Howl-o-ween

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).

Comments

First post! The USA sucks

[Anonymous Coward]

Heylo! Just want to say that America is a fat, bloated crappy nation full of morons.

Have a nice day.

FP FOR SAMHAIN!!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Enjoy the pagan holiday! Happy new year!

first

[Adolf Hitroll]

goatse !!!

Re:first

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry troll. You've failed again. CLIT is dead now, with the demise of Trollaxor. ACs rule the roost.

Anyway, want to by a hamster, Mr Hitroll?

• Hamster cages come in basically three types: wire, fish tank, and plastic. The first we'll discuss is the wire cage. Wire cages are usually the least expensive of the three types. When looking for a wire cage, be sure to buy one that does NOT have a grate-and-tray setup in the bottom. This was designed in the early days of hamster keeping to make changing easier, but usually this makes changing the cage more difficult. Also, the wire grating is not very comfortable for the hamster. If you wish to buy a completely escape-proof cage, buy a wire cage with a metal bottom that latches on to the walls. Unless you leave the door latch open, this kind of cage is unescapeable. If buying a several-story wire cage, be sure to get one with WHOLE floors, not half-floor "lofts" with long ladders. Even when falling a height of only six to eight inches, (especially onto a wire grate) a hamster can be paralyzed or killed. To save cage space, you might also want to try tying the wheel upside-down to the roof of the cage. This creates quite a bit more cage space in most setups. As to fish tanks, they are also inexpensive. I feel they make the best home for a hamster, as they provide quite a bit of space and are easily cleaned. A 10 gallon size is fine for a golden hamster. Dwarf pairs may be kept in 5.5 gallon tanks. Fish tanks require a lid to keep the hamster in, and a special water bottle adapter. Both of these should ideally be made of metal (wire mesh in the case of the lid). Be sure to secure the lid with duct tape or a heavy object. If you wish to make a completely custom hamster home, try one of the plastic ventilated tops now available which fasten to the glass with suction cups. These have two round holes which accomadate tubes from the plastic habitat kits to allow the owners to attach wire (SAM) or plastic (Habitrail, Hartz, SAM) model cages to them. Unfortunately, SAM cages have wire grate floors which make them extremely difficult to clean. Plastic cages, marketed under names like Habitrail, SAM, and Hartz, are with a few exceptions the most expensive and difficult to clean of any hamster cage available. The hamsters, however, do tend to like them, although they are easily chewed. If you decide to buy one of these cages anyway, be sure to get a large enough model - many cramped cages are marketed as "starter homes" - and definitely purchase one that does not have wire grating on the floor. You will also need a special "tube brush" to clean the tubes of the set, which will quickly become dirty. The plastic cages also must be cleaned at least once a week. Of course, some adventurous or financially strapped individuals try to build their own cages. Fifty years ago, when hamster keeping had just begun, this was often necessary. However, in modern times so many excellent cages are being made that it is best not to take chances building your own. First, many people who would build their own cage lack the building skills to make a safe and stable cage. Wood is not a safe material to use, since hamsters are such avid chewers and wood can be so quickly soaked by water and urine. Hamsters can also chew through an inch-thick pine board in a matter of hours! It's best to leave cage making to the experts and buy a pre-made cage. There is one "golden rule" to golden hamster housing: ONE ANIMAL TO A CAGE! Many owners proudly claim that their two hamsters never fight, while on inspection they had many scars and wounds. Nearly all golden hamsters will fight each other; in the wild, they are territorial and solitary animals. Hamsters must be separated, under normal circumstances, by 6 to 10 weeks of age. Dwarf hamsters of any species, however, must be kept in pairs or groups, or they will become mean and territorial. Dwarves, unlike the golden hamster, are social animals who crave contact with others of their species. Buy both of your animals from the same cage, or you will likely have difficulties in getting them to accept each other. If one member of the pair or group dies, it is very difficult to replace and is best left alone, as dwarf hamsters typically pair for life. No matter what type of cage you buy, the basic equipment remains the same. A hamster requires a water bottle (plastic and steel, NOT rubber and glass, which can cause internal bleeding or intestinal blockage if chewed), a food bowl, an exercise wheel, and a nest box. Most exercise wheels available are wire, but some hamsters (especially longhairs) may become caught and injured in them. If you have a fish tank setup, buy the Habitrail Big Wheel, which hangs on the aquarium sides and is very large. A wheel must have a diameter of at least 13 cm to be safe for the hamster (unless it's a Russian or Robrovski's dwarf, and then a mouse wheel is fine). If the wheel squeaks, apply a dab of mineral oil or baby oil to the axle and spin it a few times. The nest box can be wood, ceramic, plastic, or woven grass. Be wary of plastic, as some older model houses have poor ventilation which can cause a buildup of condensation on the walls. Woven grass bird houses (which are inexpensive and can be thrown away if chewed or heavily soiled) or glazed ceramic, well-ventilated houses are best. Wood is very natural for hamsters, but requires a special spray (Zoo Med Wipe Out 2) to clean and sterilize it without water. Try to buy a cage large enough to accomodate a toy or two as well, but don't crowd the cage - leave plenty of walking and sitting spaces. Toilet tissue and paper towel tubes, small empty boxes, fish tank/furniture packing corners, and wooden thread spools all make good toys.Return to Contents There are generally three ways to go in feeding your hamster: making your own hamster meal plan from scratch, feeding a commercial mix, and a hybrid of the two. This last is the best course, since, as with building your own cage, food manufacturers have spent years researching hamster nutrition and can produce better mixes than you could on your own. A straight commercial mix, with no added supplements, may still be lacking something the hamster needs and wants - variety. Commercial hamster mixes are available in two forms. The first is commonly called "mash" or seed mixture, while the second is referred to as a block diet. Most hamsters are better off with the former, as a block diet, made of compressed and processed grains, allows for no selective feeding whatsoever. Unlike dogs or cats, hamsters have been domesticated only 67 years - they are still "wild" enough to know what's right to eat and in what amounts. The block diet was formulated for mass breeding and laboratory situations, and a pet hamster will be much happier with a high quality seed mix. Avoid those that look like birdseed and include only sunflower seeds, corn flakes, and small grains. A good mix should contain other seeds and nuts as well, such as pea, safflower, peanut, and bits of dried vegetables. If you have only one pet, remember that a hamster eats only a tablespoon or less per day - it's better to buy the best mix you can find. Good brands and mixes include Kaytee Fiesta, Kaylor Made Hamster and More, L/M Animal Farms Vita Vittles Gold, Sun Seed Vita, and many other brands available at pet stores. Just as in buying a hamster, it's best not to buy your food at a discount chain - these foods are often lower quality and more expensive than pet shop brands. As mentioned above, a planned diet based around a commercial mix is the healthiest way to feed your hamster. Below is a suggested meal plan for an average adult hamster: * Daily: 1 tbsp. basic diet mix, a few pieces of greenfood (one floret cauliflower, one celery top, small slice apple or pear, etc.) * 2-3 Times Weekly: 1 handful hay, 1 small commercial treat (cheese flavored wedges, yogurt drops, small alfalfa cubes, etc.), as much yogurt as your pet will eat (no more than 1 tsp.) * Once Weekly: large commercial treat (stick, block, seed bell, etc.), one dog biscuit or commercial wood chew, 1-2 tsp. dog or cat food As to the greenfoods, avoid iceberg lettuce and citrus fruits. Also give only small amounts of juicy fruits such as tomatoes, strawberries, or pears. Herbs and wild plants should be avoided unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE of what you are picking! Never gather grass or herbs from roadside areas, areas where dogs are walked (public parks), and any place that may have been sprayed with chemicals. Kits are now available to grow your own oat and barley grasses, which hamsters love to eat. As to yogurt, any type is fine as long as it is not one of the richer chocolate, caramel, etc. "gourmet" types. Plain or vanilla yogurt is best, and those with live acidophilus cultures are the most beneficial to the hamster. NEVER give your hamster chocolate, caramel or toffee, alcohol, or any sweet/rich foods. All food should be raw and free of spices or sauces. Raw meat is also unsafe because of the high concentrations of bacteria in them. As a general rule with table scraps, never give a hamster something you wouldn't feel safe eating yourself.Return to Contents Before even purchasing a male and female hamster with the intention to breed, ask yourself if you should. First, what are your motivations for breeding? If you just want "one litter" to show the kids, keep in mind that you'll need at least four COMPLETE cages like those in the "Housing" section - one each for the male and female, and two group cages for the male and female babies to live in until sale. Do you want to breed to make a little extra money for yourself? Keep in mind that a female typically has 5-15 babies, with a well-kept hamster usually having 10. You CANNOT make money breeding hamsters unless you completely sacrifice their quality of life. Here are the calculations of having "just one litter":

Re:first

[Adolf Hitroll]

Was ?
Warum war das nicht die Erste Goatse?
Bist du sicher ?
Nieman hätte das vor mir gemacht in diese Geschischte ?

seeya.

[Anonymous Coward]

this site is so begging to be slashdotted.

Re:seeya.

[Anonymous Coward]

Fag.

reminds me of Ripley's

[loomis]

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

Loomis

FoxTrot Halloween

[rbeattie]

Has everyone seen today's FoxTrot?

"I feel like I should send Microsoft some of this."

Heh.

-Russ

Re:FoxTrot Halloween

[Anonymous Coward]

I already sent this to a couple people... they loved it :)

Re:FoxTrot Halloween

[Raul654]

A girl down the hall in my dorm put this on her door. I write back (on her marker board) that it was cute, but please don't remind me of things I have to deal with in my major ;-)

Re:FoxTrot Halloween

[microTodd]

I actually dressed up as a BSOD one year for a halloween party. Blue face-paint and blue posterboard taped to my chest with white lettering.

Only a few people got the joke, and most of the girls at the party thought I was a wierdo geek and ignored me.

*sigh*

Re:FoxTrot Halloween

[aerojad]

my c.s. prof had it on his test today

Re:FoxTrot Halloween

[Anonymous Coward]

most of the girls at the party thought I was a wierdo geek and ignored me

So, just like a normal night, eh?

Re:FoxTrot Halloween

[Anonymous Coward]

It'd be flamebait if it wasn't true

Re:FoxTrot Halloween

[Anonymous Coward]

That's a good way to get a girl to use you for free tech support. One day you'll realize that a smile and idle chatter from a girl != affection.

Halloween reading for geeks

[Penguuu]

Here is scary halloween-reading for geeks :)

Re:Halloween reading for geeks

[Jugalator]

Symantec appears to be running a scary halloween special as well...

Oh, and this place is much scarier than any graveyeard.

Re:Halloween reading for geeks

[GigsVT]

What a bunch of idiots in that Bill Gates fan club:

The term ANTITRUST comes from anti, meaning against, and trusts. Trusts were late-nineteenth-century corporate monopolies that dominated U.S. manufacturing and mining.

And that's from one of the "editors" in a story he posted.

Reminds me of:

Mono=one
Rail=Rail

Heh

Re:Halloween reading for geeks

[Gamasta]

This is a joke which is very common, but some might not have read it...

Q: Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Xmas?

A: Because OCT 31 = DEC 25

Re:Halloween reading for geeks

[Anonymous Coward]

The joke would have been more effective had you said 'because oct(31) == dec(25)'.

Re:Halloween reading for geeks

[?erosion]

Wow, it's almost suspiciously poorly written.

*eerie music*

Well, I certainly wouldn't put it past them.

The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[suman28]

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.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[mincus]

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

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[JPelorat]

Heaven forfend we should have a little fun...

Not everything is a conspiracy, ya know.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[thefirelane]

It comes from the Celtic traditions:

People believed around this time, spirits walked the earth. They would put out their fires, in order to make their homes less appealing to the spririts. They also dressed up, and acted strange, in order to make the spirits think they were already posessed, so they would move on.

Children would also go door to door, and ask for "treats" in exchange for singing a song, or reciting a poem. This tradition was brought to America by Irish immigrants in the mid 1800's

Listen to NPR a little, no conspriacy here

You'll have to wait until February to see a holiday that was truely concocted by merchandisers to sell thing (namely cards and flowers)


---Lane

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[Waffle Iron]

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.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[IxnayOnTheIxnay]

No, it started when three witches went around eating children, until one family offered them sweet gingerbread children. That's the story of the first caramel cod....yar, I mean, Halloween.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[aroobie]

Yeah, I'm seeing this on The History Channel right now. It's just as you described it.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[Anonymous Coward]

I know you think you sound smart but "forfend" really means more along the lines of ward off or protect from. It is more of an archaic cross between forbid and defend. You really should just use forbid and not try to sound smarter than you are.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[Anonymous Coward]

And here is a quote from William S. that uses it properly:

"And when thou fail'st
-- as God forbid the hour! --
Must Edward fall, which peril heaven forfend!"

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[JPelorat]

So.. let me get this straight.. you're upset because I used a word that has the same basic meaning as a word I didn't use?

Heh, ok. Fine. Sorry. Heaven *forbid* you should ever breed. Better? =)

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[Anonymous Coward]

It doesn't have the same meaning, though. Does "Heaven protect we should have some fun" make any sense? No. There is a difference, maybe subtle, but there nonetheless. I just hate people who try to prove how smart they are by using archaic or uncommon words and phrases. Intelligent people don't talk that way. Only people who think they are intelligent do.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[Anonymous Coward]

...and people who hate it when others (mis)use uncommon phrases are not infrequently a bit insecure themselves.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[JPelorat]

In that case, I'm glad I was able to piss you off...

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[daoine]

You'll have to wait until February to see a holiday that was truely concocted by merchandisers to sell thing (namely cards and flowers)

Actually, that's not entirely true. St Valentine's Day came from pre-Christian Roman culture with the feast of Lupercalia (a fertility ritual), celebrated on the night of the 14th through the 15th of February.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[pajor]

They have an old saying on Chulak: The do not make them as they once did.

Re:The original idea of All Hallow's Eve...

[jeddak]

The Celtic tradition was not to put out fires on Samhain (the precursor to All Hallow's Eve/Halloween), but rather to re-light the ever-burning hearthfires against the looming dark.

Online References:
http://www.geocities.com/~huathe/fest ivals.html
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Jardin/ 6729/celtic. html#samhain

or visit your local public library...

First Edgar Allan Poe Post!

[Anonymous Coward]

Dream-Land.
by Edgar Allan Poe

BY a route obscure and lonely, haunted by ill angels only,
Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT, on a black throne reigns upright,
I have reached these lands but newly from an ultimate dim Thule --
From a wild weird clime, that lieth, sublime, out of SPACE -- out of TIME.

Bottomless vales and boundless floods, and chasms, and caves, and Titian woods,
With forms that no man can discover for the dews that drip all over;
Mountains toppling evermore into seas without a shore;
Seas that restlessly aspire, surging, unto skies of fire;
Lakes that endlessly outspread their lone waters, lone and dead, --
Their still waters, still and chilly with the snows of the lolling lily.

By a route obscure and lonely, haunted by ill angels only,
Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT, on a black throne reigns upright,
I have reached these lands but newly from an ultimate dim Thule.

By the lakes that thus outspread their lone waters, lone and dead, --
Their sad waters, sad and chilly with the snows of the lolling lily, --
By the mountains -- near the river murmuring lowly, murmuring ever, --
By the gray woods, -- by the swamp where the toad and the newt encamp, --
By the dismal tarns and pools where dwell the Ghouls, --
By each spot the most unholy -- in each nook most melancholy, --
There the traveller meets aghast Sheeted Memories of the Past --
Shrouded forms that start and sigh as they pass the wanderer by --
White-robed forms of friends long given, in agony, to the worms, and Heaven.

By a route obscure and lonely, haunted by ill angels only,
Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT, on a black throne reigns upright,
I have reached these lands but newly From an ultimate dim Thule --

For the heart whose woes are legion 'tis a peaceful, soothing region --
For the spirit that walks in shadow 'tis -- oh 't is an Eldorado!
But the traveler, traveling through it, may not -- dare not openly view it;
Never its mysteries are exposed to the weak human eye unclosed;
So wills its King, who hath forbid the uplifting of the fringed lid;
And thus the sad Soul that here passes beholds it but through darkened glasses.
By a route obscure and lonely, haunted by ill angels only,
Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT, on a black throne reigns upright,
I have wandered home but newly, from this ultimate dim Thule.

.

even better, a pumpkin that can SPRING INTO ACTION

[mincus]

Forget about ellen feiss. Id rather have everyones favorite poisonous potato with this pattern

Tenth post!

[Anonymous Coward]

I just wanted to say how much Mexico sucks! USA rules! HA HA HA HA HA

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

[wizarddc]

No one posted this? Weird

http://hiptop.bedope.com/

It's a halloween scavenger hunt. The objective is to use your Hiptop mobile device, and take pictures of as many things on the list as you can. There are 5 teams (which are closed, sorry johnny-com-lately's), each vying for the fabulous prizes being awarded to the one team that score the most points (each item on the list has a point value. McDonalds is 1, White Castle 2. George W. Bush is 8, Al Gore is .5).

What's everyone doing?

[Bobulusman]

Is anyone bothering to dress up?

I'm in college, so I wasn't planning to, but I found out everyone else is getting into the spirit, so I need a costume quick.

I combed the shops this morning and this was all that was left to buy: stage blood and various color face paint. Any ideas? If I can't think of something cool I can make quickly, I just going to mix up a grey-green paint and go as a zombie.

uuuuhhhhhhhhhhhh brrraaaaaaiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnn

Anyway, I just want to know what cool costumes everyone else did.

Re:What's everyone doing?

[foistboinder]

Do what I do...

I usually spend the day dressed up as my evil twin (at leat it's cheap!).

Re:What's everyone doing?

[kikta]

I'm Gumby, damnit!

Re:What's everyone doing?

[artemis67]

You could always go as Crazy Teabag Mouth...

Re:What's everyone doing?

[DrMaurer]

Uhh, get a cereal box, preferably one with a cuddily mascot on the front, and a toy knife.

Impale the box and spread your sage blood liberally.

If you're creative, paint your face up like the mascot. (They're GRRReat!)

Go, cereal killer, go.

(Yeah, it sucks, but I usually go as a chick, but this year I cut my hair, so it's a bit tougher to pull off.)

Re:What's everyone doing?

[stankyho]

I used to have a couple disposable, white clean-suits I got when I did HVAC work at a hospital. They came in pretty handy for quick Halloween costumes. One year I gutted and old monitor and went as a computer and the next year I found a stocking hat with flames on it and went as a match.

You could just put a plant on your head and go as a root, or a spoon and be "crazy-spoon-head-man".

Gimme some candy!

Re:What's everyone doing?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure that elicited some awkward "how clever" forced laughs.

Re:What's everyone doing?

[docbrown42]

I was told late yesterday that several people at work were going to dress up, and they wanted to see how many people they could get in costume.

Since I hadn't really thought of a costume this year (no money to spend, no time to work on it), I just threw on my Ren garb. And so far, it's better than anyone else's costume!

Re:What's everyone doing?

[Palshife]

Stormtrooper on Vacation.

No kidding. I took a stormtrooper helmet, threw on some surfer shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. It's great!

The hard part is finding the helmet.

Re:What's everyone doing?

[foxtrot]

My last "need a costume idea quick" was to go out and buy a white sheet... and then cut _lots_ of holes in it.

It's a lot easier than trying to find a yellow and black zig-zag pattern shirt and shaving your head, but people still recognize you as Charlie Brown...

-JDF

Re:What's everyone doing?

[Bahamuto]

I would do that but I'm too cheap to buy a fake goatee. On the other hand if you wanted to dress up as your good twin all you would have to do is shave it off.

Re:What's everyone doing?

[goodhell]

"I usually spend the day dressed up as my evil twin."

Can't do that I am the evil twin!

Besides I don't want to wear my twin's dresses.

Re:What's everyone doing?

[Anonymous Coward]

but I usually go as a chick

Any chance you just like dressing up in women's clothing?

Re:What's everyone doing?

[stefanlasiewski]

Thrift store: Wild crazy hawaiian shirt. I still have mine. it has naked hula dancers. Cheesy as hell.

Drug store: fishermans cap.

Service station: Cheap cigars

Drink beer. Get drunk.

"Drunk fisherman"

Re:What's everyone doing?

[Cro Magnon]

That's interesting. My evil twin dresses up as me!

Re:What's everyone doing?

[_ph1ux_]

TK421! - Why arent you at your post!? - TK421?

Re:What's everyone doing?

[DrMaurer]

Ahh, you caught me.

don't tell my wife, I've only done it three or four times in a row now.

Wow

[strateego]

Bristoe, a 42year-old electrician and mechanic from Ellettsville, estimates his cannon's range at about five miles.

We only live 5 miles from the border between Canada and the USA. The drug dealer in my city should get one of those. Then they can drive along shooting their product over the border.

Re:Wow

[seann]

just aim for the big water tank that holds the lights that shine on the falls at night, nobody looks in ther anymore ;)

Re:Wow

[Captoo]

I heard a radio interview a few days ago where the guest stated that it is impossible to make a pumpkin fly more than about 4/5 of a mile. The reason is that the pumpkin will disintigrate if it breaks the sound barrier.

Can anyone confirm this?

Re:Wow

[stefanlasiewski]

These pumpkin chuckers may be strong, but they're not strong enough to throw anything at the speed of sound.

Re:Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

Freeze the pumpkin.

Re:Wow

[Captoo]

Oh, yeah. That would do it. More damage to the target, too. :-)

I know this is an american forum...

[Corporate Troll]

...but are there other Europeans that are sick 'n tired of this holiday being introduced (back) in Europe? It had no place here, and I will boycott any halloween party around here.
And God help the children that try to collect sweets at my door. I wish I had a shotgun.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, let's see...we saved your sorry asses from total annihilation in ww2, and now our businesses want to export holidays to make a few extra bucks.

Seems like a small price to pay for not having been blown to smithereens.

So, shut the fuck up you whiny eurotrash cocksucker.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[DrMaurer]

Bah, the French would have came back from behind eventually.

Oh, wait, you're not talking about football (soccer), are you?

Europeans that hate Americans are the funniest lot, because they forget that they're country sucked enough for people to go across oceans to avoid.

I hate nationalism.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Anonymous Coward]

...but are there other Europeans that are sick 'n tired of this holiday being introduced (back) in Europe?/i?

"This is europe. We do not allow fun. Creativity belongs in an art museum. Now take off that costume, go back to your cafe and have your serious discussion. God is dead. Good night."

If things are so great over there, WHY DO YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE KEEP LEAVING FOR OTHER COUNTRIES???

Note to all young Europeans. Come to America and celebrate Halloween with us. Bring your language, bring your culture, but just get away from that pompous additude.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Corporate Troll]

You misunderstand me... I don't hate americans, I just don't like commercialism that forces a long-dead holiday (locally, in the US it is big and I respect that) through my throat. You can do whatever you want, I respect Japanese holidays, American holidays, and Pygmy holidays... but you don't need to force me to comply to any of them just under the flag of "making a buck"
And I'm not french.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Corporate Troll]

Do they? Really?
That's funny, I know quite some Americans who'd like to leave the US and go to Europe. Honestly, I don't know anyone who left Europe for the US.
It is not that we do not allow fun or something like that, we have our own holidays and pushing halloween will make those holidays die. That is in essence a "loss of culture" due to greedy commercialism. So you are all in favour of losing diversity in human culture? Nice, I'm not for it at all.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[salemnic]

Grass is always greener, Mr. Troll :)

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Anonymous Cowrad]

You guys must do halloween differently over there. Here nobody is forced to participate.

If you don't want kids at your door, turn off the goddamned porch light.

If you don't want to dress up, don't.

Fun is optional.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Corporate Troll]

You are right of course... but isn't halloween that night kids throw rotten eggs at your window (the "trick part") if you don't open of fake not to be home. That makes it hard not to participate because if you don't, you have to clean your house the next day. Fun eh?

Luckily, the trick 'n treating hasn't yet started here...nobody came at the door. How many years till they will? I don't know, it's only the last three years that halloween has been commercialised here. So give it another 3 years, and some kids will have it "embedded" in their mind, and will find it "normal". That is something I want to avoid at all costs.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[stefanlasiewski]

but isn't halloween that night kids throw rotten eggs at your window (the "trick part") if you don't open of fake not to be home. That makes it hard not to participate because if you don't, you have to clean your house the next day. Fun eh?

This doesn't really happen. If it does happen, it's a prank: Done by some teenagers (Teens do not usually go trick-or-treating), it'll happen weather their's candy or not, it might happen any night of the year, not just halloween, it's usually something less damaging like toilet paper, and it's usually the house of someone you know (like a coworker or a teacher or the principal). In short, it's a prank. An annoying prank.

Most kids are too polite to pull tricks like this. If there's no candy, the kids usuall shrug their sholders and go on to the next house.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Anonymous Coward]

>>>That's funny, I know quite some Americans who'd like to leave the US and go to Europe. Honestly, I don't know anyone who left Europe for the US. Honestly, I don't know anyone who left Europe for the US.

Funny, I thought every European-American had european roots. People have been coming here for along time.

I have a dozen young European immigrants in my neighborhood.

All European Americans came from Europe some time in the last 400 years. They left for many reasons.

My mother was chased out of Europe. Fun stuff.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Corporate Troll]

That is indeed very informative. I didn't know that, but guess what: most of my knowlegde about halloween comes from american series. Now, while I know that series are not a good reference on American behaviour, I suspect that most kids will get their "halloween basics" from television series too. So they just might think the throwing of rotten eggs is part of it (just, as I did). Unfortunately there will be no stefanlasiewski to teach them how Halloween really works in the US.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[stefanlasiewski]

Well, like everything, Halloween is in the eye of the beholder. It's what you make of it.

Halloween here IS way too commercialized, but that doesn't make Halloween a bad thing. There's a whole halloween subculture out there dedicated to creating cool halloween effects. The best costumes and the best decorations are the homemade ones.

If there's one thing that Europeans are good at it's resisting corporate culture (Well, ok, maybe mostly the Europeans who are 20+. I was shocked at the amount of American TV I saw while in Germany this summer...).

When Halloween becomes more popular in Europe, hopefully you'll be able to keep the commercialism in check. Turn off the TV, come up with your own traditions, and create your own flavor of Halloween...

Because like it or not, Halloween is in Europe to stay.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Corporate Troll]

I understand your point. (And there is way too much US television here... but the movies are doing great!) Even if it is here to stay, that doesn't mean I can't battle for the lost souls until I fall down and have to accept reality. (I'm already doing very bad here, not one person that agrees with me!)

The problem is that we actually have holidays that are suppsed to be the equivalent in Europe. Well, at least for collecting the sweets. I just know about 2 on top of my head: Liichten (2nd february) and Three Kings (6 january).... The first is in Luxembourg and the second in Belgium (dutch part, I think). Both, is kids going around then they sing a song or two and get sweets in return. A third one would be "Sint Maarten" in The Netherlands, but I'm not that sure about it. They have much less commercial value, and hence are bound to die in favour of Halloween. Or worse: kids get to collect sweets twice a year.
Look at what happened to "Sinterklaas" or "Kleesjen" which was traditionally done here on the 6th december (5th in The Netherlands). He is being replaced more and more by Santa. Back in the day I got my presents the 6th december, now you just give sweets for that day and the presents on Christmas. I might sound a bit old by complaining about these things, but I'm really just 25. The problem is that I have been witnessing these changes. When I have kids there is always the risk they won't even know about the "real" (or local) holidays. Teaching them would serve no good, because of course they would be laughed at in school.
I will try to keep up my cultural identity but the influence of the US might destroy everything I have known as "my culture", not in my generation, but definately in the next. It's nearly sad to admit it, but resistance is futile.... I'll keep resisting.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Anonymous Coward]

One can hope it will recover. I think American culture may appeal to one or two generations, but it is ultimately shallow and alien, so it is possible there will be a backlash from later generations, and a desire to return to ones own culture.

There is something of an analogy in the attitude towards European culture found in much of the Third World. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, people all over the world were emulating Europeans in most respects (e.g. educated people in the Third World increasingly adopted European dress, habits and custom), but this was reversed when following generations sought to rediscover their own cultures.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[Corporate Troll]

I am glad to hear that at least one person tries to give me hope. So far I only got flames and lack of understanding.
I hope you are right, I hope.... But I won't live to see it.... I will fight, as long as I can.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[martintt]

Europeans that hate Americans are the funniest lot,....

Erm thats most of us. Well we mostly hate American culture and the nation in general. I've liked almost all individual Americans that I've met so far, (the naivety can even be cute).

However when Americans can elect senators who are quoted as saying "Israel is for the Jews, God said so, it's in the Bible -read it," and then complain about the evils of other peoples' religious fundamentalism, there is little wonder the rest of the world has no respect for the USA. That coupled with your nation's supreme arrogance/cultural imperialism, tends to lead to hatred.

because they forget that they're[sic] country sucked enough for people to go across oceans to avoid.

If the first (white) americans hated europe so much why did they name all their cities after european ones? Methinks they left for a number of reasons, they were: misfits, adventurers, opportunists, anarchists and yes people trying to avoid religious persecution, and the other evils in Europe at the time.

The main reason was that the Americas were huge, full of natural resourses with a very small poorly armed local population.

Re:I know this is an american forum...

[DrMaurer]

Well, most Americans hate American culture in general, but there's nothing they're willing to do about it.

Your polititian reference is a good one, though, a lot of people are unwilling to look at fellow "people of the book" and realize that there is a lot of shitty stuff done on both sides of that conflict.

I don't see what you mean by arrogance, but whatever, why doesn't everyone hate the French?

That was a joke, it's really the Quebec'ers that are that bad.

That was a joke, too.

I don't see arrogance, but, if I may be so bold, I don't watch much TV. Perhaps some of your countrymen and women should follow that example. :-)

Pumpkin Chunking!!

[jaywhy]

The do this yearly a little south of where I live. If your in the Delaware valley, you have to check it out. Theres nothing like watching a pumpkin travel a mile!

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/ 20 01/11/02itsahighflyingf.html
http://www.worldcham pionshippunkinchunkin.com/

Re:Pumpkin Chunking!!

[Inspired Chaos]

You bet! Kind of annoying how one guy's conjecture (5 miles HA!) gets everybody excited. I've seen many very expensive efforts toward breaking a mile at the world championships, and none have succeded. This fellow gets in the paper making extravagant claims and the world press beats down his door and credits him with inventing something. I am sure *wink* this kind of thing never happens in any other technology fields. I'll see anyone who decides to come out, I'm on the crew of the Onager. (A human-powered wooden torsion catapult that throws a "Punkin" 1,300 feet)

coolest pumpkin carvings

[cr@ckwhore]

Check out this guy's carvings... http://www.grumpkins.com

He carves giant pumpkins, and they don't look like the standard run-o-the-mill jack-o-lanterns, thats for sure!

the smell of lame == this story

[Anonymous Coward]

move along

isdtu t6804t8eoirtu oeprituwert

[Anonymous Coward]

rt ret er t

e rt

er t

ons

owl-o-ween

It's funny. Laugh.Posted by michael on Thursday October 31, @11:15AM

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).

( Read More... | 9 of 19 comments )

Book Reviews: Forth Application Techniques

ProgrammingPosted by timothy on Thursday October 31, @10:30AM

from the go-forth-and-conquer dept.

oxgoad writes "Sun Microsystems, Federal Express, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory -- what do they have in common? All have used, or are currently using, the programming language Forth in critical subsystems of their products or processes. 'What is this language Forth?' you ask. Forth has been called 'One of the best-kept secrets in the computing world.' Read on for a review of the book Forth Application Techniques authored by Elizabeth D. Rather."

( Read More... | 6435 bytes in body | 40 of 83 comments | Book Reviews )

Replacing WEP for Wireless Security

SecurityPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @09:40AM

from the ha-ha,-he-said-wireless-security dept.

i.r.id10t writes "Over at infoworld.com they have an article about the organization that certifies wireless LAN products under the Wi-Fi name revealed new specifications Thursday for how vendors should make their products more secure. The guidelines call for new mechanisms to replace the current security system, based on WEP, which has come under fire for being too easy to circumvent. The certification body, Wi-Fi Alliance, plans to lay the mechanisms out as optional features beginning in February and require them for Wi-Fi compliance about six months later, said Dennis Eaton, chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance."

( Read More... | 16 of 25 comments )

Kernighan Teaches... Liberal Arts?

EducationPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @08:54AM

from the old-programmers-are-never-free()'ed dept.

Flamerule writes "The New York Times has an article (free registration required) examining a new course Brian Kernighan is teaching at Princeton, called "Computers in Our World", aimed at liberal arts students who won't be going into the tech field. The author describes it as "a kind of intellectual smorgasbord, combining public policy - like technology's impact on privacy, copyright and antitrust matters - with large helpings of practical knowledge of how things work, from operating systems to disk drives." The K&R text is mentioned, though not as reverently as some would demand."

( Read More... | 44 of 66 comments )

Toyota to Move to All Hybrid Vehicles By 2012

TechnologyPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @07:59AM

from the no-flying-cars dept.

ftumph writes "Toyota has announced that all their vehicles will be gas-electric hybrids by 2012. The plan is to eliminate the current $3,000 per vehicle additional cost for hybrid engines through mass production."

( Read More... | 172 of 218 comments )

Cheating at Seti@home

NewsPosted by CmdrTaco on Thursday October 31, @06:53AM

from the bored-lately dept.

Megor writes "Well it was bound to happen, people are cheating on Seti@home to inflate their work unit statistics, and the people who administer Seti are ignoring the complaints. ZDNET has an article explaining how they are cheating."

( Read More... | 90 of 113 comments )

Mathematica and BattleBots

ToysPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @03:10AM

from the math-only-mostly-useless dept.

hesheboy writes "Wolfram.com has a story about building a battlebot with Mathematica: 'October 28, 2002--Looking for action with brains-over-brawn appeal? William McHargue, a freelance physicist and long-time Mathematica user, is one of many who find this combination in BattleBots, the new fighting-robot craze. "With BattleBots, one can be aggressive and yet nobody gets hurt," says McHargue. Recently, McHargue was featured in Mechanical Engineering magazine for work on Tesla's Tornado, his BattleBot.'"

( Read More... | 28 of 50 comments

Re:isdtu t6804t8eoirtu oeprituwert

[Palshife]

Oh shit! Slashdot is haunted! And it has a hook for a hand!!!

*runs screaming*

On the matter of holidays

[Locke!Erasmus]

I like halloween, but I like the weekend before that, Fall Back, even better!

I am all about an extra hour of sleep:)

weruio op34i5u 23409 5uert

[Anonymous Coward]

rt ret er t

e rt

er t

ons

owl-o-ween

It's funny. Laugh.Posted by michael on Thursday October 31, @11:15AM

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).

( Read More... | 9 of 19 comments )

Book Reviews: Forth Application Techniques

ProgrammingPosted by timothy on Thursday October 31, @10:30AM

from the go-forth-and-conquer dept.

oxgoad writes "Sun Microsystems, Federal Express, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory -- what do they have in common? All have used, or are currently using, the programming language Forth in critical subsystems of their products or processes. 'What is this language Forth?' you ask. Forth has been called 'One of the best-kept secrets in the computing world.' Read on for a review of the book Forth Application Techniques authored by Elizabeth D. Rather."

( Read More... | 6435 bytes in body | 40 of 83 comments | Book Reviews )

Replacing WEP for Wireless Security

SecurityPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @09:40AM

from the ha-ha,-he-said-wireless-security dept.

i.r.id10t writes "Over at infoworld.com they have an article about the organization that certifies wireless LAN products under the Wi-Fi name revealed new specifications Thursday for how vendors should make their products more secure. The guidelines call for new mechanisms to replace the current security system, based on WEP, which has come under fire for being too easy to circumvent. The certification body, Wi-Fi Alliance, plans to lay the mechanisms out as optional features beginning in February and require them for Wi-Fi compliance about six months later, said Dennis Eaton, chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance."

( Read More... | 16 of 25 comments )

Kernighan Teaches... Liberal Arts?

EducationPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @08:54AM

from the old-programmers-are-never-free()'ed dept.

Flamerule writes "The New York Times has an article (free registration required) examining a new course Brian Kernighan is teaching at Princeton, called "Computers in Our World", aimed at liberal arts students who won't be going into the tech field. The author describes it as "a kind of intellectual smorgasbord, combining public policy - like technology's impact on privacy, copyright and antitrust matters - with large helpings of practical knowledge of how things work, from operating systems to disk drives." The K&R text is mentioned, though not as reverently as some would demand."

( Read More... | 44 of 66 comments )

Toyota to Move to All Hybrid Vehicles By 2012

TechnologyPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @07:59AM

from the no-flying-cars dept.

ftumph writes "Toyota has announced that all their vehicles will be gas-electric hybrids by 2012. The plan is to eliminate the current $3,000 per vehicle additional cost for hybrid engines through mass production."

( Read More... | 172 of 218 comments )

Cheating at Seti@home

NewsPosted by CmdrTaco on Thursday October 31, @06:53AM

from the bored-lately dept.

Megor writes "Well it was bound to happen, people are cheating on Seti@home to inflate their work unit statistics, and the people who administer Seti are ignoring the complaints. ZDNET has an article explaining how they are cheating."

( Read More... | 90 of 113 comments )

Mathematica and BattleBots

ToysPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @03:10AM

from the math-only-mostly-useless dept.

hesheboy writes "Wolfram.com has a sto

You are a psychotic asshole

[Anonymous Coward]

Hopefully complaints will be filed, and you'll be arrested for threatening someone's life. WTF, dumbfuck, you can't just shoot kids (or even wave guns at them) just because they ring your doorbell. Put a sign on the door or turn off the lights and go out and get a life tonight.

Re:You are a psychotic asshole

[Anonymous Coward]

Just because it's currently illegal to shoot kids doesn't mean that the laws shouldn't be changed.

Shooting kids (or even waving guns at them) is generally a good thing.

Getting really pissed off over a /. comment is dumb, you psychotic asshole.

Re:You are a psychotic asshole

[Corporate Troll]

But in your eyes, dressing up as a cowboy and waving a gun at kids in order to scare them would be okay? Strange.... The only difference would be my "costume".
Besides, guns are illegal here. Very... you can't even own a pellet gun as my brother discovered in a unpleasant way.

Tux pumpkin

[Drath]

Hmm. The tux pumpkin is a helpful tutorial, basically it says to make a pumpkin with tux on it all you need is:

1.A Pumpkin
2.Artistic Ability
3.Expensive Software
4.Something called a light board (sounds arty)

Wow! Simple!

you know, if i could draw tux i wouldn't need a kit...

Re:Tux pumpkin

[mblase]

Ironically, this is typical of Linux advocate's thinking.

"All you need to run this free software is standard PC hardware! And these CDs, of course. Well, you'll probably want to partition your hard drive beforehand, too. Be sure you know the specs of your components so you can configure the OS correctly. And do you know how to configure your own broadband Internet connection? No, you can't use AOL on this, but here's a great web-based tool that's also free and you only need to compile it once or twice...."

Re:Tux pumpkin

[Plutor]

> 3.Expensive Software

Isn't this sort of hypocritical? Why would I want to pay money for software to make a Jack O'Lantern of a free operating system's mascot?

Re:Tux pumpkin

[SoCalChris]

You misread that part. Those instructions were to make your own pattern based on a picture. They simply used Tux as their example to show how to do it. The Tux pattern is available in the article here.

Hmm. The tux pumpkin is a helpful tutorial, basically it says to make a pumpkin with tux on it all you need is:

1.A Pumpkin
2.Artistic Ability
3.Expensive Software
4.Something called a light board (sounds arty)

Wow! Simple!

Re:Tux pumpkin

[Anonymous Coward]

Cool! The pattern for the Tux Pumpkin is distributed as a Microsoft Word doc.

Irony is so ironic.

Re:Tux pumpkin

[Anonymous Coward]

When's the last time you even looked at a Linux install? 1998?

Re:Tux pumpkin

[dwillen]

I carved tux into my pumpkin on Sunday. I didn't use any fancy software. I printed out a random black and white tux gif and carved away, perhaps a little artistic ability was involved.

Take a look for yourself!

Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Anonymous Coward]

If you beleive in morality and the Gospel you and you're family mus't boycott Holloween. It is a Pagan holliday that celebrates pure Evil and the power of Satin. Do not allow you're children to wear costume, do not let them go to holloween party's, and do not hand out candy to kid's who are glorrifying Satin. This type of holliday has no place in a post 9-11 world!

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Anonymous Coward]

You're right..Halloween is much, much too late in the year.

All those in favor of moving Halloween to August, so it's Pre-9/11 say Aye!

Besides, it'd be warmer then, so the kids wouldn't have to dress up so warmly.

Stupid Redneck wannabe Christian who can't even read his own Holy Book...

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[tit4tat]

Holloween... is a Pagan holliday that celebrates pure Evil and the power of Satin. Do not allow you're children to wear costume, do not let them go to holloween party's, and do not hand out candy to kid's who are glorrifying Satin. This type of holliday has no place in a post 9-11 world!

I love satin! Soft, smooth, shiny. Satin is definitely not "pure evil." Pure lux, is more like it. What's this AC's problem with satin?! Where would the post 9-11 world be without satin pajamas?! We must fight for the love of satin or the terrorists will have already won!

Uh... he probably meant "Satan." Whatever.

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Anonymous Coward]

And don't even get me started on rayon!

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[mustangdavis]

"If you beleive in morality and the Gospel you and you're family mus't boycott Holloween. It is a Pagan holliday that celebrates pure Evil and the power of Satin. Do not allow you're children to wear costume, do not let them go to holloween party's, and do not hand out candy to kid's who are glorrifying Satin. This type of holliday has no place in a post 9-11 world!"

*Hates feeding a troll, but I have karma to burn*

I am assuming that you are American since you are using 9-11 as your excuse (as are too many other radicals and blood suckers in our society) for this post.

Do you understand that the U.S. has FREEDOM OF SPEECH??? It is great that you have your beliefs on this matter, but don't go pushing your feelings and beliefs onto others!

Besides, you take halloween too seriously if you really believe that crap. Halloween can be a time to have fun, dress up as your favorite movie character, super hero, or monster if you prefer. It is a time when you can act goofy and not have people think too much less of you. IT is also a great excuse for getting together with friends and getting drunk!

Besides, this post isn't just about halloween .. it is about this cool software and hardware package this guy put together. Something VERY similar could be used for X-mas ... and I'm sure, since you seem to be anti-Satan, that you would want to use this to celebrate something with a more positive, religious conotation.

Lighten up man - and realize that although this instance of this equipment is being used "for evil", it could also be used "for good"!

(Obviously, I'm not trolling since I'm not being a coward by not posting anonymously, so please don't mod me as so ....)

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Masami Eiri]

Congradulations. You are hereby awarded the "worst grammar" award.
Please bash your head into the nearest wall to claim your prize.

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Palshife]

You're absolutely right. I mean, I've seen at least 4 Jango Fett constumes already. That mofo is eeeeeeevil.

Ahh, behold the power of Satin.

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Graspee_Leemoor]

" celebrates pure Evil and the power of Satin"

If I had enough rolls of satin I could make a dress to fit the whole Earth, and the entire planet would look like a woman! Mwuhahahahhaah!

Next year: the diabolical plan involving silk.

graspee

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Anonymous Coward]

No, you should be modded -1, IDIOT.

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Fascist Christ]

A pagan, in simple terms, is a non-Christian. Satan is only acknowledged by a subset of Christians. Therefore, pagans will never celebrate or worship Satan, especially the atheists.

(Side note: A Satanist would have to be a subset of Christianity because they acknowledge a christian entity.)

(Side note 2: a non-pagan, depending on context, could even be Muslim or Jew, or simply be monotheistic.)

(Side note 3: a more cynical definition of pagan would be "one whose beliefs contradict my own")

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Negadecimal]

Do you understand that the U.S. has FREEDOM OF SPEECH??? It is great that you have your beliefs on this matter, but don't go pushing your feelings and beliefs onto others!

The parent poster hasn't "pushing" his beliefs on you - he was simply stating them publicly. That's freedom of speech.

You also have the right to ignore him...

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[mattsucks]

If you beleive in morality and the Gospel you and you're family mus't boycott Holloween. It is a Pagan holliday that celebrates pure Evil and the power of Satin. Do not allow you're children to wear costume, do not let them go to holloween party's, and do not hand out candy to kid's who are glorrifying Satin. This type of holliday has no place in a post 9-11 world!

If you believe in spalling and the Grammer you and you're family mus't boycott this post. It is Practically Illiterate and celebrates pure Ignorance and the power of Not Paying Attention In Grade School. Do not allow you're children to read post, do not them go to the same skool as the poster, but do hand out spalling books to kid's who are glorrifying bad Spalling. This type of ignnorance has no place in a post 9-11 world!

Re:Holloween must be boycott'ed

[Dirtside]

I once saw, spraypainted in white paint on the side of a barn:

WORSHIP SATIN

45 tuet 83y9ur9tu fh

[Anonymous Coward]

rt ret er t

e rt

er t

ons

owl-o-ween

It's funny. Laugh.Posted by michael on Thursday October 31, @11:15AM

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).

( Read More... | 9 of 19 comments )

Book Reviews: Forth Application Techniques

ProgrammingPosted by timothy on Thursday October 31, @10:30AM

from the go-forth-and-conquer dept.

oxgoad writes "Sun Microsystems, Federal Express, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory -- what do they have in common? All have used, or are currently using, the programming language Forth in critical subsystems of their products or processes. 'What is this language Forth?' you ask. Forth has been called 'One of the best-kept secrets in the computing world.' Read on for a review of the book Forth Application Techniques authored by Elizabeth D. Rather."

( Read More... | 6435 bytes in body | 40 of 83 comments | Book Reviews )

Replacing WEP for Wireless Security

SecurityPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @09:40AM

from the ha-ha,-he-said-wireless-security dept.

i.r.id10t writes "Over at infoworld.com they have an article about the organization that certifies wireless LAN products under the Wi-Fi name revealed new specifications Thursday for how vendors should make their products more secure. The guidelines call for new mechanisms to replace the current security system, based on WEP, which has come under fire for being too easy to circumvent. The certification body, Wi-Fi Alliance, plans to lay the mechanisms out as optional features beginning in February and require them for Wi-Fi compliance about six months later, said Dennis Eaton, chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance."

( Read More... | 16 of 25 comments )

Kernighan Teaches... Liberal Arts?

EducationPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @08:54AM

from the old-programmers-are-never-free()'ed dept.

Flamerule writes "The New York Times has an article (free registration required) examining a new course Brian Kernighan is teaching at Princeton, called "Computers in Our World", aimed at liberal arts students who won't be going into the tech field. The author describes it as "a kind of intellectual smorgasbord, combining public policy - like technology's impact on privacy, copyright and antitrust matters - with large helpings of practical knowledge of how things work, from operating systems to disk drives." The K&R text is mentioned, though not as reverently as some would demand."

( Read More... | 44 of 66 comments )

Toyota to Move to All Hybrid Vehicles By 2012

TechnologyPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @07:59AM

from the no-flying-cars dept.

ftumph writes "Toyota has announced that all their vehicles will be gas-electric hybrids by 2012. The plan is to eliminate the current $3,000 per vehicle additional cost for hybrid engines through mass production."

( Read More... | 172 of 218 comments )

Cheating at Seti@home

NewsPosted by CmdrTaco on Thursday October 31, @06:53AM

from the bored-lately dept.

Megor writes "Well it was bound to happen, people are cheating on Seti@home to inflate their work unit statistics, and the people who administer Seti are ignoring the complaints. ZDNET has an article explaining how they are cheating."

( Read More... | 90 of 113 comments )

Mathematica and BattleBots

ToysPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @03:10AM

from the math-only-mostly-useless dept.

hesheboy writes "Wolfram.com has a sto

rt ret er t

e rt

er t

ons

owl-o-ween

It's funny. Laugh.Posted by michael on Thursday October 31, @11:15AM

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).

( Read More... | 9 of 19 comments )

Book Reviews: Forth Application Techniques

ProgrammingPosted by timothy on Thursday October 31, @10:30AM

from the go-forth-and-conquer dept.

oxgoad writes "Sun Microsystems, Federal Express, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory -- what do they have in common? All have used, or are currently using, the programming language Forth in critical subsystems of their products or processes. 'What is this language Forth?' you ask. Forth has been called 'One of the best-kept secrets in the computing world.' Read on for a review of the book Forth Application Techniques authored by Elizabeth D. Rather."

( Read More... | 6435 bytes in body | 40 of 83 comments | Book Reviews )

Replacing WEP for Wireless Security

SecurityPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @09:40AM

from the ha-ha,-he-said-wireless-security dept.

i.r.id10t writes "Over at infoworld.com they have an article about the organization that certifies wireless LAN products under the Wi-Fi name revealed new specifications Thursday for how vendors should make their products more secure. The guidelines call for new mechanisms to replace the current security system, based on WEP, which has come under fire for being too easy to circumvent. The certification body, Wi-Fi Alliance, plans to lay the mechanisms out as optional features beginning in February and require them for Wi-Fi compliance about six months later, said Dennis Eaton, chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance."

( Read More... | 16 of 25 comments )

Kernighan Teaches... Liberal Arts?

EducationPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @08:54AM

from the old-programmers-are-never-free()'ed dept.

Flamerule writes "The New York Times has an article (free registration required) examining a new course Brian Kernighan is teaching at Princeton, called "Computers in Our World", aimed at liberal arts students who won't be going into the tech field. The author describes it as "a kind of intellectual smorgasbord, combining public policy - like technology's impact on privacy, copyright and antitrust matters - with large helpings of practical knowledge of how things work, from operating systems to disk drives." The K&R text is mentioned, though not as reverently as some would demand."

( Read More... | 44 of 66 comments )

Toyota to Move to All Hybrid Vehicles By 2012

TechnologyPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @07:59AM

from the no-flying-cars dept.

ftumph writes "Toyota has announced that all their vehicles will be gas-electric hybrids by 2012. The plan is to eliminate the current $3,000 per vehicle additional cost for hybrid engines through mass production."

( Read More... | 172 of 218 comments )

Cheating at Seti@home

NewsPosted by CmdrTaco on Thursday October 31, @06:53AM

from the bored-lately dept.

Megor writes "Well it was bound to happen, people are cheating on Seti@home to inflate their work unit statistics, and the people who administer Seti are ignoring the complaints. ZDNET has an article explaining how they are cheating."

( Read More... | 90 of 113 comments )

Mathematica and BattleBots

ToysPosted by michael on Thursday October 31, @03:10AM

from the math-only-mostly-useless dept.

hesheboy writes "Wolfram.com has a sto

Microsoft Halloween

[Anonymous Coward]

Acutally Microsoft is hoping people will dress like this

Re:Microsoft Halloween

[zrodney]

Acutally Microsoft is hoping people will dress like this [msads.net]
http://global.msads.net/ads/HOTENG/00482280008_PP. jpg

Hey! That must be where the Tick is working now that the show was cancelled.

Poor bastard.

Human counterweight trebuchet..

[Anonymous Coward]

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..

Re:Human counterweight trebuchet..

[NewSegway]

hell yeah man. i will definitely be there, and im even camping out Saturday night at a local campground to freeze my ASS off :)

Evidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

Is this true or some kind of elaborate "troll"?

Re:Evidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, it's true alright. Americans, at least when they come across here to Europe, always seem to be boisterous, noisy and arrogant. Because they're the dominant country, they believe they have the right to act like the global police force.

Bombing innocent civilians in third-world countries is not acceptable. The US has an extroadinary poverty gap, massive crime and drugs problems, and is a sorry state of a nation. Yet they believe they can control the world.

I mean, just look at who they voted in to govt. A poorly educated, racist loser with no leadership talent whatsoever. That says a lot about the USA to me.

This is NOT a troll or flamebait. Definitely off-topic, but I've yet to see an American rationally refute these points.

Re:Evidence?

[Masami Eiri]

Not all Americans are that way, but too many of us that act that way.

Re:Evidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

The only people who would consider this a troll are Americans who are so brainwashed and so closed-minded that they can't see the truth. I am an American, but if I had the ability to leave this cesspool, I would. Here are the problems I see:

1. Americans are overweight (so the poster is correct in saying we're fat) with many of them being dangerously obese. I could stand to lose 10-15 pounds myself.

2. Americans have become locked into an obessive and unhealthy relationship with money and property due to the capitalist system. In America, the only value a person has is the amount of "stuff" that they own. This is immoral.

3. Americans are woefully out of touch with regards to the rest of the world due to the lack of true news reporting and cultural education in general. See this link for a great rundown of American failings.

4. Due to the propaganda that passes for news in this country, Americans (incorrectly) think that the rest of the world is out to get them. It isn't true folks. Wake up and join the rest of the world.

5. Americans are too eager to see an enemy around every corner. Even if it is unwarranted. This is evidence of how scared most of our population is. The very fact that so many fools believe they need to own a gun, further illustrates the point.

In general, Americans need to grow up and become aware of what is really going on in the rest of the world. America is NOT the greatest nation on the planet. The American century is over. Accept it.

While capitalism might be the best thing going right now... that doesn't imply that it will always be the best thing. I believe it's nearing the end of it's usefulness because it only encourages greed, ruthless competition and fear. It's time for a change. Keep in mind, the best way to travel used to be a horse drawn coach at one time, I'd challenge anyone here to say that it still is.

The capitalist system is the root source of most of America's problems in and out of the nation. Why did the "terrorists" hit the Twin Towers? Because WE are interfering with their culture solely to make a profit. Why did the "dot.com" bubble burst? Because a bunch of greedy bastards thought that they deserved six figure salaries for having no business model other than "It's really cool and it'll use the internet". Why do we have such a huge disparity between the rich and the poor? Because the rich have the money to pay people to make them richer. The poor actually have to work.

So, as much as I would love to defend this country, I find myself wanting to walk away, quietly and ashamed, from all the things it currently stands for. Until this country and it's populace decide to pay attention to the real world instead of the one they see through the filter of capitalism, we are doomed to be mocked and attacked. America is being controlled by the wrong people: lawyers and business interests. The only people those two groups benefit are themselves. They just throw the illusion of wealth at people like you and me.

I make $45,000 a year working as a network admin/programmer in the non-profit (major metropolitan public library) sector because I believe in doing something for my fellow man. I could have worked in the private sector and made a lot more money, but who would that be helping? It wouldn't help those who really matter (the children in the inner city, the unemployed and underpriveledged). That is how I can view my country this way. The peopple who have been deluded into thinking that they are wealthy and important because they own stuff, are morally bankrupt.

Re:Evidence?

[buzzcutbuddha]

True there are lot of ignorant Americans, and we have our shortcomings, just as every other nation, but we must obviously be better than most every other place out there, or else we wouldn't have thousands upon thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Mexicans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, etc etc come into this country every year.

Re:Evidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

look at who they voted in to govt

To their credit, the voters of the USA did not vote in the person you describe. He came second but, due to democratically incomaptible activities, he got the job.

What activities? Well he had a family member in a convenient place to help sort out electoral rolls in advance and get votes counted the way he wanted. I think he got less votes than the looser. That doesn't sound democratic to me.

Americans didn't vote GW Bush in. The oil companies did.

Re:Evidence?

[JudgeFurious]

"Yet they believe they can control the world"

We do. it's as simple as that.

Re:Evidence?

[JudgeFurious]

You can't manage to get out of America but you make $45,000 a year? If it's financial then I'm sure would could take up a collection or something.

Re:Evidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

$45,000 a year SHOULD be enough to get by with... But it isn't thanks to the incredible prices one must pay to live in this society. As it is, by then end of each month after paying my mortgage, car payment, utilities, and grocery bill, I am left with about $100 for myself. And no... I don't live in a beautiful house. It's costing me $85,000 over 30 years. At $740/month, + $233/month for my car (nothing fancy, just a used Nissan Sentra), just that alone is almost half of what I take home per month. So... although it should be plenty, it isn't. And why? Because the rest of the world is so greedy that they've raised the prices of so many things sky high. I'm still willing to live with that since, I know that it's the price I pay to work in the non-profit world. But it doesn't allow me to leave this country. And, who's to say that things might not improve. If enough people get fed up with George, and the elections don't get fixed again, we might get someone sensible and intelligent in office. Not everyone is so happy with that dork.

Re:Evidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

You are a mother fucking idiot. It's people like you who give the US it's bad reputation abroad. You are arrogant without reason. At least I, as an American, am willing to admit that the US doesn't have the power that most dupes have been conned into thinking that we do. With fools like you and the current administration jumping around acting like schoolyard bullies and claiming their superiority, things are only going to get worse. We don't deserve to have that kind of power anyway. But, thanks to you, we are doomed to have more things like Spet. 11th happen. I'll bet you're one of those fucks tht drives your sorry ass to work in an SUV as well... You've done far more to further finance terrorism in that fucking monstrosity than any drug dealer has. What a lame ass. You are an embarassment. Leave my sight now.

Re:Evidence?

[JudgeFurious]

I make $42,300 per year working for county level goverment and I could leave this country with relative ease.

I pay on a house that ran a little over 123K, sits on 2.8 acres, and that I have financed on a 15 year note. I'm paying $890 month for this privilege. And no folks, it don't have wheels nor is it "doublewide".

I make payments on a 2001 Regal GS that I bought last year at 0% (just doing my part to fight terrorism) and have utilities, groceries, and the standard set of bills that come with being alive in America.

You're doing it wrong kiddo. Not sure in what way but you're without a doubt doing it wrong. I have plenty of money leftover for myself.

It's more like the price you pay for living in America and not knowing how to work your budget correctly. Blame it on the rest of the world, blame it on Dub'Yah, or whatever else you can think of but get one thing straight. If you can't manage to live comfortably on that salary you're the one to blame, no one else.

I think you just don't want to trade in your home and quality used Nissan Sentra for the possibility that your big move abroad might prove nothing more than that you were better off here than you thought and you're a moron.

Note I said "possibility". You might not be a moron. Maybe you bought your house at a high interest rate and live somewhere where 45K ain't enough to rent a decent shopping cart. It's possible.

Re:Evidence?

[JudgeFurious]

I'm not in your sight. I'm on your monitor.

Your lame comments addressed (out of boredom at the moment) in sequence follows:

"You are a mother fucking idiot. It's people like you who give the US it's bad reputation abroad. You are arrogant without reason."

Well I can think of 12,000 reasons called warheads that might be considered cause for arrogance so granted. I'm arrogant. If you say I am then I must be right?

I live in a country that's pretty much capable of doing whatever it wants to in regards to the majority of the rest of the world and I admit it. It's not that I completely agree with it but it's a reality. People who claim it isn't aren't looking at the world around them. We call the shots or can call the shots in more places than any single other nation on earth. Dispute that for me. You can't. It's just true. Arab nations don't want the US to go to war in Iraq. Aside from the yea or nay of it being right you can bet your ass that if we want it then it will happen.

Is it right? Probably not. Will it happen? No doubt about it if the US says so.

Personally I think it's poor tips from tightwads that give the US a bad reputation abroad but that's just me. You might have something there.

"At least I, as an American, am willing to admit that the US doesn't have the power that most dupes have been conned into thinking that we do"

This is stupid. We have the power to level entire nations. We have power your tiny little ass has never even dreamed of. We have the ability to equal the worlds production capability in a pinch and we can cut off the food of hundreds of millions of people around the world in the blink of an eye (or rather the time it takes for one man to sign a piece of paper and/or verbally give an order). Do you have any idea how many countries economies freakin vanish if we pull our citizens off of the teet of cheap gas? Once again man, not necessarily right but almost impossible to refute. Ok, that one simply isn't right. Hell even I can see that. Still true though.

"With fools like you and the current administration jumping around acting like schoolyard bullies and claiming their superiority, things are only going to get worse. We don't deserve to have that kind of power anyway."

My ass never left my seat when I typed that (so you can't say I was jumping around. You can say it but it ain't the truth) and you don't have to be a Republican to think the US is the country pushing the buttons and pulling the levers in the world today. The Democrats take care of it when the Republicans aren't doing it and they do it just as well. Actually if you read the FUCKING NEWSPAPERS or watch the news on the TELEVISION, or even go to a news site on the internet of your choice OTHER THAN SLASHDOT then you would see that no one does any claiming of superiority. It wouldn't do for public consumption and it makes us look, well, just like "schoolyard bullies". The US seems to prefer to take a "we're just one of the guys" approach to world domination and we even go out of our way to pretend that all of these other so called powers get to feel like they are being consulted and part of "the team".

No one is fooled by this, except perhaps you, but it would be poor form to simply come out and say "Everyone get out of our way or prepare to get your ass kicked". What can we say, we don't want anyones feelings hurt over this whole "we got the balls and you got the sack" thing.

Oh and deserve has absolutely nothing to do with it. Never has, never will.

"But, thanks to you we are doomed to have more things like Spet (?) 11th happen. I'll bet you're one of those fucks that drives your sorry ass to work in an SUV as well... You've done far more to further finance terrorism in that fucking monstrosity than any drug dealer has. What a lame ass. You are an embarassment. Leave my sight now."

I caused "Spet 11th"? No shit? Well damn, I'm sorry and I'll do whatever I can to try and make it up to everyone....

Know what? Fuck you instead. I don't own a friggin SUV so by your logic I'm innocent of the whole mess. September 11th was caused by (pay close attention you shaved fucking ape) A BUNCH OF ASSHOLES WHO DECIDED TO KILL PEOPLE. That's the whole story. Nothing more to see here, move along.

Damn near everyone on the planet figures the US is the source of some problem they have. Most of them are wrong but we make a convienient target. We're big, we're bad, and we inspire plenty of fear since we're the biggest and baddest thing on the block.

Knucklehead monkeys praying to Allah (equal opportunity offender here, I think your basic Christian type "God" fellow is just as much of a joke) and living their lives by 12th century rules crack me up. They talk about how bad we are and how we're so friggin evil. If we were as evil as they think we are their countries would be black glass and bones. We'd get the oil the old fashioned way. We'd kill the indigenous population for it and/or enslave them. Just like back in the day when England was leading the pack all the other western nations would line up for their share of the pot too. And just like they all kissed ass up to England then they would be lining up to be our little something special today.

Arrogant, yes. Running the show, yes. More powerful than anything else on this planet, of course. Right, I kind of doubt it. Inevitable, oh yeah.

"How High? - The United Nations when we say jump.

Re:Evidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

Hahahaha... You fell for it sucker.

Re:Evidence?

[JudgeFurious]

Hardly, I felt like writing and bitching and did so. I enjoyed myself too. What's not to love?

Geek scary movies

[briggsb]

Here's a list of the scariest geek movies.

Re:Geek scary movies

[Anonymous Coward]

That's about as creative as punnie porn titles...

Call that a pun'kin chucker?

[mblase]

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).

Re:Call that a pun'kin chucker?

[mblase]

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.

Re:Call that a pun'kin chucker?

[echucker]

Actually, no I don't. ;-)

-Chucker

pumpkin cannon

[circletimessquare]

another story about the pumpkin cannon.

5 mile range?!

quote "This is way too much fun to stop."

'nuf said! lol ;-)

Amusing Halloween Cartoon...

[NanoGator]

Heh, this isn't on-topic really other than it's about Halloween and /.'s favorite company, MS.

Check out today's Foxtrot, Im sure most of the ppl visiting this site will get a chuckle from it.

Re:Amusing Halloween Cartoon...

[NanoGator]

Uh... Off-topic? Sure. Overrated? Sure. Redundant? What, did somebody else publish the cartoon before me?

Why do Americans call this a holiday?

[Malc]

When I lived in the US, Americans seemed to call Halloween a holiday. Why? I though this very odd as I'm normally given a day off work on a holiday, yet I never observed any statutory requirements for this.

Instead it seemed very clever marketing by companies wanted an extra cash boost in October had brainwashed everybody... perhaps through manipulation of parents by advertising at their children.

Re:Why do Americans call this a holiday?

[Anonymous Coward]

Thanks for leaving.

Re:Why do Americans call this a holiday?

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't you have a Bank Holiday to take or something?

Re:Why do Americans call this a holiday?

[jimmc]

When I lived in the US, Americans seemed to call Halloween a holiday. Why?

It's actually November 1 that is the holy day (Allhallowmas, or All Saints' Day), but we Americans like to move our holidays around just for fun. In this case, we have a holieve instead of a holiday.

Why is this modded down?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's true.

We even beat them at soccer. Oh-- I'm sorry. Fútbol.

One of the funniest ones out there

[buzzsport]

http://www.artbell.com/images/fun-pumpkin01.jpg

Re:One of the funniest ones out there

[gshutt]

heh that's funny, but how bout this one, this one or even this one..

Michael's costume

[Anonymous Coward]

For Halloween, Michael is going to dress up like a straight heterosexual man. That will be something to see!

GIVE IT UP!

[dizco]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Give it up for the likeness of my head carved into a pumpkin!!!!!!

Re:GIVE IT UP!

[_ph1ux_]

Pumpkin carvers!, Pumpkin carvers!, .Pumpkin carvers!, Pumpkin carvers!,

Re:GIVE IT UP!

[Anonymous Coward]

If you are really Steve Balmer I think you are insane to admit it. Why the monkey dance? Are you retarded? Why does MS give me the creeps? Are you retarded? That pumpkin is carved very well. Are you retarded?

Because it's fun

[stefanlasiewski]

Gee whiz, don't be so negative.

You don't need a day off to have a holiday. Some holidays are just for fun. Are all of the holidays in your country _serious_ holidays? Don't you just want to go out and play sometimes?

Not everyone in America celebrates halloween so extremely. It's mostly celebrated by people 35 and under (with many exceptions), and is a big holiday for many college kids, geeks, artists, and people who veer from the mainstream.

I'll give you a perspective from someone in the San Francisco, California area. Halloween is a holiday because:

- It's fun
- It's creative. I get to exercise my creative juices by decorate my house in spiderwebs, skeltons and blacklights. Next year I'm planning Robotic flying ghosts in my front yard.
- It's an excuse to dress up
- The children love it
- It's an excuse to party. Halloween is by far the biggest holiday in the San Francisco area. In the city, you'll have parties that stretch for 10 blocks, with tens-of-thousands of people dancing and having a good time.
- Day of the dead is tomorrow (Big holiday in Mexico and here in California).

Now, there are historical roots to the trick-or-treating, and the dress up, and pumpkins, and the day of the dead, but I won't go into that now. (Wait, looks like you're from the UK. You should know the roots already!)

Re:Because it's fun

[Malc]

Holiday: a day on which one is exempt from work; specifically : a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event.

It's not a holiday. Stop calling it that! Significant day perhaps, but not holiday! If you think it's a holiday, then you've conned.

Another thing: why does society have to give you a reason to have fun and party and perhaps even dress up? What's wrong with doing it on some other day in the rest of the year when you're not being a sheep or have to deal with lots of other really really annoying (and often obnoxiously loud and intrusive) people? I party quite a lot, but with the people of my choice and without having other people in my face. We party on our terms, not corporations. The whole thing is just dumb for dumb unimaginative people who don't know how to have fun by themselves.

As for the historical side: it can't even be compared.

Re:Because it's fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh great, he looked it up in the dictionary.

Thanks for playing by the rules. Now go back to your stylish cafe and let us have fun.

Re:Because it's fun

[stefanlasiewski]

The whole thing is just dumb for dumb unimaginative people who don't know how to have fun by themselves.

Thanks for being so 'fun'. With those dictionary references, I'm sure you're a riot at parties.

Another thing: why does society have to give you a reason to have fun and party and perhaps even dress up? What's wrong with doing it on some other day in the rest of the year when you're not being a sheep

So tell me, in the last year, how many times did you wake up one morning and say "Today, I'm going to dress up in a costume and go to work|school|to the park|whatever!". Let me guess... zero. And I wouldn't do it either. Why? Because if I was the only person wearing a costume, I'd feel like an idiot.

Look, Halloween gives me an excuse to dress up as a scarecrow and take my nephew out to get candy from the neighbors. We like it. It's fun. It's full of imagination and creative energy. I can't wait until I have my own kids and can take them out.

I love making my house look haunted. I like the toys, I like the special effects.

There is nothing wrong with communities dressing up and celebrating the same thing on the same day. Doing this does not make us 'sheep' any more then celebrating New Years on the same day. It's a fucking holiday.

Don't like it? Fine, don't do it. Nobody's forcing you. Now go back to your 'fun'...

You want sheep, try Valentines day. But leave my holiday the fuck alone.

Re:Because it's fun

[swv3752]

From hyperdictionary

2. Occurring rarely; adapted for a special occasion.

1. A consecrated day; religious anniversary; a day set apart in honor of some person, or in commemoration of some event.

Ther is more than just your definition.

Re:Because it's fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Halloween is a holiday in the old sense, as in Holy Day. It is both All Hallow's Eve and the pre-Christian Holiday of Samhein.

It wasn't invented by corporations, it was brought to the US by Irish settlers, and has been resisted by much of 'the Establishment.' Where I live (the South) plenty of people hate Halloween and relate it to the occult, Devil-worship and other nefarious stuff.

Besides, if Trick or Treaters went around begging for candy on any old weekday, I suspect that at best they'd get nothing and at worst have the law called on them.

Re:Because it's fun

[Anonymous Coward]

It has no resemblance to the way the Irish or any of the other Celts observed Halloween. These days it is a parody in the name of corporate greed.

Re:Because it's fun

[Desert Raven]

Nice try, but you should have stopped at definition #1 instead of advancing to definition #2

HOLY DAY

Halloween (All Hallow Even) has been a holy day for centuries, predating the Christian religion.

I don't mind pedants, but stupid pedants should be beaten.

if i were you

[Anonymous Coward]

i would get an old russian military uniform and a fake moustache and go as JOSEF STALIN

feisty ellen feiss

[Anonymous Coward]

so.. what's the deal with this ellen chick. why is everyone obsessed with her.

do people think she's cute?

i guess she's cute but a little too young to get the hormones moving. and well, a little too stupid.

she must appeal to the "help the drugged-out cute dumb girl with her computer" instinct present in all geeks.

just curious .. I Want To Believe ..

Re:feisty ellen feiss

[Anonymous Coward]

It's simple. All Macintosh users have a fetish for coy 14-year-old girls. Somehow, Apple's advertising agency thought that Windows users might want to "switch" to this perversion.

Not entirely correct

[YourMissionForToday]

For the real story about Helloween, please visit this site

Re:Not entirely correct

[zapfie]

Is that some hybrid of Hello Kitty and Halloween?

Yankee Siege

[lophophore]

I do not know why there has not been more of a net presence for the Yankee Siege, a 55' trebuchet built by a farmer to get more people to visit his farm stand. The Christian Science Monitor reports is as the 3rd biggest trebuchet in the world... They are slinging 200 lb pumpkins 900' into the woods! Unfortunately, there are not a lot of pictures of this contraption on the net.

My Dad went to see it and was very impressed. I have seen the photos--I want one.

For those in New England, this thing is in Greenfield, NH

Pumpkin Cannon is a scary story

[Jaguar777]

''I intend on shooting in competition, and I'm going to change my barrel size to regulation so I can compete with the other big guns,'' he said.

The fact that there is a "regulation" barrel size for a pumpkin shooting competition scares me.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

they believe they have the right to act like the global police force.

We have to, because Europe is too weak and cowardly to take care of business themselves. Or haven't you noticed how Europe crawls to the US whenever something difficult needs to get done?

Bombing innocent civilians in third-world countries is not acceptable.

That's right, which is a good thing that the US never does that (there is a difference between accidental deaths and intentional targeting, like the Palestinians do).

The US has an extroadinary poverty gap,

The US has the richest poor people in the world. For example, 40% of people in "poverty" own their home.

massive crime and drugs problems

The crime rate is lower than most European countries. Sorry to burst your bubble.

A poorly educated

You mean, Harvard educated

racist

Huh? Name one racist thing Bush ever said or did.

no leadership talent

Apparently you are are one of the weak-minded people who equate public speaking ability with leadership ability. God forbid we have someone who actually accomplishes things rather than just able to speak well (e.g., Clinton).

That says a lot about the USA to me.

Funny how everything you know about the USA is wrong. Maybe you should actually learn something about the greatest country in the history of the world before launching silly, ignorant attacks.

I don't believe it

[illuminatedwax]

They got Conan O' Brien to be part of the graveyard!

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

"Maybe you should actually learn something about the greatest country in the history of the world before launching silly, ignorant attacks."

Where is the proof of your assertation.

I was replying to an AC

[Corporate Troll]

Well, I don't really know why you tell me this. I know that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I was actually replying to an AC that claimed so many young european people leave Europe to go to the US. Now, while I didn't see any evidence of it, it still might be true. (Links are appreciated)
Anyways... Even though my handle says I'm a Troll, I really am not. I really *do* dislike the commerical pushing of a holiday just for the sake of profit. Oh, and my original post got modded Troll and Flamebait, just because I was being truthfull to my own culture. I get called a nationalist, people use WWII against me etc... Now, while my statements may not be popular around here, they certainly have a core of truth.
No hair on my head thinks of moving to the US. I was there, it's nice for a holiday...and I suspect many Americans think that about Europe too. I do respect Americans, but the way Halloween has been introduced here is really not a thing to be proud of. Heck today, at the gas-station I was served by a witch! Why? I just don't get it, it's not going to make me buy more gas or so.

Re:I was replying to an AC

[stefanlasiewski]

Heck today, at the gas-station I was served by a witch! Why? I just don't get it, it's not going to make me buy more gas or so.

You misunderstand. The witch didn't dress up to please you, and she didn't dress up to see you more gasoline. She dressed up for herself, perhaps for her friends at the station (No offsense, but you're a customer, not a friend), and perhaps for a party afterwards.

What's wrong with that? Let her have her fun.

Re:I was replying to an AC

[Corporate Troll]

Makes sense...but explain we why the servers at the canteen at work were dressed up too. That was at noon, so no, "the party after" is no valid explanation.
The day, I go to work on halloween and see my boss dressed up as a Zombie, then will be the day I will have lost my crusade. Hey, *I'm* the caffeine-drinking zombie at work ;-) I want no competition...

Re:I was replying to an AC

[stefanlasiewski]

but explain we why the servers at the canteen at work were dressed up too.

Same reason as the gas-station attendant... to have fun. Hell, a canteen can be a very boring place to work. You need all the fun you can get.

Re:I was replying to an AC

[Corporate Troll]

Except that I highly suspect that this was no grassroot movement of the canteen employees but a management decision in order to create an "event". Otherwhise the menu wouldn't really have things like "devil's soup" on it.
Probably just the canteen management (which is subcontracted) that created a event to attract more people who want to see what all the fuss is about (menu's are published over email...so you could even get curious if you never go to the canteen)

Blizzard's site

[Alex Thorpe]

I know that opinion on Blizzard is divided around here, but anyone who plays Warcraft III should check out the MP3 they have on their home page. It's the WC3 units having a Halloween party, and most of the voices are the standard ones from the game, the ones you hear when you click repeatedly on the units. "Where's my drink? There's my drink. Get in my belly!" It's great!

The "Ellen Feiss" pattern is spooky

[burgburgburg]

In the "Discomforting amount of attention paid on a teenage girl, leave her alone and start meeting some adult women already" sort of a way.

My first thought, upon seeing those Mac pumpkins.

[Anonymous Coward]

Could you make that Ellen Feiss one with an open mouth?

Punkin Lovin

[GooseKirk]

For those whose pumpkin tastes runs less towards throwing and more towards... well... intimacy, there's Punkin Lovin.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

...and Jingo was his name-o...

Not all Americans think that this country is the greatest country. Not all of them stand behind the idiot in the Whitehouse who calls himself the president. In fact there were at least 200,000 Americans who were outside the Whitehouse last weekend chanting "No Blood for Oil" and "1-2-3-4, we don't want your racist war". So... wake up loserboy. It's all about profit to this administration. They don't care about you or your family, or your way of life. For them, you're only one chad on a voting ticket every four years. You may not even have that much value since they can fabricate those as needed too. Think about it... G.W. is willing to send a bunch of 19 year olds "over there" right now. But where was he when duty called? AWOL from the national guard. Pretty "Clinton-esqe" hmmmm??? Refute this mutha fuckah!

Michael! Taco! Hemos! How could you forget!

[Malic]

Homestar Runner's Pumpkin Carving Contest!

http://www.homestarrunner.com/halloween2002.html

Howloween

[Biedermann]

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.

You mean -gasp- it's dead?

I'm popular with AC's today, it seems.

[Corporate Troll]

Ehm, if you have been more tham 20 years in a country and adapted yourself to the local customs you are no foreigner anymore. None of these European immigrants you talk about, still think of themselves as Europeans. At most "from European descent". Heck, I'm an immigrant in the country where I live too. I have been living here for over 20 years and do not consider me of my original nationality anymore. When I went for my studies back to my country of orgin I was considered a foreigner. They didn't call me by my first name, but I was "The Luxemburger". Nice, eh? Once you leave your country, get ready to rip out your roots forever.
If you take it your way, we are all Africans (provided the theories of human origin are correct).

Re:I'm popular with AC's today, it seems.

[Anonymous Coward]

Damn, I forgot the link!

http://www.google.com/search?&q=european+commiss io n+population+decrease

Listen, Europe is a beautiful place, and it's great to visit, and I really admire the European ability to resist commercialism, american culture and the imperialist tendancies of my president (The George Bush probably doesn't celebrate halloween, BTW). More power to you.

You have beautiful cities, wonderful (but crowded) countryside, thousands of bicylists, and your public transit system rocks.

I could live in Europe for a year, but I wouldn't want to live there for long. Why? Too many social restrictions. You guys have a very narrow definition of 'normal' there, especially in the metro areas.

While there are certainly exceptions (Mostly in the UK, and in some areas of the big cities), everyone dresses similar. Similar haircut, similar dress, similar suits. It's very trend-oriented there. Paris is the worst. Here? It's a huge patchwork of different people, styles, haircuts. You have suits walking alongside the punks and the chinese immigrants.

Heck, look at this article. Half-a-dozen postings from Europeans who don't understand that the purpose of Halloween is simply to have fun. Why is that so offensive?

There's a reason why events like Halloween and Burning Man happen here (And certainly elsewhere in the world), and not in Europe.

Come on, lighten up. Think outside the box. Break down those social barriers. Be a little too different.

I've had this discussion with dozens of Europeans.
Employment is the number one reason why young europeans move here. Number two is the restrictions.

Yes, we certainly have huge problems here, and there's alot more work to be done, but at least I can be my own person.

Re:I'm popular with AC's today, it seems.

[Corporate Troll]

First of all: I do understand that it is all about fun. I have no problem with a little fun.

But that is in no way my point. The reason of Halloween here is *purely* commercial and it crushes our *own* culture. What you like about Europe will die when corporatism takes over hard. We have our own ways, and Halloween is just one way of brainwashing our kids into American ideals.
However I took a look at your link, and it is very dangerous to link to a google search, for I did the same . Not very conclusive is it? I really would like to know what exactly are the social restrictions. I do not feel restricted at all. I can do what I want, I know people that look like punks, ghots and other people that have specific lifestyles. I have visted the US before, and honestly, people look the same there. Same kind of suits, same kind of eccentrics.
I'd also like to know what "social barriers" there are? I don't even understand what you mean. None of my friends, not people whom I went to University with left the European Union, I know that is just anecdotial evidence.

About the employment: ehm... well, we do have an unemployment problem. But so have you, you just hide it by offering braindead jobs that are done by machines here (toll booths for example, automated here, didn't see any automated one in the US and I did drive over 5000miles) You can find easily work within Europe if you want. The country I live in for instance has a real problem because the economic situation is really good in comparision to neighbouring countries. Immigration is up-up-up, and for me as a resident its a real bad thing: housing has become near unpayable. Look here As you can see, you just cannot generalize *anything* about Europe. Probably I'm guilty of overgeneralizing the US too.

I for one will not leave the European Union, whatever happens. Especially not to the dollar-crazy US, where you are free by law but bound by commercial entities.

Re:I'm popular with AC's today, it seems.

[ronfar]

You should know though that in the Bible-belt of the USA, there are plenty of Americans who think of Halloween as an unamerican, Satanic holiday. These people and their churches try to come up with alternatives designed primarily to prevent their kids from celebrating Halloween.

Not just in the Bible belt either, my Mom used to work in a library in New Jersey, and they had to remove the Halloween decorations because a customer complained.

Halloween was always my favorite holiday as a child, but I used to get upset when it seemed to be serving an agenda I didn't like. As a small child I had an orthodoxy about Halloween, ghosts, witches and demons were ok, firemen (except undead firemen) and flowers were not. Nobody ever paid any attention to me, of course, and as I grew older and mellowed out I realized that people were going to do exactly what they wanted to do and I couldn't force them to do what I wanted anyway. (It really made me mad when, after forcing my poor mother to work for hours on my mummy costume some kid dressed as a fire hydrant won the costume contest at school. Grrr...)

Do you have any costume holidays where you live? I mean holidays where people pick their own costumes, not holidays with particular costumes (like not like everyone dressing up as Santa Claus at Christmas.). If not, that's the problem. People like excuses to dress up in costume, I believe it is why Mardi Gras is also very popular.

Re:I'm popular with AC's today, it seems.

[Corporate Troll]

I knew about the religious people. I understand their point too.
Actually this seems to be one of the most sensible comments I got (from a logged user, wow!)

Since all your points are valid, I really will not argue against you. Up to your question: yes, we have days where you dress up and have fun. It's called Carnival and the kids love it. Hey, at school we went disguised the last day before the Carnival holiday, and yes, I loved it. It's always earlier in the year, about four weeks before Easter (if I recall correctly, I always forget the dates because they are bound to easter and in such a way variable). Well, heck! That is the monday, before Mardi Gras! "Rosenmontag" in Germany. We even get the day off, yay!
No lack in dressing up, in Germany carnival is prepared over months and there are preliminaries.
Really, the trick 'n treating nor the costumes are a problem, we have local holidays for both of those (not the same day though). Actually this is my whole thing against halloween: I fear that other customs will be lost because of it, and cultural diversity will decrease overall.
Please don't misunderstand me, I have no problem with Americans having their halloween fun, I have a problem with Europeans accepting it without thinking about the eventual consequences.

Grumpkins!

[viper21]

Badass Pumpkins here

This guy has way way way too much time on his hands ;-)

Wait, so do I.

-S

Pregnant BSD cheerleader!!!

[jjinux at yahoo]

I'm going as a pregnant BSD cheerleader!!!

http://ironorchid.com/jjinux/daemon/index.html

No Wired...It isn't Nitrozak

[KC Swan]

Wired got it wrong though!
It isn't NitrozaK.
It's Nitrozac. With a "C"!

Irish Setters?!

[RatBastard]

Emily: Halloween was brought to America by irish setters? Next thing you know, every breed of dog will want its own holiday!

Chevy: Emily.

Emily: Yes, Cheddar?

Chevy: Irish settlers. Irish settlers brought Halloween to the US in the 1800's.

Emily: Oh, that's different. Nevermind.

(With apologies to Gilda.)

more fun than last years pumpkin.

[Anonymous Coward]

I want to stick my wang in the feiss pumpkin.

Sorry Folks...go home.

[dirvish]

Where I live they cancelled Halloween.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[eno2001]

Hehehe... no "Bush backers" willing to take this guy on? Typical. In the face of cold fact, the conservatives ignore it.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

What exactly am I supposed to take on? The man was honorably discharged from the military. Obviously he fulfilled whatever requirements at the time of his discharge.

Or am I supposed to somehow "take on" that a bunch of Neville Chamberlain appeasers protested at the White House?

Chunk versus chuck

[Anonymous Coward]

Chuck as to throw, launch, or propel whimsically or informally. (Also a tool or part of a tool.)

Chunk as to actively produce pieces of misc. size or a piece from the result thereof.

Now, while chucking may produce chunking as a side effect, the use of chunk should be reserved for those machines that automatically remove the pulp from a pumpkin and, for the more sophisticated, also cut the face.

Maybe a definition under slashdot effect besides flooding web sites should include the propagation (repeat) of word misuse after a story is posted by a /. editor through ignorance, misunderstanding, or reliance on bad, informal sources (gee), however common (or popular) that misuse may be.

Its a real religious holiday for some

[Anonymous Coward]

an excellent site to find out about Samhain and other pagan holidays is witchvox

No South Park "SpookyVision"?!?!?

[Anonymous Coward]

What could be scarier then bobbing Barbra Streisand heads in all four corners of the screen?

If those kids aren't American

[Anonymous Coward]

What right do you have to be complaining?

Or are you just reflexively anti-American?

Re:If those kids aren't American

[Corporate Troll]

I can complain anything I want. I don't like the invasion af American corporatism, because that is the sole reason why Halloween has bene (re)introduced here.
I am not Anti-American, I am just defending my own culture. I didn't ask Americans to stop Halloween, I just complain that Europeans and European commerces are embracing it.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[JudgeFurious]

Too many exposures to "The Truth is out there" eh?

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

Europe is too weak and cowardly to take care of business

No, we just don't think it's our right to say what should happen in the rest of the world. We can make statements, our press can discuss what's going on, but we don't start attacking countries on a whim because we disagree with them. THAT is what the US does.

The crime rate is lower than most European countries. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Heh, bust my bubble you condescending prick. How about Switzerland, or Sweden, or Norway, or Iceland, or Finland, or Germany, or France, or Italy, or Luxembourg, or Spain, or... all safer countries than the US. Look up a recent study.

Anyway, I can't be bothered to argue with your other unfounded claims. Even some Americans here have stated how bad things are. I live in Britain, and at least I accept that it's not the "greatest country ever". We have our problems, as does America. Get over it. Try to make the world a better place.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

Heh. China is the "greatest country in the history of the world", going by your reckoning. Incredible history and culture, guns are illegal, hardly any fat people, don't claim they rule the world...

Weird and Awesome!

[Xtraneous]

The *graveyard* is only a 10 minute drive away from my house! Only 1 hour till the next show! But damn it is cold around here. Maybe I'll take pictures but where should I post them (IE a place that can take a slashdotting?)

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

but we don't start attacking countries on a whim because we disagree with them.

Um, name one country that the US has attacked "on a whim" only because we "disagree" with them.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

The same could be said for all the Clinton bashing that happened when he was in office. You Bush lovers weren't so easy on him. But it's far too easy for you to turn a deaf ear to any facts about your beloved moron. Clinton was a far more honourable man than Bush is. His only vice was having smoked some pot once and a little nookie on the side. I don't see how that would affect political decisions. Bush's closet is far more alarming. Cocaine, alcoholism, avarice, etc... I'd far rather have a pot smoking, philanderer who has the expertise to be a statesman, than a coke head (a far more heinous drug) with an unstoppable appetite for money in office. Face it... you're just a stupid fucker who's been duped by conservative rhetoric. Wake up from your fantasy world.

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[eno2001]

What is your response to the charge that the poster above made that Mr. Bush was AWOL? He didn't honorably fulfill his requirements, his daddy (far more intelligent and dangerous than his idiot son) pulled some srings so he could get the honorable discharge. All that proves is that he's got connections. Don't change the subject. Address what the poster above was referring to. I'll bet you didn't go so easy on Bill Clinton.

Re:Michael! Taco! Hemos! How could you forget!

[GotSanity]

You could always use LOGO to carve a pumpkin. =P

Yeah, she's like 12...

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously, she looks like she's 12 years old.

I really doubt that a majority of slashdotters are 12, so really ... lay off the creepy comments about little old girls.

Re:Yeah, she's like 12...

[Anonymous Coward]

If there's grass on the field, play ball!

Russians (and Yanks) already written their story

[Anonymous Coward]

It's called Chechnyan Hijacking. But the real terror is, it is the very same Russians that were supposed to rescue people from the theatre MURDERED all but one of the civilians they are supposed to save. Do you want to support a government -- which you voted for and paid taxes to -- that can and will kill you just because you are strategically THE WEAKEST LINK??? Don't think it won't happened to America, because it will happen more often all over the world.

In another note, the victims of Washington-area sniper had just finished their first volume of scary stories. They may even have time to publish their works just before the perpetrators' executions.

Perspective

[Noren]

But that is in no way my point. The reason of Halloween here is *purely* commercial and it crushes our *own* culture. What you like about Europe will die when corporatism takes over hard. We have our own ways, and Halloween is just one way of brainwashing our kids into American ideals.

I think I understand this, to a point. The part I don't really understand is the brainwashing comment- are the Americans forcing kids to wear costumes? If you don't like the American-culturally-influenced-activity, don't do it. Blame the people abandoning their own culture, not the other culture for failing to stop others from emulating it.

Several of my coworkers grew up in Europe, many in what are now EU countries, and I know many academics who came to the US from Europe. No Americans I've known personally have moved to Europe permenently (though some have gone temporarily, I know an American who's currently a graduate student in Germany for example.)

Almost all of the toll roads I've been on in the US were automated. (I've never been on a toll road west of the Mississippi, where I've been most of my life; the toll roads in Illinois and New York I've driven on were all automated, I recall only once traveling on a non-automated toll road, in Boston, and I suspect it wasn't automated only because it was a temporary bypass during construction) Your anecdotal evidence is all at odds with my anecdotal evidence. But, more to the point, I suspect that the per capita number of government jobs (as private industry doesn't often support such waste) is generally higher in Europe.

I lived in Canada for a few years, I was quite happy to move back to the US.

Re:Perspective

[Corporate Troll]

Because I'm getting quite drunk now, and need really to go to bed, I'll keep this short. My whole point is actually that Europeans are abondoning their own culture for Americanisms. This is not happening at the level of adults, but in childhood, hence the brainwashing thing. I do not blame the americans at all. I am actually accusing all Europenas that are guilty of accepting halloween. Honestly, I respect holidays, I respect people but we are losing our identity and nobody seems to be fighting for it.
Please excuse me for the toll road comment, I only visited California and Florida up until now (Ohio is next), and tolls were manneed everywhere. That's where I got this idea from. We don't have much toll roads anyway ;-)

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[JudgeFurious]

Had you said the same thing about Clinton my response would be no different. It would still fall on the deaf ears of a fool though.

Arrogance....

[martintt]

I don't see arrogance,... it's generally the first fault non US citizens find with the USA.

Americans traditionally are regarded as fat, loud and arrogant, rich and stupid none of which are fair to most of those that I've met, but that's the general sterio-type in the 4 continents I've surveyed. (One is generally treated better when travelling when one explains one is not American).

The USA's hypocritical stance on human rights(prisons etc)/ police brutality, and general belief that the US is above international law could possibly be construed as arrogant, as could the failure to agree to the Kyoto agreement etc.

However this is the best snippet that I found on google when searching for
'American Arrogance'
It's an old one, but I'd love to believe it's not urban myth, and they may have been french Canadians (which should keep you happy).

...but, if I may be so bold, I don't watch much TV. Perhaps some of your countrymen and women should follow that example.

Ahh yes - I'd heard that in the land of the free, there were so many channels, that you were all too busy switching through 100s of channels to watch any TV ;-P

Re:Arrogance....

[DrMaurer]

Goddamnit, hit the back button and lost my first post on accident.

Anyhow: When bush decided that the world didn't matter, a lot of American's changed their voting preference, however, a lot of American's don't have the money for lobbyists either. I don't know how to fix it. I know that no incombant no matter what seat will get my vote in a few days.

I'm sure that this kind of lobbying is happening in a lot of democratic countries, but it's just been the status quo here for so long.

Your little joke is very funny. It probably wasn't Quebec-related, becaus they're in the middle of the country (not that that counts much in the military any more). Probably off Newfoundland. (Besides, the French thing was a joke.)

The TV thing is TRUE! There are 60 channels on my regular (non-digital) cable (which comes "free" with my cable modem), and some of them are so specific I just wonder when they're going to have a TV station that will be perfect for people like me . . . . ooh, shiney thing.

Get your own Carving tools

[Kaz Riprock]

I use these patterns and carving tools year after year. This company has some great tips and cool books of patterns available. There are a few patterns free on their site each year.

The company is Pumpkin Masters.

Unfortunately, I don't have any of my pictures on the web at this point, but I have used their tools and patterns for the past 5 years now with no failure.

Pumpkin gun

[ctar]

From the pumpkin gun story:

A story about the cannon published last week in The Herald-Times of Bloomington was picked up by The Associated Press, leading to calls from reporters as far away as Great Britain.

I actually saw a TV news spot on this thing here in Japan...(probably from the AP spot)

Re:Evidence? QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

Well said. In fact, Clinton smoking some dope and getting off with a few ladies may not be an appealing political argument, but it demonstrates to me that's he's a REAL GUY.

my dog

[Anonymous Coward]

i brought the stuff in from last nite, left it in the foyer. the brave dog comes around the corner, sees the skull-in-black-cape thing and starts barking [at four in the morning]. shit. so i get my little puppy to come down there with me. she doesn't notice it, and is playful. brave dog inches closer; finally closes in for a sniff, and runs back upstairs. some dog. ___ mod me down; i don't care.

Last Post!

[alpg]

SOMETIMES THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD is so overwhelming, I just want to throw
back my head and gargle. Just gargle and gargle and I don't care who hears
me because I am beautiful.
-- Jack Handley, The New Mexican, 1988.

- this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...