HALLOWEEN RANDOMS

FOUR HALLOWEEN CANDIES KIDS LOVE . . . BUT NOT BECAUSE THEY TASTE GOOD:

When it comes to Halloween candy, there are the obvious stand-outs, and the duds everyone hates. Full-sized candy bars and Reese's peanut butter cups are always a hit, while homemade candy and those huge orange circus peanuts usually get thrown out.

--And then there's the candy that kids LOVE, even though it's absolute crap. Here are four of them . . .

#1.) PIXY STIX. The recipe isn't complex. It's Dextrose, Citric Acid, corn syrup, and artificial flavoring. But there's just something about main-lining sugar right out of the tube that drives kids ape-nuts.

#2.) CANDY CORN. The texture isn't exactly mouth-watering. It's like eating wax. But Halloween is the only time kids see it on the shelves, so it seems special. Plus, they like to bite pieces off right where the color changes from yellow, to orange, to white.

#3.) SMARTIES. They're like Pez, without the fun dispenser. While they don't taste BAD, they don't really taste GOOD either. But they ARE plentiful. Each roll has 20. So after all the good candy is gone, Smarties are a good fall-back.

#4.) RINGPOPS. It's actually not a convenient way to eat a lollipop. You always end up with a sticky mix of sugar and saliva on your hand. But moms and dads wear rings, and kids don't usually get to, so it seems cool. (SFWeekly.com)


FIVE TIPS FOR MEETING SOMEONE AT A HALLOWEEN PARTY:

Halloween is TOMORROW. And you should be happy about that . . . because it's a SPECTACULAR time to get some romance. Today, from "Happen" magazine and Match.com, we've got five tips for scoring at a Halloween party.

#1.) USE YOUR COSTUME TO GET NOTICED. Think of your costume as an immediate icebreaker . . . it's okay to be a little outrageous.

--Even if you're not adventurous, or you only have time to pick up a store-bought costume, find a way to give it a personal touch. You have a better chance of using your costume to meet someone if it reveals something about your personality.

#2.) ROLE PLAY. People in costume LOVE to stay in character . . . so indulge them a little. And you may find it easier to talk to someone while YOU'RE in character. That way, if they reject you . . . they're only rejecting your character.

#3.) GO WITH A GROUP. Coordinating costumes with friends always makes a big impression at a party. It shows that you're friendly and approachable, and it creates a social circle around you that people want to be a part of.

#4.) BRING CANDY. Giving away candy is the most classic Halloween tradition, and handing it out at a party is an easy way to start conversations with people you don't know. Just bring your favorite childhood candy, and ask other people what their favorite is.

#5.) ASK ABOUT THEIR HALLOWEEN PAST. Everyone has crazy stories from past Halloweens. So when you're talking to someone, ask them about the wildest Halloween party they ever went to, or the best Halloween costume they ever wore.

--Turning the conversation toward Halloween topics also helps you avoid played-out small-talk like "where do you live" and "what do you do". Instead, ask people if they believe in ghosts . . . or what their favorite horror movie is. (Happen Magazine / Match.com)

HERE ARE FIVE TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS FROM GETTING SWINE FLU ON HALLOWEEN:

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that as many as ONE in FIVE American children had experienced flu-like symptoms. That means there's a good chance that tomorrow, you and your kids are going to come into contact with dozens of grubby little trick-or-treaters infected with SWINE FLU.

--So how can you protect your family against the swine?--Here are some tips on Halloween Swine flu prevention, courtesy of a local news station in Orlando:

#1.) Only buy costumes that come wrapped in plastic, and fully sanitize all masks.

#2.) Bring hand sanitizer trick-or-treating, and use it between houses.

#3.) Make sure your kids wash their hands before eating any candy.

#4.) If you're at home passing out candy, make sure you distribute it on your own instead of letting kids reach into the bowl.

#5.) And if you're not feeling well tomorrow, DON'T go trick-or-treating and DON'T pass out candy. (WESH News 2 - Orlando)


YOU CAN INSTALL A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA IN YOUR JACK-O-LANTERN TO CATCH VANDALS:

Every Halloween, teenagers go around smashing pumpkins, egging houses, and throwing toilet paper on trees.

If you're sick of it you can put a mini surveillance camera inside one of your jack-o-lanterns. It's called the Avaak Vue, and it lets you monitor your property over a wireless connection.

So if any teens try to deface your yard or your house, you'll know they're coming . . . and you'll be ready. (Popular Mechanics)

(--You can pick up a mini Avaak Vue surveillance camera for $300 here . . .)http://store.vuezone.com/

(--And you can link to step-by-step instructions for outfitting your jack-o-lantern with a mini surveillance camera here . . .)http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/workshop/4335159.html?page=2