05/19/2004 Entry: "God damn fuck shit, and piss."

Well, I was wondering why I wasn't seeing many new comments after this morning. Apparently I ran out of disk space, which made no sense to me since X-E's server doesn't come cheap and it was my understanding that I had enough space to archive pretty much anything I wanted. After some investigating, it turns out that there was an account on the server (one I didn't commission, mind you) that's been in existence since last April. Whomever it was had been using it to store (and probably distribute) a large amount of full-length DVD rips, video games, shit like that. Finally it hit the wall, disk space gone, and that's why you couldn't post comments today.

Fortunately I know good people willing to help, but Jesus Christ...semi-hacked? Thankfully this hasn't caused me to lose any old articles or anything like that...but what's really concerning me here is that I may have been paying enormous bandwidth bills since April of 2003 (when the bogus account was created) for something I had nothing to do with/no way of preventing. Frankly, even after having what's gone down explained to me in detail from the server guys, I still have no idea what to make of it.

The good news is, despite signs pointing differently, the blog's never actually been defective. It's been a poor victim of outta-space circumstances. My friend Rob just put everything back together and upgraded the software for added umpfph, so looks like it's business as usual. Huge thanks to him for even spending the extra time to put all of your comments back up. I'm obsessive about keeping this section of the site as organized as possible (helps take the edge off the fact that the rest of X-E is like a third grader's messy bedroom), and Rob's help is mucho appreciated.

In other news, my pal Gael over at MSNBC shot the blog some nice traffic by linking the various Shrek-related quests. Speaking of those, more to come! Wait till you see Shrek Operation. Thanks a bunch, Gael...you're one of the good ones.

So, tell me about your day. If you had anything you were trying to add to the previous bunch of comments sections, you can head back there now.

Chestnuts roasted by Tim-E @ 05/19/2004 07:17 PM EST

Wow. My day hasn't sucked quite like that, but I did slice my thumb open on a can making lunch (which I had to start over cause it got bugs in it... the lunch, not my thumb). Then I needed to call some places back about Job Applications I've turned in and the one place that picked up told me to call back next week.

Chestnuts roasted by JasonA @ 05/19/2004 07:23 PM EST

glad i could help.

Chestnuts roasted by robert @ 05/19/2004 07:48 PM EST

I still can't believe they would let Sherk infiltrate something as sacred as Nick at Night.

Chestnuts roasted by Jonas @ 05/19/2004 08:02 PM EST

Good to see the blog back in order.

Chestnuts roasted by Heya @ 05/19/2004 08:30 PM EST

well my day's sucked. I left the blinker on on my super old truck and ran down the battery, so I was stuck at work for my lunch hour. not to mention I was an hour late for lunch because some customer was convinced that I wasn't doing everything in my power to fix his computer right then. damn right I wasn't, it was lunch time! On the plus side, I did have sex last night...so it all balances out.

Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 05/19/2004 08:30 PM EST

I had to work. So my day was pretty much spent listening to the post pubescent Marines that come to my food trailer talk about getting drunk, trying to get laid, their cars, blowing stuff up.

I also found out this really homely creepy guy who stares at me all the time is getting kicked out of the military because of "behavioral problems." I guess that explains why he will stand with his arms crossed staring into space for like 20 minutes, but then again he could be faking so he dosn't have to go to Iraq.

I also really can't get that Corvette I wanted but I do get to paint the car I DO buy pink. With a purple interior.

Oh yeah.

Chestnuts roasted by Brite @ 05/19/2004 09:07 PM EST

Whose leg do I hafta' hump to get Matt to review the song I wrote? I've been trying to get him to review it for a couple of months now. C'mon Matt... I'll even let you rip it a new one if you don't like it. Just review my song... Please?

Chestnuts roasted by kaynyne @ 05/19/2004 10:00 PM EST

Yay Rob and Gael! You guys rule!

I got to drive my van today for the first time since the beginning of December. Let me tell you, life sucks when you have three kids under the age of 6 and absolutely no way to get anywhere during the day. We don't even live w/in walking distance to anything. So, today was actually pretty good.

Then again, I met a friend at the park and her car mysteriously leaked out all of it's brake fluid on one side, triggering some fail-safe thing in her engine, which caused it to not even start anymore. Now her car is out of commission. I think I'm cursed.

Has anyone seen Godsend? Is it any good? I'm looking for a good scary movie to go see. No one told me that Van Helsing sucked monkey balls until after I went to see it. Where were you all before I spent the $9.25? Yeesh.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 05/19/2004 10:02 PM EST

Same old same old over here in the Windy City. I spend my morning commute wonder if Birdie eats McNuggets and what the name of the "eyeyeeee" Robot from Power Rangers name was. Alpha.

Then spent the rest of the sphitzing over some girl problems. Damn women. Its like I always say, I like my women like I like my coffee, ground up and in the freezer.

Chestnuts roasted by Don't Touch, Willy. @ 05/19/2004 10:04 PM EST

Scroll really fast past that Weight Watchers ad on the right w/ the girl smiling and holding her head in her hands. She looks like Alfred P. Newmann w/ a Coolio 'do. Hee!

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal (again) @ 05/19/2004 10:04 PM EST

So who won the choco-taco contest?

Chestnuts roasted by SHANE! @ 05/19/2004 11:17 PM EST

So who won the choco-taco contest?

Chestnuts roasted by SHANE! @ 05/19/2004 11:18 PM EST

Matt! THE BITNER ENTRY?! Where is it?!

(I am having a panic attack.)

It's going to be the one-year anniversary on Friday!

Ew. I hope the guy that had that account in here feels the wrath of Photog really soon.

Chestnuts roasted by Denise @ 05/19/2004 11:21 PM EST

Haxors r teh suxor

Chestnuts roasted by Patrick the Great @ 05/19/2004 11:28 PM EST

I actually have a question for Andrea with the Pudding Pops. What kind of store was it, I mean were they new, or like 12 years old ones that you should really ship to Matt. I thought those suckers were discontinued years ago!!

Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 05/19/2004 11:39 PM EST

Denise -- don't worry, it's safe. Didn't see the glitch, but I've got a backup. Will make sure it's properly put back tomorrow. (don't want to try it myself for fear of a massive fuck up)

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 05/19/2004 11:52 PM EST

My day went quite well. I'm actually working again and today was my third day on the job. People in the company are very nice and I'm getting good money. On the down side, so far I'm only getting Mondays & Tuesdays off, but I'll deal with it. By the way, another new Shrek item I just saw on a commercial - buy the Shrek 1 DVD and accompanying it will be a new Shrek 3-D DVD including 4 3-D glasses! It has stories about the characters that the film didn't really focus on (ie the Gingerbread Man). Anyway, hope everyone else's day went well and thanks to Rob for fixing the Blog!
This town needs an enema!

Chestnuts roasted by Mugzy. . . @ 05/19/2004 11:53 PM EST

Glad to see things are in order...I was disappointed when i couldn't comment on the lion statue's butthole. That vintage ice cream vending machine in the shitty game room reminds me of the candy machine that used to be at my barber shop. It had the exact same style to it with a really old picture of candies on a tray. What was really weird mas that amongst all the chocolates in the picture was a blue chocolate....unless maybe it was just a REALLY faded spot on the picture but it seemed pretty distinguishable. I must know about this freak of nature!!!
Anyways, I hope the bastard that stole your space gets his testicles smashed in a vice very, very slowly, that is if it is a guy. We are behind you 100% buddy!!!

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 05/20/2004 12:27 AM EST

Heh, maybe it was NAthan Bitner that hacked your shit....that would be SOOOOOOOOOOOO bitner...

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 05/20/2004 12:28 AM EST

Today I went to a nearby K-Mart,and I know now why I don't go to K-Mart often enough. The place was all seedy,like it needed a good makeover. At least I got a couple pairs of Joe Boxer sleep pants.

Chestnuts roasted by Overlord @ 05/20/2004 12:38 AM EST

Mega bummer about the hacking - I had some big-time problems with spyware two months ago myself that charged up a couple of fair-sized phone bills.

Today was, thank god, my day off, so I did nothing but the laundry, watch DVDs, fool around online, and take a nap. Just as well, since it rained for much of the day.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 05/20/2004 12:45 AM EST

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Who has seen it?
And anyone that has yet to see this movie, go see it NOW before you miss your chance in theaters.

It's probably the best movie this year. Really makes you think about things and effects you for the rest of the day.

Chestnuts roasted by mindsuckr @ 05/20/2004 01:59 AM EST

GO FLAMES!!!!!!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by SuperStar @ 05/20/2004 02:08 AM EST

Just gotta pimp thet Eternal Sunshine flick, don't ya? *grin*

Wow. I'm not sure anyone's ever specifically asked about my day... and now you'll understand why. Nothing terribly interesting, but pretty good. Writing, laundry, music. Looking for jobs that'll take freaks.

Chestnuts roasted by Orin @ 05/20/2004 03:37 AM EST

Today I added hair to Tim's head.

http://www.crookedsixpence.net/3d/irony/timhair1.jpg

Chestnuts roasted by Piscez @ 05/20/2004 05:03 AM EST

my day consisted of applying for a job at disneyland, and being rejected, then came home. Then I had some dinner, played some ragnarok and came to XE to read the blog. Now I sleep.

Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 05/20/2004 05:16 AM EST

Today I made an applesauce cake, and then got drunk watching 1988's "Casual Sex?". I love it when a plan comes together!

Chestnuts roasted by Kristal @ 05/20/2004 05:35 AM EST

Im in the navy on a 24 hour duty...
its sucks balls.

Chestnuts roasted by zombone @ 05/20/2004 07:17 AM EST

Today (yesterday by now) I had an okay day. I worked all day, picked my husband up from the train station (he'd been in NYC for a few days), and got to watch the 'Showbiz Moms and Dads: Aftermath' show. So good.

Chestnuts roasted by Alison @ 05/20/2004 09:57 AM EST

Pudding pops are back and I did the same double take when I saw them at the store. I quickly bought a box and enjoyed them thouroughly. Weird thing is, vanilla pops are my favorite...I can only find them in the multi-pack. I want only vanilla, darn it!

Chestnuts roasted by Stilewalker @ 05/20/2004 10:02 AM EST

My day is going fabulous. I just had an awsome weekend. My little sister and parents came to Florida for a visit, and we have had a blast! We spent friday with friends; went out on our companies 46' Catamaran (we build them) all day saturday; spent sunday on beautiful Longboat Key with dinner at Tommy Bahamas on St. Armonds Circle; lil' sis and I spent all day monday at Busch Gardens, and saw a movie that night; tuesday (last night) went over to a friends and his mom cooked us dinner and we played video games all night. Then he gave me a practically new entertainment center because they got new furniture. It was a bit of a challenge getting it home, it just barely fit in my car. I have a convertable, so it was sitting from the passenger seat to the back seat, crooked, but seemed to be stable. Thank God, because it was an hour drive home on the highway.
Today my parents are coming by to see my work for the first time, so I am excited. GREAT WEEKEND!

I wish you all the same!

Chestnuts roasted by Stilewalker @ 05/20/2004 10:09 AM EST

AAAUUGGGHH!!!! The Bitner Blog link is screwed up!!!! Not on Bitnermas Eve...Fix it!!! Fix It!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Stilewalker!!! @ 05/20/2004 10:12 AM EST

I lost my glasses yesterday while cutting down the jungle that I call my backyard. Freakin took me 2 hours with a gas powered mover, hedge trimmer and a weeed-wacker. Then I look down, to find my glasses gone. Doh!

So I have an eye appointment today, and have to shell out bucks for a new pair, but considering my eyes haven't been checked since 1999, it may actually be a good thing.

Chestnuts roasted by beSharp @ 05/20/2004 10:36 AM EST

Ahh, so THAT'S what the problem was...I was thinking my browsers were going all wonky on me. Sorry to hear about those problems, Matt, but glad to know you've got everything fixed.

What I was trying to say yesterday was that I really enjoyed the minigolf piece -- your visits to dirty locales always rank among my favorite X-E articles.

Chestnuts roasted by Wes @ 05/20/2004 11:05 AM EST

That's a real shame they were leeching off this server. If only because of the extra bandwidth charges. Who would do such a thing to an upstanding site like X-E? Bastards.

I liked the mini-golf article. I always enjoy X-E's visits to different places. Speaking of which, I think I might be headed down to WildWood this weekend before it gets too packed for the summer season.

Chestnuts roasted by BaronVonHotPants @ 05/20/2004 11:10 AM EST

You think you got it bad with Shrek?! Try pushing the Shrek2 video game to people long before the movie even comes out without saying the words "suck", "crap", and "sellout" in that order!

Then again thats just 1 facet of Shrek-dom. Compared to the other 100 Shrek-based items in the market for the next 2 or 3 weeks. Spider-Man 2 made its leap into video-game advertisements a couple weeks back as well. The game looks just like the previous title.

I still stick to the rule that if its a game based off of a movie I stay far away attempting to put a curse on the title and the developers who wasted their time and "skill" on making what I like to call "sellout" games.

Chestnuts roasted by Jason @ 05/20/2004 11:31 AM EST

Nuttin much yesterday. Got a t-shirt from my sis in Iraq! She's doin' fine doin' her paperwork thing. But thanks to recent circumstances, we wont be getting any photos or be able to send her a camera any time soon. feh. As long as she's sending us souveniers like giant postage stamps of Hussein, and T-shirts that say "Who's Your Baghdaddy?" we know it's not all hot sun and camel spiders. Saddam's stamp is HUGE! What a knucklehead.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 05/20/2004 11:48 AM EST

I just got up. Ate some cup ramen. I didn't realize it had that much saturated fat, it makes me sad. But I think one of the money-plant seeds I planted has sprouted, so that's good.

Some spammer tried to hack my site once. There's apparently this buggy CGI script that, if you have it installed, lets people get in and send mail from your domain. Fortunately, I didn't have it installed, so it was all kind of anti-climactic.

Chestnuts roasted by Goz @ 05/20/2004 01:27 PM EST

Out of sheer curiosity, did you keep any of the DVD rips or games for yourself, Matt?

That sucks, though...but it's nice to see that it was (apparently) resolved.

If I were you, though, I'd track down the IP of that bastard who hacked you and turn them in for copyright violations. Nice way to get revenge...

Chestnuts roasted by The ORIGINAL Paul @ 05/20/2004 02:54 PM EST

Answering kidneyboy's question, these were new pudding pops, not really old ones. If they were like 12 years old, I definitely would not be eating them. I leave that stuff for the professionals, like Matt! I was actually shocked at where I found them because this grocery store is kind of a small rinky dink store. I'm also kind of surprised that the store actually had new boxes and weren't trying to sell 12 years old boxes!

Chestnuts roasted by Andrea @ 05/20/2004 03:52 PM EST

My day has gone pretty well. Drove around looking for a place to move to and then stopped and got groceries. The store I went to didn't have anything cool in it though, except for this huge cardboard cutout of Shrek over the pepsi display.

Also, does Van Helsing really suck? I'm supposed to go see it this weekend and don't want to waste the $8 if it's a bad movie.

Chestnuts roasted by Stacey @ 05/20/2004 05:14 PM EST

All signs point to suck from what I've heard about Van Helsing, though I don't doubt that it'd be a kinda fun movie to see in theaters. Even if they're the worst incarnations ever, it's still a movie with Drac, Frank and the Wolfman.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 05/20/2004 05:40 PM EST

From what I've heard about Van Helsing, it'd be more fun to watch sitting around a 20" TV with four or five pals and a cooler filled with vodka and apples. Or in lieu of that, a few bottles of apple-flavored vodka. See, while you could always go to the movies drunk, at least at home you can curse at the film without being shushed...and if your pals at home do shush you, at least you know who you're beating up in a drunken rage (and hopefully they won't press charges).

By the way, Matt, are the emoticons part of the new upgrade? I don't remember seeing them before!

Oh, and my day was pretty dull. The usual.

Chestnuts roasted by Wes @ 05/20/2004 07:39 PM EST

I went to see Van Helsing before my friend went to Japan for the month- the last hangout and all...
I didn't think it was that sucky. I mean, sure, it could have been better, but it wasn't THAT bad. Everyone else liked it more than I did, actually. My friend Mike gave it an A-. (Yeah, like he's some movie critic... action flicks and Sly Stallone is about all he watches.)
But it was fine- I liked the ending, though some of the CG they threw in looked, well, really weird (not like I could do better). But I'm rambling. If it interests you, go see it, unless you REALLY don't want to pay however much they charge you for a movie.

Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 05/20/2004 08:55 PM EST

I know Van Helsing was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, but come on. It's a full moon. We've got 48 hours before the next one. Huh?!? What planet are we talking, here? Oh, and Van Helsing's first name is Gabriel. Ayuh. Sure. Did you know they had slideshows and metal crossbows in the 1880's? No? Me, neither.

Well, I cut about 12" of hair off my head and dyed it blonde. No kidding.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 05/20/2004 09:07 PM EST

Last day of school for my students. Now, 3 days of summarizing their education into folders for the next teacher to ignore. Between the pizza party and the DARK CRYSTAL, it was a great day.

Chestnuts roasted by manimal789 @ 05/20/2004 11:50 PM EST

Still haven't seen Van Helsing either, but I've heard mixed reviews. I've also read that it's been ordered for an NBC pilot - don't konw the truth to that though!

Where does he get those wonderful toys?!

Chestnuts roasted by Mugzy. . . @ 05/20/2004 11:54 PM EST

The blog is fixed and yet the archive goes unfinished. *shakes his head* Matt, I'm ashamed...

Chestnuts roasted by The Mysterious Dr. X @ 05/21/2004 02:06 AM EST

Today? Played lots of EA Sports (got some time off work)...

Hansa Rostock 13-1-0, eight points clear of Bayern Munich in the 2004-05 German Bundesliga season on FIFA 2004. Also into the round of 16 in Champions' League play. Deutscher Meister!

Rocket State University 24-0 (gotta love March Madness 2004's "Create-A-School", ranked #1 in the nation in its first season of play. Tyrone Jackson averaging 26.3 points a game, first in the conference and third in the nation. Vermont sucks.

Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 05/21/2004 03:32 AM EST

Really sorry to hear about the leech. But hey! We got smiley faces now!
Today I went to work, because last week I rejoined the ranks of the gainfully employed. I entered data and got all excited when I hit numbers like 334455 and tried to keep entertained by humming Smurfs X-mas songs since I couldn't surf X-E. You think I'm joking, but if you had "Goodness makes the badness go away" playing in your head for two hours you wouldn't be laughing.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 05/21/2004 03:36 AM EST

Wait, wait, make that:
Really sorry to hear about the leech

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 05/21/2004 03:37 AM EST

Vampire Hunter D - supernatural abilities + Groovy Goolies + "Re-Imagining" trend + Blade's arsenal - astronomical information = Van Helsing.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 05/21/2004 11:39 AM EST

Heard that Van Helsing actually could be the arch-angel Gabriel, since he doesn't remember his existence but has been around for some 400 years or so?!

Ba-Chomp, Ba-Chewy, Chewy Chomp!

Chestnuts roasted by Mutant Stan @ 05/21/2004 11:56 PM EST

Glad they're working again.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeep @ 05/25/2004 12:07 AM EST

Whoever did this, I will hunt him down and imprison him in my home in a room with a computer from which I shall force him to try and surf the internet using a 56K dial-up connection. That oughta teach him a lesson about what it's like to have someone fuck with you when it comes to the internet.

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Chestnuts roasted by company consolidation debt @ 11/04/2004 12:30 AM EST