tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6253759099075185967..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3720351986881047022019-07-10T07:47:57.623-07:002019-07-10T07:47:57.623-07:00You are not allowed to edit your own. I have 25 bo...You are not allowed to edit your own. I have 25 books out from major publishers and I still don’t have one, because of that fact. Someone has to curate it, and they have to provide sufficient third party links to back it up that are not interviews. It is actually not that easy to get one. So congrats. As for Who’s Who, I have been offered a slot in a few of those...if I pay. Not sure how prestigious it is or if they are all related, but some seem to be a bit of scam. Still, if it means a lot to you, kudos.Bryan Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03942472363470824138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67658150255566557222017-08-16T06:24:43.394-07:002017-08-16T06:24:43.394-07:00Also, everything Albert Giesbrecht is completely f...Also, everything Albert Giesbrecht is completely false.Johnny Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10545959562039045508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87466191660371566782017-08-16T06:07:26.810-07:002017-08-16T06:07:26.810-07:00I think more people need to understand how Wikiped...I think more people need to understand how Wikipedia works: There is NO editorial control. NONE WHATSOEVER. <br /><br />Go visit a page, any page. At the top you'll see the word EDIT. Just click on that and change whatever the hell you want, and then click SAVE. It's done, for the world to see. No checks. No editors. No need to even login (unless it's a controversial page that's had a lot of vandalism).<br /><br />Ken, want everyone to believe you once dated Natalie Wood? No problem.<br /><br />Anyone can edit any page, even their own. The only rule is that what you enter fits the tone of an encyclopedia.<br /><br />The next person to read the article is also the one who checks it. If there's statements on there that don't have any citations, they're liable for deletion, but on less frequently visited pages, errors will stay there for years.<br /><br />It's important to understand this the next time you decide to check Wikipedia for any facts. Trust me, I've made thousands of edits over the years (always in an attempt to improve things, of course). Take everything you read with a pinch of salt.Johnny Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10545959562039045508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53331002525390455612017-08-15T17:51:15.596-07:002017-08-15T17:51:15.596-07:00Friday Question
CBS is replacing Erinn Hayes on &...Friday Question<br /><br />CBS is replacing Erinn Hayes on "Kevin Can Wait" with Leah Remini. They are killing off Erinn's character (the wife), hoping to get higher ratings with Remini in "King of Queens" nostalgia.<br /><br />I can't think of any other example of this in the annals of TV history. Has another TV show ever killed off a character hoping to get higher ratings with that character's replacement in the cast?Matt Tauberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00336379337777188738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84353651184009935222017-08-15T00:15:59.334-07:002017-08-15T00:15:59.334-07:00Even though Wiki is usually pretty on it these day...Even though Wiki is usually pretty on it these days, I recently came across a goofy comment on, of all things, the list of Lake Monsters throughout the world; <br /><br />"Sunset Lake Pennsylvania USA North America "Sunny"<br /><br />A disgusting yellow creature living in the bottom of Sunset Lake in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. It has urine diseases. It likes the taste of kids that go to Camp Towanda. Especially kids named Jake and Ethan."<br /><br />Extra funny because there's no such place, much less creature.<br /><br />Cheers, thanks a lot,<br /><br />StormStormnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52859237478912902602017-08-13T15:23:27.722-07:002017-08-13T15:23:27.722-07:00Don't get me started on Wikipedia. They once d...Don't get me started on Wikipedia. They once deleted a film title I'd added to an actor's page with the explanation, "That you have the film on DVD is not proof that the film exists."cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39881494664962675622017-08-13T12:15:43.339-07:002017-08-13T12:15:43.339-07:00Wikipedia was never shut down, but there was an in...Wikipedia was never shut down, but there was an incident some years back in which Stephen Colbert urged his viewers to go to Wikipedia and alter the information that appeared there on elephant populations. Wikipedia locked elephant-related pages against editing for awhile and banned Colbert from Wiki.<br /><br />The argument people are always making against Wikipedia is that anyone can edit it and change an entry to contain any information they want. Actually, Wiki is very good at catching bogus edits. Someone on an old-time radio list I used to be on made some alterations to Wiki's page on THE LONE RANGER to try to prove that very point. Actually, within a few hours Wiki had caught and eliminated all the made-up "facts" and changes he'd made, sort of proving the opposite of his point.Chucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54873194968629894382017-08-13T11:53:59.627-07:002017-08-13T11:53:59.627-07:00What always strikes me about Wikipedia is how disp...What always strikes me about Wikipedia is how disproportionate their entries can be. I was looking up some information on a number of movies for a friend of mine, and some movies, movies which I think most people would agree were important ones, had little more than token entries. On the other hand, there are obscure, grade-C horror movies that maybe twenty-five people in the world have heard of that have these enormous, extremely detailed pages, covering even the most trivial aspects of these little known films in minute detail.<br /><br />Don't know if it's still true, but at one point, Spock, from STAR TREK, had a much longer, more detailed entry than Abraham Lincoln.Garrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14794572825548597952017-08-12T15:44:38.272-07:002017-08-12T15:44:38.272-07:00If you want to edit a Wikipedia entry, as I did, f...If you want to edit a Wikipedia entry, as I did, first create an account with a user name. If you don't, then your IP address will be listed if you edit. (voice of experience). It's easy to figure out edits made from certain accounts by the uninformed (e.g., IP address from the city/state for a politicians page) <br /><br />Also, if Ken created an account, no one will know if he edits a page unless he blabs about it on Twitter or Facebook or at the barbershop.Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428768957017762182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6977992048389750302017-08-12T10:07:00.497-07:002017-08-12T10:07:00.497-07:00An FQ for you: I've been re-watching seasons 2...An FQ for you: I've been re-watching seasons 2 and 3 of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and am always amazed at how the humor comes from all parts of the show -- script, sets, props, music, editing, acting. I'm wondering how that all comes together so perfectly? Is it a strong vision from above? Harnessed chaos? How do all contribute without any single part over- or under-doing it?Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73636708066918850892017-08-12T10:04:42.094-07:002017-08-12T10:04:42.094-07:00I've written a few books, and some misguided s...I've written a few books, and some misguided soul did a Wikipedia page for me. It says there that the article is a "stub" and that I can add to it if I like. I'd be just as happy if they took down the page.thirteennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85066411830586779072017-08-12T09:45:56.036-07:002017-08-12T09:45:56.036-07:00Hmm... With "Will and Grace" coming back...Hmm... With "Will and Grace" coming back could we possibly see Frasier return? <br /><br />After all this time you have to wonder how things have turned out for Frasier, Niles, Daphne, Martin and Eddie.Bill Kelliherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10673921692133153186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65132637752554191892017-08-12T07:12:47.166-07:002017-08-12T07:12:47.166-07:00I think you're right, Cap'n Bob. Seems lik...I think you're right, Cap'n Bob. Seems like there are a fair number of MASH episodes in which patches of snow can be seen on the ground here and there.Derricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26188117639044930852017-08-12T07:08:05.633-07:002017-08-12T07:08:05.633-07:00Hmm, my name didn't attach to my question! I d...Hmm, my name didn't attach to my question! I didn't mean to be anonymous! PJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82290414938171621732017-08-12T05:43:41.934-07:002017-08-12T05:43:41.934-07:00>>How did this become the plot of a mainstre...>>How did this become the plot of a mainstream show in 1974, when being gay, if it was mentioned at all, was something to be made fun of<br /><br />In 1971, "All in the Family" had already presented an episode about gay guest characters and the "That Certain Summer" TV movie had aired in 1972. "George" in 1974 wasn't as unprecedented as the question indicates.Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9071819732482540022017-08-11T23:26:22.874-07:002017-08-11T23:26:22.874-07:00I could be wrong, but I seem to remember patches o...I could be wrong, but I seem to remember patches of snow on the ground in some episodes.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86915031120600135382017-08-11T20:58:28.113-07:002017-08-11T20:58:28.113-07:00Actually sourcing requirements for Wikipedia were ...Actually sourcing requirements for Wikipedia were more lax originally, and over time have become increasing more rigourous. Not sure what is meant by "shut down for a few days"; English Wikipedia wasn't taken offline due to any vandalism.<br /><br />In addition to issues of objectivity, Wikipedia relies on secondary sources because no one's identity is confirmed, and so there's no way to judge the accuracy of any claims. The following page has guidance for the subjects of articles who may wish to make changes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:FAQ/Article_subjectsIsaac Linhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10568917791722567086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20695766581987533732017-08-11T20:11:14.256-07:002017-08-11T20:11:14.256-07:00Friday question: I know this was before your time ...Friday question: I know this was before your time at MASH, but I thought you might know something about it. The second season episode George was about a gay soldier who is beaten by others in his unit. I grew up watching MASH when it originally aired and reruns since then and I don't remember seeing this episode until about 2 years ago when I was binging the show on Netflix. (I've since seen it on MeTV in their regular rotation). When I realized what the plot was, I did a double-take. How did this become the plot of a mainstream show in 1974, when being gay, if it was mentioned at all, was something to be made fun of? Was there a lot of publicity around it? Protests? Boycotting? Did the network have a problem with it or were they supportive?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15510316138088165992017-08-11T19:58:43.900-07:002017-08-11T19:58:43.900-07:00Anyone can edit their own Wikipedia page. Anonymo...Anyone can edit their own Wikipedia page. Anonymous editing is allowed on most pages.<br />There will still be the issue of do you have a proper source, but usually it just ends up with a label of hey we don't have a source here.<br /><br />I once tried to make up a biography of a relative with all sorts of fake accomplishments. It didn't stay up very long.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33508384925797367422017-08-11T16:59:59.006-07:002017-08-11T16:59:59.006-07:00At one time Wikipedia was a serious encyclopedia. ...At one time Wikipedia was a serious encyclopedia. Every fact had to be sourced at least twice, and links to webpages didnt count.<br /><br />Then Stephen Colbert told his audience to alter a few wiki pages as gag, and they did, and Wikipedia was shut dowm for a few days. Since then, it lost credibility.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1669882789627887582017-08-11T16:29:36.258-07:002017-08-11T16:29:36.258-07:00Andy Rose: Because that way the source is document...Andy Rose: Because that way the source is documented, even if it's wrong. It means there's an audit trail for the claims that are made. It is an imperfect way to curate knowledge, and Wikipedians would be the first to acknowledge that, but every page has a talk page where such details are discussed and agreed.<br /><br />That said, it can be a nuisance. A friend spent years trying to fix an error on her page and because the original error was published in the Guardian had no luck (maybe it's fixed now, I don't know). <br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51044317683372068752017-08-11T14:26:25.635-07:002017-08-11T14:26:25.635-07:00In a way, that will be fortuitous Ken.
Because d...In a way, that will be fortuitous Ken. <br /><br />Because due to the over-hype, everyone praised it sky high when it was released. But now with realization after a month, one by one is calling it a dud. So your review will be without any influence of that hype (not that you get influenced :)).<br /><br /><br />Ho, by the way, here is something to interest you... Nolan released it in July similar to guess who and which film....???? ... Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" !!!<br /><br />Yep, the same Spielberg and his movie, which you often recollect in many of your blogs. The fact that Spielberg was pissed that he didn't win the Best Picture, not being happy with the Best Director Oscar. Ha Ha Haa....<br /><br />Nolan's plan: Earn as much as he can now - 20 million + 20% of the profits during this Summer and also win Best Director like Spielberg.<br /><br />He had previously released "Interstellar" during Awards season. But that movie got thrashed by "Big Hero 6" and he got no awards as well. Hence this "genius" plan to earn millions and get the Oscar too.<br /><br />Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87653551701386980192017-08-11T13:59:03.712-07:002017-08-11T13:59:03.712-07:00I have not seen DUNKIRK yet. I'll get around ...I have not seen DUNKIRK yet. I'll get around to it, but lots going on in my life. Eventually I'll catch up to it.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41117261377974975302017-08-11T12:32:47.462-07:002017-08-11T12:32:47.462-07:00Hi Ken,
Waiting for the review of Dunkirk.
And...Hi Ken,<br /><br />Waiting for the review of Dunkirk. <br /><br /><br />And also the related Friday question I asked on July 25th:<br /><br />http://kenlevine.blogspot.in/2017/07/baby-driver-my-review.html<br /><br /><br />In the meantime, I have gone through your previous blogs on Nolan.... Some are appreciating him, some ripping him apart.<br /> <br />You have reviewed almost all his movies till date.<br /><br />Please review this one too, especially the way Hans Zimmer score cons us big time into tense mindset and keeps us that way through the movie using an effect called "Shepard Tone". Only when we come out of the theater and analyse do we realize what a disappointing crap the movie is......<br /><br />Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1946346492701140052017-08-11T12:32:05.139-07:002017-08-11T12:32:05.139-07:00It's a sticky wicket, but the Wikipedia rule a...It's a sticky wicket, but the Wikipedia rule against primary source editing doesn't make a lot of sense. If Alan Alda sees the wrong birthday listed on his Wikipedia page and he fixes it, somebody will complain because Alda is not supposed to change his own page. But if Alda mentions in a magazine interview that the Wikipedia birthday is wrong, and I then fix the article with that interview as my source, it's okay. What's the difference? Alan Alda is still the ultimate source of the information.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.com