User talk:David H. Barrett

Welcome!

Welcome to the Citizendium! We hope you will contribute boldly and well. Here are pointers for a quick start. You'll probably want to know how to get started as an author. Just look at CZ:Getting Started for other helpful "startup" links, and CZ:Home for the top menu of community pages. Be sure to stay abreast of events via the Citizendium-L (broadcast) mailing list (do join!) and the blog. Please also join the workgroup mailing list(s) that concern your particular interests. You can test out editing in the sandbox if you'd like. If you need help to get going, the forums is one option. That's also where we discuss policy and proposals. You can ask any constable for help, too. Me, for instance! Just put a note on their "talk" page. Again, welcome and have fun! D. Matt Innis 09:51, 8 July 2008 (CDT)

hey welcome from a History editor. We really need help in Australian history--the most basic stuff. As a Yank I can edit it but I'm not ready to start writing it. Richard Jensen 10:42, 8 July 2008 (CDT)

It's a party, and you're invited!

Hi ! Your CZ Write-a-Thon MC here. Please head over to the Party Room and add yourself to the list of revelers in whatever category you think appropriate. Thanks for contributing! Aleta Curry 18:43, 6 August 2008 (CDT)

From your friendly neighbourhood mistress of ceremonies

I signed you in at The August Party Do join us on Wednesday September 2nd for what I hope will be a very active party with music, music, music. Theme: "My Favourite Band" (or, 'ensemble' or 'group' or 'orchestra' or 'singer' or 'recording' or...? Aleta Curry 23:17, 7 August 2008 (CDT)

Maxwell

David, I noticed that you improved some of my English in Isaac Newton. I appreciate that. Could you also have a quick glance at James Clerk Maxwell, especially the first part (his biography)? The second part is probably too tedious for a non-scientist, so I don't dare to ask you to read that. I feel that there is lots of room of improvement in my wording, so I would be grateful if you could have a look.--Paul Wormer 03:49, 9 August 2008 (CDT)

Thank you very much! --Paul Wormer 02:25, 10 August 2008 (CDT)

Reverted changes

David,

The U.S. military has a number of conventions, which admittedly may not be standard English, but is what the relevant documents use. I've written about some of the conventions in classified information and compartmented control system, but, in general, a program name such as COMBAT SHADOW, SENIOR YEAR, RIVET JOINT, etc., will be in ALL CAPS. Most security markings will be ALL CAPS, so a document might be marked SECRET/CCO or TOP SECRET/SPECAT/POLO STEP.

To change this for reasons of general editorial style can easily break links. Please do not change the capitalization in military references unless you are certain that the organization that uses it has a different convention.

While it might not be the case here, CZ naming conventions force some breaking of the military names: I can't, for example, create an article under the proper name of AN/SPG-62, but chose to do SPG-62 as the article name, piping reference to appear with the AN/ or other prefix, such as TSEC/

Howard C. Berkowitz 14:58, 13 August 2008 (CDT)

I grant that the military itself is not consistent. If you look at compartmented control system--classified information is the less frightening predecessor--you'll find references to the Director of National Intelligence, Department of Defense, and other material that specify the standard.

Believe me, there are times where no one knows how to mark something. There are enough nuances, however, that some forgeries are immediately apparent. For example, there was an "expose" by a Professor Ganser, saying that U.S. "Gladio" stay-behind networks were in every country of Western Europe. In fact, there was a Gladio specifically for Italy. One of his major "references", was an alleged "Field Manual 31-21B", or a TOP SECRET supplement to the Special Forces Operational Techniques manual. The problem was that the Army Field Manuals are not used for TOP SECRET. There is, indeed, a SECRET supplement, 31-21A, which I have read...and about which I can't go into detail. Now, if exactly the same material was titled a "European Command Contingency Plan", that would have been an appropriate document for that classification level.

Back when I dealt frequently such things, I had a rubber stamp made up, which I gave as a Christmas present to several colleague and kept one myself. It was quite in the format of a special handling stamp, but read "DESTROY BEFORE READING". We would randomly stamp it on silly yet classified documents, and caused all manner of hysterics.

Oh -- I did go back and fixed some typos you found, and found another one we both hand missed. Thanks. Howard C. Berkowitz 16:01, 13 August 2008 (CDT)

Welcome

Glad to see another history guy round these parts. Welcome! Denis Cavanagh 17:25, 16 August 2008 (CDT)

Duffy is a very common name over here, but as you may imagine I have no idea what it means! Anyway, if we share interests in certain areas I'd be more than happy to work with you on something. Denis Cavanagh 07:13, 19 August 2008 (CDT)