The China Syndrome premiered

March 16, 1979 –The Columbia Pictures thriller The China Syndrome, starring Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, and Wilford Brimley premiered in the US on this date. The film opened less than two weeks before the Three Mile Island Nuclear meltdown. When the film was first released, nuclear power executives soon lambasted the picture asContinue reading “The China Syndrome premiered”

Puff the Magic Dragon went on sale

March 16, 1963 –The musical group of Peter Paul and Mary released their hit single Puff the Magic Dragon, on this date. This song was rumored to be about drugs, particularly marijuana. Some of the alleged drug references in this song include the “autumn mist,” which was marijuana smoke, and the “land of Hanah Lee,”Continue reading “Puff the Magic Dragon went on sale”

Today’s lesson: Avoid wearing skirts in mid March

March 15, 44 BC –Julius Caesar, already warned to be wary on this the Ides of March by the astrologer Spurinna, was assassinated with pointy knives by a group of Senators, including Brutus and Cassius, at the Pompey theater. They were angry at him because he had crossed the Rubicon. Later Marc Antony borrowed everyone’sContinue reading “Today’s lesson: Avoid wearing skirts in mid March”

Mr. Belvedere premiered

March 15, 1985 –The 1948 film Sitting Pretty, starring Clifton Webb, was adapted in the TV sitcom, Mr. Belvedere, starring, Christopher Hewett, Bob Uecker, and Ilene Graff, premiered on ABC TV, on this date. The series was the fourth attempt to adapt the 1947 novel Belvedere by Gwen Davenport and subsequent film series for television.Continue reading “Mr. Belvedere premiered”

Roxy Music’s Jealous Guy topped the charts

March 14, 1981 –Roxy Music had their only U.K. No. 1 single with their version of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy, on this date. Roxy Music recorded this as a tribute to Lennon, who was murdered on December 8, 1980. Bryan Ferry performs the whistling solo on the Roxy Music version. The Roxy frontman’s whistling prowessContinue reading “Roxy Music’s Jealous Guy topped the charts”

Love is like Pi: natural, irrational, and very important

Today is Pi Day! Pi Day was founded by Physicist Larry Shaw in 1988. Pi Day is celebrated by math enthusiasts ( read – lonely shut-ins) around the world on March 14th. π was first used as a mathematical symbol in 1706 by William Jones. Albert Einstein’s parents conveniently arranged for him to be bornContinue reading “Love is like Pi: natural, irrational, and very important”