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
-----------------------------------------
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.
But what would the mares do without them! Occasionally they do come in handy, for some purposes, IMHO!
If IE is acting up on you, try the following: Troubleshoot IE Explorer using these tricks; or apply Microsoft patches from here
In the near future, you might want to consider moving to Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP (I would recommend Professional). Windows 2000 with service pack 3 (two weeks old) is very, very stable, and Windows XP's first service pack was supposed to hit the streets last Friday. As time goes on, fewer and fewer applications will run under Win9x operating systems, and at some point down the road you'll have to move up.
When you get ready, let me know ... I have some rules of thumb ...
Yeah, I saw that, about the Reno - McBride race. We're just cementing our weird reputation here in FL, I guess. I suppose Boca is voting for somebody by mistake.
I was at the ballot today, the new machines are cool, I'm not sure how there can be as many mistakes counting, though I'm sure they'll find a way. However I miss the old punch card method.
Northwest Miami and West Palm Beach come in last, with as many votes as they can forge.
May God Bless America.
It is the one year anniversary of the vicious attacks on our country. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the friendship of the past year.
I know I have only been participating on "The Hobbit Hole" for the past few months, but I feel like I have known you all for years. Your companionship and friendship have helped alleviate the feelings caused by last year's 9-11.
As we go forward we need to be careful not to dwell on last year's attack and be weighed down by heaviness and sadness. 9-11 should be our new rallying cry much like "Remember the Alamo!" 9-11 should be remembered with pride in how we responded to each other's needs. 9-11 should also be remembered to keep the fire of our righteous wrath stoked against those who would dare do such a thing against us and 9-11 should energize our future actions to ensure that no one ever dares attempt anything like that again.
Again, I want to thank all of you even Tennessee Republican ;^).
< /sappy >
I don't know where all that came from, but there it is.
I suspect it came from your heart?
We're off to a dedication where our local park took a piece of the WTC and made it into a memorial. We're going to place a flag by it. Then we're coming home and baking cookies for the firefighter unit down the street from us.
That's how we plan to spend the day. No School!
Sometimes I wonder friend, why indeed. Then I remember what we were all reminded of one year ago. We live in a broken world. A world bound by sin and destruction. With the rememberances today, with things that are going on in my family (finances, schedules, illness, etc.), I feel overwhelmed. Like I can't carry on.
And I remember that, by myself, indeed I can't carry on.
It's an ugly world. But I remind myself that I'm only visiting here. This really isn't home. I find myself wondering why, oh why my father-in-law would consider another surgery (the one on Monday was not successful) to prolong his life here.
Time moves slowly for us here. And life is often painful. But we've read the last chapter. We know how the story ends.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4
That's how we get through today. That's how we get through every day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.