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 can't believe Annanova would run with this... 1200 signatures? - did they READ the @$&%(*% signatures? I am furious and I say they need FREEPED... not the petition, but Annanova, for running with such nonsense without mentioning that most of the "1200" signatures are bogus! I have already sent them a note... click the link and then click "Feedback: choose either "Make a comment about a story" or better: "Point out a spelling mistake or factual error.
Online petition vows to ban The Two Towers
An online petition to prevent director Peter Jackson 'naming' the Lord Of The Rings sequel The Two Towers has obtained over 1,200 signatures.
The petition claims the title "is clearly meant to refer to the attacks on the World Trade Centre".
JRR Tolkien wrote The Two Towers in 1954.
The petition header reads: "When I learned that there apparently was to be a sequel, I was overjoyed. However, Peter Jackson has decided to tastelessly name the sequel The Two Towers.
"In this post-September 11 world, it is unforgivable that this should be allowed to happen. The idea is both offensive and morally repugnant.
"Hopefully, when Peter Jackson and, more importantly, New Line Cinema see the number of signatures on this petition, the title will be changed to something a little more sensitive."
However, a note on the petition-online website adds: "The Two Towers is the title of the JRR Tolkien book originally published in 1954, the second book of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
"The title was thus established some 47 years prior to the attacks on the World Trade Centre towers, and there is no evidence to suggest that Peter Jackson meant anything by continuing the same title other than faithfulness to the beloved Tolkien classics."
Story filed: 15:45 Wednesday 8th May 2002
I could post a new thread... you think enough folk will see this? Here is my note to Annanova:
I can't believe Annanova would run with this story... 1200 signatures? - did you READ the signatures? Here is a link to the petition, so you can read the signatures this time:
Rename "The Two Towers" to Something Less Offensive Petition
All but about 50 of them are bogus... deleted because they pointed out the obscene stupidity of this silly petition.
So your headline "1200 signatures" is completely false.
-Kevin
Dan
I can't write them from work, I will send a letter when I get home. Personally, I don't see how this can get very far, unless of course New Line is completely clueless......................maybe I should leave work a little early today.
-Kevin
Just wait, they haven't even begun to get cranked up yet. ;^)
-Kevin
Hi [my name redacted]Thanks for your interest in Ananova. We've had a closer look at the story you mention and, as a result, it is now being changed to reflect the points you raise.
We really appreciate it when readers take the time to get in touch with us to help us improve our service so thanks again.
Best wishes
Simon Glover
Head of News
I recently was given a Gateway Celeron 400 machine with 32MB RAM and Windows 98 (second edition, I think). It gets bogged down pretty easliy, and when I go to shut down, the process never finishes so whenever I turn the thing back on, I get the blue screen of death (you know, the one that chastises you for not shutting down properly).
I am tempted to reformat the C: drive and reload everything, but I wanted to check with someone who would actually know what they were doing first.
Thanks.
-Kevin
-Kevin
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