The King James Version is an English translation of the Holy Bible,
commissioned for the benefit of the Church of England at the behest of
King James I of England. First published in 1611, it has had a
profound impact on not only most English translations that have
followed it, but also on English literature as a whole. The works of
famous authors such as John Bunyan, John Milton, Herman Melville, John
Dryden, and William Wordsworth are replete with inspiration apparently
derived from the King James Version. Bibles from the English Revised
Version to the New American Standard Bible, the Revised Standard
Version, and the New King James Version are revisions of its text; it
has deeply influenced Bibles such as the New International Version
that do not claim to be revisions of its text. It is no longer in
copyright in most parts of the world but is under perpetual Crown
copyright in the United Kingdom. It is considered to be an
instrumental founding block of modern English, and remains one of the
most widely-read literary works from its time, surpassed only by the
works of playwright William Shakespeare.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version_of_the_Bible
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1859:
Constantin von Tischendorf found the Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th century
uncial manuscript of the New Testament, in a monastery at the foot of
Mount Sinai in Egypt.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus)
1862:
Bacardi, one of the world's largest rum producer, was founded as a
small distillery in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacardi)
1899:
The Philippine-American War began.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine-American_War)
1945:
Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin met at the
Yalta Conference.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalta_Conference)
1957:
USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, logged her 60,000th
nautical mile, matching the endurance of the fictional Nautilus
described in Jules Verne's novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nautilus_%28SSN-571%29)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"Our ideals, laws and customs should be based on the proposition that
each generation, in turn, becomes the custodian rather than the
absolute owner of our resources and each generation has the obligation
to pass this inheritance on to the future." -- Charles Lindbergh
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh)
Mark Latham is an Australian politician and was leader of the federal
parliamentary Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition in
Australia from December 2003 to January 2005. He succeeded Simon Crean
as leader in December 2003, defeating former leader Kim Beazley in a
close vote. Latham captured national attention with his innovative
policies and approaches, but also attracted controversy regarding his
interesting past. In the October 2004 federal election, Latham and his
party were soundly defeated by the incumbent Prime Minister John
Howard. Ill-health and deteriorating relations with his own party
forced him to step down as Leader on 18 January 2005.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Latham
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1488:
Bartholomeu Diaz of Portugal sailed around the Cape of Good Hope at
the southern tip of Africa and landed in Mossel Bay.
1867:
Crown Prince Mutsuhito ascended to the Japanese throne, beginning the
Meiji Era.
1959:
Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash on
"The Day The Music Died".
1966:
The Soviet spacecraft Luna 9 became the first probe to land on the
Moon and transmit pictures from the lunar surface to Earth.
1969:
Yasser Arafat became the leader of the Palestine Liberation
Organization.
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"Anything different is good." -- Bill Murray as "Phil" in Groundhog
Day
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_%28movie%29)
An H II region is a cloud of glowing gas, sometimes several hundred
light years across, in which star formation is taking place. Young,
hot, blue stars which have formed from the gas emit copious amounts
of ultraviolet light, ionising the nebula surrounding them. H II
regions may give birth to thousands of stars over a period of several
million years. In the end, supernova explosions and strong stellar
winds from the most massive stars in the resulting star cluster will
evaporate the gases of the H II region, leaving behind a cluster such
as the Pleiades. H II (pronounced "H two") regions are named for the
large amount of ionised atomic hydrogen they contain, referred to as
H II by astronomers (H I being neutral atomic hydrogen, and H2 being
molecular hydrogen). H II regions can be seen out to considerable
distances in the universe, and study of extragalactic H II regions is
important in determining the distance and chemical composition of
other galaxies.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H_II_region
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
Today:
Candlemas (Western Christianity); Groundhog Day in Canada and the
United States.
962:
Pope John XII crowned Otto the Great as Holy Roman Emperor, the first
in nearly 40 years.
1848:
The Mexican-American War ended with the signing of the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, granting the United States the Mexican Cession.
1925: Medical supplies to combat an outbreak of diphtheria reached Nome,
Alaska on dog sleds, inspiring the annual Iditarod race across
Alaska.
1943:
The Battle of Stalingrad concluded, with 91,000 tired and starving
German soldiers taken captive by the Red Army.
1990:
President F.W. de Klerk declared the end of Apartheid in South
Africa.
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch" -- American proverb
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/American_proverbs)
Mahatma Gandhi was the charismatic intellectual and mass-movement
leader who brought the cause of independence for British colonial
India to world attention. His ideas, especially the satyagraha model
of non-violent protest, have influenced both nationalist and internal
movements throughout the world. By means of non-violent civil
disobedience, Gandhi helped bring about India's independence from
British rule, inspiring other colonial peoples to work for their own
independence and ultimately dismantle the British Empire and replace
it with the Commonwealth. Gandhi's principle of satyagraha ('"truth
force"), often roughly translated as "way of truth" or "pursuit of
truth," has inspired other democratic activists, including Martin
Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. He often stated his values were
simple, drawn from traditional Hindu beliefs: truth (satya), and
non-violence (ahimsa).
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1796:
The capital of Upper Canada was moved from Newark (now
Niagara-on-the-Lake) to York (now Toronto), which was judged to be
less vulnerable to attack by the Americans.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Canada)
1884:
The first fascicle of the Oxford English Dictionary was published.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary)
1946:
Norwegian politician Trygve Lie was elected the first UN
Secretary-General.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trygve_Lie)
1958:
Egypt and Syria merged to form the United Arab Republic.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Republic)
2003:
The NASA Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during
reentry into the Earth's atmosphere on its 28th and final mission.
This was the second total loss of a Space Shuttle.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this
world of sin and woe... No one pretends that democracy is perfect or
all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of
government except all those other forms that have been tried from time
to time." -- Winston Churchill
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill)
Super Mario 64 was one of the first video games released for the
Nintendo 64 and was the console's flagship killer application. It
debuted in Japan on June 23, 1996 and in the U.S. on September 29,
1996. As the first 3D game in the Mario franchise, Super Mario 64
defined the 3D platformer, much as the franchise's original game,
Super Mario Bros., defined the 2D sidescrolling platformer. In leaping
from 2D to 3D, Super Mario 64 replaced the linear obstacle courses of
traditional platform games with vast worlds where the objective is to
collect special items — in this case stars — which are
awarded for exploration or successfully carrying out tasks. While
doing so, it managed nonetheless to preserve the feel of earlier Mario
games, including many game play elements and characters from them. It
is considered by many to be one of the greatest games of all time.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_64
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1606:
Guy Fawkes was executed for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot
against the English Parliament and King James I.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes)
1747:
The first clinic specializing in the treatment of venereal diseases
was opened.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexually-transmitted_infection)
1876:
The United States ordered all Native Americans to move into
reservations.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American)
1946:
In Yugoslavia, a new constitution established the six constituent
republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro,
Serbia and Slovenia.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslavia)
1961:
Aboard Mercury-Redstone 2, Ham the Chimp became the first higher
primate in outer space.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Redstone_2)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this
world of sin and woe... No one pretends that democracy is perfect or
all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of
government except all those other forms that have been tried from time
to time." -- Winston Churchill
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill)
The Laal language is a still-unclassified language spoken by about 300
people in three villages in the Moyen-Chari prefecture of Chad on
opposite banks of the Chari River, called Gori, Damtar, and Mailao. It
may be a language isolate, in which case it would represent an
isolated survival of an earlier language group of central Africa. It
is unwritten (except by linguists). According to SIL-Chad missionary
David Faris, it is in danger of extinction, with most people under 25
shifting to the locally more widespread Baguirmi language. This
language first came to the attention of academic linguists in 1977,
through Pascal Boyeldieu's fieldwork in 1975 and 1978. His fieldwork
was based for the most part on a single speaker, M. Djouam Kadi of
Damtar.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laal_language
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1649:
King Charles I was beheaded for high treason in front of the
Banqueting House in London during the English Civil War.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_England)
1820:
Edward Bransfield of the Royal Navy discovered Antarctica.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bransfield)
1933:
Adolf Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler)
1948:
Nathuram Godse bowed before Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of India,
wished him well, then shot him to death with a Beretta pistol.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathuram_Godse)
1994:
The Buffalo Bills became the first team in the National Football
League to play in four consecutive Super Bowls.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bills)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
Time's glory is to command contending kings,<br> To unmask falsehood,
and bring truth to light. <br> -- William Shakespeare --
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare)
The Pulaski Skyway is a cantilever truss structure in New Jersey
carrying U.S. Highways 1 and 9 between the far east side of Newark and
Tonnelle Circle in Jersey City, passing through Kearny. The Skyway
spans the Passaic River and Hackensack River, the New Jersey Turnpike,
many local roads, and several railroads. It is named for General
Kazimierz Pulaski, the Polish military leader who helped the United
States in the Revolutionary War. It is known as a 'skyway' because it
travels high (41.1 meters/135 feet at its highest point) above the
meadows to avoid drawbridges across the two navigable rivers. The
Skyway was opened in 1932 as the last part of the Route 1 Extension,
considered by many to be the first "super highway" in the United
States, and is still in use in its original form, with only minor
changes.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulaski_Skyway
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1845:
The Raven, a popular poem by Edgar Allan Poe, was first published in
the New York Evening Mirror.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe)
1856:
The Victoria Cross was first awarded, recognizing acts of valour
during the Crimean War.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Cross)
1886:
Carl Benz received a patent for the first successful gasoline-driven
automobile.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Benz)
1959:
The Disney animated film Sleeping Beauty was first released.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeping_Beauty)
2002:
In his State of the Union Address, U.S. President George W. Bush
described Iraq, Iran and North Korea as "regimes that sponsor terror",
forming an "Axis of Evil".
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_evil)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
Wise men don't need to prove their point; <br> men who need to prove
their point aren't wise.<br> The Master has no possessions.<br> The
more he does for others, the happier he is. <br> The more he gives to
others, the wealthier he is. <br> The Tao nourishes by not forcing.
<br> By not dominating, the Master leads. <br> -- Lao Zi --
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lao_Zi)
Since the featured article by email went silent 6 weeks ago, I've received
many emails asking me what happened. I apologize for taking so long to
respond. I'll attempt to explain why.
The featured article by email was the brainchild of Kate. It was she who had
the idea, set it up, and maintained it. In December, Kate left Wikipedia.
After she left, there was no one to maintain it, so it went silent. It came
at a bad time for me, as so I have only recently gotten around to fixing the
situation.
Not long ago, I began looking for someone to replace Kate. I have found a
volunteer, so I believe that you can expect to see the
featured-article-by-email return very soon.
Sincerely Yours,
Mark Pellegrini
Wikipedia Featured Article director
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Raul654
The Abbey Theatre, also known as the National Theatre of Ireland, is located
in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on
December 27, 1904 and, despite losing its original building to a fire in
1951, it has continued to stage performances more or less continuously to
the present day. The Abbey was the first state-subsidised theatre in the
English-speaking world; from 1925 onwards it has received an annual subsidy
from the Irish Free State. In its early years, the theatre was closely
associated with the writers of the Celtic revival, many of whom were
involved in its foundation and most of whom had plays staged there. The
Abbey served as a nursery for many of the leading Irish playwrights and
actors of the 20th century. In addition, through its extensive programme of
touring abroad and its high visibility to foreign, particularly North
American, audiences, it has become an important part of the Irish tourist
industry.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Theatre
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1896
Glasgow Subway, the third oldest metro system in the world, began
operations in Glasgow, Scotland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Subway
1911
Roald Amundsen and his team became the first people to reach the South
Pole.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Amundsen
1918
King Väinö I of Finland renounced the throne after the defeat of Imperial
Germany in World War I.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%E4in%F6_I_of_Finland
1989
Chile held its first free election in 16 years, and elected Patricio
Aylwin as the new President of the Republic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricio_Aylwin
1995
The Dayton Agreement was signed in Paris, France to end the Yugoslav
wars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_wars
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start
slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can
make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway... And you
can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!"
--Anne Frank (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anne_Frank)
The Saturn V was a multistage liquid-fuel expendable rocket used by
NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs. It was the largest production model
of the Saturn family of rockets, although larger models were
theorised. The rocket was designed under the direction of Wernher von
Braun and Arthur Rudolph at the Marshall Space Flight Center, with the
lead contractors being The Boeing Company, North American Aviation,
Douglas Aircraft Company and IBM. On all but one of its flights, the
Saturn V consisted of three stages - the S-IC first stage, S-II second
stage and the S-IVB third stage. All three stages used liquid oxygen
as an oxidizer. The first stage used RP-1 for fuel, while the second
and third stages used liquid hydrogen. During the course of an average
mission the rocket was used for a total of about 20 minutes. Thirteen
Saturn V rockets were launched from 1967 to 1973, with a perfect
launch record. (Although Apollo 6 and Apollo 13 did lose engines, the
onboard computers were able to compensate.) The main payloads of the
rocket were the Apollo spacecraft which carried the NASA astronauts to
the Moon. It also launched the Skylab space station.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_V
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1868:
The first traffic lights were installed outside the Houses of
Parliament in London, England.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/traffic_light)
1901:
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded, on the anniversary of the 1896
death of their creator, Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize)
1936:
Edward VIII, the only British monarch to have voluntarily relinquished
the throne, signed his instrument of abdication.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII_of_the_United_Kingdom)
1965:
The Grateful Dead played its first concert at the Fillmore in San
Francisco.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grateful_Dead)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to
complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by
what is deepest in themselves." -- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pierre_Teilhard_de_Chardin)