REPLIES: 156 comments
My son loves those things, he's got a cool car one too.
Chestnuts roasted by The Fuzzy Hulk @ 08/07/2005 03:47 PM EST
Whoah. A miniature Candy Land would be awesome. P.S. Is the "woman" still your girlfriend, Matt, or have y'all tied the knot?
Chestnuts roasted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 08/07/2005 04:00 PM EST
No knot-tying, and yes, there is a Candy Land game pen. Now that I look again, there's a Mr. Potato Head pen too!
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 08/07/2005 04:01 PM EST
Bonus points for the DROP A COMMENT "Scrabble" format. Ha ha!
I can see "Rock n' Sock 'Em Robots" but the "CONNECT FOUR" looks like trouble.
Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 08/07/2005 04:36 PM EST
Weird, i was just looking at the monopoly pen this morning. And now an article about pens.
what about the monopoly pen?
Chestnuts roasted by Gene @ 08/07/2005 04:37 PM EST
You can find some interesting things only at those arts and crafts/hobby stores, some things even Matt has done articles on: Scratch n' Sniff stickers, lazer stickers, shrinky dinks, rub-ons, etc.
Any chance for an article on those travel board games now?
Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 08/07/2005 04:55 PM EST
I still have my Ouija board keychain I bought years ago. Whaddya think of those pens with the little LCD games on 'em? I have one with Pac-Man on it.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/07/2005 05:11 PM EST
I can relate to the arts & crafts store experience - I went once with a female friend, and even if a football game were to break out in the middle of the store, there still wouldn't be enough testosterone in the air to make walking around there bearable. So much useless crap, but not the cheeky and fun kind that I like.
Also, my money was on your soul being a mackerel rather than a flounder. Who knew?
Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 08/07/2005 05:54 PM EST
Wow. Those pens look super cool. I wish I had that NERF pen when I was in school. My math teacher would have paid the ultimate price!
Chestnuts roasted by Richard @ 08/07/2005 06:10 PM EST
My dad bought the Nerf Dart Blaster one so he could bring it to work and shoot his boss with it!
Chestnuts roasted by Maria @ 08/07/2005 06:12 PM EST
I have a Wheel Of Fourtain pen once. Simply, it was the wheel, and you just used it to play a score-based version of Hangman. Still, cool.
Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Mr. Mr. @ 08/07/2005 06:50 PM EST
Does a pen really need an Etch a Sketch? I mean, it's a pen. It already sketches, right? You can't add 'drawing' to a pen and call it an extra feature.
Chestnuts roasted by webrunner @ 08/07/2005 06:58 PM EST
A while back,I saw a Transformers novelty pen of Optimus Prime that actually transforms,but it wasn't of the G1 version,the Armada/Energon one. Still kinda neat.
Chestnuts roasted by Overlord @ 08/07/2005 07:06 PM EST
over here in NZ, there's a 'barrel of monkeys' novelty pen which I would own if it wasnt for the fact that I never understood the point of the origonal game >.<
Chestnuts roasted by pinkshiro @ 08/07/2005 07:16 PM EST
Dude. . .great article. I have owned all but one of those pens (I never had the Play-Doh pen), and this bit brought back some killer memories.
Now, how about an article on the VIDEO GAME WATCHES of the late '80s, early '90s? Nothing was more annoying to teachers (and more likely to be played by said teachers during the lunch hour after they were confiscated) than the Super Mario, Zelda, and other watches.
If there's already a bit on those watches here, I've missed it.
Chestnuts roasted by DarthBudzy @ 08/07/2005 07:29 PM EST
Dried up 8 ball novelty pens and rock candy, could this store possibly be Michaels? I too hate that store. I get my canvas and get out.
Chestnuts roasted by Kennef @ 08/07/2005 07:41 PM EST
Kennef, you are the winner: The store was Michaels.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 08/07/2005 07:43 PM EST
Anyone remember Power Penz? ( I think that was the name at least ). They had a line of novelty pens that could do tons of things. I only remember 2. One was a mini basketball net/shooter with 3 small basketballs, and another shot rubber darts that could carry a hidden message attatched to the head, which would stick to what you shot it at.
Chestnuts roasted by DemonWeb @ 08/07/2005 07:50 PM EST
A Battleship pen?! I must own!
Chestnuts roasted by Larry @ 08/07/2005 07:50 PM EST
Well as we all know, I've never been the most masculine of males. I find myself going into Michael's more than I probably should.
They have that cool sticky backed felt. It worked nicely on my cap at graduation. It survived getting kicked around the floor of that satellite betting facility I got dragged to afterwards, and it was still sticky enough to stick to my CD/DVD cabinet. It's still there. That's some good adhesive 
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/07/2005 08:02 PM EST
Michael's is excellent for Christmas lights, and now pens, but it always smells funny in there.
Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 08/07/2005 08:10 PM EST
They've already put together their Halloween section, so that sort of made me happy, but the store was notorious last year during our excursions to find Countdown stuff, because they had so little. Still, at least that means the other stores will start it up soon enough.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 08/07/2005 08:12 PM EST
Anyone remember Flipsiders? Those games housed in cassette tapes?
My favs were Mall Madness and Ghostly Estates.
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/07/2005 08:29 PM EST
I work at the even more soul-crushing sister of Michaels, the abomination known as Hobby Lobby, so I experience the zombifying effects of such stores on a daily basis.
But the point is, I own the friggin' Lite Brite pen. It rocks my socks off. Unfortunately, it only came with the generic blank sheets, no patterns, but it is quite entertaining nonetheless.
Chestnuts roasted by Bonzo @ 08/07/2005 08:44 PM EST
Ah yes, the store I referred to earlier IS a Michael's. They must be the big-name arts and crafts store around the country.
Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 08/07/2005 08:44 PM EST
I don't know what it is about these kinds of stores, but they depress the hell out of me. It's not that I dislike what they're selling -- it's just a feeling I get whenever at one of 'em. Before I die, I must figure out why.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 08/07/2005 08:47 PM EST
Oh.Your.God. A Lite Brite pen? I loved lite brite! I was one of those kids who was easily distracted by lights and such.
And don't get me started on the NERF pen. I made my own a few years ago, except I lacked the necessary foam to make it NERFy, so metal it was. Like that weird looking kid in A Christmas Story, I nearly shot my damn eye out.
Chestnuts roasted by Road Block @ 08/07/2005 08:50 PM EST
well, of course it was Michaels... pinkshiro, how could you not understand the Barrel of Monkeys game? why would you need to to buy it, it's freakin' monkeys!
speaking of which, I have it, and could do a quick review (if anyone actually wanted me to)
Chestnuts roasted by MrMunkeepants @ 08/07/2005 09:15 PM EST
Hey Matt, I was just wondering if some of the prizes awarded to these awesome pens were leftovers from the Animalia days. No Baleen Whale prizes??
Chestnuts roasted by WonKa @ 08/07/2005 09:18 PM EST
one step worse than craft stores->fabric stores
I remember being little getting drug along while my mom looked at patterns for HOURS!
Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 08/07/2005 09:25 PM EST
I'm not a HUGE fan of Michaels', but I go in there anyway because my mother and sister, both of them artists, ARE, and it's a good place to birthday/Christmas shop for them. Come to think of it, the novelty pens might make nice birthday presents for my brother. He's got the real Nerf gun somewhere and beats the pants off of me on Connect Four and Trouble; he'd probably think the pens were awesome.
Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 08/07/2005 09:38 PM EST
Ah, fabric stores!!! Last time I was in one, I was getting fabric for a letter making day for Psi Chi. It ended up not being thick enough to cut patterns out of, so I got a stylish flourescent pink shawl out of the deal. I wore it for about a solid hour. Our local working-all-night-every-night professor had to ask me the next morning if he had been dreaming it. 
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/07/2005 10:09 PM EST
Not to be at all picky, because I know your busy, but what happend to the Cereal Prize update? Will we see it any time soon?
Chestnuts roasted by GozerJr @ 08/07/2005 11:11 PM EST
I agree, crafts stores smell weird...I remember the pencil machine at my school back in 5th grade dispensed pencils sporting the logos of various sports teams. Kids went nuts over these things and spent alot of their parents' money on these things. At 50 cents a pop that isn't cheap, especially WAY back in '92 (kidding). Needless to say on the days i actually NEEDED a pencil the damn machine was sold out. I wish they would've sold pencils with cartoon or video game characters. I would be the one raiding the machine then......
Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 08/07/2005 11:20 PM EST
The fabled Monopoly pen:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MONOPOLY-Game-Pen-NEW_W0QQitemZ5227354054QQcategoryZ234QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Also, the less-fabled TWISTER pen:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TWISTER-Game-Pen-NEW_W0QQitemZ5227353936QQcategoryZ234QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Mr. Mr. @ 08/07/2005 11:21 PM EST
I received an Operation pen last year.
What I found amusing about it was that it completely did away with the actual 'game' part of Operation, "Where you're the doctor-- collecting all your PAY!!!", and just went straight to the surgery.
What I hated about it was that it doesn't buzz, and some of the tethered-and-thus-no-longer-fully-removable pieces were glued in by plastic flash, making them even less removable.
I don't write a whole lot with it. Pilot V5s are better.
Chestnuts roasted by G'Tron @ 08/07/2005 11:24 PM EST
I can't beleive I have to report here that Peter Jennings died earlier tonight at 67, because of his cancer.
This is really sad.
Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 08/08/2005 12:05 AM EST
R.I.P. Peter Jennings. I liked your voice. 
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/08/2005 01:13 AM EST
Those pens are very cool. I didn't like Pop-O-Matic Trouble that much, but would press that dice bubble for hours of simplistic fun. And, I don't know about anyone else, but I'd lose those Connect Four pieces within the first five minutes of opening the package. I can't wait until they put out a pen with a...baseball stadium attached to it.
I just heard about Peter Jennings' death. That's terrible. I'm sure he had a really interesting life, though.
Chestnuts roasted by Dr. Acula @ 08/08/2005 01:15 AM EST
God everyone dies of cancer. I will probably die of cancer one day.
I go into Michael's sometimes. Their silk flowers don't look quite as fake as some others and grandmothers/mothers/boyfriend's mothers etc actually like personally made silk flower arrangements as Christmas gifts. At least the ones I know do.
Kneg is a Greek? I can't believe that I'm not the only one.
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 08/08/2005 01:52 AM EST
I was already beaten to the Monopoly game pen, but I did find this:
http://www.playthingspast.com/st-12027.html
which I don't really understand...I guess it's a very strained effort to get a brand name on the standard pinball idea.
I must have a Lite Brite pen.
Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 08/08/2005 01:58 AM EST
Yeah, cancer...
I'm a joker, I'm a smoker, I'm a midnight toker 
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/08/2005 02:09 AM EST
You take the good you take the bad..you take them both and there you have the facts of life, the facts of life, theres a time you gotta grow, and show, you know the facts of life the facts of lfie...
Chestnuts roasted by Eek @ 08/08/2005 02:27 AM EST
Well it's an honor society/service organization. It's not a frat/sorority. So while technically I guess I am a Greek, I'm really more of a Geek.
Kneg is fine, but you can use K- if you'd like. It's what goes on the stickers, t-shirts, and coffee mugs folks
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/08/2005 02:28 AM EST
I think we're really all geeks. I mean, did you read the spoiler thread? It was like nerd paradise. And I don't think anyone here can say they didn't get wicked excited when they could name the movie/show/etc that any of the spoilers were from.
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 08/08/2005 02:35 AM EST
One of the things I hope to see before I die is a fat black woman wagging her finger at her son and saying, "YO' IN BIIIG TROUBLE WITH A POP-O-MATIC BUBBLE!!" It'd be hilarious.
...Why does Matt's local paper print daily funnies in color? That's not the Sunday edition; all the 'toons are single-row. Was that done by someone at his NY paper or do newspapers actually have that option now? And if so, why don't more of them go for it? I doubt I'll get an answer....not only does Matt probably not know, he probably doesn't care about something like this either.
Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 08/08/2005 02:43 AM EST
Oh yeah. I better toot my own horn.
My cartoons are back after a hiatus of three months. During that time I worked on and off on several, enjoying the luxury of polishing the writing instead of rushing against deadline. Now the first one has hit and I don't want to spoil any of it here, except to say....you should love it. Go see.
And speaking of websites...Pop Arena guy, PUT SOMETHING NEW ON YOURS ALREADY.
Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 08/08/2005 02:45 AM EST
I don't have any of those game pens, but I got this cute Peeps pen during easter. I only had enough money for one so I got the bunny shape instead of the chick shape.
Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 08/08/2005 02:46 AM EST
And some people call me Mauuuuurice (Wahh waaho!)
I have one of those Etch-a-Sketch pens. I happen to like craft stores, but that's probably because I'm a polymer clay addict, apparently just like Matt's girlfriend. I'm currently trying to find the two colors of clay that I need complete this very large dragon that I'm working on.
What I'd like is a pen with just PPlay-Doh in it. It wouldn't even need the tools, just the Play-Doh.
Chestnuts roasted by Freezair @ 08/08/2005 02:48 AM EST
Gabby, I must agree. The Spoiler was one of my fav blogs so far. It was up there with the Hobbies one and the Top 5 DVDs. If Matt would do Top 5 Albums or Artists, I could die a happy boy.
Hey, IHAQ hasn't been around for a while and the new Our Lady Peace is on right now
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/08/2005 03:04 AM EST
I think I now need the Lava Lamp one and the nerf-gun one.
Anyway, Michael's is a good place to buy art-supplies, but I usually get them at the drug-store, because I don't live close to one.
Chestnuts roasted by Tetsu Deinonychus @ 08/08/2005 03:17 AM EST
These look like perfect kid gifts--anyone want to toss out a few ideas on where to get them OTHER than Michael's?
Chestnuts roasted by KillerTofu @ 08/08/2005 04:24 AM EST
The people that post on your website Matt...are on crack..some of them its funny...
Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Digitizer @ 08/08/2005 05:20 AM EST
I remember some pretty epic battles over connect four, and I refuse to believe that there's no strategy involved.
My version of trouble was circa 1970, so it didn't have the same feel when used as a backdrop for third earth.
Chestnuts roasted by keens @ 08/08/2005 05:34 AM EST
The packaging of these pens is pretty hilarious. "A game... in a pen!" No shit!?! And you can't even see the logo on the Play Doh one because the pen is so huge.
My wife is a big fan of both craft stores and fabric stores. Luckily I rarely have to tag along. I share the same uneasiness and impatience. It's the same for her if I drag her to look at tools.
Chestnuts roasted by Jimbalaya @ 08/08/2005 08:11 AM EST
Ha! I thought I was the only one to dread those mother son shopping trips in that place. If sadness was in a store, michaels sold it. A bunch of unfinished dull colored stuff, that only old ladies should be interested. That place reminds me of old people and stuff. LAME! ^_^
Chestnuts roasted by Michael from Denver @ 08/08/2005 08:42 AM EST
Knegative--
I totally forgot about "flipsiders"! I had Mall Madness and I LOVED it! That might be one of my most played with toys of my youth. I bet I still have that thing somewhere. And for some reason, I was the only kid around that had one. I was cool for once in my sorry little life!
Chestnuts roasted by bitchpants @ 08/08/2005 09:37 AM EST
Besides Michaels, there's some stores called Hobby Lobby here. That's where I go.
I also remember Flipsiders and had a couple. They used to get advertised alot during Nickelodeon gameshows. Those Nick games RULED.
I also second an article on video game watches. Never had one but always wanted one. Since it's becoming popular to play video games on cell phones I don't see why they can't make a comeback.
Also, how about an article on those handheld video games from companies like Tiger Electronics. I don't think I ever played a good one. Burger King had a Spyro the Dragon one recently in one of they're kids meals. Blech.
I used to have a colored ink vibrating pen that was fun. You put batteries in it and it vibrates to make sqiggly lines. Pen was big and hard to hold on to, but fun.
Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 08/08/2005 10:52 AM EST
Mr. Digitizer: Crack is wack, yo.
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/08/2005 11:03 AM EST
My mini-Lincoln Log pen is just about the only good thing my sister has ever given me. It's pretty neat, but it only builds one friggin house, and getting that house to stay up while you're building pretty much requires the patience of a saint. That, and the little Lincoln Log pieces look like tiny malformed stick pretzels. Or dog poop. Definitely dog poop.
I had the mini-Twister pen too. The little twister dots looked like multi-colored pepperoni. Where mini-Twister really scored was in the stick-ability of the dots. You could lick the back of those suckers and stick them anywhere--even human skin. Many great pick-up lines were born of that Twister pen
Chestnuts roasted by Miss @ 08/08/2005 12:05 PM EST
Ah, yes! Back-to-school time, when stores get the jump on the next quarter and Wal-Mart sets up all the Clearance racks. Bought a Atari Flashback for 15 last night. Didn't see any novelty pens, just keychains. This year's Expo was all right, not great. The suicide booth is still in our parking lot. Never buy a Bacon Cheeseburger from a stand crawling wih junebugs. The Super-Carny Chick Squad(tm) running the joint only added to the mystiqe of infested fast food. I had two Power Penz: one with a "Sonic Ear" kind of listening device, and one that launched helicopters. Bacon cheesebugger. Juneburger?
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/08/2005 12:22 PM EST
I was given the Scrabble pen as a gift. It's pretty neat, but one of those games that has too many pieces to translate completely. Besides, I've already poured too much money into the keychains, I can't very well justify rebuying all those games in pen form...or can I?
I totally understand the Michael's thing. My mother couldn't get enough of that place (probably still can't) and she's pretty paranoid to shop alone, so I've spent a lot of time there. I remember she used to lure us out of the house for one thing, and once she had us captive in the car we'd end up at Michael's. She was sneaky like that. I don't know about the ones where you are, but I can tell you why the one we would go to was so depressing. It was in an old store space (I'm pretty sure it used to Bradlees) in a nearly forgotten little shopping center. The automatic doors had to be propped open because they didn't work anymore. There's never a large crowd there (and, consequently, no energy in the store), just middle-aged to elderly women shuffling around like they have no idea why they're there. (If they're like my mom, they know exactly why they're there, they're just completely unfamiliar with the concept of getting what you want and getting out - they have to see it ALL.) There's no color in the walls or floor - they're all just a dirty white. The kicker at my local store is that the store music is just one (rather short) looping song. If you're there long enough (and I usually was) you'll hear the same distinct parts of this easy listening instrumental over and over and over... it's like if John Tesh wrote video game music. I kept waiting for one of the employees to turn homicidal - preferrably when I wasn't there. My vote would be for her to unleash her wrath on the puffy paints and do the world a favor.
Chestnuts roasted by Lori @ 08/08/2005 12:29 PM EST
Hi everyone,
Long time reader, first time poster. I can't say that I've ever noticed anything particularily depressing about the Michaels in my part of the world (Vancouver, Canada). It's basically just another brightly lit, vaguely impersonal big box store a la Home Depot or Staples. Mind you, my wife is not the arts and craftsy type, so I've been spared having to make frequent trips there. On an unrelated note, I just got back from China a few weeks ago and had an absolute blast there. If any of you have ever considered visiting, don't hesitate, just go.
Chestnuts roasted by aint_baroque @ 08/08/2005 02:04 PM EST
CONNECT FOUR in a PEN? Those checker pieces must be the size of a newborn baby's pinkie nail! Umm...I dunno if it's worth my soul, or even two bucks for me, considering how hard it would be to play, but I'd probably pick one up if they were giving 'em out for free. Maybe.
Chestnuts roasted by Andrew @ 08/08/2005 03:12 PM EST
Ah-hem. Sorry, but I really didn't mean any harm by that comment. It certainly would make an interesting conversation piece, but even for a 15-year-old Volvo, the ideal novelty pen would have to have something edible. Maybe a Pez dispenser. Probably already been done, though.
P.S.: Does that fish contain your actual soul? You know, like they say the briefcase that guy carried around in Pulp Fiction contained his soul, or how Naraku (the main villain in the manga Inuyasha) keeps his heart inside an extremely well-protected baby. Y'know, sort of for safe-keeping?
Chestnuts roasted by Andrew @ 08/08/2005 03:18 PM EST
soul in the briefcase? Gold foiled wrapped money is not his soul.
Chestnuts roasted by RAS @ 08/08/2005 04:24 PM EST
The case was full of the world's best gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/08/2005 04:45 PM EST
"Hi everyone,
Long time reader, first time poster. I can't say that I've ever noticed anything particularily depressing about the Michaels in my part of the world (Vancouver, Canada). It's basically just another brightly lit, vaguely impersonal big box store a la Home Depot or Staples. Mind you, my wife is not the arts and craftsy type, so I've been spared having to make frequent trips there. On an unrelated note, I just got back from China a few weeks ago and had an absolute blast there. If any of you have ever considered visiting, don't hesitate, just go."
Michael's, or China?
Chestnuts roasted by tanta07 @ 08/08/2005 05:27 PM EST
I've never really been to Michael's. I had a bad experience at JoAnn Fabrics where an old lady told me my "boobies" were too big for a pattern I was looking at. Yes, this woman actually said BOOBIES and she actually worked for the place. I much prefer Hobby Lobby. I get all my yarn and shit there. I heart crocheting!
Games in pens, though. I avoid them because I'm annoyed at how shittily they are made. I usually end up breaking them the instant they're out of the package.
Chestnuts roasted by rebecca @ 08/08/2005 05:58 PM EST
Maybe a Micheal's in China.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/08/2005 05:59 PM EST
ugh! I cannot find any decent webages on old 70s and early 8s Nerf stuff? I'm looking for those tater tot-looking ammo things. Does anyone remember those?
Chestnuts roasted by Nooker @ 08/08/2005 06:33 PM EST
I've got a briefcase full of blues!
This was a great article! Just like them all!
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/08/2005 06:38 PM EST
My favorite pen ever was given to me by my best friend Shannon. It was pink and had a doll's head on top and made everyone look at me weird because the doll's head was freakin' huge. Sadly, it dried up. But then Shannon went to Germany a brought me a pen shaped like a gargantuan human finger from some weird German haunted house.
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 08/08/2005 07:08 PM EST
Ooooooh, must go to Michael's. Not for the pens, which I've seen there before, and automatically imagined you walking around that section of the store as I read - but, for the Halloween stuff. I've been dying for some good Halloween stuff to surface!
TRU has also had those pens. They are usually stuck on a side cap somewhere in Imaginarium in a cardboard display box. At least, ours were. We have a lone Connect Four pen left in Board Games, and ... man I can't remember what that thing is - some kind of "Racers" car pen - I think. It's huge.
I got my friend the Nerf pen a while back. OH! They also have a Super Soaker pen! 
Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 08/08/2005 07:17 PM EST
aint_baroque: what part of China did you go to? I lived there for 4 years and just got back from a month visit back to my "home" there.
Michael's in China. now THAT would be weird... because I've never seen any of the stuff you can buy at Michael's in China despite the fact that they ALL say "Made in China"...
Chestnuts roasted by Lazy Girl @ 08/08/2005 08:09 PM EST
I used to love going to Michaels. I guess I still do, but I don't go too often. My Grandma was a crafter, so I was doing the craft store thing before we had a Michaels and we were going to Franks Nursery and Crafts (which is now out of business). Michaels is still pretty fun, but Franks was really depressing, especially toward the end. I could never stand the smell there- fertilizer, yay.
I used to paint ceramic ornaments, but I kind of got burned out around 8th grade, and all I've done since then was an awesome gingerbread house thing that I gave to my other Grandma for Christmas last year. I also spent like a week painting this wooden box. I wanted to make it look good, even though it was only two colors.
I also have avoided the spoiler thread because I am currently avoiding spoilers for just about everything. No joke. Even if I have no plans of reading/watching/whatever any certain thing, I still don't want to know because there's always a chance.
Maybe I'll pick up some of those pens for my cousins this year.
Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 08/08/2005 08:10 PM EST
I once had this pen that you filled with water. There was a little submarine and 3 rings (mines), that you tried to get around the periscope. Damn that thing was cool.
Chestnuts roasted by Joe in OH @ 08/08/2005 08:55 PM EST
Lazy Girl:
My wife and I got a chance to visit quite a few cities during our month long stay. Here is a list of the cities we visited: Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shaoxing, Tianjin, Shanghai,Wuxi, Beijing, and Harbin. The reason why we traveled so far north is because my wife is from Harbin. So, in a way, it's become a sort of second "home" for me. Since you were living in China for four years, I suppose you must have learned to speak Mandarin quite fluently. I, on the other hand, can barely get by ordering food in a restaurant...
To the other posters:
Sorry if I caused any confusion with my previous post. To clarify, I had a blast in China and heartily recommend it as a potential vacation destination.
Chestnuts roasted by aint_baroque @ 08/08/2005 09:31 PM EST
Matt: Now this is the kind of article I think of when I think X-E. Great job
DarthBudzy: I have a few of those Game and Watch toys. I got Donkey kong Jr. and Super Mario Bros. a long time ago, way before the GameBoy came into the world. They still work too.
I remember watching a kid play with the Legend of Zelda G&W toy once (two screens if I remember correctly, just like a certain handheld)... I begged and begged him to let me play it, and he strung me along for close to an hour but never let me even touch it. Motherfucker.
Anyway, I figure I'll sell them someday on eBay, but I don't know... I'm a huge packrat and I don't want to get rid of some part of my childhood like that.
Chestnuts roasted by Night_Trekker @ 08/08/2005 09:36 PM EST
China is cool. Too bad I'll never go there. Anyways, I'm surprised all these novelty pens were in an art store. You know, instead of a useless crap merchant or a gas station or soemthing. Useless crap is cool.
Chestnuts roasted by Warx @ 08/08/2005 09:37 PM EST
I always used to be dragged to Michael's when I was little. It would always start out as a "little trip to the store" and 5 hours later my mom and I would still be in Michael's. I hated that place, so depressing and musty. My mom's now moved on to Hobby Lobby, which I always thought was a local Missouri place but now have found out differently. Hobby Lobby isn't as bad as Michael's, but something about it is still off, maybe the fact that I've never seen more than 3 people in the store at a time. There's always lots of cars in the parking lot, but nobody inside.
Chestnuts roasted by Stacey @ 08/08/2005 10:13 PM EST
the problem with Hobby Lobby (actually, there's lots, but one of the biggest), is the incessant muzak. Now, if this was some quality music of Top 40 hits of yesteryear and easy listenin' favorites, I could deal.
Nope. All day every day, from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M., I am subjected to Muzak renditions of all your favorite hymns done in such wacky styles as a "zydeco-calypso" hybrid.
Chestnuts roasted by Bonzo @ 08/08/2005 11:20 PM EST
I work at Michaels and these things are a PAIN in the ass..lol. Every night I find dozens of them randomly scattered throught the store...Still they are cool. Is your girlfriend the kind of girl who likes to stay in the clay isle and squeeze all the little Fimo and Sculpey clays to see which ones are the best? That stuff is funny...
Chestnuts roasted by EsperAqua @ 08/08/2005 11:49 PM EST
Us crazy canucks hav a chain of craft stores called lewiskraft, the one time i entered one was to buy wire so i could break into my car after i locked myself out of it, and i strangely felt the same sense demasculation that comes with entering such a store.
Chestnuts roasted by Diarrhea Dave @ 08/09/2005 12:45 AM EST
wow that connect four game pen looks like it's gotta be played with tweezers
Chestnuts roasted by annalala @ 08/09/2005 01:29 AM EST
i am sure most will get fired from laughing to much at work from this
Chestnuts roasted by josh @ 08/09/2005 01:47 AM EST
well, no one will read this post(probably) byt i just wanted to say that a lava lamp pen would be so cool.
Chestnuts roasted by flarekatana @ 08/09/2005 03:05 AM EST
I HATE Michaels, because they got rid of all of the plastic models and model railroad stuff. Michaels sucks. The only time I've been in there in the last 5 years was to get something framed, which I will admit, they did a good job at.
Hell, most Wal-Marts now have a craft section. Why don't you try going there next time? At least you can look at the toys whilst the Woman looks at crafts...
Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 08/09/2005 07:18 AM EST
Well, most Wal-Mart craft sections are one aisle, two at the MOST, so his girlfriend would be horribly enraged by the lack of selection, and by the time they actually got to Micheal's, Matt would have to spend 8 hours there...and that would not be a good thing.
I have a spoiler, but I don't want to go back in that thread...it scares me!!
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/09/2005 10:10 AM EST
I want the Lite Brite pen. I had a toy in the 80s that was kind of a rip-off of Lite Brite. I remind my mom how deprived I was, but the toy that I had was cooler--you stamp plastic cookie cutter cools and run pizza cutter tools across a black peg board with a light bulb in it. The lines and shapes you made were all different colors. To restore the board, you had to flip it upside down.
Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 08/09/2005 11:02 AM EST
I like running across the cheap imitators of things like Lite Brite. "Light Board," "Lazer Pegs," and the like. Maybe I'll go play with the Astro-Lite gadget on HomeStar Runner.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/09/2005 11:34 AM EST
There was an old WCW Sting vs. Hollywood Hogan pen kinda like the Rockem Sockem Robots pen. Except it had this huge ring with Hogan and Sting circa 1998.
I saw it on card at a flea market in Baltimore for a dollar a year ago . I still didn't want it no matter how much wrestling garbage I have in my house.
By the way, if I may ask, is X-E going to do the Mystery Boxes at all in the future?
Chestnuts roasted by The Chad @ 08/09/2005 12:10 PM EST
I think Play-Doh should replace dollars and coins as America's currency.
Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 08/09/2005 01:16 PM EST
Nooker, I remember those Nerf tator tot bullets. I couldn't find any other info on them either, not even on eBay.
The set I remember having was a small rubber pistol that you stuffed the bullet into and squeezed to fire. It also had a holder for the rest of the bullets that you could attach to your belt.
Chestnuts roasted by cravipat @ 08/09/2005 01:19 PM EST
I used to have the Hogan/Sting NWO pen, I got it as a goof from some friends who were into "'Rasslin" at the time. It was kinda cool though, the Rock 'Em Sock 'Em feature was that they would kick at each other, i don't remember any head poppin though.
Chestnuts roasted by WonKa @ 08/09/2005 01:23 PM EST
But then what would be do if our money dried out? Would all kitchen clay recipies (you know, the ones with flour and salt and water) have to be banned as counterfieting?
Chestnuts roasted by Freezair @ 08/09/2005 03:31 PM EST
How could anyone hate craft stores? You're home for models, both johnny lightning and disassembled plastic.
additionally where else are you going to find cork?
Chestnuts roasted by Deuce @ 08/09/2005 07:14 PM EST
The Micheal's around here was notorious among teenagers as a shoplifter paradise, but eventually they went out of business and now there's a produce market there. There is a Michelle's across town.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 08/10/2005 02:15 AM EST
-->> ??..o you want $$.. ok i'll write ya a check
..
you gotta ..
--
Chestnuts roasted by ~tOkK @ 08/10/2005 03:01 AM EST
^^shaved her legs and then he was a she, she said hey babe, take a walk down the craft aisle.
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/10/2005 03:01 AM EST
I like craft stores, hobby stores, and nostalgia stores. Nothing like being surrounded by creativity and eccentricity.
Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 08/10/2005 09:25 AM EST
Hey Review the World what's up with the link onyour name. It asks me for a password, and then says I'm not authorized. Supposed to be like that or no?
squee,Matt, did you like the Dorothy part 1 last night? I can't wait for the part 2! I wonder where Sophia went!?! The part where Cheech did the "Mama Sita" voice to Dorothy was hilarious!
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/10/2005 10:16 AM EST
God dammit, I missed the infamous Dorothy episode of GP. Curse Sleepaway Camp 2 for being on last night!
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 08/10/2005 10:45 AM EST
Sleepaway Camp 2 was AWESOME. I love the lawn mower scene.
Chestnuts roasted by Bunch O Junk @ 08/10/2005 11:06 AM EST
Angela- She's perky and homocidal! Who's a happy camper?
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/10/2005 11:25 AM EST
Greatest horror sequel of all time. Right behind Hello Mary Lou Prom Night 2.
I have the Sleepaway Camp box set.
Lawnmower scene was in the second one I do believe. As much time I have spent watcghing it I should know, but I just woke up and have to head into work...
Chestnuts roasted by The Chad @ 08/10/2005 11:56 AM EST
You know it's funny, but I actually have that exact same lawnmower. It's about 30 years old now.
Matt I've seen several people ask about the mystery boxes, why no answer? Have you seen woot sell bags of crap, they can't get enough of an unknown product.
Chestnuts roasted by RAS @ 08/10/2005 12:08 PM EST
The funniest damn thing about the Michaels stores are the cute little "you're not allowed to buy this if you're under 18" signs they put by various types of glue products. Heh...might as well put a "steal me, I'm good to sniff" sign in front of them.
Reminds me of the time I tried to buy butane when I was 15...I'm not quite sure why I needed it at the time....
Chestnuts roasted by Miss @ 08/10/2005 02:17 PM EST
This guy I know used to, as a game, pick 3 items with maximum eye-brow raising potential, to see if cashiers would actually sell them to him.
Oddly, around the time I learned of this, an elderly friend of the family tried to buy a shovel, a can of spraypaint, and a six-pack. They wouldn't let her.
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/10/2005 03:34 PM EST
I had a pacman pen... but now it's gone forever
Chestnuts roasted by Mangykid @ 08/10/2005 04:21 PM EST
Cool, new game! How about:
Bungee cords
Squiggle Pen
Tube of cake icing.
As you check out, mention something about the items "being prescription."
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/10/2005 04:26 PM EST
ok cement, a map, and bottled water
Chestnuts roasted by Deuce @ 08/10/2005 05:24 PM EST
Matt it's a two-parter, so you can still catch the 2nd ep. tonight...I hope they will be running the series more than once through. The ads said "Golden Palace til Sept. 16" so maybe that's enough time for two run-through's...I've been trying to tape them all, but I missed a couple. I haven't seen them for downloading anyplace yet, but I'm still looking.
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/10/2005 06:26 PM EST
hefty bags, bleach, hunting knife
Chestnuts roasted by dork @ 08/10/2005 09:10 PM EST
Oh snap I totally missed it yesterday but kidney just alerted me in time for the 2nd part! Rock on space cowboy! Ima go watch this...
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 08/10/2005 09:39 PM EST
Jables is rocking the Golden Palace!!!! I thought it couldn't get any better than Cheech!
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 08/10/2005 09:47 PM EST
Alright, what the heck is this Golden Palace you're all talking about? I'm Canadian, so maybe I don't get it.
And as for King's Wicked-Fun Game of Awesomeness: a mouse trap, a ball of twine, and some icy-hot
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 08/11/2005 12:08 AM EST
O.M.G.
JB was in Waterworld? And, wait for it.....Touched by An Angel?!?!?
Forgive me, for while I claim to be a fan of the D, I didn't realize just how much stuff he's been in. WOW. Remember 'Clone High'? Seems like MTV cancels everything close to tolerable and keeps the worst. I mean it's not the best example of my point but still, Down with MTV.
Next thing ya know, I'll hear that Keanu was in Gigli or something. Guess you have to bite the bullet sometimes and see universally panned movies, huh? "But I don't have to eat the whole rifle"
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/11/2005 12:17 AM EST
I was really suprised that JB is gonna be in King Kong. I'm a big fan of the D too (greatest band on earth), but I didn't think he'd have such a big role in such a big-budget movie.
Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 08/11/2005 01:07 AM EST
Well, back in Canada, safe and sound! They made a mistake and I wound up in 1st class on the plane all the way from Seoul....and in 1st class you have a personal TV screen attached to your seat that doubles as a SUPER NINTENDO! I played games throughout the entire 13 hour flight.
Now that I am home, I must look for 'Golden Palace' on tv!
And I would totally buy all of those pens, as well.
Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 08/11/2005 01:09 AM EST
Muppet Baby...welcome home! (wherever it is now)
Gabbylicious...Golden Palace was the short-lived spin-off of Golden Girls, with 3 of the originals (minus Bea Arthur) buying a hotel. I never watched it, so that's as much as I know about it.
Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 08/11/2005 01:20 AM EST
If you can, check out the rerun of tonight's Conan O'Brien interview with Paul Rudd later today on CNBC, or, if your NBC affiliate is like the Boston one, a week from today at around 3:30 am. I don't want to give away the surprise, and if you caught it please don't give it away either. All I will say is X-Ers are probably in the minority that will actually recognize where it came from.
Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 08/11/2005 02:17 AM EST
Well, back in Canada, safe and sound! They made a mistake and I wound up in 1st class on the plane all the way from Seoul....and in 1st class you have a personal TV screen attached to your seat that doubles as a SUPER NINTENDO! I played games throughout the entire 13 hour flight.
Duuuude...not bad at all. So they still have Super NESes in there instead of N64s? Good for them.
Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 08/11/2005 02:52 AM EST
awww yeah, I knew it was a good show, but JB? Why not! He was looking pretty young and skinny back then, not coked out so much either
Congrats Muppet Baby I bet it feels great to be back home...I bet your parents are happy too!
Wish me luck guys, going to the doc today for yearly check-up on da kidney. The 14th is my 3 year anniversary of my transplant, so I am pretty happy about that!
Gozer it's go time. I will be shopping for Kool-Aid on my off-time today, I can't wait!!
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/11/2005 07:10 AM EST
kidneyboy-
I finally get your name. Your in Madison right? My sister moved there today, tell her hi.
Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 08/11/2005 08:10 AM EST
kidneyboy--here's to a long life with the kidney! Hope everything goes ok!
Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 08/11/2005 11:06 AM EST
Go kidney! Go kidney! It's your check up! It's your check up! Go kidney!
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/11/2005 11:30 AM EST
kidneyboy:
Have fun in beautiful, scenic Madison. I'll try not to go to Woodman's and buy all the Kool-Aid before you get there. I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try. Good luck at the doc's. Remember - if you're good, you may get a lolly-pop!
Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 08/11/2005 01:28 PM EST
a dozen roses, a bottle of wine, and a box of 9mm ammo
Chestnuts roasted by Jimbalaya @ 08/11/2005 01:47 PM EST
Best wishes Kidney
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/11/2005 04:16 PM EST
Make it a box of wine.
Chestnuts roasted by RAS @ 08/11/2005 04:17 PM EST
I'm going to watch the Conan episode tonight and I'll post what happens in the Spoiler thread--that miracle of modern technology
I hope I get the reference, or I'll feel pretty embarrassed. But that's nothing new, eh?
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/11/2005 04:40 PM EST
And a happy "Welcome Back to North America" to Muppet Baby! You gonna be around for Hallowe'en?
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/11/2005 05:39 PM EST
Knegative, I was half asleep when I saw it and the same when I typed that bit above. I can gurantee you a random chuckle, but it is not as amazing as half asleep ME thought it was.
Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 08/11/2005 06:33 PM EST
awww, thank's all y'all! Everything was great, the doc was in a hurry so I was in and out lickety-split. I don't have to go back for a whole year, which is great!
Gozer, I walked around that damn store for like half an hour, found like 3 diff. aisles of drinks...soda, tea, Gatorade, Crystal Light, I even found the damn Kool-Bursts, but I could not find one friggin' packet of Kool-Aid!! And by that time, as busy as the store was, I just had to get out of that store! So I went to West Town Mall, got some Army of Darkness toys on clearance, so that made up for it, big time!!
Thanks again for all the well wishes everybody, it means a lot!
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/11/2005 07:25 PM EST
kb I forgot...your sister says hi back!!
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/11/2005 07:27 PM EST
I saw it, and it was pretty funny.
I have to say Paul Rudd + Rachel Weisz = Great in The Shape of Things
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/11/2005 09:01 PM EST
I dunno. I usually just play my Gameboy whenever I'm in the breakroom. That way, everyone leaves me alone.
Matt's description of how he felt while being in the arts and crafts store reminds me of how I always feel at work. I'm workin' a boring-assed job here in Sacramento now. It's for the God-Damned County.
Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 08/11/2005 10:15 PM EST
kidneyboy:
Yeah, it's a little bit tricky to find the fabled Kool-Aid in Woodman's - it took me like 8 months of shopping there before I even noticed it, but it is there. I think it's at the end of the final isle. I even stopped by after work to check on the flavors myself since I was running other errands in the area.
Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 08/11/2005 10:17 PM EST
sonofabitch! Naaah, I'll live! At least I got some cheap toys instead!!
I also picked up the Toyfare with Matt's articles in it!! I actually said, "All right!" out loud in the store, and the guy behind the counter looked at me kind of funny...
One of these days though, I'll get back over there and find me some El Kool-O Hombre.
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/11/2005 10:23 PM EST
Hey kidneyboy...I had no idea where your nickname came from till today. Good luck on the continued progress. How old are you?
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 08/11/2005 10:35 PM EST
Thanks for the 'welcome home's everyone! Yeah, the airplane still has SNES for all 1st class people, and a pretty good game selection, too. Although, when I tried to play 'Legend of Zelda', it error-ed and I kept getting 'Super Solitaire' instead!
kidneyboy- Way to go on the good news! I have also had some major sugery and have lost an organ- I guess nostalgia is good medicine, eh? Keeps ME well!
Kingklash- I will definately be here for Halloween! Already looking forward to it.
I've been back in Canada for 3 days now, and my 2 observations are: there are so many different kinds of junk food here, and: The Simpsons is ALWAYS on! 'Excellent...'
Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 08/11/2005 10:39 PM EST
Matt, I will be 26 on 9-11. Sometimes I think my birthday is unlucky
Muppet Baby, sorry to hear about your loss...med probs are a pain.
About the junk food, I bet there are a lot less seaweed/squid/crazy type snacks up in the Great White North!
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/11/2005 10:55 PM EST
Sorry I had to leave earlier before following through on my promised report. I'd post it here, but to be safe I have posted it in the Spoiler thread.
It was funny ME, the little things in life make it worth living Remember you're talking to someone who got excited yesterday because Keanu was climbing around outside of Dracula's castle a la the Metacortex building.
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/11/2005 11:53 PM EST
Hey, I've been saying it every place else today but I'd like to send up Matt McGrory.
You know him from House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, and Big Fish to name just a few.
R.I.P. Matt, you will be missed.
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/12/2005 12:40 AM EST
It's sad about McGrory. I liked Big Fish. He was working on a Andre The Giant movie. Andre once said to Herve Villachaise, "We do not live long, the great and the small." Whenever I hear of news like this, that quote always come to mind.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 08/12/2005 11:33 AM EST
Aww Michales, now I got a baby coming I decided it was time I started going to Mom type stores, so I took up knitting, I found some really funky wool there its all multi-coloured and stuff!
I would die to own one or any of thos pens!!
Knegative-Im hear I was getting one last vaction in before baby, but now Im on my way to listen to some OLP! ahhh its been awhile
Chestnuts roasted by IHAQ @ 08/12/2005 06:43 PM EST
I have an old WCW pen with Kevin Nash's head on it.It's pretty disturbing looking,like they cut of his head and mounted it on a spike or something.
Chestnuts roasted by Suren @ 08/12/2005 07:30 PM EST
Here in the States anyway it'll be August 30th before we can enjoy the song stylings of Mr. Maida & Co. I'm pretty sure 'Where Are You?' is available through iTunes and other similar venders, though.
Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/12/2005 07:35 PM EST
I had no idea I was amongst D lovers!!! King Kong is going to be cool, but it's all about Pick of Destiny.
Kidney's always been coy, but he's alluded to the reason for his name before...I always figured that was why he's one of the midnight tokers Happy to hear you're in good shape, KB.
McGrory was on the first few eps of Carnivale as well...King's Andre the Giant quote just choked me up a little bit.
Welcome back Muppet, and congrats to IHAQ too!
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 08/12/2005 08:02 PM EST
Can You Feel The Love Tonight? I'm going to miss Golden Palace tonight...
"I'm Chuy, I don't want to be Crispy!"
Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 08/12/2005 08:38 PM EST
I get to watch GP tonight, for the first time. I'm up weekdays at 4am . Never would have heard of it if it wasn't for XE. I'd forgotten how funny the old ladies were.
Chestnuts roasted by kb is a barista @ 08/12/2005 11:27 PM EST
my 1st time posting,though this is my favorite web page.since a lot of people like star wars do any of you remember the star wars christmas album? here is the link http://www.i-mockery.com/shorts/starwars-xmas/
you can download the whole album on the page and it will play on windows media player.please do this so you can hear how bad it was.especially check out track #9 my daughter thought it was anakin singing,needless to say after i listened to track #9 I told her it wasnt anakin singing though if you listen to the lyrics it is funny to think of anakin singing these lyrics.my 9 yr old loves star wars and all she does is draw and read manga.she wants a plue doll from ravemaster.if you guys ever see one let me know.she told me she is going to be a famous artist when she grows up and we are moving to japan.matt you can come with us though it will be in about 10 yrs!also we have a new store called Desheng 99 cent store,im dying to check it out.matt would appreciate the desheng 99 cent store,im sure. no one will go with me to the store
Chestnuts roasted by becki @ 08/14/2005 02:29 PM EST
you guys are all fags!!!!!!
Chestnuts roasted by lowrider @ 08/16/2005 09:39 PM EST
I like those weird pens. I had pens witth little figures of animals, erasers, cartoons... but none with games and Etch's!!
Chestnuts roasted by Yelinna @ 08/18/2005 12:37 AM EST
i was pretty depressed tonight after getting dumped, but after reading the article about games in pens, well...the world is new!!!!! meaning i feel a hell of a lot better all because apparently matt would award his soul to a connect four game....awesome
Chestnuts roasted by karrie @ 08/21/2005 05:54 AM EST
Strange, stupid little article for you today, and it's all about 
