Winter is Coming Apparently Sometime Far Away from Now

I've been intermittently reading the Game of Thrones (er, I mean A Song of Fire and Ice) series, having watched the HBO drama.  I whole heartedly agree with this review, except for the part about I am not going to read it anymore.  That's because I knew this was nonsense coming in -- it's a soap opera in fantasy trappings -- but it's my damn soap opera and I'm hooked.

And, yes, the majority of the best characters are dead:

Comic-Con 2013: In Memoriam

Today's Crazy Values In Ceramics

As reported at NBC News (via Miss Celania), a bowl purchased at a garage sale for $3 turned out to be a 1000 year old relic from China. Naturally, following a suitable period sitting on the family fireplace mantel followed by a suitable period for verification, it was off to auction and was sold for $2.2 million.

This stuff never happens to me.

Note: this embedded video is from NBC News, whose embedding sucks, and I am too tight on time to fool with it. You'd think a big media company like that would have a clue, but nooooo ...

The Power of Myth

Bill Moyers has put the audio of his famous series of six interviews with anthropologist ethnographer "mythologist" Joseph Campbell online for free. In the series, which was made 25 years ago, Campbell discusses at length (and with broad appeal for many) his theories on the importance of religious stories and myths in all cultures. Campbell, who was greatly influenced by lay biologist and philosopher Ed Ricketts (who also influenced John Steinbeck, Henry Miller, Bruce Ariss, Adelle Davis Henry Miller, Lincoln Steffens and Francis Whitaker) as well as Carl Jung, modern art, Thomas Mann, Hinduism, and Native American culture, believed that myth was ingrained in the "human psyche" and always centered around the trials of a "hero." There's a lot of pop psychology and loose thinking here, but the series is worth listening to nonetheless for its provocative ideas and lovely delivery.

Exciting News About the New Hobbit Movies!

Werner Herzog Gets Shot in the Leg During an Interview (Really)

Let's Start the Day with a Local Morning Talk Show

No Soup for You!

So, I've been travelling and almost had to miss a day of posts. God may have intervened on behalf of decent society, if only there was a God. Also, if you want bread with your posts, it's now three dollars.

Max Raabe and Palast Orchestra: Dream a Little Dream of Me

On The Late Show with David Letterman musicologist and legendary band leader Paul Shaffer did not know who the German bandleader Max Raabe is; so, here ya go:

It seems an appropriate lead-in to tonight's bedtime reading with Werner Herzog.

Because the Election is Over, I'm Going Fishing

Not really. I don't know shit about fishing.

Big Sky, Big Money

Big Sky, Big Money is a PBS Frontline documentary on the effects of "dark money" in the Montana races for the U.S. House and Senate. The documentary makes an argument that money spent there this year and previously has had a pernicious effect, and reports on Montana's effort to apply its own campaign finance law despite the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm'n, 558 U.S. 310 (2009), that donations not spent directly for a candidate may be kept secret.

Most interesting, though, is the documentary's assertion that numerous documents exist that suggest that Western Tradition Partnership (now called American Tradition Partnership) -- which was an important opponent of campaign finance restrictions in Citizens United -- misled the IRS about its expenditures, activities, and status. Perhaps in time we'll see.

Watch Big Sky, Big Money, an investigation with Marketplace on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

The Classic I Told My Kids I Ate Their Halloween Candy

I Just Loooove Sitcoms! They're so Freaky!

Via boing boing. Happy Halloween!

CGI in Movies and Television by Stargate Studios

Stargate Studios produces a lot of computer generated imagery (CGI), chroma key compositing (green screen), and other production effects for television and film. Via Neatorama, who came to it via Reddit, here are two videos demonstrating Stargate's work, the first, immediately below, showing green screen mostly in television shows (it's still pretty interesting), and the second, below the break, showing more CGI type effects.

CGI Effects from "The Game of Thrones" on HBO, Season 2

CGI Breakdown of HBO's "Game of Thrones," Season 1

What is incredible is the fact that this is a television show. Season 2 coming tomorrow.

Lucille and Mitt

Lucille Bluth is the matriarch of the Bluth family on Arrested Development, a television comedy that ran from 2003 to 2006 and, given its huge cult following, is being resurrected next year.  Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate for President of the United States. Put their wacky rich person hi-jinks together and you've got comedy gold!

Seinfelt -- Episodes of Seinfeld that Never Were

Everyday a new Seinfeld plot that never was. Some, well, anyway, but some are actually funny. Via Metafilter.