reddit | normalbob.com

Sasha Janegs Union Square NYC — Sasha poses Hunter S. Thompson style at the Square

I’ve made a New Years resolution that I plan to actually come through on this year! That resolution is to learn the essential knowledge necessary to update the site. To make this happen I’ve gotten a Lynda.com membership so that I can teach myself WordPress to a greater extent, and other valuable skills so I can stop looking so goddamned dated online! Lynda Weinman’s book on Dreamweaver is what I used to first learn that program back in 2000 to build JesusDressup.com! I’m hoping to bring everything that’s at normalbobsmith.com either to here, or archiving what’s no longer being updated. It’s time. I know this. So I’m thinking. parts like Super Chics, hate mail, Sheeples, etc (which have all fallen to the wayside) will be archived, while Amazing Strangers, Jesus Dress Up, the store, etc (which keep expanding) will take center stage. Simplify!

TrueStoryASA vs Joey Boots & Normal Bob

Joey Boots from 2014 Matchgame Postcard — Joey Boots drawing from the Union Square Matchgame postcard

So what else is new? Well, one thing that’s happening is TrueStoryASA keeps striking & deleting videos of mine that they appear in! And about a week or so ago they threatened getting lawyers on me if I continue to oppose their strikes.

“our next step would have to be legal action from our end”

You can read more about this on Reddit. This might be a good place to also tell you that I’ve opened a Reddit account and I’ve been really impressed with the traffic results it’s bringing in. I plan on posting updates there, as well as things like favorite videos & photos from years ago, related news, and whatever else. It’s also the ideal place to ask any questions you may have about anything related to the site.

Amazing Strangers & Reddit

creepy photographer with boy's underwear — A stranger who was taking pictures of me while holding his camera with a pair of boy’s underwear

Amazing Strangers 2015 Year In Review has been posted which means there’s little else going on at the Square now that winter has stomped its brutally cold foot down there. That doesn’t mean though that there’ll be no more videos until spring. Shaggy and I frequently meet up at Starbucks this time of year, so you can bet if something’s going down there I’ll try to record it. And there’s been some funny shit I’ve caught happen there before!

And btw, if you’ve been wanting to get more interactive with the videos and the site in general, Reddit’s the place to do that at. I check it frequently and am more than happy to respond to questions and/or encourage posts that have to do with my site, Union Square, or whatever else you might have to say about what’s been going on here.

For now that’s about it. It’s about 6 degrees where I’m at right now, so I’m chillin’ out in front of my online tutorial learnin’ stuff.

I just received word that the cargo ship carrying my BDSM Jesus Dressup magnets has completed its journey across the Pacific Ocean, docked safely at the coast in City Of Industry, California, and its contents are now being loaded onto a truck to begin the long track across these United States to New Jersey, and then NYC. That means they will be here by Monday or Tuesday, so this is your last opportunity to purchase aforementioned magnets at the preorder, discount price of just $9. On the day that that truck arrives at my front step honking its horn, and I am lugging those 20 pound boxes up my staircase, that’s the same day put them back at their normal price of $15 each. There’s already been a few handfuls of these preorders made whose envelopes are postmarked and ready to fly out the door, so consider yourself fairly warned. Now’s the time to buy if BDSM Jesus has been on your or your dom’s wish list. I’m really looking forward to a thriving holiday season with these li’l demons back in stock.

Also, I have about 60 sets of the Star Wars Jesus Dressups left (just under two boxes – 40 per box). The same goes for the Jesus Christ Superstar sets (3 boxes) and the Original Jesus Dressups (2 boxes). Once these run out, that’s it. Especially the latter two, I have no plans in the near or distant future of producing again. There’s too many other versions I want to spend my time and money making, like Batman Jesus! 2015, I hope.

Purple haired Sketchgirl Nat — Sketchgirl Nat looking alien in her new goggles and purple hair

It’s October, and another unique year at the square is coming to a close. There’s been no shortage of Amazing Stranger drama there this year. So much so that I’ve had to take several weeks off just to regroup before throwing myself back into it! But now that I’ve got my head back together again, I’m wishing there were maybe a couple more months of that mayhem left before winter sets in. I’ve been pacifying myself by going through hundreds, probably thousands, of photos I’ve taken over the last decade and uploading my favorites to Reddit with dates & details. Most of these images have never before been published, so if you’re into the Union Square/NYC experience, these images will most likely fill that empty spot Humans Of New York can not. Which is also my point.

I’m sick of being an obscure reference. I have confidence enough in the content I’m churning out to have it seen by more than just a couple thousand views on Youtube! Some people are telling me I need to monotize my account (which I believe includes opening them up to bothersom ads), which in turn gets them into the YouTube promotion rotation. Others are demanding I get on Instagram (but I still only have a flip-phone) or the dozen other places there are for me to post my junk. I am happy to say though that the folks over at No Your City have made it clear they’re there for me. And more than a few different Amazing Strangers projects have been discussed, including the Union Square documentary of Union Square.

What else, what else? The production of a Jesus Dressup app is presently a mystery to me. I will let you know when I find out more.
I’m completely available for art projects. For Christ’s sake, hit me up!

Artist, Atheist, Anthropologist