by Damon Martin

When we last saw our beloved Walking Dead characters, Sherriff Rick Grimes was standing over the body of his best friend Shane who he stabbed, only to watch him turn into one of the undead, and then gets shot by the youngest member of the group, Carl. As Rick and Carl both try to react to the horrifying situation they’ve both just lived through, in the distance we see a hoard of walkers lumbering towards them in the distance. Thus begins the end of The Walking Dead Season 2.

While some may believe that the show focuses on the dead coming back to life and taking over the world, Robert Kirkman’s comic book-turned-television-show is really about the characters and their struggle with living and surviving in an insane world.

As left off at the end of the last episode, the mob of zombies heads towards the farm hell bent on finding some living flesh, and unfortunately for a couple of the members of Herschel’s tribe, they won’t make it to Season 3.

Beth tries to pull Patricia towards the car to make their escape just as a walker leaps out and latches onto her, ripping her apart. Beth can only watch in horror as she finally loses her grasp on Patricia, and runs away to try and save her own life.

Meanwhile, Jimmy rolls Dale’s RV towards the back of the barn where Rick and Carl have set a fire to try and distract the attacking zombies. They leap on top of the mobile home, jumping off the back end to safety. Unfortunately, Jimmy stayed in the RV and the walkers smelled dinner, and busted through the door to have themselves a snack.

Andrea is able to save Carol with some of her signature sharp shooting, but gets cut off from escape. Carol rides off into the sunset on Darryl’s motorcycle, and Andrea is left to fend for herself. Making a run for it in a caravan of two cars and a motorcycle, the group somehow reconvenes and that’s where Rick finally unleashes his bombshell.

At the end of Season 1, the crazy quack Dr. Jenner whispered something into Rick’s ear before they all bolted out, running for their lives. What he revealed was that everybody, all humans, had the infection that caused them to come back to life after death. So whether you die by zombie bites or just die of natural causes, you’re getting back up.

The group rails on Rick for not making this confession earlier, but knowing how insane Jenner seemed, he had no idea if it was the truth or just more crazy lies. It became fact however after he stabbed his best friend Shane, and moments later he was back up, looking to take a bite out of his former comrade.

While zombies simply coming back to life is nothing new when talking about undead mythology, The Walking Dead interjecting a little science with the revelation that everyone is infected was a nice touch. Although quite a few people saw this coming, it was a well timed reveal that confirmed just how hopeless this already hopeless world really was.

Back in the woods, Andrea is still alive but only barely as she continues to run through the woods, firing off rounds from her gun as the hoard of the undead keep close. Just when it looks like we’ve seen the last of Andrea, a sword comes swiping down from above, lopping the zombie’s head off.

Pan up, and you see a katana wielding badass with a hood up over their face, and a chain in hand attached to two zombies currently lacking any arms. As it was revealed later by Walking Dead creator, that is none other than comic book favorite character Michonne, who will be played in Season 3 by former HBO Treme cast member Danai Gurira.

After nearly running out of gas, the group decides to stop for the night and set up camp, but at one point Carol begins to question Rick’s leadership, and the former Sherriff doesn’t take kindly to her remarks. As he lashes out and tells the story of how he had to kill his best friend Shane because it was the only thing he could do, Rick invites anyone in the group to set out on their own and see just how long they survive. No one stands up and in an authoritarian voice, Rick tells the group that if they are staying they have to know one thing: “This isn’t a democracy anymore.”

Ever since his arrival, Rick has been looked at as the de facto leader, despite back biting from Shane and others who question his decision making. In the final episode of Season 2, he let everybody know that if they are going to look towards him as a leader, then he is going to lead and they need to follow. It was a brilliant way to show the humanity of survival with a glimmer of Rick ripping a bit at the seams after such a trying and tragic few hours, during which he lost his best friend, killed his worst enemy (it just so happened to be the same person), and saw more members of his extended family lost forever.

Rick turns to walk away and as the camera pans up, we see a prison off in the distance. Is this the safe salvation the group of weary wanderers has been looking for or just another painful reminder that this world isn’t safe no matter where you hide?

Tune into Season 3 of The Walking Dead to find out…

by Ryker Suicide

Every year in high school some friends and I would venture down to the Carolinas for a beach vacation. Anyone who has spent a decent amount of time down south knows the best BBQ is found on little pits at the side of the road. I remember my junior year this was this one that we stopped at that had the BEST BBQ I have ever had in my life. It was smoky, spicy, with huge chunks of onion. Once I got a bit older and a little more efficient in the kitchen I spent a lot of time trying to replicate this recipe with my own BBQ sauce and pulled pork. Now this is a recipe you will need all day to make, as it requires being slowly cooked (if you have a crock pot, SUPER, if not, a heavy pot and an oven will work just the same). Here is my recipe for Chipotle Pulled Pork BBQ-N-Slaw sammies!

Ingredients: For The Pork

• 1 pork shoulder-butt roast (about 5 lbs or so)
• Salt/pepper
• Brown sugar (for a sweeter-style pork, I omit this because I prefer my BBQ with more of a bite)
• 1-2 cans of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (1 for more mild, 2 for spicier)
• 2 cans of Dr. Pepper
• 2 small, or 1 large onion
• 1 bag of hoagie rolls

Ingredients: For The Sauce

• 3/4 cup of Jack Daniels / bourbon (my rule is, if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it – use something good!)
• 1/2 finely chopped onion
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 4-5 TBS Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar (also to taste, I like my sauce less sweet)
• 1/2-3/4 cup of molasses
• 2 cups of ketchup
• 1/2 tsp each salt/pepper
• 1/4 cup-ish tomato paste
• 2-3 tsp liquid smoke
• 1/2 tsp of Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce (to taste)
• 2-3 TBS horseradish mustard or Dijon mustard
• A *dab* of grape jelly or jam

Ingredients: For The Slaw

• 1 bag of coleslaw mix
• 1/4-1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar (to taste)
• 1-2 tsp celery seed (to taste)
• 1/2 cup of low fat mayo
• 1/2 tsp each salt n pepper
• 1 TBS horseradish mustard
• 1-2 tsp of sugar (to taste)

Directions:

1. Start with the pork because it is going to take hours for this baby to cook to perfection. First, cut onion in half lengthwise and then quarter slices. Place onion wedges at the bottom of the pot. Salt, pepper and rub with brown sugar (if so desired) the pork butt generously, and place in pot on top of onions fat side up. Empty can/cans of chipotle peppers and sauce all over top of the roast. Then add two cans of Dr. Pepper, cover pan and cook on high on crock pot (or 300 degrees in oven) for about 6 hours. You will know roast is ready when it is fork tender, if it isn’t fork tender then cook longer. Trust me, it is so worth the wait.

2. When the pork is starting to get close, you can start on your other goodies. I like to start with the BBQ sauce since sometimes I have to play around with it a bit to get it perfect. Like many people, I don’t always cook with exact measurements so these listed above are as guestimated as I can get. So, first combine onion, a little olive oil, and Jack Daniels/ bourbon in a sauté pan. Fry until onions are translucent and then add garlic and cook for an additional 45 seconds or so. Combine remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes or so until the sauce gets nice and thick. Here, you can add more Jack/bourbon should you want a little more bite to your sauce.

3. Now time for the slaw. I typically use a slightly different recipe for a spicier slaw, but since this pork is already pretty spicy, I went with a more Carolina style slaw recipe (modified a bit, of course). In a medium bowl mix together all ingredients except for the coleslaw mix. Taste dressing and modify as necessary. Coleslaw, like many other picnic style salads, vary from batch to batch and I tend to use recipes for salads like this as a basic guideline. Once your dressing is to your liking, toss with the coleslaw mix and refrigerate.

4. Is your pork ready yet? If it is, it’s time to get to pulling! Remove roast from pan and place on a large platter or cutting board. Trim fat off of top and discard. Using two forks, pull the pork roast until every bit is off of the bone, discarding fat pieces as they come. Now, here is where things get a little tricky. Everyone has a different preference for their sauce thickness in pork BBQ. I always have to play with it a bit, so what I do is drain about 1-2 cups of the Dr. Pepper/roast juice from the pot and SET ASIDE. Then return pulled pork to pot and stir in remaining juice. Add BBQ sauce and stir. Add more of the juice that was set aside earlier to reach desired consistency/flavor.

5, Serve pulled pork on a toasted hoagie bun, top with slaw and viola.

Enjoy!

[..]

by Daniel Robert Epstein

Bob Mould is best known for his work with the seminal punk band Hüsker Dü and his own band Sugar. But in the past few years he’’s been putting out solo albums via his own record label. Now he’’s stepped back from being an executive and has allowed Yep Roc Records to release his latest, Body of Song.

Read our exclusive interview with Bob Mould on SuicideGirls.com.

Discordia Suicide in Apple of Discord

• INTO: Sunny days, foam baths, piercings and tattoos, photography, art, long hair and silky skin, bondage, forests, strange dreams, dirty jokes, horror movies, asphyxiation, androgyny, traveling, flirting, and Sega Mega Drive Diablo II.
• NOT INTO: Sickness, envy, and meat.
• MAKES ME HAPPY: Summer, making love with someone you really care for, beer, butterflies in stomach, bites, being home by dawn, chocolate, loud music, Jägermeister, and Dark-Hunter novels.
• MAKES ME SAD: Animal cruelty, when the bad guy dies at the end of a movie, feeling powerless, lies, delayed flights, distances, and people with closed minds.
• HOBBIES: Dancing, reading, drinking, trashing around, and sleeping with my cat.
• 5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Emotions, music, hygiene, friends, and imagination.
• VICES: Cigarettes, but I’m quiting – since 2005.
• I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME: With the ones that make me happy.

Get to know Discordia better over at SuicideGirls.com!

by SG’s Team Agony feat. Clio

Let us answer life’s questions – because great advice is even better when it comes from SuicideGirls.

Q: I’ve been in a relationship with my girlfriend for 5 years and love her more then anything, but we don’t have sex anymore. Sex at the start of the relationship was frequent, as is usually the case in new relationships. As time has gone on, we continued to have regular sex, which has always been fantastic, with both of us reaching orgasm, but it has been a long time now.

Any ideas?????

A: Sorry to hear about your lacking sex life. I can imagine your frustration. Physical intimacy is of vital importance to a relationship, so this is definitely something you want to address. Even though your lady doesn’t want to discuss it, you should talk to her about the issue if you want to relieve your blue balls anytime soon.

Is there something going on in her life that might be causing her disinterest in sex? Stress, depression, medication, anemia, hormone imbalance, and various other factors can contribute to a low libido. Communicate with her to understand what could be the problem and tell her how you feel and that it’s affecting your relationship. Consider getting counseling if you think you would benefit from it. If you’ve been drifting apart try taking her out on a romantic date to reconnect with her mentally so you can start connecting again sexually.

Good luck!

Clio
xoxo

Got Problems? Let SuicideGirls’ team of Agony Aunts provide solutions. Email questions to: gotproblems@suicidegirls.com

by Kris Richter

My artist, B.J. Nigh, talked me into getting my first tattoo. I liked it, so I went back. I liked it again, so I went back again. The next time I went in, he suggested a new tattoo. “Skull flowers,” he said by way of a greeting as I approached his station where he was currently tattooing. “What?” I asked. “Skull flowers! Let’s do a skull flower,” he said.

I went to my first tattoo convention in Council Bluffs, Iowa, about seven years ago with my boyfriend at the time. We got there in time to walk around once or twice before the tattoo contest started. I wanted to take B.J. home a trophy! And I did. I ended up winning first place in the Best Small Black and Grey category for the safety pins on my arm.

When I walked off stage, I was handed a card with a picture of International Tattoo Art magazine. It said I had a photo shoot, if I wanted it, with Bill DeMichele, and to be at this room at this time. I was sooo excited! I went to the photo shoot and Bill told me how much he loved all the work I had. He asked me about my artist, and I told Bill that B.J. would be tattooing at the APT in Kansas City the following weekend.

I went home and I was on cloud nine! I called B.J. to tell him the news, and then I went back to normal life. The following Friday, however, I got a phone call from B.J. while I was at work. He said Bill found him at the convention and wanted to photograph me again. So, with almost no money, I made the 3-hour drive to Kansas City. This convention was even bigger than the Council Bluffs one. I met a few people, since I stayed the weekend, and I had a blast.

Bill ended up inviting B.J. to tattoo at Lyle Tuttle’s Old School Tattoo Expo a few months later, in November. We were both stoked; this was huge! This was about the time B.J. suggested the Skull flowers.

We outlined the first one, on the ball of my shoulder, a few weeks before the convention. Now, this was the 2nd Annual Old School Expo, which means it was still held in the City Museum in St. Louis. (It’s now held in the hotel.) The City Museum was such a magical place. It’s literally a giant play place for kids and adults alike. (If you’ve never been, I highly suggest going!) To hear the sound of so many tattoo machines, and hear the on-goings of the convention in that atmosphere was incredible.

Our booth was set up in a nice spot, near the door in one of the rooms. The first day, I sat down to get tattooed. I sat for 6 1/2 hours, my longest sit, to complete my first skull flower. I was shocked at the amount of people who continuously gathered around our booth to watch the progress. We finished in time to enter the Best of Day contest, and… WE WON! The rest of the weekend I walked around the convention with the piece everyone was talking about, and it sparked conversations with people who remain good friends of mine to this day.

[..]

by Daniel Robert Epstein

What a ride Bam Margera has been on for the past five years. Even before he could drive he became a big skateboarding star then Jackass came a calling. After the Jackass movie became a hit he got his own TV show, Viva La Bam. He’’s directed one feature film and is prepping another. Now he’’s founded his own Warped Tour style show called Viva La Bands. I got a chance to talk to Bam while he was on his way to get a massage [no happy ending though].

Read our exclusive interview with Bam Margera on SuicideGirls.com.