Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 December 3

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The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is the labor organization representing professional American football players in the National Football League (NFL). Founded in 1956, it was established to provide players with formal representation to negotiate compensation and the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. In the early years of the NFL, contractual negotiations took place between players and management; team owners were reluctant to engage in collective bargaining. A series of strikes and lockouts have occurred throughout the union's existence largely due to monetary and benefit disputes between the players and the owners. League rules that punished players for playing in rival football leagues resulted in litigation; the success of such lawsuits impelled the NFL to negotiate some work rules and minimum payments with the NFLPA. It was recognized by the NFL as the official bargaining agent for players in 1968. In addition to conducting labor negotiations, the NFLPA represents and protects the rights of players, ensures that the terms of the collective bargaining agreement are adhered to by the league and the teams, and negotiates and monitors retirement and insurance benefits. (Full article...)

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From Wikipedia's newest content:

The Big 4, with a Snowman and the Snowdog themed installation

  • ... that the Big 4 outside Channel 4's headquarters in London has been covered with umbrellas, dressed as a wheelchair paralympian, made to "breathe" and has had a snowman fly over it (pictured)?
  • ... that the nectar of the hoary banksia turns olive green and then black with age?
  • ... that, having played 465 league matches, Jaroslav Šilhavý holds the record for the most appearances in top-flight Czech football?
  • ... that in 2000, the holding company of chef Jean-Christophe Novelli's restaurant Maison Novelli ran up a debt of £200,000 and went into voluntary liquidation?
  • ... that Kommercekollegiet was established in 1704 for the purpose of advising the Danish monarch on matters related to trade and industry?
  • ... that William Morris described decorating Sir Lowthian Bell's mansion as "ministering to the swinish luxury of the rich"?
  • In the news

    On this day...

    December 3: International Day of People with Disability

    Richard Burton and Julie Andrews in Camelot

  • 1834 – The German Customs Union instituted the first regular census in Germany.
  • 1854 – At least 22 people were killed and 35 others were injured when rebelling miners at the Eureka Stockade in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, clashed violently with the police and the military.
  • 1960 – The musical Camelot (Julie Andrews and Richard Burton pictured), which would become associated with John F. Kennedy's presidency, opened on Broadway.
  • 1984Methyl isocyanate and other toxic chemicals were accidentally released from the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, causing the world's largest industrial disaster.
  • 1997 – Representatives from 121 countries signed the Ottawa Treaty banning the use of anti-personnel land mines.

    More anniversaries: December 2 December 3 December 4

    It is now December 3, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page
  • From today's featured list

    Wilt Champberlain kneeling on one knee with a baskeball resting on the other while wearing a Harlem Globetrotter uniform

    Mr. Basketball USA, also known as ESPN RISE National Player of the Year and formerly known as the EA SPORTS National Player of the Year, is an award presented to the United States boys' high school basketball national player of the year by ESPN HS. Before 1996, retroactive recognition has been determined for honorees going back to 1955's selectee Wilt Chamberlain (pictured). From 1996 to 2002 the selections were made by Student Sports and from 2003 to 2009 by EA Sports. According to information posted online by ESPN HS, "Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential, and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships." Furthermore, selection uses "on-the-floor performance" without regard to off-the-court criteria. Current selections are made through a season-long polling process of a 10-member expert panel with a final year-end ballot to determine the winner. The panel is polled weekly for a list of the top seven national player of the year candidates regardless of graduating class. (Full list...)

    Today's featured picture

    Leaf tissue structure

    The fine scale structure of a leaf featuring the major tissues; the upper and lower epithelia (and associated cuticles), the palisade and spongy mesophyll and the guard cells of the stoma. Vascular tissue (veins) is not shown. Key plant cell organelles (the cell wall, nucleus, chloroplasts, vacuole and cytoplasm) are also shown.

    Image: Richard Wheeler

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