User talk:Victoriaearle

Ernest Hemingway

Big birthday coming up for Hemingway ... 125th, on July 21 ... so I'm thinking about a TFA rerun. You nominated this at FAC ... any thoughts pro or con? There's basically no uncited text. I see three "clarify" tags and one "request quotation" tag ... nothing major. I don't see any significant fights on the talk page, or evidence of recursive bad behavior in the history. - Dank (push to talk) 06:02, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

Hi Dank when I saw the message I was afraid you'd scheduled for April! That would have been a stretch ... but ... July might be doable. My sense of the article is that it's degrading and needs work. My problem is twofold: getting anything done is very difficult these days and if I start to dig in there I'll want to really dig in and do a rewrite. Is it feasible to have a few days to evaluate & get back to you? Victoria (tk) 21:27, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

Oh of course, and we can always run it another year. Take your time. Very nice writing on this one, btw. - Dank (push to talk) 21:51, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

Thanks Dank! I'll take a few days to assess and let you know. I can't take credit for the prose - without Yllosubmarine (Maria), Malleus, Ceoil, and a cadre of others it wouldn't be what it is. Those were the days! Victoria (tk) 00:20, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

If you want my opinion, or even if you dont, and having spent a while comparing versions earlier this afternoon; its fine, in very good shape, and I wouldn't stress or be put off imagine a huge preparation task. More important, am on Dank's side, it would be a fine article to rerun - whatever you might think of Hemingway these days, he was never boring, and having the man on main page very much serves readers, who can draw their own conclusions, m or n dash be dammed :) Ceoil (talk) 00:33, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

Funny! Of course I value yours and Dank's opinons. I think it's doable. It needs tidying but easier done than I thought. Lets go ahead and run it! Victoria (tk) 00:53, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

I'm delighted Victoria, and thanks Dank for thinking. Deep, calm, breaths Victoria! Ceoil (talk) 01:07, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

Yes, thanks very much to Dank for thinking of it. I'm honored. Practicing deep breathing as I dig into it. Victoria (tk) 01:10, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

As always the "Influence and legacy" sect is the main problem child re post FAC additions, have done some trimmings and paragraph merging. I think any pre main page prep should focus on keeping this tight and on point. Pop mentions /= literately importance. Ceoil (talk) 01:32, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for combining the paras; I noticed that paragraph breaks have been added throughout. Yes, it should be tight - that was always the idea. It definitely needs tightening. Luckily because I didn't use citation templates it's easy to see where stuff has been added. I've hacked out some from the legacy section - that section might need an entire rewrite. During PR & FAC we'd agreed to keep some of the stuff but in my mind it invites anything & everything to be added. Victoria (tk) 01:47, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

That aligns with my impression...in prep for another day in the sun, all that is needed is remoal rather than addition, and that is always so much easier. I'm really not seeing that you should re-dig the sources: and scholarship has not developed so much since 2010. The page is a joy to read...so crisp and clear :) I very much don't see a need for worry here, in fact you can be proud. Ceoil (talk) 02:06, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

Well, Hemingway scholarship is endless but it's reiterative; equally there seems to be a reiterative call for post 2010 (or plug the year) sources for FAs. All that said, I don't intend to dig into the sources. It needs snipping which, as you say, is so much easier than adding. I wrote a decent article back then; much better than I could now. Which is chastening, but whatevs. Life is what it is. I need to stop now, but, yes, feel good about this. Thanks for the compliments - they mean a lot. And thanks for the help - as usual. Victoria (tk) 02:17, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

Re post 2010 scholarship; I don't buy it, lith scholarship moves slowly, while exciting new theories are best left settle down before inclusion here (as with Vincent's talk[1]). Also see my and the sainted Rigger's frustrations with one trigger happy editor's comments on talk Talk:Caspar_David_Friedrich#WP:URFA/2020_review. Ceoil (talk) 08:22, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

Exactly! Especially for Wikipedia's purposes. There's nothing new in regard to basic biographic facts/info or basic literary info. Will pick at it later in the week, time permitting. Victoria (tk) 16:27, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

I dont really have any other news. As we are sadly no longer spending time in CT, horizons now are the Scottish Islands (I have to see Iona", hen living in London in the 90s Liz used to date a dude from Orkney), and cities in eastern Europe. I work with a few people from Romania; hearing great things about eating out in Cluj and Iași. Trips like that mean we have to drive up to Dublin airport (yuck). But its good to have plans as its better to look forward rather than back. Ceoil (talk) 18:11, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

As it happens I got interested in Iona a few weeks ago after reading about the monks & the abbey in a book set in 7th cent. Northumberland. It took me a while to realize the Old English name Wii (or something like that) meant Iona. Anyway, go there! Seems fascinating. And the others too. Looking forward is always good; traveling is always good, too. Victoria (tk) 20:18, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

(Talk page follower comment) - If for some mysterious reason you go to Iona and are motivated to try your hand at golf, be aware that the main hazard is the bull on the 9th hole. Risker (talk) 05:25, 26 February 2024 (UTC)

Hi Risker! That was an almost-spit-my-coffee-onto-the-keyboard funny comment. I have no comeback to it. Hope all is well with you and yours. Victoria (tk) 21:01, 26 February 2024 (UTC)

Risker, feeling a strange mix of being impressed but envious that you've been there....grr. ps, the chances of me visiting a golf course when I vist (fingers crossed) this summer are slightly less than zero. I did play as a teenager, but am far too lazy now in my middle age ;) Ceoil (talk) 01:26, 3 March 2024 (UTC)

flowers, art, music

for you today, the birthday of M. C. Escher whose art inspired music, with best wishes for your health -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:12, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

Today we have a centenarian story (documentation about it by Percy Adlon) and an article that had two sentences yesterday and was up for deletion, and needs a few more citations. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:55, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

You have a great deal of energy, Gerda. Much more than I. Victoria (tk) 16:01, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

July music

story · music · places

The story is today about the first published composition by Arnold Schönberg which I was blessed to hear. Listen, and perhaps read what Alma Mahler (to-be-Mahler at the time, to be precise, who was present at the first performance) said, and yes that was too much for the Main page ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:33, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

Today's story is about a Bach cantata premiered 300 years ago OTD. - A meeting of two women - the occasion of the cantata - is pictured in our local church, 17th century. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:51, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

Libuše Domanínská, the subject of yesterday's story, would have turned 100 today, but I missed that ;) - Overnight, Tamara Milashkina became GA. - 4 July is also the birthday of Brian Boulton who wrote about Gianni Schicchi, and who was a pioneer of a concise infobox in 2013, including a list of works. Imagine if we just followed that example! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:28, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

Happy 4th, Gerda! Victoria (tk) 16:42, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

It was a good day, beautiful chamber music. I am sorry that you felt inflamed when I wanted to point out what could be common ground. Perhaps "pioneer" was the wrong word, - English often remains a mystery. Right after the closure of the arbcase about infobox, BB tried compromise (my understanding) by inserting what he called identibox to his "own" FA Percy Grainger, including a list of his compositions, and announced it on my talk. Imagine if we all accepted that such a thing is a good compromise, imagine we had accepted that back in 2013: no more flames would have been needed all these years. It saddens me that we didn't. How do you see it? How can we reach a compromise? - Do you understand that the removal of the list of compositions from Robert Schumann's infobox, never questioned and stable since 2020, a removal now in 2024 in the FAC preparation, inflamed me? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:39, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

Gerda, I'd invite you to look at the big picture. From my point-of-view, it's not infoboxes that I find objectionable but how they are designed in the interface. They take up a great deal of space, space which has shrunk since the introduction of Vector 22. First and foremost - that is the skin the average reader sees. What you and I see depends on preferences set over many years. As a digression - over the past few days I brought the operating system & browser on my laptop up-to-date and during that process checked Wikipedia while logged out. The reader is now presented with a huge ugly box asking to set font size and it's not intuitive how to get rid of it - of course those of us logged in have already taken care of that problem. To get back on track - Vector 22 eliminated the table of contents which makes the infobox fall into the text below the lead - so now we have to be very careful about how many fields to fill in the infobox. I spend much more time here reading these days instead of writing, and I see many many many articles with text squash in the first couple of sections, depending on the size of the infobox. Beyond, the text column itself has shrunk with the table of contents shoved to the left gutter and the tools shoved to the right. Again, yes, we can set preferences. The casual visitor doesn't or won't bother. I could go on and on, but will only add one more point: many infoboxes are wrapped in colors that are difficult to deal with, i.e see Hilda of Whitby, which presents the viewer with an eye-piercing border. As a migraine sufferer, I often click away quickly from pages that flash such overwhelming colors.

As for Schuman - I believe Tim riley took it to FAC? You should be talking directly to him, not to me, nor to anyone else about it. As for list of compositions - as I mentioned above we have to be careful about each and every field. Perhaps to effect change we should instead focus on what should be included in the each lead?

As yesterday - it was a holiday; it was early in my day; it's hot and humid; I'm grouchy. All that said, if you must point out when Brian's birthday is, and you want to laud his many great contributions, in my view tying together Brian, liberty, the 4th of July and infoboxes, is reductive (he did so much more!), plus, generally I like to leave the dead to their deserved peace. I felt baited and I don't like to feel baited.

Please give all of this some thought. Look at Wikipedia with different skins, on different screen sizes, and visit pages when you're not logged in. Think about the harsh colors for those with seizure disorders and migraines. Think about designing in simplicity. And finally think about what the constant drip drip drip does to others. I'm open to discussion but in smaller less frequent doses. Be well and thanks for the flowers. The deer eat all of my day-lilies during the night, so I never see them! Victoria (tk) 14:48, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

Short reply: sorry about the deer eating your flowers, the humidity, and then me "baiting" without wanting that. Tell me when it's less humid for more talk. Just in short: I think that we agree on some points, - please let me know where I may be wrong:

1. I like infoboxes to be short, that's why I used the term "concise".
2. I like infoboxes with no added colours, that's why I often transform infobox musical artist into infobox person. (I don't feel I should change the one for the saint, though, because it's not my topic of expertise.)

Tim riley came to my talk to tell me that I'm not welcome on his, so how could I talk to him at a quiet spot? Brian Boulton has treated me friendly as long as he lived, and I will sing his praises as long as my memory serves me. What would he tell us today? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:36, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

I spent some time thinking about this issue. A few suggestions if you'd allow me. First, I understand that you're upset, but the only two solutions are to let it go or to go to the person's page (I might consider offering a quiet place to discuss, but not now, and I'd need to mull that over first). Complaining to others will not work well - I'm sure you learned that as a girl just as I did. The very best thing in my opinion is to let it go - at least temporarily. Use your watchlist as a friend and unwatch pages that bother you. It's very freeing to do that. Last week I unwatched a page I'd had on my watchlist for about 15 years, and am much happier. As for Brian, I understand singing his praises. I can do that too. But I do suggest decoupling him from the infobox discussion. (To decouple is the same as separating a train car from the train). Let's leave Brian behind insofar as infobox discussions. For whatever reason, your post triggered me. Perhaps others had the same reaction? Perhaps others are much more polite than I and said nothing (I tend to speak my mind). That's enough for now. I understand it's getting late in your time zone & will respect that.

Flora and fauna

Re the flowers: there are no fences where I live so I've learned to coexist with the wildlife. But the pic of the lilies made me smile. Thanks again for it. Victoria (tk) 20:33, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for speaking your mind. Speaking mine: I am not upset, I have not complained, I have not mentioned a name, I have no intention to complain, nor mention a name. I am simply interested in linking to the works of a composer from their infobox if they are in a separate article (separate only when too long to be in the same), and I have asked people if they think it is a good idea. I am pleased that Brian thought it was a good idea, and The Worm That Turned for Beethoven, and the community for Mozart. I hope that you understand that we don't talk the old-style typical "infobox discussion" (infobox yes or no), but about one specific parameter. I could let it go more easily if it wasn't Schumann (you may know that I took Clara Schumann to GA), and if it wasn't FAC, knowing that once it's FA changes become difficult. I am sorry that I have no way to understand why a composer's works should not appear prominently in their infobox if there is one, but only way below in Music and the navbox. - I am happy to have made you smile! A dear person in my family is named Lili, that's why I smile now. The day lilies in my garden froze in one spring night this year, - the leaves (that where already long) recovered but no flowers this year. Next year perhaps. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:53, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

But this is the wrong page for that discussion. It needs to happen on the article talk, or the FAC (if it's still open). Anyway, I'm not finished in the kitchen and have promised myself to stop multi-tasking here. It never ends well. Victoria (tk) 22:50, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

I hope you enjoy cooking and eating! I found and prepared plenty of mushroooms today. Off to bed for me, and nothing more to discuss. Tomorrow is the time for another Recent deaths article, brought to me on my talk (and I changed her infobox from musical artist to person, for plain colors). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 23:02, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

The deer don't eat the mushrooms and with the wet weather we have plenty growing. But my knowledge is no longer good enough to pick & cook them. I'd hate to make anyone sick! Now I've overstayed, and must get back to the kitchen. Victoria (tk) 23:06, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

going out (all day) on my friend's birthday who is pictured - in that Baroque hall - on my talk: have a good day --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:16, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

I uploaded pics, some from two friends' gardens, including more day lilies, thinking of you ;) - The question was asked in the FAC by someone else. Look at the answers. We could also just let it go. Music and flowers are better. I got to the violinist only today, and am a bit proud that there are now references for what was more or less a mirror of her website. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:17, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Pictured on the Main page: Brian's Mozart family grand tour, my story today, and Mozart related to all three items of music on my talk: our 2023 concert, an opera in a theatre where a Mozart premiere took place, and those remembered, Martti Wallén, a bass, and Liana Isakadze, a violinist from Georgia (whose article would be better with more details about her music-making). - I uploaded a few pics of the yellow mushrooms that are rather unmistakable and please all eaters to whom I served them, pictured from forest to plate ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:45, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for the pics of the chantarelles. It's possible those are the ones I was thinking of, but I just went to look and they're gone! Either they shriveled from the heat or an animal ate them. Most likely an animal. The other day I saw a doe with her fawn in the lily patch but they didn't stay in place long enough for a pic. Victoria (tk) 19:48, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

P.s - I'll probably be gone for the next few days. Victoria (tk) 20:24, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

Enjoy days away! - My story today is - because of the anniversary of the premiere OTD in 1782 - about Die Entführung aus dem Serail, opera by Mozart, while yesterday's was - because of the TFA - about Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera by Offenbach, - so 3 times Mozart again if you click on "music" ;) - a little deer pictured on 6 June, btw --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:33, 16 July 2024 (UTC)

Very cute little deer! Ours are much bigger. Sadly being away isn't for anything enjoyable, but that's life. You are busy as usual. Victoria (tk) 20:06, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

That deer is a young one of de:Reh (roe deer), and they are smaller than de:Hirsche (deer). - Today's story is about a photographer who took iconic pictures, especially View from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Manhattan, 9/11, yesterday's was a great mezzo, and on Thursday we watched a sublime ballerina. If that's not enough my talk offers chamber music from two amazing concerts. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:14, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for the links. I've seen the small reh (li) in Europe and always think "they're so little". We have White-tailed deer here. The baby I saw a week or so ago was about the size of the one in your pic. Thanks too for the message re TFA below. Victoria (tk) 23:43, 21 July 2024 (UTC)

The Main page today has - besides the sad record of three musicians I brought to the Recent deaths section - a Mozart symphony I love. My story today is a 2016 hook. It was connected not only to Max Reger's death in 1916, remembered then, but also the death of a friend who - and we around him - knew he was dying when he listened to the concert which was his last time leaving home, and music from Reger's Requiem was played for his funeral three months later. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:02, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

I am sorry Gerda. I did not see this. When I clicked the message link it took me to the thread below and I didn't notice the other message. My apologies and thanks for sharing the sad, yet lovely, personal story. The pics in the article are nice. I've learned about a new artist so that's nice too. I have thought about the issue below, but not tonight. Much too tired at the moment. Victoria (tk) 23:24, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you, understand, and think (again) that we are more together than is obvious. I was much into Reger in 2016, the centenary of his death. Now Wolfgang Rihm died, sad update due on Monday. On weekends, I do only music ;) - Enjoying a Bach cantata GA of today and will have to add to the one for tomorrow, Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94, turning 300 years then (not by date but liturgical occasion). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:37, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

TFA

Thank you - and all who helped - today for Ernest Hemingway, introduced (in 2010): "Bringing an article about a writer such as Hemingway to FA status would not be possible without help and collaboration. Thanks to all the editors who have helped along the way."! - echoing the sentiment. - I look at another writer - also pictured black&white - in my story today, - three times 24. - Enjoy TFA day! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:08, 21 July 2024 (UTC)

I hope TFA day and those afterwards were pleasantly uneventful for you. Just a question: why did you remove the "notable works" from his infobox without providing - instead of a subjective selection - a link to the neutral list of works (compare Mozart and Reger), in his case to Ernest Hemingway bibliography? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:20, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

A few reasons: 1., I use Vector 2022—default for unregistered users—which eliminates the TOC from the body & shrinks the space for the infobox, so if there are to be images in the "Early life" section, which there should be in a bio, every single line in the infobox has to be considered carefully because the box extrudes out of the lead into that section; 2., because three of the four works mentioned in this version which didn't have consensus, are mentioned in the lead & there's no reason to repeat in the infobox; 3., because generally critics agree about those three works and, yes, the fourth is notable, but not universally considered his best; 4., because there are a number of short stories taught in high schools, colleges, and universities in the US that probably could be considered equally if not more notable and we simply don't have room in the infobox for every work; 5., because Ernest Hemingway bibliography isn't a great page—though much better than it used to be—and I spent time on the TOC to render for all users so that they don't have to deal with levels, but can simply scan and see that section easily. That's just off the top of my head. But those are some of the reasons. Victoria (tk) 20:35, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

(I wish you had replied to the post above instead. I also prefer to discuss flora, fauna and what makes us happy and sad.) I am sorry that I asked the question wrong, obviously. I am with you removing any selected works. I only would like to understand why not a one-line link to the neutral bibliography? (Four wives are mentioned, but no hint at books ;) - We do have readers who don't know already what the key occupation of this person was. We do have young readers who may not have seen a typewriter other than in a museum. If trimming is needed to include the line for "Bibliography", the caption could be shortened by the title and the name of the lodge, and the awards don't need specification and years.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:01, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

Apologies for putting it in the wrong place. I think I responded below your question? But I'm not feeling well this evening, so anything is possible. Personally I'd do without the wives, but he had four wives and people are interested in that and keep putting them in, plus putting them in even more info than is there. Re the image, it's a very famous photograph of him working on his (in my mind) best book, in a famous place, so the caption is fine as is. But really the most important issue is that two images had to be deleted from the "Early life" section to fit the infobox. Two images that don't exist in that article anymore and don't have links, like the works that do. Moving the TOC out of the body has consequences that we have to take into consideration, in my view. Anyway, if it really really bothers you I suppose you can start a discussion there which will lead to the inevitable RFC and honestly that would make me extremely unhappy. In the meantime, I will give it some thought. I have to rearrange the images tonight too, (if I'm able, that I'm probably not) because their size was brought up on the talk page. And the lead needs repair after it got rewritten while on the main page. Sigh - there's always something. Victoria (tk) 22:54, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

Sorry that I didn't wait longer with a question that came up on TFA day, - waited until after TFA repair perhaps. You answered this at the right spot, but I left a very personal comment in the section above which was much more important to me. (Probably another of my mistakes, adding a second comment just because I was here anyway and was afraid I might forget.) Let me know when you have time to evaluate mentioning his bibliography rather than the name of the place where he typed. I just try to understand, understand your thinking better, and then perhaps even that of others. - I have never started a RfC, and probably never will. After the Mozart RfC (2023, after uncounted others) I thought the discussions about infoboxes for classical composers had finally been settled, and Mozart become a good model. (Some day when you have time, read just the short closing paragraph, and when you have more time, only what Voceditenore wrote.) - Best wishes for your health, and ignore me when I'm in its way. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:01, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

There's a lot to write but honestly I don't have the energy to explain why the image caption is important. Or to explain that Hemingway's canon of writing is complicated because of the posthumous work - a very contentious topic. Or to explain that the field you want has never been in the article & hence de facto long-standing consensus is for the infobox as is. Or that consensus is a pillar. In the past month or so I read nine biographies of many hundreds of pages each, and am pleased that the article received some updates. It's not perfect, but it's the best I could do. That in the end it comes down to a field in the infobox - a field that did not gain consensus in a recent Village pump RFC - that is beyond discouraging. Not to be rude - but I will be archiving this discussion. I'll leave it open for the rest of the day so as not to be overly rude. Victoria (tk) 15:44, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

(I was out all day.) You sort of answered my simple question why you would prefer to mention the precise location in the image caption to a link to his bibliography. The question why you'd find a simple question like that "beyond discouraging" is not answered but I will have to live with that. Be as well as possible, and let's look at plants, animals and persons. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:04, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

Hi! Victoria, a citation question for you

I now have a few Apple books (ebooks) that are good sources (academic publishers, etc.) The electronic pages numbers vary depending on type size and line spacing selected. How do I deal with page numbers in a citation?

The last eight years moved me to select my newest ebook: God, guns, and sedition : far-right terrorism in America. Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware New York, Columbia University Press, 2024 Series: A Council on Foreign Relations book, Includes bibliographical references and index

My best wishes for you; stress-free and cool summer
— Neonorange (talk to Phil) (he, they) 01:40, 3 July 2024 (UTC) —
ps I reach for stress-free; in Atlanta a cool summer is any day with a high below 95 — n —

(talk page stalker) Use a chapter or section title if available, if not include a short quote that would allow someone to locate the relevant text by searching. Nikkimaria (talk) 04:36, 3 July 2024 (UTC)
 ::Thank you for helping, Nikkimaria. Have the best summer possible. Neonorange

Thanks, Nikki - the short quote suggestion is a good idea. Victoria (tk) 20:55, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

Hey Phil, good to hear from you. What Nikki says. If you're using Template:Sfn there's a field for "location" that's used for chapter headings or numbers. If written freeform as I do, same thing. Re Apple books, thanks for the heads up. Have you checked out the Wikipedia:The Wikipedia Library? It's really amazing these days. I downloaded some newly written books about Hemingway recently and was seriously pleased.

Yup, it's a hot summer. Not as hot where I am as in Atlanta, but still 90 or so & humid almost every day. In between we get tornadoes. It's the new normal. Happy 4th! Victoria (tk) 16:40, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for the greeting and heads on new content in the Wikipedia Library. Dana and I are staying inside until the sun goes down today. Our daughter, now in Taiwan, is decamping for cooler and drier climes. Have a good Fourth. — Neonorange (talk to Phil) (he, they) 17:29, 4 July 2024 (UTC) —

We're in too, today. Tried going out, was too muggy, came in. But the late-day thunderstorms are building. The storms are scary these days. Or I'm just getting too old. Anyway, enjoy digging around the library. I've been having some fun there. It's a great perk. Victoria (tk) 20:55, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

@Neonorange: i don't know how encyclopedic it is, but for my own reference i sometimes note the page number of whatever i'm quoting/citing, along with the last page number of whatever version of the book i'm using. For example, "page 25 of 300 page unabridged hardcover (maybe insert copyright date or ISBN here)" or "page 20 of 250 page abridged paperback". That also gives an estimate for where to find something when switching to an e-book or audio book: to find a "bookmark" roughly a tenth of the way through the printed book, skip past about the first tenth of the digital book (or a little less, so you don't overshoot the mark).

--173.67.42.107 (talk) 23:05, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

To do list

Adding "always listen to Victoria" to the top of my to do list. Thanks for your help with dark mode! Viriditas (talk) 00:46, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

I only figured it out because I used control f on gadgets & it showed multiple results. I thought I'd turned it off, but it needs to be toggled off in two places. Then I only found the appearance >> color box because I was clicking around, noticed that new box and thought maybe a choice had been added to change link colors (they are very bright in dark mode). So I tried "light" and my screen turned back to white! It's not very intuitive in my view. And those dark mode toggles on gadgets should be eliminated. Very very confusing. And that flickering was seriously uncomfortable on the eyes/head. But thanks, that's very nice to say. Victoria (tk) 00:53, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Editor experience invitation

Hi Victoria. I see you're experiencing health issues so feel free to ignore this until you're doing better (or completely if you're not interested). I'm looking for experienced editors to interview here. No pressure if it's not your cup of tea. Clovermoss🍀 (talk) 02:25, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Hey Clovermoss, thanks for dropping by. Looks interesting. I'll try to get to get to it, but it won't be immediately. Thanks for taking the initative. It's an interesting and useful set of questions. What will you be doing with the results? Victoria (tk) 03:06, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

I don't have any definite plans but they are there for anyone to read and enjoy. One day I might get around to writing an essay about general patterns but I'm thinking that's more of a long term goal. Clovermoss🍀 (talk) 03:08, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

That's a good way of presenting it. If I forget please feel free to come and bug me! I'm not here every day and I tend to space things out, but would like to take part. Victoria (tk) 21:52, 13 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you!

Hi Victoria. I just want to thank you for your suggestions on Louisa May Alcott! I've been thrilled to have someone give constructive feedback. Best wishes, Heidi Pusey BYU (talk) 20:11, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

Thanks, Heidi. I appreciate the note. Unfortunately this won't work, as I've explained to Rachel. I'm sorry you got stuck in the middle. It's not how we ever treat students. Victoria (tk) 21:17, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

August music

story · music · places

I have been busy for days now with Wolfgang Rihm. (Open tasks on the talk. We came a long way already, in collaboration.) Perhaps listen a bit into the interview at the bottom = meet the person even if you don't understand the German ;) -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:02, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

Today I have two "musicians" on the Main page, one is also the topic of my story, watch and listen, - I like today's especially because you see him at work, hear him talk about his work and the result of his work - rare! - Sunset pic if you click on places. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:44, 7 August 2024 (UTC)

... and a third, like 22 July but with interview and the music to be played today --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:50, 8 August 2024 (UTC)

A rainbow if you click on places --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:28, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Today's story is about education, 10 years OTD after lecturing our founder). Music for today's feast is Monteverdi's, the best concert we ever did (so pictured again on my talk). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:34, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

Sunday story about another of Bach's chorale cantatas, listen (aria #3 perhaps), as I listened to two impressive very different choral concerts, - music by 16 composers. In the latest cloudy pictures: a hidden deer, a cat and a blaze of a sunset. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:47, 25 August 2024 (UTC)

Thanks Gerda! I see you are busy as usual. I'm on a bit of a break. Stopped by today to make a small edit. Will return in September perhaps. Victoria (tk) 17:07, 31 August 2024 (UTC)

September music

story · music · places

Thank you, and yes busy. What do you think of my short version of the life of Alexander Goehr, - improved over several days? I was happy to include a link to an article by Brian, - we sang the Monteverdi Vespers on 1 September 2019, - fond memories. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:27, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

Today's story has 3 composers, I couldn't decide for the one on the Main page or the one who didn't make it on his bicentenary, so took both, and the pic has a third. Listen if you have a bit of time. The music, played by the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra in Germany in April 2022, impressed me. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:02, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

Three stories related to today in memory, 11 September, 20 July and 20 June, the latter piece of art also pictured on the Main page. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:40, 11 September 2024 (UTC)

Today is Schoenberg's 150th birthday! On display, portrayed by Egon Schiele, with music from Moses und Aron, and with two DYK hooks, one from 2010 and another from 2014; the latter, about his 40th birthday, appeared on his 140th birthday, which made me happy then and now again. - See places for a stunning sunrise, on the day Bruckner's 200th birthday was celebrated (just a few days late). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:44, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

My story today features a pic I took from my position in the choir, I can also offer varied delightful music, some from Venice, also with pics I took, - note the rose in the clarinet ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:44, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

Sorry, Gerda, for not thanking you earlier. I've not been able to. As usual you've been very busy! Lovely sunflower. Unfortunately my garden died b/c not enough rain & I've not been able to take care of it. Sigh. Take care. Victoria (tk) 15:33, 27 September 2024 (UTC)

No need for thanks, Victoria, - I just sow and see what grows and what not ;) - In California, I saw a public garden intentionally planted with varieties that can take a drought, and thought that was a good idea. I hope you enjoyed the rose "planted" in the clarinet. That "boy" was unbelievable, - I'll translate his article from German, - tomorrow if nobody dies. Right now I have a sax player and a theologian on the Main page, and I work on an environmentalist. They all deserve attention. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:52, 27 September 2024 (UTC)

October music

story · music · places

My story today is about a composer and choir conductor, listen to his Lamento. - My story on 13 October was about a Bach cantata. As this place works, it's on the Main page now because of the date (but Bach wrote it for the 20th Sunday, not the Tuesday after the 21st Sunday after Trinity). I sort of like it because today is the birth date of my grandfather who loved and grew dahlias like those pictured. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:23, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

HI thought of you today when I saw (on a painting) a women dressed in green, reading. It was Saint Barbara, though, and with a blue iris. They pointed out the meaning of flowers in paintings! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:00, 31 October 2024 (UTC)