Talk:Main Page

Sources / Propaganda
-- Petri Krohn 07:09, 19 August 2012 (EST)
 * What happened in Houla? – video by al Jazeera

We Need Translator(s) on the Team
Talk on the main page? A good enough place for this point. In my whole network is one admitted Arabic-speaker who was willing to help, and has, greatly, reading notes and signs and understanding what people are saying. He's been too busy to help lately, and there should be more than one around. AFAIK, among all three active members at the moment, we have no more than that.

Any ideas how to find preferably a couple of part-time volunteers to spread the load (or sometimes get two readings)? I feel like anyone would have more insights than me, with my level of social skills and out-getting. --Caustic Logic 21:06, 11 September 2012 (EST)

The Shut-Down
Yay, the site is back! Petri says it wasn't just on my end, and the lack of edits for about a day backs that up. Any details/lessons etc. on what happened, perhaps CE can fill us in. If it's mundane enough, then maybe not. Will get back to work here tonight. --Caustic Logic 09:57, 15 September 2012 (EST)
 * The whole service with all hosted wiki's was down for about 28 hours, most likely had nothing to do with us. I suspect hardware/connection problem on their side. There's a thread on the support forum but no explanation so far. Well, it's for free. :o) Lesson: I was able to puzzle the stuff together and get it running on my local machine, but without the pics you guys uploaded. Will download them all as they come. This wiki will survive the service if it has to. --CE 19:39, 15 September 2012 (EST)
 * Belated note: Excellent work, CE! Thanks! I've got all my own images saved here too, if that helps. Text, not so much. --Caustic Logic 23:20, 27 September 2012 (EST)

The Big Shut-Down
The whole site died, and now it's re-born here. Hallelujah! CE is stupendous! --Caustic Logic (talk) 10:21, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

I'm back! -- Petri Krohn (talk) 18:59, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

P.S. – I cannot see any edits in my contributions. Make one now to see log.


 * I make one now. An edit? I'll add this, and edit it, and then see if I can see what you mean. :) I can't yet see the "upload new file" link, and I have a lot of images to start uploading. --Caustic Logic (talk) 10:21, 2 November 2012 (UTC)


 * Found it. No promises how much uploading I'll do tonight. --Caustic Logic (talk) 10:35, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

There are still images missing in a couple of articles. Please take a look at this special page: Pages with broken file links Some seem to be fine, no idea why they're on the list, but some are not (Jihad Raslan, Sari Saoud, Daraya, etc) --CE (talk) 14:01, 16 December 2012 (UTC)

*wipes sweat off* ;o) --CE (talk) 03:58, 26 January 2013 (UTC)

M-dash turns into question mark!
Did something go wrong in the transfer? The m-dashes on may talk page have mutated into question marks. The last edit was 17 October 2012. Was it before or after the transfer? -- Petri Krohn (talk) 02:17, 22 April 2013 (UTC)


 * This wiki was created on Nov 1. Your user talk page was among those I forgot to back-up. We saved those from the Google cache and I restored them by sending them through crappy html->wiki parsers, remember? Seems like I didn't catch those question marks. --CE (talk) 02:35, 22 April 2013 (UTC)

Missing images
A large number of images are still missing, some of them important, like this one: File:Thomson_witness_Houla.png. (Used in Houla:Alleged witnesses for a government/Shabiha attack.) -- Petri Krohn (talk) 22:26, 12 May 2013 (UTC)

Front page, Menu and "Other research"
As it is developing (you're on a roll, CL) I wonder how we manage which articles should go on the front page and the menu, and if we should delete them from the "other research" page or if that should contain all articles in a kind of sitemap. I don't consider it to be helpful to cluster the menu on the left with a huge number of articles (titles there should be short to not waste layout space anyway), so I suggest we keep that brief ... maybe even briefer than it is now. I could add an area for "developing" articles, maybe in a different color top right, to the front page. But that would imply that the other, older articles aren't developing anymore. As to when an article is front-page-worthy ... maybe a "nomination" by the lead author (or anyone) including short summary would be good, here ... of course you're free to add it yourself but if you do so, be careful with the layout I handicrafted ... that's a bit fragile. :o) Thoughts? --CE 21:04, 17 September 2012 (EST)
 * A site map is a good idea, but other research should be separate. Those shaved off should ideally be more listed and available after, somehow. I think a page for all pages would be in order soon, prominently linked up-front. As for the front page, I don't know. Four main ones, maybe six, ideally updated sometimes to reflect what's exciting (even if the subject is old)... --Caustic Logic 21:39, 17 September 2012 (EST)
 * Yes, a sitemap with everything more than a stub, and additionally a "suggested and rudimentary research" page as it is now. That's good. I'd like to have something on the front page, in addition to the main articles, which shows visitors that things are happening and makes them come back ... and maybe even contribute (seen that I renamed "community portal" to "How to contribute" and added some "warm words"?). Maybe a "new and developing" thingy ... will think about it. --CE 22:01, 17 September 2012 (EST)


 * Checking out the special pages, it occurs to me there's no need to make a special 'all pages' page at all. Couldn't the ready-made all-pages and/or popular pagesor whatever is useful be linked prominently up front? I'm also hashing over ideas to make the main page, and the main Houla massacre page, more attractive as destinations, prior to seeding the links wider. For the main page, maybe two boxes, one for prime massacres, explained in context their vying for top slot: (eg: Jisr Al Shughur, the early whatever, Houla, the big ugly oneand turning point, Tremseh, the failed eclipse, etc.) and one box for 'other,' top three or so. Plus featured article, maybe external links, etc. Some thoughts. --Caustic Logic 18:54, 22 October 2012 (EST)


 * That's a good idea, including special pages should be no problem. Home/popular/all as upper menu, the "other research" down on the main page? Keep thinking. :o) --CE 20:26, 22 October 2012 (EST)

Featured Article
Ok, I build in the randomly-chosen featured article (and removed the one Douma article). That's really nice, you can even give the items a weight which regulates how likely they are chosen, default of 1, but I didn't use that (only mentioned as reminder to myself). So far i've added four articles, I suggest we keep track on them here. The blurbs could certainly be better, feel free to sharpen them (should be around that length, though). Or add more articles here and/(or i'll do so) to the page. (three dots at the end get added automatically) --CE 00:06, 19 September 2012 (EST)


 * This is pretty sweet! Blurbs, not bad, but could be better. Later. --Caustic Logic 08:46, 19 September 2012 (EST)

I've added all those I was working on. Didn't really finish them except here, so hopefully good enough. Feel free to repair or tweak anything wrong. And, hey, is there a way to assign pictures to these so they're more eye-catching and the variety is enhanced? --Caustic Logic 14:05, 7 October 2012 (EST)
 * Nice, will take care of that later. At the moment it's just one textblock with a link, but images shouldn't be a big problem, will think about it on occasion. --CE 16:52, 7 October 2012 (EST)
 * Tweaked a bit and shortened here and there to not blow up the layout. Will implement in a minute. --CE 01:58, 8 October 2012 (EST)

Nato attack starts in two weeks
-- Petri Krohn (talk) 12:04, 27 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Ex-UN observer: 'Level the playing field' in Syria
 * And Kofi Annan says no way. One of these two men is an African, and had dead babies in Taldou shaken at a camera as Jihadists cursed his "peace" initiative. At least one of these two men heard directly from Syrians in Taldou who saw what happens when the rebels get a "level playing field" even for one afternoon in one town. I'm not convinced either way what's going to happen here. But if it came down to the Genral's advice vs. the African's, :( --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:25, 27 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I think the BBC video is beyond disbelief. This is the head of the UN monitoring mission in Syria, Maj Gen Robert Mood calling for a no-fly-zone to "level the playing" for the rebels/terrorists to take over. The BBC could have used any other fucking talking head to make this criminal call for a criminal war of aggression, yet they chose him. If Gen Mood had any integrity he should have refused. Now, by openly showing his bias, he totally destroys any semblance of neutrality the UN team or UN investigations may have had up to now. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 12:36, 27 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I can't see the video here, but clearly this is bad for the UN's reputation, which isn't that great to begin with. It looks like a UN team might go in to inspect three alleged CW incidents. If all goes smooth, they'll be out within a month or so. Maybe two weeks after that. I hear the Qataris, Saudis and Turks have doubled arms shipments, largely out of Jordan, with the US only there to make sure "militants" don't get them (??). Plan - big push on Damascus from two sides.  --Caustic Logic (talk) 05:59, 28 March 2013 (UTC)
 * This is an absolute must-see video. Try some other system, Windows. Read this help page. Try if you can see the other Hardtalk clips. I see no reason why this BBC production would be blocked in the US – I see it in Finland.
 * CE: can you think of some way of making an audio recording. I am having difficulties with Linux. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 07:44, 28 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I can get a new computer or OS, then I can get the right Flash player. (plausible now) Otherwise, I'm screwed. I can'tdo the Safari backdoor download, unless it can start playing and loading. Noone posted it on Youtube yet that I see. If you can play it, a couple options: if you have Safari, look up how to download (under "activity...) or use any audio recording program, run your line out (speakers/headphones) into the input, watch your levels (feedback) and record. --Caustic Logic (talk) 09:07, 28 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Here is a link to the video on BBC iPlayer. Unfortunately iPlayer is only available in the UK. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 10:01, 28 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I agree that the video is quite remarkable, but he is talking for nobody but himself. He's not head of UNSMIS or any other UN body anymore and I doubt he even speaks for the Norwegian military despite the funny jacket he wears. And the BBC ... well, fuck them. The rhetoric coming out of the UK on this issue could hardly be more harsh than it is already. Quite surprised they didn't try to frame Putin for Berezovsky's (RIH) suicide. No time to try audio recordings right now - your summary was good. --CE (talk) 12:41, 28 March 2013 (UTC)

South Korea 1948
Here are some interesting photographs for reference and comparison. Look at photos 21 and 22. Should we believe the LIFE image caption, that says that these are "civilians killed by communist rebels"? Or should we assume that these people were massacred by the forces loyal to the Rhee regime? -- Petri Krohn (talk) 05:12, 11 April 2013 (UTC)
 * A House Divided: Photos From Korea’s 1948 Yeosu-Suncheon Rebellion – Life
 * Well, didn't communist rebels in China's hinterland massacre lots of people during the Japanese occupation? Maybe not. The communist and commie-supported guerillas in south Vietnam? They were not blamed for My Lai, IIRC. But we all know Asians are not favorable to Communism when there's a stars-and-stripes option, unless you brutalize it on them. So when a rebellion against the capitalist government breaks out in S. Korea, the commie guerillas/Shabiha/African mercenaries will probably waste their chance massacring civilians who disagree with them. Well, it is possible, depending on the circumstances. But clearly with what we've learned, it's well worth wondering about, at least.  --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:18, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Navi Pillay
-- Petri Krohn (talk) 10:51, 8 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Navi Pillay: UN has proof Assad is directly orchestrating murder and atrocities – Damien McElroy, The Telegraph, 07 Jun 2013


 * I love how the headline says "proof Assad is directly orchestrating" while the article/Pillay says "evidence implicates him by the actions of his subordinates ... He is very much the commander-in-chief and these are his forces. The evidence points to and implicates him in that way.". The good old "people won't read the article anyway so lets come up with a beefy headline" game. --CE (talk) 12:09, 8 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Or that "actions of his subordinates" means presumed actions, based on things rebels said, and on sloppy and dangerous thinking like murders in a Sunni town = "targeting specific communities perceived as supporting the opposition." I be slapping her for that publicly in less than a day, Link forthcoming. --Caustic Logic (talk) 13:29, 8 June 2013 (UTC)

General Discussion Discussion

 * Moved from Talk:Alleged Chemical Attack, August 21, 2013

Note to everyone: there are now slightly more members than ever here, and this conversation is moving quickly. This means a danger of conflicting edits, which can be a pain to recover from (no problem for me tonight, but I ran into it twice already). I suggest working from a text note pad program, ready to save your new text and re-submit a little quicker next time. Losing an hour's work becuase you took 54 minutes too long writing it is not cool. Better post this quick. --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:04, 22 August 2013 (UTC)


 * On Wikimedia platform edit conflicts should not be a big problem, if you only edit single subsections at a time. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 12:07, 22 August 2013 (UTC)


 * I use Opera browser which remembers what happened so I simply make a mouse gesture to get back to my text should there be an edit conflict. Isn't there an additional field with your text on the "edit conflict" warning page anyway? Oh, and yes, edit only subsections but that's what we both did for Russia and France. :o) --CE (talk) 12:10, 22 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Thanks, guys. It's probably just me that ever has a problem with that. But, hey... I'm way behind here. --Caustic Logic (talk) 10:29, 23 August 2013 (UTC)