Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a continuation of the infamous thread New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole originally posted on January 26, 2001 by John Farson, who at the time undoubtedly thought he had found a rather obscure article that would elicit a few replies and die out. Without knowing it, he became the founder of the Hobbit Hole. For reasons incomprehensible to some, the thread grew to over 4100 replies. It became the place for hobbits and friends of hobbits to chit chat and share LoTR news and views, hang out, and talk amongst ourselves in the comfort of familiar surroundings.
In keeping with the new posting guidelines, the thread idea is continuing here, as will the Green Dragon Inn, our more structured spin-off thread, as soon as we figure out how to move all the good discussion that has been had there. As for the Hobbit Hole, we will just start fresh, bringing only a few mathoms such as the picture above with us to make it feel like home, and perhaps a walk down memory lane:
Our discussion has been light:
It very well may be that a thread named "New Zealander builds Hobbit hole" will end up being the longest Tolkien thread of them all, with some of the best heartfelt content... Sorry John, but I would have rather it had been one with a more distinguished title! post 252 - HairOfTheDog
However, I can still celebrate, with quiet dignity, the fact that what started as a laugh about some wacko in New Zealand has mutated and grown into a multifaceted discussion of the art, literature, and philosophy that is Tolkien. And now that I've managed to write the most pompous sentence of my entire life, I agree, Rosie post 506 - JenB
Hah! I was number 1000!! (Elvish victory dance... wait, no; that would be too flitty) post 1001 - BibChr
Real men don't have to be afraid of being flitty! Go for it. post 1011 HairOfTheDog
Seventeen years to research one mystical object seems a bit excessive post 1007 - JenB
Okay...who's the wise guy who didn't renew Gandalf's research grant? post 1024 Overtaxed
To the very philosophical:
Judas Iscariot obviously was a good man, or he wouldn't have been chosen to be one of the Apostles. He loved Jesus, like all of the Apostles, but he betrayed him. Yet without his betrayal, the Passion and Crucifixion would never have occurred, and mankind would not have been redeemed. So without his self-destruction infinite good would not have been accomplished. I certainly do not mean this to be irreverant but it seems to me that this describes the character of Gollum, in the scenes so movingly portrayed above Lucius Cornelius Sulla
To fun but heartfelt debates about the integrity and worth of some of the characters
Anyone else notice how Boromir treats the hobbits? He's very fond of them but he seems to think of them as children - ruffling Frodo's hair, calls them all 'little ones'. He likes them, but I don't think he really respects them post 1536 - JenB
Yes... Tolkien told us not to trust Boromir right off the bat when he began to laugh at Bilbo, until he realized that the Council obviously held this hobbit in high esteem. What a pompous dolt post 1538 - HairOfTheDog
I think almost every fault of his can be traced directly back to his blindness to anything spiritual or unseen. He considers the halflings as children, because that is what they look like. He considers the only hope of the ring to be in taking it and using it for a victory in the physical realm. He cannot see what the hobbits are truly made of, he cannot see the unseen hope of what the destruction of the ring might mean--the destruction of Sauron himself, and he cannot see the unseen danger that lies in the use of the ring itself I just feel sorry for Boromir--he is like a blind but honorable man, trying to take the right path on the road but missing the right path entirely because he simply cannot see it post 1548 - Penny1
Boromir isn't a jerk, he's a jock post 2401 Overtaxed
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Oh, I think by the time Frodo reaches the Cracks, he's not even himself anymore! I think he's not only on the brink of a dangerous place physically, he's on the brink of losing himself completely during the exchange with Gollum. But for some reason, the take-over isn't complete till he actually has to throw the Ring in. The person speaking to Gollum is not Frodo, but the "Wheel of Fire" that Sam sees. After the Ring is destroyed, Frodo not only comes back to himself, but comes back with the unbearable (to him) knowledge of what it's like to be completely without compassion. I think that's why it's so important to him to be compassionate in the Shire post 2506 - 2Jedismom
Regarding Frodo's compassion... it's a little too much at the end. Even Merry tells him that he's going to have to quit being so darn nice. But you're right. He's learned a lesson about evil that very few ever learn since it wasn't an external lesson but an internal one. (Those kinds of lessons have the greatest impact) Not only did he totally succumb to it, but he was rather ruthless to my little Smeagol post 2516 - carton253
Well that Frodo was a big mean bully! (to Smeagol) post 2519 Overtaxed
So as you can see, everything JRR Tolkien (and Peter Jackson) is welcome here in our New Row, our soon-to-be familiar New Hobbit Hole
; philosophy, opinion, good talk and frequent silliness.
1565
I hope it keeps up, but that sounds awfully good.
As long as the Southern 500 isn't rained out! :)
The weather weenies are saying thunderstorms all next week.
Same here. We're supposed to have a Labor Day fun day to close the pool. But I told the planner to wait and buy the food Monday morning. We've been closed all week...and since the pool is already turning green, that's not been a bad thing (our guy that handles all the chemicals is out of town and we can't figure it out - I'm still in the learning process).
which would you rather have? water? or a race?...tough call...;o)
hmmmm you use chlorine or bromine? (I worked at a pool for 6 years....a looooong time ago...)
Talk to lafroste about ozone generators!
Hehehe....how about if it rains all weekend except that it stops over Darlington long enough to get a couple of races in?
Chlorine and all the levels check out okay. But I'm no expert. I'm taking the CPO (certified pool operator) class in the spring. With the most recent break-in, the weather, whiny lifeguards (the college age kids are all gone) and a green pool, I'm just wanting to end the season...
Best thing is that, as of Monday, all of the "old guard" board members will be gone. They sort of burned out and ran things into the ground. I just get tired of hearing "we tried that, it didn't work." I've already alerted the new board members that I plan to be a major jerk. We're either gonna do this right or sell the property and split the profits.
I worked at a big pool...50 meters x 10 lanes, seperate 45' x 45' diving tank, and two kiddie pools...they switched to bromine there in the early 80s...
we used something called "Shock" that did a number (gone in about an hour) on algae...can't remember the chemical composition, but it didn't totally whack the Ph...
I was thinking more along the lines of when my daughter thought it was time to clean/feed/tend the pony that she could instant message Hair tell her what it was time to do. ;^)
I was thinking more along the lines of when my daughter thought it was time to clean/feed/tend the pony that she could instant message Hair tell her what it was time to do. ;^)
And could you people keep it down at bit?, my head is killing me.
I'm with you on that...I just don't see how people can do that...
mrs. g'nad put Jake in preschool three days a week last year when he was three, that helped her get started homeschooling 'Becca...this year she's starting his kindergarten curicullum...he's doing well, and 'Becca (6 y/o) is doing 2nd grade stuff, with 4th grade reading...She has really done a great job organizing this year...she laid out a daily schedule of bible time, chores and studies...they're done by lunchtime, and go out and do fun things...I've been very impressed...Mrs. g'nad loves it, and can't see doing it any other way...
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