POLITICALLY CORRECT OR OVER DOING IT??

Dawn Boyle

Did I hear that right this morning?? Sometimes I don't know whether they are joking with each other on the morning "news" or not, but I am 99% sure I just heard that schools or maybe it was school test providers are omitting the words DINOSAUR, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and HALLOWEEN from all future tests.

The reporter went on to say the removal of these words will ensure students to stay focused on the exam....REALLY??????

I wouldn't want anyone to fail a test due to a possible connection or flashback to fossil fuel or inhumane treatment of pre-historic animals.....IS THIS SERIOUS?????

HALLOWEEN SAFETY

SOME DO'S AND DON'TS TO REMEMBER


Treats: Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined them for evidence of tampering.

Pedestrian Safety: Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child. All children should WALK, not run from house to house and use the sidewalk if available, rather than walk in the street. Children should be cautioned against running out from between parked cars, or across lawns and yards where ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines present dangers.

Safe Houses: Children should go only to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome.

TOP 10 NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN MOVIES FOR FAMILIES

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Halloween is coming and if you’re like me, you dread the line up of bloody, violent, horror films that will be on TV.  Halloween is my favorite holiday, but scaring myself half to death isn’t my idea of fun. Here are some movies that set the scene and put you in the mood for Halloween fun without having to lose sleep from nightmares! There are many more, but these are my favorites.

The 10 Greatest Not Scary Movies for Halloween

10. Disney’s Haunted Mansion: Eddie Murphy and his family are trapped in the famous Haunted Mansion of the Magic Kingdom Attraction fame.

9.Coroline: An adventurous girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.

8. Nighmare Before Christmas: Tim Burton animated film with Jack Skelton as the main character.

7.Ghostbusters: Classic Bill Murray and friends saving NewYork from ghost invasion.

6.Arsenic and Old Lace: An oldie but a

goodie. Cary Grant stars as the nephew of 2 sweet little old ladies, who happen to have 17 bodies in the cellar! This is Cary Grant at his absolute best!

5.The Corpse Bride: Tim Burton's tale with the voice of Johnny Depp as Victor Von Dort, a shy young man betrothed to the lovely Victoria. When Victor goes into the woods to practice his vows, he finds himself married to a blue-skinned, maggot-ridden beauty.

4. Casper :When an afterlife therapist (Bill Pullman) is hired to rid a haunted house of ghosts, he and his daughter (Christina Ricci) have a close encounter with Casper, "the friendliest ghost you know." Unfortunately, Casper's got three not-so-friendly uncles, Stinkie, Fatso, and Stretch, who are unbendable in their desire to force the "fleshies" out.  

3.Beetlejuice:Michael Keaton as a crazy undead creature trying to marry the pretty young daughter.

2.The Adams Family: Or any of the sequels. Nothing says Halloween like this amazing collection of family members! My favorite character is Christina Ricci as Wednesday Adams! You’ll love every one of these movies.

1.Young Frankenstein –A Mel Brooks film (need I say more?) Some sexual innuendo, hysterically funny and perfect for Halloween night! My family never misses the opportunity to watch this movie!

TOP TEN SCARIEST HALLOWEEN MOVIES

10.  FRANKENSTEIN
 9.   THE RING
 8.   JAWS
 7.  A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
 6.  SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
 5.  THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
 4.  PSYCHO
 3.  HALLOWEEN
 2.  THE SHINING
 1.  THE EXORCIST

PARANORMAL PUB: HALLOWEEN PARTY GAME

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Want to do something different at your Halloween party this year?  Try a game that is better than Charades and can be spookier than the Ouija board! Try a Halloween Roleplaying game!

Roleplaying games have become extremely popular with college age men and women. They meet weekly and come up with scenarios, characters and create complex plots that continue over several weeks. One person acts as the leader to set and enforce “rules of play” and who is responsible for keeping the record of all that goes on.

The Halloween roleplaying I am suggesting is much less complex and easier to do. You can copy some “adventure seeds” or what we teachers used to call “story starters” on index cards and each player adds to the story. Characters can be introduced and twists and turns can be added. The group may work as small teams or individuals. A timer is set for 15 minutes and when time is up, the story must be given a conclusion. Prizes can be given for the best conclusion, the best character created or the cleverest contribution to the plot.

Here are some sites to help you come up with adventure seeds!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056552/

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/profbooks/starters.htm

http://hallowkj.ifastnet.com/hallnr/story-sb8.html

THIS YEAR'S MOST POPULAR ADULT HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Last year it was Sarah Palin, Harry Potter, the Mad Hatter, Iron Man and the Queen of Hearts that dominated the Halloween costume scene.  Now, for Halloween 2011, the themes for costumes will be inspired by movies such as the newest Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows (part 1 and 2). Children too, are choosing to be dementors, Hogwarts students and wizards. Another popular movie based costume will be Captain America and the Green Hornet for men and Alice in Wonderland and the Red Queen from the Johnny Depp movie.

A theme that has become popular over the past 3 years is that of zombies. Costumes come is many ranges of styles. You can be a bloody, gory zombie or even a sexy one (still with rotting flesh of course!). Zombies have become a social craze with many cities holding “Zombie Walks”. ( http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/05/zombie-mania.html )  There is even a new ATV series based on Zombies!

Another popular costume will be Charlie Sheen. He’s been in the news so much that his drug abuse and wild lifestyle has become the subject of jokes, especially for TV comedians like Jay Leno and Conan O’Brian.

Another timeless costume theme is Pirates. Pirates have always been popular, but with the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, they have reached an all-time high. Hmmm, another Johnny Depp inspired theme!

My vote for the best costume theme of 2011 is Angry Birds! So many people are hooked on the game and the costumes are easy to make or if you choose to purchase, they are fairly inexpensive. Throw one on and carry a pig stuffed animal and you’ll be the hit of the party!

As usual, the costume stores are packed with “sexy nurse”, “sexy Alice”, “sexy maid” ……. In other words, it’s hard to find a decent costume for women that isn’t cut down to your belly button and up to your… well, you know! I know that I don’t have the shape for these costumes, but I really don’t think I’d want to wear one if I did! They have to be uncomfortable and as far as I’m concerned that they take away from the spirit of Halloween. It’s not a time to be a femme fatale; it’s a time to be scary, funny, cute or gross! One of my favorite things is answering the door to little trick or treaters in my costume. They love it when I’m a witch or a fairy tale character! I doubt they would appreciate a half-naked sexy Snow White! Just saying!

This year the costume industry will have over 1 Billion dollars in sales. Much of that income will come from adult costumes since more grownups are dressing up and joining in the fun!

 What will you and your kids be dressing up as this year? Let us know and send us a picture! Oh, and Happy Halloween!