Heron
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ArbCom 2019 special circular
edit| Administrators must secure their accounts
The Arbitration Committee may require a new RfA if your account is compromised.
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This message was sent to all administrators following a recent motion. Thank you for your attention. For the Arbitration Committee, Cameron11598 02:14, 4 May 2019 (UTC)
Administrator account security (Correction to Arbcom 2019 special circular)
editArbCom would like to apologise and correct our previous mass message in light of the response from the community.
Since November 2018, six administrator accounts have been compromised and temporarily desysopped. In an effort to help improve account security, our intention was to remind administrators of existing policies on account security — that they are required to "have strong passwords and follow appropriate personal security practices." We have updated our procedures to ensure that we enforce these policies more strictly in the future. The policies themselves have not changed. In particular, two-factor authentication remains an optional means of adding extra security to your account. The choice not to enable 2FA will not be considered when deciding to restore sysop privileges to administrator accounts that were compromised.
We are sorry for the wording of our previous message, which did not accurately convey this, and deeply regret the tone in which it was delivered.
For the Arbitration Committee, -Cameron11598 21:03, 4 May 2019 (UTC)
Invitation to join the Fifteen Year Society
edit
Dear Heron,
I'd like to extend a cordial invitation to you to join the Fifteen Year Society, an informal group for editors who've been participating in the Wikipedia project for fifteen years or more.
Best regards, Urhixidur (talk) 02:08, 9 May 2019 (UTC)
- Thank you, Urhixidur. Invitation accepted. I'm proud to be a member. Heron (talk) 10:25, 9 May 2019 (UTC)

The file File:Clovehitch.png has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:
unused, low-res, no obvious use
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Today's Wikipedian 10 years ago
edit| Ten years! |
|---|
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:46, 11 July 2019 (UTC)
- I had forgotten about Heron's Day. Thank you for reminding me and giving me a pleasant start to my day. --Heron (talk) 08:23, 11 July 2019 (UTC)
- You are welcome! - Remembering some reasons to thank is a good start in the day for me. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:41, 12 July 2019 (UTC)
Los Solidos
editHello,
I noticed your Latin King edit and thought the subject might be of some interest to you and I was wondering if you could help me clean up Los Solidos page? I've been working on it for quite some time and can't figure how or what has to be done to remove the clean up noticed and such. Veddernarian (talk) 23:00, 9 November 2019 (UTC)
- Hi Veddernarian. I know nothing about this subject but I've cleaned up the article for you. The main things were to add more wiki links and move the references to the right places in the text. Maybe you could help me by checking that I put the references in the right places. All the best --Heron (talk) 13:21, 10 November 2019 (UTC)
Looks good, thank you! Veddernarian (talk) 13:46, 10 November 2019 (UTC)
I have removed the Wikitree cite because it is an open wiki, which are not WP:RS. I hope you've learned anything from this. ミラP 17:08, 16 November 2019 (UTC)
- Fair enough :) --Heron (talk) 17:32, 16 November 2019 (UTC)
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editDisambiguation link notification for August 8
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Precious anniversary
edit| Four years! |
|---|
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:56, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
- Thank you again! --Heron (talk) 10:20, 24 November 2020 (UTC)
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editNomination for deletion of Template:Voltaire timeline
edit
Template:Voltaire timeline has been nominated for deletion. You are invited to comment on the discussion at the entry on the Templates for discussion page. Izno (talk) 04:21, 19 February 2021 (UTC)
Precious anniversary
edit| Five years! |
|---|
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:00, 10 August 2021 (UTC)
- Thank you. 😊 --Heron (talk) 09:13, 10 August 2021 (UTC)
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editAdministrators will no longer be autopatrolled
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How we will see unregistered users
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Nomination of Outline of Roget's Thesaurus for deletion
editThe history shows the article created by an IP address that made no other edits, then you made some edits afterwards, so perhaps it was you. Anyway, if you know anything about this, please participate at: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Outline of Roget's Thesaurus Dream Focus 23:54, 6 February 2022 (UTC)
- Thanks for alerting me, Dream Focus. I decided to keep out of the discussion, as it's a long time since I created this page and I don't have a strong argument for keeping it. Maybe there's a Roget's fansite somewhere that I can contribute to instead. :) --Heron (talk) 19:55, 14 February 2022 (UTC)
New administrator activity requirement
editThe administrator policy has been updated with new activity requirements following a successful Request for Comment.
Beginning January 1, 2023, administrators who meet one or both of the following criteria may be desysopped for inactivity if they have:
- Made neither edits nor administrative actions for at least a 12-month period OR
- Made fewer than 100 edits over a 60-month period
Administrators at risk for being desysopped under these criteria will continue to be notified ahead of time. Thank you for your continued work.
22:52, 15 April 2022 (UTC)
Precious anniversary
edit| Six years! |
|---|
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:20, 11 July 2022 (UTC)
Thank you again! --Heron (talk) 08:25, 11 July 2022 (UTC)
- (but it's today, I was confused) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:12, 10 August 2022 (UTC)
Nomination of Natural Area Code for deletion
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Your favourite policy (as stated on your user page)
editIt may interest you to note that "refers to" has crept back in to the lead of Computer architecture. SpinningSpark 17:06, 21 November 2022 (UTC)
- Thank you, SpinningSpark. I don't like the current lead at all, as it now contains three different definitions of 'architecture' and the first two aren't very helpful. What do you think? --Heron (talk) 17:21, 21 November 2022 (UTC)
- Well, I thought I should tell you because you looked like someone who might do something about it! If I didn't already know (or at least think I know) what computer architecture is, that lead wouldn't help me in the least. SpinningSpark 17:26, 21 November 2022 (UTC)
- Is it any more helpful now? --Heron (talk) 17:48, 21 November 2022 (UTC)
- Yes, I think so. SpinningSpark 19:48, 21 November 2022 (UTC)
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Pampas
editHi Heron, I have a question and would like an answer, please. The question is regarding the Pampas article that you created in 2003. Is the word “Pampas” in English a plural and singular "Pampa"? Or is it a singular word? If it is singular, what is the English plural of the word? I'm talking about English, not Spanish or Quechua from which the word derives. best regarding.محمد ماجد السورميري (talk) 19:47, 24 July 2023 (UTC)
- Hi محمد ماجد السورميري. According to the dictionary I used at the time (Chambers 1993) and still use, pampas is both singular and plural in English. You can say the pampa is, the pampas is or the pampas are, but the third form is the most common. I just googled a few news articles and they mostly use the third version. --Heron (talk) 20:14, 24 July 2023 (UTC)
- Heron But in the article it is mentioned that this word has its origin from the Quechua language, which is called “Pampa” for them, just as it is in the Spanish and Portuguese languages spread among the inhabitants of South America also called “Pampa”, so can we say when translating this word into languages other than English that these plains are called Pampa? Then regarding English, where did the letter “s” come from in this word, as long as this word is not an English term, and it must be kept as it is, unless the “s” here is for the plural? Please respond to these two questions.محمد ماجد السورميري (talk) 21:17, 24 July 2023 (UTC)
- Yes, I would call it pampa in non-English languages if there is no other established usage. In English the -s seems to be the English plural ending, with an example of singular pampas from 1957 by a writer who perhaps didn't know the origin of the word. He might have been influenced by pre-existing forms like pampas grass and pampas sheep. Nowadays most people (including the OED) write pampas unless they are deliberately using the foreign form. --Heron (talk) 18:08, 25 July 2023 (UTC)
- Heron One last question, excuse me for being so long. Is the word "Pampas" in the English language taken directly from the Quechua language? Or was the word taken from Spanish or Portuguese?.محمد ماجد السورميري (talk) 18:50, 25 July 2023 (UTC)
- That's OK. The OED says it's from Spanish. --Heron (talk) 19:01, 25 July 2023 (UTC)
- Heron One last question, excuse me for being so long. Is the word "Pampas" in the English language taken directly from the Quechua language? Or was the word taken from Spanish or Portuguese?.محمد ماجد السورميري (talk) 18:50, 25 July 2023 (UTC)
- Yes, I would call it pampa in non-English languages if there is no other established usage. In English the -s seems to be the English plural ending, with an example of singular pampas from 1957 by a writer who perhaps didn't know the origin of the word. He might have been influenced by pre-existing forms like pampas grass and pampas sheep. Nowadays most people (including the OED) write pampas unless they are deliberately using the foreign form. --Heron (talk) 18:08, 25 July 2023 (UTC)
- Heron But in the article it is mentioned that this word has its origin from the Quechua language, which is called “Pampa” for them, just as it is in the Spanish and Portuguese languages spread among the inhabitants of South America also called “Pampa”, so can we say when translating this word into languages other than English that these plains are called Pampa? Then regarding English, where did the letter “s” come from in this word, as long as this word is not an English term, and it must be kept as it is, unless the “s” here is for the plural? Please respond to these two questions.محمد ماجد السورميري (talk) 21:17, 24 July 2023 (UTC)
- Hi محمد ماجد السورميري. According to the dictionary I used at the time (Chambers 1993) and still use, pampas is both singular and plural in English. You can say the pampa is, the pampas is or the pampas are, but the third form is the most common. I just googled a few news articles and they mostly use the third version. --Heron (talk) 20:14, 24 July 2023 (UTC)
Precious anniversary
edit| Seven years! |
|---|
Good article reassessment for Edward Burne-Jones
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The article Help & Manual has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:
Niche software that seems to fail WP:NSOFT and broader WP:GNG. Just a short description w/ no refs, no information about awards or even reviews.
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Precious anniversary
edit| Eight years! |
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--Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:22, 10 August 2024 (UTC)
- Thank you. --Heron (talk) 19:57, 10 August 2024 (UTC)
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Justice for people doing their assignment
editcan this Wikipedia people just shorten it so that someone can rap up things faster this is nearly 10 o'clock and I'm still doing one assignment God help me oh and this people in Jesus name amen Samuel Christy DAULAYEFA (talk) 20:39, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
- Sorry Samuel. Wikipedia never stops growing. --Heron (talk) 20:43, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
- okay thanks for filling me in on that Heron Samuel Christy DAULAYEFA (talk) 21:02, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
- I just wanted to know is your actual name Heron . I hope I'm not a pain in the but , just curious Samuel Christy DAULAYEFA (talk) 21:05, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
- sorry I been busy Samuel Christy DAULAYEFA (talk) 20:02, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
- This comment and the way you handled it is quite funny, fitting for an admin. 🇪🇭🇵🇸🇸🇩 Easternsahara 🇪🇭🇵🇸🇸🇩 04:30, 5 October 2025 (UTC)
Precious anniversary
edit| Nine years! |
|---|
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:05, 10 August 2025 (UTC)
- Thanks! --Heron (talk) 08:17, 10 August 2025 (UTC)
Guide to temporary accounts
editHello, Heron. This message is being sent to remind you of significant upcoming changes regarding logged-out editing.
Starting 4 November, logged-out editors will no longer have their IP address publicly displayed. Instead, they will have a temporary account (TA) associated with their edits. Users with some extended rights like administrators and CheckUsers, as well as users with the temporary account IP viewer (TAIV) user right will still be able to reveal temporary users' IP addresses and all contributions made by temporary accounts from a specific IP address or range.
How do temporary accounts work?
- When a logged-out user completes an edit or a logged action for the first time, a cookie will be set in this user's browser and a temporary account tied with this cookie will be automatically created for them. This account's name will follow the pattern:
~2025-12345-67(a tilde, year of creation, a number split into units of 5). - All subsequent actions by the temporary account user will be attributed to this username. The cookie will expire 90 days after its creation. As long as it exists, all edits made from this device will be attributed to this temporary account. It will be the same account even if the IP address changes, unless the user clears their cookies or uses a different device or web browser.
- A record of the IP address used at the time of each edit will be stored for 90 days after the edit. Users with the temporary account IP viewer (TAIV) user right will be able to see the underlying IP addresses.
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- There has to be a minimum of 10 minutes between subsequent temporary account creations from the same IP (or /64 range in case of IPv6).
- There can be a maximum of 6 temporary accounts created from an IP (or /64 range) within a period of 24 hours.
Temporary account IP viewer user right
- Administrators may grant the temporary account IP viewer (TAIV) user right to non-administrators who meet the criteria for granting. Importantly, an editor must make an explicit request for the permission (e.g. at WP:PERM/TAIV)—administrators are not permitted to assign the right without a request.
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Impact for administrators
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- It will still be possible to block an IP address or IP range.
- Temporary accounts will not be retroactively applied to contributions made before the deployment. On Special:Contributions, you will be able to see existing IP user contributions, but not new contributions made by temporary accounts on that IP address. Instead, you should use Special:IPContributions for this (see a video about IPContributions in a gallery below).
Rules about IP information disclosure
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- Publicly linking a TA to another TA is allowed if "reasonably believed to be necessary". (e.g.
~2025-12345-67 and ~2025-12345-68 are likely the same person, so I am counting their reverts together toward 3RR
, but not Hey ~2025-12345-68, you did some good editing as ~2025-12345-67) - See Wikipedia:Temporary account IP viewer § What can and can't be said for more detailed guidelines.
Useful tools for patrollers
- It is possible to view if a user has opted-in to view temporary account IPs via the User Info card, available in Preferences → Appearance → Advanced options →
Enable the user info card
- This feature also makes it possible for anyone to see the approximate count of temporary accounts active on the same IP address range.
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- Similarly, Special:GlobalContributions supports global search for a given temporary account's activity.
- The auto-reveal feature (see video below) allows users with the right permissions to automatically reveal all IP addresses for a limited time window.
Videos
- How to use Special:IPContributions
- How automatic IP reveal works
- How to use IP Info
- How to use User Info
Further information and discussion
- For more information and discussion regarding this change, please see the announcement from the Wikimedia Foundation at Wikipedia:Village pump (WMF) § Temporary accounts rollout.
Most of this message was written by Mz7 (source). Thanks, 🎃 SGrabarczuk (WMF) (talk) 02:48, 31 October 2025 (UTC)
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