Da Vinci Code bestseller is plagiarism, Holy Blood Holy Grail authors claim
"Jesus conspiracy novel has earned £140 million, but now two academic writers say that their historical work preceded it by 20 years, reports Elizabeth Day
"It is the biggest-selling adult fiction book of all time and has earned its author a reputed £140 million with its plot about a global conspiracy to suppress Christ's marriage.
"The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 12 million copies and has been translated into 42 languages. But now two writers are suing its publishers, claiming that it was copied from their bestseller that first appeared more than 20 years ago.
"Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh claim that Dan Brown, the 39-year-old former English teacher from New Hampshire, has 'lifted the whole architecture' of the research that they carried out for their non-fiction work The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, which they co-wrote with Henry Lincoln.
"They claim that the similarities between the two books are such that they have no choice but to sue Random House, whose imprint Doubleday is the publisher of Brown's novel."
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
Superman Costume Revealed
Look, up in the sky...it's the fist look at the Superman costume from the upcoming movie.
Dueling Theater Managers
The rest is just strange. Ah....how I miss living in a small town sometimes. Sometimes...
Dueling Theater Managers
"The Bozeman Police reports for Tuesday included the following:
"Two managers from competing theaters got into a fight Monday over who was going to host the new Star Wars movie."
Dueling Theater Managers
"The Bozeman Police reports for Tuesday included the following:
"Two managers from competing theaters got into a fight Monday over who was going to host the new Star Wars movie."
Friday, April 22, 2005
Mevlana Jelalu'ddin Rumi on Death
Mevlana Jelalu'ddin Rumi on Death
"I died from minerality and became vegetable;
And from vegatativeness I died and became animal,
I died from animality and became man.
Why, then, fear disappearance through death?
Next time I shall die
Bringing forth wings and feathers like angels;
After that, soaring higher than angels --
What you cannot imagine,
I shall be that."
"I died from minerality and became vegetable;
And from vegatativeness I died and became animal,
I died from animality and became man.
Why, then, fear disappearance through death?
Next time I shall die
Bringing forth wings and feathers like angels;
After that, soaring higher than angels --
What you cannot imagine,
I shall be that."
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Bionic suit offers wearers super-strength
Bionic suit offers wearers super-strength
"A ROBOT suit has been developed that could help older people or those with disabilities to walk or lift heavy objects.
Dubbed HAL, or hybrid assistive limb, the latest versions of the suit will be unveiled this June at the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan, which opened last month. A commercial product is slated for release by the end of the year.
HAL is the result of 10 years' work by Yoshiyuki Sankai of the University of Tsukuba in Japan, and integrates mechanics, electronics, bionics and robotics in a new field known as cybernics. The most fully developed prototype, HAL 3, is a motor-driven metal 'exoskeleton' that you strap onto your legs to power-assist leg movements. A backpack holds a computer with a wireless network connection, and the batteries are on a belt."
"A ROBOT suit has been developed that could help older people or those with disabilities to walk or lift heavy objects.
Dubbed HAL, or hybrid assistive limb, the latest versions of the suit will be unveiled this June at the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan, which opened last month. A commercial product is slated for release by the end of the year.
HAL is the result of 10 years' work by Yoshiyuki Sankai of the University of Tsukuba in Japan, and integrates mechanics, electronics, bionics and robotics in a new field known as cybernics. The most fully developed prototype, HAL 3, is a motor-driven metal 'exoskeleton' that you strap onto your legs to power-assist leg movements. A backpack holds a computer with a wireless network connection, and the batteries are on a belt."
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Hasbro Reports First Quarter Results
Hasbro Reports First Quarter Results
"Highlights
"-- Net revenues were down 4%, to $454.9 million compared to $474.2 million a year ago;
"-- Net loss of ($3.7) million, or ($0.02) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $6.5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share in 2004;
"-- Toy segment net revenues were up 9%, reflecting the initial shipment of STAR WARS products in advance of the May 19th movie release;
"-- Balance sheet continues to be strong, ending the quarter with cash, net of debt of $237.9 million.
"Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) today reported first quarter results. Worldwide net revenues for the quarter were $454.9 million compared to $474.2 million a year ago and included a $7.0 million positive impact from foreign exchange. The Company reported a net loss for the quarter of ($3.7) million or ($0.02) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $6.5 million or $0.03 per diluted share in 2004."
"Highlights
"-- Net revenues were down 4%, to $454.9 million compared to $474.2 million a year ago;
"-- Net loss of ($3.7) million, or ($0.02) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $6.5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share in 2004;
"-- Toy segment net revenues were up 9%, reflecting the initial shipment of STAR WARS products in advance of the May 19th movie release;
"-- Balance sheet continues to be strong, ending the quarter with cash, net of debt of $237.9 million.
"Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) today reported first quarter results. Worldwide net revenues for the quarter were $454.9 million compared to $474.2 million a year ago and included a $7.0 million positive impact from foreign exchange. The Company reported a net loss for the quarter of ($3.7) million or ($0.02) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $6.5 million or $0.03 per diluted share in 2004."
Monday, April 18, 2005
It's not easy living on Dork Street
And last but not least....
It's not easy living on Dork Street
"It's not easy living on Dork Street -- just ask Mario Saucedo.
"'I had a resume kicked back because someone thought I was kidding,' said Saucedo, who has lived on the street in this suburb about a dozen miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles for eight years.
"Ester Avetisian, who moved there 18 years ago, said she might have thought twice if there had been a sign in those days marking the road tucked into what is still a semi-rural section of town where people keep goats and chickens in their back yards.
"'I didn't know the name until my husband and I were signing (mortgage) papers,' Avetisian recalled. 'I was pretty shocked when I found out.'
"Still, most residents have learned to grin and bear the jokes." [via Jonny]
It's not easy living on Dork Street
"It's not easy living on Dork Street -- just ask Mario Saucedo.
"'I had a resume kicked back because someone thought I was kidding,' said Saucedo, who has lived on the street in this suburb about a dozen miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles for eight years.
"Ester Avetisian, who moved there 18 years ago, said she might have thought twice if there had been a sign in those days marking the road tucked into what is still a semi-rural section of town where people keep goats and chickens in their back yards.
"'I didn't know the name until my husband and I were signing (mortgage) papers,' Avetisian recalled. 'I was pretty shocked when I found out.'
"Still, most residents have learned to grin and bear the jokes." [via Jonny]
Where imagination is the key
Where imagination is the key
"'Halt! Who are you and why are you here?'
"The deep-voiced shout echoed through the rocky passage and the adventurers froze. Before anyone could answer, the owner of the deep voice stepped out of his hiding place and turned out to be ... Nancy Montano, a 39-year-old bill collector from Pendleton, Ind.
"Not quite a scene from 'The Lord of the Rings,' this was the start of another round of 'Dungeons & Dragons' at this weekend's Game Con South Bend. At the Century Center Saturday and today, Game Con offers the chance for fans and newcomers to play dozens of board, card and miniatures games, as well as some X-Box.
"Also popular are roleplaying games like 'Dungeons & Dragons,' in which players like Nancy assume the identities of fantasy-themed characters and play out elaborate missions. The healthy imagination and sense of community these games require and foster are the foundation of Game Con's popularity."
"'Halt! Who are you and why are you here?'
"The deep-voiced shout echoed through the rocky passage and the adventurers froze. Before anyone could answer, the owner of the deep voice stepped out of his hiding place and turned out to be ... Nancy Montano, a 39-year-old bill collector from Pendleton, Ind.
"Not quite a scene from 'The Lord of the Rings,' this was the start of another round of 'Dungeons & Dragons' at this weekend's Game Con South Bend. At the Century Center Saturday and today, Game Con offers the chance for fans and newcomers to play dozens of board, card and miniatures games, as well as some X-Box.
"Also popular are roleplaying games like 'Dungeons & Dragons,' in which players like Nancy assume the identities of fantasy-themed characters and play out elaborate missions. The healthy imagination and sense of community these games require and foster are the foundation of Game Con's popularity."
The Agony Column
The Agony Column edited by Rick Kleffel
Original fiction, commentary, reviews and interviews with the many faces of SF and fantastic fiction. Well worth checking out.
Original fiction, commentary, reviews and interviews with the many faces of SF and fantastic fiction. Well worth checking out.
The Infinite Matrix
The Infinite Matrix
A great SF/Fantastic Fiction website. An upcoming "issue" will have a new short story by Rudy Rucker and an essay from William Gibson. Well worth checking out if you are interested in the non-mainstream for your fantastic fiction.
A great SF/Fantastic Fiction website. An upcoming "issue" will have a new short story by Rudy Rucker and an essay from William Gibson. Well worth checking out if you are interested in the non-mainstream for your fantastic fiction.
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