Wonder Woman pup: Cruel or Cute? (Photo by Ray Caspio) This is a public service announcement from the Alliance of People Against Costuming Animals. ALPACA, a nonprofit organization, exists today only for a sole purpose: to promote the principle that animals are not ours to clothe, costume, egregiously consume, or use for self-indulgent entertainment. ALPACA would like to remind you to take proper care of your pet during the Halloween season. There are ever-increasing societal pressures to costume your kitty, and organizations actively working to brainwash the public to believe that canines enjoy being clothed or costumed. Nothing could be farther from the truth; just take one look into the eyes of some poor animal that has been stuffed into a sweater or a superhero outfit and you will understand. In fact, forcing your pet into a costume can be a highly traumatic experience for both of you, not unlike forcing a cat to take a pill. We urge you to take advantage of this holiday to protest the wardrobing of animals by picketing your local pet costume contest. You are strongly encouraged to display your pet (and yourself) in the apparel that nature gave you. Spread the message that animals do not need to wear anything: They come completely equipped with their own fur! Suggested Sites... Yahoo! Shopping: Pet Costumes - deck the dog with spooky clothing. Flickr: Halloween Pets - howlingly funny. I-Mockery: Pet Costumes - no, really -- this is a serious issue. Howl-o-ween Hop for Hounds - and now our contestants will compete in the howling contest.

Directory categories: Dog Costumes, Cat Costumes, Human Costumes, Pet Homepages, Animal Rights Organizations

Archived under: Animal Rights, Animals, Costumes, Halloween, In Character, Pets, Protests

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Makeup artist Chris Stanley at work (Photo by Sonic Vision Productions) If you don't have your Halloween costume ready yet, it's not too late; you can always turn to bad puns or creepy masks if you're short on time. But if you really want to wow people with your costume (or terrorize trick-or-treaters), theatrical makeup can create an impressive look in a hurry. Turning yourself or your loved ones into the living dead might sound daunting, but there are plenty of makeup experts online who can walk you through it. From professional makeup artists to costume enthusiasts to Halloween junkies, there's no shortage of makeup mavens with online tutorials and tips. They'll treat you with advice for all your cosmetic costuming needs, whether you're becoming a monster, piling on the gore, or simply changing your age, gender, or species. They can teach you to make your own cosmetics, or to use store-bought products safely. And while some elaborate looks might require years of experience, there are plenty of options for special effects makeup newbies. A shaky hand might make a gory look even scarier. With so much expert advice online, the possibilities are almost endless. What will you wear this Halloween? Suggested Sites... Susan's Halloween Makeup Hints - tips for face paint, blood and gore, and 3D effects. DIY Fake Wounds - a series of instructional videos from a professional special effects makeup artist. Blood Recipes and Tips - plenty of gross (and sometimes tasty) recipes for blood, scabs, and gore. Mask and Makeup Links - a huge collection of links from The Costumer's Manifesto. Flickr: Artistic Makeup - a pool of images of creative makeup effects, from gory to gorgeous.

Directory categories: Special Effects Makeup, Makeup Artists, Halloween Costume Ideas, Cosmetics, Costuming

Archived under: Cosmetics, Costumes, Fashion, Hair, Halloween, Holidays, Performing Arts

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(Photo by Carleton Torpin) From Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I: Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man, but will they come when you do call for them? Well, if you believe the proponents of EVP, the spirits will come. EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomena, is one of the ways ghost hunters "prove" that the dead walk among us, even though we can't hear or see them. The technique is simple enough that anyone can do it. First, set up a recording device in a place where voices couldn't possibly be heard or where you suspect ghosts are lurking. Next, leave the recorder running or ask questions. Finally, listen to the (mostly unintelligible) recording. If you're lucky, you'll get such fascinating messages from the afterworld as "what's that" or "not me." If the dearly departed were making so much effort to send a signal from the Great Beyond, maybe they should be more interesting or informative. But, hey, who are we to criticize the dead? Regardless of whether EVPs are legit or not, even the skeptic in us has to admit they're pretty creepy. Suggested Sites... Ghostly Voices - do-it-yourself guide to recording gabby ghosts. Phone Calls From the Dead - talk about your long distance calls! (Don't let them reverse the charges!) Committee for Skeptical Enquiry: Electronic Voice Phenomena - not everyone is convinced. International Ghost Hunters Society - recording ghost voices for you since 1996. Listen to the archive. Wikipedia: Electronic Voice Phenomena - historical overview of EVP from Edison to digital.

Directory categories: Ghosts, Paranormal Phenomena, Electronic Voice Phenomena, Psychics, Spiritualism

Archived under: Communication, Death, Eavesdropping, Ghosts, Halloween, Hauntings, Paranormal, Technology, Weird Stuff

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(Photo by Kenneth Lu) Get lost! Normally not such a pleasant sentiment, but that's exactly what droves of people are doing this autumn: getting happily lost in corn mazes. Inspired by myths of the Greek labyrinth at Knossos and the hedge puzzles of Medieval and Renaissance Europe, a corn (or maize) maze is a life-size puzzle where adventure, if not a hungry Minotaur, lurks among the stalks. Mazes are part and parcel of a variety of agritourism that includes pumpkin patches, apple picking, and hayrides. As small farms find it increasingly difficult to eke out a traditional living, these attractions offer alternate uses for land resources. Not only do they bring in tourist revenue, but they help urbanites reconnect with the land, learn about food production from the source, and enjoy a little fall fun. Modern corn mazes, replete with bridges, tunnels, and costumed guides, have proliferated in the last decade, and are now de rigueur harvest-time attractions. Dozens of professional maze companies have cropped up in recent years and the challenge is on to build the biggest and best. According to Guinness, this year's prize for size belongs to Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, California. The sheer enormity of their 40-acre maze required the owners to set up a phone line to help lost wanderers find their way out. Now that's a-MAIZE-ing! Suggested Sites... Pumpkin Patches and More - directory of corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and other harvest-time fun. The MAiZE - one of the world’s largest cornfield maze companies. "Mazes and Labryinths" - online version of the classic book by W.H. Matthews. Agritourism World - find agritourism destinations around the world.

Directory categories: Mazes, Halloween, Corn Crops, Corn Recipes, Agribusiness

Archived under: Autumn, Corn, Entertainment, Halloween, Mazes, Recreation and Travel, Theme Parks, Tourist Attractions

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Eyeball margarita, anyone? (Photo by Kimberly Brown-Azzarello) We throw unforgettable dinner parties. We've spent years perfecting haute cuisine recipes like penicillin pizza and eyeball tacos. We've pored over wine pairings for poached brains and baked fingers. And we know that it's not all about the delicious monster toes; presentation is important, too. There's a science to getting the right shade of blood and spattering it artistically on a platter. To host a truly memorable soirée, you have to notice the details, down to the tiniest spider or tooth. Sure, some of our guests seem to rush through their meals, gulping down zombies by the glass. But by the time they take that final, delicious bite of kitty litter cake or brain cupcake, they're so impressed they're nearly speechless. In fact, they're usually in such a hurry to get home and try their own versions of stuffed intestines or bloodshot eyeballs that they rush out without even saying good night! We can forgive their haste, of course -- as fellow foodies we appreciate the thrill of discovering a new dish. Sharing our culinary adventures truly warms our hearts. Suggested Sites... Perfect Entertaining: Halloween Edition - tips for Halloween hosts, with tons of recipes for appetizers, main courses, drinks, and snacks. Britta's Halloween Recipes - ghoulishly tasty Halloween treats, complete with detailed instructions and gruesome images. Ghoulish Treats - yummy Halloween snacks with some gross-out options, too. Rancid Recipes - featuring treats like worm burgers, poop dip, and mucous membrane milkshakes. Epicurious Halloween Recipes - if you like your tasty treats a bit more tasteful.

Directory categories: Halloween Recipes, Halloween Displays and Decorations, Halloween Supplies, Party Planning, Party Games

Archived under: Decorating, Food and Drink, Halloween, Holidays, Home and Garden, Parties, Recipes

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