HBO pointed us to what the guys at TeamXbox have done to the Origen site-- namely, they found the XML file that contains the dialog between the two rabbits. It also reveals the first three of the four contests that will determine who gets to go to Origen. Places 5 and 6 will go to the top eligible Double Team playlist player and his or her usual partner. Unless you live in Portugal or Greece, apparently.

There are only three days left to submit entries into the 117 Words Halo fan fiction contest, as noted by One One Se7en author Stuntmutt in the HBO forum.

The Halo Babies this week have to deal with unexpected consequences of Grif's stupidity from the first season of Red vs Blue. The strip was the runner-up in the red vs blue contest. Thanks, mrsmiley.

Bungie's Frankie has created his own Bungie.net Group, the Legion of Jerks, for "evil-smelling ruffians" who like "Pie and Margaritas". (Not sure who Pie is, but hopefully they'll have some nice-looking Margaritas--Ed.)

Hopefully at some point there will be some information there, like, how to join, or a Halo 3 announcement, or something.

Chris Bryan has recreated what looks like a few seconds from the Halo 2 announcement trailer with what one imagine might be Halo 3 quality graphics-- entirely from scratch (no extracted content). HBO has versions in QT and WMV formats. It's a small download, but quite impressive and well worth it. Thanks Louis Wu.

• Overswarm has added four more interviews (Vash, T Squared, Sergio, and Mack). Thanks HBO.
• Major Nelson points out a video interview with the developer of the Xbox 360 dashboard, as well as a reminder about this week's Frag Doll Friday event.

The HBO Helljumpers remind us all that it is Talk Like A Pirate Day. (Has anybody seen me mizzen mast? It's mizzen!--Ed.)

XerxdeeJ posted in the HBO forum that his Halo blog, Tied the Leader, is back following the author's wedding. (Also, belated congratulations to Pinkuh who also did the deed this month-- I just saw the announcement in my XBL mailbox after a long hiatus--Ed.)

Joe "Dyslexia" Renaud has posted a writeup of the MLG Seattle tournament, som by IGS. Seattle was the last major qualifying MLG event before the Championship Series begins.

Thanks Louis Wu at HBO for the heads-up.

The latest Halo Babies comic gives a (thankfully rare) glimpse behind the scenes. Thanks, mrsmiley.

Over in MBO's Asulym forum, there's details from Psyched, including rules and brackets, for Myth Tournament 2005 (which is actually being played with Myth II). Thanks Gholsbane for the heads-up.

Halo Arena has put up an interview with c0ld vengeance, creator of Halo movies (including Haliens and Predator) and overlord of the HBO Helljumpers clan.

Ryan 'Mhaddy' Matthews at the Junkyard has put up the latest of their Spotlight series of interviews; this one features Jason "Stuntmutt" Cascarina, author of One One Se7en. Plus, there's a strip to commemorate the occasion.

Also of note:

The Houston Chronicle's Entertainment section this past weekend was has a feature on Halo champion Matt "Zyos" Leto. Thanks Louis Wu.

This week's Weekly What's Update points out that Bungie's "Fight the Flood" T-shirts have raised over $120,000 to help the American Red Cross' relief efforts following the devestation of Hurricane Katrina. There are also a few movie tidbits ("ages away") word on Bungie's new digs (ready, moving next week) and a visit from Claude "Louis Wu" Errera of Bungie.org, whom we've been promised is not going to find out anything about the "secret" new project.