AI Might Issue Fatwa. We’ve seen AI in service to religion before in SF – Alexis Gilliland’s Skashkash, Chandler’s Tin Messiah – but this is real world.
Scorsese is at it again, attempting to explain the differences between “commodities” (super hero films) and “art” (“real” cinema). I’m personally in sympathy with his position, though YMMV.
The ACLU has filed a suit against Oklahoma. The state is on the verge of approving funding for a “religiously-based charter school”. We think it should be obvious that this violates the principal of the separation of Church and State, but apparently those receiving religious educations haven’t been taught this. Go figure. This is a big deal.
First Fandom‘s newsletter has announced the winners of its annual awards: (Membership is open, sign up to get their newsletter)
FIRST FANDOM HALL OF FAME
• Michael Moorcock
• Will Murray
POSTHUMOUS HALL OF FAME
• Ken Kelly
• Conrad H. Ruppert
SAM MOSKOWITZ ARCHIVE AWARD
• John L. Coker III
A long time from now, the formation of a new super-continent may make the planet uninhabitable
NASA is very happy with their asteroid sample return mission
Amazon being sued for monopolistic practices. Excuse us but – It’s about fucking time
A discussion of magazine distribution, from The Saint magazine, August, 1966
And, in other Fascist Nazi Antisemitic News, a HS football coach resigns after his team repeatedly used “Nazi” as a play call, while competing against a team from a Jewish High School. BOTH the lack of historical awareness and the antisemitism bother me greatly.
The Kansas City SF & F Society shares this review of The Mountains of Madness
Lou Anders showcases Connie Willis’ news roundup. She’s quite good at it.
Renfaires are Creatures of the Counter Culture
STOP THE PRESSES! BATTEN THE HATCHES! LOCATE YOUR NEAREST SHELTER! PREPARE FOR HOSTILE ENEMY ACTION! PREPARE TO REPEL BOARDERS! It has just been announced that a second remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still, this one starring Chris Pratt (Star Lord) is in the offing. For the record and well in advance of release: this film can not possibly match, in any way, the original 1951 version. The best we can hope for is that it will not be anywhere near as terrible, awful, horrible, sucky, disgusting, meaningless, pointless, confused, unnecessary, stupid, misguided, foolish, insulting and smelly as the Keeanu Reeves abomination from several years ago. Robert Wise’s original take is nigh on perfect. There is no need to ever make a new version of this classic. There is EVERY reason to believe that contemporary Hollywood does not understand the themes of that movie and never will again.
Game Company Evil Genius is suing Netflix over their cancelling of a game release
JWST reveals three black holes that are colliding
A review of Terry Carr’s The Catcher of the Rye. (No, that’s not a typo. Yes, it is the correct author.)
The new Ansible is here! The new Ansible is here!
A T-Rex Race. Too funny to ignore.
Radioactive Waste affects a community. Big surprise it is a minority community
What to do next if your book was used to train an AI
A review of The Creator – it’s not the latest Star Wars
Alex Shvartsman announces a release party
A round-up of Space Ark images
