How to be dead

By Chance Dibben

Thursday, October 30, 2008

We are headed down a dark, strange corridor. A shakedown is coming. Maybe it’s the global warming or the manic economy, but it seems we’re tumbling toward the end. But what awaits for us at the end? Some would say ZOMBIES!

Inspired by films like George A. Romero’s Living Dead series and video games like Resident Evil, citizens dress like zombies and roam public places like parks, major city streets and bars. Called zombie walks, these outings have become popular year-round across the country and speak to the macabre in each of us.

Last year’s zombie walk in Lawrence drew only around 30 participants. Thanks to more organization through Facebook and message boards like www.zombiewalk.com, this year’s danse macabre involved an estimated 300 people. Zombie walks are not just for the 18 to 24 crowd. This year small children and older individuals took part in the lurch from South Park down Massachusetts St. and back.

These local revenants show that in the not-too-distant zombie apocalypse, if you can beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Mersmann: ‘Flesh-eating reality’ fresh alternative to current ...

People are drawn to zombies, because a world with zombies is an ...

/news/2008/mar/13/mersmann/

'Carnival of Souls'

Former KU Professor Hark Harvey directed the 1962 thriller, "Carnival of Souls."

/news/2010/feb/04/carnival-souls/

Editorial: Zombie apocalypse poses unique threat

October is Zombie Preparedness Month, and the CDC wants you to be ...

/news/2011/oct/13/zombie-apocalypse-poses-unique-threat/

Moffitt: Walking with zombies

"The Walking Dead" has something to teach about morality and civilization.

/news/2012/mar/27/walking-zombies/

Fiesta helps fund Spanish program

Last year’s fiesta gave $40,000 to St. John Catholic School to hire ...

/news/2008/jun/21/fiesta_helps_fund_spanish_program/

Carmichael: Sunday isn't fun day

Halloween just isn't the same when it falls on the first day ...

/news/2010/oct/27/carmichael-sunday-isnt-fun-day/

Downtown restaurant closes doors

On Sunday, New Hampshire St. Bistro will join the many small restaurants ...

/news/2007/nov/15/bistro/

Review: Music

/news/2005/oct/06/review_music/

Zombies to invade KU

West Campus will turn into a night of the living dead as ...

/news/2010/apr/02/zombies-invade/

Study reports on same-sex relationships in Kansas

Douglas County has the fifth highest total with 239 same-sex couples reported.

/news/2008/feb/11/study_reports_samesex_relationships_kansas/

Give 'em a break

Tone down the road rage when dealing with student ticketers

/news/2007/sep/27/give_em_break/

Nichols: Why an old person shouldn't make ...

/news/2008/sep/11/why_old_person_shouldnt_make_movie_about_facebook/

Always ready: A cop’s life

/news/2005/apr/19/news_campus_ride/

/photos/galleries/2011/oct/07/fifth-annual-zombie-walk/

Free For All: 8/22/05

/news/2005/aug/22/free_for_all/

Pope/Snyder: The first-day survival guide that you ...

/news/2008/aug/21/zombie/

Off the soccer field

Senior goalkeeper Colleen Quinn, senior midfielder/forward Emiliy Strinden, and coach Mark Francis ...

/news/2007/sep/13/Soccer/

Faculty remember where they were on 9/11

University of Kansas faculty members recall their experiences from Sept. 11, 2001, ...

/news/2011/sep/08/faculty-remember-where-they-were-911/

Destination: Spring Break

Whether you’re headed East or West, to the beach or to the ...

/news/2007/mar/08/destination_spring_break/

Sororities institute safe ride systems

/news/2005/sep/09/sorority/

Free for All: May 1, 2007

I just got done eating, and I came outside and walked behind ...

/news/2007/may/01/free_all/

Day Tripper

Discovering the beauty and oddities of rural Kansas

/news/2011/apr/14/day-tripper/

Mass. street to see environmental parade

Downtown celebration on Saturday will welcome Earth Day on Tuesday.

/news/2008/apr/18/mass_street_see_environmental_parade/

Niche clubs offer peculiar recreation

Three KU campus clubs provide unique entertainment for students.

/news/2011/aug/31/peculiar-clubs/

Running in circles

/news/2005/aug/25/running_circles/

Q&A: Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's

Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.

/news/2011/apr/07/Notice-qa-tom-higgenson-plain-white-ts/

KU works on improving cell phone signals

The potential plan with phone carriers could help eliminate dead zones and ...

/news/2009/oct/08/ku-works-improving-cell-phone-signals/

KU Bucket List

Twenty things to do before you leave KU

/news/2012/may/02/bucket-list/

Cohen: ‘Walk-and-talking’ awkward for all

Student Senate canvassing is annoying but necessary.

/news/2008/apr/15/walkandtalking_awkward_all/

Five questions: Michael Grubbs and Cassie Rupp

Two people. Five questions. See how they stack up.

/news/2010/feb/11/five-questions/

Game day goes smoothly despite construction

The Athletics Department said navigating construction was not a problem for most ...

/news/2007/sep/04/construction/

Colonel Sanders stencil artists don't want to ...

/news/2006/feb/23/venue/

Five questions

You vs. them

/news/2008/may/08/five_questions/

A writer's catharsis

/news/2005/jan/19/personal_essay/

Fifteen minutes of fame

/news/2005/feb/24/jayplay_notice_six/

Cohen: A tribute to Professor Wallace Johnson

An inspiring, memorable teacher will be missed by all who knew him.

/news/2007/nov/06/cohen/

Kansan Departments

Your guide to surviving the week.

/news/2008/jun/25/kansan_departments/

Jayhawk finishes first individually

Nate Barbee won the individual title while the team took second overall.

/news/2009/sep/30/jayhawk_finishes_first_individually/

Age doesn’t quell urge to go to ...

/news/2005/may/12/sports_column_tankard/

Arkansas’ hidden treasures

/news/2005/mar/30/sports_columns_tankard/

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