Okay, we're collecting superstitions here to go into the "Superstition Gauntlet" of the 3rd annual Heretic's Barbecue.

The idea of the gauntlet is to have an area roped off with yellow "Caution" tape. There will be a definite entrance and exit to this area.

Inside the area will be several stations (as many as we can think of!). Each station will have a place where another piece of bad luck can be invoked. Each station will have an explanation of what that bad luck is, and how to invoke it.

At the end of the gauntlet will be a station to score how you did. Did you skip any? Did you do them all?

We are advertising it as a place where a person can accrue "70 years of bad luck in 7 minutes or less!" - but this is just a gimmick - the actual length of bad luck isn't important. (Actually, some of the items that are planned would, if they worked, generate an "eternity" of "bad luck"!)

Here is what we need:

Browse the web, dig through your memories, and come up with items that are supposedly "bad luck". And then add them here!



Here is what we have so far...

1) Waiver of the participant's right to sue. Must be signed before being allowed to enter. This is a simple, half-page waiver with somewhat scary-sounding (but hopefully legally binding!) text that states, in effect, that anyone going through this gauntlet waives his or her right to sue CVAAS or anyone connected with CVAAS for "Bad Luck" that happens after participating in the gauntlet. This waiver should hold in perpetuity, for the participate, for his kids, or for anyone who might experience bad luck through the participant. 60 years ago, when you stub your big toe - it's not CVAAS's fault!

In addition, this paper should instruct the participant to NOT attempt to counter any bad luck while inside the gauntlet area. No knocking on wood, no tossing spilled salt over your left shoulder, no warding of any evil eye, no sign of the Cross or prayer... We don't want you to "break" our attraction by potentially nullifying it!


2) Ladder and Upside-down Horseshoe: The entrance to the gauntlet will be under a large free standing ladder. There will be an upside-down horse shoe attached to the ladder.

3) Break a mirror: One station will have small (cheap) mirrors that can be broken. To prevent the purely natural danger of broken glass, a safe method of breaking the glass will be devised.

4) Spilled salt: Spill the salt.

5) Black Cat: No real cats will be harmed. A stuffed black cat will be transported by remote control car back and forth across the gauntlet path. Perhaps it will have a little cat hair in or on it to represent a black cat.

6) Yawn or sneeze: participants will be encouraged to yawn or sneeze at a table. (Perhaps some spicy powdered seasoning will be provided for the sneeze. And a box of Kleenex) Yawning without covering your mouth invites invasion by demons or devils. Sneezing without saying "Bless You" invites your soul to escape your body and other spirits to enter.

7) Step on a crack: I have some concrete paving blocks we can place for this. A run that is 3 blocks wide by 5 blocks long will be enough. (3 feet by 5 feet)

8) A penny on the ground (head side up) We point it out to them, and then tell them to leave it there!

9) Bird table: Cawing crows foretell death. There are plenty of crows in the Fresno Area - in any given day you are likely to hear them, if you think of them! We will point out this superstition and say the next crow they hear is foretelling death.

Also on this table: a fake owl. Real owls are hard to keep at the table. A hooting fake owl would be best.

Also on the table (if we can find them) a stack of peacock feathers. Participants are to take the feather home with them. Peacock feathers in the house are supposed to be bad luck.

10) Evil books? Perhaps a copy of the Necronomicon (although anyone who knows anything about HP Lovecraft would know this is fake) Some sort of "evil" religious text? Satan's bible?

11) An evil hex, curse, charm, or voodoo. A bad-luck spell. A visit to an occult store in Los Angeles or San Francisco should give us this.


Okay, that's all I have right now. Can anyone else come up with more? Be creative! I'd love to get 20 to 40 items!

I forgot these items we've already discussed:

12) Deny the holy spirit - the "unforgivable" sin. A simple statement should do it.

13) Sell your soul. We'll have a bowl of hard candy for "payment". A written contract, on aged paper, will have the legalese for this. Technically, it is supposed to be signed in blood, but I worry about blood-borne pathogens! A black quill pen dipped in red ink (called blood) would be great... if anyone knew how to write with a quill pen! (It's a little difficult if you're used to ball point.)

14) Misfortune cookies: These are usually expensive. Can we get them cheaply? Say for $0.20 each or cheaper?