Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 August 1

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Today's featured article
Poppy Meadow is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Rachel Bright. She was introduced by executive producer Bryan Kirkwood on 11 January 2011 as the best friend of established character Jodie Gold (Kylie Babbington) in scenes filling in for those cut from a controversial baby-swap storyline. Poppy returned to the series in June 2011 as a supporting character and comedy element, in a move that was generally welcomed by the tabloid press; her storylines focused on her friendship with Jodie and their intertwined love lives. Both Jodie and Poppy left the series on 14 November 2011, but the possibility was left open for Poppy to return in the future. In June 2012 Bright reprised her role as Poppy, quickly moving into Walford and resuming her employment at the local beauty salon. Poppy was introduced into the series in what critics described as "bizarre and utterly irrelevant" and "pointless" scenes, which substituted for cut scenes of the dead baby's parents at the graveside. Guardian critic Stuart Heritage considered Poppy to be "perhaps the greatest television bit-part character of the modern age" and several Daily Mirror writers gave Poppy positive reviews upon both of her returns. (more...) Recently featured: Stephen Trigg – Aries – Jovan Vladimir Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that at the 1936 Summer Olympics, Tilly Fleischer (pictured) became the first German woman to win a gold medal? ... that the South Mole Lighthouse in the harbour of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar features two galleries? ... that the Delaware House of Representatives has a Dennis Williams in the 1st district and a Dennis Williams in the 10th district? ... that much of what we know of lost plays on Philoctetes by Aeschylus and Euripedes is based on Dio Chrysostom comparing them to Sophocles' extant version? ... that Australian Olympic equestrian dressage competitor Lyndal Oatley is the cousin of fellow Olympian Kristy Oatley and wife of Swedish equestrian Patrik Kittel? ... that the designer of Cannon Fodder 2 started writing a novella to accompany the game, but the publisher vetoed the project, leaving reviewers baffled by the game's lack of plot? ... that although four people testified that he did not murder Thomas Bates, Oswald Grey was the last person hanged at Winson Green Prison? ... that Lauren Boden, a 2012 Olympian, has been mistaken for fellow Australian hurdler Jana Pittman? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
American swimmer Michael Phelps (pictured) breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the greatest number of medals won at the Olympics. Mercosur grants full membership for Venezuela. A power grid failure in India leaves 20 states in the country without electricity, affecting 600 million people. Fighting intensifies in Aleppo, Syria, as the Syrian Armed Forces launch an attack to regain control of the city. The Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics is held in London. At least 58 people are killed and 200,000 displaced in ethnic violence between Bodos and immigrant Muslims in Assam, India. At least 42 people are killed in clashes between rebels and Tajik government troops in Gorno-Badakhshan. Olympic summary – Wikinews – Recent deaths More current events...
On this day...
August 1: Lughnasadh (Northern Hemisphere); Imbolc (Southern Hemisphere); Siyum HaShas (Judaism, 2012); Lammas in England and Scotland; 527 – Upon the death of Justin I, Justinian the Great became the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. 1774 – British scientist Joseph Priestley (pictured) discovered oxygen gas, corroborating the prior discovery of this element by German-Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. 1834 – The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force, officially abolishing slavery in most of the British Empire. 1966 – Charles Whitman climbed the University of Texas at Austin tower and went on a shooting spree at the school, killing 10 with sniper fire before being shot and killed by police. 2009 – A shooting attack at the Gay and Lesbian Association building in Tel-Aviv, Israel, resulted in the deaths of two people. More anniversaries: July 31 – August 1 – August 2 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now August 1, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Five views of the shell of a sacred chank (Turbinella pyrum), a species of sea snail (also known as a conch) found in the Indian Ocean. The name "chank" is derived from the Sanskrit name shankha. The shell is of religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism, where it is recognized as one of the eight auspicious symbols.

Photo: H. Zell

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