TORN Staffer Arwen writes: Hello from my mom’s computer in France. The Howard Shore concerts in Paris are not canceled, they are rescheduled to June-July 2008 to coincide with the premiere of his opera ‘The Fly’.

Ringer Spy Michelf writes: The October 6 edition of the public radio program “Travels with Rick Steves” featured New Zealand in its first half hour. The first 6 minutes include a discussion of “hobbit-spotting”–finding LOTR movie sites in NZ. Here is the link. Scroll down to the Oct. 6 “South of the Border” show and click on “Listen to entire show”.Hobbit-spotting on Travel Show

LOS ANGELES (AP) Orlando Bloom was involved in a minor car crash on a Hollywood street early Friday morning, police said. Witnesses told police the Pirates of the Caribbean star was driving alone on Fountain Avenue when another vehicle cut him off and he hit a parked car, said Officer Ana Aguirre. Bloom, 30, wasn’t injured and filed a report with police, Aguirre said. “No alcohol was involved, and he wasn’t speeding,” Aguirre said. There was minor damage to his car and the parked car, she said. Bloom in minor car crash in LA

stormcrow20 writes: I thought you guys might be interested in this cool tidbit. “Rings” figures make Toyfare magazine’s list of 100 best toys of the decade. Four LotR toys made the list:94. Minimates Gandalf the White47. Toy Biz Helm’s Deep Legolas14. NECA Epic Scale Balrog3. Toy Biz SauronLOTR Toys of the Decade

James writes: Hello there! It’s been over three weeks since the AME Exhibition in Malta showcased, for the last time, its vast collection of models, including the massive Helm’s Deep Model. The AME website has just been updated with a photo gallery containing a large number of photos of the model. Also, an article on ‘The Making of’ has also been written and posted. Follow this link to learn how this impressive diorama was built from scratch, complete with all the necessary figures to recreating the intense battle scene in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’.AME Exhibition Helm’s Deep Model – The Making Of

Ataahua sends this along: Kiwi actor Karl Urban is reportedly in talks to play Dr Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy in Lost creator JJ Abrams’ new Star Trek movie. Website The Trek Movie Report says that the Lord of the Rings star is in negotiations to play the starship Enterprise’s chief medical officer, a role which one of the film’s co-writers, Roberto Orci, has confirmed is a substantial part. But according to a source, Urban’s involvement with the film is not yet certain, due to a possible scheduleling conflict. Urban is currently busy filming the movie Black Water Transit, as well as being attached to another movie presently pre-production.Urban up for Bones Role in Star Trek