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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Grocer (talk | contribs) at 05:14, 3 June 2006 (→Ohio politician promoted as featured article?). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This is the talk page for discussing changes to the Wikipedia Main Page: please read the information below to find the best place for your comment or question. For error reports, go here. Thank you.

Today's featured picture

  • Today's featured picture is taken from the list of successful featured pictures, If you would like to nominate a picture to be featured see Picture of the Day.
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Main Page and beyond

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Main page discussion

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May 23: Henrik Ibsen died 100 years ago

The death of Henrik Ibsen in 1906 (100 years ago today) should be on the main page (edit). Some admin need to help. This is a major celebration. Pommem 05:17, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

we all know that his writings are sometimes dreary and depressing, but that's no call to go celebrating his death! --maru (talk) contribs 05:37, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's rather the playwright that is celebrated. Pommem 06:10, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think Pommem meant the death is "commemorated" today on the 100th anniversary, while we "celebrate" Ibsen's life and work. Anyway, it's posted now. Please consider mentioning some of the commemoration activities on Ibsen's wikiarticle. -- PFHLai 06:21, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Table of Contents not showing on some pages?

The TOC seems to be not showing on the main and some other articles (XP/IE6, tried Opera, logging out, and non-monobook skin as well)... of course, it is late so I may be going insane, plus adding __TOC__ works for me though... RN 08:40, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If it's on this talk page then it is probably because someone has vandalized it. It usuallly happens but the page will other wise be reseted.Kitsumiti

interesting

There is no TOC on the main page. Most articles don't have TOCs. You can change it in your preferences, though. --M1ss1ontomars2k4 (T | C | @) 22:59, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Lordi

Is it just me, or has the "Monster rock band Lordi earns Finland's first ever victory in the Eurovision Song Contest." news been on the front page too long? It just doesn't seem very important, relevant or interesting. Is there a reason this is still on the front when breaking news of disasters, politics, etc. isn't? Bordello 20:49, 22 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It has worldwide, or at least Europe-wide, relevance, unlike political events (generally). Eurovision is, unfortunately, a big deal. Besides, it hasn't been there for more than a day or so. —CuiviénenT|C, Monday, 22 May 2006 @ 22:16 UTC
Ok, now it's definitely been here for more than a day. Seen it, done that. I feel we're playing demographic at this point (i.e. people on wikipedia care more about this than most of the population.) There is more pressing news, isn't there? No? It's a shame if a list of headliners-- namely the UN Health Agency leader's death, or China forbidding Iran to develop nukes, details about Iraq's establishing gov.-- slow news day maybe? It could just be my narrow opinion, but the concert was mediocre and doesn't affect the masses much beyond how it distracts or entertains them. Bordello 09:25, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In the news (ITN) is not a 'news site', but a section on Wikipedia's MainPage to feature wikiarticles updated with recent news. (The bolded link connects to that updated page.) To propose new items for ITN, please go to Wikipedia:In the news section on the Main Page/Candidates. If you want to read/write about news and current events, please go to Current events or Wikinews. Thanks. -- PFHLai 10:16, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Right. I have nominated some suggestions (ok, maybe just one-- the release of a Pentagon plane crash tape) for ITN. I just don't like how Lordi gets precedence over global politics, etc., though. Call it a poor bias. Thanks kindly for your response; it did clear some things up for me. Bordello 10:44, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Bordello, welcome to wikipedia, the free encyclopedia where anyone can make suggestions and have them shot down by the established hacks. --JohnO 16:05, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Again, the point is that Wikipedia does not have a full-time news "staff" devoted to putting up fresh items every single morning. We're all volunteers. So those wishing to see something different should volunteer to get off their ass and help things out by adding things (preferably updating article as well) to ITN. I only just yesterday noticed there had been no item about Barbaro and the Preakness, which is why it did not make the main page. Well, if I had thought of it at the time, I should have added it to ITN. --Dhartung | Talk 17:45, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The relevance of Lordi is that they won with the only non sweet & sickly pop song in the competitions history. For years, "real" music aficionados in my county (UK, where popular/rock music is superior), have been puking at the contents of the competition. Now, At last, an act with some balls has been voted (and it's the voting that is relevant here) winner. All hail Lordi! etc etc. Let's hope this result changes a previously awful competition into something a little more musically competent (some hope). The relevance of this event is of particular cultural interest, and as such is important enough to have made the front page for a day or two. OLD NOW THOUGH! (The band are a bunch of sofyies really)(Sasquatchuk 16:07, 26 May 2006 (UTC))[reply]

Wikispecies

The link at the bottem still links to the old URL. It's now species.wikimedia.org. American Patriot 1776 10:11, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Apparently this is not an issue. See the discussion at the Pump for an explanation. - BanyanTree 18:06, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

i need to know!

This page is very hard to figure out who made this web site i need to know. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 151.204.41.2 (talk • contribs)

If you want to know how Wikipedia is written, please see the Wikipedia article. If you need an author for a citation, please see Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia, though you should read Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia to figure out if you really want a Wikipedia citation. - BanyanTree 13:54, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Long Live Joan of Arc!

I think she is one of the best things that happened to the French people even though she did get captured because she inspired a lot of people, even the French Canadians (like me.) But what do you think of her? Do you think she did the right thing?:--Kitsumiti

There are a lot of mysteries about Joan of Arc...was she crazy? was she genetically a man? was she actually divinely inspired? The controversy that surrounds this enigmatic historical figure often outshines her actual deeds. During the Dark Ages, "right" and "wrong" were relative terms. I would not go so far as to say that she did the "right" thing, but she did help to drive the English out of France and establish a French national identity, which had profound effects on the later course of history. Sadly, her legacy is most likely tied directly to her gender. Had she been a man, she would never have had a main page article about her. However, she is undeniably an important woman in history. Historical perspectives aside, though, I love any historical figure who affected the future as much as she did...anyone who, through words or deeds, made the world what it is today (okay, except maybe Hitler, although admittedly nobody could envision a world without him) my verdict: LONG LIVE JOAN OF ARC!Dave 17:04, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, though it is very sad about the rumours of her and her gender in question. I doubt that there was anything wrong with her and the English must have started those rumours because of their anger towards her. Kitsumiti

The rumor about she was a man make me think about this one who said that Elodie Gossuin was a man. It went so far that she had to proove it that she hadn't any esthetic surgery. The hoax came from internet and the guy now have big problems with justice. I really hope it will be the same for the Jeanne d'arc diffamer because it is really a calamity I think. --Meithal 20:46, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I read a very cool book about Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. Most people don't realize that he wrote a history and considered it one of his finest works. Michael

Wikisource

Wikisource has a new logo. Could you please change this. Thanks. --217.233.161.218 14:50, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The image on the front of wikisource: has not changed. The new image at Image:Wikisource-nt.png appears to be used in their version of the Signpost and has not yet been adopted for the project as whole, as far as I can tell. Note image disagreement in the history of the Wikisource article. - BanyanTree 15:18, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I like the old one better. Phr (talk) 20:39, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm an admin at the English Wikisource & can confirm that the logo hasn't changed. There has been a lot of debate & discussion on the possibility of changing the logo, which you can read here but nothing has been decided. We do have a new logo for wikisource news, our version of your signpost, at S:Wikisource:News but this isn't replacing the overall wikisource logo. AllanHainey 07:40, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The german Wikisource is the only project that has made the changed yet. But the logo will soon be changed for all the Wikisource projects. /81.227.164.97 09:54, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Anonymous user, could you please provide verification for that assertion, say a link to where a new wikisource logo was selected, as as far as I and anyone else at the English wikisource knows no project-wide decision has been made, as can be seen from my link to the discussions. AllanHainey 12:00, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In the Wikisource Scriptorium Jimbo Wales said that the new version should be used on all Wikisource projects without delay. /81.227.164.97 12:54, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So now this is a dictatorship, not an anarchy that decides things by concensus? Skittle 09:50, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
LOL! But I like the new logo better as well. --M1ss1ontomars2k4 (T | C | @) 22:57, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

ST Cyril and Methodius

This holiday is not celebrated only in Bulgaria, but in Russia and Macedonia too. So please, do change it right away, as I find this rather offending. And I am writing this here and not on the article's discussion page since this is a featured article in the "on this day" section - found on the main page. It's really not human how you make some cultures great (bulgarians), and some worthless (every other slavic nation who has its alphabet in cyrillic). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 62.162.189.143 (talk • contribs) .

The item has been fixed to list Macedonia, because that is in the article. Russia is not; if you have information to add to the article, it will be welcomed. The editors involved in selecting the holidays to list have a very long list to choose from every single day, and the front page is only a partial representation of the available items. There was probably no reason other than space or editorial time that only Bulgaria was listed. --Dhartung | Talk 17:40, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Please disambiguate Macedonia. -- 64.229.207.142 20:42, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
User:62.162.189.143, this is a wiki. I find it rather offending that you chose to complain here and accuse people of being "not human", instead of sharing your knowledge and help improve pages such as Public holidays in the Republic of Macedonia and Public holidays in Russia. Saints Cyril and Methodius Day is not listed on either pages. --64.229.207.142 20:54, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I believe that person meant to say "Not Humane"...but that doesnt make any sense either. Regardless, it's not appropriate to lash out at the author of the blurb on the main page and assume that he or she was trying to stifle slavic culture by pursuing a pro-Bulgarian agenda. Please don't assume that every article is biased or that Wikipedia is attempting to make some cultures seem 'great' and others 'worthless'. I could understand that sort of vitriolic comment if it had said "The holiday of St. Cyril and Methodius is celebrated in awesome and beautiful Bulgaria where everyone is perfect, but not in Russia or Macedonia where people eat babies and live in yurts made of rotting corn husks". I guess I'm just trying to say that nobody meant to offend anyone in the first place, so there's no reason to take offense. Please try to remember this in the future.Antimatter 00:33, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This might be a good time to mention Wikipedia:Assume good faith. -- Laura S | talk to me 14:44, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And Wikipedia:Civility. -- 199.71.174.100 05:09, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Victoria Day

I don't see a mention of Victoria Day. Did I miss it on the 22nd? It is a stat holiday here in Canada. It's on the Monday closest to the 24th of May, Queen Victoria's birthday. I would think it's a holdiay in other Commonwealth countries too.

It was mentioned on the appropriate day. Perhaps you looked in after about 10:00EDT on that day and saw "tomorrows" page becuase of the time offset? According to the article, Victoria Day is celebrated only in Canada. Resolute 02:19, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

referendum figures

it is unclear whether "55.5% support out of an 86.3% voter turnout" means "55.5% yes, 30.8% no, 13.7% abstain" or "47.9% yes, 38.4% no, 13.7% abstain", please clarify (the intended meaning appears to be "55% of a 86.3% turnout". taking percentages of percentages may be confusing.). dab (ᛏ) 21:31, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Turnout is ignored. (This is usually the case in plebiscites.) Only people who voted are considered, so the 55% threshold was reached. —CuiviénenT|C, Wednesday, 24 May 2006 @ 21:48 UTC
yes, my point is that it is wrong to say "55% out of 86%" in this case, it should be "55% of 86%". dab (ᛏ) 10:38, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The problem is that the actual news is false and essentially incorrect. Those are only preliminary estimated results. The final results will be known by the end of this week. These news say as if the referendum passed... --HolyRomanEmperor 11:05, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Proposal to change format of the FA box on the mainpage

Please comment on the proposal at Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article.--Pharos 00:48, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Minor fix needed for the news section

Moved to Wikipedia:Main Page/Errors. -- 06:28, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

East Timor Crisis

This current event should be on the news page, Australia has just sent troops to stabilise the country. http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/australian-troops-arrive-in-dili/2006/05/25/1148524807943.html —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Suicup (talk • contribs) 08:47, 25 May 2006 (UTC).[reply]

This is currently being discussed on Wikipedia:In the news section on the Main Page/Candidates. --199.71.174.100 10:11, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, it's already on the news page: Current events. There since yesterday.... -- 199.71.174.100 10:13, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]


Ascension Thursday

The quantity of information boxes in the article ( Ascension ) linked to in On This Day are somewhat off-putting; one of them seems to float over one of the sections. Sadly I have no idea how to fix them, but maybe someone else does? Inner Earth 10:23, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps you should complain at Talk:Ascension. -- 199.71.174.100 14:14, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Request image change in Template:In the News

Hi,

The "In the News" template currently has India's flag as the picture. I think that since now there are more relevant pictures like Image:Dharnaeithflag.jpg, the flag can be substituted. Thanks, -Ambuj Saxena (talk) 12:26, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]


Vandalized!

This article has been vandalized:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_dance Please revert it to it's original form. Thank you and best regards, :--Kitsumiti

Perhaps you should complain at Talk:Electronic dance instead of here. -- 199.71.174.100 18:37, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Two things: 1. you can do it yourself. See WP:REVERT for more info. 2. you mean "its", not "it's". --M1ss1ontomars2k4 (T | C | @) 22:56, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Towel Day

Today is Towel Day. Is it possible to mention that in On this day...? Thanks. BethEnd 15:10, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Not likely.--ᎠᏢ462090Contribs 15:31, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Kitsumiti

Can someone please get rid of the article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsumiti as it is about me and I wish to keep my privacy. Thank you and best regards,Kitsumiti

Perhaps you should complain at Talk:Kitsumiti instead of here. -- 199.71.174.100 18:37, 25 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
already done. but not by me! --M1ss1ontomars2k4 (T | C | @) 22:55, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Tiger

That tiger is yawning, not roaring. - Torgo 07:46, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Either yawning or roaring, that's not a good picture for the current DYK items. --199.71.174.100 08:08, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Most frequently viewed and edited articles on Wikipedia?

Does anyone know how to get a (real-time?) list of the articles that are most frequently viewed and edited on Wikipedia? I've searched pretty hard on Google and Wikipedia but no luck so far.

Maybe the most edited, but not viewed, and not in real time.--ᎠᏢ462090Contribs 17:09, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia does not collect statistics ("hits") for page views, as doing so would put too much extra burden on the servers. However Special:Mostrevisions provides a list of the most edited articles. -Kmf164 (talk | contribs) 17:21, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Requested article

Vie de Jésus (Life of Jesus) by Ernest Renan. --EuroVelo 14:26, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Probably a better place to request that would be at Wikipedia:Requested articles. -- Laura S | talk to me 18:04, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Re: Japanese copyrights

日本人ウィキペディアンのコメント, 漫画ページについて

*漫画やアニメなどの画像を載せるのは違法じゃないんですか？著作権者からの許可はもらっているのですか

Sorry this is the english language Wikipedia - can you address your question in english? If you are refering to the copyright of images on Wikipedia each image page has the copyright information on it. If you have a cncern with images on wikipedia that you own the copyright for you can address that issue on the image's discussion page. This may help: Wikipedia:Image use policy --Monotonehell 01:46, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
We should assume it's vandalism. Haizum 03:24, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
ja:フェアユースというアメリカの法律で違法ではありません。それより難しいですが、私は日本語が忘れてしまってja:フェアユースを読めばいいんです。ほかの質問が残れば遠慮しないで日本語のウィキペディアのja:Wikipedia:コミュニティ・ポータルで聞きくのかWikipedia:Local Embassy#日本語 (Nihongo)のユウザアを聞くのをやってみてください。- BanyanTree 04:42, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Naw, he was just asking why using images from manga and anime wasn't illegal. Hopefully I pointed him to the Japanese fair use article and some relevant places for further questions but my Japanese is so rusty I may have just asked if elephants tango at dawn. - BanyanTree 04:42, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
LOL yes I got the jist of what was being asked. But I wasn't sure if they had a problem with something on an article or were asking a general policy/copyright question. --Monotonehell 07:40, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Vandalism? I've seen some strange comments, but that takes the cake. We're supposed to assume good faith, remember? --M1ss1ontomars2k4 (T | C | @) 22:54, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Assume good faith" within reasonable limits. We can't even begin to read those posts. Haizum 07:50, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Clearly you are incorrect as "we" could. Users from other language editions of Wikipedia occasionally leave messages here and there's almost always a Wikipedian with the relevant language skills wandering by who can give them some advice. - BanyanTree 19:38, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I can read it. Ashibaka tock 20:00, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In that case, someone else is assuming good faith while that right is being taken away from those that only speak native languages. What is this, California? Haizum 17:29, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
From WP:AGF:
So, when you can reasonably assume that something is a well-intentioned error, correct it without just reverting it or labeling it as vandalism.
It would be pretty silly vandalism to merely post a new, single-line bit in a talk page. Hence, we can reasonably assume it wasn't an edit made with malicious intent. — ceejayoz talk 22:51, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Vandalized Main Page

This user: 169.204.230.6 keeps on vandalizing the talk main page and taking away the navigational box which shows all the titles people have made. It is getting very annoying to the point in which I need to inform an Admin of this. I do not wish to keep on scrolling down the page looking for the subjects that I have written. I do not wish for anybody to be annoyed as much as I am. Please revert it to the way it was. If it already has been reverted before I post this please ignore my post. Thank you and best regards, Kitsumiti

He seems to have stopped after being warned, so no action looks necessary unless he returns. In future, reports like these should go on Wikipedia:Administrator intervention against vandalism, though first the vandal should be warned with the appropriate test templates (anyone can do this, not just admins) and only after they continue past a final warning should they be reported for blocking. --Sam Blanning(talk) 19:30, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Okay thank you Mr.Blanning. I will keep that in mind! Thank you and best regards, Kitsumiti

Mbah

Since I noticed that none reply long ago written posts, I am noting here to make people pay attention. Please re-read about the referendum. --HolyRomanEmperor 22:25, 26 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Pay attention to which referendum? --Monotonehell 01:48, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps the Serbia and Montenegro referendum maybe?--BoyoJonesJr 14:11, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The only one in the news - the Montenegrin referendum (the news is incorrect, like can be seen in the corresponding pragraph on this talk page). --HolyRomanEmperor 14:09, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Try Template talk: In the news, or propose a rewrite on the ITN candidates page -- before this item gets displaced by more recent news. -- 64.229.207.64 16:47, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Dracorex Hogwartsia "did you know" not consistent with article

According to the corresponding article, the dinosaur called Dracorex Hogwartsia was not named for the Hungarian Horntail in Harry Potter (it says so just that explicitly), but was just inspired by the series in some more general way. I think an admin ought to remove this from the main page, or, since it is interesting, keep but rewrite the sentence. - Torgo 18:50, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

DYK has been "refreshed" a few hours ago. This item is no longer on the Main Page, otherwise, I would've moved this to Wikipedia:Main Page/Errors. Admin response is usually quicker there. --199.71.174.100 21:17, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Error in Did You Know?

Danny Greene was Irish American, not Irish. Can someone amend this please? Twittenham 18:56, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

DYK has been "refreshed" a few hours ago. This item is no longer on the Main Page, otherwise, I would've moved this to Wikipedia:Main Page/Errors. Admin response is usually quicker there. --199.71.174.100 21:17, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

All Portals

duplicate post, answered at Portal talk:Browse, -Quiddity 09:28, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Spelling error

In the feature article "The Norwegian Jarmann M1884", fireing should be firing. Lu Xun

Go to Main Page Errors. FellowWikipedian 03:01, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Admins, don't go and check now. It's already fixed. -- 199.71.174.100 15:20, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

In other languages -box?

Why isn't it in the mainpage? It's in every other Wikipedias.

It grew too large for a box down the left side, so it's now a page width box down the bottom of the main page "Wikipedia languages". --Monotonehell 10:35, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Time to update the number of articles

Hey people, I thought that may be it is time to update the number of English Wikipedia articles...--Lord X 22:42, 28 May 2006 (UTC)User:Xinyu[reply]

I thought the number on the Main Page updates itself. No ? --199.71.174.100 03:26, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, the article count is a "live" count using the special command {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}. It's as up to date as you can get. - dcljr (talk) 03:48, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Addition

Would somebody please add "and that number is expected to rise" for the indonesian earthquake blurb in the "in the news" section? I believe that this is to be expected. --Gus

Three reasons not to:
  1. It goes without saying, yet ...
  2. Wikipedia is not a crystal ball.
  3. I hope such a tragic number will stay low.
-- 199.71.174.100 03:18, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Remove the title header?

Anyone know how to remove the title header on the Main Page on my own wiki, like they've done on Wikipedia? Thanks! Chazzoz 05:04, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This has been asked before recently, perhaps look in the archives. I forget what the outcome was, sorry. --Monotonehell 08:41, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your help. The answer, if anyone cares, is to copy the contents of MediaWiki:Monobook.js to your own wiki. Chazzoz 18:13, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The Image at Top Left

Something's wrong with the Image. Is anyone else experiencing this? 24.120.84.165 07:26, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Could you be more specific? It looks okay at my end. --Monotonehell 08:46, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
On my side,the words Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia is blacked out. Does that answer your question? hello 24.120.83.211 22:15, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Okay - not happening here. Anyone else seeing this? (Have you tried refreshing the image by itself?) --Monotonehell 03:15, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

On This Day

I'm not sure if this should go under errors, but for events celebrated on this day, it is the Whitsun Bank Holiday in the UK. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 08:13, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

That's neither an error, nor main page general discussion material. Have a look here. I don't think that the date is remarkable enough to get into the OTD box, however. --Monotonehell 08:44, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Agreed it's not an error, but someone referring to what they see as an omission in the list of dates on the main page is, surely, entitled to post here? But in any case, Whitsun is a religious term — it's the Spring Bank Holiday ([List of publich holidays]). Bazza 10:48, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I probably came over a little terse. Sorry Smurrayinchester! What I was trying to do was point out the appropriate starting point for thinking about sugesting OTD entries. --Monotonehell 12:02, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps it's worth thinking about how to guide people a bit better on the Main Page - say, a "discuss this list" or "add to this list" link for each of In the news and On this day...? It might go to, say, WP:ITN/Candidates or an equivalent. Bazza 13:03, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Actually you made me realise that there wasn't a coresponding (suggest a new entry) link for OTD at the top of this page. So I added one. (RV self - That was stupid of me) - But are you suggesting that similar links go on the main page itself? --Monotonehell 15:13, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. Anything to make things easier for people who aren't familiar with the current arrangements (which seem to change from time to time anyway) for commenting, adding to or discussing the various Main Page components. Normal article pages are easy, but the Main Page seems generate difficulties like this. The hard part, of course, is working out how to add such features without causing clutter and/or confusion! Bazza 12:31, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure if it could be put on the main page without clutter. We have to think about that. But perhaps instead of having this talk page here, it should be replaced with a set of options one of which is this discusion on a different page. Along with all the other options. --Monotonehell 12:35, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Make wikipedia your homepage...

I think the main page of wikipedia would really benefit from an option to allow the user to make the page their homepage. Wikipedia is the largest encyclopedia on the internet (I think!) and a I think lot of people would choose wikipedia to be their homepage. Sam 09:43, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

That's the kind of option that should be done at the browser's end not on the website (IMO). A user can make any site they like their homepage. If you use Firefox WP is already an option in the search box. Who knows, maybe one day it will replace Google as the default. ;) --Monotonehell 11:59, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, such an option would be superfluous. There are also no text size increaser/decreaser buttons, for example. A browser is expected to provide those. —Michiel Sikma, 14:20, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Bravo!

This website site is absolutely excellent! I love the way the encyclopiedia expands on everything! Gives you a sufficent amount of information. Keep it up!

Thanks on behalf of all of us -- it's always nice to hear good things from users. Wikipedia gets enough criticism as it is. ;-) --Dhartung | Talk 05:34, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Talk:Main Page history it says this person is an "anon". That's prety good for an anon. He/She is very right. FellowWikipedian 21:26, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Uzbek Wikipedia

Hello Admin, uzbek wikipedia reached 1000 Articles. Please could you add it to english main page. Thanks. --84.167.185.238 17:06, 29 May 2006 (UTC) Ismanov[reply]

Done. -- SmthManly / ManlyTalk / ManlyContribs 17:36, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Congratulations Uzbek editors! --Dhartung | Talk 05:10, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Daily Mail.uk

"Babies aborted for not being perfect" would be a perfect article for the main page, especially because if there was even a hint of organized eugenics in the United States, every NGO and socialist government would (ironically) be screaming bloody murder. Haizum 17:34, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It would appear only if there were an existing article in wikipedia that reached a degree of encyclopedic quality. As articles on the front page are sourced from wikipedia articles, not external websites. I fear that such an article would be the target of much argument and heated debate, however. It would be a beast to find a middle line and bring in all sides of the discussion. --Monotonehell 12:40, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Suggesting stuff

How can we suggest the admins to put stuff in the main page? --El Chemaniaco 18:00, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Several different places: for "Did you know", see WP:DYK; for "In the news", see WP:ITN; for "Featured article", take a look at WP:TFA; for "Selected anniversaries", see WP:SA; and for "Featured picture", see WP:FP. All those pages describe the process of having stuff appear on the front page. Hope this helps! --Spangineer[es] (háblame) 21:25, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]


ITN Pictures

Merkel Pictured @ ITN

Any chance of a picture of Java or a flag of Indonesia instead?--Nema Fakei 14:04, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I thought the same thing, the Merkel picture is utterly unnecessary and irrelevant... --201.15.171.34 16:24, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
There should be a photo of the train station instead. Añoranza 16:28, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A train station with dead bodies? What? Haizum 07:51, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Or the Flag of Indonesia. --64.229.207.64 16:44, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Done and done. Added the Indonesian flag, though I had problems with the {{border}} tag. --Madchester 19:22, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
{{border-notinline}} works better on ITN. -- 199.71.174.100 21:15, 27 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Please choose photos that help in some way to inform readers

As the Indonesian flag contributes very little to inform about the earthquake, could you please post a portrait of the activist instead? [1] Añoranza 03:13, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Not just any pic can get onto the Main Page. What is the copyright status of this pic of Aung San Suu Kyi ? -- 199.71.174.100 03:20, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Says something in a language I cannot understand but has a public domain sign: [2], [3]. Añoranza 03:29, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The he.wikipedia page says 'fairuse'. So it probably cannot be used on the Main Page.
Hopefully, someone can get the Colombian presidential election, 2006 page expanded and updated soon, so that we can put that and the picture of the Colombian president on ITN. -- 199.71.174.100 03:42, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A flag, at least, my teach some what that particular country's flag looks like. The flag is a default for when a more suitable picture can't be found (due to copyright or other issues). It is important, in many people's opinions, to have the lead article the one with the picture. Much confusion occurs when it is not.
What else could you picture in such a disaster? Perhaps a location map? Certainly not pictures of those injured or worse. That's simply disrespectful. --Monotonehell 08:39, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
A location map would certainly be more informative than a flag in this instance. The small inset maps at BBC Country Profiles or WorldAtlas.com look the right sort of thing, but someone would have to produce a set for different regions of the world. Alternatively, a cropped version of a Commons locator map would do. Bazza 13:14, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Change ITN picture please

Borisblue 15:21, 29 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This won't work at ITN. The usual size is 100px. Too small to show anything meaningfully. (see right)-- 199.71.174.100 02:57, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I like better. See my suggestion at WP:ITN/Candidates. -- 199.71.174.100 03:27, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Impressive: Lipany

I'm currently doing a research paper on the Hussite Wars, so I was pleasantly surprised to be reminded that this is the 672nd anniversary of Lipany. However, do you really think Lipany is so important as to merit mention on the home page? How is this stuff decided, anyway? Is it done at random? Timotheus4 01:32, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No, not random. The effective end of the Bohemian Wars in Bohemia seems important enough to me to be included.... Usually the "best" pages get selected from a list on the day's page, in this case May 30#Events, featuring something different in history every day. Like everything on the Main Page, this section is maintained by administrators. See Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries for more details. -- 199.71.174.100 03:44, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

DYK

..could be updated to include the launch date of the referred to iteration of HMS Ocean, to avoid confusion with e.g. the present incarnation. Badgerpatrol 02:00, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Has anyone else noticed that there appears to be a bias in selection of both Featured Articles and Did you Knows?

For example, both Australia and Scandinavian Firearms appear as FA's far more frequently than their relative prevalence in the Wikipedia world would suggest. I'm an Australian interested in firearms, so I'm not overly fussed, but the bias certainly seems to be there.

Also, in recent times in Did You know?, we have had a succession of Australian swimmers, including both the Konrads. Again, worthy subjects, but what about Australian basketballers, or Dutch swimmers, or Latvian townships, or asteroids?

Is it possible that those who compose this page are subconsciously letting their own interests have sway?

--RichardH 07:59, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's probably not bias in selection, but a systemic bias (in available wikicontent) due to the knowledge base of available contributors. -- 199.71.174.100 08:05, 30 May 2006 (UTC) (& 21:28, 31 May 2006 (UTC))[reply]
I'd agree with 199. At the very least, the DYK box can't reasonably be accused of bias on the part of the admins working on the main page, since they largely put whatever is suggested on Template talk:Did you know up there, and that page is added to by pretty much whoever wants to. As to the choice of FA, there's some input into the order at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests but choices are mostly made by User:Raul654, who has a very limited base of articles from Wikipedia:Featured Articles to choose from. Any bias present isn't so much from the administrators as from contributors to Wikipedia in general, at least in my humble opinion. But I'd agree that at the moment the english-language Wikipedia has a distinct Anglophone/Western bias (which is understandable considering). GeeJo (t)⁄(c) • 10:32, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
See also: Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias. -- Sundar \talk \contribs 10:35, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The connection was Anglophone/Western bias is tenuous to say the least. It's simply that there are only a small number of featured articles to choose from, and a few people with specific interests (which often don't match the overall skewing of the content very closely at all) produce quite a lot of them. Osomec 15:06, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

what has happened?

why are all the links now underlined? It looks very weird. dposse 22:27, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Just refresh the page, that happens sometimes. Prodego talk 22:29, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Refreshing doesn't help. Should i clear my cache?dposse 22:38, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Either that or simply telling your browser to not look stuff up in the cache when refreshing should do. The way to do that is Ctrl + F5 in Firefox and perhaps the same in Internet Explorer. Jeltz talk 22:50, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
nevermind. i fixed it. dposse 23:11, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]


JaymzSpyhunter 01:32, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

How did you fix this problem? I have the same thing happen and am wanting to go back to the default look.

Clear the cache and restart your browser. The same thing happened to me and this could fix it. --Zoz (t) 11:53, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

May 31: News

Can someone please update the news column? The quake in Indonesia killed over 7000 people, according to reports from authorities. Also, there should be mention of the State of Emergency declared in East Timor. Wikipedia Stubmechanic 09:16, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"Over 5000" (last I checked) was still accurate, as 7000 is more than 5000. Wikipedia is not a news page and it isn't our job to get the absolute latest figures the moment they come off the newswire. Also, the East Timor emergency is in the News column, with Operation Astute (not the best name, being discussed at Talk there) highlighted. --Dhartung | Talk 04:55, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Student Protest

The student protest in India has been withdrawn after intervention by the Supreme Court. Could some one please update the news section? regards --Arjun sugumar 04:14, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

see also above #Change ITN picture please. -- 199.71.174.100 04:30, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Runescape Page

It is unable to be edited, but several times throughout it, there's a person saying to email your username and password to Blank email address for free members and up to seven items.

This is wrong. This is a scam, and the person who recieves this information will log onto the player's account and relieve them of their items. Please delete each one of those, or make it able to be edited, and I will. -- Commented added by User:Caleb Furth 20:13, 31 May 2006

This would be best addressed on the Runescape talk page. I just had a (very) quick look and couldn't see any email addresses in the text of the article. The page is protected due to vandals, probably scammers as you mention. --Monotonehell 12:58, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It was removed a while ago. Prodego talk 23:39, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Stubs in DYK

The article on Filippo Salvatore Gilij is a pitiful stub. I wonder how it got on the Main Page. Are the updating admins not aware that stubs are not eligible? --Ghirla -трёп- 17:34, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Are admins updating the Main Page at all ? ITN hasn't changed for days, except for the death toll in the Java earthquake. -- 199.71.174.100 20:20, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I skipped using that one, since it was so short and lacking content, but another admin decided to use it. Hopefully some user will "prefer fix attempts over complaints of various sorts." :) — 0918BRIAN • 2006-06-01 02:36

It's far from comprehensive, but it's more than a stub (over 1000 characters) and certainly well beyond "pitiful". DYK items are new articles, and are not expected to be of Featured Article quality. The usual response to an article that needs more information is to .... add it. --Dhartung | Talk 05:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It got on the main page Ghirla because I put it there. I'm sorry that you feel it was inappropriate, but I thought it was an interesting topic worthy of being listed. Yes, the article is short but it meets the size guidelines for DYK, and the exposure on the main page is worth it for the possibility of improvement to the article. Selection of articles for DYK is a balancing act and a judgement call but hey, that's what we admins get our monthly paychecks for :-) --Cactus.man ✍ 06:27, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The topic is interesting, I agree, yet I would prefer to stick to the old requirement of at least 300 words in an article. My MS Word tells me that the article, bibliography and table of contents removed, has 215. I don't know who introduced 1000 characters threshold and what is the reason behind it. There is no lack of new articles complying with the old requirement. --Ghirla -трёп- 06:35, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You're probably right, 1000 characters is less useful than 300 words as a determining criteria, and does seem more arbitrary. I was unaware that there used to be a 300 word requirement, maybe this should be raised at Wikipedia_talk:Did_you_know. --Cactus.man ✍ 06:55, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

on the DYK template

How come " Archive – Start a new article " is on the rightside of the DYK template, but on the leftside on the Main Page ? Due to an extra </div> on the TFA template ? Am I the only one seeing this ? --199.71.174.100 21:38, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

New pages

Clicking 'newest articles' on the Main Page now brings me to Recent additions rather than to New pages. Clicking 'Archive' already has this function, so there's now two links doing the same, and none doing what I want it to. Why has this happened? Eixo 22:18, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Where is 'newest articles'? FellowWikipedian 23:31, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This first line in DYK, the one above the bulleted items. -- 199.71.174.100 03:54, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It was recently changed. Discussion for this is underway at Wikipedia talk:Did you know#What "recent additions" links to. --Dhartung | Talk 05:03, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

fijians in melbourne

hi everyone i need 2 know how many fijians live in melbourne.

Hi, you would have better luck asking at the Reference Desk. This page is for discussion of the Main Page of Wikipedia. - BT 02:55, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Reliable

Wikipedia isn't reliable, is anyone trying to fix that?

Don't troll. Of course there are people trying to fix that. --maru (talk) contribs 02:20, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The guy isn't trolling. Get ahold of your ego please. Haizum 02:27, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It certainly sounds potentially trollish to me, particularly without the ability to detect sarcasm vs. naivete on the Internet. — ceejayoz talk 05:41, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What is more reliable on the internet ? Use some common sense, please.
Sane people trust www.bbc.co.uk/news over wikipedia.
Wikipedia is as reliable as anything available on the internet, and it's easy to fix any errors quickly. Asking for anything more is asking too much. -- 199.71.174.100 03:51, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Britannica isn't reliable, but you never hear much about that, either.

Pirate Bay vs. Earthquake

People, the discussion of what is put in the news box has been there before, but putting the Pirate Bay raid above the Indonesian earthquake with 1000s of dead is not only systemic bias but decadent, taste- and heartless. PLEASE change at least the order. wtf! gbrandt 06:55, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's called putting things in chronological order. Calm down. --Golbez 21:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Hi Gbrandt, the earthquake is a terrible and ongoing event, however ITN is presented in date order. It's not a "news box" but a list of articles that have been recently updated with current events. The Java earthquke has been on top for around 4 days. I believe there is no systemic bias involved in this case. Current events --Monotonehell 09:16, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Pirate Bay shouldn't even be on ITN. It's only there due to Wikipedia's systemic bias. That is, there is a more than average number of technology-savvy editors (unsurprisingly). Not in itself a problem, but it does manifest itself in undue weight being given to stories that in the general sphere are only a minority interest.
I suggest this is removed and a more general news story added to correct this.
zoney ♣ talk 10:09, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, because we always load down ITN with tech stories! --Golbez 21:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That could be argued. But it goes deeper than simply a techno savvy article. This is about a US company influencing the law makers and enforcers of another country. It speaks to copyright issues in law and in society, about the line between civil and public prosecution. In fact the article has very little to do with the actual technology behind their activities, it's more regarding law and society. --Monotonehell 12:01, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Big Woopty do. That may all be entirely correct, but it does not mean that the article is worthy of being in a section that only has around 5 world headlines. Go on, have a look at the major news stories at the moment. Pirate Bay is *way* down there on all but the tech news sites. zoney ♣ talk 12:39, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
And not one has been updated, save a death toll, for five days. I'd rather have new stuff than stagnate. --Golbez 21:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Ok, its gone, thanks. This was the second most insensitive thing i saw on Wikipedia since the "live coverage" of Stanley Williams execution. gbrandt 13:04, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm putting it back, have at it. --Golbez 21:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

What seems strange in this discussion is that no one is objecting to the opening of a train station in Germany among these headlines. Piet 13:06, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The german hauptbahnhof is a technological and architectural marvel of our time, which could be compared to the 1855 Glass Palace of the british world fair. It certainly deserves mention as largest in entire Europe and first in the world with true multiple-staired railway crossing. The fact that there is almost no train travel in USA is a shame rather than a viewpoint for wikipedia administration.
You're right, its systemic bias again (i for one look forward to using that station). in any case the amok run at the opening should be mentioned over the opening itself, but then this is not an article, and its not WikiNews here. gbrandt 14:34, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Pirate Bay should be there, but not as the top item. Just update the death toll, and the earthquake can move to the top. -- 64.229.224.72 17:26, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It's going back up top because I'm peeved. Blame El C. --Golbez 21:08, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
WP:POINT ? What's wrong ? --199.71.174.100 21:10, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Not really; just El C's attitude brought my attention back to ITN, when I had been prepared to let it slide for the day. --Golbez 21:35, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Okay. BTW, please consider updating the death toll and the hidden date, so that the earthquake can move to the top of the list at ITN. -- 199.71.174.100 22:26, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

On this day.

Very Anglo-Saxon centered today and not very interesting IMHO. Charles de Gaulle and the Three Gorges Dam could have given some balance. Piet 10:20, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Anglo-Saxon centered ? Charles de Gaulle is scheduled to appear later this week. Three Gorges Dam was on ITN for quite a while last month. See also Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries#USA bias in Selected Anniverary. -- 64.229.204.28 14:03, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Apartheid FP

I propose "races" be quotemarked. Without the quotations, it implies support for the concept of multiple races. In my opinion, as the sentence begins with "under apartheid", using quotes would convey that that was the term employed by the regime of South Africa. "Ethnic groups" would be preferable, though, as it arguably avoids any POV. SoLando (Talk) 11:33, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You are probably in favor of affirmative action though, which I find hilarious. I'm just playing the odds. Haizum 22:45, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Non sequitur much? — ceejayoz talk 04:11, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Huh? Ask the suppressed ethnic groups. -- 64.229.204.28 13:44, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The relevance of mentioning affirmative action is obscure. Though, hey, at least the two words instinctively prompts me to think of WP:BOLD. :-p SoLando (Talk) 14:22, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Author(s)?

Who writes the main page?

"They" do. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Evertype (talk • contribs) 16:23, 1 June 2006 (UTC).[reply]
To clarify at Wikipedia:Main Page FAQ ? --64.229.224.72 16:27, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Earthquake

"An earthquake on the island of Java, Indonesia (location pictured) kills at least 6,200 people"

Last time I saw this it was at 5,800! May the people rest in peace.

♥Je me souviens♥

Aw...i guess it's better to overestimate so that we don't have to cahnge it later ;) --M1ss1ontomars2k4 (T | C | @) 00:48, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Disgusting apartheid advocacy

The front page write-up on the apartheid beach table is really disgusting, it conveys apartheid is borderline normal or something like that. In fact apartheid has been classified in mandatory UN resolutions as evil and inherently criminal under international jurisdiction, which even wikipedia cannot ignore, since UN general assembly resolutions are delivered in the name of the entire mankind. Therefore apartheid must not be portrayed as "petty" or insignificant. Especially in the light of South Africa's planned negrocide in the Angola invasion (which was stopped only by cuban soldiers landing) and its amassing of atomic bombs for the purpose (with no little help from Dimona), we must say apartheid was en par with the Hitler's Third Reich.

I understand how the west and zionists want to suppress and lessen criticism and condemnation of apartheid regime, since USA and Israel were the main open and clandestine military backers of South Africa during the period of international sanctions, claiming anti-communism supercedes racial opression. Yet, if wikipedia emulates that, than wikipedia is no more than a cold-war propaganda megaphone. 195.70.32.136 15:45, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Huh? dposse 16:18, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia is not a soapbox, 195.70.32.136. I still say the caption needs some amendments, but meh :-) SoLando (Talk) 16:22, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
On a par with the Third Reich? Yes, obviously beind denied access to the same beach as white Boers is every bit as bad as having half of your race exterminated in gas chambers etc. siarach 16:40, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think the word 'Petty' is being misread here. I the context of the caption it is not translating as 'insignificant' but more like 'minor', as in the segregation of a beach is merely an annoyance compared to the larger, more major life-affecting laws that were coming into place during this time. Not being able to bathe on a particular stretch of coastline would have been nothing compared to the 'non-petty' apartheid such as those affecting education or employment. Lady BlahDeBlah 17:56, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Dismissing apartheid as whites not allowing blacks on their beaches is a gross demonstration of ignorance. Go read the article and come back. — ceejayoz talk 04:16, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Is that to me or to the original comment? If me, then I'm sorry if it came out like that; I studied apartheid and similar regimes for quite some time during my school years. Lady BlahDeBlah 13:59, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Petty apartheid was the term in use at the time for these non-life-threatening forms of the policy. The picture seemed to symbolise it perfectly. I think it is mentioned in the article too, it should be. --Guinnog 16:08, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

non-interesting DYK

In contrast to DYK requirements, USA PATRIOT Act, Title III, Subtitle B in DYK has no hook, is longish and full of technicalities. As a result of its inclusion, the template is too long and looks disproportionate. Please consider removal. --Ghirla -трёп- 16:32, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

  • Again, I had skipped over using that one for the reasons you list, but Cactus man decided to "be bold" and use it :) — 0918BRIAN • 2006-06-01 17:32

Newest article

The link in the Did you know boxe should link to newest article and not recent additions. Something should be done. Moonray 20:14, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

See above #New pages -- 199.71.174.100 21:11, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Today's Featured Article Image

I know the image on the Main Page for Transhumanism looks really nice, but it's a fair-use image. Is there a free image that could replace it? joturner 00:03, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

  • Anyone know why the image was actually deleted from the article also? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rob.derosa (talk • contribs)
    • Featured articles should keep the number of fair use images to a minimum, and probably the image wasn't being fairly used (ie, the article didn't critically analyze the subject of the image). --BRIAN0918 01:38, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
    • Echoing Brian, the article didn't discuss the magazine depicted in the image. According to fair-use policy/law, the image has to be used in an article about the magazine in question. joturner 01:40, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I was looking at the main page and clicked the link to the featured atricle on Transhumanism but all that appears is a short stub on the subject. The article still appears in full as the latest version in the history but just not under the article tab. Has anyone else encountered this? Appears to have been corrected.

Date on main page

See the discussion here: WP:VPR#Date on Main page.

What do you think of this for incorporating the date on the main page? —Mets501talk 05:04, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I don't like it. It throws off the balance, and users' caching would prevent it from being correct much of the time. —David Levy 05:29, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Caching is certainly a problem - it doesn't do us any good to proudly show inaccurate information on the Main Page. -Robmods 10:48, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's easily fixed. The version on my talk page has a link to purge the page built right into the time display. I like the idea; several other Wikipedias have already caught on. I doubt we'll ever get it, though, simply because we're so large and there is always some amount of opposition to any proposal anywhere. — BRIAN0918 • 2006-06-02 14:59
Time to be bold, brian. :-) -- 64.229.207.249 15:41, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Be bold" doesn't mean "bypass an ongoing discussion by performing a controversial edit to a protected, high-profile page." —David Levy 20:00, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
This is exactly why the "big" main page change consisted only of a couple superficial changes; people have become afraid of experimenting with anything on this site. — BRIAN0918 • 2006-06-02 20:14
While the latter statement may be true to some extent, I strongly disagree with your assertion that the recent main page redesign "consisted only of a couple superficial changes." I also dispute your implication that the retention of many of the previous interface's popular elements means that the project was a failure. Change for the sake of change is illogical and counterproductive. (If it ain't broke...)
Also note that I certainly don't advocate seeking advance approval for all edits. In this particular instance, the idea is under discussion (an advisable step) and known to be controversial. —David Levy 20:33, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"If it ain't broke" assumes that we definitely know what will or will not work; ie, that we know it isn't currently broke, which is a rather close-minded approach. Experimenting allows us to find better ideas that we wouldn't have thought of initially, or at least didn't think would prove better. Cowering before public opinion will get us a couple superficial changes. — BRIAN0918 • 2006-06-02 21:47
You seem to believe that the redesign project was a failure because we didn't change enough. Aside from my aforementioned disagreement with your claim that we ended up with "a couple superficial changes," I contend that the amount of change is not a valid measure of the endeavor’s success. The purpose was to create the best possible main page, not to change as much as possible.
We spent months experimenting (with numerous drafts created), and we received a massive amount of input. Many of the radical alterations were rejected because people disliked them. I don't understand why you believe that we should have implemented elements that were deemed worse than the existing design. What you call "cowering before public opinion," I call "building consensus." —David Levy 22:39, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
"Best" doesn't necessarily mean "that which isn't rejected by a majority". That's the problem. Also, how much input did you receive from the actual audience of people who use our site but don't edit (which is the actual majority on the site)? Radical new ideas, though harsh at first, can lead to better things; whereas compromise generally leads to the same thing. — BRIAN0918 • 2006-06-03 00:04
Given the fact that this is an entirely subjective matter, "best" means "preferred by the most people." The redesign project was advertised all over the site, and we received a great deal of input from non-editors. Some advocated discounting or disregarding this feedback as potential sock puppetry, but I objected for precisely the reason that you cited above. Eventually, it became clear that the outcome would be the same either way.
For every person arguing that we hadn't changed enough, another felt that we'd changed too much. Most, however, endorsed the new design (which was created by combining the most popular elements of numerous drafts and revisions, including those from new/anonymous editors). Many of the rejected changes would have reduced usability for certain users, which was the exact opposite of our goal.
But yes, some of the radical ideas did lead to better things. The header box, for example, originally contained a search field. This was deemed redundant and confusing, but someone had the idea of placing the portal links inside the box (which numerous people have praised). Another example is the featured picture box, which evolved from earlier attempts to fit the picture into one of the existing columns. In that instance, the more radical (but better) idea prevailed.
Every other element (the precise layout, the links, the color scheme, portal icons vs. bullets, etc.) was debated mercilessly and tweaked 'till the cows came home. In the end, we succeeded in our goal of improving—albeit not reinventing—the wheel. —David Levy 00:49, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I don't agree that the purge link fixes the problem, as it requires that visitors know (and desire) to click on it. It also doesn't reduce the cluster's subjective ugliness and extraneousness. —David Levy 20:00, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Interesting, whenever I go to the page, it displays the correct time, not a cached time. —Mets501talk 17:16, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I get a cached time. —David Levy 20:00, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Once it's on the main page, it should almost always be up to date, or at worst, off by a minute. — BRIAN0918 • 2006-06-02 20:12
I'm not so sure. I frequently see the previous day's featured content several hours past 00:00 (UTC), and even purging my cache doesn't always solve the problem. —David Levy 00:49, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

On this day: June 2

Isn't it Shavuot today? Might as well put that down seeing as there are no holidays or anything currently mentioned. Horses In The Sky talk contributions

Simple English

Does anyone think it would be a good idea to place a clear portal to the Simple English Wikipedia on the main page, allowing fast access to a simplified version of the encyclopedia? User:Micheal Dart/Signature

That is a good idea, and i agree. However, it's already been discussed and i think they turned down the idea. dposse 19:44, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Coronated or crowned?

Hmm. I thought Queen Elizabeth II was crowned. I have never seen the form coronated, which would imply the existence of a verb "to coronate". Sounds like a back formation from the event, coronation. Maurice Fox 15:54, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's already fixed. Empty your cache, please. -- 64.229.207.249 16:05, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Well, that sounds fucking rude. --JohnO 23:52, 2 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
how is it rude? dposse 00:19, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Needlessly using the word fucking is fucking fucking rude. --Nelson Ricardo 00:32, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Even if an article is well-written and constructed, I hardly believe the subject is worthy to be a "featured article." As it is, it's just shameless promotion, and allowing it opens the door for any politico, however obscure, to expect his or her turn in the Wiki spotlight after submitting a bio. It's an unfortunate choice (and biased, in my opinion), since his relevance to the large issues of the day is virtually nil beyond his simply being a "textbook Republican" conservative with higher political ambitions. -Pandelume

The subject or notability of an article has not been part of the Featured article criteria, so textbook Democrats can also be featured, if they pass the stringent examination at Featured article candidates. Titoxd(?!? - help us) 01:05, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Pandelume, you wouldn't be complaining if the politician had been a liberal democrat. Ricardo Lagos 01:15, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm saying that avoid any accusations of bias, politicians of local interest should be avoided regardless of party affiliations. I'm saying that the featured article should not be diminished by giving politicians seeking national office free publicity. It's really opening a Pandora's box which should be left shut. What if his local rival Jean Schmidt should demand equal time? Wiki reaches a national and worldwide audience; why would anyone in California, Florida, or Great Britain be remotely interested in the biography of a local politician of little note outside his home state? It's OK if the article is in Wiki, but to make it a featured article on my home page is both absurd and disappointing. -Pandelume

This is not the first time that Wikipedia has used the Featured Article section to promote obscure Republican candidates. The objectivity of Wikipedia is a joke. It's obvious that the Featured Article section is where one will find the LEAST important and LEAST informative articles. You can protest all you want about how this pointless article meets the "featured article criteria" but the fact is that it nothing more th an a political advertisement and it is completely unworthy of being a "featured article" in any encyclopedia. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.234.148.243 (talk • contribs)

A featured article is a featured article, guys. If it meets the criteria, it gets the nod. This one won consensus just like all other featured articles. Let's go find a Democrat's article, fix it up, and get it on the front page too. Bellyaching will get us nowhere, especially as it's already up. — ceejayoz talk 03:32, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If his rival or her supporters would like equal time, they can work to bring her article to featured status. If no one is interested in improving her article, it will not reach featured status. If there is a subject you'd rather see on the main page, please help bring its article to featured status. — Knowledge Seeker দ 03:44, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Precisely. — ceejayoz talk 04:09, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's foolish to think this won't lead to problems by November. Wasn't there enough foreshadowing of that with the Congress scandal? --Grocer 05:14, 3 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

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