The Bud Stratford Essays Below are essays that Bud Stratford wrote from October 2006, up until February 15th. Some of these essays were posted up on various skateboard-related messageboards, some haven't been published until this moment. I had asked Bud if I could have permission to post the fourth essay, "Don't Panic", as I had recieved it from one of the many friends I've made since the site's launch. Bud notified me that the essay was part of a larger series of writings, and allowed me to put them here on the condition that I place everything else up as well. I read through everything, and I can understand why he'd like everything presented in a complete package. If you're a reader, go ahead and grab a large cup of coffee and check out what he had (and has) to say. All of the documents are in Microsoft Word/RTF format. The commentary next to the links are from Bud himself.

1. "IndustryInDenial" attachment, aka, "The Industry In Denial, Parts 1 and 2". Written in mid-October, 2006 (Just after the September ASR, which is where this whole "blank initiative" came up), I couldn't find anyone that would run it. So, I posted it at Skull and Bones on Nov. 24th, 2006. (www.skullandbonesskateboards.com). 2. "IASCEdit", aka, "When The Dust Settles: The Winners, The Losers, and The Murky Middle" Written about a week before I left for ASR, I already knew about 80% of what the "initiative" was gonna say [from numerous sources]. So, I figured, I might as well call the results beforehand. I never got to publish this when I intended to do so. Because, I ended up going to ASR in January, instead of staying home, as I had planned on doing. My plan was to release it ASR weekend- but, that's a little hard to do when I'm 3,000 miles away from my PC. 3. "Retailers" atatchment, aka, "IASC vs The Core Retailer". Posted at Sacklunch, you've probably read this one. I was just totally in awe that, the "initiative" was even worse than I heard it was gonna be. Shocking. Absolutely shocking. So, this was my reaction to it. I posted it a day or two after I got back from ASR. Around Jan. 30th or so, 2007. 4. "Dont Panic" attachment, aka, "Don't Panic", the essay. Written for the industry dudes, this was my first attempt at finding a way though this Post-Initiative mess. Not an easy task for "The Industry" to really do, considering the backlash they were getting- then, and still. 5. "Nine Deadly Questions" attachment, aka, "The Nine Deadly Questions", the essay. The last of the series. I just finished it, alst night. It reflects my various conversation with folks inside- and, outside- "the industry". Looking ahead, I'm seeing that the industry's woes are a final cumulation of their collective histories of past mistakes that, added up, point the way to a relatively dismal future ahead. For them- but, not so much for us, the average skater. The big problem? In trying to make everyone happy, they ended up making noone happy. Whereas, if they had stuck to their own stated principles, and if they had actually followed through with those (execution), and if they had micromanaged their organizations a bit better... they might not have ever found themselves in the boat they're in, today.