Talk:Main Page

Announcement! I've just updated Pipedia to Mediawiki 1.15.0. Please let me know if you notice any strange or unexpected behaviors. --sethile [1] 02:36, 24 June 2009 (UTC)

Lots of spam here lately so I have protected this page so that only registered users can contribute. --sethile 16:20, 4 May 2009 (CDT)

What do you think we should strive to do with Pipedia?

Obviously, as with any wiki, this site will be defined by the interests of its contributors. Pipedia has the potential to be a great resource--constantly evolving with historical and current information about the entire scope of the World of tobacco pipes. Please contribute as you have the time, interest, and knowledge.

The current focus has been building articles on pipe makers. The main page could also be a take off point for sub pages on the history of pipes, pipe tobaccos, packing techniques, pipe cleaning, repair, restoration, pipe making, and pretty much any other pipe related topics. Some of these sections have their own pages, for now linked to from Sections Under Development. They each have extensive sub levels, and several of them could become even more extensive. Open for suggestions as to the best way to organize this.

Please discuss any ideas you have for Pipedia here.

If you need any help contributing, please let me know. I'll be happy to help you get started. E-mail me at mailto:sethile.pipes@gmail.com

More Contributors Needed

Come on all you Pipemakers, Pipe Smokers & interested parties. Please contribute information to help make this the most comprehensive Pipe/Pipemaker encyclopedia on the internet.

Frank

Organization

The main page size got too big, which happened once before. This is great, BTW! It's a good sign! I've bought us some wiggle room again by moving Heather's clay pipe article, and the alternative wood sections into their own articles.

Another option would be to have separate articles listing pipe makers for each country (I actually started it that way at first, but did not like it as much). I think we may have room to grow again now, at least for a while, and I like having all the makers coming off of the main page, but I can see that might eventually become impossible. If so, it's a great problem to have!

If we need to split them up, it would facilitate more history about pipe making in each area. I suppose we could do it by continent first, and then list by country again.

I'm completely open to suggestions on any of this. If you have any solutions in terms of organization, and keeping the main page a manageable size just let me know. --sethile 23:51, 30 August 2007 (EDT)

Hey guys. Any thought to using categories here? It seems like a nice way to keep things organized. link here to mediawiki's category page If you don't mind, I'll set up one or two categories, and see if you like it. We can always roll back the changes. Bmackenty 10:51, 29 March 2008 (EDT)

I think using categories is a great idea. I'd thought about it before, but never explored it. I'm be very interested in seeing what you come up with for us. Thanks! --sethile 18:37, 29 March 2008 (EDT)

I added the "pipe making" category to the Argentinian pipe makers. If you like, I can add more. I like categories because as the wiki grows, managing and organizing a large amount of information becomes difficult. But of course, please tell me what you think. If you don't like them, it's very easy to remove. Bmackenty 08:21, 30 March 2008 (EDT)

Oh yes, I see the possibilities. Very cool.... Should we also organize the pipe makers by country or region by listing that as a sub-category? For the present, how would this tie into the main page? I guess for now we keep them listed separately there, but is there a way we could pull in the sub-category pages instead? Thanks very much for your input and help! --sethile 09:38, 30 March 2008 (EDT)

Yup. Here's what I'll do. I'll make the pipe maker: nation subcategory. and assign polish and Argentinian pipe makers. If you like it, we can easily add more :-) When a visitor comes to the category page then will see categories and subcategories. For example, under pipe makers, they will see an alphabetized list of all argentina pipe makers, and then polish pipe makers and then Danish pipe makers, etc... I'll add Argentina and Poland in a moment, and then if you like we can continue. Happy to help and support a hobby I genuinely enjoy Bmackenty 09:52, 30 March 2008 (EDT)

ok. The category and sub category pages are done. you can see Polish and Argentinian pipes, and of course, click on Polish category to see only polish pipes. I might one more country, just so you can see what it looks like. Bmackenty 10:38, 30 March 2008 (EDT)

Great new feature! But I find it a little bit confusing to sort the pipemakers following their first names. Very teutonic, I know ;-) But there's the fundamental problem that some pipemakers use a brand / sales name and others don't. How to find a consistant nomenclature or systematics here on Pipedia? YOUR thoughts?

good point. Maybe I can add a (country) after their name? hmmm. I'll try some different permutations. Thanks for the feedback! Bmackenty 14:22, 30 March 2008 (EDT)

Well, here's the thing. Right now the category page shows pipes by country - so if a visitor clicks on a countries name, they will see a list of pipe makers. Are the names we use here generally the names the pipe makers use? So if I click on Denmark, I will see a list of Danish pipe makers by the name they wish to be associated with. Maybe we don't need to change anything, but have a note at the top of the category page which explains that some pipe makers have different names? Bmackenty 14:40, 30 March 2008 (EDT)

Thanks or your reply, Bill! To give an example, there are 6 Johnsons... Version 1 would be

• J
• David Johnson (Ozark Mountain Briars)
• Richard Johnson
• Stephen Johnson (Alpine Briars)
• Steve Johnson
• Todd M. Johnson (STOA Briars)
• Tom Johnson (Luna Pipes)

Version 2 would look like

• A
• Alpine Briars (Stephen Johnson)
• J
• Richard Johnson
• Steve Johnson
• L
• Luna Pipes (Tom Johnson)
• O
• Ozark Mountain Briars (David Johnson)
• S
• STOA Briars (Todd M. Johnson)

There's another problem: "John Aylesbury" (DE), "Mauro Cateni" (IT), "Peter Rasmussen" (DK) and others more are not real persons but fictional names. In these cases I'd lean forward to sort "Mauro Cateni" (e.g.) under M. -- Now, as far as I can see, we haven't applied a standard consequently yet. That's making it difficult. For sure, doing it from now on would make it necassary to re-name numerous pages and alter x internal links. I'm a ... \n

Paths Are Made By Walking

2012s Baccalaureate speaker at the University of Pennsylvania was an unconventional choice for an Ivy League school. To address their newly-minted graduates, aspiring to dazzling careers, they picked a man who has never in his adult life, applied for a job. A man who hasnt worked for pay in nearly a decade, and whose self-stated mission is simply "to bring smiles to the world and stillness to my heart".

[Paths Are Made By Walking]

[GoodvilleNews.com - good, positive news, inspirational stories, articles]

A Savior At the Grocery Store

Numbly, I left my husband, Marty, at the hospital where I had been visiting two of my children and headed for the grocery store. Since it was eleven p.m., I drove to the only store I knew was open twenty-four hours a day. I turned my car motor off and rested my head against the seat.

[A Savior At the Grocery Store]

[GoodvilleNews.com - good, positive news, inspirational stories, articles]

The Business 9 Women Kept A Secret For Three Decades

Somewhere in West Tennessee, not far from Graceland, nine women -- or "The 9 Nanas," as they prefer to be called -- gather in the darkness of night. At 4am they begin their daily routine -- a ritual that no one, not even their husbands, knew about for 30 years. They have one mission and one mission only: to create happiness. And it all begins with baked goods.One of us starts sifting the flour and another washing the eggs,

[The Business 9 Women Kept A Secret For Three Decades]

[GoodvilleNews.com - good, positive news, inspirational stories, articles]

Journey to the End of the Earth

I realized quickly, after just having traveled to various villages in rural India, that distance is relative. Hailing from a city like San Francisco, going even a few hours outside of town is far but twelve hours outside of a major city? I half expected to run into another country.

[Journey to the End of the Earth]

[GoodvilleNews.com - good, positive news, inspirational stories, articles]

An Incredible Graduation Gift from Dad

Brenna Martins dad evidently doesnt like last-minute shopping. Bryan Martin a purchased a gift for his daughters high school graduation -- which happened earlier this month -- thirteen years ago. He managed to keep it hidden this whole time, and his "moving, touching, nostalgic, and thoughtful" present (her words) brought Brenna to tears when dad finally gave it to her last week.

[An Incredible Graduation Gift from Dad]

[GoodvilleNews.com - good, positive news, inspirational stories, articles]