The folks at Marginal Way skate park are having a some recent problems with theft and vandals. (Anarchy Burger!) They are trying to publicize their plight in hopes of stopping it or getting a tip. Portland’s Pier Park has been experiencing it’s own share of boneheads lately. The demographics of the offenders might be different, but the problem remains.

This may be old news to you Social Distortion fans. I’m a fan but I don’t feel the urge to see them live anymore. Austin360.com reports:

Last year, Ness’ better judgment went downhill in a hurry resulting in injury and a last-minute phone call to a fill-in guitarist to save the Social Distortion tour from being detoured.

Which made me jump to the hasty and obvious conclusions: Did he have relapse or run in with the law? Turns out he was skateboarding with his son.

“I was helping my son do an eighth-grade school project,” Ness says. “We went downhill skateboarding and I was filming him, and I just ate it going about 25 miles per hour. I broke my wrist in about four places.” Skateboarding under the influence of good intentions is better than wiping out on drugs, which is what Ness was doing early in his career.

I wonder if he has any of the old Skull Skates Social Distortion boards laying around. Earlier in the article the author says that Ness laments having his tattoos. Oh well. Photo by Shigeo Kikuchi. Story by By David Glessner for Austin360.com. Read From punk riot to family man

I know we’ve covered this twice already. But since I have a weird and vague, sideways personal connection to this story I feel like I need to chime in again. Big Black, by the way, was one of the highlights of the 25th anniversary of Touch and Go Records. Rob Dyrdek and Steve Albini? Now there’s a reality show I would watch.

The City of Portland has proposed building a network of 19 skateparks. With Pier Park finished and Glenhaven about to break ground we seem well on our way. What most people don’t realize is that we don’t have any money to build the other 17 parks. Antigravity Press reports:

At Monday’s City Council retreat Commissioner Saltzman proposed just under $1.1 million in funding for Ed Benedict and Gabriel Park skatepark construction. Dan noted, “This would ensure we had a skatepark in each quadrant of town, except NW.”

More after the jump.

This little Washington town (approximately 20 miles North of Portland) just received a partially completed skatepark by Dreamland. Currently there is a beauty L-shaped bowl sitting there, just off the freeway.

I forget where I downloaded this photo, but it has been sitting on my computer at work for over 6 months now. I like the Gonz, and you should too.

Uh………yeah, well MTV like, totally has this new show coming out about that one skater guy and his big bodyguard. Oh, my, Gaaahh, those guys were like sooooo funny in the DC video. I’m sure this will be like a total, like reenactment, or something. Industry insiders like know how to sell really great merchandise and stuff.

Oregon Skatepark Pioneers on aired on OPB last week. That’s Oregon Public Broadcasting. Skateboarding on TV is always a crap shoot. Usually the announcers will try and use the lingo, and more often than not, incorrectly. Thankfully Oregon Field Guide didn’t fall victim to that. More commentary and links to the vid after the jump. Check out the top right picture… Almost looks like a video blue screen..

Grind for Life is an organization founded by skater and cancer survivor Mike Rogers for the purpose of helping cancer patients and their families with the financial aspects of traveling for treatment, as well as education and inspiration. If you’ve been to any of the World Cup events you might have seen Mike skating in the Masters division. This benefit and awards ceremony will be held at the Cocoa Beach skate park (I’ve been there and liked it! ) on November 18th and will feature pro demos from the likes of Benji Galloway and Tim Johnson and others.

So I have a friend in the Army who is “advising” a Colombian infantry division when not acting as our International Correspondent. I don’t want to hazard a guess as to what advising means. You’ve all seen “Sniper” right? Ha ha! Just teasing kids! So here are some kids in Bogota Colombia, enjoying the international language of skateboarding.