Starship Troopers is a science-fiction action film released on November 7, 1997. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier, it is based on the 1959 novel Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein (pictured). The story follows teenager Johnny Rico and his comrades as they serve in a 23rd-century interstellar war against aliens called the Arachnids. The film stars Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Muldoon, and Michael Ironside. Starship Troopers faced critical backlash, with reviewers seeing it as endorsing fascism, and disparaging its violent content. Despite initial box-office success, negative reviews and unfavorable word of mouth made it only the 34th-highest-grossing film of 1997. It has since been critically re-evaluated, and is now considered a cult classic and a satire of fascism and authoritarianism that has grown in relevancy. The film launched a multimedia franchise, video games, comics, and a variety of merchandise.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers_%28film%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1837:

American abolitionist Elijah Parish Lovejoy was murdered by a pro-slavery mob in Alton, Illinois, during an attack to destroy his printing press and abolitionist materials. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Parish_Lovejoy

1934:

The first specimens of the tufted jay to be scientifically described were collected in Mexico. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufted_jay

1949:

Oil was discovered in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Azerbaijan, leading to the construction of Neft Daşları, the world's first offshore oil platform. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neft_Da%C5%9Flar%C4%B1

1987:

Singapore's first Mass Rapid Transit line opened, with train services running between Yio Chu Kang and Toa Payoh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Rapid_Transit_%28Singapore%29

1991:

Magic Johnson announced his retirement from professional basketball due to HIV infection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Johnson

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

blither: 1. (intransitive, informal or UK, dialectal) To talk foolishly; to blather. 2. (informal or UK, dialectal, uncountable) Foolish or nonsensical talk; blather; (countable) an instance of this. 3. (countable, by extension, derogatory, dated) A foolish person; a fool, an idiot. [...] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blither

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it. At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign — the fight: the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up.   --Kamala Harris https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kamala_Harris