Celebrity novelist Salman Rushdie, whose literary crimes against Islam placed him under a death sentence and whose knighthood sparked threats of retaliation from Al Qaeda, is the frontrunner to win the Best of Booker Prize. Ironically, this is leading to yet another affront to Allah: gambling! UK bookmakers say that an unprecedented number of bets have been placed on Rushdie to win the award, which will be announced tomorrow. [Reuters]