User talk:Pythoncoder/News/Archive 4
Archive 4: January–June 2020
Administrators' newsletter – January 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (December 2019).
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- A request for comment asks whether partial blocks should be enabled on the English Wikipedia. If enabled, this functionality would allow administrators to block users from editing specific pages or namespaces, rather than the entire site.
- A proposal asks whether admins who don't use their tools for a significant period of time (e.g. five years) should have the toolset procedurally removed.
- Following a successful RfC, a whitelist is now available for users whose redirects will be autopatrolled by a bot, removing them from the new pages patrol queue. Admins can add such users to Wikipedia:New pages patrol/Redirect whitelist after a discussion following the guidelines at Wikipedia talk:New pages patrol/Redirect whitelist.
- The fourth case on Palestine-Israel articles was closed. The case consolidated all previous remedies under one heading, which should make them easier to understand, apply, and enforce. In particular, the distinction between "primary articles" and "related content" has been clarified, with the former being
the entire set of articles whose topic relates to the Arab-Israeli conflict, broadly interpreted
rather thanreasonably construed
. - Following the 2019 Arbitration Committee elections, the following editors have been appointed to the Arbitration Committee: Beeblebrox, Bradv, Casliber, David Fuchs, DGG, KrakatoaKatie, Maxim, Newyorkbrad, SoWhy, Worm That Turned, Xeno.
- The fourth case on Palestine-Israel articles was closed. The case consolidated all previous remedies under one heading, which should make them easier to understand, apply, and enforce. In particular, the distinction between "primary articles" and "related content" has been clarified, with the former being
- This issue marks three full years of the Admin newsletter. Thanks for reading!
WikiProject Video games Newsletter Q4 2019
[edit]The WikiProject Video Games Newsletter
Volume 11, No. 3 — 4th Quarter, 2019
Previous issue | Index | Next issue
Project At a Glance
As of Q4 2019, the project has:
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Content
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(Delivered ~~~~~)
TheWikiWizard - January 2020
[edit]Hello, Pythoncoder! Here is the January 2020 issue of TheWikiWizard.
- What's Hot! (We Found Santa Claus!...)
- Articles (DFFT, Young Editors!)
- The Wikipedian
- News about Wikipedia! (Wikipedia News and Events!)
- Editor's Notes (New Main Page DYKS)
- Activity Page (Fun Activities, and super cool stuff...)
- Ads (Super Cool Ads)
We hope you like this month's issue! If you'd like to discuss this issue, please go to this issue's talk page. Happy Reading! --Thegooduser Life Begins With a Smile :) 🍁 04:00, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
Delivered by MediaWiki message delivery (talk) at 04:10, 13 January 2020 (UTC) on behalf of DannyS712 (talk)
The Signpost: 27 January 2020
[edit]- From the editor: Reaching six million articles is great, but we need a moratorium
- News and notes: Six million articles on the English language Wikipedia
- Special report: The limits of volunteerism and the gatekeepers of Team Encarta
- Arbitration report: Three cases at ArbCom
- Traffic report: The most viewed articles of 2019
- News from the WMF: Capacity Building: Top 5 Themes from Community Conversations
- Community view: Our most important new article since November 1, 2015
- From the archives: A decade of The Signpost, 2005-2015
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
- WikiProject report: WikiProject Japan: a wikiProject Report
Global watchlist - Update 5
[edit]Updates associated with DannyS712's Global watchlist script:
- Future development
- I have requested a grant to fund conversion of this script into an extension, as well as further development. Please see m:Grants:Project/Create a global watchlist extension.
- If anyone is interested in reviewing the code and making suggestions regarding coding style, techniques, or something else, please let me know. See phab:T234507 for more.
- Recent additions
- I have added basic tests for the script, so bugs should be less likely to make their way to the deployed versions of the script (both the unstable development version, and the stable release version).
- If there is an error with the script, the user will be notified and and the console will include a stack trace of the issue.
- Translations
- Many thanks to those that have contributed translations for the script's messages. Translation takes place at m:User:DannyS712/Global watchlist/Translate, and help is appreciated.
- Newly translated messages are added to the script when I notice them; if you have translated messages that aren't showing up, please let me know at m:User talk:DannyS712.
- Next release
- Version 8.0 was just finalized for the development and stable branches of the script.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from future updates, see the distribution list.
Thanks, --DannyS712 (talk) 18:25, 29 January 2020 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – February 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (January 2020).
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- Following a request for comment, partial blocks are now enabled on the English Wikipedia. This functionality allows administrators to block users from editing specific pages or namespaces rather than the entire site. A draft policy is being workshopped at Wikipedia:Partial blocks.
- The request for comment seeking the community's sentiment for a binding desysop procedure closed with
wide-spread support for an alternative desysoping procedure based on community input
. No proposed process received consensus.
- Twinkle now supports partial blocking. There is a small checkbox that toggles the "partial" status for both blocks and templating. There is currently one template: {{uw-pblock}}.
- When trying to move a page, if the target title already exists then a warning message is shown. The warning message will now include a link to the target title. [1]
- Following a recent arbitration case, the Arbitration Committee reminded administrators
that checkuser and oversight blocks must not be reversed or modified without prior consultation with the checkuser or oversighter who placed the block, the respective functionary team, or the Arbitration Committee.
- Following a recent arbitration case, the Arbitration Committee reminded administrators
- Voting in the 2020 Steward elections will begin on 08 February 2020, 14:00 (UTC) and end on 28 February 2020, 13:59 (UTC). The confirmation process of current stewards is being held in parallel. You can automatically check your eligibility to vote.
- The English Wikipedia has reached six million articles. Thank you everyone for your contributions!
Scripts++ Newsletter – Issue 12
[edit]News and updates associated with user scripts from the past two months (December 2019 and January 2020).
Hello everyone and welcome to the 12th issue issue of the Wikipedia Scripts++ Newsletter:
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...and many more, all available at Wikipedia:User scripts/Requests |
Thanks, --DannyS712 (talk) 06:12, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
New Page Reviewer newsletter February 2020
[edit]
Hello Pythoncoder/News,
- Source Guide Discussion
The first NPP source guide discussion is now underway. It covers a wide range of sources in Ghana with the goal of providing more guidance to reviewers about sources they might see when reviewing pages. Hopefully, new page reviewers will join others interested in reliable sources and those with expertise in these sources to make the discussion a success.
- Redirects
New to NPP? Looking to try something a little different? Consider patrolling some redirects. Redirects are relatively easy to review, can be found easily through the New Pages Feed. You can find more information about how to patrol redirects at WP:RPATROL.
- Discussions and Resources
- There is an ongoing discussion around changing notifications for new editors who attempt to write articles.
- A recent discussion of whether Michelin starred restraunts are notable was archived without closure.
- A resource page with links pertinent for reviewers was created this month.
- A proposal to increase the scope of G5 was withdrawn.
- Refresher
Geographic regions, areas and places generally do not need general notability guideline type sourcing. When evaluating whether an article meets this notability guideline please also consider whether it might actually be a form of WP:SPAM for a development project (e.g. PR for a large luxury residential development) and not actually covered by the guideline.
Six Month Queue Data: Today – 7095 Low – 4991 High – 7095
To opt-out of future mailings, please remove yourself here
16:08, 13 February 2020 (UTC)
Scripts++ Newsletter – Issue 13
[edit]News and updates associated with user scripts from the past month (February 2019).
Hello everyone and welcome to the 13th issue of the Wikipedia Scripts++ Newsletter:
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I hope everyone is having a great year so far! --DannyS712 (talk) 15:53, 1 March 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 1 March 2020
[edit]- From the editor: The ball is in your court
- News and notes: Alexa ranking down to 13th worldwide
- Special report: More participation, more conversation, more pageviews
- Discussion report: Do you prefer M or P?
- Arbitration report: Two prominent administrators removed
- Community view: The Incredible Invisible Woman
- In focus: History of The Signpost, 2015–2019
- From the archives: Is Wikipedia for sale?
- Traffic report: February articles, floating in the dark
- Gallery: Feel the love
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
- Opinion: Wikipedia is another country
- Humour: The Wilhelm scream
Administrators' newsletter – March 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (February 2020).
- Following an RfC, the blocking policy was changed to state that sysops
must not
undo or alter CheckUser or Oversight blocks, rather thanshould not
. - A request for comment confirmed that sandboxes of established but inactive editors may not be blanked due solely to inactivity.
- Following an RfC, the blocking policy was changed to state that sysops
- Following a discussion, Twinkle's default CSD behavior will soon change, most likely this week. After the change, Twinkle will default to "tagging mode" if there is no CSD tag present, and default to "deletion mode" if there is a CSD tag present. You will be able to always default to "deletion mode" (the current behavior) using your Twinkle preferences.
- Following the 2020 Steward Elections, the following editors have been appointed as stewards: BRPever, Krd, Martin Urbanec, MusikAnimal, Sakretsu, Sotiale, and Tks4Fish. There are a total of seven editors that have been appointed as stewards, the most since 2014.
- The 2020 appointees for the Ombudsman commission are Ajraddatz and Uzoma Ozurumba; they will serve for one year.
TheWikiWizard/Workshop/Issues/Feburary/March 2020
[edit]Hello, Pythoncoder! Here is the Feb/March 2020 issue of TheWikiWizard.
- What's Hot! (Love poem?)
- Articles (The Missing Manual)
- The Wikipedian
- News about Wikipedia! (Wikipedia News and Events!)
- Editor's Notes (Exciting News!)
- Activity Page (Fun Activities, and super cool stuff...)
- Ads (Super Cool Ads that are totally not spelt woeng)
We hope you like this month's issue! If you'd like to discuss this issue, please go to this issue's talk page. Happy Reading! Thegooduser Life Begins With a Smile :) 🍁 03:36, 14 March 2020 (UTC)
- Delivered by MediaWiki message delivery (talk) at 20:27, 14 March 2020 (UTC) on behalf of DannyS712 (talk)
The Signpost: 29 March 2020
[edit]- From the editors: The bad and the good
- News and notes: 2018 Wikipedian of the year blocked
- WikiProject report: WikiProject COVID-19: A WikiProject Report
- Special report: Wikipedia on COVID-19: what we publish and why it matters
- In the media: Blocked in Iran but still covering the big story
- Discussion report: Rethinking draft space
- Arbitration report: Unfinished business
- In focus: "I have been asked by Jeffrey Epstein …"
- Community view: Wikimedia community responds to COVID-19
- From the archives: Text from Wikipedia good enough for Oxford University Press to claim as own
- Traffic report: The only thing that matters in the world
- Gallery: Visible Women on Wikipedia
- News from the WMF: Amid COVID-19, Wikimedia Foundation offers full pay for reduced hours, mobilizes all staff to work remote, and waives sick time
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
Scripts++ Newsletter – Issue 14
[edit]News and updates associated with user scripts from the past month (March 2020).
Hello everyone and welcome to the 14th issue of the Wikipedia Scripts++ Newsletter:
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Stay safe, --DannyS712 (talk) 05:48, 1 April 2020 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – April 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (March 2020).
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- There is an ongoing request for comment to streamline the source deprecation and blacklisting process.
- There is a plan for new requirements for user signatures. You can give feedback.
- Following the banning of an editor by the WMF last year, the Arbitration Committee resolved to hold a
Arbcom RfC regarding on-wiki harassment
. A draft RfC has been posted at Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Anti-harassment RfC (Draft) and not open to comments from the community yet. Interested editors can comment on the RfC itself on its talk page.
- Following the banning of an editor by the WMF last year, the Arbitration Committee resolved to hold a
- The WMF has begun a pilot report of the pages most visited through various social media platforms to help with anti-vandalism and anti-disinformation efforts. The report is updated daily and will be available through the end of May.
WikiProject Video games Newsletter Q1 2020
[edit]The WikiProject Video Games Newsletter
Volume 12, No. 1 — 1st Quarter, 2020
Previous issue | Index | Next issue
Project At a Glance
As of Q1 2020, the project has:
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Content
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(Delivered ~~~~~)
Editing news 2020 #1 – Discussion tools
[edit]Read this in another language • Subscription list

The Editing team has been working on the talk pages project. The goal of the talk pages project is to help contributors communicate on wiki more easily. This project is the result of the Talk pages consultation 2019.

The team is building a new tool for replying to comments now. This early version can sign and indent comments automatically. Please test the new Reply tool.
- On 31 March 2020, the new reply tool was offered as a Beta Feature editors at four Wikipedias: Arabic, Dutch, French, and Hungarian. If your community also wants early access to the new tool, contact User:Whatamidoing (WMF).
- The team is planning some upcoming changes. Please review the proposed design and share your thoughts on the talk page. The team will test features such as:
- an easy way to mention another editor ("pinging"),
- a rich-text visual editing option, and
- other features identified through user testing or recommended by editors.
To hear more about Editing Team updates, please add your name to the "Get involved" section of the project page. You can also watch these pages: the main project page, Updates, Replying, and User testing.
– PPelberg (WMF) (talk) & Whatamidoing (WMF) (talk) 15:45, 13 April 2020 (UTC)
Global watchlist - Update 6
[edit]Updates associated with DannyS712's Global watchlist script:
- Future development
- I have requested a grant to fund conversion of this script into an extension, as well as further development. Please see m:Grants:Project/DannyS712/Create a global watchlist extension.
- If anyone is interested in reviewing the code and making suggestions regarding coding style, techniques, or something else, please let me know. See phab:T234507 for more.
- Recent additions
- The results for each site, as well as the list of sites without changes, can be collapsed; the list of sites without changes starts collapsed.
- When the username associated with an edit has been hidden (either via revision deletion or suppression) this is now properly shown in the output, rather than showing "undefined".
- Links to view changes open in new tabs.
- When marking a site (or all sites) as seen, only changes made prior to the watchlist loading will be marked as seen, so that any changes since then are not missed.
- There is now a help link in the upper right hand corner that links to m:User:DannyS712/Global watchlist, though it doesn't have the normal help icon.
- Translations
- Many thanks to those that have contributed translations for the script's messages. Translation takes place at m:User:DannyS712/Global watchlist/Translate, and help is appreciated.
- Newly translated messages are added to the script when I notice them; if you have translated messages that aren't showing up, please let me know at m:User talk:DannyS712.
- Next release
- Version 9.0.0 was just finalized for the development and stable branches of the script.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from future updates, see the distribution list.
Thanks, --DannyS712 (talk) 03:11, 16 April 2020 (UTC)
TheWikiWizard - April 2020
[edit]Hello, Pythoncoder! Here is the April 2020 issue of TheWikiWizard.
- Coronavirus Pandemic Message A special message for everyone during this time
- What's Hot! (Wikipedia Time?)
- Articles (none this month)
- The Wikipedian (we have a user!)
- News about Wikipedia! (Wikipedia News and Events!)
- Editor's Notes (News!)
- Activity Page (Fun Activities, and super cool stuff...)
- Ads (Super Cool Ads)
We hope you like this month's issue! If you'd like to discuss this issue, please go to this issue's talk page. Happy Reading & stay safe! --Thegooduser Life Begins With a Smile :) 🍁 02:05, 19 April 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 26 April 2020
[edit]- News and notes: Unbiased information from Ukraine's government?
- In the media: Coronavirus, again and again
- Discussion report: Redesigning Wikipedia, bit by bit
- Featured content: Featured content returns
- Arbitration report: Two difficult cases
- Traffic report: Disease the Rhythm of the Night
- Recent research: Trending topics across languages; auto-detecting bias
- Opinion: Trusting Everybody to Work Together
- On the bright side: What's making you happy this month?
- In focus: Multilingual Wikipedia
- WikiProject report: The Guild of Copy Editors
Scripts++ Newsletter – Issue 15
[edit]News and updates associated with user scripts from the past month (April 2020).
Hello everyone and welcome to the 15th issue of the Wikipedia Scripts++ Newsletter:
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- Wikipedia:User scripts/Most imported scripts now also shows the number of active users for each script. It will now be updated by a bot periodically.
- Twinkle's Morebits library added a new
Morebits.date
class to replace the moment library. It can handle custom formatting and natural language for dates, as well as section header regexes. If you were usinggetUTCMonthName
orgetUTCMonthNameAbbrev
withDate
objects, those have been deprecated and should be updated. - User:SD0001/find-archived-section was made a gadget. You can enable it from your gadget preferences, in the Browsing section.
Hope everyone stays safe. --DannyS712 (talk) 20:27, 1 May 2020 (UTC)
Administrators' newsletter – May 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (April 2020).

- Discretionary sanctions have been authorized for all pages and edits related to COVID-19, to be logged at WP:GS/COVID19.
- Following a recent discussion on Meta-Wiki, the edit filter maintainer global group has been created.
- A request for comment has been proposed to create a new main page editor usergroup.
- A request for comment has been proposed to make the bureaucrat activity requirements more strict.
- The Editing team has been working on the talk pages project. You can review the proposed design and share your thoughts on the talk page.
- Enterprisey created a script that will show a link to the proper Special:Undelete page when viewing a since-deleted revision, see User:Enterprisey/link-deleted-revs.
- A request for comment closed with consensus to create a Village Pump-style page for communication with the Wikimedia Foundation.
TheWikiWizard - May 2020
[edit]Hello, Pythoncoder! Here is the May 2020 issue of TheWikiWizard.
- Coronavirus Updates for Wikipedia Updates on Wikipedia during COVID-19
- What's Hot! (wifi)
- Articles (none this month)
- The Wikipedian (Want to be interviewed?)
- News about Wikipedia! (Wikipedia News and Updates!)
- Editor's Notes (News/Updates!)
- Activity Page (Fun Activities!...)
- Ads (Super Cool Ads)
To change your subscription, or to subscribe click Here. We hope you like this month's issue! If you'd like to discuss this issue, please go to this issue's talk page. Happy Reading & stay safe! --Thegooduser Life Begins With a Smile :) 🍁 23:58, 24 May 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 31 May 2020
[edit]- From the editor: Meltdown May?
- News and notes: 2019 Picture of the Year, 200 French paid editing accounts blocked, 10 years of Guild Copyediting
- Discussion report: WMF's Universal Code of Conduct
- Featured content: Weathering the storm
- Arbitration report: Board member likely to receive editing restriction
- Traffic report: Come on and slam, and welcome to the jam
- Gallery: Wildlife photos by the book
- News from the WMF: WMF Board announces Community Culture Statement
- Recent research: Automatic detection of covert paid editing; Wiki Workshop 2020
- Community view: Transit routes and mapping during stay-at-home order downtime
- WikiProject report: Revitalizing good articles
- On the bright side: 500,000 articles in the Egyptian Arabic Wikipedia
Administrators' newsletter – June 2020
[edit]News and updates for administrators from the past month (May 2020).

CaptainEek • Creffett • Cwmhiraeth
Anna Frodesiak • Buckshot06 • Ronhjones • SQL
- A request for comment asks whether the Unblock Ticket Request System (UTRS) should allowed any unblock request or just private appeals.
- The Wikimedia Foundation announced that they will develop a universal code of conduct for all WMF projects. There is an open local discussion regarding the same.
Editing news 2020 #2 – Quick updates
[edit]Read this in another language • Subscription list

This edition of the Editing newsletter includes information the Wikipedia:Talk pages project, an effort to help contributors communicate on wiki more easily. The central project page is on MediaWiki.org.
- Reply tool: This is available as a Beta Feature at the four partner wikis (Arabic, Dutch, French, and Hungarian Wikipedias). The Beta Feature will get new features soon. The new features include writing comments in a new visual editing mode and pinging other users by typing
@
. You can test the new features on the Beta Cluster. Some other wikis will have a chance to try the Beta Feature in the coming months. - New requirements for user signatures: Soon, users will not be able to save invalid custom signatures in Special:Preferences. This will reduce signature spoofing, prevent page corruption, and make new talk page tools more reliable. Most editors will not be affected.
- New discussion tool: The Editing team is beginning work on a simpler process for starting new discussions. You can see the initial design on the project page.
- Research on the use of talk pages: The Editing team worked with the Wikimedia research team to study how talk pages help editors improve articles. We learned that new editors who use talk pages make more edits to the main namespace than new editors who don't use talk pages.
– Whatamidoing (WMF) (talk) 18:11, 15 June 2020 (UTC)
TheWikiWizard/Issues/Summer 2020
[edit]Hello, Pythoncoder! Here is the May 2020 issue of TheWikiWizard.
- Coronavirus Updates for Wikipedia (Updates on Wikipedia during COVID-19)
- What's Hot! (staycations?)
- Articles (none this month)
- The Wikipedian (Want to be interviewed?)
- News about Wikipedia! (Wikipedia News and Updates!)
- Editor's Notes (News/Updates!)
- Activity Page (Activities!...)
- Ads (Super Cool Ads)
To change your subscription, or to subscribe click Here. We hope you like this month's issue! If you'd like to discuss this issue, please go to this issue's talk page. Happy Reading & stay safe! --Thegooduser Life Begins With a Smile :) 🍁 02:11, 18 June 2020 (UTC)
New Page Reviewer newsletter June 2020
[edit]
Hello Pythoncoder/News,
- Your help can make a difference
NPP Sorting can be a great way to find pages needing new page patrolling that match your strengths and interests. Using ORES, it divides articles into topics such as Literature or Chemistry and on Geography. Take a look and see if you can find time to patrol a couple pages a day. With over 10,000 pages in the queue, the highest it's been since ACPERM, your help could really make a difference.
- Google Adds New Languages to Google Translate
In late February, Google added 5 new languages to Google Translate: Kinyarwanda, Odia (Oriya), Tatar, Turkmen and Uyghur. This expands our ability to find and evaluate sources in those languages.
- Discussions and Resources
- A discussion on handling new article creation by paid editors is ongoing at the Village Pump.
- Also at the Village Pump is a discussion about limiting participation at Articles for Deletion discussion.
- A proposed new speedy deletion criteria for certain kinds of redirects ended with no consensus.
- Also ending with no change was a proposal to change how we handle certain kinds of vector images.
Six Month Queue Data: Today – 10271 Low – 4991 High – 10271
To opt-out of future mailings, please remove yourself here
MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 02:52, 18 June 2020 (UTC)
The Signpost: 28 June 2020
[edit]- News and notes: Progress at Wikipedia Library and Wikijournal of Medicine
- Community view: Community open letter on renaming
- Gallery: After the killing of George Floyd
- In the media: Part collaboration and part combat
- Discussion report: Community reacts to WMF rebranding proposals
- Featured content: Sports are returning, with a rainbow
- Arbitration report: Anti-harassment RfC and a checkuser revocation
- Traffic report: The pandemic, alleged murder, a massacre, and other deaths
- News from the WMF: We stand for racial justice
- Recent research: Wikipedia and COVID-19; automated Wikipedia-based fact-checking
- Humour: Cherchez une femme
- On the bright side: For what are you grateful this month?
- WikiProject report: WikiProject Black Lives Matter
Scripts++ Newsletter – Issue 16
[edit]News and updates associated with user scripts from the past two months (May and June 2020).
Hello everyone and welcome to the 16th issue of the Wikipedia Scripts++ Newsletter:
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If anyone else would like to contribute to future issues, please comment at Wikipedia talk:Scripts++. --DannyS712 (talk) 20:13, 30 June 2020 (UTC)