Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 November 15

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
The Lord of the Rings is a 1978 American fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi. It combines animation and live action footage which is rotoscoped to give it a look more consistent with the rest of the movie. It is an adaptation of the first half of The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the film follows a group of hobbits, elves, men, dwarves and wizards who form a fellowship. They embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring made by the Dark Lord Sauron, and ensure his destruction. The film features the voices of William Squire, John Hurt, Michael Graham Cox and Anthony Daniels of Star Wars fame. The screenplay was written by Peter S. Beagle, based on an earlier draft by Chris Conkling. Director Ralph Bakshi encountered Tolkien's writing early in his career, and had made several attempts to produce The Lord of the Rings as an animated film before being given funding by producer Saul Zaentz and distributor United Artists. Although the film was a financial success, it received a mixed reaction from critics, and the original distributors refused to fund a sequel to cover the remainder of the story. However, the film sparked new interest in Tolkien's writing, inspiring the production of several further adaptations of the story. (more...) Recently featured: George Koval – Astonishing Stories – Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Stowe Missal was written circa 750 and given its cumdach or case circa 1030 (pictured), with one new face added circa 1375? ... that as of 2009 the High Court of Singapore's judgment in the Taw Cheng Kong case was the only decision where a statutory provision had been struck down as unconstitutional? ... that Larry Jacobus' 13-year professional baseball career ended when he lost his right eye in a car accident? ... that grapes from Aussenkehr, Namibia, can be harvested up to 5 weeks earlier than other locations in Southern Africa? ... that the 1976 play The Vietnamization of New Jersey has been noted for its parallels to the United States' involvement in Iraq? ... that the ancient Roman dancer Galeria Copiola reached the age of 104? ... that Australian blues musician Phil Manning is a member of Chain and co-wrote their top 20 hit "Black and Blue" from 1971? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The Arab League agrees to suspend Syria's membership amid the continued violent crackdown of an internal uprising. Silvio Berlusconi (pictured) resigns as Prime Minister of Italy amid the country's debt crisis. Mexican Secretary of the Interior Francisco Blake Mora is killed in a helicopter crash near Mexico City. Sébastien Loeb wins the World Rally Championship for a record eighth consecutive year. Following the resignation of George Papandreou, Lucas Papademos is sworn in as Prime Minister of Greece. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declares the Western Black Rhinoceros extinct. Andreas Gursky's Rhein II sells at auction for US$4.3 million, becoming the world's most expensive photograph. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
November 15: Republic Day in Brazil (1889); Shichi-Go-San in Japan 655 – Penda of Mercia was defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria at the Battle of the Winwaed in modern-day Yorkshire, England. 1859 – Sponsored by businessman Evangelos Zappas (pictured), the first modern revival of the Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece. 1935 – The Commonwealth of the Philippines was officially established, with Manuel L. Quezon inaugurated as its president. 1943 – The Holocaust: Heinrich Himmler ordered that Romanies were to be put "on the same level as Jews and placed in concentration camps". 1983 – Turkish Cypriots on the northeastern portion of Cyprus declared the creation of a new state known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which currently remains recognised only by Turkey. More anniversaries: November 14 – November 15 – November 16 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now November 15, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A 16th-century chiaroscuro woodcut of the Tiburtine Sibyl meeting with Augustus. The mythic meeting between the Roman Emperor and the sibyl (prophetess) of Tibur (now Tivoli), of whom he inquired whether he should be worshiped as a god, was a favored motif of Christian artists. In this scene, she shows him a vision of the Christian heaven.

Artist: Antonio da Trento; Restoration: Adam Cuerden

Recently featured: Fritillaria meleagris – Helicatenoid – Allosaurus mouth

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.