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Today's featured article Richard II (1367–1400) was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III. Richard was tall, good-looking and intelligent. Although probably not insane, as earlier historians believed, he may have suffered from one or several personality disorders that may have become more apparent toward the end of his reign. Less of a warrior than either his father or grandfather, he sought to bring an end to the Hundred Years' War that Edward III had started. He was a firm believer in the royal prerogative, which led him to restrain the power of his nobility and rely on a private retinue for military protection instead. He also cultivated a courtly atmosphere where the king was an elevated figure, and art and culture were at the centre, in contrast to the fraternal, martial court of his grandfather. Richard's posthumous reputation has to a large extent been shaped by Shakespeare, whose play Richard II portrays Richard's misrule and Bolingbroke's deposition as responsible for the 15th-century Wars of the Roses. Most authorities agree that the way in which he carried his policies out was unacceptable to the political establishment, and this led to his downfall. (more...) Recently featured: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. – Martin Brodeur – Ram Narayan Did you know... From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the zig-zag wattle (pictured) is so named for its zig-zag stems? ... that Sherina's Adventure featured a young girl going against Sadam, then joining forces with him, in a story inspired by Grease? ... that in 678 BCE Duke Wu started the practice of funeral human sacrifice in Qin, which continued in the ancient Chinese state for nearly three centuries till Duke Xian abolished it in 384 BCE? ... that the Pebble smartwatch failed to interest traditional investment groups, and then became the most successful project in the history of Kickstarter? ... that German general Hermann von Kuhl is one of only five recipients to be distinguished with both the "military class" and "peace class" of the Pour le Mérite? ... that Buenos Aires besieged and captured Montevideo during the Second Banda Oriental campaign? ... that the fictitious P. Orno is named as author of several mathematical papers emanating from Ohio State University?

In the news The coalition Let's Get Serbia Moving, led by Tomislav Nikolić (pictured), wins a plurality in the Serbian parliamentary election. Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the World Snooker Championship. New Democracy wins a plurality in the Greek legislative election. François Hollande is elected President of France. I'll Have Another, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, wins the Kentucky Derby. Beastie Boys founding member Adam Yauch, better known by the stage name "MCA", dies at the age of 47. János Áder is elected President of Hungary following the resignation of Pál Schmitt. On this day... May 8: Victory in Europe Day; Miguel Hidalgo's Birthday in Mexico 1541 – Spanish conquistadors led by Hernando de Soto (pictured) became the first documented Europeans to reach the Mississippi River. 1924 – Lithuania signed the Klaipėda Convention with the nations of the Conference of Ambassadors, taking the Klaipėda Region from East Prussia and making it into an autonomous region under unconditional sovereignty of Lithuania. 1945 – Most armed forces under German control ceased active operations by 23:01 CET after the German Instrument of Surrender was formally ratified, marking the end of World War II in Europe. 1972 – Four members of Black September hijacked Sabena Flight 571 to demand the release of 315 convicted Palestinian terrorists. 1987 – A British Army Special Air Service unit ambushed a Provisional Irish Republican Army unit in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, killing eight IRA members and a civilian. More anniversaries: May 7 – May 8 – May 9 It is now May 8, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Featured picture (Check back later for today's.) Vials of electric glow discharge of five of the six naturally occurring noble gases (left to right: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon—radon is not pictured). Under standard conditions, the noble gases are odorless, colorless, monatomic gases, with very low chemical reactivity. They have several important applications in industries such as lighting, welding, and space exploration. Photos: Jurii Recently featured: Parodia tenuicylindrica – Nefertiti Bust – Monarch butterfly with a tracking tag

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