If you don't care about politics, skip this post.

I got this e-mail from a person named Kevin and thought I would use it to clarify my thoughts.

Hello, my name is Kevin, I live just outside Washington D.C. Let me start off by saying that Toy Machine has been a big influence on me as a skateboarder. From the riders to the art and even just the feeling of the brand ever since I started skateboarding 15 years ago. Even during Toy's transitional years when the team was virtually 2 people it was a company I never stopped enjoying. To this day a married 25 year old skateboarder/filmer I 'm still stoked on all of the same things the riders the ads even the blog I check almost daily. I'm super bummed to see this blatant endorsement of the fascist, socialist and globalist presidential candidate Barrack Obama. Now before you start pegging me as a John Mccain supporter I need to let you know that is not true. I cannot stand that warmongering scumbag. The real truth is that both of these candidates aside from their social differences they are basically the same candidate if you actually do the research. Barrack may have great speaking skills and could possibly be a good movie narrator in the future in my opinion, but he as well as John McCain are spokesman for globalism and at the end of the day the same people that have been causing all the problems this country has been facing. Which brings me back to my original complaint. Professional skateboarders(you) are our(skateboarders) celebrities. There are younger skateboarders without real concern or ones who are weak minded really take what they hear to heart, especially from the people they look up to the most. Now I understand someone may be picking the lesser of the two evils but that simply will not work anymore it hasn't been working, people doing their own research and finding out for themselves that a third party candidate or that the Ron Paul's or Dennis Kucinich's are the real only ingredient for change in the country, and the only ones who really know and embrace the meaning of the word and don't just throw it around as a redirect. Toy Machine has always been to me about self expression, not a company to train kids to buy into the two party system or the democratic party in this case. I'm not bashing you or anyone I'm simply bringing it to your attention. I'm not sure who does the blogs I thought it was Barnett but I really don't know. I always looked up to you over the years and then today with the third endorsement on the blog I saw I just kind of got fed up, and though what's next an ad? I'm sorry to fill your inbox with this whining and complaining but it has meaning behind it. Thanks for listening Ed

Kevin,
I can agree that both Barack Obama and John McCain are both politicians, and both candidates' parties are at fault for most of what is happening right now in the country.
However, McCain has been doing it for over 25 years, so I would say fairly, that McCain has more fault on his hands than Barack Obama.
I can also agree that my viewpoints align much more with someone like Dennis Kucinich's, but he is not on the ticket. So voting for him will be a vote thrown away.

I take my position as a spokesperson or 'skate-celebrity' seriously.

I deal only in facts. I use Pro-Con.org, ProCon.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public charity whose mission is promoting education, critical thinking, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan format.

The reasons I am for Barack Obama:

He is pro choice. McCain is not.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org
The next president will most likely appoint a new Supreme Court Judge. Since Mcain is against legal abortions, he will appoint a judge that will make the overwhelmingly anti legal abortion. That court could in theory overturn Roe v. Wade, a choice that in my opinion would be terrible.

He is against the war in Iraq. McCain is not.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org
Are you for it? Nobody in Iraq ever did anything to us! If you want Bin Laden, he is not in Iraq, and never was. The war costs us 10 billion a month. We could use that money back home.

He is for Stem Cell research. McCain is not.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org
I think that doing research in this field is very important. It could help find cures to diseases that would over time improve the human condition, and also create jobs and make the USA at the cutting edge of science.

He is pro health care.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org

He is against the bush tax cuts.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org

He is against No Child Left Behind.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org

He is against warrantless wiretapping.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org

He is against privatizing Social Security.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org

He is not for NAFTA.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org


There are a lot of issues that they are in agreement on. Some bum me out some don't.
For instance, I am bummed that they are both being wishy-washy regarding the Patriot Act.
Check the facts on Pro-Con.org

Many issues I jut don't care about that much. The ones I listed I do care about.

Choosing a president is most often a choice between the lesser of two evils. In this case, with the war, pro-choice, and stem cells, I feel like Barack Obama is the lesser evil.
I also would rather have a young and more rational person in control. I feel like Obama will take advice from his elders when making choices. Voting for a 3rd party candidate is throwing your vote away. (I voted for Ralph Nader before, because California was Al Gore's already, so I could vote my conscious without risking Bush getting elected in my state...) In a swing state, I think it is important to vote for one of the major parties.

I hope this helps you understand where I am coming from.
I value your opinion and anyone who comes to this website. -ed templeton

During the good old Northampton Contest in England we attended a 'party' at a soccer field...

Then some dude thought it would be great to streak...

And he started a trend. Photo Key

Andrew and Brian were drinking. This was before AA and God.
Loyal Pawns Unite!!
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Map of the Inner War

So here is lovely Amber hanging the artwork by herself... Where was Marsea to help her?

And here is the painting. Change! Obama!

Bonus Link: Sarah Palin Flow Chart.

Before the opening, all was still and quiet. Deanna vacuumed the place out.

Some early visitors were old friends Rick Kosick and Jason Acuna AKA Wee-Man!

Jared and Cody get shot with their shot.

I see Geoff Rowley over there in the corner, and Amanda, Allison, and Amber, Lets call them 'Triple-A' up front here, behind them we have Lee from Arcana, and Rob Clayton...

I see Austin Stephens and Kimberly Kane in this crowd scene. And Sean Cliver, who works at jackassworld.com now.

In this one I see Kevin and Cat.

Oysten Grenni from Norway. He rode for New Deal in the early 90's with me, and showed me around his hometown of Oslo over 10 years ago!

Arto showed up to see his photos...

His face was pretty mangled. When you ask him what happened all he would say was, 'Rough day at the office...'
(His next part-o will be gnar-to!)(yeah, I went there.)

'I like how my genitals are represented by three small circles...' -Griffin.

We have Marsea in the middle who owns the gallery, and to her left, the wonderful Liz from RVCA.

The show was received amazingly by everyone, and Deanna's face was frozen in perma-smile from all the compliments she was getting...
Thanks everyone for coming and showing support!

Deanna has spent her summer making beautiful and elegant portraits of her friends swimming nude in our backyard pool.
The opening is TONIGHT!!!!!

Come see the stunning black and white fiber-based silver gelatin prints she has produced.

You will not be disappointed!



Guess who this is in the comments section below. Winner gets bragging rights.

Opening Reception Friday, October 3rd. 7-10pm
Show runs Oct.3rd - Oct.24, 2008

New Image Art
7908 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 654-2192
www.newimageartgallery.com

Here are some Elissa Steamer photos from 1999. This one is in Prague, Czech Republic.

Elissa and Maldonado in Nutley, New Jersey on a US tour.

New Jersey again.

And Prague again.

Smoking in Prague.
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Map of the Inner War
Map of the Inner War
Map of the Inner War
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Check out my friend Big J's new clothing company: Letendre.

Although it is no big crime to humanity or anything...
This is NOT MY SIGNATURE...
The people selling it wrote a comment!

So, its about time I came clean on the HB park bar. On the day the fences went up, we got there to skate and the cops were there kicking us out. Remember that post a while back?
Well, Griffin, Jared, Rob, Austin and I were hanging out by out cars as the cops rolled away. We thought, 'This shit is real!' The park is officially over!' I mean if fences were up and cops were actively kicking people out, it was in fact a done deal. So we instantly started to plan a scheme for getting the park bar.
Of course the normal idea would be to wait until cover of night and bring an electric 'saws-all'...
But then we remembered all the random people who we heard were going to steal the famous park bar... Rumors abounded that Geoff Rowley wanted it, the the Element team was going to steal it, etc... It became the Holy Grail of Huntington Beach. The Grail-!!!!!!! Griffin belted out, 'Lets do it right now~!!!!" And I was like, 'Fuck yes!' But wouldn't the saws-all make a lot of noise? I mean it's only 6pm, it's totally light out.
Lets do it like men, by hand, with frickin' hacksaws...

So that is what we did. Went directly to the store and bought 4 hacksaws with extra blades. The idea was that 4 of us would saw, each guy with a post of his own to get through.

And one guy would be the lookout, tapping his board on the ground if a copper came rolling by, see?
Jared, Rob, Grif and I started sawing, Austin was the lookout. When it became clear that this was a beast of a job and that it would take forever to saw each bar by hand, Rob wussed out. Jared, Grif and I kept plugging away.

It was hard as hell. We were sweating like pigs, and our arms were getting super sore. We were trying to cut close, so our knuckles were scraping on the cement. We couldn't get any further. We stopped to take a break. This is exactly the time that most skaters would be showing up to skate, and nobody came. It was a ghost town. The fences just went up, where were the locals? Just when we left the park to rest, the police chopper flew over head. What luck...

We went back in for the final stage, Rob was lookout now. Jared and I had gotten through our bars (like men I might add) And we had to start Rob's bar from the beginning and Grif had to finish his. We worked in shifts.

I would go as hard and fast as I could, and when I was exhausted, I would roll out and Austin would roll in and start sawing. We got through! The bar was warped. Grif got close to his edge and we gave it a kick, toppling it over with an amazingly loud and clunking ping.

We got it!----Grif's knuckles show the hardship well.

Now the bar is in good hands. The locals have it. (blood on the cement to prove it)

Now the scary part. We slid it under the fence and loaded it into my car in broad daylight. That thing was sticking half-way out of the back! I had to slide it all the way up to the front windshield.

Of course the first bump we went over, it broke my window. Fuck.

We took it into my backyard.

And we then stood around it like an episode of King of the Hill, and just l stared at it saying, 'Yup.'

This bar is OUR bar, come visit you locals! You are all invited.

And when the new park is being planned, I will propose to install this very bar in the new park!
I'm keeping it safe until then.

That is Barry Zaritski givin' him the old 'Mustache Compress...'

Today was a terrible day. Ptah Died. This is a memorial post for anyone who had ever met Ptah.

He was the opening shot in my first full length video part, Useless Wooden Toys in 1990/91

We was about to turn 18 years old.


He was having a hard time breathing, so we took him in to get checked out.

It seemed to go all downhill from there.

He had multiple trips to the emergency room over a few days...




During a check of his throat, they found a cancerous lump in his neck that was blocking his airway.

It was 'inoperable' - They could not take it out.


So that was it. No more options for him.

Anything else would have been prolonging the inevitable and extending the suffering.


He was loved by all. Here he is with Jamie Hart around 1995.


He loved sitting on my lap at night.

He always slept with Deanna in bed.


He was a huge part of our lives. The child we don't have.

He hugged me the first time I ever saw him in the pet store. We always had a bond.
He would rest on me as a read books.

He was often declared the 'Best Cat Ever' because he loved people.

He loved being loved.

This was the last photograph I shot of him.

Ashley and Jim on the streets of Avalon.
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Map of the Inner War-------Your presence is Required.

Here I am enjoying the great Catalina Mug the Ashley got me...

And here is a shot of my house as I work on getting mega-shit together for my show.
Check out Stacy's new video!!!!!!! with her band Artichoke Heart Souffle, they have a new album out!
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Bonus Link: Target Sightings by Eric N.

Some things never change. O has been stopping by for a visit randomly for the past 20 years. O was the senior photographer at TWS for decades, he shot this photo of The Gonz, and he shot my entire pro spotlight that came out in 1990 or 91. I learned a lot from this guy. He hates having his photo taken, so he is behind Deformer.
(Photos stolen from Vert is Dead.)
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Map of the Inner War-------Your presence is Mandatory.

Check out the Thrasher Poetry Slam?

Erik E was still rocking Emerica's back then.

Austin does the 'iron chair.' Get yourself on a wall and try to stay in that position for as long as you can.

Down and out in a romantic place.

Herman warms up, Les Halles.

Justin enjoys the constant ribbing of Austin.

Jon Miner and Myself, I think either Justin or Leo shot this...

Spanky was young and fresh, he still is, but in 2004 he was younger and fresher. All the people in Holland thought this kid looked like Spanky, they called him 'Mini-Spanky.'

Jimmy and I took a walk up to Pigalle, where the streets are lined with carnal delights.

Painting, and doing Toy Machine stuff.

That is all I have been doing. No HB Skatepark to go to.

But it will all be worth it!
It will be at the Roberts and Tilton Gallery this November 15th.
And don't forget to come see Deanna's show at New Image Art this October 3rd!!!

JImmy and a young Leo Romero torture Gio Reda.

Reda fucks with Austin and Andrew.

Heath was there too!

We spent our nights making fun of Austin for being handsome. He was a good sport.
(And yes, there is a vagina on that penis.)

Reda: 'This is the best art you have ever made. You finally have a handsome enough model- me.'
Question: Who in this post no longer rides for Emerica?
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Bonus Link for readers: Great article on Sarah Palin

A Deformer Review to look at.
And here is some Internet Porn for you...

Video Strangeness: Ben Kingsley as Ian MacKaye?

Pretty Funny!
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There is a FUN movie to watch over at Thrasher.com featuring Matt B, J-Lay, and Mike Sinclair.

Found another Deformer Sneek Peek online...

I only shot one photo, the entire team was there. This is all I got, one crappy shot of Heath, Brayden, and Leo.
Sorry skate fans!
Here is some footage from the Make Something Workshop I did.

Or maverick swashbuckling renaissance man? Only Rob Straser knows.
If you don't know how to party, don't even look at him.
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Hey, you guys should come to Deanna's art show at New Image Art! It'll be fun!

Over at Native Foods in Costa Mesa.
It is pretty safe to say that these ladies do NOT want Sarah Palin in the white house, and I sure as hell don't.

Amanda has been helping me out with some heavy scanning.
My life is all about painting right now for my upcoming show in LA.

A homie sent me this photo... You can also get DEFORMER online.

Bonus Link: German skaters skate a ski jump.
And Logan Kincade 15 has been released.
Bonus Link #2: Downhill Gnar by Ari M.

He said Jason Dill was amped when he spotted it.
Check out this Deformer Web Preview...

Decided to go see what state the HB park was in...

I braved the No Trespassing signs and hopped the fence to get some images

The HB park is officially over.


My heart sank.

It was just a pile of rubbish now.

Everything was trashed.

But then I realized that the bank was still visible, and one bench and the pyramid were still noticeable.

See.

In this view it only looks half-wrecked.

The chopped remains of our glorious park.

This is what is left: Rubble.

This is the bank we all warmed up on playing games of SKATE...

So many games of Bank-Skate...

Glorious Bank-SKATE!

I would beat Griffin right here.

Here is a view of the bank you couldn't get before.

View from the top of the bank looking toward the street.


This crappy bench still survives. I would front-blunt the shit out of this little fucker... It looks like it got rammed by a tractor.


This bench got toppled over like Godzilla came through here.

Fighting Monster X and Mothra.

And I think Rodan was there too.

Dude, look at this!

The approach to the now stolen flat-bar...

the other side of where the flat-bar was.

The pyramid is fucked.

The mellow bank. Great starting point for the flat bar.

Here is a new angle of the mellow bank from the track...

View from my favorite starting point along the fence on top of the bank.




The bull-dozers await the final destruction. Go get your chunk of HB skate history!

And here is every digital photo I shot the whole time I was there in order. I forgot to shoot most of the time. I was either too busy enjoying life, or shooting with film.

We took a walk the first night, and shot these after playing SkeeBall.


File Under: Skating, so hot right now.

Then in the morning we went to the dock to meet Ashley T. and her Boy-toy Jim, who had a crazy amount of gear for a one day excursion...

This was after our boat adventure with Shark, Bat Rays, Jumping off Frog Rock, deserted beaches, etc...

Dog had a rough day too.

Then I just shot this over my shoulder without looking...

Please click on link below and vote YES on Poll Question- Front Page Right hand side.
On Decision City Council made to put Skate Park into Worthy Park.
Thank you very much!
http://www.hbindependent.com/
Of course, this only matters to people from Huntington Beach, but whatever, do it for your fellow skaters!
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This is what the title of the post below was all about. From the movie Blue Velvet.