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I’m a sucker for a good disaster movie.  Films like “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Children of Men,” and “Independence Day” were all fascinating and disturbing, but ultimately safe and cathartic ways to examine our fears about the end of the world. There’s a new disaster flick to add to the list, and if the pre-opening buzz is any indication, we’re in for quite a ride with “2012.”  The new film by Roland Emmerich focuses on the interpretation of the Mayan calendar which predicts that the current life cycle will end on December 21, 2012, speculating that a worldwide apocalypse will ensue.

Let’s face it — though scary, most “end of the world” prophecies are easy to dismiss.  I mean, so many have come and gone throughout history with nothing to show. Just within the last decade, there have been a handful of predicted apocalypse scenarios.  According to Nostradamus, we weren’t supposed to make it past 1999, and even if we did, Y2K was sure to do us in.  Why should  the 2012 prediction be any different?

Well, for one thing, the Mayas were different from, and perhaps a bit more knowledgeable, than some other doomsday foretellers. The Mayan calendar is almost as advanced as our own at predicting astrological phenomena like eclipses and alignments — a pretty amazing feat considering that they didn’t have access to telescopes, satellites, and the other advanced technology that we have at our disposal.  The Mayas chose 2012’s solstice as doomsday based on astronomical observations predicting a squaring-off between the powerful forces of Pluto and Saturn — a phenomenon that, according to my understanding, will indeed occur around that time.

But, to be fair, this same cosmic occurrence has happened many times before, most recently between August 2001 and May 2002, and we came through it just fine.  Much of the hype about 2012 is actually just that: hype.  Even modern Mayas are discounting the validity of the interpretation of their ancient calendar. But no one can deny that we, as a society, love a bit of suspense.  Fueled by Internet speculation, sensationalist authors and scientists, and, of course, the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster, anxiety about 2012 is certainly on the rise and will probably continue to pervade popular culture…at least until 2013 and the next big apocalypse prediction.

Do you believe in the Mayan prophecy regarding Dec. 21, 2012?   And if you knew it were true, how would you like to spend your next (and last) 3 years on earth?

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I love a good scare.  I get especially excited about a well-crafted horror film and, lucky for me, movie theaters and TV channels are teeming with them around this time of year.  In recent weeks we’ve had a couple of great ones (both Zombieland and Paranormal Activity totally lived up to the hype, in my opinion) and a few duds (Pandorum and The Stepfather immediately come to mind), but the interesting thing about horror films is even when they’re bad, they can still be great fun, provided they deliver on a few scares.

My personal preference tends toward ghost stories and hauntings, but I’ll pretty much watch anything from vampires to zombies to slasher flicks.  The only ones I avoid are those extreme torture films which seem to have found a large audience in recent years.  The first Saw was good, but I kind of lost interest after that.  I only made it about half-way through Hostel and there’s no way I’m watching The Audition.

In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I’d share a list of my top 5 horror movies (as well as a smattering of honorable mentions):

–The Haunting (1963) – This classic black & white film from 1963 is based on the Shirley Jackson novel “The Haunting of Hill House.” It was remade in 1999, but I think the original is much scarier.  Like the current hit Paranormal Activity, The Haunting is light on special effects but still manages to scare the snot out of you.  Creaking doors that breathe (literally), frighteningly loud noises, and a truly compelling story supply the chills in this one and it’s a great ride.

–Let the Right One In – Overshadowed by that “other” vampire film (you know, the one with the kids that sparkle), last year’s Let the Right One In passed under most people’s radar.  This Swedish film, based on the book by John Ajvide Lindqvist, tells the story of the friendship between a down-trodden 12-year-old boy and the little vampire girl who lives next door.  It’s beautiful and creepy and funny and sad, all at the same time.  I understand they’re shooting an American version (why are people afraid of subtitles?), but I highly recommend the original.

–The Shining – Is there anything more frightening than Jack Nicholson chasing Shelley Duvall and that poor “redrum” kid around that spooky hotel?  Stanley Kubrick’s seminal thriller based on the Stephen King novel is not only a great horror movie, it’s a great movie period.

–Poltergeist – I was 10 years old when Poltergeist came out in the theater.  I begged my parents to take me, to which they reluctantly agreed.  I’m sure they still regret that decision. I didn’t sleep for 2 months after seeing that film…neither did they.

–The Exorcist – This terrifying tale of demonic possession is hands down the scariest movie I’ve ever seen.  It takes awhile to get going (almost nothing scary happens in the first hour or so), but the second half of the movie should not be watched alone.  Loads of pea-green vomit, spinning heads and flying furniture, and a teenage girl having a very, VERY bad week–this is and will always be the grand-dame of horror movies, if you ask me.

–Honorable Mentions:  The Birds, High Tension, Candyman, The Amityville Horror (the original, skip the Ryan Reynolds remake), Alien, Silence of the Lambs, and, more recently, Drag Me to Hell.

Now it’s your turn to share.  Do you relish a good horror movie or would you rather hide behind your popcorn?  What are your favorite horror movies and what is it about them (or the genre) that you love?

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Halloween was easier when I was a kid. All my friends wanted to do the same thing: wear our costumes, trick-or-treat, and eat our haul until we were sick. It wasn’t until high school that my friends became too “cool” to partake in youthful hijinks like playing dress-up and generally having a good time. I’ve never been hampered by the label of coolness, and I’ve always loved dressing up for Halloween, so as an adult I’ve been doing my best to be the ambassador for Halloween spirit. I dress up for work, and at home we give out full-sized candy bars to trick-or-treaters. We also throw themed Halloween parties for our friends.

Two years ago we threw a pirate-themed party, and we had a house full of buccaneers and wenches.  Last year we threw a Rock Band party — our guests had to dress like rock stars and take turns playing on the Wii. (By the way, it’s way more fun to play Rock Band when you look the part, as the neighborhood kids enviously ask if they can play instead of collecting candy.) This year, we’re hosting a “CSI”-themed murder mystery party, where our guests will dress as forensic investigators, carry flashlights to find their way around, solve a murder, and compete to see who can do the best impression of David Caruso. Despite our zealous celebration of the holiday, we don’t take anything too seriously.

We’re lucky to have friends who enjoy elaborate costumes and cosplay, so themed parties are loads of fun. We’ve already tossed around some ideas for future parties, such as the French Revolution (with a guillotine on the lawn), the Mad Scientist theme (where we serve food that resembles anatomy), and the ever-popular “Star Trek” geek-a-thon, where our guests dress up as the “Trek” character of their choice. Federation, Dominion, or Klingon; all are welcome, so long as they drink the Romulan ale.

What’s the theme of your celebration or costume?

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Now that summer is mostly through its final chapter, I’m taking a moment to reflect on all the great books I’ve read in the past few months.  I’ve blogged before about my love of reading – I’m usually never without an interesting book.  In looking back, however, I realized that I tend to read slightly different types of books during the warmer months than I do during the rest of the year.  Personally, I veer toward lighter, “fluffier” fiction all summer long – I read a lot in the park or at the beach; places that just aren’t conducive to heavy, depressing, or complicated subjects.  I also tend to read more genre fiction – mysteries, sci-fi, and horror, specifically.  Those types of stories (when done well) are inclined to be more absorbing and really sustain my interest despite any number of warm weather distractions.  And seriously, who can resist a good page-turner?

Apparently, I’m not alone.  Summer reading lists are frequently discussed and circulated in bookstores and the media, and our own Books and Authors and Education categories in Answers are heavily populated with insightful questions about and recommendations for great “summer reads”  for booklovers of all ages, not just those on a break from school.

And what’s the ultimate summer read?  My recommendation would be “The Swarm” by Frank Schatzing.  I read it a couple of summers ago, and despite a sometimes clunky translation from the original German, I found it to be one of the most fast-paced and exciting reads I’ve experienced in a long time.  It’s a bit of a behemoth (my hardcover copy runs a hefty 879 pages), but I couldn’t put it down and blew through it in a couple of breathless days.

How does your summer reading list compare to the rest of the year?  Also, what have been your favorite books over the last 3 months and what are you looking forward to reading this fall?

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That’s right! After months of waiting, “Project Runway” is back on TV! Sure, there was a heated legal battle over which TV network would find the next up-and-coming designer. But I saw on a bus ad during my morning commute that the new season debuts tonight on Lifetime. If, like me, you’ve been so desperate for your fashion fix that you watched “The Fashion Show” on Bravo, you’ve probably been waiting on pins and needles (pardon the pun) for the return of “Project Runway.”

This might be a controversial statement (and I have all the respect in the world for Isaac Mizrahi), but I thought that “The Fashion Show” was a poor knockoff. I found the judge’s comments to the contestants in the workroom to be snarky and not constructive, and the contestants’ talents to be of a lower caliber than the bar that “Project Runway” set. And don’t even get me started on letting the viewers choose the winner. I say leave fashion to the professionals, and let us pick the fan favorite.

It’s a bummer about “The Fashion Show,” because Bravo usually hits the mark with their “professional” reality shows, like “Top Chef,” “Shear Genius,” and (formerly) “Project Runway.” What I like best about these shows is that the contestants are super-talented, and the producers are not casting the dregs of the respective industries to claw and connive their way to the prize. It warms the cockles of my hard, cynical heart to see the competitors helping each other out. When everyone brings their A game, the victory is all the sweeter, and you learn what the competitors are really made of.

If you ask me, “Project Runway” is the upside of reality TV. Every week, I’m baffled by challenges like making clothes out of car parts, or a pair of jeans, or with items bought at a grocery store. Given the time, money, and material constraints, I’m always thinking, “There’s no way I could ever do this!” The talent is staggering. Where else on TV can you find a rockin’ dress made of plastic drinking cups, an evening gown using human hair as an accent, or a catch phrase to rival Christian Siriano’s trademark “Fierce!”?

What is your favorite “Project Runway” moment?

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