Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 April 27

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From today's featured article

Russell T Davies (born 1963) is a Welsh television producer and screenwriter notable for the 2005 revival of the classic British science fiction series Doctor Who. Born in Swansea, Davies joined the BBC's children's department on a part-time basis in 1985 and eventually wrote two series for the network, Dark Season and Century Falls. As a freelance writer in the mid-1990s, Davies' early scripts explored concepts of religion and sexuality among various backdrops: Springhill was a soap drama about a Catholic family in contemporary Liverpool; The Grand explored society's opinion of contemporary subjects during the interwar period; and Queer as Folk, his first prolific series, recreated his experiences in the Manchester gay scene. Works during the 2000s include Bob & Rose, which portrayed a gay man who fell in love with a woman, The Second Coming, which focused on the second coming and deicide of Jesus Christ, and Casanova, an adaptation of the Venetian lover's complete memoirs. Davies became the executive producer of the revived Doctor Who series in 2005 and oversaw a surge in popularity that led to the production of two spin-off series: Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that the ichnogenus Chondrites (pictured) can be used as an indicator of anoxia in sediments?

... that horse racing commentator Lord Oaksey was once captain of Eton College's boxing team?

... that the Norwegian steamer Kommandøren was torpedoed and sunk by a drunken crewman on a German E-boat?

... that Blaine Wilson has won the most all-around titles at the USA Gymnastics National Championships?

... that the album Solo by Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba includes songs inspired by John Coltrane's Giant Steps?

... that almost all tunicates of the species Pyura pachydermatina house at least one parasitic ribbon worm?

... that Vester Egede Church displays a relief of "Luxuria", a woman standing on her head, nurturing a winged dragon and a lion?

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Today's articles for improvement

Novelty architecture – Adventure Galley – Eureka (word)

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In the news

The 11th-century minaret (pictured) of the Great Mosque of Aleppo in Aleppo, Syria, is destroyed during civil war fighting.

At least 336 people are killed and 1,000 injured when a building collapses in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh.

British businessman James McCormick is convicted of fraud for selling fake bomb detectors to military and police forces in several countries.

In association football, Manchester United win the Premier League.

Horacio Cartes is elected President of Paraguay, while his Colorado Party wins a plurality in the Congress.

Orbital Sciences Corporation launches the maiden flight of the Antares rocket, carrying a mockup of the Cygnus spacecraft into orbit.

Recent deaths: George Jones – Shamshad Begum – Richie Havens

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On this day...

April 27

1522 – Italian War of 1521–1526: The combined forces of Spain and the Papal States defeated a French and Venetian army at the Battle of Bicocca.

1667 – John Milton, blind and impoverished, sold the copyright of Paradise Lost for £10.

1777 – American Revolutionary War: British Army regulars defeated Patriot militias in the Battle of Ridgefield, galvanizing resistance in the Connecticut Colony.

1810 – Ludwig van Beethoven composed his "Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor", better known as "Für Elise", one of his most popular compositions.

1865 – An explosion destroyed the steamboat SS Sultana (drawing pictured) on the Mississippi River, killing an estimated 1,800 of the 2,400 passengers.

1967 – The Expo 67 world's fair opened in Montreal, with 62 nations and more than 50 million visitors ultimately attending.

1993 – Members of the Zambia national football team were killed in a plane crash en route to play a 1994 World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.

More anniversaries: April 26 – April 27 – April 28

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It is now April 27, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

Jeremy Doyle (1983–2011) was an Australian wheelchair basketball player. Left paraplegic after a car accident, Doyle was classified as a 1 point player. While representing his country Doyle won two gold medals, first at the 2009 Paralympic World Cup and again at the 2010 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship.

Photo: Sport the Library

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