Chocolate Jesus?!

NEW YORK (AP) — A planned Holy Week exhibition of a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ was canceled Friday amid complaints from Catholics, including Cardinal Edward Egan….[Rest of article]

Apparently many Catholics find this statue offensive, so–of course–it appears here.

I’m not sure if it is the absence of the traditional loincloth that offends (Is his body ugly and not perfect in their eyes? Does it possibly arouse sexual desire for Jesus in some?), or just the idea that the “edible Jesus” does not come in their preferred wafer-form.

In any event: It’s “Art”, folks.  Just move along to the next exhibit if you don’t like it…

 

More Stem Cell Stuff

 Haven’t written about these critters for a while.

 Here’s some intriguing new possibilities from the SPORTS section of the NEW YORK TIMES:

“The latest curative leap to heal professional athletes and weekend warriors alike may sound like science fiction, but it could transform sports medicine. Some doctors and researchers say that in a few years the use of primitive stem cells from infants’ umbilical cord blood could grow new knee ligaments or elbow tendons creating a therapy that becomes the vanguard of sports injury repair.

“Already, some sports agents are preparing to advise clients about banking stem cells from their offspring or from tissue taken from their own bodies as an insurance policy against a career-ending infirmity. Stem cell blood banks are promoting the benefits of stem cell therapies for the practical healing and rehabilitation of tendons, ligaments, muscle and cartilage. There are skeptics in the medical community who wonder how soon the technology will be viable, but enthusiastic advocates of the therapies say the time is near….[Rest of article]

Cuter Than Penguins?

No way can you watch this and not go “Awwwww…”  I’d suggest turning the sound off, however, as there is so much of that coming from the mothers filming this little scene that it will otherwise be difficult to not lose your stomach contents:

Cuter Than Penguins?

No way can you watch this and not go “Awwwww…”  I’d suggest turning the sound off, however, as there is so much of that coming from the mothers filming this little scene that it will otherwise be difficult to not lose your stomach contents:

Hugo Awards Nominees Announced

 The nominees for the Hugo Award (for the best science fiction book of the year) were just announced.  I used to read a lot of sci-fi in my youth, and try and read the award winner each year.

 They are:

 Novel
Michael F. Flynn, Eifelheim (Tor)
Naomi Novik, His Majesty’s Dragon (Del Rey)
Charles Stross, Glasshouse (Ace)
Vernor Vinge, Rainbows End (Tor)
Peter Watts, Blindsight (Tor)

Novella
“The Walls of the Universe” by Paul Melko (Asimov’s, April/May 2006)
“A Billion Eyes” by Robert Reed (Asimov’s, October/November 2006)
“Inclination” by William Shunn (Asimov’s, April/May 2006)
“Lord Weary’s Empire” by Michael Swanwick (Asimov’s, December 2006)
Julian: A Christmas Story by Robert Charles Wilson (PS Publishing)

Novelette
“Yellow Card Man” by Paolo Bacigalupi (Asimov’s, December 2006
) “Dawn, and Sunset, and the Colours of the Earth” by Michael F. Flynn (Asimov’s, December 2006)
“The Djinn’s Wife” by Ian McDonald (Analog, July 2006)
“All the Things You Are” by Mike Resnick (Jim Baen’s Universe, October 2006)
“Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter” by Geoff Ryman (F&SF, October/November 2006)

Short Story
“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” by Neil Gaiman (Fragile Things)
“Kin” by Bruce McAllister (Asimov’s, February 2006)
“Impossible Dreams” by Timothy Pratt (Asimov’s, July 2006)
“Eight Episodes” by Robert Reed (Asimov’s, June 2006)
“The House Beyond Your Sky” by Benjamin Rosenbaum (Strange Horizons, September 2006)

Jib Jab’s 2006 Year In Review

The folks at Jib Jab are consistently clever. Here’s their take on the events of last year. (Rated PG-13. Maybe even 14…)