A person account of the zombie flashmob!
The zombie mob started at California and Grant. The mob being a bunch of brainless zombies roamed in circles for at least half an hour. I was able to avoid being bitten by taunting them with my camera. The zombies then proceeded to stream down Grant Street. They were unable to get through the tough metal of oncoming traffic but they weren’t giving up. They blocked traffic. They caused mayhem. They caused tourists to scream. But fear not, they didn’t eat the tourists! No BRRRAAIIINNNNSSS there!
The mob made it to market street where they were able to capture more of the local zombies. During all of this, a live hip hop video about zombies was being made. They used the zombies as a backdrop while they rapped about eating brains.
By god at this point, we had a ROT of zombies. That’s what you call a gathering of shamblers that eat brains. A rot.
The zombies continued their rampage and they made it to the trolley cars of Powell street. At this point, I was separated from a number of the zombies for my own safety. They had attempted to eat me despite my camera blocking their pathetic attempts. I ran for my life and the group split in two. They followed to Union Square where they continued to eat innocent bystanders. I got word from a friend being chased by the other zombies that she was safe for the moment at Powell Street station. I ran to distract the other zombies in hopes they would leave the other poor people alone. When I made it back to the station, I found that I was trapped. My friend had been caught and she was turned. I ran for my life.
I was able to get back to Union square where I ran into the St. Francis Drake. Apparently the zombies got wind of this because someone mentioned a labor strike that was broken. Fresh scabs you see. They infested the hotel lobby and i ran through the theater conference in hopes of escaping but I was followed. I was able to evade them again but I ran into their leader at the door to the hotel while running. They again followed me into Union Square where I ran this time towards a different entrance to the local MUNI.
I received word that a local apple store was near. I knew that if I went into the store, I would be able to escape. They would see the Genius bar and be tricked into eating their differently thinking large brains. While this did fool the zombies briefly, it did not last for long. They caught me leaving the store. Only by the brim of my hat was I able to escape as I beat one of them to death with it? What is it when you beat a zombie until it stops twitching? They were so close, I could smell everyone of them. It was horrifying. I was panicking and I was covered in blood.
I ran into the MUNI station and I realized they thought I was one of them. I lead them to the BART station. I explained in a few grunts and motions how to purchase a ticket. They used their money wisely and bought return tickets much to my dismay. I was hoping and wishing that my trick to leave them in Colma would work but I knew I was already foiled. I had to at the very least get them away from the public. I hope that if I could lead them onto the train and bring them to Colma, I could at least escape with my life.
While we waited for the train, the zombies began to eat children. I said, “think of the children! Stop! Stop! Is nothing scared?!” Clearly the zombies knew that children are the freshest source of blood. I was surprised that Jesus didn’t show up or Lazarus for that matter. What with those two being the first zombies ever. Or were they vampires? I forget.
Where was I?
Oh yes. Then the police came.
We were surrounded by the police in the BART station. They had white plastic latex gloves on and were obviously there on some business. The little children zombies were fighting to eat their soon to be undead friends. The police looked to me as if I was responsible. Little did they know how close they were to death. These zombies would eat their brains if they had any. Lucky for the police, when they asked me where the seizure victim was, I knew they had none. It was hard for me to withhold my laughter when they inquired about the seizure victim. Obviously they missed out on the pack of zombies now pounding on a newly arrived BART train directly in front of them. Someone had reported them as if they weren’t purposely eating peoples brains.
When the doors of the next Colma bound BART opened, I ran inside. The zombies followed because I had shouted BRAINS BRAINS BRRRAAAIINNS BRRRRRRAAAAAIIIIINNNNSSSSS. Once inside the car, they turned more people into zombies. More innocent lives were lost and I will live forever with this guilt.
When we arrived at Colma, they were confused. They saw no people and they could taste no more fresh brains. When they saw me waiting for the next San Francisco bound train, I knew I was cooked. I was as good as eaten. Luckily for me the train arrived shortly after they began their jaunt down the stairs to eat my brains.
As the train pulled away, I signaled to a police officer who saw the zombie horde coming directly at me. The doors had closed and he didn’t fire a shot to save me. The bastard. I was able to run through the train and avoid them. I tried to warn the other on the train but no one listened. Once they saw the zombies, they screamed. One sleeping man looked as if he would have a heart attack and yet he was entirely silent when he wet his pants.
I continued my run through the train. When I reached the end of the train, I was able to fake being already dead. They surrounded me but all of them began to lounge. They made zombie lounge sounds. Something like “Brraaaainnnsssss.”
When I heard this tone of brains being said, I knew their plan. They were going to eat the people in the Mission district. Their plan was to go to Pancho-Brain-Oh. I’m sure this wasn’t the correct name but apparently it has vegetarian brains. Vegan zombies!
When they exited the BART, I pretended to be one of them. They were so slow they didn’t even know that I wasn’t. Amazing.
At this point, many questions came into my mind. Where did they come from and why do they like Mexican food? Why is it that I’m wearing this stupid Panama hat covered in blood?
We made it to Pancho Villa on 16th and Valencia. I explained to my zombie friends how to wait in line. Nearly all of them ate Vegetarian burritos.
Suddenly, I saw something strange, one of them put their face on the table. Then the next and the next and the next. As suddenly as they had come alive, they had dropped dead from lack of tasty flesh in their mouth.
This time, I was able to escape in a leisurely manner and come home to wash all the blood off.
With great regret,
Jacob Appelbaum
Photos located here:
http://flickr.com/photos/ioerror/sets/685972/
http://crypto.nsa.org/zombies/
http://crypto.nsa.org/zombies/zombies.html
Great account, Jacob! Here’s mine.
Very cool. Mine’s here, for what it’s worth.
some bay area residents must have been infected in montreal last month? …
Totally unrelated! Montreal rocks!
Excellent account and great photos.
I had hoped to have a report on this for my zine that covers science fiction events in the Bay Area, but my correspondent couldn’t make it at the last minute.
Is there any chance I could reprint your article and a few photos for my next issue?
Great story. Next time add your Chinese sidekick How Fun to the mix.
I have three questions.
1. Are flashmobs still going on in some places? I thought that shit was over in 2004.
2. Who the fuck are these people to have the time and inclination to wander around pretending to be zombies? Unless this was a publicity stunt, these people are the saddest fucking dorks I’ve seen since the Star Wars douche.
3. If yuo are out in broad daylight with paint on your face pretending to be a zombie, and it’s not Hallowe’en and you are not entertaining kids, WAYSA?
Father_jack,
To respond in order:
1. Yes. This a type of flashmob I suppose, I really should have just called it a ‘mob’ but it was very adhoc, hence flashmob.
2. It wasn’t a publicity stunt, it was a for fun of those involved and those around. These people are wacky, zany and fun. I mean, I hate to say it but you’re a dork wasting your time reading a weblog that’s featuring these so called ‘dorks.’ Pot meet kettle. We all have different values for dorks I suppose.
3. I’m really sorry that these peoples lives remind you don’t have one. Next time we do something strange, we’ll run it by you and make sure you don’t consider it stupid. Oh wait, we won’t. You’re a jackass! My mistake!
4. Cacophony has been having events of similar nature for what, a decade or so? What makes you so hot and bothered about this one?
I prefer to call this one a fleshmob.
Ohhhhh…..my friend passed this link to me. I’m down here in Austin, TX and wish I could have joined you!!…..yum yum….
http://www.jenniferbalkan.net/zombie.html
Just wanted to say hi! to someone with the same weird last name as me.
Why can’t Portland have zombie olympics?! SF is full of way more fun.
Well hi there person with the same last name as me. That’s strange. Where are you from?
applebaums everywhere!
That’s ‘el’ not ‘le’
We’re a bunch of fruits but only in Dutch and older Deutsch.
Father_Jack Wrote:
“2. Unless this was a publicity stunt, these people are the saddest fucking dorks I’ve seen since the Star Wars douche.”
It would have been fucking sad if it *was* a publicity stunt. People are totally saturated with gurilla marketing and corporate “experiences”. The people in the hoarde were the ones actaully living. Zombies are great because the metaphor is just beneath the surface, and i think most people got it.
Damn! I’m so jealous we don’t have zombie fleshmobs in Houston. I need to move to SF.
Kick. Ass.
Q: What do vegitarian zombies eat?
A: graaaiiiins…
Sounds awesome. I’ve not heard of anything like that happening in our area, ever :(
I was there at the apple store and it was horrible. Zombies everywhere, really! It made me sick and I hit my head on a G5 when pushed by a bleeder. Today at the hospital my head is still bleeding. The doctors say they don’t know what is wrong, but I do. Now I am a Zombie.
Still bleeding,
Ralph
5th Avenue in New York City was devoured by zombies this past satruday. It was gruesome. Bloomingdales was especially hard hit.
http://www.zombiecon.com
pictures:
http://www.houseoftwelve.com/goof/zzz
http://www.flickr.com/photos/evan4sh/
video:
http://55broad.video.blip.tv/JonnyGoldstein-TheZombieProtest333.mov
Sure all in good, what was it you called it, oh yeah: ‘fun’. And you think it is creative. Hmmm. Well. the only thing it reminds me of is the self-indulgent, frivolous parties the French nobility used to hold before Le Deluge. They and you are ‘all about you’ and let everyone else eat cake. Never mind your are annoying and even scaring people in the most violence-prone industrialized nation. A nation where children are being kidnapped, raped, and killed every day. Where people are assaulted by strangers on the street every day. Yeah what fun to unsettle and scare people. Why not just hold a private party somewhere and you can do anything you like there–why the need to annoy and frighten others? Are you so starved for attention and feeling so inconsequential to hae to resrot to this. I guess so. See a shrink. It serves no purpose except to cater to the base instincts of poor souls lost in a city without any way available to their feeble minds to better themselves or their community so they engage in antisocial actions to draw attention to themselves in a vain attempt to feel important. There is nothing very creative about it, its a mob requires little thought, intellect, or creativity to join. Too many rats in a cage turn on each other and act out of behavioral norms and become dangerous tothemselves and others. I guess the same happens to humans. Sad really sad. I am glad my generation just had parties on the beach to have fun. Find a constructive hobby. Better yet, go watch tv–at least you are out of our faces.
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