urge to cut loose with this really angry rant about the usual stuff
instead; I started re-reading LotR for the first time in years. I used to be one of those people who religiously re-read it annually. I remember as a kid hating the slow buildup and wanting Tolkien to get to Good Bits ASAP. Now I actually really like him slowly introducing this fantasy place, slowly suggesting there's more going on than just a wonderful hobbit party and a mysterious ring left from Bilbo's great adventure.