In what must be the easiest convention scavenger hunt contest ever, TheOneRing.net and the gang at ‘Hobbit in 5’ bring you ‘Spot Simone’. The rules? Easy! Be on the lookout for our lovely and talented Host Simone Boyce and snap your photo with her. Tweet it out using the hashtag #Spotsimonenycc and don’t forget to include us using ‘@theoneringnet’ and you’re in to win! What’s up for grabs? A selection of LOTR posters and other goodies from the WBShop (WBShop.com) and some other really great secret prizes!

So be on the lookout for our ‘Hobbit in 5’ host, Simone, while she’s geeking out with the rest of you, they’re even planning a special location shoot of this week’s ‘Hobbit in 5’ at the convention! So like the graphic says ‘Spot, Snap, Tweet and Win!’.

*Programming Change to 5:30pm PDT* Welcome Ringer fans! For today’s installment of TORn TUESDAYS (our weekly streaming video call-in show) we are thrilled to bring you an exclusive LIVE interview with legendary fantasy author Peter S. Beagle — co-scripter of the Ralph Bakshi 1978 LORD OF THE RINGS animated epic and author of THE LAST UNICORN — ahead of his appearance alongside TheOneRing.net at New York Comic-Con! We will converse on many Hobbity things, but expect a *huge announcement* or two for LAST UNICORN fans especially. You can interact live and pose your  questions to Mr. Beagle in our Barliman’s chatroom, built-in to our LIVE event section at 5:30PM Pacific Daylight Time! [LIVE Event Area] (TORn Tuesday will take place from approx 5:30-7pm PT – See All Times)

The Liberian-flagged Rena ran aground off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island on October 5, but it’s been recent high seas jostling the foundering ship that has released more than 5 times the amount of oil it was previously leaking. Current weather conditions forced a halt to salvage and clean up work, but Maritime New Zealand stands ready to start again as soon as it is safe to do so. Oil is washing up on beaches near Tauranga, which is the port for Rotorua, and a quick drive to Matamata, the home of Hobbiton. Only time will tell how much this accident will truly affect the local ecology, which is already fairly fragile. It’s been a very tough year for New Zealand, this incident comes just as Spring is warming things up and the Cruise Ships are returning with all their tourists. No idea yet how this will impact the cruise lines that include Tauranga as a port stop.

There will be a few links to news stories after the break.

Continue reading “Oil spill off the coast of New Zealand is country’s worse Maritime accident”

Michelle writes: The October 6th episode of Grey’s Anatomy was about a stampede at a comic book convention. One of the main victims was a man dressed as a hobbit that was trampled in a stampede. (It was awesome!).

New YouTube Sensation: Gandalf the Grey’s Anatomy…just sayin’ – Xoanon

Elven sends along this link to a BBC Radio interview with our very own Andy Serkis. More..

How cool would this be to watch?

from scoop.co.nz: A one point five metre high ‘Showgirl on A Dragon’ will begin to appear in the SKYCITY Atrium tomorrow as Weta Workshop sculptor Craig Campbell gets to work on the masterpiece which will take him ten days to complete.

From 12-16 October and 19-23 October NZ, the American artist with fifteen years practice in his craft will create the sculpture as the public look on. Based in the heart of SKYCITY, at the top of the stairs the lead to the Sky Tower lifts, the live demonstration will give locals and the many tourists in town the chance to chat to Craig about his creation and the work of Weta Workshop.

Tim Launder from Weta Workshop says: “This is the thrilling sequel to the opening of the Weta Cave at the end of August. We’ve had such a great response from the Auckland public to the shop; it’s special to be able to add that little bit more magic.”

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