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01/29/0
>> I have a headache.
I thought that maybe when I quit freelancing design with large companies, that I would feel less thinned-out, but the only thing that feels thinner is my bank account. I'm just as busy. How can this be? I may be reaching my end with bendpress.com... I've lost my voice. No good ideas.
I'm not bummed, really. Uninspired, maybe? It may be time to tuck my head down and paint... maybe write.
Why in the hell am I telling you all this? I guess that is part of where my confusion lies — this public forum. This pseudo blog. I hate the word blog. Blogger. Sounds like something you spit out of your mouth.
And it sort of is, I guess.
I've been grinding my teeth, so, lately, my jaw is always sore. Another reminder that something is eating at me. Has the purpose (what was the purpose?) of this column run it's course and fizzled out? Is it only living because I'm too afraid to pull the plug and set it free? Ego? Has ego taken over?
It is time to reevaluate, refocus. So, for the time being, I'm shutting the site down. I'll keep up the archives, in case anyone is interested in the past. But I'm looking ahead.
See you there.
01/28/04
>> Ouch. Things aren't looking too good for Bend on the hits front, check these screen shots... What was that spike last week all about? Which one of you did that?
01/28/04
>> Pro motocrosser, 19-year-old Jason Ciarletta of Riverside, California, lost his life in an unfortunate accident during a 125cc qualifier at the San Diego Supercross last Saturday night. The injury was cause by what is being called a "blunt impact injury to the head." Here's the story from the San Diego Union Tribune.
This is the first time in the 31 year history of Supercross that anyone has died competing. But that doesn't matter. It hits home. I didn't know Jason, but we had something in common. A passion for motocross. I wish his family and friends all the best in their dealing with this tragedy. Note: really live every day.
>> Here are the results of the Suzuki Crossover challenge of last Saturday. The event invites MXers from other sports (hence, crossover) to compete together on identical Suzukis, on the same track the pros run on Supercross night. This year, they even ran on the same day in front of thousands of people. The skater motoheads didn't do too bad. Congrats to Cab and Salman for making it into the challenge to begin with, and making it out... alive and uninjured. But where was Ken Block? And what is a Suzuki employee doing in there?
1. Karim Amour, mountain biking
2. John Haskell, Suzuki
3. Jim Doman, kayaking
4. Aaron Cooke, BMX
5. Joe Lawwill, mountain biking
6. Victor Sheldon, jet skiing
7. Brian Lopes, mountain biking
8. Greg Herbold, mountain biking
9. Adam Booth, BMX
10. Eric Spriet, skiing
11. Garth Tarlow, surfing
12. Jason Ellis, skateboarding
13. Robbie Miranda, BMX
14. Aaron Vincent, snowboarding
15. Jordan Burns, music
16. Jason Bikowski, television personality
17. Steve Caballero, skateboarding
18. Salman Agah, skateboarding
19. John Zuber, snowboarding
20. Malcolm McCassey, video producer
21. Doug Sloan, television personality
22. Dwayne Taylor, BMX
23. Jeremy Toye, road racing
24. Josh Sleigh, surfing
>> Soft Skull Press is in the midst of publishing a skateboarding anthology, "Life and Limb, Skateboarders Write From the Deep End." Mostly stories (myself and Bob K are included), but some art to help hold it all together. Check their site for preliminary details. Release date is this summer.
01/27/04
>> Here are trailers for a couple of documentary off-road films due this year. Amazing footage. Dust To Glory (Baja 1000) and The Last Road Trip (Paris to Dakar). I don't know about you, but it makes me want to do something epic with my life.
>> Hey. I'm done for today, I guess.
01/26/04
>> I haven't forgotten about the gallery of shite for the Bend site... I'm still working out the details in-between motocross races. Raced Starwest yesterday and felt pretty good until about 3.5 laps into the race my forearms turned to cement and my hands had boxing gloves on them. I faded from my top three starting spot each moto to fade all the way to the back. 12th place overall. Apparently, typing, using a mouse and napping doesn't work as training for motocross. Damnit.
>> Saw Hot Chocolate last Friday. This is the skateboard movie that I've been waiting to see for over 10 years... awesome. It should hit the shelves in February. Inspiring stuff — props to Ty and Spike and Rickk, plus all the Chocolate skaters. Such a good vibe with the realism of "the life" included. Gino and MJ — 'nuff said.
>> Thanks to Randy Laybourne (check the dingbats on his website, pretty neat) and Mark Penxa for sending the last couple of Diurnals. Good stuff.
01/23/04
>> Ruby website has been pushed to Valentine's Day. I'm pretty happy with it and will keep you posted.
>> In moto news;
Alpinestars moto game. Got a few minutes?
Chad Reed article in USA Today. It's mainstream press, so don't expect them to get it right.
OTHG races start this Sunday at Starwest — no need to wonder what I'm up to. Not like you were, though. Sorry. The OTHG also has a new, nicer website... if you're over 30 and want to start racing MX, check them out.
>> Apologies to all you folks who've been sending me links to your sites... I've had email problems. Can you re-send? I'm going to start posting every weekday again. I think.
>> Wow. That was a humorless update of Now. Yuck.
>> One last thing... I just watched a stoner checking out my drawings across the way (about 30 feet from my office). He was laughing real loud and said, "Who's are these, dude? That shit is funny!" Yup, he has no idea how funny it is...
01/09/04
>> Wallride #7 is on the press as I write this. A relief. Rob Abeyta's first Fourstar catalog looks awesome, it's also printing. Ruby is also launching a brand new line and a brand new website to go with it. All this is dropping next Friday.
>> Working on some t-shirt designs for Ryan Clark of Team Solitaire. Being the inspiration to MX privateers that he is, he's going to be selling the shirts, and a portion is to go to an end of season privateer fund. Cool dude, good cause.
01/08/04
>> Had dinner with my in-laws and some old friends of theirs last night. They found out I was into BMX back in the day and we talked. Then Tony asked, "Do you remember a BMX kid named Donny Atherton?" What a pleasant surprise. I told him a lot of people who rode BMX back in the day would remember Donny. Do you?
Check out the BMX Museum while your reminiscing. Not the best site, but there are some memory yankers in there.
>> Did I say the Diurnals where going to be back last Monday? I meant today. Thank you, Jason Polan.
01/02/04
>> Back to work and a moldy coffee mug, not to mention a crap-load of things to do. But it's all OK.
Happy New Year Friends of Bend!
We'll see how long this shinny new disposition lasts...
>> The Diurnals will be back tomorrow.
>> DESTINATIONS OF PREVIOUS MOMENTS
>> THE NOW (THEN) ARCHIVES
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