Halloween Safety - Just cause, Crime and Stuff

Halloween is an awesome festival where kids go knocking on people's doors while in costume to get candy and say 'Trick or Treat'

However, as much as we like to believe the world is like a Disney movie/ children's book, there are crazy people out there and there have been cases of people going missing, getting killed/ hurt during Halloween.

Here's some sarety things to remember when your kids go Trick or Treating - from the Wellesley Police Department.

• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible, but be cautious of possible debris, tree branches and wires that may still be on the walkways, sidewalks and roadways.


• Trick or Treat close to your home, on streets that you and your family are familiar with.


• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.


• Bring a flashlight with you and keep it on at all times to help you see the pathways and walkways better and others that may be out Trick or Treating.


• Always WALK and don't run from house to house.


• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.


• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.


• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.


• Go out early when there is still some daylight and return home early to keep everyone safe.


• Don't stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers and only enter homes if you are with a trusted adult.

Just a reminder. You can have fun but don't forget to note the safety stuff too

UPDATE 11/24 : A kind gentleman by the name of Matthew Pelletier dropped me an E-mail today to pass me a link to an even more comprehensive list of Halloween safety tips. Check it here! It's really great!

Upcoming Event - Anime Festival Asia - Singapore

Woo hoo! The next big con will be Anime Fest Asia in Singapore on November 9-11. I got my costume ready and I'll be going on Sunday!

It'll be at Singapore Expo waay east near the airport and lots of A Star guests will be there from Shinirou Watanabe (Director of Cowboy Bebop), Danny Choo, Kaname, Mikoto, Reika and famous JPop bands like Baby Metal, Flow, T.M Revolution etc.

Check it out!

Article - Killing Sexy Halloween - The Atlantic

 
First, I'd like to say: My heart goes out to New York City. That storm looks horrific and you guys got hit pretty bad... stay strong! Hope the power comes back on!

Tomorrow is Halloween. I'm actually dressing up for work (because I can!)

Anyway, here's a great article featured in 'The Atlantic' about Sexualizing Halloween

Here's a section

"Sexy referee. Sexy tiger. Sexy hamburger. Every year, Halloween costume companies offer women a host of skimpy outfits to wear on October 31st. And every year, a lot of people—concerned parents, writers at the New York Times and CNN, cable talking heads—try to convince women, especially young women, not to buy them.

"There's always the mommy bloggers who get really angry, and then there's people like me who get really angry," says Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes and an expert on adolescent sexuality and self-esteem. But, Wiseman admits, the complaining about sexy Halloween ends with "limited success." Young women keep buying, and wearing, suggestive costumes.

That's probably because most of the anxiety about the sexualization of Halloween comes from adults—the very people teenagers are inclined to ignore. If sexy Halloween is going to die, girls themselves will have to kill it.  "

Well, what can I say. The media promotes sexy Halloween, businesses also sell Halloween as sexy cause it makes money. It's tough to make it go away just like that. Also, if Halloween was un-sexy then well, it's not 'fun' enough.

Here's that infamous clip from 'Mean Girls' that sums up Sexy Halloween


Cosplay and dressing up is 'fun' because you become someone you're not. Just for 1 day. As harmless as Halloween sounds, its really turned into this big, commercial making festival that it just loses its true meaning and just becomes an excuse to party, dress up and have fun.

here's another great clip from 'Modern Family' and sexy halloween outfits


It's really hard to draw the line at this stuff sometimes. Halloween is generally supposed to be a family friendly affair but it's also an excuse to party, let loose and have fun, the 'grown up' way.

Whatever side you're on, if I were a parent, I won't allow my teenage daughter to wear sexy Halloween outfits. That's just me.

Read the full article here