Category Archive: Media Watch
Hard Ticket to Hawaii
Wow. I can’t believe this one flew under my radar for so long, but it was released a mere year after Thrashin’. I’m not sure what this movie is about, but it’s got two Playboy Playmates and a skateboarding goon (Hey! that’s Russ Howell?1) who meets a spectacular untimely demise. Is it because he’s doing handstands down the middle of a highway, or because he’s spinning 360’s with an inflatable doll? Both valid reasons, to be sure, but not there are other extenuating circumstances. Playmates are well known for their acting chops, so you know this clip is… not going to feature them. – Thanks to Skate D for the tip.
RealPlayer ad execs not real current
What they lack in market share, RealPlayer is willing to make up for in nostalgia by being on top of what was popular on the internet about two years ago. They’re still doing skateboarding dogs.
Huckle’s Opposites
As a kid I always loved Richard Scarry’s books. Something about those chunky little anthropomorphized animals with their stubby arms really appealed to me. It might have been the detailed surroundings of Busytown or the inherent sense of humor in the illustrations. Now I dig reading these to my kids. This panel here is from a board book called “Huckle’s Opposites,” and it features one of my favorite characters, good old Lowly Worm. He’s only got one shoe, yet he still manages to ride a skateboard. He may push mongo, but his skateboard is stylish. Hang on, how does he push at all? Is that a Chuck Taylor? You can investigate the answers yourself by picking up your own copy from the dollar bins at Target.
Digg Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk interviewed on another skateboarding web site? Nope. Try Digg.com’s Digg Dialogues. He’s still famous. Tony is interviewed with questions from the Digg community by the site’s founder. Conahan once suggested that I forego “Gratuitous Tony Hawk” references for Sheckler, but Tony’s in the media more, still. Watch it after the jump.
Neighbors
The “skateboard” key word channel on my DVR picked up a show on Current TV. I was a bit confused because to get to it I had to FF through 10 minutes of a segment titled “Why we shave down there,” with a bunch of women talking about, well, you know. There was indeed some skateboarding, a fun little street sequence featuring skateboarder and artist Mark Warren Jacques. Turns out he lives in Portland is a partner in a gallery that is about 10 blocks away from where I live, yet I’ve never been in there. I guess I’ll have to remedy that. Catch the clip by Joe Lumbroso and info about some upcoming exhibits after the jump.
Thinking about rollerblading?
Someone on Madison Avenue is earning their paycheck. What are the odds of a skateboard blog picking up and posting something only marginally sideways related? I was skeptical when I got the email, but this Dos Equis commercial featuring “the most interesting man in the world; On rollerblading” actually made me snort. I need to learn how and when to use semicolons. Just say “Dos Equis.” – Thanks to Ash for the tip.
Imagining a world without spray paint
The Vancouver Sun reports that a civil suit against a guy who spray painted at a skatepark has resulted in an award of $6400 to the city.
Steve Jobs beats Hawk, Honda doesn’t care
Steve Jobs is the most respected and admired entrepreneur amongst the teenagers in U.S. according to a survey conducted by Junior Achievement. He beat out other celebrity entrepreneurs, most notably (in our case), Tony Hawk. Don’t feel bad for Tony. The folks at Honda motors admired him enough to use him in a film talking about competition and drive, designed to promote their new FCX Clarity fuel cell powered electric vehicle. You can watch the seven minute Race against Time after the jump. Plus, it’s not as if Tony hasn’t already appeared in several advertisements for Apple. [Source: CNet]
The Carvells L.A. Run
The Carvelles had a bunch of skateboard songs on their 1977 LP Skateboard Rampage. In fact, out of ten songs, only two are missing the word “skateboard” from the title. Two of those are on the very good This Is Skateboard Music collection. This song, L.A. Run isn’t on that collection. All Music doesn’t have an entry for the Carvells, but they appear to be a vehicle for a guy named Alan Carvell, who had a UK hit in the 60’s and sang backups and harmonies for many well known acts in the 70’s and 80s. This video is a 1977 appearance from Top of the Pops. Check out the stage for assorted skateboard props, a ringer in the audience, and gratuitous stock footage from the U.K.. Who are those guys? The Benji Board team has been suggested, since they are skating U.K. spots. Check it out after the jump. – Thanks to Eric Shea for the tip.
Burnside rally race
I think I was working on Grover’s miniramp when someone in the crew go the call that there was an upside down car in Burnside. I briefly contemplated going down to check it out, but even with supposed firsthand knowledge, it still seemed highly unlikely. Well, someone on the the Jalopnik blog checked it out. Jalopnik is the automotive branch of the Gawker Media blogging empire. You might have noticed a few links to their gadget site Gizmodo on select S&A posts. What happens when a car sits upside down for a period of time? Oil and other fluids start to leak out. Fun! Someone, somewhere, will blame this on BMXers. This is not the first car I’ve seen (secondhand) in Burnside. There’s video footage of some 90’s era hijinks on the punk wall. Holy cow! This site has been up for more than an hour,without being hacked and I’m actually making an update for the first time in a week. I’m testing the waters here, and I may have just jinxed it. – Thanks to Dave Arpin for the tip.











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