Bad and really Bad:

• Doctor at Cornell University is performing female genital mutilations (and worse)

The Good:

• The agents over at BookEnds host a discussion on what readers want from Author websites & social networking pages
• An awesome, awesome take on the re-done Sweet Valley High books
• The Incredible Terry Prachett is judging an unpublished manuscript contest! (Wish I could enter)

• Duck brand Duct tape is having a Duct Tape Prom Dress contest. Vote for the winners (who get scholarships!)

ETA: Also Dark Futures, a dytopian antho edited by Apex EiC Jason Sizemore, and featuring my short story “Meat World” is now up for preorder.

And let’s end with a little awesome:

My daughter and I went to the Louisville Free Public Library’s Summer Reading Kickoff. Raptor Rehabilitation of Louisville was there doing education programs and they were fantastic. Another great thing here in Louisville.

The Portland Festival is still going strong until 11pm tonight… 35th & Portland Ave in Louisville KY. Games, rides, beer, bands and procceeds benefit local charities.

We all know, by now, about the huge, horrible oil spill in the Gulf. But did you know there is something simple and easy YOU can do to help. And it’s not donate money.

• Let’s just start off with a preemptive Nooooooo!
• So a group of right-wingers were caught plotting to kill a policeman (any one would do) then they were going to use a WMD at the funeral. Worse, members of the GOP took under day to start to defend them, and no one seemed willing to call them terrorists.
• Utah’s governor signed a law that would allow him to seize government property under imminent domain laws. Classy.
• Here an interesting op ed piece that compares today’s teabaggers and near violent health care reform protesters to those who fought Social Security and Medicare when they were passed. In short–things aren’t any different now that then. People fear change and resent being forced to change, and will not hesitate to get nasty and even violent and especially fall back on fear mongering, manipulation and lies in order to prevent change.
• In only slightly less troubling news in Bulgarian a Councilman was booted from the city government for playing Farmville during meetings. The thing is there’s always the option to plant crops that take days to grow, or, you know, not plant any when you know you’ll be too busy at work. I’m sure some people are ready to tout the evils of online gaming that it affects people so, but really folks, this is a reflection of the people, not the games. You can ignore the games, even if you like to play them. If a person can’t it’s not the game to blame.
• A MUST watch video about a day in the life of a literary agent.
• Man arrested at the Hadron Collider claims he’s from the future.
• 
  

• Publisher to Others: “People who can afford an ereading device can afford all proposed ebook prices.”
• Twilight Fan to Universal Studios: “Your Wolfman movie ripped off Twilight: New Moon!” (I paraphrase and make the point clearer than the actual letter.)
• The Crow remake (Only “It’s not a remake, it’s  relaunch.” ORlly? Then why are they casting for Eric Draven? Seriously, leave this one alone.)
• This one I am utterly upset about: Repo Men the movie. It’s an action version of Repo: The Genetic Opera, which is a gorgeous, poignant piece of work, that sadly only has a cult following. The thing is, I would probably love this movie (it looks a lot like “The Island” as well, which I liked. What can I say, I love dark science fiction.) if I wasn’t hung up on this irritation that it’s so very close to another, overlooked  movie. Now, if someone more enlightened that I (and the posters on IMDB) can tell me that both are reworkings, or that the Repo:GO people were given a nod or something then maybe I could give this one a chance. (No really, please, please, please make me feel better about this movie if you can. I want to because I do so love the concept.)

Bonus Link

• Will ebooks Create an Elite Reading Class- Which is exactly the kind of ebook conversation I think we should be having

From Here

by UofL Today — last modified Feb 17, 2010 10:23 AM

Beauty, healthy eating and good health are among the subjects that a weeklong Campus Health Services (CHS) program will explore Feb. 22-26.

Body Awarness/Body Appreciation (BABA) Week activities are designed to promote and celebrate healthy body images and to challenge media portrayals of beauty. The program will feature events, films, exhibits and discussions. Elizabeth Somer, a frequent guest on NBC’s “Today Show” and author of “Eat Your Way to Happiness,” will be among the week’s guest speakers. She will talk about how dietary changes can improve mood and energy levels.

BABA week is all about getting people to rethink attitudes toward beauty, learn to be “comfortable in their own skin” and care for their bodies, said Karen Newton, director of Health Promotion and Education for CHS.

“Every day we get a flood of media messages that tell us how we are supposed to look, act and feel. Yet these messages typically portray people in a plastic, air-brushed world of perfection that simply doesn’t exist,” she said.

Constant exposure to unrealistic body images contributes to such unhealthy behaviors as eating disorders and extreme dieting, Newton said.

BABA Week highlights include:

• Jump Rope for Heart: Campus teams will compete in a competition and fitness program. Red Barn, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• “America the Beautiful”: A film about America’s obsession with physical perfection. Multipurpose Room, Student Activities Center (SAC), Feb. 22, 7 p.m.
• Health Fair: Multipurpose Room, SAC, and Red Barn, Feb. 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• “Do I Look Fat”: A film that focuses on seven gay men who struggle with eating disorders and body image. Multipurpose Room, SAC, Feb 23, 7 p.m.
• International Tea: A discussion about cultural perspectives on beauty. Cultural Center, Feb. 24, noon-1 p.m.
• “The Century Project”: A traveling exhibit of highly personal statements and nude photos of “real women” that serves as a platform to address healthy body images and beauty. Multipurpose Room, SAC, Feb. 22-26, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Conversation about “The Century Project”: Photographer Frank Cordell will discuss the exhibit. Multipurpose Room, SAC, 6 p.m., Feb. 24.
• Panel discussion about “The Century Project”: Louisville’s WAVE 3 personality Dawne Gee will lead a discussion with some of the women Cordell photographed for “The Century Project.” Multipurpose Room, SAC, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
• “Eat Your Way to Happiness”: Author Elizabeth Somer will talk about how dietary changes can help improve mood and energy levels. Feb. 25, two locations. Kornhauser Library, Health Sciences Campus, noon-1 p.m.; Room 101, Strickler Hall, Belknap Campus, 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Your Sexual Body Health Workshop: A Discussion of issues pertaining to sexuality. Room 254, Ekstrom Library, noon-2 p.m.
• Feel Good in Your Jeans/Genes: Donate gently used jeans to The Healing Place all week. Collection boxes in some residence halls, SAC, Crawford Gym and Human Resources.

This is the third year CHS has put on BABA Week. CHS, its partners and sponsors launched the program in recognition of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.