SANGER'S MAIL TAP. episode one. Write me EMAIL #50 > TITO! 12/03/03 Uh, I'm worried that Tito might be unconcious somewhere in a pool of his own vomit, covered in flies and excrement. Is there someone who could check that out? The people miss him. —Lauren Cook Hey Carl, Where's Tito? I need a wash in the lounge. —Chris. I'm worried as well. APB is out... —Carl EMAIL #49 > Carl is the hotdog and Crail is the bun? 12/03/03 Yo Carl, i think this is the best email you will ever read/ consider this as a rhyming need/ or as words to heed/ but these words wont mislead/ indeed you should never smoke weed/ but this email is to implant the seed/ a seed that will grow into a tree/ planted and watered and maintained by me/ as you can see/ this letter has nothin to do with crailtap homie G/ i need to pee/ but i think i will hold in/ so i can begin to end this email that shall win/ your hearts and brains/ like speeding trains/ old men racing with cains/ or ghosts with chains/ carl sanger i find your column delightful and fun/ youre most def my number one/ youre the hot dog and crailtap is the bun/ oh well i think im done/ but before i go/ i would like to show/ you that youre my bro/ with a giant email hug/ to make you feel warm and snug/ like a bug in a rug/ HOLLA! —John Thatcher EMAIL #48 > Viva España! 11/24/03 Hi,Carl. I'm Pau from Spain. I like soo much your page and histories. And I have a skater friend, his name is ANDREU RENAU, he is pro for a skate company in Spain and he has a good video in their web page, with EMIR KUSTURIKA music if you wants to put in your links is: Eina Skate Company. Good stuff. Welcome to Crailtap, España. —Carl EMAIL #47 > The Shampoo Lounge Underground 11/21/03 Hi,Carl. I do remember crail message board. Please dont ever start it again. It's all about hating each other and whining. Everyone hit/beat posts that stick out. Like someone says he likes Daniel Castillo and someone else would say Daniel sucks. Over and over and over. Plus, Tito's column souldn't have scroll. Having scroll will just make more haters. Thanks. —Tomo I like having the Shampoo Lounge separate from the other scrolling type columns at Crailtap. It keeps it underground. I'm scared if Tito get's front page coverage it will go to his head and the cynical tone of the Lounge will be no more. Tito is the black sheep of the family. —Chris, London Hmmm. Good points. I'm in agreement. Keep Tits underground and alive. —Carl EMAIL #46 > Johnson, Sidepipe, Little Buddy... 11/21/03 Dear Crailtap, How funny—of all days my boyfriend has Crailtap up, it's while I decide to check my e-mails on his computer. As a long-time Crail fan, I was excited to see what the eff you guys have been up to, since l haven't been on since I left Supra sometime in May. Now—I in no way am a feminist of any kind. I enjoy the humour that comes along with the battle of the sexes—however, I guess I failed to realize that the word vagina is offensive to healthy, handsome young men such as yourselves. I would think that you would rather embrace the word instead of try to come up with half-assed euphemisms. I know you probably take no responsibility for the opinions and views expressed by your daily 5s authors, but for the sake of young boys everywhere who live for this site, I think you should make a point of publishing a special episode of top 5 penis euphemisms—just to keep the life long girls and boys competition on level playing ground. Sincerely yours, —Lana Hey Lana, I don't believe that healthy, handsome young men such as ourselves are offended by the word, ah, vagina. It's just so... clinical. Anyhow, I'm sure Lew is cooking up a few dozen euphemisms for penis as I write this. —Carl EMAIL #45 > Of Toilets and Dogs 11/20/03 Hey Carl I been updating the Toilet site like crazy. O yea this is the kid whose dog thinks you're hot, by the way. And I got the kinks out of my editing system, check out my media site. —Tim Hoerner Some mornings I just dread opening the IN box... but then I get letters like this one and I go home satisfied that I've done something good, or, at least, mediocre. —Carl EMAIL #44 > Hope 11/20/03 Carl, 14 year-old kids have been dumb and mean since the beginning of time. I'm 15 years old and I can say with complete certainty that I said some dumb and mean things one year ago. But some kids are more stupid and more aggressive than others. I definitely was never one of those little shitheads that you see at the skatepark. I really despise those kids. But don't worry. 15 is like the cutoff date for all the losers. All of my friends (they're still my friends) quit skating when they turned 15. Only a couple people in high school skate and none of them are dumb or mean. —Brandon Brown What a relief. Thanks, Brandon, I will try remember that. Now, if we could only figure out the cut off date for dumb and mean adults, we'll be STOKED. —Carl EMAIL #43 > God and Girl 11/17/03 Well, I have a question for you. If God is almighty, then is it possible for him /her to create a rock so big that he/she couldn't lift it? It makes you think, doesn't it? I wanted your view on this bewildering subject. My friend that I skate with has no job and his girlfriend is pregnant... it is not cool. I feel bad for him... unless he is happy, then I'm all for it. Has this ever happened to you? OK... I just re-hung my Girl Skateboards team poster form 1997 back up on my wall.. I'm pretty stoked on that and I'm also stoked on Carroll's switch krook on the wendys ledge in sf that appeared in 411 number 25. That was so sick. I love carroll. Maybe too much. Whatever. Love, —John Thatcher Jesus Christ, Thatcher (no pun intended), all those nonsequiturs and you expect we to answer in a coherent fashion? Well, maybe you don't... All I know is, if God could talk to you, he'd ask you why in Hell (no pun intended) you took down that poster in the first place, you dirtbag. —Carl EMAIL #42 > When Did Kids Get So Mean and Dumb? 11/14/03 listen you jackass, i dont know why im writin to you , maybe its because i have to time on my hands... but thats besides the point. i was wondering why there arent any marc johnson interviews on your half ass website!? after all, his part in "yeah right" ruled, and contiues to rule, anywho, this is gettin a little long, oh and do you use the home row keys to type? —Paul Mezinskas, 14, chicago Illinois. P.S. "i havent taken a shower in a month!" can you guees were that quote is from? Ok. Now I gotta sit here and take this shit from a 14 year-old who can't even use the shift key or a dictionary? I don't get paid enough. Pay closer attention in school, Paul, MJ would be embarrassed, as he is probably one of the sharpest skaters out there. Also, may I recommend you don't waste your time reading half-assed websites. —Carl EMAIL #41 > The Bitter Pill 11/13/03 Did you go to All Tomorrow's Parties this weekend? Talk about amazing while at the same time horrible. All those damn pretentious coffee house bastards smoking like the chimneys of Auschwitz (and I make that not-so-ironic connection because I want to burn them all in ovens). I would get into something like acid jazz but then I would be missing the fine musical craftings of bands like The Shins, Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, etc. Man, screw all the fake people out there ruining it for me, the "unfashioncore," wearing pants that are actually comfortable and a shirt that doesn't reveal my nipples. That's right. Screw you all. I have a mullet. [I want to make] Love [to you], —Justin No, I didn't go. —Carl EMAIL #40 > Tito's Lost Bro 11/13/03 Hi Carl, I know you are not right person to write about TITO's Lounge. But I don't know his address, so I wrote this to you with a slight chance of you'll let him know he has a bro in Japan. I do read and love his shampoo lounge, it makes me alive. I like these useless info that he encounters everyday life. Like about ants and plywood. It's interesting and I love sipping french roast with reading his column. (of course yours too!) Everyday I opened his column and if it has updated, I was like YEAH RIGHT! So, if you have a chance, please tell him keep the column alive. He has a suporter in japan. THANKS A LOT! —Tomo Just giving you the heads up, Tits. —Carl EMAIL #39 > Goofs 11/03/03 Dear Carl, Looks like Activision was so excited about having P-Rod in their game that, in their ebullient celebration, they forgot that he's goofy. Just more proof that Activision not only doesn't give a shit about the common skater, but now also the pro skater. Check the riders profiles for the proof. —Tobias, Seattle, WA Oops. A little egg on the proverbial face might get them a goofy foot in the ass. I guess we'll have to wait and see if Paul's character skates goofy or regular in the game... —Carl EMAIL #38 > Sacto Punctuation 10/26/03 Sacramento rocks i can't wait till omar and biebel's parts come out in the new transworld video i ove watching these guys skate because they skate the same spots as me i live in rocklin a few streets away from the topaz rales and its cool to see what pro can do at spots you goto almos every day like the roseville triple the topaz rales vincel brown pioneer (red rails) roseville high and oakmont just to see how you match up and to know you are in a little bit of skate history i just wish i could meet and skate with them more often but who cares skate for fun. P.S. skateboarding is not a sport or a action sport!!!  Less is more stay pure stay poor You lost me with that PS.... actually, you never really had me. Does "less is more" apply to punctuation and capitalization? If so, please rethink. But speaking of Sacto, remember Sam Cunningham? You should. —Carl EMAIL #37 > Porous and the 3-Fingered Man 10/26/03 Carl, Thank YOU for putting me into a linking page. I LOVE you. I just returned from Belize last week. Here is a photo of my friend Eddy Mai with his 3-fingered left hand. LOVE Porous Walker EMAIL #36 > Art Fag Rant 10/23/03 Hi, As a student at Berkeley majoring in Art-Fag, the little discourse with the art-fag hater is, as the subject of this e-mail states, Totally Fucking Amazing. It will saves me hundreds of days worth of primary research. You see, my thesis is that 93% of the world's population is Art-Fag. The remaining 7% is made up of Inbred Appalachian Mountain Man Types and their seaworthy associates, the Mothershittin Pirate Lesbian Brigade (about 2% of total population). So anyway this dude that e-mailed you, like me and just about everyone else, is an undercover art-fag. You see, he calls you a wannabe art-fag, thereby establishing his belief that there are true artfags (of course, he is a bit mistaken, considering it is quite easy to be an art-fag, and no distinction lies between real and wannabe). So these art-fags and mountain men are in this mortal struggle for world domination. And shit is gonna hit the fan reeeal soon, real soon, yo. and busta rhymes and martha stuart, leaders of the art-fags are getting ready to mobilize the following that Oprah has made for them, whilst Koston, the guys at turntablelab, and friendster all go into action to spur on the art fag masses to smash the mountain men into oblivion in a swift and glorious strike. So, as you can tell, my quest is quite urgent. If this doesnt work, I will have to go back to my first research project of establishing whether viagra driven old men's tennis swings reveal their sexual tendencies. Thank you tremendously for your invaluable assistance. Pink is fucking rad... the color "sweet child o' mine" What else can I possibly add to that? —Carl EMAIL #35 > NICE JOB 10/15/03 Whas up Sanger? My name is Travis and I run a North Carolina skateboard site skatenc.com and figured you may want to check out this clip I just put together. If you like it don't hold back on letting others know. Thanks. —Travis Knapp-Prasek Why would I hold back, Travis? Good stuff. —Carl EMAIL #34 > NO JOHN THATCHER 10/03/03 What if we were all victims of some sort of mass delusion and nothing really exists? Like everyone in the world... then Crailtap would not be real. That sucks. My Mike Carroll Vans shoe collection would not exist!!!! Ahh this sucks. Thanks a lot Carl for being such a jerk and not existing. Love, —John Thatcher If Crailtap or your shoes or I did not exsist, neither would you... nanny, nanny, nah, nah. —Jerk EMAIL #33 > HIGHLY SUSPECT 10/03/03 You said T. Hawk was the only dude who could pull that off [see Sanger Sings, entry #23]? I don't think he pulled it off very well. This is seriously jacked. McDonald's is not skateboarding. Hawk has done a lot for the sport and he seems like a pretty cool and funny dude, but some of his business decisions are highly suspect. I shouldn't bitch because in two years skating will probably fall off a little bit and I'll be wishing for the days when Skating was so popular it was on McDonald's commercials. —Brandon Brown I think the only people who will be wishing for the days of McDonald's skating commercials in two years are the ones who are losing their jobs right now. —Carl EMAIL #32 > CHICO LOPEZ 10/03/03 Is it just me or does Chico Brenes look like George Lopez (the comedian guy)? —Bob Marley You decide, I'm not so sure... —Carl EMAIL #31 > NO IDEAS 9/24/03 i have no idea i just felt like writing something and then sending it. —Harry OK, Harry, fine... but why did you send it 3 times? Are you related to Tac0T1me in Email #11? —Carl EMAIL #30 > HONORABLE MENTION 9/23/03 Subject: Best Contest Contest You should have people send in money and whoever sends in the most money wins a free Crailtap t-shirt. —Chris Sanchez That, Chris, is the best idea I have ever heard... however, our lawyer didn't think so. Question: if you are sending in money to win a contest, can the prize really be concidered free? —Carl EMAIL #29 > HONORABLE MENTION #2 9/23/03 Subject: Best Contest Contest I think a good contest for you is the “Draw Carl Sanger Contest!!” It would be simple, just have people draw you in any way and decide which one is the funniest, neatest,etc… —Cody Hess Dude, aIthough I am flattered by your idea, there would be no better way to set myself up for you wolves. —Carl EMAIL #28 > THE CORRECT TREE 9/23/03 You're barking up the wrong tree or trees asking those guys for dirt on the Hot Chocolate Tour [ Sanger Sings entry #14 ]. You see, they are all tied in together. You need a non-partisan opinion on what really went down. I got the dirt. But it'll cost ya'. —Annonymous That's what I want to hear. Should we keep your name annonymous, or do you mind if the masses know your identity? What do you want from us, Mr, ah, Pink? —Carl EMAIL #27 > PLEASANT? 9/23/03 Hi Carl, I am really enjoying reading your column in Crailtap. You seem so pleasant and with plenty of common sense... your mother should be proud. Just wanted to say thanks for the Malakye.com site. I'm about to graduate with a Visual Communications degree and wanted a way in the Action Sports industry. Malakye.com is an answer to my prayers! Thanks, —Ingrid Careful, Ingrid, you're starting to sound like a infommercial testimonial. As far as being pleasant and having common sense goes, I haven't told you about the time I chased a man down for cutting me off on the freeway... a story for some other day. Good luck with the job search. —Carl EMAIL #26 > KICK STAND 9/18/03 Just put it up a couple days ago. I sent in the video awhile back of me jumping over my Blazer... www.kickstandmedia.com. And for those who don't know, kickstand is one word... Thanks, —Bret EMAIL #25 > MISTRESS DISTRESS 9/18/03 Um..........alright. I've waited long enough. Carl, will you be my mistress....I think you're an intiguing mother trucker. Did I spell that right? Wwhatever. Give me a call. (925) •••-3090. Please leave me a hot steamy sex message. Love, —John Thatcher Why the hell do I have to get emails like this? John, you've got the wrong idea, kid. Tell your friend he's lucky I didn't post his number. —Carl EMAIL #24 > SON OF SAM #2 9/18/03 Yes, yes, Carl my dog did tell me this [see email #21]. She talks to me... when I'm sleeping. O yea check out my skate company website, please Carl. Yea thats all. -—Tim Hoerner, Grand Rapids, MI The Toilet Skate Family? Dude, I was visitor #697 to your site. Tell your dogs to start spreading the word. That's funny, "your dogs"... get it? —CFS EMAIL #23 > ALTERNATIVES #2 9/16/03 Carl, I saw the letter written about the kid that wanted to get sponsored, (#12 below) and I was wondering: You said that you knew you wanted to get a job in the skateboarding world, how do you pursue/get that kind of job? I mean how did you get yours? I'm a junior in high school and I've had this on my mind for a little while now, I'd love to get a job with a company involved with skateboarding. Thanks! -—Spohnz There are numerous ways to do anything. Work hard, meet people, be positive. Mainly, do what you want to do and do it really well. Check these sites for jobs: Malakyecom Craigslist.org Those are just two of countless sites. Just cruise through them and see the wide variety of options... some in skateboarding. Good luck. —CFS EMAIL #22 > ITALIANOS 9/16/03 ...just to have a look. Cerberoleso. lots of contents, some skate-related! See you, —Lorenzo Enzo, I couldn't find any skate related stuff on there, but that's OK. Nice work. I especially like the flash movie, "Prelude." What does Cerberoleso mean in English? —CFS EMAIL #21 > I THOUGHT SON OF SAM WAS LOCKED UP? 9/16/03 Carl, I hate to admit but I think my dog has a crush on you. -—Tim Hoerner, Grand Rapids, MI Please let me know that your dog didn't actually tell you this. —CFS EMAIL #20 > HELP THESE WOMEN 9/12/03 Have you ever seen that amazing skateboarding video where they are just totally shradding the gnar while volcanoes explode next to them and vultures dive down and drop venomous snakes in their path but then their friends with muscle cars burn out around the corner and smash through a wall of cupcakes and run over the snakes like two miliseconds before their fangs sink into the skateboarders? Oh yeah, AND all of the skateboarders are the highest ranking skateboarders in North America of the female orientation? You haven't seen that one? You haven't even heard of it before? Well that's because it was impossible to conceive and produce such a genius masterpiece until now. The forces of the universe have united Villa Villa Cola with the very best videographers, cinematographers, and riders in the super secret female skateboarding underground and have called them into action for the purpose of producing this legendary cinematic refreshment. We need YOUR help to do it though, for we are but peasants struggling against the doldrums of financial deficiency. Production has been underway on this project for nearly a year now, but we need help to realize the completion this epic saga. Villa Villa Cola has created noble T-shaped garments printed on sweatshop-free American Apparel shirts to raise money to cover our production costs. This is your chance to be a part of history. There has never been a video made like this one. You'll be so psyched on this video, your elbows will fall off. Guaranteed. So make haste, go visit our new sophisticated spiderless website and load up on shirts for you and your chums to prove you are down with Villa Villa Cola and our most tender quest of all time. If you have any questions, email us at info@villavillacola.com. —Lori D EMAIL #19 > FIENDSTER 9/12/03 Can we be friends on Friendster? If you want, I'll e-mail you back the link. Thanks. —Boosh No. A friend is someone you can sit down with in the same room. You don't really need to exchange words, no touching has to take place, it's just the idea of being close to another human and knowing that everything is OK between you. Comfort. Love. You can't do that on a computer. My apologies for being harsh, but, fuck Friendster... go hug your breathing, physical friends. —CFS EMAIL #18 > PUUPPONEN? 9/12/03 'Sup Carl? I'm not sure but the skater on the cover really looks like Harri Puupponen, a great Finnish skater. I'm not sure though, just search for his name on Google or something and you'll probably find out. Maybe you've already found out who the guy on the cover is, I just figured I'd write anyway. Have a nice weekend! —Andy, Helsinki Finland Thanks, Andy, we'll check it out. —Carl EMAIL #17 > HAY QUE RICA! 9/10/03 Yo, yo, Carl I saw your 9/8 post, and in it you said there is no word for Cute in Spain. While that is true another decent substitute could be "rica" as in "Hay que cosita mas rica". Translating to "Oh you are so cute" or "Oh what a cute thing". Or another variation of that could be "Hay que cosita" and skip the whole rica thing. That whole "ita" or "ito" depending on gender is a suffix that can be added to nearly any word in Spanish or Spain or Castilian. It can imply cuteness. Example: Miguel >>> Use: Migelito Example: Gato >>> Use: Gatito Example: Chico >>> Use: Chicitito I'm sure there are or is another word one could use as well but it's not coming to me at the moment... Just something to think about, C-dawg Sanger. —Eric Yacula ps. it's about time that Raymond posted... jeeze!! Thank you, Eric. Isn't cula, a woman's ass? So your last name would mean "your ass." I don't know, maybe I'm reaching. —C-dawg EMAIL #16 > SELF INK 9/10/03 Is it me, or isn't it a fact that quoting yourself and/or reporting on your actions from a 3rd person perspective is as lame and dork-worthy as giving yourself a nickname or calling up a newspaper to do an article on your "friend" (i.e.yourself)?...Well [censored] does it shamelessly and it sucks...Fucking bugs me!...How do you decide that your "quote" is better than a real one?..takes huge brass ones... Thanks, Carl —Dude Are you THE Dude from The Big Lebowski? Or is Dude a nickname? Regardless, when asked, Carl Sanger responded, "I don't know, man, I guess." EMAIL #15 > WHICH ONES? 9/10/03 Hi Carl, long time no talk. I still love you and you still have a pair of my underwear. ps. Write back, I miss you. Sweetheart, you have to leave your name if you want me to figure out which undies are yours. —C-dawg EMAIL #14 > HONG KONG 9/10/03 Yo, I have a question for you. I come from Hong Kong and I was asking why do no pro skaters come on tours here??? I know Hong Kong doesn't have the best skate parks but it does have quite good street. Ok, Laters. One more thing; I am not Chinese, I was born in New Zealand. —Mason Vincent I can't speak for other skate teams, but I'm going to bug Rick and Sam about hitting up Hong Kong with some of the boys. To tell you the truth, that sounds fun as hell. Can we stay at your place? BTW, Mason, what's wrong with being Chinese? —Carl EMAIL #13 > SPEAK IT! 9/4/03 Yo Carl, I like your responces to those who write you. I have no questions, simply a statement about skateboarding. I love it. I'm 28, was never good enough to be pro, in fact I stopped for a while and then got back on the board and I can do more shit now than I could then. I recenlty read the J. Lee/Pastras interview in Skateboarder and was so inspired to hear how fun Jason is finding skating to be. You know, we sometimes get in a rut (or at least I do) about not learing tricks or what ever and in those times one can loose sight of the sheer joy and freedom of just rolling. I'm done... I love skateboarding. Thanks Carl. —Eric Yes. —Carl EMAIL #12 > ALTERNATIVES 9/2/03 I felt it would be wrong for me to pass up a discussion about your first entry about Gator. I don't know shit about skateboarding before the time I started, other than what "The Search for Animal Chin' and other movies like that can show me. I know that sponsorship is a bitch, even when it's in the smallest of forms. Like, for instance, a small town shop giving some local kids a deck or two every month so they will go around and skate some demos and shit and then, say the kid gets hurt, cant skate for a while, he's just off the team. I don't know what im trying to get at. Every now and then I get kind of sad, because I ask myself what am I gonna do after high school, I have the potential to be a good lawyer or some bullshit like that, i just don't care about it anymore. And I keep thinkin' that if I can't do some b.s. lipslides down some 30 stair handrails by then I'm going to be fucked, I am gonna have to go back to school so I can get a job to support myself. Fuck that tho, I prefer skating fresh more than hesh. But my point is that if I'm not good enough to become sponsored by the time I get to an age that I cant go back and do high school over again, I'm going to be fucked, and all the wonderful time I spent skating would have been wasted. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in it for the money or any shit like that, I'm just saying... it's depressing to have that thought in my head. I have recently decided to become sober, so I can focus on skating more, and a little bit more on school. I was inspired to do so after I read the Tom Penny interview in Skateboarder magazine. Tom is my idol. I've got nothing against anyone else who decides to hit bongs or drink beer, its just not for me anymore. This e-mail probably makes no sense, but I feel better after writing it. Peace. —Nicholas z. Gideo. Nicholas, you've been brainwashed. The world isn't just full of lawyers (or other educated "professionals") and pro skaters. In our culture the alternatives for employment, or, in other words, what you really want to do with your life, are endless. I knew early on that pro skater was not the route I had any chance in taking, so I thought about my alternatives. I wanted to be around skating, so I focused on things in the skate industry — if you look at it, the job possibilities in our relatively small industry are very broad. Just work hard and stay focused. If writing your letter made you feel better, maybe writing is something you can pursue. Good luck. —Carl EMAIL #11 > BOREDOM 9/2/03 What's up. Its 9:22 right now. I'm bored. I think I'll eat some waffle crisp. —Tac0T1me The boredom is entirely your fault. Get off the couch. —Carl EMAIL #10 > POO POOED 9/2/03 hey carly i think that ur colomn is pooed and u rnt cool ps u r strange but not the only one Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of the Staff, Students or Board of Governors of Hale School. This email is intended only for the use of the person or entity named above and if you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. This prohibition includes reading, printing, copying, re-transmitting, disseminating, storing or in any other way dealing or acting in reliance on the information. If you have received this Email in error, please notify the sender immediately by return email and destroy the original message. Hale School does not represent or warrant that files attached to this email are free from computer viruses or other defects. Any attached files are provided, and may be used, on the basis that the user assumes all responsibility for any loss or damage resulting directly or indirectly from such use. —Lanagan Well, Lanagan, I'm guessing by the novel-length "disclaimer/warning" from your school, that they don't agree with you. And, also, may I suggest the good people at Hale should spend more time teaching you to write. By posting your email am I "re-transmitting" or "disseminating" it? I'm curious. —Carl EMAIL #9 > MY WAY? 9/2/03 Hello my name is josh and i don't know what i want to do when i grow up so i would like to ask you if you get paid for what you do and if its a good idea to go your way in life. i have to go to college too my grandparents are making me so are there any positions open that you know of that require those diploma things?? —Josh Josh I guess I sort of get paid for this... if you include t-shirts stickers and hardware payment. You ask if it's a good idea to go my way in life... no. Choose your own way, just make your decisions carefully. I would suggest, though, that you get through English class first. If you can write, you can think, if you think, you'll be ok. —Carl EMAILS #7 & #8 > RANDOM 8/29/03 I have found the love of my life — chocolate milk. —Matt Dude, Carl, There is like, no way I am writing you. Dude. —Dustin EMAIL #6 > RIPPIN' LIKE A FAT MAN'S PANTS 8/29/03 When I heard that there was gonna be another friggin 'window' on Crail tap I was slightly feeling that The Tap was having a window ego trip. Anyway, I'm glad to see that ur window is rad. Honestly, I feel ya dawg. —Gidkid009 ps. Oh shit I ripped that painted curb like a fat man's pants when he bends over to pick up a sandwitch EMAIL #5 > EXTREME EXCESS ATHLETE 8/29/03 Hi Carl, I just read your post about "Stoked".. so it seems that the film affected you, but besides the depressing subject matter, do you think the film did a good job of portraying the whole scene back then? I think it covers a part of skate history that needs to be known, especially by the younger crowds who grew up with EXPN and only know skaters as "extreme sports athletes." —Trudy Chan, Marketing Associate, Special Projects, Electronic Artists Trudy, I suppose it covered the pro skater rock star rise and fall pretty well. My version of skateboarding back then — and I was skating every day, making a skate zine and couch touring all over the US with friends — is SO much different than what those very few were experiencing. I guess the problem I have is that it makes that scene out to be an all encompassing vision (no pun intended) of skateboarding, the money, the excess, the crazed little fans (which, BTW, are even more prevalent today). My experience was nothing like that, though I skirted the edges. I received nothing but positiveness (and injuries) from skating and the skaters around me... and honestly, I was in the beginnings of dealing with manic depression myself. Skateboarding saved my life. Skateboarding saves a lot of those kids that come from dysfunctional families. It was (I'm not sure I can judge it today) a community. A sort of tweaked family. I don't know. Gator was a mess way before the money and fame — those were just catalysts to his demise. If he hadn't picked up skating, would he have been a baseball player of natural ability, or an excellent accountant... and still inevitably snapped? Happens all the time. Who knows. I good friend of mine, when he was late to a work meeting (at a skate company, mind you). said, "Sorry I'm late, I woke up this morning and realized I didn't know shit." Thanks for asking. —Carl Carl, I hear you, I hear you... I think that the filmmaker [Helen Stickler] did make that point about why and how some skaters made it through that period (like Tony Hawk and Steve Cab) and the multiple reasons that Gator didn't and ended up flipping out completely. And yeh, the movie paints a rather dark image of skating, since the focus of it was on Gator and his story.. but I think you can kind of step back from that and realize that it's really just one man's sad life.  Glad to hear your side of things in more detail... You should mention that the film hits more theaters tomorrow, so ppl can see it for themselves. —Trudy ps. Would you want any of the movie posters? I have a few that I want to send over... Trudy, the movie bummed me out remember? I certainly don't want any posters reminding me of a murderer. Thanks, but no thanks. —Carl EMAIL #4 > SIMPLE 8/28/03 Your an Idiot —Saul Goode EMAIL #3 > LONG LIVE THE KING 8/28/03 I think it's time. Crailtap peaked early in the summer. I love the tap, but image if Elvis was alive today, ho-hum? See what I'm sayin'? It's not a bad thing. —Michael Wikan EMAIL #2 > GOOD vs. EVIL 8/28/03 Dear Carl, I'd go with Girl skateboards. Fuck World Industries. The new section is great. peace. —Brian P.S. Tell Rick Raymond to get his shit together and update his section. Peace. EMAIL #1 > RAPSCALLIONS ALL 8/28/03 Dear Carl, I'm writing this e-mail in response to your first entry in your new column, which got me thinking. All this stupid commercialization is drving me crazy. It's not just the big companies and shit, it's the people in general. This has been bugging me for such a long time but there wasn't really anyone who I could talk to about it that would understand. Skateboarding is so much more profound than what all this media bullshit makes it out to be. Everyone who doesn't skate says "Oh skateboarding, that's where they ride in that wood pipe thing right?" or, even worse, "Oh skateboarders, those are those rapscalions that yell at police officers and disrupt our community." Well fuck those people. To me at least, skateboarding is almost spiritual, it touches something in my soul that I can't describe. It's like art in motion to me. But when I'm in the act it's so simple. It's just pure fun, and while it can be frustrating, I'm never frustrated enough to quit. But someone who doesn't skate can never understand this mindset, so they make up mindsets of their own. Well fuck those people. No matter how commercialized skateboarding gets, I'm just going to block out the bullshit and skate. I hope everyone does the same. As a great man once said, "People who watch the X-games will never understand what we do." —Joseph Staten, 15, Seattle WA Write Carl.