I know it's silly and I know super heroes never stay dead, but god damn it I just can't believe that the death of the Captain has affected me so. I guess it comes with having read the comic for the last 20 years. Rushing to the drug store to pop .50 on the counter. Admiring his steadfast devotion to doing what was right and not what was popular.  I have become so attached to this character that it requires a concious effort to not write as though he is real, so I won't try.  I have been with Cap for a long time I remember:

Watching as he violated his code of never killing so that he could save an innocent life. Watching as he grappled with the ramifications of his action.

Being so true to himself that he left his post as Captain America in the 90's when the government tried to force him to act against his principles.

When he killed a terrorist after 911 he voluntarily unmasked himself on national television in the hopes of making himself the target for reprisals instead of the nation.

Then supporting him as he opposed an unconstitutional movement forcing superheroes to register their identities with the government.

He lived for freedom, fought for it for 60+ years and now has died for freedom struck down by an assassins bullet on the steps of a courthouse.

I hold so many attachments to this noble man. Seeing many of his virtues in the men most important in my life; my father and departed grandfather. It feels as though I've lost a family member. I am forced to agree with Mr. Simon (The captain's Creator) when he said, "We neeed him now more than ever." That was what I liked most about Steve Rogers he served to remind us of what we could be as a nation. He believed in our nature. He believed we were better than we thought we were.

Perhaps it's most fitting then that he died by an assassin's bullet. Much like the people of the comics we the people have assassinated the captain's Spirit as he was killed in the comics. Military tribunals, suspension of Habeus Corpus, Electronic espionage on the citizenry and we all we free Americans have surrendered our rights and supported unconstitutional laws in the name of greater security.

Sentinel of liberty
Star-Spangled Avenger
Steve Rogers

But his truest name was Cap.

Perhaps one day we in the real world will find that America you fought for. Until that day...

...I felt obliged to post this coincidental nugget.  I am a huge fan of Yahoo radio.  Launchcast, as they call it, allows you to create a personalized radio station for yourself.  Most handy I feel and truly ingenious.  Anyway Monty Python and Led Zepplin feature higly on my playlist.  Today the computer gods decided to provide an impromptu laugher.  They played the, "what have the ORmans ever done for us." segment from Life of Brian.  This is where the Judeo-liberation front asks the question and slowly comes up with the list of: law, order, public sanitation, roads, commerce, and education.  SO what's the next song that plays after that, the Immigrant Song by Led Zepplin.  You know, the one that starts with "we are your overlords." 

IF you're a history geek you at least have to chuckle to yourself.

This political race has drug up the issue of the war in Iraq once more.  One side says that we should leave another says we should stay but doesn't quite know why.  Many claim Islam a religion of peace, others condemn it as a religion of Facism.  I suspect the truth is in between, and my recent ponderings on the matter have lead me to write the following.

Coming from Birmingham, Alabama I have a rather unique perspective on religion and terrorism.  You see, a few years back a man made himself some pipe bombs and left them out front an abortion clinic the bomb killed a security guard and wounded many women.  

This, to me, is an example of how a person on the outside looking in could see a terrorist hijacking his faith and making others suffer for his twisted views.  Kind of like in the middle East.

Do I believe that most Muslims are vicious cruel animals? No.  I will say that I feel our views of the Muslim faith have been skewed to a degree by the mass media.  It is a faith where every nation has sworn a holy vow to remove the Jewish nation of Israel from the face of the Earth.  Now with the nuclear capabilities they are striving to achieve they can do this.  

There are private state funded "militias" in Lebanon, Palestine, Iran/ and Syria all comprised of people like our Baptist friend who bombed a clinic.  these unofficial arms of Muslim nations are their method of waging a conflict against the Israeli nation and maintain plausible deniability.

Why did our troops go there?  Was it for oil?  Then why the hell am I still paying 2.50 a gallon?  Was it to bring democracy and overthrow an evil dictator?  Probably not.  Was it to prevent weapons of mass destruction from making their way into terrorist hands?  Then why are we not more agressive against N. Korea/ Iran?  

In my heart I feel it was for all these reasons and many more we'll never know about.  War is not something someone steps into lightly; even self motivated politicians.  

One thing I am certain of is that now we are there and innocent American soldiers have bleed there it would be a disgrace to their memory to simply walk away for political convenience.  To do so would be a slap in the face of every man, woman, and child who believes in this nation with every fiber of their being.  Some good must come from this.  We must build something in place of the destruction we caused.  On average occupations last from 10-15 years before one can leave a region rebuilt.  Look to the occupation of Germany after WW2 or the restructuring period in the South after the civil war.  

Rebuilding is harder than the destruction.  We allowed our passions to rule us and lead us into Iraq.  TO allow our passions to remove us from the situation and abandon those whose lives we destroyed is irresponsible and tragic to say the least.  If we as a nation do not rise to the occasion, then we are no longer deserving of the great power we wield as a nation.

I, Stephen Decatur, have been wooed by the temptations of pirating.  My friend, and apparent agent, Creed Bowlen wants to arrange an audition for me to become a pirate.  I have been trying to sail the seas on the straight and narrow for so long, and been bored for sooooo long.  Then out of the blue I reestablished contact with the aforementioned Mr. Bowlen.  Then he says I should audition for this pirate gig and will even arrange it and put in a good word for me.  Is this my chance to get back into acting?  Does fate pull me inexplicably towards this profession?  Even as I was thinking about getting back in this morning and thinking about how cathartic it would be to simply sit down analyse a script and play pretend?  I had to consult the stars to know for sure-ish.

"Get ready to get busy! There are lots of things about to come your way that you will definitely want to get involved with. Fun, creativity and even a tiny bit of exciting drama are all in your near future -- but are you ready? Try to get the little boring things and tedious errands off your plate as much as you can today, so you'll be better prepared to take on as much as you can handle in the upcoming days. This is a time when your energy is growing, and you're going to be on a roll!"

As we gear up to shoot my 3-minute short, and I gear up to take a run at opening RnR productions for commercials in Orlando and opportunity comes up for me in ...Orlando.  Even as I am trying to get Molly Ringwald to come to the ham and deliver a film workshop?  Busy and exciting indeed. 

But what would Master Cumovsumyungai say?  Only Chinese astrology knows for sure this goats actions.

"This day seems to be favorable to a happy outcome of those old projects that will always remain dear to your heart. Do not neglect your family, despite your numerous responsibilities. It will be time to do everything in your power to reestablish the equilibrium of your budget. Good physical vitality; but beware of a certain feeling of euphoria, which might induce heedlessness and clumsy movements."

Certainly good advice to center me and keep me from flying off the hizzy. 

But even here, "a happy outcome of those old projects that will always remain dear to your heart." Like, I don't know my first love; theatre?   A happy outcome like an audition to be the lead pirate in a show which features a scale replica of a Spanish Galleon and a 300,000 gallon tank of water it's resting in?  As I swing from perch to perch doing my best Earl Flynn?  That sounds pretty freakin' happy.

This 'ole salty dog is gonna try and stay grounded though.  Thoughts?

Allo' lads!  I've just coma back form a tour patroling the mediteranian in search of dreaded Tunisian corsair ships, and boy do I have good news.  I will be in charge of a FIlm/production workshop series this Fall!  That's right I have walked the halls of bureacracy and come out unscathed, with my original idea intact.  YIPPEE!

The workshops will begin this coming Fall  aught Seven (as the monarch would say) and feature some great guests and sheet loads of excellent info.  Be on the look out for our premier guest, Molly Ringwald.  SHe should be here sometime in the Spring.   I know I just said the series will start in the Fall , but  she's  kinda the free sample we'll be giving out to get everyone excited.  Yippe for  Stephen Decatur!

In honor of the featured patriot this week we've named it, Part: Deux.

This weeks patriot is none other than the Marquis DeLafayette.  Yes this dapper young man was none other than buddies with my all-time fav George Washington.  In fact they were so close that many said they were more like father and son instead of peers or simply allies.

Another fact about the Marquis De Lafayette is that he is one of the few historical french men (or Frenchmen for that matter) I like.  I have a theory that after Napoleons defeat it was all down hill for the French, but that's another post.

Make no dowbt about it he was all hero.  He even had a heros name, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert Du Motier La Fayette.  Born into an aritocratic family La Fayette was orphaned at 13 and inherited the title of Marquis.  When the American colonies declared their independence from England he immediately was caught up in the ideal of the revolution and began efforts to assist the Colonists.

Before he could do so the Americans suffered their first major deffeat as the British took Manhattan and most of massachusetts from the rebels.  Once word of this reached the French courts the king himself requested that Lafayette stay behind.  His requests were echoed by Benjamin Franklin. 

When Lafayette refused to obey the king had him arrested.  Layfayette disguised himself as a woman and made his escape to England with 11 of his closest companions.  Chased by the Brittish across the Atlantic he finally reached the Revolution. 

When he made contact with the Congress he offered a promisory note to them from an American agent promising the rank of Major general.  Congress explained to him they couldn't do that in good conscience due to the fact so many Americans had sacrificed so much and as result were more deserving.  After hearing this he requested that he not be compensated monetarily for his service and that his status of enlistment be noted as a volunteer.  Congress did so, and were so impressed with him that they awarded him an honorary rank of Major General, and shipped him off to meet Washington.

He and Washington became great friends, in fact Layettes forst son was named after Washington and Washington became the boys God Father.  His service in the American army was commendable.  He was an excellent tactician and was a real asset to the fledgling army. 

His greatest contribution came when he returned to France, at the kings request, and served to support the American cause in the French Courts. 

During WW1 when the American forces landed to aid in the defense of France an officer was quoted as saying, "Lafayette we are here."

Well I had American Idol auditions.  That's right kids I stood around from 4:30 in the morning to 12:30 in the afternoon to hear a poorly rehearsed prepared statement about how the bar was high for voices blah,blah, blah.

The experience reminded me of exactly why I left the performing arts as a profession and never plan to be back onstage again, at least professioinally. 

I refuse to attach the success of my life on the whims and personal tastes of a perosn who has had all of 20 seconds meet me and know who I am.  This is exactly what performers do on a daily basis.  Recently I had been romanticising about how much fun it was to be a performer.  All I needed was this little taste to help me recall why I left in disgust in the first place.

So noble readers, yes both of you, I have made a new resolution: to be the schmuck doing the judging in the first 20 seconds.  If you can't beat 'em join 'em right?  This keeps me in the field that I love and at the same time will allow me not to be the asshole producers I have meet in my time.  To actually be one of those producers with foresight who nourishses and cultivates new talent.

Andreas Katsulas is dead.  Right now everyone is going, "who?"  well he was a damn fine actor and a great human being.  Classically trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company Andreas went where all great actors go...Star Trek.  He had a reoccuring role on the show as a rather troublesome Romulan captain.  Later, he continued on Babylon 5 as ambassador G'kar.

Don't judge the show or roll your eyes when I say that his role was one of the finest written/performed in the annals of TV history.  There is no arguing with facts and all you need to do is watch the show with an open mind and the brilliance of his performance shines through.

He left this world in February and I just found out today.  Search for him on IMDB you won't be dissapointed.

As you will learn I am a big history buff.  I felt obliged to write down some of my personal heros through history.

Today I'll start with Cincinnatus-father of the Roman Republic.

Cincinnatus was a figure in history unrepeated  until George Washington (another personal hero).

Cincinnatus was a farmer, which in those days meant he was a land owner, which also meant he was wealthy and held status in the fledgling Roman society. 

When the aequians attacked the consul of Rome's forces were surrounded and laid Siege to.  In this desperate hour the roman senate turned to Cincinnatus.  THey had awarded him the title of dictator and assigned to him the duty of relieveing the siege of the consuls army and removing the aequian threat form Roman lands.

He did this in 16 days.

Upon returning to Rome and the admiration and heart-felt respect of his people  Cincinnatus promptly retired from the position of dictator.

It's this willingness to do the right thing over the easy thing that makes Cincinnatus one of my dearest most personal heros.  I can only hope that were I in such a position I would have the strength of character to do the same. 

Welcome to the weekly post: Know a Patriot.

Today we will be examing my old CO (comanding Officer to you civies) John Paul Jones.

John Paul was Americas first naval hero. As British ships blockaded the port towns of our fine nation Mr. Jones slipped into the north Atlantic and terroized the coast of britain and British shipping. His actions forced the British to deploy more ships along their own coast and relieve some of the pressure from America.

In one encounter against the british. The ship Serapis attacked Jones' ship the Bonnehome Richard.  During the encouter the Bonhomme Richard was severly damaged. He was taking on water and the American flag had been shot from his mast. The commanding British officer noticed this and asked Jones if he was striking his colors.  Jones replied, "I have not yet begun to fight." He then rammed his opponents ship and lashed the two together.

Marksmen, which he had deployed into the ships masts, raked the deck with expert fire. Once the British on deck were sufficiently thined he and his men stormed aboard the Serapis and captured her.

Never truly appreciated in his home country John Paul Jones left, and for a time become a consultant to Catherine the Great of Russia. His diplomatic skills did not compare to his martime talents, and he was soon off again in search of employment. Not until after he had won a great victory for Catherine though in the Black sea replusing the Ottomans from that area.

He was later appointed consul to Algiers in 1792. It was hoped that a man of his fierce nature and reputation would help difuse the mounting situation with the pirates of the Barbary Coast. Unfortunately, he died before he could take office. His remains are intered at the American Naval Academy.
Jone's tomb