Battle at the Tower of Joy: A GOT Fantasy Lineup

Like millions of others I am a huge fan of the HBO series “Game of Thrones” as well as its source material “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin. As an avid reader and watch of the series I know that many of us share a love and passion for perhaps the most widely celebrated scene in all of Westeros;

The Battle at the Tower of Joy.

I don’t really have to explain why this particular scene is so favored by book readers and show watchers but for those not in the know the gist is basically a 7 on 3 cage match with swords.

I know. Badass.

The Battle at the Tower of Joy features two groups of combatants squaring off at the end of Robert’s Rebellion; Ned Stark and a coalition of lords from the North vs three members of King Aerys II’s Kingsguard; Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower.

If nothing in the preceding paragraph made any sense then this post probably isn’t for you. However, if you just did a mental fist pump as you recalled, glowingly, the fever dreams of Ned Stark in book one then this is in your wheelhouse. So sit back, grab a flagon of ale and a capon pie, and read to see who should be at the ToJ.

 

The Head vs the Heart; American Politics in 2015

In a surprise to no one Donald Trump’s call to stop the immigration of Muslims into the United States has ignited a firestorm of debate across the nation. Coming at one of the most volatile and fearful moments in American history, his statements have enraged the left and has generated an audible moan from the GOP base. In the wake of Paris and San Bernardino these statements, that in conventional elections would almost seem suicidal to any campaign, are actually gaining traction in polls despite a vast majority of outlets and talking heads taking him to task. What does this mean? Simply put, there is a disconnect in America between the voter and the political and media elite. The more the opposition and “experts” decry Trump the deeper the American conservative voter seems to be digging in their heels. Why? I believe there are a myriad of reasons but to put it simply;

There is a conflict between America’s head and her heart.