Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 June 5

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From today's featured article

Stephen Crane (1871–1900) was an American novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism. Crane's first novel was the 1893 Bowery tale Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. He won international acclaim for his 1895 Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage, written without any battle experience. Late that year he accepted an offer to cover the Spanish–American War as a war correspondent. As he waited in Jacksonville, Florida, for passage to Cuba, he met Cora Taylor, the madam of a brothel, with whom he would have a lasting relationship. Plagued by financial difficulties and ill health, Crane died of tuberculosis at the age of 28. Although recognized primarily for The Red Badge of Courage, Crane is also known for short stories such as "The Open Boat", "The Blue Hotel", "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky", and The Monster. His writing made a deep impression on 20th-century writers, most prominent among them Ernest Hemingway, and is thought to have inspired the Modernists and the Imagists. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that the Transylvanian Saxon noble family Soterius von Sachsenheim (coat of arms pictured) has its origins in the village Stein (part of Jibert commune, Romania)?

... that Clara Leach Adams-Ender was the first woman to receive her master's degree in military arts and sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College?

... that the Indian animation film Chhota Bheem and the Throne of Bali (2013) was released in three different languages – Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu?

... that the tunicate Ascidia mentula may have a pea crab, bivalve mollusc or copepod living in its body cavity?

... that the Bach cantata Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut, BWV 117, includes "the palpitations of an excited heartbeat"?

... that World Heavyweight Champion Gene Tunney was a member of the Committee of Catholics to Fight Anti-Semitism, co-founded in 1939 by Catholic Worker leader Dorothy Day?

... that Malaysian chef Kwan Swee Lian's youngest son is Madam Kwan's head?

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In the news

At least 119 people are killed in a fire at the Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Plant in Northeast China.

In association football, FC Bayern Munich wins the DFB-Pokal, becoming the first German team to win a continental treble.

Police response to environmentalist demonstrations in Istanbul provokes anti-government protests across Turkey.

In horse racing, Ruler of the World becomes the first Chester Vase winner since 1981 to win the Epsom Derby.

The asteroid (285263) 1998 QE₂ and its moon make their closest approach to Earth for the next two centuries.

Clashes over control of gum arabic production leave 64 people dead and 6,500 displaced in South Darfur, Sudan.

Recent deaths: Deacon Jones – Frank Lautenberg – Tim Samaras

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On this day...

June 5: Father's Day and Constitution Day in Denmark

663 – The Daming Palace became the government seat and royal residence of the Tang empire during Emperor Gaozong's reign.

1862 – As the Treaty of Saigon was signed, ceding parts of southern Vietnam to France, the guerrilla leader Truong Dinh decided to defy Emperor Tu Duc of Vietnam and fight on against the Europeans.

1947 – At a speech at Harvard University, United States Secretary of State George Marshall (pictured) called for economic aid to war-torn Europe, outlining a recovery program that became known as the Marshall Plan.

1963 – The British Secretary of State for War John Profumo admitted he lied to the House of Commons during enquiries about his involvement in a sex scandal and resigned.

2009 – After 65 straight days of civil disobedience, at least 31 people were killed in clashes between the National Police and indigenous people in Peru's Bagua Province.

More anniversaries: June 4 – June 5 – June 6

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It is now June 5, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

A picture of the 2012 transit of Venus by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, from 36,000 km (22,000 mi) above the Earth. A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth. It is one of the rarest predictable astronomical phenomena and happens in pairs eight years apart that are separated from each other by 105 or 121 years. The last transit before 2012 was in 2004, and the next pair of transits will occur in 2117 and 2125.

Photo: NASA/SDO

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