The Herald (Benison) (talk) 05:06, 5 October 2024 (UTC) |
Invitation to join the Twenty Year Society
[edit]
Dear Jonathunder,
I'd like to extend a cordial invitation to you to join the Twenty Year Society, an informal group for editors who've been participating in the Wikipedia project for twenty years or more.
Best regards, The Herald (Benison) (talk) 05:35, 5 October 2024 (UTC)
— The Herald (Benison) (talk) 05:35, 5 October 2024 (UTC)
Wiki Uff Da! Editing the Wikipedia for Absolute Beginners
[edit]| Wiki UFF DA! - Editing the Wikipedia for Absolute Beginners | |
|---|---|
Join us at one of our three FREE workshops in Minnesota, where you can learn how to edit Wikipedia and add Minnesota's local history in a relaxed and supportive setting. Work alongside others and discover how easy editing Wikipedia can be. The workshops aim to enhance the ability of communities in Greater and rural Minnesota to edit Wikipedia and comprehend it's editing culture and guidelines, as well as to expand Wikipedia's coverage of Minnesota's history. Already good at editing the Wikipedia? You're welcome to come and work on local history Minnesota Wikipedia articles alongside others. Registration is required to be included for lunch. Event 1 @ Morris, MN
Event 2 @ Chisholm, MN
Event 3 @ Mankato, MN
Facilitator: Myotus | Joe Hoover These workshops are put on by the Minnesota Historical Society as part of their commitment to the Minnesota local history community and are led by Local History Services. | |
November 2024 Minnesota User Group Meeting
[edit]| In the area? You're invited to the November 2024 Minnesota User Group Meeting
The organizer of this soiree is Joe Hoover aka Myotus feel free to drop him a message.
Okay its been a while since the Wikipedia Minnesota User Group has meet. Since the last time we meet there has been social upheaval, plague, etc... - no small thing to be sure. There has been some sad lonely discussions on the Minnesota Meetup page on getting together but little action. So here it is. Come and be seen. Talk about future the Minnesota User Group and see what nefarious plans we can hatch. Date: Sunday, November 3, 2024 Look forward to seeing folks!
|
Meeting notes added
[edit]Hi Jonathunder, Just in case you are interested I have a added the meeting notes for the November 3, 2024 Minnesota User Group Meeting. You will have to forgive me, I am a crap note taker. Sorry! Myotus (talk) 16:48, 7 November 2024 (UTC)
File copyright problem with File:WaterTowerStCharlesMN.jpg
[edit]
Thank you for uploading File:WaterTowerStCharlesMN.jpg.
This file is a derivative work, containing an "image within an image". Examples of such images would include a photograph of a sculpture, a scan of a magazine cover, or a screenshot of a computer game or movie. In each of these cases, the rights of the creator of the original image must be considered, as well as those of the creator of the derivative work.
While the file description page states the source and copyright status of the derivative work, it only names the creator of the original work without specifying the status of their copyright over the work.
Wikipedia takes copyright very seriously. It may be deleted soon, unless we can determine the license and the source of the original image. If you know this information, then you can add a copyright tag to the image description page.
If you have uploaded other derivative works, consider checking that you have specified their license and tagged them, too. You can find a list of files you have created in your upload log.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them at the media copyright questions page. If the file is already gone, you can still make a request for undeletion and ask for a chance to fix the problem. Thanks again for your cooperation. — Ирука13 04:56, 10 November 2024 (UTC)
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Minnesota User Group Meeting and 2025 Wikipedia Day Celebration
[edit]| In the area? You're invited to the 2025 Minnesota User Group Wikipedia Day Celebration
The organizer of this feed is Joe Hoover aka Myotus feel free to drop him a message.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 is Wikipedia Day and the Minnesota User Group is meeting to celebrate the day with a Tater Tot Hotdish Dinner!
To ensure that a helping of Tater Tot Hotdish is waiting for you at the meeting please RVSP on the event page. Transit
Look forward to seeing folks! Wear yer mittens!
|
File copyright problem with File:CornWaterTower0.jpg
[edit]
Thank you for uploading File:CornWaterTower0.jpg.
This file is a derivative work, containing an "image within an image". Examples of such images would include a photograph of a sculpture, a scan of a magazine cover, or a screenshot of a computer game or movie. In each of these cases, the rights of the creator of the original image must be considered, as well as those of the creator of the derivative work.
While the file description page states the source and copyright status of the derivative work, it only names the creator of the original work without specifying the status of their copyright over the work.
Wikipedia takes copyright very seriously. It may be deleted soon, unless we can determine the license and the source of the original image. If you know this information, then you can add a copyright tag to the image description page.
If you have uploaded other derivative works, consider checking that you have specified their license and tagged them, too. You can find a list of files you have created in your upload log.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them at the media copyright questions page. If the file is already gone, you can still make a request for undeletion and ask for a chance to fix the problem. Thanks again for your cooperation. — Ирука13 09:13, 3 January 2025 (UTC)
File copyright problem with File:WaterTowerBradentonFL.jpg
[edit]
Thank you for uploading File:WaterTowerBradentonFL.jpg.
This file is a derivative work, containing an "image within an image". Examples of such images would include a photograph of a sculpture, a scan of a magazine cover, or a screenshot of a computer game or movie. In each of these cases, the rights of the creator of the original image must be considered, as well as those of the creator of the derivative work.
While the file description page states the source and copyright status of the derivative work, it only names the creator of the original work without specifying the status of their copyright over the work.
Wikipedia takes copyright very seriously. It may be deleted soon, unless we can determine the license and the source of the original image. If you know this information, then you can add a copyright tag to the image description page.
If you have uploaded other derivative works, consider checking that you have specified their license and tagged them, too. You can find a list of files you have created in your upload log.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them at the media copyright questions page. If the file is already gone, you can still make a request for undeletion and ask for a chance to fix the problem. Thanks again for your cooperation. — Ирука13 09:16, 3 January 2025 (UTC)
File copyright problem with File:RemnantChurchSign.jpg
[edit]
Thank you for uploading File:RemnantChurchSign.jpg.
This file is a derivative work, containing an "image within an image". Examples of such images would include a photograph of a sculpture, a scan of a magazine cover, or a screenshot of a computer game or movie. In each of these cases, the rights of the creator of the original image must be considered, as well as those of the creator of the derivative work.
While the file description page states the source and copyright status of the derivative work, it only names the creator of the original work without specifying the status of their copyright over the work.
Wikipedia takes copyright very seriously. It may be deleted soon, unless we can determine the license and the source of the original image. If you know this information, then you can add a copyright tag to the image description page.
If you have uploaded other derivative works, consider checking that you have specified their license and tagged them, too. You can find a list of files you have created in your upload log.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them at the media copyright questions page. If the file is already gone, you can still make a request for undeletion and ask for a chance to fix the problem. Thanks again for your cooperation. — Ирука13 09:21, 3 January 2025 (UTC)
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Minnesota User Group Meeting
[edit]| In the area? You're invited to the April 2025 Minnesota User Group Meeting
The organizer of this event is Joe Hoover aka Myotus feel free to drop him a message.
Sunday, April 6, 2025 is New Beer's Eve and the Minnesota User Group is meeting to celebrate at Lake Monster Brewing Company!
Please RVSP on the event page. Transit
Look forward to seeing folks! While there will be free snacky bits, there is a pizza restaurant next door, OG Zaza, that you can order food from.
|
Saturday, July 19, 2025 Minnesota User Group Wiknic!
[edit]
In the area? You're invited to the Wiknic July 2025 Minnesota User Group Meeting Saturday July 19, 2025 the Minnesota User Group is having a Wiknic at the Minnesota State Capitol! We will be picnicing in the shade near the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Memorial, so bring a picnic blanket, lawn chairs and a hot dish for the picnic if you like! We'll also be providing sandwiches for everyone but we encourage you to bring your own favorite dishes to share. All Minnesota Wikipedia editors and wanna-be editors are welcome! Also...
Please RVSP on the event page. Transit
Look forward to seeing folks!
|
Suspension of autopatrolled permission due to inactivity
[edit]Hello Jonathunder. Following a request for comment in May 2025, the community has decided to implement an activity requirement for the autopatrolled permission. Because your account has not edited in the last three years, the autopatrolled permission has been removed from your account. This action is purely procedural and does not affect your ability to create articles; if you return to actively creating articles, you may request that the permission be restored through the normal process. When returning, please consider taking some time to re-familiarize yourself with common practices and how they may have changed over the past few years if you wish to request the permission back. Thank you for all of your contributions to Wikipedia, and we hope to see you again soon. – – DreamRimmer Alt (talk) 11:54, 14 May 2025 (UTC)
Happy First Edit Day!
[edit]| Happy First Edit Day! Hi Jonathunder! On behalf of the Birthday Committee, I'd like to wish you a very happy anniversary of the day you made your first edit and became a Wikipedian! CREditzWiki (Talk to me!!) 15:44, 5 October 2025 (UTC) |
CREditzWiki (Talk to me!!) 15:44, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
Happy First Edit Day!
[edit]| Happy First Edit Day! Hi Jonathunder! On behalf of the Birthday Committee, I'd like to wish you a very happy anniversary of the day you made your first edit and became a Wikipedian! DaniloDaysOfOurLives (talk) 04:51, 6 October 2025 (UTC) |












