Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 January 22

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Today's featured article
Lad: A Dog is a 1919 American novel written by Albert Payson Terhune and published by E. P. Dutton. Composed of twelve short stories first published in magazines, the novel is loosely based on the life of Terhune's real-life rough collie, Lad. Born in 1902, the real-life Lad was an unregistered collie of unknown lineage originally owned by Terhune's father. Lad's death at the age of 18 was mourned by many of the story's fans, particularly children. Through the stories of Lad's adventures, Terhune expresses his views on parenting, obtaining perfect obedience without force, and the nature and rights of the "well-bred". After a slow start, the novel became a best seller in the adult fiction and children's fiction markets, having been repositioned as a young adult novel by Grosset & Dunlap in the 1960s and 1970s. Selling over one million copies, it is Terhune's best-selling work and regarded as the one that propelled him to fame. In retrospective reviews, critics considered that the novel had aged badly. Terhune himself considered the novel "hack writing" and did not understand why it was so popular. Warner Brothers released a theatrical film adaptation in June 1962. (more...) Recently featured: John Lerew – Little Miss Sunshine – Sacrifice Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that although the Vought XSO2U (pictured) was judged superior to the Curtiss XSO3C by the U.S. Navy in a competition for a new scout aircraft for operation from cruisers, the Curtiss aircraft won the contract? ... that King George III wrote a letter about General Sir John Doyle's exploits in the American and French Revolutionary Wars ... "so that his zeal and exertions in our service may be known to posterity"? ... that three days before his wedding, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway thanked his family and fellow countrymen for not making his choice of bride a succession issue? ... that despite being that year's U.S. champion in the 200 m breaststroke, Iris Cummings still had to raise her own funds to travel to the 1936 Summer Olympics? ... that the Areni-1 winery is believed to be the world's oldest surviving wine production facility? ... that slavery of indigenous people in modern Bolivia was temporarily abolished during the First Upper Peru campaign? ... that Herbert McLeod invented the McLeod gauge? ... that the arrival of the railway eventually left the Ault Store as the only remaining commercial building in Dundas, Minnesota's original business district? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Sargent Shriver 1962 In Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden, the South Korean Navy rescues the crew of the hijacked Samho Jewelry, killing eight Somali pirates. A series of bomb attacks across Iraq kills more than 100 people. More than 50 people are killed in widespread flooding across southern Africa. American politician Sargent Shriver (pictured), the first director of the Peace Corps, dies at the age of 95. Venezuela claims to have overtaken Saudi Arabia as the world leader in proven oil reserves. The 2011 Dakar Rally concludes in Buenos Aires. At least 100 people are killed and another 90 injured in a stampede at Sabarimala in Kerala, India. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali leaves Tunisia following nationwide protests and Fouad Mebazaa becomes the acting president. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 22 1879 – Anglo-Zulu War: Zulu forces of King Cetshwayo fought to a decisive victory at the Battle of Isandlwana, but elsewhere the British were able to repel a Zulu attack in the Battle of Rorke's Drift. 1906 – The SS Valencia wrecked off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, in a location so treacherous it was known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. 1969 – Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev survived an assassination attempt, an incident that was not revealed to the public until after the fall of the Soviet Union. 1973 – The U.S. Supreme Court delivered its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, striking down laws restricting abortion during the first six to seven months of pregnancy. 2006 – Aymaran Evo Morales (pictured) was inaugurated as President of Bolivia, the country's first democratically elected, fully Amerindian leader. More anniversaries: January 21 – January 22 – January 23 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 22 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Flowers of a canna lily hybrid. Canna lilies are members of the genus Canna; they are not true lilies, and are more closely related to the other plant families in the order Zingiberales, such as the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, and strelitzias. There are nineteen known species and numerous cultivars, all of which have large, attractive foliage, making it a popular garden plant. In addition, it is one of the world's richest starch sources, and as such is used in agriculture.

Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim

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