Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 March 2

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The murder of Julia Martha Thomas was one of the most notorious crimes in Britain in the late 19th century. Thomas, a widow who lived in Richmond in west London, was killed on 2 March 1879 by Kate Webster, her Irish maid (pictured). Webster dismembered the body, boiled the flesh off the bones, and threw most of it into the River Thames, allegedly offering the fat to neighbours as dripping and lard. Part of Thomas's remains were soon recovered but her severed head was only found in October 2010 during building works being carried out for the naturalist Sir David Attenborough. After the murder, Webster posed as Thomas for two weeks but was exposed and fled to her family home at Killanne, Ireland. She was arrested on 29 March and stood trial in London at the Old Bailey in July 1879, where she was convicted and sentenced to death. She confessed to the murder the night before she was hanged on 29 July at Wandsworth Prison. The case attracted considerable interest from the public and press in Great Britain and Ireland. (more...) Recently featured: Warren County, Indiana – Psilocybin – Murasaki Shikibu Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that painter Henri-Edmond Cross (self-portrait pictured) changed his name twice, each time to avoid confusion with a similarly named artist? ... that Australian Stingers Ashleigh Southern, Glencora Ralph, Zoe Arancini, Rowena Webster and Nicola Zagame are five of seventeen water polo players trying to make the 2012 Summer Olympics squad? ... that Druid's Lodge in the parish of Woodford, Wiltshire was used as a prisoner of war camp during World War II? ... that there has been a 33% decrease in cars entering Milan's city center since the Area C congestion charge was introduced? ... that Erkki Kourula was the first Finn to be elected as a judge of the International Criminal Court? ... that the Limestone Corner area of Hadrian's Wall is not made from limestone? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Davy Jones in 1972 Davy Jones (pictured), a member of The Monkees, dies at the age of 66. North Korea agrees to suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for humanitarian aid. Construction of the Tokyo Sky Tree, the world's second-tallest freestanding structure, is completed. Chinese architect Wang Shu wins the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The Artist, directed by Michel Hazanavicius, wins five Oscars, including Best Picture, at the 84th Academy Awards. At least 23 people are killed during protests after copies of the Quran are burned at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Conflict in Syria – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 2: The Nineteen Day Fast begins (Bahá'í Faith) 1444 – Skanderbeg organised the League of Lezhë, an alliance of Albanian principalities that is regarded as the first unified Albanian state. 1484 – The College of Arms, one of the few remaining official heraldic authorities in Europe, was established by royal charter in London. 1776 – American Revolutionary War: Patriot militia from Georgia and South Carolina attempted to resist the British action to seize and remove supply ships anchored at Savannah, Georgia. 1919 – Communist, revolutionary socialist, and syndicalist delegates met in Moscow to establish the Communist International. 1933 – The film King Kong (poster pictured) had its premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. More anniversaries: March 1 – March 2 – March 3 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 2, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

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Diatomaceous earth – a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock made up of the cell walls/shells of single cell diatoms – as viewed under bright field illumination on a light microscope. The primary uses of diatomaceous earth are for cleaning (scouring), filtration, heat-resistive insulation and as an inert absorbent substrate.

Photo: Richard Wheeler

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