The X-Ray Spex Holiday Shopping Guide, Part 1: 'It's Poo-Flinging Fun!'

What with Black Friday over and the Christmas shopping season under way, you're probably feeling the pressure to somehow, against all odds, find the perfect gift for that special person.

Relax. X-Ray Spex is here to help.


Armed with the copy of "The Lighter Side Co." Catalog that arrived in the mail (completely unsolicited, I assure you) a few days ago, I'm going to offer several suggestions between now and Dec. 25 that would make the Yuletide brighter for anyone on your list.

I'm kidding of course. What I'm really going to do is share this amazingly awful collection of "gifts" with you and do my best to milk it for a few desperate laughs. "The Lighter Side" is just the latest incarnation of the Johnson Smith Company, the same folks who've been selling whoopee cushions and fake dog crap out of the backs of comic books since the 1930s. You'll be relieved to know that (a) the company is still in business and (b) they've managed to invent even less sophisticated products to sell to the rubes. I mean, there's a certain simple genius in a piece of fake dog crap, but what about that "Kickasserole" personalized casserole dish displayed on the cover above. Can you even conceive of a mind that would order such a thing, let along serve food in it?

Me neither. Let's begin, shall we? And speaking of fake crap...



I have to admit: I'm curious to read those instructions just so I can learn the rules of the "fun games" the catalog promises. More fun than throwing fake crap at my friend's head? Really?