Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2011 November 9

Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.

November 9

A Simple Suggestion (or two)

Yesterday I was very happy and honored to be able to afford to contribute $100.00 to your fund raising program. Thank you for making it so easy. Now I must get back to studying. Would it be terribly hard for someone to write a simple program telling Wiki that it is rude to continue asking those whose computers have been the means of benefitting Wiki for more contributions? There must be some way to do this. Good luck! P.S.--Earlier I was exploring Editting. I jumped into the sandbox and someone else--or at least part of someone else was already there; a penis. Great photo--tacky presentation! In this economy is classy help really difficult to find? Really? Lyndiq (talk) 00:27, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for your donation. I don't know whether it's only for logged in users but see Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)#How to hide all fundraising banners on all Wikimedia wikis until next year. Everybody can edit public sandboxes like Wikipedia:Sandbox. Edits there are quickly overwritten by other users. Another user must have added a penis image shortly before you viewed the page. You can make a personal sandbox for your account at User:Lyndiq/Sandbox. Others can see it but are unlikely to edit it although it's not impossible. PrimeHunter (talk) 00:57, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

submitting bio. to wikipedia

Can I submit my bio to wikipedia, so that bloggers who follow my articles can know more about me? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ripuree2 (talk • contribs) 02:29, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Basically, no. See WP:Autobiography and WP:COI, also see WP:BIO for the notability requirements for Wikipedia biographies. - David Biddulph (talk) 02:56, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

You can't have a bio in article space, but see Wikipedia:User pages. You could give brief basic information about yourself or your wiki-related activities at User:Ripuree2. That sounds like what you are asking about. —teb728 t c 12:01, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

I don't think you can submit a article, but you can contact Wikipedia and ask them. You can create an article if you want. To create an article, type in the name of it in the search box and click on the article's name when you see it in the search results. Then you can start typing the article. To find out more about making a article visit Wikipedia: cheatsheet, Wikipedia: article wizard and Help: wiki markup. CPGirlAJ (talk) 22:49, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Hi, CPGirlAj. It's good to see new names answering questions here; but I don't think that's very helpful advice: posting here is as close as you can get to 'contacting Wikipedia', and other replies have pointed out that the procedure for actually creating an article is not really the issue here. --ColinFine (talk) 23:27, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Where do I go to have an article rated?

Hi. There are a couple of articles that I am working to improve, and it would greatly help me to have a current rating for them. I am aware of the rating scale, and I know I could re-rate the pages myself. However, I often am not sure which rating an article falls into, and I sometimes end up with a falsely inflated rating when I rate pages myself. Where can I go to have the articles I am working to improve rated/criticized? - Purplewowies (talk) 02:45, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

To rate an article you have to scroll to the bottom of the article and there will be a rating section there. You can also contact Wikipedia to give them feedback. CPGirlAJ (talk) 22:36, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

I know how to rate an article using the feedback tool. I also know how to rate them using the quality assessment scale. I'm asking where one could go to have someone else rate it on the quality scale, as I am not sure which class a couple of articles I'm trying to improve are currently in. - Purplewowies (talk) 01:50, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

You can ask at the talk page for one of the WikiProjects (or workgroups, if applicable) whose template has the quality ratings on it. The speed of the response will vary greatly by project, though. --Philosopher ^{Let us reason together.} 13:47, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

For most WikiProjects, the criteria at WP:ASSESS apply. And obviously GA and above have their own special processes.--Unionhawk ^{Talk E-mail} 13:56, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

help

dear sir, i am homelass in the city of seattle (wa)our here police department doing crime aginest with me police do not have any evidence to i am doing stealling crime our here and i all so report to the police department same one assault me but police officer do not assist me and i all so contact to the law firm the do not assist me, i am in (us)since 1994 i beleave behand the crime (us) government i need your help. thank you my nationality is (india my name is (syed riyaz quadri — Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.188.32.1 (talk) 03:07, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

If I understand you correctly, you are seeking legal help. Wikipedia cannot help you with this. Please see Wikipedia:Legal disclaimer. - Purplewowies (talk) 03:13, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Hi Syred, unfortunately I don't think that anyone here at Wikipedia can help you. While it would in my opinion inappropriate to give you counsel, I you urge to recontact your law firm or a public defender. Best of luck,  Magister Scienta^talk (9 November 2011)

Wow, its very sad to hear that. Wikipedia can only help you with articles that you need help with. If you need help from a lawyer or counselor then you should call someone from the phone book. CPGirlAJ (talk) 22:40, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

duplicating Matt Bolan covers

hi...My name is Alain Jarry.In the 80's and early 90's,i did most of Matt Bolan's covers.Iwas a model at the time,and we did the pictures at Osonisch studio...i have some covers,but they were destroyed.Would it be possible to have some duplicate of some of those covers...i really did 100+.Thank you for helping. Alain Jarry — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.67.115.121 (talk) 03:20, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 3.7 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. -- John of Reading (talk) 08:46, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Editing {{reflist}}

Smith9847 (talk) 06:08, 9 November 2011 (UTC)How do I update a dead link, when all that shows is {{reflist}}?

You'll need to search for the reference in the text as <ref> and update it there. the reflist tag just makes them visible at the right place. Jarkeld (talk) 06:16, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Referencing for beginners. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 13:59, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Editing Help Needed

There is a dead link in the References section of the article Theodore Tugboat. When I try to edit (update) this dead link, it does not show. I cannot update this dead link. All other sections of Theodore Tugboat appear normally for editing - just this one section is not accessible. Please advise. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Smith9847 (talk • contribs) 06:26, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Which footnote number is the dead link? The dead link would be in the body of the article where that footnote comes from. —teb728 t c 06:39, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

The ^ sign next to the reference number in the list of references is a link that takes you up to the place in the article where the ref is defined; similarly with the small letters after the ^ sign if the same reference is called up more than once (in which case click the ^a link). If the section which you want to edit is the lede, then just click the edit tab at the top of the article page. - David Biddulph (talk) 07:04, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Editing Help Needed (2) Twice I've asked for help in editing Theodore Tugboat. Two people have written replies but I have not been able to understand either. Looks like I'll just have to leave the dead link as is. Pity. Smith9847 (talk) 07:03, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

There are three links that are tagged as dead links. In order to correct them, you would have to edit the section of the article where that link is used as a reference and NOT the references section itself. Dismas|^(talk) 07:05, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

The dead link for footnote #9 is near the bottom of the first paragraph of Theodore Tugboat. It is the wikitext that says:

<ref name = "nydaily">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/10/24/1997-10-24_papa_s_brand-new_bag__kids__.html|title=New York Daily News - Papa's Brand-new Bag - Kids' TV (Oct. 24, 1997)|accessdate=2009-04-09|publisher=NYDailyNews.com | date=1997-10-24}}{{dead}}</ref>

Does that help? The fix for that one is this. The others are similar, but then I see you fixed one of them.—teb728 t c 07:18, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Referencing for beginners. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 14:00, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Forum advice on {{Kennedy Center Honorees}}

Since WP:PRIZE is inactive, I am wondering where the proper forum is to determine of the new {{Kennedy Center Honorees}} should be implemented in place of the separate yearly templates. I.E., should {{Kennedy Center Honorees|2007}} replace {{2007 Kennedy Center Honorees}}. I noticed that the template was implemented for 2009-2011 honorees and converted 2008 honoree pages. Then, I thought maybe the old system was better. I am wondering where I would determine consensus on which is preferred. I am willing to swap in the rest if the new template is preferred, but I am not sure it is.--TonyTheTiger (T/C/BIO/WP:CHICAGO/WP:FOUR) 07:08, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Template talk:Kennedy Center Honorees? That page mentions three other WikiProjects that you could notify. -- John of Reading (talk) 08:57, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

How can I post my institution's profile?

To whom it may concern, I am the educational technologist of a well-known school in Lebanon and I have tried hard to post the profile of the school on Wikipedia. I was asked to review my article several times because I have not provided a third-party citation, consequenlty the article is still in the AFC area. Kindly guide me to know if I am doing the right thing by posting the information of my institution as an article. In other words, is there another area on Wikipedia where I can post the profile of my school? I would also like to note that the instituion needs to post its profile on Wikipedia such that it provides its proper information about its profile rather than refering to someone (third party) to talk about it. Thank you in advance,Joanna Moawad - Educational Technologist - Jesus and Mary School (talk) 08:58, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

You are totally wrong in saying "the instituion needs to post its profile on Wikipedia such that it provides its proper information about its profile rather than refering to someone (third party) to talk about it". Wikipedia maintains a neutral point of view by relying on third parties (bearing in mind that the content needs to be verifiable from reliable sources). You need to read Wikipedia's policy on conflict of interest. - David Biddulph (talk) 10:15, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

For what you want to do, Facebook is a better choice. Wikipedia does not allow "profiles". Roger (talk) 10:45, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

(e/c)The first paragraph is not bad, but the rest is unencyclopedic and promotional (and/or confessional)—as though written to attract parents to send their students there or to solicit contributions. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia and articles must be written from a neutral point of view.

The draft lacks references to third party reliable sources that verify the article’s statements about the school and show that the school has received significant coverage in such sources. As nearly as I can tell none of the references even mentions the school.

If you want to post a profile as the school sees itself rather than as third parties see it, you will have to find another venue. Such a page will not be accepted on Wikipedia. —teb728 t c 10:50, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

You might want to have a look at WP:OTHER though. - ¡Ouch! (^{hurt me} / _{more pain}) 11:51, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

New user

Hello, I wonder if you can help me, I have only just become a member and I am not exactly sure how to get started, do I have to take a course in computer programming first before I can create an article or do you have a template editor that I haven’t found yet? I am not a computer fanatic but I am willing to learn exactly what I need to contribute to wikipedia. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Zsva65 (talk • contribs) 12:41, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

You could start with WP:Tutorial. There are many links from there to other guides if you need more detail. On a discussion page such as this one, if you start a new topic you should give it a section header similar to what I've added above (== New user ==), and you should sign your message with 4 tildes ~~~~ (which will automatically add your user name, with links, and date and time). - David Biddulph (talk) 12:49, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

It is also a much better idea to first do some "minor" editing in existing articles before launching into starting an entirely new article. That way you get hands-on experience and learn how things work here. The vast majority of articles created by newbies are deleted very quickly because they don't comply with the basic minimum requirements for articles. Maybe I was unusually "timid" but I logged hundreds of edits in many existing articles before I dared to start a new one. Roger (talk) 15:31, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

I agree that general editing is a good way to get started before creating an article. However, there is WP:My first article if you want to try that route. I would suggest that you find an article on a similar subject for ideas about formatting, etc. --Philosopher ^{Let us reason together.} 13:38, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Highlighting links

I have my article now on wikipedia but I haven't managed to make the links (highlighted in blue) to names etc appear. How is this done please? DonLorenzo11 (talk) 13:10, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Linking to existing Wikipedia pages is done by placing doubled brackets around the name of the page. Thus, [[Wikipedia]] produces Wikipedia. A useful expansion of this is done by separating what you want linked, from what you want displayed, with a pipe character ("|"), to create a "piped link". Thus: [[Wikipedia|encyclopedia]] produces encyclopedia, with the displayed text linking to the article, Wikipedia. You can link to internal sections of pages in this way: Wikipedia#name of internal section of that article. By contrast, for external links: http://www.example.org produces http://www.example.org; [http://www.example.org] produces [1]; and [http://www.example.org example] produces example. For more information, see Help:Link and please consider taking a tour through the Wikipedia:Tutorial. Hope this has helped.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:24, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

unit formatting guidelines

I've searched everywhere but cant find the guideline on how to format measurements. For example, looking at the source of a page shows this....

{{convert|236|mm|in|abbr=on}}

I'm looking for the page that describes the options for this tag, plus the guidelines on what units to use and how they should be formatted (eg should it be metric with imperial in brackets). Macrae dj (talk) 13:27, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Whenever you see any code in Wikipedia that starts and ends with two curly brackets ("{{" and "}}") that's a template, and most templates have documentation for their use on the template page itself. A template is located at the name you see inside the curly brackets, prefixed by "template:" Thus, to learn about the convert template, see Template:Convert ({{Convert}}). If after reading that you still have questions, please ask again here.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:38, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Template:Convert is the place to look as to how the convert function works. WP:UNIT is a short cut to the relevant part of the Manual of Style. - David Biddulph (talk) 13:40, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

hooliganism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valuation_of_options

Someone placed link to "Vagina Monologues" article to the "Valuation of options" folder. I do not know how to delete it.

The vandalism to Template:Derivatives market has been undone. You may have to bypass your browser cache to see the fixed version of the Valuation of options article. -- John of Reading (talk) 14:18, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

H.A.A.R.P.

There was a brief ref. to the earthquake in Haiti, you know the first one they had in 200 years, of a huge magnitude, which was also in a key spot for the navy, next to Guantanamo and Cuba. But nothing was said much about the lights that are produced by H.A.A.R.P. Lights people have noticed, this has been reported and isn't fiction and H.A.A.R.P. itself confirmed the experiments they were doing in those regions of the U.S. when the unusual lights were reported.

The article, which must have been written by someone from the military and all the conciousness that that gives, failed completely to mention the same lights were RECORDED by web cam in China. Twenty minutes before the Earthquake in Sxechuan. You only mentioned the tesla experiments in regards to H.A.A.R.P.S EARTHQUAKE causing capabilities, you didn't mention, and I have read this on govt. web sites, how it heats the water under the land with its ionespheric rays or whatever they are called. If Wikki up is just going to be propaganda for the govt. by dismissing the truly evil nature of this apparatus as conspiracy theories for the scientifically uninformed, I suggest you disband now. When there is a revolution in this country finally- a peaceful and ethical one that the constitution supports, not the blood suckers soaking the country pretending there in the know while they do nothing, like your article personifies, all the volunteers aiding the enemy of the United States, the mafia, cult religions etc, will be closely scrutinized. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.251.110.203 (talk) 15:10, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

You could try beginning a discussion on the article's talk/discussion page, but you will need to come up with some reliable sources before this could be added to the article. -- John of Reading (talk) 15:17, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Copyright for logo

I´m an intern working for a non-profit, and I have to create a wikipedia page for the NGO. I want ot add our copyrighted logo onto the page, but how does one go about uploading and creating a copyright tag for a copyrighted image like a logo? Thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by Intern wfto (talk • contribs) 15:45, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Donating copyrighted materials, but you also ought to read WP:COI before you try to create an article about an organisation for which you are working. - David Biddulph (talk) 15:54, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Or, if the organization doesn't want to release its logo under a free license, you could tag the image with {{non-free logo}} and a filled-out version of {{logo fur}} (click through to see the fields you need to fill out). If you have more problems with filling out the template or adding "tags", you can ask for help at WP:MCQ. I'd also recommend you read WP:ORG for wikipedia's notability guidelines for organizations to determine whether your organization meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion. Calliopejen1 (talk) 20:05, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Unfortunately, if your employer has assigned you the task of creating a Wikipedia page about them, then they have assigned you a task which is almost completely impossible, because you are one of the few people on the planet who are more or less disqualified from creating such a page. Sorry. --ColinFine (talk) 23:35, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

That's not right - WP:COI just means you have to be extra careful when editing, not that you can't edit at all. --Philosopher ^{Let us reason together.} 13:17, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

But let's face it - it'd be a lot simpler all round if it was interpreted as "no editing whatsoever". Less dicey for those involved with organisations, easier to police. Win-win. Brammers (talk/c) 19:43, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Simpler, but incorrect. --Philosopher ^{Let us reason together.} 00:54, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

Retitling page

Could [2] be 'reassigned' (or copied to) to 'List of members of London County Council 1937-46' (to go with the other two parts of the sequence (and if there is a 1946-65 sequence somewhere, can it be retitled as well).

I would be grateful if 'the proverbial someone' could copy the lists over to www.london.wikia.com. I will add the links and develop the pages there - many of the people involved are notable enough for LW but not enough for WP. Jackiespeel (talk) 17:09, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Thanks whoever moved it. Jackiespeel (talk) 21:45, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Josee Nadeau

Hi there

I am trying to edit a page that now seems to be deleted and I cant find it on your deletion log. I asked this question a few weeks ago and have not yet had a reply.

The subject is "Josee Nadeau", a famous artist.

Can you please tell me where the page is, how I can access it and whether I can edit it.

Many thanks

Matt

Mattwint2 (talk) 17:27, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

The answer was given here, back in August. Here is the entry in the deletion log. - David Biddulph (talk) 17:43, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Do I have insurance coverage through your company

I was recently sorting through my deceased papers and have found a payment book for life insurance through your company. Can you tell me if there is a policy with you? It would be the insured of Sandra Lee Amott. . My e-mail address is and my Work number My name now is Sandra Lee Barron. Could you let me know if there is still an account with you or has it been cashed out?

Thank you

Sandy Barron — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.27.162.31 (talk) 19:53, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 3.7 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. GB fan 20:03, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Login error: Username entered already in use. Please choose a different name.

after HD Failure.. lost all Logins/Passwords etc..  :-(

1. 1 Reset password

There is no e-mail address recorded for user "Willer". Complete this form to receive an e-mail reminder of your account details.

1. 2 Create/Register Account..

Login error Username entered already in use. Please choose a different name.

Can both Be Correct ..?

How do I get Back into My Account..? Or Re-Create It ..! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.30.209.161 (talk) 20:54, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Yes. Both can be correct. The first one states that there is no email address attached to the existing account Willer. So, it is not possible for it to email the account information to you. The second one states that you cannot create a new account named Willer because it already exists. -- kainaw™ 21:01, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

But are you sure that you are using the right user name? The contribution history shows nothing since 1st Dec 2005. - David Biddulph (talk) 21:15, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

It's optional whether to give an email address for an account. User:Willer didn't do it. If you don't know the password and really want the username then you can try to request it at Wikipedia:Changing username/Usurpations. Willer only has a few small edits to the user page six years ago so a usurp request might be approved but I don't promise anything. PrimeHunter (talk) 01:27, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

recent edit I suggested

Recently I suggested edits to the page on the GLASS CUTTER. It seems the edit was incorporated into the listing. The source is: The Encyclopedia of Working With Glass Author Milton K. Beryle 1968 Oceana Books Library of Congress number 67-25903 pages 10, 11, 12 66.30.56.232 (talk) 23:19, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

I've added the ref, but the article needs tidying up. - David Biddulph (talk) 02:41, 10 November 2011 (UTC)