Japan

Now that I'm almost finished putting up the pictures from Japan, it's made me reflect on the trip. Simply put, I'm going back as soon as I can. It was the experience of my life and it has changed me dramatically. I truly understand now that Phoenix and life that envelopes it is so small that anyone who doesn't travel elsewhere simply won't know anything, period. I came back and immediately signed up for Japanese class and dropped drawing. That right there speaks volumes. The worst days of my life were the first few back from Japan. I missed it so much and I still do. Not a single day and nearly a single moment passes before I think about my trip and how desperate I am to go back. I left my heart in Japan and I need to go back to get it, but nothing guarantees I'll come back. It's also solidified my desire to study in Spain. I'm definitely going, there's no question. If I get married, she'll be from Japan. I wake up every morning, hoping to wake back up in Tokyo. Each day disappoints, but soon the day will come when the day won't disappoint.

Park

Dear Agents, Just a short thought

College sucks, it makes you feel old, works you overtime, and puts you into a position of feeling that you're going nowhere.

That is all,

Agent 1988

A great cartoon

Fellow agents, this is agent 1988. Here's an awesome little cartoon that you all should check out.

Pics of Japan

Here's some of the pictures, tons more to come.

Enjoy

P.S. Click the title for the link!

A fellow agent lost

This is agent 1988, Parker,

I've heard the bad news and must say that I'm saddened to hear the loss of an excellent individual with whom I have many fond memories. To Gabe, and all of her relatives, I'm sorry for your loss. She was kind, fun, and always helping us young Brown boys enjoy life in our quiet neighborhood.

A saddened agent and friend,

Agent 1988, Parker

Nike is not the death of skateboarding

This is agent 1988 reporting,

I know my many recent posts have been of randomness and mostly opinion, but don't worry, faithful agents, I have a Wii launch mission log in the cooker right now and Japan is only a week away. I have to make a bit of a statement regarding the state of skate right now. It seems there are many naysayers out there who are against Nike in skateboarding. Nike right now is creating bright, stylish, and functional footwear for skateboarding. In addition, they now sponsor Tampa Am, the largest skate contest in history. That's pretty legit, if you ask me. What really concerns me are companies such as BAPE out of Japan, and Ice Cream footwear, started out of Japan as well. Bape, started by Pharrell Williams and DJ Nigo, really is only exploiting skateboarding as a fashion and a way to get rich quick. I quote Mr. Williams

" You can do a trick on a skateboard and be cool and earn money. The chicks will love you - just like you're selling dope."

It is idiotic "wangsters" like these who are destroying skateboarding and are the reason why I see rims "spinnin" and chains "flickin" at many skateparks. Rather than skateboarding for fun, many today are skateboarding for money and fame. Ice Cream footwear, started by the same two "gangsters", is a skate shoe company out of Japan. The theme for the over sized sweatshirts, jeans, and shoes is ice cream and ice cream trucks. The shoes, if you look them up, look as though they have been shaped by mentally retarted monkeys and colored by blind sea horses. Honestly, not at all for skateboarding.
They do have a team, but they all skate the same, sketchy way. What is truly sad is that these two companies really comprise what Japan thinks skateboarding is, fashion and money. Japan, and much of America's youth, are being blinded by these awful companies and they are further tearing down what companies like Stereo, Girl, and Real are creating.
As I have continued learning about Japan's culture, I learn that the country's youth is buying 200 dollar "skate" shoes and sweatshirts in an effort in imitate what we do over here, at least as they see it. What they really need to do is hop in the car with me, and get the true essence of it all. Ripped shoes and pants, sweat, and smelling like a diaper after the session. Not to mention walking into Carl's Jr. and having the people there look at your hair sticking up and your back sweat in amazment.

Learn about these guys by searching on google.

Agent 1988

I don't know agents

Still, for the past few months, I have struggled quite a bit in my drawings and skating. I've hit rock bottom in terribleness, but still can't seem to find the way up. Hrmmmmm.

Agent 1988