Featured content
Keeps on chuggin'
This edition covers content promoted from 1 to 7 July 2012.
Featured articles
Eight featured articles were promoted this week:
- Aries (constellation) (nom) by Keilana. Aries the Ram (symbol ♈) is one of the constellations of the Zodiac and one of 88 currently recognised constellations. Its area is 441 square degrees (1.1% of the celestial sphere). Although fairly dim, with only three bright stars, it is home to several deep-sky objects.
- A Journey (nom) by Paul MacDermott. A Journey is a memoir by former British prime minister Tony Blair. The 624-page book covers the events of his rise to power and premiership. The proceeds and advance for the memoir, which became the fastest-selling autobiography of all time at the bookstore chain Waterstones, were donated to The Royal British Legion. Its mixed reception included criticism from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, anti-war protests, praise from Labour politician Alistair Darling, and an accusation of plagiarism.
- Tammar wallaby (nom) by LittleJerry. The Tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) is a small macropod native to South and Western Australia; it has also been introduced to New Zealand. Around the size of a rabbit, the grey-coated Tammar is one of the smallest wallabies. It has colour vision and the ability to drink seawater, and females can nurse a joey in their pouch while gestating a fetus. Its endangerment is classified "Least Concern", despite continual destruction of its habitation.
- William the Conqueror (nom) by Ealdgyth and Agricolae. William (c. 1028 – 1087) was the first Norman King of England, reigning from 1066 until his death. Born illegitimate in Normandy, he consolidated support and became the region's duke in 1035. In 1066 he conquered England after a dispute over the succession to Edward the Confessor. His reign was marked by further internal dissent and rebellion, both in England and Normandy; after his death, his son Robert received Normandy, and his son William received England.
- Douglas MacArthur (nom) by Hawkeye7. General Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) was Chief of Staff of the US Army during the 1930s; he received the Medal of Honor for his prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. Beginning his military career in the early 1900s, he distinguished himself quickly, becoming a brigadier general during World War I. He retired in 1937, but was recalled to active duty in 1941. In 1951 MacArthur was relieved from his duties during the Korean War by President Truman.
- Cave Story (nom) by Axem Titanium. The freeware video game Cave Story was developed, designed, and programmed over five years by Daisuke Amaya and released in 2004. The 2D platformer, intended as an homage to earlier games, follows an amnesiac in his attempt to defeat a scheming doctor. The game was a critical success and has been ported to numerous systems, including the Nintendo Wii and 3DS.
- Boeing 757 (nom) by SynergyStar. The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner produced by the American company Boeing from 1981 to 2004. Intended to replace the smaller three-engine 727, the 757 can carry 200 to 289 passengers for a maximum of 3,150 to 4,100 nautical miles (5,830 to 7,600 km). There are five major variants, as well as special-purpose variants. A total of 1,050 were produced.
- Banksia ilicifolia (nom) by Casliber and Hesperian. B. ilicifolia is a tree in the family Proteaceae that is endemic to southwest Western Australia. It generally reaches up to 10 metres (33 ft) in height with a columnar or irregular habit. Robert Brown described Banksia ilicifolia in 1810, and, although variable, there are no recognised variants. The rarely cultivated plant is limited to sandy soils.
Featured lists
Eight featured lists were promoted this week:
- List of international cricket centuries by Kumar Sangakkara (nom) by Astronomyinertia. The Sri Lankan cricket player Kumar Sangakkara, a left-handed top-order batsman, has made centuries on 30 and 13 occasions in Test and One Day International (ODI) play. He made his first century in 2001, in Test cricket; his first ODI century was in 2003.
- List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Kapil Dev (nom) by Vensatry. The Indian cricket player Kapil Dev, a right-arm fast bowler, took 23 five-wicket hauls in Tests and one five-wicket haul in ODI during his career, from 1978 to 1994. He has third highest number of international five-wicket hauls among Indian cricketers, as of 2012.
- List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom (nom) by A Thousand Doors. This list, compiled by the Official Charts Company, contains forty albums, mostly British. The best-selling album in the United Kingdom was Queen's Greatest Hits, and the most represented decade is 2000–2009.
- Cleveland Blues (NL) all-time roster (nom) by Neonblak. During its five years of existence, the American baseball team Cleveland Blues had a total of 66 players. The National League team, established in 1879, never finished higher than third place in the standings and was financially unstable by the time it dissolved in 1884.
- Counties of Croatia (nom) by Tomobe03. Croatia has a total of twenty counties, the country's primary administrative subdivision, in addition to the capital city of Zagreb. Each county has an assembly, headed by a county prefect, with members elected by popular vote through closed lists in local elections. Funding is derived from the national government.
- Jordin Sparks discography (nom) by Ozurbanmusic. American R&B and pop recording artist Jordin Sparks has released two studio albums, twelve singles, eight soundtrack appearances, two extended plays and twelve music videos since winning the 2007 edition of American Idol. Her debut album, Jordin Sparks, has sold two million units worldwide, while several other works have charted platinum.
- Grade I listed churches in Cheshire (nom) by Peter I. Vardy. The English county of Cheshire has had Christian churches since the Anglo-Saxon era, but most remaining churches are of Gothic architecture, although there are examples of Neoclassical architecture. Of the 43 churches in the county, several have timber framing, and most are dedicated to Saint Mary.
- List of accolades received by My Week with Marilyn (nom) by JuneGloom07. The British drama film My Week With Marilyn has garnered numerous awards for its plot and acting. Among its 64 nominations are two at the Academy Awards, seven at the British Academy Film Awards, and three at the Golden Globe Awards. It has won 16 awards, including a Golden Globe.
Featured pictures
One featured picture was promoted this week:
- Union Pacific 844 at Painted Rocks (nom; related article), created by Drew Jacksich and nominated by Bruce1ee. 844 was the last steam locomotive built for the Union Pacific Railroad, and it is the only North American Class I railroad steam engine to have remained in continuous operation into the present day.
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