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International Practical Shooting Confederation

The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) is the world's largest shooting sport association, and the largest and oldest within practical shooting. Founded in 1976, the IPSC nowadays affiliates over 100 regions from Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. Competitions are held with pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns, and the competitors are divided into different divisions based on firearm and equipment features. While everyone in a division competes in the Overall category, there are also separate awards for the categories Lady (female competitors), Super Junior (under 16 years), Junior (under 18 years), Senior (over 50 years), and Super Senior (over 60 years).

IPSC's activities include international regulation of the sport by approving firearms and equipment for various divisions, administering competition rules, and educating range officials (referees) through the International Range Officers Association who are responsible for conducting matches safely, fairly, and according to the rules. IPSC organizes the World Championships called the Handgun World Shoot, Rifle World Shoot, and Shotgun World Shoot with three-year intervals for each discipline.

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the IPSC cancelled all scheduled and future level 3 and above international competitions in Russia.

History
The sport of practical shooting originated from competitions in California in the 1950s intending to develop handgun skills for defensive use, but quickly evolved into a pure sport with little grounding in the original purpose. The sport soon expanded to Europe, Australia, South America, and Africa. IPSC was founded in May 1976 when practical shooting enthusiasts from around the world participated at a conference held in Columbia, Missouri, creating a constitution and establishing the rules governing the sport. Jeff Cooper served as the first IPSC President. Today there are over 100 active IPSC regions, making practical shooting a major international sport that emphasizes firearms safety highly. Through international rules concerning firearms, equipment, and organizing of matches one tries to unite the three elements of precision, power, and speed, which is also the motto of IPSC that is Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas (DVC), Latin for "precision, power, speed". Only full-caliber firearms are used, i.e. for handguns 9×19mm is the smallest caliber, and the competitors try to achieve the most points in the shortest time possible.

Scoring system
Accuracy and speed is reflected by the comstock scoring method, while power is reflected by the minimum power factor requirement. Competitors fire the stages one at a time, and the scoring system is based on achieving most possible points in the shortest time.

Comstock
The scoring method is called comstock, named after its inventor Walt Comstock, which means that the competitor has unlimited time to complete the stage and can fire an unlimited number of rounds. The time is measured from the start signal until the last shot fired using special shot timers with microphones, and this way the competitor can influence the total stage time. Since the number of rounds is unlimited, the competitor can re-engage the same target to get more points, but at the cost of using more time. Usually, the two best scoring hits count for each target.

Competitors are ranked for each stage by their hit factor, which is the ratio of points per second. The hit factor is calculated by summing the points (target scores minus penalties) and dividing by the time used.

$$hit\ factor={points \over seconds}$$

For example, if a stage has 12 paper targets, requires two scoring hits per paper target, and since an A-hit gives 5 points, the stage will have 12 × 2 × 5 = 120 points available. If a competitor scores 115 points and uses 25.00 seconds he will get a hit factor for that stage of $115 points/25.00 s$ = 4.6. The competitor with the highest hit factor wins the stage and gets all the available stage points (in this case 120 stage points), while other competitors are given stage points based on their hit factor percentage compared to the winner. For the overall match score, stage points are added for all stages, which means that each stage is weighted by how many stage points that are available.

The scoring method allows for a precise gradation of performances across the match, but requires a computer and software to do in a timely fashion. Matches can either be scored on paper and manually transferred to the official IPSC Match Scoring System (WinMSS), or can be scored directly on electronic devices like smartphones and tablets with the WinMSS Electronic Score Sheet (ESS) app or third party scoring systems like Shoot'n Score It or PractiScore.

Power factor
The power factor is the momentum of the fired bullet as it's moving through the air, which contribute to the recoil of the firearm (together with the propellant gases stemming from the amount of gunpowder). Thus, the power factor in a way reflects recoil. The power factor must exceed certain thresholds, and is calculated by measuring the bullet speed using a chronograph and measuring another of the competitor's bullets on a weighing scale to find the bullet mass, thereafter calculating the power factor by the formula:

 * $${power \; factor} = {mass} \cdot {velocity}$$

The official unit used for the power factor is the imperial unit "kilo grain feet per second" (kgr·ft/s), while newton-seconds (Ns) would be the metric equivalent. "Grain feet per second" (gr·ft/s) can be obtained by measuring the mass in grain (gr) (equal to $1/7000$ pound), and velocity in feet per second (ft/s), but since their product yields a very large number it is common to multiply by a factor of $1/1000$, obtaining the power factor in "kilo grain feet per second" instead.

 * $$kgr \cdot ft/s = \frac{grain \cdot ft/s}{1000}$$

To measure the muzzle velocity the competitor's ammunition must be fired in the competitor's firearm, since velocities can vary slightly from one firearm to another. In for instance handgun competitions, the ammunition must exceed 125 kgr·ft/s ((2.47 Ns)) for minor scoring, and at least 160 or 170 kgr·ft/s (3.16 or 3.36 Ns) for major scoring (depending on division). Extra scoring is not given for exceeding the threshold. A competitor declaring major, but who fails the threshold, have their score re-calculated at minor. A competitor who fails the threshold of minor is given a score of zero for the match.

 * Minimum power factors:

Targets

To achieve a varied, challenging and exciting sport there are no fixed target arrangements, distances or shooting programs, making every match unique. Paper and steel targets can be mixed in the same stage, and may be static, moving or partially covered by targets called no-shoots that give minus points if hit.

Paper targets have the three scoring zones A, C, and D with points per hit varying slightly depending on power factor. A center hit for both minor or major is five points, but hits in lesser scoring areas are rewarded more for major than minor with the A-C-D zones being scored 5–4–2 for major and 5–3–1 for minor (see table below). A competitor who has declared minor must therefore either shoot more "A" hits or shoot faster than one who has declared major to make up the scoring disadvantage.

Some typical examples of moving target setups are swingers, bobbers, clamshells, movers, and drop turners.

Scoring of the targets is done by the Range Officer. For the competitor to get the relevant scoring value or penalty points, the bullet hole must at least touch the line of the scoring area. (Breaking the relevant scoring line is thus not necessary.)

Steel targets score 5 points and must fall to be scored. (For rifle some steel targets may score 10 points).

For paper targets, the octagonal IPSC Target in typical cardboard color is used throughout all the disciplines, and a ⅔ scaled-down IPSC Mini Target is used to simulate a full size target placed at a greater distance. Additionally, the Universal Target can be used for rifle or shotgun, while the A3 and A4 paper targets are approved for shotgun matches only.

For steel targets, there are two standardized knock down targets, the IPSC Popper (85 cm tall) and the ⅔ scaled-down IPSC Mini Popper (56 cm tall). Metal plates are often circles between 20–30 cm in diameter or squares between 15×15 cm to 30×30 cm for handgun, and circles between 15–30 cm in diameter or squares between 15×15 cm to 30×45 cm for rifle and shotgun.

Disciplines and divisions
For many years IPSC was fired with whatever firearm the competitors chose, but as equipment became more and more specialized various equipment classes were introduced. The equipment classes in IPSC are called "divisions". All divisions fire the same stages, on the same days, as all other divisions, in a match. However, when calculating match standings, only divisional stage scores are compared. Thus, the top competitor in Open on a stage is the measure for all other Open competitors, the best Standard competitor is the measure for all other Standard competitors and likewise for all other divisions.

Handgun
In handgun, there is currently one division for optical sights and four divisions for iron sights. The minimum caliber is 9×19mm for all handgun divisions. During the competition the handgun must be worn in a holster securely attached to the competitor's belt. The holster needs to cover the trigger guard, the heel of the gun needs to be above the top of the belt and the belt has to be attached through at least three belt loops. Men must wear the holster, magazine holders, etc. in the belt at waist level, while female competitors may choose to wear their equipment either at hip or waist level. During the competition the position of the holster, magazine holders etc. can not be moved or adjusted from stage to stage. For all divisions except Open and Revolver the foremost portion of the handgun and all magazines must be placed behind the hip bone. Race holsters are permitted in all divisions.

The Open division is the handgun equivalent to the Formula 1 race car where most modifications are permitted to achieve a faster and more accurate gun. It's the only division which permits optical and electronic sights (such as red dot sights) and recoil reducing muzzle brakes (also called compensators). The division facilitates the highest magazine capacity, placing a restriction of 170 mm maximum overall length measured at the rear of any magazine. Shorter magazines, i.e. 140 mm, are also popular because of easier handling and often more reliable feeding, leaving the competitor a choice of equipment according to the stage at hand.
 * Open:

Open and Revolver are the only two divisions where 9mm bullets (.355") can be used to achieve major scoring, and hence .38 Super (or some variant) or 9×19mm loaded to major power factor of 160 kgr·ft/s are popular cartridges for the pistols in Open. The 9mm caliber cartridges provides higher gas pressures and better magazine capacity over 10 mm calibers. Open handguns are often expensive custom builds with parts and features specifically designed for competition, and with the maximum magazine length of 170 mm some 9mm/ .38 Super magazines can hold up to 28 or 29 rounds.

The Open division was formally adopted at the General Assembly following the 1992 European Handgun Championship in Barcelona, Spain, and became a recognized division starting in 1993. Any handguns complying with the previous rules were included, for instance, there was no restriction placed on handgun size or type of sights. Later the 170 mm maximum length was introduced.

Standard division allows any handgun that fits inside the IPSC box, and most modifications are permitted (except optical sights or compensators). Light match triggers are common, and modifications such as slide rackers, thumb rests ("gas pedals") and grip tape on the slide can sometimes also be seen. The IPSC box has internal dimensions of 225 x 150 x 45 mm in length × height × depth with a tolerance of +1 mm, −0 mm (approximately 8.86 × 5.91 × 1.77 inches). The handgun must fit with the slide parallel to the longest side of the box and hammer cocked if applicable. The handgun must fit the box with any of its magazines inserted, which means that for instance on 2011 pattern pistols either 124 or 126 mm magazines usually will give the maximum capacity and still fit the box.
 * Standard:

Minimum caliber for minor scoring is 9×19mm loaded to a power factor of 125 kgr·ft/s while minimum caliber for major scoring is a 10mm (.40") cartridge loaded to a power factor of 170 kgr·ft/s, making for an interesting choice between minor and major scoring taken in mind the differences in recoil, magazine capacity and scoring points. An example of differences in magazine capacity depending on caliber can be seen when comparing stock 126 mm STI 2011 double-stack magazines, which according to the manufacturer yields a capacity of either 12 rounds for .45 ACP, 14 rounds for .40 S&W or 17 rounds for 9×19mm. Magazine capacity can be further increased using aftermarket springs, followers and basepads as long as they still fit the box. For a 2011 pattern handgun, aftermarket parts and magazine tuning can increase capacity from 12 to 16 rounds for .45 ACP, from 14 to 19 rounds for .40 S&W and from 17 to 21 rounds for 9×x19 mm. It is a common belief that major scoring using the .40 S&W will give better scores for most competitors over the 9×19mm, but at the cost of more expensive ammunition.

The Standard division was formally adopted at the General Assembly following the 1992 European Handgun Championship in Barcelona, Spain, and became a recognized division starting in 1993. One of the intentions of the Standard division was to create a division for more "stock" firearms, which up until then had been no equipment divisions, and the sport had started to become dominated by custom-built race guns with compensators and optical sights. However, the Standard division was later criticized for also having become a "race division" somewhat like the Open division, which was dominated by custom built guns and specialized gear. Major caliber .40 S&W dominates, since it is seen as a much better alternative scoring-wise, but is more expensive than regular minor-scoring 9×19mm (price difference varies, but usually 50–60% more expensive). Also, from a practical standpoint, the .40 S&W round can be difficult to obtain when travelling to international matches, while the 9×19mm round, on the contrary, is perceived as affordable and available all around the world. This made way for the Production division starting in 2000, which has minor scoring only, allows fewer modifications and has a common magazine limit of 15 rounds.

 * Production:

The Production division is the most popular division as of 2016. The division allows very few modifications and is limited to typical "off the shelf" service pistols which has to be explicitly approved and listed on the IPSC Production Division List. Maximum barrel length is 127 mm (5 inches). The handgun must be double-action (DA/ SA, DAO or striker fired), and is required to have a minimum trigger pull weight. Striker fired handguns have a minimum trigger pull of 1.36 kg for every trigger pull, while DA/SA handguns are required to have a minimum trigger pull of 2.27 kg only for the first double action trigger pull (no weight limit for subsequent single action trigger pulls).

Production is the only division with minor scoring only, which means that anyone can be competitive with affordable and readily available 9×19mm factory ammunition, without having to worry about handloading to provide significant savings. Together with (in general) affordable handguns, Production, therefore, makes for a popular division. Different models of handguns have variance in magazine capacity, but this is evened out by limiting competitors to load their magazines to a maximum of 15 rounds (15 in each magazine plus 1 in the chamber).

Permitted modifications are limited to the application of grip tape in limited areas around the grip, replacement of sights that do not require gunsmithing to be installed (i.e. milling to the slide) and the replacement of internal components only available as a factory option from the original manufacturer. After-market magazines are allowed. Minor polishing and fitting of trigger components is permitted. Note that there are differences in approved handguns for the IPSC Production division and the USPSA Production division, as well as permitted modifications.

From 2019, the Production division has been divided into Production, Production Optics and Production Optics Lite. Production Optics is based on the Production rules, but with an optical sight mandated. The optical sight can only be mounted to the un-modified slide. Racking handles or other protuberances from the optical sight or its mounting is not permitted. Production Optics Lite is similar, except that the complete handgun must satisfy a weight limit of 1000 grams

The Production division was introduced at the General Assembly after the 1999 Handgun World Shoot in Cebu, Philippines, and became a recognized division starting in 2000. Production Optics was accepted as a trial division in 2017, and both Production Optics and Production Optics Lite were definitively accepted in 2018.

Introduced in 2011, the Classic division was modelled after the USPSA Single Stack division and is limited to handguns visually resembling the single stack 1911 form. The handgun with any of its magazines inserted has to fit inside the IPSC box. The competitor can choose between maximum 8 rounds per magazine for major scoring or 10 rounds per magazine for minor scoring. Minor scoring can be achieved with a 9mm projectile loaded to a power factor of 125 kgr·ft/s, while major scoring requires a 10mm or larger projectile loaded to a power factor of 170 kgr·ft/s.
 * Classic:

Handguns must have a one-piece metal frame, slide with stirrup cuts and the dust cover (with or without an accessory rail) can have a maximum length of 75 mm from the leading edge to the rear of the slide stop pin. Magazine wells cannot exceed a maximum outside width of 35 mm. Permitted modifications are shaped slides (i.e. flat-top or tri-top), shaped trigger guards (i.e. squared or undercut), bob-tail backstraps, bull or coned barrels, external extractors, finger-grooves (machined, add-on, wrap-around, etc.), custom magazine release buttons, triggers, hammers, single/ ambidextrous thumb safeties, any iron sights, extended slide lock levers and thumb shields provided they do not act as a thumb rest. Cosmetic modifications are permitted.

Prohibited modifications / parts are slide lightening cuts, weak hand thumb rests and slide rackers.

In the Revolver division double action revolvers in caliber 9×19mm or larger of any capacity can be used. Muzzle brakes or optical sights are not permitted. Competitors may declare major with a 9mm (.355") bullet loaded to a power factor of 170, but a maximum of 6 rounds can be fired before a reload is required. From 2017, there is no limit on the number of rounds fired before a reload is required, but revolvers with a capacity of 7 rounds or more will automatically be scored as Minor power factor. It is common to use moon clips for faster reloads. The Revolver division was introduced at the General Assembly after the 1999 Handgun World Shoot in Cebu, Philippines, and was a recognized division starting in 2000, initially under the name "Revolver Standard" before it was renamed to "Revolver" around 2009.
 * Revolver:

Now obsolete, the Modified division was a mix between Open and Standard. Handguns were allowed to have compensators and optical sights as long as they would fit in the IPSC box with any of its magazine inserted. The Modified division was formally adopted at the General Assembly following the 1992 European Handgun Championship in Barcelona, Spain, and became a recognized division starting in 1993. The division saw some use in southern Europe, but was otherwise not very widespread, and was retired after the 2011 World Shoot XVI in Rhodes, Greece. Competitors with Modified handguns would then afterwards compete in Open.
 * Modified:

Rifle
Important elements in rifle include the use of prone, off hand and supported shooting positions. Starting position is usually with the butt of the rifle touching the hip. Knowledge of the firearms ballistics is a key element to succeed at the long range targets. The recommended balance of target distances is that 30 percent of the targets are placed closer than 60 meters, 50 percent of the targets between 60 and 150 meters and 20 percent of the targets between 150 and 300 meters. Most competitors zero their sights at 200 meters. Being an outdoor sport, the weather can have a profound effect on competitor scores due to wind or different lighting conditions, especially on long range targets. Therefore, top-ranked competitors are often squadded together to achieve the most similar conditions.

There is no minimum caliber, but the ammunition has to make a power factor of 150 kgr·ft/s for minor or 320 kgr·ft/s for major scoring (formerly 160 and 340 kgr·ft/s respectively). Since two hits per target is normally required, rifles with minor power factor calibers dominate on the shorter ranges in most of the divisions due to less recoil and shorter recoil impulse. Minor ammunition being most common means that anyone can be competitive with affordable and readily available .223 Remington factory ammunition, without having to worry about handloading to make major. Ammunition loaded to major power factor has more recoil and a longer recoil impulse, but have the advantage of better ballistics at long range targets. Major scoring may be more competitive in the manual divisions since normally only one hit is required per target, lessening the importance of a small recoil impulse.

In the beginning, competitions were fired with whatever rifle the competitors chose, and while the type of rifles mostly has remained the same sighting systems have changed a lot. In 1990, Sverre Idland won the Norwegian rifle championship using an Elbit Falcon red dot sight. Low-power scope sights have been used in competitions since at least 1994, when Bengt Larsson used a Schmidt & Bender 1.1–4x20 mm to win the Norwegian Championship. For a while rifles equipped with optics and iron sights competed side by side, but were divided somewhere around the 2000s into an Open division for optic sights and a Standard division for iron sights. Open and Standard were the only two rifle divisions until the 2004 season when similar divisions were introduced for manually operated mechanisms. The Open and Standard division was then renamed to Semi Auto Open and Semi Auto Standard, while the new manual divisions was named Manual Action Open and Manual Action Standard. Around 2011 a provisional division named "Manual Action Standard 10" was approved for evaluation as a testing ground for development of the Manual divisions.

Self-loading rifles are used in the Semi Auto Open and Semi Auto Standard division, while the manual divisions are limited to manual action types.

Semi Auto Open, usually simply referred to as the "Open division", is the most popular rifle division. Optical sights are allowed together with bipods and muzzle brakes. Bipods can be taken on and off during a stage, and on some stages, it can even be advantageous to switch between different bipod sizes. Many top competitors use rifles with 46 cm (18-inch) barrels to run the longer rifle length gas system and achieve a softer recoil impulse. An adjustable gas system is popular. Some also use low-mass bolt carriers and buffer weights, which may, however, cause reliability issues if not tuned correctly.
 * Semi Auto Open (Open):

Low-power scope sights with a variable magnification starting at 1x (called low-power variable optics, or LPVOs) are popular, with magnifications of 1–6x or 1–8x and daytime bright illuminated reticles are the most popular. Usually, only the center of the reticle is illuminated. Some reticles have milliradian-based wind holds or holdover marks to compensate for wind and bullet drop on long-range targets, while others prefer reticles with a simple dot and crosshair and choose to dial long-range adjustments on the turrets instead. Turrets are often exposed and lockable, having ballistic drop compensation (BDC) and a zero stop, while some competitors choose to use capped turrets for the wind adjustment. Important optical characteristics are true 1x or 1.1x low-end magnification, while on higher magnification it is important with a large field of view and a large exit pupil. Some other important scope qualities are weight and stray light performance.

To avoid having to adjust magnification up and down when transitioning between several long and short-range targets during the same stage, some combine a scope with a 45-degree side-mounted red dot optic, but the effectiveness of this is debated, and there are both top competitors who use it and not. For instance, Raine Peltokoski uses only one optical sight, and in such situations instead uses a technique called "Occluded Eye Aiming", where one blocks the objective (i.e. with a lens cover or by hand) so that one only sees the illuminated dot with one eye and the target with the other eye.

Rifles with non-magnified red dot sights as the primary optic also compete in Open and are very competitive at short ranges, but the lack of magnification is a big disadvantage at longer ranges.

The Semi Auto Standard division usually simply referred to as the "Standard division", tests the added skill of using iron sights only. Also, bipods are not allowed and muzzle brakes have to be within the maximum dimensions of 30x90 mm (approx. 1x3.5 inches). A long sight radius is desirable as it helps even target and sight focus due to larger depth of field, and thus iron-sighted rifles often have longer barrels with the front sight attached to the end of it. Many Standard top competitors use the longer 50 cm (20") barrel over the 46 cm (18") to achieve longer sight radius. Any iron sights can be used, and both "globe" and "post" front sights are popular, as well as aperture, ghost ring or diopter rear sights.
 * Semi Auto Standard (Standard):

The manual divisions test the added skill of using a manual action, meaning that the rifles must be operated by physical manipulation, with some examples being bolt, pump or straight pull actions. Manual Action Open, usually simply referred to as the "Manual Open division", allows optical sights, muzzle brakes and bipods. Turn bolt actions require the competitor to perform both rotational and linear motions during the loading cycle, while pump- and straight-pull actions can be cycled back and forward without rotation of the bolt handle by the competitor. This reduces the number of movements from four to two, but comes at the cost of often having either poor or no primary extraction. increasing the risk of malfunctions. A turn bolt action on the other hand has a mechanical advantage used during chambering and primary extraction, which makes for more reliable feeding and extraction. Both types of mechanisms have won championships. Bolt action rifles usually also have a much shorter lock time than hammer fired pump and straight-pull actions, which can play a significant role in accuracy on long-range targets.
 * Manual Action Open (Manual Open):

Manual Action Standard, usually simply referred to as the "Manual Standard division", is limited to iron sights only, and no muzzle brakes or bipods are allowed. Manual Action Standard 10 (MAS10) (between 2012 and 2017) was a trial division that allowed iron sights only, a magazine capacity of 11 rounds (10 in the magazine plus 1 in the chamber) and factory-fitted muzzle brakes only.
 * Manual Action Standard (Manual Standard):

Shotgun
Starting position is usually with the shotgun in one hand and the butt of the shotgun touching the hip. There is only one power factor of 480 kgr·ft/s, and all targets are scored as major which means that anyone can be competitive with affordable and readily available 12 gauge 70 mm ($2 3/4$") ammunition. Different options on shotgun chokes and ammunition (from different pellet sizes and up to slugs) makes for interesting choke and ammunition choices based on the stage at hand where the competitor has to consider the spread of the choke relative to the distance. All divisions have limits of the number of shells loaded at the beginning of the stage, but the limits are removed after the start signal. For instance, some may choose to run 10 or 11 round tubes in the Standard division which is limited to 9 rounds in the tube at the start signal.

The Open division allows optical sights, muzzle brakes, and is the only division that permits detachable magazines or the use of speed loaders for tube magazines. The maximum overall length of the shotgun is 1320 mm (approximately 52 in) measured parallel to the barrel. Detachable magazines must not contain more than 10 rounds at the start signal, while shotguns with fixed magazines may have an initial load of 14 rounds. After the start signal detachable magazines can be loaded up 12 rounds, while there is no limit for tube magazines.
 * Open:

The Modified division allows muzzle brakes and optical sights, but is limited to internal tube magazines. The maximum overall length of the shotgun is 1320 mm. Modifications of the floor plate to facilitate loading is permitted, given that the modification doesn't exceed 75 mm in length or protrudes more than 32 mm from the shotgun frame in any direction. Maximum 14 rounds can be loaded at the start signal (13+1, 13 in the tube plus 1 in the chamber), but more can be loaded after the start signal. Until 2017 the division was limited to iron sights, but from 2018 optical sights are permitted.
 * Modified:

The standard division is the most popular division as of 2017. The division is limited to iron sights and internal tube magazines, and muzzle brakes are not allowed. The shotgun model has to be factory produced of at least 500 units. Maximum 9 rounds can be loaded at the start signal (8+1, 8 in the tube plus 1 in the chamber), but more can be loaded after the start signal.
 * Standard:

The Standard Manual division, usually simply referred to as the "Manual division", is the only shotgun division limited to manual actions. Limited to iron sights, internal tube magazines, and no muzzle brakes, the shotgun model has to be factory produced of at least 500 units. Maximum 9 rounds can be loaded at the start signal (8+1, 8 in the tube plus 1 in the chamber), but more can be loaded after the start signal.
 * Standard Manual (Manual):

Other

 * Tournaments are 2 or 3-Gun matches which can include any combination of the three disciplines handgun, rifle and shotgun in the same match. There are default Grand Tournament divisions, but match organizers may also declare their own specific Grand Tournament divisions. In addition to the main disciplines (handgun, rifle and shotgun) there are also some supplemental disciplines:
 * Mini-Rifle is for small caliber rifles (.22 LR only) with minor power factor scoring only, and competitions are mostly held indoors in the winter as training in the off-season.
 * Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) is for pistol caliber rifles only (9×19mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, etc.,) with minor power factor scoring only. The Carbine division can be held up to level 3, and either as a standalone match or as a separate division in a regular Handgun, Rifle or Mini Rifle matches.
 * Action Air is for airsoft handguns, and enjoys popularity in countries where civilian ownership of firearms are restricted. Minor power factor scoring only. Action Air is also used in the off-season in other countries as an affordable and easily available training tool because there is no need for a shooting range (competitions can, for instance, be held at an ordinary gym)

Safety
The safety of all competitors, officials, and spectators are always of the highest importance in competitions. Eye and ear protection are mandatory for both competitors and spectators. Firearms are kept unloaded until on the firing line under the direct supervision of a Range Officer, and can otherwise only be handled in designated safety areas. The safety area contains a direction with a secure backstop where competitors can handle unloaded firearms for example for packing or unpacking, holstering, cleaning or repair, dry firing or training with empty magazines. Handling of ammunition is expressively prohibited within the safety areas, including any dummy rounds. Outside the safety area, ammunition can be handled freely to load magazines, but firearms may only be handled under the direct supervision of a Range Officer. The strict separation of firearms and ammunition prevents accidents like accidental discharge (AD). Violations result in disqualification from the competition.

Types of courses

A match consists of a mix between short courses (lowest number of targets), medium and long courses (highest number of targets). The approved balance for a match is a ratio of 3 short courses to 2 medium courses and 1 long course (i.e. 6 short, 4 medium and 2 long courses for a level 3 match). Since the number of targets dictates the available points for that stage, and therefore Long courses potentially can have a have great impact on the overall standings. Short courses have fewer points available, and tend not to be as critical for the overall standings. Short courses are often more technical, offer many different stage solutions, or include challenging elements such as "empty chamber" or "empty magazine well" starts, or "non-freestyle shooting" elements such as strong or weak hand only. Medium courses are something in between, while long courses will have the highest round count. Long courses tend to be more freestyle and straightforward as far as different stage solutions. The shooting challenges may still not necessarily be easy, and a match can be lost or won at a long course since there are so many points available.

Match levels
Competitions are held at all levels from club matches and up to the world championships. Level 3 matches and up require official IPSC pre-approved match level sanctioning in regards to courses, IROA-range official, etc.

 * Level 1: Club matches
 * Level 2: Matches open to participants from different clubs
 * Level 3: Regional matches, i.e. national championships or other large matches such as the Extreme Euro Open
 * Level 4: Continental championships, i.e. the European or Pan-American Championship
 * Level 5: The World Shoots

The World Shoots are the highest level shooting matches within IPSC. Held since 1975, it is a multi-day match where the best IPSC shooters from around the world compete for the World Champion title.

Match etiquette
Walkthrough refers to being inside the fault lines of a stage when not shooting, and is usually done by competitors for finalizing stage plans. Walkthroughs are restricted for equity reasons. Competitors are not allowed to enter or walk on the stages on their own initiative, but must be invited to do so by the Range Officer first after having received the stage briefing. After the stage brief, the squad as a whole is normally given between 3 and 5 minutes to walk the particular stage collectively. Afterwards, the command Time's up is given, upon which the first shooter is asked to load and make ready.

On-deck refers to the competitor first in line waiting to shoot. The shooter second in line is referred to as being in-the-hole. During scoring of the preceding shooter, the shooter on deck is usually allowed to take a final walkthrough.

So as not to disturb, spectators and other competitors should be still and remain silent while a competitor is preparing to shoot as well as during shooting.

After a competitor has performed well on a stage it is common to receive soft applause. Such quiet clapping is the preferred form of applause for shooters; louder forms of applause are discouraged so as not to disturb other shooters who may be in the process of attempting a stage. Shoot-Off's are an exception to this.

After having completed a stage and received scores it is common for the competitor to thank and shake hands with the Range Officer.

Competitors are divided into Squads that rotate between the Courses of Fire. A Super Squad refers to a Squad of elite and top-seeded competitors who are among the favorites to win a match. They often consist of two or more national teams who are handpicked by their respective national sport directors. Match favorites are required to be placed in Super Squads so that they get the most similar conditions.

Shoot-Off
A Shoot-Off is an audience-friendly duel shooting organized as a knock-out tournament where the shooters compete 1-on-1 and the winners advance further towards finals. It is usually held at major events after the main-match, and the best shooters from the main-match are eligible to participate. It is often shot at falling targets such as poppers, and to win a shooter must knock down all their falling targets and reach their stop target before the other competitor. Dependent on schedule, quarter, semi, bronze and gold finals may be held.

Tournament bracket from the Shoot-Off at the 2019 Rifle World Shoot:

Shoot-Offs can be decided by small margins. At the 2018 Shotgun World Shoot, U.S. shooter Scott Greene and Russian Roman Anikin both fired their last shots almost simultaneously, but Greene had chosen a more constricted barrel choke. This gave a tighter shot pattern and a greater risk of missing, but ultimately lead to his target falling faster to win the Shoot-Off.

Match officials
The International Range Officers Association (IROA) is a part of IPSC with the responsibility to train and certify their own dedicated range officials, who are responsible for conducting matches safely, fair and according to the rules. In addition, each IPSC region have their own National Range Officers Institute (NROI) under the IROA. In a match range officials from IROA and NROI can work alongside in the ranks:

 * Range Officer (RO) – The Range Officer gives the competitors stage briefings, issue range commands and follows the competitor through the conduction of the stage to monitor time, scores and safe firearms handling.
 * Chief Range Officer (CRO) – In case there are several Range Officers, a Chief Range Officer will be assigned to have the primary authority over the particular course. Like the RO, the CRO will oversee fair and consistent application of the rules.
 * Range Master (RM) – The Range Master has the overall authority over the entire range during the match, including all Match Officials and the overall safety.
 * Match Director (MD) handles the overall match administration before and during the match, including registration, squadding, scheduling, range construction and coordination of the staff. The Match Director doesn't have to be an NROI or IROA Official.
 * Stats Officer (SO) is another important role with the responsibility to collect, sort and verify the final results.

Design of stages can be done with various tools such as pen and paper or digital software. There are also physical miniature models in 1:25 scale that can be used so that several persons can design and discuss stages and exercises by hand.

Coaches and instructors
The Main International Shooting Instructors Association (MISIA) is a part of IPSC with the responsibility to train and certify their own dedicated safety instructors and coaches, providing supervision and training for both team and individual players. Safety instructors conduct mandatory safety training programs, while coaches are involved in administration, athletic and shooting training, competition coaching as well as representation of practical shooting teams and players.

Competitor ranking

The official ICS classification system (IPSC Classification System) allows athletes to be ranked both nationally and internationally based on previous results. Competitors are ranked from top to bottom as either Grand Master, Master, A, B, C or D. This way, shooters can measure progress and compare themselves with other shooters of the same classification in the match results. A classification is division-specific, and an athlete may, therefore, have different classifications in different divisions.

To be classified, you must first register an ICS alias which must be used when signing up for matches. An athlete is then classified within a division after the 4 first classification results. A classification result can be achieved in three ways:
 * By shooting a standardized CLS stage (Classifier Stage), for example on a club training.
 * By competing in a match containing a standardized CLS stage.
 * By competing in a "classification match", which means a level 3 match with at least 10 participants within the division, and where at least 30% of the participants in that division already are classified. (A classification match does not have to contain a CLS stage.)

Once initial classification has been achieved, the classification will be updated based on the average of the 4 best of the 8 last results. The ICS system is dynamic, and can change based on the results being reported. For example, a result from a CLS stage will at any given time be calculated based on the highest hit factor ever shot for that particular CLS stage. In order to maintain their classification, an athlete each calendar year at least have to achieve a result in either one classification match or two CLS stages.

IPSC Rating.com is a third party multiplayer Elo rating service based on performance in actual competitions and advanced rating algorithms. Results from IPSC level 3, 4 and 5 matches plus major USPSA matches are processed, with the last IPSC World Shoot as the most trusted and representative source. Scores of competitors in other matches are compared to known "key competitors" who are already rated to achieve global rating percents. To be ranked one must compete in at least two level 3 matches, and old results will expire if they are not updated with following matches.


text:
Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School

Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School is a high school of the Juneau School District in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, United States. The school is an opportunity for students over the age of 16 to have a less mainstream high school experience than that offered by Juneau-Douglas High School or Thunder Mountain High School. In recent years, the school has hosted nearly 100 students ages 16+. The school serves students at risk of dropping out, about half of whom are from racial and ethnic minorities. About 40 students are able to graduate each year.

The school currently resides in the Marie Drake school building between Harborview and Juneau Douglas High School.

Programs and curriculum
The school integrates the culture and language of the Tlingit for the many Native Alaskan students, who are at higher risk of dropping out of school. Ceremonies have been held to specifically honor the achievements of Tlingit students at the school, as part of an effort to recognize and encourage achievement by Tlingit students.

Students at the school have participated in a nine-week domestic violence program, aimed at cutting the state's nation leading rates of such violence.

Origin of name
Yaa k oosgé daakahídi is a Tlingit language phrase meaning "house of learning". The term was created by Tlingit elder Anna Katzeek.

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


text:
Symposium (band)

Symposium are an English punk pop band. They were active from 1994 to 2000 and were known for their live shows. The name 'Symposium' originally referred to a drinking party (the Greek verb sympotein means "to drink together"), and was taken from the philosophical dialogue by Plato.

History
The band formed whilst still at school in Shepherd's Bush, London, in 1994. The line-up consisted of Ross Cummins on vocals, Hagop Tchaparian as a guitarist and backing vocalist, Joe Birch on drums, William McGonagle as a guitarist, and Wojtek Godzisz as a vocalist and songwriter. The band's first show was at Hammersmith's Emerald Hut in July 1994, and they played various clubs and pubs in Camden Town throughout 1995; by November, they had obtained a manager. The band had a selection of uptempo punk pop songs which, together with their young average age of eighteen, brought them to the attention of Korda Marshall, who signed them to Infectious Records in 1996.

Their 1996 debut single, "Drink the Sunshine", was followed by support from NME, who placed them on the "Bratbus Tour" (an annual tour of four hotly tipped bands) which would visit universities in the UK. In March 1997, the band's concerts had been noted by Everett True, who put them on the cover of the 29 March 1997 Melody Maker, proclaiming them to be the "best live band in Britain". The band released a No. 25 UK hit single, "Farewell to Twilight" in March 1997. They also performed the song on TFI Friday. This was followed by a headlining tour.

They released a mini album, One Day at a Time, in October 1997, stating in NME that they "just wanted to get them [the songs] out there". The release alluded to the fact that their actual (full-length) debut album would be released at a later date. This was illustrated by the fact that one of the four singles they had released up until this point, "The Answer To Why I Hate You", was absent from the mini-album, but did appear on their first album On The Outside. Having signed a recording contract with Infectious Records. "Farewell to Twilight" achieved a UK Singles Chart peak of No. 25, a position that they would never surpass.

"Fairweather Friend" was the band's best known song, having support from a music video, and this led to a Top of the Pops performance. In 1997 the band supported a number of popular American bands, including Red Hot Chili Peppers at Wembley Arena, The Foo Fighters, Deftones and No Doubt at Brixton Academy, where Cummins' stage antics caused him to dislocate his leg. The following year the band toured the United States on the Warped Tour with Bad Religion, NOFX and Rancid.

Their debut album On The Outside was released in May 1998. By the end of 1999 the band had left Infectious Records. After supporting Metallica at the Milton Keynes Bowl in 1999, Symposium released the "Killing Position" EP. By early 2000 the band had developed musical differences and broke up.

McGonagle and Birch formed the post-hardcore band Hell Is for Heroes, whilst Cummins eventually resurfaced in 2004 with Paper Cuts. The band's primary songwriter Wojtek Godzisz went solo and signed to Tigertrap Records in 2006. His eponymous debut album was released in 2009.

Hagop Tchaparian went on to work with the band Hot Chip. He is a consultant to the music industry. Tchaparian released his debut album Bolts in October 2022.

2022-onwards
On 22 April, 2022, an update was made via the Symposium facebook page, the band announced that their albums (One Day At A Time, and On The Outside) are now available on all streaming websites. With the added bonus of a compilation album "Do You Remember How It Was?" due out for 11 November, 2022. Ross, Wojtek, Will and Joe will be participating in a Q&A at Signature Brew in Haggerston on 19 May, 2022, hosted by Kerrangs!'s Phil Alexander. There was also a promise of a live show announcement coming soon. It has since been announced that they will play for “one night only” at Islington Assembly Hall in November 2022.

Members

 * Ross Cummins – vocals
 * Wojtek Godzisz – vocals, bass
 * Hagop Tchaparian – guitar, occasional backing vocals
 * William McGonagle – guitar
 * Joe Birch – drums

title: Symposium (band)


text:
User talk:Mark/Archive 2

Welcome to Archive 2 of my discussion page, ranging from 28 March 2005 until 2 July 2006. If you wish to leave me a message or continue a discussion in here, please do so on my current discussion page, at User talk:Mark.

Clones? How should I deal with these people?
These users uniformly present their views in Armenian Genocide(see talk) once one is quiet a new one pops in for my conviniance. They have a distuptive attitide and I do not know how to deal with it. I am open for suggestions on how I should proceed. Users in question are: THOTH, Davenbelle, Stereotek, Fadix.

I am not sure how to aproach the issue as this is being very time consuming. --Cool Cat My Talk 22:56, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)

 * Hi, Mark. I'm not sure why the "Coolcat" brought this up with you. He is the one with the disruptive attitude, IMO (and others', I expect). I, for one, am nobody's sock. "Coolcat" is very focused on Armenian Genocide denial and has presented himself has a "mediator" on a number of pages on which he has a strong Turkish-POV; see also: Talk:Greco-Turkish relations, Talk:Nagorno-Karabakh as well as Talk:Armenian Genocide. — Davenbelle 01:32, Mar 30, 2005 (UTC)

Well, these guys are acusing me of things, refering to personal attacks, are currently trying to get me banned, and other various irritating actions, I am not sure how to deal with them, they are monitoring all my actions. Whenever i post something somewhere I gen this kind of posts almost immidiately. I do not know how to deal with these people and I need help. --Cool Cat My Talk 01:08, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

That's disgusting, Coolcat has done it again with his lies against members. I am ready for the administration, or the owner of Wikipedia to research my IP address or whatever they want. I have nothing to hide. NOTHING!!! If I wanted to hide something, I'll do like Coolcat, I'de claim to be a neutral non-Turk, non-Armenian. I have enough of Coolcat posting in members pages, he has been allerting countless numbers of members lying ahbout other members and talking on their backs. This guy has been POVing under the banner of neutrality every unimaginable entries directly or indirecly involving Turkey. Fadix 01:49, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Another quick questin, where can I report personal attacks of Fadix, whenever I post anything regarding him, he pops in. He has had enough of me asking for help as he continues to post personal attacks like, me being a troll, how biased I am, that I have a hiddenagenda and more, I know it is distastefull, I asked him countless times to stop, he seems to be incapable. Where should I reprot the matter, I have no experience with personal attack resolution before Fadix, I was lucky enough to have "clean" discussions. --Cool Cat My Talk 01:20, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Oh, I have stolen your "My talk" motife. :) --Cool Cat My Talk 01:22, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

re: Email
I've added it in my preference. Fadix 02:50, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Re: IRC channel
Oh.. I didn't think anyone would notice my absence! Your question is a good one, but I'm not sure I can summon an adequate answer. It seemed to me that the channel had become ever more hostile since the new year. Whenever I logged on there was some argument boiling over, and even during non-argumentative exchanges there seemed to be a higher than expected level of snark. Users who I do find are affable (such as yourself) seemed to be dwindling in number, or else I kept missing their appearances due to my wacky schedule. Added to that was the subtle (but seemingly constant) denigration of GLBT peoples by a certain user (don't know if he's still around), and the temporary death of enrc. So two incentives to log on (enrc and cordial conversation) were gone, leaving a strong incentive to stay away (hostility). This is, of course, my POV only. I was going to blame my absence on meatspace problems and my attempts to focus on content creation; while these are also factors, they're comparatively minor ones.

Anyway, I hope school and life in general has treated you kindly as of late. You certainly look dapper in that suit, if I may say so. :) Thanks muchly for the nudge, -- Hadal 04:43, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Perth Aerial Image
Hi Mark, I was wondering where you found the aerial image of Perth you used for the Perth page. I'm working on the Perth WikiProject and thought it might be interesting to show the boundaries of the local councils (and eventually the suburbs). If you know of anything suitable or can point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated, I've been looking through the NASA site but can't find anything for Perth. Thanks, Meesham 07:10, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Cookie
Hello! Thanks for the cookie. I must admit, I am not very active with my administrative roles in Wikipedia, and I am not very familiar with the Wikipedia IRC channel. However, this does not mean I am not active in the Wiki community!

Merci Beaucoup!! -- Earl Andrew - talk 08:19, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Contemptible
Your message was in fact beneath contempt. You should be ashamed. --Tagishsimon (talk)

Sneaky tabs on IRC
Hey! Chatzilla was messing with me! I'm sorry, Mark, I never saw the tab you opened on me, I just discovered it now. Apparently, when there are more tabs, they don't shrink like in a browser, they just disappear out of sight away to the right. :-( I did not know that. Thanks for your message. No, not any too funny, I thought. --Bishonen|Talk 14:37, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

WP:AN/3RR
I don't know what you are doing that broke /3RR by duplicating a large chunk of text, but please avoid doing so! Until you have the problem figured out, after making a change please look at the history and do a "diff" to make sure that the change you actually made was the change you thought you made. (And I hope the same problem isn't happening with any articles you have worked on!) In fact, you might want to do that on all changes anyway - I always do, just to check. Noel (talk) 16:19, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

 * I think it's an occasional bug in the software that happens randomly to many people. — Matt Crypto 16:27, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

 * If you clicked on the section header, yeah, that's definitely a software bug. Wierd. Anyway, no problem, luckily I caught it before anyone else had editied, so it was easy to fix. But if it is a common big (per Matt), an ever better reason to check diffs! Noel (talk) 16:39, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Request
Hi Borofkin. I was wondering if you could explain this edit of yours to me? - Mark 07:22, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)
 * Ahhh, I was wondering if anyone had noticed that. It's a tonge-in-cheek and very POV reference to how our current immigration policy seems to be at odds with values such as freedom, justice, and equality. I could have also linked "fair go" to White Australia policy, for example. - Borofkin 07:25, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

anon
an anon user 210.50.80.19 recently altered content on my user page (i would say it amounted to vandalism). the IP is very similar to some used by user:PSYCH. i wonder if this breaches PSYCH's personal attack ban from the arbitration. see Requests for arbitration/PSYCH. Xtra 14:46, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Hiding images
Hi. How long is this hiding of images going to last? It's been more than a month since you protected Template:Message box and I would like to edit it. —Cantus… ☎   04:36, Apr 11, 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I cannot revert back to the version with the image because the page is still protected. Can you unprotect it? Thanks. —Cantus… ☎   22:56, Apr 11, 2005 (UTC)

Solana
Please do not revert Requests for comment/Cumbey. How dare you? I have reverted back and reported your action at Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents. It seems to me you are just trying to subvert the legitimate Rfc process. Why? --SqueakBox 16:46, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) I have no idea who asked you to remove the new work at Requests for comment/Cumbey. Was it Cumbey herself. Here Cumbey, at her static IP address, removed the text from the request for comment. Please can I have an explanation of your revert, --SqueakBox 17:39, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) Perfectly reasonable explanation received. Have a nice day, --SqueakBox 15:00, Apr 13, 2005 (UTC)

Help with a problem
Dear Mark: I have a slight problem that I want to discuss in private with you. Can you please contact me through a private channel? My email is (email address removed) or my cell phone number is (phone number removed). It is a USA extension and since you are in Australia I doubt you will call.

I also have a question. Who would I contact to get info on who wrote an article and on who could access that information and send it to me?

Thanks for your time. David Kowalsky

Hey Dude
Didn't know how appropriate it would be to add myself in there. I'm a Paddy after all... Cheers for the shout though! I do add a few bits of Oz stuff in here, cos I'm living in Perth at the mo and only discovered wiki recently. I'll be adding as many pics as I can / until I lose interest... All the best. SeanMack 14:26, 2 May 2005 (UTC)
 * Hi Mark, just remembered you leaving me a note a while back - I've been wondering if you have a digital camera? Do you add pics? There is an article that could do with a pic of one of the Ecobuses in Perth - I never see them as I work fairly long hours (who said aussies don't work hard - sheesh - I thought I would be on the beach the whole time here...) Any interest in getting a pic?
 * Cheers for the quick reply. No worries. If I can be so bold - I just got a camera for my wife and can recommend Digital Fun Stuff online from Sydney - particularly for the Pentax Optio WP that I got her. Lovely camera, but I dunno what your price range would be. I would never buy a camera passing through Asia as you have no come back.... Take it easy. SeanMack 14:32, 5 August 2005 (UTC)
 * I meant to say - your very welcome to copyedit any of my Oz related edits, I know you would keep me right. Sean.
 * One last thought - if you have pics you want for wiki maybe I could get some of them for you? SeanMack 03:47, 6 August 2005 (UTC)

Comment by 131.215.169.92
i thought that was a discussion page

Hello Mark
Checked out your page - Very clean and structured. Glad to see you working on things here. You seem to be very clear minded and straight forward. Thanks for the invite to visit and talk to you. You seem to be a good advocate. Most of my work is at www.ncpink.com but that will be improving. The place to look for me for now is at my e-mail address which either you alredy have or I will aside you. I have my normal spam e-mails that I give out but my latest is priority one for a clean inbox and is easy to keep track of. Thanks for keeping cool under pressure, and drop me a line anytime. See you in IRC.

Heres the link to my Wikinews talk: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/User_talk:Noisecontrol

Talk to you soon!

You're welcome
No problem; I'm happy to help out. Yes, the anon's logic is rather bizzarre; unfortunately, people who andalize user pages are rarely logical. He'll probably start vandalizing my page now because I reverted yours. =) — Knowledge Seeker দ 16:47, 18 May 2005 (UTC)

talk page vandalism
protecting my user page has simply moved the vandalism to my talk page.

if i could get my way i would permablock any IP related to the vandal. <== liberal gung-ho tactics

Mind you. With reference to his continual accusations of homophobia: I have never advocated violence against homosexuals, i do not belittle homosexuals and i have not edited any homosexual related page on wikipedia or inserted any kind of derrogetory comment. My only comments were in support of the status quo and even in favour of homosexuals [THIS IS A LIE - XTRA IS A HOMOPHOBE SEE BELOW FOR PROOF]. There is no gay adoption, yet I give it qualified support.

I am sick and tired of being accused of bigotry, nazism and all this other crap. I have been more than fair with those of other views. If this anonomous user can't accept those with other POV's then who is the real biggot?

I am sick and tired of his moronic games. Xtra 08:04, 20 May 2005 (UTC) Wow, did you think of that all by yourself?

P.S. the fact that he is attacking you shows that he is only interested in vandalism and not standing up for any high moral ground. Xtra 08:10, 20 May 2005 (UTC) - ''liberals lecturing others about morals... oh, that's rich.''

 * XTRA - NEWS FLASH - You ARE a HOMOPHOBE. You openly admit your OPPOSITION to gay marriage because it doesn't conform to YOUR RELIGIOUS VIEWS. Hardly a hallmark of tolerance.

 * Secondly, you insultingly say "I support gay adoption" when by your own admission you only supoprt gay adoption in the order : straight couples, single hetero, gays last... So gays only get to adopt if there are straight people around!? Let me commend you on your accpetance, sir. No way have we travelled back to the dark ages, thankyou sir. (Check his beliefs page).

 * That is so cliche, you may as well have said that you "have many gay friends," (even though we all know''' liberals like to pretend gays don't exist.

'''
 * How dare he say he is in favour of HOMOSEXUALITY when he and his narrow-minded party are homophobic BIGOTS.
 * Just my 2 cents.

 * Thank you for actually leaving a message instead of altering my user page; it's nice to actually be able to engage in meaningful conversation with you. Can you tell me what Xtra did to anger you? I assume it wasn't just a vaguely negative representation of his attitudes towards GLBT people on a subpage of his user page that has angered you. You're not going to persuade anyone by vandalising their user pages, but if you actually talk to us we may be able to understand more easily. If you don't want to do that, can you leave my user page alone then? I've been a Wikipedia user for over 3 years now, and the last few days have doubled or tripled the number of times it has been vandalised. - Mark 15:15, 21 May 2005 (UTC)
 * Xtra has posted on his own page that he opposes homosexuality because it conflicts with his religion, and then has the nerve to say that he respects gays, and wants them to adopt when he clearly doesn't. He's also states many times that "Gays don't want anymore rights" when he is in no position to dictate what the gay population wants, given his own bigotry and his party's homophobic stance. If he's a homophobe, admit it; don't hide behind the "I have many gay friends" or "I support gay adoption" when he clearly doesn't on both coutns.

 * That's funny coming from somebody whose vandalism to Xtra's talkpage I just had to revert. --Chanting Fox 03:36, 22 May 2005 (UTC)
 * So you think vandalism of a talk page is worse than homophobic bigotry and insensitive comments about the poor? Conservatives really are cold.

I like anonomous vandals (i.e. PSYCH) making up my comments and veiws for me. It saves me the trouble of having to think myself. Xtra 07:55, 22 May 2005 (UTC)
 * XTRA - when the liberals start respecting human rights, then you can speak, until then, I suggest you do what most liberals should do and shut up.
 * Good - next all you need to do is convert to Christianity to get a free pass from a detention centre, or act confused and be deported as an illegal. What freedom we have under the Howard government! Three cheers!

Personal attack?
Looking for your opinion on something, Mark. Suppose someone was to say about me that my "latest disruption tactic is to oppose for no foreseeable reason on RfAs". Would you call that a personal attack? Everyking 20:23, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

Government of Australia
I've added in a detailed rebuttal for Skyring's claims on the Talk:Government of Australia page. You might want to take a look. Slán. Fear ÉIREANN (talk) 14:40, 26 May 2005 (UTC)

my user page
Can you unprotect my user page. things have quitened down and i would like to edit my page. Thanx Xtra 01:00, 24 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Suggestion
Mark

I linked to you from your picture of Perth and then clicked on the West Coast Eagles page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Eagles). I read "include a team from Western Australia in August 1986."

Is it worth noting that Brisbane Bears were also included? On their page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Bears) it mentions Perth, why not mention them on the WCE page?

Anyway, I'm asking you this as I am very new to Wiki's

Thanks

Leon

Template:Expansion
Could you please take a look at the above template, it is currently the subject of a revert war where both sides are at the 3RR limit. 13:12, 10 July 2005 (UTC)

World Community Grid
''Hello, before you read on I would just like to say that I have so far only posted this to a limited amount of administrators for consultation. If you have any objections to its wider distribution or suitability for Wikipedia please let me know.'''

Hi, I would just like to invite you to find out about the World Community Grid Human Proteome Folding Project. This is a purely philanthropic project and supported by a "blue chip" corporation in IBM. There is an ability to join a team once you have downloaded the software and another user has already established the Wikipedia team.

I would like to emphasise that I do not want to pressure anybody into feeling obligated and I understand the limited computer resources/access available to some. Feel free to pass this message on and thank you very much for your time, Mark 21:50, 26 July 2005 (UTC)

 * Significant objections have been raised to this.

Signature
Hi. Sorry, I never thought about that. I have changed my preferences to produce the signature "Mark83". Mark83 10:18, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

New user page
Your new user page strains my eyes. --Commander Keane 08:28, July 31, 2005 (UTC)
 * It's looks fine to me, it's nice to see a unique user page. :) Squash 04:48, 4 August 2005 (UTC)

Who?
I have ceased to take any interest in such trivial matters. Talk to me again in March. Adam 10:10, 1 August 2005 (UTC)

Changes to Macroeconomics
Mark:

The changes you are reverting to Macroeconomics page are NOT a neutral point of view. The are clearly written by someone who (1) favors Keynsian economics and (2) does not understand economics. Much of what is written is irrevant to current Macroeconomic thought and represents a lay-persons thoughts and NOT the thoughts of the economics profession and some of the statements are just wrong!

I have a Ph.D. in economics from Univ of Chicago and have been a faculty member at Chicago, Northwestern and Harvard. Furthermore, I ahve been a staff economist to Presidents Regan and Bush senior. - (anonymous comment by 203.146.108.3)

 * Hello. While I do not know about "New Keynesian Theory", probably the main reason for me reverting your edit was your wholesale blanking of all the different schools of macroeconomic thought. Wikipedia is not a textbook, so we do not need to worry about whether we are supporting the 'one true Economic theory'. We instead should outline them all equally and fairly. Saying that "Robert Lucas Jr proved ... that at all traditional Keynesian macroeconomic models were questionable" conveys the message that his conclusions were correct and unequivocal. If you feel that New Keynesian economics shouldn't be mentioned, remove that, but do not remove all reference to some of the most pivotal economists of the past century and competing economic theories at the same time. As for your educational and employment history, good for you. - Mark 07:40, 4 August 2005 (UTC)

Mark Fuck Off!
(anonymous comment by 203.146.108.6 - see Talk:Macroeconomics for details)

RFC: Value added tax
Thanks Mark for your comment. I'll wait and see more comments from other people, to decide on how the footnote can be rephrased if it is necessary. :-) — Instantnood 17:16, August 4, 2005 (UTC)

Re: Thanks
You're welcome. JeremyA (talk) 05:42, 5 August 2005 (UTC)

Re: Thanks (again!)
I didn't realise that you'd get to repay the favour so soon! Thanks, JeremyA (talk) 05:46, 5 August 2005 (UTC)

Congrats on anti-vandalism work
Hello... Just a quick line to say like your work! Since I made a minor edit on the Racism article I noticed how tirelessly you remove vandalism on that article. How on earth do you do it so quickly!? And is this really being kept under control just by brute force? I had the misfortune to come across the Racism article when had just been vandalised but usually I don't come across vandalism. Lisa 09:53, 6 August 2005 (UTC) (also downunder :))

Thanks for your support
Hi Mark – I almost wrote "fellow Mark" – thank you for supporting my recent RfA. I was surprised and humbled by the number of positives votes. I'll be monitoring RfA regularly from now on and will look for a chance to "pay it forward". Cheers, --MarkSweep 02:29, 7 August 2005 (UTC)

203.14.53.46 at it again
Take a look at Film. I'd suggest a longer block (10 years?) -- Samuel Wantman 10:19, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

Rogue Admin
Since you hve been declared as a "rouge" admin on #wikipedia I heraby have no choice to ward you the rouge admin award which I noticed on a userpage :P. Congrats. --Cool Cat My Talk 12:04, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

Func's RfA :)
Thank you, Mark! Your vote on my RfA was appreciated. :)

Please never hesitate to let me know if you have concerns with any administrative action I may make.

Func( t, c, e, ) 22:44, 10 August 2005 (UTC)

Cookie
Mark, That cookie biscuit looks delicious. Thanks. -- Ian ≡ talk 09:25, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

Perth
As a participant in earlier discussions at Talk:Perth, Scotland, this is to inform you about a proposed page move. See Talk:Perth (disambiguation). -- Curps 04:29, 19 August 2005 (UTC)

New York
How've you been mark - I'ts been a while since I've dropped in, how's Perth and AUS in general. Stay hip. Keep up the good work.

ChrisBradley 15:42, 20 August 2005 (UTC)

Unprotect
Time to unprotect Natalee Holloway. Also, you forgot to follow the correct protection procedure. -O^O

Yow!
Hey, why did you delete User talk:Jtdirl? I don't think that's appropriate, but figure you have a good reason for it. - Ta bu shi da yu 07:46, 1 September 2005 (UTC)
 * I thought it might be something like that :-) Cheers Mark! - Ta bu shi da yu 23:27, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

technical work
Hi Mark, I understood that you are quite capable in doing technical mergers and such, and you do not miss things that are needed for edit histories. Therefore I ask you to combine a (rather good, but new and rival) text (with its edit history - only one contributor) at Dervorguilla to an earlier article of the same subject, Devorguilla Balliol so that the lone contributor's edits on 15 August are preserved in edit history and in contents. I suggest that you leave the older article's current text content in the beginning, and put the newer one's directly after that. Do not worry about some details being duplicate from doing such - I'll go to edit the article quite much as soon as it is combined, and I can do edits to de-duplicate those details at the same time. Please inform me if/when done as requested. Thanks already beforehands. 217.140.193.123 14:26, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

 * See my reply at User talk:217.140.193.123. - Mark 02:58, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

Rouge admin
Thanks for your help, here's your Rouge Admin award! :-) Bishonen 10:26, 7 September 2005 (UTC)

Bmicomp's RfA
Well, my RfA has not quite completed yet, but either way, I'd like to thank you for your vote and your support, regardless of the outcome. -- BMIComp (talk, HOWS MY DRIVING) 18:00, 13 September 2005 (UTC)

Zephram Stark
Mark, thank you for letting me know about Zeph's post to the mailing list. I've sent a response. Cheers, SlimVirgin (talk) 06:17, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for letting me know as well. I've also responded. So far there doesn't seem to be much support for Stark's position; rather, there seems to be a great deal of support for SlimVirgin's actions. Jayjg (talk) 18:43, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

Hey
If you get a chance, would you be able to drop me a message on IRC or MSN? I'm having terrible trouble with a couple of small points in a contract law assignment, and I was wondering if you might be able to give me some hints. Ambi 12:55, 20 September 2005 (UTC)

Peer Review and FAC

 * Peer review
 * Featured article candidates/Katamari Damacy

Whee! - A Link to the Past (talk) 02:34, 21 September 2005 (UTC)

Translation
Hi Mark,

I'm afraid I may not be the most qualified to make the translation... I had no idea how to translate some of the more specialized terms. But I've put up a notice on the Chinese Wikipedia's Village Pump, so you should be getting some help shortly.

As far as simp/trad go, we keep two versions of all system messages on the Chinese Wikipedia. Which one gets displayed depends on the user's preferences. Everything else (article space, for example) gets put through the automatic conversion, again, depending on the user's preferences. -- ran (talk) 20:28, 23 September 2005 (UTC)

User:Mosesofmason has done the translation! =) -- ran (talk)

"Chinese" is 中文 in both Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Simplified Chinese is 简体中文 in simplified, and Traditional Chinese is 正體中文 in traditional. -- ran (talk) 12:14, 25 September 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for the cookie. =)

The underlines in the Chinese and Japanese translations, btw, are there to mark out the places where the links should be (to "Wikimedia Foundation", "Please try again in a few minutes", "one of the Internet's most visited sites", and "please donate", respectively). Should underlines be added for all the language versions? Or are they kinda obvious for the European languages? -- ran (talk) 03:56, 26 September 2005 (UTC)

Oh, I wasn't the one who did the underlines... but after I understood what they were for, I was just trying to help out a bit, that's all =) -- ran (talk) 16:59, 26 September 2005 (UTC)

Multilingual error page
Done. Forgot to login. Nuno Tavares 04:52, 26 September 2005 (UTC)

Something you'd might like to know
In the AFD discussion for ObjAsm32, a user (a sockpuppet most likely) known as MarkPP (talk • contribs) attempted to use your User page as a source of credibility by linking his signature to your userpage. It's no big deal, he didn't get very far. Just to point it out, it might be something you would be interested in. — Kjammer ⌂  07:21, 1 October 2005 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/User:Cool Cat/Wiki-politics
Fadix VfDed something in my userpage. What do you think? --Cool Cat Talk 23:11, 1 October 2005 (UTC)

The West
Mark, I don't like the article at all, needs to be written better, I was trying to pull my own not NPOV bits out and made a mess, but hope someone like yourself might do a better re-write?vcxlor 02:12, 4 October 2005 (UTC) Thanks - the problem with arts on companies is that they tend to read like promotional things. The political para at the end is too 'current' and surely needs more historical context (i've tried stirring snottygobble on this). There was a point the west history where it did handle 'the local' of perth, with national stories, and international -but the rise of the weeklies did make it concentrate on national and it has never been any good on international news for over 2 decades now. It is incredibly parochial and dumbs down lots of stories, and the current editor is invisible compared to what paul murray was... But how does one wikify what I have just written? :) have fun. vcxlor 02:36, 4 October 2005 (UTC)

Coolcat final decision reached
The arbitration committee has reacheda final decision in the Requests for arbitration/Coolcat, Davenbelle and Stereotek case. As one of coolcat's mentors, I suggest you create a mentorship page, such as Requests for arbitration/Coolcat, Davenbelle and Stereotek/mentorship. →Raul654 23:26, 5 October 2005 (UTC)

More personal attacks by User:Cool Cat
Please see: Wikipedia talk:Requests for arbitration/Coolcat, Davenbelle and Stereotek/mentorship. — Davenbelle 06:16, 15 October 2005 (UTC)

 * Mark, would you like to pop on over to the Mentor page to chat about this? --Tony Sidaway Talk 06:58, 15 October 2005 (UTC)

Cool Cat mentorship issues
I've made some comments on the mentorship talk page about how things are progressing--it seems that Cool Cat and Davenbelle in particular are sniping at one another. Mostly it seems to be Davenbelle's doing, but Cool Cat isn't completely blameless; he's maintaining links to Davenbelle and Karl Meier (who I understand was formerly Stereotek) on his contact page, in a color that he also uses only for a big-time vandal known as MARMOT. If this seems like a petty concern, that's because it is, but it gives Davenbelle and Karl Meier, in their eyes, a continuing reason to be concerned about Cool Cat's behavior. I've made some comments on the talk page, and I'd appreciate it if as a fellow mentor you could add your own take on the situation. I've pasted this to both MacGyverMagic's and Mark Ryan's talk pages.

 * Wikipedia talk:Requests for arbitration/Coolcat, Davenbelle and Stereotek/mentorship

--Tony Sidaway Talk 13:05, 24 October 2005 (UTC)

Akuma (悪魔)
Please see: Wikipedia talk:Requests for arbitration/Coolcat, Davenbelle and Stereotek/mentorship. Thank you. — Davenbelle 07:30, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

template:ed
Hi, should have something like ...  around it as per How_to_edit_a_page  so that the little arrow doesn't show up? I did so myself in: Template:Malta-LocalCouncils thanks! Srl 06:52, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
 * looks great! I took out the span in my use of ed.. Srl 00:58, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Interview request
Hi Mark, I am a journalist with The Sunday Times. I am keen to write an article about Wikipedia, with a WA angle. May I interview you? If you're keen, please contact me via dcohen@amnet.net.au or 0414 780 441. regards, David Cohen

Cool Cat mentorship, Kurdistan, etc
Cool Cat has recently engaged in very aggressive, unprovoked attacks on Karl Meier, including blindly reverting the latter's edits on two Kurd-related articles--on which Cool Cat has not previously edited for over two months.

He and Karl Meier have both edit warred on Kurdistan, and I've just blocked both for twelve hours. Cool Cat's edits on Kurdistan, without the aggressive behavior, would be borderline, but in the circumstances I'm inclined to the view that the problems are unlikely to be resolved because Cool Cat will not improve his behavior. I think we should consider banning him from editing any articles related to Turkey or the Kurds for two weeks. Please see the talk page of the mentorship (the link in the subject header of this section). --Tony Sidaway|Talk 21:07, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

Template:WivesMuhammad
I saw you had previously protected this article... I'm wondering if you'd protect it again now because a month old revert war I had thought solved is brewing. gren グレン 01:22, 3 December 2005 (UTC)

Link error in the multilingual error page
I finally found you! I was looking for the person who made the multilingual error page. There seems to be a glitch in the Japanese message -- The "please donate" link points to some weird place. Details are on Meta:Babel. Thanks. 朝彦 (Asahiko) 19:05, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

Meta adminship
I have been nominated for adminship on Meta. I can confirm that I am User:Mark Ryan on meta. - Mark 05:10, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

hi
Merry Christmas :) Hope to see you on IRC in the new year sometime! Dysprosia 06:39, 22 December 2005 (UTC)

Changes to CSD templates
I think we need to revert your changes to the CSD templates. The trailing empty field was on purpose, to prevent the CSD templates themselves from being classified as deletable. Jamie (talk/contribs) 08:53, 22 December 2005 (UTC)
 * OK. I reverted them.  I hope you don't mind.  :)  See here for a brief explanation of the change to db-reason by Pathoschild.   Jamie (talk/contribs) 09:08, 22 December 2005 (UTC)
 * It seems that Pathoschild's code wasn't right either -- the tagged articles weren't winding up in CAT:CSD. :(  I'm sure this is what you were trying to fix, and I'm sorry I acted so quickly to revert your changes.  In any case, I have now fixed all those templates so they work correctly, putting the articles into CAT:CSD without putting themselves there.  I've null-edited all the main-namespace pages that link to these templates, so everythng should be in the right category now.  Sorry for the inconvenience.   Jamie (talk/contribs) 11:06, 22 December 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for changing the image
I was starting to catch some hell because of "Henry Ford" in the ballot examples (which were there in the previous examples I based it on, and I didn't really think about the names). Thank you for making the change.  r speer  / ɹəəds ɹ  03:18, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

Re: Aussie Rules userboxes
Apologies for those images I used in those userboxes. I've amended most of my errors to comply with the Wikipedia copyright policy, and will do my best to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

I do have a question though - who sets the rules on Wikipedia for how images are to be used in certain situations, and are these rules ever revised? For instance, hypothetically speaking, could these rules on fair use images be changed sometime in the future, and if so, how would one go about starting a discussion on making rule changes?

Cheers, mdmanser 10:49, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

www.wikimedia.org
Dear Mark, I have seen your cool logo for the wikimedia.org portal. Unfortunately, our trying to enforce trademark and keep a consistent image of Wikimedia does not allow us to use any derivative of the logo Wikimedia for any purpose that has not previously been approved by the Foundation and in a perfect world, actually no derivative of the logo should be accepted. I have put up the visual identity guidelines we have been working on for the past few weeks up on Foundation website. Refer to those for further use of the logo. I am sorry to say that your logo up on commons should not even be there :-(. Don't hesitate to get back to me for more information. Cheers, notafish }<';> 16:49, 6 January 2006 (UTC) (delphine)
 * Hi. I have sent an email to the Wikimedia Foundation board members to see about seeking the Foundation approval you mention in your talk page message to me. Please do not delete the image right away from Commons, as it is convenient to point them there to show them the image, and since it would presumably be illegal for me to host it on my own private web space. If they do not approve the derivative use then I won't object to the image being deleted. - Mark 03:32, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Hi Mark, I had no intention of deleting the image just like that. ;-) notafish }<';> 14:06, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

Reassurance
Hi - I was a bit concerned that relatively new user Ncox might feel a bit bruised if it wasn't made clear to him that we assume good faith and welcome him on the 'pedia so I have tried to do that on his talk page. Hope you will approve of that. Chelseaboy 16:44, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

Tony Sidaway
Hold on. The only justification for an immediate undeletion is "obviously deleted out of process". THis one is far from obvious. There were AFD debates with unanimous delete consensuses. DRV can take deleted articles and review content if the reasons given to delete were all wrong. Sjakkalle (Check!)  08:50, 18 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Note that an "all share index" doesn't count under WP:CORP. Kappa 08:51, 18 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Please don't unblock. There's no emergancy that we desperately need Tony for, so some time for discussion wouldn't hurt anyone. -  brenneman (t) (c)  09:00, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

Hehe. Blocks are for serious things, not sjakkalle's decision that my undeletions some four hours in his past, discussed amicably with the deleter, constitute disruption. He made a mistake but it was an understandable one. --Tony Sidaway|Talk 14:24, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

You wrote: ''I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were involved with this situation with the SuperOffice article. Had I known, I would have left my message on your talk page too. As for the unblocking of Tony Sidaway, your heartfelt concerns about allowing time for discussion are not warranted: Tony has agreed not to undelete the article, as it's now before Deletion Review. Since Tony is the person who noticed the irrationality of this deletion, it is only logical that he be one of the parties to participate in these discussions you desire. Thank you for pointing this out to me. After all, as I'm sure you are aware, open discussion is paramount on Wikipedia. - Mark 09:55, 18 January 2006 (UTC)''
 * There are a couple of misconceptions there. Tony was not blocked for restoring an article, he was blocked for disruption.  He has not agreed to discontinue the behavior that he was blocked for.  He has, if fact, chortled with glee over it.  See "Hehe" above.  Nor was I asking for time to discuss the deletion, but time to discuss the block.  Finally, it was not Tony who "noticed the irrationality".  These articles were already on DRV, where "open discussion" was taking place.  Several valid options were open to Tony, chief among them was presenting his information in the existing forum, second to re-writing the articles from scratch complete with sources.  Having a wheel war was not one of these valid options.  Have you heard of "More heat than light"?   -  brenneman (t) (c)  02:27, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

vote here
Hi Mark,Please Vote here "keep" : Articles for deletion/Rosario Poidimani (3 nomination). Regards, M.deSousa 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Thank you for voting!
Hello there! I wanted to thank you for taking the time to vote on my arbitration commitee nomination. Although it was not successful, I appreciate the time you spent to read my statement and questions and for then voting, either positively or negativly. Again, thank you!  Páll  (Die pienk olifant) 22:08, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

User:Cool Cat
Cool Cat's self-immolating. You're one of his mentors. I'm trying to help him, but it's to no avail. He's spiralling out of Wikipedia. He seems to think there's nothing he's allowed to do here anymore. Help? --Durin 13:33, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

What Images can I add of my Userpage?
Is there a Wikipedia Page about what Images you can add on the userpage? --RaptorX 11:11, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

UWA
Hi Mark, you might be interested in this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedians_by_alma_mater:University_of_Western_Australia

Cheers! Serephine 15:51, 2 February 2006 (UTC)

Semi-automated link sorting

 * Hello. This page was semi-automatically modified to sort links to my user page in a meaningful way. Sorry, no other new message. :) // Pathoschild (admin / talk) 04:50, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

Cool Cat's Breach of arbitration remedy
This is a notice I have put on User talk:Cool Cat following a complaint about his behavior on Talk:Kawaii.

 * Your edit in this diff shows that you have breached the arbitration decision by restructuring a talk page (remedy 4, "Coolcat prohibited from restructuring"). I've asked the person reporting this to notify the breach on WP:AN/I where action may be taken, including a block.  If you persist, you will certainly be blocked, possibly by me.  If things get out of hand I will completely ban you from editing the article and its talk page.

 * Please reconsider your obstructive and hostile approach toward others in the discussion on this page. I am patient, but I won't suffer any nonsense.  --Tony Sidaway 19:03, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

--Tony Sidaway 19:07, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

Copyright assistance
I and several editors have created images explaining Starfleet ranks and insignia however it has been suggested that paramount owns the copyrights of images we have released to the public domain. Snce you study law you may be of great help, thanks. -- Cool CatTalk 21:32, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

Map of Australia
Hi Mark, would you mind to upload your work to Commons, in order to allow me to use it for Bulgarian Wiki. It is GFDL and I can do it myself but usually prefer to use the creator's upload to highlight his/her contribution. If you are busy enough I'll do it. Cheers, Goldie (tell me) 10:55, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Many thanks. -- Goldie (tell me) 06:51, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Latakia diagram
Hey Mark, thanx for translating the Latakia battle diagram. I'm particularly glad you preserved the graphic impact. I should have done it myself, but I was sure there was somebody braver than me out there, LOL! Keep up the great job! -- Lohe, 20:04, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks
Thanks for the help. I was waiting for admin intervention instead of getting into an argument myself.

Thanks again

Srik e it ( talk ¦  ✉  ) '' 15:47, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

 * Thanks a lot for the cookie. Its really special considering that you first started giving them out! I just have recently started RC patrolling & this is going to keep me vandal-whacking for a long time! [[Image:Flag of India.svg|20px]]Srik e it ( talk ¦  ✉  ) '' 16:00, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

Prais90
User made legal threat overtones...his indefinite block is definitely warranted...you really need to read over his usertalk and or you should have asked the blocking admins why they did the block. The editor is a troll and will do anything to get unblocked. You also need ot examine the block log for this user and his IP, all of which can be linked off his user talk. Any questions, don't hesitate to ask...do not be suckered in by his temporary kindness...it evaporates quickly.--MONGO 00:04, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

√αʑʑρεɾ
 I thought that I had '''explained myself. I know this certain person in RL, and he has on numerous occasions vandalized my userpage. I felt that his name should become known to others that he knows from RL. Furthermore, he himself has added my name to my user and talk pages on two occasions. I understand that have broken certain wiki-policies, but must point out that you have taken an unnecessary grouchy tone and to an extent broken the Assume good faith policy. Now lets leave this behind us and have a mohito, -√αʑʑρεɾ 01:00, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

'''Riiiiiighteo. So me writing a single name on this personspage is a blockable offence, yet the countless times that this person has edited my userpage, changing it to "I am homosexual", etc is acceptable? Real fair. Further, isn't your name, Mark Ryan, expressed on your userpage? Ah well, keep it real -√αʑʑρεɾ 03:33, 21 April 2006 (UTC)'''

 * To me it appears that you are indeed looking for an arguement, the topic being inconsequential to anyone other than User:Asphyxe8 and myself.
 * And if you really do want to keep arguing, here is the pointer you requested; look in the history of my talk page
 * Also, you should notice that User:Asphyxe8 revealed his own name in the 06:07, 16 April 2006 edit
 * And User:Asphyxe8 revealed my address in the 05:03, 18 April 2006 edit
 * And in the 02:05, 13 April 2006 edit revealed my name at the bottom of the page
 * Content? Actualy try to keep it real, √αʑʑρεɾ 06:11, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

I am relieved that this has all been resolved, but I don't really understand what you mean about revision history. Have a good one, √αʑʑρεɾ 06:40, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks
Thanks for the birthday cake hot admin<333 --hottie 17:34, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for voting in my RfA!
Thanks for your consideration and voting in my RfA! I appreciated your comments, and I'll try to keep them in mind. The nomination did not gain consensus, but I'm glad I accepted it - it has been a great learning experience. - Amgine 20:56, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Requests for arbitration/Coolcat, Davenbelle and Stereotek/mentorship
As a party who has an insight in the continuing stalking I recieved (and also for being my mentor), I feel you may want to comment at.

I feel User:Moby Dick is stalking me and has a good chance of being a sockpuppet of davenbelle. I was told a checkuser is imposible since it has been over a mnoth since davenbelle made an edit.

-- Cat out 10:59, 12 May 2006 (UTC)

Image deletion
Hi. You deleted Image:9news3010606.jpg for having no copyright information while it was still in use on National Nine News. This left an image red link in an article. Please check what pages use images in future, and remove the tags from the article. - Mark :Mostly I do that but sometimes I miss it. Thanks for pointing out. --Bhadani 13:36, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Image:FBISeal.png
Did you draw that yourself? If not, do you still remember wher you got it from? Lupo 06:56, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

 * Darn. Can't you find it again? It looks pretty official, so it might well be PD-USGov, but if we don't know where it came from, we can't even be sure that it indeed is an official work (or a faithful reproduction of one). Lupo 08:58, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

 * Found it myself in a DOJ publication. Lupo 13:25, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

User:His excellency
Unless there might be a wheel war would you mind unprotecting H.E.'s Talk page or counciling User:Jeffrey O. Gustafson to do so? User:Jeffrey O. Gustafson reprotected it citing reasoning that H.E. was indef. blocked which obviously is no longer the case. Thanks. Netscott 06:49, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Bishonen talk page
Mark, this discussion began when Bishonen moved it from Woohookitty's talk page to mine, which I didn't appreciate. A few posts later, I moved it to hers.Timothy Usher 09:35, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

Jigsaw pattern
I was wondering if you ever got a reply from nohat back when you asked about the jigsaw pattern? . I wanted to try to take a crack at producing a vector version that doesn't suck (tm), and was planning on writing code to output projected meshes for direct conversion into SVG. Not having to reverse engineer the projection of the existing logo to recover the pattern would be time saving. --Gmaxwell 06:51, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

whew, what was that...
Thanks for dealing (3day vacation) with whatever was Ackoz' agenda, one of the toughest customers to deal with. His user and talk page are missing - was that some kind of Wiki ban for inappropriate responses or just Ackoz self/speedy deleting once someone tried to restrain his outpouring?--69.178.41.55 14:08, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

title: User talk:Mark/Archive 2


text:
File:Devon Rex - female kitten.png

Devon Rex: female kitten (60 days approx.). Photo taken by Lapo Luchini in October 1997.

title: File:Devon Rex - female kitten.png