movies Today is The Rock's birthday Devin Nealy

interviews Biographer Mark Dery pays tribute to Edward Gorey on his birthday Gareth Branwyn

birthdays Hey, guys, today is Simon Pegg's birthday Devin Nealy

literature Three talismans from Italo Calvino Ferdinando Buscema

Cartoonists Happy 100th birthday to MAD Magazine's Al Jaffee! Gareth Branwyn

animation Another animated Bowie moment from Adam Buxton and The Brothers McLeod Gareth Branwyn

Lord of the Rings Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 – 1973) Gareth Branwyn

birthdays Lukas and Willie Nelson performing "Watching the Wheels" for John Lennon's birthday Gareth Branwyn

birthdays This family lived together for 62 years without speaking Mark Frauenfelder

birthdays Celebrate the wonder that is Stevie with a drum solo Gareth Branwyn

concerts George Harrison, "Beware of Darkness," on his birthday Gareth Branwyn

birthdays Boing Boing is 20 (or 33) years old today Mark Frauenfelder

birthdays How Joe Strummer got through this interview is anyone's guess Séamus Bellamy

music Listen to David Bowie hear a touching birthday message from Scott Walker David Pescovitz

birthdays Watch the weird way Mitt Romney blows out the birthday candles on his Twinkies cake David Pescovitz

birthdays Happy birthday, Dawn Wells! Jason Weisberger

music Spaced-out cover of Love and Rockets' "Holiday on the Moon" by Darwin Meiners David Pescovitz

History Happy birthday to the world's oldest person! David Pescovitz

science fiction 'Alien' piñata Xeni Jardin