New Years Eve Charity Mission a success

It started a couple of weeks ago really. I began saving money (hard to do during Christmas & paying your property taxes on a house you own) to buy some food and some clothing to help out the homeless at a local shelter. My assistance package consisted of assorted potato chips, sandwiches, small mini-cookie bags, water bottles, and a t-shirt. In total I prepared 12 of these and anything left over would be given to the shelter seperately. Here's how it went down.

December 30th: I went to my wifes job to pick up my paycheck from direct deposit. After doing the math as to what would go where I passed by a Winn Dixie which was about 2 minutes away. I bought what I needed and came home. The T-shirts were taken care of already so the only thing I needed to cover was the food.

December 31st: I woke up early and started putting together the charity packages. My wife jumped in to help out (I am blessed by God to have a wife who is supportive of what I do even if she thinks it's a bit odd sometimes) and even my kids, ages 6 and 3 put in a helping hand (hmmm...could this be the start of their costumed activist training?) All in all it took us about 45 minutes to put everything together. A word of advise to any parents reading this - if you have small children never let them sit at a computer and fiddle around it for too long. Apparently my son or daughter screwed up some of my computer settings so I had to take some time to try and correct this. I didn't get all of them taken care of but I've got more friends in IT than I have fingers on my hands so I'm not worried.

My drive to the homeless shelter took about 15 minutes. I was dressed in a toned down version of my uniform - I just felt it was more appropriate this way (and no, this does not mean I am against patrolling or doing charity work in uniform/costume). My personal choice is to do presentations and panels for kids in full garb but that's just me. When I arrived at the place where I thought it would be I was surprised to see that it was no longer there - apparently they had moved. I took out my cell phone and punched in the name of the shelter to get an address, which it did...except it gave me the old address. A few minutes later I saw a homeless person walking around and I stopped honked my horn at him. Slightly rolling down the windows I asked him if he knew where they had moved the homeless shelter to and he gave me the direction. He offered to take me there if I wanted but I respectfully declined - intentions of charity are no excuse for being naive or placing myself in unnecessary danger. Extreme need sometimes makes people do terrible things. However, I reached into my backseat and gave him one of my charity packs and thanks him for his assistance.

Arriving at the homeless shelter was a sight that I had seen before but anyone who tells you they can get used to seeing human suffering without flinching needs a reality check. I drove slowly so that I could get a good look at the place - I had never been here before since they had moved the location. There were alot of people sitting on the side walk against a fence, small bundles of essentially everything they owned at their sides or on their backs. Some of them roamed the sidewalks listlessly and one of them was sprawled asleep on the sidewalk with only a bundle of old newspapers as a pillow. I surveyed my surroundings and then walked up to one of the homeless and asked him where I had to go to do the drop offs or the handouts. He directed me to metal grate door which was surrounded by homeless. I knocked on the door and they asked me what I wanted to which I responded "I have some supplies to drop off." The guy opened the door and asked me if I needed a cart or something to help carry it in and I told him I did. I walked with one of the employees at the shelter, himself apparently also a homeless person who was assisting the shelter, to my car and began explaining what I had for them. Another man came out with some paper work for me to fill out (since charitable donations are tax deductible) and we got to talking about the homeless shelter situation, how it had moved, why it moved, and about volunteer work. It seems the shelter moved because it needed more space, a sad reality in these hard times when so many people are struggling on a daily basis. I also asked him it I could hand out the stuff I had left over that were not individually bundled in charity packages and he told me that while I could do that that it was not the wisest thing to do. He was very clear that if I did that they could not gaurantee my safety and that I would probably get mobbed upon. Hearing him say this merely reinforced the harsh reality that these poor people had to deal with and putting myself in a position where I could potentially get hurt by the power of desperation would not do me or the people I was trying to help any good. I signed the paperwork, shook their hands and thanked them for helping me out andf they thanked me for the donations. I also gave them consent to go on their news letter so that I could get updates on the status of the shelter and anything they needed or were planning.


Overall the experience was enlightening, albeit with a sense of sadness about it. I had hoped to hand out the charity packages first hand but now I understand how foolhardy that would have been. Walking around by myself with two bags of stuff in a bad part of downtown might have gone terribly awry. Seeing so many people with so little makes me feel very silly when I lament on my own misfortunes - the old saying holds true, as bad as things may be going for us at times for alot of people out there who have it alot worse. Seeing so many people with such desperate need also makes me understand that what I am doing is important and that my detractors or those that ridicule me are pathetic at best. With so many problems in the world they choose to waste valuable time and creative energy by targetting and harrassing a miniscule percentage of the population like RLSH and costumed activists because we choose to think outside the box when it comes to helping people. These misguided actions add nothing to the world but rather take from it - every person they discourage to quit helping people or turn away from starting to is a wound upon the hopes of a better future. One would think that sooner or later they would figure out that they're wasting their time but I don't think they ever will and I don't think they fully understand thge harm they inflict with their actions.

Looking towards the future I hope to do more things like this again and probably even volunteer within the shelter itself. I am encouraged by the support I have gotten from my friends and family about this and unfazed by the ridicule of the hopelessly unenlightened.

We love you Reepicheep!!! - charity work, and other odds & ends

So I went to see the latest Chronicles of Narnia movie last Sunday and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Perhaps my favorite character in the whole movie was the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep who played a very prominent role in the the 2nd installation of the series but really hit it on all cylinders in the third part. For those who are unaware of the Chronicles of Narnia movies (an on screen adaptation of the C.S. Lewis books) these stories partly set in the real world but for the most part set in the fantasy world of Narnia are allegorical tales connected in large part to the Bible and prominent biblical figures. The lion Aslan himself is often considered to be the representation of Jesus Christ, a font of wisdom and courage to those that need it the most, especially when times are most difficult and hope is dwindling. The movies, much like the books themselves, teach several profound lessons such as the nature of sacrifice, compassion, hope, and the inherent strength of good. Above all things and on many levels however the movies teach the important of faith.


The character Reepicheep was actually in the first Narnia movie, albeit in a way not alot of people are aware of.In Prince Caspian, Lewis states that Reepicheep is descended from a group of common mice who gnawed through the ropes that bound Aslan to the Stone Table after the White Witch had killed him; as a result of their service, they became talking mice.Much like the many tales in the Bible where people are gifted with miracles and special abilities for a service to good, Reepicheep and his brethen benefit from their act of selflessness and compassion.



In Prince Caspian, Reepicheep is the leader of the twelve mice who help to fight against Caspian's Uncle Miraz in the Second Battle of Beruna, near Aslan's How. He and his followers run through the battle and plunge their rapiers into unsuspecting enemy's feet, causing them to fall, after which they are quickly dispatched. Reepicheep is badly wounded in the battle, and he loses his tail. He petitions Aslan afterward to have it restored, as the tail is "the honour and glory of a mouse." Aslan expresses concern about whether the mouse thinks too much of his honour. However, Peepiceek (the second in command of the mice) and the other mice prepare to cut off their own tails to avoid bearing an honour denied to their leader. This solidarity convinces Aslan to restore Reepicheep's tail, apparently not "for the sake of his dignity", as Aslan states, but for the love Reepicheep's people bear him.Again here we are taught an important lesson of loyalty and unity in the service of good and the reward for doing so.


In the 2008 film version, Reepicheep led two other mice into Miraz's castle during a mission that did not appear the book. The three bound and gagged a cat during the operation. Halfway through, they teamed up with Trumpkin the dwarf and opened the gate, allowing Narnian soldiers into the castle.

Reepicheep appears at the very end of The Last Battle to greet the last of the Narnians at the Emperor's Garden. He is exactly as the Pevensies remember him, not having died or even aged in the hundreds of Narnian years that have passed since their time. Because of this, he is sometimes compared to St. Peter, who, in Catholic Christian tradition, is thought to guard the gates of Heaven and welcome the saints. His living departure into a symbolic heaven, however, is more reminiscent of the Old Testament figures Enoch and Elijah. Since Lewis was not a strict allegorist, it is of course quite possible that all three associations (or none) were intended.

Reepicheep's fate is also reminiscent of that of the main character from C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. In That Hideous Strength, Dr. Elwin Ransom also ascends to heaven without dying.


In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Reepicheep accompanies Caspian on his voyage in the hope of finding Aslan's Country at the end of the world. He believes it is possible to sail to Aslan's Country because when he was a baby, a dryad prophesied:

Where sky and water meet,
Where the waves grow sweet,
Doubt not, Reepicheep,
To find all you seek,
There is the utter East.

During the journey, Reepicheep teaches Eustace Scrubb about honour, courage, and loyalty, even though at the start of their relationship Eustace treats Reepicheep with great disrespect. They eventually become fast companions, further accentuated in the 2010 film adaptation with the mouse continually riding Eustace in his dragon form in the air.



Near the Eastern edge of the world, Lucy, Edmund, Eustace and Reepicheep set forth from the Dawn Treader in a small row boat to the edge of the world. The three children are returned to our world through a door in the sky, while Reepicheep embarks in his own small coracle, paddles off in a different direction, and disappears. C.S. Lewis then implies, but does not explicitly state, that Reepicheep ultimately did reach Aslan's Country. (He appears in the final pages of the Last Battle ushering the children into Aslan's Country.)

Overall I found Reepicheeps character extremely enjoyable in the movie. Though small in stature his courage in the face of utter evil was awe-inspiring and larger than life (how else could you describe a swashbuckling anthropomorphic mouse charging fearlessly into combat against a malevolent kraken-like sea beast pulled from a nightmare and made real). I also found his relationship with Eustace to be very noble, taking the derisiveness of Eustace in stride and comforting him when Eustace was mired in despair. And how awesome was if to see Reepicheep riding a gold dragon into battle against great evil - rather ironic to me for some reason that escapes me right now. ;)


In other news it looks like my outline and adventure premise I am proposing for a Dungeons and Dragons company my buddy is part owner of has received strongly favorable reviews. I'm 75% finished with the outline edits and when I get the green light I am revving to get started on it. It's been a few years since I've been published in Dungeons and Dragons books and I'd like to add an adventure to the near dozen that I have already written and have been played around the world.

Lastly, my Project: Gallery of Superheroes that I have prepped for MegaCon is going well. I'm 90% done with all of the items and so far I've gotten solid support from those who have seen it. As part of the charity event aimed for kids attending the con I think it will go over well and make alot of them very happy. Closer to home I finished purchasing and gathering my supplies for my local homeless charity mission and I hope to get it going tomorrow in the latter part of the morning. I've got T-shirts, sandwiches, water bottles & sodas, and a few other items which I need to put together in bundles and get ready for the handout. I got some unexpected support from a friend of mine at work who found out about what I am doing - he's not really involved in the whole RLSH/costumed activist thing so I am encouraged by his offer of assistance. He sees what I what to accomplish and unlike my detractors, is not caught up in the hate mongering for the sake of just being chronic bile-spewers. Overall I hope this project gets off to a good start - I'm crossing my fingers...uhm...I mean paws.

I'd like to wish all my friends and family a very happy new year and as I've said before, if your doing the right thing and fighting the good fight then your detractors can't win. Do your part to help people in need who deserve it the most regardless of how big or small your act of charity might be. You won't always accomplish an enormous amount of good. You sometimes might accomplish a small amount of good. The point is to simply get out there and do some good, not sit on your butt in front of a computer screen and complain about those that do.


<<< End of the cheery part of my blog >>>

And what would my blog be without pointing out the chronic retardation that is the bulk of the RLSV community (mind you there are some rare exceptions to their overall mental malaise).

To the pudgy little Nosferatu that tried to post on my blog a few days ago... you should REALLY not harp on the subject of mental illness given your own admission of being a few bullets short of a full clip. And how's that promise you made to your wife to remove yourself from the whole RLSV-RLSH mayhem going? Not well apparently. Don't worry Jason, I genuinely hope that someday you'll get it right (though not likely).Lousy ex-soldier and lousy human being - you got it all covered!!!

To good old Lord M, the enigmatic Bronze Bedpan himself. The next time you decide to start giving people grief about them pointing fingers and making accusations of fellow RLSVs that may or may not be true and may come off as libelous/slanderous, clean up your own sordid affairs in this matter. Let's see... RLSVs accusing DC Guardian of being a pedophile...RLSVs accusing Captain Ozone of being a pedophile, child murderer, and animal killer....Poop Knife accusing Master Legend of manslaughter in one of his earlier blogs. There are more examples but I why bother. Oh and nice shout out to advocates of vandalism you made not long ago.

And Agent B, snide comments about physical appearance? Really...you making such comments..REALLY? But you keep toiling away at that hot dog place you work at. I mean, given your bulimic "I'm the victim of a serious beating" raccoon-eyed ROACH pic and your sparkling personality which engenders all the affection of gargling broken glass and razor blades their is little doubt that your current place of employment provides you with the closest experience you'll come to in your life to handling a sausage. I kinda understand why you hate so much on hot chicks on your blog - envy is one of the 7 deadly sins so have it Brunhilda!!!

And if you follow these instructions (and the MySpace RLSV grows enough of a pair to let you see it) you will find a few pictures from the MySpace page Free Information which serves as a cover for one of the more vocal RLSVs apparently promoting such things as pill popping, racism (the White Power kid), kids doing drugs and Nazi symbolism. I guess this is par for the course along with that happy happy joy joy email address, you know, the one chock full of Antisemitism.

Go to the following link: 

http://www.myspace.com/313265359?actp=n%2b0prKAebczfG13CmB%2fL170xxzjSK8k%2f19igSi%2f1c3udjracZft8Ck8ofUlmAvALe4mijbaXsyXXguY3aFJEzKyhoxYT%2fj%2b1RzpTu3DazNoTx%2bJx19Wu4mIyieqOncT1AxMzZ5totil2JOpIeyKnElm4GsUOkvJrB94PtWcqDfrQrkyshmaKFcT9CpCDhGRv1V37vB4fee8LOt1VyCPz0En1q8uErYLV2CzQDV8HNazLYdpSWfUsymf%2fM8DPsW87nk1nLx0uM7LOkcXGFi7O4g%3d%3d

Create a profile or befriend him. Then go to his Pics section. If he has not lost his spine (if ever really had one) and does not delete the pics then check out what I'm talking about. This is the same guy who once suggested in his blog that if you see an innocent person getting assaulted to stand by and watch but do nothing else. 

Merry Christmas to my peeps

Well today is the day.
Today is the day that Santa Claus has visited those who were both naughty and nice, gifting those who have been benign with pleasant things and those who have been naughty with lumps of coal (and as long as the RLSV exist the coal industry will no doubt thrive.)
Today is the day when the blessed birth of our savior Jesus Christ gave hope to the world and it is this very thing that I wanted to speak of today...hope. And if you're an atheist of just in the mood to be a schmuck and argue or belittle me for your perverse amusement then just letting you know ahead of time.. your responses will be deleted and you can go lick the scum off a sewer pipe for all I care. I have no inclinations to entertain your nonsense.

As I spent time with my family this morning after having them open the bounty of Christmas gifts that Santa left them I decided to give my wife a much needed chance to clean up the house. Toys scattered everywhere and empty boxes from where they came from made the place look like a hurricane and earthquake hit it simultaneously. So I gathered my kids and headed out to Burger King for them to play in their indoor amusement center. Along the way I saw a homeless man walking the streets with no shirt on. His skin, especially on his back, was testament to the harsh and unforgiving life that homeless live. His whole world was kept in a rusty beat up shopping cart and he did not have shoes which no doubt made walking on the hot streets asking for spare change hard to bear. My heart broke when I saw this, especially on a day as today when we are driven to give thanks for what we have.

 So I called my wife and said "Honey, can you prepare a sandwich for someone who really needs it?" She knew ahead of time what I meant as I am planning a local  homeless assistance mission so we have had most of the supplies for a while. She made the sandwich and we added a bag of chips, a water bottle, and brand new plain white t-shirt that I got from Walgreens. I drove back (leaving my kids at home to pick up after I was done) and came up to him to offer him the help. He looked up at me and close up one could see how badly his body and spirit has been ravaged by his condition. I did not hesitate...I knew what had to be done. I introduced in a friendly manner and said "Merry Christmas. Here is some food for you, something to drink, and a nice new white t-shirt for you." He was very thankful and somewhat amazed but when I showed him the white t-shirt, there was a glimmer of joy in his otherwise withdrawn and sullen eyes. He looked at me and said, "Oh thank you so much. God bless you. I really needed this. This shirt is nice." I reached out and shook his hand, a hand that was as rough and calloused as sand paper and said "Merry Christmas". As I drove away he looked at me and waved, screaming out "Merry Christmas and God bless you." I shouted back to him "Thank you. You are not forgotten."After wards I picked up my kids and took them to Burger King.

Perspective check here. When I gave him the shirt he acted as if I had put a pile of money at his feet. I find that incredibly telling that something so unremarkable could be seen as such an answered prayer.In the long run a sandwich, a water bottle, and a plain white t-shirt may not move mountains, it may not solve world hunger, or cure AIDS. But in that moment, to someone who lives a life of constant despair and desperation I gave him what he needed...a sense of hope and a spark of joy ultimately that is what I try to accomplish every time I do this.
 
So to those who care about me and I call friend, Merry Christmas and a hope for a good new year. To those who vilify me and take shots at me whenever you can I leave you with this. In trying to do so you have failed and you always will. You will never break me, you will never crumble my resolve. Your hate is a measure of your own weakness. No doubt you'll keep trying but in the end you will do what you always do...fail miserably and look bad doing so. And that's fine by me. :)

The Age of Heroes keeps on truckin!!!!

On the near eve of Christmas and being on the cusp of the new year it seems that the age of heroes is in fill swing now more than ever on both TV and movie screens. As tough times still abound in the real world and many of us feel a sense of uncertainty about so much around us, the spirit of the hero endures. It does not surprise me that now, perhaps when we need them most, the call to bring super heroes and the beliefs they stand for are clamored for. Thankfully, Hollywood and other folks have been listening.

Perhaps most curious of the new shows is one called The Cape, a show in the vein of characters such as the Batman, the Dark Knight, a watered down version of the Punisher, Moon Knight, and perhaps a bit of the Green Hornet in there as well. The series, set in the fictional metropolis of Palm City, follows an innocent cop who has been framed for a crime he did not commit and then left for dead after he is caught. He is eventually saved by a circus ringleader who prepares him with special abilities to defend himself against his foes. Separated from his wife and son, he tries to clear his name while protecting them from being killed if he was ever reported alive. He takes the law into his own hands by taking the guise of his son's favorite comic book hero, The Cape, after he is given a special suit that has unique capabilities. Vowing to get rid of the corruption that has taken over both the city and the police force, he goes after the person responsible for setting him up and causing his "demise." The series is set to premier in January of 2011 and I look forward to it with great anticipation. 

Not new to the scene but nonetheless another interesting addition to the hero movement is the show "No Ordinary Family" by ABC. The show involves a regular family with real life issues such as a struggling marriage and kids disconnecting with their parents that suddenly and mysteriously become endowed with super powers. The father, a police sketch artist, gains superhuman strength and endurance, the wife gains super human speed, the son gains the ability to absorb knowledge and construct solutions to almost any problem he can perceive (albeit retain this knowledge is retained temporarily), and the daughter gains telepathy. The show is likable (at least for me) because it does not shy away from the hardships and consequences that come with the use of their new found abilities. The father even goes so far as to go out on patrols while in disguise. While this has not come without its fair share of issues he has done alot of good in the process. His responsible use of patroling as a crime deterrent is something that alot of RLSH practice but still others could use a lesson in. Along the way the show creators have added Allison Adler, one of the writers of the innovative show "Chuck" to the crew. While the reviews of the show have been mixed, they have been overall favorable.

Not new to the super hero movement but worth mentioning because it is in it's final season, the show Smallville moves forward with greater excitement and buildup than ever. It it's last season they have decided to up the ante, bringing incredibly powerful villains such as Darkseid (and can Desaad be too far behind him), Granny Goodness, and Slade to the show. Also showing up are the Suicide Squad to add some more turmoil. But perhaps the greatest surprise is the return of Lionel Luthor to the show, courtesy of his evil self being transported here from an alternate reality. Rumblings also give reason to believe that Lex Luthor, Superman/Clark Kents greatest nemesis will make a return in what promises to be a very powerful and memorable ending to the series. Let's hope they do better with these villains than they did with Doomsday, who would have plowed this version of Superman into the ground with ease. I enjoyed the fact that Clark revealed his true self to Lois - it was about time. As a long time fan of the show from its inception, I will be there when it ends, hoping that I will get a glimpse of the day that Clark Kent dons the red, blue, and yellow and makes his presence known to the world on the grand stage. 

On the cartoon front we have the show Young Justice also starting in January of 2011. The pilot which aired in November of 2010 was well made and received many positive reviews. Much like in the vein of the cartoon DVD movies made by DC such as Superman:Doomsday, Superman/Batman: Public Enemy, and Batman: The Red Hood as well as the old show Justice League International, the cartoon is an excellent meld on subject matter, treating the characters as likable by kids but also adult enough to be watched and enjoyed by an older audience.The show is set in Earth-16, a DC Multiverse world, and corresponds to the present time of our world — a time period Vietti has called "a new age of heroes." The recently founded (three to four years in activity) Justice League is a powerful organization of superheroes who find themselves becoming "high-powered, high-wattage celebrities" tracked closely by the public. As it grows increasingly difficult for the Justice League to operate outside the spotlight, the supervillains take advantage of their opponents' prominence while becoming better at organizing and working under the radar. Meanwhile, the teenaged sidekicks of several Justice League members feel they are ready to graduate on to the next level and become more independent. Consequently, Batman organizes the teens to fill the need for a covert operations team while keeping their protégés under their authority. Interesting additions to the cast include Miss Martian which in real DC continuity is a White martian and not a Green one. Also, changes were made to Aqualad, making him appear as African-American and Arrowette was replaced by Artemis to fill the role of the Green Arrow sidekick. 

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Superheroes 

he Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an American cartoon series by Marvel Animation based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers. The show debuted on Disney XD in Fall 2010 starting with a 20 part micro-series.The series initially features a team based on the roster for the original Avengers, composed of Ant-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and the Wasp. In terms of tone and style, the series will be based primarily on the original stories by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. However, it will also utilize material from all eras of the comic's run and other sources such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  The plot begins as the world's most dangerous supervillains break out of the Vault, the Cube, the Big House, and the Raft, six of Earth's mightiest heroes assemble a crime fighting alliance called the Avengers. The Avengers line-up initially includes Hank Pym (who assumes both his Ant-Man and Giant-Man alter-egos), Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and the Wasp.^[3] Captain America, Black Panther, and Hawkeye have joined the roster and will be regulars on the show. Interesting enough, while the show has had a large number of Marvel favorites in it both good and evil, a few tweaks have been made on some of the characters which were unexpected, including making the Black Widow a double agent who infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D and framed Hawkeye for a crime that lands him in jail. Worse, it seems that the Black Widow works for Hydra.

Transformers Prime had its debut on the Hub on a 5 part mini-series called Transformers: Prime. Making many hardcore Transformers fans (such as myself) giddy with glee was the announcement that the mini-series would be followed by a full season in February 2011.There are 26 episodes scheduled for the first season and another three seasons have been outlined by the screenwriters. The premise of the story is that Team Prime live on Earth as a pre-emptive measure against the return of the Decepticons, forming an alliance with three teens as Megatron returns having discovered a rare element that grants him rule of life itself. The show delves into what it is to be a Prime, and though in continuity with Exodus and War for Cybertron, its Earth-bound backstory is reminiscent of the live-action film series. While I look forward to the show with great anticipation, one thing that bothers me is the use of child characters in the show. There is now way that Optimus Prime would willingly allow young kids to be so close to the battle field. I can understand the Autobots working with the human military the way they have done in the previous 2 real life Transformer movies - the military hardware and firepower has proven to be capable of taking down some of the baddest Decepticons around (example: the rail gun blast that wipes out the Constructicon Devastator). Like the other shows the mini-series has proven enjoyable and a bit more adult than previous incarnations. I believe in the pilot series one of the Autobots was slain and you see Arcee struggling with the emotional trauma that follows. This also provides an excellent build up to the 3rd Transformers movie which will feature none other than UNICRON HIMSELF!!!!


Oh and God bless the Hub for making one special addition to the cast - using Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the voice of the Autobot Cliffjumper. The Rock is my all time favorite pro wrestler and I find this REALLY cool.

I also look forward to the series "V" restarting in January. Based on a classic series from my youth, it depicts the struggle of humanity to overcome an alien invasion that has been in the works for quite some time it retains the "David versus Goliath" feel of the old show, humanity being the underdog that never quits despite the odds being almost impossible to overcome. The show has been tweaked a bit from its previous incarnation, giving more relevance to the resistance movement within the V that want to help humanity instead of conquer it.

On the movie front we have so many super hero movies coming out that it would make any comic book fan ecstatic. With movies like Thor, Green Lantern, Transformers 3, the Green Hornet, X-Men First Class, The First Avenger: Captain America, the 3rd Wolverine movie and Iron Man movie  sometime I believe in 2012 there will be a plethora of comic book fun and mayhem for fans to enjoy. Also, word is that in another super hero (well kind of) movie with Ryan Reynolds as the merc wit ha mouth Deadpool, he will be "breaking the fourth wall" - meaning the movie will be shot with Deadpool actually stopping to make snappy comments to the viewing audience.

Now it can be argued that Hollywood and TV stations are only doing this to make cash (which is a big reason for this no doubt). However, Hollywood acts on the basis of demand and popularity when it comes to making the big bucks and right now, more than ever, super heroes are the cash cow. However, going beyond the almighty dollar, the popularity of the super hero movies speaks to the growing desire of people looking for inspiration even if it's not real, to provide some hope in tough times. People want to believe in heroes, in something larger than life that can stand against the darkness, against any villain or obstacle that threatens to crush them and says "I'm not moving and I'm going to win no matter what you throw at me." At the end of the day regardless of the babble of naysayers and bile-spewing malcontents, people love a hero and root for the good guys.

So here's to a great 2011 for super heroes in movies and cartoons. They inspire us and bring hope when we need it the most, awakening that sense of wonderment, awe, and determination that so many people too often allow to wither and die within them. Ignore the critics. Ignore haters and embrace what is to come.

THE AGE OF HEROES IS ALIVE AND WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Scoop of Charity Funds & A RLSH/Costumed Activist Perspective

In this holiday season it becomes very common for organizations dedicated to helping the poor, homeless, orphaned children, people stricken with incurable ailments, ect. to solicit donations to help their efforts. Although  many organizations get donations that are not necessarily money, I'd like to focus on monetary donations and later on spin it within the realms of RLSH / costumed activists.

A very common question about donations to charity is "How much of it REALLY goes to help people and how much goes to overhead/running the organization?" Well the answer to this is rather surprising...and in many instances a bit depressing. Here's some information I picked up surfing the net in regards to this:

* The best charities are those that dedicate no more than 20% of their income to their overhead costs. Unfortunately, many prominent charities are at about 50%, something that reputable groups should be continually working on lowering. If your chosen charity has a 20% or below listed, then you know you're working with a good group that uses their funding

wisely. The fact that a particular organization uses a higher percentage of donations for operating expenses does not mean that you should not give. It is simply something that you should be aware of so that you can make an informed decision about where to direct your generosity.

* In 1999 Commercial fundraisers soliciting in Washington state reported raising more than $225 million in charitable donations during their most recent fiscal year. Of that amount, $131.5 million went for fundraising expenses and profit. The remaining $93.5 million was retained by client charities — an average of 41.5 percent. More than a third of the 80 fundraisers listed in the report provided their charity clients with 20 percent or less of their contributions they collected. Of those, seven provided their clients with ten percent or less, including one whose charity client received less than three percent of the total funds raised. 

* In 2007, California commercial fundraisers collected a total of about $370.3 million in charitable contributions. The average distribution to charity from all campaigns conducted by commercial fundraisers in 2007 was 43.63 percent, an increase of 7.15% over the average reported in 2005. In New York, A total of $178.7 million was raised on behalf of 442 charities in 2007 in the 553 telemarketing campaigns covered in this report...Charities retained 39.46 percent, or $70.5 million, of the total funds raised in the campaigns. In Massachusetts in 2007, professional solicitors registered in Massachusetts raised nearly $285 million. Of this amount only $101 million or 35% of the amount raised ended up with the charity. This means that on average, of every dollar that a professional solicitor raised for charity in 2007, only 35 cents went to the charity.

* Regarding Christmas cards tied to charity organizations/donations, some retailers such as Next and House of Fraser are giving as little as 6 percent of the money made on these cards to the charity, with the remainder going to the retailer and the manufacturer. Many consumers assume that the majority of what they pay on these cards goes to the charitable cause, but the report shows that is clearly not the case, with charities in some cases receiving very little of the money that is paid for the cards.

Now giving this a RLSH / costumed activist perspective, the downside is that because charity organizations are usually large scale business, their ability to gather and distribute funds is more efficient than if done by a RLSH/costumed activist. Also, the charity organizations are generally able to reach more people / area. So it might seem at first that the RLSH / costumed activist role is minimized. However, considering the examples given about, the advantage that a RLSH / costumed activist has is that very little if any of the moneys collected for charitable endeavors goes to any kind of overhead. This allows the RLSH / costumed activist to apply the majority of the funds to the task at hand, in essence buying more needed materials such as food & blankets for the homeless or toys for needy kids than a standard charity organization would do with the same amount of funds. Having done this myself several times I can tell you from experience that even a small group of RLSH / costumed activists who pool their efforts and funds towards a common goal can achieve impressive results and help a fairly good number of people. The key here is also geography and numbers.Alot of RLSH / costumed activists, such notables as Razorhawk, Thanatos, and DC Guardian make the most out of very little and they have become local iconic figures because of their tireless efforts to support and run charity-driven events.

So in the long run maybe the RLSH / costumed activists may not raise as much or distribute it to as many people but by lacking the need to pay overhead charges they get a bigger bang for the buck and they work with a greater sense of freedom in terms of how they can operate, not needing to worry about being bogged down by bureaucratic red tape. Costumes and uniforms draw in peoples curiosity and get them to ask questions. It's at that moment that the RLSH / costumed activists have a chance to tell people what they are about and what kind of charity / assistance they are sponsoring. By appealing t a persons sense of compassion, sense of curiosity/wonder, and wit ha well thought out approach a RLSH/costumed activist can make an effective difference for people who need it the most and by being less bound than a business based charity organization they make the dollar stretch more, something that is vital during the holiday season when necessity becomes all the more obvious.

Parody Done Right...Front of German Apples

I came across this story this story a few weeks ago while I was surfing the net on Yahoo and it made me think about how screwed up the RLSV really are. I mean, so often they say sadistic things about the RLSH, so often they degrade them like trash and then run and hide behind the "oh it's just a parody" excuse or "hey, it's just satire". Well this article and the information provided with prove that you don't have to use parody as a weapon of verbal sadism. You don't have to use parody to inflict emotional harm on otherwise generally good people or a generally well intended movement like RLSH or costumed activism.Parody, as the Front for German Apples shows, can be used to take shots at organizations who deserve it... like those who support the Nazi and their crimes (Poop Knife, you might want to turn the computer off now). After reading this article all I have to say about the RLSV is your "satire and parody" excuse is garbage.

http://observers.france24.com/content/20101018-giving-neo-nazis-dose-own-medicine

Choice pickings from the articles (pardon the pun)

"For six years now, the Front of German Apples has taken to the streets every time neo-Nazis make a public appearance, to take a sarcastic jab at them" - Amazing huh? People using creativity to actually DIMINISH the effectiveness of hatred.

"So one night in 2004, the evening before a huge rally in the city, the idea came up: why not make it fun to demonstrate against neo-Nazis?"  Wow!! You mean to tell me that people can actually use parody to COUNTER negativity?

"We chose the apple for several reasons. It is partly a pun on the name of Holger Apfel, an NPD leader who was elected to the state parliament in Saxony. But above all, the apple is a very German fruit and was a good satirical metaphor." - What was that last part? GOOD SATIRICAL METAPHOR?

"We think it’s sometimes easier to see the negative side of things when it’s been exaggerated, as facts can often be misleading. We want people to see what’s absurd about the rise of these neo-Nazi groups." This would work with the RLSV is 1) they were consistent and fair in their criticism of the RLSH and 2) if they were not so many members within their ranks that were not ill intended beyond the gimmick.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_Deutscher_%C3%84pfel

And here is a parody video. Classic and tastefully well done. They are not going after "good people". They are using satire to take jabs at Nazi and their venomous hatred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gwS2Eoo1Yg&feature=player_embedded
Now I don't mind an RLSV taking a shot at Master Legend for the nasty dead cat/ketchup video. For that old ML deserves to take a bit of a beating. I've said it time and time again..take your shots when people screw up but that would be asking too much obviously. That would be asking you to use parody responsibly, like the Front for German Apples. That would be asking you to use your creativity in a positive manner and most of us know that believing you can do so is asking to much.

Saying that kids with cancer should be exterminated so as not to contaminate the gene pool? Not funny. Not parody.
Inspiring someone to slash Zetamans tires and then having one of your members put up picture on lessons of how to slash tires? Not funny. Not parody.
Making fun of a persons weight and using the deaths of 22 people in the Tennessee floodings within this context. Not funny. Not parody.
Posting a 16 year olds personal info on the net and placing him in danger because he made you mad at what he said ON THE INTERNET. Not funny. Not parody.
Posting a picture of a man at a con in costume with his child and accusing him of being a pedophile? Not funny. Not parody and a flagrant example of a mixture of libel/slander.
Advocating violence shown on a video of guys in gang attire, masks, shotguns, and machetes? Maybe the video was a poor attempt at parody but the stance to advocate that kind of violence is not funny.

There are alot of other examples I could site but why bother. The Front for German Apples shows what parody done right can achieve. It shows how to take satire and use it responsibly to fight evil and injustice, not encourage it and the hatred that often comes with it. Comedy need not be a weapon against those that do not deserve it. It can be a weapon against the ills of society that deserve to be banished.

Get a clue RLSV. And while you're at it have an apple why won't you?

Musings of the Mouse

Ah...the day AFTER Thanksgiving.
Having stuffed myself full of all sorts of cheese (the rare Persian cheese made from camel milk was quite delicious) I find myself with the urge to reflect on recent events in the community and out of it.

Phoenix Jones....
Well, I've always found folks like Silver Sentinel to be level headed and responsible folks and from what I have read even beyond his blog it seem Mr. Jones has possibly been painting the RLSH in a less than positive light or at the very least misrepresenting some of the fundamental things they stand for. I would hope that people who read about this take the time to look at the RLSH / costumed activist movement from various angles before they ready themselves to lay down harsh judgement. I'd recommend people like Silver Sentinel and a source like Peter Tangen who, while not a RLSH himself, has spent a great deal on time with people in the movement and seems to understand RLSH / costumed activist motivations beyond the gear, elaborate attire, and quirky personas. Enemies of the RLSH movement have gone out of their way lately to single out members and try to apply a negative blanket to the entire movement. I would suggest that they reconsider this or do all the RLSVs want to be labeled as vandalizing miscreants that run around slashing peoples tires in the dead of the night. Do all of the RLSVs want to be classified as racists given that some two of their most outspoken members are either former skinheads (or maybe even current) and run around with their contact email as king0Nazi@gmail.com. I doubt that the owner of this email ACCIDENTALLY chose this email and what person with even a shred of moral fiber would have their contact info connected to one of the worse atrocities in human history. Does this guy think the Holocaust was a joke? The knife cuts both ways whether they care to admit it or not.

Speaking of RLSVs it seems that good old meandering Malvado has "fallen off the wagon" of sorts. I remember months ago when the Zetaman tire slashing incident went down he mentioned on his old blog that the event had caused him to reflect on the mistakes he had made in his life and that he wanted to make amends for alot of it. He claimed he wanted to be a better person and even took steps to befriend Zetaman and offer his support. He joined the Real Life Superheroes forum and tried to keep a sense of civility even though most suspected that sooner or later he would crack or the charade he was pulling would be revealed. Malvado made statements like "hey guys let's squash the beef between both side" and "I've broken bread with these people and they are generally decent people." But let's fast forward to the here and now.

Malvado has returned to his sadistic putrid self and before I hear the "oh but he's a villain" excuse let me explain why that excuse holds no weight. Being a villain for the sake of the gimmick is understandable. Others in the past have done it well and some continue to do so now with a sense of respectability and credibility. Swordcane and Executrix come to mind. Malvado on the other hand, being an admitted ex convict and drug user projects himself as a villain to a fair degree BEYOND the gimmick. So while some of the things he says or does might be due to the gimmick it does not excuse that which goes beyond the gimmick. To be blunt, when Malvado says he is pretending to be a bad person I don't believe him because I think that gimmick aside he might genuinely be a bad person. He may not care about my opinion but I am not the only one who thinks this way based on several emails and comments I have gotten. The icing on the cake is that the guy who he befriended after the tire slashing incident and victim of the crime, namely Zetaman, now seems to be one of his primary targets of his venomous rants/tirades. But no worries as Malvado is not the only wanna be RLSV who has these little momentary lapses now and then. Here a excerpt from a post by Smeagol92055 / aka White Skull on 9/25 of this year..

<>
"To the capes and the masks and the vigilantes, I say bring it on; I'm waiting.
To the people behind the masks and the capes, I say you're human; I'm human. You may be a Man of Steel, but at the end of the day you still have a heart of flesh and a spirit that can be broken.  It is never my intention to break either of them.

I may be mean, I may be nasty, but that's to your RLSH persona.  I don't hate you personally.  Some of you frighten me; some of you fill me with pride in my species.  Regardless of how you impact my own life, whether for positive or negative, I don't hate you." << End of excerpt>>

And yet this is the guy who went thru his30 days of villainy where he did all sorts of ridiculous stuff including walking into a Taco Bell and trying to scam his way into getting free tacos by lying about having bought some and gotten sick by eating them. Really White Skull? REALLY WHITE SKULL? Very mature of you. You should be proud. This is the same guy who after making this melancholy reflective post has gone on to bash several RLSH and has IMHO returned to being the same pain in the ass he was before he went on his one of many sabbaticals from villainy. This is the same guy who wrote the following months and months ago, entitled "The White Skull Turning A New Leaf... (dear God what a friggin farce)

<> Greetings, everyone. This is... well, shit. I wish I could figure that one out for myself. See, a few months ago, I was the badnik voice of ROACH, The White Skull. Everything was great; I was using my acidic wit to tear down everything I could possibly get my hands on in the RLSH community; I did petty, small-minded things, like tearing down people, harassing people I didn't even know, and forming vendettas against everyone and everything around me. I was approached by numerous people within the ROACH community and from other, more shady people from outside of any organized group to do... unseemly things. Things that made me begin to wonder my place within this community. Was I really turning into the villainous persona I had taken on? Had I actually moved past the simple "satirical blogger" phase and into genuine villain territory? Enough people had thought so that I was being approached as a "guy who gets things done," something I wasn't sure I wanted to be labeled as. About the time the FBI stopped by my house to inform me that they were going to be watching me, I decided that this had gone far enough. ...and so did Mrs. Skull. She told me, in no uncertain terms, that if I continued with this course of action, that she would leave me. No one wanted that, so after much discussion, I agreed to attend counseling and, on the doctor's recommendation, I began a regimen of medication for my existing PTSD condition, a holdover from my time in the military. Fast forward to five months later; here I am, unsure of what steps need to be taken next; I'm in a much healthier place, a much happier place, and I honestly wish to make amends for the wrongs I did. Since the White Skull was the face (if you'll forgive the pun,) of my villainy, I decided to keep it around, to begin the long process of turning it from a negative to a positive symbol. If you all will have me, I'd love to try to prove myself worthy of your trust and a place in your community. The admins here have graciously agreed to allowing me a profile here, and I hope that this can be the first step towards changing The White Skull into a positive force. Thank you. -The White Skull   <>

Yeah, I kept a copy of this...and alot more. I kept it because as much as I want to believe that guys like White Skull, Malvado, and so many others on the RLSV side claim that they are not bad people that it is just a gimmick, that they want to try to be better people and change...at the end of the day it's all bullsh*t. At the end of the day, the villain gimmick aside, there is too much of them that likes to hurt people, to inflict emotional harm upon them. The ranks of the RLSV are full of these people..too many to mention. Some of them claim it's just business and not personal. Some, as seen above claim moments of clarity only to show that either they are not strong enough to do the right thing or have been dishonest from the start...villain gimmick aside. Some of the RLSH / costumed activists I speak to wonder why I take a bit of a hard line on the RLSV as I do. The reason is simple - for some of them being a bad person and making other human beings suffer in one form or another is not a gimmick. For too many of them the desire to do so is REAL and goes beyond the gimmick and that is what I have a problem with.

And to that Overlord chick who is running around claiming evil as a lifestyle choice let's cut to the chase. What you call evil as a lifestyle choice is nothing more than being a rebel, dancing to the beat of your own drum. It's not being evil, it's choosing to be different, to live your life beyond the standard mold that society tries to force us into sometimes. I got news for you sweet cheeks, there are alot of people in this world that are different. There are alot of people in this world that choose to live their lives thinking "outside the box". That is not evil. It does not make them evil and if you think that simply choosing to live your life by different standards out of the norm is evil then you are utterly clueless. Now if you choose to be "different" by going out and mugging old ladies, preying on children, ethnic cleansing, or robbing banks then yeah, I'd call that "evil". But simply choosing to be different and doing so in an innocuous manner? No, not evil. Not even close so do the world a favor and stop taking the ignorance pills you've been popping.