Carl Sagan, on books and writing:

What an astonishing thing a book is.

It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles.

But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years.

Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you.

Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions,

binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs.

Books break the shackles of time.

A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.

- Carl Sagan.

Happy New Year:

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a blessed and prosperous 2025.

Be inspired.

On this day in movie history - The Bishop Murder Case (1929):

The Bishop Murder Case

directed by David Burton and Nick Grinde,

written by S.S. Van Dine and Lenore J. Coffee,

based on the novel by S.S. Van Dine,

was released in the United States on December 31, 1929.
Music by William Axt.

Cast:

Basil Rathbone, Leila Hyams, Roland Young, Alec B. Francis, George F. Marion, Zelda Sears, Bodil Rosing, Carroll Nye, Charles Quatermaine, James Donlan, Sidney Bracey, Clarence Geldart, Delmer Daves, Nellie Bly Baker.

Born on this day – John Denver:

John Denver

Singer

Songwriter

Guitarist

Actor

December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997

Born on this day – Rosalind Cash:

Rosalind Cash

Actress

December 31, 1938 – October 31, 1995

Credits:

227 (1990); A Dangerous Affair (1995); A Different World (1989–1991); A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion (1982); A Killing Affair (1977); Afros, Macks & Zodiacs (1995); Amazing Grace (1974); American Playhouse (1983–1985); Barney Miller (1978); Benson (1981); Black Hollywood (1984); Black Journal (1969); Cagney & Lacey (1987); Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (1975); China Beach (1990); Circle of Pain (1996); Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975); Day of Absence (1971); Death Drug (1978); Death Spa (1988); Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976); Falcon Crest (1989); Family Ties (1989); Flashpoint (1979); Forced March (1989); Frank's Place (1988); From a Whisper to a Scream / Segment: Lovecraft's Traveling Amusements (1987); General Hospital (1994–1995); Go Tell It on the Mountain (1985); Good Times (1976); Great Performances (1971); Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980); Hardcastle and McCormick (1984); Harry O (1974); Head of the Class (1990); Hickey & Boggs (1972); Highway to Heaven (1987); Hill Street Blues (1985); Insight (1982); Just an Overnight Guest (1983); Klute (1971); Knight Rider (1986); Knightwatch (1988–1989); Knots Landing (1991); Kojak (1977); L.A. Law (1987); Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993); Melinda (1972); Police Woman (1977); Riptide (1985); Roc (1992–1993); Sister, Sister (1982); Special Bulletin (1983); Starsky and Hutch (1977); Sundance: A Matter of Process (1986); Tales from the Hood (1995); Tequila and Bonetti (1992); The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984); The All-American Boy (1973); The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993); The Golden Girls (1988); The Last Man Alive (1971); The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1974); The Merv Griffin Show (1969); The Mighty Pawns (1987); The Monkey Hu$tle (1976); The New Centurions (1972); The Omega Man (1971); The Second Coming (1992); The Sophisticated Gents (1981); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1969); Thirtysomething (1987–1989); This Is the Life (1985); Tilmon Tempo (1972–1976); Trapper John, M.D. (1982–1984); Uptown Saturday Night (1974); Welcome to the Basement (2018); What's Happening!! (1976–1977); Wrong Is Right (1982); You Must Remember This (1992).

Born on this day – Rex Allen:

Rex Allen

Actor

Singer

Songwriter

December 31, 1920 – December 17, 1999

Born on this day – Suzy Delair:

Suzy Delair

Actress

Comedian

Vaudevillian

December 31, 1917 – March 15, 2020

Credits:

Actor studio (1986); Tabarin's Farewell (1966); Love, laugh and sing: Jacques Offenbach (1957); Antenne 2 Midi (1981); Au cinéma ce soir (1970–1971); At Théâtre ce soir (1974); Aujourd'hui Madame (1970); Botta e risposta (1950) Casanova (1934); Champs-Elysées (1989); Certified copy (1947); Daisy Jones & The Six (2023); Dédé (1934); Défense d'aimer (1942); Chickweed for small birds (1963); Emily in Paris (2020); Ferdinand le noceur (1935); Fernandel the Dressmaker (1956); Gervaise (1956); Henri-Georges Clouzot: The Enlightened Tyrant (2004); Ici Paris (1947); Is Paris Burning? (1966); Jenny Lamour (1947); The crisis is over (1934); The Lady from Maxim's (1933); La joie de vivre (1953–1970); La vie de bohème (1945); Lady Paname (1950); The Vermeil Age (1984); Money by the windows (1972); Le bal des Petits Lits blancs (1949); The last of the six (1941); Le fil à la patte (1954); The Lovers' Riding School (1965); The mythomaniac (1981); Le palmarès des chansons (1965); The Song Chart (1966); The creatures of God (1967); The San Francisco Regatta (1960); The Sisters Hortensia (1935); Gold in the Street (1934); Lost Memories (1950); Cinema Tuesday (1987); Oublie-moi, Mandolin (1976); Through the Window (1948); Poliche (1934); Take The Road (1936); Professor Cupid (1933); Rocco and His Brothers (1960); The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973); The Murderer Lives at Number 21 (1942); Touch du bois (1933); Toute la chanson (1961); Thirty-six Candles (1957–1958); Three... six... new (1937); Un caprice de la Pompadour (1931); Utopia (1950); Violets imperial (1932); White Paws (1949).