(http://i.imgur.com/UPZk7.jpg)
The Chao Te Ching is a meditation on the Sacred Chao, a yin-yangish symbol which represents everything worth knowing, and also a lot of stuff not worth knowing. In 81 brief chapters which parallel the Tao Te Ching, this modern Discordian text synthesizes ancient Taoism and irreligious Zenarchy. This manual teaches how to discover your inner spag, the silly fool who, through laughter, is neither confined by apparent order or bewildered by apparent disorder.
The Chao Te Ching is a local production. LMNO and I put it together, and we had submissions/advice from Burns, Cain, Faust, Honey, Hoopla, Kai, Lies, Ratatosk, Requia, Roaring Biscuit, Telarus, and Triple Zero.
Buy the paperback for under ten bucks here: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chao-te-ching/18759432
Read or Download the whole PDF for free here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/34652650/Chao-te-Ching
(http://i.imgur.com/3T3zm.jpg)(http://i.imgur.com/i7HUX.jpg)
To clarify: Cram and I wrote a good chunk of it, and then we also edited the hell out of other people's submissions. Those people are given credit in the Acknowledgements section.
EDIT: IT'S FRIGGIN' AWESOME. TO HOLD THIS. IN MY HANDS.
Well :mittens: to everyone involved. It looks cool. I'll have to get me one.
Love that cow/chao pic.
Might get two. One for lending in case i never get it back.
I'm gonna get like, ten.
Oh WOW!
I did try and have a go at designing a cover image for you guys (since that was what seemed to hold it back), but it didn't end up very well (or anywhere, even), but that picture you got now was EXACTLY what I was trying to go for when I made my half-assed attempt!!
I definitely need to buy some of these.
(http://i.imgur.com/sB9ns.jpg)
The Chao Te Ching is Kopyleft - all rites reversed.
If you use the text to make any art, etc, please post it here! http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=28358.0
BEAUTIFUL!
AWESOME!
SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fuckin'A!
I love the layout and the minimalist style. I may have to buy a copy or three. Thumbs up, guys, you outdid yourselves.
How did you end up getting that cover?
I live with a photoshop wizard. He used his spear and magic tablet.
Quote from: Cramulus on December 23, 2011, 11:33:39 PM
I live with a photoshop wizard. He used his spear and magic tablet.
Spear and magic tablet?
WANT.
Quote from: Doktor Zero on December 24, 2011, 12:20:52 AM
Quote from: Cramulus on December 23, 2011, 11:33:39 PM
I live with a photoshop wizard. He used his spear and magic tablet.
Spear and magic tablet?
like this:
(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlZufOyIuowpWA9vKo7HfTJx5cGlebD6RFZ0Em6xFr6T3o63MxmPH7a4rdgA)
except in his left hand, there's a wacom tablet
And you have to kind of sing it.
He-used-his-spear-and-magic TAAAAA-blet.
Quote from: Doktor Zero on December 24, 2011, 12:20:52 AM
Quote from: Cramulus on December 23, 2011, 11:33:39 PM
I live with a photoshop wizard. He used his spear and magic tablet.
Spear and magic tablet?
On second thought, I think Phox got it and was continuing the song.
IT IS NOW STUCK IN MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://youtu.be/C2VMqQ6XnmI
Quote from: Beardman Meow on December 24, 2011, 01:30:59 AM
Quote from: Doktor Zero on December 24, 2011, 12:20:52 AM
Quote from: Cramulus on December 23, 2011, 11:33:39 PM
I live with a photoshop wizard. He used his spear and magic tablet.
Spear and magic tablet?
On second thought, I think Phox got it and was continuing the song.
That is correct. :lol:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a95/discordman/CTCSig.png) (https://chaoteching.wordpress.com/)
We've got a blog now
Check by on Tuesdays and Thursdays for another chapter from the Chao Te Ching
http://chaoteching.wordpress.com/
Nice. Posted to G+, tweeted.
Just wanted to say that this was really fantastic. I definitely want a print edition for my shelf, but it will have to wait until I'm no longer in the middle of nowhere (a.k.a. my father's house).
So, I've started pimping this on my FB. Next thing I know, my MOM is commenting, "I'm glad to know I have an inner spag. Somewhere."
Which is WAY COOL.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on January 24, 2012, 06:32:53 PM
So, I've started pimping this on my FB. Next thing I know, my MOM is commenting, "I'm glad to know I have an inner spag. Somewhere."
Which is WAY COOL.
:mittens:
(and of course, your mother carried around an inner spag for 9 months!)
Fun Fact: 4 copies of the Chao Te Ching cost £23.12.
Shipping is £14.49 if you want a guarantee you'll get it. SUSPICIOUSLY avoiding any overt 5s.
Coincidence? You decide.
Quote from: Demolition_Squid on January 25, 2012, 08:33:40 AM
Fun Fact: 4 copies of the Chao Te Ching cost £23.12.
Shipping is £14.49 if you want a guarantee you'll get it. SUSPICIOUSLY avoiding any overt 5s.
Coincidence? You decide.
2+3+1+2=8
1+4+4+9=9
Coincidence?
Quote from: Don Coyote on January 25, 2012, 08:49:42 AM
Quote from: Demolition_Squid on January 25, 2012, 08:33:40 AM
Fun Fact: 4 copies of the Chao Te Ching cost £23.12.
Shipping is £14.49 if you want a guarantee you'll get it. SUSPICIOUSLY avoiding any overt 5s.
Coincidence? You decide.
2+3+1+2=8
1+4+4+9=9
Coincidence?
You decide.
TELL ME WHAT TO DECIDE!
\
:mind ray:
BOOK SALE
Purchase Et Cetera Discordia (http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/et-cetera-discordia/14326592), Chao Te Ching (http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chao-te-ching/18759432), or any other lulu title with 30% off with coupon code FEBRUARYCART305GBP
This coupon expires on FEB 19th so GET ON IT
Feel free to put that on the FB page, as well!
Quote from: Cramulus on February 16, 2012, 02:38:47 PM
BOOK SALE
Purchase Et Cetera Discordia (http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/et-cetera-discordia/14326592), Chao Te Ching (http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chao-te-ching/18759432), or any other lulu title with 30% off with coupon code FEBRUARYCART305GBP
This coupon expires on FEB 19th so GET ON IT
I have infected my gamestore with Discordianism. Hat wants to sell some hardcopies on consignment. Is this something we're interested in doing? If so, let's talk turkey.
Since it's print on demand, I think the best way to do it is order a bunch of copies, give it to him for consignment, and feel free to pocket whatever sells.
I'm pretty sure I'm not thinking this all the way through... Cram, do you get a discount by being the publisher, and could we supply books for consignment cheaper than cost?
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 16, 2012, 04:58:44 PM
Since it's print on demand, I think the best way to do it is order a bunch of copies, give it to him for consignment, and feel free to pocket whatever sells.
I'm pretty sure I'm not thinking this all the way through... Cram, do you get a discount by being the publisher, and could we supply books for consignment cheaper than cost?
Usually you just break even on consignment sales. Thing is, if people BUY it, they'll READ it. If they download it for free, it goes in the stack and is never seen again.
Basically, the way I feel about it is if you pay Lulu for the books to be made and delivered to you, then you can keep whatever sells in the bookshop. I mean, we could make a convoluted deal where I buy the books, have them shipped to you, and then you send me a check when they sell, but that sounds needlessly complicated.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 16, 2012, 05:19:48 PM
Basically, the way I feel about it is if you pay Lulu for the books to be made and delivered to you, then you can keep whatever sells in the bookshop. I mean, we could make a convoluted deal where I buy the books, have them shipped to you, and then you send me a check when they sell, but that sounds needlessly complicated.
Also, I'm debating the idea of making a bound volume of the existing works.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 16, 2012, 04:58:44 PM
I'm pretty sure I'm not thinking this all the way through... Cram, do you get a discount by being the publisher, and could we supply books for consignment cheaper than cost?
yeah, as the authors, we can order books at-cost. (well... kinda. Lulu makes a buck whether or not
we do) If we wanted to sell 'em in bulk, we'd add Roger's address to one of our lulu profiles as if it's one of ours. Then we can buy as many copies as we'd like and they'll be shipped to Roger.
Well Roger, it's up to you. You can either send us money to buy the books and ship them to you at a cheaper price, or you can buy them yourself and keep the cash.
If Cram's ok with the deal, of course.
cool by me!
Actually, if there's a Lulu account available, I may see if Hat can order directly...Or order from you guys.
The minimum gross margin on something like this should be about .4 over the cost of publishing. Split that margin with hat 50/50 (with him buying them up front), and I think he'd fall all over himself to get involved in this.
I'll talk with him.
Incidentally, gross margin is calculated as
cost of publishing/1-gross margin.
So if the book cost you $10 to print, the margin would be 10/1-.4 for $16.66, meaning you and he would each get $3.33/book.
Shipping should be considered part of the cost of publishing, since there is no distributor network.
Truth be told, in my mind if he bought straight from Lulu, he can charge whatever he thinks he can get off 'em. They're 8.95 from the site, but shipping (and Lulu's cut) can be kinda stupid.
Incidentally, the url for the book is http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chao-te-ching/18759432
oh man - this is dope as hell -
Quote from: LHX on February 20, 2012, 03:58:58 AM
oh man - this is dope as hell -
Hey! Good to see you back!
Mine arrived today!
No more than 5 minutes after getting the packaging removed an interested party picked it up and read the cover and intro.
I retrieved it from the heathen and absconded, letting him know he could borrow it later.
I got all the way to chapter 18 before I was finished damaging the toilet.
Another friend of mine is really digging it.
He says, "It's a breath of fresh air. Each chapter is perfect—it has a rhythmic flow that gives it an element of music. Great read."
He also suggested you sell some to Powell's Books.
Interesting thought. Looks like we have to use their on demand service, though. Dunno if I wanna go thought the hassle.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on July 27, 2012, 12:42:14 PM
Interesting thought. Looks like we have to use their on demand service, though. Dunno if I wanna go thought the hassle.
In that case, I'm thinking of redesigning the Chao te Ching at about half it's current size, a limited edition of 23, hand bound, each cover with an actual block print of a pair of orange foo dogs (one on the front, one on the back) but with permanently adhered, movable googly eyes over their own.
Same content, properly attributed, released under the same CC license, of course. I'd mail you one, Cram one, keep one, sell 18 for a dollar each at places like Powell's and Last Thursday. I was thinking the remaining one could be a prize I'd mail out for some future pd.com based contest?
That would be pretty cool! Proceed without caution!