Hey guys - sorry I haven't been around much this past week or so, it's been pretty busy here and I've been burned out. If you missed it, there's a new article up about the Ninja Turtles Anti-Drug Commercial, and another coming by tonight, or by morning the latest.
We're (I say 'we're' meaning me and Mike, the guy who does the more fancy main page graphics and design) currently in the midst of a massive redesign project for the site. The change is pretty drastic, but I think you'll get used to it fairly quickly since the articles will be way more organized and purdy. The main and archive pages themselves will look a lot 'cleaner,' too. It's been a pretty arduous task of trial and error and working with lots of templates for the past month and a half or so, but we've finally made some serious progress. You might see some of the changes today if the pace keeps up.
Oh yeah, tomorrow's my birthday. How old am I going to be? Too old to write about He-Man. But the same could be said on my last birthday, so no worries.
REPLIES: 42 comments
well let me be the first to say happy birthday! hope you get cool stuff.
Chestnuts roasted by iamjesus @ 02/05/2003 08:18 AM EST
let me be the second to say happy birthday.
i remember an anti drugslesson when i was at school seemed more concerned on HOW TO TAKE DRUGS PROPERLY rather than getting us to not take em.
trouble is, round my way, its just to hard to get em.
Chestnuts roasted by tin man @ 02/05/2003 08:30 AM EST
guess Im third to say happy birthday. I must say props to you on making me remember the turkey line. I actually used it once on a guy who offered me pot. We had a good laugh about it and then proceded to light up a joint.
Chestnuts roasted by alex @ 02/05/2003 09:13 AM EST
im FORF to say happy birfday! woooohoooooo! I can't wait to see the new layout. I bet it will be "l337".
Chestnuts roasted by wack0 @ 02/05/2003 09:21 AM EST
Happy B-Day to ya brotha man! Hope all is well with u and the lady, and let me know when the festivities will be held at the Tropicana...... I'll be sure to throw 20 on Black for ya!
Chestnuts roasted by Draven @ 02/05/2003 10:33 AM EST
here's hoping someone slips you one of those neat nike transformers for your birthday.
Chestnuts roasted by evin @ 02/05/2003 10:56 AM EST
Happy Birthday big boy! If you need a hot stripper to jump out from a cake you know where to find me... kisses...
Chestnuts roasted by Jess @ 02/05/2003 11:09 AM EST
Happy Birthday. This site, and Penny Arcade are the only two non-wrestling sites I really read on a regular basis. Since wrestling sites are just bitching about stuff that is wrong with rasslin, I need a break, and come to X-E to you know, SMILE.
May you find the GPK movie and not be gouged for it.
Chestnuts roasted by Casey Jones @ 02/05/2003 12:08 PM EST
Happy Birthday!
Chestnuts roasted by sarah @ 02/05/2003 12:29 PM EST
Happy Birthday Big Matt!!! Hope that it's all you wish for.
Chestnuts roasted by scottyc @ 02/05/2003 12:37 PM EST
Happy Birthday, you twit! I mean that in a good way, of course. Kick azz, Matt!
Chestnuts roasted by Chimporama @ 02/05/2003 12:53 PM EST
Happy Birthday ma ma ma matt!
Chestnuts roasted by Kitty & Jack - Mreowww @ 02/05/2003 01:00 PM EST
My surname being "Chicken", that comeback shall come in rather useful, although it would require me to deny my family name...
Oh, and Happy Bidet, Matt :).
Chestnuts roasted by Feral @ 02/05/2003 01:02 PM EST
Happy birthday!! I think that we, the devoted readers of X-E, are going to give you the greatest present of all. We(the aforementioned readers) are going to STOP bitching about the Advent Calendar and move on. Although I doubt I'm speaking for all of us...
Chestnuts roasted by Jeremy @ 02/05/2003 01:21 PM EST
Happy Birthday Matt!!! Thanks for the great site. Turkey!
Chestnuts roasted by The Toxic Avenger @ 02/05/2003 01:22 PM EST
Is this how you're spending your birthday, Matt? You're obviously on drugs! That would explain why there's been sporadic updates (plus the Christmas Advent Calendar). Remember what Donatello says: "Drugs are for dorks!"
Happy birthday. Don't spend all your birthday money on drugs.
Chestnuts roasted by Evan @ 02/05/2003 02:52 PM EST
Happy birthday, Matt. May the Matrix e'er shine bright upon you, or some shit like that. Have a good one, man.
Chestnuts roasted by The Lucky One @ 02/05/2003 03:24 PM EST
Yeah, but what the hell did Donatello know about getting high if he's never even tried it?
Chestnuts roasted by Jeremy @ 02/05/2003 03:47 PM EST
Happy B-Day, Matt!
I was wondering, are you still writing that No Holds Barred article? and are there any more 80s commercials coming to XE in the downloads section?
Chestnuts roasted by "Handsome" John Pruitt @ 02/05/2003 04:08 PM EST
Happy Birthday, Matt!
Chestnuts roasted by Nemesis @ 02/05/2003 04:35 PM EST
What a coincidence! My birthday is today! Maybe our parents conceived us at the same old-person orgy! Now there is a thought that should drive you to drink on your big day!
Loved the Turtle/Drug article, but you missed the best part! After the "Turkey" is informed that, yes, he is a "Turkey" and is left alone, you should have had a shot of his face. It is one of contemplation. It is clear that Billy's words hurt him not just for the anger behind them, but for their truth. "Maybe, he's right. Maybe I am a turkey. MY GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MY LIFE!"
Did either of those kids win an Adsy, or whatever the commercial awards or called. A Cleo I think?
Chestnuts roasted by Woolhouse @ 02/05/2003 05:40 PM EST
Happy birthday, Matt! Just remember, it's okay that you're too old to write about He-Man...I'm too old to read about He-Man (as I'm sure many readers here are), but that hasn't stopped me yet.
On the topic of commercials, do you remember the "When you tell one lie, it leads to another" musical commercial that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Morons...er, make that Mormons) did years ago? I'd love to see that added to the commercial page, since a review would probably be pretty short and pointless.
That said, fuck the advent calendar, fuck No Holds Barred (I could give a damn what that smell is)...I want Garbage Pail Kids...godspeed getting your hands on it!
Chestnuts roasted by Teddy Ray @ 02/05/2003 05:48 PM EST
Oh man, I love that commercial. I don't know anyone my age who doesn't respond to "You're a chicken," with "I'm not a chicken, you're a turky!" Gyad, I love that. Thanks for bringing back some hilarious memories. By the way, Happy Birthday.
Chestnuts roasted by jakerdoodle @ 02/05/2003 05:51 PM EST
Just another well-wisher: Happy Birthday! Here's to another great year full of X-E and Matt-ness. Wohoo!
Chestnuts roasted by Mary @ 02/05/2003 07:31 PM EST
Happy birthday Matt! Just wanted to tell you that most of the people reading your site are probably too old to be reading about he-man. So don't worry about it. Keep up th good work!
Chestnuts roasted by Eric @ 02/05/2003 07:50 PM EST
Have a Funk'n good birthday and if you're good I might send my blessings upon you. And George (Clinton) might show up too! But still Happy Birthday
Chestnuts roasted by Dr. Funkenstein @ 02/05/2003 08:27 PM EST
What everyone else has been saying -- have a great birthday, dude! The TMNTs themselves will be around to celebrate with you in pers...turtle this weekend with the first ep of their new show. They'll be a little late, but still, how tubular is that? Everyone loves you, guy :DD
Chestnuts roasted by Wes @ 02/05/2003 10:15 PM EST
Dude, I remember that TMNT Drug Ad from a long ass time ago, and reading your review made it all the funnier. Good stuff..
Oh yeah, and happy b-day to ya.
Chestnuts roasted by OmegaSox @ 02/05/2003 10:36 PM EST
Holy christ in heaven! The re-do of the site looks fabulous! I was wondering what was keeping you out of action for so many days. Really, it looks spectacular! Big props to you and Mike! Keep up the good work!
Chestnuts roasted by Yeti @ 02/06/2003 12:14 AM EST
Going along with this thread's themes of birthdays and smoking pot, Matt was born on the same day as Bob Marley. (though obviously not the same year)
Also, Axl Rose, but you know. Nothing to be proud of. He's fat now and doesn't have any eyebrows.
Feliz Cumpleanos, cheif.
Chestnuts roasted by Thomas Bombadil @ 02/06/2003 12:27 AM EST
I don't like change myself either, but if the archives are working I will live with it, and if the new design doesn't have as many pop-ups I'm down with it. Matt, if you are too old to write about He-Man and the other stuff featured here, then I am certainly too old to be reading about it, but I read all the same...
Chestnuts roasted by pate @ 02/06/2003 05:00 AM EST
I like the new look,if you care...
Happy Birthday,I'll be staying home from work and watching TV in your honor...
Chestnuts roasted by Kid Cthulhu @ 02/06/2003 06:40 AM EST
medium time reader - first time writer. Happy Birthday and thank you for keeping my work days filled usefull oddness
Chestnuts roasted by Stephen Jeremiah @ 02/06/2003 08:38 AM EST
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! your an inspiration to us all.
Chestnuts roasted by James Hicks @ 02/06/2003 09:08 AM EST
i bought my missus a bong for valenines day :)
also i for one am very interested in no holds barred and all aforementioned smells okay?
Chestnuts roasted by 'tin man @ 02/06/2003 09:18 AM EST
NOOOO
The advent calendar is gone!
I'll never know what happened to the Mare Winninghams!
Chestnuts roasted by bob @ 02/06/2003 09:18 AM EST
BAH! it's all UGO-ified. bleh. I never really liked UGO's site design. Oh well. As long as we don't get those gigantic ad frames in the middle of articles I think I can deal.
Happy birthday.
Chestnuts roasted by evin @ 02/06/2003 11:06 AM EST
It's also riddled with secrets. There's eight mystery mp3 links hidden in one of the subsections.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 02/06/2003 11:23 AM EST
Matt, I've been a long time reader of this site, and I have to say, your review of the TMNT Anti Drug commercial thing made me laugh until I cried. Thank you so much. You're the best.
Chestnuts roasted by Kelly @ 02/06/2003 10:49 PM EST
I remember this commercial very, very vividly. I remember thinking when I was little that it was really mean to not even talk to a drug dealer. I knew not to do drugs and that they were bad, but somehow that seemed unreasonably cruel to my young mind.
Chestnuts roasted by Scythemantis @ 02/07/2003 01:59 PM EST
Matt-
I know I'm a little late, but happy birthday! I've been reading this site for some time. 2 years? 3 years? I don't know. It's great, you are great, and I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
Chestnuts roasted by Sara-Jane @ 02/09/2003 09:55 AM EST
First of all Happy B-Day. Secondly, to comment on the post, I have to disagree with the change. This new design feels more artifical. The other site designs you had, had something more, a certain gensequa (okay so i don't know french).
Chestnuts roasted by big will @ 02/12/2003 01:05 AM EST
