“Can I pour you a beer Norm?”
“A little early isn’t it, Woody?”
“For a beer?”
“No, for stupid questions.”

Olde Team mate Ryan Ota gave me a copy of the Annual Skateboard Mag Photo Issue and I must say it is spectacular. Photo Issues are always cool, but I think this time around I care more about the quality of the photography. Since the digital age everyone has become a photographer. It’s too easy. It’s not that photos suck now; it’s just that there is an excess. Like when myspace blew up all of a sudden you knew about more bands, and it was a great way to find new shit, but in the process you had to do a lot of weeding out and I’m jaded. Whatever though, it’s a good thing for the most part, but when you see good quality work your pretty stoked. For me it’s not really about cameras or composition, it’s about the moment. The image and if it speaks to me. My boy Corey is probably one of the jankiest photographers ever, but his photos have such charm. When your scrolling through his iphoto gallery and there are 50 photos of people’s back’s while they are bowling his personality really shines through. Anyway, I was enjoying the weekend on Lanikai Beach flipping through the mag and a certain article caught my attention. I care about it enough to type it out. It’ll shed some light on why I don’t keep tabs on the newest shit. I’m paying attention I just haven’t made up my mind yet. Great peice.

The Skateboard Mag
Text by Rob Brink

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been asked “So what did you think of the Flip video?” since it premiered. And, to be honest, most of those people are only inquiring so they can reply with their opinion anyway - the quintessential segue into “Well I thought it was…”

Reviews, critics, opinions… does skateboarding really need ‘em? Is it bettering skateboarding? Is some writers sophmore year-esqe term paper about Extremely Sorry change whether or not you’ll rush out and watch it? Probably not, and rightfully so. Guess what? That very writer busted his ass to get a ticket the premiere or an advance copy to rant about it before anyone else, anyway.

Should we be thinking less analytically, yet more creatively about skateboarding? A true review of a video, album, movie, performance, or whatever can’t really be done until way down the line. It takes months - even years - to absorb a work and be able to look at it objectively and constructively. Few people liked or cared about Beethoven and Mozart while they were alive and in their prime. To most, they were drunk, sex-crazed, womanizing maniacs who happened to have a knack for composition. In death, with the passage of time, people were able to see the misunderstood, unappreciated genius in all they were doing. To this day we can’t escape their influences in out daily lives. And Michael Jackson is far more beloved now than he was nine months ago.

You want to see Extremely Sorry as much as the next guy. So do it. We’ve all waited years for this thing. Was it good? How could it not be with dudes like Geoff, Lance, Apples, Bob, Luan, Boulala, David, Rune, Penny, Willow, TX, and Shane Cross? Critics want as much attention as the people they are criticizing. How many times have you read a music review comparing something to the Beatles’ White Album? Or saying, “Can so-and-so save rock ‘n’ roll?” or “Can so-and-so save hip-hop?” That’s because a critic just wants to be known for making a prophesy, for proclaiming something that no one else could’ve proclaimed, to be responsible for swaying opinions and sales, to have their quote regurgitated elsewhere by Monday morning quarterbacks. Oh, and let’s not even get into the underlying agendas and associations said critic might have.

A true critic would tell you to form your own opinion… then tell you his or hers, after the fact, in a friendly and fun conversation. Fuck lists or tricks and who should or shouldn’t have had last part. Seriously.

Here you go: Flip’s Extremely Sorry is the best video ever and the worst video ever and everything in between, because that’s the spectrum of opinions the world of skateboarding will have about it. Where you fall in all of that is up to you. Personally, I’m looking forward to getting my own copy to watch again over a beer and pizza with some friends… before we go skateboarding.

Ask J.J. Abrams if he gives a gives a f*ck? I bet he’ll slap you in your sweet sassy mouth with a wad of hundred dollars bills and then pay some minorities to give you a righteous beat down. You ever see that episode of The Simpsons where Homer tries to start a home business and Bill Gates comes over with his muscle bound pencil pushing henchmen and “buys him out” by smashing up all his belongings. “You didn’t think I got rich writing a bunch of checks did ya?” Finally got around to watching Star Trek and I must say it was entertaining. I was never a Star Trek fan or a Lost fan, but apparently neither of the aforementioned have anything to do with this film. Harold from Harold and Kumar plays Sulu even though he is obviously Korean. Did you know John Choe was 37? Dayam! Asians look young. He was one of the judges at the Air Guitar Competion my buddy won in 2007. Star Trek was ok. Eric Bana as the Romulan Master was craze. Dude looked nu metal. Staight Down with the Sickness Action. Get that fool some Monster Energy Drink Joints. I didn’t like it as much as Indiana Jones or Transformers. I never saw GI Joe or the Ninja Turtle Remake, but I bet I like those better than this one. Well, maybe not GI Joe that looks whacks. Yeah J.J. get that paper.

Woody Allen and L.D. baby. Curb the Movie. Nah. Wood can write it, but L.D.’s acting is kinda of triflin’. Dude needs to be natural. That is where the genius comes through. It’s a fun movie. 60/40. i agree. Whatever works. Black Replublicans.

Still one of the funnest videos ever. You wish you were there.