In case you’re still following the story, flight attendant Steven Slater has resigned from JetBlue airlines (leaving for greener pastures/bluer skies). If you remember (and how could you forget?), last month, the destined-to-be-an-urban-folk-hero Slater became exasperated by an obnoxious passenger on a JetBlue flight to JFK. Fed up, he cursed over the intercom, grabbed a beer from the service cart, pulled the emergency shoot handle and slid off into the sunset. Or so we thought…

After wiggling out of some legal issues, he more or less dropped out of sight. After unsubstantiated rumors that JetBlue was firing him, the airline recently issued a vague statement saying that he no longer works there.

What can be next? A reality TV series? Dancing with the Stars? Guest spot on a LOST TV show spin-off? The world is his oyster. But champagne goes much better with an oyster than room-temperature airline beer, so something tells me Steve Slater will be shooting higher than another airline job. Good luck, buddy. You deserve it.

Avast there, matey! September 19 is Talk Like A Pirate Day. So this Sunday when the bored girl at the fast-food drive-thru asks what drink you want with your #8 combo, be sure to brighten her day by growling out for “one noggin of ye’ finest rum.” She also may very well call security (it’s hard to tell how people will react), but that’s all part of the fun. You’re a pirate, after all. And on Talk Like A Pirate Day you’re not fearful of the landlubber’s laws and mores.

It’s hard to understand how this holiday has gained so much traction, when equally worthy celebrations such as Stand In Line Like DMV Customer Day and Comb Your Hair Like A Cocker Spaniel Day go virtually unobserved (except in my house … and wherever I take the occasions, like to fast-food joints).

As urban legend would have it, Talk Like A Pirate was first inspired by two men in Oregon who were playing racquetball. One got hurt and screamed out, “Arrrrrr” (to the amusement of both). And from there, it steam-rolled to humorist Dave Berry who spread the word in his newspaper column.

Naturally, as well as talking the talk, you have to walk the walk (and dress the part). That’s where CafePress comes in handy, with Pirate gear galore. So have some fun, and a-pirating we go.

This post draws toward New York at its greatest, and its most humble. Its history, fashion, and its history + fashion. I hope you enjoy the roundup of east coast proportions.

Saturday marked the ninth anniversary of the September 11^th attacks.

I grew up in a small town about 45 minutes north of New York City, and the series of events that happened on September 11^th, 2001 directly affected my entire community, and in many ways, still does.

The loss of so many fathers, husbands, wives, sons and friends forever, tearing families apart. Fear of future attacks (the Anthrax scare and bioterrorism). The blame and guilt firefighters of our community felt from life-altering decisions made on that day.

But in time of need, my community evolved into something so much more than a group of people living in the same place. We became a unit – supportive, welcoming, protective and accepting of each other, strangers or not. It makes me proud to know that people across the U.S. can unite to face adversity, overcome it and can move forward. And we will never forget what happened.

Twilighters out there, celebrate! Today is Bella Swan‘s birthday. Grab your favorite vampire or werewolf and a cake, but leave all weapons, sharp objects and paperback books at home for the young klutz.

Don is on the road to self-discovery and (dare I say it) a healthier life this week on Mad Men.

(Tune in to read last week’s episode recap.) While upping his good activities and lowering the intake of vices (alcohol and yes, those affairs between the sheets), plus his appearance at Gene’s birthday party makes for seeing him in a new light. Interesting questions this episode sparked: Is Betty really over Don? Will Joan and Peggy ever see eye to eye? Is Faye the most irritating woman Don has ever had interest in, or does she come in a close second behind Bobbie Barrett? What did you decide?

The professional football season kicks off tonight in high-fashion, with the Lombardi Trophy-winning New Orleans Saints taking on the formidable Minnesota Vikings. If you’ll remember, the Saints stunned the sporting world last year (during Mardi Gras, no less) by winning the Super Bowl.

If you’re behind a Saints’ repeat, you’ll find lots of Who Dat? gear waiting for you. Plus there’s no shortage of football tees and other grid-iron-themed gear waiting to help you brag, taunt or simply enjoy games.

I’m going out on a limb and picking the 49ers to regain their old form and win it all. But then again, I’ve picked them to win the last 15 years and have little to show for it. Either way, it promises to be an exciting season. Pass the remote and the bean dip.

© Jenner Rose Photography

Here’s to new beginnings, and to old ones too: reintroducing our Shopkeeper Spotlight! Get to know the people behind the designs, their stories and what makes them who they are.

Healing Hands

Call her the next “Animal Whisperer” or Dr. Doolittle, but Kathleen Prasad goes one step further than just communicating with and helping animals; she uses her own energy to provide healing for them.

Prasad specializes in Animal Reiki (pronounced “Ray-key”), translated as “universal life energy,” an alternative healing method for animals through the use of meditation and the transfer of energy. She shares her Reiki-inspired designs on her CafePress shop, reiki4animals, a part of her overall Animal Reiki Source business. What started out as personal therapy for self-healing led Prasad to pioneering Animal Reiki methods for educating people in energy healing for animals, as well as promoting its use in animal shelters, sanctuaries and rescues world-wide.

“When I would do Reiki self-treatment, [her dog] Dakota would come and lie across my feet and soak up the energy. Finally it occurred to me that he was asking for Reiki, so I sat on the floor and put my hands on him. He immediately rolled on his side and let out a huge sigh of contentment. From that day on, animal Reiki possibilities began to unfold for me,” Prasad said.

Prasad teaches Reiki classes online and off, and has helped all sorts of animals – from house pets (cats and dogs) to barn animals (horses) and more – with stress-relief and relaxation. And it never fails to make her smile when students from her Reiki courses show up wearing her t-shirt designs.

And Prasad’s CafePress shop plays a big part in fundraising for the cause, raising awareness and growing business efforts for Animal Reiki Source and her and partner Leah D’Ambrosio’s non-profit organization SARA (the Shelter Animal Reiki Association).

Prasad has been able to continue her “Kindness to Animals” mission inspired by the positive effects animals have on people. Maybe she can give our CafePress Owl a Reiki session too?

Interested in being featured in the Member Spotlight? Please request a form by sending an email to spotlight@cafepress.com

Happy Labor Day to all! Take today to rest, barbeque, meet up with friends and family, and celebrate (in a sad way) the end of summer. But make sure you’re at work tomorrow at 9 a.m. or else! Just kidding. Fear my wrath.

What happened over the this weekend:

Sonya Thomas, aka the “Black Widow” and food eating contest extraordinaire, pulled a blitz on 181 chicken wings in a Buffalo, NY chicken wing eating contest on Sunday to take home the top honor. Talk about a BBQ extravaganza in your mouth to celebrate Labor Day. Let’s not ask her how she’s feeling today, although I’d liken myself to Violet “blueberry” Beauregard from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roll me around town, please, cannot walk.

According to the New York Times, airfare prices have been ascending to new heights over the past few months, with airlines offering fewer, fuller flights, and fees from here to Mombasa to gather added profit. Broken down, in July of this year, it cost the average passenger an average of 14.95 cents per mile to fly anywhere. Makes me wonder if grandma would reminisce about when air travel only cost eight cents per mile back in her day (this, between talk of evil chickens chasing her around the yard as a kid and punching people who talked badly about Frank Sinatra. She didn’t hide her obsession with him.).

Mad Men recap. As Don lost one great friend, he gained another. Thoughts of Samsonite, Cassius Clay, a Duck vs. Don fight where punches were thrown but no one hit anything or anyone (drunken enough?), and a sad scene where Peggy’s boyfriend Mark tries surprising her for her birthday, and surprise! They break up instead (Peggy, why are you the biggest brat at the worst time?).

Did you have a fun-filled Labor Day weekend?

Sure, the economy needs a good jumpstart (anyone got cables?). But you really have to wonder what some legislators are thinkin’ as they spend money hand-over-fist trying to stimulate new jobs.

Quick to pounce on the debate are GOP Senators McCain and Coburn, who recently wrote a report outlining some “questionable” spending from the Obama Administration’s $862 billion economic stimulus act.

Like what? Like $550,000 worth of new windows for a Mount St. Helens visitors center that closed in 2007, $762,000 to create a computerized choreography program (at U. of North Carolina at Charlotte), and $72,000 for Wake Forest researchers to study the effects of cocaine on monkeys. Woo-hoo, party at the zoo!

Obviously, not all of the 70,000-plus Recovery Act projects underway are this ridiculous. And hopefully the good projects will put a major dent in our unemployment rates. But again, you gotta scratch your head at some thinking. I’m just hoping our legislators have the foresight to create a project that puts new t-shirts on the backs of every person in America.

While you’re waiting for the stimulus check in the mail, check-out some economy-themed T-shirts that are sure to strike up a conversation with folks on the street.

For all of you out there who love to tweet, here’s something special for you to chirp about today. Introducing our Thursday sale – for five hours only, buy a dark t-shirt, get a white t-shirt free*! Use coupon code “YINYANG” at checkout and fill your shopping cart with something black, white, or red all over.

Besides, everything that’s good comes better in pairs; hot and cold (apple pie and ice cream), wet and dry (beach and sand), day and night (sleeping in and staying up)! It’s hard to deny a balance in life that makes people feel happy and they can be the simplest of things. Food, beach, sleep…honestly, what could be better?

As Mr. Einstein once said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” And like life, the clock is stopping for no one. Starting at 9 a.m. (PST), you’ve got until 2 p.m. (PST) to cash in on today’s “daily double.” All you have to do? Type in your favorite hobby, interest or topic into our search bar above, click on the dark t-shirt version, and you’re halfway there. Pick out your fav white tee to boot, because we all know opposites attract. Go to the checkout, and its easy as that apple pie we mentioned earlier. Now let’s go eat some.

*Buy any adult dark t-shirt and get a free adult white t-shirt, up to $22 value. Limit one free white t-shirt or one $22 discount per order. Free white t-shirt must be $22 or less, or you will only receive a discount of $22 off your total order. Must add at least one dark t-shirt and one white t-shirt to your shopping cart, and enter coupon code YINYANG at check out. Promotion starts on September 2, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. (PST) and ends on September 2, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. (PST). All orders must be from the CafePress Marketplace. Excludes CafePress Groups, Make and bulk orders. Offer valid online at cafepress.com only, cannot be combined with any other coupons or promotions and may change, be modified or cancelled at anytime without notice.

If I were near Madison Avenue, I’d buy them a drink and offer up a light.

Congrats to creator Mathew Weiner and the entire crew of Mad Men. Not only is the show a hit with viewers and critics (and Mad Men T-shirt wearers), but it’s also tops among members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

For the third year in a row, Mad Men has won an Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. Ditto for its three-peat in Best Writing. In fact, Sunday evening the show walked (stumbled?) away with four Emmys in all – including Best Hairstyling and Outstanding Casting.

I would write more, but I recorded Sunday night’s episode and haven’t had a chance to watch it yet. So I have to scoot on over to the TV and get caught up (as in, totally caught up in the sordid web Don Draper weaves). Ahh … the good old days.