Another One Bites the Dust

Another bookstore that is: Olsson’s Books in Dupont Circle closes:

“The Dupont Circle location of local bookstore chain Olsson’s abruptly closed today, with signs having been taped in the window thanking customers for 16 years in the Washington area. A single flower had been placed in the doorway, appearing to be the beginnings of a shrine.”

Man, this blows big time. Last summer, I used to go to that particular Olsson’s every week because it was a five minute walk from where I lived. See, I have a compulsion: everytime I go into a bookstore, I HAVE TO get a book; I just have to, there is no helping it. So I must have spent close to $300 dollars that summer on books alone.

It truly makes me sad that local bookstores are closing down one by down: it’s bad enough already with the big chains like Borders and B&N, and the problem is compounded due to the economy. I was pretty heart-broken when Cody’s Books on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley closed, and I was pretty ecstatic that the new owners decided to re-open the store on Shattuck. But even that little venture couldn’t last very long, as the new Cody’s closed shortly after I left Berkeley for DC.

And this is the one thing that DC seriously lacks compared to Berkeley: the variety of independent/used bookstores and record stores. There is almost nothing here, and given the current economic condition, I don’t think the outlook for independent stores is good.

So RIP, Olsson’s.

Post-Modern Child-rearing Practices

From Eurozine: Manual for postmodern childrearing:

“Be suspicious of all forms of progress displayed by the child and question its origin and the oppressive underlying ideology. Operate on the basis of necessity rather than meaningfulness, and encourage the child to renounce all outward distinctions such as cakes or scholarships. Do allow sweets from strangers.”

This is just one example, but the piece itself is hilarious. I swear, sometimes it’s too easy to mock post-modernism. But my favorite?

“If your child accuses you of incomprehensibility, then accuse it of logical positivism.”