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Oddly worded maybe, but not tacky. I'd see it as similar to being invited to join a friend for a party at a restaurant, and being told that meals cost between $15-25 and maybe given a menu to look at beforehand. Okay, so here you don't know exactly what your money's covering, but you can always ask. Just because someone takes it upon themselves to organise a party doesn't mean they should pay for the whole thing.

I'd probably think it was a bit weird if it were a wedding - but then again, my mother went to a wedding where the invitation specified that since the couple had lived together for a long time and had their house set up already they would just appreciate people donating x amount of money (bank account details provided) to cover the meal, and my mother thought it was an excellent idea, much more civil and reasonable than registering for expensive presents.

Each to their own...

Ohhh, you mustmustmustmustmust try salmiakki! Turkish peppers are the best, and come in come in lollipop format as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrkisk_Peber

I'm a furriner. What exactly is candy corn?

The best bit of advice I got was from a real live chocolatier: don't even try to use the melting-chocolate-over-simmering-water- method, because it's just too fiddly and even steam can affect the chocolate. Microwave (on medium power) instead. There's no way moisture can get into the chocolate that way, and as long as you melt the chocolate only half way and let the rest of it melt in its own heat you're on to a winner.

Yep, definitely creepy and strange, but I pick animated shimmying zebras in ads over real shimmying women in music videos any day.

Try to get your hands on Finnish salmiakki - salty licorice, essentially (in Australia it's sold as 'Dutch licorice'). There are all sorts of varieties, all of an acquired taste. My personal favourites are witch sticks, apothecary salmiakki and Turkish Peppers - although I'd love to hear your take on any variety!

Things that are pink.