Dirt City Zine is a collective voice of talented individuals and creative scenes who breathe energy into the Daytona Beach, FL and Phoenix, AZ metro areas. The purpose is to serve as a community resource by welcoming new forms of artful expression, with hopes of our articles feeding and inspiring each reader's own creative aura. If you want to keep up with the skateboard world... link up below at sk8dirtcityzine.blogspot.com.

Showing posts with label Editorial Note. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Editorial Note. Show all posts

3.17.2009

A New Chapter- Phoenix Dirt City Zine

There is something beautiful about watching my bank account whittle down with absolutely no income coming in. For some reason I am not worried. Maybe it is the sheer fact that I have never been ahead anyway... even when I had the full-time job with benefits. Or maybe it is faith, knowing that God always meets me where I am at.

Speaking of, Dirt City Zine has started a new chapter based out of Phoenix, AZ.

I am not quite sure what I will be inspired to cover yet, this has yet to be revealed; but nonetheless, I am excited to unveil the new location with fresh eyes... Dirt City fashion of course. What does this mean? This is not some yup yup Zine trying to fill space with the latest trend or gossip. The articles are informational but real in the fact that they accompany my everyday life... not some statistical data of a target market I should be trying to write for.

When you are at "the bottom" of the economic bracket, there is only one way to look-UP- maybe that is the somethin' beautiful about where we are at.

By the way, this article was inspired from my fiance Dug... he was trying to encourage me with an article he read this morning on CNN.com- as I decide where my new career direction will take me. It actually ended up depressing me more, because I don't feel like I am taking the ol' "do what you love" route with the interviews I have lined up, but on the other hand- it got me writing. Here is the link to the article: "Commentary: Make the Recession Work for You."

1.21.2009

2009: The Wake-Up Call for Change

 
Above: Shepard Fairey succeeded at posterizing the Barack Obama campaign

What does 2009 have in store for us? I get a feeling of anticipation, but in my mind I draw blanks. I look forward to following the political realm of Obama and his Washington team more closely than I have in the past. Not only am I curious to watch this enormous economic stimulus vision of a plan unfold, but also just as excited to try and draw inferences and predictions from our economic crisis of a situation to make more educated financial choices. And, as lovely as pumping an estimated $825 billion dollars into our economy sounds, it will not change our circumstances in the long run, if we do not practice responsibility, self-control, long-term planning, and discernment with our personal finances. Not only this, but also owning up to the responsibility we hold as a nation and American citizens..... we have been given much and now still much is expected.... unless we want the scripture "He who giveth, also taketh away" to ring true. I don't think Obama was called to save all the luxuries Americans have worked so hard to "earn", but rather to wake us up. In the United States our biggest gift is freedom, and what better time to practice this gift than with a new presidential term under Obama. We have relief in our hearts that we may still be able to hold our power; hence, be a good example and hope to other nations held in captivity by complete governmental corruption.  On that note, lets start a new season by using our freedom to make honorable choices in our personal lives.  And might I add, there is no easy cure for our national recession, but it is filled with hope.... which I'll take over greed (Bush administration) any day.


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12.04.2008

Street Talk

There's the man who just moved onto the southern corner of one of the busiest intersections in downtown. Every morning I see him hesitate before he stops peddling as his bicycle makes its way across the greenly-lit white lines. It makes me think about how if he doesn't peddle, then he's really not even trying to make it across that street...like he's waiting for a car to knock that metal out from under him so he never has to peddle again. And on the twelfth day, I watched a hand fall from beneath the sheet that covered the stretcher making its way into the back of the amblulance. That hand wore a black bicycle glove and the sight of it made me shiver like I had never done so before.
Then there's the woman who reads a book while she walks. I notice how she stops and talks to random street objects and curious animals behind fences. I wonder if she's sharing with them the wonders of the pages she's been reading. Day in and day out I witness her nose deeply planted into those pages and the way she has drowned herself in a reality that is only hers. I wonder if this is her escape from her own reality; the reality that she's walking shoeless down a sidewalk full of glass and yesterdays trash. Her face is always dirty and her eyes never seem to stop moving. I wonder how glorious her days are...spending them anywhere but here.

10.04.2008

Vote for change!

Florida voter registration deadline is Monday, October 6th! That's barely two days away! This Presidential election will decide our 44th President of the United States.

What will it take to get citizens to register, let alone make it to the polls? Isn't the reflection of the past 8 years that George W. Bush has been in office reason enough? The time is now, to create a plan to rebuild our crumbling economy. Your vote matters. With only three days left, you can make the difference. Remind your friends, family, and neighbors to register and vote.

Tell everyone you know to visit VoteForChange.com, one-stop voter registration website:

VoteForChange. com lets you do it all -- check your registration status, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, or even find your early vote location or polling place.



Every vote is important, and in three days it'll be too late for many voices to be heard on Election Day. Remember -- back in 2004, George Bush won our state by less than 381,000 votes.

8.29.2008

The Past is The Past

I have been thinking this more and more lately....how much energy is wasted thinking about what's already been, trying to climb out of a past that only exists because I keep repeating it in my mind. In other words, not living out and making new the present moment. Look at MySpace, I challenge you to go delete one photo from your album...which you are present in. Believe me, you'll get a feeling like, but I don't want to forget that. Why, because your past is part of you. That's all good, just make sure it's not keeping you there.

I came across what was supposed to be the introduction article on Dirt City Zine...taking us into 2008. I never posted it for some reason, but as I reread it, it took me back to where I was in January, mentally and physically. A good fresh place, and obviously done with age 22, happy to be 23. On the otherhand, it made me realize, how unproductive it would have been to linger in the past, because now I don't remember what was so horrid about 22, though at the time was significant enough to bring up in an article. So, here it is.

>>>>>For me, the hardest thing about writing, well writing from experience, has always been that I might offend someone, or that the someone who has inspired this certain piece will know it is he/she. I guess honesty can be harder than I think sometimes.

Last week I was riding high, not to mention, I was reading a book on Jim Morrison and Linda Ashcroft’s platonic relationship…so naturally I was subconsciously taking on his state of mind through the week. At anyrate, I hit a plateau on Thursday night, when I was told I had not seen enough of the real world to understand, the darker sides of this life. Now, this is not the first I have been told this by an elder peer. I used to think there was some truth to it back then, but now that I have reached the same age as they were when they told me this, and still have the same approach to life, and have been through a heck of a lot in seven years, I am not so sure. Still, I have not abandoned the observation.

At any rate, this plateau got me thinking that I was doing something wrong. Is my outlook on life naïve; unsympathetic to the rest of the world? Is life just waiting to have its fun with me, and take me down Elm Street? Has my hand in life been that much luckier? And even more so, I began to think, well, how do I become a better person, if so.

So, I began to think of how I related to the friends and family members in my life and their problems, and them to me. I began to think the ways in which they treated me, that made me feel better, or lifted me up. The things that stuck out to me were acceptance and sympathizing or relating, to make me feel I was not alone. And, the second, which came from my parents, was honesty. Now if I had to choose between receiving sympathy or honesty, which would I choose? Both are acts of love, both were needed, and both were selfless.

Though, the latter is hardest. For you fear the risk of losing someone’s admiration, because you just told him or her everything that was wrong. Your only hope is that truth shows through in the end. That down the road they realize they needed an honest look at themselves; to have the gun under the bun; to get the ass moving in the right direction. I was obviously taking my sweet time; sympathizing a little too much with my situation.

So, we come to a cross-road. Without the sympathetic stories of being age 22, my sister had afforded me at the time, I wouldn’t have any hair left. And, more importantly, been able to help others down the road, by shedding humor in our dilapidated, but hopeful, human states.

My sister showed me that tables turn; my parents taught me to help myself; my friends told me, you can lean on us. So, as 2007 comes to a close, I’d like to think I have learned a few valuable lessons. That in the end truth prevails. And secondly, that we are all in this together…no matter what the card reads.

On that note, I’d like to add, that there comes a point in helping someone that we can choose to perform an act of selfless love (expecting nothing in return).
If you can take an honest look at yourself and intensions, and can find an act of help selfless, then I applaud you. I applaud you, because I have found that it is harder to let go of someone that you help, because of an inevitable bond that builds through invested time and open wounds. So, when it is time to let go, it is hard to keep the act selfless, wanting to still be needed and have this temporary companionship. But, life is fleeting and so are the people in it, so take advantage of every moment and friends, and their wonderful company while you can.

Peering out over the ocean, we sat on the coquina wall of the Daytona Bandshell. My friend so perfectly asked, “What would you do with this picture?” Looking back, I probably should have ripped off my clothes, run to the sea, and flagged him to go skinny dipping, feeling the rush of adrenaline and new birth. But, I didn’t. Instead, I said, “Hmm..good question.” As if I expected the answer to float out of the clouds, if I stared long enough.

So, as you’re riding your days out, periodically ask yourself, “If I had this new moment in time (which, yes, you do), what would I make of it?”

8.19.2008

The Essence of Dirt City

If You have not read this article originally written for Hurley.com It has been posted on http://www.bnqt.com/article.php?id=8144. (Banquet Action Television Network).

Click the Title to read.

8.12.2008

A Game Called Life.

A Game Called Life.

“Never sacrifice a passion, but rather make sacrifices for it.”

There comes a time in life when a sacrifice has to be made, and usually it is to keep a roof over head, the electric on, gas in the car, and a few apples in the fridge (the necessities). The sacrifice I’m talking about is most likely your passion, putting it off to the side in order to make a living (ya know the thing you spend doing 40 hours a week, every week of your life!). If you don’t have the luxury of paying your way through life, well, you only have one choice, to find another way to get there. First I suggest, finding a job or appreciating the one you have, because it is your bread and butter; secondly, discover your resources (the biggest one- is yourself); thirdly, start sacrificing time to get where you want to be; and, oh yeah, hang in there.

Now, anyone that knows me knows I always have something going. It’s a blessing and a curse to have non-stop creative inspiration and ideas. A blessing when there is a direction, a curse when it is every which way. I sort of see my life as jambalaya…before it’s a dish. I always had an idea of what I wanted to do, but it never quite came together until I collaborated with a few friends and started Dirt City. But once I did, things rolled, and because I have sacrificed for personal projects and endeavors before, I had a bit of wisdom and much new found wisdom this time. So, in another words, I guess you can say, nothing is ever wasted. Here are a few that stick out at the moment.

The old wisdom was how to actually enjoy a project. I used to focus so much on the goal, that I missed the whole journey. I also took others and myself too seriously. Now I see the beauty in working as a whole, when others come together to make something happen, it can be a really good time.

The newly found wisdom came with my first investment…. ha ha. I put a few things on the credit card, and well, lets just say my dad helped me out. Granted it was around $600.00, but I also had some dental work, I didn’t exactly have $2,000.00 set aside for (my insurance pulled a fast one…glad I’m seeing that come out of the pay check every month).

The credit card makes us live beyond our means in an untimely fashion. Of course, it does have its benefits, like when you can’t afford a necessity, or just need to buy a little time for a payment. But, now, what I try is this, if I need more money to invest, well, that means my standard of living goes down (ex. a few more roommates, no new clothes, eating out less, riding my bike to work, picking up an extra job on the wknd…)

At anyrate, in these last 8 months (when Dirt City Zine came together) I would not trade a moment. As for the team- Aly, Erik, Dug, and I- even better. We are making ideas manifest on virtually nothing, because we share a passion, to give, make things happen, and share life with others- true to ourselves- straight up. Needless to say, we don’t know all the blessings and lessons that are in store for us, but we have learned to love this game called Life. So, Dirt City Zine- now also Dirt City Missions, Inc., is proof if you need it, to never sacrifice a passion, but rather make sacrifices for it.

7.09.2008

"By the way, Mr. President, the decision you just made may be economically ruinous."


While sitting in an Irish-inspired Pub located on beach side, I overheard talk of politics and gas prices. Now given, I doubt any of these voices were a real economist's view, but the words really grabbed my attention. An English man discussed his ideals on our government compared to his home country. Then an interesting point came up..."Maybe if we weren't funding a war, we could have been investing money into affordable alternative energy and our "transportation and energy crisis" wouldn't be such a crisis."

So I decided I would do a little research...

In July 2007 Costofwar.com, a project maintained by the National Priorities Project, produced a running counter of the total amount of money spent in the war in Iraq. It was said that the war in Iraq costs $445,817,285,000. Now let's put that into perspective, shall we? "Instead of invading Iraq, 7,726,076 public school teachers could have been hired for a year. Or, 266,956,850 children could have had health insurance for a year. Back to education, 21,612,280 students could have been provided with four-year college scholarships." - socyberty.com OR a national fuel system could be in production and well on its way to stabilize our nation's distress with fuel costs and availability.

As central Florida gas stations switch to E-10, a 10% ethanol blend, the state will soon accommodate the first U.S. ethanol pipeline - running from Tampa to Orlando and owned by Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMP) in Houston.

With Florida Gov. Charlie Crist poised to sign an energy bill soon requiring 10% ethanol in gasoline by 2010, central Florida vendors are already in compliance and way ahead of that plan, having phased out regular gasoline this May. So far, ethanol isn't produced in Florida, but Midwest corn-derived fuel enters by boat from the Gulf Coast and also by train, while Caribbean and Central American ethanol arrives on vessels. It is said that such a pipeline will reduce truck traffic on highways.

Florida agriculture officials want to promote local biofuel production, with cellulosic technology that can make ethanol from wood chips, switch grass and sorghum.

It is in our best interest to preemptively embark on a revolutionary change that will lead us away from oil dependency rather than suffer by becoming growingly dependent on a diminishing resource. More fuel choices leave less dependence on foreign oil.

6.25.2008

SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND WORK FOR PEACE

Wednesday, April 30th, a group of Daytona friends and I went to participate in feeding hungry citizens of Orlando, Florida. With us we brought donations which were instantly consumed by hungry hands. People gathered around Lake Eola around 5:00pm in search of a promised "free" meal. Shortly after we arrived, vans and trucks showed up with a dozen volunteers unloading cloathing, books, and Vegan prepared meals. They set up stands and served anyone who was hungry. The ages of volunteers and people in search of food ranged from 16 to 60. Here are a few photos documenting the weekly mission.


A sign found along the path of Lake Eola.


An Orlando resident since 1985 participates nearly every week, and he states, "They think that by cutting off services we're going to go away and we're not."




Quite the turn-out in my opinion. Souls in search of a little peace in their day. A warm, free meal, a possibility of interview-appropriate articles of clothing, and a good read for the mind to escape the warn souls of their society...or to possibly educate.


"Orlando Food Not Bombs shares vegan and vegetarian food with hungry people in the Orlando area. Some are homeless while others are the working poor who have homes but whose labor doesn't provide them with enough to enjoy a basic standard of living. Ours is the richest and most wasteful society on Earth, and we prepare our meals using some of the vast amounts of perfectly edible food that otherwise would go to waste." - orlandofoodnotbombs.org


A Dirt City dweller enjoying some Vegan Lentil Stew after assisting with serving the hungry individuals. A Vegan meal consists of only soil-born food products that contain no animal bi-products.


Seeing all of these bikes being utilized really left an impact on me. If our generation can see that there's something wrong with the way we rely on automobiles due to their convenient nature, and actually attempt to make a difference, then maybe there is more hope after all. An orlando friend says "I do as well love seeing all of those bikes because I look at cycling as a backbone to a political crisis were having within transportation issues." And that mindset is the reason I am hoping one day all of this will be revolutionary beyond our wildest dreams. God, we all know that something has to change soon. Let's start now.






Chris Fields began volunteering because she was "upset that the city of Orlando was trying to make it illegal for people to do what they feel like they should do from their inner-being". She stated, "I should be able to share a sandwich or Twenty-Five sandwiches, or a Hundred sandwiches if I see that someone is hungry."

As I understand, the ordinance that Orlando passed makes it illegal for any individual or group to serve more than 25 people in a public park within 2 miles or a mile of City Hall.

I spoke with another volunteer named Adam who informed me that the Orlando FoodNotBombs chapter began in January 2005. A couple months ago they started serving breakfasts on Monday mornings at 8:30. In his neighborhood, where alot of the volunteers reside, they recently started a free produce distribution stand as well.

I asked Adam to give me a little more insight on what they are trying to achieve through these efforts...
WHAT IS FOOD NOT BOMBS?

"An international movement against violence and hunger. There are chapters all over the world in places such as Nigeria, SouthAmerica, Russia, and Europe. All organizes under the principles of using food that would otherwise be wasted and vegetarian food and just giving it away for free to anybody. So, we're kind of like just one part of a global movement. It's not an organization, it's more of a movement. People just start their own chapters."
"I see this as building an alternative to the mainstream capitalist economy and kind of underminding it and creating an alternative to the current system; creating a better system...putting it out to people so they can see it as the good idea we see and hopefully adopt it. The idea is that if people get food for free, they won't have to go out and buy it and it just underminds the whole "for-profit economy". And we hope to branch out to other things so people can get things like free daycare. It's like building a new infrastructure for a new way of living."
"Poverty causes homelessness, not food. If businesses won't put the food to good use then we will go out and physically intercept it and make sure it gets put to use; if they wont do it we will. It's a direct action against waste of food. Half the food produced in the United States gets thrown away, so how anyone can possibly go hungry when there is so much food being thrown away is mind boggling."
Adam, an Orlando Food Not Bombs volunteer


Enabler? A man who gives his entire life to his country, claims that by supporting such movements and compassionate efforts such as Food Not Bombs, I am in fact an enabler. What is so enabling about wanting to assist efforts against homelessness and violence? How can I be enabling anyone any more than our own government and today's society has done and continues to do on a daily basis? Healthcare is denied for it is a luxury, not a right. If someone is in the position to give, why should anyone object? I was always taught that if you see someone down, that's the time to pick them up...set our differences aside and we will never look back.


For more information on Orlando Food Not Bombs visit http://orlandofoodnotbombs.org/
Orlando FoodNotBombs is always looking for volunteers and donations.

6.08.2008

CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME

Rant by Stormer


"C.R.E.A.M. cash rules everything around me" - Wu-Tang Clan. That phrase is more then the hook of a catchy hip-hop song. It pretty much sums up our mentality in this country. It dosen't matter who you are, how much money you make, how nice a house you live in, or what kind of car you drive your whole life is spent chasing that almighty dollar. This phenomena is very similar to the social cache system of ancient India. It worked something like this, you are born into the class that your parents were born into, and no matter what you do you will always be in that social class. Very much like the economic social groupings of our time. If you are born to a poor working class family chances are that is all you will ever know. And there are these little rules that where put in place by these banking cartels to ensure people stay in there class, or tax brackets as they would prefer them to be called. And why isn't our government doing something to stop this unjust, evil form of economic slavery? Because they really aren't the ones running the show. The men who run this country are a handful of rich, conservative, white, males that own the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve isn't a government operated program as we are lead to believe. They are a privately owned and operated corporation that prints, distributes, and controls the value of our money in this country. The money is loaned to our government at interest, thus creating debt, and to pay this debt we must borrow more money at interest creating more and more debt. Which in-turns gives our elected officials no real power because they too are bound by the same chains of debt as everyone else. Other then the debt of our country how do these banking tycoons make prophet? War. Wars require unimaginable amounts of money to be fought, and the longer the war is drawn out the more money can be made. All the guns, food, ammo, transportation, fuel, and vehicles need to be paid for too, so our government must borrow more money to provide these things for soldiers to "resolve" these petty differences, but since our government is slave to this corporation they will have them drag our the smallest conflict to just rake in the prophets. From what I've seen in my very short 17 years of life this cycle of debt has got to be the greatest hustle of all hustles. These men rule the world through a meaningless piece of paper. The threat of central banking is by no means a new concept. It was the prime reason of our revolution from England. The king had outlawed the use of the free money system being used in the colonies forcing them to borrow money, at interest, from the Central Bank of England. Our forefathers knew what to do to stop this wretched enslavement, maybe it is time for us to learn from our past and do the same.

-These are the opinions and beliefs of a resident in our Dirt City. And because writing is such a large part of what we do, I am attempting to highlight anyone who has something to rant about. Opinions are everywhere, so embrace them. Feel free to send your writings to smallmanbigmouth86@yahoo.com. Thank you.

6.06.2008

Dirt City Missions has launched!

Dirt City Missions, Inc.
A Fla. Non-Profit
PO Box 307
Daytona Beach, FL 32115
Contact: mmcdole@dirtcityhub.com

Board of Directors:
Morgan McDole, President
Aly Bowen- Director
Dug Ketterman- Director
Lindsey McDole- Director

Missions Statement:

Dirt City Missions Inc. is a charitable organization. Our mission is building youth culture through art, skateboarding, and international service missions.

Our gloabal efforts offer skateboarding to orphanages and youth shelters as an alternative positive and social outdoor activity, in order that their resident youth might be detered from the street way of life. We will build skateboard ramps, supply the safety and skateboard, as well as proper instruction. By providing a positive social outlets for youth locally and globally, we hope to bring promise and opportunity into their lives.

Our first Mission is planned for Odessa, Ukraine. The team so far is Aly Bowen, Dug Ketterman, Erik Brubaker, and Morgan McDole. More detials on the trip are at dirtcityhub.org. For information on the cause in the Ukraine, visit www.thischildhere.org.

If you want to support The Dirt City Missions effort, click on the Donate button. You will be directed to our PayPal account.

Thanks so much!
~ Morgan McDole, Founder

Ukraine Visit Dec. 2006


More about Dirt City Missions and the trip to the Ukraine:

The best service comes from the heart, and the best way to achieve this is to find something you have a heart for. The working hands behind Dirt City are passionate skaters, and know the joy, confidence, and companionship the activity provides.

Morgan McDole is the founder of Dirt City. She opened its non-profit sect, Dirt City Missions, in April 2008. Native to Daytona Beach, she has always held optimism for the future of the community, and after moving away for six years to sunny San Diego, and then flying around the world, she figured out a lot….that she wanted to give back to the place that she felt gave her such a rich childhood. All of her efforts, she knew, needed to start in Daytona Beach.

Dirt City Missions evolved in order to open travel, service, and cultural opportunity to the youth of Daytona Beach. The goal is to be a positive hub of Daytona Beach, sending kids abroad to serve at youth shelters and orphanages, placing them, as to utilize and hone their unique talents. We have opened doors using our connections and love for skateboarding and life.

There are already a few who have gone ahead from this area, such as, Mike Hess, who started Papa’s House- an orphanage in Nepal, and Pastor Robert Gamble, who serves at the Way Home Shelter in Odessa, Ukraine. It’s hometown heroes like these, who encourage our efforts here locally, and we now hope our community will too.

DK Ramps provides the ramp building expertise. The Doo Good Conservatory, from San Diego, CA is donating complete skateboards for the mission. Now, we are raising all the money and sponsorship for travel expenses to make it happen (transportation, accommodations, shots, passports, building materials, skateboards, safety equipment, etc).

Dug Ketterman, Aly Bowen, Erik Brubaker, Morgan McDole and Lindsey McDole, are the first scheduled to go to Odessa, Ukraine in March 2009. Our first mission is to bring a team of skilled skaters from Daytona Beach, to build a skateboard ramp for the local kids, as well as set them up with the basic skills, safety equipment, and boards. The ramp goes in at The Way Home Shelter, where kids are brought in off the street, given medical aid, and an education if they choose to stay and keep themselves clean of drugs. With visits under our belt, and requests and permissions from as far as Nicaragua and the Ukraine, we know the doors have opened and now it is time to raise the money and make it happen. We estimate 2-3 weeks in each location; building, teaching, learning, providing volunteer service at The Way Home, and documenting all along the way to share our experiences and adventures with the world.

Why the Ukraine for the first trip?

Morgan visited Odessa, Ukraine, in Dec. 2006, to serve at The Way Home Shelter. There are 3-4,000 homeless children living in underground tunnels, on the streets of Odessa. The need for a positive social outdoor activity at The Way Home Shelter, was expressed when she was here. It is too enticing for kids to turn from the Shelter, and return to living on the streets, after feeling the “freedom” of this lifestyle. Unfortunately, this life comes with drugs, disease, and eventually death. Knowing the joy it skateboarding has given her, Morgan took the kids from the shelter skateboarding when she was there, and saw the exuberant amount of energy they had. Skateboarding may be the activity to match the adrenaline rush, in which the kids are addicted to on the streets. The founder of The Way Home Shelter said, “Kids dream of something like this.” This is what Morgan was hoping he would say. Now all she needed was a crew.

God supplied these missing pieces when she moved back to “The Dirt” in 2007. It is now time to follow through and make it happen. Robert Gamble is the US representative from Daytona’s First Presbyterian Church, over there right now, and has been more than encouraging as we get all the details together.

Shelters and schools have been set up in Nepal and Ukraine from Dirt City locals Bob Gamble and Mike Hess. Check their sites and stories out below.

www.thischildhere.org
www.nepalorphanshome.org

3.30.2008

That journey of discovery; when you find something and make it yours.

My First Time - A Collection of First Punk Show Stories, Edited by Chris Duncan
"There’s something about beginnings, something magical and romantic and completely ridiculous. There is something dangerous as well. As humans, how often do we discover something that completely changes our lives? How often can we pinpoint the exact moment when you know, down deep in your guts, that things can never ever be the same again?
I think youthful idealism is beautiful. The urgency and power that a group of humans with the same beliefs and ideas can harness is intoxicating and infectious. I think that’s what does it; that unified/unifying urgency is what makes people invest their lives and take ownership of a scene, sub-culture, or identity, even though eventually they may drift from the community they helped construct. The ability to participate and build, rather than just plainly observe and accept without question, is what’s key. It’s about being in a place so intimate that just showing up makes you an integral part of the whole. Knowing that without you, it couldn’t be the same. Knowing you are connected to a community. " -
Introduction into a collectin of first punk show stories



I think these two paragraphs fit perfectly in this blog and with our ideals as compassionate journey seekers. When reading this, I felt like someone had finally figured out how to put these feelings into words; what this music, these people, these experiences we've gone through have left us feeling. It reminded me of the unity involved in the scene...even when it was being disrupted by fear of diversity. In the end, it all came together...even when it didn't. Some just get it, and some spend the rest of their lives tuning into their radio.


Most of these narratives take place between 1984 and 1987 and document that pre-internet time of discovery; “all earned by living”.


Today's interest is mainly sparked through what you can track down via-internet. The photos you see make you sweat with anticipation for that moment when the music pumps its way into your blood and you feel more alive than ever before. The stories you read, make you regret the fact that you were born a little too late and inspire you to create some sort of satisfaction for yourself. Now this is where you decide to revolutionize your life. Have a house show and write a short story on it. Tuck it inside a box and pull it out when you're 30. Throw a pot-luck and invite all the hungry individuals in your neighborhood. Inspire someone...let someone inspire you.


My first show was right here in the Dirt City's beachside area. I was roughly 13 years old and I had no idea that such a lifestyle even existed. Who knew that kids, KIDS, could hold so much power. I walked down those steps in that old church we'd visit every Wednesday night for kicks and free food, only to be amazed by the lack of light, flood of faces I have never seen before, and a noise that rattled my spine. I was astonished at the sight of what became my first punk show. There were booths set up displaying music on cassette tapes and vinyl, tattooed skin that carried suspenders...there were grown men "dancing" in a huge circle along with younger boys and girls of all varieties. It was the most cultured experience of my life at the time. Over shoulders I could see my brother's 11inch mohawk and all I wanted was to be standing by his side. I got lost in a shuffle of nothing I knew and I loved every moment of it. As out-of-place as I felt, I didn't care enough to leave. The music was pulling me in and I knew at that moment I'd never ask for it to let me go. This was where I wanted to be.

2.19.2008

A Little Nugget

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

One thing every good magazine has is an editorial section; a little nugget the editor wants whispered in your ear, as you flip through the pages. So, here goes mine.

I am always up for leaving my eyes and ears open throughout the day, just in case God has his own editorial note for me. God is always switching things up, reaching out to you, where you can be reached. At anyrate, this month anyway, it has been through sayings on posters. I have jotted down at least 8 good quotes from posters that just kept catching my eye. And today, as I started to write this editorial, I actually began writing something along the lines of the reward being in the journey… that is, until I saw “my” poster. It was hanging on a classroom wall, nothing fancy. It read, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

I thought this quote tied perfectly into one of the things Dirt City Zine is about; which is, finding the beauty in our community, however each of us may represent it. Furthermore, without being in tune with my surroundings today, I would have missed the poster, which gave me inspiration for this note. Thanks God.

Morgan McDole

2.01.2008

Surf Session w/ Chad Doyle

Relax and enjoy. Get motivated to surf. Or just say, Chad is a ripper. Ponce Inlet boys keepin' it real. Think I saw some Mike Ranni in der' too.

Click on the title.

Oh yeah, Chad also rocks because he sent over these Dirty Bird clothing pics, b/c I had no good ones with their last interview. So click on the Dirty Bird interview and you'll see their awesome sewing work. The model is Meredith (Chad's cousin) in Malibu.

1.31.2008

The New American Slavery

By Jolly Roger
slicingthroats@yahoo.com
4-2-5


The average American in the year 2005 lives a fragile existence, in a struggle for survival that can be ended by missing a few paychecks. The carrot at the end of the stick which was formerly known as "the American dream" has been replaced by a whip that can best be described as the American nightmare of homelessness, and slow, early death. You no longer work to achieve a better life for yourselves and your children. You work to keep a roof over your head, and you pray that you don't lose it. You became a slave when fear replaced incentive as your motivation to work, but I still suggest that you work while you can, because if the company you work for can't send your job overseas, the U.S. government is allowing 2000 people per day to enter this country illegally, because they're willing to do your job for less.

It doesn't matter if you're a "white collar" or "blue collar" employee. If you're an American, you're too highly paid. There are billions of people who want your job, and your government is doing all they can to see that you lose it to them. You see, we're not really Americans anymore. Now we're just anonymous faces in the "global village," because our government has sold our nation to foreigners and international bankers, and the new bankruptcy law has doomed the American citizen to a life of debt slavery. They'll insist that illegal immigrants are only doing jobs that Americans refuse to do, and you'll probably believe it, because if you're watching the TV that shovels that crap, you probably still have your job. The illegal immigrants are doing jobs that Americans always did, and every unemployed American I talk to can't find a job anywhere. And just like the European immigrants that flooded this country before the economic depression of the 1930's, today's illegal immigrants also have no gripe with a government that has allowed them work for high wages in America, and send billions back to their homeland. Nor do they care very much about our constitution, bill of rights, or way of life. They're only here for what they can grab, and our government has welcomed them with open arms, because they're grabbing it from you.

You're already working much longer, and much harder, to achieve a much lower standard of living than the previous generation, and 25 percent of working Americans no longer even get a vacation. The Social Security retirement age has been raised to match the life expectancy of American males, so apparently, you're also expected to work until you're dead. When you do finally get a vacation, they only trip you'll be taking will be in a pine box, and that's only if you're one of the lucky ones. Most of us will only get the state-issued canvas bag that gets tossed into the pit with all the others. If you don't mind the fact that you'll be working until you're dead, you might also want to consider the fact that you'll get nothing for your labor, because this nation's economy is about to crash like a freight train, and when it does, everything you've worked for will vanish. After the depression gets ugly, and your family has made the adjustment from three meals per day to three meals per week, the newspapers will blame your hunger on "the economy," as if it were some magical force that uncontrollably ruined a couple hundred million lives. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Politicians and international bankers can manipulate national economies at will, much in the way the media manipulates your mind, and a decision has been made to impoverish Americans, because global government requires that everyone in the world have an equally low standard of living. Simply put, we're being robbed of all we've worked for, because our government wants us to be poor, hungry, and docile, dependant upon them for our existence, and in fear of them for our lives. The government of the United States is intentionally destroying the economy of the United States, because the politicians and the international bankers they work for have decided that the American way of life, and catering to the demands of the American constitution, is simply too expensive.

Regardless of how wealthy you think you are, you actually have no real money at all. The "federal reserve notes" that are in your wallet, and your bank account, aren't really money, but are actually only paper on a debt that can never be paid, not even by combining all the assets and labor of every American alive today. Any loan-shark with a third grade education will tell you "the paper's no good," and naturally, the foreign investors who allow us to float this debt, have come to the same conclusion.

What is commonly known as the "U.S. dollar," represents a debt that is owed by the U.S. federal government, to the federal reserve bank. The federal reserve bank happens to be the privately owned entity that lent the money that's represented by the paper in your wallet. The federal reserve act signed away everything you own, and the fruit of your labor as collateral on this debt, and as foreign investors are becoming increasingly unwilling to invest the $2 billion per day needed to cover the interest, our creditors will want to collect it.

About 90 percent of all Americans are mortgaged to the hilt, and would have little or no assets left if all debts and liabilities were to be paid.* Most Americans have taken advantage of low interest rates, and are now paying a mortgage on their homes. The booming real estate market has made every purchase profitable, because the price of a home always rises. The problem is that the price of a home today is incredibly over-inflated, and the real estate boom that's been keeping the American economy afloat, is about to bust. Interest rates are going to rise, and the price of your home is going to drop drastically, which will leave you stuck paying for a house that probably wouldn't pay the interest on your debt if you sold it. If you're lucky enough to remain employed, inflation will shred your paycheck until you can no longer make mortgage payments. This is when you need to remember that when a nation's economy collapses, the wealth of the nation doesn't disappear, it only changes hands.

Millions of Americans are about to be tossed into the street, and because we're a kinder and gentler America, from the street they'll be tossed into shelters. Once in the shelter, they'll be wards of the social service system, which will make sure they all have food, and a bed to sleep in. In exchange for that food and shelter, the "welfare reform" act will put them to work at jobs where they will collect no additional salary. I guess the idea of "welfare reform" is a lot more acceptable to Americans than "forced labor" but regardless of what you call it, many Americans will soon experience slavery once again, and the slaves are not just sweeping public streets. Under the welfare reform act, many Americans are being put to work for private companies for no wages other than the cost of their food and shelter, both of which constitute the bare minimum requirements of survival. By causing the economy to collapse, and then "saving" the poor, our government can legally force millions of Americans into slavery. The new slavery will be blamed on "the economy," and it will employ a much larger percentage of the population than it did before the civil war.

To understand how they're accomplishing this, we need to turn our thoughts back to our monetary system, because due to the fact that it is no longer based on the gold standard, our government is in control of the money supply, and that gives them the ability to cause rampant unemployment, which is exactly what they're doing. The framers of the U.S. constitution protected us from this brand of tyranny, but because Americans were foolish enough to ignore and/or trust their government, they will become slaves, but most of them will blame themselves for their plight.

Article 1, Section 10, of the U.S. constitution clearly states that "no state shall... make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts." The constitution's prohibition of "fiat money" (what's in your wallet) guarantees that the wealth of the nation remains in the hands of the people, which leaves the government incapable of stealing the population's wealth, as they're doing today. You can collect all the dollars that you like. Our government decides what they're worth, and by keeping the presses working overtime, they're insuring that the dollar will soon be worthless.

The U.S. department of labor has also changed the way it collects data regarding unemployment, which allows for the fraudulent unemployment figures that are printed in the newspapers, and allows working Americans to believe that things aren't really that bad. Their new "household survey" system avoids counting most of the poor by basing unemployment figures on telephone surveys. A real estimate, based on population and payroll taxes, reveals that about 25 percent of the American workforce is presently unemployed, and that will eventually force them into the social service slavery system. Unless your mortgage and debts are completely paid off, and you can still pay your property taxes, there's a good chance you'll soon be joining them. Welcome to the third world, and to an American world, where slavery is legal once again.

What are you going to do when your government forces you into slavery? You can't avoid it, because if you're homeless, you'll be rounded up and brought to a "shelter", where you'll be fed, and probably medicated if you're not happy to be there. With so many people becoming homeless, it will be easy for them to find an apartment for you, and social services will pay your rent, and give you food stamps.

Soon after that they will find you a job, but naturally, you won't be taking home a paycheck because you're in debt to the social service system. They'll tell you that you're working your way back to independence, but since your salary will never be more than your expenses, you'll work for free until you're dead. If you refuse to work, the government "assistance" will be cut off, you'll be back out on the street, and you'll probably do your next job with a shackle around your ankle.

I'm not asking that you waste the time or paper required to write your congressman, because they don't care what you think anyway. What I am asking you to do is to remember something. When the economy does crash, and you're forced into the street. I want you to remember that this isn't your fault, and it's not the result of a "bad economy." Please remember that you're poor, hungry and homeless, because that's where our government wants you to be, and they intentionally destroyed the U.S. economy because they want you to suffer, and beg. And regardless of how bad things get, never sell your rifle. -- Jolly Roger

"Lenin is said to have declared that the best way to destroy the capitalist system was to debauch the currency. By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens..... Lenin was certainly right." - John Maynard Keynes*

*90 percent of all Americans are mortgaged to the hilt, and would have little or no assets left if all debts and liabilities were to be paid. --- Rep. Traficant to U.S. Congress.

**John Maynard Keynes is the economist for whom our present monetary system is named.

Unlike this nation's wealth, anything written by Jolly Roger is the property of the American people, and the author hereby grants permission to anyone who so desires to post, copy, forward or distribute this letter as they see fit, and in fact, the author encourages you to do so.

1.30.2008

The Pitbull Run by Dug Ketterman (guest editorial)

This story cracked me up, I had to post it...so I hope Dug is okay with that....

So this is a crazy story that happened while I went cruising with Kyle Beachside last night....

We were just checking out the new paranormal neighborhood that we have rescently moved to on Beachside, Daytona Beach Florida. I say paranormal because of the famous haunted Lillian Place that our 100 yr-old home looks over, while nestled descretely above the burial remains of native american indians, and also happens to be right on the end of the Orange Ave. bridge; that has had reported sightings of a transluscent hitch hiker. Needless to say...kinda creepy...oh yeah, I forgot to mention the serial killer that is on the loose in Daytona...

Now I was cruising on my New-Jersy style low-rider beach cruiser while Kyle surfed his way through the dark side streets and alley's on the fence post with wheels, showing me my endless street spots and rad places to get killed! After skating some fairly interesting spots, we found ourselves on a sidewalk of a tiny, dark side street that would prove to be a bit squirrelly.

...I swear this dog was 96.3% wolf, and 3.7% hell. ?He was jerked back with his 4-ton chain just before it tore into Kyles head...but this is wear it gets good....

A couple of blocks later, Kyle gets a call from Claire, and is oblivious to the world around him, except for the asphault and concrete that was laid before him. I, on the other hand, had a a full view of what could have been a disaster....

All I hear is some kids yelling out a name...Killer, here killer.....then I look over and this Huge pitbull is running right next to me, then passes me up and heads for Kyle's heels...chomping and ready to "play". ...I just said as calmly as possible..."Kyle, just keep skating"...after about a block of the dog chase, it finally gave up and returned to its property it was trying to protect.

After Kyle hung up the phone, I said "holy shit man, that was close!!!"
He replied, "what was close?"

He had no idea the dog was back there! That was why he was so calm, and the dog backed down...what a session!