The Grim Reaper visits AOL Freelance Bloggers

Yes, that would include me. It's been a fun four-year run on TV Squad, but it's all over now. Today all MOST* of the freelancers were dismissed. I was asked to submit a resume for a full-time writing job with the Arianna Huffington led new AOL incarnation.

But I just can't do that. I have a full-time job already -- one which is stable with a retirement pension I can actually collect anytime I leave now, good benefits and, most of all ... did I mention it's stable? I know from working with AOL for years that there is no job security with them, none at all. The majority of my friends at AOL outside of the freelancers have all been laid off.

So, you see why I can't just jump on the bandwagon for a full-time position which might even pay well, but may not last. Nor can I juggle both jobs, especially when Arianna has this vision of all of the writers and editors reporting 9-5 daily in one of three huge newsrooms. I'm close enough to the NYC headquarters for commuting, but I don't want to! Plus, how can TV reviewers be working those hours and amongst others? Perhaps they'll can all of the show reviews and just go with silly videos; I don't know.

What I do know is that I'll land on my feet in the long run. I'm not going to venture into the fickle.

What does this mean for my blog readers here? It's probably going to get even better! I'm shopping around for a paying home for my Big Brother live feeds reports. Whether that happens or not, I'll still be posting them right here on this very blog starting in July! Plus, I'm planning on posting more television content here once again and getting a Facebook Fan Page set up for the blog. Having the AOL gig made me lazy here. That is going to stop!

I'd like to give my thanks to both Sandy Deane and Kelly Woo (TV Editors at AOL), both of whom were my champions getting me aboard at TV Squad. As far as I know, one is still employed by AOL; the other moved on just prior to their recent layoffs. They're two great women who have always been supportive of my work and I can only hope they both do well in the their current and future endeavors.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to my fellow TV Squad freelancers. I know some make the bulk of their income from the site and it's going to be rough. I'm just grateful I was older and more settled when I came aboard in 2007. I knew not to quit a sure thing for something which might not last. While I'll miss the income, it's my day job which keeps the roof over my head (as well as catering to a cat named Vincent). Hang in there, guys!

If, for some odd reason, an editor at a paying site (I won't write for the Huffington Post for free) is reading this, my contact information is in my sidebar. Not only have I been a writer at TV Squad for four years, but I've written for Blogcritics, too. I was also the TV Editor at Blogcritics prior to going to TV Squad. I come with a following of fantastic folks and I'm willing to write about any television show I enjoy. If I don't like a show, it's only good for one scathing post. I'm great with deadlines and dependable. I speel well and have gots good grammar, too! (Kidding!)

As for you folks, my regular readers ... get ready. This plane is about to take off once again. Stay tuned!

Here are some links regarding this for your reading pleasure and (dis)pleasure:

• My TV Squad profile page -- don't know how long that will last. But since some of the forum pages I programmed in Rainman for AOL more than a decade ago can still be accessed, it could be forever.
• My Blogcritics interview with (then) Big Brother Executive Producer Arnold Shapiro.
• My Blogcritics profile page
• AOL cuts freelancers loose at mediabistro.com
• Keith McDuffee's commentary on the situation at CliqueClack -- which, by the way, I'm still writing my The Big Bang Theory show reviews there.
• Huffington axes scores of AOL writers from newser.com
• Sigh ... goodbye, Patricia from All Things Digital
• A Google news search for the phrase "aol freelance."

Oh, well. Thanks AGAIN for all the fish, AOL. This should be the last time, I guess. We have to stop doing this.

Don't forget to stop back for the Survivor: Redemption Island blog party tonight!

* I've been informed that a few remain.

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - April 3, 2011

It's a sunny Sunday morning in April. The birds are singing outside and the local television news is on in the background. The really big news is that it's not snowing and the temperatures are actually supposed to be spring-like here today -- in the 50s! It's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken.

This past week was yet another adventure in winter wonderland around here. Oh, not so much snow perhaps. But the cold temperatures hung in there. Between cold rains, winds and brief snows, I'm getting really tired of this. I've lived in New Jersey over fifteen years now and this is the coldest spring I've seen here. Usually by this time trees and flowers are in full bloom and it's a joy to walk to the train station. Not so much so right now.

I want to retire my winter coat. I want to see flowers and fresh new green leaves on the trees. I want inspiration for my photos instead of just taking shots because they're there. That's not too much to ask, is it?

Huh. Charlie Sheen's "concert tour" is NOT A WINNER. Duh. I could have predicated that one. And, in New Jersey news, a coyote jumped through the basement window of someone's home in Bergen county. Animal control came, captured her and relocated the pregnant coyote in deep woods -- but not before the homeowners took some photos.

Me? I'm still watching for bears. Now, that would be a good photo opportunity! The last time I saw one around here (in my Dumpster in North Plainfield) was before I started carrying a camera with me all the time.

Onto this week's shots. Once again, I'm really wanting for inspiration. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

Look around, there's a patch of snow on the ground.

The snow from the week before lasted in patches confined to shady places well into this week. On Friday a predicted snowstorm ended up being mostly rain. However, while I was trapped in my windowless office for a few hours, the snow started coming down. Sticking to vehicles and grassy areas, it quickly added up to two inches with only slush on the roads. Then it turned back over to rain and washed away before I left for home. Bridgewater, NJ.

Obviously I'm bored

This is one of the lamps at the Bridgewater Train Station. I used GIMP's "retinex filter" to do odd things to it.

Bunny alert! Bunny alert!

A rabbit grazes in the field of geese (and robins and starlings). Bridgewater, NJ.

Feed me! FEED ME!

Not quite the Little Shop of Horrors, this crocus should be in full bloom by now. Instead, it's almost scared to fully open up. Plainfield YWCA, East Front Street.

Hanging in there

The crocuses aren't drooping like many of the other flowers wounded by the weather. They're just in some sort of waiting pattern.

I am Squirrel. This is my pedestal.

Well, it's not really a pedestal. He was posing on the steps of a nearby church on East Front Street, Plainfield.

Drooping Forsythia

After the cold weather, snow and ice, the forsythia doesn't seem as exuberant this season. Plainfield Train Station.

Drooping Daffodils

In the cemetery at Church and East Third Street behind the Friends Meeting House in Plainfield.

Some even more so ...

Berckman Street, Plainfield.

Not drooping.

Hardy souls that they are, the squirrels are fat and active. I think they must be thrilled not to have to be digging through snow cover for their goodies. Last year was a big acorn year, too. So they seem to be happy. East Front Street, Plainfield.

In which I continue my linguistic knowledge.

Hmm ... it's easier to say "keep out" than "prohibido la entrada." My Spanish continues to flourish by reading signs and eavesdropping on folks. Cleveland Street, Plainfield.

Back to shooting curly twisty dead vines

Bridgewater, NJ.

Just before the dawn

Plainfield Train Station way early on Monday morning.


A goose watches his field of geese in dismay as it's covered with bunnies and robins. Bridgewater, NJ.

Aha, I found out the mystery!

I took a shot sometime ago of a weird message on my NJ Transit train accompanied by some sort of alarm chimes. It happened again this week. Thanks to a (rather loose-lipped) conductor's announcement -- "Some rocket scientist found out you can't exit through a closed door." Of course, the rocket scientist was off of the train by the time.

Apparently this is what that little red emergency button by the doors does. What would possess someone to push that button while others are walking out of the open door not eight feet away, I don't know. Oh well. At least he didn't pull the emergency brake.

A bit of color

The cemetery behind the Friends Meeting House in Plainfield is usually a vibrant place in the springtime. The daffodils and forsythia are both suffering this year due to our extended winter.

Slow but sure

These trees are usually in glorious full bloom by now. Church Street, Plainfield.

Utilitarian

Interesting homemade trailer on this bike on East Front Street. Alas, the owner was more than annoying as I was stuck behind him in Everybody's Food Market. I was on my way to work. He was there buying a gazillion lottery tickets and praying to hit the big one as he needs the money so badly. I don't know. I think a job and working for a living is probably more of a sure bet.

Vincent

His scar on his nose really shows in this close-up. I often find myself wondering about his life previous to the one he has here.

On a related note, my thoughts and prayers go to blog reader and commenter JeanneMarie as she continues to fight the effects of her infected cat bite. It almost cost her life and she was hospitalized for ten days. Something that all cat owners tend to shrug off as innocuous -- just a little bite from a loving pet -- became a life-threatening infection. Hang in there and get healthy again, JeanneMarie!

My thoughts and prayers are also with my cousin John this week as he undergoes chemo for numerous brain tumors. No one can rock that shaved head with a long ponytail look quite like him, though. Still crazy after all these years.

Sorry for the downers, but that's what's been on my mind. How was your week?

Survivor: Redemption Island - 3/30 Episode Blog Party

The show will be starting in about five minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in comments. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good.

Matt won the duel on Redemption Island AGAIN.

Omatepe won Immunity and Reward. Rob and Phillip will live to entertain us another week.

Bye-bye Sarita!

A Few Brief Notes

My review for last night's The Amazing Race is up on TV Squad. Please check it out! (And, no. I have nothing against deaf folks. As a matter of fact I have a deaf friend who could have run circles around Luke! And she's a SHE and even younger.)

I know there's a Presidential address tonight at 7:30 PM ET. I'm not sure it will delay television. But, if you're a fan of Dancing With the Stars, head on over to the new discussion post for this season!

I hope television isn't really delayed a lot. Jack Hanna is on David Letterman tonight and he's my absolute favorite guest on the show.

Oh. I'll also be watching Castle tonight. I love that one. Anyone else watching it?

Happy TV to you!

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business 3/27 Episode Blog Party

The show is delayed here in the east due to March Madness basketball. 60 Minutes started at 7:19 PM ET, so I expect 8:19 PM ET for us.

Once it starts, everyone is welcome to join in with comments as it airs -- that's where the real fun is! I'll be updating this post with any big news as I watch it here on the East Coast. My full review of the show will be posted on TV Squad either late this evening or early tomorrow. I'd love to have you visit there, too!

Pit Stop -
1. Gary and Mallory - won a million rupees
2. Cowboys
3. Ron and Christina
4. Zev and Justin
5. Kent and Vyxsin
6. Jen and Kisha
7. Flight Time and Big Eas
8. Margie and Luke -- Philiminated