Remember all those years when Xmas day meant going to see Lord of the Rings after dinner? Here’s a little throwback to that time. It involves Leonard Nimoy with the Spock haircut and a gaggle of girls in neon sweatshirts wearing the Spock ears and I don’t understand what it is at all, but damn if I’m not gonna be singing it for days now.

Merry Xmas if you lean that way; enjoy your Chinese food if you don’t. I’ll be doing both.

That’s what the guys over at Latino Review are saying.

With the filming of The Hobbit set to get underway this weekend (finally!) – there is still no official announcement as to who is playing the lead of Bilbo Baggins. Well it was first rumored that James McAvoy (not a bad choice) was a contender until Peter Jackson debunked that rumor. Then Daniel Radcliffe was making the rumor mill until he personally said, “Thanks. But no thanks.” Which is a good career move on his part.

Well during the filming of Brothers, Tobey Macguire mentioned it had always been a dream of his work with Guillermo del Toro – who just happens to be directing The Hobbit. Well what exactly did he say in regards to del Toro you ask?

“We may have something here in the near future.”

What does that mean Tobey!? Well speculation is that he will take up the role of Bilbo, being reported that the CAA (agency representing Tobey) are working on the deal right now. HOWEVER – Tobey has said recently that he has not met with del Toro at all.

“I love Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson, and I certainly wouldn’t take myself out of the conversation … if I was part of it. But I haven’t read a script or talked to anybody about it.”

So that quote basically means nothing – thanks.

And if you’re asking yourself – well what does “Latino Review” know anyways?! Well they’re the same guys who first correctly reported that Brandon Routh would playing Superman and that Heath Ledger had been cast as The Joker in The Dark Knight.

 After our night at the movies, we returned to the highway in search of a place to set up camp by flashlight.  Since we were both buzzing from our peanut butter brews, we wanted to find a place quick.  The road led us swerving through the mountains. At one point we passed a herd of deer, running sporadically on the road ahead of us before finally dashing into the woods.  Finally, we came around a corner and found a place we could pull in that led into a wooded valley.    

 We made our way into the brush with our head lamps on. I set up my tent on an incline of soft grass while Paul made a small fire in a boulder field near by.  We both decided we were too tired to stay up and make our mushroom swiss burgers, so we agreed to wait another day. Instead, Paul cooked up some raw mushrooms, which we took turns picking off the frying pan.  With our bellies full of shrooms and shitty beer, we both went to bed.     

Mushroom beer? I bet Sam Calagione hasn't thought of that one yet!

I woke up feeling sore, especially my foot.  Tim Duncan’s torturous reign had returned and this time, worse than it had been in a week.  Getting out of my tent begrudgingly, I would discover another problem: two more stakes were missing.  Once again, I searched and I searched but they could not be found. Paul joined the search party, but amidst the tall grass that surrounded my tent we couldn’t find anything.  I was now down to three stakes, which would mean I’d need to improvise on the fourth corner and would be without the other stake-loops.    

Slowly yet surely, the Wood-Elve Army built their armory of tent stakes.

We gave up our search and returned to the road, which soon turned into a construction nightmare.  This was going to be a shitty day. There was no doubt about it.   The construction lasted for about an hour. Along the way we passed signs denoting the area as a dinosaur excavation site, so I questioned whether the slow traffic was due to new roads or dino bone hunters.    

Paul looked through his I-POD, finally asking, “You want to listen to the Bee Gees?”    

“You’re kidding right?” I asked.    

“No, dude. Bee Gees rule.”    

“Yeah, ‘Stayin Alive’ is awesome,” I joked.    

“Oh no dude, you obviously have never heard old school Bee Gees before they sold out.”  Intrigued and skeptical, I agreed to give  the album “Idea” a listen. What came out of the speakers wasn’t the disco I expected, rather, 1960s psychedelia, an all male version of the Mamas and the Papas.  And to my surprise, I liked it.  Who knew the Bee Gees were good?  Once again, Paul’s music knowledge taught me another lesson: don’t judge an artist by their disco.    

Once we escaped the dino-struction, we weaved our way through rolling hills and rock peaks.  I could see salivating from his eyes; he wanted to do some hiking. As much as I wanted to continue on our way and finally escape the confines of Wyoming, I thought back to his statement a few days earlier. “Compromise.” I had to compromise.  When he asked, “You want to pull over and look around for a bit?”     

I answered in my best compromising tone, “Sure!” If anything, I figured walking uphill would do my aching foot some good.  Searching for a place to pull over, Paul directed me to a fenced off parking area. As I pulled in, I realized that the area was infested by grazing cattle.    

“I don’t know if I feel safe leaving my car parked around these cows,” I tentatively commented.    

“Oh come on!” he scoffed. “Do you think they’re going to trample the Element or something?”  He had a point. Once parked, Paul decided he wanted to go say hi to a nearby baby calf. The poor little guy stood in shock as his glossy little eyes darted from Paul to the herd and back.  Only a few steps away, the calf awoke from his shock and sprinted to join the others. The elder cows moo-ed in anger at Paul’s approach of their little spawn.    

Great minds finally meet, face to face.

Paul packed his patrol pack while I filled my fanny pack with the necessities.  I never imagined I would ever wear a fanny pack, and here I was sporting the little camo bag on almost a daily basis at this point. I was becoming the chiche definition of a tourist.    

We crossed the road, jumped a fence, and made our way through a prairie of mountain flowers and tall weeds.  The sun seemed hotter than it had been the entire trip, sweat dripping down my bald head and into my black spotted eye.  Up ahead I could see the top of the nearby peak that Paul randomly decided we needed to climb.    

And this peak is special because?

The prairie led to the edge of a tangled mess of trees. We headed into what Paul would later refer to as “Mirkwood Forest”, a mine field of tree limbs and decomposing logs, creating quite a difficult hike, even before hitting the incline.  We maneuvered our way through the unsteady ground, and I soon moved ahead of Paul who couldn’t make his way through the obstacle course of leaning logs as fast as I could due to his stubby little legs.    

I should have just carried little Paul on my back like Strider does in LOTR.

Realizing the scenery left much to be desired, I pulled out my earbuds and navigated my I-POD until finally settling on Alela Diane.  Not only did I find her music mesmerizing, but I also had grown a crush on the beautiful nymph at South by Southwest.     

Oh Alela, if only your dad wasn't your back-up band.

What once seemed like a tedious, ankle twisting struggle, became a peaceful journey through Mother Nature’s garden.  The ugly terrain of dead trees now seemed alive with the green moss sprouting upon the lumpy logs, and vines wrapping their loving arms around the fallen victims on the earth. Alela seemed to be singing directly to me, out amongst the grandeur of the land:    

The tops of crags and cliffs, the air is thin
So we’ll find a mountain path on down the hill
Meet me where the snow mount flows
It is there, my dear, where we will begin again
Skipping stones, braiding hair
Last year’s antlers mark the trail    

I soon was so caught up in Alela’s voice and lyrics that I had forgotten about Paul. I stopped and sat down on a log, expecting the poor short-legged little fellow to appear from the mess of trees soon.  I waited, and waited, and waited. I turned off Alela and began shouting, “PAUL!” but no answer returned. I lost him somehow.  After spending some time contemplating, I decided to continue moving forward, figuring I’d meet him at the top where it would be easier to spot one another without all the trees hindering our view.    

Our little hike had turned into a trip up the agro-crag, minus the confetti shooting rocks.

  I walked for another 15 minutes through the field of dead trees, not really thinking about the fact that my path hadn’t raised in altitude at all.  Then, out of no where, the tree line stopped, and I was looking out on a field of mountain grass, much like the one we walked across an hour earlier.  I stood, lost and perplexed. How did I walk straight toward the peak for an hour and not meet up with it?     

Only I could walk toward a mountain and miss it.

  I felt like an idiot. How do you get lost when a mountain stands straight ahead of you?  I returned into the trees, hoping to find the peak still, beating myself up along the way.  How could I have such a horrid sense of direction? Why hadn’t I just followed Paul? I took the lead, lost my partner, and then, lost myself.  I thought about how I could ever be the head of my school’s English department, wondering, “How could such an aimless, forgetful fool be responsible enough to lead other adults?”    

After 10 minutes, I gave up, and turned back toward the tree-line.  I decided I wasn’t going to find Paul at this rate.  The best thing to do would be to return to the car. My only problem: where was the car?  When I emerged from the trees again, I followed the edge of the woods, rounding around a corner, and coming upon a stretch of highway to my right.  I had done something right on this horrible day after all.  Despite finding a road, I couldn’t see my car, let alone a herd of cows.  I questioned my position. Would the car be right? Left? Without binoculars, I only had one device that could possibly help me: my digital camera.  Zooming in fully, I scoured the edge of the ribbon road that wrapped around hills toward the horizon.  Just as I was about to give up, a little orange dot entered the frame. BINGO!    

Thank God for zoom.

  I made the long trek to the pavement, and then commenced trudging through the ditch as cars passed, staring at the lost bald man wandering roadside.  When I eventually got to the car, there was no sign of Paul, so I decided to eat some lunch. God knows I needed it after getting lost like a fool.  The cows seemed to be laughing at me as I chewed on my roast beef sandwich.  “I’m eating one of your cousins fuckers!” I thought to myself, trying to validate that I still held reign over these calm creatures who seemed to mock me with their moos.    

Eat more CHIkIN.

  While eating, I could hear the soft rustle of a nearby stream. I made my way to some near by bushes and discovered a shallow stream of rushing water.  Feeling dirty from my Mirkwood forest jaunt, I went back to the car, undressed down to my boxers, grabbed my camping soap, and returned to the water’s edge. Once again, the water felt frigid, but I somehow managed to cup the water and pour it over my hairy body in order to clean myself. I tried to ignore the fact that the water smelled like cow manure, telling myself that it was probably water from a fresh mountain spring.    

A picture of a Wyoming mountain spring.

  With no Paul in site, I finally decided to take a nap, exhausted and aggravated.  I slept for about 30 minutes, and lucky for me, Paul returned with a moose antler in his right hand.  I filled him in on how I got lost, and he told me off how he found the moose antler in the woods and that he could see me through his binoculars, traipsing around in my boxers.    

What Paul might have seen from his sniper's post.

  Paul was tired and sore after his two-hour jaunt through Mirkwood.  He fed his hiker’s hunger by eating a huge lunch.  With his belly finally full, we returned to the road. We’d lost several hours with the stop, so I wanted to haul some ass in order to make up time. As beautiful as some of the scenic drives had been, I was ready to arrive in Montana and hoped we’d pass the state line by the end of the day.    

We decided we should take the Chief Joseph pass, due to our friend John John’s assertion that it was the most beautiful drive he’d ever taken; a year prior his ex-girlfriend and him took the path on his homemade motorcycle.  As we made our way across the Wyoming frontier, Paul decided to play an album by Pete and the Pirates, a band I’d never heard of.  Soon after the first power chord rang through my speakers, I realized I had been missing out.  Like a punk rock Shins, P&P poured its infectious, upbeat songs into our souls, refilling us with energy after the long afternoon of hiking.      

    

When I commented that I loved it, Paul snidely responded, “Yeah, and you didn’t put this album in your top ten of 2008.” The comment annoyed me. I’m being called out for not including a band I’ve never heard on my top albums list? That’s like giving the Food Network a hard time for not including “Chris Madrid’s” in their Top 10 Burger Joints list (if you’ve never heard of San Antonio’s “Chris Madrid’s” and their famous “Tostada Burger”, a plate sized patty covered in refried beans, chips, onions, and creamy cheddar cheese, then you’ve proven my point).      

Top album lists are infallible: I still regret leaving Spoon's "GaGaGaGaGa" off my 2008 list. Not only was it a top album of the year, but questionably the best of this decade.

  Up the road we passed through a small town. On the outskirts of town we passed a sign that said “population 150” to which Paul commented, “You’ve got to love a town that has a higher elevation than population.”  He made a good point: people suck, mountains rule.    

   Around four, after passing through several back roads, we finally entered Chief Joseph Pass. Almost instantaneously, the scenery blossomed in front of us.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t going to be as cooperative. As we treked through our captivating surroundings, it began to drizzle.  Soon, we could see glimpses of lightning, popping up from behind the nearby mountain peaks.      

"Oh God, why must you mess with your own beauty?"

  Not much further along the way, Paul had an idea. “Let’s pull off soon and set up camp for the night.”    

Being only four in the afternoon and with my urge to escape the confines of Wyoming, I disagreed with his plan. “Nah, let’s get to Red Lodge. We can stay at a hotel or something since it’s going to rain.  Plus, we can hit the brewery.”    

Ignoring my idea, he replied, “Pull over at the next inlet you see.”  So much for compromise.  Figuring two could play that game, I ignored his request, continuing along the curving road, despite passing several turn-offs along the way. Thunder echoed through the valley; a storm was a-brewing.    

“Pull in there,” Paul asserted, seeing a long gravel driveway up ahead.    

I had to stand my ground. “It’s only four. Let’s try to make some headway. We lost a ton of time already today.”    

“If we keep going we’re going to hit the storm,” he answered.    

“We can stay in Red Lodge! It’s four o’clock. FOUR. What are we going to do? Sit on rocks for the next five hours until sun down?”    

That had done it. I had pushed him over the edge. “You don’t want to do anything on this road trip!” he snarled.    

“Exactly. It’s called road trip, not rock trip,” I sarcastically replied.    

“Dude, there is a fucking storm up ahead. This pass is going to take us to even higher altitudes. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be fucking driving with a storm feet above our heads.”      

Thinking back to my mistake in choosing to drive to Saratoga, I pulled into the driveway. I didn’t want to be blamed for us dying at the hands of a lightning bolt, even if we still had hours of ample driving time to take advantage of.    

Although I wouldn't mind dying at the hands of this Lightning Bolt.

  Paul got out of the car and began packing his large Army pack. “What the hell is he doing?” I asked myself.  Then, of course, I asked him, minus the negative connotation.    

“Packing to go camp. What’s it look like?”    

“We aren’t camping by the car?”    

“No, I thought we could go camp on top of that ridge over there?” he replied.    

“Well, the reason we’re staying here is because of the storm so shouldn’t we camp near the car in case it rains or gets really nasty?”    

“It’s not going to rain,” he said, turning back to his pack.    

We could have camped here, and here, and here, and here, and here and...

I couldn’t believe it. He was completely contradicting his reasoning for staying in this area.  Looking back, I have no idea why I did it, but I began packing my bag. I think I was just sick of arguing. Why try to argue over every point? Sure, I was the only one compromising (yes, I know I’ve used that word several times now) but I just didn’t see the point in trying to argue. Fuck it. We’d die in a thunderstorm surrounded by grizzlies. Who cared. I was going to die in 2009 anyways.    

Once packed up, I followed Paul up into the woods in silence.  My omens had been true – this had been the worst day yet.  We quickly ascended the incline and found ourselves on a tree covered plateau.  We walked out into sparser surroundings, and Paul eventually threw his bag down by a tree and walked off to check out the view.  I kept my bag on my back, heading in the opposite direction to find my own, secluded area. I needed time away from him to go sit on a rock. Yes, another omen had come true.    

I sat looking out at the dreary skies.  It would probably be a beautiful view on a normal day, but on this horrid afternoon, it was just depressing.   I could see my car, far, far below, sheltered and away from the nearby stormy clouds. I thought about our road trip, wondering what had gone wrong. Sure, the year before we had our arguments, but nothing like we’d had so far.  I tried to analyze my own anger. What was at its root?    

Oregon. I wanted to visit Oregon, and with each day wasted in Wyoming, that goal disappeared. I realized, at that moment, I had to either give up on Oregon, or make my own executive decision. It was my car after all.  Yeah… ot was my car….I could go to Oregon! Why did I have to let Paul hold me back? Heck, my unemployed brother Alex expressed interest in flying to Oregon to meet up with me. Maybe I could just leave for Oregon tomorrow, drop Paul off at his home in Idaho, and pick my brother up at the Portland airport in a couple days.     

Then another idea popped in my head. Maybe I could drive to Seattle, visit my friend Steve. Originally, this idea had been suggested to Paul months earlier when I saw The Jesus Lizard was playing a reunion show in a Seattle suberb, but Paul shot it down, feeling it was too far out of the way.     

Thinking of our missed Jesus Lizard opportunity, I realized the weakness to our road trip: no shows. The year before we didn’t have time to piddle around because we had a show planned every five or so days: The Dodos, Aimee Mann, HEALTH. With these great shows lined up on our schedule, we didn’t have time to waste a day getting lost in Mirkwood. At this point in our trip, our first show still stood a week away.    

My mind was swimming with confusion.  What was my next move? Oregon with my brother? Seattle with Steve? Or do I stick it out with Paul? All I knew is that something had to change, or this trip that I had looked forward to all summer would be a complete bust.   

Duration: 4:51 | Made: 14.12.09

I always felt this song is mostly about Frodo, and well, on the side this became a video for the hobbits of the Fellowship, but mostly Frodo (and Sam)… But I so want to make a video for just Merri and Pippin too, and Pip alone, and Sam, and Smeagol and, and, and… The hobbits stole my heart the most in this epic tale. ((: But really I love the whole thing, hobbits just may inspire me the most. This vid turned out a bit better than my first LotR vid. Enjoy. (

Video/Editing: Benjamin (bendaimmortal / peterpanlegend / TheVampireOutlaw)

VIEW/DOWNLOAD:
http://peterpanthimbles.net/?video=281

My YouTube Channel

FRODO & SAM FAN CLUB

Duration: 6:34 | Made: 12.12.09

A remake to movie clips. I know In Dreams is about the whole Fellowship but this video is a Frodo and Sam themed. They’re the ones who got me into reading the book in 2002. I’ll be, finally, making many more LotR videos from now on. This one didn’t turn out the way I wanted but oh well. I was pleased enough to publish it. My next one will probably be a general LotR video to “Into the West”.

Video/Editing: Benjamin (bendaimmortal / peterpanlegend / TheVampireOutlaw)

VIEW/DOWNLOAD:
http://peterpanthimbles.net/?video=280

My YouTube Channel

FRODO & SAM FAN CLUB

Author : NOVITA, LILLIAN

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) is one of the foremost British writers of the twentieth century. His works, especially the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings, have won the heart of English-speaking society. In this thesis, I am discussing the prelude of The Lord of the Rings, namely The Hobbit (1937), that fore shadows the greatness of The Lord of the Rings saga. My topic of discussion is the roles of the main character, Bilbo Baggins, in the quest of restoring the treasure of the Dwarves from the hand of an evil dragon, Smaug. In analysing the roles of Bilbo Baggins, I apply the theories of characterization and conflict. After the analysis is done, I come to the conclusion that Bilbo Bagging has two roles in the quest, as a thief and as a leader. The second role is divided into three sub-roles: Bilbo as Gandalf?s substitute, Bilbo as an investigator/observer, and Bilbo as a negotiator. The application of the theories leads me to the understanding that Bilbo Baggins is a dynamic character who develops through the confrontation and solution of every conflict in the quest.

Keyword : english fiction, hobbit, tolkien

Sumber : http://repository.petra.ac.id/2043/

I’ve just unveiled my first zero energy house — Zero Energy One — at Earthbag House Plans.

Zero Energy One Earthbag House

Unlike most zero energy houses that cost a small fortune (around $250,000), Zero Energy One earthbag house can be built for about $10/sq. ft. exclusive of the energy systems. This design minimizes net energy use, embodied energy in building materials, labor and cost. No other design that I am aware of accomplishes all these things. Complete plans are available through Dream Green Homes at http://dreamgreenhomes.com/plans/zeroenergy1.htm.

Guiding zero-energy housing strategies:
1. Build small
2. Efficient use of space
3. Low-embodied energy building materials (primarily locally available, natural materials)
4. Superinsulation
5. Balance of mass and insulation
6. Multiple use features (serve more than one purpose)
7. Lifestyle change of inhabitants
8. Maximum solar design
9. Appropriate technology
10. Energy-efficient appliances and fixtures
11. Energy and resource-efficient shape
12. Safe and healthy design

http://dreamgreenhomes.com/plans/zeroenergy1.htm

These are some of the weirdest beers I’ve come across, and frankly I’m unsure if I’d try some of them just due to the names. Which one would you drink?

The name says it all! When you get drunk, are you an arrogant bastard?

See what happens when you let a guy spell the brand name?

Cool, refreshing swamp water...

This might be a good alternative to Budweiser.

Monty Python's beer of choice!

You couldn't pay me to drink from a Hobbit's forearm.

Great for Christmas parties! At least you know you'll get some ass!

What you drink if you turn down Santa's Butt...

Tiger Woods might have been drinking this on Thanksgiving.

9 December ~ Ever since I watch Lonely Planet of London hosted by Ian Wright, Borough Market have totally captivated & fascinated me with the thoughts that you can get nearly every produce in it. AND, it is a Pork Heaven! Offering all kinds of pig innards & offal with its meat. I was ecstatic as I am an avid Pork Eater and would like to try what is there on the plate for me.

Before visiting Borough Market, I surfed its web-site, http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/ and this are some of the excerpts :

“Borough Market is London’s oldest food market. It was established on the south bank of the Thames when the Romans built the first London Bridge. It has occupied its present site for 250 years.”

“Borough has a long and distinguished history as a wholesale fruit and vegetable market…”

“Borough Market is also the country’s most important retail market for fine foods. It is a founding member of Emporion, the European Association of Markets…”

“Borough Market is Great Britain’s principal centre of food excellence. The Trustees and Traders of Borough Market believe that everyone has a right to eat well.”

After visiting the market, this is my comment :

Are you sure it is just 250yrs old, shouldn’t it be older?

I have no doubt about its distinguish history, but it is not just earthly aren’t it?

Again, its trustee believes that everyone has a right to eat well, but does it mean to include other than humans!?

A mystical stalls right out of the land of Faerie, selling Hobbits meat! A delicacy for Saruman. I do get more than Pork don’t I?

There’s a flood of Hobbit news: Peter Jackson sounds determined to release his Tolkien adaptation in 2011, in spite of all the delay rumors. There may be a new female character, and Bilbo Baggins may be an unknown.

In an interview with Collider, Peter Jackson crushed the rumors about a 2012 release, and confirmed that the plan still is 2011 in December, which is soon, really soon. Methinks he may be singing a different tune come July.

Meanwhile, who’s going to play Bilbo? IGN asked Jackson about the many actors that have been rumored to be in line [Daniel Radcliffe, Martin Freeman, James McAvoy and David Tennant]. Are any of them actually in the running? Jackson wouldn’t rule any anyone out, because some of the names mentioned were not under consideration, and he didn’t want fans to figure it out based on the process of elimination. Plus, he’s still looking for an unknown that may be able to fill the role of Bilbo. (And presumably, handle his accelerated filming schedule, without any conflicts.)

Next, ultimate Tolkien site The One Ring, has the news that there’s casting calls going out for — gasp — a woman to appear in this film. And since they probably wouldn’t be casting bit parts and extras at this point, the fans speculate that maybe there’s a she-dwarf in the mix. Or maybe it’s the voice for something. And there are a lot of somethings lurking about in the woods and hills in this book. So your guess is as good as ours.

And finally, AICN Downunder is reporting, on top of their Brian Cox dwarf rumors, that Tom Waits may be joining the film as well. Both are still unconfirmed, and no one is sure what Waits would be cast as, so the whole thing is mere talk at this point. Still the man was amazing in Dracula and Dr. Parnassus, so nether he nor Cox would be a tough sell.

Is Tom Waits A Hobbit? And Who Is This New Hobbit Lady? – the hobbit – io9

According to an online article, Peter Jackson is looking to cast an unknown in the role of Bilbo in his forthcoming Lord of the Rings prequel, “The Hobbit.” Because I am an unknown, I don’t have any way to contact Peter, so please help me in forwarding this to everyone you know until he sees it. It needs to find its way to Peter Jackson so I can wear big fake feet and shoot a movie.

This blog will contain reviews for Fantasy Novels and Stories that I have read and reviewed. It is in my hope, that others will get something out of this blog — whether it be inspiration to read something different — or simply run into something compelling that they wouldn’t have found without it. Please take the time to stop by and look around!

Shighiraut doamnelor si domnilor, Bobisor si-a infaptuit un minunat blog (azi). Aflat deocamdata la fragedul inceput, va trebui sa stam atenti si sa verificam din cand in cand ce chestiuni mai posteaza el p’acolo. Deci va invit sa dati click. Se afla si in blogroll “Bobo (13)”.

Welcome Bobo!

While war and glory often go hand-in-hand in fantasy, the reality is – as Tolkien knew far too well himself – vastly different. We have the great fortune to be able to pursue our recreation in peace and without fear of true harm, but let us not forget that the weapons we may carry and their manner of use were devised not for fun, but for brutal and efficient killing. Few who walk upon the field of glory find it, and many do not walk back off at all.

“Wars are always lost, and War always goes on…” -J.R.R. Tolkien

“[Sam] was glad that he could not see the dead face. He wondered what the man’s name was and where he came from; and if he was really evil at heart, or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home; and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace.” -Ibid

Siempre he pensado que cada vez que instalamos un programa en el ordenador los tipos de Microsoft pueden estar comprometiéndonos a cederles una parte de nuestro plan de pensiones, las acciones de nuestra empresa o un pedacito de nuestras almas. La verdad es que nadie lee los contratos que se establecen con nosotros, así que le damos a la tecla de “Aceptar” y no sopesamos la idea de que un día Bill Gates llame a nuestra puerta armado con una neverita portátil, pinzas para el hielo y un completo Kit de cirugía portátil.

Hay tanto material en Cds, Dvds, Blu-rays, y demás medios de soporte que rara vez le prestamos atención a la mitad de sus características y vamos a lo directo, a la película en sí, los extras “gordos” que ocupan el segundo disco o las opciones más básicas. Sin embargo desde hace tiempo los cineastas son tipos “cachondos” que introducen pequeños secretos en los menús, videos, imágenes y curiosidades que hacen las delicidas de todos los frikis fans que transpiran como Bella Swan después de compartir autobús con Edward Cullen al descubrir un contendido desbloqueable.

Aquí tenéis unos cuantos.

FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN.

La aclamada (y dilatada) franquicia de videojuegos ha tenido hasta el momento dos adaptaciones en películas de animación. La primera supuso un hostión de los gordos duro golpe para los productores ya que fue un fracaso en taquilla, por mucho que innovasen en las técnicas de captura de movimientos y su énfasis por demostrarnos que el pelo de la protagonista parecía sacado de un anuncio de L’oréal.  Dejando al margen sus logros y fracasos, podemos dar con uno de los primeros extras ocultos (conocidos como Huevos de Pascua) que encontré por casualidad. Creo que sólo está disponible en la edición dos discos, visible desde el menú principal pero situado en una esquina.

STAR WARS.

George Lucas es conocido por repetir una y otra vez aquello que le hizo famoso en su momento. Antes de crear la saga de los caballeros Jedi (considerada como religión “válida” en Australia y Gran Bretaña) este director hizo una película de ciencia ficción titulada ‘THX 1138′. Las referencias a esta filmación son muy fáciles de encontrar, no sólo porque el número aparece dibujado o mencionado en distintas ocasiones, o porque el THX sea ese sistema de sonido que nos destroza los oídos en las salas de cine. En esta ocasión, para encontrar el huevo de pascua tienes que acceder al menu de AUDIO y pulsar con el mando ‘11′…’3′…’8′. Si esperas unos segundos cargará un corto video. En los DVDS de los episodios 1 y 2 son tomas falsas…

Pero como eso es demasiado simple, siempre están los animadores para solucionarlo.

Sí, de acuerdo, después de verle pelear como un saltamones cabreado en ‘El ataque de los Clones’ yo también me pregunté para qué narices necesitaba el bastón.

EL SEÑOR DE LOS ANILLOS.

La verdad es que este contenido no sé dónde se encuentra, pero existe en la edición para coleccionistas de ‘La comunidad del anillo’. La MTV tiene por costumbre hacer parodias o montajes de películas y todo lo que pille, y, prácticamente sin alterar nada, son capaces de cambiar el sentido de una de las escenas más famosas y memorables tanto de la novela de Tolkien como de la película de Peter Jackson que, por cierto, presenta el video.

Como dato anecdótico, cuenta con la participación de Jack Black y Sarah Michelle Gellard (¡Grrrrrr!)

Hay muchísimos más. Tanto en videojuegos como en películas. la dificultad (y gracia) de este juego reside en encontrarlos. Hay algunos que son puro divertimento como los que os he mostrado y otros que tienen algún tipo de significado más trascendente, como los anuncios existentes en el videojuego de espionaje e infiltración Splinter Cell sobre la posibilidad de unirse al servicio secreto británico.

Sin importar su propósito final, los huevos de pascua alargan las posibilidades de un producto y enganchan a la gente para descubrir sus contenidos ocultos, inspirándose en la complicidad con el público y quizá, como retazos de la publicidad viral. Pero esa es otra historia y será contada en otra ocasión…

ipanonima

By Flash427

I made a lot of paintings on the computer during school. I’m going to start putting them online. This is Robot VS City. It was made in paint but moved to Dreamweaver to allow animations. I’ll start with my favorite. It has a lot of little things hidden around the painting. My favorite is the Flash at the bottom running to save a citizen.

Ninjas

This was my first drawing. It’s two ninjas fighting with a city in the background destroyed.

This was done after the Pirates movies. Monkey is the best part.

Inspired by friends.

The Hobbit gone a little different.

James Bond with a little bit of Loony Toons.

This is the Byron at the University of Scranton. It’s not perfect, but I found out there are a lot of little things and a lot of colors in that place.

This led to the Black Knight painting. I wanted a reason to draw an archer so I made this.

Road Runner is the best Loony Toon.

I drew it because I’ve never seen a blue pig before.

Perchè uno come me, e come altri milioni, la mattina non esercita il suo ruolo democratico comprando Repubblica? Credo che sia perchè a quel giornale manchi la genialità. Manca l’idea di comprarlo per sapere qualcosa che altrimenti non sapresti, per avere un’apertura e una visione sul mondo, per soddisfare la tua curiosità intellettuale, per avere un argomento di conversazione.

Devo dire che, da quando ha cominciato a sparare ad alzo zero su Berlusconi, con la vicenda delle escort, Repubblica è l’unico quotidiano che vedo letto la mattina in metropolitana (ad eccezione di quelli gratuiti). Non ho mai visto, e sto a Roma, qualcuno leggere il Messaggero o il Tempo, ho visto qualche volta Libero e il Giornale, mentre Repubblica è una presenza quasi costante.

Dato il contesto, la questione del perchè non leggo Repubblica può essere ben rappresentata da un esempio, ovvero questo articolo qui, dove c’è una polemica di qualche oscuro funzionario scalda-sedia del PD che protesta perchè un asilo nido comunale di Roma è stato chiamato La Contea degli Hobbit. Si tratta insomma della ormai insopportabile questione per cui Tolkien è stato considerato, e nelle menti di certuni ancora legati agli anni ‘70 è considerato, un autore di destra, anzi peggio fascista.

Visto che di Tolkien ho letto molto, forse vale la pena spiegare la questione, per fare un esempio di cosa uno vorrebbe leggere su Repubblica, che se deve diventare un brogliaccio che riporta le polemiche dell’oscuro consigliere del PD non è certo un giornale destinato ad interessarmi.

Tolkien, per parlare intanto dell’autore e del testo, era un professore di Oxford, di religione cattolica, che molto soffriva l’isolamento da parte dei suoi colleghi protestanti. Era un uomo che aveva combattuto nella Prima Guerra Mondiale (le prime idee, proprio sull’Hobbit, risalgono a quel tempo), che disprezzava Hitler (“un delinquente”) e che si era imbarcato nell’impresa di dare all’Inghilterra una epica come quella dei paesi scandinavi; operazione che gli richiese tutta la vita, e in cui inventò tra l’altro diverse lingue (non collezioni di suoni, ma vere e proprie lingue, con tutte le regole grammaticali del caso) e un mondo di incomparata grandezza e complessità.

Il Signore degli Anelli, la sua opera più celebre, ha avuto varie adozioni nel corso dei decenni, in America era un manifesto della cultura hippie, mentre – per cause su cui arriverò tra un momento – in Italia è stato considerato una bandiera della destra più estrema.

Ma, se uno dovesse classificarlo, come lo inquadrerebbe? Beh, Il Signore degli Anelli è un romanzo al contempo cattolico ed anarchico. La religione di Tolkien appare in molti momenti del romanzo, con delle scene di grande impatto simbolico: basterà citare come il pan di via degli Elfi, il Lembas, sia un cibo così nutriente che se ne possa mangiare una piccolissima quantità per stare bene e riprendere le forze; è evidente il richiamo dell’Eucarestia, e gioverà sottolineare come nella versione cinematografica (ottima per moltissimi motivi) questo aspetto sia stato poco messo in evidenza: non a caso, è un film fatto da produttori protestanti per un pubblico protestante.

E’ anche un romanzo anarchico: in Tolkien il potere corrompe, irrevocabilmente, e un potere assoluto come quello dell’Anello genera una corruzione assoluta, per cui non esiste rimedio: l’Anello non può essere usato a fin di bene (come viene chiarito da Elrond e Gandalf nell’incontro a Granburrone), corrompe l’animo degli uomini (come fece con Isildur e come farà con Boromir), non deve arrivare a chi ha già un grande potere (si pensi a Gandalf che ha il terrore negli occhi quando Bilbo pensa di dargli l’anello, o a Galadriel che dice che con quell’anello diventerebbe più forte delle fondamenta della Terra); ed ultimo, tutti i portatori dell’Anello non potranno che abbandonare la Terra di Mezzo, alla fine della Terza Era.

Il mondo letterario è pieno di romanzi cattolici e di romanzi anarchici (sia consentita la semplificazione), mentre di romanzi che siano entrambi questi aspetti ve n’è sicuramente un minor numero. Questo è stato uno dei motivi per cui Tolkien è stato adottato da correnti di pensiero diversissime tra di loro, nessuna delle quali gli ha comunque reso giustizia.

In Italia, in particolare, quando arrivò Tolkien ci furono spallucce infastidite da parte degli intellettuali di sinistra, tutti presi dai romanzi neo-realisti sulla classe operaia. Non sembrò quindi vero a chi era un intellettuale di destra di potersi appropriare di quest’opera, complice il fatto che uno dei primi traduttori di Tolkien, Gianfranco de Turris, è uno che milita nell’area della destra radicale.

Purtroppo, lo schematismo è il peggior male della cultura (o meglio di quel culturame che nel mondo culturale vive ma di cui non fa parte e non ne è che una escrescenza) per cui bastò ben poco perchè l’identificazione tra Tolkien e i fascisti divenne un tratto dell’analisi letteraria italiana, proprio negli stessi anni in cui i figli dei fiori in USA davano all’autore tutt’altra lettura, giusto per confermarne l’assoluta parzialità.

Si arrivò poi al punto che i campi scuola dell’MSI presero appunto il nome di Campi Hobbit, compiendo quella che era un’usurpazione ed una appropriazione disgustosa di un autore e di un’opera che con i fascisti non c’entrava niente, nè per storia personale, nè per convinzioni, nè per lo stesso testo.

Così si arriva alla polemica sull’asilo chiamato Contea degli Hobbit. Una polemica che non ha nessun senso e nessuna ragion d’essere, se non il pescare nel culturame più rozzo. E se si può pensare che povero il PD se ha questi consiglieri, rimane lo sconcerto che un giornale nazionale stia appresso a queste cazzatine, anzi ci metta pure un richiamo nell’edizione nazionale, sicuramente traviando le coscienze e non aiutando i suoi lettori a vedere il mondo per quello che è. E’ questo che a Repubblica manca e che non lo rende, appunto, un giornale geniale.

Inaugurato ieri a Roma un asilo in commemorazione della strage di via Ventotene, che il 27 novembre 2001 aveva causato, con una esplosione dovuta a una fuga di gas, la morte di otto persone. Come ricorda la targa all’ingresso della struttura, dedicata “agli angeli di via Ventotene”. 

Possibile che la polemica si insinui anche in una simile circostanza? Eccome. Il casus belli questa volta è rappresentato dal nome scelto dal presidente del IV Municipio Cristiano Bonelli per l’asilo: “La Contea degli Hobbit“. Secondo il consigliere comunale Massimiliano Valeriani e il consigliere provinciale Marco Palumbo, entrambi del PD, si tratta di un “nome vicino alla sottocultura fascista“. Il termine “hobbit”, infatti, sarebbe una qualche forma di tributo ai “Campi Hobbit“, una serie di manifestazioni culturali organizzate tra il 1977 e il 1995 (ma se ne tennero solo quattro, di cui una soltanto dopo il 1980) dai giovani dell’MSI, Il Fronte della Gioventù.

Naturalmente per il grande pubblico gli “Hobbit” sono tutt’altro. E cioè i placidi abitatori della “Terra di Mezzo” de Il Signore degli Anelli, la saga del maestro del fantasy J.R.R. Tolkien celebrata anche dalla celeberrima trilogia cinematografica di Peter Jackson. Hobbit sono il protagonista Frodo così come i compagni di sventure Sam, Merry e Pipino. 

Tuttavia Francesco Pieroni, sempre del PD, rincara la dose:

La destra con il suo tentativo di imporre alla città la propria visione sottoculturale a bambini di due anni ha [...] superato se stessa. Non voglio pensare ai pianti dei bimbi quando le maestre, ad opportuna domanda, spiegheranno che la Contea degli Hobbit è stata luogo di una terribile guerra tra Gandalf e Saruman…

Già, i bambini detestano maghi, incantesimi e tutto questo genere di cose. O forse avranno capito (beati loro) che il bastone incantato è in realtà un manganello squadrista? Chissà.

Repubblica e L’Unità non hanno dubbi: il riferimento a Tolkien è solo un sotterfugio. Del resto l’attuale assessore alla cultura di Alemanno fu tra gli ideatori dei campi del Fronte missino, e lo stesso Alemanno conobbe la moglie proprio in occasione di uno dei suddetti. 

La visione che ispira il PD romano è allarmante. Non serve essere un critico letterario per capire che è impossibile ridurre la portata e il significato di un’opera come Il Signore degli Anelli all’(ab)uso che ne ha fatto una parte politica. Con una logica simile una scuola che venisse intitolata a Friedrich Nietzsche dovrebbe suscitare una polemica politica soltanto perché i nazisti si appropriarono (indebitamente) di parti del suo pensiero. Senza contare il macroscopico errore di valutazione che comporterebbe ridimensionare, per la stessa ragione, l’importanza di opere come Così parlò Zarathustra o La nascita della tragedia. Allo stesso modo, come è possibile ignorare la ricchezza antropologica, sociologica e letteraria degli scritti di Tolkien al punto da pensare che tutto quanto ne rimanga sia il rimando a una esperienza, peraltro finita da quindici anni, di estrema destra?  

Fortunatamente il resto del mondo non pensa affatto che Lo Hobbit parli di un giovane balilla alla ricerca del Duce.

Il che fornisce un secondo motivo di imbarazzo al PD: anche ammesso che il nome della struttura sia stato dato con un’ombra di malizia, l’hanno colta solo loro. Per le famiglie dei bambini ospitati dall’asilo, infatti, “La Contea degli Hobbit” rimanda solamente a un luogo pacifico abitato da “mezzuomini” dai piedi grossi e pelosi, amanti di tradizioni che noi definiremmo contadine (i balli, le feste di paese, la birra) e dell’erba-pipa. A meno che Valeriani, Palumbo e compagni non riconoscano, in questa descrizione, il ritratto dell’elettore tipico di Forza Nuova.

Più che di “sottocultura fascista”, questa polemica è un esempio di semplice, ”democratica” ignoranza.

(Per Farefuturo Web Magazine)

I am a bibliophile. And before torches are lit and pitchforks raised, this means I love books. This is probably obvious from the fact that I buy books faster than I read them, in fact sometime I never read them. This is why I was so upset when I discovered this in August. There is one book in my ‘collection’ (it’s not that impressive) which I cherish more than the others: my 1971 copy of The Hobbit.

The Hobbit - Copy from 1971

The Hobbit - Spine

The copy was already dog-eared when I stole it from my brother, aged 10, and it has been through the mill ever since. But it is the crumbly, well-read feel of this book that makes it so special. I can remember the origin of many of the blotches and blemishes, the tears and scuffs, and each of them adds to the story of the book as a physical, personal object. Every time I pick the book up the oddly perfumed aroma takes me back to that day in 1989 when a bottle of Imperial Leather shower gel was spilt over the bookshelf.

The Hobbit with Blemishes

The Hobbit - with Imperial leather stain evident at bottom of page

The antique nature added to the appeal of this book and seemed to fit the story within; the ancient maps, hidden runes, the mouldering forests. As a ten year old boy who was largely lost in his own imagination (I pity my poor teachers) the story was a revelation and kicked off a lifelong love of books.

I don’t think I need to say much about the story itself, though I think it’s a shame that in some ways it has been overshadowed by J.R.R. Tolkien’s later work; The Lord of the Rings. It is a wonderful children’s book and contains more than enough wit and sophistication for any adult to enjoy even if they had no childhood experience of it. Indeed, ignoring it will be a hard thing to do soon as the film adaptation will start rolling cameras next year, and after that point it will be omnipresent. For anyone interested in news of the book adaptation then www.theonering.net is a good bet. Current rumours of Stephen Fry’s involvement are intriguing, let’s hope he plays Bilbo.

For those of you already convinced by The Hobbits merits I would strongly recommend ‘The History of the Hobbit’ series by John D. Rateliff. In these two volumes Rateliff goes back to the original Tolkien manuscripts, comparing and contrasting the versions and providing a lively and informed commentary on its history and providence.

Greg Pyne, your humble Hobbit Meals founder, is turning 35 on Dec. 10^th, and he knows exactly what he wants for his birthday.

500 lbs. of food.

No presents, no cards, no cake (okay, well, maybe a cake).  He wants 500 lbs. of food to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Therefore, Hobbit Meals announces the 2^nd Ever Hobbit Meals Moot:  “The 500 lb. Birthday”

And you are invited.

Come join us at Bag End for a night of Hobbity goodness and a birthday celebration.  Entertainment for evening includes a double feature!  The Arthur Rankin animated version of the The Hobbit and since, ‘tis the season, The Muppet Christmas Carol!  Hobbits and Muppets unite to feed the world!  A raffle will also be offered for gift cards to Best Buy and other cool stocking stuffers!

What do you need to bring?  Just your kindly self, a small side dish, and a full bag (or two) of non-perishable groceries to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Last time we met, Hobbit Meals raised 247 lbs. of food for Second Harvest Food Bank, food which provided many meals for many families in need.  The goal this time around is to exceed that.  And I know you can do it.  Because we’re hobbits, after all.

Defeat evil.  Feed the world.  Because the world should eat like a hobbit.

Teoricamente um filólogo sul-africano, porém é mais conhecido como antropólogo, sociólogo e historiador da Terra Média. Usa como fonte o “Livro Vermelho”, relato feito pelos hobbits com sua visão sobre a Terra Média, seus costumes, etc, com algumas compilações de textos de elfos, anões e humanos. Era grande fã de fumo do Vale Comprido. Lutou, entre outras coisas, com aranhas e Hitler(o que provavelmente lhe deu o apelido de “One Nut” após a Primeira Guerra). Grande Mestre, inspirou gerações de nerds, sendo considerado por muitos(eu putamente incluso) seu patrono.

Principais Obras

O Hobbit: Primeiro liro, mais voltado para o público infantil. Conta a jornada de Bilbo Bolseiro, Gandalf, o Cinzento, Thorin Escudo-de-Carvalho e sua comitiva de anões na jornada a Montanha Solitária em busca dos tesouros de Valle, guardados por Smaug, o dragão. Se ainda não deu pro seu filho, que as aranhas de Mirkwood lhe comam vivo.

O Senhor dos Anéis: Dispensa apresentações. Guerra do Anel, melhor livro já escrito, adaptação foda do Peter Jackson, whatever… Não leu? Espero que você morra lentamente sob uma floresta de Huorns enquanto eu faço meu 2° café da manhã…

O Silmarillion: Antigo Testamento da Terra Média. Conta desde a criação do mundo por Chuck Norr…digo, Odin…digo, Iluvatar, a criação de Arda, a história dos elfos, humanos, anões, ents, Morgoth(o grande inimigo do mundo, chefe de Sauron) etc(1a e 2a e parte da 3a Era). Leitura obrigatória para todo iniciado em Tolkien. Foi terminado pelo mala, digo, filho de Tolkien, o Cristopher.

Contos Inacabados: Histórias que Tolkien não acabou antes de ir para as Terras Imortais …

O Filho de Hurim: História de Turin Turambar, matador de dragões e frequente visitante de Bratslava, que tem fatos interessantes como… VOCÊ PEGOU SUA IRMÃ!

Finalmente um parecer sobre os rumos que “O Hobbit” está tomando, agora está confirmado o roteiro do primeiro filme que segundo Peter Jackson (diretor da trilogia do Senhor dos Anéis), produtor e co-roteirista de “O Hobbit” disse que será composto de dois filmes.

“Teremos dois filmes de O Hobbit, e já escrevemos o primeiro roteiro e o enviamos para o estúdio, que parece estar bastante contente com ele.(…)”,

“Já estamos a meio caminho andado do segundo script e Philippa [Boyens, também roteirista do SdA], Fran [Walsh, mulher de Jackson e também roteirista], Guillermo [del Toro, diretor dos futuros filmes] e eu estamos fazendo o roteiro e nos divertindo muito.”

“O Hobbit” será dirigido por Guilhermo Del Toro (Hellboy e Labirinto do Fauno) e se passa anos antes da saga do Anel, contando como Bilbo encontrou o Anel do Poder.

PJ “we trust in you”, vai garoto!!!

dá pra acreditar que já chegaram??! *_* oh!!! eu quero!!! quero muito!!! Domingo comprei (mamãe comprou ^^) a coleção das Brumas de Avalon! A melhor das versões da história do Rei Athur!!!

Falar disso me deu vontade de assistir Charmed… não sei porque… O_o

tem filme das Brumas de Avalon tb, né… ?!

nem lembro como é… *_* lembro de algumas cenas só… lembro que é bom… mas tb quero ver de novo ^^

outro livro que comprei (tb já chegou…) foi o HOBBIT.

O começo do perfeito Senhor dos Anéis! Eu amo o Hobbit! porque tem o clima do tipo de história que realmente me encanta! é despretencioso e gerou algo tão grande quanto o Senhor dos Anéis! é incrível!!

ai … mas a obra perfeita é a Torre negra! é a verdade! XD e sobre isso não tem discussão! Nem acredito que em breve vou ler o último!!! Vai ser a primeira coisa das minhas férias! antes mesmo das Brumas de Avalon! Preciso saber o que vai acontecer! apesar de achar que não vai ter final… afinal nosso mundo ainda permanece de pé… a Torre então ainda está de pé… hauahuahauha e continua caindo… viram no jornal hoje os cardumes de peixes apodrecendo no Amazonas por causa de um fenômeno “natural” de aquecimento das águas??! é o mundo seguindo adiante e a Torre caindo! o que significa que a série vai terminar e o Roland não vai ver a Torre cair e nem vai conseguir fazer com que ela pare de ruir… essa é a verdade! XD ai ai…

sou obsecada por esse livro sabia!? King é um gênio!!!

- OCD paper

- SF Paper proposal

- Marketing questions 19 and 20

- Sociology paper

- Sociology questions

- Science paper

- Theatre paper

- Hobbit Ch. 9-12 and discussion

- Art Sketchbook

- Mail stuff

- Pack

- Clean

- Laundry

- KILL MYSELF LOL