RSSLast week during the inauguration "makers" were mentioned by name - we received hundreds of emails, tweets & IMs asking us if we heard that (and if our new president was a MAKE subscriber). Here's part of the quote...
Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
A few makers and even our own team suggested we do something to celebrate "makers" in the speech as we kick off the next four years of our nation's journey. So here's what we have and we also need your help.
We are going to give away 100 t-shirts with this quote, or part of the quote to the next 100 new MAKE subscribers. They're not for sale and this is going to be "limited edition" as they say. Just go to makezine.com/subscribe and enter code CHANGE. You'll get a year of MAKE, celebrating science, engineering, how-tos, projects and makers - and if you use this code you'll get a shirt.
But there are 3 shirts right now, one design has a couple different colors - the other design is more of the quote. So, here's how we're going to figure this out. First, subscribe to MAKE with the code, next up VOTE - we've set up a poll (below the shirts) - vote on which one you like the best and in a week or so we'll announce which one it is and if there are any left we'll post up the link / code again. Anyone can vote, that will help us decide, if you subscribe because of this offer, post up a comment and let us know which one you voted for too.
Oh! If you're a current subscriber, don't worry -- you'll be able to log in to your MAKE digital edition and get a shirt at a nice discounted price too! Stay tuned for more info on that. We will attribute the president for the quote on all 3 designs.
Design #1
Click the image for a larger view & to see the back. We will attribute the president for the quote on all 3 designs.
Design #2
Click the image for a larger view & to see the back. We will attribute the president for the quote on all 3 designs.
Design #3
Click the image for a larger view & to see the back. We will attribute the president for the quote on all 3 designs.
REMEMBER, go to makezine.com/subscribe and enter code CHANGE to get 1 out of the 100 shirts we're going to make...
Any way we could get the short quote on the front, and the longer one on the back? With the flag on the sleeve, maybe?
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@yachris - thanks for the suggestions - maybe future versions, but these are the one vote on for now.
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Does this apply only to new subscriptions, or can I participate with a renewal as well?
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I like the longer quote because it provides context. It could do without the "Rather,", though. And I like yachris's design the best. Great idea, pt.
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@Karl Heinz Kremer - if you renew, just email me and i'll make sure you get one.
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I love it. I've been buying my copies at the newsstand but that pushed me over the edge.
Will be able to specify a size before they are shipped?
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@kbrown - yup, you'll be able to choose a size!
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I do hope you'll reconsider selling the t-shirt at some point, for the sake of those of us who happily renewed recently. Premiums that exclude your existing subscribers don't do much to reward or encourage customer loyalty. Just a thought.
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@Joel Smith - if you just renewed, email me. we'll have something for everyone too.
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Why is only #2 attributed to Obama? I would think that #1&2 should be as well -- and it would make them that much better in my opinion.
I also agree with the idea above that the extended quote would be better without the "Rather" lead.
Nice designs, though!
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I've got an auto-renew or lifetime sub or whatever it is. I'm out in the cold because I'm a loyal customer? At least run another 100 and give them out in a contest or something. Or advertise them only in the magazine, if you are afraid of them going to non-makers.
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@DU - just to restate it again, there will be shirts available for *everyone* this is just the first 100 for the new subscribers (or recent renewals). we're not leaving you "out in the cold" don't worry.
you'll likely see something in the digital edition for current subscribers after this :)
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I'm glad about that. Although I've re-read this a bunch of times and I don't see where you said this the first time...
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@DU - hah! my comment didn't show up (we're working on getting our comments fixed soon) sorry about that -- either way i promise we'll do something to try and make everyone happy, current and new subscribers alike - i'm chatting with the team to see if we can do more things like this that helps us attract new subscribers and also reward our current ones - "a free shirt" to get started and one at a nice discount for current folks. right now we offer 10% everything in the maker shed for subscribers, you just need to log in to your digital edition to get it, we'll try and do more stuff like that - we really appreciate you subscribing.
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I like design #1 or #3 better but it *MUST* have attribution for the quote, which is why I was "forced" to vote for #2. Add a "-Barak Obama" underneath the quote on #1 or #3 and it's golden.
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I've been wanting to subscribe to Make for a long time now - and I've finally been made an offer i couldn't refuse.
I voted for #1. T-Shirts are like billboards - they should be concise (even though, like the previous commenter, I would like to see some attribution as well).
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This is LAME. I want one of these shirts. I was so proud of the quote I was bursting at the seams during the speech. I'm a loyal subscriber of two years, and I've ALREADY gifted subscriptions to my friends and family.
Hey MAKE! Why don't you embrace your capitalist roots and sell these damn things? It's good advertising for new subscribers. You're just alienating your biggest fans with this silly gimmick. Make some money and make me happy.
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@Lyle - don't jump to "LAME" quite yet - we will have this available to purchase in some way for current subscribers (please see the post and my comments).
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I just renewed, doh!
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@Phillip, so Phillip, what's your email address again? : )
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@Phillip
Ah! I now see your last line: "Oh! If you're a current subscriber, don't worry -- you'll be able to log in to your MAKE digital edition and get a shirt at a nice discounted price too! Stay tuned for more info on that."
Sorry for my afternoon-coffee-induced burst of patriotic rage. You guys rock. My vote is in. Can't wait to buy a shirt in the hopefully near future.
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I'd been thinking about subscribing, but the shirt was the deciding factor. I voted for #2. I like the context of the entire quote with the maker part highlighted, and the attribution.
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Perhaps the attribution to President Obama could also include the DATE: January 20, 2009.
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I quickly ordered a gift subscription for my dad - but I want the t-shirt for myself! Any info you'll need from me so I can get it? I presume you'll make contact when you're getting ready to ship...
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an update -- We will attribute the president for the quote on all 3 designs.
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Make it so that the aeons will re-member
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I've noticed a bit of complaining on this thread about how these shirts are only available for n00bs. That was my first reaction too. But come on, are we makers, or are we mice? It seems like it would be trivial to set something up on cafepress to make a shirt like one of these. And then there's no need to vote - you vote with your feet.
Personally I like the long-winded one.
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Why not just put this quote on and get it over with:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
Put this on a t-shirt, and then maybe I'll buy it.
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That's a great quote from Theodore Roosevelt.
I'm really surprised by all the negative comments and flaming here despite Phillip's assurance that nobody's going to lose out. If there's one thing he's demonstrated over the years, he's not going to screw over a maker.
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