Best Post of the Week

[Bêthberry]

Let me step in here immediately with my sincere apologies to Child of the 7th Age. Child certainly knows how to manage a thread successfully. Some of the most successful and informative threads here on the Downs began with Child's thoughts and followed through under her excellent guidance.

When I made the post above stating that the Crystal Heart thread was not worthy of nomination, I was thinking completely in terms of the annoucement from the purported sister of Crystal. I had completely forgotten that Child had started the thread. It was Melissa after all who started things off with her claim about Crystal. That kind of affair certainly has no place in being commemorated for meritorious acclaim.

And I agree wholeheartedly with Child that to offer the event for nomination as best thread is to be completely insensitive to the feelings of those who believe they were taken advantage of. We try to build community here, not create divisions and dischord and bad feelings.

Again, Child, I did not have you in mind. My comments were intended totally towards the perpetrator of the hoax.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child certainly knows how to manage a thread successfully.

Bethberry -

Well, I don't think I'd go that far but thank you for the positive words. I admit I have been known to go fleeing to the far hills when I get in over my head in a literary or philosophical discussion and leave it to others to finish running the gauntlet.

Like you, I am quite sure that there must be better threads to nominate for an honor other than the particular one under discussion.

To return to the topic of this thread, I want to put in another word on behalf of Esty's most recent chapter-by-chapter post. What amazes me is that she seems completely unflappable, at least on this site. No matter what craziness, she responds with calm assurance. Moreover, it's one thing to do book posts when you are in the "right" frame of mind. I often have a way of slipping in and out of the books forum based partly on my schedule and partly on my mood. It is another thing to do these chapter posts week after week no matter what kind of mood you are in. These chapter discussions get off to a much better start because Esty takes the time to think things through and poses a number of questions for us to begin thinking about in our own reading.

Finally, there have been few mentions of RPG posts on this awards thread, but I mean to change that in the coming weeks and give a tip of the hat to a writer or two who has done a gracious or humorous post. My first nod goes to Amanaduial the Archer for her post in the Green Dragon Inn on the continuing sage of the Innkeeper and that rascal Snaveling. She has done such a clever job with this post by weaving in a number of ongoing subplots and still finding time for a deliciously embarassing moment at the end.

[Bêthberry]

Well, a double nomination from me this week. Here's something to show what standards Middle earth Mirth can achieve:

"A muffin, English or othewise, is still not a patch on a crumpet, really." From the undoubtable Rimbaud on the American Readers (and others) thread

Not to be confused with strumpets, now, mind.

[Bêthberry]

This was posted last week on littlemanpoet's thread, The Emblems of Religion don't belong ... or do they?".

Son of Númenor's distinction between evangelical and eucatastrophic

I like Sono's post for two reasons. It is first of all succinct. And second it relates the question to aspects of Tolkien's own theorising about narrative. Tolkien did not proselytise his faith even while his faith is expressed in his art. Very astute and perceptive, Sono!

[Mithalwen]

There are six types of Troll written by Tolkien: See HERE. Only the Stone trolls encountered by Bilbo and the Dwarves were mentioned to be turned to stone with the sun's light.

I would imagine that if cleverly knocked down, a nice sharp stave/spear could be rammed in between the scales of the troll's hide (An armpit would be good - puncture the lung, and if shoved far enough and at a downward angle, the heart would be pierced). Or one right through the ear hole into the brain would do it. And of course there are always the eyes . . .

~*~ Pio, the bloodthirsty

I wish to nominate this post which probably had a limited audience since it was in response to a query of mine on troll killing on the "Fall of the North" Discussion thread. Partly it was a prompt, helpful and succinct response and partly it revealed an unsuspected dimension to Pio (unsuspected by me at least)

[Bêthberry]

Oh, indeed, Mithalwen, those of us who are familiar with pio's past gaming exploits are quite aware of her more recondite forms of knowledge. Why, Mithadan even--but I digress. Well does pio deserve a commendation here for her tireless and prompt help and information gathering for The Shire. She's a gem--our own "Gilmarillion"--and that's for both girl and gamer and gem!

I would like to nominate Helen/Mark 12_30's post from littlemanpoet's thread Smith of Wooton Major in Middle Earth?.

Why? because Helen presents a fascinating observation about the role of trespassing in The Silm and Tolkien's other works. Here's the relevent morsel that tantalises my thoughts:

The word "trespassing" comes to mind. (Remember the salmon swimming into the hot spring at the bottom of the lake? The narrator was out of his element, and you loved it, as I fondly recall.) Smith is essentially trespassing; Frodo is frequently trespassing; by contrast the Sil narrator has every right to be there. So where's the mystery that creates thirst in the soul? I suspect that what moves you is your desire for transcendance-- and that hunger is best whetted by mystery.

Perhaps the Sil creates regret, longing for the good old days, rather than the longing to pierce and percieve a mystery.

She puts her finger on another aspect too, but that's for the telling on lmp's thread.

Lovely observation, Helen!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I would like to present an extremely hilarious post by Squatter for this category: Could I have a room with a view? on the 'Do Balrogs Have Wings?' thread. He combines friendly banter with his usual classy humour to make a post that has me laughing out loud!

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I think Crazy captions, despite being very much a one-liner thread has some damned funny posts. My favourite one so far this week has been Éomer's patented melodramatic semi-colon gags I just thought it was very amusing.

[Bêthberry]

Rimbaud's poetic tour de farce was upstaged in a late-night one-liner by Valesse's Ringing reply.

Wham, bam, it's anagram slam this week.

[Bêthberry]

Lush makes a very perceptive observation about Denethor on lmp's thread, What's the worse thing characters had to face in Middle earth/.

Lush's observations speaks to something that I think we haven't much discussed here on the Downs, whether Tolkien (or the story) lends itself to the interpretation that what is needful is personal self-control rather than emotional excess. That contrast can itself be questioned, I realise, but still, Lush's point is I think a fascinating perspective from which to view the man who would fry his child.

Kudos to a very stimulating post. You go, Girl!

[Bêthberry]

The holidays always interrupt my playtime here, so this is a very late entry, but one which by all means ought to be highly recommended as a supreme example of what spending time on the Barrow Downs does to people.

I herebye nominate Abercrombie of Rohan's post with the Barrow Downs Periodic Table as one of the highlights not only of that week, but of that month and the entire year.

And durn it I can't get a small image of the periodic table to work here.