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Linda Griffiths

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank is a 1984 science-fiction television film starring Raul Julia and Linda Griffiths (pictured). Based on a 1976 short story by John Varley from the Eight Worlds series, the film takes place in a dystopian future where an employee at a conglomerate, played by Julia, gets trapped inside the company's computer, where he is monitored and later abetted by a character played by Griffiths as he affects the real world. It was co-produced by Canada's RSL Films in Toronto and the New York television station WNET. Because of its limited budget, the motion picture was shot on videotape instead of film and was pre-sold to small American cable companies. It premiered on CBC Television in 1984 and was broadcast on American Playhouse in 1985. The film had a mixed reception from critics. Overdrawn at the Memory Bank was featured in the eighth-season finale of the comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1997. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

Diana Vicezar

... that Diana Vicezar (pictured) created recycled housing for street dogs, a recruitment platform for international students, and a podcast about Latin American students in Ireland?
... that the Weeping Angels, despite appearing as stone statues, are portrayed by actresses?
... that series fiction often suffers from "melodramatic inflation", requiring increasingly dramatic threats, which can lead to prequels and spin-offs?
... that 9 to 5 actor Dabney Coleman flew to New York City to pursue acting the day after an actor stopped by for a drink?
... that a set of 12th-century Swedish murals in Finja Church is the main achievement of a workshop that decorated at least ten other churches?
... that Ren Jinping fought the backlash against a crime film by calling it educational?
... that the California FAIR Plan could have nearly $5 billion of exposure to damage from the Palisades and Eaton Fires while only having $377 million on hand to pay claims?
... that statements about the character Ridley's reasons for not being in the fighting game series Super Smash Bros. led to Internet memes about the character's large size?
... that William Bartram was both the father of William Bartram and the grandfather of William Bartram?

In the news

Friedrich Merz

In the German federal election, the CDU/CSU, led by Friedrich Merz (pictured), wins the most seats in the Bundestag.
Archaeologists announce that the empty tomb Wadi C-4 near Luxor, Egypt, was that of the pharaoh Thutmose II.
At the British Academy Film Awards, Conclave wins four awards, including Best Film.
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf is elected chairman of the African Union Commission.
President of Romania Klaus Iohannis resigns from office, and is succeeded by Ilie Bolojan in an acting capacity.

On this day

February 24: Independence Day in Estonia (1918)

Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse

1711 – George Frideric Handel's Rinaldo, the first Italian-language opera written specifically for the London stage, premiered.
1809 – Napoleonic Wars: The British invasion of Martinique ends with the unconditional surrender of French admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (pictured), beginning a five-year occupation of the island.
1979 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Ugandan government forces fled Masaka as the Tanzania People's Defence Force bombarded and captured the town.
1989 – United Airlines Flight 811 experienced uncontrolled decompression after leaving Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii, blowing seats out of the aircraft and killing nine passengers.

Æthelberht of Kent (d. 616)
Judah Folkman (b. 1933)
Nina Simonovich-Efimova (d. 1948)
Leo Ornstein (d. 2002)

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From today's featured list

Explanatory model of chronic pain

Chronic pain is considered a syndrome because of the associated symptoms that develop in those experiencing this disorder. Chronic pain is defined as reoccurring or persistent pain lasting more than three months. Chronic pain continues past normal healing times and therefore does not have the same function as acute pain, which is to signal that there is a threat so the body can avoid future danger. Pain can be categorized according to its location, cause, or the anatomical system which it affects. The newest standard for classifying chronic pain was created for the ICD-11. This new classification system emphasizes the cause of pain, underlying mechanisms, body sites, and the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain. This classification system differentiates chronic primary pain from chronic secondary pain, incorporates already existing diagnosis, and further characterizes chronic pain syndromes. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

The National Library of Poland is a central library of Poland and one of the oldest cultural institutions in the country. Established on 24 February 1928 by a decree of President Ignacy Mościcki, it traces its origins to the Załuski Library, one of the first public libraries in Europe, founded in 1747. The library's headquarters is located in the district of Ochota in Warsaw, with additional facilities at the Krasiński Palace, which houses its collection of early printed books and manuscripts. This photograph shows an aerial view of the main complex of the National Library of Poland, designed by Stanisław Fijałkowski and built 1962–1976, surrounded by Mokotów Field.

Photograph credit: Emptywords

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