nurghophonic jukebox: "Breakin' Dishes" by Rihanna

Written By: Christopher Stewart & Terius Nash
Released: 2007
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad
Single?: No.

Because it's my favorite Rihanna song, because it's stupid as hell this wasn't a single, and because in my cruel world, it's never too soon...

[x4]
I don't know who you think I am

He been gone since 3.30 (3.30)
Been coming home lately at 3.30 (3.30)
I'm super cool, I've been a fool
But now I'm hot and baby you're gonna get it
Now I ain't trippin', I, I ain't twisted
I ain't demented, well just a little bit (huh)
I'm kicking ass, I'm taking names
I'm on a flame, don't come home babe

[CHORUS]
I'm breakin' dishes up in here
All night (uh huh)
I ain't gonna stop until I see police lights (uh huh)
I'm a fight a man (tonight)
I'm a fight a man (tonight)
I'm a fight a man
A man, on a m-a-a-a-aan
A man, a man, on a m-a-a-a-aan
Oh

I'm still waiting, come through the door
I'm killing time and I'm bleaching ya clothes
I'm roasting marshmallows on the fire
And what I'm burning, is your attire
I'm getting restless, I'm getting tested
And I can't believe hes always out every night and never checks in
Is he cheating? Man I don't know
I'm looking round for something else to throw

[CHORUS]

(Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh)
I don't know who you think I am
(I don't know who you think I am)
But I really don't give a damn right now
(Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh)
If you don't come I'm a huff and puff and
Blow this, Blow this, huh
Blow this, Blow this,
I'm a blow this, blow this, huh
Blow this, Blow this
I'm a blow this, blow this, huh
Blow this house, house down
Dishes, breakin' dishes, breakin' dishes

[CHORUS]

A man, a man, on a m-a-a-a-aan
a man, a man, on a m-a-a-a-aan

breakin' breakin' breakin' breakin' (dishes dishes, dishes) [x3]

2001 Aaliyah Album Comic Book Ad

Added Bonus: The advertised single, "We Need A Resolution" by Aaliyah (featuring Timbaland)

Written By: Tim Mosley & Steve Garrett
Released: 2001
Album: Aaliyah
Single?: Yes-- A minor hit.



[Verse - 1]
Did you sleep on the wrong side?
I'm catching a bad vibe
And it's contagious, What's the latest?
Speak your heart, Don't bite your tongue
Don't get it twisted, Don't misuse it
What's your problem?
Lets resolve it
We can solve it, What's the causes?
It's official, You got issues
I got issues, but I know I miss you

[Chorus - 1]
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.

[Verse - 2]
I want to know: Where were you last night?
I fell asleep on the couch, I thought we were going out
I want to know: Were your fingers broke?
If you had let me know, I wouldn't have put on my clothes
I want to know: Where'd you go instead?
Cause it was 4 in the morning, When you crept back in the bed
I want to know: What was in your head?
Or what was in my head? Am I supposed to change?

[Chorus - 2]
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? And will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.

Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? and who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.

[Bridge - Aaliyah]
Baby let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)

[Rap - Timbaland]
Girl holla!!
You give me bits and pieces
You tryna blame me when I don't even know the reason
I think it's just the season, Maybe the month, Maybe the building
Now tell me what's the reason? Snoop video? Looks are deceiving
So, cut the crying, Cut the coughing, Cut the weazing, Girl
Quit the blaming, Cut the naming, Cut the sleeping, Girl
I think you need some prayer, Better call the deacon, Girl
So, get your act right or else we won't be speaking, Girl
So, what's it gonna be? Freaky, freaky... Me and you?
Or is it gonna be who blames who?
I'm tired of these things, I'm tired of these scars
I think I'm gonna get me a drink, I'll call you tomorrow

Custom Oedi Overpower Chararacter and Special Cards

Obscure Character Handbook: Abel Carmody

Real Name: Abel Carmody
Occupation: Industrialist, former U.S. Calvary soldier
Legal Status: United States citizen with no criminal record.
Place of Birth: U.S.A.
Marital Status: Married
Known Relatives: Unnamed wife, Kishana Lewis (descendant)
Base of Operations: Carmody’s Folly, Black Spirit Lake, the Badlands
Group Affiliation: None, formerly 6th Calvary “C” Troop
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Intelligence: 19th century medium.
Strength Level: Normal human strength.
Superhuman Powers: None
First Appearance & Origin: JLA: Scary Monsters #1 (May, 2003)
Publisher: DC Comics
Status: Copyright 2003 DC Comics
Created by: Chris Claremont & Josh Hood

History:
In 1877, Abel Carmody was a “Buffalo Soldier” serving under Sergeant-Major Lincoln Freeman in the 6th Calvary “C” Troop. Disgusted by the orders of Colonel Daniel Rutledge to massacre a peaceful encampment of Plains Indians, Carmody and Freeman hid an elderly medicine man and his granddaughter, “same as my Pappy did runaways in slavery time.” The old man informed the black soldiers that their commander and fellow white soldiers who rode into a nearby valley to murder “surviving hostiles” were already dead. “There will be cold, and there will be snow… and horror will come for those who ride with him, to crack their bones and feast on the marrow of their souls. And then it will come for us! You must beat it back. You must keep the horror within the confines of this valley… or the world will end.”

Shortly thereafter, in the middle of summer, the snow fell, and the monsters came. “We fired our guns ‘til the barrels blazed too hot to hold. We never saw what wuz killin’ us. The snow wuz too heavy. They moved too fast. The only thing we learned for sure… wuz that iron made them hurt.” With only two men from the company left alive after the initial assault and one left standing, the medicine man explained further, “The portal that admits the horror to our world opens only for a time. When it closes, it must return to its own place. But each time, the door opens wider, and for longer. The horror means to claim our world for its own. It must be stopped.” The shaman was too old to survive a fight of the magnitude necessary to drive out the demons, and the Calvary had killed his son and intended successor. His granddaughter had the “blood for such a battle, but not the knowledge.” Sending Carmody and his granddaughter out of the mountains, the shaman explained, “I cannot destroy the dark trail, only block it for a time. The power I summon must be renewed, else the seals will be broken someday, forever! That, child, must be your task.” Freeman and the shaman stayed to face the horror, and perished in an explosion of flames.

Abel Carmody went on to become one of the great industrialists of the 19th century, and has been claimed to be the only African-American to whom that honor can be applied. “Born a slave, he died a millionaire… From the moment he made his fortune, he started building… ‘Carmody’s Folly.’” The sprawling fortress was constructed near Black Spirit Lake, made of stone, and built to last. “While he built his empire, his wife supervised construction of their home. She died here, alone, within days of its completion. Carmody himself never set foot over the threshold… The entire house is constructed of granite, with walls averaging a meter thick… The lodge houses one of the finest collections of Plains Indians artifacts in the nation. And a library rivaling what you’d find at most top-rank universities. All relating to the occult... This is really the most extraordinary collection. Texts of magic representing every continent, culture and era of Earth's history... Trouble is, reading isn't enough. Shamanic lore requires a spiritual aptitude, much like the metagene that conveys superpowers, in those who seek enlightenment. You not only have to be born to the role, you also have to earn it by undertaking a series of ordeals.”

Further, the house contained, “catacombs that extend into the heart of the mountain. Fresh spring water. Medical supplies and food up the wazoo. Weapons. Generators and fuel for months. And not just electricity. There are more torches than I can count. Plus wood and coal galore.” It was noted, “That was a stipulation of Abel Carmody’s will. That his house remain intact and fully stocked, in perpetuity.” The resort hosts its own medical and security staff, as well.

At present, the nearest town is fifty miles from the valley. Although a lush forest oasis surrounded by a virtual desert, Black Spirit Lake was never settled by permanent inhabitants. No fish swim in its waters, and the green is barren of life, animal nor insect. The forest regenerates itself at a fantastic rate, so that even the most grievous damage to impact it could be regrown within a month. This process would appear to be a defense against the horror, as the wood is saturated with a resin that burns with the intensity of white phosphorous. In fact, the bowl-shaped valley could act as a natural blast furnace. The only exit from the valley is through Carmody’s Folly, and the monsters showed no ability to transverse the mountains surrounding it.

Heathentown

A funeral. An eerie town deep in the Florida Everglades. Anna has come to see her closest friend buried, but in the swamps death may be only the horrible beginning! Attempting to discover the truth, Anna digs up her friend's grave, awakening an ancient malevolence... bent on her destruction!

I'm going to tell you as little as possible about Heathentown's plot beyond the above back cover copy. The graphic novel is very cinematic; a brisk, mood-drenched read that rewards the most when you enter its sultry environs with minimal foreknowledge. The protagonist Anna Romano is to some degree a silent surrogate for the audience, so that you're not so much introduced to a character as thrust into her circumstances yourself. However, there is a distinct personality there, and part of the fun is the story's raising questions that the reader will have to be patient to have answered, or determine entirely for themselves. The supporting cast is depicted as they would be in real life-- through impressions and context. For this reason, the book demands the reader pay attention and fill-in details through their own imaginations; all the better for the intrigue and terror to envelope you.

Credit goes to the wife and husband team of writer Corinna Sara Bechko and artist Gabriel Hardman. Both have done work for Zuda, though the latter has more genre experience through his storyboards for films like Spider-Man 3, X2: X-Men United, Superman Returns and the Austin Powers series. Bechko is a surprising new voice in comics, who puts faith in her readers' intelligence. Hardman storytelling and tone are incredible, with a style reminiscent of Lee Weeks crossed with Al Williamson, and a dollop of '70s Filipino artists. Combined, they make Heathentown an immersive experience, and a dark place I recommend others pass through.

The Walking Dead Volume 9: Here We Remain (2009)

After the status quo shattering events of the previous collection, I'm afraid "Here We Remain" comes perilously close to jumping the shark. Rick and Carl are forced to make their way alone in the wilderness, with modest arms and provisions. A pattern has been emerging to establish Carl as a sort of "John Connor" type, and that continues here, especially over a sequence in which he must defend himself alone. That's reasonably solid, but then the story deteriorates into "jump scares," fake-outs, and maudlin dialogues. Where we should have reached a point where the center could no longer hold, and perhaps the surviving members of Rick's party should have spun off into divergent narratives, we instead find a retreat to the familiar.

Worst of all, a new batch of characters are introduced, offering major revelations and a new direction of the most hackneyed sort. After five years of stories in the vein of Romero's first two "Dead" masterpieces, things seem to have taken a sharp turn toward the increasingly ridiculous later entries in that series. Only the foul-mouthed but highly amusing Abraham's nutty dialogue offers immediate hope for redemption. However, he represents another problem of the series: immediately replacing a "lost" element with a reasonable facsimile. As when Tyreese seemed poised to become Rick 2.0, Abraham could conceivably fill the same role, or even Michonne's. When the parts become interchangeable, tension and attachments dry up. Take note, Robert Kirkman.

On a positive note, Charlie Adlard, an artist I once held up as an example of how anyone could draw comics, continues to feed me crow. His characters are now easily discernible, even with varied appearances. His figures have more weight and depth. Emotion and personality ticks are coming through nicely in his faces, and everything just feels better rounded out. I may actually be a fan these days!

Empowered Volume 1 (March, 2007)

I was first introduced to the heroine of Empowered through an online preview, which led me to this direct-to-trade series, still an automatic purchase four volumes later. The first makes an excellent and speedy impression, as it collects short stories creator Adam Warren circulated amongst friends via email for years before publishing. Based on commissions for bondage-themed super-heroine pin-ups, Empowered began her life as a generic victimized character, but developed a personality over time that led to a continuum all her own. She is truly unique in that, unlike the stereotypical tough women of comicdom, Empowered is ruled by deep-seated insecurities that constantly hamper her life in tights. Rather than grand posturing, Empowered reflects a kind of woman we all know, and often love, making her far more believable than most any other super-person who comes to mind.

I remember the delight I felt on first reading this volume, as it was that rare comic that is powerfully and broadly effecting. I grinned almost constantly, except when matters turned toward the briefly horrific, or exposed the heart-breakingly relatable struggles of our heroine. Empowered is quite capable and determined, but she's been cursed with an extremely unreliable power source that leaves her constantly vulnerable and routinely humiliated by foes and "friends" alike. Her teammates do not respect her, as they take glee in abusing and objectifying her. Hoods routinely capture, bind, and gag her-- some posting pictures on the internet for added degradation. Emp works horrible, dead-end jobs. She's lonely, she has body issues, and it's all that she can do to summon up the courage to soldier on.

In her corner are Thugboy, an ex-minion who falls hard for this flaxen fury who can't see her own worth. An encounter with the mercenary Ninjette leads to heavy drinking and fast friendship. When Emp gets saddled with playing house warden to a villain that represents one of her greatest accomplishments, this caged Demonwolf becomes her funniest supporting character, speaking in vaunted tones about the most mundane aspects of daily living.

Empowered Volume 1 is sweet, sassy, sexy, and even scary when called for. In short, its everything you could want out of a super-hero comic. Empowered is probably the most realistic and entertaining heroine in modern comics, and it seems to me her crossover appeal is enormous. Though drawn in a so-called "manga" style, there's nothing in Adam Warren's sensual gray-toned pencil art that should turn off traditionalist readers, and it also succeeds in crossing the aisle to reach the otaku. I can't recommend it enough.