The joys of public dominion

Jane Austen masterpieces currently belong to all of us, which means anybody could publish any book of hers and make money out of it without having to share the profits with Austen descendants.

The copyright bonanza was put to wonderful use by Seth Grahame-Smith, the writer behind "Price and Prejudice AND ZOMBIES." Oh, yeah! Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy not only have to deal with society protocol and their prickly personalities. There is also the small detail of the undead trying to peel the flesh out of their bones.

Take this notable "adaptation" of Austen work: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."

Furthermore, Austen more recognizable work has also inspired the movie "Pride and Predator" to open later this year. To say the writer must be rolling in her grave would be putting it mildly.

Dinosaurs!

The life of a prairie dog cover, from start to finish...

Now go pick up the real thing...grrr.

Six in the Morning

1. FIAT MAY BACK OUT OF CHRYSLER DEAL: Demanding the Detroit Dinosaur cut costs further (i.e., cut wages), Fiat threatens to back out of merger deal. (Globe and Mail)

2. BC NDPs STUMBLE ON ENVIRONMENT: By taking a stand for lower taxes -- specifically calls for an end to Liberal Premiere Gordon Campbell's carbon tax -- the BC NDP has received the scorn of environmental groups like the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute. Not just a bad move for the environment, but a dumb move politically some argue. (DeSmog Blog, Globe and Mail)

3. AFGHANS PROTEST LAWS THAT HATE WOMEN: Around 300 students, activists and lawyers take to the streets in Kabul to protest a law that takes away from women many of their civil rights. The protesters are pelted with stones by counter protesters. (Al Jazeera, Globe and Mail)

4. IGGY'S GRITS CALL FOR TAX HIKE, MAYBE: Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff on tour in Ontario suggests he wouldn't rule out a tax hike to deal with the economic downturn. Conservatives mock him, no surprise. (Globe and Mail)]

5. FLOOD BAD, VERY BAD: The flooding in Manitoba this year is already ranked the third worst in the last 100 years. (CBC)

6. LOHAN LOOKING FOR LOVE: Yeah, sorry, I generally try to avoid blogging about this sort of thing (while secretly devouring it in private), but this is actually really funny. And if you haven't checked out the Funny Or Die website yet, its as good a place to start. I also recommend the Green Team sketch. (FunnyOrDie)