Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Well, I finally bought another car. Its nothing nice,fast,or very awesome. But it runs and works cheaply. I bought a 1996 ford aspire. Its purple and flat black.It gets roughly 36+ miles on a gallon of gas. Its name you may ask?.. The mauve avenger! Thats right, from Hey Arnold! Pictures soon. Recent updates in my life include. Bowling, beer, good friends, fun times, chest tattoos, new friends and volunteering at a fixed gear race. Im also trying to find an easy job to work. Maybe at little skeezers pizza. Shit would be dialed! No new love intrests have come my way but its all good. im gunna keep on peeing in buttholes and doing what I do best... nothing. Ha.. until next time, Jaybuzz.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Happiness
Is the key to life.
True facts, things are looking up. I'm with friends in Birmingham. Just doing what feels best. Were heading to Augusta, GA tommorow for the ADTR show and then to some girls house in SC for a couple days then shredding our bikes at the national in GA. I'm also selling my car this weekend, getting my tax return a back and next wed getting my chest Tattood. I am so siked.
Oh and I have a mustache.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
True that!
"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." - H.G. Wells
But for real, I am going to sleep now.
But for real, I am going to sleep now.
Bike.
I need to get back on it. Found out last week that I fractured my eye socket while riding in Austin, Texas on the Savage South trip. I've been putting around on my bike since, but nothing for real. Should have my car finished and back in Birmingham soon, living in the good ol' basement again with Jesse and Josh until we can get our own place. Really siked for that, I've missed Birmingham it has def been good times.I think it will be good for me to kinda start over in a way. It's 6:18 in the morning and I have yet to been to sleep. My sleeping schedule is terrible. Time to sleep.
Holla, Jaybuzz.
Holla, Jaybuzz.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
jdknakjnv
I havent thought of a clever title for this posting just yet, so that mess of letters will have to do for now. I have been back at my parents house now for just over a week and I am already starting to get depressed.
I'm not sure exactly what does it, but im almost positive it would be the lack of friends here. I actually dont have a friend for atleast 40 miles of this place. It really makes you think about all that friends do for you. Wether it be driving me 100 miles home, keeping me company,watching movies, sharing your beers with me, or in one case overcoming the dislike of a girl just to make me happy, going out of your way to make sure I have food I can eat when I breake my face or even offering me a can of soup,because I couldnt chew, offering me your beer,weed or hydrocodone when I had a terrible headache, allowing me to sleep on your couch for a week and go to work with you everyday,packing 3 deep in the front seat of a single cab truck to experience a great week with many new friends,helping me to work on my car,buying me seven 16oz tall boys at the bar, riding bikes with me, traveling across country with me for 3 days just to race our bikes,letting me sleep in your camper, having my back when I am in need of help,working on my backyard ramps with me, taking pictures of me, taking me to my first strip club, giving me a washer or spacer for my bike, allowing me to be a part of your company or help push your t-shirts, giving me a ride to the store or bar. This list could literally go on forever...
Besides my mom,dad,grandma, and last but not least my grandfather. I dont have much else. (I love my family to death.) Friends are all I truly have besides family. I mean sure I have a few material objects. A couple bikes, a car, a laptop and clothes. But without friends what would any of that matter. I love some of my friends just as much as I love my family. You guys know who you are. I would do almost anything for these friends. It doesnt matter If we have only been friends for a week youve already helped bring my life joy in some way. I'd thank each and evryone of you personally but you motherfuckers know exactly who you are, I love you
I'm not sure exactly what does it, but im almost positive it would be the lack of friends here. I actually dont have a friend for atleast 40 miles of this place. It really makes you think about all that friends do for you. Wether it be driving me 100 miles home, keeping me company,watching movies, sharing your beers with me, or in one case overcoming the dislike of a girl just to make me happy, going out of your way to make sure I have food I can eat when I breake my face or even offering me a can of soup,because I couldnt chew, offering me your beer,weed or hydrocodone when I had a terrible headache, allowing me to sleep on your couch for a week and go to work with you everyday,packing 3 deep in the front seat of a single cab truck to experience a great week with many new friends,helping me to work on my car,buying me seven 16oz tall boys at the bar, riding bikes with me, traveling across country with me for 3 days just to race our bikes,letting me sleep in your camper, having my back when I am in need of help,working on my backyard ramps with me, taking pictures of me, taking me to my first strip club, giving me a washer or spacer for my bike, allowing me to be a part of your company or help push your t-shirts, giving me a ride to the store or bar. This list could literally go on forever...
Besides my mom,dad,grandma, and last but not least my grandfather. I dont have much else. (I love my family to death.) Friends are all I truly have besides family. I mean sure I have a few material objects. A couple bikes, a car, a laptop and clothes. But without friends what would any of that matter. I love some of my friends just as much as I love my family. You guys know who you are. I would do almost anything for these friends. It doesnt matter If we have only been friends for a week youve already helped bring my life joy in some way. I'd thank each and evryone of you personally but you motherfuckers know exactly who you are, I love you
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Updates!
Well, I was able to join along for the Savage South trip this year. It was by far one of the most amazing trips I have been able to be a part of. Made new friends and got to see many new sights and parts of the country. The trip started off for us in Birmingham, it then lead us to Jackson, Mississipi and from there off to Baton Rouge, louisiana for a couple days before heading to out destination of Austin, Texas. There are to many good things to type about how much fun the trip was. I did smash my face though. It sucks, but I am alive and still managed to have a good time.
In other news, I may be living in a tent soon. Somewhere in the woods, working an easy job. traveling. living cheap. I will keep you updated.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The bmx industry is fucked.
(Not written by me. Stolen from thecomeupbmx.net message board.)
I know alot of ya have no clue there are other sites out there about BMX, but one of the best is VintageBMX, and they are in tune with stuff the average street kid knows nothing about. This is a huge one. As of right now, new laws have been made that affect every part of the BMX industry. These laws deal with lead in products for kids, or toys. As of right now, all bicycles with a wheel diameter of 24 inches and under are considered "toys". This is a quote from Ryan Birk, formerly of Sun Rims, now with Alienation, who just lost his Kuwahara job since they closed up due to these new laws>
What scares me is how little some of the companies that will be most affected by these new requirements actually know about what is going to happen and how unconcerned some seem to be. We've had lawyers on both sides of the pond looking into this for us for a couple months trying to find loopholes and determine exactly what is required of us as BMX companies. We've probably spent enough on lawyers to at least have covered the required testing on at least a couple models of bikes for at least 1 shipment.
Here's the jist of what is going on now for BMX
"toy" companies.As of Nov. 12, nothing shipped after that date can come into the US without proper 3rd party testing for lead, lead content, and phalates and the certified documnents needed to get through customs at port. This includes complete bikes, frames, and all parts with intended us for any bike 24" and under. The fees for testing are expensive unless you're testing a large volume of parts or bikes and can ammortorize those costs across the board. If you offer a part or bike in different color options, each color must legally be tested. Of course all companies can decide if they want to comply and pay for the testing but it will ultimately begin to affect costs and pricing of products unless the company is making a ton of parts that are getting sold, or the company has a really large petty cash stash. It's been my experience that most BMX companies operate on a pretty defined and tight budget to insure longevity and growth. And the kicker is that you have to conduct testing each time you import product from now on, regardless if it's the exact same product you imported 2 months earlier.
You have until Feb. 9th to sell all your untested products to the consumer (enduser), not just to the bike shops, or on Feb. 10th it becomes illegal for shops or distributors to sell these products without the proper certificate. The fines for this and for trying to import goods into the US without the certificates is in the hundred of thousands.
Companies that haven't tested and received the proper certificates legally have to take any untested product back and refund monies to the dealers or distributors as it is illegal for them to be sold after Feb. 9. This is why Feb 10 is being called National Bankruptcy Day because they have to take back ALL untested product from retailers and distributors and supply refunds even if that product is 10 years old. If the retailer (although highly unlikely Joe's Local Bike Shop would get caught) is caught trying to sell untested goods, the shop will be fined by the CPSC (fines in the hundred of thousands. Which obviously the shop will then turn around and sue the manufacturer for failure to test and likely the company is already been fined as well. You can see how it can get ugly real fast if you don't have the proper test certificates. And the rumors I hear about companies ready to rat out others on Feb 10 is really unsettling
What we're likely to see as BMXer's is that the big companies can probably offset the large testing expenses as their volume is large enough to ammortorize. We'll likely see some price increases from them but they'll still be around. It will hit the small bike and part companies the hardest as the test fees are extensive and companies will have to decide for themselves if they can afford to pay and continue to stay in business. Where the money for this testing comes from and if it's effect on pricing will likely push some of those companies out of the market. With Kuwahara, based on our current growth rate in terms of volume, and projected sales for 09,
we were looking at 125% price increases. With the economy and all things considered, $1800 to $2000 complete bikes probably aren't going to sell to well. That was our sad reality and our situation will force us to become a frame only distributor for 09.
I hope the other companies in the BMX world don't have to suffer the same fate as Kuwahara and it will be each companies decision if they choose to comply with the new test laws forced on us as "toy" manufactures.Hope this rambling simplified the "legal mumbo jumbo" that I've been forced to try to learn these past couple of months. Oh, and the same testing will soon be required for bikes and bike parts made in the US as well.Birk
Kids, this is huge. Alot of small companies, such as FBM, S&M, Sunday, etc. will be affected by this. Lots of companies will fold.
I know alot of ya have no clue there are other sites out there about BMX, but one of the best is VintageBMX, and they are in tune with stuff the average street kid knows nothing about. This is a huge one. As of right now, new laws have been made that affect every part of the BMX industry. These laws deal with lead in products for kids, or toys. As of right now, all bicycles with a wheel diameter of 24 inches and under are considered "toys". This is a quote from Ryan Birk, formerly of Sun Rims, now with Alienation, who just lost his Kuwahara job since they closed up due to these new laws>
What scares me is how little some of the companies that will be most affected by these new requirements actually know about what is going to happen and how unconcerned some seem to be. We've had lawyers on both sides of the pond looking into this for us for a couple months trying to find loopholes and determine exactly what is required of us as BMX companies. We've probably spent enough on lawyers to at least have covered the required testing on at least a couple models of bikes for at least 1 shipment.
Here's the jist of what is going on now for BMX
"toy" companies.As of Nov. 12, nothing shipped after that date can come into the US without proper 3rd party testing for lead, lead content, and phalates and the certified documnents needed to get through customs at port. This includes complete bikes, frames, and all parts with intended us for any bike 24" and under. The fees for testing are expensive unless you're testing a large volume of parts or bikes and can ammortorize those costs across the board. If you offer a part or bike in different color options, each color must legally be tested. Of course all companies can decide if they want to comply and pay for the testing but it will ultimately begin to affect costs and pricing of products unless the company is making a ton of parts that are getting sold, or the company has a really large petty cash stash. It's been my experience that most BMX companies operate on a pretty defined and tight budget to insure longevity and growth. And the kicker is that you have to conduct testing each time you import product from now on, regardless if it's the exact same product you imported 2 months earlier.
You have until Feb. 9th to sell all your untested products to the consumer (enduser), not just to the bike shops, or on Feb. 10th it becomes illegal for shops or distributors to sell these products without the proper certificate. The fines for this and for trying to import goods into the US without the certificates is in the hundred of thousands.
Companies that haven't tested and received the proper certificates legally have to take any untested product back and refund monies to the dealers or distributors as it is illegal for them to be sold after Feb. 9. This is why Feb 10 is being called National Bankruptcy Day because they have to take back ALL untested product from retailers and distributors and supply refunds even if that product is 10 years old. If the retailer (although highly unlikely Joe's Local Bike Shop would get caught) is caught trying to sell untested goods, the shop will be fined by the CPSC (fines in the hundred of thousands. Which obviously the shop will then turn around and sue the manufacturer for failure to test and likely the company is already been fined as well. You can see how it can get ugly real fast if you don't have the proper test certificates. And the rumors I hear about companies ready to rat out others on Feb 10 is really unsettling
What we're likely to see as BMXer's is that the big companies can probably offset the large testing expenses as their volume is large enough to ammortorize. We'll likely see some price increases from them but they'll still be around. It will hit the small bike and part companies the hardest as the test fees are extensive and companies will have to decide for themselves if they can afford to pay and continue to stay in business. Where the money for this testing comes from and if it's effect on pricing will likely push some of those companies out of the market. With Kuwahara, based on our current growth rate in terms of volume, and projected sales for 09,
we were looking at 125% price increases. With the economy and all things considered, $1800 to $2000 complete bikes probably aren't going to sell to well. That was our sad reality and our situation will force us to become a frame only distributor for 09.
I hope the other companies in the BMX world don't have to suffer the same fate as Kuwahara and it will be each companies decision if they choose to comply with the new test laws forced on us as "toy" manufactures.Hope this rambling simplified the "legal mumbo jumbo" that I've been forced to try to learn these past couple of months. Oh, and the same testing will soon be required for bikes and bike parts made in the US as well.Birk
Kids, this is huge. Alot of small companies, such as FBM, S&M, Sunday, etc. will be affected by this. Lots of companies will fold.
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