Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 February 21

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
Joseph Johnson (1738–1809) was an influential 18th-century London bookseller. His publications covered a wide variety of genres and a broad spectrum of opinions on important issues. Johnson is best known for publishing the works of radical thinkers such as Mary Wollstonecraft, William Godwin, and Joel Barlow as well as religious Dissenters such as Joseph Priestley, Anna Laetitia Barbauld, and Gilbert Wakefield. Johnson's friend John Aikin eulogized him as "the father of the booktrade" and he has been called "the most important publisher in England from 1770 until 1810" for his appreciation and promotion of young writers, his emphasis on publishing cheap works directed at a growing middle-class readership, and his cultivation and advocacy of women writers at a time when they were viewed with scepticism. (more...) Recently featured: Is This It – Battle of Musa Qala – "Bring Us Together" Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that the French wine grape Fer (pictured) gets its name from the element iron, because of how hard the vine's wood stock is? ... that the Marshall JTM 45 was based on the Fender Bassman, but had different harmonic content because of increased feedback? ... that in 1143 the Byzantine-Norman nobleman John Rogerios plotted to usurp the throne of his brother-in-law Manuel I Komnenos, but was betrayed by his own wife? ... that TIGER grants are contributing to the construction of the Gateway Project, a high speed rail corridor between Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station? ... that the Polish Pomeranian anti-Nazi Pomeranian Griffin resistance organization was persecuted by the Soviets due to its strongly Catholic character? ... that the city of Sulphur, Louisiana, once placed a memorial light on its water tower to honor Dr. Alvan Lafargue for having delivered 5,000 babies? ... that at Isha Home School in Coimbatore, India, origami is used to teach mathematics? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Asghar Farhadi The Iranian film Nader and Simin, A Separation, directed by Asghar Farhadi (pictured), wins the Golden Bear at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival. Authorities open fire on demonstrators in Libya and Bahrain amid continuing protests across the Middle East and North Africa. IBM's artificial intelligence program Watson wins on the American quiz show Jeopardy! against two of the show's most successful contestants. In Operation Power Outage, conducted by the U.S. Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force, 74 members of the criminal organization Armenian Power are arrested. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 21: Washington's Birthday/Presidents' Day in the United States (2011); Family Day in various regions of Canada (2011); International Mother Language Day; Language Movement Day in Bangladesh 1245 – Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland, was granted resignation by Pope Innocent IV after having confessed to torture and forgery. 1543 – Battle of Wayna Daga: Led by the Emperor Galawdewos, the combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeated a Muslim army led by Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi. 1919 – Bavarian socialist Kurt Eisner (pictured), who had organized the Socialist Revolution that overthrew the Wittelsbach monarchy and established Bavaria as a republic, was assassinated. 1971 – The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, a United Nations treaty designed to control psychoactive drugs, was signed at a conference of plenipotentiaries in Vienna. More anniversaries: February 20 – February 21 – February 22 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 21 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Leaves and flowers of Hakea epiglottis, one of 149 species in the Hakea genus of shrubs and trees. Hakeas, native to Australia, are popular ornamental plants and in many locations are as common as grevilleas and banksias.

Photo: JJ Harrison

Recently featured: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s pit crew executing a pit stop – Conopid fly – Sand sculpture

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.
Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.