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Jun. 6th, 2015 06:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwydion* There is an outbreak of MERS in South Korea. Three are dead and 30 more infected. They have closed 700 schools.
* 175 are dead in flooding and a petrol station explosion in Ghana. Many people had taken refuse in the station from the flooding.
* Only two of the cowards who attacked Malala Yousafi were convicted, but the other eight have been set free.
* The family of a third boy Dennis Hastert raped has come forward. I expect there will be more.
* "9th baby dies after heart surgery at a Florida hospital:" http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/06/03/baby-heart-surgery-death-ac-dnt-cohen.cnn
* Props to Larry Wilmore for shutting it down when the panel started speculating about Caityn Jenner's genitals on the grounds it was none of their business.
* "Pomp & Unfortunate Circumstance - Jail Time for Cheering:"
* "Pomp & Unfortunate Circumstance - Evan Young's Banned Graduation Speech:"
* "Democalypse 2016 - 19 and Counting:"
* A Thought about Maester Aemon Targaryen. Tw: Game of Thrones, so brief mention of rape, because I refuse to soft pedal Rhaegar.
Remember in the way back when Jon Snow is tempted to leave the wall to go deal help with the hole Starks being slaughtered thing, and Maester Aemon reveals he's Targaryen and back in the day he was tempted to leave the Wall and take the throne? That refers to the succession crisis of 233, when he was invited back and promised release from his vows. he turned it down for noble reasons. I'm betting also out of a deep fondness for "Egg," who becomes Aegon V as a result. I love me some Aegon V. Aegon V tried to do the sort of egalitarian reforms Westeros needed. The problem with Aegon V is that he faced so much concerted thwarting and general assholery that he became obsessed with getting a dragon, as if he had a dragon he could stop exhausting himself with noble rebellion and actually fix Westeros, which quest led ultimately to him dieing an untimely death in 259. The next King's short reign was mostly about war, which gives us Aerys II in 262, the really horrible one that led to Robert's rebellion. Aerys was clearly trouble from early on, but it was clear the mess they were in by 272, and they were calling him "Mad" in 277 (Period of the Defiance of Duskendale. Rhaegar's rape of Lyanna Stark was after the Tourney of 281. I'm listing dates for a reason, bear with me.
Now, let us consider what might have happened if Aemon Targaryon came down off that wall. He's a very long lived man, being born in 198 AC and dying in 300. One can assume that a lot of that is healthy living and limited pathogen exposure up at the wall, but let's assume he retains a measure of good health, which isn't unreasonable. His Ancester Jaehaerys I lived from 34-103 AC. So lets say he lived the 69 years of his famous ancestor. I'm willing to bet he'd have made his beloved Egg Hand. Aegon was a knight, after all, trained by one of the best and used to real world situations and not just tourney fighting. Imagine Aemon and Aegon working together as allies for the benefit of all Westeros. I bet King Aemon would have properly manned and supplied the Wall. I bet the two of them working together would have made headway on crucial reforms. It may be that Aegon would not have been driven to desperate measures in hopes of hatching a dragon. It may not. Aemon might have set aside his celibacy and sired more children, giving us alternate Targaryen Kings. He might not. Either way, the Night's Watch would have been considerably less fucked when the White walkers turned up.
By 267 AC Aerys was already being a serious asshole, had broken with Tywin Lannister, and turned on his wife for no good reason, and thus Rhaegor as well. Might Aerys have lost his place as heir by then to Aemon's children? Might not an Aemon who surely knew as well as young Egg what Aerion was not skip over Aerys as designated heir on the strength of Aerys' assholery alone? Might a Rhaegor raised by Aemon and Aegon for his first seven years instead of living under the constant hatred of a father king who irrationally hated him have been more likely to do his duty by his Martell wife and not gone about kidnapping women? Aegon might have outlived his brother and taken the throne as the obvious next heir if he had not burned to death or died in battle at this point, givingus, say, another ten years of rule. If Aerys had not been set aside for new Princes or his father, might there have been another Great Council on Aemon's childless death as there was in 233, when Maekar died without a clear heir. Want to bet Tywin Lannister would have been in there putting all his money, political talent, and the weight of his name behind one of the other claimants instead of Aerys who has repeatedly slighted him and openly hated him at this point? I'd be putting my money on Tywin backing young Rhaegor at that point. As a minor, he'd be dependent on a regent and his small council. I can easily see Tywin using that as a chance to rule and set up a match with Cersei, since he tried to do a lot of those things with less leverage in the canonical version of events. Even if Rhaegor ends up kidnapping Lyanna, there is a way better chance of avoiding the rebellion, since you miss the whole horror of Aerys reign, so you don't have houses all over Westeros ripe for rebellion.
Now imagine Aemon lived longer. It's not inconceivable as he canonically dies in 300. What if he's still alive in 281? It would be Aemon and possibly Aegon handling the upset Starks and Baratheons, and Aemon with strong respect for the North and what it does to keep the rest of Westeros safe. I'm betting he would have smoothed over the crisis. Every extra year Aemon and/or Aegon lives is better for Westeros.
In either of these senarios, you end up not only with a live Ned Stark dealing with the ice zombie army, but good odds his brother is still alive and Lord of Winterfell and Warden in the north. Odds are you have twice as many Starks, and all of them working together to deal with a potentially world ending ice zombie crisis, instead of Winterfelll's grain stores being burned, and no one but Jon Snow and Stannis Baratheon giving a fuck about ice zombies and Winter starvation. The Starks have there ancestral sword. Daenarys' dragon hatch in Westeros and blow dragon fire at invading Ice zombies and their masters, which would likely solve the problem pretty quickly.
I love King Aegon V, but I am haunted by the idea that if Aemon had left the wall when he was asked, Westeros would have turned out a whole lot happier....
* The AVG theft cost me a total of 350.00 I couldn't afford. It will likely cost me more as it ate most of my bill money for this month so late fees there too. Fuck you, AVG!
* "Super women and the rise of l’homme fatal:" http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/6/super-women-and-the-rise-of-lhomme-fatal.html
* "Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 8:" http://chrysreviews.tumblr.com/post/120564973845/game-of-thrones-season-5-episode-8
* Stefon on Kingsman: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/120797648281
* Ebay Time, Four lots:
AUTUMN FANCIES 2013 (LE, Halloweenies): (Company says: Dry grasses bathed in amber light, muted by gentle shadows.) Top of label.: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301649341988?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
THIRTEEN (13): December 2013 (LE, Lunacy): (Company says: Bringing the light of good fortune to the dark of the year! Coconut-infused white chocolate swirled with a mélange of New Year's blessings: smashed pomegranates, a slice of vasilopita, black-eyed peas, rice wine, a bunch of leafy greens, twelve sweet grapes, buckwheat, almond cookies, and glazed doughnuts.) Top of Label. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/301651167254?
AUTUMN LACE 2012 (LE, Retail Exclusive Oils): (Company says: An October funeral, 1888. Black linen and delicate, sugar-spun lace suffused with the scent of tobacco, black tea, Indian musk, liturgical incense, and cognac, with a drop of laudanum and crushed Autumn leaves.) Just Below Top of Label. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/301651169035?
DR. HENRY JEKYLL 2009 (LE, Retail Exclusive Oils): (Company says: A discreet men's cologne of juniper, cumin, verbena, bergamot, mint, and basil splattered with dregs from apothecary bottles.) 1/2 Full.
GEISHA IN A STATE OF RUMPLED ANNOYANCE 2014 (LE, Lupercalia, Shunga, novel ideas for secret Amusements): (Company says: French lavender, white plum blossom, white ginger, and rice wine.) 1/2 Full http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/301651171106?
* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We desperately need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.com
* Nepal Relief: http://thewynne.tumblr.com/post/117524778471/nepal-donations
* Trying to stay afloat until August: http://www.gofundme.com/cuovws or Lethran@gmail.com
* 175 are dead in flooding and a petrol station explosion in Ghana. Many people had taken refuse in the station from the flooding.
* Only two of the cowards who attacked Malala Yousafi were convicted, but the other eight have been set free.
* The family of a third boy Dennis Hastert raped has come forward. I expect there will be more.
* "9th baby dies after heart surgery at a Florida hospital:" http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/06/03/baby-heart-surgery-death-ac-dnt-cohen.cnn
* Props to Larry Wilmore for shutting it down when the panel started speculating about Caityn Jenner's genitals on the grounds it was none of their business.
* "Pomp & Unfortunate Circumstance - Jail Time for Cheering:"
* "Pomp & Unfortunate Circumstance - Evan Young's Banned Graduation Speech:"
* "Democalypse 2016 - 19 and Counting:"
* A Thought about Maester Aemon Targaryen. Tw: Game of Thrones, so brief mention of rape, because I refuse to soft pedal Rhaegar.
Remember in the way back when Jon Snow is tempted to leave the wall to go deal help with the hole Starks being slaughtered thing, and Maester Aemon reveals he's Targaryen and back in the day he was tempted to leave the Wall and take the throne? That refers to the succession crisis of 233, when he was invited back and promised release from his vows. he turned it down for noble reasons. I'm betting also out of a deep fondness for "Egg," who becomes Aegon V as a result. I love me some Aegon V. Aegon V tried to do the sort of egalitarian reforms Westeros needed. The problem with Aegon V is that he faced so much concerted thwarting and general assholery that he became obsessed with getting a dragon, as if he had a dragon he could stop exhausting himself with noble rebellion and actually fix Westeros, which quest led ultimately to him dieing an untimely death in 259. The next King's short reign was mostly about war, which gives us Aerys II in 262, the really horrible one that led to Robert's rebellion. Aerys was clearly trouble from early on, but it was clear the mess they were in by 272, and they were calling him "Mad" in 277 (Period of the Defiance of Duskendale. Rhaegar's rape of Lyanna Stark was after the Tourney of 281. I'm listing dates for a reason, bear with me.
Now, let us consider what might have happened if Aemon Targaryon came down off that wall. He's a very long lived man, being born in 198 AC and dying in 300. One can assume that a lot of that is healthy living and limited pathogen exposure up at the wall, but let's assume he retains a measure of good health, which isn't unreasonable. His Ancester Jaehaerys I lived from 34-103 AC. So lets say he lived the 69 years of his famous ancestor. I'm willing to bet he'd have made his beloved Egg Hand. Aegon was a knight, after all, trained by one of the best and used to real world situations and not just tourney fighting. Imagine Aemon and Aegon working together as allies for the benefit of all Westeros. I bet King Aemon would have properly manned and supplied the Wall. I bet the two of them working together would have made headway on crucial reforms. It may be that Aegon would not have been driven to desperate measures in hopes of hatching a dragon. It may not. Aemon might have set aside his celibacy and sired more children, giving us alternate Targaryen Kings. He might not. Either way, the Night's Watch would have been considerably less fucked when the White walkers turned up.
By 267 AC Aerys was already being a serious asshole, had broken with Tywin Lannister, and turned on his wife for no good reason, and thus Rhaegor as well. Might Aerys have lost his place as heir by then to Aemon's children? Might not an Aemon who surely knew as well as young Egg what Aerion was not skip over Aerys as designated heir on the strength of Aerys' assholery alone? Might a Rhaegor raised by Aemon and Aegon for his first seven years instead of living under the constant hatred of a father king who irrationally hated him have been more likely to do his duty by his Martell wife and not gone about kidnapping women? Aegon might have outlived his brother and taken the throne as the obvious next heir if he had not burned to death or died in battle at this point, givingus, say, another ten years of rule. If Aerys had not been set aside for new Princes or his father, might there have been another Great Council on Aemon's childless death as there was in 233, when Maekar died without a clear heir. Want to bet Tywin Lannister would have been in there putting all his money, political talent, and the weight of his name behind one of the other claimants instead of Aerys who has repeatedly slighted him and openly hated him at this point? I'd be putting my money on Tywin backing young Rhaegor at that point. As a minor, he'd be dependent on a regent and his small council. I can easily see Tywin using that as a chance to rule and set up a match with Cersei, since he tried to do a lot of those things with less leverage in the canonical version of events. Even if Rhaegor ends up kidnapping Lyanna, there is a way better chance of avoiding the rebellion, since you miss the whole horror of Aerys reign, so you don't have houses all over Westeros ripe for rebellion.
Now imagine Aemon lived longer. It's not inconceivable as he canonically dies in 300. What if he's still alive in 281? It would be Aemon and possibly Aegon handling the upset Starks and Baratheons, and Aemon with strong respect for the North and what it does to keep the rest of Westeros safe. I'm betting he would have smoothed over the crisis. Every extra year Aemon and/or Aegon lives is better for Westeros.
In either of these senarios, you end up not only with a live Ned Stark dealing with the ice zombie army, but good odds his brother is still alive and Lord of Winterfell and Warden in the north. Odds are you have twice as many Starks, and all of them working together to deal with a potentially world ending ice zombie crisis, instead of Winterfelll's grain stores being burned, and no one but Jon Snow and Stannis Baratheon giving a fuck about ice zombies and Winter starvation. The Starks have there ancestral sword. Daenarys' dragon hatch in Westeros and blow dragon fire at invading Ice zombies and their masters, which would likely solve the problem pretty quickly.
I love King Aegon V, but I am haunted by the idea that if Aemon had left the wall when he was asked, Westeros would have turned out a whole lot happier....
* The AVG theft cost me a total of 350.00 I couldn't afford. It will likely cost me more as it ate most of my bill money for this month so late fees there too. Fuck you, AVG!
* "Super women and the rise of l’homme fatal:" http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/6/super-women-and-the-rise-of-lhomme-fatal.html
* "Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 8:" http://chrysreviews.tumblr.com/post/120564973845/game-of-thrones-season-5-episode-8
* Stefon on Kingsman: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/120797648281
* Ebay Time, Four lots:
AUTUMN FANCIES 2013 (LE, Halloweenies): (Company says: Dry grasses bathed in amber light, muted by gentle shadows.) Top of label.: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301649341988?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
THIRTEEN (13): December 2013 (LE, Lunacy): (Company says: Bringing the light of good fortune to the dark of the year! Coconut-infused white chocolate swirled with a mélange of New Year's blessings: smashed pomegranates, a slice of vasilopita, black-eyed peas, rice wine, a bunch of leafy greens, twelve sweet grapes, buckwheat, almond cookies, and glazed doughnuts.) Top of Label. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/301651167254?
AUTUMN LACE 2012 (LE, Retail Exclusive Oils): (Company says: An October funeral, 1888. Black linen and delicate, sugar-spun lace suffused with the scent of tobacco, black tea, Indian musk, liturgical incense, and cognac, with a drop of laudanum and crushed Autumn leaves.) Just Below Top of Label. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/301651169035?
DR. HENRY JEKYLL 2009 (LE, Retail Exclusive Oils): (Company says: A discreet men's cologne of juniper, cumin, verbena, bergamot, mint, and basil splattered with dregs from apothecary bottles.) 1/2 Full.
GEISHA IN A STATE OF RUMPLED ANNOYANCE 2014 (LE, Lupercalia, Shunga, novel ideas for secret Amusements): (Company says: French lavender, white plum blossom, white ginger, and rice wine.) 1/2 Full http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/301651171106?
* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We desperately need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.com
* Nepal Relief: http://thewynne.tumblr.com/post/117524778471/nepal-donations
* Trying to stay afloat until August: http://www.gofundme.com/cuovws or Lethran@gmail.com
(no subject)
Date: 2015-06-07 07:36 pm (UTC)That or tell AVG that they owe you for the overage fees their unauthorized charge resulted in.
(no subject)
Date: 2015-06-08 03:44 am (UTC)