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Howl-o-ween

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the mostly-treats dept.

qaz submits a story about a remote-controlled graveyard. Supposedly this site is another computer-controlled setup, but it's not responding at the moment. Still looking for a pumpkin carving pattern (the Ellen Feiss pattern is nice too)? Or perhaps you'd prefer yet another punkin-chunking machine, a new model which has several news stories about it: here and here. And if spooky stories are more your style, everything2 is running a scary story contest (see last year's for ideas).

7 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. reminds me of Ripley's by loomis · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Ripley's museums have those silly graveyards inside, and Ripley's also has those Haunted Adventure places. Somewhat similar.

    Loomis

    --
    "The television is the retina of the mind's eye" - Videodrome
  2. Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve... by mincus · · Score: 5, Informative

    In the US, halloween is second only to xmas for total dollars spent, and comes in third for total number of parties (after new years and the super bowl). Also for a more detailed description of the integration in american culture, see here

  3. Human counterweight trebuchet.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Come see the fun at the World Championship Punkin Chunkin in delaware this weekend.. ( http://www.worldchampionshippunkinchunkin.com/ )

    Air cannons are no fun..(you can't see the pumpkin from the air cannons!) medieval technology is much more interesting to watch.

    old machine: http://www.onager.net/page103.htm

    Going bigger this year.. Look for the Mankiller Mark II.. ask for James..

  4. Geek scary movies by briggsb · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here's a list of the scariest geek movies.

  5. Call that a pun'kin chucker? by mblase · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's nothing compared to the world-record-holding Aludium Q-36 Pumpkin Modulator (A "Marvin the Martian" reference for those who don't watch enough Warner Bros. cartoons).

    1. Re:Call that a pun'kin chucker? by mblase · · Score: 3, Informative

      Incidentally, the pun'kin chucker article in the Slashdot headling quotes its creator as believing it could shoot a pumpkin five miles. I sincerely doubt it; the record-holder shoots a 5- to 10-lb. pumpkin only(!) three-quarters of a mile, and it's the size of a semi trailer. Wind resistance is pretty strong on an unaerodynamic ten-pound gourd once you get it moving.

  6. Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve... by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 4, Informative
    The original story is that people were trying to keep the spirits away from your house. I don't understand why people dress up to go to others houses. This is nothing more than the candy manufacturers way of getting extra dough into their pockets.

    In reality, the origins of Halloween is much more complex that that. Check out this article to find out more. In particular:

    In medieval times, one popular All Souls' Day practice was to make "soul cakes," simple bread desserts with a currant topping. In a custom called "souling," children would go door-to-door begging for the cakes, much like modern trick-or-treaters.

    It's funny that the whole Halloweeen thing may be an early example of "embrace and extend". The early church rescheduled All Saint's Day to coincide with an older pagan holiday, then told people to go ahead and have fun on the new enhanced hybrid holiday.