Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2010 November 18

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November 18

Lost Head gear.

i'm writing for Wally Watson who joined regiment in 1942 and served in Europe during WW 11. recently Wally's head gear walked which is polite way of saying it was stolen. how does Wally obtain replacement to wear proudly when on parade at the various functions. he can still march at? John Snowdon. Barrie ON. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.238.197.202 (talk) 00:46, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 6 million articles and thought we were affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is for asking questions related to using or contributing to Wikipedia itself. Thus, we have no special knowledge about the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the upper right side of your screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we have a reference desk, divided into various subject areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck. - David Biddulph (talk) 02:06, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Donation ad

I have donated to wikipedia through paypal. Although Paypal offered to return me to the wikipedia page after I donated, my computer said this was unsafe so I didn't. Now, I keep getting the popup at the top asking for money, I wonder if this is because I didn't return from paypal to wikipedia. As someone who has donated, this constant message is getting annoying, is there a setting I can change or a flag I can change to tell wikipedia that I have actually donated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 123.243.132.4 (talk) 02:26, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

The donation message will appear through the end of the current fundraising campaign, which is currently scheduled to go through January 2011. As there are many people (myself included) who cannot stand the sight of Jimbo staring out from the depths of cyberspace, there should be an "X" button in the upper-right corner of the ad. Clicking this will remove the ad permanently, although since you are not logged in it may reappear from time to time; nothing is wrong, simply click the button again if this happens. Xenon54 (talk) 02:40, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Got a message about vandalism..?

I got a message form Wikipedia that I have changed something in the article "export", and that it is vandalism. I have not done such a thing! I have never been to that article, I don't know what an export it, nor did I make any edits to any pages? Why did I get this message? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.75.107.228 (talk) 03:53, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

It was five months ago. Likely someone on your IP address. Don't worry about it. Grsz 11 03:57, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

WHO HACKED MY POSTS?

My facebook account is set to friends only. However I noticed that each time I mention a certain person, my posts show up on the Wikipedia page for that person. I find the Wikipedia page to be offensive. When I delete the posts on my facebook page then the Wikipedia page removes them. This problem is NOT being caused by my friends copying my posts. I do not desire my posts to be redirected to the Wikipedia page. If I wanted my comments to show up on Wikipedia I would post them there directly. How do I block the Wikipedia page from highjacking my posts? Thanks for any info. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.235.144.195 (talk) 04:15, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Without any context, we have no idea what you are talking about. Grsz 11 04:18, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

This page is only for questions about how to use Wikipedia. --Monterey Bay (talk) 04:23, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

I think it's a legitimate helpdesk question. But this doesn't sound like something that would occur on Wikipedia – more likely it's one of the many sites that copies or mirrors Wikipedia content. If it's really Wikipedia, when you view this person's Wikipedia page, the url shown in your browser will begin with http://en.wikipedia.org. It would be easier to confirm if you told us the name of this certain person, though. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 04:27, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Also, you might consider changing your Facebook password, double-checking your privacy settings, and de-friending anyone you don't know or don't trust. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 04:35, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

It could be that the questioner is referring to the many pages on Facebook that call the Wikipedia API and display Wikipedia content along with recent friends posts and global posts such as this. Nanonic (talk) 07:34, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Ah, I think I know what you are talking about (thanks for the clafification, Nanonic). You are referring to Facebook community pages, which often have attributed copies of Wikipedia pages on them. Anyway, on these community pages, your posts show up in the "related global posts" part. So, in order to fix, this, I recommend changing your Facebook privacy settings so that only networks, friends of friends, or just friends can see your posts. This should solve the problem. —C Teng^(talk) 19:29, 21 November 2010 (UTC)

Problem with template's timestamp

There seems to be a problem with the timestamp on Template:Non-free reduced. Even when the "date=" parameter is given correctly (whether it's done manually or via "subst:furd"), the template returns "Error: invalid time". As a result, Category:Rescaled fairuse images with invalid timestamp is full of media files whose timestamp is actually correct. I don't understand template syntax well enough to fix it myself. Can anyone help? Pais (talk) 08:11, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Now fixed, I hope. -- John of Reading (talk) 10:28, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Help needed with map placement and bunching

At Solutrean there is a lot of white space above the map, and some bunching, can anyone help me with this? Thanks. Dougweller (talk) 10:14, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

The underlying problems are a ratio of graphics to text that's too high, and the fact the succession box breaks immediately before and after itself. I've addressed the first problem by shrinking the largest pic at the risk of obscuring some detail, and sort-of addressed the second problem in this edit; it works on my screen, but fails if the screen is much wider or the text much smaller. Also I moved the Stone age nav box down to See also which seems logical to me, though I haven't checked any relevant style guidelines. I'm sure someone else could improve on my edit. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 11:48, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks. Dougweller (talk) 19:26, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Commons

Could you transfer the cover of the singleYou Know You're Right on Commons? It should be in the public domain.--79.27.55.56 (talk) 10:23, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Master access to our information

Hi there

Iam the website administrator for Cheltenham Festivals and i am keen to update our onformation on the Wiki page. The person who started this is no longer with us and i wanted to know what access i need to upload am image for our logo.

Cheers —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cheltenham festival (talk • contribs) 11:16, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

I see that your account has been blocked, as group accounts are not permitted on Wikipedia; however, you are welcome to create a personal account.

As for updating the Wikipedia article Cheltenham Festivals, you need to be very careful editing that article because of your conflict of interest, but provided you follow the recommendations in the article I linked to, you may do so.

You are welcome to upload the new logo, provided you comply with Wikipedia's copyright restrictions. It is not enough to give permission for the logo to be used on Wikipedia, you would have to grant one of the licences stipulated by Wikipedia, which allow reuse for any purpose: see WP:Donating copyrighted materials. Alternatively, you may upload and use the logo in the article explicitly giving a WP:fair use rationale. See WP:Non-free use rationale guideline. --ColinFine (talk) 22:48, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

permission to adapt an illustration

Hi,

I'm a physician and scientist. I've written a popular science book on the subject of metamorphosis and, to aid understanding, I am including small black and white or gray scale images in the chapter heads (there are 26 chapters). To illustrate a chapter on the contribution of Fabre, I would like to include a slightly modified (background removed) image of the Great Peacock moth, taken from a Wikepedia article which includes the image as being available on a free basis according to the Creative Commons attribution. The URL is as follows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:10_grand_paon_de_nuit.jpg

I would like to include the photographer's name, but cannot find it anywhere on the page, or through following up the links on the page.

Can you let me know exactly how to term the copyright attribution?

Many thanks,

Frank Ryan 90.202.143.151 (talk) 11:51, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

I think the user that took that photograph is User:Entomolo. I'm not sure what their name is, though. The Utahraptor^Talk/_Contribs 13:16, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

You can attribute the photo by providing it's URL in the work you are using it in. The Creative Commons license says that, "You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor" so you could also contact the photographer to ask what form they would prefer attribution to take (this may be their username or real name). Entomolo was active on Wikimedia Commons as recently as 8 November. You can contact him/her via the talk page commons:User talk:Entomolo. It also appears as though they have enabled email access, so you can email them (click "Email this user" on the left-hand side of their talk page. The user is a native French speaker. --Kateshortforbob _talk 13:58, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

In text referencing in article

I have referenced the same source several times in an article and it has appeared more than once in the reference list. How can i make it so the same source appears only once in the reference list? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ecyossef (talk • contribs) 12:06, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Like this. But the text you've added sounds promotional in tone, rather than neutral. Please review Wikipedia's policy on neutrality. Also, if you have any kind of personal stake in Southwest Airlines, you should read Wikipedia's guideline on conflict of interest. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 12:30, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

See WP:REFNAME. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 03:57, 20 November 2010 (UTC)

Didk Gibson former F1/F2 driver.

Dear Sir I am contacting you regarding my father Dick Gibson former racing driver f1/f2 back in late 50s/early 60s. He is now living in spain and at the age of 92 is doing well . I have several different photo's of him in different races. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.108.101.169 (talk) 12:28, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

You must be referring to Dick Gibson. If you own the copyright to the images or they are in the public domain, or you can get permission from the copyright owner (see WP:IOWN), please upload them to Wikimedia Commons so that they are available to use on all Wikimedia projects. You will have to create an account before you can upload. When they have been uploaded they can be added to the article - see WP:IMAGE. – ukexpat (talk) 14:28, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

What is the minimum amount that we can contribute to Wikipedia?

Hello,

I am from India and really want to give donation to wikipedia as it had really helped me a lot. But, my financial condition doesn't permit me to pay even 20 dollars. I want to pay within 3 to 4 dollars. Can I do the same? I have paypal account as well as I have master card but $20 is 900 rupees which is very much. So, I want to know the minimum amount that I can pay? I really want to express my gratitude towards Wikipedia for my personal development.

Warm Regards, Mohit —Preceding unsigned comment added by 14.195.112.251 (talk) 14:33, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Hello Mohit - thank you very much for your support for Wikipedia. As far as I know, there is no minimum donation amount. On the donation page, underneath the suggested donations totals, you'll see an "other amount" box, where you can type in whatever amount you wish to donate. Clicking the "Donate by PayPal" button will then take you to a screen where you can log in to your PayPal account and confirm the donation. Let us know if you have any further questions. Gonzonoir (talk) 14:42, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

If you have more time than money, you can also donate your labor by editing articles. For example, there are several Indian-language Wikipedias such as the Hindi Wikipedia which are less-developed than the English Wikipedia. The Hindi Wikipedia article mentions this project:

• "In July 2010, Google announced that they had begun working with Hindi Wikipedians to translate English language articles into Hindi and had so far translated 600,000 words in Hindi using a combination of Google Translate and manual checking. This coordinated translation has been responsible for a 20% rate of growth and counting for the site."

Perhaps you may like to participate in something like that. The manual checking part should not require vast knowledge of the intricacies of Wikipedia editing, just fluency in the target language. The value of labor donated to Wikipedia by the community of editors far exceeds the monetary donations that run Wikipedia. --Teratornis (talk) 21:47, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Attn: Archives Dept. Help/Info PLEASE

Hi Archives Specialists: I need help/Info/etc PLEASE: The incident I am trying to research an incident that happened on Tuesday, Feb. 25th, 1964.The disaster made the TV & newspapers, but it was nothing "official" I know the accident happened, as I was involved & one of the many injured (many killed also) Pert. info: It was a joint military exercise involving US Air Force, C-130 jump planes & US Army 82d Airborne Division. As follows>It was a mass parachute jump. The first wave of drop planes discharged there parachutists OK. The 2nd wave of drop planes dropped altitude & the wings, props, etc. flew & sliced through the troopers & there chutes as they were dropping slowly to the ground. It was a disaster!!The exercise involved three companies, 1,500 men, of the 2d Battle Group, 50th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. I know for a FACT that the US Pentagon sent General Paul D. Adams, Commander of Strike Command at Macdill Air Force Base (next to Fort Bragg, N.C. Fayetteville, N.C.) And the Pentagon also sent Lt. General John D. Ryan, inspector general of the Air Force. They were sent from Washingto, D.C. to conduct a joint investigation of the event. Under the FOIA, I tried to contact both the Army & Air Force websites, but I could not even "get in>enter the site" They are holding info "very close to the vest". I am turning to you, a well respected agency for help/info. Under the FOIA, I request ANY & ALL info available. ie:photos, investigation info & results of the investigation, causes, comments, etc,etc,etc. ANY help/info,etc. regarding this request will be GREATLY APPRECIATED by me. Since I am not a professional investigator, I am lost at this point. THANK YOU for your time/help/info. regarding my request. Sincerely, Capt. Dick If needed: Captain Richard Libby <address redacted> P/S: Have a very nice Thanksgiving with your friends & family. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.32.227.45 (talk) 14:37, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Have you tried Wikipedia's Reference Desk? They specialize in knowledge questions and will try to answer just about any question in the universe (except how to use Wikipedia, since that is what this Help Desk is for). Just follow the link, select the relevant section, and ask away. I hope this helps. I have removed your address to protect your privacy. – ukexpat (talk) 14:45, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Licensing

I am trying to post a cookbook on Wikipedia, but keep getting licensing errors. Can someone help explain what exactly I need to do to get it posted. The error message I get is 'If you do not provide suitable license and source information, your upload will be deleted without further notice. Thank you for your understanding.' Thanks, Sadie —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sadie salazar (talk • contribs) 15:21, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

More basic question: what do you mean by "trying to post a cookbook"? Wikipedia is not a how-to manual so it is unlikely that a cookbook would be encyclopedic. Maybe you need Wikisource or Wikibooks? – ukexpat (talk) 15:38, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

For example, Moosewood Cookbook is posted on Wikipedia. So I'm looking to post a cookbook I wrote on Wikipedia as well in the same format. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sadie salazar (talk • contribs) 17:16, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

No. There is an article about the Moosewood Cookbook in Wikipedia; which is not the same as somehow uploading the entire document, which sounds like what you are attempting to do; that's not something we do in Wikipedia. --Orange Mike | Talk 17:23, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Furthermore, there are articles about cookbooks at Wikipedia, but that does not mean that Wikipedia contains articles on every cookbook ever written. There are minimum standards for the inclusion of an article at Wikipedia, and "it exists" is not it. The minimum standard, known as the general notability guideline is that somebody else, outside of Wikipedia, and before the Wikipedia article existed, thought the subject important enough to write a lot about it in reliable sources. In other words, Wikipedia only covers a topic once the world outside of Wikipedia has extensively covered it. To take an example from the world of Cookbooks: The Joy of Cooking and Mastering the Art of French Cooking are both cookbooks which are the subjects of articles at Wikipedia. The reason that they are the subject of articles is that people have long found these cookbooks to be so important that the cookbooks themselves were the subject of extensive writing long before anyone started an article at Wikipedia about them. Insofar as there is no evidence that anyone, outside of you, has written extensively about your cookbook is why it does not qualify for a Wikipedia article, while other cookbooks do. If you can establish that your cookbook meets the minimum standards spelled out at Wikipedia:Notability, specifically that other people have discussed extensively (and that's the key, not merely a single mention, but an extensive discussion of it) your cookbook in reliable sources such as published books, magazines, newspapers, journals, etc, then it may merit an article. --Jayron32 17:33, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Wrong text when searching in google

I was searcing excretion in Google and your site came up first but embedded within it is the words "nigger tits". Please fix this. Thank you — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.77.235.73 (talk • contribs)

Vandalism, it's been fixed. – ukexpat (talk) 16:05, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

As the above link shows, it was fixed in two minutes. It's unfortunate that Google happened to index the page during those two minutes, but shit happens. Google's search blurb will automatically be changed next time they index the page. PrimeHunter (talk) 02:31, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

Using Wikipedia as a reference

I would like to use Wikipedia's deifinition of epilogue in a paper. How do I reference this in APA format. I cannot find any site infromation anywhere? Also, how do you cite Wikipedia in text? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.183.237.229 (talk) 16:09, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

The page you need is Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia. This explains how to cite Wikipedia in a variety of styles. TNXMan 16:16, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Is there a Suggestions Desk?

I came to offer critique, but if there's a general way to input general Suggestions I don't know what it is.

For example, I was just at Editing Category talk:Lists of volcanoes (new section) and got an "Attention: Please Visit the Help Desk." I don't need help. Is there a better forum for general comments and suggestions? A Suggestion Desk?

You can read my comment, which is applicable to more than just the Lists page cited, at Category talk:Lists of volcanoes. Jamesdowallen (talk) 17:03, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

How about one of the Village Pumps? – ukexpat (talk) 17:14, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

One good place for suggestions relating to a particular topic area is the talk page of a relevant WikiProject. If you post your suggestion again at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Volcanoes, it will be seen by the contributors who are most likely to act upon it. -- John of Reading (talk) 20:09, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Finding an image

I'm having difficulty tracking down an image, specifically "There is no cabal" or "Approved by the cabal," preferably both. I know they exist, having seen them around for years, but suspect they're being hidden by the cabal. :) 76.102.50.55 (talk) 17:15, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Does this search find the images you are looking for? -- John of Reading (talk) 17:21, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Have your pick. Of pics. --Jayron32 17:24, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Yes, both links do nicely. I always forget to check Commons. I also found File:Decree.png, which isn't in either search, a fact I attribute to the cabal. 76.102.50.55 (talk) 18:55, 18 November 2010 (UTC) fka 69.181.something or other (and not a cabal-member)

Suggestion for 'A personal appeal from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales'

Hi, If I remember correctly, the donation-collection-appeal was done before also by wikipedia, not sure if that was global or not. There was a coloured bar graph used to show how much donation is collected and there was a target too.

My suggestion is to have a similar bar at the top, which motivates a lot, not only, for being part of it, but it gives a real sense of satisfaction that my help is making the difference making the bar go higher reaching towards the target. One might donate twice or thrice also, while the bar traverses the 1/3rd, 2/3rd and finally towards 100%.

Good luck to all and best regards. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.36.79.207 (talk) 18:04, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

A more appropriate place for this suggestion is Meta:Talk:Fundraising 2010 - I will copy your message to that page.  Chzz  ►  20:17, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Page Redirection

How do I un-redirect a page? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.13.78.13 (talk) 18:42, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

You'll need to directly edit the redirected page. Generally, when you click on a redirect page, you'll see a note at the top of the target article that says "Redirected from X". You can click on that link to be taken to the redirect page, which you can then edit like normal. TNXMan 18:46, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Tell us the page name, so we can see what is going on. If there was a previous page at the same name that an administrator deleted, you may not be able to access the previous content unless you are an administrator. You would also need a reason for un-doing what was done earlier, which is good enough to override the earlier reasons for creating the redirect. For more information see WP:REDIRECT and WP:MOVE. --Teratornis (talk) 21:38, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

The redirect being referred to is Henry S. Jacobs (HSJ) Camp, it seems. It had previously been taken to AfD, which closed as non consensus, and was redirected last month without a rationale, it seems. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 21:46, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Since I can't actually edit wikipedia, why should I pay anything?

Hello,

For the last week or so, I've noticed all the banner ads of Jimmy Wales asking for money to keep Wikipedia advert free. If you click the banner ad, he goes on for a paragraph or two about how awesome it is to have a website where all of us can contribute to the site, and everyone can have a say in the information given.

I agree, that would be awesome. Perhaps Mr. Wales could link me to this awesome site of which he speaks, because it sure ain't Wikipedia. Any time I've ever attempted to add my two cents in, someone, usually an editor (although "they have no editorial board") and not infrequently HJ Mitchell, go right behind me and change things right back.

Here's an idea: Why don't these "editors" pay for Wikipedia? Since they are really the only ones who get to use it, it seems fair to me that they be the ones who pay for it.

In the meantime, if someone actually *does* create an online wiki that everyone is allowed to edit, I hope they'll send me a link. I'd love to contribute. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.186.97.47 (talk) 19:14, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

There are many online sites that let people rant and post other forms of nonsense. Wikipedia is not one of those sites. Your "two cents" does not belong in an encyclopedia. So, it is not wrong to have it removed. -- kainaw™ 19:24, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

People who are new to editing on Wikipedia may not understand what the word "edit" means in the context of Wikipedia. In most personal computer software that lets you edit something (for example, word processor software), you edit whatever you want, and usually no one else scrutinizes your edits. Therefore many people come to Wikipedia with a notion of "editing" already in mind that does not apply here. On Wikipedia, "editing" means you change something, and then you unavoidably submit it to other editors who are free to change it or revert it. If your goal is to make edits that stick, you can maximize your chances by learning and following Wikipedia's complex rules for content. If Wikipedia did not have detailed rules to determine what belongs here, the whole site would quickly degenerate into a gigantic multi-front edit war, reflecting the many deep and bitter disagreements in the real world about what is true, right, or good. You are not required to donate any money to Wikipedia, whether you like Wikipedia or not. --Teratornis (talk) 21:12, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

HJ Mitchell is one of our more respected editors (one of the very few I've met in person, as a matter of fact); if he habitually reverts your edits, then I suspect you have been adding in personal opinion or otherwise inappropriate content. If you do not want your writing to be edited, used, and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here. --Orange Mike | Talk 21:17, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

You can find thousands of other public wikis listed at WikiIndex. Many of them are being helped indirectly by the Wikimedia Foundation by running on the MediaWiki software that the Foundation gives away freely. (Thus even if you don't like the Foundation's policies, by donating to the Foundation you help fund the software development that benefits other groups of people who may sharply differ with the Foundation's policies.) You will not find any viable wikis that allow anyone to edit anything without any sort of correction or rules - the poorly policed wikis get quickly spammed into uselessness - but you might find some wikis whose rules are to your liking. Good luck. Everyone who edits on a wiki should try to edit on several, I think, just to retain perspective on the different rules that are possible. If you find yourself in uphill battles on one wiki, you might just need a change of scenery. You could also change yourself, but that is often much harder. --Teratornis (talk) 21:21, 18 November 2010 (UTC)