Man what a sensitive group. All I did was poke fun at the fact that these toy miniature skateboards were somewhat absurdly priced. I’m sure it’s expensive to have tiny trucks cast in small quantities, and if that’s your thing than go for it. However, don’t come over here and expect me to publish comments like “suck a bag of…” or “F all you haters!” I was reading an article by one of the lead developers of WordPress titled 6 steps to kill your community. What’s step number one? Don’t Moderate:

Don’t Moderate. Allow anybody to post anything regardless of whether it contributes to the conversation or not. Stupidity, libel, hate, curse words are all okay because in the comments you have plausible deniability. Make sure people know that whatever they post will live forever, and anything goes. The few smart people you did have in your comments will enjoy responding to these folks. Advertisers love being next to a good fight, too.

So yeah, I’m over trying to get people to play nice. A difference of opinion is fine, even welcome, as long as you aren’t just out to insult anyone/everyone. I’m not going to waste time trying to appeal to your adult sensibilities, or massage you into being a mostly productive member of our audience, I’m just going to delete it.

That being said, check out this fingerboarding video that is in fact, pretty cool. I first saw the turntable approach to fingerboarding (Oh gwad, am I actually typing this?) back around the new millennium in a video called Fingers of Fury. The “park” was homemade and cardboard, but the concept was fun. The obstacles come to you and your fingers stay in place, like running on a treadmill. Well, the miniature skatepark world has evolved with the rest of skateboarding. It’s uncool to have a janky homemade fingerboard park, or one that looks like it’s made from stock toys (except in this case) . Nobody wants to get their footy shot at soemthing that looks like a skatepark, let alone a toy skatepark. Thanks to the couple of fingerboarding enthusiasts who actually responded thoughtfully. You guys deserve your own magazine.

The box says “Skate Pocket” but the cookie and the graphics say snowboard. Someone forgot to tell the art director about the wheels. Head on over to Sa ka roulé for larger pics and a bonus shot of some other choco mix drink that isn’t this one.

Hey, don’t let me scare you away. Here’s some heavy ripping at the Department. What was the occasion? Well I thought it was just because I wasn’t there, but it was actually overflow from the Bacon premiere for their new video Unheard.

– Thanks to KC for the vid.

Sorry, forgot to post this yesterday. Thanks to Prickly Pete for the inspiration.

Some artists with computers putting graphics on stuff and selling it, but they have a freebie for you. I’m going to make one of these papercraft skateboarders so he can remind my papercraft Barak Obama That skateparks are always shovel-ready.

This week’s Shot of the Week comes from Colin Walsh. Whether or not he rules depends on what side of the bed he woke up on that morning. This is Brandon Morris at the Buena Vista pool in Watsonville California. Brandon loves Watsonville so much he had it tattooed on his legs. Are those NOS Airwalks or did they bring back the old logo? Man I hated that logo and those shoes when they first came out. (No offense, Brandon.) Hey look kids. it’s Pabst Blue Ribbon! Check out the Shot of the Week.

Here’s a couple of shots of another private indoor spot in Virginia known as the Cardinal Sins. I’m not sure how the name applies to this spot. Maybe some of the sinners will chime in.

– Thanks to Chip Atkins for the pics

Late notice as usual. This will be the forum for input about the plans for development around the Burnside skatepark neighborhood. Skaters need to show up or they’ll think we’re not interested. 524 E Burnside, 7th floor of Bside6 doors open at 5pm. Be cool, but be there.

Why? Because the area around the park is being redeveloped, and nothing is set in stone. I mean, there was even talk of adding a BMX track.

Wednesday, January 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. 524 E Burnside, 7th floor

Chinese candy with skateboard packaging. You can’t buy them directly, you have to contact a guy and arrange to import them. Oh cruel importers. How you tease me. If anyone sees these in the wild, pick one up for me would ya? I have a dietary deficiency in lead and melamine. These ducks look like Elmer Fudd.

You can get skateboard checks, check covers, calling cards and address labels from an outfit called Styles Check Company:

No obstacle is too great. No trick is too extreme. You’ll rattle the competition with these edgy, action-packed designs. These single or duplicate checks show 4 different skate decks that are sure to showcase your own style.

Rattle the competition? The check writing competition? Is there some sort of game of SKATE that involves mailing everyone a check? Here’s my card, meet me at this address for the contest. See these custom checks with Cartoon Network looing skaters on them? That’s right, I don’t fool around. I’m in your face, edgy, and action-packed.

Working title for this post: Skaters can check their balance.