light leaks are a good problem.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
It Happens.
People always, always, always say "it's not what you know, but who you know." I don't have definitive proof, but I would say that the skateboarding industry is THE prime example of this modern proverb. Hollywood may have us beat, but I'm guessing not by much.
Anyway, Fred Gall has always been one of my favorite guys to watch ride a skateboard. Having grown up in West Virginia, I felt like he skated the types of spots we had to skate and I was able to "feel" his skating more than most of the guys I saw in the magazines. Of course, we weren't switch tailsliding Hubba Hideout at 15 years of age, but I digress.
Imagine yourself sitting at a charity volleyball tournament, watching your wife's team play the mayor's team when your phone rings to display a number you've never seen. You answer to find that one of your childhood idols is on the other end of the line and wants to go skateboarding with you. That was my experience meeting Fred Gall for the first time. Apparently he'd gotten my number from Paul Zitzer (another childhood favorite who has, in a weird twist of fate, become a good friend, but that's another story for another time) and was looking for someone to show him around Louisville. Paul had made it sound like I was a good photographer, so Fred and company were looking to shoot some photos as well as looking at spots. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance.
As it turns out, this photo didn't peak the interest of anyone at the major magazines. It could have something to do with the fact that a month after we shot this, Fred had like 3 interviews come out, one with a photo from this same spot. Or it could be that the photo just isn't good. Regardless, I will forever love this photo because it reminds me of the day that a guy that made me want to ride my skateboard called me to do just that. And the only reason he did was because he got my phone number from Paul, who I nervously introduced myself to years earlier. It's funny how life works out.
Freddy Gall::Nosepick::Louisville, KY
Monday, March 30, 2009
240, 120, whatever it takes
Sometimes I think I have a problem. It's a good thing that where I work has the solutions.
Did you know that if you put a DT Swiss singlespeed freehub body onto a regular mountain shell after lopping off 15mm off of the drive side of the axle you get a 120mm ss hub and a dishless build? Yeah, my cross bike is going to be pretty sweet here shortly. Not any faster, but definitely sweeter. The only thing more awesomer was that I actually had the required spokes in my drawer 'o' shit.
word.
Weekly Link Round-Up
Guest of Cindy Sherman should be a pretty interesting documentary.Aerial photographer Alex MacClean. Via The Year In Pictures
Architectural photographer Julius Shulman on NPR.
The new words in Scrabble are bullshit.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Zenith's Space Phone:
Growing up, Dad bought the fam a Zenith console TV with a "Space Phone" feature. It was basically a hands-free speakerphone built into the television set. It used the TV speaker and remote control to make and receive calls. Making calls were performed by pressing a button on the remote to activate the Space Phone (which would mute the TV). The phone number was dialed using the remote, which then displayed the digits being dialed on-screen. The caller could then talk with another caller hands-free, much like a regular speakerphone. A group of friends watching TV could torture a telemarketer to the extent of crying/hanging up on us. Making crank calls was a favorite pastime of mine and I owe it all to the Space Phone.
(My Dad also bought an engraver, hence the address and last name).
Appleyard paints his bike...
a simple post... yes.
i love it when people get into art all on their own and just make art for the fun of it, Mark does that, he does it a LOT. its pretty cool...
i love it when people get into art all on their own and just make art for the fun of it, Mark does that, he does it a LOT. its pretty cool...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
NYC '09
Missed last week as I was outa' town and as much as I wish my IPone could become a part of me, it's no blogospere machine. Here are some picks from my spring break.
ZDogg
ZDogg
Unsung rad
New Englander Mike Graham came and went on the S.F. scene within a couple years. But his style and power on board are timeless. Aside from the above part he has footage in Thrasher's Skate and Destroy video with occasional clips in a couple other flicks. Massachusetts based RAW recently released a deck for Mike. Hope that means we'll be seeing more footage from him. Pretty sure you can get the decks from Orchard in Boston.
How many times have you heard ...
... some guy younger than you say they used to nail their sister's rollerskates onto a 2x4? This photo is from the late 40s. I was born in 1955 and got my first skateboard at 9 or 10 years old and it was store bought. Hey dude younger than me, quit making shit up!
Rip City Trailer
Premiering on FuelTV this Friday, March 27.
Time to upgrade your cable subscription (or climb that utility pole over by your neighbor's yard).
Time to upgrade your cable subscription (or climb that utility pole over by your neighbor's yard).
treating myself ...
... to a new commuter bike.my commuter has always been like my pants.
i buy nice pants for work. pants get old, they become work pants.
kinda like my commuter. it is an old mtb. used to be my nice bike. now it's old, so it get commuter duty.
a new bike will be a change of pace, nice and new, and used daily.
This is what happens when I drink
While killing time waiting for the DK'd Willies show on Friday night I ended up drinking a bit more than I originally intended. I haven't drank more than two beers in almost 8 months. Well, after 8 or 9 beers I was feeling really friendly.After the show (which was wicked!) several of us went to De Leon's for a burrito. While mounting up on my bike for the ride home these two young ladies walk by with black lace around their necks and matching sweaters. I asked the lady in the blue sweater if I could get a pic with her. She was more than happy to oblige and asked if I wanted her twin sister who was buying a braut with sourkraut in the pic too.
"Sure!"
While posing a random dude wearing a Grandpa shirt jumped in the mix too. Random photo drunken awesomeness. Maybe I'll submit it to Hot Chicks with Douchebags.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
through the viewfinder
apparently you can skate at the train stations in Australia, as long as you don't do airs with an 80's haircut
Now With Even More "Heat" And Fortified With Added "Up"
NCAA is cool, sure, but don't forget about the NBA because it's heating up.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Can't front on that
Beasties performing "So Whatcha Want" on Arsenio Hall with DJ Hurricane and Cypress Hill.
My favorite album ever, Check Your Head (1992) by Beastie Boys, is being remastered and reissued.
All y'all will able to download the remastered classic, produced by Mario Caldato Jr. and recorded at G-Son Studios (with the parkay floor), via the Beastie Boys' website come next Monday (March 30). A few other versions will be available for pre-order as well, including a 180 gram quadruple-vinyl set, wrapped in a coffee-table book case and limited to 2000 copies. Noice!
The release of this album, some 17 years ago, marks a very significant period of productive groundswell for the Beastie Boys. It was around this time that they established their record label and magazine, Grand Royal, along with their involvment in the X-Large clothing shop. They chose to forgo expensive L.A. studio time in favor of building their own recording space slash office playground. G-Son studio, complete with basketball court and skate ramp, was located in Atwater Village, CA. -->Extended friendly Beastie footnotes of this time period (and beyond) include more than one individual contributor of this, the Good Problem blog.
Recently, Mike and Adam and Adam confirmed that they'll be throwing a show at the Hollywood Bowl early this coming fall. Look for more dates as the weeks progress as they also plan on dropping a new album this year titled "Tadlocks Glasses." If you have never seen them live, you've never really had fun at a concert.
p.s. You can play this song at my funeral.
Weekly Link Round-Up
You could loose an entire day on Herman Miller's Discovering Design site.Dudes are on a bike/skate trip in New Zealand. Such a rad idea. Can't wait to see it on Fuel TV.
Aquascutum's new ad campaign looks awesome. Shot by Tim Walker. Via: The Year in Pictures.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Today was a good day...
In Tampa for a few days, here are 3 photos from the day.
I'm not sure Nebraska would agree to downgrade to a Florida collab but, the idea, still hip.
Shriner's Headquarters
Haaay!!!
I'm not sure Nebraska would agree to downgrade to a Florida collab but, the idea, still hip.
Shriner's Headquarters
Haaay!!!
flat = cervesas
it sounded like a silent fart outa an elephant.
phfffffffffsssssssss
3 beers later and we were off, 3 more blocks to home..
letting one of my babies go... 55cm Salsa La Cruz for sale
I can hardly believe it myself, but I've got to raise some funds for parts for the Big Mama, so I'm going to release my beloved La Cruz frameset to a good home. This is a Salsa 55cm, which is a sloping TT frame, so it fits a rider that would ride a traditional 58cm (level top tube) frame. I'm 6' 1" tall, with a 33-inch inseam and it fits me like a glove.
Please note, I'm selling frame with fork only. No stem, seatpost or any other parts. Please get a hold of me through the blog or on the phone (402.314.2150) if interested.
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
Cheers,
MG
FML.
Having a bad day? It could be worse. Need proof? Spend some time over at F-ck My Life.
Here's an example that actually made me laugh out loud this morning:
"Today, I walked in on my elderly great-great aunt sitting on her recliner in the living room. There was porn on the TV. Thinking that this was an accidental channel change, I asked, "What in the world are you watching!?" She replied in her sweet frail voice, "Two lesbians getting it on!" FML."
Here's an example that actually made me laugh out loud this morning:
"Today, I walked in on my elderly great-great aunt sitting on her recliner in the living room. There was porn on the TV. Thinking that this was an accidental channel change, I asked, "What in the world are you watching!?" She replied in her sweet frail voice, "Two lesbians getting it on!" FML."
the first day of spring...
a good time to think about the landscape,and maybe play a round of golf on the roof.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
getting even one roll at a time
srry about the pee pic
I brought you a bear
A blog from a guy who piddles on TP in public restrooms.
Man I love the internet.
I brought you a bear
A blog from a guy who piddles on TP in public restrooms.
Man I love the internet.
the Butthole Surfers cover Donovan
in my eyes, a better band couldnt cover a better song, this shit is like misic to my ears, because.. it IS music... to my... ears.
fuck it, might as well chuck the OG version in there for good measure...
while im at it...
fuck it, might as well chuck the OG version in there for good measure...
while im at it...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Funny times at a mural
Fish and the gnomes got busy at the Fecal Face Gallery in S.F. a couple weeks ago. I was there shooting photos for an upcoming interview and shot some digi. cam. footage
Check Fecal Face for the opening photos and other arty jazz.
ride
first time from bellevue to lincoln for 2009. feels kinda late in the year for the first one of these. oh well. there will be more riding.
