Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 February 4

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From today's featured article

"Damien" is the tenth episode of the first season of the animated television series South Park. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the U.S. on February 4, 1998. In the episode, Damien is sent by his father Satan to find Jesus and arrange a boxing match between the two. Most South Park residents bet on the muscular Satan to win, but he throws the fight to win their money. Directed by Trey Parker (pictured) and written by Parker, Matt Stone and Dave Polsky, the episode satirizes religion, commercialism and the cult of celebrity. "Damien" received generally positive reviews and was the highest rated cable program the week it aired, viewed by 3.2 million households. The episode marked the first appearance of Satan, who would become a recurring South Park character, as well as the character of Damien, inspired by the antagonist of the 1976 horror film, The Omen. Parker and Stone said the episode introduced several key characteristics of the Cartman character that have endured throughout the series. Michael Buffer, the boxing ring announcer best known for the catchphrase, "Let's get ready to rumble!", makes a guest appearance in "Damien" as himself. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that the French satirical cartoonist Charb (pictured), a victim of the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris in January, had been on Al-Qaeda's "most wanted list" since 2013?
... that there is an ongoing proposal within the UK to restrict encryption?
... that as head of the rabbinical court in Tripoli, Libya, Abraham Hayyim Adadi levied a 5 percent tax on local merchants to pay for teachers for poor children?
... that the tail of the ornate shrew is bicolored?
... that football player Brad Craddock of the Maryland Terrapins was tutored by NFL Pro Bowler Matt Stover?
... that The Legend of Lucky Pie was called the Chinese "knock-off" of Adventure Time?
... that James C. Marshall was the first Chief Engineer of the Manhattan District?
... that in Roger Scruton's musical vision of the eccentric love-life of Violet Gordon-Woodhouse, a leading lady is sung by a baritone?

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In the news

In American football, the New England Patriots defeat the Seattle Seahawks to win the Super Bowl.
The Australian Open tennis tournament concludes with Serena Williams winning the women's singles and Novak Djokovic winning the men's singles.
Sergio Mattarella (pictured) is elected President of Italy.
In association football, the AFC Asian Cup concludes with host nation Australia defeating South Korea in the final.
Attacks by Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, kill 32 people.
Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left) wins a plurality of seats in the Greek legislative election and forms a coalition government with the Independent Greeks.

Ongoing: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – War in Ukraine
Recent deaths: Richard von Weizsäcker – Rod McKuen – Colleen McCullough

On this day...

February 4: Tu Bishvat (Judaism, 2015); Liberation Movement Day in Angola (1961); Independence Day in Sri Lanka (1948)

960 – Emperor Taizu began his reign in China, initiating the Song dynasty period that would eventually last for more than three centuries.
1169 – A strong earthquake struck the eastern coast of Sicily, causing an estimated 15,000 deaths.
1899 – The Philippine–American War opened when an American soldier, under orders to keep insurgents away from his unit's encampment, fired upon a Filipino soldier in Manila.
1969 – Yasser Arafat (pictured) was elected chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
1999 – Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old immigrant from Guinea, was shot and killed by four New York City Police Department plain-clothed officers, prompting outrage both within and outside New York City.

More anniversaries: February 3 – February 4 – February 5

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It is now February 4, 2015 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

The Namaqua chameleon is a lizard found in the western desert regions of Namibia, South Africa, and southern Angola. This species, which can reach 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length, is common in the Namib Desert. It has evolved several adaptations which allow it to thrive in hot and arid areas, such as the ability to change color to control temperature.

Photograph: Hans Stieglitz

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