Liz Taylor is 79. Here's Hoping For 80.

Liz Taylor is still the diva of the silver screen. I confess that every time I see her face on the news now I fear that she has passed away. Some people should never die. Normally on La Liz's birthday we'd do a huge post a la "78 Appropriate Ways to Celebrate Liz Taylor's Birthday" so for this her 79th, let's add just one more to that old list.

79. Live to see another Oscar night.

Liz is such a diva that her birthday falls during Oscar season each year. This year it's actually ON Oscar day.

Liz famously won the statue twice and for her first win, BUtterfield 8 (1960) -- which I keep meaning to write about as I firmly believe that performance's bad rep is unjustified -- voting followed a very publicized sickness. She was  actually pronounced dead at one point. Needless to say she lived. Even after she dies, she'll live given the size of her on and offscreen legend.  On the YouTube video of her speech you can see that she was such a diva that she spends more time walking up to her coronation (1 minute and 10 seconds) than she does accepting the damn thing (17 seconds).

I don't really know how to express my gratitude for this and for everything. I guess all I can do is say thank you. Thank you with all my heart.

That's how you do!  Always leaving the audience wanting more.