Suggestions for Making Sense of This LJ and the Titanic of Wanks:

[turimel]

If you are just getting started at exploring the massive fraud that was Bit of Earth, Welcome. These suggestions might help you find your way through this morbidly fascinating recap of the schemes, scams, etc. that hoodwinked half the cast of the LOTR film trilogy.

Comments

[skyyyy]

Wow. What a read. I plan on purchasing your book. May I be added as a friend?

Thanks!
skyyyy

[turimel]

Consider it done, and welcome!

[momsdinercodelj]

Just found this via F_W and I definitely plan to purchase the book soon. I expect it's an excellent read.

It seems that everyone involved is lucky that these two are such inept and disorganized crooks. With a little preparation and planning, they might very well have pulled all these events off and still be scamming the LOTR fandom and cast to this day (or until they finally ran off with a lot more of everyone's money and time than they ended up with).

At least their current hustle isn't really harming anyone and I'm sure the other street performers will eventually get fed up with their antics and chase them off the boulevard.

[fawkes_07]

Welcome, and thanks. But per your last comment--read on about their current hustle, it's not quite as harmless as you might think at first glance. They very nearly got in with the Hollywood Entertainment District's official organization, and they were trying to get carte blanche as entertainers around all the celebrities they could stalk...

--Turi

[momsdinercodelj]

Yeah, but since most legitimate celebs are probably extremely wary about hanging out with homeless street performers of any kind and people associated with LOTR have most likely spread the word that these two are not to be trusted whatsoever(If it's anything like another situation I'm acquainted with, I wouldn't be surprised if studios and venues haven't already declared them persona non grata despite the fact that they've never even been spotted there), I think they've been neutralized until they decide to leave/get run out of LA and need a new scheme.

[bana]

I ordered your book some time ago and have meant to add you as a friend. May I do so now?

[fawkes_07]

Sure! I return-friend people whenever I think about it--I'll check later.

--Turi's alter ego

[fawkes_07]

Yep. I use Global Priority Mail which is actually cheaper and faster than airmail.

[illyanadmc]

hi! just finished reading the book about 20 minutes ago and thought i'd check out your LJ. i am not surprised to see that abbey and amy are still roaming the streets as crazed fangirls. at least they've got a new fandom, but i guess they really have no choice, as the entire LOTR fandom probably loathes them!

anyway, i was wondering about some stuff you didn't seem to clear up in your book - did di/cherie keep paying off the loan you had co-signed, or are you now having to pay that to keep your credit from going down the drain? and how much money did you actually lose because of these scams? i know that info is personal, but i was just curious.

added you to my friends list, so i can keep up with all the new shenanigans. take care!

[turimel]

Let's see: Di never paid off the loan. I paid half of it back, then defaulted on the rest. Long story. Now my credit is trash, but more importantly, So Is Di's. I figured it was more important to leave a black mark on her record than to protect her sorry butt.

I don't know anymore how much I lost. I have all that in many Excel files, as my intention was to pay back everyone who got ripped off with the funds from the book. But at this point the book hasn't even paid for itself yet, alas, so until that happens, everyone else is on hold. I think I personally got taken for about $4K--there was about $1300 I lent them in rent, plus the $1500 I paid off on Di's loan, plus random donations and purchases at Project Elanor/Lost Palantir. There was probably more, but I don't remember the details and it'll just depress me to look up those spreadsheets at this point... ;P

I don't seem to be able to edit my friends anymore, not sure why, so until I get that figured out I won't be able to friend you back.

[illyanadmc]

wow... not surprised about the loan. and i know i wouldn't want to look at those spreadsheets, either!

well, if i ever win the powerball, i'll send some cash your way to make up for all of that money you lost. don't hold your breath, though - i'm sure not!