Tuesday, October 29, 2013

How Wildlife Will Prevent A Zombie Apocalypse




Before you start stockpiling canned peaches and firearms to prepare for the zombie apocalypse, listen to National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski. Assuming that zombification is only a human disease, the wildlife may just take care of the zombie problem before it can overrun the earth.
In a guest article Mizejewski wrote for Boing Boing, he says: "Zombies are essentially walking carrion, and Mother Nature doesn't let anything go to waste. Carrion is on the menu for a vast number of species, from tiny micro-organisms to the largest carnivores." First off, there are birds. Many different species are scavengers, including vultures, crows, ravens, and gulls. California condors are also scavengers, massive in size, and highly endangered. Mizejewski theorizes that a zombie apocalypse could actually boost condor populations by giving them an abundance of food. 
As far as mammals go, bears, wolves, and coyotes all eat dead flesh, and are certainly no match for mindless zombies. Large cats like cheetahs and jaguars generally avoid carrion, but they are quick to attack when threatened, and their preferred manner of killing is perfect to take out a zombie. Cheetahs tend to go for the nape of the neck, while jaguars can crush a human (non-rotten) skull with one chomp.
The most effective way to be rid of zombies is to let the countless types of insects, molds, fungi, and bacteria that feed on dead flesh to do their work. It might be a little slower (could take up to a month to completely strip away every bit of flesh from a corpse) but it would be thorough, pose no threat to the living, and would leave very little cleanup for the survivors. 
So instead of moving to a survivalist compound, maybe you should move to a zoo. Walk with a pet jaguar, hang out with a grizzly bear, and let all the carrion birds out of the aviary. They could reduce the zombie population to a pile of bones in a matter of a month or so.





~fearnet.com

Win a Copy of Apocalyptic Zombie Game 'How to Survive!'



Thanks to our friends from Dread Central and 505 games, you can enter for a chance to win 'How to Survive' on either XBLA or Steam!

Click here to enter!


Well, DUH!!

'The Walking Dead' Renewed for Fifth Season, Gimple Staying Put as Showrunner




In some of the least surprising renewal news imaginable, AMC has renewed The Walking Dead. TV's top scripted performer will return in 2014 for a fifth season.
In making the early renewal, AMC noted that newly installed showrunner Scott M. Gimple will return in the same capacity next season. Gimple, who has been with the zombie drama based on Robert Kirkman's long-running comics since season one, ranks as the show's third showrunner, following Frank Darabont and Glen Mazzara
"We are very happy to make what has to be one of the most anti-climactic renewal announcements ever: The Walking Dead is renewed for a fifth season," AMC president Charlie Collier said Tuesday. "This is a show that has erased traditional distinctions between cable and broadcast. Its expanding base of passionate fans has grown every season, most recently -- and most notably -- with the season-four premiere earlier this month, which broke viewership records for the series and became the biggest nonsports telecast in cable history. On behalf of the incredible team on both sides of the camera, thank you to the fans and here's to more Dead."
An exact episode count for season five has yet to be announced -- this season again consists of 16 total hours split in runs of eight -- and a renewal for Chris Hardwick-hosted companion Talking Dead has also not yet been announced. But the talk show, which was expanded to an hour and runs immediately after the zombie drama, also returned to season highs this year and will likely return for another run.
TV's top performer in the adults 18-49 demographic for more than a year now, The Walking Dead continues to break its own ratings records. The recent season-four premiere drew 16.1 million viewers and a 8.3 rating among adults 18-49 in Live+Same Day viewing alone. Within three days of DVR use, the episode became the biggest nonsports broadcast in cable history, with 20.2 million viewers. In the demo, it surpassed even Sunday Night Football to be the top-rated program of the week across the board. Its third airing of the season bested Fox's coverage of the World Series in the demo.
In addition to being TV's top scripted series in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic, The Walking Dead is a major asset to AMC. After bidding critical darling Breaking Bad farewell, the cable network will also do the same with Mad Men in 2015, with the hopes that a Walking Dead companion series Kirkman has in the works will join the roster that same year.
In addition to Kirkman and Gimple, executive producers Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert, Greg Nicotero and Tom Luse will also return in season five.


~hollywoodreporter.com

Um...wow. Okay. I guess...



Someone likes to play with matches!

If you haven't seen Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead, there are spoilers ahead so you may want to hold off on this post until you watch the episode.











SEAN PERTWEE & COMPANY TO ENTER THE 'TOWER OF THE DEAD'




Craig Fairbrass ('Dead Cert'), Jason Maza ('Demons Never Die'), Craig Conway ('Devil's Playground') and Sean Pertwee ('Dog Soldiers') are the fresh faced foursome to new British zombie horror 'Tower of the Dead'. The quartet, who these days between them seem to be placed in every mediocre British horror offering or gangster based project there is going, will be bought together to play members of an Armed Response Team and/or a group of arms dealers who find theirselves teaming up when some begrudged zombie fellas take over a tower block. Sound familiar, then you're likely thinking this sounds very much like 2009's French horror feature 'The Horde'! Brit director Ross Boyask ('Left for Dead') will helm from a script he co-wrote with Paul Reynolds.
"A highly trained Armed Response Team, and the arms dealers they were tasked to bring down must join forces to fight their way through a ferocious army of the undead."


THERE'S A GUIDE FOR EVERYBODY NOWADAYS...




Saturday, October 26, 2013

Zombies Shuffle Into Cambodia With RUN's Official Trailer!


Tracking an outbreak that begins in a Phnom Penh hospital before spreading out into the streets this is new ground for the Asian nation and with an October 23rd release date looming the official trailer has arrived, with English subtitles included.

The verdict? Better than you're probably expecting. The story line certainly doesn't break any new ground but the footage is energetic and the gore elements look like they're poised to deliver. Check it out below!

`Dead Rising` Zombie Holding Lantern Solar Powered Garden Light Lamp



Even zombies can be scared of the dark. After years spent in the cold dark ground, this emerging gruesome garden guest casts an eerie light over his shadowy surroundings with a solar powered single LED lantern. The solar lamp is powered by a single rechargeable AA battery that is charged by a solar panel circling the LED. The lamp features a simple on/off switch and a light sensor that will automatically turn the light on when the sun goes down and off when the sun comes up.

The grim garden accent is made from durable cold cast resin that won`t rust or deteriorate in the weather. It measures 18 1/2 inches long, 13 inches tall, and 10 1/2 inches wide. This sinister piece is a unique horror accent for your lawn, garden, or patio that will shed some light to ward off any of this zombie`s unwelcome undead friends.

Order here!


Are you ready for Atlanta's Zombie Apocalypse?



When Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse first opened in 2010, word quickly spread that there was a "haunted house" in Atlanta in which "the zombies chase you." Guests came out in droves to see if the hype was true, and it turned out to be so much more: a completely immersive horror attraction with a great story, talented actors, and professional makeup, props, and sets.
Now in its fourth year, Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse continues to surprise and amaze with two all new horror shows. "Return of the Curse of the Undead" picks up where 2012's "Curse of the Undead" story left off, and the second show is simply titled "?" because the story and theme are a complete mystery. "Return of the Curse of the Undead" represents what Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse has become known for over the years: realistic character portrayals by talented actors with some serious improvisational skills, plot twists, and hordes of terrifying zombies that, yes, chase after you. Words of advice: stay limber, wear tennis shoes, and be prepared for some cardio!
For the second show, the original infection story from 2010 was killed off (pun intended) for 2013, and replaced with "?" While I would love to list all of the things that were brilliant about this show, I am afraid to give anything away! The Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse website only offers this description: "You're better off not knowing what's inside! What will you do? Who can you trust? Can you find the way out?" The only thing I will say is that this show is one of the most original concepts for a horror attraction I have ever seen, and I loved it! Once again, the actors were extremely believable, and they deserve recognition for putting their heart and soul into their performances.

Returning for 2013 is Zombie Killer, the attraction that allows guests to take their revenge on their attackers and shoot zombies with with an airsoft gun equipped with 100 rounds in the abandoned motel. The rooms and hallways are dark, and the only light available is a thin beam coming from the flashlight of your military-type guide. This really gets the adrenaline pumping; even for a hardcore horror fan like myself. While I wish there had been more of a story incorporated into Zombie Killer, the experience is like none other, and it is a great way to end a night of fear and fun.
Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse is only open for the Halloween season. The remaining show dates are:
  • Wednesday-Sunday, October 24-27.
  • Thursday-Saturday, October 31-November 2
The box office opens at 7:30 p.m. nightly. To purchase tickets online, or for more information, visit Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse at atlantazombie.com. Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse is located at 4215 Thurman Rd, Conley, GA 30288. Parking is $3.

~examiner.com

Friday, October 25, 2013

The first annual Cherokee Zombie Fest - Canton, GA 10/26/13



The first annual Cherokee Zombie Fest will invade Main Street on Oct. 26 from 4 to 10 p.m.

Attendees, dead and alive, are encouraged to dress up like zombies and participate in a night of ghoulish excitement and fun, all for a good cause. 

The event, which benefits Families of Cherokee United in Service or FOCUS, will feature vendors, zombies, food merchants, live music and a zombie costume contest. AMC’s “Walking Dead” fans may attend a rare VIP meet-and-greet with Chandler Riggs, who plays Carl, at the historic Canton Theatre. 

While admittance to downtown is a $5 donation for Cherokee FOCUS, to attend the meet and greet, it is a $50 fee for pre-orders and $60 at the door. The ticket to the VIP event includes a free photo for Riggs to sign, an autograph and photo opportunity, a limited edition zombie fest T-shirt, and a swag bag. 

“The event is good for all ages,” said Sonia Carruthers, executive director and CEO of Cherokee FOCUS. “There will be people from all ages attending.”

Cherokee FOCUS is a community collaborative that has developed several initiatives to benefit the children and families of Cherokee County including Drug Free Cherokee, Cherokee Youth Challenge and Volunteer Cherokee. 

FOCUS also operates the Cherokee Youth Works program for at-risk youth ages 16 to 21. Youth in the program get help with education, work readiness skills, job placement and life skills. Teens with children also receive parenting classes, and youth who are homeless get help finding shelter. 

“FOCUS is proud to promote the concept of youth helping youth,” Carruthers said. “Chandler Riggs is an outstanding example of how the help of one teenager can potentially benefit so many that are less fortunate.”

Carruthers said that Riggs, who is from Woodstock, is a typical teen with a hectic schedule. 

“He has a part-time job, but it happens to be starring in America’s No. 1 television show, ‘The Walking Dead’ and he has just completed filming a leading role in a new motion picture based on a Stephen King novel,” Carruthers said. “Finding a way to make time to help others in need says a great deal about this young man’s character, and we are so fortunate to have him as a youth partner.”

Kids attending the event can enjoy the Oak Leaf Church children’s area that will be offered on Main Street featuring inflatables. Safe Kids and Emergency Management will be at the event to promote zombie safety and preparation. 

Events at the theater will also include a “Call of Duty Black Ops” video game tournament. There is a $25 registration fee, and only 20 spots remain. 

At 10 p.m. “Night of the Living Dead” will be showing at the theater.

Zombie shirts, zombie drinks and a “brain” eating contest are among the attractions featured at the Zombie Fest. Zombie belly dancers will also perform a routine to Oingo Boingo. 

Live music will begin at 5 p.m. in Cannon Park with Woodstock’s hard rock band, Red Tyde Rising. Georgia’s Country Music artist of the year, Thomas Fountain, will perform from 8 to 10 p.m. A disc jockey will also be playing throughout the event. 

All attendees are encouraged to dress up but are not required. There will be booths for zombie make-up and hair. 

A $5 raffle ticket can be bought to enter for four tickets to see Riggs. Locations where raffle tickets may be purchased include Chamber House, The Painted Pig, Keys Jewelry, and B. Loved. Additionally at the event, a raffle will be held for two “Walker Stalker Con” at a $400 value.

All proceeds will go to the nonprofit Cherokee FOCUS and Cherokee Youth Works. The program helps youth age 16 to 21 with education, work readiness and job placement and valuable life skills. 

“This year, we have had a 96 percent success rate of GED attainment,” Carruthers said. 

Attendees are encouraged to use designated parking areas. The Canton Police and Fire Department will be responsible for security, traffic and any medical needs.

For more information on the festival, visit cherokeefocus.org/zombiefest or the Facebook page for Cherokee Zombie Fest.




~cherokeetribune.com

New to Zombiepalooza Radio?




The undead have taken over the radio waves.
"I bring a voice to those who have felt on the outside of normal," said Jackie Chin of Warren, host of the Internet radio show Zombiepalooza Radio.
Zombiepalooza airs every Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern Time on Ztalkradio.com, and Chin said her show delves into the subject of zombies in ways that no one can hear about anywhere else.

Click here to read on!


TONIGHT ON ZOMBIEPALOOZA RADIO (10/25/13)



Tonight on the first hour from 8-9pm EST of ZTalk Radio

An author best know for his book "Keep your Crowbars Handy" Let's give a warm welcome back to S.P. Durnin 

http://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Gone-Wild-Anthology-ebook/dp/B009RESO6C



Our 2nd Hour 9-10pm EST of Z Talk Radio 

You can call into the show this way: 330-974-1679


Brand new walking on to Zombiepalooza Radio, please welcome Author Charlie Morgan!


http://tinyurl.com/lynf7lc


3rd hour first half 10:00-10:30 of ZTalk Radio 

Please welcome brand new shuffling onto Zombiepalooza Radio for the 1st time: Novelist and Comic Book Creator Terry Cronin.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tattooed-Lady/543977525649148



3rd HOUR 2nd half 10:30-11:00 of ZTalkRadio.com 

Call in 330-974-1679

Please welcome a terrific new addition to Zombiepalooza Radio,

the owners of Zooms Day Survival Gear. They will talk all things prepper and survival. They also have a great cause that they would like to share with you and their desire to help fight Breast Cancer. 

http://www.zoomsdaysurvivalgear.com/



4th Hour 11-12:00 pm EST of Z Talk Radio 

Please welcome writer, producer & director Michael S. Rodriguez. His story will not only entertain you, but will encourage you as well as inspire. We will listen to his trials and tribulations as he tells us the life of a writer and what it all entails.



5th Hour 12-1am of Z Talk Radio

Open Mike Time!

If you have a story, want to tell us something cool, or just want to hang out and let us know how we are doing stop by and/or call in 330-974-1679, ya never know who will be joining us.




                                WWWZTALKRADIO.COM



The Greenfield Zombie Walk Shuffles To Life Again! (Indiana) 10/26/13



On Saturday, October 26th, the Undead will return to the streets of Greenfield for the Second Annual Greenfield Zombie Walk.
• Events kick off at 5 p.m. with a drop-in Zombie 101 Workshop upstairs in ‘the Belfry’ at the Ricks Centre at 122 West Main. Certified experts with PhDs in Zombiology will be on hand to help you with make-up, up your costume, and instruct you in realistic Zombie behavior.
• As for the Zombie Walk itself, Zombie Overlords will depart with small groups of Zombies from the Ricks Centre at five-minute intervals starting at 6 p.m. This will create more of a parade type atmosphere to encourage spectators to come out. Zombies LOVE spectators, but have promised to be on their best behavior walking through the streets. No, the Zombies will not be throwing candy to the crowd and conversely, the crowd is strongly encouraged NOT to feed the Zombies — candy or otherwise.
• As Zombies return to the theatre after the Walk, they can participate in a Zombie Trivia Contest — again, with prizes, get their pictures taken in the Zombie Photo Booth. A Zombie craft project will keep the little ones busy.
• The Zombie Costume Contest will feature three different categories:  12 and under, Best ‘Famous’ Zombie Character, and Most Original Zombie. There will be cash prizes given for first place and runner-up in all three categories.
• The finale of the evening is a showing of the original House on Haunted Hill with the inimitable Vincent Price.
Registration for the Zombie Walk is just $5 and it includes all of the above. Visit the Greenfield Zombie Walk Facebook page or call 317-477-2787 for more information.




~weeklyview.net



Night of the Living Smurf




Break out the colored pencils! (or in my case, those big, fat crayons!)





The Undead Dash 5K returns to Hampton, GA this Saturday (10/26/13)




Hampton will be quarantined Saturday as Zombies take over for the Undead Dash.
The undead have walked these streets before in films like “Zombieland” and the hit AMC television show “The Walking Dead.”
In a nod to these productions, the second annual Undead Dash will take place Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. just a few miles from where zombies roamed during filming.
Regardless of whether attendees are serious runners or just zombie enthusiasts, the Undead Dash promises to be a killer time for all. Runners will run the gauntlet of zombie infested streets in Downtown Hampton where they will be splattered with fake blood as the assembled zombie horde attacks from a safe distance.
Runners are encouraged to wear light colored shirts and wear the sustained zombie carnage like a badge of honor.
For those whose idea of exercise is an undead stagger, register as a Zombie, come dressed in zombie attire and receive a non-traditional make-over from The Henry Players.
This will be a 5K route winding around Hampton. For more information or to register visit www.getsetgrow.com.


~henryherald.com

Messy, messy...



NIGHTMARE ON CHICAGO STREET 10/26/13 ELGIN, ILLINOIS




Saturday, Oct. 26th – 2013
6pm-11pm Only $7.00 online ($10.00 at the gate)
This is a “17 and older” event.  There will be alcohol served, nightmarish displays and gory costuming.  Younger children might not be prepared for the “Safe Zone”, and should remain with their parents if they do attend.
Two stages of entertainment, Svengoolie, costume contest, Hookah Lounge, Absinthe Parlour, unique vendors, and so much apocalyptic energy, you have to come to the “Safe Zone”!!  
Complete schedule here.  
ABSOLUTELY NO WEAPONS ALLOWED IN THE “SAFE ZONE”.  Please costume accordingly.
Let’s keep the Humans alive!! Enter the safe zone on October 26th from 6pm to 11pm at NIGHTMARE ON CHICAGO STREET.
Save the date.  Save the city.
Hotel info here for the nearby Hampton Inn.

Costume Contest Rules and Information
1)    All entrants in the costume contest must be received by 9:30pm.  Each registrant must complete a registration form and have their photograph taken.  These photographs may be used in future event marketing.
      2)    Prizes will be offered in the following categories: -
$350 Overall Winner
$250 Best Couple or Group Costume
$100 Best Zombie
$100 Best Steampunk
$100 Best Horror
$100 Most Original Costume
Judges will decide which category you are entered in.
3)    The top three entrants in each category will be called on to the main stage at 10pm by Svengoolie.  All entrants should approach the stage area at 9:45pm to be ready to be called up as a potential winner.  Entrants must be present on stage to win a prize.
4)    Please note that monetary prizes will be mailed out as checks after the event.  Please allow 6 weeks to receive your prize.  Runners up in each category do not receive a cash prize.



Zombies Are Coming to Michigan Tech!


They grace the covers of magazines. They star in a hit television series. And, they are featured in a popular new game on campus. Although from the world of the undead, zombies have certainly been enjoying their new star status. Now, there’s another venue to celebrate them—“Undead U: A Zombie Symposium,” set for 7-9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, on the campus of Michigan Technological University.
Undead U is the brainchild of Syd Johnson, assistant professor of philosophy at Michigan Tech.
So, why are zombies popular again, and why the symposium?
“'Night of the Living Dead,' a low-budget movie in the 1960s, started it all,” Johnson says. “Back then, there were fears about nuclear disasters. We still have fears of plague, disease and death. There have always been worries of losing control and losing our minds.” Zombies play on these fears.
Their popularity might also be in response to our overexposure to vampires, the glamorous monsters, she says. Zombies are clearly non-glamorous.
Johnson taught an ethics class using zombies to help students think about what it means to be human and other moral dilemmas.
“If zombies used to be human, are they still human?” she asks. “And how do we treat them if they are? How can you kill something if it’s already dead?” Some of the students’ answers (“Kill them to save others”) have to do with obligations to other living people, but . . .
“What about when your mom becomes a zombie?”
The students are presented with scenarios for morality, Johnson says. “What are the rules of conduct when the government’s gone, when society is gone? Do you look out for number one or for the group?”
It all relates back to the big questions: Are zombies people, and what is it to be a person?
“That’s where I approach it as a bioethicist,” she says. “Are zombies just severely brain-damaged people? Can we make ad hoc declarations such as ‘They are different, and they don’t matter?’”
That’s the kind of dilemma that lends itself to academic analysis, hence this symposium offered the day after Halloween, in the midst of Mexico's Day of the Dead observances.
Also featured at Undead U will be John Dahl from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, a biologist who studies organisms that mimic zombification: bacteria, parasitic wasps, viruses.
“We can draw biological parallels with mad cow disease and other diseases that affect the brain,” Johnson says.
Presenter Adam Feltz, of Michigan Tech’s cognitive and learning sciences department, will combine psychology and philosophy in an analysis of why zombies are so appealing.
Kette Thomas, of Michigan Tech’s humanities department and a scholar on Haitian zombies, will explore the zombie in mythological context.
“I want the symposium to be fun, a little bit serious and educational, too,” Johnson says.
Undead U: A Zombie Symposium will be held Friday, Nov. 1, in Room 641 of the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. In conjunction with the symposium, the Northern Lights Film Festival will show Shaun of the Dead on Sunday, Oct. 27. News and updates are available at www.facebook.com/undeadu.

IN PREPARATION




Annual Haunted Halloween Flea Market 10/26/13 ILLINOIS


Annual Haunted Flea Market
Ghosts, Goblins, Celebrities, Music & More!
SATURDAY - October 26th 3pm to Midnight

WHEATON, ILLINOIS: Du Page County Fairgrounds, is where the "Haunted Fleas" will gather again for the Annual "Haunted Halloween Flea Market," Saturday October 26th, from 3pm to MIDNIGHT!

Zombies, ghosts, goblins & witches beware! Come in custom for the Goblins Ball (Live Music) and the Weird & Wonderful costume judging contest.

A special guest appearance by "DEEP ROY" who played Droopy McCool in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He also played an Ewok on Endor and sometimes played R2-D2. In the 2005 film version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he was digitally replicated to portray all the Oompa-Loompas. He also plays the alien Keenser in the 2009 film Star Trek. To sci-fi fans, he is best known for his role as Mr. Sin in the Doctor Who serial Talons of Weng-Chiang as well as the Posicarian delegate in the later serial Mindwarp. He is the only actor to appear in the Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor Who franchises.

Nationally acclaimed ILLUSTRATOR Roger Stolz will also be on hand, plus more! The Midwest Garrison will be in costume!

There will be 1000's of haunted treasures for sale; as vendors will bring everything from Halloween Collectibles, Antiques, Bargains, Old Stuff, Close-outs, Crafts, and much more!

Vintage HEARSES will be on display, as this appears to be a "SPOOK-TACULAR" with fun for the WHOLE FAMILY! Bring flashlights, come in costume, hunt for bargains, dress warm as dealers will be indoors & outdoors, in sheds & open-air with tents. Event is held "Rain or Moon-Shine."

Show hours are 3pm to MIDNIGHT, kids 12 & under are FREE; located at the Du Page County Fairgrounds (County Farm & Manchester), in Wheaton Illinois on SATURDAY night October 26th.
Directions from Chicago:
Roosevelt Rd. W. to County. Farm Rd., turn N. to
Manchester, E. on Manchester 1/2 mi. to Fairgrounds.
Address:
DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 W. Manchester
Wheaton, IL 60189
Admission: $7

For additional information on this & other Zurko's Midwest Promotions Special Flea & Fun Events Contact: Zurko at 115 E. Division St., Shawano, Wisconsin 54166 or phone 715-526-9769, http://www.zurkopromotions.com/hauntedhalloweenfleamarket.htm