Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests

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<div>SUMMARY '''[[ARTICLE TITLE|(More...)]]'''</div>
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YOUR REASON(S) FOR THE PROPOSED ARTICLE. ~~~~

Requests

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===[[Voyager 2]]===
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<div>Voyager 2 is an unmanned interplanetary spacecraft, launched on August 20, 1977.   It is arguably the most prolific space probe ever launched from Earth, visiting the planets of [[Jupiter]], [[Saturn]], [[Neptune]], and [[Uranus]], along with their many moons.  with it's powerful cameras, and other sensative instruments, [[Voyager 2]] took pictures of the planets in such great detail that it's images are still referred to some thirty years later as the best images of the gas giant planets available to modern science.'''[[Voyager 2|(More...)]]'''</div>
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YOUR REASON(S) FOR THE PROPOSED ARTICLE. ~~~~

Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon

Cover of the game

Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (がんばれゴエモン～ネオ桃山幕府のおどり～, Ganbare Goemon ~New Dance of the Peach Mountain Shogunate~) is a video game released by Konami for the Nintendo 64 on August 7, 1997 in Japan and April 16, 1998 in North America. It is the fifth entry in the Ganbare Goemon series and the second Goemon game released in North America, following Legend of the Mystical Ninja. Featuring elements of platform and action-adventure games, Mystical Ninja is a hybrid of Super Mario 64 and the Legend of Zelda series. The story follows Goemon as he struggles to prevent the Peach Mountain Shoguns gang from turning Japan into a fine arts theatre. The journey takes Goemon through three cinematic musical features and battles between gigantic robots. Like other Ganbare Goemon games, it is peppered with surrealist humor and anachronisms. Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon sold nearly 200,000 copies worldwide. Reviewers praised its graphics, gameplay, and humorous plot. Critics considered the soundtrack and musical numbers engaging and memorable. Conversely, Mystical Ninja was criticized for localization issues, unintuitive camera control, and dull stretches of travel through Japan. It was followed by Goemon's Great Adventure in 1999 and Goemon Mononoke Sugoroku in 2000. (More...)

An interesting and unusual Nintendo 64 game. Zeality 04:17, 9 December 2006 (UTC)

Darjeeling

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Darjeeling is a hill station (a hill town) in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of Darjeeling district, situated in the Shiwalik Hills (or Lower Himalaya) at an average elevation of 2,134 m above sea level. Once ruled by the Kingdom of Sikkim, the Darjeeling region was converted into a hill station by the British East India Company in the 1800s, and came to be known as the "Queen of the Hills." It remained as a part of the state of West Bengal in independent India. The name Darjeeling is a composition of two Tibetan words – Dorje ("thunderbolt") and ling ("place"). Hence, darjeeling translates as "Land of the Thunderbolt". Darjeeling is famous for its tea industry, which produces blends considered among the world's finest. Once used as a sanitarium for British troops and administrators, the town is now a popular tourist destination. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway connecting the town with the plains was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Darjeeling is noted for several western-style public schools attracting students from all over India and neighbouring countries. The town was a major centre of Gorkhaland separatism in the 1980s, resulting in a decrease in tourism-related commerce. Darjeeling has continued to grow in the recent years and the region's fragile ecology is threatened by a rising demand for environmental resources stemming from growing tourist traffic and rapid urbanisation. (More...)

A small town in the Himalayas in India, famous for production of tea. The article is FA from August, 2006. No specific date requested.--Dwaipayan (talk) 19:26, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Chelsea F.C.

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Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously as The Pensioners), founded in 1905, are an English Premier League football team. The club's home ground is the 42,360 capacity Stamford Bridge football ground in Fulham, West London, where they have played since foundation. Despite their name, the club is based just outside the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It is on the Fulham Road, which runs between Fulham and Chelsea. In 2003, the club were bought by Russian oil tycoon, Roman Abramovich. Chelsea have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football, and have had two broad periods of success: first during the 1960s and early 1970s, and then again from the late 1990s to the present day. In total, they have won three league titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups and two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups. During the 2005-06 season, they became Premier League champions for the second consecutive year. (More...)

The Main Page needs more soccer articles. Chelsea is a really good team too. WmCliff 01:46, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

Comment Chelsea article isn't an FA.--Skully Collins ^Edits 14:03, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

• Comment. The title of the section is today's featured article, whilst this is only a GA status article. Please get it through peer review and featured article candidates first. Michaelas10 (Talk) 14:55, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Jocelin

Jocelin or Jocelyn (died 1199) was a 12th century Cistercian monk and cleric, who became Abbot of Melrose and Bishop of Glasgow. In his teenage years, he became a monk of Melrose Abbey. He rose in the service of Abbot Waltheof and, by the time of the short abbacy of Waltheof's successor Abbot William, Jocelin had become prior. Then in 1170 Jocelin himself became abbot, a position he held for four years. Jocelin was responsible for leading the promotion of the cult of the emerging Saint Waltheof. As Bishop of Glasgow, he was a royal official. In this capacity he travelled abroad on several occasions, and performed the marriage ceremony between King William the Lion and Ermengarde de Beaumont, later baptizing their son, the future King Alexander II. Among other things, he has been credited by modern historians as "the founder of the burgh of Glasgow and initiator of the Glasgow fair" as well as being one of the greatest literary patrons in medieval Scotland, commissioning the Life of St Waltheof and the Life of St Kentigen and the Chronicle of Melrose ... (More...)

Just promoted to FA; the wiki main page needs to have the life of a medieval churchman. Calgacus (ΚΑΛΓΑΚΟΣ) 07:50, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope is a 1977 science fantasy film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga; three later films precede the story in the series' internal chronology. The film is set nineteen years after the formation of the Galactic Empire; construction has finished on the Death Star, a weapon capable of destroying a planet. After Princess Leia, a leader of the Rebel Alliance, steals the weapon's plans in the hope of finding a weakness, she is captured and taken to the Death Star. When Luke Skywalker's home is destroyed, Obi-Wan Kenobi begins Luke’s Jedi training as they attempt to rescue the Princess from the Empire. Produced with a budget of US$11 million, the film became one of the most successful of all time, earning $798 million worldwide during its original theatrical release. It was re-released several times, sometimes with significant changes, such as modification with CGI effects and recreated scenes. (More…)

nomination by The Filmaker 02:21, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Minnesota

Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Minnesota (IPA: [ˌmɪnəˈsoʊtə]) () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12^th largest state in the U.S., and the 21^st most populous, with over five million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the 32^nd state in 1858. While the state's residents have been primarily white, Northern European, and Lutheran, substantial influxes of African, Asian, and Hispanic immigrants have joined the descendants of European immigrants and Native American descendants of its original inhabitants.

The state is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," and those lakes and the other waters for which the state is named, together with state and national forests and parks, offer residents and tourists a vigorous outdoor lifestyle. The extremes of the climate contrast with the moderation of Minnesota’s people. The state is known for its moderate-to-progressive politics and social policies, its civic involvement, and high voter turnout. It ranks among the healthiest states by a number of measures, and has one of the most highly educated and literate populations. (More...)

Minnesota is the first U.S. State to reach featured article status Atom 01:48, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Support - an excellent featured article, expanded text, you may want to shorten but I added this to give more info-- Dskluz 23:06, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

• This isn't a vote, it's a request. I've reverted your expansion, as the Today's featured articles are meant to be a short description of the article itself. The Filmaker 05:29, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
• I realize this is not a vote, but on many of the articles nominated here have supporting users in addition to the user who nominated. I felt this did an incomplete job summarizing the article and would like to include more of the intro to this article. I would appreciate it if you would discuss this before changing it again. -- Dskluz 22:39, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Firefly (TV series)

Firefly is an American science fiction cult television series that premiered in the United States and Canada on September 20, 2002. Its naturalistic future setting, modeled after traditional Western movie motifs, presents an atypical science fiction backdrop for the narrative, as well as a fusion of Occidental and Chinese cultures. It was conceived by writer and director Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, under his production tag, Mutant Enemy. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear.

Set in the year 2517, Firefly follows the adventures of the renegades of the spaceship Serenity, and explores the vicissitudes of people who fought on the losing side of a civil war, as well as the pioneer culture on the fringes of their star system.

Firefly was originally broadcast on the FOX network but was cancelled after only eleven of the fourteen produced episodes were aired. Despite the series' relatively short life span, it won an Emmy in 2003 for "Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series", received strong sales when it was released onto DVD, and had impressive fan support campaigns. This strong fan support led to a film based on the series called Serenity. (More...)

A recent FA about a short-lived TV show that has attained cult status. plange 02:43, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Support, and expanded nom text. JQF • Talk • Contribs 18:21, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

• If this article makes the short list for December main-page display, the 20th would be nice, as this is when the pilot episode "Serenity" was first aired (although it came at the end of the show's original run). ~ Jeff Q (talk) 03:48, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Finnish Civil War

Finnish Jägers in Vaasa after returning from Germany

Finnish Jägers in Vaasa after returning from Germany

The Finnish Civil War was a part of World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917. The war was fought from 27 January 1918 to 15 May 1918 between the forces of Finland's Social Democrats led by the Red People's Delegation of Finland, commonly called the "Reds", and the forces of the conservative Senate, commonly called the "Whites". The Reds were supported by Bolshevist Russia, while the Whites received military assistance from the German Empire and Swedish volunteers. As there were no generally accepted police and army forces to keep order in Finland after March 1917, the left and right began building security groups of their own, leading to the emergence of two independent armed military troops, the White and Red Guards. An atmosphere of political violence and fear grew among the Finns. Fighting broke out in late January 1918 after the Conservative senate named the White Guards as the official army of Finland and the Red Guards rose against them. The Whites were the victors in the war that followed. Approximately 37,000 people died during the conflict, including casualties at the war fronts, and deaths from political terror campaigns and high prison camp mortality. The turmoil destroyed the economy, split the political apparatus, and divided the Finnish nation for many years. (More...)

Another fine fresh featured article. It's an old article but recently overgone peer reviews, a-class reviews and GA, and therefore was improved greatly. PS. You all are free to fix some things in the request, if they are needed. Pudeo (Talk) 12:35, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Banksia integrifolia

Banksia integrifolia watercolour by Sydney Parkinson, Sir Joseph Banks' botanical artist

Banksia integrifolia, commonly known as Coast Banksia, is a species of tree that grows along the east coast of Australia. One of the most widely-distributed Banksia species, it occurs between Victoria and Central Queensland in a broad range of habitats, from coastal dunes to mountains. It is highly variable in form, but is most often encountered as a tree up to 25 metres (75 ft) in height. Its leaves have dark green upper surfaces and white undersides, a contrast that can be striking on windy days.

It is one of the four original Banksia species collected by Sir Joseph Banks in 1770, and one of four species published in 1782 as part of the Carolus Linnaeus the Younger's original description of the genus. A hardy and versatile garden plant, B. integrifolia is widely planted in Australian gardens. It is a popular choice for parks and streetscapes, and has been used for bush revegetation and stabilisation of dunes. Its hardiness has prompted research into its suitability for use as a rootstock in the cut flower trade, but has also caused concerns about its potential to become a weed outside its natural habitat.

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Recently promoted to FA its only the second tree article to be featured. Gnangarra 12:27, 28 November 2006 (UTC) (on behalf of Wikipedia:WikiProject Banksia )

New Jersey Devils

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The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Devils have won the Stanley Cup three times, first in the lockout-shortened 1995 season. The club was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1974, moved to Denver, Colorado after only two seasons, then settled in New Jersey in 1982. Under current general manager Lou Lamoriello, the Devils have earned a playoff spot in each of the last nine and 17 of the last 19 seasons.

Since their move to New Jersey, the Devils have played their home games at the Continental Airlines Arena. In 2007, the team is expected to move to a new arena under construction in the city of Newark. They have rivalries with their trans-Hudson neighbor, the New York Rangers, and with the Philadelphia Flyers, as either the Devils or Flyers have won the Atlantic Division title every season since 1995.(More...)

This article has improved very much over the past few months, and I believe that at this point it is worthy of being on the front page. It is pretty rare for a hockey article to gain featured status, as the Devils are the first NHL team to have that distinguishment. I think it would be good for the community to see another professional team on there, especially from this sport. --Sportskido8 22:24, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Olympic Games

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The Olympic Games or Olympics is an international multi-sport event taking place every four years and comprising summer and winter games.

Beginning in 776 BC, they were originally held in Olympia, Greece until 393 AD. In 1896, they were revived by a French nobleman, Pierre Frèdy, Baron de Coubertin, thus beginning the era of the Modern Olympic Games.

The Summer Olympics (Games of the Olympiad) have been held every fourth year starting in 1896, except in 1916, 1940, and 1944 due to the World Wars. Greece and Australia are the only nations to have attended every Summer Olympics.

An event specifically for winter sports, the Olympic Winter Games, was first held in 1924. The first winter Olympics competitions were held as a non-Olympic sports festival, but were declared to be official Games by the International Olympic Committee in 1925. Originally these were held in the same year as the Summer Olympics, but from 1994 (the Lillehammer Games) the Winter Games and the Summer Games have been held two years apart. The Summer Olympics are more prominent and anticipated than the Winter Olympics. (More...)

I just simply think that if a FA covers something this notable it should be on the main page as soon as possible.Buc 17:18, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

• This article needs to be reviewed. Sandy (Talk) 21:03, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Sviatoslav I of Kiev

Sviatoslav's meeting with Emperor John by Klavdiy Lebedev, an attempt to visualise Leo the Deacon's description of Sviatoslav.

Sviatoslav I of Kiev (East Slavic: Святослав, ca. 942 – 972), was the warrior prince (or konung) of Kievan Rus'. The son of Igor of Kiev and Olga, Sviatoslav is famous for his incessant campaigns in the east and south, which precipitated the collapse of two great powers of Eastern Europe — Khazaria and the First Bulgarian Empire; he also subdued the Volga Bulgars, the Alans, and numerous East Slavic tribes, and at times was allied with the Pechenegs and Magyars. His decade-long reign over Rus was marked by rapid expansion into the Volga River valley, the Pontic steppe and the Balkans. By the end of his short life, Sviatoslav carved out for himself the largest state in Europe, eventually moving his capital from Kiev to Pereyaslavets on the Danube in 969. In contrast with his mother's conversion to Christianity, Sviatoslav remained a staunch pagan all of his life. Due to his abrupt death in combat, Sviatoslav's conquests, for the most part, were not consolidated into a functioning empire, while his failure to establish a stable succession led to civil war among his successors.

This article has seen great improvement over the last month or so and was recently accorded FA status. I think it is a very comprehensive and thorough coverage of this important ruler's life and legacy. There's no date particularly connected with Sviatoslav in tradition or literature, so I think any day will do. Briangotts (Talk) (Contrib) 15:24, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Kroger Babb

Kroger Babb in an undated promotional photo.

Howard W. "Kroger" Babb (December 30, 1906 - January 28, 1980) was an American film and television producer. His marketing techniques were similar to a travelling salesman's, with roots in the medicine-show tradition. Self-described as "America's Fearless Young Showman," he is best known for his presentation of the 1945 exploitation film Mom and Dad, which was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2005.

Babb was involved in the production and marketing of many films and television shows, promoting each according to his favorite marketing motto: "You gotta tell 'em to sell 'em." His films ranged from sex education–style dramas to "documentaries" on foreign cultures intended to titillate audiences rather than to educate them, maximizing profits via marketing gimmicks.

The main reason I brought this to FA level was because Babb's 100th birthday (were he still alive) would be on December 30th of this year. I think this is an interesting, little known character and if there's any more perfect day to plug this one on the main page, it would be on his centennial. badlydrawnjeff talk 11:36, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Cretan War

The Cretan War (205 BC–200 BC) was fought by King Philip V of Macedon, the Aetolian League, several Cretan cities (of which Olous and Hierapytna were the most important) and Spartan pirates against the forces of Rhodes and later Attalus I of Pergamum, Byzantium, Cyzicus, Athens and Knossos.

The Macedonians had just concluded the First Macedonian War and Philip, seeing his chance to defeat Rhodes, formed an alliance with Aetolian and Spartan pirates who began raiding Rhodian ships. Philip also formed an alliance with several important Cretan cities, such as Hierapynta and Olous. With the Rhodian fleet and economy suffering from the depredations of the pirates, Philip believed his chance to crush Rhodes was at hand. To help achieve his goal, he formed an alliance with the King of the Seleucid Empire, Antiochus the Great, against Ptolemy V of Egypt (the Seleucid Empire and Egypt were the other two Diadochi states). Philip began attacking the lands of Ptolemy and Rhodes's allies in Thrace and around the Sea of Marmara. (More...)

A fresh FA article which is part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history and Wikipedia:WikiProject History of Greece. I fit is possible can it be displayed on the front page on the 24th of December becuase it is the article's 6 month anniversary. Kyriakos 22:10, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

Not really sure why the 6-month anniversary of the Wikipedia article is reason enough for an article to be displayed on that particular date. Surely there's is a more appropriate date than that one. Pepsidrinka 17:23, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It's as good as a date as all the dates of all those MP FAs that get selected for no particular date. Rlevse 19:17, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

There are no dates recorded during the war so I think the 6 month anniversairy is better than any random date. Kyriakos 20:26, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

You are not obliged to find a meaningful date for the article.--Panarjedde 20:35, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

But would it be possible for it to appear on the front page ont he 24th of December. Kyriakos 21:04, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It is, as it would be possible to appear on the birthday of the first contributor, but what would be the meaning of this request?--Panarjedde 01:50, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

It means that the article would appear on the front page on a day which has something to do with the artocle instead of a random date.

The relationship is so small that amounts to nothing. Is that clear enough?--Panarjedde 22:19, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I do understand. Just don't worry put it on a any free date when possible. :) Kyriakos 07:15, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Chicago Bears

The huge caldera of Mount Tambora

The huge caldera of Mount Tambora

The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are currently members of the Northern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Bears have won nine American Football championships (eight NFL Championships and Super Bowl XX) trailing only the Green Bay Packers, who have twelve. The Bears have the most enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with twenty-six members.

The club was founded in Decatur, Illinois in 1919 and moved to Chicago in 1921. From 1971 to the present, save for the 2002 season, the team has played its home games at Soldier Field in Chicago. The stadium is located next to Lake Michigan and was recently remodeled in a controversial modernization that has attempted to bring stadium amenities expected by today's fans to a historic Chicago building. The team also has a fierce, long-standing rivalry with the Packers, with whom they have played over one hundred seventy games.

The club has played in over a thousand games since becoming a charter member of the NFL in 1920. Through the 2005 season, they lead the NFL in overall franchise wins with 671 and have an overall record of 671–495–42 (going 657–479–42 during the regular season and 14–16 in the playoffs). The club is also poised for a return trip to the NFL Playoffs a feat last accomplished in the 1990 and 1991 seasons. (More...)

This article has been a featured article for many months, and I believe that since the team is once again experiencing success this year that it could be time for it to appear on the Today's Main Page. --Happyman22 02:58, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

Support Relevant with the NFL season going on and notable to a lot of people.

Comment I would like to know if there are any plans to put this article up on the Main Page? Thanks. --128.211.198.21 21:49, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Mount Tambora

The huge caldera of Mount Tambora

The huge caldera of Mount Tambora

Mount Tambora is an active stratovolcano on Sumbawa island, Indonesia. The island is flanked both to the north and south by the oceanic crust. Tambora was formed due to the active subduction zones beneath it. This process raised Mount Tambora as high as 4,300 m (14,000 ft), making it one of the tallest peaks in the Indonesian archipelago. It has also drained off a large magma chamber inside the mountain. It took centuries to refill the magma chamber before its volcanic activity reaching its peak in 1815.

In 1815, Tambora erupted with a rating of seven on the Volcanic Explosivity Index; the largest eruption since the Lake Taupo eruption in 181 AD. The explosion was heard on Sumatra island (more than 2,000 km or 1,200 mi away). Heavy volcanic ash rains were observed as far away as Borneo, Sulawesi, Java and Maluku islands. The death toll was at least 71,000 people, of which 11,000–12,000 were killed directly by the eruption. The eruption created global climate anomalies in the following years. 1816 became known as the Year Without a Summer because of the impact on North American and European weather. In the Northern Hemisphere, agricultural crops failed and livestock died, resulting in the worst famine of the century.

During an excavation in 2004, a team of archaeologists discovered a civilization obliterated by the 1815 eruption. It was kept intact deep beneath the 3 m (10 ft) pyroclastic deposits. Known as the Pompeii of the East, the artifacts were preserved in the positions they had occupied in 1815. (More...)

This is the first Indonesia-related FA article. I would like to see this article at the main page that would be great to our WP:INA project. — Indon (reply) — 13:57, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver as seen by False Creek

Vancouver (pronounced: [vænˈkuːvɚ]) is a city in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The city is named after Captain George Vancouver, an English explorer. Vancouver is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District metropolitan area. With a population of 2,208,300 (2005 estimate), it is the largest metropolitan area in western Canada and the third largest in the country. Vancouver has a very ethnically diverse population: more than half of its residents have a mother tongue other than English. The 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver and nearby Whistler.
The city is located between the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains. Its economy has traditionally relied on British Columbia's resource sectors: forestry, mining, fishing and agriculture. It was first settled in the 1860s as a result of immigration caused by the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, and developed rapidly from a small lumber mill town into a metropolitan centre following the arrival of the transcontinental railway in 1887. The Port of Vancouver became internationally significant after the completion of the Panama Canal and reduced freight rates in the 1920s made it viable to ship export-bound prairie grain west through Vancouver. It has since become the busiest seaport in Canada and exports more cargo than any other port in North America. The economy of Vancouver has become more diverse over time, however. Vancouver has a growing tourism industry, for example, and has become the third largest film production centre in North America, after Los Angeles and New York.
Vancouver is consistently ranked one of the three most livable cities in the world. In 2006, the city was ranked the 56th most expensive city to live in among 144 major cities in the world and the second most expensive in Canada (after Toronto). (More...)

Vancouver is a recent Featured Article. I would like to see more city featured articles along with more Canadian content. The article was greatly contributed to by the editors of the WikiProject Vancouver. No specific date is requested. Mkdw^talk 01:04, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

Chalukya dynasty

Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal, built 740

Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal, built 740

The Chalukya dynasty (Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು, IPA: [ʧaːɭukjə]) was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three closely related, but individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty is known as the Badami Chalukyas who ruled from their capital Badami from the middle of the 6th century. The Badami Chalukyas began to assert their independence at the decline of the Kadamba kingdom of Banavasi and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesi II. The other two later dynasties were the Eastern Chalukyas who ruled from Vengi and Western Chalukyas who ruled from Basavakalyan.

The rise of the Chalukyas marks an important milestone in the history of South India and a golden age in the history of Karnataka. This period saw the birth of efficient administration, rise in overseas trade and commerce and the development of new style of architecture called Vesara. Around the 9th century, it also saw the growth of Kannada as a language of literature in the Jaina Puranas, Veerashaiva Vachanas and Brahminical traditions. The 11th century saw the birth of Telugu literature under the patronage of the Eastern Chalukyas.

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This has just been selected as a FA.Dineshkannambadi 20:47, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

History of Tamil Nadu

A temple from the Chola dynasty period. Cholas were an important ruling dynasty in the history of Tamil Nadu

The region of Tamil Nadu has been under continuous human habitation since prehistoric times and the history of Tamil Nadu and the civilisation of the Tamil people are among the oldest in the world. Throughout its history, spanning from the early Palaeolithic age to the modern time, this region has coexisted with various external cultures. The ancient Tamil dynasties of Chera, Chola and Pandya ruled over this land with a unique culture and language, contributing to the growth of some of the oldest extant literature in the world. They had extensive maritime trade contacts with the Roman empire. Invasion by the Kalabhras during the third century disturbed the traditional order of the land by displacing the three ruling dynasties. These occupiers were overthrown by the resurgence of the Pandyas and the Pallavas, who restored the traditional kingdoms. The Cholas, who re-emerged from obscurity in the ninth century by defeating the Pallavas and the Pandyas, rose to become a great power and extended their empire over the entire southern peninsula.

With the decline of the three ancient dynasties during the fourteenth century, the Tamil country became part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Under this empire the Nayak governors ruled Tamil Nadu. The European trading companies began to appear during the seventeenth century and eventually assumed greater sway over the indigenous rulers of the land. The Madras Presidency comprising of most of southern India was created in the eighteenth century and was ruled directly by the British East India Company. After the independence of India, the Tamil Nadu state was created based on linguistic boundaries. (More...)

This has just been selected as a FA. Parthi ^{talk/contribs} 19:22, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

James Robert Baker

James Robert Baker (October 18, 1946 - November 5 1997) was an American author of sharply satirical, predominantly gay-themed transgressional fiction. A native Californian, his work is set almost entirely in Southern California. After graduating from UCLA, he began his career as a screenwriter, but slowly became disillusioned and started writing novels, instead. Though he garnered fame for his books Fuel-Injected Dreams and Boy Wonder, after the controversy surrounding publication of his novel, Tim And Pete, he faced increasing difficulty having his work published. This was a contributing factor in his suicide.

Baker's work has achieved cult status in the years since his death, and two additional novels have been posthumously published. First edition copies of his earlier works have become collector's items. In recent years, three of his novels have either been filmed or optioned for the movies.(More...)

An interesting cult writer, an interesting read. Also, the first time an article from the LGBT Studies project has made it to FA Jeffpw 18:06, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

I hope the referencing will be corrected before this is chosen for the main page: almost all of the footnotes are incomplete. Sandy (Talk) 21:04, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Mostly cleaned up now - that should not have passed FA. Sandy (Talk) 23:41, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Girl Scouts of the USA

The Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) is a youth organization for girls in the United States as well as American girls living abroad. The movement aims to help girls build character and skills for success in the adult world by using the Scout method to develop leadership, values, social conscience, citizenship, and conviction about their potential and self-esteem.

The Girl Scout program sprang from the concerns of the progressive movement in the United States from people who sought to promote the social welfare of young women and as a female counterpart to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and is based on the Scouting principles developed by Robert Baden-Powell.

Girl Scouts are recognized for their achievements through rank advancement and various special awards. Membership is organized according to age levels with activities appropriate to each age group. A member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), the GSUSA has a long history of accepting girls from all backgrounds. (More...)

A recent FA, the article is a compilation on the Girl Scouts of the USA program. This is a request for February 22, 2007 which is the Girl Scout Thinking Day, a date in which Girl Scouts consider what it means to be a sister to every other Girl Scout in the world. If this date is not acceptable, then any date will suffice. Darthgriz⁹⁸ 03:31, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

Basiliscus

Solidus celebrating Basiliscus as Augustus of the Byzantine Empire and his victories

Flavius Basiliscus (d. 476/477) was a Byzantine Emperor of the House of Leo, who ruled briefly (9 January 475-August 476), when Emperor Zeno had been forced out of Constantinople by a revolt.

Basiliscus was a military commander who, in 468, led the disastrous Byzantine invasion of Vandal Africa, in one of the largest military operations of Late Antiquity.

Basiliscus succeeded in seizing power in 475, exploiting the unpopularity of Emperor Zeno, the "barbarian" successor to Leo, and a plot organized by Verina that had caused Zeno to flee Constantinople. However, during his short rule, Basiliscus alienated the fundamental support of the Church and the people of Constantinople, promoting the Monophysite christological position in opposition to the widely accepted Chalcedonian faith. So, when Zeno tried to regain his empire, he found virtually no opposition, triumphally entering Constantinople, and capturing and killing Basiliscus and his family.

The struggle between Basiliscus and Zeno impeded the intervention of the Eastern Empire in the fall of the Western Roman Empire, which happened in early September 476. When the chieftain of the Heruli, Odoacer, deposed Western Emperor Romulus Augustus, sending the imperial regalia to Constantinople, Zeno had just regained his throne, and he could only appoint Odoacer dux of Italy. So the Western Roman Empire ended. (More...)

Nice article (self nomination). It would be nice to have it on January 9, 1512nd anniversary of his ascension to the throne, but any day is good. BlaiseMuhaddib 15:25, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

Alain Prost

Alain Marie Pascal Prost OBE (born February 24, 1955 in Saint-Chamond, France) is a retired French racing driver and four-time Formula One World Champion. In terms of World Drivers' Championship titles, only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have been more successful in the sport's history.

Prost discovered karting at the age of 14 during a family holiday. He won the French and European F3 championships before joining McLaren in 1980 at the age of 25. Prost took his first of 51 race victories at his home Grand Prix in France a year later, while he was driving for the Renault Factory team.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Prost formed a fierce rivalry with Ayrton Senna, the two had a series of controversial races, including a collision at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix that gave Prost his third Drivers' championship win. A year later at the same venue they collided again and Senna won the title. After an unsucessful 1991 with Ferrari and a sabbatical in 1992, Prost joined Williams, where he dominated the season before finally retiring at the end of the season. In 1997 Prost took over the French Ligier team, running it as Prost Grand Prix until it went bankrupt in 2001.

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A young FA article about one of the most, if not the most, successful Formula One drivers in the sport's history.--Skully Collins ^Edits 09:52, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held between active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), in which participating countries each submit a song to be performed on live television; then proceed to cast votes for the other countries' songs, in order to find the most popular song in the competition. Each country participates via one of their national EBU-member television stations, whose task it is to select a singer and a song to go forward to represent the country in the international competition.

The Contest has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956, and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. Since the year 2000, the Contest has also been broadcast over the Internet; with more than 74,000 people in almost 140 countries having watched the 2006 edition online.

Over the years, the Song Contest has grown from a mere televisual experiment into an international institution of mammoth proportions. Most countries in Europe have taken part at least once during the Contest's history, and the word "Eurovision" is a household name which is recognised across an entire continent. (more)

This event is important for millions of Europeans and, as noted in the article, is one of television's oldest and most popular events. It has international appeal and placing it on the main page on the day of the event would alert even more people to this cultural phenomenon. If you decide to put it on the main page then please do it on MAY 12, 2007 - the date of the next contest. Thanks. Martin Leng 16:16, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

ASCII

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The image of the 95 characters is quite striking Judgesurreal777 21:39, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Quatermass and the Pit

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Good article. Judgesurreal777 21:39, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Privy Council of the United Kingdom

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Good article. Judgesurreal777 21:39, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Battle of Ceresole

Swiss mercenaries and landsknechts engaged in a push of pike

The Battle of Ceresole, fought on April 11, 1544, during the Italian War of 1542, was a lengthy engagement in which a French army under François de Vendôme, Count of Enghien, defeated the Spanish-Imperial army of Alfonso d'Avalos d'Aquino, Marquis del Vasto. Enghien and Del Vasto had arranged their armies along two parallel ridges; after several hours of skirmishing between opposing bands of arquebusiers and an ineffectual artillery exchange, d'Avalos ordered a general advance. In the center, Imperial landsknechts clashed with French and Swiss infantry, suffering enormous casualties. In the southern part of the battlefield, Italian infantry in Imperial service was harried by French cavalry attacks and withdrew after learning that the Imperial troops of the center had been defeated. In the north, meanwhile, the French infantry line crumbled, and Enghien led a series of ineffectual and costly cavalry charges against Spanish and German infantry before the latter were forced to surrender by the arrival of the victorious Swiss and French infantry from the center.

Despite inflicting massive casualties on the Imperial troops, the French failed to exploit the victory, as Enghien was unable to take Milan after much of his army was recalled to face an Anglo-Imperial invasion of France. One of the few pitched battles during the latter half of the Italian Wars, Ceresole is known among military historians chiefly for the "great slaughter" that occurred when columns of intermingled arquebusiers and pikemen met in the center; it also demonstrates the continuing role of traditional heavy cavalry on a battlefield largely dominated by the emerging pike and shot infantry. (more)

A (fairly) recent promotion that was well-received in Danny's contest; might as well try it out here. I've tried to trim the lead down to something reasonable for a Main Page blurb. No particular date in mind. Kirill Lokshin 03:23, 10 November 2006 (UTC)

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal at Martha's Vineyard, 2006.

Jacob Benjamin "Jake" Gyllenhaal (born December 19 1980) is an American actor. The son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, Gyllenhaal began acting at age eleven, and his short career has seen performances in diverse roles. He has received an Academy Award nomination and won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award.

Gyllenhaal's most notable film appearances began with 2001's cult hit Donnie Darko, in which he played a troubled schizophrenic. In the 2004 blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, he portrayed a student caught in a cataclysmic global cooling event. He played against type as an angry Marine in Jarhead (2005) and, that same year, he won critical acclaim as a gay cowboy in the controversial film Brokeback Mountain.

Gyllenhaal has also taken an activist role in supporting political and social causes. He appeared in Rock the Vote advertising, campaigned for the Democratic party in the 2004 election, and has promoted environmental causes and the American Civil Liberties Union.

No offline biography exists of Jake Gyllenhaal, and consequently this article is the world's most comprehensive bigraphy of him, drawing together many many sources into one place. Main page would be a good place to show off what Wikipedia can achieve. I also request that this article been put on the main page on December 19th, as that will be Gyllenhaal's 26th birthday, and many Jake fans would be delighted to see it there. Dev920 (check out this proposal) 23:18, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

Seabird

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Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life in the marine environment. Whilst seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations. The first seabirds evolved in the Cretaceous, and modern seabird families emerged in the Paleogene.

Seabirds live longer, breed later and have fewer young than other birds do, but they invest a great deal of time in those young that they do have. Most species nest in colonies, which can vary in size from a few dozen birds to many millions. They are famous for undertaking long annual migrations, crossing the equator or circumnavigating the Earth in some cases. They feed both at the ocean's surface and below it, and even feed on each other. Seabirds can be highly pelagic, coastal, or in some cases spend a part of the year away from the sea entirely.

Seabirds and humans have a long history together: they have provided food to hunters, guided fishermen to fishing stocks and led sailors to land. Many species are currently threatened by human activities, and conservation efforts are underway.

A featured article people spent many months making, would be very happy to see this article displayed. Judgesurreal777 22:08, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

Final Fantasy VII

(ファイナルファンタジーVII, Fainaru Fantajī Sebun?) is a console role-playing game (RPG) developed and published by Square Co., Ltd. (now Square Enix). Released in 1997, it was the first game in the Final Fantasy series to be produced for the Sony PlayStation, the first to be ported to Windows-based computers, and the first to use 3D computer graphics featuring fully rendered characters on pre-rendered backgrounds.

The game's story centers on a group of adventurers as they battle a powerful mega corporation called "Shin-Ra", which is draining the life of the planet to use as an energy source. As the story progresses, conflicts escalate and the world's safety becomes a major concern.

A major critical and commercial success, the game remains arguably the most popular title in the series, and is often credited with allowing RPGs to achieve mainstream success outside Japan. The ongoing popularity of the title led Square Enix to produce a series of sequels and prequels in the early-to-mid-2000s under the collective title "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII".

One of the most acclaimed video games ever made, arguably the best video game FA yet created, please put this on the main page. :) Judgesurreal777 21:58, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

I think FF8 beats it in both terms ^_^ — Deckiller 06:25, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (commonly abbreviated to MGS3) is a stealth-based game directed by Hideo Kojima. Snake Eater was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami in 2004 for the PlayStation 2. It was well-received publicly and critically, selling 3.6 million copies worldwide and scoring an average of 91% in Metacritic's aggregate. The game serves as a prequel to the entire Metal Gear series

Set in Cold War-era Russia, the story centers on Naked Snake as he attempts to rescue a weapons designer and sabotage an experimental superweapon. While previous games were set in a primarily urban environment, Snake Eater adopts a 1960s Soviet jungle setting, with the high tech, near-future trappings of previous Metal Gear Solid games being replaced with the wilderness. While the setting has changed, the game's focus remains on stealth and infiltration, and it retains the series' self-referential, fourth wall-breaking sense of humor. Snake Eater's story is told through numerous cut scenes and radio conversations.

Recently prometed FA (thanks entirely to Steel359 (talk · contribs · blocks · protections · deletions · page moves · rights · RfA)) nominating it to be on the main page due to how damn good it is. †he Bread 02:56, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Pierre Rossier

French Sailors at Canton, 1858. Stereograph by Pierre Rossier.

Pierre Joseph Rossier (born 16 July 1829, died between 1883 and 1898) was a pioneering Swiss photographer whose albumen photographs, which include stereographs and cartes-de-visite, comprise portraits, cityscapes and landscapes. He was commissioned by the London firm of Negretti and Zambra to travel to Asia and document the progress of the Anglo-French troops in the Second Opium War and, although he failed to join that military expedition, he remained in Asia for several years, producing the first commercial photographs of China, the Philippines, Japan and Siam (now Thailand). He was the first professional photographer in Japan, where he trained Ueno Hikoma, Maeda Genzō, Horie Kuwajirō, as well as lesser known members of the first generation of Japanese photographers. In Switzerland he established photographic studios in Fribourg and Einsiedeln, and he also produced images elsewhere in the country. Rossier is an important figure in the early history of photography not only because of his own images, but also because of the critical impact of his teaching in the early days of Japanese photography.

Apart from this article there is only one comprehensive (though still brief) biography of Rossier, whose story provides an interesting point of entry into the not broadly-known early history of photography in Asia. Most existing scholarship has yet to update even his full name, so it would be helpful and pleasing to give Main Page prominence to him. The relative scarcity of Wikipedia Main Page and Featured Articles on photographers and Asian history could also be partly addressed by putting Rossier on the Main Page. Pinkville 22:46, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

Syed Ahmed Khan

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was an Indian educationalist and politician who pioneered modern education for the Muslim community in India by founding the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College, which later developed into the Aligarh Muslim University. His work gave rise to a new generation of Muslim intellectuals and politicians who composed the Aligarh movement to secure the political future of Muslims in India. Born into Mughal nobility, Sir Syed earned a reputation as a distinguished scholar while working as a jurist for the British East India Company. Personally affected by the turmoil of the Indian rebellion of 1857, he penned the booklet Asbab-e-Bhaghawath-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Mutiny). Sensing that the future of Muslims was threatened by their orthodox nature and outlook, Sir Syed began promoting Western-style scientific education by founding modern schools and organising Muslim intellectuals. Suspicious of the Indian independence movement, Sir Syed called upon Muslims to loyally serve the British Raj. He also promoted the adoption of Urdu as the lingua franca of all Indian Muslims and mentored a rising generation of Muslim politicians and intellectuals. (more)

Recently featured article about a very important Muslim politician-educationalist. No particular date requested. Rama's arrow 21:15, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

Daniel Webster

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Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 25, 1852) was a leading American statesman during the nation's antebellum, or Pre-Civil War, era. His increasingly nationalistic positions and the effectiveness with which he articulated them led him to become one of the most famous orators and influential Whig leaders of the Second Party System. Although Webster served as Secretary of State, he is primarily recognized for his Senate tenure. He desired greatly to see the Union preserved and conflict averted, which led him to search out compromises designed to stave off the sectionalism that threatened war between the North and South. Webster made three unsuccessful bids for the Presidency, his final attempt failing in part because of his compromises. Much like his attempts at gaining the White House, Webster's efforts at averting civil war toward a definite peace would ultimately prove futile. Despite this, Webster came to be esteemed for his attempts, being officially named by the Senate in 1957 as one of its five most outstanding members. (More...)

• This article reached FA status in September 2005, and I believe that it accurately portrays not only an important individual to American History, but it provides a unique look into the failures and triumphs associated with being a statesman of the antebellum era. I really think any date could be used. Prezboy1 20:25, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

Gilwell Park

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Gilwell Park, the hallowed ground of Scouting, is a campsite and activity centre for Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and school groups, and a training and conference centre for Scout Leaders. The 44 hectare (109 acre) site is located in the Epping Forest in Chingford, London. Its recorded history goes back over 400 years, beginning as a farm, growing to a wealthy estate that fell into disrepair towards 1900. It was given in 1919 by Scout Commissioner William De Bois Maclaren to The Scout Association of the United Kingdom to provide camping facilities to London Scouts, and training facilities for Scouters. As Scout Leaders from all countries of the world have come to Gilwell Park for their Wood Badge training, it is one of the great landmarks of the world Scouting movement.

• The hallowed ground of Scouting. Worldwide camping and training center of the Scouting movement.Rlevse 17:02, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Pixies

The band, pictured in a concert in Kansas City in 2004

The Pixies are an American alternative rock music group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1986. The group disbanded in 1993 in acrimonious circumstances but reunited in 2004. Black Francis, Joey Santiago, Kim Deal, and Dave Lovering have been the group's continual members. The Pixies found only modest success in their home country, but were significantly more successful in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, although never achieving mainstream success with their studio albums.

Their music, heavily influenced by punk and surf music, was, while highly melodic, capable of being tremendously abrasive at the same time. Francis was the group's primary songwriter and singer and had a distinctly desperate, yowling delivery. He typically wrote cryptic songs about offbeat subjects, such as unidentified flying objects and surrealism. References to mental instability, violent Biblical imagery, physical injury, and incest feature in many of the band's songs and imagery. (More...)

Recently promoted to FA status. Any date would be fine. CloudNine 09:50, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Boston, Massachusetts

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Boston is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. It is the largest city in New England. Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest, wealthiest and most culturally significant cities in the United States. Its economy is based on higher education, research, health care, finance and technology. The city has been given many nicknames over the years. The name The City on a Hill came from original Massachusetts Bay Colony's governor John Winthrop's goal to create the biblical "City on a Hill." It also refers to the original three hills of Boston. Beantown refers to early Bostonian tradition of making baked beans with imported molasses. The Hub is a shortened form of a phrase recorded by writer Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Hub of the Solar System. William Tudor, co-founder of the North American Review, christened the city The Athens of America for its great cultural and intellectual influence. Boston is sometimes called the Puritan City because its founders were Puritans, and also called The Cradle of Liberty for its role in instigating the American Revolution. In the nineteenth century, it was also known as the "City of Notions." Since walking is popular in the area, yet another nickname of Boston is America's Walking City. Citizens of Boston are called Bostonians. (More…)

Well written article, any date would be fine. -- R'son-W (speak to me/breathe) 03:19, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Shoshone National Forest

Shoshone National Forest spans over 2.4 million acres (9,700 km²) in the U.S. state of Wyoming and was the first federally protected forest in the United States. Originally a part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve, the forest was created by an act of Congress and signed into law by U.S. President Benjamin Harrison in 1891. A total of four wilderness areas are located within the forest, protecting more than half of the managed land area from development. From sagebrush plains through dense spruce and fir forest to craggy mountain peaks, Shoshone National Forest has a rich biodiversity rarely matched in any protected area. (More...)

Has been a featured article for some time now. I just rechecked all the refs and they are still accurate.--MONGO 21:34, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

City of Manchester Stadium

The City of Manchester Stadium (also known as COMS or Eastlands) is a sports venue in Manchester, England. Originally designed as part of Manchester's failed bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics, the stadium was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games at a cost of GB£110 million. After the Games it was converted for use as a football facility, and became the home of Manchester City F.C. who moved there from Maine Road in 2003, signing a 250 year lease.

The interior of the City of Manchester Stadium is a continuous oval bowl, with three tiers of seating at the sides, and two tiers at each end. With an all seater capacity of 47,726 it is currently the fourth largest stadium in the FA Premier League. On 4 October 2006 it was announced that the stadium will host the 2008 UEFA Cup Final. While the seating is continuous, each side of the stadium has its own name in the manner of a traditional football ground. Initially, all sides of the stadium were named by compass direction (North Stand and South Stand for the ends, East Stand (pictured) and West Stand for the sides). In February 2004 the West Stand was renamed the Colin Bell Stand in honour of the former player. (More...)

• I decided to use this image because it hasn't been used for the main page before (the one in the info box was used in the Manchester City F.C. article), also think this is an informing about a sporting arena and if I am correct there was been no sporting arenas on "Today's Featured article". Any date is suitable. Kingjamie 12:10, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

Countdown (game show)

Countdown is a British game show presented by Des Lynam and Carol Vorderman. The programme was presented by Richard Whiteley for over twenty years, until his death in 2005. It was the first programme aired on Channel 4, and over fifty series have been broadcast since its debut on 2 November 1982. With over 4,000 episodes, it is one of the longest-running game shows in the world. The two contestants in each episode compete in three disciplines: eleven letters rounds, in which the contestants attempt to make the longest word from nine randomly chosen letters; three numbers rounds, in which the contestants must use arithmetic to make a random target number from six other numbers; and the "conundrum", a buzzer round in which the contestants try to be first to solve a nine-letter anagram. Contestants of exceptional skill have received national media coverage, and the programme as a whole is widely recognised and parodied within British culture. (More...)

• A fairly recent FA about a British television classic. By far the best date for this to be on the front page is 2 November, which (this year) marks the 24th anniversary of the first episode of the show, and indeed Channel 4 as a whole. Quite a landmark, and this would be a nice way to mark it. There are several pictures that could accompany this, and I've chosen what I think is the best of the free licensed ones. - CountdownCrispy ^{( ?} 19:50, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

Alcibiades

Alcibiades was an Athenian statesman, orator, and general, who played a major role in the Peloponnesian War. During the course of that conflict, Alcibiades changed his allegiance on several occasions. In Athens in the early 410s BC he advocated for an aggressive foreign policy, and was a proponent of the Sicilian Expedition, but fled to Sparta after his political enemies brought charges of sacrilege against him. In Sparta too, however, Alcibiades soon made powerful enemies and was forced to defect to Persia. There, he served as an advisor to the satrap Tissaphernes until his political allies among the Athenians brought about his recall. He was reinstated as an Athenian strategos, but his enemies eventually succeeded in exiling him a second time. Alcibiades favored unconventional tactics, frequently winning cities over by treachery or negotiation. His military and political talents proved valuable to whichever state currently held his allegiance, but his capacity for making powerful enemies ensured that he never remained in one place for long, and, by the end of the war that he had helped rekindle, his days of political relevance were a bygone memory. (More...)

• Self nomination Alcibiades is one of the most famous and controversial figures of antiquity. A prominent Athenian general and statesman who inspired philosophers, writers and artists. I think his biography deserves to become "today's featured article". Alcibiades passed FA a few days ago. It is a stable article with no controversies. I do not request a specific day. Thanks!--Yannismarou 16:44, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy IV (ファイナルファンタジーIV, Fainaru Fantajī Foa) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square Co., Ltd. in 1991. It was first released in North America as Final Fantasy II, although the original name was restored in later releases. The game initially appeared on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and has since been ported with minor differences to the PlayStation, WonderSwan Color, and Game Boy Advance. The player takes the role of Cecil, a Dark Knight from the kingdom of Baron, on his journey to save the world from the evil Golbez. Struggling to prevent Golbez from acquiring powerful Crystals, Cecil learns of his heritage and travels through three realms to battle Golbez's minions. His lover, best friend, and other warriors join him for the adventure. Final Fantasy IV introduced innovations that became staples of the Final Fantasy series and role-playing games in general. Its "Active Time Battle" system was used in five subsequent Final Fantasy games. Its character-driven plot, use of the new technologies (such as Mode 7), and critically acclaimed score by Nobuo Uematsu have prompted critics to consider Final Fantasy IV one of the greatest games of all time.

• November 23 is the fifteen year anniversary of this game's US release. --Zeality 17:36, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

Fauna of Puerto Rico

The fauna of Puerto Rico, similar to other island archipelago faunas, exhibits high levels of endemism and low, skewed taxonomic diversity. Bats are the only extant native terrestrial mammals in Puerto Rico. Other terrestrial mammals are introduced species such as cats, goats, sheep, the Indian Mongoose, and escaped monkeys. Marine mammals include dolphins, manatees and whales. Of the 349 bird species, about 120 breed in the archipelago and 47.5% are accidental or rare. The most recognizable and famous animal of Puerto Rico is probably the coquí, a small endemic frog and one of the 85 species that comprise Puerto Rico's herpetofauna. No native freshwater fish occur in Puerto Rico, but some species, introduced by humans, have established populations in reservoirs and rivers. The low richness-high diversity pattern is also apparent among invertebrates, which constitute most of the archipelago's fauna.

The arrival of indigenous people about 4000 years ago and, to a larger extent, of Europeans more than 500 years ago had a significant impact on Puerto Rico's fauna. Hunting, habitat destruction, and the introduction of non-native species led to extinctions and extirpations (local extinctions). Conservation efforts, the most notable for the Puerto Rican Parrot, began in the second half of the 20th century. According to IUCN, as of 2002, there were 21 threatened species in Puerto Rico; two mammals, eight breeding birds, eight reptiles, and three amphibians. (More...)

Joelito (talk) 00:42, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

I second this. Aside from the normal pros one could expect to see in a featured article, this also covers a subject that I'd be willing to bet is not at all known by the vast majority of Wikipedians or normal browsers. Spotlighting such a piece would undoubtedly raise a good deal of attention on the subject and would be quite entertaining and informative for the average reader. RPH 01:50, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is a side-scrolling platform video game developed by Oddworld Inhabitants and published by GT Interactive. It was released in 1997 for the PlayStation video game console and Windows OS in North America, Australia and Europe. While the game was criticised for its steep learning curve, it was widely acclaimed for having innovative gameplay, good graphics and engaging cut-scenes, and went on to receive multiple awards. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee was the first game in the planned five part Oddworld Quintology, which includes Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee.

The game centers on the titular Abe, a Mudokon slave working at the RuptureFarms meat processing factory on Oddworld. When he discovers that he and his friends face death at the hands of their desperate master, he decides to escape and aid as many enslaved Mudokons as he can along the way. The player assumes the role of Abe, and must escape from the factory before embarking on a perilous quest to restore his once noble people. (More...)

—Abraham Lure 00:13, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

• I remember playing the demo of this one PS1 over and over when I was 7! memories!

Dhaka

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Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the Dhaka District. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka and its metropolitan area have a population exceeding 9 million, making it the largest city in Bangladesh and one of the most populous cities in the world. Under Mughal rule, the city was also known as Jahangir Nagar. The modern city was largely developed by British authorities and soon became the second-largest city in Bengal after Kolkata. With the partition of India, Dhaka became the administrative capital of East Pakistan before becoming the capital of an independent Bangladesh in 1972. During this period Dhaka witnessed extensive political turmoil, including many periods of martial law, the declaration of Bangladesh's independence, military suppression and devastation from war and natural calamities. Modern Dhaka is the centre of political, cultural and economic life in Bangladesh, enjoying the highest literacy rate amongst other Bangladeshi cities and a diverse economy. The city faces severe challenges from pollution, congestion, supply shortages, poverty and crime. In recent decades Dhaka has seen a modernisation of transport, communications and public works. (more...)

Rama's arrow 19:48, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, revolutionary and philosopher who is best known for pioneering works of Bengali poetry. He is popularly known as the Bidrohi Kobi — Rebel Poet — as many of his works express an intense rebellion against the oppression of human beings through slavery, hatred and tradition. He is officially recognised as the national poet of Bangladesh and commemorated in India. Born in a poor Muslim family, Nazrul worked as a muezzin at a local mosque and later worked and travelled with theatrical groups. Establishing himself as a journalist, Nazrul assailed the British Raj in India and emphatically preached revolution with his poetic works the "Vidrohi" ("Rebel") and "Bhangar Gan" ("The Song of Destruction") and his publication the "Dhumketu" ("Comet"). Nazrul also condemned Muslim religious fundamentalism and explore the lives of downtrodden masses in India. Nazrul wrote the first ghazals in Bengali poetry and composed music for his songs, which are collected as "Nazrul Sangeet" broadcast by recording and radio companies and used in motion pictures. (more...)

Rama's arrow 19:41, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

Mormon handcart pioneers

The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon or LDS Church) to Salt Lake City, Utah who used handcarts to transport their belongings. The Mormon handcart movement began in 1856 and lasted until 1860. Motivated to join their fellow Church members but lacking funds for full ox or horse teams, nearly 3,000 Mormon pioneers from England, Wales, and Scandinavia made the journey to Utah in 10 handcart companies. The trek was disastrous for two of the companies after they started their journey dangerously late and were caught by heavy snow and severe temperatures in central Wyoming. Despite a dramatic rescue effort, more than 210 of the 980 pioneers in the two companies died along the way. John Chislett, a survivor of one of these companies, wrote, "Many a father pulled his cart, with his little children on it, until the day preceding his death." (More...)

This is a new featured article. This fall is the 150th anniversary of the rescue of the Willie and Martin handcart companies. I'll request either October 19, the anniversary of when the advance rescue party reached the Willie Company and both companies were halted by a blizzard, or October 28, when the rescue party reached the Martin Company. If neither of these dates is available, Anytime before the end of the year would be appreciated. BRMo 03:50, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

• Support The topic is timely (150th anniversary). --Trödel 22:07, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
• Support - I'm not sure if we are supposed to vote or not, but this is a great article, and its subject is currently being covered in a few TV documentaries here in Utah (at least, I keep seeing commercials for them). --Lethargy 23:04, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Fourth International

File:Logo of the Fourth International.png

The Fourth International has been a socialist international organisation working in opposition to both capitalism and "Stalinism". Consisting of supporters of Leon Trotsky, it has striven for an eventual victory of the working class to bring about socialism. In Paris in 1938, Trotsky and many of his supporters, having been expelled from the Soviet Union, considered the Comintern to have become lost to "Stalinism" and incapable of leading the international working class towards political power. Thus, they founded their own competing "Fourth International". The International suffered a split in 1940 and an even more significant split in 1953. Despite a partial reunification in 1963, more than one group claims to represent the political continuity of the Fourth International. The broad array of Trotskyist Internationals are split over whether the Fourth International still exists and if so, which organisation represents its political continuity. (more...)

Self-nom; featured since 1 October 2006. This is a slightly abbreviated version of the lead. Any date is fine. Warofdreams talk 18:50, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Ziaur Rahman

Ziaur Rahman was the 6th President of Bangladesh and founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. An officer in the Pakistan Army, Zia's unit captured the Kalurghat radio station at the onset of the Bangladesh Liberation War and declared the independence of Bangladesh. Becoming high-ranking officer in the Bangladesh Army, Zia was appointed chief of army staff following the assassination of Sheikh Mujib Rahman in 1975. Declaring himself president in 1977, Zia won a referendum held in 1978. A right-wing politician, Zia established free-market policies in a 19-point programme of industrialisation and development. He adopted policies bringing the government increasingly under Islam, which he imbibed in the national constitution. Zia controversially pardoned the assassins of Sheikh Mujib by signing the Indemnity Act and rehabilitated individuals who had supported the Pakistan Army. A popular yet controversial leader, Zia was assassinated in 1981 in an abortive military coup. His widow Begum Khaleda Zia is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. (more...)

I know that the picture is a fair use image, but there are no free alternatives for Ziaur Rahman. Please let me know if this is acceptable and if not, what should be done. Rama's arrow 21:21, 26 September 2006 (UTC)

If it is not acceptable, would an alternative be to get a portrait drawn? I vaguely remember seeing a portrait drive going on in WP:FPC. You can request there. -- Sundar ^{\talk \contribs} 13:29, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

Kengir uprising

File:Aleksandr solzhenitsyn gulag mugshot 1953.jpg

The Kengir uprising was a prisoner uprising that took place in the Soviet prison labor camp Kengir in the spring of 1954. After the murder of some of their fellow prisoners by guards, Kengir inmates launched a rebellion and proceeded to seize the entire camp compound, holding it for weeks and creating a period of freedom for themselves unique in the history of the Gulag. Coinciding with a rare alliance between the criminals and politicals, the prisoners succeeded in forcing the guards and camp administration to flee the camp and quarantine it from the outside, with the prisoners thereafter setting up intricate defenses to prevent the incursion of the authorities into their newly won territory. This situation lasted for an unprecedented length of time and gave rise to a panoply of colourful and novel activity, including the democratic formation of a provisional government by the prisoners, prisoner marriages, idiosyncratic religious ceremonies, a brief flowering of art and culture, and the waging of a large, relatively complex propaganda campaign against the erstwhile authorities. (More...)

Self nom. Feel free to totally rearrange or edit the suggested blurb above, I'm really horrible at writing these things. --Clngre 12:04, 26 September 2006 (UTC)

Wonderful article - please do put it up for main page soon. Rama's arrow 15:03, 26 September 2006 (UTC)

War of the Fifth Coalition (October 14)

File:Napoleon Wagram2.jpg

The War of the Fifth Coalition was a military conflict in 1809 between an alliance of the Austrian Empire and the United Kingdom against Napoleon's French Empire and Bavaria. Major engagements between France and Austria, the main participants, unfolded over much of Central Europe from April to July, producing horrific casualty rates. After much campaigning in Bavaria and across the Danube valley, the war ended favorably for the French after the bloody struggle at the Battle of Wagram in early July.

The resulting Treaty of Schönbrunn was the harshest that France had imposed on Austria in recent memory. Austria lost over three million subjects, about 20% of her total population, as a result of the territorial changes. While incessant fighting in the Iberian Peninsula would continue, the War of the Fifth Coalition was the last major conflict on the European continent until the French invasion of Russia in 1812 sparked the rise of the Sixth Coalition. (More...)

Requesting October 14th since the Treaty of Schonbrunn was signed that day.UberCryxic 17:07, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

Aspasia

Aspasia was a renowned woman in ancient Greece, famous for her romantic involvement with the Athenian statesman Pericles. She was born in the city of Miletus in Asia Minor, but at some point she travelled to Athens, where she spent the rest of her life. After Pericles' death, she was allegedly involved with Lysicles, another Athenian statesman and general. She had a son with Pericles, Pericles the Younger, who was elected general and was executed after the Battle of Arginusae. Aspasia appears in the philosophical writings of Plato and other philosophers and is regarded by modern scholars as an exceptional person who distinguished herself due to her political influence and intellectual charisma. However, almost nothing is certain about her life. While ancient writers report that Aspasia was a brothel keeper and a harlot, many of these were comic poets who intended to ridicule Pericles and the war rather than document anything factual about Aspasia, and their accounts are disputed. Some researchers question even the assessment that she was a hetaera, or courtesan.(More...)

Self nomination Aspasia passed FA a few days ago. It is a stable article with no controversies. I do not request a specific day. Thanks!--Yannismarou 16:44, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

Larrys Creek

Larrys Creek is a 22.9 mile (36.8 km) long tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. A part of the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin, the watershed drains 89.1 square miles (230.8 km²) in six townships and a borough, flowing south from the dissected Allegheny Plateau to the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. The Susquehannocks, Lenape and other tribes lived here and the Great Shamokin Path crossed the creek near its mouth, where Larry Burt, the first settler, also lived by 1769. In the 19th century, the creek and its watershed included 53 sawmills, grist mills, leather tanneries, coal and iron mines. No other stream in the country had so many sawmills. A plank road ran along much of the creek for decades, and two "paper railroads" were planned, but never built. As of 2006, the Larrys Creek watershed is 83.1% forest and 15.7% agricultural (in marked contrast to the 19th century's clear-cut land). Nearly 9000 acres (36 km²) of second-growth forest are protected public and private land for hunting and trout fishing. The polluting industries of the 19th century are gone and the creek "has an exceptionally scenic, ultra-highwater, whitewater run" for canoeing. Despite agricultural runoff and some acid mine drainage, water quality is quite good and a water filtration plant supplies over 2500 customers. (More...)

(self-nomination in that I am the principal author). The article has been featured since August 30, 2006. It is only the second river / stream article currently on the featured articles list. It has been over a year since the other, Zambezi, was Today's featured article. No date suggested, just think it would be an interesting article on the Main Page. Thanks, Ruhrfisch 12:49, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

I expanded the lead in the article and edited it here to make it (hopefully) more interesting and compelling. Ruhrfisch 16:03, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Halo: Combat Evolved

Halo: Combat Evolved is a science fiction first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie Studios. The "killer application" of the Xbox gaming system, it was released as a launch title for the platform on November 15, 2001. Selling more than six million copies worldwide since release, the game is second only to its sequel, Halo 2, in sales for the Microsoft console. The game received excellent reviews and numerous "Game of the Year" awards, being hailed as one of the best and most influential first-person shooters of all time. The game's popularity has led to labels such as "Halo clone" and "Halo killer", applied to games either similar to, or anticipated to be better than, Halo. In addition, the game inspired and was used in the Red vs. Blue video series, which is credited as the "first big success" of machinima.

Halo's main character is the Master Chief, a cyborg "super-soldier" clad in battle armor. Players assume the role of the Master Chief and battle aliens on foot and in vehicles as they explore the titular Halo, a ring-shaped space habitat, and attempt to uncover its secrets. (More...)

bibliomaniac15 04:31, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

This would be appropriate for November 7 or January 17. — TKD::Talk 10:55, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

Or even January 1, 2007. In case the connection of these dates isn't clear, the protagonist's code name is Spartan-117. — TKD::Talk 11:22, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

Michael Woodruff

Sir Michael Francis Addison Woodruff FRS (April 3, 1911 – March 10, 2001) was a British surgeon and scientist. Though born in London, Woodruff spent his youth in Australia where he attended college and received a medical degree. Woodruff finished his medical studies shortly after the outbreak of World War II, and joined the Australian Army Medical Corps, but was soon captured by Japanese forces and imprisoned in the Changi Prison Camp. While imprisoned, Woodruff devised an ingenious method of extracting nutrients from agricultural wastes to prevent malnutrition among his fellow POWs.

At the conclusion of the war, Woodruff returned to Britain and began a long career as an academic surgeon, mixing clinical work and research. Over the course of several decades, Woodruff studied transplant rejection, immunosuppression, and other aspects of transplantation biology. His considerable contributions to the science of transplantation culminated on October 30, 1960 when he performed the first kidney transplant in the United Kingdom. For this and his other scientific contributions, Woodruff was selected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1968 and knighted in 1969. Unwilling to rest on his laurels, Woodruff continued his surgical work until retiring in 1976, and even continued to be active in the scientific community for many years aftwerward, researching cancer and serving on the boards of various medical and scientific organizations.

It's been an FA for a while. I'd like to see it on the front page for October 30 (the anniversary of Woodruff's big transplant). Cool3 20:17, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

Sheffield Wednesday F.C.

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club (often abbreviated as SWFC), nicknamed The Owls, is one of the oldest football clubs in the English Football League. Based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, Sheffield Wednesday's chief rivals are Sheffield United F.C. with whom they play in the Steel City Derby.

As of 2006, The Owls have won four league titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup, but their League Cup triumph (secured in 1991) is their only major trophy since World War II. They did reach both domestic cup finals in 1993, but lost 2-1 to Arsenal each time.

Sheffield Wednesday currently play in the Football League Championship with Brian Laws as manager. Home games are played at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, which had staged numerous FA Cup semi-finals prior to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans. (More...)

Passed FA today and it would be great to see it on the main page. It's a great article and contains plenty of interesting stuff for both football fans and those new to the game alike. Dan1980 (talk | stalk) 19:17, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

USA PATRIOT Act, Title III, Subtitle A

President George W. Bush signing the USA PATRIOT ACT in the White House's East Room on October 26, 2001.

The USA PATRIOT Act is an American law which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001. The USA PATRIOT Act was passed by the United States Congress in 2001 as a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. It has ten titles, with the third title ("Title III: International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001") written to prevent, detect, and prosecute international money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Title III is itself divided into three subtitles. The first subtitle, entitled Subtitle A: International Counter Money Laundering and Related Measures is designed to put measures into place that counter international money laundering. It does this by requiring that financial instutitions take several new special measures against money laundering — identification is dealt with particularly; by restricting or prohibiting the use of certain types of bank accounts and through adding further legislation that regulates a financial institution's dealing with foreign concerns. (More...)

Rama's arrow 19:31, 13 September 2006 (UTC)

It needs a better lead section, preferably one introducing the specific scope from the very beginning. John Riemann Soong 07:42, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is the largest city of the of the Indian state of Gujarat and seventh largest of India with a population of 5.2 million. Ahmedabad is located in north-central Gujarat on the banks of River Sabarmati. It once served as the capital of Gujarat and now is the administrative center of Ahmedabad district. Founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah of the Muzaffarid dynasty, Ahmedabad has been under the control of the Mughals, Marathas and then the British. The city was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement with the famous Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi starting from the city. The textile industry is the main industry of Ahmedabad due to which it was once called the Manchester of India. Various mosques built in the Indo-Saracenic style are a major attraction of the city. The city is home to various science and research organisations and some of the finest design, fashion, and management schools of India. (More...)

Any date would be suitable. - Aksi_great (talk - review me) 12:52, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Frank Klepacki

Frank Klepacki (born May 25, 1974) is a video game music composer best known for his work on the Command & Conquer series. Having learned to play drums in childhood, he joined Westwood Studios as a composer at age 17. He scored several games there, including the Lands of Lore series, the Dune games, the The Legend of Kyrandia series, Blade Runner, and the Command & Conquer series. His work in Command & Conquer: Red Alert won two awards. He lives in Las Vegas, where he has shaped a solo career and played and produced for several local bands. His personal and band work touches upon several genres, including orchestral, rock music, hip hop music, alternative rock, progressive rock, soul music, and funk. His work has appeared in various media, including the Spike TV program The Ultimate Fighter. Klepacki is currently the audio director of Petroglyph games, where he scored Star Wars: Empire at War. He has not been contacted to score Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, noting he learned of the game's development the "same way the fans did." Klepacki's next composing project is an unnamed game collaboration by Sega and Petrogylph. His next solo CD will be entitled Awakening of Aggression.

Nothing in mind, but the sooner the better, I guess. He's about to release Awakening of Aggression in the coming two months, which will generate some interest. Hurrah for first CVG bio Featured Article! --Zeality 03:45, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

United States Bill of Rights

The United States Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments explicitly limit the Federal government's powers, protecting the rights of the people by preventing Congress from abridging freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religious worship, and the right to bear arms, preventing unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, and self-incrimination, and guaranteeing due process of law and a speedy public trial with an impartial jury. In addition, the Bill of Rights states that "the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people," and reserves all powers not granted to the Federal government to the citizenry or States. These amendments came into effect on December 15, 1791, when ratified by three-fourths of the States.(More...)

The Wire (TV series) (see date request)

The Wire is an American police procedural television series set and produced in the mid-Atlantic city of Baltimore, Maryland. Created by writer/producer and former police reporter David Simon, the series is broadcast by the HBO cable network in the United States. The Wire premiered on June 2 2002 and has aired 50 episodes in four seasons. The first season's plot centers around the ongoing struggles between police units and drug-dealing gangs in Baltimore's west side, and is told from both points of view. Subsequent seasons have focused on other facets of the city. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who are little known for their other roles.

The Wire has received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of urban life and uncommonly deep exploration of sociological themes, and has been called the best show on television by TIME, Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, and the Chicago Tribune. However, it has failed to draw an audience commensurate with its press. (More...)

Self-nom, work done largely by myself, User:Opark 77 and User:East718. I would like to make an odd request for the date it should be on the front page. I want it to sit until at least a week after the last episode of the upcoming fourth season of the show airs (probably sometime in December). The reasons for this are twofold: (1) I don't want to be accused of promoting the show while new episodes are still being aired, and (2) there should be a full summary of the fourth season's plot and new characters written by that time, rather than just collecting scraps of information on upcoming episodes like we have now. I have not discussed this with Opark 77 or East718, but since they have not yet requested a spot in the front-page queue I am going to make this recommendation myself and see what they think. Andrew Levine

Why not use the header image of the article, Image:Season02 posterart.jpg, rather than a cast shot? The problem with the cast shot is that it shows only the police cast when a large part of The Wire's main story is the duality of the police and Barksdale's, though it's more about institutions as a whole. –– Lid^(Talk) 03:56, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

I just used the preview function to see what the header would look like and, in my opinion, it works better than the cast shot in displaying the article. The cast shot is quite plain and doesn't really draw attention, even the cast shot of the streets group is more interesting but that would again make people make assumptions about the content. –– Lid^(Talk) 15:58, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Everton F.C.

Everton F.C. are an FA Premier League football club based in Liverpool. Formed in 1878, they were founder members of the football league and they have won the League Championship nine times, the FA Cup five times and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once. Everton's most successful period came in the late 1980s, when they acquired several trophies under the management team headed by Howard Kendall with great players such as Graeme Sharp, Gary Stevens and Peter Reid. Their most successful player was Dixie Dean who still holds the record of 60 league goals in one season and is easily Everton's top scorer of all time with 383 goals in 433 matches. In more recent years, the club have battled relegation, found themselves mid-table and even reached the UEFA Champions League qualifiers by finishing 4th. Their last major honour was the FA Cup in 1995 beating Manchester United. They are currently playing their 104th season in the top flight of football which is longer than any other team and and they have only been relegated twice in their history. The team enjoy a large fanbase, regularly attracting more than 35,000 spectators to their home ground, Goodison Park.(More…)

Soon as possible really. Not really a "bad" time to put it up. SenorKristobbal 18:27, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

File:HalloweenIII poster.jpg

Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a 1982 horror film and the third in the Halloween series. It is the only Halloween film that does not feature a plot revolving around the character Michael Myers, instead focusing on an investigation into the activities of the mysterious owner of a toy company, in the week approaching Halloween night. Besides wholly abandoning the Michael Myers plotline, Halloween III departs from the slasher film genre which the original Halloween spawned in 1978. The focus on a psychotic killer is replaced by a "mad scientist" theme. Moreover, the frequency of graphic violence and gore is less than that of Halloween II (1981), although scenes that depict the deaths of characters remain intense. Produced on a budget of $2.5 million, Halloween III grossed $14.4 million at the box office in the United States, making it the poorest performing film in the Halloween series at the time. (More…)

hope its ok to add this with the other halloween featured article requests... 82.14.81.85 22:42, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Halloween II

Halloween II is a 1981 horror film sequel to the influential Halloween (1978). It is directed by Rick Rosenthal and stars Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and stunt performer Dick Warlock as Michael Myers. While other films in the Halloween series follow, this is the last one written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. The film immediately follows the events of the first film, and centers on Myers's attempts to find and kill Laurie Strode and Loomis's efforts to track and kill Myers. Stylistically, the sequel reproduces certain key elements that made the original Halloween a success but departs significantly from the original by incorporating more graphic violence and gore. It was not as successful as the original, grossing only $25.5 million at the box office in the United States despite its $2.5 million budget. Halloween II was intended to be the last chapter of the Halloween series to revolve around Michael Myers and the Haddonfield setting, but after the lackluster reaction to Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), Myers returned in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988). (More…)

Zzzzz 10:27, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Halloween (film)

Halloween is a 1978 independent horror film directed by John Carpenter and starring Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Nick Castle as Michael Myers. The film centers on Michael Myers's escape from a psychiatric hospital, his murder of three teenagers, and Sam Loomis's attempts to track and kill Myers. It was produced on a budget of only $325,000 and grossed $47 million at the box office in the United States, making it one of the most successful independent films in history. Many critics credit this film as the first in a long line of slasher films inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). The movie originated many of the clichés seen in low-budget horror films of the 1980s and 1990s. Critics have suggested that Halloween and its slasher film successors encourage sadism and misogyny. Others have suggested the film is a social critique of the morality of young people in 1970s America. While Carpenter dismisses these analyses, the perceived parallel between the characters' moral strengths and their likelihood of surviving to the film's conclusion has nevertheless become a standard slasher movie trope. (More…)

Zzzzz 10:27, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

My suggestion would be this on October 1, Halloween II on October 15 and Halloween III on October 31. CanadianCaesar Et tu, Brute? 10:35, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

New Carissa

The New Carissa, officially known as the M/V New Carissa, was a freighter that ran aground on a beach near Coos Bay, Oregon, United States, during a storm in February 1999 and subsequently broke apart. An attempt to tow the bow section of the ship out to sea failed when the tow line broke, and the bow was grounded again. Eventually, the bow was successfully towed out to sea and sunk. The stern section remains on the beach near Coos Bay. Fuel on board the ship was burned off in situ, but a significant amount was also spilled from the wreckage, causing ecological damage to the coastline.

The United States Coast Guard performed an investigation and found that captain's error was the main cause of the wreck; however, no criminal liability was established and the captain and crew were not charged. There were significant legal and financial consequences for the ship's owners and insurer.

There are plans in place to dismantle the stern section at its current site and remove it from the beach. (More…)

Any time would be fine. In September 2006, the state Legislative Emergency Board will consider the expenditure request on removing the New Carissa; that might make the article relevant to next month, or it might be a good reason to choose a different time (so as not to appear like we are trying to influence the L.E.B.) As one FAC reviewer noted, not many environmental articles get to FAC status. --EngineerScotty 21:57, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

The KLF

File:The KLF - Why Sheep?.jpg

The KLF were one of the seminal bands of the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Beginning in 1987, Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty released hip hop-inspired and sample-heavy records, pioneering the genres "stadium house" (rave music with a pop-rock production and sampled crowd noise) and "ambient house". The KLF released a series of international top-ten hits on their own KLF Communications record label, and became the highest internationally selling UK band of 1991. They adopted the philosophy espoused by esoteric novels The Illuminatus! Trilogy, gaining notoriety for various anarchic situationist manifestations. Their most notorious performance was at the February 1992 Brit Awards, where they fired machine gun blanks into the audience and dumped a dead sheep at the aftershow party. With The KLF's profits, Drummond and Cauty established the K Foundation and sought to subvert the art world, staging an alternative art award for the worst artist of the year and burning a million pounds sterling. (More…)

Zzzzz 21:05, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

• This is a really cool, detailed article. Really fascinating stuff for folks like me who were both an ocean away and very young during The KLF's period of activity. Wickethewok 14:46, 27 September 2006 (UTC)
• (substantial contributor to article) I think this deserves to be on the front page; it's mentioned often enough as a model FA on a band, and they have a truly fascinating story (from underground band to burning a million pounds of excess earnings in 7 short years). It would be nice if it could appear on an anniversary of something (or, at the very least on the 23rd of any month given their fascination with the number 23). --kingboyk 18:31, 27 September 2006 (UTC)
• Won best article in its category ("humanities and culture") at Wikimania 2006. --kingboyk 16:28, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

Chrono Cross

Chrono Cross (クロノ・クロス, Kurono Kurosu) is a console role-playing game created by Square Co. (now Square Enix) for the Sony PlayStation. It is the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Unlike its predecessor's "Dream Team", Chrono Cross was developed primarily by scenarist and director Masato Kato and other programmers for Chrono Trigger, including art director Yasuyuki Honne and sound planner Minoru Akao. Composer Yasunori Mitsuda scored Chrono Cross and Nobuteru Yūki designed its characters. The story of Chrono Cross focuses on a teenage boy named Serge and a theme of parallel worlds. Faced with an alternate reality in which he died as a child, Serge endeavors to discover the truth of the two worlds' divergence. Upon its release in Japan in 1999 and in the United States in 2000, A "Millennium Edition" featuring a calendar, clock, and music sampler disc was also released. Chrono Cross received high ratings and critical acclaim. The game's 1.5 million worldwide sales led to a Greatest Hits re-release and continued life in Japan as part of the Ultimate Hits series. Chrono Cross was not released in PAL territories due to expected technical expenses and difficulties.

Any time is fine. November 18 is the upper limit; that's the date of the game's Japanese release. --Zeality 14:15, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

Banksia brownii

Banksia brownii, commonly known as Feather-leaved Banksia or Brown's Banksia, is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. An attractive plant with fine feathery leaves and large red-brown flower spikes, it usually grows as an upright bush around two metres (7 ft) high, but can also occur as a small tree or a low spreading shrub. First collected in 1829 and published the following year, it is placed in Banksia subgenus Banksia, section Oncostylis, series Spicigerae. There are two genetically distinct forms.

B. brownii occurs naturally only in two population clusters in the southwest of Western Australia between Albany and the Stirling Range. It is rare and endangered in its natural habitat, with all known populations currently threatened by Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback, a disease to which the species is highly susceptible. Highly valued by Australia's horticultural and cut flower industries, it is widely cultivated in areas not exposed to dieback. It prefers a sheltered position in soil with good drainage, and must be provided with some moisture over summer. (More...)

- Hesperian 12:10, 20 August 2006 (UTC) (on behalf of WikiProject Banksia)

Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith (August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Although born in the Midwest and primarily raised in Texas, Smith spent the majority of his life in Portland, Oregon. After playing in the rock band Heatmiser for several years, Smith began his career as a solo artist in 1994 with releases on the independent record labels Cavity Search and Kill Rock Stars. He signed a major label contract with DreamWorks Records in 1997, for which he recorded two albums. Smith rose to mainstream prominence when his song "Miss Misery", written for the film Good Will Hunting, was nominated for an Oscar in the best original song category in 1998. The singer battled with depression, alcohol addiction and drug use for many years, and the topics would often appear in his lyrics. (More...)

- Phorque 14:47, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 science fantasy film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, and the first in terms of internal chronology. The film is set two Jedi Knights are assigned as ambassadors to a trade dispute that is threatening the planet Naboo. When the situation turns violent, the Jedi, along with Padmé Amidala, the planet's queen, flee Naboo in an attempt to reach the capital world Coruscant. Along the way, the Jedi encounter Anakin Skywalker, a young slave boy who is unusually strong in the Force. The release of the film on May 19, 1999 came almost 16 years after the previous film in the series, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The release was accompanied by extensive media coverage and great anticipation. Despite mixed reviews by critics, it was highly successful financially, becoming the highest grossing film of 1999, and the fourth highest grossing film of all-time. (More…)

nomination by The Filmaker 23:15, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Chrono Trigger

Chrono TriggerKurono Torigā (クロノ・トリガー) is a console role-playing game created by Square Co. for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in Japan on March 11, 1995 and in North America on August 22 of the same year. The game's story follows a group of young adventurers who travel throughout history to save the planet. Upon its release, certain aspects of Chrono Trigger were seen as revolutionary — including its multiple endings, plot-related sidequests focused on character development, unique battle system, and detailed graphics. It is still regarded by fans as one of the greatest games of all time, and was rereleased in Japan for the Sony PlayStation during 1999. In 2001, it was released in North America as part of the Final Fantasy Chronicles package, that also included Final Fantasy IV. It has never been released in PAL territories.

This was promoted this morning, and just in time for its eleventh anniversary in North America. I'd like to see this featured August 22 if there's a remote chance of that happening. Sir Crazyswordsman 23:55, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, now that August is over, I'd like to see it front paged in September. Please, I'm begging you! Sir Crazyswordsman 02:49, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

I added that post when I was logged out for some reason, sorry. Sir Crazyswordsman 16:07, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VIFainaru Fantajī Shikkusu (ファイナルファンタジーVI) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Co., Ltd.. Released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the game focuses on a group of rebels as they seek to overthrow an imperial dictatorship. It was the third game in the Final Fantasy series to be released in North America, following Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy IV. As a result, it was marketed under the title "Final Fantasy III" in North America. Several other changes were made to the game, as well, due to various content guidelines imposed by Nintendo of America, including censorship of nudity and offensive language.

Final Fantasy VI was the first game in the series to be directed by someone other than producer and series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, with that role being filled instead by Yoshinori Kitase and Hiroyuki Itō. Originally released to near-universal critical acclaim, it is still regarded as a landmark of the series and of the role-playing genre. At 24 megabits, it was the largest role-playing video game to appear on a console at the time of its release, with a significantly greater number of battle customization options than its predecessors and the largest playable cast in the Final Fantasy series to date, excluding spin-off titles. It remains widely praised for its storyline, characters and non-linear style of play.

If possible, I'd like to see this featured on October 11, as that will mark the twelfth anniversary of the game's US release. It's actually been sitting at FA since the end of July. Sir Crazyswordsman 23:50, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

Sometimes, it takes nearly a year for an article to appear on the main page, but October 11th sounds like a good date. — Deckiller 12:05, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, but FFX went on the main page only two months after it got featured thanks to Ryu's buggling. Sir Crazyswordsman 02:06, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Satyajit Ray

File:SatyajitProduction.jpg

Satyajit Ray (May 2 1921 – April 23 1992) was an Indian filmmaker who is widely regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Born in the city of Kolkata (then Calcutta) into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and letters, Ray studied at Presidency College and at the Visva-Bharati University, at the famed poet Rabindranath Tagore's Santiniketan. Starting his career as a commercial artist, Ray was drawn into filmmaking after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and viewing the Italian neorealist film, Bicycle Thieves during a visit to London. A prolific and versatile filmmaker, Ray directed 37 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. Ray's first film, Pather Panchali won 11 international prizes, including Best Human Document at Cannes. Along with Aparajito and Apur Sansar, the film forms the Apu trilogy—widely regarded as Ray's magnum opus. Ray worked extensively on an array of tasks, including scripting, casting, scoring, cinematography, art direction, editing and designing his own credit titles and publicity material. Apart from making films, he was a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, graphic designer and film critic. Ray received many major awards in his illustrious career, including an Academy Award for lifetime achievement in 1991.

Newly elevated to FA status, this is probably the only featured article on a major international filmmaker. No specific date requested. --ppm 16:57, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the ColossusWanda to Kyozō (ワンダと巨像, lit. "Wander and the Colossus"), is a Japanese-developed action-adventure video game developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEI) for the PlayStation 2. Published internationally by Sony, it was released in North America and Japan in October 2005, and was subsequently released in PAL territories in February 2006. The game was created by SCEI's International Production Studio 1, the same development team responsible for the cult-hit Ico. Well received by critics, Shadow of the Colossus holds an average score of 91% from both Game Rankings and Metacritic. The game focuses on "Wander", a young man who must travel across a vast expanse on horseback and defeat sixteen giant beings called "colossi" to restore the life of a sacrificed girl. The game is unusual among the action-adventure genre in that there are no towns or dungeons to explore, no characters with which to interact, and no enemies to defeat other than the colossi. Shadow of the Colossus has been described as a puzzle game, as each colossus has a weakness which must be figured out and exploited to succeed. (More...)

18th October if possible. That's the 1 year anniversary of the game's North American release. -- Steel 17:03, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

More than that, it's the first anniversary of the game's release anywhere, as Shadow actually got released in North America first (a rare occasion that). Anyway, as one of the people who worked with Steel to get it to FA, I totally agree with that date. Ryu Kaze 19:28, 10 August 2006 (UTC

Mandy Moore

File:MandyCry.jpg

Mandy Moore (born Amanda Leigh Moore on April 10, 1984) is an American singer and actress. Moore grew up in Florida and came to fame as a teenager in 2000, after the release of her debut album So Real. Her subsequent albums, including the self-titled Mandy Moore and Coverage, established her as a well-known pop singer in the United States. Moore has branched out into a film career, starring in 2002's successful teen film A Walk to Remember and later appearing in the lead roles of less well-received movies also aimed at teenage audiences. Two of her latest films, American Dreamz and Saved!, were parodies in which Moore portrayed darker characters than in her previous roles.

Moore's private life, including her relationships with tennis player Andy Roddick and actors Wilmer Valderrama and Zach Braff, has been much-discussed in the media. She is scheduled to appear in several films during 2006 and 2007, and is completing work on another music album. (More…)

A celebrity FA promoted on August 10th. Haven't had one of these on the front page since Lindsay Lohan in early July. Any front page time available is good Mad Jack 05:02, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

I think you're right. I think it should go on the main page, personally. SergeantBolt (t,c) 20:12, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Excel Saga

Excel Saga is a comedy manga series by Koushi Rikudou and an anime based on it, directed by Shinichi Watanabe. While the two media differ in many respects, they share the same principal storyline and gag-based, satirical comedy. Both are set in the city of Fukuoka and follow the attempts of the secret organization ACROSS to conquer that city as a first step towards world conquest. Excel, the hyperactive title character, is the senior officer of ACROSS and zealously serves its handsome but enigmatic leader, Ilpalazzo. She is aided in this by her coworkers, Hyatt and Elgala, and together they battle the masked forces of the Department of City Security, a shadowy government agency.

Excel Saga parodies many genres and specific works of popular culture in Japan as well as many aspects of Japanese daily life. It employs a large cast featuring moé androids, vicious medical professionals, wandering ghosts, and insidiously cute aliens. Excel Saga, the manga, began publication in 1997, and the anime first aired in Japan from October 1999 to March 2000. Both have been translated into several languages, and the anime was televised in parts of Europe and the Americas. (More…)

The article was promoted to FAC on July 14, and I've been on wikibreak for a while. If this should pass muster, I would especially appreciate October 7 (the anniversary of the anime's debut). There are other Excel Saga-specific article I could link to, but I think they're not of high enough quality to link from the main page. If the second paragraph reads a little like a DVD or book cover, I apologize: there's a lot to condense, and I wanted to strike the right balance between accuracy and brevity. Suggestions are welcome!--Monocrat 17:07, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

It's too bad Oct.7 passed by. I would have loved to see this on the front page. - Malomeat 00:47, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

C'est la vie. Another option would be sometime around December 12 of this year, when the next volume of the manga comes out.--Monocrat 16:04, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

Cleveland

Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, and has the largest metro area in the U.S. state of Ohio. The municipality is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, in the Western Reserve in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River, approximately 60 miles (100 km) west of the Pennsylvania border. It was founded in 1796 near the mouth of the river, and became a manufacturing center owing to its location at the head of numerous canals and railroad lines. With the decline of heavy manufacturing, Cleveland's businesses have diversified into the service economy, including the financial services, insurance, and healthcare sectors. (More...)

One of the only 5 time winning All-american cities. It is one of the largest cities in the U.S.A, and was at one time the leading industrial city. Maybe July 22, as it was founded then. 11kowrom 21:59, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

John Brooke-Little

John Philip Brooke Brooke-Little, CVO, FSA, FSG, FHS, FHG (Hon), FRHSC (Hon), FHSNZ, (6 April 1927–13 February 2006) was an influential and popular writer on heraldic subjects and a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London, England. In 1947, while still a student, Brooke-Little founded the "Society of Heraldic Antiquaries." This organization is now known as The Heraldry Society and is recognized as one of the leading learned societies in its field. He served as the society's chairman for 50 years until 1997 and then as its President. In addition to the foundation of this group, Brooke-Little was involved in other heraldic groups and societies, and worked for many years as an officer of arms. Having started his career as Bluemantle Pursuivant, Brooke-Little worked his way up to the second highest heraldic office in England–Clarenceux King of Arms. (More...)

• Newly selected as a featured article. This would be a nice chance for an heraldic themed article to be featured on the main page. Any date is acceptable.--Dave Boven 04:05, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

• The sooner the better. --Forlornandshorn 21:48, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

• How about 25 November? This would correspond to the 50th anniversary of Mr Brooke-Little first being appointed a pursuivant. [1]--Dave Boven 14:55, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

• 25 November sounds great. The queue still as this date empty. Please fill it in.--Eva ^bd 04:10, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Selena

Selena Quintanilla Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), best known as Selena, was a Mexican-American singer who has been called the "queen" of Tejano music. The youngest child of a Mexican immigrant couple, Selena released her first album at the age of 12. She took the award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987 at the Tejano Music Awards and landed a recording contract with EMI a few years later. Her album Selena Live! won a Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American album at the 36th Grammy Awards and her 1994 album Amor Prohibido was nominated for another Grammy. Selena attained further notability in the United States and Mexico after Yolanda Saldívar, the president of her fan club, murdered her at the age of 23. On April 12, 1995, two weeks after her death, George W. Bush, then the governor of Texas, declared her birthday "Selena Day" in Texas. Warner Brothers made a film based on her life starring Jennifer Lopez in 1997. (More...)

Just featured FA, perfect main page article :), date don't mind though, the earlier, the better. Jaranda ^{wat's sup} 18:35, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

• Is there any evidence this photo was indeed a publicity photo, and not an image from a magazine or stock photo service? You link on the photo's page to a fan site and cell phone background site, neither of which have any details about the photo's origin. It's still possibly fair use, but can we not find something more definitively PR, Jaranda? -- Zanimum 14:39, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Able Archer 83

Able Archer 83 was a ten-day NATO exercise starting on November 2, 1983 that spanned the continent of Europe and simulated a coordinated nuclear release. It incorporated a new, unique format of coded communication, radio silences, participation by heads of state, and a simulated DEFCON 1 nuclear alert. The realistic nature of the exercise, coupled with deteriorating relations between the United States and the Soviet Union and the anticipated arrival of "super-stealth" Pershing II nuclear missiles in Europe, led some in the USSR to believe that Able Archer 83 was a genuine nuclear strike. In response, the Soviets readied their nuclear forces and placed air units in East Germany and Poland on alert. This relatively obscure incident is considered by many historians to be the closest the world has come to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The immediate threat of nuclear war abruptly ended with the conclusion of the Able Archer 83 exercise on November 11. (More...)

This article got its FA star about a month ago, so I figure that the time has come to set it up for a shot on the main page. I have no particular date in mind for this request. TomStar81 01:35, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

Celine Dion

File:Cdion.jpg

Celine Marie Claudette Dion, OC, OQ (born March 30 1968) is a French-Canadian Grammy and Juno award winning pop singer, and occasional songwriter and actress. Dion became an adolescent star in francophone Canada (Quebec) after her manager and future husband, René Angélil, mortgaged his home in order to finance her career, and she also gained recognition in parts of Europe and Asia after she won both the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival and the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. In 1990, she established a foothold in the anglophone music market with the release of Unison on Epic Records. During the 1980s and 1990s, Dion continued to release many chart-topping English and French records, of which her most successful was "My Heart Will Go On", the theme to the 1997 film Titanic. However, in 1999 she announced a temporary break from entertainment in order to put focus on her husband, who had contracted throat cancer.

Dion returned to the music scene in 2002 with the release of A New Day Has Come, and in 2004, she received the Chopard Diamond award from the World Music Awards show for becoming the Best-selling Female Artist of all time. As of 2003, Dion has performed nightly in her show, A New Day, at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, under a contract that extends through 2007. (More...)

A FA that I wrote last year. While I'm not too fussy on a date, I would really appreciate it if it could appear on August 22nd — my birthday. Orane (talk • cont.) 18:50, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

T-34

File:Soviet Tank T-34.jpg

The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. It was the world's best tank when the Soviet Union entered the Second World War, and although its armour and armament were surpassed by later WWII tanks, it is credited as the war's most effective, efficient and influential design. First produced at the KhPZ factory in Kharkov (Kharkiv, Ukraine), it was the mainstay of Soviet armoured forces throughout World War II, and widely exported afterwards. It was the most-produced tank of the war, and the second most-produced tank of all time, after its successor, the T-54/55 series. The T-34 was still in service with twenty-seven countries as late as 1996.

Self-nomination. Made FA in July 2006. —Michael Z. 2006-11-12 20:36 Z

Enta Da Stage

Enta Da Stage is the debut album from East Coast hip hop group Black Moon, released October 19, 1993 on Nervous Records. The album was produced entirely by DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz. Enta Da Stage features the debut of popular underground duo Smif-N-Wessun, as well as appearances from Havoc of Mobb Deep and Dru-Ha, the co-founder of Duck Down Records. Though critically acclaimed, the album sold relatively few copies, despite having two Billboard Hot 100 hits ("Who Got Da Props?", "I Got Cha Opin"). Furthermore, the album is often overlooked in the midst of subsequent East Coast albums, such as Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Illmatic, Ready to Die, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and The Infamous. Nonetheless, Enta Da Stage preceded the aforementioned releases —serving as a precursor to the resurgence of the New York hip hop scene in the mid-1990s. (More…)

Same reasons for the Illmatic nomination, this was a very important album to East Coast Hip Hop, and I ain't gonna lie, I wrote it, so I want it on the front page! --PDTantisocial 06:33, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Alison Krauss

File:Alison Krauss Grammys.jpg

Alison Krauss (July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass/country singer and fiddle player. Krauss entered the music industry at a young age, winning local contests by the age of 10 and recording for the first time on her brother's album at 14. Krauss signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album at 16 in 1987. Krauss was invited to join the band with which she still performs, Alison Krauss & Union Station (AKUS), and later released her first album with them as a group in 1989. Since then Krauss' contract has dictated that she rotate between releasing albums solo and with Union Station. She has thus far released more than 10 albums, appeared on numerous soundtracks, and has been credited with helping to usher in a new interest in bluegrass music in the United States. Some of her soundtrack performances have led to further notability including the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, an album also credited with raising American interest in bluegrass; and on the Cold Mountain soundtrack, which ultimately led her to perform at the Academy Awards. Over the course of her career she has won 20 Grammy Awards—more than any other female artist and tied for seventh-most of all artists—along with numerous other awards. More...

• A recently featured article on a current musician (not too many of that type of article) on a bluegrass musician to boot (a very underrepresented genre). July 23rd would be great as her birthday (technically already filled, though I don't see any specific connection between the currently slated article and that day so I'll at least ask Raul). August 3rd is the release date of Forget About It, and August 14th for New Favorite. Any day would be great, these are just some easy suggestions. I've used a fair-use image as the only free image we currently have, Image:Alison Krauss in July 2005.jpg, is quite blurry for the Main Page. Just a suggested box, whatever works is great. Staxringold _talk^contribs 19:42, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
• New possible date could be February 7th, as that's when Now That I've Found You (the album that really launched her career) was released. Earlier would obviously be great as the nom's been here a bit, but Feb. 7th has a connection to the subject. Staxringold _talk^contribs 15:26, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Richard III (1955 film)

Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Richard III. The film also contains elements of Shakespeare's Henry VI, part 3. It was directed by Laurence Olivier, who also played Richard. Many noted Shakespearean actors of the time star, including a quartet of acting knights. The film depicts Richard plotting and conspiring to grasp the throne from his brother the King. In the process, many are killed and betrayed, with Richard's evil leading to his own downfall. The prologue of the film states that history without its legends would be "a dry matter indeed", thus the film admits that it is not portraying the actual events of the time, but rather the legend. Of the three Shakespearean films directed by Olivier, Richard III received the least critical praise. It is also the only film of the three not to have been nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, though Olivier's acting performance was nominated. In later years, the film gained popularity and, through a re-release in 1966, broke box office records in many cities. As well, the British Film Institute has called Oliver's rendition of the play "definitive" and that it has done more to popularize Shakespeare than any other single piece of work. More...

Requesting that my pet page go up. The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought on the 22nd of August, if that's any help. ...._(Complain)^{(Let us to it pell-mell)} 06:11, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

File:Mujib54.gif

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (March 17, 1920 – August 15, 1975) was a Bengali politician in East Pakistan and the founding leader of Bangladesh, and served as its Prime Minister and later as its President. Rahman rose in politics as a charismatic and forceful leader of the Awami League. He intensely popular for his leadership in fighting institutional discrimination against Bengali citizens. At the height of sectional tensions, Rahman outlined a 6-point autonomy plan which was seen as separatism in West Pakistan. Despite leading his party to a major victory in the 1970 elections, Rahman was not invited to form the government. His subsequent arrest sparked a guerrilla war between the Pakistan Army and Bengali nationalists. Indian intervention in 1971 would lead to the creation of Bangladesh, and Rahman would take charge of the new state. Even as a constitution was adopted, Rahman struggled in addressing national challenges. Facing rising opposition, he banned other political parties and declared a state of emergency in 1975. Rahman was assassinated with his family by a group of army officers. More...

Request by This Fire Burns Always 02:21, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Reason: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is considered the father of the nation in Bangladesh (not a small feat considering the 150 million people of Bangladesh). As a leader, he fought for and achieved the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Even 31 years after his tragic assassination, his legacy still remains a big factor in the politics of Bangladesh. --Ragib 03:01, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

I'd request the date August 15, the day of Mujib's assassination, for this article. Thanks. --Ragib 17:07, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, since that date wasn't chosen, may I suggest choosing December 16 (Victory day of Bangladesh)? Thanks. --Ragib 02:58, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Sylvanus Morley

Sylvanus Griswold Morley (June 7 1883–September 2 1948) was an American archaeologist, epigrapher and Mayanist scholar who made significant contributions towards the study of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the early 20th century. He is particularly noted for his extensive excavations of the Maya site of Chichen Itza. He also published several large compilations and treatises on the Maya writing system, and wrote popular accounts on the Maya for a general audience. To his contemporaries he was one of the leading Mesoamerican archaeologists of his day; although more recent developments in the field have resulted in a re-evaluation of his theories and works, his publications (particularly on calendric inscriptions) are still cited. In his directorship of various projects sponsored by the Carnegie Institution he oversaw and encouraged a good many others who would go on to establish notable careers in their own right. Overall, his commitment and enthusiasm for Maya studies would generate the interest and win the necessary sponsorship and backing to finance projects which would ultimately reveal much about the Maya of former times. His involvement in clandestine espionage activities at the behest of the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence was another, surprising, aspect of his career, which came to light only well after his death. More...

This has been a Featured Article for more than six months now, and has remained stable during that time. No particular preference for any date appearance, although September 2 would be the anniversary of his death.--cjllw | TALK 05:49, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

Manila Metro Rail Transit System

File:MRT-Approaching.jpg

The Manila Metro Rail Transit System, more popularly known as the MRT, is part of the main metropolitan rail system serving the Metro Manila area in the Philippines. Only one line exists within this network, and that is MRT-3, called the Blue Line. It is also popularly known as the Metrostar Express or Metrostar for short. Although the network has characteristics of light rail, such as the type of rolling stock used, the system is more akin to a rapid transit system. The system is not related to the Manila Light Rail Transit System, which forms a completely different but linked system.

The MRT forms part of Metro Manila's rail transport infrastructure, known as the Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS), and overall public transport system. Although one of the original purposes of the system was to decongest Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), one of Metro Manila's main thoroughfares and home to the MRT, many commuters who ride the MRT also take various forms of road-based public transport, such as buses, to reach the intended destination from an MRT station. While this forms a comprehensive transportation system serving many parts of Metro Manila, the system has only been partially successful in decongesting the very busy thoroughfare, which is further aggravated by the rising number of motor vehicles in the metropolis. The expansion of the system to cover the entire stretch of EDSA is expected to contribute to current attempts to decongest the thoroughfare and to cut travel times on one of the Philippines' busiest roadways.

The system is operated by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation, a private company operating in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communications under a Build-Operate-Transfer agreement. (More...)

Just a recently-promoted FA. This is the sister article of the Manila Light Rail Transit System, which was the June 30 front page feature. I was going to ask for July 20, the completion date of the MRT, but it seems that another article beat me to it. Since that date is unavailable, looks like I would have to aim for December 16, the opening day of the MRT. If not, any date would be fine with me. --Akira123323 ^{Say what? | Track record} 10:22, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

Muhammad Iqbal

Sir Muhammad Iqbal was an Indian poet, philosopher and politician, whose poetry in Persian and Urdu is regarded as one of the greatest in modern times. Also famous for his work on religious and political philosophy in Islam, he is credited with first proposing the idea of an independent state for Indian Muslims, which would inspire the creation of Pakistan. After studying in England and Germany, Iqbal established a law practise, but he primarily concentrated on religious and philosophical subjects, writing scholarly works on politics, economics, history, philosophy and religion. He is best known for his poetic works, which include the Asrar-e-Khudi, in honour of which he was knighted by the British government. Scholars have hailed his poetry in Persian as some of the best in modern times. Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation across the world, but specifically in India. He is commemorated as the national poet of Pakistan. (more...)

Request for November 9 (Iqbal Day). This Fire Burns.....Always 08:22, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

The Adventures of Tintin

The Adventures of Tintin (Les Aventures de Tintin), (Bande dessinée) drawn and written by the Belgian writer-artist Georges Remi a.k.a. Hergé, is one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century. Over 200 million copies of the comic books have been sold to date, with translations into over 58 languages. The hero of the series is a young reporter and traveller named Tintin, aided by his faithful dog Snowy, Captain Haddock and a variety of colourful supporting characters. The comic book series has long been admired for its clean yet expressive drawings executed in Hergé's signature ligne claire style, their engaging plots and the painstaking research done while creating the later stories. They straddle a variety of genres: swashbuckling adventures with elements of fantasy; mysteries; political thrillers; and science fiction. All the titles in the Tintin series include plenty of slapstick humour, offset in later albums by dashes of sophisticated satire and political/cultural commentary. more...

Request by This Fire Burns.....Always 20:10, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Hey Wow... yes please!! --202.65.140.212 12:13, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

support!! -- ExpImp^talkcon 23:22, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game and the sequel to Half-Life, developed by Valve Corporation. It was released on November 16, 2004 following a protracted five-year development cycle during which the game's source code was leaked to the Internet. The game garnered very positive reviews and received critical acclaim, earning over 35 Game of the Year (2005) awards.

Taking place in and around the fictional City 17 sometime in the near future, Half-Life 2 follows the scientist Gordon Freeman. Dr. Freeman is thrust into a dystopian environment in which the fallout of the Black Mesa Incident has fully come to bear upon human society. Freeman is forced to fight against increasingly unfavorable odds in order to survive. In his struggle, he is joined by various allies, including fellow Black Mesa colleagues, oppressed citizens of City 17, and the vortigaunts.

(More...)

I'd like to see this get on the front page. It is a well-written article that is still worthy of FA status. Userpie 15:16, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

Agreed. It would be nice if they featured it on 2006-11-16. 2 years after it was released.

Yes, that date would be fine if you're considering it. -Userpie, not logged in.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Gremlins 2: The New Batch is an American film released in 1990 and a sequel to the original Gremlins (1984). Gremlins 2 is directed by Joe Dante and written by Charles S. Haas, with creature designs by Rick Baker. It stars Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Prosky, Haviland Morris, Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph, Robert Picardo, and Christopher Lee. The story continues the adventures of the creature Gizmo, who spawns numerous small monsters when wet. In the first film Gizmo's offspring had rampaged through a fictional small town. In Gremlins 2, Gizmo multiples within a building in New York City. The new creatures thus pose a serious threat to the city should they be able to leave the building. Much of the story involves the human characters' efforts to prevent this disaster. Like the first film, Gremlins 2 is a live action comedy-horror film. However, Dante put effort into taking the sequel in new anarchic directions. In general, the film is meant to be more cartoon-like than the darker original. The violence is fairly slapstick. There are also a number of parodies of other films and stories, most notably Gremlins itself, as well as the Rambo films, The Wizard of Oz and Phantom of the Opera. (More...)

Nomination by CanadianCaesar Et tu, Brute? 20:23, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 science fantasy film directed and co-written by George Lucas. It was the fifth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, and the second in terms of chronology. The film is set ten years after the Battle of Naboo, the galaxy is on the brink of civil war. When an assassination attempt is made on Senator Padmé Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, nineteen-year-old Jedi apprentice Anakin Skywalker is assigned to protect her, while his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi is assigned to investigate the assassination attempt. Soon, Anakin, Padmé, and Obi-Wan are drawn into the heart of the Separatist territories, and the beginning of a new threat to the galaxy. Released on May 16, 2002, Attack of the Clones was generally received as an improvement over its predecessor. It was the first motion picture to be shot completely on a high definition digital 24-frame system, and the first Star Wars film to be internationally out-grossed in the year of its original release. (More…)

nomination by The Filmaker 14:39, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

• Requesting that this article be featured directly behind the Revenge of the Sith article, in other words if Attack of the Clones is featured on August 5 than Revenge of the Sith would be featured on August 6 to present a flow of continuity. :) Also, there could be a presence of featuring on days that coincide with their numbers like Episode II is featured on August 2 and the same going for Episode III.

• I could be wrong, but I don't think Raul generally likes featuring articles on related articles close together. For example, while Phil Collins and Genesis (band) were both listed here at almost the exact same time and Phil Collins has been featured, Genesis (band) is still here. Staxringold _talk^contribs 15:33, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

• • • Correct. I try to have the FA jump around by genre/topic and by region of the world (if applicable). Featuring two sci-fi movies back to back would run counter to this. Raul654 16:10, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

Battle of Cannae

File:Hannibal's route of invasion, 3rd century BC.gif

The Battle of Cannae was a major battle of the Second Punic War, taking place on August 2, 216 BC near the town of Cannae in Apulia in southeast Italy. The Carthaginian army under Hannibal destroyed a numerically superior Roman army under command of the consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro. Following the Battle of Cannae, Capua and several other Italian city-states defected from the Roman Republic. Although the battle failed to decide the outcome of the war in favour of Carthage, it is today regarded as one of the greatest tactical feats in military history.

Having recovered from their previous losses at Trebia (218 BC) and Trasimene (217 BC), the Romans decided to confront Hannibal at Cannae, with roughly 87,000 Roman and Allied troops. With their right wing positioned near the Aufidus river, the Romans placed their cavalry on their flanks and massed their heavy infantry in an exceptionally deep formation in the centre. To counter this, Hannibal utilized the double-envelopment tactic. He drew up his least reliable infantry in the centre, with the flanks composed of Carthaginian cavalry. Before engaging the Romans, however, his lines adopted a crescent shape —advancing his centre with his veteran troops placed at the wings in echelon formation. Upon the onset of the battle, the Carthaginian centre withdrew before the advance of the numerically superior Romans. While Hannibal's centre line yielded, the Romans had unknowingly driven themselves into a large arc —whereupon the Carthaginian infantry and cavalry (positioned on the flanks) encircled the main body of Roman infantry. Surrounded and attacked on all sides with no means of escape, the Roman army was subsequently cut to pieces. An estimated 60,000 —70,000 Romans were killed or captured at Cannae (including the consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus and eighty Roman senators). In terms of the number of lives lost within a single day, Cannae is among the costliest battles in all of recorded human history. (More…)

This article is clear, comprehensive, and interesting. No specific date specified Chubdub 17:45, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

Sounds good, but a little on the long side. savidan^{(talk) (e@)} 23:46, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

• I agree it's a bit long. Also, the image is quite dull for the subject (it covers almost all of Europe for a single Battle). Maybe use other free images like this or this? Staxringold _talk^contribs 00:06, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

I wholeheartedly believe this article should be TFA. However, the image that appears in the above template could be changed a little, it's too small of an image to be shown on the mainpage. What about an image of Hannibal or a dramatization of the battle? An image is only as good as the article it graces, and vice-versa. But one thing I don't believe is that the article is too small. No article is too small. Aaрон Кинни (t) 18:09, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

New Radicals

The New Radicals were an American rock band in the late 1990s, centered around front man Gregg Alexander, who wrote and produced all of their songs and was the sole constant member. They released only one album, 1998's Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, a pop rock album heavily influenced by the funk, rock and soul of the 1970s, containing—amongst radio-friendly modern rock tracks and love songs—strong criticism of Corporate America. The band is best known for their debut single "You Get What You Give", which became a top 5 hit in the United Kingdom and whose celebrity-dissing lyrics at the end of the song provided a minor media spectacle. Tired of touring and promotional interviews, Alexander disbanded the group in mid 1999 before the release of their second single, "Someday We'll Know", to focus on writing and producing songs for other artists. As a result, "Someday We'll Know" received little attention in most countries and the band is widely considered a one-hit wonder. (More…)

One of my favorite bands, a featured article, and an interesting story in the history of pop. Any day would be good for them to appear on the front page. R'son-W 23:25, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

Invasion

An invasion is a military action consisting of armed forces of one geopolitical entity entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of conquering territory or altering the established government. An invasion can be the cause of a war, it can be used as a part of a larger strategy to end a war, or it can constitute an entire war in and of itself. The term connotes a strategic endeavor of substantial magnitude; because the goals of an invasion are usually large-scale and long-term, large forces are needed to hold territory and protect the interests of the invading entity. Smaller and lighter tactical infiltrations are not generally considered invasions, being more often classified as skirmishes, sorties, targeted killings, assassinations or reconnaissance in force. By definition, an invasion is an attack from outside forces. As such, rebellions, civil wars, coups d'etat, and internal acts of democide or other acts of oppression are generally not considered invasions. (More...)

• How's this look for a main page featured article. RENTASTRAWBERRY ^{FOR LET?} röck 01:45, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

• May I suggest that this image may better illustrate invading forces, rather than just a battle? It's a personal opinion, but the current image just looks like guys fighting and doesn't portray the invasion part so much to me. Staxringold _talk^contribs 22:55, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Good suggestion. RENTASTRAWBERRY ^{FOR LET?} röck 01:35, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Torchic

The Torchic (アチャモ, Achamo) is one of the Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. Torchic are famous for being one of the three species of Pokémon players can choose from at the beginning of their adventure in the Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald versions of the Pokémon series.

In all games, Torchic are described as small, clumsy chickens, with yellowish feathers and orange bodies. They are often seen hopping randomly behind their trainers, characters in the Pokémon world who collect and battle Pokémon. Although their appearance gives an innocent and harmless impression, Torchic are noted to fight by spitting flames from the pits of their stomachs.

Submitted by User:HighwayCello, August 1, if possible. Cheers, Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 08:44, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

If possible, could Torchic feature on September 28, as it the day that Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the first Pokémon (RPG) games to be released on the DS? Cheers, Highway ^{Return to Oz...} 18:11, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

We already had a Pokemon as a TFA. I think that's just about enough. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by JeDi (talk • contribs) .

*rolls eyes* Would you like us to stop improving their quality as well? Highway ^{Return to Oz...} 17:02, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Arthur Ernest Percival

Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival, CB, DSO and Bar, OBE, MC, DL, OStJ (December 26, 1887 - January 31, 1966) was a British Army officer and a World War I hero. He built a successful military career between the wars but is most noted for his involvement in World War II, when he commanded the British and Commonwealth army during the Battle of Malaya and the subsequent Battle of Singapore. Percival's surrender to the smaller invading Japanese Army is the largest capitulation in British military history and fatally undermined Britain's prestige as an imperial power in the Far East. However, the years of under-funding of Malaya's defences combined with the inexperienced, under-equipped nature of the British and Commonwealth army makes it possible to hold a more sympathetic view of his command. (More...)

Nomination by Nickhk 23:42, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Operation Auca

"Operation Auca" was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to make contact with the Huaorani people of the rainforest of Ecuador. The Huaorani, also known as the Aucas (the Quechua word for "savage"), were an isolated tribe known for their violence, both against their own people and outsiders who entered their territory. The missionaries intended to be the first Protestants to evangelize the Huaorani, but on January 8, 1956, all five—Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian—were attacked and speared by a group of Huaorani warriors.

The deaths of the men galvanized the missionary effort in the United States, sparking an outpouring of funding for evangelization efforts around the world. Other missionaries continued their work with the Huaorani, eventually leading to the conversion of many, including some of the killers of the men. While largely eliminating tribal violence, their efforts exposed the tribe to exploitation and increased influence from the outside. This has caused Huaorani culture to begin to disappear, but anthropologists argue over the ultimate effect—some negatively view the missionary work as cultural imperialism, while others contend that the influence has been beneficial for the tribe.

(More...)

Requesting January 8, 2007, the 51st anniversary of the attack. Selfnom. --Spangineer^[es] (háblame) 13:16, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Genesis (band)

Genesis performing live in Buffalo, NY

Genesis is a Grammy Award winning English progressive rock band formed in 1967. The band's notable former members include Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, both of whom achieved additional success as solo artists and in other ventures. With approximately 150 million albums sold worldwide, Genesis is one of the top 30 highest selling recording artists of all time. Hallmarks of the band's music during this period included the 23-minute long "Supper's Ready" and the 1974 concept album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. In the 1980s and beyond, their music took a distinct turn towards pop, becoming considerably more hook-oriented and more accessible to the musical mainstream. This change of musical direction gave them their first UK #1 album, Duke, as well as their only US #1 single, "Invisible Touch".

Initially led by Peter Gabriel, Genesis has experienced several personnel changes over the years. Collins took over from Gabriel after the latter's departure from the group in 1975. After nearly two decades of being the band's frontman, Collins left the group in 1996 and was replaced by former Stiltskin singer Ray Wilson for the 1997 album Calling All Stations. Wilson was released from the group in 1998 following the disappointing sales of the new album. After three decades of activity, the band announced that it was on an indefinite hiatus.(More...)

This is a self nom for Genesis (FA as of 4/30). No specific date requested. Thanks AreJay 03:31, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

I second the nomination. The very idea of a band article reaching FA status is evidence of Wikipedia's notability guidelines and ethos of verifiability. Put less eloquently, it might make fancrufters think twice about posting stubs of non-notable garage bands if this article was given the prominence of being displayed on the frontpage. -Fsotrain09 19:04, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Denis Law

Denis Law (seated, born February 24 1940, in Aberdeen, Scotland) is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s.

After four years at Huddersfield Town, Manchester City signed him for a transfer fee of £55,000, setting a new British record. Law spent one year there before Torino bought him for £110,000, this time setting a new record fee for a transfer between an English and an Italian club. Although he played well in Italy, he found it difficult to settle there and signed for Manchester United in 1962, setting another British record transfer fee of £115,000.

Law is best known for the eleven years that he spent at Manchester United, where he won the prestigious European Footballer of the Year award and helped his club win the First Division in 1965 and 1967. Law left Manchester United in 1973 and returned to Manchester City for a season, then represented Scotland in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Law played for Scotland a total of 55 times and jointly holds the Scottish international record goal tally with 30 goals. (More...)

This was promoted months ago, but I've only just got around to listing it on here. Would love to see it on the front page and it's been a while since we had a football article there. CTOAGN (talk) 18:26, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

History of Michigan State University

The history of Michigan State University (MSU) dates back to 1855, when the Michigan Legislature established the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. As the first agricultural college in the United States, the school served as a prototype for future Land Grant institutions under the Morrill Act enacted during Abraham Lincoln's presidential administration. The school's first class graduated in 1861 right after the onset of the American Civil War. In 1870, the College became co-educational with home economics for women students. The school admitted its first African American student in 1899. During this period, the school established "Farmers' Institutes" as a means of reaching out to the state's agricultural community and informing the membership of developments in agricultural science; the program gradually became the MSU Extension Services.

After World War II, the college gained admission to the Big Ten Conference, joining the rival University of Michigan, and grew to become one of the largest educational institutions in the United States. During the Vietnam War, the school was a hotbed of anti-war protests. In more recent years, MSU has worked on improving its academic reputation, though a series of student riots in the late 1990s has made this task more difficult. Nevertheless, MSU's current president has stated that a renewed focus on biotechnology research and residential college learning would make the university a new model for America's Land Grant institutions.

Recently promoted to Feature Article status, the article is a production of Wikipedia:WikiProject Michigan. No specific date is requested. Jtmichcock 12:45, 27 March 2006 (UTC)