Mauritius - South West - Chamarel
Originally uploaded by insolitacommedia.
Today I'm listening to Rick Steves travel podcasts and mailing more fan club memberships. My goal is to have most, if not all, out by Monday. I'll keep you posted.
Above, the colored earth of Mauritius.
There will be hoboes and comics tonight, probably later than sooner. Thank you for your patience.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #561
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
The original version of this one has a hidden character which has been replaced in photoshop with the crate. Once the recipient has confirmed receipt, I'll post the unadulterated version.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #559
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
It's true! Ask a reindeer.
Stocking
Originally uploaded by melalouise.
If you would like to order a Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comic, I can no longer gurantee that it will be in the mail by the 15th (in time for Christmas). Thanks a lot to everyone who has ordered. Without you good people, this blog would be an empty place.
Fan club memberships will continue to be available and you can order those right up to the 15th for Christmas delivery.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #558
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Just the one tonight. More tomorrow.
weekend book binding
Originally uploaded by nate steiner.
Answer: probably. At some point. Not before the end of the year though. I'd like to take the time to do it right.
Neon scissors
Originally uploaded by russelljsmith.
...will be tomorrow morning sometime. I'll still be selling comics, but I've about reached the limit of being able to get them out the door in time for Christmas.
The fan club memberships will remain available and are usually put in the mail the next morning. The cut off for those being sent in time for the holidays will be the 15th.
Thanks.
Somethin about dis music. It depresses me.
Originally uploaded by evil nickname.
More fan club packs are going out today and tomorrow. Look for hobo names and more comics tonight and tomorrow too.
Another note on the aforementioned geotagging: I was thinking of tagging the comics which refer to a specific location, not tagging where the actual comic is sent, though that's a good idea for those of you who have added photos to teh Foundling pool on flickr. If you are so inclined, here's an instructional video.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #557
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
First order of business: where is everybody?
a unicorn eating a bowl of glitter
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
This was drawn for a recent winner of the Neatorama.com Caption Monkey contest.
Contours on the topograph
Originally uploaded by Smoobs.
At some point I'll start geo-tagging select comics over on flickr. I'll let you know which ones and when I do it.
Not today, of course. Today has been spent addressing, stuffing, and sending comics and memberships to foundlings all over the world. One as far away as Kissimmee! I should've just driven it over there.
Also, have you tried the new "terrain" button on google maps? It's kinda fun. Unless you live in Florida, where our highest elevation is 300 feet. No, really. Google it.
Whether you call it bag of holding, magic satchel, the luggage, or Doctor Who's pockets, it's a handy trope.
Expect a few more links and videos in the coming days(with a sprinkling of comics and hobo names) as I do mail room duty to get the second round of fan club memberships out the door.
There are lots of Indonesian shadow puppet clips on youtube. I wish I had known that a couple of weeks ago, but no matter.
Also, check out this video from the breaking news section of CNN. Dissertation forthcoming.
Finally, after a couple of snafus (one was my fault, the other was the fault of a copy machine) the second leaflet is hot off the press. Many will be in the mail come morning.
order up
Originally uploaded by fatal Cleopatra.
You can order an original Laugh-Out-Loud Cats cartoon drawing for your home, office, or patio. They are $20 and suitable for framing. Each comes mailed in an envelope with one of a variety of stamps. Perhaps even the Silver Surfer.
I will be sure to note when and if the cut off for guaranteed holiday delivery occurs.
Fan club memberships will continue to be sold separately.
A final note: I really enjoy the creative commons pool of photos on flickr. Check out this tuba and it's story. And this coin. I'm in the process of setting my mediocre photos to creative commons permissions so they can be blogged and linked and what have you without fear of reprisal.
Fan club postcard detail
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
The postcards have arrived and I'll begin mailing the memberships tomorrow.
If this is your first time visiting, here's more about the fan club, which doesn't include an original drawing.
I'll begin selling original drawings again today (Monday) beginning at Noon Eastern for $20 as usual. If you are thinking about giving one as a gift for the holidays, order early in case I get swamped. I hope I don't but I'm not always a good judge of these things, and I'm still trying to figure out how many I can draw and mail in time for Christmas. Probably somewhere around 50 or so.
As always, thank you, and keep an eye peeled for the remaining second round of fan club comics and a handful of hobo names.
Why play video games when you can watch others pwn your favorite titles on the youtube?
I had the rare opportunity to play Pengo today, and wish I had seen this first. I had no idea you can do that wall thing.
In any case, expect more comics (and a surprise worth waiting for) on Monday.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #542
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Here's the winning caption, submitted by Rammy S, from the recent Neatorama.com caption contest. And the runners up:
#5 kilkenny Says:
why did u let ur stogie in there?
#123 Erica Says:
Will it blend?
#26 Jan Says:
Pip: “Mah expektashuns is not so great, akshully.”
#85 Ian Schwartz Says:
teh soup is a lie
Thanks to everyone who entered. We'll do this again soon!
I didn't want to let this day end without thanking everyone who has commented, blogged, talked about, shared, or bought my work over the past several months. I truly and sincerely appreciate it.
If someone had told me a year ago I'd be working on a comic strip on a regular basis I would not have believed it. Nevermind the fact that it's about orange cats. "It's been done!" I woulda said.
In any case, thank you!
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #543
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
542 is the Neatorama caption contest comic. It'll be posted (with the winning caption) later.
Competition Winner
Originally uploaded by CaroWallis1.
The winners of the Neatorama caption monkey contest have been chosen and Alex of Neatorama has been notified. I'll let him make the official announcement, so keep an eye on Neatorama.com.
Thanks to everyone who participated! The decision was very difficult.
Also, it's been pointed out that I have not included nearly enough squirrels in the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats. I'll see what I can do about that.
More comics later this evening.
Quick sand, Te Henga, New Zealand
Originally uploaded by g-hat.
As a follow up to #537, enjoy this.
The Foundling Museum
Originally uploaded by lizsmith.
Were you aware ot the existence of a place called the Foundling Museum?
If you joined the fan club in the first round and have not yet received your membership packet, something may be wrong and you should contact me in the coming day or so. If you have received your membership, but not emailed me to let me know you got it, please do so.
As ever, thank you.
Neatorama Laugh-Out-Loud Cats contest *DO NOT SUBMIT CAPTION HERE*
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Alex at Neatorama has allowed me to be the judge of the caption contest. I'll make a decision sometime around 12:00 pm EST Wednesday. There are already 124 entries, so I have some sorting to do.
Also:
The fan club postcards have not arrived yet. As soon as they do, the second round of memberships will start going out. The third round too.
#400: still on the drawing board. #500 also. Remember, #500 will be given away to a fan club member, chosen at random, regardless of when they joined. I'm still deciding what #400 will be all about. #500 will be a hobo rumble featuring a cast of thousands. Well, maybe not thousands.
During the second round of fan club memberships, about 15 people ordered hobo names. Expect those in the coming days too.
Posts will probably slow to a trickle after tomorrow afternoon as the holiday approaches and consumes all with turkey and various ciders.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #541
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
The winners of the aforementioned Neatorama caption contest will be announced tomorrow.
Miss Ruth H. Helm
Originally uploaded by a.e.wolf.
For those just joining us, if ever you see that I forgot to hide a hobo sign in a comic*, post a comment here or on flickr stating such and you will win a free comic**.
The last batch included two comics without signs and one lucky visitor emailed me about it. I would prefer that this is done through the comments so we can see the timestamp in case of dual claimants. Thank you for allowing this clarification.
The photo above has nothing to do with anything, aside from the fact that it came up when I searched for "missing H" in the cc pool on flickr.
*This is not retroactive. I forgot quite a few in the early days.
**There is no reward for the times I forget to sign the comics. Aside from the reward of my gratitude for it being pointed out.
Angels Flight Railway
Originally uploaded by Umpqua.
Above: Angels Flight then.
From the photo description:
"Angels Flight, originally known as the "Los Angeles Incline Railway," was built in 1901 by Col. J.W. Eddy to connect the original Downtown shopping district below with the posh residential district of Bunker Hill, with its Victorian frame houses. Then located at the corner of 3rd and Hill streets, Angels Flight was known (and is still known) as "The World's Shortest Railway," with its two counterbalanced passenger cars, Sinai and Olivet ascending up and and descending down the hill for all Angelenos, all for a nickel."
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #530
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
I think I've noted my appreciation for funiculars here in the past. See more here.
Pasha's Birthday Present
Originally uploaded by pablo_marx.
#517 was created a while ago and only posted recently. It was a surprise for Pasha's birthday. Some say Pasha looks like Indiana Jones here. I'm sure he takes that as a compliment.
You'll be able to buy original drawings again come Monday. More info later.
Quincy Jones? Edward G. Robinson? I just might need to sign up for Netflix.
Also, this song makes me miss David Letterman.
Neatorama Laugh-Out-Loud Cats contest *DO NOT SUBMIT CAPTION HERE*
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Read this post at Neatorama to learn more and to enter for a chance to win this comic with your caption. Please do not enter a caption here or on flickr, only in the comments over on Neatorama. Thank you.
My Fall Photo
Originally uploaded by timsamoff.
1. Did you see this? I'll upload those drawings soon.
2. Do you visit Neatorama.com? If not, you should. Especially tomorrow.
3. A secret will be revealed this week. Not the fan club secret, a different, new one. More on that later.
4. I will begin selling original Laugh-Out-Loud Cats drawings again next Monday, for those who want to give one as a gift. They will be available until I feel like I'm at a point where I can get them out before the holidays. The $10 fan club memberships will remain available no matter what.
5. I hope to have all of the second round of fan club memberships in the mail by the 1st of December. I will begin mailing some later this week, as my holiday schedule allows.
6. There will be comics posted today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. After that, things get busy with family and holidays and such.
7. Check out this group on flickr. I think we all know someone who would enjoy the photos therein.
Happy anniversary to one of my very favorite animated cartoons of all time. I once had the very strange experience of sitting in the lobby of a palatial Walt Disney World hotel while this played on a tv. It was weird to realize that this is pretty much what started it all.
Watch it if you've never seen it before. Look for the sequence where Mickey plays various animals like musical instruments and try not to lol.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #465
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
I've posted this comic previously, but please click on it to see the notes flickr user "phasepistol" has added. Most of the books now have names. Funny names.
P1010330.JPG
Originally uploaded by ghstpg.
There will only be a couple of comics later on tonight, for reasons that will be apparent soon enough.
Some music to enjoy before tonight's batch of comics.
John Hodgman at work, Chateau Marmont, Hollywood CA.
Originally uploaded by xeni.
...regarding this photograph can be found here.
Also, regarding comments on teh comics over on teh flickr: there has been a sudden, and not unwelcome, deluge. Thanks for commenting, and I apologize that I can't keep up with responses, try as I might. Some of the stuff over there is pure unadulterated funny.
More later, I assure you.
Pac-Man
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
I've added a set to flickr containing all of the images used in the boingboingtv opening.
Check it out! My drawings, including cats and monsters and more are available on Moo products like stickers and postcards and minicards. Here.
I share this not because I have any idea what popiah is (though it looks delicious), but because this is the only instance I could find of a track from the Marsalis's album Joe Cool's Blues online. They make tasty music.
I don't submit stuff to threadless too often, but decided this li'l fella might make a good shirt design. You can vote here.
I can has membursjip
Originally uploaded by evil nickname.
Expect many more comics tonight. Probably 12 or so, though I make no promises.
This photo-
graphic proof of receipt was provided by #90*.
If you joined teh Foundlings in the first round and have received your membership pack, drop me a quick note so I can check you off my list. If you haven't, don't bother checking the mail today. Instead, pay your respects to the uniformed men and women of the armed forces past and present. Perhaps you could attend some sort of community celebration like a parade or fireworks demonstration. Or better yet, an air show.
*It's nice to see cats still play with (or at least soberly consider) yarn. Some things should never go out of style.
Here's how # 200 looks framed. Photo courtesy of the person who won it on teh ebay.
I haven't forgotten about number 400. It'll be up and on ebay in the coming week or so. Number 500 is on the horizon as well, and I have something special planned for it: it'll be given away to a lucky (randomly chosen) member of the fan club, no matter when they joined. Keep it under your hat, though. Further details and the actual comic are still pending.
SmallStuffFlyer
Originally uploaded by Bear and Bird.
Here are four astronauts I made for the show detailed above. Click on the poster above to learn more, or on any of the pictures below to see a larger view.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #471
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Thanks, Sterik, for reminding me of the comedic goldmine that is the Beatles HALP!
Internet Email
Originally uploaded by piccadillywilson.
Follow up emails have been sent to everyone who joined round 2. If you joined and did not receive an email from me, it may have bounced back. Let me know.
Also, please enjoy Lorne Green: The Man.
Turning Leaf, Grosvenor Square
Originally uploaded by Robert Brook.
#3 passes this link on, which I thought was worthy of sharing.
Also, a couple of the comics created today will not be posted until a later date, as directed by those who ordered them. You know who you are and I thank you.
Sold out
Originally uploaded by Stories Told By My Zadeva.
A mighty thank you to everyone who joined round 2 of the Pip Fan Club. Round 3 memberships will remain available until further notice.
(All of the photos I post here come from the cc pool on flickr.)
There are still about a dozen memberships left over at apelad.etsy.com, but I've gone ahead and opened up the $10 memberships too (which will include everything except an original drawing), over there to the right. 
I'm still busy crafting a finely worded follow-up email for all of the wonderful people who have joined this second round. Expect it tonight, and a couple more comics posted here.
Also, about a third of the initial memberships have now been received, without incident so far. Whew.
The secret pathway revealed...
Originally uploaded by jez.atkinson.
...and I quote:
'Tis with trembling hands I picked up the scrap o' paper that spilled out of the Membership card & secret enclosed envelope. What is it? Some sort of fortune?
Even more shocking!
Catharsis!
Suddenly my outlook on the world had shifted.
Chickens!
Originally uploaded by Darin Barry.
While I'm busy responding to the new Foundling emails, please enjoy the complete catalog of MST3K shorts.
Found via MaximumFun.org.
ducks
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Here's the link: apelad.etsy.com
More info and comics tomorrow!
Pippi Pip Pinned
Originally uploaded by periwinklejane.
Here's Pippi, an actual foundling, wearing a Pip pin!
hold on
Originally uploaded by Jef Poskanzer.
If you missed your chance, or want to order using a money order, you can visit apelad.etsy.com in less than three hours to join the club. (There will be a paypal option there too--though I see they may be doing some site maintenance later tonight.)
The follow-up email/address request* will be sent tomorrow.
Thanks again to everyone who has joined or just popped in to see the cats.
*It looks like two out of three orders didn't have addresses for some reason. Weird.
#89
Originally uploaded by LinusMines.
The initial round of fan club memberships (which were mailed on Monday) are already being reported as received. So far, so good.
If there are no problems (or relatively few problems) with the pins arriving safely, I'll be giving 4 or 5 of the extras away to those who joined today, at random and in the fairest way possible. I'll probably post a couple on ebay too. I should probably send my dad one too I guess. He does have a lot of lapels.
neon waves
Originally uploaded by Bharat [O*] raM.
There are about ten memberships left till I close up shop. The remaining memberships will be made available on apelad.etsy.com at midnight Eastern.
I'm glad these are rolling out slower and more people are getting a chance to join. Thanks again everyone.
There is one minor thing I forgot to do with the paypal shop: ask for your address. I suppose I could send everything "general delivery USA and elsewhere", but I've heard that's not a good customer service move.
I'll email everyone about it later.
Also: concerning your emails: you can rest assured I'll never send out any bulk newsletters or anything like that, and won't share your addresses/names with anybody else. At some point I may set up that option, but it'll be something you can opt into for updates.
available
Originally uploaded by brainware3000.
Thanks to everyone who has joined the second round so far. There are still a couple dozen left, and later today I'll be sending a follow up email to everyone who has joined.
Right now I'm listening for a sonic boom. Space shuttle Discovery is about to land.
Tivoli
Originally uploaded by Stig Nygaard.
If I hadn't made it clear earlier, round 2 will be limited to somewhere around 100. Unless more hobo names than cat comics are ordered. Those I can usually create quicker.
Thanks in advance.
This is one of the pictures that came up when I searched for "round 2" in the cc tags on flickr.
Player-violin
Originally uploaded by celesteh.
As a reminder and clarification, here is what is included with the second round memberships:
An original black and white drawing of either the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats OR a hobo name of your devising.
A signed, printed color postcard of the image posted previously.
Two issues of teh Leaflet (the Pip Fan Club newsletter), issue 1 by Pip and issue 2 guest edited by Kitteh (members who joined in the first round can have a pdf copy of #2 emailed to them upon request. I'm trying to keep them off the internet for now, but we shall see how that goes).
Up to three Pip Fan Club membership cards, signed and numbered.
The secret.
The chance to win other special giveaway stuff like copies of The Cookie Thief, Pip lapel pins, and more.
All for $30.00 if purchased here (beginning noon eastern today) or $31.00 if purchased midnight eastern at apelad.etsy.com.
Round three will include everything listed above except for the original drawing and will cost $10 and will be available indefinitely.
Thank you all very much.
(Above is a picture of a player violin. Someday I would like to visit the clockwork instrument museum in Utrecht. I bet it's haunted.)
Fan club postcard
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Here's the postcard that'll be signed and sent with the next round of fan club memberships. Thanks again to everyone who voted.
Just a reminder, I am on Facebook, though I don't do a heck of a lot with it and seldom peek my head in. Forgive me.
It's easy enough to get ahold of me through flickr or here, so that's sort of something, right?
There is a Pip Fan Club over on Facebook too, and I appreciate the efforts of those who have set it up and participate.
My fear is that, if I do embrace teh facebook more fully, it will consume and destroy my few spare moments, as it is wont to do.
Thank you for understanding. In my heart I'm not ignoring your friend requests.
Comics later this evening.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #353
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
By a margin of one vote, here is the comic that will be appearing on a postcard (in color and signed) for members of the next round of fan club memberships.
Thanks a lot to everyone who voted. I should have the final version up later tonight, along with a few more comics from the pending queue.
In other news, the next X-Files movie is slated to open in July 08!
Also: complete series box set! Droool...
check up from the neck up
Originally uploaded by The Consumerist.
With less than an hour left in the polling, the results are neck and neck (or as some say "neck in neck").
While we wait, here are a few notes of clarification:
I'd be happy to email a pdf of teh Leaflet #2, guest edited by Kitteh, to any of the first round Foundlings, once it's done.
The signed postcard and super-secret will be included in the third, $10 round. The only difference between rounds 2 and 3 is no original art will be created for round 3.
Also, the memberships available at apelad.etsy.com will begin 12 hours after they become available here. Etsy allows for money orders.
Thank you for your patience with me. I am relatively new to this, after all.
Laugh Cats Framed
Originally uploaded by Timmo Warner.
As I mentioned earlier, all of the initial fan club memberships have been sent. This means, of course, that Pip's secret is out there, in the ether. I know this is the internet and it would be silly of me to expect it to remain a secret forever, but let's see how long we can keep it amongst ourselves.
Thank you.
--Oh wait! Check out Timmo's awesome frame job above. For those who don't remember, Timmo had the good graces to tag a large portion of the comics on flickr a couple months back.
Pip Fan Club Round 2
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
See it in full, readable size by clicking on this sentence.
Please note, I probably shouldn't do personal requests on the cat comics since I didn't allow for that in the first round, and I want to be fair to everyone. The hobo names are sort of my concession to this (I also threw it out there to see how many people are interested, and for those who never had the chance to order one so many months ago), which is fine since they will probably have a quicker turnaround (no writing involved, you see).
These will be sent as they are drawn, beginning next week (once the remaining comics in the queue are finished (which, as promised, will include a membership card) and the still to be decided upon color postcard is printed.
As last time, I don't know how long these will take to sell. I plan on leaving it open for a hundred or so. Maybe more. The longest turnaround time would be about six weeks (probably and hopefully less), which puts us right around Christmas.
The "round three" memberships noted at the bottom will include everything except the original drawing and once they are available will always be available.
Finally, the special giveaway items will include signed copies of the Cookie Thief, leftover lapel pins, surprise color drawings, and more.
Thank you all. I hope this sits well with everyone. Email me if you have any questions, objections, or otherwise.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #7
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #9
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #41
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #219
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #353
Part of the next round of fan club memberships will be a signed color postcard of one of these images. But which one? Only you can decide. Please vote at right.
Thank you.
Letterbox
Originally uploaded by Eric I. E..
As of 3pm Eastern, all of the fan club membership packs are in the mail. Whew. Again, please email me when you receive yours. Thank you.
Mailboxes
Originally uploaded by frozenchipmunk.
Most of today will be spent getting each and every one of the fan club memberships in the mail. Once you receive yours, please send me a quick email with your member number in the subject line to confirm you have received it.
Wish me luck at the post office. I'd hate to be the people in line behind me.
Happy LOLidays
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Double post, sorry. But, yes, this is available in postcard form too, here.
Happy LOLidays
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
Available here. You can even customize it.
John Hodgman at work, Chateau Marmont, Hollywood CA.
Originally uploaded by xeni.
Click the photo for more info. Click "all sizes" to attempt to decipher his typings. All I can make out is "Lunch Specials Lunch", which may or may not be a Mole Man name.
Xeni's photo should send a surge of anticipation through the drawing hands of my fellow 700 Things artists. It also makes me homesick for the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area. Particularly the ever-looming Chateau. As Harry Cohn, founder of Columbia Pictures, told William Holden and Glenn Ford; "If you are going to [create a list of Mole Man names], do it at the Chateau Marmont".
I'm busy stuffing envelopes and printing leaflets and generally getting all of the fan club memberships ready for the big Monday mailing. There should be a couple of comics this weekend, but in the meantime, enjoy a Boris Karloff film from 1940. It's short!
woot
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
If you missed your chance to buy this shirt before it sold out, here's the "friends" link, which won't sell out and which costs $5 more, but still includes shipping.
Thanks to everybody who ordered!
Senator Duckbacon
Originally uploaded by Ape Lad.
I'll be drawing your hobo names again as part of the second wave of Pip Fan Club memberships starting Monday. There will be an option for a Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comic as well, if you are so inclined.
Here's the first: Senator Duckbacon.
Regarding the second phase of teh Foundling fan club memberships: I'll make an announcement Monday, once I've got the first wave out the door. I'm going to put sales of the other comics on hold till then as well.
DSC_5046.JPG
Originally uploaded by procrastinet.
Another picture of the two awesomest trick or treaters ever. I hope their haul was enough to fill their Hammerspace brand bindle.
