Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 July 3

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Today's featured article
Transformers is a 2007 American science fiction action film based on the Transformers toy line. The film, which combines computer animation with live action, is directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg. It stars Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky, a teenager involved in a war between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, two factions of alien robots that can disguise themselves by transforming into everyday machinery. The Decepticons desire control of the AllSpark, the object that created their robotic race, with the intention of using it to build an army by giving life to the machines of Earth. Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson and John Turturro also star, while actors Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving voice Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. Transformers was a box-office success, despite mixed critical reaction. Two sequels have been released: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2011. (more...) Recently featured: The Sun Also Rises – John Brownlee as Attorney-General of Alberta – Alexander of Lincoln Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Madmen in the Yard, a drawing by the Croatian painter Ignjat Job (pictured), was influenced by his two-year stay in a mental hospital? ... that Little Marton Mill was built in England in 1838 and restored in 1937 to become a memorial? ... that the United States mediated the 1962 New York Agreement as part of a plan "to prevent Indonesia from falling under communist control and to win it over to the west"? ... that during World War II, the Germans built a bomb- and gas-proof bunker on Jerbourg Point, the southeastern point of Guernsey in the English Channel? ... that Shigeo Satomura pioneered non-invasive monitoring of blood flow in the human body using ultrasonic Doppler techniques in the 1950s? ... that the Philippine play Paglipas ng Dilim ("After the Darkness") tackles the conflicts of mixing cultures from the Philippines, Spain, and the United States? ... that although Norma Lyon studied animal science at Iowa State University, she ended up sculpting butter at state fairs? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Albert II, Prince of Monaco Treasure worth at least 2,500 crore is found at Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, India. The wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco (pictured), and Charlene Wittstock takes place at the Prince's Palace in Monaco. Astronomers announce the discovery of ULAS J1120+0641, the most distant quasar yet found. The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, opens in Shandong, People's Republic of China. The 1,318 km (819 mi) Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway opens after 39 months of construction. Amid heavy protests, the Greek parliament passes austerity measures to obtain the latest tranche of a €110 billion EFSF loan. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
July 3: Independence Day in Belarus (1944) 324 – Roman Emperor Constantine the Great defeated sometime colleague Licinius in the Battle of Adrianople. 1608 – French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City (flag pictured), considered to be the first European-built city in non-Spanish North America. 1844 – The last known pair of Great Auks, the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus, were killed in Eldey, off the coast of Iceland. 1940 – World War II: The British Navy attacked the French fleet, fearing that the ships would fall into German hands after the armistice between those two nations. 1970 – The Troubles: The British Army imposed the Falls Curfew on Belfast, Northern Ireland, which only resulted in greater Irish republican resistance. 2005 – Same-sex marriage became legal in Spain. More anniversaries: July 2 – July 3 – July 4 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now July 3, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni, the daughter in law of Giovanni Tornabuoni. She was a member of the Albizzi family, who were rivals of the Medici and Alberti families, and were at the centre of Florentine oligarchy starting from 1382 in the reaction that followed the Ciompi revolt. However, after Cosimo de' Medici returned from exile in 1434 (arranged by Rinaldo degli Albizzi) and regained power, he in turn exiled all but one of the Albizzis from Florentine. This painting was created around 1490, long after the Albizzis' fall from grace.

Artist: Domenico Ghirlandaio

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