Welcome to my Winter Wonderland!

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• Sometimes it may take longer for me to reply. If a few days pass without a reply, please forgive me and send out a search and rescue team to find me. I undoubtedly fell into a hole somewhere. I will respond as soon as it is humanly possible for me to do so.
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January songs

in friendship

Happy new year, in friendship! - Today seems like a good day to say so, after a Bavarian peasants' mass (sorry, on the train home, no recent pics of that - just keep watching), and two DYK, even with a pic I took. I enjoyed meetings with friends in real life, and wish you many of those. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:06, 6 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

in case of interest, yesterday's snow (nothing compared to yours, of course) and today's music in memory of a friend here --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:37, 9 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It sounds like a lot of us got hit with a bunch of snow a few days ago. For me, it wasn't the snow that cancelled school but the cold. Luckily I had a bunch of winter gear (coat which I need to get a new one since the zipper is broken on it, gloves, and a wool Or just knitted ear warmer) to keep me warm while I shoveled our driveway. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 14:16, 10 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Blaze Wolf, we have a smallish winter storm developing on the southern slopes of the Brooks and in the foothills. Could see a few days of heavy snowfall but it wont be the whiteout storms we have seen in the past. About two years ago we had a storm in October of that year that took out our weather station and we had to get it rebuilt. Luckily the State and Federal Govmnt had the same idea and rented a parcel of land to build a combination radio tower and weather observation station nearby so we have pretty good radio coverage in the main river and lake basin. It's only when you get over the surrounding mountains that you start to have issues with communication but we don't venture that far without it being planned and we always take satellite/gps gear with us. It's always good to have contingency plans though. Knowing cabin locations throughout the mountain range and the Koyukuk-Yukon plains south of here is crucial in a survival situation. So is making sure you pack adequate survival gear. Never leave home without extra rope, thermal gear, parts to fix the sled/lines and firearms (bears eat that bear repellant stuff like peanut butter). When packing it's about balance. You can never plan and carry enough for every eventuality so some of it is left up to luck and the skill of the team. I typically mush with up to 16 dogs at a time depending on why I am making the trip. --ARoseWolf 14:46, 10 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

"Bears eat that bear repellant stuff like peanut butter" reminds me of that image of a dog sitting behind a spray bottle (like the stuff 409 comes in) of chew deterrent, and the dog has just completely chewed up the bottle. On another note, I've always wanted to try dog sledding. Unfortunately that wouldn't work all that well for 2 reasons, 1, where I live we don't get much snow (and when we do it doesn't stay very long) and 2, I don't think my dogs would be able to pull me on a sled. I have a dog that is a pure black lab (being the show kind which I swear originally said American on the article), and another that is part Siberian husky part black lab (she has the body of a husky if you shaved all the fur of a husky off, but pretty much everything else is from a black lab). The pure black lab would probably keep trying to lick me (She's very sweet towards her family but is a scaredy cat when it comes to new people) and the part husky part black lab would probably be trying her best but be struggling (and probably be shivering from the cold). ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 15:04, 10 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Blaze Wolf, sounds like you have an amazing relationship with your dogs. You would be surprised what they are capable of but the dogs we use are specifically trained and they have been in this environment all of their life. I laughed picturing them trying to pull you on a sled though only to end up on the sled themselves licking and jumping all over you. A beautiful image of love. --ARoseWolf 15:15, 10 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I do indeed have an amazing relationship with my dogs. And they have an amazing relationship with each other. My lab would be devastated as much as me if the part lab part husky died as those 2 are practically sisters (we basically consider them sisters anyway). I love my dogs a lot and they love me (and they also get along surprisingly well with our cat who usually just leaves them alone anyways) and I honestly don't know what I would do if one of them were to die (honestly I would probably just get another dog since they're such great companions). ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 15:26, 10 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Blaze Wolf, I have a cat too. Her name is Persephone. She has ran off a bear or two herself. Our sled dogs don't usually come into contact with her, except Little Jack. He's close to retirement so he hangs out around the home a little more. I think we are going to retire him this year. Koko and Beam are going to take his place on my team most likely. Two dogs to replace one. Jack has been amazing. My other lead dog, Miska, was purchased from a friend in Anaktuvuk Pass. Jack, our trainer, worked closely with a few people from the village and we bought his dog teams when he retired from being a guide. He now chooses, purchases and trains our dogs to work with us. We have to form a very close bond with or dogs so I had to learn over 40 different personalities and names. Its been a task but also fun. --ARoseWolf 15:47, 10 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks you for sharing, both! 2022 began happily with vacation. I uploaded images but stopped at 22 January - click on songs. 30 January means 10 years of Precious. It's also the birthday of a friend, - I'm so happy I mentioned his DYK on his 90th birthday when he was still alive. I have a great singer on DYK whom I heard, Elena Guseva, and wait for a Recent death appearance of Georg Christoph Biller whom I saw in action. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:53, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

update: we have now Guseva pictured, Biller pictured better (but still not on the Main page), and one more day of my pics --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:06, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Women in Red Feb 2022, Vol 8, Issue 2, Nos 214, 217, 220, 221, 222 Online events: New: Black women | Hong Kong and Macau | Women in sport Continuing: Climate (year-long initiative) | #1day1woman Other ways to participate: Encourage someone to become a WiR member this month by registering in the box at the top of our main page. Join the conversations on our talkpage. Help us plan future events. Follow us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter --Megalibrarygirl (talk) 15:11, 31 January 2022 (UTC) via MassMessaging[reply]

Hello ARoseWolf‬, you seem to be my mentor. How did that happen? Is it the same as the adoptee system? I'm very open for help and support and trying to find the ropes here. Are you available on IRC? The communication might be faster there than on the talk page --GavriilaDmitriev (talk) 09:54, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@GavriilaDmitriev: Hello Gavriila! There's a list of mentors (can't remember where atm) that new (and old) users get their mentors randomly assigned to. I don't know if RoseWolf is available on IRC however. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 11:51, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Blaze Wolf: Hello Blaze Wolf! Thanks for answering so quickly. How comes you reply on behalf for ARoseWolf? Is she inactive? I'm still open to find out more and get more primer on how to get started. I just finished the tutorial --GavriilaDmitriev (talk) 13:44, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@GavriilaDmitriev: This is different from WP:AAU. Have a look here and find the list of such mentors here. Adoption system is for some more experienced users unlike this new one. Thanks. ─ The Aafī ^(talk) 13:47, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@GavriilaDmitriev: Nope, ARoseWolf is still here. She's just currently on a Winter Break and is usually unable to answer questions on her talk page (Alaskan winters are harsh from what I've hear). ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 13:57, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the clarification! I also just saw her timezone. I think this might be an issue because it seems like we have very little overlap here.

@Blaze Wolf@TheAafi Are you aware of users which are available for this (I like the concept!) who is tech savvy and somewhere near UTC+6? GavriilaDmitriev (talk) 14:02, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Hello GavriilaDmitriev, It's awesome to meet you. I was randomly selected to be your mentor from a list. TheAafi, Thank you for providing information comparing the two systems and showing the difference between them and to both you and Blaze Wolf for all the great advice. My suggestion is to check out mw:Growth/Personalized first day/Newcomer homepage to get familiar with how to use the new Homepage option. You can, of course, ask questions here or at the WP:Teahouse. I do not take on-wiki discussions off-wiki except maybe by email but even that it's limited. I'm sorry but I don't even know what IRC is and I don't social media. If I or any of my friends watching my talk page can assist you further, please don't hesitate to ask. :) --ARoseWolf 14:07, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

RoseWolf, see WP:IRC. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 14:08, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@GavriilaDmitriev: I'm tech savvy, however I'm in the complete opposite timezone from you (UTC -6). But I would be glad to help you whenever I can. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 14:06, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

GavriilaDmitriev, My timezone is UTC+05:30 but I don't know if I'd be completely available to assist always. I've certain exams ongoing at the university but you can seek my assistance whenever required. ─ The Aafī ^(talk) 14:13, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

1. How can I empty the alerts and notifications instead of just mark them as read in the header?
2. What is a good overview on tutorial pages I should have seen as a beginner? I'm not that new and the tutorial I did barely told me anything new. Still I completed that.
3. How to handle/clean up my own talk page usually? Can I just clean/delete in on a whim?
4. Where I can see all the subpages related to my profile? I think the tutorial created some sub pages but I can't find them linked.
5. Still at my own profile page I have the buttons 'Homepage', 'User page' and 'Talk'. Can I add more to them? Or are they static and are same for every profile?

1. When you have notifications there should be a button that says "Mark all as read", otherwise I Don't think there's a way to do so.
2. I would suggest WP:TWA, however other than that I'm not sure.
3. You can, see WP:BLANKING, but you can also set up a bot to automatically archive your talk page (although you shouldn't need to right now)
4. Only way I know to do so is to check your watchlist because all subpages should be moved to your watchlist, although there might be some way to see them without going through the watchlist.
5. Not really. There's stuff like Twinkle and RedWarn, however they aren't like the buttons you're thinking of.

Hope this helped! ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 14:26, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@GavriilaDmitriev: Also, (Please remember to sign your posts on talk pages by typing four keyboard tildes like this: ~~~~. Or, you can use the [ reply ] button, which automatically signs posts.) ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 14:27, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the swift reply! That's really great. But as I mentioned I need more in depth answers. Most of that I was already aware of besides of the WP:Blanking, which I will read now GavriilaDmitriev (talk) 14:30, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@GavriilaDmitriev: Well I can't really go much more in-depth with the answers I gave based on your questions. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 14:31, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

GavriilaDmitriev, To my knowledge, there isn't a quick way to dismiss notifications and alerts other than to mark them as read. You basically have a good list of links to help you get started on your talk page already. I'm not sure what else there is beyond that for a tutorial. To see your subpages you can enter User:GavriilaDmitriev in the search bar top right of the screen. A drop down box will show you your subpages. You also have the option to see every page or article that contains your search parameters at the bottom of that dropdown box. Help:Archiving a talk page will help you learn about archiving. The tabs at the top left are static unless you alter them by removing the Homepage function located in your preferences. You can not add or remove any other tabs. --ARoseWolf 15:02, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@GavriilaDmitriev:, I'm adding my cents to #4 from above. To know exactly your subpages, navigate to your "Contributions", and at the bottom of page, there are several links beginning with your username, the first is the "Subpages" option. It looks something like this: GavriilaDmitriev: Subpages, User rights, Edit count, Edit summary search, Articles created, Global: contributions, log, accounts(meta). Clicking on subpages would get you a list of all the subpages associated with your account. I hope this helps. ─ The Aafī ^(talk) 16:25, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I should make a note that a subpage is a page that has the following format, "Base Title/Subpage title". For example, User:TheAafi/Islamic biographies is a subpage of User:TheAafi. You don't have subpages of your userpage. ─ The Aafī ^(talk) 16:29, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, Gavriila! #5 might be possible using custom JavaScript in your Special:MyPage/Vector.js, but the code to put there is beyond my ability. Best place to ask would be Wikipedia:Village pump (technical). #1 might be partly possible with some custom CSS like .mw-echo-ui-notificationItemWidget {display: none;} .mw-echo-ui-notificationItemWidget-unread {display: block;}. But that would hide all the read items all of the time, it's not like selectively deleting some reads and not others. Whatamidoing (WMF) might be interested in your use case #1. She's not the one who built mw:Help:Notifications, but her team has been adding notifications to their Discussion Tools feature, and she may know some Echo folks. (Sorry I keep pinging you to discussions, WAID.) Unfortunately, there's no straightforward way I know of to achieve either #1 or #5. ⁓ Pelagic ( messages ) 10:27, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The most common approach to #5 is to build your own nav-bar that sits on the page below the tabs. You can store it in a user subpage and transclude it onto multiple pages so that it appears as a persistent element in the page-set. ⁓ Pelagic ( messages ) 10:34, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the ping, @Pelagic. I believe that #5 can be achieved in CSS, and Wikipedia:Village pump (technical) is the place to ask.

@GavriilaDmitriev, why do you want to empty the alerts and notifications? Whatamidoing (WMF) (talk) 02:07, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Whatamidoing (WMF) Because I just don't want to put them just on read but really clear this list. So I can clearly see if something is new or not. It just seems cluttered for no reason. Why show me already read notifications? GavriilaDmitriev (talk) 02:40, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Previously read notifications are useful for finding recent discussions. If you go to Special:Notifications, you can choose to see a list of only unread notifications (with the section blank, if there are no unread notifications). Whatamidoing (WMF) (talk) 03:13, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Excellent point about the notifications page Whatamidoing (WMF). To get to it, GavriilaDmitriev, click or tap on All Notifications at the bottom of the drop-down. The filter defaults to unread-only, so there is just that one extra click. ⁓ Pelagic ( messages ) 20:14, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you both. So I see it as confirmed that the notification button titled 'your alerts' in the top of every page can't be customized.

I looked at the Special:Notifications page and see that I can filter there for only unread. But that is not what I try to achieve. I talk about the header button only.

Thank you both for confirming that it's not possible. GavriilaDmitriev (talk) 02:11, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It is currently not possible. I've recorded your idea at phab:T301283, but no software team is working on that this year, so I don't expect that to change any time soon. Whatamidoing (WMF) (talk) 20:13, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

February songs

frozen

Today is a feast day for which Bach wrote several cantatas including Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BWV 125, which was on DYK 10 years ago and TFA 4 years ago. I'm less happy that Georg Christoph Biller had to wait days for a Main page appearance under recent deaths, and then stayed not even for a full day. It would have been so meaningful today, with the man in the cantata saying he can depart in joy and peace. - The February pic was taken in memory last year. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:42, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I like my talk today (even explaining how it works), and managed to picture two more vacation days --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:32, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Today, I decorated my talk with a Bach cantata. I heard it last year when missing RexxS began, and "not letting go" was a theme. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:18, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

my joy - more on my talk --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:39, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

You can see it here

What could I have done better? GavriilaDmitriev (talk) 11:29, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

कला क्या है --Aaypal Singh Bhati (talk) 15:17, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

See Wiktionary:Art for the answer to your question. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 15:28, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you so much for your kind words on my talk page. I am very moved and touched. — I do not see it “as a mob ganging up on you”. I see it as a mob ganging up on content and on new users. I’m only the messenger, and as it is often in life, the messenger is the one that gets shot to cover up the sad truths that cannot be acknowledged. — Timwi (talk) 08:07, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Timwi, you didn't have to respond, thank you for that. I do understand your position and I think you have valid concerns, especially in how new editors are treated here on-wiki. Society is more politicized, more divisive and more self-gratifying today than ever before. Perhaps that's a misnomer. Society has always been those things, however, with the invention of the interweb and especially social media sites it has only become more visible. --ARoseWolf 14:05, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

	The Special Barnstar
	I've probably already given you a barnstar in the past. However you deserve another one. You are probably the kindest and friendliest person I've met online and on Wikipedia. You're always very understanding of people's situations and I appreciate that and strive to act similar to you when interacting with others. ― Blaze WolfTalkBlaze Wolf#6545 14:51, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Oh neat, it actually went inside the formatting. Interesting. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 14:52, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I think I've finally figured out the proper formatting but time will tell. @Blaze, thank you so much for the barnstar. You are an amazing editor and I am so glad you came to Wikipedia. I believe kindness and understanding are central not only to the purpose of Wikipedia but to being human in general. It's something that is extremely difficult to master and that's why so few actively employ it. It's easy to be cold and indifferent. However, being kind and thoughtful is nonnegotiable to me. It is foundational to the very existence of Wikipedia if we are to continue to have effective collaboration. It's difficult at times to be who I am and be here but I will find a way to be a part of this community, be a principled creator and editor of content and be myself, just a girl that seriously loves, respects and appreciates every LifeSong I have ever come into contact with. --ARoseWolf 15:47, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

What I find rather interesting is (based only on your account age), you've been here for only about 3 months longer than me (I'm not counting my alt account's age since I created it and then never made a single edit with it), however you act like you've been here for much, much longer (not that it's a bad thing at all). ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 15:56, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It's true, I've only been here since August of 2020. I get called an old soul often and I think there is some merit in those thoughts. I'm also only in my early 30's. I've met some here much, much wiser. If I had to peg the reason why I may seem or act like I've been here longer it's because I listen and I read a lot. I treat every article and every page like an adventure or a journey. I rarely skip over words because doing so is like trying to paint on a canvas only using half the available paints. It leaves gaps that may be critical to understanding the issue or reasons for why an issue exists or is being discussed. I never dismiss something outright and I never go into a discussion believing I am an authority, know everything there is to know or simply put, believing that what I know to be truth for me is that for everyone. Why is someone else's perception of an issue more or less valid than my own or yours? Even another persons perception of me is not less valid than my own. And even with diffs presented as evidence of something there is still often an element of perception so I don't get caught up in that too much. --ARoseWolf 16:14, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, ARoseWolf. Please check your email; you've got mail!
It may take a few minutes from the time the email is sent for it to show up in your inbox. You can at any time by removing the {{You've got mail}} or {{ygm}} template. Doug Weller talk 14:50, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Coming from here I’m not understanding what he is speaking about, is he insinuating you contacted his parents? Please email me, and explain to me. disregard the notification you get when trying to email me(you’d see something like I only respond to sysops) please disregard this and email me. I’d love to understand what transpired. Celestina007 (talk) 23:58, 12 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Celestina007: I am saying nothing of the sort! Please drop this issue now. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 00:02, 13 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Blaze Wolf, please don’t be rude. I’m interacting with a friend, I didn’t ping you. Please kindly behave yourself. I’m discussing with a friend. I believe she can speak to me if she pleases, watch your tone, and please take a few steps back, I’m not talking to you. I wouldn’t repeat this, please do not interject when I’m not talking to you, are we understood? No policy mandates me from a friend emailing me. Now please excuse me. Celestina007 (talk) 00:11, 13 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Celestina007: I'm sorry but I would wish for you to not get involved in this situation. This is a matter that does not concern you whatsoever. I'm involved in this and so is RoseWolf. You aren't. So please don't get involved. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 00:13, 13 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Blaze Wolf, Please move along. ARW can speak for herself or email me, of which you would be oblivious about, AFAIK, no policy mandates me from asking a friend for an e-mail. Please do not irate me. Move along.WP:HOUNDING is an egregious offense bothering on WP:HARASS, if you continue hounding me, I’m afraid this can exacerbate really fast at ANI. Do not cast aspersions, hound or harass me ever again. I’m telling you for the last time. I won’t tell you not to hound me again. Celestina007 (talk) 00:24, 13 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]