Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 May 18

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
Taare Zameen Par is a 2007 Bollywood drama film directed by Aamir Khan, written by Amole Gupte, and produced by Aamir Khan Productions. The film explores the life and imagination of eight-year-old Ishaan (Darsheel Safary). Although he excels in the arts, his poor academic performance leads his parents to send him to a boarding school. Ishaan's new art teacher (Aamir Khan) suspects that he is dyslexic, and helps him to overcome his disability. The film made its cinematic debut in India on 21 December 2007, and UTV Home Entertainment released a DVD for Indian audiences in 2008. Less than two years later Walt Disney Home Entertainment released an international edition DVD titled Like Stars on Earth, marking the first purchase of distribution rights for an Indian film by a global company. Taare Zameen Par has received several awards, including the Filmfare Best Film Award for 2008 and the 2008 National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare. It was India's official entry for the 2009 Academy Awards Best Foreign Film, and the film's failure to progress to the nominations short list sparked a debate about why no Indian film has ever won an Oscar. Media outlets made comparisons between Taare Zameen Par and the British drama Slumdog Millionaire, which won several Oscars that same year. (more...) Recently featured: CSI effect – USS President – American Goldfinch Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that "Musica proibita" by Italian composer Stanislao Gastaldon (pictured) was the first of six songs for which he also wrote the lyrics under the pseudonym "Flick-Flock"? ... that destinations for jihadi tourism have included a mosque in Hamburg and Somali terrorist training sites? ... that farmer Jørgen Rytterager was appointed station master of Snarum Station in 1872? ... that Zaw Htet Ko Ko, a photographer for the pro-democracy 88 Generation Students Group, is serving an 11-year prison sentence for his involvement in Burma's "Saffron Revolution"? ... that over 70,000 cubic yards (54,000 m³) of sand was excavated to extricate the Liberian steamship *Santa Kyriaki* from a beach in the Netherlands? ... that Scottish businessman Craig Whyte bought the controlling interest in Rangers Football Club from David Murray for £1? ... that Androids can now play streamed music using Music Beta by Google? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Queen Elizabeth II (pictured) makes the first state visit by a British monarch to the Republic of Ireland. Space Shuttle Endeavour launches on its final mission, delivering the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer for installation on the International Space Station. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund, is held without bail in New York City on charges of sexual assault. At least 12 Arab protesters are killed during Nakba Day protests and marches on Israel's borders. Kenyan long-distance runner Samuel Wanjiru, who won the men's marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics, dies at the age of 24. In ice hockey, the IIHF World Championship concludes with Finland defeating Sweden in the final. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
May 18: Flag and Universities Day in Haiti; Day of Revival, Unity, and the Poetry of Magtymguly in Turkmenistan 1652 – Rhode Island passed the first law in North America making slavery illegal. 1944 – The Soviet Union forcibly deported the entire population of Crimean Tatars as special settlers to Uzbek SSR and elsewhere in the country. 1980 – A popular uprising against the nationwide martial law imposed by South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan's government began in Gwangju, but it was ultimately crushed by the South Korean army about nine days later. 1991 – The Somali National Movement declared the independence of Somaliland (flag pictured), a de facto state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia, following the collapse of central government during the Somali Civil War. 2006 – The Parliament of Nepal unanimously voted to strip King Gyanendra of many of his powers. More anniversaries: May 17 – May 18 – May 19 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now May 18, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

"Salvage Scrap to Blast the Jap", an American government propaganda poster from World War II, showing a Bald Eagle, the national bird, dropping a bomb on a snake representing Japan. During the war, the U.S. officially had no propaganda, but the Roosevelt government used means to circumvent this official line, including the Writers' War Board and the Office of War Information.

Poster: Phil von Phul; Restoration: Lise Broer

Recently featured: John Shea – Lake District, England – Dundasite and crocoite

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.