Matt Ortega

In the lead up to the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania two weeks ago, each candidate made their case why they were the Rocky Balboa in the presidential hunt. The constant chatter among political pundits created an itch that was finally scratched this afternoon when HBO aired the sixth and final installment in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa. (It was my second time seeing the film.)

Rocky Balboa featured a number of references to the previous films as well as actors Burt Young as “Uncle Paulie” and Tony Burton as “Tony ‘Duke’ Evers,” Rocky’s trainer, reprising their roles. Check out the training scene from the 2006 film with “Gonna Fly Now” composed by Bill Conti in the background:

Matthew Yglesias warns readers of the pending robot threat stemming from the Japanese decision to arm robots with lasers.

First, the robots will become self-aware. They will feast on the medications of the elderly for fuel.

Then destroy all of humanity.

The countdown to the repressive machine-dominated world continues.

The History Channel updates visitors on historic events throughout world history with “This Day in History.” Here are a few notables for April 13:

1964: Sydney Poitier became the first African-American actor to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his role in the 1963 film, Lilies of the Field.

1970: The second oxygen tank aboard the Service Module (SM) of Apollo 13 exploded and put the lives of the three NASA astronauts in grave danger. Commander Jim Lovell reported back: “Houston, we have a problem.” The mission, considered a “successful failure,” was dramatized in the 1995 film, Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks.

1997: Tiger Woods was the first person of color to win the Masters at August National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The golf club admitted its first black member only seven years prior.