God skate the queen

I've seen that woman's face before...


...and I've never even been to England.


Maybe you can't afford to burn a million pounds like the K Foundation did for an art piece, but now you can grind them on curbs. The new KLF trucks from Destructo have a UK currency design on them.



Man, I just set up a new ride, and here I am itching to build another one around these babies... In the meantime, I'll wear the matching shirt. Most people don't buy trucks on impulse--although those MHI camo pieces are tempting, too--but who can't use more fresh gear?

Eagle vs. Shark vs. Phoenix

A few issues back, I reviewed the Phoenix Foundation's American debut CD. The album is super old in their homeland of New Zealand, but it's new to us here in North America and it's great. If you're a fan of Pavement or Grandaddy, their songs are right up your alley. Recently, they contributed songs and scores to the indie flick, Eagle vs. Shark, which is making the rounds at film fests, and will hit the screens this summer. We feature the director Taika Waititi in GR48, which is at the printer now. People seem to compare his flick to Napoleon Dynamite, but I think it's more like Gregory's Girl. (Does anyone remember that Scottish youth movie with Altered Images' Clare Grogan?) It's understated, dark, and smart with a protagonist that you'll really need to warm up to.

But I digress... The Phoenix Foundation is playing a string of U.S. dates starting this week, and you can register for free screenings of the movie in your town here.


Eagles, sharks, and Altered Images all have bite.

Masks

Saturday's funeral went as well as one could hope. My friend's eulogy for his dad went smoothly, and I was surrounded by tons of family--some of whom I haven't seen in years. Kind of fitting for Memorial Day weekend, I suppose. After the banquet, a few of us walked through Chinatown to a coffee place where we looked at my brother's pics of his latest surfing vacation and I played with my 3 1/2-year-old niece. (We've become best buds.) The melancholy turned into appreciating the pleasures and details of life, as it should.

---

That evening, Wendy and I pulled into the driveway and saw the raccoon again. It darted across our headlights and into a once-screened off entry into the crawlspace. Crap--our nemesis had returned! He was at least one yard long.

I grabbed a flashlight, shined it under the house, and saw the reflections of two red eyes staring back at us before it ducked away. I jiggled the Surefire torch to create some havoc, and saw the striped tail vanish as it exited from the other side of the house.

After piling bricks and panels on every possible entryway, we retired. Wendy's last words were, "Be ready for some noise tonight." Sure enough, we heard the sounds of a desperate animal about an hour later. Yes, it has opposable thumbs but we had bricks and brains. In the morning, our barriers were intact. I wonder where it will go next? I wonder if we trapped any offspring in there?

---

Yesterday was Wendy's cousin Michael's birthday. We attended the afternoon Dodgers game, and saw the Blue Crew win a low-scoring game against the Cubs. There was a row of Chicago fans behind us and the Reserved Level wall behind them. They were lucky to be sitting where they were, because they would have been beat down by cholos if they were sitting by less tolerant fans. Dodgers won in the 11th inning without a hit. The bases were loaded via walks, and the winning run scored when a crummy pitch hit Juan Pierre. We thought it was a strike and a passed ball, but whatever.

After that, we ate at a Malaysian place in Alhambra and went to karaoke in Little Tokyo. I haven't done the latter in a long time, and was stoked that the place has been restocked with new songs, which I dipped into and trashed. Among the tracks I mangled:

The Clash - Train in Vain
Adam and the Ants - Stand & Deliver
The Plimsouls - Million Miles Away
Billy Bragg - A New England
XTC - Senses Working Overtime
Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays

It's funny how it was someone else's 30th birthday but I was the one who revealed my age by choosing oldies. Old enough to outsmart a big rodent? We'll see.

Skibber Bee Hello!

Do I sound spiteful, sarcastic, depressing, and bitter? Maybe the Lavender Diamond video will help balance things out.

Centurians of Rome

Considering how much I hate the Ducks, it's hard to believe I was a ticket-holder for the Anaheim hockey team's inaugural season. I saw them get shellacked by the Red Wings in their first game. I saw Wild Wing get stranded in the rafters and also catch fire. I saw the Decoys (cheerleaders on ice) run into each other and fall quite often. Mostly, I just saw really bad hockey and an audience populated with families that were new to the sport. When netminder Guy Hebert would whack his stick on the ground to indicate that the power play was almost over, everyone started clapping along. Stupefying.


But it was fun. I had Hockey Fever at the time, and I went to any game I could--possibly because the Kings had just gone to the Stanely Cup Finals the year before. Being invited by my pal Joy when her roommate flaked wasn't enough, so I bought mini-plans for the Kings and the Ducks that season.

By the summer, I was burnt on the family-oriented aspects of the Pond and the Ducks. How could I take a team based on a Disney flick seriously? Especially one with no skills. But as the Ducks became better over the years, the teams became real rivals. For the last few years, the Ducks have been a powerhouse. The Kings, a doormat. It kills me.

So I root for the Senators out of spite--as if the Ducks were a girlfriend I rejected that went on to better things--but also because their president and CEO is ex-Kings manager Roy Mlakar. (Non-factor and ex-Kings defenseman Joe Covro skates for the team, too.)

I don't know if it will help, but I suggest the Ottawa players take "Centurians of Rome" (off The Meatmen's Rock & Roll Juggernaut album) as a theme for the series. You know, like how the White Sox adopted "Don't Stop Believing" or the Pirates took on "We Are Family," but better.


On a sort of related note: Mando Diao's song, Welcome Home, Luc Robitaille. I just read that he became the Kings' manager of daily operations. Maybe the Hall-of-Fame left winger brings some luck back to the injury-plagued franchise.

Hug-a-Wookie Day

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie's release, recognize a three-day celebration at the convention center, and promote new, improved, more expensive, themed postage, it's officially Star Wars Day in Los Angeles!

In honor of the Original Trilogy, here's a link to some Force-powered doom metal: Sarlacc! Which side is it on? You decide. (Thanks for the link, FDM.)

Last words

You probably can't tell from the blogs, but I think I can write a decent paragraph. So I was more than glad to help a friend write a eulogy for his dad last night. Doing something like that can't be easy; there are tons of emotions running through your head--not to mention logistics like handling funeral arrangement.

I think it turned out really well. When people hear it tomorrow, they'll get a lot of insight into a 93-year-old guy who came to L.A. from China, waited table until he could afford property, and raised a bunch of kids who are all doing well. It's a good mix of anecdotes and humor that might even draw some tears.

The process was actually as rewarding as the results (which have yet to be seen, I know). My friend told me that he stayed up late the night before, and showed me some notes he came up with. I wound up starting from scratch, asking him questions about how he remembered his father in different situations at different times of life. It was really interesting, especially because they lived in the house behind my grandparents. They're family friends--so close we just call them cousins.

Going through such a process, organizing the thoughts and memories, and presenting them in a way that can be shared is something that usually happens in cases like this. It makes me want to go over all the family albums with mom and dad. It makes me want to organize the boxes of photos I have and print the files that are accumulating.

I have the magazine to detail a lot of my life. But I wonder what's falling through the cracks? What will be lost forever? Who will care?

Toes on the nose

The mag proofs have been checked, and we've moved onto mellower tasks–watching the Pistons-Cavs game and chilling, too. The context escapes me, but Eric just asked "Small" Michelle if she ever had tape cassettes and she said yes. Then I pointed to the sewn logo on my black-and-white-striped knit shirt and asked her if she recognized it. Nope.





It's shocking to me that kids in their twenties are wearing big glasses, Members Only jackets, and asymmetrical haircuts but don't know about Hang Ten. Maybe I'll wear my terry cloth Lightning Bolt shirt tomorrow...

Music plus

Yes, Giant Robot is based on Asian and Asian-American popular culture, but it was founded upon punk-rock energy and aesthetics. That's one reason why we run so many music reviews--most of which have nothing Asian about them. I'm convinced that music is the gateway to almost everything else that we cover the mag. Listening to indie, underground, or even imported music when you're young can lead to watching non-mainstream movies, checking out new artists, and maybe even meeting more unusual friends. It can affect your politics and your attitude. Do you have the PMA? Or are you working for the clampdown?

Black and white and not quite yellow all over.

So, we're more likely to feature non-Asian subjects when it comes to featuring musicians or bands. Rocket From The Crypt were just plain awesome. I've listened to The Vandals since I was in junior high. Sarah Shannon made the cut because we liked her old band, Velocity Girl, and we wanted to give her some press. I just couldn't pass up Pinback. Same for Lee "Scratch" Perry. The Fucking Champs got in when we had an empty two-thirds page in the layout and they happened to be playing Spaceland the night before we went to press. The (International) Noise Conspiracy actually wound up talking about their tour of China. Brujeria? They approached us with machetes.

Juan Brujo and Fantasma are not emo. Not Asian, either.

There are too many bands to list, and there are way more that have been on the bubble. I seriously wondered if Ted Leo had some Chinese blood in him. (Couldn't his last name be an Ellis Island transliteration of Liu or Lew or something?) I could have sworn that Mary Timony looked part Asian in her press photo.

It turns out this is the only photo that makes MT look part Asian.

Issue 48 has interviews with some pretty big musicians from Europe and Asia. If you only read GR for the articles on art and cinema, give them a chance and give them a listen. Music isn't meant to be read about. It's not meant to be heard on the laptop while you work or played on shuffle at the gym, either. Given a chance, it might inspire more than than toe tapping or head nodding.

Iron Maiden!

The animated version of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis premiered at Cannes today. Read a gushy review at Time.

Good Riddance

It would be naive to think we're the only GR, because we happen to share our initials with plenty of others. Some of them, I like a lot. Gene Roddenberry invented flip phones in the '50s, Grand Royal was a hot magazine and record label when we started, and Gary Roberts helped the Flames win the Stanley Cup in 1989 with his physical play. Okay, maybe you only approve of "hard" science-fiction, squandered money on the BS2000 album, or root for the Oilers, but can anyone truly dislike the Golden Ratio?

And then there's Good Riddance. Mixing the newer-school melodies of Bad Religion and old-school breakdowns of Black Flag (or perhaps their hometown heroes, B'last), the Santa Cruz-based band has been cranking out tuneful and powerful politics-inspired punk since 1995. The lyrics touch on economics ("Uniontown"), waste ("Fly First Class"), and macho jerks ("A Credit to His Gender"), and they can be really catchy, too, like "Steps" (which is about affecting change). The group walks the walk as well, donating a portion of album sales to causes like Food Not Bombs and PETA, as well as local efforts. Fuck yeah!

Earlier, this year, Good Riddance announced that it was going to play three more shows and call it a career. Feeling sentimental, I shot over some questions to the singer, Russ Rankin, who's getting ready to slam the door shut in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Cruz this weekend. Like his no-nonsense answers, the live show is all power, and no BS.

Is that a Down By Law tattoo on RR's left calf?

GR: Santa Cruz seems like a place where punk, vegetarianism, and skating is almost the norm. Does that make it easier or harder to be in a band like Good Riddance?
RR: I don't know if it necessarily makes it easier, but it definitely played into cultivating our ideals and some of the things that mean a lot to us.

GR: Do you ever wonder what it would be like if the presidents you vote for won ever election? Sometimes I think that guys like Reagan and the Bushes help punk immensely.
RR: I'm sure they have served to stoke the fires of dissent, but I would gladly stop writing angry punk songs if, for instance, the Green Party was elected and able to activate its platform because i believe it would make the world better.

GR: When I was young, it was a little scary to go to a dive like Fender's and see drunk skinheads at a B'last or GBH shows. On one hand, it's great that you can go to a show and not worry about shit like racism or violence, but do you ever miss the danger or mystery of what punk was like when you were a kid? Maybe it's me having some sort of misguided nostalgia?
RR: I think that any of us who were going to punk shows in the '80s miss that sense of the unknown in a weird kind of way. At the time, it was a nuisance and, in some cases, a real hazard to one's health. But today–as punk has been for the most part relegated to a consumer product to be purchased at the mall–I think we definitely look back at the days when punk was its
own, vast culture that was operating parallel to, but completely separate from, the pop culture industry.

GR: I'm pretty sure you guys have "real jobs' in addition to being in a band. Were there ever aspirations of being big-time rock stars? Do you think it is possible for a straight-edge, vegetarian band to make the jump? Or perhaps is the medium (hardcore) more problematic than the message (the ideas)?
RR: First of all, Good Riddance has never been "straight edge" or 100 percent vegetarian. I am constantly baffled by the prevalence of this assumption. Where did you get that? As for your question, I don't think we ever entertained the idea of "rock stardom." When we were getting the band going, the culture industry was telling us that Blind Melon were a "really important" band, so it was never anything I wanted anything to do with.

GR: I always forget how hard it is to find vegetarian food outside of California. Even in a place like Chicago, it can be hard. During your tours, have you noticed any improvement for non-meat-eaters in mainstream America?
RR: Definitely. Awareness has grown a lot, even in the relatively short time I've been involved in the animal rights movement. And if you can't find vegetarian food in Chicago you must not be looking very hard. Supermarkets regularly stock meat substitutes and soy milk, and many restaurants offer veggie options. There is always the standby of hitting up Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc. which carry lots of vegetarian items and always have.

GR: What do you think about mock meat? I eat it all the time at Buddhist Chinese restaurants, but some vegetarians get grossed out by the concept of soy shrimp or soy chicken-especially when fake fish has seaweed- skin, etc.
RR: I think it's okay. I could definitely get sick of it, but it doesn't gross me out or anything.

GR: You guys announced the breakup a couple months ago. Was that just for finality's sake, so you guys wouldn't go on and on? Or did you intend to have a "farewell tour," like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did during his last season?
RR: It was mostly so we could go out on our own terms rather than limping along to an anonymous end down the road. Some bands that we all like broke up unexpectedly or after a fight on tour and their fans never got a chance to go see them one last time. We wanted to give our fans the chance to do that.

Roll out the red carpet

Since the mag went to press last week, we've been doing a lot of housecleaning. Literally. Lots of cleaning up desk surfaces, packing things that are piled on the floor, and throwing away tons of crap. Our intern Mimi came in today, and now there's even a path of carpet that we can vacuum.

We got word from our printer in Canada that we'll receive a proof of the mag tomorrow morning. Can you sense the antici-pation?

Heaven 17

Whoa, I just stumbled on an Excuse 17 site that includes an entire concert from 1995 that you can download. Didn't they sound great?

Ill logic

Crap, the problem with my laptop has been diagnosed. It's the logic board--a $300 fix. I could see myself re-entering the era of desktop computing...

Trying to get my mail and other stuff off the iBook G4, which is working great as a hard drive!

Happy Victoria Day

In honor of Canada's holiday, we didn't attend a hockey game. Instead, we went to Dodger Stadium to see the slumping Blue Crew lose to the up-and-coming Brew Crew from Milwaukee.

Gagne is gone, but Russell Martin is from the Great White North.

We paid 10 bucks to get in. That's metric!

The team played uninspired ball in front of a small crowd.

It was just like being in Montreal, but without "O Canada" or ceiling panels falling into our poutine.

The blob

At first, I thought the magical Ricoh GR-D was detecting otherworldly activity or perhaps showing someone's blackened soul.



Actually, the screen got cracked. I think that's the "LC" mimicking the shape of the KXLU splatter on the "D"...

I placed some phone calls, and there's a place in Pasadena that says they can fix it for around $140. Or I can send it to the one place in the U.S. that is Ricoh legit, but they won't give an estimate until they see it. Crap.

Stuff

So not only have we been in the middle of the magazine deadlines, but I killed my Ricoh GR (the LCD screen is cracked) and my laptop is dying (freezes and then won't start). Now the mag files are on their way to the printer and I'm trying to get my shit together...

Anyway, this is what I've been up to but haven't been blogging about:


1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day. I'm in budget mode (got to pay for those fixes, among other things). I did this all through college and most of my time working for the man, too.

2. While taking the bus to GR the other morning, a homeless woman walked toward the back where I was sitting. Everyone else got up and moved, but I stayed because I didn't want to treat her like a leper. It's not like I was going to strike a conversation with or anything,though, and she was smelly. I tried not to look at her elephant-like legs peeking through her torn jeans. Does it make a difference to hang there?

3. That animal is still scraping away at the wall on the other side of my pillow.

4. We got tons of proofreading help this issue. Some were regulars, and there were some new folks, too. This is going to be a super-clean issue thanks to them.

5. I have an appointment at the apple store tomorrow morning, but where should I take the camera? Is it better to send it to the authorized shop or should I take it somewhere local? Anyone have a suggestion?

Eyes of the beholder

GR48 is going to press in just a couple days, and we could use some fresh eyes. Anyone want to come in and help proofread today or tomorrow? We're not far from the GR stores on Sawtelle, and are here pretty much all day into evening... We don't pay, but you receive our gratitude and sometimes we have snacks. If you're interested, shoot me an email at martin@giantrobot.com.

Going and coming

On the way to the GR office this morning I noticed that Camden Lock has closed its doors. I'd be lying if I said I walked into the punk and mod boutique on Melrose more than a dozen times, but it used to be the only place to buy Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, and Merc gear in L.A. Nice Creepers and Doc Martens, too. All from England. The woman who worked there was from Japan, and she was really nice. Ironically, the shop was featured in the L.A. Times around a year ago. bummer. I prefer buying clothes in person, but I think you can still buy stuff from them online.


For the last couple nights, I've been hearing a lot of birds outside our bedroom. I mean a lot. It's like there's trees full of them, chirping, tweeting, cawing. It's not a terrible sound--it's kind of like the Tiki Room--but at 2:00 a.m. it can be a real drag. I wonder if they're displaced animals from last week's fire at Griffith Park?

Possibly related is the scraping sounds that have been waking me up in the morning, usually around 5:00 a.m. It's a little creepy, and it's happening right at the foot of the wall where our pillows are. I haven't gone out with a flashlight yet, but I've seen the crumbled sections on exterior plaster base. Haven't seen any feces yet, but I'll take a picture if I see anything. It's probably a burrowing rodent, but part of me wonders if it's something more fortean.

Breakout

While busy laying the foundation for GR48, I've been lagging on blogs, missing all VC Film Fest screenings, and just been in lockdown in general. But there have been reasons to break out:

1. GR friend Joetron is in town from Minnesota, along with his awesome family. I had dinner with them at GR/eats yesterday evening. These are his daughters Julie and Sophie. My picture of his wife was too blown out to post!


2. I finally saw Deth P. Sun's show at GR2. It's sooo good...

3. We got a big lead and survived a small comeback to win last night's GR softball game. I gave up way too many walks in the penultimate inning, but I also struck out a bunch of their hitters.

4. Tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, Eric and I will be on a panel at the Japanese American National Museum in Downtown L.A. It's part of the Asian Pacific American Book Festival. If you're around, drop by and say hi!

Pack rat

Last night, Kiyoshi informed me he was packing stuff up in case his home was evacuated due to the fire at Griffith Park. Later on, Wendy's parents suggested that we do the same. Eric asked, "What are you going to pack?" In he office, he pointed at the GR hard drives. Maybe the backed up files on CD and DVD, too.

That reminded me of one time my parents were out of town, and Greg, Angelyn, and I were at home, watching news coverage of an approaching fire. I think it was in Yorba Linda, just across the 91 freeway. Back then, the area wasn't very developed, and it was full of brush. We hosed down the roof and loaded the car with valuables. It was mostly comic books.

What would I pack now? That complete run of the first volume of Fantastic Four comics starting at issue 18 is still impressive. I have jumbo machinders in boxes, a hockey stick signed by Wayne Gretzky, a crapload of DVDs and records. But all that stuff I could probably live without. I decided that I'd pack photo albums, the laptop, and glasses. Then I watched a movie and fell asleep.

When we woke up, the house was intact and the only evidence of fire was the smell of barbecue, a layer of ash on the cars, and tons of traffic. One more day to think about what's necessary. And when the fire is put out, it's time to continue hoarding.

Never forget

I can't remember the last time I went to Disneyland. Right after working there in college, I've probably gone once or twice when relatives were in town. But for the longest time, nothing. Now that there are some new kids in the family, there is a reason to return.


I used to be a Jungle Cruise guy. Going on it six hours a day, six days a week, I still remember the spiel. It's changed since then--no more "Smiley" or six pack of toucans, a gorilla has been armed with a gun, and pihrannas have been added, for example--but I think I could still talk my way through the ride, I mean attraction, after doing it six hours a day, six days a week for an entire summer, Christmas holiday, and Easter break. I knew 90 percent of the skipper's jokes, and could have filled the spaces when he was quiet, too.


Here's my brother Greg and his daughter Saoirse on the rockets. There used to be white, Euro-looking ones over the Tomorrowland Terrace; now they're pushed out way into the hub and look retro-future like H.G. Wells. Besides Space Mountain (which no longer has Chili Peppers songs but has a house-music/rock soundtrack), that whole area is dead. Bring back Captain EO and America Sings!


Saoirse rides again--this time on the Dumbo ride with Greg. Or is that me? Can you tell? She really liked this ride, but was freaked out when we walked by the Matterhorn and heard the roaring yeti and screaming riders. Maybe even traumatized.

By the way, I think the addition of abominable snowmen to that bobsled ride was probably the last great revision made by the park. The newer rides are just junky, like the Knott's reject Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain with its garage-sale assortment of used animatronics. The inclusion of Johnny Depp to the Pirates of the Carribbean seems gratuitous, too. (I've never seen the Nightmare Before Christmas version of the Haunted Mansion, so maybe that's okay.)


There are other changes in the works. Tom Sawyer's Island is getting the Pirates treatment. The Submarine Ride is being turned into a Little Mermaid attraction. Oh well. At least you don't have to go across the street to Denny's for a bite afterward. There's a La Brea Bakery right where Downtown Disney begins.

Mrs. Wong

When I was growing up in Orange County, almost all of the Chinese restaurants we'd frequent would be in L.A. (Hop Li, Hop Woo, Ocean, Lime House, etc.). When we'd get it near home, it was always at Yen Ching. Located just east of the Orange Circle and across the street from Hart Park, there weren't many places like that in the '80s. It had a miniature golf course, too!


The other night, Wendy and I were behind the Orange Curtain with my parents, sister, her husband, and their baby. Trying to find someplace where we could all eat, my sister remembered Yen Ching. (Of course, and why don't non-Chinese restaurants have round tables so everyone can talk to each other?)

When we walked in and asked for a table, the owner took our name and returned a second later to ask my mom, "Are you Mrs. Wong?"


It turns out that his wife remembered my mom, who taught their daughter's kindergarten class. She is graduating from UCLA this year, and they gave credit to my mom for instilling her with confidence and helping her to succeed. They were super grateful, and the wait staff asked us if they could bring us drinks on the house.


That was just the beginning. We also got appetizers, extra dishes, and dessert. I really love the caramelized apples...

It was so cool on so many levels to see my mom get recognized like that. First, she heard what an effect she's had on her students. They come and go every year, but how often does she get to find out how they turn out? Second, mom must have felt pretty good about being recognized at least 16 years later. That must mean she hasn't aged much! (We got a lot of excellent food, too.)

I'm super proud of my mom. I can only hope to affect people like that--and to age as well as a bonus.

p.s. Thank a teacher whenever you get a chance. I spotted my 12th-grade political-science teacher, Mr. McCoun, who was very influential to me, at a sporting goods store a couple years ago, wussed out, and have regretted it ever since.

Break your piggy bank

Modernist house for sale in the Berkeley Hills. Awesome view and metal siding. No A/C. Art and furniture not included.










I'm serious. The house goes on the block this weekend. Happy hunting!

Big Gay Al's Al Emporium

Was walking down University Avenue in Berkeley the other day and saw a street vendor selling a T-shirt decorated with Albert Reyes art. At first, I got pissed because I thought it was a bootleg, but then I realized that the entire table was covered with his prints, shirts, etc.

Is he franchising now? What's going on here?

Myx company

Myx is to MTV as Jollibee is to McDonald's. They are homegrown operations that rule the Philippines despite the efforts of American competitors. The funny thing is that now both of them are opening in the U.S. There are Jollibee locations in the South Bay, Eagle Rock, and by L.A. City College. Now Myx is coming to town, too, via DirecTV's international package.


There was a opening party in L.A. that I missed--didn't have anything to wear anyway--but we did have a nice chat with some of the company's big-shots over lunch. Sounds like the programming will be Pan-Asian and interesting. It might be a little blingy for my personal tastes, but that's what it will probably take for them to take root. It'll be interesting to see how they grow, and what subcultures sneak in there...

Pose and destroy

I took the bus/rode a skateboard to work today, and there's nothing like having new wheels--except maybe new everything. The pieces on my new ride include a Pat Washington board by Western Edition, Shepard Fairey trucks by Destructo, Jacked bearings, Dooks, and blank wheels (can't have label everything). I can't remember what the hardware is, but the grip tape is from the folks at Blitz. The unit looks like candy and feels good under my feet, but now I look like a poseur since everything is too perfect! Gotta take off some paint on a curb.

I took some pics for posterity:







There's been a lot of debate over store decks. Kids buy shop brands because they're cheaper than something from Rasa Libre, Girl, Almost, Hook-Ups, or what have you. People say that it's hurting the companies and their pros. But what can you do? Non-sponsored skaters can't afford to buy decks every month. But it sucks for the pros and core companies that push the art of skateboarding to take a hit. I'm not sure what the answer is, but it's become a fact of life--just like free skate videos in magazines or on YouTube.

Western Edition is the brand of the FTC shop in San Francisco (just around the corner from the GRSF), but it gets a lot of distro in Japan. It's for a shop and it's a pro model, too, so it's sort of in between. Sorta.

Boy band vs. girl group

We went to the El Rio in the Outer Mission on Saturday night. In our party, there was Dan Wu and Terence Yin, two members of the Hong Kong boy band, Alive. Onstage, it was Sadie Shaw, Sarah Reed, and Casey Ward of the garage rocking Husbands. I thought we'd leave the place in shambles. Instead, it was a love in. Upon finding out Dan was in the house, Sarah regretted not dedicating the song "Daniel" to him.

Blow out

Biped sighting at the bus stop outside the El Rey last night!


Man, I could go for a corn dog right now...

ChopChop

Got a call from Thy (rhymes with tree) at the ChopChop salon on La Brea saying that she's a longtime GR reader who wants to cut our hair! Eric is loyal to his hair cutter on Sawtelle, but my hair has been been getting out of control and it's on the way from home to GR for me, so why not?


The spot is between Melrose and Santa Monica (right around the corner from Bulan) and it's deluxe. The owner gutted the place, opened up the ceiling, and added clean wood fixtures. The atmosphere is nice and bright, plus they serve you drinks and put coins in your meter. There was no vibing.


I was a little confused by the smock concept. Take off just the sweater or the shirt, too? Is it like at the doctor's office or just like a robe? It's the latter for both. While washing my hair, Thy said that she got her first issue of GR in Seattle--the one with Margaret Cho on the cover (issue 17). Yes, she has been to Bruce Lee's grave.


Thy informed me that my hair is pretty fine for an Asian person. That's why it can be long and without becoming too helmet-like. She said the length and shape were decent but that the top could be thinned out. A mullet? No, she explained that wouldn't work for a guy like me who doesn't put time or product into his appearance. She gave me some samplers, though, perhaps as a hint. Then she asked if she could trim my eyebrows.


You can go to ChopChop for art openings (they change the art often) or happy hour (they serve drinks, too), but there's nothing wrong with just going for a cut.Thy is part entertainer (pleasant talker), part therapist (good listener), and all hair stylist. I forgot to take before and after pictures, but Small Michelle gives the haircut a thumbs up. Will I throw down 75 bucks for my next cut? Depends on how fat my wallet is at that moment, but if you've got the dough, Thy's your woman.