Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 May 18

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

Juwan Howard (born 1973) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He signed for the Heat (his eighth NBA team) in 2010, reaching the playoffs for the sixth time and making his first career NBA Finals appearance. Howard won his first NBA championship with Miami the following year. A one-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA power forward, he began his NBA career as the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. Before he was drafted, he starred as an All-American on the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team. At Michigan he was part of the Fab Five recruiting class of 1991 that twice reached the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's Division I Basketball Championship. During his rookie year with the Bullets, he became the first player to graduate on time with his class after leaving college early to play in the NBA. After one season as an All-Rookie player and a second as an All-Star and an All-NBA performer, he became the first NBA player to sign a $100 million contract. He has developed a reputation as a humanitarian for his civic commitment. (Full article...)

Recently featured: Flame Robin – Final Fantasy XI – Banksia aquilonia

Archive – By email – More featured articles...

Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that Epstein's Rock Drill (pictured), a vivid illustration of the greatest function of life, was destroyed and recreated?

... that Ram Raja Prasad Singh was sentenced to death in absentia following the Nepal bombings in 1985?

... that Jennifer Lopez's song "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" was supposed to be recorded on September 11, 2001, but was postponed due to the September 11 attacks?

... that technical analyst and author Anne-Marie Baiynd was interviewed for a book on the "World's Most Successful Traders"?

... that the Stevenston Canal was the first commercial canal built in Scotland?

... that in some classification systems, the subfamily Hippocampinae includes several genera of pygmy pipehorses which look like seahorses but do not swim upright?

... that 19th century publisher John Harris's colorfully illustrated children's books, meant to amuse and entertain, were sold from his premises at St. Paul's churchyard?

Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

Today's articles for improvement

Construction worker – Ruler – Double standard

More selections...

In the news

Cyclone Mahasen (storm track pictured) causes significant damage in Southern and Southeastern Asia, resulting in more than 90 deaths.

The Maya site Nohmul in Belize is largely destroyed by contractors seeking road construction materials.

The Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, led by Boyko Borisov, wins a plurality in the Bulgarian parliamentary election.

Genetic sequencing of the floating bladderwort reveals that its genome contains just 3% noncoding DNA.

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) wins a plurality in the Pakistani general election.

A Guatemalan court finds former president Efraín Ríos Montt guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Recent deaths: Jorge Rafael Videla

Wikinews – More current events...

On this day...

May 18: Flag and Universities Day in Haiti; Day of Revival, Unity, and the Poetry of Magtymguly in Turkmenistan; Sanja Matsuri begins in Tokyo (2013)

1863 – American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant led his Army of the Tennessee across the Big Black River in preparation for the Siege of Vicksburg.

1869 – One day after surrendering at the Battle of Hakodate, Enomoto Takeaki turned over Goryōkaku to Japanese forces, signaling the collapse of the Republic of Ezo.

1927 – Disgruntled school board treasurer Andrew Kehoe set off a series of explosives in Bath Township, Michigan's elementary school, which had a final death toll of 45 and is the deadliest mass murder in a school in United States history.

1944 – World War II: Polish forces under Lieutenant General Władysław Anders captured Monte Cassino, Italy, after a four-month battle.

1955 – Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of 310,000 Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and non-Vietnamese members of the French Army from communist North Vietnam to South Vietnam following the end of the First Indochina War, ended.

1980 – The stratovolcano Mount St. Helens erupted (pictured), killing 57 people in southern Washington State, reducing hundreds of square miles to wasteland, and causing over US$1 billion in damage.

More anniversaries: May 17 – May 18 – May 19

Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries

It is now May 18, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a rail native to Eurasia and Africa. The species, thought to consist of numerous subspecies, prefers wet climates. They generally nest on a mass of floating debris or amongst matted reeds slightly above water level in swamps.

Photo: JJ Harrison

Recently featured: Lansing Car Assembly – Treskilling Yellow – The Starry Night

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

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