The theme for our October Entries:

1. Entry 32: Halloween is a fun time for me. I set the mood with a motion detector far from the house that sets off a chime to warn me of approaching trick or treaters. This also dims the white lights in the front room of my home while brightening the red ones I have installed. Also, using and IR module, I bring up the thunderstorm and scary noises soundtrack that plays from the stone speakers placed in front of my porch. The front porch itself is decorated with an X10 controlled strobe light to simulate lightning that is synchronized with sampled thunder wav files played from the controlling computer. Lights are set up with motorized moving gels which project shadows moving across the porch. The speed of the shadows vary by using a dimmer module to control power to the motors. Also on the porch is an X10 controlled fan which blows across wind chimes and strips of paper which simulate the rustling of  leaves.   As the visitors near the house, climbing the steps in front of the porch, another motion detector catches them and starts up show on the small hill beside the steps. Using motors and universal modules, arms reach from the ground beneath headstones as groans of the undead filter from speakers hidden behind them. Finally, as they reach the porch, they step on a pressure mat that releases the electric door strike, allowing me to fling open the door and both scare and welcome them. Maybe I go a little overboard, but it's just so much fun! -- Steve RaucoVotes so far: 1459

2. Entry 25: The first thing I would do would be to coordinate the "ActiveHome" system with all my Halloween props, such as the freaky guy I put out on my porch every year. A sensor would be placed 5 feet from my doorstep, and whenever a person crossed the sensor, a cassette player would be activated behind the freak on my doorstep. This could play anything from screams to dogs snarling. After that my porch light would turn off and a nearby back-light would turn on, revealing messages scrawled along my brick wall. If the trick or treaters are brave enough to continue and ring my doorbell they would be in for a huge surprise. My front door would open, revealing a large bucket full of candy. As the trick or treaters proceeded into my house to retrieve the candy, another sensor would be activated, causing an eerie whistling sound to come from another rigged tape player. As the tape player began playing, large fans would turn on, simulating a strong wind blowing towards the outside. I could go on and on describing what I would do with "ActiveHome," but I think you all get the idea. -- A.J. TimmckeVotes so far: 1087

3. Entry 9: Trick-or-treaters walk up to your door. As soon as they step on the doormat, there is an eerie witch cackle. Then the door automatically opens and all the lights go off. There is a spooky noise coming from the house. They are compelled to go in. As soon as they walk in, the door is slammed behind them. The trick-or-treaters slowly make their way through the house. The lights come on, but they are a dull red. A body pops up out of a coffin laying on the counter. Other spooky things begin to happen.  Well, it would be pretty easy to achieve this scary effect with the ACTIVEHOME automated system. I would appreciate your vote. Thanks -- Megan GuerreroVotes so far: 394

4. Entry 2: An ActiveHome on fright night is an active home indeed. Now, let me tell you about its plight the raven said. Mischief was in the air as the moons hue glimmered upon the trees whisking in the wind. For weeks the woman of the house prepared for the night. "I'll get him this Halloween" she said "to herself and all because I have an ActiveHome." She planned and plotted and finally the night was here.  Sound a sleep in his bed he lay snoring away. First he hears a crash. Rolling over he nudges her saying "dear will you go see what that is?" She just grunts. Then he hears an eerie sound which sends shivers down his spine. A low voice softly calls and says "children of the night I come calling in search of your soul." The man's eyes are wide open now as he tries to assess the situation in still somewhat of a sluggish state. Unknown to him his dear has the UltimateREMOTE that goes to their ActiveHome under the covers. Were she is controlling everything that happens on this fright night. She says, "honey what do you think that is?"
"I don't know I think you should go check it out". All of a sudden he hears another sound in the background balbak, balbak. By darn he says it sounds like there is a chicken in our bedroom. "Yea, I know" she whispers. The door then slowly opens with just the slight sound of a few creaks. Early in the day the sweet loveable woman of the house had attached a device to it so, her and her UltimateREMOTE could rule the night. Geebeavers, he said where is my remote. I need my remote. He finds his remote he goes to turn on the light it flickers. Yes, the slick women changed the light bulb while he was sleeping and all the rest she changed to black lights. Now, she presses the button and a shadow appears with her dead grandfather's face. It screams, "You married my little girl, you married my little girl I will get you my pretty" and he bellows a laugh. Of course the saintly woman knows that this is just a program she made and activated with their ActiveHome system. The man jumps out of the bed shaking so, badly you can hear his bones rattling. The curtains then start to flap around. I love this remote she thinks to herself she knows it is only the fan she placed behind the curtains. Yes, her and her ActiveHome rule the night.  Gulping, he gathers all his courage and walks to the curtains. He hears this pop pop pop. Suddenly, something is flying threw the air. From all ends he is being pelted, but from what he does not know. She laughs thinking to herself why does he think I bought all those popcorn poppers. Suddenly he hears deep breathing, screams, footsteps and a haunting music. She knew someday that CD with vampire songs would come in handy, oh yes, I love my ActiveHome. He screams and jumps back in the bed his little white legs flying as fast as they can go. She can take no more she busts up laughing and now he knew. It was his queen and her ActiveHome that ruled the night. He looked at her and said, nevermore, nevermore now give me your remote. Forever more they will be all mine. -- Tracy GriffithVotes so far: 163

5.  Entry 4: ActiveHome would allow me to do everything I want on Halloween! Since my son is now old enough to go trick-or-treating I want to take him, but that means I'm not home to scare the neighbors and give out candy to them. This year I can set up all the ActiveHome components to help me out.  You have to start out scaring them as soon as they come up the sidewalk so I'd have to have a motion sensor to activate a ghost and a dummy falling out of the tree, and of course don't forget the sound effects of screams! Then we can also use ActiveHome to light the sidewalk as the kids walk up (safety is important you know). Once up to the door we can have a voice recording asking to hear their joke or show their trick, of course in a spooky voice, then maybe have a fake arm/hand slide out from a hidden area after a certain amount of time has passed (using the ActiveHome timer) to hand out the treat. Of course, to make sure the kids didn't just stand there and wait for more and more candy to be handed out, after the arm we would set ActiveHome to fling out a really scary monster and lots of loud noise all at once to make the kids scream and run back down the sidewalk! Now - so I don't miss all of this, I think I'll set ActiveHome to start the video camera every time activity is monitored, that way when we get back with my son we can watch the video and see how everyone reacted! Thanks to ActiveHome we can have the perfect Halloween! -- Robyn WrightVotes so far: 114