Infosphere:Conference Table/Old format

The Conference Table is for discussion of the Infosphere, and proposals for new ideas. For information about upcoming changes to the Infosphere, see Current events.

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Our competition
Our competition, which includes two other wiki's. The community sides in the community portal does work with the same goal. We work to collect all information Futurama, in an objective unbiased (except for the fact that we love the show, so I guess we are biased). But yet, we are the fifth result on Google when searching for futurama wiki. In fact, the best competition we have is Wikipedia, which I am afraid is doing some better jobs on some issues. Also because they have all the delicious extensions. Yum yum. My point is... it has been awfully quiet lately, and also by the spambots. Either we did something efficient, or they are taking a break. But it seems only the regular editors are the one who views this wiki. So uh, we need to spread the word more efficiently.

Also, I'd like permission to edit CSS and Javascript/HTML, please. (you knew this was coming) --SvipTalk 13:52, 14 July 2007 (PDT)
 * Also, if I may add, this wiki does not appear to have an article on The Matt Groening Community Wiki. --SvipTalk 14:03, 14 July 2007 (PDT)
 * I just searched for Futurama wiki on google and now were 4th yeh, not much improvement but still -  Humorbot 0.4  [[Image:Planet_Express_Logo.png|20px]] 13:54, 25 November 2007 (PST)

Wikia's Futurama wiki
I recently thought only Wikipedia was our enemy, but apparently Wikia's Futurama wiki has been revived. However, while it is obvious that we still have a lot more information (since it appears by the recent changes article that only a single person is making their pages). I am still wondering why they are even bothering. I mean, Wikia might as well go and buy our wiki. However, I have noticed that they don't link to us any more. --SvipTalk 09:53, 7 January 2008 (PST)
 * Proberbly because if anyone follows the link they'll go wiat a second.... this wiki is much better -  Humorbot 0.4  [[Image:Planet_Express_Logo.png|20px]] 14:21, 7 January 2008 (PST)
 * Just an update, this wiki is the third result in Google! Samanathon 22:17, 9 January 2008 (PST)
 * If you search for Futurama alone on Google, we appear on page 3, and I cannot even seen the Wikia wiki by page 12. I say quite good given there are over 13 million results for Futurama on Google.  Hah.  Remember, Google does not base its relevance on links by its titles, but rather by what other sites links to it as.  --SvipTalk 16:19, 25 January 2008 (PST)
 * There are tricks to getting a website higher up on Google's results the interlinking within this wiki could be enough to boost our position, it's what helps other wikis. If there's a wiki for a topic it's almost always on the first few results. The more often we link to Futurama rather than just typing it the better (though adding "Futurama" to articles needlessly is a bad idea). Also, duplicating the Futurama page to Futurama/Futurama and linking between them would help too. That worked for Charlie Todd. - Quolnok 18:26, 25 January 2008 (PST)
 * I've looked at one of the other wikis and it was really hard to navigate - Fryandgarfield
 * Well, we did focus a lot on the navigation lately. We wanted it to become as easy as possible.  We admit though that our system isn't perfect, and still be improved.  Any suggestions are more than welcome.  I have been considering making an Navigation page describing how to use the navigation plus more. --SvipTalk 10:57, 10 March 2008 (PDT)

Merchandise
Hey, I was thinking we should maybe include info on Futurama merchandise as well as the fiction? Some suggestions: I got this idea from the Transformers wikia, which obviously is much more closely connected with toys than Futurama, but still thought it might be a good idea. Thoughts? SwitChar 07:35, 21 October 2007 (PDT)
 * Sections on action figures, statues and other toys and such in character articles
 * Similar sections on merchandise in articles on objects, products or animals, like sections on merch incarnations of the PE ship, Slurm or Brain slugs.
 * Articles on certain lines of toys or merchandise like shirts/clothing, the retro tin wind-ups, games etc.
 * I don't know about having it in the articles. They're filled with extraneous info as it is, and any more may burst them! But it really depends on how in-depth the info is, I guess. If it's just a quick "There's a toy of this thing" and a screenshot, that could easily be added... But if it's a detailed description and examination and critical review and notes on all points of articulation, then they probably need their own article (or an article for all merch, each thing with its own section). --Buddy 13:23, 21 October 2007 (PDT)
 * Actually many articles Don't have extraneous info, only a select few do. There actually needs to be more with extraneous info. At least, if you want the informational purpose of the wiki to be fulfilled.Anarchy Balsac 18:47, 4 January 2008 (PST)
 * I agree, for the most part, but anything notable enough to have a toy made of it is likely to be something that has tons of info in the article about it. But yes, many things should be expanded. --Buddy 18:26, 3 February 2008 (PST)

i agree i think we should have an article for all that stuff dr zoidberg 14

The Films
Let's talk about the films. So far, we are getting a release soon of the first one. However, I hate to admit, but yes, it is already leaked and wild on the Internet. While I do not endorse it, I could simply not wait. So yes, I have watched it. While I will reveal as little of the plot as possible before the film is released. I can tell the following "hard data":

The production code for the film is not XACV01, it is 5ACV01, 5ACV02, 5ACV03, 5ACV04, clearly making the production code for the four episodes it is supposed to be cut into.

Yes, the film has a title caption. And most appropriately it is "It just won't stay dead!", which I suggest as a quote on the front page. That is all for now.

P.S. Don't think I am not getting a real copy of the film, I have already preordered it, so there. I am a honest guy, just a very impatient honest guy. --SvipTalk 02:57, 20 November 2007 (PST)
 * That production code does make more sense. I'm holding out for the release date, the Xth of Y, 200Z. - Quolnok 05:16, 20 November 2007 (PST)

where can you watch it (i also preorderd it so dont think im not doing my part) p.s send me an email if you dont want any one else to know at hwrempel@shaw.ca dr zoidberg 14


 * I have already reserved my copy on Amazon. I see no reason not to post advanced details on the Bender's Big Score page--as long as a spoiler alert is included for people like me who are waiting for the movie to arrive in a mailbox near me. Almost every other show-centric wiki posts advance info on upcoming episodes, and I see this as being no different. But I won't read it until after I watch my copy of the movie. And I won't seek out the internet version. Also, while I was on Amazon, I ordered the 2008 calendar. Hooray Futurama. --Buddy 14:04, 22 November 2007 (PST)
 * Well, I understand your reason, and respect them. Obviously, otherwise you probably ban me or something.  But since you say so, I shall write the plot outline.  However, when you have watched it, there are many discussions to be had. --SvipTalk 16:17, 22 November 2007 (PST)
 * I will never ban for watching pirated material. HOwever, this is not the place to discuss how to attain illegal material (pirated Futurama or otherwise). That would be a bannable offense. Not because I have a moral objection to it (you should see my music collection), but because the site could get in real legal trouble and get shut down if stuff like that started going on here. --Buddy 16:21, 22 November 2007 (PST)

sory dr zoidberg 14

how are they going to make it into eps any way will they take an act and make into one ep will they have diferent pepoles difrent perspectives or what dr zoidberg 14
 * We simply do not know. They may even add some scenes not seen in the films.  Our best bet is to sit back and wait.  --SvipTalk 09:57, 23 November 2007 (PST)
 * *Pleased but sticky* Someone put it on a website stream, there's this program I use to meander about the internet and it somewhat randomly got foisted on me. I tried to hold out (indefinitely, I might add) for the release (for a day or so after finding it), but, well, I couldn't resist. I saw it, I will still eventually buy it as soon as it comes out, whenever that is. Also, it's very hot here. - Quolnok 22:17, 27 November 2007 (PST)
 * Sounds a lot like StumbleUpon, which is exactly how I found it. Stumbling blindly around the internet is fun. --Buddy 13:39, 2 December 2007 (PST)

Not big new for everyone else but now I've seen it -  Humorbot 0.4   13:13, 30 November 2007 (PST)
 * As have I, now that it arrived! Commentaries, special features, scripts... awesome! --Buddy 13:39, 2 December 2007 (PST)

on wikepidea and imdb it says the beast with a billion backs is coming out march 18th and theres also a link to tvbloger but i dont have an acount so i dont know if its relible if any one has any info let me know dr zoidberg 14


 * I have for the sake of our viewers added the date as a rumour. Since we cannot access this blog and get confirmation.  We must remain like this.  But as far as I can tell from the URL, the blog was posted back in September, 2007.  And I am not sure we had any sort of information about this film's release back then. --SvipTalk 15:23, 25 January 2008 (PST)

Why was the beast with a million eyes reference removed? It seems plausible this could be a double reference.Anarchy Balsac 17:17, 26 January 2008 (PST)

Background Jokes
I was thinking, both the simpsons and Futurama are known for their background jokes. Should there be a list for the background jokes on every episode? I think if we're to be a collective hub of Futurama info it would be important to do so.Anarchy Balsac 18:35, 7 January 2008 (PST)

do you mean a master list or for each episode dr zoidberg 14

Yeah, something like a trivia list except it says "background jokes" as its title.Anarchy Balsac 07:01, 11 January 2008 (PST)

great idea i say yes dr zoidberg 14


 * Would they need time-indices? --Buddy 18:36, 3 February 2008 (PST)
 * Wouldn't hurt, though it would make the task more tedious.Anarchy Balsac 21:21, 15 February 2008 (PST)

Reopen IP edits
We have been running on required registration for a while now, and while it appears to be working just fine, I still feel it would be better if we allowed unregistered people to edit articles. But to avoid spambots we can use one of the following extensions; ConfirmEdit or ReCAPTCHA, I personal suggest the former one. This extension will require users unregistered to enter a CAPTCHA every time they edit. Are you logged in, you are not required to do so. It allows unregistered people to edit small things. E.g. a random bystander who spots an error in article, and just wants to fix it briefly, but has no intention of becoming a full member. Opinions? --SvipTalk 09:23, 12 January 2008 (PST)


 * Sounds good I think its been long enough and the CAPTCHA isea is great -  Humorbot 0.4  [[Image:Planet_Express_Logo.png|20px]] 12:52, 12 January 2008 (PST)
 * Certainly worth trying it. - Quolnok 18:55, 12 January 2008 (PST)

People who want to seriously contribute will have no trouble signing up. If you aren't too lazy to put in major contributions, you shouldn't be too lazy to sign up. Given how easy it is to DOS wikis, keeping the spam out by preventing the unregistered people from editing is a great idea.Anarchy Balsac 04:42, 13 January 2008 (PST)
 * While I somewhat agree with your statement, I also somewhat disagree. The problem is that a lot of viewers who come here for the purpose of the wiki (delivering information to the public) can at times spot errors in the things we have written and perhaps think that they could just fix that for us (as a gesture), but not for the idea of being a complete member.  But (some of) these people aren't really gonna do that when they are blocked by the "registration required" page.  Which means we can have a good deal of typos left in the wild.  I still think we should try it.  If it is a failure, then we will close it again. --SvipTalk 06:19, 13 January 2008 (PST)


 * Both good arguments, and I cannot decide. And so...

On the matter of re-opening the editing:

dr zoidberg 14
 * SvipTalk
 * Quolnok


 * Anarchy Balsac 01:03, 4 February 2008 (PST)

If "Accept" wins, I'll install that extension as a precaution. And, as was stated, if it works, we can always change it back. --Buddy 18:39, 3 February 2008 (PST)

Looks like "accept" wins. So we'll be re-opening open editing. But I'm in the mood for a break from the technical side of this site for a while, so unless Svip wants to do it (I think he can do it now), it'll be a few weeks. --Buddy 13:28, 4 March 2008 (PST)

IP Edits Open!... and closed
I have now installed the ReCAPTCHA extension. And now non-logged in users can edit. The CAPTCHA are trigged on the following situations: We will keep it like this for a month, if it goes wrong again, it will be removed. I have kept the old settings in LocalSettings.php, just commented out. --SvipTalk 07:46, 7 March 2008 (PST)
 * Guests creating account.
 * Guests making edit.
 * Guests creating a new page.
 * There will be an extra CAPTCHA for users posting a lot of external links.
 * And so I closed it again, apparently that caused more trouble I had hoped for. Seemed we got a huge amount of 500's all of the sudden.  Maybe it was bad scripted.  I am not sure what exactly did it, but now that it is gone, everything seems to be working again.  However, I still think that the DreamHost servers are a bit too unstable for a site such as this.  I'll look into some other hosts. --SvipTalk 09:12, 7 March 2008 (PST)

Interwiki link!
I have a week suggested to add infosphere: in the general Interwiki map, this means that on wikis like Wikipedia, writing Main Page will link them here. You can read the discussion here;. While there is no decision yet, the user Lar says that if no one objects, it will be included in next round they add interwikis. We can only hope. --SvipTalk 14:12, 16 January 2008 (PST)
 * If all goes as planned, it will be listed here. --SvipTalk 14:15, 16 January 2008 (PST)
 * That's awesome Svip! Great idea!! Samanathon 11:06, 18 January 2008 (PST)
 * I suggetsted that a while back, I guess we were still to young then... - Quolnok 20:16, 18 January 2008 (PST)
 * \o/ It has been added, you can see it on the list here. And see the discussion here.  Note, that the update of the interwiki database is updated every few months, last time was in September, so it can only be soon. --SvipTalk 06:03, 30 January 2008 (PST)
 * Awesome, awesome to the max. - Quolnok 16:44, 30 January 2008 (PST)
 * Freakin' sweet! So now, on Wikipedia articles, they just have to type Philip J. Fry to link to our article? That's mega-awesome. --Buddy 18:40, 3 February 2008 (PST)
 * They just recently had a database update, so I tested it on Wikipedia and other WikiMedia Foundation sites, and it works. Sadly though, it still points to the old URL.  I requested an update to that though. --SvipTalk 16:39, 29 February 2008 (PST)
 * But now we've fixed the problem, thanks to you guys. So even the old URL will link them to the correct location. We can add it to be updated next time, but for now it'll work just fine. You guys are awesome! --Buddy 13:26, 4 March 2008 (PST)

Ah, good news, everyone, they have just updated our interwiki link (check out the map and the discussion). I have also done some research, the list on the database is included when new people install MediaWiki, which means that on future created independent Wikis (using the MediaWiki software of course) would have our interwiki link. Not that it means that much for them, but it is fun to consider. Heh. Last database update was 10 February, 2008. But I checked some discussion talking about updating it once a month. --SvipTalk 15:01, 10 March 2008 (PDT)

theinfosphere.org
Done! I've registered "theinfosphere.org" as our new address. Don't change your bookmarks just yet, as things have yet to DNS-ify, as well as the fact that I'll need to migrate the site over once that is complete. I'll still mirror things at futurama.overt-ops.com, since there are lots of links out there on the web (in fact, see if you can get them to change the interwiki link thingy for our new address). But yes, the transaction is final and the domain is ours. http://theinfosphere.org hooray.
 * Aha! Nice, you know, you can just do a symlink (if hosted on the same machine) to this directory (which is futurama.overt-ops.com) and then put it where the new domain is (which is theinfosphere.org):
 * ln -s futurama.overt-ops.com theinfosphere.org
 * If it is as on usual Dreamhost servers. At least though, in the futurama.overt-ops.com, change the server to "theinfosphere.org" in the LocalSettings.php file, it will make sure that all links will point to the new server, so old links will get people the right place. :) --SvipTalk 08:51, 15 February 2008 (PST)
 * I'm definitely thinking of doing this thingy. It may solve the problems we're having. The mirroring seems to have kicked in overnight, but now you're saying mirroring is bad. So I may need to try this method you've outlined here. --Buddy 11:17, 16 February 2008 (PST)
 * Just make sure you do it right. I hope you are aware how symlinks work!  Also, if possible, can you not check the error log?  It may tell us why the images are denied.  Because I can tell that it is denied when the browser sends a reference to the image, without it works.  I am not sure where this "hotlinking" block is.  Alternative, you could write to Dreamhost to ask how to get rid of it or whitelist the images. --SvipTalk 12:06, 16 February 2008 (PST)

What happened
The total outage was caused by the fact that I attempted to put things back the way they were: I moved the files back to futurama.etcetera and disabled the mirroring. However, after the mirroring was fully disabled, it still didn't load up the files that were there. I was thinking that if I could move everything back, I could start from scratch and actually get some advice from knowledgeable people before doing stupid sh*t like I seem to do. Anyway, I let that sit for around forty-eight hours, and when it didn't fix itself, I moved the files back to theinfosphere.org, which is still working fine. So, all the files are now at this new address, and the mirroring is still disabled (hence the no-workingness of the other url). As for the images, yes. If disabling referring url's clears up the problem, then it obviously really is the whitelist/hotlink block. I have viewed the .htaccess file and can see no references. However, the original hotlink block was set up via dreamhost's panel. But now, when attempting to view the hotlink settings, it says none are set up. So the move retained the settings, but made dreamhost's panel not recognize them anymore somehow. I would be glad to hear any advice you may have on how to solve this problem, as I am apparently very, very dumb. --Buddy 16:14, 21 February 2008 (PST)
 * Well, I know sometimes when settings are lost you can just set them again and it over rights the old stuff. Not that I've even done it on a web server. Is it possible the settings are somehow still on the old location (probably not if you moved all the data). Dreamhost is probably doing things in a non standard way if there's nothing in the htaccess. - Quolnok 17:44, 21 February 2008 (PST)
 * Also, when this is sorted again we might as well leave a notice, redirect and/or mirror at the old address. - Quolnok 19:03, 21 February 2008 (PST)
 * Well, my first suggestion would be to give DreamHost a call on how to remove the mirroring. Alternatively look for similarities of this in the .htaccess files, I know you said there weren't any in it right now, so it is plausible that the information DreamHost keeps for such is done another place.  So instead, try an enable the blocking and then disable it.  That may overwrite it like Quolnok said.  But write a mail to DreamHost while you're at it... couldn't hurt! --SvipTalk 03:28, 22 February 2008 (PST)

Happy Anniversary
I'm a bit late, but as of 20080130, the wiki is two years old. Congrats to all, and may we continue on, ad infinitum. --Buddy 18:31, 3 February 2008 (PST)
 * Till the end of time, or more likely the real Infosphere returns and fulfil its task. Perhaps in an alternative reality.  Congratulations. --SvipTalk 05:50, 4 February 2008 (PST)
 * Huzzah! I'm a little surprised I found this place so early in it's life. - Quolnok 06:08, 4 February 2008 (PST)
 * I understand why I found it like a year and a month into its age (or so). Cause I first got into Futurama in the last weekend of January, 2007.  Where I watched all episodes in three days due to a tip from a friend.  Ever since then, I have been hooked! --SvipTalk 06:13, 4 February 2008 (PST)

what day is today its the infosphers birthday what day for a birthday lets all have some cake dr zoidberg 14

We are back online!
After a few days of downtime, we are finally back up and running. The images are working, the new domain is working, but the old domain isn't, however, I have informed Buddy on how to fix it. I welcome you all to the new domain. :) --SvipTalk 05:35, 28 February 2008 (PST)
 * Hooray, we're back, I'll check the owl traps. - Quolnok 05:42, 28 February 2008 (PST)
 * Yall should have redirected it, I went searching on google and everything and only found dead links to the old URL.Anarchy Balsac 19:45, 4 March 2008 (PST)
 * Try again. I just checked the google links and they all work fine. And they've already registered the new domain, so searches for "Futurama WIki" lead to the new domain, but we've dropped below the wikia wiki. I really don't know how to fix that, but maybe the Interwiki linking will help, since we can put links in Wikipedia on Futurama-related pages and such. --Buddy 18:58, 5 March 2008 (PST)
 * Yeah, the old URL finally redirected me here(albiet, with a typo) which is how I found this place. I seriously thought the place went over it's size limit(which is not uncommon with wikis).Anarchy Balsac 21:09, 6 March 2008 (PST)

were back baby dr zoidberg 14

And we owe it all to Svip. After being retarded for two or three weeks (surely it wasn't a month? (refuses to check dates)), I just gave svip some good ole FTP access, and he had it fixed in what I can assume was three seconds. Let us all give Svip a round of applause! --Buddy 14:59, 3 March 2008 (PST)
 * Redirect at old domain seems faulty; this http://futurama.overt-ops.com/Fry/o takes you to theinfosphere.orgfry/o probably redirecting from futurama.overt-ops.com/ (with slash) to theinfosphere.org (without slash) or similar.- Quolnok 16:38, 3 March 2008 (PST)
 * Yes, I know. I have no idea what the dilly-yo. Oddness indeed. --Buddy 17:34, 3 March 2008 (PST)
 * If on the actual redirect itself only futurama.overt-ops has a slash; Put a slash on the other. If neither do, add them in. If both do remove them. Or if redirects are set up in a way where you can only see one link, remove or add the slash. Those are my guesses. - Quolnok 17:53, 3 March 2008 (PST)
 * Quolnok is right, Buddy, you have to add a slash at the end of the redirect. It is important, you might have to delete the domain once more and "recreate" it.  Remember domain: futurama.overt-ops.com redirect: http://theinfosphere.org/ .  Do it like that and it should work.  I have tried it myself using DreamHost's systems.  But the slash is important. --SvipTalk 04:07, 4 March 2008 (PST)
 * Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Well, I'll get to that as soon as Dreamhost is accessible again. They seem to be offline...--Buddy 13:21, 4 March 2008 (PST) [update]: Done and done. Thanks all for the assistance. Hopefully it'll be a while before I have to do anything else technical, since apparently I'm really bad at it. And right now my emails won't send (yet oddly I can receive), so I have that problem to try to fix as well... --Buddy 13:24, 4 March 2008 (PST)

Special:Allmessages
Have some of you have probably noticed, I have deleted a whole lot of pages (154) in recent changes (as of right now (note: This link will take you to the time where the entire log of deleted pages is shown for future references)). These pages are part of Special:Allmessages, which keeps a list of all messages. I noticed that several of them were out of date, and I presumed they must have stayed with the upgrade of the wiki, since they all had the same user as contributor: "MediaWiki default". So I deleted those out of date, those with spelling errors and those that simply looked too much like the default one anyway. But I kept some (you can see that from the list by hitting the "show modified only" button (note: it first appears when the page is fully loaded, it takes a while as it is very big)).

Of course, only sysops can edits these messages, but if Buddy feels it would be cool if it said "timeline" rather than "history" on each page, this is where he should go. I am only writing this to inform you why there is this huge amount of deleted pages in the recent changes page right now. --SvipTalk 08:33, 9 March 2008 (PDT)

New extensions!
I took the liberty of installing some interesting extensions to our wiki. Namely ImageMap and SyntaxHighlight GeSHi. The first provides the possibility to create image maps, where specific parts of an image is clickable, perfect for family tress, etc. The second provides us with syntax highlighting. Both of them comes with two new tags: and. Check out their pages for more information on usage. --SvipTalk 16:06, 10 March 2008 (PDT)
 * Ugh, apparently the SyntaxHighlight extension requires a hook added in MediaWiki 1.11.0, and we are using 1.10.0. If Buddy upgrades the Wiki via the DreamHost panel, I will let him upgrade it.  If not, I can upgrade it manually.  As a result, I have disabled this extension for now.  If you got any other extensions you'd like to see added to the Wiki, just say so.  Check Wikipedia's Special:Version to see what extensions they use. --SvipTalk 16:14, 10 March 2008 (PDT)
 * As a treat, I installed two other extensions instead. Namely EasyTimeline and Poem.  The first one allows you to create a timeline using some syntax as apparent from its article.  The second one is poem, which is super simple, it just adds the tag, which allows you to have "poem" like formatting inside.  This is especially useful for our quotes, song lyrics, transcripts and what not.  --SvipTalk 16:40, 10 March 2008 (PDT)
 * Because of the move, Dreamhost no longer recognizes the install. From now on, you can upgrade whenever you want. :D I look forward to seeing what kind of fun stuff people do with the new extensions. --Buddy 17:19, 10 March 2008 (PDT)

New quote style.
As apparent from the discussion above, I added an extension that gives use the, this is useful for our quotes, so I have written the following template (Template:Q) to create a new system, you can check out the template page on how to use it. Opinions? --SvipTalk 16:59, 10 March 2008 (PDT)
 * I have tried it on Miscellany of Bender's Big Score for a real world example! --SvipTalk 17:07, 10 March 2008 (PDT)

Upgrade completed.
As you can see on the Special:Version page, we are now on version 1.11.3. So far it appears the upgrade went without a hitch. However, if you do discover an issue, please report it here. I suggest you do some tests. Now I can activate some of those extensions I wanted to do before. --SvipTalk 17:46, 10 March 2008 (PDT)