Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2007 February 25

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February 25

Search Box Memory

How do I get the search box to forget what articles i've been to and never store that information again? Bacon warrior 04:26, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

That information is stored by your web browser, and you can change it in your web browser's preferences (either under Edit->Preferences or Tools->Options or somesuch). —Centrx→talk • 01:17, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Thank you very much Bacon warrior 04:26, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Ernest Hemingway and polydactly cats being called "Hemingway cats"

Hi.

Although I don't subscribe to the fact that almost anyone can edit Wikipedia, I have an additonal fact about Ernest Hemingway!

I just adopted a cat who is polydactyl -- which means that he has extra toes! I have since found out that polydactyls are also called "mitten cats" because it looks like they have mittens on their front paws (VERY cute!) but, most importantly, that Ernest Hemingway loved these special cats! Because he had so many, I've heard, is the reason why polydactyl cats are also called

                 "Hemingway Cats"

I thought that was interesting enough to be added to your article on Hemingway!

I will be certified as a teacher in December, and use our high school library regularly. I will have to say that most of the teachers at our high school advise students that when doing research, they cannot rely on Wikipedia for obtaining completely valid research.

I think that this is a shame, as I fully enjoy your website! I was glad when the Hemingway article could not be added to -- I only found out about the polydactyl cat "love" last week, so I certainly don't feel I can reliably write about this fact!

Thank you, Connie Goranson71.33.170.136 02:49, 25 February 2007 (UTC) Englewood High School

Welcome to Wikipedia. You can add any relevant fact to an article, even if you just now discovered it, as long as you can cite your sources. For example, when you hear something interesting, you might look up a reference for it in your library. If more teachers would look up references for all the unsourced statements on Wikipedia, and add them to articles here, and encourage their students to do likewise, then Wikipedia might become more reliable. However, WP:CW says encyclopedias are often considered an unacceptable source for school papers. In any case, Polydactyl cat mentions Hemingway cats, complete with photos. You could add a link to Polydactyl cat to the Ernest Hemingway#Trivia section. --Teratornis 05:20, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I should point out that Wikipedia has lots of articles, so lots of interesting facts are hiding here somewhere. If you don't find a particular fact in the first article you think to search for it, try searching the rest of Wikipedia. For example, just because the Ernest Hemingway article doesn't mention Hemingway cats, there might well be another article that does (in this case, Hemingway cats which is a redirect to Polydactyl cat). You might show your digitally hyper-endowed feline that he is notable enough to warrant mention on Wikipedia, then show him the mouse article. --Teratornis 05:31, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Are disambiguation pages necessary when only one article exists?

Until yesterday Walker House had a list of 14 different Walker Houses, but the only one that actually had a link to an article was right at the bottom of the list [1].

My understanding is that disambiguation pages are created to disambiguate between articles of the same name, not for creating long lists of possible titles for articles that may or may not exist one day, especially when only one article by that name currently exists on Wikipedia.

Anyway, I turned the "disambiguation" page to a redirect for that one article and soon after the creator of the page reverted it, after just have created a new stub for a second Walker House, apparently just to make a point and to justify creating the disambig page in the first place. All the other unlinked titles are back on there too.

Is this the way to do it on Wikipedia? If only one article exists, then create a dab page anyway because one day someone might make articles with the same name?Saikokira 03:47, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Even if there's a disambig page, the title should probably direct to the most likely House, with a link on that page to the disambig page using one of these templates. Propose a move on WP:RM as there's obviously disagreement, but hopefully it will get you allies. Xiner (talk, email) 03:57, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Cfd page coding

I added an entry to Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2007 February 25 but screwed up the template coding so that now the entry doesn't appear in the TofC. Instead of "Category: Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (film)," it reads "NEW NOMINATIONS." Can someone help recode this (if it is not too much trouble)?--Vbd | (talk) 06:27, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Chikungunya, homeopathy etc.

To The Editor Wikipedia

I would like to share my experience in helping patients suffering from Chikungunya on Wikipedia but do not know how I may do so. I live in Sri Lanka, am 77 years old and Homeopathy is only a hobby to me. I have studied this science since 1968 but am not qualified in this science although I do have over 20 years of helping patients who consult me in Sri Lanka which I do completely free of charge, including the remedies that I dispense.

Chikun Gunya was first reported in Sri Lanka in November 2006 and I used Polyporus Pinicola 200c to treat this disease with success. I also used Apis 6c to help with the usual edema that usually follows about a week after the first symptoms and continues for months thereafter. I used Gelsemium 30c as a prophylactic to help members of the same household to avoid contracting this disease.

This disease was pandemic here in Sri Lanka from last November to the end of January when about 20% of the population were affected but no new cases are reported today. I have had some remarkable success in helping patients who present today with the after effects of Chikungunya with swollen ankles and pain in the joints which continue even 3 months after the onset of this disease. I now use a lower potency of Polyporus Pinicola in the 30c potency.

I have observed that in the case of patients who have got used to the general aches and pains which are a characteristic of this disease, they respond in a few days to the Polyporus Pinicola 30c in the water dose which is made by inserting 2-3 drops of the remedy in Ethanol, into a 500ml bottle of spring water. A dose is a teaspoonful which is taken twice daily.

I would like to share my therapy on the Treatment page of the article on Chikungunya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikungunya I do not know how I may do so and would appreciate if any member of your staff can help as this information can be valuable to those who may be affected by this disease for which modern medicine does not have any cure.

Polyporus Pinicola is a Homeopathic remedy and is described in Boericke on the link below: http://homeoint.org/books/boericmm/p/polyp-p.htm

Joe De Livera Colombo Sri Lanka

email: <e-mail address removed> —Preceding unsigned comment added by Joe De Livera (talk • contribs)

You can not do what it sounds like you want to do. Wikipedia is not a host of original research; things have to already be published in reliable sources. Relevant policy/guideline links include: Wikipedia:Verifiability, Wikipedia:Fringe theories, and Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 07:13, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

One image has enough licensing info and another does not, but what is the difference?

An image was recently removed from Homunculi of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and it needs to be replaced, but I am having difficulty understanding the rules. It won't do any good if I replace the image with another one that will be removed.

Here is another image from that page: Image:FMASloth.png. It seems to have whatever it takes to keep from being deleted. As I understand it, that is source and copyright information, but I can't find anything that I recognize as a source on the page for that image. In fact, this image seems to come with almost no documentation, and yet it is not removed.

This is the image that was removed: Image:Lust.JPG. As I write this, it has not been deleted, but I expect it will be deleted shortly. What exactly is it missing, and where can I find that for Image:FMASloth.png? -- Lilwik 07:47, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

1. Source. Where did it originally come from?
2. Fair use rationale. Why do we need these imaages in the first place?
3. Copyright holder. Whose image is this?

The first image does not have a source. It may eventually be tagged for deletion in the future. Titoxd^(?!?) 07:54, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

In case it is not clear, the above response does not actually explain anything. Those points are given directly on the page of Image:Lust.JPG. I know that those things are supposed to be required and I would like to know how to supply them, but I cannot find that information in the other images on the same page which all ultimately come from approximately the same source. I presume that the information must be somehow there, because those images were not removed as this one was. -- Lilwik 09:35, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I have made an attempt at replacing the image. Is this the correct way to do it? I supplied all the information I could think of and find, as well as my best attempt at a fair use rational, though I'm not a lawyer. Is Image:FMALust2.jpg correct? -- Lilwik 05:38, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

That looks fine to me. Harryboyles 05:48, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

Multiple samples of same songs (Not what it seems to be, read below)

A Funk Odyssey is a Jamiroquai-related article I've been contributing to, especially on the topic of the controversial test pressing of the album, which is very different from what the final album came to be. Some of the congs are very dissimilar to their "official" counterparts. I need to know if I'm allowed to upload 2 (TWO) samples per song, for comparison purposes between the test pressing and the final album. (User:MrFunkster)

I'm no expert on this sort of thing, but I would be concerned that fair use wouldn't apply to copyrighted recordings that haven't actually been released. -- Chairman S. Talk ^Contribs 09:46, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

So that means that I can not upload them? Well, that's just "awesome". MrFunkster 10:02, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

wikiproject central america help

i'm wondering how i can become a participant in the wikiproject central america? i went to the project page where it said i can join but can't quite figure out exactly how to go about dong this. i would really like to contribute and help others.

thanks Matteo747 10:46, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Just click on the edit tab beside Wikipedia:WikiProject Central America#Participants and add your name. Hope this helps. --Joshua Chiew 10:59, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I added his name to Wikipedia:WikiProject_Central_America asa participant. Hope this helps. BuickCenturyDriver (Honk, odometer) 11:56, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

how can i become a volunteer for the central america project? please help!

hi im from el salvador and i would like to help make improvements on the article and on this site can you please contact me about the procedure... thank youGuacamaya

Please see the question directly above this one. Dismas|^(talk) 11:45, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

how do i

how do i create a user page with the little boxes with my information on them?

Those little boxes are called userboxes. To find all the userboxes, go to WP:UBX and copy the code (the {{ }} and the stuff inside them) and paste it on to your userpage >Kamope< Talk · Sign Here 12:26, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Hi there. I want to publish an article about a company in Ireland called, www.celtictrails.com An incredibly good company that I believe deserves to be publisised. How do I do it? 86.41.15.236 13:10, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

You can either create an account or request it. >Kamope< Talk · Sign Here 13:19, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Bear in mind that if the article is aiming to promote the company, it will probably be deleted. Wikipedia articles should only be written about companies that are notable (click that link to get a description). You need to write in an encyclopedic tone, without a specific point of view, so you can't just write an article about how great the company is. Wikipedia is not supposed to publicise things, it is supposed to write about things that are already known, and not say more than is already written about them in reliable sources. I advice you to read the links I've provided in this paragraph and think about them before creating an article. But we'd love to have you editing! Skittle 16:25, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Mobile Wikipedia

Hello & congratulations on the project.I've been using the Palm based encyclopedia for a while but have now bought a mobile phone with a 1Gb card,on to which I hoped to load the file.Is there a text version of the encyclopedia which I could use,or is there a convert program to produce text? If not,could you please advise me of the correcty Tomeraider program to buy fot the phone.

The model is a NOKIS 6680,running symbian 60 ( I think)

thankyou≈ very much & regards - Peter

Does WP:WAP help? --Teratornis 16:58, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Deletion of a re-direct in order to change the title of an article

I would like to move Parliament of Italy to Italian Parliament and The Socialists (Italy) to The Socialists, but there is a problem: Italian Parliament (correct translation of Parlamento Italiano) is a re-direct to Parliament of Italy and The Socialists is a re-direct to The Socialists (Italy). Can anyone help me? --Checco 15:21, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I proposed the deletion of the two pages mentioned before (Italian Parliament and The Socialists) in Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2007 February 25. I hope that it is all right. --Checco 15:52, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Can't you just move the page Parliament of Italy to Italian Parliament using the move tab? I thought that worked if the article's only history was being a redirect. Skittle 16:21, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I can't understand what you're saying. Anyway I tried to put my move request at Wikipedia:Requested moves, but, as you can see there, I had some problems with it. Can you help me about it? --Checco 17:01, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Creating a Wiki

I was just interested in how I would be able to make a wiki. I have seen some other Wiki's for specific sites (Ic-wiki.com for instance) And I was wondering how I could make another one for a similar some other site. How would I be able to get host permissions from Wikiepdia in other words? Thank you for your help!

~KtC Angel of Peace

There's no need to get permission from us. Wikipedia is built on the free software, MediaWiki. You can download it yourself and run it on your own website host (see the link for instructions on installation). Or, if you can't afford web hosting, an alternative is to try out Wikia. —Mitaphane _?|! 16:45, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Also see b:Wiki Science/How to start a Wiki, and check the List of wikis to see if a wiki already exists that you can use. --Teratornis 17:04, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I have no sound in my compiuter.

Please ,will you say ,"why have I no any sound in compiuter that Tv VDO or CD plyers ? I have sound box . May be I have no programe sound downloding.Please help me,white can I do?

Have you tried Wikipedia's Reference Desk? They specialize in knowledge questions, and will try to answer any question in the universe (except how to use Wikipedia, since that's what this Help Desk is for). Just follow the link, select the relevant section, and ask away. I hope this helps. delldot | talk 19:19, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

new article not posting

hello, i've posted an article for a friend of mine and it does not come up in a search. also, the picture is always being removed. i received permission from her to use this photo and upload the article. can you please help me.

the page is for Colleen Patrick Goudreau of Compassionate Cooks.

the login I used to create the page was compassionatecooks

you can contact me at [email address removed by Lilwik 22:27, 25 February 2007 (UTC)]

thank you. danielle 17:40, 25 February 2007 (UTC)—Preceding unsigned comment added by Compassionatecooks (talk • contribs)

It won't show because you created it on your userpage. And remember to sign your comments--SUIT^-n-tie 17:50, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Also remember not to include your email address. I removed it for compassionatecooks's own good, but I suspect it is already too late. -- Lilwik 22:27, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

RFC for best way to handle table of figures

I've been fixing up the article on CB radio, and we've gone through several different ways to handle the list of frequencies. I'm looking for a pointer to a template, if any, that would resolve the issue.

One way of doing it is at http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Citizens%27_band_radio&oldid=109975353. Here we have a good multicolumn table, with fixed-width fonts and shading. However it looks a little "broken" because the space between the columns is not shaded, and it looks a little like an example of the use of a template on a how-to page.

Channel 01   26.965 MHz
Channel 02   26.975 MHz
Channel 03   26.985 MHz
Channel 04   27.005 MHz
Channel 05   27.015 MHz
Channel 06   27.025 MHz
Channel 07   27.035 MHz
Channel 08   27.055 MHz
Channel 09   27.065 MHz
Channel 10   27.075 MHz

Channel 11   27.085 MHz
Channel 12   27.105 MHz
Channel 13   27.115 MHz
Channel 14   27.125 MHz
Channel 15   27.135 MHz
Channel 16   27.155 MHz
Channel 17   27.165 MHz
Channel 18   27.175 MHz
Channel 19   27.185 MHz
Channel 20   27.205 MHz

Channel 21   27.215 MHz
Channel 22   27.225 MHz
Channel 23   27.255 MHz
Channel 24   27.235 MHz
Channel 25   27.245 MHz
Channel 26   27.265 MHz
Channel 27   27.275 MHz
Channel 28   27.285 MHz
Channel 29   27.295 MHz
Channel 30   27.305 MHz

Channel 31   27.315 MHz
Channel 32   27.325 MHz
Channel 33   27.335 MHz
Channel 34   27.345 MHz
Channel 35   27.355 MHz
Channel 36   27.365 MHz
Channel 37   27.375 MHz
Channel 38   27.385 MHz
Channel 39   27.395 MHz
Channel 40   27.405 MHz

In http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Citizens%27_band_radio&action=edit&oldid=110275187, it's been changed to a different kind of table, and might be more correct except I don't like the spacing and I don't like the variable-width font.

Channel 01 26.965 MHz Channel 02 26.975 MHz Channel 03 26.985 MHz Channel 04 27.005 MHz Channel 05 27.015 MHz Channel 06 27.025 MHz Channel 07 27.035 MHz Channel 08 27.055 MHz Channel 09 27.065 MHz Channel 10 27.075 MHz

Channel 11 27.085 MHz Channel 12 27.105 MHz Channel 13 27.115 MHz Channel 14 27.125 MHz Channel 15 27.135 MHz Channel 16 27.155 MHz Channel 17 27.165 MHz Channel 18 27.175 MHz Channel 19 27.185 MHz Channel 20 27.205 MHz

Channel 21 27.215 MHz Channel 22 27.225 MHz Channel 23 27.255 MHz Channel 24 27.235 MHz Channel 25 27.245 MHz Channel 26 27.265 MHz Channel 27 27.275 MHz Channel 28 27.285 MHz Channel 29 27.295 MHz Channel 30 27.305 MHz

Channel 31 27.315 MHz Channel 32 27.325 MHz Channel 33 27.335 MHz Channel 34 27.345 MHz Channel 35 27.355 MHz Channel 36 27.365 MHz Channel 37 27.375 MHz Channel 38 27.385 MHz Channel 39 27.395 MHz Channel 40 27.405 MHz

So, how would I get a multicolumn fixed-width table to shade the entire table, or, on the other hand, how do I modify the second table to get the "typewritten" font back? Or, is there another template that would be better suited for this table? Squidfryerchef 17:53, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Replied on User talk:Squidfryerchef. —Xhantar^Talk 21:14, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

adding some MP3 samples to an article about rubato in music.

Hi, I did add an article about the rubato in music, and I wish to add some samples of it by a American concert pianist that I know, and which gave me the permission to do it, since she is to my knowledge the only one today to do it that way... And after trying to upload the file, I was told that the MP3 format can't be uploaded... so, what can be done, I could put it in any other format if you wish... I believe it has to be possible to have some music data, since otherwise it all stays completely theoretical... Discussing about a special year of a particular Burgundy bottle is fine, but without tasting it, the words are not enough! Thanks to advise me Dsoslglece 18:29, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Convert it to .ogg and upload it. -Wooty Woot? contribs 18:46, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Adding a text file... ?

I'm trying to upload a text file but it keeps coming back saying incorrect file format... am I really supposed to upload a JPEG of text?

I've looked around at the FAQ and other help materials but am obviously missing the answer. Thanks for any insight.

You're not s'posed to upload text files, only images and such--SUIT^-n-tie 19:09, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Why do you want to upload a text file? Can't you include the text directly in the article? -- Lilwik 06:24, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

References help

I have recently created a page on the game Emergency Mayhem, but the references havent worked. I have looked at the help pages, and i am sure i have done it right, so can someone check it to see what i have done wrong? Thanks Mattyatty 19:54, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

You forgot to close the last ref, so it tried to include the refrences section in the ref. I fixed it for you. Mr.Z-mantalk¢ 19:57, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the help Mattyatty 20:04, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

User Talk

Is there a user page sandbox that i can practice with. I want to see how something will look as a comment on someones user page, but I'd like to test it out first. JWP --Jwikipro 21:40, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

If you want to create your own personal sandbox , just click on this link: Special:Mypage/Sandbox, and it will create one. See Wikipedia:User_page#How do I create a user_subpage for more info. -- Chairman S. Talk ^Contribs 21:57, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

You can also use the preview button. --WikiSlasher 07:27, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Author

who is the author of this site? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.215.107.36 (talk) 10:38, 26 February 2007

See Wikipedia and Wikipedia:Introduction. There is no one single author - Wikipedia can be edited by anyone. Jimbo Wales and the Wikimedia Foundation are in charge, however. -- Chairman S. Talk ^Contribs 23:51, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

• People who ask this question usually think they need this to cite their source. If this is the case with you, please read: Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia. - Mgm|^(talk) 11:50, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Page has vanished without a trace!

Hi! I created the Quarantine Nightclub page on Friday night at about 20:00 GMT. I tried to go back there again just now and the page no longer exists. More than that, it's almost as if the page had never existed...All references to it have vanished from my contributions log (So it's not just null-out vandalism...It's been done by someone at Wikipedia), although the article itself still comes up in the search system and referances to it may be found on other pages. No deletion or other message has been left in my talk page about this, and given that there are several pages for nightclubs across the UK, I would hold that my contribution was a perfectly valid one.

What I want to know is: 1. Why has this page been deleted (Or so I presume) with neither referance to myself, nor an explanation being given? 2. As I have a right to defend any articles that I create, why was I not contacted and given a chance to defend my article before it was deleted? Incidentally, I ran a search through the deletion log, and couldn't find an entry there either, so someone at Wikipedia has obviously taken a dislike to my work! :-@

Please copy any responses to my talk page as this page can be impossible to navigate at the best of times, so I'm more likely to read replies there. Thanks in advance.

Hyperspeed 23:59, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

According to the article's deletion log, it was deleted by Jaranda. The "A7" refers to the following (from WP:Speedy):

Unremarkable people, groups, companies and web content. An article about a real person, group of people, band, club, company, or web content that does not assert the importance or significance of its subject. If the assertion is likely to be controversial or there has been a previous AfD, the article should be nominated for AfD instead.

Should you wish to appeal the deletion, please see: Wikipedia:Speedy deletions#Appealing speedy deletions

—Xhantar^Talk 00:21, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Lots of articles get deleted from Wikipedia for lots of reasons. If you want to make a page and actually see it again, make sure you are making the page on a wiki that wants the type of content you want to publish. See List of wikis for some places to look. --Teratornis 01:14, 26 February 2007 (UTC)