Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Wikipedia article of the day for June 1, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for June 1, 2016 is Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) was an American model and actress. One of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s, she played stereotypically "dumb blonde" characters that were emblematic of the era's attitudes towards sexuality. She began her career as a pin-up model. After two short-lived film contracts, she was signed by 20th Century-Fox in 1951. The next year, scandalous nude photographs of her were featured in a popular calendar. She became one of the most bankable Hollywood actors with starring roles in comedies such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and The Seven Year Itch (1955). Disappointed in being typecast and underpaid, Monroe formed her own production company in 1955 and successfully fought for a better contract with Fox. She received critical acclaim for her performances in Bus Stop (1956) and Some Like It Hot (1959), winning a Golden Globe for Best Actress for the latter. Her last completed film was the drama The Misfits (1961). Troubled by mental health and addiction problems, Monroe died of a barbiturate overdose in 1962. She continues to be considered a popular culture icon.

Hot: Jane Goodall: Slain Zoo Gorilla Was ‘Putting an Arm Round the Child’

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Jane Goodall: Slain Zoo Gorilla Was ‘Putting an Arm Round the Child’


"It looked as though the gorilla was putting an arm round the child"

Published on May 31, 2016 at 10:48PM

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Hot: The Cincinnati Zoo Mom Is My Hero

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The Cincinnati Zoo Mom Is My Hero


"If that had been me, I don’t know that I could have kept it together"

Published on May 31, 2016 at 08:35PM

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Instant Awesome Video: Massive alligator interrupts play and strolls across a Florida golf course (ESPN)

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Hot: Thousands Sign ‘Justice For Harambe’ Petition After Cincinnati Gorilla Killed

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Thousands Sign ‘Justice For Harambe’ Petition After Cincinnati Gorilla Killed


There have been over 300,000 supporters so far.

Published on May 31, 2016 at 03:45PM

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Gambling: Golden State opens as -185 favorite over Cleveland (plus 165) in NBA Finals; GSW -5.5 in Game 1 - Westgate (ESPN)

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Hot: First Look at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Characters

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First Look at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Characters


The actors playing Albus Severus Potter and Ginny Potter are also revealed

Published on May 31, 2016 at 01:02PM

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Hot: Even Stephen Hawking Can’t Explain Trump’s Popularity

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Even Stephen Hawking Can’t Explain Trump’s Popularity


He said Trump 'seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator'

Published on May 30, 2016 at 03:04PM

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Monday, 30 May 2016

Breaking: Warriors erase 3-1 series deficit, defeat Thunder 96-88 in Game 7 to reach NBA Finals; Steph Curry 36 points (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 31, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 31, 2016 is Half-Life 2: Episode One.
Half-Life 2: Episode One is a first-person shooter video game, the first in a series of episodes that serve as the sequel for the 2004 game Half-Life 2. Originally called Half-Life 2: Aftermath, it was developed by Valve Corporation and released on June 1, 2006. Episode One, like Half-Life 2, uses the Source game engine. The game debuted new lighting and animation technologies, as well as artificial intelligence enhancements for the sidekick character, Alyx Vance. Episode One tracks scientist Gordon Freeman and Alyx as they fight in humanity's continuing struggle against the Combine, an alien race. Gordon wakes up outside the enemy's base of operations, the Citadel, after being rendered unconscious by the concluding events of Half-Life 2. During the course of the game, Gordon travels with Alyx in and around war-torn City 17 as they attempt to evacuate the city. As the game comes to an end, they are trapped in a derailing train; their fates are revealed in Episode Two. Critical reaction was generally positive, especially for the cooperative aspects of the gameplay, but the game's short length was criticized.

Hot: Animal Rights Outrage Grows Over Gorilla’s Death at Cincinnati Zoo

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Animal Rights Outrage Grows Over Gorilla’s Death at Cincinnati Zoo


Advocates have criticized a boy's parents and the zoo for the gorilla's death

Published on May 30, 2016 at 08:45PM

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Hot: Steve McCurry: I’m a Visual Storyteller Not a Photojournalist

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Steve McCurry: I’m a Visual Storyteller Not a Photojournalist


The famed photographer says he will rein in his use of Photoshop

Published on May 30, 2016 at 01:45PM

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Sunday, 29 May 2016

Hot: The Internet Loves Gilly’s Makeover on Game of Thrones

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The Internet Loves Gilly’s Makeover on Game of Thrones


Spoilers for season 6, episode 6 'Blood of My Blood' ahead

Published on May 30, 2016 at 05:15AM

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 30, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 30, 2016 is The Bartered Bride.
The Bartered Bride is a comic opera in three acts by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, first performed at the Provisional Theatre, Prague, on 30 May 1866. Set in a country village with realistic characters, it tells the story of how true love prevails over the combined efforts of ambitious parents and a scheming marriage broker. Originally presented in a two-act format with spoken dialogue, the opera was not immediately successful, but it gained rapid popularity after numerous revisions. Smetana's musical treatment made considerable use of traditional Bohemian dance forms such as the polka and furiant, creating music which was accurately folk-like, and considered to be quintessentially Czech in spirit. After a performance in Vienna in 1892 the opera achieved international recognition. It reached Chicago in 1893, London in 1895 and New York in 1909, becoming the first, and for many years the only, Czech opera in the general repertory. Many of these early international performances were in German, under the title Die verkaufte Braut, and the German-language version continues to be played and recorded.

Hot: California Bill Would Allow People to Smash Car Windows to Save Pets

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California Bill Would Allow People to Smash Car Windows to Save Pets


Without the fear of facing a civil lawsuit over it

Published on May 24, 2016 at 10:01PM

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Hot: Caretaker of Slain Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Devastated: ‘These Are Like Your Children’

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Caretaker of Slain Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Devastated: ‘These Are Like Your Children’


"I’m a 74-year-old man and it tore me up inside"

Published on May 29, 2016 at 07:30PM

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Breaking: Rookie Alexander Rossi wins 100th running of the Indianapolis 500; Carlos Munoz finishes 2nd (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: UC Davis student imitates LeBron James' signature \"Silencer\" dance and chalk toss at graduation (ESPN)

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Hot: A Gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo Was Shot Dead After a Boy Fell Into the Exhibit

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A Gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo Was Shot Dead After a Boy Fell Into the Exhibit


The boy was “violently” dragged and thrown around

Published on May 29, 2016 at 02:15PM

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Saturday, 28 May 2016

Breaking: Warriors defeat Thunder 108-101 to force Game 7 in West finals; Klay Thompson (41 pts) playoff record 11 3's (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: Driver Josef Newgarden dresses up as a middle-aged reporter, pranks fellow Indy 500 competitors (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 29, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 29, 2016 is House of Plantagenet.
The House of Plantagenet (1154–1485) was the royal house of all the English kings from Henry II to Richard III, including the Angevin kings and the houses of Lancaster and York. In addition to the traditional judicial, feudal and military roles of the king, the Plantagenets had duties to the realm that were underpinned by a sophisticated justice system. They were often forced to agree to constraints on royal power, such as Magna Carta, in return for financial and military support. During their reigns, a distinct national identity was shaped by conflict with the French, Scots, Welsh and Irish, and by the establishment of English as the primary language. In the 15th century, the Plantagenets were defeated in France in the Hundred Years' War and beset with social, political and economic problems. Revolts were triggered by politics and by the denial of freedoms. English nobles raised private armies, engaged in private feuds and openly defied Henry VI. Rivalry between the Yorkists and Lancastrians erupted into the Wars of the Roses. After Richard III's death ended the reign of the Plantagenets, Henry VII founded the Tudor dynasty.

Breaking: Pelicans' Bryce Dejean-Jones, 23, dies after gunshot wound to the abdomen; played at USC, UNLV and Iowa State (ESPN)

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Hot: Donald Trump Tells Drought-stricken California: ‘There Is No Drought’

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Donald Trump Tells Drought-stricken California: ‘There Is No Drought’


'If I win, believe me, we're going to start opening up the water'

Published on May 27, 2016 at 09:45PM

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Friday, 27 May 2016

Breaking: Cavaliers def. Raptors 113-87 to advance to NBA Finals for 2nd straight season; LeBron James 33 pts, 11 reb (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: A wakeboarder completes an insane catch, hauling in a football half way through his backflip (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 28, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 28, 2016 is The Phantom Tollbooth.
The Phantom Tollbooth is a 1961 children's adventure novel by Norton Juster with illustrations by Jules Feiffer (pictured). It tells the story of a bored young boy named Milo, who unexpectedly receives a magic tollbooth one afternoon and, having nothing better to do, drives through it in his toy car. The tollbooth transports him to the Kingdom of Wisdom, once prosperous, now troubled. There, he acquires two faithful companions and goes on a quest to restore to the kingdom its exiled princesses, named Rhyme and Reason. The text is full of puns and wordplay; many events, such as when Milo unintentionally jumps to Conclusions (an island in Wisdom), explore the literal meanings of idioms. A major theme of the book is a love for education. Although the book was not expected to sell well, it received strong reviews and has sold in excess of three million copies. It has been adapted into a film, opera, and play, and translated into many languages. Critics have compared its appeal to that of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and to L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Hot: Donald Trump Says No, He Won’t Debate Bernie Sanders

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Donald Trump Says No, He Won’t Debate Bernie Sanders


Ending nearly 48 hours of speculation

Published on May 27, 2016 at 09:05PM

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Instant Awesome Video: Agnieszka Radwanska, Barbora Strycova incredibly rally while both on the ground at French Open (ESPN)

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Hot: There is a lack of gender diversity among the upper classes of airline patrons

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There is a lack of gender diversity among the upper classes of airline patrons


There is a lack of gender diversity among the upper classes of airline patrons

Published on May 27, 2016 at 01:15PM

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Hot: Obama Becomes First Sitting U.S. President to Visit Hiroshima

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Obama Becomes First Sitting U.S. President to Visit Hiroshima


Visit was "to honor the memory of all who were lost during World War Two"

Published on May 27, 2016 at 09:16AM

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Thursday, 26 May 2016

Instant Awesome Video: Spelling Bee co-champ Nihar Janga breaks out Cowboys WR Dez Bryant 'X' in celebration (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 27, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 27, 2016 is A Quiet Night In.
"A Quiet Night In" is the second episode of the British dark comedy anthology series Inside No. 9. Written by Reece Shearsmith (pictured) and Steve Pemberton, it first aired on 12 February 2014 on BBC Two. It stars the writers as a pair of hapless burglars attempting to steal a painting from the large, modernist house of an oblivious quarreling couple, played by Denis Lawson and Oona Chaplin—a granddaughter of the silent film star Charlie Chaplin. The episode progresses almost entirely without dialogue, relying on physical comedy and slapstick. Critics generally responded positively to the episode, and a particularly laudatory review by David Chater was published in The Times. On its first airing, the episode was watched by 940,000 viewers (4.8% of the market). It was submitted to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for their 2015 awards, but was not nominated. Pemberton and Shearsmith are not planning any further silent episodes for Inside No. 9, but they have continued the use of experimental formats, including in the 2015 split screen episode "Cold Comfort".

Hot: No, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Aren’t Actually Going to Debate

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No, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Aren’t Actually Going to Debate


Trump was just joking

Published on May 26, 2016 at 03:02PM

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Breaking: Baylor dismisses head coach Art Briles amid sexual assault allegations against football program - sources (ESPN)

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Hot: Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe Invited Chinese Donor to Hillary Clinton’s Home

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Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe Invited Chinese Donor to Hillary Clinton’s Home


A donation to the Clinton Foundation followed weeks later

Published on May 26, 2016 at 01:45PM

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Hot: Indonesia Introduces Chemical Castration for Sex Offenses Against Children

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Indonesia Introduces Chemical Castration for Sex Offenses Against Children


The country faces a "crisis caused by sexual violence against children"

Published on May 26, 2016 at 06:30AM

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Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Instant Awesome Video: Minnesota CF Dan Motl makes an incredible Jim Edmonds-esque catch, pitcher tips cap (ESPN)

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Gambling: Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic to open as -170 favorite against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 on Sept. 10 (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 26, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 26, 2016 is Paul Collingwood.
Paul Collingwood (born 26 May 1976) was until 2011 a regular member of the England Test cricket team. He is a batting all-rounder, and a medium-pace bowler. His 206 during the 2006–07 Ashes series was the first double century by an England batsman in Australia for 78 years. Three consecutive match-winning performances at the end of the 2006–07 Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia brought him enthusiastic approval in the British media, helping to secure the trophy for England. In 2010 he led the England team to their first International Cricket Council Trophy, the 2010 World Twenty20. He has made the most One Day International appearances for England and was, until recently passed by Ian Bell, its leading run scorer. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in January 2011, during the 5th Test of the 2010–11 Ashes series. He finished on a high, becoming a three-time Ashes winner as England won a series in Australia for the first time in 24 years, with three innings victories contributing to a 3–1 win. He is regarded as one of the finest fielders of his time.

Hot: A Marvel Editor Explains How Captain America Was a Hydra Agent All Along

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A Marvel Editor Explains How Captain America Was a Hydra Agent All Along


In a shocking twist, Steve Rogers always has been and will continue to be a member of the evil group

Published on May 25, 2016 at 12:15PM

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Instant Awesome Video: Reds 1B Joey Votto angrily stomps paper airplane after it sails from left-field stands to infield (ESPN)

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Hot: Koh Tao Murder Convicts Launch Appeal, Questioning ‘Unreliable’ DNA Evidence

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Koh Tao Murder Convicts Launch Appeal, Questioning ‘Unreliable’ DNA Evidence


Lawyers for two Burmese migrant workers say DNA evidence "unreliable"

Published on May 23, 2016 at 05:00PM

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Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Hot: Nyle DiMarco Wins Dancing With The Stars

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Nyle DiMarco Wins Dancing With The Stars


He took the title alongside his partner Peta Murgatroyd

Published on May 25, 2016 at 04:30AM

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Hot: The Internet Really Wants Gillian Anderson to Be the First Female James Bond

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The Internet Really Wants Gillian Anderson to Be the First Female James Bond


It's Bond. Jane Bond.

Published on May 24, 2016 at 02:46PM

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Breaking: Thunder def. Warriors 118-94 to take 3-1 series lead in West finals; Russell Westbrook 36 pts in triple-double (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 25, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 25, 2016 is Operation Copperhead.
Operation Copperhead was a small military deception operation run by the British during the Second World War. Conceived by Dudley Clarke, it was intended to mislead German intelligence as to the location of General Bernard Montgomery just before the 1944 invasion of Normandy. The German high command expected Montgomery, one of the best-known Allied commanders, to play a key role in any cross-channel bridgehead. Clarke and the other deception planners reasoned that a high-profile appearance outside England would suggest that an Allied invasion was not imminent. An appropriate look-alike was found, M. E. Clifton James, who spent a short time with Montgomery to familiarise himself with the general's mannerisms. On 26 May, James flew to Gibraltar and then to Algiers, making appearances where the Allies knew German intelligence agents would spot him, but the operation did not appear to have any significant impact on German plans. James later wrote a book about the operation, I Was Monty's Double, which was adapted into a film, with James in the lead role.

Gambling: Cleveland -1400 vs. Toronto to win East finals entering Game 5 after being -50,000 following Game 2 - Westgate (ESPN)

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Hot: Woman Trying to Prove ‘Vegans Can Do Anything’ Dies of Altitude Sickness on Mount Everest

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Woman Trying to Prove ‘Vegans Can Do Anything’ Dies of Altitude Sickness on Mount Everest


Two other people died on the mountain

Published on May 23, 2016 at 05:00PM

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Gambling: Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will miss the Belmont Stakes on June 11 due to an illness - Daily Racing Form (ESPN)

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Hot: Watch ‘Chewbacca Mom’ Carpool with Star Wars Director J.J. Abrams and James Corden

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Watch ‘Chewbacca Mom’ Carpool with Star Wars Director J.J. Abrams and James Corden


The "Star Wars" director had some tips for using the Chewbacca mask

Published on May 24, 2016 at 12:01PM

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Monday, 23 May 2016

Instant Awesome Video: Batter unleashes an epic bat flip, breaks out the running man challenge after hitting a deep HR (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 24, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 24, 2016 is Push the Button (Sugababes song).
"Push the Button" is a song by the English girl group the Sugababes, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album Taller in More Ways (2005). Composed by Dallas Austin and the Sugababes as an electropop and R&B song with various computer effects, it was inspired by an infatuation that one of them (Keisha Buchanan) developed for another artist. Critics praised the song's conception and production, and some of them named it one of the best pop singles of the 2000s. The song became one of the group's most commercially successful releases, peaking at number one in Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and reaching the top five across Europe and in Australia. It was nominated for Best British Single at the 2006 BRIT Awards. Matthew Rolston directed the song's music video, which was filmed in Shepherds Bush, London; it features the Sugababes flirting with three men in an elevator. The group performed the single at Oxegen 2008, V Festival 2008, and other festivals and events. "Push the Button" appears on the soundtrack to It's a Boy Girl Thing (2006).

Gambling: Golden State -150 over Oklahoma City to win Western Conf.; Cleveland -10,000 over Toronto in East - Westgate (ESPN)

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Sunday, 22 May 2016

Wikipedia article of the day for May 23, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 23, 2016 is Spanish conquest of Petén.
The Spanish conquest of Petén was the last stage of the conquest of Guatemala, a prolonged conflict during the Spanish colonisation of the Americas. The Itza, the Yalain, the Kowoj, and other Maya populations in Petén were engaged in a complex web of alliances and enmities before the conquest. Petén was first penetrated by Hernán Cortés with a sizeable expedition that crossed the territory from north to south in 1525. In the first half of the 16th century Spain established neighbouring colonies in Yucatán to the north and Guatemala to the south. In 1622 a military expedition from Yucatán led by Captain Francisco de Mirones was massacred by the Itza. In 1628 the Manche Ch'ol of the south were placed under the administration of the colonial governor of Verapaz within the Captaincy General of Guatemala. In 1695 another expedition tried to reach Lake Petén Itzá from Guatemala. Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi captured Nojpetén, the island capital of the Itza kingdom, in 1697, defeating the last of the independent native kingdoms in the Americas and incorporating them into the Spanish Empire.

Instant Awesome Video: Hornets G Jeremy Lin plays a 14-year-old fan in one-on-one during his summer vacation to Iceland (ESPN)

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Saturday, 21 May 2016

Instant Awesome Video: Devils' draft pick John Quenneville puts puck between his legs, fires shot for a ridiculous goal (ESPN)

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Gambling: Preakness Stakes prices - Exaggerator $7.20, $3.20, $2.40, Cherry Wine $9.80, $4.20, Nyquist $2.20 (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 22, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 22, 2016 is Frigatebird.
Frigatebirds are a family—Fregatidae—of seabirds found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. The five living species are classified in a single genus, Fregata. All have predominantly black plumage, long, deeply forked tails and long hooked bills. Their pointed wings can span up to 2.3 metres (7.5 ft), with the largest wing area to body weight ratio of any bird. Females have white bellies and males have a distinctive red gular pouch, which they inflate during the breeding season. Able to soar for days on wind currents, frigatebirds spend most of the day in flight hunting for food. They mainly eat fish and squid that have been chased to the surface by large predators such as tuna. Frigatebirds are kleptoparasites as they occasionally rob other seabirds for food, and are known to snatch seabird chicks from the nest. Three of the five species are widespread, while two are endangered and restrict their breeding habitat to one small island each. The oldest fossils date to the early Eocene, around 50 million years ago; classified in the genus Limnofregata, those birds had shorter less-hooked bills and longer legs, and lived in a freshwater environment.

Instant Awesome Video: Kings' Ben McLemore hilariously recreates recent viral video, tries on growling Chewbacca mask (ESPN)

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Breaking: Exaggerator wins 141st Preakness Stakes; Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist suffers 1st career loss, finishes 3rd (ESPN)

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Gambling: Nyquist remains the favorite at 3-5 in latest Preakness Stakes odds; Exaggerator improves to 5-2 since morning (ESPN)

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One horse collapses, dies and another euthanized after breaking leg Saturday at Pimlico Race Course ahead of Preakness (ESPN)

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Friday, 20 May 2016

Instant Awesome Video: Georgia Southern's Logan Baldwin sprints across field, lays out to make a ridiculous diving catch (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 21, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 21, 2016 is 1987 Giro d'Italia.
The 1987 Giro d'Italia was the 70th event in the series, one of cycling's Grand Tour races. It began on 21 May with a 4 km (2.5 mi) prologue in San Remo, and concluded on 13 June with a 32 km (19.9 mi) individual time trial in Saint-Vincent. A total of 180 riders from 20 teams entered the 22-stage, 3,915 km (2,433 mi) race. Defending champion Roberto Visentini of the Carrera Jeans–Vagabond team led the first stage, and Dutchman Erik Breukink led the second. Irishman Stephen Roche, Visentini's teammate, took the overall lead after his team won the stage three team time trial. Visentini regained the lead for two days, but Roche rode ahead of him in the fifteenth stage, against orders from the team management, and held onto the lead for the win. Second place was taken by British rider Robert Millar, and Breukink took third. It was the second time in the history of the Giro that there were no Italian riders on the winners' podium. Roche was the second rider ever to win the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship road race in the same year, a feat commonly called the Triple Crown of Cycling.

Instant Awesome Video: Rapper Fat Joe tells the story of how Mike Tyson once saved him from getting beat up by bouncers (ESPN)

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Gambling: A consensus favorite last season, Ohio State's win total opens at 8.5 for 2016 at The Golden Nugget - Purdum (ESPN)

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Thursday, 19 May 2016

Wikipedia article of the day for May 20, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 20, 2016 is Sesame Workshop.
Sesame Workshop, originally the Children's Television Workshop, is the American non-profit organization behind the production of Sesame Street, now in its 47th consecutive season on the public broadcasting channel PBS. In 1966 Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett began researching a television show to help children, especially those from low-income families, prepare for school. Sesame Street premiered in 1969. Conney credited "educational advisers, researchers, and television producers ... as equal partners" in the show's success. The early 1980s were a challenging period for the Workshop; the end of government funding, difficulty in finding audiences for their other productions, and a series of bad investments hurt the organization until 1985, when licensing agreements had stabilized revenues. The organization expanded into other areas, including books and music, international co-productions, outreach programs to preschools, and interactive media and new technologies. By 2005, income from international co-productions of the show was $96 million, and by 2008, the Sesame Street Muppets accounted for $15–17 million per year in licensing and merchandising fees.

Instant Awesome Video: Danny Kanell and Ryen Russillo both successfully replicate Jordan Spieth's marshmallow trick shot (ESPN)

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Breaking: WWE superstar John Cena announces that he will host the 2016 ESPYS live from Los Angeles on July 13 (ESPN)

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Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Breaking: Knicks will hire Jeff Hornacek as head coach - reports; 101-112 in 3 seasons with Suns (fired in February) (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 19, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 19, 2016 is 2003 Pacific hurricane season.
The 2003 Pacific hurricane season produced tropical cyclones that mainly affected Mexico. Hurricane Ignacio killed 2 people in Mexico and Marty killed 12; together they were responsible for damage worth about $1 billion. Two other Pacific hurricanes, one Pacific tropical storm and three Atlantic storms also had a direct impact on Mexico. The only other significant storm of the season was Hurricane Jimena, which passed just to the south of the island of Hawaii, becoming the first storm in several years to directly threaten the island. The season officially started on May 15, 2003, in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 2003, in the central Pacific, lasting until November 30, 2003. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. There were 16 named storms, including 7 hurricanes; both totals are comparable with the long-term averages. This was the first Pacific hurricane season since 1977 with no major hurricanes, that is, storms Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Gambling: Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist 3-5 morning-line favorite for Preakness; Exaggerator 2nd choice at 3-1 (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: Man in a chicken suit runs behind a cyclist while flapping his arms at the Tour of California (ESPN)

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Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Instant Awesome Video: Jordan Spieth incredibly chips a golf ball with a marshmallow on top and catches it in his mouth (ESPN)

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Breaking: 76ers win 2016 NBA draft lottery for No. 1 overall pick (had 26.9% chance); Lakers 2nd, Celtics 3rd, Suns 4th (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic crushes a home run to left at Indians' batting practice (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 18, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 18, 2016 is SECR K and SR K1 classes.
The SECR K class was a type of tank locomotive designed in 1914 by Richard Maunsell for express passenger duties on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR). The Southern Railway (SR) K1 class was a three-cylinder variant of the K class, designed in 1925 to suit a narrower loading gauge. They were among the first non-Great Western Railway (GWR) types to use and improve upon the basic design principles of power and standardisation established by George Jackson Churchward, the GWR's Chief Mechanical Engineer. The locomotives were based on the GWR 4300 class, improved by the Midland Railway's ideals of simplicity and ease of maintenance. The K class was designed to be mechanically similar to the SECR N class mixed-traffic locomotives. The class was the earliest large-scale use of the 2-6-4 wheel arrangement in Britain. Production began towards the end of the First World War, and the prototype rolled out of Ashford Works three years after design work was completed due to wartime production constraints. They continued in service with British Railways until 1966. One K class rebuild (No. 31806) is preserved on the Swanage Railway in Dorset.

Gambling: Sportsbook operator CG Technology has been inaccurately paying patrons for five years on round-robin bets (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: Wofford's Andrew Novak sinks putt from over 100 feet for birdie on 18th hole of NCAA Regionals (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Image: Artist depicts NBA conference finals matchups as Raptor breaths fire, Warrior jumps into sky (ESPN)

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Gambling: GSW now -170 to win Western Conf. finals after Game 1 loss to OKC (plus 150); CLE -1600 over TOR - Westgate (ESPN)

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Monday, 16 May 2016

Wikipedia article of the day for May 17, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 17, 2016 is William Brill (RAAF officer).
William Brill (17 May 1916 – 12 October 1964) was a senior officer and bomber pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Born in the Riverina district of New South Wales, he was a farmer before joining the RAAF in 1940. Posted to Britain to take part in the air war over Europe, Brill first saw combat with No. 460 Squadron RAAF, flying Vickers Wellingtons. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1942 for attacking a target after his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. In 1944 he became a flight commander in No. 463 Squadron RAAF, flying Avro Lancasters. Brill's leadership and determination to complete his missions despite damage to his aircraft—on one occasion inflicted by another Lancaster's bombs—earned him the Distinguished Service Order. Promoted to wing commander, he took over No. 467 Squadron RAAF and was awarded a bar to his DFC for his skill in evading night fighters. Returning to Australia after the war, he led No. 10 Squadron, commanded air bases, and was twice RAAF Director of Personnel Services, gaining promotion to group captain. He was serving at the Department of Air when he died of a heart attack in 1964.

Instant Awesome Video: 325-pound Vince Wilfork's custom overalls stole the show at J.J. Watt's charity softball game (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: Youngster jumps with joy after learning ball trick from the Harlem Globetrotters (ESPN)

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Sunday, 15 May 2016

Wikipedia article of the day for May 16, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 16, 2016 is Blonde on Blonde.
Blonde on Blonde is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on May 16, 1966, by Columbia Records. The album completes a rock trilogy, with Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited. Unsatisfied with the initial recording sessions, Dylan brought his keyboardist Al Kooper and guitarist Robbie Robertson to the CBS studios in Nashville, Tennessee, where all but one of the songs were recorded in February and March. Combining the expertise of Nashville session musicians with a modernist literary sensibility, the album's songs have been described as operating on a grand scale musically, while featuring lyrics that the writer Michael Gray called "a unique blend of the visionary and the colloquial". One of the first rock double albums, it peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US, where it eventually went double-platinum, and reached No. 3 in the UK. Blonde on Blonde spawned two top twenty singles in the US: "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" and "I Want You". "Just Like a Woman" and "Visions of Johanna" made Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. The album has consistently ranked high in greatest-albums polls.

Raptors lead Heat 86-78 entering 4th quarter of Game 7 in Eastern Conference semifinals; watch live in the ESPN App (ESPN)

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Instant Awesome Video: Surfer Gabriel Medina lands a backflip and shrugs at judges, scores a perfect 10 at Oi Rio Pro (ESPN)

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Saturday, 14 May 2016

Breaking: Stipe Miocic defeats Fabricio Werdum by first-round KO (punches) to take the heavyweight title at UFC 198 (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 15, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 15, 2016 is Epacris impressa.
Epacris impressa, also known as common heath, is a plant of the heath family, Ericaceae, that is native to southeast Australia: the states of Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales. French botanist Jacques Labillardière collected the species in 1793 and described it in 1805. Four forms have been identified, but no subspecies are recognised. Growing in heathland, shrubland or open forest, it is generally a small shrub around 0.5 to 1 m (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in) tall, with small stiff leaves. The red, pink or white tube-like flowers appear from late autumn to early spring. Honeyeaters, particularly the eastern spinebill, feed upon the nectar of the flowers. It regenerates after bushfire by seed or by resprouting. A pink-flowered form is the floral emblem of the state of Victoria. E. impressa is difficult to propagate reliably, which has limited its use in horticulture and revegetation. It grows best in well-drained but moist soil in a semishaded position. A highly regarded garden plant, the common heath was first cultivated in England in 1825 with over seventy named cultivars, most of which have now vanished.

Instant Awesome Video: Army softball player Kasey McCravey leaps over catcher to avoid tag, lands touching home plate (ESPN)

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Breaking: Barcelona defeat Granada 3-0 to win 8th Spanish La Liga title in Lionel Messi's 12 years with the senior club (ESPN)

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Friday, 13 May 2016

Wikipedia article of the day for May 14, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 14, 2016 is Eardwulf of Northumbria.
Eardwulf was king of Northumbria from 796 until at least 806. Northumbria in the last years of the eighth century was the scene of dynastic strife between several noble families, and in 790, Æthelred I attempted to have Eardwulf assassinated. Æthelred himself was assassinated in 796. The reign of his successor Osbald lasted only twenty-seven days before he was deposed, and Eardwulf became king on 14 May 796. In 798 Eardwulf fought a battle at Billington Moor against a nobleman named Wada, who had been one of those responsible for King Æthelred's death; Wada was defeated and driven into exile. In 801 Eardwulf led an army against Coenwulf of Mercia, perhaps because of Coenwulf's support for other claimants to the Northumbrian throne. Eardwulf was deposed in 806. According to a Frankish source, he returned to his kingdom in 808, but no record has survived of his death or the end of his reign. He was possibly buried at the Mercian royal monastery of Breedon on the Hill, which carries a dedication to Saint Mary and Saint Hardulph, identified as Eardwulf by several historians.

Gambling: Alabama (-10) vs. USC, LSU (-10) vs. Wisconsin highlight notable lines for college football's first weekend (ESPN)

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Breaking: MLB suspends Rockies SS Jose Reyes through May 31 (51 games) for violating domestic violence policy (ESPN)

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Thursday, 12 May 2016

Breaking: Thunder eliminate Spurs 113-99 in Game 6 behind Kevin Durant's 37 pts; play Warriors in Western Conf. finals (ESPN)

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Wikipedia article of the day for May 13, 2016

The Wikipedia article of the day for May 13, 2016 is Carolina Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Under head coach Ron Rivera, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Founder Jerry Richardson and his family have a controlling interest in the club. The team plays at Bank of America Stadium, one of the few stadiums owned by an NFL team. The Panthers were announced as the league's 29th franchise in 1993. The team played well in their first two years, finishing 7–9 in 1995 (an all-time best for an NFL expansion team's first season) and 12–4 the following year, and winning the NFC West championship. In the 2003 season they reached Super Bowl XXXVIII, losing to the New England Patriots. After recording a playoff appearance in 2005, they won NFC South division championships in the 2008, 2013 and 2014 seasons. The next season, they defeated the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals to advance to Super Bowl 50, where they lost to the Denver Broncos.

Instant Awesome Image: Mets fan fulfills his promise to get tattoo if Bartolo Colon hit HR this year, which he did Sat. (ESPN)

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