This Week's Quick Thrones Funny

The mid-season finale of South Park aired this past Wednesday, and what a pleasant surprise it was to find a Game of Thrones reference thrown in there:





So I guess this confirms that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are Thrones fans. Kewl! And is it just me, or did anyone wish that Cartman would just shut up and let Mr. Garrison carry on with his lecture in peace? It was certainly a more entertaining history lesson than I ever remember receiving in primary school.

On a side note, please excuse the bizarre sound quality. I don't know how this guy recorded this clip, but the voices are a bit off. Also, I would imagine this will be taken down from Youtube in short order, so get in while you still can--and enjoy!

Ep. 14 Recap: "Garden of Bones"

Previous Game of Thrones Season 2 episode reviews:
Ep. 11: "The North Remembers."
Ep. 12: "The Night Lands."
Ep. 13: "What Is Dead May Never Die."


Due to unforeseen circumstances and a hectic schedule, I won't be able to bring you this week's recap of Game of Thrones. But, have no fear, for my good buddy Rodney Lopez--aka, Dilking--will be picking up the slack in the meantime with his own take on the episode. Please show him the same courtesy you would myself, and look for me to add my own 2 cents in the comments section below. And for those of you wondering, no this won't be a permanent thing (I hope). If it all works out well on my end, I plan to be back with next week's recap.

'Till then, play nice!

--David
===============================================


Okay, the Bimillennial Man has determined that these GoT recaps are taking way too much time. So in an effort to keep them alive, I, Dilking, have submitted this recap in his absence to keep the series rolling.

Also, please pardon the drop in writing quality, I'm a gifted amateur at best when it comes to writing, (and I've NEVER read the books) but I'm willing to help out a friend in need. And now, onto the recap!!

Have No Fear . . .

Well folks, I hate to have to say this: but I've been too busy of late to find the time to write this week's recap of Game of Thrones.

What you say? This cannot be. Someone set up us the bomb! (Don't worry if you don't get the geeky reference, it's an old interwebs meme from back around the dawn of the new millennium.)

But grab your towels and RELAX! Don't Panic! (Yes, more geeky references) Because I'm here to tell you: you're still covered! See, I have awesome friends. And one of the things which makes a friend awesome is being there for you when you are down. And into that role steps in my very good friend, Rodney Lopez! He will be guest blogging here tomorrow with his own take on this past Sunday's episode of my favorite show and yours while I'm busy with other matters. I really hope you can all extend a warm welcoming embrace and don't pull any of those substitute teacher shenanigans while I'm away. Because you wouldn't like me when I'm angry, would you? No, you probably wouldn't.

Rod, aka "Dilking," and I go way back to our Academy days in Starfleet (that's college to the rest of you), and we share many of the same interests in books, movies, games . . . and of course, television shows. You may recognize him from the comments section on this blog, as he's been a guest here since pretty much Day 1. And like me, he's an ardent fan of Game of Thrones, although he has never read the books the show is based on.

Personally, I think this is a good thing. Rod will guide you through Episode 14: "Garden of Bones" as fresh as the driven snows of the North. He's just handed in the finished draft of his report, and I'm currently adding on some personal touches and screen grabs to the whole shebang. But I can tell you already -- it is DAMN GOOD!

And, hey, while you wait -- why don't you head on over to Rodney's blog, Deliberations Of Dilking, and check him out? It should become fairly obvious in short order why we two are friends. And in the meantime, here is a lovely message from everybody's favorite and most charming boy king to tide you over:

Awww, isn't he so DREAMY???

Stay cool, fools!

Ep. 13 Recap: "What Is Dead May Never Die"

Previous Game of Thrones Season 2 episode reviews:
Ep. 11: "The North Remembers."
Ep. 12: "The Night Lands."



Episode 13: "What Is Dead May Never Die"
Air Date:  April 15, 2012.
Directed by:  Alik Sakharov
Written by:  Bryan Cogman



RECAP.

As has been the trend starting with this season, all new episodes start off exactly where the previous ones end. So where last week we left off with Craster clocking Jon Snow something fierce on the noggin, this week we begin with the old coot dragging the emo Night Watchman by his ear back to his "keep." Furious with the actions of the one man, Craster hands Lord Commader Mormont and his men their walking papers. Outside, looking like he just walked off the set of Spartacus, Jon Snow is getting bandaged up by his good friend, Sam. Aww, Sam -- you're such the perfect wing man. This Bud's for you! Mormont chews his understudy out, but when Jon tells him what he saw Craster do in the woods, the Commander's eyes tell him he's playing a broken record. Turns out the Night's Watch has always known about Craster sacrificing his sons. Sacrificing to who or what, no one really cares. He tells Jon that the wildlings worship some pretty frightening gods, and its best not to get involved. There's some heavy stuff at work out there in the wilds of the Far North. Things they will have to face themselves soon. And men like Craster, well, they're all the friends a ranger's got behind the Wall. Yeah, but with friends like these . . .

My Top 10 Forgotten NES Games

The Nintendo Entertainment System--or NES as it's commonly referred--is one of the most legendary home gaming consoles ever to be launched. Not the most successful selling console of all time (that would be Sony's PlayStation 2), but definitely one of the de-facto, most talked about systems to come up in conversation whenever important milestones in gaming history are discussed. Although Atari and the Commodore 64 came out before it, and the Playstation 1 after, no one can deny that the NES is where the huge multi-billion dollar gaming industry of today really secured its footing in the hearts of countless eager young kids (and not just a few adults) back in the mid 80s.

Life Is Meaningless And Full Of Sorrow

No, I promise, I haven't gone EMO on you all.

Meet Henri -- Henri "le chat noir." Henri is a very depressed black cat, full of apathy and ennui. Happiness in the midst of routine everyday life eludes him, even as he's surrounded by luxuries, freedom (or sometimes lack thereof), and loving caretakers who try their best. In other words, Henri is . . . very, very FRENCH!

Of course, I jest. I have nothing against the French. Lovely people, really. These short-short films by one Will Braden are actually a hoot, voiced over in Henri's horrible French and just too adorable to ignore. They remind me of every pretentious French art film I've ever tried to sit through and failed. But if you live with or otherwise adore cats like I do, you'll no doubt get a kick out of the original Henri video as well as its sequel, Henri 2: Paws de Deux:





I believe Will put together this popular Youtube video 5 years ago, which as you know is a terribly long time in cat years. The sequel was just released a few days ago, and Henri is visibly older but no less apathetic with his life. And his French has not much improved either, poor kitty! On the flip side, he does have a new energetic white companion to share in his misery:





I've been cracking up to these videos all morning. I love them!

Lord Varys Says: All My Little Birds React To Ep. 12

Tweet, my little birdies. Tweet, tweet!

Over at Winter Is Coming.net, regular contributor Fire and Blood, aka (FaBio), has gone and collected all the Twitter tweets from the night Ep. 12 "The Night Lands" aired. Click here to read the full collection of what regular viewers like me and you had to say as they watched the episode, intercut with FaB's colorful commentary. People say the funniest things about this show, which is just the epitome of cool and says a lot about its popularity. Go on click, I guarantee you'll enjoy these.

In fact, here are some of my favorites:

"@tmunzar:  You know a TV Show kicks major ass if you never ever skip it’s opening theme and credits."

"@Paco_ICEandFIRE:  LMAO OMG EAT HER FISH PIE!!! THATS ALL VARYS WOULD BE ABLE TO DO ACTUALLY!"

"@PaleGirlSquad:  Holy crap! Theon is of the House of Cthulhu!!!"

"@HEELSherrod:  Greyjoys have an epic ass den! release the Chimney!!!!"

"@AustinH_24seven:  The next time I compliment someone’s clothing, I’m going to follow up by asking if they paid the iron price for it."

"@MelRedPriestess:  Melisandre is dark and full of Stannis."

"@YgrittetheWild:  Well, Stannis certainly screwed over Westeros. #GOT140 #puns."

"@FYWinterfell:  Jon Snow! Why are you going out there? Jon Snow, you know nothing!"

"@LoriTweets:  Oh, Jon. The thing about Starks: they always get caught investigating shit. SEND SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT."

"@eddywards84:  Is there anyone that knows whats going on in #GameOfThrones or am I just thick?"

LOL! at that last comment. Some people need to pay closer attention than others, methinks. Game of Thrones isn't the type of show you check Facebook and update your contacts on your mobile while watching. I personally watch it with the lights off and my eyes GLUED to the tv screen for the entire hour. Nothing disturbs me during this time. Nothing!

Ep.12 Recap: "The Night Lands"

Episode 12: "The Night Lands"

Air Date: April 8, 2012.
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Written by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss.


RECAP.

This week we get a new addition to the title map sequence. After Dragonstone, last week's newcomer, we're sent on to Pyke and the Iron Islands, the seat of House Greyjoy. My, but those bridges swaying back and forth between each fortified crag sure do look DANGEROUS!

Game of Thrones, Ep. 11: "The North Remembers"

And here we are at last. The one show I've been waiting for to return above all others. The Walking Dead? Mad Men? True Blood? None of them have anything on my very favorite show, Game of Thrones! And yet, I wasn't so sure I would get around to writing my impressions of each episode like I did for Season 1 around this time last year.

After watching the first episode of this new season, however, all doubts were erased. How could I not talk about such a fantastic show? For those not in the know, Season 2 is based largely, but not solely, on Book 2 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series titled: A Clash of Kings, and written by George R. R. Martin. ACoK is about the war of the five kings--five men (well four men and one very delusional teenager) who claim the Iron Throne of Westeros for their own. The backdrop to the second book is a strange crimson comet suddenly appearing in the skies immediately after the birth of Daenerys Targaryen's three dragons, portending many different prophecies depending on who you ask. Is it a sign for good, or an omen for evil? Again, it depends on whom you ask.

One mysterious woman arrives in Westeros from across the Narrow Sea with an answer. In many ways, although we've never met her before now, this woman will serve as linchpin to all that gets going this season. Her manipulations will lead to a repositioning of the entire map of war currently being waged between only two factions, but which will flare up to consume the entirety of the Seven Kingdoms before long.

Come along with me as we begin what promises to be a memorable season of extraordinary television unlike any seen before it. There will be much to discuss, I am sure.

So without further ado, let's get on with it!

It's Coming . . .

No, not Winter. Although I like what you did there . . .

Yes, I caved in. I have watched the first episode of Season 2 of Game of Thrones -- and I LOVED IT!!!

So this has given me the energy to get off my rear and kick things into motion. I am even now writing up my recap and impressions of the episode, and will acquire the appropriate screencaps to go along with the review. Look for it sometime tonight or tomorrow. More than likely tomorrow. LATE tomorrow.

What can I say, there's a lot to be said about this whopper of a premiere. Hooo-boy!

A Stab At The Sevens

The lovely Kim Kasch over at The Writer's Blog tagged me with this meme. And while I usually avoid these things like the plague, I decided not to be such a grouch this *ONE* time and actually play along.

Anyway, here's how the meme goes:

1. Go to page 77 of your current manuscript.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy the next 7 sentences exactly how they're written. No cheating!
4. Tag 7 other writers to pass this meme on to.

Now my current novel WIP doesn't yet have an official title, but it's based on the 1990 Nintendo game from Konami, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. Some of you may recall this project from a while back here. While I haven't been able to work on it lately as much as I would like, I do at least have more than enough pages written to fulfill these requirements. So here goes. This is taken from the middle of Chapter 5, where my demon hunter and his erstwhile companion find themselves in dire straits:

"Even as his mind panicked he registered another flash of lightning, this time striking the very ground behind the creature’s feet. Before he could make sense of the peculiar nature of the approaching storm, however, the Cyclops shook him mightily as if to dislodge every bone within his body. 

"Trevor groaned and struggled against the stone grip around his throat. His vision swam as he fought for air, all the while staring into that solitary unblinking eye looming so large above him. Grant screamed at him as if from far away, but a rising din in his ears drowned out the mariner's words. Whatever they were, it seemed terribly important. 

"With the last measure of strength left to him, Trevor brought both fists to bear against that huge orb."

Hmmm, it's been a while since I've visited this scene. I don't even remember how long ago I wrote this. I'm currently writing chapter 12, just for reference. And, no, I did NOT cheat! This is exactly how the 7th line of the 77th page begins. But it's amazing how it begins on a new paragraph, isn't it? I lucked out! And the scene actually still makes sense within the constrictions of this meme. Kewl!

Now tell me, does this make you want to read more? Does it?

I don't have 7 writing friends to rub together. At least, not 7 who are blogging and also in the midst of writing a novel. So I'm going to skip that part. However, if you are one of those friends and you are reading this, please assume I tagged you and, well -- hop to it, buster! And don't forget to inform us of your efforts below in the comments section.

And again, thanks Kim for the tag. You're the best!

Don't Panic!

Yes, the second season of Game of Thrones has begun. Episode 11 aired last night, and . . . I have not watched it yet. GASP!

I know, right?

Unfortunately, I have it saved on my DVR but won't have the time to watch the episode until sometime later in the week. Don't cry for me, Argentina. I'll be okay. But damn if I'm not just itching to tear into this season! I've been listening to the soundtrack on iTunes something approaching fevered fanaticism all day to make up for it. Still, I must not give in until I can properly devote the necessary time for appreciation and enjoyment of what I've been waiting an entire year to see. I think I can make it . . .

I've let it slip to a few people that I won't be writing those wildly popular Game of Thrones reaction posts this season. Even though that series generated (and still does, in fact) this site's highest numbers to date, I simply don't have the time to spare like I did last year for such an exhausting undertaking. Those things took a lot out of me to write, man!

But, you know, now I regret saying anything. I've been getting a lot bemoaning and gnashing of teeth from my friends to keep it going, and what can I say? I'm a sucker for earnest persuasion.

So, this is my way of saying not to give up hope just yet. I may just have it in me to put up some sort of recap/analysis post each week. But don't hold me to that commitment just yet. I want to watch the first episode of this new season first, then see how I feel about it. If I do decide to go through with this, it won't be in the same format as last year. I know, I know . . . some of you got quite a kick out of my on the fly reactions to each scene. But that just won't do this time. I found that I ended up spending more time taking notes with each episode rather than just sitting back and enjoying it as it aired. And that just can't be allowed anymore.

This time, if I write anything about my reaction to the episode at hand, it will be in the form of a detailed recap followed at the end by my personal opinions on what I just saw. I can't promise witty, I can't promise hilarity. But I can promise that I will do my best to encapsulate all the good points about the show and make it more clear certain elements or whole scenes that might escape fans who are not as familiar with the books as I am. I've been hearing from some friends that this first episode of the new season in particular is very hard to follow for those not familiar with the names of all the new characters being introduced.

Yeah, I can see how that might be difficult to take in on the first showing. So if I can, I would like to make things easier for those of you who love the show and visit this blog.

Hmmm, talking about all this now makes me more ready to make it so! See what you guys do to me? :)

If you have seen this Sunday's episode already and want to talk about it in the comments below, please feel free to do so. Remember, I've read all the books--more than once, in fact--and there isn't possibly anything you can spoil for me. If you have any questions about what you saw, ask away, too! I don't need to have seen the episode to know what you are asking about. I already did as much for a co-worker of mine today who had a lot of questions concerning a certain mysterious red-headed newcomer this season.

So, have at me!

Sping, It Is Upon Us.

What a sucky winter this has been! NYC got virtually NO snow! None! Okay, yes, we got around 2 or 3 inches back in October. But that was October, and October is NOT winter. The little dusting we did get back in January happened while we were vacationing in the Caribbean. Booooo! Why couldn't it wait until we got back?

Anyway, Spring is upon us and the trees know it. Even though it was rainy and raw today, the trees in the park across the street were all in bud. It's like a veritable tree orgy of pollen up in there!

Cool fun fact about me: Among my many secret powers, I have the enviable ability to not be affected one iota by the pollen count. I shit you not. It's weird, but while 2/3rds of the population seems to go batshit crazy with itchy eyes, runny noses, and other sinus flare ups around this time, I stroll along completely oblivious to it all. I won't so much as get a sniffle even while walking through a dense cloud of the sticky green-yellowish stuff. I wonder why that is? It might have to do with another secret power of mine, but I'm not ready to reveal that one to the public just yet.

Do you suffer from allergies? If so, I'm sincerely sorry. My wife gets them bad this time of year, and it is not pretty!

So I've been gone from this here blog for a long time, yes? I apologize. Just didn't have much going on to talk about, I guess. It happens. But I've been thinking about you all. Some of you who keep blogs, I've been a-lurking. And sometimes I've left a comment, most times I didn't. But I was there. You lovely blogger friends get my day going, you really do. And I thank you for it.

Got Mega? I couldn't believe all the craziness with this latest Lotto jackpot nonsense. Are people insane? You might as well roll up a dollar bill and light it like a cigar for all that you're wasting your money. Still, 600 million odd dollars sure is a lot of moolah. Guess it's kind of hard to stay rational when such a huge sum is at stake. Good luck to the three winners who got all the numbers. Your lives are going to change forever. Someone asked me what I would do with the money if I won. I said: well, I wouldn't know until it actually happened. But the very first thing I would do would be to hire an accountant and a lawyer. Then another lawyer to watch them two. Yes sir, I'm PARANOID like that!

Tomorrow's April 1st and you know what that means: APRIL FOOL! Ha-ha, no actually, I hate April Fool's Day. I don't know why I said that. More importantly, tomorrow is Game of Thrones premiere night. AWESOME! You know this particular April fool will be right there come 9:00 pm with ale in hand and ready to kickstart another 10 episodes of his favorite show on television right now. I'm trying not to squee! too loudly here, don't you know?

Well, I hope this has been a lovely March for everyone. I barely felt it come and go, that's how out of it I've been these past few weeks. But now that the warmer weather is coming, maybe I'll try to embrace it for once and forget about the awful non-event of a winter we had this year. If I can't have my snow, then maybe I'll have plenty of my next two favorite things: rain and thunder! I'm particular hoping for some spectacular boomers this summer. I also get the feeling we're going to be in for an interesting hurricane season, too, which is always fun for me to keep track of.

Good night, folks!

Goodbye, Jim!

As I posted a while back here, I've started watching the blu-rays of the original 1960s Star Trek show which I received for Christmas. I'm on season 2 and have finally come across one of my favorite episodes from that series -- "Amok Time," where Spock returns to his home world of Vulcan in order to participate in an ancient marriage ritual hearkening back to his people's violent past.

Yes, this is the episode where Spock and Captain Kirk FIGHT! Not only was this episode brilliantly written, but it contains some of the most iconic music this show is known for. Especially during the scene where the two good friends must battle each other for their lives:





However, watching this scene invariably reminds me of the famous Jim Carrey parody included in one of my favorite dark comedies of the 90s, The Cable Guy. In it, he and Matthew Broderick go to Medieval Times and Carrey's character bribes the show operators to allow him and his "best buddy" onto the arena floor for a memorable match--unfortunately to the surprise of Broderick's character. Hilarity ensues, especially if you watch the above clip from Star Trek first, then followed by the one below.

I mean, this is fucking HILARIOUS by a Warp Factor of 11! :)





Tell me you are not amused.

Another "Game of Thrones" Trailer

Sick of my endless promotion of this series yet? Heh, heh -- TOUGH TITTY, as my mom used to say, because I'm not! :)

And so I present to thee the latest awesome trailer to come out for the second season of Game of Thrones. This one comes by way of James Hibberd over at EW.com, and is called the "Seven Devils" trailer. You'll know why once you hear the song HBO's PR department chose for accompaniment to the amazing new footage we're seeing:





Wow, FANTASTIC! I love the close-up of Arya Stark, chopped hair and all, as she masquerades under her new secret identity this season as "Arry."

And that chilling promise Tyrion makes to Cersei is so damn cool and straight out of the second book:

“I will hurt you for this. A day will come, and your joy will turn to ashes, and you will know the debt is paid.”

I'm not going to say any more, but if anyone has questions about what you're seeing in this trailer, ask them in the comments section and I'll try my best to elucidate.

Oh, and in case you wanted to know, the song is "Seven Devils" by the indie group, Florence + The Machine. You can see the official music video by clicking here. It's a great song, in fact. Perfect for this trailer and the ongoing theme for the second season, I think.

Kraam! Where are duh too snakes faycing each udder?

I've been cracking up all afternoon to Youtube videos of pop culture movies and video games being placed to musical renditions. This one, based on the John Milius "Conan the Barbarian" movie from the 80s, is my fave so far! It's set to the melody of Basil Poledouris's moving soundtrack to the film. And oh damn, it's HILARIOUS! Especially the fake Ahh-nuld accent:





"AND HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THE WOMEN!!!"  LOL! I can't get enough of that. :)

Granted, it's funnier if you've watched the movie before. And even more so if, like me, you've seen it like a bajillion times.

I have a short work week, so my weekend begins tomorrow. Enjoy yourselves!

Almost There . . .

As we get nearer and nearer to the April 1st season 2 premiere of Game of Thrones, more and more glimpses into what's in store for us fans are starting to leak out. Case in point, this awesome behind-the-scenes invitation which aired last night. Watch it below and weep, then dry your tears (of pure joy, of course!) and read what it is about this clip that makes me so giddy like a schoolgirl:

Well, well. Ain't that just something? I mean, WOW! There's so much awesome jammed into such a short video that I don't even know where to start.

It goes without saying that many of the reveals to geek out over in this clip only have real weight with those who have read the second book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, "A Clash of Kings." But since I know so many fans of the show have not in fact also read the books, I will refrain from going into spoilery detail about what it is we're seeing. However, I will run down a list and commentary of all the cool character moments to be found in the clip:

1) Early on right off the proverbial bat, at the 0:12 mark, we see slain King Robert's youngest brother, Renly Baratheon, alongside his new bride Margaery Tyrell (played by Natalie Dormer of The Tudors fame). Renly was briefly shown a few times last season as part of King Robert's Small Council, but remembered most scandalously for his steamy spa, shaving, and "happy ending" scene with the dashing Knight of Flowers, Ser Loras Tyrell (Margaery's brother). So, um, needless to say this is going to make for one thorny situation should the wrong people learn of certain details. Add on top of that the little matter of Lord Renly vying for young King Joffrey's throne while insinuating that the little brat is really the product of his mother's incest, and . . . well, you'll see!

2) At the 0:42 mark, we briefly see Arya Stark sitting atop the battlements of Harrenhal. If you recall last season, Arya goes by the name "Arry" now and has disguised herself as a boy to escape the Queen's men who are searching for her. Yoren of the Night's Watch is leading her and a bunch of dungeon-scraping criminals north to serve on the Wall, accompanied by King Robert's bastard son, Gendry, who is himself being smuggled out of King's Landing to escape the Queen's wrath. And oh what a tangled plot we weave!

3) @ the 1:18 mark, we get our first and very brief glimpse of what I believe is Craster's Keep north of the Wall. This location plays a pivotal role in the future of the Night's Watch and the safety of its Rangers being led by Lord Mormont as they traverse through Wildling territory. Of course, all you really care about is that this location should feature lots of Jon Snow and Sam! Who doesn't want more Jon and Sam adventures, I ask you? While most of what goes on north of the Wall this season was filmed in Iceland, Craster's Keep itself was filmed in Ireland in pretty much the same location as the opening scene of last season's first episode. Iceland has no trees, and Craster's Keep would not be filmmable without them.

4) We get a quick glimpse of Davos Seaworth--aka, the "Onion Knight"--at the 1:34 mark. This is another new character to the show, and is Stannis Baratheon's right hand man. Which is funny since Davos is missing a few fingers on his own hand. Which is even funnier when you discover that it was Stannis himself who deprived him of those fingers. He's going to be AWESOME! Just take my word for it.

5) 1:36 gives us a very far away shot of Brienne of Tarth. Everyone's been waiting to get a glimpse of this character, as she is also new to the second season and is one of the few highborn ladies in the books who actually dons armor and kicks much ass! She's also being constantly ridiculed by everyone for not only fighting like a man, but looking like one as well. Let's say Brienne spends a lot of time getting shit on for her looks and demeanor, and this has not made Brienne a very happy lady Knight at all. Not at all. She's also in love with Lord Renly, whom she has sworn to protect. And oh yeah, she looks GREAT, btw! Spot-on as in the books! :)

6)  We get another glimpse of Melisandre, the Red Priestess, at the 1:38 mark just after Davos and Brienne. She's a bad mama-jamma, I'll just say. She's Stannis Baratheon's mysterious new adviser, bringing with her promises of the Iron Throne along with a new religion from the East. She'll also be responsible for some of the more scarier dark magic moments this season if they pull off a certain pair of scenes just right, I'm thinking. But I've already said too much--shhhhh!


7) We get to see the man himself, Lord Stannis Baratheon, at the 1:50 minute mark. The middle brother of the Baratheons, he holds the castle of Dragonstone after proving himself a formidable commander under his kingly older brother against both the old Targaryen Dynasty as well as Balon Greyjoy's failed rebellion a few years later. Now that Robert is dead, he believes that he himself, and not Lord Renly, is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne in light of current King Joffrey's illegitimacy issues. In addition to marshaling his forces against House Lannister and King's Landing, Lord Stannis must also contend with his younger brother's forces. Hence why the second book in this series is called "A Clash of Kings." There are many kings in this chapter, and they WILL be a-clashing!

8) Speaking of more kings . . . the King in the North, Robb Stark himself, can be glimpsed staring fondly at Jeyne Westerling @ the 2:03 mark. We only see the back of her here in this clip, but know that she will play a very key point in Robb's quest to gain support for his own campaign against the Iron Throne. He has the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister, as his captive, and you best believe he intends to get satisfaction after what the Lannisters did to his father, Ned, in the first season. In fact, the very first episode of season 2 will be titled: "The North Remembers." Oh yes, that they do. And it is a very looooong memory.

9) And perhaps the most geekgasm moment of the entire video happens @ 2:15 -- Tyrion fucking Lannister holding up a vial of the volatile pyromancer's brew known as "wildfire!" Fans of the books know exactly where this will be going, and I really can't say anymore for fear of spoiling the awesome. But just know it is that, awesome!

"I have dreams of this show, you know? It's created a world in my head, it's . . . that I can't shake. Which is a testament of how good the show is."                                                                          -- Peter Dinklage

What an awesome quote to end the video with, eh? This is why Tyrion is the dude, because of this man right there! I've said it before but it bears repeating: look for Tyrion to have a much larger, intricate, and awesomer role this season. If you loved him last year, you should pretty much get double your fun this time around. I think the Emmy's and Golden Globes' folks are going to shit the proverbial brick when they realize they're just going to have to honor this actor a SECOND time all over again.

This is going to be fun!

And there you have it. Excited yet?

Well as if that isn't enough, we're almost at the point when the entire season 1 will be released to home video. In 2 weeks, as a matter of fact -- March 6th! I've already pre-ordered the Blu-rays long in advance, and so that weekend is going to involve a rewatching of EPIC proportions at my house. Oh how the walls shall shake!

And if you're thinking of getting the DVDs, fine. But just know that you might want to invest in a Blu-ray player instead. Click on this link and you'll find out why. Let's just say the Blu-rays give you a whole lot more bang for your bucks.

VALAR MORGHULIS!

To Boldly Go . . .

I'm going to pointedly ignore that today is that Hallmark-created holiday and instead tell you all what I did over the weekend.

Which is to say: nothing. Nothing much at all.

Ha! Wouldn't it be funny if that was my blog for the day. Just that?

Okay, perhaps not. Of course, I did do something. But that something involved sitting on my hind quarters and watching television for the most part. How EXCITING, huh? Hey, sometimes my weekends are like that . . . perfectly uneventful. I did get to finally crack open my complete Star Trek: The Original Series Blu-ray sets, though. I had these since Christmas and had meant to check them out back during my two-week hiatus then. But as you know, the best laid plans and all that jazz.

Anyway, I wasn't expecting much from this upgrade, as ST:TOS is not exactly my favorite of the Star Trek series. It is responsible for my whole-hearted love of all things science fictional, though, so it always commanded a healthy level of my respect. In fact, some of my earliest television watching memories are of this show from circa 1981 when I was only four years old. Most of my childhood, in fact, would be spent watching and rewatching every single syndicated episode until the show seriously began to get on my nerves. Still, when the Trek relaunch series "The Next Generation" premiered in the late 80s, I was reluctant to get into it due to the fact that, for me, the original crew was still the ONLY crew.

Of course, The Next Generation would quickly come to be one of my most favorite tv shows of all time -- so what the hell did I know back then, right?

Anyway, the original series has never looked better on Blu-ray! They went back and totally remastered the hell out of these episodes, to the point that I feel like I'm seeing them with new eyes. And they didn't just clean up the dirt and mend the scratches, no. They actually re-tooled all the outdated special effects as well!

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: BLASPHEMY! But hear me out, some of these changes are really good! I'm not a purist, though, so that could be it. I certainly did enjoy the remastered versions of the Star Wars films, for example. But in my opinion the original Star Trek series was seriously long in the tooth with these crappy effects. And now they look a lot better.

Check out the vid below which does a very quick overview of some of the many improvements. The first frame is taken from the 60s originals, while the second frame(s) of any comparison is from the newly remastered footage. You might want to use the pause button judiciously, though, to slow the speed of the comparisons down.

See what I mean? Now, yes, not all of the new effects look as snazzy as I would have preferred. In fact, some of them are too CGI-ey for my tastes. But overall I find that the textures are a vast improvement, not to mention that the obvious changes like the phaser beams and multi-directional camera views of the Enterprise make for a more dynamic immersion into the viewing experience. Especially from a modern sci-fi fan's point of view.

One of my favorite improvements occur in the classic episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver," when the U.S.S. Enterprise approaches the Fesarius ship. You can see it at the 2:27 mark in the above video clip if you pause it just in time. Or you can click on the image below to see a more detailed comparison:

The original shot is on the bottom, while the remastered block is on top. Check out those textured layers--WOW! Talk about a vast improvement, yo!

See, for all the grumblings on the net about how they shouldn't have messed with the purity of Roddenberry's vision, it's instances like this one that make the remastered version all the worthwhile to purchase for my collection. Since I'm a story-first kind of guy, as long as the core performances are kept intact I couldn't care less if the bells and whistles of the presentation are tinkered with. So much the better, I say!

Over the weekend I was able to watch the first 6 episodes of season one and find myself totally impressed. The transfer is simply GORGEOUS! It makes this fan squee uncontrollably at the thought of seeing my beloved ST:TNG get this same treatment later this year. I still haven't figured out when exactly they'll start rolling out those episodes on blu-ray, although a sampler disc of sorts was already released earlier this year. But I have no desire for a paltry taste -- I want the whole meal!

And so I will wait.

In the meantime, I have these TOS blu-rays to tide me over. And of course, Netflix streaming service for Deep Space Nine and Voyager rewatchings.

I do so love my Trek geekdom!

And so, how was your weekend? Scratch that: how's your Valentine's Day going? Oh come on, don't be like THAT! :)

The French Method Seems More Like My Method

 . . . At least, according to this book on child raising over there. I was reading this article on Yahoo today, Are French Women the New Tiger Mothers?:

"Parents used to look to doctors for advice on raising kids. Now they look to other countries. The latest contender for the world's best mom is from France. Author Pamela Druckerman's new book, Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting, asserts that the Jerry Lewis-loving culture is better at raising children than Americans."

Needless to say this book must be filled with generalizations, but I admit I find the premise intriguing. According to the article, the "French" way seems to be perfectly in line with my idea of how I would raise my own children, were I to have any (and I'm not planning on it anytime soon).

I've always believed in the philosophy of my mother and grandmother, which is pretty much the old-fashioned adage that children should be "seen and not heard." In other words, children should know their place and never, ever talk back to adults. But, to be honest, I would simply settle for teaching them good manners. Wishful thinking, I know, since I don't yet have children and have no idea what it's really like to wrangle them in. Yet I've watched my sis-in-law with hers, and I'm impressed by how well my nieces and nephews are not just in public, but at home when we come to visit as well. And she's definitely not into this new-agey "let's be friends" style of parenting I see in the parks and on the sidewalks of posh neighborhoods here in NYC.

"But there are some things we can teach the world, too. 'American parents are known for putting their children first,' says Newman. 'As a result, children overall feel and know they're special.'"

Uh, yeah. I don't much care for this line of thought. I think kids are coddled too much these days. And if you make them feel *too* special, chances are they'll just grow up to be entitled dick wads expecting the world to fall to their knees at the slightest command. No thanks. We already have enough dick wads in this country to begin with. Let's not feed that, m'kay?

Anyway, yes, my views are easy to hold for someone without children. I've already established that. But what do the rest of you think? I'm eager to know.

I'm also kind of intrigued to read this book now. I don't for once buy into the conceit that the French are better parents than Americans. Or that you can even judge such a thing to begin with. But I would like to read more about what these differences are. I do believe in teaching children a more realistic view of the world, which is that life is pain and suffering and full of assholes.

Hey, it's how I was brought up. And I turned out okay. Uh . . . right?

Yeah, it might best if no one answers that! :)

Pictorial Of A Miracle Win

Wow, it's absolutely bananas here in New York City the day after that momentous win at Super Bowl XLVI!!!

You know, I feel bad for non-sports fans because it's like the whole damn media won't shut the hell up! I'm thrilled as all get-out that my Giants won, though, so it's hard for me to complain too loudly. But, yeah, I can see how this might be annoying to some. Were I a Pats fan, I would just refrain from watching tv or listening to the radio for the next week. It's better this way.

Anyway, the game for me was extremely good up until halftime. Then I started getting this sick feeling. I just felt . . . it was over for us! And that 3rd quarter was no help. I felt like I was on the worst roller-coaster ride of all time. Emotions all over the place!

For me, this game was more down to the wire than even 2008's Super Bowl. In that game, because of how expertly the G-Men dismantled the Pats' defense, I kinda had a feeling they were going to win. But this time? HELL NO! I came, I saw . . . I laughed, I cried, and finally I cheered!

But when all was said and done, I felt like lady luck was a NY fan on this night. I've already had heated discussions with other sports fan today who disagree with me, but I feel like we could have lost spectacularly in three key places were it not for blind, stupid luck:

1) If Mario Manningham doesn't catch that ridiculous 38-yard pass with some serious heat on his back

2) If Wes Welker--usually so clutch in situations like this--doesn't fumble that tricky, so crucial catch

3) And if, in the very last seconds of the game, Tom Brady's desperation Hail Mary connects with Aaron Hernandez

If either one of these three points had happened differently, I'd be singing a terrible song of woe, heartbreak, and despair this fine day.

But Lady Luck smiled down on us, for reasons no one will ever know. And I thank her. :) This win lifted my spirits like nothing else could, even though I usually don't let sports outcomes hold much sway over me. But this was different. I mean, this was BIG! I initially thought we had lost because I was on a DVR time delay and I didn't hear any wild cheering and carrying-on outside my windows in the streets below. It happened with the win over San Fran, after all. But I think the folks of the Bronx were simply too stunned to act out. And when I finally caught up with real time on the television, I understood why:

They did it. Those boys in blue DID IT!!! Twice in 4 years! Who the hell would have thunk it at the beginning of this season?

Anyway, tomorrow is going to be the big parade. Ugh! As much as I love this win for us, I happen to work directly on the same route these championship parades wander down. Worse, my office building is located just short of where the parade ends, so all the crowds congregate right where we are and block off any possible exits from our lobby. It's going to be a zoo out there tomorrow . . . makes a fella almost want to work from home.

Almost.

Naturally, I wouldn't miss it for the world! I'll try to take pics from the big communal corner window there if possible. It's going to be nice to hear some positive chanting and crowd demonstrations so close to Wall Street for a change.

Happy Monday, folks. I certainly couldn't have asked for a better start to the week. WOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!!!