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ManagementServices joined: Tuesday June 15, 2010 posts: 1 location: Nowheresville |
Thursday October 09, 2008 03:58pm EDT |
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Halloween is the most SFnal of holidays, of course, and one that particularly encourages craftiness and creativity. So, in honor of All Hallows’ Eve, this is the place for the Tor.community to show off their pumpkins, the kid they costumed, the house they decorated (or egged), their pimped-out office, cards they made, cookies they baked, parade photos... anything Halloween-related, really. No gesture is to grand or to stupid.
So fire away! Embed your images, post links, recount anecdotes, anything and everything Halloween-related goes! |
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crinklequirk joined: Thursday September 11, 2008 posts: 1 location: |
Friday October 10, 2008 03:09pm EDT |
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Hey, sounds like fun! Looking forward to what everybody posts. :) |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Friday October 10, 2008 03:50pm EDT |
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Hey All,
I'm holed-up at the lovely Race Brook Lodge with a baker's dozen of artists. Like the art director I am, I put them to work. Scott Fischer: 
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masinger joined: Wednesday June 23, 2010 posts: 10 location: New York |
Friday October 10, 2008 04:38pm EDT |
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I have no photos, but my office has been decorated for Halloween all year, and I've taken a lot of ribbing for it, even at Tor.
Just because I like to have a bat-tree on my desk and spiders and ghosts hanging from the top of my doorway . . . does that really make me _strange_? I feel so misunderstood, boo hoo hoo. Have to get to Target this weekend and see if there are any good decorations left as I want to refresh the look . . . . |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Saturday October 11, 2008 09:40pm EDT |
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Are we allowed to post the cool stuffs of random strangers? Drove through Salisbury, CT this afternoon and ran into a town-wide scarecrow contest:
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BMcGovern joined: Tuesday May 11, 2010 posts: 4 location: Brooklyn |
Sunday October 12, 2008 03:40pm EDT |
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Okay, here's what I got so far: my Tor.com-inspired rocket-pumpkin...
and incontrovertible proof that both black cats and dinosaurs love the rocket-pumpkin: 
Ficht nicht mit der Racketpumpkin! I love Halloween :) |
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pablodefendini joined: Friday June 13, 2008 posts: 50 location: Brooklyn |
Sunday October 12, 2008 11:50pm EDT |
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And now, as a portrait in Halloween hardassery, I give you Merv:
Shout out to the Dream King, yo. |
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ssakamoto joined: Tuesday July 08, 2008 posts: 7 location: Gujo Hachiman |
Monday October 13, 2008 04:54am EDT |
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Hello,
I'm in rural Japan, near a town called Mino. If you've ever seen a Japanese door (shoji), or a paper lantern, then you've probably seen the rice paper that comes from Mino. Every year, the residents put on a beautiful lantern festival. Guests stroll down lovely historic streets under the light of the moon and view the gorgeous washi (rice paper) lanterns that line the streets. This year there were halloween themed lanterns among the designs. 
There was a pikachu too. 
A link to non-halloween lanterns for the curious. |
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kawaii joined: Friday September 19, 2008 posts: 1 location: |
Monday October 13, 2008 07:54am EDT |
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@masinger
"Have to get to Target this weekend and see if there are any good decorations left as I want to refresh the look . . . . " Did you know that Domo-kun is Target's offical Halloween mascot this year? They even had the creator make a little Domo Halloween movie. ^^ So cute! @ssakamoto Those are wonderful lanterns! I'm living in Misawa-shi (三沢) atm, and I've traveled around most of northern Japan, but haven't made it farther south than Tokyo yet. I hope to soon! |
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ssakamoto joined: Tuesday July 08, 2008 posts: 7 location: Gujo Hachiman |
Monday October 13, 2008 08:03am EDT |
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Wow, you're far up north. If you ever make it to Gifu-ken and want to see Gujo Hachiman let me know!
Irene, I envy your lodge of artists. That sounds like real fun! |
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masinger joined: Wednesday June 23, 2010 posts: 10 location: New York |
Monday October 13, 2008 10:49am EDT |
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Kawaii:
Yes, seeing Domo-kun was a huge thrill, but alas, most of the Domo-related merchandise was sold out. There was some Domo candy left but not much else. |
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joshkidd joined: Sunday July 20, 2008 posts: 12 location: Atlanta |
Monday October 13, 2008 04:27pm EDT |
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Here's a pic of my Halloween costume from last year. I was a zombie cyclist. The costume consisted of a smashed cycling helmet and a t-shirt with a tire track on it. Along with some special makeup of course.
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Monday October 13, 2008 04:28pm EDT |
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Hmm, which universe do I want to live in? The universe with Pablo the Webproducer or the one with Pablo the Illustrator? Tough call. Awesome drawing.
Here's something to give you nightmares -- same town as the scarecrow above. This one, Hanna Montana:  |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Monday October 13, 2008 04:34pm EDT |
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Josh, that great! I always thought that if I was going to be in a parade I would be a mummy cyclist -- wrapping up the bike, as well as myself, in bandages. We'd make a good pair. Then we'd need one of those crazy franken-bike peoples. |
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Torie joined: Wednesday July 09, 2008 posts: 36 location: New York City |
Monday October 13, 2008 04:42pm EDT |
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@ Joshkidd
That's not science fiction! Every time I ride my bike in this city I think I'm going to wind up a zombie cyclist... |
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ssakamoto joined: Tuesday July 08, 2008 posts: 7 location: Gujo Hachiman |
Monday October 13, 2008 07:05pm EDT |
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Oh god. My soul has a Hanna Montana scarecrow shaped stain on it that will never fade. |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Wednesday October 15, 2008 04:38pm EDT |
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We had way too much fun doing these. We just might need a second night of squash induced good times.
(The full set of pictures: Pumpkin Flickr ) 
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thumbelinablues joined: Monday June 16, 2008 posts: 10 location: New York |
Thursday October 16, 2008 01:38pm EDT |
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When two Messingers unite, tentacle-pumpkins are born! :-P Remind me to plan in advance the next time I do artsy things with the art department. We should definitely do it again, though. Far superior to that one time Joey and I hacked a face into an acorn squash.... And it was awesome to meet Greg! |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Thursday October 16, 2008 02:50pm EDT |
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Joey! I apologize, we had misplaced his name...and then we took a vote and decided we liked "Boy Messinger" too much anyway. He was great fun. You should have him hang around at the next holiday event. |
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Bowlin joined: Saturday October 18, 2008 posts: 1 location: |
Saturday October 18, 2008 05:02am EDT |
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Here's Alfred E. Newman. Complete with a nerdy star wars chessboard just to the right of it. :P
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sillama joined: Friday September 26, 2008 posts: 2 location: |
Saturday October 18, 2008 09:29am EDT |
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Fantastic artwork!!! If I ever get my scanner to work, I'll send you something from Korea. |
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sillama joined: Friday September 26, 2008 posts: 2 location: |
Saturday October 18, 2008 09:46am EDT |
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http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=user&id=15832
Click on a photo to see slide show. The pic of Devil's Tower is good when enlarged. You can see the creepy striations as my son took it at sunset. Also check out the zombie soccer fan, lol. |
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dpmcg89 joined: Sunday October 05, 2008 posts: 2 location: Philadelphia |
Saturday October 18, 2008 11:58pm EDT |
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Sorry it took so long, Beezus. Being a mad scientist is demanding. Here's the pumpkin (I probably should have cleaned it off a little, but we'll just say I was going for a rustic look.
Then you dim the lights and this happens 
Oh and my friend Jen made this too (we kinda fell in love with the Quantum Zombies cat). Check out the sweet west philly parking lot in the background. Legit. 
one more thing: 
Rawr |
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BobLock joined: Friday September 12, 2008 posts: 2 location: Swansea |
Sunday October 19, 2008 06:32am EDT |
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How about a Fibonnaci sequence Halloween poem?
Here's mine: slice slash the eyes and the mouth core out the centre human heads not pumpkins this year! Think I should change my name to Michael Myers? :) |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Sunday October 19, 2008 11:38pm EDT |
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Fibonnaci poems...Wow. Our geek cred just skyrocketed. Most excellent.
Somewhere in the east 80s:  |
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rogerothornhill joined: Sunday July 20, 2008 posts: 17 location: Brooklyn |
Monday October 20, 2008 02:11pm EDT |
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Wow indeed. Mad props, BL. |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Wednesday October 22, 2008 10:10am EDT |
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dpmcg - It wasn't until I saw your pumpkin that I noticed the striking resemblance between zombie cat and my own cat.
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dpmcg89 joined: Sunday October 05, 2008 posts: 2 location: Philadelphia |
Wednesday October 22, 2008 11:53pm EDT |
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Irene - Your cat is awesome. |
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BobLock joined: Friday September 12, 2008 posts: 2 location: Swansea |
Thursday October 23, 2008 06:07am EDT |
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Here's a Halloween tale of mine (not for the faint-hearted)
Here we go again I was born in the last few minutes of All Hallows Even, or as many now call it, Halloween. I’m old-fashioned though and prefer to use the original terminology. It was a difficult birth—usually they all are. I try my best to hang it out, to prolong the labour, just to get to All Hallows Day or Saints’ Day, the day after. But it never works it. It will probably never work, but it’s in my nature to try, as it’s in my nature to do all the other things that I do. The mother survived this time. No big deal, some have survived before, and some haven’t. Perhaps those who did survive wished that they hadn’t. When I dwell on it I suppose most of them have toyed with that wish at one time or another. Once again I knew what was going on moments after the conception. Immediately, upon fusion of the gametes even, when the sperm fused with the ovum. Even before you could classify me as an embryo it all came back to me and I resigned myself to nine months of utter boredom whilst waiting for the birth. As usual I spent the time scheming. Upon reflection it’s what I always do, trying to find some way to prolong the pregnancy. Not by much, on times I’ve been very close to achieving my goal, been seconds away from a non-All Hallows Even birth. But, try as I might, my endeavours always fail. Perhaps I should resign myself to my fate, but when I ruminate on this possibility it isn’t long before I admit that resignation isn’t a word I consider to be in my vocabulary. Patience, yes, patience is a word that I use a lot. I have an abundance of patience, enough for eternity – if that is what it takes. Anyway, I’ve only got until feeding time and then I’ll have the peaceful bliss of ignorance once more – until my next conception of course. Yet again that is something I puzzle over and pick apart whilst the long, dark, boring nine months drag by. How can I retain my memories this time? However, I know that this is an old idea, one I’ve contemplated many times before. All my memories and I do mean ALL my memories are intact whilst I’m in the womb and also during the first few hours of birth. Right up until the time the teat is put into my mouth, or upon rare occasions – when I’ve been forced to feed intravenously through a vein in my hand. Once or twice they have even resorted to gavage — which means they’ll insert a tube up my nose or down my throat and the milk or formula is introduced into my stomach that way. Whatever happens I always end up feeding and forgetting. Through subtle coercion I’ve even managed to get some of the mothers who bear me to give me my true name in the hope that when I grow I will realise my full potential. So far it hasn’t worked, and that can be said about all the other triggers for my memory that I’ve attempted through the ages. The neon light above my crib is harsh on my newborn eyes. I cry continuously; scream until I’m red in the face with anger. It’s just a taste of what is to come. Even though I’ll not remember any of my other pasts the future seems already mapped out for me. As I’ve said, it’s in my nature. I’ll be an unpleasant baby, prone to keeping my parents awake all night with my constant crying and whining until, through lack of sleep, they’ll resort to violence against each other, both verbal and physical. Some of it might even be directed at me. As a toddler I’ll be sickly, attention-seeking and the first glimmers of darkness within will manifest itself. Perhaps my parents will dwell upon the fact I was born on such a foreboding day and put it down to that. By the time I attend school I’ll have already tortured to death some small pet or other that I’d been given as a birthday present. Usually they’ll refrain from having any more animals in the house and question whether or not it would be a good idea to have more children. More often than not I’m an only child. Pity those parents who think a younger brother or sister would perhaps calm me down. My years as a youth are my best, well; I consider them my best. My victims will think otherwise, no doubt. In my old age I’m the person you see who misuses the wealth, power and influence he has accrued over his many years. In the twilight of my life I’m the angry, frail wraith that clings to the last vestiges of existence by any means possible – and at any cost – if it is financial or otherwise. Riches can procure you anything, a kidney, a lung, a heart whether they are willingly donated – or not. The future brings the promise of longevity. I wonder if that will ultimately break this circle of repetition. Will I one day awaken to a future of immortality – but of another kind? One in which I will not have to tread the same well-worn stairs to eternity with all previous memories extinguished, but will retain them all, and have an open book in which to write a boundless story of evil and corruption – until the end of time. My name is Samael, and – as you have probably worked out by now – I am a Fallen Angel, doomed to be born, live, die and be reborn again, until the stars themselves wink out of existence. It’s almost midnight and the nurse is taking me for my first feed. It’s almost time for me to forget my past – yet again. As the alluring smell of mother’s milk assails my senses and I’m brought forward to the breast I hear the mother’s voice... ‘There, drink your first drink – my little angel.’ And I think – here we go again… http://bob-lock.blogspot.com/ |
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DavidApatoff joined: Friday October 24, 2008 posts: 1 location: |
Friday October 24, 2008 03:21am EDT |
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At our house:
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Torie joined: Wednesday July 09, 2008 posts: 36 location: New York City |
Friday October 24, 2008 10:41am EDT |
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@ David
Awesome!!!! I love it. |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Sunday October 26, 2008 06:58pm EDT |
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D'Agostino Pumpkin Grrr
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GibbousMoon joined: Monday July 21, 2008 posts: 1 location: Brooklyn |
Tuesday October 28, 2008 11:21am EDT |
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This is my Hellboy pumpkin. It needs some more work to get the more detailed parts to shine with out breaking, but I love it. Next to the Hellboy pumpkin is Mort (the stupid pumpkin, he's got the dangle tooth)
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BMcGovern joined: Tuesday May 11, 2010 posts: 4 location: Brooklyn |
Tuesday October 28, 2008 02:19pm EDT |
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@ GibbousMoon *That* is excellent. We wanna see Mort too! Nobody's cooler than Hellboy, but stupid pumpkins need love too :) |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Wednesday October 29, 2008 11:01pm EDT |
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Steampunkin...or...something.
Adorable or abomination? 
more to come |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Thursday October 30, 2008 01:33am EDT |
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Is it becoming overly obvious that we started this thread just so we could play in it? Come to think of it, that's kinda been the motivation behind tor.com in general. Anyway, more last night's pumpkin carving extravaganza. (And we should all encourage Bridget t repost her Tweets from teh evening here.)
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jamiegrove joined: Tuesday July 15, 2008 posts: 16 location: Columbus |
Thursday October 30, 2008 12:42pm EDT |
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Sweet!
I wrote this story for my kids... Enjoy. "Jeremy Shade and Spatula Inn" There is a dark, forbidden valley where travelers should never go, though sometimes, a careless soul manages to wander in and still make it back. Their hair gone white where once it was black. Their eyes never rest, and they look hard into the shadows. What they see we do not know, but they never, never sleep again... Read on... |
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Irene joined: Monday July 07, 2008 posts: 49 location: New York, NY |
Friday October 31, 2008 01:34pm EDT |
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Not one, but _two_ short stories. You guys are awesome.
From the cubicle of marketing coordinator Jen Kaufler: Cathulu dressed as Lovecraft.  |
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rogerothornhill joined: Sunday July 20, 2008 posts: 17 location: Brooklyn |
Friday October 31, 2008 09:07pm EDT |
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A reminder to all pumpkins out on the loose tonight:
Don't do the rind If you can't do the time No nooooooo . . . |
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aamcnamara joined: Tuesday August 12, 2008 posts: 1 location: |
Saturday November 01, 2008 03:05pm EDT |
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My humble contribution: my Halloween costume of Fox (from Kelly Link's story "Magic for Beginners").
Pictures here. |
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gimpols1908 joined: Monday July 21, 2008 posts: 1 location: |
Monday November 10, 2008 01:42pm EST |
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Wanted to post my own Quantum Zombie employee.
There is also a large logo on the back |