Wikipedia:April Fools' Main Page/Featured Article/Archive 2013

Please use this page for discussions surrounding the creation of a Featured Article for April Fool's day 2012

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.

Mission[edit]

In the past, various unusual articles have been improved to featured article status. These include exploding whale, heavy metal umlaut, Japanese toilet, spoo, Joshua A. Norton, George Washington (inventor), and Ima Hogg. People seeing some of these articles listed on the Main Page sometimes believe that it is a joke, when in fact, these articles are well-written and quite deserving of featured article status.

An unusual article (such as exploding toad or Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch) will be edited up to Featured article status and listed on the Main Page on 1 April 2012. The "recently featured" sentence could be changed to "other featured", and link to the above-mentioned unusual featured articles.

Given the amount of time it takes to bring an article up to Featured article status, an alternative solution would be to use an article that has already been made a Featured article, but has not yet been listed on the Main Page.

Requirements[edit]

Raul is willing to consider any article for April Fools' Day, as long as it meets three requirements:

R1. It must be a featured article by April 1 2012
R2. It must not have already been used as the main page featured article.
R3. It is not too risqué (more so than any other article that would be used on the front page)

Action items[edit]

What are we going to write/promote? We need to pick either a new topic or an existing article to nominate for FA. I think we need half a dozen nominees - then we vote/get consensus on which one is most suitable.
We have to work hard to get it up to featured status. This may be very difficult and might take several attempts.
We have to usher it through all of the phases leading up to FA.
We need to make sure it's on the front page on April 1st. This means starting in on it fairly soon.

Proposals[edit]

Not sure how many people are watching this page still, but some discussion is already underway at Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests#Icelandic Phallological Museum on April Fools' Day? about the choice for 2013, since an article that had been nominated in the ordinary course of events (Icelandic Phallological Museum) was thought by Raul654 to be a potential April Fools TFA. All views on that, and other possibilities, welcome. Bencherlite ^Talk 20:27, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

For those who aren't following, Olivia Shakespear is no longer valid as it was on the main page last June. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 23:04, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

There was a discussion on Jimbo's user talk page on the problem of too many sex-related jokes on April Fools' Day. I agree. There is nothing wrong with them in principle, but not half of the main page every year. Hans Adler 23:14, 21 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I think if someone were prepared to make Walls of Benin a featured article (probably requires access to a good library), that would have potential as a pseudo-hoax. I guess most people still haven't heard of this "largest man-made structure in the world, larger than Sungbo's Eredo". It should not be hard to write a description that sounds eerily similar to a description of the Chinese Wall, while completely failing to mention it. Hans Adler 23:14, 21 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
- With only three months to go, I think we should focus on articles which are already featured. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 23:25, 21 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  - Flying Spaghetti Monster is a GA, and has serious potentialTazerdadog (talk) 17:14, 3 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Some suggestions[edit]

Selection made for 2013. Bencherlite ^Talk 10:04, 25 March 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Copied from WT:TFAR. Attribution there.

Toledo War[edit]

The Toledo War raged between Ohio and the Territory of Michigan, in the United States, beginning in 1835. The two began by tussling over a five-to-eight-mile-wide (8 to 13 km) strip because both sides misunderstood their local geography (contemporary map pictured). Thus, both governments thought the land was theirs. Ohio used the dispute to block Michigan's bid for recognition, and moved to use legislation to bring the other to its knees. When these failed, their militias taunted each other across the Maumee River. The only military confrontation saw Michigan militiamen shoot at the clouds and capture some surveyors. The war's only casualty was a man stabbed with a penknife. The American Congress proposed that Michigan could have a large unexplored forest in exchange for the strip. At the "Frost-bitten Convention" in December 1836, Michigan accepted the deal, but it took 137 years and a Supreme Court ruling to address their last remaining dispute. Today, the Toledo War continues to be fought, albeit on a contracted annual basis. (Full article...)

Copied from WT:TFAR

OK, so this would be the American civil war that nobody talks about, would it, because it sounds more like a French farce? What do we think of this as a TFA for 1st April? Bencherlite ^Talk 18:50, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

There's some potential in there, but methinks your tongue-in-cheek could be accessorized by someone on par with The Fat Man :) :) SandyGeorgia (Talk) 18:52, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I genuinely laughed at this blurb. Support for April 1st 2013 TFA.--WaltCip (talk) 19:33, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Support—if there's room, we probably could add something about the Michigan–Ohio State rivalry that's grown out of this; in effect the Toledo War is still refought every fall on the football field. The History Channel's special, How the States Got Their Shapes opened with the Michigan–Ohio State game as a backdrop to the first segment on how Michigan got its shape. Imzadi 1979 → 19:59, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
- If you can get something into the article about this, then it'd be great to have it in the blurb if it runs. Bencherlite^Talk 20:24, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  - Actually, some stuff about the rivalry was taken out in this edit last year, without explanation, which may give you a starting point. Bencherlite^Talk 20:42, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
    - Which I was able to restore, and expand upon with a citation to the episode of the TV show. Imzadi 1979 → 07:27, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
      - I added a bit about it. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 07:47, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Support - ahaha, people here still talk about this. Michigan won, because who wants Toledo today anyway? ;-) Also those commenting here might be interested in the BJAODN Upper Peninsula War. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 07:40, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose needs some remedial work before it's fit for main page, per its entry at User:Dweller/Featured Articles that haven't been on Main Page#2006. If improved, switch to weak support. I'd prefer something US-centric, to something penis-centric, but a more worldview-compliant joke would be better on a high profile date like this. --Dweller (talk) 11:48, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
- I'm pretty sure the last 2 or 3 were British. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 12:12, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  - 2007 George Washington (inventor); 2008 Ima Hogg; 2009 Museum of Bad Art; 2010 Wife selling; 2011 Cock Lane ghost; 2012 Pigeon photography. So 3 USA articles, a couple from England and one German invention. Bencherlite^Talk 12:20, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
    - Alright, thanks. Still neutral on this if that's the case... blurb could be made funnier / more exaggerated. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 12:26, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
      - I've fixed the only thing identified as wrong on Dweller's page. [1] Suggestions for making the blurb funnier would be appreciated. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 12:45, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The Toledo War raged between Ohio and the Territory of Michigan, in the United States, beginning in 1835. The two began by tussling over a five-to-eight-mile-wide (8 to 13 km) strip because both sides misunderstood their local geography (inaccurate 18th-century map pictured). Thus, both governments thought the land was theirs. Ohio used the dispute to block Michigan's bid for recognition, and moved to use legislation to bring the other to its knees. When these failed, their militias taunted each other across the Maumee River. The only military confrontation saw Michigan militiamen shoot at the clouds and capture some surveyors. The war's only casualty was a man stabbed with a penknife. The American Congress proposed that Michigan could have a large unexplored forest in exchange for the strip. At the "Frost-bitten Convention" in December 1836, Michigan accepted the deal, but it took 137 years and a Supreme Court ruling to address their last remaining dispute. Today, the Toledo War continues to be fought, albeit on a contracted annual basis. (Full article...)

Something like this? — Crisco 1492 (talk) 12:53, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

? (film)[edit]

?

Copied from Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests:

Possibly the most minimalist TFA ever... Prioryman (talk) 22:17, 22 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

LoL, except we did it at DYK last year. I don't mind running it. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 00:00, 23 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
You forgot the italics, because it's a film, and we link to the TFA in bold, so I've added 5 x ' each side to make this blurb more compliant with TFA standards... Bencherlite^Talk 00:04, 23 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
- For April Fools (at DYK at least) the standard formatting can be ignored if it will give away the joke — Crisco 1492 (talk) 00:10, 23 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Played with the formatting a bit. Getting rid of the TFAFULL template might be even more fun. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 05:44, 23 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I quite like this one. Let's face it, it's the only chance we'll ever get of running a TFA that consists of a single character. Prioryman (talk) 19:51, 23 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Strong Support LOL! Double sharp (talk) 14:56, 7 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Support: Ditto, I think this would be a fantastic April Fool's.--Chimino (talk) 00:42, 8 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Support. This might be my favorite April Fools' Day TFA idea ever. We can drop the "Full article..." link too. —David Levy 01:24, 8 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Glad people like this... but the discussion should be at Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/Featured Article (which is currently a little threadbare) — Crisco 1492 (talk) 05:08, 8 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Support - This is awesome! Just as awesome as the DYK for it! Zappa O Mati 19:47, 10 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

end copied discussion

I think this is quite clever. ceranthor 21:46, 11 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
! An optimist on the run! 09:25, 19 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Thats really good one. Zia Khan 17:44, 20 March 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Pixies[edit]

Pixies were first found in a garage in 1986, before they began making loud noises in bars in the Boston area of the US. Known to be "either sweaty or laid back and cool", Pixies did not exist after 1993 following arguments, although one Pixie did become a magician. Their death was officially recognised in 1997, but they managed to return to existence in 2004, first re-emerging in Brixton, London. Despite being from America, Pixies are much more popular in Europe, although they have struck gold in the USA. Their leader is called Black Francis and they like to sing about extraterrestrials, surrealism, incest, and biblical violence. Pixies are recognisable by their "hackle-raising caterwaul" and have influenced the smell of teen spirit. Bono described them as among the best of their kind. (Full article...)

I've written a starter for a suggested blurb for Pixies. I think it's a little short and could do with some more wikilinks. Suggestions? --Dweller (talk) 13:27, 6 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I've added two sentences. Article prose looks really rough. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 15:28, 6 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Other suggestions, no blurb yet[edit]

Another day or two of work should see more or less completion on Disco Demolition Night, which I am hoping to lay at PR this weekend and hopefully move towards FA right after that. Should the gods smile and it be successful, is that a possibility?--Wehwalt (talk) 02:34, 15 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I think it's possible, if the fates smile at ye. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 02:45, 15 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

If not, I will survive. But I've laid it at PR here.--Wehwalt (talk) 03:56, 16 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.