We Sure All Are [Descendants] Of King Tut

A group of about 50 protested the King Tut exhibition at the Franklin Institute yesterday, including Temple prof. Molefi Asante, who said: “This is an area of criminal theft, identity theft.” Somebody needs a Capital One card.

The identity thief here is the King Tut exhibit, which protesters said shows King Tut as white — “looks more like Boy George than the boy king” — and doesn’t mention Egypt is in Africa, leading people to believe Egypt is in Europe. (If someone thinks Egypt is in Europe, he or she most likely has bigger problems than thinking King Tut was white.) The exhibit has been protested since it arrived in America, and the Franklin Institute will be holding a symposium where everyone will be calm and nice to each other this summer.

Also, wait ’til these people find out most people probably believe Jesus was a pale white dude rather than a Middle Eastern guy. But even that wouldn’t stop hot dog vendor George Williams, who knows that King Tut is all about togetherness:

George Williams, who is black and operates a pretzel cart in front of the museum, said he believes that King Tut is a piece of history all people share.

“Regardless if he was black or white, we’re all equal and we’re all [descendants] of King Tut,” he said. “We can love each other.”

Wait, who is King Tut again? He apparently sired the entire human race and I think I’ve gotten him confused with someone else.

Protesters at exhibit say King Tut was black [Daily News]

Leftovers: Best, Philadelphia Will Do

• Apparently, if you sign your email with the sign-off “Best” you are uh, being rude to the person. Me, I like to stick to my normal sign-off: “To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.” [NYT]

• While a third woman of the four found outside Atlantic City was identified, police are investigating if these homicides are connected to another attack on prostitutes earlier this year. Gee, it’s good that prostitution is illegal and all, because it really works out for everyone involved, doesn’t it? [Inquirer]

• More Western Pennsylvania news: In New Castle, a house explosion injured three. Damn, it’s a mile a minute out there! [AP/Philly.com]

• Quakertown’s council is flooded with complaints that kids are smoking on a street corner that’s been dubbed the “cancer corner.” Minors may be banned from smoking throughout the township. Huzzah. [Doylestown Intelligencer]

• Just in time — well, okay, in advance — of the Franklin Institute’s King Tut exhibit, we learn that the boy king was not bludgeoned to death. Well. That clears that one up. [HealthDayNews/Yahoo!]

Dalí Exhibit A Rousing Success!

So that King Tut exhibit should be getting an article around this time next year.

Update: In a similar fashion, here’s a story from Action News about Head-On that was on the website’s front page. Come on, people.

Debating The Ethics Of ‘Body Worlds’ [The Evening Bulletin]
Tutankhamun And The Golden Age Of The Pharaohs [Franklin Institute]