Wikipedia:Main Page history/2014 December 12

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From today's featured article

Geoffrey (c. 1152 – 1212) was an illegitimate son of King Henry II of England who became Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York. Geoffrey held some minor clerical offices before becoming bishop in 1173, and was ordained a priest in 1189. In 1173–74 he led a campaign in northern England to help put down a rebellion by his legitimate half-brothers, capturing William the Lion, the King of the Scots. After Pope Lucius III ordered him to resign Lincoln or be consecrated, Geoffrey resigned and became Chancellor. After succeeding to the throne, Richard I of England, his half-brother, nominated him Archbishop of York, probably to eliminate a potential rival. He was consecrated in France in 1191, and was briefly imprisoned in Dover Castle on his return during a dispute with William Longchamp, Richard's regent in England. Geoffrey spent much of his time as archbishop in various disputes with Richard and John, Richard's successor and another half-brother. Geoffrey also quarrelled with his suffragan bishops, his cathedral chapter, and other clergy in his diocese. In 1207, he was forced into exile in France by John, and died there five years later. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that the Great Mosque of Salé (pictured) was temporarily closed during the French protectorate in Morocco to prevent it being used as a place to awaken awareness of Moroccan nationalism?
... that discus throw world record breaker Bob Fitch created his own throwing technique and wrote a university thesis on the subject?
... that in the event of a severe flood, the gray-tailed vole will abandon its complex network of tunnels and head for high ground?
... that Kate Chopin chose to publish "A Pair of Silk Stockings" in Vogue because of its "fearless and truthful" depiction of women and their lives?
... that Los Angeles's Bimini Baths were named after the island of Bimini?
... that when Confucius asked his disciples to express their ambitions, Zeng Dian said he only wanted to bathe in the river, relax in the breezes, and sing?

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In the news

A report strongly criticizing the use of torture by the United States Central Intelligence Agency is released by the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Former Chinese domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang (pictured) is arrested and expelled from the Communist Party of China.
NASA successfully conducts the maiden flight of its Orion spacecraft.
Dozens of people are killed or injured in clashes between security forces and insurgents in Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russia.
In Canadian football, the Calgary Stampeders defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to win the Grey Cup.

Ongoing: Ebola outbreak – Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Recent deaths: Ralph H. Baer – Queen Fabiola of Belgium – Jean Béliveau

On this day...

December 12: Independence Day in Kenya (1963)

627 – A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeated Emperor Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh, near present-day Mosul, Iraq.
1531 – According to traditional Catholic accounts, the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary miraculously appeared imprinted on Juan Diego's tilma.
1939 – The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duchess collided with the battleship HMS Barham she was escorting and sank with heavy loss of life.
1964 – Jomo Kenyatta (pictured) became the first President of the Republic of Kenya.
2000 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore that the election recount of the ballots cast in Florida for the presidential election must stop, effectively making George W. Bush the winner.

More anniversaries: December 11 – December 12 – December 13

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It is now December 12, 2014 (UTC) – Reload this page

From today's featured list

Shah Rukh Khan's acting career has spanned over two decades. Khan made his screen debut with the Doordarshan television series Fauji (1988), which led to roles in other television shows and offers to act in film. A supporting role in Deewana (1992) marked his film debut, and he established a career in Bollywood by playing the antagonist of the 1993 thrillers Darr and Baazigar. Khan achieved success as the male lead in several top-grossing romantic dramas, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Veer-Zaara (2004), Om Shanti Om (2007), and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). He also played against type as a NASA scientist in the drama Swades (2004), a hockey coach in the sports film Chak De! India (2007), and an autistic man in the drama My Name Is Khan (2010). Fourteen of Khan's films have grossed over 1 billion (US$16 million) in global ticket sales. With eight Filmfare Awards for Best Actor, he shares the record for the most wins in the category with Dilip Kumar. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

American astronomer Percival Lowell at his observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. In this 1914 photograph Lowell is seen observing Venus high in the daytime sky, with the refracting telescope's 24-inch (61 cm) lens diameter stopped down to 3 inches (7.6 cm) to reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence.

Lowell has been described as "the most influential popularizer of planetary science in America before Carl Sagan". His efforts to find Planet X eventually led to the discovery of Pluto, 14 years after his death. Pluto was named partly in recognition of Lowell's efforts, although the Planet X theory was subsequently disproved.

Photograph: Unknown; Restoration: Joe Haythornthwaite

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