[quote]

Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
Boy

The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
shadows lie.

{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}

[/quote]

https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253

Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....

--
Kevin R

On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
wrote:

>[quote]
>
>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>Boy
>
>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>shadows lie.
>
>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>
>[/quote]
>
>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>
>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....

Sauron was a much better military strategist.

He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
--
"I begin to envy Petronius."
"I have envied him long since."

In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>wrote:
>
>>[quote]
>>
>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>Boy
>>
>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>shadows lie.
>>
>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>
>>[/quote]
>>
>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>
>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>
>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>
>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!

No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
occurred to him that

* his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
against him; and that

* a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
and reach his vulnerable spot.

Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

On 27 Mar 2022, Dorothy J Heydt wrote
(in article <r9F57n.1FqF@kithrup.com>):

> In article<og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
> > On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > [quote]
> > >
> > > Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
> > > Boy
> > >
> > > The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
> > > flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
> > > shadows lie.
> > >
> > > {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
> > >
> > > [/quote]
> > >
> > > https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th
> > > -1848705253
> > >
> > > Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB
> > > agent....
> >
> > Sauron was a much better military strategist.
> >
> > He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>
> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> occurred to him that
>
> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> against him; and that
>
> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>
> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"

Major General John Sedgwick was in the Union army, not the traitors. And
those were actually his second to last words. See
https://www.phrases.org.uk/famous-last-words/john-sedgwick.html

On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
Heydt) wrote:

>In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>[quote]
>>>
>>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>Boy
>>>
>>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>shadows lie.
>>>
>>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>
>>>[/quote]
>>>
>>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>
>>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>
>>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>
>>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>
>No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>occurred to him that
>
>* his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>against him; and that
>
>* a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>and reach his vulnerable spot.
>
>Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"

One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
comments.

On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> [quote]
>>>
>>> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>> Boy
>>>
>>> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>> shadows lie.
>>>
>>> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>
>>> [/quote]
>>>
>>> https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>
>>> Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>
>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>
>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>
> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> occurred to him that
>
> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> against him; and that
>
> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>
More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
Great Lord would dare carry it."

> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

In article <e2h14h161uk5dvu7db3ghtoha3m2mcmkrs@4ax.com>,
J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
>Heydt) wrote:
>
>>In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>>Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>[quote]
>>>>
>>>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>>Boy
>>>>
>>>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>>flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>>shadows lie.
>>>>
>>>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>>
>>>>[/quote]
>>>>
>>>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>>
>>>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>>
>>>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>
>>>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>
>>No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>>occurred to him that
>>
>>* his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>>against him; and that
>>
>>* a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>>and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>
>>Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>>were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>
>One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
>comments.

We'll never know, unless there were surviving witnesses.

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

In article <t1qhm6$210$1@dont-email.me>,
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
>On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> [quote]
>>>>
>>>> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>> Boy
>>>>
>>>> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>> shadows lie.
>>>>
>>>> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>>
>>>> [/quote]
>>>>
>>>>
>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>>
>>>> Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>>
>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>
>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>
>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>> occurred to him that
>>
>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>> against him; and that
>>
>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>
>More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
>Great Lord would dare carry it."

Well, yes, but the Great Lord was smart enough to know he'd be
detectable. Since the only two Great Lords smart enough to be
trusted with it (Aragorn and Faramir), though both experts in
stealth, would cause Sauron to lift whatever he had left for a
nose and murmur, "I smell _tark_."

>> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>>
>

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

On 3/27/2022 1:47 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <e2h14h161uk5dvu7db3ghtoha3m2mcmkrs@4ax.com>,
> J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
>> Heydt) wrote:
>>
>>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>>> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> [quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>>> Boy
>>>>>
>>>>> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>>> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>>> shadows lie.
>>>>>
>>>>> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>>>
>>>>> [/quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>>>
>>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>>
>>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>>
>>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>>> occurred to him that
>>>
>>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>>> against him; and that
>>>
>>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>>
>>> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>>> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>>
>> One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
>> comments.
>
> We'll never know, unless there were surviving witnesses.
>
I'd say the odds of any of #4 thru #7 doing do are pretty small. ;)

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Sunday, 27 March 2022 at 22:01:31 UTC+1, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <e2h14h161uk5dvu7d...@4ax.com>,
> J. Clarke <jclarke...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djh...@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
> >Heydt) wrote:
> >
> >>In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
> >>Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
> >>>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kev...@my-deja.com>
> >>>wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>[quote]
> >>>>
> >>>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
> >>>>Boy
> >>>>
> >>>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
> >>>>flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
> >>>>shadows lie.
> >>>>
> >>>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
> >>>>
> >>>>[/quote]
> >>>>
> >>>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
> >>>>
> >>>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
> >>>
> >>>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
> >>>
> >>>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
> >>
> >>No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> >>occurred to him that
> >>
> >>* his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> >>against him; and that
> >>
> >>* a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> >>and reach his vulnerable spot.
> >>
> >>Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
> >>were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
> >
> >One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
> >comments.
> We'll never know, unless there were surviving witnesses.

Hmm... I'm trying to remember if any sci-fi
Evil Overlords have a body camera or recorder to
preserve their wise words and deeds for posterity.
Or a secretary. A Bos-not-well-at-all.

A character in Spider Robinson's _Telempath_
mentioned "Nixon's Mistake" with a capital M.

I don't remember if the "Lord Darkness", one of
several, who appears in radio comedy show
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElvenQuest>
actually did that. Another E.O. who might is in
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sofa_of_Time>

Doctor Doom admits it while committing gratuitous
exposition in a scene from 1980s Marvel Secret Wars.
<https://twitter.com/marveldailyart/status/1332535448300892161>

"You narrate your life as you go along, don’t you?
Are you being taped?"
"Why, yes! Every utterance of Doom must be recorded
for posterity!"

....right.

Not counting President Nixon, Doom is the third person. ;-)

On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
Heydt) wrote:

>In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>[quote]
>>>
>>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>Boy
>>>
>>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>shadows lie.
>>>
>>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>
>>>[/quote]
>>>
>>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>
>>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>
>>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>
>>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>
>No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>occurred to him that
>
>* his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>against him; and that
>
>* a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>and reach his vulnerable spot.

Actually, he wasn't "bogged down" at all. He lost at the White City,
but Aragorn conveniently brought the survivors to him so he could
annihate them. Which he was doing when the Ring hit the Fire.

He was, however, defeated, something Putin hasn't been yet. Well, as
of yesterday, anyway.

Defeated, as you noted, because of Gandalf/Aragorn's plan to distract
him from the East Bank to the West Bank.

>Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
--
"I begin to envy Petronius."
"I have envied him long since."

On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:33:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

>On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>
>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>
>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>> occurred to him that
>>
>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>> against him; and that
>>
>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>
>More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
>Great Lord would dare carry it."

Well no question parking a Nazgul at the Crack of Doom would have been
a superior strategy as SPI noted in the players notes to their Lord of
the Rings Game. (Which I'm not sure if I've still got all the pieces
as one of my kids got into it when they were little)

On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 11:54:50 AM UTC-4, The Horny Goat wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:33:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
> <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
>
> >On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> >> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
> >> Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
> >>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kev...@my-deja.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
> >>>
> >>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
> >>
> >> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> >> occurred to him that
> >>
> >> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> >> against him; and that
> >>
> >> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> >> and reach his vulnerable spot.
> >>
> >More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
> >Great Lord would dare carry it."
> Well no question parking a Nazgul at the Crack of Doom would have been
> a superior strategy as SPI noted in the players notes to their Lord of
> the Rings Game. (Which I'm not sure if I've still got all the pieces
> as one of my kids got into it when they were little)

Sauron would have benefited from reading the Evil Overlord List:
http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html

For that matter, so could Putin.

pt

On Monday, 28 March 2022 at 22:16:59 UTC+1, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 11:54:50 AM UTC-4, The Horny Goat wrote:
> > On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:33:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
> > <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
> >
> > >On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> > >> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
> > >> Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
> > >>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kev...@my-deja.com>
> > >>> wrote:
> > >>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
> > >>>
> > >>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
> > >>
> > >> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> > >> occurred to him that
> > >>
> > >> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> > >> against him; and that
> > >>
> > >> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> > >> and reach his vulnerable spot.
> > >>
> > >More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
> > >Great Lord would dare carry it."
> > Well no question parking a Nazgul at the Crack of Doom would have been
> > a superior strategy as SPI noted in the players notes to their Lord of
> > the Rings Game. (Which I'm not sure if I've still got all the pieces
> > as one of my kids got into it when they were little)
> Sauron would have benefited from reading the Evil Overlord List:
> http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html
>
> For that matter, so could Putin.

Can you show that he hasn't? I'll wait.

djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) wrote in
news:r9F57n.1FqF@kithrup.com:

> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob
>><kevrob@my-deja.com> wrote:
>>
>>>[quote]
>>>
>>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead
>>>at... Hoo Boy
>>>
>>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball
>>>of flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor,
>>>where shadows lie.
>>>
>>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA
>>>3019}
>>>
>>>[/quote]
>>>
>>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25
>>>-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>
>>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former
>>>KGB agent....
>>
>>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>
>>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>
> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> occurred to him that
>
> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> against him; and that
>
> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>
> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>

I would suggest that Putin's invasion seems more akin to something
planned by Saruman.

On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:56:41 PM UTC-4, Michael Ikeda wrote:
> djh...@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) wrote in
> news:r9F57...@kithrup.com:
> > In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
> > Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
> >>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob
> >><kev...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>>[quote]
> >>>
> >>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead
> >>>at... Hoo Boy
> >>>
> >>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball
> >>>of flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor,
> >>>where shadows lie.
> >>>
> >>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA
> >>>3019}
> >>>
> >>>[/quote]
> >>>
> >>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25
> >>>-lord-of-th-1848705253
> >>>
> >>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former
> >>>KGB agent....
> >>
> >>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
> >>
> >>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
> >
> > No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> > occurred to him that
> >
> > * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> > against him; and that
> >
> > * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> > and reach his vulnerable spot.
> >
> > Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
> > were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
> >
> I would suggest that Putin's invasion seems more akin to something
> planned by Saruman.

'Orc' has become a term used to describe the Russian soldiers, both
online, and in Ukraine.

Pt

On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:07:19 PM UTC-4, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Monday, 28 March 2022 at 22:16:59 UTC+1, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 11:54:50 AM UTC-4, The Horny Goat wrote:
> > > On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:33:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
> > > <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > >On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> > > >> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
> > > >> Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
> > > >>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kev...@my-deja.com>
> > > >>> wrote:
> > > >>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
> > > >>
> > > >> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> > > >> occurred to him that
> > > >>
> > > >> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> > > >> against him; and that
> > > >>
> > > >> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> > > >> and reach his vulnerable spot.
> > > >>
> > > >More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
> > > >Great Lord would dare carry it."
> > > Well no question parking a Nazgul at the Crack of Doom would have been
> > > a superior strategy as SPI noted in the players notes to their Lord of
> > > the Rings Game. (Which I'm not sure if I've still got all the pieces
> > > as one of my kids got into it when they were little)
> > Sauron would have benefited from reading the Evil Overlord List:
> > http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html
> >
> > For that matter, so could Putin.
> Can you show that he hasn't? I'll wait.

He hasn't paid attention to Rule 17:
"When I employ people as advisors, I will occasionally listen to their advice."

Or 24:
"I will maintain a realistic assessment of my strengths and weaknesses. Even
though this takes some of the fun out of the job, at least I will never utter the
line "No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!!!" (After that, death is usually
instantaneous.)"

37:
"If my trusted lieutenant tells me my Legions of Terror are losing a battle, I will
believe him. After all, he's my trusted lieutenant."

61:
"If my advisors ask "Why are you risking everything on such a mad scheme?", I
will not proceed until I have a response that satisfies them."

Pt

On Mon, 28 Mar 2022 16:12:05 -0700 (PDT), "pete...@gmail.com"
<petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:56:41 PM UTC-4, Michael Ikeda wrote:
>> djh...@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) wrote in
>> news:r9F57...@kithrup.com:
>> > In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
>> > Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>> >>On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob
>> >><kev...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>[quote]
>> >>>
>> >>>Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead
>> >>>at... Hoo Boy
>> >>>
>> >>>The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball
>> >>>of flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor,
>> >>>where shadows lie.
>> >>>
>> >>>{Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA
>> >>>3019}
>> >>>
>> >>>[/quote]
>> >>>
>> >>>https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25
>> >>>-lord-of-th-1848705253
>> >>>
>> >>>Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former
>> >>>KGB agent....
>> >>
>> >>Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>> >>
>> >>He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>> >
>> > No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>> > occurred to him that
>> >
>> > * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>> > against him; and that
>> >
>> > * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>> > and reach his vulnerable spot.
>> >
>> > Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>> > were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>> >
>> I would suggest that Putin's invasion seems more akin to something
>> planned by Saruman.
>
>'Orc' has become a term used to describe the Russian soldiers, both
>online, and in Ukraine.

"They wanted to invade us with force
And we took offense at these orcs
Russian bandits are made into ghosts by
Bayraktar"
-- "Bayraktar" by Taras Borovok

In the song, sung in Ukrainian, the word is clearly pronounced "orc".

On 3/27/2022 3:09 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
> Heydt) wrote:
>
>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> [quote]
>>>>
>>>> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>> Boy
>>>>
>>>> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>> shadows lie.
>>>>
>>>> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>>
>>>> [/quote]
>>>>
>>>> https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>>
>>>> Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>>
>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>
>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>
>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>> occurred to him that
>>
>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>> against him; and that
>>
>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>
>> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>
> One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
> comments.

At least one of the Russian generals was run over by one of his own
tanks. I wonder if any of the others were shot by their own troops
(fragged).

Lynn

On Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:33:53 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 3/27/2022 3:09 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
>> Heydt) wrote:
>>
>>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>>> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> [quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>>> Boy
>>>>>
>>>>> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>>> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>>> shadows lie.
>>>>>
>>>>> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>>>
>>>>> [/quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>>>
>>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>>
>>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>>
>>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>>> occurred to him that
>>>
>>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>>> against him; and that
>>>
>>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>>
>>> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>>> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>>
>> One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
>> comments.
>
>At least one of the Russian generals was run over by one of his own
>tanks. I wonder if any of the others were shot by their own troops
>(fragged).

The guy who got run over was a colonel, not a general.

On 3/28/2022 4:29 PM, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:07:19 PM UTC-4, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>> On Monday, 28 March 2022 at 22:16:59 UTC+1, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
>>> On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 11:54:50 AM UTC-4, The Horny Goat wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:33:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
>>>> <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>>>>>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
>>>>>> Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kev...@my-deja.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>>>>>> occurred to him that
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>>>>>> against him; and that
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>>>>>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>>>>>
>>>>> More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
>>>>> Great Lord would dare carry it."
>>>> Well no question parking a Nazgul at the Crack of Doom would have been
>>>> a superior strategy as SPI noted in the players notes to their Lord of
>>>> the Rings Game. (Which I'm not sure if I've still got all the pieces
>>>> as one of my kids got into it when they were little)
>>> Sauron would have benefited from reading the Evil Overlord List:
>>> http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html
>>>
>>> For that matter, so could Putin.
>> Can you show that he hasn't? I'll wait.
>
> He hasn't paid attention to Rule 17:
> "When I employ people as advisors, I will occasionally listen to their advice."
>
> Or 24:
> "I will maintain a realistic assessment of my strengths and weaknesses. Even
> though this takes some of the fun out of the job, at least I will never utter the
> line "No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!!!" (After that, death is usually
> instantaneous.)"
>
> 37:
> "If my trusted lieutenant tells me my Legions of Terror are losing a battle, I will
> believe him. After all, he's my trusted lieutenant."
>
> 61:
> "If my advisors ask "Why are you risking everything on such a mad scheme?", I
> will not proceed until I have a response that satisfies them."
>
Actually he is not breaking #61. Many of his advisors are urging him on
viewing it as a religious crusade.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On 3/28/2022 5:33 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 3/27/2022 3:09 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
>> Heydt) wrote:
>>
>>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>>> Paul S Person  <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> [quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>>> Boy
>>>>>
>>>>> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>>> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>>> shadows lie.
>>>>>
>>>>> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>>>
>>>>> [/quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB
>>>>> agent....
>>>>
>>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>>
>>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>>
>>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>>> occurred to him that
>>>
>>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>>> against him; and that
>>>
>>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>>
>>> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>>> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>>
>> One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
>> comments.
>
> At least one of the Russian generals was run over by one of his own
> tanks.  I wonder if any of the others were shot by their own troops
> (fragged).
>
It was a Colonel who got run over. There was some bad writing in that
article and it was reporting on the death of another general and the
colonel getting run over (and surviving) in the same article.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
wrote:

> [quote]
>
> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
> Boy
>
> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
> shadows lie.
>
> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>
> [/quote]
>
> https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253

I read someplace that JRRT chose March 25 as the day of Sauron's
downfall to align with Easter. I just checked and the only year
in the 20th century in which Easter falls on March 25 was 1951.

Does anybody here know if:
a. He really did align Sauron's downfall with Easter?
b. If so, why Easter 1951 in particular?

--
Michael F. Stemper
A preposition is something you should never end a sentence with.

On Tuesday, 29 March 2022 at 01:59:11 UTC+1, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
> On 3/28/2022 4:29 PM, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:07:19 PM UTC-4, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> >> On Monday, 28 March 2022 at 22:16:59 UTC+1, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> >>> On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 11:54:50 AM UTC-4, The Horny Goat wrote:
> >>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:33:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
> >>>> <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> On 3/27/2022 12:38 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> >>>>>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp7...@4ax.com>,
> >>>>>> Paul S Person <pspe...@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
> >>>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kev...@my-deja.com>
> >>>>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
> >>>>>> occurred to him that
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
> >>>>>> against him; and that
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
> >>>>>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>> More like "they'd never trust a couple of weak halflings with it, only a
> >>>>> Great Lord would dare carry it."
> >>>> Well no question parking a Nazgul at the Crack of Doom would have been
> >>>> a superior strategy as SPI noted in the players notes to their Lord of
> >>>> the Rings Game. (Which I'm not sure if I've still got all the pieces
> >>>> as one of my kids got into it when they were little)
> >>> Sauron would have benefited from reading the Evil Overlord List:
> >>> http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html
> >>>
> >>> For that matter, so could Putin.
> >> Can you show that he hasn't? I'll wait.
> >
> > He hasn't paid attention to Rule 17:
> > "When I employ people as advisors, I will occasionally listen to their advice."
> >
> > Or 24:
> > "I will maintain a realistic assessment of my strengths and weaknesses. Even
> > though this takes some of the fun out of the job, at least I will never utter the
> > line "No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!!!" (After that, death is usually
> > instantaneous.)"
> >
> > 37:
> > "If my trusted lieutenant tells me my Legions of Terror are losing a battle, I will
> > believe him. After all, he's my trusted lieutenant."
> >
> > 61:
> > "If my advisors ask "Why are you risking everything on such a mad scheme?", I
> > will not proceed until I have a response that satisfies them."
> >
> Actually he is not breaking #61. Many of his advisors are urging him on
> viewing it as a religious crusade.
> --
> I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
> dirty old man.

I'm unclear about the others applying. #17 only refers
to /occasionally/ listening to advisors. Staging a TV show
where you tell the advisors, "When I want your opinion,
I'll give it to you," isn't that, but it doesn't contradict that.

And there's talk that President Putin thought that his
Legions of Terror were better than they turned out to be
so far, but I doubt that, too. /We/ thought they were
better, maybe.

On Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:33:53 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 3/27/2022 3:09 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:38:11 GMT, djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J
>> Heydt) wrote:
>>
>>> In article <og514hd79m79pfpp737hr10j17faoau0br@4ax.com>,
>>> Paul S Person <psperson1@ix.netcom.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:42:56 -0700 (PDT), Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> [quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor and Lord of the Rings Star, Dead at... Hoo
>>>>> Boy
>>>>>
>>>>> The long-term jewelry enthusiast and current screaming eyeball of
>>>>> flame passed away at his residence in the Land of Mordor, where
>>>>> shadows lie.
>>>>>
>>>>> {Obit continues. Death date given as March 25 in the year TA 3019}
>>>>>
>>>>> [/quote]
>>>>>
>>>>> https://gizmodo.com/sauron-obituary-tolkien-reading-day-march-25-lord-of-th-1848705253
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course, his spirit may have settled in the body of a former KGB agent....
>>>>
>>>> Sauron was a much better military strategist.
>>>>
>>>> He'd never have gotten bogged down in the Ukraine!
>>>
>>> No, but he got bogged down on his own turf, because it never
>>> occurred to him that
>>>
>>> * his enemy would try to get rid of the Ring, rather than use it
>>> against him; and that
>>>
>>> * a couple of small, weak halflings could sneak under his radar
>>> and reach his vulnerable spot.
>>>
>>> Reminds me, somewhat, of the Confederate office whose last words
>>> were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--"
>>
>> One wonders if any of the so far 7 Russian generals were making such
>> comments.
>
>At least one of the Russian generals was run over by one of his own
>tanks. I wonder if any of the others were shot by their own troops
>(fragged).

In the late 70s there was some question as to what the Soviet
soldiers, drafted, brutally mistreated, and propagandized to /defend/
not to /attack/, would do if give live ammo and ordered forward:
1) obey orders
2) shoot their tormentors and head for home
Draftee armies may cost less in the short run, but they /do/ have
their disadvantages, especially when the military tradition is very
harsh towards the lower enlisted.
--
"I begin to envy Petronius."
"I have envied him long since."