Valar Guild

February 20, 2022 Sunday Meeting

5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Discord: Valar Guild/meeting_place

Back to News
Transcript work by Varda.
[times are Central Time from Varda's Discord. Add one hour for Eastern.]


Attending (and typed): (6)
    Discord: Arien
, Ar-Pharazon (After-meeting), Eonwe (presiding), Sandalf13, Shelob, Varda
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:

Gaming:
   
World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online
Tolkien:
    Topic: media Tolkien. Amazon tv show German trailer, English trailer. Rohirrim anime. Remarks about movies PJ and Rankin-Bass.
After-meeting:
    (non)Flashgaming Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games.
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Before-meeting

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:01 PM
Hallo All! Aiya!

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:01 PM
Aiya all

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:02 PM
Heya.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:03 PM
I return to you from the depths of Chapter Three: The Geology of Middle-earth. I found a really great depiction of Tolkien's conception of the evolution of Earth online, taken from Tom Shippey's  "The Road to Middle-Earth, 3rd edition, The Lost Straight Road."
[4:04 PM]
Not as bad as fighting a Balrog, but still a struggle.

Varda — Yesterday at 4:04 PM
Aiya

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:05 PM
Never heard of that one before

Varda — Yesterday at 4:05 PM
Eonwe has the gavel. : )

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:05 PM
I'll be beginning shortly.
[4:06 PM]
@Bounder Meeting Starting Shortly!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:06 PM
Neither did I. I will now have to dig out yet another source to reference!

Varda — Yesterday at 4:07 PM
I am sort of here. Looks interesting.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:07 PM
How goes your vacation, Varda?

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:08 PM
OK, let's begin the meeting.
[4:09 PM]

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Elen SIla Lumenn Omentielvo!
[4:09 PM]

Membership:

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:09 PM
Somehow, Tolkien had to get from his early conception of a flat earth to the modern, currently accepted reality of a round earth. Of course, all of that stuff (the Silmarillion, and so on) was a matter of myth by the time of action in the LoTR, so I am NOT including it in my Chapter Three.
[4:09 PM]
Sorry,.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:09 PM
Everyone who's here, say Fastitocalon.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:10 PM
Fastitocalon.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:11 PM
Heh, guess that makes both Arien and Varda only sort of here. :}

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:11 PM
I did say it out loud, too!!!
[4:12 PM]
Nolacotitisaf?

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:13 PM
Any other membership news?

Varda — Yesterday at 4:13 PM
Fastitocalon

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:13 PM
Fastilocation

Varda — Yesterday at 4:13 PM
hehe

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:13 PM
i am on holidays as welll another week

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:13 PM
Enjoy!
[4:15 PM]
In one of my part-time jobs, I had a very successful week. For the second year in a row, I was able to get free rooms for our artists when they come to Lincoln as part of the Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music annual series. The LFCM is in its 58th season, and we are a low-budget, non-profit 501(C)(3) entity, so getting free rooms AGAIN is a real coup. I earned my meager salary in one fell swoop.
[4:16 PM]
Four or Five concerts by four or five separate quartets or quintets would normally cost around $7000, so I managed to save LFCM a great deal of dough.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:17 PM
Nice.
[4:17 PM]

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Web:

Nothing new to report here,... yet.
[4:18 PM]

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Gaming:

[4:18 PM]
World of Warcraft:
[4:18 PM]
This week's Bonus Event: World Quests.

The PvP Brawl: Warsong Scramble runs through Tuesday, February 22nd.

The Love Is In the Air event is going until February 21st.
[4:18 PM]
Check out the following blogs:

Shadowlands: Eternity's End Content Update Arrives February 22 -- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23762273/shadowlands-eternitys-end-content-update-arrives-february-22
    World of Warcraft
    Shadowlands: Eternity's End Content Update Arrives February 22 - WoW
    The fight against the Jailer and his forces continues in this last chapter of the ongoing saga. Prepare to face Zovaal before he rewrites the very rules of reality.

[4:19 PM]
Shadowlands: Journey Through the Gates of Zereth Mortis -- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23762274/shadowlands-journey-through-the-gates-of-zereth-mortis
    World of Warcraft
    Shadowlands: Journey Through the Gates of Zereth Mortis - WoW
    Venture into land unlike any other and unravel its mysteries.

[4:19 PM]
Shadowlands: Eternity's End Content Update Notes -- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23770462/shadowlands-eternitys-end-content-update-notes
    World of Warcraft
    Shadowlands: Eternity's End Content Update Notes - WoW
    Eternity's End arrives to World of Warcraft on February 22!

[4:19 PM]
Tazavesh, the Veiled Market Heroic Difficulty Available in Season 3 -- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23762272/tazavesh-the-veiled-market-heroic-difficulty-available-in-season-3
    World of Warcraft
    Tazavesh, the Veiled Market Heroic Difficulty Available in Season 3...
    Gather your party and discover exotic wares and strange creatures in Heroic Difficulty Tazavesh: the Veiled Market with the start of Shadowlands Season 3.

[4:19 PM]
Synthesize A Menagerie of Mounts and Battle Pets in Eternity’s End! -- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23763777/synthesize-a-menagerie-of-mounts-and-battle-pets-in-eternitys-end
    World of Warcraft
    Synthesize A Menagerie of Mounts and Battle Pets in Eternity’s End!...
    Welcome Protoform Synthesis, a new crafting feature that allows you to create Zereth Mortis-themed mounts and pets to expand your collection.

[4:20 PM]
Defy the Odds in Torghast When Eternity's End Arrives -- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23762795/defy-the-odds-in-torghast-when-eternitys-end-arrives
    World of Warcraft
    Defy the Odds in Torghast When Eternity's End Arrives - WoW
    The ever-changing halls of Torghast, Tower of the Damned continue to reveal new Layers and challenges within this foreboding prison, along with a new mode and new rewards.

[4:20 PM]
Lord of the Rings Online:
[4:20 PM]
Update 32: Rangers and Ruins came out this week. -- https://www.lotro.com/update-notes/lotro-update-32-release-notes-en
    The Lord of the Rings Online
    Update 32 Release Notes
    Here are the Release Notes for Update 32: Rangers and Ruins, released on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022.

[4:20 PM]
With it has come the Legendary Item Reward Track. -- https://www.lotro.com/news/lotro-article-legendary-reward-track-en
    The Lord of the Rings Online
    The Legendary Items Reward Track Has Arrived!
    Learn more about the new Legendary Items Reward Track in The Lord of the Rings Online!

[4:21 PM]
From Varda, the lists for who's shown up on each server this week:
Landroval:
Eonwe
Fangorn
Frodo
Ioreth
Nar
Varda

Anor:
Eonwe
Falco
Fangorn
Varda

Shadowfax:
Arien
Varda

Treebeard:
Varda
[4:22 PM]
Sort of borderline here as we move into Tolkien: https://lotroplayers.com/2022/02/10/saul-zaentz-to-sell-movie-and-game-rights-for-tolkien/
[4:23 PM]
Any other gaming news before we move to Tolkien?
[4:25 PM]
Ok, then on to...
[4:25 PM]

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Tolkien:
[4:26 PM]
Any Tolkien topics for discussion? Or shall I pick one?
[4:29 PM]
OK, so then I'll start with who is here for Tolkien chat: Say Sulimo.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:29 PM
not direct tolkien discussion but i ve seen a few bits of information on the tv series from sky]
[4:29 PM]
Sulimo
[4:30 PM]
there is a team that makes updates on that

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:30 PM
Sulimo to you too.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:30 PM
and it seems to cover the story of Numenor too and the end of the second Age
[4:31 PM]
actors names are known but the actors themselves are largely unknown and PJ is in an advisory roll

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:33 PM
I think the Downfall of Numenor really reflects Tolkien's true beliefs, as a devout Catholic, about the "Fall" of Man...we are such weak creatures, after all, both in Fea and Hroar.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:33 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om0QMC1QFkQ
    YouTube
    KinoCheck
    DER HERR DER RINGE: Die Ringe der Macht Teaser Trailer German Deuts...

[4:33 PM]
thats the link ujnfortunately its in German but Sandalf might have a go

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:34 PM
I can't wait to view it...maybe over my salmon dinner tonight!

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:35 PM
I don't see anything that suggests to me Peter Jackson is advising on that series.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:35 PM
Is this the new Amazon or Netflix pic?

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:36 PM
the Amazon one

Varda — Yesterday at 4:37 PM
The little whispers over and over to do evil, slowly brainwashing, by Sauron.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:37 PM
wow. And they got a trailer out in German already, but not in English? Was macht?

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:37 PM
Philippa Boyens, may, however, be involved with the War of the Rohirrim anime.

Shelob — Yesterday at 4:37 PM
Aiya!

Varda — Yesterday at 4:38 PM
Aiya

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:38 PM
its mentioned in the video .. they say "the one who is not involved is P:eter Jackson , he himself has to be asked if then only in an advisory function*

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:38 PM
Weta and John Howe are involved in the War of the Rohirrim.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:38 PM
Aiya Shelob!

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:40 PM
Aiya Shelob

@Arien  Valar
its mentioned in the video .. they say "the one who is not involved is P:eter Jackson , he himself has to be asked if then only in an advisory function*
Shelob — Yesterday at 4:49 PM
Smart move, considering the absolute abomination that was the Hobbit, even though it did well enough at the box office.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:49 PM
hoo
[4:50 PM]
i liked the Hobbit films @:)

Shelob — Yesterday at 4:51 PM
Cinematically, they were pretty good, but the Legolas scenes as well as the Tauriel love triangle angle... that would have had Tolkien turning in his grave.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:52 PM
The minute Tom Shippey was no longer involved with this series, I became skeptical.
[4:53 PM]
Sorry, was trying to find something in english to confirm Peter Jackson's involvement, still nothing. What I see with a google search is:
Co-executive producer Wayne Che Yip will direct, along with J.A. Bayona and Charlotte Brδndstrφm. Peter Jackson is not involved with this project.1 day ago
'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' — Everything We Know So Far | TVLine

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:53 PM
Aye
[4:53 PM]
thats true
[4:53 PM]
also the love story between Tauriel and Fili [Note: Kili]
[4:53 PM]
alas

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:54 PM
I have not yet had the patience to sit down and watch the Hobbit movies.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:54 PM
New Line, Weta, and John Howe seem to be involved with the War of the Rohirrim anime though, so we'll see how that turns out.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:54 PM
I am sure they are cinematically outstanding, but in terms of sticking to Tolkien...forget it.

@Sandalf13
I am sure they are cinematically outstanding, but in terms of sticking to Tolkien...forget it.
Shelob — Yesterday at 4:54 PM
Exactly.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
Lord of the Rings was about as close to a faithful adaptation we're likely to get in our lifetimes. The Hobbit.... not so much.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
"Strider" was a 10 year old boy living in Imladris at the time of the Hobbit...

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
aye

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
Not yet a Ranger.
[4:55 PM]
Who is Tauriel, after all?
[4:56 PM]
I mean that metaphorically.

Varda — Yesterday at 4:56 PM
There had to be silvans living in Thranduil's kingdom that had names, but we had nothing to speak of from the books to work with.

@Eonwλ Valar
Lord of the Rings was about as close to a faithful adaptation we're likely to get in our lifetimes. The Hobbit.... not so much.
Shelob — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
Lord of the Rings was the best books to movie adaptation we could possibly have gotten in any lifetime.

Varda — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
During the Hobbit, Legolas had not yet been imagined. As the king's son, he would have been active.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
Yup.

Varda — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
Agree with Shelob.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
The Rankin Bass version of the Hobbit is still the definitive version brought to screen in my opinion.

Varda — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
So far, looks like. : )

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
Are any of the old versions available on Prime?

Varda — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
I have to go for now, will read back.
[4:58 PM]
eventually

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
Have fun Varda.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
Namarie, Varda!

Varda — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
: )

@Sandalf13
Yup.

Shelob — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
That's fine, but the Sindarin involvement in the Hobbit is peripheral. Even if you include the battle of the five armies and Thranduil's almost taking the pooch there.
[4:59 PM]
That was meant as a response to Varda's comment on Legolas being part of the movie.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:00 PM
Ah...

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:00 PM
enjoy

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:00 PM
Arien: do you have access to some fresh North Atlantic salmon where you live?

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:00 PM
nope

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:01 PM
Anyway, I suppose here is a good place to declare Aftermeeting.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:01 PM
not that i knolw of we have scottish salmon

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:01 PM
I thought that salmon was a staple of the Scottish diet...I must have missed something somewhere...

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:01 PM
bangs gavel

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Aftermeeting:

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:02 PM
Ouch! YOu hit my thumb by mistake!    (Just joking, of course.)

Shelob — Yesterday at 5:02 PM
Well, it's a big gavel.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:02 PM
It would have to be,,,

@Sandalf13
Ouch! YOu hit my thumb by mistake!    (Just joking, of course.)

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:04 PM
If I could've hit your phyisical thumb with a virtual gavel, I would really be an Ainu :}

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:06 PM
Ah...but from all the good things that Varda tells me about you, you already are!
[5:12 PM]
Is anyone still here?

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:12 PM
I'm somewhat here.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:13 PM
Whew. I was afraid my laptop went on the fritz.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:14 PM
no i am here as well
halfways anyway

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:15 PM
You folks must have other things going on then...Let me wish you all a wonderful week. I think I will close up shop for this meeting and head home for dinner, then return to the Llibrary for more work on Chapter Three. Namarie all!

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:15 PM
Take care Sandalf. (edited)

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:15 PM
It will hit 60 degrees here today, but the next cold front comes through tonight...we expect some snow (finally) on Wed...Sei gesund!

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:16 PM
I am exorcising Terrordale with Paladin number 3 sorry which makes me wonder if Tokien knew something like exorcism in Middlearth?

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:19 PM
Hmm...
I'm thinking Tom Bombadil dealing with the Barrow Wights would count.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:20 PM
aye

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:21 PM
That's the closest coming to mind.

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:24 PM
fair enough

Arien  Valar — Yesterday at 5:34 PM
Namarie for now

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 5:34 PM
Take care Arien.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:54 PM
Aiya, catching up

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:06 PM
Still got the Hobbit trilogy waiting for me on dvd, still haven't seen part 3 yet... but I did watch 3 other movies I'd recorded from tv during the past week, so we're making some progress in reducing the waiting list.
And while I'd heard of that Second Age series, I'd not heard anything about a Rohirrim-anime, I think?
[6:07 PM]
Still, must keep an eye out!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:34 PM
Anyone still here? I just got back to the Eiseley Branch Library after a tasty dinner at home, I am ready to plunge back in to Chapter Three.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:34 PM
Aiya

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:35 PM
Aiya Ar!  I have missed talking to you the last few weeks, it seems!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:35 PM
Yep, that's the trouble when I'm this late
[6:35 PM]
I don't really have anything to share, anyway.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:35 PM
I am sorry to hear that ,but I hope that you are not working TOO hard. One must take time to rest and recover...

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:36 PM
It's not work related, it's health related.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:36 PM
Ah. I hope everything is well, then.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:36 PM
Slowly getting things under control...ish.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:36 PM
That is good to hear. All the more reason for you to rest.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:36 PM
True

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:37 PM
Would you like an update on my Tolkien Book?

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 6:37 PM
Heya Phar.
[6:37 PM]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings:_The_War_of_the_Rohirrim
    The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
    The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is an upcoming anime fantasy film based on the novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
    Produced by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros.
    Animation with animation by Sola Entertainment, the film is a prequel to the Lord of the Rings film trilogy set 250 years before the events of those films. It ...

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:37 PM
You said something about chapter 3, earlier?
[6:37 PM]
Ah, a movie.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:37 PM
Yes. I have already submitted the following to Varda:

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 6:38 PM
Set during the time of Helm. Not going to get my hopes up because it doesn't seem anyone wants to do anything right with any established IP anymore, but we'll see.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:40 PM
Chap One "A Case of Influence: Aragorn as Sherlock Holmes."    Chap Two: "The Last Line in Tolkien," a study of the segment ends in the 6 volumes of the LoTR.  Chap Three: "The Geology of Middle-earth" - being revised RIGHT NOW. Chap Four: The History and Geopolitics of the Third Age of Middle-earth. Chap Five: Denethor as Macbeth: The Tragedy of the Last Ruling Steward of Gondor, and Chap Six: "Who Foretold What, When," a study of the Elessar Stone and its significance for Aragorn. Varda has copies of Chps 1, 2, 4, 54, and 6.  I hope to mail her Chp 3 this week, then its on to Chp 7, Character Development in the LoTR.
[6:40 PM]
She also has my Foreword to the whole book.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:41 PM
Ah, nice.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:41 PM
I hope she likes the well enough to post the entire book. There will be more chapters ahead. I feel very driven to get this book done, and get back to some other things that I need to be doing.
[6:41 PM]
them

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:42 PM
What is the overall title/idea/theme of the book, anyway? Not seeing anything overarching in those chapters.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:43 PM
No. Just my collected thoughts over the decades on Tolkien, and what his books/writings mean for me. The chapters are presented in no special order, as is indicated in The Foreword.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:43 PM
Ah.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:44 PM
I hope that soon enough material will be available on the site for you to take a look and tell me what you think. Try not to be too criitical, as Bilbo says to Sam and Frodo as they visit him in Imladris on their way back to the Shire.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:45 PM
I couldn't if I wanted to, when it comes to essays and stuff

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:46 PM
That is OK if you do not have time to read my work.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:46 PM
No, be critical, I mean

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:46 PM
I am sure that you have more important things to do.
[6:46 PM]
Ah. Thank you!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:46 PM
Will definitely make time to read!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:46 PM
How are things in the NL?
[6:47 PM]
Thanks again!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:47 PM
We had a big storm come over during the weekend, but no damage here.
[6:47 PM]
Around my place, at least.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:48 PM
Was it rain or snow? I suspect rain, knowing where you live, but one cannot be sure from so far away.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:48 PM
Wind, mostly.
[6:48 PM]
An actual, named storm.
[6:48 PM]
But there was also rain in there at points.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:48 PM
Oy. Those North Atlantic winds can really be something.
[6:49 PM]
At least you have the U.K. to take some of the pressure (no pun intended) off your storms!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:49 PM
Yep. Seems the south of England got hit even worse than the NL did.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:49 PM
Seems about right. May I tell you a short sea story?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:50 PM
Go for it

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:53 PM
In 1973, the USS Caloosahatche (AO-98), my ship, was steaming to Norfolk from Newport, when we got caught in a Nor'easter off the New Jersey coast. The Captain directed us to put the bow into the sea (the waves), and i had the first watch during the storm. As I was standing watch, the boatswainsmate called out that he had lost control of his rudder. We had waves breaking over the bow of our ship at that point, and I ordered up some more speed, so we could make headway. It seems everyone crowded onto the Bridge to see what was happening...until I ordered all those not on duty to go below. We kept plowing ahead into the sea, and in the morning, the storm broke up. The only BAD THING...a Norwegian freighter decided to outrun the storm, and the ship got caught in the lee of the huge waves. It was carrying locomotives, and one of the locos broke free and crashed through the hull of the ship. The ship SANK after sending out an S.O.S. We joined in the search party the next day. Three days later one sailor was found hanging on to a door from the sunken ship. 33 crewmen lost their lives. Now THAT was a Nor'Easter!
[6:55 PM]
Now I know why my Executive Officer, KEvin Healey, had a sign on his desk asking the Lord to remember those who go down to the sea in ships.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:55 PM
Hmm. Glad you were ok!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:56 PM
Yes, Our crew of 13 officers and 290 enlisted men. We did fine. It was still scary, and I still sometimes dream about it.
[6:56 PM]
I was a young Lieutenant Junior Grade at the time.
[6:58 PM]
All this happened only 350 miles off the N.J. coast.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:03 PM
So if I get it right, your ship plowed into the storm, while the freighter tried to outrun it?

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:05 PM
YEs. The Captain of the freighter made a tragic mistake. Any good mariner will tell you to put your bow into the sea during a storm, because a ship is better designed to handle such forces. Furthermore, the freighter was carrying an unusual cargo: very large diesel locomotives. Their weight is tremendous, as you can imagine. If one breaks loose, as happened, it can wreak havoc on the hull. To be hones, the Captain sacrificed his crew in an effort to make time, rather than to do the safe thing, that is to alter your course to head into the sea.
[7:06 PM]
You DO NOT want to get caught in the trough between two big waves...which results in huge rolling motion on the ship.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:06 PM
The hare runs into the fire...

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:06 PM
Yes sir...you got it.
[7:07 PM]
I took some pictures of the waves breaking over the bow of my ship. If I can ever find my Navy scrapbook, I will copy some of them and send them to you.
[7:08 PM]
An oiler is NOT a small ship, either. Much bigger than a destroyer or a cruiser...but not as large as an aircraft carrier.
[7:09 PM]
The Caloos was 36,000 tons fully loaded. Modern oil tanker ships are 150,000 tons.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:10 PM
At least it should float on the water then!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:10 PM
Yes, except we also carried some munitions and aviation gas....very, very flammable, and very explosive. Not a good combination in a ship!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:11 PM
Hindenburg?

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:12 PM
The Caloos was scrapped in a Scottish breaking yard about 20 years ago. Yes...like the Hindenburg. It was built in 1944, and served in WWII. It was already an old ship when I was on it, but it stayed on duty until the early 1990s. They don't build them like they used to!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:12 PM
heh

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:12 PM
I hope that applies to us old timers as well!
[7:12 PM]
You are a mere youngster, by my lights.
[7:13 PM]
Am I keeping you up?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:13 PM
Nah, just playing WoW on the side.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:14 PM
Isn't it almost your bedtime? I seem to recall that you told me you usually go to bed around now...0200 your time?
[7:14 PM]
Or 0100?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:14 PM
Sundays tend to be exceptions by necessity

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:14 PM
OK then.
[7:15 PM]
I do not want to keep you up, or take you off your schedule. It is only 0714 here.
[7:15 PM]
1914...sorry

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:15 PM
1914? You're not that old!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:16 PM
No, My birth year was 1950...and I am old, but I am thankful, very thankful (Dankbar!) that I still run 4 miles per day, bike, walk, swim, and go to the weight room four or five times a week. No prescriptions so far!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:16 PM
But yes, it's over 2 here
[7:16 PM]
Oof, keeping busy.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:17 PM
So you are playing a game right now?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:17 PM
World of Warcraft.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:17 PM
As soon as  I get some more chapters submitted to Varda, I would like to try the LoTRO game. I believe I will need some help to get started.
[7:17 PM]
Oof...sounds very Dutch.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:18 PM
What does?

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:18 PM
BTW, my hometown is New York City. OOF!!!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:18 PM
Ah, oof

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:19 PM
The flag of the City of New York is blue, white, and orange, and used to include a picture of a Dutch windmill...from the days of new Amsterdam.
[7:20 PM]
So there is a bit of old Dutch influence during my growing up days!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:20 PM
Yay!
[7:20 PM]
I bet it went really downhill after the US took it.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:21 PM
Actually, it was the English who took it...the Duke of York, hence the new name. This was before the U.S. existed.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:21 PM
Yes, fine
[7:21 PM]
You know what I mean!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:21 PM
The name of New York's first mayor was Peter Stuyvesant, from the NL.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:21 PM
Yep, I've heard of the name.
[7:22 PM]
I bet I can pronounce it better as well

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:22 PM
I seem to remember that the name of the company in the NL that backed the settlement of New Amsterdam was the Dutch West Indies Company.
[7:22 PM]
I am sure that you can!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:23 PM
Sounds about right. They were all about the Americas.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:24 PM
It was a very successful company, until the English and Dutch had at it.
[7:27 PM]
It was the Dutch EAST India Company.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:27 PM
Really? I thought those were mostly around south east asia.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:28 PM
I believe that the Dutch company worked in both East Asia (today's Southeast Asia), and the West Indies of North America.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:28 PM
Well, there were 2 companies.
[7:28 PM]
East and West.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:29 PM
When I was at Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island in the summer of 1971, I read a book about the sinking of the Dutch cruiser that was homeported in Indonesia at the time (during WWII).

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:30 PM
Yes... what was its name...
[7:30 PM]
Bit shaky on my history.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:31 PM
60 degrees F here today, tomorrow the high is 45 degrees F, and Wednesday the high will be 16 degrees F with a low around MINUS 5 degrees F. Snow on Thursday. Such is life on the Great Plains.
[7:31 PM]
I have to try to remember. Let me think on it.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:32 PM
One of those Battle of the Java Sea ships.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:33 PM
Yes. You are right. My German host sons (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08) could never get over the snow and the cold. They would e-mail their friends back in Germany to tell them how cold it would get here.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:33 PM
hehe
[7:33 PM]
I kinda wish we had snow again.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:34 PM
One day Florian woke up and it was MINUS 18 degrees F. He wondered how he would get to school...but the busses still ran.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:34 PM
We had like one week of snow and ice last year.
[7:34 PM]
This winter... not so much yet.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:34 PM
The climate is definitely warming, although there remain a few doubters, especially here in the U.S., who insist global warming is NOT real.
[7:35 PM]
Do you bike to work, or ride a bus?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:35 PM
Well, some people believe the earth is flat and about 6000 years old.
[7:35 PM]
Depends, I've got 2 part time volunteer jobs
[7:35 PM]
Local one by bike, other by bus.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:35 PM
Yes. I wonder how we ever to  to where we are today,, with so much stupidity running rampant.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:36 PM
Because enough people aren't?

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:36 PM
Hats off to you for doing volunteer work!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:36 PM
Heh, it's only while trying to get a paid one, though that trajectory's been going for years...
[7:36 PM]
Basically a work ethic and work experience thing.
[7:36 PM]
Also keeping busy

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:37 PM
May I ask how old you are?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:37 PM
36.
[7:37 PM]
I've had a long stretch of failing university studies followed by health issues.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:37 PM
Wow . Good for you! You ARE a youngster! I am almost twice as old as you.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:37 PM
Only really been trying to get into work for the last 7 years or so.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:37 PM
Keep at it, and keep your head up.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:37 PM
Hmhm.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:38 PM
If you ever need a letter of recommendation, I would be glad to write one for you!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:38 PM
Character witness, that sort of thing?

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:38 PM
In English, German, or Spanish...your choice.
[7:38 PM]
Yes.
[7:39 PM]
Unfortunately, not Dutch.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:40 PM
Darn, still no holiday event mount for the Valentine holiday in World of Warcraft, that was my last daily attempt at the boss battle drop for this year. Well, at least I was able to use 3 characters this year, that's progress...
[7:40 PM]
And yeah, most people know English over here

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:41 PM
You just tell me if you ever need such a letter. I would be GLAD to write one for you.
[7:41 PM]


Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:41 PM
Not all capable of switching over directly in their thoughts like I can, but still good enough to read a letter.
[7:41 PM]
Heh, if it comes to that I'll let you  know

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:42 PM
Please do! Also...I am sad to tell you the library is closing soon. They are closed tomorrow for President's Day (a U.S. national holiday) so I will have to go to the Mill coffee house to do my Tolkien work in the evening. Please take care of yourself and stay healthy.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:43 PM
You too!
[7:43 PM]
But from what you tell me that shouldn't be much of a problem for you.

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:43 PM
I head home from here and will try to call my younger sister. Then it is time to read and jump into bed.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:43 PM
g'nite!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:44 PM
Thank you. Finally...here is a transliteration of an old Yiddish poem my Grandmother used to tell me...
[7:45 PM]
Zun, Zun, koom aroise, koom und schein auf unser Haus.   Wolken, WOlken, geh aweg, blauen Himmel nicht fardek. Geh aweg in Wildn Wald, soll die Zun sich weisen bald.
[7:45 PM]
The same rhyme and meter as "Rain, Rain, go away, come again another day, little children want to play...:" in English.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:46 PM
Heh. I mostly know that one from the intro to an old tv show, "Round the Twist"

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:47 PM
Yes. Have a good night, Phar, and please stay in touch! Here is my E-Mail if you ever want to send me an E-Mail: oilinvestor13@outlook.com   I check my E-Mail at least four or five times during the day.
[7:47 PM]
Sei gesund!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:47 PM
Namarie!

Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 7:47 PM
Namarie!

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Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:38 PM
Personal gaming report!
[8:39 PM]
For (non)flashgaming, I'll give 2 games this week.
[8:40 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/FreeGames_org/unfold-2 is a new badge, and a new game for me  Drag to unfold the colored tiles, and fill up the entire shape.
    Kongregate
    Unfold 2
    Unfold returns with improved gameplay and more challenging puzzles. I listened to your feedbackthe top comment on Unfold suggested making the tiles only un...

[8:40 PM]
Interesting puzzle game where you need to plan ahead; a good tip is to look for symmetrical axes.
[8:41 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/ejbarreto/puzlogic-plus is the second game! An old one, but I decided to fully complete it this time around. Not just all 28 levels, but with 2 stars on each level, for using no hints and making no mistakes - so basically sudoku-like logic instead of trying stuff out - and thereby unlocking the bonus level, which I also completed.
    Kongregate
    Puzlogic Plus
    Unique puzzle game inspired by sudoku and cross sums (kakuro). This follow-up has 28 new puzzles, new rules and improved gameplay.

[8:42 PM]
Worth trying if you like logic number puzzles

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Blizzard gaming:
[8:43 PM]
Hearthstone:
Level 104 on the reward track! Unlocked a new level 100 portrait, and chose Nightslayer Valeera for the rogue.
Made enough honor to get to Commander rank, and now working towards Marshal.
[8:44 PM]
And got the demon hunter to level 51 along the way!
Now 500 gold short to be able to buy the miniset. Should be possible next week, and if not, it'll be close indeed
[8:45 PM]
Brawl is the Chess-brawl where you get a bunch of the special chess-pieces, and 6 cards of your choosing mixed in. I got through with some heavy damage spell mage, as well as the Grim Patron which is quite powerful against the chess pieces.
[8:47 PM]
For mercs, got a whole bunch of levels, getting Tamsin to level 30. Also got 3 new mercs through random coins: Sneed, Gul'dan and Ragnaros, the last two being Legendary.
[8:48 PM]
Ragnaros in particular should be another key player when I need fire damage
[8:49 PM]
As for the timed event coming up... from datamined quests for it, it seems it's based around the latest and toughest bounties, with a large assortment of mercs at level 30 required for a bunch of challenges.
[8:50 PM]
Since I'm nowhere near that kind of power, I'll let it pass, since the event doesn't last very long, and everything but a golden portrait should be able to be gotten eventually through packs and normal gameplay.
And who knows? Maybe it'll come back in the future, in a few years or so.
[8:51 PM]
It really is meant for players who've gotten pretty much everything completed in mercenary mode and are looking for new challenges.

WoW:
[8:53 PM]
Raiding: We got Sylvanas on heroic difficulty! Was getting tight since this is probably the last reset for the achievement, but we got it on thursday already - with just us two tanks alive at the end - so the rest of the week off
On top of the achievement, it also gave the Night Fae players an Owlcat soulshape, which I've been using since!
[8:54 PM]
Weekly quest is world quests, for which I've been doing 3 a day, with the highest anima rewards and easiest to complete, especially as a druid with flightform.
In doing so I've collected enough anima for yet another weapon appearance, the staff of the wild hunt
[8:55 PM]
And almost have enough for the next one!
And as mentioned, have been fighting the apothecaries every day, but no luck with the mount. Maybe next year!
[8:56 PM]
Finally, alts!
Managed to push Alcaria the paladin from 49 to 50, and Caldros the rogue from 48 to 50, each one getting a few days of apothecary kills in at 50. Not that it helped, in the end
[8:58 PM]
I then switched to the mage again in the struggle to get her to 48. While questing through Azsuna, though, she ran into a problem.... due to some unfinished lower level quest zones, especially the dozen or so quests in Bloodmyst Isle she's had going for at least 10 years, I think... her questlog was full.
[9:00 PM]
And since I'm not the type to abandon quests, I've sent her back to Loch Modan, which will be followed by Bloodmyst, to complete her level 10-20 questing and clear up the log before pushing her back to Legion. Since it's vanilla territory the mobs are grey, give no experience, and the quests give only about 400-500 xp a piece. But it still helps a tiny bit, and at least she's one-shotting stuff with fireblast
[9:01 PM]
Next week patch... I'd like to not to have to poke the quests yet, hopefully just being able to be summoned to the raid instead. We'll see how long I get away with that.
And that's my report for the week!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 9:10 PM
namarie

Varda — Yesterday at 9:28 PM
Thank you, Phar.

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