Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 February 9

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Today's featured article
Frederick Russell Burnham (1861–1947) was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell, thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement. Burnham had little formal education, attending high school but never graduating. He began his career at 14 in the American Southwest as a scout and tracker for the U.S. Army in the Apache Wars and Cheyenne Wars. Sensing the Old West was getting too tame, as an adult Burnham went to Africa where this background proved useful. He soon became an officer in the British Army, serving in several battles there. During this time, Burnham became friends with Baden-Powell, and passed on to him both his outdoor skills and his spirit for what would later become known as Scouting. Burnham eventually moved on to become involved in espionage, oil, conservation, writing and business. His descendants are still active in Scouting. (more...) Recently featured: Vijayanagara Empire – Cartman Gets an Anal Probe – Prince Louis of Battenberg Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that since Lange's 1962 invention of the first plastic ski boots (example pictured), they have been on the feet of five times as many World Cup medal winners as any other brand? ... that Russian Presidential press attaché Natalya Timakova, rated the third most powerful woman in Russian politics in 2011, allowed Wikipedia to use materials from the Presidential website Kremlin.ru? ... that the prototype of the Kaproni Bulgarski KB-11 Fazan, a Bulgarian Army liaison aircraft of World War II, was nicknamed "Quasimodo"? ... that due to a dead heat, the racehorse Cadland had to run twice to win the 1828 Derby Stakes? ... that journalist Freedom Neruda was imprisoned in 1996 for satirizing the Ivorian President, but was named one of the "50 World Press Freedom Heroes" in 2000? ... that a broken right ankle prevented Earl Belcher from playing in the NBA, and he is now a professional jazz musician? ... that the Muscogee people rubbed moistened tramp's trouble on their faces to enhance their youthfulness? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Mohammed Waheed Hassan (pictured) is sworn in as President of the Maldives following the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed. An earthquake off the coast of Negros Oriental, Philippines, kills 81 people and causes extensive damage. Russian scientists reportedly reach Lake Vostok, a body of water isolated under the Antarctic ice shield, after drilling a borehole 3,768 m (12,362 ft) deep. Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador, who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, is stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d'Italia victories and banned from competition for two years. Sauli Niinistö of the National Coalition Party is elected President of Finland. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 9 1825 – After no presidential candidate received a majority of electoral votes, the U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams (pictured) president. 1913 – A group of meteors was visible across much of the eastern seaboard of North and South America, leading astronomers to conclude that the source had been a small, short-lived natural satellite of the Earth. 1945 – World War II: HMS Venturer sank U-864 in history's only incident where one submarine has intentionally sunk another while both were fully submerged. 1959 – The Soviet R-7 Semyorka, the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile, became fully operational. 1971 – A 6.6 M_w earthquake struck the northern San Fernando Valley near the Los Angeles district of Sylmar, killing 65 people. More anniversaries: February 8 – February 9 – February 10 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 9, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A panoramic view of Brandenburg an der Havel, a town in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, located on the banks of the River Havel. The town was founded by the Hevelli, a tribe of Polabian Slavs, in the 8th century, and changed hands between Germans and Slavs several times. Development was restricted to the western bank of the Havel until 1196, when it was extended to the eastern side, although the two portions were regarded as separate towns until 1715.

Photo: Mathias Krumbholz

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