Surfing the Streets

I'm surfing the sidewalks in LA. This was filmed by my good friend, Andy Nagai.

After lunch, some @$$hole tried to run me over as we tried to get through the intersection. When will these idiot drivers learn how to stop for others?

Anyway, going down Grand is a cheap thrill. What a rush coming down! Gravity is good.

I've started using YouTube to host my videos. Right now, vidiLife sux butt.

You can check out all my other YouTube videos with this link:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=davidmkim

You can still see all my other vidiLife videos. I haven't deleted them yet, and I don't plan to. It's just that their site is acting up quite a bit right now.

Scooter Chase

We're terrorizing downtown LA with our Razor and longboard.

This reminds me of when I was around 5 years old. I went up and down Honolulu Ave. in Montrose with my tricycle when my parents' had a store there. They said that I was yelling and screaming as I sped past people on my trike.

Things haven't changed much in 30 years.

We're 30-Somethings acting like teenagers.

Andy and Me Cruising

Andy and I are just cruising along downtown LA. Andy's on his Razor scooter and I'm on my longboard. This video sux because I'm trying to skateboard and shoot this video at the same time.

Andy and Me racing downhill

I was looking forward to racing Andy. It would have been more fun if it was a closer race. Unfortunately for him, I blew him away. I knew I was going to win anyway. My longboard is hella fast downhill.

Before Andy came by, I tried a practice run and got caught by a cop. Damn him! I got off with a warning, but next time I might get a ticket. That sux, because I plan on continuing to race downhill. I feel the need--the need for speed!

Lugeboarding LA style

I know you're not supposed to play on the streets, but this is hella fun. Street luging should be the next Olympic sport. I've got to find more hills to speed down. I just have to be on the lookout for cops.

I've decided to use YouTube to host my videos since vidiLife has been having so many problems lately. Anyway, I love speeding down Grand. It's an awesome cheap thrill.

Howl's Moving Castle 

Howl's Moving Castle

This is a Japanese version of a Disney film. I love anime, but this was too kiddish for me. I like mecha anime like my all-time favorite, Robotech/Macross. I also like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Last Exile, Akira, and Serial Experiments: LAIN.

Director, Hayao Miyazaki's, latest anime is a beautiful and imaginative, but strange story of a girl that gets turned into a 90 year old woman. She tries to find a way to lift the curse and finds refuge in Howl's bizarre moving castle. She later falls in love with the magician, Howl.

The story has some elements of Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. The animation is very detailed. It has colorful scenery, and the story is very imaginative.

Japanese anime has a style that American animation just can't match. It's very cool. I think it's because anime is tailored to more mature audiences than typical Disney animation.

Miyazaki's films are all too similar, however. The style and storytelling is very much similar to his previous films, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. Miyazaki loves using black amorphous slimes in his movies to depict evil creatures. I think those black blobs are disturbing to look at and are one of the worst parts about the films. They're not very detailed and look cheesey. They just don't interest me at all. Now, if he only threw in some cool jets and robots, things might be very different for the better.

The animation is charming. Some of the scenery is breath-taking. The story takes place in an alternative world that seems to take place in turn-of-the-20th century England. They drive steam-engined vehicles and fly around in huge floating airships. Japanese anime stories love this type of setting for some reason.

The girl, Sophie, works at a hat shop. One day, everyone is excited about the mysterious Howl coming to town. She meets an enigmatic man with magical powers who rescues her from some horny soldiers. Later that night, a giant fat fugly woman comes to the hat store and puts a curse on her. The fugly woman then says something about giving her regards to Howl. Sophie realizes she's been turned into a 90-year-old woman. She searches for Howl to help her lift her curse.

Sophie finds the magical moving castle and meets a little boy that turns into a dwarf man, a scarecrow that bounces around on a stick, and a tiny hot-headed fire demon. Later, she meets Howl, a magician who turns into a bird man to fight in the war. He doesn't want to fight in the war, but the queen makes him. Ultimately, he chooses to rebel against orders and risks his life for love.

I think this is an anime for children and not for me. I give it a:

B, 81.

More Insane Lugeboarding on 4th Street

This street is hard to get a good ride in because of all the cars and traffic lights.

I want to find some better streets to speed down.

Andy called me up and challenged me to a race--his Razor vs. my longboard. This is going to be pretty interesting. I'll try to videotape it so that you can see the race.

Xtreme Lugeboarding down busy 4th Street

Aslan, Simba, and me. With such well behaved animals like these who needs kids? 

We're one happy family 

We're pretty happy with our new kids. They're trouble free and stay cute forever.  

We pretend that Simba and Aslan are our kids. When we have family prayer time, we get in a circle and hold on to their hands. 

Sarah, Aslan, and Simba 

Sarah with Simba and Aslan. Sarah wanted a white tiger ever since we went to the Mirage in Las Vegas last Valentine's Day. I finally got one for her. I also got her Aslan to keep Simba company. 

Across the street from my bus stop. 

Waiting at the bus stop to get home. 

The steps down California Tower 2 

The escalator up to California Plaza 

Angels Flight Park