Happy Halloween, Everyone!

Hope your night is filled with spooky fun!





Happy Halloween!

Zombie Survival Resources That are Way Better then Anything I've Posted All Month

It is the end of Zombie Survival Month! I hope you enjoyed it, and are thinking more about what you need to to do when zombies attack.

If you want more information about zombie survival, check out these links:

No Zombies (this one is my favorite!)

Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse (zombie survival from the CDC)

Zombie Survival and Defense WIKI

Three Articles from CRACKED: Zombie Survival Guide, What's Your Zombie Contingency Plan? 11 Practical Strategies & 5 Popular Zombie Survival Tactics (That Will Get You Killed).

Top Reasons Why I'm Glad the Zombie Apocalypse Hasn't Started Yet

Other then the obvious downsides of a Zombie Apocalypse (loss of safety, convenience and the possibility of being eaten alive, etc), there are several reasons I’m glad that the hoards of undead are not yet roaming the streets in search of a tasty snack.

I am really out of shape

Could I out run a zombie? Probably. Could I out run a hoard of zombies? Maybe. Could I do either for any length of time? Not a chance.

I don’t know anything about guns

I’ve shot a gun on occasion. But I don’t know how to aim one, load one or when the safety is off. I’d just feel a lot safer if I knew these things.

Survival tactics? Um....

I think I cold survive in the woods over night. In the summer. Maybe longer if you gave me a cooler full of food. Or some non-perishables and a can opener. Not much longer, though.

I don’t have a disaster kit, let alone a zombie survival kit

Which is pretty dumb, since I live in a place where we have ridiculous snow storms and hurricanes. And the threat of zombies is always high!

Are you glad that there are no zombies yet? Or are you ready to go out and kick some walking dead ass?

ZOMBIES

1. Resident Evil..., 2. Don't Open Your Eyes When You Sneeze...., 3. Dirty Pretty Things., 4. Average Torontonian..., 5. Zombie Walk strikes SP!, 6. 104/365 - Zombie Prom Queen, 7. I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so, 8. Attack., 9. Tough Day..., 10. Don't Smoke Kids..., 11. Zombie Pooch..., 12. Bon Appetit!, 13. Raised by Sin, 14. Look Both Ways..., 15. Zombie walk

Music Monday: Walk Like A Zombie

Happy Halloween! Lets start the day off right with a little zombie tune and some Nightmare Before Christmas visuals!

Zombie Survival Guide Excerpts

Zombies in Plain English

The only issue with this video is that zombies eat flesh, not jut brains. Otherwise this is an excellent and informative video. You should share it with loved ones. It's the best way to show them that you care (if they are eaten by zombies).

Happy Friday! What'cha Drinking?

Happy Friday! Is it time for a drink yet? Maybe you want to make something with a cool and creepy name on this Friday before Halloween. Well, how about The Laughing Zombie? We all know the dead don't laugh, but that doesn't stop this drink from being absolutely awe inspiring!

How to Make the Drink:

Ingredients:

2 oz Gold Rum
0.5 oz Dark Rum
1 oz Lime Juice
0.5 oz Passion Fruit Juice
1 oz Grenadine
2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake. Strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass.

Top with pineapple foam and garnish with a sprig of mint.

How to Make Pineapple Foam

Ingredients:

2 Egg Whites
1 oz White Rum
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
0.5 tsp Absinthe 

Shake all ingredients - no ice! - and then add to a pre-chilled iSi creamer. Charge the creamer, shake and chill in the fridge until ready to use. Makes enough for several drinks.

IMPORTANT INFO!!! Photograph and recipe both came from 12 Bottle Bar. You should go check out the site, because it rocks.
 

Zombie Survival Quick Tip # 5

Don’t get sentimental

Image Link

In anyway. First, possessions are just possessions. If you need to leave your home, don’t over burden yourself with objects that are not useful, but have sentimental value. Especially things that are heavy, like photo albums. If you’re not in immediate danger, then by all means, grab that one photo, but leave the rest of the album behind. Second, when your mom/best friend/husband gets bitten and turns...Well, you know what you need to do.

Don’t get sentimental. The zombies wont. 

Physical Activities for Zombie Survival Training

Image Link

Physical activity is always a good idea. It’s great for health, happiness and zombie survival. If you are thinking about taking up a new sport or activity, may I suggest one that would also improve your chances of surviving the zombie apocalypse?




The following activities, in no particular order, are all great for health and build skills that will aid you in surviving the zombie uprising:

• Baseball
• Soccer
• Boxing
• Any Martial Art
• Tennis
• Swimming
• Canoeing/Kayaking/other boating
• Paintball
• Motocross
• Parkour or Free Running
• Capture the Flag
• Jogging/Running
• Crossfit
• Fencing
• Cycling
• Mountaineering
• Rock Climbing
• Skateboarding
• Roller Derby

*please consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen. We wouldn’t want you dying before the zombies even get here.

Zombie Survival Quick Tip #4

Image Link

Know Your Neighbourhood

Knowing your neighbourhood will save your life if you need to evacuate. Know all possible escape routes by car, bicycle and foot. Learn the shortcuts and know the obstacles. The more you know, the better your chance of escape. The best way to do this? Get out of your house and check it out. I like to just leave my house on foot and go which ever ways my feet take me. I take note of the yards I could cut through if trespassing wasn’t an issue, as well as buildings that might make good safe houses. This way I will be prepared when the uprising comes. Will you?

Music Monday: Zombie (x2)

Since the first Music Monday post was a little strange and may not be everyone's cup of tea, here are two other songs, both with the same title: Zombie by Pretty Reckless and Zombie by Natalia Kills. (I like the second one the best. The lyrics are pretty incredible)





"Do you want me for my body? Do you want me for my brain?"

Music Monday: Hip Albatross

Gorillaz always has been a little weird and wonderful. This song is a little weirder than most. It's not for everyone. My dog hates it. Seriously, she got up and left the room as soon as I put it on. I don't generally trust her taste in music, though. It is about zombies, fitting with my theme for the month.

Zombies Doing Yoga

This is sort of an ad for a book I haven't read (but want to!). It made me giggle and it's awesome, so you should watch it too.

What to Do in a Zombie Attack

When it comes to surviving a zombie attack, you can never have too much advice on the subject. Check out this charming vintage video. If you ignore the rampant propaganda, there is some sound advice.



Although this is an excellent video, there are a couple of myths I would like to dispel. First, zombies do not possess increased strength. However, their inability to feel pain sometimes makes it seem that way. Us living humans will stop if something hurts, but a zombie will just keep pushing until they either complete their task or loose an appendage. Second, zombies can work a doorknob! The video does suggest closing and locking the door, which is excellent advice on it's own, so I don't know why it would throw this myth on after that statement. Why bother locking the door if they can't work the knob? 

Remember to take all zombie advice with a grain of salt. That also includes all advice from yours truly, of course! Use your still functioning brain to gather as much advice and insight into surviving as you can, and make your own decisions on the best defense for you and your family.

Enjoy your weekend, and stay vigilant! 

Happy Friday! How about a Shot?

I just re-watched Resident Evil on Netflix the other night. How awesome was that movie? (The correct answer is "Totally Awesome!"by the way)

The shots by The Drunken Moogle are so perfect. There is no mistaking what they are supposed to look like.

T-Virus (Resident Evil Shot)                       T-Virus Antidote (Resident Evil Shot)

           Ingredients:                                                  Ingredients:

   3/4 shot Silver Rum                                        3/4 shot Silver Rum
              1/4 shot Everclear                                         1/4 shot Watermelon Vodka
1 Blue Twizzler                                              1 Green Twizzler 

The directions: 

Wind a Twizzler around a tall double shot glass.  It should stick to the sides of the glass.  Pour in the silver rum and top with either the watermelon vodka or Everclear, depending on the color Twizzler.  Drink, then fish the twizzler out of the glass with your finger. Eat the twillzer. Revel in your own awesomeness for serving such a cool drink to friends and loved ones.

IMPORTANT LINKS! Drink recipe and photography are both courtesy of The Drunken Moogle. Click here for the T-Virus and Click Here for the Antidote.

Zombie Survival Quick Tip #3

Running is better then Fighting

Image Link

Never fight a zombie that you don’t have to. Every close combat battle you engage in is a chance that you will be infected, no matter how skilled you are. Run when you can, and live to fight another day.

Skills you should learn for Zombie Survival

Basic Wilderness Survival skills 

You might want to consider taking a wilderness survival course. Even if you live in an urban environment, these skills will come in handy during the zombie apocalypse. Specific skills include how to build a fire, How to build a shelter, How to Snare Dinner in the Wild (also a good skill to capture and exterminate Zombies) and How to Avoid Hypothermia. Knowing how to kill zombies is useless if you die of starvation or exposure. 

First Aid and Medical skills

It will be a crazy time and people will get hurt. I’m not talking about treating zombie bites here. Those people are doomed. It’s all of the other wounds and injuries that will need treating, so know how to treat them! Everything from cuts, sprains and broken bones, to bullet wounds and third degree burns. Learn how to dress a wound, make a splint, stop bleeding and how to treat a burn. Learn CPR. Once you’ve mastered all of that, you may want to learn some more advanced procedures. Because if you group up with other survivors, it doesn’t matter how much of an asshole you are*, if you can remove a bullet and suture the wound, they will keep you around and keep you safe.

Combat and Self-Defense

There are two types of people you will need to defend yourself from: Dead ones that want to eat you and alive ones that want to take things from you. Or are possibly just jerks. Either way, you’ll want to know how to defend yourself from both types. Consider taking some self-defense classes, or perhaps a martial art or two. Learn how to handle a firearm without blowing off an appendage.

Other skills you may want to consider

Construction - For building a shelter and barricading doors and windows. It would suck to die in your sleep because of a poorly barricaded door.

Welding - Welding can be also be used in barricading and shelter construction. It can also be used to create zombie traps and other such booby-traps. 

Electrical repair - If your group has a means of distance communication (walkie talkies, cb radio, etc), you will want someone around who can fix it if it breaks. You can’t just go out an buy new ones, you know.

Sewing - Again, you can’t just go out and buy new clothes every time something gets worn or rips. There will probably lots to be looted and scavenged in early days, but that wont last forever.


Did I miss anything? What skills do you think will be most important for surviving the zombie apocalypse?

Image Link

*Don’t be an asshole. (This is a good life rule in general)

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a mash-up Novel, where Seth Grahame-Smith adds Zombies to Jane Austin’s classic work. Jane Austin is credited as the co-author. 

Having never read the original Pride and Prejudice, nor seen any of the movies, I don’t know exactly how closely the plot follows the original(amended: I watched the movie version with Kira Knightly after the writing of this review. The story line is remarkably similar). The book transports us back to Regency-Era England. Except that there are zombies. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters, who are all trained zombie hunters. Also, their mother  wants to marry them off, hopefully to rich men.

If you read the reviews, it seems you’re either going to love it or hate it, and there is very little in between. I happen to one of the few in between people.

I really enjoyed this book. On a scale of Horrifically Awful to Super Awesome, I would give it a Pretty Great. Because I don’t read a lot of classic literature, I found it a little hard to get into at the beginning (but the following scathing remark from Mr. Darcy helped quite a bit: "Miss Bingley, the groans of a hundred unmentionables would be more pleasing to my ears than one more word from your mouth. Were you otherwise not so agreeable, I should be forced to remove your tongue with my saber."). As I got into the flow of things, however, I really got into it. I’m not going to go as far as to say it’s the best thing I’ve read ever, or even the best thing I’ve read recently, but it was Pretty Great. It seems most of the people who hated it had really high expectations going in, and they were not met. So, start off assuming it will be just not terrible, and you probably will like it. That’s my prediction, anyway. If you like zombies, classic literature, and fun books, you probably wont hate this book.

Music Monday: Get Scared

This song isn't about Zombies, but the video is very zombie-filled. I liked the song well enough, so here you go.

Get ready: The Walking Dead Season 2

Tonight is the night.

Oh Hell Yes.



Will you be watching?

How to Make a Flaming Zombie

And no, it's not by lighting a zombie on fire.



Happy Friday!

Book Review: I Zombie I

I Zombie I is written by Jack Wallen and you can get the e-book version for free from the kindle store. That’s how I got my hands on it. As a budding zombie enthusiast with little extra money, I was all over downloading this book. Plus, it had an average customer rating of four stars, so how bad could it be?

Basically it’s about this guy, Jacob. He’s a journalist, and one day he wakes up to the zombie apocalypse. So he does what journalists do: He documents it. Oh, also he is slowly becoming a zombie.

If I was to rate this book on a scale from Horrifyingly Awful and Super Awesome, I would rate it Not Bad. If you're keeping score, that would make it fall directly in between Bad and Ok. While reading it, I never once wanted to gouge my eyes out or wished the the Zombies would eat all of the characters that were not already zombies. I did, however, wish that the book would just end already at just past the half way point.
 
At some points the dialogue (even the main character’s inner dialogue) just seemed a little forced. Especially the romantic parts. Those were really eye roll worthy. Otherwise, it was...not bad. The story was good, the characters were believable, the zombies were zombies. It was a not bad, easy read. I finished it in just over a day, and then I got to move on to a new book. I don’t regret reading it, so I guess if you are out of things to read and you like zombies, you should read it too. 

Zombie Survival Quick Tip #2

Never Light a Zombie on Fire

Image Link

There is nothing worse the a flaming zombie.

It might seem like a good idea. Flamethrowers look like a lot of fun and when else would you ever get to play with one? Also, you have to destroy the head, and fire destroys everything. Win-Win, right? No, ya dummy.

Do you know why burning alive would suck? Because it would hurt like hell, it would take a long time and then you'd be dead. Except zombies don't feel pain because they are already dead. So basically it's just going to take a long time. And do you think that flaming pile of rotting flesh (which I can't imagine will be smelling like bacon, by the way) is just going to hangout and burn? Again, No. It's going to be wandering around, catching things on fire. Like you know, your hideout or your children.

So just don't. Alright?

Happy Thanksgiving

This video is weird, and makes no sense. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving!

How to Make a Zombie

...cocktail. Obviously. Happy Friday, everyone!

Zombie Survival Kit: Getting prepared

So, you're now thinking about the coming Zombie Apocalypse. Good. Remain vigilant, or whatever. You should now be thinking about putting together a Zombie Survival kit.

Image Link

Now, I'm going to tell you something about me. I don't even have a stocked first aid kit, let alone a emergency preparedness kit. In fact, the other day I need a band-aid, and I didn't have any. I used a piece of gauze and scotch tape. Because that's how I roll. So this research I'm doing is as much for me as it is for you.

Lets talk very basic emergency kit and work our way up to our Holy-crap-it's-Zombie-time kit (What? What do you call your kit?).

The easiest way to start your Zombie Survival kit is to just go buy a ready made one. Look, here's some from Amazon:




Sure, you could probably just go buy all of this stuff for much cheaper, but it would more more time consuming and wouldn't come in a convenient package (some of them portable! very important for when you need to leave before the Zombies overrun your home). If you want to put it together yourself, you will need the following things at least: Water (and/or water purification tablets), Food (non-perishable!), Manual can opener (for your non-perishables), Crank flashlight (It would suck to be eaten by Zombies because you're out looting for batteries), crank radio, Extra keys, for house and car, a first aid kit, Cash in small bill and Special needs items - medications, baby formula and diapers, and equipment for people with disabilities.

Next, you'll want to add some or all of the following:

• Change of clothing and footwear for each person
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Pet food and pet medication
• Garbage bags and twist ties
• Multi-tool or basic tools (hammer, wrench, screwdriver, etc.)
• Duct tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Scissors or pocket knife
• Whistle
• Hand sanitizer
• Personal hygiene items
• Important family documents (copies of birth and marriage certificates, passports, licenses, wills, land deeds and insurance) 

Now you are ready for all disasters that are not zombies. Well, I guess you're prepared for the beginning part of the zombie uprising, assuming you've fortified your home. Or live in a fortress. Or a house on stilts. You could hunker down and wait out the initial panic. Of course, this also may not be the best idea, because it gives time for their numbers to grow. Anyway, if there's a hurricane you should be good and prepared.

Ok, lets talk weapons.

Obviously, you're going to need some weapons for zombie survival. First, I want you to remember: Guns are only as good as the person who is using it. Unlike shooting a regular human being, you need to be able to execute a head shot. Every time. Otherwise you'll just waste ammo and probably get yourself and everyone you love killed. This is not as easy as movies make it seem. If you know (no, not think, know) that you can do this, then you probably know way more about guns then I do, so I wont get into guns. You know what you need.

Now, for the rest of us.

Because we've had to rule out projectile weapons, we're going to have to get pretty close to the enemy to attack. For that reason, running is always a better option then fighting when it comes to zombie fights without guns. That being said, always be prepared to fight, just in case.

Here is a quick (kind of awful but very informative) video with some weapons you may want to consider:



You should keeps a few of these with your Zombie Survival kit. I'd also suggest stashing some around the house. You know, crowbar under the kitchen sink, baseball bat under the bed, machete in the bathroom drawer...those sorts of things. (This should go without saying: If you have children, please stash weapons responsibly!) And if you only remember one thing, make it this: as cool as hacking threw zombie brains with a chainsaw looks (totally epic), it's noisy and messy. You'll be alerting all the other zombies in range to your location and you'll probably get zombie blood in your mouth or eye or something. FYI: That would be bad.

That's really all you need in your kit, but there is always room for more.

Other items you may want to consider:

- Dust mask and safety glasses (You know, infected blood splatter and all.)
- Local map
- Compass
- Gas mask (available at army surplus stores and online)
- Ear plugs (for better sleep, and also because all that undead moaning might literally drive you insane)
- Long lasting glow sticks
- Rope
- Tarp (8 x 10 at least)
- Paper towel
- Burlap sacks
- A deck of cards
- A journal or notebook, pens & pencils

Congradulations, you're prepared!

Is there anything that I left out that you'd put in your Zombie Survival Kit?

Music Monday (Repeat): Re: Your Brains

Yes, I posted this song before. Less then a year ago. But I've got zombies on the brain, and this is the best zombie song I know. In case you missed it, here it is again. An awesome Zombie song by Jonathan Coulton. You'll love it, I promise.



"Things have been ok with me, except that I'm a zombie now..."

How could you not love that?

Zombie Survival Quick Tip #1

Take out the Head. 

Image Source

 Lets start with the absolute basics, shall we? Just to make sure we're all on the same page. The only way to take out a zombie is to destroy the brain. Don't waste bullets or energy on anything else. If you don't want to be zombie brunch, take out the head. 

Keep this in  mind when you are practicing self defense for zombie survival. 

 

Zombie Apocalypse: It matters to me and it should matter to you

If I was smart, I’d be writing about pumpkins right now.

As I’ve mentioned before, the post here on Dee Says that gets the most hits is one about pumpkins that I wrote back in 2009. And I’m using the term wrote very loosely here. A couple photos, a short blurb...that’s it. And it gets more hits then anything else I’ve posted ever. Even in months that are not October. But it’s not just the one post. I have other pumpkin related posts that also get a good number of hits, especially as we get closer to Halloween. The internet has spoken: They like it when I write about pumpkins.

But I don’t want to write about pumpkins.

Instead I’m going to write about Zombies. Not that zombies really have anything to do with Halloween. Except that they are kind of scary and make an easy costume (or an elaborate one. You really can go either way with zombie costumes). 

Image link

I’m pretty concerned about zombies.

Unlike vampires, werewolves, ghosts and other paranormal/scary creatures, zombies could happen. Don’t roll your eyes at me. Science is pretty screwed up. And awesome. I mean, we clone sheep and make glow-in-the-dark cats, for god sake. You think an experiment gone wrong couldn’t create a zombie? Who would in turn make another zombie, and on and on until the world is in shambles and we’re fighting for our lives. And what about the other popular zombie premise: The Virus. A bit more of a stretch. A new, unknown virus that makes humans rise from the dead. But is it possible? Even in the remotest sense? I think you’d be hard pressed to say that it’s not with 100% (no margin for error) certainty. (Seriously, any Virologists out there, I would like an answer, especially if I’m wrong. Please comment!) 

You might think it’s a waste of time to prepare for a horror that does not yet exist. I say when the hordes of walking dead descend on our streets, it may be too late. Sure, you might fumble your way through, becoming an expert slowly but surely (trial by fire, as they say). Or you might end up joining the ranks of the risen dead army sooner, rather then later. I don’t know about you, but I like living.

Image Link

“Why would I devote my life to something like this? Well, let me put it this way. I’ve never had my house catch on fire, but I have a smoke alarm. I’ve never been in a car accident, but I have an airbag. I’ve never gotten scurvy, but I drink orange juice at breakfast.” –Max Brooks, author of The Zombie Survival Guide

If you are prepared for zombies, you are prepared for just about anything life could throw at you. The CDC had it right: Preparing for zombie survival is much like preparing for any other disaster. With a few twists that they strangely left out of their article.

When preparing Zombies, you should start by preparing the same way you would prepare for any disaster: By making a plan. Your plan should include things such as escape routes, evacuation plans, family contacts and meeting places. Make sure you have multiple options for each, in case routes are blocked or meeting places are unsafe. Hint: If you’re already considering a disaster plan ICoZ (In Case of Zombies), it’s not much extra work to include plans for other disasters that could happen in your area. For me that would mean snowstorms, floods and hurricanes. Think about the types of disasters that might happen in your area, and if they might need adding to your plan. Plus, what if there was a mega-disaster like a hurricane hits at the peak of the Zombie Apocalypse. Mother nature doesn’t stop because of zombies, ya know.

Next steps: Make a disaster preparedness kit and hone important survival skills. More on that coming soon.

Are you preparing for zombies?