HB JRRT!

[vates]

Today is the 128th birthday of a man who changed the world for millions.

I can see now that an acquaintance with his works in early childhood has drastically changed my life as well.

And he was also an enabler for many on this forum.

Happy Birthday Mr.Tolkien!

 

[gervais]

The man, The legend..... Well to a geek who loves epic quests and adventures like me anyways.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Imaginative fellow, but I knew nothing of him until years after I started smoking.

 

[Idahojoe]

I first was introduced to Mr. Tolkien when (about 1979) my high school literature teacher listed The Hobbit as recommended reading. I enjoyed the book back then, but didn't think much more about it until the Lord of the Rings movies appeared. I then read all three LOTR books. Simply masterful.

 

[gamzultovah]

Happy birthday Mr. Tolkien! If you haven’t already seen the recent movie about his life, I highly recommend that you do.

 

[vates]

Happy birthday Mr. Tolkien! If you haven’t already seen the recent movie about his life, I highly recommend that you do.

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Elric]

A brilliant man who changed the life of this youth many decades ago. Happy Birthday, sir! One author to rule them all, as it were.

 

[workman]

I came across some comic books, I can't remember if they were The Hobbit or LOTR, when I was 9-10. About the same time, maybe a bit later, I read a five book series by one Lloyd Alexander about a kid named Taran who has to save the world from an evil sorcerer. When I was 12 I read LOTR and was blown away, but at the time I didn't have the opportunity to find more similar stuff. So when the first movie came when I was late teens or maybe 20, it took me right back. That was nice. I saw them again last year and they haven't aged a day.

 

[goldenmole]

Loved the books as a kid.. but later always found the near total lack of humor (I am German..so know a thing or two about this) a bit disappointing..

 

[diamondback]

Fantastic thread!

I have to read the entire series every 6-8 years. Phenomenal!

 

[olkofri]

Did he lose the accent ferrule for his billiard? ?

 

[alaskanpiper]

Did he lose the accent ferrule for his billiard? ?

Hahaha, I have always wondered this when I see this photograph as well. What the hell is going on with that gap!?!?!? Hahaha.

Aside from that, I have always found Mr. Tolkein's works inspiring. The man invented a whole world (complete with full languages). Certainly an imagination for the ages. And I will admit, the prospect of greeting the sunrise in Hobbiton after a large breakfast with a churchwarden full of Old Toby definitely influenced my decision to pick up the pipe.

Although when I first started reading Tolkein, I was imagining a different sort of leaf, haha.

I will probably be reading the series again shortly, as I was gifted a very classy full set (hobbit included) for Christmas this year.

 

[vates]

always found the near total lack of humor (I am German..so know a thing or two about this) a bit disappointing..

I find this really hilarious. Thanks

 

[vates]

What the hell is going on with that gap!?!?!? Hahaha.

Certain experienced smokers and sportsmen use this technique. No kidding.

 

[bullet08]

the man who inspired me to learn how to blow smoke rings at 8th grade. his works are amazing.

 

[workman]

Did he lose the accent ferrule for his billiard? ?

I've seen a photograph of Albert Einstein clenching a bulldog with a gap between stem and shank, just like Tolkiens here. Must be how geniuses smoke.

 

[olkofri]

I've seen a photograph of Albert Einstein clenching a bulldog with a gap between stem and shank, just like Tolkiens here. Must be how geniuses smoke.

Well, not all of them. I certainly don't smoke like that. ?

(??)

 

[workman]

Well, not all of them. I certainly don't smoke like that. ?

(??)

You're too fuzzy to be a genius, Olkofri. My guess is they were just too preoccupied with creating the elven languages or deducting the secrets of nuclear science to bother about thrusting their pipestems all the way in.

 

[olkofri]

Hey! I'm a genius among bears! ?

For a moment I wondered if it was some kind of mod to improve the smoke. Who knows? I wasn't around back then.

 

[workman]

Those guys were intellectuals. They didn't know how to clean their pipes.