moonwise: (authoritah)
moonwise ([personal profile] moonwise) wrote2006-10-23 10:08 am
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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Last night at 9 PM, the USA Network aired the Zombie Outbreak Training Film "Dawn of the Dead," which depicts a Class 3 outbreak that proceeded to Class 4. As those of you who have watched this training film may know, the outcome for these noninfected souls was not as fortunate as it could have been. Let's review what they did wrong.

1. Stayed within the city.

Urban areas are the worst protected from zombie outbreaks! Always try to find a sparsely populated, defensible area in which to make a stand.

2. Took shelter in a mall.

Malls are almost indefensible. An undead horde can easily push its way into a mall if alerted to the presence of fresh meat inside.

3. Investigated strange sounds.

When in doubt, RUN!

4. Inadequate armor.

Despite their visit to an ammunitions shop, none of the protagonists helped themselves to available body armor. Although an encumbrance, armor is invaluable as regards bite protection. Several of their number were lost to bites.

5. Attempted escape in a car/truck.

This one could be argued, since the type of zombie depicted in the training film was a Fast Zombie, capable of running. More typical Slow Zombies can easily be outpaced on a bicycle. However, the drawbacks to escape in a wheeled vehicle were accurately depicted, specifically that even a strong vehicle can be overpowered by an enormous crowd of hungry undead.

6. Escape on a boat.

The boat was a sailboat, so lack of fuel could be ameliorated, but our heroes ran out of water, and the food spoiled when the generator quit. Escape on a boat is only feasible when one of the party is an experienced sailor with knowledge of the surrounding water and ports. Get in, get what you need, and get out!

With Halloween approaching, it is more important than ever to be PREPARED for a zombie outbreak! For starters, I recommend a copy of the Zombie Survival Guide, a well-written and thorough introduction to survival during zombie outbreaks.

GET IT

LEARN IT

USE IT

or you're dinner.

[identity profile] sache.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I must say that I recently purchased said Zombie Survival Guide, and I currently consider it to be the most valuable resource in my library. Furthermore, it helps me to know that should the worst occur, and it truly might, that I now definitely stand at least a decent chance against a horde of the undead.

[identity profile] arafel.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
It's good to hear that you are going to be prepared in case of an attack!

[identity profile] fireceremony.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)

That is a fun book indeed!

And thank you very much for all the useful tips in case of a zombie epidemic. :)

Are you an experienced enough sailor so that we could have escaped on your family's sailboat? Can zombies swim? I hope not.

[identity profile] arafel.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Sadly, we (meaning my parents) don't own the boat any more. They sold it when they moved to Florida. In any case, it was a power boat, so once you're out of fuel, that's it.

Zombies can't swim, but since they can't breathe, they can walk underwater (at least until they fall apart!)

[identity profile] fireceremony.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 06:18 pm (UTC)(link)

I had forgotten about zombies not needing to breathe.

Too bad to hear you don't have the boat any more. I hope there will be more boat trips for you in the future, though.

What would, in your opinion, be the best strategy to get away from hordes of hungry zombies?

[identity profile] wpl510.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Speaking as someone who once taught a Friday afternoon class, my solution was to give them homework if they hung around. Worked like a charm.

[identity profile] fireceremony.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)

:D

I'll keep that in mind in case of an outbreak.

I guess I would more follow the school of Resident Evil 4, load up on grenades and a Magnum. ;)

[identity profile] arafel.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I think we'd look into a pair of shotguns - very effective at close range. Long-range, maybe rifles. We've thought a good bit about where to go in case of an outbreak, and the best we could do was head for Maine! You Europeans have a terrific defense in the loads of still-functional castles that dot the landscape. Doubt that too many undead would make it past a stout portcullis and gate, and a well-patrolled curtain wall. XD

[identity profile] wpl510.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Now, see- what good is shooting someone who's dead? I don't see how a few ounces of metal embedded in their unused vital organs would be much of a deterrent. Perhaps some sort of holy relics?

[identity profile] arafel.livejournal.com 2006-10-23 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
No - the only way to permanently stop a zombie is to destroy its brain. Gunfire is probably the best option, if you have enough time/room. Otherwise, machete.

[identity profile] sarcasticval.livejournal.com 2006-10-24 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
Heeeeeeeee.

[identity profile] nekoryuu.livejournal.com 2006-10-30 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Excellent PSA and deconstruction of the educational material. Bravo ^_^