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.
Unfortunately no. But he told both the refs and the coaches the minute it happened.
I think that's just for people who plan to actually polish up their novel and do something with it. As for me, I'll probably just print it out and burn it, page by page!
FBI on the scene. Crime scene tape put up around Exxon station.
No reports that there was a shooting.
Dang it... so it's Jr's word against the accused?... not good... you may never see justice done...
Is he sure it was intentional?... It'd be interesting to see how many other players this yaehoo lined up against ended up with broken fingers...
Or perhaps a pint and a round of cheer! 
Supposedly the van was a Dodge Caravan.
Unfortunately. But we'll pursue it.
oooooohhhh....if you only knew how tempting that sounds...
got my hug this mornin'... thanks!...
*gasp!* *hack* *cough!* *cough!* *ack!* *harumph!* *wheeze*
Hair! How could you? I had a friend from church ask to borrow my copy and I almost panicked. ;^)
What are you thinkin' watchin' that commie channel?...
Prosecuter: "Tell me officer Smith, why did you shoot the sniper 37 times?"
Officer Smith: "I ran out of bullets..."
They've arrested the guy.
Guy in a Gray Dodge Caravan using a pay phone from inside the van. He's been arrested and is according to local news a "hot suspect."
News conference 10:00 a.m. EST.
Speculation that this phone booth is the number he gave on the note in Ashland...
Corin - I'm sorry to hear about Jr.'s finger. Knuckle fractures are terrible, but the younger the patient the better the healing. Prayers for a quick recovery and perfect healing all the way from Miami.
2JedisMom - How was Branson? I read back and was sad to see that it was time for the poodle to cross the Rainbow Bridge. But still, I am happy that your family decided to ease her into a peaceful slumber and were there until the end. She'll be waiting for them on the other side, full of joy with no pain anymore.
As for me, the wedding was almost cancelled. My cousin (the bride) had not been eating well and apparently stressed herself to the breaking point. Long story short, she was closing her car trunk in the parking lot of the manicurist to get her nails done and fainted, hitting her face on the trunk and smashing her head open on the pavement. 5 stitches on the back of her head. She was unconscious when the ambulance arrived and regained her senses when she woke up in the ER. The hospital refused to release her until 4pm yesterday (the wedding was scheduled for 4:30) and luckily the banquet hall pushed it back until 7:30pm for her. Her hairdresser refused to do her hair with those stitches there, so my mom did a quick updo (no shampoo, conditioner or hairspray allowed) and praise God it came out great!
The funny wedding story is that my daughter (who was standing with the other flower girls - all kids remember?) started dancing and swaying when the bride was dancing with her dad and started to become the focal point. When I caught her attention and motioned for her to stand still, she smiled, gave me a thumbs up and closed her eyes. She danced and swayed and even took a bow when the song ended. I got it on video! Too funny!! She was a hit - and I am a proud mama!
Now, after my long-winded entry into The Hobbit Hole, it's time for breakfast! Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon (4 platters, Corin), sausage and mushrooms. Lots of orange juice and strong coffee too! Honey wheat toast on the sideboard nestled along with the condiments. ENJOY!!
Lots of talk. Not much more info.
Just got back from lunch. I heard 2 arrested in the sniper case.
What's for supper?
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