Halloween 2007

Halloween happens to be one of my favorite holidays. It is second only to Christmas, but not by much. What's not to like? You get to dress up, live a little, eat a lot of candy, and overall have a good time. If you are wondering, yes, I did dress up. I am playing a very elegant devil this time around. So, to celebrate the holiday here, I am posting a few links for people to enjoy and share. Maybe you'll be tempted to click.

• Let's start official. What can be more spooky than the federal government? Getting serious, the Census Bureau has put out a Fact for Features piece on Halloween. I always find this feature very interesting. Some facts from the piece:
  
• 1 billion pounds
  Total production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2006. Illinois led the country by producing 492 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in California, Ohio and Pennsylvania also provided lots of pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value of all pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $101 million. <http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp> (We are carving pumpkins this year. Our daughter is taking one to school, the other will be in our front porch tonight).
  
• 1,198
  Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2005, employing 38,718 people and shipping $13.6 billion worth of goods. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 128, followed by Pennsylvania, with 121. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/010192.html> and <http://www.census.gov/mcd/asm-as2.html> (2005 Value of Product Shipments). (Another reason I like Halloween is that I can get my chocolate fix).
  
• Here is a Halloween Myths Quiz. See how you do knowing what is a myth and what happened for real when it comes to urban legends. I missed three. MSN also has a few other articles and features for the holiday. May be worth a look as well.
  
• If you still need a reason to like Halloween, Ann Handley gives you "Five Reasons to Love the Big Business of Halloween." Here is the reason I liked from the post:
  
• "Halloween is about community. Unlike other holidays -- like Thanksgiving, where you have to endure making nice with Aunt Ida and her wing-nut of a son, or like Valentine's Day, when it's the unattached who feel freakish -- Halloween is free from the pressure of sit-down meals with extended family and its complexities; free from heartache and an empty mailbox; and free from so much more...." (I think that's enough said).
  
• If you decide to take photos, here is a little tip from Lifehacker on taking Halloween pictures in the dark.
  
• And if you decide to give out candy, do not be the idiot who gives out crap. Here are "Top Ten Truly Terrible Halloween Treats" from the YesButNoButYes blog. As a kid, I always found one of these in my bags, and believe me, I hated those morons with a passion. Don't be that person. Get some good candy. Now, the list is not just all crappy stuff (like pennies, which make it at #7 on the list). There are some serious items like peanuts (It's #10 on the list, due to allergy potential).
  
• Of course, I would be remiss in my duties as a librarian if I did not give you at least one link for some spooky reading. Here are some spooky classic stories you can read online, courtesy of the defective yeti blog.
  
• For our readers who like to exorcise their spirits, so to speak, here is a recipe for a Zombie Cocktail from the Liquor Snob blog.
  
• And finally, because it would not be Halloween without some temptation, here is some pumpkin porn. Yep, you read it right. Someone out there has carved some pumpkins in some explicit ways. So, here goes your one warning: if you are prudish or offend easily, do NOT click on the link. On the other hand, if you find pumpkin porn amusing, go right ahead and click here.
  

At the end of the day, I would like to leave readers with one reminder. Please be safe as you go out and have fun in the night. If you decide to drink, please do so in moderation. Don't ruin a good time by indulging in excess. And have a Happy Halloween.

P.S. Image found here.