Armed as erection popular election. Getting paid every year like tax collection

Quick Hitters and Random Thoughts

I couldn’t wait a week before my Game of Thrones fix so I read pretty far ahead and pretty much this entire episode beforehand. As inevitable as it was I still can’t believe Ned’s dead, baby. Ned’s dead. We already have a Littlefinger so I’m pretty sure “King” Joffrey can heretofore be known as Littleshit. Even Queen Cersei couldn’t believe what Littleshit was doing and then to call her out for having “a woman’s heart.” Wow, what. a. scene. I knew that the author of the books, George R.R. Martin, wanted the audience never to feel like a character was ever safe and yeah, killing King Robert, Ned and possibly Khal Drogo gets that accomplished. I’m going to miss Sean Bean as Ned. I need an old photo of Ned and King Robert to remind me of the good old days, you know, three episodes ago. I’m not sure who else is going to die off, but let’s say Khal Drogo/Jason Momoa joins Mark Addy and Sean Bean in death. Those are three main characters and beyond that three really good actors out. They’ll be missed…unless they’re taken north of The Wall so that they may come back as Zombie Ned, Zombie Robert, and Zombie Khal Drogo. Fine by me because otherwise those are three huge voids from an acting standpoint.
The biggest departure from the books in this week’s episode was the short shrift given to the two battles. I guess that’s to be expected because you have to try and save money somewhere. Tyrion fought his ass off in the book so I was a little disappointed we didn’t get to see that, but there was still plenty of classic Tyrion including that painful story of his first “love.” Tywin Lannister probably didn’t get a lot of Father of the Year nominations in his lifetime.
I wouldn’t have minded seeing Jaime Lannister cutting down lots of northerners before finally being captured. Robb Stark is really holding his own in all of these scenes.
Aemon is a Targaryen, interesting. Commander Mormont is Jorah Mormont’s father, interesting.
I think next week’s episode title should be Tyrion’s awesome, “It’s fun. Look at the fun we’re having!”

--I may go see another movie at the theater this summer, but there’s almost no chance it’ll be as fun as Super 8 was. As I tweeted it really was a “good old fashioned summer movie.” Equal parts from Spielberg’s heyday from E.T., Goonies, and Close Encounters. I watched in IMAX, but beyond the train wreck scene I’m not sure there’s much of a point to watching it in IMAX. Though that train wreck is terrific.
Oh and c’mon J.J. Abrams you could’ve thrown us a bone and had Kyle Chandler’s son’s name be Dillon at the very least.

--I was saddened if not surprised that Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz decided to call it a career last week. It’ll be seven years next month that he won the WBA lightweight title against Lavka Sim here in Houston at the age of 20. He wasn’t the quickest boxer and didn’t possess one-punch knockout power. What he had aplenty were guts, determination and a relentless pursuit of whoever was across from him in that ring. As much fun as it was watching him represent Houston and UH as he successfully unified the lightweight belts it was equally sad to watch him against Nate Campbell when Nate stopped Juan’s winning streak at 33. Baby Bull came back strong against Michael Katsidis and got a chance to go up against an all-time great in Juan Manuel Marquez. Diaz fought valiantly that night at Toyota Center, but JMM was just too much as the fight wore on and he stopped Diaz in the 9th. A couple fights with Paul Malignaggi before facing JMM once more last year. This time it wasn’t even close as Marquez handily won a decision. I don’t think anyone who’s followed Juan Diaz is surprised that this Houston boy done good is off to Dartmouth Law School. Thanks Juan and good luck.

His retirement letter as posted on Maxboxing.com.

--There were times I found myself cheering after a Dallas made field goal. Don’t worry, I immediately punched myself after every instance. Helluva series. And I’m happy for Dirk. (punches self).
You know what was really weird about this series? The referees were actually quite adequate. Odd.
This was the first NBA finals to not have at least one game decided by more than 10 points since a team called the Rockets beat the Knicks.

--Finally business is picking up on The Killing. Should be an interesting finale because I’m thinking Darren Richmond isn’t the killer. Rather he’s just (mercifully) the final red herring. Then again besides Drexler I’m not sure murderer is a word I’d use to describe any of the suspect possibilities. I guess that’s what happens when they don’t decide until halfway through the season to actually pick a murderer. I guess my final pick is Dave. Wait, is there even a “Dave”? Nevermind I’ll go with Tom. Pretty sure there’s a Tom.
I dread anytime Mitch Larsen comes on the screen. Her acting is fine, but man her character got annoying and tiresome somewhere in the third or fourth episode.
As fortuitous (fortuitous events happen A LOT in this show) as it was for Mayor Adams’ project to dig up an old Indian burial ground I’m not understanding why he wouldn’t use the pictures of Richmond to his advantage. Seems easy enough to leak to the press in an attempt to salvage his campaign. And how long has he been sitting on those pics?
I expect a much better second season from this show than this first one.

That picture came up on my Indian burial ground search and will be in my nightmares tonight. Join me won't you?

--Another reason I love Food Network Star is the awkward editing of reaction shots. When you mix that in with Anne Burrell they are not only awkward, but become very, very scary.
My full in-depth and completely necessary thoughts are here on ApeDonkey.

--For the record I’m on “Team No Thank You” in the Astros to AL debate.

--I watched about 15 minutes of the new Teen Wolf. Man was it painful and worst of all, no Boof.

--Childrens Hospital’s first couple of episodes have killed it this season with cameos from the likes of Jon Hamm, Nick Offerman, Sarah Silverman, and the woman from House that bosses him around that I don’t feel like looking at IMDB to find a name for. Yeah, her. Nick Offerman’s Detective Chance Briggs was undercover as a Puerto Rican gang member, but the gang wasn’t buying his “disguise,” but Detective Briggs sold it well, “Yeah amigo…want to go to Chipotle after this?”

"Are you stupid for a living?!"

--There’s a first time for everything. For example the other day I almost committed my first double homicide. Don’t worry it was justifiable and I can’t imagine any court convicting me of killing two people in an elevator who talked on their phones the seemingly never ending elevator ride.
Let’s practice people, “I’m getting on an elevator, I’ll call you right back.”

--Yeah, we probably don’t need a new Conan The Barbarian, but if it has Khal Drogo/Jason Momoa and Ron Perlman in it then I’m not going to complain.

--Johnny Damon who now plays for the Rays has tied that franchise’s mark for consecutive games reaching base. As of Sunday he’s reached safely in 37 straight games tying the mark set by the legendary Ben Grieve.

--Maybe you liked Toby Young on Top Chef. Maybe you didn’t. Either way how ya gonna rob his 6-year-old son’s lemonade stand? In what had to be a very amusing scene, a bicycle chase ensued between the robber and Toby. The robber won.

--Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer will be waiting for you at Excalibur next time you’re in Vegas, so yeah, you have that going for you. Has it really been only five months since last time I was in Vegas? Seems like five years.

--Paul Maholm became a 50-game winner for the Pirates this week. Since 1980 there have been three other Pirate pitchers who’ve debuted and gone on to win at least 50 games in a Pittsburgh uniform. Wanna guess? I got Doug Drabek, but missed on Bob Walk and John Smiley. I went with Francisco Cordova.

--Sweet. Ray Romano has the gambling bug again on Men of a Certain Age. I mean, bad for his character and his seemingly reborn gambling addiction and all, but, you know, sweet.

--McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice was pretty strong. It was surreal watching Arther Ashe interview a shy John McEnroe at his first Wimbledon. Pretty amusing watching young McEnroe learn that when being interviewed and a microphone is in front of his mouth that’s his cue to talk. It was unfortunate watching McEnroe do a lot of the current interviews in that hideous, black shirt that had the crosses filled with different colors/patterns all over it. Definitely not something from the Borg fashion collection. Everything Bjorn Borg did was effortlessly cool. I mean he made putting on his headband look cool and if he can make that look cool then anything else in life has no chance of making him appear awkward.
Charley Steiner did not make fighting look cool. That was funny.

I think the highest compliment I can give this doc is that it was NOTHING like the Martina/Chris 30 for 30.

--I really liked Bobby Fischer Against the World. I knew bits and pieces of Bobby’s story mostly from his ramped up craziness the last years of his life, but how he got to that point was a mystery to me. The whole drama of the pre-match and match itself with Boris Spassky was very interesting.
Bobby – “I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.”
Good and definitely sad stuff.

--Molly Parker/Alma Garrett of Deadwood to Dexter?! How many new characters are on this season?!

--Of course Jack White and his wife are going to throw a divorce party together.

--Really U.S.? Panama? Really? I didn’t watch the game, but I assume Bob Bradley is responsible for the loss.

--“It’s Gettin' Real in the Whole Foods Parking Lot”

“This buster’s on his iPhone talking to his friends.
Picking up some cayenne pepper for his master cleanse.
You’re the most annoying dude I’ve ever seen bra.
Could you please move? You’re right in front of the quinoa.”

--On the one hand, I’d like to see a lion defeat al Sayed al Essawy. On the other hand, that might prevent al Essawy from uncovering the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle. The 25-year-old Egyptian plans to battle a 10-year-old, roughly 600-pound lion named Samson in a match that can only be described as awesome…if the lion wins. If al Essawy wins then we’re on our way for more fun from him. Everything from those Bermuda Triangle truths I mentioned to letting airplanes run over him. So I guess what I’m saying is this is a win-win! Though it seems many Egyptian officials don’t want this to go down for various logical reasons. If he downs the lion he might also do something with an Israeli flag which might not go down well with a lot of people. Either way June 25th you need to be refreshing Fark and Drudge Report for the headline “Man Bites Lion; Lion Kills Man.”
Thanks to @ChivesMcGee for the heads up on this. Chivesgospel.blogspot.com

--I hope this rapist dying while raping thing catches on.

--"How To Cook Everything" by Mark Bittman is my go-to cooking app. I can’t get enough of this Thai shrimp recipe that’s simple and versatile enough to modify however you like.

Questions, comments or if you hit Samba Grille over the weekend and came away as impressed as you thought you would…

Not a great picture, but a ridiculously good corn bisque with one big ass shrimp - probably not the description on the menu.