Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 March 5

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Today's featured article
Lat is a Malaysian cartoonist whose work earned him the honorific title of datuk. He was born on 5 March 1951 in a village in Perak, Malaysia, and started supplementing his family's income at the age of nine by submitting his comics to magazines and newspapers. Four years later, he published his first comic book. In 1970, Lat left school and became a crime reporter while continuing his cartooning sideline. His comic about the Bersunat—a circumcision ceremony all Malaysian boys of the Islamic faith have to undergo—made a great impression on his newspaper's editor-in-chief. As a result, Lat became an editorial cartoonist. As he gained popularity through his cartoons in Malaysia, he published his autobiography in the form of two graphic novels—The Kampung Boy and Town Boy. The Kampung Boy was a huge success and gained him international renown. It is published in various countries around the world in several languages. Lat's cartoons provide an unbiased and humorous insight on the lives and culture of Malaysians, who consider him one of their most trustworthy citizens. His admirers include American cartoonists, Sergio Aragonés and Matt Groening. (more...) Recently featured: Tau Ceti – Round Church, Preslav – Banksia spinulosa Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that St Augustine's Church (pictured) in Norwich has a monument to a textile manufacturer, raised by 600 weavers? ... that Stanley Clarke's album The Stanley Clarke Band won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album? ... that the Heinrich-Heine-Straße U-Bahn station in Berlin, opened in 1928, was a ghost station for nearly three decades and retains much of its original appearance? ... that humorist George Washington Harris's comic character Sut Lovingood, who figured in tales attacking Abraham Lincoln and other politicians, has been described as "Huck Finn on amphetamines"? ... that a top environmental issue in Russia is water pollution, affecting 75% of the country's surface water? ... that tandem bicyclists Ernie Mills and Bill Paul set a world record in 1937 that stood for 63 years? ... that the Marvel Comics limited series 5 Ronin reimagines superheroes Wolverine, Psylocke, Punisher, Hulk and Deadpool as masterless samurai in 17th-century Japan? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
NASA's Glory climate research satellite (artist's impression pictured) is lost in the second consecutive failure of a Taurus-XL rocket. In Chad, parliamentary elections result in an overwhelming majority for the Patriotic Salvation Movement, led by incumbent president Idriss Déby. Essam Sharaf is appointed Prime Minister of Egypt by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces after Ahmed Shafik resigns. Pakistani Minister of Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti is assassinated in Islamabad, following years of death threats for supporting Pakistani Christians. Protests against proposed legislation affecting public employee labor unions in the U.S. state of Wisconsin enter their third week. The King's Speech wins four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Tom Hooper, at the 83rd Academy Awards. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 5: Lei Feng Day in the People's Republic of China; St Piran's Day in Cornwall (United Kingdom) 1496 – King Henry VII of England issued letters patent to John Cabot and his sons, authorising them to explore unknown lands. 1940 – World War II: Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and the Politburo signed an order for the execution of about 22,000 Polish military officers, policemen, intellectuals and civilian prisoners of war that were captured during the Soviet invasion of Poland. 1960 – Cuban photographer Alberto Korda took his iconic photograph of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara (pictured). 1981 – The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, was launched by Sinclair Research and went on to sell over 1.5 million units around the world. 1999 – Paul Okalik was elected as the first Premier of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. More anniversaries: March 4 – March 5 – March 6 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 5 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A specimen of white coral fungus (Ramariopsis kunzei), a species of coral fungus found in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The fruit body is white to whitish-yellow in color and grows typically up to 8 cm (3.1 in) tall and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide. Older specimens may have a pinkish tinge. Although it is edible, the odor and taste are not distinctive.

Photo: Kaldari

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