Rosie writes: I'm a Stargate fan in addition to being a Ringer. I found this article on John Noble in the latest Stargate SG-1 magazine. There are some LOTR references, though it mostly talks about his role in the upcoming season finale of Stargate SG-1, which airs this Friday. [More]

A repeat airing of Sean Astin on 'The Tony Danza Show' is airing today, check your local listings. Or you can follow this link to watch the segment we posted when it originally aired. [More]

Due to the overwhelming requests, we have put together a page to highlight the entries of this years Fan Film competition at ORC 2006. You can also submit additional fan films to be shared with everyone! Follow this link for more info! [FanFilms]

Strong mathematical minds at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showed off their creativity and dexterity for the school's fourth annual Student Origami Competition. The winning entries are on display at the school's Wiesner Student Art Gallery through March 15. One of them, by Jason Ku, is an origami model of one of the Nazgul. Thanks to Peggy for the link. [More]

TORn's film and fashion fans are currently hanging out in our IRC Awards Party channel, watching the red carpet antics and then all the awards excitement. We're also choosing virtual fashions for ourselves, in the spirit of the occasion. Come and join us!

For information on IRC chat and how to take part in the fun, visit our FAQ. [Join the chat now!] (choose "Awardsparty" from the drop-down menu)

The nine Kiwis nominated for Oscars this year already hold nine of the coveted gold statues between them - but that won't prevent a fresh adrenalin rush tomorrow night. "The show is just breathtaking," says Upper Hutt sound mixer Mike Hedge. "The Americans really do those sorts of things well. Everything is taken care of." Hedge, who has worked with Kiwi director Peter Jackson since Braindead, was making his third trip to the Oscars with wife Joanne, who will be draped in a shimmery purple gown and $20,000 worth of borrowed jewels. "It's quite a busy time for us. A lot of work goes into meeting and greeting other potential filmmakers at the Trade NZ party. [More]

New Zealand's Weta wizards compete for more Oscars in tomorrow's 78th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. But four-time Oscar winner and Weta Workshop chief Richard Taylor, who flew to Los Angeles on Friday, says King Kong's Naomi Watts also deserved a nomination for best actress. And he hopes that actors who play digital characters will one day be recognised in best actor categories. Watts played heroine Ann Darrow opposite the digitally-created gorilla played by actor Andy Serkis, who was Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings triology. Peter Jackson's $US207 million ($NZ315.21 million) blockbuster of King Kong has five Oscar nominations for best achievement in makeup, art direction, achievement in sound editing, sound mixing and visual effects. [More]

The great ape King Kong has been at the centre of New Zealand's movie industry celebrations in Beverly Hills. Oscar nominees from King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia joined the cream of New Zealand's film industry at the Beverly Hills Hotel to celebrate our industry's continued success. The event has a King Kong theme, with a ballroom being converted into a virtual Skull Island. Minister of Economic Development Trevor Mallard has been mixing and mingling with the glitteratti, and says Peter Jackson has made a major contribution to making the world more aware of New Zealand. Mr mallard says that is what this event is all about: promoting New Zealand as a great place to make movies. [More]

Belleferret sends this alng from the Discovery Channel website: It was the most striking scientific discovery of last year. An entirely new species of mini-human found on an island in Indonesia. Is the hobbit a new species that transforms our view of evolution, or is it simply a very small, modern human being? [More]

8thWonder, one of our chatroom operators, tells us that a screening of 1998 ’s Mighty Joe Young will be held in our #moviechat chatroom at 5:30PM New York City time today! The previous three movie showings of King Kong '33 and Son of Kong and the original Mighty Joe Young were quite successful and fun! So get yourself a copy of the tape or DVD of Mighty Joe Young (1998) and join us. Even if you don’t have the film, but know it, it is fun to sit in and hang out. Details of the showing are explained in two of our message board threads located here and here.

The question of questions. The question sages have pondered for decades. The question that has overturned book club meetings and caused riots on message boards. The Question of the Ages. No, it's not 'What's the Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything?'. Nor is it 'Who shot JR?'. It's not even 'Where's the beef?'. This weekend in Hall of Fire, we are going to ponder the imponderable, ask the unanswerable, seek that which has eluded both the wise and the extremely geeky: Who is the greatest Hero of Middle-earth? [More]

Ramen, Online Community Specialist for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: I'm the newest member of the LOTRO Community Relations team. If you haven’t already, you can check out my introduction from last week on the official forums here. I’m looking forward to getting to know our fan-site folks, and thought that sending out this week’s Thursday update email would be a nice little ice-breaker (I come bearing gifts!). [More]

Here is your chance to win an Xbox 360 bundle, a copy of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II', and other great prizes in TheOneRing.net and EA Games 'Northern Kingdom Writing Contest!' Put your creative hats on and write your own short story about the Dunedain and the struggles of the Northern Kingdom. TheOneRing.net staff will review the entries and winners will be announced April 7th 2006. Click for the details! [Giveaway]

It is March 2nd 2006 - what are you doing today? Run to your local store and snag a copy of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-eath II' today! [Official Website]

They're two giants of Aussiewood, and they're also great friends. Aussie actor Naomi Watts was among the star-studded crowd that turned out in New York last night for the debut of Hedda Gabler, the Sydney Theatre Company production starring Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving. The 850-strong Brooklyn audience gave the performance a standing ovation and afterwards the King Kong star paid her respects, hugging Blanchett at a post-play party. [More]

Dominic Monaghan's Golden Globe winning show 'Lost' is on tonight at 9PM EST on ABC. TORN's chatroom now has a special 'Lost' screening room, login to #lost at 9PM and watch with fans from around the country! [ABC.com] [TORN Chat]

Moviefone.com collected millions of votes from movie fans everywhere and the results are now official. According to moviegoers, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the Movie of the Year! Although each Harry Potter film has been nominated for Movie of the Year, Goblet of Fire is the first movie in the series to take the top prize.

In addition, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon were voted Actor and Actress of the Year, respectively, for their roles in Walk the Line. Click below to see the full list of winners including Sexiest Kiss, Most Hysterical Performance, Biggest Badass and more. [More]

Anthony and Jessica, Chairs of the North East Tolkien Society write: We would like to organize a trip to Frodo's Restaurant on Tolkien Reading Day March 25th aka Downfall of Sauron and the onset of the 4th Age. We a planning to make reservations and need to know exactly how many of our readers/members would like to join us. The day will consist of fine hobbit-ish food, attendees reading from various parts of Tolkien's work and good fellowship all around! We shall be sending out further details in the next week as to the trip i.e. time and travelling arrangements. If you plan on attending please notify Anthony and Jessica at Chairman@herenistarion.org.

MrCere writes: Cynthia Cummens attended the ORC 2006 show as a guest of TheOneRing.net and participated in several aspects of the show including the 'Iron Artist' contest and she taught a drawing workshop. She was a big hit both on stage and off, bringing enthusiasm to the show and her warmth to those who had a chance to speak with her in person. [More]