Monday, June 05, 2006

He Writes the Songs That Make the Young Punks Run

I'm a firm believe that music can be a motivational tool, even a negative one (i.e., "There was abuse in my family, but it was mostly musical in nature." - Terry Bohner). But I think Australian authorities may really be onto something, using Barry Manilow to drive away troublesome youth:

Officials in one Sydney district have decided to pipe the American crooner's music over loudspeakers in an attempt to rid streets and car parks of hooligans whose anti-social cars and loud music annoy residents and drive customers from businesses.

Following a successful experiment where Bing Crosby music was used to drive teenage loiterers out of an Australian shopping center several years ago, Rockdale councilors believe Manilow is so uncool it might just work.
Of course, the use of Manilow's "music" makes me wonder if Australia has a corollary to the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

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