It’s good to be back in Mexico! I really missed this place. I arrived into Mexico City from Lima yesterday and came straight down to Oaxaca to met a blogger friend of mine for Day of the Dead. Last year I was in Morelia for Day of the Dead so I’m looking forward to experiencing this incredible tradition in Oaxaca. II actually haven’t been in the United States during the last few Halloweens although being in Mexico during this time certainly makes up for it.

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. When I was younger, we went trick-or-treating and brought home enough candy in a pillowcase to last us a few months. As I got older, I enjoyed handing out candy at the door. Usually I gave out two or three pieces of candy to everyone and sometimes a little extra if the person was wearing a good costume.

Since it’s Halloween I think it is the perfect time to open the discussion in regards to a variety of topics about Halloween. How much candy do you give to each person on Halloween? What age is too old for trick-or-treating? What’s the wrong thing you ever received in your bag on Halloween? (One time I received an apple, another time a toothbrush). What are your plans for Halloween tonight? Best Halloween/Horror movies? Let’s share it all in the comments section! Happy Halloween!

Spooky Flakes

Nebraska Basketball Exhibition vs Doane: The Start of the Hoiberg Era | Basketball | Corn Nation

Beginning with the starting lineup, the Huskers put out Cam Mack, Dachon Burke Jr, Jervay Green, Haanif Cheatum, and Yvan Ouedraogo. Some thought maybe Kavas would replace Cheatum or Yvan, but this was the expected lineup.

Women’s Nebrasketball: Unranked in Preseason AP Poll | Basketball | Corn Nation

The Big Ten got lots of love in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll, but none for our Husker women. Five Big Ten teams are ranked, and two more received votes. Maryland leads the conference coming in at 4th place.

Adrian Martinez ‘Ready to Go’ If Given Chance Against Purdue | Football | Hail Varsity

Quarterback Adrian Martinez said on Tuesday that he feels “physically ready” and that he expects to go for Nebraska against Purdue. While offensive coordinator Troy Walters wasn’t yet ready to say if that would be the case, he did say the sophomore quarterback would provide a spark if available.

Ryan Held Says Running Backs Room Becoming More Defined | Football | Omaha-World Herald

The position group overall has taken its lumps in recent weeks. Maurice Washington is separated from the team. Miles Jones has indicated to coaches he wants to transfer. Held — who named Robinson, walk-on Brody Belt and Wyatt Mazour as other viable rusher/receiver possibilities at the “Duck-R” spot.

Mailbag: Which Position is Crucial for Nebraska’s Next Recruiting Cycle | Sports | Hail Varsity

Hail Varsity staff members Mike Babcock, Jacob Padilla, Greg Smith, Erin Sorensen and Brandon Vogel tackle your questions about the latest news in Husker Nation.

Huskers Release 2020 Baseball Schedule | Baseball | Huskers.com

“We have a challenging schedule that will give our student-athletes the opportunity to compete against some of the top teams in the nation at some of the top venues that college baseball has to offer,” Bolt said.

Final Comeback As Nationals Win World Series Title | Baseball | Associated Press

What a comeback for the Washington Nationals. The team that was 12 games under .500 before the end of May is now the World Series champion.

Nationals Win 2019 World Series | Baseball | MLB.com

The late-May misfits and National League Wild Card Game winners roundly expected to be a quick October exit had, with one swing of the bat from the 36-year-old Kendrick, taken the lead they would not relinquish in a 6-2 victory in Game 7 of the World Series against the Astros on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. They claimed their franchise’s first crown and completed a clean sweep for the road clubs in a first-of-its-kind Fall Classic.

Nationals Win First World Series, Stun Astros 6-2 in Game 7 | Baseball | Washington Post

Suddenly, it was all over, and the blue-jerseyed visitors were spilling and screaming out of every corner of Minute Maid Park — from their dugout along the third base line, the bullpen in left field, the expanse of outfield, all four corners of the diamond — and converging upon the joyous pile of humanity forming near the center

The Inspiring True Story of a 54-Hour Swim Across the English Channel | Swimming | ESPN

Thomas is not new to ultra-swimming. She knows it involves staying awake and afloat for several days. In August 2017, she became the first person to finish a current-neutral 100-mile swim in Lake Champlain. That was also the longest unassisted open-water swim.

Halloween Treats

43 Most Haunted Places in the World | Travel | Conde Nast Traveler

Some of the spookiest locations are still worth your time, whether for their beautiful architecture, jaw-dropping locations, or fascinating histories. Here, the 43 most haunted places in the world you’ll want to visit any day of the year—not just on October 31.

30 Haunted Places to Visit Around the World | Travel | Travel & Leisure

Ghosts, strange sounds and lights, and even UFO experiences have been reported at these famous places in the U.K., France, Germany, Romania and as far as Australia, the Phillipines and China. Here are some of the places you can go to give yourself a fright, just in time for Halloween.

37 Haunted Hotels Around the World | Travel | Conde Nast Traveler

Whether they’re castles in Ireland or top resorts from our Readers’ Choice Awards, check out these hotels that all have a little... extra spirit.

13 Real Haunted Houses From All Over the United States | Travel | Travel & Leisure

If you’re one of those travelers who longs for adventures filled with ghost stories and goosebumps, have we got an itinerary for you. Anyone looking for a chilling vacation destination should consider adding one of these haunted houses to their travel plans.

6 Haunted European Castles You Can Actually Sleep In | Travel | Travel & Leisure

Their list includes beautiful French chateaus, Italian Renaissance palaces, and impressive Irish towers.

8 Most Haunted Cities in America | Travel | Conde Nast Traveler

Looking for more than just the paranormal? The spots on this list also offer enough buzzy restaurants, shopping experiences, and world-class hotels to warrant repeat visits.

Most Haunted Places in South America | Travel | Travel & Leisure

From seemingly cursed winding roads, to hotels haunted by former employees who died but never left, there’s plenty of places to channel your inner ghost hunter. These are some of the most haunted places across South America.

Inside Colorado’s Stanley Hotel, the Inspiration for ‘The Shining’ | Entertainment | The Daily Beast

All of the hotels that inspired the iconic spots in the book and movie are still functioning and open for your haunted stay.

Hidden Haunts: Halloween Destinations in Europe to Escape the Crowds | Travel | Lonely Planet

From sprawling feverish forests to pagan burial grounds and spectacular costumed parades, you can find local calendars that are full of eerie events to lift your spirits and send shivers down your spine. If you have a curious bone in your body you’ll dare to visit these chilling landscapes for a more unique sense of dread this Halloween.

8 Spooky Things to Ask Your Amazon Echo to do on Halloween | Technology | CNET

Not only can you conjure up Halloween music and creepy sounds with Alexa, but you can also set up a haunted house-themed light setting.

The Italian Region That Doesn’t Exist | Travel | BBC

Molise, a small region in south-eastern Italy, is famous for one thing: it doesn’t exist....So why do Italians like to pretend that Molise doesn’t exist?

The ‘Joker’ Steps Have Instagrammers Heading to the Bronx | Entertainment | Lonely Planet

Many try to recreate the memorable moves Joaquin Phoenix’s character Arthur Fleck makes on his route down the 131 stairs, while others either try to put their unique spin on the scene or simply stand and snap a selfie. If you’d like to see some of the latest takes, simply search Instagram for #jokerstairs.

Venice Tourist ‘Kidnaps’ Currency Exchange Worker Over Poor Rates | Travel | The Guardian

The 46-year-old, believed to be from Israel, tried to cancel the exchange at the agency close to Rialto Bridge before allegedly closing the shutters and preventing the woman from leaving her booth. The woman’s ordeal lasted about half an hour. She managed to call the police who arrested the customer.

This Japanese Airline Is Testing Self-Driving Wheelchairs | Travel | Lonely Planet

With robotic elements and tracking capabilities, the wheelchairs are designed to detect and avoid obstacles, and from 9 October through 28 November, passengers themselves will trial the new technology before its anticipated 2020 roll out.

One of the Most Well-Preserved Villas of Ancient Rome Reopens After 35 Years | Travel | Lonely Planet

Located in the sprawling, open-air archaeological site of Herculaneum, beside Pompeii, the house underwent years of painstaking conservation as archaeologists worked to secure the building’s structure and preserve the ancient artworks and artifacts inside.

Nirmal Purja Summits World’s 14 Highest Peaks in 6 Months, Smashing Record | Mountaineering | NPR

“I am overwhelmed and incredibly proud to have completed this final summit and achieved my goal of climbing the world’s 14 tallest mountains in record time,” Purja said in a statement. “It has been a gruelling but humbling six months, and I hope to have proven that anything is possible with some determination, self-belief and positivity.”

How Victorians Turned Mere Beasts Into Man’s Best Friends | Animals | The Guardian

Plucky, steadfast, loyal – the rise of pampered pets began in the 19th century when artists and writers saw their many benefits.

Elephants Under Attack Have An Unlikely Ally: Artifical Intelligence | Animals | NPR

In the seven years between 2007 and 2014, Africa’s savanna elephant population decreased by about a third and was on track to disappear completely from some African countries in as few as 10 years. To reverse that trend, researchers landed on a technology that is rewriting the rules for everything from our household appliances to our cars: artificial intelligence.

Why Do People Hate Vegans? | Lirestyle | The Guardian

It has left the beige-tinted margins and become social media’s most glamorous look. But why does veganism still provoke so much anger?