Talk:Main Page

See Wikipedia FAQ for general questions about Wikipedia; you can ask questions at the Village pump. See talk:Wikipedia category schemes for general discussion of the category scheme on Wikipedia's Main Page.

See Wikipedia talk:Selected Articles on the Main Page for discussion of (and recommendations for) the Selected Articles on the Main Page. See below for more discussion of particular issues regarding the Main Page (e.g., whether to include a particular category on the page). Please add your additions at the bottom.

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Some older talk has been archived to

• talk:Main Page/Archive 1
• talk:Main Page/Archive 2
• talk:Main Page/Archive 3
• talk:Main Page/Archive 4
• talk:Main Page/Archive 5
• talk:Main Page/Archive 6
• talk:Main Page/Archive 7

• Talk about the layout and colour design of the Main Page

Table of contents 1 Abud Sarhan 2 Table with problem 3 San Antonio Spurs 4 Broken links on the Main Page? 5 Larry Doby to deaths 6 1st baseball game too specific 7 GIF patent expiry 8 Italicization 9 Arabic link 10 How new articles are chosen 11 Random slogans 12 Suggestion for list 13 Red Sox 14 Reference Desk categorization 15 Cayley anniversary 16 UN vs. United Nations 17 PC Magazine article 18 Albertson's 19 Anniversaries 20 Computer science categorization 21 GM food trade war 22 Orphan update 23 Adium 24 Request link to "Civil Rights Act of 1964" 25 Message to newcomers on main page? 1 Tables 1.1 Requested articles on the Main Page?

Abud Sarhan

Would someone please add Abud Sarhan to people in the news? Pizza Puzzle

I'm not sure that article meets all of the requirements for selection. -- Notheruser 13:18 15 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Why not? He is suing the United States for massacring his family. He is in the news. How is that not acceptable? Pizza Puzzle

The article is a stub. --Camembert

Its not really a stub. There just isn't much information in existence on the topic. Pizza Puzzle

Table with problem

I tried making the articles on the main page fit for an 800x600 display, but failed. Someone else needs to fix it (it looks fine while previewing, but falls to pieces after saving...). -- Notheruser 13:18 15 Jun 2003(UTC)

San Antonio Spurs

NOW the Spurs should be on In The News, main page..LOl -- Antonio Spanker Martin

PS: Happy Fathers day everyone!! Antonio Uncle Daddy Martin

Broken links on the Main Page?

Are we allowed to use nonexistant links on the main page? ilyanep 15:30 18 Jun 2003 (UTC)

No. Only articles that are more than 500 bytes (usually about twice as much as a min). --mav 08:35 19 Jun 2003 (UTC)

What's a min? ilyanep 15:18 19 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Larry Doby to deaths

Larry Doby to recent deaths...

Antonio Rodman Martin

1st baseball game too specific

Tsk. It shouldn't be "1st baseball game" under anniversaries; it should merely be "baseball", as is done for all other subjects. Though I'm somewhat loath to call Americanocentralism... :-) James F. 21:31 19 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Sorry, what was that? "I want to be a sysop so I can edit the Main Page," did you say? See Wikipedia:Requests for adminship. :) -- Oliver P. 21:51 19 Jun 2003 (UTC)

GIF patent expiry

The GIF patent expiration applies only in the US, not Canada, Japan, or Europe. The current listing may be misleading. - Pipian 05:58 20 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Italicization

Why are some links italisized and others not? Is this a form of discrimination? MB 21:41 20 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Yes, it is. Remember, there's nothing wrong with discrimination qua discrimination, despite the ideas that a recent deranged alleged Canadian tried to cram down our throats. The italicized ones are titles; even the one that looks like it's just Ed Sullivan is really The Ed Sullivan Show. -- John Owens 23:12 20 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Arabic link

Question for Arabic-speaking person: Shouldn't the arabic link be [http://ar.wikipedia.com/ ‮العربية‬ (Alaraby)]; isn't alif-lam-ayn-ra-ba-ya-something be transliterated Alaraby? كسيپ Cyp 16:03 22 Jun 2003 (UTC)

How new articles are chosen

How is it decided which new articles go into the 'new Articles' section, or is it just random G-Man 18:37 22 Jun 2003 (UTC)

I try to pick those above a certain length (>1000 bytes), preferably non-list articles which are not imported from late 19th/early 20th century sources. YMMV. --Eloquence 19:00 22 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Random slogans

A little javascript could display random slogans on the main page, currently we only use

• The Free Encyclopedia

but I thought some others could be

• The Net Within The Net

or

• Everything 2++

or

• NeverNeverPopUpLand

Pizza Puzzle

Suggestion for list

How about a List of adulterers[?]?

Antonio Mr Temptation Martin

Red Sox

Maybe Boston Red Sox should be on main page, current events.

Antonio Ms Trevi Martin

Reference Desk categorization

Wikipedia:Reference Desk is not for those who want to write articles but for those who want Wikipedia to ask something. In other words, it's for readers and not editors. So why is it under the heading "Writing Articles"? -- Paddu 14:05 29 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Cayley anniversary

Please could somebody list Sir George Cayley's coachman as a significant historical anniversary. The first ever successful flight by a manned heavier-than-air machine took place 150 years ago this week. Ta. GrahamN 16:43 30 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Done. Could you add more stuff to it? I know it's mysterious and all, but it's such an ugly stub. --Menchi 16:48 30 Jun 2003 (UTC)

How do you mean "ugly"? It would be nice to have a photo in the article of the replica of the "Coachman Carrier" that was built and flown across Brompton Dale a few years ago, but I don't have one. Other than that I can't see how we could add to it. If it's "more stuff" you are after, follow the prominent link to Sir George Cayley. I put quite a lot of work into that article some time ago. GrahamN 15:11 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

UN vs. United Nations

What's wrong with UN Charter? Why must it be United Nations Charter? I doubt many know not UN = United Nations. Anyway, it did that to maintain the table's square-ness. Now it's off square again because of the full name. --Menchi 16:51 30 Jun 2003 (UTC)

PC Magazine article

GOOD NEWS Just thought I'd spread the good news--- Wikipedia is PC Magazine's site of the week. Here's the link. [1] (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1119452,00.asp) - user:zanimum

Thanks, but it has been in Wikipedia:Press coverage. --Menchi 21:42 30 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Albertson's

Maybe Albertson's should be in main page-current events.

Antonio Twisted Mind Martin

Anniversaries

I have had the terrific pleasure of keeping the Anniversaries on the Main Page up to date. However, I will be on vacation until August 10th, and I will not have access to the Internet. So please take up the slack :) And have a nice summer :) Kingturtle 19:28 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Have a nice holiday - I'll help to keep the Anniversaries in good order. --mav 22:13 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Computer science categorization

Would someone who is able please move "computer science" from the applied section to the science and mathematics section, and then add "software engineering" to the applied section? This would show the fact that they emphasize very different things, and that software engineering is a very important field. Thanks.

Done -- James F. 23:18 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Isn't SE considered a legitimate subject that not only began as Comp Sci studies, but also as a program in the Computer Science College/Faculty/Department of universities? --Menchi 23:30 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I don't know about othe uni's but at Drexel University, it was started by the engineering college (at the time CS was not part of the engineering college). Although, the CS department started a SE graduate degree previous to the SE undergraduate degree started by the engineering college. MB 23:39 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

... and? Civil engineering is studied in the physics departments of many universities, but this does not stop it being an application of mathematical 'hard science' principles, rather than a hard science in and of itself. Being an applied science does not an 'illegitimate' subject make (indeed, your very use of the word is significantly POV :-)); that SE is the application of the mathematical aspects of CS (which, at least IME, are normally thought of as the totality thereof) is what is under ponderance here. Yes? -- James F. 23:43 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Are you claiming that computer science is a natural science? What aspect of nature does it illuminate, precisely? (See also Talk:natural science.) -- Oliver P. 23:54 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I wouldn't say that; mathematics and derivative/associated fields are not concerned with understanding of aspects of nature (and haven't really been so for well over a century now) but are advancements of themselves for their ownsake. Of course, this can then be applied to create the branches of first-level applied mathematics, also known as natural science (though biology is applied chemistry, which is itself applied physics, ...). However, I will revert my change pending further discussion -- James F. 00:15 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

What makes some "applied?" I always assumed it meant it was derived from something else, and ha(d/s) a dependancy on that something else. For instance, chemistry was not derived from physics, therefore it is not applied physics. I may be completely wrong, if so, what does it mean for something to be "applied?" I think this term is being used too loosely. MB 01:04 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Traditionally, Computer Science belongs to wherever Mathematics belongs. Today, we think of computer science as an umbrella term, encompassing the applied science as well as the mathematical field. I personally feel that CS belongs side by side with Mathematics, while Computer Engineering, Management Info Systems, and Software Engineering belongs to applied science. (But should not be included on the Main Page because they're subdisciplines of Engineering, Business, and CS respectively) And yes, I agree CS isn't a natural science. But since the heading is "Philosophy, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences", I feel CS belongs there. Poor Yorick 01:47 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

How about "Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Natural Sciences?" MB 03:45 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I think it should be renamed, "Philosophy, Mathematical Sciences, and Natural Sciences", so it justifies Computer Science and Statistics being there. Poor Yorick 03:57 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Or perhaps Philosophy and Mathematical and Natural Sciences? -- James F. 13:35 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Yup, that'll work too. Perhaps with a & as to distinguish Philosophy and Mathematical & Natural Sciences. I'll try that out. Poor Yorick 16:19 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Thanks for moving the CS link. While Software Engineering was historically thought of as a subset of Computer Science, it has been emerging in recent years to stand on its own. It is now largely independent of computer science and traditional engineering. This is why I believe it deserves its own link, on the main page. For detailed comparisons, see Software engineering.

I think Software Engineering does not deserve to be on the front page- it's already in Engineering, its rightful place. It would free some space. Ray Van De Walker

Software Engineering actually is a subset of CS. But as the previous user said above, SE is becoming distinct from CS and Engineering. -Poor Yorick

Indeed. As all true science comes from Mathematics, why not just get rid of the Natural Science section? ;-) -- James F. 12:12 4 Jul 2003 (UTC)

GM food trade war

How about putting the Trade war over genetically modified food (maybe US v EU on GM food is shorter) in the "news" line on the Main Page? In Europe there is currently no day without an Article on this in the newspaper and additionally it seems to me that many Americans are not even aware that this problem exists also in America, but is ignored by the Bush-Administration. Fantasy 08:08 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Alrighty then. Poor Yorick 08:14 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Thanks, that was fast! Fantasy ;-)

Orphan update

Can somebody update "Orphaned pages"? I'd really like to clear some of these out, but so many have already been dealt with. - user:zanimum

Or could it be updated regularly by an automated job? --Trainspotter

It was before, but because of the strain on Wikipedia's resources, it became human updated. Now that Wikipedia's running at full speed (new server, wasn't it?), I'm sure it would be as easy as a click of a button to reautomate it. - user:zanimum

Oh I see -- I asssumed it had previously been produced dynamically whenever accessed. Maybe it could be produced statically but with automatic update at regular intervals, and just set the frequency of the regular update to something appropriate to the server capability? --Trainspotter

Adium

Adium was previously a one-line stub, but is now a full-fleged article. I nominate it to go in the "New Articles" section. (Of course, I wrote it, but... ;-)) --bdesham 23:43 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Request link to "Civil Rights Act of 1964"

In the Historical links section, there's a link to "US Civil Rights Act of 1964" that currently points to Civil Rights Act. Could someone change this to point to Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which is no longer a redirect, and now has a pretty picture) -- RobLa 07:15 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Message to newcomers on main page?

Shouldn´t there be a link to the "Welcome, newcomers" page from the main page? That page is helpful and should be one of the first that a newcomers stumbles across. I think a link would fit well into the community section or perhaps the introductory paragraph. BTW, congratulations for the new look, it´s smooth and eye-pleasing. Nafnaf[?] 07:53 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I agree. That's what the page was created for. There used to be a link, but it was removed for some reason in one of the front page redesigns. Oh, and I love the new look, too. -- Stephen Gilbert 11:36 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Perhaps:

Visit the new-user or the help pages, and experiment in the sandbox, to learn how you can edit any article right now.

Comments? -- James F. 16:20 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I like the emphasis on the you Fantasy 16:29 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

So do I. That sentence looks nice. By the way, the main page has been changed and has the link now in the very first word. That is good. However, I can imagine a total newcomer to not recognize that link as a link. Therefore it might be a good idea to violate a principle or two and insert the above sentence as well. Nafnaf[?] 17:03 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

The current solution with "you" linking to the welcome page looks very good, thanks. Nafnaf[?] 20:16 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Tables Please can we remake the front page layout WITHOUT abusing HTML tables? -- Tarquin 12:22 3 Jul 2003 (UTC) '

No problem with it, if you don't take away the new nice looking layout ;-) Fantasy 16:38 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Feel free to work on a new layout at Main Page/Temp. Also, I believe the old version used tables anyhow, so whats the difference? MB 17:25 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Can we at least remake the front page to be valid html? (Coward)

OK, page is back to being valid HTML 4.01 Transitional, according to http://validator.w3.org/. It was the crossed-tags problem: [a] xxxx [b] xxxxx [/a] xxxx [/b] is not in general valid HTML, for any tags a and b. -- The Anome 19:38 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Note that this problem was generated by the following Wiki-markup: '''''you''' can edit any page right now!'' which currently renders as <strong><em>you</strong> can edit any page right now!</em>-- The Anome 07:49 4 Jul 2003 (UTC)

The next step is to make the CSS validate: see this link: http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/validator?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wikipedia.org%2F&warning=1&profile=css2 The Anome

It would be nice if the CSS was wiki-editable in some manner.

Requested articles on the Main Page?

The German Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org) has started putting requested articles on the Main Page in their own section. Looks neat to me, might this be an experiment worth trying here as well? --Eloquence 06:09 6 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Yuk! Please no. Only content should be on the Main Page. --mav

I vaguelly like the idea - I was thinking of adding it, or something similar, in a "contribute" section to my redesign. But I can see mav's point too.

I agree with good ol' Dallas Maverick..lol sorry Mav couldnt resist it. I hope you dont mind the Dallas Maverick...(like the NBA team). On the other hand, Serena Williams should be in main page, current events.--Antonio Martini

Ha, ha, Antonio. :) What has Serena Williams done recently to merit listing in the current events section? This info needs to be in her article and on the current events page. --mav

She won Wimbledon..:)

Antonio 1000 names Martin

That info and the exact, linked date needs to be in her article before it is listed. --mav

Done....--Antonio bottle licker Martin

Listed. mav