Growing up in the 80s in the Philippines, way before the MTV age had hit us, TV channels like IBC-13 and GMA-7 would show music videos in the morning (around 6am) as filler to start the day. Filipinos are the most sentimental of South East Asians. When it comes to love songs, we love 'em mellow and worn on a sleeve.

In the world of stand-up, the holy trinity is comprised of three people.  The first is Lenny Bruce, the second is Richard Pryor.

The third has re-joined his triumvirate in laughter heaven.  George Carlin (God knows you were one of the absolute best) is gone.  Bless you sir.

What an incredibly depressing time these past two months have been for movie lovers.  Sydney Pollack, Stan Winston, and now dance legend Cyd Charisse has left us.

Secondary to my love of movies is my love of dance, and Cyd Charisse gave us that immortal scene as a gangster's girl to Gene Kelly's starstruck out-of-towner in the greatest of musicals, Singin' In The Rain. 

The man who created some of the most frightening cinematic creatures of the last 30 years is gone.  Stan Winston, winner of 4 Academy Awards, gave life to the Terminator, the Alien Queen, the Predator, and the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, and is proof that some of cinemas biggest stars, aren't always in front or behind the camera.  Filmdom is a less wondrous place without him.

One of my very favorite directors and actors is gone.  Sydney Pollack, a man who directed and acted in such literate and intelligent ways, was a throwback to times where stories and characters mattered most in movie making.  His Academy Award winning film Out Of Africa touched me deeply because it reminded me so much of my mother and father and the love that they shared.  Even in films where he wasn't as successful (e.g. The Interpreter), the themes and narratives which he conveyed were always smart, rich with detail, and involving.