There are certainly plenty of significant points that are brought up over the course of the series that would lead you to think that R+L=JS is a significant possibility.  But to go over them would be something of an exhaustive process.  However, George R.R. Martin continues to allude to the mysterious events that took place at the Tower of Joy at the end of Robert's Rebellion.  And this continues to be one of the great unresolved plot points of the series.  But the events that took place at the Tower of Joy may solve the riddle posed by the equation of R+L=JS.

I bought the Assembler series Iron Man Mk 42 and Iron Patriot a few weeks back.  Target was running a sale, and they were $7 each.  At that price I could justify the purchase.  But the other armors in that series?  Eh.  And the very basic carded figures?  OMG.  I wouldn't touch those things with a 10 foot pole!

I understand that the mantra from Hasbro corporate has been "CUT COSTS, CUT COSTS, CUT COSTS".  But the Hasbro execs also need to take a long, hard look at HOW they offered that Iron Man 2 toy line, and the miscalculations that came along with that strategy.  Because this approach to Iron Man 3 looks like an overreaction to the Iron Man 2 line, and not an adjustment.  If Hasbro approached Iron Man 3 conservatively, the way they did with the Avengers line, I think they could be pretty successful.

I saw the one in a Hasbro-Marvel display case at NY Comic Con, and nowhere else.  It was never even announced in any Deluxe figure case assortments.  Has anyone seen any of the usual Asian eBay suspects auctioning off Thor prototypes?

Well, I think we may have seen the beginning of a transition for one of the characters in that triangle to begin pursuing his true destiny in book 5.  That, and at some point we'll finally come across the lone survivor from the Tower of Joy, who can shed some light on the truth of what happened at the end of Robert's Rebellion.

And DAMN, does it take a lot of effort to make the discussion of this theory come across as both cryptic and spoiler free!

There's also a new TV spot that started airing.  And I think it's going to make people think there's a problem with their televisions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaGkHpiLPt4

Sad to hear of Richard's passing.  He was one of the first Star Wars actors I ever met.  And he was always a pleasure to meet, with genuine charm and humor.  One of my fondest memories of Celebration 2 was being in the autograph area and seeing Richard and William Hootkins (Porkins) banter back and forth.  Hootkins was ripping on LeParmentier, saying "Hey Richard, look at what they brought me to sign" as he held up a picture of LeParmentier as Motti.  And all the while Richard was shouting "Don't get into Hootkins' line"!  It was comical, but it was just one of those things I'll remember about him.  But moreso, he was very generous with his time and thoughts when it came to meeting and chatting with fans.

I think that the show-runners might be pulling a bit of a "rope a dope" with Theon.  After all, none of his torturers were specifically identified.  And it had only been established that it was Roose Bolton's men that had captured him.

And when Theon escaped, and was aided?  What did one of the Bolton men call the archer who took them out?  "You little b*****".  That should give us all some insight into who set Theon free, and that he might be in for significantly more pain and torment at the hands of his liberator.

There has definitely been some character and time compression so far, comparing this season with the books.  Members of the Brotherhood without Banners have been condensed.  Clearly, we've seen Thoros of Myr and Anguy.  But no Lemoncloak, Harwin or Tom of Sevenstrings, so far.  But then we did see Thoros singing, in something of a nod to Tom.

And the Brave Companions?  They haven't been clearly established, either.  Although this character "Locke", played by Noah Taylor does seem to be a stand-in for Vargo Hoat.