Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 June 4

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
In California's 12th congressional district election, 1946, the candidates were five-term incumbent Democrat Jerry Voorhis, Republican challenger Richard Nixon, and former congressman and Prohibition Party candidate John Hoeppel. Nixon was elected with 56% of the vote, starting him on the road that would lead, almost a quarter century later, to the presidency. For the 1946 election, Republicans sought a candidate who could unite the party and run a strong race against Voorhis in the Republican-leaning district. After failing to secure the candidacy of General George Patton, they settled on Lieutenant Commander Richard Nixon, who had lived in the district prior to his World War II service. Various explanations have been put forward for Nixon's victory, from national political trends to red-baiting on the part of the challenger. Some historians contend that Nixon received large amounts of funding from wealthy backers determined to defeat Voorhis, while others dismiss such allegations. (more...) Recently featured: Casino Royale – Edward Elgar – Johnstown Inclined Plane Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the 2011 Anzac Day service was not held as usual at the William Trethewey-designed Citizens' War Memorial (detail pictured), as the Christchurch city centre has been cordoned off since the February earthquake? ... that Mitch Skandalakis attracted national attention when he upset Martin Luther King III in a 1993 special election for Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County, Georgia? ... that members of the Assembly of French Citizens Abroad are elected by constituents in electoral districts located across the globe? ... that the Polish faculty expelled by the Nazis from Poznań University during World War II formed the underground University of the Western Lands? ... that the Green Men wear green spandex suits while annoying the player(s) who sit inside the opposing team's penalty box during Vancouver Canucks games? ... that the number-one song "Fruta Fresca" by Carlos Vives was named a "bridge" between tropical and pop music? ... that Daddles the duck would "accompany" batsmen who were on their way to the pavilion after being dismissed for a duck? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Jack Kevorkian Jack Kevorkian (pictured), a right-to-die activist and physician, dies at the age of 83. During skirmishes between government forces and armed tribesmen in Sana'a, Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh is injured in an attack. The discovery of Halicephalobus mephisto, the deepest-living land multicellular organism, is announced. Sepp Blatter is re-elected President of FIFA amid corruption allegations within association football's world governing body. One of the largest outbreaks of E. coli ever recorded strikes Germany and several other European countries. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
June 4: Independence Day in Tonga (1970) 1913 – Emily Davison, an activist for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, was fatally injured when she was trampled by King George V's horse at the Epsom Derby. 1942 – The Battle of Midway, a major battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, began with a massive Imperial Japanese strike on Midway Atoll. 1975 – Governor of California Jerry Brown (pictured) signed the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, the first law in the United States guaranteeing collective bargaining rights to farmworkers. 1989 – Following the death of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei to be the Supreme Leader of Iran. 1996 – The maiden flight of the Ariane 5 expendable launch system failed, with the rocket self-destructing 37 seconds after launch because of a malfunction in the control software, one of the most expensive computer bugs in history. More anniversaries: June 3 – June 4 – June 5 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now June 4, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A photographer's assistant uses a portable folding reflector to "bounce" available sunlight onto the model. Also known as a bounce board, this type of reflector is useful when the available light is insufficient for what the scene requires, and using a flash would make the lighting too harsh. Here, because of the mostly overcast day, the sun is positioned in the wrong location to illuminate both the model and desired background properly, so a reflector is used to accomplish the task.

Photo: Mila Zinkova

Recently featured: Drawing of a Palenque relief – The Great Presidential Puzzle – Helen Keller

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

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