The New Hobbit Hole

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The New Hobbit Hole
Concerning Hobbits
The New Hobbit Chronicles

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.

[HairOfTheDog]

I fully support the private land trusts. They are one terrific way of preserving plots of land, particularly small plots of land, that one group or another thinks is worth preserving. Fine, if you want to save it, buy it. Good plan. As private owners, they can preserve it in any way they wish, including keeping people out of it.

But also I think there is a public interest in lands held for the benefit of the public. There is a public interest, for the good of us all, in preservation of open habitat and green spaces, and not alot of individual private interest. And if the public wants it, they should also buy it. I think freedom has no value if we can't guarantee access to some lands to hunt, fish and wander in.

Its a balance. The argument will always be how much. Not all lands should be public of course, just pieces here and there that we can all get to.

[ksen]

Wow, I thought I had dropped into the "News" side by accident. ;^)

Do you think Gondor or Rohan have Public Land Acquisition programs?

[Corin Stormhands]

Gondor has no program. Gondor needs no program.

[Corin Stormhands]

If they postpone The Race...

Yup, it's a big weekend here.

[Corin Stormhands]

My wife called a few minutes ago.

My FIL is doing somewhat better today. He feels a little better also. But I don't think they plan to release him anytime soon. They're still talking about some sort of surgical procedure and I can't quite grasp the difference between that and dialysis.

The long-term prognosis is still not good. But it appears that the immediate crisis has passed. I also recognize that could change before my wife gets home this afternoon...

[HairOfTheDog]

I might add that as a taxpayer expense, the DNR land pays for itself to a large degree. I am sure it could be managed to be almost profitable.

The timber is sold private loggers who buy the trees and log it. They turn a profit for themselves and income to the gubmit. And they are not in harmful competition with the private foresters, who are huge conglomerates. The public forest timber sales are accessible to small time operators and loggers. So as a use of public funds, it does provide a better return on the dollar than some other uses I would attack first.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK OK - I'll stop! - I am being so radical anyway!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well that is unexpected good news though! - I hope he does well for as long as he can hold out, and your wife can have comfort and peace in her visit today!

[carton253]

Smeagol went sneaking into the local Radio Shack to buy some rechargable batteries. While there, I noticed pretty, shiny DVD players.

Oh, how Smeagol wants one. But, alas... can't afford one cause Smeagol has college to pay for. Then, I noticed this one machine. All silver... glimmering and glittering in the light. It was $200 marked down to $99.97. Smeagol wants... Smeagol wants...

Smeagol buys. Then has to buy a converter and a cable because Smeagol's tv has built in VCR.

On the way home, Smeagol rents the LOTR DVD and sees all the making and stuff...

Happy Smeagol!

[Overtaxed]

Gondor has no program. Gondor needs no program.

And neither do we. :)

[Overtaxed]

I also recognize that could change before my wife gets home this afternoon...

She's driving round trip in one day?!

[g'nad]

Good smeagol...good smeagol...always hunts the bargains...just don't sells us out and buys the nice, shiny DVD...

[Overtaxed]

The public forest timber sales are accessible to small time operators and loggers. So as a use of public funds, it does provide a better return on the dollar than some other uses I would attack first.

Oh yes! < /sarcasm > Due to the US Forest Sevice's policies, deadwood is not removed from the forests and roads into the forest are limited. The result? All that deadwood is fueling those fires out West burning the forests that environmentalists "care" so much about. And firefighters are hampered by lack of roads.

I prefer the land to be managed by private interests. The federal government couldn't manage a freaking cat house, let alone a forest.

[GretchenEE]

Good for you, reining in as you are.

I have difficulty keeping up, too, and have had to choose which threads I devote time to. I keep poking along, and enjoy what I can. The Hobbit Hole ... well, ... sigh.

Family first. Bless you.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh good for you! - Now keep your eye out.... I am seeing copies of the DVD starting to go for cheap! - Or I suppose the extended is just around the corner. You'll be ready!

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

ROFLOL!

You absolutely, completely and totally crack me up, Smeagol!

And I am so happy for you.

BTW, does anyone know? If I get a DVD player on my laptop, will I be able to view LOTR okay, or will it be a narrow horizontal strip across the screen? Also, if anyone has any opinions on what's a good laptop, I would appreciate the input.... Thanks!

[HairOfTheDog]

The mismanagement is the result of conflicting policies. National Forests were never meant to be the same as National Parks, and the "greens" have been pushing to make them one and the same, in all practicality. The ideas I am pushing do not mean the same thing as the "no access" wilderness advocates. My arguments are against them.

For what it is worth, the DNR forests near me are well managed with dead wood removed and open roads in. Not all of the public lands have been hit by the closure and wilderness movement. My goal is to fight every closure of these lands. Access is my whole point. It is a different mindset than those who would close it.

And to some degree, fires will always happen and some of this blame is hype. These fires are certainly a lesson.

Carried to the extreme, no public land means no camping, hiking, hunting and enjoyment of wilderness unless one wants to buy their own mountain. Not sure I can afford that for the kids this year.

[HairOfTheDog]

OT knows how to hook the laptop up to TV... That is the way to go!

[Sam Cree]

"I am sure it could be managed to be almost profitable. "

Though the idea of the federal government going into competition with the private sector is a little scary. That would amount to a business entity which also has the power to make law. Which is what you get with socialism anyway.

[carton253]

The first time I saw the DVD was on a laptop owned by my friend. This was the disc that had all the gimmicky things on it. It played great. If I remember correctly it filled the whole monitor. Since the movie is wide screen, I would think you would get the strips...

Around here, everyone has IBM thinkpads. I am partial to Toshibas. Smeagol is going to have to get a computer too. Looking at either Gateway or Dell. But, if I make the decision to buy, I might not want to wait for the assembly and shipping. When I purchase, I purchase quickly.