Why Do Superhero's Matter

What gives purpose to life? If your ontological response is to live according to God's plan, or to be of service to Allah, or to develop virtue according to the dharma, this is well and fine. But what happens when you realize,, as Nietzsche said, that God is Dead. That we killed God with science, that God could not be a empirical fact and that God died in a fit of pity and laughter at this notion. This leaves us with the unenviable pursuit to develop our own meaning--God's death granted ultimate freedom.

Ancient myths were not just stories about religion, they were not tales spun to make us fear gods; No, these tales showed the same emotions that we all have, envy, lust, hunger, pride and so on. What these stories did was raise our consciousness to a new level to develop meaning and aspirations. The myths sung to us that life is about life!! We live so that we may prosper, grow and develop. Loki feeling the venom of a snake, Nike on the glory of accomplishment in winning, the student who mantraed his guru's name to cross the river who in turn made the guru try this--only he chanted his own name and drowned. These psychological dramas show us how to live our lives and reasons for doing so. Without this, we turn to nihilism, the destruction of life for its loss of meaning.

Superheros teach us as did the myths. Superman lives abundantly, always attempting and more virtuous way of living. He is overabundance, yet lives with that in humility. Captain America shows idealism but not dogma, Batman the maniacal embrace of vengence and how it robs a person of any kind of normalcy.

Some others: Hellboy-becoming who you want to become, developing the path and beating back the so called inspired destiny. Nexus-Cosmic avenger of mass murderers, tortured by the deaths he inflicts and burdens of near godhood.

Our superheros are the new myths, they are religion that glorifies life, showing us that life and life only is worthy of living for.

I have been so serious lately

NOW THIS REALLY MATTERS

New York Giants David Diehl performs at Comix Comedy Club

Legislature

Currently there are 99 legislators @ $48,000 plus diems. This is equal to $4752000 million dollars PLUS 34 State Senators @ $48,000 equal to 1,630,000 million dollars for a total of 6,384,000 million dollars. This does not include Burden costs like healthcare, vacation, holidays, electricity to light the offices, staff, heat and air conditioning etc.

There are 6 million Wisconsin residents and 72 counties.
18 years and over 3,994,919

This means that every legislator is responsible for 41,000 people.

We reduce 99 to FIFTY increasing district by 100% with a raise of 25%. This would save 21/4 million dollars plus staff and burden costs without a negligible difference in representation.

If we merge counties, especially in the North we could reduce county governments.Then Consolidate Southern cities like New Berlin and Franklin or Brookefield and Waukesha, reducing municipal costs by merging police, fire, and emergency services, plus court costs. Speaking of courts, lets eliminate some judge positions and patriarchal laws like seat belts. Let the private sector cover that--you get in an accident and you are not wearing a seatbelt, your comprehensive and collision are not covered> only liability. People will have a choice to buckle up and probably will reducing emergency service costs to accidents, without police interference $$$$ and court cases$$$$.


Consolidate townships, especially in rural areas. This eliminates more duplication of services.

Finally do not reduce the UW system or K-12. Remove vouchers so that more money and effort goes into making public schools excellent again. The next class to graduate needs the education that will supply your medicare, badgercare and social security. We need educated people!!

Wisconsin Education

This Youtube video explains how the budget deficient is going to impact students. I have heard instructors, who are being graded on a metric of class size say they will just give 'A's since then their classes will be so popular that students will always want them.

Wisconsin State Employee Furloughs

Governor Doyle has said “that most state workers will have to take 16 unpaid days of leave over the next two years starting in July.”

This must be a British use of the word “most”, since I and most people think of most as above the majority, like 80-90%. Now that would save money!

Think of it …legislators, the governor, chancellors, deans, regents, administrators all turning in two weeks of pay. That would be most. State Hospital workers are exempt not because they are crucial but because they do not work for the sate, but instead work for the UW Health System. However “while the State Constitution prohibits a legislator from being furloughed, we will make the same sacrifice we are asking of thousands of state employees and legislative staff. Faced with the worst economic climate in generations and an unprecedented budget deficit, returning 16 days of our pay is simply the right thing to do." While I could not this in the Wisconsin Constitution itself, a legislator says its in there! Could you explain where, by Article and section please?

The US Census American Fact Finder lists 347,000 government workers in Wisconsin. But the Governor plans “to structure the furloughs of up to 67,000 state workers so that most won’t qualify for unemployment benefits…That approach to the 16 days of unpaid time over two years will save the most money possible for a cash-strapped state”

CLASS OF WORKER

Civilian employed population 16 years and over 2,849,104

Private wage and salary workers 2,320,276

Government workers 346,774

Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business 174,913

Unpaid family workers 7,141

This means that 1/5 of the states workforce will suffer the economic carnage of 4/5 of the revenue deficits, while they only compose less than 12% of the government workforce.

	FY11	Budgeted Percent of Total	Cumulative Percent
General and Categorical School Aids	$5,384.6	37.8%	37.8%
Medical Assistance and Related Programs	1,439.9	10.1%	47.9%
University of Wisconsin	1,042.0	7.3%	55%
Corrections	977.7	6.9%	69.1%

Here is a better idea: 1 in 10 people in Wisconsin work for the government. The wages also pay taxes, support local economies and give services and support to the communities they serve. Let us cut two hours out of very state workers work week—permanently. This would mean we shut down schools, the DMV, state parks, universities two hours earl on Friday making for a longer weekend , eliminating cost burden of utilities, electricity, heat, etc. The missing two hours would hurt some, but not as badly as a 16 day furlough. And legislators would honorably give back their pay increase of (5.5% or $2, 349) this year alongside state union employees (2.2%).

Finally I mean all. Even emergency personnel can be missed for two hours. We do this all the time now when someone takes a vacation day. This is a just and equitable solution.

Lex Luthor

AIG, GM, Bears Stearns--I don't understand. This, now this I get

"Lex Luthor Bailout" with Jon Hamm from Jon Hamm

Watchmen or Wolverine

Okay, Weapon X looks good. and I am a Marvel guy, but come on, this year will be the year of the Watchmen. If it even glimmers of the Novel we have to deal with the Utilitarian aspect of Ozzy killing millions for peace, Rorschach's absolutist views colliding with the nihilism of the Comedian? Oh yeah Hugh looks good in a Tux as well, but for an action movie to make us consider ontology and ethics while being entertained....well I can't wait till Watch,Man!

Okay that was bad.