4chan is an English-language imageboard website based on the Japanese Futaba
Channel. Launched on October 1, 2003 by "moot" (allegedly "Christopher
Poole"), its boards are primarily used for the posting of pictures and
discussion of manga and anime. Users generally post anonymously, and the
site has been linked to Anonymous culture and Project Chanology. The
Guardian describes 4chan as "at once brilliant, ridiculous and alarming".
The "/b/" board is by far 4chan's most popular forum. It is known as the
"random" board; there are minimal rules on posted content. It is thus
notorious on the Internet;
Gawker.com once claimed in jest that "reading /b/
will melt your brain". The site has generated broad media attention, and its
members have been responsible for the formation and popularization of
Internet memes such as lolcats, rickrolling, and the popularity of the Tay
Zonday song "Chocolate Rain". It has also received media attention for its
attacks against other websites and Internet users, and for the threats of
real world violence that have been posted on it.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4chan
_________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1301:
The Árpád dynasty, who ruled in Hungary since the late 9th century, ended
with the death of King Andrew III.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81rp%C3%A1d_dynasty)
1724:
Philip V, the first Bourbon ruler of Spain, abdicated the throne to his
eldest son Louis.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_V_of_Spain)
1761:
The Afghans led by Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the French-supplied and
trained Maratha troops at the Third Battle of Panipat in Panipat,
present-day Haryana, India.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Panipat_(1761)<http://en.wikipedi…
)
1814:
Sweden and Denmark–Norway signed the Treaty of Kiel, whereby Frederick VI of
Denmark, a loser in the Napoleonic Wars, ceded Norway to Sweden in return
for the Swedish holdings in Pomerania.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Kiel)
2004:
The national flag of Georgia, the so-called Five Cross Flag, was restored to
official use after a hiatus of some 500 years.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Georgia_(country)<http://en.wikiped…
)
_______________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
photogenic (adj) 1. Generated or caused by light.
2. Producing or emitting light,
phosphorescent.
3. Looking good when photographed.
(
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/photogenic)
______________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
At no time are we ever in such complete possession of a journey, down to its
last nook and cranny, as when we are busy with preparations for it. After
that, there remains only the journey itself, which is nothing but the
process through which we lose our ownership of it. --Yukio Mishima
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima)