User talk:Luai lashire

Bloom Clock Category Group
Hi Luai. Nice to see so many entries on the bloom clock! I'm wondering what region the category should cover for your contributions... any ideas? There is a category for Southeastern PA now (covering from the southeast corner of the state to the foothills), but I don't know enough about the differences in the center of the state for bloom time (i.e., what counties would see the plants blooming within a week or so of plants blooming in Centre County in early spring and late fall). Would "south-central PA" be right? I'm guessing that north of you will be affected by elevations and possibly lake effects, but I really don't know.

Categories are used for enabling DPL lists, which in turn can be used to create the "keys" (like this). --SB_Johnny | PA! 13:12, 19 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Hi. I think it might be best to have a "central PA" catagory.  I suppose if you wanted to be really specific you could divide into smaller catagories, but considering that I am the only contributor from central PA right now, I don't think that's necesary at this point.
 * As far as differences in bloom time in the central counties goes, I don't know a lot about it; but I do know that in the centre region it varies a lot even quite locally. I live on the edge of State College; in State College proper, Sedum is already blooming, but the Sedum in my garden won't be blooming for several more weeks.  --Luai lashire 17:46, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

Various stuff...
Hi Luai. Just an update on the categories first: I made Category:BCP/CTPA/8 for plants you've logged this month, as well as a basic visual key (Bloom Clock/Flowers seen in August in Central Pennsylvania). Adding categories to the plant profile pages will allow the software to pick them up and add them to the keys on the next update (if I'm not in touch with you before then, September's logs should use Category:BCP/CTPA/9).

On another bloom clock topic, don't forget that while the Genus is capitalized, the species is not (which is why you got a redlink for Trifolium Pratense... I fixed it to read Trifolium pratense :-).

Finally, we've been hit by vandals several times over the weekend. If you don't mind, please vote on Nominations for checkuser/SB Johnny and Nominations for checkuser/JWSchmidt... checkuser lets us track down the IPs used for vandalism, which can help prevent further attacks. --SB_Johnny | PA! 11:51, 26 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Hi! The CTPA pages look good, except that some of the plants I've logged aren't on them.  Is this just because those plants don't yet have log pages? --Luai lashire 15:24, 26 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Yup. I'm working on making log page creation easier, but the template is rediculously complicated and I'm not the best person for explaining technical stuff that I just barely understand myself :P. I'll leave you a link later... just popping in for a sec right now. --SB_Johnny | PA! 16:38, 26 August 2007 (UTC)


 * I did one of the category additions for September... don't have much time today to do the others. this diff will show you how to alter the others. --SB_Johnny | talk 12:09, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

See Bloom Clock/Project Discussion for more stuff. --SB_Johnny | talk 10:23, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

For younger students only?
I'm woefully ignorant in a number of areas (a product of 4 years' formal education total) in which a course for 8-14 year-olds may be my level! Would I be excluded? Shir-El too 11:48, 4 September 2007 (UTC)
 * To what are you referring? Wikiversity in general?  The Neurodiveristy course?  --Luai lashire 12:28, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

Finding collaborators...
Don't feel bad... I've often felt the same way on Wikibooks (where I work on a garden book when I'm not racing around fixing the bloom clock), but on Wikibooks most editors are actually lone wolves (sole authors of one of more books), so I was able to get used to it with moral support there :).

I do have a friend with a talk-page spamming bot on Wikipedia: if you think it's a good idea, he might be willing to target w:Category:Wikipedians_on_the_autism_spectrum for you. --SB_Johnny | talk 23:36, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes, please! I tried to drum up support at a couple of autism pride websites I go to, but no one there was interested in Wikiversity, so it failed.  This bot idea would probably have much better luck.  --Luai lashire 00:51, 1 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I think I'm the friend who Johnny is talking about. :-) I'd be happy to do this if you just typed up something so send to them. :-)  Be sure to include:
 * What Wikiversity is.
 * What exactly you want to do.
 * A few good links. :-)
 * If you like this idea/when you write it, please feel free to e-mail me.  Cbrown1023   talk   23:36, 1 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks! I'll get right on that.  --Luai lashire 20:48, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

Fundamental Information is Irrevelent?
Can you explain how a link to fundamental information regarding Bipolar disorder is irrevelent to "neurodiversity" when you are using as a fundamental category? Do you intend to reformulate basic definitions? Mirwin 21:29, 1 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I'm sorry, I was actually just about to leave you a message explaining why I removed that link, but you beat me to the punch. It's not that the link was "irrelevant"- it's that it was not suited to the purpose of the course.  The overviews of each condition in the first section of the course, when they are completed, are meant to cover basic information of what the condition is, in medical terms, and impart an understanding of why that condition is being deemed a neurotype.  As such the information can't be described in an overly negative light, as it was in your resource, or it simply doesn't make sense in the context of the course.  I can't respond to you properly right now, I have to leave, but I'll respond in more detail when I get back.  --Luai lashire 21:49, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

more...
Someone's been working on Aspies Book... maybe find someone there?

BTW, any flowers this month? :P --SB_Johnny | talk 14:49, 5 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I did see a few, but I actually haven't been outside much since school started up again- I spend the day inside there, then come home and spend the evening on homework. It's exhausting.  I'm trying to find ways to free up some more time, and when I do, I'll have more flowers to log.  :)  --Luai lashire 21:11, 5 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Of course, now I can't walk. It figures!  Yesterday I hurt my foot very badly and I have to stay off it for a week or so....  So no flowers.  Sorry.  --Luai lashire 14:43, 6 October 2007 (UTC)

keymaking
Hi Luai. There's a few steps to making keys (I really need to make up some general instructions some time).


 * 1) Add categories to the BCP pages after you sign the logs. For example, since you signed BCP/Sedum spectabile/Logs, you would add 2 templates to BCP/Sedum spectabile, like this. The template bcpm/10 adds "October" to the regional data for Central PA, and bcp/ctpa/10 adds it to Category:BCP/CTPA/10 (as well as other categories later).
 * 2) Next you make a DPL page. I'll do that for you this month so you can see what I did.
 * 3) Finally, you copy the list from the DPL result (as plain text, copying from the resource page, not the edit page), and add colons and brackets which in turn make the BCP pages act like templates on the key.

The first step is the most important one (I'm happy to generate the DPLs and keys... it's become second nature, so to speak). You can find all the logs you've signed using Special:Contributions/Luai_lashire, or using Special:Whatlinkshere/User:Luai_lashire. --SB_Johnny | talk 11:52, 13 October 2007 (UTC)
 * OK! :)  I've started adding the catagories I need to the BCP pages.  --Luai lashire 01:39, 14 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Here's the keys: Bloom_Clock/Keys/Central_Pennsylvania. If you see any you don't know this month, they'll probably be on one of the SEPA lists for October: Bloom_Clock/Keys/Southeastern_Pennsylvania/October--SB_Johnny | talk 09:24, 14 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks. Oh- I found this website a while ago; it makes an excellent guide for identifying flowers in my local area.  That's where I look if I can't find them in the SEPA keys, and it's only let me down once.  --Luai lashire 14:22, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

collaborating with other writers
"collaborating with other writers" <-- I like the idea that Wikiversity can specialize in "learn by doing" projects. I've started Science Fiction Challenge and Exploring science through fiction, and it seems like there could be similar projects for fantasy. Do you think such efforts should all be coordinated through the Writing Center? --JWS 14:05, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I think that, in general, the more wikiversity's various centres, portals, courses, and groups coordinate and comunicate, the easier it will be for interested parties to find what they're looking for, so yes, it could be coordinated through the Writing Center. There are different forms this project could take:  There's collaboration to produce one single, finished piece, or collaboration to help others find inspiration to start or finish a piece, or just a critique group, ect.  There are different ways we could do a collaboration; in the past, the only collaborative work I've helped with was Winding lane, a story project utilizing LiveJournal that never got finished.  I'm particularly fond of this kind of format for colaboration, where each writer adds a new "chapter" or section of work, but we could do others as well.  What are your thoughts?  --Luai lashire 00:55, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
 * The only place I've done collaborative fiction writing is at the fiction Wikia. I'm willing to try just about any format.--JWSchmidt 01:10, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Solar System grammar - audio message
--Juan 20:33, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Regarding Bloom Clock Orphans
Luai, orphan pages may be found with the utility on the "Special Pages" menu. It is to the lower left under the search box about seven items down on the left column menu on the default Wikiversity view. After you click this there is a long list of special pages/utilities, IIRC they are alphabeted. Let me know if you have any trouble finding the utility from these directions. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours! Mirwin 00:50, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Hello :-)
Hi Luai, just dropping by and saying hello really. :-) I liked what I just read on your userpage - hadn't been on it for a while. I'm also trying to get around to reading Illich, and will put up notes on the page - I also had a look at the Neurodiversity page, but didn't feel able to just jump in, as you'd obviously like me to do. Perhaps I can help you figure out a way for the project to be more inviting? Cormaggio talk 10:24, 25 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Sure! That would be really helpful.  I had hoped that the questions and invitation to discuss would help draw people in, but obviously not.  I'm not always good at conveying feeling in my writing, is that part of the problem?  Or is it more an issue of the course's structure?  --Luai lashire 17:52, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

Luai, i've been a bit behind on the reading for Illich lately but at this point I think i'll take your lead and jump into chapter 6 on learning webs. I think one of the nice things about doing a reading group this way is how it can materialise over quite some time. Countrymike 20:00, 25 January 2008 (UTC)


 * On drawing people in to the Neurodiversity page, I think what's needed is a bit more clarity on what exactly people are being asked to discuss. It might be difficult for people to give opinions on autism if they have no real experience with it. Perhaps some illustrative 'case study' examples, and some guidance in starting a discussion might be helpful - perhaps with some prompter questions (though that's only one possibility here). I'll try to give some more specific feedback on its talk page - and don't be shy to remind me if I don't. :-) Cormaggio talk 12:31, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Aaahhhh. Thank you, Cormaggio, I think I understand my problem now.  One of my greater faults is that I tend to omit information without realizing it- It's hard for me to re-trace my own steps of understanding and explain things in a way that is fully understandable to others.  It sounds like that's what I'm doing; the course, as it stands right now, makes complete sense to me and is already at a stage where I can discuss it, but then, I also have other information which the students don't yet, and now I have to figure out which parts need to be incorporated into the course to make it whole.  (sorry if this doesn't entirely make sense, I'm very tired right now!)  --Luai lashire 03:37, 27 January 2008 (UTC)
 * I understand what you're saying, but you don't need to be so hard on yourself. :-) That's what this wiki environment is best for - for people to point out things that we may ourselves have become blind to - and it happens to us all... Cormaggio talk 12:09, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

Just curious
Do you consider bipolarism to be a neurotype? --SB_Johnny | talk 23:29, 1 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, I do. I don't have it myself, so I don't have personal experience of it, but I know there's fairly widespread support in the Neurodiversity community for it.  One of the Autism Hub bloggers, Kevin Leitch (who unfortunately no longer blogs, due to threats made towards his daughter), is bipolar and used to talk about it on and off on his blog, so I know that he views there being some very good traits associated with it.  He says that when he is in a mixed state, between manic and depressed, he is at his most creative, and that without this he would not be nearly as good as he is at his job.  He also acknowledges that bipolarism needs to be handled a certain way, otherwise you are risking putting yourself in danger.  He talks about it on this blog sometimes, although he doesn't update very much.  The posts there are worth looking through, though, if you're interested.  --Luai lashire 17:12, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Interesting. More than anything else I'm acutely seasonally affective. I'm at my most creative from a few weeks after winter solstice to a week or so after summer solstice. Then I'm more expressive as the days get shorter. I think :). --SB_Johnny | talk 17:56, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Wikimedian Demographics update
Hello Luai lashire. I'm writing because you requested a reminder about progress on Wikimedian Demographics. For the time being these will be about once per month.

Speaking of reminders, it turns out the template question isn't the most efficient way of coming up with a mailing list. If you want to recieve this message on another of your talk pages (or don't want them at all), please edit the list on Wikimedian Demographics/Reminders.

To update on progress so far, there have been somewhere around 50 respondents over the past month, with more trickling in slowly but steadily. There are 7 major surveys (or 12, depending on how you count them):
 * 1) The basic survey (about your participation in Wikimedia)
 * 2) The "geography" surveys (actually 6 of those, for each inhabited continent)
 * 3) The Operating System survey (still stubby)
 * 4) The Wikipedia survey
 * 5) The Commons survey
 * 6) The US presidential elections survey
 * 7) The sexuality and relationships survey

Only the geography surveys have had any major modifications since being originally posted (more countries were added to those).

Several new surveys have been discussed at Talk:Wikimedian Demographics, as well as other places within Wikiversity. A few that might be ready sometime in February include:
 * A survey about Women in Wikimedia
 * A survey about Wikibooks
 * A survey about Wikiversity
 * A survey about administrative issues (including cross-wiki topics such as CheckUser and "global blocking")
 * A survey about environmental issues
 * A survey about religion
 * A survey about international trade

If you have ideas for more surveys, please share them on Talk:Wikimedian Demographics. Thanks for your participation thus far, and we hope to see you soon! --SB_Johnny | talk 11:58, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Email contact
Hi Luai,

To fend off spammers, you might want to use a link (Special:Emailuser/Luai_lashire) instead :). Of course that requires people to have an account, but it only takes a few minutes to make those anyway. --SB_Johnny | talk 15:38, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
 * OK. I thought it would probably be enough just to leave it broken up the way I did, but since there's a better option I'll just change it.  Thanks.  :)  --Luai lashire 04:16, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

Templates :)
Hey Luai! Good to see stuff blooming out in CTPA... don't forget to add the templates to the profile pages though :). I fixed and  this morning. They're easy to make if you need to in the future: just copy-paste from another month's template, and switch the month name and number (each appears 3 times on the template).

I've been enormously busy this spring, but I'm trying to set up the keys to be much easier to construct. The global keys are coming along quite well also: judging by what you logged in the past few days, you should be able to use them to identify unknown plants using either Bloom Clock/Keys/Global/Temperate/Late Winter or Bloom Clock/Keys/Global/Temperate/Early Spring. I'll set up a data comparison page for you in the next few days. --SB_Johnny | talk 10:38, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Asparagus
Hi Luai. Me too. How do I add myself to the aspergian wikipedians? Cheers Janet
 * You can add on your user page: . Did you see also this page at meta (and the talk page) ? Erkan Yilmaz uses the Wikiversity:Chat (try) PS: Tag a learning project with completion status !! 04:49, 31 May 2008 (UTC)---Erkan Yilmaz uses the Wikiversity:Chat (try) PS: Tag a learning project with completion status !! 04:49, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks Erkan lucychili 00:06, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

Re: Perhaps not the right category?
Thank you for your communication. I wasn't altogether sure what the neurodiversity movement was so I thank you for informing me and I would be happy to learn more about it. I saw that one of your pages contained information on Autism so I categorized according to my own teaching on the subject. The problem is that there are a lot of medical conditions that overlap between neurology and psychiatry, of which autism is one. It was my understanding that it lies more in the study of psychiatry than in the study of neurology, but it should definitely be categorized as both. Your pages, however, seem to be based on a sociological movement and should maybe also be classfified as sociology (a science) as well. Please feel free to discuss this with me further so we can reach consensus. Donek (talk) - Go raibh mile maith agaibh 22:46, 20 July 2008 (UTC)