Podcasts about Curmudgeon

fWotD Episode 3226: Elizabeth Lyon (criminal) Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Thursday, 5 March 2026, is Elizabeth Lyon (criminal).Elizabeth Lyon (fl. c. 1722–1726), nicknamed Edgworth Bess or Edgware Bess, was an English thief, a prostitute, and the partner of the criminal Jack Sheppard. Little is known about her background or her early life, but it is known that she was working as a prostitute at the Black Lyon alehouse in London by 1722 or 1723. Here she met Sheppard—at the time an apprentice carpenter—and the two began a relationship.At Lyon's instigation, Sheppard soon began his career in crime, first stealing from places where he worked before moving into housebreaking; Lyon and his brother became his accomplices. Sheppard was arrested for his crimes on several occasions, invariably breaking out soon after incarceration, normally assisted by Lyon. In May 1724, she was arrested when visiting him in prison, so together the pair broke out of New Prison into the adjoining Clerkenwell Bridewell prison, then out of that to freedom.After Sheppard's execution in November 1724, Lyon entered into relationships with other men who were, or became, involved in housebreaking, sometimes accompanying them to assist in perpetrating the crimes. She was arrested in March 1726 and transported to the Province of Maryland—then a British colony in North America—in October; her name does not appear in official sources after that date. Lyon's notoriety is based on her connection to Sheppard, and in the years following his execution, novels were published and plays performed that retold his and Lyon's story.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:24 UTC on Thursday, 5 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Elizabeth Lyon (criminal) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.

rWotD Episode 3227: Mutualism (biology) Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Thursday, 5 March 2026, is Mutualism (biology).Mutualism describes the ecological interaction between two or more species where each species has a net benefit. Mutualism is a common type of ecological interaction. Prominent examples are:the nutrient exchange between vascular plants and mycorrhizal fungi,the fertilization of flowering plants by pollinators,the ways plants use fruits and edible seeds to encourage animal aid in seed dispersal, andthe way corals become photosynthetic with the help of the microorganism zooxanthellae.Mutualism can be contrasted with interspecific competition, in which each species experiences reduced fitness, and exploitation, and with parasitism, in which one species benefits at the expense of the other. However, mutualism may evolve from interactions that began with imbalanced benefits, such as parasitism.The term mutualism was introduced by Pierre-Joseph van Beneden in his 1876 book Animal Parasites and Messmates to mean "mutual aid among species".Mutualism is often conflated with two other types of ecological phenomena: cooperation and symbiosis. Cooperation most commonly refers to increases in fitness through within-species (intraspecific) interactions, although it has been used (especially in the past) to refer to mutualistic interactions, and it is sometimes used to refer to mutualistic interactions that are not obligate. Symbiosis involves two species living in close physical contact over a long period of their existence and may be mutualistic, parasitic, or commensal, so symbiotic relationships are not always mutualistic, and mutualistic interactions are not always symbiotic. Despite a different definition between mutualism and symbiosis, they have been largely used interchangeably in the past, and confusion on their use has persisted.Mutualism plays a key part in ecology and evolution. For example, mutualistic interactions are vital for terrestrial ecosystem function as:about 80% of land plants species rely on mycorrhizal relationships with fungi to provide them with inorganic compounds and trace elements.estimates of tropical rainforest plants with seed dispersal mutualisms with animals range at least from 70% to 93.5%. In addition, mutualism is thought to have driven the evolution of much of the biological diversity we see, such as flower forms (important for pollination mutualisms) and co-evolution between groups of species.A prominent example of pollination mutualism is with bees and flowering plants. Bees use these plants as their food source with pollen and nectar. In turn, they transfer pollen to other nearby flowers, inadvertently allowing for cross-pollination. Cross-pollination has become essential in plant reproduction and fruit/seed production. The bees get their nutrients from the plants, and allow for successful fertilization of plants, demonstrating a mutualistic relationship between two seemingly-unlike species.Mutualism has also been linked to major evolutionary events, such as the evolution of the eukaryotic cell (symbiogenesis) and the colonization of land by plants in association with mycorrhizal fungi.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:45 UTC on Thursday, 5 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Mutualism (biology) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.

Is Katy becoming a curmudgeon? Listen to this recent event, and weigh in! This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode that drops today, available exclusively to our generous Patreon supporters.  Want to hear the whole epside and many many more like it? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be part of our new chat community, you'll have access to Patreon-only content in addition to bonus episodes, you'll be invited to join us for live meet-ups, and you'll get to enjoy ad-free listening! But most importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!) Check our our Patreon page for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more here. ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon. TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!  

fWotD Episode 3225: Montana-class battleship Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Wednesday, 4 March 2026, is Montana-class battleship.The Montana class was a planned set of battleships for the United States Navy. Intended as the successor to the Iowa class, the Montanas were to be slower but larger, better armored, and better armed. Five ships were approved for construction during World War II, but changes in wartime building priorities resulted in their cancellation in favor of continuing production of Essex-class aircraft carriers and Iowa-class battleships.Armament would have been twelve 16-inch (406 mm) Mark 7 guns in four 3-gun turrets, up from the nine Mark 7 guns in three turrets used by the Iowa class. Unlike the three preceding classes of battleships, the Montana class was designed without any restrictions from treaty limitations. With increased anti-aircraft capability and substantially thicker armor in all areas, the Montanas would have been the largest, best-protected, and most heavily armed US battleships ever, and the only ones to rival Japan's Yamato-class battleships in terms of displacement.Preliminary design work for the Montana class began before the US entry into World War II. The first two vessels were approved by Congress in 1939 following the passage of the Naval Act of 1938. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor delayed the construction of the Montana class. The success of carrier combat at the Battle of the Coral Sea, and to a greater extent the Battle of Midway, diminished the perceived value of the battleship. Consequently, the US Navy first delayed, and later cancelled, the Montana class in favor of more urgently needed aircraft carriers as well as amphibious and anti-submarine vessels.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:05 UTC on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Montana-class battleship on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Salli.

rWotD Episode 3226: Cristián de la Fuente Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Wednesday, 4 March 2026, is Cristián de la Fuente.Cristián Andrés de la Fuente Sabarots (Spanish pronunciation: [kɾisˈtjan de la ˈfwente]; born March 10, 1974) is a Chilean actor, presenter, model and producer. He began his career appearing in the Chilean telenovelas before moving to United States for starring in television series Family Law (1999–2001) and Hidden Hills (2002–2003). De la Fuente later made his big screen debut in the 2001 action film Driven and later appeared in films Vampires: Los Muertos (2002) and Basic (2003). In later years he was a regular cast member in In Plain Sight (2008–12) and Devious Maids (2015). De la Fuente also acted in a number of Spanish-language telenovelas.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:48 UTC on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Cristián de la Fuente on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Aditi.

fWotD Episode 3224: John Tonkin Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Tuesday, 3 March 2026, is John Tonkin.John Trezise Tonkin (2 February 1902 – 20 October 1995) was an Australian politician who was the premier of Western Australia from 3 March 1971 to 8 April 1974. A member of the Labor Party, Tonkin was a minister in the Willcock, Wise and Hawke governments. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1933 to 1977, making him the longest-serving member of the Parliament of Western Australia as of 2021.Tonkin was born in the Goldfields town of Boulder, Western Australia, the eldest of three children. His family moved several times before returning to Boulder, where he attended Boulder City Central School and Eastern Goldfields High School. After several successive jobs, he graduated from Claremont Teachers College and became a teacher, mainly working in small schools in rural areas. After several unsuccessful attempts to enter state parliament, Tonkin was elected as the member for North-East Fremantle in the 1933 state election.Tonkin first served as a minister from 1943 to 1947. He held several portfolios during this time, the most important being that of Minister for Education. Labor lost the 1947 state election, which resulted in Tonkin losing his portfolios. He transferred to the electoral district of Melville when North-East Fremantle was abolished at the 1950 state election. After the resignation of Wise as Labor leader in 1951, Hawke became leader and Tonkin became deputy leader. When Labor won the 1953 state election, he reassumed his role as a minister, including as the minister for works and minister for water supplies. In 1955, he became the first deputy premier of Western Australia following an act of Parliament to formally create the position. Labor lost the 1959 state election, causing Tonkin to lose his portfolios again.Following the resignation of Hawke in 1966, Tonkin became the leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia. After its longest period in opposition ever, the Labor Party won the 1971 state election to defeat David Brand and make Tonkin premier. Labor's one-seat majority meant that any by-election had a chance of defeating the Tonkin government. By-elections occurred in 1971 and in 1973, each of which was narrowly won by Labor. The Tonkin government's achievements included reforms in industrial relations and employment, and the passing of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. After three years in government, Labor was defeated in the 1974 state election. Tonkin was succeeded as premier by Charles Court. Tonkin was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia in 1977, and has been honoured with the Tonkin Highway and John Tonkin College being named after him.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:43 UTC on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see John Tonkin on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.

rWotD Episode 3225: Breckinridge County, Kentucky Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Tuesday, 3 March 2026, is Breckinridge County, Kentucky.Breckinridge County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,432. Its county seat is Hardinsburg, Kentucky. The county was named for John Breckinridge (1760–1806), a Kentucky Attorney General, state legislator, United States Senator, and United States Attorney General. It was the 38th Kentucky county in order of formation. Breckinridge County is now a wet county, following a local-option election on January 29, 2013, but it had been a dry county for the previous 105 years.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:16 UTC on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Breckinridge County, Kentucky on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.

On this week's Curmudgeon's Corner Sam and Ivan talk about the war in Iran and the violence in Mexico. Those are the unavoidable big things of the week. But also beeping and bulbs, almost getting run over, movies, random trips, and a RobinLetter update. A full show! Show Details: Recorded 2026-02-28 Length this week 1:56:07 0:02:58 - But First Beeping and Bulbs Near Misses Movie: Blade II (2002) Movie: A Minecraft Movie (2025) 0:49:38 - Iran War Why Attack? Possible Outcomes Whose Interests? Managing Attention 1:21:00 - Potpourri El Mencho Killing Random Yucatan Trip? Iran Again RobinLetter Update The Curmudgeon's Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch. Our intro is The Oh of Pleasure (Amazon MP3 link) Our outro is Celestial Soda Pop (Amazon MP3 link) Both are from the album Deep Breakfast (iTunes link) Please buy his music and support his GoFundMe.

fWotD Episode 3223: Galaxy Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 2 March 2026, is Galaxy.A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek galaxias (γαλαξίας), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System. Galaxies, averaging an estimated 100 million stars, range in size from dwarfs with less than a thousand stars, to the largest galaxies known – supergiants with one hundred trillion stars, each orbiting its galaxy's centre of mass. Most of the mass in a typical galaxy is in the form of dark matter, with only a few percent of that mass visible in the form of stars and nebulae. Supermassive black holes are a common feature at the centres of galaxies.Galaxies are categorised according to their visual morphology as elliptical, spiral, or irregular. The Milky Way is an example of a spiral galaxy. In addition to shape, galaxies may be notable due to special properties, such as interacting with another galaxy, producing stars at an unusual rate, or having an active galactic nucleus. It is estimated that there are between 200 billion (2×1011) and 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe. Most galaxies are 1,000 to 100,000 parsecs in diameter (approximately 3,000 to 300,000 light years) and are separated by distances in the order of millions of parsecs (or megaparsecs). For comparison, the Milky Way has a diameter of at least 26,800 parsecs (87,400 ly). Its nearest large neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy, is just over 750,000 parsecs (2.4 million ly) away.Most galaxies are gravitationally organised into groups, clusters and superclusters. The Milky Way is part of the Local Group, which it dominates along with the Andromeda Galaxy. The group is part of the Virgo Supercluster. At the largest scale, these associations are generally arranged into sheets and filaments surrounded by immense voids. While there are good models describing the formation of stars from gravitational condensation of dense clouds of gas, galaxy formation is less well understood. The process operates on the scale of a billion years. Galaxies occasionally collide during their lifetime.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:31 UTC on Monday, 2 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Galaxy on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.

rWotD Episode 3224: Daqin Railway (company) Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Monday, 2 March 2026, is Daqin Railway (company).Daqin Railway Co., Ltd. is a Chinese company that operates several railways with a total length of 1000 km, including the Daqin Railway and most assets on railway transportation of CR Taiyuan. The company is based in Datong, Shanxi. It was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2006 with IPO capital raising of $1.9 billion US dollars.Daqin Railway is a component of SSE 50 Index. The parent company of Daqin Railway was CR Taiyuan, a state-owned enterprise that the China Railway acted as its only shareholder.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:15 UTC on Monday, 2 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Daqin Railway (company) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Kajal.

fWotD Episode 3222: High and Low (1963 film) Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Sunday, 1 March 2026, is High and Low (1963 film).High and Low (Japanese: 天国と地獄, Hepburn: Tengoku to Jigoku; lit. 'Heaven and Hell') is a 1963 Japanese police procedural film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It was written by Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Eijirō Hisaita, and Ryūzō Kikushima as a loose adaptation of the 1959 novel King's Ransom by Evan Hunter. Starring Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kyōko Kagawa and Tatsuya Mihashi, it tells the story of Japanese businessman Kingo Gondō (Mifune) struggling for control of the major shoe company at which he is a board member. He plans a leveraged buyout of the company with his life savings, when a kidnapper mistakenly abducts his chauffeur's son to ransom him for ¥30 million. The film is viewed as influential on police procedural cinema, and has been remade multiple times internationally.The film was produced by Toho, who bought the rights to Hunter's novel in 1961 for $5,000. Working on a production budget of ¥230 million, filming on High and Low began on 2 September 1962, taking place on location at Yokohama and on set at Toho Studios. Only one attempt could be made to film the ransom exchange. The shoot required multiple cameramen, leading to all other film productions being shut down for the day. Filming ended on 30 January 1963. Kurosawa worked with Masaru Satō to score the film in their eighth collaboration together; the film's soundtrack contains a variety of influences, including mambo, classical, and modern popular music. Post-production took just under a month and, after test screenings in mid-February 1963, the film received a wide distribution.High and Low was released in Japan on 1 March 1963 and became the highest-grossing film at the Japanese box office for that year. The film received generally positive reviews both domestically and abroad. In September 1963, the film was entered into the Official Selection for the Venice Film Festival. The limited American release of the film in late November coincided with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, an event that led to a depression in initial box office takings. High and Low was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globe Awards for 1964. Critical opinion of the film has remained high, with analyses of the film focusing on Kurosawa's humanism in tackling the issue of a growing class divide, the growth of an international consumer culture, and the film's use of structure to interrogate morality and social division.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:04 UTC on Sunday, 1 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see High and Low (1963 film) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Brian.

rWotD Episode 3223: Peel Sound Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Sunday, 1 March 2026, is Peel Sound.Peel Sound is an Arctic waterway in the Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. It separates Somerset Island on the east from Prince of Wales Island on the west. To the north it opens onto Parry Channel while its southern end merges with Franklin Strait.There are several named islands within the sound, including: Lock, Vivian, Prescott, Pandora, Otrick, Barth, De la Roquette, and Gibson.Sir John Franklin passed through the strait in 1846 during an unseasonably warm summer, since typically Peel Sound is frozen. Its east side was traced by James Clark Ross in 1849. In 1858 Francis Leopold McClintock tried to penetrate it and was blocked by ice.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:16 UTC on Sunday, 1 March 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Peel Sound on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.

fWotD Episode 3221: Hume MRT station Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 28 February 2026, is Hume MRT station.Hume MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the Downtown Line (DTL) in Bukit Batok, Singapore. Located at the junction of Hume Avenue and Upper Bukit Timah Road, the station serves landmarks such as Bukit Timah Hill, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the Rail Corridor, the Rail Mall and the Former Ford Factory. It is the first underground infill station to open in Singapore.During the construction of the DTL, only the structural provisions for the station were built due to lack of projected ridership levels. Following petitions from nearby residents advocating for the station's opening, the government announced in March 2019 that Hume station would be built in tandem with the redevelopment of the Rail Corridor. Fitting-out works began in February 2021, and the station opened on 28 February 2025 ahead of schedule. The station features a colour scheme of green, yellow, and white. Andre Wee's Continuity, an artwork depicting the Former Ford Factory, is displayed in the station as part of the MRT network's Art-in-Transit programme.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:20 UTC on Saturday, 28 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Hume MRT station on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Amy.

rWotD Episode 3222: Khibiny National Park Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Saturday, 28 February 2026, is Khibiny National Park.Khibiny National Park (Russian: Национальный парк «Хибины») protects a mountainous region of taiga and tundra on the Khibiny Mountains and Lovozero Massif of the western Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia. The mountains contain commercially important minerals, and the park's borders reflect the need to balance three uses - protection of the unique natural environment, recreation (hiking in the summer, skiing in the winter), and industrial mining. The park was officially created in 2018, and is located in the districts of Kirovsk and Olenegorsk in Murmansk Oblast.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:10 UTC on Saturday, 28 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Khibiny National Park on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Justin.

fWotD Episode 3220: Fort Southerland Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Friday, 27 February 2026, is Fort Southerland.Fort Southerland, also known as Redoubt E and possibly Fort Diamond, is a redoubt built during the American Civil War to protect Camden, Arkansas. Confederate forces built it along with four other redoubts in early 1864 after a Union victory in the Little Rock campaign the previous year. Fort Southerland is about the size of a city block and is roughly oval. It could hold three cannons. When Union forces captured Camden in April 1864 during the Camden Expedition, they improved the defenses of the five redoubts, which were not sufficient for proper defense of the city. After the Confederates retook Camden later that month, they continued to improve the city's defenses.The fort lies within Fort Southerland Park, a municipal park dedicated in 1974. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, and is part of the Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark. Along with Fort Lookout (Redoubt A), it is one of only two of the redoubts around Camden still in existence.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:23 UTC on Friday, 27 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Fort Southerland on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Gregory.

rWotD Episode 3221: Murder of Ibrahim Oktugan Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Friday, 27 February 2026, is Murder of Ibrahim Oktugan.On 7 May 2024, Ibrahim Oktugan, a 74-year-old Principal of a private high school in Istanbul's Eyüpsultan district, was fatally shot by a former student identified as Yousif K., a 17-year-old of Iraqi origin who held Turkish citizenship. The suspect had been expelled from the school approximately five months earlier due to disciplinary issues. On the day of the attack, he returned to the school, entered Oktugan's office, and shot him five times. Oktugan was transported to hospital but died from his injuries despite emergency medical treatment.School officials stated that Oktugan had expelled the suspect following repeated behavioral problems, which were cited as the motive for the murder. Kadriye Deveci, a teacher at the school, described the student as "very problematic" in an interview with Rawin, stating that Oktugan believed that the student was "not a good example" and was frequently disrespectful toward teachers. Deveci added that the family had attempted to contest the expulsion, but school authorities ultimately decided they could no longer tolerate the student’s conduct. Following the killing, family members, colleagues, and students gathered to protested the murder, calling on authorities to take stronger measures to protect educators and address violence within the education sector.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:04 UTC on Friday, 27 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Murder of Ibrahim Oktugan on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Geraint.

fWotD Episode 3219: Mary Fortune Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Thursday, 26 February 2026, is Mary Fortune.Mary Helena Fortune (29 July 1832 – 9 November 1911) was an Australian author and journalist who was one of the earliest female writers of detective fiction. A prolific pseudonymous writer of fiction, poetry, and journalism, she contributed chiefly to The Australian Journal. Her best-known work, The Detective's Album, comprised more than 500 short stories published in the journal between 1868 and 1908. Fortune's writing was characterised by its unsparing portrayals of colonial society and urban Melbourne, including the prevalence of violence and the treatment of women.Born in Ireland, Fortune moved to Canada as a child and travelled to Australia with her son in 1855, possibly to escape her marriage. She lived in the goldfields settlements that emerged during the Australian gold rushes, where she had another (likely illegitimate) child, entered a short-lived bigamous marriage with a mounted policeman, and may have traded in illegal alcohol. Her early writings, including radical poetry, appeared in local goldfields newspapers. She then became a frequent and longstanding contributor to The Australian Journal after its founding in 1865.Although best known for her short crime fiction, Fortune also wrote serial novels, poetry, journalism, a memoir, and at least one play. Her work extended beyond crime fiction and included romance, Gothic fiction, and ghost stories. Drawing on her experiences in the goldfields and in Melbourne's rapidly urbanising environment, her writing often criticised colonial society—particularly its treatment of women—and examined the police's failure to address sexual violence and crimes against women.Despite her popularity as a writer, Fortune experienced alcoholism, poverty, and periods of homelessness throughout her later life. Her surviving son, George Fortune, became a career criminal and spent more than 20 years in prison. Fortune died in 1911 shortly after leaving an asylum. Having written under several pseudonyms, her identity was nearly lost after her death until it was rediscovered by a book collector in the 1950s. Further details of her life have since been uncovered by the historian Lucy Sussex, who has written extensively about Fortune and her work.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:19 UTC on Thursday, 26 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Mary Fortune on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Justin.

rWotD Episode 3220: Adamantius (praefectus urbi) Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Thursday, 26 February 2026, is Adamantius (praefectus urbi).Adamantius (Ancient Greek: Ἀδαμάντιος; fl. 474–479) was a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire, praefectus urbi of Constantinople (474–479), patricius and honorary consul.Adamantius was the son of Vivianus, consul in 463 and praetorian prefect of the East; his brother was Paulus, consul in 512.Between 474 and 479, Adamantius held the office of praefectus urbi of Constantinople.In 479 he is attested as patricius. That year he was conferred consular honours by Emperor Zeno and sent as envoy to the rebel general Theodoric the Great. He went to Thessalonica, where he freed the ex-consul Iohannes from an enraged mob, and joined with Sabinianus Magnus at Edessa; they reached Theodoric in Dyrrachium, where they started negotiations, but Zeno recalled them back when the rebels kept on attacking imperial territories.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:07 UTC on Thursday, 26 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Adamantius (praefectus urbi) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Danielle.

fWotD Episode 3218: The Voices of Morebath Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Wednesday, 25 February 2026, is The Voices of Morebath.The Voices of Morebath: Reformation and Rebellion in an English Village is a 2001 non-fiction history book by the Irish historian of British Christianity Eamon Duffy and published by Yale University Press about Morebath, England, during the English Reformation of the 16th century. Using the detailed churchwarden's accounts maintained by Sir Christopher Trychay, the vicar of Morebath's parish, Duffy recounts the religious and social implications of the Reformation in a small conservative Catholic community through the reign of Henry VIII, during the violent 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion, and into the Elizabethan era. Trychay's accounts – first reprinted in 1904 – had been used in other scholarly works and were first encountered by Duffy during research for his 1992 The Stripping of the Altars on pre-Reformation English religion. The Voices of Morebath depicts both Morebath and Trychay through their strong early resistance to the Reformation to their eventual adoption of new religious norms under the Protestant Elizabethan Religious Settlement.The Voices of Morebath was praised for its coverage of ecclesiastical and secular parochial matters, particularly its personal treatment of Trychay. It drew criticism for instances where examples from Morebath are used to comment on broader subjects. Other reviewers commented that Duffy conceded the limitations of a local source. Though popular, some reviewers appraised the book as overly complex for the broad audience it had been written and marketed towards. In 2002, The Voices of Morebath won Duffy the Hawthornden Prize and the book was shortlisted for both the Samuel Johnson Prize and British Academy Book Prize.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:08 UTC on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see The Voices of Morebath on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.

rWotD Episode 3219: Henry Clay Monument Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Wednesday, 25 February 2026, is Henry Clay Monument.The Henry Clay Monument is a public monument in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, United States. Work on the monument, which consists of a state of Henry Clay atop a Doric column, began in 1852, shortly after his death, and ended in 1855.As a politician in the early 19th century, Clay was an advocate for the American System of protective tariffs that helped Pottsville's anthracite industry, and upon his death in 1852, several prominent citizens in the city advocated for the erection of a monument in his honor. Work commenced with the laying of a cornerstone on July 26, 1852, and ended in June 1855, with the structure dedicated on July 4 (Independence Day) of that year. The column was designed by Frank Hewson and created by George Fissler, while the statue was designed by sculptor H. Wesche and cast at the Robert Wood & Company foundry in Philadelphia. Both these structures are made of cast iron and painted white.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:12 UTC on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Henry Clay Monument on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Amy.

pWotD Episode 3220: Robert Carradine Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 1,253,437 views on Tuesday, 24 February 2026 our article of the day is Robert Carradine.Robert Reed Carradine ( KARR-ə-deen; March 24, 1954 – February 23, 2026) was an American actor. A member of the Carradine family, he made his first appearances on television Western series such as Bonanza and his brother David's TV series, Kung Fu. Carradine is also well remembered for his roles as fraternity nerd Lewis Skolnick in the Revenge of the Nerds films and Sam McGuire in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:43 UTC on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Robert Carradine on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.

rWotD Episode 3218: Don (given name) Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Tuesday, 24 February 2026, is Don (given name).Don is a masculine given name in the Irish language, as well as a short form of two masculine given names in the English language. The Irish name is derived from the Irish donn; the name can either mean "brown", or "chief", "noble". The Irish name is a variant spelling of Donn. The English name is unrelated to the Irish name; this name is a short form of the given name Donald or Donovan. Pet forms of this English name include Donnie and Donny. Don can also be a surname, also derived from "brown".This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:57 UTC on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Don (given name) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Emma.

fWotD Episode 3217: Kent Haruf Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Tuesday, 24 February 2026, is Kent Haruf.Alan Kent Haruf (, rhymes with sheriff; February 24, 1943 – November 30, 2014) was an American writer born and raised in Colorado. He wrote six novels and several short stories set on the High Plains, mostly in the fictional town of Holt.After completing his undergraduate degree in English at Nebraska Wesleyan, Haruf enrolled in the Peace Corps and performed work in lieu of military service before receiving a master's degree from the University of Iowa. He initially struggled to establish a career as a writer; in addition to stints as a janitor, construction worker and farmhand, Haruf spent years teaching English at a high school in Wisconsin and at universities in Nebraska and Illinois. His writing was first published in 1984 when he was 41. Although Haruf's first two novels received critical praise, commercial success eluded him until the publication of Plainsong in 1999, which became a bestseller. He followed it up with Eventide (2005), a direct sequel to Plainsong, and Benediction (2013).Throughout Haruf's career, critics praised his spare and elegant prose, authentic portrayals of rural life, and attention to the beauty found in ordinary things, although he was occasionally criticized for redundancy. In early 2014, Haruf was diagnosed with an incurable lung disease. He wrote his final book, Our Souls At Night, while ill and died that November. The book was published posthumously and adapted into a film of the same name. A Colorado magazine, 5280, wrote that Haruf is "widely considered Colorado's finest novelist", and the Dublin Review of Books called his work "both uniquely American and profoundly universal".This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:44 UTC on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Kent Haruf on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Amy.

pWotD Episode 3219: Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 1,172,519 views on Monday, 23 February 2026 our article of the day is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes.Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (17 July 1966 – 22 February 2026), commonly referred to by his alias "El Mencho", was a Mexican drug lord and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an organized crime group based in Jalisco. He was the most wanted person in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the United States at the time of his death. The U. S. government and the Mexican government were offering rewards of up to US$15 million and MXN$300 million, respectively, for information leading to his arrest.Oseguera Cervantes was wanted for drug trafficking, organized crime involvement, and illegal possession of firearms. El Mencho was allegedly responsible for coordinating global drug trafficking operations. Under his command, the CJNG became one of Mexico's leading criminal organizations.Born into poverty in the state of Michoacán, El Mencho grew avocados and dropped out of primary school before immigrating illegally to the U. S. in the 1980s. After being arrested several times, he was deported to Mexico in the early 1990s and worked for the Milenio Cartel. He eventually climbed to the top of the criminal organization and founded the CJNG after several of his bosses were arrested or killed.His notoriety was also a result of his aggressive leadership and sensationalist acts of violence against rival criminal groups and Mexican security forces alike. These attacks brought him increased government attention and an extensive manhunt. Security forces suspected he was hiding in a rural area of Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, or Colima, and that he was guarded by mercenaries with military training.On 22 February 2026, Oseguera was seriously wounded during a Mexican military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and died of his gunshot wounds while being transported to Mexico City. The operation, aided by U. S. intelligence, triggered widespread retaliatory violence by the CJNG, including road blockades, vehicle fires, and clashes that killed at least 25 National Guard members.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:37 UTC on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Amy.

This week on Curmudgeon's Corner Sam and Ivan talk Tesla, AI, Tariffs, Economy, Epstein, Cars, Movies and RobinLetter. Is that enough for you? I hope so, cause that's what you have this week. Plus the benefits of checking your mail! So there ya go! Show Details: Recorded 2026-02-21 Length this week 1:37:37 0:00:35 - Part One Movie: Tuck Everlasting (2002) Movie: Allegiant (2016) 0:16:49 - Part Two Tesla Pulling Back From Cars Electric Car Competition AI Risks and Benefits 0:49:04 - Part Three Looking at Mail Tariff Decision Negative Indicators 1:14:55 - Part Four New Epstein Consequences RobinLetter Update Expensive Cars The Curmudgeon's Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch. Our intro is The Oh of Pleasure (Amazon MP3 link) Our outro is Celestial Soda Pop (Amazon MP3 link) Both are from the album Deep Breakfast (iTunes link) Please buy his music and support his GoFundMe.

rWotD Episode 3217: Connectix Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Monday, 23 February 2026, is Connectix.Connectix Corporation was a software and hardware company that released innovative products that were either made obsolete as Apple Computer incorporated the ideas into system software, or were sold to other companies once they became popular. It was formed in October 1988 by Jon Garber; the dominant board members and co-founders were Garber, Bonnie Fought (the two were later married), and close friend Roy McDonald. McDonald was still Chief Executive Officer and president when Connectix finally closed in August 2003.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:16 UTC on Monday, 23 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Connectix on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.

fWotD Episode 3216: First Jewish–Roman War Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 23 February 2026, is First Jewish–Roman War.The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73/74 CE), also known as the Great Jewish Revolt, the First Jewish Revolt, the War of Destruction, or the Jewish War, was the first of three major Jewish rebellions against the Roman Empire. Fought in the province of Judaea, it resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple, mass displacement, land appropriation, and the dissolution of the Jewish polity.Judaea, once independent under the Hasmoneans, fell to Rome in the first century BC. Initially a client kingdom, it later became a directly ruled province, marked by the rule of oppressive governors, socioeconomic divides, nationalist aspirations, and rising religious and ethnic tensions. In 66 AD, under Nero, unrest flared when a local Greek sacrificed a bird at the entrance of a Caesarea synagogue. Tensions escalated as Governor Gessius Florus looted the temple treasury and massacred Jerusalem's residents, sparking an uprising during which rebels killed the Roman garrison while pro-Roman officials fled.To quell the unrest, Cestius Gallus, the governor of Syria, invaded Judaea but was defeated at Bethoron and a provisional government, led by Ananus ben Ananus, was established in Jerusalem. In 67 CE, Vespasian was sent to suppress the revolt, invading Galilee and capturing Yodfat, Tarichaea, and Gamla. As rebels and refugees fled to Jerusalem, the government was overthrown, leading to infighting between Eleazar ben Simon, John of Gischala and Simon bar Giora. After Vespasian subdued most of the province, Nero's death prompted him to depart for Rome to claim the throne. His son Titus led the siege of Jerusalem, which fell in the summer of 70 AD, resulting in the Temple's destruction and the city's razing. In 71, Titus and Vespasian celebrated a triumph in Rome, and Legio X Fretensis remained in Judaea to suppress the last pockets of resistance, culminating in the fall of Masada in 73/74 CE.The war had profound consequences for the Jewish people, many being killed, displaced, or sold into slavery. The rabbinic sages emerged as leading figures and established a rabbinic center in Yavneh, marking a key moment in the development of Rabbinic Judaism as it adapted to the post-Temple reality. These events in Jewish history signify the transition from the Second Temple period to the Rabbinic period. The revolt also hastened the separation between Christianity and Judaism. The victory strengthened the new Flavian dynasty, which commemorated it through monumental constructions and coinage, imposed a punitive tax on all Jews, and increased military presence in the region. The Jewish–Roman wars culminated in the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–136 CE), the last major attempt to restore Jewish independence, which resulted in even more catastrophic consequences.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:08 UTC on Monday, 23 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see First Jewish–Roman War on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Brian.

pWotD Episode 3218: Johnny Gaudreau Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 2,094,214 views on Sunday, 22 February 2026 our article of the day is Johnny Gaudreau.John Michael Gaudreau (August 13, 1993 – August 29, 2024) was an American professional ice hockey player. A winger, he played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for the Boston College Eagles in NCAA Division I for three seasons beginning in 2011 and was selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Nicknamed "Johnny Hockey", he was named the 2014 recipient of the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA and, during his first full NHL season in 2014–15, was selected to play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game, as well as being named to the annual NHL All-Rookie team. Gaudreau was a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist for the NHL's best rookie and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league's most gentlemanly player for the 2016–17 season. In 2022, Gaudreau signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he spent his last two seasons. Gaudreau was noted as helping to grow opportunities for smaller hockey players; despite measuring in at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), he was a seven-time NHL All-Star and finished fourth in Hart Memorial Trophy voting twice.Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver while cycling on August 29, 2024, in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:59 UTC on Monday, 23 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Johnny Gaudreau on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Ayanda.

fWotD Episode 3215: Donkey Kong (character) Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Sunday, 22 February 2026, is Donkey Kong (character).Donkey Kong (DK) is a character created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. A flagship character of the Japanese video game company Nintendo, he is the star of the Donkey Kong franchise and also appears in the Mario franchise. Donkey Kong is a large, powerful gorilla who leads the Kong family of simians. He is stubborn and buffoonish, and attacks using barrels. He wears a red necktie bearing his initials and is accompanied by supporting characters such as his sidekick Diddy Kong, rival Mario, and archenemy King K. Rool.Donkey Kong debuted as the antagonist of Donkey Kong, a 1981 platform game. He has appeared in many video games, including the original Donkey Kong arcade games, the Donkey Kong Country series of side-scrolling platform games, Mario games such as Mario Kart and Mario Party, and the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games. The original game characterized Donkey Kong as Mario's rebellious pet; games since Country feature him as a player character protecting his stash of bananas. Some games include Cranky Kong, an alternate, elderly incarnation who breaks the fourth wall. Donkey Kong has appeared in animation, comics, children's books, Super Nintendo World theme park attractions, and merchandise such as Lego construction toys. Miyamoto designed the original Donkey Kong using Popeye characters, but when Nintendo was unable to obtain the license, he created Donkey Kong to replace Bluto. He designed him as a dumb, humorous antagonist, named donkey to convey stubborn and kong to imply gorilla, and drew inspiration from the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" and the 1933 film King Kong. The Rare developer Kevin Bayliss redesigned Donkey Kong as a 3D model for Donkey Kong Country (1994), which served as the basis for his appearance until he was redesigned for Donkey Kong Bananza (2025). Donkey Kong has been voiced by Takashi Nagasako and Koji Takeda in games, and was voiced by Richard Yearwood in the television series Donkey Kong Country (1997–2000) and by Seth Rogen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).Donkey Kong has been listed among the greatest video game characters. He is one of Nintendo's most enduring characters; the Donkey Kong franchise was Nintendo's first major international success, established it as a prominent force in the video game industry, and remains one of Nintendo's bestselling franchises. Donkey Kong has also been the subject of analysis regarding his similarities to King Kong (which sparked the 1983 Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd. lawsuit), his gender role, and his transition from villain to hero.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:25 UTC on Sunday, 22 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Donkey Kong (character) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Stephen.

rWotD Episode 3216: José Martins Achiam Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Sunday, 22 February 2026, is José Martins Achiam.José Martins Achiam (Chinese: 龔智仁) (1944–2008) was a Portuguese Macau born Macanese martial artist and martial arts instructor focused on Karate.He is the founder and the father of Macau Karatedo and Seigokan Macau.Student of Yukiaki Yoki (Seigokan Sensei at Hong Kong), he introduced Karatedo to Macau in 1967.He traveled every week between Hong Kong and Macau in 1966/67 to gain more knowledge in Karate.His father worked in the Macau Judiciary Police officials.During 40 years in Macau, he vigorously developed karate and promote Macao Karate in the international karate community to achieve a certain position. In the Macau Karate sector his nickname was the "Master", the "Father of Karate".In 1970, Mr. Achiam played in Tokyo on behalf of Hong Kong to hold its first session of the World Karate Championships (WUKO I).In 1994, he vigorously promoted Macau to unite the various schools of Karate and then, when the Macao Karatedo Association (AKM) was established, he became its founding president re-elected since the term of office to vigorously promote karate and done efforts to increase the overall level, so in recent years, Macau Karate in a number of international competitions, is repeatedly winning.In the 90s, Jose Achiam began to participate in international affairs, has been elected as Secretary-General of the Asian Karatedo Federation (AKF) and for the Executive Committee of the World Karate Federation (WKF). His term of office was awarded by WKF assigned specifically to help China's accession to WKF. In July 2006 chaired the first training of karate Coaches of the Chinese Karatedo Association. J. M. Achiam term of office the Secretary-General on the AKF Asian Games in Seoul, to strive to karate as a sport and eventually succeeded in the Asian Games karate officially became a permanent sport. Earlier in 2008, Mr. Achiam has been named for the Macao Sports Committee.Mr. Achiam was father of two sons and two daughters. His young daughter, Mariana Vargas Achiam, competed several times in Macau and in Japan Karate Championships and won consecutively in 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. She also competed in 2008 on behalf of Macau, held in Sabah, the Ninth AKF Asian Youth, Junior Karate Championships. And in 2009, Mariana represented Macau and competed in the World Karate Championship in Morocco, Rabat. His third son, José Luís Pedruco Achiam had in 1998, the Asian Youth, Junior Karate Championships and in the 15-year-old team won the silver medal from his hand.On September 16, 2008 due to a severe stroke was admitted to hospital, until he died at 11:00 September 23, 2008. Mr. Achiam had 40 years of active contribution in karate.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:18 UTC on Sunday, 22 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see José Martins Achiam on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Joey.

pWotD Episode 3217: Alysa Liu Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 782,354 views on Saturday, 21 February 2026 our article of the day is Alysa Liu.Alysa Liu (born August 8, 2005) is an American figure skater. She is the 2026 Winter Olympic champion in both women's singles and in the team event, the 2025 World champion, the 2022 World bronze medalist, the 2025–26 Grand Prix Final champion, a two-time Grand Prix medalist, a four-time Challenger Series champion, and a two-time U. S. national champion.At the junior level, Liu was the 2020 World Junior bronze medalist, the 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist, a two-time Junior Grand Prix champion, and the 2018 U. S. junior national champion. In 2019, Liu, then 13, became the youngest-ever U. S. women's national champion. The following year, she became the youngest skater to win two senior national titles, the first woman to win consecutive U. S. titles since Ashley Wagner in 2012 and 2013 and the first woman to win the junior and senior titles back-to-back since Mirai Nagasu in 2008.At the 2025 World Championships, she became the first U. S. woman to win a world title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she became the first American woman to win an individual medal since Sasha Cohen in 2006 and the first American gold medalist since Sarah Hughes in 2002.An accomplished jumper, Liu was the first woman to complete a quadruple jump and a triple Axel in the same program, and the first to land a triple Axel-triple toe loop combination in the short program. She was the first American woman to land a quadruple jump and the first American junior woman to complete a triple Axel in international competition. In 2019, Liu was named to the inaugural Time 100 Next under the "Phenoms" section.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:08 UTC on Sunday, 22 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Alysa Liu on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.

fWotD Episode 3214: Shigi Qutuqu Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 21 February 2026, is Shigi Qutuqu.Shigi Qutuqu (c. 1178 – 1260) was a high-ranking official during the early decades of the Mongol Empire. The adopted son of the empire's founder Temüjin (later entitled Genghis Khan) and his wife Börte, Shigi Qutuqu played an important role in the codification of Mongol law, serving with distinction as an administrator in North China. He may also have been a major source for the Secret History of the Mongols, which portrays him very favourably.Although the Secret History states that Shigi Qutuqu was adopted by Hö'elün, Temüjin's mother, chronological inconsistencies make this account improbable. The foundling was brought up in Temüjin's household and was one of the first Mongols to become literate. The Secret History exaggerates his role in the years after the empire's foundation, but Shigi Qutuqu was nevertheless appointed to several high-ranking legal positions, in which he served during the Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty. He was the commander during the only Mongol defeat of the western campaign against Khwarazmia, being overcome by Jalal al-Din at the 1221 Battle of Parwan.Shigi Qutuqu continued his career as an official during the reign of his adoptive brother Ögedei Khan, Genghis's successor. He conducted a census of North China in 1235–1236 which allowed the Mongol administration to overhaul its fiscal policies. While some contemporaries found his decrees and judgements oppressive and biased, others praised his honesty and judicial integrity. Having survived power struggles during the reigns of Güyük and Möngke, Shigi Qutuqu died at the age of 81 during the Toluid Civil War.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:21 UTC on Saturday, 21 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Shigi Qutuqu on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Ruth.

rWotD Episode 3215: Cannock Wood Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Saturday, 21 February 2026, is Cannock Wood.Cannock Wood is a village and civil parish in the Cannock Chase district of Staffordshire, England. The village is situated around 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Cannock, the same distance south of Rugeley, and 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Burntwood. According to the 2011 Census, the parish had a population of 1,031, a decrease from 1,052 in the 2001 Census.Cannock Wood makes up part of Cannock Chase which is a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Its mainly residential area is interspersed with open areas including various parks and public footpaths through the local countryside. The village hosts tourist attractions including Castle Ring, an ancient fort, and Nun's Well.Cannock Wood also hoststwo pubs, The Park Gate Inn and The Redmore. There is also a village hall, a children's play area and a cricket club.Most children living in Cannock Wood between the ages of 4 and 11 attend primary school in the neighbouring hamlet of Gentleshaw.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:44 UTC on Saturday, 21 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Cannock Wood on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.

pWotD Episode 3216: Eric Dane Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 2,768,890 views on Friday, 20 February 2026 our article of the day is Eric Dane.Eric William Dane (November 9, 1972 – February 19, 2026) was an American actor. After multiple television roles in the 1990s and 2000s, including his recurring role as Jason Dean on Charmed, he was cast as Dr. Mark Sloan on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2006–2012; 2021). He went on to appear in films such as X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Marley & Me (2008), Valentine's Day (2010), Burlesque (2010), and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024). Dane also played Captain Tom Chandler in the TNT series The Last Ship (2014–2018), Cal Jacobs in the HBO drama series Euphoria (2019–2026), and FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe in the Amazon Prime Video crime series Countdown (2025).This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 22:07 UTC on Saturday, 21 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Eric Dane on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Ayanda.

fWotD Episode 3213: Zhang Jingsheng Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Friday, 20 February 2026, is Zhang Jingsheng.Zhang Jingsheng (20 February 1888 – 18 June 1970) was a Chinese philosopher and sexologist. Born Zhang Jiangliu to a merchant family in Raoping County in eastern Guangzhou, Zhang attended Whampoa Military Primary School, where he became a militant supporter of the Tongmenghui revolutionaries. After he was expelled from Whampoa, he met with Tongmenghui leader Sun Yat-sen and entered the Imperial University of Peking. He became an enthusiastic advocate of European ideas of social Darwinism, scientific racism, and eugenics, changing his personal name to Jingsheng, "competition for survival". He was an active member of the Beijing Tongmenghui cell alongside Wang Jingwei, but declined a political post in the aftermath of the 1911 Revolution, instead studying in France.Zhang received a doctorate from the University of Lyon in 1919 for a thesis on Jean-Jacques Rousseau, one of his major philosophical inspirations. On recommendation from Cai Yuanpei, he became a professor at Peking University soon after his return to China in 1920. During the early 1920s, he wrote two books advocating for a society organized around aesthetic principles. In 1926, he published Sex Histories, a sexology text based on stories of sexual encounters he gathered from the public. He was ridiculed by much of the Chinese media and academia for the book, and was often referred to by the mocking nickname Dr. Sex (性博士; Xìng Bóshì) in the tabloid press. A number of unauthorized pornographic sequels were made due to its popularity, leading to confusion about which books were Zhang's original work. He left teaching and settled in Shanghai shortly after the release of Sex Histories. He founded a "Beauty Bookshop" in Shanghai, which published sex-education texts and translations of European literature and philosophy, and edited a monthly periodical he named New Culture. In 1929, he returned to France to work as a translator after his business efforts in Shanghai failed. Four years later, he returned to his home county of Raoping and worked in local politics and education in relative obscurity. He was persecuted by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution and died while in confinement in 1970.Loosely inspired by Havelock Ellis, Zhang's sexual thought centers on the absorption of bodily fluids produced during sex, which he saw as important for sexual pleasure and the vitality of the resulting children. His political writings outlined a utopian "New China" which would govern society according to aesthetics and sentimentality. This "aesthetic state" would institute a national eugenics program to resolve what he perceived as the weaknesses of the Chinese race. Although he enjoyed a brief period of academic prestige for his works in the early 1920s, the scandal around Sex Histories destroyed his professional reputation, and he became disconnected from academia. Posthumous scholarly opinions on him and his work range from dismissive to highly supportive. His son Zhang Chao, a local official in Raoping, collected his works and worked to promote his legacy during the 1980s. His former home was rebuilt by the county government in 2004 and converted into Dr. Zhang Jingsheng Park. Collections of his writing began to be published during the 1980s, but a full republication of Sex Histories was not made until 2005, likely due to obscenity laws.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:06 UTC on Friday, 20 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Zhang Jingsheng on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Arthur.

rWotD Episode 3214: Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Friday, 20 February 2026, is Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump.The men's long jump field event at the 1960 Olympic Games took place on September 2. Forty-nine athletes from 34 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by 1 cm by Ralph Boston of the United States, the nation's eighth consecutive and 13th overall victory in the men's long jump. Igor Ter-Ovanesyan's bronze was the Soviet Union's first medal in the event.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:48 UTC on Friday, 20 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Kajal.

pWotD Episode 3215: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 497,997 views on Thursday, 19 February 2026 our article of the day is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor (born 19 February 1960), formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is a member of the House of Windsor. He is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and a younger brother of King Charles III. Andrew was born second in the line of succession to the British throne and is eighth as of 2026.Andrew served in the Royal Navy from 1979 to 2001. He saw active duty as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War. He later became a helicopter instructor and commanded a warship. He married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, and was created Duke of York on their wedding day. They had two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, before separating in 1992 and divorcing in 1996. From 2001 to 2011, Andrew served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, but resigned following scrutiny of his expenses and associations with controversial figures. He continued to undertake official duties on behalf of Elizabeth II until 2019.Andrew had a long‑standing association with Jeffrey Epstein, the American convicted sex offender, which has attracted widespread criticism. In 2014, alleged Epstein abuse victim Virginia Giuffre said that she had been sex-trafficked to Andrew by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, after previously telling the Daily Mail in 2011 that she had no sexual contact with him. Andrew denied any wrongdoing, and in 2022 settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in the United States without admission of liability. In the same year, Elizabeth II removed his military affiliations and patronages, and he ceased using the style "Royal Highness". In 2025, Charles III removed Andrew's remaining royal styles and honours, and restricted his use of titles and peerages. He vacated Royal Lodge, part of the Crown Estate, and relocated to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate. Following the release of the Epstein files in 2026, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was later released under investigation.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:59 UTC on Friday, 20 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Justin.

fWotD Episode 3212: Mindful (song) Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Thursday, 19 February 2026, is Mindful (song)."Mindful" is a song by American singer K. Michelle from her third studio album More Issues Than Vogue (2016). T-Pain wrote and produced the song, which Atlantic Records released as the album's third single on February 19, 2016. Throughout the hip-hop and R&B track, Michelle raps the lyrics and warns people to be "mindful" of her. Some reviewers noted that its uptempo production differed from Michelle's previous singles, and she stated that it was one of the first times she recorded a more light-hearted song. Critics praised Michelle's rapping in "Mindful", and referred to it as a highlight of her singles. The song's music video, which was released on March 10, 2016, portrays Michelle arguing with women in a trailer park, and was described by reviewers as colorful.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:21 UTC on Thursday, 19 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Mindful (song) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Salli.

rWotD Episode 3213: WCLO-TV Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Thursday, 19 February 2026, is WCLO-TV.WCLO-TV (channel 25), branded on-air as Cielo TV , is a Spanish-language religious television station licensed to Aguada, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1993, the station is owned and operated by New Life Broadcasting, making it a sister station to radio stations WNVM, WDNO and WNVE. The licensee is Western New Life, Inc. WCLO-TV's programming is also seen on translator station, W06DA-D, channel 6 in Aguada. The station broadcasts Christian music videos 24 hours a day.WKHD-LD (channel 15) serves as a full-time translator of WCLO-TV and covers all the entire western region.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:42 UTC on Thursday, 19 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see WCLO-TV on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Emma.

pWotD Episode 3214: Ash Wednesday Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 311,650 views on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 our article of the day is Ash Wednesday.Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent: the seven weeks of prayer, fasting and almsgiving before the arrival of Easter. Ash Wednesday is observed by Christians of the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican (Episcopalian), and United Protestant denominations, as well as by some churches in the Reformed (including certain Congregationalist, Continental Reformed, and Presbyterian churches), Baptist, Methodist and Nazarene traditions.Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed with fasting and abstinence from meat in several Christian denominations. As it is the first day of Lent, many Christians begin Ash Wednesday by marking a Lenten calendar, praying a Lenten daily devotional, and making a Lenten sacrifice that they will not partake of until the arrival of Eastertide.Many Christians attend special Ash Wednesday church services at which churchgoers receive ash on their foreheads or the top of their heads, as the wearing of ashes has been a sign of repentance since biblical times. The imposition of ashes is typically done with the sign of the cross, signifying that the recipient is a follower of Jesus. Ash Wednesday derives its name from this practice, in which the words accompany the placement (imposition) of ashes, "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or the dictum "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 14:32 UTC on Thursday, 19 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Ash Wednesday on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Salli.

fWotD Episode 3211: Ælfwynn, wife of Æthelstan Half-King Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Wednesday, 18 February 2026, is Ælfwynn, wife of Æthelstan Half-King.Ælfwynn or Ælfwyn (died 8 July 983) was a member of a wealthy Anglo-Saxon family in Huntingdonshire who married Æthelstan Half-King, the powerful ealdorman of East Anglia, in about 932. She is chiefly known for having been foster-mother to the future King Edgar (ruled 959–975) following his mother's death in 944, when he was an infant. She had four sons, and the youngest, Æthelwine, became the chief secular magnate and leading supporter of the monastic reform movement. Ælfwynn donated her estates for his foundation of Ramsey Abbey in 966 and was probably buried there.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:07 UTC on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Ælfwynn, wife of Æthelstan Half-King on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Kajal.

rWotD Episode 3212: Sikandar Khan Ghazi Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Wednesday, 18 February 2026, is Sikandar Khan Ghazi.Sikandar Khān Ghāzī (Persian: سکندر خان غازی, Bengali: সিকান্দার খান গাজী) was the first wazir of Srihat under the Lakhnauti Kingdom ruled by Shamsuddin Firuz Shah. Prior to this, Khan was one of the commanders of the Battles of Gour during the Conquest of Sylhet in 1303. Early Persian manuscripts and inscriptions relating to Shah Jalal name Sikandar Khan Ghazi as well, highlighting his role as a commander in the battles.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:17 UTC on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Sikandar Khan Ghazi on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Nicole.

fWotD Episode 3210: USS Romeo Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Tuesday, 17 February 2026, is USS Romeo.USS Romeo was a sternwheel steamer that saw service as a tinclad warship during the American Civil War. Completed in August 1862 as a civilian vessel to be used for trade on the Wabash River, she was instead purchased by the Union Navy for military service in the war's western theater in October. Commissioned in December, she cleared naval mines from the Yazoo River later that month before participating in operations against Confederate-held Fort Hindman in January 1863. After the fall of Fort Hindman, Romeo joined an expedition up the White River. In February and March 1863, she was part of the Yazoo Pass expedition, and later that year she fought Confederates at river landings to help isolate Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the Vicksburg campaign.Later in 1863, Romeo served on the White River for part of the Little Rock campaign, but was in poor condition and required repairs. After these repairs, the vessel was transferred to the Tennessee River. During February 1864, she was part of an expedition up the Yazoo River to Yazoo City, Mississippi. She spent most of the rest of the war patrolling the Mississippi River, encountering Confederate land forces on several occasions. With the war drawing to a close in April and May 1865, Romeo was declared surplus on May 29. Decommissioned on June 30, she was sold on August 17 and was then used in the merchant trade. At some point in her civilian career, she was converted into a sidewheel steamer. Romeo ceased to appear in the shipping registers in 1870.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:17 UTC on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see USS Romeo on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Amy.

rWotD Episode 3211: Compensator (control theory) Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Tuesday, 17 February 2026, is Compensator (control theory).A compensator is a component in the control system that is used to regulate another system. Usually, it is done by conditioning the input or the output to that system. There are three types of compensators: lag, lead and lag-lead compensators.Adjusting a control system in order to improve its performance might lead to unexpected behaviour (e.g., poor stability or even instability by increasing the gain value). In order to make the system behave as desired, it is necessary to redesign the system and add a compensator, a device which compensates for the deficient performance of the original system.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:48 UTC on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Compensator (control theory) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.

On this week's Curmudgeon's Corner Ivan and Sam remember Ray Lynch, they talk about movies and television, Sam plugs his RobinLetter project, and then of course they discuss the systematic destruction of American government by the Trump administration. Oh. And Bad Bunny. Show Details: Recorded 2026-02-14 Length this week 2:01:23 0:00:40 - But First Rough Months Ray Lynch RobinLetter Movie: The Graduate (1967) Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939) 0:38:33 - But Second Government Incompetence Untrustworthy Economic Data Destruction of Trust Complicit or Spineless Slow Bleed of Support 1:24:21 - But Third L&O S6E23 Striking TV Episodes Bad Bunny Crimes Against Humanity Orifices The Curmudgeon's Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch. Our intro is The Oh of Pleasure (Amazon MP3 link) Our outro is Celestial Soda Pop (Amazon MP3 link) Both are from the album Deep Breakfast (iTunes link) Please buy his music and support his GoFundMe.

rWotD Episode 3210: Kalamunda Senior High School Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Monday, 16 February 2026, is Kalamunda Senior High School.Kalamunda Senior High School is a public co-educational high day school, located in the Perth suburb of Kalamunda, Western Australia.Kalamunda Senior High School offers enrolment for students from Year 7 to Year 12. Additionally the school offers various specialist programs which include:Gifted and Talented Visual Arts ProgramAcademic Excellence ProgramOutdoor Adventure ProgramPerforming Arts Program (General and Music streams)This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:00 UTC on Monday, 16 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Kalamunda Senior High School on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Kevin.

fWotD Episode 3209: Abraham Lincoln Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 16 February 2026, is Abraham Lincoln.Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War, defeating the Confederate States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery.Lincoln was born into poverty in Kentucky and raised on the frontier. He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Illinois state legislator, and U. S. representative. Angered by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854, which opened the territories to slavery, he became a leader of the new Republican Party. He reached a national audience in the 1858 Senate campaign debates against Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election, becoming the first Republican president. His victory prompted a majority of the slave states to begin to secede and form the Confederate States. A month after Lincoln assumed the presidency, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, starting the Civil War.As a moderate Republican, Lincoln had to navigate conflicting political opinions from contentious factions during the war effort. Lincoln closely supervised the strategy and tactics in the war effort, including the selection of generals, and implemented a naval blockade of Southern ports. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus in April 1861, an action that Chief Justice Roger Taney found unconstitutional in Ex parte Merryman, and he averted war with Britain by defusing the Trent Affair. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the slaves in the states "in rebellion" to be free. On November 19, 1863, he delivered the Gettysburg Address, which became one of the most famous speeches in American history. He promoted the Thirteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, which, in 1865, abolished chattel slavery. Re-elected in 1864, he sought to heal the war-torn nation through Reconstruction.On April 14, 1865, five days after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln was attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D. C., when he was fatally shot by stage actor John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer. Lincoln is remembered as a martyr and a national hero for his wartime leadership and for his efforts to preserve the Union and abolish slavery. He is often ranked in both popular and scholarly polls as the greatest president in American history.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:11 UTC on Monday, 16 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Abraham Lincoln on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Justin.

fWotD Episode 3208: Brass threepence Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Sunday, 15 February 2026, is Brass threepence.The brass threepence, or "threepenny bit", is a twelve-sided British coin equivalent to 1⁄80 of a pound. Struck between 1937 and 1967, with a final issue for collectors dated 1970, it was the first British coin that was not round.By the mid-1930s, the heavy weight of the bronze penny and its fractions had become an issue for firms, such as transport companies, that dealt with them in bulk. The silver threepence was unpopular in England due to its small size. The Royal Mint decided on a brass twelve-sided coin readily distinguishable from other coins due to its size, shape and colour. The initial reverse design, by Frances Madge Kitchener of a thrift plant, was altered at the direction of the Royal Mint by Percy Metcalfe without Kitchener's knowledge, but threatened legal action by her was settled with a joint statement to the press.The new coin was slow to circulate when released to the public in 1937, but eventually gained the public's liking, so much so that the silver threepence was discontinued in 1945. A new design, with a crowned portcullis, was instituted for Elizabeth II's initial coinage in 1953. The coin continued in commerce until the decimalisation of the pound in 1971, after which it rapidly vanished from circulation and lost its status as legal tender after 31 August 1971.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:32 UTC on Sunday, 15 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Brass threepence on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.

rWotD Episode 3209: Binding of Isaac Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Sunday, 15 February 2026, is Binding of Isaac.The Binding of Isaac (Hebrew: עֲקֵידַת יִצְחַק‎, romanized: ʿAqēḏaṯ Yīṣḥaq), or simply "The Binding" (הָעֲקֵידָה‎, hāʿAqēḏā), is a story from chapter 22 of the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. In the biblical narrative, God orders Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain called Jehovah-jireh in the region of Moriah. As Abraham begins to comply, having bound Isaac to an altar, he is stopped by the Angel of the Lord; a ram appears and is slaughtered in Isaac's stead, as God commends Abraham's pious obedience to offer his son as a human sacrifice.Especially in art, the episode is often called the Sacrifice of Isaac, although in the end Isaac was not sacrificed. Various scholars suggest that the original story of Abraham and Isaac may have been of a completed human sacrifice, later altered by redactors to substitute a ram for Isaac, and some traditions, including certain Jewish and Christian interpretations, maintain that Isaac actually was sacrificed. In addition to being addressed by modern scholarship, this biblical episode has been the focus of a great deal of commentary in traditional sources of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:08 UTC on Sunday, 15 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Binding of Isaac on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.

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