Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 August 12

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From today's featured article

California State Route 52 (SR 52) is a state highway in San Diego County, California, that extends from La Jolla Parkway at Interstate 5 (I-5) in La Jolla, San Diego, to SR 67 in Santee. A freeway for its entire length, it serves as a major east–west route through the northern part of the city of San Diego and connects the major north–south freeways of the county. SR 52 passes north of the Rose Canyon Fault before traversing Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar). East of Santo Road and west of SR 125, the highway goes through Mission Trails Regional Park, a large open preserve. Plans for a route between La Jolla and Santee date from 1959, and SR 52 was officially designated in the 1964 state highway renumbering. Construction of the freeway east of Santo Road encountered delays from environmentalists over the endangered Least Bell's Vireo songbird, which faced habitat destruction, as well as those concerned with the destruction of homes and businesses. The extension to Mission Gorge Road opened in 1993, but funding issues delayed the completion of the entire route to Santee until 2011, more than fifty years after construction began. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that the architects who designed the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot (pictured) in Missoula, Montana also designed the Grand Central Terminal in New York City?

... that Prince Pierre, Duke of Penthièvre, fought for the Union Navy during the American Civil War even though he was French royalty?

... that the Old Guard was a secret, paramilitary organisation in Australia which had around 30,000 members at the peak of its popularity?

... that when the small Cheslatta River in British Columbia was turned into the Nechako Reservoir's spillway, three Cheslatta Carrier Nation graveyards were washed away?

... that the noise made by large numbers of double drummers has been described as "almost unbearable"?

... that Max Ehrich listens to the music of John Mayer and Bruno Mars to get into the mind of his character, Fenmore Baldwin, on The Young and the Restless?

... that the Mini Lisa is a replica of the Mona Lisa that is smaller than the width of a human hair?

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In the news

More than 160 people are killed in flash floods across Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Jeff Bezos (pictured) announces the purchase of The Washington Post for US$250 million.

Major League Baseball announces the suspension of thirteen players, pending appeal, for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Enele Sopoaga is elected Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

The World Aquatics Championships conclude with the United States winning the most medals, including six gold medals by Missy Franklin.

Robert Mugabe is re-elected as President of Zimbabwe.

In rugby union, the Chiefs defeat the Brumbies to win the Super Rugby championship.

Former U.S. intelligence analyst Edward Snowden is granted temporary asylum in Russia.

Recent deaths: Karen Black

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On this day...

August 12

1676 – Puritans and their Native American allies killed Wampanoag sachem Metacomet (known as "King Philip"), essentially ending King Philip's War.

1883 – The last known quagga (pictured), a subspecies of the plains zebra, died at the Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam.

1952 – Thirteen Jewish poets in Moscow were executed for espionage based on false confessions.

1969 – Riots erupted in the Bogside area of Derry and spread across much of Northern Ireland.

2000 – The Oscar-class submarine K-141 Kursk of the Russian Navy exploded and sank in the Barents Sea during a military exercise.

More anniversaries: August 11 – August 12 – August 13

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From today's featured list

More than 100 companies have been acquired by computer software and web search engine company Google. On average, Google has acquired more than one company per week since 2010. Google's largest acquisition was the purchase of Motorola Mobility, a mobile device manufacturing company, for $12.5 billion. Like Google itself, most of the firms acquired by Google are based in the United States, and, in turn, most of these are based in or around the San Francisco Bay Area. Many Google products originated as services provided by companies that Google has since acquired. For example, Google's first acquisition was the Usenet company Deja News, and its services became Google Groups. Similarly, Google acquired Dodgeball, a social networking service company, and eventually replaced it with Google Latitude. Other acquisitions include web application company JotSpot, which became Google Sites; Voice over IP company GrandCentral, which became Google Voice; and video hosting service company Next New Networks, which became YouTube Next Lab and Audience Development Group. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset, England. Though privately owned, it is open to the public.

Photograph: Saffron Blaze

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