Zombies do not always have to be dark and apocalyptic, though they're fun that way. In this post are a handful of crafting project of zombies in various styles and design. Some look simple, yet they're very creative. Plenty of talented artists out there. As the title says, my source is Flickr.
1) Handmade Zombie Doll
Credit: dogtownkids via Flickr
2) Ceramic Zombie Mask
Credit: Le Silly via Flickr
3) Amigurumi Zombies
Credit: * Jenni * via Flickr
Amigurumi is Japanese for crocheted/knitted stuffed toys.
There is strength in numbers. That's a good motto. And in a zombie apocalypse, your chance of survival increases with a group in so many ways. You'll have more ideas, more resources, better ability to fend off multiple attacking zombies, and sad as it may be, there's always that guy who'll sacrifice himself so that others may get away.
But far more important than just being in a group is the composition of the group itself. You'd want to be in a group of like-minded individuals who are better prepared for disasters such as a zombie outbreak. In the state of Kansas, there is such a group and they're called the Kansas Anti Zombie Militia. Their website gives tips on how to properly fight-off zombies in hand-to-hand combat, emphasizes the importance of team work, and advices on the use of firearms against zombies.
Preparedness for a zombie outbreak is an interesting topic. Even the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, a government facility, weighed in on prepping for a zombie apocalypse which they later claimed as a playful encouragement for disaster prep in general.
Image source: Dy186 via Flickr CC
Point is taken. We, the public, should be ready for any disaster, natural or man-made, that could include zombie infestation.
But here's my situation: I've lived in big cities, have no military training, and very little camping experience. Thus, prepping to survive in a zombie apocalypse for me requires plenty of research and determining what makes sense. Thank God for YouTube, Google, and sh!t ton of Internet forums discussing disaster survival many of which are specific to zombie apocalypse. Good stuff to explore.
What I'm learning so far are basic and fairly common sense things: you're gonna need food and water; expect to treat minor wounds; must be able to defend yourself, but better if you can avoid having to defend; travel light and be ready to sleep outdoors and scavenging will be a way of life. It's almost like Columbus' rules in Zombieland, though I don't have that much paranoia.
Having said that, I feel that many people are living in cities and spend a lot of time in their cars. Thus, it seems that putting your basic survival kit in your car ready at all times is a prudent idea.
But what should be in a zombie apocalypse survival kit?
A good place to begin is the CDC itself where they listed the following:
Water (1 gallon per person per day)
Food (stock up on non-perishable items that you eat regularly)
Medications (this includes prescription and non-prescription meds)
Sanitation and Hygiene (household bleach, soap, towels, etc.)
Clothing and Bedding (a change of clothes for each family member and blankets)
Important documents (copies of your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate to name a few)
First Aid supplies (although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane)
Also, if you already own a hybrid vehicle, make sure you have a power inverter. From a previous article, we discussed using hybrid cars as emergency power generator. In a zombie apocalypse, I definitely see a use for it. And it's not unimaginable to have to use transportation during a zombie plague. There will be situations where a car might be the most important thing you'll have such as when trying to get away from a horde.
Can't wait to see Rick, Daryl, Glen, and the gang.
Last I recall, Merle and Daryl have been reunited but were captured by the Governor. Rick and Michonne, who had just rescued Glen and Maggie, were poised to go back to save Daryl. The success of the rescue could hinge on Andrea as the x-factor since no one is sure which side she will choose, Rick's or the Governor's.
And Carl helped a group of survivors led by Tyreese to safety.
I haven't read the graphic novels, so I have no sense what's going to happen.
The next upcoming "big" zombie movie is World War Z starring Brad Pitt and based on Max Brook's novel of the same name. I haven't read the book, but the movie has a blockbuster vibe. Because of the soldiers and fast zombies, World War Z looks like it's going to be 28 Days Later on steroids.
According to IMDB, World War Z is set for release in the U.S.A. on June 21, 2013.
One of the biggest news in 2012 was Hurricane Sandy and its devastating effect on the East Coast. Plenty of personal struggles resulted from the natural disaster, including thousands of homes owners who were left without electricity. One story that stood out to me, however, was how some of the victims used their hybrid car to power their homes while waiting for the utility company to restore electricity. Many did this by rigging their Toyota Prius with power inverters. See the video below.
It seems to me that in a zombie apocalypse, some folks out there will be in need of electricity for whatever reason. Whether it be water heating, cooking, or heat, electric power will be useful. And since hybrid car technology is ubiquitous, it doesn't hurt to keep it in mind as a resource.
See the video below from MrEnergyCzar of Youtube. He's demonstrating how to generate back-up power using a Chevy Volt with a power inverter that plugs directly to the car's cigarette lighter.
This one is a really interesting find. Goes to show you that not all zombie stuff are serious.
Maria Ozawa, the insanely beautiful and popular Japanese AV idol, poses as a zombie in a photo shoot. Of course, in a sliding scale between a grotesque fiend and a hot chic, her pics are closer to the hot chic end of things.
Ever notice that in many zombie movies, the characters do not seem to know much about dealing with flesh-eating undead until it's too late? Well, let's not do that here. I'd like to think that we know better. There are enough generally-known facts that we can work with to ensure our immediate survival during an initial encounter with walking dead.
(1) Headshots or Head Trauma
Does it bug you that well-trained shooters such as soldiers or police shoot zombies on the torso despite the zombie's continued forward approach? Shooting a zombie in the head or delivering a crushing blow to the head will stop the zombie cold. Destroy the brain and you'll eliminate the only organ that drives the zombie's base nature to eat. The zombie becomes a lifeless pile of flesh once the brain is gone. Source: Popular Mechanics
But this point begs the question: how can a person with no shooting experience perform in a situation that calls for headshots? See this video from Immersion on YouTube and get an insight on the topic.
(2) Don't Get Bitten
Zombies must eat. It is in their nature. And they feed on living flesh, ignoring the abundance of dead meat caused by their wake. That's why you do not see zombies tearing each other apart for food, lust, or other reasons.
But you, they will eat. The first chance they get, they will bite your arms, neck, legs, or any other parts of you. Zombies with functioning hands will grab on to you to prevent your escape. When trapped by a horde, you will surely be overwhelmed, dragged down, and have your flesh torn away.
Image credit: Tanya Plonka (Lethbridge Photographer) via Flickr
Macabre as it may seem, getting devoured by a horde of living dead may not be the worse thing that could happen to you in a zombie apocalypse. Being bitten by one and getting away is worse, not just for you, but for your companions as well. The bite of a zombie transfers an infectious virus to the victim. This means if you're bit then sometime later, you will become a zombie and turn on your friends and family. So take extra precautions when in a hand-to-hand fight against the living dead. Zombie bites are not like dog bites that can be cured by a tetanus shot (see the next point below). Source: FVZA.org
(3) Can't Save An Infected
This third point is a correlation to number 2, but so important that it requires its own point.
You can't stop someone who has been bitten by a zombie from becoming a zombie herself. The bite carries a deadly infection, the same virus that's causing the outbreak and chaos all around you. Other than immediate amputation of a bitten arm or leg and the hope that the virus has not yet spread throughout the victim's body, there is no known cure for a zombie bite. Source: Surviving Modern Life
Thus, if you and your 10 year old daughter are surprised by a zombie and she gets bit, yet both of you escape, your daughter will eventually become a zombie and attack you.
At first, she'll be sick and weaken to a point where she can't stand on her own two feet. At this time, her body's natural defenses are putting up a losing fight against the zombie virus. Eventually, her body will give in, she will die, turn into a livng dead, and attack you or any companions nearby. Though she may still look like your daughter, she's no longer your child.
Zombie child from Night of the Living Dead
This means that if someone is bitten, it is best to either kill her immediately with a headshot (see point 1) or keep her separated from the rest of the group until she turns and then kill her. After all, our parental instinct is to sit beside our sick child while caring for her. But sitting "beside our sick child" is well within grabbing and biting distance of a newly-turned but no-less infectious zombie. In other words, don't come too close to someone who's been infected.
It's 2013. By now, we're all familiar in some form or another with zombies, flesh eating undead people who could have been your neighbor, sibling, parents, wife, husband, or child. Now, they're nothing but mindless and perversely soulless creatures with one and only one purpose, to feed on the living.
Image source: Dan_7d via Flickr
