Straight Ballin’

From left to right: Uncle, Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, and Dad back in the 80s.

A picture with my great-great grandparents on the old family property. Dad is the 3rd from the right on the top row with his eyes closed. Grandma is 4th from the right on the top row. Uncle is on the top right of the top row. Grandpa is on the bottom row, 2nd to the right.
Pretty sweet seeing these old pictures from before I was born!
Workout Song Motivation
Great music can take a mediocre workout and turn it into something more. Once I put in the iPod I let the world around me fade away as I enter my own world. I've been listening to this song for a few months now and it still gets me pumped every time. Listen and follow the lyrics.
Chorus [T-Pain]:
Tell me what do you see
When you looking at me
(woooahhhh)
On a mission to be
What I'm destined to be
(woooahhhh)
I done been through the pain and the sorrow
The struggle is nothing but love (nothing but love)
I'm a soldier, a rider, a ghetto survivor
And all the above
All the above (x7)
Verse 1 [Maino]:
Listen
Really what do you see
When you looking at me?
See me come up from nothing,
To me living my dreams
I done been to the bottom,
I done suffered a lot,
I deserve to be rich,
Headed straight to the top
Look how I ride for the block,
Look how I rep for the hood,
I get nothing but love now
When I come through the hood
Getting this fortune and fame
Money make all of us change
The new benz is all white,
Call it John McCain
How the hell could you stop me?
Why in the world would you try?
I go hard forever,
That's just how I'm designed,
That's just how I was built
See the look in my eyes?
You take all of this from me,
And I'm still gon' survive
You get truth from me,
But these rappers gon' lie
I'm a part of these streets
Till the day that I die
I wave hi to the haters,
Mad that I finally done made it
Take a look and you can tell
That I'm destined for greatness
(Chorus)
Tell me what do you see
When you looking at me
(woooahhhh)
On a mission to be
What I'm destined to be
(woooahhhh)
I done been through the pain and the sorrow
The struggle is nothing but love (nothing but love)
How to Grip and Design a Longboard (FSM Mini Flush Mount Edition)
Please refer to this link (http://yanyanxu.com/2009/12/19/how-to-regrip-a-longboard-loaded-dervish-edition/) to view my tutorial on how to regrip a dervish longboard.
Start
Gather your materials.
- Scissors
- Sharpie
- Ruler
- Grip Tape
- File
- Longboard

Step 1
First create the size of your longboard in Adobe Photoshop. Please refer to my above guide on how to do this. Here is my end result: http://yanyanxu.com/misc/FSM%20Mini.psd
Step 2
Click Save As to convert the PSD file to a PDF. Then click print and change the page scaling to TILE.

Here is my result: http://yanyanxu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/FSM-Mini.pdf
Step 3
Test the image on your longboard.

Step 4
Start cutting out the outline of the design, and also cut out the inner design if you want to be 100% accurate to your stock image.

STEP 5
Trace this onto your longboard.


Step 6
Eat something, you deserve a break. I made pasta.

Step 7
Start coloring it in with a Sharpie using nice even strokes.



Step 8
I chose clear grip tape to showcase my design.

Step 9
Pop on the wheels.

Step 10
Enjoy your board.

I chose Indy 215 Hybrids with 90a Venom Eliminators on the topside and 85a Venom Downhill Bushings on the boardside. I can't wait to test out this setup.
Donate to the American Heart Association!
My dad is doing a charity walk for the American Heart Association. Help sponsor him and send him a small donation!
Thanks guys
.
*If he hits his goal and you are the highest donor, I will send you five Controlled Labs products of your choice. ($250 value).
Dropbox: Sync all Computer Documents
This is pretty sick. I started using it yesterday and I'm already loving it. It basically stores and backs up your files on a server so you can access it from any computer. Just watch the video.
Register and try this out: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTEwMjA2NzUyOQ
Monticello, VA
I thought this picture was too good not to post for it's own thread. This butterfly on the flower is simply awesome. I took this picture at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.

Full resolution: http://yanyanxu.com/misc/Monticello%20031.JPG