Note: You know the premise. I’ve got this buddy, here called “Neelix,” and he’s the guy I dump all my worldly musings on. But, instead of actually writing him anymore, now I publish our correspondence as these columns. How about that?

Hey Neelix!

Woo! First ramblings of the millennium! I know what you’re thinking: the new millennium doesn’t start until 2001. But hey, everyone needs to succumb to mass hysteria every once in a while, right?

So anyway, I got the Indiana Jones trilogy for Christmas, and thanks to it I have been in the throws of re-discovering Indy. The more I watch Raiders of the Lost Ark, the more I love the theme that John Williams (big composer guy, also did the music for Star Wars) wrote for the Ark. How can I best describe it? It comes across as being a dark version of the Force theme that he wrote for the Star Wars films. Whenever someone talks about the Ark, that theme starts playing, and just makes you feel uneasy. What I like is how they worked it into Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The scene: Indy and his girlfriend of the movie are going through a tomb beneath a church in Venice looking for the remains of one of the knights of the Crusade. The girlfriend points to one of the markings on the wall, and the Ark theme begins to play. The theme continues to underscore this dialogue:

Girlfriend>> I don’t recognize this marking. What is it?

Indy>> It’s the Ark of the Covenant.

Girlfriend>> Are you sure?

Indy (quick to move on) >> Pretty sure.

It’s just a nice little reference to the first film. Oh, and the gift set also came with the final episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. What I find interesting is in George Lucas’ interview, he mentions how in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles he experimented with a lot of the technology that went into making Episode I. Then, reading my book The Making of Episode I, they talk about how Young Indiana Jones served as the template for making Episode I. Isn’t it amazing how these things come full circle? When Star Wars came out, George Lucas spent the day chillin’ on the beach with Steven Spielberg, where they came up with the idea for Indiana Jones. The movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade started with that young Indy segment that was so popular it spawned the TV show The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which served as the template for Episode I. This reminds me. Apparently, Indy is in the crowd during the podrace scene in Episode I.

Let’s switch gears now. Man, I am falling in love with Gargoyles all over again! Every night I tape it. That is one of the greatest cartoons ever made. They just showed an episode with one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in the Gargoyles universe. The episode: The Gathering, Part II. As you may recall, in the episode we learn that Anastasia Renard, Fox’s mother, is actually Titania, queen of Avalon. Her husband, Oberon, wanted to abduct Alexander, Fox and Xanatos’ just-born son, to Avalon so he could be trained to use his magical gifts. At episode’s end, Oberon decides that Puck can remain behind, and train Alexander to use his skills in the human world. Now here’s the mystery: as Oberon and Titania go to leave, Titania asks to have a moment alone with her daughter. Fox says that because of all the misery Titania just caused, that she never wants her to return. Titania then says “What makes you think this isn’t the outcome I wanted?” and leans in close, and whispers something into Fox’s ear. Fox responds with a stunned look on her face, and Titania and Oberon leave. The mystery: what did Titania say to Fox? When the creator of Gargoyles was asked this question on a message board, he’d only say “It’s a secret to be shared between mother and daughter.”

Right now, as I write this, the Family Channel is the middle of showing the big three-part episode Hunter’s Moon, which was, for all intents and purposes, the final episode of Gargoyles. I just love the mask that the Hunter wears. A simple black, with three red scars across it. Oh, and those two white circles for eyes. I think you know the origin of the Hunter. Way back in 994, shortly after the clan was destroyed and Demona lived, she scarred a young farm boy named Gilcongaine. Gilcongaine swore revenge, and became the Hunter. He rose in the ranks of the army of Duncan, an evil man bent on becoming king of Scotland. When Demona finally become Gilcongaine, Duncan became the Hunter. Then, Demona killed Duncan (with the help of MacBeth). Then, Duncan’s son Canmore became the Hunter. And, from that point on, all of Canmore’s descendants have dedicated their lives to the death of Demona. Oh course, they have killed more than their fair share of gargoyles in the pursuit. The Family Channel disappoints me right now. They’re in the middle of the final episode, yet they still have to show four episodes to show every episode of Gargoyles. I’m hoping that they’re just showing them out of order.

Well, let’s see, you just got back from your big trip. I tell you, someday I’m going to travel. I’ve always wanted to see my homeland. So, here’s my plan. I’ll get a CanRail pass, and just ride the rails. I’ll get a Greyhound bus pass so I can take the bus where the train doesn’t go, and I’ll spend a whole summer just seeing my country. I would do that now, but I lack the funds. You should have heard my sister’s last attempt at “motivating” me to get a job last week. Her “motivational” speech ended with “And it’s not like you won’t be able to sit on your fat ass and watch TV anymore. That’s what days off are for!” But, the need for a job is becoming apparent. I’m sure I’m starting to get on my parents’ nerves. Oh well. As always, I’ll start looking for a job tomorrow. And, as the Riddler said, “Tomorrow never comes, for by the time it should arrive, it has turned into today.”

Mark