Wikipedia:Today's featured article/January 2006

Today's featured article archive

January 1

Dinosaurs are vertebrates that have ranged from reptile-like to bird-like. Dinosaurs dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years from around 230 million years ago until 65 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period, when all non-avian dinosaurs became extinct. Knowledge about dinosaurs comes from both fossil and non-fossil records, including fossilized bones, feces, trackways, gastroliths, feathers, impressions of skin, internal organs and soft tissues. Dinosaur remains have been found on every continent on Earth, including Antarctica, showing that all land masses were at one time connected in a supercontinent called Pangaea. The ongoing dinosaur renaissance began in the 1970s and was triggered, in part, by John Ostrom's discovery of Deinonychus, an active, vicious predator that may have been warm-blooded (homeothermic), in contrast to the prevailing image of dinosaurs as sluggish and cold-blooded. Vertebrate paleontology has also become a global science, with major new discoveries in previously unexploited regions, most significantly the amazingly well-preserved feathered dinosaurs in China, which have further solidified the link between dinosaurs and their living descendants, modern birds.

Recently featured: Iowa class battleship – Imagism – Blues

January 2

Our Friends in the North is a British television drama. A serial produced by the BBC and originally screened in nine episodes on BBC2 in early 1996, Our Friends tells the story of four friends from the city of Newcastle in North East England over 31 years from 1964 to 1995. The storyline includes real political and social events both specific to the north-east and from Britain as a whole during the era portrayed. The show is commonly regarded as having been one of the most successful BBC television dramas of the 1990s. It was also a controversial production in some respects, as the issues and occurrences upon which its fiction were based involved real politicians and political events. It took several years before the production–adapted from a play originally performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company–finally made it to the screen, due in part to the BBC's fear that it might become involved in legal action.

Recently featured: Dinosaur – Iowa-class battleship – Imagism

January 3

The Xanadu Houses were a series of experimental houses built to showcase computers and automation in the home. The architectural project began in 1979, and during the early 1980s three houses were built in Kissimmee, Florida, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the United States. The houses included novel construction and design techniques, and became popular visitor attractions during the 1980s. The Xanadu Houses were notable for being built with polyurethane insulation foam rather than concrete, for easy, fast, and cost-effective construction. They were ergonomically designed, and contained some of the earliest home automation systems. The Kissimmee Xanadu, designed by Roy Mason, was the most popular, and at its peak was attracting one thousand visitors every day. The Wisconsin Dells and Gatlinburg houses were closed and demolished in the early 1990s; the Kissimmee Xanadu House was closed in 1996 and demolished in October 2005.

Recently featured: Our Friends in the North – Dinosaur – Iowa class battleship

January 4

Delrina was a Canadian software company based in Toronto, that existed between 1988 and 1995, prior to being bought by the American software firm Symantec. Delrina started out by producing a set of electronic form products known as PerForm and later, FormFlow. However, the company was best known for its WinFax software package of the early- to mid-1990s, which enabled computers equipped with fax-modems to communicate faxes to stand-alone fax machines or other similarly-equipped computers. Delrina also produced a set of popular screensavers, including one that resulted in the well-publicized "flying toasters" lawsuit for copyright and trademark infringement (Berkeley Systems Inc. v. Delrina); the case set a precedent in American law that satiric commercial software products were not subject to the same First Amendment exemptions as parodic cartoons or literature. After the buyout by Symantec in 1995, parts of the firm were sold off, while Symantec continues to sell the WinFax product to this day. In its wake, several of Delrina's former executives founded venture capital firms that continue to have a lasting impact on the Canadian software industry.

Recently featured: Xanadu House – Our Friends in the North – Dinosaur

January 5

Marilyn Manson is an alternative metal and alternative rock band based in Hollywood, California. Frequently termed "shock rock", the group's sound contains influences from heavy metal, industrial rock, and glam. Formed in 1989 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the band's uniquely theatrical performances gathered a local cult following that has, over fifteen years, developed into a worldwide fanbase. Marilyn Manson's reputation has likewise grown, with the band now considered one of modern music's most widely-known and most controversial; this has been due, in large part, to eponymous lead singer Marilyn Manson and his frequent clashes with religious and political figures. Until 1996, the name of each band member was created by combining the first name of a female pop culture icon and the last name of a mass murderer or a serial killer; the members of the band dress in outlandish makeup and costumes, and, like their major influences KISS and Alice Cooper, have engaged in sometimes shocking behavior both onstage and off; the group's lyrics are rife with anti-religious sentiment and with references to sex, drugs, and violence.

Recently featured: Delrina – Xanadu House – Our Friends in the North

January 6

A voting system is a process that allows a group of people to express their desires about a number of options, and selects one or more of those options as the winner based on the votes. Voting is best known for its use in democratic elections, in which case the options are candidates for public office, and the preferences of the citizens determine who gets to hold those offices. Specifically, a voting system is a well-defined method (an algorithm) that determines a winning result given a set of votes. The process must be formally defined to be considered a voting system; the rules that specify how the votes will be counted must be known beforehand. This can be contrasted with consensus decision making, another process for selecting an option based on people's preferences which, unlike a voting system, does not specify a precise way to determine the winning option. Most voting systems are based on the concept of majority rule, or the principle that a group of more than half of the voters should be able to get the outcome they want. Given the simplicity of majority rule, those who are unfamiliar with voting theory are often surprised that such a variety of voting systems exists.

Recently featured: Marilyn Manson – Delrina – Xanadu House

January 7

A DeLorean DMC-12

The De Lorean DMC-12 was a sports car manufactured by the De Lorean Motor Company from 1981 until 1983. It is most commonly known as the De Lorean, as it was the only automobile ever produced by the company. The DMC-12 featured gull-wing doors with a brushed stainless steel body. The first prototype was completed in 1979, and the final chassis was based on the Lotus Esprit. Production officially began in 1981 at the DMC factory in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland. During its production, several aspects of the car were changed, such as the hood style, wheels and interior. About 9,200 DMC-12s were made before production ended in 1983, and as of 2005, 6,000 are estimated to be in existence. The DMC-12 was famously featured in the Back to the Future trilogy.

Recently featured: Voting system – Marilyn Manson – Delrina

January 8

W. Mark Felt is a former agent and top official of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. After 30 years of denials, Felt revealed himself in May 2005 to be the Watergate scandal informant called "Deep Throat." During the early investigation of the Watergate scandal (1972–74), Felt was the Bureau's Associate Director, the second-ranking post in the FBI. While Associate Director, Felt provided Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward with critical leads on the story that eventually saw the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon in 1974. In 1980, Felt was convicted of violating the civil rights of people thought to be associated with the Weather Underground by ordering FBI agents to break into their homes. On May 31, 2005, Felt was revealed to have been "Deep Throat". His identity as Woodward's informant was a secret for three decades and had been the source of much speculation in American political and popular culture. Felt resides in Santa Rosa, California and has completed an update of his 1979 autobiography which provides information on his past as "Deep Throat."

Recently featured: De Lorean DMC-12 – Voting system – Marilyn Manson

January 9

Averroës was one of the first philosophers to propose the omnipotence paradox

The omnipotence paradox is a philosophical paradox which arises when attempting to apply logic to the notion of an omnipotent being. The paradox is based around the question of whether or not an omnipotent being is able to perform actions that would limit its own omnipotence, thus becoming non-omnipotent. Some philosophers see this argument as proof of the impossibility of the existence of any such entity; others assert that the paradox arises from a misunderstanding or mischaracterization of the concept of omnipotence. In addition, several philosophers have considered the assumption that a being is either omnipotent or non-omnipotent to be a false dilemma, as it neglects the possibility of varying degrees of omnipotence. Often, the paradox is formulated in terms of the God of the Abrahamic religions, though this is not a requirement. Since the Middle Ages, philosophers have phrased the paradox in many ways, of which the classic example is, "Could an omnipotent being create a rock so heavy that even that being could not lift it?" This particular statement has subtle flaws, but as the most famous version, it still serves adequately for illustrating the different ways the paradox has been analyzed. (more...)

Recently featured: W. Mark Felt – De Lorean DMC-12 – Voting system

January 10

White's tree frog is a species of tree frog native to Australia and New Guinea, with introduced populations in New Zealand and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Litoria, and is physiologically similar with some other species of the genus; particularly the magnificent tree frog and the giant tree frog. White's tree frog is a large species compared with most Australian frogs, reaching 10 cm in length. The average lifespan of the species in captivity, about 16 years, is long in comparison with most frogs. White's tree frogs are docile and well-suited to living near human dwellings. They can be heard calling in downpipes and tanks throughout their region, and are often found on windows or inside houses, eating insects drawn by the light. Due to its physical and behavioural traits, White's tree frog has become one of the most recognized frogs in its region and a popular exotic pet throughout the world. The skin secretions of the frog have antibacterial and antiviral properties that may prove to be useful to the pharmaceutical industry. (more...)

Recently featured: Omnipotence paradox – W. Mark Felt – De Lorean DMC-12

January 11

Central Campus Diag at the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public coeducational university in Michigan, United States. The flagship and oldest campus of the University of Michigan is consistently ranked as one of the top academic institutions in the world, and is considered a "Public Ivy." Spread over three major campuses in Ann Arbor, the university's professional graduate schools in the fields of information science, law, medicine, business, engineering, public policy, and education are consistently ranked by US News & World Report in the top 10 in the country. U-M has one of the largest research expenditures of any university in the United States. It is a major contributor to advances in medicine, computer science, and engineering. The university has one of the largest numbers of living alumni of any American university. It is also known for athletic prowess—notably in football and hockey—and has a history of student activism. (more...)

Recently featured: White's tree frog – Omnipotence paradox – W. Mark Felt

January 12

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall, Norfolk, England, is an 18th-century country house built in the Palladian style for Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester by the collaborating architects William Kent and Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington. It is one of England's finest examples of the Palladian revival style of architecture, the severity of the design being closer to Palladio's ideals than many of the other numerous Palladian style houses of the period. The Holkham estate, formerly known as Neals, had been purchased by Sir Edward Coke, the founder of the family fortune, in 1609. It remains today the ancestral home of the Coke family, Earls of Leicester of Holkham. (more...)

Recently featured: University of Michigan – White's tree frog – Omnipotence paradox

January 13

An extensive form representation of a two stage ultimatum

Game theory is a branch of applied mathematics that studies strategic situations where players choose different actions in an attempt to maximize their returns. First developed as a tool for understanding economic behavior, game theory is now used in many diverse academic fields, ranging from biology to philosophy. The most famous of game theory games is the prisoner's dilemma, which pits self-interest against mutual benefit. In addition to its academic interest, game theory has received attention in popular culture. A game theorist, John Nash, was the subject of the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind. Several game shows have adopted game theoretic situations, including Friend or Foe and Deal or No Deal. (more...)

Recently featured: Holkham Hall – University of Michigan – White's tree frog

January 14

Franco-Venetian alliance decisively defeated the Holy League at the Battle of Marignano

The War of the League of Cambrai was a major conflict in the Italian Wars, occuring from 1508 to 1516. The principal participants of the war were France, the Papal States, and the Republic of Venice. Pope Julius II had intended that the war would curb Venetian influence in northern Italy, and had, to this end, created the League of Cambrai (named after Cambrai, where the negotiations took place), an alliance against the Republic that included, besides himself, Louis XII of France, Emperor Maximilian I, and Ferdinand I of Spain. Although the League was initially successful, friction between Julius and Louis caused it to collapse by 1510; Julius then allied himself with Venice against France. The Veneto-Papal alliance eventually expanded into the Holy League, which drove the French from Italy in 1512; disagreements about the division of the spoils, however, led Venice to abandon the alliance in favor of one with France. Under the leadership of Francis I, who had succeeded Louis to the throne, the French and Venetians would, through their victory at Marignano in 1515, regain the territory they had lost; the treaties of Noyon and Brussels, which ended the war the next year, would essentially return the map of Italy to the status quo of 1508. (more...)

Recently featured: Game theory – Holkham Hall – University of Michigan

January 15

The TGV is France's train à grande vitesse; literally "high-speed train". Developed by Alsthom (now Alstom) and SNCF and operated primarily by SNCF, it connects cities in France and in some other neighbouring countries, such as Belgium, Italy and Switzerland with the network centred on Paris. TGVs under other brand names connect France with Germany and the Netherlands (Thalys) and the United Kingdom (Eurostar). Trains derived from TGV design also operate in South Korea (KTX), and Spain (AVE). Development of high-speed rail transport in France began in the 1960s. After a lengthy period of testing which included changing the traction of the trains from gas turbines to electricity from overhead lines after a sharp rise in oil prices, TGV operation began in 1981 with an initial line between Paris and Lyon. The success of the line led to rapid expansion and the opening of lines to the west and north-east of France as well as further extension to the south. (more...)

Recently featured: War of the League of Cambrai – Game theory – Holkham Hall

January 16

Members of the Frontier Battalion, ca. 1885

The Texas Ranger Division is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction based in Austin, Texas, in the United States. Over the years, the Texas Rangers have investigated crimes ranging from murder to political corruption, kept the peace during riots, acted as detectives, protected the Texas governor, tracked down fugitives, and functioned as a quasi-military force at the service of both the Republic (1836–45) and the state of Texas. The Texas Rangers were unofficially created by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 and formally constituted in 1835. Although the organization went through periods of inactivity during the 19th century, it was never officially dissolved. Since 1935, the organization has been a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and currently fulfills the role of Texas' State Bureau of Investigation. As of 2005, there are 118 active Rangers. (more...)

Recently featured: TGV – War of the League of Cambrai – Game theory

January 17

Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is an everyday food in many parts of the world. Butter consists of butterfat surrounding minuscule droplets consisting mostly of water and milk proteins. Butter from cow's milk is most common, but butter is made from the milk of other mammals as well, including sheep, goats, buffalo, and yaks. Salt, flavorings, or preservatives are sometimes added. Butter is used as a condiment and in cooking applications including baking, sauce making, and frying. Butter can be rendered to produce clarified butter or ghee, which is almost entirely butterfat. Butter is a firm solid when refrigerated, softening to a spreadable consistency at room temperatures. Butter's color is generally a pale yellow, but can vary from deep yellow to nearly white. The color of the butter depends on the animal's feed and is sometimes manipulated with food colorings, most commonly annatto or carotene. (more...)

Recently featured: Texas Ranger Division – TGV – War of the League of Cambrai

January 18

Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia grants the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or King, of Malaysia responsibility for safeguarding the rights and privileges of the Malay and other indigenous peoples of Malaysia, collectively referred to as Bumiputra. The article specifies how the federal government may protect these groups' interests by establishing quotas for entry into the civil service, public scholarships and public education. The article also permits the government to set a specific quota of licences for particular trades aside for the Bumiputra. It is often considered to be part of the social contract. Article 153 is one of the most controversial articles in the Malaysian constitution. It is considered by some to create an unnecessary and racialist distinction between Malaysians of different races because its affirmative action policies benefit the Bumiputra, who comprise a majority segment of the population. Many Bumiputra groups, especially the governing United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) political party often publicly berate those who protest it. Technically, discussion of abolishing Article 153 is illegal, although it was drafted as a temporary provision to the Constitution. (more...)

Recently featured: Butter – Texas Ranger Division – TGV

January 19

Hero of the Ukraine, Order of the State

The title of Hero of Ukraine is the highest award that can be conferred by the Government of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma, and it is currently awarded in two distinctions: one for heroism and one for great achievements in labor. Since Borys Paton first received the title in 1998, 144 people have been awarded the title. Decorations that are similar to the Hero of Ukraine are Russia's Hero of the Russian Federation and Belarus's Hero of Belarus. All of those decorations were influenced in some way by decorations awarded by the Soviet Union. (more...)

Recently featured: Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia – Butter – Texas Ranger Division

January 20

Radiograph of molars in different stages of development

Tooth development is the complex process by which teeth form from embryonic cells grow and erupt into the mouth. Although many diverse animal species have teeth, non-human tooth development is largely the same as in humans. For human teeth to have a healthy oral environment, enamel, dentin, cementum, and the periodontium must all develop during appropriate stages of fetal development. Primary (baby) teeth start to form between the sixth and eighth weeks in utero, and permanent teeth begin to form in the twentieth week in utero. If teeth do not start to develop at or near these times, they will not develop at all. A significant amount of research has focused on determining the processes that initiate tooth development. It is widely accepted that there is a factor within the tissues of the first branchial arch that is necessary for the development of teeth. (more...)

Recently featured: Hero of Ukraine – Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia – Butter

January 21

The economy of the Iroquois originally focused on communal production and combined elements of both agricultural and hunter-gatherer systems. The Iroquois peoples were predominately agricultural, harvesting the Three Sisters commonly grown by American Indian groups: maize, beans, and squash. The Iroquois developed a system of economics very different from the now-dominant Western variety. This system consisted of several unique components including communal land ownership, division of labor by gender, and trade based on gift-giving. Contact with Europeans in the early 1600s had a profound impact on the economy of the Iroquois. At first they became important trading partners, but the expansion of European settlement upset the balance of the Iroquois economy. By 1800 the Iroquois had been confined to reservations, and they had to adapt their traditional economic system. In the 20th century, some of the Iroquois groups took advantage of their independent status on the reservation and started Indian casinos. Other Iroquois have incorporated themselves directly into the outside economies off of the reservation. (more...)

Recently featured: Tooth development – Hero of Ukraine – Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia

January 22

WG Grace scored an English-record 170 in 1886

The History of Test cricket in the period from 1884 to 1889 was one of English dominance over the Australians. England won every Test series that was played. The period also saw the introduction of the word "Test", a word coined by the Press in 1885, which has remained in common usage ever since. In 1883 England had won the first Ashes series by beating Australia 2-1 away, though they had lost a fourth extra Test played at the end of their Australian tour. However, this last Test proved to be a blip as English dominance remained for the rest of the 1880s. Of the 19 England-Australia Tests played in the period from 1884 to 1889, England won 14, Australia 3, with 2 draws. 1889 saw the first English tour to South Africa. England won both representative matches easily. But, although it was only recognised as a Test nation later, after 13 years, cricket had a third Test-playing team. (more...)

Recently featured: Economy of the Iroquois – Tooth development – Hero of Ukraine

January 23

Planetary habitability is the measure of an astronomical body's potential for developing and sustaining life. It may be applied both to planets and to the natural satellites of planets. The only absolute requirement for life is an energy source (usually but not necessarily solar energy), but the notion of planetary habitability implies that many other geophysical, geochemical, and astrophysical criteria must be met before an astronomical body is able to support life. The idea that planets beyond Earth might host life is an ancient one, though historically it was framed by philosophy as much as physical science. The late 20th century saw two breakthroughs in the field. To begin with, the observation and robotic exploration of other planets and moons within the solar system has provided critical information on defining habitability criteria and allowed for substantial geophysical comparisons between the Earth and other bodies. The discovery of extrasolar planets—beginning in 1995 and accelerating thereafter—was the second milestone. It confirmed that the Sun is not unique in hosting planets and expanded the habitability research horizon beyond our own solar system. (more...)

Recently featured: History of Test cricket (1884 to 1889) – Economy of the Iroquois – Tooth development

January 24

A statue of Emperor Claudius

Claudius was the fourth Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from January 24, AD 41 to his death in 54. Born in Lugdunum in Gaul (modern-day Lyon, France), to Drusus and Antonia Minor, he was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy. Claudius was considered a rather unlikely man to become emperor. He was reportedly afflicted with some type of disability, and his family had virtually excluded him from public office until his consulship with his nephew Caligula in AD 37. This infirmity may have saved him from the fate of many other Roman nobles during the purges of Tiberius and Caligula's reigns. His very survival led to his being declared emperor after Caligula's assassination, at which point he was the last adult male of his family. Despite his lack of political experience, Claudius proved to be an able administrator and a great builder of public works. His reign saw an expansion of the empire, including the conquest of Britain. (more...)

Recently featured: Planetary habitability – History of Test cricket (1884 to 1889) – Economy of the Iroquois

January 25

Kalimpong town as viewed from a distant hill

Kalimpong is a hill station nestled in the Shiwalik Hills in the Indian state of West Bengal. The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, a part of the district of Darjeeling. A major forward base of the Indian Army is located on the outskirts of the town. Kalimpong is well-known for its many educational institutions, which attract students from all over North East India, West Bengal, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In recent times, Kalimpong has become an important tourist destination owing to its temperate climate and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Kalimpong is also famous for its flower market, especially the wide array of orchids. It houses several Buddhist monasteries holding a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. (more...)

Recently featured: Claudius – Planetary habitability – History of Test cricket (1884 to 1889)

January 26

StarCraft is a real-time strategy computer game by Blizzard Entertainment. Introduced in 1998, it was the best-selling computer game in that year and won the Origins Award for Best Strategy Computer Game of 1998. It is praised for being a benchmark of real-time strategy (RTS) games, due to its depth, intensity, and game balance. Blizzard estimated in 2005 that 9 million copies of StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War had been sold since its release, and it has achieved an international cult-like status in the computer gaming world, especially in its online multiplayer form. Set in a "space opera" environment, StarCraft is broadly similar to Blizzard's popular high fantasy RTS Warcraft II, but during the development process, there were great efforts to steer the game away from being simply "Warcraft in Space," and eventually the entire game engine was rewritten to achieve the desired result. (more...)

Recently featured: Kalimpong – Claudius – Planetary habitability

January 27

Image of euro coinage

€2 commemorative coins are a special kind of €2 coin that can be minted and issued by the individual member states of the Eurozone since 2004. While they are legal tender in the whole Eurozone, they are also collectibles. Typically, they commemorate anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance. Up to now, fourteen €2 commemorative coins have been minted—six in 2004 and eight in 2005. Eight more are currently planned to be minted in 2006. (more...)

Recently featured: StarCraft – Kalimpong – Claudius

January 28

The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's renouncement of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes in its post-World War II Constitution of Japan. The origins of the Imperial Japanese Navy trace back to early interactions with states on the Asian continent at the beginning of the medieval period, and reached a peak of activity during the [16th century|16th]] and 17th centuries at a time of cultural exchange with European powers during the Age of Discovery. After two centuries of stagnation during the country's ensuing seclusion policy under the shoguns of the Edo period, Japan's navy was comparatively backward when the country was forced open to trade by American intervention in 1854. This eventually led to the Meiji Restoration, a period of frantic modernization and industrialization accompanied by the re-ascendance of the emperor. The navy's history of successes, sometimes against much more powerful foes as in the 1895 Sino-Japanese war and the 1905 Russo-Japanese War, ended with almost complete annihilation in 1945 against the United States Navy, and official dissolution at the end of the conflict. (more...)

Recently featured: €2 commemorative coins – StarCraft – Kalimpong

January 29

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Cancer occurs when cells of the prostate mutate and begin to multiply out of control. These cells may spread (metastasize) from the prostate to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer can cause pain, difficulty urinating, erectile dysfunction, and other symptoms. Prostate cancer only occurs in men and develops most frequently in individuals over fifty years old. It is the second most common type of cancer in men; among men, it is responsible for more deaths than any other cancer except lung cancer. Prostate cancer is most often discovered by screening blood tests, such as the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test or by physical examination of the prostate gland by a health care provider. Prostate cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, occasionally chemotherapy, or some combination of these. The age and underlying health of the man as well as the extent of spread, appearance under the microscope, and response of the cancer to initial treatment are important in determining the outcome of the disease. (more...)

Recently featured: Imperial Japanese Navy – €2 commemorative coins – StarCraft

January 30

Charles I was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625, until his execution. He famously engaged in a struggle for power with Parliament; he was an advocate of the divine right of kings. Many in England therefore feared that he was attempting to gain absolute power. There was widespread opposition to many of his actions, especially the levying of taxes without Parliament's consent. This is one of the many manifestations of popular discontent with an absolute monarchy. The last years of Charles's reign were marked by the English Civil War; he was opposed by the forces of Parliament and by Puritans. The war ended in defeat for Charles, who was subsequently tried, convicted and executed for high treason. The monarchy was overthrown, and a republic was established. (more...)

Recently featured: Prostate cancer – Imperial Japanese Navy – €2 commemorative coins

January 31

"Dixie" is a popular American song. It is one of the most distinctively American musical products of the 19th century, and probably the best-known song to have come out of blackface minstrelsy. Although not a folk song at its creation, "Dixie" has since entered the American folk vernacular and probably cemented the word "Dixie" in the American vocabulary as a synonym for the Southern United States. Most sources credit Daniel Decatur Emmett with the song's composition, although even during Emmett's lifetime, many other people have claimed to have composed "Dixie". The song originated in the blackface minstrel show of the 1850s and quickly grew famous across the United States. Its lyrics, written in a racist, exaggerated version of African American English Vernacular, tell the story of a freed black slave pining for the plantation of his birth. During the American Civil War, "Dixie" was adopted as an anthem of the Confederacy. Since the advent of the American Civil Rights Movement, many have identified the lyrics of the song with the iconography and ideology of the Old South. Today, "Dixie" is often considered offensive, and the act of singing it to be sympathetic to the concept of slavery in the American South. Its supporters, on the other hand, view it as a legitimate aspect of Southern culture and heritage. (more...)

Recently featured: Charles I – Prostate cancer – Imperial Japanese Navy