At last year's Berlin UXCamp, I talked about my experience with integrating UX into an Agile (XP) team context. One thing about Agile is that all of it's component parts are very intertwined and difficult to examine in isolation. This year I'd like to try. One of the most useful tools I learned in doing UX in Agile was the, so-called, Target Persona Exercise. I've since had a number of experiences -- both good and bad -- trying to apply this exercise outside an Agile team context. I've come to the conclusion that, while many people are somewhat negatively disposed toward them, personas are, in  the end, unavoidable. Either you pay attention to them and build and nurture  them explicitly, or they lurk in the darkness and eat the brains of the project team. Depending on what the audience's background and specific interests are, I'd like to explain my Zombie Persona Hypothesis and the Target Persona Exercise and offer some examples of applying Target Personas from my experience, either quickly or in depth. I'd also like to hear from you about your successes and failures with personas. As things stand, if there's adequate interest in these topics, I will aim to hold this session on Sunday. Alternate titles I'm toying with are: "How to Kill Zombie Personas" and "Zombie Persona Survival Guide".