World Kindness Day, Actors' Day

Many of the Usual Suspects proclaim today World Kindness Day, an observance promoted by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. (If you're planning ahead, Random Acts of Kindness Week will be February 11-17, 2013.)

On the other hand, Usual Suspect Days of the Year says that today is Actors' Day, a day for theatrical pretending.

If you wish to combine the observances, but are an ordinary run-of-the-mill grouch, you might perhaps pretend to be kind today. Perhaps you will stay in character tomorrow.

For Hindus, today is the first day of Diwali, the "Festival of Lights."

And, our crack research staff assures us, today is also the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.