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Calling for a genealogist
Are there any genealogists out there stalking my page? I have a feeling that the subject of my scintillating new page is not all he says he is. The dashing Italian marchese and cavalry officer does not seem to be in the Libro d'Oro, which doesn't necessarily mean a problem, but what is a problem is my research seems to show him being born in Shoreditch, London, which is an unusual place for members of the Italian nobility to be born. Does anyone belong to one of those expensive sites that trace people's ancestors. Giano(talk)13:44, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
No secret and he's long dead. It's this man here the Marchese Piero Malacrida de Saint-August, also known as Peter Malacrida. Not only does the British BMD site show him born in Shoreditch in 1989, but this site] shows his aristocratic lineage dying out in 1763, which is very unfortunate. That he was rich and than he was a playboy is not in doubt. A lot of my sources call him "mysterious." He arrived on the London scene fully formed and then disappeared. Howver, I have found him in Dublin and dying there forty years after his "disappearance." British sources have him dying in 1980 and Irish in 1984, still calling himself a marchese. Interesting. Giano(talk)14:02, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I've found a will of probate for a Peter Charles Malacrida who died at 28 Shrewsbury Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, leaving an estate of £11,188. His death date is shown as 22 April 1983. Is this him? CassiantoTalk15:04, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Giano, I have a subscription to Ancestry.com. What is your source for him having been born in Shoreditch? There is a Peter Malacrida who was born there in 1887, rather off his birth date of 1889 and he died in infancy. Obviously the wrong person. The site has a listing for "Pier Maria Malacrida" on the passenger list of a ship arriving in New York in September 1921, birth year c. 1890, nationality "Italian", occupation "journalist". He returned to the UK in January 1922. Gaetano Malacrida appears to be his father. He was a physician who lived on Lake Como and Milan and wrote several medical books. Voceditenore (talk) 16:11, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Our man is Piero L M Malacrida de Saint-August, but he also called himself Pier and Peter. I suspect you have him. I found the Shoreditch birth on the UK Free BMD site, so probably is the wrong one. Giano(talk)16:15, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Lake como area would fit nicely too with the aristocratic Malacrida's although they are using the surname plus area title surname far too early. The "de" rather than "di" is also suspicious, although if they were of Swiss origin perhaps not. Giano(talk)16:17, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks that's really helpful and explains why he is Anglicised to Peter Charles on his death. Is there anything about the him being a Marchese? Giano(talk)16:27, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I cant find him in the Libro d’Oro, but that is far from conclusive, probably just my edition. However, it was not unknown for some people to “promote” themselves, especially if they were interior decorator type people, and Italian titles could come from various origins rather than a single monarchy which makes them harder to verify. It’s where his vast fortune came from that is interesting, and where he went after 1935 before turning up in Ireland 20 years later. He was considered “mysterious” at the time, so would be nice to solve a few puzzles. Thanks for your help. Giano(talk)17:52, 9 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for all your help above. I think I’ve pretty much exhausted all sources, so I’m done with the mysterious marchese, who will have to remain a man of mystery. Shame he was a stub already as DYK May have produced some more info. Giano(talk)09:50, 11 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I'd be thankful for a bit more about HIM ;) - or do I really have to read the article? - I mean, yes, I'm willing to do so and curious, but right now work on one whose birthday is today, and tomorrow want to focus on Clara Schumann, because her bicentenary is on Friday, and she should look presentable ;) - She was the first piano teacher at Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium, and was pictured on a German bank note (with that building in the background), DYK? - Free concerts around her music all days of this week at the place! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:14, 11 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I think we’ll leave it, a: because I don’t know how to format the refs; b: it should have been about her not him; c:I smell a big rat with him and his background. Giano(talk)15:37, 11 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
note:
I was the one that asked for Eric's page to be protected. I notified Eric when I did. He's requested that the protection be removed. I've honored that request. I thought I should be upfront with you about it - even it it means you now think less of me. — Ched (talk) 15:41, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
So Piero studied engineering at Leeds, but it doesn't sound like he ever worked as an engineer. Do you know when exactly he started with the interior design, and with writing about it? I ask because I have written that when he and Nadja met, he was a "journalist and former cavalry officer". And I thought I'd add something about how he started with interior design in the late 1920s. Would that be right, do you think, or was he already doing it when they met? Does Tinniswood have anything to say on the subject? Bishonen | talk20:54, 20 September 2019 (UTC).[reply]
No, is the simple answer. Tinniswood only mentions this internationally important couple on about five pages, where they seem to have “arrived” fully formed. I’ll email you the relevant pages tomorrow. My own research suggests that Malacrida was generally more a “posh” bathroom designer than interior designer, I don’t think he ever designed any interiors at all for real people, more wealthy industrialist type people. I’ll email the pages in the morning. Giano(talk)21:10, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Happy to help. The early 20th century poets have always poked my spirituality. Who can forget Jane Austin’s sensitive and moving words following The Battle of Balaclava? Giano(talk)19:08, 21 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Godric, you are being even more tiresome than usual. Please go away and write a page or try and do something useful. At the moment, for reasons best known to yourself, you are a trolling Bishonen and now trolling me. You are making a complete fool of yourself. Please stop. Giano(talk)20:27, 26 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]
"This account is currently blocked. The latest block log entry is provided below for reference:
11:29, 13 November 2019 K6ka talk contribs blocked Giano talk contribs with an expiration time of indefinite (account creation blocked) (Suspected compromised account)
Oh dear. I've unblocked, as I can say with confidence that the account is not compromised. If it talks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's Giano. Bishonen | talk12:06, 13 November 2019 (UTC).[reply]
Thank you very much. Yes, it is indeed me. How very perceptive of you to spot it. I did think Wikipedia had moved on a little from these subversive, silencing blocks issued by Arbs and their lackeys in secret. Probably orchestrated off-site on some clandestine chat channel I wouldn't be surprised. Poor Eric's monumental list of pages of FAs and GAs must be a huge embarrassment for them - very hard to explain. I woudl try and suppress his contributions too, if I was responsible for his absence. Giano(talk)12:12, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
It appears that the administrator who blocked you as a compromised account (which you're not), is now himself being suspected of being compromised. GoodDay (talk) 16:51, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Evidence? K6ka has been acting weirdly for sure. Maybe they are just incompetent or malicious, instead of compromised. That's reassuring...JehochmanTalk17:52, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
What a fucking toxic, depressing place ANI is. I felt Jehochman was unfairly treated there by Pradixicae, is that their name? They certainly did not come out of that looking particularly good. CassiantoTalk18:18, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
My real life (yes, I do have one) has caused me to miss this less than exciting afternoon. It seems we are returning to the dark Wikipedian days which so many of us fought to overturn - Surreptitious blocks, off-site scheming coupled with an Arbitration Committee instructed from elsewhere. I recently noted with some joy, however, that candidates for the forthcoming election no longer have to give their private details and names to the WMF; so I encourage as many as possible to put their names forward. Giano(talk)20:33, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Never mind, nobody in their right mind would wish to join that cringing, lack lustre cohort of WMF toadies. We are all better off ploughing our own furrow and doing what we know to be right. Giano(talk)20:55, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I see I missed high drama. The nerve of blanking Eric's user page. Thank you for drawing attention to it, I'm glad you are unblocked, and I've thanked Scottywong for restoring the page; I also owe thanks to all of you who assembled to express your disgust. Yngvadottir (talk) 22:48, 14 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
life can be very tiresome, but the totally despicable Arbs have made their point, for no other reason than pure malevolent spite. Attempting to suppress evidence of the many pages Eric Corbett created and raised to GA and FA is beneath contempt. I shall continue to ensure all who visit Wikipedia are aware who actually writes the project. Giano(talk)20:49, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, that’s the universal cure for all evil here. However, what people like you are always too stupid to see, is that if you drive people underground, they will always need to pop up for air. Moral: Treat people like worms and they will tend to behave like snakes. So don’t complain when you get bitten. Giano(talk)21:37, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Oh well, at least he’s here, the other Arbs are disassociating themselves, on their talk pages, from Eric’s edits as fast as they can. The world hasn’t seen such hurried activity since Lady Macbeth and Pontius Pilate installed new bathrooms. Giano(talk)21:48, 13 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Beware, Giano, it’s the silly season. Several candidates will try to differentiate themselves by taking a hard line against “problem” editors. A better candidate strategy is to relax and avoid escalating disputes. JehochmanTalk01:35, 15 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
....and you young man can keep your clever comments to yourself! My nephew has enough to contend with without your less than smart ejaculations. Fortunately my celebrated perception alerted me to the commencement of the silly season, so with that in mind, I have put my fountain pen to writing paper and begun another of my highly informative election guides. Everything one needs to know and a great deal more than necessary about the candidates. There are one or two hopefuls, though, this year, which is a great improvement on previous elections. My succinct and concise guide will save people endless hours trawling through dull questions and their less than honest replies, not to mention all those boastful statements telling porkies about themselves. The Lady Catherine de Burgh (talk) 18:16, 15 November 2019 (UTC)t[reply]
My apologies, m'Lady. Will I still be required to provide your sinister browed aunt The Dowager Christina with her supply of natural oils at the usual address? I must regretfully point out that your perceptions of the candidature of some local clique, while certainly likely entertaining, is of no import to me as I intend to be no less infrequent a visitor to these climes as I have recently been. LessHeard vanU (talk) 17:04, 16 November 2019 (UTC) ps. The Slovian Attache to the Republic of Cameroon sends his regards.[reply]
Oh Hell! Did I, are you sure? I can’t even think what it looks like. This is what happens when a bunch of incompetents ban an editor who still has work to be showcased! I’ll take a look on Eric’s behalf. If it’s something serious we will have to get him to fix it by email and proxy. Giano(talk)18:39, 16 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Giano, your editing has been disruptive and your harassment isn't going to be tolerated. I've blocked you for 72 hours. Please do not repeat this. If you want to edit then please stick to articles. Thank you, — Berean Hunter(talk)20:27, 16 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Berean Hunter, what you removed was not harrassment, and neither you nor anyone else is in a position to tell Giano to "stick to articles". You're not sticking to articles either. ---Sluzzelintalk20:57, 16 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Berean Hunter, funny you should be here, seeing as it was you who also blocked Eric's sock. Tell me, is it your intention to run off every editor who has ever done anything good on this failing project? CassiantoTalk21:09, 16 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
No worries, I don't much care for AN or it's evil twin sister (too twisted and corrupt for my liking), but you have to play these people at their own game. It appears the peanut gallery are out in force, so I expect someone will wind it up soon and crack on with trying to block another productive editor from somewhere. CassiantoTalk22:02, 16 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Sometimes it’s worth playing the long game. (Yes, yes, in the long run we’re all dead so the long run doesn’t matter. I mean a long run that’s not quite that long.) JehochmanTalk02:15, 17 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Long game, short game, it’s all the same to me. Never look back and never appolagise is a pretty good maxim for life. 72 hours for posting that to a little watched talk page has done Eric far more good than I ever could. Then the pure, but predicted joy of watching the well organised militia troop out like the marching chocolate soldiers to endorse the block. Sometimes, it’s dull always being right and I do feel guilty - it’s rather like thieving candy from a baby. I shall spend the remaining time listening to a little Wagner, always so inspiring when one is surrounded by so many less than heroic figures. Giano(talk)19:15, 17 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I did indeed say Wagner, in particular, Der Ring des Nibelungen. All of Wikipedia passes through, such fun spotting the characters. I, however, despite not being an Admin, am not prepared to be treated as a Nibelungen, nor am I (as very weirdly wished for on the Admin’s board yesterday) going to die. So at the risk of mixing my metaphors, the Chocolate Soldiers are not quite going to cut the mustard and you dear Gerda wont have to sing the Liebestod here just yet. Giano(talk)20:46, 17 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I saw Christine Goerke, as Brunhilda, at the Met in the early part of this year and thought her superb, but the critics panned her. Which just goes to show Wikipedia and Wagner have so much in common - No matter how much you give, non-performers will always queue to knock you down. Giano(talk)21:44, 17 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Well, I an not quite ready for any Liebestode yet tearful, over my dead body or otherwise because I am going nowhere. We have the elections to look forward to, always a fun, diverting time over the season of communal good cheer! Talking of the Met, I saw Elīna Garanča there about ten years ago, now her weeping over my corpse just might be an incentive to die - should any of our chocolate soldiers have the nouse to arrange it. However, I rather think the Met may partly be one of Wikipedia’s problems: most Americans here do seem to be a worryingly long way from New York in so very many respects, don’t they? Giano(talk)22:37, 17 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Although it is perhaps unconventional to be deadly serious on Giano's talk page, I've just gone round and cleaned up a bunch of well-meaning but poor quality edits that made (IMHO) the respective articles worse. In the case of Eric's contributions, especially the FAs, I think we could be in real trouble in the long term of looking like a laughing stock when somebody points to something like the Cottingley Fairies and thinks "who wrote that unsourced crap?" not realising that it was added by an IP in South Korea with no edit summary while nobody was looking, and the one subject expert who could quickly defend and fix it is indefinitely blocked. This is not good. Ritchie333(talk)(cont)13:29, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Ritchie333: The people who run this project (elected and employed) could not give a flying cuss whether the project is a laughing stock or indeed has any seriously good pages. Their only concern is that everyone says pretty please and thank you and holds a porcelain tea cup with a crooked little finger. The fact that most of us drink out of mugs, live in the real world and can sometimes be tetchy, especially when concentrating on a serious page is of no consideration and such crimes are therefore punishable by wiki-death. I sometimes think it's a problem caused by different nationalities and cultures. However, ultimately the problem is that Randy in Boise is given a huge leeway denied to long standing editors who have a few serious pages in their edit list. Nobody seems to be denying Eric's forced departure is a loss to the project's content; which clearly indicatives that content is not paramount. It's rather like saying the James Bond books should now be rewritten by a 14-year-old schoolchild in Oklahoma because Ian Flemming was a bad tempered, violent sadomasochist who drank too much and cheated on his wife. As far as I know, only one of those vices pertains to Eric. Giano(talk)16:23, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
As the quality of a page improves, the threshold of competence required to edit it increases proportionally. So while Randy could edit his favourite list of Pokemon (that has been tagged "requiring more citations" since April 2009) without too much problem, he wouldn't be able to do anything about Bramshill House without understanding the underlying facts and peer reviewing that has gone into the prose. And consequently when they are reverted by one of the editors who has spent several months of their life working on the topic with an exasperated "aww jeez not this again", they run off to complain to the civility police, who don't understand the quality / competence level graph. Or, to vaguely paraphrase Orwell - civility good, competence better. Or indeed, to paraphrase Antandrus, we need Wikipedia:Administrator intervention against incompetence. Ritchie333(talk)(cont)16:36, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
It is indeed a problem, and I don't know the answer. Without blowing my own trumpet, I probably know as much about architecture and English country houses as most of those interested in those subjects here, but I'm not able to edit Bramshill House other than in the most general terms because I don't know it and it's not on my radar, and more importantly it's not seriously covered in any of my thousands of books and neither is it a subject covered exhaustively on the internet. So if Wikipedia is serious about its intent to pass on knowledge, and it knowingly accepts hundreds of thousands of edits from a single editor (as it has done with Eric), then it has a moral obligation to keep that editor if only to further and preserve its own aims. Giano(talk)17:15, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
So, L235 reverts Ritchie333 who reverted Berean Hunter who reverted Giano and his talk page message about whether ArbCom feel embarrassed at having one of Eric's FAs appear on the MP the other day. L235, so keen to be backslapped and adulated by said committee, now plans to show the talk page message to ArbCom which, ironically, is what Giano was blocked for. Shouldn't we now block L235 for this "disruptive" behaviour? Maybe Berean Hunter could oblige? What say you, Berean Hunter? CassiantoTalk19:01, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Personally, with established editors, I'm in favour of talking far more and blocking not at all. When I was teaching, I often felt that punishing a naughty child was a mark of my failure to get through to them. Handing out blocks leaves the same impression. Except that we're now dealing with grown people, and frankly, that isn't the way to solve problems among adults. --RexxS (talk) 01:05, 19 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
The whole place stinks of corruptions
There’s an amazing thread here: a former checkuser hasn’t a clue what he’s doing, so just uses the logs for browsing and gossiping - exactly where he gossips about the logs we aren’t told. However, now he’s to be reinstated after a little retraining on confidentiality by someone with whom he had a chat at some meet-up. Now what is even more astounding is that both the chatty checkuser and his naive mentor are candidates for Arbcom. One just couldn’t make it up. Giano(talk)20:57, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
[2] Ah yes, Beeblebrox, an admin who considers Eric to have been "harassing" someone (no diff provided) and you to have "vandalised" a talk page by posting a legitimate question on it. Don't worry though, because Beeblebrox then considers Eric's "harassing" behaviour to be "equally as stupid as gravedancing" and demands that both should "not be tolerated". Funny that, because when Eric was being gravedanced by MJL and BabbaQ, Beeblebrox was deathly silent on the matter. Hmmm... CassiantoTalk21:30, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, well he has is amply rewarded for his loyalty. What’s incomprehensible is that the rank and file just accept this. I would have thought a CU gossiping about the logs was akin to a priest breaking his confessional oath - clearly Wikipedia’s elite has even less integrity and honour than even I imagined. Giano(talk)21:42, 18 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
i hope you two are having a good time in your little discussion here. Please do go on, but please do not ping me again over it as there's nothing here that interests me one bit. Beeblebrox (talk) 05:28, 19 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]
The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia arbitration process. It has the authority to impose binding solutions to disputes between editors, primarily for serious conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the authority to impose site bans, topic bans, editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail.