What will you be this Halloween?

With 47-million adults and 58-million children planning on dressing up this Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation, it's apparent that this is a major part of the American Halloween experience.

And what we chose could reveal something about us.

Sometimes a costume is just a costume, and other times it may carry some deeper psychological meaning.

Dr. Darwin Dorr, a psychology professor at Wichita State University, told Psychology Today that some costumes may fall into Carl Jungs architype of 'the shadow',described as the unconscious part of you that you don't particularly like, but are able to express on Halloween.

"You may see a demure woman costumed as a dominatrix, or a straight man dressed in drag," he said in the article.

Carl Jung, founder of analytic psychology, also known as Jungian psychology, explored dreams, mythology, religion, along with direct observation, and concluded that human behavior fell into what he termed as archetypes.

Archytypes, as defined by Jung, are unconscious and conscious patterns of behavior, and could provide some insight into why we chose a certain costume during the one time of year when we are able to express ourselves in almost any way we desire.

Along with 'the shadow', is the Anima and Animus, which (among other functions) can act as a bridge between the conscious and the unconscious parts of the personality, according to Jane Cicchetti's book, Dreams, Symbols, and Homeopathy.

This archetype is commonly expressed fictionally as super-heros and gods, who possess unusual power and amazing skill, and choosing these types of costumes could be a way to explore this part of our subconscious.

Jolanda Loshi, 21, says that it all depends on what's going on that year that determines what she will be for Halloween, and could go from one extreme to the other.

"I usually pick what I'm going to be on a whim", she says. "One year I was a vampire, with blood and everything. The next I was a sexy-cop with high boots."

Participating in Halloween since she came to this country from Albania when she was 13, Loshi has found this "American tradition" to be an interesting opportunity to express herself.

She is now part of the billion-dollar-a-year revenue generating holiday that allows children and adults alike to become whatever it is they've fantasized about being.

The Appeal of a Haunted House

Roaring chainsaws search for you, clowns bearing an eerie smile glare into your eyes, and the dead stroll right along side you:
Welcome to the Haunted House.

It begins on the line, before you enter.

Blood-curdling screams echo from the mansion walls, as patrons wait in wonder for what lies behind that black wooden door.

They’re here for the thrill, and will spend upwards of $50 to get it.

It’s like living through your favorite horror movie step by step, scene by gruesome scene.

Christ Zanin is the casting manager of Kevin McCurley’s Haunted Mansion in Poughkeepsie, New York. He likes to prep his actors before showtime:

"I want blood guts and gore, and I want a whole lot
more. You are all possessed by Satan himself."

A mass-murderer that can’t control his compulsion to kill, slices up his victims right in front of you, while fake blood squirts from his wounds.

He barrels with laughter as you run away terrified, into the next scene.

What makes this macabre experience so alluring?

Patrons say it’s a way of dealing with death and their own mortality. Psychologists think it’s also a release of aggression through socially acceptable behavior.

Dr. John Hogan, a St. Johns University Professor of Psychology thinks that it's a "way to express these emotions in an artificial and fictitious environment."

According to Eric Minton, in his article for Psychology Today, this type of environment is all about playing on your fears.

The creators of the Haunted Houses, he says, "are masters at exploiting our fear of dying, especially in a gruesome manner."

The scare, according to the article, is based on two main elements: there's something there and it does something that you don't expect it to, or nothing's there and it appears, and it's the adrenaline that results from either experience that people are seeking.

According to a New York Times article titled, "The Thrill of Being Scared Keeps Fright Industry Going" other psychologists agree there's a "rush people get facing fear", and one of the top ranked fears among human beings is death;
the main element of the Haunted House.

Homeless Shelter Occupancy at all Time High

The report released by the Coalition for the Homeless today showed that the homeless shelter population has reached an all time high.

There are now "more than 39,000 homeless adults and children sleeping in the New York City shelter system each night – the first time ever the shelter population has reached this level", according to the report, and blamed Mayor Bloomberg's policies for exacerbating the problem, and urging that they "must be abandoned" to bring about improvements.

According to the New York City Department of Homeless daily report, on October 16, 16,441 out of the 38,062 people living in homeless shelters were children.

One of Bloomberg's policies is "cutting of homeless New Yorkers from Federal housing assistance." According to this New York Times article, there are stipulations that are involved in cutting off the funding, and its purpose is to act as a deterrent for families seeking long-term housing in an homeless shelter.

According to the article, costs for housing a family has risen in recent years to about $36,000 a year, and the average stay is approximately nine months. The state is also seeking an approval for a 4-percent budget cut to shelters come January.

Critics of the plan, such as Bonnie Stone, the executive director of Women in Need, a shelter for women and children, don't think that this action will have its intended results of curbing homelessness.

But Mayor Bloomberg's current and proposed policies may be more of a contributor, rather than a main cause, to the growing problem.

According to a report by the National Coalition for the Homeless released in July of 2009, reasons for the epidemic could be due to factors occuring after the 2008 financial crisis, such as foreclosures and difficulty finding employment.

It found that there was 32-percent increase in the number of foreclosures between April 2008 and April 2009, and "40 percent of families facing eviction due to foreclosure are renters and 7 million households living on very low incomes are at risk of foreclosure."

When a family is of low-income, or grazing the poverty line, they have to make tough choices such as whether to pay their rent and utilities, or buy food for their children. They can't afford the luxury of paying them all.

A possible glimmer of hope in this situation is in a report released by the U.S Department of Labor last week, citing recent statistics indicating that there has been a six-week decline in the number of newly-filed unemployment benefits, which could be a sign that lay-offs and cost cutting are no longer necessary to produce some earnings in businesses.

In essence, it could be proof to the FED Chairman Ben Bernake's claim that "the recession is likely over."

In approaching the winter months, one could only hope that with the economy seeing signs of redemption and renewal, these homeless families will then be able to experience the same.

Housing at St. Johns University

St. Johns offers housing on each of its campus locations in three different boroughs: Manhattan, Staten Island, and the main campus in Queens.

A number of benefits follow with living on campus, mainly the amenities that are already included in the cost of housing instead of the "hidden fees", as Christopher Godfrey, a St. Johns senior put it, that incurs living off campus.

Each room is equipped with multiple data ports, according to the St. Johns website, in order to "assure 24x7 access to phone, cable and the internet."

Along with 24-hour cable and internet access, St. Johns provides security guards which are located in the lobby of each residence hall, to "ensure the safety and identifications of those entering and leaving the building."

Students opinions vary in the benefits versus the drawbacks of life on campus.

According to Cameron Priestley, a senior and journalism major, on-campus living didn't suit his needs as a student, and after dorming for one-year (his freshmen year), he decided he could get more accomplished living off-campus.

"I enjoyed it, but it was not conducive for studying", he said.
"There were three people in one room, and one bathroom shared between two rooms," and so decided to move to Bushwick, Brooklyn, a 20-minute commute to campus.

But it appears that such a problem could be rectified, according to St. Johns website and students such as Sarah Reilly who's a senior at the university, because if you're uncomfortable with your living situation (too many people in a room), once a sophomore you have the opportunity to move to a different housing unit or room.

Fiscally speaking, housing on-campus in Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan, in a double room amounts to about the same cost of living off-campus, without the added responsibility. With laundry, a gym, and dining on-campus, students don't need to worry about the additional responsibilities of maintaining a rent, electric, and cable bill while attending school.

They have more of an opportunity (if used wisely) to focus on their studies.

Book Review: April and Oliver

April and Oliver are childhood friends reunited after a car accident took the life of April's younger brother, Buddy. Their lives have taken them into separate directions; Oliver pursuing an education in law in California as April messily lives out her life in New York.

It's a tale of dysfunction and romance, coupled with juxtaposing themes, such as finding solace in familiarity while trying to break away from the past. Oliver tries to act as a rational force in April's life, while combating his own demons that are negatively impacting his relationship with his fiance.

The characters are complex, and the themes of dysfunction and first love are relatable to those who've experienced it; demonstrated clearly through Callahan's writing. The novel isn't clouded by enigmatic or convoluted language, therefore could be defined as an easy read.

Although the novel is simplistic in language, the topics discussed are not meant for audiences below the age of 18. Dealing with issues like abuse, adultery, and rape, Callahan brings the reader to a side of life that many don't come across; and some choose to ignore.

April and Oliver is Tess Callahan's first novel. Raised in Long Island, New York, Callahan spent most of her time "studying the fluid, negative shapes of the sky through swaying branches," according to her website. Eventually graduating with an MFA in fiction from Bennington College, Callahan became a mother of twins. Her passion for writing didn't cease, and thus continued to do so "between diaper changes" eventually publishing April and Oliver this year (2009).

Callahan doesn't indicate on her website whether she plans on writing a sequel, or any subsequent novels, but many reviewers (including myself) express a thirst for more, and a hope that this isn't the last we see of her as a novelist.