I was really shocked when news agencies confirmed the passing of Michael Jackson. For a majority of people 25 years or older, his death is seen as a very big loss. After all, many of us grew up listening to his infectious tunes and wittnessed his sharp dancing moves.

Without a shadow of a doubt, at least for a short period of time, Michael Jackson was truly the “King of Pop”. He will always be remembered as a performer who peaked during the mid-1980’s thanks to his highly popular “Thriller” album. Unfortunately, as musical tastes change, Michael was never able to repeat his earlier successes with later albums.

Michael Jackson was no longer the King of Pop at the time of his passing. In fact, his glorious throne was already slipping away as the 1990’s approached. During the past 20 years, a decline in record sales, a lower demand for concert tickets and numerous cancelled dates was more than enough to prove his fading appeal.

Think about it. Most of his songs played in clubs these days are from the 1980’s; his glory years. If you really want to define a true King of Pop (a person who can change with the times), Madonna has become a definitive benchmark. In addition, Michael Jackson’s lifestyle was seen as a game of smoke and mirrors. A bizzare series of events that led to his downfall.

Whether he’s innocent or not, the world lost a pop culture icon. An eclectic superstar who’s adored by millions. A rare talent that was trapped by his very own fame, only to experience a sad ending at the twilight of his career. He was a musical icon that left us asking for more, while scratching our heads at the same time.

I’ve also posted a series of BBC documentaries (via YouTube) about Jackson. From his “Jackson 5″ beginings to the infamous child molesation trial(s), this was the very last documentary made before his death. Truth or Fiction? We’ll never really know.

Happy Father’s Day!

I don’t speak much about my family on this personal blog.  But yours truly has a huge appreciation for the most important man in his life.  My Dad is a simple man who grew up with humble beginnings.  His hard work and dedication continues to be a positive influence in my life.  His steady guidance has led me to become the man I am today.  With every success or reward I achieve, it has a lot do with the values instilled by my Dad.

I also hope you take the time to honor your Father or a significant male influence during this special day.  After all, time is Golden, and we should treat those memories of our Fathers with much appreciation.

Maligayang Araw ng mga Ama

Our wait is finally over!  After 2 weeks of research, Imaginary Diva and I purchased a new vehicle.  We’re happy owners of a 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L.  As 2009 Compact SUV of the Year (by various media circles in Canada), it carries a high level of refinement, genuine off-road capability and good road manners.  During our first test drive, Imaginary Diva was so comfortable she almost fell asleep!

As expected, overall quality is exceptional; a common trait from the “Land of the Rising Sun”.  Unlike many of its counterparts, the Grand Vitara is actually made in Japan.  Popular alternatives, like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, etc, are constructed in other countries.  Nonetheless, they’re both outstanding vehicles but we felt the Grand Vitara brought more value in terms of features, performance and quality.

An important factor that led to our decision was the ability to handle treacherous road conditions.  Since we live in Canada, our erratic weather patterns is a major obstacle for most drivers.  Last winter we experienced 10 feet of snow in 2 days!

The Grand Vitara’s reputation for truck-like toughness is more than a match for Canadian winters.  Unlike major competitors, our compact SUV is a true 4×4 and not based on a front-drive car platform.  The Grand Vitara is based on a integrated ladder frame, which increases rigidity and towing capacity (up to 3,000 lbs).  A fully independent suspension, with MacPherson struts up front and multi-link geometry in the rear gives plenty of capability over rough terrain, while delivering a civilized ride on pavement.

Imaginary Diva loves the interior.  There’s plenty of features to keep her ride pleasurable.  The seats are comfortable and very spacious.  A beautiful console exudes glimpses of elegance while remaining simplistic at the same time.

Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past year, the automobile industry is going through a big economic downturn. For prospective customers, this is a perfect time to purchase a new vehicle.  It’s a “buyers market”, where dealers and manufacturers are currently offering big discounts and super low interest rates.  And at 0% interest for the entire payment term, it would be crazy for us not to purchase a new car.  Who wants to pay interest on anything???

Overall, we feel the Suzuki Grand Vitara will serve our needs for a very long time.  It gives us plenty of brawn and space, while offering performance and safety on the road.  And, of course, it was purchased at a super great price!

Like every other year, E3 is used as a platform to introduce new games but this year Valve Software gave us big suprise with their announcement of ”Left 4 Dead 2″.   Expect a new wave of Zombies to arrive this November. 

Yes, I am still quite addicted mesmerized with the original “Left 4 Dead”.  And the newly released SDK will keep me occupied until “L4D 2″ is finally released!  I can’t wait!  Check out the trailer below!