Hobbit conscripts are Gandalf’s favorite unit

https://www.runjeetsingh.com/inventory/543/deeply_tooled_leather_dhal_shield_with_silver_bosses

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5157457

https://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2009/02/14/12536360.html

Explanation from Original OP:

Context: The USS William D. Porter (DD-579) has a reputation for being the most chaotically incompetent ship in naval history. In November 1943, while escorting President FDR on the USS Iowa to the Tehran Conference, the crew managed to have the worst mission of all time. First, they tore the anchor off their sister ship while backing out of the harbor. Next, they accidentally dropped a live depth charge in calm waters, which terrified the fleet because they thought they were under U-boat attack.

But the finale was the worst part: During a drill to impress the President, the crew forgot to switch their tubes to dummy mode and fired a live torpedo directly at the USS Iowa. FDR actually asked to be wheeled to the railing so he could watch the torpedo miss him. After the entire crew was arrested, other US Navy ships would mock them for the rest of the war by signaling Don’t shoot! We’re Republicans!

Explanation from Original OP:

Context: The USS William D. Porter (DD-579) has a reputation for being the most chaotically incompetent ship in naval history. In November 1943, while escorting President FDR on the USS Iowa to the Tehran Conference, the crew managed to have the worst mission of all time. First, they tore the anchor off their sister ship while backing out of the harbor. Next, they accidentally dropped a live depth charge in calm waters, which terrified the fleet because they thought they were under U-boat attack.

But the finale was the worst part: During a drill to impress the President, the crew forgot to switch their tubes to dummy mode and fired a live torpedo directly at the USS Iowa. FDR actually asked to be wheeled to the railing so he could watch the torpedo miss him. After the entire crew was arrested, other US Navy ships would mock them for the rest of the war by signaling Don’t shoot! We’re Republicans!

They’re right to distrust us. We’ve pissed away all the goodwill we had as a reliable military and economic partner (all of our other aspects were, of course, already untrustworthy).

“I’m sorry, our warranty does not cover manufacturer error.”

Honestly, I imagine that, in a time before reliable long-distance communication, being able to tell all your friends and neighbors about far-off mythology like that would make you the fascination of the town - at least for a few years!

Personally I’d say that it reinforces the position that he’s a campist, but anti-campist posting is welcome here.

Lord. Life is bizarre.

It’s pretty new! Deceptichum just founded it two weeks ago or so!

I really need to read up on medieval Zimbabwe one of these days

It does look strange, but I’ve seen several identical images of this street, so it would have to be just the sign that’s artificial.

I wonder if it was someone’s auto-translate software

It looks like a gambeson is implied in some of the detail views

16th century AD would be about the right time for it to be more a display of wealth than a defensive position, and the ruins appear to have the same openings (albeit no longer filled with glass windows)

I love all of 'em

… honestly, if they had to make The Hobbit a trilogy, they should’ve made it the slowest-paced, comfiest fantasy film trilogy in existence, the kind that makes you wish for a nice Hobbit hole to sit down and watch it in.

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