What, me political?

I've never really found myself interested in politics before. In the past, my point of view has always been that all politicians were just sneaky and self-serving, with an amiable facade.
Yet, in the past few months as I've "made my way" around the blogoshpere, YouTube and just about everywhere else, I've noticed a fervent support for this geriatric looking man named Ron Paul.


So, for the first time in my life, I looked into something political for myself.

Since I was initially weary about "going all out" and dedicating a large chunk of my time to this curiosity, I dipped my toe in that lazy man's paradise, YouTube. As I watched videos for and against Ron Paul, I found that this man speaks with such clear reasoning and honesty that it bore investigation. The more I've searched and learned about him and his vision, the more I've noticed that he has a genuine wisdom to the way he discusses pertinent issues. Ron Paul seems to make the concept of partisanism irrelevant.
This is not to prematurely say that I am "throwing my hat into Ron Paul's ring", but that our great country is in need of strong, moral leadership, and I intend to find the best candidate to fill that role. Ron Paul, for now, is my #1 candidate simply because he is the only candidate whom I've studied. That is also to say that by no means am I discounting Ron Paul.
Because of this clip, which you're about to see and others like it, that I am going to involve myself in the study of all of the 2008 Presidential candidates.

If you would watch the following video with a preconceived notions, don't bother, for it will be a waste of your time. Otherwise, enjoy this 7 minute 45 second clip.

Thoughts on Heaven & Hell

A couple weeks ago as I was thinking about the meaning of all things, I had some ideas about Heaven and Hell. The idea was that Heaven & Hell aren't destinations, but mental states brought about by the direction in which you head. Heaven is brought about by doing things that are positive and will evolve you, and Hell is brought about by doing things that are negative and will devolve you. As to not dilute this idea, I won't attempt to elaborate on which actions I think will or won't propel you in one direction or the other.

With this idea, it would make sense that both Heaven and Hell can get more profound and intense. That is to say, the more progress you make, the more heavenly Heaven becomes and and more you digress, the more hellish Hell becomes. Though this is all a mouthful, I think that it feels true.

This also means that These these states are relative. For example, A "crack fiend" can experience Heaven by progressing relative to his situation. On the same line of logic, a charitable person can experience Hell by digressing relative to her situation.

So since they are relative, it is difficult to define Heaven and Hell in absolute terms. In order to do this, there must be a standard from which to judge. for Theists, this "bar" is set by God. For Atheists, this bar is set personally.

I could continue, but I won't post this if I don't do it at this sitting. So, though these thoughts are fragmented, I hope that they cause you to think about how you feel about them.
The End (or is it?)

Keep 'em Separated

Since I've been posting a lot of videos of songs I'm writing, I'm partitioning those off so that the people who are interested can check out my songwriting processes. Here's the link: The Goodest Blog

Ain't No Way (Video)

People Change (Video)

Or is it 14...?

I was tagged by Davis, so that makes me "it". This means that I am going to share six little known facts about myself. So here they are:

1- Tell me about the rabbits, George. Ever since I was a child, I have never been able to remember what 8 + 6 equals. (is it 15?)
2- Cleanup on isle "As Is". Though I'm a very hygienic person, once every blue moon I won't have time to shower and without fail, sometime during that day I will make an unplanned stop at Deseret Industries. (If you see me there, I'll blame it on the old couches)
3- So many colors and shapes! Unless I force myself to read, I only look at books for the illustrations; I can't help it.
4- Show me that wince again. I used to have weak ankles. So badly in fact, that I used to have to crawl around my house in complete agony. (I think it was growing pains, although there was no Mike Seaver around to offer comfort)
5- Beatles songs make me sob.
6- Off the record. The night started with my "friends" and me breaking into an elementary school in the middle of the night to play Basketball, and ended with a rug-burned face and the knee of a dog-wielding cop planted firmly in my back.

I now tag Jeff B, KC B, Brett M, Ben Q, Hailey S, Steve Z

Henceforth, ye six shall blog six things about thyselves which is generally heretofore unknown.

For This I am Thankful...

Though it's a smidgen late, I'm going to blog about the people and things for which I am grateful. So, here I go:

Meghan- For her infinite patience and understanding of who I am and who I can become.
Mama- For her sweet sentiment and nurture. Also, I love when she gets all goofy.
Daddio- For his sense of humor and his example of progression.
Jared- For his quiet example and comforting nostalgia. Also, his family is a perfect example of what a family should be.
Dustin- For his charity and example of work ethic.
Lehi- For his sharp intelligence and confidence.
Erik- For being a tried & true friend, in every sense of the word.
My friends- For not getting offended that I didn't put their actual name on this list.
My education- I may only be getting my Associates this year, but It feels like a doctorate:)
My iMac- It's an amazing tool that helps me organize and create.
My body- So, I haven't kept it prime, but it gets me around.
My car- Since I got it, I've felt a little more legit.

And,

The Creator- I'm thankful for this whole thing called life- for it's complexity and simple beauty. Also, that, because of the grand scheme of things, a crumby guy like me can have all the hope in the world.

I know this was a bit sentimental, but I wanted to say it.

Return to Vegas

I just returned from Las Vegas. I was there with my Dad, Mom and my brother Dustin.


This is my beautiful mother.

























When I was a kid, my family and I attended the dedication of the Las Vegas Temple. It was fun seeing it again.
























(I set the camera on a random car)


















This is the house I lived in from the ages 7-10. I remember how my brother Dustin and I once decided to run away, so we took a loaf of bread and climbed out the window. We made it as far as... the corner of the yard.

We also went to Hoover Dam:

Tact Schmact

Tact is overrated. That is why I'm resolving to put such a silly thing behind me. I've realized that since I really do care about the friends and family members in my life, I have license to ask anything I want about their personal situation. Even better- not only will I ask them, but I'll ask their significant others probing inquiries. When I do, however, question their significant others, I won't waste time getting to know what they do, or things they like, of where they're from. All those pesky details are secondary for my need to know.

I'll only ask them about things that are expected in our society like "Why aren't you guys married yet?" or, "Are you ever going to have kids?", or one that will really help them like "Why didn't you serve a mission?" And of course, "Why didn't you get married in the temple?" I'll make sure to do it without regard to their privacy (Even if it is a touchy subject, because I won't be considerate enough to take that into account).

In doing so with everyone I know, I hope to hear juicy tidbits like "We're not able to have children, or "I have severe depression." Maybe a "We engaged in premarital sex." Because even though it's a sore subject for them, that's ok. It's not sore for me:) It won't waste time asking my friends how they're doing, or if they're happy, or what their dreams are. I want to dig in and satiate my need to know. It's no longer just between them and their Maker.

The best part of this whole plan is that I won't even know I'm being ignorant! Isn't that great? I'll continue to live my life in my oblivious little world- What a beautiful oblivion it will be.

After all, ignorance is bliss:)

Something Different

A late night with Erik. It's like gibberish- It's better if you don't try to understand it. Turn up the volume as well.

NEWS

I have a band called SweetHaven and we haven't played for years. But, just recently Gentry Lee (Lead guitar) and I have talked about recording a new album in January of next year. We're so pumped about it! It will be all the songs we used to play, but never recorded (along with a couple new ones).

Also, over the years I've had many requests for the lyrics and chords for a song we had on The R.M. soundtrack. So here they are:

Go Back (M. Mattson)
Why don't you go back?
I know you wouldn't hurt any more than when you left
Then you would not have to be alone anymore

You only for you, You say you're happy whoop-a-dee-doo
You know that's not true
You're playing the fool

Go back go
So you say it's whack so

Sleep- You get next to none
You're having a meltdown and jumping the gun.
You've heard of suggestions that hit like a ton?
Well I'll give you one:

Go back go
So you say it's whack so

If you don't go the end will be sad
If you won't then you'll lose all you
You've been running hard
You can't find your place
And the memories won't erase.

Ready, set...

Go back go
So you say it's whack so
Go back go
What threw you off track?
Go

Gym Rats

Storyteller

Add to My Profile | More Videos

We just recently shot this up in Layton. The idea comes from the mind of Eric Nelson, the man behind Pirates of the Great Salt Lake. It was a blast to shoot. By the way, there is some bad words, so watch with caution.

Let me know what you think.

The Cruel Life of a Ghetto-Bot

So, for Halloween I was a ghetto robot, more commonly know as robotius ghettosium, or Ghetto-Bot:
"How greatly awesome!", you might say. Or, "Matt, you must have caused a real 'to do' with your costume." While those comments are mostly true, here's the cruel reality:
"But Matt" you interject, "Surely being a Ghetto-Bot would only bring about adoration and power, so what part of that reality could possibly be cruel?"

I'll tell you - Those cursed ski boots.

As we all know, ski boots are an integral, nay, an absolutely necessary ingredient to becoming a GB, right?. But it's a double-edged sword that comes with a hefty price. Yes, wearing ski boots will make you walk like a robot. But read that last sentence again. I wrote the word "make" in italics to give it emphasis. Why? Because wearing ski boots will cause your walt to be robotic by squeezing all of the good feelings out of your feet, leaving only pain, robot pain.

Take a look at the picture again. What do you notice? I sure look at ease, don't I? Like there's not a care in the world? Call me the king of deception because I have deceived you. I was not at ease, I was in agony. The best way to describe it was it was as if my feet where being killed by metal boa-constrictors. It felt like I woke up and said, I need new shoes, but instead of going to a shoe store I went and got fitted for a tight pair of beartraps.

It's funny though, the relief I felt when I got home and released my feet from their bindings made It all worth it.

Jim

A terrible thing happened last Wednesday night where I received the kind of news that I've always dreaded receiving.

We had just enjoyed our Halloween party at ComedySportz in Provo. Afterwards, a group of us went over to Jeff Blake's place to watch The Changeling. It was during this that I received the dreaded text...

It was from my mom. The text just said, "Call me ... emergency." My heart sank as I walked out into the chilled night air. My mind was racing with terror. "What is is Mom?", I asked. Her voice was panicked. "Uncle Jim shot himself."

Tears rushed my eyes. "What?! What happened?" Trying to comprehend what it all meant, I started walking over to Meghan's place, which was near. My mom told me that my dad and her were heading up to be with my aunt. They would call me with any news.

I startled Meghan as I woke her. I was crying as I told her the news. She just hugged me tightly. So many emotions flooded my mind. I wondered what it took for my uncle to do such a thing to himself and his family. I felt so intensely sad for my aunt and her three beautiful children. How can adults be expected to deal with such tragedies, let alone children? I called all of my brothers and made sure we all had someone to be with as we processed the events. They did.

The following days I would randomly just cry thinking about the whole thing. There were stories of what happened that wrenched my heart. How the daughter had left a note on her door that said "Please wake me up at 7am... Thanks Daddy" How the son, while serving his LDS mission , chose to stay out in the field. How the high school-aged son's friends came over and wandered around and cried with him.

The funeral is on Monday.

This whole thing has shaken up all my thoughts and perceptions. It's almost like starting from scratch - re-assessing what I believe and why I believe it. In truth, it's been and amazing and sobering thing.

What my uncle did hasn't changed what a good person he truly was inside. It has, however, made me realize how messed up anyone can get if they allow things in their lives to get our of control.

I'm MAgiC

I'm back, and I have something that will be an instrumental part in my changing the world...

IF: The Blues

An entry for Illustration Friday:

When I read "The Blues", I thought "The Blooz", and that sounded like a monster; but instead of drawing a sad and blue one, I drew a happy orange one. And what, I wondered, would make a monster so happy? Probably the same things that make any red-blooded human being happy - finding a quarter while wearing hippo slippers and slurping soda pop.
And just for good measure, I gave him ribbons for horns.




Also, this was really fun to do, because it was my FIRST time using the paintbrush features on PhotoShop. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me!

I'll never sleep again.

Which is better?

Drama a la carte

Some of you may doubt my ability to create a riveting scene. Here's an exclusive clip from the upcoming Singles Second Ward that will make you feel so sorry you ever doubted me.

IF: Juggle

Here's my piece for Illustration Friday. This is what happens when bad boys juggle sharp utensils. Click on the picture and it will go big.




Oh, and please leave a comment about what you think about this one.

A Random Potpurri of Mish-Mash and What-Nots

For this entry I just have a bunch of random thoughts and things that I want to blog about, so here they are:

My eyes are eye-booger making factories. If I don't get at least 8 hours of sleep one night, the whole next day the little tiny factory workers in my tear ducts say "too bad, we gots some eye-boogers to crank out - sleep or no sleep." All day long.

I just added "boogers" to my computer's dictionary so it doesn't have a red underline.

The most awkward thing to do is walk down a set of stairs that slants to the side as you descend.

Loud noises scare me. Let's say I'm sitting there, writing in my blog and all of a sudden a loud, unexpected noise goes off outside my apartment - I might burst into tears from the shock. Really.

My dad used to live in California as a child and him and his friends used to find these certain bees called "H" bees. They didn't sting, so they use to tie strings on them in a way which he described as "putting little diapers on them." Then they would fly them around like tiny bee-kites. I just remember how much I love that story.

When I go out to eat, I usually choose a more healthy choice such as water instead of soda, or a wrap instead of a burger, but when I'm with friends who are physically fit, I usually opt for the more fattening choice. I don't know if I'm trying to fill a role, balance things out, or what. It's weird.

My favorite weather is when it's sunny AND raining. It's so magical to me.

I'm comfortable with describing something as "magical."

Does that last period go outside or inside the parentheses?

For years, my family has had a cat we called "kitty". When I lived at home, I never helped feed or take care of kitty. (Just typing it puts a lump in my throat) Because of it, she never really sits by me and it feels like she avoids me, But just last Sunday, Meghan and I were up there celebrating my brothers birthday, and as I was sitting on the couch, kitty came up and sat on my lap. When I petted her on the head she pushed against my hand and really enjoyed it for quite a while. It was so great! It was almost as if she was saying, "It's ok that that you didn't take care of me back then, you were young and going through your own things - I forgive you." As silly as it sounds, it really choked me up.

This was so fun, I think I'll post a "random mish-mash" entry twice a month.

A t-shirt for my band

Evolver

Here's another piece for Pudding on the Rice. There's nothing like mixing images of nude men and rice pudding. YUM:q

Angelina Bush (G Rated)

Some friends of mine and I are going to sell ourselves as a caricature drawing group for events. To establish some samples, we each chose three well-known personalities. Here are two of mine.

Throat Bubble

My friend Jake Suazo really tried to empty a bubble out of his throat in this exact manner. No exaggeration.

Pudding my art out there

I was commissioned by Pudding on the Rice to do these illustrations.

A Musical Project

Here is band i'm in with Jake Suazo, and Erik Denton. It's called The One Everyone Likes. Look at the funny dog. Dogs don't dance and that's funny!

Some Robot Art

I made this to submit to an online Photoshop contest. The rules were that I had to incoporate the cloud picture that I put in the background.

Here it is:
It wasn't my intention, but it made me think of a great film - The Iron Giant.
The robot I used was a big sculpture. I found all the pictures on the net. I took me 2 hours.




Oh, and I always love feedback.

Revenge is Unsweet

In order to aid my songwriting processes, I went to the nearby supercenter to purchase a digital recorder. After picking the one that could record 150 hours of audio, I made my way through the hormonioius doldrums of hilarious* college-age flirters on a late night Wal-Mart run. As I neared the checkout, I passed a miny scuffle. This little 2 and a half foot tall boy hit his 3 foot sister. The blonde girl with welling eyes said "Dad, Cody hit me!" With little hesitation the man said "Well hit him back!" The girl paused for a moment as if to ask "really?" Daddy repeated his order. The boy quickly tried to flee the area, but as he attempted to scurry behind his dad's legs, daddy's huge man hand grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. and slowly pushed him to the ground. This made time for the little girl approach him, lift her hand high in the air, and force it down on her younger brother's back. SLAP! The sound was louder than I anticipated. I could not beleive what I had just seen. This guy just helped his daughter "get even". The boy sobbed on the floor.

Suddenly I lost the desire to buy my item. I put it down and wandered towards the exit. I drove my scooter home.

I hope those kids don't realize later in their lives what a negative thing their daddy had taught them and "get even" with him.

*Not hilarious

Mainly for Humans

Last month I brought home a brand new fresh-out-the-box minty green scooter. It is a vision to behold! This is my sole means of transportation (through the summer at least) and since it's purchase I've been joyfully zipping around Utah Valley. Besides being a daily amusement park ride, it's also very practical. I know, I know - How? The thing is this - I work about fifteen blocks away from where I live. Plus it's springtime, plus it's ultra fuel efficient.

A story:

This last Saturday I returned Children of Men to the McDonald's Redbox near my apartment and as I was driving away, I looked in the window of the restaurant to see about 8 college-aged Asian girls staring at me with smiles on their faces. I waved, they waved back. At first I thought "Wow, they are mesmerized by my charm" Then I thought better - "I'm a 300 lb man with hair like Shirley Temple wearing a tan corduroy jacket and a Jem-and-The-Holograms'-pink scarf who is maneuvering, with great agility I might add, through the maze of cars in the parking lot. They're probably looking at that."

It made me wonder, is that who I am? Am I this guy who just rides around smiling and waving to people he passes? In the bigger sense, am I nothing more than a jester to the majority of people who know me? Maybe. Probably. I mean, people who are best known for a certain attribute are best known as the person with that certain attribute. Who is Bill Gates? A smart rich guy. Who is Corky? A great actor who happens to also have down syndrome. Who is Bruce Boxleitner? I don't know... but I think he played Tron in Tron.

Anyway, though being a "funny guy" (there's got to be a better term) may be a part of what I am, that's not who I am. A few know who I truly am. As most, I'm sure, I don't feel comfortable sharing my "true" self with just anyone, though when I do interact with others I do (usually) give them a "best" version of me.

I've heard that what you do defines "who" you are. (Boy, I sure use a lot of quotation marks)(and parenthesis). I believe, that some things are just a part of you, regardless of intent. For example, I'm devastatingly handsome. (wasn't that funny how instead of a real example I gave a self indulgent one? By the way it's not a given because I've worked hard to look like this)

But really, we are human beings regardless of what we do. (Any other type beings reading this blog, just insert your species when I say "human") an ant is an ant. A bird is a bird. A horse is a horse. (Of course of course you saw it coming - who didn't?)

Since I'm on a "waxing-philosophical" roll, I'll pose another question - have those people, who are, say, killers or gymnasts, always been those types of people? Or do they have to take some one's life or do whatever gymnasts do before they gain the title? Am I an artist only as far as I produce art? Is wind wind only when it blows? I also wonder how a legacy plays into what a person is. Will Hitler, for instance, always be a killer? Will air that no longer blows always be considered wind? I guess perception comes into play here - but who is the perceiver whose perception matters? I myself would not consider air wind, but I think of Hitler as a mass murderer- at least he was. My intention is not to defend the atrocities of that evil man, but can man ever change? A bird who wears pants and a fake mustache is not a human [Martian] but is a bird doing human-like things. (Name one human who doesn't wear pants and a false 'stache - I didn't think so)

My head hurts, so I'll retire for the eve.

One final one: When I'm sleeping will I be a sleeper or just a person who sleeps? (Take that one to the mint and cash it.)

My Convergent Boundry

As of late, i've felt an increasing restlesness. The desire to do something significant is pressing me futher towards a place i've never been.
I just took a basic geology class at UVSC and it has completely changed my point of view about the seeming insignificance of mankind. We (man) are just a speck on the massive continuum that is the age of Earth. I don't intend to sound falsely philisophical, but the truth is that with the short amount of time that we as individuals have on this complex rock there is no reason not to attempt to make an impression.
What type of impression is the greatest to make? What is true greatness? Is it the great thinkers who have contributed to society and to the progression of mankind? Is it the rearing of a family? Is it a combination of both?
This has been on my mind. How will I make a meaningful contribution to history? My thoughts on this question almost always land on making people happy. This is my favorite thing to do - to see the faces of people who enjoy what i'm giving them.

Well, great - now i'm tired.

I have to go to sleep, but this isn't over yet. I will dredge up the contents of my psyche and spill them all over this blog; so help me.

Jerryaki Ticken

Hardcore Honesty

-Emancipated slaves, addressed Gettysburg, rocked hard.

.::ReVeL::.

Benny, This was an idea I had.

Project Uaxactun

A friend of mine is involved in a humanitarian project in Guatemala. really cool.

IF: Wired

[Robot voice] Go to sleep, go to sleep.

Rubik's Rex

Survival of the fittest.

His Number's Almost Up

"You're never too old to be what you might have been."
-George Eliot

The Exclaimer!

Can you believe there is not a character in all of comic-bookdom named The Exclaimer!?! Neither could I. I thought it would be so funny if everything he ever said was a yell. Don't you agree! (no other punctuation would ever be used)

Blast

This is Mort. He just remembered that he left a child in the oven.

Full of Wonder

A version of Wonder Woman I drew. You likee?

IF: Crash

I just thought of an image of The Man of Steel getting belted by some unknown person or thing.

Panda-monium

Matt, tell me you can't see this!


What do you think?.
Also, please send me the color pallete.
Love,
Matt

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