Zine thing.

LOWCARD, #15

This is consistently one of the best skate 'zincs I get. It's been a few months since the scumbag's bible has been printed on glossy paper and has been featuring higher profile ads, but it hasn't taken away from the sheer scumfuckery of the thing. This one's thick and full of mayhem, including articles on Halloween in Reno, a "Sweet Tats" page, tons of great photos from parks (mostly in the NorCal area), an interview with Peter Ramondetta, some SOTY party coverage, and a whole lot of random photos. Like I said, it's thick and will keep you occupied for a couple of good hearty shits. Send a couple bucks to PO Box 170504, San Francisco, CA 94117

SAUCE, #4

Portland transplant POD comes through with another issue of Sauce, and it keeps getting better. This one's got a color cover, photos, and the writing is spot on. It's mostly tales of vagabondage in the Northwest, traveling from spot to spot, often in the "Sauce Box" van. There's an article on skating in Oklahoma in during a heat wave, and a hilarious write-up of an Angry Samoans show that was disappointing but fun. it's one of the better mags from the Northwest. Send a couple bucks to PO Box 42124, Portland, OR 97242. Special feature: nude portrait of everyone's favorite naked ape, amateur nudist Randy Colvin.

GRACIAS, #1

Here's a nice introductory package from Australia named after the Spanish word for "thanks," if that makes any sense. It's only 16 pages, and has very little writing, but some great photos, mostly Australian parks, and some street coverage. Hopefully they'll expand in future issues, but like I said, this is a good start. Don't know what you should send (Australian dollars? Beer coupons?) to 4 Lower Jordan Hill Road, West Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia. Special feature: this is from Tasmania, home of the Tasmanian devil, which has started dying out due to widespread facial cancers.

OLD MAN ARMY, #1

Unapologetically Barney-fied, this mag is for the over-40 set (or whatever qualifies you as an old man in the skate world these days). It's out of Arizona, and covers mostly the Arizona park scene. It's also got an interview with the guy from Old School Skateboarding (who's got some kinda bent ideas, but whatever), an interview with Last of the Bad Men, and a few other things. If you need a walker or find yourself reaching for the Geritol in the morning, send a couple bucks to PO Box 41317, Mesa, AZ 85274-1317.

I CAN'T SMELL MY DINNER, #3

There is something appealing and slightly repulsive at the same time about this one, making it ideal shitter reading material. It's randomly collected stuff, with little writing, photos that run from sketchy to well Xeroxed, and doodles that are chuckle inducing. The amount of randomly inserted stuff in there is a bit of a head scratcher, but as the Jam said, that's entertainment. Send a couple dollars to 22060 Hutchinson Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033. Special feature: a photo of a swimming pool in the shape of a cowboy boot.