Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

The lights are all blinking red.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

You cannot shame the shameless.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

Also, are you sure you want people to rate your comments?

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

The willow is too close to the house.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Winter is Coming

Winter is Coming

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In an hour and 20 minutes, and we are all very excited about the GoT season opener. Two of the frat boys are coming down to watch with me and Shawn, and in honor of Theon Greyjoy, that despicable prick, we are having bratwurst and sauerkraut.

Also have a Pens game on at eight before the show, and then there looks to be a really amazing show on AMC called Turn, which is showing at nine and then again at ten thirty. I really think this has potential to be a good watch.

Now that spring is here (I have two daffodils blooming already!), Steve has been much more adventurous outdoors. He comes out on the porch and hangs out with me and Shawn when we sit there drinking coffee, and earlier today I found him lounging in the middle of the yard sunning himself in between Lily and Rosie.

Other than that, just sitting here feeling good again (queue the bipolar remarks). I’m German. I’m used to being miserable and having overwhelming guilt and flooding memories of regrets, all mixed in with a healthy dose of self-loathing and sheer contempt for others. This whole being in a good mood thing is weird.

Oh, I also realized that when I pick my car up tomorrow, it will be the first car I have owned that has a remote to unlock the car. That’s right folks, I’m stoked about 20 year old technology and think I have moved up to that deluxe apartment in the sky.

Reader Interactions

92Comments

  1. 1.

    OzarkHillbilly

    Just wait until you get heated seats, the very definition of true decadence.

  3. 3.

    Phoenician in a time of Romans

    I’ll just repost a comment I left a little late on the previous GoT thread:

    @IowaOldLady:

    I’ve read GoT over the years as the books came out, and with the most recent one, I have to admit I’ve lost the thread of the plot.

    Currently, Jon Snow has been shown to be a werewolf and goes around with his shirt off trying to impress Ygrette, who seems to have the hots for this new wildling character who sparkles in sunlight. Ayra is being forced to participate in a battle to the death along with a Northern boy she doesn’t trust, up against one boy and one girl from each of the Seven Kingdoms, which King Joffrey is using to keep the masses entertained. And lastly, Tyrion has been inducted into a school for wizards after he accidently turned Bron into a pet owl.

    Hope that helps.

  4. 4.

    gogol's wife

    I still don’t have a remote to open the car. I wish I still had a car where you rolled the windows up and down by hand. Much nicer.

  5. 5.

    ulee

    I listened to Kentucky vs. Wisconsin on the radio on the way home from work last night. I watched the end on the tv once I arrived home with the pups. Nothing beats a radio call. Go Wildcats.

  7. 7.

    Biscuits

    I drove a series of old clunkers when my three children where all under 10. When I finally got a new car in 2000, I was most thrilled with the cup holders!

  8. 8.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    I got back from burying Aþelbert at my mother’s house this evening. I had taken him out onto the screened porch and put him on a table while I was digging, and when I was about half done with the grave, I went across the road to talk to the neighbor. When I walked back across the front yard, three of the house’s four chimneys each had a buzzard sitting on it. I yelled at the buzzards that Aþelbert wasn’t going to be open for lunch today, and one of them flew off. Then I dug out the rest of the grave and put him in with one of my old shirts and 8 or 10 chewies. I miss the guy.

  9. 9.

    Jerzy Russian

    I don’t have a TV, so I have never seen GoT. Does the “winter” in the title of this post relate to that show? It is definitely spring where I live (Northern Hemisphere).

  10. 10.

    scav

    I am still not sure what part of Germany you are from with this doomed doomed doomed crashing down anticipation antigemütlichkeit. Lots of principalities though. My Mecklenburg Prussian and ??? mix doesn’t seem to be implicated. We’ve got different cherished flaws — and dumplings.

  11. 11.

    Gin & Tonic

    Other than that, just sitting here feeling good again.

    This blog sucks now. I want my money back.

  13. 13.

    mantooth

    I like to go to new car lots and look at the nicest trucks so I can see what I’ll be driving in 15 years.

  14. 14.

    Randy P

    @Jerzy Russian: I think so. I’ve never seen the TV show, but I read the first book in the series when it first came out. All I remember is that it started with a beheading and it always seemed to be winter.

    I’ve been a fan of Peter Dinklage for many years though and remember bemoaning (on this blog, I think) that there weren’t more roles for him in Hollywood. He landed the role of Tyrion Lannister, one of the most important and human characters (I’ve read him described as a Renaissance Man stuck in a brutal Medieval landscape) who also happens to be a dwarf. That is obviously a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.

  15. 15.

    seefleur

    A car that can be unlocked at a distance is truly a thing of wonder and awe. Being in a good mood is also something that should be viewed as wonderful and awesome. Living for the little sparkly things in life is what keeps a lot of us getting from one day to the next. Kudos to you for finding that little sweet spot in life.

    (Spoken as the spouse of a new retiree – I still have to get up and go to work because insurance… and college funding for the youngest… any small event that makes me quit bitching about this has to be a good thing. Anything that makes me appreciate happiness in other people’s lives has to be a good thing. So, John, you have earned a couple of Karma points for being you and impacting others in a good way. How weird is that?!?!?)

    +4 (Jameson on a Sunday night is a great way to approach the work week)

  16. 16.

    Josie

    earlier today I found him lounging in the middle of the yard sunning himself in between Lily and Rosie.

    I’d really like to see a picture of that.

  17. 17.

    scav

    @ulee: mmmm, I wonder, the steel pointy hat genes might have just quivered — uh oh. Large chunks of my ancestors seem to bashed enthusiastically on other chunks of my ancestors. ssoooooo many wars not to talk about. Frederick the Great burned our village — not perhaps the best let’s get to know you engagement party.

  18. 18.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    I’ve had an Alanis Morissette tape stuck in the tape deck of my little Tacoma since 2006. So I’ve got that going for me.

  19. 19.

    Mike in NC

    “Amazing Race” was preempted for some crappy country music awards show where most of the guys wear giant cowboy hats to hide their receding hairlines. To kill time waiting for “Game of Thrones” we have on a sanitized version of “Gladiator” on AMC. Jack Gleeson has said he used the character of Commodus as a basis for the evil King Joffrey.

  21. 21.

    muddy

    I was late to the electric windows party. What a hassle it was to have to go around each time you parked to each window to roll them up for doggie parking level. Then back around to roll them all back to doggie riding level. Yes, it had to be all the windows, there were 3 dogs each “needing” one. I luxuriated in running the windows up and down for a long time when I finally got them. Side benefit you can scare the dogs with them too if they act up.

    I have mixed feelings about the key remote. I used to drive someone who constantly gave me unnecessary instruction in how to unlock the (broken) door with the key. Now I never have to poke a key in, so I don’t keep getting the annoying memory. So that’s great, but my problem with it is the danger button on the back. I often hit it on accident and scare myself with the honking. I asked at the dealer if they could take that part away and they said no.

  23. 23.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @scav: Yeah, I don’t really get the association of Germans with pessimism. Invading Poland. Violating Belgian neutrality. Long operas. Sure.

  27. 27.

    scav

    @John Cole: Ahh, well those hats. Might explain it. Although we seem to share the tendency toward infighting. Spätzle and Spats, Brats and Brawls.

  29. 29.

    Pogonip

    I’m still mad at Martin for what he did to Tyrion and Dany in Dance with Dragons. I am only an old lady and know little of writing best-sellers, but I do know that if a writer wants to keep getting my money he doesn’t trash his two best characters. I’ll read the Wikipedia summary of Winds of Winter, thank you very much.

  30. 30.

    scav

    @ulee: Czechs for me is interfamilial strife (the village burned was Bohunk). But not always easygoing neighbors is definitely high on the list.

  31. 31.

    Pogonip

    I read a news story to the effect that exposing yourself to bright light in the morning boosts your metabolism and makes it easier to lose weight. What say you all? Are you a morning or night person, and are you fat, skinny, or in-between?

  34. 34.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @muddy:

    I finally knew it was time to retire my 14-year-old, 247,000-miles Saturn SL-1 when the front driver’s side window control broke (mercifully, I guess, with the window up) and I had to put the car in park, open the door (usually with inadequate room), and kind of lean out sideways in order to use a drive-in ATM, swipe my parking card at the office, or get an iced coffee at the drive-through window at ‘Bucks. I don’t remember what they quoted me to fix it, but it was some scandalous amount — would have involved several days in the shop, taking the door off and apart, repairing or replacing whatever the faulty bit was, and then replacing the door. Other than the risk of that ever happening again, though, I do like automatic window controls.

  35. 35.

    Sir Laffs-a-lot

    My family traces back to the Vikings that raided Ireland; a fact I enjoy sharing after several bottles of the hard stuff eevry St Pat’s day with my (slef proclaimed) irish frineds. Then I leave quickly :)

  37. 37.

    ulee

    @scav: Germany has always been an easy going neighbor. Really though, it’s a testament to human good nature that we can let this shit go so soon. Hitler was killing Jews just a few decades ago.

  39. 39.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    the guys wear giant cowboy hats to hide their receding hairlines

    Does that work? I’m asking for a friend….

  40. 40.

    sacrablue

    @OzarkHillbilly: My current car has heated and cooled front seats. Nothing exotic or pricey, just a Kia. I really appreciate it when it is 110 degrees.

  42. 42.

    ruemara

    My car has no auto anything, except for gear shifting. When I use the company car, I find the excitement of auto rolldown windows breathtaking.

  43. 43.

    Randy P

    @Sir Laffs-a-lot: An episode I knew nothing about, but when I passed through Dublin (alas, I was there only 24 hours) last summer, there were ads for some kind of upcoming Viking festival. “This time they’re invited”

  45. 45.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Omnes Omnibus: It’s all that angst, you know. That Prussian countenance. “In Berlin the situation is serious but not desperate; in Vienna, the situation is desperate but not serious”. You know…

  46. 46.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    @tybee: Nice. My middle console is filled with mixed tapes and the like from the early 90’s. I should get around to clearing it out at some point.

  48. 48.

    Punchy

    I read that as “I have a Penis game to watch…” Something about frat boys and parties and such…

  50. 50.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    I wonder if Serrioussports.TV will show GoT it is a decent site for those of us who don’t want to pay for cable yet want to see some sports, though it looks like Fox got them so I will have to hustle if I want to see the Seahawks next season,

  52. 52.

    JGabriel

    John Cole @ Top:

    I’m used to being miserable and having overwhelming guilt and flooding memories of regrets, all mixed in with a healthy dose of self-loathing …

    Well. That pretty sums up my life. I can’t decide whether to feel relieved or depressed that other people live that way too — though I guess I’m leaning towards depressed, due to natural affinity.

    And I’m not even German, unless a smattering of Dutch 4 or 5 generations ago counts.

  54. 54.

    srv

    I think there’s got to be something wrong with people who like Game of Thrones.

    It’s like a Medieval Soap Opera where the writers couldn’t come up with anything new, so they threw in some zombies.

    At least hipsters do what they do because they want to be authentic to old stuff. I imagine GoT fans watched Days of Our Lives when they were teens and think they’re authentic because they’re wearing moms old slippers.

  55. 55.

    The Fat Kate Middleton

    @Pogonip: This sounds right to me. I learned long ago that simply walking around in full sun or sitting and basking has a hugely positive effect on me. It makes me want to get up and move around, so …

    Re the remote starter: I’ve never had one. Until two months ago, these retirees were driving a 2003 Honda Civic – until the transmission went out. My spouse is very much a car guy, and is just waiting until the weather will let him do serious car work – maybe this week? Anyway, once that’s done, we’re getting a new used car – maybe one with a remote starter? That would be very awesome. Oh .. we’re currently driving our son’sToyota. It’s a long, boring story. We won’t be driving it for long.

  56. 56.

    raven

    Just watched a show about midwives, much more interesting than some dragon-con gas.

  59. 59.

    scav

    @Omnes Omnibus: Prussian cuisine can be a bit high-handed and dogmatic too. Frederick the Great, King of Prussia in the early 18th centuries ordered his subjects to eat primarily cucumbers and potatoes as they were cheap and fit the frugal Prussian lifestyle. That might get you out of town for a spot of pillaging and takeout.

  60. 60.

    ulee

    @srv: It’s all a soap opera. Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Bewitched, Walking Dead, Balloon Juice. You get it or you don’t. It’s good writing or it isn’t.

  62. 62.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @scav: Rigid and authoritarian That I can buy. I lived in Germany for 3 1/2 years; I just don’t see the pessimistic.

  63. 63.

    Lolis

    @gogol’s wife:

    It is much nicer. Especially when you have to pay several hundred dollars to repair each window when the power goes out on an older car. Low tech is cheaper is to maintain.

  65. 65.

    eemom

    @Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.):

    Not everyone feels this way, but at my house it’s really helped to have a new doggie. We adopted a 1 year old pittie from the shelter a few weeks before we lost Maggie in February (not yet knowing at the time how sick she was) and the young ‘un has been a huge comfort to us all…..high maintenance handfull though she is.

  66. 66.

    Lizzy L

    I bought my current car, a 2007 Corolla, in 2010. The car I got rid of in 2010 was a 1996 Corolla. It had roll up windows — as in, handles you had to turn — and push-button door locks. The key remote for the 2007 took a little getting used to, but I’m fully used to it now and totally happy about it. Ditto the windows. I think this car may last a little longer than the previous one: I’m driving it fewer miles.

  67. 67.

    Glidwrith

    Hey, I got remote unlocking just three years ago. It’s 20 year old tech, really?

    I didn’t want the automatic windows, but I guess we all need to make sacrifices for progress.

  70. 70.

    Phoenician in a time of Romans

    @Mike in NC: The GoT Wikipedia entry seems inconclusive about what exactly they did to Theon in the dungeon. Have not read the books.

    Yara seemed pretty sure what was sent back home to his family were male genitals, and she seems pretty experienced in identifying them…

  71. 71.

    Pogonip

    @Mike in NC: Let’s say his penchant for seducing ship’s captains’ daughters will no longer leave his victims unmarriageable.

    That’s another thing about Dance with Dragons. Those Reek/Theon chapters were simply disgusting. Hey, George! This is ENTERTAINMENT you’re hawking, remember?

    Grumble.

  74. 74.

    max

    @kindness: That was good. She got her sword back & a horse.

    Some quality score-settling there.

    max
    [‘Best season set-up episode yet. So yay. And next week! Joffrey bites it!’]

  75. 75.

    Culture of Truth

    Until recently I had a car with roll up windows and no CD, just a tape player.

    Theon may be a bit of a prick (really, on GoT, who isn’t?) but no one deserves what he’s been through of late.

  77. 77.

    Don K

    Just wait til Cole gets a car where you leave the key fob in your pocket and the door unlocks when you touch the door handle, and you start it with a button on the dashboard. Should only take another 15-20 years.

    BTW, remote unlocking is at least 25-30 year old tech. I’m sure I had it on an 83 Mustang.

    I’m a fan of all auto tech, except for automatic transmissions, the devil’s spawn.

  78. 78.

    dp

    If you’re eating in honor of Greyjoy, shouldn’t it be some nasty kind of seafood, like urchins or something?

  79. 79.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Don K: I went to autos when totaled my knee about 15 years ago. Then a wife who could drive one/wouldn’t learn to do so. Maybe my next car….

  83. 83.

    different-church-lady

    Didn’t want remote lock, but it came with my car. But then I discovered a pleasant benefit: since I’ve had remote lock, I have never once locked my keys in the car (which I used to do at least once a year with my old cars).

  86. 86.

    Birthmarker

    JC, you will be surprised how ticked off you will be in a few years when the battery on your remote key goes out!

    Next year I plan to get a new car basically b/c one of the cup holders is broken!

    I love being American!

  91. 91.

    Phoenician in a time of Romans

    @Paul in KY: He’s in the hands of someone who makes a hobby of hunting women down, raping them and flaying them alive. Monsterous though his deeds may be, by no means is he the biggest monster around.

    And I strongly suspect that no-one will ever get to hold Ramsey accountable for his actions…

  92. 92.

    Medicine Man

    This episode of Game of Thrones I learned that when Gregor Clegane asks for a chicken you really should give it to him.

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