AMC's "The Walking Dead" ~ Season 3 Premieres....

AMC ~ The Walking Dead

AMC just announced that Season 3 of "The Walking Dead" will air on Sunday, October 14th at 9/8c.  The third season will consist of 16 episodes being aired in two~parts, the second will return in February, 2013.

TWD will return to audiences in 120 plus FOX International Channels internationally during the week of October 15th as part of the FIC's continued commitment to broadcast the series.

The series premiere will coincide with AMC's 16th Fearfest marathon which will feature 19 consecutive days of themed programming and more than 70 films which will air from Saturday, October 13th through to Wednesday, October 31st.

Greg Nicotero ~ The Walking Dead's F/X Genius~!!

Greg Nicotero, Co~Executive Producer and Special F/X Make~up Designer is always finding new and innovative way to bring the dead to life.  Season 3 of The Walking Dead is sure to be jam~packed with undead ghouls as Nicotero puts his magic to the test.

In this behind~the~scenes video, we watch as Nicotero tours his KNB EFX studio while showing off some of his more memorable zombies from the series as well as revealing a few tricks he has come up with to "bash, crush, smash, just destroy some of our walkers" from the upcoming season.

Inside The Walking Dead's Barn Scene ~ Season 2 Episode 7

"It's not easy creating a zombie massacre~!!"  

The cast and crew of The Walking Dead discuss the creation of the biggest climax to date in Season 2.

Visual FX Inside "The Walking Dead"~!!

Did you know that many of the effects we see on The Walking Dead are actually created by the wonders at Stargate Studios.  No, I am not kidding~!!  All those massive walker herds, the CDC building exploding, the prison that looms in the background, they all add to the overall creative process that we have come to know and love.

In this behind~the~scenes video, Visual FX Supervisor, Victor Scalise, will walk you through the 3D effects that have been added to the apocalyptic world of "The Walking Dead."  

"As we hope with most of our work", he says, "You don't know they're computer generated."

And don't miss The Walking Dead ~ Season 3 Preview Weekend on July 7~8 on AMC.

Merle Dixon Returns to Season 3 of The Walking Dead

Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker) will be returning to Season 3 of The Walking Dead sporting a new hand accessory~!!

Fans have been wondering what happened to Merle, the neo~nazi brother of fan favourite, Daryl Dixon.  After being left handcuffed on a roof top in Season 1; Merle has been not mentioned once and every episode has left viewers wondering if he was a zombie or found another group to infiltrate.  

Season Three is expected to be a exciting and fans are anxious to see what is in store for the Atlanta survivors~!!

Top 5 Movies With Public Health Disasters

cc licensed flickr photo shared by scragz

Hollywood has always had a passion for the theme of public health disasters, and moviegoers for the most part cannot get enough of these films. There are many to choose from, but this list picks the following 5 as the best public health disaster movies:

1) Contagion
This movie was released in 2011 and is such an epic masterpiece that it made its way onto the blog of the Center For Disease Control (CDC) itself. It starts innocently enough with a casino chef preparing a pig for one of his meals. He is interrupted by a businesswoman, and a handshake is all it takes to set off a global epidemic as the contagion spreads. A pig-bat virus leads to millions of deaths as characters search for means to stop the spread.

2) The Crazies
A 2010 movie that resembles many of the zombie apocalypse films that have become so common place. The story is action packed and keeps the viewer on the edge of his seat hoping that small-town Iowa inhabitants can make an escape from the epidemic that was spread through an infected water supply. The movie has somewhat of a gimmicky ending, but the plot seems to make up for it. There is also a 1973 version that is worth a watch if this one suits the appetite.

3) Outbreak
This one is a classic from 1995. The star-filled cast includes Dustin Hoffman and Morgan Freeman. Virologists search for the host animal that started the outbreak and are left with more questions than answers as they begin to unravel a government conspiracy to bomb the town that is subject to the outbreak. Quick thinking is key in the excellent storyline in the race to solve the mystery before the town is swept clean.

4) Splinter
This movie is what one gets when a couple and an escaped convict are placed in a gas station with a deadly parasite. Fighting to escape the doom of becoming infected and evolving into hosts, this movie is more on the terror side than the previous entries. Zombies and the parasitic splinter make for fun for the whole entourage as a series of character's lives are cleverly intertwined as their goal becomes the same.

5) Blindness
This movie has an interesting take on an epidemic. Rather than becoming zombies, victims are disabled by a sudden white blindness if they are infected. A "society of the blind" is created by the victims who have been quarantined to their own portion of society, and it becomes a free for all survival story. The protagonist infiltrates the camp while keeping her vision, and it is that secret which becomes the key to the blind society's liberation.

Public health outbreaks certainly make for some of the more interesting plot devices. Good renditions leave viewers wonder whether something similar could happen in their real lives. Technology and viruses are mutating into things never seen before, and so, may the world is not far away from such a scenario.

Lindsay Foote is a trauma nurse and guest contributor at MPH Online, a site with information about getting a masters degree in public health.

The Walking Dead ~ Season 3 SWEEPSTAKES~!!

Who doesn't LOVE zombies~??  I adore them...well, in principal...I'm not so sure I'd be as groovy about them ifn they were real...hmmm...then again...heh heh~!!

Check out the video and Enter to WIN a chance to attend the Season 3 Series Premiere Screening~!!

THAT would be a beauty prize to win~!!

Real Estate Investor's Guide To Selling A Zombie Fortified Home

With the threat of a zombie attack looking more and more real in today’s uncertain world, having a well-fortified home is an absolute necessity. Real estate investors understand the need to sell homes that buyers are seeking, so why not a zombie fortified home for those enthusiasts looking to be prepared? Zombie fortified dwellings don’t always scream "buy me" as buyers, even those preparing for the end of days, prefer homes that look attractive. Following are a few tips and ideas to make any home more fortified against a zombie apocalypse while remaining visually appealing for the still living. 

Highlight the Best Features
This is good advice no matter what type of home you are selling. Any dwelling capable of repelling an attack by the living undead will have its positive features. Suburban homes are already built in good neighborhoods and hooked up to running water and electricity. They are also attractive, spacious and easy to modify. Try to downplay the fact that these homes will be right at ground zero when the time comes.

Bunkers and castles are very sturdy, and castles also have the added charm of turrets and a moat to stop the mindless undead. They are also built in strategic and easily defensible locations so homeowners can see the zombie attack coming for miles. When the question of upkeep and heating costs arises, focus on the long-lasting, reliability of the stone walls.

Location! Location! Location!
Savvy real estate investors can always play up the positive aspects of a home’s location. It doesn’t matter where buyers are living when the zombie horde arrives, these investors will already have made the sale. In suburban and city areas, point out the close proximity of conveniences like gas stations, schools and grocery stores. Also point out that buyers will be more likely to find and band up with other survivors in these high-population areas. In the countryside, focus on the freedom, room to grow crops and start new communities. Also point out that there will be fewer roving zombies to worry about and lots more time to spot them before they get close enough to eat homeowners.

If real estate investors happen to be dealing with recreational vehicles (RVs), they can point out their mobility. Owners have the conveniences of home no matter where they go. Just don’t mention the low miles per gallon and complications that come from running out of gas.

With a little forethought, investors can spin any location to show its positive benefits. Just remember to make that sale and get the heck out the area before zombies attack.

Improvements to Raise Property Value
Finally, investors should suggest that current owners make a few improvements to the property. Improved fortification can help raise the value of any dwelling. Consider adding extra defenses to a property to keep out the undead. Things such as bars on the windows, heavy locking shutters, stone walls, and metal fences are all instant ways of adding value.

The more long-term survival minded will appreciate other additions to the home. Adding a back up power generator and rainwater collection system increases the odds of survival for any homeowner. Those that want to maintain their current quality of life will love solar power panels or wind power added to a property to supply electricity indefinitely.

Selling a zombie fortified home before the apocalypse is easy. Investors just need to understand how their buyers think and how they can play up the positive features of any fortified dwelling. Look at the best features of the property. Play up the positive sides of location. Consider adding improvements. The important part is making the sale sooner rather than later. We don’t all live forever.

Photo Credit: Paul Goyette via Flicker Creative Commons

About the author: When not catching late night zombie flicks and preparing for World War Z,  Sam is a real estate agent for great neck apartments.

AMC's The Walking Dead ~ Season 3 Updates

The Walking Dead's Season 3 Location Manager chats with AMCtv.com about what makes the South well suited for horror and where he would go if the world ended.

Dispatches From the Set ~ Location Manager Mike Riley

AMC Announces The Walking Dead Season 3 Preview Weekend ~ July 7 & 8

AMC The Walking Dead Marathon

AMC's ~ The Walking Dead Social Game ~ Sneak Peek

This video highlights some of the features to the upcoming Walking Dead Social Game~!!

Zombie Insurance for Your Home

In many parts of the country it is necessary for homeowners to have disaster insurance of some form or another. For instance, in California you might purchase earthquake or fire insurance or in Florida you might opt for hurricane or flood insurance.  However, did you know that over 95% of American’s lack insurance from the most certain of all impending disasters? We aren’t talking tornadoes or meteor showers here, this is far worse, we are talking about a zombie apocalypse. 

The sad truth is that most people are woefully unprepared for such an event and when it does happen, only the well prepared will even have a chance of survival.  There are no guarantees of survival, but there are some steps you can take to help yourself out.

The best thing you can do is to have a safe house out in the country or somewhere remote.  Ideally up in the mountains or a in deep, secluded forest.  This will provide cover as well as easy access to firewood to keep your warm in the long winters. It should also be equipped with well water and fully stocked with supplies.  At first sign of the apocalypse you should escape to your safe house. Let’s be honest though taking out a second mortgage to buy a safe house is a luxury few can afford.  Let’s focus on your current home instead.

Think of your home as your castle, because once things get bad, it pretty much will be.  You need to be able to weather the siege of assailants who may come against you at any moment.  First, go to Home Depot or a lumberyard and purchase plywood, 2x4’s and nails. You will need to board up every window and door as much as you can.  Put all the heavy furniture you can in front of them as well. You will need to leave at least one emergence exit that you can get out of quickly but you need to keep it covered, lightly boarded and well hidden.

IF help arrives at all, which it probably won’t, but if it does it may take weeks to do so.   Therefore you need to stock up as much food, water and medicine you as you can.  Be sure to ration things out the best you can. Purchase fuel and store it as well.  Emergency wind up flashlights that do not require batteries are an excellent purchase as well.  If you have to leave in a hurry the fuel will be needed for your truck. 

I cannot express this enough, you need to turn one room into a panic room.  This should be somewhere defensible like a basement or second story room if possible.  Reinforce the walls and double barricade the windows and doors. Place most of you supplies in this room. If worse comes to worse, this is your last line of defense.

Finally, stock up on weapons and ammo, they will be your best friend. Generally speaking, shotguns and swords can make quick work out of zombies, but handguns, rifles and even chain saws can work. Whatever you can get your hands on, use it. It is important to have at least one quiet weapon that doesn’t need fuel or ammo , like an axe, since conservation and stealth will be your best way of staying alive.

Despite all of this your odds of surviving a zombie apocalypse are still pretty slim, but at least this will give you a chance. Which is more than most people will have.

Jeff Jordan lives, breathes, fights the undead and writes in sunny Southern California. He mainly writes about zombies. automobiles, mortgage refinancing and pop culture.  He would write about romance and dating but it shoud be obvious he knows nothing about it.

The Strange World Of Zombie Walks

The rise of the internet and social networking has helped encourage the spread of some pretty weird and wonderful activities, but perhaps none as eccentric as ‘Zombie Walks’. For those of you that haven’t heard of this phenomenon, it basically refers to any organized event where zombie fanatics meet up dressed as the undead, and then proceed to go on a walk through a pre-determined route. Most of the walks take place in busy metropolitan centres. The zombie walkers pay a lot of attention to the quality and authenticity of their zombie outfits, and go to great lengths to perfect their zombie walking style and zombie moaning. As you can imagine, the sight of 80 to 100 zombies walking through your town centre is enough to strike the fear of god into most people, and the activity has created quite a lot of controversy as a result!

So how did this strange phenomenon come about in the first place? Well, the very first zombie walk was held back in 2001 in Sacramento, in the United States. It was organised by Bryna Lovig and it held the official title of ‘The Zombie Parade’. The event was so successful that it quickly became an annual event in the city. This first walk was actually commercial in nature- the idea was to promote a specific film festival in the area, but the idea was soon taken up by non-commercial organisations as well. As time has passed the zombie walks have become more and more sophisticated. Some of the walkers even ‘re-enact’ scenes from classic zombie films! In such cases people will be designated the task of acting ‘the victim’- they will wear easily ‘tear-able’ human clothes, and upon a specific signal these poor victims will be ‘attacked’ by the mob of zombies. Of course, this is all staged, but must be one hell of a sight nonetheless!

In recent years the phenomenon has gained even greater popularity (some would say notoriety) to the extent that most big international cities have now played host to such events. There’s no doubt that popular social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, have helped to spread the word. The current world record for the biggest zombie walk stands at 9,806 participants, a record that was set in November 2011 in Mexico, but even now there are plans for a Zombie Walk with over 20,000 participants!

Although the exact motivation behind this activity can only be guessed at, one thing is for sure. This is one phenomenon that’s here to stay! Let’s just hope that the zombies don’t take over the entire planet!

About Matt

Matt runs a site that is dedicated to finding the very best zombie costumes and accessories out there. You’ll also find one or two zombie related articles there as well! You can find the site at:

http://www.scaryzombiecostumes.co.uk

How to Survive a Zombie Attack

It's bizarre to think that los of us take this issue quite seriously. We've been fed so much from films about zombies and viruses that spread around, taking people over. I think it's all gone to our heads a bit, and we think it's a genuine threat.

So much so, that I have even created a survival guide, based on how people manage to survive in the films. Whether you really take this advice... well I'll leave it to you to decide whether you really want to take heed - maybe print it out and keep it in your pocket?

DO's

Do keep a TV on to help you assess the situation. Many seem to find it prudent to turn off the TV in the middle of a broadcast in order to have a moment's silence to absorb the information. They're insane! Knowledge is power, so keep the television on, assuming a zombie connected disaster hasn't taken out the national grid.

Do keep a weapon with you at all times. Presuming you don't own a gun, some of the best ones to go for are metal poles with a makeshift pointy end. Nice and sturdy, and helps keep you at some distance from the disease ridden zombies. Curtain poles are perfect.

Do remember this: "remove the head or destroy the brain". This is the only way to kill zombies properly, so if you're with other people, try and form a team with specialised methods. You can poke the zombie around with the curtain pole to slow him down a bit, and someone else can have a sledge hammer to bash his head in. If they're still not eliminated, someone else can deal with chopping the head off with an axe. Simples!

Do keep a survival rucksack with you at all times, with some long-life food, and don't ever take it off to have a 'wander round'.

Do stick together with the group you're with, and never 'split up' to find something. If you encounter another group of people, take great care. Try and observe them from a distance to assess if they're trustworthy.

DON'T's

Have you barricaded yourself into a room with boards nailed to doors and windows so the zombies can't get to you? Well for god's sake, DON'T put your head next to a gap in the boards. After a tense moment or two, a zombie hand will emerge at alarming speed and they will manage to somehow break through and eat you alive.

Don't even think about looking outside through the gaps, or you will get infected blood splattered onto your eyeballs.

Don't blindly take government advice, which could actually lead to disaster. How do you know that the government isn't corrupt and actually wants you dead, by giving you instructions that lead you to danger?

Don't talk loudly. You're supposed to be QUIET so that zombies won't know you're there, so for the love of god, keep your voice down!

Don't let people endanger you. If someone's kicking off and endangering the safety of the group, you'll have to take the situation into your own hands and take them down.

Dealing with zombies is a dangerous business and you should think through your own personalised plan to survive an attack. How long the attack will last is something else to worry about since you don't know what ruthless ideas the government have to contain the virus. But, if you hang in there, keep up the moral of the group, and don't do stupid things, you should be fine.

The Alternative Store are retailers of Iron Fist clothing and shoes such as the popular Iron Fist Zombie designs.

Zombies We Remember~!!

When you give a zombie a name, one tends to remember that zombie~!! It's much easier talking about a zombie with a name instead of describing..."you know...the one that was eating the leg with the tennis shoe on it." I mean, that doesn't make for great conversation, especially when everyone could have a different perception of that scene...who knows how many legs get chomped on in any given zombie movie. Some of the more memorable zombies that come to mind have all been given names or have names attributed to them...this is by no means a full list, just a few that I thought of off the top of my head...I would love to hear of any that I may have missed~!! 

 1. Bub ~ Day of the Dead ~ 1985

Not only is Bub the favourite amongst zombie afficianados for his somewhat understanding and caring character...but he also the only zombie to have ever uttered a phrase in saying..."Hello Aunt Alicia" as well, some die hard fans even believe Bub mutters an "I'm Sorry" when Sarah enter's Logan's lab and she is frightened when Bub steps out of the shadows.  

2.  Fido ~ Fido ~ 2006

"Is that blood on your zombie?"  Fido is a Canadian zombie comedy film directed by Andrew Currie.  This approach to a zombie alternate universe, in which zombies were controlled via remote collars, was received with mixed reviews.  Owning your own zombie has never been so hilarious~!!

3.  Tammy ~ Fido ~ 2006

Who can forget Fido's, "Tammy"...the next~door neighbour's, Mr. Theopolis', necrophiliac zombie love?  She deservedly needs a mention as being the only female zombie to have a memorable name.  Love finds itself the strangest places to shoot its arrows too...

4.  Stubbs the Zombie ~ Wideload Games ~ 2005

Its the Great Depression and Eddie Stubbs is a mild~mannered salesman when the zombie outbreak occurs.  His love Maggie Monday is his heart's desire and he will do anything for her brains...erm...her heart...yeah, that's right~!!  Stubbs has great music flavour which decidedly makes up for his lack of personal hygiene.

5.  Ed ~ Shaun Of The Dead ~ 2004

Got to enjoy the comedic antics of Ed before AND after his death...it's too bad he still cheats at video games and Ed...really??  Did you HAVE to??  Ewwww~!!

BOOK REVIEW: Zombies Don't Cry by Rusty Fischer

Zombies Don't Cry:  A Living Dead Story ~ Book One

Author:  Rusty Fischer
Reading Level:  Ages 12 & Up
Paperback:  300 pages
Publisher:  Medallion Press (May 1, 2011)

In the sleepy town of Barracuda Bay, Maddy Swift leads the life of a fairly typical teenager, but while attending a party one night, Maddy is struck by lightning and awakens to realize she has been reanimated and turned into a zombie.  

While becoming acquainted with her new "lifestyle", Maddy stumbles upon two unexpected undead chaperones, fellow students, Dane and Chloe, who begin to teach her the ways of zombie life, including defending the populace from Zerkers~the bad zombies.  

Together, on Prom Night, the three teens must ultimately defend Barracuda Bay High from an all~out zombie Armageddon.

I love the writing style of author, Rusty Fischer, it is easy to read, often times comical and his main characters are heart~warming to follow.

I loved Maddy and her awakening into the zombie world, where she is unsure of her next move but glad to have her Zombie Guide in case she screws it all up.  I love her honesty and her approach to zombies, from renting B~grade zombie movies to just winging it as she goes along, it was enjoyable to this reader.

I loved that zombies have been given personalities and a can fall in love, get angry, worry...they just cannot cry.  I love the different classes between the zombies, with zombies now being those who have died by a certain circumstance and have found themselves reanimated versus those who have been bitten, such as, zerkers.  It often makes for a comical outlook with some gore thrown in for good measure.

I love zombies and would read anything on them and Zombies Don't Cry is worthy of four out of five stars for its genre.  I was quite impressed with the story, the characters and the new classifications of zombies that Fischer has incorporated.

I'm still out on the whole Guardian/Sentinel aspect of things.  I wish Fischer had given a bit more back story into these two entities as it was their involvement that left the most holes for me.  However, I'd love to read more by Rusty Fischer, he makes zombies good~!!

**  Reviewed by me...as I see it~!!  **

Day 12 ~ Holiday Gift Guide ~ Vamplets ~ Baby Vampyres

Jarl LaMort, part of the marketing team that developed the 2004 Spice Mice, came up with the idea for Vamplets Baby Vampyres, a line of plush Vampyre dolls, after being bitten by a notion... 

What was it like to live life as a Baby Vampyre?

ARV $19.95 USD

LaMort, and Baby Vampyre plush designer, G-Ra (who redeveloped Hasbro's 1995 Little Pet Shop line), who had also been working on plans for a similar line, decided to combine both of their efforts to create this spectacular new line of plush toys for both girls and boys.

Vamplets and Vampets are residents of Gloomvania, an online community where people can interact and even create and customize tombstones.

Introducing the Vamplets:

Evilyn Nocturna

Burton Creepson Jr.

Count Vlad Von Gloom

Midnight Mori

Cadaverson Nightshade

Lily Rose Shadowlyn

Count Vlad Von Gloom

It is said that Count Vlad is descended from the direct line of Count Dracula.  Thus making him born from a royal line and somewhat arrogant in his nature.

Count Vlad has an insatiable appetite and is never fully fed, even after he has just nourished.  It is advisable to keep a warm bottle of blood nearby for his development.

ARV $5.95 USD

Vlad is VERY fussy about his appearance and even the slightest drop of blood upon his diapers will put him into a devilishly diva~trastic tantrum.   Now, if a tantrum does occur, make sure you place him quickly on his favourite toy, his bed of nails.

Not only are you able to purchase your Vamplets, but they also carry the perfect accessories, like the Disappearing Bottle of Blood for your new Baby Vampyre to enjoy.  As well as, women's and children's tee shirts and onesies which portray the adorable ghoulish Baby Vampyre's and catchy sayings.

My Thoughts~!!

I think the Vamplets ~ Baby Vampyre Plush Dolls are just the cutest creepy I have ever encountered.  They are really really cute and I believe that the pictures do not do them any justice. 

I recently reviewed Count Vlad Von Gloom and he comes in a coffin package.  I also received the disappearing bottle of blood and its pretty neat how it disappears and gives the effect of actually being drunk by the Baby Vampyres.  An excellent upgrade to a product of the past, very ingenious~!!

My son really took to this doll and my husband didn't have any problems with his using one, Count Vlad appeals to boys and I feel it will help enable him to be a better father one day as it is teaching him how to nuture and bond, something that is often lacking in boys "shoot 'em and shove 'em" type toys being marketed.  I liked the fact that it allowed the masculine men in my family to be able to participate with the doll as they have done and I am fairly certain it will become a new bedtime companion for my son.  My seven year old loves zombies and this appeals to his slightly macabre side of his nature without going overboard.

He isn't that heavy and feels great to touch.  The green tint around is eyes gives him a certain undead appeal to his milky white skin which is charming.  And his little leather like diaper has skull upon it for added effect.  Everything is embroidered and stitched with finesse and there were no little seams or threads poking out of the workmanship.

I found the customer service to be ghoulishly groovy and they were a friendly group to work with, even though I had to bring garlic to most of our meetings, one can never be to safe.  It was shipped in a timely and efficient manner and I cannot really find anything negative to say, which is good, in my honest opinion.

And did I mention the price of these gorgeous little Vampyres was ONLY $19.95 plus S/H~!!  Being a frugal mom, that is one sweet selling price~!!

** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

Day 10 ~ Holiday Gift Guide ~ My Zombie Insurance

My Zombie Insurance is the ORGINAL and #1 zombie insurance provider in the world, recommended by home builders, general insurance companies, and undertakers.

How does My Zombie Insurance protect you from costly, unexpected zombie-related bills? Here are a few ways:

My Zombie Insurance is the Original:  As with any brilliant idea, there are copycats, and My Zombie Insurance has no shortage of copycats lately. Do you want the best? Do you want the original? Look no further than MZI.

Coverage for Life: Once you're insured, you're covered for life. No renewal necessary, no renewal fees or yearly fees. You're all set.

Coverage Beyond Your Regular Insurance: General insurance companies do not cover you in case of a zombie-related incident. Just as you would purchase flood insurance in addition to your homeowners insurance, zombie insurance is an important supplement to any general or umbrella insurance plan.

No Dollar or Time Limits Per Claim: Some policies only pay up to a certain amount to cover a zombie-related injury or property damage, which means that once that amount is reached, you are stuck paying for the remaining cost. Instead, My Zombie Insurance policies have annual limits that are fully reinstated each year, regardless of previous claims.

You Can Afford to Get Insured. For only $9.99 (our Special Sale Price, regular price is $12.95), you get zombie insurance for life. You will receive your insurance card, proof of insurance certificate (with room for your name), and "Protected By" window decal to ward off potential zombie attacks. Shipping is free.

Zombie Insurance is simple and necessary. Zombie attacks have been on the rise for years, so it is important to be prepared. It will save you both time and money if you need to repair your house, replace your stuff, or fix your car after the zombies come through your neighborhood.

Does my policy cover my personal health? Our plans only cover zombie-related attacks that result in damage to your physical property — such as your house, car, iPod, comic book and/or Cosmopolitan collections, Star Wars DVDs, and all your other stuff that your regular insurance companies don't cover in the event of a zombie attack. Not to worry though, your health insurance will cover any injuries you may incur from a zombie (just tell them it was a living person).

My Thoughts~!!

This is a really groovy idea~!!  I love the concept and seeing as we are all zombie crazy in my house, this makes the perfect gift~!!

I received a certificate, a sticker decal and a Zombie insurance card to carry in my wallet or pocketbook.  Its hard plastic, tough and durable and states that the bearer of this card has their possessions protected from Zombie invasion.

Now, with the CDC setting up survival books in case of a Zombie Apocalypse, you wouldn't want to leave your mass of wordly possessions to be destroyed in the event your house is over run or you have your BlackBerry destroyed as it flew out of your pocket during a Zombie attack.

My husband was thrilled to receive the card and together we could see more marketing opportunities for such.  Not only tee shirts, which My Zombie Insurance does offer, we were thing plush toys, board games and all kinds of My Zombie Insurance novelties.

I found the customer service to be friendly and excellent and the product arrived in a timely manner~!!  These would make EXCELLENT gifts for that Zombie lover on your holiday wish list or if you need something for that "hard to buy" someone~!!  Their future survival may depend upon it~!!

Now, My Zombie Insurance and we here at The Marsh, would love to give TWO of you the chance to WIN a My Zombie Insurance Package for their VERY own...

Isn't that ghoulishly groovy??

Holidays of the Dead – Top Destinations For Zombie Lovers

I’m feeling quite, abandoned shall we say.  It was ever since I was in the middle of a debate over a holiday destination with friends recently. I made the mistake of lamenting aloud over the dearth of zombie themed holidays. At the same time, I discovered a newfound talent to empty a room of friends within seconds.

So now I find myself perusing the single holidays sections of various tour operators in the vain hope of fulfilling my dream, or nightmare as it may sound to you.

I’m sure you see my point. We can tour America, cruise the Caribbean and visit the ancient castles of Europe but we can’t actually trek in the footsteps of zombies.

Grand Canyon

Don’t get me wrong, I can see the undoubted attractions of the options out there. I’d love nothing more than to gasp at the Grand Canyon, boogie on down at a jazz night in New Orleans (can you boogie to jazz? Hey I’ll try) and empty my sparse bank account in the casinos of Las Vegas.  But …

I’ve been aware of my burgeoning fixation of late for films falling into the zombie genre, particularly those with an ‘of the dead’ suffix in their title.  Therapy is pointless and I understand I’m not alone. The success of the TV series The Walking Dead is proof that we need them in our lives.  Rumours also abound that Natalie Portman will be starring in a Pride and Prejudice with zombies adaptation.

Land of the Dead

It’s not a gore-fest thing. I’ve felt sorry for zombies for quite a while. Not only are they cursed to live forever, most of them can only manage a limping, bowed shuffle at best. What’s worse, they enter zombiedom in the clothes they are doomed to wear for eternity, so we have zombie clowns, zombie teachers and even a zombie Burt Reynolds look-a-like in Land of the Dead.

If you look closely next time you visit your discount supermarket, you’ll see a few lurking in the shadows attempting to pass themselves as humans.

We are bombarded with zombie board games, zombie computer games, zombie posters, zombie costumes and even zombie cakes! But no zombie holidays.

So here are my suggestions for a short zombie tour:-

Land of the Dead

Land of the Dead – see the town where they shoot fireworks into the sky and zombies cease their pursuit of human flesh to gaze in awe.  Nifty trick, that.

Dance of the Dead

Dance of the Dead – gaze at the garage where the band played on and stopped lumbering zombies in their tracks.

Diary of the Dead

Diary of the Dead – visit the hospital where hapless students took their friend Mary to try and save her, only to find it infested with zombies!

Dawn Of The Dead

Dawn of the Dead – explore the shopping mall where zombies shuffled in time (ish) to the tune of The Gonk. ‘The Ladies’ Bras’ lyrics were affectionately added afterwards. Look it up on Youtube, I guarantee you won’t stop singing it all day.

Bub

Now meet your tour guide, Bub, the world’s most intelligent and docile zombie and hero of Day of the Dead.

Dead Snow

One to avoid : the risible Dead Snow. What was that about? Where were the shuffling undead that we’ve come to know and love? Where was the humour? Nasty Nazi zombies and clueless teens talking in subtitles? Never a good look.

Alas, it’s not to be.  Instead, I’ll continue to search for activity holidays and live in hope that a like-minded tour operator will one day seize the opportunity and fill such a desperate gap in the market.  At least there’s the chance to go alien hunting in Roswell while I wait and who knows what we might find there!

Katie is an avid gamer with a passion for travel, writing and searching for the opportunity to head out on a zombie tour