Alas, Bond Is 40 Again

Alas, James Bond is back in his forties.March 2 birthday boy Daniel Craig was born in 1968. That’s still quite frisky, but as we pointed out a few years ago, Craig was the first under-40 actor to play Bond in 35 years. That helped make him a believably reckless and energetic Bond in Casino Royale.Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Harrison Ford’s Younger Women

Harrison Ford’s krazy-hair appearance at the Oscars (in HD!) has us thinking about his leading-man status.Ford was born in 1942, so he’ll be straining the actuarial charts as a swashbuckler in this summer’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Prince Harry in Afghanistan

Fascinating news about Prince Harry’s secret posting to the front lines in Afghanistan. The BBC has full coverage.

Julius Makes the Leap (Year)

Happy leap day! Wired magazine has a nifty piece on how Julius Caesar added the bonus day to February every four years.And how Pope Gregory XIII took back one leap day every hundred years or so.

Obituary First Lines: William F. Buckley

William F. Buckley died on Monday at age 82. Here’s how obituary writers are summing up his life:”William F. Buckley Jr., the erudite Ivy Leaguer and conservative herald who showered huge and scornful words on liberalism as he observed, abetted and cheered on the right’s post-World War II rise from the fringes to the White House…” -The Associated Press

Grunting News from Australia

“They told me to guarantee she won’t grunt or she can’t play.”The sad words of Duncan Edwards, father of nine-year-old Lauryn Edwards, who’s been banned from her local tennis club for grunting. Lauryn says she’s just emulating her favorite player, “notorious grunter” Maria Sharapova.

William F. Buckley Dies

Conservative commentator William F. Buckley has died at age 82. Reports The Washington Post: “His assistant Linda Bridges said Buckley was found dead by his cook at his home in Stamford, Conn. The cause of death was unknown, but he had been ill with emphysema, she said.”

Mister Rogers +5

Fred Rogers, the star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, died five years ago today.He’d still be only 79 now. He was born the same year as poet Maya Angelou, artist Andy Warhol, and revolutionary Che Guevara.

Happy 8th Birthday, Ja Rule!

An exciting week for rapper Ja Rule. He’s a leap year baby, born 29 February 1976, so he’ll be celebrating his 8th natal day on Friday.He’s part of our fascinating quartet of February 29th babies — along with Shaker founder Mother Ann Lee, killer Aileen Wuornos (of Monster fame), and nutty prankster/painter Balthus.