Seriously, does this kitty look like bad luck? (Photo by Adhi Rachdian) Today is Friday the 13th, which is supposed to be an unlucky day. Why this is, no one is exactly sure. There are plenty of theories, ranging from the numerological to the religious to the historical, but nothing concrete. For some folks, it's just another day, but for others, it's something to be taken seriously while being reminded of our phobias. With that in mind, we polled some of our fellow Yahoo!s to find out what they were afraid of, and what they do to ward off bad luck. In fact, there turned out to be so many fears and cures that we had to break it all up into three parts. Not surprisingly, some of our colleagues suffer from coulrophobia, or an unnatural fear of clowns: Sarah: I'm afraid of clowns and roller coasters, which is interesting, considering I worked at an amusement park for two years in college. Mike: People with a lot of makeup on make me ill -- literally. Like, I can't eat around clowns and stuff. I'll totally hurl. (Editor's note: That might inspire emetophobia in some other folks.) Mahlon suffers from xyrophobia: Razor blades, especially straight razors or double-sided razors, creep me out! Whenever I see them, I feel especially vulnerable around the throat and inner arms. Eek! And gum chewing -- not a phobia exactly, but I will cross the street or leave the room to avoid seeing or hearing it. Adam has acrophobia: Heights. Even driving over on-ramps or off-ramps that are way off the ground freaks me out. Majorly high bridges, zip lines, and other activities that put your body more than a dozen feet off the ground freak me out, too. Robert: I'm afraid of mirrors in dark rooms and doors that are open to dark hallways. I don’t know what might come through them. Helene: I can't stand alignments, like military parades. ("Don’t put that one in," she says. "People will think I’m crazy.") Personally, I have a fear of things that are too big. Not big objects, but things that are larger than they're supposed to be. The first (and only) time I saw Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" airplane, I nearly had a panic attack, because the thing was just too damn big. Coming up Monday: Media-inspired phobias. Watch out for those black cats this weekend! Suggested Sites... Snopes: Friday the 13th - myths and legends about the date. Wikipedia: Friday the 13th - an historic overview. How Friday the 13th Works - doesn't it just roll around? Wikipedia: Luck - what it is, and how to get it. Skeptic's Dictionary: Paraskevidekatriaphobia - a rational view of the fear.

Directory categories: Friday the 13th, Superstitions, Phobias, Friday the 13th Movie Series

Archived under: Curses, Friday the 13th, Holidays, Numbers, Phobias, Psychology, Society and Culture, Superstition

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Spc. Jesse A. Murphree greets his comrades returning from deployment in Afghanistan (Photo by The U.S. Army) War, with all of its accompanying horrors and destruction, doesn't seem to be on the decline. It is a huge part of our past and future, and is a shaping force in human culture. Regardless of how one feels about war, or politics, or military policy, I would hazard a guess that most people support, in one way or another, the troops who ship off and fight. It follows that we should set aside politics in our commitment to these soldiers after they've completed their service. As much as ever, veterans need community support. They face PTSD, homelessness, high suicide rates, unemployment, and general difficulties transitioning back into civilian life. Fortunately, many communities and national organizations are stepping up. In Michigan, jobless veterans can participate in a new training program designed to prepare them for farm jobs. Across the country, many restaurants will be offering veterans free meals on Veterans Day. At the national level, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki recently announced that he hopes to end veterans' homelessness within five years. The VA has also recently begun a program to address mental and emotional issues early on in a service member's military career. Private organizations are playing a part as well. Puppies Behind Bars, where prison inmates train service dogs, has started training many of their dogs with the special needs of veterans in mind. The recent tragedy at Fort Hood illustrates the desperate need for mental health services in the military. This surely includes indentifying and fixing those parts of the system that are failing service members, but each of us can increase our awareness and sensitivity to the needs of these people in our communities... because if you don’t already know a veteran, you probably will. Suggested Sites... U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Mental Health - resources for veterans and their families, connecting people to the services they need. National Coalition for Homeless Veterans - providing advocacy for homeless veterans and support for service providers. Transition Assistance Online - lists employment opportunities for separating military service members and veterans. Take A Veteran To School Day - a national teach-in on veterans history. U.S. Department of Defense Community Relations - connecting the troops and the community.

Directory categories: Veterans Day, Veterans, Veterans Organizations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Employment Resources for Veterans

Archived under: American History, Government, Holidays, Mental Health, Military, Society and Culture, Veterans, Veterans Day, War

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You've got to give Guy Fawkes credit. Even after being tortured, he still signed his confession with a fake name. "Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason, and plot...." Now, most readers of The Spark will be more than familiar with the traditional British festival of Guy Fawkes Day, but as the only current Spark contributor from the Sceptred Isle, I feel it falls to me on this most gruesome of days to set the record straight a little on this most macabre and sinister cultural event. Now, don’t get me wrong, I abhor the way the PC brigade, however well-intentioned, continually assaults our freedom to celebrate religious events for fear of offending those who may not share their particular values. However, I feel with Guy Fawkes the PC movement’s efforts should be doubled and rewarded with considerable financial backing. As I have aged and had children of my own, I have had to reassess what the event really means, and let me tell you, it sits in stark contrast to what I thought it meant 25 years ago. Take a look at this: Guy Fawkes Day What it meant to me then: A fun family evening when communities come together to share the experiences of good company, good food, and pretty fireworks. What it means to me now: The bloodthirsty Protestant glorification of the violent torture and execution of a Catholic dissident. Let me tell you, King James I and the practice of hanging, drawing, and quartering made Dick Cheney and water-boarding look a party game for kids. Anyone questioning my views on this should visit the town of Lewes, where the annual bonfire celebrations routinely include hooded torch-wielding enthusiasts burning effigies of the Pope with wanton abandon. Penny for the Guy What it meant to me then: A wholesome childhood activity that kept us off the streets, taught us the value of recycling, and put a few extra pennies in our pockets. What it means to me now: The building -- by children -- of an effigy of a minority political activist with the express intent of burning it publically. Seriously, what is the lesson here? And why do we get kids to do it? The Bonfire What it meant to me then:  Staring in wonder at the gigantic imposing inferno, just close enough to feel your cheeks, palms, and synthetic clothing fibers tingle; a rare chance to be face-to-face with the most deadly of elements. What it means to me now: A holocaust for hedgehogs. As the bonfire is slowly constructed in the days leading up to Guy Fawkes Night, the desperately cute (although undeniably stupid) hedgehog -- in perhaps one of Mother Nature’s cruelest of practical jokes -- is looking for a safe, cozy spot for winter hibernation. He sees the bonfire. He enters the bonfire. One can only imagine the inter-hedgehog conversations nationwide as the flames and smoke engulf them: "It’s a bit warm in here, isn’t it?" So what is the government doing to stop this egregious chain of events? Aside from painfully patronizing public information announcements about fireworks and bonfires being dangerous and hot -- nothing at all. So the message is loud and clear: Relive the persecution of Catholics, let your children burn their effigies freely, and rub salt into the mortal wounds of a man who has already been more than adequately punished and vilified... just try to be safe while you do it. Suggested Sites... The Gunpowder Plot Society - a comprehensive rundown of who, what, why, and where. The British Government Site - exactly how does Mr. Brown explain this one away? Guy Fawkes-Related Activities in York - the City of York appears desperate to claim one of its own. Lewes Bonfire Council - a real must-see for Medieval enthusiasts. The Fire Bridge Guy Fawkes Safety Page - how to avoid any unpleasantries on "Maim a Catholic" Day.

Directory categories: Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes Night, The Gunpowder Plot, UK Parliament, English History

Archived under: Assassinations, Conspiracies, Crime, Fireworks, Guy Fawkes Day, History, Holidays, London, U.K. History, United Kingdom

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(Photo by toonbobo) When I was a kid, we were the family that put up a homemade Halloween display every year, each more elaborate than the last. My dad built dummies out of junkyard scraps and old clothes, and animated them with small motors, pulleys, and fishing line. My mom and I designed tombstones bearing terrible puns and my friends' names in cheesy rhyming epitaphs. For most of October, our house was lit by garish green floodlights, and we dramatically increased traffic on our little dead-end road. We even made it into the local paper. I'm sure the neighbors were thrilled. The more charitable ones probably called us The Addams Family; the less charitable -- well, I'm sure they had a nice party when we moved away. If only we'd had the Internet for advice and inspiration we could have really annoyed the neighborhood! Thanks to some thriving online communities of Halloween fanatics, home haunters can now put together props and decorations that rival the ones at professional haunted houses. They can pick up theatrical special effects tricks, get advice on getting the audience to suspend their disbelief, and get instructions for their very own flying ghosts, bottomless pits, and even ghoulish Santas. Best of all, a haunter doesn't need to spend, er, an arm and a leg, getting fancy decorations from the local party shop or Halloween store. The best props are homemade, because they're unexpected. After all, neighborhood trick-or-treaters have probably seen the motion-activated screaming skull in someone else's yard, but they won't be ready for a DIY rotten, lurching scarecrow! Our homemade haunt was far from professional. By day the paper mache heads, curtain ghosts, and wooden tombstones wouldn't fool anyone, but by the light of the moon, they were surprisingly effective (especially when we sat among the dummies wearing masks and suddenly jumped up to greet guests). I always knew the display was good if I got up during the night, glanced out the window, and felt a jolt of panic at the crowd of hunched, misshapen figures gathered on the front lawn. Waiting for the adrenaline to wear off before going back to sleep was a happy Halloween tradition -- for my family, if not for the neighbors. Suggested Sites... Halloween Forum - a community of Halloween freaks who are full of ideas and advice on everything from home haunt props to party themes to costume ideas. Phantasmechanics - step-by-step instructions for mechanical props that will scare the pants off your neighbors. Halloween Front Yard Displays - find inspiration from these horrific haunts. Haunters Hangout - be sure to check out the props section of this Halloween community. Monsterlist of Halloween Projects - lots of DIY Halloween links.

Directory categories: Halloween Displays, Haunted Houses, Halloween, Halloween Activities and Crafts, Stagecraft

Archived under: Crafts, DIY, Decorating, Halloween, Holidays, Home and Garden, Homemade

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Skeleton Jack-O-Lantern (Photo by Rennett Stowe) Halloween enthusiasts of all ages like to get creative and crafty with costumes. But this holiday also brings out the artist in many who will use the pumpkin as their canvas. People are starting their jack-o’-lantern projects online, searching for ideas and inspiration, as well as patterns and instructions. On Halloween night, countless pumpkins will sit in front of homes with their classic, old-fashioned faces. But their triangular eyes will be staring jealously across the street at the fancy pumpkins -- the ones with elaborately carved faces, elegant stencils, and ferocious demeanors. If you'd like to try your hand at pumpkin carving, check out some galleries of images for ideas. Looking at all the amazing creations can be intimidating, but there are designs for all styles and skill levels. There are also a number of tutorials out there. For those of us who wish to decorate pumpkins but aren't allowed to handle knives, an apple corer can produce some great effects. If you are squeamish about stabbing your pumpkin at all, you can paint it. Or you can do the humane thing and display them in all their natural glory. Suggested Sites... How to Carve an Elaborate Pumpkin Design, Easily! - step-by-step instructions with pictures. Extreme Pumpkins - photo galleries of creative and crazy pumpkins, with tutorials, patterns, and instructions on how to preserve your pumpkin. Ray's Pumpkin Carving Tutorial - instructions on 3-D style pumpkin sculpting, with photos. Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Ideas - from Martha Stewart Living, dozens of amazing examples. The Pumpkin Wizard - hundreds of pumpkin carving patterns.

Directory categories: Jack-O'-Lanterns, Halloween Activities and Crafts, Halloween, Pumpkin Carving Tips and Templates, Pumpkin Carving Supplies

Archived under: Arts, Autumn, Crafts, Halloween, Holidays, Home and Garden, Jack-O-Lanterns, Pumpkins

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