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.
so...whut's new wit you?...
Thanks, g'nad.
Say, could you give me your arguments against the 7mm.08 and the .308? I've never used them, but would like to relay your thoughts to my nephew.
He burned stripped wallpaper for fuel. :)
I've dragged myself into the office today, so forgive any typos I may miss! ;)
Had a great time last night. The kids raked in about 2 pounds of candy each! Everything went as scheduled, got the kids to bed on time too, and then went to the party. Unfortunately, the party did not end until 1:30AM this morning!! Didn't get home until 3:00AM and then the baby got up and took me until 3:45AM to get her back down to sleep. So, needless to say, I am exhausted! (But the band was great! Hubby positively wailed on the drums last night - I'm so proud.)
I need some breakfast too, but first we need some STRONG COFFEE!!! OK, that's out. Now, how about some nice fluffy pancakes, french toast, bacon and eggs and T-bone steaks for breakfast? I'll fry up some good ol' Jimmy Dean sausage too. Grab some meat and find a seat folks!
Ice cold milk and orange juice over on the side table. Fresh crescent rolls with creamy butter over next to the bacon. That's where you'll find all of the condiments as well. YUM!! ENJOY!!
Have you begun Gone With the Wind yet?
My stripped wallpaper at that, wasn't it?
Arggh! Just got back from running errands and found I had left a partial cup of coffee next to the computer. Yeah, it's all my fault, I'm sooo STUPID! Cat #3 knocked it over, of course. Coffee allll over my desk, alll over under the laptop. It wasn't any big deal, but annoying. And a waste of a good cup of coffee! Had to go make more.
I plan on stopping by the used book store on the way home and checking to see if they have a copy of GWTW there. It's a great little store and usually carries every book I want.
Um...job search is OK, I guess. Haven't found any openings, but I've put in some applications. My younger brother is trying to convince me to move to PA and take him with him (lots of bagpipe stuff down that way...he has kind of a one track mind...), but I'm still hoping to find something a leeeetle bit closer. ;-)
My story is a sort of overwrought tale of people caught up in a fight over a space-time portal thingie. Typical stuff, ya know...
I think I've finally decided that I WILL post parts of it on my site, so you can read it if you so desire. Or, should I say, if you dare?
huh?...diga que?...
It didn't really go in it...just under. And it's a Dell, so it'd probably be fine anyway. ;-) The Dells my company had always seemed pretty sturdy. Unlike the Toshibas...those will fall apart if you look at them funny, or the Porteges seemed to.
"Anyone have the location of a modern day Shire?"
I pretty much think that our founding fathers had something like the Shire in mind when they were constructing our country, a land of individual freedom with limited government.
I get the impression that I'm sort of alone in this view, I'm going to post a few sentences on the subject when I get a minute to refine my thoughts down to a few sentences :-)
Maybe I could start a vanity thread on it, and bring down the wrath of half FR onto me.
LOL! That's one way to handle it... Yuh got the right idea... I actually prefer an icy stare before I bother to flame someone... ..."bite me"...I love it...
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