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July 05, 2002 - August 05, 2002

Monday, August 05, 2002
Barlimans News

Massive Hall of Fire Update!
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Demosthenes @ 03:23 PST

The HoF transcripts page is one of the more popular sections of TORn; we receive many e-mails from people who say they enjoy reading them. Of late, those e-mails have been wondering when the logs of recent chats would be posted.

Unfortunately, real life interruptions, and important maintenance on other parts of the site, has meant that the HoF page has fallen way behind.

However, we can finally announce that this has been fixed and TORn has a whole plethora of previous HoF chats for our avid readers to pore over.

Over the past few days, TORn staffer Arathorn (who deserves more thanks than I can adequately express) has been literally slaving to fix the Hall of Fire page and implement a system to not only bring the chats up to date, but to simplify the process of posting them.

This is good news for us, because it's only takes 30 minutes to edit a log now, rather than a week! And, it's good news for you also because you'll be able to read HoF transcripts virtually right away, instead of having to wait for days and weeks (and sometimes months). You'll also discover that the HoF page will be more frequently updated with future topics.

On behalf of all HoF staff, I'd like to thanks Arathorn for his sterling efforts, and encourage you all to check out the changes. [More]

Saturday, August 03, 2002
Barlimans News

Hall Of Fire Chats For August 3rd & 4th
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Strider @ 10:51 PST

In the past, the Hall of Fire has hosted many chats focusing on an individual character; from Aragorn to Arwen, Legolas to Lurtz and Boromir to Bombadil (R.I.P). However, as The Two Towers looms larger on the horizon, and with the recent trailers and sneak peeks it seems only fitting to concentrate on one of the more prominent characters in said previews:

Éowyn, the White Lady of Rohan

Throughout the War of the Ring, Éowyn appears to be one of the most conflicted characters, often torn between desire and duty. She wishes to stand with the men of Rohan to help protect her home instead of being left behind, but is concerned with the duty she has to stay with her people. She also feels a deep attachment towards Aragorn, but by the end of the Return of the King her heart turns towards another. She is a passionate woman who is quick to act and strives to be the one who controls her own destiny.

Éowyn also represents one of the women who helped to create a gradual shift in society as the role of women expanded near the end of 20th Century, something which seems quite remarkable when remembering Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings in the 50s. Éowyn also appears to be receiving an expanded role in the film along with Arwen to highlight the plight of a women paralysed by the society around her.

Join us this weekend as we discuss one of the more interesting and deep characters in The Lord of the Rings, as the countdown to The Two Towers continues!

Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .

Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]

Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe

Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.

Friday, July 26, 2002
Barlimans News

Hall Of Fire Chats For July 27th & 28th
-
Strider @ 16:50 PST

Sir Ian McKellen says in the latest The Two Towers trailer, 'I've come back to you, at the turn of the tide.' Throughout the War of the Ring there were several turning points, but one of the most crucial to the downfall of Sauron was the battle of Helm's Deep and the defeat of Saruman's forces. This weekend, the Hall of Fire crew invite you to join us as we discuss the downfall of Saruman, the man who would be Lord of the Rings:

Book Three, Chapter VIII: The Road to Isengard

The battle of Helm's Deep is over, and the forces of Saruman have been defeated, thanks in no small part to the Ents. With the followers of the White Hand defeated, Gandalf the White travels to Isengard to confront the man who once he called friend. However, the victory was not easy and many Men of the Mark lie dead around their friends and brethren.

The Road to Isengard, though living in the shadow of the chapter before it, tenderly deals with the aftermath of Helm's Deep and the strengthened bonds of its survivors. We continue to see the relationship of Gimli and Legolas flourish, along with the bond between Aragorn and Éomer forged during battle. It also serves to highlight how evil can corrupt good to the point where it is the device of its own destruction. Join us this weekend at what should be a great discussion!

Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .

Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]

Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe

Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.

Saturday, July 20, 2002
Barlimans News

Hall of Fire Chats for July 20th & 21st
-
Strider @ 11:28 PST

Many pieces of modern day fantasy are clearly influenced by the literature of J.R.R Tolkien, a man who played a prominent part in bringing the genre to the fore. Similarly, Tolkien was influenced by Norse mythology and its many forms of poetry and literature. However, the Hall of Fire staff invite you to join us this weekend as we debate whether Tolkien found inspiration from his own religion.

The influence of Catholicism on Tolkien's writings

In the beginning of The Silmarillion there was Eru, a supreme being who created all life and a world upon which they could live, Middle-earth. In the beginning of the Bible God, a supreme being, created man and woman and a place upon which they could live called Earth. Though over-simplified, there are clear parallels between the two. Another key event in The Silmarillion is when Kane commits the first murder and kills his brother Able; similarly, Feanor is the first Elf to ever kill one of his own kin.

Tolkien was known to be a prominent follower of the Catholic church and was surrounded by people of the same nature, most notably his dearest friend and writer C.S. Lewis. All these facts suggest that Tolkien drew some inspiration from religion..but do you agree? Join us this weekend and make your views known as we debate one of the most discussed aspects of the great author himself.

Upcoming Discussions
July 27 & 28: TTT Chapter Discussion: The Road to Isengard

Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .

Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]

Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe

Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.

Saturday, July 13, 2002
Barlimans News

Hall of Fire Chats For July 12th & 13th
-
Demosthenes @ 10:16 PST

We resume our Two Towers chats this weekend by examining the clash of the mustered forces Rohan and the orc and Dunlendish legions of Saruman at Helm's Deep. Join us this weekend as we delve into the events of:

Book Three, Chapter VII: Helm's Deep

One of the most stirring battles of the War of the Ring, this clash between was undoubtedly necessary if the Rohirrim were to go to the aid of Minas Tirith. However, even as they set out for the Fords of the Isen, trouble brews ahead and darkness gathers behind.

Would Theoden's forces have survived if they'd been caught on the plains? What exactly was the "devilry" of Saruman? How exactly does the battle solidify Legolas and Gimli's emerging friendship? These are just a few of the questions we'll be discussing, so join us for what's sure to be another engaging Hall of Fire debate!

Upcoming Discussions

JULY 20-21: The influence of Catholicism on Tolkien's writings.

JULY 27-28: The Two Towers: Book 3, Chapter 8: The Road to Isengard.

Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .

Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]

Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe

Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.

Thursday, July 11, 2002
Barlimans News

All New TORnIRC
-
Demosthenes @ 21:44 PST

For those who use our special TORnIRC adaptation of mirc, you can now upgrade! We recently received a false virus alarm, and after confirming that the software is virus free, Max took the opportunity to upgrade it to being based on mIRC version 6.02. You can download the new version from here. [More]

Friday, July 05, 2002
Barlimans News

Hall of Fire Chats For July 6th & 7th
-
Demosthenes @ 11:56 PST

Pippin Took: Bold, hard halfling or piece of luggage?

Elrond's heart forbade him going with the Fellowship, Gandalf encouraged him to throw himself down a well as a preventative measure against stupidity. What does this say about the character of Pippin Took? Was he simply making up the numbers? What was Pippin's purpose in the Fellowship, and indeed his role in the greater arena of the War of the Ring? Was it a simply a case of making up the numbers? Or something more?

These are just some of the questions that we'll be discussing at this weekend's Hall of Fire.

Upcoming Discussions
JULY 13-14: The Two Towers: Book 3, Chapter 7: Helms Deep.

JULY 20-21: The influence of Catholicism on Tolkien's writings.

JULY 27-28: The Two Towers: Book 3, Chapter 8: The Road to Isengard.

Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .

Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]

Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe

Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.


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