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Fate Of Humanity May Rest In Comedian Colbert's DNA

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2008

Should this world ever cease to exist, Stephen Colbert will live on.

The comedian's DNA will be digitized and sent to the International Space Station, Comedy Central was to announce Monday. In October, video game designer Richard Garriott will travel to the station and deposit Colbert's genes for an "Immortality Drive."

"I am thrilled to have my DNA shot into space, as this brings me one step closer to my lifelong dream of being the baby at the end of 2001," Colbert said in a statement, referring to the 1968 landmark science fiction film "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Garriott, one of few private citizens to travel into space, is collecting material for a time capsule of human DNA, a history of humanity's greatest achievements and personal messages.

The host of "The Colbert Report" will essentially be preserved so that aliens can clone him.

'Ivory Queen Of Soul' To Be Honored

Teena Marie was first recognized as an R&B talent in the 1970s when she signed a recording deal with Motown at 19.

Now, the self-proclaimed "Ivory Queen of Soul" is being recognized for a nearly 30-year career that has included collaborations with industry giants from Rick James to Smokey Robinson, as well as a Grammy-nominated solo repertoire.

Marie is one of nine artists receiving a Pioneer Award from the Philadelphia-based Rhythm & Blues Foundation at a gala ceremony Tuesday night.

"I'm very, very excited," Marie said in a phone interview. "All my idols that I grew up on are going to be there."

The other honorees are Chaka Khan, Kool & The Gang, Bill Withers, The Whispers, The Funk Brothers, Donny Hathaway, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Al Bell.

Rowling Wins Copyright Lawsuit

A judge ruled Monday in favor of "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling in her copyright infringement lawsuit against a fan and Web site operator who was set to publish a Potter encyclopedia.

U.S. District Judge Robert P. Patterson said Rowling had proven that Steven Vander Ark's "Harry Potter Lexicon" would cause her irreparable harm as a writer. He permanently blocked publication of the reference guide and awarded Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. $6,750 in statutory damages.

"I took no pleasure at all in bringing legal action and am delighted that this issue has been resolved favourably," Rowling said Monday in a statement. "I went to court to uphold the right of authors everywhere to protect their own original work. The court has upheld that right.

"The proposed book took an enormous amount of my work and added virtually no original commentary of its own. ... Many books have been published which offer original insights into the world of Harry Potter. The Lexicon just is not one of them."

Today's Birthdays

Actor Topol is 73. Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 63. Rock singer Doug Ingle is 62. Football commentator Joe Theismann is 59. Actor Tom Wopat is 57. Actor Hugh Grant is 48. Actor Adam Sandler is 42. Model Rachel Hunter is 39. Pop-jazz singer Michael Buble is 33. Latin singer Maria Rita is 31. Actress Michelle Williams is 28.

Source: The Associated Press

CORRECTIONS

It is the policy of The Tampa Tribune to correct all errors of fact. To report an error, call (813) 259-7600.

CORRECTION: Sheila Zuckerman's name was misspelled in a story in Monday's Tampa Tribune.

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