today's Featured List/September 2022

September 2

Amir Hamzah

The bibliography of Indonesian author Amir Hamzah includes 50 poems, 18 pieces of lyrical prose, 12 articles, 4 short stories, 3 poetry collections, and 1 book. The majority of Amir's original poems are included in his collections Njanji Soenji (1937) and Boeah Rindoe (1941), both first published in the literary magazine Poedjangga Baroe. His first published works, poems entitled "Maboek..." ("Nauseous...") and "Soenji" ("Silent"), appeared in the March 1932 issue of the magazine Timboel; by the end of the year he had published his first short stories and lyrical prose. One of these works, a lyrical prose piece entitled "Poedjangga Baroe" ("New Writer"), was meant to promote the magazine of the same name that Amir established in collaboration with Armijn Pane and Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana. The magazine, first released in July 1933, published the vast majority of Amir's writings; most were written before 1935, then published later. His earliest poems followed the conventions of traditional pantuns, including a four-line structure and rhyming couplets. Later works departed from this traditional structure. (Full list...)

September 5

Locomotive on the Thamshavn Line

The first three mainline systems of the Norwegian railway network to be electrified were private ore-hauling lines. The Thamshavn Line (locomotive pictured) opened in 1909, and remained in revenue use until 1973, after which it was converted to a heritage railway. It is the world's oldest remaining alternating-current railway and the only narrow-gauge railway in the country to be electrified. It was followed by Norsk Transport's Rjukan and Tinnoset Lines two years later, and Sydvaranger's Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line in 1922. The Norwegian State Railways' (NSB) first electrification was parts of the Drammen Line in 1922 and the ore-hauling Ofoten Line in 1923, which connects to the Iron Ore Line in Sweden. The use of El 1 locomotives on the Drammen Line proved a large cost-saver over steam locomotives, and NSB started electrifying other lines around Oslo. During the 1940s, NSB electrified the Sørland Line, although the final section from Egersund to Stavanger was not converted until 1956. The 1950s saw the electrification of several regional and commuter lines around Oslo. (Full list...)

September 9

The American space Western television series The Mandalorian has garnered numerous awards and nominations for its acting, directing, writing, visual effects, and production values. It is the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise, beginning five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). Among its recognitions, it has been nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards and thirty-three Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (winning fourteen Creative Arts Emmys). The series' first two seasons were nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. At the 2021 ceremony, it tied for most nominations with twenty-four, and it tied for most awards at the Creative Arts ceremony in 2020 with seven wins. The Mandalorian has also been nominated for one British Academy Television Award. The series was selected by the American Film Institute as one of its top 10 television programs of the year in 2020. (Full list...)

September 12

Common loon

The birds of Ontario include all the bird species recorded in the Canadian province of Ontario as determined by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC). As of July 2020, there were 501 species on this list, 291 of which are known to breed in the province. Ontario has a considerable variety of bird species. One of the factors in this diversity is the size and range of environments in Ontario. Another is the Great Lakes; many birds use the shores as a stopping point during migration. The OBRC Checklist divides the province into the Lowlands, Central, and South review zones and requests documentation of sightings of birds which are rare or accidental in one, two, or all of the zones. Of the 501 species on the list, 168 are noted as rare anywhere in the province and another 108 are rare in one or two of the zones. (Full list...)

September 16

Filipino singer Kyla has recorded material for nine studio albums and one extended play (EP), and has been featured on songs on other artists' respective albums. After signing a record deal with EMI Philippines, Kyla began working on her debut album, Way to Your Heart, which was released in 2000. It included the single "Hanggang Ngayon", whose accompanying music video won the International Viewer's Choice Awards for Southeast Asia at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. She wrote two tracks on her eponymous second album, which was released in 2002. Kyla's third album, I Will Be There (2013), included the title track written by Ogie Alcasid and a collaboration with English boy band Blue. Her fourth album, Not Your Ordinary Girl (2004), featured tracks written by Keith Martin, while she co-wrote the title track for her 2006 release Beautiful Days. Kyla's next two albums—Heartfelt (2007) and Heart 2 Heart (2008)—were cover albums. She released her debut EP, Journey, in 2014 and collaborated with artists, including Yeng Constantino, Jay Durias, and Iñigo Pascual for her studio album The Queen of R&B in 2018. (Full list...)

September 19

Series title card

The Good Place, an American fantasy–comedy television series, broadcast fifty-three episodes over four seasons. Created by Michael Schur for NBC, the show focuses on Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a recently deceased young woman who wakes up in the afterlife and is sent by Michael (Ted Danson) to "the Good Place", a heaven-like utopia he designed, in reward for her righteous life. First announced as an untitled comedy series based on a pitch by Schur, the first season aired from September 19, 2016, to January 19, 2017. The second season premiered on September 20, 2017, and concluded on February 1, 2018. On September 27 of the same year, the third season began its broadcast, ending on January 24, 2018. The fourth and final season began airing on September 26, 2019, and finished its broadcast on January 30, 2020. During its run, the series was critically acclaimed and earned many awards, including two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Shout! Factory has distributed DVD releases since October 17, 2017. (Full list...)

September 23

Skyline of Valletta

There are three World Heritage Sites in Malta and a further seven on the official list of sites which may be considered for future submission. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Malta acceded to the convention on 14 November 1978, and all three sites were added in 1980: the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, the City of Valletta (pictured), and seven of the Megalithic Temples of Malta. Located primarily on Malta, the main island of the archipelago, they all are classified as cultural sites. (Full list...)

September 26

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Eleven players have held the number-one rank in the sport of snooker. Ray Reardon was the first to hold the position, and was followed by Cliff Thorburn, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan (pictured), Neil Robertson, Mark Selby, Judd Trump, and Ding Junhui. Snooker has utilised a world rankings system since 1975, used to seed players on the World Snooker Tour for tournaments. Originally rankings were published once a year, at the culmination of the season, however, since 2010, the rankings have been changed to be updated after every ranking tournament. Hendry held the number one position for the longest time under the annual format, holding it for nine years in total. Since it changed to a rolling format in 2010, Selby has held the title longer than anyone else. (Full list...)

September 30

Hurricane Gustav

The 1990 Atlantic hurricane season featured the most named storms of any hurricane season at the time. During the 1990 season, 14 tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean became named storms. The season officially started on June 1, 1990, and ended on November 30. However, storm formation is possible at any time of the year, as was the case in this season, when Tropical Depression One formed on May 24; Hurricane Nana, the season's final storm, dissipated on October 21. The season produced 16 tropical depressions, of which 14 intensified into tropical storms, 8 became hurricanes, and 1 became a major hurricane. Although the season had the highest number of named storms at the time, it featured only two notable storms, primarily because many of the tropical cyclones remained either weak or at sea. The two most significant storms of the season, in terms of damage and loss of life, were Hurricane Diana and Tropical Storm Marco. The strongest tropical cyclone of the season was Hurricane Gustav (pictured). (Full list...)