Reviews, Awards, Compliments, etc, etc

The awards

The reviews

• Excite rated Toxic Custard a "must see" (4/4) site in its Humor Magazines section, and gave it this review:

Coarse language, religious parody, hate mail, Life in the Office and everything else sidesplittingly funny from this Melbourne, Australia, mag. Don't miss the Toxic Custard Shakespeare (What if Romeo had gone to the wrong balcony?) and the TC Custarpedia, the world's silliest reference work.

• NetGuide included Toxic Custard in its Best Of The Web section, and said:

If you have some spare time, The Toxic Custard Workshop Files is a zany place to murder it. Sort of like a bad Mel Brooks movie -- "Spaceballs" comes to mind -- Toxic Custard's crammed with so many strange jokes that if you don't like one, no worries, there are a million more right on its tail. The creator of this humor magazine, Australian Daniel Bowen, has "Custardized" the works of Shakespeare, and if that doesn't zing you, there's a "Custardpedia" giving new definitions to seemingly half the words in the English language. Then, just like Brooks, he's created a history of the world to put it all in perspective. Plenty of other diversions, including updates on Bowen Jr. and five years of backfill will succeed in keeping you busy well into the next century.

Ratings:
Overall 3/5
Content 3/5
Design 2/5
Personality 4/5

• Geoffrey's Geek Guide made Toxic Custard a Geek Site Of The Week in October 1996, and offered the following review:

  I'm always extremely chuffed when I can present a home-grown Australian geek site to the world. Why? Probably because I think it helps the world forgive us for some of the abominations that we've accidentally inflicted on it - things like Rolf Harris, Clive James, Germaine Greer, Air Supply and (may the Lord forgive us) Rupert Murdoch. So this week I'm extremely pleased to offer up The Toxic Custard Workshop Files (and no, I don't know where the custard fits in) which is now mirrored all over the world. The singular work of Daniel Bowen, the TCWF contain an awesome array of things that bear almost no relationship to each other- from the Dictionary of Computing (where we learn that RAM is what you do when the plug doesn't quite fit) to contemporary Shakespeare ("Hark! What light thru yonder wombat breaks!") to the new adventures of Ron & Jeff and advice on contemporary office practices, photocopiers and bathroom etiquette. In fact, there's so much at this site that you could easily spend an entire evening chuckling over it and still not reach the end. Frankly, I don't know why Daniel has done all of this - and just as frankly, I don't care. See it for yourself

  ---

• In the middle of the Australian Federal election coverage, the Toxic Custard Political Circus got a write-up in The West Australian on February 20th 1996. Shame they didn't quote the URL, but hey, that's life.

[Special thanks to Alicia Smith for spotting this article]

• Point rated Toxic Custard as:
  Content: 38 / 50
  Presentation: 29 / 50
  Experience: 37 / 50
  ... and said

Aside from being, hands down, one of the ugliest Web pages you'll ever see, (!! I can only presume - and hope - they meant that horrible old dark blocky background I used to use) Aussie Daniel Bowen's Toxic Custard Workship (sic) Files makes a great place to waste some time. Ostensibly an archive of fun essays penned by Bowen over more than five years, expect some quality writing on a huge assortment of topics from seat selection on public transportation to the "Moron of the Week." Before or after reading, drop by the Custard Gallery, where you'll learn how $230 Australian dollars can ensure your personal safety (for the impatient: It's an artificial latex man to sit next to your in your car, clothing not included).

Hmm.. Not so bad. I just love their use of the word ostensibly. And it means we can proudly display this Point 5% logo thing.

• The Comedy Zone described Toxic Custard as:

a humor "Zine" with an Australian accent offering a "down under" perspective. Plan on buying several six-packs of Fosters so you can learn to speak Australian and keep up with it. Published about once a week, usually on Monday. Has several mirror sites and an e-mail column. Written by Daniel Bowen of Melbourne, Australia.

• ZDNet's Internet Underground rated TCWF a 4/5 and said:

Visit the Custardcopia or learn of the Toxic History of the World in what may be one of the funniest and odd reference sites on the Web.

• Magellan, McKinley's guide to the Web, awarded TCWF one star (out of five!). Here's what they said:

The Toxic Custard Workshop Files is a site of nonsensical, humorous writings. Users will find a 'custard history of the world' that features one twisted person's views on major events; a 'custardpedia' (sic) containing humorous looks at words such as abattoir, goldfish, egg, and baseball; and a 'custard virtual gallery' of funny and absurd drawings, and cartoons with political and psychological themes.

• Jade Leth said:

I found the most entertaining and hilarious journal site yesterday, www.toxiccustard.com The dude lives in Melbourne which is a plus in his favour, but his site is the the most hilarious thing I have read in ages. It's so good that I could even look past the fact that he used Times New Roman. So, I recommend that you go take a look.
...
I mentioned this site yesterday but I am going to mention it again because I think that it is just absolutely excellently hilarious. The Diary of an Average Australian. It's really a great site, and you should go there. I'm not sure if it would be humourous to everyone though, or if it's just funny because I'm Australian, or because I'm Victorian. Oh well. You should go there anyway so that he gets hits and feels good.

• The Melbourne Herald Sun:

Herald Sun, 2/10/2000

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