hi, the playboy chicks were something that i also complained about, but here are the words of another that may say it better:

I fear many folks are missing the point of the protest against Burton over its choice of graphics for some of its boards. This is not about freedom of speech or artistic expression. I agree they have the right. And this is not about me or anyone else being "offended". My objection is not moral or artistic. My objection has to do with the influence cultural icons, such as Burton, have among our youth with regard to what is or is not healthy behavior.

I am an avid snowboarder. I am also a professional snowboard instructor, Level II certified by the American Association of Snowboard Instructors. I have ridden Burton products since I switched from skiing to riding and feel strong loyalty to them. Yet their marketing decision relative to showing self-mutilation and playboy graphics caused me to participate in today's protest march.

In addition to being a snowboard instructor, I am also Vice President of the Board of Directors of Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Every day our staff work with youths and families who are struggling with wide ranging issues so common in our society today, including self-mutilation and domestic violence. Spectrum and other mental health and social service agencies work incredibly hard to attempt to undo some of the damage being done among our youths and families by violence, whether inflicted by others or self-inflicted. With regard to self-mutilation, many folks don't know how wide-spread the problem is in America today. It's a big hidden problem.

It's clear that Burton doesn't "get it" that using such images as marketing tools promotes the idea that these things are normal and healthy.

Giving Burton the benefit of the doubt, I am willing to presume they see these graphics as "edgy" and "artistic". I'm willing to presume that they are not experts in mental health or domestic violence issues. I am willing to presume they intend no harm.

But rather I ask the "powers that be" at Burton to open their minds and hearts to those who deal with mental health issues among our youth and families and who deal with domestic violence. Listen to the folks who are experts in these areas. You know not what you do. This is wrong. Burton please listen: you may have the right to show such images, but this is not responsible use of such rights. You are an icon among youths. I ask that you reconsider what messages this passes to them. Please cease production of these boards.

It's the right thing to do.
-David

Richard...sorry.

truth is that it has been a shitty week for me. i have been emailing and posting message after message to and about burton snowboard's choice to glorify self-mutilation on one of their new snowboards. yesterday, one of my close friends at work was reported as unexpectedly dead. i know he did it to himself. his brother did just a couple years ago. i can hope that it is different but i know. come on. let's make this better than all of this. god, this sucks.

Yes, I think Wendy and I are good for each other. She's the one whose son committed suicide in the Israeli army 3 years ago, but she's still amazingly positive and fun-loving, but obviously very sad inside.

Richard, thanks for all those helpful tips!

lori, nice to hear of your joy for hiking. i can tell you about two easy, but really special spots in the san jose- san fran area. the one that is really magic for me is big basin. it is southwest of san jose toward santa cruz. it has a virgin stand of redwoods- over 300 feet tall and 16 feet in diameter. i always look up and check for giants coming down those beanstalks. the other spot is on the north side of the golden gate bridge. it is the headlands on the left as you travel off the north end of the bridge. you may have to approach it by going past and then coming back south toward the bridge cuz it is on the west side and i think they want northbound traffic to keep cruising. there are great places to sit and look back over san francisco. one of my favorite things to do when i am not hiking and still have my clothes on is the exploratorium. it is in the presidio at the greek gardens, near the south end of the golden gate bridge. it is hands-on science/art based exhibits that are fun and weird. they have a great burrito in their cafe. the contemporary art museum in san fran is also very good. the building was done by a swiss guy i think. the ferry from the embarcadero to sausalito for lunch and shopping in boutiques is fun, too.

Is Hampden near Bangor? That's great that things are finally working out!

I've been busy entertaining this week. Darren's parents were visiting from Colorado for 5 days. They ate here twice, we went out to eat with them twice, and we were all invited over to Avi's sister's house one night. She made a ton of food. We've been eating way too much and have gained weight. Avi said he just wants to eat cereal tonight! My friend Wendy (from Jerusalem) was also here this week. She came on Monday and flew to San Francisco today. I'm going to fly up there--to San Jose-- on Monday for 2 nights. Wendy and I will do things in the San Jose/San Francisco area while her boyfriend is at his hi-tech conference. I took her hiking here one day in Temescal canyon. It was sort of a disaster. It was REALLY hot, we didn't bring enough water, and the trees and shrubs were pretty dry. The waterfall was also more like a trickle. Wendy kept wanting to turn around and go back, but I was obsessed with getting to the top to see the view from there, which, to me, WAS worth it--a panoramic view of the whole area with the Pacific Ocean in the background. It was good exercise, but Wendy was ready to kill me! On the other hand, she said she felt good afterwards cuz she saw she was capable of doing more than she thought she could. I don't know why I get so obsessed, but I can't stop in the middle of a trail. I have to get to the end. My sister Amy is like that, too. Anyway, besides the hiking, we went to the LACMA museums and to a really good play, "Gem of the Ocean." She dragged me there, but I liked it. Haven't seen too many plays.

Karen, I am so glad that you liked the show!!! I thought you would...lol.
Pat, things seem to be working out, which is great. I want to throw all my stuff out and start over....wishful thinking. Enjoy this new adventure! I think you should make some mittens for your cold handed friends!!! I have to go and find all the winter stuff.....sigh....I am just not ready.

We're freezing up here too. I woke up to snow on the ground! It went away over the day but still.........................

So the house in Hampden will be closed on sometime the 3rd of Nov. We will move in officially the 7th. Nothing seems to be able to stop us now. Let the furniture shopping begin.

I'll still be here for my friend Allison's baby shower and that's made me feel better. I finished knitting a blanket for her a couple of days ago. My group meets again tomorrow night and I'll start some felted mittens.

It is freezing here! You could see it snowing up on Ascutney Mountain.....anyways, we had today off from school and I was going to go shopping with a friend to Holyoke...but she called this morning early and said that she couldn't go because someone had broken into her house last night. Her husband is away this week and she had a business dinner and didn't go home after school. She got home after 9 and her front door was open. Someone had broken into the basement window, ransacked her cupboards..and only took her jewelery box. The police can and searched around finding noone on the property but talk about spooky! Obviously looking for $ and easily passed off things. Luckily, she wasn't home at the time....but it makes you wonder who, where and why your house....
So instead of shopping, I had to do something like clean the carpet....guess what I would have rather have done~ thanks crook.

you are so right that the art is on the outside where you can just look at the getty museum. sitting in the garden and gazing up at it is certainly worth the ticket. jp clearly had a bug for collecting and i mean for more than art. i am not one to judge beauty, but i hope he had better taste in mistresses than he did in art. then again, i suppose he had little chance cuz nudes are much more confusing when they move.

There were a lot of people I could have knocked down yesterday. We were at the Getty Museum, and it was really crowded. We went with Danit and Darren and Darren's parents, who are visiting from Colorado. We didn't end up going inside the museum to see the art, which probably sounds weird, but the real art is outside--just looking at the building itself and the gardens and the view from up there on the hill. They have some kind of grass there that looks like a carpet, and people were sprawled all over it. We were tempted to just go to sleep on it, too.