Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 April 23

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Today's featured article
Broad-sweeping wage reforms were instituted in the Soviet Union during the Khrushchev era, from 1956 through 1962. These were intended to move Soviet industrial workers away from the mindset of overfulfilling quotas that had characterised the Soviet economy during the preceding Stalinist period, and toward a more efficient financial incentive. Throughout the Stalinist period, most Soviet workers had been paid for their work based on a piece-rate system. Thus their individual wages were directly tied to the amount of work they achieved. This policy was intended to encourage workers to toil and therefore increase production as much as possible. The piece-rate system led to an enormous level of bureaucracy and contributed to huge inefficiencies in Soviet industry. Additionally, factory managers frequently manipulated the personal production quotas given to workers to prevent workers' wages from falling too low. The wage reforms sought to remove these wage practices and offer an efficient financial incentive to Soviet workers by standardising their wages and reducing their dependence on overtime or bonus payments. (more...) Recently featured: Kathleen Ferrier – 2009 Orange Bowl – Convention of 1832 Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the medieval church of the Kremikovtsi Monastery near Sofia, Bulgaria, includes a fresco of Saint George using a dragon as a footrest (pictured)? ... that the Grand Veymont in France is the highest point of the Massif du Vercors and the Vercors Regional Natural Park, with a prominence of 1,165 metres (3,822 ft)? ... that in 2007 and 2008, two American satellites were hacked using commands sent via the Svalbard Satellite Station? ... that Alexandre Chemetoff, winner of the Grand Prix de l'urbanisme, created a bamboo garden in Paris' Parc de la Villette? ... that as a result of the North Carolina Sullivan Acts, Asheville is the only city in the state that cannot charge a higher water rate for consumers outside city limits? ... that Indonesian actress Sophia Latjuba received no fee for playing in her most recent film? ... that Samuel Glazer, the co-developer of Mr. Coffee, gifted so many coffeemakers to Johnny Carson that the television host told him to stop? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Bhoja Air Flight 213 crashes on its final approach in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing all 127 people on board. India successfully test launches the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile. American broadcaster, television producer and music promoter Dick Clark (pictured in 1990) dies at the age of 82. Jim Yong Kim is elected President of the World Bank. Amid a dispute with Repsol and the government of Spain, Argentina announces re-nationalisation of the oil company YPF. Taur Matan Ruak is elected President of East Timor. In Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents launch coordinated attacks on NATO's headquarters, foreign embassies, military bases and the country's parliament. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
April 23: World Book and Copyright Day; St George's Day in various countries; Children's Day in Turkey 1348 – The first-ever appointments to the Order of the Garter, an order of chivalry founded by King Edward III of England and still bestowed on recipients in the Commonwealth realms, were announced. 1951 – American journalist William N. Oatis was arrested for espionage by the Communist government of Czechoslovakia. 1967 – Soyuz 1 (mission insignia pictured), the first mission of the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov. 1979 – Activist Blair Peach suffered fatal head injuries after being knocked unconscious during an Anti-Nazi League demonstration in Southall, London, against a British National Front election meeting in the town hall. 1985 – The Coca-Cola Company introduced "New Coke" to replace its flagship soft drink Coca-Cola, which generated so much negative response that the company put the original formula back on the market less than three months later. More anniversaries: April 22 – April 23 – April 24 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now April 23, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured list

The all-time roster of the Major League Baseball franchise's Boston Reds spans one season in the Players' League (PL) in 1890 (team pictured), and one season in the American Association (AA) in 1891. In each season, the Reds were their league's champion. The Reds were an instant success on the field and with the public. The team signed several top-level players, and they played in a larger, more modern ballpark than the Boston Beaneaters, the popular and well-established cross-town rival. After the dissolution of the PL, the AA voted to allow the Reds into the new combined league. The Reds stayed intact by keeping several of their top players, and signed several other top-level players to fill the void of the departing players. When the 1891 season ended, the AA also folded, and the Reds were bought out by the surviving NL clubs. (more...)

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The pear-shaped puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme) is a saprobic fungus present throughout much of the world. Emerging in autumn, this puffball is common and abundant on decaying logs of both deciduous and coniferous wood. It is considered a choice edible when still immature and the inner flesh is white.

Photo: Sasata

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