Web surfing

 

Halloween.com www.halloween.com

With a name like Halloween.com, it has to be good, right?

Wrong. Halloween.com is yet another example of a great Web site
name taken up by completely useless and uninteresting content.

Opening up with a red glowing skull, the site then goes to a
boring-looking menu. And it turns out that this is all it has to
offer.

Instead of original content, Halloween.com offers only links to
other Web sites. And they’re not even good ones at that.

Clicking on the categories that divide up the site leads the
viewer to a list of bland icons next to equally bland links.

Although some good graphics on the Web site could potentially
salvage the utter boredom of the content, there are none to
see.

Overused dripping blood and skull icons and a few drawings of
skeletons and coffins constitute most of the visuals on the site,
and there are no sound effects to back even that up.

The site does have a store, but it is closed until after
Halloween.

There is nothing to be gained by going to this Web site.

Mary Williams

 

Halloween Costume Closet www.fabriclink.com/closet.html

From animal ears to edible eyeballs, viewers can find anything
Halloween-related in this closet.

Fabriclink offers this additional link every year for
Halloween-lovers to organize and plan this festive holiday.

Viewers can order costumes, get tips to design their own, and
even receive decorative ideas for parties and goody bags. The most
commendable quality of the Web site is that it offers a variety of
options and suggestions while emphasizing the role of creativity in
shaping this holiday.

Useful tips include ways to create costumes, like animal ears,
with headbands and felt, and economical, easy-to-make costumes
using printable masks or common items like pajamas.

The miscellaneous category also provides fun recommendations,
but the links to the Halloween safety tips and the origins of
Halloween cannot be found. This category has a unique section of
“how to take great Halloween photographs” with tips
from The New York Institute of Photography, along with Halloween
party ideas with themed games and creepy edibles. Among these
treats are recipes for the “Grave Yard Dessert” and the
“Spider Cake.”

Viewers can also end the experience by joyously singing along to
the site’s “Halloween Carols.” The category is
similar to karaoke with background music and lyrics provided.

Although the site lacks any sort of creepy aura, visitors will
put it to good use with its economical and creative
suggestions.

Sophia Whang

 

Halloween Costume Boutique www.halloweencostumeboutique.com

The best thing about Halloween Costume Boutique is the fact that
shoppers can order costumes up until 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, for
delivery by Halloween. Last-minute shoppers rejoice.

This Web site is full of adult Halloween costumes for purchase.
“Adult” refers merely to the size of the costumes and
is not used as an euphemism for other things.

Complete with howling sounds and eerie graphics, such as the
severed hand motioning the visitor to enter the site, Halloween
Costume Boutique is an easy way for those who are either too lazy
or too hideous to leave the house to find all their Halloween
costuming needs.

The items are separated into “Women’s,”
“Mens,” “Couples” and masks. There is also
a “My Size Costumes” option that contains costumes for
larger sizes.

All of the costumes are displayed in pictures, showing shoppers
exactly what they are buying.

The shopping cart system and checkout is extremely easy to use,
making purchasing of the costumes convenient. The costumes are
shipped from Florida within 24 hours.

Halloween Costume Boutique comes close to being
Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, providing last-minute costumes
for those that need one for a party in a hurry.

Chris Moriates