User talk:Gerda Arendt

Did you know ...

... that Bach's chorale cantata
Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7,
for St. John's Day,
is based on Luther's hymn
about the baptism of Jesus?

24 June 2012

Archive of 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 + end · 2021 · blushing

24 June songs

take courage · encourage
Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud Jesu, meine Freude (singing in defiance) Vertraut den neuen Wegen (#RexxS)

in memoriam

Sanctus Gianna Rolandi (listen) Heribert Beissel Sarah SV and those who have just given up

12 June

St. Martin, Idstein Vivaldi: from Cello Sonata No. 6 Gott in der Höh sei Preis und Ehr from Three Pieces for Solo Cello O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig Ex Tenebris Nun danket alle Gott from Variations for Cello Solo

13 June

Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt
Bach: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 20

2021 · take courage · encourage

take courage in 2021

calling heaven and earth to be glad

Welcome 2021! In the end, 2020 looked quite promising, and it's new year's resolutions can stay. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:22, 1 January 2021 (UTC)

My motto for 2021 is taken from a song: tell (announce) all in distress to take courage, as Isaiah wrote. Perhaps I should have just said "encourage!"

Today is my grandparents' wedding anniversary. They loved gardening and made a small summer paradise for us kids, with fruits, vegetables, potatoes, abundant flowers, especially dahlias, and a swing, - so garden will be a topic in 2021, as Beethoven was in 2020, today expanding Stonecrop Gardens. Ongoing: Bach, psalms, recent deaths, opera, Germany, and (my) places and songs.

I love collaboration, and can't mention all 2,500 whom I acknowledged so far, so thank just three of them for constant help: LouisAlain (prolific article translations), Grimes2 (language, sources and articles on request) and Yoninah (psalms and DYK). I make you (three) honorary members of WP:QAI, the project about article quality that I inherited, - more detailed plans are laid out (work in progress) on the project talk. The only reward for members is a monthly calendar image I took, such as the year's picture, - if you (all) want that, sign up ;)

I am proud that I could take recent images of music-making I enjoyed, and plan to do more of that. Off to Stonecrop Gardens. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:47, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

The image is taken from my second Christmas card, a double DYK of a Christmas carol and Psalm 148 that Yoninah and I made together. Today: Psalm 148 (Bernstein), in memory of her who was a blessing. · listen --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:31, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

QAI

I sent the following note to members and friends of QAI = quality article improvement, so here to myself ;) - I tried to give a good start to 2021 by updating the QAI project topics. Please check and correct, - did you know that you belong to project's few members from the beginning who are still active? Yes, I know, I joined as No. 6 when it was founded in 2012, No. 1 is blocked, No. 2 is banned (therefore we call the project also the cabal of the outcast), No. 3 moved away and back under a higher number, Nos 4 and 5 edit but do little project work. Here I am to keep it going, in fond memory of the legacy the founders planted. Precious and Impact are the project's prizes, and I offer monthly thanks to those who are active, - you who read this could be one of them ;)

Ongoing projects, besides writing and reviewing quality articles:

• improve Psalms articles
• improve Bach cantatas articles
• expand and source translations
• polish articles about people who recently died
• offer infoboxes
• perform gnomish tasks: spelling mistakes, unclosed new-line html (<br>, replace by <br />), {{ill}} instead of direct links to foreign-language Wikipedias, {{lang}} for foreign-language text, WP:Colons and asterisks by RexxS, navboxes, especially for operas which so far had sidebars, {{sfn}} instead of {{harv}}.

For moar private "happy new year" see here. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:10, 6 January 2021 (UTC)

Happy New Year

see also Season's Greetings

A barnstar for you!

	The Special Barnstar
	Hello, Gerda Arendt! You are receiving this barnstar because, according to this database query and this database query, you were the #6 most thanked Wikipedian of 2020 as well as the #5 most thankful Wikipedian of 2020, with 1716 recipient entries and 3629 performer entries in Special:Log/thanks. Thank you again for your contributions! Mz7 (talk) 22:00, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

thank you, without (lazy) click ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:18, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

Oh thankful, too. Now I get it! El_C 22:58, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

• I agree with this wholeheartedly. Gerda is one of the most amazing Wikipedians I have met in my brief time here. Always kind and always helpful. Please keep being who you are, Gerda, which is as close to perfection as one could get. --ARoseWolf (Talk) 16:22, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

  blushing with thanks, RoseWolf! - please consider to color you talk blue in your signature, - "red link talk" signals "new user", someone to greet with a first welcome ever, and that seems a bit misleading - if not blue, any other colour better than red - Alternatively, you could link "Wolf" to the talk, - nobody would misread that, I guess. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:28, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

  I'm sorry. It's supposed to be a rose pink hue rather than red. I will most definitely alter the color. --ARoseWolf (Talk) 16:31, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

  Is this better or should I just drop the "Talk"? --ARoseWolf (Talk) 16:36, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

  Like this better. Sorry for hijacking your moment. Not my intention in the slightest. Thank you for the tip and congrats. It's well deserved. --ARoseWolf 16:41, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

  YES I like that better, much better! I wasn't even "on" here, - household stuff, no moment lost ;) - Among the gnomish tasks further up, there's an essay by a friend (RexxS) about indenting, - good stuff. (If you need any help with templates, formatting, and even admin tasks, ask him. He just survived COVID so can take a lot.) I did indenting for you above. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:01, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Oscar Fritz Schuh

On 15 January 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Oscar Fritz Schuh, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Oscar Fritz Schuh created a new style to direct Mozart operas at the Vienna State Opera, focused on the psychology of the characters? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Oscar Fritz Schuh. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Oscar Fritz Schuh), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:02, 15 January 2021 (UTC)

my little contrib to Wikipedia 20 --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:52, 15 January 2021 (UTC)

Did you know ... that today, Wikipedia celebrates 20 years?

... that Oscar Fritz Schuh created a new style
to direct Mozart operas at the Vienna State Opera,
focused on the psychology of the characters?
(15 January 2021) ... that director Frank Stähle revived
the choir and orchestra of Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium
and conducted them in Mozart's Requiem
for the centenary of the Lutherkirche?
(15 January 2016)

... that it took more than half a century to complete
the Neue Bach-Ausgabe,
the second edition of the collected works of Johann Sebastian Bach?
(15 January 2011)

This is fab, well done Gerda! Nice article, never heard of the guy or half of the venues he worked at, so this was highly educational. Thanks! DBaK (talk) 21:49, 15 January 2021 (UTC)

While the first one was planned for the occasion, the second was a happy coincidence - I sang in that revival - and this last one just a coincidence, one of the articles LouisAlain began, as the one below. GRuban added the pic just yesterday, ot that one could also have been on the Main page, imagine. I love this team! GRuban, would you find a pic for Siegfried Palm as well? My second article, and Jerome Kohl (User talk:Jerome Kohl helped me understand that even if a reliable source says something, it can be wrong. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:51, 16 January 2021 (UTC)

"The first movement is a chorale fantasia dominated by the trumpet."

BWV 126. And I bet you wrote the sentence above! Isn't it, though, and how glorious. It's directly your responsibility that I am wallowing in this right now, Gerda, because your FAC made me listen to BWV 1 and on my Suzuki vol 34 that's coupled with 126 and 127. And here I am. I had just finished having my socks blown off by the horns in BWV 1 and then up popped 126 with the trumpet, er, dominating the chorale fantasia ... usw. Shocking that I didn't already know it, of course, but I have long since given up apologizing for my ignorance ... it would be a fulltime job otherwise. Gosh, it is an education reading your Talk page! Cheers DBaK (talk) 15:34, 17 January 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt

On 19 January 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that after the Dreikönigskirche escaped destruction in World War II, it became Frankfurt's leading venue of church music performances (example pictured)? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:01, 19 January 2021 (UTC)

I like to see my pic, and show a diferent one today ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:04, 19 January 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Nun lasst uns gehn und treten

On 22 January 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Nun lasst uns gehn und treten, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that both Jochen Klepper and Hildegard Schaeder sought solace amidst the horror of the Nazi regime in Paul Gerhardt's 17th-century New Year's song "Nun lasst uns gehn und treten"? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Nun lasst uns gehn und treten. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Nun lasst uns gehn und treten), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 12:02, 22 January 2021 (UTC)

The world needs more mensch

I see both sides, but you were right to bring it up. I only knew her through my watch list but I know she was a tireless and fair volunteer. Take care, Tiderolls 13:43, 22 January 2021 (UTC)

thank you, feel understood, and even where I sowed some fruit of response could be enjoyed (because, as I explained to one per email: the message of saying nothing may be correct but is too ambiguous) - I never worked with her on an article, but saw her go and come back several times, and saw her contributions that can hardly be overrated --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:52, 22 January 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Jerome Kohl

On 28 January 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Jerome Kohl, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Jerome Kohl, a music theorist of the University of Washington, was recognized internationally as an authority on the composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, publishing a book on his Zeitmaße in 2017? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Jerome Kohl. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Jerome Kohl), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

 — Amakuru (talk) 00:02, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

Special congrats! El_C 00:15, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

This is wonderful. Well-deserved award. :)

Peace forever, Jerry. Antandrus (talk) 00:47, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

Friends, you made me cry.

Luigi Nono and Stockhausen at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse

In Freundschaft

Did you know ...

... that Jerome Kohl,
a music theorist of the University of Washington,
was recognized internationally
as an authority on the composer Karlheinz Stockhausen,
publishing a book on his
Zeitmaße in 2017?

(28 January 2021)

I looked up to Jerome from the day he came in my life (in 2009, telling me that was a eliable source said about Stockhausen was wrong, - it's still on the talk of Siegfried Palm, my second article), and I imagine our conversations - thoughtful, on a meadow - as pictured, in the spirit of Stockhausen's wonderful titles: In Freundschaft, Kontakte, Originale, Licht ... We never met. We edit-warred over Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik and Georg Katzer, but always with respect. (If you want a tedious task, change the now deprecated parenthetical references, in hundreds of articles.) We worked together on many other. He thanked me for links to performers of Stockhausen's music, and I tried to mention their relation to the composer on the Main page, see Wolfgang Marschner (intentionally in memory), and before.

Jerome remains an inspiration, for the world. I will remember what he wrote (about Karlheinz Stockhausen and William Waterhouse (bassoonist) who died within a few weeks in 2011, and Stockhausen had just acknowledged WW for a memorial book): "I hope that they have met again in the beyond and are making joyous music together." --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:50, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

A beautiful bouquet of flowers to celebrate the memory of a special person. Well done Gerda. MarnetteD|Talk 17:16, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Herr, mach uns stark

On 30 January 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Herr, mach uns stark, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Anna Martina Gottschick wrote the hymn "Herr, mach uns stark" because a composer wanted to make Ralph Vaughan Williams's 1906 melody of "For All the Saints" available for German church singing? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Herr, mach uns stark. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Herr, mach uns stark), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

— Maile (talk) 00:02, 30 January 2021 (UTC)

in the 2021 series courage --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:21, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

pretiosus

Thankyou for my precious birthday card. It must keep you monstrously busy sending them out. However as I was one of the early ones I hold it as a high honour and hope to have many happy returns! The jewel reminds me of one of the faces on the Sutton Hoo whetstone, a subject with which I once had something to do before ever I was Eebahgum - but that was long ago, now my inspiration is a song... "O wüsst' ich doch den Weg zurück..."; but, "Vorbei sind die Kinderspiele, Und alles rollt vorbei - Das Geld und die Welt und die Zeiten..." - though, while you keep us all connected, there is still a bit of "Glauben und Lieb' und Treu" - ! Thanks for that. Eebahgum (talk) 01:37, 9 February 2021 (UTC)

Eebahgum, thank you, blushing. - The cards keep me busy but sending is my pleasant morning exercise, thinking of how much there is to be thankful for. It's almost a selfish thing, making my day better. I had to stop making the jewel larger, and possibly ten will be the end, perhaps asking people to give more reminders to themslves (as I did two days ago).

DYK that I just had different Kinderspiele exposed here? Today: an alto singer who is pictured in my 2021 infobox, great place, great music (Part VI of course but the article is not yet developed), I was in the choir. She sang St Matthew Passion for us, and I heard her three times recently at another great place, taking pictures twice, and one appeared on the Main page. Music will survive us ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:49, 9 February 2021 (UTC)

Just think - and today is riddle-day for Trumpelstiltskin, too! Eebahgum (talk) 08:35, 9 February 2021 (UTC)

lol ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:38, 9 February 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Innisfree Garden

On 11 February 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Innisfree Garden, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Innisfree Garden in Millwood, New York, was developed from the 1930s by a painter fascinated with an 8th-century Chinese artist, and a landscape architect from Harvard? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Innisfree Garden. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Innisfree Garden), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 12:02, 11 February 2021 (UTC)

topic of the year, sad that the image was not taken --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:15, 11 February 2021 (UTC)

Thank you

Thank you, Gerda, for your well wishes. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:19, 13 February 2021 (UTC)

Thank you for the visit, and look around for music ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:32, 13 February 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Arik Brauer

On 17 February 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Arik Brauer, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Universalkünstler Arik Brauer (pictured) created paintings in Fantastic Realism, songs in Austropop, stage sets for the Paris Opera, and house facades in Austria and Israel? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Arik Brauer. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Arik Brauer), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 00:01, 17 February 2021 (UTC)

Congratulations

Your DYK hook about Arik Brauer and his wide-ranging artistic accomplishments drew 12,337 page views (514 per hour) while on the Main Page. It is one of the most viewed hooks so far during the month of February and has earned a place on the Best of February list. Keep up the great work! Cbl62 (talk) 14:13, 18 February 2021 (UTC)

Precious!

		The Good Heart Barnstar
		Thank you for your extraordinary work on Wikipedia and especially for your recognitions and encouragement over the years. All of it is indeed precious. --LilHelpa (talk) 13:34, 19 February 2021 (UTC)

Thank you for coming over. I remember how you helped me through a rough start in a foreign language environment, and am always pleased when I see your recognizable name on my watchlist. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:18, 20 February 2021 (UTC)

You are amazing

	Amazing Concerto Award
	Thank you for your tireless contributions to classical music, and for your tireless contributions in keeping readers informed. Your efforts are like a concerto; a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra. I believe my choice of images is the picture that speaks 1000 words. Atsme 💬 📧 12:11, 21 February 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, lovely, blushing moar - will go to blushing! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:13, 21 February 2021 (UTC)

Yes Gerda, you "really put the T into turtle"! (And yes, I've often seen my role as very much like those tiddlers. Only joking! Martinevans123 (talk) 14:53, 22 February 2021 (UTC)

Did you know ...

... that a church's 1510
spiral of justice declares:

"Justice suffered in great need.
Truth is slain dead.
Faith has lost the battle"?

I worded the above in 2015 as a comment to my arbcom case, 2013, remember? Now a friend of mine is taken there, and I seem to have language difficulties to even see a problem. ... Drmies, we have this premature arbcase request where the step of personal approach was left out, and going to AN would mean about the same, no? ...

Regarding my troubles with arbcom: I like a composer with an infobox declared GA. This would not have been possible in the days we better forget. The opera sideboxes - which should have been the only topic in the arbcase - are disappearing nicely. I often said that the ultimate wisdom on arbitration was given here, and the ultimate ten rules (including choosing your battles) here. Can't be repeated too much. I choose not to go to the current arb case request, feeling sorry for the waste of time of all involved: all respected Menschen. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:58, 24 February 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Wilhelm Knabe

On 26 February 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Wilhelm Knabe, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Wilhelm Knabe (pictured), a co-founder of the Greens in Germany and a "green" mayor of Mülheim, participated in Fridays For Future with the slogan "Opa For Future"? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Wilhelm Knabe. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Wilhelm Knabe), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

MANdARAX • XAЯAbИAM 00:06, 26 February 2021 (UTC)

for future - thank you for the update, Mandarax! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:01, 26 February 2021 (UTC)

RexxS

this user misses Flyer22 Frozen singing in defiance

this user misses RexxS (stolen from Bish 4 March)

Thank you for Wikipedia:Colons and asterisks, User:RexxS/Infobox factors, and the precious anniversary template that I use every day. I heard my song of defiance yesterday, and Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, BWV 157 (I will not let you go ...) - dance music for a funeral - but let go. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:01, 1 March 2021 (UTC)

listen on YouTube --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:55, 12 April 2021 (UTC)

what we'll miss --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:58, 5 March 2021 (UTC)

for context: User talk:Hammersoft#Precious anniversary, or: before going to arbcom, try person-to-person talk, and then you hopefully don't have to go to arbcom - caution, long, in a nutshell (Hammersoft, 24 Feb, bolding by me):

I have a much simpler guide to arbitration. After spending many months working on it, cutting a word here, finessing a phrase there, I finally arrived at the final version. Here it is, the Ultimate Guide to Arbitration: Don't.

Don't. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:15, 7 March 2021 (UTC)

Today's little tribute: Vertraut den neuen Wegen - trust the new ways. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:53, 13 March 2021 (UTC)

... last line: Das Land ist hell und weit. The land is bright and wide. (written in 1989 in Germany's East, when it was dark and narrow.) Trust the new ways. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:51, 14 March 2021 (UTC)

, me too!! Atsme 💬 📧 18:31, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

Motivation barnstar

		The Wikipedia Motivation Barnstar
		For your ceaseless efforts to recognize and support Wikipedians, not just through your unending dedication to seek out and recognize good Wikipedians with the Precious award, but going even beyond that to recognize Precious anniversaries. There's no reason you would want to be spending time going to people's pages and recognizing their Precious anniversaries, yet you do it anyway. I don't know why you do it, it's not like you get anything out of it, but you're literally one of the few, if not only, Wikipedians who dedicate themselves to complimenting others. I suspect it's a thankless task, but it's a valuable one. What you do motivates people, it energizes people, and it makes people feel like they're a worthy part of the project and the community. I think you're an unsung hero of this project. Best, ~Swarm~ {sting} 10:11, 1 March 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, Swarm, and how I need it right now, myself. - You are wrong though, twice: It's rather selfish because a round of checking what there is to be thankful for, at the beginning of the day, improves my mood, and I receive many thanks for the reminders, - almost undeserved because they are now so easy that RexxS made me the template where all I have to do is pick the right number. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:18, 1 March 2021 (UTC)

I'm sure we'd never want you to be "unsung", Gerda! Martinevans123 (talk) 10:27, 1 March 2021 (UTC)

slow Mozart is not bad for my mood - one of my missing friends was inheritance of loss --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:45, 1 March 2021 (UTC)

Well-deserved accolades from Swarm, Gerda!! You put the class in classical music. It makes sadness a bit more tolerable. I just learned about Yoninah, and my heart sank. I never had the opportunity to collaborate with her, but even so, it always makes me sad to learn a Wikipedian has died. Life is so short. That's why it's so important to be enjoy life to the fullest, and be kind to one another. Always take time to stop and smell the roses. Atsme 💬 📧 02:05, 1 April 2021 (UTC)

I smell wild garlic now! Thank you so much, Atsme, blushing deeper. Did you check out inheritance of loss? 2012, and still on my mind. Flyer22, Yoninah, RexxS - we are loosing those who established high standards for this project. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:12, 1 April 2021 (UTC)

I just wanted to drop by to echo everything that Swarm said - it made a difference to me when you gave me a Precious award, and I've since noticed your support of many others. Thank you for everything you do. Ganesha811 (talk) 15:09, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

Carmen

Carmen, illustration in Journal Amusant

Carmen is an opera in four acts which Georges Bizet set to a libretto by the team of Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on Prosper Mérimée's novella. When it was first performed by the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March 1875, its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalized its first audiences.

The opera was originally written with musical numbers and spoken dialogue. Set in southern Spain, it tells of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the fiery gypsy Carmen, and finally kills her in a jealous rage. The depictions of proletarian life, immorality, and lawlessness broke new ground in French opera. Bizet died suddenly after the 33rd performance, unaware that the work would achieve international acclaim within the following ten years. Carmen has become one of the most frequently performed operas, with the "Habanera" and the "Toreador Song" among the best known of all operatic arias. The music has been acclaimed for its brilliance of melody, harmony, atmosphere and orchestration, and for Bizet's skill in expressing the emotions and suffering of his characters.

"... in expressing the emotions and suffering of his characters" - worded admirably by Brianboulton, and the apt image added by Voceditenore - great teamwork! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:57, 3 March 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Andréa Guiot

On 8 March 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Andréa Guiot, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Andréa Guiot appeared internationally in French soprano roles such as Mireille, Marguerite, Manon, and Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen, which she recorded alongside Maria Callas in the title role? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Andréa Guiot. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Andréa Guiot), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 12:02, 8 March 2021 (UTC)

IWD II --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:08, 8 March 2021 (UTC)

Best Wishes for today, with respect (Women's Day ...)

... sorry I don't know how to put a flower icon now)

Liebe Gerda, Ich wünsche Dir alles Bestens für heute mit viele Respekt!(KIENGIR (talk) 14:01, 8 March 2021 (UTC))

Danke! Look around, two women the team (LouisAlain, Grimes2) worked for DYK, and a friend's article TFA - so far so good. Carmen mentioned again on the Main page also good. Missing a friend is not, - stealing the image from the TFA ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:42, 8 March 2021 (UTC)

I saw the recruitment advertisement tag at the top, how many women will join WP today? :) (KIENGIR (talk) 14:51, 8 March 2021 (UTC))

Good Job! Your hard work is very much appreciated. Panini^🥪 01:49, 9 March 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, now going to praise you for your first TFA, - enjoy! - My work is not hard, - hard are the things I don't get done. I'd love more arbitration (example pictured), not what we know here under that name. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:38, 9 March 2021 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

	The Role Model Barnstar
	For your daily efforts to spread positivity, to remember, recognise and affirm other Wikipedians. For your empathy, humour, kindness and unflappability. Reading your thoughtful Precious award dedication to me was an uplifting and affirming moment for me. Thank you for all that you do. You are a role model, to me and many others! Kohlrabi Pickle (talk) 04:00, 17 March 2021 (UTC)

blushing deeply: Kohlrabi Pickle, I try. Kohlrabi today, in the fridge already ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:30, 17 March 2021 (UTC)

Hehe, make some pickle out of it! Kohlrabi Pickle (talk) 10:13, 17 March 2021 (UTC)

Gerda, I wanted to share with you that I have created a mini-award to recognise and affirm members of the small community that works on Singapore-related articles. I hope I'm able to bring some of your positivity to this little corner of Wikipedia! Kohlrabi Pickle (talk) 05:01, 27 March 2021 (UTC)

That's a lovely idea! The recipient will know what the prize name is, I didn't ;) - I had to understand that the foreign language IS a prize name, and therefore the "(Wikipedia)" made some sense. What do you think of having s translation or explanation instead of the neutral "An award for you", and/or an image that connects immediately to Singapore? ... as the sapphire connects immediately to its photographer who passed the "earlier" stars of "awesome Wikipedian" for several years, my model ... (now blocked), or as the cherry connects to the one who gave it to me ... (then desysopped, and dead, but remembered). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:44, 27 March 2021 (UTC)

That's a great suggestion! Certainly I can do a translation of the award: it is essentially the Wikipedian equivalent of the Meritorious Service Medal, perhaps the equivalent of the British MBE. Maybe I'll put that in the header instead. Do you know anywhere where there's a list or collection of these kinds of awards that I can look at for inspiration? The cherry is indeed a very meaningful symbol. Kohlrabi Pickle (talk) 12:40, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

Excellent! - see Category:Wikipedia awards, + navbox in it, and integrate yours when ready! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:46, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

Thanks so much for all your help! Kohlrabi Pickle (talk) 12:49, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

Die Fliege top icon

Hi Gerda, I hope you're well. I've just created a Die Fliege top icon that I thought you might be interested in. I haven't added any user categories yet. I was wondering if it's permissible to add top icons to the user pages of other editors who have moved on, in which case it could add them to "Category:Users who are no longer with us" or words to that effect. Or perhaps it's better if editors just add it to their own user page, in which case I'm not sure of any suitable categories would be appropriate. Any ideas? nagualdesign 02:30, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

Thank you for coming, just when I had to add one of the saddest losses, Yoninah. I'd leave it to users. You could offer a topicon, but I think that the creature looks alive is its charm. When I die, I want my user talk as it is no candle, no extra icons, as for the great SBHB. -- Yoninah and I made my last Christmas card, DYK? (pictured on top) We worked on Psalm 148, and I asked if she wanted an extra DYK for the psalm, and she - great soul - said it was alright as a double nom. She was a blessing. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:59, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

I'm sorry to hear that. Good point about not making changes to an editor's user page. I won't add any usercats to the template. Best wishes, nagualdesign 22:27, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

I added Die Fliege to her talk, and someone removed it as looking like a computer virus. - I smiled and restored it. I wrote a little article in Yoninah's memory: I checked out Psalm 148 (Bernstein) which turned out to be extra interesting, his earliest surviving work recorded in a collection "A Jewish Legacy", of all titles. El C, that's also for you. YouTube video in the article. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:51, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

Beautiful rendition. Nice article. The man was an American treasure, much like Yoninah was a Wikipedia one. El_C 01:42, 19 March 2021 (UTC)

You said that well. The article will grow a bit, and then go to DYK where she worked miracles. Psalm 85 appeared pictured, DYK? - The work we began is at WP:QAI/Psalms: missing numbers, missing Hebrew text, missing leads, missing details. She helped with 59. The recipe is at WT:QAI#Psalms. Inspiration promised. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:33, 19 March 2021 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159

The article Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159 you nominated as a good article has passed ; see Talk:Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159 for comments about the article. Well done! If the article has not already appeared on the main page as a "Did you know" item, or as a bold link under "In the News" or in the "On This Day" prose section, you can nominate it within the next seven days to appear in DYK. ... Message delivered by Legobot, on behalf of Aza24 -- Aza24 (talk) 08:21, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

Thanks for the review, Aza! The article appeared on DYK, ... that Picander used one of the sayings of Jesus on the cross for an aria in Bach's cantata Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159, for the last Sunday before Lent? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:27, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

No problem, and good to hear about the DYK. Your Bach DYKs always make the section more interesting...! Aza24 (talk) 08:35, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

This one was in 2011. I did it like Bach and wrote one every week then ;) - Most were approved by Rlevse who was then a pillar of DYK, as Yoninah was for the last years. I'll promised myself to bring Chichester Psalms to GA in memory of her, after today's little tribute, Psalm 148 (Bernstein). Psalm 148 was our last work together, and went to my Christmas card because she modestly declined to say something extra for the psalm, - she should have gotten that role model barnstar. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:43, 18 March 2021 (UTC)

Psalms (in memoriam)

Ps 82-85 (starting at 6m30, Ps 84 at 13m45, though really no reason to skip the introit by Tallis, which is top class as you'd expect). RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 16:50, 25 March 2021 (UTC)

Beautiful, thanks for sharing! - On Psalms, there's a question (somewhere in the beginning), about linking psalm recordings in Salisbury style, by a woman, in English. I don't know. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:34, 25 March 2021 (UTC)

Heard this while driving back home today. Another not particularly well known composer... RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 20:01, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

Lovely! I like Zelenka a lot. I heard - in a concert for Reformation Day 1917, the 500 year biggy - one of his masses, combined with BWV 80. Today Graupner: great, a mature 1741 work, see above. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:24, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

1917? :) I just did a quick lookup but found only record labels (1) (2). I'll have to look up in more scholarly sources when I get the time. Even if I do, no hope of getting this up and fast through DYK for thursday, right? RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 20:28, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

sorry, typo, 2017 of course, when Reformation was celebrated 500 years, - life concert in Gütersloh, a relatives round birthday - was a nice idea to invite guests to that concert - Thursday is tough, but one can always try, - I nominated one for Friday yesterday, and another today --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:38, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

I have I penitenti al sepolcro del redentore, ZWV 63 for the time being. Will see if I can find better sources. RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 20:42, 28 March 2021 (UTC) - Now moved to mainspace cause I found a book which almost certainly (99.9%) does talk about this... RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 21:23, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

Promotion of Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1

Congratulations, Gerda Arendt! The article you nominated, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1, has been promoted to featured status, recognizing it as one of the best articles on Wikipedia. The nomination discussion has been archived.

This is a rare accomplishment and you should be proud. If you would like, you may nominate it to appear on the Main page as Today's featured article. Keep up the great work! Cheers, Gog the Mild (talk) via FACBot (talk) 12:08, 26 March 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, Gog, you were mild ;) - It's planned to appear on 25 March 2022. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:57, 26 March 2021 (UTC)

Proud I am not, it's the work of many, and I appreciate the help of former editors, reviewers and contributors, especially Francis Schonken, Mathsci and Thoughtfortheday. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:10, 27 March 2021 (UTC)

Thank you...

...for arranging such beautiful tributes on Main Page for Yoninah, as well as the Signpost remembrance. I wish I had something as lovely and comforting to offer as you always seem to, but I will have to make do with my thanks and my condolences. I know if I am shocked and griefstricken, it must only be that much more so for you who worked so closely with her for so many years. Truly, I hope those memories may be a blessing. Innisfree987 (talk) 21:27, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, - and yes, she was a blessing to last. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:29, 28 March 2021 (UTC)

Hey there!

I may be semi-retired these days but was thinking of you earlier. So this is just a quick drive-by messaging, to tell you that you are awesome and thank you for all that you do here!! :) - Alison ^❤ 04:03, 2 April 2021 (UTC)

Alison, blushing. I take it as a praise of teamwork. On the Main page now (on Good Friday): the Honan Chapel by Ceoil and friends, who invited me to it last year, and the above cantata, which I just heard and photographed, and nominated late, so could get to there only with friends making exceptions. I am thankful for that. I miss too many people (who died or have just given up, - I wrote He was despised in 2012 thinking not only of Jesus but what we do here to each other, and it still happens), so am especially thankful for each sign of life, like you coming over ;) I'd normally sing in choir today, and miss it, so try to interest some others in the music. Look around! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:26, 2 April 2021 (UTC)

Alison, when I added your line to the section, I read some again, and found treasures I had forgotten, from people who can't add, - overwhelming. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:44, 3 April 2021 (UTC)

Christ lag in Todes Banden (Christ lay in death's bonds), BWV 4, is a chorale cantata for Easter by Johann Sebastian Bach, one of his earliest church cantatas. It is agreed to be an early work, partly for stylistic reasons and partly because there is evidence that it was probably written for a performance in 1707. Text and music are based on Luther's hymn of the same name, derived from medieval models. In each of seven vocal movements, Bach used the unchanged words of a stanza of the chorale and its tune as a cantus firmus. Although all movements are in E minor, Bach intensified the meaning of the text through a variety of musical forms and techniques. He performed the cantata again as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, beginning in 1724 for his first Easter there. Only this second version survived, scored for four vocal parts (soprano part pictured) and a Baroque instrumental ensemble with strings and a choir of cornetto and three trombones. John Eliot Gardiner described the cantata as Bach's "first-known attempt at painting narrative in music" and "a bold, innovative piece of musical drama".

Five years ago, when I improved this article, with the help of many, I thought of a dear person who had just died, Alison, and of the conductor who taught me the significance of the piece, and I knew sooner than Wikipedia that he had died. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:46, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, Gerda! (I'm trusting it's Sunday when you read this.) I was wondering whether I should request an Image Review for the Mynors FAC. I've seen Buidhe do such a review for some candidates; I thought it might be useful to generate progress on the candidacy. Is it appropriate to ask them, or other editors who do these reviews (I've seen Nikkimaria do some), for a review? Or is is better etiquette to wait? All the best, Modussiccandi (talk) 22:27, 3 April 2021 (UTC)

Thank you and happy Easter to you! - I'd wait. More regarding Easter after sleep. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:37, 3 April 2021 (UTC)

• Hello and good morning to you Gerda. We may not always agree on everything we discuss, but I would still wish to greet you a Happy Easter this year and may the rest of the year be a good one for you. Greetings. Narutolovehinata5 ^tccsdnew 04:14, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

  Thank you, and also to you. Thank you for coming over! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:46, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

• Haec dies quam fecit Dominus. Exultemus et laetemur in ea. Alleluia! ([1]) Happy Easter! Appreciate your help with the DYK, amongst others. I should have more free time available in a few weeks so any suggestions of something useful to be done? Thanks, RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 04:19, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

Christians, awake, salute the happy morn, thank you for that one, true every day, and I just did. Last year, we thought of Penderecki's Haec dies quam fecit Dominus., - true every day. This year, we think of Yoninah and RexxS. May she rest in peace. For him, I silently hope for a resurexxSion. "Don't believe in miracles. Rely on them". (Mascha Kaléko)

Thanks. Makes me thing: heard this while driving this morning (FA suggestion for next year?); improvised on this (I've heard German tunes sung in French churches with the German lyrics, but considering even Latin is beyond my singers..., I had to content myself with improvising); and then heard this while driving back. Cheers, RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 21:49, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

I seriously thought about Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, for the second day of Easter, for 2023 because next year we try the Morgenstern ;) - Christ ist erstanden: see above, The Song, no Easter without it, and Brahms connects both to Yoninah and Alison, - our conductor did it as his farewell piece. DBaK, we had a trumpet yesterday! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:57, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

RandomCanadian, we (Germans) have an Easter hymn, "Bleibe bei uns, du Wandrer durch die Zeit". Text by de:Peter Gerloff (who is User:Rabanus Flavus), music just says "William Henry Monk 1861". Of which hymn originally? Per the metre, "Christians, awake" would even match. Of course we could ask the author ;) - Imagine: I found it: "Abide with Me". Close enough. Perhaps it's even a translation. Next year. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:25, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Es ist gar keine Übersetzung. Auch, es ist etwas seltsam, dass die Beziehung zwischen die zwei Lieder ist nicht bezeicht (z.B. [2] oder [3]). Though; the "Stay with us, for it is evening" theme is present in both songs (one as a direct quotation/paraphrase from the Emmaus story; the other as a more general prayer). The English hymn is also more commonly (but not exclusively) associated with funerals (somewhat anti-thematic for Easter?). Since you don't seem to have known it (I instantly recognised the melody), here's a good arrangement from Cambridge. Cheers, RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 17:01, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Hello to Gerda and all! As my name was mentioned here... The evening and decease hymn Abide with me has been turned into German by Theodor Werner, a Protestant pastor, in 1952: "Bleib bei mir, Herr! Der Abend bricht herein". This hymn is in the Evangelisches Gesangbuch (Nr. 488). I had known this version already before, and I always liked the melody, but my "Bleibe bei uns", indeed, is not nor wants to be a translation, but refers to the Emmaus gospel. The Gotteslob (2013) contains another version "Bleib bei uns, Herr" (Nr. 94) with the Monk melody, destinated for evening prayers, but this one is not a translation of Lytes text, either. - Dux vitae mortuus regnat vivus! Österliche Grüße, --Rabanus Flavus (talk) 17:47, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Danke, und ebenfalls österliche Grüße! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:53, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Happy Easter! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:46, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

A very happy Easter to you Gerda. As ever you include something for me to learn from and that is much appreciated. MarnetteD|Talk 18:45, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

Yes, it has been a happy Easter for me. Christ is Risen indeed!--Epiphyllumlover (talk) 02:03, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Le Sacre du printemps

la consagració de la primavera
Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal Barcelona, 2008

Le Sacre du printemps is a ballet and orchestral concert work by Igor Stravinsky. It was written for the 1913 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company, with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky and stage designs and costumes by Nicholas Roerich. The ballet caused a near-riot in the audience when first performed, on 29 May 1913 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, but rapidly achieved success, and later became recognised as one of the most influential musical works of the 20th century. The score has many novel features, including experiments in tonality, metre, rhythm, stress and dissonance. The scenario is the celebration of spring by primitive rituals; in the end a sacrificial victim dances herself to death. After its explosive premiere the ballet was not performed until the 1920s, when Léonide Massine's rechoreographed version was the first of many innovative productions by the world's leading choreographers. Providing "endless stimulation for performers and listeners" alike, Le Sacre is among the most recorded works in the classical repertoire.

Article about Stravinsky's ballet by Brian Boulton, 50 years after the composer's death, Aza's idea, thanks to all. It had a scandaloous 1913 premiere - Aza's idea, thanks to all! The scandalous 2013 infobox discussion can be read, now with some smiles, in Archive 3. Don't forget: Rhythm is it! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:02, 6 April 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Vertraut den neuen Wegen

On 7 April 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Vertraut den neuen Wegen, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that a German theologian wrote "Vertraut den neuen Wegen" to be sung at a wedding in Eisenach shortly before the fall of the Wall? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Vertraut den neuen Wegen. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Vertraut den neuen Wegen), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

— Maile (talk) 12:01, 7 April 2021 (UTC)

This - trust in new ways - was meant as a call to RexxS, hoping for a resurexxSion. Call to self, also. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:41, 7 April 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Psalm 115

On 26 April 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Psalm 115, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that verse 16 from Psalm 115 was quoted by John McConnell (pictured) as an inspiration to create Earth Day? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Psalm 115. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Psalm 115), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 12:01, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

"The only real nation is humanity"

This is so true. If we all just adopted this principle and treated each other with just a touch more kindness and understanding the world would be just a little more sunshine and a little less clouds. And even when the storms came to disrupt our flow through life, the kindness of the songs we interact with in human form and touch our hearts every day would be the colours in our rainbows after the storms pass. I commend you, Gerda, for being one of those songs. My words of encouragement and reflection: You are you. You are Gerda, so just be Gerda. The wonderful soul and colourful song that you are. Uniquely gifted to fit in the niche of life you were so aptly designed to fill. You don't have to do another thing to be the amazing citizen of humanity that others and I see you as. If you never edited again you would still be a beautiful (barn..lol) star. If you never gave another anniversary stone you would still be a precious jewel. Nothing could ever diminish the bright light that is you and everything you have done and continue to do from the moment the colours of life touched those eyes just adds to the brilliance that is Gerda. --ARoseWolf 15:18, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

blushing redder than ever, but before more answer: fresh air --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:21, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

rosewolf, hike was good, food also, back to you: you touched a soft spot. "The only real nation is humanity" is a quote, - I quote Br'er Rabbit who quoted from The Lord of the Flies. He was No. 2 founding member of the cabal of the outcast. I miss him since October 2012, and every precious, and reminder, and flower greeting, is a little tribute. Much of what you praise is only a reflection of the light of others, see? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:45, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

We are influenced by other songs, there is no doubt of that. My song is directly impacted by my father's mother because she took the time to comfort and care for a scared and lost little girl that had given up on life. She taught me that I am a rainbow. That's the personification of humankind and really all life. You do carry parts of their song with you and it has become part of you but it is still you, distinct, individual colours and patterns that are yours. Influenced by others and life experiences but they belong to you. The fact you sharing them just means they are now part of us and we carry a little of your song and, by extension, their songs in us, and now we can pass them on. It's how the strings of our life bind us to each other, them to you, you to us, us to others and so on. --ARoseWolf 19:58, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Thank you (Ched)

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for weighing in on the "Warning and Welcome" thread. Normally I wouldn't have troubled you, but it is a topic I know you feel strongly about. I also will quickly "welcome" a user if I see they don't have many edits, (provided they haven't shown themselves to be problematic). I think welcoming new users should be a priority, and I truly appreciate and admire all your efforts in that area. I've been sort of overseeing a new editor in the NASCAR area, and trying to help them along the right path. Example: If you look at Nascar9919's talk page, I think you'll see I haven't turned into some sort of unfeeling tough-guy that's just out to sanction people or get them into trouble. Anyway, thank you for your input on that page. Best always, — Ched (talk) 20:10, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, Ched. Look above, - I just fondly remembered the beginnings of "our" cabal. Please meet my friend (and recent member) with Italian and Alaska influences, and all connected with all. I have to expand an article, - please talk to each other and excuse me until done. (Sorry, no time to look at the other right now.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:16, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

I believe Gerda just introduced us, Ched. It is a great pleasure to meet you. Welcoming new members properly is essential to the encyclopedia and I also admire Gerda for this. I, likewise, commend you for taking a new editor under your "wing" and teaching them. --ARoseWolf 20:47, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

Tsistunagiska, Hello A Rose Wolf, nice to meet you as well. Always nice to meet another Native American, wolf lover, and husky owner/lover. Welcome to the project. Don't hesitate to ping me if needed, although my skill set is limited. Hope you have a great day and rest of the week. Best, Ched — Ched (talk) 21:12, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

— Ched and any other admin, please watch Ashleyyoursmile, I get pings that smell like vandalism. No welcome ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:07, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, Gerda Arendt. It's LTA Evlekis. They are back with their signature harassment and personal attacks. Ashleyyoursmile! 10:10, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Ched, I usually only wiki in the mornings. We basically have 24 hour daylight now so its easier to choose when I sleep and I don't sleep well anyway. We own 38 Huskies and about 16 Malamutes. I was adopted by wolves. I'm watching your page too, Ashleyyoursmile, if you don't mind. --ARoseWolf 13:14, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Now THAT is a lot of pooches to feed. Even my mom never had quite that many when she had her own Collie kennel many years ago. Back in the old chat-room days (Excite IIRC) I went by the handle of "Lone Wolf", and have often used that nickname for many venues. I've owned several Huskies and 1 Malamute what the heck was her name? over the years. Well, anyway - having worked a midnight to 8 shift for years, I can understand the challenges that come with the sunlight, but I've never been to Alaska (although I would loved to have been able to go back when I could). — Ched (talk) 18:14, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Ched, They are sled dogs and I could name them all but we would need a book as some have local Athabascan names and I'd probably need to get the transliteration for them in order to spell them. My lead dog is Little Jack. My team, minus one Husky that passed last year :-( , is the same team that was with Jack (been a sled dog trainer for 20 years and a guide in Alaska for longer and now our personal dog trainer and a sled team operator) and I when we were caught in a snow storm north of Fairbanks in March of 2018. I was suffering from a serious concussion (I hit my head on the brush bow when the u-bolt snapped and the sled flipped and Jack had broken ribs from hitting the handle bar and footboard. All we could do was pack the snow in around us and huddle inside the canvas covered sled wrapping ourselves in blankets. The dogs came back to our location because the dogs are trained to retrace their steps even in the worst conditions. We made it out alive because of the combined survival training of the the dogs and us. --ARoseWolf 18:57, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Tsistunagiska, Wow - that's a story that will live for a long time. Concussions can be very dangerous, so I'm glad you had the wherewithal to protect yourselves for the night. That had to be a very tense time. I'm glad everyone made it out in one piece. — Ched (talk) 19:40, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Ched, we never would have made the night. It was probably -60°f with the wind chill factor. Winds were about 45mph. It was probably only about half an hour to an hour but that's plenty of time to contemplate your death and review your life. In that time the snow had piled up over the sled and Little Jack dug in the snow a little to get to us. I had a pretty bad cut on my forehead and the cold kept it from bleeding worse so that was pretty good but I suffered from migraines for almost two years after that. The last migraine I had was early in 2020. I don't remember much after that as I was in and out of consciousness. I just remember waking up in a hotel bed in Fairbanks. Jack says he took me to the hospital and they checked me over but released me. We've pretty much healed externally but I've never really recovered from that and how can you? It's forever a part of me. --ARoseWolf 20:11, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Tsistunagiska, - Yep, I can see how something like that would stick with you - very scary time IMO. I could easily imagine a nightmare creeping in, and maybe for years to come. Glad you had Jack and little Jack around. — Ched (talk) 20:24, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

agree - talking of Jack, for a circle --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:29, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Ched Oh, I'd need to tell you the whole story for you to get the full experience but we can do that another time and place. I am putting together my journals for some future literary work, perhaps the "Memoirs of Asareel: The Alaskan rainbow" (lol). --ARoseWolf 20:35, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

over

Ched, I think the infobox wars are over. Happy day! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:58, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Glad to hear that Gerda ... that will make things much more peaceful. Cheers. — Ched (talk) 18:14, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Thank you! - RoseWolf, just a short explanation: the infobox wars were first documented in 2005, example pictured from 2012, with two protagonists for the infobox, the before-mentioned Br'er Rabbit and Andy. They were accused of having driven the author off Wikipedia by that discussion. (I was on the other side, back then, imagine.) Br'er left us later that year, and I continued his work a bit. A 2013 example was Joseph (opera). It got an infobox today. (In 2013, Ched asked the arbitration committee to solve the disputes. They failed to even look at the problem, and made it bigger by asking us in the end to fight it out on every individual article talk. Short version. Long version here.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:52, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

I've had limited dealing with the arbitration committee and/or ANI but from what I have seen, admittedly the personal perception of a wiki-noob, they don't seem to be extremely helpful and actually hurt the encyclopedia more than help. True enough, there are disruptive editors who need to be dealt with but more times than not I have seen good editors who held a different perspective be eviscerated and destroyed because of a personal dislike, rather than actual policy. It's why I avoid those situations as much as possible. Nine times out of ten they are a negative to the encyclopedia than a positive. -ARoseWolf 19:51, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Just look at #RexxS or the Ultimate guide to arbitration: Don't. Seriously. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:08, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Agree with that sentiment...Don't. --ARoseWolf 20:16, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

A project that doesn't need an arbitration committee would by great! - Tell me the 10 percent that were not a waste of time, please. One case that made life better for us users, please. - While the arguments about infobox opera (which is the only type of infobox the arbs should have looked at in 2013, because it was new and caused trouble when introduced) may have ceased, we still talk about CITEVAR (another waste of time) and whether the "based_on" parameter may mention a Bible story citing the Bible verse(s), or if it needs a secondary source to say so (another waste of time). I have no time today, but anybody is welcome. Thanks to Michael Bednarek for holding my position (but reverted as I write this). Still the same opera, of course. - In case you have extra time but want to do something productive: a peer review is open for Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, and another for my song of defiance (yes, not only death and fear, but arbitration also), - both not by me. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:35, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

I am sure all the members of the committee and most every admin here at Wikipedia are legitimately great human beings. But I can not fathom some of the logic behind decisions made. I used to just say that I don't know everything they know but I actually believe I know more than they know, in most cases, details not important as to how but we'll call it an intuition. The fact is that I haven't seen a single case, taken up, that wasn't, itself, disruptive to the encyclopedia and the community. One would think they are in a bit of a catch because no matter how they ruled there would be those in disagreement. True enough, but the decisions themselves seem disruptive and arbitrary, even more so than the process by which the decisions were made. --ARoseWolf 14:44, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

Agree. The system is flawed, - the so-called evidence is typically a heap of memories of things that went wrong. I know only one case in detail, so am biased, but it drove me crazy when they wanted to ban my friend Andy (mentioned above) as if that would have helped. One of the arbs cited a diff when voting to ban (and it was the majority vote for that ban) where Andy uncollapsed an infobox that I had inserted in an article I had written. I bet that arb didn't read the diff right, and thought Andy had added that infobox, and never bothered to find out what kind of article that was, and if that was welcome or not. Just voted to ban. Kafkaesque. Otherwise a pleasant person, offering tea when you enter his talk. As you say, great human beings. - Don't get near. In case they call me again, I'll not participate. Do you know what I thought was the ultimate guide (until the more ultimate Don't)? Written by Raymond Arritt, missed much. Look! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:43, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

Oh wow, that was close to four years ago. I still lived in Haines and didn't even know what Wikipedia was. I'm not even sure I had internet or if it was then it was community internet (lol). I still have the same tablet though it's basically useless now. I wish I had been here to meet some of these incredible people. In regards to the arbs, being a great human being doesn't make you uniquely equipped to deal with the issues that arise. People, good people, have hurt me all my life. Most don't even know how or why they have hurt me. The majority act out of ignorance. They don't really have a solution but a solution must be found or they feel they will lose face. In the name of saving the castle they actually dismantle it stone by stone but because it's a slow process they don't even realize what they have done and most never will. But one day they, or those that follow after them, will remove the stone holding it all together and it WILL collapse upon itself. There may be portions that stand like the ruins of the ancient marvels of antiquity but the real substance and depth of meaning will have long left. The great halls of reason and understanding will have faded from memory. All that is left is the husk, a reminder of potentiality and what might have been. Common ground, collaboration, good faith, sharing of ideas and a genuine caring of others will simply be terms that one uses to make them feel good about life and themselves. But without the desire to fill in every syllable spoken and each letter written with the fullness of ones passion they will simply remain empty promises devoid of all life essence. Hope? I love the quote "Soulwork is not a high road. It is a deep fall into unforgiving darkness that won't let you go until you find the song that sings you home." I am sure that could mean something different depending on who you speak to but I find that encouraging. Life is dirty. Life is messy. You get damaged and cut and hurt and wounded. It seems like darkness is always lurking and ready to take you but there is a song, somewhere, somehow. The soulwork is finding it. There is a rainbow, even in the darkness. There is color, music, life, dreams that can lead you home. Here, in the middle of the madness that is this encyclopedia, I find songs. My hope is to be a song as well. --ARoseWolf 16:59, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

You are a song! - I haven't written my article of the day yet (about a nature reserve where I was today, and where the April flowers were taken last year), and the telephone is ringing a lot, so no focused response right now. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:28, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

I found a song, User:Geogre, to listen to ;-). I fail to listen to my grandfather sometimes. "When speaking truth use fewer words...there is less to remember." Yes, grandfather, but the words are inside me and if I don't write them down and share them I am going to explode (lol). Enjoy your time with your memories of nature and those April flowers, Gerda :-D. Write it down! --ARoseWolf 19:11, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

I know Geogre because RexxS rescued his images from deletion. Who will do that now? - Some day, I'll write my memories, but today, I just translate from the German Wikipedia. I'll find a way to include the flowers. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:53, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

Look, a start. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:10, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

Thanks to Andy who wasted more time and fixed the Bible reference. - I leave the April pic because Wild garlic is still blooming, seen yesterday, and chamomile not yet. Later today: expanding a park (pictured), thinking of a friend's birthday. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:07, 7 May 2021 (UTC)

Looks beautiful. I have a brother in Dresden and one of the brothers that lives here in Alaska with me moved from München and brought his family. I am trying to finish up the few remaining redlinks for protected places in Alaska. Curious, why would Geogre's images get deleted? --ARoseWolf 13:02, 7 May 2021 (UTC)

The images were self-portraits so not used in articles. As if we had no other problems ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:08, 7 May 2021 (UTC)

ps: see User:RexxS#Geogre, and User talk:Geogre, - look for RexxS, how he defended all these proposed deletions, also of other images. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:16, 7 May 2021 (UTC)

Re [SlimVirgin]

We deal with life and death of SlimVirgin, an editor who was one of the pillars of the project. Particularly the use of templates on her pages.

To take you up on your comment, I just thought the placement was a misfire. It struck me as odd when I opened the page that I had to scroll down an entire screen to see the template, since in the future it'll be important that people looking for help realize they'll need to ask someone else, and the one on her userpage was also badly positioned (which I fixed). Nothing I feel all that strongly about. The Blade of the Northern Lights (話して下さい) 22:43, 9 May 2021 (UTC)

Just saw your comment on my talkpage, we can continue there if needed. Sorry for any confusion. The Blade of the Northern Lights (話して下さい) 22:45, 9 May 2021 (UTC)

The Blade of the Northern Lights, how are my talk page watchers supposed to know that you speak about placing the "deceased" template on user and talk of SlimVirgin, and where? She left her user page like this. I think the template is out of style in whichever position. When I die, please no template, and no "deceased". - Edit conflict. We can also continue here, perhaps better for when I die ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:57, 9 May 2021 (UTC)

Apologies for the confusion. I just happened across them already being there, and repositioned them thinking they were just out of whack instead of not supposed to be there at all. Since I never knew any of this, I'm happy for anyone else to remove them; no objections from me at all. The Blade of the Northern Lights (話して下さい) 23:07, 9 May 2021 (UTC)

It doesn't matter where they are and it's certainly not worth the discussion. I placed the one on the talk page, couldn't make heads or tails of the markup and placed where it landed after a few tries but it was not the top of the list of things I was concerned about in the moment. If it can go to the top that's probably fine too, but fwiw it does look ok underneath that nice image. That said, zero preferences from the person who did the placing. Thanks to Gerda for hosting the discussion, best here than on that talk page. Victoria (tk) 23:29, 9 May 2021 (UTC)

@Gerda Arendt: If I have anything to say about it your wishes will be met. Wikipedia is very adamant that our user/talk pages don't belong to us, which is ridiculous by its very notion, and it may be the point at which I leave Wikipedia for good or am permanently banned but a person's preference should be honored out of goodwill. I lean heavily towards leaving their user/talk pages as is, myself. Archiving the talk page and adding a new section about them being deceased seems appropriate. That's my personal principles kicking in. --ARoseWolf 14:34, 10 May 2021 (UTC)

Thank you. What do you think about the precise case below? Light green, intentionally so, and now contrasted with the black and yellow of the template? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:44, 10 May 2021 (UTC)

I'm probably not the one to ask about colors but since you did, colors, from my viewpoint, are living representations of individual states of mind, moods, senses and character traits. Beyond what the typical synesthete would say, because if I purely operated from that view I would never see her page the way you all do anyway, I can say that she organized and colored her page the way she wanted to be representative of herself. Deviation from that would be, in my view, a dishonor and disrespect of the individual. Let me say that I don't believe anyone here is intentionally doing anything to dishonor out of malice. But that's my personal view of the situation. --ARoseWolf 15:13, 10 May 2021 (UTC)

template and page style

Some related observations and thoughts, about user page and user talk page of Slim version, and in general, and {{deceased}}:

• SlimVirgin was conscious of the appearance of her personal pages.
  • She changed the image on her talk page from a sleeping woman (which she showed on top as long as I remember) on 19 March.
  • On 8 April, she added the image of RexxS on top of her user page, archived her talk page and added light-green background to both pages.
• I feel that the template is one of those falling into the category "don't template the regulars". Both pages would be perfectly understood without it, and have been understood by all those mourning. We could just add her pages to the categories the template automatically applies. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:17, 10 May 2021 (UTC)

I'm stunned...I didn't know. When did SV die? —valereee (talk) 20:50, 13 May 2021 (UTC)

We don't know exactly when Sarah died, early May, last edit 18 April. See WP:Deceased Wikipedians/2021#SlimVirgin. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:24, 13 May 2021 (UTC)

I gave her Impact - too late. Mentioning her statement in the arb case request in a link. Arbs should listen to women more. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:29, 13 May 2021 (UTC)

Such an amazing person. I cant agree with that last statement anymore than I already do. This whole encyclopedia needs to listen to women more. --ARoseWolf 15:33, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

I completely agree! Bishonen, Littleolive oil, Montanabw, Atsme, Sarah, and I, later also valereee - we all said the same, actually the most experienced arb, Newyorkbrad, also said so, but these men - only men right now afaik - ignored us. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:45, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

I honestly believe it stems from a familiarity with our own points of view. I have said, for a long time, that we all have a conflict of interest in every subject that we have ever had the smallest participation in. Conflict does not mean the opposition is my physical enemy. Conflict means opposing viewpoints are antagonist to my own. We all have interests and those become the subject of the conflict. So anyone with opposing or differing views, from all sides of a particular topic or subject, has a conflict of interest. That's part of being human. Passion for our interests, a very real state of being, is what drives our conflicts. I don't care if you are an arbitrator for wikipedia or a judge sitting on a bench deciding criminal and civil cases, you have a conflict of interest and I know most strive to separate their personal viewpoints from decisions made but that is an impossible task. It will never happen. It is impossible to have a completely neutral outcome from arbitration. It is impossible to have a truly fair or equitable result. It doesn't take a genius to review the notice board or arbitrary cases to see this is factual when it involves the review of human beings and their actions. --ARoseWolf 16:46, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

Tbh, RexxS did the exact thing he felt was the best option for him, he walked away. When confronted with the understanding that the system is skewed by its very nature because it is a human made system, and there was no way in hell he was going to get a fair shake, he reviewed his two options, stay and fight and subject himself to a grueling, bitter and stressful inquisition which would have resulted in the same outcome (I don't care what anyone else says, that case was decided before the evidence was provided because nothing provided was enough to alter its course much one way or the other) or walk away with even a sliver of dignity and respect, even if only within his own mind. The character assassination ensued about as I expected it would, of course, with the occasional nod towards a feigned respect of RexxS's contributions throughout the years, if for no other reason than to make the individual saying it feel better about the massacre of a human beings dignity they were engaged in. Sprinkle in a few ignorant and misguided comments about how you don't have to be an admin to still be a major contributor to the encyclopedia which sounded absolutely absurd when contrasted by the veracity by which every minute detail of RexxS's actions here were painstakingly scrutinized to find errors in judgement that are quite common among the species. The result was never in doubt. Even the comments by committee members about how their decision was going to be disagreed with no matter the outcome simply points to their unwillingness to admit the conflict of interest by which they entered the case. Its all to make them feel better and it is a common practice among humanity to do this. No one, from any side has acted outside what was expected from the onset. RexxS weighed his options and I believe he did it with great attention to the consequences, not from arbcom because anyone with enough sense and a willingness to actually see the truth of humanity would draw the same conclusions I have, but the consequences to an encyclopedia that himself and even the allies, opposition and arbcom members genuinely care about. He decided, with the outcome of little doubt, that the best thing he could do for the encyclopedia and himself was to walk away. Arbcom did not win, the opposition did not win, civility did not win, Wikipedia did not win, humanity did not win. All accounts lost. That's the result of arbcom when it deals with humanity. That's the result of conflicts of interest when the passion and the love of ones own views outweighs reasoned temperance. --ARoseWolf 17:16, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

I said (Hammersoft talk) that the case would not improve kindness, nor a single article. Cassandre again. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:44, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

Spot on as usual. I tried explaining this with my ex-husband years ago when he felt I should be more upset over him leaving the way he did. My seemingly blasé attitude was not because his actions did not affect me. If he would have known me better then he would have understood that my actions were completely in character for myself. I point inward when tragic events occur. The normally talkative and bubbly personality turns to quiet reflection. Most likely I would withdraw like RexxS did rather than engage in defense of myself. If I am still talking then I haven't reached that point. --ARoseWolf 18:05, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

I was quite bubbly in "our" case, but then understood the perfect guide, nutshell: "Arbitrators usually work from broad impressions and do not consider details, nuance, or context." and finally "You're completely on your own in interpreting any nuances or inconsistencies in the announced decision. While it is possible to file a request for clarification my experience is that the Arbitrators would rather gnaw their own limbs off than provide meaningful guidance to the implications of their decisions." - So, if another case came along, I'd just not participate. Waste of time. Did you read the fascinating bio of Raimund Hoghe? That's what we are here for. He who wrote the guide was also a Raymond in real life. We wanted him for arb. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:23, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

I did read the bio. His life was quite intriguing to me. I often wonder if he knew just how impactful he was. I think most people are like that. We are our own biggest critics. You put me on to so many intriguing life songs. Now I need to go read about Raymond. I read everything. It fascinates me. I take my time. I digest all words and roll them around inside me hoping to fully understand the complexity of the individual(s) that constructed them. Sometimes this takes longer than other times. When I was first introduced to RexxS, by you, I spent the better part of a day or two just pouring over his talk page and user page, then I branched out to the case. I have spent a lot of time looking at it, just allowing the depth of me to consume each word to determine the motive and feeling behind it. EVERY word/action has its base foundation in feeling and a state of being. The colors help me but its still my human personality that determines how I see it to a degree. I can own that it is initially tainted by the lens of my own system of colors and sounds. But then I take time to filter it through my understanding of humanity from the experience of life, just life. The results are as neutral and objective a conclusion that I can possibly determine. --ARoseWolf 19:03, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

Raymond Arritt - I miss him every day, although we chatted only once a year, for Precious anniversary. I had no idea what he did for the environment, until he died. - He is quoted in my edit notice, note to self. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:09, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

I will pick up with Raymond later but he seems to be another song that I would have liked the personal interaction with. --ARoseWolf 20:27, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

As a bloke (albeit not a particularly stereotypical one) I can empathise with the view that "This whole encyclopedia needs to listen to women more." In fact, I'd go a bit further, and say that this whole encyclopedia needs to listen to the widest and most diverse set of people that it possibly can. It will ultimately make the encyclopedia better. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 16:03, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

Good point, and no contradiction: I don't mean don't listen to men, and see, the three in my edit notice are all men. For Alazi, I didn't know for a while - because of the image on the user page of a naked woman looking at herself in a mirror, but of course a man's view, and because of saying that man/woman is way to simple - and I actually liked not to know and both possible, and both good - but on one occasion he said something like "of course I'm a man or I could take this shit better". How I miss him. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:04, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

Life here in wild Alaska doesn't care if you are a man or woman. That's one of the reasons I love it so much. There is one law...survive. You know where you stand and you better mind your step. My sister-in-law and I were driven off the trail by a pack of wolves while we were out on a ptarmigan hunt once. I cared not that we were saved by men. I love the diversity of the sources of knowledge here. I agree that we should listen more to them all. --ARoseWolf 17:20, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

I finally finished reading Ray's talk page, every archived word of it. I am absolutely convinced he was one of the coolest guys to ever live. How can I miss him even though I never exchanged words with him? But I do. I have copied the ten points no doubt written by Raymond at some point and expressed through his widow. I will incorporate them into my philosophy on life. It's already pretty close to that anyway. --ARoseWolf 18:01, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

I do like his support for Clinton as President. See also my remarks at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2019 February 25#Wikipedia:Dramaboard. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 19:53, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

Oh! I wrote that! (WP:Ignore all dramas). I'd completely forgotten. -- Yes, I miss Raymond. We had hilarious conversations, including by email. I regret not getting to meet him in "real life". Antandrus (talk) 20:05, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

@Antandrus and Ritchie333: The amazingly beautiful jewel that is Gerda has put me on the trail of quite a few amazing life songs as of late. I miss them though I never got the opportunity to interact with them but I do have their words and their colors find a way through to me. Each of you were impacted by them and an impact always leaves something behind so part of them is part of you. In that way I do get to meet them through each of you. On top of that I get to listen to your unique songs while improving this project which is pretty incredible for me. --ARoseWolf 20:23, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

Tsistunagiska, However, WP:Ignore all dramas also says, as a welcome footnote, "We're still an encyclopedia, and we still need your help." I'm never going to run out of articles to improve, and having taken 150 articles to good article status, the next goal will be to take that total to 200. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 20:40, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

Absolutely, Ritchie, yes. And Tsistunagiska, in one of those haunting synchronicities in life, I delivered almost exactly your thought, in some of your words, when I gave the eulogy at a memorial service not long ago. We often underestimate the impact we leave on others, sometimes by a lot. You put it really well. Antandrus (talk) 22:01, 19 May 2021 (UTC)

impact - thank you! - (May I introduce Dreadstar to you, RoseWolf? ... who helped me to 'ignore, ignore, ignore" in 2012) --- I need help with translation. Wo Menschen sich vergessen, that phrase, and the the refrain "Da berühren sich Himmel und Erde, dass Frieden werde unter uns". There heaven and earth touch each other so that peace may come (become? grow? be? develop?) among us. - "werden" is hard in English. "Es werde Licht" (from Genesis). - "Menschen" is hard. "sich berühren" is hard. "Himmel" is hard. - And all too long for DYK. I'll probably just say that it was the openening of the streamed service for the ecumenical open air service opening the Kirchentag in Frankurt, planned as a giant meeting in an arena, now instead on a parkdeck with four singers, with the skyline somewhat as pictured above. You saw the skyscrapers right and the Paulskirche left, under a blue sky (Himmel) on Ascension Day (Himmelfahrt). Wo Menschen sich vergessen, where people let go of their ego peace may come. Antandrus, you said that recently, - back to impact ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:32, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

@Ritchie333, Antandrus, and Gerda Arendt: my grandfather loved the phrase Finché c'è vita, c'è speranza - While there is life, there is hope. He slipped me a piece of folded up paper about a week before he passed and told me to hold on to it, that I would know when the right time to read it was. Every time I went to unfold that paper something stopped me. It kind of slipped from memory in the weeks, months and even years that followed. My grandmother didn't handle losing him well. She became more and more sick and the dementia started taking over her life. To add to it, my uncle and aunt (adopted parents) died in a car accident almost a year after he passed. We both didn't handle that well. Her health continued to deteriorate at a rapid pace to the point where she required 24 hour care so I pretty much moved in with her, probably what ended my marriage. One day, she was quite lucid, she called out to grandfather and I don't know if it was the way she said his name or not but I instantly remembered that letter. I ran home and found it and brought it back to my grandmother and as I sat beside her I opened it. At the very top in his handwriting, Finché c'è vita, c'è speranza. He wrote about his life, losing his parents in WW2 and finding my grandmother in Italy and so many memories . Some things I had heard before, somethings I hadn't. He was never one to share many feelings but he poured them into this little letter. He told me what that phrase meant to him. Paraphrasing: "Life doesn't end with death so long as we continue to live inside those that we have impacted." There is always hope so long as the life essence of the earth remains. We are but a string, a note, a melody. One instrumental in a vast ocean that is a symphony of great voices. Our song is unique and important but together with other songs it is the continuation of life and thereby hope remains. --ARoseWolf 13:18, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

That's beautiful. Thank you. Antandrus (talk) 14:37, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

... yes, and just what I need - singing my song of defiance of death and fear (see top). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:55, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

Your story makes an important point - behind each Wikipedia editor is a real person with a background and story to tell. I've had ups and downs in my life too, I just don't feel like expressing them publicly on-wiki. So thank you for wanting to be open about yours. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 18:30, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

A personal reflection: When you bathe in a stream in the middle of nature and live in a house with very few doors then you quickly learn that your life experiences are not really just your own. Our journey is meant to be shared. Our story is meant to be told. Our song wants to be heard. Who am I to deny it? --ARoseWolf 18:38, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

You listen to my song, wonderfully! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:00, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

Sometimes it takes me a little while but I do hear most Songs that I come into contact with. Everyone thinks "conflict" is an evil. I don't view it that way. Conflicts that turn toxic can hurt us and that's why we need filters. We all spin at different speeds. Sometimes we collide causing damage to each other. Other times we find the right Song that helps us repair damage to ourselves. Still other times there is damage that can't be repaired, like a deep scratch on one of those old vinyl records we love so much. It sounds like skips and bumps. Momentary pauses in the Song that is our life adventure. We keep moving though. Keep growing. Keep experiencing. Why? Because life is worth it. The journey has value. I will say that if going through everything in my life lead me to edit and improve this encyclopedia just to meet some of you and share in the beauty that is your Song's then it was absolutely worth it. Dreadstar was an interesting one, different, but equally magnetic. I am very glad they found depositories in which to pour themselves into while they were here. It left an impression on so many. --ARoseWolf 13:43, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

yes, thank you! Dreadstar was an actor, with an IMDb entry, DYK? And such a good friend. He stayed in email contact after he left WP, being desysopped for bad reasons (sounds familiar?) The last email was Christmassy, saying how much he cherished the friendship. The news of his death was a shock, not only for me, as you can see on his talk, which we restored against his will. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:37, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

I could tell there was a bit of acting in his approach, particularly early in his talk page. I am not surprised he was desysopped, one of the reasons I always pause before endorsing my support of a candidate for admin. I want to say, "Whatever you believe in, pray to them cause you are going to need it". However, I think most will do well, just stay uncontroversial, something I find hard to do (lol). I noticed his talk page was restored against his will. In this case I feel it is justified. So many can learn the perfectly flawed magnificence that is Dreadstar on Wikipedia if they will simply listen. --ARoseWolf 15:49, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

He was a rather uncontroversial admin until he protected a featured article for a week because of an edit-war about the hidden notice (!) to prevent an infobox. He was called to task for having protected (no more) while involved. Kafka, all the time. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:01, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

I agree. Seems like such a frivolous and trivial thing to be attacked over. I have read some of the ferocity from all sides in the infobox wars. Not picking a side and rehashing the issues of the past but to lose so many good editors over this, beyond the affect being dressed down and desysopped has on individuals, deserved or not, is simply mind-boggling. --ARoseWolf 16:41, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Yes, people can get very dug in over inconsequential things. I think that once one's ego becomes over-involved, the inconsequential can seem more consequential than it actually is. The world's wisdom traditions all recognize, among other things, that where one's ego is involved, one suffers. Personally I am trying to back away from such conflicts, and there are many such (not only on "infoboxes"). Spending time in nature gives one valuable perspective, I believe. I think I will go outside today. :) Antandrus (talk) 16:53, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Antandrus, I edit while being outside a lot right now for that express purpose. It looks like rain later today. Dark clouds overhead. I will always recommend walking away from enflamed situations here. That is sage advice for us all, self included. I have let myself become over-involved in situations and generally there was an irrational response. Once I was able to reset I could see that and make adjustments. --ARoseWolf 17:03, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

The problem with the "infobox wars" is that several of the major players on the "anti-infobox" side are people I would consider friends. If consensus is now that articles should have an infobox in order to be considered properly developed, I can get behind that as long as it closes the debate. As for getting "dug in over inconsequential things", I think the other thing to realise is we all have different views on what is important, and all it takes to have a blazing row is to have two editors with strong but diametrically-opposed views that nobody else cares about. I think my current bete noire that I get annoyed about (but no more than that) is people putting frivolous tags on articles (something I know Antandrus has commented on in the past), which makes me wish back to simpler times when WP:SOFIXIT was widely practiced. That said, it does happen if you look closely; when Smirkybec got stuck into improving O'Connell Street with me and actively helped out at the GA review, I thought "hallelujah, collaborative editing's not dead yet!" Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 10:00, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Today, I came across Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Underwater diving in popular culture, which looks heading for a "delete" close. Who's a good editor who can help rescue diving articles? Ah, RexxS. *sigh* Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 13:50, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

(quick stop here, feast days and company:) The infobox wars are dead. GFHandel made an edit today, after 9 years!!! Turn to articles. Celebrate with friends. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:43, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Ritchie333 thank you so much for tagging me in, reading the whole conversation I feel amongst friends here :) I miss Rexx too (I'm lucky enough to see him IRL from time to time, always a joy to chat with). Here's to more editing with friends! Smirkybec (talk) 19:44, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Welcome, Rebecca. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:35, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Late Renaissance polyphony

Do you like this? Attribution uncertain, but this article makes a very good case. Narky Blert (talk) 18:05, 11 May 2021 (UTC)

I'll listen later, thank you for sharing! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:42, 11 May 2021 (UTC)

this is for trance, Narky Blert --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:07, 12 May 2021 (UTC)

(talk page stalker) Wow, how wonderful!!! DBaK (talk) 08:16, 12 May 2021 (UTC)

May 1455

		Reform, renewal
		"...& alle othir there that willed the reformacion thereof"

Thank you, SN! Reformation is a work in progress. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:09, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Philipp Harnoncourt

On 30 May 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Philipp Harnoncourt, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Philipp Harnoncourt (pictured) initiated the restoration of a Gothic chapel with a triangle floorplan, originally dedicated to the Trinity and reopened on Trinity Sunday 2020? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Philipp Harnoncourt. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Philipp Harnoncourt), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

 — Amakuru (talk) 00:02, 30 May 2021 (UTC)

He stood for something useless but not senseless ("nutzlos, aber nicht sinnlos"), and especially meaningful today, on Trinity Sunday. He inspired many to help, and restored a building that was meant to be demolished more than once back to its original message, at an "impossible location". It's rare that a person is pictured when a dream comes true. - If you understand spoken German: there's a lecture by him on YT. The opening, on Trinity Sunday last year, is also available. For a quick glimpse from that opening: [4] - Matching: Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. Thanks to all involved, making exception after exception! - If you still have time, there's Gott Vater, sei gepriesen for the day, "reconcile what is divided". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:47, 30 May 2021 (UTC)

Shoot for the Stars!

	Shoot for the Stars!
	Thank you so much for all your help on improving Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon! You do not know how thankful I am for your help on improving this article.This album means so much to me and it will be FA in no time thanks to you! You know I'm shooting for the stars, aiming for the moon 💫 (talk) 06:55, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

Thank you! We try. It will be #3 FA initiated on this page in 2021, and I love it. No reward needed, but much appreciated, good for my blushing zone ;) - How do you like this star? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:02, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

I think it is beautiful. I am also Catholic and am very proud of it! I have not been to mass in months because of school and work, but now since school is over. I am going to a very beautiful Cathedral that is near me and pray for my priest who died from Covid in January. You know I'm shooting for the stars, aiming for the moon 💫 (talk) 07:12, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

We miss too many, but flowers, music and stars will survive, and shooting for them. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:23, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

... and this month's flower even looks like a star ;) - I see it shoot where I sit, but in this cold year, it may take to July to bloom. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:37, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

Do you think I could nominated the article a little earlier than its two week period? I am going to be working full time at a new job and will have to start getting ready to leave college soon. Meaning I will have to leave Wikipedia in July. You know I'm shooting for the stars, aiming for the moon 💫 (talk) 08:17, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

Ask Gog the Mild, who will mildly say yes. (Was granted for the last such case which made it to FA then.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:19, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

Peer review for my song of defiance

Please help if you can. Rather soon, I'd like to nominate the song that has helped me to defy death and fear (and arbcom) for FAC, because the anniversary of help to defy death is near. A peer review is open, - please help if you can. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:39, 25 May 2021 (UTC) "where people forgets themselves (their ego), heaven and earth are in touch" - "da berühen sich Himmel und Erde", - yes, El C? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:05, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

Diminished, nonetheless I persevere. Wavey flip! El_C 10:56, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, but not exactly a translation of the German, right? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:08, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

"Esperanza, if you read this... I love you, marry me!" El_C 11:42, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

Da pacem Domine

By the standard that even if categorizing it as a song isn't ideal, it's still vastly preferable to any individual work of music being contextlessly tossed directly into the parent category for Category:Contemporary Christian music itself, as that category should only directly contain very general overview articles rather than individual musicians or works which belong in subcategories. If you want to create a new subcategory for Christian music compositions instead, be my guest, but categorizing it as a song is still preferable to categorizing it as a general concept article. Bearcat (talk) 17:02, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

Bearcat, I understand better, but am not sure I like a wrong category better than a wide one. Would you support Category:Contemporary Christian compositions? Category:Contemporary Christian vocal compositions? Category:Contemporary Christian hymns? Other suggestions? RandomCanadian, what do you think? - Perhaps completely different categories, because today's "contemporary" will be some day's "classical"? Some neutral Category:20th-century Christian vocal compositions and others of that style? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:12, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

@Bearcat: (and Gerda): "compositions" or "vocal compositions" or the like would be the best option. In addition, it would maybe be even better to simply keep the "Compositions by Arvo Part" category and put this in that, with "Compositions by Arvo Part" being a sub-category of whichever appropriate top-category. The "songs" and "hymns" ones seem inaccurate, per the edit summary I've left. RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 17:31, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

What do you think of Category:Christian compositions by Arvo Pärt? "Vocal" seems like somewhat redundant, because it's probably the text that makes them Christian. - I didn't mean the hymn category for this piece, btw, - just to have it in general. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:11, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

Too small category. Just put everything by Part in one, and if it needs dividing then divide according to the usual lines (instrumental, choral, solo vocal, possibly "secular vocal" and "sacred vocal", though AFAIK the first one would be nearly if not entirely empty...). We don't have "Christian compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach", do we? RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 19:04, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

We have various cantata cats for Bach, somehow implying that those not marked "secular" are Christian. Most are cat:Church cantatas, without specifying which church. - Not useful for Pärt's works which are not exclusively written for liturgical use. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:22, 6 June 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue

On 8 June 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue is a large Naturschutzgebiet in Hesse, Germany, protecting the ecology of the floodplains where the Rhine formerly meandered? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 12:03, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Jubilate Deo (Britten)

On 10 June 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Jubilate Deo (Britten), which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that the Jubilate by Benjamin Britten was written in 1961 for St George's Chapel (pictured) at the request of the Duke of Edinburgh, and performed there for some of his birthdays and his funeral? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Jubilate Deo (Britten). You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Jubilate Deo (Britten)), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 12:02, 10 June 2021 (UTC)

Sutton United and Seven Sisters

Hello Gerda, and thanks for your kind words this morning re the Sutton United 2–1 Coventry City (1989) article. Always a pleasure to see my work (in this case a joint-effort with TRM) up in the top spot!

We have been having some fantastic weather this week, so I've been outdoors as much as possible too. I went with my children to the Seven Sisters on Monday (see picture), the chalk cliffs are really a beautiful sight, we walked all along the top going up and down each one in turn. Wishing you a happy weekend  — Amakuru (talk) 12:27, 11 June 2021 (UTC)

Amakuru, it was sooo happy: gorgeous weather here as well, meals outside surrounded by flowers, hiking to the Limes monuments, cycling to Gnadenthal, singing with friends, a Bach cantata and a new cello-organ piece! (... in the order of excitement) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:55, 14 June 2021 (UTC)

Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln

And how am I supposed to compete with you and your posse ? LouisAlain (talk) 14:53, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

... compete? ... posse? ... please don't discourage me --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:55, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

• Compete? Every one knows you're above the fray here. As for posse, it may possess an unflattering meaning unknowkn to me. What about your ilk or the likes of you ?

(talk page stalker) I need a posse formed to hunt me some breakfast. That sounds like a good competition. My tum-tum feels empty. --ARoseWolf 15:09, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

Had you be British, I suppose you'd had written my tummy. I may be wrong though. LouisAlain (talk) 15:36, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

In Yorkshire, you might say "I'm chuffin' starving" or "I'm starving as chuff". No, seriously. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 16:20, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

.. not a good condition for dancing :) - I'm hunting refs for a DYK ... --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:12, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

I've already done morning songs and dance so we are good there. :) Hunting refs for a DYK sounds significantly more difficult than me cooking something though that might be contingent on time of year. --ARoseWolf 15:19, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

Found a super ref: all the amazing numbers supported! Will nominate and go out. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:40, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

The "posse" is perhaps best known to middle-aged Brits as the group of friends and associates that turned up on BBC radio's Steve Wright in the Afternoon ("love the show"), such as Janey Lee Grace and Tim Smith, along with a lot of other strange things. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 16:19, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

Thank you! The German de:Posse is a kind of comedy that caters for a very basic kind of humour ;) - "farce" sems closest. ARoseWolf, did you see the Rose pic above? When the early morning sun hits it the building turns rose colour inside! The architect is off the Main page but I'll keep it until tomorrow. I'm so happy I wrote the building article last year, when he celebrated his centenary! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:45, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

I see the picture! :O I may "steal" it for when I use red as the main color on my user page (lol). --ARoseWolf 19:58, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

Take it, it's for all (until deleted because art inside). I took it. here's what I tried to describe. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:06, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

As predicted, a deletion discussion began. Steal fast, and better to your private area than your user space. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:43, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

looks like a quiet talk...

...and yet experience tells me the headers are helpful —¿philoserf? (talk) 07:02, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

just revert then - I think among grown-ups, we don't have to be told to assume good faith first thing on an article talk when looking for the FAC, but just revert if you don't agree. The only thing I find helpful in the template ({{talk header}}) are the archives but they could be done simpler, no? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:06, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

okedokey. i think of the talk headers as a friendly face for new editors. and we both know the norms are many 'round here. happy editing to ya. —¿philoserf? (talk) 07:36, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

¿philoserf?, sorry, I see nothing friendly in that face, I see does and don'ts, I don't need a reminder to be welcoming and an invitation to dispute resolution, for examples, when simply entering a talk. - How about a line such as: This is an article talk page, - if you don't know what that is click here. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:16, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

¿philoserf?, it seems that I wasn't clear: "just revert then" was meant for today's featured article, and others not written by me. For articles I stand for, please don't add the impersonal impolite commanding template, and when you did and I reverted, find consensus. I'd like to write articles. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:42, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

you do not own the pages you write. for now i will leave it alone. i hope not to have to work near you again —¿philoserf? (talk) 08:47, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

as the template says: assume good faith --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:51, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

touché. i am disarmed. —¿philoserf? (talk) 08:53, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

—¿philoserf?, you said you are disarmed, but I still see you in battle, inserting template talk header where it doesn't belong, such as on Susana Bloch. From a 2019 discussion (emphasis by me):

As per that template's instructions, that template is only to be used for "talk pages that are frequently misused, that attract frequent or perpetual debate, articles often subject to controversy, and highly-visible or popular topics".

Please act accordingly, it will save you and me precious time. I assume in good faith that you didn't know that. I didn't know until that discussion. Perhaps do a round of self-reverts in the matter? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:57, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

very well. thank you for the follow up. —¿philoserf? (talk) 13:59, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

I'd have never found the linked conversation w/o having had it pointed out. —¿philoserf? (talk) 14:02, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

FTR: I have been operating from the text in the Template:Talk header itself. FWIW: I have found your viewpoint to be in the minority. —¿philoserf? (talk) 14:05, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

The discussion is (now) linked. As template and usage may have changed over time since 2019, here is from the current template's current basic usage, again emphasis mine:

This template should be placed only where it's needed. Don't visit talk pages just to add this template, and don't place it on the talk pages of new articles. Talk pages that are frequently misused, that attract frequent or perpetual debate, articles often subject to controversy, and highly-visible or popular topics may be appropriate for this template.

It basically tells me the same, that talk pages are better without the template unless needed, and whether I'm in the minority with that view I don't care. Let's do the following: I don't go around removing it, - I only do that for articles I'm interested in, and you don't go around adding it. My topic today: Cello Sonatas (Vivaldi). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:23, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

I know we both share a desire to improve the encyclopedia. What you may not seen is this: I get many Thanks via the Notice system for the edits I am making to talk pages, including the addition of talk headers. So far, yours is the first resistance I have encountered. I remain uncertain how I should respond to your resistance. I will complete my queue for the day and then retire for a while while I consider your resistance, my other editing experiences, and contemplate the question. —¿philoserf? (talk) 14:32, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

(ec) I hate the word "retire", DYK? Just met a user who put "retired" on the talk on wants the user page deleted. Sigh. I'd know sooo many things that would need improvement in article space. Why focus on something that means nothing to the average reader of the encyclopedia? Fixing typos, providing disambiguation, doing reviews which lead eventually to better articles, fill red links, - so many chances! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:45, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

All done for the day.

I like working on gnomic improvements, for our readers, for our editors, and even for improving the little technical items that make the Mediawiki servers do less work. I have found no such work that was without some editors resistance. Generally, once I have encountered resistance, I turn and look for new small technical improvements to make. I expect I will turn back to working on the very, very, very many citation problems.

Enjoy your day and happy editing. —¿philoserf? (talk) 14:53, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, and not all done for the day ;) - Can't decide what to do first: improve the sonatas, the hymn that was the base for Bach's first chorale cantata in the cycle (due for DYK nomination soon, but less of a pleasure topic), or Heribert Beissel, reported dead yesterday and with still too little of an article. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:05, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

FWIW: The later is what I'd take on first if that were my editing jam. —¿philoserf? (talk) 15:13, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

... which I just did ;) - I follow Deaths in 2021, and pick those I'm interested in by topic. This one: I went to concerts. - But just gnomishly to look if their articles are in shape would be beneficial. Some come with tags on top. Some are poor stubs. Some are long but without a reference ... - Interest guaranteed: the articles in the Recent deaths corner on the Main page will result in 4 to 5 digit views, by just mentioning a name. Probably too late for him as he died more than a week ago, but I still felt he deserved more than he had. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:24, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

I'm with Gerda on this - the template documentation is pretty clear that it's not designed for all article talk pages - just for those that it will actually provide a service for. Most talk pages it's not needed and it's just clutter. Ealdgyth (talk) 14:39, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

Thank you for your input on the topic. —¿philoserf? (talk) 14:40, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

thanks for your awards over the years

They’re the one thing that makes me think about coming back! 😂 AgnosticAphid talk 16:42, 18 June 2021 (UTC) AgnosticAphid talk 16:42, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

Lovely, Agnosticaphid, and you could just do it ;) Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:11, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

DYK for Theater am Aegi

On 20 June 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Theater am Aegi, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that the Theater am Aegi, which opened in Hanover in 1953 as "Germany's most modern theatre" and served mostly as a cinema, is now a venue for a wide range of performances? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Theater am Aegi. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Theater am Aegi), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Cwmhiraeth (talk) 00:03, 20 June 2021 (UTC)

That was a few minutes walk from where I lived as a student. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:41, 20 June 2021 (UTC)

Blessing to me

Gerda, you have been such a blessing to me over the last several weeks and months, even before I left for winter. I have enjoyed our conversations here in regards to life and improving this encyclopedic adventure for everyone who takes the first step to explore. I always encourage others to become explorers here, no matter what position they take. I have been fortunate to have met some extremely interesting people here and gotten to know them through Wikipedia in a way I might not have otherwise. I have also met some, through you, whom I wish I had been able to get to know better but our stars did not align for such a meeting. Still, I heard their songs through your song and my life is enriched because of it. Every encounter, whether it has been one born out of moments of kindness and our mutual common shared humanity or even those begun in moments of discord and disagreement have been moments I keep very close to my heart and will cherish forever. Forever, that seems like such a long time. Indefinite. Undefined? I think it is very defined. Eternal? Perhaps, but definitely every day that I am given to enjoy the songs around me on this Earth. I don't know what tomorrow brings but I am ready to face whatever it is. I spent this weekend in the hospital. I don't mind sharing what I know but will not speculate or entertain anything that I do not know. I woke up Friday feeling very weak. Brian, my daughters father, noted my paleness and so we arranged a flight to Fairbanks. I went to hospital there and by Saturday I was in Anchorage getting blood transfusions, I have had seven in total, and having all kinds of tests run. My hemoglobin levels have been hovering around 5-6. The transfusions typically bring me back to a low normal level for a few hours but gradually fall back to sub 7 levels which indicates that my marrow is not producing red blood cells like it should. I have had no other symptoms other than fatigue and pale skin and they have ruled out any internal bleeding based on the testing. They called in a hematologist and they scheduled a bone marrow biopsy. I had a biopsy done early in 2019 that came back negative for leukemia but they want another biopsy due to my symptoms and what the hematologist saw in my blood. It's difficult for me to stay calm in hospitals, partly due to my past and partly due to the overwhelming emotions that are tied to hospitals in general and specifically, but I will manage that. I'm not scared. I'm not even nervous. I've been trying to be the most difficult patient, its the nonconformist in me (lol). No, seriously though, I'm having fun with the hospital staff and they are are having fun right back with me. Life is too short not to have fun with it and laughing is good for body, mind and spirit. I trust you are well and thank you for the June message. I try to improve where I can and genuinely love the Wikipedia experience. --ARoseWolf 15:57, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

Perhaps you are not nervous but I am now, sending all good wishes, - feel it? LouisAlain, did you meet him yet? Also strange symptoms. Life is not fair, - insect bites being all I could complain about right now. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:05, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

Good recovery! Grimes2 (talk) 16:13, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

How could I not feel your well wishes, Gerda? The wind carries them to me no matter where I am. They are like a beautiful melody, so sweet to my ears. Life is not fair, no, and many face things they do not deserve to. It can be discouraging to many when they see it and I am sure that many more even ask why but I love that quote from one of JRR Tolkien's characters, whom he said probably most emulated himself, when the wish for dark times and heavy tasks to have never come was put forward. He said, "“So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” When faced with difficult times, we take courage in the fact that we are not the only ones to have ever experienced difficult times and also in the knowledge that "white shores and, beyond, a far green country into a swift sunrise" is always waiting around the corner ;-). It is a comfort. I have not had the fortune of meeting LouisAlain but I would very much enjoy that chance. And thank you, Grimes2. Very gracious of you. --ARoseWolf 16:21, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

I was just informed that it's positive even without getting the full results back so I won't be leaving the hospital for now. They will be coming in soon to let me know what the next steps are in the process. Thank you for the positive vibes and I very much hope you will continue sending them to me. I'm not sad for me but for my daughter. She had to go through this before with her mother and I want different results this time. Anyway, chin up, deep breath, here we go! :) --ARoseWolf 16:35, 22 June 2021 (UTC)

A rainbow for my dear rainbow soul! - "Chin up" I heard in 2013, fondly remembered (and it was up already) ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:29, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

I needed that rainbow. Thank you so much. I think I have spent more time out of my bed staring out the window than I have in the bed. I'm like a little girl again. Every time someone knocks on the door I jump back into bed. My isolation has started. Day one began last night. The only visitors I get now are my interactions through this screen. The only people I see are the medical staff fully covered head-to-toe. But I see them and hear their songs, no gowns or gloves can hide from the eye of the soul. One thing I struggle with in the lonely times in between, It's hard not to think about little microscopic things going through my bones killing everything inside them. Mmmmm, Rainbows ~ Bright, vibrant, clear, swirling all around, pure, rich, deep, Music to the Soul, soft, warm, sweet, Sunkisses on the cheek, Rainbow calling to us, look, listen, live, love colourfully. --ARoseWolf 13:20, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

Did you know how inspiring you are? - I added more pics to my impressions, the yum-yum strawberry cake pictured, rose clouds reflected in the Rhine, - meet if you are in the mood. - Want to meet another great person who was here? Eric Corbett who said chin-up (which I didn't need but needed solace because Ched had left then). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:41, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

Another great read and a beautiful song shared. Thank you. :) As far as inspirations go, I was told a version of a story a lot of people have heard before, from another dear friend, years ago. It goes like this, A man walked along the shoreline and in the distance saw a shape that looked like it may be dancing. It was on a bright and warm sunny day and the tide was slowly slipping back out to sea. As he got closer he saw it was a young woman bending over and picking something up and tossing it into the ocean. He called to her, "Young woman, what are you doing?" She replied, "I'm tossing these starfish back into the ocean before the sun dries them out." The man looked beyond her at the miles of shoreline and quipped back, "But there is too many of them and miles of shore. What can one person do? You can't possibly save them all." She briefly paused and then tossed the one she had picked up back into the ocean. Then she turned to the man and responded, "I don't have to save them all. That one is back home so I just need to make a difference for the next one." With that she bent over, picked up the next one and tossed it with a smile. That has been my approach in life when dealing with others. I have been asked if I have ever intentionally caused conflict or chaos. If I felt it would save another starfish, in a heartbeat. Songs tell me what to say and when to do. I hear because I listen. I see because I look. I sing because I know. I have saved many, lost more still, but I never give up because the next one matters. Soul work is sometimes dark and dirty. Remember to just keep singing the song that brings people home. --ARoseWolf 14:53, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

"the next one matters" - how true, thank you for the reminder! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:57, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

Folk opera

Hey, Gerda! I see you're out today -- no urgency. I was looking to see if you could advise me on this. I created Run, Little Chillun, which is described as a folk opera, as are numerous other articles. I was going to try to create a category, but I don't even know enough to figure out what the parent category would be. Is it a reasonable subject to create an article around? —valereee (talk) 19:10, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

—valereee, I don't know, perhaps ask project opera. Seeing that Porgy and Bess is described that way, I'd say that Opera would be a parent. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:01, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

Okay, I created Category:Folk operas and put a few articles into it. We'll see what happens! :) —valereee (talk) 21:09, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

Eeek!!

From: BWV 215 – The following day, the chronicle reports the death from a stroke of the trumpeter Gottfried Reiche ... blimey. I had somehow missed this fact for many years. I must watch my fitness etc ... Gosh. Goes off thinking cartefully ... DBaK (talk) 08:20, 22 June 2021 (UTC)

Yes, please, do watch! And don't play where torches are the only illumination. - Trumpet in the YT with Gianna Rolandi, - can you find out who the trumpeter was? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:25, 22 June 2021 (UTC)

July 2021 at Women in Red

New: July Julies Continuing: Women's rights | #1day1woman

--Rosiestep (talk) 16:05, 22 June 2021 (UTC) via MassMessaging

ITN recognition for Gianna Rolandi

On 23 June 2021, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Gianna Rolandi, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. PFHLai (talk) 00:02, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

listen to Bach, jauchzet Gott in allen Landen [5] --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:54, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

I am so humbled

I am so humbled to receive this award. Thank you so much, it means a lot. And it definitely motivates me to improve the quality of important articles on wikipedia. Out of curiosity, how did you come across my work? Was it just random browsing?

Thanks once again, I appreciate it.VR _talk 15:57, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

I look at all who say farewell to SlimVirgin, and award when I like what I see, as for you ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:20, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

Neuer Name

Hallo Gerda, ab sofort firmiere ich in WP nicht mehr unter Gisel sondern als Gisbert K ! Gisbert K (talk) 18:48, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

Thanks for letting me know, - I changed the Precious archive already. Why no redirect, though? ... leaving all your previous posts without an author? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:52, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

Hallo Gerda, WP hat weltweit in den Versionsgeschichten und auch hinsichtlich der Erstellerschaft aller Artikel, zu denen ich beigetragen habe, den alten durch den neuen Usernamen ersetzt. Nur die Signaturen auf den Diskussionsseiten sind die alten geblieben, wie du hier auf dieser Seite sehen könntest, wenn die "alten" Sachen nicht schon archiviert wären. Damit kann ich leben. Herzliche Grüße Gisbert K (talk) 10:44, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

You don't tell me anything I didn't know (and didn't see), but not why. In most cases of a name change, there's a redirect, for better transparency (and no extra work for me, because then I don't have to change the Precious archive). You don't have to tell me why, of course. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:15, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

Smiling through the

I was having a laugh at the IMDB synopsis for the The VelociPastor, which reads: After losing his parents, a priest travels to China, where he inherits a mysterious ability that allows him to turn into a dinosaur. At first horrified by this new power, a hooker convinces him to use it to fight crime. And ninjas. After that, I looked at the Wikipedia article and realized there was a DYK for it, whose contents made me laugh some more. Then I noticed it was promoted by Yoninah. And now I'm sad. El_C 00:39, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

El C, I know the feeling. I wanted to reduce my watchlist (when getting near 55,555) and began with closed DYK noms, and had the feeling that they were all closed by Yoninah. I don't think she'd want us to shed tears, though, but read the articles and smile. The set in her honour came together nicely, and will be shown on 3 July, with mother and baby Elephant "kissing" pictured, and justice and peace kissing mentioned. - Let us think of those who are alive but ill. ARoseWolf, I want to send you a rainbow, but just woke up, will uplaod later. LouisAlain, I want to send you a chanson, - pick one, I know too little! ... or take part of the rainbow --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:44, 24 June 2021 (UTC)

I now uploaded some pics, St. John's wort for St. John's Day and the Johns, and a rainbow for ARoseWolf, placed further up. More to add to the impressions. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:29, 24 June 2021 (UTC)