The Real Story of Halloween

Staff Writer, DB Holmes
Halloween / History
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The Real Story of Halloween

Where Halloween originated from and how we celebrate those traditions now. 

Have a safe and spooky night! 

Source: Youtube

The Autumn Factor

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz

Weather / Autumn
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With the shift toward winter, the weather fluctuates between hot and cool. Autumn is here and the cool evenings and mornings are a welcomed sight. The desert is getting a break from the hot temperatures of the blazing summer. 

What can we expect?

Solar flares have been quiet while the filament releases have energized our planetary weather system that have lasted these couple of weeks creating warmer temperatures like the 90's for this week. See Suspicious Observers for more information:

CME Impact Watch, Drunk Comet | S0 News October 24, 2015

Our local forecast appears to be such: 

Forecast Discussion: The upper-level low pressure system that has brought active weather to central Arizona this week is finally beginning to move out of the area. This puts Arizona underneath a dry, northwesterly flow pattern. As drier air filters into the state, skies will be clear each day through Saturday. Temperatures will rebound, approaching 90°F by Saturday. Near-surface winds are also expected to be light and variable. The two main pollutants currently in the spotlight for this air quality forecast are ozone and PM-2.5. As more stagnant conditions take hold over the next few days, both of these pollutants have the potential to accumulate more near the ground. Clear skies also mean more sunlight for local ozone production and stronger nocturnal inversions for overnight PM-2.5 build-up. Since history shows us that Moderate ozone levels are uncommon in late October, ozone is expected to remain in the Good range. The outcome of PM-2.5 levels is a little more uncertain, however. We will keep PM-2.5 in the upper Good range for now and will reevaluate it tomorrow for the weekend. Check back on Friday for a closer look at the weekend's weather and air quality. Until then, have a good day! -M.Graves

For the rest of October, the Farmer's Almanac writes:

Includes California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona

24th-27th. Clearing weather, turning colder.
28th-31st. Unsettled, showery.

Our local community forecast for today through Halloween is:

Source: AQED, Farmer's Almanac, Weather Underground

Movie Night: The Real Story of Halloween

Staff Writer, DB Holmes
Halloween / History 
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The Real Story of Halloween

 Halloween began centuries ago as a pagan holiday that honored the dead that warned of a netherworld of spirits and ghosts. Today, Halloween has morphed into a day for breaking rules, pushing boundaries and wearing disguises. But Halloween remains a time for us to deal with our own mortality. Our modern Halloween traditions have ancient roots -- people were going door to door and begging for treats on Halloween night as far back as the Middle Ages.

We may think our Halloweens are crazy, but Halloweens past have been wilder and more dangerous than they are now. During the depression, Halloween became so violent and destructive that civil authorities had to step in and prevent wide-spread vandalism in cities across America. Their solution, the ritual of "trick or treat," now generates $2 billion dollars in candy sales each season. And these days adults get dressed up for the holiday almost as much as kids do. But no matter how many jack-o-lanterns get carved or kids yell "trick-or-treat!" Halloween is still all about the "scare." Two thousand years and counting, and we still like to be scared on the night of October 31.

Source: History Channel