|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| :''See [[Bhamwiki talk:Messageboard archives]] for archived topics.'' | | :''See [[Bhamwiki talk:Messageboard archives]] for archived topics.'' |
| ::''(Add new discussion to the bottom of this page by clicking the "+" above.)'' | | ::''(Add new discussion to the bottom of this page by clicking the "+" above.)'' |
|
| |
| == Locations box ==
| |
| I've added a new type of sequence template: [[Template:Location box]]. You specify a title and directions (typically north/south/east/west) and articles for the left and right columns. The article title is automatically included in the middle column under the title.
| |
|
| |
| I've used them to create boxes on the various Red Mountain passes (try starting with [[Grace's Gap]]) so you can navigate directly along the passes without clunky text in the article about which other passes one's between. I also used it to add navigation between I-65 southbound exits on [[6th Avenue North]] and [[4th Avenue South]] (as a proof of concept). Let me know what you think. I can probably build specific east/west and north/south templates to simplify matters if they seem useful. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 23:28, 10 June 2016 (PDT)
| |
| * Nice! --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 08:15, 11 June 2016 (PDT)
| |
| ** Forgot to say I've since added [[Template:Location E-W box]] and [[Template:Location N-S box]] for simpler inclusions. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 23:08, 23 June 2016 (PDT)
| |
| *** So are navigation boxes between interstate exits a worthwhile project? And I guess I should go back and add documentation to those location boxes. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 07:45, 14 November 2017 (PST)
| |
| **** I suspect they are worthwhile, unless they can all be replaced by a one-size-fits-all template. I haven't thought about it much. --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 08:25, 14 November 2017 (PST)
| |
| ***** You mean one template for each interstate listing all the exits? That could be done, but it would be a very big template. For example, there's over 30 exits listed on the [[Interstate 59]] page. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 15:22, 14 November 2017 (PST)
| |
|
| |
| == Interesting source ==
| |
| * Tl;dr, but "[http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=history_diss School Desegregation, Law and Order, and Litigating Social Justice in Alabama, 1954–1973]." 805 pages! --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 23:08, 23 June 2016 (PDT)
| |
| ** It should have its own wiki! --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 06:20, 24 June 2016 (PDT)
| |
|
| |
| == Electronic Phone Books ==
| |
| I finally ordered my local telephone directory as a CD-ROM. I noticed this was an option a few years ago, but kept forgetting to do so. (I think. Have I posted about this before? I've got a big sense of deja vu, but didn't see anything back a couple years in the Messageboard archives.) You're forced to install their software to access it, but.... Well, if you want some technical details, e-mail me. I won't post them publicly. I '''highly''' recommend a Bhamwiki editor do this for Birmingham. Instructions should be on the front of your paper directory. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 19:28, 21 July 2016 (PDT)
| |
| * Roger that. --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 06:23, 22 July 2016 (PDT)
| |
| ** Update. The 2011 directory I have on hand tells my to go to att.com/mydirectories to order additional copies, but that link takes me directly to mydirectories.yp.com and only gives me the choice of ordering another paper copy. And the FAQ is a dead link. --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 06:33, 22 July 2016 (PDT)
| |
| *** Select the option on [http://mydirectories.yp.com/ mydirectories.yp.com] to order a directory. You can specify a CD-ROM in step 3 of the process. Hey, you can order more than one. Can you get me one, too? --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 21:30, 22 July 2016 (PDT)
| |
| **** So, that would include the white pages? --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 07:58, 24 July 2016 (PDT)
| |
| ***** Yes. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 05:34, 2 August 2016 (PDT)
| |
| ****** Order has been placed, so far as I can tell. --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 08:21, 4 August 2016 (PDT)
| |
|
| |
| == Kaleidoscope archives ==
| |
| I just stumbled across an archive of UAB's ''Kaleidoscope'' going back to mid-1982: [https://www.mhsl.uab.edu/kscope/ https://www.mhsl.uab.edu/kscope/]. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 07:39, 6 August 2016 (PDT)
| |
| * Oh yeah. I've hit those a couple of times in Google searches. Excellent stuff. --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 08:28, 6 August 2016 (PDT)
| |
|
| |
| == Visitors portal ==
| |
| I had the idea today to create a visitors portal. It would be designed for those visiting the Birmingham area and simply provide links to articles about various area attractions grouped by type (e.g. art, entertainment, historical) and possibly location. Yes, we have categories for this information, but I believe the average reader isn't familiar with categories or how to navigate them. And this is information that doesn't change often, so should require minimal effort to update. I thought I'd ask before starting even a proof of concept. Not to mention I'm not familiar with how portals are done on Wikipedia. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 13:51, 13 October 2016 (PDT)
| |
| * That's a great idea. (Reminder: We have a long-dormant half-measure of a "portal" at [[Bhamwiki:Sustainability]] that might be worth looking at) --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 10:18, 16 November 2016 (PST)
| |
|
| |
| == Mobile App ==
| |
| * Is there a mobile app available for this wiki? I downloaded one a while back for Wikipedia and wondered if you had anything similar? [[User:Robert Matthews|Robert Matthews]] ([[User talk:Robert Matthews|talk]]) 07:19, 16 November 2016 (PST)
| |
| ** I use Safari, but otherwise, no. No app and no clear path toward one. --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 07:45, 16 November 2016 (PST)
| |
| *** I have some experience developing iOS apps, so it might be fairly easy to modify the open-source code available for the Wikipedia app and change the database to point to the BhamWiki. I've downloaded the code, but haven't taken the time to load it and see exactly what changes would be required. Would this be of interest? [[User:Robert Matthews|Robert Matthews]] ([[User talk:Robert Matthews|talk]]) 10:08, 16 November 2016 (PST)
| |
| **** It would certainly be of interest, if it's not too complicated to accomplish. I have no expertise on server stuff, so maybe we should plan to sit down over coffee some time and discuss what it would entail. --[[User:Dystopos|Dystopos]] ([[User talk:Dystopos|talk]]) 10:15, 16 November 2016 (PST)
| |
| ***** I'll try and take a look at the source code this weekend and see if I can determine how much effort it would take. In the meantime, send an email to me at rsmphotography@gmail.com and we'll figure out some place to chat over a cup of coffee. [[User:Robert Matthews|Robert Matthews]] ([[User talk:Robert Matthews|talk]]) 11:49, 16 November 2016 (PST)
| |
| ***** I'm totally guessing, but I suspect it would take little effort on the server side. Another thing we might consider is installing a mobile theme. Wikipedia has one, but we don't. However, one thing I don't like about Wikipedia's is the lack of category links. --[[User:Lkseitz|Lkseitz]] ([[User talk:Lkseitz|talk]]) 06:22, 17 November 2016 (PST)
| |
| ***** I suspect you're right -- it probably wouldn't be much work on the server side. Maybe opening up a port and/or changing a configuration setting. And it may not be much work on the client/app side either, but I won't know until I look at the source code. [[User:Robert Matthews|Robert Matthews]] ([[User talk:Robert Matthews|talk]]) 06:54, 17 November 2016 (PST)
| |
|
| |
|
| == It's almost March! == | | == It's almost March! == |
- See Bhamwiki talk:Messageboard archives for archived topics.
- (Add new discussion to the bottom of this page by clicking the "+" above.)
It's almost March!
- Time to get together again. What are we in the mood for? Pizza? Quiet evening? Less live music, maybe? --Dystopos (talk) 15:38, 26 February 2017 (PST)
- I know I've been away for a while but as usual I'll swing by wherever you decide to do it. --Wheresdib (talk) 11:20, 27 February 2017 (PST)
- I'm afraid I have plans the weekend March 18-19 and probably the following weekend. But I'm no longer as active as I was, either, so don't feel the need to plan around me. --Lkseitz (talk) 06:06, 1 March 2017 (PST)
- Okay then. One night in the coming weeks I will stake out one of the larger tables at Cantina (Pepper Place) and provide chips, guacamole, and encouraging reflections on the state of the wiki to anyone who can stand to come sit with me. Let me know if a particular evening interests you. If not, I'll pick and let you know. --Dystopos (talk) 06:59, 1 March 2017 (PST)
Sayerton
The McWane Center has display of "quack medicines." A couple were from the Birmingham area, including one from Sayerton. It appears we don't currently have any information on this former community north of North Birmingham. Maybe Robert Matthews would consider researching it as they apparently (used to?) hold a town reunion in Gardendale? --Lkseitz (talk) 12:37, 19 January 2018 (PST)
- I've heard of Sayerton, but don't know much about it and have never researched it. If I have a chance to get by the Gardendale Historical Society museum sometime in the next few weeks, I'll see what I can find on it. Robert Matthews (talk) 13:44, 19 January 2018 (PST)
Birmingham Historical Society digital collection
FYI, select Birmingham Historical Society publications are being digitally archived at the Alabama Department of Archives & History[1]. (Or, as their newsletter puts it, http://digital.archives.alabama.gov > Alabama Genealogy and History Publications > Birmingham Historical Society.) --Lkseitz (talk) 12:43, 19 January 2018 (PST)
- That's pretty awesome. I saw the notice in the newsletter, but hadn't checked it out yet. --Dystopos (talk) 13:56, 19 January 2018 (PST)
Costa & Head plans for 3rd Ave N & 19th St
I'm pretty sure I made a comment on a Talk page somewhere about Costa & Head's plans for blocking off streets at night around the old theater district. But now I can't find it. Can anyone help me out? I have an addendum. --Lkseitz (talk) 05:57, 23 January 2018 (PST)
Guess who's back?
That's right, it's me. I've accepted a different position with the same employer which should free up some time in my busy schedule. And I'm back downtown, so I'm excited to start filling in some gaps for all the new stores and restaurants that have popped up in the last almost 5 years. See you all soon! --Wheresdib (talk) 12:59, 25 January 2018 (PST)
Shoe Repair note
This is crazy. I keep looking for things on Bhamwiki I remember writing or reading and can't find them. Sometimes I spell it wrong ("Top Golf" instead of "TopGolf" [created a redirect]). Sometimes I didn't look in the right place (that bit about 3rd & 19th above). Now I remember working on a story about a shoe repair place that I thought was Homewood Shoe Hospital, which you can see doesn't exist as of this writing. I remember writing -- I thought on a Talk page -- about how someone had bought up a bunch of similar domain names such that it was extremely hard to tell which was the correct one to list on the page. But now I can't find it. Maybe it was a different business? --Lkseitz (talk) 04:09, 9 February 2018 (PST)
- I can't find anything like what you're describing. Is it possible you worked on it offline? --Dystopos (talk) 06:47, 9 February 2018 (PST)
- Maybe, but I could have sworn it was something I posted. I checked my e-mails to you and didn't find anything there either. I just wondered if there was any chance we lost some articles at some point? Although I did a quick check of the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine to see if they had such a page archive and they didn't. The problem being there's a few different URL variations it could be under and I probably didn't hit them all. If it's something I did offline, I may never find it. --Lkseitz (talk) 21:37, 9 February 2018 (PST)
- There was one point where we lost some uploaded images, but I don't think it affected the SQL database. --Dystopos (talk) 08:23, 10 February 2018 (PST)
