Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2015-08-05/Featured content

Maya, Michigan, Medici, Médée, and Moul n'ga

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  Allan Donald took a five-wicket haul for South Africa in its first ever ODI.
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  Julianne Moore
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  Neil Druckmann

Three Featured articles were promoted this week.

• Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy (nominated by ProtoDrake) The New Tale of the Crystal (Fabula Nova Crystallis) is a series of games based on a mythology developed by Japanese video game writer Kazushige Nojima. The five games so far released within the Final Fantasy franchise have the theme of gods from an "unseen realm" destructively interfering in the human world; each god has an associated crystal, and in one story they are themselves "crystal-powered mechanical beings".
• Hugh Beadle (nominated by Cliftonian) Sir Hugh Beadle was a lawyer, judge and politician, born in 1905 in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (today Harare, Zimbabwe). Beadle practised law in Bulawayo during the 1930s, and in 1939 became a Member of Parliament for the governing United Party, led by the Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins. Beadle served as Huggins' Parliamentary Private Secretary for six years before becoming a Cabinet minister in 1946. He retired in 1950 to become a judge of the Southern Rhodesian High Court.
• Maya civilization (nominated by Simon Burchell) The Mesoamerican Maya civilization was developed by the Maya people over several thousand years. The earliest period, known as the Pre-Classic, lasted from about 2000 BC to 250 AD. The civilization was at its peak from circa 250 AD to 900 AD after which it gradually declined until the Maya's unfortunate encounter with conquistador Hernán Cortés and his compatriots in the early 16th century. The Maya had a sophisticated and highly developed writing system, and they produced stunning artwork, sculptures and pottery. They are also known for human sacrifice, astronauts, and a sophisticated calendar which predicted the apocalypse three years ago. Their chief export was maize (corn), which the Maya called naal and xiim, for the cob and grain respectively.

• Sport, music and detective stories
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  Joe Hart - If I aim well enough, I might hit Conan right in the head.
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  Verdi:- You might, it's all about the rhythm- aim, one, two, three, hit!
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  Conan Doyle:-I'm away with the fairies.

Seven Featured lists were promoted this week.

• Arthur Conan Doyle bibliography (nominated by SchroCat) Arthur Conan Doyle was a Scottish physician, who had a sideline as a writer of detective novels, adventure novels, poetry and stage plays. Doyle wanted to be remembered as "a champion of spiritualism and as a historical novelist" according to his biographer, Owen Dudley Edwards. He wrote thirteen books and ten pamphlets on spiritualism and the paranormal between 1918 and 1930. After his death in 1930 Doyle lost interest in the subject somewhat rapidly.
• Julianne Moore filmography (nominated by Cowlibob) American actress Julianne Moore started her TV career in 1984 in an episode of The Edge of Night, a soap opera produced by soap manufacturers Procter & Gamble. Moore's first film role was Tales from the Darkside: The Movie in 1990. You may be more familiar with her work in Boogie Nights, Far from Heaven, and Still Alice.
• List of The Last of Us characters (nominated by Rhain1999) The Last of Us is a video game whose storyline involves a young girl, Ellie, who is immune to a Cordyceps infection that has devastated the USA. A mutant strain of the fungus has turned its hosts into cannibalistic monsters. Ellie has been bitten by one, but has not become infected; her brain contains a mutant version of the mutant fungus, which may provide a cure. Apart from Ellie the other main character is Joel, who is an older man tasked with escorting Ellie to Salt Lake City where the mutant mutant fungus will be extracted. Both characters, and several of the secondary characters, were played by live actors filmed using motion capture. The part of the fungus was played by Donald Trump's hair.
• List of cricketers who have taken five-wicket hauls on ODI debut (nominated by Vensatry and Joseph2302) When a bowler takes the wickets of five or more cricketers in a single innings, this is called a "five-wicket haul", and is regarded as quite an achievement. Since the beginning of one-day internationals, eleven bowlers have achieved this on their ODI debut.
• Premier League Golden Glove (nominated by NapHit and Bloom6132) The Golden Glove is an association football award, given to the Premier League goalkeeper who has the greatest number of games during the season in which they have not conceded goals, i.e. a "clean sheet". It was first awarded in 2005 to Petr Čech, goalkeeper for Chelsea, with 21 clean sheets. He's won it three times, but Joe Hart (Manchester City) holds the record with four Gloves.
• Pure Michigan Byway (nominated by Imzadi1979) Pure Michigan Byways are roads selected by the US state of Michigan as having historic, recreational or scenic qualities representative of the state's natural and cultural heritage. The byways are selected in a process which can last up to seven years. The "Pure Michigan" designation comes from a brand developed by Travel Michigan, designed to promote the state as a travel and tourist destination.
• World Fantasy Special Award—Professional (nominated by PresN)The World Fantasy Convention is giving its award for the best fantasy fiction and art published in English every year. The Special category is for everything not covered by the other awards, like biographies, editing, or publishing. Donald M. Grant of Donald M. Grant, Publisher is the only three-time winner in this category.

• Politics, warriors and the woman that turns her back to them
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  George Clinton by Ezra Ames
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  Interior with Young Woman Seen from the Back
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  Agnolo Bronzino - Cosimo I de' Medici in armour

Twenty-two Featured pictures were promoted this week.

• Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (created by Bronzino; nominated by Crisco 1492): This is the Italian painter Agnolo Bronzino's portrait of Cosimo I de' Medici in armour. When Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence, was assassinated in 1537, he had no legitimate children. Cosimo came from another branch of the family, and became the second Duke, and later the Grand Duke of Tuscany. After two of Cosimo’s sons died of malaria, he established another son, Francesco, as regent, and retired to his villa, outside Florence. The Medici were powerful and enlightened rulers known for their patronage of the arts; they ruled Florence until 1737.
• Albert Bridge at night (created by Diliff; nominated by Diliff) The Albert Bridge by the English engineer Rowland Mason Ordish was originally built as a toll bridge in 1873, and the original toll booths are still there. It crosses the River Thames between Chelsea and Battersea. The unusual hybrid of architecture styles is the result of rebuilding. The bridge has a tendency to vibrate under heavy traffic, and signs warned troops to break step when crossing it.
• La forza del destino poster (created by Charles Lecocq; nominated by Adam Cuerden) Charles Lecocq made this poster around 1870 for the Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi called The Power of Fate. According to our article, it "is an opera that many old school Italian singers felt was 'cursed' and brought bad luck", no wonder. The opera is about love, death, war, betrayal, revenge, and more revenge, mixed with music and: "Rum-tum-tum on the drum is the music that makes a soldier's martial spirit rise".
• Interior of All Saints Margaret Street (created by Diliff; nominated by Diliff) All Saints, Margaret Street is an Anglican church in London. Built of red brick between 1850 and 1859, it is considered as the masterpiece of the architect William Butterfield. The church is considered as one of the earliest buildings to be designed in the High Victorian Gothic style.
• Amplang (created and nominated by Crisco 1492) Amplang is a deep fried fish cracker, made traditionally from fish mixed with tapioca flour and/or sago flour from Indonesia. Amplang is a snack, that has a porous consistency and has a yellow or light brown colour. It comes in various shapes and sizes, often made of Spanish mackerel and starch. Amplang crackers come in different flavours, such as fish, crab and seaweed.
• Banknotes of Demarary and Essequibo: One Joe, Ten Joes, Twenty Joes, Two Joes and Three Joes(created by the Kingdom of Great Britain; nominated by Godot13) Money, Money, Money.
• Médée cover (created by Giuseppe Palanti; nominated by Adam Cuerden) Giuseppe Palanti's illustration is for the cover of the French opera Médée by Luigi Cherubini. The theme by François-Benoît Hoffman was based on the ancient Greek play Medea by Euripides. Some parts of the opéra-comique are based on Pierre Corneille's play Médée as well. However, this is not a comedy, but a cruel history of deceit and betrayal and a mother who is killing her children. Jason had stolen the golden fleece with Médée's help. Médée has two children with Jason, but Jason abandons Médée, and Médée curses him, poisons the woman Jason wants to marry and finally murders her children with a knife. When Médée returns to the temple, it goes up in flames.
• Turmeric (created by LivingShadow; nominated by Crisco 1492) Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial plant from Asia that grows wild in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. The orange, cylindrical, aromatic rhizomes were used as spice for thousands of years in Asian cuisine. The turmeric powder is one of the key ingredients in curry.
• George Clinton (created by Ezra Ames; nominated by Crisco 1492) Ezra Ames (1768 – 1836) was a popular portrait painter from Massachusetts who painted around 700 portraits, many of them are in private collections. He worked in Albany, New York during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This portrait is of George Clinton, the fourth Vice President of the United States, and not George Clinton, Afronaut of the P-Funk Mothership who brings the Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication.
• Jade Raymond (created by ZCooperstown; nominated by Brandmeister) Jade Raymond is a Canadian video game executive and former managing director of Ubisoft Toronto.
• Iris Pruysen (created by Pyb; nominated by Pine) This is Iris Pruysen completing a long jump at the Meeting d'Athlétisme Paralympique de Paris in Charlety Stadium.
• [[:|Ai-jen Poo]] (created by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; edited by Diliff; nominated by Crisco 1492) Ai-jen Poo is an American activist, the director of the National Domestic Workers' Alliance, and a campaigner for the transformation of the US long-term care system to better cater for the needs of an aging population.
• Abhinaya performer (created by Mydreamsparrow; nominated by Mydreamsparrow) Abhinaya is a key part of Indian classical dance.
• Interior of St Etheldreda's Church Interior (created and nominated by Diliff) St Etheldreda's Church is a church in London, dedicated to Æthelthryth, an Anglo-Saxon saint. It was from the beginning the private chapel of the Bishops of Ely's London residence. It has a shaky history and was destroyed and demolished by Oliver Cromwell and others, used as a hospital, poorhouse... Than it was closed, sold, reopened closed and reopened ... only God knows how many times. If you need help with infections of the throat, this is the place for you. The Blessing of the Throats is held annually at the chapel.
• Lettering guide (created by User:Lucasbosch; nominated by Crisco 1492) A lettering guide is a plastic template used in a drawing to achieve a uniform and well-written text. It was employed especially by architects and technical illustrators. Today, it is superseded by the use of computers. Before they were indeed indispensable for architects and creating technical drawings, as it was a general practice to use a lettering template on all kinds of drawings and plans.
• Moul n'ga Cirque (created by Pir6mon; nominated by Alborzagros) Moul n'ga Cirque in the Tadrart region, Southeast Algeria.
• Giuseppe Verdi conducting the Paris Opera premiere of Aida in 1880 (created by Adrien Marie; nominated by Adam Cuerden) Drawing by Adrien Marie of Giuseppe Verdi conducting the Paris Opera premiere of Aida in 1880.
• Interior with Young Woman Seen from the Back (created by Vilhelm Hammershoi; nominated by Belle) Interior with Young Woman Seen from the Back was painted by Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916), who was a Danish painter of portraits, interiors, and architecture. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. His paintings are muted in tone, and he generally refrained from using bright colors. His works were shown in an exhibition in 2008 at the Royal Academy of London with the title The Poetry of Silence. The artist preferred to paint this young art lover called Ida, because her face, according to the artist, revealed "a troubled soul". Good idea. We should always take pictures and paint all troubled souls from the back.

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I just wanted to tell you that I always check out Featured Content each week, to learn but sometimes just to look at some beautiful photos, paintings and illustrations. Thanks for putting it together each week. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 19:32, 9 August 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Seconded! Abyssal (talk) 23:31, 11 August 2015 (UTC)[reply]