In Case You Were Wondering

Jewish population in North Carolina: 26,345

And in the words of the genius that is Walker Percy

"What? said the dog."

Will and Allie Sitting in a Tree

This may be obvious, but I figured I'd write about it anyway. It seems in most aspects if not all that Will Barrett and Allie compliment each other in a way that fits the context of marriage very well, but in a bizarre way. They even recognize these things and talk about them at the end of the book. They compliment each other in memory; he remembers minute details about the past that he normally would never think of again, she can't remember anything but the present, or not much anyway. He has the past, she the present, both the future. He has a tendency to fall down, she has the ability to hoist. He falls, she hoists. She can't seem to speak in a way that most people understand, but Will does, and he also says that she says more and what she says is said better than most people. The thing is though, that they only complete each other when both are 'mentally unstable.' The medicated Will would not continue to remember the small memories of the past, or fall down, or probably find her language understandable, and therefore is not perfect for her in his most 'healthy' state. But for them the unmedicated, the crazy state, is the healthy state because in that state they are perfect for each other, in that they fully complete each other.

Merry Christmas

On the first day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
A Dark Lord to rule over thee.

On the second day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Two Graying Wizards, and a Dark Lord to rule over thee.

On the third day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Three stone-cold trolls, two graying wizards, and a Dark Lord to rule over thee.

On the forth day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Four happy hobbits, three stone cold trolls, two graying wizards, and a Dark Lord to rule over thee.

On the fifth day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Five Pippin blunders, four happy hobbits, three stone-cold trolls, two graying wizards, and a Dark Lord to rule over thee.

On the sixth day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Six names for Strider, five Pippin blunders, four happy hobbits...

On the seventh day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Seven swords a swiping, six names for Strider...

On the eighth day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Eight Elven cloaks, seven swords a swiping...

On the ninth day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Nine Ringwraiths riding, eight Elven cloaks...

On the tenth day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Ten orcs to fight, nine Ringwraiths riding...

On the eleventh day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Elven braids on Gimli, ten orcs to fight...

On the twelfth day of Christmas Tolkien gave to me --
Twelve Rohan Guards, elven braids on Gimli, ten orcs to fight, nine Ringwraiths riding, eight Elven cloaks, seven swords a swiping, six names for Strider, five Pippin blunders, four happy hobbits, three stone-cold trolls, two graying Wizards... and a Dark Lord to rule over thee!

Good to See

that I am not the only one waiting until the last minute for the blogs. Just sayin'.

Learn Tengwar (Elvish)

If you follow this link you will find information about Tolkien's elvish languages, that when written are known as Tengwar.

Here it is:

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/tengwar.htm

Tolkien's knowledge of languages never ceases to impress me!

Frodo = Jesus?

So everyone likes to talk about the fact that Aragorn is a Christ figure except Megan who would rather view Gandalf is a picture of Christ. Here is a curveball for you: Frodo is a Christ figure. Yep, I said it. The little hobbit of the Shire is a type of Christ. Personally, I find it to be a little obvious. Think about it. He bears the burden of evil for everyone else. The task of carrying the ring to Mordor is his. Granted, he does have friends to help him, but it is his specific assignment. The fate of Middle Earth hangs around his neck for the greater part of the trilogy. Just as Christ carries the guilt and punishment for evil and sin on behalf of the world, so did Frodo do for Middle Earth. Just as Christ defeated evil and conquered Satan, so Frodo unmade the ring and conquered Sauron.

In the Bible Christ describes himself as gentle and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). Let’s face it, in Middle Earth you don’t get more lowly that a Hobbit of the Shire. Christ is the unexpected redeemer (most Jews expected a conqueror upon His first coming). I’m willing to bet that if you told any human in Middle Earth that it would be the job of a hobbit to unmake the ring of power and destroy Sauron, he would have laughed hysterically. It is the unexpected things that so often benefit us the most.

A Different Take on Descent into Hell

So apparently there are other books floating out there with titles similar to that of Williams' novel. This one is called A Descent into Hell.

Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061230871/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=151219807&ref=pd_sl_6644pey66h_e

Maybe one of you would like to buy it. As for me, I've done enough descending into hell for one semester.