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SpongeBob BaggyPantsThe strange, persistent demand for T-shirts featuring "urbanized" cartoon characters.

By Jonah WeinerPosted Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, at 7:01 AM ET

Click to view the slideshow SpongeBob BaggyPants.Click here for a slide-show essay on T-shirts featuring "urbanized" cartoon characters.

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Jonah Weiner is a pop critic for Slate.
COMMENTS

I don't know how closely this really relates, but the article reminded me of the ubiquitous "urinating Calvin" stickers featuring the lead character from the Calvin & Hobbes cartoons. I don't know who created them or why, but for some reason Calvin peeing on nearly anything has become an enduring symbol for someone's dislike of something, be it a sports team, a person or a nation. I've always been baffled by the legality of using Calvin's image in this way - I assume Bill Watterson wouldn't approve.

-- TravelinMatt
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