He was a good bad boy – if you know what I mean. Another Hollywood icon has said farewell to this world, and we will all remember him with fond memories. Dennis Hopper passed away yesterday at the age of 74 in his home in Venice, Los Angeles. Last year, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He valiantly battled the disease, which eventually took his life.

Dennis Hopper’s career was full of ups and downs – much like many other personalities out there. One big difference is how this man handled the stuff that life threw at him. Despite all the discouragement he had met in his career, he was able to achieve a lot of things, including two Oscar nominations, his own Hollywood star (which he got this year, by the way), and a reputation for being one of the best bad boys in Hollywood.

He is probably best known for Easy Rider, which changed a lot of things for him and movies in general. Indeed, his co-star Peter Fonda says that they “rode the highways of America and changed the way movies were made in Hollywood.” In tribute to Hopper, he continues to say that he “was blessed by his passion and friendship.”

More than being an actor, Dennis Hopper was also an accomplished director. In fact, the last several years of his life could be described as nothing but frenetic. This is a guy who was filled with passion for his life and work, and for that, we cannot do anything but admire him.

So long, Dennis Hopper!

Hollywood is always getting accused of all sorts of things, so I am not at all surprised by the recent accusations being thrown left and right. You might have heard of the latest dirt being thrown at Hollywood people. It involves the recently released movie, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

The news is that the casting was done in favor of white actors. Obviously, many of the characters in the movie are supposed to be of Asian or Middle Eastern descent. However, as we all know, many of the actors taking on the lead roles are not exactly from that part of the world.

Let’s take a look at hunky Jake Gyllenhaal who plays the lead role. He’s definitely not Middle Eastern – he’s American with Swedish and Jewish blood in him. (At least there’s a bit of Asian in him.)

Then there’s his leading lady, the princess, who is played by Gemma Arterton. She’s a full blooded Brit. No Asian blood in her.

It’s really not a surprise that critics are up in arms about the way the cast members – the leading cast members most especially – were chosen. Of course, there must be some reasoning behind the choices. There may be things that the general public – and the critics even – may not be aware of.

Then again, independent filmmaker Jehanzeb Dar might just be right. He said something like choosing white people to play the roles of other races is an insult to everyone involved. What do you think? Have you seen the movie?

He’s already a star – there is no doubt about it, but surely, Sir Ben Kingsley surely still aspired (even if it was secretly perhaps) to have his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This year is a good year for the British actor – his new movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has just been released in the United States. The ceremony for his Walk of Fame star coincided with the release.

It was held at the Hollywood Boulevard and of course, many other stars were present. Bruce Willis – a star in his own right –was among the people who witnessed the honor being given to Sir Ben Kingsley. So what did the 2,410th recipient of a Hollywood star have to say about the accolade?

“Standing here today amongst you is one of the many things I thought growing up in England that would never happen to me. It was a privilege to be an enduring part of the architecture of this extraordinary city.”

Indeed, having your own star is akin to being immortalized. Not that Sir Ben Kingsley had not been immortalized in other ways prior to his being awarded a star. He has starred in countless films that have touched the lives of so many people – and they are certain to make an impact in the lives of future film-loving generations. Think Schindler’s List, Gandhi, and Oliver Twist.

Here’s to Sir Ben Kingsley and his most recent accolade!

If you’re spending some time enjoying Southern California’s beaches this week, you ought to know that there are some dangers involved. It is true that you could have some of the most exciting times in the beaches of LA and the surrounding areas; however, the Los Angeles Times warns surfers and beach lovers that rip currents are presenting higher risks than usual, especially this weekend.

According to the report, the high surf has combined with runoff from storm drains (this goes straight into the ocean waters) to result in substantial changes in the formation of the sea floor. As such, the currents have also changed, posing more danger with regard to rip currents. Even those who are quite familiar with the usual currents in the beaches may have a surprise or two waiting for them.

Tourists may not have the beach as the main reason for visiting this part of the world, but anyone visiting Los Angeles would end up at the beach at one point or another. Whether you are an expert swimmer or not, you have to be aware of the dangers these rip currents present. Expert swimmers and surfers would know what to do, but panic can easily override common sense. The sensible thing to do is to swim parallel to shore instead of against the current. In the midst of danger, however, the instinct is to swim straight to shore – which will almost always end up in tragedy.

So, if you’re hitting the beach in Southern California anytime soon, consider yourself warned and prepare yourself!

One of the things that I like most when visiting a new city is to just go around and see what it has to offer. I think that’s a common thing with all travelers. Of course, there is that aspect that every tourist must see; and then there is the real deal. Not everyone has to go through the “real deal” experience – for some, the touristy portion is enough. Then again, each to his own, right?

Hollywood is as touristy as it gets, but there are lots of ways to discover this place. If I were you, I would consider joining a Double Decker Bus Tour. There are various agencies that offer this service, but one that I have heard about a lot is Starline Tours. This is what they have:

Red Loop (Hollywood) 2 HOUR LOOP: Chinese Theatre, The Grove/Farmers Market, Walk of Fame, Kodak Theatre, Route 66, Rodeo Drive, Paramount Studios, Beverly Center, Shopping on Melrose, Sunset Strip, Pink’s Hot Dogs, La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA, Petersen Automotive Museum, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood and Vine, RockWalk

Yellow (Beverly Hills and Santa Monica) 2 HOUR LOOP: Santa Monica Pier and Aquarium, 3rd Street Promenade, Montana Ave (Santa Monica’s Rodeo Drive), Brentwood Country Mart, Westwood Village, Hammer Museum, Rodeo Drive, Century City, Fox Studios, Marilyn Monroe’s Gravesite at Westwood Memorial

Purple (Downtown Los Angeles) 2 HOUR LOOP: Chinese Theater, Olvera Street, City Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the historic movie theaters along Broadway, the Los Angeles Central Library, Staples Center and the L.A. Live entertainment district, Grammy Museum, Fashion District, Jewelry District, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market

Blue (Universal and Hollywood Bowl) CONNECTOR SERVICE: Chinese Theater, Universal Studios and The Hollywood Bowl Amphitheatre

For sure, those destinations ring a bell – places that you would need to see on a visit to the area. What I like about these tours is that they are “hop-on hop-off.” This means that you can get on (and off) a bus at any of their stops any time you wish. You may want to walk the streets for a while and then get on the bus again. It is a sweet deal!

Does the name Mark Zuckerberg ring a bell? If it doesn’t, you either live under a rock or you just don’t care. This guy is 26 years old, and he’s already worth billions. What kind of business is he in to make this kind of money at such as early age? One word: Facebook.

Mark Zuckerberg is a Harvard dropout who co-founded the most popular social networking site today. He has also been in the limelight because of the recent changes made to Facebook privacy settings. Naturally, he has been the target of so many angry tirades.

His time in the limelight is not about to end any time soon. Hollywood has its eyes set on Mark Zuckerberg, and they are making a movie out of his life.

This kind of news will normally make people jump up and down for joy. Who has not dreamt – at least once in his life – about a movie being made to celebrate his life? Then again, celebrate is the key word here.

Recently, the screenplay of the movie was leaked, and from the looks of it, Mark Zuckerberg will not be very happy about his story. Title The Social Network, the movie will be depicting the Facebook founder as a sex maniac. It will also detail how Facebook was conceptualized and created.

Disclaimers already abound – the movie is a highly fantasized version of reality, some details might not be accurate, and so on. Still, I am pretty sure that this movie will draw a bit of a crowd.

If there is one place on Earth that could be hailed as the trendsetter of trendsetters, Hollywood will probably win hands down. After all, the exposure that Hollywood gets is comparable to none. And, if trends are what you are after, then here’s one trend that seems to be the favorite of Hollywood couples these days: renewing wedding vows.

Just to give you a background, let’s mention some of the Hollywood couples that have recently renewed their vows.

There’s Mimi and Nick. They renewed their vows for the third time late in April.

Seal and Heidi Klum – already known for loving wedding ceremonies – renewed their vows for the sixth time!

Then there’s Dean McDermott and Tori Spelling, who dispelled rumors that they were getting divorced. Last week, they renewed their vows as well.

There are more Hollywood couples who have been going through the same thing – saying “I do” for the nth time. So I was thinking, if you’re looking for a short break and you’re married, why not follow the trend? Why not go to Hollywood for the weekend or for the week (you can have your nth honeymoon there while you’re at it) and say your wedding vows again?

These stars may not be the perfect examples of how marriages should be, but hey, renewing your vows is something good, isn’t it? And, doesn’t saying “I do” (yet again) in Hollywood give you a perfect fairy tale ending?

Today is Mother’s Day – or have you somehow overlooked that fact? We all have our moments of forgetfulness, but we know that this holiday is something that we should not forget. Never mind that not everyone celebrates Mother’s Day in a big way these days, but even the smallest of gestures will certainly be appreciated by the woman who gave you everything: your mom.

Here’s a thought: why not take mom out for lunch or dinner today? Even if you weren’t really planning on it, you can still go ahead and do it.

In Hollywood, there are lots – practically endless, actually – of choices. Here are some of the best ideas.

Lazy Dog Café
They have six branches in the Southland area so you have lots of choices. The prices are very reasonable and you can choose from American, Italian, and Asian cuisine. They also have a special treat for moms on this special day.

Patina at Descanso Gardens
More than a fine meal, your mom would certainly enjoy spending time with you strolling in the gardens. Visit them at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge and enjoy the Mother’s Day buffet lunch. First thing this morning, give them a call at (818) 790.3663 so that you can check if they can accommodate you.

Andaz West Hollywood
For $55 (adults; $20 for children), you can have a Mother’s Day meal at the French restaurant at this hotel, which is rife with the history and culture of Los Angeles. They’re located at 8401 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.

Alternatively, you can just go to the nearest local restaurant that can accommodate you. After all, it’s the time spent together that really counts. Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there!

For some people, the Hollywood Sign is what will come to mind when this place is mentioned. Indeed, movies, print media, and television shows have immortalized this landmark more than anything else. And, for a lot of us, the loss of the Hollywood Sign is just unthinkable!

However, development has its price. The 138-acre (56-hectare) piece of land surrounding the ridge where the sign is located is supposed to be used by developers as an area for luxury homes. We know what this means: either the sign will be demolished or the astounding view will be marred by buildings and other construction. Either way, things will change – and probably not for the better.

Lucky for the world, billionaire Hugh Hefner has come to the rescue. He lent a helping hand to a conservation group that has been trying to raise enough funds to purchase the land. Their goal is to gain control of the land and turn it over to the city government so that the area can be incorporated into Griffith Park. This will ensure that any development will not endanger the Hollywood Sign.

So how much of a helping hand did Hefner give? A whopping $900,000! This amount has certainly helped the fundraising efforts greatly. They need $12.5 by the end of the work week, and it looks like they will reach their goal. This is not the first time that Hefner has helped save the sign, by the way.

Also worth mentioning are the other major players who have given their share in this effort: Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. With this combination, the Hollywood Sign is sure to be safe, right?

Can you guess? I guess the names do change every now and then. After all, the trends do change over time. At this point in time, among those at the top are Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Swift.

Can you guess how much they earned in the year 2009? According to the reports, these stars earned tens of millions of dollars last year! That kind of money is something that normal people like you and me dream of. And, take note, these people are quite young!

Here’s the breakdown. Taylor Swift earned $17.5 million. Robert Pattinson earned $18.5 million. Kristen Stewart brought in a whopping $23 million.

Isn’t that just amazing? These people are so young, and yet they are bringing in millions and millions of dollars. Then again, it is not that surprising. Since the launching of the Twilight movies, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have become household names. Five years ago, the average person probably wouldn’t have recognized these names. Today, however, people from all over the world – from the United States to Africa to Asia – speak their names like they were bosom buddies. They both have become part of the list of most searched for people on the Internet as well.

As for Taylor Swift, this young country singer has reached the top of the charts. Her being rudely interrupted by Kanye West also helped endear her more to the hearts of fans.

We’re not even halfway through 2010, but these three kids are still set to make more with their various projects. Who’s willing to bet that they just might make the list again next year?