T-Shirt Blogs

something's changing at gapingvoid.com…

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:21 GMT

I drew this cartoon earlier tonight…

Things are evolving really quickly for me at the moment. Something to do with finishing off EVIL PLANS and getting my head around the next book I want to write.

All will soon be revealed…

Hollister Polo

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:50 GMT

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“evil plans” is nearly done

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:01 GMT

Since I got back home from SXSW I've been working on finishing EVIL PLANS, my second book.

I think I'm almost there, Folks. A few more days of obsessive tweaking to go, and then off to the publisher's for the final edit. Hurrah!

Man, what a relief. Ever since I signed the contract last summer, I've been feeling the pressure. The first book, IGNORE EVERYBODY did very well- FAR better than I ever could have predicted. Beginner's luck? Maybe.

Regardless, to do it a second time felt like a lot to live up to. It feels GREAT to have the hardest part of the process mostly over and done with.

EVIL PLANS will have roughly the same format as IGNORE EVERYBODY: 18,000 words, plus a hundred or so cartoons. Designed to be read easily on the john, or on an airplane. As I'm fond of saying, “This isn't rocket science”.

Here's how the Introduction opens:

INTRODUCTION: “EVERYBODY NEEDS AN EVIL PLAN”

Everybody needs an EVIL PLAN. Everybody needs that crazy, out-there idea that allows them to ACTUALLY start doing something they love, doing something that matters. Everybody needs an EVIL PLAN that gets them the hell out of the Rat Race, away from lousy bosses, away from boring, dead-end jobs that they hate. Life is short.

Every person who ever managed to do this, every person who manged to escape the cubical farm and start doing something interesting and meaningful, started off with their own EVIL PLAN. And yeah, pretty much everyone around them- friends, family, colleagues- thought they were nuts.

Thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to have an EVIL PLAN, to make a great living, doing what you love, doing something that matters. My intention is that by the time you've finished reading this book, you will completely concur. More importantly, you'll actually feel compelled enough to go and do something about it yourself, if you haven't already.

Last year my friend, David Brain interviewed me:

DAVID: What was the motive behind writing the book [IGNORE EVERYBODY]? I mean, I know how little money these things make, but do you want it to help other people better their lives or is it just another evil plan?

HUGH: I certainly didn’t expect to make any real money from it, and how much it would “help” other people is pretty debatable. But sometimes in your life you have these defining moments, where you draw a line in the sand and declare to the world, “This is who I am, this is what I believe, this is what’s important to me.” I think we all need these moments at some point, to make us better understand who we really are. Writing a book is a good way to force these moments to the surface. That was really the key driver, here.

And “forcing these moments to the surface” was the key driver with EVIL PLANS, as well. The book is not a how-to book; it's not an instruction manual. It is a personal rant about something I've been pursuing all my adult life: to somehow find a way to unify both Work and Love.

i.e. To do what you truly love, and somehow get paid for it. Again, conceptually this may not be rocket science, certainly, yet it's still something that eludes most of us. Most of us still have to schlep for a living.

Personally, I think most of us would rather not have to schelp. I think most of us would rather have an EVIL PLAN. I think most of us would much rather find a way to unify Work and Love.

Which is why, of course, I wrote the book. Wish me luck with it, anyway. Thanks…

[EVIL PLANS is scheduled to hit the bookstores April, 2011.]

to unify work and love

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:06 GMT

Sigmund Freud once said that in order to be truly happy in life, a human being needed two things: The capacity to work, and the capacity to love.

“EVIL PLANS” is really about being able to do both, at the same time.

This is my tenth year blogging. I've done a lot of stuff since I started. Published cartoons, sold wine, sold suits, pimped Microsoft, sold art, written books, ranted on endlessly about all sorts…

But looking back, I realize it all served a served a common purpose: to unify work and love.

Then I notice, the people who read my blog the most avidly, and the bloggers I tend to read most avidly, hell yeah, they're mostly trying to do the same thing too, in their own way. It's a pattern.

To unify work and love. Are you one of these people? If you're not, don't you think you should be? I mean, after friends and family, what the hell is there?

Just sayin'…

sxsw ‘10 comes to an end…

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:51 GMT

I'm still in Austin, drinking a beer at the SXSW Blogger Lounge, as the Interactive bit of the show comes to a close. I'll be driving home to Alpine tomorrow.

To mark the occasion we created nine prints, “The SXSW 2010 Series”. We were showing them at the trade show booth and yeah, they were selling like hot cakes.

For 2010 we designed another “Austin is The Killer App” print- you see it here on the left, or click here to see it enlarged etc.

Anyway, if you had a great time at SXSW ‘10 (like I did) this print series will make for great little souvenirs. Rock on.

Let’s Trololo together!

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:50 GMT

This Internet Meme may get noticed from you lately. A parody performance, usually known as “Trololololololo” of Eduard Anatolyevich Khil — simply known as Eduard Khil or Edward Hill — hit the YouTube with laugh. Bear in mind that the original video was shoot in the 1970s, so you don't need to be in shock when the original person is currently enjoying his 70s years of age.

Again, don't be surprised if Khil is actually just knowing about his fame in the Internet just few days back. He's never used with the Internet technology anyway. Thank God somebody told him personally that he's now even more famous than before. If you like his uniqueness, make sure you show it to public by wearing Khil picture shirt everywhere.

Designed by BustedTees, this Trololo tees depicted Khil in retro style. You can pre-order the shirt now as it will be available starting on March 21. Use your US$15.99 wiser and let's trololo together!

Rangga is blogger-editor at T-shirt blog Cottonable.com. This posting is written with assistance by Amir.

Pixel art by iamnotadoll

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:47 GMT

Talking about pixel art always remind of the joyful era in the 1980s. Nintendo and Mario Bros are among iconic items that will never be forgotten. Pixel art is about 8-bit image created with fun and passionate heart.

This time, the nostalgic moment resurfaces in the hand of iamnotadoll from redbubble. Take a look at some of her (or his? I am only guessing) creations. Ninjas, pirates, japanese manga characters, and Elvis are among characters she masters in this area. She crafts the design patiently and gradually from light to dark, from piece by piece and pixel by pixel, block by block. Who said it is easy to compose such details?

Maybe I am just talking too much. Enjoy more pieces from iamnotadoll and value the works of pixel art into higher level. The price of each design costs you US$27.93, for your concern, and various color at your preference for the background. Oh, and you can select whether you'd like the tees design be printed in front or in the back side.

Rangga is blogger-editor at T-shirt blog Cottonable.com. This posting is written with assistance by Amir.

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sxsw update

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:50 GMT

Spent the first day talking to people and signing drawings. Feel free to stop by my trade show boot # 1302 and say “Hello”…

an open letter to my newsletter subscribers

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:39 GMT

Hello Everybody,

I hope you guys are having a great time receiving the newsletter. I'm sure having a blast sending it out!

Obviously, as a cartoonist I like people reading it. So equally obviously, I want to grow the list.

In terms of growing it, I've got my own ideas, certainly. But then I thought to myself, maybe it would be more fun and interesting to reach out to you instead. This is “social media”, after all. And even though I've doing it for years, this “open source” stuff is still REALLY interesting to me.

So here's what I'm asking: You guys receive the newsletter. You guys are a savvy crowd, and you will have plenty of opinions of your own.

So what do I need to change? What could I do better? How could I improve the layout? What new ideas or tools could I be using? And perhaps most importantly, what could I do to make it easier for you guys to share it with your friends?

If you're already a subscriber, feel free to leave a comment below of send me your feedback at gvdailycartoon@gmail.com. Thanks a lot!

notes on sxsw 2010

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:59 GMT

["Texas", which I sent out in the newsletter recently. You can buy the print here etc.]

Tomorrow I head for Austin, for the annual 5-day drunken orgy that is South By South West Interactive. Here are some thoughts:

1. SXSW is the only “MUST ATTEND” event on my calendar. It's the one show I never miss, ever. Unless you've already been, it's hard to convey JUST HOW MUCH more fun, interesting and full of business opportunities it is, compared to other shows. I can't emphasize enough, if you're into the Internet, just how much you're missing out if choose not to attend. Sure, the price of going [entry fee, plane fare, hotel bill, taxi rides etc] might be quite daunting for some of us, but compared to the business and networking you could EASILY end up doing there, that cost is minuscule.

2. So you thought last year was crazy? Last year had ten thousand attendees. I heard on good authority from somebody inside the org that this year's numbers have doubled. Hope you got a good hotel booking.

3. I'm on a panel on Monday. I hope you'll come see us. All the other panelists are good friends of mine, so it should be fun…

4. I'll be signing books. Barnes & Noble will have a little micro store on the fourth floor of the convention center, selling books written by some of the attendees. I'll be there to sign copies of “Ignore Everybody” on Monday, March 15th at 5.20pm. My signing will last for 30 minutes.

5. Free Booze! Free Sex! A lot of companies sponsor parties, so as long as you have a pass, it's pretty easy to go the entire five days without ever paying for a single drink or meal. Plus with all the young singles everywhere, everybody's trying to get laid. X-thousand geek twenty-somthings trying to hook up en masse is pretty entertaining to watch. By Sunday or Monday everybody's a basket case. Which is why the veterans are always telling the newbies, “Pace Yourself”.

6. Creating an island of calm in a sea of bodies. It's going to be a madhouse this year, so to make ourselves easier to find, gapingvoid has hired a trade show booth for the event. If you want to meet up, that's where you can find me. I'll be selling art, doing business, signing drawings and exchanging business cards. My focus this year will be much more about business, than my usual hallway wanderings.

7. I'm better organized, this time. Pretty much all the parties and events I'm planning to attend are already in my calendar. In past years I just turned up and went with the flow. It was exhausting after about three days. Never again.

8. Follow me on Twitter if you want to see what I'm up to on the day. Heck, that's what everybody else uses, too.

9. SXSW makes me proud to be Texan. I've seen this a lot: People come to Texas for the first time to attend SXSW, and “fall in love with the barbecue”. Texas has always been a very misunderstood State, if you ask me. SXSW does a great job of helping to fix that, at least with my crowd.

But how do you feel about your own performance?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:11 GMT

Something that has been bouncing around my head since an interview during the Olympics by Matt Lauer with Bode Miller. (I think this is the interview, but since I'm in Germany now, I can't verify.) Matt asked Bode about a comment that he made regarding the gold not mattering to him. Matt was pushing about whether this was true, and from what I remember if it was disrespectful to the gold or not. Bode made a great point, and I relate to what he said. He does not judge himself by whether he wins the gold or not, it is how he performs compared to how he believes he should have performed.

It is easy to say that Bode is pretending to be above the medal. It isn't that though. He values the gold, but he values his own judgement of his performance more. No one knows better than you how you could have performed. You know the conditions of the hill, better than you think, even. Yes, there are things out of your control, but that's part of the sport. It is how you handle yourself on the hill. Did you respond the way you could, or did you hit snooze? This is exactly what Bode meant. Only he knows when he's performed to his potential … 1 gold, 8 golds, or none. Do you regularly think about how you performed by your own standards?

I do and I find it frustrating. Bode has me on his Zen approach to this. What I love about it is that I do think it holds me to a higher standard overall. I know better than anyone what I can accomplish. However, as Bode points out, winning or losing takes on a different scope. When there is a mismatch between your beliefs on performance and the world's, it is unsatisfying. Either you feel not worthy of praise because you could have done better, or you feel cheated because you did your best, and it wasn't recognized.

So, what is the take away? Judge yourself by your own standards, but make sure you hold those standards high. Benchmark yourself with others, still staying true to you.

And why do you want to do it? Because ultimately for you, you do know best. Trust yourself, and challenge yourself.

Be Bode!

So what's on my shirt today? This is from the Adam Bryant's interview of Wolters Kluwer CEO, Nancy McKinstry, in the Corner Office column of the New York Times.

Every day, advance the ball

Polyamory Is Wrong

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:16 GMT

Very funny T-Shirt that I found via Unreasonablefaith's awesome blog about religion, science and skepticism – good combo.

Advertisement: Busted Tees: Funniest T-Shirts Anywhere More Cowbell, Jesus Hates the Yankees, Great Gifts!

the wee nudge

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:01 GMT

["Hugged", which went out earlier this morning in the newsletter. You can buy the print here etc.]

These days I'm finding myself writing less about my usual sex/angst/alienation shtick, and more and more about business and entrepreneurship, hence the cartoon above. As my interests evolve, so does the subject matter. It's really that simple.

I want to draw cartoons that entertain people, sure, but perhaps more importantly, I want to draw cartoons that push people in the right direction; the direction they wanted to go in, anyway.

That's what all my favorite artists have always done for me, after all. Their work always gave me a wee nudge etc. I'm just trying to follow their example.

Whether we're talking Rembrandt, Shakespeare, The Rolling Stones, Charlie Brown, or the unknown graffiti artist from the wrong side of the tracks- that's what “Art” is really all about, at the end of the day. The Wee Nudge.

And even if you're not an “Artist” per se, whether you're a techie, salesman, consultant, plumber or whatever, surely the work you do should somehow give people that same “Wee Nudge”, in your own unique way? If not, what's stopping you? What's stopping anybody?

I think it's career suicide not to, frankly…

cube grenade case study: karma media

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:12 GMT

Karma Media is a communications shop in Hungary. As it was first explained to me:

Karmamedia is a communication shop with an emphasis on P.R. (whatever that is), and on doing things online (wherever that is).
We started out as a blog three years ago, working at various big agencies, and jumped ship to become independent and happy about six months ago.

Our name was selected intuitively because it sounded good and because the guy who started it all wanted to use a picture of Buddha sitting with a notebook – but since then we found a fitting explanation for it: online, what goes around comes around. We don't believe in karma in the religious sense but we do know it exists online – Google makes sure of this. So we try to help companies do good and meaningful things and make sure these things get noticed.

To celebrate their six-month anniversary, they threw a big party. The local trade press gave it nice coverage. They commissioned me to draw something for the event. I think the motif of “Karma” pointing to itself, a play on the Eastern symbol of the eternal snake eating itself, worked out well. Straight and to the point.

Thanks to Balazs Lovenberg and his colleagues for such a great assignment. I had a lot of fun. Rock on.

[Commission your own Cube Grenade. The Cube Grenade archive is here.]

“the intense longing”

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:40 GMT

This one is called “The Intense Longing”. The latest from the “Moleskine” series [Click here to enlarge etc].

Friday night I was in Marfa, hearing my favorite local band, The Doodlin' Hogwallops, play a gig at Padre's. Because I was driving, I wasn't drinking any alcohol, so I just stuck to black coffee the whole night.

Once the caffeine started kicking in I got out my drawing pen…

“Longing” is a lovely idea to wrestle with, because from the moment we become sentient beings, our lives are utterly saturated with it.

The longing to be closer to God. The longing to be closer to Nature. The longing to feel more alive. The longing to love and to feel loved. The longing for truth, beauty, goodness, sex, poetry, art, strength, music, friendship, family, affection, desire, magic, power, laughter, joy, meaning, resonance…

It never goes away, no matter how smart, sexy, witty or successful we become. It's the broth we spend our whole lives stewing in: The longing to touch that which can never be touched.

Which is why I think it''s a REALLY good idea try to express it somehow, even if the results will be invariably mixed…

Virgin London Marathon 2010

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:40 GMT

It’s cold and dark outside, so spare a thought for those pounding the streets and ticking of the miles in preparation for the Virgin London Marathon, coming up on the 25th April 2010. I have experienced the highs and lows of those 26.2 miles first hand, having run the ING New York Marathon in 2006. In the run-up I was encouraged by an ‘old hand’ to print my name on my running t-shirt, so the crowds could cheer me on my way.

Team Lynnie

Plus Indigo Clothing’s Stephan has designed this charity tee for Lyn Brooks. She is running the London Marathon, raising money for the Spinal Injuries Association. These are available to purchase through Lyn’s facebook page and feature a gold foil finish! You can donate here.

We are hiring

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:37 GMT

Indigo is looking for a new Client Services Team Member. If you are interested in joining our little family, please see our jobs page for more info and how to apply.

the cost of doing what you love

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:01 GMT

["Successful", which I sent out recently in the newsletter. You can get the signed print here etc.]

While writing the first draft of EVIL PLANS, I wrote about “The Hunger”- that primal drive we all have to do something meaningful with our lives.

The Hunger will give you everything. And it will take from you, everything. It will cost you your life, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.

What do I mean by “Everything”?

Well, pretty much what I said. Anything worth doing takes forever. And if time is all we have have, then QED, time is “Everything”.

Only you can decide if it's worth it…

“evil plans”: how a little shack in chappell hill, texas changed my life

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:56 GMT

With the deadline for the finished draft only a few months away, I've started working on “Evil Plans” again in earnest.

Everybody needs an EVIL PLAN. Everybody needs a way to get the hell out of the RAT RACE. Everybody needs to get away from boring, dead-end jobs that they hate, and start doing something they love, doing something that matters. Life is short.

Every person who ever managed to do this, every person who manged to escape the rat race and start doing something that matters, started off with an EVIL PLAN.

My EVIL PLAN for the next couple of months is to work on the book first thing in the morning, 500 words a day. Afternoons I'll work on the Cube Grenades. Evenings will be drawing new cartoons for the Newsletter.

From my end, it's pretty sustainable, so I'm happy.

Let me tell you a story:

About twelve years ago I was living in New York City, busting my ass, working in an ad agency. One day I decided to go down to Houston to visit my family. While I was there, my sister and I decided to drive up to Austin to visit some old college buddies.

Instead of the usual fast route via I-10, we decided to take the more scenic Route 290, through the Hill Country. A lovely drive of about 150 miles.

At about the halfway point we pull into Chappell Hill, Texas, a sweet little town of maybe three hundred people. We stop for some gas.

Right next to the gas station is this wee building, not much more than a shack, called the Chappell Hill Meat Market & Cafe. We go in.

Turns out they sell some of the best Texas sausage and jerky you ever did come across. They have their own smoke house in the back, and everything is prepared right there on the premises. My friends in Austin are having a barbecue that evening, so we buy about forty dollars of sausage and jerky for the party. We eat some of the jerky in the car- Outstanding!

We have a great time in Austin, seeing our friends. Everybody LOVED the meat we brought for them. On our way home to Houston, my sister and I like the Chappell Hill Meat Marke so much, we decide to stop in again, and buy some more sausage for my dad and his wife.

As I'm paying for the food I compliment the person serving me, the owner, a nice lady named Sissy.

“This is a great little place”, I say. “I LOVE your jerky.”

“Why, thank you,” says Sissy, in her very polite, Texan way.

“I bet you sell a lot of this stuff,” I say.

“Sure do,” says Sissy. “About a thousand pounds of meat…”

“A week? Really? That much?”

“No, Darlin'. A thousand pounds, every day.”

BOOM! Moment of clarity. A tiny little shack-store in Nowheresville, Texas. Making anywhere between twenty and forty thousand dollars a week, pure profit. That's a lot more money than me or any of my other New York cronies were making (or probably ever going to make). For a lot less hassle and overheads, to boot.

Now, I never wanted to go into the meat business, but since that day in Chappell Hill, Texas, I have always aspired to have a business model as simple, elegant, profitable and low-key as this one. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm getting close…

And that, My friends, is what “EVIL PLANS” is really all about. Exactly.

Sumi Ink Club

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:00 GMT

If you find yourself a loose end in LA, but have a cup, some ink, and a brush, then you should make your way to the Sumi Ink Club. Sumi Ink Club is a drawing collection based in LA, established in 2005 by Sarah Anderson and Luke Fischbeck. Their favourite style of drawing is topsy-turvy, detailed and collaborative: on paper using ink. These group drawings are meant to open and fortify social interactions that ‘bleed into everyday life', welcoming ‘all ages, all humans, all styles'. And now, they've expanded from using ink on paper, to print on t-shirts.

Sumi Ink Club's beautiful designs have been transferred onto the tee, and they are striking to say the least. The design detail is almost on a parallel with an optical illusion – it looks kinetic, but it isn't, and mexican waves of changing colour on these shirts will definitely get you noticed. When you're wearing your shades and stalking down the street people will stop you to say ‘wow'. All you will have to say in return is: ‘Sumi', and maybe do the peace sign with your fingers.

for him

for her

Your look will be made complete with this hot bag they've added to the line. The perfect reusable shopping bag. Eco, and chic-o. I like it, lots.

Available here.

Mario Bros series from SplitReason

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:10 GMT

Mario Bros, who don't recognize these series? Ups, maybe there's a chance for you not recognizing him if you weren't grown up in the 90s. Mario and Luigi the plumbers are the team who should save the princess from the Dragon castle, and so on and so on. Mario once (and still) one of the most famous character in video games. Well, Mario Kart is still hype in Nintendo Wii until now. Hail to Nintendo and the gangs!

SplitReason, specialized in gears for geeks and gamers, brings you the nostalgic moment with Mario (not with Luigi this time), by presenting The Plumbers Wardrobe t-shirt. This time, Mario will not save princess or the world, just doing his regular job as plumber. Being a plumber, he needs his specific suit for every condition. Maybe choosing a suit i's even harder than doing the job itself.

Beside Mario, SplitReason also create series of shirt design for mushroom, the noted character in the game series. His name is actually Toad (I think most of us don't know his name, me too in the first place) and he's princess' most loyal servant. Get a Life t-shirt is not necessary related with game theme, but you will still recognize Toad immediately. Check this green design printed on top of 100% cotton. All of these shirts will be yours for only US$18.95. They ship for international order too.

Rangga is blogger-editor at T-shirt blog Cottonable.com. This posting is written with assistance by Amir.

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random thoughts on being an entrepreneur

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:21 GMT

Random thoughts on being an entrepreneur. [Originally posted January, 2007]

I wouldn’t say I was an authority on entrepreneurship, certainly not in the same league as people like Fred Wilson or Jason Calacanis. That being said, the last couple of years haven’t been too shabby, either. With that in mind, here are a few thoughts I have on the subject, in no particular order. The list, by the way, is far from complete- I'll probably be adding to it sooner than later etc.

1. Everything takes three times longer than it should. Especially the money part.
2. The best way to get approval is not to need it.
3. People want what they can’t have. In fact, that’s pretty much all they do want.
4. Once you become an entrepreneur, you find the company of non-entrepreneurs a lot harder to be around. You’ve seen things they haven’t; the wavelengths alter, it’s that simple.
5. In a world of over-supply and commodification, you are no longer paid to supply. You’re being paid to deliver something else. What that is exactly, is not always obvious.
6. Word of mouth is the best advertising medium of all. The best word of mouth comes from disrupting markets.
7. People buy your product because it helps fill in the narrative gaps in their lives.
8. You can either be cheapest or the best. I know which one I prefer.
9. Some people think that once they secure venture funding, their problems will be over. Wrong. That’s when your problems REALLY begin.
10. It’s better to be underfunded than overfunded.
11. If an average guy in a bar can understand what you do for a living, chances are you’re halfway to becoming a commodity.
12. It’s easier to turn an ally into a customer than vice versa.
13. If you’re happy in your career before the age of thirty, you’re probably doing something wrong. Heck, if you’re happy in your career before the age of seventy, you’re probably doing something wrong.
14. Smart, young, artistic people are always asking me which is a better career path, “Creativity” or “Money”. I always answer that it doesn’t matter. What matters is “Effective” and/or “Ineffective”.
15. Write the following on a piece of paper, have it framed, and stick it on your office wall: “Have you hugged your customer today?”
16. People will always, always be in the market for a story that resonates with them. Your product will either have this quality or it won’t. If your product fails this test, quit your job and go find something else. Just making the product incrementally cheaper or better won’t help you.
17. Products are idea amplifiers. The molecules and/or bytes are secondary.
18. People remember the quality long after they’ve forgotten the price. Unless you try to rip them off.
19. Markets serve entrepreneurs better if the latter can keep the former undersupplied. Oversupply is the kiss of death.
20. I personally know a former CEO who, once he attained control of the company, ran an EXTREMELY profitable business into the ground in less than two years. From a market cap of $100 million to ZERO, just like that. Why? Short answer: He loved being “The” CEO, but he didn’t much care for being “a” CEO.
21. In terms of becoming an entrepreneur, probably the most useful thing I learned in the last twenty years was how to enjoy my own company for long stretches of time.
22. One successful entrepreneur I know well has a wonderful quality, namely that he never, ever compares himself to other people. He just does his own thing, which actually serves him rather well. Just because his competitor has bought himself a bigger motor boat, doesn’t mean he feels the need have a bigger motor boat. This quality helps him to build his business the way he sees fit, not the way the motor boat people see fit.
23. Running a startup is full of extreme ups and downs. Which is why so many successful and happy entrepreneurs I know lead such normal, stable, unglamorous, “boring”, family-centered lives. Somehow they need the latter in order to balance out the former. Extra-curricular drama looks great in the tabloids, but that’s all it’s ultimately good for.
24. MBAs are conditioned to use their brains in much the same way as sex workers are conditioned to use their genitals. Nice work if you can get it.
25. Bill Gates may have a million times more money than me, but he isn’t going to live a million times longer than me, watch a million times more sunsets than me, make love to a million times more women than me, drink a million times more fine wines than me, listen to a million times more Beethoven String Quartets than me, nor sire a million times more children than me. Human beings don't scale.
26. F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, “There are no second acts in American lives.” F. Scott was a drunkard and a fool.

We Heart Indigo

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:10 GMT

Just in case you wondered what happens when you take all the frequency data of the keywords on Indigo Clothing and put them in a cool heart shape…

[via tagul.com]

the next generation of “blogging about blogging”?

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:41 GMT

[The "CFA" print. One of my favorite all-time cartoons. For sale here etc.]

“Blogging about Blogging” was an early phenomenon in the early Blogosphere.

It was such a new medium for us early-adopters, it was very exciting to us. The possibilities it offered us seemed almost endless, and we wanted to explore those possibilities, and share what we learned with our fellow bloggers. So a huge percentage of our blog posts ended up being just about blogging- at the expense of other stuff- art, politics, literature, science etc.

But we all know what happened- after a while we got sick of hearing about it. We'd been doing it for a while, a lot of these “blogging about blogging” posts started sounding like old news, started sounding the same.

So a lot of us early bloggers pretty much stopped talking about it a couple of years ago. We had moved on to new adventures, as one does.

But recently the subject has gotten interesting to me again.

Why?

I'm beginning to notice a lot more new blogs online- a next generation, as it were. More specifically, I'm noticing a lot of artists and entrepreneurs suddenly getting the blogging bug. Highly-driven, smart people trying to sell their work online, as opposed to more traditional avenues. Paintings, software, freelance gigs or bathroom tiles, who cares? It's the worldview that matters.

Like I said in my previous post, blogs are old news in Social Media circles, but that doesn't mean that they're still not an extremely interesting, powerful medium, that millions of artists and entrepreneurs could do very well by figuring out how to use them properly, even if they weren't “early-adoptors”.

I've been blogging a long time, I know a lot about it- what works, and what doesn't. Google my ass if you don't believe me.

i.e. I'm in a perfect position to help these artists and entrepreneurs with their blogs- “Share what I love” etc. Why not? It would be an interesting conversation, at least.

Thoughts?

“boring” is underrated

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:29 GMT

["George", which I sent out in the newsletter recently. You can get the signed print here etc.]

I was thinking back to “The Golden Age of Blogging”, whenever that was. Say, six or seven years ago… when it hit that sweet spot between still feeling like virgin territory, yet just on the verge of reaching critical mass.

Back then the Blogosphere was TINY. We blog nerds were a minority. We were cultural weirdos. But we knew we were on to something, even if the rest of the world didn't see it yet.

And we were looking VERY HARD for business models to support our new, beloved medium…

I remember when a guy landing a well-paying job just on the merits of his blog, was considered big news.

I remember when a girl landing a book deal just from her blog, was considered big news.

I remember when Robert Scoble blogging on behalf of Microsoft was considered big news.

I remember when Gawker or Techcrunch making $10K a month on advertising, was considered big news.

A blogger making good money selling art- Well, that's what I do now for a living- back then that would have been considered HUGE. Now we take that kind of thing for granted. Book deals, $10K monthly advertising revenues, dream jobs, celebrity Microsoft bloggers, nowadays that's no big deal, either.

I remember when blogs first became “News”, when that Businessweek story hit in early 2005. It was a very exciting, validating, heady time for us early-adaptors.

Eventually the buzz and the hype died down, of course. Along came Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and whatever; the story moved on. “Blogging” got boring….

But to paraphrase Clay Shirky, a technology doesn't become truly useful until it becomes boring, until it's no longer “News”.

We may miss those early days, when blogging was new, exciting and “Hot”.

But for me and a lot of my early-adaptor friends, our blogs are making us A LOT more money now, than they ever did then.

“Boring” is underrated…

Faking It

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:51 GMT

Being a faker is underrated in my opinion. I love faking (not important stuff you know, but the little things). Like when you're having a chit-chat conversation with your hairdresser and she mishears you: ‘Really? You're a brain surgeon?!!'. There's the brief pause where I scan the room, making sure there's no one I know there, contemplate telling her what I really do, but then decide that I could fake it. ‘Yeah, that's right. Brain surgeon'. My friend once faked to her boyfriend, for a whole year, that she only ate grapes if they were peeled. Why? She doesn't know, and neither do I, it was just one of those things; one of those things that you fake. Then there's the big need for fakies when you're in an uncomfortable social situation being bombarded with questions about obscure musicians. ‘Do you like the American Hound-dog Slobber Dobbers? Not heard of them? What about LollopopBingoDop? Not heard of them either?!! Crunk Rhyme Spitters?' Feeling alienated from the group you fake it. You tactitly admit that yes, you have heard of the Crunk Rhyme Spitters, you love their stuff, and to make the fake more convincing, you might even hum a tune and pretend to dance to an imaginary rhythm. Faking isn't lying, it's a form of art.

The art form of faking extends to everyone's favourite realm; fashion. These fakers come out with all their creative juices flowing. They love to masquerade one thing as something else.

Take the humble silk scarf and the polaroid picture. Could these guys interchange, could they fake it? Philippe Roucou, a french bag designer, has proved to the world that they can. His limited edition polaroid scarves beautifully merge the two for a top class fake, as the polaroid picture becomes a scarf. Just don't shake it, because motion during development is bad for the image.

Another potential for fake, comes in the contrast between the sock and the sneaker. Are there ever times when socks can be sneakers? Have you ever seen anyone walking around in their naked socks, outdoors? I have, but then I've seen many things that would blow your mind. Among them, are these hi-top sneaker socks. They are the converse of the sock world. Pull them up high, wear them with heels, and you too can fake it.

Think Louis Vuitton can fake it? Well, I know there are a lot of Louis Vuitton fakers out there, but rest assured, this one is the real deal. One day, Louis was taking out the garbage and was struck by a wonderful prospect. Could garbage bags fake it as handbags, and more importantly, would people actually fall for it? Employing Marc Jacobs to do some sketches, he made the ultimate fake bag, then he decided it was worth $1,960, proving that money can buy garbage. Though I have to admit, they look practical and waterproof.

The final in this sequence of fakers is for all those brides-to-be. The fake components are the wedding dress and the wedding cake. My two favourite aspects of every wedding. But could the dress fake it as cake, or could cake fake it as dress? Lukka Sigurdardottir shows your how to snip the cost of your wedding in half with the aid of a simple fake. This dress would make sure the bride is the centre of attention as guests flock around to coo at her beauty and dig their forks in from waist down. What a schweeeeet fake.

Here’s Dr. Sheldon friendship flowchart, what is yours?

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:11 GMT

I gotta be honest that I don't watch The Big Bang Theory religiously, maybe one or two episodes of season 1. Yet, I can figure out that the series is telling about nerds (not only geeks) and their daily social life. One character that catch my attention is Sheldon Cooper, PhD, a theoretical physicist. For him, everything can be theorized, even can be drawn as a flowchart.

Take this one as an example. Who would guess the idea of becoming friends can be drawn as principal in a flowchart? This friendship flowchart may describe the exact method used by Sheldon from meeting new person until becoming legitimate friend.

From that sophisticated flowchart, I see two things that trigger someone to be Sheldon's friend. One is by having dinner together and two is by having tea/coffee/cocoa together. Amazing, it ends to the basic need and psychological intense called “eat and drink together”. From there, Sheldon can find “chemistry” in order to label him or her as friend.

This “friendship algorithm”, firstly appeared in Season 2 episode 13. This tee design is available for both guy and girl from different stores. For guy, go grab them in ThinkGeek shop, while girl may get the similar one from Stylin Online. Maybe after wearing this shirt, you can extend your IQ few more and create your own friendship algorithm.

Rangga is blogger-editor at T-shirt blog Cottonable.com. This posting is written with assistance by Amir.

New T-Shirt Company Bruised Bear

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:48 GMT

Bruised Bear is a new T-shirt company with a really whimsical and fun aesthetic. Reminds me a bit of Loyal Army, and that can't be a bad thing. Thankfully the simple design has translated to their web site, I wish more t-shirt companies would make as good a use as these guys have of their front page. Much easier to see what they have for sale. Anyway, check them out, they look like fun stuff and the guys that run it sound very passionate about it. BTW I think the Moist shirt is probably my favorite.

Oh and thank you guys for the kind words, appreciate it.

“Before anything else, I wanted to thank you, actually. By following
t-shirt blogs like Tcritic and sites like Threadless, Design by
Humans, etc. it really made us believe we could go out there and
follow our dreams. Yea, this is a company, but we started this
because it's close to our hearts and truly fun. So hopefully, you see
that translated in our designs and general aesthetic.”

BTW 1% of sales goes to save bears, someone needs to tell Colbert

Modern Warfare T-Shirts

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:32 GMT

These are as niche t-shirts as you're going to find. Only a Modern Warfare player would understand the Akimbo 1887's (which BTW only f'ing newbs would use I prefer the Barrett 50 Caliber and Akimbo Rangers Especially since the 1887's have been nerfed with the latest update. Anyway, check them out on RedBubble.

Advertisement: Lucky Threadz – Original & Very Funny Great T-Shirts Endorsed By Tcritic

The 1970s

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:00 GMT

The 1970s. So much to love.

Anita Ward bellringing.
The original and best platform shoe.
Sideburns.
Cinema horror classics Don't Look Now and The Wicker Man.
Everyone dancing like this…….

And now you can relive all the golden days with a click of the finger, as you virtually surf your way back in time to Custard Heart's Vintage Shop.

The down sides to visiting vintage shops online are that the sensory element is wholly missing. You don't get that musty smell of the past, the mothballs, the crammed rails, the very high possibility of finding something truly horrific that you can hold up against yourself and laugh out loud at, however, you do get ease of browsing and convenience.

To recreate the 1970s in its truest sense, put on the headphones, crank up the Anita Ward, light the lava lamp and take a look at these beauties…

Being a commited fan of the chunky, vomit-esque patterned knit these cardigans do everything for me. This cream and blue specimen is my idea of heaven, even if the climate is tropical. I'd get so many compliments from my Grandmother.

Eye Cardy

Accessorized with this tapestry, golden chained, clippy handbag, I'd never have to leave the house without my Rubik's cube.

Victorian meets Seventies Glam

And as the day turns into night, it's time to pull out those classic disco poses with a shimmy-riffic sparkle top. In the Seventies, you couldn't not dance.

The reflection from the disco ball will be blinding

Sorry. I need to go, I need to dance.

T-Shirt War is an Amazing Stop Motion Video

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:42 GMT

T-Shirt War is a pretty cool stop motion animation done by changing T-Shirts. Check out the site where you can order some T-Shirts worn in the video, or you can just order replicas. Looks like they must have done a roaring business because the video's been watched over 1.5M times. Love that they have the before and after graphics, very cool stuff.

This is also probably one of the best examples of using Youtube to merchandise something, and a great example of the collaboration between youtubers to create something unique and I expect quite profitable.

Advertisement: Busted Tees: Funniest T-Shirts Anywhere More Cowbell, Jesus Hates the Yankees, Great Gifts!

It’s ninja tea time

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:42 GMT

It's been a while for us to cover ninja theme, so I guess this is the perfect time to bring it up again to the surface. This ninja design is not scary nor creepy. In the opposite, this one is quite and picturing the other side of ninja's life. You know in Japan, people do have tea time — well, British too — apparently these ninjas are no different.

The picture depicts two ninjas enjoying their teas in spare time. Of course the ninjas themselves will be drawn in cute way. The artist, dooomcat, is a studio has history of drawing cute and funny characters on their designs. dooomcat itself consists of two persons, a guy and a girl, living in Ontario, Canada.

There 11 background colors that we can pick to accompany the main design, sweet! I try the color switching feature and seems like all 11 colors are match to the picture, dunno what happen in the real world though.

This shirt is unisex and available in short sleeve, long sleeve, v-neck, and girl-fitted short sleeve with variant sizes. It will be yours for US$28.13. If you buy 3 shirts in this redbubble store, you'll get a nice free shipping offer.

Advertisement: Wholesale Screen Printing with online design tool. Free shipping ,set-up and art.

JackThreads

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:26 GMT

This is totally shameless, but Jack Threads, an invite-only discount streetwear shop, is giving away an iPad and to enter you just have to get your cronies to sign up for their worthwhile, I-honestly-go-there-every-day site, no big. You sign up, get discounted deals on rad stuff every day (similar to Woot and the like) and get credits for their store when your own friends sign up and buy stuff.

So, if you want to get some deals on shoes like Clae, Vans, Supra, etc and clothing from the likes of Mishka, Hundreds, Stampede and so forth, and enter CrownDozen into a drawing for an iPad then, um - clicky-clicky right here.

Read on and/or comment...

Class of 2010

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:59 GMT

They say your schooldays are the best days of your lives. That may or not be true – I’m still a bit traumatized by the memory of double Physics first thing on a Monday morning, and I can’t say I miss having the length of my skirt measured with a ruler on a daily basis. However, there’s lots to be said for spending all day with your mates, reading Jane Eyre (my favourite), and being served up sausage, chips and beans on a Friday.

It’s the time of year to start thinking about commemorating these “salad days”*, and what better way to do this than having some Leavers Hoodies made. Your school crest, the names of classmates – make the Class of 2010 something to remember!

There’s a great range of style and colours available on our site, ranging from the Gildan Blend Hooded Sweat in Orange to the Continental Women’s Pullover Hoodie in Electric Blue. The artwork department is also on hand to help you develop your designs into full printed glory.

*Shakespeare, William, Anthony and Cleopatra – one of my own A-level texts, not a personal favourite except for the bit with snake.

Post from Indigo Clothing's t-shirt printing blog. Indigo Clothing is a London based customised clothing agency offering screen printing and embroidery onto a wide range of promotional apparel. Call 0800 061 2207 for a free quote or more information.

Class of 2010

315 Foster Street residents are all badass!

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:40 GMT

Check this out, Red Wayne a.k.a Redcakes has made this design compiling all the badass in one shirt. The story is quite unique too. They all are gathered at 315 Foster Street – he doesn't mention the town — and maybe they are up to something very nasty. Did I mention this is his first design in Emptees?

Let me introduce you to all personals: Frank, Rad Wayne, Scuba Swerve, Stunt Man Stew, Scalped Lizard Man, Froggy McFroggerson, Fly Eye Guy, Fun Guy, Kid Squid, Unihorn, Man with Fish Hat, Skully, and Rat Stink. You may guess which one is which based on their looks. Wow, who's the guy that has similar face to Frankenstein?

This design is printed on Ash and White stripe American Apparel unisex shirts with royal blue faces silkscreened over orange shadows nuance. Not only in t-shirt, this design also available on hoodies, longsleeve T’s and girls shirts. It will be yours for only US$20. Unfortunately only Small and Medium size now available.

Rangga is blogger-editor at T-shirt blog Cottonable.com. This posting is written with assistance by Amir.