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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 1 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 1: Millennium Park

Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of 
Chicago in Illinois, US. It is a prominent civic center near the city's 
Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (9.9 ha) section of 
northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, 
Illinois Central rail yards and parking lots. The park, which is 
bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East 
Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium 
Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction. Planning 
of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, 
and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four 
years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended 
by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant 
Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its 
accessibility and green design. Millennium Park has free admission, and 
features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the 
Lurie Garden and other attractions. The park is connected by the BP 
Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant 
Park. Millennium Park is considered to be the city's most important 
project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and it far 
exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Park>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

880:

The Nea Ekklesia church in Constantinople was consecrated, and would go
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 2 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 2: Brabham

Brabham was a British racing car manufacturer and Formula One racing 
team. Founded in 1960 by driver Jack Brabham and designer Ron Tauranac, 
the team won four drivers' and two constructors' world championships in 
its 30-year Formula One history. Jack Brabham's 1966 drivers' 
championship remains the only victory by a car bearing the driver's own 
name. In the 1960s, Brabham was the world's largest manufacturer of 
open wheel racing cars for sale to customer teams, and had built more 
than 500 cars by 1970. During this period, teams using Brabham cars won 
championships in Formula Two and Formula Three and competed in the 
Indianapolis 500. British businessman Bernie Ecclestone owned Brabham 
between 1972 and 1988. Under his ownership, Brabham introduced 
innovations such as the "fan car", in-race refuelling, carbon brakes, 
and hydropneumatic suspension, and was the first team to win a drivers' 
championship with a turbocharged car. Ecclestone sold the team in 1988. 
Its final owner was the Middlebridge Group, a Japanese engineering 
firm. Midway through the 1992 season, the team collapsed financially as 
Middlebridge was unable to meet loan repayments. In 2009 an 
unsuccessful attempt was made by a German organisation to enter the 
2010 Formula One season using the Brabham name.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brabham>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1808:

The people of Madrid rebelled against French occupation of the city, 
triggering the Peninsular War.
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 3 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 3: Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)

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.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_the_Hedgehog_%28video_game%29>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1791:

The Polish Constitution of May 3, one of the earliest codified national 
constitutions in the world, was adopted by the Sejm.
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 4 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 4: Flowing Hair dollar

The Flowing Hair dollar was the first dollar coin issued by the United 
States federal government. Minted in 1794 and 1795, the size and weight 
of the coin were based on the Spanish dollar, which was popular in 
trade throughout the Americas. In 1791, following a study by Alexander 
Hamilton, Congress passed a joint resolution calling for the 
establishment of a national mint. Later that year, in his third State 
of the Union address, President George Washington urged Congress to 
provide for a mint, which was officially authorized by the Coinage Act 
of 1792. Despite the authorization, silver and gold coins were not 
struck until 1794. The Flowing Hair dollar, designed by Robert Scot, 
was initially produced in 1794, and again in 1795. In October 1795 the 
design was replaced by the Draped Bust dollar. In May 2010, a specimen 
striking from the 1794 production was sold in a private sale for $7.85 
million, the highest selling price of any coin in history.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowing_Hair_dollar>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1471:

Wars of the Roses: Yorkist Edward IV defeated a Lancastrian army in the 
Battle of Tewkesbury.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tewkesbury>

1814:

Ferdinand VII abolished the Spanish Constitution of 1812, returning
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 5 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 5: William Garrow

William Garrow (1760–1840) was a British barrister, politician and 
judge known for his indirect reform of the advocacy system, which 
helped usher in the adversarial court system used in most common law 
nations today. He introduced the phrase "innocent until proven guilty", 
insisting that defendants' accusers and their evidence be thoroughly 
tested in court. Garrow is best known for his criminal defence work, 
which, through the example he set with his aggressive defence of 
clients, helped establish the modern adversarial system used in most 
common law systems. Garrow is also known for his impact on the rules of 
evidence, coining the best evidence rule. His work was cited as 
recently as 1982 in the Supreme Court of Canada and 2006 in the Irish 
Court of Criminal Appeal. In 2009, BBC One broadcast Garrow's Law, a 
four-part fictionalised drama of Garrow's beginnings at the Old Bailey; 
a second series aired in late 2010.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Garrow>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1260:

Kublai Khan claimed the title of Khagan of the Mongol Empire after the 
death of his older brother Möngke in the previous year.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kublai_Khan>

1860:

Led by Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi, the volunteer Expedition of
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 6 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 6: Aaliyah

Aaliyah (1979–2001) was an American recording artist, actress and 
model. At age 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and Blackground 
Records by her uncle, Barry Hankerson. He introduced her to R. Kelly, 
who became her mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her 
debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. The album sold three 
million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum 
by the Recording Industry Association of America. After facing 
allegations of an illegal marriage with Kelly, Aaliyah ended her 
contract with Jive and signed to Atlantic Records. Aaliyah worked with 
record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One 
in a Million; it sold 3.7 million copies in the United States and over 
eight million copies worldwide. In 2000, Aaliyah appeared in her first 
major film, Romeo Must Die. After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah 
filmed her part in Queen of the Damned. She released her third and 
final album, Aaliyah, in July 2001. On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah and 
eight others were killed in an airplane crash in The Bahamas after 
filming the music video for the single "Rock the Boat". Since then, 
Aaliyah's music has achieved commercial success with several posthumous 
releases. She has been credited for helping redefine R&B and hip hop, 
earning her the nickname "Princess of R&B".

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaliyah>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1527:

Spanish and German troops sacked Rome, marking the symbolic end of the
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 7 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 7: Stanley Green

Stanley Green (1915–1993) was a sandwich man who became a well-known 
figure in London, England, during the latter half of the 20th century. 
For 25 years, Green patrolled Oxford Street in the West End, carrying a 
placard advocating "Less Lust, By Less Protein: Meat Fish Bird; Egg 
Cheese; Peas Beans; Nuts. And Sitting", though the wording—and 
punctuation—changed slightly over the years. Arguing that protein made 
people lustful and aggressive, his solution was "protein wisdom", a 
low-protein diet for "better, kinder, happier people". For a few pence, 
passers-by could buy his 14-page pamphlet, Eight Passion Proteins with 
Care, which reportedly sold 87,000 copies over 20 years. Green became 
one of London's much-loved eccentrics, though his campaign to suppress 
desire, as one commentator put it, was not invariably popular, leading 
to two arrests for obstruction and the need to wear green overalls to 
protect himself from spit. He nevertheless took great delight in his 
local fame. The Sunday Times interviewed him in 1985, and his "less 
passion, less protein" slogan was used by Red or Dead, the London 
fashion house. When he died in 1993 at the age of 78, The Daily 
Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Times published his obituary, and his 
pamphlets, placards, and letters were passed to the Museum of London.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Green>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1794:

French Revolution: Maximilien Robespierre established the Cult of the 
Supreme Being as the new state religion of the French First Republic.
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 8 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 8: House (TV series)

House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox 
network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. 
Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), an unconventional and misanthropic medical 
genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional 
Princeton‑Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. The show's 
premise originated with Paul Attanasio, while David Shore, who is 
credited as creator, was primarily responsible for the conception of 
the title character. It is largely filmed in Century City. House often 
clashes with his fellow physicians, including his own diagnostic team, 
because many of his hypotheses about patients' illnesses are based on 
subtle or controversial insights. His flouting of hospital rules and 
procedures frequently runs him afoul of his boss (and, later, 
girlfriend), hospital administrator and Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy 
(Lisa Edelstein). House's only true friend is Dr. James Wilson (Robert 
Sean Leonard), head of the Department of Oncology. Critically acclaimed 
for much of its run, House maintains high viewer ratings. Distributed 
to 66 countries, House was the most watched television program in the 
world in 2008.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_%28TV_series%29>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1541:

The expedition led by Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto became the 
first documented Europeans to reach the Mississippi River.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernando_de_Soto>
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 10 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 10: Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the 
Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association. The team was 
established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the 
NBA's expansion into Canada. When the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, 
Tennessee in 2001, the Raptors became the only Canadian team in the 
NBA. Like most expansion teams, the Raptors struggled in their early 
years; but after the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft day 
trade in 1998, the team set league attendance records and made the NBA 
Playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002. After Carter left, Chris Bosh emerged 
as the team leader. With the appointment of Bryan Colangelo as General 
Manager and a revamp of the roster for the 2006–07 season, they 
qualified for their first playoff berth in five years and captured 
their first division title. In the following season, they advanced to 
the playoffs again. In a bid to persuade Bosh to stay beyond the final 
year of his contract, the team had a roster overhaul in the 2009–10 
season. However, the attempt to make the playoffs was unsuccessful and 
Bosh signed with the Miami Heat in July 2010, ushering in a new era for 
the franchise.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Raptors>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1857:

The Sepoy Mutiny against the company rule by the British East India 
Company, began.
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English Wikipedia Article of the Day | 11 May 2011 02:05
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[Daily article] May 11: Shimer College

Shimer College is a small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college 
in Chicago. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in Mt. Carroll, 
Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It 
joined with the University of Chicago in 1896, and became one of the 
first junior colleges in the country in 1907. In 1950, it became a 
co-educational four-year college, took the name Shimer College, and 
adopted the university's curriculum of the Hutchins Plan of Great Books 
and Socratic seminars. In 1958, Shimer separated from the university 
and enjoyed national recognition and strong growth in the 1960s but was 
forced by financial problems to abandon its campus in 1978. It then 
moved to Waukegan, IL, remaining there until 2006, when it moved to the 
National Register of Historic Places-listed campus of the Illinois 
Institute of Technology in the Bronzeville neighborhood in the Douglas 
community area of Chicago. Classes are exclusively small seminars in 
which students discuss original source material rather than textbooks. 
The Early Entrant Program, in place since 1950, allows students who 
have not yet completed high school to start college early. Shimer has 
the highest rate of doctoral productivity of any liberal arts college 
in the country.

Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimer_College>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

330:

The city of Byzantium was consecrated as Constantinople, the new 
capital of the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine the Great .
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