Dateline: CanadaAmong the controversial pieces of literature Toronto residents requested to have removed from the Toronto Public Library was Dr. Seuss’ famous rhyming book Hop on Pop. A patron requested that the 1963 children’s book be banned because it, “encourages children to use violence against their fathers.” The complaint asked that the library remove the book and issue an apology to fathers in the greater Toronto area. The library’s Materials Review Committee rejected the request—one of seven received so far this year—saying that the book was “well-loved” and “appeared on many ‘Best of’ children’s book lists.” The committee also noted that the complainant had missed the book’s moral in which, “the children are actually told not to hop on pop.”Dateline: CanadaAn Ottawa man by the name of Donald Popadick has been accused of exposing his genitalia in a public park. According to a report by the Ottawa Police Service, the department’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section charged 62-year-old Popadick with indecent act and mischief. Ottawa Police had received several complaints of an adult male exposing himself in Mooney’s Bay Park since mid-April. On April 29, around 9am, an adult male exposed himself to a person near a pathway in the park. Police were alerted, and the suspect was arrested at the scene. Popadick is scheduled to appear in court on the charges.Dateline: CaliforniaBack in December three teenagers stole a replica of the classic Flintstones car from in front of a Sacramento comic book store. The 200-pound faux vehicle was soon recovered, and three culprits were apprehended. Instead of going to jail, however, the thieves were sentenced to dress up as the Flintstones and work a nine-hour shift at World’s Best Comics for Free Comic Book Day. Owner Dave Downey agreed to the creative punishment in order to save the teens from the “messiness” of the legal system. “This was one of those times when it just wasn’t necessary,” Downey told CBS-13. Dressed as Fred, Wilma and Barney, the teens stood on the sidewalk holding signs to attract customers. Free Comic Book Day is typically the busiest day of the year for comic book stores, and Downey was happy with the help.Dateline: CaliforniaA prison inmate has filed a $2.4 billion lawsuit in California Eastern District Court, alleging that Beyoncé, Jay Z, Kanye West, Rihanna and Chris Brown stole thousands of song lyrics from him. According to Richard J. Dupree Jr., the singers conspired with the CIA, FBI and Homeland Security to rip off lyrics he wrote while behind bars. Dupree, who is locked up in California State Prison, Corcoran, claims that 3,000 songs have been stolen from him by pop stars and government agencies over the last four years using satellite surveillance. In the suit Dupree claims the defendants “robbed [him] for hundreds of millions, even billions, in the satellite organization.” In addition to the monetary damage, he wants to be released immediately from prison.Dateline: FloridaA state senator has introduced an amendment to a bill that would now make it legal to carry a concealed firearm in the event of a zombie apocalypse. The amendment to Senate Bill 296, filed by Sen. Dwight Bullard, would change wording of the bill from “an act related to carrying a concealed weapon or firearm” to “an act related to the zombie apocalypse.” The original bill, introduced by Sen. Jeff Brandes last fall, is designed to eliminate criminal prosecution for carrying concealed firearms during a mandatory evacuation. When he introduced the bill, Brandes said that during a disaster, evacuees would “have enough to worry about without having to cross-check themselves to be certain they’re in technical compliance with concealed weapon transport laws.” Bullard’s humorous addendum is intended to point out the danger of Brandes’ original bill. “For me, as laughable as the amendment might seem, it’s equally laughable that people who haven’t gone through the proper training, the background check, the license to carry—we’re saying because of a hurricane or flooding or sinkhole, these individuals have gone from gun owners to concealed carry permit holders,” Bullard told the Huffington Post. “I’d argue a crisis is probably the last instance in which you want someone who is not a concealed permit holder to carry a weapon.”
Compiled by Devin D. O'Leary. Email your weird news to devin@alibi.com.
