From Bilbo, Gandalf and Thorin:

BILBO: Greetings, Rankin/Bass fans! Bilbo Baggins here!

GANDALF: And hello to you, fellow Mages and Wizard-lovers! I, as usual, am Gandalf, whose name means me!

THORIN: And I am Thorin, grandson of King under the Mountain! And unlike that young whippersnapper Harry Potter, we didn't just decide to just refer to our upcoming movies as puny old "Part One" and "Part Two". Explain it to 'em, Burglar!

B: Oh, certainly. New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have announced that the two films are to be known as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Unexpected Journey hits theatres next December 14th; TBA follows on December 13th, 2013.

G: Personally, it's a joy having some of the old gang back on board, especially Orlando and Ian! You, dear Hobbit fans, wouldn't have it any other way, and obviously neither would Peter Jackson. And Ian Holm returns, too, in the role of the elderly Mr. Baggins!

B: Now see here, Gandalf --- I wouldn't exactly call meself 'elderly'! But nevertheless, we're looking forward to showing you, our fans, what we're still capable of doing!

T: Indeed! I, for one, have always wondered how our song --- the one we Dwarves sang to the Burglar during our famous Unexpected Party --- will be depicted on the big screen! I'm sure we're gonna have a great time finding out, huh?

G: Doubtless, Thorin, you and the old Company would've been glorious in that time when Mortals truly wanted their MTV! (Heh-heh!)

(Thorin and Gandalf chuckle together.)

B: Well, we gotta get pre-production protocol finished off, kids. See you all next December 14th!

Concerning FDNY Medal Day 2011

This summer, and presumably next as well, the Men of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums will embark upon a series of celebrations marking their 50th Anniversary. For this reason, the Department's happiest ceremony, Fire Department Medal Day, has for the first time been moved from its familiar home on the steps of City Hall Park to the Flight Deck of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. I would imagine that the Pipers and Drummers wish to take advantage of the great view of the Manhattan skyline as they join the Mayor, Fire Commissioner and Chief of Department in honoring the valiant deeds perpetrated over the past year by individual and team members of New York's Bravest.

Unfortunately, this happy little party, running from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., or to its conclusion, whichever comes first, will be open ONLY to active and retired FDNY personnel and members of their families; there will be a reception and party following the ceremony immediately afterward, with the Bagpipe Band making an additional musical appearance.

This ol' Dragonmaster recalls of yore the days when every New Yorker could celebrate the joy of being a New York City Firefighter; sadly, post-9/11, it got to a point where somehow, this type of event should be reserved for the Band of Brethren. Thus, my dears, was it so decreed.

Nonetheless, I cannot let a milestone such as this go unsaluted; so, this foolish old Mage hath chosen to respond accordingly. Besides, I'm a New Yorker now, and frankly, I need this.