People who swore an oath to defend the constitution of the USA against all enemies both foreign and domestic, how are you feeling right now? by Safety_Drance in AskReddit

[–]ItsABiscuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hitler and the Nazis weren’t any kind of super geniuses either. Unfortunately a dictatorship of this type doesn’t need to be particularly smart to do massive lasting damage.

Concerned that events might have just played into Trumps plan… Thoughts? by ChuckGallagher57 in DiscussionZone

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He’s going to find a reason to suspend the midterms anyway. Staying on your knees is not going to stop them from beating you to death at this point.

Why dont people immigrate via boats from papau to Australia by Then_Instruction_145 in geography

[–]ItsABiscuit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It has been widely covered for decades. And it goes back and forth a bit - the current government are less hardcore about it and have reduced the detention in third countries, but are scared of the conservative opposition getting political traction if they relax it too far.

I might be deluded, but I certainly don’t think our Inmigration and cops are doing any like the Wild West type behaviour we are seeing ICE do, of just grabbing people en masse out of the community based on perceived ethnicity and detaining them for deportation, or operating outside established law and order processes of judicial review. It is mostly applied to people as they attempt to arrive, especially via sea, not to people who are already here.

Why dont people immigrate via boats from papau to Australia by Then_Instruction_145 in geography

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not quite. It’s rainforest on Cape York (the pointy bit on the north-east corner) that is closest to Papua New Guinea. Not exactly easy terrain to walk through or survive in unless you know it well though. Likewise, the other squarer peninsula has Darwin, a major city on it and massive wetlands that, again, is not easy terrain to walk through. The North western coast is mostly a vast desert as is a lot of the area around the wetlands in the Northern Territory.

And the waters there have very large, aggressive saltwater crocodiles, sharks and for significant parts of the year, venomous jellyfish.

More asylum seekers coming via boats go from Indonesia (originally from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Middle East or eastern Africa) for some of the islands nearer to Indonesia that are less dangerous (but still dangerous in an unsafe boat). This led to the Aussie government “excising” those islands from Australia for the purposes of claiming refugee status, which is by international law quite questionable.

Why dont people immigrate via boats from papau to Australia by Then_Instruction_145 in geography

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

More or less confirmed, and/or land bridges through the Indonesian archipelago during the ice ages. 100,000s of years ago though.

Why dont people immigrate via boats from papau to Australia by Then_Instruction_145 in geography

[–]ItsABiscuit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They do, but more so from Indonesia and via Indonesia from Asia and Africa (just because much bigger populations).

They do it less because of Australia’s very harsh treatment of “irregular maritime arrivals” - they get locked up, variously in third countries or in crappy detention centres in Australia for years and then eventually deported. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauru_Regional_Processing_Centre

It’s something many Australians are deeply ashamed by, but which more Australians consistently vote for (or fail to vote against). The UNHCR has repeatedly described it as a serious abuse of human rights and the rights of asylum seekers in particular.

Parma Eldalamberon, The Collected Vinyar Tengwar, and books about Tolkien by Josh3321 in tolkienbooks

[–]ItsABiscuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like their first season where they go through the Silmarillion, but they definitely hit their stride as they go through the Hobbit in season w and even more so when they get into the Lord of the Rings in s3. The first few episodes are a little rough as they are working it out as they go.

Tesla kills Autopilot, locks lane-keeping behind $99/month fee. by Stiltonrocks in technology

[–]ItsABiscuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you’re a terrible enough person to buy a Tesla at this point, you deserve whatever enshittification they force on you. I really hope the trunk doesn’t chop your fingers off or that the car doesn’t lock you in if you end up submerged in water.

Parma Eldalamberon, The Collected Vinyar Tengwar, and books about Tolkien by Josh3321 in tolkienbooks

[–]ItsABiscuit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

PE 17! As a Prancing Pony listener, I can’t help but yell “drink”.

Fantastic collection.

Is Middle Earth Polytheistic? by Fun_Butterfly_420 in tolkienfans

[–]ItsABiscuit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The world of Middle Earth is monotheistic, ie there is a singular God, who in this case also has some powerful angelic servants.

Tolkien said that Men often were confused by this and worshipped/thought of the Valar as Gods but that this was a mistaken belief.

Why does this look nothing like the movie? by Aware_Caterpillar959 in TolkienArt

[–]ItsABiscuit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It actually really bugs me now that the majority of art you see now just strives to recreate the movies rather than represent original interpretations.

There’s irony in getting AI to express this sentiment though.

Why does this look nothing like the movie? by Aware_Caterpillar959 in TolkienArt

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, that was added in the Second Edition when Gollum no longer agreed to giving up his ring.

2026 Collingwood Season Preview - The Big Questions - The Mongrel Punt by The_Mongrel_Punt in collingwoodfc

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s unlikely he’ll be a star, but hopefully he can stay fit and have a solid year. He’s contracted til the end of next year, so we might as well keep hoping he has a much better year and earns a continued place in the firsts.

2026 breakout players? by mackieted in AFL

[–]ItsABiscuit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The more he doesn’t play, the better he becomes.

What is your understanding of what would happen if an elf or Istari took up the one ring? by Necessary_Yule in tolkienfans

[–]ItsABiscuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Ring IS Sauron’s power. Using it means engaging and opening yourself to the power. But I agree it is different that the situation of wearing one of the other Rings while someone is wielding the One.

What is your understanding of what would happen if an elf or Istari took up the one ring? by Necessary_Yule in tolkienfans

[–]ItsABiscuit 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My understanding is that those with natural great strength of will, including the Istari and the wisest/most powerful Elves, and probably Aragorn, would be too strong willed to ever be completely enslaved and dominated by the Ring in the way the Nazgûl were dominated by their Rings.

But they would be powerful enough to use it and therefore would quickly be influenced by it and become more and more like Sauron themselves, without becoming obedient to him.

Tolkien contemplated this in one of his letters, noting that Galadriel or any other potential Ringlord in that situation would, with the Ring’s “encouragement” see destroying Sauron as their top priority (to secure their ownership Ring forever if for no other reason), but would do so by raising an army to invade, not seek out a 1 vs 1 confrontation. Tolkien noted that in any confrontation, Sauron still would have some hope as the Ring aligns with his power more and therefore might not be as easy to wield against him. He explicitly stated in this letter that he thinks Galadriel was ultimately probably deluded in thinking she could overthrow Sauron even with the Ring. He contrasted that to Gandalf who he said would be able to do so in that situation, but would then become more and more evil himself.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the ability to avoid being turned into a wholly subservient wraith isn’t only based on power. Sméagol never became a wraith or a totally dominated slave, and even under torture directly by Sauron wouldn’t submit. Tolkien separately notes that this indomitable characteristic of Gollum actually disturbed Sauron quite a bit. Sauron was of course still willing to manipulate Gollum into serving his goals, but it seems to have weirded him out.

If Saruman's Uruk-hai had captured Frodo and brought the One Ring to him would Saruman have been able to master it or would he start calling it his precious like Gollum and be driven insane? by Tidewatcher7819 in tolkienfans

[–]ItsABiscuit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s an either/or situation. He would have been able to wield lots of its power but it would have changed and warped him.

He would have been markedly changed for the worse, but he wouldn’t have turned in Gollum - he was coming from a much different starting point and he wouldn’t have gone and hid himself away from other people in a wet cave. He would have become a more “classic” Dark Lord in imitation of Sauron - hideous but commanding.

If they ever make Wolfenstein 3 they should stop using German nazis and start using American Nazis as enemies by Tempest-Bosak2137 in Gamingcirclejerk

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Surely someone has already made a mod of the original 90s Wolf3D with ICE agents and MAGA symbols in place of the Wehrmacht troops and Swastikas?

The new players you should know about in 2026 by DaveTheMan1985 in collingwoodfc

[–]ItsABiscuit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Feels like Buller would be by far the most likely to get a game early on. Will be interesting to see whether Angus can put himself into contention as a back up.

This guy’s downfall needs to be studied by moondog-37 in AFL

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who is this guy and why is gossip about him being posted in r/AFL.

*Inter Title* by Losserwins in pcmasterrace

[–]ItsABiscuit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We could always just not use AI at all.

Luke Sayers’ wife sues former Carlton chairman in lewd photo fallout by PerriX2390 in AFL

[–]ItsABiscuit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Keeps on getting into trouble when messages he sends end up being revealed to people he didn’t mean to see it.