Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2016 January 28

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January 28

Referencing errors on List of tallest buildings in Miami

Reference help requested. I received this error message from ReferenceBot. I recently updated sources on this list using the template-cite web, on the edit page. I've checked and all the links work. I've read through Category:Pages with URL errors, not sure what the problem is. 1305cj (talk) 00:36, 28 January 2016 (UTC) Thanks, 1305cj (talk) 00:36, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

I've fixed two slightly malformed urls. Otherwise, everything looks fine. Clarityfiend (talk) 00:59, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Thanks. Malformed urls? Can you tell me specifically what was wrong? This is still a learning experience for me, want to make sure I don't make that error again. Thanks. 1305cj (talk) 01:11, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Ah, got it. Checked the prev history, missing two http's. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 1305cj (talk • contribs) 01:29, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

bill cosby's Wikipedia page

Hi, I read the first sentence here Bill Cosby and, as an attorney and an American, i know that Wikipedia may want to amend/edit/remove the last three words that have been added by ?? (see copy below)

William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. (born July 12, 1937) is an American Actor, comedian, author, activist, tv show maker, singer, ... (removed) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Targetsmove (talk • contribs) 02:20, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

 Done: Language was removed, user who added it was warned. GAB^Hello! 02:23, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Question about quality of image in article

Hi there,

I come with a question about the article Zinc cadmium sulfide - specifically the one seemingly odd, low quality image in it.

First of all, from the perspective of someone who knows little about fluorescence and nothing about whatever "thermography" is, the image labeled "Bottle of Thermographic Phosphor" makes no sense, is not explained at all either in article or the image's description, and the image is of such (apparently) poor quality, it is virtually impossible to distinguish what it is trying to demonstrate or its worth - I wouldn't have known it was a "bottle" of anything at all if not for the caption. What is the protocol for nominating this for deletion, if there is one at all? It doesn't seem to explain anything worthwhile or contribute anything to the content of the article, and as far as I'm concerned, is more confusing than anything. Thanks! Illini407 ^talk 02:32, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

I'm inclined to agree. There's no other use of "thermographic" or "phosphor" in the article. Putting on a "I know nothing of science" hat, that image appears to be a random UFO sighting which has an unrelated caption, and neither picture nor caption appear to relate to the article. Anyone can edit the article to improve it, either by adding the text to explain the relevance, or removing the thing which does not add any value to the article. Just leave a suitably descriptive edit summary and don't get into an edit war if someone reverts the change. Optionally, explain motivations for an edit on the article's talk page, if the edit summary does not provide adequate scope for explanation. If someone disputes the change, use the article's talk page to hopefully arrive at some form of agreement. You may also wish to browse back through the article's revision history, as it could be that there was previously some text which did connect the image to the article. Murph9000 (talk) 02:43, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Taking a quick look back through history, it was added on 14 October 2011‎ by Saudade7 (talk · contribs). No edit summary to explain the change, and the same issues seem to be present in that revision, in terms of properly connecting the image and text. Murph9000 (talk) 02:49, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

I just went ahead and BOLDLY removed the image. Further research of the topic, review of article history, and the use of that image on other wiki sites does not support its use on this page. Tiggerjay (talk) 03:05, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Illini407, Murph9000, Tiggerjay That's totally bizarre !! It doesn't look like anything I would have ever done or added !! I've never seen that picture at all !! I don't have it anywhere on my computer !! Saudade7 10:36, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

@Saudade7: looks like to took an image that someone else added and fixed where it was. You made two edits.Naraht (talk) 18:39, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

@Saudade7: Ahhh, right, my mistake, apologies for incorrectly pinning it on you. On 21 May 2011,‎ Paranormal69 (talk · contribs) added the raw URL for it (with a couple of failed attempts to get it to display), and you just converted the raw URL into a working image. Murph9000 (talk) 22:42, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Does Wikipedia have any category for "age-related lists"?

Does Wikipedia have any category entitled "age-related lists" or some such? I see a "list of youngest people" category and a "list of oldest people" category. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 03:10, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

This page is for questions about using Wikipedia. Please consider asking this question at the Reference desk. They specialize in knowledge questions and will try to answer any question in the universe (except how to use Wikipedia, since that is what this Help Desk is for). Just follow the link, select the relevant section, and ask away. You could always try searching Wikipedia for an article related to the topic you want to know more about. I hope this helps.

I've dropped that standard response here, as I'm not entirely clear if your question is editorial in nature, or more a general knowledge type thing. The RD is the better place for the latter type of question. I don't personally know the immediate answer to your question, so just trying to help make sure you are in the right place. Someone watching here may well know the answer. Murph9000 (talk) 03:16, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

The reference desk is for questions that have nothing to do with Wikipedia. Joseph A. Spadaro's question is more suited for here. Are you perhaps looking for Category:Lists of people by age? --Majora (talk) 03:17, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

You could search through Category:Ageing, but I've not seen anything when doing that myself. Nyttend (talk) 04:16, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Thanks, all. I am surprised to see that we don't have a category entitled "age-related lists". I guess the closest thing is the Category:Lists of people by age one, mentioned above. Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 04:25, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Statistics of hits

This page [1] on statistcs is not functioning since the last few days. Can you rectify the problem, please?Nvvchar. 04:39, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

@Nvvchar: This has been an on-again, off-again problem for months. There is nothing anyone here can do as the page view site is external and is maintained by another editor. Luckily, one of the winners in this year's community wishlist is a page view site run and maintained by the WMF. That is in the works. In the meantime, we have to be patient. --Majora (talk) 04:53, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Just registered an account after being a long time reader

Hi there. I've just registered an account here after being a long time reader of articles on Wikipedia. I am looking to make constructive edits, obviously using sources to back them up, to the article about Cliff Richard. There is a lot of elitism going on with this article, notably by one user in particular. Does anyone know how long it will be before I have privileges to make these edits? Many thanks! CliffordJones (talk) 07:50, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Hi CliffordJones, welcome to Wikipedia. The Cliff Richard article is currently under pending changes protection, which means that anyone can edit the article but each change must be accepted by another editor before it is applied to the "live" article. I short, another editor has to agree with your edit and accept it. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 08:11, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Thanks Roger, how do I submit my suggestion for edit? I see now area where I click to do this. CliffordJones (talk) 08:16, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

See also, WP:AUTOCONFIRM. Eagleash (talk) 08:19, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Jack Nusan Porter subcategory amendment and additions edit request

Dear Wikipedia Editorial Help Desk,

As the assistant to Dr. Jack Nusan Porter, entry: Jack Nusan Porter, we would like to request that his name and entry be removed from the notable alumni entry for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and instead be cross referenced at the bottom of the page with Dr. Porter being a notable alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as this is where he attended. Additionally it is requested that Dr. Porter's entry be additionally cross referenced with the following entries:

Human Rights activists

Jewish human rights activists

Jewish activists

American radicals

Jewish radicals

Children of (Holocaust) Survivors

American anti-Vietnam Activists

American sociologists

Genocide scholars

Milwaukee notables (sociologist, writer, political activist)

Wisconsin notables

Massachusetts notables

Newton, Mass. notables

Regrettably I was only able to edit and annotate Dr. Porter's entry itself and not these cross reference sub categories. Thank you very much for your help. If any additional follow up is needed please forward your response to : jack.porter1@verizon.net

Many Kind Regards,

The Office of Dr. Jack Nusan Porter, Newton, Mass. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:180:C000:3BC9:55BB:CD4E:DE60:E0CD (talk) 19:24, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

I have removed him from Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni, as we have no evidence that he was an alumnus there, and he is not listed at List of University of Wisconsin–Madison people. You are in effect requesting that he be added to various of the "categories" that Wikipedia maintains; but some those you list do not exist. I will copy the list of requests to the Talk:Jack Nusan Porter. Maproom (talk) 19:46, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

I've added the Category:University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni because he was already listed at List of University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee people. Dbfirs 20:54, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

PLEASE READ! Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, January 28, 1986 Thirty Year Anniversary

Dear Wikipedia-

How did your January 28, 2016 start page (today) possibly omit this major tragic event--the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, January 28, 1986 THIRTY YEAR Anniversary-- in the "On This Day" section?????? Are Lego toys and a 1984 storm in Mozambique REALLY MORE IMPORTANT?!?!?!? I really don't think so, and I am deeply offended by this intentional editorial omission. I know this is not the right place for this comment, but I could find no other place on your non-user friendly 'contact us' section. I know you are probably an intern (keep up the good work) but PLEASE pass this message along to whomsoever should be the proper recipient of this complaint. I'm sure I speak for many others as well. I donate regularly to Wikipedia, and would appreciate seeing an APOLOGY for this disrespectful editorial choice tomorrow, or very soon, in the "On This Day..." section. Thank you!2601:643:C000:FB22:715F:EBE7:14B1:D981 (talk) 20:17, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

You can see your event listed at January 28. The editorial choice here is entirely by volunteers (no interns), and there is no supervisory editor, so there is no-one to apologise. You could have made your contribution at Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries where you will see an explanation of why your preference was missed. Two people have made the same criticism in past years (see Wikipedia_talk:Selected_anniversaries/January_28#Challenger). Sorry to disappoint you this year, but in ten years' time, for the 40th anniversary, you can make your recommendation. Dbfirs 20:26, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Also, please don't WP:SHOUT in your messages. People will be a lot more likely to think about your arguments in a calm post. GermanJoe (talk) 20:38, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

By the way, that 1984 storm in Mozambique killed 242 people, the Challenger accident killed only seven, so yes IMHO the storm is more significant. Please try to remember that this website is not the Yankopedia. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 21:08, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

There are quality requirements to be on the main page. One of them is no tags to indicate certain problems. Click the "[show]" link on the blue "Staging area" line at Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/January 28 to see this:

• 1986 – The NASA Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds into its tenth mission, killing all seven crew members.

But the article is listed as ineligible with reason "refimprove section". This refers to {{refimprove section}} at Space Shuttle Challenger disaster#Liftoff and initial ascent. It was in "On This Day" in 2010 and 2011 before the tag was added, and will probably get there again some years when somebody improves the article. We are all volunteers and can choose which of the five million articles to work on. It's too late for 2016 but if you learn to edit and click the link in "Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources" then you could help get it ready for next year. Anyone can edit the article. The "On This Day" entries often vary between years so no matter the article quality, it probably wouldn't be featured every year. Also note we are an international encyclopedia and the Challenger disaster may mean less to non-Americans. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:58, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Australian Sidecar Speedway Championship

The placings for the 2014 Championship are incorrect. 1st Darrin Treloar not Grant Bond

1st Treloar 2nd Bottrell (this is correct) 3rd Bond

Cheers Dave Parker Speedway Manager Gillman Speedway — Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.253.57.60 (talk) 22:07, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Done - thanks for pointing this out. If possible, please provide a reliable source for such information (but I found it, no problem). Of course you can also fix such errors yourself, if you like. GermanJoe (talk) 03:07, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

If a page is simply a redirect page to another page, can you place that page in a Wikipedia category?

If a page is simply a redirect page to another page, can you place that page in a Wikipedia category? For example, there is an article entitled Barack Obama. And that article is included under the category called "Living people". There is another article (which is simply a redirect) entitled Barack. That article (Barack) is simply a redirect to the "real" article (Barack Obama). Can the redirected article (Barack) have the category "Living people" added to its page? Or no? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 22:41, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Category:Living people is only for articles. Redirects are not articles and there is no reason to add the redirect Barack to the category. However, it is possible to add categories to redirects. The redirect will be displayed in italics in the category. Just add the category to the redirect page in the same was as to articles. See Wikipedia:Redirect#How to edit a redirect or convert it into an article. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:26, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Occasionally it's appropriate to add a redirect page to a category. See Wikipedia:Categorizing redirects. I'm going to partially disagree with PrimeHunter (talk · contribs), while Barack seems inappropriate for such a thing, I can imagine someone commonly known by two different names could get such treatment, consider something like the 24 Heures / 24 Hours example from the link. Eminem and Slim Shady are a (near) example of such. Rwessel (talk) 23:35, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

My Barack Obama and Barack pages were just illustrative examples. So how does one know whether a specific redirect article should or should not have a category added? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 01:49, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

Again, the guideline WP:CAT-R has a discussion and a number of examples. Rwessel (talk) 05:44, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

How to locate a saved draft?

How do I locate a saved draft article? I uploaded an article as a draft then hit the save button. I then next created my account username and password. Now in trying to locate the draft it says there is no saved draft with my title. How do I locate my first saved draft, if it is still there?

Thank you. (Decoyworks5 (talk) 22:41, 28 January 2016 (UTC))

Your only contribution to Wikipedia under your current user name is this question. Were you logged in when you saved your draft? Did you save it in draft space or as an article? If you can tell us the name of the article, then perhaps we can find it. Dbfirs 22:46, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Also, did you save it when you were not logged in under your account name of "Decoyworks5"? Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 22:49, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Hey Decoyworks5. It is or was probably named Draft:Name you chose (I include "was" because it's always possible it was deleted). See if typing that into the search field finds it. Remember that capitalization counts. If you can't remember the exact name, do you remember what it started with? Administrators can search for the names of deleted titles, regardless of capitalization, through Special:Undelete, so if you provide, say, the first word, I could search Draft:Word or draft:first few letters and find it if it was deleted. Best regards--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 23:23, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

@Decoyworks5: If you were not logged in when you saved it then there are three options. 1) Tell us what if was about so we can look for it among our 38 million pages. 2) Use the search box and and click "Everything" on the results page. 3) Log out and click Special:MyContributions in case you still have the same IP address. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:18, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Cast lists

Resolved

 – The Raincloud Kid (talk) 23:04, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

Hi,

When you're writing an article about a Television programme and are typing up the cast list and their roles, what order should the actors/parts be listed in? I assume they should be ordered by appearances in, and importance within, the show?

Thanks, TRC 28/01/2016 — Preceding unsigned comment added by The Raincloud Kid (talk • contribs) 22:45, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Generally speaking, yes. You are correct. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 22:54, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

The relevant policy is here MOS:TVCAST. MarnetteD|Talk 22:57, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Pages with no archive

I've noticed there are several pages where talk has been archived, but no archive/history options are displayed. How can this be fixed? Thanks. prokaryotes (talk) 23:03, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Hey prokaryotes. You might add to the talk page the template: {{Talk header}}, which automatically should detect archives and display them. Or you could add the stand-alone template {{archives}}. For more, see Help:Archiving a talk page. Best regards--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 23:14, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Ok, well these taggs are added here Talk:Beta-Carotene , but it doesn't show the archives, still. (The talk history shows archives were created). prokaryotes (talk) 23:21, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

@Prokaryotes: What happened here was that the code for the archive bot had an 11 instead of a 1, so it created the archive at the name of an eleventh archive rather than a first. {{Archive}} was trying to link to a first archive, at a proper first archive name which did not exist. Best regards--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 23:38, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

P.S. in my experience, it's almost always better for everyone if you specify the page a question is about, as you can see from this thread. P.P.S. you can makes links to internal pages by just enclosing the name in doubled brackets rather than providing a URL, i.e., [[Talk:Beta-Carotene]].--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 23:38, 28 January 2016 (UTC)