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Talk:Mihai Eminescu

Untitled

 * In the process of translating this page from the Romanian-language Wikipedia, I ran into a possible copyright violation, but chose to continue my work. The English-language version raises less of a copyright issue than the Romanian, since I chose to do a somewhat loose translation.

 * The bulk of the content in ro:Mihai Eminescu -- the original article contributed anonymously -- seems to be verbatim from the more extensive http://www.molddata.md/Literatura/eminescu.html. I have raised on the Romanian-language talk page ro:Discu& the question of whether it was taken with permission, or is a possible copyright violation. -- Jmabel 07:13, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)

 * The Romanian-language article refers to Eminescu's father as "căminarului", presumably an indication of profession; I have no idea what that means and simply chose to skip the matter. -- Jmabel 07:13, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)
 * "căminar"..hmm, well, "cămin" is the place where students stay if they are not from the same city where the university is, a kind of hotel, but maintained by the university and only for students who study there. So "căminar" i think is the guy who collects the lunar tax from students who stay in that "hotel"... Correct me if i'm wrong... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.208.174.72 (talk) 17:13, 20 July 2008 (UTC)

 * yes, it is some kind of tax collector. see:

 * I do not know how to translate the title "De-as avea". -- Jmabel 07:13, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)

 * "If I had" is if i would have

 * Frankly, this is still not much of an article. I've now mined what was there in Romanian. Someone else can perhaps take it from here. -- Jmabel 07:13, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)

 * Does anyone have any clarity on "Mihai Eminescu" vs. "Mihail Eminescu"? Google favors the former 24,600 to 1,990. Under the circumstances, I'd expect the article to be "Mihai Eminescu", while "Mihail Eminescu" would be the ridirect. -- Jmabel 07:18, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)

 * I think that "Mihail" is his birth name, while "Mihai" is the name he's commonly known in Romania. The article should be moved to the most common known name: "Mihai Eminescu". Bogdan 13:09, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)
 * Yes, although that is only half right, as it doesn't say much. Mihai Eminescu is his pen-name, as his birth-name is actually Mihail Eminovici. But yes, how we generally know and talk about him is by his Mihai Eminescu pseudonym. TonyPaws (talk) 19:18, 15 April 2016 (UTC)

An anonymous user recently made several edits. Most of these look OK, but I believe that one is wrong. The Romanian-language article said that he signed "The Grave of Aron Pumnul" as "M. Eminoviciu". The recent edit changes that to "M. Eminovici" on no evidence. I am guessing that is because "Eminovici" was his birth-name, and someone incorrectly thought "Eminoviciu" was an error. I am reverting that. It's possible that I am wrong here, and if these changes had been signed I'd consult the individual who made them. If someone wants to restore the text that I am reverting, I hope they will explain here and cite some reference to indicate that I am wrong. -- Jmabel 05:53, 21 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Recent anon addition says he died mad, of syphilis. I can't say that's wrong, just never heard that before. Does anyone have a citation? -- Jmabel 01:15, Jul 20, 2004 (UTC)
 * It is sure that in his last years, he had suffered of manic-depressive psychosis. In 1883, in Romania, he had a diagnostic of syphilis too, but in Vienna he did not. (G. Calinescu wrote in the poet's biography that he had the illness since he was 20.) In 1884, he returns in Romania in pretty good shape. Since 1886, few injections with mercury, that time treatment for syphilis. The autopsy was made in a negligent manner. --Vasile 05:45, 20 Jul 2004 (UTC)
 * So it sounds like the recent insertion "Eminescu died in hospital June 15, 1889 as a mad man, with a terminal stage of Syphilis," while not entirely misleading, could be improved upon. Vasile, I'm trying to render what you wrote into better English, but I want to make sure I've understood you correctly before putting it in the article. How's this:

 * "In his last years, he suffered from manic-depressive psychosis. In 1883, in Romania, he was diagnosed with syphilis and G. Calinescu wrote in the poet's biography that he had the illness since he was 20; however, a separate diagnosis made in Vienna, also from 1883, said that he did not have syphilis. mentioned his depression but did not mention syphilis.

 * "In 1884, he returned to Romania and appeared generally healthy. Starting in 1886, he received a few injections with mercury, which was at that time the usual treatment for syphilis. His autopsy was made in a negligent manner, so the matter is unlikely to be definitively settled."

 * -- Jmabel 06:31, Jul 20, 2004 (UTC), strike and replacement in response to Vasile's remark below; I'll put it in the article. -- Jmabel 16:48, Jul 20, 2004 (UTC)

 * As my knowledge, the diagnosis made in Vienna didn't mention any other illnes from depression. --Vasile 15:09, 20 Jul 2004 (UTC)

 * Junimea (from German jung -"young").

Actually, it's from Romanian june - "young", word inherited from the Latin word "juvenis" Bogdan | Talk 16:43, 21 Jul 2004 (UTC)

The information from "Eminescu" article should be merged with this one. Bogdan | Talk 17:36, 4 Sep 2004 (UTC)
 * Agreed. I added the merge template to "Eminescu". If someone wants to take this on, great, otherwise I'll eventually get there. -- Jmabel 20:14, Sep 4, 2004 (UTC)

To cut down the craps: was he really syphilitic? Was he really mad? It's a mystery. We don't know, evidence is lacking both for and against it. tgeorgescu (talk) 10:24, 22 April 2022 (UTC)

Birthplace
An recent anonymous edit without citation or explanation changed the link for his birthplace, Ipoteşti, from Ipotesti, Botosani, to Balotesti, Botosani. I have no idea what this might be about (neither article exists), but thought I would flag this for the benefit of anyone with a clue. -- Jmabel | Talk 06:21, Nov 11, 2004 (UTC)

 * G. Calinescu mentioned two possibles birthplaces: Ipotesti, Botosani and town of Botosani. For sure, Ipotesti is the place of Eminescu's childhood. It is possible that some other children also having the name Mihail Eminovici to be born in some other place of the region. --Vasile 02:56, 12 Nov 2004 (UTC)

 * Most Romanian Literature teachers say that Eminescu was borned in Botoşani. I am supposing that this is backed up by something, but I haven't had the curiosity to check. As I've learnt in school, Mihai Eminescu was born in Botoşani and the house in Ipoteşti was bought by his family afterwards. He did spend most of his childhood in the latter place, though. Dndfan 21:11, July 22, 2005 (UTC)

Eminovici
Judging by edits, people seem to be back and forth on whether to mention that his birthname, Eminovici was a Slavic name, and that Eminescu is a Romanian-ized equivalent. I think it should be there: this is the kind of thing that would be instantly obvious to a Romanian or to someone who knows Romanian language and culture, but absolutely opaque to most others. -- Jmabel | Talk 19:30, Dec 25, 2004 (UTC)

 * It has no relevance, since it is a patronymic. "Son of Emin" was 'Eminovici' in Slavic, just as "Son of Emin" was 'Eminescu' in Romanian. Sometimes, the variant used was chosen by the local clerks, just as in Transylvania under the Hungarians, when the clerks used to register on birth instead of "Ion" or "Gheorghe" --> "Janos" or "Gyorgy". (This expains why many Transylvanian Romanians had Latin names -- there was no equivalent in Hungarian :) Bogdan | Talk

 * But given that his father had the same last name, it was functioning as a surname, not as a patromymic. -- Jmabel | Talk 21:00, Dec 25, 2004 (UTC)

Influences in modern times
Eminescu is regarded as the first nationalist Romanian personality by an extreme-right political and cultural movement in Romania called Noua Dreaptă (translation: The New Right; url: http://www.nouadreapta.org/). Other influences in politics and way of thinking can be found (though unfortunately my knowledge is limited), in which case a reference to them should be made in the main article. As it is, this is probably too small to be mentioned anyway. Dndfan 21:29, July 22, 2005 (UTC)

 * He did influence the politics of his time through his many articles in the press. But no, I don't think his influence can be found in todays' Romanian politics. bogdan ʤjuʃkə | Talk 22:30, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

A little bit about everything
1. Ancestors. His paternal grandfather used to sign Iminovici. He must have come from Transylvania, crossing the Carpathians in the eighteenth century. There are no other Eminescu, Eminovici, or Iminovici in Moldavia, but some were found in Transylvania. His father Gheorghe's (George) wanderings back and forth from Moldavia to Austrian-ruled Bukowina may be an indication of the family's nostalgia for German (i.e. Austrian) discipline (both Bukowina and Transylvania, lying north and west of Moldova, were part of the Austrian Empire, although the Hungarian influence in Transylvania was also strong). Gheorghe kept good commercial ties with Bukowina, and insisted on sending his sons to German schools. Thanks to services rendered, he was made căminar by the Moldavian prince. This was not a trade, but rather the lowest rank in the Moldavian aristocracy, which was also a bureaucracy. In late 18th-early 19th century Moldavia, nobles were civil servants. Hence, Gheorghe Eminovici was really in charge of taxes, but held at the same time an aristocratic rank, which allowed him to marry up.

2. Place of birth. Most likely, and according to most biographers (starting with Călinescu's classical 1932 Life of Mihai Eminescu), he was born in the city of Botoşani, where proper care could have been provided to the căminar's wife (at least he was baptized there, and in 1850 children were baptized early, lest they died pagan). Then the family went back to Ipoteşti, a really small village and a place Eminescu would always consider "home", which is why some sources still give Ipotesti as his place of birth.

3. Name. Mihail and Mihai are, in a way, the official (i.e. religiously correct) and the casual forms of the same name, but Mihai is the only form Romanians have used for centuries (e.g. Michael the Brave, who died in 1601 after having briefly united Moldavia, Wallachia, and Transylvania, is always called Mihai, not Mihail, by 17th-century historians). Orthodox priests have insisted that the final -l cannot be dropped, since it is part of God's name (see the etymology for Michael), that is why in all baptismal records the name reads Mihail, but few people have actually called themselves that way. The other problem is the final -u in the family name Eminovici(u). It is a silent u, today extinct, that was still kept then in the spelling of masculine nouns with no article, and consequently in the spelling of some names originated from these nouns. In some cases, though, adding a silent -u to your name was either a matter of hyper-correctness, or of snobishness (like adding a silent -e at the end of some English names, see Anne of Green Gables, where the girl's real name was Ann, but she thought Anne looked better on paper); a good example here would be that of Romanian novelist Mateiu Caragiale, marvelous writer and great snob, whose real first name should be Matei. Although young Eminescu's signature as Eminoviciu is famously reproduced in print, NO modern critic has ever written or would ever think of writing his ex-name any other way than Eminovici. After all, Shakespeare spelled his name Shakspere, but who's asking him today?

4. De-aş avea means If I had.

5. There has been a continuous debate regarding his illness and death. Some (previously serious and passionate researchers of Eminescu's life who have turned into conspiracy theorists, like N. Georgescu and Theodor Codreanu) have published several books that try to prove he was never ill and that he was assassinated. After all, Eminescu did not just die in a mental institution, as many bowdlerized sources will tell you. Anyone who reads any complete biography of the poet will learn that he was also assaulted by a fellow patient. The name of this patient is known (Poenaru). While this may not have been at all the cause of his death, it did stir it up for the conspiracy theorists. It is also true (cf. Calinescu, which is still a most reliable source) that Eminescu's brain was damaged beyond repair before any autopsy was possible. Gheorghe Marinescu, who is considered the greatest Romanian neurologist of all time, witnessed all this (he was a young intern of 26). These are all facts. Now the conspiracy theories may be summarized as follows: Eminescu was the leader (or a leader) of a secret society that intended to start a military revolution in Transylvania, but Romania signed a secret treaty with Austria the same day Eminescu's supposed illness started. From then on, the fierce nationalist journalist who wanted to become a national leader was little by little silenced (with drugs and, in the end, assasinated) and shown to the general public as a Romantic poet, a little mad and strange. Truth is, Eminescu's first volume of poetry is published after the beginning of his illness and not by himself, but by his friend/mentor Titu Maiorescu, who, say conspiracy theorists, was, just like every other of Eminescu's friends from Junimea (except for Creanga) close to the political circles who had agreed with the secret treaty. Another thing that is true is that the treaty remained secret until WWI, when Romania chose to switch sides, and in the meantime 3 of the 5 founders of Junimea (Maiorescu, Carp, Rosetti) had been prime-ministers of Romania. But the idea of making Eminescu the unknown hero of a huge and hidden political struggle seemed stretched to most people. I only mentioned it because it is part of the debate regarding Eminescu.

6. The article does not mention Eminescu's antisemitism and his xenophobia. The latter is present first of all in his famous poem Doina, forbidden during the communist regime, because it talked of Romanian territories that had been stolen by the USSR. The former accusation seems more serious, since it is based not on a poem (although poems can be the best instruments of propaganda), but on scores of newspaper (op/ed) articles in Timpul. Because of them, Eminescu's antisemitism has been commonplace for Romanian Jews but it is sometimes overlooked by Romanians.

7. The Eminescu scandal should have been mentioned. See this issue of Dilema that set Romania on fire, because young writers dared to challenge not only Eminescu's ideas and attitudes, but also the value of his writings. http://www.algoritma.ro/dilema/fw.htm?current=arhiva_dilema/search1.htm
 * A book was published a year later, including some of the (inflammatory) reactions to these essays.
 * That issue of Dilema can be found here: http://www.algoritma.ro/dilema/arhiva_dilema/265/ IulianU

8. Finally (for now), the debate over Eminescu as Romania's national poet. Is he, and if he is, why is he? Anybody who is informed can argue for or against this. In schools nobody argues. He is, because ... (some old-fashioned 19th-century-like arguments follow).

Maybe none of these deserve to be included in the wiki article. Maybe some do. Anyway, I really-really appreciate Jmabel's willingness to deal with Eminescu.
 * Quatrocentu 07:02, 17 September 2005 (UTC)

 * It sure sounds like you know the territory more than I do. Please, take a shot at editing the article itself, not just remarking on the talk page! Obviously, it will be helpful if you explicitly cite as many of your sources as possible (a few are indicated above). FWIW, I mentioned Eminescu's anti-semitism in passing in the article on Abraham Goldfaden, citing Michael Riff as a secondary source, but haven't really mentioned it here. -- Jmabel | Talk 04:42, 18 September 2005 (UTC)
 * Yes, please do add these. Articles should be edited by those who know what they are talking about. (I've done #4, which was easy.) Septentrionalis 15:09, 7 October 2005 (UTC)

"Legacy" section
The section on his political view is not at all POV. I think it's not accurate to say Eminescu was a "rightist" conservative or a "leftist" socialist. His views combine the two.

 *  A major obstacle to his full adoption was the fact he had never appeared to be a Christian, but rather expressed indiscriminately Buddhist, Christian, agnostic, and atheist views.

I doubt he "expressed Christian views". He used Christian myths and motives, as well as identifying Christianity as a part of the Romanian ethnos, but he never assumed these views. Also, he use Buddhism as a philosophy, not a religion.

And here appears pretty clear which was his opinion on religion:

 * Religion - but a tale, astutely spread abroad
 * To rivet on your shoulders the heavy harnessed load,
 * For, had you lost all hope of heavenly reward
 * After a life on earth with pain and hardship scored,
 * Would you go on working as an ox beneath the goad?
 * from Împărat şi proletar translation by Corneliu M. Popescu

bogdan | Talk 17:58, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

So, I wrote "used ... themes" instead of "expressed ... views", i.e. I used Bogdan's words, which are, it is true, more cautious. Then I removed the POV flag, as (1) I think the problem is solved and (2)Bogdan announced he'd be on "wikibreak" till mid-November. Other than that, one should be careful when quoting a poet's lines. The ideas about religion quoted by Bogdan DO NOT belong (or if they do, no one could tell) to the poet, but to a character. "Împărat şi proletar" is partly an epic poem, describing first the dark, ominous setting of a tavern, where a character, "the proletarian" to be more exact, gives a speech. Bogdan's quote is from that speech. The poem was inspired by the 1870-1871 events in France, when Emperor Napoleon III had to abdicate, and a short-lived proletarian republic was founded in Paris. The poem ends with a metaphysical, schopenhauerian monologue of the poet about the essence of being. At no time does the poet seem to embrace any other "view", but he rather comments upon the general fate of mankind.

P.S. Often quoted are these lines from a Christmas carol by Eminescu:

 * "De dragul Mariei
 * Si-al Mantuitorului
 * Luceste pe ceruri
 * O stea calatorului."

which in literal translation reads as:

 * "For the sake of Mary
 * And the Savior,
 * A star in heavens
 * Shines to the traveler".

I'm not saying that he was a Christian for that matter, but the mere use of the word "Mantuitorului" (Genitive for "the Savior"), which is not a word you would hear in everyday language, nor in most carols (which are usually allegories about a hunt or a quest and, at best, speak of Christ, not of "the Savior"), but in the liturgy and the Christian creed, speaks volumes of the respect Eminescu had for religion.

 * I wouldn't say that "Mântuitor" (Saviour) it is a rather unusual word for Romanian carols. I know a some carols where it is used:

 * Praznic luminos

 * Praznic luminos,
 * Strălucit, frumos,
 * Astăzi ne-a sosit
 * Şi ne-a-nveselit
 * Că Mântuitorul
 * Şi izbăvitorul
 * În trup a venit (...)

 * O, ce veste minunată'

 * O ce veste minunată
 * În Viflaim [Betleem] ni s-arată
 * Astăzi s-a născut
 * Cel făr' de-nceput
 * Cum au spus prorocii.
 * Că la Viflaim, Maria,
 * Săvârşind călătoria,
 * Într-un mic sălaş,
 * Lâng-acel oraş
 * A născut pe Mesia
 * Pe Fiul ce-n al său nume
 * Tatăl l-a trimis în lume
 * Să se nască
 * Şi să crească,
 * Să ne mântuiască.

To him, unlike the proletarian in his poem, religion was not "but a tale". P.P.S. As for his political views, the fragment Bogdan didn't like (I used the third person as I don't expect him to answer this too soon) was about Eminescu's being embraced by the political right and by the political left, and NOT about his own political views. Anyway, anyone who has read Eminescu's journalistic work (of course, especially the famous volume XI of his Complete Works, but ALL volumes from VIII through XIII) cannot question the fact that he WAS a fierce conservative.

User:Quatrocentu | Talk Quatrocentu 10:36, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Uncited change in father's place of origin
- Jmabel | Talk 01:57, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Place names
In the section on family, are "Calinesti" and "Ipotesti" correct? Not "Calineşti" (or possibly "Călineşti") and "Ipoteşti"? - Jmabel | Talk 05:08, 20 November 2006 (UTC)
 * The correct forms are "Călineşti" and "Ipoteşti". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.208.174.72 (talk) 17:15, 20 July 2008 (UTC)

Morning star / evening star
I see no basis for changing Luceafărul from "morning star" to "evening star." The Catholic Encyclopedia bears out "morning star". The 1911 Britannica wrote "the name given to the "morning star," i.e. the planet Venus when it appears above the E. horizon before sunrise, and sometimes also to the "evening star," i.e. the same planet in the W. sky after sundown, more usually called Hesperus." I am reverting; it would take some very solid citations to override these. - Jmabel | Talk 21:06, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Antisemitism
Admittedly, I scanned the page quickly, but I don't see any mention of Eminescu's well-documented antisemitism.

Andrei Oisteanu, in Inventing the Jew: Antisemitic Stereotypes in Romanian and Other Central-East European Cultures, cites 25 instances, including this one (p. 185): "They [the Jews] have introduced and exploited the vice of drinking in villages, have adultered drinks with poisonous matters, and have thus physically envenomed and morally corrupted over populations.… As a foreign race, they have declared a mortal war upon us and have employed instead of knife and pistol, the drinks with poison."

It's fair to mention his deranged ideology since he was such an influencial thinker. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikisranet (talk • contribs) 15:41, 10 November 2009 (UTC)

Eminescu and the Romanian Orthodox Church
I think that details regarding the relation between Eminescu and ROC could be added to the article based, for instance, this link as a source: .--82.137.8.243 (talk) 10:58, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

Another link: .--82.137.8.243 (talk) 11:03, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

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title: Talk:Mihai Eminescu


text:
User talk:Galexander

I have been welcomed to wikipedia.

August 2019
There is currently a discussion at Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents regarding an issue with which you may have been involved. Beyond My Ken (talk) 20:21, 25 August 2019 (UTC)

— Berean Hunter   (talk)  22:18, 25 August 2019 (UTC) — Berean Hunter   (talk)  14:40, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I am surprised to see I am accused of, "and then deleted a comment of mine on the same page". That is not factually accurate.  I removed a comment I had made which could have been construed as a personal attack.  I assume this is an innocent misunderstanding but I do not want to be judged for conduct I did not participate in. Galexander (talk) 21:58, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * You should not be surprised, your edit is here, made with the edit summary "remove redundant/irrelevant content which contains personal attack" That was clearly a purposeful deletion of my comment.  Your statement that you intended to remove your own comment because it included a possible personal talk is obviously false, since your previous comment was, in toto "Please see IP's actual contributions to BMK's user talk page".  Nothing in the statement could conceivably be construed as a personal attack.You continue to dig deeper holes for yourself.  I suggest that you stop and wait out your block instead. Beyond My Ken (talk) 22:28, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I realize we both made comments that had similar initial sentences but please click on the link you just pasted to the revision history, and examine the signature on the comment that I deleted. I deleted my own comment. Galexander (talk) 22:48, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Yes, looking again, you are correct, you deleted the comment made by you editing as an IP. I was indeed fooled by the similarity of the two comments, and I apologize for my mistake.  I will strike my comment above. Beyond My Ken (talk) 22:53, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I have also struck that part of my statement on AN/I. Beyond My Ken (talk) 23:00, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Please re-remove my comment on Talk:occupation of poland. I promise I won't turn you in for proxy editing for a blocked account :) Galexander (talk) 23:11, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I would prefer not to, as the comment is substantive, and I don't think anyone could possibly interpret it as a personal attack -- I certainly do not, and that part of the comment was directed at me. Also WP:TPO frowns on editors removing their comment once there are responses to it.  If you really want some part of it removed, striking through that part is the best option.  I'd be glad to do that if you let me know which words you'd like struck out. Beyond My Ken (talk) 23:24, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I mean the comment I had deleted, the one which was entirely about arrogant wikipedia editors and which did not contribute content or garner responses. Galexander (talk) 01:03, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Ah, yes, sorry, I was being a bit thick there. I have deleted that comment for you, no problem. Beyond My Ken (talk) 01:13, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I was not being disingenuous when I removed that comment or when I asked you to re-remove it. I don't understand why you continue to assert bad faith on my part and make personal attacks upon me.  Is this really about improving wikipedia?  Anyways, when I made my change there was 1 vote for remove because it's inaccurate, 1 for amend to advance a POV, and 1 unclear.  Now there have been 4 votes for remove because it's inaccurate, 1 for amend to advance a POV, 1 for preserve because sourced, and 2 unclear.  At what point can we evaluate the quality of these arguments and admit there is consensus for remove? I desire to improve wikipedia.  Do you? Galexander (talk) 13:38, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * And sorry for the sockpuppeting, it was inadvertent, though clear in hindsight. I wanted to draw attention to the fact that I was being misrepresented without contributing drama to the discussion, but in hindsight I should have clarified my own identity. Galexander (talk) 22:02, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Relevant policies are IPSOCK and block evasion. You could have stated your desire to remove your comment which was perceived as a personal attack on your IP talk page and admins would have considered whether to remove it or not. My block isn't punishment. IP block log.
 * From WP:IPSOCK "Additionally, one who has an account may sometimes forget or be too lazy to sign in some of the time, or may be unable to for technical reasons, and therefore make IP edits. This is not considered sock puppetry." My edit history makes clear that for many years I only bother to login if I am unable to edit the article from my IP address.  It honestly did not occur to me that my clarification would mislead anyone -- specifically, I voluntarily disclosed my dual identity to User:Beyond My Ken and would have done the same again in the talk page for occupation of poland if I had attempted to contribute to a consensus of editors.  My only contribution there under my named account was to clarify a misrepresentation by BMK.  As for block evasion, guilty as charged, but again, the authors of WP: articles have really thought of everything, "Blocks intended solely to "cool down" an angry user should not be used, as they often have the opposite effect. However, an angry user who is also being disruptive can be blocked to prevent further disruption."  Am I being disruptive? Both under my IP and here, my only disruptive behavior was on my own user talk page.  I consider my edit war on occupation of poland to have been in good faith, as I was responding to blatant status quo blocking.  Which continues, I might add -- several editors have now chimed in on the content dispute and none, not even User:Beyond My Ken, has supported the version of facts in the article. Galexander (talk) 22:41, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Your referring, as Galexander, to the IP in the third person, makes it clear that you were presenting Galexander as a different person from the IP. That violates the WP:ILLEGIT sections: "Evasion of sanctions" (since you were blocked), "Contributing to the same page or discussion with multiple accounts", and "Avoiding scrutiny", so you did indeed violate WP:Sockpuppet. Beyond My Ken (talk) 23:30, 25 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I agree in hindsight that could have been misleading, and I hope it did not mislead anyone. Did it mislead you? Galexander (talk) 01:05, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * No, because you had already declared on the IP's talk page that Galexander was your account, but I doubt anyone else involved in the substantive discussion was aware of that. Beyond My Ken (talk)
 * Incidentally, although the tag Beren Hunter posted here on your talk page says that you are blocked indefinitely, I believe that your actual block is for 1 month, the same as the IP. Beyond My Ken (talk) 01:17, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I ... I didn't deceive you. Do you think I deceived anyone else? Galexander (talk) 01:22, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I don't know, I'm not anybody else. But whether you did or didn't deceive anyone is irrelevant, the use of two different identities in the same discussion is simply not allowed, for the reasons I cited above.  Whether you achieved success is not among those reasons.And now, this discussion is over, as you're clearly not interested in doing anything but attempting to justify your actions, or find a loophole to slip through.  It's not going to work with me, but, more importantly, no admin is going to be fooled by your playing innocent. So... see ya. Beyond My Ken (talk) 01:34, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Asserting bad faith on my part is unwarranted. Galexander (talk) 03:31, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure if this block will be subject to further review but I want to clarify that I am not suggesting that wikipedia policy constrains admins to prevent them from blocking me. I am asserting that it wisely spells out a policy of using blocks only to prevent disruption to wikipedia.  The underlying disruption I am accused of is removing a factually incorrect statement from wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Occupation_of_Poland_(1939%E2%80%931945)&diff=912380645&oldid=912380529 .  Is all this drama worthwhile just to preserve a false statement?  When I attempted to remove the statement, 3 had commented and none had asserted it was true.  Now many more have commented and still no one has asserted the statement is true. Galexander (talk) 14:22, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * I have converted this block so that it is no longer a checkuser block since the IP information is known to other admins and they may assess the situation fairly. As BMK has pointed out, the block is for one month and not indefinitely. It is customary to double the block term when block evasion occurs so this stems from the two week block that you received as an IP editor.
 * This comment, "I gave up maintaining an account on here long ago because bullying is so prevalent here" is misleading because it sounds as if you didn't have an account. You admitted to having an account about twenty minutes later.
 * You should practice what you preach instead of making personal attacks and snide or sarcastic remarks. Your persistence that you are being bullied while failing to see how your own comments come across as narcissistic condescension won't serve you well in your endeavor to be unblocked. "I'm sorry but I don't know what I did wrong..." remains a problem for you. I also suggest that you read WP:NOTTHEM.
 * You will need to make a convincing appeal why the block is no longer necessary for either your account or your IP address.
 * In Occupation of Poland (1939-1945), I repeatedly edited to remove counter-factual content, content which was not and still is not supported by any of the discussion on its article talk page. Should I not have done that?  In hindsight, I should have posted my reasons for removing that content in the article's talk page instead of in User_talk:Beyond My Ken.  That was a mistake on my part.  Then I was nominated for blocking by BMK, literally in lieu of substantive discussion of the content!  Contrary to the assertion at the top of WP:NOTTHEM, that nomination is why I was blocked, it is why an admin decided to apply a zero-tolerance no-warning approach to enforcing WP:NPA.  Now, what happened after that is the result of my continuing refusal to endorse this course of action.  I disagree with the actions of administrators, and with the use of blocking as a tactic to enforce WP:STATUSQUO stonewalling.  I do not need to bring this disagreement into every interaction, but if you require that I show respect for a destructive tactic when my block is being discussed, I cannot meet that requirement.  BMK has demonstrated a greater interest in blocking me than in improving content, and I won't say that this endemic behavior isn't a problem.
 * Going forward: If someone attempts to block me in lieu of discussion, I will again describe that as bullying. If someone challenges my content changes, I will do my best to respond in an impersonal manner, and to respect consensus.  You must decide if that is acceptable. Galexander (talk) 16:28, 26 August 2019 (UTC)

 * Given your above response, I have increased this account's block to indefinite. I have also revoked your talk page access for continuing to post your view that personal attacks are okay for you to continue your editing agenda. Please use Unblock Ticket Request System for requesting an unblock. Please don't try to sock or to edit while being logged out. Thanks, Lourdes 02:11, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: User talk:Galexander


text:
User:Bkell

My name is Brian Kell. I am originally from Nebraska. I studied mathematics and computer science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Later I went to Carnegie Mellon University and got a Ph.D. in algorithms, combinatorics, and optimization. After that I became a software engineer at Google in Pittsburgh and Munich, and now I am at Duolingo in Pittsburgh.

I joined Wikipedia on 29 November 2003, when I made my first edit, a few minor corrections to Superphénix. Since then it has become a habit of mine to edit Wikipedia articles whenever I'm putting off something useful. I reached 10,000 edits on 9 August 2006, according to Essjay's edit counter; to celebrate the occasion, my 10,000th edit was a few minor corrections to Superphénix. A little over a year later, on 26 November 2007, I became an administrator.

Long ago I rewrote the article about indigo dye and began the list of solar system objects by mass. To celebrate my 30,000th edit on 31 January 2011, I wrote an article about partial cubes. My 35,000th edit, on 31 July 2012 after a long wikibreak, was an expansion of Kell (volcano). Most of my edits to articles are minor spelling or grammatical tweaks that I do in passing. I spend a lot of time in the image namespace, trying to deal with the chaos that reigns there. I have uploaded some images of my own, which anyone may use however they like, as outlined below.

Wikipedians I know in real life include Benplowman, Clayness, CodyEbberson, Colby, Hschimke, Jhofker, MahmoudHashemi, Makuro, Mbeerman, Mkjanssen, Stack, Stolee, Swid, W00tfest99, Wboney, Wgunther, and Wnorton.

Intellectual property
Licensing hassles annoy me, so I release, abandon, renounce, relinquish, waive, and otherwise disavow all exclusive rights to all my textual contributions on Wikipedia in all languages. I similarly release all exclusive rights that I hold to any images or other non-textual contributions that I upload to Wikipedia in any language. Be aware, however, that some of my images may be derivative works of images by others; in such cases I can only release any exclusive rights that I myself hold. I have tried to indicate in my image gallery when one of my images is a derivative work of a previous image.

Any person or entity may freely use, reproduce, distribute, or modify, for commercial or non-commercial use, with or without attribution, anything I wrote or uploaded to Wikipedia to which I have released my exclusive rights. (Ideally I would just release everything into the public domain, but I guess I can't do that. It is unnecessarily difficult to give up rights you don't want.)

As a corollary, if you want to license anything to which I have given up my exclusive rights (if, say, you need a license for some technical legal reason), you may do so under whatever license you want, so long as it does not claim to give you any exclusive rights. Pick one that suits your needs; the GFDL is an example. If you need me to officially "agree", send me an e-mail, or post on my talk page. Apparently it is established law that a license cannot be made irrevocable without consideration, which means that if you don't trust me and you want to be absolutely sure I don't revoke this entirely-free-use license in the future, you should send me a dollar. ;-)

Know thine image formats
A big personal annoyance for me is images in JPEG format that should be PNGs or SVGs. Things like maps and diagrams should ideally be SVGs if possible, or else PNGs, but never JPEGs (unless they were scanned from a hard copy, in which case PNG still isn't a bad idea).

There is a category for images with inappropriate JPEG compression. If you have some graphics software and want to help, please do so.

My opinions
I tend to be a perfectionist and an idealist, rather than a pragmatist or a realist.

I think that copyright protection in the United States lasts far too long; something like the 28 years granted by the Copyright Act of 1909 is much more reasonable than the current span of the life of the author plus 70 years. The ultimate purpose of copyright, according to the United States Constitution, is "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts". After a point, prolonging copyright protection actually hampers this progress, as authors are not free to create derivative works of copyrighted material, and many creative works will be forgotten or lost before they enter the public domain.

I believe that the English Wikipedia should not allow fair-use images. Many images on Wikipedia for which fair use is claimed are logos, and I don't think logos add anything to articles, certainly not enough to justify a fair-use claim. Some fair-use images, like certain album covers or screenshots of video games that illustrate unique characteristics, might improve articles significantly, it is true. On the whole, though, the rampant abuse of fair-use tags outweighs the advantages of allowing them. The fair-use tags just invite people to take images from Web pages indiscriminately and claim fair use—not to mention the inevitable and interminable debates about what uses are "fair" and what uses cross the blurry legal line into copyright infringement. Wikipedia is meant to be a freely usable and freely editable encyclopedia, and fair-use images are entirely contradictory to that goal, even those fair-use images which significantly improve articles.

For this reason, I have decided that I will no longer make any fair-use claims for images on Wikipedia. Fair use is a gray murky area in copyright law, and I do not want to make any claims that could easily be brought into question in the future. If you think that this is too extreme, you can talk to me about it. After all, there are supposed to be no binding decisions here.

Whenever I get really frustrated with Wikipedia, I remind myself that Wikipedia is a long-range project, and that it doesn't have to be perfect today. I think this makes me an optimistic eventualist.

Wikipedia flaws
Wikipedia isn't perfect. Things I don't like about Wikipedia include the following.

 * Drama and endless debate. I generally avoid places like Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents, Requests for adminship, and Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style because of the politics and drama and interminable arguing about the same old issues that often seems to have no real resolution. I don't even particularly feel attracted to the WikiProjects. So usually I just quietly do small little uncontroversial edits by myself. Is this antisocial? Perhaps. But avoiding these situations helps me to stay calm, unfanatical, and detached, which keeps my stress level low.

 * Undetected hoaxes and vandalism. I find obviously untrue statements in Wikipedia uncomfortably often. More disturbingly, upon investigation I find that many of these statements have been included in Wikipedia for months without anyone questioning them. See User:Bkell/Long-lasting vandalism for examples.

 * Image names include the format. From the point of view of the author of a Wikipedia article, it doesn't matter if the map of Europe they want to use is a JPEG or a GIF or a PNG or an SVG; they should just be able to say [[Image:Map of Europe]] and let the software figure out what format it is. This would also solve the massive inconvenience of replacing an image in one format with an image in a different format. As it stands now, apparently the extension doesn't have to match the file type anyway; I've seen several PNGs with a .jpg extension, for example. This is MediaZilla bug 4421.

 * Wikimedia Commons is clumsy. There is no way for a Commons resource to be multilingual, even though a major reason for the existence of the Commons is so that Wikipedias in different languages can share the same image base. There don't appear to be good guidelines for when images should be put in an article and when they should be put in a category instead. Finally, images on Commons can be shadowed by images of the same name on a specific-language Wikipedia (MediaZilla bug 2717).

Bookmarks

 * Gallery of national flags
 * List of chemistry topics
 * List of compounds
 * List of geography topics
 * List of linguistic topics
 * List of mathematical topics
 * List of reference tables
 * Category:Candidates for speedy deletion
 * Category:Fair use image replacement request
 * Me at the Commons
 * Me at Meta
 * MediaWiki User's Guide: Editing overview
 * MediaWiki User's Guide: Using tables
 * Special:Random/Image
 * User:Bkell/fud-yoink
 * User:Bkell/furup
 * User:Bkell/furup2
 * User:Bkell/Sandbox
 * Criteria for speedy deletion
 * Extended image syntax
 * Image copyright tags
 * Image source files
 * Images and media for deletion
 * Manual of Style
 * Maps
 * Reference desk
 * Removal of fair use images
 * Requests_for_comment/Ta_bu_shi_da_yu_2
 * Template messages
 * Veganism parable
 * WikiProject
 * WikiProject Chemicals
 * WikiProject Elements
 * WikiProject Maps
 * WikiProject User scripts

Notes to self

 * Image use policy
 * Median cut algorithm
 * Australasian Mediterranean Sea

External link

 * Zif Yoip — my home page

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title: User:Bkell


text:
Fleer

The Fleer Corporation, founded by Frank H. Fleer in 1885, was the first company to successfully manufacture bubble gum; it remained a family-owned enterprise until 1989.

Fleer originally developed a bubble gum formulation called Blibber-Blubber in 1906. While this gum could be blown into bubbles, in other respects it was vastly inferior to regular chewing gum, and Blibber-Blubber was never marketed to the public. In 1928, Fleer employee Walter Diemer improved the Blibber-Blubber formulation to produce the first commercially successful bubble gum, Dubble Bubble. Its pink color set a tradition for nearly all bubble gums to follow.

Fleer became known as a maker of sports cards, starting in 1923 with the production of baseball cards. Fleer also released American football (1960) and basketball (1986) card sets through its history.

The company also produced some non-sports trading cards. In 1995, Fleer acquired the trading card company SkyBox International and, over Thanksgiving vacation shuttered its Philadelphia plant (where Dubble Bubble had been made for 67 years). In 1998, 70-year-old Dubble Bubble was acquired by Canadian company Concord Confections; Concord, in turn, was acquired by Chicago-based Tootsie Roll Industries in 2004.

In late May 2005, news circulated that Fleer was suspending its trading card operations immediately. By early July, in a move similar to declaring bankruptcy, the company began to liquidate its assets to repay creditors. The move included the auction of the Fleer trade name, as well as other holdings. Competitor Upper Deck won the Fleer name, as well as their die cast toy business, at a price of $6.1 million. Just one year earlier, Upper Deck tendered an offer of $25 million, which was rejected by Fleer based on the hope that the sports card market would turn in a direction more favorable to their licenses and target collector demographic. One negative aspect associated with Fleer's Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors is that many sports card collectors now own redemption cards for autographs and memorabilia that may not be able to be redeemed; those fears were somewhat quenched in early 2006 when random memorabilia cards were mailed to the aforementioned collectors.

Beginning and early card attempts
The Fleer company was started by Frank H. Fleer in Philadelphia, 1885, as a confectionery business. Well established as a gum and candy company, Fleer predated many of its competitors into the business of issuing sports cards with its 1923 release of baseball cards in its "Bobs and Fruit Hearts" candy product. These rare cards are basically the same as the 1923 W515 strip cards but are machine cut and have a printed ad for the candy company on the back. Many years later in 1959 it signed baseball star Ted Williams to a contract and sold an 80-card set oriented around highlights of his career. Fleer was unable to include other players because rival company Topps had signed most active baseball players to exclusive contracts.

Williams was nearing the end of his career and retired after the 1960 season. Fleer continued to produce baseball cards by featuring Williams with other mostly retired players in a Baseball Greats series. One set was produced in 1960 and a second in 1961. The company did not produce new cards the next year, but continued selling the 1961 set while it focused on signing enough players to produce a set featuring active players in 1963. This 67-card set included a number of stars, including 1962 National League MVP Maury Wills (then holder of the modern record for stolen bases in a season), who had elected to sign with Fleer instead of Topps. Wills and Jimmy Piersall served as player representatives for Fleer, helping to bring others on board. Topps still held the rights to most players and the set was not particularly successful.

Meanwhile, Fleer took advantage of the emergence of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 to begin producing football cards. Fleer produced a set for the AFL while Topps cards covered the established National Football League. In 1961, each company produced cards featuring players from both leagues. The next year reverted to the status quo ante, with Fleer covering the AFL and Topps the NFL. In 1964, Philadelphia Gum secured the rights for NFL cards and Topps took over the AFL.

Sometime after 1961 Fleer produced The Three Stooges' cards.

Legal battles
This left Fleer with no product in either baseball or football. The company now turned its efforts to supporting an administrative complaint filed against Topps by the Federal Trade Commission. The complaint focused on the baseball card market, alleging that Topps was engaging in unfair competition through its aggregation of exclusive contracts. A hearing examiner ruled against Topps in 1965, but the Commission reversed this decision on appeal. The Commission concluded that because the contracts only covered the sale of cards with gum, competition was still possible by selling cards with other small, low-cost products. Fleer chose not to pursue such options and instead sold its remaining player contracts to Topps for $395,000 in 1966($3,344,211.42 in 2021 dollars). The decision gave Topps an effective monopoly of the baseball card market.

In 1968, Fleer was approached by the Major League Baseball Players Association, a recently organized players' union, about obtaining a group license to produce cards. The MLBPA was in a dispute with Topps over player contracts, and offered Fleer the exclusive rights to market cards of most players starting in 1973, when many of Topps's contracts would expire. Since this was so far in the future, Fleer declined the proposal.

Fleer returned to the union in September 1974 with a proposal to sell 5-by-7-inch satin patches of players, somewhat larger than normal baseball cards. By now, the MLBPA had settled its differences with Topps and reached an agreement that gave Topps a right of first refusal on such offers. Topps passed on the opportunity, indicating that it did not think the product would be successful. The union, also fearing that it would cut into existing royalties from Topps sales, then rejected the proposal.

In April 1975, Fleer asked for Topps to waive its exclusive rights and allow Fleer to produce stickers, stamps, or other small items featuring active baseball players. Topps refused, and Fleer then sued both Topps and the MLBPA to break the Topps monopoly. After several years of litigation, the Topps monopoly on baseball cards was finally broken by a lawsuit decided by federal judge Clarence Charles Newcomer in 1980, in which the judge ended Topps's exclusive right to sell baseball cards with gum, allowing Fleer to compete in the market. The court ordered the union to offer group licenses for baseball cards to companies other than Topps. Fleer and another company, Donruss, were thus allowed to begin making cards in 1981. Fleer's legal victory was overturned after one season, but the company continued to manufacture cards, substituting stickers with team logos for gum.

Bill Ripken
In 1989, Bill Ripken's Fleer card showed him holding a bat with the expletive "fuck face" written in plain view on the knob of the bat. Fleer subsequently rushed to correct the error, and in its haste, released versions in which the text was scrawled over with a marker, whited out with correction fluid, and also airbrushed. On the final, corrected version, Fleer obscured the offensive words with a black box (this was the version included in all factory sets). Both the original card and many of the corrected versions have become collector's items as a result. There are at least ten different variations of this card. As of February 2009 the white out version has a book value of $120, but has been sold in mint condition on eBay for asking prices as high as $400. Years later, Ripken admitted he wrote the expletive on the bat to distinguish it as a batting practice bat, and did not intend to use it for the card.

Some collectors list the card as the "Rick Face" card. The script on the bat appears to make the word fuck look similar to Rick.

Key card sets
Fleer produced two benchmark trading cards in the 1980s. In 1984, Fleer was the only major trading card manufacturer to release a Roger Clemens card; they included the then-Boston Red Sox prospect in their 1984 Fleer Baseball Update Set. The 1984 update set also included the first licensed card of Hall Of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett. Fleer also released factory sets of their baseball cards from 1986-92. Like the Topps factory sets, they came in colorful boxes for retail and plainer boxes for hobby dealers. The 1986 set was not sealed, but the 1987-89 sets were sealed with a sticker and the 1990-92 sets were shrink-wrapped.

In 1986 Fleer helped resurrect the basketball card industry by releasing an officially NBA-licensed 132-card 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set which included the rookie cards of NBA Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, Joe Dumars, Hakeem Olajuwon, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley. The set also included an additional 11 card All Star sticker set featuring a second rookie card/sticker of Michael Jordan. This set is seen by many basketball card collectors as the "1952 Topps of basketball." From 1986-1989, Fleer was the only major card company that produced basketball cards. In 1990 Hoops, SkyBox, Topps and Upper Deck card companies introduced their own basketball cards and sets in two major releases each year per company. Each of these manufacturers, including Fleer, over-produced their basketball card product for half-a-dozen years, glutting the basketball card market.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the glossy parallel sets Fleer produced for their 1987-89 baseball sets (similar to the Topps Tiffany sets) became very popular in the hobby. That popularity wore off, and today, the sets (except for the rare 1989) are not worth much more than the regular sets.

Fleer's first Ultra set came out in 1991, which in some years was released earlier than its regular Fleer (Tradition) set. The 1991 set had an announced production of 15% of regular Fleer and this set was produced on higher quality card stock and used silver ink, just like Donruss' Leaf set starting the previous year. The 1992 set used UV coating on both sides and gold foil stamping on the front, which was among the most beautiful sets of that year. 1994's Ultra and regular Fleer sets began another tradition of offering an insert card in every pack and the next year started another tradition called "hot packs" (where about 1:72 packs contained only insert cards. An assortment of the easier to find insert cards and not the rare 1:36 100% foil cards). Still another tradition that continues today is the Ultra Gold Medallion parallel insert set, which started in 1995 and also included all the insert sets for the first two years. These are inserted one per pack. In 1997, Ultra introduced the Platinum Medallion insert set which is traditionally serial numbered to 100. 1998 saw the introduction of the purple Ultra Masterpieces, which are one of ones, and started the tradition of including short printed cards in the regular, Gold and Platinum sets.

Fleer's super premium flagship set, called Flair, began production in 1993 with an announced production run as 15% of Ultra. Its trademark was that it was printed on very thick card stock (about twice the thickness of regular cards), used a unique glossy finish along with six color printing. The "packs" are done by shrink wrapping the cards (usually ten in a "pack") and then placing them in a shrink-wrapped "mini-box" instead of the usual my-lair foil packs used on virtually all trading card products today. The 1996/1997 Flair Showcase basketball box set included the first one-of-one cards for any major sport called "Masterpieces"; they paralleled the more common, or "base", Row 2, Row 1 and Row 0 sets.

Fleer acquired a license deal from WWE to produce and distribute WWE trading cards from 2001 to 2004.

Acquisitions
The Fleer family, Frank Fleer's descendants, sold Fleer in 1989 for just under US$70,000,000 to John W. Fleer and Charter House Investments. John W. Fleer retained majority ownership in the company. Fleer was pushing into retail chains like Rite Aid, which brought the ire of the hobby dealers in the early 1990s.

Comic book company Marvel Entertainment purchased the company on July 24, 1992, for US$540 million. Marvel purchased another card company, SkyBox International, on March 8, 1995, for $150 million. Fleer/Skybox reduced its push into retail chains to start its Hobby Bullpen program that committed the company to support and provide relief for hobby dealers and collectors.

Marvel entered bankruptcy in 1996 along with its subsidiaries. Fleer was directly hurt by the 1994 Major League Baseball strike and prolonged lockouts in the NBA. In June 1997, Marvel formed its Marvel Enterprise division, headed by president and CEO Scott C. Marden, to manage its trading card and sticker businesses, as well as Marvel Interactive, an Internet-entertainment and software-publishing company.

Fleer was placed on the market by Marvel at an asking price of $30 million. Fleer exited bankruptcy, along with the rest of the Marvel group, on October 1, 1998. In February 1999, Fleer/Skybox was sold to a corporation owned by Alex Grass and his son Roger.

In early 2005, Fleer announced that it would cease all productions of trading cards and file an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, which is a State Court liquidation, similar to Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In July 2005, Upper Deck acquired the rights to the Fleer name and began producing Fleer-branded basketball, ice hockey and American football cards. The $6.1 million Upper Deck paid for the Fleer name was significantly less than the $25 million they had offered to buy out Fleer a year earlier.

In 2006, Upper Deck produced baseball sets under the names Fleer, Fleer Ultra, Fleer Tradition, Flair, Skybox Autographics and Fleer Greats of the Game. The last Fleer-branded baseball cards appeared in 2007.

title: Fleer


text:
Jeri Ryan

Jeri Lynn Ryan (née Zimmermann; born February 22, 1968) is an American actress best known for her role as the former Borg drone Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager (1997–2001), for which she was nominated four times for a Saturn Award and won in 2001. She reprised her role as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023), for which she won another Saturn Award.

She is also known for her role as Veronica "Ronnie" Cooke on Boston Public (2001–2004), and as a regular on the science fiction series Dark Skies (1997) and the legal drama series Shark (2006–2008). In 2009 she guest-starred on the series Leverage as Tara Cole. From 2011 to 2013, she starred as Dr. Kate Murphy in the ABC drama series Body of Proof, and from 2016 to 2019, she appeared as Veronica Allen on the Amazon Prime series Bosch.

Early life
Ryan was born Jeri Lynn Zimmermann on February 22, 1968, in Munich, West Germany, the daughter of Gerhard Florian "Jerry" Zimmermann, a master sergeant in the U.S. Army, and his wife Sharon, a social worker, with an older brother, Mark. Ryan grew up on Army posts in Kansas, Maryland, Hawaii, Georgia and Texas.

When she was 11, her father retired from the Army and the family settled in Paducah, Kentucky. She graduated from Lone Oak High School in 1986 as a National Merit Scholar, and then attended Northwestern University, where she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. She graduated from Northwestern in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in theatre.

In 1989, Ryan was chosen as Miss Illinois. She competed in the Miss America 1990 pageant, where she finished as third runner-up.

Career
After college, Ryan pursued acting full-time in Los Angeles. She made her acting debut in Who's the Boss?, and followed that with guest-starring roles in television series such as Melrose Place, Matlock, and The Sentinel as well as TV movies.

She had a regular role as extraterrestrial investigator Juliet Stuart on the television series Dark Skies, which was cancelled after one season.

In 1997, Ryan was chosen for a role on the science fiction series Star Trek: Voyager as Seven of Nine, a Borg drone who was freed from the Borg's collective consciousness. When she joined the cast in season four, ratings increased 60%.

She appeared in Wes Craven's Dracula 2000. After Voyager ended in 2001, Ryan joined the cast of Boston Public as Veronica "Ronnie" Cooke, a frustrated lawyer who becomes a high school teacher. David E. Kelley, the series' producer, wrote the role specifically for her. The series ended in 2004.

Ryan appeared in the romantic-comedy film Down with Love and as Lydia in the independent film Men Cry Bullets. Her first film lead was in The Last Man as the last woman left on Earth.

In 2005 she had a role in a TV pilot titled Commuters, a suburban version of Desperate Housewives. She had a recurring role as Charlotte Morgan on The O.C. in 2005, and she guest-starred as Courtney Reece on David E. Kelley's Boston Legal in 2006. Ryan then co-starred in the legal drama Shark as Los Angeles County District Attorney Jessica Devlin alongside series lead James Woods, but she did not return for episodes aired after the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike; she was credited in all four episodes. CBS cancelled the broadcast of the series after its season-two finale.

She guest-starred as defense attorney Patrice La Rue on the April 7, 2009, episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, her first role since giving birth to her daughter Gisele. Ryan next had a seven-episode role on the drama Leverage in season 2 as a grifter named Tara Cole, filling in while series regular Gina Bellman was on maternity leave.

She was in Kevin Tancharoen's short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth as Sonya Blade. Although originally a film, it was marketed as a web series, with previews scheduled to appear online in June 2010. The web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy officially launched in March 2011.

Ryan was a regular in the series Body of Proof, which premiered on March 29, 2011.

Ryan continued to appear in guest roles on genre television series, including the science fiction series Warehouse 13 as Marine Major Amanda Lattimer, ex-wife of the series' male lead character Pete Lattimer, in the episode "Queen for a Day". She made a return guest appearance on the drama Leverage in season 4, episode 13 as grifter Tara Cole, in the episode "The Girls' Night Out Job". She also appeared for a multi-episode arc in season 1 of the science fiction series Helix. She was next seen in the series Star Trek: Picard, reprising her role as Seven of Nine.

Personal life
In 1990, while dealing blackjack at a charity event, Ryan met investment banker and future Republican political candidate Jack Ryan. They married on June 15, 1991, in Wilmette, Illinois. They had a son, Alex, on August 15, 1994. Jeri commuted between Los Angeles and Wilmette during their marriage. They divorced on August 27, 1999. A few years after she joined the Voyager cast, Ryan began dating Star Trek: Voyager producer Brannon Braga. Between February and November 2000, they were stalked by Marlon Estacio Pagtakhan, who was convicted for harassment and threats in May 2001.

When Jack Ryan's campaign for an open United States Senate seat in Illinois began in 2003, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and WLS-TV, the local ABC affiliate, sought to have his records released. Both Jeri and Jack agreed to make their divorce records, but not their custody records, public, saying the latter's release could be harmful to their son.

On June 18, 2004, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Schnider agreed to release the custody files. The decision went against both parents' direct requests and reversed the decision to seal the papers in the child's best interest. It was revealed that six years earlier, Jeri accused Jack of asking her to perform sexual acts with him in public and in sex clubs in New York, New Orleans and Paris. Jeri described one venue as "a bizarre club with cages, whips, and other apparatus hanging from the ceiling." Jack denied the allegations. Although Jeri only made a brief statement, and refused to comment on the matter during the campaign, the disclosure led Jack to withdraw his candidacy; his main opponent, Barack Obama, then won the 2004 United States Senate election in Illinois.

According to statements she has made in interviews, Ryan's main hobby is gourmet cooking. While starring in Boston Public, she moonlighted on weekends in the kitchen of the Los Angeles restaurant The House. In 2003, Ryan met French chef Christophe Émé at a chef's charity event. They eventually began a relationship, and Émé moved in with Ryan and her son Alex in their home in San Fernando Valley. In February 2005, Ryan, a "lifelong Francophile", opened—in partnership with Émé—the restaurant Ortolan. Located on Third Street in Los Angeles, California, it served French food with a modern interpretation. The two have appeared on Iron Chef America, where Émé and one sous-chef challenged Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and his two sous-chefs. The restaurant is seen in season 2, episode 26 of Boston Legal as Denny Crane (William Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader) discuss the arrival of Courtney Reece (Ryan) at "her favorite restaurant." Despite its success, the restaurant was hit hard by the Great Recession and closed in December 2010.

Ryan and Émé married in the Loire Valley, France on June 16, 2007. In March 2008, she gave birth to a daughter in Los Angeles.

title: Jeri Ryan


text:
Talk:Pope Anterus

Comments
In french language, that pope is named Anthere.

If anyone is knowledgeable enough to make that article more than a stub, *I* am interested :-)

User:Anthere

title: Talk:Pope Anterus


text:
User:Nabeelt

Lahore Historical Background Lahore is one of the developed cities of Pakistan with a historical background. The city is known for the textile industries which plays an important part in the Countries economy. The City has a great historical significance as it played an important part in the independence of Pakistan. The idea of an independent Pakistan was considered seriously at the Lahore Resolution 1941.

This busy, polluted metropolis (pop. 6,040,000) was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. It has some of Pakistan's best sights, including the Tomb of Emperor Jahangir (with its beautiful surrounding gardens), the narrow streets of the Old Town, the Bara Dari Pavilion, the Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) and the Lahore Fort (where a sound-and-light show is held several times a week). The city also has two beautiful gardens: the Shalimar (designed by the architect of the Taj Mahal) and Jinnah (a lively city park). Some other places we've enjoyed include the 350-year-old, white-marble-and-pink-sandstone Badshahi Mosque (the country's second largest, after the King Faisal Mosque in Islamabad) and the Lahore Museum (16 galleries containing carpets, Korans and 1,500 miniature paintings). Kim's gun (Zamzama), made famous by Rudyard Kipling, is in front of Punjab University. Lahore is a fun city to walk through. Be sure to visit some of the small markets and shops (the Anarkali, Kashmiri and Qissa Khawani bazaars will keep you busy) and spend time at the British-built Mall. If you're in Lahore in late February or early March, try to see the National Horse and Cattle Show, Pakistan's version of a rodeo, featuring equestrian competitions, camel and tent-pegging displays, dancers from the provinces and music concerts. But the city's most popular festival, also held in late February, is basant. The principal activity during this weekend-long festival is kite-flying -- there are literally thousands in the sky, even at night. Plan at least two nights in Lahore. Half- and full-day trips outside Lahore include excursions to Hiran Minar, a tower built by Emperor Jahangir (25 mi/40 km away), and Changa Manga (42 mi/68 km south), which has tiny mosques (the drive there, past fields of mustard, is very colorful). 150 mi/240 km southeast of Islamabad.

To escape oppressive heat inside, rooftop beds are the norm  :

Looking out through the marble grill of the Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) :

The cloth lined entrance to Badshahi Mosque : Geographical Background

LAHORE is a Municipal city, has been the capital of Punjab for nearly a thousand years, and the administrative head-quarters of a Division and District of the same name. It is situated one mile to the south of the river Ravi, and some 23 miles from the eastern border of the district. The city is built in the form of a parallelogram, the area within the walls, exclusive of the citadel, being about 461 acres. It stands on the alluvial plain traversed by the river Ravi. The city is slightly elevated above the plain, and has a high ridge within it, running east and west on its northern side. The whole of this elevated ground is composed of the accumulated debris of many centuries. The river, which makes a very circuitous bend from the East, passes in a semi-circle to the North of Lahore. Lahore has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. It is a fine place to watch the world rush by. The improbable mix of painted trucks, cars, bullock carts, buses, handcarts, scooters with whole families. A classical city, according to the words of Noor Jahan. "I have purchased Lahore with my life, By giving my life for Lahore, Actually I have purchased another Paradise," Empress Noor Jahan

Education Lahore is also known because of a few good educational institutions. The best institution of the region is LUMS. Further information about LUMS can be found on the following website. http://www.lums.edu.pk Here is a list of the top government controlled colleges in Lahore,

GOVT. COLLEGE LAHORE ANARKALI BAZAAR 7228344,7353792 GOVT. APWA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN JAIL ROAD 7586960

GOVT. BOYS COMPREHENSIVE HIGHER SECONDRY SCHOOL GHORAY SHAH ROAD

GOVT. COLLEGE FOR WOMEN WAHDAT COLONY 7584477

GOVT. COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BAGHBANPURA 6552597 GOVT COLLEGE FOR WOMEN SHADBAGH 7281000

GOVT COLLEGE BAGHBANPURA BAGHBANPURA 330078 GOVT COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BAND ROAD 7722698

GOVT COLLEGE FOR WOMEN TIMBER MARKET 7722735 GOVT. COLLEGE FOR WOMEN SAMANABAD 7650815

title: User:Nabeelt


text:
Billy Snedden

Sir Billy Mackie Snedden, (31 December 1926 – 27 June 1987) was an Australian politician who served as the leader of the Liberal Party from 1972 to 1975. He was also a cabinet minister from 1964 to 1972, and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1976 to 1983.

Snedden was born in Perth, Western Australia. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, and then studied law at the University of Western Australia. From 1951 to 1952, he was the inaugural federal chairman of the Young Liberal Movement. After a period working overseas for the Department of Immigration, Snedden returned to Australia in 1954 and settled in Melbourne. He was elected to the House of Representatives the following year, aged 28.

In 1964, Snedden was elevated to cabinet by Robert Menzies. He served as a government minister until the Liberal government's defeat at the 1972 election, under an additional four prime ministers. Snedden spent periods as Attorney-General (1964–1966), Minister for Immigration (1966–1969), Minister for Labour and National Service (1969–1971), and Treasurer (1971–1972). He was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 1971, and replaced William McMahon as leader after the following year's election loss, thus becoming Leader of the Opposition.

Snedden led the Liberal Party to the 1974 federal election, which saw the Labor Party retain government with a narrow majority. Malcolm Fraser mounted two leadership challenges in early 1975, winning on the second attempt; by the end of the year he was prime minister. Snedden was elected to the speakership when the parliament next sat. He held the position for almost seven years, gaining a reputation for impartiality. In retirement, Snedden served as chairman of the Melbourne Football Club and on the board of the Victorian Football League. The unusual circumstances of his death in 1987, which involved the ex-girlfriend of his own son, attracted much public interest.

Birth and family background
Snedden was born on 31 December 1926 at a private hospital in Newcastle Street, West Perth, Western Australia. He was the youngest of six children born to Catherine (née Mackie) and Alan Snedden. His mother was 43 years old when he was born, and his siblings – one sister and four brothers – were much older than him.

Snedden's parents were born in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, and spoke "broad Scots". His grandparents were illiterate, and his parents had only limited schooling; they were both from coal-mining families. They immigrated to Australia in 1912 with their three oldest children, initially settling in the remote mining town of Meekatharra. The family moved to Perth in about 1921, after their house in Meekatharra burned down.

Snedden's father worked mostly as a stonemason, but also spent periods as a miner and general labourer when better work was not available. He reputedly left Scotland to escape a paternity suit, and had earlier been in trouble with the law for poaching. The family name was originally "Snaddon" (or "Snadon"), but was changed upon arrival in Australia.

Childhood
Snedden grew up in Perth's inner north near the suburb of Highgate, living initially on Robinson Avenue and later on Bulwer Street. His father left home when he was about three or four years old, and they had only limited contact thereafter. His oldest brother Bob became the family's main breadwinner, while his mother worked as a laundress and his other siblings also found jobs. He was close to his sister Jean, who often babysat him. Snedden worked part-time from about the age of eight, helping his brothers on construction sites and selling and delivering newspapers. He began his schooling at Highgate Primary School, and later attended the Perth Boys' School through to the ninth grade.

Snedden left school in April 1942 and began working as a junior law clerk for Thomas Hughes, who was a solicitor and independent state MP. He would not normally have been considered qualified for the job, but there was a shortage of applicants due to the war. Snedden was eventually able to receive his leaving certificate by attending night school at Perth Technical College. He fell out with Hughes late in 1943, and in January 1944 began working as a clerk at the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor's office. He was a talented sportsman as a youth, and played a few games for the West Perth Football Club during the 1944 WANFL season, at a time when the competition was age-restricted. He later represented Western Australia at the Australian Amateur Football Carnival in Melbourne in 1951.

Military service and university
Snedden and two friends attempted to join the merchant navy at the age of 15, but were unsuccessful. He also attempted to join the Royal Australian Navy when he was 17, but his mother refused her permission; three of his brothers were already on active service. Snedden eventually enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in January 1945, two days after his 18th birthday. He began an air crew training scheme, but as the war came to an end he was taken off the course and given more general duties; this included a period tending bar at an officers' mess. He was discharged in September 1945.

As part of his demobilisation, Snedden completed aptitude tests which showed he would be a suitable candidate for a university education. In combination with his earlier clerking experience, this allowed him to secure a place at the University of Western Australia's law school in 1946. Snedden failed two subjects in his first year, and was only able to continue when the law school dean Frank Beasley intervened on his behalf. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1950, and completed his articles of clerkship with Harvey, Slattery, and Gibson. He was called to the bar in December 1951.

Professional career
In 1951, Snedden briefly returned to the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor's office. He resigned from the public service due to a pay cut, and began working for Angus & Coote as a hearing aid salesman. In early 1952, he secured a position as a migration officer with the Department of Immigration. He and his family moved to Italy for sixteen months, initially living in Taormina, Sicily, and later in Rome. He learnt to speak Italian, and travelled around the country conducting interviews with prospective migrants. In November 1953, Snedden was transferred to England. He stayed there for a year, and was then supposed to be moved on to Germany. However, he decided to return to Australia, and in January 1955 moved to Melbourne to work in a legal advice bureau for ex-servicemen. He and his family settled in Ringwood.

Early involvement
Snedden was state president of the Young Liberals, and from 1951 to 1952 served as the inaugural federal chairman of the organisation. As president of the UWA Liberal Club, he became acquainted with future prime minister Bob Hawke, who was president of the Labor Club. As a student, he made three unsuccessful attempts to enter politics, standing for the Liberal Party at the 1948 Boulder state by-election and at the 1949 and 1951 federal elections (in Fremantle and Perth, respectively).

Member of Parliament
In 1954 Snedden moved to Melbourne, where he practised law until 1955, when he was elected to the House of Representatives for the outer suburban seat of Bruce. He defeated Keith Ewert, the former Labor member for nearby Flinders. Snedden defeated Ewert by a similar margin in 1958.

In 1961, Snedden faced Ewert again, and this time trailed in initial counting. However, he was elected on Democratic Labor Party preferences. Snedden's narrow win was critical in the outcome of what was the closest election in Australian history up till that time. Had Labor won it, it would have toppled the Coalition after 12 years of rule. However, with Snedden's win, the best Labor could hope for was a hung parliament, though the Coalition was not assured of another term in government until later in the night, with its narrow victory in Moreton.

Cabinet
He served in the ministries of Sir Robert Menzies, Harold Holt, John McEwen, John Gorton and William McMahon. In March 1964 Menzies appointed him Attorney-General. In that capacity he played a significant role in the 1967 constitutional referendum affecting the status of Aboriginals. On 7 April 1965, the Menzies Cabinet decided that it would seek to repeal Section 127 of the Constitution, which excluded indigenous people from the population count, but made no firm plans or timetable for such action. In August 1965, Snedden proposed to Cabinet that abolition of Section 127 was inappropriate unless Section 51(xxvi) was simultaneously amended to remove the words "other than the aboriginal race in any state". He was rebuffed, but he gained agreement when he made a similar submission to the Holt Cabinet in 1966. The referendum went ahead on 27 May 1967, and was resoundingly approved. He was Minister for Immigration 1966–69, and Minister for Labour and National Service 1969–71, a difficult job which put him in charge of the government's highly unpopular policy of conscription for the Vietnam War. In 1967, following the death of Harold Holt, he was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party, but his candidacy was not taken very seriously.

As Minister for Labour and National Service, Snedden commented on anti-war and anti-conscription activists' demonstrations. On the eve of the first Moratorium, he said in Parliament that the marchers were "political bikies pack-raping democracy". In 1971, Snedden was appointed Treasurer by William McMahon, and was elected Liberal Deputy Leader, making him the heir apparent to the leadership.

Leader of the Opposition
When McMahon was defeated by the Labor Party under Gough Whitlam in 1972, Snedden was elected as his replacement as Liberal leader, winning by a single vote over Nigel Bowen on the fifth ballot. Snedden promised a new and more "liberal" Liberal Party, but he suffered from his continuing image as a light-weight, and many Liberals believed he would never defeat Whitlam.

Snedden allowed himself to be persuaded to use the conservative majority in the Senate to block the Whitlam government's budget in 1974. Whitlam promptly called a double dissolution election for 18 May, at which he was returned to office, albeit with a reduced majority. Labor campaigned on the slogan "Oh no, not Snedden!". Snedden exposed himself to ridicule by refusing to concede defeat, saying at a press conference: "We were not defeated. We did not win enough seats in order to form a government".

After the election the conservative wing of the Liberal Party, led by Malcolm Fraser, challenged Snedden's leadership, but he was narrowly re-elected. When he failed to make any headway against Whitlam, Fraser mounted a second challenge, and Snedden was deposed in March 1975, becoming the first leader of the Liberal Party not to gain the prime ministership. He retired to the backbench until February 1976, when Fraser supported his election as Speaker of the House.

Speaker of the House
Snedden was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on 17 February 1976, defeating the previous Speaker, Gordon Scholes, by a majority of 53 votes. He was re-elected on 21 February 1978, defeating Labor MP Dr Harry Jenkins by a majority of 44 votes, and on 25 November 1980, again defeating Dr Jenkins by a majority of 22 votes.

He was the last Speaker of the House of Representatives to wear the formal regalia of full-bottomed wig and gown inherited from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, believing that it would restore the dignity of the office of Speaker.

As Speaker, Snedden sought to enhance the role and assert its independence. He preferred the Speaker to be recognised as an impartial umpire like the Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1979, he published a paper outlining his proposals for adopting some of the Westminster conventions, namely that the Speaker remain in office for five to seven years then resign and hold no further public office, that the Speaker be unopposed by the major political parties at general elections, and that the Speaker resign from his or her party upon becoming Speaker.

Snedden tried to strengthen the Parliament's ability to withstand pressures from the Executive. He believed that it was contrary to Parliament's independence for the Executive to control the funds allocated to Parliament, so he authorised parliamentary officers to write a paper in 1976 entitled The Parliamentary Budget. He later wrote, "You could not have a situation where the Executive decided the level at which Members could operate efficiently." This led to the introduction of the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill in 1982.

One of his most memorable actions as Speaker occurred in February 1982, when a Labor frontbencher, Bob Hawke, referred to then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, as a "liar" during question time. Fraser was answering a question about two joint royal commissions being conducted in Victoria at the time. Fraser allegedly selectively quoted a statement by the Victorian Leader of the Opposition, John Cain, which provoked Hawke to call Fraser a liar. Snedden followed parliamentary procedure and asked Hawke to withdraw the remark. When Hawke refused, Snedden named him and a motion for his suspension was moved. Snedden later wrote: "It was his [Fraser's] instigation which was making the Parliament unworkable, not the Opposition's response, like the classroom situation where the smart little man hits the fellow next to him who retaliates and is seen by the teacher". Members of the Opposition had by that point taken up "liar" as a chant, which put Snedden in the position where he would have to name every member, one by one. After realising that the House would be unworkable for that sitting day, he declined to put the motion for Hawke's suspension.

Fraser was furious and attempted to intimidate Snedden into punishing Hawke for not withdrawing or take his "punishment". Snedden refused and was convinced that he would be replaced as Speaker but, once Fraser realised that he had no support in the Liberal Party to remove Snedden from office, he sent a conciliatory message.

With the defeat of the Fraser government in 1983 and the election of Dr Harry Jenkins Sr. as Speaker, Snedden resigned from Parliament on 21 April 1983. In doing so, he honoured a feature of his 1979 paper. He believed that if he stayed in Parliament, he might be called on for advice on his successor's rulings, which would be undesirable because it would undermine the Chair. He said, "I am very conscious that, under the Westminster convention, when the Speaker leaves the chair he leaves the House. I think this is right." He formally resigned from Parliament later that day.

Later life
When the Fraser government was defeated by Hawke in 1983, Snedden immediately resigned from Parliament. He separated from his wife, Lady Snedden, and was later to withdraw from public life as his health declined from atherosclerosis and heart disease. Snedden was Chairman of the Melbourne Football Club from 1981 to 1986, later a Director of the Victorian Football League and also Patron of the Professional Boxing Association of Australia.

Death
On 27 June 1987, just hours after attending John Howard's election campaign launch, Snedden suffered a fatal heart attack at the Travelodge motel in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, while having sex with an ex-girlfriend of his son Drew, identified only as "Wendy". Melbourne newspaper The Truth headlined its report "Snedden died on the job", while the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Snedden was wearing a condom and that "it was loaded".

Personal life
Snedden married Joy Forsyth, a dental nurse, on 10 March 1950. They had two sons and two daughters together. His daughter Fiona was elected to the Melbourne City Council in 2004 after an unsuccessful candidature for the Liberal Party in the seat of Melbourne Ports in the 1998 federal election. She stood for re-election to council in 2008 but lost her seat.

Honours
Snedden was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in January 1978. He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1972.

title: Billy Snedden


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Toyozō Arakawa

Toyozo Arakawa (荒川 豊蔵) was a well-known Japanese ceramic potter.

He lived and worked in Mino, near Nagoya. He was given the title "Living National Treasure" in 1955.

In 1930 he discovered shards at the site of the ruins of an ogama style kiln at Mutabora proving that that Shino and Oribe glazed work of the Momoyama and early Edo period in Japan had been manufactured in Mino rather than in the Seto area. In 1933 he built a kiln reproducing the original Mutabora kiln and rediscovered the techniques for manufacturing Shino glazes.

He died in Tokyo, Japan in 1985.

There is a translation of Arakawa's The Traditions and Techniques of Mino Pottery in Janet Barriskill's Visiting the Mino Kilns Wild Peony Press, Sydney, 1995.

His work is kept in several museums, including the Mills College Art Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Portland Art Museum, the ASU Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

title: Toyozō Arakawa


text:
Common rock thrush

The common rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), also known as rufous-tailed rock thrush or simply rock thrush, is a chat belonging to the family Muscicapidae. It was formerly placed in the family Turdidae. The scientific name is from Latin. Monticola is from mons, montis "mountain", and colere, "to dwell", and saxatilis means "rock-frequenting", from saxum, "stone".

It breeds in southern Europe across Central Asia to northern China. This species is strongly migratory, all populations wintering in Africa south of the Sahara. It is an uncommon visitor to northern Europe. Its range has contracted somewhat at the periphery in recent decades due to habitat destruction. For example, in the early 20th century it bred in the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska (Poland) where none occur today, but it is not considered globally endangered.

Description
This is a medium-sized but stocky thrush 17–20 cm in length. The summer male is unmistakable, with a blue-grey head, orange underparts and outer tail feathers, dark brown wings and white back. Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown scaly upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. The outer tail feathers are reddish, like the male.

Behaviour and ecology
This species breeds in open dry hilly areas, usually above 1500 m. It nests in rock cavities, laying 4–5 eggs. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, berries and small reptiles. The male common rock thrush has a clear and tuneful song.

title: Common rock thrush


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Orgazmo

Orgazmo is a 1997 American superhero sex comedy film written, directed and edited by Trey Parker and produced by Matt Stone, Jason McHugh, and Fran Rubel Kuzui. It stars Parker, Stone, Dian Bachar, Robyn Lynne, and Michael Dean Jacobs. The plot follows Joe Young (Parker), a devout Mormon missionary who, to pay for his and his fiancée's dream wedding and home, acts in a pornographic film as the superhero Orgazmo with his side-kick Chota boy (Bachar).

Plot
Mormon missionary Joseph Young, assigned with his mission partner to Los Angeles, finds the city to be a hostile and unenthusiastic place for their work. The problems worsen when they knock on the door of sleazy porn director Maxxx Orbison and several security guards are sent to dispose of them. Joe defeats them all singlehandedly with a variety of martial arts skills. Impressed by his performance and bored by his current project's lead actor, Orbison attempts to hire Joe to play the title character and lead of his pornographic superhero film, Orgazmo. Joe is conflicted because of his religious beliefs, but the $20,000 salary offered would pay for a wedding in the temple in Utah where his fiancée Lisa has expressed a strong desire to wed. Joe reluctantly accepts despite being given a very clear sign from God to refuse.

Joe finds the crew of the film intimidating but befriends co-star Ben Chapleski, a technical genius and MIT alumnus who works in the pornographic industry to satiate his overactive libido. He plays Orgazmo's sidekick Choda Boy, who assists Orgazmo with specially designed sex toys, including Orgazmo's signature weapon, the Orgazmorator, a ray gun that forces orgasm upon whomever it is fired. Ben invites Joe to his home and shows Joe a real Orgazmorator he has built, and he and Joe spend an evening using it on unsuspecting citizens for amusement.

At a sushi bar owned by Ben's Japanese friend G-Fresh, the two witness a group of thugs vandalizing the bar to force out G-Fresh so their dance club next door can expand. Later, when Ben and Joe are gone, G-Fresh is coerced to leave after the same thugs assault him. Upon finding this out, Joe and Ben don costumes and use their film props and the Orgazmorator to sneak into the club and steal back the contract G-Fresh was forced to sign. Joe is agitated after nearly being shot in the head, but Ben is excited by being a real superhero.

Orgazmo becomes an amazing success, both financially and critically, and Orbison withholds Joe's paycheck to keep him in town long enough to announce a sequel. Tempted by a doubled salary, Joe is confronted by Lisa, who has found out what he has been doing and leaves him. Facing production difficulties and harassment from Orbison's unsympathetic nephew A-Cup, Joe tries to back out of the project, but Orbison refuses. When Joe stands up to him, Orbison has Lisa kidnapped. Ben realizes the thugs who assaulted G-Fresh work for Orbison, and he joins Joe in storming Orbison's mansion before Lisa can be forced to perform in one of Orbison's films.

Fighting through Orbison's group of henchmen, Joe and Ben meet their match in A-Cup. Joe encourages Ben to unleash his long-repressed Hamster Style discipline of martial arts, allowing Ben to beat A-Cup. After repairing his damaged Orgazmorator, Joe repeatedly shoots Orbison with it, incapacitating him and capturing all the henchmen. Ben blows up the mansion with another device, the "Cock Rocket", destroying Orbison's base of operations. Joe and Lisa reconcile, and she gives him her blessing to remain in Los Angeles and continue being a hero alongside Ben.

A doctor tells Orbison that after so many orgasms in a row, his testicles have swollen to the size of oranges, and surgical removal is the only option. A now insane Orbison declares revenge on Orgazmo and becomes the personification of A-Cup's character, who is immune to the Orgazmorator: Neutered Man.

Cast

 * Trey Parker as Joe Young/Orgazmo
 * Dian Bachar as Ben Chapleski/Choda Boy
 * Robert Lansing as Young Ben
 * Robyn Lynne Raab as Lisa
 * Michael Dean Jacobs as Maxxx Orbison
 * Matt Stone as Dave The Photographer
 * Masao Maki as G-Fresh
 * Toddy Walters as Georgi
 * Ron Jeremy as Clark/Jizzmaster Zero
 * David Dunn as A-Cup/Neutered Man
 * Chasey Lain as Candi
 * Juli Ashton as Saffi
 * Shayla LaVeaux as Greek porn actress
 * Jill Kelly as Nurse
 * Lloyd Kaufman as Doctor
 * Max Hardcore as Award show presenter
 * Christi Lake
 * Jeanna Fine
 * Jacklyn Lick
 * Mike Eaton as Meatfish
 * Melissa Hill
 * Serenity

Release
Orgazmo premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1997. The Motion Picture Association of America gave the film an NC-17 rating, resulting in a very limited release in the US. An unrated version was released on the two-sided DVD set along with the theatrical version; it is two minutes shorter than the original 94-minute release. The film was released via Blu-ray on May 12, 2015. This includes both versions of the film and all the features from the DVD.

Critical reception
As of September 2022, the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 48% and an average rating of 4.90/10 based on 33 reviews. The website's critical consensus read: "More juvenile than provocative, Orgazmo may have enough good-natured raunch to satisfy writer-director Trey Parker's fans, but its satire is too soft to compete with the South Park co-creator's best work." As of September 2020, the film had a score of 48 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Roger Ebert gave the film half a star out of four, arguing that Orgazmo had little of the clever wit Parker and Stone brought to South Park and calling it "callow, gauche, obvious and awkward, and designed to appeal to those with similar qualities". On the other hand, James Berardinelli gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "crude, rude, profane, and funny" and the kind of movie that makes "for a great event at parties".

Orgazmo has been deemed a cult film, mostly by fans of South Park, which Parker and Stone subsequently released to critical acclaim. Its reception and rating by the MPAA is discussed in the 2006 documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated.

title: Orgazmo


text:
User talk:GarnetRChaney

Hello, welcome to Wikipedia. Here are some useful links in case you haven't already found them:

 * How to edit a page
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Also, when making edits to an article, it's best to leave a short summary of your changes so others can follow your changes more easily.

If you have any questions, see the help pages, add a question to the village pump or ask me on my talk page. I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Daniel Quinlan 08:00, Dec 13, 2003 (UTC)

I think it was borderline before wetman's last edit. I've definitely removed stub warnings from articles of that length and I rarely add bother adding them to articles that long. It's a judgement call. I try to gauge it more on content than length, but usually, anything below about 400 bytes in length is going to be a stub. Daniel Quinlan 21:51, Dec 13, 2003 (UTC) (Note: I removed the stub warning.)

garnetchaney.com
Not to be a complete asshole, but neither of your googlewhacks are googlewhacks. To quote the official googlewhack rules:

"Don't use quote marks within your query!"

"In the blue bar atop your Google results, accepted terms are linked to dictionary.com, and so appear 'underlined.' No line, no link = Googlejack!"

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news and all.

--HawkeVIPER

Oh, and one other thing, your e-mail script is b0rked... if you have access to the server, chmod it.

Nomination of List of slaves for deletion
A discussion is taking place as to whether the article List of slaves is suitable for inclusion in Wikipedia according to Wikipedia's policies and guidelines or whether it should be deleted.

The article will be discussed at Articles for deletion/List of slaves until a consensus is reached, and anyone is welcome to contribute to the discussion. The nomination will explain the policies and guidelines which are of concern. The discussion focuses on high-quality evidence and our policies and guidelines.

Users may edit the article during the discussion, including to improve the article to address concerns raised in the discussion. However, do not remove the article-for-deletion notice from the top of the article. Ducknish (talk) 21:17, 25 March 2013 (UTC)

title: User talk:GarnetRChaney