@kestrel This is my favorite topic. Let's debate it more!

An underlying theme in all of Lord of the Rings - to the point of it being explicitly brought up on multiple occasions by Gandalf and Galadriel - is that the fight between good and evil isn't really determined by mighty warriors but by everyday people stepping up in whatever capacity they have to defend their friends and communities.

It's for that reason that Sauron isn't defeated in some final showdown against Aragorn or Gandalf. In fact in the movies they debated that (and shot the scene, it's on youtube!) but then - correctly - realized it was unthematic. The hobbits are the true heroes; it was these complete nobodies' journey, hardships and sacrifice that brought down the Enemy.

Sam embodies all of this. He was no prophesized figure. He didn't come from a storied lineage. He didn't inherit a Ring of Power. The dude was into landscaping, he dug holes in the dirt for a living in a backwater village his whole life.

Sam, also, by the end of the story carried the fate of Middle Earth solely on his shoulders. He fended off the most corruptive power in existence that brought down Numenorian Kings and was feared by Maia and Noldor Elf Queens for its seductive properties to help his friend. He fought ancient spidery horrors in freakin' Mordor. The dude was hardcore. He was also a fucking gardener.

And at the end of it all he went back to gardening. What a madlad. Like... Grey Havens? Going to Valinor? Living like a goddamn hero in Gondor? Nah, he just planted trees, raised a family and, you know, had a good life until he passed away from old age.

I don't think it's even close who the hero in this tale was.

@too-old-for-this said in The ADD/ADHD Thread (cont'd from Peeves):

@saosmash Goodwill LOVES me for this exact reason. I bring them stuff with tags still on it, still in boxes, still packaged. Just shrugging because of course I lost the receipt and the item is more than 30 days old because I can never remember to just take it back when I go again and yes I would love a receipt for this donation that I will inevitably lose within 5 minutes of getting home because I put it down SOMEWHERE because there was a smell in the apartment so I changed cat litter and took out the garbage and wiped down everything that might possibly be smelly only to realize two hours later someone across the hall is cooking something Godawful smelling and its affecting my sinuses, so I took some allergy meds just in case that would help and I sat down to handle some messenger and then my son came home from school so we talked about his day and popped some popcorn because he thought it would be fun for us to pile onto the floor and watch Ghostbusters... yeah. By the time the receipt even enters my mind again, I can't even remember actually putting it down anywhere, let alone where. XD

I can't buy clothes without actually going in, trying them on, sizing, moving, and testing them in at least two other ways. Can't do it. I keep detailed notes about which cut, size, and make fits in what way. I have only two times in my life ordered clothing online, and it was solely to get stuff I had already put through my process.

It's like my brain knows how it will go if I don't.

@tinuviel This makes me sad. Sure, he was fun to watch in SATC when my sisters made me watch it, but I LOVED him as Mozzie in Blue Collar. That character was amazing.

@cobalt oooooo nooooooo, i have fallen over with my tummer exposed and cant get up, i sure hope no one comes along while i am helpless and wubs my belly

Jesus, you two (or you four, I guess). You have had a rough go of it. I'm so sorry.

@solstice Bee and

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Wee!

I've been working 14 hour days since Wednesday. I'm also working as much overtime as is physically and mentally possible for me.

For the next three weeks. I'm allowing myself Mondays off as is required by labor laws(one day a week).

Why might you ask? Because saving up for a wedding sucks. And because Covid numbers have skyrocketed since school started back up and most schools don't know how to fucking file paperwork needed to properly create an order to allow their students samples to be tested at all. Which is a commentary in the education system.

I'm angry, tired, and so very very frustrated. At both the situation and the fact that I force myself to drag myself off my perfectly comfortable bed and dive into it when I have no sane reason to do other than that weekend and OT pay.

Two more weeks to go.

@rinel

As a former cop, I concur. There were many times I thought, "Just shut the fuck up and let me do my job."

Look at how fucking toxic we are.

That looks awesome. Can’t wait to hear about the cool things you and your son will do with it.

Here’s a kitty.

Happy cat

@derp said in Bad TV:

Look.

LOOK,

No matter what you think of Zombies, The Last of Us is some of the best storytelling this century and I can watch it over and over again even knowing that it's gonna go right for the feels.

I take great pleasure in watching videos of people on youtube playing it for the first time and breaking down in the first 17 minutes. 17 minutes and grown ass men are CRYING. And I'm there going YES, feel my pain as I did the same damn thing! That is storytelling!

@kk

I got halloween themed surgical masks too, cause Amazon has everything and well...Halloween mask will make another covid halloween better? Or something...

@too-old-for-this said in Health and Wealth and GrownUp Stuff:

@ominous said in Health and Wealth and GrownUp Stuff:

@too-old-for-this

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https://c.tenor.com/-wX505WqymYAAAAM/karen-walker.gif

karen momma needs her medicine

Me, pretty much every other day. Or usually right before bed when I need to sleep and I read something and just HAVE to know everything about that topic, no matter how obscure.

A comic showing three scenes and highlighting how a new interest can take center stage and override basic needs for those on the spectrum

Completely loved Cruella. This film was serving up looks like it was going out of style. It was also shot in a really engaging way and had great tunes, so considering how heavily fashion features it really delivers. Aesthetically speaking I give it a 10/10.

I liked the story though that probably isn't going to be the selling point for most people; it had a good balance of dark and edgy with fun and campy. The plot is kind of Money Heist meets Gossip Girl? Devil Wears Prada meets Ocean's Eight?

In summary if gawking at cool dresses and fierce femme fatales is your bag, you're going to like this movie.

@sahin said in RL things I love:

I would indeed like to wear the blood of my enemies as a warning.

So I will.

I will never forget the time a dude told me I wore too much eye makeup for
-- and I quote -- nice guys like him.

Or the look on his face when my answer was, ".....Yeah, that's the point."

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@silverfox Maybe your students would enjoy watching this too :D

I am covering for a friend at work, publishing a newsletter on the day off. Reviewing said publication before sending it out is how I just found out another one of my work buddies died yesterday (while we were closed for a funeral). I am so tired of being surrounded by death.