Celebriel forwards a BBC News report that a statue of Treebeard planned for Birmingham, UK, to be created in honor of J.R.R. Tolkien by his grand-nephew Tim Tolkien, will be moved because road experts are worried it might distract drivers. [More]

Hollywood director and Kiwi multi-millionaire Peter Jackson is adding another flourish to his Wairarapa mansion – his own railway track. The region’s most famous local bought the $5 million, 30ha property with his partner, Fran Walsh, seven years ago and has been transforming it into a fairytale property, with castle-like buildings and ornamental lake. Train enthusiast Ian Welch, of Mainline Steam Trust, told the Sunday Star-Times Jackson had bought a replica of a 1900s steam train from Canada. Welch supported Jackson’s venture and the train was “beautiful… a gorgeous replica of an early period of steam. It’s very American, like a cowboy train”. [More]

Tim Richardson, Director “The Dork of the Rings” writes: Alright, all you Dorker filmmakers out there, we are proud (if not self-indulgent) to announce the DORK FAN FILM CONTEST. Pull out your cameras and shoot your own movie using characters, themes, whatever from The Dork of the Rings . Explore our website, watch our videos and read the forum to get your inspiration at www.dorkoftherings.com. [More]

Author Henry Gee writes: Dr Dimitra Fimi has been teaching an online Tolkien course at Cardiff University and due to popular demand it will be run again from May 1. This course can be taken by anybody in the world (student or adult learner) and its credits can be used towards a qualification at any other Higher Education and/or Higher Education Lifelong Learning institution in Britain. The website of the course is here.