Is it to early to start talking Christmas gifts???

I know, I know... I should not be thinking about what I want for Christmas just yet... Seeing as how tonight I will be going to the first of many Halloween parties that are scheduled this spooky holiday week! Nevertheless, I can't help but get excited for Christmas. Though I'm no longer a little boy... from time to time I like to remember what it felt like to start thinking about a Christmas list, and better yet... Begin dropping less than subtle hints to mom, dad, grandparents and generally anyone who would listen!!!
True, I would love peace on earth, an end to this war and for Obama to be our next president. Moreover, I know that in this wretched economy, the best Christmas gift I could give myself would be the gift of SAVING money... and share the gift of Love and Happiness instead of things that can be wrapped up in boxes...
But, gadget man that I am... topped with the fact that I love to read... Of course I fell in love with the new Amazon Kindle™, a wireless portable reading device with instant access to more than 190,000 books, blogs, newspapers and magazines. Whether you're in bed or on the train, Kindle lets you think of a book and get it in less than a minute.
Doesn't that sound amazing?
As much as I LOVE the smell of books, and how wonderful they look on my bookshelves... I think it would be an exceptional way to "go green" and save some trees!
Not to mention how awesome it would be to travel with 20 of my favorite books, magazines and newspapers without having to take more than one carry on!!!
So, okay... I realize that Christmas is so far away, and this handy little "Wonder Book" is NOT a necessity... But just writing this blog reminded me of how fun it is to dream!

Democracy... I think...

I don't know about you... But these days times are tough! With a failing economy, lack of jobs and very few people seeing eye to eye on the "issues" or even talking about real change... I'm frustrated and overwhelmed!

I shot the photograph above in Denver during the DNC... It just caught my eye for so many reasons, the most obvious... It's laying on the pavement!
According to Wikipedia:
Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system.
Doesn't it feel more like the supreme power is held in large corporations and elected officials that are ruled by said corporations?
What's worse, there is no escaping the reminder that Americans want and need change.

It's impossible to turn on the television without seeing attack ads FULL of half truths, twisted words and out of context quotes.
Even the news (no matter which channel you subscribe to) can you uncover what's really being said.

I have good friends, who have stopped talking to other friends because they disagree about the future of our country.
Then we have people running for office who, though they don't come right out and say it... believe that anyone who has a different opinion or passionate view on the future of OUR country might be Un-American!
Does it really matter what part of the country you come from? I believe that regardless of size, location and socioeconomic composite we are ALL grateful to live in a country where we have the right to speak freely and freely disagree with injustice.

I am grateful every single day, from morning until my head hits the pillow, that I live in a country that we are ALL equal...
...Even if it hasn't always been true or proves to be complicated from time to time...
Moreover, I feel blessed for every single woman and man who has ever served this country... For me, and my freedoms. In the name of Democracy.
So please, please, Sarah Palin (and other like minded thinkers) remember that we live in The United States of America the next time you divide a chunk of this great land "Pro-American"... I'd like to enlighten you, that though I have completely different ideas, hopes and dreams for what this country is and can be- I stand behind this UNITED country for ALL of its people...
Even the ones who think like you!
On a lighter note... I really hope that this economy turns around soon. There's got to be money out there, somewhere? Where did it all go? I hope we find it soon, or else I may end up living here:

J.A.P.S

Brooke Allison and Rachael Lawrence are J.A.P.S! Check out their music on itunes and don't miss their next concert:
Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 8:30pm
Location:
KING KING
Street:
6555 Hollywood Blvd.
City/Town:
Los Angeles, CA

I have the honor of choreographing for these two hot and talented musicians... They're funny and their music is fantastic!!!
Click on the link above for more information, or to watch a video or download J.A.P.S album!

Just because you're a Republican... Doesn't mean we can't be friends!

This is an Open Letter in response to a dear friend of mine who shares different views than I... She was recently attacked by someone she calls a close friend of hers for having a different outlook;

Dear Friend,
First let me begin by saying that, though I don't subscribe to many of your beliefs, I love you!
I hope that you will forward this reply to your friend as well.
I think that it is unfair for any one who calls himself (or herself) a friend, and uses words like Love to describe a bond that they share, should ever find a reason to attack the other party.
I believe that this idea is exactly what is wrong with politics in this country to begin with.
Let me be clear in saying that I find it sad when either side of the aisle uses hate tactics to 'win' or “scare” over their own party.
I am a Democrat for very obvious reasons, however my Dad, whom I love more than anyone on this planet, is a strong conservative Christian Republican... Does it make family gatherings tough? Sometimes. More often though, we have wonderful talks, debates and in the end, I've looked at an issue in a different way and so too has he.
Isn't it important to know all sides of an issue. Isn't that why we surround ourselves with smart, funny, outgoing people? To grow, and take a look at a different view once in a while?

Not to say that I believe I will ever share many of the views my father has. But to know that, at least we can have strong feelings, and love one another enough to find a fair and common ground.

Don't you think it would be wonderful if everyone who called themselves someone who cares about our country, would take the time to listen to the other half of the country? Maybe we would gain insight if we could actually listen, instead of resorting to hate and judgment of the other party and their hopes, dreams and Faith for the world they envision?

I pride myself on my strong opinions, and the opportunity to call myself a Democrat!

Nevertheless, I love you and your strong opinions. I value the perspective you bring to the table!

Wasn't there a leader who wanted ALL of their people to think the same? How did that end up in history again? Oh right I remember...

Finally, let's be clear about one thing: For every extremist Christian Hate group on your side... I'm sure you could find many radical extremists on mine... And though they may have very different platforms, the misguided hate is the same!

I think you should re-evaluate this person you call a friend... A true friend stands up for you, even when it is inconvenient for them.
And come November 5, after Obama has won... I'd love to have you over for dinner, wine and loving friendship!

Love,

Mattie

A photograph I shot while in Denver for the DNC

P. S. Vote No on 8! Churches will not lose any tax-exempt status... nor will they teach 2nd graders to want to be in same sex relationships... They’ll experiment with that in college, like everyone else has!

Andy Warhol- Not So Cool...

I was bored at home, and couldn’t sleep… so I decided to watch a movie on HBO on Demand. First off, thank God for HBO… Beside the fact that they have the most excellent original shows on television, I love that I can watch movies without ever having to leave my house. Which I am most grateful for now more than ever, since apparently in Los Angeles movie rental stores have all gone out of business.


No more Tower Video, and forget about Blockbuster! Beside the fact that the nearest one is much too far to drive in LA traffic, but then once you get there, you realize that new release movies are over $5! …No thank you! I’d rather spend that on Starbucks and watch whatever movie HBO has planned for my evening…

Tonight, I watched Factory Girl. I meant to see it in the theatre, mainly because I thought the trailer was interesting but mostly I wanted to see why everyone was so crazy for Sienna Miller.

…So, I think that Sienna did a wonderful job, and there is no doubt that she is a beautiful woman. But I couldn’t get over the relationship that Sienna's character had with Andy Warhol.

I think Andy Warhol was a dick!

Let me say this: I do not know much about Andy Warhol… I’ve obviously seen a great deal of his work, I’ve been to the Warhol Museum, and know that he was a huge personality for a long time and is probably responsible for Pop Art…

But after watching Factory Girl, I think he used people. It made me wonder if he kept all those people around in his factory so that he could steal their ideas and slap a lithographed print of soup on a canvas and call it pop art?

In the case of Factory Girl’s main character Edie Sedgwick (portrayed by Sienna Miller) Warhol just found her so interesting that he used her up, and once he no longer had a need for her… he left her at her weakest… All the while he believed that he had helped her and in fact made her a star.

In reality, Edie, who suffered from a major drug dependency, seemingly loved Andy and was willing to follow him along on any adventure, movie shoot or club.

Why I’m so bothered by this, is because Edie died at the age of 28, and though it was not Andy or anyone else’s fault (other than Edie…) In an interview that followed the day after her death, Andy Warhol showed no sympathy and went on to say that he didn’t really know her. I found that odd. That someone like Warhol (who studied her every move and was so infatuated with her that he introduced her to his mother) could be so indifferent to her passing.

Then I remembered a recent trip I took to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and how I was feeling so inspired by the beauty that surrounded me. Even for the work I didn’t care for, I was able to see the great lengths each artist went to for their vision. I realized that there doesn’t have to be a set of rules that every individual or artist has to follow. I enjoyed the work of Monnet and though I am not a huge Picasso fan, I was able to accept that we all have a different voice. I was moved by almost every piece in that museum… It’s just impossible to compare the work of an abstract artist with that of a realist, or with any other classification for that matter. What I learned was that, no matter how the artist came about their work, and regardless of whether or not I cared for the style, art when done well can move people.


Then I came across an artist who thought art was to drowned a baby sheep in phermeldahide and leave it in a glass container… The title was called: Away From the Flock… And I thought, “yeah fucker, because of you!”

At what point do we draw a line? When does the need to have a voice and inspire people to think or be moved, turn in to killing helpless animals for display in a glass container at some museum? What am I learning from that? Lock up my dog whenever artist Damien Hirst is around?

I think that is what Andy Warhol did to Edie Sedgwick. He took a beautiful, interesting, loving girl, and put her in a glass container… and when she got too big for the fish bowl he created… he left her helpless, in a drugged comma like a fish without water…