October 1, 2004

October Edition

*gasp!* What the hell happened around here? It seems as though my website has gone bad and claimed its first victim. This could only mean one thing, it’s October again. Here we are, a treat to all mankind, to celebrate the greatest month of the year, bearer of the greatest holiday of the year, Halloween; I give to you the October Edition of my site. For the limited time of one month only, you will remain privy to the gruesome spectacle you see before you (please empty your cache if things look out of sorts).

The days are getting shorter and the brisk air carries a muffled howl on its back. We are just off the cusp of the seasons’ change, and Autumn is in full swing. I love this time of year best. There is a marked mood shift that just make me smile, and what better way to embrace that then to share it with you and decorate your most favorite site. It was fun to do last year at this time, so I figured I would give it another go… turning it into a tradition of sorts. As an added bonus, like last year, there will be some posts littered with holiday cheer for your viewing, listening, and reading pleasure. So, in the meantime, hang around… but don’t turn your back, this site has already claimed one victim.

Update

Inman’s site has gone bad too. It seems my site is infecting the web… beware! Save yourself!

Commentary (38):

1. Keith says… oct 1, 2004 | 1:09 am

I like it. Very Clive Barker. Fun stuff man.

2. Darice de Cuba says… oct 1, 2004 | 1:46 am

That’s really clever of you. This website feels like an old horror/detective story. I’ll be keeping an eye on the website to see how many more victims it will claim.

3. Mike says… oct 1, 2004 | 2:18 am

Hahah, headless and reanimated :)

Nice touch!

4. Terrence Ryan says… oct 1, 2004 | 2:23 am

Holy crap that’s cool.

That’s it, nothing of any substance to say. Just fricking cool.

5. Aaron Egaas says… oct 1, 2004 | 3:32 am

Great attention to detail. I love the fingerprints on the right sidebar.

Care to share your techniqies for that “Wicked Evil Look?” Especcially the blood.

6. Daniel Oliver says… oct 1, 2004 | 3:40 am

I love the fingerprints and the new colours look pretty neat as well as the blood.
How did you get the blood so realistic and with the prints?

7. Jon Hicks says… oct 1, 2004 | 4:07 am

Daniel - lets just say that what Jason doesn’t know about blood effects, ain’t worth knowin’.

8. Steve says… oct 1, 2004 | 5:00 am

Wow, looks wicked jason. The blue gradient header just looks amazing!

9. Jason Santa Maria says… oct 1, 2004 | 6:28 am

Well, the blood was actually very easy to do. It was the palette that I flip-flopped with for a little bit (since my usual colors aren’t a far cry from Halloween themed).

To get the blood look I simply took my trusty bottle of everyday, household India Ink and made droplets with a brush on paper. For the ones that look a bit more soaked in, I made droplets on a paper napkin. Then I got my fingers into it, smearing and fingerprinting to my heart’s content (the fingerprints are actually a bit altered from my real prints in the final version). Everything was scanned in, I grabbed the ones I liked best, played with the colors until the right red was achieved and called it a day. I probably could have just pricked my finger, or waited for the elevator from The Shining to stop at my floor… but where is the challenge in that.

10. bearskinrug says… oct 1, 2004 | 7:50 am

What I find scariest about this update is that apparently someone wrote a SERIES of pulp novels about Jason Santa Maria.

Lousy hacks…

11. Papuass says… oct 1, 2004 | 8:03 am

Hee, Red October ;)

12. ray says… oct 1, 2004 | 8:24 am

Gotta love bloody fingerprints. Nice additions to the layout :)

13. RJ Hampden says… oct 1, 2004 | 8:37 am

So, wait.
We’re supposed to be looking at the back of a paperbound book here?
Oh, [tilting head] I see it now.
This looks really nice, the blue reminds me of an autumnal suppertime.
[applause]

14. Dale Cruse says… oct 1, 2004 | 8:48 am

Spook! Nice! I recently redesigned my blog as well. Mission Style isn’t really scary, but apparently it’s the season to rejigger. Nice!

This live Commentary Preview is sweet as well!

15. Dan Mall says… oct 1, 2004 | 9:25 am

Haha! Now I have your fingerprints, Jason! (Although I don’t really know what I would do with that . . . )

16. Vinnie Garcia says… oct 1, 2004 | 9:48 am

Nice! I always love a good Halloween theme.

17. Chris Moritz says… oct 1, 2004 | 10:55 am

I’m scared! What’s that noise behind me in the bushes?

*stab *stab *stab

… *thump

18. jeremy says… oct 1, 2004 | 10:57 am

Excellent. So, the first victim wouldn’t happen to be the loser of last nights presidential debate would it? ha!

Excellent work as usual.

19. JohnyB says… oct 1, 2004 | 11:48 am

Hmm, creepy…

Did you have to cut yourself and spill your blood to spice the page up? ;)

20. Kevin Tamura says… oct 1, 2004 | 11:52 am

Jason, you have me very scared. I have to keep lookiong over my shoulder to make sure no one is behind me.

21. John Whittet says… oct 1, 2004 | 12:05 pm

You know, the absolute first thing I do after I kill someone (and have blood all over my hands) is go read a good book. Forget washing hands or worrying about forensic evidence. Nah, it’s that new Dan Brown book I can’t keep my hands off of.

Not that I’ve ever killed anyone or anything. :furtive look:

22. Alexis Bellido says… oct 1, 2004 | 12:32 pm

Nice work Jason! By the way, is Santa Maria your real last name … or maybe Vorhees?

Really scary … :)

23. Andy Budd says… oct 1, 2004 | 12:50 pm

Love it

24. authgeek says… oct 1, 2004 | 1:07 pm

It looks really great! And still just $0.40! You can’t get blood splatters like this just anywhere

25. Brady J. Frey says… oct 1, 2004 | 1:18 pm

Very stylish, very cool — as my favorite holiday of the year, I love to see the support.

26. Martin says… oct 1, 2004 | 3:31 pm

Halloween isn’t such a big deal ‘round my way (although that’s changing)…

But even so, and as per usual, it’s a joy to contemplate y’ colours.

27. Jason Beaird says… oct 1, 2004 | 4:57 pm

Love the details! I think Madness, Mayhem, and Death are much better subjects than Action, Science, and Adventure. At least for October.

28. Jim Amos says… oct 1, 2004 | 5:14 pm

Absolutely awesome. Wow good implimentation of the comment preview too. Happy October.

29. Yannick L. says… oct 1, 2004 | 7:06 pm

Nice Jason. I like it alot. Nice change. Pity its only for a month ;)

30. yafujifide says… oct 1, 2004 | 7:40 pm

Nice! I like it a lot!

31. Seth Thomas Rasmussen says… oct 1, 2004 | 11:46 pm

Nice stuff, man. *clapclap*

32. Shaun Inman says… oct 1, 2004 | 11:52 pm

Ouch, looks like another victim has surfaced. Thanks for sharing your “ink” Stan.

33. Peter Asquith says… oct 2, 2004 | 12:34 am

Terrific! Love the attention to detail.

34. Dave Child says… oct 2, 2004 | 9:13 am

Great design - especially love the “Headless and Reanimated” tagline. The World’s first Zombie Blog…

35. Eddie says… oct 2, 2004 | 10:47 am

Nice touch, Jason! It sorta pulls away from your Jimmy Buffet influence.

36. Sujay says… oct 2, 2004 | 6:33 pm

Ooh, nice. Can’t wait to see what comes next.

37. Rod Howard says… oct 4, 2004 | 3:18 am

Great design. I really like the bloody finger prints on the sidebar.

38. Anton says… oct 5, 2004 | 6:00 pm

Blast! The plot thickens. ;)