Once again, Into the Zombification Disease....

I want to thank ars technica for breaking this horrifying story. Once again - a zombification disease is in the news. This time it strikes Gypsy moths - who climb to the top of a tree and wait to be turned into a liquid (from the disease) so it can infect even more once rain comes and washes it down onto other caterpillars.

This disease is just as crazy as the ant zombie disease - except it has the added function of liquification. I don't know about you - but I don't want to become a puddle of myself. The caterpillars don't even have the decency to have zombie hunting squads to control the spread of the disease like the ants do. At least ants recognize a problem when they see it!

I guess I can add options to what happens once infected with a zombie virus - you melt like the wicked witch from Wizard of Oz - or you go and eat your family. What amazing choices.

Traveling Post- Apocalypse

I have grand plans. There are times that my grand plans do hit upon some rather realistic snags though, problems that would definitely be of a concern.

I have mentioned in the past about my grand idea to possible take over Nueschwanstein Castle as securable location in the event of the zombie apocalypse - or just one in general. It doesn't have to be zombie related. The first great hurdle appears when a person points out to me (Thanks John) I do not know how to sail - and I live across the Atlantic ocean from mainland Europe. This does pose a problem and the only option I have at the moment is finding a port with a cruise liner in it - turning that SOB around and running it smack dab into the cost of France.I guess it will have to be a one way trip.

Second issue - It is located in an area with some harsh terrain and weather. It is highly likely I will spend more hours each day making sure the castle doesn't fall in on top of me than planning how to save humanity from itself. Sorry everyone - it is unlikely I will be pulling a Will Smith "I have a cure" moment out of my hat. So my recommendation is to not become infected.

Third - there is no third. Well maybe there is - in the form of having to cross a third of the surface of the Earth probably overrun with undead. Not like I would let that get to me right? (yes, yes it would)

Disease Transit

One of the worst things about zombie flicks these days - is the spread of the disease typically causing the problem. I say "worst" simply because I don't like zombies, usually they take a simple fluid to fluid transmission system and let the biting, gnawing, scratching and other unpleasantness begin. This is probably my least favorite part.

I think if a zombie disease were to really break out - it would probably have a similar spreading mechanism to the modern flu. After watching the movie "Contagion" this weekend, my distaste for touching things grew tenfold. The disease was transmitted through touch - that alone was enough to move the virus around. The horrible part of this (aside from the idiotic teenagers laughing at death) is that it is the most likely mode of transmission that would probably develop. Airborne pathogens (thankfully) I believe enjoy great frailty due to their "airy" nature. Let us hope that I am not too wrong in that understanding (I heard it somewhere trustworthy I hope) But disease that can move through touch - well those apparently can be quite tough.

Someone grabs an object hours after an infected person does - and BLAMMO! Undeadification occurs. (I should probably copyright that word - undeadification has a nice ring to it). How frustrating to think you won't even be able to touch anything - even your own clothes - without fear that right there could be a few tiny microbes ready to turn you into the next human-deconstruction device. I was told that the movie "Carriers" actually kept this in mind for the disease that breaks out killing humanity. It would be days before a surface was safe to touch even if disinfected.

I should get back in the habit of writing this - I am starting to think I should just write my zombie novel and get it out of my mind - before it gets turned into a larger books series like my fantasy line has.

Why is taking the Garbage out that Stressful?

I hate taking the gabage out at night. There is nothing I despise more. Why you may ask? It is the lighting. Our home is set up so the back and front light leave a strip of horrible darkness for the entire length of the house, the same length you must walk through to get to the trash cans. So what could possibly go through my mind when I approach this darkness that my eyes cannot pierce?

There must be zombies in there. Why? Not a clue. my eyesight is very sharp at night, but is easily thrown off by any light sources nearby. The back light just happens to be one such light because of how it is placed. It creates a wall of blindness to a no-mans land hiding countless undead in the tangle of plants in the yard.

I hate taking the trash out at night, and should just avoid it - but not taking the trash out as needed puts me in harms way of another sort. The type that involves the wife looking at me with "that" look.

I think I will learn to take the trash out earlier.

Lightsabers and Zombies

There are a lot of nay-sayers about Star Wars, calling it a cheap sci-fi.In some regards it is a science fiction not grounded in reality. Much of the science fiction genre gets its draw from the very plausible and frightening concepts of what our reality can become. Let me remind everyone that the movie does start with a disclaimer saying this story takes place in elsewhere-ville. That being said, let me discuss a very potent instrument that I like from the film.

Just like the word "Plastics" from the Graduate, "Lightsabers" is the word I want on everyones mind today. These weapons supposedly formed of pure destructive light are seen cutting through everything in the movie - except at random intervals where they cut nothing. These are an instrument that a person should be able to use to cut their way through an entire ship, or a cave wall - and not just to turn a Bantha into a sleeping bag.

Can you imagine the damage these things would do to a Zombie Horde? Unlike most medieval weapons that stop when they hit something, a lightsaber continues through a zombie like they are not even there. That is what I call effective.

Any takers on helping me create the lightsabers we will need for a zombie apocalypse?

Science MAkes Things Happen

My apologies for the delay in zombie blogging - I have been very busy these days. Thankfully I have not been busy killing Zombies - though there are times I like the idea of how cheap real estate would be in just such an event.

Anyways, There is a Zombie Research Center in existence - yes I know that if they create zombies in the pursuit of understanding them they get voted off my island. However they did a wonderful studdy that can be found here that explains the abhorrence of zombies in a nice science-ey way. Doesn't make me feel any better but it is nice to know that people are getting paid to do what I do for free.

The vast dark desert

Driving in the desert at night elicit strange ideas. Maybe it was exhaustion, or perhaps just the silence of the road, but I have some crazy stuff go through my mind as I go along the road.

Whenever I see a semi swerve, I wonder if the are about to turn zombie- while any rational person will just be concerned about the driver being tired or something.

I always wonder if the city I am driving into is going to be okay when I arrive, that I will drive into a wasteland filled with the walking dead and a bunch of abandoned cars. How quickly can you see a stopped car at night with its lights off? What if the highway is covered with them?

There may come a day I will never leave my home.