Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 January 25

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Today's featured article
Warkworth Castle is a ruined medieval building in the town of the same name in the English county of Northumberland. When the castle was founded is uncertain, but traditionally its construction has been ascribed to Prince Henry of Scotland in the mid 12th century, although it may have been built by King Henry II of England when he took control of England's northern counties. Warkworth Castle was first documented in a charter of 1157–1164 when Henry II granted it to Roger fitz Richard. The timber castle was considered "feeble", and was left undefended when the Scots invaded in 1173. Roger's son Robert inherited and improved the castle. With the outbreak of the Anglo-Scottish Wars, Edward II invested in castles including Warkworth where he funded the strengthening of the garrison in 1319. Twice in 1327 the Scots besieged the castle without success. In the late 19th century, the castle was refurbished and Anthony Salvin was commissioned to restore the keep. Alan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland, gave custody of the castle to the Office of Works in 1922. Since 1984 English Heritage has cared for the site which is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. (more...) Recently featured: Thurisind – American Livestock Breeds Conservancy – James Nesbitt Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Dangerous (pictured), despite a career-ending injury sustained after winning the 1833 Derby Stakes, was able to walk over and claim two prizes unopposed before retiring later that year? ... that Henry P. H. Bromwell's magnum opus Restorations of Masonic Geometry and Symbolry "may very well be the most important written document on the subject of Masonry" according to the Grand Master of Colorado in 2010? ... that the tiger's tail uses its tentacles to push detritus, sand and gravel into its mouth? ... that Hikari and Riho became professional wrestlers in 2006 when they were 11 and 9 years old, respectively? ... that the old Lahaina Fort was built to protect the town from riotous sailors? ... that although Madonna's "Masterpiece" won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, it is ineligible for the Oscar for Best Original Song? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
In a binding referendum, Croatian voters approve the country's proposed accession to the European Union. Boko Haram claims responsibility for a series of attacks in northern Nigeria that killed 185 people, two weeks after a similar set of assaults. American singer Etta James (pictured) dies at the age of 73. Eastman Kodak, founded in 1889, files for bankruptcy protection. The U.S. Department of Justice shuts down file hosting site Megaupload as part of an investigation into alleged copyright infringement. Various websites participate in protests against U.S. bills SOPA and PIPA. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 25: Feast Day of Gregory of Nazianzus (Eastern Orthodox Church) 1554 – Jesuit missionaries José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega established a mission at São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga, which grew to become São Paulo, Brazil. 1890 – Inspired by Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days, American journalist Nellie Bly completed a circumnavigation of the globe in a then-record 72 days. 1971 – Idi Amin Dada seized power in a military coup d'état from President Milton Obote, beginning eight years of military rule in Uganda. 1993 – Five people were shot outside the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia, resulting in two deaths. 2011 – The first wave of the Egyptian revolution began (protests pictured), eventually leading to the removal of Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years of rule. More anniversaries: January 24 – January 25 – January 26 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 25, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The pixie's parasol (Mycena interrupta) is a small detritivorous mushroom with a Gondwanan distribution pattern, being found in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Chile. It grows up to about 2 cm (1 in) in height, with the blue cap also growing up to 2 cm in diameter. It appears in small colonies on rotting, moist wood in rainforests and beech or eucalypt forests.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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