Happy birthday* to the lovely Ms. Dandridge, the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She passed away at 42, after an accidental overdose of antidepressants (though another report cites an embolism as the cause of death) — far too young, and were she alive today she'd be a spry 89. Tonight, we drink to her.

As we head into what will no doubt be a solemn weekend, let's take a minute to dance. Just a little. And maybe have another drink. If we don't drink and we don't dance, the terrorists win.

Update: Oh man, sorry. Her birthday is November 9, not September. But she still deserves a toast — we'll just celebrate early!