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.
I saw a TT commercial over the weekend that had a new part to it...Aragorn says something to the effect of "These are my people, and I will fight with them." Like he's in some sort of debate with someone.
The soundtrack goes on sale tomorrow!!
I guess he called him in from the Wall.
Hot coffee is out and ready to serve. I made breakfast sandwiches again this morning so just let me know what you want in it! Eggs, bacon, mushrooms, sausage, peppers, cheese, etc. I've got fresh french bread so it can hole plenty of goodies inside! ;)
I've got to go back and read all of the reviews posted on the thread. But for now I've got to be sure that my work is caught up. Then, I still have to go back and check my ring pings to read. I'm so thrilled to know that by this time next week, I'll only have 48 hours to wait for TTT!! Yippee!
As for those of you freezing your buns off - life is good in South Florida, just a little rainy but in the 70s. *tongue sticking out*
LOL! Exactly! And then ksen up and says "Hey! Let's read the Silmarillion!"
I can barely think straight right now. Steve just laughs at me, especially when I let out the random squeal and blurt out things like "Nine more days and 5 hours!" like I did yesterday. He just shakes his head and laughs (but secretly, I think he's pretty excited too.)
Your plan worked RM, thanks. ;^)
YEAH!! YEAH and DOUBLE YEAH!!!!
I spent the weekend with a miserable cold and finally defeated the Sinus Balrog last night. But, of course, hubby was online dowloading stuff on Kazaa (which I am nervous about since a worm virus was accidently downloaded already), so I couldn't stop by to visit.
My Norton quarantined the worm and my sister finally got rid of it in DOS, so all is well in that regard.
My understanding is that, in the past, before entitlements became a "right," that the "poor" didn't stay poor. Usually, by the next generation, a family would have used the opportunities that a free country and market make available, to rise out of poverty.
However, now, with everyone getting paid good money to stay "poor," families remain below the "poverty line" generation after generation.
"I don't have a problem with public assistance for the short term"
I agree with those who say that the "well off" have a responsibility to help those in need. But I am pretty unconvinced that that responsibility should be fulfilled by the current method. That is, we recieve arbitrary and coercive direction by politicians, specifying exactly how much of our personal resources will be used in what way and for whose benefit and at what time.
"Everything comes with a price. The welfare recepient doesn't realize it, but his debt is about to be called soon."
In what form do you think restitution will be required?
That's true. There are a lot of popular devotions which are not necessary for Salvation, but they are very comforting to people and lead them to a deeper love for Jesus. This is what the Marian devotions are supposed to accomplish. Even though they look like 'Mary worship' to folks on the outside, that is NOT their purpose. They are used to bring us closer to her Son.
The current system has to go because it is horrible.
Unfortunately government has stepped in because those in society who should help have abdicated their role. And... the strain of the free ride expectation have permeated everywhere. Now, when some come for help... they are looking for permanent hand outs and not for temporary relief. No system (private, public, or governmental) can withstand that kind of outlay.
Restitution will come in the form of linking the public support that many now live on with a more aggressive socialist agenda. So, to vote for the money, I may have to vote for the candidate who supports doing away with the 5th amendment. (though that's a poor example... because I feel it will be subtle than that... so money for the erosion of America's freedoms and liberties... that is the marker that will be called)
So true, but we humans, in our imperfection, usually want our OWN way, don't we? :) One of those things that will be perfected in Glory, right?
I know I know!! I'm doing ok, though...heartbeat still a tad irregular but not too worrisome.
I just can hardly wait! Steve's been really cheerful since he got excepted into the masters program and it's looking good for an exciting fun-filled evening!
I'll try again...
I believe that the marker will come due when the liberals link the continuing flow of money to the realizing of their agenda. This linkage will be done in a candidate. Vote for X because the free ride continues. And X believes in something as radical as parents have the right to kill their children up to 6 months if they decide they can't take care of them. (I know that a radical example)
So, what does the welfare recipient do if they are dependent on the money but do not believe that children should be killed. Well... I believe they will vote their pocket books. That linkage of money/agenda is the marker that will come due.
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