Again, from the collection of John Drummond. This time it’s the premier issue of Germany’s Death Zone, dating back to June of 1985. It cost 1,50 dm, however much that was. Interesting to note the address inside the cover, it said Gütersloh West Germany. I never really thought about about skateboarding in a divided Germany. Sure, we all knew about Claus Grabke (…and speaking of) but seeing the word “West” made me sit back and take notice.

If you thought you’d seen enough of Ryan Sheckler before…. Hot off the press release newswire:

MTV Networks Music Group, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) and NBC Sports, a division of NBC Universal, Inc. today announced a wide ranging, strategic partnership to expand the AST (Action Sports Tour), a global, youth-focused, multimedia, action sports business that includes the AST Dew Tour, the AST Winter Dew Tour and the amateur Free Flow Tour into a global brand that spans MTV and NBC’s multiple screens… …As part of the MTV Networks/NBC Universal alliance around the AST, MTV and MTV2 will provide lifestyle programming, targeted cross-promotion, multi-platform content and distribution, consumer products licensing and merchandising to the joint venture.

With Rob and Big going off the air, I wonder who MTV will push into the spotlight to help them with marketing their new venture. Who knows, maybe they make a big push to bring back the Swatch watches. I have an empty spot in my life right now. I thought it was dissatisfaction with the status of my career, but maybe I’m just devoid of targeted cross-promotion, licensing and merchandising right now. I can hardly wait. Get the details here.

The Federal Trade Commission‘s job is “Protecting America’s Consumers.” We need some sort of commission to protect America’s skateboarders.

Todd Taylor has graciously allowed us to reprint his article from issue #41 of Razorcake Magazine, titled How to fight for a skatepark. The article also appeared in Thrasher Magazine, but they’ve got no monopoly on activism, so the more people that read this the better. There are plenty of other places to get (dry) information on how to get a skatepark in your town, but Todd’s guide reads more like a short story peppered with practical advice and a sense of humor. Even if you’re up to your eyeballs in public skateable terrain, it still makes an entertaining read. Check out How to fight for a skatepark.

As always, we recommend Razorcake Magazine for all grown-ups who enjoy Punk Rock and it’s trappings. And yes, this excludes Enemy Combatant, we know how you feel.

This week’s Shot of the Week is a spot in the Boston area that was known as the Black Hole ditch back in 1986 when the photo was taken. If I recall correctly, the reason it had that name had something to do with the temperature of the asphalt ditch in the hot summer sun. Nothing fancy, just one of those nostalgia shots. This is on my Boston trip negatives, but for all my lack of geographic knowledge of the area and memory loss, this might have been in the outlying burbs. Check it out.

Colin called me last night to go hit the newly remodeled D.O.S. in Portland but I declined. It’s allergy and dog bites season, and I was under the weather. I prefer to skate concrete over wood, but the nice thing about wood at an indoor skatepark is that after a year or so you can tear it out and put in something new. Speaking of remodeling, the Department has been using a new logo for a while (OK it might be older than I realize…) that is kind of cool. It reminds me of something you might have seen in the late 60’s. Check it out on this flyer for a now passed skate camp.

– thanks to Colin and Heath for the tip.

I was geeking out over at Gizmodo when I noticed a skateboard in a web advert for the Toyota Matrix. There’s a scene at an imaginary extreme!™ sports complex that you are invited to shake up with your mouse. If you do, everything goes haywire but the car stays glued to the road. After a bit of time everything gets shaken off screen and the ad tells you to stick to the road with available all wheel drive. Then it says “get in touch with your dark side,” which near as I can judge form the advert, must mean if there is an earthquake you should ditch your skateboard and ride BMX bikes on a half pipe.

Matt Kline sent in a couple action shots of that DIY backyard bowl in southern Oregon that was under construction. Looks like someone is enjoying it! I showed these to my wife and she said (incredulously) “It takes up the whole back yard!” to which I could only reply, “Well, not the whole back yard. I’m sure it just looks that way.”

This is a Public Service Announcement, with(out) guitars. If you see this seemingly friendly, albeit sketchy looking dog hanging around by a certain pool, pay attention to him. He gets really agitated when you skate. Don’t stand too close to the coping in the shallow, because he bites. This dog bit me in the back when I wasn’t looking. It broke the skin. I hope his rabies shots are up to date.

Sean West passed away and is being laid to rest on Tuesday. Bob Pribble sent in this old shot of Sean on the cover of his “Very Sketchy” zine. People are leaving comments about Sean here, and here. There’s another site called Musical Family Tree that has discussion here and photos here. Rich over at EPM said if you look at Kendall’s first deck you’ll see “SWEST” amongst the graffiti.

Wouldn’t is suck to be the one family in this neighborhood who didn’t have their own backyard pool? I mean, you’d still have a very nice roof over your head, but still… This is a detail from a Vincent Laforet photo. It’s number 20 at his page on the Young Gallery.