http://nerdist.com/ice-cream-katana-japan-food-fight/

By many accounts, the history if ice cream goes back several centuries, and it remains one of the most popular deserts around the world. Many countries put their own spin on ice cream, but the latest creation out of Japan may be the most hardcore ice cream treat that we’ve ever seen. It’s an ice cream katana with a chocolate-covered cookie cross-guard!

Via Kotaku, Asahi Digital is reporting that the ingenious idea to create ice cream in the shape of a katana blade came from a high school student in the city of Seki in Gifu Prefecture. It’s especially fitting since the swordsmiths of Seki are renowned for their sword-making skills and their “high-quality kitchen cutlery.” As for the katana ice cream, they are made by a local confectionery chef and they appear to very popular creations.

ゆっこちゃん✨
関市にゆっこー！！

※OK戴
KATANA　ICE
日本刀アイス
関の新名物！#日本刀アイス pic.twitter.com/cHKzmsoB6o

— 流浪民 uıɯnoɹnɹ (@ruroumin) June 18, 2017

先日、先行販売された岐阜県関市の新名物「日本刀アイス」。味は上之保ゆずとこしあんの二種があるぞ。次の販売はいつ頃になるか？楽しみだな！ pic.twitter.com/kyNsPbSxIO

— 関武将隊KUMOAGEHA (@sekibushoutai) June 20, 2017

So far, the katana ice cream only comes in bean paste or Japanese citron flavor, and it is only available in Seki. However, it’s such a great idea that we wouldn’t be shocked at all if it continues to expand across Japan and even to the United States at some point in the future. At least that’s what we’re hoping for! Because now that we know these exist, we want them badly.

What do you think about the katana ice cream blades? And which flavors would you like to see if they make it to the US? Share your delicious thoughts in the comment section below!

Image: Neku

More things!

• Our review of Death Note
• In This Corner of the World is a movie you need to watch
• Spongebob’s new makeover

http://www.essence.com/news/hurricane-harvey-tropical-storm

This hurricane was one of the worst to hit the U.S. in more than a decade

http://nerdist.com/this-1949-chuck-jones-cartoon-makes-the-case-for-universal-healthcare/

The next time you find yourself in a conversation with someone who insists the idea of government-funded healthcare in the U.S. is somehow a new idea, just let this 1949 Warner Brothers cartoon do most of the talking for you. Brought to our attention via an article on BoingBoing, this short, titled “So Much for So Little,” was produced by the U.S. government in 1949 and directed by cartoon legend Chuck Jones, famous for many of the most popular Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons. It went on to win an Academy Award in 1950 for Documentary Short Subject.

Along with being beautifully animated, the short is helpful to refute those pesky claims that universal healthcare is some sort of radical hippie idea cooked up in the last few years. The details of the concept as presented in the cartoon have, as you can imagine, changed over the years, particularly when it comes to the country’s infant mortality rate, common diseases that infants face, and the how smoking as a health hazard isn’t even mentioned.

Additionally, the final figure of “three cents a week” that the cartoon states can fund public healthcare would barely be a drop in the bucket in modern costs. Yet, Boing Boing cites a piece that states a 2009 Kingsepp study showed it would cost taxpayers $3.61 a week to fund the Affordable Care Act (in its form at the time). If there’s validity to those figures, we’re still pretty much at the “for less than a cup of [Starbucks] coffee a week” levels of taking care of every American citizen.

What do you think of the short? Think something like what’s proposed in it is still possible? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Image: Academy Film Archive

http://www.thenerdelement.com/2017/08/26/otakon-2017/

Hello again everyone! Kendra here, and I’m back to share a bit of my photo coverage of Otakon 2017. Otakon is one of the largest anime conventions held on the East coast, and this year was the move to Walter E. Washington convention center in downtown Washington, D.C. The con itself has primarily been held in Baltimore, Maryland (with its younger sister con, “Otakon Vegas” held in Las Vegas, Nevada). It was announced back in 2013 by Otakorp, Inc, (the non-profit organization that puts together the con) that the convention would be moving to a new home just down the highway in 2017.

The move was definite needed change of paste. The DC convention center, which is also home to AwesomeCon, had more than enough space to accommodate Otakon ever growing amount of attendees. Official numbers haven’t been released yet, but the con has averaged between 20,000-30,000 con goers each year since 2004.

But enough of that, let’s get to the photos!! Definitely a massive amount of amazing cosplays on display in DC. Check out the ones that caught my eye!! What are your favorite pictures? Let us know in the comments!

The post Otakon 2017 appeared first on The Nerd Element.