I just found this letter to and response from Bruce Lee – whose 72nd birthday would’ve been today -  via the always fantastic LettersofNote. I put Bruce Lee in the headline because he’s got the name recognition, but the real star of this exchange is Roland Lee. The turn of phrase “Furthermore, he picked up a hammer and hit himself all over” is brilliant, and I could read it ten times over and still laugh every time. I want that worked into my epitaph somehow. “He had four loving children, having retired after working for the Illinois Railroad Company for 42 years. Furthermore, he picked up a hammer and hit himself all over.”

As to the what/where of the letter, Shaun from LettersofNote says: “In the 1960s Bruce Lee answered a bunch of fans’ letters via Black Belt magazine. Many are reprinted in this book (‘Dear Bruce Lee’).”

Anyway, great letter, and happy birthday, Bruce. We’d trade that crusty old sack of farts Chuck Norris for you in a heartbeat.

First thing’s first – Gabrielle Union turned 40 today? I would have never guessed she was that old. Maybe 35 at the absolute oldest, but never 40. I guess I just won’t be too surprised when I write about Dwyane Wade suddenly showing up to Fashion Week with Ana Paula Araujo or another model a bit closer to his own age. But forget attractive, young Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated swimsuit models for now, because this is all about Will Smith rocking the microphone at Union’s 40th birthday party over the weekend, to honor his Bad Boys 2 co-star.

More specifically, Smith joined rapper Doug E. Fresh for a little jam session, during which Fresh provided the beats and Smith spit hot fire. In fact, Smith was so into it, he even broke character as the squeaky queen Mr. Nice Guy we’ve always known him as by saying the N-word and “bitches”. I know, I couldn’t believe it either. I was so shocked that I spilled my chai tea latte on my GAP corduroys.

But then Smith really fired the crowd up when he broke out two classics, and you can watch it for yourself after the jump.

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Just a reminder that it was one year ago today that Kirk Cameron celebrated his 41st birthday with 42 inches of Subway sandwich in a sad birthday celebration seen ’round the world. Most recently, he’s been on a speaking tour of fundamentalist “colleges” screening his documentary, Monumental, stopping occasionally to outrage the gays with his views on homosexuality (honestly, we all know what he thinks already, stop asking him). But I have no outrage to stoke, I’m just here to commemorate the man’s birthday, and give you the heads up so you can celebrate him in your own way, perhaps wish him well if you see him at Subway – where winners eat! Here’s to hoping Belinda is actually allowed to eat some this year, provided she still works here.

SANDWICHES ARE FOR CLOSERS, BELINDA! SLOTH IS A SIN!

WHY CAN’T YOU AT LEAST TRY TO MAKE YOURSELF LOOK NICE BEFORE YOU COME TO WORK, LIKE CAROLINE HERE?! STAY OUTSIDE AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’VE DONE!

Poor Belinda.

[thanks for the reminder, Morton]

Today is Gary Busey’s 68th birthday, and while I didn’t get him any presents (gift idea: he rare, made-for-TV Busey gem from 1989 shot for the USA network. If you’ll remember, 1989 was only one year after Busey’s famous motorcycle accident in which he famously went up to heaven and discovered that it has no mirrors.

A deranged man, Tom Sykes, hides out in the attic while an unsuspecting couple and their family carry on their life in the house below. Once Tom stops just hiding out and becomes involved with the family and, in particular, the wife, the problems begin.
Tagline- You can’t lock him out. He’s already in.

Is it just me, or could you see Gary Busey actually doing this in real life? Like, he’d just wander down one day and be like “Morning, butthorn. What’s for breakfast? You got any tacos? My llama’s starving.”

Also, I made this gif:

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Meryl Streep might not be the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, but she is a national treasure, and seeing as how today is her 63rd birthday, it seemed like as good a time as any to take a look back on how bangin she looked in high school. I love her acting ability AND her healthy-looking legs (that’s important). Also relevant, her thoughts on the modern movie industry from her 60 Minutes profile last month:

SAFER: Do you think movies are getting better than when you started?
STREEP: I think the acting’s better. I think the acting is better than in the “classic” days, frankly.
SAFER: If you look at the movies that are being made, the big movies that are being made, are… about comic strips–
STREEP: Oh I don’t see those.
SAFER: –or vampires, or gross behavior – all aimed at 18-year-old boys.
STREEP: That’s called the narrowing of the audience. The movie business has worked assiduously to discourage you, and other intelligent, discerning people, FROM the theater. They have worked hard to get rid of you, because you don’t go and then buy toys and games.

I loved The Avengers as much as the next nerdy blogadouche, but I get excited pretty much every time an actress gives an interview where she isn’t all, “Waaaah, I used to be so awkward!” Yeah, it’s called adolescence, bitch, for some of us it lasts a lifetime.

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