sj: "[King Juan Carlos] did good decades ago, post Franco, and thwarted a military coup. Of course those things took courage, but not any real work. But it made him look heroic, right?"

I'm not going to defend the indefensible, which is what that elephant hunt was. The king deserves whatever criticism he's received for that. Yes, it hurt his popularity, but that's really tangential to his overall body of accomplishment.

And what Juan Carlos accomplished in transitioning Spain -- a country with no real history of democratic rule, save for the very short life of the Spanish Republic, which was overthrown by Franco -- from an Fascist autocracy to a democratic constitutional monarchy was certainly no small feat.

So, please don't say that there was no real work involved. Your petulant and entirely groundless remarks only serve demean your own self, especially since it's quite obvious that you've never had to face down armed Fascists hellbent on fomenting a military coup.

Juan Carlos had to confront an entrenched and very lethal right-wing oligarchy that was long used to unchallenged rule. The Falangists had basically installed him in power after Franco's death with every expectation that he would compliantly support the reigning status quo. Once they finally realized what he was doing, they proved resolutely hostile to his stated goal of modernizing Spain's government and re-establishing the country's relationship with the West on his own terms, and not on theirs.

Had the Falangists not initially refused to believe the king was indeed serious about his proposed reforms, which gave Juan Carlos the time he needed to set events into motion and drive them from power without bloodshed in the 1977 elections, this could have ended very badly for both the king and the Spanish people.

The Guardia Civil was a very powerful presence in Spanish life back then, being much stronger than the Spanish army proper, and posed a very real threat. They could have easily removed the king from the throne, and put an end to the entire reform effort. Instead, they mistakenly believed that Juan Carlos was merely playing to the crowd, and discounted the possibility that he was actually working to win the people over, until it was too late.

As it was, Juan Carlos took a huge gamble personally in opposing the February 1981 coup that for all practical purposes was quite successful initially. There was no guarantee when he took to the television airwaves that he would be able to rouse popular support to his side and compel the Falagists to back down.

But like the Communist plotters in the former Soviet Union who initially removed Mikael Gorbachev from power ten years later while discounting the political threat posed by Boris Yeltsin, the Falangists and Guardia Civil made a fatal assumption that the king had rendered himself non-consequential politically and would do nothing to oppose them.

You're right. What Juan Carlos did in outmaneuvering and facing down the Falangists over the better part of six years took no small amount of courage of his part. But it also took a lot of time and effort to bring it to a successful conclusion.

I'm guessing that the last minute twist will be seen by some as evidence of Game Of Thrones increasingly toying with the viewers' emotions--with Maisie Williams cackling at her character's misfortune presented as exhibit B. But there's another way to look at it: the show laying the groundwork for monumental, irreversible change.
Tyrion's tale of rocks, bugs, and the unwitting forces that bring them together would be the biggest moment--not that anything else in "The Mountain And The Viper" steals its resonance. If anything, the trial by combat underlines the monologue's importance: This is Tyrion speaking of his own existence, as an insect that fate knows only to smash. The metaphorical hand bears the name Lannister for obvious reasons, but this is more than a parable about Tyrion and Tywin. It's about all of these characters, so many of them seemingly introduced for the sole purpose of suffering. The hand goes by many names (Ramsay Bolton, Joffrey, the maesters), its beetles spread across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. In the end, Tyrion's only crime may have been that he was more invested in decoding these cruelties and less invested in putting a stop to them. "Certainly I had the wherewithal to unravel the mysteries that lay at the heart of a moron," he tells Jaime, slyly nodding toward whichever lunkheaded gods make the people of Westeros fear the giant rock.

She says Downton Abbey is Domestic Porn.  I thought about it for a second, and it is delicious how everything is in its place, silver polished, gourmet meals show up along with kitchen romance, rapings, and killings.  The place is always polished and glowing and delicious.  I guess it is Domestic Porn.

Remember episode 9 is typically the big one in GoT.

I am anticipating two huge deaths and other stuff but for those who read the books I will not tease anymore.

Agreed with all other comments.   I knew what was going to happen in that fight scene and it was still surprising and awesome.

In fact I went back last night and re read that chapter and it was just as riviting.

Excellent work by the show bringing that thrilling sequence to life.

I love the show.  

If you have any interest I highly suggest reading the books.

But the site seems hosed right now.

It took a lot for me to get into "Breaking Bad," because I generally shy away from movies and shows about illegal drugs and illicit drug use. (Watching people do hardcore drugs -- whether live or onscreen -- simply makes me cringe.) But everybody here kept praising "Bad," so I finally felt compelled to tune in and see what it was that I was missing. And in retrospect, I was really glad I did.

From there it is a thrill ride.

The sencond season is much better and IMHO they'e each gotten better with this one being the best.

It helps alot to have read teh books becasue frankly it's one more chance to know what's going on because like all books it's more in depth and helps you rememnber all the goings on in the back ground and give you more insight into the characters and helps you remember that 20 sub plots happening simultaneously.

I watched the first three seasons without reading the books and loved it.    Then because I couldn't wait a year I read the books in about 4 months and now I actually enjoy the series even more.

It's just different enough to keep it interesting but the basic plot lines are the same.  

Anyway I'd compare it to King's the Dark Tower Series or Lord of the Rings.

It's another world and when you dive into it whole heatedly you start to notice everything and all the details of the books and series.   The combination of the two is great because you see it in your mind while you read it and you fill in the background with the words while you watch it.

I agree thr fight was amazing.  

I absolutely love the Missandei/Grey Worm story.  Who in Westeros more deserves to find a little peace?  No idea what happens to them.  It will probably be tragic but for the love of the gods give them their moment.

Nevertheless, when Bush said it, is felt mega-creepy.

The bill calls on the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress 30 days in advance of any transfer and outline the steps the administration has taken to ensure the detainee is not engaging in terrorist activities against the United States.

Link
Specifically, it says:

(d) NOTIFICATION
.--The Secretary of Defense shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress of a determination of the Secretary under subsection (a) or (b) not later than 30 days before the transfer or release of the individual under such subsection. Each notification shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) A detailed statement of the basis for the transfer or release.
(2) An explanation of why the transfer or release is in the national security interests of the United States.
(3) A description of any actions taken to mitigate the risks of reengagement by the individual to be transferred or released,
including any actions taken to address factors relevant to a prior case of reengagement described in subsection (c)(3).
(4) A copy of any Periodic Review Board findings relating to the individual.
(5) A description of the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (c), including a summary of the assessment required by paragraph (6) of such subsection.

Obama then issued a signing statement, in which he said, in part:

Section 1035 does not, however, eliminate all of the unwarranted limitations on foreign transfers and, in certain circumstances, would violate constitutional separation of powers principles. The executive branch must have the flexibility, among other things, to act swiftly in conducting negotiations with foreign countries regarding the circumstances of detainee transfers.

*MCU Park will known as Vandelay Industries Park for one night only.
*Mailmen in uniform get to throw out a ceremonial first pitch ("Hello Newman!")
*Anyone who has a business card indicating that they are in fact a "Latex Salesman" will also receive a free ticket to the game.  If we call the number and it's some apartment on the Upper West Side, you won't qualify for the freebie.
*Fans can visit the information table for an "airing of grievances."
*Closest to the pin / whale's blow hole competition ("Is that a Titleist?")
*The foul poles will be known as Festivus Poles.
*"Low-Talking" PA Announcer.
*Elaine Dancing Contest
*Everyone Runs the Bases Post-game...but anyone named Jerry gets a head start (Take that Duncan Meyer).
*Game of "Risk" on the Concourse
*Cereal eating contests
*Anyone named George Costanza will be allowed to join our radio broadcast as a color analyst for an inning
*Players in puffy shirts for batting practice.