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What the Hell?!? Friday - The Rains of Castamere

The conversation about the current season of Game of Thrones here, (where SEK has some great insights on the cinematography) led me to this excellent site, which led me to this review of Blackwater, the most recent episode.  As the forces defending King's Landing are preparing for battle - or more accurately, waiting for the enemy led by Stannis Baratheon to arrive by sea - they fill the long hours drinking and whoring.  And singing.  Since these forces are led by the Lannisters, they are singing a traditional Lannister song, The Rains of Castamere, along with the sellsword Bronn, who Tyrion Lannister has made head of the King's Guard.  It goes like this.




We hear this song again, over the closing credits, this time performed by Indy band The National.  The Rains of Castamere, even the relatively upbeat version sung by drunk Lannisters is not a jolly song.  But the treatment given by The National's Matt Berninger darkens it to a smoky ebon hue.





I'm only vaguely aware of Leonard Cohen, but this clip immediately brought him to mind.

Here, at no extra charge, is the Leonard Cohen song the oldest granddaughter danced to in competition recently, as an ensemble routine.

Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes, or - The Life of a Coleoidean

Beginning from a mechanistic understanding of Teuthidan beings and the passions, one may postulate, Hobbes-like what life would be deep in the ocean, a condition which we might call "the state of saline-aquatic nature." In that state, each Decapodiform would have a right, or license, to everything in the ocean.

In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the ocean; only navigation, but no use, other than the immediately culinary for the commodities that may be comported by sea; no commodious building, save coral reefs; no non-tentacular instruments of moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth beyond the edges of the sea; no account of time in the dark depths; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of squids, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

References.

Ref 1

Ref 2

Honor Thy Father

And a BIG H/T to Steve at Asymptosis for recognizing my dad's wisdom in this quote.

"Figures might not lie, but liars sure know how to figure"

RIP, dad. It's been a long, long time.

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Kellemes Karácsonyi Ünnepeket és Boldog Új Évet

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

(H/T to Kristen)

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More on Noel

It's when to see Nick at Night!

Plus . . . 

Keeping track of how Santa keeps track.

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What the Hell? Friday -- Part 2: The Very Model . . .

I came down hard on B. Hoover Obama yesterday - call it tough love. Unlike other factions, I do want him to succeed at this difficult job.  Aren't we all depending on that?




Another H/T to Sharon, who is on a roll today.

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Counting

My visitor count since Oct 2, 2009 has now passed 10,000.

I fully suspect about 70% stumbled here looking for something they didn't find, following a Google link that picked up a stray word -  like sex or fairy - in one of my rambling rants.  There have been hundreds of hits because of a weird photo I linked to while blogging the Crossword puzzle.

Then there are my 10 11 followers - thanks kids - and the two or three loyal readers who stop by rather regularly.  Most of these are co-participants in memes that I indulge myself with.

The main purpose of this blog is actually to rant about politics and its evil twin, economics.  (Actually - both twins are evil - hence the rants, I guess.)  I get very little of the disagreement I seek, and most of that is easily dismissed.

Everything else is just for fun.

Thanks for playing along.

Saturday 9

Sure, I need another meme.  Stumbled onto this one while SWS-surfing, and it intrigued me - for this week anyway.


1. What celebrity would you just want to shake some sense into?
None.  I don't care about celebrities.  If forced to participate, I would shake Glenn Beck until his head fell off.  Shouldn't take long - it isn't very firmly attached. 

2. What do you think comes after death?

Well, it's sort of like Phillip Jose Farmer's novel, RIVERWORLD, but dryer and less mountainous.

3. What is the first book that you can remember reading by yourself as a child?

Knight's Castle, by Edward Eager.  And thereby hangs a tale, which I might someday tell.

4. What was the first rock concert that you attended?

Eric Clapton, live at Pine Knob.  I was about 40.  As my son described it, he did a great job with the new, mediocre songs, and a mediocre job with the great old songs.

5. If you were to suddenly become famous, would you choose a stage name? If yes, what would it be?

Yes.  Jazzbumpa

6. What is the one thing that you wish the media would stop talking about?

Philandering Celebrities.  Sure, I'm a vicarious vampiric voyeur, just like everyone else, but I just don't care.

7. If you could be part of any band, which one would it be and who would you be and why?

Hmmmm.  Tough call.  My vision of heaven (#2 notwithstanding) is to play with Count Basie on Tuesdays, and Stan Kenton on Thursdays.  I would be me, 'cause I would love rubbing trombone elbows with those cats.

8. Do you live close to your immediate family members? If not, how far away are they?

Close to most.  An hour drive from a some.  A two day drive from a few.

9. Last seasonal question (promise): What did you do on New Year's Eve?

Stayed home, drank a bottle of Asti with my lovely wife, and posted a "Happy New Year" message on Facebook at midnight.

What the Hell?!? Friday

Yes, it is Christmas.  But, it is also Friday.

So - what the hell - it might also be  C’thrishm’sh!
 
Which could mean a visit from  Sog-Nug-hotep 
 
It's possible, isn't it?  Just, maybe, with enough love and craft, that, "On this odd day squid may abide with you?"

May you be blessed with a ten-tentacular day of cheer, love, joy and mollusks.

The Proper Perspective

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh JazzBumpa R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.

There.  That makes more sense.

OK.  Not really a squid.  So sue me.

Image source :  http://members.shaw.ca/csstrowbridge/Tulzscha/Cthulhu.jpg

Quote out of context.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Kwak R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!

Sounds shrill, I'd say. 

Though I love the craft. 


Update:  Context!


Update 2: More Context!
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