One eye when begun, two when it's done

A daruma doll. Tradition in Japan is that one pupil is drawn to remind oneself of a goal one is working towards; the other is drawn in when the task is complete. Seeing the one-eyed doll will remind you to keep working towards your goal. Had the Signpost added a dot to this doll's left eye, perhaps we would have finished this article on time.

This Signpost "Featured content" report covers material promoted from 7 to 13 June 2015.

Featured articles

Four featured articles were promoted this week.

The nearly 20,000-ton battleship Collingwood was, from completion to scrapping, extant for just 12 years.

1877 Wimbledon Championship (nominated by Wolbo) The first official men's tennis tournament held on grass later developed into the Grand Slam tournament sports fans know today. Spencer Gore, a rackets player, beat William Marshall in three straight sets. Anyone want to try playing with a racquet from that time?

HMS Collingwood (1908) (nominated by Sturmvogel 66) Sturmvogel's latest warship article focuses on the early dreadnought battleship Collingwood. The vessel was commissioned in 1910, but by the time the First World War began, Collingwood was already being outclassed by the quickly increasing size and power of the so-called super-dreadnoughts. After the war, the ship was used before being scrapped in 1922, meaning that Collingwood was only 12 years old from completion to scrapping.

John Wilton (general) (nominated by Ian Rose) Ian writes in his nomination statement that "The 'epitome of the professional army officer', as his biographer David Horner put it, John Wilton was as cool and 'proper' as his clipped moustache and stern visage suggested, but a leader who always seemed to have the welfare of his soldiers at heart." Wilton served as Australia's army and defense chief for several years—both during the Vietnam War, in which the Australian army, navy, and air force were deployed.

xx (album) (nominated by Dan56) This eponymous album from an English indie pop group was released in 2009 to widespread acclaim—one average of critical reviews pegged xx at an 87 out of 100. It was so popular that when xx's second album was released in 2011, their first was still ranked at 37th on the British chart.

I'm a little teapot, short and stout;
Here is my handle, and here is my spout.
If you tip me over, guards will shout
Because I'm National Treasure No. 61 of South Korea.

Jack Johnson is a musician in the folk rock, soft rock, and acoustic rock genres who achieved success with his first album, Brushfire Fairytales.

Featured pictures

Nine featured pictures were promoted this week.

A green lacewing fly, of the genus Chrysopa

A delicious-looking salak, or snake fruit.

Green lacewing fly (created and nominated by Alvesgaspar) Species of Chrysopa, such as this one, is a type of green lacewing fly which feed on aphids and other pest species.

Daruma doll (created and nominated by Crisco 1492) Daruma dolls are a Japanese traditional doll based on Zen Buddhism's founder, Bodhidharma. They are considered a sign of good luck. This one is seen as commonly sold: Without pupils, as drawing the pupils in is part of a ritual for planning and completing a task.

Actin Filaments in a Cultured Cell (created and nominated by Methylated603 (Howard Vindin)) A cultured osteosarcoma (bone cancer) cell fluorescently dyed to reveal the positions of actin, an important structural protein within the cell. Colours show the height of the actin fibre at that point, with 80 nanometer vertical resolution. This work shows a high degree of technical achievement; as one of the voters said, "I used to make pictures like these! Yours is much better than my best."

Airbus A380 (created by Julian Herzog; nominated by Julian Herzog) An Airbus A380, in the Emirates Airlines livery, photographed in flight. It's a lovely photo, sharp and high resolution.

Jack Johnson (created by Peterchiapperino; nominated by Crisco 1492) Surfer-musician-actor Jack Johnson also directed and acted in several films, including Thicker Than Water and The September Sessions, besides recording several notable albums, such as Brushfire Fairytales and Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George.

Monument to Alfonso XII of Spain (created by Carlos Delgado; nominated by Crisco 1492) King of Spain from late 1874 to his death in 1885, Alfonso XII came to power at the end of the First Spanish Republic, and is noted for presiding over the restablishment of Spain's economy after a crisis.

Ruby Loftus Screwing a Breech Ring (created by Laura Knight; nominated by Crisco 1492) Ruby Loftus was one of many women who joined the war effort in Second World War-era Britain by working in factories. This painting, by noted artist Dame Laura Knight, was commissioned by the War Artists' Advisory Committee, and raised Loftus to the position of the British Rosie the Riveter. Despite the name, this image is not pornographic and is perfectly safe for work. A breech ring need not be kept inside one's breeches. Unless you're a prude.

Salak (created and nominated by Crisco 1492) A sweet, acidic fruit, also called snake fruit due to its scaly skin, salak grows on a type of palm tree native to Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It looks delicious! How dare Chris tempt us all so?!

Celadon kettle in the shape of a dragon (created by National Museum of Korea; nominated by Blorgy555) The 61st item to be designated a National Treasure of South Korea, this Goryeo ware kettle in the shape of a dragon, no-one who read the title of the image will be surprised to learn, dates from the 12th century (and is in superb condition). It is made with celadon glaze, and is representative of a type of Korean pottery that reached a zenith of artistry in the 11th and 12th centuries, before being suppressed by the new rulers after a Mongol invasion, for reasons that must have made sense at the time!

Ruby Loftus Screwing a Breech Ring (1943) by Laura Knight.

Actin filaments in a cultured bone cancer cell, colour-coded for depth.