My Top 5 Favorite Movies!

A good movie can stay with you for a long time. Sometimes, a movie hits you where you live at a particular time in your life but, with time, doesn't hold up well or doesn't reflect your mindset in your later years. I've seen over 1,000 films (I've rated all of them in Netflix). These are my top 5 and, especially for the top 3, I don't think it will change anytime soon. But I welcome the movie that does break through!

1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Who can deny Ferris' swagger? The spirit of this film is contagious. This is a madcap comedy covered with a coat of hip.

2. Ghostbusters

This film is a close second. It has it all: comedy, horror, heroics and a certain "cool". Everything comes together and the cast works really well together. I remember that after seeing the film for the first time I wanted to be a Ghostbuster!

3. Unforgiven

My favorite Clint Eastwood western. It was the western realized by the man who had epitomized the genre; a master thesis. The scenic backdrops alone made it worth going to the theater. Great storytelling in this one.

4. Groundhog Day

To me this was and is a very spiritual film. What if we had a day to live over and over until we got it right? How long would it take before we got it right? I can't see this film working without the comic timing of Bill Murray.

5. Iron Man

I'm a comic fan and, in my honest opinion, this is the best realized representation of a comic on screen. The character and story is both accessible to the casual movie-goer and true to the comic fan. God put Robert Downey Jr. on this Earth to play Tony Stark/Iron Man.

What do you think? Like my Top 5?

Music: Pomplamoose Music!

Man, I love me some Pomplamoose!

Pomplamoose is the duo of Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte. They are a force of good in indie music. Not only do they perform some bodacious covers, but their original music is ace-on. They come from (and still maintain) their individual careers and seem to bring out the positive best from each other. They are really fun to watch in their YouTube videos. They create what they call "VideoSongs" which have two rules:

1. What you see is what you hear (no lip-syncing for instruments or voice).
2. If you hear it, at some point you see it (no hidden sounds).

Here are four examples of their collaboration on YouTube (have fun!):

Books I'm Reading: Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0: 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job

I'm Doug and I'm currently unemployed. Sure, I have the great Doug E. Shirts at Zazzle site, but I don't get the medical benefits with that. So, like a lot of people nowadays, I'm looking for a job. And I'm finding that job hunting has changed in the last ten years, so I figured I would get some "new thinking" from Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry in their book Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0: 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job (longest. title. ever.). My copy is a Kindle version and revised. I'm looking for ideas to jump-start my job search and ideas to possibly strengthen the marketing of my Zazzle store.


Chapter 2 is all about personal branding, guerrilla style. The following is a summarization that applies the themes to my job hunt as well as the marketing for my Zazzle store.

- Shape Up Your Brand with Attitude

The chapter starts off with the reassuring fact that it's rarely the best qualified person who gets the job but the one who "packages" themselves best to meet the employer's needs (I knew it!).

Job Hunt: It's all about the presentation.
Zazzle Store: I have to find the people who want what I create and/or I have to meet my potential customer's needs.

- "You Inc."-Your Personal Brand

Being able to articulate your value is key to successful job hunting. Being able to show what makes you unique is what gives you your brand. People don't buy generic big ticket items; they buy a particular brand because of the peace of mind they get with a reliable brand. You can leverage your previous employers brands, projects and results.

Job Hunt: I can see that a major revision to my resume is in order. I need to make it more dynamic by showing my value by not only my previous employment, but also my results/successes in providing value for those employers.
Zazzle Store: I have to clearly define my Doug E. Shirts brand in a sea of other Zazzle brands. It probably would be a good thing to mention recent sales and numbers of page views to give people a sense that they're not on a vanity site. Perhaps a productive thing to do is go look at what the big sites (like Amazon) do on their sites to look more professional.

To be continued...

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Hoop It Up

Hoop It Up is a Zazzle store dedicated to basketball. Some interesting designs there. It interests me to see how he gets around not using trademarks and team logos. Take a look-see!

My Amazon Marketplace Store: Dzymurgy

I have other stores going on in addition to my Doug E. Shirts Zazzle store. One of those stores is on Amazon.com. Did you know you can sell used or new items on Amazon?

My storefront is called "dzymurgy" and I sell mostly used CD's, books and DVD's.

The products are less than the new price on Amazon and arrive within the week. Take a look and see if there's anything you want cheap by clicking here!

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Danger! Art!

This is from Floridian Jim William's Zazzle store, Danger! Art! It's his third Zazzle store and it features computer generated art. In his words:

"Do you like Klimt? Cezanne? Van Gogh? Sargent? How about Monet? Done in pastels, chalk, oils, water color, felt tip or pencils? What if two or three artists using several forms of media were to collaborate? You may not know it yet, but I may have what you're looking for. Just don't expect to see anything like you've seen before.

This site specializes in unique abstractions produced by a unique artist with an electronic brain. They come from my ordinary home computer . It's a lot better at this stuff than I am."


Go visit using the store link above. Thanks!

New Design: Psychedelic Sun T-shirts from Doug E. Shirts & Zazzle.com

Psychedelic Sun T-shirts from Zazzle.com

Groove on the rise of the Psychadelic Sun, baby! It's a way-out but real "in" design that's great for Spring and Summer (but good all year 'round!). Let the establishment know you're all about love and happiness!

Okay, so it's still winter in a third of America. One can still hope, right? It will get warmer, and when it does, you want to have this design showing your love sun.

Find it at the Doug E. Shirts Zazzle Store today (links at top and bottom).


See more personalized gifts from Zazzle.

A Hand Up to Over Half a Million

I'm giving up my daily post today for a really worthy cause. I'm going to figure out how I can be a part of this Whole Planet Foundation Prosperity Campaign...

A Hand Up to Over Half a Million: "
Today we are launching our 2011 Whole Planet Foundation Prosperity Campaign and we hope you will join us! (Read on for a chance to win a trip to Peru to witness the benefits of microcredit firsthand.) It’s easy to donate either in our stores or donate online. You can also spread the word to your social network or start your own campaign.

Together we can solve the persistent problem of world poverty and hunger! Whole Foods Market has funded over $7 million for Whole Planet Foundation and microlending projects. Shoppers have donated nearly $6 million to Whole Planet Foundation^® in past campaigns. Whole Foods Market Team Members have donated $2 million through our paychecks and suppliers have donated $1.6 million for microcredit. With this support and through valued microfinance institution partners worldwide, Whole Planet Foundation has empowered 130,000 clients with microcredit loans in five years, supporting over half a million people in 30 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America with a chance to escape poverty. Please join our 2011 campaign and give a hand up to 70,000 more people.





This video explains what we do and why Whole Foods Market created Whole Planet Foundation.





And to help share the magic of microcredit, we are partnering with Intrepid Travel to give away a 10-day trip for two to Peru. Step back in time in the Sacred Valley, witness the glory of Machu Picchu and more on this 9-night/10-day adventure for 2 including airfare, accommodations, local transportation and select meals. You’ll meet Whole Planet Foundation-supported microcredit clients and partners in the field to see firsthand how your donation helps alleviate poverty worldwide. From mountains to jungle, seasides to great plains, you’ll experience Peru’s incredible natural and historical highlights on this awesome adventure. Retrace the steps of the Incas to Machu Picchu, admire colonial cities, explore vibrant markets and meet the locals in this South American country with a difference. Return home with incredible memories of the panoramas and people of Peru. Find out more about this tour at Intrepid Travel and click here to go to the contest entry page — must enter by March 31^st (full rules on the contest page).


"

Where You Can Find Doug E. Shirts

I'm Doug E. and I like t-shirts. I really like coming up with designs and learning new techniques to bring my ideas to life. So I am making a go of it on Zazzle to display and sell those designs and photos on various things like t-shirts, cups, cases and things. I realize that I'm just another fish in that big Zazzle ocean, but people seem to keep finding me!

Started in 2007, Doug E. Shirts began as an idea for transition for me; I was going to lose my corporate job. Slowly, but surely, I began to amass the tools I would need to implement my plan for positive, thought-provoking t-shirts. 

The mission of Doug E. Shirts is to provide people with positive and enjoyable image wear and other designed products. By providing a new (and hopefully) different voice in t-shirt wear and other products, I hope to allow my customers to express their positivity and get noticed.
You can find me at these locations:

• Doug E. Shirts on Zazzle
• Doug E. Shirts on Facebook
• Doug E. Shirts on Twitter
• Doug E. Shirts on Squidoo

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Shop With mspatricia

The Raspberry Cat Greeting Cards

In mspatricia's words: "Hi all....I'm a professional artist living in sunny Orange County, California. Through the years I have accumulated images of my work and wish to share them now with everyone. I hope you enjoy what you see here and will contact me if there is something I can make and add to the store." Very nice designs there. Go visit by clicking here.

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Designs & Photography by JC Thomas

Designs & Photography by JC Thomas is a Zazzle store out of North Carolina that has the advantage of having great photographic and illustration images from JC. Many different products adorn the site. Go take a look.

5 Groovin' Doug E. Shirts Designs

I've got more designs at the Doug E. Shirts store, but these 5 I'm really, really groovin' on right now. All of them can be found on multiple products; most are customizable:

1.

The Left Hand

2.

Montreal Flower Show 2007

3.

American Dream

4.

W.S.P.L.

5.

I'm Gonna Be Famous!

Do you like?

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: blackspanielgallery

The blackspanielgallery at Zazzle was started to complement the coin business that the owner ran and has grown to incorporate New Orleans themed items and inspirational items. Many of the items are beautiful (see the drinking vessel above!). Take a trip to the gallery today.

New Design! Montreal Flower Show 2007 at Doug E. Shirts on Zazzle

In 2007, my girlfriend and I went to the Montreal Jazz Festival in Quebec. We had some time to do some sightseeing and found out that there was an outdoor exhibition in various places in the city; the subject was flowers and design. I took a picture of this scene and thought I'd like to use it in some manner in the future. Well, the future is now!

This is the newest design at Doug E. Shirts and it's on Speck Cases, greeting cards, cups and posters. Let me know what you think either at the Doug E. Shirts Zazzle store, this blog or Twitter. And comments are appreciated! Thanks in advance.


See more personalized gifts from Zazzle.

Krista Tippett: Reconnecting with compassion | Video on TED.com

Krista Tippett: Reconnecting with compassion | Video on TED.com

I listen to Krista Tippett's show "Being" via iTunes podcast. It's a show that features intelligent discussions of all things spiritual. How people live out their beliefs has always been very interesting to me. I try to live out my faith in a positive manner and try to reach hearts with humour and positivity.

Krista makes a point in the video that we, as a culture, have gotten as far as we can with the idea of tolerance of others and intolerance of injustice. Now is the time to add compassion to our understanding of others. Within the framework of love, compassion takes us from neutral to positive.

Restaurant Review: Romano's Macaroni Grill, South Portland, Maine

For Valentine's Day, my girlfriend and I went to Romano's Macaroni Grill in South Portland, Maine. Because it was Valentine's Day, I made sure to make a reservation. Because it was that day, I took what I could get, which was 5:45 PM.

We got to the restaurant and was seated promptly. Our waitress was a great gal by the name of Karen; she made us feel comfortable. The restaurant itself had an Italian restaurant decor. The lighting was adequate but it may have made the interior seem a little worn.

We ordered one of the specialty drinks - the Venetian Lemonade. It was tasty and not strong. Bread was brought to the table to dip in the peppered olive oil; once again, tasty! Because it was Valentine's Day, my girlfriend received a complementary rose. Nice touch.

We both ordered the "Make Your Own Pasta Bowl" option. It was priced at $9.99 before adding meat or salad. It came out very quickly and was delicious (I wish I had asked them to go easy on the pasta). We also both got a desert (they have a lot of choices). It was fresh and sweet, just how I like it!

Overall, a great night that ended up just over $50. We were almost comatose from the carbs. From this visit, I would definitely recommend this Macaroni Grill location.

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Lashed To The Mast

Welcome to the lunacy and political-themed Zazzle store of Lashed To The Mast. Run by myassaboy (I'm assuming from someplace in Florida), political statements and fantasy ramblings can be found on shirts and bumper stickers. Go visit the store and leave a comment!

The Doug E. Shirts Show - Zazzle Product Open #1

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Scream'n Jenny

Scream'n Jenny's Zazzle store (out of Arizona) is full of designs like the one above! Simple and clean images that transmit ideas with an ultra-pop sensibility. Visit the store and the related sites:

• Scream'n Jimmy
• Grace Visions
• Monster Visions

New Design! The Hand (Right or Left)

The Right Hand Mousepad

The Left Hand Baby Tee

The Hand design. You can choose the Right or the Left. Maybe it's for when you're busy or lazy and you want to say, "Hi!" Or it's you letting some know to keep your personal space boundaries. Or maybe you just want to let people know which hand you use more often. You've got the upper hand when you have this design on one of these products!

Yeah, it's my hand. But it can be yours as well!

Look for a personalized gift at Zazzle.

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Sports Spectacular

I definitely liked this hi-top sneaker from the Sports Spectaculars Zazzle Store. Lot's of sports related items with unique designs. When your not at my store, give this one a visit. Or check out their sister store, Sports and More.

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Clareville

The Clareville store is out of Sydney, Australia. Not only are there some mind blowing designs (I love the iPhone cover above) but the profits from the store go to the Queensland (Australia) floods relief appeal. Please check out the store and tell her I sent you!

The Artwise Shirts and Stuff Daily

Get your news!

Through paper.li and Twitter (actually, the @DougEShirts Twitter Feed) comes The Artwise Shirts and Stuff Daily. It's my Twitter feed of visual artists and t-shirt designers and Zazzle store owners and related connections. The paper.li service takes your Twitter feeds (or soon: Facebook!) or groups or even a search and publishes them in a daily or weekly newspaper format. Then, you can share it with your group on Twitter, Facebook or your blog. People can also subscribe to it. It's pretty cool and, I must say, it's refreshing to view the tweets in this manner.

If you want to follow me on Twitter, click here.

Books I'm Reading: Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0: 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job

I've started to read Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0: 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry. The image in the post has an affiliate link. I'm one of the millions who is looking for full-time employment that is worthwhile and meaningful both career-wise and financially. I'm betting that Guerrilla Marketing may have some insights I can apply to marketing my Zazzle store, Doug E. Shirts.

The beginning of the book states what everyone kind of knows already - things have changed! The workplace and the path to getting a job has never been more difficult. The difference so far is that Jay/David (I don't know who's voice is writing though I think it's Jay) tell us what what industries are soon to be history and the one's that are growing. I do think that the American public has yet to come to grips that some of the lost jobs are never coming back (at least to this country). We've inadvertently priced ourselves out of the game and big business (who despite recent rulings, is not human or tied to a location) has looked elsewhere to find cheap labor. The other thing they do to to dump payroll is to fire old, hire young and dump the job duties on those who remain.

The writing seems to be crisp and interesting. I'll update you as I read more!

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: Simo's World (Autism)

Arthur and his mom run this Zazzle Store out of Florida. The designs Arthur uses are cool and whimsical. It makes me smile.

What you wouldn't get by looking just at the artwork is that Arthur is a teenager who is autistic. The store is dedicated to Arthur to promote his art. Please take a moment or two and visit Simo's World!

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: saytoons

saytoons's Store at Zazzle

Saytoons hails from Chicago, Illinois and is not only a great Zazzle store owner, but a professional illustrator and cartoonist. As a kid, he met the legendary Grass Green (cartoonist/comic book artist) and he was sold on being a cartoonist. You can see his skills reflected in his artistic products. I like everything in his store; I particularly like his skateboards.

Check out his store and tell him I sent you!

Music: Urgin by Doug E. Shirts

  Urgin by DougEShirts

One of the tracks I created when I was playing around with Acid Studio. The tracks are created with music/sound loops.


This is music or sequential sounds created by me using the Sony ACID Music Studio 6.0. I have played guitar, roto-toms, oboe and guitar; however, I do not claim to be a professional musician whatsoever.


All tunes are downloadable and are registered using the Creative Commons Licensing. Feel free to use the music as long as you attribute me as the maker. Check out the links below to understand more about the rules of the game.


Creative Commons License --

This music free to share under a Creative

Commons Music Sharing License.

Join To Participate Mesh Hats from Zazzle.com

Join To Participate Mesh Hats from Zazzle.com

Get the wear that's sweeping the nation! Let everyone know that they "must join to participate." You decide what it means.


Create a personalized gift at Zazzle.

Other Cool Zazzle Stores: fch_agora

Flora is a Zazzle store owner operating out of Athens, Greece. She has some really artistic and beautiful designs that are all her original drawings and illustrations. Check out her store here.

Portland, Maine Case For The Ipad from Zazzle.com

Portland, Maine Case For The Ipad from Zazzle.com

A moose, Portland's skyline, and a fact about the city. Does it get any better?

I created this design when I first moved to Portland, Maine. I liked the idea of combining images of what many people think of when they think of Maine with the current skyline view. Portland is Maine's largest city and you can find out more information here. 

Doug E. Shirts on Squidoo Lens

I'm on Squidoo!

I have entered my store and info at djskagnetti's Squidoo lens page called "8 Zazzle Store Promotion Ideas to Help You Sell MORE STUFF and Build Up an Empire! :P." I'm hoping it does. Check it out, please.

I also have my own first lens for - you guessed it - Doug E. Shirts @ Zazzle. I've just started it and you can see it here.

Right Now Was The Future Shirt from Zazzle.com

Right Now Was The Future Shirt from Zazzle.com

A reminder to yourself and others to make "right now" count! Watch in fascination as people get what you're saying. Available in shirts, key chains and mugs.

I always like paradoxes and irony. It must be because of my love of time-travel stories in comics. As I get older, I realize more and more how little time we have in this place. Knowing that we're constantly living in our realized futures puts the pressure live our lives in the NOW.

Gay Pride Profile Postage Stamp from Zazzle.com

Gay Pride Profile Postage Stamp from Zazzle.com

A subtle, original image that shows to those who know that you support diversity and/or are part of the "diverse" crowd. This design is also available on shirts, stickers, magnets and aprons!

Class of 2011 - Unstoppable Tee Shirts from Zazzle.com

Class of 2011 - Unstoppable Tee Shirts from Zazzle.com

On the Doug E. Shirts FB Page, Chiefcliff had an idea for a tee shirt:

"How about a T-shirt, or lanyard, to hand out as rewards for high-school age scholar-athletes (you know, the kids who maintain a high GPA while earning a letter)?"

I thought it was a great idea! So I thought about it and came up with this design that now available at the Doug E. Shirts store @ Zazzle.com:

So, what do you think? Did I come up with something good? Please leave comments here or at the store.

The Class of 2011 is our future! With their achievements in both scholarship and sports, they will be UNSTOPPABLE! Get a shirt for your Graduate. Or better yet, get them for the entire class! Available on many different styles of tees.

Jake Shimabukuro plays "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Video on TED.com

Jake Shimabukuro plays "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Video on TED.com

Happiness is a warm uke.

I Love You! Card from Zazzle.com

I Love You! Card from Zazzle.com

Order by 2/2 to insure it will get to you on time!

Love is love. A card is only a snapshot of your current emotion and desire. Use this card to express your feelings. This one will work best with flowers or a ring or a nice dinner.

SK8 Crimes T-shirt from Zazzle.com

SK8 Crimes T-shirt from Zazzle.com

This one is for those skate-boardin' ladies out there. Please check it out!

O'Portland T-shirts from Zazzle.com

O'Portland T-shirts from Zazzle.com

Follow Your Bliss:

Laddies and Lassies of Portland! Show your love of the ol' Irish with this stylish design on the black tee from Doug E. Shirts! Follow your bliss and have it for your very own.

By the way, there are many Portlands in the USA; use it for yours. Saint Patrick's Day is coming up soon...

interbeing shirt from Zazzle.com

interbeing shirt from Zazzle.com

Everything is a part of creation. Remind people of the interconnections of life - Interbeing.

Interbeing is a modern term that describes the interconnectedness of everything. For example, the flower above can not be unless there is soil, sun, rain/water and time. We ourselves are not just ourselves but connected to many things; this makes us who we are.

Confused? I was at first as well. Check out these sites to learn more:

- 2.2 Interbeing

- CHAPTER 13: THICH NHAT HANH

O'Portland Neck Ties from Zazzle.com

O'Portland Neck Ties from Zazzle.com

Follow Your Bliss:

Laddies and Lassies of Portland! Show your love of the ol' Irish with this stylish design on a beautiful neck tie from Doug E. Shirts! Follow your bliss and have it for your very own.

By the way, there are many Portlands in the USA; use it for yours. Saint Patrick's Day is coming up soon...

Thanks! Card from Zazzle.com

Thanks! Card from Zazzle.com

Sending a simple thanks really can make someone's day. Go ahead - do it. You know you want to...

I am notoriously bad when it comes to sending thank-you notes. I say or email my thanks, but in many circles that's like saying thanks under one's breath. I made these so I can be more motivated to thank people properly. If you buy some, let me know your address and I'll send one to you.

guitar collage shirt from Zazzle.com

guitar collage shirt from Zazzle.com

Never say that I can't shill for a fellow Zazzle designer. Leetpete commented on my post about the Peace Out tee and invited me to check out his Zazzle store. I liked what I saw. The Guitar Collage shirt stood out to me and I just had to write about it. It's great!

Do Leetpete and I a favor and check out his Zazzle store by clicking here.

Buffalo Avenue Books: The Reviews Are Trickling In!

Buffalo Avenue Books: The Reviews Are Trickling In!: "Two Tales of Atlantis received a nice notice over on Examiner.com. Much thanks to reviewer Robert Sodaro! "

The e-book is written by Paul Kupperberg, who has written and edited at DC Comics (Arion, Lord of Atlantis; Checkmate and Vigilante to name a few) as well as edited at the World Weekly News. I had the great opportunity to get to know him when I helped at A Timeless Journey in Stamford, Connecticut.

Not only does he have a new book but he's currently at Archie Comics involved with a super-popular series that shows Archie married(!). One storyline has him married to Veronica; the other has him married to Betty. You can hear an interview with Paul here about that comic as well as other things.