Archive for the ‘What's Matthew Up To?’ Category

Behold, the Squaris Wheel...

Would you look at this thing? I am in love with this design. It’s fun, dangerous, and an obvious zoning violation. Further, setting this baby up over a weekend would without question make a homeowners association board wring their fretful little bureaucratic hands with worry.

And that makes me smile.

But beyond this, it reminds me of a time now long gone. Before the dawning of the Age of Oprah. Back when wax was something guys put on their car, not in their hair. Alas, now all I’m waxing is nostalgic.

So even if it’s only online, I hope you enjoy the Squaris Wheel. And hey, if you’re feeling froggy, you can find the complete Squaris Wheel plans here.

- Matthew Porter

PS:  Click the pic twice to see the glorious fill version.

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Award-winning documentary filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus

Yesterday was Earth Day. And I think it goes without saying, Earth is definitely my favorite planet. It’s as true for the cosmos as it is in real estate: location, location, location. Seriously, if I were God, Earth would definitely be on my mantle (wait, maybe we are…). Friends would come over, and I’d play all casual: ‘Oh that? I call it ‘Earth’. Thanks, I like it, too. Those little moving things? I call them ‘people.’ They do bear my likeness, thank you for noticing. Oh, but here’s the crazy part: Guess how long it took me to make. Just guess.’

Another big fan of the Earth is accomplished documentary filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus. His passion for nature has led him to create a long list of award-winning nature films. I had the pleasure to meet Elam many, many years ago and am now attached to script his next documentary, this one concerning an incredibly rare and threatened natural phenomenon. I’m including an article on Elam and said project below in this post. If you like stories about people following their dreams, this is a good read.

Oh, and if you happen to be in Central Florida this Sunday, you can actually meet Elam (and acclaimed nature photographer Clyde Butcher) in person at the Orlando Museum of Art. Details below, just above the article.

Have a great weekend, everybody. See you here next week for Great Quote Monday!

- Matthew Porter

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[from the Orlando Museum of Art]

Earth Day is day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment. A highlight of the Orlando Museum of Art’s (OMA’s) Changing Landscapes, Changing Visions project, Earth Day will be a chance to explore conservation issues with nature photographer Clyde Butcher and filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus. On April 25, at 1:30pm, they will discuss several topics including their working relationship, the evolution of their work, techniques of photography and filmmaking, as well as environmental issues and conservation awareness.

Photographer Clyde Butcher (left) and filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus

Clyde Butcher: Big Cypress Swamp and the Western Everglades is the third of four exhibitions focusing on the environment, that are part of the Changing Landscapes, Changing Visions series at the OMA. Currently on view, the amazing black and white photographs by Clyde Butcher of untouched lands and waters are presented in conjunction with a documentary film by Elam Stoltzfus.The film, Big Cypress Swamp – The Western Everglades, explores the mysterious and secretive environment of the Big Cypress Swamp.

The discussion is followed by a question and answer session.

Date: April 25, 2010
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Orlando Museum Of Art
The presentation is free.

Please call 407 896 4231 or visit www.omart.org for more information.

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[okay, here's the article I promised]

Liquid Assets: The Rare And Enchanting Treasures Of Coastal Dune Lakes

So rare, only a few hundred exist in the world — but it’s not an animal.

So delicate, they can only be found in certain specific conditions — but it’s not a plant.

They are coastal dune lakes, a phenomenon occurring when a freshwater lake sits immediately adjacent to an ocean, separated only by a coastal dune.

Nestled just within this ridge of sand (ranging from a few feet to more than seventy feet in height) and slightly above sea level, these unique ecosystems are fed by rain and sometimes creeks. These neighboring bodies of will periodically exchange water, depending on conditions. When dune lakes fill up, they burst through the dune barrier (called “pop out”) sending a river of fresh water rushing to the ocean. Alternately, during a hurricane or heavy winds and/or when the lake is low, ocean water can go rushing into the lake, an event known as “flush in.”

Coastal dune lakes are known to exist in just a handful of places– Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, the Pacific Northwest, and Florida’s Walton County in the Panhandle region– making these little-known marvels a treasure for nature lovers and a must-see for eco-tourists.

It is the coastal dune lake’s potent combination of rarity and beauty that drew documentary filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus to them. Stoltzfus recently directed and produced a short film called Coastal Dune Lakes: Beaches of South Walton. The award-winning documentary explores the unique biodiversity of coastal dune lakes in the Florida Panhandle and details efforts of locals to protect them.

Building on the success of his short film, Stoltzfus now seeks sponsorships for an hour-long documentary called Coastal Dune Lakes of the World. The new film will contrast the condition of coastal dune lakes in Northwestern Florida with those in New Zealand and Australia. The documentary will explore the habitats of increasingly elusive and/or endangered plants and animals and illustrate the importance of preserving the ecosystem around the perimeter of coastal dune lakes. Coastal Dune Lakes of the World will also showcase a comparative study of each region through research, threats, and current management practices.

To learn more about opportunities to contribute to the making of the documentary, visit www.coastaldunelakes.org.

A behind-the-scenes look at pre-production of Coastal Dune Lakes of the World reveals a picture of international cooperation. Stoltzfus plans to establish a partnership with scientists and historians from New Zealand and Australia in gathering research and planning his documentary. Though from different cultures, Stoltzfus and these advisors are united by their appreciation of the beauty of coastal dune lakes.

Stoltzfus’s passion for capturing the beauty of the natural world on film has been previously expressed in numerous award-winning films including Big Cypress Swamp: The Western Everglades, that aired nationally on Public Television stations in September 2009.

The native Pennsylvanian credits his Amish-Mennonite upbringing for instilling in him a love and reverence for nature.

“Being outdoors was just an everyday experience on the farm,” says Stoltzfus. “The creeks and woods and connecting with the soil was a part of life.”

But can that connection to coastal dune lakes be maintained? As Stoltzfus’s documentary details, the tenuous existence of coastal dune lakes is under constant threat worldwide from both natural and manmade forces.

Natural threats to the ridges that define coastal dune lakes include erosion, an ever-present concern, but particularly during Florida’s annual hurricane season. But some have taken steps to fight nature with nature. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is located 45 miles west of Panama City, Florida and encompasses 182 acres, including three major coastal dune lakes and two smaller ones. To protect the sandy buffer between the lakes and the ocean, 500,000 sea oats were planted. This vegetation will help maintain the integrity of the sand and dunes against the wind.

Development also factors into the future of coastal dune lakes. While the value of beachfront property has dropped in some areas, strong demand for development along the coast remains. The poetically-named town of WaterColor, a development located on Western Lake in Walton County, has established a no-construction buffer around their coastal dune lakes, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Additionally, grassroots groups have formed, giving a greater voice to citizen-based organizations interested in the preservation of coastal dune lakes.

At present, coastal dune lakes are considered as ‘globally imperiled’ by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, a non-profit organization administered by Florida State University.

And making the issue even more complex, coastal dune lakes constantly evolve. These emerging, subtle changes have been detected only through years of close and constant observation. Further, each coastal dune lake also has its own characteristics and behaviors. While Western Lake exhibits the normal ‘pop out’ and ‘flush in’ pattern, nearby Eastern Lake has functioned at times like a tidal estuary. However, due to man’s intervention, it is now under distress, becoming closed off and stagnant, filling up with nuisance grasses and algae pads.

All of this only adds to the mystique of coastal dune lakes for Stoltzfus who emphasizes the need for further research.

“The more we learn about coastal dune lakes, the more we discover there’s more to learn,“ he says. “What we hope to do with the documentary is combine education, information, and entertainment about these rare and mysterious bodies of water on a global level. It’s a perspective that really hasn’t been seen before.”

The question remains, will Stoltzfus’s new documentary be a celebration of man living in balance with his environment worldwide or a testament to a lost treasure?

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The Etcetera crew was back in the studio today and the buffoonery was in full effect. Actually, amidst the comedy, we did delve into some deeper discussions. But eventually we circled back around for some more 4th grade humor.

Honestly, what other program can give you thoughtful discussions about God and poopy jokes? Not many, friend. Not many.

Click here now to get a fresh dose of your Etcetera meds (either streaming or via free MP3 download) and be sure to leave us your thoughts on today’s show.

- Matthew Porter

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I’ve previously mentioned that I (along with my producing partner) have been developing a reality TV show. Well, after a lot of exciting twists and turns and a three-way bidding war, I’m happy to tell you that the show has now been optioned.

While this is indeed exciting, there’s still a lot of hard-but-fun work ahead of us in shopping the show to network and cable channels. Even by the most optimistic standard, it’s a longshot. But then, that’s my favorite kind.

So, what’s the name of the show? What’s it about? Man, I wish I could tell you all about it, because it is truly amazing. However, in order to give us the best chance for success, I have to keep the specifics on the down-low. Sorry. Not trying to be cute or coy. I can say the show concerns a one-of-a-kind real-life family that is living in the midst of extraordinary circumstances. These circumstances will hit you in the gut and how they’re overcoming them will touch your heart. Aughh… wish I could tell you more, but that’s all I can say right now.

I think it’s a timely concept since we’re at a place in our country when we really need encouraging stories. Not gushy, sweet, melodramatic stuff, but true, honest, life-affirming stories that remind us that we’re not alone in this struggle. For these reasons, I like our chances.

I’m also encouraged in another, more roundabout way: one of the production companies we were talking to (but didn’t sign with) is now actively developing a knockoff of our idea. To them I sincerely say ‘best of luck’. For two reasons. A: I (and the rest of the team) welcome the competition, and B: for all the reasons listed above, we need more TV shows like these, so the more the merrier.

Will keep you posted on progress as events warrant.

- Matthew Porter

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Wouldn't trust these characters to care for a dead fern, but they're fun to listen to.

Etcetera, the internet radio show I’ve co-hosted since 2004, is once again hitting the air. Please join me, the Merry Monk, and the Spastic Mystic for all the fun. We’ll catch up on everyone’s projects, we’ll laugh, and maybe– just maybe– we’ll learn something about a little thing I call ‘life’.

Actually, no, we won’t learn anything at all. But you know what?

It WILL be fun.

Here’s the skinny…

Etcetera

Thursday, April 8th — 10 AM (EST)

Listen live here.

And to catch up on past episodes, hit the Etcetera show archive here.

- Matthew Porter

PS: Cool news update coming your way tomorrow. See you then.

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The Etcetera Crew Circa 2006

Etcetera brought the pain again yesterday with another stellar show. Many thanks to our callers from coast to coast and way up in Canada. Great to hear your voices again.

Click here to download the show and be sure to leave your feedback in Comments!

- Matthew Porter

PS: See you here next week for Great Quote Monday

PPS: My Super Bowl Prediction: Colts 31, Saints 17

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Etcetera's Back!

Waaay back in 2004– before the advent of the word ‘podcasting’– I joined with my good friends Sharon and Erik to create a weekly one-hour online radio show called ‘Etcetera.’ I think we’ve since done a couple hundred of these shows, though for the last couple years, Etcetera has largely been on hiatus.

Happy to report, we’re getting the band back together.

Here’s the skinny…

Etcetera — Thursday, February 4th at 4pm EST.

We’ll stream live and later post it. Best of all, you- yes you!– can participate in the show by giving us a jingle at 1.888.547.8383.

See you on the radio!

- Matthew Porter

PS: Never heard an Etcetera show? Love it, but missed a few episodes? Check out the online archive here.

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