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Getting there…

I will concede that these past few weeks haven't been me at my most prolific; there are reasons for that beyond just sucking. I decided to leave Nick as a full-timer and go at it on a per-project basis, which has been really nice so far -- enough work to stay in game mode consistently, but not so much that I've gotta let go of/stop building upon the other things I'd like to. I wanted to write for ToyFare more, wanted to focus on that newspaper column of mine and wanted to have the opportunity to call the occasional Wednesday a spade and spend it watching shitty DVDs. This should in no way, shape or form infer that I'm returning to the online realm on a 24/7 basis, because I've seen the other side and it is better. But I will have more time to do the site, and as soon as the smoke settles and my mojo lands, this place won't be such a ghost town.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to whine about Gmail. I set up an account for work-related endeavors (not going to use my old AOL account which labels me a dinosaur, and not going to use my X-E account which makes the unknowing think I run a porn site), and despite the awesomeness that is 2 gigs worth of web-based never-fail e-mail, the way they group mail into "conversations" is just plain stupid. I won't go into a blow-by-blow for those who've never used Gmail, but suffice to say, if you're using it for anything nearing an official purpose where uber organization is key, you're going to end up murdering someone completely innocent out of frustration. I don't know why I'm writing about this.

My next ToyFare assignment is Transformers-related, and required me to read up/watch up on a little thing called Scramble City. I'd only seen the episode once many years ago, and it had no English dubs or subtitles, so I didn't know what in the fuck. Now that I've seen a fan dub in full, wow, that's a nice slice of Transhistory. Story goes like this: In Japan, Transformers: The Movie wasn't released. To help bridge the gap between pre-movie and post-movie cartoon episodes for our friends back East, this Japan-exclusive episode was forged.

In the first episode of the would-be two-parter, we're introduced to Metroplex and Trypticon, which doesn't seem like all that much of a bridge-gapper considering that neither character appeared in the movie. The second part of the story was never produced, but the tale was ultimately wrapped up in a series of really odd commercials using the actual toys as stop-motion characters. Just to keep the confusion rolling, these commercials featured Megatron and Galvatron standing side by side, which is something that shouldn't have been able to occur without the aid of Doc and a DeLorean.

Both the animated episode and the weird commercials are on the 20th anniversary Transformers: The Movie DVD, but you can at least watch the animated half over at this site. If you're more interested in the fan-dubbed version, scour YouTube.

K- started a really great survey in the last thread -- let's make it official. In the comments, talk about some of the expensive-but-stupid purchases you've made through the years. I don't even know where to start.

Posted by Matt on 04/04/2007. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 116 comments

I think I got the 89 Batman cereal for like $20 bucks on ebay, which my friends always make fun of me for, and I just don’t tell anyone about the $50 I spent on a box full of Bucky O’Hare toys.

Also, a bunch of domain names that I never got around to using. (thefootclan.org anyone?)

Chestnuts roasted by Tommy @ 04/04/2007 2:16 AM

Ahh the joys of a $300 Chicago Bulls leather jacket. Ahh the joys of being a Bulls fan in the early 90′s. And yes it still sits in the closet not throwing that out

Chestnuts roasted by VoodooRock @ 04/04/2007 2:44 AM

I’ve been trying to conjure up some of the thousands of stupid buys I’ve made, but they all seem distant, and there’s nothing laying out readily for me to spout out, though I know they’re there. Really, all I can think of are the books I’ve bought online. Since I discovered half.com a few years ago, I’ve ordered at least two dozen books. Half have been photo books, which were rare to begin with and I didn’t mind throwing down 30+, but I’ve paid up to the same, 30 bucks, for old catalogs for either the photography featured therein or catalogs for the inane; shit no one bought but had a good time browsing. I regret the bite I had to swallow after paying for such a thing, but if those damned books weren’t on the shelf as they are today, I’d hate myself just the same.

Chestnuts roasted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 3:35 AM

When I was like 11 or 12, my mom gave me access to my “life savings” (all the birthday card money and stuff since I was born or something) by handing me a debit card. Her intent, I guess, was to give me a shot at maturity. Bad move. This was a rather tumultuous time in my little life as my parents had just split.

During the following 3-6 mos, I blew all that money on crazy expensive crap:

-$150.00 for both the lion Voltron and the vehicle Voltron (you know, the big ones)
-$175.00 for a “real” ninja costume that I wouldn’t try on or return when it didn’t fit. Never wore it (and honestly, when would I?)
-One of those HUGE Breakdancing boom boxes with like 14 speakers and a double tape deck for like $300 (I eventually used it to piss off my neighbors with Circle Jerks and Black Flag tapes when moms was out)

By the time the money was about gone, my interests had turned to beer and pot (during this time we moved from “the country” to “the city” which is really just a wooded suburb, but seemed like the Bronx when I was 12). So the last couple hundred went to the head.

God this brings back a lot of shitty memories. Oh well, just sharing.

FM

Chestnuts roasted by Fungusmungus @ 04/04/2007 4:28 AM

Back in high school I’d drop hundreds on orders of anime like it was nothing. But I believe the worst was when I spent like $120 on a Buruccha from Kodomo no Omocha.

Ah, to be young again and free of debt…

Chestnuts roasted by Mystie @ 04/04/2007 4:47 AM

Matt, before I go to bed, which should’ve been hours ago, work’s sneering at me just a few hours ahead, but is your box of random goodness still up for sale? You know, for a friendly donation to the site, you’re shipped a hefty big ol’ box of anything and everything? I know you posted that years ago, but I was just wondering.

It stuck in my head because in the example pic, that damned Granny Gruesome always stared me downed saying, “You know, you could own me again, maybe. AHHHYYAAGGGHHHUUU YAK!”

Just wondering.

Chestnuts roasted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 5:14 AM

First- congratulations on continuing life choices, Matt (as long as this isn’t a thinly veiled attempt to play on Pogo all day).

I personally like Gmail, but not having to spend 5 minutes emptying the 600 junk-mail messages from my wife’s account.

As for wasting money, most of mine goes to computers and cell phones and the like. (Good example: I have 2GB of RAM coming tomorrow that cost $140 A.R.) I use them well and keep them for as long as possible, but I should probably give my car a little of that love too, considering it’s 12 years older than me.

Oh, does about 20 credits of college that will never help me graduate count? That’s worth at least $5000.

Chestnuts roasted by Mad Cow @ 04/04/2007 7:35 AM

I always buy stuff when I think I’m getting a deal, and like a week later I see it for even cheaper than before. No fail, EVERY TIME. I bought a $128 Teen Titans Raven statue from eBay, I love the thing, but thats probably the most I’ve ever spent on something that doesn’t do anything. I spent $175 dollars on a movie boxset, Gungrave, but atleast they’re movies and I can watch them, so I don’t consider it a dumb purchase. Though a few months later they re-released it as a ‘thin pack’ and at half the cost, does plastic cost that much that if you make DVD boxes half the size it warrents a 50% price cut?!

Chestnuts roasted by flabslapper @ 04/04/2007 7:55 AM

I bought a Boglin for way to much money :( Sad but true.

Chestnuts roasted by Mj @ 04/04/2007 8:21 AM

Well, I did sink tens of thousands of dollars into an English degree with no teaching certificate, leaving me nigh-unemployable, but that was all scholarship money so I don’t think I can really count it. Actually, since I also had three meals a day at the world-famous Bean also covered by scholarships, I guess I turned a bit of a profit on that one.

So I guess my own stupid financial decision lies in the near future. I need a new trench coat. The problem is that I bought my first trench coat in a charity shop in Oxford for five quid, so anything I pay for a new one is going to strike me as a monstrous injustice. Not looking forward to that one.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 04/04/2007 8:59 AM

A couple years ago my sister got married and I was the maid of honor and I had to purchase the 200 dollar dress. The airline lost the luggage that the bag was in, but found it after I had already called every bridal shop in the country to find the same dress and have it shipped and overnighted for like 400, grrrr.
Also, about 5 or 6 years ago I had a thing for coughjohnmayercough. I spent way too much for rediculously good seats…..so ashamed.
Curious, Matt, what is this column you write? Forgive me if you have already mentioned it

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 04/04/2007 9:02 AM

Congratulations Matt! I dream of being at a place in my life where I can make a decision like that.

I have spent more money than I should have on a couple of things… unfortunately they weren’t for me, but for sheisty exes. I have to admit I tend to be stingy and hold out until prices drop considerably. It saved me from paying nearly $80 on a LOTR boxed set for my husband… I got it for him this past Christmas for $17.88! And, believe me, everyone knew!

I still tend to spend to much on stuff for my daughter, but I feel that’s justified… the toys are really for all of us, right?

Chestnuts roasted by Heather @ 04/04/2007 9:13 AM

I was into the Transformers, Followed the cartoon and had my fair share of the toys. Still have my original Soundwave!

As for expensive embarasing purchases, I bought the movie Dance Til Dawn on VHS for my wife a few xmases ago…it cost nearly $100 bucks after shipping. It was released on DVD shortly after…Man was I Pissed! BTW Matt, you should really review Dance Til Dawn sometime, it would make great Article Fodder!

Chestnuts roasted by Greg @ 04/04/2007 9:37 AM

oh i just remembered i bought a $30 PSX game twice for my ex. The first time she lost it, than i bought it again for her after she broke up with me cuz i’m dumb, the game was Bust-a-Groove, which is even more insulting, i kicked her ass in it though, so i got my revenge >:D

Chestnuts roasted by flabslapper @ 04/04/2007 10:14 AM

I used to spend a lot of money going out to eat when I was younger, but all the kids did that. I would say my purchasing decisions by and large have been pretty good because I’m such a cheapskate. Comes with being Scottish.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 04/04/2007 10:16 AM

http://www.mail.com I use that for one of my e-mail addresses, and it seems to work pretty well!

As for the expensive purchase…I will have to think on that one.

Chestnuts roasted by Steven S. @ 04/04/2007 10:20 AM

I’ve wasted money on tons (literally, tons) of stuff, but none of the individual items were all that expensive. One regretful purchase that comes to mind is a light jacket I bought, which is more like a gray wool shirt overlay than a “jacket” anyway, for like 80 bucks because I just had to have it for a New Year’s party outfit. Ugh. SO not worth 80 bucks, but it seemed like it was at the time. I’ve worn it like 5 times since I bought it in 99. Every time I see it hanging in the closet, it mocks me.

After reading the comments about the broken Hot Rod figure, I could come up with a better answer to a survey of great toys I’ve broken that I regret breaking. :(

Chestnuts roasted by Peter @ 04/04/2007 10:28 AM

Arrg….I don’t know what my most expensive “stupid” purchase was. I tend to think everything is cool when I buy it…but I guess it is the $100 dollars spent on Mulan and SPace Jam themed merchandise when I was in Middle School. Wow. That’s not so bad now that I look at it.

Chestnuts roasted by Lost_Lenore @ 04/04/2007 10:32 AM

Ok, I think I have it. Over the past 1-2 years, I have probably spent over $300 on action figures (X-men, Star Wars, LOTR, etc..). They are in boxes in my basement, but I just couldn’t resist them. I like to think of most of them as a way to preserve my childhood. Decent excuse..right???

Chestnuts roasted by Steven S @ 04/04/2007 11:29 AM

I traded in a bunch of Michael Jordan cards to a shifty card store owner for $100, then used that money to buy Mario Kart 64. I really liked that game, but it was nearly $90 when it first came out. Since then, my brother traded that game and our N64 for a PS2. I guess in hindsight those cards that took me a long time to collect are valueless these days, still there were some gems in that collection.

I also started collecting Simpson figures when they first came out and had all of the first several series (except some of the really rare pieces, i.e Radioactive Homer and the first Treehouse of Horror set) in their boxes. Again, I fell for the tricks of a shifty trade show man and parted with the set for below market value.

Chestnuts roasted by kilgore2345 @ 04/04/2007 11:58 AM

My sister uses GMail as her end all account for work, personal stuff, etc. so far she’s been alright and hasn’t had any major problems but after reading your blog today I’ll warn her :)

Chestnuts roasted by Melissa Y. @ 04/04/2007 12:27 PM

congrats matt. in the way of spending way way wayyyy too much on stupid purchases i think i have two. the first would be 80 bucks on a willy wonka coat when the second movie came out. it’s an exact replica of that ridiculous red velvet creature, i still wear it occasionally just so i don’t feel as stupid for buying it and never wearing it. the other thing would be the 200+ bucks i just spent on fall out boy tickets because i ordered all that i was able to without having people in mind. god sometimes the concert addiction gets draining.

Chestnuts roasted by danny @ 04/04/2007 12:36 PM

that damned Granny Gruesome always stared me downed

A quick search tells me that you are referring to Granny Gross. I have one of those duder. You ask me nicely and I’ll find her for ya.

Chestnuts roasted by K- @ 04/04/2007 12:39 PM

200+ bucks i just spent on fall out boy tickets

I spent $80 on ONE ticket for MCR last year. They were at my favorite club; there was no way I was missing it.

Chestnuts roasted by K- @ 04/04/2007 12:41 PM

I tend to end up regretting more the amounts of time I’ve spent looking for things/amount of gas wasted than the actual cost. A good example would be the Toddler Turtles–I saw the X-E article, knew I just had to have them THAT DAY and proceeded to go to like every store within a 50 mile radius that might have them, and finally gave up several hours later. I ordered them online for a buck or two over the retail value and felt like the world’s biggest idiot. Out of habit, I would check store pegs for them every time I could, and it was actually a few months before I actually found them for sale at a Toys ‘R Us.

I’m dangerous in arcades and can think of times I might have dropped $50-100 in an hour or so. Probably one of my biggest impule purchases was the day I decided to buy a PSP on my lunch break. I just decided out of nowhere I was buying one that day. I spent a bunch getting it all set-up with accessories and games and stuff and then it went relatively unused for awhile. I actually use it much more frequently now and think it is probably worth about $170 (the current price), but not the amount I paid for it.

Chestnuts roasted by Kate @ 04/04/2007 12:50 PM

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