Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
The Giant Robot Bikes Shirt is Back One fine day, I decided to draw bikes. I'd never say I do art, but for the sake of production I can pick up a pen and give it a shot. The white...
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Back in June I wrote about Daeung Sunim, a Korean Buddhist monk who set out to ride his bike across Canada, the US and down across South America. He’s made it across Canada, and met lots of people and had great hosts, and had what looks like they could have been very odd “you must like this cause you’re Asian” moments, but it all seemed to come from a really good place of being open, gracious and friendly to a stranger with a good heart. He blogs when he can, sharing pictures of his trip. His first Canadian friend, Dave Pope, who has devoted himself to helping Sunim make his journey safely, has found some help in translating some of his blog posts. All in all, it’s been a really interesting story to follow, as more and more people came together to help Sunim, and as the people speaking for him became more educated about his sect of Buddhism, his voice, and how much being a part of the journey would mean to other people. I like the “Host’s Blog” section of his website where people who put Sunim up for a day or two, share their experiences. So now Sunim is on US soil. My hope is that the US bike/Buddhist/travelers community can do as good a job as its Northern neighbors in keeping Sunim safe along the way. He’s biking from Perry, Maine to San Diego, CA and will need support along the way. I can’t wait to hear about his impressions of the parts of the US he’ll be pedaling across. He’s avoiding most big cities, so I can imagine it’ll feel a lot like being in Canada – white people, trees, and truck stops. There are lots of ways to get involved in Sunim’s ride, even if you aren’t located near his route, or able to provide financial support. Spread the word, and follow along on his journey and maybe some magic will happen!
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200 counties in 10 years? Okhwan Yoon is protesting or more so, calling attention to the 60 year division of North and South Korea. This man caught the eye of a Little Rock TV Station. He’s not a fame whore at all, perhaps a guy who walks to the beat of his own drum and is making a difference even if it’s just by making people think.
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Sometimes, a small thing like a bike rack can mean a lot. Why is it that on our busy street, there are no bike racks? We’re on the Westside of LA which means people trying to exercise, get out, save gas, stick it to the man (not really), and pedal. Where to park your bike? On a tree? At a meter? Soon, as seen with what looks like a stencil tag is a bike rack that’ll sit in front of Giant Robot and GR2 and even Tofuya (yes, they got lucky since Michelle B. who set these up, pointed the bike rack installer in that direction). This leads back to why? Why didn’t anyone else think of it? Is GR still the most progressive to look at Google? Are people so hung up on taking customers money that they don’t care where their customers are supposed to put their bikes? There’s a lot of questions on the “new” Sawtelle area, and “new” meaning just the last couple of years. Our world is changing here, and we’re now the older businesses on the block at 10 and 8 years. The bike racks… That’s a great thing for customers and we’ll promote some specials for bike riders soon. We’ll also watch the customers for other places park their bikes at the racks in front of our shop. We’ll happily share even if the other businesses won’t.
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