Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 December 20

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From today's featured article
The 2012 phenomenon comprises a range of eschatological beliefs according to which cataclysmic or transformative events will occur on 21 December 2012. This date is regarded as the end-date of a 5,125-year cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Various astronomical alignments and numerological formulae have been proposed as pertaining to this date, though none have been accepted by mainstream scholarship. A New Age interpretation of this transition is that this date marks the start of a time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation, and that 2012 may mark the beginning of a new era. Others suggest that the date marks the end of the world or a similar catastrophe. Scenarios suggested for the end of the world include the arrival of the next solar maximum, an interaction between Earth and the black hole at the centre of the galaxy, or Earth's collision with a planet called "Nibiru". Scholars from various disciplines have dismissed the idea of such cataclysmic events occurring in 2012. Mayanist scholars state that predictions of impending doom are not found in any of the extant classic Maya accounts, and that the idea that the Long Count calendar "ends" in 2012 misrepresents Maya history and culture. (Full article...) Recently featured: James Tod – Final Fantasy – "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that a few years after earning two degrees in marine toxicology, Riki Ott (pictured) became unexpectedly involved with the Exxon Valdez oil spill? ... that a voltage controller is a device which dims street lights, controls the temperature of heating at home, and controls the speed of motors? ... that the Glen Davis Shale Oil Works was the last oil-shale operation in Australia until the commencement of the Stuart Oil Shale Project in late 1990s? ... that the *USCGC Smilax* (WLIC-315), a 100-foot inland construction tender, is the current "Queen of the Fleet" of the United States Coast Guard? ... that the video game Street Fighter X Mega Man was developed by one fan with the support of Capcom? ... that "Normal*", the twentieth episode of American TV series New Girl, inspired a real-life drinking game with rules released by Fox? Archive* – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Park Geun-hye (pictured) is elected President of South Korea, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Swiss bank UBS is fined US$1.5 billion for its role in the Libor scandal. Shinzō Abe is elected Prime Minister of Japan as the Liberal Democratic Party gains an absolute majority in the House of Representatives. Twenty-eight people, including the gunman, are dead following a shooting at an elementary school in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Twenty-three people are injured in a knife attack at a primary school in the Chinese province of Henan. In Denmark, the discovery of "The Tallow Candle", a previously unknown story by author Hans Christian Andersen, is confirmed. North Korea launches its first orbital satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, using a Unha-3 carrier rocket. Recent deaths: Daniel Inouye – Dina Manfredini – Páidí Ó Sé Syrian civil war – Wikinews – More current events...
On this day...
December 20 1860 – South Carolina became the first of eleven slave states to secede from the United States, leading to the eventual creation of the Confederate States of America and later the American Civil War. 1946 – Frank Capra's popular Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life (pictured) was first released in New York City. 1955 – Cardiff was proclaimed as the capital of Wales. 1999 – Portugal transferred sovereignty of Macau, which it had administered since the mid-16th century, to China. 2007 – Pablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch was stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art. More anniversaries: December 19 – December 20 – December 21 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now December 20, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Ksenia Semenova (b. 1992) is a Russian artistic gymnast. She was the 2007 World Champion on the uneven bars. At the 2008 European Championships, she was a member of the silver-medal-winning Russian team, as well as champion on the uneven bars and the balance beam. She followed this up by winning the all-around championship at the 2009 European Championships and was part of the gold-medal Russian team at the 2010 European and 2010 World Championships. Injuries have prevented her from competing since then.

Photo: Bolshoi Sport

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