On this date in . . .

597 BC: According to some archaeological calculations, the first conquest of Jerusalem by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar occurred. The event is recorded in the Bible in 2 Kings 24 and 2 Chronicles 36.

1963: Peter, Paul, & Mary released "Puff, the Magic Dragon." The song reached #2 even though some radio stations banned it, fearing it was about smoking marijuana. Composer Peter Yarrow always contended it was "about a magic dragon named Puff."

1970: Singer Tammi Terrell collapsed on stage and died of a brain tumor at age 23. Her biggest hits, with Marvin Gaye, included "Your Precious Love," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "Onion Song."

1970: A bidder at Sotheby & Company in London paid $20,000 for one glass paperweight.

1974: In Nashville Roy Acuff gave President Nixon yo-yo lessons as the Grand Ole Opry moved from Ryman Auditorium to Opryland.

1988: Singer Bonnie Bramlett slugged Elvis Costello after a Stephen Stills concert in Columbus, Ohio.

1989: Federal health officials reported that apples were safe to eat in the wake of a U.S. scare over the chemical alar. Alar was used on some apples to preserve freshness.

1991: Actress Valerie Bertinelli and rocker Eddie Van Halen became parents of a 7-pound 13-ounce son, Wolfgang Van Halen.

1994: Figure skater Tonya Harding pleaded guilty in Portland, Oregon, to conspiracy for covering up the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan. She was fined $100,000.

1995: When a Miami bandit tried to rob a delicatessen, the owner broke his nose with a salami. The fleeing man hid in the trunk of what turned out to be an unmarked police car, where he wasn=t found until five days later.

1999: After local children protested, a Ukrainian farmer near Lviv agreed not to destroy his three-legged heifer and, instead, made an artificial limb for the young cow.

1999: The Nebraska Cornhuskers beat Chicago State 50-3 in an NCAA baseball game.

2002: A man in Nayland, England, sold a house for 1,400 times the amount his family paid for it. Arthur Webb's grandfather bought the three-bedroom house in 1914 for $27. It remained in the family and was sold at auction for $385,233. Webb said the interior decor had not been touched since the 1940s.

Birthdays:

• comic Jerry Lewis 85;
• actor Erik Estrada 62;
• actress Kate Nelligan 60;
• actress Lauren Graham is 44;
• singer Jerry Jeff Walker 69;
• singer Nancy Wilson (Heart) 57;
• singer Patty Griffin 48;
• singer-musician Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel) 60;
• TV host Chuck Woolery 69.

     Q: When she set out to meet Mark Antony, what was unique about Cleopatra's ship: (a) it was painted pink; (b) the sails were sprinkled with perfume; or (c) the life boats had lace covers?
     A: The sails were sprinkled with perfume.

     Q: According to research at the University of California, did restaurants that banned smoking in 15 cities: (a) lose money; (b) make more money; or (c) experience no change in sales receipts?
     A: No change.

     Q: Was Peter, Paul, & Mary's only #1 song: (a) (a) "Leavin' On A Jet Plane;" (b) "Puff, the Magic Dragon;" or (c) "Blowin' in the Wind?"
     A: "Leavin' On A Jet Plane." The other two songs both peaked at #2.

21 years ago today:

• The #1 song was "Escapade" by Janet Jackson.
• The #1country song was "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" by Randy Travis.
• The #1 R&B song was "The Secret Garden" by Quincy Jones, Al B. Sure, James Ingram, El DeBarge, and Barry White.

     Irish Advice: "Try not to drink too much green beer on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s not nearly as pretty when it comes back up." - Contemporary Comedy