Posted by: Lola Smalls     Ramona and Beezus star Selena Gomez turns 18 today!  The star, who received her start on popular children’s television show Barney and is currently the star of Disney’s Wizard’s of Waverly Place, is finally a woman. The actress/singer has also recently been in the studio with Katy Perry getting some help from the multi-platinum singer for... 

In this overwraught essay, a novelist yearns for a time before addiction to technology slowly drained us of our humanity. I don’t buy it. We can both be connected and be fulfilled. We can stop, disconnect, read a book, make love without checking our devices for updates. And we can also be connected, while still being human. In fact, being human is being connected. We’ll figure out the instrumentation... 

A new set of directives from the Vatican marginally increase the Church’s vigilance against paedophile priests (Bishops are now encouraged, but not required, to report rapist priests to civil authorities); however, the same document includes a list of “more grave delicts” that are on par with raping children. On that list are “heresy, apostasy, schism” and ordaining woman... 

Legendary underground comic writer Harvey Pekar died today. He was 70-years-old. Pekar’s seminal autobiographical comic book series, American Splendor, will forever embody the genius and influence he brought to the form. “The humor of everyday life is way funnier than what the comedians do on TV. It’s the stuff that happens right in front of your face when there’s no routine... 

Stepping out on a beautiful Friday afternoon, Anna Paquin was spotted in Santa Monica, California yesterday (July 9). The “True Blood” babe looked a bit edgy in long pants, a vintage tee and black jacket as she did some shopping and made a stop at a Beverly Hills salon. In other news, Ms Paquin along with “True Blood” castmates will return to the annual Comic-Con International Convention this... 

A group of Iranian activists abroad and in Iran have produced a professional translation of my novel Little Brother and have released it online with the hope that it will be of interest to Iran’s online activists. I’ve written an introduction to the edition on online activism and dissidence. It was a volunteer-led project, but they paid the translator (whose identity is a not publicly disclosed... 

Here’s a recipe from the out-of-print Darth Vader’s Activity Book for scrummy and terrifying Death Star Cookies. Death Star Cookie (via Neatorama) Upcoming LEGO Star Wars Death Star is brimming with minifigs … Vader's topiary Death Star tee Death Star birthday cake Taibbi on Goldman Sachs: "Planet-eating Death Star," "Vampire … Vader and Death Star pregnancy...