Though this Max Schaaf: A Day in the Life video from Fourstar is from '09, it's super inspiring. I remember getting pumped on Schaaf after watching one of the first 411 Video Magazines back in the early to mid-'90s. It was shot in Oakland, and he had this tiny miniramp in his yard or house, I can't remember which. At the time, it was Schaaf and Mike Frazier who were sort of big names in the vert-skating world, which had been on this huge downturn after the industry-wide shift in focus to tech street skating. He was mega cool then, and I still check out things he does all the time! Roll forever, Max!

These were formative times for me. Skating and the skate culture of this era helped shape the way that I see the world. It taught me the importance of individualism, progression, self-expression and fun. Thank you Lance, Gonz, Natas and Cab for inspiring, and thanks to the industry people who made these early videos for kids like me to pick up. I'm looking at you Mr. Vitello (RIP), Stacy Peralta, George Powell and C.R. Stecyk III.

This is a pic of the VHS tape that I picked up used for 5 bucks in 1988. It still works!

This is a photograph of my great-grandfather John Swegle, who's pictured here on one of the earliest American motorcycles, the Indian, during his service in World War I. He was stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia. He was born in 1894, and my family believes this was taken in 1918.

This pic of Secret Base's Hiddy Kinoshita and a member of the Bounty Hunter staff was pulled from the BXH site. The "Bounthoven" sweatshirt that both gentlemen are wearing was made by Hikaru Iwanaga's fashion label and toy company, Bounty Hunter, a few season's ago, and here, you can see the source of inspiration in this Schroeder toy from 1966. Hikaru's gift for mining vintage American advertising, cartoon and punk culture never ceases to impress me. Awesome!

If you were into punk and hardcore and lived in the D.C.-Baltimore area in the '90s you likely know a bunch of the DJs on this flyer for DJ Stereo Faith's benefit. Steve is an ultra nice guy, and my family's thoughts and prayers are with him. See you tomorrow night in D.C.

A special thanks to Lev and Lorne at Toy Tokyo in New York -- and to Pushead -- for the success of the first release of Mr. Sutfin's toy, Reckless's inaugural release. It feels very much like this is the beginning of something special, and spending time with the dedicated and talented people in the scene last week -- Kirkland from Toybot (without whom the release of the Mad Battle Man would not have gone nearly as well), Joe of Kaiju Chronicle, Le Merde, Gargamel, Martin Onitiveros, Bwana Spoons ... there really are too many to name -- reminded me of all of the best reasons that I started writing about, documenting, and now, producing figures for this world.

I leave you with a look at Lamour Supreme and S7's amazing Mongolion figure, a gift from him that exemplifies the tremendous creativity, level of handcraft, and brilliance that's so apparent in our "scene." Thank you, Joel!