Monday, September 15, 2008

Emotions Play A Part In Holiday Gift-Giving



What motivates you to buy. Whether it is a vacation to Fiji, or even Peoria, a brand new Mercedes, or perhaps a used VW Beetle, or a Gucci bag or a nice slightly used but gently worn sweater from the local Goodwill, would you believe emotions play a big part?

Whether it is a consumable for self, or a gift for someone else, I find that a lot of motivations come into play. At age 54, I tend not to buy as much for myself as I did in my younger more “self-absorbed” days, that is, when it was important for people not only to know me, but know what I possessed (as if they cared….they were too busy buying things for self to make sure others knew them and what all they possessed). Ahh yes, the good old days of the upwardly mobile yuppies.



Today, I get a real kick out of buying gifts or cards or both, often for no apparent reason, and give them to those close to me. I won’t just buy any gift, or send any flower to my significant other. Today the gift has to really mean something of significance, though it need not be of a major expense, and sometimes it is. For instance, a very significant (female) other and I like to joke often about Victoria’s Secret merchandise.



It is not that we have any kind of fetish or unnatural desire of their products; we just both find it funny how, at one time, it was such an “underground store”, not too unlike Frederick’s Of Hollywood, which, for whatever reason has decided to keep it’s “underground image”, whereas V.S. (as she and i like to call it), has become as mainstream as mom, apple pie, and sex toy parties.

Since I am a cartoonist and design a great many images onto a variety of products such as funny t-shirts, key chains, aprons, mouse pads, etc. I recently decided to send her a variety of funny gift items with one of my Victoria’s Secret cartoons on them. The total order was less than $100 and it was a boxful. Had I sent this same gift to, say, a close male friend, my brother, my sister, or my Uncle Jack, I do not believe any of them would have appreciated the gift as much, though they may have found it humorous.

So there are a variety of emotions that come into play when buying a gift. Uncle Jack for instance loves fishing, so I find myself picking out some of my cartoon items such as t-shirts or hoodies or mouse pads or whatever with various fish cartoons on them. I can assure you he appreciates them as much as my sweetie appreciates the Victoria’s Secret cartoon gifts, and appreciates it even more that I take the time to remember, he prefers fishing over v.s panties….at least for himself.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Londons Times Becomes Eco-Friendly


Rick London announced today that his popular Londons Times
Cartoons www.londonstimes.us has launched a new totally
organic cotton t-shirt shop at www.zazzle.com/ricklondonorganics.
They offer worldwide shipping within 24 hours of order and
a 100% no-questions-asked 30 day guarantee.

London says "Only a small inventory is up now, but we will be
adding hundreds over the next weeks and thousands over the
course of the year. We will cater to both men and women".

The graphics on the tees are printed with totally nontoxic dyes.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Cartoonist/Former Race Car Driver Names Best Mechanic In Los Angeles


I can remember the first "muscle car" I ever had. It was a Ford Torino with a 390 cubic inch engine. It had headers, was an 8 cylinder, and gas was around seventy eight cents per gallon.

Every Sunday afternoon I would head outside my hometown of Hattiesburg, Ms and race that Torino down the quarter-mile track at Hub City Raceway. I'll never forget their radio ads with the announcer yelling "Sunday, Sunday, Sundayyyyyyyyyyyy!", with each Sunday getting louder and louder.

One of the major topics of conversation was "Who was the best mechanic in town". Since that time, I sold or wrecked and/or rebuilt about seven other race cars, probably my fastest being white Pontiac Tras-Am with a 454 cubic inch engine in it. It was the second year they came out and Pontiac only made them in that color. A Sunday didn't go by that I did not take home a trophy.

Many years have passed since my days of youth, yet I still seek out the best mechanic. I now live in Los Angeles, and I stumbled across him, merely by accident. Not only was he the best but the most honest.

My clutch went out in my newly bought used Saturn that was perfect in every other way (sans the clutch). I had even driven it across the country with no problems.

Then came the breakdown.

It was towed to a man of whom I'd never heard, named Vladimir Morsach, a Russian Immigrant who had learned American, Japanese, and European cars long before he arrived to our shores, and learned them well. He knew exactly what the problem was and quoted me $200 cheaper than the mechanic on the other side of town, in Woodland Hills where the car stood for several hours.

Vlad called the next day and the car was ready.

I went to pick it up. I still had my out of state checks as I'd just moved from Arkansas, and since there had been some unauthorized charges on my Mastercard, I had canceled it and could not use it. He had to take my word that the check was good. He did.

The minute I drove it out of Vlad's lot, I could tell that the clutch was fixed and tight, and in fact, had never been that good, even when I bought it and drove it off the car lot.

So ironically, the best mechanic, at least my choice, in America, is not even a native-born American nor did he see a lot of American cars in his early-learning stage. But don't let that fool you. He fixed it as professionally and courteously as anyone with which you could hope to deal.

In addition, he said, if there was anything else wrong with the car, he would let me know before fixing it. I thought "Uh oh...what is coming next", based on my experience with so many mechanics with which I'd worked in the past. He called me again to let me know it was only the clutch. Now that is honesty, and certainly worth driving a few miles (or in my case having it towed, to get it fixed better, cheaper, and from a very nice person, Vladimir Morsach). Welcome to America, Vlad! We are very glad you are here!

I would later find out through a mutual friend more about Vlad. Now I'm not surprised at all of his unique talents. He is a mechanical engineer, went to the one of the best University's in Russia and had many years of experience working with cars, both European and American. Vlad feels in good terms with languages, he believes he can't learn English and states that he'd better do what he knows best and it is repairing cars, remodeling, etc. (however, we had no problems at all with communications and I speak no Russian) For him, it is NOT just about cars, it is about his passion, but mostly: his honesty and integrity. He guarantees his work for one year and if your car is NOT working properly and has same problem he will repair it for free.

Note: Vlad's shop is at 18440 Vanowen Ave, Reseda, Ca in the Valley. His phone is 818-719-8610. He's great to talk to also. Sounds like I'm gushing, I know, but have never had such a positive experience with an auto mechanic.

Aside from living in his car like every other Los Angeles citizen, Rick London is the founder of the Internet's top offbeat cartoon, Londons Times Cartoons http://www.londonstimes.us. He also owns several gift stores that feature his thousands of cartoons on tshirts, mouse pads, clocks aprons, and all sorts of items at http://www.LTSuperstore.com and http://www.ricklondonwear.com

Monday, February 25, 2008

Lawyers Have To Laugh Too



As a cartoonist, I find myself in the precarious position of writing about law. Though I do take the law seriously, I find humor in it as well. And I believe I have carte blanche to do so.

I come from a family of attorneys. One of my direct maternal ancestors was Supreme Court Judge Benjamin Cardozo. That name might not mean much to many, but it does within the legal community. His word, still, a century or so later, remains the final word on Constitutional Law.

I have dated attorneys. Some are very astute, and some not so good. I have watched them in the courtroom. Sometimes it is dramatic, sometimes a bit drab. But I continue to have an affinity for the law, given that it is in my blood, I guess. Of course my mother insisted upon either law or medical school for me, so like the good rebellious baby-boomer of the 60's, I became a cartoonist. At least I could make people laugh purposely. People laugh at lawyers, and often the attorney in question does not appreciate it. But how can we help it? I know, I know. They are just doing their job, and we laugh at them, until we need them. Then they are our confidants.

To be fair, most lawyers of whom I have met and/or associated, truly take their jobs and cases seriously. Sure, like everyone else in business, money is a motivator, but not always the primary motivator. Many, yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus, (or clause in this case), many have a very altruistic side, and take the law and their clients very seriously and want to help.

As the old joke goes, "It is the 98% of dishonest lawyers who give the other 2% a bad name". It's a great joke, but really far from reality. Many lawyers are just doing their job, just like you and me.

Sometimes hiring a lawyer can be expensive, and several Internet-savvy lawyers have launched websites in which the common layman can read, study, and learn about law and legal forms, and actually pay and download template forms from the sites at a fraction of the cost of hiring a law firm.
Some of these sites include Findlaw.com, Legalzoom.com, and the up-and-coming Lawkipedia.org, which has not yet been launched but is in the plans for this year. It will probably be the most exciting and different of all the other legal websites, just from what I understand regarding the planning.

Still, the saying goes, "The person who represents himself legally has hired a fool for a lawyer. And that is true. Especially regarding courtrooms and criminal law.

But many business conflicts do not have to turn into courtroom law. Mediation has become very popular and there are ways to work out such conflicts, often, and bring the parties even closer, once they realize they have similar goals, simply different ideas as to how to reach those goals. That is okay. It is often done by more professional persons, who is not out to "trash" a partner or remove him/her from the scene. I have seen it work many times.

Because law is of interest to me, I make sure to do a great many law related cartoons, and produce funny lawyer gifts. Even though many of them poke fun at lawyers, I find the majority have a great sense of humor, and more often than not, when the orders come in for our gifts and collectibles featuring lawyer cartoons, the names have a "comma and Esquire" at the end, in other words, our biggest customers who love to make fun of themselves, are, indeed attorneys.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Londons Times Cartoon Pet Related Gifts Benefit Animal Causes

Funny Dog & Cat Cartoon Products Benefit Animal Causes
by Rick London

People are the dichotomy of dichotomies. Admittedly, I am no exception to the rule. We are very different and very alike in so many ways. I can't think of anthing can bring us closer together than a cute puppy or kitty. They seem to have a special spirit in which we all share the same care.

I have been an animal owner since I was a kid. I am now half a century old. My feelings about pets have not changed. Like young children, they teach me about unconditional love, something that is often lost in the hustle and bustle world in which we live. They know instinctively how to ground me.

I am a cartoonist, I have dedicated a great deal of my work to the animal kingdom; particularly dogs and cats. Though there are many topics with which I deal, from science to relationships, my dog, cat, and other animal ones are the ones of which I love the most. It seems our followers feel the same way, at least the majority of them.

I manufacture products such as cartoon t shirts, mouse pads, aprons, hoodies, tote bags, and other casual wear featuring cartoons. Again, my favorite are dog and cat cartoon products.

I put aside a percentage of all sales from those products to benefit various animal causes. At first, I thought it would be a good incentive for other animal lovers to purchase my products so I could help animals at shelters and others in trouble. Though that is happening, I am also receiving orders for pet-related cartoon products from people who have never even owned an animal.

A lot of our clients just find our items to be unique gifts with funny cartoons on them. But I've received emails from a number of clients who simply express that they want to help a good cause. If this does not renew one's faith in the human race, I am not sure what will. Animals have nothing to give back (materially) but unconditional love, one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable experience one can ever feel.

If you've never, I hope one day you will experience the uncondional love of a pet, I suggest to visit your regional animal shelter today. We all have done things in our lives of which we are not proud, possibly regret. I assure you this will not be one of them. It will change your life in such a positive way, words cannot come close to expressing the feeling of adopting a dog or cat that is on its way to be put down.

About the Author:
Cartoonist and animal lover has found a way to embed passion into his cartoon work using his love of animals with a new line of funny dog and cat cartoon clothing at his many of his webstores including:

www.LTsuperstore.com
www.ricklondonwear.com
www.ricklondoncollection.com
www.athonginmyheart.com
www.mirthgirthbirth.com
www.justfunnyhoodies.com
www.justfunnyaprons.com
www.justfunnymugs.com
www.justfunnygreetingcards.com
www.justfunnymousepads.com

London also founded the Internet's top offbeat cartoon, Londons Times Cartoons which has lured nearly 9 million visitors since Jan. 2005. www.londonstimes.us

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Dogs Proven To Help Relieve Depression


Though it is not something of which I am particularly proud, I struggled with major depression since age thirteen. It may be even further back than that, that is my first memory of "feeling different". I am now fifty three.

Of course I did not even know it was depression, and even if I had discovered it was, it would have been hidden, as, in the polite society of rural Mississippi, at the time, one did not see a therapist or psychiatrist and remain in society. He or she was hidden in the closet. Today things have changed and there are many modern- day state-of-the-art recovery programs and mental health clinics in the region. Alas, mum is still the word. I now live in southern California, where, at social functions, therapy and recovery are often a common them at social functions and events.

It was not until late in life, when I discovered a stray dog named "Thor" that I learned about alternative therapy. I had often heard that owning an animal can relieve depression and even lower blood pressure, but the dramatic changes were yet to be seen for the first few months of owning Thor. I noticed I wanted to get out more and walk him, as he loved that activity. This in itself lifted my depression. A long walk can, in fact, increase endorphins in the system.

Thor introduced me to people. People will open up to a cute dog faster than they will a human, hence they open up to the human as well. Thor loved people. I had owned dogs in the past, but Thor was my first rescue dog. The jury is out whether he rescued me or I rescued him. I did not adopt him from a shelter, but surely would have had I found him at one. He showed up in the rural Mississippi woods with a pack of two other dogs. He was the sickest of them, obviously abused and/or hit by a vehicle as he limped, and was a matted ball of fur. A vet friend took him home and put him on drips, shaved him, and gave him to me.

I researched and put him on the b.a.r.f diet. (bones and raw food). I put him on the same herbal tinctures I was taking. He never had another vet bill for a decade and lived to be nearly twenty two. He had ten very happy years as did I; mostly depression-free. Both of us were quite depressed when we found each other. He passed away nearly a month ago today. I continue to grieve over Thor but feel soon I will be ready for another rescue dog. I will visit the shelter. It is not completely selfless; I understand fully now the meaning of "they do much more for us than we do for them). A rescued dog remembers. He/she gives unconditional love and we get that gift to pass on to other people. I can't begin to tell you the difference in the way I am treated now by other people, and, the way I treat them. I do my best to do what Thor taught me; that is, love them unconditionally. He saw me as one of God's creatures; to him I was a god, and now I see all living creatures as part of God's creation. I never was that religious and am not now. But how can I not be spiritual. Thor helped cure my incurable depression.

Rick London is an e-entrepreneur and cartoonist. Many of his cartoon products are dog-related and a percentage of each sale goes to benefit various animal causes. He is also the founder of the Internet's top cartoon site, Londons Times Comics.

Rick London is a cartoonist and lover of animals, particularly dogs and cats. He founded the Internet's top cartoon Londons Times Cartoons and a number of E-stores featuring his dog cartoons. A percentage of sales benefit animal causes. Some direct pages of dog-related products can be found at http://www.cafepress.com/9500/4383555 at his Rick London Collection store. Another at RickLondonwear http://www.printfection.com/londonstimestees/DOGS-CARTOON-GIFTS-and-TEES/_s_81517 and his main cartoon site, Londons Times Cartoons http://www.londonstimes.us lures over 4000 vistors per day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_London

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Londons Times Cartoons Updates

Hi All,

Just wanted to say, once again, thanks, for making London Times Cartoons what it is today. We could never have imagined when we started it ten years ago that we would be receiving millions of visitors per year. We greatly appreciate your feedback, let us know what is on your mind, what kind of topics you'd like to see etc.

Many of you may also know, I have left Hot Springs, Ar and moved to Los Angeles, my old home of 14 years ago. The weather is sunny and beautiful, as usual, and I am enjoying getting outside and taking advantage of that.

Please be sure to visit our cartoon gift shops and see all the cartoon gifts such as t-shirts, mouse pads, aprons, hoodies, key chains, coffee mugs, and so much more. I've listed some of our store addresses at the bottom of this note.

Thanks again for all your support and hope you continue to enjoy our free cartoon website, Londons Times Cartoons.

Sincerely,

Rick London
Londons Times Cartoons
www.londonstimes.us

Stores:

www.ricklondoncollection.com
www.ricklondonwear.com
www.athonginmyheart.com
www.justfunnyhoodies.com
www.justfunnyaprons.com
www.ltsuperstore.com

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Londons Times Cartoons Gaing Ground Again In Alexa Ratings


Rick London announced today that the reach of Londons Times Cartoons, this quarter, according to Amazon.com's Alexa rankings is up 70% worldwide.

London said, "We are thrilled that after a decade, folks are starting to notice us."

Londons Times Cartoons www.londonstimes.us has had a large North American following since 2005 when it suddenly shot up on the Alexa rankings to 67,000th.

But then it dropped for several years and is suddenly making a big comeback.

London says he attributes the higher rankings to all the new niche cartoon gift stores his group has opened.

They now own 8 different shops that sell merchandise such as funny t-shirts, funny hoodies, funny aprons, and similar novelty gifts.

A few of the stores are www.ricklondonwear.com, www.ricklondoncollection.com and www.LTSuperstore.com.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

A Short True Story About Far Side's Gary Larson





I like to pontificate about The Far Side because I can only name a few humorists who had a great impact on my life before I launched Londons Times Cartoons. Only one was a cartoonist. The others were comedians and actors such as Steve Martin, Mike Myers, Steven Wright, Red Skelton, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Lucy, Rowan & Martin, Peter Sellers, and and several dozen others. One other cartoonist was the late great Charles Schulz, and they all influenced me in a different way.

The reason Gary Larson had such an impact is that, like a lot of confused young people in our society at that time, his even greater confusion made sense of it all, and did so with very few words, sometimes no words, but only an illustration. He was a step above so many other cartoonists in that he most often “stuck to what he knew”. He had a major in biology and aside from the frequent use of cows and insects, biology and mad funny looking scientists were often his theme-de-jour.
Before Larson launched The Far Side, he was working on a cartoon called “Nature's Way”. The Seattle Times was the first paper to publish it in 1979. A year later, Chronicle Features picked The Far Side up for syndication and it ran fifteen years. Larson put down his pin on New Years Day, 1995. For awhile we heard nothing. Then he wrote a very biologically-accurate children's story about worms titled “There's A Hair In My Dirt” which quickly became a New York Times Best Seller.
When asked why he was retiring, he said, he simply didn't want to become mediocre. He stopped while he was ahead.
He could be labeled more than a cartoonist, perhaps a “cartoon surrealist” of sorts. A lot of his cartoons featured bovine behavior and conversations that cows had when no people were around. The behavior was often erudite to make the reader understand he or she perhaps might not be so much smarter than these cows (and other animals, from squid to deer to bears. A great many dogs and cats appeared in The Far Side as well, usually as “mortal enemies”. One of the most popular is a dog who has led a trail with chalk that said “Cat Fud” that led to an open dryer in a laundry mat and the dog thinking while holding the door open ready to close it, “Oh Pleeeeeze” as the cat sniffed around.

One popular Far Side panel features two chimpanzees grooming each other. One discovers a blonde human hair on the other and asks "Conducting a little more 'research' with that Jane Goodall tramp?" Her institute board members felt it was in bad taste, and had their lawyers draft a letter to Larson and his distribution syndicate, in which they described the cartoon as an "atrocity". They were stopped in their tracks, though, from no other than Goodall herself, who loved the cartoon. Since then, all profits from sales of a shirt featuring this cartoon benefit the Goodall Institute.
Most recently, Larson has published a 2007 calendar and 100% of the royalties benefit Conservation International.
So Gary Larson not only turned out to be a very talented man, but a man who cares about the world in which he lives, and does something about it in a very unique way. He will always be remembered by his friends, fans, and other cartoonists such as myself.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

It Was All Gary Larson's Fault





Published in Ezines Today


The Far Side Of My Cartoon Life
by Rick London

I was a power-type-of-guy in Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980's. I had a cushy job, and wore nice clothes. I resided near the Smithsonian on Capital Hill, a place I rarely frequented unless company was in from out of town.

One day, my friends Julie and Beverly called me and told me to get dressed, that we were going to a Gary Larson Far Side exhibit at the Smithsonian. I didn't want to go.

Don't get me wrong, I loved and still love The Far Side, but at the end of the day I was usually exhausted and the though that went through my head was, "Why wait in a long line for an exhibit, when I can simply open the Washington Post the following day and see the cartoon?"

The girls insisted I go with them. So I did. They picked me up and we were on our way. The lines, though long, moved quickly and the exhibit was beyond my wildest imagination. The panel cartoons had been blown up onto 5 or 6 foot poster boards and were hanging from the ceiling. Many of them were my Far Sides of all time.

I was like a little kid in a candy store running from one cartoon to the next. I had seen almost all of them in the Washington Post. Suddenly I was a kid again and a happy camper.

Then, in the middle of all this fun, my mood started to change. I started getting chills and feeling isolated and terrible. I could not pinpoint what was happening. I continued, I think, to be amused and act happy but all I wanted to do was go home and cry.

It was a long exhibit with hundreds of images but well worth it. Now, back home, I was too sad to eat or watch television. Then I remembered. I had created a similar panel cartoon in the early '70's and stuffed it away in both my psyche and closet. I had done so with so many dreams, I wondered if any of them would ever die. Obviously this one was with me a long time.

Rule number one: Never show your parents any lofty dreams no matter what your age, especially if they are full-blown business professionals. MY mom hated them and insisted my dong my homework first and then deciding. I did my homework but had already decided. I just didn't know how or when, only that it would somebody happen

I remembered sharing them with mom and her negative response, but, I remember thinking, "Even if Mom is not around, I would still be scared to launch such a project for fear that people had thought I lost it". It was then that I realized Gary Larson was not just a cartoonist but a brave pioneer in the world of print journalism.

A decade passed. I created Londons Times Cartoons with one other artist. several top illustrator and I continue writing and assigning the cartoons. to my team illustrators. The site has become the biggest of its kind on the Internet and certainly the most visited (nearly 5 million a year since 2005 when we began counting). Londons Times Carotons was founded in 1997, seven years after that Far Side exhibit.

The motto of this story is "build it and they will come"; though that was not my favorite Kevin Kostner quote of his movie career. But the concept is true. If one focuses hard enough on a project or profession, sooner or later, something will break. The secret is being patient enough to hang in there until it does.

Rick London once considered himself a failure in every apect of his life. Now he owns 8 e-stores and a main cartoon site of offbeat incredibly funny cartoons It's All Gary Larson's Fault

www.mirthgirtbirth.com
www.justfunnymousepads.com
www.justfunnyaprons.com
www.justfunnyhoodies.com
www.ricklondonwear.com
www.ricklondoncollection.com
www.LTSuperstore.com
www.londonstimes.us

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Pink Flamigo Gifts And Collectibles Are Hot




The incredible collectible pink flamingo is one of those type things that are either totally loved or completely ignored. Depends on human taste and objectivity. As many consider it art as others consider it junk.

The evolution of this as a decorative object dates back to the 1940's a company called Union Products in a small Ma. Town called Leminster. They produced bit plastic animals for the front yard, but had not yet thought of the pink flamingo. Even those animals were, indeed, so tacky, they were huge sellers. A good analogy was like having the ugliest dog, so ugly it's cute. People had to have them. They were all two dimensional like a cut-out board reindeer Christmas decoration is.

About a decade later, a serious art student who worked at Union named Don Featherstone was Although Don was a serious sculptor and classical art student, his first project was to redesign their popular duck and this time make it 3-dimensional The company figured it would be a bigger seller. The company was wrong and the 3d duck ended up in the local park. He had used a live duck as a model but still no real success.

He then figured people wanted color and something exotic. They came to mind but he could not find a live one for a model so he turned to National Geographic. Smart move. They had plenty of photos. Using clay, he built his prototype. then used to make a plaster cast. The plaster cast, in turn, was used to form the molds for the plastic. The original design called for detailed wooden legs, but they proved to be too costly and were replaced by the metal ones still seen today. While the exact date was never recorded, the first pink flamingo was created several years before 1960.

The late 1950's just happened to be perfect timing for the flamingo. The American population was moving out of the city and behind white picket fence lawns, a perfect resting place for the big pink bird.

The late 1950's fashion trends were bright, bold colors. Grays and blacks had been here forever and people were ready for a change. The plastic industry was thriving and now allowed for hot colors like bright green, vivid ruby, and, of course, hot flamingo pink. Pink refrigerators, washing machines, and of course who didn't want a pink Caddie?

The love of the pink flamingo was short-lived due to timing. The 1960's was a time of rebellion, especially against anything man-made, and the plastic flamingo was certainly not heaven-sent (though many serious collectors still consider it so). All the major department stores, (Sears being the biggest back then as this was way pre-Walmart) removed the items from lack of sales. Collectors went underground to flea markets and niche gift shops as they still do.

Many collectors are still very serious about them and go so far as to travel with them. We all know that what is art to one person is garbage to the next. Bans have been placed on pink flamingos all over the country. As a result, Union Plastics was forced to introduce a blue flamingo to work inside the laws of city ordinances. But for every action to a reaction there is another action, eh? These towns then changed the laws to ban all plastic flamingos. Many refused to obey the ordinances and the laws have rarely been enforced in most of the communities.

Until this day, pink flamingo items are still some of the most sought after in the country, and the Internet is where the majority of the shopping is done, saving collectors large amounts of money from having to travel to find their beloved bird. Now they are available on everything from coffee mugs to boxer shorts to beer steins to clocks, all valuable and desirable collectibles (for those who love them that is).
Rick London is a cartoonist and E-Store owner who founded the largest offbeat panel cartoon on the Internet, Londons Times Cartoons. He has a number of estores, many of which specialize in animal cartoon products including the pink flamingo. Two of them are http://www.ricklondonwear.com and http://www.ricklondoncollection.com - (Simply click on "Birds" to find the Pink Flamingo collectibles. He only sells factory-sealed new in the box merchandise (though he says it originated from thinking "outside the box".

www.ricklondoncollection.com
www.ricklondonwear.com
www.LTSuperstore.com
www.londonstimes.us

The Perfect Tee


Even though nearly every adult in the U.S. is reported to have a favorite t shirt, and at least fifteen in their drawer, how do you know what tshirt to buy as a gift. Sometimes it’s even harder to choose the right one for you.

But what is the perfect tshirt? That can be quite objective, but its not a “hit or miss” proposition.

When choosing a t shirt for someone else, I usually try to get inside their head and heart. What do they feel most comfortable in? Do they love humor or would feel embarrassed wearing a funny item of clothing? Do they prefer a historic place photo? All these things have to be taken into consideration. Like me, most of my friend’s tee philosophy is “the funnier the better”.

Knowing the recipient’s personality is pertinent when choosing the perfect tshirt. Is tha person a visual type or enjoys words more. Perhaps both. I am one of those proud tee owners and so most of my favorite t-shirts have a graphic cartoon image with some text. These never fail to be mentioned in passing conversations when wear them in public. , I am stopped every time by people wanting to know where I got it, or just a simple compliment on it.

Is the recipient a doctor, a lawyer, a horse rancher or cowboy? A scientist or marriage and couples counselor? That kind of information can go a long way in deciding what type of tee to purchase.

The best part of giving a tee as a gift, aside from the price usually being between $14 and $25 depending on the quality and graphic, is the fact that it is something people don’t talk about a lot, but get great use out of them. It is, in many ways, an ideal and unexpected gift, especially when humor or cartooning is involved.

Order your favorite tee or tees online today. Try some for yourself and wear them around, go shopping in them, or walk the dog in the park. Watch the difference in attitude people have when approaching you, especially if you are wearing one that is humorous. It happens nearly every time to me. Someone will stop me and want to know where I got it, and sometimes are even crass enough to ask what I paid for it. But that’s okay. It’s usually a nice person simply giving a compliment and seeking information on how to order a similar one.

Tshirts, historically have been an excellent way to express oneself. If you’ve not tried one on for size,and seen the positive reaction of your circle of friends (and those outside the circle) you will. Order one today and see the difference.

Add a matching cap or dog sweater for your dog and get the attention of a supermodel.

www.LTSuperstore.com
www.ricklondonwear.com
www.ricklondoncollection.com
www.londonstimes.us

Monday, January 14, 2008

How We Market Our Stuff

As a cartoonist, I don't get asked too many questions regarding the world of website SEO. As an Internet consultant who studied business at Western Governor's University, I get asked questions daily. And it really is not much of a surprise. A great many web owners do not know SEO. There are others who think they know SEO, and “learned from experts”, only to find out within a few weeks or months that their site has been removed from Google for using backdoor or blackhat methods of marketing. The sad thing is that most of them didn't have a clue they were doing it unethically. They simply downloaded an Ebook that they paid way to much money for and followed the instructions.

What they fail to realize is that most of the time, the author of that ebook has downloaded another ebook before writing his/or hers and simply plagiarized most of it, thinking, “If I bought it on the Internet, and from a guru, chances are it's good information. Usually it is not.

I do not write or sell Ebooks at this time. Why? Because I don't consider myself a guru or an expert. A lot of people shouldn't who do. I am very good at it, and I am one of the few who has SEO'd my own cartoon website into the Alexa Top 100,000 websites (as low as 65,000), but that still does not make me an expert. I am pursuing more education before I use that word to describe me. Let's just say, for the most part, I believe I know what I'm doing, and people pay me to do it, generally before they pay “an expert”. And there is a reason. I research, I read, I double read, and I triple read, not just sites on the Internet, but scholarly books in our university library.

I guess the most asked questions are, “What should I do, PPC Advertising, article marketing, blogging, link exchange, keyword optimization, or what?

The question is not the same for everyone, though a few of the basics apply to all sites.

The first thing I usually tell them is that once their website is complete, look at it as a desert Island and a large hotel chain has an option to build a hotel there which will attract millions of happy visitors.
Your job is to make sure that hotel gets built, the word gets out about it, and people not only visit but purchase from you while staying at the hotel. After all, you have built a shop or shops very nearby the upcoming four star hotel.

Can it be done overnight? Sure, if you want to get kicked off most of the major web engines. You simply start spamming and spamming is a numbers game. The problem is spamming is bad netiquette and even illegal in some states. And you will be spinning your wheels. That is not just email spamming but blog spamming, article spamming and any other kind.

The first key is patience and to take things one thing at a time. Keywords are a basic. Overture and others offer keyword services. Find out what the most appropriate keywords are for your tags and metatag and use them. Don't overdo it. Simply use the most targeted ones.

Get a blog, preferably a blog within your own domain. Remember you are also branding your product or service and you want it to be your blog, not Myspace, or Facebook. When you blog with them, which is okay for meeting people, socializing etc., you are helping brand them. If you feel so charitable then do so. I have blogs at many different sites, but I use my main blog with my company's name on it the most often. That is my “focus blog”. I go to pinging services like Pingoat and make

certain they update the blog at least twice a week. This sends it out to other blogs that might be interested in the story.

If you are a good writer, article marketing is king. But it is a slow process. You will not get a following from it overnight. There are hundreds of thousands of article directories on the Internet. You want to make certain you are at least on the top one, Ezinearticles and if you don't mind paying, also Usnare.

There are others that are very popular and lists of them. You don't want to submit to every single one out there; as many of them do not have topics that pertain to your product or service.

There is good article submission software and services that prevent spamming, and can write and rewrite your article and allow you to use targeted keywords that prevent it from pinging unwanted blogs.

Be careful though, when using these softwares and services and make certain they do what they say they do. A good place to start is Tucows or Download and read some of the reviews. Cnet offers a good many reviews as well.

Again, be patient. You will have written at least fifty articles, probably, before you notice a change in your ranking and dramatic increase in visitors. Also, in article marketing, as in any other kind of SEO, “Its a jungle out there” or even a war, and everyone is vying for the top position. So for heaven's sake don't just write an article and put your link. Google is on to that and can see through it pretty fast. Write something of value and substance that people can and will use.

PPC Advertising often comes up in conversations. I use it, and so should you. But before using it, read the tutorial or knowledge page that the service offers. I have used most of them and find
Google Adwords to be the easiest interface and most flexible. MSN Adsense, though not as
big, offers some fun surprises too. Both offer quality hits.

There are many second-tier ppc services and I tend to stay away from them. They bring in a lot of traffic but it tends to be low quality curiosity-seeking untargeted surfers. It is more economical but one gets what one pays for.

There are many other things to know, and a lot of them I am currently learning. I will share them as I research and find them to be true. I know proper SEO works in my own Londons Times Cartoon stores, and I have seven of them. If I didn't use it, I would simply have seven desert islands with seven unbuilt hotels.

www.londonstimes.us
www.ricklondonwear.com
www.ricklondoncollection.com
www.justfunnyaprons.com
www.justfunnyhoodies.com
www.LTSuperstore.com

Sunday, January 13, 2008

My Brother's Real Estate Company


I want to take this time and opportunity to congratulate my younger brother who runs the family real estate business back home. His company, started by my maternal grandfather, Marcus London, is 75 years old today. Here is the story and my baby brother. Way to go Andy. Keep up the great work! This is reprinted from today's Hattiesburg American:

London and Stetelman has been buying and selling since 1933
By EMMA JAMES

Third-generation family-owned business London and Stetelman Commercial Realtors celebrated its 75th anniversary this week - a milestone that hasn't quite sunk in for President Andy Stetelman.

"I don't think it's really hit me yet," Stetelman said. "We've been here for 75 years and we want to see the business continue to grow."

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London and Stetelman sells commercial real estate in the Pine Belt area, including office and retail spaces as well as independent properties. The real estate agency also manages residential real estate.

"The whole year after Katrina was a blur," Stetelman said. "There was growth before Katrina, and the availability of GOZone money made the growth here pretty monumental. Business owners didn't want to miss out on that opportunity."

While not moving at as frantic a pace as right after Katrina, Stetelman said that the city of Hattiesburg is continuing to grow in the commercial market.

"I think that we're going to continue to have that steady growth," he said. "It would be nice to have a crystal ball so we'll know for sure, but I think that Hattiesburg will continue growing. Nationwide, you have a soft market, but Hattiesburg has traditionally remained somewhat immune to that."

Hattiesburg's seeming immunity to the softening real estate market nationwide should be credited to primarily a strong infrastructure supported by the University of Southern Mississippi and other colleges as well as the medical community.

While a large amount of retail growth may result in the saturation of the market, Stetelman said, the market has a way of taking care of itself.

"It's a free enterprise market," he said. "If it becomes saturated, some businesses will succeed and some will fail, but what those might be, I can't really speculate."

The influences of Hattiesburg's administration and the recruiting efforts of the Area Development Partnership also play a role in the city's growth, Stetelman said.

"Their presence makes Hattiesburg as successful as it is," Stetelman said. "We rely on them to keep us in business."

London and Stetelman was founded in 1933 by Marcus London and was originally located on Front Street. Originally a full-service real estate agency that focused on residential and commercial real estate, London started the business because he was tired of the grocery business. Stetelman said.

"My grandfather owned London Grocery on Mobile Street and was tired because he never saw the family," Stetelman said. "He needed more time to take care of his personal life and real estate seemed like a good option."

Stetelman's father, Mike Stetelman, joined the agency in 1955.

"It was a one-stop shop," Stetelman said. "You could get a loan from the bank next door, take care of the real estate and get insurance at the same time. Most of the time you could get all of your business taken care of in a day - two at the most."

The decision to shift to the company's focus to commercial real estate, Stetelman said, came after the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which changed the regulations surrounding commercial real estate.

"We had to decide in what direction to take the company and we chose to specialize in commercial real estate," Stetelman said. "We've grown and haven't looked back."

Specializing in commercial real estate before most real estate companies began specializing their services also benefited London and Stetelman over the years, said Adam Watkins, president of the Hattiesburg Board of Realtors.

"They found that niche in the Hattiesburg community and by focusing on commercial real estate and property management, they're still here," he said. "It's a strategy that's worked well for them and we're very proud for them."

Stetelman joined the company as a gofer in 1975 while he was still in high school. He succeeded his father as company president in 1988.

The lack of sibling rivalry inherent in family businesses, Stetelman said, is one of the reasons he believes the company has survived.

"I was the only one of my siblings really interested in the family business," he said. "There wasn't any of that sibling rivalry that can really hurt family businesses."

London and Stetelman is extraordinary because of their longevity, Watkins said.

"Historically real estate companies that are started locally don't last long," he said. "It's amazing that they've not only been able to survive, but grow and thrive."

London and Stetelman also relocated out of downtown Hattiesburg for the first time, moving to the newly-renovated Roseberry Piano House in the University Mall off Hardy Street. The move's purpose, Stetelman said, was to give employees more space and give Oak Grove clients easier access to the company.

The biggest goals London and Stetelman has for the year, Stetelman said, include sustaining the growth of the company and the Hattiesburg area.

"Our goal is to keep focused on our mission," he said. "We've had 75 years of continuing success and we want to keep moving in that direction so we can enjoy 75 more years."

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The True (Gory) History Of St. Valentine's Day






Real History Of St. Valentines Day & Why We Give Gifts & Cards

As early as the fourth century B.C., the Romans engaged in an annual young man’s rite to passage to the God Lupercus. The names of the teenage women were placed in a box and drawn at random by adolescent men; thus, a man was assigned a woman companion for the duration of the year, after which another lottery was staged. After eight hundred years of this cruel practice, the early church fathers sought to end this practice… They found an answer in Valentine, a bishop who had been martyred some two hundred years earlier.

Ancient Rome is riddled with strange ceremonies and traditions, especially toward the end of its reign as a mighty empire. In fact, the way young men and women learned love was from a lottery. Once a year, in a ceremony, a teenage boy picked a girl’s name out of a box (all the teenage girls in the village names were in the box). She was his for a year. She was at his command. And sometimes it was not a pretty thing to witness. It would be another 800 years before the church put an end to this practice.

The event turned out to be a celebration of a good man, a priest and bishop named Valentine who lived near Rome in the mid to late second century. During this time Emporer Claudius 11 had outlawed marriage as he felt it made his soldiers weak, and he needed the strongest men available. After all, Rome was crumbling.

After witnessing the horrors of young lovers being torn apart for wanting to be married, Valentine held secret ceremonies and married them anyway. He was soon caught by Claudius’ army. Claudius tried to convert him to the Roman way of thinking but Valentine held firm to his Christian beliefs and was executed.

Valentine’s execution date was February 24th, 270.

During Valentine’s prison sentence, he came in contact with his jailer, Asterius who had a blind daughter. Asterius requested him to heal his daughter. Through his faith he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius’ daughter. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper from his jailer, and signed a farewell message to her “From Your Valentine,” a phrase that has endured eternity.

Valentine was later named a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual festival. The festival involved young Romans offering women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The greeting cards acquired St. Valentine’s namesake and still has it.

Valentine’s day grew in popularity along with Christianity, and is now celebrated all over the world, celebrated by almost all faiths. One of the earliest Valentine’s cards was sent in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London. It is now showcased at the British Museum.

I only found out the origins of Valentine’s Day today, and found it quite interesting. So what I decided to do was add a “Sex, Love, & Relationship” section to my main gift shop, and mark everything down up to 80% just through Valentine’s day, just to make the Patron Saint proud. It can include a gift card and the customer does not have to sign it “From Your Valentine” but can if he/she wishes.

By the way, we are offering up to 80% off all gifts and collectibles in our "Sex, Love, And Relationships" section at www.ricklondoncollection.com . It is well worth the visit. From pillows to keepsake boxes to day planners to tshirts. They are all a lot of fun and make for the greatest gift, laughter....the gift of healing.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Its hard to believe


This ten years has passed by so quickly it is really
hard to believe. I can hardly even think of what life was
like prior to starting Londons Times Cartoons www.londonstimes.us
and even after starting it I was certain it was always going to be
more or less a hobby and I would always be in a sales job that I
didn't like at all. The biggest irony of it all though is now,
I rarely have time to create, which is what I love to do the most.
The majority of the day is done article marketing and blogging.

I still enjoy visiting the main cartoon site and seeing the counter
at nearly 9 million visitors and can hardly believe it; like it must
be some kind of mistake. But I guess with around 8000 or so cartoons
up, maybe there is something there to please everyone. I hope so, anyway.