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Sunday, April 26, 2020

Wikipedia article of the day for April 27, 2020

The Wikipedia article of the day for April 27, 2020 is Black honeyeater.
The black honeyeater (Sugomel niger) is a species of bird in the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. The bird exhibits sexual dimorphism: the males are black and white, while the females and immature birds are a speckled grey-brown. The species is endemic to Australia, and ranges widely across the arid areas of the continent, through open woodland and shrubland. A nectar feeder, the black honeyeater has a long curved bill to reach the base of tubular flowers such as those of the emu bush. It also takes insects in the air, and regularly eats ash left behind at campfires. Cup-shaped nests are built in the forks of small trees or shrubs. The male engages in a soaring song flight in the mating season, but contributes little to nest building or incubating the clutch of two to three eggs. Both sexes feed and care for the young. While the population appears to be decreasing, the black honeyeater is numerous and widespread.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Wikipedia article of the day for April 26, 2020

The Wikipedia article of the day for April 26, 2020 is Compulsory figures.
Compulsory figures were formerly a segment of figure skating, from which the sport derives its name. Requiring skaters to trace precise circles while completing difficult turns and edges, these exercises made up 60 percent of the total score at most competitions around the world until 1947. The simple figure-eight shape was executed by connecting two circles; other figures included the three turn, the counter turn, the rocker turn, the bracket turn, and the loop. Compulsory figures steadily declined in importance, and in 1990 the International Skating Union voted to discontinue them as a part of competitions. Although few skaters continue to practice them, some skaters and coaches continue to use them to develop alignment, core strength, body control, and discipline. Since 2015, the World Figure Sport Society has conducted festivals and competitions of compulsory figures, endorsed by the Ice Skating Institute.

Jailed Huawei Workers Raised a Forbidden Subject: Iran

By BY RAYMOND ZHONG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2KzJbd6

Friday, April 24, 2020

Wikipedia article of the day for April 25, 2020

The Wikipedia article of the day for April 25, 2020 is Black Hours, Morgan MS 493.
The Morgan Black Hours is an illuminated book of hours produced in Bruges between 1460 and 1480. It is one of seven surviving black books of hours, all originating from Bruges and dated to the mid- to late 15th century. They are named for their unusual dark blueish colourisation, achieved through the expensive process of dyeing the vellum with iron gall ink. The Morgan Black Hours consists of 121 leaves, most containing rows of Latin text written in Gothic minuscule script inscribed in silver and in gold. The pages are typically dyed a deep blueish black, with borders ornamented with flowers, foliage and grotesques. Although considered a masterpiece of Late Gothic manuscript illumination, there are no surviving records of its commission, but its dark tone, expense of production, quality and rarity suggest ownership by privileged and sophisticated members of the Burgundian court. It has been in the collection of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York since 1912.