Tag razorhawk

Originally Posted: http://www.ranker.com/list/the-12-greatest-real-life-superheroes-of-all-time/davehoward
By DaveHoward
The LAPD has performed a bltizkreig assault on Superheroeson Hollywood Blvd ( http://ow.ly/1Wsch ). True, just in front of the world famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater, dozens of Real-Life people who dress as superheroes on a daily basis were rounded up in a raid. In a sinister government plot not seen since “Heroes., Police jailed members of the” X-Men,” Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Bumblebee, Mr. Incredible and Catwoman. The Incredible Hulk and Superman were just two of the iconic loiterers who outsmarted the fuzz and returned to panhandle another day. Unlike these classic, renowned panhandlers, here are 12 people who really make a difference with their superhero costumes.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz8r0qOm5OMNorse God Thor Stops A Home Invasion/Robbery
This annoying man in the video to your left lets us all know exactly what happened (for a written version of the story, click the link at the bottom of this item).
During a home invasion, a robber was stunned to find a man dressed as the Norse God Thor inside, defending the home. The intruder was chased off from the flat in Edinburgh and left his shoes, and a pitchfork behind. The man jumped out of a window, landing on a roof and was not heard from again after he escaped the Norse God’s wrath.
Local resident Torvald Alexander was dressed up as Thor for a New Year’s Eve Party. The man is 40 years old, and still completely and irrevocably awesome.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7807920.stm
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb_LghFFwkkSpider-Man Prevents Comic Book Robbery
In this absolutely heartwarming story, a local comic book store owner dressed as Spider-Man to commemorate International Free Comic Book Day. He stood around his store dressed as the masked hero all day, greeting customers and enjoying the day. That is, until a man tried to steal a comic book worth well over $100.
The owner, dressed as Spidey the whole time, noticed the shoplifter, took the book out of his bag and brought him to justice.
The best quote from the video is the shop-owner himself getting quite cheeky and letting people know about the crew who helped him out (a couple dressed as Jedi Knights and a man dressed as The Flash): “The Jedis watched the door, while The Flash kept things running…”. Well played, sir. Well played.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da1ADqPplQ4Shadow Hare Actually Cleans Up Cincinnati Crime
As the movie/comic book “Kick-Ass” asked, “why does nobody actually dress up and try to be a superhero?”… this leader of an Avengers-style (kind of) crew in Cincinnati who calls himself “Shadow Hare” proves that question wrong.
He and his team of “heroes” patrol the streets of Cincinnati, OH, and solve crimes, help the homeless and walk around in broad daylight like it was Halloween at your local high school and nobody had enough money for a real costume.
It’s great to see people legitimately helping out the general public while asking for nothing in return; but it’s funnier to see them dressed up like comic book heroes and handing certified police men business cards in case they “ever need help”.
Their persistence, at least, is nothing to be laughed at — despite Shadow Hare himself talking like the narration in a badly written comic book.
Batman and Robin Catch Drug Suspect
Two police men dressed up as Batman and Robin captured a suspected drug offender in a weird sting operation. Once they approached the door, their intent (to confuse/disorient/distract the offenders) worked to their advantage, as the offenders would not answer the door for some crazy, costumed strangers knocking loudly on their door.
When one of the suspects decided to run out to the back of the house to try and escape, Batman and Robin were there waiting for him. Batman chased the man, hopped over a fence and arrested him. According to fellow officers, PC Eames said: “The bad thing about the operation is that we had to endure hours of terrible puns from PC Holman.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-415996/Police-dress-Batman-Robin-catch-drugs-suspect.html
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7pB2gLZtlYThe Holy Trinity: Dark Guardian, Life and Phantom Zero
DARK GUARDIAN is the leader of a Holy Trinity, followed by LIFE and PHANTOM ZERO. Trained in martial arts, DARK GUARDIAN prides himself on patrolling the inner cesspools of New York City. Knowing that safety comes first, he is one of the few superheroes that actually dons a bullet proof vest (he’s the red one in the video). While he hasn’t been shot, guns have been drawn on him… scary as he only arms himself with pepper spray. According to his MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/darkguardianhero) there is a meeting of the heroes this upcoming Sunday (6/8/2010). His powers include: – Bullet-proof vest – Human strength and (obviously) Persistence.
LIFE is one of the few Hassidic Jewish Superheros, and can be found in the video to your left. Born of meager means, he followed the tenants of his faith. This includes leaving the world in a better place than he found it. From http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com/2010/05/21/life/: “This moral code, underscored with a powerful sense of social justice, led him to his work with the homeless and disenfranchised that he found all around him, dispensing those seemingly small amenities that vitally fill in the gaps left by the NYC Department of Homeless Services.”
His powers include: – Giving toiletries to the homeless – Helping confused/needy homeless find shelter – Giving out food to the homeless. L’chaim! He can be found at http://www.myspace.com/theycalledhimlaz
PHANTOM ZERO is one of the first bridge and tunnel superheroes. Based in New Jersey, he’s often found on the streets of New York. While in most media appearances, he seems like an earnest enough bloke, do not cross him. In this video, he responds to detractors.
From his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/ph0hero “The most important aspect of being a Real Life Super Hero is as simple as this: You selflessly serve a pro social mission. It’s not about conquering groups of people to display your physical or martial prowess. It’s not about having scads of cutting edge technology at your disposal. It’s not about training one’s mind to the limits of human perfection so they can out think everyone and everything that comes their way.”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ype4XKrNGXwRazorhawk
You’re nobody until Fox News mocks you as a misguided “do-gooder” (and then outs your secret identity).
Razorhawk, a former gas station employee, patrols the evil confines of Minneapolis. While crime is not the most important thing in the City of Lakes, he still helps out. He spends his time volunteering helping seniors and a very successful Toys For Tots program.
He doesn’t care for the term “Superhero” but prefers “the title Masked Adventurer as I do not have any special abilities or powers. I am just a guy who wears a uniform and promotes safety and crime awareness. I perform safety patrols in my town and in Minneapolis, as well as help out with many charities that help kids.”
He can be found at http://www.myspace.com/razorhawk_glhg
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgAU_H8essYNyx
Previously known as Hellcat, Felinity, and Sphynx; NYX is an ever-evolving superhero. Also a bridge and tunneler, she is one of the few female superheroes, filling the boots of such retired greats as Terrifica (who patrolled NYC bars saving cosmo’d women from bad decisions).
Usually donned in lingerie, she stands for diversity.
From her MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/nyx22) “I respect all RLSHs (Real Life Superheroes) of every sort, it’s not an easy life we’ve chosen but we’ve chosen it nonetheless.”
Here she explains what the platform of the Real Life Superhero Project should be… just pretend it makes sense.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wwQ_PRS748Citizen Prime – Utah Crime Fighter Extraordinaire
Citizen Prime hails from Utah and has recently announced his retirement. It’s too bad because his costume is great, even if it’s really really loud (after this fascinating video, see his interview at about 2:35).
This is, in part, due to his house being burgled and some key elements of his persona being taken from him.
Formerly calling Arizona his home, he has appeared at the Phoenix Comic-Con and tralled the mean streets of the Super Bowl parking lot.
Powers:
– His real passion is working with kids, helping them find the hero within. He appears in the video around the 2:30 mark. He works with kids in a program that is built for people to defend themselves, as well as discover their inner hero. A kind of a Tony Robbins for kids.
His MySpace page can be found at http://www.myspacae.com/paragonprime
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9srsaJW1bKMEnigma
Enigma, a pro-green superhero that hails from San Antonio, home of the Alamo.
His philosophy is simple: “Pride, Integrity and Honor.”
From his MySpace, ( http://www.myspace.com/enigmarlsh: ):
“I was put on this earth gifted from the lord, gifted to accomplish goals both mentally and physically challenging. I am here to help others and defend ones in need. I’m here to help clean up society and make the world feel and be a safe once again! I made the decision to dedicate my life to protect and help anyone in need, even if it means sacrificing my own to accomplish this goal.”
Enigma is more than a treehugger. According to his blog, he recently fought off two guys breaking into a car, using only an acid tinged tongue and a palm strike to the head. He then zip-tied them and used their phone to call 911.”
Bad. Freaking. Ass.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpFer_LXE3cSqueegee Man, Captain Xavier Obvious
Squeegee Man and his partner, Captain Xavier Obvious, have embraced the West/Ward concept of Superherodom.
Often seen promoting social causes such as the AIDS Walk, they are currently living in a “secret” rooftop lair somewhere in New York.
From Squeegee Man’s My Space (http://www.myspace.com/squeegeerific ) announcement for his failed 2008 presidential campaign, where he had a platform that included “I promise to make America Squeegeetasting again!”
A bit of a rogue he is not currently a member of The Real Life Superhero Project. Here is a bit ABC did on them. http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3281359
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I0sl2CArXYCrimson Fist
While he will not give out his secret identity, he also refuses to wear a mask.
Crimson Fist hails from Atlanta, GA and spends a few days a month working with folks who may need a granola bar and a bottle of water.
After a tumultuous trial of drugs and booze, he discovered his alter ego and hits the streets before he could hit the skids.
His MySpace http://www.myspace.com/heroatl claims that he is now undercover.
Just like everyone else who has still a MySpace page!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyheqc-6ZM012. Mr. Silent
Despite the misnomer of Mr. Silent, he took some time out to speak with Fox News.
He came across his alter-ego during a drunken moment of clarity, while watching Superheroes flix at a friend’s place. Steering away from the vigilante image of crime fighter, he recently helped the police locate the owner of a discarded purse.
In 2009 he went underground, but we know we will hear from his soon. Oh, wait…
13. Everyone Else
BONUS: If you are salivating for more, here is a clip from the not so secret society RealLifeSuperheroes.com . This is a broader overview of some of the previously mentioned heroes.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hohnzMe0cWw
 

Originally posted: http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12381294
BELLINGHAM, Wash., April 27 /PRNewswire/ — Captain Ozone allegedly started the modern-day “real-life superhero” movement when he made his debut in 1989. He’s considered by many to be the most phenomenal environmental activist of all time.
Captain Ozone is saving endangered species, promoting renewable energy and ecological art, and also teaching school kids how to become environmental activists on television.
The masked man claims to be from the year 2039 and he time-traveled to 1989 on a mission to save us from an ill-fated future.
To view a video documentary about Captain Ozone’s deeds, go to: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8597011024457745958#
Captain Ozone and Environmental Media Northwest are also leading the BIGGEST peaceful demonstration for renewable energy ever! It’s called “Green Power Rally” and it’s going to take place in many cities throughout the United States and Canada on July 31st, 2010. All are invited to participate!
Green Power Rally is not a cynical “up in arms” protest against the fossil fuel or nuclear power corporations. It’s an optimistic, peaceful demonstration to raise public awareness and support for zero-emissions energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydro power.
Captain Ozone wants America to be the vanguard of the Green Power revolution and he’s all for Obama’s New Energy for America plan. To become a peaceful demonstrator for Green Power Rally, go to http://GreenPowerRally.org and follow the easy step-by-step instructions.
News coverage for Green Power Rally will help us gather many demonstrators and we appreciate any news about this event!
Listed below are nine other famous real-life superheroes who are leading their own Green Power Rallies in major cities throughout the United States and Canada.
Real-life Superhero Contacts:
Captain Ozone
http://MySpace.com/CaptainOzone
Seattle, Washington
Amazonia
http://MySpace.com/Amazonia_RLSH
Ocala, Florida
Kiki the Eco Elf
http://MySpace.com/KikiTheEcoElf
The Okanagan, Canada
Mr. Jack
http://MySpace.com/UbiquityInMotion
Portland, Oregon
The Conundrum
http://MySpace.com/521216373
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Geist
http://MySpace.com/Superhero_Geist
Minneapolis, Minnesota
RazorHawk
http://MySpace.com/RazorHawk_GLHG
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The High Peacestess
http://MySpace.com/FunkyEcoFashion
Hawaii, USA
Scavenger
http://MySpace.com/ScavengerRLSH
Waterbury, Connecticut
Runebringer
http://MySpace.com/Runebringer
Waterbury, Connecticut
Non-profit Organization Contact:
Mr. Michael L. Schutte
President
Environmental Media Northwest
http://emnw.org
[email protected]
(360) 676-7626
Green Power Rally
http://GreenPowerRally.org
This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.
 

Before you read the body of the text below, I am unable to post a link to our website that will allow you to click on the link and go there from this bulletin. You will need to copy and paste it into your browser if you would like to help us out. The link is: http://www.glhg.webs.com/psptoydrive.htm
I also want to let everyone know that again we will be adding to our efforts with our team members in Wisconsin and Florida to also make an impact there. In Wisconsin, the Watchman will be helping out the Gingerbread House
And in Florida we will hopefully be helping at the Pregnancy Care Center in Zephyr Hills.
Now we have had some wonderful donations from a couple of our good friends, but we need more. We want these kids at these locations to have a wonderful holiday! And sometimes the only way we can do this is by helping out with even $1. I tell you if every one of our respective friends donated just $1 we would have an awesome haul of toys to affect kids in all three states!
People Serving People in Minnesota.
The Gingerbread House in Wisconsin
The Pregnancy Care Center in Florida
These are all places where people who have been hit hard by the world go for help. The people that donate their time at these places do what they can and do a wonderful job, but they don’t have the resources to have collection boxes in every Wal*Mart or Target. They all rely on word of mouth, and right now that word of mouth is ours. I am still trying desperately to get at least one local store to allow us to put up a collection box expressly for the People Serving People part of the drive, but have had no response from the owner of the place. But I will keep trying. Its early, but I would like to work at this now, knowing that the closer we get to Christmas, the harder it is for anyone to help.
Thank you for your time in reading this, and remember, if you can donate $1 or if you can donate in the package toys, please contact Jack about donating the actual toys, he can accept them being sent to Hero Gear. You can contact him at [email protected] or at myspace.com/herogeardotnet
Lets rock the world this year and show everyone that we can make one heck of an impact!
RazorHawk
Great Lakes Heroes Guild

 

Message from Razorhawk

Friends,
This year we have been talking to a charity that we often help during the year, People Serving People. Now as many of you may know from talking to members of the team, PSP is a homeless shelter for families who have nowhere to live. They also help people getback on their feet so that they can provide for their own families.
This gives us a nice idea of which kids we need to target for gifts, which ones are usually not recieving as many gifts as the others. We know now that the youngest and oldest are usually being left out from getting gifts, so we will target those age ranges.
I have contacted a couple of local comicbook shops that don’t usually have drop off points for any toy drives to see if we could leave a box to collect there as well.
We want to make sure that this is a successful toy drive because I am unsure of the amount of toys they recieve. So we are going to need a bit of help. Please, if you can, follow the link below and donate. Every dollar we recieve between now and the holidays will go to buying gifts for these great kids!
Thank you!
RazorHawk

More Information including Paypal link can be found at
http://www.glhg.webs.com/psptoydrive.htm
Deadline for this is December 18, 2009
 

Message from Razorhawk:
A friend of mine, whom some members of the GLHG know as well, asked me to participate in a great charity event for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. It is the Briggs and Al’s Run & Walk for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, or simply “Al’s Run”. I agreed instantly because I am well aware of the good that this hospital has done. However, several people involved know me and aren’t aware that I am The Watchman. Therefore, I will be participating in this one as my-civillian-self. I have gotten a few other folks who are involved in the RLSH community in some form on board as well. Despite doing this one sans masks, we are hoping that all of you will contribute what you can. Don’t be fooled by the name, the good done by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is not limited to one state. Many people come from all over the country for the care provided by this hospital.
Here is just is an example provided by the leader of the team I’ll be walking for:
_____ _____ ______ _____ _____ _____
Hello Everyone-
For a little background story – our daughter Katie, who is now 3, was diagnosed in utero with hydrocephalus, a condition in which the cerebrospinal fluid does not flow correctly out of the brain, through the spinal cord, and then eventually is excreted from the body. Hydrocephalus blocks this flow from the brain, resulting in increased intracranial pressure, which can quickly lead to brain damage, coma, and if left untreated long enough, death. Hydrocephalus is a serious neurologic condition, and many people with it have life long effects with mental disabilities and motor skill impairment.
Katie was born at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin , and was a patient in the NICU there. She had a shunt put in at 2 days old which diverts the excess fluid from her brain, and drains it into her belly. She was discharged home from the hospital 2 days later, and has lived an absolutely normal and happy life, with none of the mental or physical handicaps that we were told she would almost certainly have.
Katie’s life was great until January of this year when she began experiences frequent, severe headaches. To make a long, long story a little shorter, it culminated in Katie have 6 surgeries to revise her shunt in just a 6 week period of time this year, from March 31 – May 20. Without her shunt and Children’s Hospital managing her care, Katie could be severely handicapped right now, or even worse. A person with hydrocephalus cannot survive this condition without a shunt and sometimes frequent medical care.
Children’s Hospital is obviously very important to us – they have saved or child’s life and have greatly increased her quality of life. Things could very easily be quite different for Katie. Chances are, if you live in Wisconsin or even Illinois , you probably know some child that was helped through Children’s. This is not just for us and our child, but this will benefits thousands of children throughout the country. Families even travel from throughout the United States and even other countries because the care at Children’s is so awesome.
Here is some info on the walk, and if you cannot attend please donate to our donation site, it doesn’t matter how little the donation is – anything will help. We have an ambitious goal of $1000 for our first year – please help us meet that goal for the kids!
Event Info:
Join us for the 32nd annual Briggs & Al’s Run & Walk for Children’s Hospital Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009.
START LINE: 12th Street and Wisconsin Avenue on the Marquette University campus
Wheelchair: 10:15 a.m.
Only self-propelled manual wheelchairs. Assemble in front of the start line.
Runner mass start: 10:30 a.m.
Elite runners line up at the front of the pack. All other runners, line up according to your estimated pace.
Walkers: Immediately follow runners
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
One part that she did not mention is that there was a balance amount of over $6,000 which her family’s health insurance didn’t cover for the multiple nuerosurgeries. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin wiped it clean so they owe nothing out of pocket. They do the same for many other famillies.
We at the GLHG have also set up a donation page so if you’d like to help out, and we hope you all will, go to:
http://www.firstgiving.com/razorhawk
She has a goal of raising $1,000 between members of her team, but she’s not counting on us. Let’s see if we can beat that.
 

Message from Razorhawk:
A friend of mine, whom some members of the GLHG know as well, asked me to participate in a great charity event for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. It is the Briggs & Al’s Run & Walk for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, or simply “Al’s Run”. I agreed instantly because I am well aware of the good that this hospital has done. However, several people involved know me and aren’t aware that I am The Watchman. Therefore, I will be participating in this one as my-civillian-self. I have gotten a few other folks who are involved in the RLSH community in some form on board as well. Despite doing this one sans masks, we are hoping that all of you will contribute what you can. Don’t be fooled by the name, the good done by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is not limited to one state. Many people come from all over the country for the care provided by this hospital.
Here is just is an example provided by the leader of the team I’ll be walking for:
_____ _____ ______ _____ _____ _____
Hello Everyone-
For a little background story – our daughter Katie, who is now 3, was diagnosed in utero with hydrocephalus, a condition in which the cerebrospinal fluid does not flow correctly out of the brain, through the spinal cord, and then eventually is excreted from the body. Hydrocephalus blocks this flow from the brain, resulting in increased intracranial pressure, which can quickly lead to brain damage, coma, and if left untreated long enough, death. Hydrocephalus is a serious neurologic condition, and many people with it have life long effects with mental disabilities and motor skill impairment.
Katie was born at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin , and was a patient in the NICU there. She had a shunt put in at 2 days old which diverts the excess fluid from her brain, and drains it into her belly. She was discharged home from the hospital 2 days later, and has lived an absolutely normal and happy life, with none of the mental or physical handicaps that we were told she would almost certainly have.
Katie’s life was great until January of this year when she began experiences frequent, severe headaches. To make a long, long story a little shorter, it culminated in Katie have 6 surgeries to revise her shunt in just a 6 week period of time this year, from March 31 – May 20. Without her shunt and Children’s Hospital managing her care, Katie could be severely handicapped right now, or even worse. A person with hydrocephalus cannot survive this condition without a shunt and sometimes frequent medical care.
Children’s Hospital is obviously very important to us – they have saved or child’s life and have greatly increased her quality of life. Things could very easily be quite different for Katie. Chances are, if you live in Wisconsin or even Illinois , you probably know some child that was helped through Children’s. This is not just for us and our child, but this will benefits thousands of children throughout the country. Families even travel from throughout the United States and even other countries because the care at Children’s is so awesome.
Here is some info on the walk, and if you cannot attend please donate to our donation site, it doesn’t matter how little the donation is – anything will help. We have an ambitious goal of $1000 for our first year – please help us meet that goal for the kids!
Event Info:
Join us for the 32nd annual Briggs & Al’s Run & Walk for Children’s Hospital Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009.
START LINE: 12th Street and Wisconsin Avenue on the Marquette University campus
Wheelchair: 10:15 a.m.
Only self-propelled manual wheelchairs. Assemble in front of the start line.
Runner mass start: 10:30 a.m.
Elite runners line up at the front of the pack. All other runners, line up according to your estimated pace.
Walkers: Immediately follow runners
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
One part that she did not mention is that there was a balance amount of over $6,000 which her family’s health insurance didn’t cover for the multiple nuerosurgeries. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin wiped it clean so they owe nothing out of pocket. They do the same for many other famillies.
We at the GLHG have also set up a donation page so if you’d like to help out, and we hope you all will, go to:
http://www.firstgiving.com/razorhawk
She has a goal of raising $1,000 between members of her team, but she’s not counting on us. Let’s see if we can beat that.

To make a donation, please visit the Great Lakes Heroes Guild donation page at: http://firstgiving.com/razorhawk
Message from Razorhawk:
Pledge to make a difference
I am participating in the Briggs & Al’s Run & Walk for Children’s Hospital on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 because I want to make a difference in the life of a child. Please help me reach my pledge raising goal by making a tax-deductable donation today. Your support will help Children’s continue to provide the top-notch care kids deserve. Briggs & Al’s Run & Walk for Children’s Hospital is the oldest run & walk in the state of Wisconsin and one of the largest combined 8K events in the United States. Because of outstanding community support, corporate sponsorships and active pledge raising, the event has raised more than $10.3 million over the past 30 years.
Children’s is growing up
Pledges raised this year will benefit our west tower addition. As one of the nation’s busiest pediatric hospitals, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is growing faster than expected. Children’s needed additional beds and clinic space to continue to provide the best care for kids. The12-story tower opened in March 2009 and includes 60 new private rooms, with space for additional rooms in the future. It also allowed us to convert ALL patient rooms to private spaces. In planning the tower, Children’s recognized the need to make each room warm, comfortable and welcoming. The new patient rooms have many features designed to make each family’s stay as easy as possible.

On Sept 12th Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, is sponsoring a walk at Midway Stadium, home of the St. Paul Saints
minor league baseball team, owned by Bill Murray!
Anyways, so far over all people have raise only $545 and we want to help raise even more. So please follow the link
below and offer whatever you can before Sept 12th! Let’s show these kids that we can work at preventing this
behavior!
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=tLUgI84dqnts0MPQNetPJg4DLkFhbxk1eiDD1Dz0DM_RiFlJw61z6tK8_c0&dispatch=50a222a57771920b6a3d7b606239e4d529b525e0b7e69bf0224adecfb0124e9bdd7275a399ffdb502f5df4e499ae8456658a8e60c7f4ec16
Please pass this on to family and friends, this may be a local event, but if we can help to fight this here, we can
begin to fight it everywhere! No kid deserves to be abused!

Read more in reporter Chris O’Connell’s blog
It’s not a bird. It’s not a plane. In fact they don’t even fly. But that hasn’t stopped some ordinary people from doing some extraordinary good deeds around the Twin Cities.
Ripped from the pages of comic books, there’s a growing group of disguised Good Samaritans taking to the streets to look after all of us.
If you stop to look beyond the hustle and bustle of Saturday night traffic, you may just catch a glimpse of the Great Lakes Super Heroes Guild in the shadows.
Meet Geist the Emerald Cowboy, Razorhawk, and ShadowFlare—real life heroes that patrol the streets of Rochester, New Brighton, and Hopkins.
They won’t reveal their real names, phone numbers or what they do for a living. Although, they say, they do have a life outside of their alter ego and don’t just live in their mother’s basements.
You could say they’re equal parts neighborhood crime watch, costume party and Boy Scout. While you might laugh, don’t make fun—Razorhawk is a former pro-wrestler.
“We usually try to get down here as a group at least once a month then we work our own neighborhoods every night,” he said.
They’re looking for criminals in hopes to do good deeds for strangers.
The superhero movement started in the late 1990’s but interest in the idea swelled after tragedy. In fact, the Metro heroes accredited national crises like the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 for why they answered the call to super heroism.
So 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS tagged along while the real life super heroes patrolled the streets of downtown Minneapolis Saturday night. The evening included a stop at a local homeless shelter to drop off bags of food.
“It’s about helping people and doing what we can for our own communities and helping people less fortunate and people who need our help,” Geist explained.
So where would you look for a superhero? On the Internet at WorldSuperheroRegistry.com.
“There’s about 200 of us in the United States and another 50 in the rest of the world,” ShadowFlare said.
The network of mysterious masked do-gooders are used to getting strange looks from those who might not understand.
“People find us odd. People find us eccentric and we know that it’s an unorthodox approach to societies problems,” Geist said.
Even if those problems are as simple as garbage on the street.
Although they don’t come across much crime, they will get involved if they have to. If they are called to duty, these real life super heroes could be packing some real life weapons: Wrist rockets, fighting sticks, stun batons, and bullet proof vests.
While police said a little extra help is always welcomed, they’re afraid this band of self-proclaimed super heroes look more like vigilantes.
“To walk around with a stun stick, smoke grenades and other things, that’s probably taking it a little too far. That shows that someone probably is taking matters into their own hands more than they should when they should be calling us,” said Minneapolis Police Sgt. Jesse Garcia.
Some of them explained they have made citizens arrests and even helped in police investigations—which is one of the reasons the heroes stay anonymous.
“We do make enemies. The gangs are my enemies in my town. They know that, I know that, and frankly I don’t need them to know where I live and I don’t need a drive by,” Geist said.
But for the most part, they’re here to spread good will by paying it forward and even spreading smiles along the way.
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S849976.shtml?cat=1

Greg Beato

Long before Barack Obama incited our movie stars to give up plastic grocery bags in the name of a more righteous America, long before Rick Warren persuaded millions of spiritual seekers to fill their lives with purpose, a growing number of lower profile yet visually arresting altruists began serving their fellow citizens by taking on local thugs, helping stranding motorists, volunteering at soup kitchens and homeless shelters, and participating in blood drives. They call themselves Real Life Superheroes, or Reals for short, and as their name suggests, their inspiration comes not from elected officials, religion, or the Kiwanis Club, but rather Batman, Spider-man, and the countless other icons of spandex-clad virtue who populate our supposedly meaningless and morally corrosive pop culture.

According to the creators of the World Superhero Registry, an online forum and resource center where freelance crusaders network and exchange ideas, an individual who wears a costume, performs heroic deeds, and is not functioning as a paid representative of any organization are the primary characteristics of a Real Life Superhero. Some explicitly position themselves as vigilante interventionists eager to protect their neighborhoods from bad guys; others imitate their comic-book role models in a more metaphorical sense, applying their standards of justice and social responsibility to various community service efforts. They go by names like Fox Fire, Civitron, and Knight Owl, and at least one of them, Superbarrio, an international crimefighter whose domain is Mexico City, has been plying his trade since the 1980s.

Recent feature stories on Reals in Rolling Stone and the Sunday Times have led to a flurry of interest, but much of the media coverage has exhibited a mocking tone, focusing on the ways in which Reals do not quite live up to their better equipped and more physically impressive fictional counterparts. The Sunday Times piece, for example, opens with an anecdote in which one Real is reconsidering his avocation after getting punched in the face by a “tiny girl.” Ironically, at a time when the ideals of service, sacrifice, and community are enjoying great cachet in the national conversation, Reals who are doing more than merely talking about such notions are attracting ridicule in large part because the better angels of their nature like to sheathe themselves in colorful, tight-fitting uniforms.

But is it really so wacky what they’re doing? After all, soldiers, police officers, milkmen, firefighters, priests, nuns, Girl Scouts, judges, and football referees all use clothing to signify their commitment to virtuous service. Real Life Superheroes are simply putting a contemporary, hyper-individualized spin on the time-honored notion that clothes make the man. Institutions have long capitalized on the transformational power of uniforms—a young Marine recruit donning his Dress Blues for the first time find himself summoning new reservoirs of courage and discipline as he feels compelled to live up to all the values his uniform embodies. A novice in the Catholic Church undergoes a similar transformation the first time she dons her habit.

But what if you’re not a member of the Marine Corps or the Catholic Church, and yet you’d still like to experience the magic of sartorial transformation yourself? While there isn’t a “virtuous sweater” section at Urban Outfitters or Banana Republic yet, you can get a custom-made BattleSuit from Hero-Gear.net, for the surprisingly reasonable price of only $140. “Once you get suited up, you’re a hero and you have to act like one,” explained a Real who calls himself Geist to City Pages last year.

Hero-Gear.net was created by Jack Brinatte, a professional wrestler in Minnesota who started making costumes for himself and other wrestlers. When he advertised his wares on the Internet and started getting inquiries from aspiring Real Life Superheroes, he found himself catering to a new niche; eventually, he created a superhero persona for himself, Razorhawk, and now wears his blue-and-yellow uniform while engaging in community service. “We go out there and try to inspire people to do do good things,” he recently told Fox News. Volunteer in your regular everyday persona, Brinatte suggested, and it doesn’t have as much impact as when you put on a mask and assume a dramatic superhero persona. “People tend to remember that,” he concluded. “Kids see it and it sticks in their mind.”

Of course, it’s not just a selfless act for the adults who don the suits. The U.S. Army used to promise new recruits an “Army of One,” but when they put on their new uniforms, they looked just like every other soldier. That’s part of a traditional uniform’s power—it evokes the strength of all who’ve ever worn it—but in the Internet era of conspicuous self-promotion, it’s easy to see why a flashy and unique outfit, coupled with a proprietary brand name, is appealing to potential do-gooders. Just because you want to serve a cause greater than yourself doesn’t mean you don’t want to be the center of attention while doing it. And have a little fun while you’re at it.

Indeed, while we may have entered a new age of service, sacrifice, responsibilty, and hard work, do we have to be so high-minded about it? Take this YouTube clip produced by Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, in which a gaggle of casually pompous celebrities promise to help President Obama transform America by smiling more, curing Alzheimers, and foregoing bottled water—wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier to swallow if Ashton and Demi had nixed the ridiculously solemn keyboards and required all the participants to wear Spandex skinsuits while delivering their lines?

Contributing Editor Greg Beato is a writer living in San Francisco. Read his Reason archive here.

http://reason.com/archives/2009/01/28/watchman-state