Matt - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I've grown increasingly uncomfortable with Mypsace and it's marketing. Find me on Facebook more often. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=566726678
Me? I'm Matt. 28. I live in Oakland. Spent some time in San Diego. Spent a bunch more time in Seattle. Spent more time in the back of tour vans and buses.
I like play the drums, strum guitars, read books, ride my bike, think about (and organize around) revolutions in social and ecological relationships, wrestle with dogs, discuss anarchist politics while not being down with the anarchist (or activist) ghetto, eat yummy vegan food, play scrabble, drink whiskey and Belgian beers, climb rocks , play soccer, and listen to my bigger-than-listenable music collection.
I work at Rainforest Action Network , working to transform the way our economy interacts with our ecology, while pushing for radical shifts in our energy infrastructure to curb climate change and empower communities. Really, I get banks to stop funding bad things.
I'm resisting "Growing Up" as best I can. You know, trying to cling like hell to your punk rock dumpster-diving roots while thinking more and more about things like savings accounts, health insurance, buying a house, building your resume, and staying home on Friday nights. Ok, maybe you don't know. Young until I die....

My Interests

A friend of mine said it best - I don't like defining myself as merely the sum of my cultural references. But, fuck it - isn't that really what Myspace is all about?

I'd like to meet:

People who make the most of the world around them and enjoy life - but also aren't merely content with the world as it is. Idealists. Activists. Revolutionaries. Teachers. Learners. Thinkers. Radicals. People who do interesting shit without being too cool for school. People who see the beauty in everyday things, without getting those crazy weird eyes that lots of hippies get. People who make adventure till the wee hours. People to play soccer with. And most importantly? People who have cute dogs that I can play with. Seriously. This is important. I can't stress this enough. All right, doesn't even really have to be that cute.

Music:

Obscure DIY hardcore. Punk. Hip-Hop. Indie. Folk. Metal. 80's hip-hop. Down-tempo. Electronic. Anything with passion and a message. And sometimes some pop drivel is OK too.

Catharsis. Billy Bragg. Chumbawamba. Tragedy. New Model Army. Asian Dub Foundation. Remains of the Day. Sage Francis. Embrace. Jawbreaker. Conflict. Casey Neil. Torches To Rome. Yage. Born Against. Trial. At The Gates. Thievery Corporation. Pearl Jam. Econochrist. Sweatshop Union. Modern Life Is War. Fugazi. The Coup. Amy Grant. Raffi.

Movies:

Crash, L.I.E., Good Will Hunting, Blood Diamond, Airplane!, X-files, X-Men, Matrix (just the first one, mind you), Fight Club, Rounders, Brokeback Mountain, Bourne Conspiracy (I've got a thing for Matt Damon) V for Vendetta, Syriana, Munich, 28 Days Later.

Television:

Fuck that - I don't have a goddamn TV. But thank god for Netflix, so I can stay only slightly behind the cultural curve with DVD's of X-files, Family Guy, Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Arrested Development. And jesus. I'm hooked on Lost and Heroes right now. Honestly, I typically hate pop culture...

Books:

Shit, where to start? I used to run a small bookstore (literally) I downsized my book collection recently from literally about 2500 books to about 15. I feel like I cut off my left arm, but I needed some space in my room.

Heroes:

I think a big problem is our cultures need to constantly hold people up in spotlights, make larger-than-life conceptions of them, and then constantly strive to be just like them. There's nothing wrong with being inspired by the work of other people - but we should be able to be secure and confident in ourselves, and not fall into believing that we need to, should be, or can be just like anyone else.
And besides - the whole notion of heroism seems a bit disempowering to me. Pretty much every major societal change, advancement, or revolution in history was the product of MOVEMENTS of many "common" people - but sadly our culture often just remembers a singular name that "led" that movement. And I think that often serves to make most people feel that they are powerless since they aren't one of those prominent people who are the "real" makers of change. Not to discredit individuals - but behind every MLK, Zapata, Goldman, Huey Newton, Dorothy Day, or Ghandi - there are countless nameless faces of everyday people that gave heart and soul to shape this world.

My Blog

Good Morning Bank of America. Im out of jail.

Hello friends. Apologies again for yet another semi-generic email - but something else I wanted to share with you.Yesterday (Oct 23rd), at six am, I and three other activists scaled a giant constructi...
Posted by Matt on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:25:00 PST

Snip Snip for Matt. Why I got my vasectomy.

Hello friends. Some of you I haven't talked to recently - and I apologize for the mass email. But - some news in my life I wanted to share.On Saturday October 6th, I finally acted on a decision I had ...
Posted by Matt on Sun, 07 Oct 2007 02:09:00 PST

An end to End on End. Our last show Sept 8th

So, believe it or not, I still play in a band. We're called End on End. And despite not having played a show (or even practicing!) for over a year-and-a-half, or touring in over 3 years, and living fa...
Posted by Matt on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:06:00 PST

Matt on the blogosphere:

So, I don't write blogs often on here. I've said that before. But do all you fine friends know that I do write pretty regularly on other blogs, include the Rainforest Action Network Understory, as wel...
Posted by Matt on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:35:00 PST

Matt in Belize - take 2

We are currently in the amazing beach-front town on the end of a long peninsula called Placencia. Population, oh, 500. It's supposedly the best beaches in Belize (which I believe whole-heartedly), and...
Posted by Matt on Mon, 28 May 2007 03:09:00 PST

Matt in Belize - Part 1

Since I rarely post in this blog, and most of my posts really are for my own benefit and archival purposes - I bet many of you didn't even know I was going to Belize. Day 5, out of 15 already - and he...
Posted by Matt on Wed, 23 May 2007 07:29:00 PST

I have an addiction...

I'm addicted. To music. I realize I spend far too much time with my music collection. I have over 210 gigabytes of music 4,380 albums. iTunes says it would take 116 days of continuous listening. ...
Posted by Matt on Sun, 06 May 2007 03:20:00 PST

Shut Down Chevron, and Appalachian Justice

So, it's been a busy few weeks for me. I've been on the road a bunch and feeling a bit ragged - so apologies for being out of touch with many of you. I spent a week up in Sonoma County with The Rucku...
Posted by Matt on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 12:46:00 PST

Valentine's Day Pillow Fight Photos!

The Valentine's Day Pillow Fight Flash Mob was amazing. I would say there were at least 1000 people, if not double that. A sea of pillows, and giggles, and feathers flying everywhere.... San Francisco...
Posted by Matt on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 04:13:00 PST

212 points. All 7 tiles. Utilized TWO triple word tiles!

W-R-E-A-T-H-E-N. (verb) To form as a wreath by twisting or twining.That scored me 212 points, by bingo-ing using all 7 tiles, and then building off an existing word I was able to use TWO triple word t...
Posted by Matt on Sun, 11 Feb 2007 10:09:00 PST