Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 February 2

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Today's featured article
Lord of the Universe is a 1974 American documentary film about Prem Rawat at an event in November 1973 at the Houston Astrodome called "Millennium '73". Lord of the Universe was first broadcast on PBS on February 2, 1974, and released in VHS format on November 1, 1991. The documentary chronicles Maharaj Ji (as Rawat was then known), his followers and anti-Vietnam War activist Rennie Davis who was a spokesperson of the Divine Light Mission at the time. A counterpoint is presented by Abbie Hoffman who appears as a commentator. It includes interviews with several protagonists, including followers, ex-followers, a mahatma, a born-again Christian, and a Hare Krishna. The production team of Top Value Television produced the documentary, using Portapak video cameras. The TVTV team followed Maharaj Ji across the United States over a period of six weeks, and edited a large amount of tape down to the fifty-eight minute piece. The documentary was generally well-received, and garnered its TVTV production team the 1974 Alfred I. du Pont/Columbia University Award in Broadcast Journalism. The documentary received a negative review in the New York Post, and positive reviews in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Sun-Times. The San Francisco Bay Guardian wrote that the TVTV team had improved since their previous work, but wanted them to move on to more challenging subjects. (more...) Recently featured: Common Firecrest – Masako Katsura – Trump International Hotel and Tower Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that picnic beetles (example pictured) are attracted to beer? ... that Jal Hans, India's first commercial seaplane service, is part owned by Pawan Hans, India's largest helicopter services provider? ... that over 13,000 square feet (1,200 m²) of German-made tile lines the interior of the Wheeling Tunnel? ... that, together with Platychelys, Pleurosternon is one of the few fossil genera with characteristics of both modern turtle suborders? ... that Israeli film-maker Nurit Kedar received death threats after extracts from her film Concrete were screened on Britain's Channel 4 television? ... that the Battle of Grochowiska, one of the largest battles of the January Uprising, has been also described as the "most bloody" and a "Pyrrhic victory" for the Polish insurgents? ... that when a Douglas Dakota crashed on takeoff at London's Croydon Airport in 1947, 12 people were killed? ... that the Iggy Pop song "Funtime" has been covered by R.E.M., The Cars, Blondie, Boy George and Liv Tyler's mom? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Amid political unrest in the country, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (pictured) announces he will not seek re-election in September. Marouf al-Bakhit is appointed Prime Minister of Jordan in a cabinet reshuffle by King Abdullah II, following mass protests. Hashim Thaçi remains Prime Minister of Kosovo after the Democratic Party wins an election in the disputed territory. John Barry, composer of the music from 11 films in the James Bond series, dies at the age of 77. Results from a recent referendum show nearly 99% of voters are in favour of Southern Sudan's secession from Sudan. The 2011 World Men's Handball Championship concludes with France defeating Denmark to retain the title. In tennis, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic win the singles titles at the 2011 Australian Open. The world's longest borehole, at 12,345 m (40,502 ft) total measured depth, is drilled off the coast of the Russian island Sakhalin. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 2: Groundhog Day in Canada and the United States 1653 – The Dutch colony of New Amsterdam received municipal rights, thus becoming a city on territory that is now New York City. 1659 – Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town, produced the first bottle of South African wine. 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. 1994 – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued its final ruling in Ney v. Landmark Education Corporation and Werner Erhard and affirmed the decision of the District Court; Werner Erhard defaulted on the payment due to Ney. 2004 – Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (pictured) became the No. 1 ranked men's singles player, a position he held for a record 237 weeks. More anniversaries: February 1 – February 2 – February 3 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 2 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A view of Cape Raoul on the southwestern corner of the Tasman Peninsula. The peninsula is at the southeastern end of Tasmania, Australia, and is connected to the Forestier Peninsula via an isthmus known as Eaglehawk Neck. The Tasman Peninsula is home to Tasman National Park and the former penal colony of Port Arthur, Tasmania's top tourist attraction. The region is also the key area in the battle to save the Tasmanian Devil from a parasitic cancer called devil facial tumour disease.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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