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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,463,399 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleSir Thomas Playford (1896–1981) was a prominent South Australian politician and farmer. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any democratically elected leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and economic growth unmatched by any other Australian state. Playford took a unique, strong and direct approach to the premiership and personally oversaw his industrial initiatives. His string of election wins were assisted by a system of electoral malapportionment that bore his name, the ‘Playmander’. Although a liberal conservative, his approach to economics was pragmatic, and he was derided by his colleagues for his “socialism” as he nationalised electricity companies and used state enterprises to drive economic growth. However, Playford and his party, the Liberal and Country League, failed to adapt to changing social mores and eventually lost office in the 1965 election. He relinquished the party leadership to Steele Hall and retired at the next election, serving on various South Australian company boards until his death in 1981. (more…)Recently featured: The Quatermass Experiment – Puerto Ricans in World War II – Guitar HeroArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:… that the name of the mushroom Amanita echinocephala (pictured) means “hedgehog-head” in Ancient Greek, referring to its spiny, or warty-looking cap?… that the 1958 Operation Chico was the first mass evacuation in United States history in which residents were quartered away from their homes overnight?… that the exploration problem in robotics is that of maximizing knowledge over an area by the use of a robot?… that a number of physicians and nurses at the tuberculosis sanitorium founded by Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau in Saranac Lake, New York in 1882 were patients themselves and served without pay?… that Dewan Seshayya Sastri ruled the kingdom of Pudukkottai as regent from 1886 to 1894?… that the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was the first Canadian unit on the ground in France in the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day, 1944?… that Bette Sussman and Whitney Houston’s version of the Dolly Parton classic, “I Will Always Love You” has sold over 17 million copies?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsTyphoon Kalmaegi (pictured) strikes the Philippines, Taiwan, and China, killing at least fifteen.The Sri Lankan military captures a coastal town in Sri Lanka’s Mannar District from rebel Tamil Tigers.Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is arrested over allegations that he sodomised a male aide.The Taliban attack an outpost in Afghanistan, killing nine ISAF soldiers.The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, requests a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir in connection to the conflict in Darfur.Belgian brewer InBev agrees to buy US-based Anheuser-Busch for over 50 billion dollars; if successful, the merged firm would surpass SABMiller as the world’s largest brewing company.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…July 19: Burmese Martyrs’ Day711 – Muslim conquests: Moorish Umayyad invaders led by Tariq ibn Ziyad defeated Roderic and the Visigoths at the Battle of Guadalete.1870 – A dispute over who would become the next Spanish monarch following the deposition of Isabella II (pictured) during the 1868 Glorious Revolution led France to declare war on Prussia.1908 – Feyenoord Rotterdam, today one of the “big three” professional football teams in the Netherlands, was founded as the club Wilhelmina in a pub.1919 – Following Peace Day celebrations marking the end of World War I, ex-servicemen who were unhappy with unemployment and other grievances rioted and burnt down the town hall of Luton, England.1947 – Burmese nationalist Aung San and six members of his newly-formed cabinet were assassinated during a cabinet meeting.More events: July 18 – July 19 – July 20Archive – By email – More anniversaries…It is now 19:49, July 19, 2008 (UTC) – Refresh this pageToday’s featured pictureThe Postman Butterfly (Heliconius melpomene) is a butterfly whose natural range covers Central America to Southern Brazil. This species has many different colour morphs, and participates in Müllerian mimicry with other distasteful butterfly species. Its caterpillars feed on various species of passion flower.Photo credit: Richard BartzRecently featured: Hurricane Felix – Japanese Squirrel – Mark TwainArchive – More featured pictures…