Wikipedia:Recent additions/2004/November#11 November 2004

Did you know...

= 30 November 2004 =

File:Spartina_alterniflora.jpg

...that several species of Cordgrass have become invasive, especially on the West Coast of the United States?
...that Nicci French is the pseudonym for a couple of London journalists, Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, who write psychological thrillers together?
...that Maximón, a saint venerated in the highlands of Guatemala, drinks whiskey, smokes cigarettes and grants prayers for revenge?
...that the Weaubleau-Osceola structure is the largest exposed untectonized impact crater in the United States?

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...that female Wrinkled Hornbills build nests in treeholes, then plaster over the holes, trapping themselves inside for months?
...that in 1975 a freak Typhoon caused the Banqiao Dam in China's Henan Province to fail, killing over 200,000 people?
...that the Curse of Billy Penn is an alleged curse that may explain the failures of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania professional sports teams?
...that scaly leg is a bird disease caused by mites, and can be treated with petroleum jelly?
...that the Konopiště château (castle), the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, houses a large collection of antlers?

= 29 November 2004 =

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...that the Ryan X-13 Vertijet aircraft landed by using a hook on its nose to hang itself on a wire?
...that Ambloplites species are native to a region extending from the Hudson Bay basin in Canada to the lower Mississippi River basin in the United States?
...that Esteban Huertas, a general who led Panama to independence, appears in a Scrooge McDuck comic?
...that the London Warehouse Theatre was threatened with closure after an Arts Council grant was withdrawn in 1984, but that closure was averted when Croydon Council and the GLC agreed to replace the grant?

= 28 November 2004 =

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...that Miliaria is a skin disease marked by small and itchy rashes and is commonly found in infants?
...that for over a thousand years Trajan's bridge was the longest bridge ever built?
...that Lyndon Johnson announced his hiring of Gerri Whittington, the first African-American White House secretary, by arranging for her to appear on the TV game show What's My Line?
...that the Cryolophosaurus is informally known as the Elvisaurus because the bizarre crest running across its head resembles Elvis Presley's 1950s pompadour haircut?

= 27 November 2004 =

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...that the Long-tailed Broadbill is the only bird in the genus Psarisomus?
...that the 2002 Winter Olympic bid scandal was a scandal involving allegations of bribery to get the 2002 Winter Olympic Games to Salt Lake City, Utah?
...that the large positive void coefficient of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl was a major factor in causing the Chernobyl accident?
...that Luigi Fagioli had one of auto racing's most famous rivalries with Louis Chiron in the 1930s?
...that Sutton Foster was pulled from the chorus to replace the leading lady during the pre-Broadway tryout of Thoroughly Modern Millie?
...that Hubie Brown resigned as coach from the Memphis Grizzlies on Thanksgiving Day 2004?

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...that works of fiction sometimes feature the All persons fictitious disclaimer?

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...that Welsh Nationalist terrorists planted bombs to protest against the 1969 investiture of the Prince of Wales?

= 26 November 2004 =

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...that Harlequin Valentine opens with a literal heart being nailed to a door in a modern retelling of the classic Commedia dell'arte?
...that a security token can also store cryptographic keys and biometric data?
...that a gravity hill is a location where an out-of-gear car can appear to roll up a hill?
...that many of the glassware produced by Wheaton Industries are on display at the Museum of American Glassware at Wheaton Village?

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...that Ardre image stones were used as paving under the wooden floors of a local church in the Ardre parish of Gotland?
...that some people in the BDSM community are sexually aroused by being gagged?
...that Hit Parade was Spirit of the West's final release for Warner Music Canada?

= 25 November 2004 =

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...that Braeriach is the third highest mountain in Scotland, surpassed only by Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui?
...that the real name of drummer Mel Lewis was Melvin Sokoloff?
...that France was the first to issue official postage due stamps in 1859?
...that Kaa's Hunting is an 1893 short story by Rudyard Kipling featuring Mowgli?

= 24 November 2004 =

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...that the samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga led the first Japanese Embassy to the Americas and Europe in 1615?
...that Cloudland Canyon State Park in the U.S. state of Georgia straddles a gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, where the elevation differs from 1,980 to 800 feet (604 to 244 m)?
... that 24-hour comics have become so popular that there's now a holiday for them on April 24?
...that motorcyclist Jo Siffert was killed in an end-of-season non-championship F1 race on October 24, 1971 at Brands Hatch?

= 23 November 2004 =

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...that cabinets of curiosities were early centers for artifacts of natural history?
...that the Mi'kmaq people used a pictorial writing scheme?
...that Egg plc is now the world's largest "pure" internet bank, meaning it's only accessible from the internet?
...that reed valves are made of thin flexible metal or fiberglass strips?
...that Australian painter Jeffrey Smart initially wanted to become an architect instead of an artist?

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...that the Vatu is the unit of currency in Vanuatu?
...that the Aerocar Coot was a two-seat amphibious aircraft designed for home-building by Moulton Taylor?
...that Luis Sotelo was a Spanish friar who died as a martyr in Japan in 1624?

= 22 November 2004 =

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...that the Opinel knife has been manufactured since the 1890s in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Savoie region of France?
...that Carpenter is a lunar impact crater located in the northern part of the Moon, causing it to appear oval in shape when in fact it's nearly circular?
...that Evan Taubenfeld was Avril Lavigne's lead guitarist from Spring 2002 to September 2004?
...that Faye Glenn Abdellah's pioneering work in nursing research has been recognized with 77 professional and academic honors?

= 21 November 2004 =

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...that the Irazú volcano in Costa Rica erupted violently in 1963, on the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy arrived in the country for a state visit?
...that Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters were simultaneously hanged in 1923 for the murder of Thompson's husband, even though Bywaters committed the crime on his own?
...that there have been six submarines and ships named Nautilus in the U.S. Navy, some as early as 1803, 67 years before Captain Nemo's Nautilus appeared in Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues under the Sea?
...that development on Star Wars Quake lasted for six years, and is probably the most famous Quake mod to never be completed?

= 20 November 2004 =

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...that, although normally run as the last car of a passenger train, the interiors of observation cars could include features of a coach, lounge, diner, or sleeper?
...that Pepsi offered a Harrier fighter jet in their Pepsi Billion Dollar Sweepstakes game and the Pepsi Stuff game?
...that on December 17, 1973 Pan Am Flight 110 was attacked by six gunmen of the Abu Nidal Organization at Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport in Rome?

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...that communication bubbles (or communication balloons) are used in comic books and strips to allow the characters' words and thoughts to be viewed by the reader?
...that with a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRFM) specimen regions of less than 200 nm can be observed?
...that the world's first four-engined bomber aircraft was the Russian Sikorsky Ilya Muromets and that it flew as early as 1913?

= 19 November 2004 =

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...that the Smithsonian American Art Museum is currently closed due to a major building renovation but is scheduled to reopen on July 4, 2006?
...that World No Tobacco day is on May 31?

= 18 November 2004 =

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...that the tallest of the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert rises 200 metres above the surrounding terrain?
...that The Doll Family played munchkins in The Wizard of Oz and were popular circus performers?
...that John Randolph Tucker served as an officer in the navies of the United States, the Confederate States, and Peru?

= 17 November 2004 =

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...that baseball player Jim Creighton's death at age 21 may have been caused by the force with which he swung his bat?
...that titanium is the most common material for body piercing jewelries?
...that the well-known Tourist guy is a Hungarian?
...that the Black Caiman is both the world's largest alligator and the Amazon Basin's largest predator?
...that during the 1939 Battle of Wizna in Poland, German planes dropped leaflets asking the Poles to surrender?

= 16 November 2004 =

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...that actor David Manners lived for 67 years after starring in the 1931 film Dracula, but never watched it?
...that French tennis player Henri Leconte won 9 ATP titles in an 11 year period?
...that Barbary Sheep can jump over 2 metres from a stand-still?
...that the peak of Mount Hikurangi (1620 metres) is the highest non-volcanic peak on the North Island of New Zealand?

= 15 November 2004 =

...that the 91st Grey Cup was a Canadian football game in Regina, Saskatchewan that featured the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes?
...that Where Did Our Love Go? became The Supremes' first number one hit after being rejected by The Marvelettes?
...that Keflavík International Airport is the largest airport in Iceland?
...that nearly all prominent American party switchers in the modern era have switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party?

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...that geologically, Massacre Rocks State Park was created during repeated volcanic activity on the Snake River Plain?
...that the USS Cobbler (SS-344) was a Balao-class submarine, in the United States Navy named after a cobbler, the killifish of New South Wales?
...that Kashima Antlers is the name of a professional football club in the Japanese J. League?
...that comedian Nipsey Russell got his start as a car hop at the Atlanta drive-in restaurant The Varsity?

= 14 November 2004 =

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...that the Emerald ash borer currently threatens over 7 billion ash trees in the United States?
...that Emperor Qinzong of Song China was the last emperor of the Northern Song?
...that the Beaumont Children disappeared without a trace from a beach near Adelaide, Australia in 1966?
...that U.S. Marine Corps General Ray Davis rescued hundreds of American troops during the Battle of Inchon in 1950?

= 13 November 2004 =

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...that in the history of transportation in Los Angeles, the first California freeway "traffic jam" occurred on January 1, 1940?
...that Hakuin Ekaku's systematization of koan practice brought about a major revolution in Zen teaching?
...that the Scheutzian calculation engine was invented in 1837 and finalized in 1843 by Per Georg Scheutz?
...that Polar dinosaurs could have walked to Australia, because during the early Cretaceous the continent of Australia was still linked to Antarctica?

= 11 November 2004 =

... that the names of the Greek letters Alpha and Beta, which start with the sounds they represent, are examples of acrophony?

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...that Seinfeld co-creator Larry David modeled the character Cosmo Kramer after his neighbor Kenny Kramer?
...that the first televised nine dart finish was achieved at the World Matchplay championship in 1984 by John Lowe?
...that the Indian Cuckoo is a brood parasite? it lays its single egg mostly in Drongo nests.
...that the Egyptian numeral for 100,000 was the hieroglyph of a tadpole or a frog?

= 10 November 2004 =

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...that the Yazidis think of their god, Melek Taus, as a golden peacock, although some Christians and Muslims think of him as Lucifer?
... that Medicine wheels are stone structures built by the natives of America and Canada for various spiritual and ritual purposes?
... that New Place is the name given to Shakespeare's final place of residence in Stratford?
...that Joy Page is the only actress from the fourteen credited performers in Casablanca to still be alive?

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...that Muixeranga is a name given to ancient acrobatic street dances and human castles?
...that Europe's most powerful supercomputer, MareNostrum, will be used in human genome research, protein research, weather forecasting and the design of new drugs?
...that a waterbuck is a diurnal antelope from Western and Central Africa?
...that Jan Kulczyk is currently the richest Pole? His fortune is estimated at PLN 12.5 bn (around USD 4 bn).

= 9 November 2004 =

File:"Little Boy Blue" (1897) by Sophie Pemberton (1869–1959).jpg

... that Canadian painter Sophie Pemberton, who painted her award-winning "Little Boy Blue" in 1897, taught painting to local female artists?
... that 25 passengers and crew mysteriously disappeared from MV Joyita in 1955?
... that Alexander "Sawney" Bean was rumored to be the head of an incestous family that murdered and cannibalized over 1000 people before they were all caught and executed?
... that the cathedral of the Armenian town of Zvartnots was depicted on the first emission of 100 AMD banknotes?
...that in aerial firefighting, fire retardants are colored red to mark where they've been dropped?
...that Long-billed Pipits breed on dry open slopes with rocks and low vegetation?

File:Hercules C130 bombardier d eau Californie.jpg

...that "POP" is a nickname for Pacific Ocean Park, a 28 acre amusement park built on a pier at Santa Monica, California?
...that Graftgold is an independent computer games developer formed in 1983 when Steve Turner decided to quit his day job as a commercial programmer?
...that the Adelaide O-Bahn is a guided busway in Australia that runs from Adelaide CBD to the Tea Tree Plaza shopping centre in Tea Tree Gully?

= 8 November 2004 =

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...that a shortage of amphibious vehicles made supply very difficult for the Americans in the battle of Guam?
...that a large titanosaur nesting ground was recently discovered in Auca Mahuevot, in Patagonia in Argentina, and another colony has reportedly been discovered in Spain?
...that the British Seafarers' Union was formed in Southampton in England in October 1911?
...that the film of the book Nochnoy Dozor by Sergey Lukianenko was such a success that ticket sales in Russia were only exceeded by The Lord of the Rings?

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...that goanna oil was sold amongst early European settlers of Australia as a panacea much like snake oil was in the Old West?
... that Cameron Bright and Nicole Kidman wore flesh-colored swimsuits during the filming of the controversial bathtub scene in "Birth"?
... that Thomas Middleton's 1624 play A Game at Chess was considered so scandalous that the Globe Theatre was closed and the actors and author were put on trial?
...that the airfields captured in the battle of Tinian were used for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

= 6 November 2004 =

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...that Recess (or playtime) in schools teaches children the importance of social skills and physical education?
...that the Norse mythological figure Helgi Hundingsbane earned his nickname by killing a king called Hunding?
...that the Australian singer Jade MacRae started learning the piano at age 8?
...that collecting Toyon branches for Christmas became so popular in Los Angeles, California in the 1920s, that the state passed a law forbidding collecting?
...that the Pokémon character Sableye eats rocks and lives in a cavern?
...that British First World War officer James Edward Edmonds wrote nearly half of the 29-volume History of the Great War?

= 5 November 2004 =

File:Reconstructed buildings at the site of Fort Caspar museum in Casper, Wyoming.jpg

...that Fort Caspar in present-day Casper, Wyoming was founded in 1859 at a prominent crossing of the Emigrant Trail across the North Platte River?
... that Kaiyō Maru, a Japanese steam warship, was the flagship of Admiral Enomoto Takeaki of the rebel Republic of Ezo in the Boshin War?
...that the Arctic Winter Games are held biennially for athletes from the "circumpolar North"?
...that Navajo codetalkers directed naval gunfire onto Japanese positions in the battle of Saipan?

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...that the Japanese manga character Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo can command his own body hair to perform various martial arts?
...that the villain Scar of Disney's The Lion King, was based on a Barbary lion?

= 4 November 2004 =

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...that the European Robotic Arm will be able to travel around the exterior of the International Space Station under its own control?
...that the 1961 vintage of Château Latour is consistently listed among the greatest red wines of all time?
...that in the Battle of the Rice Boats in the American Revolutionary War, the militia of the Province of Georgia drove a squadron of the Royal Navy out of the Savannah River?
...that Kotetsu, a Japanese ironclad battleship, was originally intended to be Stonewall of the Confederate States Navy but was not delivered until after the end of the American Civil War?

= 3 November 2004 =

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...that Prince Mikhail Vorontsov fought Napoléon, founded Odessa, and commanded the Russian invasion of the Caucasus in 1844?
...that Lear's Macaw is a Brazilian parrot that nests in sandstone cliffs?
...that British broadcaster Simon Bates received critical acclaim for his feature item Our Tune, in which he read out tragic true stories?

= 2 November 2004 =

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...that at its height, the Polish World War II resistance movement Bataliony Chłopskie had 175,000 members?
...that the fictional character Axel Brass is able to go without sleep or sustenance for years?

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...that Clint Benedict was the first Ice hockey goalie to wear a protective facemask?
...that the Dutch naval Lieutenant Jan van Speijk detonated his own ship in the harbour of Antwerp during the Belgian Revolution?
...that the Ritz Hotel in London was the first hotel to offer a private bathroom for every guest room?
...that the Munich Soviet declared war on Switzerland, for their refusal to lend sixty locomotives?
...that the California Republican Assembly supported Tom McClintock in the 2003 California recall election?

= 1 November 2004 =

File:Japanese battleship Yamato under attack in the East China Sea on 7 April 1945 (L42-09.06.05).jpg

...that Operation Ten-Go was the last major Japanese naval operation in World War II?
...that the British plan for the battle of Bazentin Ridge in 1916, was dismissed beforehand by one French commander as "an attack organized for amateurs by amateurs"?
...that the Subservient Chicken is a viral marketing promotion by Burger King?
...that construction of Kelso Abbey took 15 years and was completed in 1243?
...that fourteen people died in the Cave Creek disaster when a scenic viewing platform collapsed in New Zealand in 1995?
...that the most common causes for an ingrown toenail are improperly fitted shoes and nails that are improperly trimmed?