The New Hobbit Hole

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The New Hobbit Hole
Concerning Hobbits
The New Hobbit Chronicles

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.

[RosieCotton]

Good morning, everyone! Anyone else feeling like they need another weekend to recuperate from the long weekend?

Mine was BUSY! I went to the local acoustic jam on Friday evening, though it ended up being kinda slow. One of the biggest bluegrass festivals in New England (Thomas Point Beach) was this past week, and a lot of people where there 'steada here.

Saturday I visited some friends, and then Sunday was the New World Festival. When we went to World Youth Day in July, we met a girl who just clicked with us really well, and we've since met her family and they're also wonderful, so when they suggested meeting up at this music festival, we jumped at the chance to hang out together AND hear some great music. We had a really good time, though I liked some music better than others. One thing I think I determined this weekend is that, while I don't DISLIKE Cape Breton fiddle music, it doesn't get my blood going like Irish fiddle, in spite of the fact that said blood hasn't a drop of Irish in it!

After the last concert / set that we attended (it ended at about 8PM, though the festival continued until midnight), we stayed around talking and singing and dancing and playing a little music with our friends. We had SO much fun! They're "nuts, just like us", as their Mom put it...we had so many moments when we would all just think the same thing...like the church bell started tolling the hour and a whole group of us immediately chorused "Bring out your dead..." (Monty Python). And they're total LOTR fanatics, too, so no having to explain all the many quotes. And that's just the tip of the iceberg...you know how once in a great while you meet someone or some family who you feel are long lost relatives and you have an incredible amount of catching up to do?

We finally got back at about two thirty (I'm getting too old for that sort of behavior!), and then yesterday I went shopping with a lady I know from church...we went to Staples and I got another pen, but managed to keep myself from buying any of the lovely leatherbound journals at Borders. I picked up the new page-a-day calendar of FOTR, which has some nice pictures but no trivia or fun facts like the one my brother got for Christmas last year.

I'm still hurting from that late night / early morning on Sunday / Monday, but otherwise refreshed - it was a great weekend!

[Corin Stormhands]

Anyone else feeling like they need another weekend to recuperate from the long weekend?

One of the secretaries in our office asked me this morning, "So when do you go to the beach?"

After sobbing, "in 49 weeks," I reminded her I was gone the same week she was...

[Overtaxed]

Next Monday is Capitalist Day, right?

[2Jedismom]

You aren't going to believe what has happened!

You know I don't live in the best neighborhood? Not the worst, but not the best. Anyway, our very BEST neighbors moved away about a year ago and we were crushed, they were so nice. Anyway, the ladies that bought the house were lesbians and so it was pretty clear that although seemed nice and all, I wan't going to be really chummy with them. THEN they went and opened a daycare! Right there a cross the street. Cars parking in our grass we'd tried so hard to make nice. The neighborhood was a madhouse. I couldn't say anything, because I am very cautious about upsetting people. Don't want some bogus child abuse charges filed on me, you know. The thing is, they were right between 2 retired couples and one of them complained and the city shut them down. So then they put their house up for sale again. I started praying! I said to the Lord "It would be nice to have another retired couple there, or at least someone who wouldn't give us a hard time about homeschooling!" I even told my other neighbor, "You know, it would be nice if the Lord could put a homeschooling family in that house." But what are the chances of it, really?

Last night, I met the new neighbors. They are young, very young newlyweds! The wife was HOMESCHOOLED all her life, as were all her siblings. They intend to start their family in about a year and intend to homeschool, when that time comes! I'm sooo tickled!

[Corin Stormhands]

Well, no. But there's a new moon this weekend. It'll be nice and bright in the desert. Dare we hope?

[Corin Stormhands]

Hooray for you and your neighborhood!

[Overtaxed]

Good news! Does either of them play the tin whistle?

[Overtaxed]

It'll be nice and bright in the desert.

Planning a trip to Vegas?

[ksen]

That's great 2JM! It's so nice to hear about people's answered prayers. So many don't believe God cares, but He does and He shows it every day through millions of answered prayers.

What is it He tells us? Open our mouths wide and He will fill it? From the sounds of the way your prayer was answered, you're full. ;^)

[Corin Stormhands]

Planning a trip to Vegas?

No, just interested in what is happening East of here...

Speculation that we hit Saddam on a new moon because it provides better visibility in the desert.

[2Jedismom]

Does either of them play the tin whistle?

Not yet...

;-)

[Overtaxed]

Speculation that we hit Saddam on a new moon because it provides better visibility in the desert.

Oh. Duh....need more coffee!

[Overtaxed]

Not yet...

Hehehe....lay some Susato on 'em.

[2Jedismom]

Yep, I'm just delighted. They go to the local Bible church. Very cute normal-looking young couple. Perhaps I can be a sort of mentor? And is often the case with JenB, the wife can give me tips as well!

[Corin Stormhands]

Perhaps I can be a sort of mentor?

That is a wonderful thought. As our society becomes more and more transient, we need more people like you fulfilling roles like that.

I hope this works out to be a great friendship for you.

[2Jedismom]

Yes. It is nice to see such decent-looking people. No infected piercings on their faces anywhere.

Hey, speaking of which...Why did the punk rocker cross the road? Because he was stapled to the chicken. ROFLOL!!!

[g'nad]

Great news 2JM...I'm sure you will be a great neighbor...

Have you see the FR Homeschoolers Forum?

Lesbian daycare?...eeuugheeeugheeeugh....

[g'nad]

[Relativistic Liberal sarcasm/literary analysis ON]

eerr...Thanks?...I think?...

I think I just been dissed...

[2Jedismom]

Yes, I've seen the forum. When that forum started is when I started having problems with my ping lists being stolen and people getting mad at me for missing their article and not pinging my list. I'm waiting for it to settle down a bit.

That's exactly what I thought about that daycare center! People would just drop their kids off in the street and let them wander to the door by themselves. Then when they were waiting to pick them up, they would park in our grass and in our driveway even! I don't think these people in their fancy SUVs cared much about where their kids were or who's lawn they parked in.

Good riddance.

[Sir Gawain]

Trojan Discontinues Lord of the Rings Condoms


LOS ANGELES (DPI) - Trojan, the nation's largest condom manufacturer, will discontinue its series of Lord of the Rings condoms, company officials announced this week. "Despite the success of the movie and our numerous promotional booths at comicons and Tolkien Society meetings throughout the country, the Lord of the Rings series has been an inexplicable failure," said Trojan president Bert Fowler. Although sales figures for the fantasy-based prophylactics did not meet Trojan's goals, more than a few Tolkien fans purchased the Elvish-scripted condoms. "I bought a pack of ribbed Gandalfs," said Dan Murphy of Columbia, SC. "I put them on my bookshelf between my autographed Dr. Who script and my Babylon 5 action mug."

(Reported by Mike McKenna, Graphic by Brandon Carr)