Welcome to the first “Getting to know…” questions that need answering.  It’s based on the old Getting to know you threads that I used to post on the message boards here, so those familiar with them will know that the questions can be a little crazy and the answers even crazier.

This month we’re asking questions of our favourite Ent, and Host of TORn Tuesday, Quickbeam.

Once again, thank you for agreeing to take part in all of this Quickbeam.

Me: Remembering, of course, that your beautiful kitty passed on just before you left for “Where the Stars are Strange“. Do you have any cats or other pets?

Quickbeam: Ah yes, that was a blow. I remember very clearly how I wanted to just “close up shop” when my little feline friend died. The thought of pleasurable vacationing in New Zealand seemed out of bounds, but obviously I went. Perhaps that is a normal response for anyone who has taken guardianship of an animal… those are the bonds of love that are peculiarly the strongest. The idea then came to me of how I might be sharing my unique trip to Middle-earth with the spirit of my lost friend. Somehow it was therapeutic and indulgent at the same time.

Continue reading “Getting to know Quickbeam”

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Our staffers are warming up their speaking voices, brushing up on their Hobbit knowledge and getting ready to head for the Anaheim Convention Center for WonderCon in less than a week. Friday March 16, at 12:30 p.m. (lunch time) TORn will start programming at the convention that will surely take over the title “Happiest Place On Earth,” from neighboring Disneyland for three days.

We will explore the latest news from New Zealand and The Hobbit film that is currently in overdrive filming. We will discuss news, rumors and have a wealth of opinions and speculation about what fans can expect this December and next. On hand will be staffers Justin, Garfiemo, MrCere, Ostadan, Quickbeam and Saruman as either part of the panel or part of the day. Continue reading “TORn ready to kick off WonderCon in Anaheim”

Calling all So Cal Ringers, TheOneRing.net will be presenting a panel at Wondercon in Anaheim later this month.  We are slated to kick off the weekend by taking to the podium on Friday, March 16 at 12:30pm in room #207. We’ll be talking all things Hobbit, as well as any other Tolkien related news that pops up this month. Barring any internet connectivity issues, the panel will be streamed live for those unable to attend, and there will be constant streaming from the convention floor all day after the panel as well. Come join us as we welcome this rare occurrence of Wondercon south of SFO. You can find all the details on their website at Wondercon, and they just posted the full schedule on Leap Day.

What a great year! And things are about to get even more exciting! As we begin 2012 with anticipation that will continue to grow and grow, TORn staffer Justin takes us on a tour of all the events and activities TORn fans participated in during 2011. Read on!

 

Continue reading “TheOneRing.net: A Look Back at 2011”

Jonathan Moormann wrotes: I was lucky enough to spend my Saturday at the New York Chocolate Show, running from November 10-13 at the Metropolitan Pavillion. You can check out Ology’s photo diary or the chocolate fashions featured at the event, but I think the highlight of my visit was the work of chocolate sculptor and chef Håkan Mårtensson…Most of Håkan’s work tends to be more like the clown than ABBA, though. Whether it’s a sneering Gollum or the wolf eating Red Riding Hood​, his pieces draw heavily on fantasy and horror themes with a little twinge of morbid humor. Since moving to New York, he’s also started carving a lot of skulls. “Skulls are everywhere in New York,” Håkan said. “You go down the street, and you see one on someone’s shirt, one on a sign, one in some graffiti on a wall. All of that goes into my inspiration.” He also draws heavily on movies and books, especially J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit​. Since Peter Jackson cast Swede Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn, Håkan can’t wait to get some movie stills of the skin-changer and create a chocolate homage. More..