Wikipedia:April Fools' Main Page/Did You Know/Archive 2007

Please use this page for discussions surrounding the creation of a "Did You Know" items for April Fool's day 2007

Areas of work needed to complete the front page are:

Ground rules for this activity along with a list or participants may be found on the Main talk page.

The Mission[edit]

This section should focus on some trivia that can be presented in a manner that is unbelievable to the reader. See the mock-up for proposed entries.

Action Items[edit]

We need to find half a dozen weird/funny/unlikely facts.
Ideally these should come from new articles or expanded stubs - so we should consider where we're getting these facts from - do we need to write new articles and put them into article space shortly before April 1st? Do we need to expand stubs? What?

I volunteer to participate, or lead if necessary, absent someone else that wants to lead more strongly than I do, the DYK effort. I see this as actually one of the easier efforts. I am fine with bending the 5 day rule as needed, but if late entries turn up that are in guideline, even better. Funniest/bizarrest will be my guide if I'm in charge of this, not strict adherence to 5 day... ++Lar: t/c 17:49, 22 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Candidates[edit]

Escamoles[edit]

And in that vein I'd like to nominate Did you know...that escamoles, which are delicacies in some varieties of Mexican cuisine, are actually ant larvae? Durova^Charge 00:01, 15 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Agnes Hotot[edit]

Another one we could actually create within the five day span is Agnes Hotot. The top Google return for her is a copyvio from her entry in a book called The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Basically the DYK entry would read ...that Agnes Hotot entered a jousting tournament in Medieval Europe, and that after she won her match she bared her chest to prove that her opponent had been defeated by a woman? Of course the article would cite the dead trees reference. Durova^Charge 00:19, 15 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Water hoax[edit]

One should b about the Water hoax The Placebo Effect 23:59, 8 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How about "..that Dihydrogen Monoxide is a chemical which has caused countless deaths both by ingestion and immersion, and petitions are being created perpetually to control it. However no government has yet banned it?" Maybe a bit long, so people, edit to your hearts' content.Bensmith53 07:05, 24 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How about *...that no government has banned the chemical Dihydrogen Monoxide, even though the substance is the major component of acid rain and has caused countless deaths by ingestion and immersion? (Could take out acid rain phrase if too long). Royalbroil^T : C 04:39, 20 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Charles McKinley[edit]

... that Charles McKinley shipped himself home to his parents in crate? The "Charles McKinley" Wikipedia article contains copyright info from here. If I remove the copyright text from the Wikipedia article, the Wikipedia article will be a stub (less than 1,000 characters)and available for April 1st DYK. If everyone agrees that this would be a good April 1st DYK entry, I'll prepare a user space article. -- Jreferee 00:03, 20 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch[edit]

~~... that Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is named after a railroad station?~~ | AndonicO ^{Talk · Sign Here} 16:41, 22 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, fogot it's not even remotly new. It would be better for FA. | AndonicO ^{Talk · Sign Here} 01:26, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Common scold[edit]

Cucking has been used as a punition for the common scold. SteveBaker 01:39, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, this is actually an FA, and as such it has already appeared on the Main Page. Lampman 20:33, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Tempest Prognosticator[edit]

This article by violet/riga (t) is in the DYK queue at the moment, but it would make a lovely April Fool's addition in my opinion (I still have my doubts about whether it really existed):

...that the Tempest Prognosticator is a device that employs a "jury" of twelve leeches that use small hammers to ring a bell to indicate the approach of a storm?

Yomangani ^talk 14:21, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Approve - meets the AF requirements. We may want to change "jury" to jury to give more whimsy to the statement. Do we need to get the article creator Violetriga on board with delaying the DYK? -- Jreferee 19:30, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'd be fine with deferring it and the removal of the quotemarks. I reckon it'd work well. violet/riga (t) 23:19, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow! That's great. We should add that to the list of 'possibles' for the front page featured article too. SteveBaker 23:42, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've taken it out of the queue as violet/riga has agreed for it to appear on 1/4. Yomangani ^talk 16:22, 24 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Town Police Clauses Act 1847[edit]

I shall hopefully be expanding this article beyond a few words by April 1:

... that it is illegal to fly a kite in the street in England, and it is punishable by a £1000 fine? --Majorly (talk) 15:05, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nigritude ultramarine[edit]

...that Nigritude ultramarine, Schnitzelmitkartoffelsalat, redscowl bluesingsky, loquine glupe and Seraphim proudleduck, have all been spamdexed?
- Sadly not a recent article - but if we are bending the DYK rules... SteveBaker 00:44, 24 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There is no cabal[edit]

... that There Is No Cabal?

Someone asked for a joke in plain site and this is it. The Placebo Effect 16:08, 24 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nils Olav[edit]

... that Nils Olav is the world's highest ranked penguin?

A very stubby article at the moment, but I've been intending to expand it for a while. --Cherry blossom tree 13:09, 25 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

- That's wonderful (especially the picture of him inspecting the guard). Yomangani ^talk 15:00, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I like this one a lot! I especially love the picture! Royalbroil^T : C 13:57, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nils Olav is godly. This is my favorite candidate --Hojimachong^talk 00:52, 23 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This would make a good candidate. Urbane User (Talk) (Contributions) 17:10, 23 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Love it, but would make more sense if it read "... that Nils Olav holds the highest military ranked ever attained by a penguin?" Bensmith53 07:00, 24 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's probably more accurate. I just liked the phrase "world's highest ranked penguin." --Cherry blossom tree 12:42, 2 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I like the original wording too: it isn't untrue and it piqued my curiosity ("There's a ranking system for penguins?") I'd be less likely to investigate the article if the alternative wording was used. We normally have a little leeway for the claims in the DYK noms; they are "hooks" to get you to the article rather than standalone facts. Yomangani ^talk 12:52, 2 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

April Fool (double agent)[edit]

...that an American officer codenamed April Fool played a role in the 2003 Iraq war?

This is a bit stubby - could it be expanded enought for DYK? Carcharoth 23:58, 25 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Serge Voronoff[edit]

...that in the 1920s a French-Russian surgeon, Serge Voronoff transplanted monkey testicle tissue into human testicles, claiming it rejuvenated his patients? The Monkey Gland cocktail was named after this process.

Approve - I expanded this one recently, and I have plans to expand it again, and could do so before 1 April. Carcharoth 00:06, 26 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose-Eh...Not trying to be mean or anything, but doesn't that seem a bit inappropiate for some of the readers on Wiki? D-Caf 22:16, 26 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It is almost impossible to find a source of humor that doesn't upset someone. It's only a DYK thing - a one-liner. We have worse stuff than this on DYK all the time. SteveBaker 04:21, 27 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Approve - I just expanded the article to a B class via references and additional text. From footnote 20 of the article, the following was used a newspaper, "Russian transplant pioneer Serge Voronoff made headlines in 1920 by grafting monkey testicles onto human males." Perhaps the DKY hook can be a version of that to overcome any inappropiate concerns. -- Jreferee 20:25, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A Car Without A Name[edit]

...that A Car Without A Name was a car that didn't have a name.

Richard de Southchurch[edit]

...that Richard de Southchurch, Sheriff of Essex, planned to attack London with burning cocks in 1267?

The story is actually true, and I could create a well-referenced article in time for 1 April if there's interest?

Also, the word 'cock' is funny. Lampman 20:46, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Done. Lampman 16:17, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

March of the Cute Little Wood Sprites[edit]

...that P. D. Q. Bach's March of the Cute Little Wood Sprites has a Schikele number of "onesy-twosy"?

Haven't written it yet, but if there's substantial material to be found I'd like to before April 1. If not, there's sufficient information about other "compositions" by P. D. Q. Bach that an article of proper length could be created in time. --User:AlbertHerring ^{Io son l'orecchio e tu la bocca: parla!} 00:37, 23 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Series of Tubes[edit]

...that the internet is a series of tubes?

Senator Steven's misunderstanding of the internet sure made quite a splash in the media. Written in July. Royalbroil^T : C 02:24, 8 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Rush Limbaugh, Sr.[edit]

...that Rush Limabugh was appointed an ambassador to India?

An entry designed to cause confusion with people more familiar with this individual's grandson, the political commentator. This is a new article that meets all current DYK criteria. --Allen3 ^talk 17:09, 27 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Toby Tosspot[edit]

...that Toby Tosspot was Australia's first prime minister? Ok, I'm a bit late with this, and it's fairly misleading, but there you go. There's a reliable source to say that was genuinely his nickname. Stevage 02:29, 29 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

His name was Edmund Barton, not Edward Barton--that would give them a real challenge!--Lmcelhiney 16:34, 30 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Comments[edit]

A good approach to this Main page section may be to comb the weird but true posts outside of Wikipedia and develop articles on those topics that do not have an article on Wikipedia. Please post your article suggestions below under separate subheadings. -- Jreferee 16:55, 20 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Comply with DYK rules?[edit]

The question is, are we going to abide by the normal rules of DYK? That is to say, in general, articles featured in DYK need to be less than five days old or has to have been expanded beyond a stub in the past five days. To find four or five articles created (or greatly lengthened) between March 27 and March 31 will be tough... unless we purposely create some weird articles in that short span of time. It would certainly be possible, assuming people could decide upon what topics on which articles should be created and bring together sourcing. -- Kicking222 02:41, 11 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think the fudged with the rules last year on April Fool's I don't see why we can't this year. The Placebo Effect 02:47, 11 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Last year's DYK highlighted articles that seemed like April Fool's jokes but were actually real and referenced. Casu marzu was my nomination - it collected some amusing comments on its talk page afterward. The rule that got stretched was about the articles' newness. These gems don't appear every day. Let's dig up some more in this vein and write snappy summaries this year. Durova^Charge 23:42, 14 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
If provided topics, I would be happy to create one or two April 1st, well referenced DYK articles. Also, I think if we create the articles in user space between now and April 1st and only move the article to namespace on or after March 28, 2007, that would meet the five day DYK rule. -- Jreferee 23:27, 19 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I believe we need eight April 1st DYK articles to ensure that the main page, April 1st DYK space is filled. -- Jreferee 16:57, 20 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How about creating them in userspace prior to 5 days before, then moving them to mainspace just before 1st April? RyanPostlethwaite^{See the mess I've created or let's have banter} 19:44, 20 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't suppose anybody will object to articles that don't fit the criteria making an appearance as long as the reason is stated on the noms page (at least I won't). Obviously if they do fit the criteria, so much the better. It will mean that a small backlog will build up, but I'm sure we can stretch the eligibility period for those articles that get pushed off as a result - we don't work rigidly to 5 days. Yomangani ^talk 01:09, 21 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Did last year's AFMP DYK articles go through the DYK noms page? -- Jreferee 02:19, 21 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No, they were determined here. —David Levy 02:24, 21 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think it will be best if they are put on the DYK noms page this year, even if it is just for information, otherwise we are likely to see them removed by somebody not aware of the conversations going on here. Yomangani ^talk 18:53, 21 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

For reference, last year's April 1 DYKs are shown here, though there was a bit of back and forth reversion, particularly about the prescence of a certain General Butt-Naked. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 15:49, 21 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I was in on last year too. Some bending happened but the outcome was awesome. TRUE articles seem mandatory to me though, I would not want to see that rule bent. if the expansion wasn't exactly within 5 days, so be it... but let's at least have the expansion or creation be sometime in 2007 or at least since the LAST april 1 ??? And if we have to, maybe we can put some notice somewhere so people don't futz with the article selections because they don't like Butt-Naked or whatever. ++Lar: t/c 16:15, 22 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with Lar, here. I think we can keep it "unbelievable" and still have it comply with DYK guidelines. I'm planning to write a few April Fool's style DYK articles myself. Nishkid 64 21:01, 22 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've already started gathering some ideas. I'll be working on them in userspace though. --Majorly (talk) 21:09, 22 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think anyone disagrees, but I'll add my voice to those demanding true articles. It hasn't been explicitly stated, but I presume that articles will have to match the other usual DYK standards - specifically the citing sources one. I see no need to relax that particular requirement. --Cherry blossom tree 12:45, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think we all agree that we need to meet standards in all sections that we propose for April 1st - just like on any other day. WP:DYK recommends that articles have comprehensive references - but it's not an absolute requirement so long as the fact that's mentioned on the front page has a reference. The DYK rule says: "Select articles which cite their sources. While this is not a hard and fast rule it's a really good idea to do this. Over time, uncited articles are less and less likely to be chosen. At the very least, the item mentioned in the tagline should be sourced in the article.". For April Fool articles, we should expect to have to find a source to back up that one fact - but the rest of the article is much less important. (Confession: Actually, my last DYK entry didn't have reference for that particular fact...oops! Nobody over at WP:DYK ever mentioned it!) The nastier rule if we have to write our own DYK articles is that the article containing the fact must be over 1,000 characters - ie. not a stub. SteveBaker 13:01, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That seems acceptable. I just didn't want relaxing the creation/expansion criteria to lead to allowing unreferenced articles. --Cherry blossom tree 13:06, 25 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Time to choose?[edit]

Well, we have 13 suggestions - easily 10 of them are perfect for the job. Let's pick the six best and start thinking about how we get them through the process. Let's get this out of the way so we can concentrate on the thorny issue of picking an FA. SteveBaker 14:35, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think it's too early; people are still working on articles in user space. Ideally the articles in question should be relatively new, though I know that rule is being bent to a certain degree. Yet I can't see how waiting would interfere with the FA process in any way. Lampman 20:24, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

We need to allow contributors a chance to come up with nominations for this special DYK. I bet someone (not necessarily me) will be inspired to write an awesome article a few days before April 1, and they need the chance to be eligible. I agree with everyone's comments that the only rule able to be bent would be the 5 day rule. Royalbroil^T : C 14:07, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'd just like the warm fuzzy feeling of having half a dozen DYK's "in the bag" so we know we are good to go on the day. If better ones show up at the last minute, we should be more than happy to bump off the weaker ones from our preselected list. But we have quite a lot to do in the remaining six weeks and getting this out of our hair would be a good thing. SteveBaker 17:22, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Did you know is typically updated more than once in 24 hours. There's no reason why we shouldn't feature more than one set of usable articles. --Cherry blossom tree 19:31, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with both of your replies. It would be great to have a bunch in the bag, and bump off some of the weaker ones if something better comes along. I just didn't want it to be locked in, which it is not. I'm gonna keep my eyes open for any oddball article. Royalbroil^T : C 00:55, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

We usually get 2-3 updates done each day. Ideally, we can get between 15-20 April Fool's items on DYK. Nishkid 64 01:18, 19 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm about to start work on Serge Voronoff again. Someone else is interested in it and I hope to work with them on it. What is the status of the 5-day rule as regards getting the byline I suggested above onto DYK for April Fools Day? If we just work on it over the next month, will that be enough? Carcharoth 21:01, 12 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The list[edit]

Here is the list. Hopefully, it is enought. -- Jreferee 20:53, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

...that Nils Olav is the world's highest ranked penguin (pictured)? ( nom and article by Cherry blossom tree)
...that Richard de Southchurch, Sheriff of Essex, planned to attack London with burning cocks? (nom and article by Lampman)
...that Rush Limbaugh was appointed an ambassador to India? (nom and article by Allen3)
...that the Tempest Prognosticator employs a jury of twelve leeches that use small hammers to ring a bell to indicate the approach of a storm? (nom by :Yomangani; article by violet/riga)
...that the old surgery technique of grafting monkey testicles onto human males has some modern supporters? (nom by Jreferee; article by Carcharoth, Nikolaus maack, and Jreferee)

Comments[edit]

I thought we need two or three sets because this gets changed during the day? The Placebo Effect 20:55, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This is all there is, so far. -- Jreferee 20:58, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Adorable! Go with them, or I'll be a monkey's uncle... Durova^Charge! 21:13, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If the case is there are no more suitable, it may be they should stay the whole day (or just until 12:00 UTC when April Fools officially ends). Majorly _{(o rly?)} 21:15, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also, we're down one person since Nishkid64 is undergoing surgery. Perhaps we can run the same list for 24 hours. -- Jreferee 21:17, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That should be OK - I've updated the TP nom to give it some context, but we need a pic for one nom (I'm going to look for a generic penguin picture so we don't ruin the surprise of Nils Olav). Yomangani ^talk 21:20, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

TP now reads better, too. : ) -- Jreferee 21:22, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are plenty more in the list above that we could use - some need a little rewording perhaps - but none of them are too terrible. A car with no name, April Fool, any of those would be perfectly presentable. SteveBaker 22:34, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

...that it is illegal to fly a kite in the street in England and that doing so is punishable by a £1000 fine?
...that Nigritude ultramarine, Schnitzelmitkartoffelsalat, redscowl bluesingsky, loquine glupe and Seraphim proudleduck, have all been spamdexed?
...that an American officer codenamed April Fool played a role in the 2003 Iraq war?
...that A Car Without A Name was a car that didn't have a name?

This all looks fine, but doesn't someone need to update the front page at Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page (I notice some of the other material has been put there, such as the pic and some of the ITNs), or do the above just go into the normal DYK queue - with a note to use them on 1st April? Carcharoth 23:01, 28 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page has no affect on the main page. Each of the five main page sections enters the main page through separate channels. The DYK entries appear on the main page once loaded onto T:DYK. Only an admin can modify T:DYK and I believe that DYK Admin Lar has volunteered to be the one to do it for the April Fools project. -- Jreferee 03:36, 29 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I may be a bit out of pocket that day so if it comes time and the work isn't getting done, someone else should step in (anyone CAN do it, it doesn't have to be me...) ... It looks like right now we have about enough (if we go 5 each) for 2 rotations. Perhaps if we get more, do some partial change outs so there is some change every 6 hours or so, but not full changeouts. If we get a LOT more last minute (people said they were working on some that I think haven't appeared yet. ) ++Lar: t/c 04:04, 29 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Here's another suggestion:

...that dozens of contributors have been debating this Sunday's front page since early January, planning to showcase articles that are true but unusual enough to sound like a joke? (Nom Jreferee; article by Jenny Kleeman, The Guardian reporter)

Kinda self referential but pretty funny! Needs to be an actual article though. ++Lar: t/c 04:04, 29 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's pretty funny - it ought to be possible to turn that into a stub with one reference - that's plenty for a DYK entry. SteveBaker 04:41, 29 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe if it were cleaned up a bit:

...that in 1974, Daylight Saving Time started in January and in 1975 it started in February? Jrbart 17:05, 29 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nevermind, I just realized that this doesn't meet the rules for DYK. Maybe if an article was spun off... I just get overly enthused about things like DST and want everyone to know. Jrbart 20:47, 29 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"From Wikipedia's newest articles"[edit]

Why not replace the link to Wikipedia's good new articles with a link to Special:Newpages? Then people can see what Wikipedia's newest articles really look like. I know it's a silly idea, but I thought I'd put it out there. 129.98.214.114 18:13, 30 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'd hate to think that the cruft there is Wikipedia's "best" new pages. Royalbroil^T : C 19:29, 30 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]