# From the front page of Wikipedia **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 26, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613 "2023-05-26T04:29:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/1 "2023-05-26T04:29:21Z")
The front page of Wikipedia changes each day, sometimes twice a day. This one from the “On this Day” made me chuckle at the quintessential Englishness (although a personal tragedy for King Edmund, of course): - [946](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/946) – King **[Edmund I](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_I)** of England was murdered at [Pucklechurch](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pucklechurch) on the [feast day](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saints)of [St Augustine](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Canterbury). Keeping track of the number of kings murdered at Pucklechurch on particular feast days must have kept the chroniclers busy. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/2 "2023-05-26T04:35:33Z")
And the British theme continues with the featured article: > **[A History of British Fishes](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_History_of_British_Fishes)** > > A History of British Fishes is a natural history book by William Yarrell, first serialised in 19 parts from 1835, and then published bound in two volumes in 1836. It is a handbook or field guide systematically describing every type of fish known to occur in the British Isles, with an article for each species. > Yarrell was a London bookseller and newsagent with the time and income to indulge his interest in natural history. He was a prominent member of several natural history societies and kne... Pure Victoriana. Not interested in French fishes, of course, or (shudder) American fishes. Just British fishes, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/3 "2023-05-26T04:43:29Z")
And then, in the Did You Know section: - … that French Army infantrymen wore **[red trousers](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantalon_rouge)** _(example pictured)_ from 1829 until 1914? > **[File:798px-French soldier early uniform WWI(1).JPG - Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:798px-French_soldier_early_uniform_WWI(1).JPG#mw-jump-to-license)** “Mon colonel, are these pantalons rouge not perhaps a bit bright for the battlefield?” “We are soldiers of France, lieutenant! We fight with élan and style!” “But the Germans seem to be wearing grey. It’s hard to tell because I can’t see them very well …” “L’élan, lieutenant ! Toujours l’élan! Les Boches, they have it not!” “Oui, mon colonel!” ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/4 "2023-05-26T04:55:20Z")
The equivalent military “can see you for miles” Englishness was of course the [Red coat (military uniform) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_coat_(military_uniform)) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/5 "2023-05-26T14:15:46Z")
And also, if you get shot in the ass, you’re the only one to know it. ---
**Author:** ![Quondam\_Mechanic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quondam_mechanic/32/3404_2.png) [@Quondam\_Mechanic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quondam_Mechanic)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/6 "2023-05-26T14:38:07Z")
Old Joke: that’s sort of why your uniforms should have brown pants. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/7 "2023-05-26T14:55:03Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > And then, in the Did You Know section: > > - … that French Army infantrymen wore **[red trousers](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantalon_rouge)** _(example pictured)_ from 1829 until 1914? > > [File:798px-French soldier early uniform WWI(1).JPG - Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:798px-French_soldier_early_uniform_WWI(1).JPG#mw-jump-to-license) > > “Mon colonel, are these pantalons rouge not perhaps a bit bright for the battlefield?” > > “We are soldiers of France, lieutenant! We fight with élan and style!” > > “But the Germans seem to be wearing grey. It’s hard to tell because I can’t see them very well …” > > “L’élan, lieutenant ! Toujours l’élan! Les Boches, they have it not!” > > “Oui, mon colonel!” That’s pretty close to actual exchanges in France prior to the Great War. The British had adopted khaki and the Germans were shifting to field gray, but the French resisted. From _The Guns of August_: "To clothe the French soldier in some muddy, inglorious color, declared the army’s champions, would be to realize the fondest hopes of Dreyfusards and Freemasons. To banish “all that is colorful, all that gives the soldier his vivid aspect,” wrote the Echo de Paris, “is to go contrary both to French taste and military function.” \*Messimy pointed out that the two might no longer be synonymous, but his opponents proved immovable. At a parliamentary hearing, a former War Minister, M. Etienne, spoke for France. “Eliminate the red trousers?” he cried. “Never! Le pantalon rouge c’est la France!” It took a lot of bodies piling up for change to be instituted. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/8 "2023-05-26T20:53:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Le pantalon rouge c’est la France!” This explains a lot of French 20th Century military history. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/9 "2023-06-02T01:22:49Z")
Two interesting ones today, both with a Canada connection. First an uplifting one: From the “Did you Know?” section: … that as a teenager in a [B’nai B’rith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%27nai_B%27rith) camp in Canada, [Holocaust survivor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust_survivors) and future Canadian ambassador **[Fred Bild](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Bild)** learned English from his camp counselor, future actor [William Shatner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shatner)? Second, a sad one: From “On this Day”: - [1983](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983) – After an [emergency landing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_landing) due to an in-flight fire, 23 passengers aboard **[Air Canada Flight 797](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Canada_Flight_797)** were killed when a [flashover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashover) occurred as the aircraft’s doors opened. RIP [Stan Rogers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Rogers) and 22 others. I’m sorry for the songs you never got to share with us. (Oh, and it was also the 70th anniversary of a young English lady getting a fancy hat.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/10 "2023-07-24T04:25:29Z")
Another anniversary today, again Canada. In the « On This Day » section, a reminder of Charles de Gaulle proclaiming « Vive le Québec libre! » from the balcony of the Montreal City Hall. President de Gaulle’s state visit was unexpectedly cut short. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/11 "2023-07-24T13:57:32Z")
The decision to end the 100 Years War was regrettable. though of course they’d be a German protectorate now. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/12 "2023-07-24T21:58:54Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Another anniversary today, again Canada. In the « On This Day » section, a reminder of Charles de Gaulle proclaiming « Vive le Québec libre! » from the balcony of the Montreal City Hall. > > President de Gaulle’s state visit was unexpectedly cut short. I take it the Queen was _not_ amused. Neither was the Governor General nor the Premier. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/13 "2023-07-24T22:31:52Z")
Her Majesty would have kept her thoughts to herself (and possibly Phillip). Premier Johnson, being a staunch autonomist, was probably quietly amused. Prime Minister Pearson was definitely _not_ amused, and advised the French Embassy that the President of France would not be welcome in Ottawa. De Gaulle cut his trip short and returned to Paris. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/14 "2023-09-28T02:36:37Z")
Not from the front page, but from the User Talk page of a WP editor: > You have been **blocked** from editing for a period of **2 weeks** for edit warring and violating the three-revert rule, as you did at **Foreskin**. Once the block has expired, you are welcome to make useful contributions. Why don’t we get that kind of ban notice here on the SDMB? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/15 "2023-10-14T18:16:28Z")
Interesting two second clip on today’s Main page, of the earliest known moving picture, from 1888: > **[Roundhay Garden Scene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundhay_Garden_Scene)** > > Roundhay Garden Scene is a short silent motion picture filmed by French inventor Louis Le Prince at Oakwood Grange in Roundhay, Leeds, in northern England on 14 October 1888. It is believed to be the oldest surviving film. The camera used was patented in the United Kingdom on 16 November 1888. > According to Le Prince's son, Adolphe, Roundhay Garden Scene was made at Oakwood Grange, the home of Joseph and Sarah Whitley, in Roundhay, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, Northern England, on 14 Octob... ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/16 "2023-10-14T19:16:07Z")
Riveting! They don’t make movies like they used to. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/17 "2023-10-14T19:27:57Z")
Sarah Whitley from _Roundhay_ was the first actress of any film to die. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/18 "2023-10-14T19:28:35Z")
😁 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/19 "2024-01-09T01:17:23Z")
À Calgary statue is on the front page of Wikipedia tonight. The Featured Article is « Communication » and the « statue of two men speaking » is from a pedestrian mall in Calgary. Walked past it many a time. > **[Communication](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication)** > > Communication is usually understood to be the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not only transmits meaning but also creates it. Models of communication are simplified overviews of its main components and their interactions. Many models include the idea that a source uses a coding system to express information in the form of a message. The message ... ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613/20 "2024-01-09T01:22:40Z")
I’ve certainly walked past that statue many times also! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-page-of-wikipedia/984613.md?page=2)