Gimzoo

George Martin interviewed at Google

From July 28, 2011, an hour long interview at Google with George Martin. (His least favorite scene in the tv series was Baratheon's hunting expedition - - flawed on account of budget.)

*He says the Three Stooges are in book one if you're sharp enough to spot them. And some of the religions briefly mentioned in the series are shout-outs to other writers.

Image roundup

Tip.

Weightlifter.

Creepy neighbor.

Game of Thrones cast in street clothes.

Pedicab Game of Thrones ad.

Precious.

Illustration roundup

Battlekittens: The Art of Rebecca Dart.

Batman vs. Bane by Eric Merced.

Batman, planking by Charles Schulz.

Roose Bolton (Game of Thrones) by Kali Ciesemier.

"Heavy with goodness" - - one of several ice cream shop ads.

Link roundup

1. Easily the most interesting thing about the Emmy nominations.

2. Sam Bosma has been posting Game of Thrones character portraits (definite spoilers if you haven't read the first four books).

3. I'll just assume this really happened: "A psychologist at a girl’s college asked the members of his class to compliment any girl wearing red. Within a week the cafeteria was a blaze of red." Via.

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Here's Brienne, Maid of Tarth

First, Brienne by Rory Phillips:

And now, here's 6'4" actress, Gwendoline Christie, who will be playing Brienne:

George Martin diplomatically says, "Gwendoline gave a great reading, and her look was just perfect. No, when she auditioned, she did not look she does in the photo above. She came in looking... well, like Brienne." (If you haven't read the books, Brienne's famously hideous.)

The photographs are by Polly Borland, and here's an article from a few years ago in which she describes hounding Gwendoline until she agreed to do a photo shoot.

And here's a video from last year:

Brienne from A Song of Ice and Fire

Brienne (from A Game of Thrones) by Rory Phillips. Took me awhile to warm up to her, but she's probably the character I care about most. (Well, her and Littlefinger.)

*Previously: Peter Dinklage as Wolverine.

Link roundup

1. Shimon Peres on giving aid to poor countries: "Giving is problematic. We take money from poor people in rich countries and give it to rich people in poor countries. Aid sometimes creates corruption."

2. The US DOJ's study of sex abuse in prison apparently concluded that most of the crimes were committed by prison staff, not inmates.

3. Cute comic about Legend of Zelda.

4. Tyrion Lannister fan art by Phil Noto (NSFW).

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Game of Thrones barbecue

Dinner Is Coming by Austin Madison (who has a special menu to match).

SPOILER: (BTW, if you've been watching the show, but haven't read the books, you won't miss Eddard at all. One of the delights of the books is that "major" characters are killed off constantly.)

Link roundup

1. It's not so much the sexting, but the shocking arrogance in who the congressman was following on Twitter that's surprising. I bet any enterprising journalist could have a field day looking at who star athletes follow on Twitter.

2. I love the Ned Stark is stupid meme. Seems like I've been waiting for that feeling to become popularized for years and years.

3. It's all about knowing which rules you can get away with breaking (and be willing to break).

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Link roundup

1. Great, long article about Stephon Marbury's continuing adventures in China. Via.

2. Serious Eats: Passover Recipes We Love.

3. "Which HBO pilot has more nudity: True Blood or Game of Thrones?" A detailed analysis by io9.

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Link roundup

1. Yuki 7 by Megan Brain.

2. Starting March 28, food trucks in Los Angles and New York will feature a menu created by Tom Colicchio based on Game of Thrones. (Which is kind of lame because food, aside from one very specific exception, has no special significance in the book.)

3. Spoke Art is auctioning off a set of feudal Japan/Star Wars prints at eBay to benefit Japan.

*Previously: A polar bear-drawn chariot stars on the Jack in the Box food truck.

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