Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 January 11

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Today's featured article
Mathew Charles Lamb (1948–1976) was a Canadian spree killer. Seventeen days after his release from jail in June 1966, Lamb took a shotgun from his uncle's house and went on a shooting spree around his home-town of Windsor, Ontario, killing two strangers and wounding two more. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity in January 1967, so he avoided Canada's mandatory death penalty for capital murder, but was committed for an indefinite time in psychiatric care. He displayed a profound recovery over the course of six years at Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre's maximum security Oak Ridge unit. The Executive Council of Ontario released Lamb in early 1973 on the condition that he spend a year under the supervision of Dr Elliot Barker, his long-time psychiatrist at Oak Ridge. With Barker's encouragement, Lamb volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces in late 1973. He served with distinction in the Rhodesian Light Infantry and Special Air Service until he was killed in action on 7 November 1976, soon after his promotion to lance-corporal. He received what Newsweek called "a hero's funeral" in the Rhodesian capital, Salisbury, before his ashes were returned to Windsor. (more...) Recently featured: Brad Pitt – The Green Child – Elvis Presley Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that if the sea ginger coral (pictured) detects a sea fan growing nearby, it will send out "attack" branches to eventually smother it? ... that avant-garde musician Harry Roesli helped over 36,000 street children before his death in 2004? ... that Jamestown College, North Dakota's oldest post-secondary institution, was founded in 1883, six years before North Dakota became a U.S. state? ... that Muhsin al-Barazi, former prime minister of Syria, conducted secret negotiations with Israel and discussed the possibility of a summit between Ben-Gurion and al-Za'im in 1949? ... that Brad Sweet will be competing in both NASCAR stock car racing and World of Outlaws sprint car racing in 2012? ... that Tamil writer Bama had served as a Roman Catholic nun for seven years? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Malam Bacai Sanhá (pictured), President of Guinea-Bissau, dies in office at the age of 64. Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the Malaysian opposition and former Deputy Prime Minister, is acquitted of a sodomy charge. A hot air balloon crash near Carterton, New Zealand, kills 11 people. A suicide bombing in Damascus kills 26 people and wounds more than 60, according to Syrian officials. Two people are convicted of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the crime that led to a landmark change in double jeopardy law in the United Kingdom. Christopher Loeak is elected President of the Marshall Islands. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 11: Eugenio María de Hostos Day in Puerto Rico (1839); Proclamation of Independence in Morocco (1944) 1693 – An intensity XI earthquake, the most powerful in Italian history, struck the island of Sicily. 1879 – British forces under Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand without authorisation from the British Government, beginning the Anglo-Zulu War. 1923 – Troops from France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr Area to force the German Weimar Republic to pay its reparations in the aftermath of World War I. 1946 – Enver Hoxha, First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania, declared the People's Republic of Albania with himself as head of state. 1986 – The Gateway Bridge (pictured) in Brisbane, Australia, at the time the longest prestressed concrete free-cantilever bridge in the world, opened. More anniversaries: January 10 – January 11 – January 12 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 11, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A recruitment poster for the United States Navy from 1918. Prior to the outbreak of World War I, military recruitment in the US was conducted primarily by individual states. Upon entering the war, however, the federal government took on an increased role, using five basic appeals to these campaigns: patriotism (the most prevalent theme), job/career/education, adventure/challenge, social status, and travel.

Poster: Vojtech Preissig; Restoration: Lise Broer

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