Favorite Science Fiction Films

In no particular order.

I have high hopes for the upcoming Dune film. Hoping it isn’t dumb like the one from the 1980s. The SyFy channel’s Dune mini series have been pretty good.

  • Blade Runner
  • 2001 A Space Odyssey (This is really my favorite).
  • 2010 The Year We Make Contact
  • Alien
  • Aliens
  • Forbidden Planet
  • Arrival
  • Planet of the Apes
  • War of the Worlds (1953)
  • Contact
  • Silent Running
  • Logan’s Run
  • The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2)
  • Mad Max: Fury Road
  • Fantastic Voyage
  • 12 Monkeys
  • The Andromeda Strain
  • Altered States
  • Blade Runner 2049
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
  • Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
  • Prometheus (Alien prequel)
  • Alien: Covenant
  • Europa Report
  • Prospect
  • This Island Earth
  • The Omega Man

What’s Up?

The weather has been cold, and on the weekends rainy, and I’ve not been skating since December. Hoping to work in a session this weekend if weather permits. I’ve been reading a lot of science fiction and working on some gaming stuff. Life is going through a rough patch right now, but we will overcome.

Current Most-Used Boards

When it’s cold and shitty outside I like to sit and look at my boards. A guy on a FB group (you know who you are!) had people post pics of their most ridden boards, if they have more than one. It was a fun post, and an excuse for me to stare at my boards.

So here is the current lineup of boards I actually ride, from left to right.

Mode Pool board, 9 x 32.5, 14.75 wb. Indy 159s and currently 58mm Speedlab Slappy Hour wheels. 1/4″ riser. This has been my main street and ditch board for a while. I normally use 54mm Bones STF, but wanted to try some larger diameter wheels and see how much smoother and faster they would be. I do like these wheels a lot, but the board does feel much clunkier.

Mode Postcard double kick symmetrical freestyle board, Indy 109s, Mode Sunburst freestyle wheels. no risers. Gray (hard) Venom eliminator bottom bushing on the side I use as the back of the board, pink Venom Eliminator (slightly softer) in the front. Except for dabbling with some Mode single kick decks a couple of years ago, this has been my main freestyle shape since about 2014. I’ve used quite a few. It is long for a FS board with a 13.75″ wheelbase. 29.5 x 7.4. Great board. Great setup.

Mode 8.25 Connor Burke model pops. The standard Mode pops, with Connor’s old graphic. Indy 149s, currently with the softer 99a Bones STF 54mm wide cut wheels. I like these wheels a lot. Fantastic for the surfaces I skate. I love the harder ones too. Just depends one what I’m doing. I use this board for ditch skating and street/freestyle. With 1/4″ of risers, it rides high. I do that to minimize tail drag when I’m spinning 360s. A little grip under the nose for doing caspers.

2020 Thankfulness Report

When times are shit, it is important to take stock of what isn’t shit.

Besides the pandemic, we are facing some serious issues, but in some respects were are lucky. We have the resources we need to face these challenges.

So, here are a few things I appreciate this year.

  1. I am thankful for my wife. I can’t express this sufficiently.
  2. As always, I am thankful there is something rather than nothing.
  3. I am thankful for all the friends who have reached out to us. I love y’all.
  4. I am thankful I had parents who were kind and gave me a secure home in which I was loved and not judged.
  5. I appreciate my extended family and my in-law family. I don’t agree with a lot of ’em on a lot of things, but they are all good people who would give a stranger the shirt of their back if needed. I love every one of them, and I’m lucky to have them.
  6. I appreciate skateboarding. The skateboard is what I always return to in order to calm my mind and express myself.
  7. I am thankful for Aikido and my fellow aikidokas, though I’ve not been able to practice in 8 months. Looking forward to a return to the dojo when it is possible. I’m thankful for my sensei, who has helped me develop the awareness to know when I’m losing myself and how to get my mind right again.
  8. I am grateful to have made it to age 56. Not everyone does.
  9. I am grateful for my gaming group, old friends I’ve known since we were young kids. There’s a comfort and familiarity with them that only comes from common history and background. All top notch dudes.
  10. I am thankful for our cats.
  11. I am thankful for my profession and my colleagues, whose support has been critical. I can’t believe I was lucky enough to land where I did.