The 10 things I learned from The Walking Dead

Original Photo by ewen and donabel

OK, by now most people are geeking out at the AMC TV show The Walking Dead.  It's a show about a zombie apocalypse and how a few people from the southeastern part of the USA are living in it.

So, now I get a chance to be an armchair quarterback.  In my humble opinion, it is a mediocre show.  The characters can be stupid and the situations they find themselves in have too many loop-holes.

The points I want to make are all the things that seem obvious to me in my nice warm house, with my food, water, shelter, and the knowledge that a zombie hoard is not walking through my neighborhood.

1) Don't stumble around half-naked and unarmed during the zombie apocalypse.
The main character, Rick, wakes up from a coma, to find the world he knew is gone.  Rick then stumbles out into the hall of the hospital to see all the damage, chaos, and The Dead that make up his current world.  He's supposed to be a police officer, they are supposedly trained in emergency situations.  So, rather than blundering around the hospital (and all the way home!) mostly naked in nothing more than his hospital gown, why not go back into his room and grab his clothes and shoes?  There are several military officers dead around him as he wanders the halls.  Again, police officer, why doesn't he grab a gun (or two) and some ammo?  Yes, I know, he just woke up from a coma.  Still.

2) Speaking of being armed... 
In quite a few scenes in The Walking Dead, there are plenty of dead military (possibly National Guard and Army) personnel around.  All military personnel I have ever seen are armed.  Therefore, eany, meany, miney... pick a weapon, any weapon.  We're talking pistols like The SIG P228 & P229, rifles like The M16, carbines like The M4, shotguns like The Remington Medel 870, maybe even a Heckler & Koch MP5K-PDW. You get my gist.  Guns - plenty for the taking and all the ammo needed for each one.

3) Grab a Humvee.
In all the same scenes with the dead military personnel mentioned above, there are also a lot of Humvees.  Humvees, like all military spec vehicles, are designed for open war.  They are definitely equipped for the zombie apocalypse.  If I found myself in the zombie apocalypse surrounded by abandoned military vehicles, I would be rocking a Humvee for sure.  One with a gun turret on top, with either an M60 or a Minigun mounted to it.  As long as that didn't leave me exposed to a zombie attack from above or rain.  I want to be able to camp in my Humvee.  Also, assuming I would run into more living people, I'd want to add to my military vehicle convoy.  I would love to add vehicles like a Stryker, an LVSR with trauma bay, and maybe even an LMTV.

4) Upgrade your Recreational Vehicle.
Along the lines of vehicles, let's look the civilian side too.  In The Walking Dead, Dale was the RV guy.  He drove an old 1970's Winnebago.  In the 1970's, this was a really nice RV, but now? There is no point in breaking down in the middle of nowhere during the zombie apocalypse. I'd go to the nearest RV dealership and grab a new one that is small and light. Having a small RV as opposed to a land yacht keeps the vehicle maneuverable in tight spots. I'd drive away in something like The 2013 Winnebago Via or The 2013 Winnebago View Profile.  If you are going to have to sleep in your vehicle, why not do it in style?

5) Water.
Your best bet for clean drinking water in the zombie apocalypse is a hand-pump type water well like the group uses on Hershel's farm in The Walking Dead.  During the first season of the show they camp by this rock quarry that sits up high enough that they can see the sky line of downtown Atlanta, GA.  As far as I know, water from a rock quarry isn't safe to drink unless you're filtering it or distilling it.  A better source is running water, or at least a natural lake, which still needs to be filtered or distilled.  They do run into a Sparkletts Water Truck on the highway between the quarry and farm.  That would be the ultimate find in the zombie apocalypse, a truck full of purified drinking water.  Not only is the water highly useful, but the awesome five gallon jugs can be re-used for water, fuel, whatever.  See the aforementioned hand-pump for refilling. . .

6) Strip abandoned vehicles.
Before they get to the farm, they are on the highway.  I think it is supposed to be I-85, but it doesn't matter.  There are TONS of abandoned vehicles.  All of these people were clearly trying to make a run for it.  As a result, they are all loaded to the gills with whatever the owner(s) thought was absolutely necessary.  Time to spend some quality time on the highway stripping the cars and clearing the path.  I'd take everything out of the trunk, back seat, under the seats, glove compartments, center console, etc.  I'd strip them bare.  Then lay it all out on the ground around the vehicle for everyone to pick through.  We're talking hand tools, hunting gear, fishing tackle, camping stuff, etc.  I'd also be siphoning all the gas and/or diesel fuel that I could carry.  I'd have a fuel transfer hand pump for this task.  In the show they're doing the suck on the hose until it starts flowing trick.  I don't particularly like the taste of gasoline.

7) Hunting tools.
Daryl, probably the coolest character in The Walking Dead show, is the only one equipped with a crossbow.  Just FYI - all states in the US of A have some sort of regulation on crossbows and their use for hunting, just in case you are thinking about emulating Daryl before the zombie apocalypse hits.  You'll need bolts (crossbow arrows), a scope, a quiver, a sling, and a cocking crank would be handy.  A compound bow and arrows would also be highly useful.  On top of these archery tools, a knife would be sweet.  In addition, a field dressing knife to actually skin a deer, or whatever game you may shoot, would also be a good tool to have.

8) Swords.
OK, swords don't come into play until the very last episode of season 2.  In one of the very last scenes, Andrea is saved from impending doom by Michonne.  In this scene Michonne is wielding a Katana or Samurai Sword. Odds are good you won't find a real one, though. Forgo the ceremonial stuff and stick with something more like the Woodman's Pal.  Gerber also makes a similar tool, The Gator Machete Pro.  A machete is not a sword, it is a tool used to clear brush.  At the same time, both machetes would work fine for clearing The Dead.

9) Fishing tackle.
In one of the episodes from season 1, Andrea and her sister Amy are fishing in the middle of the rock quarry.  From what I've read, fishing is tough in a rock quarry.  They're using fly fishing rods and reels like they were normal rods and reels.  Funny enough Amy and Andrea are discussing the finer points of actual fly fishing knots while they fish.  Having fishing tackle would be really useful in the zombie apocalypse.  I'd skip the fly fishing stuff, it is not practical.  I would have a spinning rod and reel combo and a small set of hard baits like Rapalas as well as a few bobbers, weights, and hooks.  I'd also add yet another knife, this time a fillet knife.

10) First Aid.
OK, let me start with the basics like Neosporin and Band-Aids.  Everybody gets cuts and bruises.  However, now they can lead to becoming a zombie.  Some type of ibuprofen (muscle relaxant) like Motrin, a Naproxen sodium (anti-inflammatory) like Aleve, and asprin like Tylenol would be good to have too.  In The Walking Dead, the whole group seems to be lacking any kind of basic first aid.  I always keep a first aid kit in my car.  I would assume that other people do too.  This is another reason to strip all the abandoned cars you come across in the zombie apocalypse.

Here I sit broken hearted. . .

Original photo by roland

I'm not really broken hearted, nor did I try to. . . well, you know the rest of the rhyme.

My hours at work have shifted and I'm very seriously contemplating commuting to work by bike.  I've already done it for a week back in March of 2012 when my truck window was vandalized.

It really isn't that bad after all.   I habitually overdressed, expecting it to be a lot colder than it really was.  At the same time, I'm OK with shedding layers.

I made my 2009 Fuji 'Cross Pro my commuter bike.  All I had to do was add the rear rack and rack "trunk".  Fenders would be OK, but I live in SoCal.  We don't see a lot of rain 9-10 months out of the year.  Plus, having had fenders on a commuter before, I know that they really drag in the wind.  So, I'm OK without fenders. 

My commute is just over 10 miles one way.  Not a crazy distance if I was going for a ride, more of a warm-up really, but for commuting that's a bit of a hike.  I know that there's plenty of people that go further than that, uphill both ways, in the snow. . .  Thankfully, most of the 10 miles is on a "river trail" as SoCal calls them.  They're completely man made, engineered, etc.  There is water in the bottom at all times of the year though.  I think at one time WAY back in the day, like the 1800's, they were natural rivers.

The only sketchy part of my ride is close to work.  The river trail dumps me out like 2 miles from work.  The roads around work are NOT bike friendly at all.  So, I stick to the sidewalk, which is sketchy too, but safer than the road.

My Fuji 'Cross Pro now calls my dad's house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan home.  So, I'm in the market, as it were.  This is the ultimate commuter right here:  The Specialized Source Eleven.  It had better be for $2750 msrp.  It has a Shimano Alfine 11speed internal hub, Supernova Infinity 8 dynamo front hub, Gates belt drive, Supernova E3 Pro 2 head light and E3 tail light 2, as well as 700c wheels, fenders, rack, and hydraulic disc brakes.

In reality, I'll probably go with something like the Scott Sub 10 and build it up from there.  I have friends in the bicycling industry that can help a brother out with specific components.  I really like the disc brakes, not necessary here in SoCal since we don't get lots of wet weather, but still sweet.  As well; the belt drive system to keep things quiet, lube-free, and prevents the infamous Cat 5 tattoo of the chainring on your calf. . .

Clothes are a whole different issue.  I'll tackle that in a different post.  Until then, happy cycling!

Turkey Day Eve

Original photo by antonellomusina

Well, here we are, the night before Thanksgiving.  I cannot believe that it's already this time of the year, again.  It really does go faster and faster each year.

This year I'm thankful for my girlfriend and her family.

Last year I spent Turkey Day with a good friend from work.  We played Ultimate Frisbee in the morning and then feasted at his parents' house at night.

Ultimate Frisbee is fun.  We played until all of us were sore and tired.

Later that day, my friend took me to his parents' house where I proceeded to ruin Thanksgiving for everyone, unintentionally. 

We started to play a charades type game and my buddy's son, who was five at the time, wanted to join too.  Mom told him no.  Dad told him no.  So, the five-year-old chose me as the weakest link and attacked there.

Well, it worked, sort of.  I, being the "adult" in the situation, refused to let the child grab hold of the timing device.  Once in my possession I started a sort of keep-away/ignore said child game.  It was not going well, because the child saw me as his equal in this, not equal to all the other "adults" most of whom (minus my buddy's parents) I am older than.  In my desperation and exasperation I raised my voice at the five-year-old telling him that "NO, means NO".

That was that.  The game was over.  Mom whisked the five-year-old away.  I, the guest in this home, the outsider, was now the bad guy.   I was THAT Guy.  You don't ever want to be That Guy.

So, this year is another year.  My buddy did invite me to play ultimate again, but did not invite me to dinner.  Se la vi.  Thankfully, I'm headed down to my girlfriend's parents' house.  Since we have been together for over a year now, I've met a lot of the extended family that lives in Southern California.  I have enough of a rapport with them that a family gathering like Thanksgiving should go OK.  Plus, I'm not an outsider this year, which is a very nice feeling.  My girlfriend likes me (I hope, ha!), so the family accepts me (in my mind) as I am.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Movember

OK, 'tis the season of giving.  In that spirit I thought I'd promote my donation site for a cause I believe in.  I'm coming in quite late to the game this year with my Movember site.  At the same time, I've been growing my mustache since the middle of October, so that end of it is covered.

Last year I started like you are supposed to.  I was clean shaven on November 1st and started to grow my 'stache from there.

I was also able to raise $1000.00 last year in one month.  Not bad, but there were some people that had some serious benefactors because they had totals in the $100,000.00 range or more.  Very impressive.

This year, I'm just trying to raise a few bucks, period. 

Movember is dedicated to supporting prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.   It is a global event, which started in Melbourne, Australia.  This quip is taken directly from the site: "During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo's, these men raise vital awareness and funds for men's health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives."

 This is the link to my donation site.  Thanks for your support.

The Color Run

Original photo by The Pug Father

A week ago my girlfriend, two of her friends, and I went down to San Diego, CA and did The Color Run.  It really is The Happiest 5k on The Planet.

Basically, it's a 5k or 3.1 mile run.  They've added spots throughout the 5k where they cover you in cornstarch that has been dyed.  The colors we ran through where pink, yellow, orange, and blue.  You get absolutely COVERED in it.

At the end of the run they have a venue and stage where everybody gets together and throws more dyed cornstarch into the air.  When we did our color throw it blocked out the sun, completely.

It was a lot of fun.

I ran in my Pearl Izumi Syncro Fuel shoes.  They're from a couple of years ago as far as the model.  I picked them up at the outlet in Dawsonville, GA.  They're sweet, really lightweight.  Mine happen to be white in color.  Thankfully, they went back to white after one wash and now they don't stink! HA!

Surfing at Bolsa Chica

Original photo by mnapoleon

So, just got back from surfing at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Southern California.  I don't like to dawn patrol it only because I get up at the crack of dawn for work.

I don't really sleep in on weekends.  Most weekends I'm up at 7am anyways.  So, today I was in the water by 9:30.  It started off nice, a few rip currents, but nothing out of the norm.

Caught one wave, one, right a the beginning and proceeded to tea-bag it the rest of the time.  Se la vi.  It got really windy and as the tide went out there were more and more rip tides.

I've had a lot of fun lately on my Meyerhoffer Lemondrop 6'8" quad.  This thing is SO fast I love it.  I honestly can only surf it for a couple of hours and then my muscles are so tired I can't stand up on it! HA!  It's awesome.


Mr. Meyerhoffer makes some sweet boards.  I think I want the Slip In. . .

First Post

So, this is my first post.  My girlfriend and her mom have been helping me out.  Basically, I'm going to rant and rave about the various sporting activities I am doing/involved with at the moment.
Lately, that's been surfing.  I am from Michigan originally, so it isn't like I grew up surfing.  My brother started to take me out and get worked when I first moved to California for college back in '96.  I didn't actually have the epiphany until I spent two months in Australia surfing a little point break every day.  It was a brilliant moment and I have had the bug ever since.
That aside, I love cycling and all related things.  Of course Viva La Lance cannot be missed in the world of cycling lately.  I'm quite over the whole thing actually.  The man is still a machine and nobody beat him for seven years straight, despite being stripped of his titles.
Well, there will be much more to come in the future, but until then keep things rubber-side down!