The 31 Days of Halloween 2010 Begins!

Ventura Ghostwalk!

I've been hearing about this for the last couple years. I even know a few people who have went and they say it's awesome! If you are in the area I would suggest checking it out. I know I am definitely going to try and do it this year!


Here's a little info from the site: :

"This is the 16th anniversary of Ventura County’s original Ghostwalk. Over the years, thousands of Ghostwalk groupies from all over California have walked the walk and come back for more.


Tours leave every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30pm - last tour begins at 9:00pm

Its continued popularity is due to the fact that we rarely present the same story twice, and its “ghostoric” location changes from year to year, influencing what stories we tell. The Ghostwalk is not a “spook house”, but a unique form of theatre in the streets, which embraces the tradition of great storytelling mixed with fun history that is suitable for the whole family (7 and older). All proceeds from this event go to help support the Santa Paula Theater Center.

It is about a one-hour walk by flashlight (please bring one). Tours are limited to 25 people - get your tickets as early as October 1st, as most tours sell-out. The tour is wheelchair safe, but due to the variable circumstances of the tours, there are some wheelchair limitations that may apply.

Since the Ghostwalk is a fundraiser, please bring a little mad money so you can buy some tasty goodies sold by our local youth groups. You can also pick up collectible Ghostwalk merchandise such as our ghostly embroidered Ghostwalk painter's caps and two collection booklets of this year's Ghostwalk stories as well as favored ones of the past. "


If you are interested, Check out their website here.

SacredFem Handmade Clothing

Ever wonder what to do with all those old Marilyn Manson, NIN and Black Sabbath shirts sitting in your closet?

Wonder no more! SacredFem has brought you the answer!

SacredFem offers an artistic service that revamps your old T- shirts, vintage shirts, mens shirts, etc into one-of-a-kind halter tops, Victorian corset, or dress!

From the SacredFem website:

"We are a husband and wife team that has been selling fashion and beauty products online for years. We have three beautiful children; a 10 year old son, an 8 year old daughter, and a beautiful baby boy. We are Los Angeles natives that have toured the world musically, in both bands and theater. We’ve recently relocated to Austin, TX and have become very artistically inspired. Jessica is at her sewing machine coming up with sexy new styles, and Justin has been developing the website, and marketing the clothing line. There are a lot of great things ahead for Sacredfem and are extremely excited about the new line."

In these times, it is important to support the "mom and pop" economy rather than the big box corporate chains. SacredFem accommodates all sizes and truly take pride in creating a one of a kind piece for you.

If you are interested in SacredFem clothing. Please visit their website at www.sacredfem.com or if you have any questions email: justinarman@gmail.com or jessicaparman@gmail.com and tell them Gothic Tea Society sent ya!

Shine on Harvest Moon

Wiki says- The Harvest Moon comes soon before or soon after the autumnal equinox. It is simply the full moon closest to that equinox. About once every four years it occurs in October (in the northern hemisphere), depending on the cycles of the moon. Currently, the latest the Harvest Moon can occur is on October 7.

In 2010, in the United States, the Harvest Moon happens in the early morning hours of Sept 23, only 5 1/2 hours after the autumnal equinox.

Often, the Harvest Moon seems to be bigger or brighter or more colorful than other full moons. The warm color of the moon shortly after it rises is caused by light from the moon passing through a greater amount of atmospheric particles than when the moon is overhead. The atmosphere scatters the bluish component of moonlight (which is really reflected white light from the sun), but allows the reddish component of the light to travel a straighter path to one's eyes. Hence all celestial bodies look reddish when they are low in the sky.

The apparent larger size is because the brain perceives a low-hanging moon to be larger than one that's high in the sky. This is known as a moon illusion and it can be seen with any full moon. It can also be seen with constellations; in other words, a constellation viewed low in the sky will appear bigger than when it is high in the sky.

All full moons rise around the time of sunset. However, although in general the moon rises about 50 minutes later each day, as it moves in orbit around Earth, the Harvest Moon and Hunter's Moon are special, because around the time of these half moons, the time difference between moonrise on successive evenings is shorter than usual which means that the moon rises approximately 30 minutes later, from one night to the next, as seen from about 40 degrees N. or S. latitude, for several evenings around the full Hunter's or Harvest Moons. 

Thus there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise around the time following these full moons. In times past this feature of these autumn moons was said to help farmers working to bring in their crops (or, in the case of the Hunter's Moon, hunters tracking their prey). They could continue being productive by moonlight even after the sun had set. Hence the name Harvest Moon. 

The reason for the shorter-than-usual rising time between successive moonrises around the time of the Harvest and Hunter's Moon is that the ecliptic—the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun—makes a narrow angle with respect to the horizon in the evening in autumn.

Favorite Fortune Telling Machines

I have always loved the fortune telling machines in Musee Mecanique at San Francisco's Ocean Beach.

This one types out your fortune on a page to take with you.

Fortune Telling Machines

Remember these? Fortune telling machines with animatronic figures inside of mysterious Gypsies, Swamis, or Wizards? We know these purveyors of destiny are just robots, lifeless mannequins. . . aren't they? Why does it seem that they are smirking at you? Did those eyes just move? 

Disneyland's famous Esmeralda 

I have been having my fortune told by her for over 40 years!

What is your favorite Fortune Telling Machine story?

New Ghost Adventures!

Aawww yeah! Zak, Nick and Aaron are back with an all new episode tonight on the Travel Channel!
First show of the season: The GA Crew travels to Gettysburg, PA, site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. While there, they attempt to make contact with dead soldiers, the sadistic woman who ran the town's orphanage and the ghosts of children she abused.

Lasse Hoile

Have I already posted about this man's amazingly morbid photography? Seriously, even if I have, it bears repeating. 

See more of his stunningly haunting art HERE.

12 Coolest Steampunk Gadgets

Some of these are pretty cool..some are kind of meh... Check em out Here

Have You Been Flossing?

Check out THIS site for a proverbial ton of amazing photographs, taken within the ruins of abandoned dentists offices.

Here's a sample:

The Island of Schizophrenic Toys

For your gift giving consideration: Dub the severely depressed turtle? German toymaker Paraplush has designed a controversial new line of toys with an assortment of psychiatric disorders. The company advertises stuffed animals who suffer from a range of mental illnesses (bipolar disorder, depression, multiple personality disorder) and even come packaged with a personalized medical history and treatment plan.

"'Patients' from the Paraplush toy company include Dub the turtle with severe depression, Sly the snake who suffers from terrifying hallucinations, Dolly the sheep with a multiple personality disorder and a crocodile with an irrational fear of water." Each mentally ill Paraplush toy, designed by Martin Kittsteiner, retails for $38.

Read more HERE