Halloween Is Ours

Arthur C. Clarke said that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". And many of us on the electronic frontier seem to have toppled over the edge. Even in the early days of programming, we prided ourselves on access to powers few outsiders understood.

Now, on the 'net, we can dress ourselves up in alternate identities. We go places our daytime selves cannot. We can create the worlds we would like instead of having to live in the ones built by others. Role-players. Hackers. Goths. Halloween is ours.

Library

Some traditional Southern storytellers have arrayed themselves along the Moonlit Road. They are waiting for you.

For a poet's perspective on the holiday, there's An Omen in the Bone, by Emily Dickinson (dead link -- looking for new location).

From Mexico, a site devoted to the Day of the Dead, a festival combining Aztec and Catholic elements. (This site, authored by a Mexican, is a very direct and personal account of the observance.)

The ancient Roman festival of Lemuria took place in May, but dealt with the themes we address here.

Get Ooga-Booga-ized by an academic with the answers you need for this holiday. (dead link -- looking for new location)

Kitchen

What has Berkeley produced besides LSD and BSD? A collection of 203 Halloween Recipes, that's what. (check)

Like Smashing Pumpkins? See the real thing at the Great Pumpkin Drop.

Carve your own Jack-O-Lantern using drag-and-drop (different link from previous years -- no more 3D).

Dressing Room

Need some help on your costume?

Costume OK, but you need just a little help with your Tail? This German site has step by step instructions that will have you holding your head high among the four-footed. (link moved again! but I'm on the trail of the tail ....)

You want horns with that?

There's a little something special for the ladies at Painted Pencil Masks (dead link -- looking for new location).

And for the kids: recipes for Home-made Make-Up (includes fake blood!).

Ballroom

Phantasmechanics will show you how Haunted House special effects are done.

For decor, check out the Halloween Collectibles. (Warning: Enjoy the material on this unique site, but don't e-mail its author, who is a major jerk.)

To better record the results, take some photography advice (forwarded link).

Parlor

Look into the future with fortune-tellers offering Divination by Many Systems

Examine the display of greetings, such as the Antique Postcards (or send one).

Prepare for the holiday with some safety tips derived from horror movies )(forwarded link).

Out and Around

Step outside into the Gothic garden (substitute site for mAlice's Garden of Gothic Delights (long missing, and missing Goths are really elusive)).

... home ... The Jersey Devil's Haunted Woods(forwarded link).

For the social and the sporting set -- a regatta! Boat races in hollowed out giant pumpkins are held in both motorized (live report from CNN) and kayaking forms.(forwarded link)

Meet some Texas-sized creepy crawlies at Bug-A-Boo (museum exhibit; site not back up yet -- link is to program schedule).

You say you want to get right inside the medium? Hell Haven II -- Siege of the Portal will take you there in virtual reality. (You can also play the original game there.)

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treat

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This page's URL is:
http://pages.prodigy.net/feaudrey/hallours.htm

Graphics Credits:
Happy Face courtesy of THe SKuLL.
Stone Background courtesy of A Touch of Magick (the MagickLass seems to have vanished herself pretty effectively -- can't find a link) .
"smallbug" icon courtesy of Knowledge Media (now apparently defunct).

The Electronic Tin Cup

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(e-mail feaudrey@de-mung-this-addy.yahoo.com)