User talk:Ben MacDui

If you leave a new message on this page, I will usually reply here unless specifically asked to reply elsewhere.

Qeshm

Thanks for your review. Almost all of the comments had been addressed; we responded to any we did not change. ceranthor 18:13, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

Understood - altho' I won't be able to get to this until next year (GMT). Ben MacDui 19:09, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

I think we finally got around to everything, though I may be wrong. ceranthor 21:19, 4 January 2013 (UTC)

OK - I'll get back to you tomorrow. Ben MacDui 21:30, 4 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks MacDui, greatly appreciated. Mikenorton (talk) 12:02, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

You are most welcome and very good luck with the nomination. If you are lucky, you will soon receive a visit from a representative of the FAC heavy mob. Ben MacDui 12:09, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks! ceranthor 18:58, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

Happy New Year

		Best wishes for the New Year!
		Here's wishing you and yours a joyous, healthful, and productive 2013! Please accept a belated thank you for the well wishes upon my retirement as FAC delegate this year, and apologies for the false alarm of my first—and hopefully last—retirement; the well wishes extended me were most kind, but I decided to return, re-committed, when another blocked sock was revealed as one of the factors aggravating the FA pages this year. Maintaining standards in featured content requires vigilance, dedication and knowledge of people like you, who are needed; reviews are always welcome at FAC, FAR and TFA requests. Somehow, somehow we never ever seem to do nothin' completely nice and easy, but here's hoping that 2013 will see a peaceful road ahead and a return to the quality and comaraderie that defines the FA process, thanks to many dedicated Wikipedians! SandyGeorgia (Talk) 20:19, 3 January 2013 (UTC)

Many thanks for your good wishes, you are welcome and I am glad that common sense has prevailed. All the best, Ben MacDui 21:39, 4 January 2013 (UTC)

Skye Geology

Hi MacDui, I have long had in mind to produce an article on the Geology of Skye, but like many such things it has not yet seen the light of day. However, as a first step, I have produced a map - File:Skye_Geology.png, which I believe may be of some use in the Skye article. If you don't think that it would be too disruptive to the FA process at this stage, I could add a 'Geology' section, based on this useful booklet. Mikenorton (talk) 11:50, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

1) Great map.

2) Good idea.

3) Am going to struggle to get time on W'pedia for the next 24 hrs.

4) The arrival of the "delegate" suggests a closure (one way or the other) is likely soon.

5) No reason why it can't be added either soon or post-closure.

6) An issue might be getting the refs consistent. If there is any chance of you bashing up a revised section in a sandbox and letting me have a quick look at it before posting it into mainspace that might be best at this stage of the process. Must dash and thanks for the suggestion. Ben MacDui 12:55, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

Well I see that it's made the grade - congratulations. So I guess that there's no rush now, but I will work on it (and a full article). It will be done in a sandbox - I'll let you know when it's worth looking at. Mikenorton (talk) 16:22, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks and understood. Note that Skye has been rushed into the TFA queue for 23 Jan - be great to have something by then if you can manage it. Ben MacDui 19:46, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

I'll see what I can manage - it's trickier than I first thought, but I'll see how I go. Mikenorton (talk) 00:32, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

So, just like with the Orkney article, I tried to produce a 'Geology' section and ended up with an article. Geology of Skye is very much a first effort, it needs a great deal more sourcing and some parts significantly expanding, such as more on the landscapes produced by the various rock types. This probably means that the geology section will have to wait until after Skye has been on the main page - sorry about that. Mikenorton (talk) 23:22, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Its a good start tho'. I put {{Further|Geology of Skye}} in the Skye geog section. Ben MacDui 19:15, 22 January 2013 (UTC)

That makes sense, thanks. The Qeshm review has started up again so I may be firefighting there for a while. Mikenorton (talk) 21:53, 22 January 2013 (UTC)

Main page appearance: Skye

This is a note to let the main editors of Skye know that the article will be appearing as today's featured article on January 23, 2013. You can view the TFA blurb at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/January 23, 2013. If you prefer that the article appear as TFA on a different date, or not at all, please ask featured article director Raul654 (talk · contribs) or his delegates Dabomb87 (talk · contribs), Gimmetoo (talk · contribs), and Bencherlite (talk · contribs), or start a discussion at Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests. If the previous blurb needs tweaking, you can change it—following the instructions at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/instructions. If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page. The blurb as it stands now is below:

Skye is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Its peninsulas radiate from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillins, the rocky slopes of which provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. The island has been occupied since the Mesolithic period and its history includes a time of Norse rule and a long period of domination by Clan MacLeod (Dunvegan Castle, the clan's seat, pictured) and Clan Donald. The 18th-century Jacobite risings led to the breaking up of the clan system and subsequent Clearances that replaced entire communities with sheep farms. Resident numbers declined from over 20,000 in the early 19th century to just under 9,000 by the closing decade of the 20th century. The main industries are tourism, agriculture, fishing and whisky-distilling, and the largest settlement is Portree, known for its picturesque harbour. There are links to various nearby islands by ferry and, since 1995, to the mainland by a road bridge. The abundant wildlife includes the Golden Eagle, Red Deer and Atlantic Salmon. Skye has provided the locations for various novels and feature films and is celebrated in poetry and song. (Full article...)

UcuchaBot (talk) 23:01, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

Congratulations on the FA and now on the TFA, and thanks for the thanks - I was glad to find the new map showing the terrain (and if you need the labels modified, please let me know). Keep up the good work, Ruhrfisch _><>°^° 02:36, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Precious

wild and lonely places of North Britain
Thank you for quality articles on the Scottish islands, such as Skye, and people such as Rachel Chiesley, Lady Grange, for you recipe against wikistress, and for quoting "the mutual creation of capacity, building the ability of the other person or group to become, in turn, a giver of life and responsibility", - repeating: you are an awesome Wikipedian (16 August 2010)!

--Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:20, 23 January 2013 (UTC)

You are most kind. Ben MacDui 18:47, 23 January 2013 (UTC)

I'm clearly not understanding how to edit these pages. I have just tried in all honesty to update the entry on Calve Island (from my personal experience) and been told that this does not count. Your invitation to enter a discussion is not accessible. How am I supposed to prove my personal experience?? All you have for the current entry is that it is an uninhabited island - but 50 years ago it was not so. Why do you resist this??? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Groupsec (talk • contribs) 21:12, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

Notifying you that Batman Arkham City is up for FAC

I've nominated this article again, it failed last time not through opposition but lack of interest. It's a quality article encompassing all the available information in a neat, presentable and interesting way, so I hope you can lend your voice to the discussion if you have the time. Thanks for reading. Darkwarriorblake (talk) 15:51, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

Opera in Scotland

I have recently started the article Opera in Scotland to try and rectify a huge oversight on Wikipedia. In this article, I deal with the surprisingly numerous operas by foreigners on Scottish themes, and also the pretty dismal Scottish output of opera.

I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but I appreciate that this is culturally important, and should be addressed on here. I think you're probably one of the more clued up Scottish editors, so I'm dropping you (and one or two others) a line to see if you could offer some advice, and improve the article. Anyway, I appreciate any help you might give.--MacRùsgail (talk) 19:18, 8 February 2013 (UTC) p.s. Yes it does include some island material - qv!

You have certainly made a good start. Although it is not a subject I know much about, I'd be happy to help out - except that I will be on an extended break with limited internet access soon. I'll certainly give it a look see on my return. Ben MacDui 19:27, 8 February 2013 (UTC) PS I see you have grown an accent...

Thanks. I don't know much about it either. Opera is not my thing, especially the Italian variety. However, I realise that there's a subject here (probably space for another article on Scottish influence on non-opera composers e.g. Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn etc who all used Scottish tunes.)

One of the best things about Wikipedia is that it allows a broader view of Scottish subjects... i.e. putting them in an international (not just British) context, and also stuff like the Gaidhlig forms of names... unless we're talking football clubs and celebrities, and then the articles are pretty bad...

"I see you have grown an accent" - Aye, but it's a bit complicated. The name should have one on it, but it's hard to get on certain keyboards etc.-MacRùsgail (talk) 17:23, 13 February 2013 (UTC)

DYK for Gossabrough

Carabinieri (talk) 08:04, 18 February 2013 (UTC)

DYK for Mugeary

The DYK project (nominate) 08:03, 1 April 2013 (UTC)

First Glasgow Wiki Meetup

You are invited to the first ever Glasgow Wiki Meetup which will take place at The Sir John Moore, 260-292 Argyle Street, City of Glasgow G2 8QW on Sunday 12 May 2013 from 1.00 pm. If you have never been to one, this is an opportunity to meet other Wikipedians in an informal atmosphere for Wiki and non-Wiki related chat and for beer or food if you like. Experienced and new contributors are all welcome. This event is definitely not restricted just to discussion of Scottish topics. Bring your laptop if you like and use the free Wifi or just bring yourself. Even better, bring a friend! Click the link for full details. Looking forward to seeing you. Philafrenzy (talk) 10:34, 1 April 2013 (UTC)

Viking art

Hi. I just added a section on Viking Age art to Art in Medieval Scotland and wondered if it is worth considering adding some version of it to Scandinavian Scotland. Just a thought for consideration. By the way, do you know that your banner explaining about your name goes right over the "save changes" boxes?--SabreBD (talk) 13:59, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

Am taking things slowly at present but I'll have a look asap. The banner only seems to do this on some browsers. I'll attempt to fix it (one day). Ben MacDui 08:42, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

I added a couple of links to the Religion, culture and economy section. There is presumably a great deal that could be said about the topic but I didn't want to over do things in this section and if anything I'd suggest expanding the sub-section in the "Art in..." article. Banner now moved also) Have been slowly looking through my watchlist since my return, which has not been especially inspiring so far and I'm glad you directed to me the above - nice to see some genuine new contributions rather than the standard MOS nit-picking and POV pushing. Ben MacDui 11:26, 21 April 2013 (UTC)

Where have you been?

Hello MacDui, Just dropping by to say I'm glad to see you back! You were the first person to help me on Wikipedia ages ago. I still sometimes play around with Scottish related articles. SagaciousPhil - Chat 11:36, 21 April 2013 (UTC)

Many thanks - I'd quite forgotten about our conversation about Clola and I am glad your still around. I was over the hills and far away for a while - I am back although I fear a busy real life will mean a reduction in my own contributions for a while. Ben MacDui 11:50, 21 April 2013 (UTC)

Main Page appearance: Rachel Chiesley, Lady Grange

This is a note to let the main editors of Rachel Chiesley, Lady Grange know that the article will be appearing as today's featured article on May 12, 2013. If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page. If you prefer that the article appear as TFA on a different date, or not at all, please ask featured article director Raul654 (talk · contribs) or one of his delegates (Dabomb87 (talk · contribs), Gimmetoo (talk · contribs), and Bencherlite (talk · contribs)), or start a discussion at Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests. You can view the TFA blurb at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/May 12, 2013. If it needs tweaking, or if it needs rewording to match improvements to the article between now and its main page appearance, please edit it, following the instructions at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/instructions. The blurb as it stands now is below:

Lady Grange (1679–1745) was the wife of James Erskine, Lord Grange, a Scottish lawyer with Jacobite sympathies. After 25 years of marriage and nine children, the Granges separated acrimoniously. When Lady Grange produced letters that she claimed were evidence of his treasonable plottings against the Hanoverian government in London, her husband had her kidnapped from her home in Edinburgh on the night of 22 January 1732. She was incarcerated in various remote locations on the western seaboard of Scotland, including the Monach Isles, Skye and the distant islands of St Kilda. Lady Grange's father was convicted of murder when she was about 10 years old and she is known to have had a violent temper; initially her absence seems to have caused little comment. No action was ever taken on her behalf by any of her children, the eldest of whom would have been in their early twenties when she was abducted. News of her plight eventually reached Edinburgh however, and an unsuccessful rescue attempt was undertaken by her lawyer, Thomas Hope of Rankeillor. She died in captivity, after being effectively imprisoned for 13 years. Her life has been remembered in poetry, prose and a play. (Full article...)

UcuchaBot (talk) 23:01, 8 May 2013 (UTC)

My ever-present shadow has popped up its head again

After a very pleasant few months of Tim!-free existence, he is back to his well-worn old tricks. Heads-up:

• Stirring it

It is the pure, undisguised hatred, undiminished over the years, which never ceases to amaze me. --Mais oui! (talk) 07:58, 11 May 2013 (UTC)

Looks like he has just declared full-scale nuclear war on the entire Scottish category system. --Mais oui! (talk) 19:30, 14 May 2013 (UTC)