March is here, spring is just around the corner, and everything is abuzz at Star Costumes! We’ve got some great discount coupons kicking off now, great costumes for Easter and St. Patrick’s Day, and on March 19th we’re giving away an Easter Bunny costume!

Save on all your orders this months with two different March Madness coupons to choose from! Get free shipping on any order over $50 with the promo code SPRING50, or get $3 off any order by entering the promo code MARCH3.

We’ve also got a contest going on through Twitter and we’ll be giving away an Easter Bunny costume with a retail value of $550! From now until March 19th, we’ll be asking trivia questions over Twitter. Answer the questions, tag @starcostumes in your reply, and you’ll be entered in our Grand Prize drawing on March 19th! The more questions you answer, the more chances you have to win! See the contest rules here and follow us on our Twitter account, StarCostumes.

Now’s the time to find your Easter costumes! Star Costumes carries a variety of Easter costumes and accessories for kids and adults for a variety of events. Whether you’re putting on a Passion Play or playing the Easter Bunny at an Easter egg hunt, we have the right costumes for your event.

That’s all for now – be sure to become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to find out about exclusive deals and discounts!

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Photo by Luodanli

Most everyone at some point has enjoyed reading a comic book or comic strip. Even if you haven’t, we bet you’ve watched a movie or TV show adapted from a comic. The appeal of good comics is universal, and there are so many amazing comic blogs that are not only fun to read but can also be extremely informative. To see what we mean, check out these 27 fantastic blogs: They’re sure to keep you up to date on what’s going on in the world of comics, and they really capture the spirit, voice, and enthusiasm of the comic community.

1. ComicsAlliance – All things related to comic culture live here! This entertaining and informative blog, written by a team of comic experts, covers topics such as comics and graphic novels, superheroes and Indies, manga, toys, animation, games, and movies. Make sure to stop by and check out the photo gallery of the week .

2. Bat-Blog – Holy great Batman blog! This blog is dedicated to everything Batman. It covers vintage toys, new merchandise, the movies, the cartoons, TV shows, comic books, etc. If you are a Batman fan, this is the blog for you!

3. The Comics Reporter – This blog, written by Tom Spurgeon, features comic news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. Tom has written about comic strips, comic books, and editorial cartoons since 1982. We love the section where Tom publishes letters he receives from his readers.

4. Comics Worth Reading – Need help sorting through the wide variety of comics that are out there? Then this is the blog for you! The name says it all, this blog reviews tons of comics and helps you save time by helping you decide if a particular comic is really worth buying and reading.

5. Awesomed by Comics – This fun blog features weekly podcasts and comic cover and panel picks of the week. Awesomed by Comics is written by a husband and wife team of journalists who both have a major comic book habit. We are awesomed by this blog!

6. X-Ray Vision – This popular blog, written by a college student, covers topics such as collecting comics, heroes, villains, video games, movies, and more. Check out this fantastic blog to get a look into the world of comics.

7. Comics Should Be Good – Hard to argue with the premise of this site’s title, and it consistently offers some of the best comic book blogging around. Check out their Top 100 Comic Book Storylines Master List for a treat.

8. Doomkopf – Doomkopf.com has comic book, graphic novel and movie news and reviews. Read this blog to stay up to date on all things related to comics. We love the section where they review Hollywood’s attempts at capturing comics on film.

9. Silver Age Comics – Are classic comics your thing? Then this is the blog for you! Silver Age Comics is (mostly) dedicated to comics published from 1955-1970. Check out this blog for a trip back in time.

10.   Multiversity Comics – Multiversity comics is a blog written by people who love comics for people who love comics. The writers of this blog keep you current in comic news. We love the “Wednesday is New Comic Day” section where the authors keep you up to date what is coming out every week in comics.

11. Comics in Crisis – Read this weekly blog for a look into comics of the past and present and what went wrong (and right!) with each one. While your there, make sure to cast your vote in their comic polls

12. DC Comics – 40 Years Ago – This unique blog covers DC Comics from the late silver age of comics (1967-1971). If you want to explore the dynamic content of these comics then you should make sure not to miss a single post from this blog.

13. Comic News – Keep on top of the comic industry with the latest news, reviews, and interviews. This blog covers every aspect of the comic book world. We love the interviews section where they interview a wide variety of people who work in the industry.

14. The Daily Comics Review – This daily blog reviews and comments on the best and the worst of the web and print comic strip universe. It features full color scans of the comics they are commenting on for you to review yourself. Make sure to check this one out everyday!

15. When Fangirls Attack – This popular blog written by three women is a compilation of articles on gender in comics and comic fandom. If you are a girl who loves comics and comic culture then this is the blog for you!

16. Blah Blah Blog – Written by Tom Brevoort, the executive editor of Marvel Comics, Blah Blah Blog is an insiders look into the comic industry. Tom oversees such titles as “New Avengers”, “The Fantastic Four”, and “Civil War”. Check out this blog for Tom’s musings and ramblings about his favorite topic, comics!

17.  Super Robot Mayhem – A blog covering comics, toys, comic book cartoons, and comic book movies featuring news and reviews. This is the blog for those who look forward to Hollywood remaking a cult classic and then complain about it when they do it wrong.

18. Squiggly Lines – This fantastic blog posts essays, news, and reviews from comics old and new, indie and mainstream, good and bad. No matter what type of comic you are into, this blog covers them all.

19. Comic Book Listings – This blog is the place to go if you are looking to buy, sell, auction, or trade any type of comic books. Comic Book Listings is a complete list to help you buy and sell comics. Also features industry news, press releases, reviews, and more!

20. Comic Book Summaries – A great place to read summaries on recently released DC and Marvel comic books. Comic Book Summaries also showcases information on toys movies, and comic news.

21. Superman Blog – This super blog covers Superman comics, books, movies, toys, and history. We love the “Guide to Superman” post where the author goes over his top ten Superman graphic novels complete with full color pictures.

22. JLA Comics – Keep up on what’s new in the world of JLA comics by reading this well written blog. Features news and reviews about your favorite JLA graphic novels and heroes.

23. DC Comics – This informative blog covers characters, heroes, villains, books, movies, previews, reviews, and anything else going on in the DC Comics universe. We love the post on “The Top Ten Lamest DC Comics Villains”

24. Comic Riffs – A blog devoted to the comic fan written by Michael Cavna. This daily blog covers everything from the world of comics, from strips to superheroes, political cartoons to Pixar and much, much more!

25. Again with the Comics – A discussion on the wide world of comics written by a life long comic lover with 10,000+ comics in his collection. Read his musings on these comics but beware that they may contain spoilers!

26. The Beat – This is the newsblog of comic culture that is dedicated to bringing you the most up to date information on comics, the people who make them, and the people who read them. For breaking comic news check here!

27. The Comic Treadmill – This debate blog is a running discussion on anything and everything comic related. It is written by two friends who strongly encourage audience participation. If you are looking for somewhere to go to discuss your favorite (and not so favorite!) comics, then this it.

Photo by Ray Devlin

Early every year, an explosion of sounds and sights and all-around good cheer occurs. This wildly colorful celebration is known as Mardi Gras, one of the biggest parties in the world. With flamboyant costumes, imaginative floats, festive music and a host of fun traditions, Mardi Gras is a favorite among grand events.

Like all such celebrations, Mardi Gras has a bit of history behind it. Along the course of its existence, quite a few interesting things have popped up in its story. Here are some of the more fascinating facts about Mardi Gras:

1. A King’s Ransom in Cakes — King cakes are a well-loved (and delicious!) Mardi Gras tradition. In fact, they’re so well-loved that roughly 750,000 of the green, purple, and gold pastries are sold every year. What’s even more amazing is that those figures come from New Orleans alone! Because a ton of people from other states want a piece of the festivities, nationwide deliveries for king cakes account for another 50,000 in sales. That’s a lot of sweet tooths!

2. Ho ho ho! Merry… Mardi Gras? — What’s a Mardi Gras parade without the beads and trinkets? Every year, revelers delight in catching these little gifts, known popularly as “throws”. You’d be surprised to learn that the first reported throw is attributed to a very familiar gift-giver — Santa Claus! According to legend, someone dressed as good old St. Nick came out from the Twelfth Night Revelers’ 24th float and handed out present to the parade-goers. The gimmick was received very well, and soon became credited as the root of a Mardi Gras tradition.

3. Power Tourism — Mardi Gras is a gigantic tourist event for New Orleans, with more than half a million people flocking to the area to join in on the festivities. This creates a major boom for local businesses that entertain the tourists. The event is so profitable, revenues for New Orleans spike up to a whopping $840 million on average, every year! No wonder they take it so seriously!

4. Who’s Your Daddy? — Despite Mardi Gras being one of the most popular celebrations in the country, nobody really knows who brought it to America. While it’s generally agreed to have been due to French influences in Louisiana, no one can peg the individuals responsible for the first American celebration. Some argue that Sieur d’Iberville introduced it when he landed in Louisiana in 1699. Others say that French soldiers in Mobile, Alabama were the first to bring the festivities to America four years after d’Iberville’s landing. Others still believe that the early French settlers simply brought Mardi Gras with them when they made their homes in Louisiana. We may never really know who the father of Mardi Gras in the USA is, but we definitely do enjoy the tradition.

5. Don’t Have a Cow — We’re all pretty familiar with the fact that the name “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday”. What most people don’t know, though is that it wasn’t always called Mardi Gras. One of the earliest names of the event was Boeuf Gras, which means “Fat Beef”. The reason behind this was that the festival is considered the last great feast before people fasted for Lent. One of the customs for this huge party was parading an exceptionally-fat ox through the streets for all the feasters to drool over. This rather fat piece of beef soon became the festival’s namesake. The name change occurred when the Catholic church decided to move celebrations to the day before Ash Wednesday, creating the “Fat Tuesday” as we know it.

6. Different Country, Different Cake — We all enjoy a little bit of King cake every Mardi Gras. The sweet, doughy confections tickle our taste buds, and the hidden trinket inside is always a pleasant surprise. Around the world, though, people celebrate Mardi Gras a little differently, and with different food. In England, for example, the day is known as Pancake Day, named after the food of choice before people started fasting. In Germany, the celebration is known as Fastnacht, or “Fasting Night”. The traditional Fastnacht pastry is made from fried potato dough, and is served with corn syrup.

7. The Bands are Banned — Shocking as it may seem, but some people actually dislike Mardi Gras. After the French occupation of New Orleans gave way to Spanish rule, the once-common Mardi Gras celebrations were banned. The crowds, music, and overall rowdiness must have been deemed unsavory by the Spanish leaders, and so the festivals were nixed. Slowly but surely, however, Mardi Gras made its comeback. In 1823, the balls were swinging once again, and street masking was made legal once more four years later.

8. Two Parties in a Pod — Ever wonder why Mardi Gras and Brazil’s world-famous Carnival seem so alike? Mardi Gras’ roots are one and the same with Carnival, which takes place immediately after the Twelfth Night on January 6. Between that day and Lent, people celebrate and feast in anticipation of the fasting and self-deprivation of the next season. Of course, these aren’t the only two countries to be celebrating in the same spirit. Mardi Gras, Carnival, and other similar celebrations are held all over the world, including Italy, Panama, and Uruguay.

9. For Queen and Cake — In 1870, the Revelers introduced a new tradition to Mardi Gras celebrations: the election of the first Carnival queen. The plan was simple enough — a giant King cake with a golden bean baked inside would be served to a group of young women. The lucky lady would find the bean would then be crowned the queen. However, things didn’t exactly go according to plan. The folks in charge of carrying the cake were pretty drunk, and the cake soon went flying through the air and landing on the ladies. When the mess was cleared, none of the embarrassed women didn’t want to admit to getting the bean, and so the first Carnival queen was actually crowned the next year.

10. Clean Sweep — As with any major festival, you can expect that Mardi Gras creates a pretty huge amount of trash. The party-goers leave a lot of garbage in their wake, leaving the New Orleans Sanitation Department with the unenviable job of cleaning things up the morning after. Face with more than 2000 tons of waste from the final 12 days of parades in the late 80s, the department decided to institute recycling programs. The programs were a success, reducing the amount of garbage being tossed into landfills and helping to preserve the environment.

11. The Royal Colors of Mardi Gras — Gold, purple and green are widely accepted as Mardi Gras’ official colors. It’s interesting to know that they were actually picked by the Grand Duke of Russia way back in 1872. Legend has it that Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff came to New Orleans hoping to woo the actress Lydia Thompson. He eventually became a guest of honor at that year’s parade, and was asked by Rex to choose the official colors of Mardi Gras. It’s no wonder, then, that Mardi Gras and the House of Romanoff have the same colors!

12. The First Krewe — It’s funny, and probably only fitting, that the first Mardi Gras Krewe was initially formed through a few drunk men. In Jan. 1, 1830, a group of inebriated party-goers were walking by a store when they had brilliant idea. Grabbing rakes, hoes, and cowbells, they headed to the mayor’s home and created quite a racket. The mayor, displaying a cool head in the middle of the night, suggested that the men organize themselves into a committee and let others join in on their fun. They eventually became the Cowbellion de Rakin Society and held parades every New Year’s Eve.

    Fast forward 27 years later, when six Cowbellions attempt to save Mardi Gras from being cancelled altogether. The Cowbellions proposed that a new club be formed to create a grand parade for the festivities, which would in effect bring order to the chaos that Carnival came to be associated with. Their proposal was accepted, and they soon formed the legendary Comus krewe.

If you love Mardi Gras like we do, then you’ll want to be sure to look the part with our Mardi Gras Costumes. And keep the holiday fun going with great St. Patrick’s Day Costumes and Easter Costumes.

They’re the leaders of their generations, stalwarts of democracy. The Presidents of the United States of America bear a great responsibility as leaders of the free world, and are among the most distinguished individuals of their times. They are respected, admired, and held in the greatest of esteem.

But that doesn’t stop them from being a little weird at times. Everyone has their quirks; and the President of the United States is certainly no exception. Here are a few of the more obscure facts about the country’s leaders from all throughout its history:

1. Carpenter/Dentist for Hire — A lot of jokes have been made over time about George Washington’s infamous wooden teeth. He did, after all, reportedly have only one real tooth left in his mouth at the time of his inauguration and needed a full set of chompers to function properly. Much to the chagrin of would-be presidential comedians, however, Washington most likely never had wooden teeth. Wood was an impractical material to use for false teeth, as it’s prone to rot inside a moist mouth. Washington actually had false teeth of sturdier stuff: hippopotamus ivory, lead, and cow’s (and perhaps horse and donkey) teeth. They were a bit big for his mouth, which explains why he looks somewhat perturbed in a few of his portraits.

2. Seat of Office — You can probably thank Thomas Jefferson for your work productivity. Or lack thereof, depending on how you use your swivel chair. Jefferson is credited with the invention of the swivel chair, the first of which he settled his presidential behind on when drafting the Declaration of Independence. The next time you spin yourself dizzy on this fixture of the modern workplace, you can thank the third president of the USA for the nausea.

3. The White… Zoo? — We’ve all fallen in love with the presidential pets. From Liberty the Golden Retriever to Bo the Portuguese Water Dog, we’ve all been fascinated with the pooches and kitties that live in the White House. The House has seen a more… varied set of animals over its long history, however. While JFK went the cute and cuddly route with a bunny, Herbert Hoover actually had two alligators as pets while in office. Other exotic pets included Coolidge’s lion cubs, Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau; and Harrison’s pet goat, Whiskers. Theodore Roosevelt had one of the most impressive arrays of animals for a president, with a one-legged rooster counting among his more unique pets.

4. It’s All Latin and Greek to Me! — While every president has had his own share of unique talents, James Garfield takes the cake when it comes to showing them off. The country’s twentieth president was well-versed in both Latin and Ancient Greek, and was quite proud of being ambidextrous. One of his favorite party tricks was to simultaneously write in one of the archaic languages with his left hand, and the other one in the right. Needless to say, more than a few people were impressed with his ability. Whether or not they all understood what he was writing is another story.

5. Pull Over, Mr. President — Most people these days would be surprised to know that speed limits existed before cars filled the streets. There were actual laws regulating how fast one could ride his horse. It was rather embarrassing, then, when Ulysses S. Grant found himself being pulled over for going over the speed limit. The arresting officer eventually realized that he had just pulled over the president himself, and decided to waive the violation. Grant, however, insisted that no one, not even the president, was above the law, and requested that he be issued a $20 fine.

6. The Presidential Pad — We’ve all been enchanted by the First Lady. Hillary Clinton, Michele Obama, and Jacqueline Onassis are just a few of the women who’ve graced the White House with their presence. Over the course of American history, only one president has ever taken office as a bachelor. James Buchanan entered and ran the Oval Office as the nation’s most eligible single. He wasn’t without a First Lady, however; in lieu of a wife, he decided to have his niece, Harriet Lane, take the role on.

7. His Own Worst Enemy — John Tyler has a rather unique claim to fame among his presidential peers. Twenty years after his administration, Tyler joined the Confederacy. Thanks to the politics of the day, many of those who chose to become a part of the faction were declared enemies of the state. Because of this, Tyler has the distinction of being the only President to ever have been proclaimed an enemy of the USA.

8. Wide Load — Just looking at picture of William Howard Taft compared to the long line of presidents is enough to tell you that he was a very large man. This is a fact that his aides knew all too well. The former president reportedly had the embarrassing problem of getting stuck in his bathtub. He needed the help of his aides to get out of the bath on more than one occasion. Thankfully, Taft eventually adjusted things to accommodate his girth and bought a new, larger bathtub.

9. Walking Tall — The image of the president is often one of grandeur. These larger-than-life personalities are thrust into office and given the responsibility of running the nation. With all this power, it’s easy to envision them as large, imposing people. This, of course, isn’t true; James Madison will be the first to attest to that. The former president stood at a height of 5 feet, 4 inches — far from what most people would consider a towering presence.

10. The Skinny of Adams — Frequenters of the Potomac River during John Quincy Adams’ administration must have gotten an eyeful of their president at the time. The former president reportedly went skinny-dipping in the Potomac every day. He believed that bathing and swimming in the river’s cold waters was good for his constitution. It might have done wonders for him, but what about the constitutions of those who saw him?

11. White-Hot Hottie in the White House — Girls tend to develop crushes on the president; the notorious Obama Girl can tell you that. Whatever the basis of the appeal is — looks, charm, or others — the President of the United States of America tends to break a few girls’ hearts. While not as notoriously sought-after as Bill Clinton (for example), 13th president Millard Fillmore was quite the heartthrob in his time. In fact, Queen Victoria herself once said that Fillmore was the most handsome man she had ever met!

12. Eat Your Heart Out — Literally! — It’s often been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The nutrition a good, heavy breakfast provides allows for optimum nutrition and health. Except, perhaps, for good old Teddy Roosevelt. The ex-president was known for his hearty appetite which, ironically, may not have been so good for his heart after all. He was reported to consume a dozen or so eggs for breakfast! Think of all that cholesterol!

13. President Prankster — George Clooney would be an ideal pick to play Andrew Jackson if a biopic were ever made of the former president. Like Clooney, Jackson was a notorious prankster, often playing tricks on guests and the White House staff. It seems to have been a habit from his childhood years. One of his favorite tricks was moving the outhouses around, so that guests would get confused as to where they’d head for some “private time”.

14. Hometown Hero — George Washington is often credited as the nation’s first president. However, he wasn’t the first US-born president in the nation’s history. That distinction belongs to Martin Van Buren, who was in office from 1837 to 1841. All the other presidents before Van Buren were born in the colonies, before America was a country. Meaning, technically, they weren’t actually born in the United States.

15. The Long and Short of It — William Henry Harrison owns two presidential records, although neither of them is very flattering. His inaugural address was the longest in recorded history, clocking in at approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. He is also, unfortunately, the record-holder for the shortest American presidency. Harrison died of pneumonia just thirty days after his inauguration.

16. Mr. Tough Guy — It’s no secret that the earlier presidents were made of some pretty hardy stuff, especially with the rough and tumble world of the olden days. While the likes of Washington were clearly tough individuals, James Polk was perhaps one of the toughest. At the young age of 17, Polk was able to survive a gallstone operation without the use of anesthesia or antiseptics! Thanks to modern medical technology, we no longer have to worry if the current president will be able to go through that sort of ordeal unscathed.

17. A Little to the Left — While looking at presidential portraits and photos, those with keen observational skills may notice something a little peculiar about those that depict James Buchanan. According to historical accounts, Buchanan always tilted his head a little to the left. This was apparently due to a problem with his vision — while one eye was nearsighted, the other one was farsighted! This imbalance made it necessary for him to tilted his head in an effort to get a more accurate picture of things.

18. The Party-Boy President — You’d think that the responsibility of running an entire nation would put a serious crimp on a president’s schedule, but that wasn’t the case with Chester A. Arthur. The former president was an energetic individual who often enjoyed painting the town red. He refused to let his hectic presidential schedule get in the way of that, and frequented night clubs while he was in office. In fact, historical accounts say that he was rarely ever home before 2 a.m.!

19. Give Him a Hand — Hand-shaking wasn’t always recognized as the customary way of greeting the president. In the earliest years of the presidency, bowing was considered more proper. Thomas Jefferson changed things around, though, when he chose to shake people’s hands rather than bow to them. He felt that it was more down-to-earth, yet respectful at the same time. William McKinley later kicked things up a notch with his enthusiasm for handshakes. Some historians contend that McKinley holds the record for the most presidential handshakes in a certain span of time — he supposedly repeated the gesture 2,500 time in a single hour!

20. Call Him Tiger Woodrow — Many presidents were casual golfers; it’s a great, fun sport that’s relatively low on physical impact, making it an ideal pastime for busy individuals. Woodrow Wilson, however, is considered to have been the single most avid golfer to have ever served in the Oval Office. Wilson was known to golf at any time of the year, in any season — even in the winter! He used special black golf balls in order to avoid getting his ball lost in the white snow.

President’s Day usually means lot of school plays, so you’ll want to be sure to look the part with our president costume kits. And keep the holiday fun going with our great St. Patrick’s Day Costumes and Easter Costumes.

Photo by by Janine

Romantics young and old look forward to February, eager to express their love on Valentine’s Day. This annual celebration of romance has become one of the world’s most popular holidays, bringing forth a frenzy of shopping and gifting and dating. The day of love, quite poetically, is also one of the most well-loved holidays of the year.

But, like every holiday, Valentine’s Day has a few things about it that might surprise you. After all, it’s one of the oldest and most widely-celebrated holidays in human history. Here are 20 of the most interesting things you probably didn’t know about the day when Cupid takes aim:

1. When in Rome… — …do what the Romans do. Or maybe not. Many experts argue that the celebration of Valentine’s Day may have its origins in the ancient Roman festival known as Lupercalia. The festival was certainly something to behold — goats were sacrificed, and then men would strip nude, put the goatskins on, and start whipping the women. This practice was believed to increase fertility and ease the pains of childbirth. A number of historians say that when Christianity gained power in Rome, Lupercalia was one of the pagan practices the church sought to “Christianize” by incorporating into their belief system. The fertility festival was then attributed to St. Valentine, a priest who was said to marry couples in secret when marriage was outlawed by the Roman Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd Century.

2. Fashion Statements — Back in the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day was often celebrated with a little game. Young men and women would gather and draw each other’s names from a bowl. Whoever they drew would be their Valentine. The men and women would then attach the names of their Valentines onto their sleeves, so as to display to the rest of the community who had their hearts that day. Incidentally, this practice is often regarded as the origin of the phrase “Wearing your heart on your sleeve”.

3. Wherefore Art Thou, Dear Valentine? — Romeo and Juliet are arguably the most famous lovers in literature. Shakespeare’s classic couple inspired countless proclamations and ideals regarding romance. It’s no surprise, then, that hundreds of years after the tale was written, people still fall in love with the characters. Verona, the city in which the play takes place, knows this fact all too well. The city reportedly receives about 1000 love letters on Valentine’s Day, each asking for the heart of Juliet.

4. Just as Sweet — While it may seem surprising to a lot of people, not all countries celebrate Valentine’s Day. That doesn’t stop Cupid’s arrow from striking, however, as those countries usually have other days of romantic sentiment. Romania, for example, celebrates Dragobete, which is held on February 24. Brazil, on the other hand, celebrates Dia dos Namorados (”Day of the Enamored”) on June 12. Other countries simply call Valentine’s Day by a different name; for example, Guatemala celebrates Día del Cariño (”Day of Affection”), and the Philippines know Valentine’s Day as Araw ng mga Puso (”Day of Hearts”).

5. Three Months, Three Celebrations — South Koreans practice Valentine’s Day a little differently. On February 14, it’s typically the girls who give chocolates to the boys they love. The boys get to return the favor with non-chocolate gifts on “White Day”, which is on March 14. Those who didn’t get gifts on those days can mourn their singlehood on Black Day (April 14) by eating black noodles. These three are only the most popular of the country’s love celebrations; there’s actually one for every month!

6. Multiple Personalities — Most folks don’t know that there are at least 3 Saint Valentines: Valentine of Rome, Valentine of Terni, and an unknown Valentine who was martyred in South Africa. Many distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni have been lost over the years, but many individuals accept Valentine of Rome to be the inspiration of the celebration. During Emperor Claudius II’s rule, he forbade young men from marrying, so that the Roman army’s numbers would be bolstered. Saint Valentine detested this action, and decided to help young couples get married in secret. He was eventually caught and made a martyr. Before his execution, however, he sent out a letter to a woman. The note was addressed “From your Valentine”, making it the first unofficial Valentine’s card in history.

7. Say It with Cards — According to a study by the US Census Bureau, greeting cards beat flowers as the most popular way that Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day. Roughly 65% of respondents answered “Greeting Card”; “Flowers” got less than half of that figure with just 32% percent. “Date Night” came in second to “Greeting Card” with 44% of respondents, whereas “Candy” came in third place with 38%. The least popular way? “Jewelry”, which got a measly 11%.

8. Candy is Cash — With all the hullaballoo about Valentine’s gifts, it should come as no surprise that candy sellers make a sweet profit during Valentine’s Day. The celebration is responsible for over a billion dollars in candy sales! Chocolatiers get the biggest cut of the pie, as roughly 75% of candy sales during Valentine’s Day are from chocolate purchases. Looks like it pays to cater to sweet tooths, especially when Cupid’s flying around.

9. Substitute for Love — Chocolate has always been connected with Valentine’s Day and romance in general. It’s one of the most common gifts for Valentine’s Day, and is often used in other romantic situations. Legend has it even Casanova himself consumed chocolate to boost his virility. Why is it that chocolate is tied so intimately with love? Apparently, eating chocolate helps your brain release certain chemicals that have about the same effects on your mind as the sensation of falling in love. It’s no wonder, then, that people often resort to eating the delectable treat whenever they need a little more romance in their lives. Chocolates are more than just happy food; they’re sappy food, too!

10. Flower Power — It’s no secret that millions, maybe billions of flowers are given as gifts every Valentine’s Day. It seems, though, that Americans are pretty traditional when it comes to who gives the flowers. About 73% of flowers sold on Valentine’s Day are purchased by men, giving some hope to those who think chivalry is dead. Interestingly enough, though, 15% of the women who do buy flowers on Valentine’s Day buy them for themselves. It’s probably better not to be empty-handed on a day when everyone’s all mushy, come to think of it.

11. Not for Lovers — It’s funny to think that most Valentine’s Day cards aren’t exchanged by people in love, but it’s actually true. Spouses and significant others take the bottom spot among recipients of Valentine’s Day cards. Apparently, children and mothers get these cards a lot more often than couples in love. Who gets the most cards on the day of hearts? Believe it or not, teachers! Kids are really sweet that way, aren’t they?

12. The Price of Passion — Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year. While it isn’t as grand as Christmas, there’s a great deal of money being spent on candies, cards, flowers, and other gifts. There’s also the romantic candlelit dinners to think about, too. With prices for premium Valentine’s Day items getting an increase as the day approaches (flowers get a 30% price increase on average), getting hit by Cupid’s arrow can be pretty costly. If you’re a guy, that is. Men, on average, spend at least $150 during the holiday. The ladies spend about half as much, averaging $85 on expenses.

13. When in Rome… Part 2 — Although Christianity may have had a hand in disguising a few Roman influences in the celebration of Valentine’s Day, Roman traditions weren’t phased out completely. The roses people give each other during Valentine’s Day have their roots in Roman mythology, in which the rose was often identified with Venus, the goddess of love. While some may argue that the symbolism of the rose has a more… adult connotation, romantics around the world prefer to think that the rose is, quite simply, a symbol of love.

14. The Middle Ages, Part 1 — We’ve all had dreams about the ones we loved. No matter how hard we try to hide it, we’re all a little mushy inside and would like to have thoughts of our loved ones occupy our heads as we sleep at night. People used to take this idea a lot more seriously back in the Middle Ages, when it was a common practice to try to induce dreams of one’s Valentine. How was this done? By eating weird foods. It was believed that eating such exotic and unusual dishes, one would be able to produce romantic dreams about your future spouse.

15. The Middle Ages, Part 2 — While most lovestruck individuals today agonize for months over the objects of their desires, people in the Middle Ages were a lot more random when it came to discovering one’s true love. It was a common belief back in those days that the first unmarried member of the opposite sex one saw during Valentine’s Day would eventually become one’s spouse. Although it certainly made things a little more exciting on Valentine’s Day, it’s probably safe to say that quite a few people would have preferred to be blindfolded for a while, just to avoid having some unsavory characters become your marital destiny.

16. Love Under the Sea — On Valentine’s Day in 2001, a world-record 34 couples were married simultaneously in a massive ceremony. The big twist to the event? The weddings were held underwater. The event took place 10 meters below the water’s surface, at Kradang Island in Southern Thailand. 22 countries were represented in this unique declaration of love co-sponsored by Thai Airways International.

17. Utensils of Love — Wales has a cute, if a little bit quirky, custom during Valentine’s Day. Other than the usual flowers, cards, and candies, a common Valentine’s Day gift is a wooden spoon. The spoons will often have romantic images carved onto them, like hearts and flowers. However, the most common designs include keys and keyholes, meant to symbolize the expression “You have the key to my heart”.

18. It’s All About Boxing — It seems that as Valentine’s Day nears, you start seeing boxes of chocolates everywhere. The most popular design of these boxes come in the shape of a heart. No matter what variation or size it is, a heart-shaped box of chocolates has become one of the most enduring symbols of Valentine’s Day. The practice of making Valentine’s Day-specific candy boxes was actually initiated by the famous chocolate-maker Richard Cadbury way back in 1868. The idea was an overwhelming success, and has become an integral part of the holiday.

19. Valentine’s Day Wasn’t Originally Romantic — Some experts argue that the idea of Valentine’s Day being a celebration of romance came long after its inception. In fact, the earliest records of Valentine’s Day being tied to romantic love came in the 14th century, in one of Geoffrey Chaucer’s poems. So what was Valentine’s Day about before that? Some say that because the date was named after Christian martyrs, Valentine’s Day was originally supposed to honor their sacrifice.

20. Not for Everyone — Sure, you’ve probably encountered a few friends who absolutely hated the idea behind Valentine’s Day. Most of the time, it was because they found it silly or were single. However, some individuals have much deeper reasons for disliking the holiday. Religious fundamentalist groups have been known to protest Valentine’s Day and call for its banning. Common arguments include its supposed glorification of lust. Such movements have actually succeeded in the past, as religious police in Saudi Arabia were able to ban the holiday in 2002 and 2008.

If you love Valentine’s Day like we do, then you’ll want to be sure to look the part with our Valentine’s Day Costumes. And keep the holiday fun going with great St. Patrick’s Day Costumes and Easter Costumes.

One of the most fashionable accessories out in the market today is the iPhone. It’s trendy, it’s functional, and its sleek design makes it one of the most stylish gadgets to date. Another reason fashionistas love it so much is because of the many fabulous app you can download for the iPhone. These apps take chic to a whole new level, allowing you to indulge your love for fashion in different ways. While some apps help you bring out your inner style diva, others let you engage in the number one pastime of all fashion lovers — shopping! Here are 32 of the best fashion and shopping apps to help keep your iPhone as glamorous as you are:

1. Style.com — Style.com wasted no time in developing one of the hottest iPhone apps in the market. The app allows you to view the latest runway shows right in the palm of your hand. With still pictures of every outfit that hits the runway, you’ll be on the pulse of the most cutting-edge fashion. Best of all, the app is absolutely free!

2. Stylebook — Sometimes, putting together the perfect outfit can be such a chore. Digging through your closet, trying things on and taking them off when they don’t look too good — it’s enough to make you wish there was an easier way to make sure you’ve got a good look going. Luckily, the Stylebook app is here to answer your prayers. This handy tool allows you to categorize every single piece of your wardrobe, and layer them over your picture. It’s like turning yourself into a paper doll!

3. Mardo’s Fashion Trivia — Think you’ve got the most stylish brain? Test your fashion know-how in this quirky trivia game. With hundreds of questions to keep you puzzled, this chic app is bound to increase your fashion IQ by more than a few points.

4. Fashion Sense — A piece of clothing can look completely different when worn by people of two different body types. No matter how gorgeous that new piece is, you can never really tell how it’ll look on your body. Thankfully, the Fashion Sense app is here to help make shopping a little easier. The app teaches you how to dress for your specific body type, acting like your own personal stylist! Shop a little more worry-free knowing that your iPhone’s go your back.

5. FashionPro: Professional Fashion Advice — Did you ever wish you could get tips on fashion from actual designers? Now you can, all thanks to the FashionPro app. There are three types of question you can ask: Rate My Outfit, in which FashionPro’s team of designers will grade the outfit you’ve put together; Choice of Two, in which the designer will help you pick which out of two outfits will flatter you better; and Ask a Question, in which a designer will answer your specific question personally. You’ve got a team of fashion gurus in your pocket!

6. Stylish Girl — The Stylish Girl app gives you a lot of bang for your buck — although no buck would be more correct. This completely free app helps you organize and catalog your wardrobe and share it with friends. You can also grab pics of your wish list items and see how they fit in with the rest of your clothes. Last but not the least, the app also helps you put outfits together without you having to rummage through your closet.

7. YOOX.com Style Gift Guide — Shopping has never been easier. You can now buy items from a huge line of top designer brands wherever you are, all at a simple tap of your iPhone. The YOOX.com Style Gift Guide allows you make stylish purchases straight from your iPhone. Feeling generous? The app also lets you buy gifts for your friends. And if you don’t feeling like buying just yet, you can always add your favorite items to your wish list.

8. Seventeen Fashion Finder — Seventeen Magazine makes the iPhone extra-trendy with their extremely helpful app. Looking for something to wear? Simply enter your preferred size, vibe, color or item, and tap the “Find It Near You” button. The app will then find stores in your area that carry what you’re looking for! It’s like having a personal stylist in the palm of your hand! The app’s ready catalog of items is updated at least once a month, so you can be sure you get the latest fashions.

9. Gap Style Mixer — Stay chic and social with the Gap Style Mixer. This fun little app for your iPhone allows you to mix and match clothes to create new outfits in the Fitting Room. You can then share your outfits with the Style Mixer Community and your Facebook friends for ratings, advice, and a ton of great feedback. You can even check out the other outfits in the Style Mixer Community for inspiration. As if that wasn’t enough, opening the Style Mixer at your local Gap store will allow you to avail of exclusive discounts! What more could you want from an app?

10. Chanel — Stay connected with everything Chanel through this fabulous iPhone app. The posh designer label brings you all the latest updates on their products, straight to your iPhone! Even better, you’ll be receiving photos from their latest shows, as well as trailer videos for their upcoming collections. If you love Chanel, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor by downloading this free app.

11. Gucci — As one of the top luxury brands in the world, Gucci and its iPhone app bring you to the frontiers of style with exclusive previews and updates from its side of the fashion world. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg; Gucci’s iPhone is much more than a fashion app — it’s a total lifestyle app. Create your own mix with beats, vocals, and other samples compiled by world-renowned producer Mark Ronson himself. Check out what else is tickling peoples’ music bones with the Gucci Music Channel. Looking for a restaurant, club or bar? Gucci’s Little Black Book will show you where to go. With the Gucci iPhone app, life is fabulous.

12. ShopStyle Mobile — Who needs the mall? Shopping is a breeze with StyleShop Mobile! Browse through this app’s enormous catalog, which includes top brands like J. Crew and Marc Jacobs, and buy your favorite items with a simple tap of your iPhone’s screen. Want to give that dress more thought? Save it to your Favorites so you can easily come back to it. The best thing about this app, though, is that it’ll occasionally flash the greatest four-letter word known to shoppers: SALE!

13. Old Navy — A massive catalog of Old Navy items is now on sale right inside your iPhone! Download the Old Navy app and get access easy, all-access shopping wherever you are, at any time of the day. You can even drop hints on what your friends and family should get you with the app’s connectivity to email and Twitter.

14. TouchCloset — Every true fashionista encounters the glaring problem of organization — your wardrobe’s so big, you don’t know where to start! This handy app helps you keep your clothing nice and catalogued for future reference. Whether you need it to plan your outfit for tonight’s hot date, or if you need to compare that new dress with the dozens in your closet, TouchCloset is there to help you keep things sorted and chic.

15. Style Secrets: Wear the Best Clothes for Your Body — This collection of fabulous fashion tips videos is designed to help you learn how to dress for your body type. By letting the clothes flatter your natural shape rather than distort it, you’ll create a look that emphasizes how sexy you are, whatever shape you may be. Included in the app are videos with tips on other aspects of fashion, such as accessorizing for your face shape and 10 ways to wear a scarf.

16. D & G — Dolce & Gabana’s iPhone app is split into three sections, bringing you a complete experience in the D & G world of fashion. The Lifestyle section brings you updates about the luxury brand’s products, as well as exclusive coverage of its fashion shows. The World section brings you in-depth information on D & G products, along with photos that’ll make you drool. Last but certainly not the least, the Stores section helps you find a D & G store in your area, so you can get your fashion fix.

17. iStyleCircle — Join a bustling community of like-minded fashionistas in iStyleCircle. This exciting app allows you to share tips, reviews, and pictures through your iPhone. In the middle of a fashion crisis? iStyleCircle’s friendly community is bound to have a few good answers to your every fashion question. Download the app and join the fun!

18. WhoWhatWear.com — WhoWhatWear.com aims to brings its followers the latest news and looks from the fashion and beauty world. From the drawing board to the runway and red carpet, you can be sure that the popular fashion website has got scoops for its style-hungry fans. You can now have those updates and photos sent straight to your iPhone via the site’s official app. All the latest info can conveniently be found right inside your pocket.

19. What’s Your Fashion Style? — If you’re the type that just loves taking those small quizzes in your favorite fashion magazines and websites, then you’ll absolutely love this quirky little app. By answering a series of questions, you’ll be able to find out a little more about your fashion sense. The questions are always good for a quick laugh, and you can share the app with your friends to compare results.

20. Donna Karan — Donna Karan has always sought to add a personal touch to her work, and this fascinating iPhone app is no different. Aside from showing you a video of her collections, the designer take the extra effort to connect with you as she shares her favorite items, vacation photos, and even conversations with her friends.

21. Elle Shopping Guide — Get the lowdown on the hottest shopping locations in New York, LA, and San Francisco. Elle Magazine’s editors have the skinny on the most fashionable stores in the area. Find out what they love best about each shop, then use the handy store locator provided in the app to find them. The app’s Top Shops might even have a few offers to makes your next shopping trip a fantastic bargain.

22. iStylist Makeover — Ever wonder how you’d look with that celebrity’s stylish new ‘do? Give yourself a preview with iStylist Makeover. With hundreds of haircuts to layer over yours, you’ve got an incredibly wide array of options for your next look. You can also spice up that new look with accessories and cosmetics provided by the app. What’s more, the app has downloadable content packs, making sure your stock of looks is always fresh. Whether if it’s for your personal reference, or if you’d like to share your makeover through Facebook, iStylist Makeover is sure to give you hours of fun.

23. Fashion Sense — Not many people have good fashion sense, but that doesn’t mean their iPhone’s can’t have it! The Fashion Sense app teaches you the foundations of dressing well. With basic concepts like “dressing for your body type” and “the nine pieces every woman should have” discussed in wonderful detail, pulling together a fabulous look gets easier with every tap of the screen. As your skill develops, so does Fashion Sense, providing you with more advanced tips and additional pieces for your growing wardrobe.

24. Globeshopper — There are tons of quality online stores offering the most chic items in the market. The Globalshopper iPhone app allows you to browse through a selection of some of the best. With regular updates and easy access to the stores themselves, you can use this app as an excellent hub for all your online shopping needs.

25. Fashionating News — Stay update on the latest fashion news via Fashionating News. This incredibly useful app brings you all the latest fashion and style news. If you want to read more about an item, the app’s integrated web browser will take you straight to the source. Sharing the news is easy as well, as the app allows you to directly email each item to your fellow fashionistas.

26. Lustr Fashion Finder — This handy iPhone app allows you to find a store based on what you’re looking for at the moment. If you want a certain area or a store that fits specific criteria, the Lustr Fashion Finder will show you where to go based on your results. The app will also keep you posted on what’s new with your favorite stores. As a special privilege for Lustr’s fans, owners of the app will get treated to special promos and access to fashion events! With plans to expand beyond its initial New York limitations, the Lustr Fashion Finder may just be the biggest download of your iPhone’s life.

27. Chictopia — Online publication Chictopia is always at the forefront of fashion and trends. Their official iPhone app brings you inspiration in the form of its editors’ top style picks. Download this app, and you’ll be rewarded with photos for each gorgeous item, accompanied by a blog post about it.

28. iStyle — Indulge your inner fashionista with the iStyle app. Mix and match photos of real items from the hottest trends to create stunning outfits. Discover which looks you like, and tweak their colors to your preference. You can email your outfits to friends, or save them for future shopping reference.

29. StyleCaster — What we wear is defined a lot by the weather. After all, it’s probably a bad idea to wear a white dress when it’s raining out. StyleCaster helps protect you from a fashion-weather mismatch by recommending outfits based on your location’s daily weather forecast. A gifted panel of experts will pick out looks that’ll make you look stunning in rain or in shine. But the personalization this app offers doesn’t just stop there — the fine people behind StyleCaster will adapt their suggestions based on your fashion choices, complete with detailed information on each item. It’s like having a personal stylist right inside your iPhone!

30. iFashion — Get the latest in fashion news and updates delivered straight to your iPhone via the iFashion app. With 5 different sources of information to choose from, you’ll be kept on the pulse of the hottest trends no matter where you are.

31. Net-A-Porter — Net-A-Porter is one of the world’s largest online fashion retailers, and its iPhone app is just as big. The amazing application does a little bit of everything: shopping, sharing, and even bringing you the latest in fashion news. The app’s ClosetFlow feature allows you to check out the most fabulous items from over 200 top designers. Best of all, the app is automatically updated twice a week, so you can stay at the forefront of fashion without much effort.

32. 360Fashion Mags — This handy app brings you content from top fashion magazines available for the iPhone. Enjoy access to interesting articles and heart-stopping styles all in the palm of your hand. With the excellent collection of fashion publications 360Fashion Mags has to offer, you’ll be getting your daily fix of chic delivered straight to you.

Super Bowl Sunday is a day of bigs — big game, big halftime show, big bets, and big parties. It’s also a day of some pretty big claims. An event as huge and as popular as the Super Bowl is bound to have its share of tall tales, some more ridiculous than others. And they can be pretty convincing; so much so that they’re generally accepted as true. But they’re still a bunch of exaggerations and misconceptions. Here are ten of the most talked-about Super Bowl myths, and why they aren’t true:

1. The simultaneous flushing of millions of toilets during the Super Bowl causes massive damage to your city’s water main. — Here’s a favorite to start things off: it’s widely believed that the sheer amount of people who use the toilet during halftime and at the end of the game causes an enormous portion of water to be flushed, bringing loads of damage to the cities’ water mains. The logic is sound; after all, a lot of people do use the toilet during the game, and all those hundreds of thousands of gallons of water rushing down the pipes have got to do some damage, right? Unfortunately (or, rather, fortunately), that isn’t the case.

   Like any red-blooded American, you’ve probably been to your share of Super Bowl parties. You’ve also probably noticed that everyone doesn’t just hop into the bathroom when the game’s done. Some of you wait for the others to finish, while some of you don’t even have to go. And even then, coverage for the Super Bowl features countless advertisements, and a lot of people have the sense to heed nature’s call durng those breaks. The same follows everywhere else — the toilet just isn’t being used by everyone at the same time, and certainly not to the degree that’ll cause serious harm to the water mains. In fact, there has been only one case in which a water main suffered significant damage during the Super Bowl (1984, in Salt Lake City), and that was more likely a result of coincidence rather than widespread toilet use.

2. The team that wins the Super Bowl is a good indicator of the year’s stock market performance. — The theory is as follows: if an AFC team wins the Super Bowl, the market will perform poorly; if an NFC team wins, the market enjoys a good year. While this may all seem like superstition, the evidence proves otherwise — the myth has shown an impressive success rate of 80%. That means four out of five times, the results of the Super Bowl have accurately predicted whether or not the stock market will be successful in the coming year.

   Of course, that’s all it still really boils down to — superstition. There is no way that the winner of the Super Bowl can dictate the success of the stock market; there isn’t even any connection between the two. The whole thing is just like believing that your crazy old uncle can predict the weather based on how his big toe feels. Then again, who’s going to argue with a man who’s right most of the time? People stick with the Super Bowl “prediction” because of the same train of thought.

   If you’re really that concerned about stock market performance, you could always just look at the market’s performance in January. Since the 1950’s, its performance in January has pretty much predicted the rest of its behavior for the rest of the year, to an accuracy rate of a whopping 92.5%. Maybe the Super Bowl indicator’s riding on the back of this one?

3. Super Bowl Sunday accounts for two-thirds of all avocado sales in the country. — One of the best-loved, and not to mention tasty, Super Bowl traditions out there has got to be the bowls upon bowls of guacamole being served at parties. You can find the delicious dip on the table in thousands of homes across the country. No matter what you dip in it — nachos, chips, or even your buffalo wings — the green goo is always something people look forward to come Super Bowl Sunday.

   It’s only natural, then, that avocado sales skyrocket in the weeks that precede the big game. After all, party hosts are going to be making guacamole for a LOT of people. However, the sales don’t really make up for two-thirds of annual avocado sales, as many people would believe. Americans love their guacamole, and not just on Super Bowl Sunday. The massive spike in avocado sales in anticipation of the game only account for roughly 5% of annual sales. That share doesn’t seem so small, though, when you realize that 5% means roughly 8 MILLION pounds of avocado are being bought, chopped up, and dipped into for the Super Bowl.

   Impressive as it may seem, the amount of avocados purchased for Super Bowl Sunday still don’t make it the number one avocado event in the country. The winner? None other than Cinco de Mayo, which sells a whopping 14 million pounds of avocado.

4. The number of people staying home on Super Bowl Sunday turns Disneyland into a relative ghost town. — Look ma, no lines! Word has it that Super Bowl Sunday is one of the best times of the year to go and have some fun at Disneyland. Since football nuts all around the country are at home yelling at their televisions, the Happiest Place on Earth is vacated. The truth is, however, that Super Bowl Sunday crowds are pretty much the same size as the ones on any given Sunday in the month. January is normally one of the popular tourist attraction’s slower months, reporting a general decrease in attendance with or without the Super Bowl going on.

   In fact, Super Bowl Sunday might turn out to be the amusement park’s busiest Sunday of the month! As shocking as it may seem, but not everyone in the country is into football, and as far as they know, everyone else is. That means that these people are all thinking that Disneyland will be relatively empty on Super Bowl Sunday, and so everyone heads there on the same day. So much for avoiding the crowds!

5. Spousal abuse and domestic violence see a large increase during Super Bowl Sunday — The Super Bowl is an intensely emotional affair, with everything from a referee’s bad call to the outcome of the game threatening to put people in a foul mood. Unfortunately, some people aren’t as good at controlling their tempers as others are, and so they end up doing things they’ll eventually regret. This sort of thing is pretty common, and you’re bound to hear a story or two of a bad game ending in domestic violence.

   As plausible as this all may seem, there isn’t any conclusive evidence that proves that Super Bowl Sunday results in a larger-than-average amount of domestic violence cases. As eager as we are to believe that there are a bunch of brutish fans out there crazy enough to cause serious problems when their team loses, that just isn’t the case. Sure, there might be some violence involved, but it’s usually directed more at the furniture than anything (or anyone) else. The rest of the time, football fans are pretty much cool cats, preferring to let their frustrations out in tantrums filled with very colorful language.

6. Super Bowl host cities make a ton of money from the event. — For every major event, there are fans. And for every set of fans, there are those who are serious enough to travel to where the event is and experience it live. The Super Bowl is by no means an exception. People from around the country flock to the year’s host, treating it like their version Mecca for one glorious, football-driven day.

   It’s easy to presume, then, that host cities enjoy a huge influx of money when the Super Bowl rolls around. After all, you’re getting a huge number of tourists coming in and spending their money on food, accommodations, and other things that the city can provide. This might be true, if the host city was completely devoid of tourists on other days. The reality is, however, that cities will always have tourists coming in and out, regardless of whether or not the Super Bowl is being held there. While some institutions predict that the Super Bowl will be responsible for bringing roughly $250 to $350 million in revenue to its host city, the more accurate figure would be at most $30 million.

   Some cities might not even experience an economic impact at all. This usually occurs in cities that already have high tourist activity. What happens is that their regular tourists would simply be replaced by Super Bowl tourists for the time being. In fact, a study done in Miami showed that the city experienced a hotel occupancy rate boost of a mere 3.25%, which brings barely any noticeable improvement to the city’s economic performance in comparison with the rest of the year.

7. Before Super Bowl XII, Doug Williams was asked the now-infamous question, “How long have you been a black quarterback?” — In 1988, Doug Williams entered the history books by becoming the first black quarterback to play in the Super Bowl. News reporters and journalists gobbled up the story, and on Media Day, Williams found himself swamped with questions regarding this very fact. The media highlighted his race and asked questions such as “Would it be easier for you if you were the second black quarterback to play in the Super Bowl?” and “Do you fell that, because of the black quarterback issue, the country is watching you and thinking ‘What’s he going to do?’” Perhaps the most well-known question asked that day was one that Williams repeated himself — “How long have you been a black quarterback?”

   Needless to say, the question has been lampooned as one of the stupidest questions ever asked in sports journalism history. However, Butch John, the reporter who asked that question, cleared the air. John’s actually question was “You’ve obviously been a black quarterback all your life. When did it start to matter?” Unfortunately for John, Williams misheard over the crowd of roughly twenty reporters, forever placing John and himself in the annals of Super Bowl urban legends.

8. A reported global audience of 1 billion people tune in to watch the Super Bowl. — Year in and year out, we hear that the worldwide audience of the Super Bowl reaches the one billion mark. In fact, the NFL itself states that the game is made available to an estimated audience of 750 million to 1 billion people around the world. What most people don’t really consider is that the NFL itself has no way of knowing how many people are actually tuned into the game worldwide. The statement released is on potential viewership rather than actual viewership. Although the game really is available to 1 billion people across the globe, it doesn’t necessarily mean that each and every one of those people is watching the game.

   While the global numbers aren’t available, the media research firm Initiative has a good idea of how many people might be watching the Super Bowl. Based on the data collected from 54 of the world’s major TV markets, the average audience of Super Bowl XL was a mere 98 million, a far cry from 1 billion. In fact, the billion-viewer mark may be impossible to reach; the 2006 World Cup, otherwise known as the Super Bowl of soccer (the single most popular sport in the world), reached an average audience of 260 million.

9. Americans drink a dizzying 10 million barrels of beer on Super Bowl Sunday. — If there is one beverage that is essential to the complete Super Bowl experience, it would have to be beer. Nothing else even comes close. And when we drink our beer on Super Bowl Sunday, we drink a lot of it. In fact, we drink so much of it, only barrels can satisfy our thirst. That’s why, according to popular belief, we place in orders for 10-10.5 million barrels whenever the Super Bowl rolls around.

   While those certainly sound like good times, the number is unfortunately way off. The Beer Institute conducted a quick analysis of the numbers: assuming that one-third of Americans drinks beer during the big game, the 10.5 million barrels of beer sold would equate to 1.45 cases consumed per person. Although some people might be able to stomach all that beer in one day, majority of the population wouldn’t, making the rumored barrel count a major overestimation.

10. Cold-weather locations put a freeze on Super Bowl tickets. — If you really think about it, it might make sense: cold-weather locations tend to attract less people, and to ticket sellers, that means less buyers. It would make sense, then, to put a freeze on prices just so they sell better. While this is a factor on ticket sales, it isn’t influential enough to become a major consideration. In fact, some cold-weather locations sell their tickets at pretty hefty prices.

    What matters more in terms of ticket pricing is the city’s location from the event. A venue 200 miles away from the Super Bowl’s host city, for example, would have noticeably higher prices than those that are 500 miles away from it. It’s more a matter of convenience than of climate. Another major factor is the city’s football history. A storied franchise like Pittsburgh is bound to have more rabid fans willing to pay extra for their tickets, as compared to cities that aren’t too proud of their teams. It’s all a matter of ego, and bigger egos come with bigger price tags.

]]> http://blog.starcostumes.com/super-bowl-myths.html/feed 3 http://blog.starcostumes.com/lies-about-werewolves.html http://blog.starcostumes.com/lies-about-werewolves.html#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:25:25 +0000 Kyle Tuttle http://blog.starcostumes.com/?p=505

The werewolf is one of mankind’s most enduring myths. Most, if not all, of the world’s cultures have a version of the creature embedded in their folktales. No matter what corner of the globe you’re from, no matter who you are, you’re bound to have heard of a man who turns into a wolf at night.

The werewolf’s popularity and worldwide appeal have contributed to the myth’s own transformation. Like a game of “Pass the Message” with way too many players, a lot of things tend to get lost in the translation as the stories are passed on from generation to generation. People can’t help putting their own spin on the tales, because they make more sense or are just plain cooler that way. The biggest spin doctor of all, of course, is Hollywood. Moviemakers tend to make more than a few edits on a script for a number of reasons, and werewolf folklore isn’t an exception. The werewolf myths we know today are pretty different from the original legends, but since we watch movies more than we do creepy old ladies from “ze old country”, we end up knowing the Hollywood version of the stories more than the originals. Here are seven of the biggest myths about werewolf myths that the movie industry has you believing:

1. You can turn into a werewolf if you get bitten by one — As we see in a ton of Hollywood movies, one way to become a werewolf is to get bitten by one of the great big horrifying furballs yourself. While this may set the stage for an amusing biting contest in the war between vampires and werewolves, only the bloodsuckers can transmit their conditions by bite. According to the original folklore, you can’t turn into a werewolf just by being bitten, no matter how much you want it to happen.

   So Just how did one become a werewolf before Hollywood changed the script? There are too many to say. Among the oldest methods was taking off all of your clothes and wearing a belt made of wolfskin. Supposedly, this would make you assume the form of the wolf. Another way was to drink rainwater from the footprint of a wolf, although you’d have to be pretty thirsty to try that one out. If all else fails, there was always the good old standby — make a pact with the devil, and the wolf form is yours.

2. Silver bullets are the only things that can kill werewolves — One of the defining moments of many werewolf movies is when the hero melts down some silver and arms himself with bullets made from the stuff. The precious metal is said to be the number one weakness of werewolves, like kryptonite is to Superman. One shot with a silver bullet, and the werewolf goes bye-bye.

   Unfortunately, silver was never part of the original werewolf legends. Folk weapons against werewolves used to include mountain ash and wolfsbane, and even then, they weren’t necessary. Any sort of weapon could kill a werewolf if it hard and decisively enough. Silver bullets only came into the picture sometime in the 18th century, when the Beast of Gevaudan (the wolf creature in the French film Brotherhood of the Wolf) was reportedly killed by such a bullet. The myth then slowly increased in popularity until werewolf myths broke into the mainstream with the classic Hollywood film The Wolf Man. It should also be noted that the silver that killed the werewolf in the movie wasn’t even a bullet; rather, it was a powerful strike to the head with a silver-tipped cane.

3. Werewolves look like men with wolf-like fur and faces — It’s a horrifying scene: the full moon shines down on a shadowy figure, and he suddenly starts to convulse. His body twists and contorts, and he screams in agony as his muscles and bones grow explosively. By the time the transformation is complete, the figure is no longer human. Instead, what stands in his place is a horrifying amalgam of man and wolf; a creature standing on its hind legs as a man would, yet bearing the same bestial appearance of a hungry, sinister wolf.

   That is certainly the stuff of nightmares, but not necessarily the nightmares of those who originated werewolf myths. The folks from the olden days were afraid of a less grotesque creature — werewolves from those days were simply men who turned into wolves. There were very few features that set them apart from your typical wolf; the most common features that were unique to a werewolf were human eyes, a human voice, and the lack of a tail.

4. It’s almost impossible to tell if someone’s a werewolf in human form — One of the most terrifying aspects of modern werewolves is the fact that you’d have no idea if the person sitting right beside you would suddenly turn into a half-man half-wolf monster and bite you in half. You’d only know for sure when the full moon rises, and you’d probably be in someone’s belly by then. It’s that same fear of suspicion that can make werewolves so horrifying; the person you least suspect might turn into a gruesome creature hell-bent on devouring you.

   In the olden days, however, spotting someone who was actually a werewolf in hiding wasn’t too difficult. Certain physical features gave the creature away, such as low-set ears, curved fingernails, and eyebrows meeting at the bridge of the nose. There were other telltale signs in the werewolf’s behavior; his walk, for instance, would be particularly swingy, like a wolf swishing its tail as it walked. A more invasive way of checking to see if someone was a werewolf was to look for bristles under the tongue, a sure sign of the curse.

5. Werewolves are always men who turn into wolves or wolf-like creatures — Lon Chaney, Jack Nicholson, Taylor Lautner, and now Hugo Weaving — it seems that all the werewolves in movies are men. This, of course, is blatantly wrong, as one of the oldest werewolf myths was that the creatures were condemned women who wore wolves’ skins and were transformed. It’s pretty rare to find female werewolves in film, although they do exist in movies such as She-Wolf in London and, more recently, Ginger Snaps and Dog Soldiers. Suddenly, all those shirtless werewolf hunks in New Moon seem a little sexist.

   What’s even more obscure, however, is the fact that werewolves didn’t even have to be human to begin with. Some folklore revolving around the werewolf describes the creature as a wolf that turned into a man, rather than the other way around. The wolf would put on the flesh of a man, and through some sorcery would assume the form of the man whose skin it was wearing.

6. Werewolves and vampires feud like cranky old rivals — It seems that everywhere you look now, werewolves and vampires simply just can’t get along. The reason behind the feud may be as simple as the “I’m the one she should be with!” love triangle argument between Edward Cullen and Jacob Black in New Moon, or it may be as grandiose as a centuries-old war between the two factions, as in the Underworld series. No matter how you cut it, werewolves and vampires are like oil and water to each other; bitter, angry, violent oil and water.

   Of course, there’s nothing in ancient folklore that supports this theory. There have always been werewolves, and there have always been vampires, but the enmity between the two seems to be primarily a product of good old Hollywood magic. The idea might have come about from the wonderful contrast between the two creatures, with the werewolf representing raw bestiality and the vampire a more cunning creature. It may also be reasoned out that with the two factions having humans as their common meal of choice, some competition is bound to happen. Whatever that reason may be, though, it doesn’t have a place in the more traditional werewolf myths.

7. Once a werewolf, always a werewolf — It seems that these days, the only cure to being a werewolf is death. We hardly ever see people returning to normal after becoming the man/wolf hybrids we all know and fear. If you want to put an end to a lifetime of involuntary transformations and craving the taste of your next-door neighbor’s flesh, you’ll need to take a silver bullet.

   Needless to say, this wasn’t the case with the classic folktales. The ancient Greeks believed that severe physical exhaustion would “tire” the werewolf out of a person. In medieval Europe, one had several options: special medicines, surgery, or a good old-fashioned exorcism to end the werewolf’s pact with the devil. The Danish had the simplest way of curing a werewolf: all you had to do was scold it.

]]> http://blog.starcostumes.com/lies-about-werewolves.html/feed 1 http://blog.starcostumes.com/best-twitter-fashion-feeds.html http://blog.starcostumes.com/best-twitter-fashion-feeds.html#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:36:42 +0000 Kyle Tuttle http://blog.starcostumes.com/?p=490

One of the greatest things about Twitter is that it makes it a lot easier for fashion fanatics like us to stay fabulous. Being fashionable means keeping up with the times; if you fall behind on what’s hot, you end up becoming what’s not.

It’s a good thing that staying on the style pulse is now as easy as clicking the little “Follow” button on the best fashion feeds Twitter has to offer. Here are 70 of the most chic Twitter feeds out there:

Magazines, Blogs and other Media

1. InStyle Magazine — Follow one of the world’s premiere fashion magazines via its own Twitter feed and get the lastest buzz on fashion, beauty, and juicy celebrity news.

2. The Moment — The New York Times Style Magazine’s fashion blog brings you up to date on the who’s who and the what’s what of the fashion world via its official Twitter feed.

3. Who What Wear — Who What Wear’s manifesto is simple: they don’t really care about who’s going out with who, they just want to know what you’re wearing. That said, this excellent Twitter feed will help keep you posted on the latest trends as worn by the rich and famous.

4. Fashionista.com — As one of the world’s most popular fashion websites, Fashionista.com brings you fashion news and reviews at the click of a mouse. The site’s official Twitter account brings all those and more straight to your Twitter feed.

5. The Cut — New York Magazine’s fashion blog, The Cut, has oodles of links to articles on fashion and fashion-related items. Staying in the know is now as easy as clicking the “Follow” button.

6. refinery29 — Aiming to be your destination of choice for fashion news online, refinery29 brings you the latest word on the catwalk and on the streets, all thanks to their hard-working insider information network.

7. Dazed and Confused Magazine — The official Twitter feed of London fashion and culture publication Dazed and Confused offers live updates from the trendiest fashion events, as well as sneak peeks at what your favorite designers are up to.

8. HighSnobiety — If you’re done with all the frou-frou fashion designers and want a look that’s a little more down-to-earth, you can get your street fashion fix via HighSnobiety’s tweets.

9. Modelinia — If you’ve ever wanted to see the world of fashion through the eyes of the world’s top supermodels, then Modelinia’s Twitter feed is a definite must-follow.

10. Brandish — Whether you’re a style-conscious guy or a girl who wants to help her man dress better, Brandish has got all the men’s fashion updates you’ll need right on their tweets.

11. SHOWstudio — A pioneer in providing live fashion media, SHOWstudio brings you fashion updates as they happen through its very own Twitter feed.

12. The Sartorialist — Inspiration can come from the very people you see on the street, and The Sartorialist proves that with his photos of the most stylish passersby.

13. StyleWriterNYC — A fashion journalist shares his thoughts and musings on the goings-on of the fashion world.

14. LookBook.nu — The world’s largest fashion inspiration board keeps in touch with its legions of fans and users through its official Twitter feed.

15. Nylon Magazine — Nylon Magazine brings its trademark attitude to its tweets as it shares its latest updates and more via its own Twitter feed.

16. The Fashion Police — Help join the fight against crimes of fashion! The popular website brings you links to its reviews, polls, challenges and more via its tweets.

17. Chictopia — There are literally thousands of links to inspiring articles found on the official Twitter feed of the world’s largest network of fashion and style bloggers.

18. Elle Magazine — For decades, Elle Magazine has been taking you through the ins and outs of the ever-changing fashion world. Now you can get updates sent straight to your Twitter feed simply by following the magazine’s official feed.

19. Coutorture — This online community brings you the best of over 240 fashion blogs through links found in their daily tweets.

20. Vogue USA — You can’t have fashion without Vogue. One of the biggest-selling fashion magazines in history tweets daily updates for all its stylish followers.

21. MyFashionLife — To daily updates from the world of fashion, all you have to do is follow the Twitter feed of this excellent fashion blog.

22. Catwalk Queen — Looking for the latest info on fashion trends, styles and news? Give this stylish Twitter feed a follow.

23. Fashion Tweets — For the latest and hottest news in the fashion scene, head on over to this Twitter feed and click the “Follow” button. You’ll be glad you did.

24. Fashion — Shoppingblog.com brings you the fashionable side of the news daily, all thanks to its helpful tweets.

25. Cosmopolitan Magazine — The stylish magazine for fun, fearless females keeps in touch with its readers through this Twitter feed.

26. Harper’s Bazaar US — For opinions, inspiration, and links to interesting fashion articles, head on over to the official Twitter feed of the always-glamorous Harper’s Bazaar.

Style Gurus

27. Rachel Zoe — Celebrity stylist and star of her own reality show, Rachel Zoe shares her fashionable finds and tips on being fabulous through her tantalizing tweets.

28. Hilary Alexander — The fashion director of the UK publication Telegraph sends you links to her favorite articles through her own Twitter feed.

29. Facehunter — The Facehunter knows exactly what he likes in terms of style, and he’s all too happy to share it with you through his inspiring photos and delightful insights. Get to know him better through his personal Twitter feed.

30. BryanBoy — This fabulous Filipino animates the Twitterverse with his musings on fashion and everything about it.

31. Lauren Messiah — Follow this extremely chic fashionista for daily doses of style advice and more.

32. Sharon Haver — Sharon Haver, better known as the mind behind FocusOnStyle.com, is more than willing to share her fashion expertise with her readers and fans. Check out what she’s got to say about staying chic via her Twitter feed.

33. Nicole Chavez — THE stylist for today’s young Hollywood, Nicole Chavez is responsible for making the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Rachel Bilson look utterly chic. Follow her and get a glimpse her life and her clients’ stunning outfits through her tweets.

34. June Ambrose — The author of Effortless Style keeps you posted on the latest trends and fashion dos throught her Twitter account.

35. Olena E. — Olena E., the owner and editor of the popular Fashion.Maga-zine personally tweets her updates and fashionable finds for all her followers to appreciate.

Fashion Icons and Designers

36. Khloe Kardashian Odom — Khloe’s more than just a member of her famous family; she’s also a member of the Fashion Police and co-owns the stylish fashion boutique Dash with her sisters. When she’s not working her butt off, she’s tweeting about fashion, life, and love.

37. Lady Gaga — When she’s not promoting her music, the fashion-forward pop sensation shares slices of life mixed with her love for style through her tweets.

38. Stefano Gabbana — One half of the world-famous designer duo Dolce and Gabbana, Stefano Gabbana’s tweets range from quirky updates about his food to behind-the-scenes looks at the hottest fashion shows – which include his, of course!

39. Karl Lagerfeld — This mammoth of the fashion world is an artist and designer extraordinaire. Find out what makes him tick as he shares his thoughts on fashion and life itself through his tweets.

Teese

40. Dita Von Teese — Burlesque star Dita Von Teese brings her signature old Hollywood glamour to the Twitterverse as she shares her life and her loves, which naturally include fashion and beauty.

41. Christian Siriano — Follow Project Runway’s most popular winner as he shares his fascinating life and designs in tweets that are every bit as fierce as he is.

42. Stella McCartney — The brilliant designer and her team bring you the latest on everything Stella McCartney through Twitter updates.

43. Tyra Banks — Who doesn’t know Tyra? The hyper-successful model/businesswoman/host/actress/singer keeps you posted on her fierceness through her personal Twitter feed.

44. Agyness Deyn — Get to know the world’s next great supermodel better as she shares tidbits of her life through Twitter.

45. Vivienne Tam — The ultra-chic designer wants you to know who’s been wearing her,what she’s been cooking up, and where you can find all her fabulous items right in her Twitter feed.

46. Betsey Johnson — The designer known for her fun and uninhibited style brings more of that same energy to the Twitterverse, as she shares her love of fashion, music, and many other things.

47. Chanel Iman — One of the modeling industry’s brightest stars is this beautiful young up-and-comer. Follow her to get a behind-the-scenes look at the modeling world, as well as her personal slices of life.

48. Jay Manuel — Jay Manuel is one of the fashion industry’s most public faces, thanks in no small part to his success on television. Find out what he’s up to by following him on Twitter.

Stores and Designer Labels

49. Forever21 — In its pursuit to satisfy your craving for fashion, the popular chain Forever21 brings you tweets chock-full of fashion news, fabulous new looks, and interesting insights on style.

50. Louis Vuitton US — Can’t get enough of LV? The designer’s US team shares Louis Vuitton looks both new and old through its tweets, along with fascinating bits of trivia about your favorite designer.

51. Topshop — The worldwide fashion phenomenon has roughly 300 new items added to its website every week. Stay posted on the latest Topshop has to offer with updates from its Twitter feed.

52. Net-a-Porter Fashion — Follow the official Twitter account of this London-based online fashion retailer, and you’ll get a chance to get first look at all their delicious new items.

53. Gucci — The world-renowned luxury brand brings you news and pictures on everything Gucci via its official Twitter feed.

54. Diane von Furstenberg — As one of the leading names in the American fashion industry, Diane von Furstenberg has been producing some of the most sought-after style items. Get updates from the clothing company and more delivered straight to you by following this Twitter feed.

55. Baby Phat — The official joint Twitter feed of Baby Phat and its founder Kimora Lee Simmons brings you updates from both via its engaging tweets.

56. Versace — The house of Versace is an undeniable standard of the fashion world. Stay posted on all the hottest Versace news by following the clothing giant’s official Twitter feed.

57. Givenchy — Givenchy, one of the world’s top luxury brands, tweets about fashion and more, with links to several online publications.

58. Calvin Klein — For years, Calvin Klein has been one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Now you can get updates straight from the source via the company’s Twitter feed.

59. Lacoste — Clothing company Lacoste has long been known for its chic products. Get the first word on what they’ve got cooking by following their Twitter feed.

60. Burberry — For over 150 years, Burberry has been bringing the world timeless, high-quality fashion pieces. Follow the brand’s official Twitter account and get updates on their shows, campaigns, and upcoming products.

61. Yves Saint Laurent — The initials YSL were never more fabulous. Be among the first to find out what the brand has in store by following its official Twitter feed.

62. House of Field — The boutique of the legendary stylist behind Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada, and Ugly Betty keeps in touch with all its fierce fans through its very own Twitter account.

63. Kate Spade New York — Kate Spade’s official Twitter feed doesn’t just give you the lowdown on New York fashion, it also whenever they’re holding a sale! Now that’s love for their customers!

64. Paul Smith — Paul Smith’s colorful designs have caught the eyes of fashionistas for decades. Stay up to date on what’s going on with the brand through its tweets.

65. Oscar de la Renta — The internationally-acclaimed designer has asked his friendly PR girl to keep all his fans posted on insider news regarding his elegant brand through this Twitter feed.

66. Barneys New York — The shopping Mecca of countless fashion fanatics, Barneys chats with its fans and keeps them posted on fashion news through its tweets.

67. Banana Republic — The popular brand sends updates on sales, products, and more straight to your Twitter feed via its official account.

68. American Apparel — One of the largest American clothing brands in the market, American Apparel provides updates, contests, and more in its official Twitter account.

69. Tory Burch — The chic sportswear company keeps in touch with its many fans and customers as it offers everything from fashoin scoops to casual conversations on its official Twitter feed.

70. Gap — The Gap has been an American fashion mainstay for a long, long time, and its fine aesthetic guarantees that continue to be one for even longer. Check out what’s new with the brand by giving its official Twitter feed a follow.

]]> http://blog.starcostumes.com/best-twitter-fashion-feeds.html/feed 14 http://blog.starcostumes.com/the-world-of-anime-conventions.html http://blog.starcostumes.com/the-world-of-anime-conventions.html#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:45:19 +0000 Becky Ehrick http://blog.starcostumes.com/?p=458


A group of Final Fantasy Cosplayers at Youmacon 2009.

What happens when you bring together hundreds – even thousands – of Anime fans? There are hundreds of Anime conventions held every year, all across America and around the world. The scope of these conventions has expanded to include aspects of Asian culture and Japanese-inspired culture beyond animation, including video games, fashion, American shows with Anime influences, and traditional culture.

When it comes down to it, though, if you’re going to go to an Anime convention, you’re going to see plenty of cosplayers – people who devote time, money, and loving effort to recreating their favorite characters in costume form. There are even contests and a masquerade – a sort of fashion show combined with skits to show off the cosplayers’ costumes and acting skills.

Many cosplayers purchase their costumes as well, and the costumes aren’t limited to Anime. Don’t be surprised to see young women wearing fancy dresses with lace that look like they belong on Victorian dolls – examples of Elegant Gothic Lolita fashion – or people dressed up as inanimate objects, such as the Companion Cube or a Katamari, two examples from popular video games.

That’s certainly not all there is to a convention – there are panels for fans to discuss or learn about different topics, the dealers’ room to provide merchandise, and Artists’ Alley, where artists of varied skill levels can display and sell their work. Voice actors and others who work in the Anime and Manga fields often attend conventions and give panels or sign autographs. Most of all, the convention is a place where fans can be as weird as they want to be, without worrying about the sort of disapproval they might receive at home.

Want to join in on the convention fun? AnimeCons.com has a comprehensive list of Anime conventions, their dates and locations, and links to official websites. They also have news on the convention world, such as what special guests will be attending which conventions.

The convention which I most recently attended, and where the following photographs were taken, is Youmacon, held annually in the Detroit, Michigan area (click each image to see the full size version).

A cosplayer portraying Hinata from the popular Anime Naruto.	The villain Orochimaru, also from Naruto.	Gordon Freeman from the video game series Half Life
Yoko, from the series Gurren Lagann.	Lina Inverse, heroine of the anime series Slayers.	Cosplay: Not just for kids anymore!
Two of the Turks from the video game Final Fantasy VII.	The convention was held on Halloween, so many con-goers wore Halloween costumes.	Okay, so Ghostbusters technically has nothing to do with Anime or Japan....
But if the costume looks good, who cares?	Two more cosplayers from Youmacon.

Thank you to all the cosplayers who allowed me to post their photos here!

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