Talk:Main Page

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In the news

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China proper (Qingzang railway item in ITN)

The article China proper says that this term is controversial or even offensive to many Chinese. I suggest that the wording in ITN be changed to "eastern China" or something like that. --Cam 01:38, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

Try Wikipedia:Main Page/Errors. --64.229.222.204 10:44, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

How about changing the "Israel-Lebanon"...

to something of the "Hezbollah attacks Israel, Israel strikes back" sort??? This seems to be more accurate - the current writing seems to indicate that Israel is the propogator of the attacks....

• It is HEzbollah. Reuters is making a mistake[1]. The second letter is e. You can ask any Arabic speaker.--Patchouli 08:19, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

  Is any Arabic speaker an expert in the romanization of Template:Lan? There is nothing wrong with the transliteration "Hizbullah". Our article Hezbollah gives more information; see in particular Note 1. --Lambiam^Talk 12:31, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Getting to the subject, Israeli officials say that the Lebanese government is responsible. Hezbollah is a legal "party of God" in Lebanon. It is as ethical as the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda except that it murders in lieu of rape.

I say, "Why hasn't the Lebanese government seized Hasan Nasrallah's bank account. If Nasrallah was so loaded those youths wouldn't have money to march back and forth with ammunition attached to their chests and arms. They on Nasrallah's payroll."--Patchouli 08:19, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Okay people, let's stop right there. Wikipedia isn't the forum for discussing who's to blame in this very messy and prolonged "trouble" (to borrow from the N.Ireland vernacular). The current entry says "Israeli troops launch a military offensive into Lebanon (pictured) in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah." which is the current state of affairs. --Monotonehell 09:35, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

The current version disregards the firing of hundreds of rockets by Hezbollah towards northern Israel. These rockets have already caused the death of over 10 people, and I think that not mentioning them makes it look like Israel is reacting only to the "minor" incident of kidnapping two soldiers. --80.230.85.180 12:48, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

It's a headline and as such can't include everything - that's what the article is for. BTW, it would look strange if it said that Israel entered Lebanon for something because of something that happened 4 or 5 days later. Zocky | picture popups 13:12, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

The Main Page still reflects only what happened 4 or 5 days ago, in a way that suggests this is a one-sided assault. That's not making it short, that's making it factually inaccurate. I suggest something like "The Israeli army continues its offensive in Lebanon, while Hezbollah fires katyusha rockets against northern Israeli cities." --80.230.85.180 15:17, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

We can't update it every five minutes. This is, again, a misunderstanding of what the In the news section is for. Please try to confine your passions to editing the article so that it includes as much encyclopedic information as possible. --Dhartung | Talk 19:38, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

G8 summit

It's kinda strange that G8 summit is not listed in the current events and is not mentioned on the main page, and 32nd G8 summit page still has "Future events" template on top of it.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 213.197.129.54 (talk • contribs) 10:36, July 16, 2006 (UTC).

So fix it. :) Welcome - Wikipedia is an encyclopedia that anyone can edit. There's no one person responsible for general content. So if the editors who originted that article lost interest or are busy then it gets left to someone else to take it up and suggest things for the Current events. --Monotonehell 12:34, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

• Only Administrators can fix that. FellowWikipedian 16:49, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
  • But 32nd G8 summit is open to editing, which was his point. —Cuiviénen 18:50, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Disturbing image on main page

Is it really necessary to inflict that horrible smug grin on us? How about replacing the latest Prime Minister with the first Prime Minister, ie Robert Walpole. Walpole is no longer controversial and in the picture in his article he looks statesmanlike. Olborne 18:59, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

It's not the best picture, and the article is (as I pointed out in Talk) too focused on history, but I think Blair is the right person to use. --Dhartung | Talk 19:35, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Image:BlairL.jpg might make a better picture. --Descendall 21:52, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

{{CrownCopyright}} has recently been changed to a non-free license due to its prohibition on derivative images. See Template talk:CrownCopyright. All images tagged with the license (including Image:BlairL.jpg) are in the process of getting fair use rationales. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 22:24, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

G8 issues

It says here that the two main G8 issues are "energy security" and education... should it be energy, security, and education, as in the summit's article? Or should the other be changed? ROY YOЯ 19:25, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

It most definately should be changed to reflect the wording of the original article. As I would think global security would be the number one issue given current events. But perhaps the only mistake is lack of punctuation, particularly commas, rather than "energy security" and education. Njjones 19:45, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

It's time...

Is there a Latin-language wikipedia? and if not, why hasn't it been created? wasn't the first encyclopedia written in latin? isn't this an insult to history? I would create it myself, but I can't because the only latin word I know is "vagina" (and I know it well....)Antimatter 22:03, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

But can you decline it?-gadfium 06:10, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

I think you'll find that very few men can decline vagina. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 15:17, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

And those men are almost all priests.That is, those who can use both senses of decline-gadfium 23:36, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

http://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagina_prima Raul654 22:08, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Well, Latin is the mother language of most of Western Civilization. A Wiki that could translate legal phrases, common medical terms, inscriptions off famous statues and buildings, as well as just infamous sayings might be popular enough. As for the idiot who started this thread; "Illegitame non carbarundum - Julius Ceasar { Don't let the bastards grind you down } " Bptdude 06:34, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Of course Wikipedia has an article on that (fake) Latin phrase as well...see Illegitimi non carborundum. :o) EWS23 (Leave me a message!) 07:21, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

very good.. and here is a nice wiki link that does exist about latin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_phrases Bptdude 09:27, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Wow....I probably should have checked before I asked about that....One good thing about wikipedia is that if you make a mistake or say something stupid, someone (or some people) are likely to point out your mistake before you realize it yourself...I don't know any latin, but perhaps I can redeem myself by writing the latin wikipedia article on the vagina...I'll see what I can do... :) Antimatter 21:46, 17 July 2006 (UTC) Italic text yiuhkjhklh

Fact checking for featured articles

Have a look at this edit. A basic and easily checkable fact in the Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom article (the salary) was not updated. This is the sort of thing that justifiably gives Wikipedia a bad reputation. What is the point of saying that our articles can be more up-to-date than others, when no-one checks to see if they are up-to-date? Can processes be put in place to stop this happening again? Carcharoth 23:29, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:WikiProject Fact and Reference Check. --Dhartung | Talk 00:09, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. Carcharoth 00:28, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Hmm. The above WikiProject doesn't seem very active. Only four other posts on the talk page since the end of April. Though the guideline page is a bit more active. Carcharoth 09:35, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

On this day

I've written a stub on Constitution Day in South Korea as I noticed that the link as it stands just goes to a general page on Constitution Days around the world. Mithridates 01:17, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

---

Poor Anastasia Romanov.

F-35 Lightning

Using the terminology of "forward hemisphere" and "rear hemisphere" without any further explanation or links seems problematic to me. Unfortunately, I don't have any quick fixes to offer as WP doesn't have a "hemisphere" article and the F-35 page itself doesn't even mention the hemisphere jargon.Figma 01:51, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

"...in that it will reduce X-band radar signals (from tracking radars, often short range) striking the front half of the aircraft, making it almost undetectable (stealthy) to such devices from this direction but not particularly stealthy from the rear and not stealthy to L band (search radars, often long range) from any direction.", perhaps? Though to be honest, hemisphere (which we do have an article on) works perfectly well in my opinion. GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 02:06, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

>The F-35 Lightning II, called in development the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is a military fighter aircraft designed by the United States and the United Kingdom.

Except that it was designed in the USSR. The JSF is the same airframe as the Yak-141 and the twist-pipe jet engine is also based on soviet technology. America paid 300 million USD to Russia soon after end of USSR to gain this technology. 195.70.32.136 06:50, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Discussion at Talk:F-35 Lightning II. Lockheed did license technology but the extent is not easily evident on the public web. --Dhartung | Talk 17:40, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

In the news ordering issue

Should the relegation of Italian soccer teams really be listed above the Israel-Lebanon conflict? 206.223.242.88 03:52, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

• In most cases, all of the items listed on In the news is sorted by most recently added to the page first, not really what recently occurred in the real world first. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 03:57, 17 July 2006 (UTC)
  • The image is a different story, however; it only changes when and if someone gets around to changing it. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 03:59, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Any admins out there?

Please change the Constitution Day link on the front to Constitution Day (South Korea). Thanks. Mithridates 07:08, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Done. Thank you. EWS23 (Leave me a message!) 07:17, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

On a somewhat related note, why is 2006 is parenthesis after Marine Day? Its article said it was first celebrated in 1996, so shouldn't that be the year listed, or am I misunderstanding what the year in parenthesis indicates? -Elmer Clark 08:55, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

As Marine day is not on a fixed date. The "2006" refers to it falling on the 17th in 2006. In other years the date will be different. Jmount 09:34, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

CNN: 7.2 Earthquake has triggered Tsunami

CNN is reporting @ ~ 6:37am(GMT -4) that a earthquake spawned Tsunami has hit the Western Shore of the Asian island of Java, in Indonesia. According to that country's President (as quoted by Rueters and AP wires at this point.) At 6:37am they're reporting 6.8 under sea, meanwhile at 6:54 their "eyewitness" Kathy Quiano: is reporting a "7.2 magnatude quake which read 7.1" on the richter scale.

Related Tsunami news: --The North American Tsunami warning system on Tuesday moved a step forward with an agreement signed to place a Tsunami warning systems in parts of the Caribbean region. Seismic warning station for Barbados CaribDigita 11:08, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

That's grand, but there're two problems. First, you haven't given an updated article. Second, suggestions for the ITN section are made over on Wikipedia:In the news section on the Main Page/Candidates, not here. Feel free to update that section once a new or updated article has been found :) GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 12:56, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

earthquake/tsunami

This is LARGELY more important than the Space Shuttle and deserves first mention on the news section. --Revolución hablar ver 04:20, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

• The news section is ordered chronologically (which is objective), not by importance (which is subjective). That said, the shuttle landing did occur before the tsunami, so it should go 2nd. — BRIAN0918 • 2006-07-18 05:27
  • wouldn't it be ordered by what becomes candidate first? --210.86.70.193 09:04, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Please add this map to it. It highlights Java. --Revolución hablar ver 07:22, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

• • no, don't be silly, it would be too small as a thumb to be of use --210.86.70.193 09:04, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

• • • Although the inset box on its own looks ideal for giving a sense of global location. --Bazza 13:05, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

The link for "magnitude 7.7 earthquake" leads to the "Penis" article. Might want to change that.

That was fixed the very next minute. Thanks, though! --Dhartung | Talk 19:53, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

the pass away of Danny Cedrone...

More than 30 years ago I got this info : Danny Cedrone passed away on July 17, 1954 What do you think of it? Stephan KŒNIG 10:51, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

If the date can be confirmed (please add references to Danny Cedrone's page), his death can be listed on July 17#Deaths. But, what does this have to do with MainPage ? -- PFHLai 13:47, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Pokemon

"that Pachirisu is a fictitious Electric Squirrel Pokémon that can shock opponents?"

...as opposed to a *real* electric squirrel pokemon? Or what? I think "fictitious" is understood here. 207.59.86.5 14:40, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

It's not fair to assume that everyone reading the encyclopedia knows what a Pokémon is. Dark Shikari 15:10, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

I agrees with darth shikari, most people know what a pokemon is however there are a few who don't--Alec trevalyn 16:04, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Indeed. It is a near-policy convention to always indicate that something is fictitious in order to prevent confusion that people unfamiliar with the subject may otherwise have. (For example, Star Wars-related articles often start with "In the fictional Star Wars Universe" even though there is no such thing as a real Star Wars Universe.) —Cuiviénen 02:27, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Space Shuttle and Israel/Lebanon

I love how the imagery in the front page, as of this edit, shows the space shuttle right next to a note about an escalating Israeli/Lebanese conflict. Let's all escape! MrZaius^talk 21:01, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

hahaha. Someone should probably change that. dposse 23:48, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Front page images need to be free, so our only option would probably be something like the Lebanese flag or a free map. --Dhartung | Talk 06:28, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Yeah i always notice images beside the top story that look out of position, but this one actully looks right in the proper position. lets evacuate Earth before World War 3 11:07, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

The only ones calling it WWIII is the people at Fox News. dposse 16:45, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

David Barkley

Can we please get that image removed? It looks horrible. See Image talk:David Barkley.jpg for details. --Liface 02:45, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

I've replaced the image in question with the better version cited on that page. —David Levy 03:23, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Links

Why are links underlined (as of today?) in the English version of Wikipedia? Camptown 11:28, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

thats your internet browser, if you are using firefox just refresh your page, thats what i do Childzy ^{(Talk|Contribs)} 11:35, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Another topic on Main Page Bias

After spending a little over a year here in Wikipedia, I am willing to make the call: there is a bias, but towards nerds (of which I am a mere Class 2 Nerd). From Final Fantasy X to Starcraft to Perfect Dark to Red vs Blue, Wikipedia has become a veritable nerdgasm to nerdologists and connoisseurs of general nerdology worldwide. Huzzah! (or should I say "Ni"?) --Bobak 14:36, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Articles that make the main page do so because they're well-writted, well-sourced, and have good information. Since a preponderance of so-called "nerds" edit Wikipedia, more "nerd-related" articles are likely to be well-written, well-sourced, and have good information. Thus, more "nerd-related" articles will be featured. It has nothing to do with a bias in terms of which topics are picked for the main page: its a bias of what topics are covered well enough in Wikipedia to be picked for the main page. Dark Shikari 15:22, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Uhh...Duh. ;-) --Bobak 16:37, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

ZOMG ENCELADUS! MORE PLANETCRUFT! Delete NN Raul654 01:00, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

• This is clearly another case of Wikipedia's blatant Saturnian bias. There's a whole universe out there, people!!! — BRIAN0918 • 2006-07-20 05:20

I think it is sad that we are so provincial that we can't even look for an article out of our solar system. I hereby declare a CRUSADE against SYSTEMIC SOLAR SYSTEM STIGMATISM/BIAS on Wikipedia! Forward the Great Attractor and Great Wall! --maru (talk) contribs 05:27, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

George Bush's first veto

Today, George W. Bush made his first veto against a stem cell research bill. This is his first veto in his 6 years of being President. Is this Main Page worthy?--Chili14 18:20, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Is there an updated article? GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 18:46, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

What do you mean? On Wikipedia, or from an external news service, like CNN?--Chili14 20:34, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Stories that feature "in the news" need an updated wikipedia article to link to. violet/riga (t) 20:37, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Portal:Current events has already been updated, with a link to stem cell controversy, which is updated. But Wikipedia:In the news section on the Main Page/Candidates has not been updated. Make suggestions there. --Dhartung | Talk 20:45, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Englisc Wikipedia

I think it will be nice, if the InterWiki link to Englisc/Anglosaxon Wikipeda is added. I think it made ang.wiki more popular, and - maybe - encourage people to learn the history of their/foreign language. Michał P. 19:03, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Interwiki links are added to the bottom of the Main Page once the Wikipedia has 1,000 articles or more. Is this true for the Anglo-Saxon Wikipedia? GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 20:06, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

It's at 715. For an obsolete language, that's pretty good. --Dhartung | Talk 20:37, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Still has a ways to go to catch up with the Latin Wikipedia's 5,400 though :) GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 23:35, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Yabbut compare the Manx Wikipedia, which just passed 100 articles, and that's a language with living speakers. (And don't bite the newbie wikis...) --Dhartung | Talk 04:29, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

DYK bullets suck

DYK looked better without the bullets a few months ago. Why use them along with an ellipsis starting each line ? Ugly and superfluous. -- 64.229.179.114 06:17, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

Featured Lists

Why aren't featured lists ever on the Main Page? They all have introductory text, and are often as interesting as the featured articles. Is this the proper forum for discussing this? Has it been discussed before? Thanks. -- Samuel Wantman 08:04, 20 July 2006 (UTC)