Library Prejudice Exposed By Newspaper

A few weeks ago, I saw a news story online about how Tacoma, Washington is attempting to move drug dealers away from the bus station with classical music. I laughed, but the article ended with a 19-year-old playing a Nintendo Gameboy saying “This is wack.”

I then pegged the approximate date of this article at about 1992. But perhaps I was wrong. Here’s an article from the Press of Atlantic City about kids spending their summers at the library.

“Yeah,” Upshaw Bethea added. “Some people say going to the library is whack. But they’ve never been here.”

Eh. I think “Going to the library is wack!” is a bit catchier than “Reading is FUN-damental!”

Hangin’ in the stacks [Press of AC]

Leftovers: Start The Parade Down Broad Street

• A cat rescued from Veterans Stadium before the implosion has won the award for top housecat in the world! Woo hoo! We finally have a championship! [Inquirer]

• The Eagles cut Todd Pinkston and Koy Detmer, re-sign A.J. Feeley. Heather Mitts is back, baby! [PhiladelphiaEagles.com]

• Possible new Pennsylvania law: Sex offenders have to declare “I am a convicted sex offender!” upon entering a library. Oh, boy, that’s going to be a fun time for everyone involved. [Above Average Jane]

• Jessica Simpson wore a shower curtain the other night. [TinaPopo]

Quickies: Suing For A Pretty Penny

• A Penn student is suing the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for injuries he said he sustained in a hazing incident. He allegedly was repeatedly punched repeatedly in the thighs. And, of course, the student’s father brings up t”his: “For a black fraternal organization to treat black aspirants the way African-Americans were mistreated and abused during slavery, and to do it in the name of fraternity, is obscene.” I see. [Daily News]

• The head of the Northwood Civic Association, Northeast Philly, began a recent meeting with this line: “We’re part of Frankford, but we don’t have to look at Frankford.” Uhh, dude, you live in the Northeast. Nobody wants to look at you. [Northeast Times]

• Clearly, the Southampton Free Library is piggybacking off the popularity of The Real World’s Svetlana Shusterman. They’re going to be offering books in Russian. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• Forbes released its most expensive zip codes of the last year, and Stone Harbor clocks in at No. 48. Oh, Avalon’s going to feel even more second-rate now. [Forbes]

• In Columbus, Ohio, a half-dime was sold for $1.3 million. That better be some good shit. [AP/CNN.com]