I Just...Couldn't...Resist

Vaguely there, in the back of my mind, I knew it existed. But it took Elias posting a photo on my facebook wall to inspire me to visit my old neighborhood and check this place out.

Yeah, probably not, but more about that later. 

The above photo of the Zombie Apocalypse Store is the one I posted on my log for a nearby geocache. 

My review? The interior was smaller than I expected, but the store is still well-stocked with guns and ammunition (which I didn't look at because even if I had looked, I wouldn't be able to testify to the quality or value of same), knives, MREs, camping supplies and souvenirs. 

I picked up another Emergency Fire Starter, but beware! It was more economical on amazon.com, and I also think that the amazon version has more magnesium than the Zombie store version (obviously, I didn't know that at the time, even though I had my moderately intelligent phone [thank you, Congolese miners!] and could have checked). So...inflated prices due to the owners know you're willing to pay a bit more for a product that is combined with zombie ambiance. 

There are many, many novelty items related to the store's theme, including bumper stickers, posters, books and movies, t-shirts and even bleeding zombie targets.  

There was a heavy flow of traffic in the store from the time I arrived until the time I left. 

BY FAR, the best part about the Zombie Apocalypse Store in Las Vegas (are there any other Zombie Apocalypse Stores in other cities? I ran a google search for this and came up confused) is the little zombie-shooting range. You stand behind the counter, feed two quarters into the slot and get a fixed number of shots to aim at glowing targets. When you hit your glowing target (I know, because it took me exactly two shots each time to get each zombie), the furniture twirls or the zombie head pops up or some other interactive feature gives you positive reinforcement for your good shot. 

There was also a corner of a display case weirdly dedicated to Twinkies, and a Twinkie recipe book. 

The million-dollar question: is the zombie apocalypse store worth the $1.85 in gas that it will cost you to get from my home to the store? 

The answer is mostly yes, especially if you are a tourist here and you've gotten bored and/or lost money on the Strip, or if you live here and guests who do not know about the Zombie Apocalypse Store are coming to visit. 

The answer is no if you are seriously looking for survival items and weaponry. There are other places in town which have these things at a better value. The answer is also no if you live here and are very busy with like, say, a job or something. 

So that's that. Let me know what you think if you visit the store. Lots of people do, I think, because as I was driving home I noticed about 27 "zombie hunter: kill or be eaten" stickers on various cars around town.

Social Media and Social Action

I didn't post yesterday due to a disturbing lack of blog fodder. Then, today, I went on Facebook, and really, don't all posts begin and end with Facebook?

First of all, salz69 of Northwest Indiana geocaching fame had this image on his wall:

Thank you, salz69, for that.

And then, while scrolling down my news feed, I found a CONTEST wherein you can win an Android phone. I'm pretty sure you have to have a facebook account to participate in this contest. Sorry. Social media rules the day. You can find out more about social media here. If you are already hip to the FB, please enjoy my little story, which is an homage to the BCA/Manchester College days. If you are not hip, you need to be, so please read the January 2012 issue of Wired magazine to help you along.

Anyway, back to the contest. It's sponsored by banthephonebook.org. You have to write a comment that explains the last time you used a phone book.

Finally, to round out this themed post, ever since Miss Gokey and I attended Stargazing Seminar #1 (that's right, folks: yes I did just hyperlink my very own blog) at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, I've been following the Globe at Night Campaign on Twitter.

TONIGHT! Is the very last night! During which you can make a report for Globe at Night during 2012.

So, on that note, I will let you go get started facebooking, tweeting, commenting, reporting, or whatever else it is that you may have to do on this lovely 96-degree (in Vegas) afternoon.