10/06/2004 Entry: "Halloween Cheetos, Banana Ghosts, & Inflatable Rats."

Two new entries at one time one time: Halloween Cheetos nailed itself a tribute, but to be honest, it's only because I love the box they came in. And I finally got around to making those Ooey Gooey Banana Ghosts from the recipe on that Halloween cereal box. The results did not disappoint.

Went to Duane Reade today to see if they had any Halloween shit I hadn't found yet. They didn't, but there were 400 protesters outside the store, swarming around a giant inflatable rat. A nearby banner read, in big bold print: "Duane Greed." TOUCHE! I don't know what they were protesting, but that's what happens when you bring giant inflatable rats on your marches and give people something far more interesting to look at.

Chestnuts roasted by Behonkiss @ 10/06/2004 09:41 PM EST

So the giant rat belonged to the protesters, or Duane Reade? Either way, it seems to be working in Duane Reade's favor.

Chestnuts roasted by Lone_Pyscho @ 10/06/2004 09:45 PM EST

It belonged to the protesters, and you bring up a great point, because I hadn't noticed this Duane Reade before despite the fact that it's in clear view from where I work.

Maybe this is a scam. A lot cheaper to get a giant inflatable on the street outside your store if you chalk it up to protesting.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/06/2004 09:46 PM EST

wow, I hate bananas and mayonnaise too. blech

Chestnuts roasted by nameless @ 10/06/2004 09:55 PM EST

I guess it's akin to all the CVS stores in Ohio.

Chestnuts roasted by JG! @ 10/06/2004 09:55 PM EST

The best part is that the sign appears to say "dwyane greed" instead of "Duane Greed." Is the rat even at the right protest? I understand changing the "Reade" part of the name, but it seems sloppy to mess with the "Duane." I don't think I can listen to a giant inflatable rat who doesn't pay attention to such important details.

Chestnuts roasted by Lilydale @ 10/06/2004 09:58 PM EST

I knew u would make those yummy apple jacks bannanas. I'm hardly containing myself to make them now but i have only found the other two manor cereals so far. Is the froot loops ice cream stacked sundae next? If i don't find those Jacks tommorrow someones gettin a stale non halloween AJ box to the head.

Chestnuts roasted by juice @ 10/06/2004 09:59 PM EST

Alright, my first crack into the top ten. I tried that Black Mountain Dew grape: not bad, not great.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by manimal789 @ 10/06/2004 10:03 PM EST

New entries, yeeesss. The Banana Ghosts look pretty good to me, but I like bananas. I bet I could eat the whole box of Cheetos in a sitting, too.

Chestnuts roasted by Jake @ 10/06/2004 10:04 PM EST

They don't even have Duane Reade stores out west (in Utah, anyway), but hell, if I saw a giant inflatable rat outside of ANY store I'd patronize it in a second.

Chestnuts roasted by Shelby @ 10/06/2004 10:07 PM EST

Those people really know how to protest in style. A giant, inflatable rat? Classic.

Chestnuts roasted by Ian @ 10/06/2004 10:23 PM EST

Wow, I get to post in something without a thousand comments.

Nice rat. I might try the banana ghosts sometime soon...

Chestnuts roasted by Komichi @ 10/06/2004 10:27 PM EST

People from Utah read X-E? I thought it was only us New Yawkers/East Coasters. Cheetos are my all time fav snack food.

Animagnus- Charlotte is the shiz, my baseball team in HS would always go there for spring training, everyone there is rich!

Chestnuts roasted by ANdrew @ 10/06/2004 10:58 PM EST

I've seen that rat somewhere before. I think it has something to do with scab workers.

Chestnuts roasted by hamburger man @ 10/06/2004 11:04 PM EST

Why are rats now the mascot of greediness? I've never thought of rats as being particularly greedy until today...

Chestnuts roasted by 1drland @ 10/06/2004 11:05 PM EST

I don't know where else to post this, but I just finished watching the Return of the Jedi DVD. Anyone else ever notice that Jabba's green dancing girl's boob pops out of her top when he yanks on her chain to pull her towards him?

Chestnuts roasted by Dane @ 10/06/2004 11:11 PM EST

Matt, you know it would've been easier to melt the chocolate in the microwave. I hate banana gum too.

Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 10/06/2004 11:15 PM EST

"I'm reminded of the time an albino ape started fucking his diarrhea at the zoo"

Best. Sentence. Ever.

Chestnuts roasted by Dane @ 10/06/2004 11:20 PM EST

Mmmm bananas and chocolate...but I agree, banana flavored candy is nasty. Nasty nasty nasty. One more time-nasty.

And yes, westerners do read X-E. I'm from New Mexico, but have recently relocated to New Orleans. I don't think that counts as east coast...I hope not, it's too warm here to be New England.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 10/06/2004 11:22 PM EST

In my hormone induced stupor, I have to say those sort of look tasty.

Chestnuts roasted by Zorbs @ 10/06/2004 11:25 PM EST

They don't quite have the glow the box depicted.

Chestnuts roasted by Angry P. Thompson @ 10/06/2004 11:33 PM EST

2 more thoughts:

LOVED the skull with the orange pringle in his mouth. Just noticed him lurking there.

and

"dusty cheese-clubs" - my choice for the best phrase of this article!

Chestnuts roasted by Zorbs @ 10/06/2004 11:43 PM EST

Banana flavored candies nasty? I adore banana Runts. There is no better Runt.

Oh and "I'm reminded of the time an albino ape started fucking his diarrhea at the zoo."

That line had me going for a bit. Brilliant.

Oh yeah, we also had one of those Giant Rats outside some store in Delaware. I thought it was cool, but I thought it was some sort of fair, not a protest.

Chestnuts roasted by Bill Cosby's Sweater @ 10/06/2004 11:46 PM EST

Bruised bananas are perfect for making banana ice cream, don'tcha know? And did you know that you can also make pumpkin ice cream?

Chestnuts roasted by Sara @ 10/07/2004 12:47 AM EST

I used to hate bananas and mayonaise. Now I love them. The secret: Make choclate milkshakes with a hint of banana, you can barely taste it, and I loved it even when I hated bananas. Eventually, bananas will just remind you of delicious milkshakes.

Mayonaise: Go hiking for 6 hours, only pack a drink, and a sandwich with mayo, cheese, and salami. This is also how I learned to like mustard.

Chestnuts roasted by RewolfJ @ 10/07/2004 01:43 AM EST

I just noticed the Halloween marshmallow you stuck on one of them Apple jack gooey ghost things.And yeah, I would never eat one of these things infront of a hot chick. However, I would eat one. I would also eat a Ninja Turtles Ice Cream in front of a hot chick (ain't no shame in liking the TMNT, and girls will admire the fact that you don't care what they think), and I wouldn't hafta give it up for a ciggy because I quit smoking those things a couple months ago.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 10/07/2004 02:38 AM EST

Oh yeah: It's awesome how on the photo of the Cheetos box, it looks like Chester's burning in hell on the box's art of the bags.

Chestnuts roasted by RewolfJ @ 10/07/2004 03:15 AM EST

yes, down with banana gum, Up with Rats. Down with Banana Gum, Up with Rats! Come on People! Wanna get new friends and impress your family? walk around your home, office, mall, or locale of choice, do yer best protester voice, and give that upper bit a try, heck you can even make a megaphone from a piece of paper, if you are moved to do so.
You are correct, the box rox, Matt. It's a shame that people don't save or more thoroughly respect fun cardboard, in the future, can you do a special on boxes? or packaging?

Chestnuts roasted by Obelisk @ 10/07/2004 04:22 AM EST

All you Hoes and Bitches liked saved by the bell - dont motherfucking tell me a goddam lie you bitches. Girls are slutz!

Chestnuts roasted by the nigga @ 10/07/2004 07:26 AM EST

I just heard a story yesterday about a co-worker who detested bananas and everything banana related - when forced to eat 1/3 of a banana for the first time in her life she broke out in a massive case of hives and had to be rushed to hospital.

So you might want to watch it if you don't like them - banana allergies can be nasty...

Chestnuts roasted by Kelly @ 10/07/2004 08:06 AM EST

"All you Hoes and Bitches liked saved by the bell - dont motherfucking tell me a goddam lie you bitches. Girls are slutz!

Posted by the nigga @ 10/07/2004 07:26 AM EST"

What the Hell is this (above) all about? Did I miss something, between comments about giant inflatable rats (I just finished my Masters' thesis on fossil rodents--that would have been fun to bring to the defence!), hell-printed boxes, and frozen phallic treats? Some subtext that only one person can see?

Or is this guy trying to project a love for SBTB on others using street talk and misogyny, while secretly watching his taped episodes every night trying to emulate Slater?

And for the record, people from wetern CANADA read this site too. It's nice to see that the puzzling things that seem to come out of NY also puzzle our neighbours due south of here.

Chestnuts roasted by Sean @ 10/07/2004 08:52 AM EST

I had no idea X-E was so diverse... =)

Chestnuts roasted by ANdrewq @ 10/07/2004 09:01 AM EST

Sean, I'm sure this poor Mr. the nigga was just at loss for words after reading Matt's new entries. Severe brain dislocation brought upon by Oooey Gooey Bananas. It could happen to anybody, just be thankful it didn't happen to you.

I wonder if them bananas would taste good with Fruit Loops?

No giant rats in Toronto. We had stoopid moose a few summers back, but they were called "art". But there is a place on my way to work that has a giant inflatable BLUE GORILLA on the roof, maybe I can send a picture sometime.

Matt, I emailed you yesterday at the address you gave me in the other blog entry. Did you get it?

Chestnuts roasted by Yzziefrog @ 10/07/2004 09:11 AM EST

ANdrewq - That's funny that you noticed that about Charlotte even during baseball trips in hs. I, unfortunately, have lived here my whole life and am more than sick of the people inhabiting this city.

Ironically, I'm moving to NY.

Chestnuts roasted by Bryan @ 10/07/2004 09:23 AM EST

I see that guy N's point - under all the anger and resentment of an ex-gf who ran around with his friends or something like that -- he does make a good point- at some point, we all did like Saved by the bell - even if it was just for a few episodes.

Chestnuts roasted by brian @ 10/07/2004 09:29 AM EST

Sean -- if you come back, I have another fish issue for ya.

My Geophagus has a big gaping hole on the side of his face -- a very clean wound about 1/4 of an inch in diameter. We've put standard medicines in to no avail. It doesn't seem to be bothering him, but as it's a fairly deep wound, I'm naturally worried. He's had it for months. We DO have two blue botias which have grown larger. (nowhere near as big as the Geo, but there it is) One of the botias is aggressive, but this doesn't seem like a wound that could've been inflicted by him. Any ideas?

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/07/2004 09:44 AM EST

God I see those rats all the time. In case anyone is interested, 'hamburger man' up there was right - it has to do with companies using non-union workers. Out here a lot of the time it doesn't even have to do with specific companies, but with the larger companies that service the buildings. Working on court Street, I see at least one of those things every couple of weeks in different places.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt (I think I'm the third) @ 10/07/2004 09:47 AM EST

Hey, it's not just western Canada that's around here.

I, too, must jump on the banana-loathing bandwagon. I threw up after eating them once as a baby (had the flu), haven't been able to stomach them or anything banana-related since. Yeach.

I was wondering if Matt might be able to share the recipe for the cocoa Krispie snake-things? They looked tasty and relatively easy to make.

As always, fantastic stuff.

Chestnuts roasted by Jen @ 10/07/2004 09:51 AM EST

I might do the snakes, but there's even better stuff in all the Halloween magazines I've collected through the years, including some really old ones I inherited from my mother (read: stole) years ago. There's still about 25 days left on the Countdown, so there's definite room for more spooky recipes. Especially since I'm running out of stuff.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/07/2004 09:54 AM EST

giant inflatable rats slap arse withy both hands

Chestnuts roasted by 'tin man @ 10/07/2004 09:57 AM EST

I can tell you must be feeling better, Matt. Those articles had a nice flooooow, like they were easier to write.

Oh, according to this: http://www.crainsny.com/news.cms?id=7009
The Duane Greed thing is all about starting a union. They're actually giving out "Duane Greed" shopping bags and union literature w/ your purchase. Hee!

You're right, though - bananas are gross. Just the smell makes me nauseous. I would never eat a banan split, jsut b/c the ice cream was touched by bananas and that was enough to turn my appetite off.

Although, I'm totally going to buy one of those Steal a Snack boxes for Halloween this year. Where did you find them?

I'm so bummed that I haven't gotten my Halloween costume yet. I wanted to dress up as Madonna, the "Like a Virgin" version, but I couldn't find enough pewter jewelry and those awesome blue lycra leggings. I have a Halloween party this weekend, and I was in an accident w/ my car last Friday, so the thing is undriveable (also totalled, I found out yesterday) and I have no way to get anywhere to pick anything up. (now, that is also a GD long sentence.) Anyone know of any places online where I could get myself some Madonna "potables" and delivered before Sunday?

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 10/07/2004 10:04 AM EST

too bad you didnt get hurt trajeal

Chestnuts roasted by the ----- (im at work) @ 10/07/2004 10:33 AM EST

We have a huge rat here in town, but he just stands outside construction sites that use non-union workers. He gets a better workout than the fat slobs holding union signs-sitting in lawn chairs, smoking Camels.

Chestnuts roasted by Peg @ 10/07/2004 10:38 AM EST

Trajeal, I hate to say this, but you have to head to the mall.

First you go to a place that sells pantyhose. Buy a pair of opaque thighs in the colour you want, and get the biggest pair you can get. Once you get home, cut about an dan inch off the feet. These things are meant to stretch off the toes, so if you cut too much off you'll end up with short shorts. Try them on and cut to desired length. The ragged edge will be a nice touch.

For the jewellry. Again at the mall, find the store that sells cheap bling-bling for the teenage crowd. In Canada they're called Ardene and Claire's. They usually have cheapo silvery chains, crosses, etc. It's a few notches above vending machine jewellry, but nothing I'd wear at my wedding. I've seen 80's style Madonna stuff there, big crosses, boytoy belt buckles, etc. At least you can score something big and shiny that says "Princess", and you'll have the proper spirit.

Chestnuts roasted by Yzziefrog @ 10/07/2004 10:52 AM EST

Thanks, Yzzie. We have Claire's here. I'll have to check them out. I'm actually going to run to our local thrift store and see what they have. hey, I might luck out.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 10/07/2004 11:22 AM EST

Woah, Matt you have to try some of this:
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/photospecials/0406/ice-cream04/10.html
Dracula ice cream!!! Mmmm garlic never tasted so good.

Chestnuts roasted by Cobra Soldier #18 @ 10/07/2004 11:32 AM EST

Okay, how many people want to wear the chips box on their head like me?

Matt will you do us the honor of wearing the box on your head?

Chestnuts roasted by dfgdfg @ 10/07/2004 11:58 AM EST

That's one big-ass rabid rat. What's the department store feeding that thing?

Chestnuts roasted by AngeFaitore @ 10/07/2004 12:18 PM EST

They just couldn't color some Chee-tos black, huh? I might just buy myself a box and wear it on my head, bags of chips and all. "I'm Crazy Chee-to Box Head! Gimme some candy! I got a damn box of Chee-tos on my head! Gimme some candy! Did I mention I was crazy?"

Hey trajeal, you don't have any relatives living nearby that might have some clothing items you could mooch for your costume? Heck, I have a few down here in Okly-homer that was way into Madonna's early look back when. Anyroad, getting stuff from your own family is a great way to find some neat items. From ugly ties and suits for a hobo costume, to boxes of old Atari carts.

Holy Arrested Development, Batman! I suddenly want a frozen banana.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/07/2004 12:25 PM EST

Now see, bananas are okay, but frozen bananas cause terrifying tooth pain! Down with frozen, chocolate-covered, cereal-dipped bananas!

Chestnuts roasted by Tapir @ 10/07/2004 12:34 PM EST

We NEVER have interesting protests here in Iowa. Of course, I'm not sure where you could buy a giant inflatable rat.
Duane Reede doesn't exist here.

I like bananas, but can't stand stuff that's banana-flavored. They have no taste.

Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 10/07/2004 12:38 PM EST

Mmmmm 'nanas and chocolate, sounds good to me...I'll give it a whirl. No giant inflatable rats in Seattle that I've seen, but I'll keep my eyes peeled. And I'll look for some, too.

Chestnuts roasted by Reed @ 10/07/2004 01:34 PM EST

Ahh, the rat, a NYC staple. The rat belongs to the unions here in NYC and it's always around whenever there is a strike or a labor dispute. I moved into an extroadinarily crappy "new" building in Murray Hill (E. Side NYC for those from bumblefuck) called the Anthem. They hadn't even finished construction on my floor and the bastards let me move in. A year later, management fired all of the doormen, maintenance dudes and conceirges for NO REASON. Had the pleasure of seeing the rat every day for a week right outside my building.

Perhaps the most disturbing sighting of the rat I've seen was when the wait staff at the oyster bar in grand central was fired last winter. They had rat out there for a while and EVEN WORSE, the stikers made up some anti-oyster bar song they sang over and over that went to the tune of that awful song "A little bit of Rita in my life, a little bit of monica" yadda yadda, you get point. Awful Shit, just awful.

Chestnuts roasted by Pedro @ 10/07/2004 02:18 PM EST

Hey Matt,
Are we gonna get a new "Madd Matt" article this month? I loved the previous ones!

Chestnuts roasted by ShawnRez @ 10/07/2004 02:19 PM EST

"E. Side NYC for those from bumblefuck"

Everyone else in the world?

Chestnuts roasted by B @ 10/07/2004 02:44 PM EST

If it's not NY, it's crap. Sorry to be so ethnocentric, but most true NY-ers feel the same way. Sorry for the negativity, but I'm traveling to NC on business today and AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT!!

Chestnuts roasted by Pedro @ 10/07/2004 03:45 PM EST

I dunno about that, but then, I'm a Staten Islander. It's pretty much Textbook Bumblefuck. I actually prefer suburbia.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/07/2004 04:00 PM EST

I'll be honest, I still have some of those Tail Spin stampers. Maybe it's time I go through my massive box of cereal/McDonald's toys...

Chestnuts roasted by Meg @ 10/07/2004 04:07 PM EST

Hey Yeah! I totally remember those Tale-Spin stampers. Those were cool.

Chestnuts roasted by Chachi @ 10/07/2004 04:09 PM EST

Hey Yeah! I totally remember those Tale-Spin stampers. Those were cool.

Chestnuts roasted by Chachi @ 10/07/2004 04:09 PM EST

I feel left out amongst the New Yorkers - I'm a Masshole myself.

Chestnuts roasted by Sara @ 10/07/2004 04:18 PM EST

Nothing interesting happens in North Dakota. I always look forward to Matt's daily chronicles of the happenings in New York.

Chestnuts roasted by Mattallica @ 10/07/2004 04:29 PM EST

Ooh, jackpot! I stopped at Ye Ol' Thrift Store (or, the boutique, as we say when in the company of those not into other people's used crap) today (had to borrow Mom's car, to my embarrassment, but it was worth it). Anyway, I found some thing that will certainly "do", although everything isn't black like I wanted it to be. Beggars can't be choosers, and all that. I found this awesome Aretha Franklin-type gold shirt, long enough to throw one of those fat, black belts around at the waist. I found a pair of black capri length cotton [ants to wear underneath, and a pair of chinzy black sandals. I got a few gold chains, a gold chain watch, and a huge, black scrunchie. Oh, and I found some elbow length white lacy gloves that I can cut the fingertips off of. I also found one of those remote controlled puppies (not the RoboDog or whatever, this one is white w/ black spots, and much more rounded) for my kids, an old logo Patriot's hat, and four of those little buttons that play Christmas music when you press them. Total of purchase? Three bucks. Woohoo!

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 10/07/2004 04:31 PM EST

Oh, yeah. i wanted to mention that I can't wait for Matt's Halloween craft articles. I don't even care what he makes, I just love to see how they all come out in the end. Hey, maybe you could post directions for some crazy craft thing and have a contest to see who makes the best and/or most artistic one? It probably wouldn't be much trouble, since we could all just send in an email w/ a picture of our finished product (a la the coloring contest). A nice, short blog entry, plus the actual submissions could cover another day's entry.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 10/07/2004 04:36 PM EST

I live in Reading, Pennsylvania. Best known for the railroad which now operates maybe twice a day, and for leading the nation in screwdriver murders.

Of course, when I heard the latter, my initial question was 'phillips or flat?' Either would be hella painful.

Chestnuts roasted by Silkenray @ 10/07/2004 04:39 PM EST

i live in Pen Argyl, Pa...

Chestnuts roasted by Hikaru @ 10/07/2004 05:01 PM EST

i live in Pen Argyl, Pa... where nothing ever happens and its full of white protestant biblethumpers with nothing better to do then threaten to burn me... anyway... we dont have any of the duane things here... and i think that i still might have one of those tailspin stampers too... sorry bout the rambling...

Chestnuts roasted by Hikaru @ 10/07/2004 05:03 PM EST

My name is Geek
I put em on as a shocker.
Man I love these BlueBlockers

Chestnuts roasted by Geek the blueblocker rapper @ 10/07/2004 05:08 PM EST

And now, freeform poetry:

Rat on the street
Picking on scabs
Towering over all he sees
He doesn't carry much weight
Afraid of pointy things
Ratitude

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/07/2004 05:20 PM EST

Kansas here, and if you mention Toto I will do your girlfriend, and that giant bubblerat...

Unions suck.

Banana ghosts um I dunno, if I ever have one, I will get back to ya.

Chestnuts roasted by spazzamatic @ 10/07/2004 05:33 PM EST

Yes! Poetry: open mic. And now, a haiku.

Frozen cereal
Diarrhea-lusting ape
Me likey 'nanas

Chestnuts roasted by 1drland @ 10/07/2004 05:42 PM EST

The only thing Greedy about them protesters is the fact that them fuckers rented out that sweet ass giant evil rat this close to halloween,Toatally depriving some child of having it out in his front yard as part of the most wicked haunted house you'd ever seen...

Chestnuts roasted by RatTacular (aka Nathan Bitner) @ 10/07/2004 05:56 PM EST

People in Alaska read the site also

Chestnuts roasted by aodfan @ 10/07/2004 07:01 PM EST

I am also in Kansas...and giant rats are awesome.

Chestnuts roasted by GirFanMan @ 10/07/2004 08:14 PM EST

Matt-I've already e-mailed you about this, but I was wondering if I could possibly reach you for an interview. I'm planning on doing a feature article on your website and its success, and hoping to get it published, but I can only do it if I can get an interview with you.

On an entirely unrelated note:
People in California read this site too. Or at least I do when I'm back home in Sacramento, California. And I'm sure Robert Berry does too.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 10/07/2004 08:20 PM EST

I came from nowhere NJ, which, ironically enough, was situated close to NYC, just to go to school in nowhere Mass.

That sentence about the albino ape was the best thing I've read all week.

Chestnuts roasted by plasmo @ 10/07/2004 08:23 PM EST

So I'm looking forward to a gong-show of a Halloween. Some of my sisters and I (yes, I'm in a sorority) are going out on a pubcrawl. Our costume theme? Yep, sorority slumber party. We get enough guys teasing us that we figured it would at least give an excuse to buy some cute negligees. Anywhoo, we're all going to have sashes that say "Sorority Slumber Party" and we plan to destroy a pillow in ever bar on the pub crawl with drunken pillow fighting. Halloween is way funner now that I'm a grown up.

Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 10/07/2004 08:32 PM EST

When I was a kid, my mother actually used to eat peanut butter and banana chip sandwiches. With mayonnaise.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 10/07/2004 08:44 PM EST

Wouldn't the banana ghosts look more ghostly if you used white chocolate? And left out the Froot Loops?

Chestnuts roasted by Josh @ 10/07/2004 09:05 PM EST

They'd look more ghostly, but less ooey gooey.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/07/2004 09:16 PM EST

Ok, first of all, what IS a Duane Reade? I've have never, EVER heard of them down here at the southern New Jersey shore.

I'm also no great lover of just plain, raw banana...but cooked or baked into bread or muffins, it's acceptable. The Ooey Gooey Banana Pops look good, but I'm hoping the chocolate would cover that weird taste..

And I've seen the Lays company bags at the grocery store where I work; also saw them last year. I agree with Matt. The artwork is awesome, particuarly on the Doritos bag.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 10/07/2004 09:39 PM EST

The complete Dr. Geek Blublocker rap:

Alright now I'm real fast
Let me tell you what I think of this 'a come to pass.
My name is Geek I put 'em on as a shocker
Man, I love these BluBlockers!

Everything is clear, they block out the sun.
Oh yeah, I gotta get me some.
Everything is groovy now I'm not pulling my speech.
This is what I do up and down Venice Beach.

My name is Geek I'm more than a hip-hopper
And I'll be 'chic' in my BluBlockers! Yeah... now what my mean
Yep these sun glasses are really really keen.

So there you have it folks
Out there in TV land.
Get you some glasses..
They're sweeping the land.

Remember what I said "now I'm a hip hopper"
Yeah go get you some BluBlockers.
Um, now yep its sweet
I'll see you later I gotta make some money on the beach.

http://www.blublocker.com/gallery/drgeek.html#

Enjoy.

Chestnuts roasted by whitemale_98/competent soldier @ 10/07/2004 10:04 PM EST

Is Madd Matt not making an appearance this year?

Chestnuts roasted by Grim Grinning Ghost @ 10/07/2004 10:07 PM EST

Hey Bill Cosby's Sweater-is the link from your name your band or just a band? Something possessed me to click it (I don't usually do that) and I kind of like it.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 10/07/2004 11:37 PM EST

I'm guessing that Madd Matt is going to come around before too long, but possible not until right before the end of this spooky countdown.

Chestnuts roasted by Shelby @ 10/07/2004 11:39 PM EST

Not that anyone's interested, but I was doing a search for Oreos on Google and XE popped up like every 3rd site...ok maybe not that often, but still a lot. Like 5 or 6 times. Pretty impressive.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 10/08/2004 12:21 AM EST

Ha, responding to a much earlier post, yes folks outside the east coast read this site! im in denver home of.... well mountains.

Duane Reade doesn't set up shop out here, never heard of them.

Happy hallows Eve!

Chestnuts roasted by ArcticOrange @ 10/08/2004 03:44 AM EST

Read something way up there... about taking a mayo sandwich for a 6-hour hike. After eating your 6 hour old sandwich you won't have any more dislikes for mayo because you'll be DEAD from food poisoning!

I had completely forgotten about the Blueblocker rapper guy. The new informercials don't come close to be as cheesy as they used to be. My favourite was Ron Popeil's hair replacement spray, where he painted the top of bald people's head.

Chestnuts roasted by Yzziefrog @ 10/08/2004 09:41 AM EST

Let's see, X-E is read from East Coast to Left Coast, and every coast in-between. Denver, and Alaska have spoken. GirFanMan and m'self have the Great Plains represented. Let's not forget Canada has chimed in. How many foreign folk do we got?

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/08/2004 11:30 AM EST

You know, from what I can tell NY has one of the lowest "X-E populations" in the country. Bad example, but there are a lot more readers from Australia than NY, and much more from NJ than NY. It is a primarily suburban site; I think it would connect best with people who have the most free time. People in busier cities probably didn't spend as much time playing with/caring about toys as I did.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/08/2004 11:35 AM EST

Matt, did you get my email about the TMNT tape?

Chestnuts roasted by Yzziefrog @ 10/08/2004 02:06 PM EST

I'm from Philly. But I don't know anybody else that reads X-E. Sorry.

Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 10/08/2004 02:19 PM EST

Pedro, you idiot. Be scared to travel outside of your 23 square miles of planet Earth, it's completely deserted.

Chestnuts roasted by B @ 10/08/2004 02:54 PM EST

Fat Albert trailer
History of animated show, and a reminder that Forest Whitaker would have made a much better movie

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 10/08/2004 03:12 PM EST

hotlanta here.
i would be a good mission. guys.

Chestnuts roasted by zombone @ 10/08/2004 04:06 PM EST

k, gotta post on this one. first off, cool giant rat, very attention grabbing, though if, nah never mind.

I myself am in Twin Falls, Idaho, the definition of stupid suburbia.

next, I LOVE mayonaise (though I probably can't spell it). it's great stuff. I've never had Peanutbutter bannana mayo sandwich, though my favorite sandwich is peanutbutter, mayo, and lettuce....learned it from my dad. Banana's are wonderfull foods too. my favorite way to eat them is in banana shakes....hmmm home made. cheetos are really really gross, probably because I can't get myself to eat anything orange.

finnaly I like you cuz of the way you comb your hair.

Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 10/08/2004 04:10 PM EST

almost forgot, almost all the car dealerships here in twin have decided that the best way to attract customers is by flying really huge random ballons. probably about as tall as the robot from sky captain matt saw the other day, but more impressive here, cuz their taller than the tallest builings in town (3 stores), and there's usually between 3-7 in each car lot. they've got wizards, dinosaurs, godzilla's, and king kongs that I remember off the top of my head. too bad it's about time for them to start disapearing this time of year.

Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 10/08/2004 04:12 PM EST

Wow big rat, cute
lol oh XE isnt that local, I'm from the UK and I check the site every day for updates =)

We Don't have apple jacks over here tho =(

Chestnuts roasted by MrSatan @ 10/08/2004 05:52 PM EST

They look great matt! I'll have to get the stuff and try em. Too bad you didn't taste test em for us though

Chestnuts roasted by sarah @ 10/08/2004 06:14 PM EST

Kind of late getting to the article... I'm not crazy about bananas either, Matt.

Wow, a cool shit always happens in New York. Forget Gaffney, South Carolina... as soon as I graduate, I'm moving to NY and getting a job.

Because I'm in love a high school friend who lives there. Is she worth the move? I don't know, but I have to try.

Damn, that's really kind of pathetic. She's not the only reason I'm going to NY, though. That rat RULES. And you can get chicken wings MADE OF SOY! And the Turtles live there! Right Matt?

Chestnuts roasted by Night_Trekker @ 10/08/2004 06:52 PM EST

Yzziefrog: And yet, I still live...

Nobody said you couldn't use blue ice...

Chestnuts roasted by RewolfJ @ 10/08/2004 09:38 PM EST

Go to NY, and sow your oats(be a man-whore), and when you see this girl of your dreams, and she says...did you move to NY for me...just be like, "Pshaw"...or just start singing the blublocker song, either way she'd be powerless to resist.

If I got married, anyone can...

Chestnuts roasted by night_trekker @ 10/08/2004 11:08 PM EST

I meant to say...Night Trekker Go to NY, and sow your oats(be a man-whore), and when you see this girl of your dreams, and she says...did you move to NY for me...just be like, "Pshaw"...or just start singing the blublocker song, either way she'd be powerless to resist.

If I got married, anyone can...

Somehow I switched my name with who I was addressing it to...

Chestnuts roasted by whitemale_98/competent soldier @ 10/08/2004 11:09 PM EST

Here's a slight variation to the banana ghosts, which isn't as cool because it doesn't use a halloween cereal:

http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?s=recipe&m=recipe/knet_recipe_display&recipe_id=57334

Chestnuts roasted by flygrl358 @ 10/09/2004 12:33 PM EST

Hey y'all, hyuck hyuck. Back from my trip to NC and GUESS WHAT??!!! It sucked even more than I could possibly have imagined.

I think it's hysterical how one small passing comment caused such a row. I'm glad to be source of such positive discourse.

Be well, "B", whereever you are.

Matt, Staten, eh? I'm a native Long Islander -- the home of a million strip malls. The cool thing about Long Island, though, is that it's like an 80s time capsule. It's one of the last places in the country where it's still cool to have an IROC-Z or a transam. The women wear their high sprayed up high and the men wear more shitty cheezy gold chains than a Westside pimp. Sadly, the mullet FINALLY died on Long Island in around 2000, but a few proud, brave souls are still keeping it alive. It's certainly alive and kicking in the south where anything resembling culture has yet to make its long overdue debut.

Matt, keep up the outstanding work.

Pedro

Chestnuts roasted by Pedro @ 10/09/2004 01:05 PM EST

the rat is because they were protesting scab labor.

Chestnuts roasted by the fink @ 10/09/2004 05:30 PM EST

I just came across your site from msnbc.com and being a HUGE Halloween fan (and having my b-day a mere 5 days away from the blessed event), your site and your writeups for your articles are fucking hilarious. Just wanted to let you know. Your site is definitely bookmarked to visit for Halloween laughs!

Chestnuts roasted by Dawn @ 10/10/2004 02:41 PM EST

Thats one whacked out looking Rat!

Chestnuts roasted by D-Roc @ 10/11/2004 03:58 PM EST

hey i remember tale spin stampers! i actually still have one! it has giro on it!

Chestnuts roasted by almostblonde007 @ 10/14/2004 09:27 PM EST

We had banana pops alot when I was little, you could get a popsicle stick and chocolate sauce kit at the supermarket for that very thing. Still can, and they are tasty.
And regarding odd Halloween treats, there was a guy in our neighborhood who gave away rolls of pennies. Or was it nickels, too long ago to recall exactly. Must've been easier to dump them on kids each year than haul them all to the bank heh.
And for the record, you have at least one reader in Georgia (me!). I rarely recognize such references to northern establishments as this Duane Greade of which you speak, but articles of junk food, commercials, bad 80's movies, et al... why,they are universal

Chestnuts roasted by Mister Cthulhu @ 10/16/2004 10:32 AM EST

I'm catching up on all the Halloween posts. After reading this one, all I could think is: Man, FINALLY someone else who hates bananas and all things banana-flavored. I thought I was alone. *cries with relief* Now I'd just like to see you make that cool Creepy Crawly Snake. Come on, he's awesome!

Chestnuts roasted by Martha @ 10/19/2004 01:52 AM EST