It's a day filled with things related to death. In addition to the passing of celebrities, including Martin Charnin and Joao Gilberto, I learned that my friend Cecil's father, Monroe, died somewhat unexpectedly today. Pam and Cecil called me earlier in the day to say they were going to see Monroe because he was having some minor problems. He lived several hours away, so they much not have been too worried. They took him to the hospital and the doctors wanted to perform a minor surgery. But he died during the middle of it.