Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 September 19

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Today's featured article
"Stark Raving Dad" is the first episode of the third season of American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 19, 1991. In the episode, main character Homer Simpson is sent to a mental institution, where he shares a room with a large white man named Leon Kompowsky who pretends to be Michael Jackson. Al Jean and Mike Reiss wrote the episode while Rich Moore served as director. Michael Jackson guest starred in the episode as the speaking voice of Leon Kompowsky. For contractual reasons, he was credited as John Jay Smith in the closing credits. Jackson pitched several story ideas for the episode and wrote a song that is featured in the plot. He also stipulated that he would provide Kompowsky's speaking voice, but his singing voice would be performed by a sound-alike (Kipp Lennon) because he wanted to play a joke on his brothers. "Stark Raving Dad" received generally positive reviews from critics, particularly for the writing and Jackson's performance. (more...) Recently featured: Second Ostend Raid – Gumbo – Sherman Minton Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the giant stele (section pictured) with which the Yongle Emperor meant to honor his father, never left the quarry? ... that the report National Science Foundation: Under the Microscope, by US Senator Tom Coburn, has generated controversy for portraying much scientific research as "silly"? ... that Jin Guangping, Jin Qizong and Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun, three generations of the same family who all studied the extinct Jurchen language and script, are direct descendants of the Qianlong Emperor? ... that A Day in the Life is an internet television documentary web series produced by Morgan Spurlock that represents Hulu's first original long-form programming venture? ... that Eduar Villanueva set a Venezuelan national record while competing in the men's 1500m event during the World Championships in Athletics held earlier this month in Daegu, South Korea? ... that Mircea Florian, seen as one of the four leading protest singers in Communist Romania in his folk rock years, pioneered minimal music in his career as a computer scientist? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
In Gaelic football, Dublin defeat Kerry to win the All-Ireland Senior Championship Final for the first time since 1995. The United Nations General Assembly accepts the credentials of the National Transitional Council to represent Libya in the assembly's current session. A race plane (pictured) crashes into a crowd of spectators at the Reno Air Races in the U.S. state of Nevada, killing nine people and injuring 69 others. Helle Thorning-Schmidt is designated to become the first female Prime Minister of Denmark after a parliamentary election. In a court case concerning the theft of Kevlar-related trade secrets, DuPont is awarded US$920 million in damages. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 19: Armed Forces Day in Chile; Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983); International Talk Like a Pirate Day 1863 – The Battle of Chickamauga began in northwestern Georgia and would end in the most significant Union defeat in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. 1940 – Polish resistance member Witold Pilecki (pictured) allowed himself to be captured by German forces and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp in order to gather intelligence. 1946 – The first Cannes Film Festival was held in Cannes, France, after a seven-year delay due to World War II. 1970 – Greek student Kostas Georgakis set himself on fire in Genoa, Italy, as a protest against the Greek military junta of Georgios Papadopoulos. 1985 – An 8.1 M_L earthquake struck Mexico City, killing at least nine thousand people and leaving up to 100,000 homeless. More anniversaries: September 18 – September 19 – September 20 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 19, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured list

In the English coastal city of Brighton and Hove, more than 30 former places of worship have been demolished for various reasons (Connaught Institute pictured during demolition in 2010). The area, originally a collection of villages around the fishing port of Brighthelmston and its neighbour Hove, has a long history of Christian worship, and many denominations founded churches and chapels as the town grew into the fashionable resort of Brighton and absorbed its neighbours. Pressure for land and redevelopment claimed many churches, such as Charles Busby's Greek Revival St Margaret's proprietary chapel and the landmark Dials Congregational Church; others, like the Gothic Revival Christ Church and the "graceful" Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion Chapel, suffered structural or fire damage; and others became unviable as congregations declined. The "Wagner churches"—a series of eleven 19th-century Anglican churches in poor areas, founded and paid for by the Vicar of Brighton Henry Michell Wagner and his son—have fared badly: six no longer survive. In many cases, displaced worshippers have joined the congregations of other churches, whose parishes have been enlarged. (more...)

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Today's featured picture

Fellwalkers on Catbells (or "Cat Bells"), a fell in England's Lake District, on the western shore of Derwentwater. It is a popular route for people of all ages, and visitors often combine an ascent of the fell with a sail on Derwentwater. Strong walkers can continue along the ridge to take in the fells of Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson.

Photo: David Iliff

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