Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 September 18

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From today's featured article

"Once More, with Feeling" is the only episode of the fantasy television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer performed as a musical. It was written and directed by the show's creator, Joss Whedon (pictured), and first aired in the United States on November 6, 2001. The episode explores changes in the relationships of the main characters, using the plot device that a demon compels the people of Sunnydale to break into song at random moments to express hidden truths. All cast members sang their parts, although two were given minimal lines by request. It is the most technically complex episode in the series, as extra voice and dance training for the cast was interspersed with the production of four other Buffy episodes. It was Whedon's first attempt at writing music, and different styles—from 1950s sitcom theme music to rock opera—are used to express the characters' secrets. The episode was well received critically upon airing, specifically for containing the humor and wit to which fans had become accustomed. It is considered one of the most effective and popular episodes of the series, and—prior to a financial dispute in 2007—was shown in theaters with the audience invited to sing along. (Full article...)

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... that the Roman emperor Commodus (pictured) had the month of September renamed after either himself or Hercules from 184 until his death in 192?
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... that the 1970 Bhiwandi Riots caused the deaths of 250 people?
... that Felicia Mabuza-Suttle was voted as the 70th greatest South African in history on Great South Africans?
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In the news

The world's most expensive marine salvage operation rights the Costa Concordia shipwreck (pictured).
Hurricane Ingrid and Tropical Storm Manuel kill at least 40 people in Mexico.
Flooding in the U.S. state of Colorado kills at least eight people and leaves hundreds more unaccounted for.
A gunman kills twelve people at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.
Japan's Epsilon rocket makes its maiden flight, carrying the Hisaki satellite from the Uchinoura Space Centre.
The four adult defendants in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case are sentenced to death.

Recent deaths: Eiji Toyoda

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On this day...

September 18: National Day in Chile

1809 – The second theatre of the Royal Opera House in London opened after a fire destroyed the original theatre one year earlier.
1873 – Panic of 1873: The American bank Jay Cooke & Company declared bankruptcy, setting off a chain reaction of bank failures.
1889 – Hull House, the United States' most influential settlement house, opened in Chicago.
1961 – En route to negotiate a ceasefire between Katanga troops and United Nations forces, the plane carrying UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld (pictured) crashed under mysterious circumstances near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, killing him and 15 others on board.
1974 – Hurricane Fifi struck Honduras, destroying 182 towns and villages in the first 24 hours, and ultimately causing over 8,000 deaths.

More anniversaries: September 17 – September 18 – September 19

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It is now September 18, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

A world map entitled Nova totius terrarum orbis tabula Amstelodami, created in 1689 by Gerard van Schagen. This map, created in Amsterdam, measures 48.3 by 56.0 centimetres (19.0 by 22.0 in) in size and was made using copper engraving.

Map: Gerard van Schagen

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