09/26/2007: The Skull Fountain.
Today’s Countdown entry is only late if you’re one of those religious fanatics who honestly believes that today is September 26th and not actually still the 25th. I am here to enlighten you: It’s September 25th, and today’s deadline-meeting Countdown entry is a shorty about the Skull Fountain, a bowl of punch with bleeding eyes!
Because I’m nice, I’ve decided to post the entry for the 26th a day ahead of schedule. Look for it by tonight!
Discussion Thread: 117 comments
tonight?
Posted by
Farley Tamboobersnit @ 09/26/2007 1:06 PM EDT
Oh Matt, you lovable trickster you.
Posted by
Evin. @ 09/26/2007 1:07 PM EDT
Wait, what?
Posted by
yet another matt @ 09/26/2007 1:08 PM EDT
Is V-8 too thick for something like that? Because it seems like that would be the closest drinkable liquid to the blood-red look. Even as it is, that’s one hell of a punch bowl. I’d put it out even at non-Halloween parties, attempting to justify it with odd signs. By the time I had it at a President’s Day party with a sign that said “Kiss Me, I’m from D.C.,” I would have probably pushed the boundary, though.
The instructions say you can’t use anything with pulp…V8 is a little pulpy, but I’m not sure.
Posted by
Matt @ 09/26/2007 1:20 PM EDT
I would thow some Mt. Dew game fuel in there. Only thing that crap is good for. Bring back the original Pitch Black I say!
Posted by
Toxikfoxx @ 09/26/2007 1:24 PM EDT
Maybe grape juice - he looks like he should have very dark blood!
Posted by
Saint @ 09/26/2007 1:28 PM EDT
A friend of mine had something like this last year and he put bloody mary mix in it. It was quite tasty. It had that Willy Wonka chocolate waterfall effect on the drink and it was smooth as could be.
Posted by
freudguy @ 09/26/2007 1:33 PM EDT
Matt: first of all, I know an awesome drink made with kool-aid packets that big. And it tastes like cherry Tootsie Roll pops! I’m trying to figure out how to make it alcoholic.
Also, while the skull fountain is interesting, this Bloody Pumpkin Fountain is infinitely more awesome and is, by far, my most coveted Halloween possession. But I don’t think you can put beverages in it. I’m not sure.
The dates are changing all willy-nilly. I’m cold, and frightened.
Posted by
Whalen @ 09/26/2007 1:57 PM EDT
I actually LOL’d at the youtube clip… How did you not crack up when you saw how poorly it ‘worked’. Wish I could have been there to watch this live, I think I’d still be laughing.
Posted by
Nizz @ 09/26/2007 1:59 PM EDT
Still cool, even if its a bit of a disappointment. I would probably still buy it if I was having a Halloween party, though.
I’m pissed I missed the ‘what horror movie have you not seen yet’ blog!
Still, nice to get a new entry while I was cruising an old one. 
Posted by
Muppet Baby @ 09/26/2007 2:04 PM EDT
Wow! I’ve been a regular reader for a couple years but never posted before…I’m not too far down the line! Matt I’d just like to thank you for all the great articles, they’ve become part of my little family units annual holiday tradition.
Posted by
FeedMyFrankenstein @ 09/26/2007 2:24 PM EDT
I’m in agreement that grape juice might liven up the action.
The skull looks to be that super hard weird foam stuff, rubberized coated. (I am well aware of the grammatical errors in that sentence).
I’ve also been trying to figure out what you were watching by the sounds in the background… can’t quite figure it out.
Posted by
Raechel @ 09/26/2007 2:24 PM EDT
I believe it was Family Guy.
Posted by
Matt @ 09/26/2007 2:26 PM EDT
Special K
Oh, I so desire that Bloody Pumpkin Fountain!
Think I’ll make it my Halloween/Bday Party splurge! (Yup, my birthday is only the greatest holiday of the year!)
Posted by
Raechel @ 09/26/2007 2:28 PM EDT
What a freakin rip-off! I would be tempted to try something thicker. The front of the box makes it look like goo could be used.
I am so diggin’ that pumpkin Special K.
Posted by
IHAQ @ 09/26/2007 2:37 PM EDT
How about orange juice with heavy red food dye?
btw i kno exactly wut u mean about about plastic things and how they sometimes seem contaminated especially if theres a new smell to it. then on top of that, if the drink is warm when it reaches my mouth i feel like i shouldnt be drinking it at all.
Posted by
cris @ 09/26/2007 2:38 PM EDT
Raechel: If you find one, PLEASE let me know!! I heard it was discontinued last year and then they rerelease it this year and they’ve been sold out since June.
tonight! tonight!
Posted by
oh andrew @ 09/26/2007 2:47 PM EDT
It’s so sad that you never get to have a party. We live in the same city so plan away and I will be there. In fact, I would probably pay to attend. This site never fails to entertain.
Posted by
Jen Diff @ 09/26/2007 2:49 PM EDT
Special K
Poop! I just called every location in my state (CO), and no one’s currently got it… the one at Flatirons Mall said it’s on order; and they took my name. We’ll see if they ever call. 
They all recommended the Bleeding Reaper Fountain, but it’s nowhere near as cool.
Posted by
Raechel @ 09/26/2007 3:00 PM EDT
For some reason when I saw the first pic I thought the little starburst next to the skeleton punch ladle said “Bonus Bong” and I was thinking that was kind of an odd choice of bonuses. Probably it would have made the whole thing a little less disappointing anyway…
Posted by
B-Dawg @ 09/26/2007 3:02 PM EDT
A whole day ahead of schedule? You’re too good to us, Matt. It’s like Halloween is here already. 
Posted by
Chris @ 09/26/2007 3:04 PM EDT
How bout Hidden Valley Ranch ranch dip with red food coloring? oh i know! red food colored nacho cheese! that would soooo work!
Btw, looking at the ingredients in the Jones Strawberry S’lime soda can in front of me, i have to wonder, How the HELL do they “invert” cane sugar? i mean its crystals…how do they turn little microscopic particles inside out?
Posted by
mandy_Booo! I'm a Ghost_Reeves @ 09/26/2007 3:06 PM EDT
Raechel: Bah! How dare they suggest inferior props! I’ll call around today, but I doubt I’ll get anything. I went to every Spirit in the state last year and they said they’d never heard of it. *eyeroll*
if the skull bowl owner didn’t happen to hate that candy corn jones soda- you could use that and say it was peeing through its eyes. and Matt, whats the drink that tastes like cherry tootsie rolls? share the recipe!
Posted by
cb @ 09/26/2007 3:16 PM EDT
oh, sorry- special k! whats the recipe?!
Posted by
cb @ 09/26/2007 3:17 PM EDT
I kind of want to make out with that fountain. Koolaidish Goulish deliciousness.
Raechel what part of CO are you in? If you find a store that has them in stock would you let me know? I’m having a party soon and would love to have one if you can find an extra.
Posted by
Dan H @ 09/26/2007 3:59 PM EDT
These would go great with that.
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/26/2007 4:04 PM EDT
Hmm… to share my signature drink recipe or not to share my signature drink recipe… hehe
Ingredients:
1 2-litre bottle of ginger ale (doesn’t matter what brand)
1 large packet of cherry Kool-Aid, sugar-free
1 bottle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup
Steps:
1. Pour ginger ale CAREFULLY (so as not to lose the carbonation) into a pitcher
2. Add the packet of Kool-Aid
3. Add chocolate syrup to taste (I usually use about 3/4 of the bottle, but this isn’t exactly a guzzling kind of drink)
4. Stir CAREFULLY (again, don’t want to lose the carbonation, but you do want the chocolate to evenly distribute)
You can add a little Everclear for a kick…
Perfect for a Halloween party, it comes out looking like frothy blood and it tastes JUST LIKE cherry Tootsie Roll Pops. My friends know it as Fox’s Blood. If you make it and get compliments, be sure to let me know!
Last year when I lived in Hoboken, after years of waiting, I finally got to throw “the big Halloween party” i’ve always wanted.
The theme was “Night of the Living Dead”, which meant you could come dressed as what ever you wanted… as long as it’s dead. I dressed as a “black and white zombie” in honor of my own theme’s namesake, and other costumes ranged from the witty- The Death of Disco, to the macabre- a troop of girl scouts with thier wrists slit, to the just plan odd- Dead Gallagher. If you didn’t come dressed as something dead, such as my friend who dressed as a Mexican, you got taken to the “Zombie Station”- a corner of the hallway where you were doused with fake blood until you were better fit to theme. Fake blood stained the walls until I moved out.
Our apartment was in the basement, and every single possible inch was decorated… from the creepy sign upstairs that read “This way” (written on brown construction paper, then set on fire to give a burnt effect to the edges and holes), to blocking the decending stairway lights with red paper while an unseen radio played a homemade “creepy sounds”-type c.d.
The hallway was COMPLETELY covered in webs… so much in fact that in certain parts you had to push them out of the way. A closet with an “open me” sign housed a motion activated spider that dropped in front of the guests. One of those talking pictures hung on the wall, and a severed head inside a crystal ball welcomed the partiers.
I turned my bedroom into a crypt- using a dungeon themed “Scene Setter”, black table cloths, a 6-foot coffin with a severed arm reaching out, a stobe light under the bed (a really cool effect), and purple christmas lights lining the walls. The TV repeatedly played a DVD I compiled of old horror trailers.
The kitchen was pretty much standard fare, nothing too crazy- party streamers, jack-o-lanterns, more spider webs- but the livingroom/ dining room was pretty awesome- Scene Setter’s Haunted Forest filled the walls, a talking skull candy bowl held candy corn, and a miniature zombie screamed on top of the TV. The boiler room door was left slightly ajar and a red police light could be seen inside. When you opened the door, there was bloody handprint table cloths hung all over, and a motorized ghost light up and came flying toward you.
We kept the kegs outside in this little alley thing we had (there was a small 4-foot wide area with a wall that went up to the ground floor back there- it ran the length of the apartment, and you could see the lights of the bolier room through a window). We had skull lights hanging up above and a completely hidden smoke machine in the corner, whose controller ran through a nerby window so that the people inthe bar-area could press the button and scare the keg people with a loud hissing sound and a quick burst of smoke.
The radio blasted a combination of regular bar/club music interjected with halloween appropriate songs- The Monster Mash, Purple People Eater, Thriller, Nightmare on My Street, Freaks Come out at Night, Pet Cemetary, Werewolves of London, etc… and people that weren’t hitting the Skull-shaped beer bong, could partake in some good-old fashioned apple-bobbing.
That party was AWESOME! I only wish I had a bleeding skull fountain. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like i’ll be having another one for quite some time- i moved out of that apartment, and have no conceiveable way to have another party like that now.
Sorry for the long post… just thought i’d share!
Wait…………What?
Posted by
Ethan @ 09/26/2007 4:17 PM EDT
The oozing candle skulls last week, the juice-dribbling skull punch bowl today… it really is the season of the oozy-head-type things!
This is the sort of thing I’d be suckered into. I’d expect it to be EXACTLY like it shows on the box. Amazing how very-close-but-not-close-enough-to-fall-foul-of-trading-standards a quick Photoshop job can do to pull in the punters.
Haha! Nice find man. Lovin’ the countdown so far, keep up the good work.
Posted by
Andy B @ 09/26/2007 4:30 PM EDT
Dan H I’m in Denver, by Sloan’s Lake. So, fairly central to the state’s Spirit stores… will let you know if any turn up!
And: Special K Thanks for the drink recipe; it sounds great! My friend is a little repulsed by the thought of the chocolate syrup and carbonation, but I love that stuff in Coke.
I can’t find any of the big packets of Kool-Aid; how big are they (as in, how many normal size packets)?
Posted by
Raechel @ 09/26/2007 4:51 PM EDT
Maybe grape juice - he looks like he should have very dark blood!
Like Giant Ape Juice?
Also, to continue the theme: Wait…what?
I don’t want to think about grape juice when I’m drinking skull blood.
Posted by
Matt @ 09/26/2007 4:54 PM EDT
Raechel: By the time you get it all stirred up, no matter how careful you are, you still lose a lot of the carbonation. The main reason you want the carbonation in the first place is to make the chocolate froth and the rest keeps the drink from tasting completely flat. hehe And just get enough big packets to make 2 litres of drink. I’m not sure how many that is, but it should tell you on the back of the packet. It’s been a while since I’ve made it so you might want to add another packet for extra cherry flavor. You kind of just have to make it to taste. It’s one of those drinks you have to mix and taste, add a little chocolate syrup, mix and taste until it tastes like the cherry Tootsie Roll Pops.
BelmarBenny- That sounds like the best party ever. I hope someone I know throws something like that
Posted by
Joker @ 09/26/2007 5:27 PM EDT
did anyone else think of spinal tap when they saw that video. I think that the skull fountain turning on would be the equivilant of stone henge in that movie.
Posted by
FOB Danny @ 09/26/2007 5:30 PM EDT
Jesus, yeah, Belmar that party sounds amazing.
Posted by
Matt @ 09/26/2007 5:37 PM EDT
Hmm, I’ll try to make my first comment worth it…
It’d be great to use that fountain while watching the old RGB Samhain episodes. Click my name to watch. Found it today and was extremely excited, haven’t seen the episode since I was 5 or 6.
Posted by
Darryl B @ 09/26/2007 5:37 PM EDT
OMG FOB!!! I can see it now! “the bloody skull aint bloody bleedin’!”
Posted by
mandy_vampir-ella_Reeves @ 09/26/2007 5:41 PM EDT
¿Una fuente calavera? Que bueno! Deseo que estaba en su ciudad: IrÃa a uno de sus fiestas de Halloween. VestirÃa para arriba como Tortuga de Ninja y comerÃa todo su queso. Ja ja ja!
Posted by
Ben @ 09/26/2007 6:04 PM EDT
Man, hearing that someone as awesome as yourself doesn’t have any friends to invite to their hypothetical imaginary parties either does wonders for my self esteem. I have a feeling you’re exaggerating but I’ll take it.
On a quick look through Playboy’s Bar Guide, I’ve found a cranberry punch recipe that would probably work well. It’s mostly cranberry and vodka, but a splash of grape juice for color would probably work too.
Don’t you hate it when you feel stupid when you buy something? And you feel like your the only one in the world that is that stupid. And I think ALL of that “blood” is shopped it looks too…uh, over the top of the picture and not included with the picture you know what I mean? And it’s a bright color instead of a realistic color. I don’t know how those photoshop people get jobs I mean I don’t consider myself great at photoediting but I could of done better.
Posted by
Goob @ 09/26/2007 6:47 PM EDT
Hmm…what if we put green liquid in that Skull Fountain bowl? Or blue or purple? One could get very creative.
Posted by
Bert Raccoon @ 09/26/2007 7:07 PM EDT
Matt, you are invited to be guests at our annual Halloween film festival! We have exactly the kind of party that you mention AND have it over 24 hours AND watch a buttload of movies.
Having said that, I can say I ALMOST picked up this skull, but having been burned by so many of these tricks, I passed. I opted for the regular skull bowl with a handle shaped like an arm and glasses made of bones.
Does that thing allow carbonated beverages to get through? Green Hawaiian Punch, 7-Up and some vodka and you got a green ghoul punch.
Posted by
Pepe @ 09/26/2007 7:42 PM EDT
Thanks guys, yeah it’s was pretty great… it would’ve been better if we didn’t run out of booze though.
Posted by
BelmarBenny @ 09/26/2007 7:44 PM EDT
Ok so I just want to say that I totally share that Halloween party sentiment with you Matt! Every single year I make a resolution to have a party and I have all these awesome ideas for the party and then I realize that there is just no way I can get enough people together for anything that even resembles party. Its depressing but I gotta say…your countdown is like our own exclusive celebration of Halloween together! From one friendless person to another, I appreciate knowing I am not alone.
p.s. I am not so much impressed with the punchbowl either…sorry
Posted by
Krissy @ 09/26/2007 7:48 PM EDT
If anyone is bored, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is on ABC Family
Posted by
Joker @ 09/26/2007 8:25 PM EDT
Man, I feel the same way about drinking out of plastic things like that. I have been drinking out of this Jack O’ Latern cup I bought at Wal-Mart last year. I can’t prove it but the beverages are always off.
It’s like eating or drinking something in the bathroom (I don’t mean while making what what on the throne). You know it isn’t dirty but…
Sorry to hear that it was a let down.
My college roomate had a crappy water fountain gargoyle thing. He put red dye in the water to look like blood and subsequently ruined the thing forever due to permanent staining.
Posted by
The Manimal @ 09/26/2007 9:08 PM EDT
I wonder what ketchup or tomato soup would look like in this or something else red and thicker than Kool-Aid that i am not thinking about right now.
Posted by
kb @ 09/26/2007 10:06 PM EDT
Well Matt if you were in the Denver area I’d totally invite you to my annual “Halloween” party. I get together with a bunch of my friends and we watch bad horror movies and eat way too much food. Nothing extravagant but it’s a lot of fun.
Posted by
Dan H @ 09/26/2007 10:24 PM EDT
Matt Yeah, as much as it goes against every natural instinct in the world, I think a darker kool-aid would do the trick what with the skull being on the darker side and all. And I really hate to be yet another voice of dissent, but as much as Skull Punch Bowl rocks, Special K’s Punkin Fountain rocks somewhat harder. But join me in the ranks of saying that you’ve gotta be exaggerating just a little about not being able to have guests at your party. I find that hard to believe. Too bad we can’t get all the posters here to the same place at the same time in a non cyber sense. If you ever threw a party, and invited everyone you knew, you would see the biggest gift would be from X-E. And the card attached would say, “Thank you for being a friend.”
BelmarBenny Speaking of parties, that sounded pretty awesome!
Manimal I concur. Plastic does stick to foodstuffs, and I can’t bring myself to eat anything in the bathroom….making what what?? LOL!
Did anyone else watch Bionic Woman tonight? What did you think? It’s nice to see Starbuck kicking ass for a while, since we’ll have to wait forever and a day for the next season of Battlestar Galactica to come around.
Oh, and does anyone know where a dude can get some Mr. Bones? I’m talking about the little skeleton shaped candy that came seperated into loads of bones all in a tiny, stylish plastic coffin. I haven’t been able to find it for years, but miss it like I miss Kerri Green. Yeah, Kerri Green.
Posted by
DJ D @ 09/26/2007 10:27 PM EDT
Oh man, you guys so missed out. My cooperating teacher turned his room into a mad scientist’s lab to teach the scientific method. He’ll be doing it again on Friday and on Halloween. It was just so amazingly fun.
Posted by
Knegative @ 09/26/2007 10:36 PM EDT
I don’t know about in stores, but Oriental Trading has them.
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/26/2007 10:40 PM EDT
Arg, this cold has me drained and now I can’t even stay up til the next post! I know I’m going to miss some awesome giveaway.
Knegative - that’s the radest thing I’ve heard all day. Take pictures!
“Interlocking Bone Candies”
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/26/2007 10:43 PM EDT
Common Matt!! Post, Post, Post!!
Posted by
pamalamadingdong @ 09/26/2007 10:46 PM EDT
Common Matt?
That sucks. I have a Holofoil Matt.
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/26/2007 10:46 PM EDT
We did take pictures, Jessica. I’ll see if I can get him to email them to me. He’s quite possibly the funniest guy I’ve have ever met and that is saying something. He was dancing, laying on tables, and running around on them. Spellbinding.
I love Mr. Bones and if I can’t muster up some self-control I might just order some of the new kind (translucent coffins, stylin’!). I remember pouring over Oriental Trading catalogues to find the Five pieces of Dracula so I could be Simon Belmont for Halloween. I’ve got to do that before I die.
Posted by
Knegative @ 09/26/2007 10:50 PM EDT
Pamal: I got a flat tire tonight, so I’m going to be a bit late. Don’t want to rush for the sake of beating the clock.
Posted by
Matt @ 09/26/2007 10:58 PM EDT
I bought one of those skull fountains last year and actually used it at a party. I put in some pina colada mix with a drop or two of green food coloring, and it worked okay once it had a chance to melt down a bit. The yellowy/white foam that normally results on the top layer of the drink makes for a good puss.
BTW, I’ve worked at a Spencer gifts for about three years now, and the abhorred screams of a dry fountain pump are like a baby dying to get it’s bottle of milk at 3 am. Nothing puts you out of your current state of mind like that death wail.
Thanks for the link to ‘interlocking bone candies’,SF!
Having lived a life completely devoid of Halloween and all it’s treasures,
this is the best place to find out about such cool stuff.
Candy skeletons make me happy, as do skull fountains.
Posted by
diamonds @ 09/26/2007 11:43 PM EDT
Knegative Man, I’m jealous. Bring on the pictures!
Somethin’ Funny THANKS so much! I thought I would never see those things again. I can’t wait to tell my cousin about them. We’ve been on a quest for them for a while. Did you see that other stuff at the bottom of the page there? That looked pretty cool. I kinda dig the new translucent coffin.
Wanna hear something funny? The company I work for right now is actually one of Oriental Tradings biggest competitions. I guess I’m not supposed to be buying stuff from the other team, but since next Thursday is my last day….well, f**k ‘em!
Matt Sorry to hear about the flat. You do whatever you gotta do. I’m sure everyone will understand.
Posted by
DJ D @ 09/26/2007 11:46 PM EDT
Matt, I think some Ecto-Cooler fluid would look good with the skull foutain. And if anyone asks, you could simply say it actually a Vulcan or Romulan skull (yes, I am that much of a nerd).
On a side note, did anyone else pick up Halo 3? I managed to pick up the Legendary Edition and the Spartan helmet that comes in the set is awesome, pure sweetness.
Posted by
jjwspider @ 09/26/2007 11:48 PM EDT
Heh, heh…I just realized that I asked you if you wanted to hear ’something funny’. Heh, heh…Somthin’ Funny. I didn’t even get that when I typed it. Man, I’m easily amused.
Posted by
DJ D @ 09/26/2007 11:49 PM EDT
No prob. Can’t Expect Matt to find all the weird/obscure Halloween candies.
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/26/2007 11:52 PM EDT
Nobody can compete with Oriental Trading, BTW.
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/26/2007 11:54 PM EDT
DJ D I saw Bionic Woman too and actually liked it more than I thought I would. I stuck around for Life and it was really good too! This seems to be the first year in forever that there is actually new shows to look forward to at the beginning of the TV season; it’s weird. Thank goodness my DVR is coming this weekend….
Posted by
Shuanfu @ 09/27/2007 12:37 AM EDT
That’s the only thing I truly dislike about any of Matt’s countdowns… the people who think it’s their place to tell Matt to hurry up. He doesn’t have to do this, you know. Just be patient and appreciate what he does for us. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I might have fallen into a trap like Talking Boris or the skull fountain if it hadn’t been for Matt taking the bullet and letting us know they’re not quite what they appear to be. Thanks, Matt.
Posted by
Special K @ 09/27/2007 12:37 AM EDT
Something thicker than watery juices and punch, but not pulpy?
I think some Asian markets or butcher shops sell pig’s blood. It’s a thought.
Posted by
neoolong @ 09/27/2007 12:37 AM EDT
In the video it looked like the skull was crying because it was so disappointed by its own performance.
Posted by
Magic Toy @ 09/27/2007 12:39 AM EDT
so i cannot go into the grocery store now without thinking about my fellow x-e’rs. i definitely found a candy bowl last night that had a talking skull in the center of it, and the best part is that one of its lines is actually like a minute long song where at the end he yells “OHHHH YEAHHHHH” like some sort of satanic mixture between the kool-aid man and bobcat goldthwaite. it was well worth watching it and playing with it for about 10 or 15 minutes while my fiancee got pissed off and looked for food like we were actually there to do. i wanted it really really badly, but apparently 18.99 was a little beyond my price range. when i went to the store today, it was gone……so if they get more of them in……i am definitely buying one. if anyone else sees one, please at least play with it like i did, i promise that there will be no disappointment. (sorry for the long post)
Posted by
Leigha @ 09/27/2007 12:44 AM EDT
Special K Has a very good point. I understand complaining about a service your PAYING for is late, but this is completely FREE!! So quit ya bellyachin’;)
Take your time Matt, when you think it’s done, take a deep breath and post it. Or not. Maybe you should put a temp ban on these people that complain so they can appreciate your site more. When I was accidentally banned I felt bad like a part of me was blocked out ya know? So now things are back to normal I try not to take you (and the reg posters because for me that is half of it) for granted.
And there have been other times that there is a problem with the internet or something else I don’t use something that often, every 6 months I use it if that, but knowing I can’t whether I want to or not really has made me upset.
And one last thing I have been exercising everynight but tonight I feel a little under the weather (I think it’s food poisoning even though I’ve never had that before but I have been going to the bathroom alot I know TMI) I feel bad for skipping but I think if I skip then I can get over this cold quicker. Augh decisions decisions.
Posted by
Goob @ 09/27/2007 12:53 AM EDT
Thank you for pulling “Respect Matt!!!” duty, Broomstick 
I was a post or two away from doing it myself.
Posted by
Knegative @ 09/27/2007 12:54 AM EDT
Aye, although I’m not one that is large in commenting, I really appreciate what you do for random strangers. Thanks Matt.
Posted by
Philip G. @ 09/27/2007 1:00 AM EDT
All the regulars have learned the patience…but the complaints always happen. But I don’t remember it ever being this early. Geez….oh well.
back to the point :): Leigha, I did the same thing tonight! I went to the store and actually thought “I wonder what the Matt and the X-E folks would say about this stuff?” and I really wanted to buy a bag of candy. But I held off, knowing truthfully I’ll probably break down tomorrow anyway
Posted by
Shuanfu @ 09/27/2007 1:03 AM EDT
Goob, you posted while I was typing. So, thank you as well.
On one level, I can understand how having people begging for your work can be flattering. However, on the whole, I do find it remarkably rude. I’ve usually been the most vocal in the past about letting people know about how much I disapprove of it, and honestly that hasn’t changed 
I’m not one of the nice ones about it. I’m not above calling you out by name and hurting your e-feelings. Basically, respect Matt and be honored to recieve everything he shares with us. Without a doubt, it did start hella early, Shaun
Posted by
Knegative @ 09/27/2007 1:11 AM EDT
Okay, in response to Leigha and Shuanfu’s conversation, I cannot tell you how many times I have been in a store and found something and practically jumped up and down thinking, “I can’t wait to show this to my fellow X-Eers!” In fact, I found something at Walgreen’s just last night, almost bought it, and then, knowing I didn’t have the money at the moment, put it back. Standing in the check-out line with my fiance, I shoved my few necessity purchases into his hands and ran back to take pictures of the items to email to Matt, vowing that I would come back and buy them on payday. My fiance thinks I’m crazy, but he’s beginning to say things like, “Do you think the X-Eers would be interested in this?” I’ll have him hooked if it’s the last thing I do!
And to Goob and Kneg, just doing my duty as a sophomore X-Eer. LOL I love that we get so many newbies around Halloween and Christmas, but everyone needs to learn the etiquette of not-getting-all-up-on-Matt-just-because-he’s-two-minutes-late-posting. :) I’m not a bitch, I promise.
Goob, Kneg and Special K
I for one agree with your efforts, like Knegative said it can be kind of flattering to have some one begging for your work but in the same respect let Matt have the time he needs to get things done. He does this because he enjoys doing it not because he has to. Personally I would rather wait for Matt to take his time and put out something he’s proud of than to rush it and have people complain about a sub-par article. Just my opinion.
Posted by
Dan H @ 09/27/2007 1:21 AM EDT
Aw that sucks Matt, sorry to hear it. That’s always a pain in the ass.
My DVR is on total overload right now. I actually find myself hoping the new shows will suck so I’ll have more free space. I was kind of disappointed that the new Heroes turned out pretty good, I was hoping to ditch it. Didn’t go for Bionic Woman…I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked Reaper, did anybody else watch? Kneg maybe?
Honestly, I try to ignore clamoring for new posts. The impulse is understandable and not everyone’s been reading them for x years so they might not realize how annoying it might be. Not that it would kill a person to stop and think about it, but life ain’t perfect.
Posted by
squee4242 @ 09/27/2007 1:23 AM EDT
I understand trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, Squee, but even if I’m new to a site, the thing I’m most likely to say is something along the lines of “I love your stuff!! Can’t wait for more!!!” which is worlds different then “C’MON MAN POST SOMETHING NOW.”
One says that you would like to see more, when the author is ready. The other is drenched in entitlement issues and says YOU OWE ME PRODUCT, DELIVER AT MY WHIMSY.
Posted by
Knegative @ 09/27/2007 1:33 AM EDT
One of the many reasons why i love Knegative.
Posted by
diamonds @ 09/27/2007 1:47 AM EDT
I whole heartedly agree with Knegative on this one. I think I said a couple of things in the last thread about articles being late, but I swear it was TOTALLY in jest, in a good natured ribbing kind of way. I just hope I didn’t come off as nagging in any way. I promise I was just kidding around. I can’t stand that someone might actually come here and think they have some sort of sense of entitlement and that Matt owes them anything. As has been said before, he does this out of his free time just cause he wants to. I know I’m still a newbie of sorts and may be speaking out of turn, but if you actually get mad or snippy in any way about the lack of articles around here you’re taking this waaaaay too seriously.
On the TV front, it’s been a really long time since I’ve been this excited about a fall season. I’m actually seriously considering getting a DVR finally because I don’t see how I can possibly watch everything and record what I can’t watch with just a VCR, especially with my upcoming crazy work schedule. There’s just so much to look forward to this year. I’m especially jazzed about Smallville (Supergirl, anyone?), Bionic Woman, and The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and of course 24, but that won’t be till January.
Oh, and squee4242, did you say the new Heroes is on already? I saw a commercial for next week’s episode, but I thought that was the very first one of the season. Did I miss the new one this week?
Posted by
DJ D @ 09/27/2007 2:03 AM EDT
One of the tackiest thing you can do on the internet is demand content from a free source.
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/27/2007 2:49 AM EDT
Hey, anyone else waiting for the new Ugly Betty, CSI, and Grey’s Anatomy? It sucks that all three shows are on the same day - but I guess not too many people would like all three of them. Then there’s a new Shark sometime that I want to see, and that new Tudors show to check out, and … oh God, too many shows!!
On the article front, I also LOL’d at that pathetic spurting from the fountain. How did you NOT burst into laughter Matt??? Btw, I’m loving your videos that you’re making. If you had a billion gajillion hours of extra time, I think one of the best things in the world would be an Advent Calendar movie. Maybe you should sell the idea to Paramount!! Then you could tell who reads X-E by who goes to see a movie about lego characters and a giant advent calendar. I’m getting WAY off topic here. Main point: awesome article Matt!
Posted by
Frakkyfire @ 09/27/2007 3:19 AM EDT
Thank you for saying that Somethin’ Funny I think it borderlines on trolling when people do that.
I also hate it when people decide that they are offended by one post or one picture or one video so much they post a comment saying they are not visiting your site anymore. That shows me they have a simple mind. I think mostly because typically they misinterpreted something on the site. And it’s a really really stupid reason.
I also hate it when people post ads on the youtube comments LOL because I have to waste my time clicking on the report spam button. Can I share a little secret? I don’t usually do this and I am usually offended when people do this but when someone posts a comment on youtube that I really don’t like and disagree with I click on spam on their comment lol. It’s a guilty pleasure. It’s usually a troll type of comment or something just 100 percent opposite of what I believe in.
One last little itty bitty thing? I don’t like that you can’t sell world war 2 Nazi paraphernalia on ebay. I wasn’t planning on doing that but I learned that you can’t about a month ago on a message board. It’s a part of history and it’s not saying Nazi’s are good or bad it’s just interesting. It’s not like selling a KKK uniform to wear to your next racist potluck! It’s for history buffs!
I’m gonna be banned again, ’sigh’ I had a good run…
Posted by
Goob @ 09/27/2007 3:19 AM EDT
I’m reading tomorrow’s article yesterday so that I can be behind of everyone else when yesterday’s post comes out.
Do you all remember a few weeks ago when Matt wouldn’t post for a week, sometimes two? All we had to look forward to daily were random postings on long-dead subjects? I for one am thankful that Matt is posting more than once a week. If he misses a day here and there so what? Are laws being broken?
OK, maybe a few hearts… *sniff*
Posted by
Fungusmungus @ 09/27/2007 3:56 AM EDT
I bought some of those interlocking bone candies for the candy bags im making for my sons party, also got some Ghost DOTS
Posted by
mjsgrass78@yahoo.com @ 09/27/2007 3:58 AM EDT
There’s some amazing Halloween stuff to be found on this blog. The latest entry is a Halloween safety film from 1977!
http://scarstuff.blogspot.com/
Posted by
Scott @ 09/27/2007 4:17 AM EDT
Matt: For some reason, that skull seems like it could be a very deep source of comedy. For example, fill the bowl with something appropriately pukelike, switch it on, and then say it just watched 24 hours of American Idol and is now vomiting out of its eyes. Or again, fill the bowl with Jones Candy Corn soda, then you can offer people glasses of Skull Eye-Pee… Okay, that one’s not really that funny, but I really just wanted to say “Skull Eye-Pee”.
Posted by
DocDragon @ 09/27/2007 4:43 AM EDT
Seems I opened up a right can of worms on that issue… oops!
Is no one else excited about wednesday night’s pairing of Kid Nation and Kitchen Nightmares?!?! Oh, maybe the only reason I am is because I work nights and those are the only two channels we get. lol
Totally off topic,but I was wondering if the new countdown will feature classics Mad Matt and the Ghost with the Most.
Posted by
Trike @ 09/27/2007 9:06 AM EDT
Scott- Thanks for that link… I found something on there that I’ve been looking for for YEARS!!! It was some Halloween Party Pack from like 1983. My mom bought it for my birthday/halloween party (my b-day is Nov.1st) at the “Close Out Store”. It had all these games, masks, and posters in it that were really cool looking. It had these cards with all these crazy monsters on them- they were suppose to be used for some match game, but i used them like trading cards- i still have them. Best of all was a record that told the story of “Neewollah” the witch, and gave instructions on how to build your own haunted house… i still have the instruction manual that accompanied it.
Last year Matt made a little cartoon story featuring two ghosts and a Red Hot Chili Peppers Song. Anyone remember that?
Also, I agree that no one should be demanding of Matt to post especially when he has been updating regularly. But seriously guys, a little overkill on the lambasting, the poor guy who made the comment may never post again!
Posted by
Joker @ 09/27/2007 10:06 AM EDT
What if you took some red food dye in some milk…I’m sure that would create some kind of effect. Oh by the way, I guess I should introduce myself on here…I’m a longggg time reader of x-e since (2001) ..and I posted a couple times on the blog under different names..since it started
Happy Halloween Everyone! ^_^
Posted by
Stefania @ 09/27/2007 10:12 AM EDT
We had a Halloween party here at work a few years ago (before we became more corporate and such things were verboten) and we ordered a ton of stuff from Oriental Trading Company. We got several of those interlocking bone candies and people had so much fun with them (yes all were adults). I took one home to my son and he ate it before he played with it, I was pissed. I later brought some of the left overs home and I still have them somewhere. I wonder if 3 year-old interlocking bone candies are still good.
Posted by
freudguy @ 09/27/2007 10:29 AM EDT
Hi Stefania! Welcome, other newish posters I missed!
Special K, I was more excited for the pairing of Kitchen Nightmares and Top Chef. Good shows help assauge the pain of LOST Night not actually being so. Though I may never eat at a restaurant again.
DJ D, the first new episode of Heroes was this week. Looks like it’s on again Saturday night.
Posted by
squee4242 @ 09/27/2007 11:00 AM EDT
I saw that Kitchen Nightmares thing last night. Man, they really turned that Indian place around. It was impressive. That Gordon guy is a royal asshole, but at least he’s entertaining. I don’t think I’ll be watching it again, though. It freaks me out too much. 
Posted by
Annette @ 09/27/2007 11:36 AM EDT
Oops, that’s a…more angry face than I was going for there. I meant something more along the lines of :O. Haha.
Posted by
Annette @ 09/27/2007 11:37 AM EDT
Sorry to go off topic, but I just finished the GoBots article in Toyfair and it was great. One question though, do you write the jokes for the picture captions or is that someone else. The one was layed out wrong on the page and half the joke was cut off, any idea what it said?
Posted by
UFkegger2 @ 09/27/2007 11:49 AM EDT
I didn’t catch that, but I’ll look again. I don’t write the captions for the pictures, though.
Looks like they had to cut a few sections out for space purposes. Oh well!
Posted by
Matt @ 09/27/2007 12:24 PM EDT
You know, Jeffrey Dahmer kept the skulls of his victims, and he painted them gray so they would look like fakes if anyone else saw them. So maybe the gray color is creepy after all?
Posted by
Bluejay @ 09/27/2007 12:43 PM EDT
I’ve also been enjoying this tv season. My favorites so far has been Reaper and the Big Bang Theory. Private Practice and Dirty, Sexy, Money were pretty good too. Can’t wait for the Ugly Betty, Greys,’ ER tonite.
What would happen if you put something gel/jellylike through the Skull Fountain? I’m thinking of those blood gels that are now available due to the holiday, or partially set jello. Heck, I remember I used to love this one candy that was nothing more than some sorta gel in a tube. Think Gushers jelly, but in a tube. It used to be in the cheap candy aisle. May still be there, Haven’t tried it in years.
Posted by
JLAJRC @ 09/27/2007 12:54 PM EDT
Oriental Trading strikes again! A couple dozen of these in that fountain, maybe?
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/27/2007 1:07 PM EDT
Special K
Is it just me or is the one little kid on the red team of Kid Nation that (mis)quotes every one incredibly annoying? Jared, he has dark hair and glasses. I know thats terrible to say but he drives me up a wall!!
Posted by
Dan H @ 09/27/2007 3:13 PM EDT
Dan H: That kid is incredibly annoying! I’m starting to wonder if something is wrong with him… And why does he get so much air time anyway? He’s not contributing to anything!
DJ D, FrakkyFire, et. al.:
I find the easiest way, for me, to see shows that are on at competing times, or that are on when I don’t have time to watch/didn’t set the VCR, is to go to my newsgroup provider, and go to alt.binaries.multimedia and download the shows, in AVI format, and often the server will have several episodes on it, if it is a couple of weeks into the season and I didn’t find out about the show immediately - the best part is that usually they are uploaded commercial-free.
Posted by
Old Jim @ 09/27/2007 3:36 PM EDT
Blorgh! Either I caught a severe cold, space flu, or boll weevils, but I made it to the keybord here at work today in spite of it all. I was actually thinking of buying the ol’ skull fountain, but seeing the video warned me off. Erph, the weevils be dancin’ again…..
Posted by
kingklash @ 09/27/2007 3:37 PM EDT
I hate that Jared kid on Kid Nation, too.
That kid is like 40% teeth, 40% white-fro, 20% speech impediment.
Posted by
Somethin' Funny @ 09/27/2007 4:26 PM EDT
sweet kitchen counter!
Posted by
Double G @ 09/27/2007 9:29 PM EDT
I’m reading tomorrow’s article yesterday so that I can be behind of everyone else when yesterday’s post comes out.
Say what, now? Maybe I’m just tired, but I’m still wrapping my head around that sentence. I think you just blew my mind. You’re all messing around with the space-time continuem or some such. Be careful on that hoverboard.
Posted by
DJ D @ 09/27/2007 10:25 PM EDT
I have never seen kid nation, but i think i want to see it now just because of the monstrosity that was explained in somethin’funny’s post…..anything with that much white fro has to be friggin hilarious
Posted by
Leigha @ 09/29/2007 12:48 AM EDT
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