We know, you’re a procrastinator. You had all weekend to work on a costume, but you were just too busy (or lazy, but maybe that’s just me…). Well, thank your lucky stars, because this morning Megan Nicolay of Generation T has come to save the day!

With the help of former Workman intern and videographer Elan Bird, Megan put together 10 quick and easy Halloween costumes that are clever as can be. Check out the video below for a tutorial. (I’m personally quite fond of the Deviled Egg…) Be sure to visit Generation T’s website or on the Gen T facebook page to ooh and ahh over the clever sketches while you’re pondering which t-shirt will make you the hit of your Halloween party.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/31200019[/vimeo]

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Megan Nicolay, T-shirt revolutionary, is the author of Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt and Generation T: Beyond Fashion.You can find her and many of her fun DIY projects on the web at Generation-T.com, on Facebook at Generation T, and on Twitter @GenerationTee.

So, you love dogs. (We do, too.) You want to make a special treat for your furry best bud–maybe it’s his birthday, or she mastered the “stay” command, or it’s just a Tuesday and you feel like baking something yummy. How does a dog-friendly peanut butter carrot cake sound? Amazing?! Great! Check out the video below, where Chef Josh teaches you how, with a little help from guest sous-chef (and author of My Dog! A Kids’ Guide to Keeping a Happy and Healthy Pet), Michael J. Rosen.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR7_3LVtR5o&list=PL21E9130DE455977E&index=2[/youtube]

Mmmmmmmm. Want the full recipe? Head on over to the “My Dog! Delights” section of the the My Dog! website.

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For even more tips, crafts, recipes, and games, check out the official My Dog! website. And make sure to like the My Dog! Facebook page and follow Michael J. Rosen on Twitter (@fidosopher) to keep up on all the latest My Dog! news.

As the leader of Swiss military intelligence, Albert Bachmann (aka Henry Peel or Black Hand) was regarded as a visionary by a select few and dismissed as paranoid by most. His belief in an imminent Soviet invasion of Switzerland led him to create a secret intelligence service unknown to his own government.  Further debriefing below:

Albert Bachmann, Swiss Spymaster

• After the 1968 Soviet takeover of Czechoslovakia, Bachmann co-wrote the “Civil Defense,” a worst-case scenario guide meant to prepare the Swiss against a possible invasion. 2.6 million copies were printed.

• Appointed to run Swiss intelligence in 1976, he created Project 26, a secret army of 2,000 resistance fighters trained to wage guerrilla warfare against Soviet troops.

• In the event of a Soviet invasion, Bachmann bought Liss Ard, a 200-acre estate near Cork, Ireland, to serve as a refuge and headquarters for an exiled Swiss state government.

For more about the life of this Swiss spymaster, read The Obits: The New York Times Annual 2012, a new annual that collects the best of The New York Times obituaries from the previous year. And check back next week, for another installment of Snippets of the Lives of the Incredibly Awesome.

It’s no secret that we love dogs. Pretty pups, bad doggies, and those that need a little training to bring out their best–by which we mean all of them. And now we’re welcoming a new breed into the mix: My Dog! A Kids’ Guide to Keeping a Happy and Healthy Pet. It’s the ultimate family owner’s manual that teaches everything you need to know about your pet, from choosing a family dog to training, care, feeding, games, and more.

So, what’s the first step? Figuring out what breed might be right for your family. Let’s turn to the expert, author Michael J. Rosen, who breaks it down in a handy little video to help you learn about different breeds for different needs.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th0refxC5E8&list=PL21E9130DE455977E&index=1[/youtube]

Unless you DO plan on asking your dog to herd reindeer or rescue you from a snow drift, any well-trained dog should fit perfectly in your family! Now go out there and adopt the large/tiny/fuzzy/hairless/regal/smush-faced pup you’ve always wanted!

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For even more tips, crafts, recipes, and games, check out the official My Dog! website. And make sure to like the My Dog! Facebook page and follow Michael J. Rosen on Twitter (@fidosopher) to keep up on all the latest My Dog! news.

Ladies and gentlemen, swap your closets: It’s time to trade in your sundresses and sandals for sweaters and socks. The recent arrival of fall weather has inspired some noticeable fashion trends around the office, and I’m not talking about bundling up. In this edition of Workman Trendwatch, Workman office-mates Bridget, Frank, and Megan (and her baby-to-be) model the latest in autumn couture: bright fuchsia!

Whether you want to call it “plum,” “berry,” or even “Bordeaux,” there’s no denying that a warm pinkish-purplish hue can brighten even the dreariest of fall days. So on behalf of all my coworkers, allow me to extend a special thanks to Bridget, Frank, and Megan, for bringing their happy, colorful vibes to work!

Owsley Stanley, left, with Jerry Garcia in 1969

Owsley Stanley, who died this past March, produced what was said to be the finest LSD of the psychedelic ’60s, and was among the first to mass-produce the drug. Mr. Stanley is believed to have doled out at least a million doses of LSD in his heyday, possibly five million, to clients that included the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Ken Kesey. Here are some of his other accomplishments:

• Mr. Stanely appears in the Encyclopedia Britannica article on LSD under the index term “Augustus Owsley Stanley III (American chemist).” The Oxford English Dictionary contains an entry for the noun “Owsley” as “an extremely potent, high-quality type of LSD.”

• The novelist Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters used his wares during the Acid Tests, later recorded in Tom Wolfe’s 1968 book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

• The Grateful Dead’s former financial backer, LCD supplier, and sound engineer, Mr. Stanley was immortalized in the song “Alice D. Millionaire.”

• Along with artist Bob Thomas, he designed The Grateful Dead’s skull-and-lightning-bolt logo.

For more on Mr. Stanley (at one point, he was a professional ballet dancer) and other amazing lives, buy The Obits: The New York Times Annual 2012, a new annual that collects the best of The New York Times obituaries from the previous year. And check back next week, for another installment of Snippets of the Lives of the Incredibly Awesome. Until then, enjoy The Dead song inspired by the “Artisan of Acid” himself “Alice D. Millionaire”:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQybXHI2W-A[/youtube]

What fan of Judy Garland’s hasn’t once coveted something sparkly and ruby red?

If you’re in the market for an authentic icon of Oz paraphernalia, you can take a chance at your very own pair of Dorothy’s slippers when this rare gem goes to auction on December 15.

According to the article, the slippers up for grabs are “one of only four pairs of screen-used ruby slippers known to have survived since the making of the 1939 film. One pair is at the Smithsonian, one is in private hands and a third pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn.” My stars!

But if you’re looking for something with all the sparkle but sans the hefty price tag, may we present to you the glittery and glam Wizard of Oz: A Scanimation Book, by Rufus Butler Seder, which debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list at #5 (on 10/9; it will make its appearance for the second week as #9 on the 10/16 list)! Check out the video below to see the collector’s item in action.

And now, the test: Can you click your heels and move the pages of this book at the same time?

National Coming Out Day is observed around the world every year on October 11 (except in the UK, where it’s October 12). The holiday is a special day for the recognition and discussion of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) life and rights. Many people also embrace the day as an occasion to “come out,” or open up about their sexual orientation or gender identity, to their friends and family.

Coming Out Day is a happy occasion, but it can also bring up some questions—not just about coming out, but about LGBT issues in general. Fortunately we’re able to turn to resident gay manners expert Steven Petrow, author of Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners, for some tips on navigating the ever-changing waters of LGBT life.

Below is a primer on coming out from the Coming Out chapter in Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners (also available as a short e-book, for sale through many online retailers). Arm yourself with these tips from a pro, plus confidence and a positive attitude—and make this the best National Coming Out Day yet.

Taking the First Steps
Coming out is not about “flaunting” anything; it’s about telling people something very important about who you are. For every social butterfly who comes out on Facebook by updating her status and every guy who has an in-depth coming-out conversation with his parents while wearing a T-shirt that says “I’m queer! Get used to it,” there are plenty of people who prefer to make their sexual orientation or gender identity known in quieter, less assertive ways. No approach is better than another; in fact, how you come out is among the most personal decisions you’ll ever make, and you may actually deploy different strategies at different times in your life or with different people.

Whom to Tell First
Most people come out first to a close friend, often someone who is LGBT. Whether you spill the beans in one huge confessional or just mention your sexuality or gender identity in passing, treat whomever you tell with the same respect and consideration you’ll be expecting in return. It’s important that you trust this confidante, whether he’s your best friend, a teacher, a work colleague, a professional counselor, or someone in your family. A recent poll on my website showed that nearly half of the respondents first came out to an LGBT friend, while a quarter started with a straight friend. Only one in eight told a family member first.

These four steps can be helpful:

1. Make a plan: Ask your confidante to go out for coffee, take a quiet walk, or meet somewhere you will have privacy and feel comfortable. If there’s any chance at all that the person might have a hostile or violent response, take that into consideration when you choose where to go. Explain beforehand that you have something personal you’d like to discuss, but don’t make it sound too serious. Coming out is not like revealing a serious disease, an intractable problem, or a crime (by the way, you can “acknowledge” your homosexuality but don’t “admit” it—”admitting” is something you do when a wrongdoing is involved, and there’s nothing at all the matter with your acknowledging who you really are).
2. Consider all possible reactions: How your friend responds isn’t really up to you—although how you set up the conversation can help increase the likelihood of a favorable reaction. Usually, respect and trust beget respect and trust. Expect the best: acceptance, a warm embrace, words of support, as well as love and continued friendship. But prepare for the worst: rejection, anger, even the loss of the relationship. You may be equally surprised to find a friend had no idea, or to hear him say, “Oh really? That’s no big deal,” or, “I knew it all along.” Each time you come out, you will have a better sense of how to prepare for the next time.
3. Do your research: Although it’s not your job to educate people about what being gay or transgender means, some people you come out to may have questions, and knowing the answers can help you feel more confident about how you respond. “No, it’s not a choice,” you might need to say if asked why you are gay. “When did you choose to be straight” if further pressed, or, “Mom, I do hope you’ll be a grandparent one day. There are lots of ways for LGBT people to have kids.” If you can’t find what you’re looking for online, contact a group like PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) or GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network). Hold on to the phone number or URL in case you end up wanting to share it with the person you’re coming out to. (For more information, visit www.gaymanners.com.)
4. Keep it simple: You might start off with, “We’ve known each other for a very long time and there’s something personal about me that I’d like you to know.” Or, “I want you to know that I’m a lesbian.” Or even just, “I have a girlfriend.” No need to spill your guts or make a tortured declaration. The more confident and together you sound, the more likely you’ll get a positive response.

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Keep up with Steven online! Visit GayManners.com to read the latest news and ask Steven your own LGBT etiquette questions. You can follow him on Twitter at @gaymanners, where all week he’s tweeting tips for coming out, what to say when a friend comes out to you, and more.

Don’t let the Palladian mansion, Eton education, or fondness for tweed (and stuffed animal ducks) fool you — Michael William Coplestone Dillon Onslow, the seventh Earl of Onslow, or Lord Onslow for short, was not your typical English Lord. Best known for publicly advocating purging hereditary peers from the British House of Lords, Lord Onslow also had the following under his blue blooded belt:

• His ancestors were cattle thieves who acquired titles through shady political dealings during and after the Renaissance.

• Lord Onslow continued a family tradition of parliamentary service begun in the 16th century. He was also the host of a BBC radio show for hip-hop and thrash metal.

• He once left an Ancient Roman stone testicle under his wife’s pillow as a present.

• While working as an underwriter for Lloyd’s of London, Lord Onslow once headed to work on the London Underground with his pet monkey. It escaped and had to be tracked down by the police.

For more on Lord Onslow’s remarkably unconventional life pick up The Obits: The New York Times Annual 2012,  a new annual that collects the best of The New York Times obituaries from the previous year. And check back next week, for another installment of Snippets of the Lives of the Incredibly Awesome.

Parents. Sometimes they nag, sometimes they scold, but they’re always there to make you laugh. Especially when they’re texting. When Parents Text: So Much Said . . . So Little Understood,  a collection of insanely funny texts between parents and kids, captures the humor (intentional and otherwise) that older generations impart to us through their electronic devices.

(Ahem, MOM.)

Whether you are guilty of sending parental texts or of turning in your parents to the texting authorities, you’re certain to relate to (and chortle at) little gems like these. So, for a serious dose of textual hilarity in the news, be sure to check out the Huffington Post slideshow, complete with gems like “Lunch Maggots”…as seen here:

And remember, someday you might be that parent trying to cope with the trials of a newfangled, completely foreign technology... Talk about scary!