Steel-oween
According to recent surveys, Americans aren't going to let Wall Street, mortgage or credit crises put a dent on spooktacular celebrations. Visa Inc. conducted a survey in late summer predicting that American's will spend an average of $47 on Halloween this year, 18 percent higher than last year, while the National Retail Federation (NRF) puts the number even higher.

And what will we be spending that money on? For one, research shows many are combining election fever with Halloweenitis and going with political costumes. BuyCostumes.com is offering Sarah Palin masks for only 99 cents and they are having trouble keeping them in stock. The Alaskan governor and Republican vice-presidential candidate is proving the most popular of the executive candidates for Halloween costumes this year. If you live in Borough Park, Brooklyn, though, you might be interested in the Palin 'do for other reasons. Despite her popularity, Governor Palin is still coming in well behind Joker outfits inspired by the late Heath Ledger's role in The Dark Knight summer blockbuster, and other superheroes are proving fashionable. Also, the formula "Sexy + Noun" seems to equate high sales for costume companies.

If you're having trouble with candy ideas, know that some are looking at new products not to reward trick-or-treaters, but to punish them. Too-old teen show up at your door expecting the best stuff? Drop a Chewy Tarantula on them.

For those lucky enough to live near Providence, R.I., The Steel Yard arts and technical training center is throwing its Third Annual Halloween Iron Pour. For $5, you can engage in activities like ceramics shopping and bike-costume building before watching The Iron Guild's steel casting act.

Doors open tonight at 6pm, but if it rains the festivities will be held tomorrow, same time.

Space Elections
With China and India grabbing interstellar headlines in the past week, it's time for some American space news. Leroy Chiao will be in the International Space Station (ISS) on Nov. 4, but luckily Texan lawmakers passed a law back in 1997 establishing a system for orbiting Americans to vote in elections. Given both major candidates' promises to pump $2 billion into NASA, it's anyone's guess who he'll be voting for. I wonder how that money will be used...

Bee Students
As if dancing and stinging weren't enough, honey bees have just added counting to their wheelhouse. Researchers at University of Queensland in Australia have discovered that honey bees can remember where sweet nectar is located on different markers, provided there are only up to four of them. Researcher Mandyam Srinivasan said, "The more we look at these creatures that have a brain the size of a sesame seed, the more astonished we are. They really have a lot of the capacities that we so-called higher human beings possess." There is no reason to fear this newfound ability, unlike the last time we discovered human-like abilities among animals.

Digger Dance
French artist Philip Priasso recently performed an emotional dance with an unusual partner in London.

Happy Halloween!