¡Feliz Cumpleaños, José Vasconcelos!

AKA José María Albino Vasconcelos Calderón.

Born February 28, 1882. Died June 30, 1959.

Author of the 1925 essay The Cosmic Race aka La Raza Cósmica, an essay which, among other things, helped popularized the use of La Raza as shorthand for the mixed race folk of Latin America. Ironically, it is often considered today to be as politically incorrect as the Eurocentric philosophies it had once sought to replace.

Pop Song of the Week: "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"

For mi novia, whom I have missed very much this week -- except for yesterday.

Quote of the Week

When people have told me that because I am a Catholic, I cannot be an artist, I have had to reply, ruefully, that because I am a Catholic I cannot afford to be less than an artist.
--Flannery O'Connor

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, César Romero!

AKA César Julio Romero Jr.

Born February 15, 1907. Died January 1, 1994.

The son of a Cuban mother and an Italian father who played many a Latin lover and even -- for six movies -- the Cisco Kid. (?!) He is best known to contemporary pop culture fans as the man who played the original Joker in the 1960s TV series Batman. He also played Count Dracula on an old Night Gallery episode and Hernán Cortés in the 1947 Tyrone Power movie Captain from Castile.

In fact, I could name his various movie and TV roles all day but the other celebrities I mention on this blog might get jealous.

Movie Song of the Week: "Tiny Dancer"

From the 2000 film Almost Famous, it's one of my current novia's favorite Elton John tunes (sung by other people, natch).

Movie Quote of the Week

Love... is not a big enough word. It's not a big enough word for how I feel about my wife.
--John Candy, Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

TV Quote of the Week

However, published story or not, I can only say to you that should you ever meet a young woman who seems too lovely to be really of this world, well just remember there's a very good chance that she isn't.
--Darren McGavin, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, "Demon in Lace"

¡Feliz Día del Amor y la Amistad!

My friend Joan Blondell wishes all my readers a Happy St. Valentine's Day and hopes that you all have a pleasant holiday. On her behalf, I wish the same thing.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Abraham Lincoln!

Born February 12, 1809. Died April 15, 1865.

The 16th President of the United States and perhaps the last Republican presidential candidate most American liberals feel comfortable supporting. He presided over the bloodiest war in U.S. history and has been described as its last victim.

He used to have his own birthday celebrated as a federal holiday but unfortunately, he has to share it with another president these days.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Joanna Kerns!

AKA Joanne Crussie DeVarona.

Born February 12, 1953.

She is best known for her role as Maggie Seaver, the mother on the old ABC sitcom Growing Pains, which ran from 1985 to 1992. Of course, she might be more familiar to most younger readers as the potential grandmother in the 2007 film Knocked Up.

R.I.P. Ed Koch

Former New York City mayor Ed Koch cut his last ribbon today at age 88.

He will be missed.