Monday, August 27, 2001
Barlimaniacs Demosthenes and Melian wed in shock secret ceremony!
- leo @ 14:45 PST
Just when you thought you'd seen it all Barliman's became the stage for a shock marriage between lovebirds Demosthenes and Melian, Ringer spy and Barliman's regular Barliman sent in the following report... In the early hours of last sunday (of course that all depends on from whose timezone your looking at things) I had the honour of being the Ringbearer on the surprising wedding of two of my regulars, Demosthenes and Melian. What a glorious moment it was. Before a crowd of Aussies and insomniac Americans Demosthenes pledged a vow that would make a grown man (like myself) cry, I wrote it down to remember; 'Neither rock nor steel, not the fires of Morgoth, the wrath of Barliman and even the evils of Powers That Be, shall keep me from the treasure that i desire. Above gold, above silver ... above silmarils. For Melian, mistress of mayhem, mightiest of maia. Melian, will you cleave to me?' *snif* After this Melian swooned and the ceremony began, in which Rev. MobyDick of The World Church performed a moving ceremony complete with homage to Professor Tolkien and Frank Vincent Zappa. With MadMax as the best man and Altariel as bridesmaid (before she unfortunally had to run off on a more urgent errand I deem) and of course myself as the Ringbearer (I'll never get tired of saying that). After Demosthenes braided flowers through Melian's hair and (as he said) 'kissed her tastefully' the reception took place in which it rained cake and snowed champagne, or the other way around, I can't recall 'cause everyone was in an utter state of bliss. Which reminds me, some (Demosthenes) still needs to pick up the tab... well, words fail me to describe the feeling of happiness that spread around my bar, if you'll excuse me I think I'm gonna go wipe away another tear now.. A big thanks to Barliman for sending in this report, and as I gathered the happy couple is currently on their honeymoon in, where else, our very own bar! So don't hesitate to come on in and congratulate them!
Thursday, August 23, 2001
Hall of Fire Chats for August 25th and 26th
- Strider @ 21:00 PST
For a lot of people, the Silmarillion is the next logical step for people who begin to appreciate Tolkien literature. Just as The Hobbit is more akin to a children's storybook tale, The Silmarillion is considered to be one of the more thought-provoking and enriched pieces of J.R.R's work. But no-one would say that the book is easy-reading: spanning thousands of years, thousands of people and thousands of places, the Silmarillion is often too much to take in for one reading. A Guide To Reading The Silmarillion First there was Ilúvatar, The One. Then there were the Ainur, some of which became the Valar: Manwe, Melkor, Ulmo, Aule, Orome, Mandos, Lórien, Tulkas, Varda, Yavanna, Niennas, Este, Vaire, Vana and Nessa. Their servants were the Maiar, Ilmare, Eonwe, Osse, Uinen, Melian and Olórin to name but a few. Quite a lot of names for just three eight pages isn't it? Reading the Silmarillion for the first time, people always comment on the volume of information hitting you in the space of a couple of chapters. Though the Silmarillion is by no means a lengthy book, the content itself can become almost off-putting at times. It gets to the stage that after completing the book, you find yourself getting mixed up between Beren and Turin only weeks after. And that is where this week's Hall of Fire comes in. This week we're going to discuss, debate and swap tips on the process of reading the Silmarillion. Whether you're having problems remembering the seven sons of Feanor (there was a guy with a M in his name there....somewhere...) to knowing your Minas Arnor from your Minas Tirith, you should pay a visit to us this weekend on one of our three different chat sessions! From wisened veterans who knows every name from the book backwards to those just discovering Tolkien, everyone is welcome! Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire . Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also 12:00 am Sunday (0:00) BST and 9:00 am Sunday (09:00) AET] Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 11:00 am (11:00) BST and 6:00 am (06:00) ET] Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) BST [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 3:00 am (03:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
BST = British Summer Time, GMT +1 hour
AET = Australian Eastern Time, Australia’s East Coast
Wednesday, August 15, 2001
At Long Last! The Report From BarliBash 2001
- Jincey @ 23:04 PST
Curunir has been slaving away at his computer writing this report on some of the goings-on at Barlibash, held this year in Chicago, on August 2-5. For the news, click here
Hall of Fire Chats for August 18th and 19th
- Strider @ 19:47 PST
Only in dire times would a parly be called at the House of Elrond, bringing Man, Elf and Istari together to discuss the faith of Middle-Earth and it's inhabitants. But these are dire times indeed, and as the threat of the Enemy looms over the world as a shadow, the Council of Elrond commences. This weekend, we invite you to come discuss a chapter that would change the lives of nine people and save millions of others: Book II, Chapter II: The Council of Elrond A difficult task has already been accomplished by four hobbits who, with the help of Strider have brought the One Ring safely to Rivendell, protecting it from Sauron's Ringwraiths. But now that it is here, the time has come for a decision to be made: what shall become of it? Such is the levity of this decision, Elrond has requested the presence of a representative of the great races of Middle-Earth: Boromir of the men of Gondor, Legolas of the Elves of Mirkwood and Glóin of the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. But just as they are unlike in body in mind, they are undecided as what to do with the ring. Should it be destroyed, as Gimli the dwarf wishes?Should it be used as a tool against Sauron? Or should it be cast back into the deepest sea, and beyond the reach of any member of Middle-Earth? As the counsel of Gandalf, none of these. A Fellowship shall go forth to Mordor, and throw the ring into the Cracks of Doom, and with it's unmaking bring down the foundation of Sauron's evil power itself. These were the decisions faced by the Council of Elrond, and it is these decisions along with many others that we hope to discuss with you this weekend! Do you believe that Boromir was right to wield the ring? Or Gimli to destroy it? Was the decision of Gandalf to have Frodo bear it into Mordor foolhardy? Whether you share one of these opinions or none at all, we want to hear from you this weekend! And don't forget, we are giving you three opportunities to join in this great debate. Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire . Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also 12:00 am Sunday (0:00) BST and 9:00 am Sunday (09:00) AET] Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 11:00 am (11:00) BST and 6:00 am (06:00) ET] Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) BST [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 3:00 am (03:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
BST = British Summer Time, GMT +1 hour
AET = Australian Eastern Time, Australia’s East Coast
Monday, August 06, 2001
Hall of Fire Chats for August 11th and 12th
- Strider @ 15:19 PST
With a little over four months until the film's release, we've begun to see the Lord of the Rings merchandising-machine in full flow, with images of soon to be released ToyBiz action figures, the growing catalogue of WETA-Sideshow models and busts, and the beautiful trailer of the upcoming Sierra computer game for the XBox. And for this week's Hall of Fire, we want your opinion on these things and more, as we discuss an often-argued debate: Lord of the Rings Merchandising : The Good and The Bad For some people, the image of a little Lord of the Rings toy free with your flame-grilled Whopper in Burger King seems like a fantastic promotional idea. For others however, the idea seems horrific. Little wind-up toys of Frodo and Sam available in fast food restraunts: J.R.R must be rolling around in his grave! Though a certain amount of bad merchanding is inevitable with every film, a lot of people seem to agree that New Line haven't put a foot wrong so far. Though the Burger King and JVC deals are obviously strategical, the more traditional things that accompany a movie, such as action figures and computer games, seem to be in good hands. With the WETA Sideshow busts and models impressing all who see them, and the Toy Biz action figures looking to have all the minute details, a lot of Tolkien fans seem satisfied with what they've seen. But what do you think? Do you feel that the deal with Burger King was just a crude commercial act, that seems to be a far cry from bidding for books and memorabilia on E-Bay. And doesn't the image of a book on the Screenplay of the films themselves seem well....pushing it? These are the opinions and decisions we hope to make this weekend, in what proves to be one very fiery debate! And the only thing that's going to make it any better is if you join us on one of the three sessions. Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire . Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also 12:00 am Sunday (0:00) BST and 9:00 am Sunday (09:00) AET] Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 11:00 am (11:00) BST and 6:00 am (06:00) ET] Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) BST [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 3:00 am (03:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
BST = British Summer Time, GMT +1 hour
AET = Australian Eastern Time, Australia’s East Coast
Friday, August 03, 2001
Hall of Fire Chats for August 4th and 5th
- Strider @ 16:39 PST
A new month, a new Hall of Fire chat, a new Book in oru Fellowship of the Ring Discussions! This weekend, we arrive at Rivendell, House of Elrond and discuss the chapter that saw the forging of the Fellowship: Book II, Chapter I: Many Meetings Awaking from his sickly sleep, Frodo arises to find himself in a place of safety. But a shadow treathens to cast itself over the serenity of Rivendell, as the rumour of the Enemy causes one of the most important meetings of the Third Age. Only in dire times would such a parly of Elves, Men, Dwarves and Istari be called, and these are dire times indeed. The ringbearer from the Halfling home named the Shire has come from the West, and with him the possible key to the Enemy's defeat. Should it be destroyed? Should it be used as a tool against Sauron? Or should it be cast back into the deepest sea, and beyond the reach of any member of Middle-Earth? These were the decisions faced by the Council of Elrond, and it is these decisions along with many others that we hope to discuss with you this weekend! Do you believe that Boromir was right to wield the ring? Or Gimli to destroy it? Was the decision of Gandalf to have Frodo bear it into Mordor foolhardy? Whether you share one of these opinions or none at all, we want to hear from you this weekend! And don't forget, we are giving you three opportunities to join in this great debate. Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire . Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also 12:00 am Sunday (0:00) BST and 9:00 am Sunday (09:00) AET] Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 11:00 am (11:00) BST and 6:00 am (06:00) ET] Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) BST [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 3:00 am (03:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
BST = British Summer Time, GMT +1 hour
AET = Australian Eastern Time, Australia’s East Coast
Barlibash Day 1
- Corvar @ 11:42 PST
I thought I would give a small update on Barlibash, seeing as I attended the reception last night. I am sure full reports will come in as people return home from the festivities. Despite inclement weather in the Greater Chicagoland area, everyone arrived safely at the introduction reception. Many flights were delayed, and a number of the Bashers had been in airports and planes for the entire day. The scheduled event for last night was the reception. From my view point it seemed like everyone had an excellent time, with the possible exception of Barliman the reception's bartender. Many of the meetings that I witnessed reminded me of long lost friends meeting once again. The type of things you would see at class reunions and the like. I think I will leave it like that, seeing as I am at best an infrequent visitor to Barliman's. After the reception, the group split up for a bit. I went with Jincey and Balin to Jincey's room so I could set up Internet for her laptop. Like a child entering a candy store, or a drug addict getting a fix, Jincey's eyes simply lit up once her laptop was on the Internet and she could stop in at Barliman's. After that, being a working slob, I had to head for home. By the time I had arrived home and logged in to check up on things, it seems the party had moved fully into Jincey's room. Most everyone stopped into Barliman's and said hi. Today the Bashers are heading into downtown Chicago for the day. I will be meeting up with them once again this evening. And I am sure there will be further reports to keep all of you appraised of the goings on. It was wonderful putting faces with many of the nicks (and even some voices), that I have been dealing with over the past 3.5 years. Hopefully at the next Bash, all of us will be fortunate enough to attend.
Tuesday, July 24, 2001
Hall of Fire Chats for July 28th and 29th
- Strider @ 20:47 PST
As August approaches we arrive at the last of our Hall of Fire discussions for this month, and what a topic we've picked to see off a great month! Tolkien purists one and all, this is the discussion you've been waiting for! Christopher Tolkien : Continuing the Legacy Being the son of John Ronald Reul, Christopher Tolkien was in the difficult position of wanting to continue his father's legacy and enrichen the world he created. Thus the Silmarillion was published, a book which not only expanded the history of Middle-Earth but raised interesting questions about society, culture and religion in Middle-Earth. However, some people believe that the material J.R.R Tolkien left behind after his death has been mis-used by Christopher Tolkien, in particular the History of Middle-Earth series. Though the Lost Tales Books 1 and 2 feature unseen works, the rest of the collection seems too focused on the little nuances in J.R.R's creative process and the way his books evolved over time. Instead of wonderful new material, the books seem re-writes with minor changes. Which opinion do you agree with? Has Christopher Tolkien done a great deed by reproducing his father's work? Or has his quest to continue his father's legacy lost it's way somehow? Whether you sit on the fence or are a Tolkien purist, this discussion is sure to spark some interesting opinions. So if you want to be involved in what looks to be a fantastic talk, just make sure to show up at one of our three sessions this weekend! Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire . Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also 12:00 am Sunday (0:00) BST and 9:00 am Sunday (09:00) AET] Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 11:00 am (11:00) BST and 6:00 am (06:00) ET] Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) BST [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 3:00 am (03:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
BST = British Summer Time, GMT +1 hour
AET = Australian Eastern Time, Australia’s East Coast
Thursday, July 19, 2001
Hall of Fire Chats for July 21st and 22nd
- Strider @ 20:18 PST
It wasn't so long ago since we started our Fellowship of the Ring chats, and now we've arrived at the last chapter of Book One! This weekend men, women, children and hobbits are all invited to take part in our Hall of Fire discussions on a fantastic chapter. Chapter XII: Flight to the Ford With the Nazgúl on their heels and Frodo poisoned from a knife of evil, the Hobbits chances of arriving at Rivendell look bleaker and bleaker. However, with the aid of Glorfindel the group managed to arrive at the Bridge of Mitheithiel, only to walk into a trap laid by the Ringwraiths themselves. We have also seen many images of this chapter over the past year, from Liv Tyler being chased by a group of Nazgúl on her white horse, to scenes from the second theatrical trailer of the Ringwraiths charging through water. And it was only revealed recently that some further footage is being shot at Niagra Falls for the flood! A chapter that portrays the desperation of the group's perdicament, with your enemy behind you and the unknown in front of you, we should have some great discussions! And for the convenienve of our guests we have three different sessions, catering for people all over the globe. Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire . Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also 12:00 am Sunday (0:00) BST and 9:00 am Sunday (09:00) AET] Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 11:00 am (11:00) BST and 6:00 am (06:00) ET] Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) BST [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 3:00 am (03:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
BST = British Summer Time, GMT +1 hour
AET = Australian Eastern Time, Australia’s East Coast