Song to close out the weekend: "The Curse" by Josh Ritter

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The release of this year's Autumn Mix is imminent (it's been ready for a while, but distribution's been hampered by my laptop getting hit with a virus). As a teaser, one of the included tracks is this Halloween-appropriate song by Josh Ritter, "The Curse".

This was really a hard choice for me, since there's another story song on his latest album So Runs the World Away that I love equally. So here's a bonus track of sorts: "Another New World"



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Why I love Halloween Part VI

"Victoria's Secret now has Halloween costumes. I hope they have an Iron Man for my son." - Jim Gaffigan

And the Micah World tradition continues!

Bonus: Worst "Sexy" Halloween Costumes 2010

Today's spookymendation: "Shaun of the Dead"

I saved the best for last.

Today's spookymendation: "Trick 'r Treat"

If you want a Halloween-themed horror flick, but are tired of Michael Myers, check this one out.

Pixelated Pigskin Prognostications: Week Nine

It was a DARK and STORMY (yet sunny) afternoon. Some TERRIFYING skirmishes broke out on HAUNTED grassy fields across the land. Does GOOD triumph over EVIL? The MYSTERIOUS, Vincent Price-like mustached Great Xbox 360 Swami, through some FRIGHTENING CPU vs. CPU THRILLS, predicts the following NANCY PELOSIS:



GHOULhio State 35, MinneSCAREta 33



RichMUMMY 51, VillaBOO!va 23

I'm scared! And happy!

Today's spookymendation: "Salem's Lot"

This scene scared the crap out of me when I was a kid.

Today's spookymendation: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

You know, the adults were real a-holes. Just because the neighborhood has a loser kid doesn't mean you have to give him a rock when he trick or treats.

Today's spookymendation: "Manos: The Hands of Fate"

Terrible movie (made by a fertilizer salesman, of course). Hilarious MST3K riffing. Just a little something to get you ready for tomorrow night's RiffTrax live event.

Today's spookymendation: "Day of the Dead"

It's certainly not Romero's best zombie flick, but it's also not Diary of the Dead-level bad, either. For that we can all be happy.

Requiem for the Cool Ruler

R.I.P. Gregory Isaacs, 1950-2010.



His was the first non-Marley reggae music I got into. I mean, really, can you beat this:



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No, you cannot. He's with the night nurse now.

Today's spookymendation: the Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror"

For years "The Simpsons" has produced consistently funny Halloween specials and that is yet another reason why it's the greatest television show ever.

Song to close out the weekend: "The Horror" by RJD2

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Hey, it's Halloweentime! It might as well sound like it.

Today's spookymendation: "Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

One of my earliest Halloween memories is of watching this with my brother in his room. I watched it again today and totally forgot that Bing Crosby was the narrator.

Today's spookymendation: "1408"

I haven't stayed in a room numbered 1408 since seeing this movie. Or before seeing it, for that matter.

Pixelated Pigskin Prognostications: Week Eight

Even though my computer was struck with a virus a couple of days ago and most of my concerns have been directed toward that matter, I still found time, dear reader, to run a couple of CPU vs. CPU matches to predict the outcomes of today's games. Luckily, the Great Xbox 360 Swami was unaffected by the viral assault.



Ohio State 32, Purdue 47



Richmond 35, Towson 49

Computer viruses suck almost as much as the above forecasts.

Today's spookymendation: "Night of the Living Dead"

I've spent the better part of the day trying to restore my computer to its pre-virus state, so here's a quick no-brainer (har har!) for you. Remember: Cooper was right.

Today's spookymendation: the "Community" Halloween episode

This episode of "Community" ("Introduction to Statistics") would rank as a Halloween TV classic even if it only included Chevy Chase tripping out while dressed up as the Beastmaster. But it contains much, much more comedy goodness than that.

Today's spookymendation: "Pyscho"

It still holds up after all these years.

Today's spookymendation: Dead Man's Bones

Actor Ryan Gosling's musical side project didn't need a haunted children's chorus to make its music creepier. But it doesn't hurt.

Today's spookymendation: "Ghostbusters"

Bustin' makes me feel good.

Today's spookymendation: "The Shining"

As a Stephen King adaption, it's terrible. As its own horror movie, it's a classic.

Pixelated Pigskin Prognostications: Week Seven

It's a busy, busy Saturday for me. I have to write this post and work on two - TWO! - mixes and their requisite cover art. Due to the weight loss, all of my old cargos fit like clown pants, so I should buy at least one pair to keep me going while the temperatures dip. I have to straighten up the house and the yard. And then I have Pumpkinpalooza to attend, which I'm really looking forward to. Honestly, I don't think I'll watch much football today. I may be unreliable, but the Great Xbox 360 Swami won't let you down. Here are the results of today's CPU vs. CPU matches.



Ohio State 40, Wisconsin 37



Richmond 31, UMass 38

Where did I leave my keys?

Today's spookymendation: "Dead Rising"

Today's spookymendation: "Dead Rising". Admittedly, I haven't gotten too far in this video game, but there's something satisfying about mowing down (literally!) an endless sea of zombies.

Today's spookymendation: "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" by Tracy Jordan

Spooky! Scary! I still think this is the funniest thing ever on "30 Rock". When this clip first showed up, I must've replayed it a dozen times.

Today's spookymendation: "Poltergeist"

Ever since seeing this as a kid, I've thought twice each time I've eaten fried chicken.

Today's spookymendation: "Paranormal Activity"

From what I gather, people who watch this fall into one of two camps: 1) "Loved it!" or 2) "Boring!" I belong squarely in the former group and thought the movie was really effective. Sometimes less is more, people.

Today's spookymendation: "6 Feet Deep" by Gravediggaz

Looking for the best horrorcore album ever recorded? Seek out Six Feet Deep by supergroup Gravediggaz. Johnny Mathis never sounded so creepy!

Today's spookymendation: "Alien"

As far as sci-fi horror films go, this one can't be beat.

Today's spookymendation: "World War Z"

While it's not terribly scary, the oral history format does liven up the zombie genre. A great read.

Today's spookymendation: "Dawn of the Dead" (2004)

By all accounts, I should hate this movie: Unnecessary remake of a classic? Running zombies? But it works. Plus, it's got one of the best opening credits sequences ever, with Johnny Cash scoring the breakdown of society.

Pixelated Pigskin Prognostications: Week Six

College football. Xbox 360. CPU vs. CPU matches. Predictions.



Ohio State 37, Indiana 7



Richmond 40, New Hampshire 35

Take that.

Today's spookymendation: "Open Water"

No monsters, ghosts, or serial killers. Just miles and miles of water. And sharks.

Today's spookymendation: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"

I've barely scratched the works of Richmond's favorite son Edgar Allan Poe, but "The Tell-Tale Heart" has stuck with me ever since I was a little kid. Back then I had an album full of scary stories and this one was among them. Man, I can still hear the actor reading it. GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

See you at Poe's "Memorial Service" at the Poe Museum.

Today's spookymendation: "28 Days Later"

Okay, let's get one thing straight: 28 Days Later is NOT a zombie movie. It's an infection movie. The people affected with rage virus do not die and then reanimate before they going apeshit. Having said that, this is a great movie. I still have yet to see the sequel, though.

Today's spookymendation: "The House of the Devil"

For the remainder of the month I plan on posting one horror or Halloween-themed media recommendation each day. Plus it's a cheap way to grind out daily content. Up first: The House of the Devil



It's all about atmosphere and tension building. Sure, it's kind of a slow burn, but as an homage to/recreation of early '80s "Satanic panic" movies, it's spot on.

Song to close out the weekend: "North" by Elvis Costello

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I hit the (disc golf) links this afternoon and, boy, was it brisk out. I think autumn has arrived. Finally. And since I've already posted my favorite song off of my favorite autumn album, I might as well post the title track.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some soup to make.

Pixelated Pigskin Prognostications: Week Five

It's really getting cool out there. And the leaves are finally falling. How will those things affect the Great Xbox 360 Swami's CPU vs. CPU predictions? Likely not at all. But every piece needs an introduction. Anyway, here's what's on tap for this lovely afternoon.



Ohio State 36, Illinois 24



Richmond 27, Coastal Carolina 14

Illibucktastic! Spideriffic!

Crush of the Week: Katie Aselton

This week's Crush is actress (and onetime Miss Maine Teen) Katie Aselton, who more than holds her own against the guys in "The League".



Man, I love that show. I'm inside me!