This is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page. |
Archive 130 | ← | Archive 132 | Archive 133 | Archive 134 | Archive 135 | Archive 136 | → | Archive 140 |
Of all the important events to occur on March15th, why is the assasination of Julius Caesar not listed? It seems rather odd that one of the few pivotal points that decided the fate of Western civilization isn't even mentioned in the "On this day..." section. Geosultan4 ( talk) 01:53, 15 March 2009 (UTC)
... that the Hadwiger conjecture (diagram pictured) implies that the surface of any three-dimensional convex body can be illuminated by only eight light sources, but the best proven bound is that 16 lights are sufficient?
... Huh? Now maybe I fail at english and/or maths, but does this make sense in some manner? I would be delighted to be proven wrong, but this seems to not work. WookMuff ( talk) 06:31, 16 March 2009 (UTC)
There's something a little off with the In the news section; the text isn't going around the picture like it should. Simple but powerful 02:22, 17 March 2009 (UTC)
i'm a beginner here..can someboady help me? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Arthuriztas ( talk • contribs) 04:00, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
Name is my Guage Huadin. Need to enter wiki section Hindu. Weather isnt cant be not accessed wiki using America. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.1.73.225 ( talk) 03:06, 19 March 2009 (UTC)
can you tell me how to use wikipedia onlne dictornairy if you can tell me e-mail me at (e-mail removed) thank you because i do not now how to use the dictornairy.thank you vary much................. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.144.99.96 ( talk) 12:53, 19 March 2009 (UTC)
"Chelsea Football Club are a professional English football club" is completely WRONG.
Chelsea Football Club are a professional English football club = it is a singular club.
Should be: "Chelsea Football Club is a professional English football club..."
207.237.33.36 ( talk) 06:12, 14 March 2009 (UTC)
This seems to stem from a misreading of the grammar rules. The collective noun takes 'is' when it is discussed as a single entity: Chelsea Football Club is an English football club... However, it takes 'are' when the members of the collective noun are acting as one body: Chelsea Football Club are delighted to confirm... For the record, I'm British, using British English. Modest Genius talk 16:25, 14 March 2009 (UTC)
This is a perennial issue discussed by members of the Football WikiProject. Longstanding consensus is that this is acceptable, if not universal usage in British English. For the grammarians among us, pedantically careful usage is to refer to the club as singular and the team as plural, but it is not incorrect for both to be used as plural. It's just a quirk of a quirky language, in usage by quirky people like me. -- Dweller ( talk) 10:54, 16 March 2009 (UTC)
End of discussion, I hope. Dabomb87 ( talk) 23:33, 20 March 2009 (UTC)
i was just thinking today: this encyclopedia is so huge and the articles are written so well and they are done by regular people who get not credit and no payment. The fact that so many people can work together to create such a great website amazes me.
Keep up the great work guys! 75.107.254.30 ( talk) 22:41, 19 March 2009 (UTC)
I have to say that DYK makes me laugh sometimes: " ... that the three drunken Wierix brothers of Antwerp influenced Ethiopian iconography?" I love it. Keep it up. 141.157.116.116 ( talk) 05:14, 20 March 2009 (UTC)
1e4 and 1d4 is confusing. - Peregrine Fisher ( talk) ( contribs) 09:07, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
Fedex plane crashed in Tokyo Airport and another just moments before in Montana, 17 dead so far! Res Mar 23:42, 22 March 2009 (UTC)
On the featured article "Ceres" link goes to disamb page not to the Ceres (Roman Mythology) page which is where the link goes in the article itself. Admin fix it please as main page is of course protected. Carlwev ( talk) 09:51, 23 March 2009 (UTC)
(Ireland wins), not Ireland win —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.225.11.113 ( talk) 23:24, 23 March 2009 (UTC)
we won —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.1.127.131 ( talk) 16:29, 24 March 2009 (UTC)
Hi! You might be interested in the discussion at Wikipedia:Village_pump_(proposals)/Archive 45#April_1st_guidelines_for_2009. Thank you. Ipatrol ( talk) 22:59, 25 March 2009 (UTC)
There's more than one America! 67.160.183.192 ( talk) 19:49, 26 March 2009 (UTC)
[5] 142.35.236.67 ( talk) 15:55, 27 March 2009 (UTC)
It learns us a lot ans unfortunately we don't get the same on WP:fr...Too much work , maybe... Truly yours Arapaima ( talk) 09:45, 26 March 2009 (UTC)
I hope this site can provided more to help the learners to study language . —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.137.163.107 ( talk) 04:47, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
Comments moved to errors, above. Random 89 21:02, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
Is this main page news worthy? Also why does the current events page say it is Monday the 29th? Jeff24 ( talk) 15:21, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
Not a problem, just a curiosity. The 14th anniversary of Selena's death doesn't seem to be a significant anniversary; I was wondering why it appears in OTD. I don't really have a problem with it... I just thought it was odd. 168.9.120.8 ( talk) 12:09, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
First, the amount of significance or importance is not the only factor in determining what is posted each day. We also have to consider whether the chosen bolded article is a relatively complete and well-formatted article (i.e. not a stub and does not contain cleanup problems like {{ POV}} and {{ unreferenced}} tags; whether there is a mixed variety of topics; and whether there is a mix of events spanning the centuries. As the cards played out, it just so happened that the Selena article got to be the one of the events posted, especially when it is a current Wikipedia featured article.
Lastly, the rule about "deaths only noted on centennials" is sort of relaxed when dealing with events like assassinations, executions, natural disasters, civil accidents, or some sort genocide/extinction/mass murder. Otherwise, for example, an article about a notable actress murdered by followers of a cult leader, or an article about three notable musicians dying in a fatal plane crash, might never get on there. Cheers. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 20:27, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
I would like to invite users to help with ITN design for tomorrow. Most material is gathered already, what needs to be done are some fixes of the articles and modifications of wordings so that we get the effect we want. Appreciated. Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/In The News. -- Tone 14:38, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
{{
editprotected}}
In order for the Main Page to transition automatically on April 1st, I propose that the following change be made:
{{#ifeq:{{CURRENTDAY}}|1|{{Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page}}|(regular contents of the main page)}}
The cascading protection will prevent vandalism. Just say if it won't work. -- Ipatrol ( talk) 19:39, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
Brilliant stuff guys! :D Spacehusky ( talk) 03:11, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
People deserve to know how this is done more easily. -- AaThinker ( talk) 23:01, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
This day may be April 1 but this is a serious home page and the main page shroud retain its professionalism.-- 134.225.179.44 ( talk) 00:07, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Moved from Village pump (policy) talk.
What the hell is up with this new "trick question" format on the main page articles? It's not cute. It's not funny. Save the jokes for a Wikicomedy (copyright pending) page. This is supposed to be a forum for serious learning. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 214.13.199.121 ( talk) 08:16, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Nice job on the April Fools' Day frontpage, guys. :-) -- Eastlaw talk ⁄ contribs 00:49, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Wonderful stuff. Today being my birthday (seriously) I logged into Wikipedia to see what gems would be created, and I must say you've done a grand job! So much so that I look forward to resuming my Wikipedia career. Same time next year! :-) User:Rusty2005
Just plain inappropriate. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.49.236.59 ( talk) 00:58, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Absolutely brilliant. Well done and thanks for taking the mickey. The world is often such a grim place that a little levity, at least once a year is delightful! Gillyweed ( talk) 03:07, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Public hanging in Ireland? Turkish Missiles launched at oil giant? Showers of diamonds? Could someone please check the news headlines... They seem suspiciously like an April Fool's day prank.
Thanks Falconus p t c 01:19, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Im loving! Well done to wiki for the great idea! Happy New Assyrian Year too!!! Gabr- el 01:40, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Awesome work on the main page. Congrats. One of the best I've ever seen, especially the "joined together to become very serious" and "Turkish missiles" parts. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.184.93.203 ( talk) 02:31, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
the main page is not funny this is horrible wikipedia should mot stoop this low!!! 24.109.219.135 ( talk) 02:51, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Funny, I get a 404 when trying to find that page on wikipedia. GLaDOS ( talk) 03:08, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
... that Sandomierz Voivodeship (1939), a proposed administrative unit of the Second Polish Republic, was projected to be 24.5 km² and to incorporate 20 or 21 powiats?
— And all along I thought it was 22. Sca ( talk) 17:33, 25 March 2009 (UTC)
If DYK is to be a random compendium of intellectual trivia, it shouldn't be called "Did You Know?" The did-you-know question presupposes and implies some basis for further inquiry. In the case of the first example cited above, asking the general English reader if he or she knows how many "powiats" the proposed Sandomierz "Voivodeship" would have had (had it been created 70 years ago) strikes me as absurd.
Of course encyclopedias are about expanding knowledge, but I don't think informing the reader that the Sandomierz Voivodeship would have had 20 or 21 powiats constitutes a contribution to the pool of knowledge, since the topic is from the English-speaker's point of view so obscure as to be meaningless. (I suspect it's largely meaningless from the Polish point of view as well, but at least Poles will know what a powiat is.)
I would much rather hear from our Polish friends about what was in Copernicus's library or how many horses Casimir the Great kept in his stables. In other words, give me something I can understand and on some level relate to.
I will now return to my light reading. Current selection: The Discoverers, by Daniel Boorstin.
Sca ( talk) 21:41, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
"Did you know . . . that the cap of the thimble fungus, Verpa conica (pictured), resembles a thimble?" Genius! -- AdamSommerton ( talk) 20:02, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
This should have been kept on DYK for today. Sigh. Kimchi.sg ( talk) 05:28, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
You might want to reword the passage on the Taoiseach in "In the News". The way it is phrased right now implies that the man himself was hanged, not the portraits. Marlith (Talk) 00:16, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I agree with Makeemlighter. While I feel there is some wiggle room for jokes, the front page should not be altered in this manner. What do you think we are? Google? We don't just go changing the front page around for silly holidays. If you want to play a joke, change your signature around or alter your own user page in some way- Or just flag yourself as a bot. GLaDOS ( talk) 03:01, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
someone asked at least for some discussion on the AFD fornt page.But it was discussed for days if not weeks prior. There was even a link to the discussion on this Main Page discussion page! IMHO, the Irish politico story was funnier earlier in the day; but otherwise a great job, all! Can't wait for next year! 121.55.196.124 ( talk) 08:17, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I'm very unhappy with the misleading wording as it is at the moment: "Brian Cowen is seen publicly naked in Dublin". As a bare fact, that's simply not true, and surely violates the spirit of WP:BLP? almost- instinct 11:41, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Taoiseach seen naked publicly? and then it happens it was about some paintings (sigh!)...did this change from wikipedia to wikitabloid-beta overnight by chance? If the April's Fool thing is on, then you should consider that there is a huge non-native English speaker looking in here who doesnt necessarily knows about that. MOUNTOLIVE fedeli alla linea 13:41, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Who took the decision to put jokes and jokingly false information on the Front Page of Wikipaedia on the 1st of April? Why was this decision taken? Would anyone please point me towards an official policy page that states that this should be done or at least that it is allowed? IF there is no such policy than I BELIEVE that this at least should be discussed, if not mediated somehow. I understand that most people who write in the English Wikipaedia are from places where people celebrate Apil Fool's Day. HOWEVER, isn't this a systematic bias of the Wikipedia communitiy? As far as I know Wikipedia is an Encycloapedia that aims at providing accurate information at all times and across all cultures. Why exactly is Wikipaedia supposed to CELEBRATE any cultural event, as opposed to just MENTION it? Isn't this violating WP:NOT#JOURNALISM? I hope that this won't be taken as an attack on anyone, it's certainly not meant to be one. But isn't Wikipedia meant NOT to be a parody on any day of the year? Why should there be a day when the Front Page of Wikipedia becomes Uncyclopedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:17, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
This is not about anyone's sense of humour. As far as I know Wikipedia is written in an academic manner. I've never read anything about an exception to that rule of style. I'm merely asking on the basis of which policy the Front Page of Wikipedia is presenting unreliable information (not necessarily false) the 1st of April without even a disclaimer. I am asking whether is is violating the spirit of Wikipedia's policies or not. And I'm asking whether this has been discussed as a matter of policy or it has just been accepted as such by most people due to the fact that most writers of the English Wikipedia live in a culture where the people celebrate April Fool's Day (and therefore, this might be a systematic bias that needs correcting). If there is an answer to these questions, wonderful. If there is no answer to these questions I believe that these questions should at least be discussed, because Wikipedia has very real real-life consequences everywhere where there are people that know English, not only in the Western World. I hope somebody hears me: HAS this been discussed as a matter of policy? Is there a policy that allows this? Please point me to something, or at least provide me some answers to the reasons behind his. I assume that people will have the good will of pointing me to even a resemblance of discussion about policy about this. And as a matter of fact, I do have a sense of humour, I just come from a culture where April Fool's Day is not celebrated. Please stop the AD PERSONAM and answer me on policy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:33, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Noted. Now can please anyone point me to a page that states that this is POLICY or where at least this has been discussed as a matter of policy? By the way has it been discussed or it' just accepted as default? Because if it was accepted by anyone without discussion it MAY be a systematic bias due to the fact that most people who write on the English wikipedia come from a culture where April Fool's Day is celebrated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:43, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Thank you for the information. When I saw "Turkish missiles" and "oil" my first impulse was to phone my brother who is stationed with the Turkish Army on the border with Irak. My first thought was "Oh, no, it's war!" It's hard to think rationally when the misleading wording arise emotions such as fear. And I think that the son or wife od the Irish prime minister might have gone through something even worse when she saw "hanged" there, even if she is from the Western Culture. Anyway, thanks for the information. I live now in an European country and I will get used to it. :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:58, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
The relevant policy is Wikipedia:Ignore all rules, I presume. — Dan | talk 02:05, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Just to throw another two cents in, the april fools day main page smacks of a lack of professionalism, and a licence to put every cultural "Whatever day" on the main page. I see no reason why april fools is special, or interesting in this context. Wikipedia is somewhere that people visit to learn things. User A1 ( talk) 06:02, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I agree that the front page lacks of professionalism. I would love to be able to someday site this as a source in a paper, or be able to tell someone that I learned about something in the wikipedia and not have them look at me like it wasn't factual. This blatant waste of a wonderful resource isn't going to get the wikipedia any closer to those ends. I'll remember when I go to give money that my local NPR station doesn't give me fake news reports to try and be funny. Bobbit bob ( talk) 06:55, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Says something.-- PsyopsGuy1982 ( talk) 03:09, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Is there a permalink available for today's main page? I realize the content is transcluded from elsewhere, but as all the content today is fresh, such as ITN, I wouldn't think the usual technical restrictions would apply. Newsboy85 ( talk) 04:41, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Nevermind, found it myself. Newsboy85 ( talk) 04:51, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Any reference source that deliberately permits false information one day of the year, will permit it every day of the year.
Chrmlssmn ( talk) 07:10, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
This is the truth, therefore delete it. The Wikipedia way. Long live Wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chrmlssmn ( talk • contribs) 07:10, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Chrmlssmn ( talk) 07:11, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
A new item for today was suggested:
North and South Korea prepare for a hostile stand-off in Seoul, in their quest for world domination.
Because this talkpage has broader audience, I post it here to see if this is ok to have on Main page or not because it is a bit strong, as the public hanging discussed above. -- Tone 07:46, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I went ahead and added it, seeing that the Brian Cowen blurb got trimmed. Kimchi.sg ( talk) 08:50, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
"public hanging" has a rather more violent implication that paintings. Perhaps a more specific phrase could be used. (Also, it seems to me to be less than noteworthy enough for the main page, IMHO).— Goodtimber ( walk/ talk) 00:44, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
The story regarding nude oil paintings of Irish PM is NOT worthy of being on WP frontpage. Also the title is misleading and sensationalist. "Ireland's Taoiseach, Brian Cowen (pictured) is seen publicly naked in Dublin." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.175.73.204 ( talk) 10:29, 1 April 2009 (UTC) (moved from WP:ERRORS)
I've just been reading some of the grouchy comments about today's April Fools pranks. It just astounds me that people are going on about cultural bias and so on. Now I don't discriminate based on culture or religion etc, but I do find myself being increasingly irked by certain 'groups of people' demanding their rights to practice certain customs etc, then jumping up and down and screaming bias and discrimination when other people exercise that same right. The English Wikipedia is written for a mainly Western audience which means most people looking at it today will realise that there is a prank going on. AND WHY NOT??? When Muslims all over the UK are allowed to take days off work to go to temple on one of their religious days for example, why should we be excluded from doing something that is a tradition in our OWN culture. Seems to me the Political Correctness police are on the case. (I imagine some hairy academic sat humming next to a burning joss stick reciting the mantra - other culture good, white culture bad) 78.150.147.42 ( talk) 10:23, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I didn't claim it as my groups own. I was merely stating that it is a tradition in my culture, I didn't say it was exclusively so. And as everyone seems to be disagreeing with me and spouting about neutral point of view etc, then perhaps you should stick to those policies and not be doing April Fools pranks either. I was just supporting Wikipedia for doing it, but now I wish I hadn't bothered... bunch of pricks. 78.150.147.42 ( talk) 11:50, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I don't like seeing that North Korea vs. South Korea in the page. It sounds like North Korea's gonna nuke a football field if they lose. Please remove that. P.R.O.C.K.Y. ( Mydoctor93) 10:40, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Can someone please clean up the April fools nonsense? Implying that North and South Korea are at war may be funny and fitting for children's blogs, not for an encyclopedia. --
Jeandré, 2009-04-01
t10:37z
It's a joke. If you realize it's a joke then there's nothing to worry about. Besides, I find it funny even here on an encyclopedia. -- 82.103.239.99 ( talk) 11:09, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Venezuelan beauty queen Dayana Mendoza has a fun day at camp in Guantanamo Bay. [6] -- can dle • wicke 20:34, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I commend whoever drew up the current version of the Main Page (well, the version as of this comment). A nice mix of humor, factual information and borderline nonsense. Especially the whole bit about British pay-per-view pornography. Pacific Coast Highway { spring • ahead} 13:07, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Bravo, indeed! Who says encyclopdeing can't be fun?! A most wonderfoul larf! Cheers! -- Phyllis1753 ( talk) 15:21, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
For those of you who came in late, I'll explain. "wonderfoul larf" is John Lennonese for "Wonderful Laugh". Just follow the links! Cheers!-- Phyllis1753 ( talk) 16:27, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
The blurb for the nude paintings of the Irish leader seems to have been changed from last night, and is now completely inaccurate. He was not seen nude; a painting was made that depicted him nude, and it was not painted from life. Not even Mr. Lister's Koromon survived intact. 13:44, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
(←)The main page actually made the news (bottom paragraph). §hep Talk 00:26, 2 April 2009 (UTC)
I've created a proposal for Featured redirects. I'd like to know, if this proposal goes ahead, should these be displayed on the main page. and if so, how? Please discuss on the proposal's talk page. — Tivedshambo ( t/ c) 13:46, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
(undent) Tivedshambo - I thought you were suggesting we feature comments that appeared on article talk/discussion pages, but you meant invisible comments in articles. Now that I understand, it seems to me that we've (so far) omitted the talk/discussion page entirely, despite that the number of such pages that are, well, fascinating. -- John Broughton (♫♫) 20:18, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Anyone else think the Main Page should be deleted? Just a place for lazy people to read the news or look at featured articles/pictures when they could go to P:CE or WP:FA/WP:FP, yet hard-working sysops have to maintain it. Æe tlr Cre ejl 15:09, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
This is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page. |
Archive 130 | ← | Archive 132 | Archive 133 | Archive 134 | Archive 135 | Archive 136 | → | Archive 140 |
Of all the important events to occur on March15th, why is the assasination of Julius Caesar not listed? It seems rather odd that one of the few pivotal points that decided the fate of Western civilization isn't even mentioned in the "On this day..." section. Geosultan4 ( talk) 01:53, 15 March 2009 (UTC)
... that the Hadwiger conjecture (diagram pictured) implies that the surface of any three-dimensional convex body can be illuminated by only eight light sources, but the best proven bound is that 16 lights are sufficient?
... Huh? Now maybe I fail at english and/or maths, but does this make sense in some manner? I would be delighted to be proven wrong, but this seems to not work. WookMuff ( talk) 06:31, 16 March 2009 (UTC)
There's something a little off with the In the news section; the text isn't going around the picture like it should. Simple but powerful 02:22, 17 March 2009 (UTC)
i'm a beginner here..can someboady help me? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Arthuriztas ( talk • contribs) 04:00, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
Name is my Guage Huadin. Need to enter wiki section Hindu. Weather isnt cant be not accessed wiki using America. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.1.73.225 ( talk) 03:06, 19 March 2009 (UTC)
can you tell me how to use wikipedia onlne dictornairy if you can tell me e-mail me at (e-mail removed) thank you because i do not now how to use the dictornairy.thank you vary much................. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.144.99.96 ( talk) 12:53, 19 March 2009 (UTC)
"Chelsea Football Club are a professional English football club" is completely WRONG.
Chelsea Football Club are a professional English football club = it is a singular club.
Should be: "Chelsea Football Club is a professional English football club..."
207.237.33.36 ( talk) 06:12, 14 March 2009 (UTC)
This seems to stem from a misreading of the grammar rules. The collective noun takes 'is' when it is discussed as a single entity: Chelsea Football Club is an English football club... However, it takes 'are' when the members of the collective noun are acting as one body: Chelsea Football Club are delighted to confirm... For the record, I'm British, using British English. Modest Genius talk 16:25, 14 March 2009 (UTC)
This is a perennial issue discussed by members of the Football WikiProject. Longstanding consensus is that this is acceptable, if not universal usage in British English. For the grammarians among us, pedantically careful usage is to refer to the club as singular and the team as plural, but it is not incorrect for both to be used as plural. It's just a quirk of a quirky language, in usage by quirky people like me. -- Dweller ( talk) 10:54, 16 March 2009 (UTC)
End of discussion, I hope. Dabomb87 ( talk) 23:33, 20 March 2009 (UTC)
i was just thinking today: this encyclopedia is so huge and the articles are written so well and they are done by regular people who get not credit and no payment. The fact that so many people can work together to create such a great website amazes me.
Keep up the great work guys! 75.107.254.30 ( talk) 22:41, 19 March 2009 (UTC)
I have to say that DYK makes me laugh sometimes: " ... that the three drunken Wierix brothers of Antwerp influenced Ethiopian iconography?" I love it. Keep it up. 141.157.116.116 ( talk) 05:14, 20 March 2009 (UTC)
1e4 and 1d4 is confusing. - Peregrine Fisher ( talk) ( contribs) 09:07, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
Fedex plane crashed in Tokyo Airport and another just moments before in Montana, 17 dead so far! Res Mar 23:42, 22 March 2009 (UTC)
On the featured article "Ceres" link goes to disamb page not to the Ceres (Roman Mythology) page which is where the link goes in the article itself. Admin fix it please as main page is of course protected. Carlwev ( talk) 09:51, 23 March 2009 (UTC)
(Ireland wins), not Ireland win —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.225.11.113 ( talk) 23:24, 23 March 2009 (UTC)
we won —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.1.127.131 ( talk) 16:29, 24 March 2009 (UTC)
Hi! You might be interested in the discussion at Wikipedia:Village_pump_(proposals)/Archive 45#April_1st_guidelines_for_2009. Thank you. Ipatrol ( talk) 22:59, 25 March 2009 (UTC)
There's more than one America! 67.160.183.192 ( talk) 19:49, 26 March 2009 (UTC)
[5] 142.35.236.67 ( talk) 15:55, 27 March 2009 (UTC)
It learns us a lot ans unfortunately we don't get the same on WP:fr...Too much work , maybe... Truly yours Arapaima ( talk) 09:45, 26 March 2009 (UTC)
I hope this site can provided more to help the learners to study language . —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.137.163.107 ( talk) 04:47, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
Comments moved to errors, above. Random 89 21:02, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
Is this main page news worthy? Also why does the current events page say it is Monday the 29th? Jeff24 ( talk) 15:21, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
Not a problem, just a curiosity. The 14th anniversary of Selena's death doesn't seem to be a significant anniversary; I was wondering why it appears in OTD. I don't really have a problem with it... I just thought it was odd. 168.9.120.8 ( talk) 12:09, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
First, the amount of significance or importance is not the only factor in determining what is posted each day. We also have to consider whether the chosen bolded article is a relatively complete and well-formatted article (i.e. not a stub and does not contain cleanup problems like {{ POV}} and {{ unreferenced}} tags; whether there is a mixed variety of topics; and whether there is a mix of events spanning the centuries. As the cards played out, it just so happened that the Selena article got to be the one of the events posted, especially when it is a current Wikipedia featured article.
Lastly, the rule about "deaths only noted on centennials" is sort of relaxed when dealing with events like assassinations, executions, natural disasters, civil accidents, or some sort genocide/extinction/mass murder. Otherwise, for example, an article about a notable actress murdered by followers of a cult leader, or an article about three notable musicians dying in a fatal plane crash, might never get on there. Cheers. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 20:27, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
I would like to invite users to help with ITN design for tomorrow. Most material is gathered already, what needs to be done are some fixes of the articles and modifications of wordings so that we get the effect we want. Appreciated. Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/In The News. -- Tone 14:38, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
{{
editprotected}}
In order for the Main Page to transition automatically on April 1st, I propose that the following change be made:
{{#ifeq:{{CURRENTDAY}}|1|{{Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page}}|(regular contents of the main page)}}
The cascading protection will prevent vandalism. Just say if it won't work. -- Ipatrol ( talk) 19:39, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
Brilliant stuff guys! :D Spacehusky ( talk) 03:11, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
People deserve to know how this is done more easily. -- AaThinker ( talk) 23:01, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
This day may be April 1 but this is a serious home page and the main page shroud retain its professionalism.-- 134.225.179.44 ( talk) 00:07, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Moved from Village pump (policy) talk.
What the hell is up with this new "trick question" format on the main page articles? It's not cute. It's not funny. Save the jokes for a Wikicomedy (copyright pending) page. This is supposed to be a forum for serious learning. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 214.13.199.121 ( talk) 08:16, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Nice job on the April Fools' Day frontpage, guys. :-) -- Eastlaw talk ⁄ contribs 00:49, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Wonderful stuff. Today being my birthday (seriously) I logged into Wikipedia to see what gems would be created, and I must say you've done a grand job! So much so that I look forward to resuming my Wikipedia career. Same time next year! :-) User:Rusty2005
Just plain inappropriate. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.49.236.59 ( talk) 00:58, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Absolutely brilliant. Well done and thanks for taking the mickey. The world is often such a grim place that a little levity, at least once a year is delightful! Gillyweed ( talk) 03:07, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Public hanging in Ireland? Turkish Missiles launched at oil giant? Showers of diamonds? Could someone please check the news headlines... They seem suspiciously like an April Fool's day prank.
Thanks Falconus p t c 01:19, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Im loving! Well done to wiki for the great idea! Happy New Assyrian Year too!!! Gabr- el 01:40, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Awesome work on the main page. Congrats. One of the best I've ever seen, especially the "joined together to become very serious" and "Turkish missiles" parts. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.184.93.203 ( talk) 02:31, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
the main page is not funny this is horrible wikipedia should mot stoop this low!!! 24.109.219.135 ( talk) 02:51, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Funny, I get a 404 when trying to find that page on wikipedia. GLaDOS ( talk) 03:08, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
... that Sandomierz Voivodeship (1939), a proposed administrative unit of the Second Polish Republic, was projected to be 24.5 km² and to incorporate 20 or 21 powiats?
— And all along I thought it was 22. Sca ( talk) 17:33, 25 March 2009 (UTC)
If DYK is to be a random compendium of intellectual trivia, it shouldn't be called "Did You Know?" The did-you-know question presupposes and implies some basis for further inquiry. In the case of the first example cited above, asking the general English reader if he or she knows how many "powiats" the proposed Sandomierz "Voivodeship" would have had (had it been created 70 years ago) strikes me as absurd.
Of course encyclopedias are about expanding knowledge, but I don't think informing the reader that the Sandomierz Voivodeship would have had 20 or 21 powiats constitutes a contribution to the pool of knowledge, since the topic is from the English-speaker's point of view so obscure as to be meaningless. (I suspect it's largely meaningless from the Polish point of view as well, but at least Poles will know what a powiat is.)
I would much rather hear from our Polish friends about what was in Copernicus's library or how many horses Casimir the Great kept in his stables. In other words, give me something I can understand and on some level relate to.
I will now return to my light reading. Current selection: The Discoverers, by Daniel Boorstin.
Sca ( talk) 21:41, 29 March 2009 (UTC)
"Did you know . . . that the cap of the thimble fungus, Verpa conica (pictured), resembles a thimble?" Genius! -- AdamSommerton ( talk) 20:02, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
This should have been kept on DYK for today. Sigh. Kimchi.sg ( talk) 05:28, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
You might want to reword the passage on the Taoiseach in "In the News". The way it is phrased right now implies that the man himself was hanged, not the portraits. Marlith (Talk) 00:16, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I agree with Makeemlighter. While I feel there is some wiggle room for jokes, the front page should not be altered in this manner. What do you think we are? Google? We don't just go changing the front page around for silly holidays. If you want to play a joke, change your signature around or alter your own user page in some way- Or just flag yourself as a bot. GLaDOS ( talk) 03:01, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
someone asked at least for some discussion on the AFD fornt page.But it was discussed for days if not weeks prior. There was even a link to the discussion on this Main Page discussion page! IMHO, the Irish politico story was funnier earlier in the day; but otherwise a great job, all! Can't wait for next year! 121.55.196.124 ( talk) 08:17, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I'm very unhappy with the misleading wording as it is at the moment: "Brian Cowen is seen publicly naked in Dublin". As a bare fact, that's simply not true, and surely violates the spirit of WP:BLP? almost- instinct 11:41, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Taoiseach seen naked publicly? and then it happens it was about some paintings (sigh!)...did this change from wikipedia to wikitabloid-beta overnight by chance? If the April's Fool thing is on, then you should consider that there is a huge non-native English speaker looking in here who doesnt necessarily knows about that. MOUNTOLIVE fedeli alla linea 13:41, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Who took the decision to put jokes and jokingly false information on the Front Page of Wikipaedia on the 1st of April? Why was this decision taken? Would anyone please point me towards an official policy page that states that this should be done or at least that it is allowed? IF there is no such policy than I BELIEVE that this at least should be discussed, if not mediated somehow. I understand that most people who write in the English Wikipaedia are from places where people celebrate Apil Fool's Day. HOWEVER, isn't this a systematic bias of the Wikipedia communitiy? As far as I know Wikipedia is an Encycloapedia that aims at providing accurate information at all times and across all cultures. Why exactly is Wikipaedia supposed to CELEBRATE any cultural event, as opposed to just MENTION it? Isn't this violating WP:NOT#JOURNALISM? I hope that this won't be taken as an attack on anyone, it's certainly not meant to be one. But isn't Wikipedia meant NOT to be a parody on any day of the year? Why should there be a day when the Front Page of Wikipedia becomes Uncyclopedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:17, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
This is not about anyone's sense of humour. As far as I know Wikipedia is written in an academic manner. I've never read anything about an exception to that rule of style. I'm merely asking on the basis of which policy the Front Page of Wikipedia is presenting unreliable information (not necessarily false) the 1st of April without even a disclaimer. I am asking whether is is violating the spirit of Wikipedia's policies or not. And I'm asking whether this has been discussed as a matter of policy or it has just been accepted as such by most people due to the fact that most writers of the English Wikipedia live in a culture where the people celebrate April Fool's Day (and therefore, this might be a systematic bias that needs correcting). If there is an answer to these questions, wonderful. If there is no answer to these questions I believe that these questions should at least be discussed, because Wikipedia has very real real-life consequences everywhere where there are people that know English, not only in the Western World. I hope somebody hears me: HAS this been discussed as a matter of policy? Is there a policy that allows this? Please point me to something, or at least provide me some answers to the reasons behind his. I assume that people will have the good will of pointing me to even a resemblance of discussion about policy about this. And as a matter of fact, I do have a sense of humour, I just come from a culture where April Fool's Day is not celebrated. Please stop the AD PERSONAM and answer me on policy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:33, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Noted. Now can please anyone point me to a page that states that this is POLICY or where at least this has been discussed as a matter of policy? By the way has it been discussed or it' just accepted as default? Because if it was accepted by anyone without discussion it MAY be a systematic bias due to the fact that most people who write on the English wikipedia come from a culture where April Fool's Day is celebrated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:43, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Thank you for the information. When I saw "Turkish missiles" and "oil" my first impulse was to phone my brother who is stationed with the Turkish Army on the border with Irak. My first thought was "Oh, no, it's war!" It's hard to think rationally when the misleading wording arise emotions such as fear. And I think that the son or wife od the Irish prime minister might have gone through something even worse when she saw "hanged" there, even if she is from the Western Culture. Anyway, thanks for the information. I live now in an European country and I will get used to it. :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.124.35.173 ( talk) 01:58, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
The relevant policy is Wikipedia:Ignore all rules, I presume. — Dan | talk 02:05, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Just to throw another two cents in, the april fools day main page smacks of a lack of professionalism, and a licence to put every cultural "Whatever day" on the main page. I see no reason why april fools is special, or interesting in this context. Wikipedia is somewhere that people visit to learn things. User A1 ( talk) 06:02, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I agree that the front page lacks of professionalism. I would love to be able to someday site this as a source in a paper, or be able to tell someone that I learned about something in the wikipedia and not have them look at me like it wasn't factual. This blatant waste of a wonderful resource isn't going to get the wikipedia any closer to those ends. I'll remember when I go to give money that my local NPR station doesn't give me fake news reports to try and be funny. Bobbit bob ( talk) 06:55, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Says something.-- PsyopsGuy1982 ( talk) 03:09, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Is there a permalink available for today's main page? I realize the content is transcluded from elsewhere, but as all the content today is fresh, such as ITN, I wouldn't think the usual technical restrictions would apply. Newsboy85 ( talk) 04:41, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Nevermind, found it myself. Newsboy85 ( talk) 04:51, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Any reference source that deliberately permits false information one day of the year, will permit it every day of the year.
Chrmlssmn ( talk) 07:10, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
This is the truth, therefore delete it. The Wikipedia way. Long live Wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chrmlssmn ( talk • contribs) 07:10, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Chrmlssmn ( talk) 07:11, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
A new item for today was suggested:
North and South Korea prepare for a hostile stand-off in Seoul, in their quest for world domination.
Because this talkpage has broader audience, I post it here to see if this is ok to have on Main page or not because it is a bit strong, as the public hanging discussed above. -- Tone 07:46, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I went ahead and added it, seeing that the Brian Cowen blurb got trimmed. Kimchi.sg ( talk) 08:50, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
"public hanging" has a rather more violent implication that paintings. Perhaps a more specific phrase could be used. (Also, it seems to me to be less than noteworthy enough for the main page, IMHO).— Goodtimber ( walk/ talk) 00:44, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
The story regarding nude oil paintings of Irish PM is NOT worthy of being on WP frontpage. Also the title is misleading and sensationalist. "Ireland's Taoiseach, Brian Cowen (pictured) is seen publicly naked in Dublin." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.175.73.204 ( talk) 10:29, 1 April 2009 (UTC) (moved from WP:ERRORS)
I've just been reading some of the grouchy comments about today's April Fools pranks. It just astounds me that people are going on about cultural bias and so on. Now I don't discriminate based on culture or religion etc, but I do find myself being increasingly irked by certain 'groups of people' demanding their rights to practice certain customs etc, then jumping up and down and screaming bias and discrimination when other people exercise that same right. The English Wikipedia is written for a mainly Western audience which means most people looking at it today will realise that there is a prank going on. AND WHY NOT??? When Muslims all over the UK are allowed to take days off work to go to temple on one of their religious days for example, why should we be excluded from doing something that is a tradition in our OWN culture. Seems to me the Political Correctness police are on the case. (I imagine some hairy academic sat humming next to a burning joss stick reciting the mantra - other culture good, white culture bad) 78.150.147.42 ( talk) 10:23, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I didn't claim it as my groups own. I was merely stating that it is a tradition in my culture, I didn't say it was exclusively so. And as everyone seems to be disagreeing with me and spouting about neutral point of view etc, then perhaps you should stick to those policies and not be doing April Fools pranks either. I was just supporting Wikipedia for doing it, but now I wish I hadn't bothered... bunch of pricks. 78.150.147.42 ( talk) 11:50, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I don't like seeing that North Korea vs. South Korea in the page. It sounds like North Korea's gonna nuke a football field if they lose. Please remove that. P.R.O.C.K.Y. ( Mydoctor93) 10:40, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Can someone please clean up the April fools nonsense? Implying that North and South Korea are at war may be funny and fitting for children's blogs, not for an encyclopedia. --
Jeandré, 2009-04-01
t10:37z
It's a joke. If you realize it's a joke then there's nothing to worry about. Besides, I find it funny even here on an encyclopedia. -- 82.103.239.99 ( talk) 11:09, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Venezuelan beauty queen Dayana Mendoza has a fun day at camp in Guantanamo Bay. [6] -- can dle • wicke 20:34, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
I commend whoever drew up the current version of the Main Page (well, the version as of this comment). A nice mix of humor, factual information and borderline nonsense. Especially the whole bit about British pay-per-view pornography. Pacific Coast Highway { spring • ahead} 13:07, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Bravo, indeed! Who says encyclopdeing can't be fun?! A most wonderfoul larf! Cheers! -- Phyllis1753 ( talk) 15:21, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
For those of you who came in late, I'll explain. "wonderfoul larf" is John Lennonese for "Wonderful Laugh". Just follow the links! Cheers!-- Phyllis1753 ( talk) 16:27, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
The blurb for the nude paintings of the Irish leader seems to have been changed from last night, and is now completely inaccurate. He was not seen nude; a painting was made that depicted him nude, and it was not painted from life. Not even Mr. Lister's Koromon survived intact. 13:44, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
(←)The main page actually made the news (bottom paragraph). §hep Talk 00:26, 2 April 2009 (UTC)
I've created a proposal for Featured redirects. I'd like to know, if this proposal goes ahead, should these be displayed on the main page. and if so, how? Please discuss on the proposal's talk page. — Tivedshambo ( t/ c) 13:46, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
(undent) Tivedshambo - I thought you were suggesting we feature comments that appeared on article talk/discussion pages, but you meant invisible comments in articles. Now that I understand, it seems to me that we've (so far) omitted the talk/discussion page entirely, despite that the number of such pages that are, well, fascinating. -- John Broughton (♫♫) 20:18, 1 April 2009 (UTC)
Anyone else think the Main Page should be deleted? Just a place for lazy people to read the news or look at featured articles/pictures when they could go to P:CE or WP:FA/WP:FP, yet hard-working sysops have to maintain it. Æe tlr Cre ejl 15:09, 1 April 2009 (UTC)