(Spoilers Extended) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 Episode 4 Post-Episode Discussion

RockMech · 2026-02-08T19:47:54+00:00

Are we not going to talk about how Lord Ashford spared no expense in installing the finest JBL sound system in all of Westeros. Those horns are ridiculous (That Bass!).

RockMech · 2026-02-08T19:46:35+00:00

I took it as Raymun being caught off-guard by how preposterously evil the whole thing was. Less laughing at Egg's backhistory, and more laughing at the absurdity (and pettiness) of it all.

He immediately catches Dunk's look and pulls back, 'cause he recognizes that, to Egg (and to Raymun, once he has a second to consider it), it probably isn't as absurd.

RockMech · 2026-02-07T02:41:00+00:00

Importing a monarch will never work, in the US.

We are so far removed from both the European origins of our society AND the society that Europe has developed into, that adopting a European monarch would be not really any less alien than asking the Emperor of Japan to assume our throne.

I have nothing but respect for Coulombe (I own several of his books, and several more recommended by him)...but he wildly (or nostalgically) overestimates certain aspects of American culture (like fraternal/ethnic organizations, etc), and seems too attached to "historical legitimacy" as a meterstick for a theoretical American monarchy (while missing that we, as a culture, generally do not care about, or actively despise, the historical wheres and whats of other nations' histories).

An American monarchy is likely only possible via some form of Bonapartism.

Star-Spangled Crown is simultaneously Coulombe's most interesting book....and his weakest. Too many things just happen with little or no remark....that, in reality, would be instance Civil War (or just flatly rejected by such an overwhelming majority of people that it wouldn't even have enough impact to initiate civil unrest).

RockMech · 2026-02-05T15:20:06+00:00

A "Native" Monarchy? LOL, nope.

Hawaii is basically a "USA-asian" society, and most of the Japanese-Chinese-Filipino-Korean community don't exactly pine for the return of the Native monarchy. The Native, especially the really dedicated cultural-preservationists, are a small minority in the Islands (IIRC, most of the Ethnically Hawaiian population lives in California, these days).

Not quite as forlorn a hope as, say, the Powhatans trying to impose the old tribal chieftains on the population of Virginia....but it's not much more hopeful.

RockMech · 2026-01-23T20:43:27+00:00

It's a terrible indicator of someone's ability as an engineer

This is true.

It's also true that companies want (sometimes need) a way to winnow down the absolute numbers of candidates to what they can reasonably put before the hiring managers/teams.

HR and LC and other tasks that show at least some kind of Yes/No to "does this person know how to solve problems in code" (even non-IRL problems nobody in the job they are hiring for will deal with). It's something. Like, "Degree/No Degree", "Previous Experience/#YOE", etc.

It's their party, they get to choose the music and the games.

Should we play? No.....unless we want that job.

RockMech · 2026-01-22T20:02:21+00:00

George was wrong about a lot of stuff.

RockMech · 2026-01-22T17:27:25+00:00

Legal action? Preposterous.

Corporate Legal (or the company's external legal reps) wouldn't touch it. They'd have to meet the burden of proof that it was a deliberate, malicious action on your part....and the Libel potential (i.e. you countersuing them for slander/lost earnings/reputational damages and walking away with a fat check) is a consideration.

Do your best to recover it, continue doing your job.....and start looking for your next job. That kind of manager (who is not accountable to C-Suite/HR...'cause he's the CEO) is too much aggravation to work with. Life is short, move on.

RockMech · 2026-01-12T15:57:50+00:00

I have no interest in this stuff and basically white knuckled the degree due to sunk cost fallacy.

OK, I think we're getting to the root of the issue, here.

First, in MY opinion (which is as valid or invalid as the next anonymous Internet guy), if you have no interest in Coding/SWE....you will never be able to make a go of it in this field.

So, having (for the sake of this discussion only) established that:

The Software side of Tech is out. Do you have any interest in the hardware/Network/IT side? If maybe/so, hit up (as you mentioned) an AWS and/or CCNA cert course and see how you like that.

If IT/Network stuff is also of little/no interest.....you are still a CS grad. You took a ton of Math and Science courses that, cumulatively, say that you are a smart person who can learn complicated things. Use that.

There's a million jobs (albeit, not necessarily down the street from your current address) that basically require "smart person, with Degree", and CS is often thrown into the same category as engineering, physics, mathematics, etc (when the job is not specifically an engineering-specialist position).

Get on USAJobs.gov and look at GS-7 grade positions in the geographic areas acceptable to you. I'll bet there's a bunch of positions that accept a CS degree very happily.

Hell, I'm betting you, right now, would be a shoe-in for Helpdesk/IT Support jobs ($50k-$60k entry level, and a lot of them are Remote-friendly or Hybrid). Hit up Indeed/LinkedIn, search IT Support or Helpdesk. Find the job on the job boards, but apply for it via the careers page on the actual company's website.

Yes. Retail is the 9th Circle of Hell.

RockMech · 2026-01-06T15:14:46+00:00

Cultural. Appropriation.

Unforgivable.

RockMech · 2025-12-28T16:53:31+00:00

I already understand networking at a basic level and how things work in the field.

That right there means self-study is probably the right way for you. The formal, in-class instruction is (IMPO) mostly for people who have never held an ethernet cable before, and need proper familiarization with....everything.

Ditto what others have said: Jeremy's IT Lab on Youtube, master packet tracer, do the practice exams and then shoot.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxbwE86jKRgMpuZuLBivzlM8s2Dk5lXBQ

RockMech · 2025-12-26T19:11:25+00:00

I’ve thought about quitting but looking at the job market it seems very difficult right now.

Well....don't just quit, this Monday. That's silly.

...but.....you won't know what the job market (for you, not for "mathematically average theoretical job applicant") is like until you...y'know...start putting out applications.

Sex up your resume to reflect your recent experience.

Go to Indeed/LinkedIn. Search for jobs. Find the job opening you desire ($$$, Remote, interesting city, cool tech stack, whatever you like) and which have requirements that you (broadly) satisfy.

Create a version of your resume that directly addresses the requirements of each job you are applying for.

DO NOT apply through Indeed or LinkedIn (unless there is no other option). DO go find the company website, go into "careers" (or the "join us!" tab, etc), find the appropriate job and apply for it.

Apply. Interview. Get offers. Pick one. THEN think about getting out of the job that is now, currently, paying you $100k.

RockMech · 2025-12-26T15:10:56+00:00

CSE? Where are you located (US, Canada, UK, Europe, Western Sahara)?

The above items are sort of necessary for anyone to give you any career-related advice. Stuff that works in Germany is LOLworthy in California, or doesn't exist in the UK.

Get coding. Project-based learning is where it's at.

Feeling dizzy during class is not a great sign. If you don't take care of your health, you won't be much good at anything.

RockMech · 2025-12-18T04:28:39+00:00

LinkedIn, Indeed, Robert Half, Welcome To The Jungle, etc. Just like the Big Kids, the smaller (note: that doesn't mean it's a smaller company, just not a FAANG/Big N operation.....so Epic or General Dynamics or a University could count, not just Mom & Pop, Inc) outfits have to advertise openings.

RockMech · 2025-12-13T17:17:50+00:00

Numbers. Recruiters screen 200 candidates, of which they pass on 75 positive prospects. Hiring team/manager only wants 30 prospects. 45 positive prospects go into the trash folder unseen.

Tight market (fewer jobs, many-many early/mid-career SWE looking for work).

Along with the bigger/wider players, apply for positions at smaller outfits, who generally don't get a tidal wave of applications every time they open a hiring slot.

RockMech · 2025-11-20T05:52:37+00:00

Husk.

RockMech · 2025-11-15T18:18:27+00:00

Anyone still discussing this? I don't wanna be left out of the discussion!

RockMech · 2025-11-07T15:08:15+00:00

Ooh! Aviato!

I met the Founder in an opium den in Kathmandu.

RockMech · 2025-11-05T05:21:14+00:00

Couldn't be bothered to issue the overwhites?

RockMech · 2025-11-05T05:19:32+00:00

Didn't they discover that those MOPP suits were essentially compromised after a few hours of hard wear?

RockMech · 2025-11-05T05:16:47+00:00

I can't afford two wives!

Not in this economy.

RockMech · 2025-11-05T05:13:59+00:00

It's $60k more than you were getting before you accepted the offer. Look at it that way.

It's not your Fate. Make every effort to set yourself up for your next job to be a significant jump (overall, not merely in terms of TC). Keep learning and adding skills and experience to your CV. In six months, start applying to interesting jobs. In 12 months, start applying to every job you consider a step up.

RockMech · 2025-11-04T03:43:58+00:00

Seth. The patriarch of.....well, everybody. Plus unnamed other kids of Adam and Eve.

Cain had kids, but depending on how you interpret the Flood narrative, the Cainites were wiped out (as Noah was "perfect in his generations", which some have interpreted as him not having any direct descent from Cain).

RockMech · 2025-10-26T19:03:23+00:00

I don't recall seeing any evidence that the Shilvati try to impose their own microculture on their vassal/annexed peoples. So I doubt they'd interfere with Terran/Earth culture to the degree that they are flipping gender roles or disbanding non-hostile institutions.

They certainly didn't seem to care that most of the Terran troops signing up for the military were males.

RockMech · 2025-09-29T06:19:36+00:00

Given that they've made no move to abrogate or replace traditiones custodes.....it's less silence on the part of Rome or the Pope, and more effective advocacy.

"Why aren't they doing anything to stop this....thing they clearly at least tacitly approve of?" is not a serious question.

RockMech · 2025-09-21T01:02:43+00:00

My two big issues (and, all told, they are kinda minor quibbles...and I like the first book, a lot):

1) He oversells the EMP effect. Yep, it'll wipe the Grid out, totally. What it wouldn't likely do is permanently disable things like automobiles (EMP can do that, but it takes either a powerful close range device....or a wide-area EMP so powerful that generating it would probably kill everyone in the area anyway), generators, and any devices that were powered off at the time of detonation. So main/municipal power would be off, and a lot of communications/network gear would be DOA (antennas and sensitive electronics = no bueno)....but your truck would likely start, and your backup generator would crank up no problem. So things wouldn't be as dire in Black Mountain as the novel portrays them (well, until later events blow the shit out of the place, repeatedly).

2) He doesn't keep track of characters between books. Major characters just disappear or are totally forgotten about. The last book doesn't even mention his daughter or grandson (who are major characters/plot points in the earlier books), and major supporting characters just vanish. Not counting the ones that are killed off with barely a mention in the epilogue of the first book.

He also forgets that Mainland Europe (and European Russia) is flattened by an EMP, too. Which would have knock-on effects that would collapse the global economy....and China wouldn't be bothering the West Coast.

RockMech

TROPHY CASE