Games: Slender

Game logo...

Slender is a free game by Parsec Productions in which you play as a woman armed with a mighty flashlight, who must for some reason collect pages, numbering 8...in a park...during the night. To make matters more traumatic for this woman, there might possibly be the Slenderman lurking about...

For those who have never seen Mr.Slenderman, he is a friendly being that likes to hug things with strechable (sometimes multiple) arms, is tall and skinny, and likes to wears a suit. For some reason the woman, and those that play the game seem terrified of him... 

A rather dramatic review from IGN :

Few horror games thrust you so directly into the heart of fear. All of Slender’s elements – the lack of a map, the threat of instant death, the slight element of unpredictability of the page locations – all contribute to a pervasive sense of hopeless vulnerability as you frantically flee an unknowable predator who may or may not be directly behind you.



The game can be downloaded for free here! Here's a trailer, just in case you aren't convinced to get it yet:

Edit: Updated links since the old ones no longer work, and added link to new homepage for the game!
Link to game (Windows/etc.)
Link to Slender Website
Link to Parsec productions (goes to another, rather less scary game. Unless you have pancakeophobia... which isn't a word I just made up...)

Places: Sixteen Fortresses for Staving Off the Zombie Apocalypse (via realtor.com)

This seems like a conflict of interests, but he does have a point!
Realtor.com

With many predictions for the end of the world and zombies and such things, which probably will won't happen, there are two types of people: those that have houses that are capable of stopping the onslaught of the undead, and those that feed the ravaging horde. As this is an important part of any home buying decision for those still sane in this pre-apocalyptic world, the website realtor.com has put together a list of the properties they think would best stand up to the oncoming hordes of braineating zombie persons:

"This particular writer never quite completed the necessary steps to earn his ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ merit badge, nor has he any crossbow-wielding, animal-skinning, shelter-building survival qualities to get him out of a pinch, let alone the jaws of the zombie formerly known as grandma for that matter. However, what I can offer is my expertise in real estate – prime, zombie-defense real estate capable of putting those with an unquenchable thirst for human flesh at a distance from you and your family."

This may look kind of nice...but...
Realtor.com

The easily defensible properties range in price from the relatively cheap Birch island for $550,000 or a "missile proof" house for $695,000 to the rather expensive, $99m "castle"!

To view the list of all 16 properties you can follow the link below:

Sixteen Fortresses for Staving Off the Zombie Apocalypse

Photos: 'Hearses Only'

When wandering around a crematorium near my house, I spied the above road marking. This should be painted on all roads; cars would become more attractive that way. In fact, it should say "Classic-style Hearses Only", because I really don't care for the newer ones that look like elongated Vovlos!

Hug A Monster Day!

The people (and monsters) over at the excellently named StuffMonstersLike.com are once again running their annual 'Hug A Monster Day' this year. A day when you can show the world just how much you love your favourite monsters! All you need to do is send them a photograph of you cuddling your creature by the end of the day on July 27th and you could win a Stuff Monsters Like t-shirt and be featured on the SML site.

The 2011 Hug A Monster Day Flyer

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 1, 2012 

Grab your monster toys, hug them, win prizes. It’s so easy.

Across the Earth and for millions of miles around it, countless life forms gather to celebrate Intergalactic Hug A Monster Day on July 27 (Earth Standard Time). 

Intergalactic Hug A Monster Day is the only holiday reminding all of humanity and peace-loving extraterrestrials to embrace the monsters in their lives – whatever they may be. Participants are encouraged to grab their best monster friend, evil lawn gnomes, and other minutia of the macabre and give them a big squeeze. Hug them in public, in private, in front of cameras, and share with the world. 

It’s so easy. On July 27th, find your favorite horror toys, embrace them, make a photo, and send the pics to stuffmonsterslike@gmail.com. Also, post the pics to Facebook, Tweet them [#HugAMonsterDay], and let your friends see the fun they are missing. 

The holiday is sponsored every year by Stuff Monsters Like.com, the blog that reminds everyone that it’s okay to be afraid, as long as you are laughing. 

Not everyone owns a monster toy. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. You can download, print, and fold papercraft monsters from the website stuffmonsterslike.com. You can create your own friend, or even a full monster hoard. 

The authors of Stuff Monsters Like.com, who just tried  to purchase the moon through Kickstarter, are available for interviews. Please contact them at stuffmonsterslike@gmail.com.

If you need a little inspiration, take a look at some of last year's entries.
Come on, you don't want your monsters to be left out and sad do you? Well, DO YOU??

A sad, un-hugged monster
Drawing by Madame Luciel

Fright-Day Foods: Purple Glitter Skull Cake

Last month, for a friend's birthday, I decided to take the opportunity to use a new skull-shaped pan I had and make him a spooky cake! Since I know some of you like to bake, I thought I'd share the incredibly simple decoration details with you here. It's just a vanilla sponge cake (I made other bits of the cake too, but they weren't horror-esque), so I haven't included a recipe below, only decoration instructions.

This post is part of Fright-day Foods!

How-to guide after the cut below↓

Toys: Tarantula Tower by Le Toy Van

Whilst in a shop earlier this year I took the above photo of some kind of 'spider castle'. It turns out that it's actually called 'Tarantula Tower' and is made by a company called Le Toy Van. It seems like a pretty fun toy. I mean, who wouldn't want their own six-wheeled attack tower - decorated with spiders and bats - complete with catapults manned by skeletons? Exactly.