during month-long October festivities known as “Haunted Happenings”
With Halloween just around the corner, what better time than now to theme this week’s Surfin’ Safari with all things spooktacular?
Boo!
“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto!”
At Facebook I found this, posted by Lisa Katz Lee who wrote, “Paws down … best picture ever!!!”
While it’s not Kansas, this beach scene captures the spirits … er, spirit of the season. This photo was found flying around the Internet, so holding up my broomstick, I snagged it for your viewing pleasure!
Here are several Halloween costume designs you can make on the cheap.
Monster House
Now this is a gal who really knows how to do it up Halloween style! Christine McConnell spent the better part of a week creating this masterpiece – she decorated her parent’s Southern California home to look like a haunted house!
Inspired by the film “Monster House,” McConnell wrote that it took four 12-hour days to complete the transformation.
And her cakes! Confectionery monsters. Like this one:
Head over to her Facebook page to see what else this photographer, baker and author is capable of creating. It’s positively spellbinding!
Literary cakes
Speaking of cakes, while at Buzzfeed, I picked up on this, which reminded me of this. All you book-loving cake eaters, rejoice!
Hats for hags
Searching for the perfect pointed hat? A Salem, Massachusetts consignment shop has just what witches desire. The Witch City Consignment & Thrift Shop offers some glam haberdashery for hags, crones, and wicked cauldron stirrers. Like these:
While we’re flying before a full moon over the official Witch City (established 1626), here’s a view of Salem’s Witch House. Its history: In 1675, Jonathan Corwin, heir to one of the largest Puritan fortunes in New England, purchased this large and stately house. Seventeen years later, Corwin and his family took part in the most famous Witch Hunt in American History. The Witch House is open for tours.
Watch for pirates!
October’s coming to a close. Flip the calendar page forward, and before you know it, you’ll be shopping for Christmas. Here’s a helpful hint from a Surfin’ Safari reader in Tempe, Arizona who writes:
“Many of us are doing more and more online shopping. Last night on the news they had a story about ‘Porch Pirates.’ Seems as if theft of deliveries to people’s houses is happening more and more during the holiday season. Thieves just following the USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. trucks around and after your delivery is made (often expensive items such as TVs and computers), the thief does his shopping by taking your package (as you are at work and not at home).
“Luck be to you to try and convince someone that you did not get your package (as the record will show it as delivered).
“Anyway, Amazon has come up with something new. Amazon Lockers. They are located at select 7-11 stores. Here in the valley, there are currently 13 locations; one each in Gilbert, Chandler and Scottsdale; two in Mesa; three in Tempe and five in Phoenix.
“Alas, the closest to Apache Junction is Dobson Rd. in Mesa. Obviously this will only do you any good if you order from Amazon … which many are doing now. If and when you order from Amazon, you can choose (and I believe pay a fee) to have your package delivered to a locker location and not to your home.”
Thanks for the tip, T.N. You can find out more about the Amazon Lockers here.
And now for really spooky stuff
Now this is beyond spooky. Terrorists have a new platform to communicate securely with each other. It’s a messaging app called Telegram. And it is #1 in the social networking category, ahead of Facebook, WhatsApp, Kik, and others. Telegram focuses on speed and security.
A research analyst who tracks military and intelligence matters noted that the threat we face is constantly morphing.
“Sitting on the knife’s edge when it comes to protecting people’s communication from investigative agencies like the FBI and the NSA is a slippery and inexact argument. The Director of the FBI, James Comey has begged Congress for some legislation such that some encryption can be broken for terror and other criminal cases to be investigated yet nothing is forthcoming and not likely in the future.”
Now THAT’s scary.
