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Today's featured article Tom Crean (1877–1938) was an Irish seaman and Antarctic explorer from County Kerry. He left the family farm near Annascaul to enlist in the Royal Navy at the age of fifteen. In 1901, while serving on HMS Ringarooma in New Zealand, he volunteered to join Scott's 1901–04 British National Antarctic Expedition on Discovery, thus beginning a distinguished career as an explorer during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. After the Discovery Expedition, he joined Scott's 1911–13 Terra Nova Expedition, which saw the race to reach the South Pole lost to Roald Amundsen, and ended in the deaths of Scott and his polar party. During this expedition, Crean's 56 km solo walk across the Ross Ice Shelf to save the life of Edward Evans led to him receiving the Albert Medal. His third Antarctic venture was the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition on Endurance led by Ernest Shackleton, in which he served as Second Officer. His contributions to these expeditions earned him three Polar Medals, and a reputation as a tough and dependable polar traveller. (more...) Recently featured: Ruffed lemur – Le Père Goriot – Albert Kesselring Archive – By email – More featured articles... Did you know... From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that drag racer Dale Armstrong (pictured) is credited with being the first crew chief to test a Funny Car in a wind tunnel? ... that more than 25,000 people have applied to take part in the Dublin Bikes scheme? ... that West Jewellers of Grafton Street, Dublin, had Queen Victoria's royal warrant to make her watches and she once bought two replicas of the Tara Brooch from the company? ... that a species of specklebelly lichen is only found in old growth forests and is being threatened in Scandinavia by increased predation from snails? ... that veteran Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne recognised Brian Jennings' ability to pronounce words well? ... that the Bayonne Statute, intended to be the basis for Joseph Bonaparte's rule of Spain, was never truly in effect because of a continual state of war? ... that after purchasing three shares for $180 in 1935 and living a frugal lifestyle, Grace Groner donated seven million dollars to her alma mater Lake Forest College upon her death? ... that the Friends of Cathedral Music was formed in 1956 after the Provost of Southwell Minster abolished Saturday choral services to allow the choir men to watch local Association football matches? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news A fire destroys the Kasubi Tombs (main building pictured), a World Heritage Site in Uganda where the Bugandan kings are buried. As much as ninety percent of Chile's population loses power in a massive blackout. A series of bomb attacks kills at least 72 people in Lahore, Pakistan. The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Paralympics is held in Vancouver, Canada. In Kazakhstan, at least 35 people are killed and more than 1,000 evacuated after the Kyzyl-Agash dam bursts. Mykola Azarov is appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine, following the resignation of Yulia Tymoshenko. Carlos Slim becomes the first non-U.S. citizen to top Forbes' list of billionaires since 1994. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events... On this day... March 17: Saint Patrick's Day 624 – History of Islam: The Muslims of Medina defeated the Quraysh of Mecca in Badr, present-day Saudi Arabia, a victory that has been attributed to divine intervention or the genius of Muhammad. 1860 - The First Taranaki War began at Waitara, New Zealand, marking an important phase of the New Zealand land wars. 1950 – The synthesis of californium, a radioactive transuranium element, was announced. 1969 – Golda Meir (pictured) became the first female Prime Minister of Israel. 2000 – Over 700 followers of the Ugandan sect Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God perished in a fire and a series of poisonings and killings, considered either a cult suicide or an orchestrated mass murder by its leaders. 2004 – Unrest in Kosovo broke out, resulting in the deaths of 20, the wounding of 200 others, and the destruction of several Serb Orthodox churches and shrines. More anniversaries: March 16 – March 17 – March 18 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 17, 2010 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture A photochrom print of Patrick Street in Cork, the second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland, ca. 1890–1900. Originally founded as a monastic settlement in the 6th century, Cork is believed to have been an important port city for Vikings. After the Great Irish Famine in the 1840s, Cork became a major point of Irish emigration to North America. Photochrom: Detroit Publishing Co.; Restoration: Lise Broer Recently featured: Pistachio – Acacus Mountains – Frontispiece to The Story of the Mikado Archive – More featured pictures...

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