On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, the Ring-bearers—Frodo and Sam—were honored on the Field of Cormallen. In separate statements, both Sauron and Saruman declared victory. Sigh.

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On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Sauron was destroyed. As he disintegrated, he still reached menacingly towards his opponents. Evil talks a big game, especially when it is losing.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Gollum bit off Frodo’s ring finger with the One Ring on it, then fell into the fire of Mt Doom. Those we despise may have some role to play.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, the “Mouth of Sauron” (some dude) demanded that Sauron’s opponents surrender and accept him (“The Mouth”) as their overlord. He was confused and furious when they said “no,” and insisted “elections have consequences.”

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On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Sam sang to an exhausted Frodo: “Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair. But Gollum and the Evil One crept up and slipped away with her. Ain’t nothin’ I can do. I guess I’ll keep on rambling!” “Sing my song!” Frodo sang. “Ramble on!” Sam sang.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age the joint forces of the West marched from Minas Tirith. They knew Sauron was overly impressed with military stuff. (He had gotten a medical deferment but claimed his bowling trophy was like being in the army). Long story short: Aragorn played Sauron like a lute.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Aragorn led his…eclectic army, aboard stolen pirate ships, to battle the forces of Mordor. He won. Aragorn & his people had lived millennia for this moment. Some of those who lave labored long may see their reward.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Eowyn of Rohan—a woman—and Meriadoc Brandybuck of the Shire—a Hobbit—slayed the Witch King. Those the tyrant hurts the most may strike a humiliating blow.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Peregrin Took, a Hobbit of the Shire, bravely defied orders and took the steps to save Faramir from his father’s funeral pyre. Denethor was gone, but he did not take others with him.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Gandalf calmly informed the Witch King that he could not enter Minas Tirith, despite having shredded the gate. The Witch King laughed. A rooster crowed. And then from behind the Witch King’s army: the songs of Rohan.

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A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Sam busted Frodo out of Cirith Ungol. Frodo had been captured by orcs. But the orcs fought amongst themselves, and wound up killing each other. Evil self-destructs. Good must still act to take advantage.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, the Army of Mordor conducted the Siege of Gondor. Gandalf rode up and down the defensive line, and the soldiers of Gondor fought through the night. Some resistance looks exactly like you expect.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age Aragorn’s Army of the Dead drove the remaining corsairs from their ships. The locals grabbed anything weapon-like and joined Aragorn. Sauron’s navy became Aragorn’s navy. Some things can be re-purposed for good.

A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Aragorn’s Army of the Dead (long story) attacked Sauron’s Umbar allies. Being attacked by the Dead terrified the men of Umbar (understandably) and they fled. Those who failed before may yet have a role to play.

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A lot of things combine to take down a tyrant. On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Aragorn used the palantir to cold call Sauron. He showed Sauron his face, and the same sword that had cut the ring from Sauron’s hand over 3,000 ago. Sauron was terrified, and began his war sooner than he wanted.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Saruman fired Wormtongue and announced he was appointing him to lead his Shield of Isengard initiative.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Frodo, Sam, and Gollum hid in the Morannon. Part of the Middle Earth Park System, the Morannon had been opened to drilling, strip mining, some light nuclear testing, and a data center. You can still visit it today. See photo.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Gandalf & Co gave Saruman a chance to repent. Saruman told them this was the sort of “gotcha” he expected from legacy Wizards. So Gandalf stripped him of his power. Then Wormtongue threw a Palantir at Gandalf. Then Saruman threw ketchup at Wormtongue.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Gandalf & Erkenbrand charged into the flank of Isengard’s army, just as Theoden charged out the gates of the Hornburg. The army tried to flee, but found that Fangorn forest had moved, blocking their retreat. Isengard spokesmen insulted the press when questioned.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, a combined force of Ents, Huorns, pissed off trees, and some other plants too scary to describe—all fed up with Saruman’s reckless drilling, deforesting, and burning—attacked Isengard and destroyed all its heavy industry. Saruman denied any of it had happened.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Saruman’s army attacked free people of Rohan at the Hornburg. Saruman had promised to keep Isengard out of foreign wars, but now said Operation Wizard’s Fury may need to last weeks.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Gandalf the White healed Theoden. Witnesses say he turned off the hyper-partisan news source of Grima Wormtongue and within minutes Theoden wanted to go outside, see his family, and crush Saruman.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, while Saruman’s army was away on Operation Wizard’s Fury, the ents decided it was time to stick up for nature. There would be no one at Isengard to stop them.

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It’s SHOWTIME! #lgrw

That’s how you get back. Edvinsson gets the goal! #lgrw

Rough period for Edvinsson. Turnover leads to breakaway goal. Doesn’t clear on PK, then deflects shot into his own net. Take 15 and come back strong! #lgrw

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Orcs from Isengard attacked a force from Rohan, nominally Isengard’s ally, and assassinated Theodred, crown prince of Rohan. In his “State of Isengard” address, Saruman offered the orcs the Wizard’s Medal of Freedom and touted how many trees he had cut down.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age combined forces of Mordor and Isengard attacked 3 small river craft of Lorien with disproportionate force. Sauron said that it was to stop the flow of fentanyl into Mordor. The international community was skeptical, as Mordor gets its fentanyl from Mirkwood.

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On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, with the Ring slowly twisting the Fellowship, Saruman’s private army on the move, and Sauron making preparations for war, Gandalf returned to life. Hope lives.

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age Sam Gamgee looked in the Mirror of Galadriel. He saw the Shire ransacked and its trees being cut cut down. He demanded to do something to stop it, but a voice said, “The Dow is over 50,000.”

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From the NY Post. You know they are really scrambling when they are running "The gun was no angel" stories.

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January 25: the Defenestration of the Balrog Ten days after Gandalf fell he defeated the balrog by throwing it out a natural window at the mountain peak. Evil does not win.

I saw the video. Multiple agents wrestle a man to the ground. One agent strikes him with an object multiple times while he is down. The agents then back away, one shoots him, and then they leave him in the street. #murder #minneapolis

On this day in 3019 of the 3rd Age, Gandalf caught up with the Balrog inside Mt Zirkazigil. Having fallen into the abyss, facing an enemy seemingly beyond his power, Gandalf kept fighting. Legend has it that when the balrog saw Gandalf, it heard Judas Priest’s “The Sentinel” echoing in the tunnels