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pack ice and was slowly crushed before the shore parties could be landed. There followed a sequence of exploits, and an ultimate escape with no lives lost, that would eventually assure Shackleton's heroic status. (more... ) Recently featured: Conan the Barbarian – Liverpool F.C. – Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Humboldt Box (pictured) is a new, futuristic five-story museum in Berlin that is slated to be dismantled in a few years? ... that Saint Patrick was a priest at the monastery of St. Illtyd of Llantwit Major when he was reputedly abducted by Irish pirates, later becoming the patron saint of Ireland? ... that The Pussycat Dolls ? ... that Abbas Kazmi was asked, by a United States diplomat, to construct a brainwashing defense for Ajmal Kasab, the gunman who was tried for the 2008 Mumbai attacks? ... that Jan Gulbrandsen, president of the Norwegian Olympic Committee and managing director of the Norwegian Automobile Federation, won eight national championships in the 400 metres hurdles? ... that Pat Barker's gritty first novel Union Street inspired the much lighter romantic film drama Stanley & Iris? Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Sachin Tendulkar (pictured) of India becomes the first cricketer to score 100 international cricket centuries. elected President of Moldova . Communist Party of China, is dismissed from office following the Wang Lijun incident . The International Criminal Court finds Thomas Lubanga Dyilo guilty of the war crime of conscripting children. The Encyclopædia Britannica discontinues its print edition, 244 years after its first publication. The Salvadoran elections . Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 17: Saint Patrick's Day 1776 – American Revolutionary War: The British Army garrison in Boston, Massachusetts, withdrew from the city, ending the 11-month Siege of Boston. synthesis of californium, a radioactive transuranium element , was announced. 1963 – The most recent eruption of Mount Agung (pictured) on Bali, Indonesia, killed approximately 1,500 people. 1988 – Eritrean War of Independence: The Eritrean People's Liberation Front encircled a Soviet–Ethiopian force and gained a decisive victory in the Battle of Afabet. cult suicide or an orchestrated mass murder by its leaders. More anniversaries: March 16 – March 17 – March 18 List of historical anniversaries It is now March 17, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The

Great Egret found throughout Asia and Oceania. Measuring 83–103 cm (33–41 in) in length and weighing 0.7–1.2 kg (1.5–2.6 lb), the Eastern Great Egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Its bill is yellow in the breeding season and black at other times, and its long legs are red or black. It can be distinguished from other white egrets

and herons by its very long neck, one and a half times as long as its own body.
Photo: JJ Harrison

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