Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 February 2

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
Chew Stoke is a small village and civil parish in the Chew Valley, in Somerset, England, about 8 miles (13 km) south of Bristol. It is at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, a region designated by the United Kingdom as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is within the Bristol/Bath green belt. The parish includes the hamlet of Breach Hill, which is approximately 2 miles (3 km) southwest of Chew Stoke itself. Chew Stoke has a long history, as shown by the number and range of its heritage-listed buildings. The village is at the northern end of Chew Valley Lake, which was created in the 1950s, close to a dam, pumping station, sailing club, and fishing lodge. A tributary of the River Chew, which rises in Strode, runs through the village. The population of 905 is served by one shop, two public houses, a primary school and a bowling club. Together with Chew Magna, it forms the ward of Chew Valley North in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset. Chew Valley School and its associated leisure centre are less than a mile (1.6 km) from Chew Stoke. The village has some areas of light industry but is largely agricultural; many residents commute to nearby cities for employment. (more...) Recently featured: German women's national football team – Liberty Head nickel – Cyathus Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that motifs of joy in the strings connect recitative and chorale in a movement of the Bach cantata for Purification, Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BWV 125, on the Nunc dimittis canticle of Simeon (pictured)? ... that although "A Scandal in Belgravia", the first episode of the second series of Sherlock, was well-received by reviewers, the BBC got complaints for showing its nude scene too early in the evening? ... that current Canberra Capitals players Molly Lewis and Mikaela Dombkins both played for the AIS and Sydney Uni Flames? ... that author Lucy O'Brien was criticized for giving too much emphasis to singer Madonna's discography in the biography Madonna: Like an Icon? ... that Basil Salvadore D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese from 1965 until his death in 1996, was the longest-serving bishop in the diocese's history? ... that Ciudad Deportiva Millito Navarro, a multi-sport complex currently being built in Ponce, Puerto Rico, is named after Emilio Navarro, the first Puerto Rican to play in Negro league baseball? ... that the First Congregational Church of Litchfield, now regarded as iconic, was replaced in 1873 after being said to have "not a single line or feature ... suggesting taste or beauty"? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Victoria Azarenka More than 70 people are killed in crowd violence following a football match in Port Said, Egypt. Queen Elizabeth II rescinds Fred Goodwin's knighthood due to his role in the Royal Bank of Scotland's near-collapse. In tennis, Victoria Azarenka (pictured) and Novak Djokovic win the women's and men's singles titles, respectively, at the Australian Open. The European Men's Handball Championship concludes with Denmark defeating Serbia in the final. The European Union and 22 member nations sign the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, resulting in the resignation of the treaty's rapporteur and protests across Poland. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 2: Groundhog Day in Canada and the United States 1207 – Terra Mariana, comprising present-day Estonia and Latvia, was established as a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. 1659 – Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town, produced the first bottle of South African wine (vineyard in Stellenbosch pictured). 1848 – The Mexican–American War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which gave 1.36 million square kilometres (530,000 sq mi) of Mexican territory known as the Mexican Cession to the United States in exchange for US$15 million. 1920 – The signing of the Treaty of Tartu ended the Estonian War of Independence, with Russia agreeing to recognize the independence of Estonia and renounce in perpetuity all rights to that territory. 1974 – The F-16 Fighting Falcon, one of the most popular jet fighters ever built, had its first flight. 1982 – The Syrian army bombarded the town of Hama in order to quell a revolt by the Muslim Brotherhood, killing about 7,000–25,000 people. More anniversaries: February 1 – February 2 – February 3 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 2, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey easily identifiable by its angled wing and distinctive forked tail. It is widely distributed through the temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia and Oceania, with the temperate region populations tending to be migratory.

Photo: Benjamint444

Recently featured: Niobium crystals and cube – Autofluorescence in tissue paper – Great Court of Baalbek

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.