Today is the 56th birthday of the performer Venus Xtravaganza. She has arguably some of the best and most-quoted reads in Paris is Burning. Her murder at 23 years old put a spotlight on the murders of trans women, at least it did for me. The world is a better place because she was in it and still feels the loss that she has left.

Today is 162nd the birthday of the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. His characters of Holmes and Watson have been entertaining the world for over one hundred years. The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Today is the 91st birthday of the activist and humanitarian who said “It takes no compromise to give people their rights…it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.”  Harvey Milk.  His contribution to the American equality dialogue is still felt today.  The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Today is the 114th birthday of the actor Sir Laurence Olivier. The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Springtime in the Rockies - May 22, 1944 - Lux Radio Theatre

Staring Betty Grable and Dick Powell.

Today is the 177th birthday of the artist Henri Rousseau. The world is a better place because he was in it still feels the loss that he has left.

Today is the 119th birthday of the designer and architect Marcel Breuer. I guarantee you have sat in a chair he designed or at least in one inspired by one he designed. They are beautiful. He is a big name in Mid Century Modern and Brutalist styles. The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Today is the 104th birthday of the actor Raymond Burr. He played Lars Thorwald in Rear Window and I am not even sure he had any lines, but was nevertheless frightening. He played Perry Mason and Robert T. Ironside, two of the best TV detectives of the 60s and 70s. The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Twenty-seven years ago today, the film Pulp Fiction premiered at Cannes Film Festival. It was nominated and won so many awards that year, do you remember how good it is? You have to see this film (again).

Today is the 111th birthday of Jimmy Stewart.  Chances are that one of your favorite classic movies also happens to be one of his.  Some of my favorites of his are:  After The Thin Man, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The Philadelphia Story, Rear Window and  The Man Who Knew Too Much.  I could have gone on naming more, I could have just copied his IMDB listings and it would have been accurate.  The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Lux Radio Theater war bonds benefit titled Victory Theatre production of The Philadelphia Story on July 10, 1942.