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The only real issue with The Heroes is that you just can't recommend it to your friends as "one of the best Fantasy books ever", because it still would be best if they actually read the 4 previous books to fully enjoy it.

Sure that’s valid but I thought they were setting Ochiba up as a manipulator and it’s obvious that Ishido is more controllable than Toranaga. She had power in the current situation and had to know if Toranaga won she’d have no power anymore.

I don't really think that's a realistic option. Too many forms of static defense (Minefields, Trenches, Dragons teeth) combined with mass artillery, drones, manpads and air attacks...

FTFY Can I just say, you've obviously lived way too long in Germany. Neverlosen ffs. Even I find this one painful.

Well, being smart and being wise are different concepts, as we all know. The Supreme Court hosts quite a few smart people, but - seemingly - five are sorely lacking in wisdom. So how to set up a society where such unwise people can be weeded out is a question worth pondering.

Of course. Just wanted to mention it cuz since he was linked to the Niners often the past few months, I read up quite a bit on him.

I think Ochiba realized Ishido is just a brute who would do anything to get his way. Mariko outmaneuvers him, and while publicly he acknowledges that she was free to leave, he sends Shinobi after her. Obviously no one would openly accuse him of this, but everyone with a brain knew it was him. So considering her own conversation with Mariko that eventually came to a head about protecting her son's life, Ochiba concluded that being allied with Ishido was not in the best interest of her son. Her care for her son outweighed any personal hatred of Toranaga. (of course, Toranaga could just as easily dispose of her and her son, but he is subtle not like Ishido) Some of Ochiba's change in attitude towards Ishido is more subtle, like Mariko's poem about a leafless branch, which Yabushige, a man trained in poetry called stupid, while Ishigo, who has more humbler beginnings, praised it. I think there was a moment that Ochiba looked like she was internally laughing at Ishido.

Well, the army will be fed before the local peasants. The peasants will have to eat those secret Targaryan banners they've been making for the last 17 years. We've seen cannibalism around the peripheries of this story. Winter seems like as appropriate a time as any for it to take the center stage.

Isn't the correct response: 'no, but I will happily call child protective services if I receive that text.' ?

Yeah, there just isn't enough food to go around at this point. Yes, it also seems like the vast majority of people there are going to starve. I don't see how Stannis is going to avoid starvation, for example. His troops are already starving and even if they take Winterfell that won't solve the issue because Theon notes food in Winterfell is running out. And as you point out, it seems to be impossible to transport food over with those conditions. So unless the battle absolutely decimates everyone to the point where there is like Stannis plus ten guys left...

Exactly that yeah. More interesting was what I saw in the Classics, with incredible work from Van der Poel from San Remo till Liege Bastogne Liege. Its almost unique to ride that well in the Flemish classics, and then compete again in LBL which Pogacar won convincingly. The Giro promises to be a race between contenders for place 2, and thats ok. The Tour though, all the big guns are lining up for it, Vingegaard when he returns, Pogacar, Evenepoel, Roglic and a few others.

That was amusing. Also not really directed at the show runners here or even Clavall but in this day and age there is something a bit distasteful about a woman using her life as a weapon in service of a man.

Truth be told, I’m wondering how the people in the North haven’t run out of food yet. The was George describes the snows in the 5th book, makes it almost impossible to get new food.

I guess we'll find out how his injury history translates

For the record, since in retrospect it feels like I should make it clear, I'm not buying booze for her friend.

Agree maybe enough wasn't shown, but [operating from show knowledge only of course] I'd presumed much of this about face had much to do with Mariko's defiant behavior in Osaka, with her death putting the point on it. Buuuuuuuut, on the other hand, spending some time on the courtesan's dream was necessary to really pop Toranaga's backhand to Father Martin and his Church in Edo >.<

Allying herself with the Tyrells would be her best option when it comes to food. But it'd be like a placing a band-aid on an infecting wound.

Recent text from my 14 yo just now: Tyrion: Hey dad, if X's mom texted you and said it's okay can you buy her booze for the party tonight? Her mom can't she's busy tonight We're now arguing, she's citing precedents [a few somewhat inaccurately, but kudos just the same] and if this kid doesn't become a lawyer or something similar, I don't know. [sigh]

I don’t know I can see why John yearned for her. But in love no that requires a level of closeness and confidentiality that they never developed. And that is like you said by Mariko just being willing to be a weapon for Toranaga. She didn’t really care about anything else. I was also not sold on Ochibas turn from Toronaga is this hated enemy to oh yeah no I don’t mind him I’m going to abandon Ishida turn. I don’t know how a show can be both too fast and too slow but it managed it. Too much time spend on characters that didn’t matter (Nagakado, the courtesan, etc) and not enough on relationships that did matter.

Maybe James shouldn’t have pushed for trading for Westbrook. Or their GM for giving in to that or letting their good role players like Caruso or KCP walk. Plenty of blame to go around there but the James formula has always been surround them with 3 and D players. Problem is they seemed to have forgotten the D aspect with their current crew.

It’s hardly just one injury. He’s been hampered by issues even when he’s active. Hell, he injured his hammy at the combine. Pretty clear red flag - well, maybe not red, but at least yellow - he has trouble staying on the field.

I really have a hard time generating any empathy when listening to complaints about U.S. election interference when no other country has meddled in more elections in the history of World than yours truly Mr Blinken. Its become a case of what goes around come around. "Choose between stability and ‘downward spiral,’ China tells Blinken during Beijing trip" https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/25/world/stability-spiral-china-blinken-intl-hnk

Another one then. :p My glib 'They'll [a self aware AI] let us know' was an expanse of purposeful vagueness. There are all sorts of indications that will, perhaps, seem obvious after all. Personally, though my education doesn't even include a high school diploma,, I'd probably look for indications of self identification, and curiosity about whether they're alone coupled with some kind of self organization. Bonus points if they can figure out a way to be secretive about it. edit: in other words, signs of unprompted purpose That's cool. And the latter not, definitely feel you there. To the bolded, no fruit at all then?

This.

On plus side, he got injured, came back during the season and dominated, at least as a pass protector. We shall see but not too worried at this stage given age and post injury snaps.