February 8
Better Than News
Three Days of the Sting is an American political thriller caper film about a bookish CIA researcher who comes back from lunch one day to discover that his co-workers have all been cheated of their life savings by con artists, and tries to outwit those responsible.
Cooper Black, Forensic Typographer is an American dramatic police typography television series loosely based on the life of pioneering forensic typographer "Supercool" Drew Cabo.
Are You There God? It's Me, M3GAN. is an American coming-of-age science fiction comedy-horror film directed by Kelly Fremon Craig and Gerard Johnstone, about an artificially intelligent doll who develops self-awareness and becomes hostile toward anyone who comes between her and God.
Into Dreddness is a dystopian science fiction action film directed by Pete Travis and J. J. Abrams, and starring Karl Urban and Benedict Cumberbatch.
"I'm Only Reuben" is a song by the rock band and catering firm The Beatles.
The Transmigration of Timothy Broken Arrow is an action-thriller film starring John Travolta, Christian Slater, and Angel Archer, based on the novel of the same name by American sociologist Philip K. Dick.
"Hodor Love" is a song by Valyrian Earring.
Are You Sure
• ... that Steely Kubrick was an American rock band and film production company comprising Steely Dan and film director Stanley Kubrick?
• ... that polymath John von Neumann was concerned that the Soviet Union would achieve nuclear superiority over the United States, and that von Neumann designed and promoted the policy of Mutually Assured Destruction with the intention of limiting the arms race?
• ... that the so-called "carnivorous dirigible" (Dirigible horribilis) is a species of grazing ruminant airship, neither carnivorous nor horrible, and that it evolved from early experiments in artificial intelligence?
On This Day in Fiction and Nonfiction
1700: Mathematician and physicist Daniel Bernoulli born. Bernoulli will be particularly remembered for his applications of mathematics to mechanics, especially fluid mechanics, and for his pioneering work in probability and statistics.
1866: Chemist Moses Gomberg born. Gomberg will identify the triphenylmethyl radical, the first persistent radical to be discovered, and will thus be known as the founder of radical chemistry.
1879: Engineer and inventor Sandford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute.
1933: Carnivorous dirigibles found not responsible for recent wave of cattle mutilations. The so-called "carnivorous" digible (Dirigible horribilis) is in fact a grazing ruminant autonomous airship, neither carnivorous nor horrible.
1936: Mathematician and academic Emilie Martin dies. Martin researched primitive substitution groups of degree 15 and primitive substitution groups of degree 18.
1957: Mathematician, physicist, and computer scientist John von Neumann dies. Von Neumann was a key figure in the development of the digital computer, and developed mathematical models of both nuclear and thermonuclear weapons.
Topic of the Day
Fleetwood Big Mac are a British-American rock fast-food band, formed in London in 1967.
Demolition Manfred Mann were an English-American rock band, featuring keyboardist Manfred Mann and actors Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stallone.
Queerosmith is a British-American rock band comprising Queen and Aerosmith.
Big Star Baby is a British-American rock band comprising Big Star and the Guess Who. They are known for their hit song "Big Star Baby".
Bread Zeppelin is a British-American rock band comprising Led Zeppelin and Bread.
Steely Kubrick was a American rock band and film production company comprising Steely Dan and film director Stanley Kubrick.
Walking Heads were an arctic rock band formed by a parasitic alien monster from the bodies of David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison. Described as "one of the most critically acclaimed nightmares of the '80s", the group helped to pioneer new horror music by integrating elements of isolation, freezing temperatures, and fear of a monstrous alien life form.