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Today's featured article

Stephen Colbert's performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner mocked the Bush administration and the White House press corps, and subsequently generated significant controversy. Stephen Colbert was the featured entertainer for the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, delivering a 20-minute speech and video presentation which was broadcast live on C-SPAN and MSNBC. Colbert spoke as the same character as the one he plays on The Colbert Report: an over-the-top send-up of a conservative pundit in the fashion of Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. Colbert satirized the Bush administration and the White House press corps. Colbert spoke directly to President Bush several times, satirically praising his foreign policy, lifestyle, and beliefs, and referencing his low approval rating and popular reputation. Various reports give an impression that Bush did not take too kindly to the performance, as several of Bush's aides and supporters walked out during Colbert's speech, and one former aide said that the President had "that look that he's ready to blow." Reaction to the event caused it to become an Internet and media sensation, and ratings for The Colbert Report soared 37% in the week following the speech. (more...)

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Selected anniversaries

November 21:

1272 - Prince Edward I became King of England, succeeding his father Henry III who died five days earlier.
1783 - The first successful untethered flight by humans was made in a hot air balloon constructed by the Montgolfier brothers (pictured).
1920 - Anglo-Irish War: The Irish Republican Army killed more than a dozen British intelligence officers known as the Cairo Gang, and paramilitary forces of the Royal Irish Constabulary opened fire on players and spectators at a Gaelic football match in Dublin on Bloody Sunday.
1977 - God Defend New Zealand became one of the national anthems of New Zealand.

Recent days: November 20 – November 19 – November 18

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In the news

Former Russian secret agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was investigating the recent murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, is in critical condition in a London hospital after an apparent thallium poisoning. The Russian security service denies any involvement.
Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, winner of five Olympic, eleven World Championships and ten Commonwealth gold medals, announces his retirement at the age of twenty-four.
A Malagasy general fails in his coup d'état attempt against President Marc Ravalomanana.
Ségolène Royal (pictured) wins the Socialist Party's nomination for President of France in next year's election to become France's first female presidential candidate representing a major party.
Joseph Kabila is declared winner of the election for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His opponent, Jean-Pierre Bemba, alleges fraud.
The Parliament of South Africa votes to legalize same-sex marriage.
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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest articles:
...that the only piece of the Palais Strousberg (pictured) to survive World War II, a set of gates bearing the British Coat of Arms, was incorporated into the modern British Embassy in Berlin?
...that instead of simply heating particles, the Migma fusion reactor uses small particle accelerators to initiate a fusion reaction?
...that Minnie Evans received inspiration for her colored pencil drawings from her dreams?
...that the free trade union SLOMR, established in opposition to the communist Romanian government, was suppressed one year before the creation of Solidarity, its more successful Polish counterpart ?
...that former executive director of the Institute of Food Technologists Howard W. Mattson became active in promoting organ donation after receiving a heart transplant?
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