Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2011 March 6

= March 6 =

Username deleted without my action
I registered, made some edits over time, created an article (simple, as practice) and recently, when I attempted to login, found my Username was no longer found. The article I created is still there and clearly shows that I was the author under the Username I was using. Does WP delete Usernames routinely? Is there a limit on how long one can be dormant before a Username is deleted? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.19.47.130 (talk) 02:52, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Usernames are not deleted, and since you made edits it should not have been transferred to another user. The only tip I can recommend at this point is to double-check the spelling, as capitalization matters. Please provide the username if you require further help. Xenon54 (talk) 03:03, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Well, oddly enough, the Username was all lowercase but when I try to log in, it forces tghe inital letter to Uppercase, and the record of my work also shows the initial letter in Uppercase. I wondered it that was the problem, but since I cannot figure out how to force a lowercase spelling, assumed that it had always been changing the initial letter to Uppercase and I had just not noticed before. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.19.47.130 (talk) 03:18, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * From WP:USERNAME: "Wikipedia usernames are case sensitive, and the first letter of every username is automatically capitalized." That is, like article names, user names must begin with a capital letter. If you want it to be all lowercase in your signature, you can make it so, however, by clicking on "my preferences" at the top of any page and entering the lowercase form in the "Signature" box. Deor (talk) 07:02, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Is WWE's The Miz Awsome?
Is WWE's The Miz really Awsome or a coward? (choose one) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.174.175.8 (talk) 06:49, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * This page is for asking questions about using Wikipedia. If you're looking for a forum for general chat about WWE, try http://www.wrestlingforum.com/ Adrian J. Hunter(talk•contribs) 07:08, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

changing a picture
I don't understand the instructions. I've uploaded a photo, but see it nowhere. Can somebody fix it for the Jackie Evancho Wiki page? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Binlied2 (talk • contribs) 07:36, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * You have uploaded File:Balloons2.jpg to Wikipedia commons with a tag. To place this in the article instead of the existing image, you need to edit the second line of the article, "Img =Jackie_Evancho.jpg", and change that to "Img =Balloons2.jpg". To add it as a second image further down the article, you should look at the Picture tutorial.
 * To avoid hassle later on, please look at WP:IOWN and send an email, as instructed there, to confirm that you are Lisa Evancho and own the copyright to this image. -- John of Reading (talk) 08:10, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * To avoid hassle later on, please look at WP:IOWN and send an email, as instructed there, to confirm that you are Lisa Evancho and own the copyright to this image. -- John of Reading (talk) 08:10, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

I appreciate your answer and have sent the appropriate permissions to Wiki; however, I still don't understand how to change the picture. This is so complicated. Please help. I don't see where I have the option to edit in order to follow the steps you've provided. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Binlied2 (talk • contribs) 15:22, 6 March 2011 (UTC) Yeah! Stupid me! I finally did it! Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Binlied2 (talk • contribs) 15:28, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Wikify webpage table is ok per copyright?
Is it in compliance with copyright to make a wikitable of the 3-phase voltage-hertz-wires table in telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity ..? Electron9 (talk) 12:18, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Best ask at Copyright questions. But since the table is headed "the table below is only relevant to electricians, electrical engineers and other technically skilled people", maybe WP:NOTHOWTO would apply. -- John of Reading (talk) 12:39, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Are those figures merely √3 times the ordinary figures listed at Mains power around the world? cf Three-phase electric power -- John of Reading (talk) 14:02, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * There's a lot of differences in regard to poles, volt, and frequency. Not to mention plugs.. and there's a lot of "skilled people" on wikipedia. Electron9 (talk) 17:23, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


 * As a matter of fact that site is violating Wikipedia's terms of use. It contains material taken from AC power plugs and sockets but has not attrubuted it in terms of Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0. Roger (talk) 18:28, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

MIC ( Mortgage Invest corp) Is this a legit finance group fot vets?
We were contacted by this groups that refinances for vets only. He seemed legit but I am leary as I have never heard of these lenders before. They only help veterans and say they never sell your contract and saves us a lot of money by going with them. We are due to close next week. Thank you Clark. Connie Kaylor —Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.83.15.31 (talk) 12:44, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I'm sorry, no one at Wikipedia can give you investment advice. -- John of Reading (talk) 12:47, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * There is no policy about investment and economic advice, like the ones about medical and legal advice, so far i've seen? PaoloNapolitano (talk) 13:00, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I'll give her advice - Don't ask a bunch of random strangers on the internet advice on financial matters. Theresa Knott &#124; Sort that Knee! 13:18, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Sometimes when you ask for advice over the Internet you happen to get an expert. I am one and my advice is to seek the advice of a lawyer regardless of what company is offering the refinance.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:52, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Death of Lou Cameron
Lou was buried in San Francisco last year. date?. He lived in New York City. His daughter Ruth Cameron lives in Michigan. Just thought you should know. DLM —Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.84.196.184 (talk) 14:36, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I checked Google's News Archive but did not find anything relevant. Since he lived in Manhattan, I also tried The New York Times for a death notice. After that failed, I hit the social security death index – nada. Since I found nothing I was not able to update the article. You seem to know a bit about this person. Can you point us to any published reliable source which corroborates the information you have provided above?--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 15:49, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

farewell speech
please prepare me a speech on farewell to the students Thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by Deepak tiwari (talk • contribs) 14:44, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * This page is for questions about Wikipedia only. Jarkeld (talk) 14:47, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * You could read them Ozymandias or the Gettysburg Address. --Teratornis (talk) 22:06, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Setting Random Page as my Homepage?
How would I set my default homepage for Firefox to open to a random Wikipedia article? -- Quinn CLOUDY 18:45, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Try setting your homepage to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random and see if that works.... -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 18:47, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * YES, that works, thanks! Just for others, on Firefox, you can't do this from the File --> Open Location.  You have to go to Tools -->Options-->Set Homepage and copy/past the above URL. -- Quinn CLOUDY  18:54, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Just remember, before using this at work, that 'random' includes articles like Micropenis. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 19:01, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Or go work in a place where ready an encyclopaedia article about anything you like isn't a problem. Theresa Knott &#124; Sort that Knee! 19:35, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * But I enjoy teaching junior high school! -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 19:37, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * As do I Theresa Knott &#124; Sort that Knee! 19:48, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

As as aside, there's an iGoogle gadget that does similar, if that's any use. Rehevkor ✉  19:45, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia needs a Boss key gadget, to make Special:Random safer for work, in the staying employed sense. --Teratornis (talk) 22:04, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Your employees have acted disgracefully
Dear Mr. Wales and Ms. Gardner, some of your employees have been acting disgracefully. Your employees are firing and banning other employees, and I would recommend you to terminate their contracts, it would be the best for all parties. Your employee training is appearantly bad and I would recommend your employees to act in a more proper way. Your sincerly, Ravi Singh Bhatti. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.213.78.66 (talk) 19:28, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


 * This is the help desk. Do you need help with something? Theresa Knott &#124; Sort that Knee! 19:33, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Every Wikipedia editor is just like you, an unpaid volunteer whose only training is reading Wikipedia's rules. If someone has improperly blocked someone else, we might be able to help with that, but not without specific information. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 19:36, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * In the case "Rodhullandemo" the Wikipedia jury appointed by mr. James Donald Wales banned user "Rodhullandemo", employed as a administrator, fired him as administrator and blocked his adeninstrator tools. That is disgraceful. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.17.139.148 (talk) 19:54, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * User:Rodhullandemo was blocked for good reason in 2008; User:Rodhullandemu is not blocked. He was never 'employed' by Wikipedia, which has very few employees and even fewer that edit the encyclopedia.  Your problem is now solved.  Thank you for using the Help Desk, and have a nice day. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 19:59, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


 * But as has been discussed elsewhere, User:Rodhullandemu was desysopped. – ukexpat (talk) 16:49, 7 March 2011 (UTC)
 * And blocked yesterday but unblocked 4 hours later. PrimeHunter (talk) 21:52, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

The Great Tugboat Race in Sault Ste Marie,ON
I would like to know if it would be possible to update the website address for The Great Tugboat Race in Sault Ste Marie,ON. The new address is www.ssm.thegreattugboatrace.ca. Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.49.216.63 (talk) 20:05, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I can't find an article on The Great Tugboat Race at Wikipedia; can you link to it? -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 20:07, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I don't think there is one. I think the OP is talking about links on the web to the old site. Best thing would be to contact the owners of the new site and let them know to pass the word (although they are probably aware of it).--Bbb23 (talk) 20:10, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * The OP was, perhaps, talking about the link from New York Tugboat Race. I've that, & disambiguated the St. Mary's River link while I was there. For the OP, as this is Wikipedia (the encyclopedia that anyone can edit), you could have done the change yourself, but thanks for letting us know. - David Biddulph (talk) 20:16, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

changing fontsize
is there a way to change the font size in Wikipedia? I can barely read it. I use IE8 on Windows XP. Thanks.-jimb —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.112.40.223 (talk) 20:26, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * On IE8, Page/ Text size, and select accordingly. - David Biddulph (talk) 20:29, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
 * It's "View" then "Textsize" on my IE8 - but also make sure your zoom (bottom RH corner on mine) is set at 100% Arjayay (talk) 10:06, 7 March 2011 (UTC)