Wikipedia:Main Page history/2017 December 12

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From today's featured article

William Beach Thomas (1868–1957) was a British author and journalist who worked as a war correspondent and wrote about nature and country life. After a short-lived career as a schoolmaster, he began to write articles for newspapers and periodicals, as well as books. During the early part of the First World War he defied military authorities by reporting news stories from the Western Front for his employer, the Daily Mail. He was briefly imprisoned before being granted official accreditation as a war correspondent. His book With the British on the Somme (1917) portrayed the English soldier in a very favourable light. Both France and Britain rewarded him with knighthoods after the war, but Beach Thomas regretted some of his wartime output. His primary interest as an adult was in rural matters. He was an advocate for the creation of national parks in England and Wales, and mourned the decline of traditional village society. He wrote extensively, particularly for The Observer newspaper and The Spectator, a conservative magazine. His book The English Landscape (1938) includes selections from his contributions to Country Life magazine. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

Yang Shoujing

... that Yang Shoujing (pictured) published the most complete and scholarly historical atlas of China of his time, and "revolutionized" Japanese calligraphy?
... that a highrise building replacing part of The Seattle Times' headquarters will have historic headlines etched into its facade?
... that Abadi Bano Begum, a prominent voice in the Indian independence movement, pawned her personal jewelry to educate her sons?
... that feather stars such as Florometra serratissima use their arms to catch food and also to swim?
... that Célia Posser issued the first private radio broadcast licenses in São Tomé and Príncipe?
... that the North China Craton was partially destroyed by thinning?
... that the Nitze criteria for a successful ballistic missile defense gained "the status of holy writ" within the Reagan administration?
... that This is found in southern Australia, is attracted to decomposing seaweed, and has an unusual mating position?

In the news

Haider al-Abadi

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (pictured) declares victory against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, after capturing the group's remaining territory in the country.
The Parliament of Australia passes legislation to allow same-sex marriage.
Halszkaraptor, a duck-like dinosaur genus thought to have been semiaquatic, is described from a Mongolian fossil.
U.S. President Donald Trump announces that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
The International Olympic Committee bans Russia from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics, following investigation into doping at the 2014 Games.

On this day...

December 12: Yule Lads begin arrival in Iceland

Jomo Kenyatta

1866 – England's worst mining disaster occurred when a series of explosions caused by flammable gases ripped through the Oaks Colliery.
1911 – The final Delhi Durbar, a mass assembly at Coronation Park to mark the succession of an Emperor or Empress of India, took place.
1942 – World War II: German troops began Operation Winter Storm, an attempt to relieve encircled Axis forces during the Battle of Stalingrad.
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.

Edvard Munch (b. 1863) · Henrietta Swan Leavitt (d. 1921) · Yasujirō Ozu (b. 1903; d. 1963)

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Today's featured picture

A female Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) photographed in Lancashire. This small passerine bird in the finch family was listed in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. It breeds across Europe and temperate Asia, where it is mainly resident, though some birds may migrate. Birds of this species feed mainly on seeds and the buds of fruit trees.

Photograph: Francis Franklin

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