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Marvin and any other gamers: I know you don’t read much fiction, but I just finished a book about two people who develop games, and even though I know nothing of that world, I loved it. Called Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Read a synopsis and see if you might be interested.
 
zeke4ahs said:
Marvin and any other gamers: I know you don’t read much fiction, but I just finished a book about two people who develop games, and even though I know nothing of that world, I loved it. Called Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Read a synopsis and see if you might be interested.
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Interesting, I hadn't heard of it NPR's reviewer loved it. I think I will add it to my audio. I have been out of video gaming a few years or I probably would have heard of it.

.
 
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Thoughts on the end of Better Call Saul? I am OK with it, not wowed by the last few episodes, but OK.

I found it all pretty anticlimactic after the Lalo storyline ended. Still great TV, but different.

Need a new show.
 
For some reason I never knew Horrible Histories existed. I watched several skits and found them very interesting. Two of my favorites was a Napoleon rap and this one about the Battle of Britain.

 
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BradStevens said:
Thoughts on the end of Better Call Saul? I am OK with it, not wowed by the last few episodes, but OK.

I found it all pretty anticlimactic after the Lalo storyline ended. Still great TV, but different.

Need a new show.
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Totally agree on better call saul. pretty amazing tv tho between breaking bad and better call saul. Yep need a new show too
 
Tried to read Matrix by Lauren Groff. God, this novel was a headache. I gave up in chapter two. I might go back to it. It's not poorly written, just it's a lot of work. Too poetic. It's like reading James Joyce, but without the benefit of an English teacher warning you what you're in for or giving you notes to help you figure it out.

So I switched to rereading some Arthur Conan Doyle. Currently working through the "Return" series of stories. God, they're good.
 
TheOriginalHappyGoat said:
Tried to read Matrix by Lauren Groff. God, this novel was a headache. I gave up in chapter two. I might go back to it. It's not poorly written, just it's a lot of work. Too poetic. It's like reading James Joyce, but without the benefit of an English teacher warning you what you're in for or giving you notes to help you figure it out.

So I switched to rereading some Arthur Conan Doyle. Currently working through the "Return" series of stories. God, they're good.
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Supposedly ACD thought his Brigadier Gerard series was better than Sherlock. I did really like it and recommend it, but I do think Holmes was better. So if you want some ACD to read, that is something to try.
 
Marvin the Martian said:
Supposedly ACD thought his Brigadier Gerard series was better than Sherlock. I did really like it and recommend it, but I do think Holmes was better. So if you want some ACD to read, that is something to try.
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You've recommended it to me before. I promised I would read it, but I haven't so far. I still hope to get to it, but as happy as I am with Holmes, I see no reason to hurry.
 
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TheOriginalHappyGoat said:
You've recommended it to me before. I promised I would read it, but I haven't so far. I still hope to get to it, but as happy as I am with Holmes, I see no reason to hurry.
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Have you read Arthur and George by Julian Barnes? You might like it. I'm a huge fan of Barnes.
 
TheOriginalHappyGoat said:
Tried to read Matrix by Lauren Groff. God, this novel was a headache. I gave up in chapter two. I might go back to it. It's not poorly written, just it's a lot of work. Too poetic. It's like reading James Joyce, but without the benefit of an English teacher warning you what you're in for or giving you notes to help you figure it out.

So I switched to rereading some Arthur Conan Doyle. Currently working through the "Return" series of stories. God, they're good.
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I enjoyed Florida and Fates and Furies by Groff, but haven’t attempted Matrix yet.
 
Bulk VanderHuge said:
They did the exact same thing to me! I cut the cable looooong ago, and when we moved, I had to go with Spectrum. All I wanted was internet. Not only did they stick me with tv, they also had given me a phone #. I'm kind of a dumbass (not cray level, mind you), and didn't really look at my bill for about 3 months. Finally, I thought the bill was way too high, read it closely, and damn. I called and bitched, and got no satisfaction. They even said they went back and listened to a recording of the call, and I specifically asked for a phone line. I told them that I may have screwed up on the TV, but I never would have asked for phone services.
Only my skepticism of ATT (the only other choice) kept me on board.
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Metronet if you can.
 
Soooo huge GOT fan until it ran out of source material and transformed into a Transformers movie with nonsensical and predictable storylines, George Lucas level dialogue, Deus ex machina story techniques used every episode. Characters having one purpose and then arcs never being resolved....after starting as one of the greatest stories told.

Anyway, I've of course never read the books because you know, reading is hard so I'm only familiar with the TV show.

The first episode was so, so, so good that I literally was fighting back tears when the classic GOT theme played off the last scene (and what a great choice having basically no title sequence as it establishes the new characters. Holding off til the end after an amazing set up let's you know....yeah, this is the GOT that you used to love).

There are so many great subtexts going on already. One theme is how the lack of war (it's set during a long reign of peace) tends to make society more arrogant, mean and a bunch of whiny bitches whereas a bad war tends to humbles societies.

There's questions about democratic leadership and if it's 'too nice, too fair'. There's a great them of how women are basically seen and judged by child birth (and how dangerous childbirth was before modern medicine that we've kindof taken for granted). You've got a character that's pretty much a believer of authoritarian, but he's not 100% a black hat wearing, bad guy. He truly loves his brother and his family, he just thinks he's a weak and ineffective leader and needs to be crushing more skulls.

Needless to say, if you liked the early seasons of GOT....I think it's back! At least the first episode was.
 
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TommyCracker said:
Soooo huge GOT fan until it ran out of source material and transformed into a Transformers movie with nonsensical and predictable storylines, George Lucas level dialogue, Deus ex machina story techniques used every episode. Characters having one purpose and then arcs never being resolved....after starting as one of the greatest stories told.

Anyway, I've of course never read the books because you know, reading is hard so I'm only familiar with the TV show.

The first episode was so, so, so good that I literally was fighting back tears when the classic GOT theme played off the last scene (and what a great choice having basically no title sequence as it establishes the new characters. Holding off til the end after an amazing set up let's you know....yeah, this is the GOT that you used to love).

There are so many great subtexts going on already. One theme is how the lack of war (it's set during a long reign of peace) tends to make society more arrogant, mean and a bunch of whiny bitches whereas a bad war tends to humbles societies.

There's questions about democratic leadership and if it's 'too nice, too fair'. There's a great them of how women are basically seen and judged by child birth (and how dangerous childbirth was before modern medicine that we've kindof taken for granted). You've got a character that's pretty much a believer of authoritarian, but he's not 100% a black hat wearing, bad guy. He truly loves his brother and his family, he just thinks he's a weak and ineffective leader and needs to be crushing more skulls.

Needless to say, if you liked the early seasons of GOT....I think it's back! At least the first episode was.
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That explains it, I LOVED the original title sequence. I had a few minutes free last night, thought I would watch the title sequence. I gave up after a few minutes as that was all I had time for.

I hope the composer goes back out on tour with his music. A coworker saw that during GoT and said it was awesome.
 
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Marvin the Martian said:
That explains it, I LOVED the original title sequence. I had a few minutes free last night, thought I would watch the title sequence. I gave up after a few minutes as that was all I had time for.

I hope the composer goes back out on tour with his music. A coworker saw that during GoT and said it was awesome.
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I used to get goosebumps at the start of each season with the theme song and title sequence. I believe he also composes for Westworld among other shows. He's got a definitive style for sure.

I hope you give it a shot. I'm more than optimistic because it's 100% sourced from GRRM material to completion.

I think it's an easier watch than the first season of GOT (of course I didn't have any background when I started that so I could be wrong) as it seems there are less characters to keep track of.

It's classic Martin. Everyone has some good and some bad characteristics which of course makes for fascinating, adult storytelling.

There's a childbirth scene that is.... astonishing, disturbing, shocking, tragic, terrifying but it's set up that you understand why, even though it is horrifying.

Of course there is a subtle wink to reproductive rights and how women in this world have none.

There's also a childhood friendship that's quickly established in the first episode that I'm pretty sure is going to dissolve really badly as the get older and get in the game.

I'll shut up so not to spoil it with my enthusiasm on the first episode.

Again, I teared up involuntarily and it was just because it reminded me of why I loved the original so much in the early seasons.
 
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TommyCracker said:
I used to get goosebumps at the start of each season with the theme song and title sequence. I believe he also composes for Westworld among other shows. He's got a definitive style for sure.

I hope you give it a shot. I'm more than optimistic because it's 100% sourced from GRRM material to completion.

I think it's an easier watch than the first season of GOT (of course I didn't have any background when I started that so I could be wrong) as it seems there are less characters to keep track of.

It's classic Martin. Everyone has some good and some bad characteristics which of course makes for fascinating, adult storytelling.

There's a childbirth scene that is.... astonishing, disturbing, shocking, tragic, terrifying but it's set up that you understand why, even though it is horrifying.

Of course there is a subtle wink to reproductive rights and how women in this world have none.

There's also a childhood friendship that's quickly established in the first episode that I'm pretty sure is going to dissolve really badly as the get older and get in the game.

I'll shut up so not to spoil it with my enthusiasm on the first episode.

Again, I teared up involuntarily and it was just because it reminded me of why I loved the original so much in the early seasons.
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Ha! Good for you TommyC. I watched the first episode and thoroughly enjoyed it. Brutal in parts
 
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TommyCracker said:
I used to get goosebumps at the start of each season with the theme song and title sequence. I believe he also composes for Westworld among other shows. He's got a definitive style for sure.

I hope you give it a shot. I'm more than optimistic because it's 100% sourced from GRRM material to completion.

I think it's an easier watch than the first season of GOT (of course I didn't have any background when I started that so I could be wrong) as it seems there are less characters to keep track of.

It's classic Martin. Everyone has some good and some bad characteristics which of course makes for fascinating, adult storytelling.

There's a childbirth scene that is.... astonishing, disturbing, shocking, tragic, terrifying but it's set up that you understand why, even though it is horrifying.

Of course there is a subtle wink to reproductive rights and how women in this world have none.

There's also a childhood friendship that's quickly established in the first episode that I'm pretty sure is going to dissolve really badly as the get older and get in the game.

I'll shut up so not to spoil it with my enthusiasm on the first episode.

Again, I teared up involuntarily and it was just because it reminded me of why I loved the original so much in the early seasons.
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I too thought the first episode was great. And Matt Smith's character will go down as one of the best in the GOT world.
 
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Finished Better Call Saul. Enjoyed the ending, though it was a bit contrived.

Kim Wexler is one of the greatest characters in TV history. Well written and with more depth than is often given to female leads. The Time Machine call back was touching.

On to HOTD.
 
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HBO currently has a great special where black actors enact portions of Frederick Douglass’s most famous speeches or essays. The show puts all of them in context, too. It’s really powerful.

I’ve never understood why Douglass is not more revered.I’d be all for his pic on some denomination of our currency.
 
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I was thinking I might wait and binge HOD but decided this was one you fully need to digest each episode. Loved it!
 
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TommyCracker said:
I used to get goosebumps at the start of each season with the theme song and title sequence. I believe he also composes for Westworld among other shows. He's got a definitive style for sure.

I hope you give it a shot. I'm more than optimistic because it's 100% sourced from GRRM material to completion.

I think it's an easier watch than the first season of GOT (of course I didn't have any background when I started that so I could be wrong) as it seems there are less characters to keep track of.

It's classic Martin. Everyone has some good and some bad characteristics which of course makes for fascinating, adult storytelling.

There's a childbirth scene that is.... astonishing, disturbing, shocking, tragic, terrifying but it's set up that you understand why, even though it is horrifying.

Of course there is a subtle wink to reproductive rights and how women in this world have none.

There's also a childhood friendship that's quickly established in the first episode that I'm pretty sure is going to dissolve really badly as the get older and get in the game.

I'll shut up so not to spoil it with my enthusiasm on the first episode.

Again, I teared up involuntarily and it was just because it reminded me of why I loved the original so much in the early seasons.
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I just finished episode 1 and really enjoyed it. Though honestly I joked it felt very much like Mufasa, Scar, and a female Simba.
 
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Marvin the Martian said:
I just finished episode 1 and really enjoyed it. Though honestly I joked it felt very much like Mufasa, Scar, and a female Simba.
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I was tentatively pleased with the premiere. I thought they threw in one bit of gratuitous sex that was unnecessary - fan service probably - but it was pretty mild by GOT standards, so I let it go. This series will be all about internecine politics. It won't need the shock and awe of GOT. The drama and tension will come from the characters and their relationships.
 
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TheOriginalHappyGoat said:
I was tentatively pleased with the premiere. I thought they threw in one bit of gratuitous sex that was unnecessary - fan service probably - but it was pretty mild by GOT standards, so I let it go. This series will be all about internecine politics. It won't need the shock and awe of GOT. The drama and tension will come from the characters and their relationships.
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I'm sure we'll watch it, but several of the reviews I've read were fairly tepid. One said it boiled down to "Blonde wigs and Dragons."
 
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UncleMark said:
I'm sure we'll watch it, but several of the reviews I've read were fairly tepid. One said it boiled down to "Blonde wigs and Dragons."
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The first two episodes have been all exposition, so it's tough to judge this early.

If it's going where I think it's going, I'll like it, but I won't be surprised if some others don't. I'm a big fan of complex political dramas. My favorites parts of The Tudors were not Natalie Dormer's breasts (and I love Natalie Dormer's breasts). They were the maneuverings of Norfolk and Buckingham and More and Wolsey and Cranmer and Cromwell.
 
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