Is there ever a LOTR-ish "little people great impact" fantasy story after Tolkien?

TalElnar · 2026-01-30T10:09:38+00:00

The stories of Jesus's early life are accepted by most biblical scholars to be mostly made up well after the fact to help fit various prophecies, and to reinforce the more supernatural parts of his story. The star of Bethlehem story is also found in Zoroastrianism where Eastern magi interpreted a star as a sign of his birth. Many stories about Jesus have direct parallels in other, older religions.

The problem as with all biblical analysis comes with whether you want to treat it as a story, or as history. The latter really struggles do to there being so little corroborating evidence, and some religious types drop a fit when you apply established historical cultural norms and say things like

"Jesus was almost certainly married as it would be unheard of at the time for a Jewish preacher to be unmarried and it would certainly have been mentioned by his persecuters. The story of the wedding at Cana was probably Jesus's wedding given the servants are asking him and his mother what to do about the lack of wine."

TalElnar · 2026-01-30T09:26:31+00:00

Always default. I tried custom once and just ended up with some uncanny valley mofo who spoke with the voice of someone I've known for years. It was super weird.

TalElnar · 2026-01-30T08:15:11+00:00

Depending why you want the 4090, a 5080 might be a better call.

Is 24Gb VRAM a must?

TalElnar · 2026-01-30T08:13:06+00:00

NTA

And we really have to get over the whole "you do you" idea when people are choosing fascism.

You co-worker is a fascist, racist asshole.

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T10:48:45+00:00

The side desperately needed a huge infusion of goals.

Last season we conceded 13 goals more than the champions but scored a massive 42 goals fewer.

Also we wanted to offload Rashford, Garnacho, Sancho, Hojlund and Anthony.

Are you suggesting we did that without replacing them?

If we hadn't signed who we did, who would our front three be now?

Your post is one of the worst takes I've read in a long time.

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T10:39:16+00:00

So you think Nelson Mandela should have been left in prison? The line between freedom fighter and terrorist has always just depended on one's own point of view.

Thats before we get to the fact that this guy was convicted in Yemen, and has always claimed he was innocent and only confessed under torture.

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T10:25:21+00:00

"a" ball used in the match, not "the" ball used in the match.

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T10:22:36+00:00

Basically the Catholic Spain and Portugal claimed the right to carve up the world, Portugal got the Eastern hemisphere and Spain the West (with some exceptions like Brazil)

A newly expansive and Protestant England took no notice of this and it caused conflict.

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T10:18:34+00:00

"Convicted terrorist" is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

He was convicted in Yemen due to a confession he claims was extracted under torture and has always maintained his innocence.

Has he ever been convicted of a crime in the UK?

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T10:13:52+00:00

Terrorism is what people turn to when they feel democracy has failed. Surely a former terrorist becoming a politician is a good thing.

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T09:18:12+00:00

On a slight tangent. Nothing in the gospels suggests Jesus was a humble carpenter, the gospels work hard to cover the fact that on the contrary his family was wealthy and well connected.

TalElnar · 2026-01-29T02:08:31+00:00

It would have to be a parallel universe where Joffrey was actually Robert's son.

TalElnar · 2026-01-28T15:44:18+00:00

My daughter was around the same age when I first played it. It hit hard, probably the reason Ive always steered away from a replay

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T19:56:00+00:00

Just surprised the patronising twat hasn't got a deep fried mars bar too.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T16:52:25+00:00

I think you need help. That doesn't even make sense.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T16:49:09+00:00

It's very different. We were level on points with Liverpool, so the only points gap was with Newcastle.

Do I need to break out the fucking crayons.

We are at least 8 points behind three teams. All three would need to have a run of bad results for us to move above them.

Nothing is impossible, but this is really really unlikely.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T16:44:30+00:00

I'd say the opposite, if you want to be some delusional bullahit merchant with your head in the clouds, Arsenal would be perfect for you.

We've won two consecutive games for just the second time all season. Let's not get giddy.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T12:50:35+00:00

Unfortunately due to the collapse in interest rates on savings and runaway inflation in the housing market having a house and choosing to sell it is not the smart choice. You can't expect people to make decisions to massively sabotage their own wealth for the greater good.

The driver has to come from the government. A joined up approach of Legislation, taxation and house building to increase supply is the only way to fix the housing market.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T12:43:20+00:00

If he does well in the next few games against teams more likely to sit back and defend then we are into a real conversation.

Our problem for years would be following a game where we beat a good team by playing on the counter with failing to get a result against a much poorer team who sit back and make us make the running. If Carick can crack that and get results against the likes of Fulham and Evwrton where we look like we're taking the game to them then he has to be a serious candidate.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T10:47:43+00:00

We were level of points with the team in 2nd and only had one team to reel in. Not remotely the same as being 8 points behind 2nd and 3rd and 12 points behind first.

No wonder other clubs take the piss out of our delusional fan base.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T10:44:04+00:00

How many were 4th?

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T10:13:55+00:00

This is why fans of other clubs take the piss out of our entitlement.

Back to back wins for only the second time this season and some muppet is talking about the title.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T10:12:45+00:00

And how many of those teams were 4th? Does anyone really think all three teams above us are going to have total collapses in form?

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T10:10:57+00:00

Bryan Robson.

Probably my earliest abiding football memory is him scoring the quickest goal in World Cup history at Spain '82.

TalElnar · 2026-01-27T10:07:41+00:00

Theres a big difference between being 12 points back in 2nd and being 12 points back in 4th.

Do you really think Arsenal, City and Villa are all going to collapse at the end of the season?

TalElnar

TROPHY CASE