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User:Quietly

Hi, I'm Cody—I mostly read wikipedia, but I fix mistakes when I recognize them. I've got a B.Sc. degree in Math-Physics, and spend most of my time reading math, science, and economics articles, which all tend to be pretty mature. I consider myself a scientific humanist, a strict physicalist, and I subscribe to metaphysical naturalism.

These are the most interesting people of whom I am aware: Steven Pinker, PZ Myers (blog), A.C. Grayling, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Richard Feynman, Christopher Hitchens, Steven Weinberg, Karl Popper, Bill Hicks, Bertrand Russell, Ann Druyan, Doug Stanhope, Carl Sagan.

Interesting people
People I respect or just find interesting (I believe these people to be worth listening to—many of them are polymaths, and thus defy categorization).

Mathematicians

 * Hypatia (notable as one of the earliest famous female mathematicians and an early casualty of intelligence)
 * Jon von Neumann (polymath-computer science/mathematics/physics)

Mostly Religious

 * Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins and their left behind series of books
 * Becky Fischer (and anyone else who thinks children should be taught that religious belief is worth dying for, or who advocates any form of religious war)
 * Kirk Cameron (who I think is mostly too silly to be truly harmful, but has portrayed such ignorance as to convince me he is a liar)
 * Henry M. Morris ("father of modern 'creation science' ", d. 2006) and the Institute for Creation Research that he founded
 * David Barton—evangelical minister, right-wing advocate, and political activist—who appears to think footnotes are a reasonable measure of a text's value, and he doesn't understand basic history or science.
 * Dinesh D'Souza (for this sort of drivel)
 * Peter Popoff — faith healer (a.k.a. fraud) minister who after being exposed in 1987 has remained a tremendously financially successful con-man preying on the poor of mind.

-ists and -isms
Physicalism, Inclusionists, Rationalism, Critical Rationalism, Secular Humanism (as well as scientific humanism), Progressivism, Activism, Skepticism, Brights, Freethought, Libertarian socialism, Cornucopian, Absurdism, Antimilitarism, International Humanist and Ethical Union, Empiricism, Consilience. ...okay, so they aren't all -ists and -isms.

Interests
My interest is some combination of physics, computer science and mathematics, specifically the nature of phase transitions in both physical systems and computational problems. Other interests include human behavior, sex, quantum computing, phase transitions, bifurcation theory, QM, Turboencabulator performance, GR, schlieren, visual effects, zitterbewegung, speed modeling, photogrammetry, genetic programming.

Resources for quantum computing
centre for quantum computation, a course at MIT, another course at MIT, notes at Caltech, qwiki, quantiki, loads of links, who what and where, courses, more who what where, John Preskill's page, institute for quantum computing.

Philosophical
What We Can Know About the World Without Looking at It by Sean Carroll Do Animals Have Beliefs? by Daniel Dennett Is Neuroscience the Death of Free Will? by Eddy Nahmias

Math & Science
What is Science? by Richard Feynman There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom by Richard Feynman When Does Science Become Technology And Why Does It Matter? by Ursula Goodenough The Relativity of Wrong by Isaac Asimov Seriously, the laws underlying the physics of everyday life really are completely understood by Sean Carroll; (it's a good followup to Asimov's aforementioned Relativity of Wrong) Are There Mysterious Forces Lurking in Our Atoms and Galaxies? by Sean Carroll; another good explanation of how science has really explained everything most people could think of Dysteleological Physicalism by Sean Carroll; another strong defense of the philosophy with which I strongly identify Third Base by Brian Hayes

Biology
The Origin of Life - Abiogenesis - Dr. Jack Szostak by cdk007 Bang Goes the Theory: Evolution Made Simple by Dr. Yan (5:28 effective demonstration of evolution) Douglas Adams: Parrots the Universe and Everything, a talk he gave at UCSB, with a very interesting story about parrots. Randolph Nesse interviewed by Richard Dawkins; Nesse is an evolutionary physician, and provides many fascinating insights into the evolutionary causes of our quirky biological makeup. What malaria looks like, the truly amazing thing about this video is the illustration of the precise mechanics of mitosis. Spit and adenosine triphosphate, an animated gif of the molecular mechanism that produces ATP (which your body produces it's entire weight of, every single day!). Beau Lotto: Optical illusions show us how we see, (TED talk). What malaria looks like, a short writeup by Ned Gulley on Drew Berry's incredible visualizations of molecular machinery. See also Spit and adenosine triphosphate, Molecular models, and Molecular biology animations, and this Visual Science page illustrating the structure of the influenza virus. In The Human Brain Size Really Isn't Everything by Carl Zimmer The Girl Who Turned to Bone by Carl Zimmer

Computer Science
The Algorithm: Idiom of Modern Science by Bernard Chazelle Who Can Name the Bigger Number? by Scott Aaronson Scooping the Loop Snooper Geoffrey K. Pullum The Easiest Hard Problem by Brian Hayes On the Threshold by Brian Hayes

Physics
Teaching Quantum Physics Without Paradoxes by Art Hobson

Atheism & Religion
One More Reason Religion Is So Messed Up: Respected Theologian Defends Genocide and Infanticide by Greta Christina The Reagan Doctrine by Isaac Asimov Am I an Atheist or Agnostic? by Bertrand Russell [http://www.csicop.org/si/2003-11/ann-druyan.html Ann Druyan Talks About Science, Religion, Wonder, Awe. . . and Carl Sagan] by Ann Druyan A Designer Universe? by Steven Weinberg Food for the Eagle by Adam Savage Are we Better Off Without Religion? by Sue Blackmore Religion Looks Manmade: The “Yo’ Ancestor” jokes of Genesis by Chris Hallquist Confrontation All the Way by PZ Myers The Strange Case of Francis Collins by Sam Harris God and Evidence - A Strident Proposal by Steve Zara Can an Atheist be a Fundamentalist? by AC Grayling Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists, a documentary about the ultra-nationalist Jewish settlers on the West Bank. 50 Renowned Academics Speaking About God and Another 50 Renowned Academics Speaking About God—compare with 20 Christian Academics Speaking About God Letter to philosopher Erik Gutkind by A. Einstein Whither Eagleman? Sam Harris challenging David Eagleman's "Possibilianism" philosophy of religious matters. Why I refuse to debate with William Lane Craig by Richard Dawkins Baggini discovers that the faithful really believe that stuff on Jerry Coyne's blog, Why Evolution is True; about how religion is in fact primarily about belief, and not socializing or community A Common Atheist Delusion by PZ Myers; PZ's take on Baggini's newfound understanding that "believers believe". When People Ask Why I have a Problem with Religion Sacking the City of God by PZ Myers

Videos
Intelligence Squared Debate: Islam is a Religion of Peace, with Zeba Khan and Maajid Nawaz in favor, and Douglas Murray and Ayaan Hirsi Ali opposing. Richard Dawkins interviewing Wendy Wright. This interview was supposed to be about evolution, but it serves as an example of how religious belief has poisoned this woman's mind in such a way that she can't even pay attention to simple arguments. Daniel Dennett - The Genius of Charles Darwin: The Uncut Interviews Peter Singer - The Genius of Darwin: The Uncut Interviews - Richard Dawkins Steven Pinker - The Genius of Charles Darwin: The Uncut Interviews Dan Dennett: A secular, scientific rebuttal to Rick Warren "Are Christians Delusional?" Richard Carrier Skepticon 3 Madalyn Murray O'Hair speaking up for atheism and secularism on the Long John Radio Phone In Show in 1968 Why Are You Atheists So Angry? Greta Christina's Skepticon IV talk defending atheist anger against religion. She also wrote about it here: Atheists and Anger.

On Education
From Degrading to De-Grading by Alfie Kohn A Mathematician’s Lament by Paul Lockhart Extreme Thinking By Michael A. Nielsen Dear Emma B. by PZ Myers Context Matters by Jen McCreight The Perimeter of Ignorance by Neil deGrasse Tyson Rethinking How We Teach The 'Net Generation' on NPR's Talk of the Nation Changing Education Paradigms (video) by Sir Ken Robinson The best way to win an argument by tomstafford. (On changing minds, and the relationship between understanding something and being able to explain it to someone else.) The Learning Myth: Why I'll Never Tell My Son He's Smart by Salman Khan How do Unschoolers Turn Out? by Luba Vangelova The Trouble With Harvard by Steven Pinker

On Science, Technology, Society & Culture
When ideas have sex, Matt Ridley (TED conference video) Faith and Foolishness: When Religious Beliefs Become Dangerous by Lawrence Krauss The High Frontier, Redux by Charlie Stross. (He lays out clear arguments for why we are probably trapped on Earth.) Open Architecture Democracy by Michael Nielsen Power Density by John Baez (& the impending energy crisis we face) Why the French Like Nuclear Energy by Frontline producer Jon Palfreman Republicans Against Science by Paul Krugman FDR's Second Bill of Rights The Storytelling of Science, with Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Richard Dawkins, Brian greene, Ira Flatow, Neal Stephenson, Tracy Day, and Lawrence Krauss.

Economics
Robert Reich explaining his movie Inequality for All to Bill Moyers, laying out the arguments for why economic inequality is a serious problem in need of correction Balancing the Budget by Jane Midgley The Big Blip by Brian Hayes Everything is Under Control by Brian Hayes Official Report on Flash Crash: Nothing to See Here by masaccio The Theory of Interstellar Trade by Paul Krugman Degrees and Dollars by Paul Krugman Knowing Sooner advocating better problem solving of complex systems through complex solutions Junk mortgages under the microscope by Allan Sloan, explaining how the housing bubble infected the financial industry. More on Defense by Paul Krugman, describing how even cutting military down to a modest size won't solve budgetary problems plaguing healthcare. Hey, Small Spender Op-ed by Paul Krugman attempting to dispel the myth that government grew tremendously lately. And a critic, Brian Riedl's response. (I find the critic to have an obtuse view of Krugman's article—that or conscious deceit!) Stop Coddling the Super-Rich by Warren E. Buffett Tax Fraud (Debunking the claim that higher income-tax rates reduce GDP) by Eliot Spitzer The Woman Who Knew Too Much by Suzanna Andrews (Vanity Fair piece on Elizabeth Warren) Paleomonetarism by Paul Krugman Killing the Euro by Paul Krugman Judicial Watch Forces Release of Bank Bailout Documents (Judicial Watch press release, links to the documents from October 13th 2008 meeting in which the 9 largest US banks were partially nationalized—a day I think we should celebrate as the death of the free market.)

Inflation
Core Logic by Paul Krugman Good Inflation, Bad Inflation by Paul Krugman The link between Money Supply and Inflation by Tejvan Pettinger How Did Economists Get It So Wrong? by Paul Krugman (on the history of economics between 1950 and 2000) New Frontiers in Economic Barbarism by Paul Krugman (see also the followup Exchange Rates and Wages, on the stickiness of wages and benefits of allowing a currency's value to float in the foreign exchange)

Government Debt
Nobody Understands Debt, US Net Investment Income, Debt is (Mostly) Money We Owe to Ourselves, More on the Burden of Debt, and The Burden of Debt Again Again by Paul Krugman

Ethical
Shades of gray by PZ Myers What Should a Billionaire Give - and What Should You? by Peter Singer But Women Don't Rape by Jill. It helped raise my consciousness to the deeper complexities of equal rights between genders. Though it seems to me that we still have a very long road ahead of us. The Halliburton Loophole — NY Times editorial Guest Blogger Starling: Schrödinger’s Rapist: or a guy’s guide to approaching strange women without being maced by Phaedra Starling. Peter Singer - Global Atheist Convention 2010, (video). Singer discusses empirical evidence relating to morality, science and religion. Peter Singer - The Genius of Darwin: The Uncut Interviews - Richard Dawkins (video). Singer discusses the reasoning behind his morality. A New Years Resolution for the Rich, How Rich is Too Rich? and How to Lose Readers (Without Even Trying) by Sam Harris, and Tax the Rich, (PZ Myer's take). A New Year's Resolution for the Rich by Sam Harris Hofling hospital experiment A History of Violence by Steven Pinker Shuffling feet: a black man's view on Schördinger's Rapist by Crommunist Richard Wilkinson: How Economic inequality harms societies, another great TED talk The School for Public Health at Harvard's collection of research literature on firearms and homicide and suicide In Suicide Prevention, It's Method, Not Madness The Bryant Park Project, reported at NPR CDC data on the leading causes of death and injury Call Me Lucky by Barry Crimmins (presenting a rather enlightened view concerning retaliatory brutality) This episode of RadioLab on Blame, in particular the segment “Dear Hector” about an almost incomprehensible degree of forgiveness The Brain on Trial by David Eagleman

Circumcision (Genital Mutilation)
[http://aeon.co/magazine/philosophy/male-and-female-circumcision-are-equally-wrong/ Boys and girls alike An un-consenting child, an unnecessary, invasive surgery: is there any moral difference between male and female circumcision? ] by Brian D. Earp at the University of Oxford, (a shortened version of the following well-documented article: Female genital mutilation (FGM) and male circumcision: Should there be a separate ethical discourse?) Should you circumcise your child? by PZ Myers [http://www.skeptic.org.uk/magazine/features/64-published/711-does-science-support-infant-circumcision-a-skeptical-reply-to-brian-morris Does science support infant circumcision? A skeptical reply to Brian Morris] by Brian D. Earp and Robert Darby I Refuse to Circumcise My Son Because it Keeps Growing Back by Clickhole (The Onion)

Comedy
Christian Right Lobbies to Overturn Second Law of Thermodynamics by The Onion Caltech Physicists Successfully Split the Bill by The Onion [https://www.theonion.com/abstinence-education-doesnt-work-1819559677 What? Abstinence-only-education can't overcome our most basic instinct?] by The Onion The Paradox of The Question by Ned Markosian

On Sex
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF-CX9mAHPo Al Vernacchio: Sex needs a new metaphor. Here's one...] (A TED talk).

Progressive Ideas About Rights, Work, & Basic Guaranteed Income
The Second Bill of Rights proposed by Franklin D. Roosevelt Manna by Marshall Brain In Praise of Idleness by Bertrand Russell Why a medieval peasant got more vacation time than you by Lynn Parramore It's the 21st century — why are we working so much? by Owen Hatherley Should the government pay you to be alive? - Ideas - The Boston Globe, by Leon Neyfakh The Case for a Higher Minimum Wage by the editorial board How Scarcity Trap Affects Our Thinking, Behavior by Shankar Vedantam Utah to End Homelessness by 2015 by Jenny Shank (about how Utah has learned that it is cheaper to give homeless people apartments and social workers than to pay for the healthcare and policing costs of homelessness) [https://www.freelancersunion.org/blog/dispatches/2014/08/01/americans-are-overworked-arent-taking-time-what-gives/ Americans are overworked but aren't taking time off. What gives?] by Sara Horowitz

Other
The Metaphysician's Nightmare by Bertrand Russell Vagueness by Bertrand Russell Theoy of Knowledge by Bertrand Russell The Internet Debacle:An Alternative View by Janis Ian The Hydrogen Hoax by Robert Zubrin Inside the Autistic Mind by Claudia Wallis Memory by Joshua Foer, along with Understanding the Brain of a Man with No Conscious Memory by John Timmer at Ars Technica Letter to Ben Stein's Victims by Richard Dawkins Emmy Noether's Obituary by Albert Einstein What's Wrong with Western Music? Part I. Part II. Part III. by Bernard Chazelle Rat Park on wikipedia Learned helplessness on wikipedia Bruce Schneier on Security Who Writes Wikipedia? by Aaron Swartz The Truth about Violence: 3 Principles of Self-Defense by Sam Harris (Eye-opening, clear, indisputable, and vital—but a grave topic.) How Companies Learn Your Secrets by Charles Duhigg Project GREAT a brilliantly accessible demonstration of gravitational time dilation The Lyndon Johnson tapes: Richard Nixon's 'treason' by David Taylor, crazy insights into Nixon's apparent disruption (for political gain) of Johnson's plans to end the Vietnam war. Recovering From Hate by Christina Couch, about the forces that lead people into — an out of — hate groups. Project Implicit, research into implicit bias.

Useful resources:
LaTeX to pdf conversion (web-based) postscript to pdf conversion (web-based) physics news updates quantum physics (at arxiv) qwiki, quantum physics wiki quantiki, quantum information science wiki

/sandbox /chalkboard /mirabile dictu

title: User:Quietly


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Arnold (automobile)

The Arnold was one of the first motor cars manufactured in the United Kingdom. It was produced in East Peckham, Kent between 1896 and 1898.

History
William Arnold & Sons of East Peckham, Kent, was an agricultural engineering company founded in about 1844.

In 1895 they acquired a licence to build Benz cars. As the Arnold Motor Carriage Co. from 1896 to 1898. the firm built twelve cars patterned after the Benz but fitted with their own engines. Two Arnolds were exhibited at Crystal Palace in 1896.

Louise Bazalgette and William Arnold's partner, Henry Hewetson, were photographed at the historic "emancipation run" which is the race still celebrated by the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. This was the first time that cars were allowed to do 14 mph and it was the first meeting of the Automobile Club (for male drivers). Bazalgette was driving an Arnold motor car.

One Arnold from 1896 was fitted with one of the world's first self-starters, by electrical engineer Herbert John Dowsing. This was a dynamotor coupled to the flywheel, designed to assist the car on hills and well as starting the engine.

Two Arnold cars survive.

On 28 January 1896 Walter Arnold, of the Arnold (automobile) company of East Peckham, was summonsed for travelling at 8 mph in a motorised vehicle, thereby exceeding the contemporary speed limit for towns of 2 mph. He had been caught by a policeman who had given chase on a bicycle. He was fined 1 shilling plus costs, the first speeding fine in England, and thus became the first person to be convicted of speeding in the UK.

Other sources
"Arnold", in G.N. Georgano, ed., The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars 1885–1968 (New York: E.P. Dutton and Co., 1974).

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

title: Arnold (automobile)


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Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Elections July 2004/Candidate statements

This page lists the candidates who stood in the Arbitration Committee Elections July 2004 for two missing seats on the Arbitration committee.

All users interested in the position were invited to add brief candidate statements to this page. These were to be no more than 250 words and candidates were asked to outline their views on banning and how strict they felt the Arbitration Committee should be.

THIS PAGE IS NOW FROZEN. Since the election is over, new candidacies are no longer permitted and will be removed. The results of the vote are at Arbitration Committee Elections July 2004.

172
13:26, 25 Jul 2004 I'd like to enter myself into the race. Members of the arbitration committee should see the bigger picture and better distinguish between users mucking up Wikipedia with inane rubbish and users dedicated to writing a serious, quality encyclopedia. As an active user since December 2002 (ranked #60 on the most recent list of list of most active on all namespaces), administrator since May 2003 (making me the most senior admin in this field of candidates), and main author of a few featured articles, I can see this big picture; and my user history clearly demonstrates a commitment to making this into a viable encyclopedia and to fighting for scholarly standards on Wikipedia.

As of now, arbitration seems to focus too much on personality instead of the merit of the edits. This is what I want to change. As an arbitrator, I'd favor focusing on the accuracy and constructiveness of the edits in question-- as opposed to the personalities-- to the greatest extent possible within the framework of the established norms, rules and procedures of the committee.

Wikipedia is no longer the small community it once was, but rather an increasingly complex and cumbersome, occasionally haphazard organization of thousands of users, with some users finding themselves in many different niches; unfortunately, trolls seem to understand this better than some sitting members of the arbitration committee. Too often trolls gain considerable sympathy by playing "victim." (I note in particular what happened to Wik, who used to be one of Wikipedia's best contributors until he was driven off by trolls and vandals.) I worry that the systems in place to resolve disputes, like the arbitration, are perhaps actually exacerbating them.

I welcome any questions on my talk page. 172 13:26, 25 Jul 2004 (UTC)

[BTW, I am extremely impressed by Sj's candidate statement in particular. I could not have said what he's articulating in his statement better myself. 172 12:00, 2 Aug 2004 (UTC)]

Raul654
01:28, 26 Jul 2004

I'm running now because I think the arbcom needs dedicated, serious people to shoulder serious responsiblity. I've been here a long time (almost a year), I know most of the users, and I think most of you know me. I think I've established a reputation for fairness and good judgement. I've argued before the arbitration committee before (and as of two days ago I was about to argue another case there), and I'm very well versed in our policies - I've helped write many of them.

Unlike most of the current arbcom, I'm usually very involved in day-to-day matters on Wikipedia. I'm a lot more aware of what's going on than most other users, and this gives me better perspective than most.

I think my view on problem users is best summed up by this email I sent to the mailing list, in response to a question from Jimbo. As I said there, I feel that most problems on Wikipedia stem from a small group of well-known users who do their best to disrupt things without violating any written rules. I'd like to see common-sense applied in these cases. Contributors who are habitally told that their actions are unacceptable should not expect the arbcom to give them yet-another-warning. In cases where it's apparent that the user will not reform, I do support banning. →Raul654 01:28, Jul 26, 2004 (UTC)

Note - Snowspinner asked me to comment on how I would have acted in previous arbcom cases. You can find my answers here. →Raul654 00:47, Aug 5, 2004 (UTC)

Snowspinner (withdrawn)
02:31, 26 Jul 2004

I've cheated a bit and put a longer statement at User:Snowspinner/arbcom. The short form, however, is that I have a lot of past experience moderating Internet communities, and have a good understanding of how to balance the need to cater to community desire with the need to exercise good judgment. I would say that my position is probably a bit more strict than much of the arbitration committee, but I don't think I'm particularly out of line with them. (And you can read on my longer statement how I'd have ruled on several prior cases).

Generally, my goal would be to minimize disruption to Wikipedia. This involves giving problem users with hope of reforming opportunities to reform, but acting swiftly and decisively against those with actively bad intentions. Permabans are not unreasonable for some users, and should be employed when necessary.

I also promise to move quickly to decide to or not to hear cases, and to make my votes on rulings.

Past that, most of what Raul says applies just fine to me too. Snowspinner 21:05, Jul 26, 2004 (UTC)

A late addition - because I'd really like to shower this particular idea with praise. I really, really like the most recent innovation to come from the arbcom, the standing order as in Requests for Arbitration/Standing orders/Anthony. I think this is a very good step towards dealing with users who are creating problems but do not seem to be editing in bad faith, and, if elected to the arbitration committee, would make great use of these. Snowspinner 23:41, Jul 28, 2004 (UTC)

Since I have one case before the arbcom at the moment and it appears that the matter of Avala is going to be heard as well, I do not feel that at the present the arbitration committee would be well served by my membership, since it would only lead to a number of recusals. Furthermore, I note that there's a paucity of people who are willing to put the time into compiling substantive evidence dossiers for the arbcom. Since there are many candidates already on this page that I find acceptable, I am more inclined to let one of them take the position on the arbcom, and to continue making my contributions ones of evidence for the time being. Snowspinner 17:21, Jul 31, 2004 (UTC)

Ambi (formerly known as Ambivalenthysteria)
03:22, 26 Jul 2004

I've had an account here for over a year now, and hopefully, many of you have come to know me. I'm running because, while I appreciate the excellent job the AC have done in establishing the Committee over the last few months, I see need for improvement. I'm not talking about policy either - that's another matter entirely.

The slow speed of proceedings over the last few months is one thing that concerns me. I'm always around, and it's a rare day that I don't check into Wikipedia. If I'm elected to the AC, it will become my first priority here, and I'll do my best to keep proceedings moving along.

When it comes to disciplinary action, I suspect that my position may be slightly more strict than that of many members of the current committee, but I can also think of some recent cases where I'd have voted for lighter sanctions. I've had a fair bit of experience in dealing with troublesome users, as both an administrator on another encyclopedia project for some years now, and a moderator on another site. As such, I tend to have little tolerance for those who come here to disrupt Wikipedia and contribute nothing, and believe in dealing with them firmly and quickly, though of course respecting precedent and policy. However, if it seems that the behaviour of a disruptive user could be corrected, I'll try to advocate a sanction to encourage this. In this way, I'm very much in favour of the new concept of standing orders.

Finally, as with Raul, I believe that habitual disruptors should not expect the AC to give them warning after warning. If the user shows no inclination towards reforming, I too support banning. In response to a note on my talk page, if I'm elected here, I plan to resign my position on the Mediation Committee. If anyone has any further questions, please feel free to ask me.

Sam Spade
04:13, 26 Jul 2004

I am very concerned to see so many departures and the slowness of the process, and feel it is imperative that departed members return to the committee as expeditiously as possible. If elected I commit to participating fully and regularly.

I provide my edit history as example of my neutrality and judgment, and my talk page in order to contact me w any questions regarding my positions on various matters. Generally I tend to side w the consensus of other committee members, with a preference toward progressive punishment. In the case of Paul Vogel, I would have voted to ban for one month, with his return conditional on creating a user account, obeying policy, avoiding copyright violations, etc., w any violation resulting in a 2 month ban, etc. I strongly favor the doubling policy in regards to punishments, starting with a small penalty, and doubling it with each subsequent violation.

I think the arbitration committee should not be in the business of writing policy, but that individual members should be encouraged to submit policy proposals, and guide public consensus, voting often and voicing their opinions on sundry matters of importance. I think it is imperative that arbitration committee members respect and enforce policy, rather than becoming "rogue" judges. I support Dealing with disruptive or antisocial editors as a policy proposal, and in general am strongly in favor of more policy enforcement.

Sam [Spade] 04:13, 26 Jul 2004 (UTC)

David Gerard
I think the AC system has proven basically sound so far; its only problem is it's paralysingly slow, as it finds its feet. The job sucks by definition, but needs to be done.

The AC is the court of last resort. Spammers or personal abuse are clear cases to be dealt with quickly and sharply. 24-hour blocks for egregious personal attacks after a warning are becoming accepted practice, which I approve of. I don't consider good actions an excuse for bad ones.

I view the real problem on Wikipedia as being people who just don't get it socially — how to work effectively with people even when you regard them as clueless and obnoxious. Playing well with others is not that easy for some. I try very hard not to blow my top writing on Wikipedia, even when dealing with the deeply troublesome. Such people will be the ones ending up at the AC. I support rapid decisions aimed at minimising damage to the wiki and its social structure, secondly with hope for reform of the problem child.

I've spent many years on dealing effectively with trolls, vandals and spammers in Internet communities, particularly Usenet. I've also been on the CAUBE-AU committee since 1998 (the Australian anti-spam organisation).

I've been on Wikipedia since December 2003 and an administrator a bit over a month, something I view as the large and shiny keyring that you get with your mop and bucket. - David Gerard 15:18, 26 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Jwrosenzweig
I wish to "toss my hat into the ring" as well, meaning absolutely no direspect to or lack of confidence in the above candidates.

Banning: I believe banning is an important tool which we must not use too frequently. Many disputes are nothing more than poor manners and bias. However, given the number of editors and edits here on a daily basis, "not too frequently" may still be much more often than was true 12 months ago when I started editing here. We need to accept that -- we are a major source of information on a worldwide network, and by its very nature we attract those who would destroy us and those who wish to bend our site to their own ends and devices. We should assume good faith for new arrivals who are learning our ways, but when it becomes clear that someone is here for the purpose of destroying the site or commandeering it and cannot be dissuaded by a lesser penalty, we have to be ready to ban swiftly and firmly. I hope enough people know me by now to know that I do my best to be patient and welcoming to new users who need help adjusting, and that I can therefore be trusted to know when the time for patience has passed, and the time for consequences has arrived.

I have submitted evidence in 3 arbitration cases, and been a party to one. I believe this gives me good insight into how the process has worked (largely, very well) and into how it feels to be on the other side of the coin. I hope to propose ideas that will help the AC continue to develop a wise and fair system. I like the idea of mediation and hope to support increased dialogue between MC and AC. And lastly, while I aim to take care in making decisions to ensure I am not being rash or hasty, I also hope to improve the speed of the AC by voting more quickly, especially on cases that are fairly clear. I have edited here since July 2003, been an administrator since September 2003, and was made a bureaucrat last month. I would appreciate your vote, and will not hold it against anyone who prefers one of the other excellent candidates for this post. Jwrosenzweig 18:08, 26 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Misterrick
Arbitration is of the main keys to maintaining the integrity on Wikipedia. I would like to point out that although I have not participated in any type of arbitration on either side of the Wikipedia service. I currently work negotiating contracts between video/television production companies and their clients in the New York City metropolitan area. In addition to negotiating I act as an independent arbitrator in the event a dispute arises between a production company and the client. I have been employed in this field for approximately 5 1/2 years and I am confident that I can be an asset as an arbitrator on Wikipedia. Misterrick 04:19, 28 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Merovingian
Problem solving is the only effective way to resolve a dispute between parties. The only other practical way is war. We are not here to make war, because I believe that as decent indiviuals, we know how to resolve a dispute. Wikipedia, while a wiki community, is not a place to make enemies in the first. It is, however, inevitable that disputes between users arise. It is up to the Arbitration Committee to solve these disputes.

So far, the Arbitration Committee has produced diligent results. Its only problem is its slowness. I heartily enjoy maintaining Wikipedia, but I feel that as an arbitrator, I can bring a fresh, sensible fairness to the Committee.

I do not believe that the Committee's members need to have an excessive amount of contributions or powers. While there is nothing wrong with these attributes, and while they may even be benefits, gross statistical information is not always important.

What is important? Opinion is not. The Arbitration Committee, as a microcosm of Wikipedia itself, welcomes differences in opinion, so long as they neither cloud judgment nor precipitate danger. Fairness is the important. Wikipedia has taught me to better consider opposing viewpoints. For example, in my nation many substances are illegal. Dealing with the NPOV policy taught me to begin to understand why legalizing such substances may be a good idea. While I hold my own subjective viewpoint on the issue, I comprehend and can appreciate opponents' views.

That is the kind of equality and balance I wish to bring to the Arbitration Committee.

I have many kind people to thank for invaluable advice given to me throughout my tenure here.

Let it be known that I have no animosity toward any of my opponents. I welcome any of their questions on my talk page. Merovingian ✍  Talk  11:06, Jul 31, 2004 (UTC)

Lir
I am strongly opposed to sysop abuses; we need non-sysops on the arbitration committee. I have been around for almost two years, and have edited thousands of articles. Lirath Q. Pynnor

Sj
I want to see the arbitration committee focus on being excellent arbiters of what is and what is not productive for the WP project, looking a reasonable amount of time into the future. To this end, I think the AC should respond quickly and prolifically to requests, and should shy away from micromanaging sentencing and endless agonizing over intent.

More effective than explicit banning, for some fixed period : removing the standard restrictions on interactions with a given user/article -- for instance, allowing automatic reversion of a user's edits to certain topics; or allowing a user to be banned by any sysop for any reason (allowing for other sysops to disagree & unban, or hammer out the details of ban duration [unlike an explicit, irrevocable ArbComm Ruling]) -- continuing to leave sentencing decisions in the hands of the broader body of users|admins. More comments and questions can be found on my talk page. +sj +


text:
Talk:Liberace/Archive 1

Pop culture reference in A Prayer for Owen Meany
Has anyone read the novel A prayer for owen meany? There's a fairly long reference about Liberace in the book. I thought I'd bring it up, but I don't know exactly what I should say in the mentioning. love, 99.236.170.52 (talk) 23:35, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

Please begin new discussions at the bottom of the page
I grew up in Phila PA. Every year, they had an 'Easter Day Parade' in center city. Each year there was a celebrity 'grandmaster' of the parade. The grandmaster would sit in the back of a convertible limosine and wave at the crowds. And the grandmaster was responsible for one more thing. Selecting the 'best dressed' person in the crowd. Actually, there were many 'best dressed' catagories...best dressed man, woman, child, etc....   In 1963, my parents took me (I was 7) and my 2 year old brother to the parade. And guess what? My brother and I were selected as 'best dressed boys' in Philadelphia. We even got to ride in the back of the convertible limosine! The next day, there was a picture in the local newspaper (the Bulletin) showing me and my little brother...both seated on the lap of the grandmaster, in the back of the limo! And to this day, I have a yellowing, newprint photo...of me, and my little brother, sitting on Liberace's lap!

Amazing, and congrats, howis this relevant to the article? will you be scanning the picture in?Killemall22 (talk) 15:56, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

Cleanup and expansion
I have vastly expanded and cleaned up this article. Wyss 3 July 2005 14:51 (UTC)

I have corrected the erroneous date regarding Paderewski and 1950. Jan Ignace Paderewski died in 1941. The story goes that Paderewski casually knew Liberace's mother and as a result of a visit to them, the one name concept was created.Dr.Dan

Liberace also appeared in an episode of the original Star Trek series "The Squire of Gothos".

No, that was william Campbell, who also played Captain Koloth in "The Trouble with Tribbles". However, the character does seem to be Liberace inspired. --67.175.8.60 20:07, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Pronunciation
Should there be a note about how to pronounce his name? It seems obvious to anyone who's ever heard it (most of us, by far) but to those who haven't, it looks like it should be "libber-Ace". I'm not sure exactly what the correct use of the phoentic alphabet (or whatever) is, so I don't want to add "pronounced 'Libber-AH-chee'", but if someone could add the standard format it might be beneficial. Just a thought. -R. fiend 03:12, 20 December 2005 (UTC)

I thougt that the name shoud be pronounced differently until I heard a song called "Mr.Sandman" ("and lots of wavy hair like Liberace")

I've added a phonetic spelling according to the IPA guidelines, I think it's a good idea, if you can read the phonetic alphabet ofcourse!

I'm not sure if you saved the change you made because the pronunciation at the start of the article still looks super weird to me. Who could ever even begin to pronounce whatever those characters are!! Maybe my computer is making them look look that????Joschus 16:12, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
 * I've added both an IPA version as well as a common version. This should help.  -- Snicker undefined°€ 16:15, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

Wasn't he gay?
i always thought that his sexuality was well established. Joeyramoney 16:38, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

 * Of course he was gay. DUH. Your GAYDAR not working today? Despite what the cowards in this thread say: it is important to state the obvious. Because OTHERWISE you are GUILTY of imputing the WRONG IMPRESSION. Something the extraordinarily cowardly Wikipedia does all the time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.227.114.140 (talk) 23:04, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

 * You are correct Joeyramoney. This article is overstating the case that he never admited his sexuality. In his 60 Minutes interview he quite clearly stated that he had to sue over his alleged homosexuality in the 1950's or his career would have been over, but, by the time of this interview, the public was more accepting. His A&E biography also confirms it. Oh well no use getting in an edit war over someting so obvious. MarnetteD | Talk 20:59, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

 * It was an open secret. Everyone in his social circle knew but didn't talk about it much and meanwhile he denied it in public until the day he died. Incredibly, many of his middle-aged and older (female) fans in the American heartland, even during the 1980s, thought he was straight and admired him for the love he expressed for his mother.

 * Its important to maintain a NPOV though, just because we "know" something to be true, we cant put it here unless we can prove it to be true through references to sources that can not be disputed. I do feel that a section about the questioning of his sexuality would be a more than NPOV thing to have since pretending that no one questions his sexuality would not be NPOV at all. ""(i forget how to sign things)

 * Bollocks. All that means is the next generation are going to have to go truth-hunting just like we did. But it sounds like you just don't care. It sounds like you'd rather not do anything wrong rather than trying to do something RIGHT. Your type makes me cringe.

 * Yes, he was gay. Everybody seems to be tip-toeing around it, though, like its 1964 or something. This is going to end. --98.232.180.37 (talk) 05:33, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Unless and until someone can provide a verfiable third party source with citation that Liberace stated he was gay, anything that states he was is speculation. While he obviously WAS, obvious and confirmed are two very different things, and Wikipedia doesn't operate on what might be, but what is. If anyone can provide a source for that 60 Minutes interview, a transcript perhaps, that would be great. Nezu Chiza (talk) 11:14, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Coward. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.227.114.140 (talk) 23:06, 25 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Hmm? While Liberace may have been a coward in how he dealt with his probable homosexuality, this isn't a discussion forum. Also, please use four ~ to sign your comments. I'm sure you didn't intend a comment stating "Coward" to be anonymous, that would be hypocrisy. Nezu Chiza (talk) 19:26, 26 January 2009 (UTC)
 * What would constitute a reliable source that he was gay? Pyron's biography is fantastic. I can't find a single source that asserts that Liberace had meaningful sexual relations with the opposite sex, in fact every source I know suggests the opposite is true. Gareth E Kegg (talk) 16:35, 5 July 2010 (UTC)

"Suggests" is just not good enough for a biography, whatever we may think. Sources are still required. Rodhull andemu  16:45, 5 July 2010 (UTC)
 * Doesn't the positive critical reception of Darden's biography give lie to Liberace's denials? I don't feel that Darden's book falls foul of OR. It passes every case. What evidence do we have that Liberace was hetrosexual? Gareth E Kegg (talk) 22:03, 5 July 2010 (UTC)
 * Positive critical reception of a book does not imply acceptance of the truth of any allegations made in it. The contents of the book stand on their own merits and the reputation of the author. Your last sentence is just nonsense; lack of evidence of heterosexuality is not evidence for homosexuality, and please see WP:BURDEN. If you think Darden's book is a reliable sourece, please seek comments at the reliable sources noticeboard. Rodhull  andemu  22:23, 5 July 2010 (UTC)
 * Good call :) I'll do that. You're a great editor. Gareth E Kegg (talk) 22:33, 5 July 2010 (UTC)
 * Rock Hudson never came out, yet he is listed on Wikipedia as being gay. Why isn't the same standard held for Liberace? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.72.27.204 (talk) 18:47, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

Vince Cardell
Vince Cardell redirects to this article. It was redirected because that article consited of one sentence, but the merge wasn't completed. I don't see exactly where this info would fit into the article, but if someone wants to add it, the full text was "Vince Cardell was a former protige of Liberace, and possibly love companion, due to his high exemplory of public flirting with Vince." It should have a source, which the redirected stub sadly didn't provide. I don't know enough about either man to know whether the merge should be completed or the redirect should be deleted as useless, but hopefully someone else will. --Icarus (Hi!) 03:40, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Competence as pianist
I would like some info on how competent he was as a pianist. I have heard he was very good, lousy and everything in between. 68.9.173.186 15:50, 31 August 2006 (UTC)Tommy

 * His competence and talents were more as an entertainer than as a pianist (which the article's first paragraph reflects). Without all the associated showmanship, considerable personal charisma, audience rapport, comedic flair and flashy costumes, his moderately talented piano playing might be best described as "fast and sloppy." His record sales plummeted after his TV show was cancelled and by the late 1960s (I believe) he had no recording contract and his records were being sold now and then by direct advertising on late night TV. He later thrived in Las Vegas because of his many gifts as a reliable showman and entertainer, not as a pianist.

Yes, I agree with the above (anonymous) reply, however one must also remember that Liberace was very good at certain styles of playing and in some cases better than anyone else. For example, he played octave trills and ornaments superbly, and his arpeggios were the best in the business. In addition, he also wrote most of his own piano arrangements, which is a talent and an art in itself. The orchestrations were usually done by someone else (George Liberace at first, then Gordon Robertson and later Bo Ayars). If one listens to the earlier recordings, in particular the 78 rpm discs of Chopin and Liszt and the recordings from the 1950's of the Cornish Rhapsody and Dream of Olwen, you can hear a high degree of talent in his playing. One other album which really shows off his talent as a pianist is Piano Song Book of Movie Themes, recorded late 1950's. He became lazier as time moved on and opted for easier arrangements of pop tunes to please his Las Vegas audiences. Money, money, money! In my opinion, he was never in the league of the "greats" in the classical repertoire, but then again, they couldn't do what he did either. I will draft something that reflects these ideas and include in the article at some stage soon - just need to be careful that it is not "an opinion" as opposed to fact, which is a bit of a grey area in cases like this. Musicmaker 13:00, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

 * The following is original research and not suitable for citation in the article so I'm putting it here only as a discussion point. I met him several times, was photographed with him, heard him play, heard lots of his recordings. He was intelligent, very professional, a highly talented comedian and skilled entertainer dripping with personal charm, charisma and genuine social ability. As a piano player he was moderately talented and sloppy with an ear for melody and a keen sense for working any audience. Lee had loads of talent, clearly knew his strengths and weaknesses, made a big impact on American popular culture and influenced many pop artists, including Elvis Presley. Although he began his career as a pianist, his talents didn't lead him into many concert halls or appearances with the CSO or BP, but early on into nightclubs, then television and finally Las Vegas. He isn't remembered as a pianist but as an entertainer and early mass media celebrity.

 * Did he go to the Juilliard school, as some people claim?

First name
Are you sure that his first name was actually Władziu and not Władysław? [Władziu is a common short for polish name Władysław]. —Preceding unsigned comment added by zahn (talk • contribs)

I was just going to say something about this when I saw this post. As the user above me had mentioned, in Polish language there is no official name "Władziu". It is one of the short forms, the other being Władek, of Władysław. Perhaps that's how his parents called him when he was a child and it just got stuck to him? Norum (talk) 00:09, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Notable instruments now in other hands
I am currently doing a rewrite on the Deborah Gibson article, and understand that Gibson now owns one of Liberace's many mirrored Baldwins. Is there any information on model and serial number, concerts where used, &c. for the particular piano now at Gibson's Hollywood, California-area residence? Be sure to include reference data so that I can inline it for the Infobox on the aforementioned rewrite. - B.C.Schmerker 02:55, 8 July 2007 (UTC)

Hi! There are many kinds of Baldwins that Liberace had specially made for him (or were given to him by Baldwin). Firstly, there are two "mirror tiled" Baldwin SD10 concert grands. One is at the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas and the other is located at the Dorchester Hotel in London, UK. Two more Baldwin SD10 grands were encrusted with Austrian Rhinestones and one was located at the Gibson Showcase in Nashville for many years up until about 2003, but has now apparently been moved somewhere else - this could be the one you have discovered at Gibson Hollywood. Many people confuse the mirror tiled Baldwins with the Austrian Rhinestone Baldwins, but they are all separate instruments: therefore four in total. There is also another very special SD10 concert grand that Baldwin made and gave to Liberace in 1969 as a present for being their endorsee - black ebony case with massive chromium front legs and a chromium pole for the back leg. Furthermore, there are normal black standard factory SD10's that he used as well for some concerts - not sure if he actually owned those ones though. Musicmaker 15:08, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

Fastest pianist?
I've heard that Liberace is the fastest pianist in the world, (notes/second). If it's true, I think it's worth mentioning in this article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 219.77.173.210 (talk) 07:16, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

 * Here's a page that says Ripley's named him fastest pianist in 1953 for playing 6,000 notes in 2 minutes. I don't have any idea if there really was nobody faster at the time and I don't know if or when Liberace was dethroned by a faster guy. Binksternet (talk) 17:58, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Uh, that's 50 notes per second. 71.174.144.189 (talk) 01:29, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

 * They didn't say it was true, they just said "Believe it or not!"

Gay
Since Liberace didn't indentify himself as gay or LGBT, in fact he went to great lengths to refute allegations that he was homoseuxal, why is the article in Category:Gay musicians and Category:LGBT people from the United States? --RucasHost (talk) 00:20, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

You're KIDDING right?!!! Another Wikiphile who wants to "suspend belief" over the obvious!06 March 2008 La-Tonia Denise Willis

I agree, La-Tonia. Just because he "didn't identify himself as (read: he LIED about whether he was) gay" does NOT mean that he was not one. Even the article itself correctly refers to Scott Thorson as "his boyfriend," which he was. Facts are facts; whether or not Liberace chose to address those facts in public is not our problem! NPOV has nothing to do with this. Liberace was gay. Period. End of story. Oh, and he was a public liar to boot.BobCubTAC (talk) 09:36, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

He's not gay. I don't see him listed under "Gay Musicians" or LGBT Musicians from the US.--68.79.94.175 (talk) 02:22, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

 * Thats because he hasn't been added yet. I'm going to add him. Lets stick a fork in this thing and be done with it. --98.232.180.37 (talk) 05:36, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

LGBT category definition for dead people is 'sexual orientation is known and not debated by historians'. It is not seriously debated that he was homosexual. That he denied it is of no relevance to categorizing dead people. Therefore he should go in the categories Gay musicians and LGBT musicians from the United States. Nietzsche 2 (talk) 01:43, 14 April 2009 (UTC)

 * What about gay historians?

 * I disagree. If historians do not debate this issue, it might be because it is uninteresting. There is no reason to treat dead people badly by slandering them just because they cannot sue Wikipedia (which sadly is what all this BLP stuff is all about). He denied that he was homosexual and no evidence to the contrary exists. Hence, he stays out.
 * PS. And even if he were sexually inclined to men, he certainly was not "gay" in that sense, not to speak of L,B and T. Str1977 (talk) 18:09, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

 * Heh, heh. You said "out".

 * Liberace's own resistance to public admittance is not what this article is about. It is about reliable, verifiable sources saying he is this or that. We compare and contrast the sources—we do not decide what the man was. Binksternet (talk) 07:20, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I agree. We report who said what and when. The current section does that. However, adding him in such a category when his sexual orientation is contentious would be "deciding what the man was". Str1977 (talk) 20:54, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

For the record, it is not true that a person always has to have publicly acknowledged their homosexuality during their lifetime to warrant categorization as gay; while that is necessary for people who are still living, because of WP:BLP concerns, once they're dead a consensus of reliable sources, such as biographies, indicating that the person was gay is sufficient regardless of what the person did or didn't claim while alive. This is especially true for a person who lived and died during a time when an LGBT public figure would not have been reasonably expected to actually come out — in his era, anti-LGBT discrimination was sufficiently prevalent and sufficiently serious that almost everybody denied it and was only officially outed after their deaths, so a record of denying it means nothing if the post-death sources reveal otherwise.

The case for Liberace, in fact, is that there is a well-established and entirely valid consensus of reliable sources for his sexual orientation having been gay — enough so, in fact, that the burden of proof is now on the other side to make an airtight case that he wasn't gay if they want the categorization removed. Bearcat (talk) 02:03, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Andy Kaid
I don't really know very much about Liberace; is the recent edit linking him with Andy Kaid but lacking a source legitimate, or is it just some high-schooler adding in his mate's name? -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 19:32, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

More pictures!
He was such a showman - surely there's more pictures showing him in all his glory? Fainites barley 22:12, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

 * "In all his glory" usually means "naked." Just what are you after here, dear?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.171.176.1 (talk) 21:03, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

i concur, is it really that hard to find more fair use pics?Killemall22 (talk) 16:07, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

Wig?
I just watch a clip of Liberace with Jack Benny and it seemed that Liberace was wearing a pretty obvious hairpiece. Is this a documented fact, or did he have "odd" hair? Apepper (talk) 18:44, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

A Couple of things
1) In Death, it mentions, the "recently aired" Oprah Winfrey. I don't know this, but surely a date would be better. 2) Also, in popular culture, there is quite a famous reference in Futurama (references to the "Treasure of Liberace's Tomb" exhibition). Probably interesting as says more about how he is perceived than about who he is, but I dunno if others agree about this.Hrcolyer (talk) 17:36, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

 * I fixed the Oprah bit. I won't put the Futurama cite in because I don't know anything about it and I'm not intrigued enough to look it up. Binksternet (talk) 17:58, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Lots of subjectivity here
The author(s) of this article clearly respect Liberace and think he was a highly talented individual. That's fine, but this is not the place for subjective praise. Phrases like "his considerable talents" and "showed off his acting talents" aren't exactly objective. Minaker (talk) 11:14, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

 * I agree with you, and welcome you to dig in and correct some of the prose. I reverted your neutrality tag as there is no ongoing edit war between disagreeing editors... the problems with this article are immediately addressable and have more to do with tone and style. Binksternet (talk) 17:42, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

The neutrality template addresses whether there is a dispute and does not necessarily refer to an edit war. This is not interpretation, its purpose is explicitly stated. I dispute the neutrality of the article -- and even you admit my reasons are valid. The purpose of the templates are to let would-be Wikipedia editors know that an article needs help, which this does. While I do intend to work on the article when I have the time, that doesn't mean that it doesn't need work in the meantime. The neutrality template is entirely appropriate. Minaker (talk) 22:03, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

 * Fantastic work on the article. Many thanks. Binksternet (talk) 00:06, 1 January 2009 (UTC)

An excellent and extremely well-written biography! 81.157.218.94 (talk) 15:20, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

Later life section?
I changed the "later life" section to "After the TV show, then saw the next section was titled "Television". These were in the wrong order. From square one most of the center section of the article has facts in the wrong/illogical order. --98.232.180.37 (talk) 06:32, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Thanks for fixing that. Binksternet (talk) 16:04, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Devout Catholic ?
Is this known from any available source ? That he was a Catholic and once meet pope Pius XII it´s a fact, but to call him a "devout" Catholic implies more then that. Also probably the fact that he never came out as to do with his religion.213.13.240.184 (talk) 17:22, 14 May 2009 (UTC)

Musical Style?
Most musician pages have their musical style in the template at the top, but this page lacks that. --Daniel Draco (talk) 23:13, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

Elton John and "gay" quote
I changed the statement that Elton John had called Liberace gay, using the exact words of the Pyron biography instead.

This means that it is Pyron rather that Elton John who is our source for Liberace being gay. --Uncle Ed (talk) 23:46, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

The funny thing is, that anyone on this planet would actually need someone to TELL them that Liberace was gay. I mean, is the sky still blue? Oh well, such is irony. . .67.100.45.185 (talk) 06:30, 28 March 2010 (UTC) La-Tonia Denise Willis

Throwing this out into the universe...what was the address of the house Liberace grew up in?
I live in West Allis and I feel like I have a very stong connection to him...If anyone could help me out that would be great :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.207.58.131 (talk) 13:40, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

 * Perhaps you will get closer if you find the 1920 census report listing for the Liberace family dwelling. Binksternet (talk) 15:25, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

Will do thank you so much...I have a feeling that he may have lived in my house. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.207.58.131 (talk) 10:48, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

Where can I find that? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.207.58.131 (talk) 10:50, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

The article just crashes to a close, without anything about his later life and death. Very odd. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.229.60.94 (talk) 22:15, 18 September 2010 (UTC)

"Mr. Sandman," a significant data point?
I believe that someone removed my recent insertion. That might be justified. In case it's not justified here's the addition that was removed, for readers of this "discussion" page to consider: 'His iconic status was immortalized in the last verse of The Chordettes' 1954 chart-topping pop song Mr. Sandman. The "dream" man was to have "...lots of wavy hair like Liberace."' I believe that this data point makes the impact that Liberace had more vivid for those who don't know of him. And for those who do, it reminds them what an icon he really was. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Grygiu (talk • contribs) 09:18, 14 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Keep it in the article. It would be in a "In popular culture" type section. --RThompson82 (talk) 04:50, 24 August 2012 (UTC)

There have been several other artists who positively mention him in their lyrics, e.g. Nina Simone's version of My baby just cares for me as an early example or 2Pac in California Love as a recent one. I feel that the article lacks information on his reception in popular culture, as above mentioned. --Hodsha (talk) 14:52, 7 September 2013 (UTC)

Gay Confusion
Whether Liberace was gay or not is a matter of indifference to me; however, reading through the article and the discussion I find myself confused not only on the point of his sexuality, but also about the alleged standards that the Wiki community is trying to maintain. I submit that the latter point should be of more concern to the community than the former.

Section #5 of this discussion ("Wasn't he gay?") strongly argues that the article's rather awkward and excessive dancing around the issue is necessary because a) Liberace consistently denied that he was homosexual, and  b) no suitable (arguable) third-party source has indicated that he was homosexual.

Yet Section #11 ("Gay") asserts that the Liberace article is of interest to the Wiki LGBT project.

This is a blatant contradiction. If it is maintained (as in section 5) that there is insufficient definitive information available to at least strongly suggest that Liberace was gay, then how can the article be of any possible interest to the LGBT project (section 11)? Conversely, if the article -is- of interest to the LGBT project, does that not imply that sufficient information is available to make a convincing case for Liberace's homosexuality? And if so, should that not be reflected in the article?

If Liberace had lived his life in isolation, showing little interest in personal companionship of any kind, he may have been one of those rare people who had little interest in sex /per se/, and it might be appropriate to classify him, like Edward Gorey, as "asexual". Unlike Gorey, however, Liberace was very much a social creature, he -did- live with companions, and one of those companions took him to court in a -palimony- suit, and was paid-off with a significant sum.

A frivolous gold-digging lawsuit? Sure, it's possible. And it's also possible that Michael Jackson really wasn't a pedophile, and that OJ Simpson is really going to find the "real murderer," someday.

Possible, but not very likely.

So, bottom line, either the article needs to be considerably less circumspect about Liberace's sexuality, or else there really isn't any good reason for it to be a part of the LGBT project.

Unless, of course, consistency across articles for a topic isn't of any serious concern to Wiki-ites. In which case the usefulness of Wikipedia will have just dropped another couple of notches.

My $0.02. Carry on, ladies & gents, carry on. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.206.161.97 (talk) 11:36, 27 March 2011 (UTC)

Born on a piano top in Tennessee
When I was a child in the 1950's, all the kids in the neighborhood loved to sing: “Born on a piano top in Tennessee, The greenest piano that you ever did see. They taught him a note, When he was only three, And that's why they call him .... Liberace .... Davy, Davy Crockett, born on the wild frontier.” D.Crockett of course was played by F.Parker, as was D.Boone a decade later. [Special:Contributions/68.39.61.32|68.39.61.32]] (talk) 21:29, 15 April 2011 (UTC)

Antismoker propaganda ?
Qquote from the article: "He had been in ill health since 1985 with emphysema from his daily smoking off-stage".

I checked the refferences provided, there is no mention about anything like that. I question the seriousness of the authors of the article. The article looks rather a propagandistic material than a credible information.

Many people smoke and they don't develop emphysema. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Srelu (talk • contribs) 07:06, 23 July 2011 (UTC)
 * On the other hand, my grandfather smoked and died of emphysema. The Emphysema article, which is even helpfully linked in the article, states "The majority of all emphysema cases are caused by smoking tobacco" - do you dispute this assertion? Many people who get shot don't die of it; does this mean that someone else's death can have had nothing to do with their having been shot?
 * The reference in the paragraph in question looks to me to be specific only to the material after the semi-colon (about his having been HIV-positive, etc), not to that before, about his smoking-related emphysema. I agree it's a pity that the editor who added that information didn't clearly indicate its source, but it's unlikely that they invented it. In any case, it's hardly disreputable, so what makes it "propagandistic"? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.197.66.227 (talk) 02:29, 21 September 2011 (UTC)

 * That's been in the article for a very long time. He did smoke and I believe he did have emphysema. The content seems verifiable but a source would be helpful. It reads as only slightly "propagandistic" to me, not a big deal. Gwen Gale (talk) 02:59, 21 September 2011 (UTC)

In Liberace: Behind the Music Liberace is depicted as a smoker from an early age through the entire film. The technical advisor was his long-time friend and agent Seymour Heller, so there must be some truth to it. trezjr (talk) 10:04, 21 September 2011 (UTC)

WWII days
Is there a reason Liberace was not drafted into the army during the Second World War? Musicwriter (talk) 03:57, 14 October 2011 (UTC)

 * A childhood leg injury made him fail the physical. Binksternet (talk) 15:48, 6 December 2012 (UTC)

Connor vs Liberace
I well remember this case and living in London at the time. The British tacitly both believed and accepted that Liberace was a homosexual. The jokes at the time all seem to have had Liberace as the the butt and the sympathy lay with Connor who it was hoped would win the case. The whole matter certainly seems to have done wonders for the circulation of the "Daily Mirror". — Preceding unsigned comment added by AT Kunene (talk • contribs) 09:53, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

Hollywood Walk of Fame
Shouldn't this article mention his star? Casmeli (talk) 04:07, 30 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Definitely. Do you have referenced information on it? Winkelvi (talk) 04:13, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

Tags
Added two article tags because of some concerns I have about how this article has evolved recently. There seems to be an awful lot of sourcing from one book, and short of editors buying the book being used as a reference, I see a problem in being able to verify those references. Also, the Early Career section has seriously ballooned. To the point of where when I look at it in total I think it's too long and overly detailed for me to want to read. That in mind, that section is going to have to be cut way down. It very possibly has taken the article to a size that might not be within allowable total word-limits. I don't want the editor or editors who have contributed to that section to get upset, so rather than going in an starting to chop away, I'll give it a few days and see if those who've already contributed to that section would like to start paring it down. Discussion here about the tags and everything else I've mentioned is welcomed, of course. -- Winkelvi ● ✉ ✓ 22:09, 13 June 2013 (UTC)
 * I have the Pyron book, and it is the by far the best most comprehensive, well researched and written book published on Liberace to date. Pyron's references are deep and extensive. I do think this article is a horrow show in writing terms at the moment, though. I don't share your concerns over the length, a rich life as his provides much scope for improvement. Gareth E Kegg (talk) 22:32, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

Highest paid?
The leader says "During the 1950s–1970s he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world". Does it mean he was actually earning more than, say, Elvis Presley or Agatha Christie, or is my definition of "entertainer" too broad? I ask because until yesterday I've never even heard of him. --Thrissel (talk) 13:23, 19 June 2013 (UTC)

 * I have not read the Barker book but that is the cited source. Other modern books repeat the assertion; some of these point to the Guinness Book of Records which apparently listed Liberace as the highest paid musician. Binksternet (talk) 15:48, 19 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Encyclopedia of Gay and Lesbian Popular Culture, page 174: "...Liberace the highest-paid entertainer in America, reaching a salary of $50,000 a week during the 1950s."
 * Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture, page 364: "...he was the highest paid entertainer on the circuit in 1955 when he opened at the Riviera Hotel on a weekly salary of $50,000."
 * Wisconsin Biographical Dictionary, page 239: "...the Guinness Book of Records ranked Liberace as the highest-paid entertainer in the 1960s and 1970s."
 * "Liberace: 40 Glittering Years in Show Business", Billboard, March 30, 1985: "...an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's highest paid musician and pianist."

 * Those are good quotes, I think I'm getting the picture. Thanks a lot for the research! --Thrissel (talk) 00:42, 26 June 2013 (UTC)

Nina Simone ref
I think his inclusion in Nina Simone's 'My baby just cares for me' belongs in this article but maybe in the miscellaneous section. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Shamrockawakening (talk • contribs) 19:13, 8 December 2013 (UTC)

 * I think it is unimportant trivia, that the biography is not here to serve as a collection bin for every time Liberace is mentioned on TV, in film, and in song lyrics. Binksternet (talk) 19:21, 8 December 2013 (UTC)

 * Please see Handling trivia. There's also a guideline for Miscellaneous sections: WP:TRIVIA. These two pages talk about trivial information and whether it can be included. The second link is about how a section of trivia or miscellany is not such a great idea. The emphasis in the first page is on discovering whether the trivial fact is important to the topic, which in this case is Liberace's life and career. I hold that passing mentions of Liberace should not be in the article unless they are demonstrably important. Binksternet (talk) 19:32, 8 December 2013 (UTC)

title: Talk:Liberace/Archive 1


text:
Beaver Lake Park (Washington)

Beaver Lake Park is a 54-acre (220,000 m2) park located on the southwest corner of Beaver Lake in the city of Sammamish, Washington. It offers public access to the lake, fishing areas, a picnic shelter, a baseball field, an off leash dog park, trails, play structures, barbecue grills, and the necessities. (e.g.bathrooms, parking, etc.)

The park is also home to a pavilion and the Lodge at Beaver Lake, which has traditional Native American totem poles and story poles carved by Tsimshian artist David A. Boxley, and hosts weddings, receptions, and dinners.

In October, the park is host to the annual "Nightmare at Beaver Lake," a huge and elaborate haunted house-type attraction, which benefits charitable projects sponsored by the local Sammamish Rotary which is part of Rotary International Rotary Club.

The park has also hosted the Annual Beaver Lake Triathlon since 1994.

The park used to be owned and maintained by King County, but the park was transferred, effective January 1, 2003, to the City of Sammamish due to county budget shortfalls caused by state tax revolt.

title: Beaver Lake Park (Washington)


text:
The Good Son (album)

The Good Son is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1990.

After two dark and harrowing albums with Your Funeral... My Trial (1986) and Tender Prey (1988), The Good Son was a substantial departure with a lighter and generally more uplifting sound. The change of mood was greatly inspired by singer Nick Cave falling in love with Brazilian journalist Viviane Carneiro, and an apparently salutary spell in rehab which purged much of the despair and squalor reflected in the previous two albums. Cave later said, "I guess The Good Son is some kind of reflection of the way I felt early on in Brazil. I was quite happy there. I was in love and the first year or two was good. The problem I found was ... in order to survive you have to adopt their attitudes towards everything, which are kind of blinkered."

Singles and release history
The Good Son was preceded by the release of "The Ship Song" single. A different version of "The Weeping Song" was later released as a single, with a different mix from the album version.

The closing track "Lucy" was resurrected in 1993 as a B-side of "What a Wonderful World", a collaboration of the Bad Seeds and the Pogues' Shane MacGowan.

The album was remastered and reissued on 29 March 2010 as a collector's edition CD/DVD set.

Track listing
All songs written by Nick Cave unless otherwise stated.

 * 1) "Foi Na Cruz" – 5:39
 * 2) "The Good Son" – 6:01
 * 3) "Sorrow's Child" – 4:36
 * 4) "The Weeping Song" – 4:21
 * 5) "The Ship Song" – 5:14
 * 6) "The Hammer Song" – 4:16
 * 7) "Lament" – 4:51
 * 8) "The Witness Song" – 5:57
 * 9) "Lucy" – 4:17 (words: Cave; music: Cave, Bargeld, Roland Wolf)

Song details
"Foi Na Cruz" is based partly upon the traditional Brazilian Protestant hymn of the same title. The title translates roughly as "It Happened on the Cross".

"The Good Son" – the opening chant is based loosely upon the African-American traditional song "Another Man Done Gone". A recording of this traditional song, by Odetta, later appeared on Original Seeds Vol. 1, a compilation of material that influenced Cave. The Biblical story of Cain and Abel is an obvious influence on the song, which describes a "a tiller and he has a tiller's hand" like Cain, a farmer who feuds with and kills his brother.

"The Witness Song" is based loosely upon the traditional American gospel song "Who Will be a Witness?".

The single mix of "The Weeping Song" is a different mix than the one found on the album.

Four of the songs on the album were left with their working titles ("The Ship Song", "The Weeping Song", "The Hammer Song", "The Witness Song").

The instrumental B-side "Cocks 'n' Asses" was retitled "The B-side Song" for the USA release.

Singles

 * "The Ship Song" (MUTE 108) (12 March 1990)
 * b/w: "The Train Song"
 * "The Weeping Song" (MUTE 118) (17 September 1990)
 * b/w: "Cocks 'n' Asses" / "Helpless"

Personnel
with:
 * Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
 * Nick Cave – vocals, piano, Hammond organ, harmonica
 * Mick Harvey – bass, acoustic guitar, vibraphone, percussion, backing vocals; all guitars on "The Hammer Song"
 * Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals, co-lead "Father" vocals on "The Weeping Song"
 * Kid Congo Powers – guitar
 * Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion
 * Roland Wolf – piano on reprise section of "Lucy"
 * Clóvis Trindade, Rubinho – vocals on "Foi Na Cruz"

 * String Section
 * Alexandre Ramirez, Altamir Téa Bueno Salinas, Helena Akiku Imasoto, Léa Kalil Sadi – violin
 * Akira Terazaki, Glauco Masahiro Imasato – viola
 * Braulio Marques Lima, Cristina Manescu – cello
 * Cláudia Ferreti – string and singer coordinator
 * Mick Harvey and Billy McGee – string arrangements

title: The Good Son (album)


text:
Koolie

The Koolie (also known as the Australian Koolie or by the historic misnomer "German Coolie") is an Australian dog breed. The Koolie is a working or herding dog which has existed in Australia since the early 19th century when it was bred from imported British working dogs. Robert Kaleski, in an article on Cattle Dogs in the August 1903 issue of the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, describes the "Welsh heeler or merle, erroneously known as the German collie," as a "blue-gray dog about the size and build of a smooth-haired collie, generally with wall eyes." The British background predominated in the dogs that came to be associated with the "German collie" name.

There is substantial variation in the Koolie population, as Koolies were bred to exhibit different characteristics in different regions. The breed is based on its ability to work rather than on its conformation. However, most Koolie breeders refer to the Koolie as a breed rather than as a type, and assert that it "breeds true", with various types or strains.

The Koolie is a "herding dog", one which has a natural instinct to circle widely round sheep and bring them back to their owner. Koolies are known as silent, upright, working dogs. They are used for herding sheep and also for quiet careful work at close quarters at lambing time or for "shedding" (cutting out) sheep.

With the demand for farming dogs no longer being what it was, the Koolie has proven its worth in many other fields where it is renowned for its sensitivity, athleticism and obedience, excelling in agility, tracking, therapy, disability & emotional support service, and as the ultimate outdoor & family companion, providing they are well trained.

Appearance
The Koolie is as diverse as the country it originates from, Australia. In the north of Queensland and New South Wales they are tall, medium boned and agile, bred for mustering cattle over many miles. In New South Wales, they are thicker set and shorter to flush low lying cattle from the dense bush and gullies. In Victoria, one finds the smallest variety of the Koolie, primarily used for sheep. Koolies are bred to meet the needs of the stockman, grazier and farmer; all agile, all with the same ability to adapt to any situation, all with a strong willingness drive. Male Koolies stand between 17 and 20 inches (43 to 51 cm) tall at the shoulder, while females typically measure slightly smaller, ranging from 16 to 19 inches (41 to 48 cm). Most often, they are seen in the merle coat pattern, but can exhibit any combination of colour and coat lengths. The solid red or black Koolie are often mistaken for Kelpies, and some bi-coloured Koolie have been taken for Border Collies by the general public. As all of these breeds share Collie ancestry, they resemble each other. Their ears are loose and rectangular, but when the dog concentrates, they will stand erect. The Koolie coat comes in a number of variants, short and smooth like the original Scottish blue merle Collies, long like the Border Collie, short like the working Kelpie,  and medium in size like the German Tiger.

Coat
The Koolie coat ranges from short/smooth (like that of the original blue merle Collies from Scotland), short (like a working Kelpie), medium and, not common, long (like the show Border Collie). Koolies are typically slightly longer than tall. The majority of owners prefer the short/smooth coats as they do not pick up grass seed, and are very easy to maintain, with the occasional swim to keep the coat glossy and free of parasites.

Colouring
Koolie colours are classed as Solid or Merle.

A Solid does not show any Merle pattern, and can come in any colour such as all one colour black, red, chocolate, cream, dilute red (lilac), dilute black (blue), with tan points, black & white, dilute & white or red & white, or "Tri" -solid red or black, with white markings, normally with brown points.

Any of these can then have the Merle pattern i.e. usually with large splashes of darker colourings of red/chocolate for red merles or black/grey for blue merles. Black Koolies will commonly have a black nose with black eyes, or tones of black including blue. Red or chocolate Koolies will commonly have a red or chocolate nose with brown eyes, or tones of brown, including yellow, and there can be combinations of both black or brown with the added blue eye/s. There are also dilute colours of slate/blue for black Koolies and lilac/fawn for red Koolies. Yellow/cream can also be displayed when the dog is homozygous recessive on the "E locus." This recessive red (also known as Australian Red in some breeds) is considered a masking gene in that it prevents the production of black coat pigment (base skin pigment remains unaffected). Because of this, it is considered a masking gene that prevents the expression of the merle gene (and some others).

In 2019, many Koolie breeders took part in the research project to find a DNA test for the Merle gene, as it was believed many non Merle looking dogs could be genetically a Merle and therefore have issues when bred to a Merle.

The breeding of two Merle dogs runs a high risk (in all breeds) of sight and hearing defects in the offspring.

As a “solid” (dog not showing the Merle pattern) may still genetically be a Merle, it is vital to perform a full DNA Merle sequence test to determine the “lengths” of Merle in each dog so that the safest breeding practices are used.

Temperament
Graziers, stockmen and dairy farmers across Australia since days long past have typically selected breeds which display the abilities required to meet their working needs. The temperament found in a Koolie is a culmination of these much sought-after abilities. The optimal worker possesses a combination of working skills and bonding temperament.

There are times when an uninitiated dog owner or a new enthusiast mistakes the Koolie as a shy, reserved or even a timid animal. The Koolie's temperament needs to be understood in proper context when one seeks an optimal match of skills and demeanour. Koolies are intelligent animals, and the most experienced handlers know well that they need guidance in training. A steady and supportive approach will be productive, proving the Koolie's adaptability in diverse situations when given time.

Owners will be rewarded through the Koolie's diligence in varied roles such as in work situations, sporting activities, loyal service or the time honoured role of companionship. Known to be patient, temperate, dedicated, with a strong sense of willingness and devotion. They show an untiring enthusiasm for work and an admirable hardiness when the job or circumstance requires.

Given their nature, it is paramount that pups are well trained for obedience and are given both mentally challenging goals as well as physical exercise.

Health
The median longevity of Koolies is about 15 years, which is a typical lifespan for this breed. Koolies have a diverse but small gene pool and can suffer from the many genetic problems found in recognised breeds. Many of these problems have genetic tests currently available, but hip and elbow scoring is necessary to reduce the incidence of Hip and Elbow Dysplasia. The merle for which the Koolie is most recognised by can produce blind and/or deaf white pups, if 2 merles are bred together, so merle testing should be performed prior to breeding.

The Australian Koolie Association is the only Koolie breed registry which has mandatory DNA breed ID testing before a dog of unverified breeding can be registered and also requires all stud dogs to be fully health screened by DNA & hip and elbow dysplasia tested.

Medical research

 * In 2003, DNA testing carried out on 56 individual Koolie bloodlines from Australia by Dr. Mark Neff of the University of California at Davis in the USA cleared those bloodlines tested for the presence of the mutant gene mdr1-1, which causes malfunction in the canine multidrug resistance gene; Collie bloodlines were chosen to be tested because they showed a reaction, even death, to chemicals, such as Ivermectin, used in the treatment of intestinal parasites.
 * In 2004, the Koolie Club of Australia in conjunction with Genetic Science Service of Australia launched the collection and processing of Koolie DNA.
 * There are several common genetic disorders that are found in the breed but which can be easily managed with safe breeding practices thanks to simple testing.
 * The Australian Koolie Association has distinct sections for both purebreds and part bred Koolies, whereas other registries do not make this distinction.

Herding technique
Koolies are much sought-after in rural Australia, and interest is now being shown in America, Canada, Germany, Finland, New Zealand, Switzerland and Holland. According to Geoff Broughton, past president of the Koolie Club of Australia for 7 years, the Koolie will head (move to the front or head of the stock to push them back towards you), heel or drive, (push the stock from behind), cast (move out and around the stock), block (hold the stock or block them from in front, in three sheep trials this action is called the pick up) and back (literally jump onto the backs of their charges to herd them if necessary). Koolies have a reputation for being upright workers with a good eye, who can easily shift their focus from holding the group to casting around a flock or gathering breakaways. They are not known for having "sticky eyes" (focusing on the sheep in front only). Unlike other working breeds, which are noted for their crouched form or style and preference for either yard or field work, Koolies are at ease working in closed surroundings such as yards or trucks and being out in paddocks and droving. As well as working anything from ducks to bulls, like all dogs of their kind they will herd family members and children in the absence of other charges.

Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at non-competitive herding tests. Koolies exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in stock dog trials.

History
The Koolie's ancestors were thought to be the smooth-coated blue merle Collie (imported from Britain in the 19th century) and the Black and Tan Collie from the Highlands of Scotland (black and tan collies are not a breed); but dogs imported by early German settlers are believed to be descended from the "German Tiger", a European herding dog, however DNA evidence is yet to be found support this. DNA testing has found that the Australian Kelpie is the closest known relative.

During the industrial era some bloodlines were influenced by Kelpie and Border Collie, as explained by one grazier in Western Australia, "You bred from the good workers which were around and Koolies were not always to be found, so you bred to the next best worker that was and this was either the Kelpie or Border depending on the region you lived and the stock you worked". Many be breeders still out cross both Kelpie and Border Collie lines, which are accepted practices with the Koolie breed registries.

In 2000, the Koolie Club of Australia was formed to preserve and promote the Koolie breed. Later the Working Koolie Association & Australian Koolie Association were formed as well. None of these registries actively work towards bench standard recognition, feeling this would only be detrimental to the breeds working future. As of (2013), no bench standard exists.

In 2004, the Koolie breed was recognised by the Australian Sporting Registrar, judges from the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) may judge Koolies in all ANKC sanctioned sporting trials. In the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, registered Koolies may compete in, herding, obedience, tracking, jumping, gambles and dog agility events through registration on their State's Sporting Register as members of the Koolie Club of Australia or the Australian Koolie Association In May 2006, the Stockdog Committee of the Australian Shepherd Club of America voted to accept the "Koolie/German Coolie" into their list of recognised and accepted herding breeds, admission was granted June 2006.

In 2006, the American Herding Breed Association accepted the Australian Koolie onto their list of recognised and accepted breeds.

title: Koolie


text:
Beaver Lake (King County, Washington)

Beaver Lake is a 79-acre (0.3 km$2$) lake completely within the city limits of Sammamish, Washington. The Beaver Lake watershed is 1,043 acres (4.2 km$2$); the mean depth is 21 feet (6.4 m), and the maximum depth is 50 feet (15 m). Beaver Lake is actually a chain of one main and two smaller lakes, with the main lake getting the bulk of the recreation focus.

Beaver Lake is part of a chain of three lakes: Long Lake, Beaver Lake, and a third unnamed lake, 4 mi East of Lake Sammamish. It is drained by Laughing Jacobs Creek, a tributary of Lake Sammamish.

There is public access via Beaver Lake Park, located at the southwest corner of the lake. Boaters are not allowed to use gasoline motors, but fishing is still a popular recreational activity on the lake. The boat launch site is not located within the Park, but rather via a WDFD water access site. The lake is also used for the swimming leg of the annual Beaver Lake Triathlon, which starts in the park.

Ecology
Beaver Lake has been historically a habitat for Beavers, from which it was named. Beaver Lake "may soon need a name change" because flooding of some homeowner's docks, has prompted the Sammamish Parks and Recreation Department to obtain an emergency permit from the Washington Department of Ecology to relocate a family of beavers (Castor canadensis) that built a dam on Laughing Jacobs Creek, raising the lake's level. Beaver have been shown to increase salmon and trout abundance and size in several ways: their ponds recharge water tables which replenish stream flows in the dry season, provide critical habitat for young salmonids, and remove sediment loads from streams. Contrary to popular myth, most beaver dams do not pose barriers to trout and salmon migration, although they may be restricted seasonally during periods of low stream flows. Insect, invertebrate, fish, mammal, and bird diversity are also expanded. Water levels behind beaver dams can be controlled easily with flow devices such as a Beaver Deceiver. In fact, a 2006 survey found that trapping as a solution to beaver problems had a 79% failure rate within two years due to re-settlement by new beavers.

Fishing
Beaver Lake is heavily fished by locals. Many trout are caught from shore, but it is best for any species with a boat. Trout are found mostly in the main and larger sister lake. Bass are caught consistently in Beaver's many lily pads and fallen timber areas, and are abundant in the smaller, shallower sister lake. Perch are found all over, and dropping a worm under a dock produces many of them.

Beaver Lake
The other Beaver Lake in King County is at 47.26167°N, -122.00194°W, Elevation: 699 ft

General references

 * City of Sammamish - Beaver Lake Park

title: Beaver Lake (King County, Washington)


text:
Buhriz

Buhriz (بهرز) is an Iraqi town of about 35,400 located 25 miles (40 km) north of Baghdad and 6 miles (9.5 km) south of the major city of Baqubah.

Background
The town of Buhriz is heavily agricultural, located on fertile land along the Diyala River and engaged in the cultivation of date palms, orange trees, and other crops.

The town has a beautiful old bazar that lies near the small river of Sariah (Khuraisan), it sells all kind of local fruit & vegetables. Close to the bazar are two of the oldest mosques in Diyala province, The Big Mosque and Abu Al Gaith Mosque. Not far from it are 3 very nice local tea bars. or as locals call it (Gahwa), where usually people sit and have a nice cup of tea and chit chat about their days, and also it's a place to gather and watch matches of football.

It maintains a rural character despite its proximity to Baqubah and Baghdad, with many residents living in traditional mud huts with some concrete-block houses. The town was known under the regime of Saddam Hussein as the home of many members of the Ba'ath Party, as well as being particularly conservative with traditional religious and tribal values predominate. Following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Buhriz emerged as a flashpoint for guerrilla fighters opposed to the Coalition troops and their Iraqi allies. It became the scene of repeated battles between U.S. forces and rebels throughout the spring and summer of 2004, essentially falling under guerrilla control. Local leaders blame the detention of over 200 Buhriz residents as provoking further hostility.

Yet in a shocking change of events in April 2007 and after the town was taken by al-Qaeda, the locals of the town had an agreement with the U.S. force in the area; it simply stated that they're going to help Americans kill and capture all of those who are associated with Al-Qaeda, in exchange U.S. forces will help them return safely to their homes that were taken by Al-Qaeda; this was the beginning of a great change in the balance of forces that led eventually to the full control over Diyala province by U.S. and Iraqi forces.

History
Buhriz may be the site of the medieval city of Bajisra. Its modern name is probably in honor of Mujahid ad-Din Buhriz, the engineer who in made the last serious effort to repair and re-open the nearby Nahrawan Canal in 1140.

Notable people

 * Noor Sabri, Iraqi football goalkeeper.

title: Buhriz


text:
Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake may refer to:

Antarctica

 * Beaver Lake (Antarctica)

Canada

 * Beaver Lake (Alberta)
 * Beaver Lake (Vancouver), British Columbia
 * Beaver Lake (Victoria, British Columbia)
 * Beaver Lake (Montreal)
 * Beaver Lakes (Annapolis), Nova Scotia
 * Beaver Lake (Halifax), Nova Scotia, the name of several lakes
 * Beaver Lake (Inverness), Nova Scotia
 * Beaver Lake (Pictou), Nova Scotia
 * Beaver Lake (Queens), Nova Scotia
 * Beaver Lake (Shelburne), Nova Scotia
 * Beaver Lake (Victoria, Nova Scotia)
 * Beaver Lake (Yarmouth), Nova Scotia
 * Beaver Lake (Saskatchewan)

United States

 * Beaver Lake (Alaska), site of Beaver Lake Dam
 * Beaver Lake (Arkansas)
 * Beaver Lake (Newton County, Indiana), now drained
 * Beaver Lake (Dexter, Iowa)
 * Beaver Lake (Kentucky)
 * Beaver Lake, Steele County, Minnesota
 * Beaver Lake (Montana), a lake in Missoula County
 * Beaver Lake (Nevada)
 * Beaver Lake (Hamilton County, New York)
 * Beaver Lake (New York), in Lewis County
 * Beaver Lake State Park (North Dakota)
 * Beaver Lake (Minnehaha County, South Dakota)
 * Beaver Lake (Yankton County, South Dakota)
 * Beaver Lake (Texas)
 * Beaver Lake (Clallam County, Washington), on Washington State Route 113
 * Beaver Lake (King County, Washington)

Canada

 * Beaver Lake 131, Alberta
 * Beaver Lake Cree Nation, a First Nations band government
 * Beaver Lake, Alberta
 * Beaver Lake, Ontario, a community within the city of Greater Sudbury
 * Beaver Lake 17, Nova Scotia, a Mi'kmaq reserve

United States

 * Beaver Lake, Michigan, Klacking Township
 * Beaver Lake Middle School, in Issaquah School District, Washington
 * Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, New York
 * Beaver Lake Park (Washington), a park in Sammamish

title: Beaver Lake


text:
User:AaronPeterson~enwiki

checkout m:User:AaronPeterson instead

title: User:AaronPeterson~enwiki


text:
Mohand al-Shehri

Mohand Muhammed Fayiz al-Shehri (مهند الشهري, Muhand ash-Shehrī; also transliterated as Alshehri) (May 7, 1979 – September 11, 2001) was a Saudi terrorist hijacker. He was one of five terrorist hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 175 as part of the September 11 attacks. Despite his name, he was not related to the brothers Wail al-Shehri or Waleed al-Shehri who were part of the team that hijacked American Airlines Flight 11.

A Saudi, al-Shehri was a former college student who dropped out after failing his courses. He later left his home to fight in Chechnya in 2000, but was probably diverted to Al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. It was during that time that he would be chosen to take part in the attacks in America. He received a U.S. student visa in October 2000.

al-Shehri arrived in the United States in May 2001. On September 11, 2001, al-Shehri boarded United Airlines Flight 175 and assisted in its hijacking so that it could be flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

History

Born 1979, al-Shehri was one of five hijackers to come from the 'Asir province of Saudi Arabia, the others being Ahmed al-Nami, Abdulaziz al-Omari and Waleed and Wail al-Shehri, two brothers with whom he shared the same tribe, Bani Shehr, although they were not related to him.

According to Arab News, Mohand al-Shehri went to fight in Chechnya in early 2000, where he may have met Hamza al-Ghamdi. On October 23, al-Shehri applied for a US B-1/B-2 visa in Jeddah. Other than an error on his school's address the application was not suspicious and he was not interviewed before being granted the visa.

Al-Ghamdi and al-Shehri flew together from Iran into Kuwait that October. Three months later the pair rented a post office box in Delray Beach, Florida, where someone with the same name signed up to use the public library's computers. According to FBI director Robert Mueller and the 9/11 Commission, however, al-Shehri did not first enter the United States until a London or Dubai flight on May 28 with al-Ghamdi and Abdulaziz al-Omari.

He was one of nine hijackers to open a SunTrust bank account with a cash deposit around June 2001, and on July 2 gained a Florida State ID Card.

Al-Shehri occasionally trained on simulators at the FlightSafety Aviation School in Vero Beach, Florida together with Abdulaziz al-Omari and Saeed al-Ghamdi.

Attacks
Fayez Banihammad purchased both his and al-Shehri's one-way first class tickets for United Airlines Flight 175 online on August 27 or 29, charging the $4,464.50 to a Visa card from Mustafa al Hawsawi, listing their addresses both as a Mail Boxes Etc. in Delray Beach. This was not the same postal box used by Hamza and Ahmed al-Ghamdi, who purchased their tickets for the same flight a day later, with another Mailboxes Etc. postal box in Delray Beach, although both groups listed the same phone number.

On September 7, he flew from Fort Lauderdale to Newark, New Jersey with Hamza al-Ghamdi on $139.75 tickets purchased from the Mile High Travel agency in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

On September 10, 2001, he shared a room at the Milner Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts with three other terrorists: Fayez Banihammad, Marwan al-Shehhi, who would pilot Flight 175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center, and Satam al-Suqami, a hijacker of Flight 11.

On September 11, al-Shehri boarded Flight 175 and sat in first class seat 2B, next to Banihammad in 2A. About a half an hour into the flight, the plane was hijacked. It is believed that Banihammad and al-Shehri forcibly entered the cockpit and murdered the pilots while the al-Ghamdi brothers forced the remaining crew and passengers towards the rear of the aircraft, allowing al-Shehhi to take control of the plane. At 9:03 a.m., around 20 minutes after the hijacking began, al-Shehhi flew the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center between floors 77 and 85, killing all on board and killing or trapping hundreds of people inside the building. 56 minutes after the crash, at 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed, killing all who were trapped and many more on the ground.

title: Mohand al-Shehri