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Long ago and before hearts

When Ron Lehocky asked me several years ago who made this dotted square pin that I was wearing, I replied confidently, “Dayle Doroshow.” He corrected me. “I made that,” he said. This is a Ron Lehocky collector’s item! Long ago and far away when Ron first started dipping into polymer, he made pins that weren’t […] Read more




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Today in Middle-earth, October 25

The following event took place in Middle-earth on October 25:
  • The Dwarves venture into the Mountain (1341)
  • The Elvenking's host leave Mirkwood for Erebor (1341)
  • The Council of Elrond (1418)
  • The Council of Hobbits... and a Wizard.
  • [Join us on the Discussion Boards here]

October 25, 2941 (S.R. 1341)

1. The Dwarves venture into the Mountain.

(determined from text)

"Now do be careful!" whispered the hobbit, "and as quiet as you can be!  There may be no Smaug at the bottom, but then again there may be..."

(Tolkien, 1966 Ballantine, p. 224-228 TH)

October 25, 2941 (S.R. 1341) 2. The Elvenking's host leave Mirkwood for Erebor. (determined from text) "...the Elvenking rode forth...  ...marching with many spearmen and bowmen..." (Tolkien, 1966 Ballantine, p. 224-228 TH)

October 25, 3018 (S.R. 1418)

1. Council of Elrond.

(from the appendices)

"Suddenly as they were talking a single clear bell rang out.  'That is the warning bell for the Council of Elrond,' cried Gandalf.  'Come along now! Both you and Bilbo are wanted.'"

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 314-354 FotR)

2. Council of Hobbits... and a Wizard. (from the appendices) "Later that day the hobbits held a meeting of their own in Bilbo's room." (Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 356 FotR)




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Today in Middle-earth, November 3

The following event(s) took place in Middle-earth on November 3,

  • Battle of Bywater, and Passing of Saruman. End of the War of the Ring (1419)
  • [Join us on the Discussion Boards here]
  • .

 November 3, 3019 (S.R. 1419)

1. Battle of Bywater, and Passing of Saruman. End of the War of the Ring.

(from the appendices)

"...a messenger from the Tookland rode in. He was in high spirits. 'The Thain has raised all our country,' he said, 'and the news is going like fire all ways.…"

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 363-371 RotK)






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Many Iron Age swords may be tainted by modern forgery

Ancient weaponsmiths combined bronze and iron to fashion swords during the early Iron Age – but modern forgers glue together elements from different weapons, making it difficult for researchers to study the ancient technology




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Can sensor technology stop a wildfire before it starts?

The US Department of Homeland Security is trialling chemical sensors that detect the first whiff of smoke in the air and alert fire crews while a potential blaze is still smouldering




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Morphing red blood cells help bats hibernate - and we could do it too

Animals that hibernate need a way to keep their blood flowing as their body temperature drops, and it seems that the mechanical properties of red blood cells may be key




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Amateur sleuth finds largest known prime number with 41 million digits

The largest prime number is now 16 million digits longer than the previous record found in 2018, thanks to an amateur hunter and his large collection of high-power graphics cards




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DNA has been modified to make it store data 350 times faster

Researchers have managed to encode enormous amounts of information, including images, into DNA at a rate hundreds of times faster than was previously possible




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Battery-like device made from water and clay could be used on Mars

A new supercapacitor design that uses only water, clay and graphene could source material on Mars and be more sustainable and accessible than traditional batteries




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Carbon emissions are now growing faster than before the pandemic

Despite talk of a green recovery, global greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise as the world emerged from coronavirus lockdowns




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Weird microbes could help rewrite the origin of multicellular life

Single-celled organisms called archaea can become multicellular when compressed, highlighting the role of physical forces in evolution




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Cloud-inspired material can bend light around corners

Light can be directed and steered around bends using a method similar to the way clouds scatter photons, which could lead to advances in medical imaging, cooling systems and even nuclear reactors




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One in 20 new Wikipedia pages seem to be written with the help of AI

Just under 5 per cent of the Wikipedia pages in English that have been published since ChatGPT's release seem to include AI-written content




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There may be a cosmic speed limit on how fast anything can grow

Alan Turing's theories about computation seem to have a startling consequence, placing hard limits on how fast or slow any physical process in the universe can grow




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Natural fibres in wet wipes may actually be worse for soil and animals

Fibres in wet wipes and clothes often make their way into soil - and natural versions could be more damaging than synthetic ones




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2024 is set to be the first year that breaches the 1.5°C warming limit

This year’s average global temperature is almost certain to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial times – a milestone that should spur urgent action, say climate scientists




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More people are living with pain today than before covid emerged

Chronic pain has increased among adults in the US since 2019, which could be due to a rise in sedentary lifestyles or reduced access to healthcare amid covid-19 restrictions




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We are a long way from pregnancy being safe on Mars

Dangerous radiation reaches Mars at levels we aren't exposed to on Earth, which makes the Red Planet a particularly dangerous place to be during pregnancy




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Quantum Rubik's cube has infinite patterns but is still solvable

Allowing for moves that create quantum superpositions makes a quantum version of a Rubik’s cube incredibly complex, but not impossible to solve




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Chimps do better at difficult tasks when they have an audience

An analysis of thousands of cognitive tests carried out by chimpanzees finds that the number of spectators influenced their performance in different ways depending on the difficulty of the task




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Red kites and buzzards are being killed by misuse of rat poisons

Campaigners are calling for stricter controls on rodenticides after finding that birds of prey in England are increasingly being exposed to high doses of rat poison




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Next Mauna Loa eruption could be forecast months in advance

An analysis of crystals in lava from the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa has revealed an unknown magma reservoir within the volcano, which could extend forecasts of eruptions from minutes to months




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20 Of The Cutest Itty Bitty Kitties That Can Easily Fit In The Palm Of Your Hand (November 9, 2024)

Good morning, cat people, and welcome back to the most dangerous, spooky listicle that will shake you to your core and leave you trembling. Do not be fooled by the title. While it is indeed true that this listicle is full of itty bitty kitties that can fit in the palm of your hand, that does not mean that it is not dangerous. In fact, it's much more dangerous than you think. These teeny weeny kitties have incredible powers of meownipulation. They can make us do all kinds of things, whether we want to or not. 

They even force us to write this listicle every single week, showcasing the tiniest kittens - i.e. the biggest criminals of the week. Beware of their powers when you start scrolling down, because before you know it, you may end up walking to a shelter in search of your fourth kitten to adopt. Trust us, we have been there, continue with caution. 




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21 Terrific Tweets by Cat Pawrents Benefitting From the Bond With Their Fluffy Feline Friend

Hello all you cat pawrents, how are you doing this Caturday? Do you want to tell us about your cat child? Do you wish you could chit-chat about your fluffy feline friend all day long? Do you think any other humble hooman would want to hear about your kitty cat? If you answered "Yes" to the first two questions - know that you are very much not alone. A lot, and we mean a lot of cat pawrents just wait for an opportunity to talk about their beloved cat children. And if you've wondered about the answer to the third question - it's always a loud, resounding, meowing "Yes". There will always be cat pawrents who want to hear everything about other pawrents' cats, because cats are ameowzing.

Some cat pawrents do it all the time - they tweet a lot about their lovely cats like the true feline fanatic fans they are - and it's a delight for every one of us to read about their experiences and adventures. Here are a few of the funniest, for your cat-filled viewing pleasure.




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The Freshest and Funniest Feline Tweets of the Week (November 10, 2024)

Happy meowrning, cat people! Yes, yes, we know… it's been a rough few days. But we're here now. It's Sunday, i.e. Funday, and we are indeed ready to put all the craziness behind us and have some fun. Now, we don't know about your plans for today, but we do know one thing, and that is that you have to start your Sunday here, with us, and with all of the pawsome cat memes that we are about to bring you. 

Because no matter what is happening in the world, starting the day with hissterical cat memes is good for your soul. And that's why we bring you this collection of the very best cat posts on X every single week. Because going onto that app without protection means possibly encountering the madness, so we are here to do the protecting and give you exactly what you would go there looking for. Have a purrfect Sunday, guys! 




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Snuggly Selection of Cute Cats Competing For Cuddles Right Next to Your Face Because Who Needs to Breathe Anyway

We….do not have a snuggly cat. As much as we wish we did (and as much as we tried to make her a snuggly cat), it's just not in the cards for us. We tried luring her to the bed with treats, playing relaxing music, and even holding her there against her will - none of it worked. Maybe our next cat will be a cuddly cat, or, we'll just live vicariously through the lives of strangers on the internet and not be jealous at all of all of their outrageously cute cuddly cats.

Not only are they cuddly, but they appawrently like to cuddle right next to their pawrents' faces because they're just that silly and awwdorable. They probably can't breathe very well at night, but if that was a burden we had to bear, we would bear it with purrfect pride because it would be absolutely worth it. Enjoy this snuggly selection of cute cats competing for cuddles below, we're going to try to lure our cat into bed one more time. Have a great week!




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25 Cool Cats Who Would Not Be Caught Dead Sitting Anywhere Other Than the Popular People's Table

There is little denying that if animals were to go to school, cats would be the cool kids. They are sassy enough, facetious enough, cliquey enough and most definitely cool enough to hold their prestigious pawsition. So we decided it would be rather confidence boosting to live vicariously through these trendsetting sweethearts to give you some much-needed comfort and confidence as you slip and slide towards the work week. Which is why we made this list of cool cats who would not be caught dead sitting anywhere other than the popular people's table. Make sure only share this list with other feline fanatics, unless you want some kooky canine connoisseur sitting at your table this week.

From the out of control cats who have used their positions of power and influence to start their own religions, to the fur-iously friendly feline who makes a point of getting all the pets from passers by, to the crafty catto who knows the value of a little lie when it comes to getting extra food.




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20 Comfy Cozy Cats Because We Could All Use a Heartwarming Pick-Me-up Right Meow

It has finally gotten colder outside, and we don't know about you guys, but our introverted hearts are thriving in this cold weather. Finally, coats are out, warm blankets are appropriate, hot cocoas are a daily thing… it's the best. But that doesn't mean that we do not feel the cold. It doesn't mean that we do not struggle to get out of bed to go to work in the morning. It doesn't mean that we don't need a heartwarming pick-me-up in the form of some awwdorable cat pictures right meow. 

Although, we would not say no to a bunch of cute cat pics any day, if we have to be honest. But there is something extra special about seeing pictures of cozy cute cats enjoying the cold weather as much as we do on chill days like these. And we know that you guys get it, because the sheer quantity of pics that you sent us when we asked you for the coziest pics of your cats was amazingly overwhelming. 




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22 Outrageous Original Cat Memes Bringing Fluffy Fresh Feline Vibe to Your Work Break

Oh, hey there working cat pawrents. Having a long workday isn't easy, but it's even less easy when you miss your cat that's back home right now. We understand this, we're all cat pawrents here ourselves. Even if we're surrounded by cat memes all day long, we still miss our fluff floofies back at home. But we have to say - having cat memes around you all day long makes the ache of missing your cat much easier. It's like we can still feel their cat energy all around us, all the time.

If we see a wholesome meme of a napping cat, we are reminded of how cute our cat is when he sleeps. If we see a sassy cat meme, we are reminded of the strong character of our cat that we appreciate so much. If we see a completely unhinged cat meme, we are reminded of how funny our cat can get. Cat memes are just great.




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21 Funny Feline Memes Meowing Loud Until You Laugh Because They're Blissful Fluffy Babies

Hello cat pawrents, how are you? And how is your cat baby? Yes, cats are babies, and that's not even disputable. If you are indeed a cat pawrent you probably don't need further convincing, but even if you are a cat pawrent or not, just think about it - Babies are small, and cats are smol. Babies need someone to feed them, cats demand someone to feed them. Babies need to sleep to grow up, cats need to sleep… just to sleep, all the time. Babies need their poopies cleaned, cats also need their poopies cleaned. The only conclusion we can draw from all of that is that cats are babies.

Down below you can find some cat babies in meme form, proving once and for all that cats are not just babies - they are the babies of the internet. Yup, the entirety of the internet. Grab your cat baby and see these memes together for a greater effect.




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Heartless Owner Returns Cat to Shelter Because She ‘Wanted to Cuddle Them at Night’, Then Her New Hooman Un-Breaks Our Hearts and Shows She’s Living Her Snuggliest Life Now

Look, we have heard stories of cats being returned to shelters. We have heard people say that they felt like they had no choice. The couldn't afford taking care of a cat anymore, they found out they were allergic… there are all kinds of reasons. At least everyone who returns a cat is a heartbroken, at least that's what we thought. We never imagined that someone would do it because the cat they adopted wanted to cuddle with them at nighttime. 

Everyone wants a velcro cat, right? Cuddly cats are the best! Cuddling with your cat is one of the best feelings in the world. The trust they show you, the love, the calmness that being so close to them gives you… there is nothing quite like it. To complain about a cat being too cuddly is like complaining about something being too tasty. It's silly. And ridiculous. And thank goodness that this sweet girl is now in the hands of someone who actually deserves her. 




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Melonbooks Dōjinshi Store Chain to Halt Visa/Mastercard Payments on December 19

Chain will still accept payments via JCB/American Express cards or other means




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Xavier Yamada's Satori Inu 4-Panel Manga Gets Short Anime on YouTube

Toshiyuki Morikawa stars as titular dog in 12 episodes now streaming




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K Manga Adds 'I Don't Want to Be Killed By You, My Crown Prince!', My Reveal Skill is OP! -Taking from Legendary Heroes to Become the Strongest Manga

Also: The Great Queen Victoria Winner Ostwen Has Arrived! launches in English




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Live-Action Under Ninja Film Reveals 4 More Cast Members

Tsuyoshi Muro, Haruka Kinami, Shinobu Hasegawa, Jirō Satō join cast




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Hiromi Morishita, Syohei's Seishōnen Ashibe Manga Ends

Sequel of Morishita's Shōnen Ashibe manga launched in 2017




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Universal Studios Japan to Open Donkey Kong Country Area on December 11

Shigeru Miyamoto previews games, Golden Temple ride, more in Direct video




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Live-Action Red Blue Series Reveals Cast, Staff, December 17 Debut

Keito Kimura, Makoto Hasegawa, Taiga Tsubaki, more join mixed martial arts story




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Attack on Titan Anime Gets Orchestral Concert World Tour in April-November 2025

13 venues in N. America, 8 venues in Europe, 1 venue each in Singapore, Australia




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HIDIVE to Stream From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!, Beheneko: The Elf-Girl's Cat is Secretly an S-Ranked Monster! Anime

Both anime screen N. American premieres at Anime Frontier on December 7




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Pagan Community Notes: Week of November 8, 2024

In this week's Pagan Community Notes: Awards at Hekate's Sickle Festival, new elevations, Cherry Hill Seminary responds to the Nashville bombing attempt, Correllian-Nativist leaders release a statement on the presidential election and more news/

Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of November 8, 2024 at The Wild Hunt.




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Albert Einstein

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."




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So Goeth Before the Fall

Fall, my favorite season Fires chlorophyllous, riotous, Swirling as kids rustle about Hiding in leaves.  Familial conscripts raking   Chafing against Sisyphean task Hedges color snared  Trees haltingly immodest.  Trick or Treat  The hobgoblins innocent plaint Mercantile pumpkin spice, cloying sweet Radiators pinging in the night.  Attic exchange Swapping old clothes  For the cold new time’s […]

The post So Goeth Before the Fall appeared first on Waiter Rant.