Lace codes (and brace or strap codes I’m reminded above) are largely dead now. It started letting up when it was discovered how dope blue Docs looked with red laces.

See? The system works!

Hitting a guy with an ax handle. There’s not a lot of nuance or grace in it.

Back a few lifetimes ago in this area it was anti-gay.

Yeah, absolutely. It’s’s an old Skinhead/Bonehead thing. You’d rock different colors to say what you sort of believed. Red was neo-nazi, white was klan or white power, blue I think was pro cop, yellow was anti-gay, green was something bad but I don’t remember what, may be you robbed everyone. This was kind of nationwide but varied by area somewhat. Like blue could mean pro cop or anticop. This was way before think blue line stuff.

So growing up you’d see a bunch of bone heads strutting around with white laces and you’d know they were all racist shiteaters.

Mostly I think it was a way for skins to decide who to fight. Like I say, I was a punk, so not as much into fighting for fun like most skins were. I just ran with some because being a skater and a punk then was a little harder if you got caught alone. And having friends that liked to fight was just good sense.

I’m 52 now so I don’t punch anyone anymore. But back in the mid '80s to early '90s I was one of a few skatepunks that ran around with some ofe the local Unity Skins. We did a fair bit of nazi punching (and ax handling). This was toward the end of lace codes and wearing patches on bomber jackets. I’m not sure we changed anyone’s mind but for a few years, no one was rocking confederate flags or white laces in the open. But I’m just some random guy online so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

(White, red, and yellow laces still give me pause. My teen came home one day wearing yellow laces and we had to have a talk. After some fact checking, and him explaining some stuff, I let it go and got a pair of yellows for my boots. Funny how things change over time and areas).

It was almost as good as the first two. It was so fun, scary, and familiar. There were a handful of fan service things (shots, lines, props…) that felt like actual fan service and not nostalgia boner bullshit.

I’ve only seen them both once. Though after seeing Romulus, I’m going to go back and watch all the movies again. I’m a pretty big fan of the rest of the movies to varying degrees. My thoughts were that outside of the Alien universe they could be OK scifi movies. But as part of the Alien lore, I felt they were poorly told, felt rushed, and didn’t feel consistent with the others. Having the xenomorphs designed felt like a cheap shot. The alien in the first one was scary as hell because it evolved as a perfect hunter. All it did was eat and breed, and neither of those things were less than nightmarish. It felt like Scott was trying to tell a bigger story than the series needed and really got away from O’Bannon’s vision (the same can be said about 3 and 4. I’d still argue that they felt like the same universe though)

Like I say though, I’ve only seen them once, and it’s been a while.

I have a big Veto bag. It was a gift from one of my bosses. I’d never have bought one (though I have occidental bags and am not afraid to spend money on tools) but god damn, it is a fine piece of gear. If it ever wears out, I’d deff buy a new one.

If you want a tattoo, or several, it’ll sort of decide for you. Like go into a shop, meet some artists, look through their portfolios. Something will jump out at you and the pain will work itself out. Really, meet the artists. You want someone you vibe with. You’re going to be in an intimate relationship with them. And you don’t want some nut-jobs mojo getting in your skin.

Everyone feels tattoos different. My worst were my elbows, center of my sternum, and by far the worst, my inner wrist. My buddy had real problems getting his palm done but mine just felt weird. I’ve heard ribs are torture but mine were OK. The top of my foot was brutal, my friend (different dude) said he almost didn’t feel his. Keeping clean, follow whatever after-care that particular artist says to do until you learn your body and have experience on how you personally heal. And after it’s healed, sunscreen.

Also, try to remember, tattoos aren’t a static piece, they’re dynamic. They change over time and you wear them in. They’re like a good pair of jeans, they reflect wear and tear. They can fade a bit, they can get a little muted. This is part of the beauty. They aren’t stickers.

I grew up watching cartoons, and still do. I’m an avid scifi, horror, and speculative fiction reader/watcher. There absolutely should be animations geared toward adults.

I don’t like Rick and Morty. I think it’s dumb, self obsessed, drivel. I think it’s writing style is the literary equivalent of pumpkin spice latte. No one hurt me, I just don’t like it and I don’t understand why people do. I answered a question. I didn’t tell people to not watch it.

Everyone on Rick and Morty.