21st Century (Digital Boy) - Bad Religion

Hell Yeah - The Bloodhound Gang

Cannot stand Cadsuane. Everything about her is annoying imo. The mysterious back story. The bunch of ter'angreal that give her unique powers. The way she treats other Aes Sedai. The way she is a legend that is never mentioned until she appears. The way she knows how to handle Rand but actually deals with him so badly she is only kept around because Min had read the books and knew she was super important - because otherwise Tam would never speak to Rand (a viewing of Min's right up there Alivia's one). Her obsession with corporal punishment. Her relationship with Nynaeve that had no arc or progression. About the only thing I like was her interactions with Sorilea, and that did not develop very far. I think you are right about Demandred but not sure if it was ever confirmed. Some people were just discussing it but I cannot quite recall in which thread...

Yay for the Tower's cutest and most snuggly Aes Sedai! We love you Cross! Hope you have had a great birthday 🙂

Sometimes I really wonder if the concept of adapting something for a different medium is so alien to people. Obviously the makers of the show have their own take - such as the enlargement of Moiraine's role - her fleshed out relationship with Suian, her aging so that the effect of her greatly lengthened life can be examined and shown, the attention given to her and Lan's relationship. But these are a change of emphasis, which should still be illuminating the same world and story. There are lots of things about the show that I find disappointing, so I can understand for some people that it can be even more disappointing. There are really a lot of issues that they could have kept more accurate to the lore and still told the same story. I still find it worrying that so many people take Mat's parents as such an example of sexism. Mat's father is worse than the books, an attack on all men. Mat's mother is worse than in the books, an attack on Mat and all men. Just as long as we are being consistent. For Perrin, his character has been not destroyed - he did not murder his wife. Nor was she fridged - that trope is particularly about how male characters are motivated in a story by the antagonist infringing their patriarchal property. This is not the case here. What I would say is more relevant is that they have done exactly nothing with this addition to Perrin's character. And it gives him a reason to avoid the Two Rivers - while Mat is given a compelling reason to return, which again as of yet they have done very little with. It is a shame for the accuracy of the show that the first season had to be different, given that the Dragon being teased could not be done when it was publicized that the show was all about the Dragon. Given the sensible choice to make the starting characters act like literal children or hobbits, and the greater emphasis on Moiraine, the changes forced by needing to simplify the number of locations, etc, the lack of budget... And then the troubles that have plagued it since due to corona, schedule conflicts due to corona, Barney dropping out, etc, meaning that the end of season one was a literal disaster and season two must have been rewritten several times. But for me there is more than enough to keep the show very enjoyable, and I am eager for more. And I'll never understand those that refuse to watch it because Rand has sex with Egwene. As if that makes a difference, but yeah, as I say, I don't understand it.

But is there not a penalty for repeating a song? Like having to down your imaginary drink... Hmm, yeah not sure quite why that would help.

I feel I am perhaps spreading myself a bit thinly here, but how could I refuse you, Cairos? What do I have to do to join?

I always thought that was the bittersweet thing about the books. Given the cyclical nature of the world - not matter how perfect how heroes managed to make the outcome, it only made the fall to come worse. Which is of course is how our history has played out as well - but well it was not inevitable by definition in the same way. The industrial revolution occurred due to Britain's unique qualities - large high-quality coal reserves near the surface of the earth, an island so-shaped so that no point is more than 80km from the sea, and a coast where you are never more than 20km from a deep water harbour (compared to for example France's 5 over thousands of kilometers of coast). The Two Rivers does not have any of this, let alone being placed in the very important trade routes from the Baltic. The issue of guns - yes, I totally agree they are not some amazing anti-channeler device (though they would be a lot more effective than archers) but tactic-wise, they would have a huge impact, relative to conventionally armed troops. Also Jordan uses a huge conceit that he has Aludra make cannons that took the real world centuries to develop. Her dragons appear to me to be close to the firearm development of the Baker Rifle. So adding in the thought of firearms in the Wheel of Time does not seem entirely unfair (indeed, Jordan himself does in Aviendha's visions within a short period of time). (Likewise Jordan's inclusion of a late-stage steam engine without any of the real world catalysts or commercial development, that springs from the mind of an individual, shows again a conceit, or a lack of appreciation of the real world conditions that brought about the Industrial Revolution).

And yet the White Tower was instrumental in defeating the Shadow at every point. So matter how dysfunctional it was, it still served its purpose. Indeed, I could see that a "fully functioning" Tower could have made Siuan and Moiraine's task impossible, and would have been a positive boon for the Shadow when delivered into the hands of Elaida. The Tower appears to have been hampered just enough to suit the Dragon Reborn. Maybe I am wrong, or simply armed by hindsight, but it seems to me that the Shadow would have been better served by a completely broken Tower, or a strong Tower in sympathetic hands, rather than what they did, and they definitely could have done something else with the numbers they had and the advantages over the Aes Sedai who were Oath bound and in complete denial. And your analysis of Aran'gar as far as I can see is lacking. He kills Egwene's maids to get access to her, he kills Cabriana's two dearest friends and no one else (am I forgetting anyone?) - to blame this on random love of killing Aes Sedai is a complete refutation of the actual facts. As opposed to non-actual facts, obviously. Of course, forensic examination of the minutiae is rather unfair in fiction, but the fact remains, it did not feel right to me. Which may have been me missing something, admittedly. But the fact remains.

Sorry to interrupt your celebration in the Tavern, but I would not ever use that name in Ireland, I mean, ouch. But since I have recovered from my flabber being ghasted, please continue.

Greetings and welcome, Lord Eben, back to rejoining. Look forward to seeing you about and discussing the books with you 🙂

There is a drink in the US called an Irish car bomb? O.o

Firestarter - The Prodigy

Mary had just arrived in Tar Valon, and was not surprised to see the streets packed with people for the Feast of Fools celebration. She wore her feastday best and peered excitedly into each stall she passed. Many were delightfully covered in array of colors and lights, each as vibrant as the next! The smells and sights were wonderful, but her stomach rumbled loudly letting her know it regretted her haste in leaving before breakfast - but wait, was a that pie cart up ahead? As Mary quickened her pace toward the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked pies, her excitement mingled with the infectious revelry of the Feast of Fools, the air filled with laughter, music, and the occasional burst of fireworks, creating a kaleidoscope of sensations that enveloped the City of Tar Valon in a joyous fervor; however, as she approached the pie cart, the bustling crowd seemed to part inexplicably, revealing a shadowy figure clad in dark, hooded robes, their piercing gaze fixated on Mary with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine, an unexpected foreboding that whispered of hidden dangers lurking beneath the festive façade, and as she reached for a delectable-looking pastry, a furtive movement caught her eye – a glint of steel emerging from the folds of the stranger's cloak, signaling a perilous undercurrent beneath the merriment that threatened to unravel the festivities into a tapestry of danger and intrigue. Mary had always bathed her time between the folds of her books, swimming the depths of fictional intrigue and squirreling her time away. Time that had the unfortunate side-effect of over-acting both her imagination, andcuriosity. Really if she had been blessed by the Power, Mary would have made a lovely Brown Sister. However, this day, facing this threat, her warning instincts met her immovable curiosity and froze her feet to the ground as the shadowy figure flashed towards her, short dagger raised, all ready for a strike. Mary could only watch aghast as the raised dagger fell, her active imagination already experiencing the dull, bludgeoning pain - stab wounds did not feel sharp she knew from her reading - when suddenly the dagger flew away in a burst of motion. An object rolled to a stop at her feet. A pie dish! She had been saved by a... The dark robed figure was knocked onto the ground by a short bosomy woman, who leapt over the pie cart, cannoning into the figure. This unexpected saviour whipped a wooden spoon out and started towards Mary's assailant who was already scrabbling backwards, looking for an escape. Adept at wooden spoonage, Mary's savior beat back the assailant, stirring up a heavy dishing of bruises, however in the shadows of the space between shops a second hooded figure emerged, sword glinting as they came up behind the utensil wielding hero. As the blade glinted in the sun, Mary noticed a cloaked woman just aside of her. She was wearing a serpent ring. Just as she noticed, so did the assailant who turned and quickly went the other way fading into the crowd. Of course, this is Tar Valon and Aes Sedai would be among the crowd. Why were assailants trying to murder her? She was just a simple young woman The answer to that was quite simple, the simple woman Mary had been attacked to draw out the Aes Sedai in the crowd. The crowded streets were rapidly becoming less crowded as people became aware of the commotion, leaving Mary, her spoon-wielding heroine and the cloaked Aes Sedai alone beside the pie cart. Then, one of the pies began to move. It slowly edged off the cart - Mary could not believe her eyes - then another, and another, until all the pies from the cart were spinning wildly around the trio.

It's not easy. I've been doing it several times recently (ooo, er) for the event and I still got lost checking to tell you how. It is under settings in your profile, and if you are on your phone then you need to go to the cogwheel next to your username then select signature from the drop down menu headed "Settings area".

As I remember the flaw of the domination band was that while it gave control of a man, over time that control would waver and eventually give control of the link to the man, the in-story explanations only allowing for the slowing of this process and not its prevention (sharing the bracelets etc) .

OK, I will just wait my turn then. I have no real objection to not sitting on the ledge 🙂

Well, as our esteemed Sword Captain has been dunked already, I shall take his place. I walk in the Light, and will trust that the hand of the Creator will shelter me from a dunking at these pretty but vile hands.

Only to be worthy of you, Lily Gaidin. I've heard of what happens to men who do not impress you. I smile warmly to soften the jest, though I certainly knew the bruises that Lily gave out when I did not perform well enough in the practice yard. But I should not keep you all to myself. We Warders should mingle, not least to keep an eye on these questionable types that are coming in. Even here, the Watch never ends.

It has to be - Sex bomb - Tom Jones Proof that any song will lead to sex or Tom Jones in three steps or less.