I just learned of two more sad passings. Not that anyone passing away isn't sad, but these two, while an inevitable part of our lives, still meant a lot:

Billy Wilder: Last of the legendary Old Hollywood directors, the man who directed Sunset Boulevard (from which we have the famous line "I'm ready for my close-up now Mr. DeMille!"), Some Like it Hot (my all-time favorite screwball comedy) and many, many others. He died of pneumonia at 95.

Elizabeth, the "Queen Mum": at 101, she died in her sleep.

At such a phenomenal age, her loss isn't at all sudden. This was a former commoner who supported Edward VIII in 1936 when he abdicated the throne, and who rallied the people of London during the Blitz.

The fact that she essentially lived the entire 20th Century is phenomenal.

Goodbye, Billy and Elizabeth. You'll be missed.

Part of the 'blogging experience: I just changed the code for one of my Webrings yet again.

Most of the snow in Montreal melted again today. With my strong belief in Murphy's Law, I'm expecting it to snow again soon.

Milton Berle dead at 93

A sad loss of Dudley Moore is followed by even sadder news. "Uncle Miltie" is a classic we'll miss horribly.

What a bittersweet day: I was going to Vermont for Passover, but plans changed when a(n ultimately bad) doctor said she had a hernia. My folks were worried, and came to stay at my sister's so that my dad could bring sis to a hospital, where they were stuck waiting for most of the day.

Turns out it wasn't a hernia, so we all got together for dinner at her home.

I get home, relieved and enjoying the company of my nephew and nieces -- then heard on TV that Dudley Moore died of pneumonia, a complication caused by the terrible illness he had.

He had a wry British wit, and was part of more memories than I can count. I'll miss him.

I always have fun visiting my friend Pat's Live Journal: he tries out different "Which character are you?" quizzes, and I then try them for myself...

The latest was "Which Calvin character are you?". I'm closest to Hobbes, the coolest stuffed tiger in the universe.

Montreal continues with unconditional weather patterns: having no snow on the ground since early January, we had a major enough snowfall yesterday, so now there are a few inches of snow on the ground...

CNN.com - Bush talks of threats, concerns and U.S. judges - March 14, 2002

Nuclear weapons are an option to protect American soil? Bush talks of Saddam Hussein using "weapons of mass destruction" and he'd consider using such a weapon as OK if he pushes the button!?

This is why Republicans in office is scary. A party that believes "might makes right" should be nowhere near power... it was scary enough when Regan was near the missile launch button. Now we have to worry about a man who may destroy the world without a second thought.

I hope his advisors convince him to forget these thoughts.

Yesterday marked 6 months to the day the worst event in our recent memory: the 9-11 tragedy.

Have no doubt about it - this tragedy will be fresh in this generation's minds for many years to come.

I forgot to mention last time: Diana Krall is also the musician featured in a car ad here in Canada. Makes sense, since she's a Canadian herself...

Wow... I haven't posted here in a week! Sorry about that... it's been a hectic week of phone tag for me, trying to get everything ready for my apartment move at the end of May...

I heard on the radio today that Diana Krall is going to have another show in Montreal this month... at last year's Jazz Fest, she was touted as the next big thing in Jazz crooners.

I have her next to last CD. Frankly, I'm not that impressed. Mind you, as a fan of Holly Cole, it takes a lot to impress me over her song stylings.

So, it's official now: Rosie O'Donell has come out of the closet, confirmed that she's gay.

So what? Really, is this important to anyone? Does it change the fact of her show being entertaining?

If you really think that, I have to quote one of her often used lines: "Are you smoking crack?"

Fact: this is a woman who gives away a ton of goodies to anyone who sits in on her show. Fact: this is a woman who's given guests trips (like newly married people, the Survivors), or needed supplies (people who just had multiple births).

Fact: when a young boy came on her show with an original piece of Titanic history, hoping to raise money with for a cause, Rosie right away bought it - for 20 thousand dollars.

She's one hell of a person. Anyone who thinks her sexuality changes that fact needs their head examined.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with jazz, but I have to say it:

Way to go Team Canada!!

I'm not a hockey fan in the least - but a) the game was invented in Canada, b) I am Canadian, and c) finally, we've regained the top spot in our own game.

For those facts alone, I'm proud.

Chuck Jones, animator, dies at 89

I saw Chuck at a special gala at the Montreal Just for Laughs festival in the late 1980s.

As an animator by schooling - hell, just as a guy who loved his work - this is sad news.

We have a radio station here in Montreal called CHOM. This station has been known for over 3 decades as the home of rock and roll in Monreal.

They just made a format change though: now, they're a classic rock station. they have about 977 tunes from the past of music history, and that's what they'll play.

Problem is, music grows and evolves. Instead of continuing to celebrate this, make us all aware of it, now they're just looking back.

I think the next ratings period will show a huge drop in listeners for them.

I may have some success at clearing up this apartment without selling off my memories... one of my friends has offered to store my comic collection of over 20 years.

He lives in Maryland - at least a day away and in another country from me. Regardless, it'll mean that when someday I move again to a larger place, I won't have to mourn the loss of irreplacable things, books I'll never see again.

I just learned that Princess Margaret passed away. Mere days after Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee (50 years as queen), her sister is now gone.

Yeah, we all go someday; this is just one more of my lifetime's royals we have to say goodbye to.

Man, I haven't posted in a week. Bad Andy - er, me!

Life changes are coming fast and furious right now: tomorrow I see an Adapted apartment, possibly where I'll be moving in the next few months.

I've been at the current place for almost 9 years now. I'll be a little sentimental on leaving it, but the new one'll have many, MANY plusses to it.

I just took another cool "Who are you?" quiz, this time "Which Super Mario character are you?" As a cild of the 80s, I could relate.

My vote results were tied between 2 characters:

I am a celebrity, a natural born leader, and a mascot. When old people think of video games, they oftentimes get a mental image of me. Countless times I've been called into battle to save Peach from various baddies, even back in the days of Atari, and I have never faltered. Others may be jealous, but who cares? I'm Mario!

What Super Mario Bros character are you?

and

I am a hip critter. I showed up fasionably late with Super Mario World and have started launching your own career since then. In maybe 10-15 years, my popularity will rival Mario's. Not that I'm competing with him. He's my bud. I'm good at getting and keeping friends, and they value me for that. After all, who else would carry them on their back through ice, fire, and rain? Sometimes I think I'm taken for granted, but I know that my friends have my back. Of course they do. Who would screw over Yoshi?

What Super Mario Bros character are you?

2 hours.

That's how long it was from the end of work today and the time I got home.

Transport may pick up the phone line faster, but in terms of getting folks around, it still stinks.

Adding to the deaths due to illnesses caused by smoking: Peter Gzowski, a broadcasting legend here in Canada, just died from emphesyma, at 67. He too was a smoker until 2 years ago.