Split Personality?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by alatar

Maybe Eomer was a bit shocked that Aragorn and company followed the enemy for three days on foot, being a rider or personally been inattentive.

Eomer, the Horse Potato?

I understand what you mean, but always thought of the word 'species' as being a group that can interbreed, meaning that those not of that species cannot. But that definition may be antiquated.

I'm thinking along the lines of each species having a latinate name - this does not mean, like you say, that they cannot interbreed, as Lions and Tigers are distinct species but can breed. Likewise a horse and a donkey can produce a Mule - but the Mule, interestingly, is sterile. However you could not get all species to interbreed, e.g. a cat and a dog. Maybe we see no Dwarf combos with other species as they physically cannot manage the 'act'? Or maybe it was the beards?

As it could be bred out, I'm guessing it's a gene, but anything more than that I'll attribute to Eru.

True, and this could be accounted for when the text tells us that bloodlines have become 'dilute'.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

However you could not get all species to interbreed, e.g. a cat and a dog.

It's their different tastes in music that keeps them from even dancing together.

Maybe we see no Dwarf combos with other species as they physically cannot manage the 'act'? Or maybe it was the beards?

Are male dwarves attracted to females of other races? Seems that Gimli gives a hint of that. Are Dwarven females attracted to males of other races? Seems that they're not much attracted to even their own kind, but lacking any evidence I cannot say more. Do any AD&D like games support half-dwarves?

True, and this could be accounted for when the text tells us that bloodlines have become 'dilute'.

That's exactly why I stated that. Plus it's said that in some the 'gene' is recessive and only certain combinations of persons produce long-lived children in the Mendellian sense.

[Finduilas]

Does anyone find it amusing that Gollum hasn't been meantioned for about two pages?

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Finduilas

Does anyone find it amusing that Gollum hasn't been meantioned for about two pages?

Who? And how fast can he run?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by alatar

Who? And how fast can he run?

If you were offering him fishes then fast, I'd imagine. Though that depends on his soles? I guess he cod run quite fast though.

Maybe you simply didn't get Dwarf women interbreeding due to the beards?

How long do Orcs live? If they have similar freakish life spans to Elves then this would support the idea that they were originally created from them. Somehow I don't think it would be appropriate within the context of Middle-earth that Orcs were mortals with similar lifespans to the Dunedain if their long(er) lives were a special gift.

Anyway, Dwarf runners...was that the topic?

[William Cloud Hicklin]

I don't imagine Eomer knew much of anything about Elves or Dwarves or their abilities. He had never seen one, nor I expect ever met anyone who had (save perhaps Gandalf). He was aware of Lorien, but is plainly ignorant of its inhabitants. Some other Rider at Helm's Deep says "Dwarves are cunning folk with stone, *they say*," which implies a very rudimentary, rumour-based awareness of the Naugrim.

It's noteworthy that "Wingfoot, I name thee" is addressed specifically to Aragorn, the Man. He doesn't apply it to the other two, mysterious creatures whose folk weave magic camouflage cloaks.

[Quempel]

Is gollum running with the ring or without the ring? Is he a trained runner? Is he human or what? Did Tolkien consult PJ to make sure PJ was ok with everything, being it's PJ's story and all?

And most importantly which one of gollums personalities showed up for the marathon?

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Quempel

Is gollum running with the ring or without the ring?

Without. Gollum clearly dances when he has the Ring, meaning motion in a non-linear trajectory, which precludes running.

Is he a trained runner?

Swimmer and tree climber. His lapses into running like a dog, though he being obviously humanoid, would make running slow. Built not for speed but for stealth, though he does have that hobbit gene for perseverance.

Is he human or what?

Hobbit kind. Even Tolkien gets this one right.

Did Tolkien consult PJ to make sure PJ was ok with everything, being it's PJ's story and all?

No. Bet if they could have, the two may have sat down together and hashed things out as it seems that we do here. (Note that in one universe, PJ's films are the basis for Tolkien's works as in that world, and only that world, does time move backwards.)

And most importantly which one of gollums personalities showed up for the marathon?

Exactly my question. What happens when Smeagol wants to go north and Gollum wants to go south? Because the two function so well as both two and one, think that PJ may have presented the creature accurately in that they have one body, one goal yet two means of getting there - kill Frodo and take the Ring, or help Frodo to some misfortune and pick the ownerless Ring off of the cave floor - which would be fitting and circular, as this is how Gollum lost the Ring in the first place.