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Harold Perrineau, who played Michael Dawson

"Meet Kevin Johnson" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of Lost and first aired March 20, 2008, on ABC in the United States. It was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff and Brian K. Vaughan, and directed by Stephen Williams. Most of the narrative is a flashback centering on Michael Dawson, played by Harold Perrineau (pictured), in the month preceding the show's present day. The writers completed the episode on the first day of the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike. ABC pledged to air the episode regardless of the strike's resolution even though the writers felt that its cliffhanger was unsuitable as a potential season finale. Thirteen million Americans watched the episode. Its climax was criticized for its placement in the story and its focus on secondary characters. Critics responded well to Michael's emotional journey but complained that his physical journey conflicted with Lost's timeline. The episode was given the fourth season's only Primetime Emmy Award for its sound mixing. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

EBSD map of duplex stainless steel microstructure orientation

... that electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is used to characterise polycrystalline materials at the micro and nano-scale (example pictured)?
... that Alex Mivedor, who had been seen as the number two in the ruling RPT party in Togo, was purged from the party leadership in 1983?
... that the jazz collective West Coast Get Down once recorded around 190 songs over the course of a month?
... that Abdul Ghani Azhari wrote Qadim Tarikh-e-Gujjar in Urdu, detailing the ancient history of Gujjars in India?
... that the 2022 essay and short story collection Kilometer 101 was published shortly after the author fled Russia due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
... that at 23, Roman Mejia reached the rank of principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, where his father had also danced?
... that director Kunihiko Ikuhara created the anime series Revolutionary Girl Utena after becoming frustrated by his lack of creative control as a director of the anime series Sailor Moon?
... that Rancho Obi-Wan contains more than 500,000 Star Wars collectibles?

In the news

Vladimir Putin

The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Russian president Vladimir Putin (pictured) and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for the abduction of children from Ukraine.
At the Academy Awards, Everything Everywhere All at Once wins seven awards, including Best Picture.
Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to re-establish diplomatic relations, seven years after they were severed.
Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank both collapse over the span of three days, becoming the second- and third-largest bank failures in US history.

On this day

March 20: Nowruz (2023)

Douglas MacArthur

1852 – Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the United States, was published.
1923 – The Arts Club of Chicago hosted the opening of Pablo Picasso's first solo United States showing, entitled Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso.
1939 – Germany issued an ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding the return of the Klaipėda Region under threat of invasion.
1942 – World War II: After being forced to flee the Philippines for Australia, U.S. Army general Douglas MacArthur (pictured) announced: "I came through and I shall return."
1993 – The Troubles: Two children were killed by the second of two bomb attacks by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Warrington, England.

Wareru (b. 1253)
Elisabeth Geleerd (b. 1909)
Zillur Rahman (d. 2013)

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From today's featured list

The earliest recordings of Little Walter, an American blues artist, were as a sideman, when he contributed harmonica to songs by Chicago blues musicians such as Jimmy Rogers and Muddy Waters. As the featured artist, Little Walter recorded the instrumental "Juke" in 1952. The single reached number one on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart and launched his career as a solo artist. A string of popular singles followed, including "Mean Old World", "Blues with a Feeling", and "Key to the Highway". His "My Babe" was one of the biggest R&B sellers of 1955. In addition to his solo career, Little Walter continued to record harmonica for songs by other artists. He recorded at a time when blues musicians were primarily singles artists. His records were released on Checker Records, run by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil. The one album released during his lifetime is a compilation issued by Chess Records, titled The Best of Little Walter (1958). Rolling Stone ranked it at number 198 in its list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". (Full list...)

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The blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is a species of macaw that is endemic to a small area of north-central Bolivia, known as the Llanos de Moxos. Recent population and range estimates suggest that about 350 to 400 individuals remain in the wild. Its demise was brought on by nesting competition, avian predation, and a small native range, exacerbated by indigenous hunting and capture for the pet trade. Although plentiful in captivity, it is critically endangered in the wild and protected by trading prohibitions. In 2014, the species was designated a natural patrimony of Bolivia. This blue-throated macaw in flight was photographed at Loro Parque, on the Spanish island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

Photograph credit: Carsten Steger

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