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Exterior set from Back to the Future

Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis, and starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson. Set in 1985, the story follows Marty McFly (Fox), accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean automobile. While there, Marty prevents his parents from falling in love, threatening his existence unless he reconciles the pair. Eric Stoltz was initially cast as Marty, but after filming began, Zemeckis determined he was not right for the part and hired Fox, re-filming scenes already shot. The film was the highest-grossing film of 1985 worldwide, earning $381.1 million. Critics praised the story, humorous elements, and the cast. It won an Academy Award, three Saturn Awards, and a Hugo Award. Its theme song, "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News, was also a success. Two sequels, video games, theme park rides, an animated television series, and a stage musical testify to its enduring popularity. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

Erna P. Harris

... that African-American journalist Erna P. Harris (pictured) was called a "fearless critic" of the internment of Japanese Americans by the US government during World War II?
... that despite J. R. R. Tolkien's dislike of Shakespeare, he was influenced by his work?
... that the television series The Owl's Legacy was modelled after the ancient Greek symposium?
... that James Danandjaja, an expert on Indonesian folklore and the pioneer of Indonesian folkloristics, also learned ballet and modern dance?
... that Rick and Morty caused McDonald's to bring back its Szechuan Sauce, twenty years after it was discontinued?
... that the release of Mario Kart: Super Circuit in China was cancelled because of excessive video-game piracy in the country?
... that Constans II was a monk before he became a Roman emperor?
... that the particular church to which one belongs determines the right rite and the use to use?

In the news

Cyclone Gabrielle intensifying off the coast of Australia

Cyclone Gabrielle (satellite image shown) causes widespread damage and flooding across New Zealand.
After a derailment of a train carrying vinyl chloride near East Palestine, Ohio, US, residents are evacuated over health concerns from the subsequent controlled burn.
Nikos Christodoulides is elected President of Cyprus.
In American football, the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
A megadrought and heatwave cause forest fires and a state of emergency in Chile.

On this day

February 18

Enterprise atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

1766 – Enslaved Malagasy captives on the Dutch East India Company slave ship Meermin began a mutiny that led to the ship's destruction on Cape Agulhas in present-day South Africa and the recapture of the instigators.
1943 – The core members of the White Rose, an anti-Nazi resistance group, were arrested by the Gestapo in Munich, bringing the group's activities to an end.
1977 – NASA's first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, made its first test flight on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (both pictured).
2013 – Eight gunmen stole approximately US$50,000,000 worth of diamonds from a Swiss-bound aircraft at Brussels Airport, Belgium.

Michelangelo (d. 1564)
George Henschel (b. 1850)
Sergo Ordzhonikidze (d. 1937)

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Today's featured picture

The Lakhmid kingdom was an Arab kingdom in southern Iraq and eastern Arabia from the late 3rd century to 602. The Lakhmids were generally but intermittently the allies and clients of the Sasanian Empire, and participant in the Roman–Persian Wars. This Persian-language manuscript, dating from the 15th century and illustrated by Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād, depicts the construction of al-Khornaq Castle in the Lakhmid capital al-Hirah. The manuscript is in the collection of the British Museum in London.

Illustration credit: Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād

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