Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2012-06-18/Featured content

Featured content

Taken with a pinch of "salt"

Myriostoma, commonly known as the salt-shaker earthstar, or pepperpot, for its shape. From a new featured article.
This edition covers content promoted between 10 and 16 June.
A posthumous portrait of US president John F. Kennedy; a new featured picture
A Northern ringneck snake, from the newly featured list of reptiles of Michigan

Three featured articles were promoted this week.

  • Francis Walsingham (nom) by DrKiernan. Walsingham (c. 1532–1590) was principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I of England for seventeen years and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Relatively obscure before the rise of Elizabeth, Walsingham was one of the small coterie who directed the Elizabethan state after she became queen. He was involved in everything from international relations and plantations in Ireland to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
  • Myriostoma (nom) by Sasata. Myriostoma is a fungal genus in the family Geastraceae with the single species Myriostoma coliforme, the largest of the earthstars. It has been found in Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Europe. The fungus's spore case, supported by multiple stalks and perforated by several small holes, is unique among its group. Somewhat rare, it is listed as threatened in 12 European countries.
  • "Here We Go Again" (Ray Charles song) (nom) by TonyTheTiger. "Here We Go Again" is a country music standard written by Don Lanier and Red Steagall and popularised by Ray Charles in 1967; its most critically successful recording was made in 2004 by Charles and Norah Jones. The song, which has gospel influences, is set in 12/8 time with a slow shuffle tempo of sixty-nine beats per minute; it was written in the key of B♭ major.

One featured list was promoted this week.

  • List of reptiles of Michigan (nom) by Dana boomer. The US state of Michigan is home to two types of lizards, nineteen types of snakes and eleven types of turtles. Most are protected by state law, but still at risk owing to habitat destruction. The painted turtle is Michigan's state reptile. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake, found in the Lower Peninsula, is the state's only poisonous reptile.

Four featured pictures were promoted this week:

  • John F. Kennedy (nom; related article), created by Aaron Shikler and nominated by Eustress. After being suspended for several months for a deletion discussion, this portrait was recently passed. This official White House portrait of US president John F. Kennedy was painted after his assassination.
  • Cueva de los Verdes (nom; related article), created by Lviatour and nominated by Tomer T. Cueva de los Verdes is a lava tube and tourist attraction on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. It was formed roughly 3000 years ago and measures 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) in length.
  • Grey-headed Albatross (nom; related article), by JJ Harrison. The Grey-headed Albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) is a large seabird with a circumpolar distribution. This specimen was photographed east of the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia.
  • Stephen Wolfram (nom; related article), created by Stephen Faust and nominated by Tomer T. Wolfram (b. 1959) is a British scientist. He is the chief designer of the Mathematica software application and the Wolfram Alpha computational knowledge engine.
A new featured picture showing the Grey-headed Albatross. The seabird has a circumpolar distribution.