September 30, 2008 : 11:33am
Palin. It's Really Not Funny Anymore.

Well, actually, this is pretty funny...



This, however is not...




September 27, 2008 : 6:46pm
Paul Newman, American Racer, 1925-2008.



Yes, he was Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and so many other amazing characters...but Paul Newman was also an amazing race car driver.

His team (he drove with two others) took SECOND at LeMans in 1979 at age 54 in a modified Porsche 935. Yeah, I said second. At age 70 he and three crew member drove a Ford Mustang to victory in their class and to third place overall in the 24-hour endurance race at Daytona Beach. Unreal. At the age of 80, Newman drove a Crawford-Ford in the 2005 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Age 80! He was also well known for doing his own stunt driving throughout his career.

Dean. McQueen. Newman.

Update, 8:51pm:
These facts were sent to me by my Mom:
"He later studied at Yale University's School of Drama, then headed to work in theater and television in New York, where his classmates at the famed Actor's Studio included Brando, James Dean and Karl Malden.

Newman's breakthrough was enabled by tragedy: Dean, scheduled to star as the disfigured boxer in a television adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "The Battler," died in a car crash in 1955. His role was taken by Newman, then a little-known performer.


September 23, 2008 : 4:28pm
Autumn.

This is certainly my favorite time of year weather wise. It's sunny but crisp outside and there is that smell of autumn in the air.

When I lived on the east coast this was the best time of year to go skateboarding. Throw on a sweatshirt and just shed layers as you skate and warm up. September and October in Washington DC are amazing.

It also meant that winter was on the way and the countdown to the resorts opening at Thanksgiving would begin. I would always make the trek to the magazine store to grab the new snowboard mags then try on all my gear, wax my board and adjust my bindings.

Not so much now, as I think snowboarding has taken a serious nosedive...but man, from 1988 - 1998 winter was it. One of the first pros that really got me stoked on the shred sleds was Damian Sanders. Check out this killer VBS.tv clip and remember these clips are over 20 years old. And yes, I had long hair, a headband, the neon jacket and Oakley Eyewear System sunglasses. Proud. Damn proud.




September 20, 2008 : 4:38pm
36 hours, 535 miles, 5 bikes, 1 Porsche, dozens of repair stops, 3 Balls Run : Fall 2008.

Last Saturday six of us hit the road with five bikes, one car and a solid 550 mile route through eastern Oregon. Here's the run down:

Myself: Honda GB500TT
Tom: Honda 400 Four Super Sport (Yellow)
Mike: Honda 400 Four Super Sport (Blue)
Wade: (Tom's) Yamaha SR500
Rich: Triumph Thruxton 900
Matt and Julie: Porsche 911SC (aka battery charger and tool runner)

It was quite the adventure, or 'man'cation, as Wade mentioned. Mike's 400 was out at 150 miles with a blown head gasket. Wade's (or more specifically, Tom's) SR required constant attention (in order: ran out of gas (nice work Wade), massive oil leak, loose chain, destroyed chain guard, exhaust system coming apart from the headers) and Tom's 400 lost its alternator which meant frequent charges from the Porsche and random town locals. Luckily, Rich and I ran with no problems...and Matt became the Bandit to the bike's Smokey on more occasions than I care to count.

The roads were amazing and it felt good to get out and ride. My top speed was 105 and I'd say 35% of the ride there were no other vechicles around for miles.

I can't wait for the next one.



September 16, 2008 : 4:50pm
Found Today.





September 15, 2008 : 3:33pm
McCain Is Going To Take It.

After last week's events and listening to the various 'Race And Politics' stories on NPR, I'm going to call that McCain will be elected this November. Plus, traveling through the 'heartland' of Oregon this weekend didn't help.

Americans are too stuck in their own past to elect Obama. People don't really want CHANGE, they want change. Baby steps. Palin has proven to be the perfect anti-Hillary to get that job done. Issues barely matter. The war, abortion, taxes...mean little. People vote with their (fat, ignorant) gut and will elect who they are comfortable with. The country voted in Bush...twice. The coasts can't carry the country.

I'd love to be surprised...but doubtful I will be.


September 12, 2008 : 1:16pm
Drunk History.

Both episodes are perfect in their own way, but I'm calling out Episode 2: Ben Franklin. JB is fall down funny.



"Holy shit, William, there is a fucking lighting storm happening right now...outside. Come with me..."


September 9, 2008 : 3:38pm
No Respect. Or Intelligence.

This past Friday pro skateboarder Van Wastell passed away while on tour in Berlin. It's a tragic event and although details are sketchy it's clear drugs and alcohol were involved.

Enter 'The Phelper'.

Is it me or is it in terrible taste that the 'Ask The Phelper' video that was posted earlier that same day is still posted over at the Thrasher site? In the piece Thrasher Editor Jake Phelps recalls a 'drug highlight' where he scored some 'the best cocaine he's ever done' then 'chops up Scarface lines on boards' and gets 'cooked out of his skull'. Fuck yeah bro! Get hammered and fuck shit up! Skate or die!

Sometimes people die.


September 4, 2008 : 8:54pm
Un'f-ing'believable.




September 2, 2008 : 4:13pm
Jerry Reed Dies At 71.



The 'Snowman' is shifting gears in that big-rig in the sky. And I mean that with all sincerity. The photo above is Hal Needham (director and car movie king), Burt and Jerry Reed on the set of the first film.

'East Bound And Down' gets me amped every time. Here's a link to a video slideshow I created for the 2005 California Melee featuring the classic song.

Cledus Snow: Hey Bandit. Me an' Fred got a question.
Bandit: What you an' Fred want?
Cledus Snow: How come we's doin' this?
Bandit: Why d'you ask?
Cledus Snow: Well they said it ain't never been done before.
Bandit: W'hell thats the reason, son.
Cledus Snow: [shrugs] That's good with Fred.
Bandit: [laughing] Ten-four


September 1, 2008 : 10:06am
Well, At Least She Has Breasts...

Anti-abortion (even in the case of rape or incest). Supported Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. Lifetime NRA member. Thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. Doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change. Wants to drill for oil in her home state. Sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species - as it might get in the way of her drilling.

But nothing says class like Sarah Palin's giant slaughtered bear throw-rug complete with head. Plus, it really works well with the huge dead crab conversation piece on the coffee table.





August Archive

Full archives
Back to NECKDEEP