An Open Letter to DC Comics

A personal opinion and plea:

First of all, let me say that I love collecting comic books–especially your Batman series–and I love a lot of other nerdy and geeky things. I have a lot of it in my playroom (my “happy place.”)

Because I have a love for these types of things, I want them to be readily available so that I can enjoy them, but if you don’t learn a lesson from Marvel Comics (owned by Disney), I fear you will end up down the same path of failure.

For the last 2 or 3 years, Marvel Comics has experienced a significant drop in sales of their comic books. Do a web search for “marvel comics sales down” and look at what pops up.

According to ICv2, a Marvel-hosted meeting between Marvel Comics, retailers and distributors got ugly and had to be shut down, during last October’s NY Comic Con. The reason? From what I have seen posted on marketwatch.com, breitbart.com, comicvine.gamespot.com, bleedingcool.com, hollywoodreporter.com, etc., and from talking with other comic book fans, it seems I’m not the only one feeling that Marvel Comics has been shooting themselves–and their business partners–in the ‘foot’ by engaging in the practice of embedding biased, political messages in their stories, along with unnecessary–and unwanted–character changes, simply for diversity and political correctness.

We get bombarded by political crap from every direction, every day. We get it from cop shows, nightly news, sitcoms, radio, magazines, comedians, billboards, movies, street signs, books, newspapers…you name it. Most of the comic books fans I have spoken with don’t want politics, indoctrination and preaching in their comic books.

Comics are escapism. Leave it that way!

Disney also experienced backlash with Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Box office receipts were down by a few percentage points, and Chinese theaters even pulled the movie after only two weeks, because of poor ticket sales.

Personally, this is the first time I did not go to see a Star Wars movie multiple times–and I am saddened, and a little angered, by that.

In the Star Wars movie, there were quite a few PETA-style embedded messages, along with what seemed to be “evil rich people get what they deserve” kind of nonsense. The setting even felt like they shoehorned it into the movie, with obvious intent.

Marvel Comics is now about to do a reboot on their comics, called “Fresh Start,” from what I’ve been told. Apparently, they plan to try to fix things and bring “lapsed readers” back to their books. (I’ll believe it when I see it!)

I used to spend a LOT of money on comics, each week. For the last couple of years, I have bought just a few books, here and there. I dropped every single one of my subscriptions for Marvel Comics–and most of my DC Comics subs, too. Now, I mainly collect the Batman title, and one or two other books that might catch my eye once in a while–and I know of others who have done the same. That’s a big loss, for both Marvel Comics and DC Comics.

Now, I’m rethinking my Batman subscription–and that’s painful!

In the last couple of DC Animated movies I watched, there was a lot of “climate change” (discredited junk-science) and “green” nonsense embedded in the stories. Now, with the new Poison Ivy story arc in the Batman book, it’s a new story about “the green” and forced world peace. (What is this, a Batman comic or a Miss USA Pageant?)

DC Comics, please…STOP! Just stop.

It’s gotten to the point where if I see Poison Ivy or Swamp Thing in a new story, I want to leave the book on the shelf, because it’s a pretty good bet that you guys are going to use them for another political message–and I refuse to pay my hard-earned money for that! You can keep the preaching, indoctrination and political nonsense to yourselves.

When comics cease to be fun and entertaining, they stop ending up in my collection. I have standards.

Please, PLEASE change course, before you end up like Marvel Comics! I want nothing more than for you all to be successful, because I want to continue to read amazing stories about my favorite characters.

The Bat/Cat engagement stuff was very entertaining–until Ivy showed up, that is.

The Justice League’s “Darkseid War” from 2 or 3 years ago (The New 52) was one of the best story arcs I had read in a long time. The Fabok art was absolutely AMAZING! Give us more of that stuff.

Here’s a novel idea: Create some new characters! That way, the old, beloved characters can remain as they have been–and their longtime fans can remain happy–while adding something new to the mix, for those who would appreciate something different. Just, please, leave the embedded messages out of the picture. (Thank you!)

So, here’s to the future of great comics…EXCELSIOR!

(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Lessons Government Officials Should Learn From Charity Baseball Game Shooting

On Wednesday, June 14, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, and four others, were shot at a Republican congressional baseball practice, by a gunman who appeared to have targeted Republican members of Congress. The alleged shooter–James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois, who is reported to have been a disgruntled Bernie Sanders supporter–died following a shootout with police.

The Capital Police were only there, because a high-ranking official (Scalise) was in the group, practicing. If he hadn’t been there, with the armed detail, the situation could have been even worse.

‘Joe Six-Pack’ can’t afford, and is not allowed, to have an armed security detail follow him everywhere he goes, but these elitist government officials have access to such. That’s just another example of Animal Farm, in my opinion.

But I digress.

One witness said the scene was like being in Iraq without a weapon.

Sen. Rand Paul said it would have been a massacre if the Capital Police (people with firearms) hadn’t been there.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said that if it hadn’t been for the Capital Police (people with firearms), there would have been no one there to stop the gunman.

That’s right, because ridiculous gun control laws–and a court system that seems to love to prosecute people for self-defense–get in the way of people being able to protect themselves!

Wouldn’t it have been awesome if a bunch of peaceful* people, who were carrying concealed firearms, had taken this guy out from the start of his rampage? I have to wonder how many of those five injured people would have gotten out unscathed.

And wouldn’t it have been awesome if the gunman had decided not to risk shooting anyone, in the first place, because he would have known anyone around him could have been “packing” a firearm?

I hate to say it, but this is a case of reaping what you sow.

You want to limit self-defense, Government officials? Well, self-defense was also limited for you, because of it. You paid a high price, because of gun control nonsense.

There is a lesson to be learned, though: Now is a great time to eliminate gun control that gets people shot and killed!

MAKE IT HAPPEN!

 

*I absolutely detest, and completely disagree with, having to get a government-issued Permit (permission) to carry a concealed firearm for protection. Having gotten that off my chest and out of the way, statistics show that concealed carry permit holders cause less crime than even police officers.

Freedom of Speech Hypocrites

I have been channel surfing through political talk radio shows, lately, and I am not surprised by the reaction that Colin Kaepernick (49ers quarterback) is receiving for his refusal to stand for the National Anthem.

All the nationalists and authoritarians are viciously attacking his character, and attempting to shame him on a national stage, in an effort to get him to change his behavior—and hopefully create a hostile environment, so that no one else gets the crazy idea of following in his footsteps. Any other time, we’d be hearing these same guys talk about all the freedom we supposedly enjoy, and “American exceptionalism.”

The nationalists have even tried to turn this incident into an issue of Kaepernick somehow disrespecting the military, because supposedly so many “people fought and died” for his freedom, and he is just defecating all over them!

First of all, why do we sing the National Anthem, and have a military procession—complete with jets flying overhead—at a football game, in the first place? I’ll enlighten you: It’s to keep you all waving your flags, and get you teary-eyed when you think of your great country—even as it is going into the tank, and your freedoms are being trampled, more and more, each day. That’s why.

Hitler would be proud, I’m sure.

But I digress.

I have heard some people say, “People fought and died for your freedom! You’d better be glad you live in a place where you can say that!”

What they are really saying is, “You piece of garbage! You are challenging my belief system, and I would prefer to live in my little box, unchallenged, where I feel that everything I believe is right and good. You can have your freedom of speech—as long as you say things that I agree with. If I could shut you up, right now, I would! You’d better be glad you live in this country, where most people tolerate such things; otherwise, I would physically assault you—and I still might, if I think I can get away with it!”

This type of behavior begs the question: If people fought and died for freedom of speech—and you revere them so much for doing so—why are you trying so hard to stop people from exercising that freedom? You must not revere them as much as you say you do, because you obviously don’t want people to use what those dead folks supposedly fought for.

I’ve got news for you: The Flag of the United States is basically a corporate logo of the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (intentional caps, for all of you in the know), in the same way that the “swoosh” logo represents Nike, or the “golden arches” represents McDonald’s. People get so wrapped up in that flag, but they don’t understand its true meaning.

Contrary to what you’ve been indoctrinated to believe, the US Flag does NOT represent the people of the United States. I know you’ve all been made to feel like it does, but it does not. It represents the warring, lying, stealing, murdering, enslaving US Government.

Getting you to pledge your allegiance, when you are too young to even understand what you are doing, for example, is how nationalism indoctrination is done—and it is absolutely necessary for keeping the State in control of everything. If you lose faith, it’s over—so the Powers That Be won’t have any of that. That is why nationalism is taught, as early as kindergarten.

Government constantly lies to us; literally beats us down with their officers and agents; attempts to disarm us; takes nearly half of everything we earn each year (taxes, fees, fines, permits, licenses, etc.); keeps us in a constant state of “war”; pushes us into dividing ourselves and fighting against each other; regulates our businesses to the point where they flee the country—and take all their jobs with them; monitors everything we do and say; destroys entire industries (coal and lead, for example)—and the jobs that go along with them—with the stroke of a pen; is the single biggest reason for the increase in our healthcare costs—and I could go on and on.

Do you really expect me to pledge my allegiance to that, or stand and wave the logo that represents it, and get all mushy inside? Don’t be ridiculous!

I love the location of my birth, and most other people here, but I despise governments—all of them.

It has been said that the only speech that needs protecting is unpopular speech. Now, I’m not crazy about the wording of that statement, but I get what the person was trying to say.

If Kaepernick wants to exercise his freedom of speech, and speak out against what he feels is injustice, I support him. If not standing for the National Anthem is what he feels is necessary to get his message across, I won’t try to stand in his way—and neither should you, if you believe in real freedom.

Maybe, one day, your words may not be so popular, and you might need a little “protecting,” too.

 

 

 

Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved.

State of the Union 2016

in my opinion, Donald Trump is a Fascist. Ted Cruz wants a theocracy, and to basically renew the Crusades. Marco Rubio is the face of the Establishment. Hillary Clinton is an elitist Limousine Liberal. Bernie Sanders is an absolute idiot Communist, who knows jack squat about economics.

Congratulations, USA. This is what all of your cowardice, coveting, entitlement mentality, dumbing down and social engineering has gotten you.

You have allowed Masters to rise up and control every aspect of your life–and then you turn around and shout “freedom!” and “USA! USA!” while those same Masters laugh at you–all the way to the bank. You can’t possibly think that all of the deficits, wars, taxing and regulating all of our industry to a point where the employers flee, and forcibly doing ‘this’ and ‘that’ to one another would ever lead to peace and prosperity.

And if you are looking for someone to blame, you only need look in the mirror.

You starve, and barely scrape by, while your government sends billions of dollars that were forcibly taken from you, in the form of taxes, to other countries–to bribe them, to go along with US-favored politics.

You now live in a society where your every purchase, email, phone call and text message is monitored by government. Even your laptop cameras and microphones can be turned on, remotely, by government, without your knowledge or consent, because you might be a terrorist–and “terrorism” is the favored excuse for government to use for all manner of power-grabs, these days.

Over half of police resources are used to kidnap and cage people who have done nothing more than smoke a leaf that government said was forbidden.

Government even tells you what types of light bulbs you will be allowed to use–and you still think you’re free?

The FDA has approved every single prescription drug that has maimed, killed or otherwise harmed someone, yet you see “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA…” disclaimers on health supplement bottles. They have pushed the toxic stuff through, but can’t be bothered with vitamins and herbal remedies?

When cops break the law, or kill someone, they get put on paid leave–which is nothing more than paid vacation, if we’re being honest. If you break the law, it’s a completely different outcome.

Government has taken self-defense out of our hands, and has even devised a [trial lawyer] system where businesses and citizens are afraid to defend themselves, because the criminal might sue–and win!

If you are an average citizen, nearly half of your income is forcibly taken from you, each year, in the form of taxes, fees, fines, permits and licenses. Half!

You are conditioned to believe–through TV shows, movies, video games, talk radio, news broadcasts, etc.–that without government force the world would plunge into chaos and destruction, yet you peacefully self-govern, every day.

After all that they have done to you, you still want to tell me that we need this system? If so, realize that it’s your conditioning talking, not your rational mind.

School was the first step in your conditioning process; your parents handed you over to strangers, when you were very young and impressionable, and those strangers conditioned you to believe that strangers can wield authority over you–and punish you when you disobey. Basically, your were handed over into slavery.

If the word, “freedom,” truly means anything to you, you must help to abolish the system that has allowed these would-be rulers to destroy everything good that we’ve ever known.

Most of you are angry–if the current presidential “election” climate is any indication. The only problem is that you think that you can actually change the overall scope of power by voting. Sorry, but history shows that you cannot.

The “elections” are rigged; the Powers That Be would never let something like a popular vote take away their power and money. You even see the rules-breaking and maneuvering at the Primary level, so stop putting your faith in a ballot box!

We have to begin exercising mutual respect, self-defense, community involvement and emergency preparedness. We also have to rally around each other, so that the government goons understand that if they mess with one of us, they mess with all of us! That’s the only way we can turn things around.

Stay away from the polls, and learn more about Voluntaryism(.com).

The only way we are going to truly become a civilized society is when we learn to live and let live, and stop trespassing against one another.

“Government” is the most destructive, warring, murderous, stealing, lying, corrupt organization on the planet. It has to end. Now!

Hobby Lobby and Birth Control

Hobby Lobby is currently engaged in a battle with the Obama Administration over its refusal to provide contraceptives and abortion services to employees, in violation of the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare).

Hobby Lobby says providing birth control goes against their religious views, while MSNBC–along with Huffington Post, Vox Media and Senator Barbara Boxer (D)–portrays it as an “attack on women” and gays.

The MSNBC socialists say that Hobby Lobby is attempting to “claim religious freedom,” and if this is allowed then civilization as we know it will collapse and the sky will fall.

First of all, no one is being denied birth control; anyone can walk into their local clinic and get an abortion, or condoms, or purchase condoms at any pharmacy. Those things are available, any time. The issue, here, is freedom of choice–for Hobby Lobby, that is.

MSNBC says people have a “right” to birth control. They can have a “right,” all they want, but they don’t have a “right” to force someone else to provide it for them.

In the supposed “Land of the Free,” Hobby Lobby should be able to choose what’s best for them, their company and their beliefs. No one should force them to pay for things with which they disagree. Thomas Jefferson called that “tyranny,” and I firmly agree.

Hobby Lobby isn’t attacking women; they are simply acting according to their religious beliefs, which should be respected. If people don’t like the company’s position, they can refuse to work there and find another job, or refuse to shop there and do business with them. Now that is real freedom of choice, for everyone involved.

Pro-abortion folks often say, “my body, my choice.” Maybe Hobby Lobby should start saying, “my company, my choice.” What’s good for one is good for the other.

This isn’t about birth control, gays, women or anything else; this is about freedom of choice.

Glenn Beck and AMAC

I have been hearing Glenn Beck (national radio talk show host) broadcast his support for AMAC–an organization being touted as being a better, or more “conservative,” alternative to AARP–quite a bit, lately, so I decided to take a look at AMAC to see where they really stood on certain important issues.

This is my opinion of what I read from the AMAC website:

1)  AMAC claims to support an armed citizenry and reduction in taxation.

So far, so good.

2)  USA continuing to borrow money is a bad thing.

Right on.

3)  AMAC opposes government-funded abortion.

I firmly agree. This isn’t about the abortion morality debate; this is simply saying that if you’re going to have one, other people should not be forced to pay for it through taxation.

4)  AMAC supports income tax reductions for all wage earners.

Amen!

There are two or three other things that AMAC supports, but the thing that really turns me off to AMAC is this, taken directly from their website:

“To our members, and on behalf of many other mature Americans across the country, AMAC has already pledged to combat these funding cuts at the Federal level and to continue to educate lawmakers about the popular, robust benefit that is Medicare Advantage.  As part of what will certainly be an ongoing effort to defend MA, an AMAC letter of support for the Cassidy-Barrow initiative was submitted to the Congressional Record and can be viewed on our website and Facebook page.  The Cassidy-Barrow initiative – which has garnered the bipartisan support of more than 80 members of Congress – urges the Majority and Minority leaders of the House of Representatives to protect MA from detrimental program cuts in budget negotiations slated to occur in 2014.”

AMAC is actually fighting to stop a reported $308 billion dollar cut to Medicare Advantage!

Sorry, but I can’t go along with that. I don’t want government redistributing wealth, at all, so this is completely unacceptable.

AMAC also claims to have a Social Security Guarantee plan that would keep this socialist monstrosity of a program solvent for 75 years–without raising taxes, of course, according to their website.

Again, NO REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH! Stop propping it up, AMAC!

In my personal opinion, if organizations like AARP and AMAC were truly concerned about the well-being of Seniors, they would both advocate for an immediate end to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, etc., push for a truly free market in heath care, and have all of the money that people have paid into that government slush fund returned to them, immediately! AARP and AMAC won’t do that, because Social Security turmoil keeps both of them in business.

I can’t understand why people fight so hard for Social Security, in the first place.

With Social Security, we constantly hear of delayed benefits (sometimes years), difficulties in applying, denial of benefits, politicians using SS as a slush fund (with lots if IOUs in it, already), no actual government obligation to pay anyone (written in the law), having to secure attorneys to secure payments, and then the benefits that do come are a drop in the bucket compared to what the People have been forced to pay in. Why in the world would you want to protect that?!

Is AMAC better than AARP? AMAC seems to be much more in line with things I support (armed citizens, tax reductions, stopping Uncle Sam from borrowing more money, etc.), but neither of them goes far enough, for me, since they both seem to want to make sure government never loses its power in the area of Social Security.

If either AMAC or AARP decide they want to shake off their support for socialism, I’ll be willing to give them another look. Until then, I can’t support either one.

Fashion: An Exercise In Collectivism

Everywhere you turn, you are being bombarded with ads for the latest “fashion trends” and “latest styles.” These messages attempt to get you to buy new clothes, phones, accessories, etc. so you can feel “hip,” “cool,” “stylin’,” “up-to-date,” “in”…whatever.

The Fashion Media have a vested interest in promoting the latest decrees from the clothing industry, because it’s a symbiotic relationship, for profit; the manufacturers come up with new styles, and rely on the media to promote them. In turn, the media rely on new trends to generate money from selling magazines and advertisements. If they don’t get a lot of traffic (web page views), or sell a lot of mags, they can’t make the big bucks.

All of this is designed to make sure you do not stay satisfied with what you have for very long, so that you will spend money to get more stuff when they tell you it’s time to do so. And just like mindless sheep, you follow right along, because you don’t want the rest of the Herd to look down on you, or ridicule your lack of compliance with the fashion police.

It’s all about peer pressure, because people with low self-esteem either want to be “cool” like everyone else, or they don’t want anyone else to break free and think for themselves–which means the insecure will actually have to re-evaluate their decisions and purchases, and they don’t want to take the risk that they might have been stupid idiots, all this time. The Fashion Police can have none of that, if they are to remain cool!

On a related note, the Dr. Pepper commercials of late have me shaking my head. I hope others see what I see in them: Pepper drinkers claiming to be individuals, all while wearing the same red shirts, drinking the same soda, and all grouped together in a pack. That is just another way advertisers sell collectivism: Disguising it as individuality.

The thing that really chaps my hide the most is the barrage of commercials, around the time school is about to start, targeting kids with fashion peer pressure–and the parents who then scrape and save in order to give their spoiled, insecure children the fashion, brand-name items they feel they need in order to “fit in.” Disgusting!

If you really want to raise healthy, happy children that will go on to be healthy and happy adults, teach your children to be satisfied with who they are and what they have. And don’t say it can’t be done, because I’m living proof that it can–and I’ve been that way (a nonconformist) since I was a young child, and I helped raise a couple of kids to be secure adults.

I see ads for “empowerment” seminars, camps and self-esteem workshops. Seriously?! Why don’t you try telling the Fashion Police to piss off, and learn to be happy with whatever it is that makes you the happiest and most comfortable? Don’t worry about the Herd and what they value this month; we all know it’s going to change soon, anyway. You will have saved a lot of money, in the process!

And how many times have you looked back on pictures of yourself from 20, 10, maybe even just a couple of years ago and said, “Oh my goodness! What was I thinking? That’s hideous! I can’t believe I ever wore that!” If that’s the nature of fashion, and you’re going to look back and be embarrassed anyway, why not be comfortable and do your own thing? And you never know; what you choose to wear might look a lot better in pictures, in a few years, than what the current “trend” says you should have worn during that time.

Let’s all make a point, today, to consciously reject fashion trends and develop our own individual styles. If you happen to like something that just happens to be “trendy” at the moment, fine–but don’t do it just because the fashion industry pressures you to do so.

Let us teach our children to believe in themselves and be happy with who they are. Let us break down the building blocks of collectivism and assert our individuality and freedom of expression. Let’s not be slaves to the corporate machine that tells us we have to set aside perfectly good clothes, and buy new ones, simply because some fashion clown says we should.

If you want to take a serious stab at collectivism, fashion is a good place to start.

Racism: Divisive Nonsense

The Trayvon Martin case has turned into an excuse for more racial division, on both ‘sides.’

For the last two days, ESPN has been repeatedly broadcasting a story about Eagles football player, Riley Cooper, over some remarks that were supposedly very racist in nature. (I haven’t bothered to research it, because, frankly, I just don’t care about this crap anymore.)

That’s right; I couldn’t care less, anymore.

We can’t get upset about the NSA spying on everything we do; militarizing police, along with increased police checkpoints and home invasions; government takeover of healthcare (just as Hitler once did, and then rationed); high unemployment; gas prices; gold market manipulations; currency devaluation; killing innocents with drone strikes in foreign lands, etc. No, we have to start a civil war over derogatory comments that deal with the amount of pigment in someone’s skin.

And it seems that the same evil things (murder, rape, robbery, etc.) can occur, and the same names can be used in certain places and in certain social circles without any problems, but as soon as someone with a different type of skin pigment uses the same word, or does the same atrocious act, then people want to get upset.

When someone says that blacks are ‘this,’ or whites are ‘that,’ they are basically saying, “People who have a [choose dark or light] type of skin pigment are [insert favorite racist stereotype, here]”–and that’s about as ridiculous as it gets.

It isn’t skin tone that makes people who they are; it’s what is in their hearts that counts. And I’ve seen undesirable behaviors on display in every race, so no race can claim any kind of superiority over another.

Another thing that bothers me about racial division is censorship: As soon as someone makes a “racially-insensitive” remark, the news media jump on it and plaster it on every screen, in every newspaper and constantly repeat the story, over and over again, in an attempt to get you to “watch what you say!”

Sorry, but I don’t support that “political correctness” garbage; I think people should be free and open to say whatever they feel–no matter how idiotic or atrocious we may view it to be.

And I don’t care if people want to throw a racial slur at me; it’s just words! Sure, it can be irritating or hurtful, but as soon as you show it, they know they got to you. If you brush it off and ignore them, they soon learn that the tactic is ineffective and stop using it.

Personally, I would much rather someone come right out and say exactly what’s on his mind and in his heart, because it’s a more honest reflection of who he really is–and it gives me the opportunity to better weed out the ‘bad apples’ and avoid those people.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be shaking hands, hanging out, or doing business with people who secretly hold venom within. I would never want to censor their speech, but I certainly don’t have to be around them.

Government loves to distract the nation from the truly serious issues (and it’s failures) with issues of racism and tales of the “unfair.” Stop buying into it, and keep the spotlight on issues that should be uniting us, instead of dividing us!

Racism. So, what?

When it comes to privacy, ignorance can be destructive

Let’s start off with tablet computers. Do you realize the terms to which you are agreeing, when you download an app to your phone or computing device? Have you even stopped to look?

Apps that you download require you to give them permission to access areas of your device, such as your address book or activity logs. Some apps, like those from Amazon and eBay, also require that you give them permission to access your camera and video functions.

Why does a shopping app need access to your camera and the ability to record videos? Think about it.

Other apps even go so far as to require permission to contact people in your address book, without notifying you. So, it isn’t enough that the app might send you unwanted spam or advertisements; you’ve also opened your friends up to the annoyance, as well. (Thanks, buddy!)

In addition to apps, “smart” phones and tablets–and, now, Windows 8–employ “location services.”

Location services can help you find a gas station or restaurant in your vicinity, or even help you navigate through an unfamiliar part of town–but that same GPS technology is allowing certain companies to keep a running record of everywhere you have been. They can also compare logs of other users, to see who interacted with you at those same locations, to determine who your friends and colleagues are, as well.

By scanning your location history, companies can determine that you prefer Hardee’s burgers and shopping at Macy’s department stores–or that you stop by the adult video store or strip club on your way home from work on Friday nights.

Put all the data together that can be collected from these apps and devices, and you can build a nice profile of anyone, anywhere.

It should also be noted that savvy divorce lawyers are getting phone location records to use against people in court, and the US Government has one up on the former Nazi Germany: They no longer need to ask to see “your papers, please.” Now, all they have to do is look at your location logs and social network posts to see where you’ve been, where you’re going and with whom you’re going.

Speaking of social networks, let’s talk about Facebook.

If you haven’t seen the video, below, I HIGHLY recommend that you watch it:

You may never look at Facebook the same way, again.

Next, let’s talk about monitored alarm systems and home/car controllers.

First of all, NOTHING on the Internet is secure. NOTHING. There is no such thing as 100% secure, so never let anyone tell you otherwise.

With that in mind, think about the monitored cameras you put in your homes, as part of an alarm system–cameras which are often supplied for free, by the monitoring company, to sweeten the deal.

What you may not realize is that you have basically put a camera in your house that can be watched by someone else, maybe an alarm company tech guy or a hacker.

In addition, since government has requested millions of phone location records as part of its homeland security nonsense, it is not unreasonable to think that government has also gotten court orders to monitor security cameras.

In a related story, users of Microsoft’s Kinetic camera attachment for the XBox 360 give Microsoft permission to monitor the camera (read the terms of use that you must agree to, before you install it), so you’ve basically setup a webcam for Microsoft to watch you, if they desire.

Same goes for vehicle services, such as OnStar, Blue Link, Safety Connect, etc. You basically have a GPS locator on your car and a microphone transmitter/receiver in your car. I think you know where I’m going with this, by now.

Lastly, being able to turn your car or house lights on, with your “smart” phone, is pretty convenient and cool, right?

Again, think about it; anything you can do over the Internet can be done by someone else with skills–or self-proclaimed “authority” (cops, government).

Modern Superhero Movies and their Political Statements

Being an all-things-Batman mega-fan, since I was a child, I attended the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. When I walked out of the theater, I remember feeling angry, extremely disappointed and even a little betrayed.

In my personal opinion, The Dark Knight Rises wasn’t much of a Batman movie; it was just another cop/Homeland Security movie, with a little bit of Batman sprinkled in, just so they could call it a Batman movie. They could have called the movie a different police-sounding name, and substituted a kickboxing cop for Batman, and they wouldn’t have had to modify it very much. Disgusting!

The movie was just conditioning to get you to believe that cops and Homeland Security will always be a part of your life. The Powers That Be want you to get used to it and obey–and give them even more power over your life. It was also a gross mischaracterization of, and smear against, anarchy and revolutions against tyrannical government.

After taking some time to reflect, I’ve looked back over some of the more recent “superhero” movies, and thought long and hard about the messages they seem to send–and I’m not happy about most of them.

The previous Batman movie, The Dark Knight, seemed to send this message: “Your privacy must be compromised, so the ‘good guys’ can keep you safe.”

Sorry, but that’s not a compromise I’m willing to make–and “good guys” is a very subjective term. Personally, I don’t consider anything having to do with government to be “good”–especially police.

I got this message from Iron Man 2: “You cannot be trusted with powerful weapons. Such things must be turned over to government. If you do not comply, government will take them from you.”

Sorry, Uncle Sam. In the words of Tony Stark (Iron Man), “You can’t have them!”

On the other hand, there have been some movies with a positive political message.

In the movie, The Matrix, the “Matrix” was a system run by machines that have taken over the world. Humans were kept asleep and connected to the “Matrix” system (a metaphor for government) that gave them a false reality and used their bodies as human batteries to power the machines.

A group of rebels that had been literally “unplugged” from the Matrix, and who saw the world as it truly was, were covertly attempting to free other minds from the system of control while avoiding being killed by the machines’ virtual “agents.”

If you’ve ever heard a freedom activist talk about being “unplugged from the Matrix,” or “taking the red pill” (the red pill allowed the main character, “Neo,” to wake up and sever his connection to the Matrix).

The message in The Matrix was that freedom was something worth putting your life on the line to restore.

The same message could be found in V For Vendetta.

In V For Vendetta, the lead character, “V,” was the disfigured product of evil, government experiments. Having survived, he vowed revenge against those who had experimented on him, and against the government who now ruled over the citizens with an iron fist–complete with a dictator, curfews, corrupt officials, a fabricating news organization and raping police officers.

“V” helped to transform the People from cowering citizens into folks who flooded the streets in a united rebellion against tyranny.

In the future, as you’re watching movies, be sure and look for hidden messages and meanings. Some films are nothing more than political propaganda and conditioning, while others can be very inspiring.

Pass on those that send a negative message.