Help desk
< March 27	<< Feb \| March \| Apr >>	March 29 >

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.

March 28[edit]

Leo Rautins[edit]

Were his parents from Latvia? Biruta —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.242.90.106 (talk) 01:23, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You can use the Reference desk to find any references you need, as this is only for Wikipedia concerns/questions. Zoo Fari 02:54, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

We do have an article about Leo Rautins. While it looks as though it's not very far along, perhaps some of the external links and sources would provide an answer? — Ched ~ ^(yes?)/_© 08:10, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Finding an upcoming Movie[edit]

I'm a big fan of Beavis and Butthead. I see the tv show on MTV2 sometimes, but I can't seem to find the movie coming up at any time. Is there a website for me to search upcoming movies? I really want to know when Beavis and Butthead do America is going to be on TV, and I think there must be some site that can email me a few weeks before it is gonna come on.

Thanks! --Screwball23 talk 02:23, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The Wikipedia Help desk is for questions about Wikipedia only, but I guess I would google it and see if you can find any schedules. Zoo Fari 02:52, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Looking at our Beavis and Butt-head article, other than the 1995 flic, I noticed a reference to a future film in the films section. The reference pointed here. Hope that helps. — Ched ~ ^(yes?)/_© 08:07, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Trapped in 1995[edit]

I cannot get this fucking website to show up normally, have no clue how or why the fuck it's fucked, and nothing here is of any fucking use in that regard. I'd like to be able to fucking use wikipedia again, but there are no humans here and for some reason I'm stuck with 1995's answer to wikipedia. I have no account, have never had one, never had interest in having one or editing shit here.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.39.30.174 (talk)

Why don't you tell us what's wrong? Someguy1221 (talk) 03:55, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

This is totally awesome. Awesome Totally —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.54.192.144 (talk) 04:53, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Try using the google cache or a mirror site. Also, humans are overrated. RenegadeMonster (talk) 08:31, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia didn't exist in 1995, so without any details on what specifically is wrong, we can't help. If there is something wrong with the display of the site, you might have accidentally up- or downsized the size of the letters. Try using the view or display part of the menu to bring it back to its original size. Other than that, I can't think of anything that could be wrong. You are not blocked and you didn't trip any filter activity. - Mgm|^(talk) 10:20, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

How to edit an article[edit]

I added a few words to an article about a comment about a language saying the quoted commentator was a linguist. I was reverted by an editor who said the commentator is not a linguist. When I added sources to my comment the editor changed it back saying this time I can only reference what he says can be referenced. Since when. I tried discussing the issue on the talk page, posted on the editor's talk page, and he clearly disdains IP editors, and is unwilling to discuss any edits to the article.

This article is not owned.

[1]

What is it with the nastiness to IPs? 69.226.102.187 (talk) 05:28, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure I really see any incivility on his talk page. Taivo has been editing for over 4 years, and perhaps you took some of the shorthand that regular editors use to be dismissive in some way. I doubt that this was the intension though. Sometimes when editors have been around for a while, and have seen many of the same questions multiple times, they may tend to be a little more concise in their replies. I apologize if your feelings were hurt. I must say that editing at Wikipedia can be a rather daunting experience, and when you contribute, especially as a new editor, it's common to have your edits re-edited almost unmercifully. It's usually not any one editors intension to hurt another's feelings - but just the nature of encyclopedic, "open to all" type of experience. I hope you'll continue to contribute here, and perhaps if you look at Wikipedia:Your first article it will help you ease into it. Also, it's really easy and takes very little to sign up for your own account, you may want to see: WP:Signup. Best of luck, and I hope this helps in some small way. — Ched ~ ^(yes?)/_© 08:00, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I find this class of references (how, for example, to establish someone's occupation) very difficult. What do we do? Try and find their tax returns or their names on rosters of their respective employers, and then locate information on their job titles? It's often common sense knowledge what a person's occupation is; tracking down primary and secondary sources to verify that so and so is a linguist seems quite difficult. If the person in question is in dispute as a linguist (somewhere, someone has published that they are not) then, that's different. But if the person holds himself out as a linguist, has employment somewhere as a linguist, then he's a linguist and no further citation is needed, in my view. One does not need, for example, to cite a college catalogue to establish this fact - that would be silly.Levalley (talk) 20:19, 28 March 2009 (UTC)--LeValley[reply]

Article reference question[edit]

how do i make a accurate reference for an article —Preceding unsigned comment added by Da Hot Spot 000 (talk • contribs) 17:39, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I added a header to differentiate your question from the one above. If, as I think, you're asking how to add references to an article here, then you will find Wikipedia:Citing sources to be a good starting point. There are various templates you can use to help create your references, and these are located at Wikipedia:Citation templates. Remember that if you're creating inline citations, you will need to create a references section header using the syntax ==References==, and place {{reflist}} directly under it, which will create and organise your reference list for you as you add your citations to the text. Don't hesitate to ask for further help if you need it. Ka renjc 20:23, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Redirect or AfD?[edit]

Someone created Forrest-Marbury House last July, but didn't realize Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, D.C. (created in July 2005) is the same building. This is probably a dumb question, but can a redirect fix the situation or does it need to visit AfD? I'm thinking the latter, once the info from Forrest-Marbury House is integrated into the embassy article. APK thinks he's ready for his closeup 07:38, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Not being familiar with the subject matter, I can only offer an "outside" opinion. If the term "Forrest-Marbury House" was at any time the common name for the building - then I would do a redirect. I'd only do the AfD if it was an obscure term that was unlikely to be searched for. — Ched ~ ^(yes?)/_© 07:45, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It seems the articles are about the same subject but don't share all the information in them. The Forrest-Marbury House article has sources, the other hasn't and discusses only one use of the building. I'd recommend merging the material of the embassy into the article about the house and redirect, especially since the first has a lot easier name spelling-wise. - Mgm|^(talk) 10:07, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, gracias. This was the first time I've come across two articles covering the same topic. Thanks for responding Ched & Mgm. APK thinks he's ready for his closeup 13:34, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

How do I put a video in an article?[edit]

I'd like to put this online video into this article section but I don't know how. Could someone please help me? Jprulestheworld01 (talk) 08:56, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The video is protected by copyright and can't be put into the article without the express permission of Mr. Condell (which would mean he had to allow people to restribute and rework the video for any purpose (including commercial purposes)). Putting his YouTube channel into the external links section would be better. - Mgm|^(talk) 10:03, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Uploading PDF files[edit]

The instructions say that art and videos can be uploaded. Does that include PDF files, which will serve as source documents? Graffiti Task Force (talk) 12:55, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Usually, for citing information that is on a PDF file, we simply link them as an external link in the "references" section instead of uploading them, as far as I know. ♪Tempo di Valse ♪ 16:07, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I want to post and reference internal PDF files that are not posted elsewhere. Graffiti Task Force (talk) 16:11, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

If they're not posted elsewhere, then how can we confirm they're truthful? - Mgm|^(talk) 17:12, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Correspondence between a lawyer and the City Attorney is required by the rules of the Supreme Court to be truthful.Graffiti Task Force (talk) 18:46, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think they qualify as reliable sources as that term is used on Wikipedia. You could upload them to Wikisource maybe. – ukexpat (talk) 19:27, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Turns out, Wikisource accepts only text. I was hoping to post the document within conext. The alternative is OK - post it elswehere, link to it, then add context here. That will satisfy all concerns.

I understand the rules and have no problem with them. Thanx for the help.

PDF files are not one of the file types supported for upload. You can link to PDFs published elsewhere, but if they are not a reliable third-party source - for example, if they're hosted on an individual's personal webpage that was set up for that purpose only - then they are unlikely to be regarded as credible references, because we would only have the page owner's unsupported word that they are what they purport to be and have not been digitally created or altered. If content cannot be corroborated by material that has already been published in reliable and independent third-party sources, then it probably counts as original research, which is not appropriate for Wikipedia. Ka renjc 20:10, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

They fit the inclusion policy of Wikisource → Works created after 1922/Documentary sources/characterized by one of two criteria: They are official documents of the body producing them, or They are evidentiary in nature, and created in the course of events [both]. These documents may range from ... personal correspondence ...

Problem is, on the Wikisource Main_Page, I can find no link to the upload page. What to do? Graffiti Task Force (talk) 20:32, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I think Wikisource might be more appropriate for you, but you might want to ask about this at their help page before uploading anything, I am not familiar with their local policy. The upload page at Wikisource should be at s:Special:Upload. ♪Tempo di Valse ♪ 20:44, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Info about submitting new texts to the English language Wikisource is at s:Help:Adding texts Ka renjc 20:51, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Identifying Articles without Images[edit]

Is it possible to have a database query or a bot identify articles that lack images? For instance, I'd like to know which articles in Category:Invasive plant species need images, but there are nearly 400 articles so it would take ages to go through them manually. Is there a way to get this info? Thanks, SheepNotGoats (Talk) 15:57, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think so, but am not sure. Maybe you should ask over at the technical Village pump, the folks over there might be able to answer. Sorry I can't help. ♪Tempo di Valse ♪ 16:10, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Some WikiProjects maintain these lists, which maybe they generate manually. Search Wikipedia with Google for: "articles lacking images" to see some examples. (This type of information might be floating around under synonyms, so that search is probably not comprehensive.) You could check on Wikipedia:WikiProject Plants or ask on their talk page if they don't already have something like this. Sometimes suitable images already exist on Commons but nobody put them in the appropriate articles here yet. That can happen for example if users from other language Wikipedia uploaded images to Commons. We also have Category:Wikipedia requested images and Category:Articles needing images; maybe if the articles that need images have the right message template on them, you can find the articles you want via a category intesection using CatScan. See WP:EIW#Cat for more fun with categories. You might also find a bot that can scan the articles, find the ones with no images, and put the appropriate image request template on them. --Teratornis (talk) 04:18, 29 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'll check these different options out, thanks for your help! SheepNotGoats (Talk) 12:27, 29 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

hello[edit]

Resolved

– ukexpat (talk) 22:22, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm having trouble editing when I saw my edit gone after I fixing it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Man of I-Mages (talk • contribs) 21:11, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Could you be a little more specific? What article did you edit? ♪Tempo di Valse ♪ 21:15, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Disney XD —Preceding unsigned comment added by Man of I-Mages (talk • contribs) 21:16, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, you mean this edit? Looks like it was removed by another editor. ♪Tempo di Valse ♪ 21:20, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, I see. But Vandalism? I did not think my edit was "vandalism".

No, it wasn't. I think the editor made a mistake when reverting. You might want to contact him to see why he reverted it as vandalism. ♪Tempo di Valse ♪

What is vandalism on wikipedia anyway? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Man of I-Mages (talk • contribs) 21:41, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

See Wikipedia:Vandalism. ♪Tempo di Valse ♪ 21:46, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you very much. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Man of I-Mages (talk • contribs) 21:51, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Article help[edit]

Hi everyone, This is kind of a restatement of an earlier question that was partially answered. I am working on a article here, and was hoping for someone to take a look at it, and give me some ideas about what to do next. I know it needs to be expanded. ZachInOhio (talk) 23:03, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You may just post the question to let others edit it using New pages patrol. There is no problem in posting it even though you are not sure it is in good shape :) Happy editing, Zoo Fari 23:37, 28 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Ok I moved the article to Stimulus (economic). Thanks for the advice! ZachInOhio (talk) 02:15, 29 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

mcafee[edit]

can mcafee anti virus software be used with mozilla firefox?23:41, 28 March 2009 (UTC)69.88.34.214 (talk)

Anti-virus software installs and functions independently of any browser (though there may be anti-phishing and download scanning), so the answer is yes. Xenon54 (talk) 01:51, 29 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]