Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 March 24

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
Joseph Barbera (1911–2006) was an influential American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist. Born in New York City, after working odd jobs and as a banker, Barbera joined Van Beuren Studios in 1932 and subsequently Terrytoons in 1936. He met his lifelong collaborator William Hanna while working for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1937 and soon began producing animated shorts such as the Tom and Jerry series. In 1957, after MGM dissolved their animation department, they co-founded Hanna–Barbera, which became the most successful television animation studio in the business, producing programs such as The Flintstones, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Top Cat, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, The Quick Draw McGraw Show, The Smurfs, Wacky Races and Yogi Bear. Hanna and Barbera won seven Academy Awards and eight Emmy Awards. Their shows, which have translations in more than 20 languages, had a global audience in the 1960s of over 300 million people. (more...) Recently featured: Jimmy McAleer – Pied Currawong – John Michael Wright Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that the Marathon Dam (pictured) in Greece is coated with the same Pentelikon marble used to construct the Parthenon and is symbolic of the Battle of Marathon? ... that Rebecca Black intends to donate profits from viral hit "Friday" to school arts programs and disaster relief efforts in Japan? ... that Professor Andor Harvey Gomme's first name was a family joke? ... that the Treaty of Serbian-Albanian Alliance was signed in 1914 in the Banovina building in Niš; which is now the seat of the University of Niš? ... that Dennis Russell Davies conducted the Münchener Kammerorchester in works of Thomas Larcher with soloists Till Fellner and Kim Kashkashian? ... that even though Norwegian architect Bernt Heiberg supported the communist league Mot Dag in the 1930s, he opposed the May 1968 revolts? ... that the air-tractor sledge, the first aeroplane to be taken to Antarctica, went without wings? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
John Milnor American mathematician John Milnor (pictured) is awarded the Abel Prize for his contributions to geometry, topology and algebra. Actress Elizabeth Taylor dies at the age of 79. The House of Representatives of the Philippines impeaches Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for alleged betrayal of public trust. Nikolai Andrianov, winner of the most medals in men's Olympic gymnastics, dies at the age of 58. Voters in Egypt approve a new constitution at a referendum, as a part of the overall reform. Middle East and North Africa protests Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 24: Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice in Argentina 1603 – King James VI of Scotland acceded to the throne of England, Wales and Ireland, becoming James I of England and unifying the crowns of the kingdoms for the first time. 1869 – The last of Māori leader Titokowaru's forces surrendered to the New Zealand government, ending his uprising. 1882 – German physician Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (pictured), a bacterium that causes tuberculosis. 1980 – One day after giving a sermon in which he made a plea to Salvadoran soldiers to stop carrying out the government's repression, Archbishop Óscar Romero was assassinated in San Salvador. 2008 – The Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party, led by Jigme Thinley, won 45 out of 47 seats in the National Assembly of Bhutan in the country's first-ever general election. More anniversaries: March 23 – March 24 – March 25 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 24, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A 1790 caricature of British natural philosopher and theologian Joseph Priestley. He is depicted preaching from atop a pile of his own works, in a pulpit made from a barrel inscribed "FANATICISM", to Charles James Fox seated in a box pew. Fox asks, "Pray, Doctor is there such a thing as a Devil?" Priestley responds "No", as the devil himself announces, "If you had eyes behind, you'd know better my dear Doctor". The cartoon is a satire on the efforts of Fox to get the Test and Corporation Acts repealed.

Etching: William Dent; Restoration: Lise Broer

Recently featured: Zhou Maoshu Appreciating Lotuses – La Giralda – Kostas Martakis

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

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