Duke Kahanamoku - The Original Surfer Dude!

Out of the water, I am nothing." - Duke Kahanamoku

Obviously, that wasn't at all true of this pioneer of the art of surfing; but it is that mindset that makes Duke, to me and many others, an ultimate Dude; and arguably the original and most recognizable Dude of all time! Yes, he was a five time Olympic medalist in swimming (3 Gold, 2 Silver in 3 Olympics; 1912,1920,1924), an actor, lawman and early beach volleyball star, but it was his bringing surfing from his native island of Hawaii to mainland California that truely gave him, and gives him today "Dude" status! Born Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 - January 22, 1968), - Dude! - he took on the name Duke from his father who was given the title himself by a European dignitary who was visiting the Hawaiian Islands when Duke, not known as Duke, was just a boy. Confused? Me too!

Many have thought, over the years, with the name Duke, he must be of Hawaiian Royalty, something he used to laugh about. He never went out of his way to say or act like he was more than what he was. His humble, mellow, approach to life(attributes he learned from his very religious mother), even after all his accomplishments , also makes him a great Dude in my book! There are many of stories of which island, and city, Duke was actually born on, but his answer is always the same, Honolulu, where he and his six brothers, three sisters and 31 other Paoa cousins (dude!) all learned to swim and, most important, surf. As a young boy he moved to the outskirts of Waikiki to stay close to his mother and family, and this is where  Kahanamoku spent his youth as a bronzed beach dude.

It was at Waikiki Beach where he developed his surfing and swimming skills. In his youth, Kahanamoku preferred a traditional surf board, which he called his "papa nui", constructed after the fashion of ancient Hawaiian "olo" boards. Made from the wood of a koa tree (What? No Clark Foam?). It was 16 feet (4.8 m) long and weighed 114 pounds (52 kg)....dude! Throw that up on mom's station wagon and watch her scream! The board was without a skeg (fin), which had yet to be invented. In his later career, he would often use smaller boards, but always preferred those made of wood. His Qlympic fame and world record swimming times made him an international figure and he traveled the world promoting swimming, surfing and I like to think, dudeism!

As if he hadn't done enough to be considered one of the greatest dudes of all time, in 1925, while living in southern California, he again generated national fame by using his surfboard to rescue eight people from a boat that had capsized in Newport Harbor, California. Lifeguards throughout California, Australia and the world soon added the use of surfboards as a key part of their water safety training; a practice they still use today! The dude does it again! Amongst his many accomplishments he was also the first person inducted into both the Swimming Hall of Fame and Surfing Hall of Fame.

He is also in the Olympic Hall of Fame, has many events, statues and venues named in his honor including the title of "Surfer of the Century" by

Surfer Magazine as well as other organizations and periodicals. Along with all those awards, I would personally like to name him now as one of, if not the greatest dude of all time! Duke "Dude" Kahanamoku....dude.

"In water, or out of water, Duke, you were something!" - Keith Poletiek

Who is your ultimate dude? Let us know! Become a Follower of this weekly blog by Keith Poletiek directed at searching out, finding and sharing all things dude!

Keith is an award winning cartoonist and creator of "Dude and Dude" a daily comic strip distributed worldwide by Universal Uclick for United Feature Syndicate at www.Gocomics.com/dudedude

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Sandals - Not Shoes - at Work!...Nice!

Wearing sandals at work is no problem if you work in the beach industry, or at the beach, or for a total awesome dude, or, in some cases, happen to be a women! What is it with the ladies being able to pull of sandals in the work place and not us dudes? I've seen many a lady walking around in dresses, skirts or whatever wearing something that looks very much like a sandal but has maybe an inch of lift in the back, sometimes less, and they call it an open toes dress shoe. 

   I would think to myself, "Totally unfair!" as I waited to get home (or even the car sometimes) to kick off my "feet choking" shoes for a cool pair of "Finally my feet can relax" sandals. The equivolent of finally pulling off that tie at the end of the day, if you have to wear one. Thank God I don't! I'm not much of a tie guy, and my middle-of-the-road salary will always reflect that.

Actually, I admire the ladies industry for having been able to pull off this "sandals as shoes"ploy for years! But that didn't help my, sweaty, stinky, tight shoe problem that has been a hassle for me most of my working life...until now.

That's because, FINALLY, some cool sandal companies have come on the scene and created sandals that look more like, and wear more like, SHOES!...Yes, all the feel and freedom of sandals has arrived! Dudes, are feet are saved.

Right now, I'm wearing a new pair of Sanuks (http://www.sanuk.com/). If you're any kind of a dude, you have either seen these or already own a pair or two. For those who don't know of them you need to bust over to your local surfwear shop or location and check them out!

Yes, they make the traditional sandals that will have your boss saying, "No beuno in el officio!" But, they also have a style they call their "Sidewalk Surfer" line that look enough like shoes that you might just get the okay to wear them in the work place.

Here is the pair I've been sporting all summer and my feet thank me everyday! The best $60 I've spent in a long time. Mine can look a bit on the slipper-side, but Sanuk does offer some that look even more shoe-like for those harsher bosses. Check them out! They are totally Dude Shoes!

Speaking of Dude Shoes, our friends across the pond in the UK have a line of shoes that feel like, wear like, but don't look like sandals at all. They have the total shoe look with the total sandal feel and they are appropriately named, you guessed it, "Dude Shoes!" (http://www.dudeshoes.org/) Shoes for the total dude! I just ordered my first pair under the advisement a great "Dude" friend who is already on his second pair! You can see their whole catalog and order online. Tons of styles and colors to choose from. Average cost is 45 pounds sterling and 12 pounds to ship ($85 all total). That's dress shoe pricing.

Dudes, your feet have been crying out to you for years. It's time to save them, rest them and get them to stop smelling so bad...dude. Your boss might even thank you for switching!!

One of the women in my office looked at my Sanuks and tried to play the, "He's wearing slippers" card!

She, of course, was in open-toed sandals that didn't even have any extra heal to make them look more like shoes. She knew this was the first step in men taking back some well hidden, comfortable feet time and I could tell she didn't like me discovering this long lost ancient secret held tightly by women for so many years. Well, move over ladies, we're here,

walking in relaxed, and we're here to stay, comfort and all....dude!

If you know of other dude shoes we dudes should know about, let us know in the comment section. We, and our fett, will thank you....dude.

Keith Poletiek is the cartoonist and creator of  the daily online comic strip "Dude and Dude" Distributed by Universal Uclick at www.GoComics.com/dudedude for United Feature Syndicate. All Rights Reserved.

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Creating Dude and Dude: Life in the "Dudeio"

Many of you dudes - that know I wear a few hats - have been asking how it's possible for me to draw a daily comic strip and still find time to write & promote my kid's books, travel & speak, handle marketing/publicity & sales for a local camp, do freelance cartoons and graphics, manage a home life as a husband, father and now grandfather, and keep my sanity. Dude, it's easy, you just do it!

Does the phrase, "Jack of all trades - Master of none" come to mind!

Actually, it is a very hectic life and finding the man hours can be brutal. Many days I'm left with getting up at 4a.m. to get a little time in the "dudeio" (what I call my studio) creating Dude and Dude or finishing up a T-shirt design or logo for someone. If much needed sleep wins out on a particular morning (dude, I don't know who is coaching sleep, but he has a great won-loss record), then late night "dudeio" sessions become a must with deadlines creeping up on me like a cheetah near the watering hole. Not good!

Subsequently, I've had to come up with a quicker method, for now, to produce Dude and Dude, using a bit more technology than I would like, and a little less, time consuming, freehand drawing to create a finished cartoon. If Dude and Dude continues to grow an online audience (3,400 subscribers at http://www.gocomics.com/ to date with over 100,000 individual hits weekly), and if print syndication is an option in the future, then less hats means more freehand sketching of the comic strip....The goal!!

Here is a quick overview of the process for creating the comic strip for those who asked or are curious or just a dude with some time to kill.

WRITING THE GAG

I spend as much time or more coming up with, writing, editing and fine-tuning each comic as I do drawing and creating them. If you see me around town I usually have a sketchbook or scratchpad with me wherever I go. I will acually designate certain coffee shops, beach locations or dude hangouts to hangout at in the hopes of having a quick nugget of an idea pop into my head. I jot it down quickly, these nuggets leave rather fast! Dude!

SKETCH

It all starts with sketching and inking the characters who will become part of the Dude and Dude community. In this picture is the actual first sketch of Dude and Dude. They were created in an airport terminal in Phoenix, AZ where I had just spent a week in 117 degree temperature speaking at a conference. As I sat, waiting for my flight home, all I could think about was being back in SoCal, near the beach and never wanting to leave the sand and surf again....thus, the two "Dudes," with the same mindset were born.

FINAL ART

From the sketch, I do the final blackline inking, then I scan the image into my computer, bring it into my art program and add color. Once the character is comic ready, I copy and paste the image into that day's cartoon keeping a copy of the image saved in the library of art that surrounds the work station of each page I work on. Pulling from the library of characters, objects, backgrounds, etc. saves a huge amount of time and makes a daily comic possible at this point.

The purist cartoon critics blast me for not drawing everything fresh, and comment negatively at the similarity of backgrounds, character, etc. To them I say, "One, I agree, and Two...Dudes, lighten up!" Writing sells comics, not appearance! Abide, and go with the flow until time allows. Is it funny, satirical, slightly humorous and/or remind you of yourself, or days gone by? Then this comic is for you and all those "Young and Old Souls" out there that look at everyday as casual Friday!

FINISHED PRODUCT

When the panels are complete, the coloring is done and the gag in place, I save it all and prep it to send through an FTP site to Universal Uclick at Universal Press which now handles the electronic Distribution of Dude and Dude for United Feature Syndicate. I try to send a few weeks at a time and stay at least a month or more ahead on finish comics...that cheetah (deadline) is in the tall weeds staring at me me, waiting for me to fall behind the herd!

Dudes, if you have questions about what art format
I use, what pens, paper, etc. Contact me anytime
by email or Facebook. Please send me comments and testimonials as well for my promo file. Send me ideas, dudeisms or just your thoughts about Dude and Dude. I'd love to hear your best dude stories as well. Sign up to get Dude and Dude emailed to you daily for FREE (while the offer lasts) at http://www.gocomics.com/ Join the Dude and Dude Facebook community at www.Facebook.com/dudeanddude

The new website DudeandDudeComics.com is underway. We're hoping to launch it in September. News, Updates, Books, Products, Everything Dude and Dude will be there!.....Dude!


Keith is the cartoonist and creator of Dude and Dude. A daily comic strip Distributed world-wide by Universal Uclick for UFS on Gocomics.com - All rights Reserved

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"Dude Food" Series: Fish Tacos...Where Do You Hook a Good One?

When I think of total, great tasting, well seasoned, got to have it, "Dude Food," my first thought is always Fish Tacos!

If you are a follower of my Dude and Dude comic strip (www.GoComics.com/dudedude) you know by now that it is the only food necessary for sustaining total dudeism in the eyes, and stomachs, of Dude and Dude. I tend to agree! They crave them, as do I, on a daily basis and the Dudes will do anything, EVEN WORK, to scrape up just enough fundage to score one, two or twelve whenever possible.

For them, there is no place better to make that score than Tina's Taco Shack where they don't dare miss a Taco Tuesday. Tina's place sits on the sand of Beachtown, USA. Her fish is delivered fresh daily from the docks nearby, her Secret Fish Sauce is awesome, and Tina is a hottie! A great combination!! This place is Dude Heaven!...But it's also fictional, so I'm posing the ultimate "Dude Food" question to all you Dudes out there...WHERE DO WE GO TO GET THE BEST FISH TACOS?

I know that everyone's favorite place will most likely be location based, from your present or past, and we may have never heard of your places, or you of mine, but we all need this crucial 411! So, take the time to describe why we should go out of our way to get to your "Fish Taco - Dude Heaven." Give us contact info like websites and Facebook sites as well. I'm a Left Coast, OC guy, so my favorites all come from my turf - but I'm always traveling, and when I come into a town I'm usually hungry and would love a local's insight on where to score a good fish taco or two, or twelve...wouldn't you!?!

My Top 4 Dude Food Fish Tacos Come From:

#4 - Rubio's Baja Grill (http://www.rubios.com/) 200+ Locations throughout CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO
The grilled fish tacos are excellent. Great sauce and not too much cabbage. A bit pricey, so be prepared. Their fried fish tacos are cheap on Tuesday's ($1.50) but you get what you pay for. These are small 3 biters with not much inside. Not bad, fourth place. Dude worthy.

#3 - Wahoo's Fish Tacos (http://www.wahoos.com/) 54 Locations throughout CA, CO, TX
All the food is fresh and tastes great. The Blackened Spicy Fish is the best. Order them with the White Spicy Beans (they're not too spicy) and you've ordered a "Dude and Dude." Pricing is medium sized and so are the tacos. Just ask for a Dude and Dude (then explain what it is so you get what you want...it's gonna be a thing someday!). The Bronze!

#2 - Chronic Tacos (http://www.eatchronictacos.com/) 36 Locations throughout CA, NV (1), ID (1), Canada (2)
Get ready America (and Canada) these little whole in the wall restaurants are popping up everywhere, and for good reason...The Food Rocks!! They almost take first in my "Fish Taco - Dude Food" search. You can get them grilled or fried, they're both awesome. Lots of fish and the Baja Sauce for these is so good you could put it on anything and it would taste better, even brusselsprouts! Middle priced, and you get to decide what to put on them. They were doing this long before Chipotle showed up. Way to go, Chronic! I close second!!

#1 - Baja Sharkeez (http://www.sharkeez.net/) Only 6 Locations in So Cal.
Man, I wish there were more of these out there for all you dudes to experience, because these tacos are the ultimate Dude Food and my Number One choice for the best FISH TACOS I've ever tasted. They offer 3 varieties and all are great, grilled, blackened and Baja style. I can't even remember which way I ordered them last time, because they are all soooo good. Lots of fish, cooked just right, with plenty of sauce dripping all over. They even do a Lobster Taco that kicks!! They are all $2-4 on Taco Tuesdays. Three will be a chore to finish! I've run over people on the streets trying to make sure I get there in time. Those who have been to Sharkeez know what I'm talking about. Great vibe there also. Big Screens everywhere, great people, great fun! A total winner. Thanks Sharkeez!! You Win!!! Do I get FREE FOOD?...dude.

There are my four winners. Now, show me, and all us dudes, what you've got! Get us "hooked" on your fish taco place. I need Dude Food travel info from you Dudes who know! Peace!

Keith Poletiek writes and draws Dude and Dude, a daily comic strip seen at www.GoComics.com/dudedude, Distributed by Universal Uclick for United Feature Syndicate. All Rights Reserved.

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Awesome Dude Series: No. 7 - The VW Van (Surf Bus)

Dude, they still turn heads! The VW Van, Surf Van, Hippie Van, Surf Bus, Kombi...call it what you will, it still remains the signature vehicle of dudes throughout the world and that's why it's No. 7 in my Awesome Dude Series. It doesn't matter if it's old, rusty and beat up, or cherried out. It doesn't matter if it's original looking or decorated in the most funkified way, the VW Van has been and always will be one of the best looking vehicles on the road.

Designed in the 50's, adopted by hippies in the 60's, sought after by "Surfing Safari" goers in the 70's, hard to come by in the 80's & 90's, and still the coolest thing on the road today! What is it about them that make them so popular? Dude!

 

When I see one all tricked out or completely restored, I say to myself, "I want to drive it!"

When I see one all oxidized, rusty and dinged up, I say to myself, "I want to fix it up...then drive it!"

Dudes, you know what I'm talking about.

Whenever I pass one on the road (they rarely pass you), I wonder where the dudes inside are going. I always imagine it's a much better place, and better time, than I'm going to have. I've never seen anyone driving one that looks bummed out or even angry. These babies just go with the flow. If everyone owned one I think road rage would be replaced with, "That's cool, man, take my lane." VW Van drivers know it's all about the journey, not just the destination.

One of it's great features is it's ability to be personalized. No other vehicle is open to free expression more than the VW Van. Paint it up yourself in psychedelic spender, get it professionally done with an amazing graphic, shorten it, stretch it...whatever you do to make it your own usually has people saying, even today...Far out!

I still want to own one today, as a second car, or weekend travel car...don't you? Do you stop and check out everyone with a FOR SALE sign on it and dream? As an artist, I start designing the finished product in my head knowing I can't afford it and don't have a place to park it. That's what this Van does to you! Right?!

Here's all the interesting facts and the history of the Volkswagen Type 2 Transport Bus (Surf Van) on Wikipedia (A good read!).

Send us a pick of your VW Surf, Hippie, Kombie Van, so we can all envy you...dude!

Keith Poletiek is the creator and cartoonist of Dude and Dude, a daily comic strip about two dudes who look at everyday as casual Friday, on www.GoComics.com - Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS.

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Dude and Dude's New Digs at GoGomics.com....Nice!

Dude, if you're a fan, a subscriber, faithful follower or friend of Dude and Dude, then you are totally aware of the transition that just took place on June 1st. If you're not aware, or you're new to Dude and Dude, here's the 411.

United Feature Syndicate, who held the online distributing rights to DnD, sold the distribution rights for Dude and Dude, along with over 100 other comic strips, single panel and editorial cartoons, to Universal Uclick, making UU the largest single cartoon syndicate-mecca in the world!

It also sent the Dudes packing and off to new digs on the cyber super highway and their home on the www is now at GoComics.com( www.gocomics.com/dude-and-dude ) instead of Comics.com (United Features closed site).

This is awesome news, especially for a newer comic like Dude and Dude, who now share a site with over 300 of the best cartoons in the business - Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbs, B.C., Pearls Before Swine, Get Fuzzy, Fox Trot and Bloom County.

We all know newspapers are suffering in this electronic age, and comics pages in print are slowly dwindling, so websites like GoComics.com are the strongest presence right now and for the future of cartoonists everywhere. The more they grow, the more the readership, the better for Dude and Dude to become a household name...The goal, dude!

Will newspapers survive?

I believe they will, just like bookstores will always be around. I just think they will have to redefine themselves, find an audience, become more local news driven and carry great comics and editorial cartoons.

Advertising sales have been dropping steadily for the past few years, but I believe they will level out and keep the hope of syndication alive for myself and other aspiring cartoonists. Dude, what would life be like without the funnies?! Not fun!

Where do you see the newspaper business going? Will all our news come from the internet, TV, smart phones? I'd love to hear what you have to say. So would the Dudes!

Keith Poletiek is the cartoonist-creator of the daily comic strip Dude and Dude, available for viewing at GoComics.com and Distributed by Universal Uclick. All rights reserved. Subscribe to Dude and Dude and build your own personal comics page from over 300 other great cartoons at www.gocomics.com

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Awesome Dude Series: No. 6 - Naugles Restaurants (Bring Them Back!)

                                                      

Naugles Run!!!!!!!!
This was the call of the wild when I was in High School! When starvage hit me, or anyone, it was grab anyone’s ride and get there! Naugles was also the most popular hangout for dudes after a Friday night football game, or any night you wanted to hang with friends and eat awesome Mexican food! Big food! It was also a cheap date, and a way to impress the ladies because they dug Naulges also! I had a friend actually get the okay from his Prom date to make Naugles their dinner option before the Prom! Dude, stories like that, the great taste and the memories are what make Naugles a member of my Awesome Dude Series!

My favorite was the Macho Combo Burrito, double wrapped, extra cheese! Dude, beans, meat, cheese, more cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, Macho sauce and more cheese heaped high in two warm, monster flour tortillas (it took two to hold everything in)! Awesome!

Speaking of cheese, they also had the only Cheese Burrito known to man! And what about their famous Egg Burritos! I can remember sitting in the parking lot for 15 or 20 minutes until 11pm hit, just so I could score one or two of those bad boys!

Del Taco, who bought the Naugles franchise in 1986, has now become my favorite late night munchies option, and I know that Del Taco kept many of the Naugles favorites on their menu, but, dude, it’s just not the same!

For my readers who never had a Naugles in your area…total bummer! For all of you who missed out, and for you Dudes outside the US, here’s the scoop on a So Cal fast-food icon from the 1970s and 80s!

Naugles 101:

Naulges was a Southern California fast-food Mexican restaurant chain that existed from 1970 to 1988. It was founded by former Del Taco employee Dick Naugle. The first Naugles Restaurant Location  was at the southwest corner of Fourteenth St. and Brockton Ave. in Riverside, California (now a Del Taco). Dick's motto was "Prepare food fresh, Serve customer fast, Keep place clean!"

Harold Butler purchased Naugles in 1979 when the chain consisted of three restaurants. Butler built Naugles up to 225 restaurants by 1986, when he sold the chain to Collins Food International. Naugles merged with Del Taco in 1988. A few of the Naugles menu items, such as those with the "Macho" designation, found their way into the regular Del Taco menu. Also, the Naugles Taco Sandwich (Del Taco called it a "bun taco") can still be ordered from Del Taco even though it does not appear listed on the menu. A few independent franchises kept the Naugles name until 1995.

Email Del Taco and tell them to bring Naugles Restaurants back!! I contacted Del Taco to inquire about a Naugles return. I’ll have the results in another blog after they get back with me.

NAUGLES FANS: I know many of you dudes have Naugles stories that we all want to hear!  

Tell us your favorite Naugles story. What was your favorite Naugles Menu item?

Where was your Naugles hangout?

Also: Facebook is looking to remove or archive the Naugles Fan Page. Say NO to FB, keep the page alive! Naugles Run!!!

Keith Poletiek is the creator of Dude and Dude, a nationally produced comic strip distributed by United Feature Syndicate and seen daily on www.Comics.com. Follow Keith and Dude and Dude on Facebook.

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