Enjoy this classic old school skateboarding video featuring a hip-hop soundtrack that is definitely fresh for ‘88. Come for the dated clothing, but stay for the funky boards.

Unknown Skater, 1988.
Solitary backside invert on the 12-foot metal ramp in Kokomo, IN.

Go Skateboarding Day is only in its third year, but the enthusiasm and commitment of those involved is steeped in tradition. Skateboarding is in undeniable force for those who participate, and the once cheesy phrase, “Skate for Life” takes on new meaning as I edge into my thirties.

So, in honor of my lifelong love affair with my four-wheeled toy, I skipped work and attended the event held down the street at the Mount Pleasant Recreation Center Skatepark. The turnout was decent - about thirty skaters, of all ages and skill levels, crawled over the street course like a group of padded ants. Fueled by Code Red and bite-sized Oreos, we endured 90+ temperatures and burning hot coping to tear it up with our fellow skaters. Viva la skateboarding!

And now for some random thoughts on the day…

1. Even though there were about thirty skaters present, it seemed like only five or six of us were actually trying tricks. Most of the kids just did kickturns on the quarter and wedge, and stood around on the fun boxes.
2. Nobody skates fast, to the point of it being strange. I must look like one of those old-timey Babe Ruth movies where he’s flying around the bases in jerky double time. This is probably the reason they can’t finish 50-50 grinds on the rails or hit the coping on the ramps - they’re simply going to slow.
3. I like the questions younger skaters ask me, though I’m shocked they never ask my age. I get a lot of, “How high can you ollie?”, “What tricks can you do?”, “Can I see your board?”, and “Are you OK?” That last one makes the list because I’m constantly slamming trying frontside disaster slides or backside ollies.
4. I cut my ankle, and it bled onto my shoe. I found this extremely satisfying.
5. Skating with full pads is still strange, but I’m getting used to it. This is not unlike how my parents’ generation must have felt when wearing seatbelts became law in the 1980s, except without all the blood and hippers.
6. The best kid there, a quiet 12-year-old name Austen Heard (pictured above), asked me if I wanted to play SKATE. I was floored, and took the offer without thinking twice. I lost S-K-A-T-E to S, but it was still cool. I hadn’t even thought of SKATE in probably fifteen years, and it was nice to see someone born in the mid-nineties (when my everyday skating was winding down) interested in a game.
7. I just can’t slam a soda and keep skating like I once could. I tried, but felt like I was going to puke. Good thing I brought a jug of water.
8. Hitting the wedge at full speed, I heard one of the kids say, “That scared me.” Well, maybe if you weren’t just sunning yourself on the deck like a girl, you wouldn’t be afraid of a skateboarder skating on a skateboard in a skatepark. Where has all the aggression gone…15 years ago that would have gotten a “Yeah!”
9. This overtly friendly skater and I had a good time doing old school tricks. He was into doing berts, slides, nose manuals, and actually had a little style…something not often seen in today’s fliptrick wilderness.
10. At one point, a kid about eight-years old asked me what was on my finger. When I told him it was my wedding ring, he said, “Oh, I thought is was a bearing.” WTF?

What a great day…I’m already looking forward to next year.

Can your behavior actually be costing you money?
When it comes to your gas mileage, the answer is yes.

I’ve been reading countless articles about improving your gas mileage by changing a few simple driving habits. Single digit points can be gained by keeping your tire pressure up, using cruise control, and driving the speed limit. The article also dispelled myths about rolled-down windows and AC usage contributing to lower gas mileage…apparently, this isn’t significant.

However, one thing can make a huge impact on your gas mileage - avoiding unnecessary acceleration. It’s so simple. You can still speed (thank god!), but by accelerating slowly from each stop you can improve your gas mileage by 35%. Really? Wow…I had to try this out.

I decided to test the theory by driving like my usual quick-start self for two tanks, and then accelerating like a grandma for the next two. Due to my corporate job and family life, my driving patterns change very little from week to week - not a good enough control for Scientific American, but consistent enough for my purposes.

The data certainly shows an improvement, albeit only a 17.5% increase. I’m sure the results would be difference if tested on a sedan rather than my gas-guzzling Honda Pilot. That may only be $200 annualized, but all these little savings can add up, so I’ll try to keep doing this.

Check out this quote from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:

Several studies say driving without a lead foot results in the most significant gas savings of all. A European study cited by Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency found that rapid acceleration from stoplights and hard braking reduced travel time by just four per cent in city driving – the equivalent of just over a minute every half-hour – but resulted in a 37 per cent jump in fuel consumption and a five-fold increase in toxic emissions. Source

Give this a try and see for yourself. You can put some of that saved money aside for the agonizingly expensive Playstation 3. Happy, non-accelerating motoring.

Unknown Skater, 1988.
Showing off the classic Mike McGill on the metal monster of Kokomo.

When I reviewed my Sony Vaio, I mentioned having to disable the very annoying startup sound that played on the Sony splash screen. Unlike the Windows startup sound, this one has to be disabled in the BIOS.

Yesterday, I got an email from someone asking me how to do this. So in the interest of helping others out, here are some step-by-step instructions should you need to do the same.

To access BIOS and disable the Sony Vaio startup sound, do the following:

1. When you see that first Sony VAIO startup screen, press the “F2″ key on your keyboard.
2. On the BIOS setup screen, use the “Right Arrow” key to select “Advanced”.
3. Use the “Down Arrow” key to select “Speaker Volume”
4. Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
5. Use the arrow keys to select “0″.
6. Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
7. Press the “Right Arrow” key to select “Exit”.
8. Make sure “Exit (Save Changes)” is selected, which it should be by default.
9. Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
10. On the “Save Configuration Now” screen, select “Yes” and press ‘Enter”

Enjoy an annoyance free boot!

Todd Hinchman, 1989.
Yanking backside on the river ramp, with classic ambulance Lucero.

David Luke, 1989.
Kickturning with altitude on the vert wall, possibly during a contest run.

Bruce Barnett, 1989.
Airing a huge frontside off the eight foot vert wall.

I found this image while going through old project folders. I designed it as part of the first Roll Canvas mural over at flashkit.com. The Roll Canvas turned out to be an enriching experience, and a great chance to collaborate with designers of much greater ability. Check it out - I really think the final product is amazing.

David Luke, 1989.
A river ramp session full of rector, protec, and basketball shoe goodness.

Hotel Dunkin’ Donuts

On a dark crowded strip mall, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of Coconut Kreme, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a pink and orange light
My gut grew hungry, and my mouth watered, I had to stop for a bite
There she stood at the counter, I heard the drive-thru bell
And I was thinking to myself, this could be Krispy Kreme or this could be Hell
Then she picked up a powdered, and she showed me the way
There were voices from the back room, I thought I heard them say

Welcome to the Hotel Dunkin’ Donuts
Such a lovely place, such a lovely glaze
Plenty of room at the Hotel Dunkin’ Donuts
Any time of year, you can eat ‘em here

Her fav is the Chocolate Frosted, but she got the Chocolate Glazed
She’s got a lot of yummy yummy cakes, that she calls friends
How they eat in the breakroom, sweet summer sweat
Some eat to remember, some eat to forget
So I called up the baker, please bring me my Lime
He said, “We haven’t had that flavor here since 1989″
And still those crullers are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night, just to hear them say

Welcome to the Hotel Dunkin’ Donuts
Such a lovely place, such a yummy glaze
They’re eating ‘em up at the Hotel Dunkin’ Donuts
What a nice surprise, bring your appetite

Donuts on the ceiling, large coffees on ice
And she said, “We are all just customers here of our own device”
And in the baker’s kitchen, they scrambled for the yeast
They kneed it with their steely fists, but they just can’t smash the yeast
Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
I had to find the way back to the place I parked my car
Relax said the cashier, we are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave