Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Beware the Ides of March!

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011

Caesar: The Ides of March are come.

Soothsayer: Aye Caesar, but not gone.

- William Shakespeare
Julius Caesar, Act III, scene i




Yes, today is the fateful Ides of March. The mighty Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15 in 44 B.C. in the Roman Senate. He was stabbed to death in the Theatre of Pompey by a group of conspirators probably led by Marcus Junius Brutus and his brother-in-law Gaius Cassius Loninus, a Roman senator. Caesar was 55 years old at the time of his death.


LANGUAGE CORNER

In the time of Julius Caesar, March 15th was a festive occasion dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war. The term “ides” was used to describe the 15th day of the months of March, May, July and October, and the 13th day of all the remaining months.


BIRTHDAYS ON MARCH 15th

Penny Lancaster

British model and photographer Penny Lancaster was born on March 15, 1971. She turns 40 years old today. Penny, the wife of singer Rod Stewart, was born in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Lancaster and Stewart were married on June 16, 2007 at La Cervara near Portofino, Italy. They have two sons, Alastair Wallace Stewart (born November 27, 2005 and Aiden (born February 16, 2011).

David Cronenberg

Canadian horror film director David Cronenberg was born in Toronto, Ontario on March 15, 1943. David celebrates his 68th birthday today.


SPORTS

Hockey

Well, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been playing much better lately, although not last night (They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 6-2). A large part of the credit goes to goaltender James Reimer. Some Leaf fans think the Leafs still have a chance to make the playoffs. Forget it! It’s too late in the season. If they had played this well earlier, they would be on their way to post-season play.

- Joanne