Category Archives: Jesus Dressup

Mohammed Dressup for sale in Times Square

Back when Mohammed Dressup was just a twinkle in my eye, even then I knew they’d be a tough sell. I’d already experienced first hand the hurdles of Jesus Dressup. Stores probably won’t carry them, any help with promotions is almost impossible, and even other atheists choose to sidestep the topic. They’re a hot potato item to say the least! But goddammit if I was going to let that stop me!

Mohammed Dressup fridge magnets
Mohammed Dressup fridge magnets ($15) include the latest men’s fashions from Target & The GAP, plus police uniform, kilt & his Quran.

Finding myself now, as a struggling, independent artist with the burden of moving the unmovable, I’ve had to be extremely proactive, and creative. So today I decided to take a trip down the street to the Shopping Mecca of the World – Times Square! It was time to pop my head into some of the most popular game & toy stores and see just how things were done, and what I could do to aid in the sales of my cute little dress up game.

Working my way north on Broadway the first place I came across was Toys R Us. The Times Square Toys R Us is a gargantuan five level mega-store, crammed to the brink of fire code violation with shoppers from all over the world! There’s even a ferris wheel inside towering up to the ceiling. Then, turning the corner towards their puzzles dept, what do I see? My sweet Mohammed magnets on prominent display! There they were immediately adjacent to their Disney & Winnie The Poo puzzle games, I can’t tell you how elated I was! For way too long there’s been such a stigma attached to showing Mohammed The Prophet’s image in any context. Seeing him now, with my own eyes, here next to Poo-bear, I couldn’t help but reflect on the progress we’ve made. The walls we’ve torn down.

With a new spring in my step I made my way towards another part of the store. I was shocked a second time to spot them in their Baby’s R Us section among other games and puzzles. “How far we’ve come!” I thought to myself as I strutted onto the street, to which I directed my attention to the next destination. “How far we’ve come indeed.”

Next on my list, just a couple blocks north on B-way was the Disney Store! “What are the chances,” I thought, “that Disney will have opened up their mind to take a chance on a guy like me?” The Disney Store in Times Square is smaller than you might expect. There’s a long escalator ride up to the main floor, but surprisingly little retail space to browse. I was sure I wouldn’t be so lucky as to score space here.

As I browsed my way through their magical kingdom towards Aladdin’s Castle, my inner genie whispered that another wish might soon be granted. And wouldn’t you know it, there directly under the Jasmine Princess dresses and dolls were even more of my beautiful Prophet’s magnet games on sale… at The Freaking Disney Store! It is a small, small world after all.

Last but not least, I made my way up to M&M’s World, pressing my luck as to just how fortunate I could be in one day. So much candy and toys for little girls and boys, and M&M’s in every direction! But would they make room for the Greatest M of them all? Answer: Yes! There amongst the USA cups and mugs sat a pile of M’s to top all M’s! Even here they were on display front and center where anyone could to snap a picture with their phone and post it on the web. 

I never thought I’d say this, but our War on Terror has opened up the hearts and minds of corporations and the American public alike!  If you would have told me ten years ago that my fridge magnets of the Prophet Mohammed would be on sale at the 3 largest toy stores in Times Square, I would have called you infidel and stoned you to death.

Mohammed Dressup fridge magnets on Sale

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2 opposing reasons to buy Prophet Mohammed Dressup fridge magnets

Mohammed Dressup fridge magnets
Mohammed Dressup fridge magnets ($15) include the latest men’s fashions from Target & The GAP plus police uniform & kilt

So, as had been dared of me to do for the last 13 or so years I finally went and produced a Mohammed Dressup magnet kit. I’ve always suspected sales would be a struggle for something as feared as this, but they’ve actually been going much better than predicted! Since they hit the marketplace approximately 3 weeks ago I’ve officially sold 2. One online and one on the street. Luckily, these sets are such fun for me to sell and promote that’s all I need to keep me juiced and pushing for more! They’re a very exciting item to behold. You should try it.

Now, in case you’re wondering exactly why you should consider buying a set of your own, I have two very different, carefully worded reasons that appeal to either side of the fence, depending on where you stand.

Islamaphobes Suck and deserve to be proved wrong! Dead wrong. Despite popular opinion there is nothing to fear from the Muslim community in regards to creating an image of their Prophet. All the hype has been blown entirely too far out of proportion and the only way to fully illustrate this is to purchase a set and prove once and for all Muslims are reasonable people who can take a silly joke without overreacting – no different than you or I.

Celebrate Islamaphobia! What better way to piss off the Muslim community and show ’em you’re not gonna take their bullshit than by doing that which they detest most – Condone the blatant illustration of their beloved Prophet for laughs and profit. Take part in this forbidden portrayal of their precious leader in a game that shows him as nothing more than a common man – no different than you or I.

Either way I see no reason why there should be any second guessing as to why The Prophet Mohammed shouldn’t be on your fridge door to help hold up grocery lists.

Mohammed Dressup fridge magnets – Dress Mohammed the Prophet in an array of striking men’s fashions selected from Target and The GAP + accessories. $15

Welcome to NormalBob.com (the new Latest Updates location)

This winter has turned out to be the longest of winters I’ve ever spent away from the site. Not that I haven’t been able to keep myself busy, but it did in fact turn out to be a much needed break. Since October of 2000 I’ve not gone once without making some sort of content update at least every couple weeks. And on average, consistently updating it a couple times a week, for 13 years! But the internet’s changed drastically since then. One of the changes I’ve witnessed is there being less of a need for constant obsessive updates. Competing for continual content on the web is a no-win race, and can quickly lead to extreme burnout.

Happily, I can now confidently say that the struggle to maintain a significant flow of traffic is no longer necessary for me to maintain a stable income. The steady demand for Jesus magnets on store shelves has freed me from those worries. That’s what I’ve spent the last year working to guarantee. Cold calling stores, sending samples, and fulfilling orders has proved to be a very fruitful venture. Asking my Facebook friends for names of possible stores has done what in the past I thought impossible – A useful purpose for Facebook.

Have no doubt however that the site remains my pride & joy. I’ve got big plans for 2013. The one that’s in the forefront of my mind at this exact moment is the project I just put the final payment on this afternoon. The Prophet Mohammed Dressup magnet sets!

Mohammed Magnets & Postcards
Mohammed Magnets and Postcards ($30)

Seriously, the last time I felt this excited about a project was when I received the first Jesus Dressup magnet samples back in ’04. Earlier this week the Mohammed samples landed on my doorstep, and let me tell you, they are a sight to behold! If you see me on the street, feel free to ask to see it! I am one proud papa. And the new version of the online game (you’re dressing him in modern men’s fashions from Target & The Gap) is available for play immediately! There’s also Prophet Mohammed postcards available for purchase too. 100% legally mailable postcards that can be sent through the US Postal Service for just pennies a piece! No envelopes required so The Prophet’s image can be seen the whhhhhooooollle way! Across the nation and over oceans! I encourage you to get a pack for yourself to send your heartfelt wishes to friends, loved ones and anyone else you think might appreciate seeing the long lost Prophet. I’d also like to think that this latest endeavor will give my Hate Mail section a much needed shot in the arm. We’ll see what happens now won’t we?

All right Bob. Stop. I’m too excitable about all this right now. There’s more to talk about.
*Catches breath.*

There is, of course, another exciting year of Amazing Strangers at Union Square about to begin just as soon as the weather gets agreeable. Which reminds me – Shaggy is coming out with his own line of products this year too! His book, DEATH TO THE READERS, is available on Amazon for just $3, and available in print very soon. There’s also going to be tee shirts too, which if you’re an observant follower you’ll see Shaggy’s been wearing it in some of the videos that’ve been posted recently.

I have a list of art projects I’m working my way through too. As they happen you can rest assured they will brought to your attention. This leads me to the next important update. My Latest Updates section of the site is being archived for good, and this spot here at normalbob.com is where all things related to all of my sites will be posted. IMPORTANT: If you have a subscription to the old Latest Updates page you’re going to have to resubscribe at this one. The old one is no longer operational. Nothing will change about the layout at normalbobsmith.com, but I’ve come to realize that the web does demand that I present a format more friendly & familiar to today’s first time visitors. And here we are.

So please, click the Subscribe button on the right and stay tuned for another fun year from me,
Your only true friend,
Normal Bob Smith.

The Files of Jeanine

Here’s another page of hate mail, and in the left side bar the story of me finally getting to meet Penn Jillette.

 The Files of Jeanine

“There is something desperately wrong with you.”

Subject: Its sad because

There is something desperately wrong with you.

Jeanine

Lemme guess. Jesus.Bob
“there’s more?”

So there’s more?

Jeanine

Yes. Without Jesus is actually more moral & healthier. Pretending an innocent can pay the price for someone else’s wrongs is not justice. It’s crime. And thinking there’s a better world in the grave deludes the importance of this one.That’s two.

There’s way more.

Let me know if you need others.

Normal Bob

“mockery of him is a reflection of whats going on with you internally”

Hi Bob,

Actually, I was asking if you had more websites since you weren’t sure which one i was referring to. I can understand your not wanting Jesus, but to attempt a mockery of him is a reflection of whats going on with you internally; that you are bringing out externally. Usually if one feels their life is better off without something then they leave it behind. Although, you say its moral and healthier without Jesus, you make a website to offend knowing that you will attract Christians to it.

Once again this is an internal battle you are manifesting externally. You say one thing but your actions are clearly another.

Where do you “personally” believe you are going after you die? I find you a little hurt but interesting.

Absolutely not.I could see leaving it behind if it had no effect on my life once it was abandon. If Jesus, Christianity & the Bible never reared their ugly heads into my daily life in the USA I would agree with you whole-heartedly. If I was an ex snake handler I could simply walk on my merry way and never look back. Same with if I were an ex Voodoo Doctor, Raelian or Heaven’s Gater. I’d never have to listen to their beliefs being preached at me by strangers, referenced to alter Science, or pried into the laws I’m required to follow. Christianity however isn’t so modest. Thus it is necessary to stand my ground, defend, and sometimes offend to live as an atheist in today’s society.

Much of what I do is providing a landing spot for others who also feel surrounded by a cult that’s constantly attempting to scare, threaten or seduce them and their loved ones. I’ve found that in the last 12 years that I’ve been working on this site, there are thousands upon thousands of people who feel the same way I do.

Where do I think we go after we die? My guess is that it’s the exact same place we were before we were born. I think it’s that simple, and all the other projections are wishful thinking. Why, what do you believe?

I appreciate your interest in what I do!

Bob

“To stand your ground and live your life as an atheist isn’t difficult.”

But Bob… The things that you say you despise, don’t believe in, and reject, are the same things you go out of your way to attract and build your life around. The jesusdressup website is there not so much for those who want to dress up Jesus, but more to offend those who don’t.

When one googles “Jesus” there is your website on the first page. The majority of the masses who look up “Jesus” on the internet are doing so to seek solace and knowledge about Christ. So its sort of like one being on their way to church and you erect your website in the path and then complain that you have to defend and argue all day every day with Christians.

To stand your ground and live your life as an atheist isn’t difficult. That is one of your unalienable rights of living in the USA. People for the most part just want to go along peacefully. Live and let live. But to publicly desecrate and mock Christ in a country where about 75% of its people are Christian is viewed as a personal attack. So why do it? The reason is always deeper than the obvious.

Atheism as you know is the rejection in the belief of deities. But I don’t believe you are a true atheist. There is too much energy there, albeit negative energy.

My girlfriend Marilyn is atheist. Last year her boyfriend committed suicide while she was caring for her sick father, and two weeks later her father passed away. Her life was and still is devastated. She prayed to God asking why, asking for help, no answers came that healed her, so now she hates God and is an atheist.

She attacks me because I do believe. (My older brother was killed a week before her boyfriend died.) God didn’t give me the answers I sought either. She is filled with hate and hurt and is going full force away from God. She has new atheist friends and that’s where she obtains her comfort from.

I’ve seen this more than a few times. True deep devastation in ones life, a call out to Christ with no answer, and then a turn away because they feel abandoned. The surface is masked with many different faces but the wound once uncovered is usually the same. These are the people I feel you also attract to your site under the guise of being atheist. The internal/external struggle and a wound which never properly healed.

So where do I feel I go or what happens when I die? Well, I believe there is an afterlife. Everything is energy so when one dies the energy doesn’t die it just changes form. The body is only there to enclose / house the spirit of each of us. Without the soul / our spirit,  the body is empty. We just get use to looking at the body and contribute that solely to the person, so when one dies there is enormous grief for us left on Earth. But the spirit of the person lives on and moves on to a different realm, that obviously we cant access until we die. Ok. There is much more to write but I’m off to the gym. Have a great night Bob. : )

Jeanine

Whoa whoa, Jeanine. First off, you can’t hold me responsible for Google results. As much as I wish I had that kind of control, Google decides its search results without any consideration to my wants & needs. I believe it’s that high because of the popularity of the site, and the length of time it’s existed (over 12 years). Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled that my rating is high, but I have zero control over what Google does. It’s really on the first page of a “Jesus” search? I honestly thought that my run with that ended years ago. *blushes*I feel for anyone who’s lost a loved one and I understand that some find comfort in believing they continue to live forever in paradise. That want does not bewilder me. However, it also doesn’t sway me in the least to believing it’s true. And considering you can’t have heaven without hell, I could easily give you several very convincing reasons why it’s not comforting in the least, but I’ll move on.

If you have a friend who claims to be an atheist but also hates God, that person is not an atheist. This is a common misconception about atheists that I hear from believers. Preachers & pastors love to explain atheism as a hatred of God, like actually not believing doesn’t happen. Saying atheists hate God incorrectly defines their atheism, subsequently severing a path of communication you might hope to have with them. I assure you, Jeanine, my belief in God is identical to my belief in Darth Vader. I don’t hate either because they are both made up characters. Anything you might ascribe to hate in my writing or art comes entirely from my hatred of its teachings.

I’ve no doubt built a life around countering a belief I find harmful. Everyone should spend their time so fully, in my opinion. And I hope that people searching for solace in Jesus stumble across my sites and find a less imaginary way to deal with the serious issues of life, living and death. In my opinion people really have to go out of their way to avoid stumbling across someone offering the Jesus solution, so you shouldn’t worry about all that much.

I don’t think we are the least bit empty without Jesus or pretending we’re an everlasting spirit in a physical body. In fact I don’t see how believing there’s an everlasting life in paradise in the afterlife doesn’t make this one seem less, not more.

I hope I’m answering your questions enough so that at the very least you understand where I’m coming from.

Thanks.

Bob