TheStimpinator

Happy trails, duder. You will be sorely missed.

I will follow Ken wherever. But this still whomps.

Absolutely this, I really hope we can see some more written pieces from Two-Pens every now and then.

So I initially felt the same way about the book but I really ended up enjoying it the more I got through and it once I put it in context. The events of Storm of Swords were huge and AFFC is almost like the denoument of the last book and beginning of more rising action with some introductions to more interesting characters. While it takes a detour from the (probably) best characters of Jon, Tyrion, and Danaerys, I really ended up enjoying the book for what it was.

And what it is is part Cersei finally getting the power she's worked so hard to get and then totally running the kingdom into the fucking ground without realizing how bad she is, coupled with Jaime's redemptive cycle continuing in a really cool way, as well as introductions to the previously unexplored areas of the Iron Islands and Dorne and the key players therein. Yeah the shift to new characters you may have only heard of once is weird, but once I got into it I was rewarded by their depth and their different perspectives from the previous chapter characters and more than eager for more once I finished.

It's far from a perfect book, but I'm a huge fan of Martin's writing and I don't think it warrants all the hate it gets.

If you loved 3 then totally. I didn't enjoy the story as much as Fallout 3 but the western setting is really cool and there's loads of more fallout-y things to sink your teeth into. Also the faction systems are pretty interesting and the survivalist mode is a cool challenge.

I generally only go as far as keeping up with Mr. Porter and reading the occasional Esquire. I dunno, is Brooks Brothers high fashion? Because that's about expensive as I'm willing to buy at this point in my life. I get a lot of J Crew stuff because it's nice and not crazy expensive. Dressing nice is pretty cool though.

I believe in Duncan Jones, and I would love to see Ben Foster in a strong lead role. Pleeeeeaaaase let this be good.

The combination of those eyes and his Joel voice... he has me.

Sorry that was more in response to previous comments about Israel being "a destabilizing force in the region" and I kinda just went off on a rant, apologies for the tangent. I don't really think I'm a victim of a propaganda machine by realizing the geopolitical importance of Israel, but otherwise yeah the forcible relocation of a state's citizens on the grounds that they are living in "unrecognized territory" is absolutely shitty so we're in agreement there.

I realize this may be an unpopular opinion but I spent close to a month in Israel and its surrounding area (not a whole lot of time, I admit) and I am a firm supporter of Israel and basically everything it stands for. The Israeli people have been fighting since the creation of their state against enemies on all sides (pan-arabists, radical groups, terror organizations, openly hostile neighbor states) who would love nothing more than to wipe the state of Israel off the map. Israel has repeatedly defeated its attackers whenever they have attempted to start shit, despite being horribly outnumbered in almost every instance.

With regards to the Palestinian issue, I will definitely agree that the Israeli government has been overaggressive, but that is only in response to the Palestinian groups and their supporters that have been attacking Israeli civilians for decades. Yes the Palestinians were there immediately before the creation of Israel, but the Palestinians that still wait for the day when they can move back into their family homes from sixty years ago are living in a dream world. I really think a two state plan is the best option, and if last year's elections in Israel are any indicator then I think that resolution on that front is on the way within the next 10-20 years.

Finally Israel serves an important function as a positive economic and social influence in the region, which is one of the important reasons that US support continues. Israel is the most prosperous non-oil tycoon state in the region and has also embraced women's rights and a stable parliamentary system while many of its neighbor states are still subject to sharia law and government.

I happily admit that Israel is not the poster child for human rights in the world today, however more often than not they are, in my opinion, unfairly misrepresented as a bully in the Middle East.