....WHEN LAST WE LEFT TED..... (INSERT DRAMATIC INCIDENTAL MUSIC HERE)

Hey, guys. Wow! I'm out of it for a little while and this place gets delusions of grandure! ( 5 stars to whoever gets from what movie that line that paraphrases!) Well, a LOT's been going on. I had told you guys that I found a new job, and how happy I was? Well, the job was not what I thought. It was a competition between me and another employee, and we had four days to prove ourselves. The other employee got it, and I didn't. Before that bomb happened, we took out two payday loans, Then, Patti's job started cutting her hours considerably. Our tv, internet, and home/cell services were cancelled. All of our jewlrey was in default at the pawn shop, and our landlord was two weeks away from starting eviction papers. We were in trouble.

A couple months earlier, a former HR rep from Patti's job had called her. Seems this lady was now working for a rival corporation as a recruiter, and wanted Patti to work for them. Patti didn't call. She has 7 years tenure at PRC, and did not want to change jobs. But in view of the sitution now, I said.. you better call her. Which... surprise, surprise... landed the both of us solid jobs!

We have one hell of a deep hole to dig ourselves out of. Patti had to take a paycut, and lost her benefits. Just in time for a week long stay at the hospital, after alll the stress had finally reached it's limit on her. Our current jobs are mind-numbingly simple, and boring as hell. But we are BOTH working. At the same call center, the same account, same hours/ days off. We even sit next to each other.

Just like old times. We met at a call center at the same account. Everyone concerned is willing to wait for us, so we've lost nothing , so far. In the long run, everything happens for a reason. Given what is going on all over the world, we are much more fortunate then many. Despite the stress level, I feel that we are indeed, both blessed.

...... CH..CH..CH..CHANGES.....

My vote? I don't like it! No, Sirreee Bob. I no likey it at all. If this site were going to invest it's money and time in changes to the site, I think we could all think of a dozen more productive things they could have done other than change the overall look! I mean, come on.. we aren't ALL that superficial! I think maybe.. just maybe, improving the system so less bugs show up would top the list. Maybe I'm too quick to complain. I mean hell, it does look cute.. who cares if it works properly, am I right? Huh?

......NEVER FORGET........

I've been away during the anniversary of September 11th. Otherwise, I would have posted this earlier, obviously.

Starting with the first anniversary, and for five years after, I have been building up my own video documentary on that tragic day. It was an unexplainable obsession which drove me to this, and in some strange way, it actually helped me to get through the grief of losing my mom, Grandmother, and childhood home a while back. The semi-completed project is made up of about 20 different documentarys on the day, and was painstakingly constructed and edited, creating a very strong you-are-there feel. It is very hard to watch, and almost 100 times as difficult to put together. But somehow, I think I needed to do it. To put my own grief and life into perspective. My best generic description of it would be "9/11, in your face, under a microscope, in slow motion". My original intent was to approach each one of the original filmmakers, to see it, and hopefully give their approval to release an official version, with all procedes going to the families of the victims of the tragedy. But I havent yet. Partly because, from various reactions, I felt it may have been too soon, and partly because I still don't have a finished project. There are a lot of redundancies which badly need to be trimmed down.. but for all the emotional toll it took on me to put it together, I haven't been able to bring myself to return to the project for about two years.

The reason I tell you this, is because now, 7 years later, it really infuriates me that a lot of younger people, if they talk about the day, just talk about the crashes of the planes, and the two buildings falling down. Most are so wrapped up in their own little dramas, that they couldn't even care to think about it at all. So as not to upset any young adults that are my friends, I HAVE found quite a few thoughtful individuals who are quite different. For the most part, I am speaking of the mostly ghetto-backround kids which work at my job.

But more people, adults included, DO seem to distance themselves from the day, and the tragedy.. so obsessed are they with the day to day problems of their own lives. I guess it just bothers me. Yeah, go on.. live your lives. But do taker the time, especially on the anniversary to reflect, and pay respect to the victims of that horrible day. I really got miffed that my company would not stop the dialer on our system for a moment of silence, at least once.

Maybe I should continue editing the project, and go ahead with my plans for a release. I'm starting to think that it would really do some good, for people who only remember the far away shots of the planes and the collapses, to see what it was really like in the city, on the streets, in the buildings, etc...close up. Maybe then they would make sure that they never forget.

Until we meet next...

Same Bat-Time,

Same Bat-Channel

Since you guys have been listening to my woes and such for so long..I wanted to inform you all ....I"M GOING BACK TO WORK!!! It couldn't have come at a better time. It's going to take a while to catch up on bills and such, but...YEEEAAAHHH! I cannot tell you what a blow this whole situation has been to my self esteem. Watching my wife work, stress, and me not able to help.

And I'll tell you something... I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world. She has stood by me, believed in me, trusted in me..when most women would have been out the door months ago. I owe so much to this woman, and owe almost everything that I am, to her. And as soon as we get cought up on things, I am dressing her up, taking her on the town, and she will be treated like a queen.

Anyway, sorry for going on but..I am soooo happy right now. I really have to go, I have to get my stuff ready for tomorrow. be back soon. Everybody have a great week!

Been widening my TV-Com travels. I've been visiting the page for The Six Million Dollar Man... which was my favorite show when I was a kid. Hey, every young boy needs a hero.. this was mine. There doesn't seem to be anybody going there. I put up a couple new posts, but my expectations are low. Lifesigns are weak on older shows during peak months on this site, but during summer break, I understand it gets worse. But if anybody is reading this, and is a fan of that show.. give me a holla on the forum. I'd love to have someone to chat with about it!

Speaking of which, I finally decided to at least take a look at the latest Bionic Woman.. the one that was cancelled recently. I went to Hulu.com and watched the pilot. Yuck! Now I remember why I wasn't even interested in checking it out.. and I understand why it was cancelled after 8 episodes. I left my review on the main page.. it's also on my profile.

I read an interview with Ron Moore, longtime staff writer of Star Trek: Next Gen, DS9, and Voyager, not to mention , of course, creator of my current fave, Battlestar Galactica (oh, will the plugging never end?). Anyway, he was commenting on the current Star trek movie... now in post production.. to be released early 2009. He said some things that i kind of found disturbing, and a little dissapointing. They also kind of made me loose a little respect for the guy, which I didn't think was possible. I started a forum post and poll on the Star Trek:TOS page on this. It kinda unintentionally turned into a long winded editorial, and halfway through, I changed my mind, and was gonna do it as a blog on my page. But my Firefox won't let me cut and paste, and I didn't feel like loosing it or retyping, so I just continued and left it. If anybody's curious, check it out.

Still watching X-Files with Sapphire. I'm only at the beginning of the 7th season (Hungry), but I'm still going to try to finish the series before the movie release.

I just started watching Lost. Never seen it before. OMG, the first 2 episodes were amazing!

Also, got from Netflix the first two disks of Alias, and Heroes first seasons. Nver seen them before either. Will burn for later consumption.

What is going on with Movietome? If you'll notice, the link is no longer listed on top of the screen with the other CNET services. Metacritic is there instead. The site is still active, though..which is the only thing even the Mods seem to know at this point. If you go to the help forum, though..and click on either FAQ, or tech support, and then go to the top of your screen..the link will be there.

I know the site has been on the brink for a while, but you would thing CNET would have the decency , not to mention respect for it's users..to let us no what is going on with the site. There are some like myself, who have posted reviews there, who would like to know if we should save them in case the site get's taken down. I guess that's too much to expect. Shame on you CNET.

That being said, I would really like to thank angelandspike for getting back to me so quickly with any info she had on this and other issues. You should be well paid for your efforts and consideration.

Well, that's it for now. Take care everybody, and have a wonderful weekend.

Peace,

Ted

Yo, yo, wassup, my peeps! Just wanted to report in, ya feel me? I took my previous blog down. You know.. the rant about the unfriendly, unsociable, stuck up, "too good for lil ol me" snobs? I figured the people whom I was addressing would never read it, so I deleted it, and PMed the people in question, to tell them personally what unfriendly, unsociable, stuck up, "too good for lil ol me" snobs they really were. And I feel a whooole lot better. Even if I get kicked off or banned..hey..what is life without a little danger, huh? I laugh in the face of danger. Ha-Ha-ha! (See?)

Anyway, sorry that I haven't been comunicating, especially with my new X-Files friends (Wasssuuuup!). Had a few things going on. Still no job yet, but...my wife Patti just greeted the arrival of her sixth grandchild. He is a healthy beautiful little boy named Malcolm Landon Mazar. His Mother , my step-daughter, Jessica arrived saftely back home a year ago, after four years in Iraq. So we are doubly blessed.

Patti had an accident with the car last week. Coming home from work about a mile from our house on a rainy night during rush hour, the car slid out of control, missing about five oncoming cars (I don't know how she wasn't hit), and hit the curb hard. She wasn't hurt, and it happened on a side street instead of the 30 miles of high-speed freeway she travels each trip, so I thank God for that! Damage was minimal, but even minimal damage can be expensive. Impact with the curb totaled the drivers side tire and rim, and threw the allignment out of wack. Just to make the car drivable again was 450 dollars...for that! Dosen't sound like much, but when you only have a hundred in the bank, it's a lot. Can anybody out there say.."overdraft"? I knew you could.

On the television front, we can no longer afford to have the Sci-Fi channel on our lineup, so I can no longer see the one current program I love, Battlestar Galactica live as it airs. Arrrrrgggghhh! I've missed the last three episodes, and I'll have to watch them via an internet stream. Speaking of which, the ruling just came down (it's been a rumour for months) that the episode this Friday will be the last new episode until at least January 2009! OMG! I was hoping for Fall.. but 2009?! How sick is that?!! Fans are betting that this weeks episode before the break will contain the Big Reveal... who of our beloved characters is the Final Cylon? I don't expect them to find Earth until after the break, but it means the rest of the journey will damed sure be plenty interesting. The show has been a very rewarding viewing experience. Having been not too crazy about a re-imaganing of one of my favorite childhood shows at the beginning, it didn't take long for the show to prove me wrong. Many twists, turns, dramas, and mysteries..handled in an intelligent, thought provoking , and realistic manner...which is rare for any show these days..but realistic, for a sci-fi show? Yep. It's been so much fun watching there guys change and grow...and that includes the bad guys. The lines between human and Cylon have inched closer and closer together, especially this season..that the terms good and bad aren't really applicable anymore. But after this reveal..it's going to be a long wait until January.

Usually, I don't complain too much about not being able to afford going out to the movies. Ticket prices, and concessions are ridiculous anyway, and the movie has to be a real big screen only event to make me pay that kind of money. But so far...I'm not going to get to see Iron Man or Indiana Jones...which sucks, big time. Especially Indy. I have been waiting for sooo long for Ford to put on that Fedora again. For a while, I didn't think they'd have a script ready until he was in an actors retirement home! But now it's here, and I can't see it! Whaaaaaaah!

My hope is that my financial straits will be better by the time my next big release comes out...X-Files II: I Want To Believe. Due in July, this is another one I doubted would make it. This beloved show was almost DOA in it's last year, back in 2002, as far as most fans were concerned. The upcoming release has re-stirred the fandom pot, and I and my wife are re-watching the series to get caught up. She's watching most of them for the first time, and having a ball doing it! I can't wait!

Some of these forums on here are sooo dead, particularly the one for Star Trek, the original series. I'm trying to stir up some life on there through some strategy of my own. If you're a fan of Star trek, and on my list, check out my new thread there. I really want to see how many people actually visit the forum, and then try and exchange ideas on how we can bring it back to life.

That's all for now. Life beckons, so I'll talk at ya all later. Holla at a brutha!

Peace,

Ted

Sorry guys, I know it's relentless behavior. I know it's shameless plugging. But i have to do it. I've been telling people about this for awhile, and everybody who has given it a chance has gotten hooked, without fail. But still, too many people are not watching this show And it's the best show on TV right now, so, forgive the Paul Revere complex, but i would not be the kind generous and sweethearted person I am (are you ill yet?), unless I provided this service. Last night, I watched the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica (2003). You have to watch this show! It is getting too good! It's not about the ships, effects, or space battles, it's really about humanity, it's struggle for survival against the constant threat of extinction...it's a drama about people that just happens to take place in space and the mystery of life, death, religion, goverment, etc. It starts off taking it's time in the miniseries, introducing you to the characters, letting you get to know them and setting up the enviroment. It has characters you can like and care about , and the show has the best story archs since the X-files Mythology, filled with twists, turns, dramas and puzzles. If you start, a little stratagy here. First, program your Tivo or DVR to record what's on now for later consumption. Then, get/rent the mini-series first, then go through the seasons. If you buy the season one boxset, it has the mini-series as the first disk. There is are some webisodes between the second and third seasons that are on the Season three set, and a movie called Razor to be watched between the third and fourth season. The show is on it's fourth and final Season, and every twist and turn in the prior three seasons are paying off in spades. It's making me go back and watch the earlier shows for clues, and plot elements that I didn't notice before. Trust me, you'll be hooked, and doing marathons before you know it, and should catch up before they show the last half of the final season, and you'll be able to watch the end live with the rest of us. Trust me, oh please trust me, you will not be sorry. A little obsessed, and very entertained..but not sorry. Any questions, see my review on the show's page, or ask me. i love talking about this show...but I won't give away secrets. It's much more fun finding things out as you watch. Have a great weekend.