Wikipedia:Today's featured list/May 2013
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May 6
Often regarded as one of the greatest directors of world cinema, Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray did work in motion pictures that spanned more than 40 years. Ray worked prominently in Bengali cinema and started his career as a junior visualizer. He made his directorial debut in 1955 with much acclaimed Pather Panchali. Ray's work got wide critical acclaim and his Apu Trilogy (1955–1959) appeared in Time's All-Time 100 Movies. Aside from directing, Ray composed music, wrote screenplays and also produced films. He was often credited as a fiction writer, illustrator, and calligrapher, and some of his short stories have been adapted into films by other directors. Ray received numerous awards throughout his career, including several Indian National Film Awards and an honorary Academy Award at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992. He was awarded with India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, in 1984 and India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in 1992. (Full list...)
May 13
There have been 23 Prime Ministers of Pakistan since the country was established in 1947 by the Indian Independence Act. The prime minister is the political leader and head of government of Pakistan, responsible for nominating the rest of the government, chairing Cabinet meetings and deciding when to call general elections for the National Assembly. Liaquat Ali Khan (pictured), the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated in 1951. Six further prime ministers served until 1958, when the post was abolished until 1973 (although Nurul Amin was prime minister for 13 days in 1971). Zulfikar Ali Bhutto held the office from 1973 to 1977; he was overthrown by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq during Operation Fair Play and the post was vacant until 1985. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were elected for two non-consecutive terms each during 1988–99. Pervez Musharraf took over the office through a military coup d'état in 1999. Mir Hazar Khan Khoso is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan. (Full list...)
May 20
The first American football teams in the United Kingdom were formed by American servicemen during the early 20th century. The first match took place on 23 November 1910 at Crystal Palace, London, where a team from USS Idaho defeated a team from USS Vermont 19–0. During the Second World War, matches were played by American and Canadian servicemen in the UK, including the 'Tea Bowl' game played at the White City Stadium in 1944. The United States Armed Forces Europe league was formed in 1946, contested by teams from American bases in Europe until 1993. The first teams open to British players were established in 1983, and league competition began the following year. Hundreds of clubs have since been formed, playing full contact football and flag football. The sport is run by the British American Football Association (BAFA), with two main bodies of competition: the BAFA National Leagues and British Universities and Colleges Sport. (Full list...)
May 27
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A variety of camouflage methods may be employed by animals and objects of military interest in order to remain unnoticed. These methods include the use of countershading and disruptive patterns as in the bushbuck (pictured), as well as less well-known methods such as transparency, counterillumination, and self-decoration with materials from the environment. Some animals make themselves hard to detect by concealing their shadows or by having an irregular outline, sometimes with elaborate projections. Others use feature disruption to hide giveaway elements such as eyes, and even active camouflage, changing their coloration and patterns dynamically as they move. Some others, both predators and prey, hide in plain sight by resembling leaves, flowers, or other objects of no interest to the observer. In the Arctic, both animals and soldiers use white camouflage for the winter season. (Full list...)