Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 February 15

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Today's featured article
John Wark (born 1957) is a Scottish former footballer who spent most of his playing time with Ipswich Town. He won a record four Player of the Year awards before becoming one of the four inaugural members of the club's Hall of Fame. Wark had long spells at the club, at both the start and end of his career, and a third, brief interlude dividing his briefer periods at Liverpool and Middlesbrough. A versatile player, Wark played most of his professional games as a midfielder, although he sometimes played as a central defender and on occasion as a striker. Born in Glasgow, Wark represented Scotland in international football, winning 29 caps and scoring seven goals. This included selection for Scotland in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in which he made three appearances and scored twice. During his playing career, Wark appeared in the film Escape to Victory. Since retiring as a professional player in 1996, he has continued to work for Ipswich Town—since April 2009 in the corporate hospitality department. His autobiography was published in 2009. (more...) Recently featured: Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Whitechapel murders – Symphony of Sorrowful Songs Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that on the first ride of the first internal combustion motorcycle, the Damler Reitwagen (pictured), the seat caught fire? ... that Ch. Obo II is considered to be the father of the modern American Cocker Spaniel? ... that the Socialite application of the NECA Project allowed "face to face", emotion-based interactions between animated agents on the internet? ... that the French socialist parliamentarian Ernest Lafont was expelled from Soviet Russia on the orders of Leon Trotsky? ... that crime writer Dick Francis was a notable figure in Welsh horse racing, becoming British Champion Jockey in 1954? ... that Winston Churchill, after being driven down the Niagara Parkway, described it as "the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world"? ... that Romy Rosemont, known for her portrayal of Carole Hudson in Glee, was due to appear alongside her husband, Stephen Root, in Red State, but had to withdraw due to scheduling difficulties? ... that Ham Hill Hillfort is one of the largest hillforts in Britain, and is the only one with a pub in its interior? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Lady Antebellum (pictured) wins five Grammys, including Song and Record of the Year, and Arcade Fire wins Album of the Year at the 53rd Grammy Awards. The King's Speech wins seven awards, including Best Film, at the 64th British Academy Film Awards. Anti-government protests are held in Algeria and Yemen amid similar protests across the Arab world. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigns and transfers authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, following eighteen days of protests. Scientists announce the discovery of a 3.2-million-year-old bone of the species Australopithecus afarensis, which indicates that the hominid walked upright. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 15: Mawlid (Sunni Islam, 2011); Candlemas in Eastern Christianity; Flag Day in Canada; National Day in Serbia 1493 – Christopher Columbus wrote an open letter describing his discoveries and the unexpected items he came across in the New World, which was widely distributed upon his return to Portugal. 1949 – Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux began excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves in the West Bank region of Jordan, the location of the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls. 1965 – Canada adopted the Maple Leaf flag (pictured), replacing the Canadian Red Ensign. 1971 – The British pound sterling and the Irish pound were decimalised on what is called Decimal Day. 1979 – Don Dunstan resigned as Premier of South Australia, ending a decade of sweeping social liberalisation. 2003 – In one of the largest anti-war rallies in history, millions around the world in approximately 800 cities took part in protests against the impending invasion of Iraq. More anniversaries: February 14 – February 15 – February 16 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 15 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A female Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), a passerine bird native to Australasia. The Willie Wagtail is a common and familiar bird throughout much of its range. Males and females are coloured with almost entirely black upperparts and white underparts. The common name is derived from its habit of wagging its tail horizontally when foraging on the ground.

Photo: Fir0002

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