They’ve got the rest of the month to raise $17,000 (in addition to the $58,000 already raised) and then the Baltimore City Department of Rec and Parks will match their funds with a donation of 75,000. They also received a Tony Hawk Foundation grant, One thing that might help, add a Paypal button. DONATE, for the love of John Waters.

Just a note to let everyone know that I will no longer feature imaginary magical skateboards that exist only in the minds and hard drives of aspiring industrial designers. There are just too many. Don’t even send them to me unless they actually exist, or are so amazing that they need to be seen (or ridiculed). – Thanks to Boy for the tip.

Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America opened in San Diego on April 28th at the Museum of Man. The show runs through September 9, 2012. It’s on tour for two years, maybe coming to a town near you. If not, there are open slots available. Hassle a museum or gallery in your neighborhood to bring it home. The Smithsonian Channel will air a program called Skateboard Nation starting on May 5th: Explore the underground movement that’s helping Native American youth throughout the U.S. soar above life’s challenges, one half-pipe at a time. Skateboarding is increasingly popular on Indian reservations, cultivating athletes, artists, entrepreneurs and mentors. From the streets of Albuquerque to New York City, from Washington, D.C. to Pine Ridge, SD, the sport is fueling a new form of self-expression and pride. – Hey Betsy!

Florida VERT Attack series is aimed at passing on the the vertical urge to a new generation, as well as just perpetuating those backyard days. M.E.S.S. anyone? (P.S. Britt! COme on Man, chime in!) No Comply has some photos form Florida Vert Attack #8. Vert Attack #9 was in March. These guys need to get a web site set up. Anyway, here’s a few photos of series organizer Tod Morrow, taken by Nick Nicks. Come on, real name? Wait, it might just be his real name. Top shot is SkatePark of Tampa and the indoor ones are at Vans Olando (R.I.P. as of 1-22-12).

This week’s photo is from Gage Thompson and features an unknown skater at the Wedge skatepark in Scottsdale, AZ. It reminds me a little of one of those where is Waldo poster (or Chin) or 80’s video games with the isometric backgrounds. Zaxxon anyone? The focal point of the skateboarding action is on the stairs, obviously. I looked at this photo several times before I noticed there was a purpose-built skatepark back in the corner. The art looks more fun than the park.

That’s right S&A readers. I’m taking this opportunity to bravely throw off the shackles of oppression and let everyone know that I… Well, how do I put this? I like Ellen Degeneres. OK, her TV show doesn’t appeal to me but as a stand up performer and showbiz personality, I’m a fan of her. Ellen had Tom Schaar (no relation to Max Schaaf) on her TV show shortly after landing his 1080. Ellen’s is a bit out of her element, and it’s not a very interesting segment, but at least Tom got a few minutes of fame. Whoever came up with the idea of a mini-mega ramp for a live TV segment should be demoted. There’s nothing that makes for more exciting TV than watching a kid trudge up a ladder a minute for each second he actually spends on his skateboard. Fortunately, Ellen pulls shouts out a bunch of random skate terminology while this is happening. UPDATE: Tom landed a 1080 X Games Asia in Shanghai, China, beats Burnquist. Video after the jump. [Source: CA Rampworks]

I’ve never heard Zarosh talk, so at first I thought the voiceover was actually him, but it isn’t. This video is the best. All instructional videos should be like this, even though it isn’t very instructional. Still, I gleaned a few things after watching it. Looks like Zarosh is usining the exact same exposure unit (AKA grow light) that Cold War has. Skateboards by Platypus, and voiceover by Birdo. Screen printing is amazing. – Thanks to Joey for the tip.

last Monday we had a rude awakening with Off!. So it is in that tradition that I present this cartoon and apologize for greeting you with part of a Buthole Surfer’s album title. I guess that really wasn’t a way to make it any more palatable. The cartoon was found on an image aggregating site with no credits or source. It looks like it came from an adult magazine. Perhaps it was scanned by someone who lures less skillful players into competing against them at a gambling game. I thought I might have posted it already, since I remember seeing it quite a while back, but I couldn’t find it here on S&A. So the gag is, old people acting like teenagers! Hilarious.

The BMX/Skateboard culture clash seems largely forced these days. Bikes. Get over it. Fairdale Bikes makes a functional and reasonably priced (in the bike world) pannier-style rack for a carrying a skateboard. I’d really like to see a combo of this with a regular over the wheel rack. If you have any doubt that the creator has his heart in the right place, check out the tongue in cheek video of the development process. Note to Fairdale: I fully expect to see Skate and Annoy added to the list of “Featured on” websites. I’ll even send you the logo. [Source: Moco Loco MR] – Thanks again to Boy for tip.