text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of people widely considered eccentric/2005 September

 This page is an archive of the proposed deletion of the article below. Further comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or on a Votes for Undeletion nomination). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result of the debate was no consensus. Woohookitty 11:46, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

List of people widely considered eccentric
WP:NOT Section 1.7.2: No lists or repositories of loosely associated topics, part of "Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information" excludes this list. It even says that the people listed have no meaningful association with each other, as it expressly states that eccentricity is defined relative to a person's social environment and as such they're all being judged eccentric by different standards - which means they really have nothing in common. Added to which it arguably meets the "idiosyncratic non-topic" criterion in the deletion policy and, I believe, has no encyclopedic value, and I think it's clear that this entry should be deleted. The Literate Engineer 02:36, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. This is the article's third VfD/AfD; the first was in June 2003, and the second was in December 2004. (Back then, it was called "List of notable eccentrics".) What I said in the second deletion debate still applies: even though there isn't an absolutely precise definition of "eccentricity" that satisfies everyone, that doesn't mean we can't write an accurate, NPOV article about historical figures who have often been perceived as "eccentric". Yes, eccentricity is a vague concept that's open to wide interpretation, but so are terrorism and love. Should we delete those articles? In response to the assertion that this article violates WP:NOT, it does only if we adhere to the absolute letter of the law. An example of a "list or repository of loosely associated topics" would be, say, "List of interesting facts".   [  +t,  +c ,  +m  ] 03:52, August 29, 2005 (UTC)
 * Comment The comparison to terrorism and love is a false one, I think. If this were the article eccentricity (behavior) I'd agree with you, but it's not: it's a list of people.  And without a precise definition of what links those people, the list is what I call pointless.  No, we shouldn't delete terrorism, but we should delete List of people accused of performing terrorism, and we shouldn't delete love but we should delete List of people who love.  It's not about whether or not we can write the article, it's about whether or not we should even try, and in this case, I think we shouldn't.  And I don't think it's instruction creep or a matter of adhering just to the letter of the policy, either.  I think the spirit of that section of WP:NOT is that lists should not be made unless there is a compelling reason to make it (something stricter than the actual wording), and I don't see a compelling reason to have this list.  The Literate Engineer 04:08, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

 * Oh, but "terrorism" is very easy to define. Terrorism is whatever non-Merkins do that George W. Bush doesn't like. — J I P | Talk 15:16, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. Triple jeopardy. Andrew pmk | Talk 03:53, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete as per nom. DES (talk) 04:18, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Coment. Is there any reason this couldn't be merged, somehow, with category:notable eccentrics? Cnwb 04:24, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Category for eccentric was deleted - Skysmith 10:48, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. I never saw this article before but I think it is very interesting. The list is organized by subgroups and tells you a little about who each person is.  The category would not be very good at the former (you would have to create–and then individually open–sub-catergories rather than see the people on one page) and does not allow the latter at all.  -- DS1953 04:41, August 29, 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. Quite interesting. Penelope D 05:14, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete. No universal standard for eccentricity. --80.222.74.5 06:43, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. I suggest that this article meets the criterion for keeping an article listed in the VfD guidelines: "The ideas have become newsworthy: they have been repeatedly and independently reported in newspapers or news stories". My reading is that this article only needs to meet one criterion for being kept to qualify as encyclopaedic. Maybe what we need is a concerted effort to cite some references to validate the assertion made by including someone on this list, not deletion? Hugh Mason 07:18, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep no indication that it meets deletion criteria. Trollderella 07:50, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Actually, it meets several. Aside from the sections of WP policy that the nominator mentioned, this article also flies in the face of WP:NPOV. While that isn't technically a criterion for deletion, the fact that the entire article hinges on the author's POV makes it so. Soltak | Talk 19:11, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete. Andy Mabbett 09:58, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete as unencycolpedic. -- Kjkolb 11:19, August 29, 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep, interesting and notable subject. james gibbon  11:32, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete No lists or repositories of loosely associated topics --tranquileye 11:40:44, 2005-08-29 (UTC)
 * Keep. I was skeptical of this article, but the opening paragraphs clearly delineate the criteria. Just because eccentricity is culture-relative doesn't make this article problematic. Seems harmless if... dare I say... eccentric? Sdedeo 14:20, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. Feeling kind of itsy whether or not the thing should stand, but I think it's still an interesting article in itself. So, let it be. --Wwwwolf 16:18, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete but have the author save it their own space if they like. Two reasons: First: I believe Faber and Penguin have published books on eccentrics, but that does not make it a viable encyclopedia topic. Second: We are all by definition a little off centre - whose exactly centered (well maybe the Delhi Llama)? I surely want my name on that list there. It's a good article though and a shame to waste it. Alfredo the Sane Alf 16:27, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete, non-encyclopedic owing to vagueness, and almost completely unreferenceable. Any available reference would simply the POV of whoever wrote the reference — unless someone can conjure psychologists who have diagnosed people with "eccentricity". The first voter's remark is revealing: they might indeed qualify for articles for some other reason. But that doens't mean they qualify for a list. -Splash 18:54, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete as a completely useless POV list that would be almost impossible to maintain Soltak | Talk 19:05, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete per Soltak. I like his wording of it, too. Rob Church Talk 19:16, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep this interesting article. It's well-written and well-thought out, therefore putting to rest my concern that it might have been an attack page. --Idont Havaname 19:33, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete eccentricity is unmeasurable so "widely considered eccentric" means every single item is POV, even if sources could be cited, which they have not. --TimPope 19:57, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete - Quotes: Eccentricity is necessarily defined relatively and deviate in a significant way from the accepted norms of their society. The article itself is letting everybody know that its content is POV. :) What are the accepted norms of a society? --Sebastian Kessel Talk 20:09, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete. Selection is hopelessly POV. ManoaChild 20:41, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. How many times has this been up for VFD? David | Talk
 * Obviously not enough as it still exists. Soltak | Talk 21:39, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

 * Delete per nom. Groeck 21:36, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete List of X are mostly speculation and opinion mongering articles. Jachin 21:54, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Strong Keep triple jeopardy, and this list is itself notable. Klonimus 21:58, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete. Everybody has their weird quirks. Singling those people out is inherently POV. --Apostrophe 22:13, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete unreferenced and unreferencable, inherently POV: Widely by whom? What is centric (normal) and who is to define it? What is the difference between eccentric and mad? --Doc (?) 23:05, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete, as above --195.92.168.166 23:39, 29 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. Interesting and useful article, which clearly has some value. When I first came across it, I spent an hour reading about the different people on it. It's doing more good than harm to the Wikipedia. Some of the people who are voting delete make it sound like the term eccentric is so vague that nobody even knows what the term possibly means. This is clearly absurd. Eccentricity may not have a cut-n-dry definition but neither do many mental disorders. It's very possible to compile a decent list of eccentric people just as it is with people who have, say, Aspergers. Jason Quinn 00:51, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete POV. A lot of work has gone into this and I agree it isn't an attack page. But it seems to range from people whe were a little quirky to professional class clowns to people with genuine mental illness, and therefore is a rather curious, subjective and unhelpful way to categorise people. Sabine's Sunbird 01:00, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Delete. -Sean Curtin 02:15, August 30, 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep - needs watching for POV-pushing, of course - Skysmith 10:48, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep - Arguments such as "eccentricity is not measurable" or "unreferenceable" hold no weight here. The criteria for inclusion isn't whether or not the person actually is eccentric; it's only whether they are frequently referred to as eccentric.  It's very easy to find references to "eccentric" people in the mass media and in history books.  Anyway, I think this article is useful; I enjoyed browsing through the list of names and clicking on unfamiliar ones to see what sort of odd behaviour they're known for. —Psychonaut 18:15, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep. I would not consider this to be a "list of loosely associated topics". -- Alex Nisnevich (talk) 20:18, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep Very intersting and useful artical.  Guerberj 21:14, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Nominate self for list, considered eccentric by people in at least four (maybe up to twenty) nations and in at least fifteen (maybe up in the forties) USA states, then delete as unencyclopedic list for several of the reasons listed earlier. Barno 23:11, 30 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep and also Hitler could have been considered a loving person for "defending" the Germans from the "evil" of the Jews, although most people including myself do not think of Hitler as a loving person.[[Image:Peru flag large.png|35px]] Jobe 6  15:16, August 31, 2005 (UTC)
 * Keep As useful as many of our other lists (List of fictional frogs) and it seems coordinated enough. Whoever created it better be ready for the deluge of crap, I'm not watching it :) --best, kevin  · · · Kzollman | Talk · · · 04:59, September 1, 2005 (UTC)
 * Strong keep as above. Nothing is black and white; no one can be universally called anything. But the whole point of this list is to document those widely considered eccentric. I think that it has purpose, as long as it is vetted well. IINAG 18:07, 2, September 2005 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in an undeletion request). No further edits should be made to this page.


text:
Willa Holland

Willa Joanna Chance Holland (born June 18, 1991) is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles as Kaitlin Cooper in the Fox teen drama The O.C., Aqua in Kingdom Hearts, and Thea Queen in The CW series Arrow as well as its spin-off The Flash.

Early life
Holland grew up with two sisters: Brianna Holland and Piper De Palma, from mother Darnell Gregorio's then-marriage to film director Brian De Palma. Holland attended Palisades Charter High School for only six weeks because her career was taking off and school peers were dismissive of her acting pursuits.

Career
At age seven, Holland was playing at her stepfather Brian de Palma’s neighbor's house in The Hamptons, New York. The neighbor, Steven Spielberg, was filming home videos and told Holland's parents, "You've got to put her in front of a camera." Upon returning to Los Angeles that September, Holland signed with Ford Modeling Agency at age seven, and immediately booked a shoot for Burberry. She has modeled for Guess, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Ralph Lauren.

In 1999, De Palma took Holland to a theatrical talent agency. Since then, she has appeared in many national commercials. In 2001, when Holland was ten, she worked alongside her father in Ordinary Madness. She was even slated to co-star in the 2005 Fox series The Inside with fellow model Rachel Nichols, but left the show when writer Tim Minear was brought in to overhaul it. She initially played the role of Kaitlin Cooper on The O.C., replacing Shailene Woodley, as a recurring character in season 3, and then as a regular in season four.

In December 2007, Holland was cast in the independent drama film Garden Party, playing the role of April, a troubled teenage aspiring model who tries to make it in Los Angeles. In September 2008, The CW announced Holland would appear in three episodes of the second season of the teen-drama television series Gossip Girl, created by The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz. Holland played the role of a rebellious 16-year-old model who befriends and creates havoc for Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen). In March 2010, Holland made a one-off return in the 16th episode of the third season, "The Empire Strikes Jack".

In May 2010, Square Enix announced she would be voicing Aqua in the PlayStation Portable title, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, which was released on September 7, 2010, in North America. That same year, Holland starred in her first major studio film, the apocalyptic thriller film Legion, playing the role of a bratty teenager. She played Janice Heddon in the film Straw Dogs (2011), a remake of the 1971 film of the same name.

In February 2012, Holland was cast in The CW action-adventure series Arrow, which is based on the Green Arrow comic books, where she played Thea Queen / Speedy, the sister of Oliver Queen / Green Arrow. She remained a regular cast member in the series until leaving during the sixth season episode, "The Thanatos Guild". Holland returned for a cameo during the season seven episode, "Emerald Archer". She returned twice during the eight and final season, first in the episode "Leap of Faith", then in the series finale, "Fadeout".

In the 2012 film Tiger Eyes, Holland played Davey Wexler. The film was based on the 1981 novel of the same name written by Judy Blume.

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

title: Willa Holland


text:
Henry Nathan Jr.

Henry Nathan Jr. (September 3, 1842 – February 5, 1914) was the first Jewish Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons. Born in London, England, Nathan was one of two MPs elected to represent the British Columbia riding of Victoria in the Canadian general election of 1872. They had won by acclamation special byelections held the year before to fill the newly created House of Commons seats upon British Columbia's admission to Confederation (in those byelections the riding was named Victoria District). The other representative for Victoria was B.C.'s Father of Confederation, Amor De Cosmos who was simultaneously Premier of that province until 1874. The third-place also-ran was Robert Beaven, who was to become the sixth Premier of British Columbia ten years later.

The son of Henry Nathan, Nathan was educated at the London University School and became a wholesale merchant in Victoria, British Columbia. He represented Victoria City in the assembly of the Colony of British Columbia from 1870 to 1871. Like De Cosmos, Nathan was part of British Columbia's delegation to Ottawa to negotiate the terms of B.C.'s entry into Confederation.

Once in Parliament, Nathan supported the government of Sir John A. Macdonald. This strained his relationship with De Cosmos, who had become a supporter of MacDonald's opponent, Liberal Alexander Mackenzie. As a result, Nathan took to calling de Cosmos "Cupid" in private letters (de Cosmos' name roughly translates to "Lover of the Universe").

The byelection of 1871 was held to return members from newly admitted British Columbia to the 1st Parliament of Canada that had been elected four years earlier following Confederation. With Nathan joining that Parliament, the multicultural nature of the Canadian nation was firmly established.

In 1876, Nathan returned to England. He died in London at the age of 71.

title: Henry Nathan Jr.


text:
Talk:Allison Krause

Untitled
This could use a few source citations. --Jacqui M Schedler 02:37, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Was it Allison Krause who said "flowers are better than bullets," or is that just a line misattributed to her? Oneismany 13:24, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

If Barry said that Allison said that then it's true!!!! 3:11 pm 5 June 2006 Who thinks Allison would have done somthing for the world if she hadn't died? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 168.169.60.3 (talk • contribs).

External link removed

 * Allison Krause page from May 4 Archive

This link appears not to be of use as it is now just a referral page. --DRoll 16:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Allison Krause. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20070421105756/http://www.kudzumonthly.com/kudzu/may02/Bullets.html to http://www.kudzumonthly.com/kudzu/may02/Bullets.html

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 11:44, 2 July 2017 (UTC)

Incorrect location mentioned...
Her family did not move to Churchill before she went toKent State, they moved to a small Township next to that called Wilkins Township, and that was also in the Churchill School District...This needs to be corrected. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2603:9001:5305:FB00:C13E:B3C9:846B:C3AB (talk) 20:21, 4 May 2020 (UTC)

Page may need to be protected in wake of Gaza solidarity protests
I don't ever edit Wikipedia, but a user named Kieronoldham is going absolutely hog wild on this article and is adding justifications for the actions that led to the Kent State tragedy. For example, "This anarchistic behavior forced Mayor Leroy Statrum to impose..."

This is not at all neutral language. I think this entire article needs to be re-checked by someone less interested in writing apologia for the massacre. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.162.101.52 (talk) 19:24, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

Partial reversion
recently partially reverted my prior edit, undoing what I believe to be productive changes. This partial reversion: Kieronoldham's edit undid a number of other of my changes, any of which I can justify if needed, but hopefully the above sampling gets the point across. My temptation is to outright revert this edit, but if Kieronoldham (or anyone else) can justify any of its changes, I'll preserve those. 2605:A601:A0A4:2700:207D:9B66:9AE7:CC08 (talk) 18:50, 6 June 2024 (UTC)
 * restored the redundant wording "being almost inseparable, were almost always together"
 * moved the student protest wikilink out of the article body (where that phrase still appears) and into the "See also" section
 * restored excess verbiage "She is known to have attended": if some action is known (and backed up by proper sources), the article can simply state it
 * restored the misplaced modifier "Directed by Daniel Miller, several students present upon campus...": it is the film that Miller directed, not just a few of its participants
 * Thanks for the ping. Regarding the modifications, in my opinion the article reads better as it was per the edits I made. For example, do you think a layman link such as "student protest" is worthy? Everyone knows what a student protest is. (reinserted it though.) As for the tear gas link you added, the wikilink already existed earlier in the article. Allison and Levine were known on campus as being practically "inseparable" (pretty sure I could add a reference for that). It was only by around 1968 or 1969 that the younger generation in America "began" making their sentiments re: the war known on the streets and across campuses, so that section is worthy of inclusion even if slightly meandering? Consensus governs, but we'll see. Regards,--Kieronoldham (talk) 21:10, 6 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the response, Kieronoldham. What you say above is not in line with the content of your edit:
 * "Student protest" was already a link in "See also", and also a term used in the article. If it's going to be linked, it should be linked within the text, so that's what I did. Your reversion not only removed this link—which I agree doesn't add a lot—but also reinstated the "See also" entry. If you think the term shouldn't be linked at all, the latter part of your edit doesn't jibe with that.
 * I didn't add a "tear gas" link; I moved it to an earlier usage of the term. If you objection was that it was already linked even earlier than this, why did you re-add the link in the later usage?
 * The word "inseparable" remained before and after both of our edits, so it's unclear why you're defending that, since neither of us objects to it. At issue is the following phrase "were almost always together", which is just a longer-winded way of saying they were inseparable. Your comment does not address why you feel that saying the same thing twice in the same sentence "reads better".
 * And so forth. I've redone many of my changes, since your reply is not responsive to the content of the edits. If anyone else feels my changes do not add value, I'm happy to discuss further. Thanks! 2605:A601:A0A4:2700:207D:9B66:9AE7:CC08 (talk) 04:27, 7 June 2024 (UTC)
 * The duplicate link in the body text to tear gas exists in your revision within the history of the article "as of (early hours of), June 4, 2024." The addition "student protest" was only added "into the 'See also' section" as per your own talk page edit description previously here for reasons mentioned. Does not add, or clarify, or describe a lot as you rightly say, but maybe it is better included within the body text as opposed to the see also section.

 * Maybe the "inseparable" sentence was meandering, but it was within the ref. (How they were known - monogamy in the "free love era" and Allison's parents were hardly Orthodox if mem. serves me correct, but wanted her to date a Jewish guy who'd commit to her.) Still see no violation or deviation, but hey - improvement is the Wiki. goal--Kieronoldham (talk) 05:40, 7 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the follow-up. Re your 1st sentence: Correct, and I acknowledged this. Re your 2nd sentence: I cannot follow what you're trying to say. Re your 4th sentence: Sources are not required to be concise. As an encyclopedia, we should avoid redundant wording even if sources we cite use it. Re your 5th sentence: That's fine, but has no bearing on "inseparable" and "were almost always together" being redundant.  Neither of those phrases means "monogamous"—if you think that's worthy of mention in the article (I don't, personally), the wording needs to state that directly (and source it of course). 2605:A601:A0A4:2700:207D:9B66:9AE7:CC08 (talk) 22:33, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Second sentence and the mention of monogamy may have been too in-depth but it is in reference to the first sentence regarding the commitment they demonstrated to each other and the youth climate of the era. Needless to say, it would add little value to mention in the article, but it is what I have read about her. Regards, --Kieronoldham (talk) 23:07, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Allison Krause


text:
Talk:Jaggery

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article is or was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Hashmita7. Peer reviewers: Khatijajaffer, Elijzell.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 01:01, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Disputed Health Benefits
"Jaggery is considered as a wholesome sugar and unlike refined sugar retains more mineral salts making it much healthier. Moreover, the process is natural without the use of chemicals. It is medicinally considered to be much safer and is beneficial in treating throat and lung infections." -- By whom? I'm further exceedingly skeptical of the claim that it's beneficial in treating infections. I'd like to see a citation of these facts, or the sentences should be reworded to "Some consider" to make it clear that its supposedly health benefits are somewhat disputed. This sounds like typical health nut "it's natural so it must be good" chatter, IMHO. --FreelanceWizard 02:37, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Study from the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre in Lucknow
Here's a study from the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre in Lucknow, India. It is entitled "Enhanced Translocation of Particles from Lungs by Jaggery". As near as I can tell, it is a true study of the effects of Jaggery on foreign particulate matter in the lungs.

Their findings stated "The effect of carbohydrates on fibrogenesis is not as well studied as the effects related to nucleic acids or proteins, but it does appear that jaggery and its constituents are capable of enhancing the defense mechanisms of the lungs and protecting them against lesions induced by dust particles."

Strange as it may seem, it looks as if Jaggery actually DOES have positive effects on the health. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/1994/Suppl-5/sahu-full.html -- Nortonew 18:09, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Yup, ask any carpenter, labourer who works in dusty environments, and he would confirm it.--Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut, which held its ground 14:10, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
 * However, such reports would not generally be verifiable, which is why we needed the citation from a reputable journal to remove whichever thing I tagged it as long ago (I think dubious). That's long since handled, however. ;) --FreelanceWizard 09:14, 2 September 2006 (UTC)
 * How cool is that. ;) Okay, I'll make the changes and add that citation. --FreelanceWizard 21:24, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Ambiguous spellings
What is the spelling of the Hindi word for jaggery? I found 2 different spellings in the article: "gur" in the text and "gud" in the caption of a pic. Experts please verify. -- DaCentaur

 * In Punjab (and North India), I have not heard anyone say "gud"........I think in the caption, it may have been a typo, as R and D keys too are next to each other....In my opinion it is "gur"--Nothing is free in this world (talk) 02:10, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

This is a linguistic subtlety regarding modern Hindi-Urdu, leading to a conflation between the ड and र sounds. These are originally Devanagari symbols for "da" and "ra" respectively, but Persian influence in the middle ages have brought the nuqta. Speakers conflating dotted and undotted consonants have led to a lot of confusion. Nidhishunnikrishnan (talk) 18:49, 11 December 2019 (UTC)

my mother language is hindi and as far as i know we pronounce it gud.103.130.91.2 (talk) 11:55, 2 June 2022 (UTC)

Used as an excellent & tastier alternative to sugar
—The preceding unsigned comment was added by DaCentaur (talk • contribs).
 * If that phrase were to be added, it would be POV unless backed up by some cited evidence on preferences. It's obviously used as an alternative to sugar, of course, by inclusion in its category and by the text. While it may be tastier to you, it certainly isn't to me, and possibly to others; what's an excellent and tasty alternative is a matter of opinion, not fact. FreelanceWizard 03:59, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Name in South India
Jaggery is called Vellam with a V and not B in Tamil... So the spelling Bellam is either wrong or used by minor sub sections...

Ridiculous Citation Request
"Jaggery is also considered auspicious in many parts of India, and is eaten raw before commencement of good work or any important new venture.[citation needed]"

What do you mean citation needed? I didnt put this in, but I am from India and it is an unquestioned fact in most parts of India (maybe that should be specified). It is an obvious part of the Indian culture, since jaggery was the traditional sweetner before refined sugars became available.

Asking for citation is akin to asking for some kind of written recognition for this from the western media. I think this is ridiculous. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.186.153.25 (talk • contribs).

 * The fact is that most people reading this article are NOT from India and are trying to learn about the subject. The nature of Wikipedia is that anyone can make an edit to an article. If I wanted to I could put something silly in the article like, "Jaggery, when rubbed into the bellybutton, produces a feeling of euphoria." Without a citation, I have no way to evaluate whether the information given is factual or nonsense. It's intended for the best interest of the article and isn't meant as a personal affront to people who personally know about the subject. For more on the subject, read Verifiability. By the way, I didn't put up the citation needed tag, I'm just trying to help out :-). --Elipongo 15:10, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

 * 67.186.153.25, is "raw, sweet food before commencement of good work or any important new venture" the obvious part of Indian culture that you're talking about? If so, and if every English speaker in the world intuitively understands that obvious tradition or superstition or whatever it is (I don't even know), then, sure, I see your point about jaggery being the oldest sweet. But: To what non-Indian is the rest of it "obvious"? I don't even know what events you and the original poster are talking about! Signing a contract? Joining the Army? Having a surgical operation? Face it: I don't even know what's "obvious" to other native English-speakers in my own country, so, if someone is going to claim that it's customary to lasso the trophy at the end of the rodeo, how the crap am I (or YOU) supposed to know if it's for real or not! Citations, that's how. The English speaking world is very huge, 67.186.153.25, and people like you have to stop thinking everyone else owes some extraordinary sensitivity. 68.124.137.173 02:30, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

Other nations
Burma is mentioned as a place where toddy palm syrup is used to make jaggery, but I believe this is also done in Vietnam, Thailand, and other mainland Southeast Asian nations. Badagnani 00:21, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating
This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 18:16, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Alternative spelling
There is an alternative spelling of "jaggeree", which, as far as Google can tell me, exists mainly in a short story by Edgar Allen Poe. I mention this as I've just been all around the internet trying to find out what on earth "jaggeree" was before ending up here. I doubt I'm the only one - so hopefully a reference here will draw people to this fine article. --Waynemarkstubbs (talk) 15:19, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Name in Pakistan
Jaggery is NOT called DESI in Pakistan. In Pakistan too, it's called GUR just as India. So the word DESI used for Jaggery is either wrong or used by minor sub sections. On the other hand, the word DESI refers to the people, things and culture of the South Asian diaspora. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 221.132.115.213 (talk) 00:22, 5 April 2009 (UTC)

merge from rapadura
Rapadura seems to be just the Brazilian name of jaggery. However the section "Rapadura controversy" in that article could be made into a separate article, since it is not about the food but about trade regulations. All the best, --Jorge Stolfi (talk) 14:26, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

✅ -- D ark C row Caw 13:39, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

The term "jaggery" is very general and it is advisable to create a section for "Toddy Palm Jaggery" which is reportedly more nutritious than the commonly known sugarcane jaggery. [Ref: http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/AGAP/FRG/ECONF95/HTML/TODDY.HTM] Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.107.230.30 (talk) 05:15, 22 October 2012 (UTC)

Merger proposal
This was closed on 12 July 2013. Archived. Moonraker12 (talk) 11:54, 13 August 2013 (UTC) Panela should be merged into Jaggery as it is a regional varient of the same foodstuff; same rationale from previous merge of Rapadura. -- D ark C row Caw 13:51, 1 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Jaggery may also describe palm sugar (as it says in the Jaggery article, and it says in the Coconut sugar article that in at least some places that the terms for palm and coconut sugars are used interchangeably even though the production methods and tastes are different. I'm in favor of a merger of all four articles because some of the articles are too short, and they have much in common, and maintaining them separately would be an ongoing affair. 68.174.97.122 (talk) 21:28, 22 July 2012 (UTC)

 * I agree. I do not yet see a reason to keep these articles separate. All of them, BTW, need lots of help. Drmies (talk) 02:57, 23 July 2012 (UTC)
 * I have no expertise on sugar but it makes sense that maintaining them separately would be more difficult. Also keep in mind that there was a request to merge all of these into brown sugar a while ago.  For the record, I don't think that's a good idea, although I'm no expert on the subject.   ʈ  u coxn \ talk 22:16, 8 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I agree, since panela is the MEXICAN word for jaggery. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.46.17.35 (talk • contribs) 15:45, 7 February 2013
 * ( comment placed, then withdrawn, by 27.33.180.172 at 15:56, 11 March 2013 )
 * Disagree. Jaggery was traditionally a palm sugar (see dictionary definitions ), produced in Asia, although now sometimes made from sugar cane. Rapadura and panela are produced in Latin America from sugar cane, never from palms. While all 3 are unrefined sugars usually formed into solid blocks, they are culturally distinct and originally from different plants. Some merging may be appropriate (i.e., merging palm sugar and jaggery, merging panela and piloncillo), but unless it's all going to get merged to something like unrefined sugar or non-centrifugal sugar the Asian palm sugar should be kept distinct from the Latin American cane sugar. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Plantdrew (talk • contribs) 20:23, 18 April 2013
 * Disagree: "Panela" is not the Mexican word for "Jaggery" at all.
 * One is a palm sugar product from Asia, the other a cane sugar product from Latin America. They may be similar products, but then, they both also have similarities to a Sugarloaf, which is something else again. But there’s no evidence that I can see that the Latin American Panela is derived from, nor owes any heritage or history to, the Asian Jaggery.
 * But as this is the English WP the issue, surely, is whether either of these are the common generic term for these things. Is the Latin American product commonly known as "Jaggery" in the English-speaking world? Is the Asian product called "Panela"? Or are both names used for the individual products?
 * As for any grounds for a merge, there is no Overlap, as I've already outlined. Nor is there any Duplication; much of the articles in question are about on the cultural and economic aspects of the stuff specific to their regions. And both articles are beyond stub size and have room to expand.
 * So, no...Moonraker12 (talk) 14:02, 25 April 2013 (UTC)

 * I also disagree, basically for the reasons given by Moonraker12 and Plantdrew above. According to Randy Mosher's Radical Brewing (http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Brewing-Recipes-World-Altering-Meditations/dp/0937381837), jaggery is properly a palm sugar, while panela/piloncillo is a cane sugar.  Motorneuron (talk) 15:43, 10 May 2013 (UTC)

 * Closed. This merge proposal was closed by Candleabracadabra with this edit on 12 July 2013, there being (presumably) no consensus for the merge: So I am archiving it. Moonraker12 (talk) 11:50, 13 August 2013 (UTC)

Edit needed in opening sentence?
Opening sentence says : "Jaggery (made gud from glass and alcohol)". This does not make sense. Can somebody edit please? thanks! Sorry but I don't know what it's supposed to mean so can't do the edit myself. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.108.145.40 (talk) 11:39, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

what is it made from?
The first sentence says it is cane sugar, the second sentence says it is made from date, cane, or palm. Which is it? --Richardson mcphillips (talk) 03:02, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

both. there is cane jaggery and palm jaggery.103.130.91.2 (talk) 12:04, 2 June 2022 (UTC)

Photos vs text
According to the text, it is poured from the boiling container into concrete troughs. However, every photo showing the process very clearly shows it being poured into some sort of wooden frame. Perhaps the text needs to be extended to recognize that concrete troughs may not be the most common container? Or are the pictures the rare exception? If so, do they serve as good examples, being such oddities? One or the other may need a bit of modification from someone more in the know about such things. 69.255.61.212 (talk) 07:17, 20 September 2017 (UTC)
 * I have removed 'concrete'. I do not think there is any need to be more specific. Verbcatcher (talk) 21:41, 22 September 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Jaggery. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130422120414/http://www.artofeating.com/tt/brownsugar.htm to http://www.artofeating.com/tt/brownsugar.htm

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 09:08, 11 December 2017 (UTC)

title: Talk:Jaggery


text:
User:Gerbrant/wikiedit.js

//Dit minimaliseert de kans op conflicten met andere scripts. var wikiedit = new Object; /*

H T M L   ->    W I K I

============================

wikiedit.Html2Wiki = function(node) {	return '\n\n\nLET OP! SLA JE RESULTATEN /N I E T/ OP! SAVE DOET HET NOG NIET.'; } /*

W I K I   ->    H T M L

============================

wikiedit.Wiki2Html = function(wiki) {	String.prototype.parse = function(sb, re, se, fi, fo) {		var a = wikiedit.AtomLevel++, i = 0, t = new Object, r = this, l = '', m;		while(m = r.match(re)) {			l += r.slice(0, m.index) + 'aToM[' + a + ':' + i + ']'; //		status = sb + m[1] + se; t[i++] = fi(m[1]); r = r.slice(m.index+m[0].length); }		r = fo(l + r); l = i;		for(i = 0; i < l; i++) r = r.replace('aToM[' + a + ':' + i + ']',				(sb + t[i] + se).replace('$', '$$')); wikiedit.AtomLevel = a;		return r;	} wikiedit.AtomLevel = 0; return wikiedit.sNoWiki(wiki); } /*function dumpmatch(s, re) {	var i, j, m = s.match(re), t = '[ ', mi; for(i = 0; i < m.length; i++) {		t += '"'; mi = m[i];		for(j = 0; j < mi.length; j++)			if(mi.charCodeAt(j) < 32)				t += '.' + mi.charCodeAt(j) + '.';			else				t += mi.charAt(j);		t += '" '; }	alert(t + ']'); }*/ wikiedit.sNoWiki = function(s) {	return s.parse(' <nowiki>',		/<\156owiki>((?:.|\n)*?)<\/nowiki>/, '</nowiki> ',		wikiedit.sSanatize, wikiedit.sComment); } wikiedit.sSanatize = function(s) {	return s.replace(//g, '>'); } wikiedit.sComment = function(s) {	return s.parse(' <!--',		//, '--> ',		wikiedit.sBlocks, wikiedit.sBlocks); } wikiedit.sBlocks = function(s) {	return wikiedit.sBlocksEx(s, false, true); } //NOOT: ik emuleer een bizarre bug in de wikisoftware -- ':' / ';' //NOOT: FirstTableOK geeft aan of tables etc. mogen op de eerste regel. wikiedit.sBlocksEx = function(r, NoSinglePara, FirstTableOK) {	var p, b, pBuf = , l = , m, ml, bp = wikiedit.sTemplate, fl = function(a, b)		{ if(b.length) return l + ' ' + bp(b) + ' '; else return l;		}, ab = function(a, b)		{ if(a == '') return b;			else return a + ' ' + b;		}, al = function(a, f)		{ var ha = , ep = , i;			for(i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {				switch(a.charAt(i)) {				case ';': ha += ''; ep += ';'; break; case ':': ha += ''; ep += ':'; break; case '*': ha += ''; ep += '*'; break; case '#': ha += ''; ep += '#'; break; default: return [ep, ha + f(a.slice(i))]; }			}			return [ep, ha]; },		prefix = '', o_prefix, n_prefix; //O_P en N_P deel van LELIJKE HACK if(!FirstTableOK) {		p = r.indexOf('\n'); if(p < 0) {			b = r;			r = ''; }		else {			b = r.slice(0, p); r = r.slice(++p); }		pBuf = b.match(/^\s*((?:\S(?:.*\S)?)?)\s*$/)[1]; }	while(true) {		p = r.indexOf('\n'); if(p < 0) if(r == '') break; else b = r;		else b = r.slice(0, p); b = b.match(/^((?:.*\S)?)\s*$/)[1]; //		status = 'BLOK: ' + b;		//LELIJKE HACK o_prefix = prefix.replace(/;/g, ':'); n_prefix = b.slice(0, prefix.length).replace(/;/g, ':'); ml = o_prefix.length; while(o_prefix != n_prefix) { //alert(prefix + '\t' + b+ '\n' +o_prefix +'\t'+ n_prefix); // v- moet prefix blijven switch(prefix.charAt(--ml)) {			case ';': l += ''; break; case ':': l += ''; break; case '*': l += ''; break; case '#': l += '
'; }			o_prefix = o_prefix.slice(0, ml); n_prefix = n_prefix.slice(0, ml); }		prefix = b.slice(0, o_prefix.length); //GEEN ml DUS if(prefix == '') switch(b.charAt(0)) {			case '': l = fl(l, pBuf); pBuf = ''; break; case '=': m = b.match(/(=*)(.*)\1/); if(m) {					ml = m[1].length; l = fl(l, pBuf) + '<h' + ml + '>' + bp(m[2]) + '</h' + ml + '>'; pBuf = ''; }				else pBuf = ab(pBuf, b); break; case '-': if(b.match(/-{4,}/)) {					l = fl(l, pBuf) + ' '; pBuf = ''; }				else pBuf = ab(pBuf, b); break; case ';': //Doe nog speciaal werk voor de rare 1-regel syntaxis. ml = b.indexOf(' :'); if(ml > 0 && ml
= 0) while(r.charAt(p + 1) == ' ') {						r = r.slice(++p); p = r.indexOf('\n'); if(p < 0) if(r == '') break; else b = r;						else b = r.slice(0, p); l += '\n' + b.match(/^ ((?:.*\S)?)\s*$/)[1]; }				l += ' '; break; case '{': if(FirstTableOK && b.charAt(1) == '|') {					b = wikiedit.sTable(b.slice(2), r)					l = fl(l, pBuf) + b[0]; pBuf = ''; r = b[1]; p = 1; break; }			default: pBuf = ab(pBuf, b); }		else if(prefix != b) //Lege items zijn slecht! switch((b = b.slice(prefix.length))				.charAt(0)) {			case ';': //Doe nog speciaal werk voor de rare 1-regel syntaxis. ml = b.indexOf(' :'); if(ml > 0 && ml  0 && ml < p)						{ b = b.slice(0, ml); p = ml + prefix.length; }						break; case ':': m += '
'; }					l += m + bp(b); }			}		if(p < 0) break; r = r.slice(++p); //		FirstTableOK = true; } //Bloklus if(l == '') if(NoSinglePara) return /*'BUF:' + */bp(pBuf); else return /*'PARBUF: '*/' ' + bp(pBuf) + ' '; else return /*'FLUSH:' + */fl(l, pBuf); } wikiedit.sTable = function(params, r) { var l = ' ', r]; //.slice(2) eruit gehackt default: h = false; switch(r.charAt(0)) {		case '!': h = true; case '|': if(!inRow) {				l += ' '; inRow = true; }			q = r.indexOf('|'); if(q < 0 || q > p)			{ if(h) l += ' '; else l += ' '; r = r.slice(1); }			else {				if(h) l += '<th '; else l += ''; r = r.slice(++q); }			q = wikiedit.sGetCell(r, h); p = q[1]; //alert(q[0]); l += wikiedit.sBlocksEx(q[0], true, false); //if(q[0].indexOf('aToM[0:12]')>=0) alert(r.slice(0,100)+'\n\n\n'+r.slice(p+1,p+101)); if(h) l += ' '; else l += ' '; }}		if(p < 0) break; r = r.slice(++p); } //Tabelinhoudlus if(inRow) l += ' '; return [l + ' ', '']; } wikiedit.sGetCell = function(r, h) { var p = r.indexOf(h ? '!!' : '||'), q = r.indexOf('\n'), n = 0; if(p < 0 || p > q) /* cel eindigt bij volgende regel die begint met eem ! of |: \n! \n|	\n|-	\n|+	\n|} maar geneste tabellen slaan we over: \n{|....\n|} if(q < 0) return [r, r.length]; else while(true) {				switch(r.charAt(q + 1)) {				case '!': case '|': if(n == 0) return [r.slice(0, q), q]; if(r.charAt(q + 2) == '}') n--; break; case '{': if(r.charAt(q + 2) == '|') n++; break; case '': return [r, r.length]; }				q = r.indexOf('\n', q + 1); }	else return [r.slice(0, p), p]; } wikiedit.sTemplate = function(s) {	return s.parse(' ',		wikiedit.sTemplateBody, wikiedit.sLink); }	wikiedit.sTemplateBody = function(s) {		var p = s.indexOf('|'); if(p < 0) return s + '">' + s + '';		else		{			var l = s.slice(0, p);			return l + '">' + l + '|' + wikiedit.sLink(s.slice(p+1)); }	} wikiedit.sLink = function(s) {	return s.parse('<a href="/wiki/', /\[\[(.*?)\]\]/, '',		wikiedit.sLinkBody, wikiedit.sBold); }	wikiedit.sLinkBody = function(s)	{		var p = s.indexOf('|');		if(p < 0)			return s + '">' + s;		else {			return s.slice(0, p) + '">' +				wikiedit.sBold(s.slice(p+1));		}	} wikiedit.sBold = function(s) {	return s.parse(, /((?:.|\n)*?)/, ,		wikiedit.sItalics, wikiedit.sItalics); } wikiedit.sItalics = function(s) {	return s.parse(', /((?:.|\n)*?)/, ',		wikiedit.sQuote, wikiedit.sQuote); } wikiedit.sQuote = function(s) {	return s.replace(/\r/g, 'CR')		.replace(/\n/g, 'LF '); } /*

-

G E B R U I K E R S I N T E R F A C E

=========================================

wikiedit.OK = function {	wikiPreview.style.display = 'none'; toolbar.style.display = ''; with(wikiedit.PlainTextBox) {		innerText = wikiedit.Html2Wiki(wikiPreview); style.display = ''; } } wikiedit.Cancel = function {	wikiPreview.style.display = 'none'; toolbar.style.display = ''; wikiedit.PlainTextBox.style.display = ''; } /*       --	WERKBALKEN ========== wikiedit.Bool2Dis = function(b){return b?'':'none';} wikiedit.OpenToolbar = function {	wikiedit.Toolbars[this.wikieditTB][0].style.display = wikiedit.Bool2Dis(true); this.style.display = wikiedit.Bool2Dis(false); } wikiedit.CloseToolbar = function {	wikiedit.Toolbars[this.wikieditTB][1].style.display = wikiedit.Bool2Dis(true); this.parentElement.style.display = wikiedit.Bool2Dis(false); } wikiedit.Toolbar = function(xname, bright, pastel, visible, buttons) {	var n = this.ToolbarCount++; var t = document.createElement('DIV'); var i, b;	with(t) {		with(style) {			display = this.Bool2Dis(visible); backgroundColor = pastel; borderWidth = '1px'; borderStyle = 'solid'; borderColor = bright; margin = '2px'; }	}	var c = document.createElement('BUTTON'); c.wikieditTB = n;	with(c) {		onclick = this.CloseToolbar; with(style) {			width = '64px'; height = '32px'; color = bright; marginRight = '32px'; }		appendChild(document.createTextNode(xname)); }	t.appendChild(c); for(i = 0; i < buttons.length; i+=2) {		b = document.createElement('BUTTON'); with(b) {			onclick = buttons[i+1]; with(style) {				width = '64px'; height = '32px'; color = bright; marginRight = '4px'; }			appendChild(document.createTextNode(buttons[i])); }		t.appendChild(b); }	var o = document.createElement('BUTTON'); o.wikieditTB = n;	with(o) {		onclick = this.OpenToolbar; with(style) {			display = this.Bool2Dis(!visible); width = '128px'; //pixels are bad!!!!! do st about this height = '32px'; color = bright; }		appendChild(document.createTextNode(xname)); }	this.Toolbars[n] = [t, o]; this.FoldToolbar.appendChild(o) return t; } wikiedit.CreateToolbars = function {	var ToolbarDiv = document.createElement('DIV'); this.FoldToolbar = document.createElement('DIV'); this.Toolbars = new Object; this.ToolbarCount = 0; with(ToolbarDiv) {		appendChild(this.Toolbar('Algemeen', 'maroon', '#f0e0e0', true, ['OK', this.OK, 'Annuleren', this.Cancel])); appendChild(this.Toolbar('Opmaak', 'green',  '#e0f0e0', true, []));		appendChild(this.Toolbar('Tabellen', 'navy',  '#e0e0f0', false, []));		appendChild(this.FoldToolbar); }	return ToolbarDiv; } wikiedit.CreateHtmlBox = function(boxheight, boxtext) {	var HtmlBox = document.createElement('DIV'); with(HtmlBox) {		with(style) {			pixelHeight = boxheight; width = '100%'; overflow = 'scroll'; }		contentEditable = true; innerHTML = wikiedit.Wiki2Html(boxtext); }	return HtmlBox; } wikiedit.init = function {	try{if(toolbar==undefined)return;}catch(e){return;} this.PlainTextBox = document.getElementsByName('wpTextbox1')[0]; with(this.PlainTextBox) {		this.HtmlBox = this.CreateHtmlBox(offsetHeight, value); style.display = 'none'; }	toolbar.style.display = 'none'; with(wikiPreview) {		appendChild(this.CreateToolbars); appendChild(this.HtmlBox); } } wikiedit.CheckReadyState = function {	try {		wikiedit.onreadystatechange; }	catch(e) {	}	if(document.readyState == 'complete') {		document.onreadystatechange = wikiedit.onreadystatechange; wikiedit.init; } } wikiedit.onreadystatechange = document.onreadystatechange; document.onreadystatechange = wikiedit.CheckReadyState;

title: User:Gerbrant/wikiedit.js


text:
Robert Fisher (journalist)

Robert Fisher (born 1948 or 1949) is a Canadian semi-retired radio and television journalist.

Background
As a journalism student in the 1960s, he wrote his master's thesis on the then-emerging phenomenon of women in politics. His first job as a journalist was with CHWO, a local radio station in Oakville, Ontario, where he began working in 1967.

Television career
Fisher worked for CBC Television in the 1980s as a Queen's Park reporter and host of Dateline Ontario for CBLT, until taking a job with the Global Television Network in 1988. While at Global, he hosted and produced the weekend program Focus Ontario on CIII in the 1980s and 1990s. He was also the network's first Queen's Park Bureau Chief, an anchor of the station's late night and weekend newscasts, and an occasional substitute anchor of First National.

He served on the journalist's panel for the election debates in the 1987 provincial election as a representative of the CBC, and in the provincial elections of 1990, 1995 and 1999 for Global. In the 1999 debate, his final question to Ontario Liberal Party leader Dalton McGuinty was perceived by some Liberals as unfair.

As well, he appeared as an analyst for the network's coverage of the federal elections in 1988, 1993 and 1997.

He was fired from Global in 2000 after criticizing what he perceived as the network's shift toward infotainment reporting. In a 2024 interview, Fisher said he believed Global's decision not to renew his contract was a result of a complaint he made internally that a Global News anchor being permitted to emcee a fundraiser for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives compromised Global News' reputation and has said that this complaint, as well as what he believed was an informal policy by CanWest Global to dismiss older staff so as not to have to pay them pensions, was behind his dismissal. Fisher sued CanWest for defamation over comments made by management in the wake of his termination and settled for an out of court payment.

CBC Radio
He returned to CBC Radio shortly thereafter. He was an afternoon news anchor on CBLA, CBC Radio One's station in Toronto, appeared on the network's Ontario stations as a political analyst, continued to anchor provincial election coverage for that service in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2014, and filed occasional science news reports, under the pseudonym "Dr. Robert", for the network's flagship interview program As It Happens.

Fisher has taught journalism law and ethics at Centennial College and radio and television news at Ryerson University.

In 2015, Fisher announced his retirement from journalism. His final day at CBC Radio was July 23.

He continues to contribute to CBC radio as a regular commentator on provincial politics for the network's Ontario stations. In a June 2017 appearance on CBC Sudbury's Morning North, he announced he would be returning to the network in September as a political analyst.

title: Robert Fisher (journalist)


text:
California, Cincinnati

California, Cincinnati is one of the 52 neighborhoods of Cincinnati, Ohio. Located at the confluence of the Little Miami River and Ohio River, it is the southeastern-most neighborhood in the city. California borders the Cincinnati neighborhoods of Mt. Washington and the East End, as well as Anderson Township. The population was 944 at the 2020 census.

History
The community was named after the state of California. California was annexed by the city of Cincinnati in 1909.

Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were 944 people living in the neighborhood. There were 452 housing units. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 89.6% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race, and 6.9% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 323 households, out of which 63.8% were families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals.

15.1% of the neighborhood's population were under the age of 18, 68.7% were 18 to 64, and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. 41.4% of the population was male and 58.6% was female.

According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, for the period 2016-2020 the estimated median annual income for a household in the neighborhood was $112,875. About 0.0% of family households were living below the poverty line. About 48.6% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

Landmarks
California has earned the nickname "Cincinnati's Playland" because of its many recreation destinations. These include:
 * Coney Island
 * Riverbend Music Center
 * Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center
 * California Woods nature preserve

Notable person

 * Brice Disque, business executive and soldier

title: California, Cincinnati


text: User talk:24.91.33.81

title: User talk:24.91.33.81


text:
Robert Fisher

Robert Fisher may refer to:

Politicians

 * Robert Fisher (MP) (1465–1535), in 1529 MP for Rochester
 * Robert F. Fisher (1879–1969), member of the California legislature
 * Robert Fisher (Tennessee politician) (1925–1989), American politician expelled from the Tennessee legislature
 * Robert Fisher (New Hampshire politician), member of the New Hampshire legislature 2014–2017

Artists and musicians

 * Robert Fisher (playwright) (1922–2008), American playwright
 * Robert M. Fisher (1928–2007), American artist
 * Rob Fisher (British musician) (1956–1999), British keyboardist and songwriter
 * Robert Fisher (c.1957–2017), American vocalist and songwriter from Willard Grant Conspiracy
 * Rob Fisher (conductor), American music director, conductor, arranger and pianist

Others

 * Robert Fisher (priest) (fl. 1490s – 1510s), Canon of Windsor
 * Robert Fisher (UK academic) (born 1943), interest in teaching philosophy to children
 * Robert Fisher (university president) (born c. 1948), president of Belmont University
 * Robert Fisher (journalist) (born 1948/49), Canadian radio and television journalist
 * Robert J. Fisher (born 1954), American business manager and director of Gap Inc
 * Robert Joseph Fisher (born 1959), American priest of the Catholic Church
 * Robert William Fisher (born 1961), American fugitive
 * Rob Fisher (motorcyclist) (fl. 1990s), British motorcycle racer
 * Rob Fisher (barrister), New Zealand lawyer

title: Robert Fisher


text:
Talk:Sandra Lee Scheuer

Citation
There should be a citation immediately after that direct quote. Perhaps the external link mentions that quote -- but even so, a footnote should still be there, right next to the quote. --Jacqui M Schedler 02:39, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

title: Talk:Sandra Lee Scheuer


text:
Talk:Il Khan of Persia

If there's anything that's important enough to be an article, it would be II Khans of Mongolia, not of Persia. Xhin 02:39, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

 * I made a redirect to Ilkhanate, which was the Mongol state in Persia. Adam Bishop 03:21, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

title: Talk:Il Khan of Persia


text: User:SuperJumbo/Test

title: User:SuperJumbo/Test


text:
Tilly, Arkansas

Tilly is an unincorporated community in Smyrna Township, Pope County, Arkansas, United States near the head of the Middle Fork of the Little Red River.

It is also near the intersection of Arkansas 16 and Arkansas 27. Tilly has a general store that was established in 1939 by Alfred & Avis Fountain. The store has a local post office branch located within. The cemetery located in Tilly is the "Union Hill Cemetery" and has a cemetery building adjacent to the cemetery.

In January 1996, Tilly was the scene of a triple murder, when gun dealer William Mueller, his wife, Nancy, and their eight-year-old daughter, Sarah, were abducted, tortured, and murdered in their own home by white supremacists Chevie Kehoe and Daniel Lewis Lee. Kehoe later received a life sentence for the crime, while Lee was sentenced to death and executed.

title: Tilly, Arkansas


text:
Talk:Lynn Woolsey

Welfare
"Congresswoman Woolsey is the only former welfare mom in the House." First of all is this relevant? If it is, I think a better way to phrase it should be found. "Welfare mom" is hardly NPOV. Just a thought...

 * It's been reworded to the following: "Congresswoman Woolsey is one of two members of the House of Representatives to have been on taxpayer-funded government welfare; the other is Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D, WI)." While I am no fan of Woolsey, I don't think this comment belongs where it has been placed (in the Race for Congress section). It might have a place in the article (although it should be included only in a discussion of her positions on welfare or welfare-related legislation), but definitely not where it currently is. 71.131.190.236 01:48, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

 * I've moved the comment about her former welfare-mom status to the "Personal life and early career" section, with a link to her House of Reps Website. I deleted the redundant and possibly inflammatory description of welfare as "taxpayer-funded government." I think most people know how welfare is funded—and by whom. I put back in the comment about being a "former welfare mother," since the phrase, however unflattering some may see it, is from her own site. 71.131.190.236 01:48, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

Really I don't think any of this page can be discribed as NPOV. 2/3 of her history section is devoted to the Stewart Pearson scandal in very charged and misleading. The theme within the section talking about her campaign record seems to be saying she won by default. The section is again misleading in saying she was the only Sonoma county canditdate when the 6th district also includes Morin county. She did after all recieve more than 72% of the vote in winning her 7th term in congress. I don't see how this entry can be fixed without a total rewriting of the entry from someone who is not bias in the matter.

Does giving Cindy Sheehan a pass belong in the article?
Several users believe the Lynn Woolsey article should contain a paragraph detailing that Woolsey chose to give her guest pass to the State of the Union speech to Cindy Sheehan. Is that significant in any way? Should we go to all the articles of Members of Congress and detail all their guests? I can't see how giving the guest pass to Cindy Sheehan makes a political statement. The fact that Cindy Sheehan was Woolsey's guest is well detailed in Sheehan's article, as it should. --Asbl 11:39, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

I think a mention that Woolsey invited Sheehan as a guest to the State of the Union is warranted. The event garnered international press coverage and was the subject of extensive political discussion. Woolsey initiated the event by inviting Sheehan. Moreover, the Woolsey article has an Iraq position section. The fact that Woolsey invited Sheehan relates to her position on Iraq. Woolsey is a critic of the Iraq war and so is Sheehan. Any person with a modicum of political tactics would say that Woolsey was in fact "making a statement" vis-a-vis Iraq. The fact that Sheehan was arrested and later cleared of any wrongdoing and the national attention given to the story further underscores the importance of a mention.RexRex84 21:15, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Sheehan may be mentioned, but we should not speculate on the meaning of the invitation. We should omit the clause, "Woolsey further underscored her position vis-a-vis Iraq..." -Will Beback 21:56, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

I think that is fair then. I am just saying that a "mention" is warranted.RexRex84 22:46, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
 * There is no doubt that the story about Sheehan's incarceration should be covered in the Cindy Sheehan article. I don't see why it needs to be covered here in the Lynn Woolsey article. Giving Sheehan a pass is not a protest of the war. It just says that Woolsey was friendly towards Sheehan, which I am sure lots of representatives and senators are. I therefore still think we can leave this out of the Woolsey article. --Asbl 23:55, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Mention moved to controversy section from iraq section. There is no doubt that Woolsey became the subject of criticism and controversy once Sheehan was arrested and it was learned that Woolsey supplied Sheehan with a ticket. The mention is written in NPOV format (intended) so as not to speculate about intentions.--RexRex84 06:47, 22 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Who exactly criticized Woolsey for giving Sheehan the ticket? --Asbl 16:00, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Mention edited with citation regarding Woolsey's motives for giving ticket to Sheehan. As quoted by CBS news/AP, Woolsey indicates she was pleased with Sheehan's anti-war activities and ticket was given at an anti-war event. That said, it will remain in the controversy section, and not Iraq section for now.--RexRex84 21:06, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Nothing in the CBS News link indicates Woolsey was criticized for giving Sheehan the ticket. I maintain Cindy Sheehan does not belong in the Lynn Woolsey article (but the reverse is not true, Woolsey belongs in the Sheehan article) --Asbl 21:20, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Very well, then I suggest the mention be amended to original. The CBS article does in fact speak as to why Woolsey gave the ticket to Sheehan and the context in which it was given. Woolsey's own words state that she was pleased with Sheehan's Iraq position and Woolsey gave her the ticket at the CODEPINK meeting. The very fact that we are going back and forth on this issue seems to suggest that it is in fact a "controversy." I now suggest moving the mention back to the Iraq section. That said, numerous political commentators and reporters have spoke at against Woolsey or raised the issue of the relevant "controversy." When I have more time, I can get the proper citations for you. Bottom line, there is little doubt that a mention is warranted.--24.244.137.104 23:25, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

The Stewart Pearson controversy
I think we can report about the controversy without going into the details of the rape. I think the details of the rape would only be justified if she had commited the rape. For those who insist on writing all the horrific details of the rape, they can open up an article on Stewart Pearson. --Asbl 07:53, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

"Democratic Socialists of America" hoax
There have been numerous attempts to insert some variation of membership in the Democratic Socialists of America or a caucus of that name into this article. This is an obvious and blantant hoax, despite being mentioned on several blogs. Not only does no such caucus exist and the DSA is a separate political party, the list itself was simply a copy of the house progressive caucus. Please do not insert this "information" into the article. --TeaDrinker (talk) 19:12, 14 October 2010 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to 1 one external link on Lynn Woolsey. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive http://web.archive.org/web/20080910000350/http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/us20reps20all20formatted.pdf to http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/us20reps20all20formatted.pdf

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at Sourcecheck).

Cheers.—cyberbot II  Talk to my owner :Online 09:19, 28 February 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 1 one external link on Lynn Woolsey. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20081221042514/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/23_34_us_reps.pdf to http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/23_34_us_reps.pdf

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at ).

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 19:17, 9 November 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 4 external links on Lynn Woolsey. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20071230222908/http://patriotpost.us/pub/07-51_Brief-print.htm to http://patriotpost.us/pub/07-51_Brief-print.htm
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20081127061822/http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/congress.pdf to http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/congress.pdf
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130102001049/http://woolsey.house.gov/ to http://woolsey.house.gov/
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130511171713/http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2002/09/19_woolsey_iraq-statement.htm to http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2002/09/19_woolsey_iraq-statement.htm

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 08:07, 28 May 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 3 external links on Lynn Woolsey. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20120210101207/http://woolsey.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=31&sectiontree=2%2C31 to http://woolsey.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=31&sectiontree=2%2C31
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20121010142009/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0113-01.htm to http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0113-01.htm
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172715/http://fcnl.org/press/releases/snyder111005.htm to http://www.fcnl.org/press/releases/snyder111005.htm

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 07:56, 4 September 2017 (UTC)

title: Talk:Lynn Woolsey


text:
Spondias

Spondias is a genus of flowering plants in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. The genus consists of 17 described species, 7 of which are native to the Neotropics and about 10 are native to tropical Asia. They are commonly named hog plums, Spanish plums, Ciruelas in Cuba, libas in Bikol and in some cases golden apples for their brightly colored fruit which resemble an apple or small plum at a casual glance. They are only distantly related to apple and plum trees, however. A more unequivocal common name is mombins.

A theory regarding the name of the city of Bangkok, Thailand is that the name is derived from -มะกอกน้ำ; 'water olive', the Thai name for the fruit of Spondias dulcis. In Cambodia, Spondias pinnata is called /pɷːn siː pʰlaɛ/ (ពោនស៊ីផ្លែ) or /məkaʔ prẹj/ (ម្កាក់ព្រៃ), and Spondias dulcis simply /məkaʔ/ (ម្កាក់). Spondias pinnata is called Pulicha kaai in the Tamil language, which means "sour fruit." It is also called "Amate Kaai" in the Kannada language, Ambade in Tulu and Konkani. In Sri Lanka it is called Amberella. In Bangladesh it is known as Aamra (আমড়া) and when served with seasonings it is a very popular street food.

Description
They are deciduous or semi-evergreen trees growing to 25 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, pinnate, rarely bipinnate or simple. The fruit is a drupe similar to a small mango (in the related genus Mangifera), 4–10 cm long, ripening yellow or orange. It has a single seed.

The Malesian species of Spondias were revised by Ding Hou in 1978. The most recently recognized species, Spondias testudinis, was described in 1998.

As food
About 10 species of Spondias bear edible fruits and have been domesticated for fruit production. These fruits are also consumed by herbivorous mammals such as deer.

In the Western Ghats of Karnataka flower buds and tender fruits are used in pickle preparation. In Thai cuisine both the fruits and the tender leaves are eaten. In Odisha its called ambada, the fruit is used as a souring agent in curries.

Selected species
, Plants of the World online accepts 18 species:

Selected synonyms include:

 * Spondias cytherea — synonym of Spondias dulcis
 * Spondias haplophylla — synonym of Bouea oppositifolia
 * Spondias indica — synonym of  Solenocarpus indicus
 * Spondias lakonensis — synonym of Allospondias lakonensis

title: Spondias


text:
Scotland, Arkansas

Scotland is an unincorporated community in southwestern Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States, near the head of the South Fork of the Little Red River. In April 2010, a tornado struck this community which resulted in extreme damage.

Education
Public education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by the Clinton School District, which leads students to graduate from Clinton High School.

Scotland was a part of the Scotland School District until July 1, 2004, when that district consolidated with the Alread School District into the existing Clinton school district.

title: Scotland, Arkansas


text: User talk:68.13.106.120

title: User talk:68.13.106.120


text:
Comet Group

Comet Electricals Limited, trading as Comet, is an online electrical retail chain based in the United Kingdom. The company sells consumer electronics and white goods, along with related products and services. Its predecessor, under the same brand name, pioneered the concept of the out-of-town discount warehouse in the United Kingdom.

The original company was formed in 1933 by George Hollingbery as a business charging batteries for customers on a weekly basis. The business grew and diversified into radio rentals, and the first store opened in the 1950s. Comet expanded during the 1960s and 1970s, and became a publicly listed company in 1972. The company was purchased by Woolworths, owned by Paternoster Stores (later Kingfisher plc) in 1984.

In 2003, Comet was spun out of the Kingfisher Group to become part of Kesa. In 2011, following sustained losses, Kesa sold the company to private equity firm OpCapita for a token £2. The firm entered administration in November 2012, and all stores and their stock was liquidated and closed by 18 December. Before its collapse, the company was the UK's second biggest electrical retailer, with 6,000 staff and over 200 stores.

In 2019, Misco Technologies Limited announced the acquisition of the Comet brand from administrators Deloitte, and has relaunched Comet as an online retailer of electrical goods. Whilst Misco is primarily focused on servicing Business and Public sectors, the purchase of Comet has allowed them to open themselves up to the consumer market.

Early years (1933–1958)
Comet was founded in Hull in 1933 by entrepreneur George Hollingbery as Comet Battery Stores. Hollingbery had noticed the increasing popularity of the wireless radio during the 1930s and launched a service which involved himself and one other employee charging batteries in his workshop and delivering them to customers for a small weekly fee.

By 1939, the service had expanded, to around 2,500 customers and a small fleet of vans was required for the deliveries. As customer demand grew for replacement wireless sets, Hollingbery renamed the business to Comet Radio Services and began providing a radio rental service. Comet's first retail store was opened in George Street, Hull in the 1950s. Two more stores were subsequently opened in Bridlington and Driffield.

George Hollingbery died in 1958, aged 55, and his son Michael took control of the business.

Pioneering the discount warehouse (1968–69)
In 1964, the Resale Prices Act was passed in the United Kingdom, rendering all resale price agreements 'against the public interest' unless proven otherwise. Minimum resale price maintenance (MRPM) had ensured that retailers such as Comet could only sell a product at a price determined by the manufacturer. The abolition of MRPM allowed Comet to make the transition from a small electrical retail chain in Yorkshire to a national discount retailer. In 1968, Comet opened its first out-of-town retail store in Hull, offering a range of 50 radio and television products.

Alan Sugar, the founder of Amstrad, said later that the opening of this discount warehouse "changed the face of retailing." The business was predominantly mail order although members of the public were also able to purchase from the warehouse in person.

Comet placed full page advertisements in specialist magazines and newspapers, listing their stock and the prices, which were between 15% and 45% lower than the manufacturers' recommended retail prices. One such advertisement in The Yorkshire Post resulted in customers "queueing around the block." Sugar said: "This form of retailing signalled the demise of the small electrical shop on the street corner, which simply couldn't compete."

Initially, Comet was the only major retailer offering electrical equipment at heavily discounted prices, and the largest share of its business remained mail order. When competitors such as the G. W. Smith and Laskys chains also began to offer discounted equipment, Comet was compelled to begin opening its own branches nationwide. Comet eventually purchased the Laskys chain outright for £8.9 million in 1989.

In 1969, a second discount warehouse was opened in Leeds, and the company was renamed Comet Radiovision Services.

Expansion and flotation (1971–1973)
Between February 1971 and July 1972, another seven discount warehouses were opened, including outlets in Edinburgh and Birmingham. A further nine warehouses were expected to be operational by May 1973. Total sales from their warehouses rose from £308,000 from 1968 to 1969, to £5.3 million from 1970 to 1971.

Despite the success of its out-of-town warehouse operations, Comet continued to maintain a presence on the high street, assisted by the consumer boom of the early 1970s ("the Barber Boom"), the introduction of hire purchase facilities, and the growth in the purchase and rental of colour television sets. Comet also traded on its after-sales service, a twice-weekly nationwide delivery service, and its ability to undercut most competitors by around 10%. Goods were sold with 12 months' free service, including parts and labour, and Comet guaranteed that it would beat "any genuine advertised price" for brand new items.

In July 1972, Comet went public with an initial offering of 4.7 million shares at 110p. Michael Hollingbery revealed that inheritance tax had been one of the reasons for the flotation, saying: "If a death had occurred in the family we could have lost control or faced considerable financial problems."

By November 1973, Comet had established 25 discount warehouses in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Grimsby, Hull, Jarrow, Leeds, Leicester, London, Norwich, Newport, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Rochdale, Sheffield, Southampton, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, Wigan and Willenhall.

Budget booms and busts (1974–1976)
The business was impacted badly in 1974 by the three-day week, tighter government controls on hire purchase and consumer credit, and the knock-on effect of a worldwide shortage of steel and plastic.

Relying on fast turnover to compensate for reduced margins (typically the company operated with only a 2% pre-tax margin), Comet was particularly vulnerable to any slump in consumer activity. Where previously it had been able to sell goods "so quickly that they are gone before the manufacturers' invoice has to be met" Comet now found itself having to dramatically revise its sales forecasts and reassess its orders.

Competition from longer-established department stores and high street multiples was also growing, as Currys opened two discount warehouses (under the trading name Bridger Discount), followed by Great Universal Stores and Rediffusion. In September 1974, the group sold its television rental business to Spectra Rentals for £1.73 million, in an effort to reduce its overall debt.

In 1975, Comet expanded its range of goods by purchasing the share capital of Gas Trend, a discount retailer of gas appliances, for £15,000. This placed Comet as the only large multiple retailer of gas appliances to compete against the nationalised British Gas Corporation which accounted for around 80% of the market.

In April 1975, the electrical retail sector underwent a mini boom, following that month's budget announcement, that electrical appliances would be subject to a 25% VAT levy beginning 1 May 1975, a substantial increase from the previous rate of 8%. Although Comet reported sales increases of up to 600% in some of its warehouses, Michael Hollingbery warned that the group would be maintaining only the minimum working stock from 1 May onwards.

Predicting an overall slump in sales of 50% he said: "[After 1 May] there will be a sales trough. What has been happening in the past week has been that people have merely brought forward the purchase they had planned to make later in the year or have realised that certain types of goods that they can afford now may be later out of their grasp." When the levy was reduced the following year to 12.5%, Comet benefited from the corresponding brisk upturn in trade, describing sales as "bumper."

Despite the fall in profits, during the 1975–1976 period, Comet continued with its expansion plans, opening new outlets across the country. By December 1976, the group had grown to 50 outlets, with plans to increase this to 100 by December 1977. In July 1976, Comet acquired the Eclipse Radio and Television Services chain from Loyds Retail, a subsidiary of Philips. Consumer fears of an emergency autumn budget and changes to the Minimum Lending Rate drove Comet's sales to 15% above predictions in late 1976.

Bids and buy-out (1981–1984)
In June 1981 the Hollingbery family began to reduce its shareholdings in Comet. Valued at £51 million, the group now included 200 Comet Electrical and Timberland Do-It-Yourself outlets, a jewellery manufacturer and a supplier of Polarcold metal pressings for domestic appliance manufacturers. The family disposed of 8 million shares, raising £9.92 million. Michael Hollingbery explained: "Too much of the family wealth was concentrated in one company."

In April 1984 Harris Queensway announced that it was finalising "an agreed bid" of £152 million for the Comet group. The following day, Woolworths (then owned by Paternoster Stores, forerunner of Kingfisher) announced that it had made a £177 million counter-bid, which had been accepted. Hollingbery retained the Comet chair after the sale, which took place in May 1984.

Hostile takeover bid for Dixons (1989–1990)
In December 1989, Kingfisher announced a £461 million hostile takeover bid for Dixons. Dixons had acquired Currys in 1984, and Kingfisher said that if the bid was successful it would retain both brand names along with Comet. Dixons retaliated by preparing a submission to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) stating that a merger of Comet, Currys and Dixons would create a monopoly in out-of-town retail parks.

Stanley Kalms, Dixons' chairman, said: "[This] is about a virtual monopoly in retail parks, the fastest growing sector of the business. Out-of-town there are only two competitors, Currys and Comet." Kingfisher claimed that the combined market share of Currys, Dixons and Comet would only represent 22%, below the threshold of 25% which would trigger an investigation by the Monopolies and Merger Commission (MMC), while market researchers assessed the combined share as 26%.

On 16 January 1990 Trade Secretary Nicholas Ridley announced that Kingfisher's bid had been referred to the MMC. He said that the combined market share would have been just under 25% but would have been four times larger than its nearest competitor, Rumbelows. For some products, including personal stereos, microwave ovens and dishwashers, the market share rose to between 30% and 40%.

Ridley said that in the out-of-town sector, the combined group would control 70–80% of the market. There was also concern that the combined group's buying power "would allow it to gain substantial discounts from manufacturers but the lack of competition would mean it would not be under pressure to pass discounts on to the consumer."

On 4 May 1990, the independent market research group Verdict published a report warning that the proposed merger would lead to higher prices and that the dominant position of the combined group would result in the public paying "for the strategic errors made by Britain's leading electrical retailers in the 1980s." The MMC blocked the merger in May 1990.

Recession and consumer crisis (1990–1997)
In November 1990, following the merger of British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) and Sky Television to form BSkyB, Comet issued a High Court writ seeking £10 million in damages from BSkyB for breach of contract. Comet alleged that it had a contract with BSB to supply BSB's satellite dishes and receiving equipment – of which Comet had already sold 17,000 units, with several thousand still in stock – which were now obsolete as Sky's equipment, which retailed for £100 less, was being used for all future customers.

In January 1995, market analysts began sounding warnings over the viability of Comet and its sister group Woolworths. Comet had made strategic errors with its home computer business, and its decision to stop selling computer games had allowed competitors to corner the market. Trading at a loss, and with considerable leasehold commitments, analysts suggested that both Comet and Woolworths, with "weak retail strategies" of "cheap and cheerful", might be sold by Kingfisher.

Kingfisher's chairman Sir Geoff Mulcahy, described their performance as "unsatisfactory" and said "We have got two problem areas, Woolworths and Comet." John Richardson, an analyst at NatWest bank, warned that "very substantial rationalisation and reorganisation" was required at Comet.

By April 1996, Dixons controlled a market share three times larger than Comet's. In October 1996, Kingfisher bought out the struggling electrical retailer NORWEB for £29 million, and merged it with Comet. As part of its plan to integrate the two store groups, Comet closed 26 of its own stores and 28 Norweb stores, resulting in 1,200 redundancies.

The Wal-Mart effect (1999–2000)
In April 1999, Kingfisher attempted a merger with Asda, but was subsequently outbid by Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer. The £6.7 billion acquisition "sent a ripple of fear through United Kingdom stores". Kingfisher responded by appointing Joe Riordon, former vice-president of Wal-Mart's people division, as managing director of Comet.

Riordan oversaw the launch of a £2 million, 30,000 ft2 (2,787 m2) Comet store in Paisley, described as "the blueprint to transform the industry". In effect a carbon copy of Wal-Mart's retail strategy, the move was an attempt to "beat Wal-Mart at its own game... before it has a chance to turn its guns on Comet's sector". Riordan left the company abruptly in April 2000.

In July 2000, Wal-Mart, in what The Times described as "the opening shots in the assault on its British counterparts", announced that it would be discounting some goods by up to 60%. The stock market value of British chain stores fell by around £700 million within days of the announcement.

KESA Electricals (2000–2006)
In September 2000 Kingfisher revealed its plan to demerge into two listed companies, separating the "poorly performing" Comet and B&Q groups (provisionally called New Kingfisher) from the Superdrug, Woolworths and Big W chains (General Merchandise). The demerger of the electricals business, including Comet and French chains Darty and BUT, delayed in part by "indecision and management infighting," eventually took place in July 2003, with the group renamed KESA Electricals. The name originated from Kingfisher Electricals with the SA taken from Société Anonyme, the French equivalent of plc.

The rapid growth of online shopping during the period 2000–2003 had surprised many analysts. A 2000 report, published by the United Kingdom's Department of Trade and Industry, "Clicks and Mortar: The New Store Fronts," had forecast that United Kingdom online shopping for 2002 could range from £1.2 billion to an optimistic £6.3 billion. The actual figure for 2002 was £7 billion. During 2001–02, e-commerce electrical retailer dabs.com made sales of £116 million, which one analyst pointed out was the equivalent trade of 25 Comet stores. As dabs.com employed only 185 staff, this was described as "a rate of productivity which the mainstream retailer can only dream about."

Although Comet and other retailers established their own websites e-tailers were still able to undercut them because direct shipping of the goods from warehouses to customers cut out the need for large stores, infrastructure and sales staff.

In January 2005, Comet faced increasing pressure, when Tesco announced it would trial non-food stores, retailing electrical goods, CDs and DVDs. Trade magazine Retail Week warned that Tesco would launch a "ferocious assault on the market for digital cameras and music players," one of the few growth areas in the sector.

In September 2005, Comet posted a second quarter loss of £3.3 million. Jean-Noel Labroue, KESA's chief executive, said: "Trading across our core markets since the end of July has not improved. In view of the continuing decline in consumer confidence across all our markets, we do not anticipate any changes to these conditions in the immediate future." A management buy-out negotiation reached "an advanced stage" but was ultimately abandoned.

A £1.7 billion takeover bid was made for KESA in 2006. KESA would not confirm the identity of the bidders when they announced that the offer had been rejected on the grounds that it "undervalued the company and its prospects."

Global economic crisis (2007–2012)

In September 2007, at the beginning of the financial crisis, KESA warned that its prospects in the United Kingdom were "uncertain" as the credit crunch and higher interest rates could lead to consumers cutting back their spending on new electrical products. Analysts at Landsbanki said: "[W]e see serious long run threats to electrical retailing from the growth of the internet, the proliferation of competition and the resultant downward pressure on prices and margins."

In June 2009, KESA posted a pre tax loss of £81.8 million in the 12 months to 30 April 2009, compared to a profit of £128.8 million in the previous year. Over the same period, Comet's retail profit fell by 76.5% to £10.1 million. In April 2010, United States-based Best Buy, the world's largest electrical goods retailer, opened its first store in Thurrock, Essex, with a plan to open one hundred out-of-town warehouses over the following four years.

In September 2010, a new logo was launched, similar to the previous logo, but "softer" in design. The Comet name was in lowercase, and accompanied by a new strapline, "Come and Play". The branding aimed to project a more fun and friendly image, and customers were encouraged to come into the store to try out interactive displays.

Higher taxes, wage freezes and the rising cost of food and essential purchases combined to keep consumer spending on discretionary purchases low and in June 2011 Comet posted a loss – its first in 16 years – of £8.9 million. The "brutal consumer recession" had, said retail analyst Neil Saunders, left the market "in quite a steep decline and with consumers not buying in the way they had the previous decade."

In November 2011, in the same week that Best Buy announced that it was closing its eleven United Kingdom stores due to "tough conditions," KESA announced that it had sold Comet to investment firm OpCapita for a nominal £2. KESA would also provide a £46.8 million 'dowry' of working capital, and retain all the pension liabilities for employees on pre-existing defined benefit schemes.

Two weeks before the firm entered administration, OpCapita announced they were exploring options to sell the chain, after only twelve months of ownership.

Administration and closure
On 1 November 2012, Comet announced it was filing for administration, and entered administration the following day. Deloitte were appointed to act as administrators for the chain. A spokesman said: "The board is urgently working with its advisers to seek a solution to secure a viable future for the company." This followed a period of "increasing pressure" from suppliers who insisted the retailer pay in advance for stock before the Christmas trading period.

After the announcement, the Comet website became unavailable to visitors until 3 November 2012, when a liquidation sale promotion was published. The new website gave details of store locations, but the e-commerce system was no longer available. On 8 November 2012, at 09:00, Comet stores started their final liquidation stock sale. Also, as of 8 November, Comet was accepting again all of its own gift cards excluding corporate customers.

On 17 November 2012, administrators appointed for Comet announced that at least 41 out of the retailer's 236 stores would be closed, if they failed to sign any potential buyer to take them over by end of the month. The announcement immediately triggered closing sales in 27 of the outlets and 14 others were awaiting closing sales. Up to 500 Comet employees were not reported to be directly affected in the 27 stores with closing sales. The closures continued over the next month, until there were no stores remaining open by the end of December 2012.

In June 2014, former staff, represented by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and the United Road Transport Union, won an Employment Tribunal case that they had not been consulted properly about redundancy by Comet and the administrators, Deloitte. This enabled about 7,000 former staff to apply for redundancy financial assistance. Accounting records suggested that the owners, including OpCapita and Elliott Advisors, recovered about £117 million from Comet, and administration fees were more than £10 million.

Three administrators from Deloitte were referred to the accountancy regulator by the Insolvency Service over the failure to consult properly about redundancy, which led to government costs of about £26 million for redundancy payments.

Successor
The UK Computer Group bought the rights to the Comet brand and the website from the liquidators Deloitte in December 2019. In July 2020, they promised a relaunch on social media. In August 2020 the Comet website was relaunched as a trading name of Misco Technologies. All former Comet stores remain closed and there are no known plans to reopen any physical locations.

title: Comet Group


text: Talk:Roger J. Traynor

title: Talk:Roger J. Traynor