I would very much like your help in picking out a tee-shirt to wear around town. Let me tell you about the town, and you’ll be able to make an appropriate suggestion.
I live in a conservative, working class, quasi-religious city, though my heart is in a nearby radical lefty atheistic edgy cool city. To put a fine point on it, a few blocks from where I sit right now is Michele Bachmann’s congressional district, but the congressional district I’ve mostly lived in while in Minnesota, and to which I hope to move within the next year, is represented by the first African American Muslim member of congress ever, and by local standards, Keith Ellison is not off any kind of scale. We think of him as politically run of the mill, very smart, and very honest.
Anyway, what this means (among other things) is that when I go to the grocery store I see more mullets than people in Keith’s district will see in a lifetime, but I am also seen. I’ve noticed that when I wear one particular tee-shirt that says “Evolution” in large letters on the front (it’s from a conference) I get stares. Sometimes they are hostile stares. At the gym, even worse.
It is a little different, but not much different, when I wear my Scienceblogs blogging shirt to the gym (and this shirt is one of the shirts I wear to the gym normally).
Let me put this even more starkly perspective for you. I’m walking out of the locker room at the gym the other day, wearing my Scienceblogs blogging shirt (which says “Blog Science” on it) and walking apace and a bit behind me are two local males. One is a young guy (in his 20s) the other is an old guys (in his 70s).
Young Guy: “So, are they going to let him in?”
Old Guy: “Hmphrh”
Young Guy: “Into the White House.”
Old Guy: “Hmphrh”
Young Guy: “Are they going let him into the White House?!”
Old Guy: “Hmphrh”
Young Guy: “The Black Guy. Are they going to let him into the White House?”
Old Guy: “Hmphrh”
Young Guy: “Obama, the Black Guy. Are they going to let him into the White House? … Get it?”
And please don’t think for a moment that offensive ignorance of this kind is atypical. It’s what I see, what I hear, all the time around here.
But my Evolution tee-shirt is getting worn out. I need a new tee-shirt. The words should be visible enough that they can be easily seen from some distance. Although pro-evolution/science/whatever sloganry can be on the back, I’d really like it on the front too, so I can see the reaction. Both front and back would be good, I guess.
So, help me pick out a tee-shirt. I’m mostly interested in Evolution, but other issues are good too. And, most importantly, it should be good quality, all cotton, better than average fabric. I’m going to be wearing this thing all the time.
So, which one (or two) should I get for wearing around Coon Rapids, Minnesota?
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I don’t suppose xkcd’s “Science: it works bitches” t-shirt would appeal?
Whoa… we are off to a great start!!!!
You should get this shirt and wear it next time you go to the gym.
Browse t-shirt hell for a while. I’m sure they have something you’d like.
I recommend the Darwin-as-Obama shirt:
http://www.zazzle.com/darwin2009/
Four options:
“My ancestors survived the end-Cretaceous extinction and all I got was this lousy tee-shirt”
“Evolution: How can 100 bazillion antibiotic-resilient bacteria be wrong?
“Product of Evolution”
“Fine, I evolved, you didn’t”
I like this one a lot, though I’m a girl so YMMV:
“Science is a verb now”
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-SCIENCEVERB&Category_Code=QC
Can’t forget these.
I think many of these would be awesome:
Teach the Controversy
I was going to make the same recommendation as Stephanie so I’ll just repeat that. Also, consider the xkcd shirt with “Make me a sandwich.” “Make yourself a sandwhich”. “Sudo make me a sandwhich.” “Ok”.
“Evolve Already!”
I like XKCD’s “Stand Back – I’m Going to Try Science” shirt. I’ve had that one spark a few interesting conversations.
Northern Sun has quite a few Darwin and related shirts. I picked up this one at Twin Cities Pride this year. I think they were also at the Living Green Expo. They’re based in the Twin Cities, but I don’t know if they have an actual storefront.
testing comment system
Gun control means ….
http://www.cafepress.com/+gun_control_white_tshirt,51704917
“Contrary to Belief” on the back
“Armed and Dangerous Liberal” on the front.
Viva la Evolución! by Busted Tees. Or check out shirt.woot.
Many Good ones here:
http://evolvefish.com/fish/shirts.html
“Voting Member of the Donner Party”
http://store.richarddawkins.net/products/crocoduck-t-shirt
Gun nut classic:
“The NRA Called … You’re Fired!”
My OBAMA T got similar looks here in Houston. Not, because it was unusual – he won the county – but because I look like a red neck. I do like the double take, too!
How about simply “LIBERAL”? I got my sister one from Cafe Press; the bumper sticker is on my car. Michele would hate that.
I’ve always liked Back off, I’m doing science!”, from Retropolis.
98% Chimp
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/sciencemath/9899/?cpg=ab
http://www.cafepress.com/antireligion
Excellent t-shirts.
http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/product4241.html
You could go old school with one of the bright green Wellstone t-shirts. Although, too many people may have forgotten/not know for that to be effective.
Reading your blog makes me miss Minnestoa.
I’ll send you one of mine:
“Genius in a World of Idiots”
HEALTH CARE FOR MOST!
They are classics but I’ll bet you could get a pile of those evolution tees cheap from the high school band in Sedalia Missouri where the ijit parents complained…
Link here
Ive worn this one with surprising success (and no overt hatred as of yet). Its way more subtle than some of the militant suggestions others made.
http://angrybychoice.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-t-shirt.html
Robot Evolution (see link above)
I’d be willing to give you my “I Love Lucy” shirt with a picture of her skeleton that I got from HMNS when she was in Houston
The following tee shirt has been banned:
http://www.momlogic.com/2009/09/band_shirt_evolution_intelligent_design.php
Consider it.
This is the one you are looking for, dear:
http://www.zazzle.com/evolution_fish_we_have_the_fossils_we_win_tshirt-235329872728934673
how about this one?
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=SMBC-MYMOTHER&Category_Code=SMBC-SHIRTS
someecards.com are awesome, and I recently got this from them:
http://www.someecards.com/store/product.php?productid=16455
I used to have an awesome shirt from The Lord’s Gym. It was a buff Jesus snapping the cross in half.
I’m not sure what happened to it or I’d send it to you.
It was sooooo awful.
I’m conflicted: I actually stumbled in here because one of the comments linked to a t-shirt of mine at the Retropolis Transit Authority – but after reading your post the t-shirt I believe you need is “Save Yourself, Mammal! We Will Fend Off the Asteroids!”
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=SMBC-DINOSAVE&Category_Code=ALLSHIRTS
It’s not one of mine, but it’s just a fantastic shirt.
Bradley, that Klaatu Barada Nikto T-Shirt is pretty cool.
And so useful!
Exactly. If I wore that tee-shirt, I wouldn’t have to drive back home when I’m half way somewhere and remember I left the index card home.
I kinda like this one…it’s extra relevant to Minnesota cause Charles Schultz was from there
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=DC-DARWIN&Category_Code=DC
That being said, they have a few other good shirts:
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=ASW-TROUBLE&Category_Code=ASW
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=CG-PFFT&Category_Code=CG
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=WIGU-JREX&Category_Code=WIGU
I humbly recommend one of my own, the “Viva la Evolution” Raptor…
http://www.cafepress.ca/trilobite/6407407
I think you should keep looking until you find a shirt that says you’re a gay, black, atheist, seltzer drinking scientist from New York City. It should also have a picture of Al Gore hugging Kanye West aboard the HMS Beagle on the back.
Or how about an ascent of the linux penguin t-shirt?
I have always liked the T rex eating the Jesus fish emblem.
http://www.zazzle.com/t_rex_t_shirt_dark-235004904098942433
I’ve always been a fan of Allahsaurus.
Some of my favorite science shirts are made by Ray Troll. I’m quite fond of “The Data is in the Strata”, but you may also enjoy “Embrace your Inner Fish” (Darwin holding Tiktaalik rosae).
Check out his art posters while you are there – “Paleo Fishing Charters” is a favorite.
http://store.trollart.com/
I’m still trying to find a “Carl Sagan is my Homeboy” shirt like the one Weird Al wore. (There’s one online, but it’s nothing like the one in the video.)
I’m amused people think evolution shirts are subversive.
Just wear a pink feather boa. Or at least one of these https://store.feminist.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=39
http://www.redbubble.com/people/kaptainmyke/t-shirts/3544730-1-science-proves-others-are-dumb-funny-t-shirt
short and to the point
So what did you get? If you haven’t picked one yet, I recommend one with a Bad Religion Logo. Even if you’re not into punk, you could at least support their singer, your colleague Greg Graffin.