SaturdaySat, January 18th Edition Go Back
Today in the World Countries
- Ascension Day is being celebrated in Benin
- People born on this day are Capricorn as their zodiac sign.
Today in History
Happening Today
- EVENTS
- A series of atmospheric river storms pummelling California finally subside, after more than 500 mudslides with "extensive" damage to 40 out of 58 counties, killing 20 people.
- DEATHS
- Henry Caicedo, Colombian soccer centre-back (11 caps; Deportivo Cali FC), who died from a stroke at 71.
On this day in 2022
- EVENTS
- Indonesia's parliament approves bill to relocate its capital to Borneo and announces new city's name will be Nusantara, (meaning archipelago).
- Boston Bruins retire Willie O'Ree's #22 jersey, on the 64th anniversary of his becoming the NHL's first Black player.
- France records a record 464,769 new COVID-19 pandemic cases with other European countries also registering record numbers amid Omicron's spread.
- DEATHS
- Dick Halligan, American Grammy Award-winning jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger (Blood, Sweat & Tears,1967-72 - "Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie"), who died at 78.
- Paavo Heininen, Finnish contemporary classical composer (Tritopos; Veitsi - The Knife), and pedagogue, who died at 84.
- TV SERIES
- How I Met Your Father: Season 1 is released. Sophie (Hilary Duff) tells her son how she met his father in 2021 in this spinoff of How I Met Your Mother created and written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger.
- GAMING: PC
- Nobody Saves the World for PC is released. From the developers of Guacamelee! 1 + 2 comes Nobody Saves the World, a new twist on Action RPGs, in which you play many different character Forms, each with their own unique gameplay mechanics.
- SPORTS
- Ron Franklin, American sportscaster (ESPN 1987-2011; ESPN College Football Primetime), who died at 79.
- Lusia Harris, American Basketball HOF center (AIAW C'ship & MVP 1975–77, Delta State University; Olympic silver 1976), who died at 66.
- Microsoft says it is buying Activision Blizzard, publisher of online games "Call of Duty", "World of Warcraft" and "Candy Crush" for $70 billion - biggest-ever gaming and tech takeover.
- Alberto Michelotti, Italian soccer referee (12 internationals; Serie A 1967-81; FIFA listed 1973-81), who died at 91.
On this day in 2021
- EVENTS
- American composer, producer, arranger, and musician Perry Botkin Jr. died age 87. As an arranger, he worked with Bobby Darin, Harry Nilsson, Gary Crosby, The Lettermen and Harpers Bizarre, among others. "Nadia's Theme", composed by Botkin and Barry De Vorzon, peaked at No.8 on the Billboard chart in 1976. He was also a major contributor to Incredible Bongo Band, one of the most influential groups of all-time for its Bongo Rock album which is one of the most sampled from records, making it a major influence in the origins of Hip hop..
- Brazil begins vaccinations for COVID-19 pandemic with the world's second-highest death toll at 209,000.
- DEATHS
- Bobby Jacks, Race Car Driver.
- Josep Mestres-Quadreny, Spanish composer, who died at 91.
- (James Frederick) "Jimmie" Rodgers, American pop singer and guitarist (" Honey Comb" ; “Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again”), who died of kidney disease at 87.
- James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers, American pop singer and guitarist (" Honey Comb" ; “Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again”), who died of kidney disease at 87.
- Perry Botkin Jr, American arranger, composer (" Nadia's Theme"), and producer (Incredible Bongo Band), who died at 87.
- SPORTS
- Don Sutton, American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (MLB All-Star 1972,73,75,77; MLB ERA leader 1980; LA Dodgers), who died from cancer at 75.
On this day in 2020
- EVENTS
- Premiership Rugby announces reigning European and English champions Saracens to be relegated for exceeding salary cap the previous 3 seasons; club fined £5.3m and docked 35 Premiership points.
- DEATHS
- Peter Mathebula, South African boxer (WBA flyweight title 1980-81), who died at 67.
- Bubby Jones, Race Car Driver.
- Mario Bergamaschi, Italian soccer midfielder (5 caps; Calcio Como, A.C. Milan, U.C. Sampdoria), who died at 91.
- SEPERATIONS
- Nashville folk singer David Olney died age 71 after suffering a heart attack during a performance in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. He formed the band The X-Rays, which released two albums before splitting up in 1985. His songs have been covered by numerous artists, including Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, Linda Ronstadt and Steve Earle..
On this day in 2019
- DEATHS
- Glen Wood, American auto racer, team owner (Wood Bros Racing), who died at 93.
- Colin Hall, Race Car Driver.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Don't Come Back from the Moon is released. Don't Come Back from the Moon is a story of abandonment, when all the men in a remote California desert town walk away from their families, one by one. They leave their angry, frustrated sons and daughters behind — kids who act out, engage in acts of petty burglary and vandalism, and look for love and family connection in the aftermath of their abandonment, all the while trying to understand why their fathers have “gone to the moon, ” leaving them to traverse the difficult path to adulthood alone.
- Egg is released. Over the course of one explosive evening, two couples and a surrogate must face their own ridiculous and sometimes heartbreaking shortcomings. Artist Tina (Alysia Reiner) and her passive-aggressive feminist husband (Gbenga Akinnagbe) invite her eight-months pregnant art school rival (Christina Hendricks) and power hungry, new-money husband (David Alan Basche) to their Brooklyn loft, surprising them with Tina’s new work-in-progress: a radical alternative to motherhood. But when their sensuous, non-traditional surrogate arrives (Anna Camp) the truth comes out, and the patriarchy fights to hang on by its teeth. [Gravitas Ventures]
- The Standoff at Sparrow Creek is released. After a mass shooting at a police funeral, reclusive ex-cop Gannon finds himself unwittingly forced out of retirement when he realizes that the killer belongs to the same militia he joined after quitting the force. Understanding that the shooting could set off a chain reaction of copycat violence across the country, Gannon quarantines his fellow militiamen in the remote lumber mill they call their headquarters. There, he sets about a series of grueling interrogations, intent on ferreting out the killer and turning him over to the authorities to prevent further bloodshed.
- West of Sunshine is released. Separated from his family and caught in a cycle of gambling and debt, Jim has less than a day to repay a violent loan shark. His day is turned upside down when he must look after his young. Jim's relationship with his son is tested as his plans to pay back the loan fail. When his last desperate effort to repay the debt puts his son's life at risk, he must make a choice between his past and a second chance at life.
- MOVIES: PG13
- Glass is released. Following the conclusion of Split, Glass finds David Dunn (Bruce Willis) pursuing Kevin Wendell Crumb’s (James McAvoy) superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.
- MOVIES: R
- An Acceptable Loss is released. She was the ultimate patriot. Now, what she knows could bring down the government. Libby Lamm (Tika Sumpter) is a former top national security advisor who, while working with Rachel Burke (Jamie Lee Curtis), a ruthless, steely-willed political veteran, signed off on a controversial military action that was supposed to end the war on terror. The problem: thousands died under false pretenses. Haunted by what she knows, Libby sets out to tell the truth, risking treason—and her own life—to expose a cover-up that stretches all the way to the highest levels of government. [IFC Films]
- MOVIES: TVMA
- Adult Life Skills is released. Anna (Jodie Whittaker) is comfortable living in her mom's garden shed making funny videos all day, but as she approaches 30, she starts feeling the pressure to move on and "grow up"without compromising her youthful spirit.
- Close is released. Sam (Noomi Rapace), a counter-terrorist expert, takes on the job of protecting Zoe (Sophie Nélisse), a young heiress — a babysitting job for her. But a violent attempted kidnapping forces the two to go on the run. Now they’ve got to take some lives — or lose theirs.
- Fyre is released. An exclusive behind the scenes look at the infamous unraveling of the Fyre music festival.
- ALBUMS
- Heard It in a Past Life was released by Maggie Rogers. The debut full-length major label release for the singer-songwriter features contributions from such artists as Rostam Batmanglij, Kid Harpoon, Greg Kurstin, and Ricky Reed.
- Love Hates What You Become was released by Lost Under Heaven. The second full-length release for the British duo of Ebony Hoorn and Ellery James Roberts was produced by John Congleton.
- It Won't Be Like This All the Time was released by The Twilight Sad. The fifth full-length release for the Scottish indie rock quintet was produced by band's guitarist, Andy MacFarlane.
- Malibu Ken was released by Malibu Ken. This is the debut full-length release for the collaboration between Aesop Rock and Tobacco.
- Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD was released by Future. The seventh full-length studio release for the Atlanta rapper features guest appearances from Gunna, Travis Scott and Young Thug.
- Fool was released by Joe Jackson. The latest full-length release for the British singer-songwriter was recorded in Boise, Idaho and was co-produced with Pat Dillett.
- Assume Form was released by James Blake. The fourth full-length release for the British electronic producer features guest appearances from André 3000, Metro Boomin, Rosalía, Travis Scott, and Moses Sumney.
- About the Light was released by Steve Mason. The fourth full-length solo release for the former Beta Band frontman was recorded with producer Stephen Street's live band.
- The Unseen In Between was released by Steve Gunn. The latest full-length solo release for the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter was produced by James Elkington.
- Weird was released by Juliana Hatfield. The 17th full-length solo studio release for the indie singer-songwriter was self-produced.
- Phoenix was released by Pedro the Lion. Produced with Andy Park, the fifth full-length release is the first in nearly 15 years for the Seattle indie band led by David Bazan.
- Outer Peace was released by Toro y Moi. The latest full-length release for Chaz Bundick as Toro y Moi features guest appearances from ABRA and Wet.
- Remind Me Tomorrow was released by Sharon Van Etten. The fifth full-length release for the singer-songwriter was produced by John Congleton.
- Scholars was released by Buke and Gase. The third full-length release for the New York duo of Arone Dyer and Aron Sanchez is their first in five years.
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes for Switch is released. Seven years have passed since the events of No More Heroes, and The Bad is determined to exact his revenge on Travis Touchdown. Just like the original cult classic, players will have to battle through multiple punk-rock levels and defeat over-the-top bosses.
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown for Xbox One is released. Strap yourself into the cockpit of some of the worlds most formidable fighter planes and skim through the clouds embarking on daring aerial stunts and nerve-shredding tactical dogfights.In Ace Combat 7, you take on the role of an Ace an elite fighter pilot tasked with patrolling the most open and intimidating space on Earth: the sky. Choose from an array of authentic modern and futurist aircraft and load them up with an arsenal of cutting-edge super weapons as unfolding events drive you into ever more dangerous aerial face-offs.PlayStation VR support will allow you to actually climb inside the cockpit with a series of exclusive features that create a new level of death-defying immersion.
- Guacamelee! 2 for Xbox One is released. Brawling has never been more beautiful! The long-awaited sequel to the smash hit action-platformer is here: Guacamelee! 2 brings luchador Juan Aguacate out of retirement for a stunning new Metroidvania-style adventure, where he must face his greatest challenge yet - one that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the Mexiverse!Explore a huge, hand-crafted world inspired by Mexican culture and folklore, filled with sassy new villains and weirdos (and a few old friends!). Learn a deep repertoire of bone-crunching wrestling moves to fend off the skeletal hordes and overcome skillful platforming challenges... and who said anything about a Chicken Illuminati? Certainly not us!Check out these features:* An epic adventure spanning time and space, featuring drop-in 4-player local co-op for you and your best amigos!* A brand new upgrade system: discover "trainers"around the world, defeat their challenges, and develop your skill sets for movement, combat, and more!* A vibrant, colorful adventure that takes you from the Mangrove Swamp to Hell itself, featuring twice as many enemy types as the first game and a roster of eccentric new bosses!* An absolutely fuego electro-Mexican soundtrack, and more gorgeous visuals than ever thanks to a fancy new rendering engine!* Definitely no secret society of chickens that teaches you ancient chicken abilities previously lost to the ages!
On this day in 2018
- EVENTS
- First drone rescue of swimmers by lifeguards in New South Wales, Australia.
- Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira rides the largest-ever wave by a female surfer at 20.72 m (68 ft) at Praia do Norte in Nazaréin, Portugal.
- BIRTHS
- Malia O'Brian, Family Member, born in Philippines.
- DEATHS
- Roy Bennett, Politician.
- John Barton, British theatre director and co-founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who died at 89.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- The Banishment is released. The film investigates bonds of family, this time tackling the relationship between a husband and wife. A trip to the pastoral countryside reveals a dark, sinister reality for a family from the city. Eschewing easy answers and tackling a wide array of themes, The Banishment poetically renders the persistent human state of exile from our surroundings. [Kino Lorber]
- GAMING: PC
- Genital Jousting for PC is released. Genital Jousting is an online and local multiplayer party game about flaccid penises and wiggly anuses for up to eight players at once.
- Nantucket for PC is released. Chase after Moby Dick, and live through the Golden Age of American whaling in this seafaring strategy game. Set sail around the world, manage your ship and crew, and live Ishmael's story, the sole survivor of the Pequod, a few years after the events narrated by Herman Melville in his masterpiece.
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Darkest Dungeon for Switch is released. Darkest Dungeon is a gothic roguelike RPG dungeon crawler about the psychological stresses of adventuring. You will lead a band of four heroes on a perilous side-scrolling descent, dealing with a prodigious number of threats to their bodily health, and worse, a relentless assault on their mental fortitude! Five hundred feet below the earth you will not only fight unimaginable foes, but famine, disease, and the stress of the ever-encroaching dark. Darkest Dungeon focuses on the humanity and psychological vulnerability of the heroes and asks: What emotional toll does a life of adventure take?
- World to the West for Switch is released. World to the West is an action puzzler developed by Rain Games that continues exploring the universe of Teslagrad, already started by over 1.6 million people. Play as four charactersLumina the Teslamancer, Knaus the orphan, Miss Teri the mind bender and the gloriously mustachioed strongman, Lord Clonington, each hailing from individual nations and possessing unique identities and abilities. Explore untamed jungles, frozen tundras and the mysteries of an ancient prophecy. Be careful though. Nothing is ever what it seems. Will you join us in this journey to the West?Key Gameplay Features-Seamless transitions between combat and puzzle solving-Face your enemies head-on with brute force, avoid or convince them-A vibrant world enriched with tons of non-playable characters and a deep lorePlatform Exclusive Features-Have the map display on the gamepad, and update your position in the world as you play.-Play the game in offscreen mode, and play it on the tablet screen exclusively.
- POLITICS
- Lucas M Mangope,1st president of Bophuthatswana (1977-94), who died at 94.
On this day in 2017
- EVENTS
- NASA and NOAA announce that 2016 was the hottest year on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2015 which itself topped a record set in 2014.
- DEATHS
- Mike Kellie, British session and touring rock drummer (Spooky Tooth; The Only Ones), who died at 69.
- Gene Pacheco, Race Car Driver.
- Roberta Peters [Peterman], American operatic soprano (NY Metropolitan Opera,1950-85), who died of Parkinson's disease at 86.
- Rachel Heyhoe Flint, English cricket batter and captain (22 Tests,23 ODOs; captain winning England team in inaugural Women's World Cup 1973), businesswoman and philanthropist, who died at 77.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Strike a Pose is released. In 1990, seven young male dancers - 6 gay,1 straight - joined Madonna on her most controversial tour. On stage and in the iconic film Truth or Dare they showed the world how to express yourself. Now,25 years later, they reveal the truth about life during and after the tour. Strike a Pose is a dramatic tale about overcoming shame and finding the courage to be who you are.
- TV SERIES
- Six: Season 1 is released. Navy SEAL Team Six (Edwin Hodge, Juan Pablo Raba, Kyle Schmid, and Barry Sloane) reunite to bring back one of their own in this military drama from William Broyles Jr. and David Broyles.
- SPORTS
- Baseball Hall of Fame adds Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez.
On this day in 2016
- EVENTS
- World's 62 richest people are now as wealthy as half the world's population according to a report published by Oxfam.
- DEATHS
- Glenn Frey, American Grammy Award-winning guitarist, singer-songwriter (The Eagles - "Take it Easy" ; "Heartache Tonight" ; "Tequila Sunrise" ; solo - "Smuggler's Blues" ; "The Heat Is On"), and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame member, who died from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia at 67.
- Mike Macdowel, Race Car Driver.
- Michel Tournier, French writer ( Friday, or, The Other Island), who died at 91.
- TV SERIES
- War & Peace is released. Countess Natasha Rostova (Lily James) becomes engaged to Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (James Norton) but eventually falls in love with Pierre Bezukhov (Paul Dano) in this adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic novel by Andrew Davies.
- GAMING: PC
- Gemini: Heroes Reborn for PC is released. Gemini: Heroes Reborn is a first person action-adventure that asks users to enter into the role of Cassandra, on a journey to unlock incredible powers, unique in the Heroes Universe.
- SPORTS
- Johnny Bach, American basketball coach (Fordham Uni, Penn State Uni; NBA C'ship 1991-93 Chicago Bulls assistant coach), who died at 91.
- The Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey died at the age of 67 in New York City from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia. Frey co-founded the Eagles in 1971 with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. After the breakup of the Eagles in 1980, Frey embarked on a successful solo career and went on to score the Top 40 hits 'The One You Love', 'Smuggler's Blues', 'The Heat Is On', and 'You Belong to the City'..
On this day in 2015
- EVENTS
- NFC Championship, CenturyLink Field, Seattle: Seattle Seahawks beat Green Bay Packers,28-22 (OT).
- American session drummer Dallas Taylor died of complications from viral pneumonia and kidney disease, aged 66. He is best known as the drummer on Crosby, Stills and Nash's debut album, Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969) and their follow-up with Neil Young, Déjà Vu (1970) as well as appearing on Stephen Stills' eponymous first solo album in 1970. Taylor was the drummer for Stills' group Manassas in 1972 and 1973. In 1970, Dallas sat in with The Doors accompanying John Densmore on drums. Jim Morrison acknowledges him on The Doors Live in New York album..
- DEATHS
- A$ap Yams, Rapper.
- Dallas Taylor, American session drummer (Crosby, Stills & Nash, Clear Light), who died of complications from pneumonia and kidney disease at 66.
- POLITICS
- Piet van der Sanden, Dutch journalist and politician (CDA), who died at 90.
- SPORTS
- AB de Villiers makes the fastest century in ODI cricket history from 31 balls against the West Indies.
On this day in 2014
- EVENTS
- 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards: Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett win.
- DEATHS
- Dennis Frederiksen, American rock singer, who died from liver cancer at 62.
- TV SERIES
- Flowers in the Attic is released. Manipulated by her mother Olivia Foxworth (Ellen Burstyn), Corrine Dollangange (Heather Graham) hides her four children (Kiernan Shipka, Mason Dye, Maxwell Kovach, and Ava Telek) in the attic after the death of their father in this TV movie adaptation of the V.C Andrews book that was made into a theatrical film in 1987.
On this day in 2013
- EVENTS
- Former Incubus singer Brandon Boyd announces his new band, Sons of the Sea.
- Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin is indicted on corruption charges stemming from post-Hurricane Katrina business contracts and bribes.
- Brandon Boyd announces his new band, Sons of the Sea.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Birders: The Central Park Effect is released. A varied group of New Yorkers with attitude reveals how a hidden world of beautiful wild birds in the middle of Manhattan has upended and magically transformed their lives.
- Himizu is released. Himizu tells the powerful story of two teenagers’ struggle to live in dystopian future Japan destroyed by a natural disaster. Keiko (Fumi Nikaido) is a fourteen year old girl obsessed with Yuichi (Shota Sometani), in fact she is self admittedly his stalker. She collects his words and wallpapers her room with them, repeating them like a prayer and getting overexcited at spending any time with him. Yuichi is going through troubling times, his mother has left, leaving him to run the family business and his drunken father has run up debts with the yakuza which he must repay. When young Yuichi is pushed too far he embarks on a violent campaign of revenge against society’s evil doers and it’s up to Keiko to try to bring him back to the path of a decent man. [Third Window Films]
- Hors Satan (Outside Satan) is released. In a village on the French Opal Coast, a drifter enters into in a perplexing relationship with a young woman who has suffered abuse.
- Guilty of Romance is released. The final chapter of Sion Sono’s Hate Trilogy follows the wife of a famous novelist as she explores her sexuality.
- Stolen Seas is released. Utilizing exclusive interviews and access to real pirates, hostages, ship-owners, pirate negotiators and experts on piracy and international policy, Stolen Seas explores the Somali pirate phenomenon - how it came to be and why it will continue.
- MOVIES: PG13
- Mama is released. Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years.... but how alone were they?
- MOVIES: R
- LUV is released. An 11-year-old boy gets a crash course in what it means to be a man when he spends a day with the uncle he idolizes in LUV, a poignant and gritty coming-of-age story featuring standout performances by Common, Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, Charles S. Dutton and newcomer Michael Rainey Jr. With his mother in rehab and his father out of the picture, young Woody Watson lives with his grandmother in suburban Baltimore and longs for his family to be reunited. His charismatic Uncle Vincent has recently returned home after eight years in prison, determined to straighten out his life by opening a high-end crab shack that will establish him as a solid citizen with a legitimate future. Soon Vincent finds himself pulled back into the violent world he is trying to escape- and Woody has to decide whether to follow his hero- or become his own man. (Indomina Releasing)
- Broken City is released. A neo-noir about a New York City private eye who gets pulled into a shady mayoral election.
- The Last Stand is released. A drug cartel leader busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexico border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.