Infosphere:Conference Table/Old format

Good morning, people.

Firefox Extension

I just found this firefox extension. I haven't fully customized it yet, but it seems like it could be extremely helpful. If you're on Firefox, you might want to check it out. [Update]: It's not perfect, but it's quite handy, expecially for templates. I wish it were a bit more customizable, but it's quite functional. Buddy13

In related news, an Infosphere search plugin for Firefox is now available here. - Quolnok 21:33, 13 June 2006 (PDT)

Awesomest. Thing. Ever. Buddy13 12:53, 15 June 2006 (PDT)

Alien Language Sightings

Perhaps it might be better if, instead of putting the sightings up at the top, they were put down in the "Additional Info" sections. Then you can be a bit more detailed than just telling how many sightings there are. It will also keep the Alien Languages page about alien languages, rather than being a list of sightings. What do you think? Buddy13

I dunno, I have mixed feelings about this. There's already a lot of info crammed into each episode page, and it would make it a lot harder for people searching for alien language references in general. Then again, it would make it slightly easier for people to find translations for sightings in an episode they had watched. I'm on the fence. User:Gopher/sig

Let's get to work again

All right, ladies - Buddy may not be here, but this is no reason to stop working. Keep those articles coming... I will try to finish Season Four in the next two weeks or so. [Whaler on the Moon]

Thank you, yes! Please, please, please people! And click the redlink on the main page and just write something and shove it on the air. Or website. Buddy13 12:55, 13 April 2006 (PDT)

Eight articles in one day - praise me! ;) All right, some of them are short, but it's more than the last month together. I will be away for the next week or so. Perhaps I can do another episode tomorrow, but that's it for the next few days. Season Three needs to be worked on, Season Four is about 70% complete now, only five or six episodes still missing. [Whaler on the Moon]

I think season 3 was my season, right? I'm obviously unable to do much now, so feel free. I realy apreciate all you've done lately. Good work. I was beginning to worry this place would die. Buddy 15:05, 30 April 2006 (PDT)

User:Gopher/sig 21:44, 13 May 2006 (EDT) Sorry for disappearing, got a new job doing Mac programming. This has been a bit of a challenge, since I had never even used a mac before. I've adapted, but I doubt I'll find much time to contribute in the near future so my episodes are also up for grabs. I'm thrilled to see how the place is doing, though! The quality of the new articles I've sampled (there's too many to read at once!) looked very high.

100 articles and counting

Go Bender, go Bender!

Hooray! Buddy 15:04, 30 April 2006 (PDT)

I have to say, 128 is a much nicer number (binary). - Quolnok 08:40, 21 July 2006 (PDT)

Oh, indeed. Buddy13 11:42, 21 July 2006 (PDT)

More Unused Images

I just uploaded a bunch of images for pages that were "Awaiting Screenies". I also uploaded quite a few images for nonexistant pages, but I thought if you saw the images, you might be inspired to write the articles, so here they are. Hope you like them. I'm still searching for the third Scary Door episode; I found it as a deleted scene, but can't find the one where it's on the show. I just remember that it's during the credits, and the punchline is, "It turns out it's Man." Anyway, you guys (Quolnok especially) are doing a great job! Buddy 09:48, 17 May 2006 (PDT)

[Update]: I think I found out it's on Spanish Fry. Now I have to go home and find out. Buddy 09:52, 17 May 2006 (PDT)

Yeah that's definately the episode. I've added a small number of those images to articles, couldn't find a pic of Linda or Frida though. - Quolnok 04:33, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

I actually only got the Waterfalls accidentally while finding other things. She's in A Taste of Freedom, right? And the first appearance of Morbo and Linda has a nice closeup of Morbo but not Linda, so I've been looking for a good shot of her. But my computer's on its last leg, so getting screenshots may be tricky. Buddy13 11:23, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

Fair enough, I think there might be a good shot of Linda in The Problem with Popplers. None of my DVD software allows for screenshots, I'd start taking a few myself otherwise. - Quolnok 22:37, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

Comic Listing

Having recently picked up the first two comic collections (US comics 1-9), I decided to do some of those articles, and a listing. I also created a template based on the one for the episodes. It'd be nice to have the index on the navigation bar when it disappears from the "What's New" box on the main page. - Quolnok 04:33, 30 May 2006 (PDT)

Sorta like the "Episode Listing"? I can do that...

Move to another host?

I just received this in my email:

Are you by any chance interested in allowing me to host The Infosphere for free? I recently purchased the domain futuramawiki.org, with the intent of starting a wiki (surprise). The next day I discovered your wiki. D'oh! I don't believe the fanbase is large enough to handle two wikis so why not work together?

(I've left out the hosting details, but you get the gist).

And as he points out in an omitted portion, futuramawiki.org is easier to remember. Here are some points to consider. See them as pro or con as you wish:

• Easier domain name to remember
• New hoster-guy may be able to drive more traffic to the site.
• I like being the host. I have high standards for content and I'd like to keep it that way. I like having control of who gets promoted, to ensure that only good, active members have power. And I like having access to the raw files, so I can make changes when I need too.
• Google has already indexed this domain many times, and many Futurama-based searches already turn up the Infosphere in the top twenty or so. It may take a while for the search engines to index the new location.

I'm reluctant to turn over control, but am I being paranoid? Or just greedy? I'd love some quick feedback from as many members as possible. I know that'll probably just be Quolnok, since he's the only currently active member, but maybe someone else will see this. Even feedback from lurkers would be welcome. Anything, really.

An alternative solution would be to set up a mirror... We could have the other host copy our files over and then disable editing or something. Or just a redirect or proxy... I'm torn. Feedback, please.

On a related note, I think it's important that we begin driving more and more traffic here. Post a link on every Futurama website where you hang out, or anything even remotely nerdly, since we know that all nerdlingers love Futurama. Buddy13 13:09, 15 June 2006 (PDT)

Paranoia is a good thing, so long as it doesn't become a mental illness. If it does go ahead, definately keep backups. Another thing to consider is his webhosting experience. It is entirely posssible this is someone who simply wants his own website. The address is better for a wiki, it would be better remembered and would come up sooner in Google searches for "futurama wiki". This site currently ranks near the bottom of page 18 with those terms. Another (inferior) one - http://www.wikia.com/wiki/Futurama - ranks much higher. I think the only prominent link to here is from a third futurama wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Futurama

As I see it the only real reason to move is the address. The fanbase would probably only handle one good wiki (excluding the deliberately limited Wikipedia portal) I think I'd like to see this guy's credentials. MediaWiki contributions, general webhosting experience and some sites he's dne in the past. This would give an idea of the type of admin he'll be.

As for linking - I'd say it'd be nice to get on PEEL's buddy list and possibly those of some of their buddies. I'll link here whenever relevent (and from the website that I may or may not make eventually)

Also it'd be nice if the meta tags contained more relevent data, I'm not sure how that'd be edited in a MediaWiki, but it is what search engines use. Here's a sample from whatisjoppa.com:
<meta name="description" content="The Official Website of Joppa. Taking Over Newburyport, One Funny At A Time. Mike Mooney, Thom W. Neff, Ben Therrien, and Ben M. Watts"> <meta name="keywords" content="joppa, newburyport, neff, mooney, therrien, watts, funny, comedy, fm crew">
perhaps leaving a note about this on some user talk pages will get quicker (useful) responses. - Quolnok 01:40, 16 June 2006 (PDT)

Actually, due to "keyword spam" or "keyword fraud", most search engines ignore the Keyword meta tag. Because people started putting "Britney Spears nude" on sites about Janet Reno to drive up traffic. I'll see if I can change the "description" (or add one, actually), since that does show up on search engines... Buddy13 16:50, 18 June 2006 (PDT)

Something I found whilest wandering Meta

Interwiki linking looks like it could be somewhat useful. If we set it up we'd be able to link to things in other wikis where necessary (such as from trivia about an obscure joke) withoutout the little arrow thing in the middle of the text. setup guide - Quolnok 23:55, 11 July 2006 (PDT)

Correcting Act Titles

There are many episodes up with incorect act titles listed. Anyone who has a copy of the DVD's that lists the titles should probably go through and verify/correct many of the episodes. I'd do it myself, but... well, we all know my problems, don't we? If nobody wants to (or gets the time), I will get around to it eventually, I just thought I'd call attention to the issue in case anyone wanted to work on it. I never mentioned it when the articles were being created, as I didn't want to discourage the creation itself. You know? Buddy13 12:23, 15 July 2006 (PDT)

Yeah, I noticed some of those around. I just assumed some countries used different headings. - Quolnok 20:53, 15 July 2006 (PDT)

Poster Guy

Should probably have an article about the "poster guy" who appears in the various posters throughout the show. "Poster Child" is the proper proverbial term, but I like "Poster Guy". Any thoughts? He's a psuedocharacter, but I think he should have his own article (as opposed to being added to the Minor Characters page), so we can show several screenshots and discuss him. Buddy13 20:48, 15 July 2006 (PDT)

Poster guy is definately deserving of some mention, there's probably enough for a new page. - Quolnok 20:53, 15 July 2006 (PDT)

Throwing down the gauntlet

In light of the announced ressurection of the show, I think it's time to throw down the gauntlet, as it were. We need to commit ourseles to making the Infosphere the most comprehensive site for Futurama info on the web by 2008. We're well on our way, and it can only keep going up from here. Lets keep those articles coming! User:Gopher/sig

Back in Black - or was it Purple?

Well, after a prolongued absence I plan to take up my work again and finally finish Season 4 episodes. Keep up the good work!! - [Whaler on the Moon]

Good to see contributors coming back, ironically (or coincidentally?) I'm about to decrease the amount of stuff I'm doing around here (probably not to none) for a while due to Uni assignments that'll start needing to be done. - Quolnok 21:26, 17 July 2006 (PDT)

Remaining Episodes

After the completition of Season 4, I am now looking into some episodes of Season 3. I plan to take everything from Anthology of Interest II forward, any volunteers for the rest? Maybe I can do part of Season 2 once I am through with those. --Whaler on the Moon 16:51, 8 August 2006 (PDT)