Ostadan writes: Gizmodo’s article on the possibility of the forthcoming Mac OS X having a geolocation capability similar to early iPhones is illustrated by an odd choice of maps on a Mac screen. I want to know where the wi-fi hotspots in Middle-earth are! Wi-fi Hotspots in Middle-earth?

Iain writes: Didn’t expect some research on Gartner magic quadrant and how valid there are in making business decisions would lead me to one explaining LotR (plus a few others) but it did. Enjoy…

Tedster88 let us in on this MSN article about some of the most individual inns on the planet. This one is located in Manila, the Philippines. From MSN: Anyone who says they don’t fancy a jar or two in this one is a complete liar … Hobbit House (1212 MH del Pilar) is staffed entirely by midgets. Just in case your conscience is twanging at that idea, don’t fret – this is not some kind of exploitative venture. Hobbit House was set up by the little people themselves to give them work, and it’s proved incredibly popular. As well as being a (still) somewhat smoky drinking den, regular live music performances see it packed out. World’s strangest bars

The Hunt for Gollum
The Hunt for Gollum
Chris Bouchard, director of ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ dropped me a line to let me know that the first ever full length trailer for the film is now online. The trailer features several favourite characters and a fuller impression of this 30 minute film.

Check out the trailer here and be sure to visit thehuntforgollum.com.

We all love to give and receive. The old saying goes that ‘It’s the thought that counts,’ and while nobody can argue with such a noble sentiment, perhaps some thoughts are better than others. For instance, if the gift that demonstrates that your ‘thought’ included consideration that your intended recipient is a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, it will probably be more appreciated than the one that prompts you to buy a big-box store gift certificate. So what is the perfect gift for the Tolkien reader this year? We have three suggestions. Continue reading “Christmas gift suggestions for Tolkien fans”

Newswise — The December 2008 issue of Discover magazine included in its top 100 science stories of the year studies that back the “new species” theory of the 18,000-year-old hominid found on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2004. The discovery of Homo floresiensis, nicknamed the “the hobbit” because of its diminutive size and strikingly large feet, remains controversial and could lead to rewriting the story of human evolution. Stony Brook University paleoanthropologists William Jungers, Ph.D., and Susan Larson, Ph.D., are among the researchers who suggest the hobbit represents a different species of human. “Hobbit” Controversy Makes Top 100 Science Stories