This is how I'm feeling right now, only way less fun.

So, I've been sick for this whole week, pretty much. I've even had to call in sick a couple days. But, I did try to go to work a couple days - probably not the best idea. There are new symptoms to be surprised by everyday I wake up - so, everyday is kinda like Christmas morning, but not as tight. At least I imagine it's not as tight, seeing as I don't celebrate Christmas. Anyway, I don't get sick very often, so I always forget what it's like. It sucks.

I'm up WAY too early to be doing this.

So, anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a total skate nerd: History, culture, trends, news, gossip/rumors, companies, teams, pros, ams, tricks, spots, et cetera; I know a lot more about skateboarding than I should, and I think about skateboarding in a way that's more intellectual than it probably deserves. Or maybe skateboarding needs to be thought about much more critically than most people give it the time for. Maybe I'm doing a good thing. Or not. Whatever. Anyway...

This nerdiness, FYI, doesn't necessarily come by choice, in particular the skateboarding news and gossip/rumors; I don't really give a shit about the new amateur for this company or that company, or who did what trick at what spot. I think that having been skateboarding for almost 12 years, anything skateboarding-related kind of just seeps into my mind and stays there more readily. And unfortunately, I think it leaves less room for more important stuff to stay in my memory, like current events, political happenings, and basic math skills. But it is what it is, I guess. Maybe I just have to try harder.

(I'm going to apologize ahead of time, right now, for the following spiel about globalization, manufacturing, consumer goods, and consumer behavior and psychology. It's probably a waste of time to read, I know, but for some reason I feel like typing out all this crap going through my head.)

Also, anyone who knows me, knows I'm a pretty conscious consumer. We here in the good ol' USA live in a consumer-based society, and as much as I don't like the idea that we're more consumers than citizens, at least I recognize that; and I feel like that's a good place to start to change things for myself and those around me; and to use it for good, rather than evil. Basically, I like to make as informed a decision as possible when it comes to my purchases, or when it comes to anything I do or am a part of.

Globalization. It has it's pros and cons, and I have both my praises for it and my issues with it.

People take for granted the stuff they buy. Whether it's food or drink, a t-shirt, a computer, or even (gasp!) a skateboard, most people don't really give a second thought to the ramifications of their purchasing decisions. Most people think, for example, "Ooh, I like this shirt. I could use a new shirt. And at this price? How can I pass up this deal?" But is it really a deal, and should they pass it up? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for buying stuff - that's why I have a job: so I can buy stuff I want and/or need. I don't think being a consumer is necessarily a bad thing. But, the next time you buy something, try and think before you decide to make that purchase: Why, or how, is a particular product a particular price? Where did the materials for this come from? Where was it made? Who made it? How much did they get paid for their work? What were their working conditions like? Do I really want or need this thing I'm considering buying? Do the pros outweigh the cons? Don't just think about monetary cost, because the price tag usually doesn't reflect the real cost of the production of whatever item you might be thinking about. I guess I just find it odd that something made thousands of miles away with (more likely than not) similar materials, is cheaper to make, ship, and thus sell, than something made close to home. It certainly doesn't seem sustainable, at least in my mind.

If you haven't watched "The Story of Stuff", I'd highly recommend it. It's fun, cute, informative and accessible if you don't have much knowledge of the topic, and relatively short.

I know that growing up, I took skateboarding for granted. I need a new board, I finally have enough money, I like this board, I want it, I buy it - done and done. I mean, it's still like that now, even with other stuff - sometimes I just buy stuff, not just skate stuff, without really considering the actual costs of finding the resources for something, getting the resources to the factory, making it, packaging it, packing and shipping it, unpacking it, putting on the floor, and me paying for it and getting it into my hands. But for a while now, especially when it comes to skate stuff, since that's what I buy the most, I try to be as informed and conscious as possible of what I'm purchasing.

Globalization, just as it has touched everything else we experience in the world, has touched skateboarding; in a way, globalization and skateboarding have always been intertwined. And I'm not saying it's good or bad; it just is. But as far skateboarding goes, I'd like to know as much about what I'm getting myself into, because I don't want to be paying the same amount for an inferior product, or for more destruction to the ecosystem than is necessary, or for a less-than-ideal work environment for the people making my skateboard parts.

I'm definitely a fan of buying stuff "Made in the USA." That's definitely no secret. For a long time, at least when it comes to skateboarding, everything was made in the United States. But with globalization, capitalism, profit-margins, and everything else, it was only a matter of time before it became financially unsustainable to make everything at home. And I'm okay with that. I like the fact that people in America have jobs if things are made here, but I don't own the companies, and they have to do what they have to do. As long as they're still making a good product, it's all good. Pretty much.

I've been a fan of Deluxe (Real, Antihero, Krooked, Thunder, Spitfire) ever since I started skateboarding back in 1997. Those companies, the people who rode/ride for them, worked/work for them, and most importantly, the products they made/make have always been my favorite to skate. The fact that they were a local company was (and still is) also a pretty big selling point with me. And so with the internet and wealth of information it contains, the connections and friendships I've made, along with my curiosity and need to know where my stuff comes from, I've been on a hunt for years to figure out where and how it's all made. I'll get a tour someday.

Thunder, Independent, and Venture trucks, along with Spitfire wheels, are pretty much all made in San Francisco, so I'm stoked on that; though I'm not sure about all the new "Light" trucks, though). Deluxe boards used to be made in the US, but I could never really figure out where, and by who. I've known for a while that there are only a handful of woodshops that make skateboards for the "reputable" companies: Watson, PS Stix, Bareback, ASF, and DSM, are some examples. I'm actually not sure if there's much more than that. I know that at least some Deluxe boards were Bareback (the ones that used to have a Bearpaw stamped on the top ply), but not all of them had that. So then what? I asked the shop guys at Deluxe, and they pretty much said the same thing: "The bearpaw ones are Bareback, but I'm not sure about that other ones". Then the stickers with the words "Made in Mexico" started appearing, and I really started researching. Not very intensively (well, it was pretty intensive at first, but I came up with nothing time and time again), as I have more pressing things to deal with, but, slowly but surely...

But now, after randomly thinking about systems theory yesterday while driving, and my long-time interests in globalization and skateboarding, my mind is at ease. I have found the answer I've been looking for. Years of research, rumors, and bullshit talk by certain people, have finally led me to this:

BBS Manufacturing (formerly Bareback). Their website is simple, informative, and accessible, but a quick summary probably goes something like this: They used to be Bareback, one dude bought the other dude's share, now it's BBS. They used to make their boards down in SoCal, but now they moved 50-something miles to Mexico because labor is cheaper, rent is cheaper, and it's a lot closer than China: Faster turnaround, more control, and the boards are still made by Mexicans, just in Mexico now - as opposed to being made by Mexicans in America. I really like the video tour of the woodshop they have on their website. Let's just say, after perusing BBS' website, I'm even more stoked that I ride Deluxe boards.

Just for for another view, I also found this video tour of Dwindle's DSM Woodshop in China. It's definitely given me a new perspective on Dwindle boards. But I still find the idea of making and shipping skateboard decks overseas a little weird. Plus, they don't make a size or shape I like, anyway. But hey, if you like it and it works for you, go for it, I guess. Whatever makes you happy and keeps you healthy.

So why did I decide to WRITE a blog entry about this? I haven't written much of anything in a while, I woke up at 4am and it was too dark outside to do anything, and I found the BBS Manufacturing website and got SUPER stoked on it. So yeah. I'm gonna go get ready, get some food, go skateboarding with friends, and run some errands.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

"I know this world is big enough for you and I. But I'll give you more."

It's been a year since you acknowledged that you lost your faith in love and left me all alone. But I don't love you any less. If anything, I think I love you more - for your honesty, and for your willingness to try and face this thing you're going through head on. I hope you remember what love means someday, and accept it and embrace it.

Dennis Busenitz.

Dennis Busenitz's part from the Adidas video "Diagonal".

Girl Power Can Save The World

Eve Ensler's Opinion piece on CNN.com