I’ve decided to start posting some of my short films. These aren’t from my main gig, but short films I make on my own time for my own amusement. I’ve been extremely lazy creatively the past few years and with the purchase of my new camera, I’m finally getting back out and stretching my creative legs outside of work. So, here is the first.

Ghouls Gone Wild from Matt on Vimeo.

This was shot at the 3rd annual, Ghouls Gone Wild parade in midtown Oklahoma City. I had never been to this parade and it was impressive to say the least. Almost 2 full hours of floats, bands, zombies, roller derby girls, and the best part at the end: 1,000 people dressed as skeletons and carrying Tiki torches being trailed by Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips inside a giant inflatable ball. Best. Parade. Ever.

Music: “Hell” by The Squirrel Nut Zippers
I ♥ Tom Maxwell.

Shot on: Canon 5D Mark II
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8

Yes, I know, it’s been ages since I last posted. Between a couple of trips to California and working on some big projects, I haven’t made much time for the old blog. So I figured I would post something beer related to get back into the swing of things.

I ran across this trailer, today and had to share it. It’s for a film called Beer Wars, a documentary on the battle between craft brewers and the water making dinosaurs, Bud, Miller & Coors. I can hardly wait for this to come out. Hooray beer!

So I’m waiting on my flight to Burbank, when I see the already missligned flight status monitors go into epic fail mode. Had to share.

I had planned on writing on this topic for some time, but after another game day in Oklahoma, my wife could take no more and took it upon herself. She did a great job of explaining our frustration, however, I have a feeling this will not be the last time this topic is discussed. Without further delay, I give you Mrs. Mattatarian’s rant on sports.

We Don’t Like Sports
by Mrs. Mattatarian

My grandpa didn’t watch sports, my dad doesn’t watch sports, my husband doesn’t watch sports and I HATE sports. Fall is my favorite time of year and I have to say I love almost everything about it, except football. Here’s a newsflash to all of you “sporty” people out there:

JUST BECAUSE WE LIVE IN OKLAHOMA AND CLOSE TO NORMAN, DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE GIVE A FLYING SH-T ABOUT OU FOOTBALL, OR ANY OTHER SPORT FOR THAT MATTER. QUIT ASKING MY HUSBAND IF HE SAW “THE GAME”. OF COURSE HE DIDN’T. WE HATE SPORTS. 

That doesn’t mean that we’re not “normal”, nor does it make him any less manly because he doesn’t enjoy watching guys in tights throw a ball around and lay on top of each other to keep the ball in a certain area…or whatever the goal of this ridiculous game is. Wen football fans, OU ESPECIALLY, hear that we don’t like football, they act like we just said we “hate Jesus” or something. Get over yourselves, there is so much more to life than that. 

I feel sorry for people who don’t realize that. I have never watched a full football game in my life. I tried this weekend at my brother in law’s high school football game in Norman. I’m proud of him – he’s a great kid and very talented and I’m glad he’s got something he’s really into and enjoys… even if it was one of the most boring things I’ve ever sat through. I’d do it again if he asked me to. I can’t imagine after watching the game and the crowd, that there are people who plan their lives around a game. They cancel vacations because of it, they change their wedding dates because of it, they even refuse to leave the house when a game is on. Wow, I just don’t get it and I don’t think anyone will ever be able to make me understand it.

I know I have some friends that don’t understand this, nor do I expect them to, but please, don’t try to make me feel bad because I don’t enjoy sports. I never want to be one of those psycho parents screaming at their teenage son in the stands of a high school football field, wearing face paint and living vicariously through their child. What a nightmare. Like sports, LOVE sports for that matter, just respect that some people don’t, and that’s okay. Come to a Flaming Lips show with me and I promise it will be better than any football game you’ve EVER seen!!

Gather around friends, and listen as I gaze into my crystal ball and speak of things that will soon come to pass. Okay, so it’s not crystal… and it’s not a ball. Alright, it’s a half empty bottle of Dundee Oktoberfest, but it’s magical none the less. Yes, prepare to have your minds blown by these (most likely wildly innacurate) beer-fueled predictions of things to come in the next six months. These predictions are not listed in the order they most likely will (not) occur, as the beer still hides some mysteries from my mortal eyes.

• The big 3 American automakers will get a government bailout after 20 years of making turd cars and bad business decisions.  
• Congress will approve another round of stimulus checks in an attempt to try and buy our complacency after having bailed out the automakers. 
• The DOW will hit a low of 7200 points.
• Hugo Chavez will nationalize something else (big stretch, I know)
• The McRib will make a glorious return, as will the Double Filet-O-Fish. The beer is telling me the fish will be sometime around February. 
• Despite the downturn in the housing market, Paulette, the 1-800-ToSellHomes lady, will continue to make some of the worst local ads in the world. 
• QuikTrip will not come to OKC.
• Hyper-inflation.
• The Republican party will do something which indicates, that despite this year’s election, they still do not get it. 
• Tyler Perry will make another movie which will be titled, “Tyler Perry’s _____”.
• John Stamos will not have a hit show on television.

Okay, so I had told myself that I would not be one of those bloggers who took the lazy way out by reposting content from other sources. I mean, what kind of crappy jerk does that and still feels good about themselves? However, when I heard this read last Friday, on the Dave Ramsey radio show, I knew I was going to break my own rule.

The words ring as true today, if not more so, as when they were first published. They do not speak of Republican or Democrat, nor do they serve as an endorsement for John McCain or Barak Obama. If anything, they serve as an indictment against both men and their respective parties. Instead, the words of this creed declare the wishes of those who wish for the unhindered pursuit of life, liberty, property and happiness. We who are not willing to trade individual liberty in exchange for security or a life without hardships. We who realize, that a life without the ability to fail, is a life without the chance for success.

An American Creed

I do not choose to be a common man.
It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.
Copied for this blog from DaveRamsey.com.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.

Be sure to head over to the Irritated Tulsan’s site to check out this week’s Food Offering. IT really outdid himself this week with the product shots. That man deserves the delicious treats he reviews.

The looters are growing in number and power. A nation of economically ignorant people are letting their government take more power not apportioned to it, all in the name of a crisis. To add insult to injury, there are those pointing to this as a sign of the supposed failure of capitalism. This has nothing to do with capitalism, rather it is the direct result of government interference through actions like the Community Reinvestment Act. Blaming capitalism for the current crisis would be akin to blaming a baker for making a bad cake, after you forced him to add ingredients he did not want to add in the first place. Strike that, because this situation is worse. Not only are you blaming the baker for the results of your interference, you are now clamoring to find new ways to, “improve” upon your already disastrous recipe.

Have we officially reached that pivot point where we are choosing to forsake the economic system that created more wealth and prosperity than any other system in history, in exchange for socialism? Have we truly become a nation of infants, ever dependent on the government to solve all of life’s problems? Do the vast majority of Americans truly believe, that a Democrat or Republican in Washington can do a better job of managing their lives and money than they can? Should we never have to face the consequences of our own actions, painful as they may be?

I will be the first to admit that I am prone to hyperbole, so only time will tell if I am over reacting. For now, I sit and wonder, where is John Galt? Where are Hank Rearden and Dagny Taggart? The looters are here and they are having their day. It is time for Atlas to shrug.

Click the pic to read about.