Last week, I wrote a post about embattled United States Senator Ted Stevens, a Republican from Alaska that was in a tight spot, steering down a double-barreled shotgun of federal ethics charges and a bitterly contested bid for reelection against a spirited Democratic candidate, Mark Begich.

Stevens’ colleagues at the Republican State Party, observant readers will no doubt recall from my earlier blog entry, had these shocking, but poorly designed, garments printed for a Welcome Home rally just prior to the election.

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Just like that, I have two more links to share from friends of Found Item Clothing.

Thunderfrogs — our new British-based BFF’s — penned a short but glowing review of our Jack Burton tee (pictured below), worn by Kurt Russell in Big Trouble In Little China. I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that we stock both a tee version and a tank top version, the latter of which sold-out with a blinding quickness over the Halloween holiday (don’t fret, we have since received more, btw).

Also, we got a brief blurb over at Hide Your Arms, an estimable tee and hoodie blogs that features a daily stream of informative and snappy copy on all manner of t-shirt-related issues.

All the best, fellas — we definitely appreciate the kind words.

Have an opinion? Share it below or message me: travis@founditemclothing.com.

Lost in the white hot glow of Obama’s election night victory was news that United States Senator Ted Stevens (R, Alaska) was locked in an exceedingly tight contest with his Democratic challenger, Mark Begich, the Mayor of Anchorage. Even now, more than one week after the election, no winner has been named in what is shaping up as a crucial race that will help determine control of the Senate.

Stevens, an icon in his state who has held federal office since 1968, was convicted on federal ethics charges the week before the election, having failed to disclose a number of lavish gifts bestowed upon him by friends, lobbyists and contractors. This development prompted the majority of political pundits to write him off and other politicians to call for his resignation.

On the weekend before the election, Stevens returned to Alaska and addressed his followers in an airplane hanger. Ever the pugilist, the Senator defended his record and defiantly proclaimed his innocence (”our founding fathers knew that mistakes could be made and innocent men could be wrongly convicted…this is one of those times”) which provided some red meat for his Luddite supporters. As the New York Times reported, Stevens spent more than half of his 8-minute speech besmirching the prosecutors in his case.

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With the Presidential election now less than a day away (thankfully), t-shirt entrepreneurs on both sides of the political spectrum are scrambling to milk the Obama cash cow for every last drop of cream.

Urban Outfitters, for example, peddles no less than 11 Barack-related designs. As it is, I’m rather partial to this one and its cute word play:

(The irony, you ask? The company’s leadership is rumored to shower politicians on the extreme Right with financial $upport. Commerce and politics have always been strange bedfellows.)

More examples of shirts in this playful vein are plentiful. Take these two, which riff on the same pun.

Still not convinced of Barack’s commercial potential? Take a peek then at Zazzle.com, which offers more than 30,000 Obama-related items that encompasses everything from t-shirts to skateboard decks. Not to be outdone, Cafepress.com also features a seemingly infinite number — 87,500, to be approximate — of user-submitted designs that can be individually customized with regards to color, size, text and image placement. As you might imagine, they range from creative to crass, stupid to smart and inspired to insipid.

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Celebrities are just like you and I—they put their t-shirts on one arm at a time.

Spotted of late with intriguing and cool designs, by the crack Found Item t-spotting team:

Ashley Simpson’s husband and Fall Out Boy, Pete Wentz, showing his support for gay rights at a fundraiser…

Kim Kardashian, sporting this self-promoting, tongue-in-cheek number…

A pre-crash Travis Barker, outfitted in a bad-ass, unfuckwithable Slayer t-shirt…

Speaking of Barker, his L.A.-based clothing line, Famous Stars and Straps, has commissioned a limited-edition t-shirt (pic’ed below), which commemorates the lives of his personal assistant Chris Baker and security guard Charles Still. Both perished, along with two pilots, in a tragic (depending on your perspective) plane crash last month (what, do you live under a rock?):

According to a post on E! Online, the shirt was “designed by pro skateboarder and Famous Stars manager Felix Arguelles and artist Maxx “maxx242″ Gramajo, [and] will be available online via the label’s website starting Oct. 13.” “All proceeds,” it continues, “will go toward memorial funds set up for the [pair's respective] families.”

Feedback? Kick it here: travis@founditemclothing.com