Ask Slashdot: How Are You Haunting Your House This Hallowe'en?

Hallowe'en is just around the corner. I've spent hours this month poring over masks, fog machines, automated monsters, and sound-activated dancing skeletons (mostly too rich for my blood), and worked with my brother and sister to haunt my mom's house with scary pictures, mounds of spider-webbing, sound effects, strobe lights, stage blood, candles, and rusty knives. Like every year, though, the best laid plans are the ones you come up with after the fact (why do I always plan to build a coffin with Bible-repelling magnetic lid and matching Bible, but never do?), and while our effort was fun and satisfying, it definitely didn't push the envelope. (There's plenty of good inspiration out there, though, for people who do want to go a little crazy.) So I ask: What are you doing to celebrate the spirit of Hallowe'en? In particular, are you using any good stagecraft-style tech to make your dwelling, yard, or neighborhood just a little bit scarier than usual? Any good advice based on previous haunting experiences, either as haunter or hauntee? What effects do you wish you could create, given enough time and money? Do you control any aspect of your display by computer? Think broadly: Links to inspiring commercial haunts, sources of interesting gear, and your favorite house-haunting projects at Instructables are all welcome, as well as relevant advice from the parts of the world where Hallowe'en isn't the major event that it is in the U.S.

Geek Halloween Decorations

[Jeng]

I was thinking I would print up some advertisements for Windows ME and put them on the door along with the regular ghosts and pumpkins.

Re:I'll be celebrating Halloween instead.

[aevan]

You mean Oidhche Samhna [wikipedia.org]

Prefered Spelling!=American spelling

Minimal, if anything

[kent_eh]

My wife "found god" in the last year, and has decided that we won't be "glorifying Satan" this year.
So the kids miss out, and I don't have to dig out the decorations this year.

I'm all set!

[quietlikeachurch]

My front yard has three years' worth of overgrowth (one of the bushes has an old saw stuck in it), the lamppost
bulbs flicker, and there are real spiders and crickets and spider-crickets everywhere. Plus, I have a derelict car in
the driveway and the front porch is littered with beer cans and errant cigarette butts. Perfect.

Who wants some candy?

Re:Noose

[Killjoy_NL]

It's a bit like throwing yourself into your hobby, can only do it once though.