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From today's featured article

The American Cream Draft is a rare draft horse breed, the only such breed developed in the United States that is still in existence. It is recognized by its cream color, known as "gold champagne", produced by the action of the champagne gene upon a chestnut base color, and by its amber eyes, also characteristic of the gene; the only other color found in the breed is chestnut. Like several other breeds of draft horses, the American Cream is at risk for the autosomal recessive genetic disease junctional epidermolysis bullosa. The breed was developed in Iowa during the early 20th century, beginning with a cream-colored mare named Old Granny. The Great Depression threatened the breed's existence, but several breeders worked to improve the color and type of the breed, and in 1944 a breed registry was formed. The mechanization of farming in the mid-20th century led to a decrease in the breed's population and the registry became inactive for several decades. It was reactivated in 1982 and population numbers have slowly grown since then. However, population numbers are still considered critical by The Livestock Conservancy and the Equus Survival Trust. (Full article...)

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From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that according to scholars, Swami Vivekananda's prayer to Kali at Dakshineswar (image of deity pictured) was a significant event in his life?
... that Gobo Ashley took 7 wickets for 95 runs in his only match for South Africa?
... that the first modern cochlear implant was developed by Austrian electrical engineer Ingeborg Hochmair?
... that Waar set a new opening day box office receipt record for a Pakistani film, beating that previously held by Chennai Express?
... that in 1788, the convict ship Prince of Wales drifted helplessly off Rio de Janeiro for a day, because her crew were too ill to bring her into port?
... that Gaston Borch conducted the first orchestral performance to be broadcast on Swedish radio?

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In the news

Chad, Nigeria, Chile, Lithuania, and Saudi Arabia are elected to the United Nations Security Council, but Saudi Arabia declines its seat.
Lao Airlines Flight 301 (aircraft type pictured) crashes on approach to Pakse Airport, Laos, killing all 49 people on board.
U.S. President Barack Obama signs a bill passed by Congress to reopen the federal government and raise the debt limit.
New Zealand author Eleanor Catton becomes the youngest winner of the Man Booker Prize.
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes the Philippines, resulting in more than 100 deaths.

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On this day...

October 23: Mole Day

425 – Valentinian III became emperor of the Western Roman Empire at the age of six.
1812 – General Claude François de Malet began a conspiracy to overthrow Napoleon, claiming that the Emperor died in Russia and that he was now the commandant of Paris.
1956 – The Hungarian Revolution began as a peaceful student demonstration which attracted thousands as it marched through central Budapest to the Parliament building.
1983 – Lebanese Civil War: Suicide bombers destroyed two barracks (pictured) in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. servicemen and 58 French paratroopers of the international peacekeeping force.
1993 – The Troubles: A Provisional Irish Republican Army's attempted bombing of a meeting of loyalist paramilitary leaders failed, killing one of the perpetrators, one UDA member and eight civilians.

More anniversaries: October 22 – October 23 – October 24

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It is now October 23, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

The pin tumbler lock is a lock mechanism that uses pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key.

Without a key in the lock, the driver pins (blue) are pushed downwards, preventing the plug (yellow) from rotating.
When an incorrect key is inserted into the lock, the key pins (red) and driver pins do not align with the shear line; therefore, it does not allow the plug to rotate.
When the correct key is inserted, the gaps between the key pins and driver pins align with the edge of the plug.
With the gaps between the pins aligned with the shear line, the plug can rotate freely.

Diagram: Wapcaplet and Pbroks13

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