Actress Cloris Leachman is 85. I know this because my morning paper has a column called Birthdays. The format never changes. There are always five people featured. First there is a descriptor, then the name followed by age. Actor Willie Nelson is 78. They are in descending order by age. Director Jane Campion is 57. One lucky duck is featured in a thumbnail photo. This time it is Cloris. Actress Kirsten Dunst is 29. I seldom know the last person on the list, today is no exception. Actress Dianna Agron is 25

It would seem any self-respecting editor would have nixed this column idea a long time ago. It’s not like readers all of a sudden jump up and run out to buy birthday cards. But I guess someone thinks it’s pretty important to know Cloris Leachman is 85 today.