Almost everyone has seen the Titanic. Even though I had to wait until I was out of my house to watch it (thanks, Mom), I've at least seen it. But before now, we didn't realize that the entire time the Titanic was sinking, Jack and Rose were updating their Facebook statuses:

• Photo Ryn Gargulinski

The fact that many have it figured out is steadily apparent on Oct. 31, when chichi neighborhoods that usually house about 10 kids suddenly have more like 100 swarming through the streets. Those streets, of course, are clogged with cars bold enough to park in yards and in front of fire hydrants.

The survey that made the rich-give-more-candy theory official came from the survey research and consulting firm Morpace Omnibus, which last month asked 1,011 American consumers about their Halloween habits.

Those pocketing an annual salary of $100,000 or more are the most likely to give out candy, which makes sense since they probably have a few bucks to spare, with 77 percent of them saying they’ll be doling out treats.

Michael Winslow, who will live on forever via his appearances in the Police Academy movies, has apparently become one half of a Led Zeppelin tribute act.

[Reddit]

• Girl Scouts of America
• Science of Happiness badge

The Girl Scouts have revamped their badge system for the first time in twenty-five years and they've made an effort, seemingly to provide more real world skill sets to the program (and stuff related to cookie sales, obviously):

There are badges that haven't changed much — in a press release, the organization calls the Cook, Athlete and Naturalist badges "as relevant today as they were in 1912." But Digital Movie Maker? Website Designer? Geocacher? Locavore? Yes, the times they are a-changing. (Try not to panic at the thought that a Brownie — she'll be somewhere between 6 and 9 years old — can earn a badge called "Computer Expert.")

Some of the changes aren't entirely about changing the subject matter; they're about adjusting the approach. For example, what used to be a Fashion, Fitness and Makeup badge has been changed, because Niehaus says that while the girls in the program are still interested in makeup and fashion, that interest isn't limited to how things will look, but goes a little deeper. So there will be a badge in the Science & Technology category called The Science Of Style, which will focus on things like the chemistry of sunscreen or perhaps even making your own perfume.

That's all pretty cool, but I think I might try to earn my own Science Of Happiness badge (since it's a little too late for me on the Good Credit one):

Developed with help from a psychology researcher, it calls on girls to work for one month on a strategy generally believed to increase personal happiness — Niehaus suggests, for instance, being forgiving towards others — and then evaluating its effects on their psychological well-being.

Way to go, Girl Scouts. We could all use a little extra personal happiness.

[NPR]

Dan Gibson and Fook talk costumes on KFMA by TucsonWeekly

From this morning's KFMA morning show with Fook, I did extensive research to discuss this year's hottest Halloween costumes for adults. Also, I provide one incredible tip to make you seem like a creative genius. Also, Fook makes a pubic hair joke.

While I have no idea what it would mean to "Occupy Blackstreet", but if it means I'm on the side of Teddy Riley and Dave Hollister, I'm in. "Don't Leave Me" is my jam.

Midway through this video I wondered if watching a guy on a Vespa semi-recklessly roll through a skate park was actually exciting or if the music and fancy camera work combined to trick my brain. Still, a Vespa! In a skate park!

[HT: Doobybrain]

The question remains: did the husky end up taking a bath? Is this supposed to be a cliffhanger, because I can't stand the suspense.

[Reddit]

• Illustration Ryn Gargulinski

Singles ads are notorious for their sneaky little phrases that mask reality. We all may have learned — perhaps the hard way — that “big boned” generally means obese, “homebody” means couch potato and “mature male” often translates to a guy who is roughly 103. Those seeking “adventuresome” men or women are usually out for kinky sex while a guy who “knows how to treat a woman” probably drags her around by her hair.

Help wanted ads are much the same way. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics telling us the nation’s unemployment rate was still jammed at 9.1 percent as of August, plenty of people who have not yet given up on the job hunt are surely finding their own array of sneaky phrases. As a freelance writer who is always scouring job ads, I have learned to quickly dismiss potential prospects that contain a number of catchy lines.

“Great exposure in international market,” means no pay for writing bobblehead descriptions for a website based in China. “This is a very easy job,” means very little pay, or a rate of about 0.07 cents per word. Any ad that proclaims a job is perfect "for the right person" is sometimes seeking a person who thinks it's right to be subjected to slave labor, work weekends, evenings and Christmas Day, and count parking the boss's car as part of their duties.

Tricky phrasing is especially apparent when it comes to job descriptions. No longer is a sales clerk a sales clerk. The position is spiffed up and now called a “store associate” or “retail ambassador.” A busboy has become a “table purification expert” while the poor sap who gets stuck refolding towels after customers unfurl them all over the home department is a “replenishment-merchandising associate.”

I don't care if he's a womanizer, a liar, and a drunk...the man was a visionary.