ittacula exsul) is an extinct species of parrot that was endemic to the Mascaren

e island of Rodrigues in the western Indian Ocean. Several of its features diver
ged from related species, indicating long-term isolation and adaptation on Rodri
gues. Around 40 centimetres (16 in) long, Newton's parakeet was roughly the size
of the rose-ringed parakeet, a close relative and probable ancestor. Its plumag
e was mostly greyish or slate blue, although most species in its genus are green
. Little is known about its behaviour; it may have fed on nuts of the bois d'oli
ve tree, along with leaves. It was very tame, and was able to mimic speech. Newt
on's parakeet was first written about by the French Huguenot Franois Leguat in 17
08, and was mentioned only a few times by other writers. The bird became scarce
due to deforestation and perhaps hunting, and was probably wiped out by a series
of cyclones and storms that hit Rodrigues in the late 19th century. Only two sp
ecimens remain, both from the 1870s. (Full article...)
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Did you know...
Space House, One Kemble Street
Space House, One Kemble Street
... that One Kemble Street (pictured) was built using precast cruciform concrete
blocks to avoid the use of scaffolding?
... that the billionaire Philip Day grew up on a council estate, and now owns a
country estate?
... that Tamedia, the publishing company of the German language women's magazine
Annabelle, banned it from reporting critical political news in 2013?
... that the Working Hotelling procedure, first formulated in 1929, was one of the
earliest methods of simultaneous inference?
... that T. H. White wrote Mistress Masham's Repose for Amaryllis Garnett?
... that some fighters of the Guardians of the Dawn describe themselves as "muja
hideen of the cross"?
... that Fantasia's song "I Made It" was described as sounding like a finale for
the musical The Color Purple?
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In the news
Damien Chazelle in 2014
Damien Chazelle
A suicide bombing at a shrine in Sehwan, Pakistan, kills at least 83 people and
injures more than 250 others.
The Indian Space Research Organisation's PSLV-C37 mission launches a record 104
satellites at once.
Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is killed in
Malaysia.
La La Land wins in five categories, including Best Film and Best Director (Damie
n Chazelle, pictured), at the British Academy Film Awards.
A suicide bombing at a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan, kills at least 15 peop
le and injures more than 80 others.
Ongoing: U.S. immigration suspension Battle of Mosul
Recent deaths: Stuart McLean Ricardo Arias Caldern Ren Xinmin Fab Melo
On this day...
February 17: Independence Day in Kosovo (2008)
Damage caused by the 2006 Southern Leyte landslide
Damage caused by the 2006 Southern Leyte landslide
1621 Myles Standish was elected as the first commander of the Plymouth Colony mi
litia, a position he would hold for the rest of his life.
1859 The French Navy captured the Citadel of Saigon, a fortress that was manned
by 1,000 Nguy?n dynasty soldiers, en route to conquering Saigon and other region
s of southern Vietnam.
1913 In the U.S. National Guard's 69th Regiment Armory in New York City, the Arm
ory Show opened, introducing Americans to avant-garde and modern art.
1964 Gabonese military officers overthrew President Lon M'ba, but France, honorin
g a 1960 treaty, forcibly reinstated M'ba the next day.
2006 A massive landslide (damage pictured) in the Philippine province of Souther
n Leyte killed over 1,000 people.
Wally Pipp (b. 1893) Geronimo (d. 1909)
More anniversaries: February 16 February 17 February 18
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From today's featured list
The Nebula Award for Best Script was given each year by the Science Fiction and
Fantasy Writers of America for science fiction or fantasy scripts for movies or
television episodes released in English in the United States or on the internet
during the previous calendar year. It was awarded annually from 1974 through 197
8, and from 2000 through 2009. It was presented under several names; in 1974, 19
75, and 1977 the award was for Best Dramatic Presentation, while in 1976 the awa
rd was for Best Dramatic Writing. The award was discontinued in 2010 and replace
d with The Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation; this award,
though not a Nebula, is presented at the Nebula Awards Ceremony and follows Neb
ula rules and procedures. During the 15 nomination years, 14 awards for Best Scr
ipt have been given, including the special award given to Star Wars Episode IV:
A New Hope in 1978 but not including 1977, since no nominee was given the award.
No winner was declared that year as "no award" received the highest number of v
otes. With three awards The Lord of the Rings film trilogy earned the most award
s or nominations of any franchise. (Full list...)
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Today's featured picture
The Rocket
The Rocket is an oil painting on canvas completed in 1909 by the American artist
Edward Middleton Manigault. It depicts a fireworks display over the Hudson Rive
r, as well as a boat full of spectators. The work is now held in the Columbus Mu
seum of Art.
Painting: Edward Middleton Manigault
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