Wikipedia:Main Page history/2014 December 5

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From today's featured article

"Irreplaceable" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé (pictured) for her second studio album, B'Day (2006). The lyrics, about the breakdown of a relationship with an unfaithful man, have a message about empowerment. "Irreplaceable" was originally a country record; it was re-arranged as a mid-tempo ballad with pop and R&B influences by modifying the vocal arrangements and instrumentation. It was the third single from the album in the United States and the second single elsewhere. It was well received by contemporary music critics, who cited its distinctive production compared with most songs featured on the album, and complimented its hook, "To the left, to the left". The song won Best R&B/Soul Single at the 2007 Soul Train Music Awards and was nominated for the Record of the Year award at the 50th Grammy Awards. Beyoncé's fourth number-one in the US, the single remained at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for ten consecutive weeks and was the best-selling US single of 2007. The single's award-winning music video was directed by Anthony Mandler and served as the debut performance of Beyoncé's all-female band, Suga Mama. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that Loboc Church (pictured) was patterned after San Ignacio Church in Intramuros?
... that the Sigma Coronae Borealis star system is composed of three sun-like stars and two red dwarfs?
... that the opening track from Le Tigre's debut album Le Tigre modifies the titular question from "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)"?
... that the Fort of Justices was built as a reaction to a possible German invasion, resulting in the simplicity of the buildings?
... that in his autobiography With the Century, North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung stated that his motto is "The people are my God"?
... that Christine's margareta rat was named after a member of the expedition that discovered it in 2011?
... that television critic Marvin Kitman co-authored a book with George Washington?

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In the news

Dozens of people are killed or injured in clashes between security forces and insurgents in Grozny, Russia.
In Canadian football, the Calgary Stampeders defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to win the Grey Cup.
Australian Test cricketer Phillip Hughes (pictured) dies after being struck in the neck by a ball bowled to him.
A previously unknown copy of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, dated to 1623, is discovered at a library in Saint-Omer, near Calais, France.
Renewed rioting breaks out in Ferguson, Missouri, and protests occur across the United States, after a grand jury returns no indictment in the case of an unarmed suspect's fatal shooting by a police officer.

Ongoing: Ebola outbreak – Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Recent deaths: Jean Béliveau – Go Seigen – Luc De Vos

On this day...

December 5: St Nicholas's Eve in various European countries; The King's birthday, National Day and Father's Day in Thailand (1927)

1484 – Pope Innocent VIII issued the papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, giving Dominican Inquisitor Heinrich Kramer explicit authority to prosecute witchcraft in Germany.
1876 – Fire engulfed the Brooklyn Theater (damage pictured) in Brooklyn, New York, killing at least 278 people, mostly due to smoke inhalation.
1916 – British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith resigned due to his lack of vigour over the conduct of the Great War.
1939 – The remains of Pedro II of Brazil, who was ousted and exiled in a republican coup, were buried after being repatriated.
1974 – The Birmingham Americans won the only World Bowl in World Football League history.

More anniversaries: December 4 – December 5 – December 6

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It is now December 5, 2014 (UTC) – Reload this page

From today's featured list

A white rectangle with black letters on it reading "INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMICS & PEACE" with four horizontal black lines positioned such that one is directly above and one is directly below each line of text

The Global Peace Index (GPI) is an attempt to measure the relative position of nations' and regions' peacefulness. It is the product of the Institute for Economics and Peace (logo pictured) and developed in consultation with an international panel of peace experts from peace institutes and think tanks with data collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The list was launched in May 2007 and updates have been made on an annual basis since then. It ranks 162 countries. The study is the brainchild of Australian technology entrepreneur Steve Killelea, founder of Integrated Research, and is endorsed by individuals such as the Dalai Lama, archbishop Desmond Tutu, and economist Jeffrey Sachs. Factors examined by the authors include internal factors such as levels of violence and crime within the country and factors in a country's external relations such as military expenditure and wars. The GPI has been criticised for not including indicators specifically relating to violence against women and children. The GPI currently indicates Iceland, Denmark, and Austria to be the most peaceful countries and Syria, Afghanistan, and South Sudan to be the least peaceful. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

The steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a species of small antelope, generally standing 45–60 centimeters (16–24 inches) at the shoulder, commonly found in Africa. They live in a variety of habitats, from semi-desert to open woodland and thickets, and feed on low-level vegetation and roots. These common animals are typically solitary, except during mating season.

Photograph: Yathin S Krishnappa

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