How cute is this? Russian Space Dogs, Belka (in English “Squirrel”) and Strelka (“Little Arrow”) were found on the streets of Moscow. Then sent into space for one day in Sputnik 5 …. They orbited the Earth 18 times. And came back alive. Apparently they barked very little in orbit, which indicates they were calm during there journey. Dog heroes!
As a teenager the only reason I’d go to the library was to skate. Then once I got kicked out. I’d go inside and read Thrasher in the teen section. Through some sort of strange turn of fate, I now work at a library. I haven’t kicked out any skaters yet, and never will. Unless they’re wearing a Berrics shirt.
Anyways this got me a thinking. Libraries have always been really good places to skate. I think for a couple reasons. They’re usually downtown, have some sort of weird skate-able art out front, the architecture is conducive to skating and you are less likely to get kicked out.
For example, in Toronto you have the Lilian Smith Branch. Great ledges, and granite benches, rarely if ever do you get the boot.
New York City’s libraries are great for skating too.
Overall, skateboarding and libraries have some strange similarities. Both skaters and librarians are misunderstood or disliked by the general populace. Lots of people don’t like skaters cause we’re viewed as disrespectful. We wax ledges and make lots of noise, blah, blah, blah. Whereas Librarians suffer from similar stereotypes. For example, we are viewed as nerdy, bookish, meek, socially awkward and moth-eaten.
Most are just normal people – talking about Jersey Shore and their last weekend at the cottage, or whatever. And skaters, my peoples, are some of the friendliest and most respectful of public space and its inhabitants than any other breed of citizen.
An alliance? Toronto Public Library should get their butts in gear and create some good events for its citizens. I’m not talking about “Movie Night”, but putting on some photography shows, telling the long about skating in the city, and building more libraries with better ledges that are not stake-stopped (see Bloor/Gladstone).
One of the best looking and feeling tricks out there.
New York Skateboarding looks awesome. Check out this full bleed promo Vice has made:
After watching it, I re-watched this old Ryan Hickey footage.
I dunno when or what this is gonna be called when it comes out. But for now, I wanna call it butt hole surfers.
Antoine Dodson
Internet sensation of the week. Antoine Dodson.
Everything about this song, the story of how it came to be and how the Gregory Brothers are sharing the proceeds with Dodson is a testament to why current copyright laws stink.
Also, since this blog has degraded to just a tumblr-esque site I’ve decided I need to re-purchase a digital point-and-shoot. So I can share with you – my viewers – all the crazy antics I get into on a daily basis. Like waking up, walking, sitting down, talking to other human people, drinking water, etc.
In other news. This is tight as fuck.