A progressive step forward

The TatsVan Chronicles: Cataract Canyon 2010

I always knew I'd make it to this point in my life, where my college loan-paying needs and ski bum desires begin to equal out. Yet, while some things have drastically changed, many of my habits have grown quite well formed. Years ago, when I began rafting, my only income throughout the calendar year was comprised of meager paychecks and saved tip money from the summer's commercial raft trips...

Friends of the TatsVan: Drew Tabke wins 2nd Backcountry.com Sickbird Buckle!

Drew Tabke is another friend of the TatsVan. He is currently down in South America destroying freeskiing comps and bagging peaks after all-night, wine-fueled parties. Recently, Drew became the third ever freeskier to win a second Backcountry.com Sickbird belt buckle for his impressive skiing in Las Lenas, Argentina. http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg842/scaled.php?tn=0&server=842&filename=4dff.j...

Snowmass, again.

My friend Ed took this shot on my DROID. Epic night in Snowmass Village.

Video: LINO’, an Animated Surf Flick

Check this video out...I've watched it ten times already. The music is super mellow, vibing well with the impressive stop-motion animation that makes those little Playmobil figurines look like they're just shredding some epic waves. Lino', made by Karim Rejeb of KarimRejeb-SurfArt.com, is a masterpiece fit for anyone who has played with plastic toys. His vision of the world of surfing, a...

Friends of the TatsVan: Scott McBrayer – Bull Rider

Scott McBrayer, better known on the Freeskiing World Tour as McSlayer, just rode his third bull at the Carbondale Thursday night rodeo. Known for tossing frontflips to a stomped landing off of 40 foot cliffs, it's his background as a hunting guide and cowboy that makes Scott really stand out. He didn't make eight seconds (the minimum time for a score) in this ride, but as any cowpoke knows...

Posted By: Tats on December 7, 2008 in All New Posts - Comments: No Comments »

December 7th, 2008: A proud day has been made of one that has previously lived in infamy. Today marks the naming of a Japanese American as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in our newly formed U.S. presidential cabinet. It also serves as the anniversary of the Japanese army attack on Pearl Harbor.

As a Japanese American citizen of our beautiful country, I have often considered the devastating impact that unfortunate event had on our nation’s understanding of civil liberties. My family was one of thousands who were rounded up along the Pacific coastal regions and whisked off to the desolation of internment camps scattered throughout nearby interior states, all as a claimed matter of ‘national security’. Since then, apologies have been offered, accepted only through collective strength and honor of a proud community and nation. Aged photos, contraband films, and personal recollections from my own family members have served as a constant personal reminder that our country has made mistakes, but it is where we all learn as a nation to never let it happen again.

Then September 11th happened and we lost sight of those lessons, finding our own citizens being held without their civil liberties intact yet again. But a new page has been written, and the next chapter of history will only be proven with time. As president-elect Obama continues to name his dream team of cabinet members, we can only hope that this time around the blood, sweat, and tears of those sad lessons are not forgotten. With his recent appointment of retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki – a decorated veteran of the Vietnam war and member of Japanese American ancestry – as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, things are looking up.

So let December 7th no longer rest in infamy. Let it rise up through the dense fog of uncertainty and stand amongst the tests of time. Change is in the air and boy it sure smells fresh.

Click here to read what CNN.com had to say