Last year there were thieves that were going around and would either stal whole coolers, or rummage through private coolers, and take what they wanted.

Thaks to Sir Boob of Nayghtyham we have two faces.

Now that is now to say that this is ALL of them, But here are two to look for and be aware of...

Meet "Joe" and his friend.

Yes, these to brilliant slack-jawed Mouth Breathers were appearently caught red-handed with the ill-gotten goods.

Lets all do our part to clean up the Grounds for this year.  And begin making it a Not-so-good-time for tose who would want to make it un-fun for the rest of us.

For the past few days or so i have been playing the metal gear online W/ the gene expansion pack, playing survival, and getting served every time i do. My team keep losing over, and over again, and i keep getting 50 rwd points for each lost. Times are hard, specailly for my second charater. I have 2 charaters. One name after me, and the other one well...... Let's just say i use the expansion pack tools for that, but still i got to handed to the creators for making it hard to just to get a pair of glasses that can hold up to 9 hours of gameplay. Even so, i really need to put more into getting those glasses it's going to be one way trip. I hope that i can improve my charaters over time, and hopefully get those glasses, you know otacones type!

Where did you meet? 
High school, English Building 


How long have you been a couple? 
Three years 


What is your favorite restaurant? 
Café Fiore 


What do you like to do for fun together? 
Um…most of the stuff we do together is fun 


Do you live together? 
No. 


Do you have children? 
Not yet. 


What is your favorite trait of your mate? 


Taneekia: he is a man of his word, he is cute, and sometimes he is funny :o) 


Miguel:  her honesty

Funniest thing about your mate? 


Taneekia:  Miguel can change the words of any song into the most hilarious lyrics – on the spot 


Miguel:  Her spontaneous jokes at inappropriate times

What are your plans for the future? 
To get married, buy a dog, and then have beautiful babies… 


Coolest thing about your relationship? 
We have a lot in common, but are total opposites. 


Siblings? 
We both have two brothers. 


Who is most adventurous? 
Miguel 


What makes you laugh together? 
In the car, Miguel singing and Taneekia dancing 


Favorite shows to watch together? 
American Idol, So you Think you Can Dance, America’s Next Top Model, 


Movie you saw together and laughed the most? Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Alright...I loooooooove the guy...I'm tryin to figure out what it all means...I've had the pleasure of chatting with him many times over the years...his wife is HOT but he has always been kindof a flirt...what does it all mean?? and did he try to slip one to Scully while filming the Xfiles flick!! ;0

David Duchovny's people confirm....he has entered a rehabilitation center for sex addiction..."I have voluntarily entered a facility for the treatment of sex addiction," the actor said in a statement on Thursday. "I ask for respect and privacy for my wife and children as we deal with this situation as a family." The former X Files star, 48, wed actress Tea Leoni in 1997. They have two children, Madelaine West, 9, and son Kyd, 6. Duchovny stars as Hank Moody, a troubled, bed hopping novelist in the Showtime series Californication and he played a sex-addicted hubby in the 2005 flick Trust The Man....mmm...aren't ALL MEN sex addicts...really! ;0

MIND MOTION ROCKS CLUB 428 SEXY THURSDAYS NOW - GUEST LIST OPEN!! CLUB ANTON OAKLAND

The All New Club 428 Thursdays - Club Anton
428 3rd St Oakland @ Broadway Jack London
A breath of fresh air to Downtown Oakland!!!
Sexy R&B/Urban DJ's
Catering to the Mature and Sophisticated Upscale Event Enthusiast.

Hosted by Sana G, EMP, Bay Breedz, & TBE
Music By DJ Mind Motion & DJ Rum

 HAPPY BDAY NATALIA!!

Cover charge event with dress code enforced!
Doors Open @ 9pm
EVERYONE FREE B4 10PM!
Network, Socialize, Party etc.., til 2am!
TEXT 415.410.4434 FOR THE LO LO
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FAMILIES

Esurance Icer Air is a family friendly event. Children under 2 years old will be let in free of charge.  There will be lots of entertainment and interactive exhibits.

VENUE INFORMATION

Esurance Icer Air takes place at McCovey Cove (Lot A) next to AT&T Park on October 18, 2008.

TICKETS

Esurance Icer Air requires a ticket for entry. Event tickets range from $28 - $48. Advance tickets may be purchased from www.icerair.com and Sports Basement stores.  Tickets will be available on the days of the event based on availability. The Esurance Icer Air venue consists of big air skiing and snowboarding, freestyle motocross, skate and bmx park, and concert stage. Esurance Icer Air tickets are non-refundable. 

HOTEL INFORMATION

ICER has made arrangements at the following hotels for discount rates:  

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

For the safety and comfort of all spectators, the following items are not allowed at the Icer Air Venues:  

   - Large bags measuring over 16×16x8, coolers, bottles, cans, alcoholic beverages, weapons, pets, folding chairs, laser lights, and stickers.
   - Large posters and banners must be checked by security before being allowed in the venue. Icer Air reserves the right to refuse admission of any signage at any time. 
   - Non-sponsor items brought into the venues for distribution will be confiscated.
   - Spectators must wear shoes. No bare feet allowed.
   - Esurance Icer Air reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone at any time.
   - All bags and persons entering the venues are subject to be searched.
   - Esurance Icer Air is not responsible for lost or stolen goods.
   - Field access inside the stadium is not guaranteed. The number of spectators on the field will be monitored, and field access will be restricted once capacity is reached.

SPECTATOR SERVICES/GUEST SERVICES

The Spectator Services/Guest Services booths are the designated areas for all event information regarding competition schedules, venue maps, venue activities, lost and found, wheelchair viewing, autograph signings, and all other event services offered. The Spectator Services Booth is located at the entrance to the venue.

TRANSPORTATION

Icer Air encourages the use of public transportation to the event. Please refer to the following websites for more detailed information and schedules.

I hate to be the person who says I told you so, but in this instance, I told you so.  Every time the Bengals suit up for training camp, you hear about the one veteran who is not only looking like their old selves, but they are looking like they did in their peak year.  Rudi stood out to me as being that guy this year.  At first, I got hyped up thinking about Rudi bouncing off Troy Polomalu for a touchdown in 05.  Then it dawned on me.  Rudi was this years version of that guy.

Ever since Rudi hit the sideline with the hammy, I have been telling my friends that he was gone.  Perry was looking good, we know what Watson can do, and with DeDe's speed, he can break the game open.  But then Jeremie jallopped his way into camp at nearly 300 pounds, DeDe got hurt, and Coats started practicing at fullback, and it seemed like Rudi would be kept on as the 3rd or 4th RB.

So we waited for Rudi to make his return to see if the preseason hype held true.  And we waited.  And waited.  After tonight, we are still waiting.  Coats was back with the tight ends, Jerimie looks like he will somehow make the team, and James Johnson has looked solid so far.  Plus DeDe is back in action.  Now it's just a matter of time.

ProFootballTalk.com thinks one of the reasons Rudi sat tonite was because a trade was imminent, and they didn't want to risk injury.  I doubt that.  The decline in YPC from 4+, to 3.6, to 2.7 is telling.  No one wants that.  As long as you have a line that has a good run blocking scheme, you can find a good running back to plug in.  They are a dime a dozen.  Do people realize that Ron Dayne averaged over 4 yards a carry for Texans last year?  That Ryan Grant was cut by the Giants to start the season? 

Look, I love Rudi.  I love what he brought to the Bengals.  But his pay doesn't match his productivity.  Trade some draft picks for a WR, save the cap money from Rudi.  Seriously, you just don't carry a major injury risk like that on your team and pay him three and a half million dollars.  Go with Perry, Watson, Dorsey, Johnson, and Johnson.  It's simple.  I wish Rudi the best of luck in the future, and hope that he can get healthy and continue to play.  Now is the time to move forwarxd for the good of the team.

PS- anyone who actually thought the Bengals were going to be able to get Boldin from the Cards for Rudi is just plain stupid.  I love the fantasy trades that Cincinnati fans dream up and actually believe will happen.

Who Dey!!!

Vote for Jenn and JP also known as JennP!  We are quite the opposites but mix so well together just like Peanut Butter and Jelly.  We compliment each other...encouraging each other's strengths, and standing by each other's side during our weaknesses.  Our love is like no other.  What started as a friendship has bloomed into a priceless gift that so many search for during their whole lifetime.  We love each other so much, that making it official through a Perfect Wedding would mean that much more.

Family is very important to us, that our Big Day would not mean anything without their presence.  However, our family is scattered around in California, Texas, Florida, Virginia, and the Philippines.  Therefore no matter what, our wedding would be considered a destination wedding for majority of our family.  However during these hard economic times of our economy, a lot of them would not be able to afford to attend.  This way if we are chosen as the Perfect Couple, we can therefore use our money that we would have used for the wedding instead to fly in our relatives here to share our special day with us!

Family is always first...we love you!

Dear Readers,

Jen kinda inspired this post. So, here ya go Jen:

from Wikipedia :  Inside The Actors Studio

Since its premiere, Inside the Actors Studio has had over 200 guests. Of those guests, there have been 74 Academy Award winners: 8 directors; 4 screenwriters; 61 actors and actresses; and 2 musicians. While most of the show is a one-on-one interview conducted by Lipton, this is followed by the host submitting a questionnaire to the guest. The questionnaire concept was originated by French television personality Bernard Pivot, after the Proust Questionnaire. The ten questions Lipton asks are:  ( my answers in bold )

What is your favorite word?
Bananas.

What is your least favorite word?
Impossible.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
The world.

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Ignorance. Both kinds.

What sound or noise do you love?
Elton John working the piano.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Construction.

What is your favorite curse word?
It kinda rhymes with "rockmucker".

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Social worker.

What profession would you not like to do?
Sanitation engineer.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Good job.

I CANT BELEIVE THIS ****IN ****.ELIAS IS 33 YEARS OLD!!!I LUVED HIM SO MUCH.I STILL DO BUT KNOING HES 33 AND 2 OLD 4 ME IS LIKE...OK?BUT HE HASNT LOST HIS HOTNESS THATS GOOD!!!!I STILL LUV HIM EVEN THOUGH I HAV:GEORGE,SEAN AND ALFONSO.STILL LUV HIM THOUGH

INDIANAPOLIS – Rudi Johnson may have made his last appearance in a Bengal uniform Thursday night in the Bengals 27-7 preseason victory over the Colts, but didn't even play.

 The subject of trade rumors and speculation about Johnson possibly getting cut on Saturday have been swirling around the veteran running back as he’s missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury. Johnson was dressed for Thursday's game and earlier in the week Bengals coach Marvin Lewis had suggested Johnson would play in the game.

After the game, Johnson said he felt fine and Lewis said Johnson could have played, but didn't.

Also logging a DNP on the score sheet was wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who, like Johnson, missed most of preseason practice with a hamstring injury and returned to practice this week.

Lewis said it was his decision to keep both players out of the game against the Colts.

"Just because we wanted to make sure they were at full strength," Lewis said. "We had one week of practice and it wasn't exactly what you’d hope to have had, and it was actually two days of practice. It's not as though we had a full week and now we'll have a chance to get a full week of practice under their belt, particularly coming off of what they're coming off of, you don't want to overstress the muscles."

When informed of Lewis' statement about why he didn't play, a cryptic Johnson responded: "That's what he told you? That's what it wa. If that's what he said, that's what he said."

Johnson missed five games last season with a hamstring injury and is third in Bengals' history in career yardage.

This preseason Chris Perry has emerged as the starting tailback and it appears the Bengals will start the season with Perry as the starter at running back. Perry played in all four preseason games. Since being drafted in the first round of the 2004 draft, Perry's played one full season in four and didn’t play at all last season.

Perry had nine carries for 20 yards on Thursday. Kenny Watson (six carries, 10 yards), DeDe Dorsey (nine carries, 38 yards) and James Johnson (eight carries, 54 yards) all had carries on Thursday.

Johnson said Marvin Lewis hasn't talked to him about the team's plans for him.

"We'll see. It's out of my control. You're asking the wrong one, bro," Johnson said when asked if he thought he'd be a Bengal on Sept. 7. "We'll see. It's good either way, we'll see what happens. Keep your TVs on, keep your cell phones on, we'll see what happens."

Johnson hinted around that he felt the Bengals could cut him on Saturday when teams must trim the roster to 53. Even though he's been rumored to be on the trading block, sitting out Thursday couldn't have helped his trade stock.

"We'll see what happens, I'm not mad or nothing. We're good," Johnson said

He was then asked if he thought he'd be cut on Saturday: "You never know," Johnson said. "Anybody can be cut, right? We'll just have to wait and see."

That we will.

***********

Johnson and Houshmandzadeh weren't the only Bengals to sit on Thursday. Antwan Odom dressed for the warmups, but was in street clothes by the second half and Carson Palmer didn't even dress for the game.

The Colts didn't play a single of their projected starters.

Against the Colts' junior varsity, Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Bengal offense on a 21-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with four first downs, ending with a Perry 5-yard touchdown run. In Saturday's game against the Saints, the Bengals managed 10 first downs in the entire game, Thursday they had 11 in the first half.

Fitzpatrick finished the game 5-of-8 for 35 yards and a touchdown with four carries for 35 yards. In four preseason games this year, Fitzpatrick had a quarterback rating of 104.2.

"I think it was very important, especially for me to go out there and put drives together and put the ball into the end zone," Fitzpatrick said. "That was the main goal coming into the preseason and I think for the most part we did a good job."

The Bengal defense allowed only 154 net yards of offense by the Colts, who started third-string quarterback Quinn Gray. Gray played the first and fourth quarters, while Highlands High School and University of Kentucky product Jared Lorenzen played the second and third quarters. Lorenzen was 9-of-16 for 91 yards and an interception.

The Colts' only score came on a 103-yard kickoff return by former Bengal Courtney Roby in the second quarter.

***********

Embattled Bengal wide receiver Chris Henry made his first appearance of the preseason, catching three passes for 20 yards.

Henry will not be eligible to practice with the Bengals until the end of September because of his four-game suspension from the NFL.

************

Lewis said there were "seven or eight" spots up for grabs in Thursday's game, the final preseason game of the season. Teams must make their cuts to 53 players by 6 p.m. on Saturday and then must finalize the roster on Sunday.

************

Rookie safety Corey Lynch got his first start of the preseason on Thursday and finished the game a solo tackle and an assist, as well as two passes defended and a quarterback hurry.

"It was good to see Corey start the game and the game isn't too big for him," Lewis said. "I remember in '92 in Pittsburgh we had a rookie safety (Darren Perry) start and he never looked back. That's what you've got to do and if he's called on to do it, he'll go on and that'll be great."

mycountry.k102.com/crystal677

This blog is meant for the good people at Capcom, specifically I am going to call on Ben Judd, producer of the new Bionic Commando games and creative director Simon Viklund. This blog is also meant for gamers that might someday want to write for a game studio, like 1UP's own ViolentMike. I don't write for any studio, game, movie or otherwise. I'm not a professional anything except for a procrastinator. So Ben Judd and the rest reading might just want to print up my rant and wipe their backside with it... then again they might want to take the time to consider my arguments. I've studied under some great writers, poets, novelists, screen and playwrights. They have given me perspective on the art of storytelling and it is something that I apply even to videogames.

This blog is not a diatribe against the Bionic Commando remake. Even though I am writing with Mr. Judd and Mr. Viklund in mind I am not here to say anything unprofessional against their POV. I'm certainly not a troll lamenting them on a forum and calling the game yet-to-be-released "Lam3z0r5." They have fleshed out the world of Bionic Commando, explained it to us on Capcom Unity, in the comic books, podcasts and in interviews on other sites. The story and mechanics of Bionic Commando have all been adapted and they are giving fans a new take in the franchise. Ben and Simon's heart is in the right place and I don't think any other team could have done BC better unless they really knew the source material and explained their work so thoroughly. Very few developers are as candid and we should be grateful that Capcom has spoken with fans in recent years. At the same time they also listen to feedback from the fans, that is practically unheard of for a developer.

I look forward to their 3D game because the original was favorite games of all-time. However I will play through the new game with a critical eye. What this blog will be is an attempt to deconstruct the character of Nathan Radd Spencer and explain how Mr. Judd did the character a disservice by changing up his plot and purpose to fit his own vision. Please bear with me as I plan on using comic books, cartoons and even comic book movies to parallel the developments that I have seen and read on the new BC.

I was very skeptical when I first heard that Bionic Commando was going to get a remake. Very few classic titles have been remade well. Most fall into the traps of shovelware, they have a high-profile name but lack the necessary gameplay that captures or reinvents the experience on the modern consoles. Bionic Commando Rearmed is a rare exception to that rule. EGM and 1UP editor Jeremy Parish talks about it on his blog Bionic Commando revered. Despite the greatness of BCR there is a chance that the following game will take the franchise a step back.

It all began when the very first screens of the new Bionic Commando were shown. The character that many had grown up with had returned with a 'tude, dreadlocks and as Kotaku popularized the term "hot dog" arms. I felt as if Mr. Judd and the people at Capcom were not approaching the character with a full understanding of the elements that made him great. Failing to get Spencer "right" could be a sign that the game itself was not going to ring true of the BC legacy. Swinging through a level with a mechanical arm and shooting bad guys does not a good Bionic Commando make. There is far more to the game than that. Identifying the legacy, understanding the character and recreating him is part of the equation.

When writing adaptations I was always taught to meet the character at their level. If you try to make the character fit your conventions you lose their meaning. This is especially true for comic book or graphic novel adaptations. Iconic characters have an origin "myth" and have a purpose, respecting their purpose is one of the most important things that must be preserved.

As an example, many people were disappointed in the Superman Returns movie. They didn't know exactly how or why but the movie felt as if it were missing something. The character of Clark Kent and Superman were there. The costume with the red cape, blue suit and diamond "S" were there. Superman even had super strength, could fly and use heat vision, yet something was missing from his character. Something was missing that made Superman truly special.

In Superman Returns, Superman himself does not act very super at all. He is a very possessive man filled with jealousy and even a bit of spite over Lois Lane and her new family. Superman is supposed to be above all of those things, the reason for which is because he is not human but Kryptonian. His classic origin dictates that exists to set an example of what humanity could become if they could only put their differences aside and stop acting selfishly. In trying to make Superman more "relevant" with today's audience the movie took Superman's redeeming qualities away and in essence just made him a man in a costume. Unfortunately it seems that the people at Warner Bros. still do not understand what makes adaptations work. They have announced recently that they are going to try to relaunch the Superman film and make it in the same tone as the recent Batman films. It is said of WB Picture Group President Jeff Robinov that "Creatively, he sees exploring the evil side to characters as the key to unlocking some of Warner Bros.' DC properties. "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it," he says. That goes for the company's Superman franchise as well.

A selfish, petty Superman did not win audiences over in Superman Returns, a dark and brooding Superman will do even less to win over fans. Warner Bros. fail to understand that each character represents something else entirely. Batman succeeds because his character and purpose is written as the dark side of the DC universe, he was meant to frame the dark underbelly of the DC world while Superman was the ray of light. Other superheroes exist for different reasons, the Flash, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern all fill their respective roles and live by their own moral compass. If every character and every town were dark and gritty like Batman and Gotham then what is it exactly was it that made him unique in the first place? As if misrepresenting the character wasn't already a problem for an established franchise some people believe that the reason Superman Returns felt odd was because Director Bryan Singer was going through some personal family issues. These issues were mirrored on the screen.

I am not saying that Ben Judd had a child out of wedlock and then spent a decade in space. Nor am I saying that he has issues with the military, government or classic games. What I am saying is that the changes put on Nathan Spencer to make him fresh and relevant are akin to the changes placed on Superman. They were unnecessary and betray the ideal that the hero stood for.

There is a lengthy 1UP interview with Ben Judd on 1UP. In it he describes the ways in which the studio approached the remake. In it we get to see some of the changes that Ben made and hear the explanation as to how it will be used in the sequel. Some of the things that Mr. Judd described did end up sticking out in BCR. They grabbed the player and broke the flow of the game. In Jeremy Parish's Bionic Commando review he calls the moment out "The plot remains the same, despite the expanded text and odd little subplots (like Spencer's out-of-left-field lamentations about his ex-wife, which provide the game's only real "Uh, what?" moments)."

Anything that takes you out of the moment and breaks the narrative does not belong. Visually it was with Spencer's new dreadlocks and 'tude, but in the BCR story it was these random lines about a wife. Adding something to an established character could betray the original intent. The concept of "adding" during an adaptation or remake is a dangerous gambit. Adding a new character, plot device or relationship is a poor way of re-imagining the intent and purpose of the original title. It is not enough to know the character and story on a surface level and then try to recreate it for the modern era. The recent Superman film is proof of that. It is also not enough to say that everything will be connected and make sense in BCR, the BC comic book as well as in the new BC game. All that amounts to is a revisionist history that undoes (or rewrites) many of the things that Spencer stood for. There were the things that made him an icon in gaming circles and a deviation of which would hamper his new persona from having the same charm.

Developers seem to have lost touch with iconic characters. This goes for the people working on comic books, movies and even animation. We live in a culture where the perception is that the only way to reach the audience is to make a character dark and cynical. The snarky humor of the highly successful Shrek films made this seem true. However Shrek, the character, was not born a hero, he was a selfish ogre that became a hero during the course of his adventure. Other animation studios seem to miss the point and are creating rude characters for the sake of being rude. In other words, no redeeming qualities. Changing the format to a more forward or rude tone is a mistake that every studio is guilty of. The audience changes slightly, their expectations of a character and franchise remain the same. While Shrek made a lot of money for Dreamworks, audiences still flocked to see the less snarky and more sincere animated films from Pixar. It can be argued that the audiences for both films are different. Then again there might be tremendous crossover in the audience.

In the videogame world a dark atmosphere and gritty realism does nothing for a series that never began in that way. Being more "realistic" than usual did nothing but weaken the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The adventures used to be light and cartoonish while the gameplay focused on speed and exploration. Sonic used to be a true rival to the Super Mario series. Few can argue that the Sonic titles have been quality releases in recent years, with the exception of Sonic Rush. Every other game receiving lower and lower reviews since 2000. Meanwhile Nintendo has "stayed the course" and Mario's family-friendly adventures (and predictable story) continue to sell (and inspire) millions. So is it the tastes that have changed or the developers that have changed? I see the way Bionic Commando is headed and I think of the changes placed on newer Sonic games, changes that betray the purpose of the character and additions that are unnecessary.

I believe that Radd Spencer is an iconic character. Like Dante, Mega Man, Ryu and any other established Capcom character. Despite the upcoming Bionic Commando being called "the first real sequel" to the franchise that would be putting down the good GameBoy game and passable GB Color game. Mr. Judd is working on the fourth and fifth game with the same title. Spencer is not just a character in an adventure series but represents many ideals. It is the way in which producers, like Mr. Judd, approach the character that preserves or betrays that iconic status.

My brothers and I became huge fans of the original Bionic Commando on the NES. One of the reasons that we were enamored with Spencer was because of who he was fighting and what he was fighting for. Despite the best efforts of the censors, enough visual clues were left in the game to let us know that we were fighting Nazis. While the public school system had been dumbed down, sanitized and made politically correct in recent years, my brothers and I were fortunate enough to be taught by teachers that were passionate about their job. They did not skirt around the horrors of World War II and the brutality of the Nazi regime. Even though we were young, we weren't fooled by the weak attempt at censorship on the NES. Getting to stick it to the ultimate bad guys made Radd Spencer all the more iconic a hero in our book. To us he, and to a lesser extent Super Joe, had become the videogame equivalent of Captain America. He was a hero with an awesome gimmick, replace the unbreakable shield with a bionic claw and he still comes in the nick of time to beat the Nazis and save the day. How could this character not become an institution?

However the purpose of a character like Spencer seems dated. The idea of patriotism and war heroes has changed tremendously since WW II. Public perception changed for a number of reasons. What was once noble and patriotic had now become a tyrannical exchange of ideals. The lines between good and evil, which seemed clearly defined in WW II had become muddied by the Korean and Vietnam wars. For the first time in US history, news of the war and the casualties were reaching homes via television. Rather than accept that our presence abroad was necessary to ensure a free world, people began to question the purpose of these conflicts.

The counter culture used the senseless losses (on both sides) of Vietnam as a sign of the "military-industrial complex" that General Eisenhower had warned us about decades before. The USA had grown so large and powerful that we had become the new menace. Characters like Captain America seemed like an anachronism during this time. The ideals that Captain America had stood for seemed disconnected from the new reality of war. New heroes, using technology rather than physical ability, like Iron Man were born out of the Vietnam conflict. Radd Spencer could very much be read as being akin to Tony Stark rather than Steve Rogers / Captain America.

After World War II many in the USA felt as if the true villains in the world were no longer out there. The Persian Gulf War and current Operation Freedom seemed like power grabs for the political families and their friends instead of a war against an aggressor that could genuinely threaten the US and our allies. Conspiracy theorists gained momentum and many believed that modern dictators like Saddam Hussein and Kim Il Jong were nothing more than boogey men, scary words to be exploited by those with political interests.

Cynnics in a post 9-11 world believed that putting these boogey men in the news kept the public in line. Whenever people begin questioning the loss of freedoms granted by the Bill of Rights, they were labeled as unpatriotic. 9-11 has been a powerful tool for fear mongers. After all who would dare oppose something labeled the "Patriot Act?" An act meant to protect us from terrorists... or was it meant to protect us from ourselves? In a climate of fear it is not hard to see how the plot of the new Bionic Commando might reflect the zeitgeist of war and patriotism.

It has also become en vogue to be completely disillusioned with politics, to be completely cynical of anything and everything associated with the political machine. It is almost shameful how little respect the average person has in politics. People that are enamored with patriotism and the ideals of this country are easy to parody. Be they politicians or fake news reporters it is almost expected that they act with some false modesty because the public has little to no faith in what they are saying. It is possible that the new Bionic Commando reflects a little bit of the disillusionment with the government and popular opinion as well.

To bring back the comic book world; Iron Man became popular because he was a realistically flawed character. He represented the modern themes of conflict and escalation. The depressed, alcoholic Tony Stark might seem like the right "role model" to use now. Unfortunately changing the purpose of the Bionic Commando, changing his look and ideal actually betrays the history and potential of the character.

The template of Captain America actually turned out to work even better in times of crisis, fear and disillusionment than Iron Man ever could. Steve represents the heroic ideal. A surface understanding of the character says he is anachronistic to modern warfare and politics, however at the core he speaks to the founding principals of this great nation. In the comic books Captain America was frozen in ice just at the end of WW II and thawed out in the modern world. He seemed to be completely out of touch with the realities of the modern world, out of touch with the common man. When he went into war there was a clearly defined "bad guy," in the modern world he is seen as a symbol of the "arrogant" US military complex. Captain America was painted as a bully by the public, however the writers of the comics carefully crafted his stories to reflect how public perception was betraying the ideals that the US stood for and that Steve Rogers himself was the biggest victim of the changing times.

Captain America had always fought the good fight. He wanted to fight for this country when times were at their most dire, however because he was so small and sickly as a young man he could not enlist so he signed up for experimental treatments to help the army where he could. He became a super soldier through these experiments and was finally able to give himself for his country. Rogers went in to war believing in the inherent goodness of man, believing in the rights that should be granted to people of the world and he was willing to fight as a liberator, never as an oppressor. This is why he carried a shield rather than a sword into battle, he was the defender of every person, not only the Americans. He was the living symbol of freedom.

The story device of freezing him after WWII and waking him up decades later served many functions. Captain America was thawed out in an time where the