User talk:LarryMac

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Welcome! (We can't say that loud/big enough!)

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You can sign your name on talk pages and votes by typing ~~~~; our software automatically converts it to your username and the date.

If you have any questions or problems, no matter what they are, leave me a message on my talk page.

We're so glad you're here! -- Essjay · Talk 22:37, July 21, 2005 (UTC)

1 Welcome as well!
2 Thanks!
3 Argh! Cyphers
4 Regarding ==Where==
5 RD
6 deletion of my Lake Superior question
7 Why do you keep deleting a relevant link on Sonicstage?
8 Cryptic crosswords
9 What do you think about these?
10 Number One
11 Language Reference Desk
12 Re:Language Ref Desk
13 Your imaginative suggestion for "Negative Proof"

[edit] Welcome as well!

Hello, LarryMac! Welcome to Wikipedia! I noticed your question on Clueless Newbies. To report 3RR violations, go to WP:AN/3RR (Wikipedia:Administrator's Noticeboard for Three-Revert Rule). To report general vandalism, go to WP:VIP (Vandalism In Progress). If something requires immediate action, see WP:AIV (Admin Intervention against Vandalism). In addition, the page WP:3RR also contains some useful information. Speaking of lame edit wars, Wikipedia:Lamest_edit_wars_ever should give some laughs. (Bad Jokes and Other Deleted Nonsense (BJAODN) is also pretty funny.) I hope that covers your question! If you have any more inquiries or questions, do not hesistate to contact me (click on the "A note?" link in my signature and edit the page), or ask the Help Desk. Once again, welcome to Wikipedia, and happy wiki-editing! Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk 04:37, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

On your question about refereces regarding the usage for the term Pipe Dream. I fully agree with you that some authoritative sources give this term only the meaning associated with some of the more pleasant effects of opium use, but I have to say that I and other people too have been using it in the sense of "following a pipe that against all odds gets you where you thought it could get you" for years. http://www.onelook.com/?w=pipe+dream&ls=a lists 14 dictionaries that give it only the meaning of opioid induced delusions of grandeur, but I believe that it has evolved to mean the term I described.

The origin of this term (the dope smoking part) should be included in the article, but terms do evolve. The meaning I attempted my best to portray could stick if it is defined to be a Neologism (which happens in language all the time) --Juxo 19:17, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks!

Just wanted to drop a note to say thanks for the help with the hard drives question that I posted on the reference desk. I should be ordering the hard drive as well as my copy of Slackware today. Maybe by the end of the month I'll be editing the wiki from my Linux box! Dismas|^(talk) 10:04, 19 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Argh! Cyphers

Tragic as it may seem, I'm stuck on Level 8 (the shame). It seems fairly clear that the plaintext reads "I wonder what the password is", but I get nonsense keys using the vigenere table. Am I missing something really obvious? Skittle 22:24, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

It worked, but it felt like cheating. But if he's using computer encryption, rather than hand encryption, then I suppose we have to too. Thanks for the hand. Skittle 22:35, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

Yes. Beaten by you of course, although I claim it's only because I had to get some sleep :-) Congrats to you. Did you ever work out what 'I want my Gap' was all about? I had all sorts of programming theories, none of which seemed very likely. Skittle 18:22, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Oh right, that makes sense. I'd even actually tried different number systems earlier, adding up the binary in different ways. It just never occured to me that it was what it was... Skittle 18:40, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Regarding ==Where==

Well, to anwswer your question, I live in Canada. But since I REALLY need/I guess want this stuff, I will do anything to get this shit. Maybe you could order this stuff for me?

Thanks, once again my email is iooiioioo@hotmail.com; please.

Thanks.

24.70.95.203 06:51, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm not really in the mail-order business; have you tried ebay?

Yes I have, thanks, but can't find what I'm looking for!:-P:-D

Please, iooiioioo@hotmail.com

Thanks

24.70.95.203 22:55, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] RD

The only reason I changed the response is because it seemed to accidentally not illustrate what you wanted (you wanted to show that you could make the symbol appeal smaller, but you didn't actually do that because the baseline font size was already -1). It seems natural to me that you wanted it to be -2, so that it actually illustrated what you were trying to make it illustrate, but I guess I was wrong. Sorry about that, thought I was helping both you and the question-asked out, guess not. --Fastfission 17:20, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

OK, won't do it again. It just seemed like it was pretty clear to me what you were trying to do, and that it would have been more clear for me just to fix the one value that you had wrong (a mistake which would be very easy to make, of course), than to complicate things with a lengthy comment about it. I figured since I wasn't really changing the substance of the post it wouldn't matter much if there was a small correction (I honestly didn't even think anyone would really notice). But in any case I understand where you are coming from and won't do it again to any of your posts. --Fastfission 17:45, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] deletion of my Lake Superior question

Hi, I asked a question in the science reference desk. Now it is gone, apparently after you reverted it? Could you explain why, by no means am I a trouble maker but I do like to know what's wrong.

Thanks,

Evilbu 20:37, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why do you keep deleting a relevant link on Sonicstage?

LarryMac,

I really don't understand why you keep deleting the 42hours.org link.

You seem to have a problem with "original research," yet you don't delete links to Sony web sites.

Are you suggesting that Sony web sites are more objective than 42hours.org?

Please don't delete it again -- the link is extremely relevant to Sonicstage users.

Thanks!

Since you didn't leave a signature (and if I'm not mistaken, don't even have an account) I have to reply here. I will delete it as many times as I see it. Please read the Wikipedia policy WP:NOR. --LarryMac 15:41, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

Why? Are you a Sony employee? Perhaps you're related to a Sony employee? If you're not, there is NO reason whatsoever for your to take this stance. Is Wikipedia about licking the rear-ends of major corporations? What about the agrieved customer? Isn't their web site equally as valid as the corporate web site? Or perhaps you don't really believe in consumer rights?

OK yes, you've caught me, I'm actually Sir Howard Stringer. Or maybe I'm a concerned user/editor of Wikipedia who attempts to adhere to the guidelines that the community has set forth. Since you don't seem to think WP:NOR applies, then how about WP:External Links? Under "What should be linked to" I point to item 1, which should validate the inclusion of the links to Sony sites. I also point to item 5, specifically drawing your attention to the word neutral. I hasten to make clear that item 6 discusses "meaningful" and "relevant;" your site is primarily about your vendetta against Sony, caused by your failure to exercise due diligence while using their software, and making assumptions about its behavior. I totally agree that the operation of SonicStage was non-intuitive and overly encumbered with attempts at "digital rights management." Nonetheless, that does not mean that the user's responsibility for learning its idiosyncracies is lessened in any way. Further down the External Links page, please note the section entitled "Links to avoid", particularly items 1 -- Do not add a link to one's own site.

The policies are clear. Your attempts to go against consensus are in violation thereof. You should also be aware of the "3 Revert Rule" policy. --LarryMac 17:05, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

After reading the External links page, I think there is plenty of room for the link to be included.

1. "On articles with multiple points of view, a link to prominent sites dedicated to each, with a detailed explanation of each link"

2. "Sites with other meaningful, relevant content that is not suitable for inclusion in an article"

I also note that fansites are allowed to be included as links, so why not the opposite of a fansite?

This problem we're having is a flaw in the Wikipedia model. In an attempt to be fully objective, Wikipedia forgets that there is NO SUCH THING as full objectivity. The links to Sony websites are not objective, so why are they included?

I agree it does say "A website that you own or maintain, even if the guidelines above imply that it should be linked to..."

BUT, unless I'm mistaken, the objective of Wikipedia is NOT to promote commercial products. If a product is critically flawed, there is NO better place than the Wiki to say that. A site about a bad experience with a flawed product is equally as valid as a commercial site promoting that product.

It is not hurting anyone that the link is included -- if anything, it is offering Sonicstage users advice about a major problem. So why not to include it?

"that does not mean that the user's responsibility for learning its idiosyncracies is lessened in any way" -- You clearly know nothing about learning. I suggest you lookup "learn-by-doing" or "learning-by-using." Not everyone has time to read the manual from cover-to-cover, so they use basic techniques of learning (by using & by doing).

I submit that you are well beyond the point where you can judge whether your own site is meaninful or relevant.

That is a personal attack. You have no way of knowing if my judgment on this matter is flawed or not. As it happens, I get plenty of e-mails expressing support.

Whether you like it or not, Wikipedia operates via consensus. There seems to be plenty of consensus on the article's talk page that your content does not warrant inclusion.

What consensus? The fact is that about 300 or more people are visiting the site from Wikipedia each month, but only 2 people are consistently removing the link. To me that says consensus supports the link -- people use the link -- that is the proof of validity.

You also seem to have deliberately skipped over the first section I pointed out, where it very clearly states "Articles about any organization, person, or other entity should link to their official site, if they have one." This has nothing whatsoever to do with promotion of a specific product.

This is the flaw in the Wikipedia model that I am talking about. It seems that there is plenty of room for corporations to promote their products - by inserting a product page (and appropriate links) which will only ever include product details, with no criticism allowed because criticism is not NPOV. If this is the Wikipedia model, it is severely flawed, because no product description is NPOV without criticism.

Your description of SonicStage as a "product that is critically flawed" is completely subjective. User error is not a product flaw, no matter how much you want to make it so. Your argument that there is no other place better than Wikipedia to say so is just completely off the mark.

There is a huge amount of material on the Internet to back up my claim. I am not alone in this by any means. Many people have e-mailed me with similar problems. By the way, do you use Sonicstage?

This is NOT a site for product reviews; there are hundreds of such sites, feel free to post your link at any or all of them.

Perhaps Sonicstage shouldn't have a listing at all?!! If there can't be valid criticism, then Wikipedia is utterly worthless.

And since you edited while I was composing this -- your last comment is dangerously close to a personal attack, and that will get you banned. I will take this to the administrators if it becomes necessary.

What personal attack?!!! Please don't threaten me. I can also go to the admins and complain about your behavior.

Bring it. --LarryMac 00:49, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cryptic crosswords

Thanks for the feedback! In case you were wondering, "Boil center of the feast (4)" was "(h)eat" (center of the + to feast = to eat), and "Later, you and me topless in turf mix-up (6)" was "future" (u + (m)e in "turf" anag.). I don't know if the u and e are really "in" the anagram, as one of them goes at the end, but it seemed better than "Later, both of you in confused fret", which was my other choice.

I now have a stack of new ones (yeah, I get distracted from my job...), but I won't make you suffer through them.

Well... just three, I promise! How do these sound?

Wart mix-up worth a thousand dollars first (6)
A thought for me, endless Death (4)
To stay sheltered before end of summer, weave twine (6)

Ok, ok... you don't need to answer them. Anyway, thanks for the feedback! Madd4 Max 18:29, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

Whew, you're good! Ok, no more. "Wart mix-up worth a thousand dollars first" = (g)rowth (A "G" before "worth" anag.). Thanks for humoring me! Madd4 Max 20:23, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What do you think about these?

Current: In addition, the episodes were shot in a documentary style, with hand-held cameras to give the feeling that the audience was with the characters, as if they were "found footage".

Proposed: In addition, the episodes were shot with hand-held cameras in a documentary style as if they were "found footage", to give the feeling that the audience was with the characters.

Proposed: In addition, the episodes were shot in a documentary style as if they were "found footage", and with hand-held cameras to give the feeling that the audience was with the characters.

Proposed: In addition, to give the feeling that the audience was with the characters, the episodes were shot in a documentary style with hand-held cameras, as if they were "found footage". Stanselmdoc 18:48, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

I like your sentence a lot. It's much clearer and more succinct.Stanselmdoc 19:24, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

Haha, no prob. I get frustrated when people use incorrect grammar all the time. Even more so when it's myself, so I like being corrected. Stanselmdoc 21:07, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Number One

Thanks for remiding me, I'd forgotten about that. Yeah, if you can understand them I'd appreciate a transcription. How can I get hold of that other stuff? And BTW, why can't you give lyrics on the Ref Desk? Black Carrot 04:46, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the lyrics. If I can get hold of the movie again, and fill in the holes, I'll let you know. By other songs, I meant their recordings, and the music video you mentioned. From the way you say it, I suspect they're no longer free, though. Black Carrot 21:49, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Language Reference Desk

I'm a little bit confused about what you said in the Language Reference desk, what exactly do you mean? Kyle 18:05, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re:Language Ref Desk

I was just useing that as an example. I guess I should have typed my question a little more clearly.

"what they're saying goes here,"said (name). or maybe they use an adjective like this below :

"what they're saying goes here," said adjective (name).

now, when we fill this in it might look like my example:
"Lets go home, it's too late," said angry and discouraged Jesica.

For some reason, this didn't sound right to me. To make it sound right I added the after said and before angry.

I wanted to know if this was correct, or they're both correct, or they're both wrong. -thanks Kyle 19:19, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Your imaginative suggestion for "Negative Proof"

...on the current discussion on Ref desk replies had me laughing so hard, our dog expressed concern for my well-being! Thanks for your support, but even more so: for helping me take things (and myself) a little less seriously. -- Cheers, Deborahjay 15:46, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

I like to ratchet up the absurdity when I can :-) --LarryMac 15:50, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

Now, that's a powerful suggestion I'll take to heart. In the land of hard reality where I live, absurdity is too often merely close kin to cynicism. Yours is a refreshing and welcome reminder of its being a source of sorely needed levity. -- Deborahjay 15:59, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

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