Wikipedia:Today's featured article/December 2014

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December 1

Carsten Borchgrevink

Carsten Borchgrevink (1864–1934) was an Anglo-Norwegian polar explorer and a pioneer of modern Antarctic travel. He was the precursor of Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen and others associated with the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. He began his exploring career in 1894 by joining a Norwegian whaling expedition, from which he brought back a collection of the first specimens of vegetable life within the Antarctic Circle. From 1898 to 1900 Borchgrevink led the British-financed Southern Cross Expedition, which in 1899 became the first to overwinter on the Antarctic mainland and the first to visit the Great Ice Barrier since the expedition of Sir James Ross nearly sixty years previously. Borchgrevink landed on the Barrier with two companions and made the first sledge journey on its surface, setting a new Farthest South record at 78°50'S. He was one of three scientists sent to the Caribbean in 1902 by the National Geographic Society to report on the aftermath of the Mount Pelée disaster. His pioneering work was recognised and honoured by several countries, and in 1912 he received a handsome tribute from Roald Amundsen, conqueror of the South Pole. (Full article...)

Recently featured: Natchez revolt – George Robey – Elwyn Roy King

December 2

John Barbirolli

Sir John Barbirolli, CH (1899–1970) was a British conductor and cellist. He helped save the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester from dissolution in 1943 and was its music director for the rest of his life. He was also Arturo Toscanini's successor as music director of the New York Philharmonic (1936–43), chief conductor of the Houston Symphony (1961–67), and a guest conductor of many other orchestras. Born in London of Italian and French parentage, Barbirolli grew up in a family of professional musicians. After starting out as a cellist, he was given the chance to conduct, from 1926 with the British National Opera Company, and then with Covent Garden's touring company. Although he had less opportunity to work in the opera house after 1943, he conducted productions of works by Verdi, Wagner, Gluck, and Puccini at Covent Garden in the 1950s with such success that he was invited to become its permanent musical director, an invitation he declined. Both in the concert hall and on record, Barbirolli was particularly associated with the music of English composers such as Elgar, Delius and Vaughan Williams. His interpretations of composers such as Mahler, Sibelius, and Schubert are also still admired. (Full article...)

Recently featured: Carsten Borchgrevink – Natchez revolt – George Robey

December 3

Tammar wallaby

The

joey in her pouch while keeping an embryo in her uterus. The tammar is a model species for research on marsupials, and on mammals in general. It is one of many organisms whose genome has been sequenced. (Full article...
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Recently featured: John Barbirolli – Carsten Borchgrevink – Natchez revolt

December 4

Screenshot

deep-focus cinematography and montage editing, and obsessed over accuracy during production. Greed was one of the few films of its time to be shot entirely on location. Two months were spent shooting in Death Valley for the final sequence and many of the cast and crew became ill. Originally almost eight hours long, Greed was edited against von Stroheim's wishes to about two-and-a-half hours by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio heads Irving Thalberg and Louis B. Mayer. The cut footage is lost, and still sought after by film archivists and historians. Numerous false claims of the original version's discovery have been made over the years. In 1999, a reconstructed four-hour version was released using surviving stills from the lost footage. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Tammar wallaby – John Barbirolli – Carsten Borchgrevink

December 5

Beyonce in 2013

"

50th Grammy Awards. Beyoncé's fourth number-one in the US, the single remained at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for ten consecutive weeks and was the best-selling US single of 2007. The single's award-winning music video was directed by Anthony Mandler and served as the debut performance of Beyoncé's all-female band, Suga Mama. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Greed (film) – Tammar wallaby – John Barbirolli

December 6

A scene from the game

The

halftime. In the second half, Virginia Tech scored over twice as many points as the Eagles. Taylor was named the game's most valuable player. The game was a rematch of the previous year's contest, which Virginia Tech also won. (Full article...
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Recently featured: "Irreplaceable" – Greed (film) – Tammar wallaby

December 7

Ford Island

attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. By the late 1990s hundreds of millions of dollars had been invested in real-estate development and infrastructure. Ford Island is home to the USS Arizona memorial, the USS Missouri museum, the Pacific Warfighting Center, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The island has been featured in films such as Tora! Tora! Tora! and Pearl Harbor. (Full article...
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Recently featured: 2008 ACC Championship Game – "Irreplaceable" – Greed (film)

December 8

SMS Scharnhorst

Taishō Emperor in 1912. After the outbreak of World War I, Scharnhorst and her sister ship SMS Gneisenau, accompanied by three light cruisers and several colliers, sailed across the Pacific Ocean—in the process evading the various Allied naval forces sent to intercept them—before arriving off the southern coast of South America. On 1 November 1914, Scharnhorst and the rest of the East Asia Squadron encountered and overpowered a British squadron at the Battle of Coronel. The stinging defeat prompted the British Admiralty to dispatch two battlecruisers to hunt down and destroy Scharnhorst's flotilla, which they accomplished at the Battle of the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Ford Island – 2008 ACC Championship Game – "Irreplaceable"

December 9

Gross pathology of an endometrial adenocarcinoma

diabetes
. Approximately 40% of cases are related to obesity, and 2–5% of cases have a genetic link. The most frequent
pap smear is not typically sufficient. In 2012, endometrial cancers occurred in 320,000 women and caused 76,000 deaths, making it the third most common cause of death from female cancers, behind ovarian and cervical cancer. If the disease is caught at an early stage, the outcome is favorable, and the overall five-year survival rate in the United States is greater than 80%. (Full article...
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Recently featured: SMS Scharnhorst – Ford Island – 2008 ACC Championship Game

December 10

Sunda slow loris

trunk allows them to twist and extend to nearby branches. The hands and feet of slow lorises have a pincer-like grip, enabling them to grasp branches for long periods. Slow lorises have a toxic bite, a trait rare among mammals. They are omnivores, eating small animals, fruit, tree gum, and other vegetation. Many of the slow loris species are listed as either "Vulnerable" or "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List. Their habitat is rapidly disappearing, but the greatest causes of their decline are the exotic pet trade and traditional medicine. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Endometrial cancer – SMS Scharnhorst – Ford Island

December 11

Xerochrysum bracteatum, cultivar "strawburst"

cut flower industry. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Slow loris – Endometrial cancer – SMS Scharnhorst

December 12

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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Recently featured: Xerochrysum bracteatum – Slow loris – Endometrial cancer

December 13

Damage caused by Allied bombing

During World War II,

Full article...
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Recently featured: Geoffrey (archbishop of York) – Xerochrysum bracteatum – Slow loris

December 14

Quainton Road railway station

3rd Duke of Buckingham to route the railway near his home. It connected with the Brill Tramway, which carried goods from the duke's estates and passengers from Brill, and was heavily used despite its geographical isolation. Both lines were absorbed in 1891 by the Metropolitan Railway (MR), which operated from Aylesbury to London. When the Great Central Railway from the north of England opened in 1899, Quainton Road became a significant junction. The MR became part of the London Passenger Transport Board's London Underground in 1933. The Brill Tramway was closed in 1935, and Underground trains were withdrawn north of Aylesbury after 1936. Quainton Road closed to passengers in 1963 and to goods in 1966. In 1969 the Quainton Road Society was formed; it restored and reopened the station as the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Freight trains still use the line, and passenger trains call for special events. (Full article...
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Part of the Brill Tramway featured topic.

Recently featured:

Bombing of Singapore (1944–45) – Geoffrey (archbishop of York) – Xerochrysum bracteatum

December 15

Book cover

Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries called it stimulating. After the book's release, Fairman was consulted by media sources including CNN and The New York Times, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, on issues surrounding word taboo in society. (Full article...
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Recently featured:

Bombing of Singapore (1944–45) – Geoffrey (archbishop of York)

December 16

Central Coast Stadium

F3 Derby, after the previous name of the motorway that connects the cities of the teams. Matt Simon and Adam Kwasnik are the Mariners' all-time leading goalscorers, with 42 goals each in all competitions. (Full article...
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Recently featured:

Bombing of Singapore (1944–45)

December 17

509th group emblem

The

C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft. It operated Silverplate B-29s, which were specially configured to enable them to carry nuclear weapons. In addition to the two nuclear bombing raids, it carried out 15 practice missions against Japanese-held islands and 12 combat missions against targets in Japan, dropping high-explosive pumpkin bombs. In the postwar era, the 509th Composite Group was one of the original ten bombardment groups assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 March 1946 and the only one equipped with Silverplate B-29 Superfortress aircraft capable of delivering atomic bombs. It was standardized as a bombardment group and redesignated the 509th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 10 July 1946. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Central Coast Mariners FC – Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties – Quainton Road railway station

December 18

The building where the party was held

Leigh Leigh was a 14-year-old girl from Fern Bay on the east coast of Australia, who was murdered on 3 November 1989. While attending a teenage birthday party at Stockton Beach (location of party pictured in 2014), Leigh was kicked and spat on by a group of boys after she publicly asserted she had been raped. Leigh left the party shortly afterwards. Her naked body was found in nearby sand dunes the following morning, with severe genital damage and a crushed skull. Matthew Webster (18 years old) pleaded guilty to her murder and served 14½ years in prison. A 19-year-old male pleaded guilty to assault; a third male (aged 15) pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor. The murder investigation proved controversial as several people who admitted to various crimes, including assaulting Leigh, were never charged, and Webster's confession did not match the forensic evidence. The extended media coverage of the murder, which has been cited as an example of victim blaming, tended to focus on the lack of parental supervision at the party, drug and alcohol use, and Leigh's sexuality. The murder inspired a theatrical play entitled Blackrock, as well as a feature film of the same name. (Full article...)

Recently featured: 509th Composite Group – Central Coast Mariners FC – Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties

December 19

Nguyễn Khánh

In

ruling military junta led by General Nguyễn Khánh (pictured) dissolved the High National Council (HNC) and arrested some of its members. Khánh needed to satisfy the wishes of some younger generals to stay in power, after they had saved him from an earlier coup attempt. They wanted to sideline older officers who had previously been in high leadership positions, hiding their motives with a plan to force all general officers with more than 25 years of service to retire. The HNC, an unelected advisory body created to give a veneer of civilian rule, recommended against this, and was then dissolved. This dismayed the United States, South Vietnam's main sponsor. The US ambassador, Maxwell D. Taylor, harshly berated the generals and threatened aid cuts. Khánh embarked on a media offensive, criticizing US policy and what he saw as infringement of Vietnamese sovereignty. He and the other generals began preparations to expel Taylor before changing their minds. Khánh's tactics rallied support for his fragile leadership, at least temporarily. The Americans did not carry through on Taylor's threats to cut off aid, even though the HNC was never restored. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Murder of Leigh Leigh – 509th Composite Group – Central Coast Mariners FC

December 20

Albatrellus subrubescens

poisonous, and consuming them will result in a short-term gastrointestinal illness. (Full article...
)

Recently featured: December 1964 South Vietnamese coup – Murder of Leigh Leigh – 509th Composite Group

December 21

Portrait of McCay, c. 1901

Sir

1923 Victorian Police strike. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Albatrellus subrubescens – December 1964 South Vietnamese coup – Murder of Leigh Leigh

December 22

Colin Hannah

Sir

Federal government. The British government refused to agree to his term being extended. He retired in March 1977, and died the following year. (Full article...
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Recently featured: James Whiteside McCay – Albatrellus subrubescens – December 1964 South Vietnamese coup

December 23

Tropical Depression Erick and Tropical Storm Flossie

The

Hurricane Juliette, which reached peak winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) but did not significantly affect land. Of eleven tropical cyclones, including Tropical Depression Erick and Tropical Storm Flossie (both pictured, with Erick to the left), ten became tropical storms. Seven storms attained hurricane status, of which three acquired major hurricane status. The number of tropical storms was much less than the average of 16 storms, with a slightly below average number of hurricanes and major hurricanes. (Full article...
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Part of the 1995 Pacific hurricane season featured topic.

Recently featured: Colin Hannah – James Whiteside McCay – Albatrellus subrubescens

December 24

An American paddlefish in a large aquarium tank

The

Mississippi River Basin and once moved freely under the relatively natural, unaltered conditions that existed prior to the early 1900s. Their numbers have declined dramatically primarily because of overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution. They are currently found in only twenty-two U.S. states, and their range has been reduced to the Mississippi and Missouri river tributaries and Mobile Bay drainage basin. (Full article...
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Recently featured: 1995 Pacific hurricane season – Colin Hannah – James Whiteside McCay

December 25

Nativity (Christus)

The Nativity is a large oil-on-wood panel painting by the Early Netherlandish artist Petrus Christus, completed between the early 1440s and early 1460s. It shows a nativity scene bordered with grisaille (monochrome) archways and faux sculpted reliefs. Christus was influenced by the first generation of Netherlandish artists, especially Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden, and in its sense of grace, simplicity and naturalism, the devotional panel is characteristic of art of that period. The unusually large panel – perhaps painted as a central altarpiece panel for a triptych – is nuanced and visually complex. It reflects the 14th-century Devotio Moderna movement and contains complex Christian iconography, juxtaposing Old and New Testament saints and figures with great subtlety. The sculpted archway reliefs depict Old Testament ideas of sin and punishment, signaling the advent of Christ's sacrifice. The composition employs geometric forms and a bold use of color. In the 1930s, Andrew Mellon bequeathed it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, as one of several hundreds of works donated from his personal collection. It was restored in the early 1990s. (Full article...)

Recently featured: American paddlefish – 1995 Pacific hurricane season – Colin Hannah

December 26

Turkey vulture

The

vocal organ, its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses. It nests in caves, hollow trees, or thickets. Each year it generally raises two chicks. It has very few natural predators, and has legal protection in the United States under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Nativity (Christus) – American paddlefish – 1995 Pacific hurricane season

December 27

Don Bradman

The

Donald Bradman (pictured), generally regarded as the best batsman in the history of the sport. After a delayed start due to inclement weather, the Australian fast bowlers, led by Ray Lindwall, took all of England's wickets within the first day of the match, England scoring only 52 runs. When Bradman came out to bat, he received a standing ovation from the crowd and three cheers from his opponents. He needed only four runs from his final innings to have a Test batting average of exactly 100, but he failed to score and was out to the second ball he faced (bowled by leg spinner Eric Hollies). The match was followed by speeches from both captains, after which the crowd sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in Bradman's honour. Having been undefeated in their matches up to this point, the Australians maintained their streak in the remaining matches, gaining them the sobriquet of The Invincibles. (Full article...
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Part of the Australian cricket team in England in 1948 featured topic.

Recently featured: Turkey vulture – Nativity (Christus) – American paddlefish

December 28

Leonard Nimoy

Academy Award nominations for its cinematography and audio. (Full article...
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Recently featured: Fifth Test, 1948 Ashes series – Turkey vulture – Nativity (Christus)

December 29

Three Beauties of the Present Time

Three Beauties of the Present Day is a nishiki-e colour woodblock print of c. 1792–93 by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753–1806). The triangular composition depicts the busts of three celebrity beauties of the time: geisha Tomimoto Toyohina (middle), and teahouse waitresses Takashima Hisa (left) and Naniwa Kita (right), each adorned with an identifying family crest. Subtle differences can be detected in the faces of the subjects—a level of individualized realism at the time unusual in ukiyo-e, and a contrast with the stereotyped beauties in earlier masters such as Harunobu and Kiyonaga. The triangular positioning became a vogue in the 1790s. Utamaro produced several other pictures with this arrangement of the same three beauties, and each appeared in numerous other portraits by Utamaro and other artists. Utamaro was the leading ukiyo-e artist in the 1790s in the bijin-ga genre of pictures of female beauties, and was known in particular for his ōkubi-e, which focus on the heads. The luxurious print was published by Tsutaya Jūzaburō and made with multiple woodblocks—one for each colour—and the background was dusted with muscovite to produce a glimmering effect. (Full article...)

Recently featured: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Fifth Test, 1948 Ashes series – Turkey vulture

December 30

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Part of the Looking Glass Studios video games featured topic.

Recently featured: Three Beauties of the Present Day – Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Fifth Test, 1948 Ashes series

December 31

Shakira

2006 Grammy Awards, and the Album of the Year and the Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards. It became the highest selling Latin pop album of the decade in the US. Four singles were released to promote the album, although only the lead single ("La Tortura") reached the US Billboard Hot 100. In November 2005 Shakira supplemented the album with her second English-language record, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2. The two were packaged together and promoted with the Oral Fixation Tour. (Full article...
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Recently featured:

Thief II: The Metal Age – Three Beauties of the Present Day – Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

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