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
-----------------------------------------
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've sang karaoke a number of times. It's really fun! My singing talents aren't what they used to be. Although, I do an incredible Me and Bobby McGee! :)
Ruh Roh. Triple precious ahead...
I had to actually pause the TTT trailer(s) to get a look at you. Please don't take offense, but you really should see a dentist. *grin*
Guess what? I got a new video. One Day in September regarding the Munich massacre.
And I got a new book. The Arab Mind. Is it quite fascinating. I just started it.
Now picture this...Yom Kippur War. Egypt says that they were victorious. Why? Because they suckered punch Israel and for three days, it looked like Israel would be defeated. Now, the truth is by the end of the war... Israel could have marched on Cairo unimpeded and the same with Damascus. The Egyptian Third Army was trapped and could have been wiped out if the US hadn't made Israel stop.
Yet, to the Arabs, they triumphed over Israel. I've just got started... but, it is very fascinating.
LOL! I have BAGS of stuff from Jo-Anns from the last couple of year's sales. I keep telling myself I'll start making decorations in the summer so they'll be done by Christmas, but NOOOOO! I didn't buy any this year, though, so I'm doing much better!
From 1991 to 1999 I didn't do a whole lot of decorating because I chaired a Christmas Fair at our kids' school and just didn't have the time. After we took our kids out, and I thought I'd have more time, I took advantage of a sale at Jo-Ann's, 60% off all Christmas stuff, plus I had a coupon for 20% off the total purchase. That was 80% off, and I STILL spent over $100! I was making up for lost time in getting some nice stuff for the house. It does look a lot nicer around here at Christmas now (when I get the place cleaned up, that is! LOL!)
I plumb forgot about that!! Now you've gotten me hearing John Houston's voice inside my head!!
Anyway, my brother and I went Christmas shopping. So, not only did I get The Arab Mind, but A Study of Revenge by Laurie Mylroie (I got tired of having to check it out of the library). This is a must read.
My brother got me Yossef Bodansky's new book about terror for Christmas I have his Target The West. It's about state sponsored terrorism. It's good. My brother also got me Bernard Lewis' book about the many identities of the Middle East. So, lot's of reading to do.
Let me know if it was A Durable Peace or Fighting Terrorism that you got by Benjamin Netanyahu. You can go to www.netanyahu.org for alot of Netanyahu's writing. He's so interesting.
I'm in the Festival Choir at our Parish. When our Pastor arrived 8 or 9 yrs. ago, he wanted to start up Midnight Mass again. The usual choir for the 10:45 Mass (with the pipe organ) didn't want to do Midnight, they prefered the 4:30 Christmas Eve Mass, so the organist called for volunteers. We jumped at the chance and have been doing it ever since. We sing for Midnight Mass, two Easter Sunday Masses and Confirmation. We have a great time because we all WANT to be there.
I am an alto, and I don't truly read music so I have to memorize my parts. I've gotten to where I can guess a note by the approximate interval, but I really need to learn to read it well.
I always say, "God gave you your voice, so give it back to Him"!
Howdy! Have you been doing finals?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.