Yep, she plays a Peter Jackson made up Elf, Tauriel.  Although given the way the movies may break up into 3 parts, I suspect there is a chance that she might not show up until Part 2 and Part 3.  Of course, PJ managed to work Arwen into the Two Towers movie even though she never appeared in that book so I don't presume to be correct that Tauriel would be limited to only the later chapters.

I watched LOTR again about a month ago, and found it more difficult to enjoy this time around, as I had read the books not long before. Glorfindel getting bumped at the river for more Arwen time  cheeses me off.

The toys are definately separate from the movies- I don't care for the prequels, but understand them for what they are. We all wanted George to make more movies, and while I don't love them like the originals, I'm glad they exist rather then never have gotten more movies.

And those movies helped launch our collections, because they provided the support to do such an incredible toy run since 1999. Before that POTF2 was explosive, then dwindled to clearance fodder. POTJ was pretty good, but pretty short lived. If the prequels hadn't come along, we wouldn't have these boards to be hanging out on talking about these toys.

I am in the group that at one point dumped everything prequel. The storage areas were overflowing, and something had to be done. But I wish I had an AT-TE and plenty of other items. The Clone Wars drew me back in, and I know I am in a small camp wishing those had been theatrical releases. I think they would have gotten a lot more mileage out of the toys that way. But even that I trimmed down to a single box plus the giant slave-1 sitting on top of it.

Some of the EU I really enjoy, others not so much. So I bought some of the former, and not the latter. I think a Clone Wars type version of the Thrawn trilogy would rock.

I've pretty much retired now, but I don't intend to not pay attention to the line. I'm sure I'll continue thinning the collection, and still picking up an item here or there. My parameters will be more scene specific for a potential display, rather than which movie or source it comes from.

The refs were happily invisible for the most part in the NFL debut with the Giants and Cowboys, not so much today. I hope they get this settled soon. It was clear that on top of some bad and missed calls, refs were being convinced/intimidated into throwing flags late. The last I had heard, the two sides were like 6 grand apart per game. Raise the price of beer a nickel, cover the difference, and get this done before it has a lasting impact on the season.

Just saw the images of this at Yakface.com-  I like! 

I think ebay could be held liable to some degree even just for turning the other way when shilling is brought to their attention. They have policies against it, but a financial incentive (higher fees on higher selling prices) if it happens. I think they are probably monitored to some extent by FTC or other, agency that they are indeed enforcing their own policies. I would guess it happens from time to time on a small scale, they do something about it when it is brought to their attention with a suspension or what not, and they spend most of their efforts looking for the big fish that could really land them in hot water.

After months of patient waiting, Steve-O's mule finally delivered the NY based echo troopers. Thanks again Steve!

Two more arrived today, addressed to my older daughter. I'm sure she'll treasure them forever... 

Shilling is definately a real phenomenon though- I had an auction a year or so ago where 5 minutes before the end of an auction my bid was pushed up to the max, passed, then the high bidder "canceled" the last bid, making mine the winner. It looked a little fishy, as the other bidder had only 1 feedback, from that same seller. I went back in to the 2nd bidders history, and found they had retracted multiple winning bids, and I am sure they were for the same seller. Long story short, they get a second account set up and used it to run up bids. I refused to pay for the item, explaining to ebay by phone it was very clear they had a case of fraud. I never heard about it again.