Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 May 3

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Today's featured article
Shadow the Hedgehog is a 2005 video game developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega's Sonic Team. Featuring the titular fictional character Shadow the Hedgehog from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series, Shadow the Hedgehog is the third game (and the last in the Sonic series) developed by Sega Studio USA. Following the trend of recent Sonic games such as Sonic Adventure and Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog is a 3D platform game. Most levels have three possible missions—"Hero", "Dark", or "Normal"—that the player may choose to complete; some levels have only two (which mostly are only "Hero" and "Dark"). The missions completed determine the game's plot, a feature referenced by the game's tagline, "Hero or villain? You decide." The plot centers on the attempt of Shadow, a creation of Doctor Eggman's grandfather Gerald Robotnik, to learn about his past after suffering from amnesia. To defeat enemies encountered, Shadow can use various weapons and special attacks. Shadow the Hedgehog was created for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox video game consoles. It received mixed to negative reviews; critics criticized its unwelcome "dark" theme, particularly the addition of guns and other weapons, but praised its replay value. (more...) Recently featured: Brabham – Millennium Park – Fossa Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that dressmakers working on Kate Middleton's wedding gown (pictured) changed needles every three hours, and washed their hands every half hour? ... that the widest path problem forms the algorithmic basis of the Schulze method used by Wikimedia to decide the winners of multiway elections? ... that Italian runner Silvana Cruciata ran over 18 km (11.2 miles) in one hour—a world record which went unbeaten for 17 years? ... that the first transcontinental trip by a solar-powered vehicle was completed in 1983? ... that, despite being a monastery of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Gunda Gunde provided many converts to the Roman Catholic faith for missionary (later saint) Justin de Jacobis? ... that Jay Houghton, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, had an uncle, two great-uncles, and a great-great-grandfather who also served as representatives? ... that Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is the result of continued commercial success of Olympic video games starring Nintendo's and Sega's once-rival mascots, Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper (pictured), wins a majority in the Canadian federal election. John Higgins defeats Judd Trump to win the World Snooker Championship. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is killed by U.S. forces at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from Air France Flight 447, which crashed into the Atlantic in 2009, are recovered from the ocean floor. Pope John Paul II is beatified at a ceremony in Vatican City. Libyan officials report that Saif al-Arab al-Gaddafi, son of Muammar Gaddafi, was killed in a NATO airstrike in Tripoli. Syrian unrest – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
May 3: Constitution Day in Poland and Japan, World Press Freedom Day Subhas Chandra Bose 1791 – The Polish Constitution of May 3, one of the earliest codified national constitutions in the world, was adopted by the Sejm. 1939 – Subhas Chandra Bose (pictured) formed the All India Forward Bloc of the Indian National Congress in opposition to Gandhi's tactics of nonviolence. 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces began invading Tulagi and nearby islands in the Solomon Islands, enabling them to threaten and interdict the supply and communication routes between the United States and Australia and New Zealand. 1951 – The Royal Festival Hall, the first post-war building to become listed Grade I, opened as the venue for the Festival of Britain. 1963 – Police in Birmingham, Alabama, US, used high-pressure water hoses and dogs on civil rights protesters, bringing intense scrutiny on racial segregation in the South. More anniversaries: May 2 – May 3 – May 4 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now May 3, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The head of a flesh-fly, a species of fly. Flies have a mobile head with eyes, and, in most cases, have large compound eyes on the sides of the head, with five small ocelli on the top. The antennae take a variety of forms, but are often short, to reduce drag while flying. Fly mouths do not contain teeth or anything else that would allow them to eat solid foods.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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