Maura Labingi's Tea Set
Here is a good peek inside my head.
Growing up, I would listen to Car Talk on the radio with my mom. Car Talk was an advice show on NPR that was hosted by the Magliozzi brothers. Two Boston mechanics who answered questions from callers about car issues every week.
And one of the brothers had a phrase he used which has stuck with me. I don't remember if it was across multiple shows or just one which sticks in my memory, but I remember he said "Tara Lipinski's tutu!" I think this must have been around a Winter Olympics.
Jump forward to this week.
I was reading a discussion about a person discovering that Tolkien had made a note about translating the names in Lord of the Rings, and how Frodo's name is actually Maura Labingi. I have known this fact for years but it isn't something I really think about. But, this time, as I read the name my brain connected the scanning of Labingi with Lipinski.
That set me to thinking about the above quote from Car Talk, and I made myself chuckle by thinking about using the phrase "Maura Labingi's tutu" except I realized Frodo aka Maura would not wear a tutu, but he would definitely use a tea set.
And so, in an alternate universe where there are two hobbit brothers answering wagon questions at the Bird and Baby inn, one of them is surprised by a question and proclaims loudly "Maura Labingi's tea set!"
June 11th, 2026
Automated Archives for June, 11th 2026
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Articles To Read
The following are articles that I saved today. Substance and quality will vary drastically.
Chess For the Day
Record: 5-2-4
Net Elo Change: +5
Games Played
- Jamshidbek0408 - LOSS
- bubo15 - DRAW
- vfhbyfpjhbyf - WIN
- Gadji54 - DRAW
- Smoke101 - WIN
- wisam-kharrat - WIN
- S_Adam_S - WIN
- ShaharLevi - LOSS
- vikpet70 - LOSS
- Cuffi - LOSS
- roalva - WIN
Blog Posts On This Day
- June 11, 2025 (1 post)
- June 11, 2024 (1 post)
- June 11, 2023 (6 posts)
June 5th, 2026
A quote from Matthew McConaughey about the difference between a nice man and a good man:
A nice guy gets along. They don't necessarily have discernment or judgment, not sure what they stand for or stand against. It's like yes, yes, yes, sure. A good man has ideals that they stand for and they stand against. And when they're tested, a good man is not a nice guy.
Being a good man is a lot harder for good reason. Not going to be the most popular. Not going to be always the most affable. It also doesn't mean you got to be a dick. It just means sometimes you got to go, I believe in this, this is for me, and that is not for me.
A good man's not looking for trouble. But if it comes, and if something he cares about was trespassed on, a good man does what he can to stop that.
June 3rd, 2026
Too many people abdicate moral responsibility.
A quote from a book I'm reading, and it really resonated with me. I can still clearly remember as a teen the moment I realized my parents were basing morals off the laws of the government. Maybe it was along the same time as I was studying World War II, I don't know. But it really bothered me, and when I tried to voice my thoughts I got told I was too young and didn't understand.
